Ji Yan awoke abruptly from a dream, sitting up sharply and gasping for breath, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. A bone-chilling coldness sprouted from the depths of his heart.
He had dreamt of Ji Chong and the palace coup.
Although they were brothers, Ji Yan and his siblings had always known they were different from Ji Chong. Despite Ji Chong’s kindness towards his younger brothers, there was always a sense of distance between them. Their mothers had drilled into them from a young age that they must surpass Ji Chong in every aspect. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they could never match Ji Chong. There are people who are so naturally talented, like immortals descending to the mortal world, that they do not need to exert much effort; even a casual glance or a playful attempt from them yields results far superior to others’ hard-earned achievements.
Ji Chong was such a person.
So when Ji Yan learned that Ji Chong harbored rebellious intentions, he felt an unusual excitement. It was as if someone he had always looked up to was no longer perfect and had flaws. He was eager to pry open Ji Chong’s perfect facade and reveal his failings, to prove that he was just a mortal after all.
In a moment of heated passion—or perhaps because he also harbored ambitions for the throne—Ji Yan was easily manipulated. Once calm returned, he frequently dreamt of Ji Chong. He dreamt of his perfect elder brother drenched in blood, buried in a hail of arrows.
At that time, he had stood atop the city walls, looking down at his once-glorious elder brother as his blood soaked the black dragon robe…
Ji Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead wearily. Five years had passed, yet he still couldn’t escape the nightmares of the past. He turned his head to look beside him, but the bed was empty; Sun Yinlan was not there.
Ji Yan got up and walked to the adjacent room.
Sun Yinlan was lying on her side on the bed, nursing their child. Seeing Ji Yan, Sun Yinlan’s expression turned a bit unnatural as she adjusted her clothes to cover her chest.
Ji Yan paused at the door for a moment before entering. He sat down by the bed, looking at the mother and child.
“Was he crying again?” Ji Yan asked.
“Babies cry when they’re hungry,” Sun Yinlan looked up at him, her eyes suddenly a bit misty, her heart aching.
“Take good care of yourself,” Ji Yan said as he stood up to leave. He and Sun Yinlan rarely had much to say to each other.
“Your Highness!” Sun Yinlan hurriedly called after him.
The baby in her arms was disturbed and began to whimper. Sun Yinlan soothed him before looking back at Ji Yan. Ji Yan had already sat back down by the bed, waiting for her to speak.
“Over the past year, as we’ve fled and hidden in various places, no matter how bad the situation got, Your Highness never abandoned us. I often feel very fortunate; if it weren’t for Your Highness, I don’t know how miserable my situation would be now. I might have been dead for over a year by now.”
Perhaps because their relationship began under such unfortunate circumstances, Ji Yan and Sun Yinlan were often silent around each other, always at a loss for words. It took Sun Yinlan a long time to muster up the courage to say this.
Ji Yan said, “You don’t need to say this. I haven’t treated you well. We might be alive today, but who knows about tomorrow? We could die together any day.”
Sun Yinlan looked down at her sleeping child, her heart softening. She didn’t follow Ji Yan’s line of thought but continued with her own: “Although this year has been tough and filled with constant fear, when I think back, there were sweet moments amidst the bitterness.”
Ji Yan sneered disapprovingly: “You’re finding joy in suffering? Have you grown addicted to living like mice, scurrying about?”
Sun Yinlan looked at Ji Yan, her gaze hesitant and uneasy. She said, “If we weren’t in the capital, perhaps our days wouldn’t be filled with such fear. Have you ever considered leaving the capital, avoiding the power struggles, and going somewhere far away…”
“Have you grown soft and foolish since becoming a mother?” Ji Yan interrupted her.
Sun Yinlan’s eyes dimmed.
She understood that Ji Yan would never give up, but she still asked. How would she know if she didn’t try? She was truly tired of the power struggles, preferring a simple life of plain food and peace with her family.
She once hated Ji Lan so much. Standing by Ji Yan’s side, she had been willing to die together to kill Ji Lan. But now, with the soft and fragile life nestled in her arms, she could no longer think of old grudges, only desiring peace, listening to her child’s babbling, and watching him grow up.
Seeing her like this, Ji Yan softened his tone and said, “Everything is ready now, just waiting for the national banquet. Don’t overthink things. If we succeed, and Ji Lan is killed and replaced, you will be my empress, and our child will grow up with wealth and power. Isn’t that better than the hardships of a peasant’s life? If we fail…”
Ji Yan paused, looking at his quiet son, and said, “I will arrange everything for you and our child to leave. When you remarry, choose a man who will treat our son well.”
“Your Highness…”
Sun Yinlan wanted to say more, but a servant knocked on the door, informing them that Ji Xuanke had arrived. Ji Yan hurriedly left to meet Ji Xuanke in the study. It was a critical time, and Ji Xuanke shouldn’t be visiting unless something important had happened, to avoid arousing Ji Lan’s suspicion.
“Batur is missing?” Ji Yan frowned.
“Yes. He was last seen in the capital two days ago. He then took a few warriors to the outskirts and hasn’t returned since.”
Ji Yan paced in the study, troubled and unable to make a decision. He asked, “What do you think?”
Ji Xuanke replied, “This year, His Majesty has been gathering allies and consolidating power. He knows you are plotting in secret and is always on guard. This national banquet is intended to strengthen ties with the Western tribes. Now that Batur has disappeared, your repeated attempts to find him have shown some panic.”
“Oh? Are you sure Batur isn’t secretly plotting with Ji Lan? I suspect Batur left the capital on purpose to do something in the dark.”
“Do you mean His Majesty suspects those around him and staged this act?” Ji Xuanke asked hesitantly.
“Our third brother is extremely suspicious and capable of such a thing.”
Ji Xuanke couldn’t be sure.
“Forget it,” Ji Yan said. “We can’t delay any longer. No matter what, we must take a gamble at the national banquet and bring Ji Lan down!”
He already had the support of many important officials, including the right minister, and had also gained the backing of Prince Guangxian and Prince Linsi, who had come to the capital for the banquet.
He was at least sixty to seventy percent confident.
He and Ji Xuanke whispered, discussing the details of their plan for the banquet. Soon, another servant came to inform them that someone claiming to be a disciple of Xuanjing Sect had come to see them.
“Bring him in.”
Ji Yan turned to Ji Xuanke and said, “If we can get Ji Zhao’s help, we won’t have to fear the Imperial Guards.”
A man in red from the Xuanjing Sect entered, cold-faced and cold-eyed, his voice equally cold: “By the master’s order, I come with a message. The master has someone who can testify that Ji Lan altered the imperial edict.”
Ji Yan stood up abruptly and demanded, “Where is this person?”
If what this man said was true, success was nearly guaranteed. How could Ji Yan not be excited?
Changling maintained his icy demeanor and said, “The master said he would bring the witness to the palace on the day of the national banquet.”
“Why not bring the witness now? Such an important person should be kept under close watch!” Ji Yan asked urgently, his heart pounding like a drum.
Changling recalled Ji Wujing’s instructions but found no guidance on how to answer this question. He paused and then said, “Couldn’t defeat him, couldn’t bring him.”
“Who exactly is it?” Ji Xuanke frowned, asking suspiciously.
“Director of the Western Factory, Chen He.” Changling bowed and left.
Ji Yan sat in his chair, feeling extremely tense.
“Ji Zhao, who has always been ambivalent, has finally made a choice. Even the people from the Western Depot are now on our side…” Ji Yan muttered to himself, laughing. He felt that he was getting closer and closer to the dragon throne he had longed for since childhood.
Ji Xuanke pondered for a moment and said, “Your Highness, Fifth Uncle is an erratic person, and we should be cautious.”
Ji Yan laughed heartily and said, “I understand your concern. With others, we should be wary. But as for Ji Zhao, he’s just hanging by a thread, and no one needs to harm him; he could die in bed at any moment. No need for too much caution.”
At that moment, Ji Wujing was asleep. He had been sleeping for seven days.
Gu Jianli stoked the brazier in the room until it was burning strongly. She had taken off Ji Wujing’s clothes and was using a cloth soaked in warm water to wipe his body.
Gu Jianli gazed at Ji Wujing’s features, frowning.
It had only been eight days, but Ji Wujing seemed to have changed completely. He was getting thinner by the day, his complexion worsening, and a dark, ominous aura enveloped him.
Ji Wujing had been poisoned before and had slept, but he had never looked like this.
Moreover, he couldn’t eat when Gu Jianli fed him.
Gu Jianli had summoned Ji Jingyi for advice. Ji Jingyi had checked Ji Wujing’s pulse and told Gu Jianli that Ji Wujing was truly in a deep sleep this time, different from his usual half-awake state. This time, he was entirely unaware of the outside world.
He could go without food, but he still needed water.
But even water was hard to give him.
After wiping Ji Wujing’s body and changing him into clean sleepwear, Gu Jianli brought some warm water, took a sip herself, pried open Ji Wujing’s mouth, and fed him the water by mouth.
She continued to feed Ji Wujing small sips of water until half a bowl was gone.
The last sip, Gu Jianli swallowed herself. She pressed her lips together, placed the empty bowl on the small table by the bed, and looked back at Ji Wujing. She quietly knelt by his side for a long time, then reached out and poked Ji Wujing’s forehead with her finger, humming softly, and said in a low voice, “You really are a handful.”
Ji Wujing, of course, couldn’t respond.
Gu Jianli playfully pinched Ji Wujing’s face and slowly smiled.
Gu Jianli called in a maid to clean up the water, then blew out the lights in the room. She nestled beside Ji Wujing, gently placing her hand on his forearm, and soon fell asleep.
Tonight, thick clouds covered the sky, hiding both stars and the moon, leaving the night in complete darkness.
In the middle of the night, a flurry of frantic footsteps shattered the silence.
Xiao Liuzi had his left arm severed, and he clutched the stump tightly with his right hand, blood soaking half his body. He stumbled into Xuanjing Sect.
Yansui, disregarding the usual orders to avoid causing a disturbance, rushed into the room and shook Gu Jianli awake.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Jianli woke up with a start.
Throwing on an outer garment, she hurriedly went outside.
Xiao Liuzi knelt on one knee, struggling to speak. “Mr. Ji has been captured. The young prince’s identity has been exposed. The Imperial Guards are on their way. Madam, you must take the young prince and leave immediately!”
Xiao Liuzi suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and the blood was black.