The Imperial Study.
Emperor Yongxing unfolded the document and carefully reviewed the “agreement” between the two sides. The agreement was complex, involving many detailed clauses. The first condition remained unchanged:
From the first year of Yongxing’s reign, the Great Feng would pay tribute to Yunzhou each year: five hundred thousand taels of silver and six hundred thousand bolts of silk.
There were extensions and modifications in the details:
In the first year, they only needed to tribute one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver and three hundred thousand bolts of silk, with the rest being made up in full in the following year.
The second condition remained unchanged: once the peace talks ended, the court of the Great Feng must immediately send official bulletins to all government offices across the country, recognising the Yunzhou branch as a legitimate successor to the Central Plains, and post public notices to proclaim this to all under heaven.
The third condition had dragged on the longest.
The Yunzhou side demanded that the court cede Yongzhou, Yuuzhou, and Zhangzhou.
North of Yongzhou was the capital’s territory. Thus, Yongzhou was impossible to give up as a matter of principle.
During the negotiations, Ji Yuan put pressure on them again with Yunzhou’s beyond-mortal experts, but this time it was useless. The Minister of Rites and the Chief of the Department of State Ceremony refused to budge.
As for Yuuzhou and Zhangzhou, the former rich in iron ore, the latter one of the Great Feng’s three major granaries, if these two prefectures were ceded to the Yunzhou rebels, the consequences could easily be imagined.
But with Yongzhou saved, Yuuzhou and Zhangzhou had to be yielded. Geographically, these two prefectures were still some distance from the capital, not so critical as Yongzhou.
The fourth condition: the Jianzheng’s notes on artefact forging.
Yesterday, Emperor Yongxing had already sent someone to the Sitianjian to fetch them; unexpectedly, Song Qing from the Sitianjian handed them over readily.
So readily, it was as if these were not the relics of his late master.
“Your Majesty, though the peace talks have gone smoothly, the Yunzhou rebels are still scheming wolves, not to be trusted lightly.”
The aged King Li was in the Imperial Study as well. He was the only one present who had been granted a seat.
“Rest assured, Grand Uncle!”
A rare trace of the old smile appeared on Emperor Yongxing’s face, his tone relaxed:
“I have already discussed this with all the ministers. Once the Yunzhou delegation departs, I shall personally seek out Silver Gong Xu and have him fetch reinforcements from the Southern Marches. Both the shaman clans and the Yao have many beyond-mortal experts. Let Silver Gong Xu bring them here.
“There is but a month until the Spring Sacrifice. After the festival, the land shall thaw and this winter’s disaster will be resolved. The situation will surely improve.”
Hearing this, King Li nodded slightly:
“We heard that a few days ago, Your Majesty had a falling out with Silver Gong Xu?”
Emperor Yongxing waved a hand:
“That was but a trifling matter. Normally, we hold him in high regard, but when it comes to affairs of state, we have our own views. It is not for him to act on mere martial impulse.”
As for seeking reinforcements, Emperor Yongxing had never spared a thought to how Xu Qi’an might manage, it was simply something Xu Qi’an ought to do.
Just as he had made the shaman clans and Yao into allies.
King Li made a sound of acknowledgment, his expression relaxed a little as he continued:
“So Your Majesty had already made arrangements, then we can rest easy.”
Emperor Yongxing’s plan was very clear: agree to peace first to stabilise the rebels, then send Silver Gong Xu to shamelessly request aid from the Southern Marches. At the same time, they would wait for spring to drive off the cold disaster.
King Li, in turn, gave no thought to the difficulty of the task.
…
Outside the city gates, six riders galloped wildly towards the city. Cloaked, mounted on fast horses, they thundered through the city gates.
Passing through the gates, their speed dropped sharply. The leading rider pulled up his reins and turned to glance at the city walls.
His face was stiff and devoid of expression, as if carved from stone.
It was Yang Yan!
After the Chuzhou massacre, Yang Yan had stayed there. The court appointed him as General-in-Chief and Commander of Chuzhou.
Even after Wei Yuan’s death, he had remained in Chuzhou, never returning to the capital.
“Gather all our brothers lurking in the capital and await orders,” Yang Yan turned to address his subordinate on the left.
“Yes, sir!”
The subordinate cupped his fists, then tugged his reins and broke away from the team, galloping swiftly down another road.
Father had not managed to help the sixth prince ascend. Now, its our turn to seize the realm… Yang Yan shifted his gaze along the wide avenue, looking toward the Imperial Palace.
…
Nightwatchers Constabulary.
Four Gold Gongs gathered together, with the doors and windows tightly shut.
Gold Gong Zhao Jin fixed his eyes on Silver Gong Song Tingfeng across from him, squinting and saying:
“Did Silver Gong Xu really say this?”
Silver Gong Xu was now a title, not just an official post.
In the Great Feng, the words “Silver Gong Xu” instantly brought one person to everyone’s minds.
Song Tingfeng smiled:
“The Central Plains is in turmoil now, and the court is in crisis. Whether the Gold Gongs can seize their chance in this current is down to their choice today.
“Ningyan is Duke Wei’s disciple, and the four of you know him well enough. There’s no way he would cheat you. Besides, to be frank, looking at the situation in the Great Feng, who is the best bet for your loyalty?
“It’s not the one bowing and scraping to the Yunzhou rebels in Jinluan Hall, but my brother.”
Zhao Jin exchanged a glance with the other three Gold Gongs, hesitated, then said:
“Why does Silver Gong Xu not come in person?”
Song Tingfeng did not answer, but instead took out a slip of paper.
“You’ll see once you’ve read it.”
Zhao Jin took it, unfolded it for a glance, first exhaled and commented:
“It’s his handwriting.”
Then, his eyes narrowed, and he stared at the paper for a long while.
Zhao Jin took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement surging inside him, then, without showing it, passed the paper to the other three Gold Gongs. Once all had read it, he said:
“Send word to Silver Gong Xu. As long as he has not lied to me, I, Zhao Jin, will stake my life for him. But we want to meet him face to face.”
…
Courier station.
Ji Yuan held a voice-transmitting conch, saying:
“Dull!
“The little emperor of the Great Feng is dull. The ministers of the court are dull. The Imperial Academy students are even more dull.
“I heard that when the body of the Zhenbei King was returned to the capital, Yuanjing shut himself up and refused all officials, but a certain Xu Xinnian, a hanlin bachelor, stood at the Meridian Gate and cursed from morning till night, until Yuanjing yielded and opened the gates.
“Pity I didn’t see this man in court, nor at the negotiations, presumably a junior official without the right to debate me.”
He had heard of Xu Xinnian during the negotiations in passing, when some occasionally whispered:
“That kid from Yunzhou is sharp-tongued. If Sir Xu from the Hanlin Academy were here, he’d have scolded him until he wept and ran back to Yunzhou with his tail between his legs.”
A peal of laughter came through the voice-conch, from Ge Wenxuan:
“Seems you won’t get a chance to meet him. Xu Xinnian is Xu Qi’an’s cousin and the elder cousin of Yuanshuang and Yuanhuai.
“He’s not in the capital, but fighting with the Great Feng troops in Qingzhou. After Qingzhou fell, he was struck by Zhuo Haoran, his fate is unknown.”
Ji Yuan tutted and shook his head:
“A mere scholar, yet he survived a sabre strike from General Zhuo. He’s probably doomed. Let’s not dwell on him. General Ge, that Xu fellow has not appeared at all.”
Ge Wenxuan pondered, then said:
“It fits our previous guess, he’s run out of tricks and accepted the peace in default, looking to buy time to get through the winter, and then call for help from the Southern Marches.”
It was easily deduced. The Great Feng was starved of beyond-mortal fighters, with only a few of third rank, not enough to compete with first and second rank experts.
From third rank onwards, advancement was extremely difficult.
Those lacking talent, like Kou Yangzhou of the Wulin Alliance, had only managed to reach the second rank in five centuries.
Those with peerless talent, such as the National Teacher and Luo Yuheng, were already second rank at a young age, but still stalled for twenty years at that level.
With no way to quickly catch up, seeking help was Xu Qi’an’s only path.
Ji Yuan snorted:
“The shaman clans of the Southern Marches are limited by the Gu God’s power, and cannot produce anyone of the first rank. Of the seven tribes, only Heaven Gu Grandma is second rank, and she can’t fight. There are precious few beyond-mortal Yao in the south.
“That terrifying corpse could never leave the Southern Marches. The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox might meddle in the Central Plains, but if she came, the Western Regions would lose their check and could shift some forces to attack the Central Plains.
“The only wildcard is the Church of the Warlock God. Since Nalan Tianlu broke free, their church has a Great Warlock and a Master of Rain.
“If they ally with the Great Feng, that could be troublesome.”
“Ninth Young Master is astute,” said Ge Wenxuan, laughing, “I think so too. Yet my teacher says we need not worry about the Church of the Warlock God for now. As for why, I do not know.”
He paused, then added:
“Since Xu Qi’an is willing to be a coward, let him be. A mere third rank martial artist, he can stir up no trouble. We head home after tomorrow?”
Ji Yuan acknowledged:
“Tomorrow, the documents will be exchanged in morning court, after which we can leave the capital and return to Yunzhou.”
This was the necessary procedure: once negotiations were done, the two sides would exchange documents, then “bid farewell” at a public court session.
After the message finished, Ji Yuan handed the conch back to Xu Yuanshuang and, beaming, asked Xu Yuanhuai:
“Yuanhuai, the Oirans in the Jiaofangsi here in the capital are all stunning beauties. We’re leaving tomorrow, how about your Ninth Brother takes you for some pleasure while there’s still time?”
Xu Yuanhuai ignored him.
Ji Yuan didn’t mind at all, playing with his folding fan as he left the room. He had only been speaking offhand, he would not dare visit the Jiaofangsi for real. What if there was an assassination attempt.
…
The next day, at court.
At five in the morning, the sky was pitch black. The civil and military officials passed in orderly fashion through the two side gates to the east and west, crossed the Jinshui Bridge, with the capital officials waiting at the Danbi, the steps, and the square, while the lords entered Jinluan Hall.
Today’s morning court was held specially for the Yunzhou delegation, with Ji Yuan and his entourage as the main characters.
More than twenty members of the so-called “negotiation team”, dressed in Yunzhou official robes, entered the Jinluan Hall arrogantly, exuding the forcefulness and pride of victors.
Emperor Yongxing sat high upon the Dragon Throne, made a few bland remarks, and then ordered an exchange of documents.
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s and all my lords’ hospitality, this official has been most delighted on this trip.”
Ji Yuan smiled broadly as he bowed to Emperor Yongxing, then bowed to the other officials.
Inside the hall, the officials were visibly displeased, pretending not to see his mockery and flagrant arrogance.
“By the way, popular discontent in the capital has been surging recently, with open insults against the court and against Your Majesty. I suggest such people should be executed as a warning to others,” Ji Yuan said with a smile.
Beside him, Xu Yuanshuang remembered that Ninth Brother had frequently inquired about news from the commoners these past days, listening daily to the angry curses of the capital’s citizens and Imperial Academy students towards the Yunzhou delegation and the Qianlong City faction. At the time, he fanned himself as if unconcerned.
So, he had made a note of it in his heart after all.
Now, Emperor Yongxing only wanted to get rid of the Yunzhou delegation as soon as possible and said,
“No need for Envoy Ji to worry about this; we shall handle it ourselves. Furthermore, the silver and silk have already been prepared. You may take them back with you, Envoy Ji.”
As for ceding land, there was still much work to do later, such as notifying local officials, withdrawing the local gentry, nobles, and the army, and so on.
It was impossible to complete that immediately.
“In that case, I thank Your Majesty…”
Ji Yuan’s words had barely fallen when suddenly, with a “boom”, the sound of artillery came from far away, followed by the synchronised beating of dense war drums, coming from the direction of the palace gate.
Everyone in the hall was shocked, including Ji Yuan and the Yunzhou delegation.
Something just had to happen at this critical moment.
A flash of panic passed through Emperor Yongxing’s eyes before he composed himself and tried to remain calm, looking towards Zhao Xuanzhen:
“Go and see what has happened.”
Zhao Xuanzhen accepted the order and left. He strode out of the Jinluan Hall, looking down at the square outside, seeing chaos among the officials below, their faces filled with alarm. Some palace guards rushed to the palace gate, while others ran toward the hall itself to protect the Emperor and the lords.
Inside the throne hall, Ji Yuan frowned and gripped his silver-boned fan tightly, remaining silent in thought.
Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai reacted differently, the former frowned, the latter kept glancing anxiously outside.
The officials and imperial clan present looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.
Then Zhao Xuanzhen returned at a run, clutching his robe, running like a stray dog, and screamed:
“Disaster, disaster…
“Your Majesty, the rebels have broken in, they’ve broken in!”
The faces of everyone in the hall changed dramatically. Instinctively, they all looked at Ji Yuan. Ever since the Yunzhou rebellion, the word “rebels” had become linked to Yunzhou. After hearing it for over two months, at the sudden mention of “rebels”, the instinctive reaction was: the Yunzhou rebel army has entered the capital.
Ji Yuan and his people also froze for a moment.
Then Zhao Xuanzhen caught his breath and continued,
“They’re shouting ‘cleanse the emperor…”
Noise erupted in the hall again. Emperor Yongxing sharply turned to where the imperial clan were seated, then paused, he had caught sight of King Yan.
Logically, King Yan should not have been present at this moment. If he was there, did that mean it was not him?
Other princes and nobles also gave King Yan odd looks. Among the nobles were a few with some cultivation who deliberately edged closer to King Yan.
If there were anyone in the court who might dare rebel, it would only be this prince, child of the Empress Dowager.
Everyone knew one must first capture the leader if one wants to suppress a rebellion.
King Yan was completely baffled.
“What do you mean, broken in? Have they breached the palace gate?”
Among the nobles, a duke strode forward and glared fiercely at Zhao Xuanzhen:
“Make yourself clear.”
Zhao Xuanzhen, pale-faced, was just about to speak when the sounds of killing, clashing blades, and screams suddenly came from outside the hall.
There was no need to say more.
The rebels had accomplices inside, and plenty of them… Everyone in the hall reached their own conclusions.
The palace gates were guarded by the Imperial Guard, the Imperial City by the Twelve Guard divisions. No army could possibly seize both the Imperial City and the palace so quickly, unless the rebels consisted of the Twelve Guards and the Imperial Guard themselves.
Who could possibly have subverted the Imperial Guard and the Twelve Guards?
While everyone was still deep in thought, the noises of battle drew closer and closer until an inner palace guard fell howling into the throne hall.
Outside the doors, figures flashed past. In the lead were two Gold Gongs dressed in Nightwatcher uniforms, followed by Yang Yan in light armour with a spear, and then Silver Gongs, Bronze Gongs, the Yulin Guards, the Yudao Guards, and others.
Their membership was varied, but all had red silk wrapped around their arms.
Dripping blades in hand, they surrounded all of the lords, princes, and nobles inside the hall.
“Yang Yan?”
A prince recognised him and, with both shock and anger, roared,
“Traitor, how dare you commit treason? Do you not fear nine familial executions!”
Emperor Yongxing suppressed his emotions and maintained royal composure. Using the desk for support, he glanced at King Yan before turning his gaze on Yang Yan, the Gold Gongs, and the surrounding rebels, feigning calm as he asked,
“Who is your leader?”
At the same time, two nobles seized King Yan from either side.
Now that Yang Yan and the Gold Gongs had revealed themselves, anyone with sense could tell who was behind this.
These were the supporters of Wei Yuan, who had backed the Sixth Prince.
If Wei Yuan had not died so early, after Xu Qi’an killed Zhende, the one to take the throne would certainly have been the Sixth Prince, not the Crown Prince.
Ji Yuan knew how to keep a low profile in critical times, he simply observed coldly, clutching his fan.
“Ninth Young Master, the Great Feng court has fallen into civil turmoil.”
A crimson-robed official whispered, torn between joy and worry.
This was exactly in line with their aims. If peace talks could provoke internal strife in the court, then it did not matter whether talks succeeded or not, in fact, chaos would be even better than a successful truce.
Once the centre was thrown into disorder, the Great Feng court would collapse and disintegrate at astonishing speed.
Of course, the lives of the envoys would be less secure now, hence the mixed feelings.
“Let’s wait and see,” another crimson-robed official said quietly:
“Whoever wins or loses, if they do not want their country and home destroyed, they will have to treat us with respect.”
Given the current situation in the Great Feng, tearing things up with Yunzhou would be suicide. Those rebelling would certainly know this.
“This, this has nothing to do with me…”
King Yan was only at the Refining Qi realm and was held fast by two highly skilled nobles, unable to resist.
At this moment, the sounds of fighting outside the hall died down, as if the outcome had been decided.
Still, in the distance there were artillery and drums, the fighting continued elsewhere.
“No need to trouble Sixth Brother, he has nothing to do with this.”
A cold and melodious voice sounded. People in the hall turned or looked askance and saw, just outside the Jinluan Hall, a graceful figure in a plain white dress, crossing the tall threshold, her skirt trailing along the floor as she walked in.
The Eldest Princess?
Those unaware of the truth looked stunned.
Emperor Yongxing was taken aback, not expecting her to appear here.
“Huaiqing?”
Emperor Yongxing pointed at her angrily:
“What do you want? Answer us, what do you want?!”
He slammed his hand on the table, his force flaring.
Huaiqing walked step by step to the base of the throne, looked up at Emperor Yongxing, and said calmly and clearly:
“We request that Brother Emperor abdicate!”
At these words, the hall became silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Ji Yuan gaped and studied Huaiqing’s back, unable to conceal his amazement.
“You? Huaiqing…”
Emperor Yongxing looked as if he had just heard a huge joke. He propped his hands on the table, looking down on his rebellious royal sister, and suddenly roared:
“Do you know what you are doing?!”
Emperor Yongxing struck out hard.
Had it been any other brother, he would have been both wary and careful. But the one demanding he abdicate and leading a rebellion now was a mere woman.
A joke!
He stopped looking at Huaiqing and instead glared at Yang Yan, the Gold Gongs, and the rebels in the hall, berating them furiously,
“Have you all gone mad, to rebel for the sake of a woman? How many lives do you have? How many heads to be chopped off?
“Could she possibly succeed? Ask all the lords in this hall, who among them would support her? Ask the people under heaven, who would support a woman?”
At this, Liu Hong silently stepped forward, bowed, and declared in a loud voice:
“Please, Your Majesty, abdicate!”
Next, Prime Minister Qian stepped out and, standing beside Liu Hong, bowed and loudly proclaimed:
“Please, Your Majesty, abdicate!”
Then the Right Imperial Censor Zhang Xingying, the Ministry of Law’s Minister Sun, and the Minister of War all stepped out together, bowing and proclaiming in unison:
“Please, Your Majesty, abdicate!”
It set off a chain reaction. Suddenly, a large portion of officials bowed in unison and declared,
“Please, Your Majesty, abdicate!”
Nearly half of those present in the hall joined in.
For the first time, both the Wang and Wei cliques were united.
Emperor Yongxing’s face turned rigid, then slowly went deathly pale. He stared in a daze at the bowing officials, lips trembling as he stammered:
“Mad, you are all mad…”
Among the imperial clan, the princes and nobles were at a loss, except for King Yan, who was wild with joy and shaking with excitement.
The High Court Minister could not believe it, grabbing official after official by the sleeve, berating them:
“Have you all gone mad, joining a woman in her madness? Who gave you such nerve? Don’t take momentary satisfaction, this cannot succeed.”
Now they had only managed a surprise attack. What of the aftermath?
The imperial clan was huge. With only a call to arms, they could put down any rebellion.
Because no one would support a mere woman.
To rebel with a princess was nothing short of madness.
Huaiqing clasped her hands calmly at her abdomen and said indifferently,
“Take him away and have him write the abdication edict.”
Yang Yan led a group of Silver Gongs forward, marching directly towards Emperor Yongxing on the throne.
“How dare you!”
Chief Eunuch Zhao Xuanzhen spread his arms wide, blocking their path, his face slightly white but his tone sharp and harsh:
“Her Highness Lin’an is engaged to Silver Gong Xu, if you rebel, Silver Gong Xu will not spare you!”
This was like a bell striking at dawn for the hesitant imperial clan, nobles, and anyone still wavering in either the Wang or Wei cliques.
Despair lit up in Emperor Yongxing’s eyes, as if a dying man had seen a glimmer of hope.
That’s right, he still had Xu Qi’an.
So long as Xu Qi’an supported him, whatever Huaiqing and King Yan did, they would achieve nothing.
Those wavering also realised this.
Emperor Yongxing steadied himself, glanced around at Yang Yan and the others, and said loudly,
“We give you one last chance. Stop now and we shall not hold your actions against you. Arrest the traitor Huaiqing, and we shall reward you all.
“Otherwise, you know very well what fate awaits traitors.”
Zhao Xuanzhen plucked up his courage and shouted, “Back down now!”
“Traitors, repent at once!”
“Following a mere woman in rebellion, do you think you’ve lived too long?”
“Seize Huaiqing at once, or when the Imperial Guard arrives, when Silver Gong Xu arrives, you will all die.”
The officials and nobles loyal to Emperor Yongxing all shouted in chorus.
“Sigh!”
A great sigh echoed through the hall, and from the shadow behind Huaiqing, a figure expanded and emerged, it was Xu Qi’an, who had just subdued the five battalions of the Imperial Guard.
A moment ago, they were invoking Xu Qi’an by name, and now the very man himself appeared. A flicker of hope lit up in Emperor Yongxing’s eyes, but vanished immediately as he saw the number one warrior of the Great Feng gaze at him coldly and declare:
“Yongxing, abdicate. I can guarantee you’ll live.
“If you do not, you’ll meet the same end as the late Emperor.”
Emperor Yongxing’s face went as white as snow. His body weakened, and he collapsed into the Dragon Throne as if all strength had left him.
Those officials and nobles who supported him all froze.
The silver-boned fan in Ji Yuan’s hand slipped and dropped with a “clack” to the floor, his pupils contracting violently as if confronted with strong light.
The one rebelling was Xu Qi’an…
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