PM - 72

A faint ray of sunlight filtered through the glazed window, landing on the bronze crane incense burner wreathed in curling smoke. The crane’s eyes were inlaid with agate, set against a mottled texture of green and yellow, appearing vividly red. The burner was filled with aloeswood, its rich fragrance spreading luxuriously throughout the hall. Most of the embroidered brocade curtains were drawn; the green jade pendants hanging from the yellow tassels swayed gently in the breeze. Through the gaps in the curtains, glimpses of the inner chamber could be seen—a figure clad in crimson pacing gracefully on the reed mat, their movements elegant and flowing.

The Chief Eunuch glanced at the senior palace maidens kneeling beside the embroidered canopy. The Empress’s most trusted attendants kept their eyes downcast, showing no reaction to his visit. His heart raced, and he swallowed nervously. “Regarding selecting women of auspicious physiognomy to serve His Majesty, after reporting to the Yong’an Palace, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager ordered us to proceed. We dared not delay and have come today to report our progress. According to precedent, candidates are proposed by the Deputy Chief Eunuch and ultimately approved by the Empress. I am here to present them for Her Majesty’s consideration. They have been brought to the Changqiu Palace and await your audience.”

The Empress, her voice calm with a hint of amusement, responded, “Lord Zhang has worked hard. To complete this in just five days...”

Though young, the Empress carried an undeniable air of authority. The Chief Eunuch bowed deeply, humbly responding that he didn’t deserve credit.

However, after a long wait, there was still no definitive response from the Empress—whether to see the candidates or not remained ambiguous. Finally, a senior palace maiden replied, “Her Majesty is unwell, as Lord Zhang surely knows. With the strong winds today, perhaps it would be better to postpone the meeting by two days.”

Selecting concubines for one’s husband was something no woman could easily accept, especially given the Empress’s delicate position. Thus, even if she refused to see them, the Chief Eunuch could understand. Delaying approval meant postponing the emperor’s favor—a final struggle and comfort amidst inevitable circumstances. This Empress, despite her plight, was indeed pitiable.

The Chief Eunuch refrained from further comment, exchanging glances with the attending Chief Eunuch Secretary before bowing deeply. But then the Empress spoke again, gently asking, “Does His Majesty know about the selection of these women? If so, what was his response?”

Recalling the Grand Tutor’s account, this wasn’t an easy question to answer. After some thought, he replied, “His Majesty did not approve. It was Her Majesty the Empress Dowager who gave the order, and we acted accordingly.”

The Empress paused behind the curtain, slowly acknowledging. “In that case, please have the senior palace maiden bring them to the rear hall. I am unwell and cannot leave the tent, but I will observe them from behind the curtain.”

“Yes,” a senior palace maiden acknowledged, rising and backing out of the embroidered canopy.

The Empress stopped behind the curtain and asked again, “Has His Majesty left the palace recently?”

The Chief Eunuch, responsible for recording palace entries and exits, knew the emperor’s itinerary well. He reported, “Recently, foreign envoys have arrived to pay tribute. His Majesty received them at the Southern Palace and visited the Four Directions Pavilion to see the Chancellor of Nanyue yesterday, returning shortly after.”

“Where do court officials meet with His Majesty—whether at the Secretariat or the emperor’s private chambers?” The Empress sighed wistfully, “I worry greatly about His Majesty’s health due to his tireless efforts.”

Initially puzzled, the Chief Eunuch’s doubts cleared after the Empress’ casual explanation.

“The Secretariat handles memorials, and important ministers offer advice directly. Therefore, meetings with officials generally take place in the emperor’s private chambers.”

The vague silhouette behind the curtain nodded slightly. Soon, a senior palace maiden led five selected women inside. The Empress didn’t make things difficult, merely commenting that they were no less impressive than the other palace consorts and ordered them assigned quarters, keeping them all.

After the Chief Eunuch left with the women, the Empress instructed the Chief Eunuch Secretary to stay behind, dismissing the others. She then inquired about the emperor’s six imperial seals.

The Chief Eunuch Secretary replied, “The ‘Traveling Seal’ and ‘Trust Seal’ among the six imperial seals are currently stored in the Repository of Official Seals. The remaining four are managed by the emperor’s trusted Chamberlains.”

“The Traveling Seal is in the Repository...” The Empress murmured, “This means that summoning ministers doesn’t require going through the Chamberlains; one can directly use the seal from the repository?”

Unaware of her intentions, the Chief Eunuch Secretary hesitantly confirmed, “What is Your Majesty planning?”

A handwritten decree was tossed from behind the curtain. “Until the very end, no one can be fully trusted. Find a way to affix this decree with the seal. Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager’s birthday, and even if one wanted to communicate, it’s too late now...”

The Chief Eunuch Secretary concealed the edict in his robe and bowed deeply before departing from the Changqiu Palace. Gaining access to the emperor’s seals wasn’t easy, so when the hand-written decree arrived at the Capital Prefecture, night had already fallen.

Inside the hall, Wei Shixing removed the blue clay seal from the document pouch, unfolding the imperial decree. The edict was brief, ordering the execution and public display of the Yan family members brought to the capital early tomorrow morning. The bottom right corner bore the emperor’s Traveling Seal, appearing flawless. Holding the silk document, he was thoroughly perplexed. “Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Why issue such a decree at this critical juncture?” He called out to inquire if the messenger eunuch was still around. The clerk reported that he had returned to the palace. Wei Shixing stared at the decree, furrowing his brows tightly.

“It’s best to seek an audience with His Majesty,” he abruptly stood up but was stopped by the Deputy Prefect of the Capital.

“His Majesty must be unavailable, hence the special issuance of the hand-written decree. Why bother, Lord Wei? It’s late, and the Northern Palace has recently welcomed five new beauties. Seeking an audience now might invite embarrassment.” The Deputy Prefect tilted his head. “In my humble opinion, executing the Yan family during the Empress Dowager’s celebration likely serves a unique purpose. The Chancellor voluntarily took charge of guarding the palace. This move is designed to provoke the Chancellor. If he acts, His Majesty can justifiably eliminate him, leaving no one daring to criticize the emperor’s lack of tolerance. The current calm might conceal hidden troops. Lord Wei should simply follow the edict and avoid inviting trouble.”

Wei Shixing remained hesitant, finding the matter suspicious. “A few days ago, His Majesty mentioned waiting until after the Empress Dowager’s celebration to address the Yan family’s crimes…”

“Did His Majesty reveal any intention of pardoning the Yan family?”

Wei Shixing shook his head slowly. He understood the young emperor somewhat. Regardless of gratitude from years of mentorship, leaving such a significant threat to the emperor’s authority was impossible. Thinking this way made sense. He recalled the day he was first tasked with investigating the military equipment case in Shu, encountering the Empress by chance on the pathway. She had said, “His Majesty’s temporary mercy doesn’t mean eternal mercy.” Those words were now verified. It seemed the young emperor truly intended to eliminate the Chancellor.

Thus, at sunrise the next day, thirteen members of the Yan family were executed at the White Horse Bridge.

The Yan family was a century-old lineage related to the Chancellor. Executing thirteen people at once was unprecedented in Da Yin’s history. The gathered crowd was in uproar as the executioner hastily gave the order. Thirteen individuals lined up along the bridge, thirteen heads awaiting thirteen executioners. At the command, blood spurted high into the air, staining the granite ground red. After the bodies were dragged away, the cleanup crew hosed down the scene, washing the blood mixed with mud into the river. The air was thick with the stench of blood, marking this as a turbulent day.

Heads rolled outside, yet inside the palace, music and dance prevailed.

Countless noblewomen frequented the Northern Palace. Fu Wei temporarily retreated to her private chambers to handle state affairs, preparing to join the celebrations at the Longevity Hall later.

Sitting at her desk, her mind was unsettled. The detailed implementation of the tax reforms lay spread out before her, unreadable. She merely stood by the green lattice window, staring blankly at the distant sky. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to look, “Ziqing, are the troops arranged?”

Hulü Puzhao affirmed, “Both inside and outside the Northern Army’s fortifications, including the city’s cavalry, have been mobilized within the palace grounds. Any disturbance will be immediately suppressed.”

She acknowledged, exhaling deeply.

The moment of life and death had arrived. Whether to continue ruling or face bloody chaos depended on today’s outcome. Though unaware of the enemy’s deployment, she knew entry through the palace gates was inevitable. She had ordered the gatekeepers to close the White Tiger and Azure Dragon Gates, locking the Black Warrior Gate by evening, leaving only the Vermilion Bird Gate as the entrance—a trap for the rebels.

Would you entrust your life entirely to another? Forgive her inherent suspicion; she wouldn’t solely rely on the Chancellor to rescue her. She had her arrangements. Hulü Puzhao, formerly Commander of the Northern Army, oversaw the cavalry and Hu riders. Only her own forces could ensure her safety. If the Southern Army performed as expected, success was guaranteed. But if not—or worse, rebelled—at least she wouldn’t surrender helplessly.

She genuinely loved him, but loving him didn’t mean neglecting her self-protection. Sometimes she thought of their love—impure, incomplete, full of regrets. Hopefully, after this ordeal, everything would improve.

She paced slowly within the hall, each step synchronized with the dripping water clock. Suddenly, the clatter of armor approached. Shangguan Zhao hurried up the vermilion steps, reporting as he walked, “This morning at the White Horse Bridge, the Capital Prefect executed thirteen members of the Yan family. Does Your Majesty know of this?”

Fu Wei was shocked, doubting her ears. “What did you say?”

Shangguan Zhao repeated, “Wei Shixing executed the co-conspirators of the Jing Prince’s rebellion this morning. Was it Your Majesty’s order?”

It felt like a bolt from the blue. Her face paled, and she snapped, “When did I order Wei Shixing to execute the Yan family? Has he gone mad? Are you sure of your information? Could it be a mistake?”

Shangguan Zhao clarified, “News has spread throughout the city. Thirteen heads publicly displayed—how could it be mistaken! I encountered the newly relieved Public Carriage Minister at the palace gate, who confirmed the event. I then dispatched guards to the Capital Prefecture. They reported that Wei Shixing received a secret order last night, instructing him to execute the Yan family this morning…”

Unable to listen further, she violently kicked over the gold-inlaid mountain-shaped incense burner in the hall.

Secret order? Where did this secret order come from? Was Wei Shixing blind, mistaking chicken feathers for imperial commands!

Suddenly recalling the Repository of Official Seals, she rushed out of the hall. The distance to the seal storage wasn’t far, yet she broke into a sweat running. At this critical moment, exterminating the Chancellor’s paternal clan—what would he think, stationed far away in the army? Clearly, there was someone astute within the palace. This masterful strike hit precisely at her and the Chancellor’s vulnerabilities.

Whether someone had counterfeited an imperial edict or if she had misjudged Wei Shixing as being part of the enemy’s faction, Fu Wei couldn’t be sure. The Keeper of Imperial Seals approached her, but she waved him away and stopped before the two lacquered boxes. The Wudu purple clay seal on the Traveling Seal appeared intact, but when she gently lifted the lid, it came off easily. Upon closer inspection, there was a hairline crack in the purple clay, nearly invisible to the naked eye. Thus, the decree had indeed been issued from within the palace, and with the executions already carried out, it was too late to undo.

Her mind went blank, and the lid clattered to the floor. The Keeper of Imperial Seals had already collapsed in fear, repeatedly kowtowing: “Your Majesty, I am guilty... But I do not know how...”

She regained her composure and waved dismissively, “Have him taken away for rigorous interrogation.”

The guards dragged the man away. She turned to look at Shangguan Zhao, forcing a bitter smile, “Heaven is determined to destroy me.”

No amount of affection could possibly retain the Chancellor’s heart now. He had considered everything meticulously for her sake, only for her to turn around and slaughter his kin. Could their love endure? The feeling of betrayal—this was what it felt like. She stared at the Traveling Seal, her nose tingling with overwhelming emotion that flooded into her eyes. Being an emperor had moments like this, unforeseen and terrifying. How many unseen hands were operating within the palace? The thought alone filled her with dread.

How to make amends? It seemed impossible now. With heavy steps, she exited the Repository of Official Seals and looked up at the vast sky.

“How should I inform the Chancellor of the truth? Those thirteen people from the Yan family were not executed by my order...” She muttered while walking, utterly defeated and devoid of fighting spirit. “Is it still possible to send someone out of the palace to find him now?”

Shangguan Zhao merely watched her silently. She herself realized the impossibility. Time had passed, and the other side was already in position. Suddenly dispatching someone to communicate with the Chancellor would reveal that they had been acting all along. This would not only jeopardize today’s plans but also endanger the Chancellor’s life.

Thus, their relationship faced an immense test. If they could overcome it, all would end well; if not, what would she lose? Her youthful infatuation, her deep affection, the joys of being human, and perhaps even her life.

“Your Majesty, hear my words,” Hulü Puzhao said, “For now, we must prepare for both possibilities. If the Chancellor takes advantage of the situation, Your Majesty can only choose to annihilate them entirely. The Northern Army’s Yue cavalry and the Changshui and Xuanchu Hu cavalry are trustworthy forces. Together with the Eastern Palace and Southern Palace guards, our chances of success are not insignificant.”

She gave a bleak smile, “And then? What about the troops stationed in the Shanglin Garden, the Tiger Guards, and the Northern Palace guards? And if we add the Chancellor’s Southern Army, do we still stand a chance?”

Thus, the Southern Army was the decisive factor. If the Chancellor rebelled against her, she would have almost no defense—such was reality. For the first time in her life, she felt the instability of her throne. Ultimately, it was her status that put her at a disadvantage. If she were a man, she could mobilize border troops using the tiger tally. Now, suppression had to be on a smaller scale without causing a major uproar because she lacked the confidence.

Her tightly clenched hands gradually loosened. “Let fate take its course,” she chuckled, “I’ve reigned as emperor for eleven years, and my life has had its moments of glory. If destined to die, there’s no need to blame heaven or others—it’s simply my own incompetence.”

Shangguan Zhao and Hulü exchanged glances, bowing deeply, “Your Majesty, rest assured. We vow to protect you with our lives.”

Having resolved to face death, she found there wasn’t much left to fear. At least, she had two loyal attendants by her side—it wasn’t completely tragic.

Previously overwhelmed, her mind gradually calmed. She checked the time—it was nearing the end of the Shen period. She handed over a token to Hulü, “Order the Commander of the Changshui Cavalry to lead the Changshui Hu cavalry and ambush at the Vermilion Bird Gate. At any sign of movement, eliminate them immediately. The rebel army must not breach the inner palace.”

Hulü took the token and left to relay the orders.

She handed the second token to Shangguan Zhao, “Order the Commander of the Yue Cavalry to guard the Green Lock Gate with the Yue cavalry. If the Vermilion Bird Gate falls, there will be a second line of defense.”

In a desperate fight to the death, so be it. She returned to Zhangde Hall, retrieved the jade pendant he had gifted her from the box beside her bed, and hung it on her belt. The coiled dragon and flying swallow—an ordained destiny. She hoped he would see this jade pendant and understand her heart. She had never intended to destroy his foundation. She had planned to deal with the elder of the Yan family after quelling the rebellion—one life in exchange for over a hundred clan members’ lives was worth it. But now, things had spiraled out of control. She wanted to explain to him, but no message could get out. Invisible eyes monitored every move, leaving her no choice but to pretend nothing was wrong.

It was time. She needed to make an appearance. Each step from Pingshuo Hall to the Thousand-Autumn Hall weighed heavily on her heart.

The last time the Chancellor had silenced the lords who sought autonomy through eloquent debate, what fate awaited her now? She couldn’t predict. She slowly entered the hall via the central red carpet. Everyone bowed to her as usual, and she maintained her composed demeanor, offering a graceful smile. Approaching the Empress Dowager, she bowed deeply, wishing her a happy birthday.

The Empress Dowager’s smile was faint, “Today is my birthday, yet Your Majesty remains occupied with state affairs. Da Yin having such an emperor truly blesses our ancestors. However, there’s something troubling me greatly.” Her slightly raised lips gradually settled back down. The Empress Dowager continued, “This celebration of longevity was meant to display filial piety. Why commit such bloodshed on a joyous occasion? I heard that the Capital Prefect executed thirteen members of the Yan family at the southern city gate. Shouldn’t Your Majesty explain this to me?”

Fu Wei was startled, “Ah, Mother has already heard about this? But hasn’t she heard that someone inside the palace forged an edict and stole the Emperor’s Traveling Seal to order the Capital Prefect to kill? I’m relieved that the Traveling Seal and Faith Seal are in the hands of my trusted Chamberlains, otherwise chaos would truly ensue.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression shifted subtly. Fu Wei continued, “Mother usually doesn’t concern herself with politics, but lately, it seems different. Perhaps it’s my fault for making Mother worry. Rest assured, Mother. I’ve taken charge of governance and can withstand great challenges. Watch, Mother—I’ll round up those treacherous rats, allowing Mother to enjoy her twilight years peacefully.”

She maintained her smile throughout, while the Empress Dowager’s expression grew solemn. Fu Wei felt regretful. She once revered her as a mother figure, but upon learning that the Feathered Forest Middle Captain recommended by the Empress Dowager had begun stirring trouble, her heart turned cold.

So this was the Empress Dowager’s true, sharp-edged nature. Fu Wei had assumed that someone who shared such a beautiful love story with the late emperor would possess a warm heart. Clearly, she was mistaken. Childless, why did she strive for power? Deeply loving the late emperor, why didn’t she support his sole heir? Was there a better choice?

Fu Wei scanned the assembled crowd—three dukes, nine ministers, princes, and generals, more than at her wedding. Squinting, she smiled, “Gathering together like this is truly rare.”

Empress Dowager Liang remarked, “Everyone has their own affairs. It’s rare to have such an opportunity. I personally sent invitations to ensure everyone attended. Relatives grow distant if not visited regularly. Communication is key to lasting relations.”

The true intention behind these words was clear—a detestable situation. As dusk fell, lamps were lit inside and outside the hall, casting a homely illusion in the grand hall. Amidst laughter, Fu Wei stood holding a wine cup, “Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Allow me to toast Her Majesty...”

Before she finished speaking, she faintly heard the sound of arms approaching from the south. Looking that way, flames lit up the southern sky, heralding another chaotic era. Panic spread among the attendees, but Fu Wei’s heart grew calm. Whatever was to come, sooner was better than later.

Her gaze swept across the rows of banquet tables below—Prince Yan, Prince Linzi, Marquis Dingcheng... She sneered coldly, Jingwang Yuanbiao! It was none other than the seemingly honest Yuanbiao, whom she had never suspected—utterly unexpected.