Returning at dusk, with Xu Jingzhou still on duty, Gu Yun met the girl who had introduced herself as Princess Roujia, now looking completely transformed.
Her complexion had never actually been dark. She had originally been rather fair, but poor nutrition had left her skin dull and sallow, appearing especially coarse beneath the lamplight. Dressed in the new clothes Sister Ma had made for her own daughter, she looked much livelier.
Gu Yun noticed the calluses on her hands.
Pulling over a chair, he sat opposite her and asked what her mother, Princess Hanzhu, looked like.
The girl paused slightly before softly describing Princess Hanzhu’s appearance. When she had finished, she added details about her personality and temperament.
Everything matched Gu Yun’s impression of Princess Hanzhu’s appearance, personality and disposition.
Looking more closely, he found that Princess Roujia’s eyes strongly resembled Princess Hanzhu’s.
However…
Gu Yun said, “We’ve only met twice. Whether you have something to ask of me or simply wish to return home, surely seeking help from the local officials would be better than coming to me. Why exactly have you come looking for me?”
She replied, “I… I wasn’t trying to find you. I only wanted to confirm whether you were the person from the Eastern Palace. Besides, we’ve never actually met, not even once. I merely accompanied my mother when she went to see Crown Prince-gege. I was standing in the corridor, and I happened to see you.”
She lowered her head. In the dim yellow lamplight, her eyes gradually reddened.
“I don’t know whether I should go back. If I do, Mother will certainly punish me. And now that my appearance has been ruined… I’m afraid the only future left to me will be one spent beside ancient Buddhas and flickering lamps. If I don’t go back… to be honest, I…”
Her voice caught in her throat. “I greatly overestimated myself when I left.”
After hearing the many details she provided, Gu Yun was certain that she really was Princess Roujia.
He had no idea what she had experienced. Still, it was enough that she was alive. There was still a long future ahead of her.
Smiling gently, Gu Yun said, “As far as I know, Princess Hanzhu has been searching for you all this time. Think it over carefully. Life outside is truly difficult. It’s getting late, so have an early night. If there’s anything you need, you can ask Zhang-niangzi.”
He was exhausted after the day’s work and had no energy left to deal with anything else. All he wanted was to bury himself in bed and sleep.
After saying this, he left behind a pouch of silver for her before getting up and leaving.
Princess Roujia looked up at his retreating figure, a faint glimmer passing through her eyes.
…
The following morning.
Gu Yun was fast asleep when he suddenly sensed someone standing beside his bed. Still half asleep, he reached out to feel beside him. There really was someone there. His breathing caught as he instantly sat bolt upright and looked over warily.
The first thing he saw was a pair of bloodshot eyes.
Gu Yun instinctively threw a punch.
Xu Jingzhou caught his fist in his palm, taking the blow head-on as he bared his teeth in a grimace. “Are you trying to punch my eye out?!”
Rolling his eyes, Gu Yun withdrew his hand. “Who told you to lurk there and frighten me?”
Xu Jingzhou kicked off his cloth shoes and climbed onto the bed. “Listen. I’ve been thinking about this all night, and the more I think about it, the more something feels wrong. I mean you and Chao Ziyu. I never noticed you liking him before, so how did you suddenly agree to be with him? Don’t tell me he fed you some sort of love potion?”
Gu Yun was thoroughly speechless. “What nonsense are you talking about?” He reached over and felt Xu Jingzhou’s forehead. “Have you got a fever?”
Xu Jingzhou pulled his hand away and pinched Gu Yun’s cheek. “I’m talking to you seriously! I’m telling you, Chao Ziyu might be planning to get hold of all your techniques without paying a single penny…”
Muffled by the pinch, Gu Yun replied, “He’s not that sort of person.”
Xu Jingzhou looked at him in utter exasperation. “Hopelessly lovestruck.”
Gu Yun prised his hand away, rubbing his reddened cheek. “I understand your concerns. In fact, I suspected exactly the same thing before. But after watching how he behaved, I dismissed that suspicion. As for the future, I can’t predict it. I’ve always lived in the present. Whatever happens, I’ll make sure I leave myself a way out. Besides…”
He smiled. “I still have you.”
Xu Jingzhou gave a disdainful snort.
Gu Yun smiled again. “Look at it from another angle. Whatever Chao Yan’s intentions may be, if the knowledge we possess can be used to help Great Xuan, then its people will live better lives. That’s still doing good. In Buddhist terms, it’s accumulating merit. Perhaps, once we’ve accumulated enough merit, we’ll finally be able to go home.”
As soon as he said it, Gu Yun froze.
Xu Jingzhou said, “You mean we were transported into this novel because we became the people of Great Xuan, whose country was destroyed and whose homes were ruined by war?” He nodded thoughtfully. “That actually makes a lot of sense. But then how do you explain the strange episodes you’ve had? The noises, the suffocation, passing out. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”
Coming back to himself, Gu Yun replied seriously, “There’s something I never told you. Some time ago, I experienced another one of those episodes, and afterwards a scene suddenly appeared in my mind.”
He carefully described the entire vision to Xu Jingzhou. “I’ve never figured out where it came from. Thinking about it became so frustrating that I eventually stopped trying to understand it.”
Xu Jingzhou jumped down from the bed, slipped into his cloth shoes, and paced around the room several times.
“Could that scene actually be a memory you’ve lost?
“I think I have a similar memory too. We lost those memories because we entered the world of the novel carrying powerful intentions, and the novel’s predetermined ending rejected us. So whatever force changed our deaths and pulled us into this world deliberately erased those memories.
What that force actually is doesn’t matter for now. Let’s just say such a force exists. Only after we’ve contributed enough to this world, or become sufficiently integrated into it, will that force allow our memories to return. And when those memories come back, it’s only natural that our bodies would react abnormally.
Just as you said earlier, once we’ve accumulated enough merit, in other words, once we’ve led the people of Great Xuan out of their bleak lives, we’ll finally be able to go home.”
Gu Yun immediately tried to snap his fingers. Unfortunately, no sound came out. He had never been any good at it. Giving up, he looked at Xu Jingzhou with bright, shining eyes. “That actually makes perfect sense. Why didn’t I think of it?”
Xu Jingzhou rubbed his nose. “That’s the sort of plot analysis every veteran web novel reader develops after reading a couple of hundred million words. You simply haven’t read enough web novels.”
Resting his chin on one hand, Gu Yun could not help laughing. He laughed several times before the smile gradually faded. Lowering his eyes, he fell silent, his mood sinking.
Xu Jingzhou said, “You’re worried it’ll all turn out to be wishful thinking? What’s there to worry about? Think positively. If you gain something, it’s fortune. If you lose it, that’s fate. We were already trying to preserve Great Xuan anyway. This is just a possible bonus reward.”
But that was not why Gu Yun had fallen silent. He was thinking that if they truly returned home…
…he would have to leave Chao Yan.
Bitterness spread from the tip of his tongue straight to his heart, as though he had swallowed an entire gall bladder. The hand supporting his chin began trembling involuntarily.
He caught his right hand with his left, forcing it still, then pressed his lips tightly together and made himself calm down.
Xu Jingzhou was still immersed in his excitement and noticed nothing unusual. After pacing around the room a few more times, he grabbed Gu Yun by the arm. “Get up. Time to get to work.”
By then, Gu Yun had completely regained his composure. His eyes were once again perfectly clear. He nodded.
…
The capital. The sky was cloudless, stretching into an endless expanse of blue.
Morning court had just concluded. A procession of officials and imperial princes, all with their heads lowered, followed Grand Chancellors Hu and Song as they hurried out of the great hall. Inside, the Dragon Throne already stood empty. Chancellor Meng remained kneeling upright, his aged back perfectly straight.
Meng Zhao’s eyes were red. Members of the Meng faction surrounded him, tugging at him and trying to persuade him to leave.
Clenching his teeth, Meng Zhao said, “His Majesty knows perfectly well that my father has never once abused his authority to interfere with the appointment of court officials. Yet he still insists on seeking justice for Grand Chancellor Hu’s nephew. Who took that nephew’s post from him? No one! The man is simply too mediocre. They couldn’t promote him however hard they tried. He’s only making a fool of himself…”
Everyone around him immediately cried out, “Watch your words! Watch your words, Vice Minister!”
At that moment, Meng Ji suddenly surged forward and turned back towards the great hall.
“An imperial command cannot be disobeyed. But how can a son stand by and watch his father suffer? Since His Majesty has ordered Chancellor Meng to kneel, then I’ll kneel as well. Better that we both kneel here until we die!”
The others hurriedly rushed to stop him. Just as chaos threatened to erupt, Chancellor Meng let out a stern rebuke. Instantly, everyone fell silent.
Meng Zhao and Meng Ji lowered their voices. “Father…”
“Go back! Have you no respect for me, or for His Majesty?” Chancellor Meng barked.
Meng Zhao and Meng Ji clenched their jaws. Chao Yan walked over and said, “Go back. I’ll accompany you for part of the way.” The two finally relented, and the group departed together.
Once outside Fengtian Hall, Meng Zhao murmured, “His Majesty… His Majesty…” before closing his eyes.
Chao Yan said, “You and I both know the reason. If Chancellor Meng could only…”
The others immediately cut in. “Chancellor Meng has devoted himself to this cause because he cannot bear to watch the court and the realm continue to rot. How could we hold him back by persuading him to abandon his resolve?”
Chao Yan said, “I heard many of you have been demoted.”
“It’s only a demotion! Even if we lose our official posts entirely, we’ll still support Chancellor Meng.”
Chao Yan let out a quiet sigh.
Meng Zhao said, “Your Highness, you must be careful as well.”
Having nothing more to say, he bade Chao Yan farewell and left with the others. Chao Yan watched them disappear into the distance before lowering his gaze. Then he turned back toward Fengtian Hall.
The towering hall stood so majestically that heaven and earth themselves seemed insignificant before it.
…
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before long it was time for officials to leave work.
Grand Chancellor Song sat stroking the turtle he kept in a ceramic jar, his face full of worry. Grand Chancellor Hu passed by his office and, seeing the expression on his face, asked, “Grand Chancellor Song, do you think Chancellor Meng shouldn’t have done this?”
Song jumped in fright. Knowing that any answer would be dangerous, he merely forced a smile, hugged his turtle jar, and hurried away.
Hu watched his retreating figure, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Although he was pleased to see Chancellor Meng fall from grace, he wasn’t foolish enough to lose sight of priorities or right and wrong. The accusation against Meng in court had been entirely at the Emperor’s own instruction.
Now that someone had crossed the Emperor’s bottom line, there was no further need for Meng’s faction to balance the court. The Emperor would inevitably dismantle Meng’s faction and cultivate a new one.
Grand Chancellor Hu had no objections. After all, His Majesty could no longer touch his own faction.
The matter occupying Grand Chancellor Hu’s thoughts now was something else entirely. The Crown Prince seemed… off. It looked as though he was preparing to…Whatever it was, Grand Chancellor Hu needed to be ready.If events unfolded as he suspected, then the merit of supporting the new ruler would certainly be his.
Thinking this over, Grand Chancellor Hu left the Secretariat.
…
Late that night, after making his preparations for bed, Grand Chancellor Hu learned that Chancellor Meng had collapsed. The imperial physicians barely managed to preserve his life before escorting him back to the Meng residence.
Grand Chancellor Hu chuckled. He dressed again, entered his study, and ordered his men to keep constant watch on the palace. If anything unusual happened tonight, his long-cherished wish would finally come true.
His residence stood close to the Imperial City.
Around the Hour of Hai (9–11 p.m.), through the open window, he noticed that the sky above the palace was noticeably brighter than elsewhere.
Grand Chancellor Hu shot to his feet. At that very moment, one of his attendants burst in after receiving word from palace informants.
“My Lord! The Crown Prince… has rebelled! He says that His Majesty has been deceived by a villain, unable to distinguish loyalty from treachery. Today Chancellor Meng and the others suffered—who’s to say tomorrow it won’t be Your Lordship, Grand Chancellor Song, and the rest of the loyal ministers?”
“He says that to restore clarity to Great Xuan’s government, he would rather bear the condemnation of the entire realm than allow that villain to remain. The western and northern gates of the Imperial City have already been opened. The Crown Prince’s forces have entered under the Tiger Guards’ escort. The palace is in chaos, and His Highness is leading his men straight toward the Western Garden…”
Hu thought to himself: The Crown Prince’s strength far exceeds what I imagined.
If His Majesty’s spies hadn’t been so preoccupied with finding faults in Chancellor Meng’s faction and the Crown Prince, they would likely have uncovered this rebellion long ago.
The attendant continued, “His Highness says he knows who the villain is…”
Grand Chancellor Hu snapped, “There is no villain! There is only a rebel! Go to the Eastern Garden and bring the Tenth Prince here!”
He then ordered his son to take a personally handwritten letter to his maternal uncle, the Acting Commander of the Central Guard, instructing him to mobilise troops, suppress the rebellion, and rescue the Emperor.
His son hurriedly acknowledged the order.
…
Not long afterward, the attendants dragged the Tenth Prince over from the Eastern Garden.
Grand Chancellor Hu lifted the prince onto a horse as casually as if he were picking up a chick, mounted another steed himself, tugged the reins, and galloped toward the Imperial City with the prince and his household guards.
After joining forces with his son and the Acting Commander of the Central Guard, they prepared to charge into the Imperial City and proceed directly to the palace to rescue the Emperor. But as their army entered the city, they saw groups of people fleeing in panic. Grand Chancellor Hu grabbed one of them. It turned out to be a Qianhu Commander from the Yiluan Directorate.
The Yiluan Directorate and the Tiger Guards both belonged to the Imperial Guard Command. A qianhu of the Yiluan Directorate held considerable rank and was deeply trusted by the Emperor.
Only a few days earlier, Grand Chancellor Hu had seen him serving beside the Emperor together with a Tiger Guard commander as an imperial bodyguard. A bad feeling rose in Grand Chancellor Hu’s chest. “Why are you running?” he demanded. “Shouldn’t you be protecting His Majesty?”
The man’s lips trembled. “It’s… too terrifying… We can’t win. We simply can’t. Perhaps… perhaps the Crown Prince truly possesses Heaven’s Mandate.”
Grand Chancellor Hu thundered, “What nonsense are you talking about?!”
The instant the words left his mouth—Boom! Boom! Boom! Several deafening explosions echoed across the palace.
Grand Chancellor Hu abandoned everyone else and rode directly against the fleeing crowds. Upon reaching the palace, he finally saw the source of the explosions. Some unknown weapon had detonated with overwhelming destructive force.
The ground was covered with corpses. Nearly every body had been blown apart beyond recognition.
The gruesome scene churned Grand Chancellor Hu’s stomach until he vomited up his dinner. Looking ahead again, he saw the Crown Prince’s soldiers carrying weapons unlike anything he had ever seen before. These were arms with terrifying killing power.
“Father!” His son caught up.
Grand Chancellor Hu said, “Send word to your uncle to withdraw the troops. Once that’s done, take the Tenth Prince back to the Eastern Garden.”
His expression was complicated. “The outcome has already been decided.”
…
Ever since his health declined, the Emperor’s sleep had become unpredictable. Some nights it was light.
Some nights it was deep. Tonight happened to be one of the latter.
After entrusting Chancellor Meng’s matter to Eunuch Huang, he had expected to sleep peacefully. Instead, only moments later, loud commotion jolted him awake.
The anger that had been building within him instantly erupted. The Emperor opened his eyes coldly.
Dim lamplight filtered through the bed curtains.
Turning his head, he saw several people kneeling beyond the gauzy curtains. At his bedside stood a tall figure. The man held a sword. His broad frame blocked the light, casting a heavy shadow across the Emperor’s upper body.
The Emperor recognised him immediately. It was the very Crown Prince whom he himself had appointed.
The Emperor reached out toward him. The Crown Prince remained perfectly still, silently watching him.
The Emperor’s chest rose violently. His throat itched, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Supporting himself against the bed frame, he called, “Huang De.”
Grand Eunuch Huang remained kneeling on the floor, frozen with terror. “Huang De.”
“Y-Your Majesty…” Huang De managed to speak.
Chao Yan glanced at Huang De. The bandages around his arm had already been stained red with fresh blood. In an even tone he asked, “Father can’t summon the Grand Eunuch anymore?”
Huang De became even more terrified. He scrambled to his feet, hurried to the bedside, lifted the curtains, and supported the Emperor.
Ignoring Chao Yan entirely, the Emperor asked Huang De only one question. “What happened?” He refused to accept reality until someone else spoke the words aloud. Only then would he admit that despite every precaution, his eldest son had overturned the board completely.
With no alternative, Huang De repeated everything. The Emperor remained silent. Then—
His rage exploded. He snatched the sword beside the bed and thrust it straight through Huang De’s chest.
Blood splashed across the Emperor’s face, scattering crimson droplets over the faintly shimmering quilt.
The Emperor pulled the sword free and tossed it aside. The blade quivered against the floor. Coldly he said, “The villain has been eliminated. Chao Yan, you may withdraw your men.”
Chao Yan’s gaze lingered briefly upon Huang De’s collapsing corpse. He motioned for the palace attendants, who were already trembling uncontrollably, to leave. Then he bowed respectfully.
“Father. If you say the villain has been eliminated, then naturally he has. However… Your Majesty is advanced in years. Your eyes and ears are no longer as sharp as before. Even if Huang De no longer deceives you, someone else eventually will. If the realm still remains in your heart, then please abdicate in favour of one more worthy. You have devoted your entire life to Great Xuan. It is time for you to rest. I hear the water towns are ideal for retirement.” When the time comes, I shall personally send you there to enjoy your remaining years. And you may rest assured. After I ascend the throne, I will never dishonour the teachings you once gave me.”
The Emperor cursed him.
Chao Yan remained courteous.
Finally calming himself somewhat, the Emperor sneered. “And what if I refuse to abdicate?”
A faint smile appeared on Chao Yan’s face. “Father, there cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers over one people. If you insist on forcing my hand… Then I will have no choice but to adopt other measures.”
…
The officials were awakened in the middle of the night by news of the upheaval. Barely throwing on their robes, they rushed anxiously toward the Imperial City.
Its gates stood wide open. Chaos reigned everywhere.
Reaching the palace gates, they saw countless Imperial Guards and palace servants standing there blankly, their expressions empty. They also saw Grand Chancellor Hu. His face was grave. He stood motionless.
Everyone thought: ???
What exactly is happening?
They exchanged glances but dared not ask. Not even Grand Chancellor Song’s threatening looks encouraged anyone to speak.
After quite some time, Meng Zhao and the others, who had remained behind attending Chancellor Meng, finally arrived.
Meng Zhao swept his gaze around before speaking coldly. “Grand Chancellor Hu. What exactly is the situation? Your sleeves are damp. You’ve clearly been standing here for quite some time. Surely you know what’s going on?”
At that moment, Chao Yan emerged, surrounded by his followers.
The entire crowd instantly fell silent. Someone noticed Li Lan standing beside him, carrying a corpse.
Chao Yan smiled. “At my persuasion, Father eliminated the villain. And furthermore—” He announced astonishing news.
The Emperor had abdicated.
The entire crowd erupted. Grand Chancellor Hu, however, remained perfectly composed. He stepped forward and bowed. “I shall immediately arrange the enthronement ceremony.”
Everyone knew Grand Chancellor Hu had always supported the Tenth Prince. Unless faced with overwhelming strength, he would never have submitted.
Everyone’s hearts sank. Thinking of the princes who had failed to appear tonight, they immediately understood where the winds were blowing. One after another, they bowed. Even the stubborn old loyalists, dragged down by those beside them, eventually bent their backs as well.
Meng Zhao finally understood everything. Looking up at Chao Yan from the corner of his eye, his expression quietly turned cold.
…
In the Eastern Garden, after hearing everything from the Tenth Prince and realizing they had no chance against Chao Yan, the remaining princes could only curse him in secret.
…
The transfer of power in the capital did not affect the northern frontier.
Only people like Commander Zhang, who maintained close ties with the Eastern Palace, heard fragments of what had happened, and none dared speak openly.
Gu Yun learned that Chao Yan had achieved his goal ten days later. A fast courier from the capital delivered Chao Yan’s reply. The letter said everything had gone smoothly. He would ascend the throne shortly.
Chao Yan also wrote that once he became Emperor and stabilised the political situation, he would send people to bring Gu Yun back. For making him wait, he apologised.
Gu Yun cared little about that. He wanted to remain on the northern frontier a while longer… at least until the autumn harvest.
It wasn’t because he didn’t miss Chao Yan. Rather, after countless rounds of artificial crossbreeding, the wheat he had cultivated had finally produced hybrid grain and reached maturity. Now was the moment to evaluate the results.
Until he saw the outcome with his own eyes, he had no intention of leaving.
And if the improvements proved unsatisfactory, he would simply continue experimenting until they succeeded.
After writing his reply, Gu Yun prepared to inspect the wheat fields. The moment he stepped outside, Zhang-niangzi approached him.
“Young Master,” she said, “while packing your belongings, I noticed several of your ornaments have disappeared. Quite a bit of silver is missing too.”
Gu Yun frowned.
Zhang -niangzi looked around cautiously before lowering her voice. “Young Master… I think it’s an inside job. This is the Qianhu’s Residence. Ordinary thieves wouldn’t dare sneak in.” After a pause, she added carefully, “Nothing ever went missing before that young lady arrived.”
The “young lady” she referred to was Princess Roujia.
Gu Yun instructed her not to spread the matter.
She agreed, then asked, “Should we move the remaining ornaments and silver somewhere safer?”
Gu Yun: “No need.”
At that moment, Sister Ma called everyone to dinner.
Gu Yun and Zhang-niangzi headed to the dining hall. Meals in Xu Jingzhou’s residence were usually shared together, though everyone split into separate tables to avoid feeling awkward.
Gu Yun and Xu Jingzhou shared one table. The personal guards sat with Zhou Er. Sister Ma and the others occupied another.
Princess Roujia ate alone in her room, appropriate given both her noble status and aristocratic upbringing.
After only two bites, Gu Yun completely lost his appetite. Every dish on the table suddenly seemed as though it had been afflicted with a debuff that suppressed all human desire to eat.
He quietly set down his chopsticks.
