Chapter 76 Brilliant Fireworks

Chapter 76: Brilliant Fireworks

These transparent little spiders were all Gu Worms.

They were quite similar to the Gu Worm that had previously controlled Cheng Shuo, though not as potent as the one used on him.

However, the palace security was tight, and these small spiders were much easier to bring in compared to creatures like centipedes. Moreover, these tiny things had faint energy signatures and were not particularly noticeable.

The Gu Worm on Cheng Shuo had been destroyed, and the mother worm in Prince Dingbei’s possession had died as a result. It could only mean that the Qin family had guessed it was the work of a Gu Worm and found someone to destroy it.

As for who destroyed the Gu, Baili Yu knew perfectly well.

There weren’t likely to be any Gu Masters in the capital, but recently, a famous Southern Border Saintess had arrived.

It seemed the Qin family had sought Sutu Anli’s help, though Baili Yu hadn’t expected their first instinct wouldn’t be to suspect the Southern Border faction but instead ask for their assistance.

This thwarted his plan to redirect suspicion, but at least no one knew it was his doing.

Now, the people in the palace must have learned about the existence of the Gu Worms, and Sutu Anli had a small green snake, said to be the king of all Gu Worms, capable of detecting their scent and eliminating them all.

This wasn’t the right time to show his cards, so to avoid being linked to the incident, Baili Yu decided to keep a low profile for a while.

That’s why he had brought these small creatures into the palace today—they were unlikely to be detected and could remain hidden for future use.

He dipped his finger into the pouch, and two small spiders crawled onto it.

He then extended his finger through the sedan chair curtain, and the two Gu Worms crawled out, one after the other, hiding in the hair of the two sedan carriers.

Baili Yu put away the pouch but left a small opening so the Gu Worms could escape on their own later without his intervention.

The sedan chairs soon landed outside the Haiyan Hall, and the vassal princes stepped out, following Baili Hong into the hall.

Everyone except the Southern Frontier King assumed Qin Xiao should still be unconscious.

But when they entered the hall, they found a tall figure already standing inside.

The man stood with his back to the entrance, dressed in a black and gold python robe, his ink-black hair tied up entirely with a golden crown. Just his silhouette exuded an imposing aura.

It was Qin Xiao!

Hearing the noise behind him, Qin Xiao turned around, his expression calm. His deep eyes swept over the crowd before finally softening slightly as he looked at Baili Hong and said, "Your Majesty."

"At ease," Baili Hong replied immediately, stepping to Qin Xiao’s side before turning to the others. "Everyone, please take your seats."

The crowd acknowledged in unison.

Their faces showed no change, but inwardly, none were calm.

Qin Xiao wasn’t dead!

He might not even have been seriously injured—otherwise, how could he appear here looking perfectly fine?

Or had Chu Jiubian really healed him?

This was the benefit of having a divine being by one’s side.

Their minds raced with thoughts, and some wondered where Chu Jiubian had gone. Why had Qin Xiao appeared without him?

But no one spoke up, and they all prepared to be seated.

Just then, Grand Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan arrived, leading the Nanjiang Consort, along with the commandery princess and the heir.

According to protocol, the women should have first paid their respects to the head of the inner palace upon entering.

Since the current mistress of the inner palace was the Grand Empress Dowager, Sutu Anli, after arriving at the palace gates with her children, parted ways with Baili Hao and entered the palace to see Xiao Ruohan first.

Upon seeing the Grand Empress Dowager, the vassal princes also had to pay their respects.

By seniority, Xiao Ruohan had once been their principal mother.

Seeing these formidable vassal princes obediently paying respects to her, Xiao Ruohan felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

This was power, status, and position.

As a woman, she hadn’t been able to participate in the imperial examinations, but she had already reached the highest position a woman could attain.

Although her ability to wield power had weakened significantly since Baili Hong ascended the throne, she had enjoyed genuine prominence during Emperor Yingzong’s reign. It was only recently, after repeated setbacks at the hands of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, that she had reined in her assertiveness.

But now, seeing these vassal princes show her such respect, she felt as though she had regained that sense of being second only to the emperor.

She walked to the seat of honor and sat down in the position just below Baili Hong before saying lightly, "You may rise."

The vassal princes thanked her and rose to take their seats.

Baili Yu’s gaze swept over Sutu Anli, who was seated beside the Southern Frontier King. He didn’t see the small green snake, but such a tiny creature could easily be hidden in a sleeve.

So he didn’t dare act too obviously and only discreetly loosened his sleeve.

Almost invisible to the naked eye, a half-dozen small spiders crawled out, all descending from his robes and quickly hiding in the shadows. They slowly climbed up the great stone pillars toward the beams.

A bell rang outside the hall, and the invited high-ranking officials finally arrived outside the Haiyan Hall. Led by the Ministers of the Six Ministries, they entered the hall.

Another round of formal ceremonies followed before everyone took their seats.

Once everyone was seated, they noticed that Chu Jiubian still hadn’t appeared, and there was an empty seat next to Qin Xiao.

Xiao Ruohan, seated across from Qin Xiao, smiled slightly and said, "Why is the seat next to Prince Ning empty? This Dowager sees all the princes are here, so who is this seat reserved for?"

This occasion was different from the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

By status, Prince Jiannan couldn’t sit beside her, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for other vassal princes to sit there either. So, on her side, she was alone, while across from her sat Qin Xiao and an empty seat, clearly reserved for Chu Jiubian.

But Chu Jiubian was the Imperial Tutor, whose status couldn’t compare to these vassal princes. Sitting here would be a breach of protocol.

Xiao Ruohan was deliberately feigning ignorance.

Little did she know that as she asked this question, Chu Jiubian had already entered the hall.

He had commanded the system to activate the function he’d used back in Hexi County, which made those around him unaware of his presence.

But for some reason, even though Baili Hong hadn’t noticed him, the moment he stepped into the hall, Qin Xiao looked directly at him.

It wasn’t a glance born of sensing something—Qin Xiao had truly seen him and was even scrutinizing him quite boldly.

Chu Jiubian met his gaze indifferently but didn’t stop walking.

As he moved, the jewelry and ornaments on him made clear, chiming sounds.

The pure white silk felt cool against his skin, but the furry fox fur cloak draped over his shoulders trailed down to his ankles, warding off much of the chill.

Although it was not yet time for dinner, the winter sky was already dark.

Many lamps were lit in the hall, casting a warm, cozy yellowish glow.

Chu Jiubian’s long boots hugged his calves, his straight legs moving gracefully with each step.

His silver-white hair still flowed loosely, but delicate silver chains were woven through it, catching the light with a shimmering effect as he moved.

Qin Xiao watched him, barely blinking, his gaze tracing from the young man’s legs hidden beneath silk trousers, to the tight lines outlined by his belt, and finally to his slender, pale neck and exquisitely composed, cold face.

Like a bright white moon, aloof and untouchable.

This was a deity.

A deity not to be defiled.

Qin Xiao’s throat moved slightly, his eyes intense and dark.

Chu Jiubian walked slowly past the officials on both sides, yet no one noticed his presence.

“What is Prince Ning looking at?” Xiao Ruohan, feeling slighted and somewhat humiliated, asked coldly. “Could it be that this seat beside Prince Ning is truly reserved for Senior Tutor Chu?”

Qin Xiao finally withdrew his gaze and gave a faint smile to the Grand Empress Dowager across from him. “What are you saying? The Senior Tutor holds a government position—it would be improper for him to sit above the vassal princes.”

Above the beams, a small spider had reached the stone pillar behind Qin Xiao, quickly descended, climbed onto his table, and slipped into his drinking cup, and went still.

Meanwhile, an alert sounded in Chu Jiubian’s mind.

“Alert! Alert! Hidden Gu poison detected in the hall. Location marked for the host. Please take caution!”

Chu Jiubian’s gaze sharpened.

He had guessed that the Gu practitioner might make another move today.

If anyone present were controlled, it would be a terrifying situation.

However, Chu Jiubian believed that if the perpetrator were to act, they would probably target someone in the palace—such as Baili Hong, himself, Qin Xiao, or Xiao Ruohan.

As for others, there would be plenty of opportunities outside the palace.

So he had made arrangements with his system in advance, knowing its toxin detection function could also identify Gu poison, which set his mind at ease.

He had purposely arrived late not only to surprise everyone with his “invisibility” function but also because he had arranged for some preparations outside the hall, entrusted to his covert guards.

Of course, another reason was to wait for the Gu user to act.

If he were present, the perpetrator might hold back out of fear for his “divine” status. But now it seemed that, given the perpetrator's boldness and methods, they feared nothing.

Chu Jiubian looked up and saw six green dots of light lit up in the hall.

One was near Xiao Ruohan, two were on the beam above Baili Hong’s head, and the other three—

One was on the beam above Minister Su Sheng’s head, one was tucked into Prince Anhuai Baili Ming’s hair, and the last was in Qin Xiao’s cup.

Su Sheng and Prince Anhuai? A sudden insight came to Chu Jiubian, and he immediately understood several things.

He walked to the seat beside Qin Xiao and sat down.

“So Prince Ning knew,” Xiao Ruohan said with a smile. “Then this seat beside you…”

“Is for me,” Chu Jiubian said, his voice clear and cold, cutting clearly through the silent hall.

Xiao Ruohan froze, glanced over at the previously empty seat, and then her pupils dilated suddenly, her entire body stiffening in place.

The gazes of everyone else in the hall also fixed on Chu Jiubian, their expressions filled with shock and reverence.

Only the Situ siblings, sitting behind their parents, lit up with excitement, straining their necks to see Chu Jiubian. When they got a clear look at him, their eyes shone with awe and admiration.

This was the Divine Lord!

So powerful and so beautiful!

No wonder the High Priest was so dedicated to him, even willing to follow him to the mortal realm!

The others, however, were not as excited but instead felt pure terror, their hands and feet going cold.

When had Chu Jiubian appeared?

Why had no one noticed?

The first and second-rank officials, seeing Chu Jiubian’s attire, felt like they were back to the coronation day.

They finally remembered that this Senior Tutor Chu, with whom they had worked alongside for so long, was actually a deity!

The hall fell into dead silence. The vassal princes stared fixedly at Chu Jiubian, their minds overwhelmed with indescribable shock.

This was a deity.

They had only heard of him before but never truly knew him. Now, seeing him in person, they realized the rumors hadn't done him justice.

Chu Jiubian paid no attention to their reactions. He reached out, took Qin Xiao’s cup, and plucked out the small spider from it.

Baili Yu’s pupils flickered slightly, though his expression remained unchanged.

The others, knowing they were to meet the Southern Border Saintess, had learned something about Gu worms.

Now, seeing this, they immediately understood and turned their eyes to Sutu Anli.

The Southern Frontier King and his wife, however, remained unmoved, their demeanor calm and composed.

“I apologize for the trouble, Saintess,” Chu Jiubian said, producing a small, palm-sized lighter from his system space and igniting it.

With a click, the flame turned the spider to ash.

He put the lighter away, and everyone saw flame appear at his fingertip out of nowhere, astonishing them further. What surprised them even more was that Chu Jiubian could detect such a tiny Gu worm.

Sutu Anli hadn’t noticed it either, realizing that the Gu maker was indeed skilled enough to escape detection by her snake. And the fact that Chu Jiubian could discover the Gu worm only proved his greater prowess. Upon receiving the order, she responded softly in affirmation. At the same time, the green snake in her hair slithered out, licked her little fingernail, and quickly circled the hall, devouring the remaining five Gu worms.

Baili Yu, however, did not watch the snake but instead stared at Chu Jiubian, a silent, curled smile on his lips.

A power move.

“Please keep a close watch on your belongings,” Chu Jiubian said softly, his gaze never settling on anyone, yet he seemed more like the deities enshrined in temples.

He fell silent.

Qin Xiao then spoke up, “Your Majesty, let the banquet begin.”

Baili Hong nodded in agreement, and Hong Fu called out for the banquet to begin.

The palace servants, who had been preparing in the inner hall for a long time, immediately filed out orderly, carrying trays with wine and food.

At the same time, a thunderous boom suddenly erupted outside the hall.

Everyone at the banquet went on alert, staring in shock toward the outside.

However, when they turned around, they noticed that Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao, Baili Hong, and even the palace servants remained unfazed.

"It's fireworks," Baili Hong said with a smile. "A gift from the Divine Lord to everyone."

Two days earlier, Chu Jiubian had taken Baili Hong and Qin Xiao outside the capital to a secluded spot and set off a firework for them. Now, those serving the dishes were not palace servants but Qin Xiao's undercover guards.

All this had been arranged discreetly to showcase Chu Jiubian's divine identity to the vassal princes and officials today and remind them who he truly was.

The crowd was initially terrified, but it was Jian Hongzhuo, the Minister of Works, who first stood up and went outside. Only then did the others snap out of it and follow.

Even Xiao Ruohan initially covered her heart, startled, but quickly regained her composure. With a stern expression, she rose and stepped out of the hall.

When she saw the scene outside, she froze in place.

The sky was filled with brilliant fireworks, colorful lights lighting up the sky like a fairyland.

The officials recalled the previous assassination attempt, remembering how Chu Jiubian had used similar loud explosions to kill many assassins.

So, were these beautiful fireworks actually deadly weapons?

The vassal princes, unaware of Chu Jiubian's past exploits, were less alarmed.

Still, the deafening noise and awe-inspiring spectacle made them acutely aware of Chu Jiubian's true identity and whether he had the right to hold the highest position.

A long time passed before the fireworks finished. The crowd stood stunned for a while longer before slowly returning to the hall.

With such a display of power, even those who might have been as bold as Baili Yu wouldn't dare make a move now.

No further incidents occurred. Dishes were served, wine was poured, and cups clinked together.

Everyone maintained an appearance of peace and friendliness, as if they were truly one harmonious family.

Yet, their gazes frequently lingered on Chu Jiubian.

Prince Jiannan Baili Hai watched Chu Jiubian from a distance, then turned his eyes to Qin Xiao, his gloomy expression barely concealed.

He drank cup after cup of wine, soon growing drunk.

Prince Dingbei showed no shame over his schemes being exposed. He continued drinking with a smile, calm and composed, though his eyes occasionally drifted toward Chu Jiubian's face.

A god?

Would whoever sat on that seat receive the favor of the gods?

Chu Jiubian was no ignorant child; he understood these glances all too well, but he paid them little mind.

For now, he couldn't control others' stares or their wicked thoughts, but one day, they would no longer have the chance to scrutinize him.

Qin Xiao, still recovering from his injuries, drank very little. Yet, for some reason, he felt as if he were feeling drunk.

Seeing the way others looked at Chu Jiubian irritated him.

After an hour, the palace banquet finally came to an end.

The vassal princes left one by one. Though the grand hall was still filled with many palace servants, it felt empty.

The carefully planned palace banquet and New Year celebrations had come to an end.

It had been relatively peaceful.

After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the vassal princes would return to their respective territories.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao stood side by side under the eaves. The wind and snow made it hard to see, and they could only barely see the distant figures growing smaller until they disappeared entirely.

The next time they met, it would likely be at war.

The historian Xun Xiuran collected his books and walked out of the hall. He approached Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, bowed, and took his leave.

Qin Xiao nodded. "Go. Tomorrow, I will send someone with your rewards."

Xun Xiuran accepted with neither humility nor arrogance.

Historians earned little and were restricted in their interactions to avoid bias in recording history. They couldn't engage in business or form interest connections with others.

Thus, he responded calmly to Qin Xiao's promise of rewards, without showing excitement.

After bidding farewell to the two lords, he turned to leave.

However, the ground was slippery from snow. After just two steps, he slipped, and his books fell to the ground.

Once he steadied himself, he quickly bowed to the two superiors to apologize.

"It's fine," Qin Xiao said.

Chu Jiubian, for some reason, automatically bent down to pick up the books.

Before returning them to Xun Xiuran, he casually glanced at the contents.

To his shock, a single look hit him like lightning.

On the open page, it read: "Prince Ning Qin Xiao led the army to a great victory against Western Regions Serbia but suffered severe injuries. Grand Tutor Chu Jiubian performed miracles, healing him completely in just three days."

If he remembered correctly, the original version of this sentence from the "original work" should have been: "Prince Ning Qin Xiao led the army to a great victory against Western Regions Serbia but suffered severe injuries, and took three months to recover."

Why did the historian's record match what was written in the original work?

Was it a coincidence?

Was it part of the original storyline?

Or had what he read back then not been a novel but a history book or perhaps a biography of Baili Hong?

If so, did that mean the world he had traveled into was real from the very beginning?

"What's wrong?" Qin Xiao's voice brought Chu Jiubian back to reality.

He blinked, hiding his shock, and handed back the books to Xun Xiuran. "Be careful."

Xun Xiuran noticed his momentary loss of composure but didn't inquire further, bowing with a cupped-hand salute before turning to leave directly.

Chu Jiubian watched his figure, his upright posture unobscured even by the swirling snow and wind.

Chu Jiubian felt the world before him getting blurry.

He suddenly wondered whether the content he had once read in the original work, along with those readers' comments, were real or fake.

He knew his mental state was poor, maybe just a step away from going truly mad, so could it be that even back then, he had already begun to struggle to distinguish reality from illusion?

Or was the present him real or false?

Could everything he was experiencing now be nothing but his own delusion?

Chu Jiubian unconsciously dug into his hand; a stinging pain snapped him out of it, and he paused, looking down.

Qin Xiao had been watching him all along and naturally followed his gaze. When he saw the blood seeping from under the other's nails, his face darkened, and he reached out to grasp Chu Jiubian's wrist, lifting it.

Ringing echoed in his ears, the world before him seemed distorted, and a sharp, piercing pain shot through Chu Jiubian's mind.

It was nerve pain.

He couldn't quite make out Qin Xiao's expression, nor could he hear his voice.

"Qin Xiao," he spoke, unable to even hear his own voice.

"How does one distinguish between reality and illusion?" he asked.

The young man looked bewildered, his eyes vacant and lifeless.

Qin Xiao suddenly recalled past incidents—this wasn't the first time Chu Jiubian had harmed himself, but why?

"Chu Jiubian," he called out, but the other seemed to not hear him at all.

Qin Xiao's expression grew even colder. He gripped the young man's wrist and strode into the Fengtian Hall in two steps.

The hall was empty.

Chu Jiubian stumbled slightly; before he could steady himself, Qin Xiao pulled him into the shadows of the hall, pressing his back against a thick vermilion pillar.

The next moment, the man's solid body and hot breath closed in simultaneously.

Chu Jiubian blinked; the ringing in his ears faded.

The scent unique to the man hit his nostrils; his Adam's apple bobbed, and he relaxed his jaw.

Sensing the change, Qin Xiao's breath hitched, his body pressing down more heavily, the arm encircling the young man's waist tensing with bulging veins.

His other hand grabbed Chu Jiubian's wrists, pinning them overhead, leaving no room for resistance.

Chu Jiubian tilted his head back, his Adam's apple moving, his body shivering slightly.

After what felt like an eternity, a sudden sting came from his lips.

This was the only method Qin Xiao could think of to snap Chu Jiubian out of it without causing too many side effects.

Chu Jiubian opened his eyes, his dazed gaze fixing on the man's deep, intense eyes so close to his, his vision gradually sharpening.

The nerve pain seemed to ease slightly, but the sting on his lips and the taste of blood in his mouth became clearer.

Qin Xiao released his reddened lips but still kept him locked in his embrace, their noses nearly touching.

"What the eyes can see, what the hands can touch," Qin Xiao's voice was low.

He took Chu Jiubian's hand and guided it to his own chest and said, "What the heart can feel—that is real."

Warmth flowed continuously into his hand, the icy chill gradually warming.

Chu Jiubian held the man's gaze for a long moment; beneath his hand, the rapid, powerful heartbeat kept pounding incessantly, reminding him how real all of this was.

For some reason, he suddenly licked his lips.

Qin Xiao's gaze dropped, and when he looked up again, his expression turned fierce.

Chu Jiubian's eyelashes fluttered; he raised a hand and gently pushed the man away, careful to avoid his injuries.

Then, he turned and walked around the pillar, heading quickly toward the rear hall.

At the same time, he thought to himself, "Check my status."

"The patient's movements are wide but did not irritate the wound. Please don't worry."

Chu Jiubian pressed his lips together; they felt somewhat numb, and the bitten spot itched slightly.

Damn bastard.

He cursed inwardly, then asked, "Is there a stronger dose of medication available?"

"Detected only minor abnormalities in the host's mental state. Excessive medication may cause physical harm and is not recommended."

Chu Jiubian paused.

Only minor abnormalities?

Qin Xiao watched the young man's retreating figure, raised a hand, and lightly wiped the moisture from the corner of his mouth, careful not to touch his lips.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then reopened them and strode toward the rear hall.

==

Outside the palace, the Vassal Princes said their goodbyes and got into their respective carriages, heading back to their estates.

Baili Zheng walked slowly; Baili Hao told his wife and kids to go back to the carriage first, then slowed his pace to walk alongside Baili Zheng, knowing the other surely had questions for him.

Sure enough, once the other princes had left, Baili Zheng stopped, watching the distant carriages drive away, and asked, "When did you get connected with the palace?"

"After arriving in the capital," Baili Hao answered truthfully.

Although his children felt an unusual closeness and trust toward Chu Jiubian, he and Sutu Anli had only connected with Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao after helping Cheng Shuo cure the gu poison.

Or rather, after making a deal.

They proved they held no hostility toward the emperor and had never acted against Qin Xiao, and Qin Xiao, in turn, promised not to move against Nanjiang.

It was a peaceful deal, beneficial to both sides.

As for whether deeper cooperation or further deals would follow, Baili Hao was open to it.

"Some matters are best left untouched," Baili Zheng turned to look at him, his expression as stern as ever. "Staying in your own lane, managing one's own affairs, and taking care of one's own people—that's how to live long."

He was just that kind of steady, almost rigid person.

From beginning to end, all he ever wanted was to be self-sufficient on his own lands, providing a better life for the people of his territory. As for developing the economy and building armed forces, these were merely means to protect himself and his people.

If possible, he would never have mobilized those tens of thousands of Pingxi troops.

Baili Hao understood him and could relate.

He used to think the same way.

But after the drought, he no longer felt that way.

As a vassal prince with real power, even if he wished to keep to his own territory, he would inevitably be drawn into these conflicts sooner or later. Only when the world was truly at peace, with the emperor's power absolute, could these upheavals be completely settled.

Even Baili Zheng would one day, whether by choice or by force, be caught up in this chaos.

For now, however, Baili Hao did not try to persuade him, merely nodding with a smile and saying, "I know."

Baili Zheng, who also understood him well, knew that he had no intention of backing down. He could only sigh softly, turn around, and stride away, leaving behind the words, "Watch yourself."

Baili Hao stood where he was, watching his carriage fade into the distance.

He wondered whether, in the future, the two brothers would fight side by side or end up as rivals.

"Darling." Sutu Anli's clear, gentle voice called out as the carriage curtain lifted not far away.

Baili Hao snapped out of his thoughts and looked over, only to see the woman retreat from the window, replaced by two nearly identical little faces squeezing into view.

He chuckled softly and walked over to board the carriage.

The four of them piled into the carriage, and it felt surprisingly cozy.

"Father," Situ Zhaoling said, clinging to her mother's arm with a bright smile, "don’t worry. Following Grand Tutor Sir is definitely the right choice."

Situ Zhaoyao also nodded. "Yes, Father. We just witnessed Senior Tutor Chu's methods. And with High Priest here too, two deities watching over things, Little Majesty won’t lose."

Baili Hao reached out and lightly tapped Situ Zhaoyao between the eyebrows. "We’re not in the village anymore. Don't go talking carelessly about court matters."

Situ Zhaoyao laughed. "Then can we talk about Little Majesty? He’s so tiny, looking so clever-looking and full of mischief, really adorable."

"Yeah!" Situ Zhaoling’s eyes lit up. "His cheeks look so soft—I wonder what it would feel like to pinch them."

"You two," Sutu Anli said with a sigh, "You’ve truly been spoiled."

Though she said this, her eyes were full of affection and indulgence.

She knew her children well—no matter how lively or childish they were at home, they knew how to act properly in public. There was no need to worry.

The carriage traveled further away, gradually disappearing into the wind and snow.

Before long, the wind eased, but the snow came down even harder.

In the main hall of Prince Dingbei’s residence, Baili Yu lounged on a couch, dressed in crimson underrobes. A brazier burned brightly beside him.

In his hand, he toyed with a porcelain jar the size of his palm containing a transparent spider about half the size of his palm.

The spider’s transparent body was veined with blood-red veins that pulsed and flowed.

Not far from him, a figure sat on a chair, entirely wrapped in black robes, their face hidden.

After a long silence, the black-robed figure grew restless and spoke in a voice that was hard to place as male or female: "Your Highness, there are still two living child-curses left. They could still be of some use."

Baili Yu smiled lazily.

Only then did he close the lid of the porcelain jar and casually toss it to the black-robed figure.

The other hurriedly caught it, gloves covering every inch of their hands, not a speck of skin exposed.

"Your skills are far inferior to Sutu Anli’s," Baili Yu said slowly.

The black-robed figure’s grip on the jar tightened. "This time was my failure. Next time—"

"Next time?" Baili Yu tilted his head to look at them, still smiling. "Next time, you’ll only lose even worse."

The black-robed figure lowered their head and fell silent.

Baili Yu withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Go back."

After a moment, the black-robed figure stood, bowed, and left the room.

At the same time, another person emerged from the inner chamber. Dressed in sheer red gauze, with a slender waist and long hair flowing down their back, their face appeared masculine, but their voice was surprisingly soft and melodic.

"Your Highness, allow me to attend to you," the man said, approaching the couch and slowly sitting down.

Baili Yu looked at him with a smile. As the man drew near, he reached out to gently stroke the other’s smooth black hair, though his eyes held a deep, thoughtful gaze.

He had once liked such ink-black hair, but now, it seemed he preferred that silvery white hue instead.

With a light wave of his hand, the room’s lamps dimmed, enveloping the space in an air of intimacy.

In the palace.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao were both in the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Tonight, they were to stay up with the little one for the New Year’s vigil.

Baili Hong sat by the table, propping his little face in his hands. His short legs swung back and forth, his eyes growing dazed, and his little head beginning to nod.

He was clearly dead tired.

But this was a custom of Great Ning, and when the late Empress was alive, she would also keep the little one company during the vigil.

Baili Hong remembered last New Year’s events, how his mother had said that children must stay awake to bring peace and safety in the coming year.

So, even though he was sleepy and out of it, he persisted.

Qin Xiao, recovering from injuries, should have been resting, but when Chu Jiubian suggested it, he insisted he wasn’t tired and wanted to stay.

Hong Fu, Xiao Xiangzi, Xiao Yuzi, and the other palace servants were in the outer room, gathered around two large round tables, making small talk. They seemed able to stay awake without any trouble, showing no sign of drowsiness.

Chu Jiubian watched as the little one yawned, and found himself yawning too, his eyes growing moist.

Qin Xiao looked over at him, his gaze inadvertently brushing over the barely visible cut on Chu Jiubian’s lip. His Adam’s apple bobbed.

Chu Jiubian gave him a look. "Aren’t you tired?"

Qin Xiao averted his eyes. "No."

Chu Jiubian checked the time and saw there were still two hours until midnight.

Just sitting around like this wasn't going to work.

He thought about it for a moment, realizing he wasn’t sure what people normally did during the New Year’s vigil.

"In previous years, I was almost always at the New Year's Eve Gala venue."

"Even earlier, before I joined the entertainment industry, I spent the nights alone at home or in the shop where I worked, cold and lonely, just like any other day."

"When I was younger, my memories of the New Year were filled with the scent of liquor, arguments, and crying."

"Back then, I really liked the sound of firecrackers outside. The windows and the entire old, dilapidated building would shake, masking all the sounds in the living room and allowing me to relax my tense body."

"System, what do normal people usually do during the New Year?" Chu Jiubian asked casually.

"Host, according to statistics, many people eat dumplings, watch TV, play cards, and give out red envelopes during the New Year..."

The System listed many activities, and Chu Jiubian was wide awake now.

"Get three decks of cards," he said.

Everyone in the hall now was trustworthy and firmly believed in Chu Jiubian’s divine status, so he wasn’t afraid to reveal another "miracle" in front of them.

So he directly produced three decks of cards from his system.

The sleepy child perked up immediately when he saw this.

"Master, what is that?" he asked curiously, staring at the three boxes of cards.

Chu Jiubian smiled and said, "It's something fun."

"Wow," the little boy exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Chu Jiubian called Xiao Xiangzi and Xiao Yuzi in, gave them two decks of cards, and taught them the simplest rules.

Such small tasks could be left to the children; there was no need for Hong Fu to handle it personally.

After hearing the rules, the two young attendants nodded eagerly to show they understood and quickly went to the antechamber.

Chu Jiubian heard them starting to explain the rules, then turned to Qin Xiao and Baili Hong, saying, "Let’s play a different game than they're playing."

With three people, it was naturally "dou dizhu" (fight the landlord). But in Great Ning, "dou dizhu" became "fighting the noble families." However, as soon as Baili Hong heard this, he protested with a pout and said, "Sir, I don’t want to be a noble family, and you shouldn’t either."

Qin Xiao chuckled and said, "It’s merely a name."

"It doesn’t sound nice," Baili Hong huffed.

"Why doesn’t it sound nice?" Qin Xiao said playfully. "Our Qin family is also a noble family."

"That’s different," Baili Hong retorted seriously. "The Qin family is good; noble families are bad."

Qin Xiao paused.

Chu Jiubian also looked at Baili Hong, with some emotion. He truly was the protagonist destined to eliminate the noble families—even at such a young age, he had such awareness.

Perhaps the little boy didn’t fully understand the meaning of his words yet, but he instinctively already disliked the existence of "noble families," and naturally, he also disliked the so-called powerful aristocracy.

Chu Jiubian suddenly remembered what happened after the palace banquet.

What Xun Xiuran wrote in the history books recorded every detail about this dynasty and the powerful elites in the court, but he wondered if there were any records about the common people.

As for why the content of the history books was the same as the original work, Chu Jiubian didn’t investigate it further.

Qin Xiao was right—since he could personally feel the reality of everything, there was no need to be trapped by the so-called "original work."

Moreover, since coming to this world, he had already changed many things.

Even if there were an original work or history books, they should all be rewritten for him, changing both the journey and the conclusion.

Chu Jiubian looked at Baili Hong and asked gently, "Then what does Your Majesty think we should call it?"

Baili Hong thought for a moment and said, "Let’s call it 'Fight the Tyrants'!"

"Good, we’ll call it 'Fight the Tyrants.'"

The little boy immediately started happily swinging his feet and shrugged his shoulders, laughing sheepishly.

Chu Jiubian also laughed and reached out to ruffle the boy's hair, but unexpectedly, Qin Xiao also reached out, and their hands met right above the little boy’s head.

All three of them froze.

Baili Hong was the first to react, actively shaking his head to rub against both adults’ hands and giggling.

Chu Jiubian didn’t look at Qin Xiao and calmly withdrew his hand.

Qin Xiao, however, glanced at him.

The palace staff in the outer room had already started playing, and the atmosphere grew even livelier than before.

The three in the inner room also began "Fight the Tyrants." At first, so everyone would understand the rules, Chu Jiubian took the role of the tyrant, with both winning and losing.

Later, Baili Hong wanted to challenge himself and kept insisting on being the tyrant.

The child was quite clever. Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao didn’t hold back, and they still played with both winning and losing.

Time passed unnoticed, and in the end, Qin Xiao was the tyrant twice consecutively, only to be defeated by Baili Hong and Chu Jiubian.

"Uncle lost again!" Baili Hong exclaimed happily, clapping his hands.

At the same time, the palace staff in the outer room also began cheering joyfully: "It’s New Year!"

Hong Fu walked into the inner hall, smiling, and said, "Your Majesty, sirs, the time has come. Let’s go outside to light the fireworks."

"Fireworks!" Baili Hong happily hopped down from his stool.

Hong Fu helped him put on his outer robe and a thick cloak, even putting the cloak’s little hood on him, before they all left the hall together.

Chu Jiubian also stood up and said, "Let’s go take a look too."

"Mm," Qin Xiao replied, taking their cloaks and handing Chu Jiubian’s to him.

Everyone went outside the hall, where more than a dozen fireworks Chu Jiubian had bought from the system were set up in the spacious courtyard.

"Begin!" Baili Hong called out in his clear voice.

"Yes," several palace staff responded in unison, and then the palace staff standing on both sides lit the fireworks with tinders.

Two fireworks shot into the sky simultaneously, exploding and blooming into brilliant sparks, like a dream, magical.

In the Cining Palace, the palace staff who heard the sounds couldn’t help but steal glances outside.

Grand Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan had already changed into her nightclothes. Startled by the noise at first, her face fell.

No one could see fireworks for the first time and not be captivated. She wanted to watch a little longer, but the thought that Chu Jiubian had created them to impress the young emperor killed the mood for her.

"Your Majesty, shall we go out and take a look?" the nanny whispered. "What if sparks fall into our courtyard and cause a disaster? It would be better to keep watch."

This was offering her a pretext.

Though feeling resentful, Xiao Ruohan listened to the sounds outside and said, "Help me change clothes."

In another part of the palace, An Wuji and Qin Zhaoyang stood side by side on a palace building rooftop, watching the fireworks set off near the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"What an incredible invention," An Wuji exclaimed.

Qin Zhaoyang replied, "Indeed. I just wonder when the Young Master will manage to develop firework-based weapons."

"Weapons?" An Wuji raised an eyebrow. "You mean those deafening explosions the Young Master used to kill the assassins?"

"Yes," Qin Zhaoyang said. "Anything that can harm people is a weapon."

He thought the sound of the fireworks was similar to that day’s explosions, though those had been much louder.

The fireworks were spectacular.

Baili Hong, a tiny figure standing in front of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, craned his neck upward to watch, his eyes bright.

Suddenly, he clasped his hands together in front of his chest, his little face full of sincerity. "I hope Empress Mother and my grandparents in heaven can see such beautiful fireworks too."

He muttered quietly, his words were lost beneath the fireworks.

Chu Jiubian also gazed at the sparks filling the sky, the flickering light and shadow playing across his face.

Qin Xiao wasn’t watching the fireworks—he was watching Chu Jiubian.

As the fireworks faded, Chu Jiubian’s first New Year in Great Ning drew to a close.

After the young emperor fell asleep, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao left the main hall.

Seeing Chu Jiubian heading toward the compound entrance, Qin Xiao hurried to his side and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Back to Yaotai Residence," Chu Jiubian replied.

Qin Xiao grabbed his wrist, and both came to a stop.

Their eyes met, and Qin Xiao said, "Don’t go. I won’t make a move on you."

Chu Jiubian: "?"

Make a move on what?

Truthfully, Chu Jiubian didn’t want to leave either, but he thought that since it was the New Year, Qin Chuan might come looking for Qin Xiao. It would be better for him to leave and not intrude on the brothers' time together.

Seeing that Qin Xiao had no intention of letting him go, Chu Jiubian asked, "Aren’t you waiting for someone else?"

"No," Qin Xiao said. "You go back to the hall first. I’ll stop by the Qin family and return soon."

As the eldest brother, he really ought to go back and see his younger siblings during the New Year.

Chu Jiubian didn’t protest. "Alright, I’ll freshen up and go to bed first then. I won’t wait for you."

"Mm." Qin Xiao thought it was wonderful that Chu Jiubian could have the heated floor installed in his hall.