Chapter 81

Chapter 81

When he emerged from Cining Palace, it was already past noon. Ying Fusheng took leave of the Empress Dowager and exited the palace, and as he walked down the palace path, he saw the carriage waiting in the distance. Song An helped him aboard, and as soon as he entered, he saw Qi Hanzhou seated within, his sword resting beside him, as if he had been waiting there for some time. Ying Fusheng took his seat and signaled for the carriage to proceed: "Were you waiting for me here?"

"The palace business is done; I was passing by anyway." Qi Hanzhou saw that his expression was normal and that there were no unusual movements in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. "What you did at court today was too risky."

Ying Fusheng smiled. "Is the Junior General worried about me?"

"Stay calm in the face of great events," Qi Hanzhou replied. "You could have pinned today’s matter onto Minister Liu."

After this, there was a silence in the carriage. Ying Fusheng was taken aback, then looked at Qi Hanzhou: "Really worried?"

He leaned in abruptly, still with that probing look—half smile, half scrutiny. Over the many times they had conferred in the past, Ying Fusheng would occasionally show such a playfully sly expression. Qi Hanzhou’s back pressed against the carriage wall, but Ying Fusheng suddenly turned back.

"Then the Emperor would wonder who gave Minister Liu the idea."

Ying Fusheng knew the importance of hiding one's edge, but sometimes hiding too deeply only leads to constraints and breeds suspicion. "Rather than being passive, it's better to take the initiative." His second imperial brother was clever enough to know how to muddy the waters and stir up chaos, but if he kept on like this, he could only bide his time, unable to show his fangs—and one mistake could expose his true colors.

He lounged lazily against the soft cushion on the carriage side, his gaze drifting past the window. "If I were the one behind the scenes, once the water conservancy project succeeds, my only opportunities would be the Grand Sacrifice and the water conservancy project itself. What do you think he and my second imperial brother will choose?"

Qi Hanzhou looked at him. He leaned against the window, his expression slack, weariness in his brows and eyes. "If you're tired, rest a bit."

"The air is stifling." Ying Fusheng glanced slightly out the window. The lingering dampness made summer and autumn the most unbearable seasons.

The carriage burned calming incense that was good for his health, and at such times, he always grew drowsy.

As he spoke, he half-closed his eyes to rest, and gradually grew quiet.

Just then, a falcon slipped in from outside. Qi Hanzhou fixed his gaze on it, then turned to remove the urgent message from its talon. After taking the letter, he came back to himself and realized that the person beside him had fallen asleep. He instinctively softened his movements. The falcon beside him tried to hop away, and he pressed it down.

The youth seemed disturbed by the movement, and a strand of his loose hair happened to fall onto Qi Hanzhou’s hand.

The strand wrapped around his fingers, and Qi Hanzhou’s gaze flickered. He caught a subtle fragrance beneath the medicinal scent. Having dealt with this man for years, having forged an alliance for years—in the blink of an eye, it had been five years since the youth’s coming of age. For the first time, Qi Hanzhou looked at his face this closely: clear brow line, pale but gentle lips. When awake, he would curl his lips into a smile that was depthless, cold and distant.

But when asleep, that habitual distance would quietly fade away, leaving only the sharp-edged youth’s underlying gentleness.

Qi Hanzhou’s fingertips moved slightly, and the strand of hair settled into his palm.

He noticed one white strand among the black—too much wisdom bordering on the supernatural, too deep in thought.

Outside the window, the wind began to stir. He lowered his gaze, letting the strand’s faint fragrance float quietly amidst the medicinal air. He reached for the cloak beside him.

The falcon stopped and curiously perched nearby.

"Be quiet," he muttered.

Qi Hanzhou took the cloak. The motion of casually draping it paused, then became unexpectedly careful.

"Your Highness, it's raining!" came a voice from outside the carriage.

Qi Hanzhou’s hand froze just as the cloak settled over Ying Fusheng, who suddenly woke up. His eyes still held a sleepy, watery gleam. The two of them were suddenly so close that Ying Fusheng’s gaze halted for a moment, then he leaned slightly to one side, resting against Qi Hanzhou’s shoulder. The carriage was not spacious; being this near, Ying Fusheng couldn’t help but look at him. When the rear curtain moved with the wind, a chill draft swept in.

The rain was coming.

The rain came suddenly, a heavy downpour. Song An hurried back to the residence to fetch umbrellas. Ying Fusheng lifted the carriage curtain only to have wind and rain sting his eyes, and as he instinctively recoiled, an arm behind him steadied him.

"Your Highness, the umbrella is here!" Song An shouted.

Qi Hanzhou got out of the carriage first and then turned back, extending his hand.

It happened to meet Ying Fusheng’s reaching hand. Ying Fusheng felt his hand enclosed in a broad palm; when he came to himself, an umbrella had been opened above him, blocking the wind and rain. He was guided into the residence, with the wet rain blocked by the cloak. When he came to his senses, they were already under the eaves.

Qi Hanzhou brushed some raindrops off of him, gave a slight bow, and took his leave.

"Your Highness, you didn’t get wet, did you?" Song An was worried that his master might catch a chill and run a fever.

Ying Fusheng came back to himself slightly. His cloak was damp, but there was no moisture on his person. The lingering warmth on his fingertips was the warmth of another person. He looked out the window as Qi Hanzhou held the umbrella and walked into the curtain of rain, quickly disappearing.

"This rain came at a bad time," Song An said.

A smile suddenly crossed Ying Fusheng’s face. "Yes, it came at a bad time."

Song An said, "Doesn’t Your Highness wish to keep the Junior General a little longer?"

Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes. The curtain of rain before him was hazy—like an untimely but providential rain, or like the prelude to a true storm.

He said softly, "Heaven is about to fall into chaos..."

In his previous life, the Deposed Crown Prince had launched a palace coup. The Court and Country had fallen into the hands of the Xu family. Just before the coup, the most uncontrollable event was the loss of the northern border. It was then that Qi Hanzhou, who had already gained control of the palace and its surroundings, was forced to take an imperial order and hurry north. The General of the Northern Garrison, Qi Shen, was titled the Prince of the Northern Garrison of Dayuan, a different-surname prince. He held the northern border to the death, until the very end when his father the Emperor died in the coup. The Qi family rebelled, and the new emperor ascended the throne.

By calculation, in his previous life, the first time he met Qi Hanzhou was at age eighteen, when he was under house arrest for military accounts. Now, the time was drawing near. How the northern border was to be lured into crisis remained a mystery. Even now, less than three years before their first meeting, he had repeatedly broken the schemes of the person behind the scenes, which inevitably forced that person to act in desperation.

He hoped this storm would not spin out of control.

Outside the residence, Ye Xuanjiu was waiting at a hidden post. From this morning at court until now, they had already cleared out no fewer than two groups of spies—all coming to spy on the Sixth Prince’s residence. The Sixth Prince’s speech at court had touched not only the secret faction of the shadowy mastermind but also the open factions within the court.

He looked up as the Junior General entered from outside, and noticed he was half-soaked. "Junior General, why didn’t you stay longer at the Sixth Prince’s place?"

Qi Hanzhou paused. "Why?"

"You never come back in less than an hour." Ye Xuanjiu continued, "But it’s good to have the Sixth Prince. If those dogs behind the scenes succeed in stirring up the situation, the northern border will be in trouble. The Northern Barbarians are already watching hungrily."

Qi Hanzhou removed his wet outer garment and asked, "Have they been interrogated?"

"Yes." Ye Xuanjiu only then reacted, saying, "One group is from the First Prince; the other yielded nothing."

He sighed at how deep the Junior General’s plans went. A few days ago, he had entered the palace to report activity around the Sixth Prince’s residence, and had plausibly received the Emperor’s permission to guard outside it. "An imperial order just came in, telling us we can withdraw our men."

Qi Hanzhou nodded as he listened to the confessions the Imperial Guard had extracted. "Is that all?"

"There is one more thing." Ye Xuanjiu lowered his voice. "The Chief of Imperial Guard has gone south."

Hearing this news, Qi Hanzhou’s brow furrowed in concern. The Imperial Guard had a chief and a deputy chief. The chief had always been mysterious and reclusive, the Emperor’s trusted man, and only took orders from the Emperor. In these few years, Qi Hanzhou had only seen him three times. With the Grand Sacrifice looming, the fact that he had suddenly gone south meant that something must have gone wrong in the south.

Ye Xuanjiu said, "The Emperor issued a special order. During the chief’s absence, you are to take full charge of the Imperial Guard and oversee the Grand Sacrifice arrangements."

Qi Hanzhou’s expression grew serious. He recalled Ying Fusheng’s words from earlier in the carriage:

"If I were the person behind the scenes, my only opportunities would be the Grand Sacrifice and the water conservancy project..."

Qi Hanzhou whistled. The falcon swooped down from above and landed steadily on his arm.

When he released it, the falcon flew north.

-*

Inside the Prince of Qin’s mansion in Western Shu, the moment the news from the court was sent to Western Shu via express post—eight hundred li a day—the Prince of Qin’s heir’s traveling party, which was about to depart, was urgently halted. The subordinates quickly brought the news into the mansion. In the main hall, the Prince of Qin read the news about the water conservancy project and his face darkened. "Are you sure this is the news from the capital?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it’s not just our mansion. The court’s messengers have also headed to Jiangnan," said the messenger. "At court, the Emperor gave the order. The Ministry of Rites drafted the proposal, and the official proclamation has spread throughout the capital and its outskirts. The local prefectures are all posting the news..."

If the messenger’s words could still be doubted, once the proclamation was posted, all under heaven would know.

Prince of Qin waved the others out, then looked at the military advisor behind him. "He's serious about building the water project."

"Your Highness, if this is true, you cannot plead illness; it would hurt your standing with the people," the military advisor said. "Moreover, word has it that the Grand Sacrifice this time has been entrusted to that Qi family member."

Qi family... Qi Hanzhou, is it?

The emperor truly trusts this blade, yet it is a blade that no one except the Imperial Power can wield.

Prince of Qin pondered deeply, a serious look settling on his face. The situation in the capital differed from his expectations. He then said, "Keep my heir in the residence. I will go to the capital myself. Also, prepare the palace troops."

His gaze turned cold, and the military advisor understood immediately.

He had to see for himself how things were in the capital.

The imperial courier rushed to both Western Shu and Jiangnan. Not only Prince of Qin's residence but all other princely households received the news.

Upon receiving it, Prince Jin of Jiangnan set off immediately, and the marquises, who had been on the fence, had no choice but to follow suit.

Soon, the news of the court's grand proclamation about the water project spread across the land. The common folk rejoiced and flocked to local government offices to inquire. As a result, support swelled across the lands.

On the twenty-third day of the ninth month, princes and marquises from various regions arrived in the capital one after another.

As their carriages entered the capital, the city saw unusual liveliness. The Ministry of Works put up notices to recruit skilled craftsmen from all over. On the streets, people praised the emperor for building the water project for the people's welfare, hailing him as the true Son of Heaven.

"These princes and marquises are really scared of trouble," Ye Xuanjiu observed. "Every one of them brought shadow guards."

Qi Hanzhou looked at the mansions where the nobility were staying. In the regions of Western Shu and Jiangnan, the three most powerful princes were Prince of Qin, Prince Jin, and Prince of Pingnan. He noticed one was missing from the group: "Prince of Pingnan hasn't come this year either."

"Prince of Pingnan hasn't attended since the last Grand Sacrifice. He is advanced in age, and the late emperor granted him a special exemption," Ye Xuanjiu said. "This year, the Prince of Pingnan's Heir has come. He went to the palace to see the emperor and delivered Prince of Pingnan's personal letter."

Prince of Pingnan had ties with the late emperor; he was the late emperor's brother, and in the late emperor's day, they had guarded Dayuan's borders, one in the south, one in the north. Considering his age, Prince of Pingnan's health might not be robust now, but he still commanded the most troops in the south. Years ago, he had intended to hand over military power, but the south still needed defending, and the Prince of Pingnan's residence was needed to keep the restless princes in check.

Qi Hanzhou frowned. "Post men to watch Prince of Qin and Prince Jin. See if they have any contact with the Second Prince."

Days passed.

The Grand Sacrifice was about to begin. Five days before the ceremony, the Imperial Clan refrained from legal proceedings, avoided alcohol, and abstained from meat.

Preparations for the sacrifices were made, and the ritual of slaughtering animals was performed.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard kept watch day and night, ensuring everything involving the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works was in order. On the eve of the Grand Sacrifice, all shadow guards of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were deployed throughout the capital, monitoring every move of the princes and marquises. Finally, the day of the Grand Sacrifice arrived. The capital's procession was grand and majestic. The emperor rode at the front, with the Imperial Clan behind, all the way to the northern mountains.

Behind the emperor followed the princes who had already left the palace.

After the three princes, an unexpected figure appeared in the emperor's retinue. According to ritual protocol, princes who had not yet established themselves should be behind, but the emperor's favor for the Sixth Prince was extraordinary, allowing him to walk in line with the other three princes. Among the Imperial Clan behind, many glances fell on Ying Fusheng.

On Lingxiao Terrace, incense smoke swirled, blue wisps rising. The emperor slowly ascended the steps, reaching the summit to gaze at the heavens. As he completed his rites, bells and drums sounded in unison, officials prostrated themselves, and outside the terrace, the common people held their breath.

Ying Fusheng stood on Lingxiao Terrace, listening to the Ministry of Rites officials chanting the eulogy. His eyes swept over the surrounding princes and marquises. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was on high alert. As the ceremony passed through each stage, finally, the national preceptor's blessing for good weather was recited, and the Grand Sacrifice was formally concluded.

Qi Hanzhou watched from afar. Despite the heavy ritual robes, Ying Fusheng didn't look tired.

He had closely monitored the princes and marquises for a long time, but saw no contact with the Second Prince.

The Grand Sacrifice went without incident.

As the ceremony ended, an auspicious rain fell, and the people cheered.

The Ministry of Rites presented the sacrificial wine. The emperor was overjoyed and distributed it to the princes and ministers, sharing the grace of heaven. This finally put the visiting princes and marquises at ease. They congratulated the emperor, confirming that he had no intention of revoking military power.

At the separate hall outside Lingxiao Terrace, after the sacrificial feast, Ying Fusheng arrived to find the princes and marquises already present.

He looked at the men beside the emperor—his father's brothers. One was Prince of Qin from Western Shu, tall and imposing, with a warrior's presence. Beside him was Prince Jin from Jiangnan, smaller in build, always smiling and cheerful, the opposite of Prince of Qin, more like a scholar.

The emperor had three brothers: Prince of Qin, Prince Jin, and Prince Yongjia.

Among them, Prince Yongjia was the late emperor's favorite, then Prince Jin, and finally Prince of Qin.

"Father and his brothers have always gotten along well," the Second Prince came over and stood beside Ying Fusheng. "Father hasn't seen his uncles in years. This Grand Sacrifice is a good chance to catch up. Thanks to your water project, it's a big help to the southern regions."

Ying Fusheng turned to look at him. "I haven't seen my uncles much."

"The last time they came was when Father returned in triumph. It's understandable that you haven't met them, Sixth Brother," the Second Prince said casually. "Why don't I introduce you? Look, Elder Brother is already over there talking. You brought up the water project, and Elder Brother is very interested."

Not far away, the First Prince was already conversing with Prince Jin.

Ying Fusheng smiled back. "Elder Brother cares about the people, so of course he's interested."

His gaze shifted slightly to the Second Prince. "Second Brother has been with the Ministry of Personnel for a while. The selection of artisans for the water project requires the Ministry of Personnel's screening. Why don't you go over and talk to them?"

At this, the Second Prince's smile faded a little. "Your second brother isn't very sharp at politics. I'll let Minister Meng handle that. The artisans must also pass the Ministry of Works' examination."

The two exchanged a few words, each loaded with hidden meaning.

Compared to before, the Second Prince's attitude toward him had changed. Gone were the tentative tests; instead, he was closing in, showing some sharpness.

The Second Prince kept his composure, standing beside Ying Fusheng, gently placing a hand on his younger brother's shoulder, looking like a loving sibling. But he said softly, "Besides, the road is long. How can we know what's happening a thousand li away?"

As he spoke, a man rushed up. Ying Fusheng recognized him as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard by the corner of his eye—the hem of his robe was different, not the regular capital guard, but a local second-level guard.

A local second-level Embroidered Uniform Guard... Ying Fusheng watched as the man whispered a few words to the emperor. The emperor's smile faded slightly, and he waved his hand, walking away.

An urgent report arriving during the Grand Sacrifice night banquet could only mean a crisis.

And Qi Hanzhou was not here.

"This rainy season has dragged on. I hope it's a blessed rain." The Second Prince withdrew his hand, looking out the window, and sighed, "But if the rain lasts this long, your water project, Sixth Brother, will probably be delayed."

Ying Fusheng's heart raced. His knuckles whitened beneath his sleeve.

A horrifying possibility dawned on him.

In the side hall, as soon as the emperor arrived, he heard the Embroidered Uniform Guard kneeling to report— "Your Majesty, the Commander is missing. According to an urgent report, heavy rain hit the south. The Jiangling dike burst, and the floodwaters are moving toward the three districts of Jiangnan!"