The maid responded and entered, having prepared hot water.
Ji Yuluo walked to the edge of the curtain and looked back at Huo Xian. She didn’t speak, but the inquiry in her eyes seemed tentative. Huo Xian looked at her and said, “You first, then me. Don’t try to tempt me.”
“……”
Ji Yuluo hadn’t intended to tempt him; after all, there were clearly two bathtubs in the bathing room, separated by a screen. There was no need to waste time taking turns.
She didn’t respond to his words and went straight in.
Huo Xian listened to the sounds, lowered his head, and pinched the bridge of his nose. Once he was fully awake, he remembered the ruined Ning Prince’s Mansion from his dream.
He slowly exhaled, got up, and pushed open the door and window, letting the wind blow in.
The midsummer night’s breeze was cool. Listening to the light sound of water, his heart gradually calmed down.
Huo Xian looked at the phoenix tree outside the window.
That night, when the emperor encountered trouble, it happened suddenly. He was indeed anxious. Rescuing the emperor was an instinctive action because he wasn’t ready for chaos in the capital, and he hadn’t decided on the fate of the Ning Prince either.
Would Lianyu… or Xie Subai leave a way out for the Ning Prince’s Mansion? He knew well the great prestige of the Ning Prince.
But as these days passed, things had reached this point, and he instead calmed down, his mind calculating.
Ji Yuluo came out in dry clothes. Huo Xian didn’t ask for more water to be prepared and quickly washed himself with her water.
By the time he sat at the table, he was calm, neither angry nor amorous.
She withdrew her gaze from the half-open white chrysanthemums under the eaves and said, “Nanny Liu is really good at managing the courtyard.”
Huo Xian replied, “Hmm, she can never stay idle.”
Ji Yuluo returned to serious matters and said, “Actually, you know, the ascension of Xie—Crown Prince wasn’t so bad. He hates everyone, including Zhao Yong. He won’t reuse the eunuch faction. The eunuch faction has no way out in his hands, which is already much better than during Emperor Shun’an’s time. He may not be that good, but he isn’t that bad either. Your only worry is the Ning Prince.”
The road to the throne for the Ning Prince had a hundred steps. Huo Xian had already pushed him back fifty steps. Now, moving forward or backward was difficult.
Moving forward would mean a bloody battle, one misstep, and the Ning Prince would be labeled a rebel, which Huo Xian didn’t want to see. Retreating would mean death by someone else’s blade; no one would spare him. Even the incompetent Emperor Shun’an knew to send the Jinyiwei to monitor the Ning Prince.
But even without Huo Xian, when the imperial clan chose the emperor back then, the Ning Prince, who nearly lost, was destined to be hanging by a thread.
It seemed there were only two paths left for him: either become emperor or die.
And Xie Subai’s instigation of war, his secret attempts on Huo Xian’s life, all made Huo Xian uneasy.
He couldn’t hope that Xie Subai would show mercy to the Ning Prince.
Huo Xian couldn’t afford to bet, so he refused to back down.
However, Xie Subai had made his move early.
This means he is very likely to take the throne before the rebels invade the capital. If the imperial city is in danger, he won’t stand idly by.
Before that, he has three tasks to accomplish. The first is to have Emperor Shun’an abdicate reasonably; the second is to force Xiao Cheng to rebel; and the third is, naturally, to persuade the court officials.
Xie Subai has already begun the first task. Although Emperor Shun’an’s life hangs on, he won’t last long. The court needs a new emperor. As for forcing Xiao Cheng to rebel, that’s even easier. Xiao Cheng already harbors disloyalty, and he might rebel on his way back to the capital without any provocation. This would add to the chaos in Dayong, making the court more desperate to establish a new emperor.
However, each step is not without risks for Xie Subai.
If he follows his previous plan, trapping the court like catching a turtle in a jar, he could sit back and watch the court, Huo Xian, and the rebels fight to the death before stepping in. But since he acted early, if all goes well, the new emperor will have to eliminate the rebels.
He needs soldiers, and Huo Xian has the Jinyiwei and the troops of the Ning Prince’s Mansion.
This is both a negotiation and a transaction.
Huo Xian looked at Ji Yuluo and, without needing her to say much, asked, “Can you guarantee that he will tolerate the Ning Prince?”
“I can guarantee it, as long as the Ning Prince doesn’t act rashly.” Ji Yuluo lowered her eyes under Huo Xian’s gaze and said, “Moreover, this is only temporary. For the Ning Prince, as long as there is life, there is hope. He might still have a chance.”
Huo Xian’s brows furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”
–
The night wind was strong, blowing fine sand into the room.
Chaolu had an upset stomach and was squatting under a tree, holding her belly. Nanyue said something to her, causing her to bare her teeth and reach for her sword to cut him.
The two chased each other around the courtyard until Nanny Liu scolded them.
Ji Yuluo walked over to close the window, and the noise immediately receded.
She sat cross-legged on the mat and reached for the jade-green teapot. Her graceful movements while pouring tea were a stark contrast to her demeanor when wielding a sword. Huo Xian saw another person’s shadow in her.
He got up and sat beside her.
The teapot contained plain water, tasteless. Ji Yuluo sipped it and wouldn’t drink more. She lowered her head, appearing distracted, and didn’t speak for a long time. Huo Xian didn’t rush her, quietly drinking water to quench his thirst.
They had planned to discuss matters after bathing and eating, but neither had the mind to eat anymore.
After the third cup of water, Ji Yuluo finally spoke, “I met Xie Subai seven or eight years ago. Even then, his health was already poor.”
Huo Xian’s hand trembled slightly, spilling a few drops of water, as if anticipating what she was about to say.
Ji Yuluo continued, “In my memory, he had to drink medicine every day, not just once. He took more medicine than food. He couldn’t get angry or speak too much at once, as it would make him cough uncontrollably. But ever since a doctor named Yue came two years ago, I thought his health had gradually improved. Yet, in the end, he’s just forcing himself.”
Huo Xian fell silent, gripping his cup tightly. “I’ll find an imperial physician for him.”
“An imperial physician won’t help.” Ji Yuluo looked at him and said, “He has exhausted himself over the years, his body too depleted. It’s as if he doesn’t care about his life. I didn’t understand why he rushed into the fray, but now I do. Huo Xian, he’s running out of time.”
He’s running out of time.
These words struck Huo Xian like a heavy blow to the head. So, during their last meeting, when he said he couldn’t wait any longer, this was what he meant… No wonder he acted so urgently.
His breathing quickened, and Ji Yuluo could even hear the frequency of his breaths. Huo Xian clenched his fist and said, “What do you mean he doesn’t care about his life? Is the throne more important than his life?”
“Yes, it is more important than his life,” Ji Yuluo replied. “So if someone blocks his path, he won’t hesitate to destroy everything. But he has no offspring, so… Master said that if the Ning Prince faces off against the ruler now, it would only lead to mutual destruction. It’s not worth it. It’s better to hold back and wait.”
Lou Panshun said that everyone has a demon in their heart. For Ji Yuluo, it’s the Qiao family she can’t get past, and for Xie Subai, it’s the Eastern Palace and Crown Prince Huaijin. It’s a nightmare forged by hatred and resentment, an obsession no one can dispel or persuade him to let go of.
Lou Panshun didn’t dare to advise him because he had witnessed the tragic situation of the Eastern Palace and seen the old scars on Xie Subai’s body, marks that hasten one’s demise.
Huo Xian didn’t speak for a long time. He kept his head down, fiddling with the teaware on the low table, and said hoarsely, “I want to see him.”
It was already late at night. Having slept well during the day, Huo Xian was not at all sleepy. After having a meal, he lay on the couch with Ji Yuluo in his arms for a while. After she fell asleep, he paced to the study.
A painting hung on the wall behind the desk.
This painting was originally in the inner room, but since he thought he would no longer enter the inner room after marrying a woman from the Ji family, he had it moved to the study.
He used to look at this painting every night, repeatedly recalling those people from the past, reinforcing his beliefs over and over.
But when the real Crown Prince Lianyu appeared before him, those unshakable supports seemed to waver, making him momentarily confused and lost.
But this wasn’t a matter of black and white. He couldn’t even say it was Xie Subai’s fault.
Huo Xian sat in the chair, bent over with his face in his hands, rubbing it vigorously. Nanyue pushed the door open, paused at the sight, and said, “Master? Um, Liyang is here.”
Huo Xian pulled himself together. “Let him in.”
Liyang hurried in with a stack of documents. “Here they are, all the evidence of the secret dealings between Yunyang Prefecture and Duke Zhenguo. There are many officials involved. Sir, should we handle this personally?”
This was a major case. The Jinyiwei hadn’t taken such extensive action in years.
Huo Xian said, “No, take these to the residence of Marquis Xuanping.”
–
Half a month had passed, and the war in the south had gradually subsided. The remnants of Prince Xingnan had been nearly eradicated. Military reports brought news that Duke Zhenguo was about to return to the capital, bringing mixed feelings to the court.
During these days, Emperor Shun’an’s condition had started to fluctuate again.
Although he had been clinging to life with medicine, he still had the strength to curse people. Now, he could barely speak coherently, spending his days in a daze, with darkened temples.
Some officials, under the guise of official business, spoke a few words to him through the curtain. From his breath, they could tell he probably wouldn’t make it through the summer.
Thus, the cabinet became restless. They didn’t care whether the emperor was sick or disabled. In fact, Emperor Shun’an was easier to manage when incapacitated. The key was that he must not die!
Consequently, they hastily put the young crown prince’s ascension on the agenda.
But no one anticipated that the young crown prince would develop a high fever at this critical moment. It persisted for three days, and then he fell into a coma, looking as if he wouldn’t make it.
The ministers, their eyes wide with alarm, hurriedly gathered for another meeting. They finally set their sights on the Ning Prince.
At this point, someone mentioned, “Have you heard that the Grandson Prince from those years is still alive? That Cuixue Tower… isn’t it the same Cuixue Tower that has always opposed the Jinyiwei?”
“This… such rumors are hard to believe. Besides, back when the Eastern Palace…”
“Setting aside that the Grandson Prince was still young when the Eastern Palace fell, the emperor never issued an edict condemning the entire family. The matter of Crown Prince Huaijin shouldn’t be conflated with the Grandson Prince.”
Someone scoffed lightly, “Everyone knows that Crown Prince Huaijin, during his training years, collaborated with the Three Judicial Departments. Lord Lin from the Ministry of Justice naturally had ties with the Eastern Palace, so it’s understandable for him to speak up for the Grandson Prince.”
Minister Lin raised his eyebrows, “What do you mean by that? I’m just stating the facts!”
“Stop arguing, both of you. We don’t necessarily have to choose someone from outside. There are still a few princes in the palace.”
“How many are there? Besides the crown prince, there are only two, and they were born just last year. What use are infants?”
“What about the Ning Prince…”
“Yes, if it weren’t for the joint efforts of the Jinyiwei and guards back then, the Ning Prince would already be on the throne.”
Amid the cacophony of opinions, Ji Chongwang stood silently aside.
He was always a cautious man, never speaking out until he had a clear sense of the direction the wind was blowing. After this contentious meeting ended without a conclusion, he boarded his carriage and returned home.
The atmosphere at the Ji residence was different from usual. Outside a small courtyard, Ji Chongwang encountered Ji Xian, her face alight with joy. She said, “Father, elder sister has returned! She came to see you.”
For some reason, Ji Chongwang’s eyelids twitched.
