The city was bustling, with a constant stream of traffic.
This street was formed by the intersection of several alleys. The houses were small, with mud walls and dirt roads. During the rainy spring season, the nearby ditches filled with water, algae floated around, mixing with the smell of grass and soil. The air was filled with an unpretentious, earthy scent, and the sounds of children playing at the alley entrance added a lively touch.
This was a common folk alley, far from the residences of nobles and officials, winding and difficult to find.
Deep in the alley was a rundown tavern. An old man with white hair emerged, carrying a wine jar. The tavern keeper called out, “Take care,” and the old man, though aged, was quite robust with a straight back. He responded cheerfully and walked away at a leisurely pace.
As he walked, he took a wrong turn. He slapped his forehead and said, “Oh dear,” then headed in another direction. It had been so many years since he had returned that he couldn’t even recognize his own house.
This was the place where Lou Panshun used to live. It wasn’t a good place to stay, not even minor officials would live here, but he loved the freedom and the bustling atmosphere. Even after the emperor granted him a mansion, he continued to live here.
Later, he got into trouble, and the mansion was reclaimed by the court. This small, obscure courtyard, however, was left untouched.
This place was good; though small, it had everything one needed. It was no worse than the bustling streets. A bit further down was a porcelain shop. Lou Panshun, being frugal, bought a tiny cup. His young apprentice, Xie Subai, was good in all aspects except for his habit of nitpicking, which was quite bothersome.
After buying the cup, he got a few side dishes to go with the wine. When he returned to the courtyard, a woman in a purple dress was standing at the door. Who else could it be but his young apprentice?
Ji Yuluo was looking at the dusty plaque at the entrance. The plaque once had the character “Lou” on it, but after being battered by the wind and rain, only half of the “木” character remained. She heard a noise, turned her head, and called out sternly, “Old man.”
Lou Panshun chuckled, “No manners.”
He pushed the door open, and a cloud of dust fell. The house was dirty and disorganized, clearly not having been tidied up. He had only arrived not long ago. Ji Yuluo followed him inside. The only clean spot was a square table that had been used, so she sat down there.
Lou Panshun busied himself in the kitchen for a while and brought out the wine and dishes. Once everything was ready, he took a sip of wine from a porcelain bowl and made a few satisfied sounds, looking carefree.
Ji Yuluo watched him but didn’t touch the wine.
After a few drinks, Lou Panshun finally stopped. The atmosphere suddenly quieted. He sighed slowly and smiled, “How are you finding life at the Huo Mansion?”
“Fine.”
Lou Panshun chuckled deeply, “These old matters were never meant for you to get involved in, but by a twist of fate, you turned out to be the daughter of the Dean of Imperial Academy. When I heard that you took the place of the Ji family’s eldest daughter to marry into the Huo family, I knew things wouldn’t be good. Huo Xian is very smart. If you ever crossed paths with him, he wouldn’t fail to recognize you. At first, I was very worried.”
Ji Yuluo blinked thoughtfully and said, “So that silver ring has a hidden secret. When he took it and didn’t return it to me, it must have been your token, to use in case of emergency, to save my life?”
Lou Panshun nodded, holding his bowl, “Yes, I knew he would follow the clues, but I also feared your impulsive nature might anger him. Seeing that you’re safe, I know he still remembers our old friendship.”
Ji Yuluo asked, “Then… do you want me to leave the Huo Mansion?”
“It was originally thought so.” Lou Panshun took a sip of wine and said, “Girl, let me ask you, what did Huo Xian say to you when you were investigating the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence?”
Ji Yuluo furrowed her brows slightly, “He wanted to erode the power of the Duke’s residence to strengthen himself, aiming to compete with the Eastern Depot. But later, I realized that he and the Eastern Depot were deeply intertwined, inseparable even if their bones were broken. They couldn’t be adversaries, but he probably truly intended to erode the Duke’s power.”
Lou Panshun looked at her, “Is that really the case? Didn’t you notice anything off? Don’t you think it’s taken too long to deal with the Duke’s residence? The Jinyiwei are highly efficient, even if there’s no crime, they can fabricate one. Not to mention they’ve found such substantial evidence. If he wanted to bring down the Xiao family, he has plenty of ways to do it. Why hasn’t he acted yet?”
Ji Yuluo’s frown deepened, her breathing became more rapid.
Why hasn’t he acted? Of course, it’s because the evidence was insufficient. But Lou Panshun was right. Hiding tens of thousands of soldiers is a major issue. No matter how cautious the Xiao family is, how could they not leave any clues? The Jinyiwei have extraordinary abilities. Having come this far, how could they not find anything?
It’s not that they didn’t find anything, it’s that they already have.
But if he didn’t want to deal with the Xiao family, why go to such lengths? If he did want to deal with them, what is he waiting for?
Lou Panshun poured more wine and sighed, “Let me tell you a story.”
He rested his hands on his knees, drank the bowl of wine in one gulp, and as he recalled the past, a wry smile appeared on his lips. He said, “Rumor has it that I was ordered to pacify the Eastern Palace and capture the Crown Prince, but the truth is quite different.”
Back then, Emperor Xianzhen was already old and bedridden, unable to even hold a pen, and had others endorse his decrees.
When he heard that the Eastern Palace was rebelling, Emperor Xianzhen immediately spat blood. The imperial physician said it was a severe emotional shock. Emperor Xianzhen pretended to be furious and summoned Lou Panshun to the palace, ordering him to arrest the Crown Prince for interrogation overnight.
He tightly grasped Lou Panshun’s hand, cursing his rebellious son, but slipped a letter into Lou Panshun’s palm.
Lou Panshun was startled, and when he looked at Emperor Xianzhen again, the aged emperor was filled with a pleading look. In his youth, to secure his throne, he had heavily relied on the eunuch faction, causing the rise of the Eastern Depot, which interfered in politics. It was too late for regrets. He knew the Eastern Palace was just and upright and would inevitably become a thorn in the eunuch faction’s side, to be eliminated one day. He also knew that treacherous ministers ruled the court, leaving no place for the righteous.
Therefore, in his letter, he wrote: The eunuchs have ruined the country; the empire is on the brink of collapse. This is my fault. If one day the Eastern Palace is in peril, I implore you to save my descendants and keep them away from trouble to ensure their safety.
He never believed the Crown Prince was plotting rebellion, never.
And if it weren’t Lou Panshun, someone else would have been sent to pacify the Eastern Palace. But if it fell into the hands of the eunuch faction, there would truly be no hope for the Eastern Palace. The emperor trusted only Lou Panshun and entrusted this matter to him.
But no one expected that right after Lou Panshun led troops into the Eastern Palace, it caught fire!
A premeditated fire, blocking almost all escape routes.
The Crown Prince, Crown Princess, eldest grandson, and all the palace maids and eunuchs were trapped in the palace. The Crown Princess, six months pregnant, died under a collapsed beam. The Crown Prince was heartbroken and, seeing the increasing flames, realized there was no hope. He entrusted the eldest grandson to Lou Panshun.
That night, in the chaos of the Eastern Palace, Lou Panshun faked their deaths, carrying the barely alive young prince out of the palace and hiding him in this broken courtyard for several days.
The disaster at the Eastern Palace caused Emperor Xianzhen great grief. Lou Panshun had intended to inform the emperor of the truth, but within days, news came that the emperor had passed away.
Soon, there was a new emperor, the current former emperor.
Having been entrusted, Lou Panshun could only take the Crown Prince’s eldest son away from the capital, hiding their identities and calling each other uncle and nephew. Everything he did afterward, including establishing the Cuixue Tower, was to prepare for the young prince’s return to the capital.
But later, Xie Subai deviated further and further. As an observer, Lou Panshun gradually became unwilling to tolerate him anymore, but he couldn’t interfere either. He had no choice but to throw up his hands and leave everything alone. Who would have thought that Xie Subai, with his determined will, managed everything well despite his frail body?
In the end, it was under his leadership that Cuixue Tower made its name.
Lou Panshun pulled himself out of his memories and said, “Nowadays, people say that the eunuchs and the Jinyiwei ruined the country. But if you look back at the incident in the Eastern Palace, is it only the eunuch faction that’s at fault? The evidence against the Crown Prince was presented by the Dali Temple, involving multiple parties with complete testimonies and material evidence. If you want to say where the rot in the court is, it’s everywhere, rotten to the core! Just like you seeking revenge for the Qiao family—where did their calamity come from? It’s because the court is corrupt! What does Zhao Yong matter? If he dies, the Eastern Depot still exists, and the root of the disaster remains! If you can’t uproot it completely, the disaster of the Eastern Palace and the Qiao family is just a drop in the ocean. Do you understand now why I always advise you to let go? Killing people can never end it, Luo’er.”
Ji Yuluo lowered her eyes, staring at the old tabletop without moving. The more turbulent her heart was, the more expressionless she appeared. She said, “Master means that Huo Xian intends to… abolish the Eastern Depot and cleanse the court?”
Lou Panshun tilted his head back, drinking a bowl of wine that burned his throat painfully. He said, “You never saw him in his youth, unruly and rebellious, utterly uncontrollable and unable to discern right from wrong, acting entirely on whims. I thought then that this child was incredibly gifted, but if not properly guided, he would inevitably go astray. So I often kept him by my side, teaching him righteousness day in and day out, but he never listened… I… I…”
Lou Panshun’s hand, resting on the table, clenched into a fist. “I later thought, it was not unexpected for him to turn out like this. It’s just a pity that fate didn’t allow me to teach him for a few more years. Until this time, when I visited Prince Wang in Tongzhou and happened to meet an old friend, you must have heard of him, Grand Tutor Xu He.”
Ji Yuluo abruptly raised her head, recalling the scene at the city gate that day: Xu He.
Lou Panshun, his eyes stung by the wine, wiped away tears with his hand and said, “When the former emperor passed away, the courtiers selected a new emperor from among the imperial relatives. Prince Wang, with his firm and upright character, most resembled the Crown Prince Huaijin and thus had the highest reputation. But the eunuch faction, with their ruthless methods, forcibly installed Prince Qi as the new emperor and, fearing Prince Wang’s faction’s persistent ambitions, ordered strict surveillance and confinement to his fiefdom. Over the years, Tongzhou was ostensibly under control, but in reality, it had amassed considerable military strength, biding its time and waiting for the right moment. Why do you think that is?”
Ji Yuluo’s sharp gaze fixed on the wine in front of her.
Abolish the Eastern Depot, cleanse the court, and welcome a new emperor!
What a grand scheme, but it was disrupted by an unexpected old acquaintance. If Xie Subai takes control of the capital, Prince Wang’s claim to the throne will be illegitimate.
Moreover, why did Lou Panshun suddenly go to Tongzhou and pay respects to Prince Wang? Even Emperor Shun’an knew to guard against Prince Wang, so how could Xie Subai not know? Surely, he made a preemptive move, and Lou Panshun went to intercept it.
Xie Subai can become emperor, but in Huo Xian’s eyes, the current Xie Subai is no longer fit to be emperor.
No wonder he had that expression after meeting Xie Subai—not sorrow, not anger, but a numbness of utter exhaustion.
The sun drifted, shadows danced on the window lattice, and the sky grew dark with the threat of rain.
Ji Yuluo slightly bent her fingers, gripping the wine cup, “What does Master want me to do?”
–
Outside the imperial study, the eunuchs looked up at the sky, hurriedly ordering the dragon carriage to be moved under the eaves, then pressed their ears to listen to the sounds inside.
Several ministers of the Military Council stood to the side, along with the Duke of Zhenguo and Marquis Xuanping, all with serious expressions. Emperor Shun’an paced back and forth on the steps like a restless crab. “This Prince Xingnan! I sensed his discontent when I was still in my fiefdom, but I never thought he would dare raise an army and march north now. This is treason! Treason!”
The Deputy Minister of War hastily clasped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, Prince Xingnan aims for the capital. We must intercept him quickly. If he reaches the northern borders, it will be too late.”
Emperor Shun’an said, “Indeed! Tell me, who should be sent?”
The Deputy Minister of War choked; such a task would offend someone, so he didn’t speak.
He shrank his head like a quail, causing Emperor Shun’an to angrily throw a few more memorials.
The Minister of Revenue spoke up first: “Your Majesty, the urgent matter now isn’t who to send, but…we have no money, no men, and even if we appoint a general, it would be useless!”
Emperor Shun’an was furious: “What use are you then? You’re supposed to find solutions for me! All you do is shirk responsibility!”
The Minister of Revenue, feeling wronged, fell silent and shrank his neck, not daring to speak up again.
The imperial study was in chaos, with memorials flying everywhere. Huo Xian kept his head down, his gaze drifting over Xiao Cheng’s shadow on the ground. After a long silence, as a memorial landed at his feet, he suddenly spoke, “Your Majesty need not worry about the matter of vindication.”
As his words fell, the hall fell silent, and everyone looked at him, including a gaze from the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence.
Huo Xian clasped his hands and bowed, “The Duke of Zhenguo once served as a censor in Yunyang and is well-acquainted with the southern regions. He foresaw the actions of Prince Xingnan days ago and has already prepared thousands of troops. He is willing to take your Majesty’s command and lead the army to fight, but he feared that the other ministers might have better ideas, so he did not speak up. But seeing everyone shirking responsibility, it would be a waste of the Duke’s intentions.”
The hall was silent as if no one was there.
Emperor Shun’an was overjoyed and said, “Really? Duke Xiao, is what Governor Huo said true? You are already prepared?”
Huo Xian kept his head down, his eyes on the golden dragon pattern on Emperor Shun’an’s black boots, but he could sense the gaze of Zhao Yong not far ahead—full of shock, curiosity, and as deep as a snake slithering over him.
