Chapter 73

Gu Wan had not gone far. She pulled up the hood of her black cloak, covering most of her face, and with Xie Zi and the others quietly escorting her, she slipped through a newly opened small gate in the main courtyard of the study, entering a neighboring smaller courtyard.

She could no longer return to her original quarters.

Passing the rear building in the third compound, she noticed that, beneath the deepening night, two points of red candlelight shone through the doors of the back hall. This was where Xie Ci worshipped the ancestral tablets of his father and brothers.

Initially, it had been inconvenient to do so elsewhere in the mansion, so he chose this spot. Later, he decided not to move it, and it remained here ever since. Gu Wan lingered for a moment, then turned and stepped onto the platform, gently pushing open the door. Four ancestral tablets, one large and three slightly smaller, stood quietly on the altar behind the red candles. The room was simple and dry, the candlelight bright yet gentle, and though it was a place for worship, it lacked any sense of gloom.

It was unlike any other ancestral hall or shrine.

Gu Wan believed this was because of the tablets’ owners. The Xie family—father and sons—were men of iron and justice, their righteous spirit enduring.

She had once been a steadfast materialist, but since arriving here, her conviction had softened. At this very moment, she sincerely believed in the existence of souls, and that the noble spirit of those four men watched over Xie Ci.

Gu Wan lit three sticks of incense at the candles, pressed her palms together, bowed her head devoutly, and thought, "Father, brothers, I am Xie Ci’s wife, Gu Wan."

At this thought, she couldn't help but smile. So, it had happened naturally enough—she admitted she was Xie Ci’s wife, accepting a lifetime with him.

Even though they had only just begun.

She smiled again, thinking the beginning was not bad at all.

—If father and brothers have spirits above, may you bless Xie Ci to safely pass through this ordeal. When all this is over, you will see that Xie Ci is in the right.

As for herself and him, the beginning is promising—she only wonders if their flowering will coincide with these momentous events. She hopes so.

Gu Wan smiled, prayed earnestly, then placed the incense in the bronze burner. After a moment’s reflection, she quietly closed the door and exchanged a smile with Xie Zi and the others, who had silently knelt and followed her out. The group slipped away, entering the neighboring small courtyard.

Back at the main study—

After a moment of intimacy, Xie Ci lifted his face from the soft pillow of the lounge chair and suddenly saw his second sister-in-law. Qin Ying smiled, standing under the large lantern at the corner of the outer corridor, watching him gently. She was already dressed, and after a touch of makeup, she would be ready to depart. She had waited all day, just for Xie Ci.

Xie Ci hurriedly jumped up, quickly pulled on his boots, and briskly left the study, looping around the corridor to her.

"Why the rush?"

The night wind was fierce, his black cloak fluttering. He stood still as Qin Ying adjusted his collar. "Wear something thicker next time—winter is almost here."

In the soft glow, Qin Ying examined him carefully. The redness and swelling on his face had faded with ice compresses, leaving only faint traces in the night. She tucked his cloak and said, "You need to ease your mind. How can everything in life go as one wishes?"

If everything were as one pleased, it would be as if Heaven's favorite sons and daughters. Qin Ying had long seen through it—poverty has its hardships, but even those who lack nothing suffer their own trials.

Yet Xie Ci’s gaze showed no shadow, his expression resolute, his eyes even shining with a spirited light. Qin Ying knew there was no need for further advice.

Recalling the scene she had just witnessed, she smiled knowingly—thank goodness, with Yuan Niang here, Xie Ci’s path would only widen. Even facing obstacles, he would ultimately overcome.

"Alright, no more chatter. I’m leaving now and may not return until next month."

Qin Ying looked up at Xie Ci—he had grown as tall as his second brother, filling her with joy and a bittersweet sense of nostalgia. But overall, she felt more pride than sadness.

Xie Ci’s face grew warm, but he quickly said, "Second sister-in-law, it’s so late. Why not wait until morning?"

Qin Ying smiled and shook her head. "Night is better than day."

She was leaving for Shuo Fang tonight, mainly to impersonate Gu Wan’s departure.

Now that Gu Wan had quietly returned, they had discussed that staying long in the mansion wasn’t wise. Should anything happen, it would be too easy to be trapped—especially since Feng Kun was aware of it and had even built a secret tunnel in the mansion.

That was why Gu Wan had disguised herself as Xie Ci’s personal guard to leave with him today. Meanwhile, Qin Ying would masquerade as Gu Wan, and since the capital was no longer convenient, 'she' would set off for Shuo Fang.

There was no shortage of suitable female guards in the mansion now; Qin Xian and others had selected seven or eight, prepared for Qin Ying and Gu Wan’s needs. Three or four were chosen, and they would depart in succession, some for short trips, others long, creating a confusing array.

Qin Ying was also returning to check on Qin Xian. "My uncle says his illness has improved; now he can ride two laps on horseback, though who knows if it’s true."

"Alright, I’m off. Take care of everything."

Xie Ci and Qin Ying embraced fiercely. Afterward, he paused, wanting to say—when you return, perhaps don’t come back here again!

It’s too dangerous.

But remembering Feng Kun’s words about their father’s and brothers’ bones, he swallowed his words and said, "Alright! I understand." "Second sister-in-law, safe travels."

Qin Ying would never agree—she was bound to return.

The midnight wind was cold, blowing Qin Ying’s hair. She turned, smiled, and waved, her dark silhouette quickly vanishing beyond the courtyard gate. The maple tree in the yard rustled, and the last yellow leaf slipped through the cypress branches, landing beneath the corridor rail.

Xie Ci looked up at the sky. The strong wind swept clouds swiftly, revealing a fleeting piece of the brilliant starry river.

Before the courtyard, the night’s maple leaves had all fallen, but the cypress and pines still stood lush and upright, poised to endure the winter with pride.

He took a deep breath, his mind clear—he could do this!

Xie Ci abruptly turned, striding into the main study. "Invite Chen Yan and the others."

He wanted Gu Wan to rest. No matter how casually she spoke, he couldn’t believe she had truly slept soundly these past two weeks. He said nothing, but acted.

He himself had no intention of resting. The joy and gentle moods of before vanished; his gaze grew cold as he strode out.

Xue Rong and Liao Kai’s men arrived—two disguised in capital garrison uniforms, quickly led into the front hall. Upon entering, they frowned at Xie Ci: "Why hasn’t Lord Xie acted yet?"

Today, Xie Ci was dealing with the Eastern Palace and key rebel leaders slated for punishment. Xue Rong and Liao Kai were ready, waiting to proceed with the next stage, but Xie Ci had paused and returned home.

They sent men immediately to press him.

But Xie Ci replied lightly, "Why the rush? If I don’t rest, my soldiers must." They were ordinary garrison troops, having marched to the imperial city, fought fiercely through the night, and then launched a tight sweep for arrest and defense.

Even in urgent campaigns with fleeting opportunities, both sides must allow their soldiers time to rest. For the next few days, is it reasonable not to let them catch their breath?

The two had no argument. Seeing Xie Ci’s grim expression and knowing the circumstances, they hesitated, then refrained from provoking him further.

They emphasized, "By tomorrow morning at latest, Lord Xie must act quickly." With that, they donned their helmets and hurried away.

Xie Ci watched their retreat with cold eyes, sneered, and swiftly returned to the study. He had bought tonight’s window not for sleep!

He entered quickly; Chen Yan, Fang Xin, and others were already waiting. Chen Yan wore plain clothes; his status made it inconvenient to appear publicly, so he rarely left the mansion except for secret contacts.

"Master!"

"General!"

At the sound of his steps, they rose, bowing deeply. Xie Ci moved quickly to help Chen Yan up, then assisted Fang Xin and Lin Yin.

"Uncle Chen, I’ve told you many times—no need for formalities if your legs trouble you."

In the past half year, Chen Yan had endured poison, exhausting labor, and worry, leaving him less vigorous than when Xie Ci first met him. The old grievances in Xie Ci’s heart had gradually faded.

A regional military governor, now in plain clothes, confined to his mansion, needing rest but unable to sleep at night, waiting for Xie Ci to finish before rushing over—even wearing the few outfits he brought from Yunzhou.

Xie Ci helped him up, saying seriously, "Uncle Chen, you’ve suffered."

Chen Yan waved it off: "Courtesy is never wasted. Ah, what suffering is there?" But he felt Xie Ci’s sincere care, warm and comforting.

He felt both guilt and excitement, but there was no sense in revisiting the past. He nodded repeatedly and sat down. Xie Ci then thanked Fang Xin and Lin Yin.

The latter were once the most trusted advisors of Su Zhen and Qin Xian. Chen Yan and Kou Wen Shao had wanted to send more, but one needed to stay in Yunzhou, the other’s resources in Xiangzhou were stretched thin, so they were persuaded against it.

"It’s nothing, nothing."

"Please, gentlemen."

"Young General, please."

Simple words, deep feeling; none wasted time, all sat swiftly.

Xie Ci sat behind the large desk and spoke calmly: "Xie Yun has passed. Unless something unexpected happens, Feng Kun’s men will soon arrive." His expression was sharp and urgent.

None wasted a word—this was the critical moment. Chen Yan quickly said, "Feng Kun surely has plans for these men!"

The old emperor wanted to keep them—because the Eastern Palace’s power, in a sense, equaled the imperial authority. Much of the Crown Prince’s power had been fostered or allowed by the emperor himself.

After the Crown Prince’s fall, the old emperor’s top priority was these former Eastern Palace forces. He hated the Prince and his closest rebels, wanting them eliminated swiftly!

But only the main criminals; those one level down—such as Qin Guan, now under Xie Ci, or the newly recruited imperial censors like Qiao Ming Huai, Deputy Minister Peng Xiang, and Bureau Chief Zheng Da Guang—these second-tier figures, engaged in battle with Feng Kun and Grand Preceptor Lin, formed an essential part of imperial power. The emperor was determined to reclaim them!

These were even more important to him than the Crown Prince himself. Otherwise, in the political struggle ahead, the emperor’s odds would greatly diminish.

Of the three main powers—imperial, ministerial, and the Eastern Palace—the emperor had always been strongest, even as the gap narrowed; after all, he held the ultimate authority.

But if he lost the Eastern Palace’s forces, things would change.

Xie Ci was clear—the Eastern Palace was Feng Kun’s next major target after the Crown Prince; either he’d recruit them, or kill them all, then quickly replace them.

Feng Kun had never spoken of this, and Xie Ci acted as if unaware; he’d even personally report this major news to Feng Kun later.

"I’ve had Xie Hai lead men to search these people’s studies and similar secret spots." To gather or destroy them, the best method was to catch them with evidence.

He believed Feng Kun’s 'proof' was already hidden in their studies.

"And what about Grand Preceptor Lin?" Fang Xin pondered. In the struggle, Lin was a third major force; when the winds rose, he would surely act—but how?

Chen Yan and Fang Xin exchanged looks. They’d already discussed this privately, "Will Grand Preceptor Lin protect these men?"

The Crown Prince had fallen; next in line would surely be the Third Prince.

The emperor despised the Fourth Prince, and the younger princes had been sidelined years ago, the eldest only seven; the emperor could not wait for them to grow.

So he would choose the Third Prince.

Chen Yan and the others leaned toward this view, but as soon as they spoke, "No!" Xie Ci denied: "Lin will surely kill them."

Behind the desk, the armored man’s thoughts flew, his brows arched: "Because Feng Kun’s next target will be Grand Preceptor Lin! If the Eastern Palace survives, the emperor will never protect him!"

Why did the emperor favor the Crown Prince? Because he was eldest and legitimate? No—because he had no powerful party behind him! Before the Third Prince ascends, the emperor will surely cut down Grand Preceptor Lin, then place Xie Ci and Li Yi in Lin’s former position to oppose Feng Kun.

With both the emperor and Feng Kun against him, Grand Preceptor Lin was doomed—would he still protect the Eastern Palace?

Like lightning, Chen Yan suddenly stood and slapped the desk: "Exactly! That’s right!"

Xie Ci’s lips curled, eyes steely: "Both factions want these men dead! They are in grave danger."

The lamp wick crackled, flaring briefly.

The study doors suddenly opened. Xie Feng strode in, dropping to one knee, "Master, all those sent to warn Yu Miaofeng and others have been captured—not a single escape!"

Xie Ci stood abruptly: "Excellent."

Yu Miaofeng and nine others—second-tier leaders of the Eastern Palace—formed a tight web. Capturing them was nearly equivalent to capturing the entire old power, which was Xie Ci’s aim.

They were the confidants and staunch subordinates of the main rebels Xie Ci had targeted today.

The former were a step removed, but the latter were not; they assisted the Prince daily, and after his defeat, someone would surely realize the emperor’s attitude toward the old Eastern Palace.

Wanting to leave a way out for their trusted men, or hoping their families would have someone to care for them even in exile, they would try urgently to send messages, to reassure their subordinates, so they wouldn’t panic.

Xie Ci could not allow those messages to succeed.

Either do nothing, or—

Thunder in spring.

In fact, Xie Ci’s actions had begun already in the daylight.

As they spoke, Feng Kun’s men arrived.

Xie Ci stood, the night wind lifting his black cloak as he quickly crossed the passage, ascending the steps and passing through Feng Kun’s secret tunnel.

At the other end, a small, luxuriously appointed second compound. Feng Kun sat in the grand chair, raising sharp, beautiful eyes, arching a brow: "You say the emperor sent Xue Rong and Liao Kai with you to Jingzhao District and Lin’an, and they’ve just pressed you, yes?"

After the Crown Prince’s fall, Feng Kun summoned Xie Ci rather than visiting the mansion. Sitting high, he glanced at him.

Feng Kun surely knew the details, but Xie Ci acted ignorant, solemnly reporting the latest.

Feng Kun smiled: "Alright, I know. You’ve done very well. Go back now."

"Yes!"

Xie Ci bowed, stepped back, and quickly departed.

He crossed the tunnel back to the mansion, did not pause, silently exited through another passage, and sent a message to Li Yi.

—Inspired by Feng Kun’s tunnel, the two had secretly dug new passages in their mansions and exchanged contact details, just in case.

Xie Ci had swept the mansion clean, now fully under his control. The new tunnel was short, leading only to the old servants’ quarters—unexpectedly, it was needed so soon.

Li Yi received the message and quickly returned home by carriage. The two walked together, thinking rapidly.

In Li Yi’s private study at his prince's residence, Xie Ci explained the situation directly, "The Eastern Palace’s forces—split them half and half, alright?"

Li Yi smiled: "Your timing is perfect. Grand Preceptor Lin approached me, with rather tempting terms." Xie Ci had guessed right; Lin was moving swiftly.

Xie Ci raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Li Yi snorted: "But vengeance for my father is not forgotten."

Lin underestimated him—Li Yi had done much over the years, but his father’s murder was never far from mind. He feigned consideration, but refusal was certain. Still, he could help Xie Ci pass Xue Rong and Liao Kai’s message along.

Li Yi said, "Of the Eastern Palace’s forces, I want only the command of the East Lin’an Camp. The troops in the capital are only a third of the total. As for court power, I want none. In sum, I’m claiming only a tenth."

Xie Ci’s goal was met; he nodded. "Send someone over."

"Good!"

They swiftly settled the details; Xie Ci left quickly.

After he departed, the curtains of the sleeping hall stirred. Yu Manzhen entered, carrying her daughter, who was rubbing her sleepy eyes. She glanced at the child and asked Li Yi, "Why do we only want the East Lin’an Camp command?"

This private study was in the rear wing of the prince’s residence, used for secret affairs, with the tunnel dug here.

It was the safest place after the Anping Manor incident. Since then, Li Yi had kept his daughter inside; Yu Manzhen and her child had been settled here.

The light was bright. Li Yi glanced at Yu Manzhen, then at the child in her arms.

After the Yunbei warehouse affair, Li Yi had quietly uncovered many things about Yu Manzhen and the Yu family, but for his daughter’s sake, he let it slide.

Things had changed quietly; he no longer confided to Yu Manzhen as before.

But looking at his babbling daughter, who smiled and drooled at him, he smiled gently. His gaze softened, and he stood to summon Mr. Tian and others, saying, "I am not like Xie Ci."

The one who stands out draws the arrows—his background wasn’t as strong as Xie Ci’s, and the pressures from the royal clan were already heavy. But that wasn’t the main reason.

The main reason was troops!

Li Yi had his own intelligence network. Amid the bloody court struggles, he slept less than two hours a day and still kept up with reports from everywhere. He sensed something was amiss.

He could loosen his hold on court power; his heart lay with the troops. He wanted to free his hands to deal with matters in Fanyang, to swiftly make up for his weaknesses.

Xie Ci returned quickly, the north wind howling and whipping his black cloak. After leaving Li Yi’s study, he smiled faintly. Li Yi’s reluctance to stand out matched his expectations. Back at the mansion, only an hour had passed.

Xie Ci wasted no words, pointing to a corner of the study and asking Chen Yan, "Uncle Chen, does Uncle Kou know a man named Kou Chong?"

—Kou Chong, one of Feng Kun’s men, a minor official in the Imperial Secretariat, insignificant in title but actually a close advisor to Crown Prince Li Min.

Xie Ci was sharp; he noticed something off about Kou Chong. During the inspection and verification, he caught a glimpse—a mid-sized middle-aged man with a broom-like mustache, wearing a half-old blue official robe of the fifth rank.

Several men, fearing for their families, had committed suicide on the spot; the bodies dragged out numbered over a dozen. Verifying bodies wasn’t Xie Ci’s job; he glanced at the records, noticing the robe.

But the man was wrong.

He glanced at the roster; the sergeant’s list had already checked off the name.

He immediately realized—this was one of Feng Kun’s men.

Xie Ci had already told Qin Guan to re-screen all his men, keeping any suspicious ones for surveillance. But this Kou Chong reminded him of Kou Wen Shao’s advisor in Xiangzhou.

Kou Wen Shao was better off than Su Zhen, with three children—one son and two daughters, only the son. Promoting relatives was expected; the Kou family hailed from Xiangzhou, with the next generation named ‘Chong’ and the one after ‘Dai,’ including his son Kou Zhong Wen, nephew Kou Zhong Xi, and several others.

There was also an advisor named Kou Wei, said to be a distant relative of the governor.

When Xie Ci reclaimed the old Xie army, he had spent several days in Xiangzhou; his memory was excellent, instantly recalling Kou Wei.

Wei, Chong—both mean 'summit.'

"Kou Chong?" Chen Yan pondered, then turned to fetch a book.

Before coming, the four and their confidants, including Dou Wu, had racked their brains, listing anyone they could think of, however remotely connected.

A huge pile.

To prevent leaks, they had cleverly encoded the information as an acrostic.

Key figures had already been listed for Xie Ci; the rest were minor.

Chen Yan flipped through ten pages, finally finding in a corner, "Kou Chong, gatekeeper of Ping County East Gate, thirty-four, a collateral branch from Suining, once benefited from Wen Shao’s charity for five years."

Chen Yan knew Kou Wen Shao well: "The Kou family split during the founding; one branch moved to Hu Jing, Suixian, and they’ve barely stayed in touch."

‘Charity’ meant that, after Wen Shao rose, he funded clan soup kitchens to support the needy; most successful families did so.

Over the decades, a few from Suining had shamelessly come to freeload, eating at the kitchen. Kou Chong stayed longest, so Wen Shao remembered him. When scraping the bottom of their minds, he was listed, with a brief note: ‘sloppy and unreliable, unlikely to amount to much.’

Chen Yan: …Well, he’s turned out more capable than expected.

Chen Yan was shocked: "How did a gatekeeper end up in the Eastern Palace?"

No, not in the Eastern Palace—he became one of Feng Kun’s confidants, then was sent there. Judging by Feng Kun’s later actions, he wasn’t badly treated!

Xie Ci finally smiled, then immediately grew serious: "Take Wen Shao’s letter and send word to Kou Chong at once!"

Beside Xing’an Gate, east of the Duke of Qi’s mansion, lay a swath of Feng Kun’s advisors’ residences. Many had sought his patronage, with large and small estates stretching to the edge of Xinyi Lane.

Near Xinyi Lane, in an unremarkable, shabby two-compound house, a man in his thirties, now dressed in a wrinkled, dirty brown robe after removing his Eastern Palace uniform, sporting a small mustache and short, stocky frame, lay napping under the eaves.

He woke suddenly, finding a letter beside him. Startled, he grabbed it, read it, and jumped up.

"Damn, damn! Dead, dead!"

He checked the letter—a simple two lines, with five bright characters at the bottom: ‘Five-year charity.’

There were many surnamed Kou in the world; Wen Shao was far away, and he never imagined someone would mention this. But he knew Feng Kun well.

The man scratched his head, cursed, rushed into his study, and scribbled two lines: ‘Under the floor tiles, treasonous books—evidence in hand, within two days. Yin Luo takes command, Yu Miaofeng sets out, kill Xue Rong and Liao Kai publicly.’

Damn it!

He cursed, hurriedly wrapped the note, carefully glanced around, and tossed it back where he’d found the letter, shoving it into the gaps between the railing and stone bench.

He shut the door, peered out, then quickly blew out the oil lamp.

An hour later, Xie Ci received the reply.

Upon reading it, his lips finally curled, his eyes sharp. Kill Xue Rong and Liao Kai, eh?

Xie Ci immediately understood Feng Kun’s plan. He ordered, "Send word to Li Yi!" Li Yi would manage the transmission to ensure Grand Preceptor Lin acted first.

Xie Ci smiled faintly.

The emperor’s wrath against the Crown Prince and the Eastern Palace was overwhelming; these men were terrified. If both factions struck at Xue Rong and Liao Kai and pinned the crime on them—

Xie Ci intended to seize these men from between the cracks, forcing them to come to him.

Never underestimate the human will to survive.

The more desperate the situation, the more fiercely one will grasp at a glimmer of hope!

Xie Ci needed to make it look accidental, so as not to provoke Feng Kun’s suspicion or reaction, ensuring he could smoothly gather the Eastern Palace’s forces.

He had arranged the timing and location; now only the live control tomorrow remained.

His military prowess in the northwest had earned him fame, but many forgot that Xie Ci’s intellect was no less than his third brother Xie Bian, who had achieved top honors at a young age.

In a short time, the deployment was complete.

Gu Wan only slept a few hours.

After washing, she planned to visit the study, but Xie Zi advised her to rest, saying the master had made arrangements and was out.

She considered—her status was now uncertain; Xie Ci wouldn’t treat this lightly. Xie Zi seemed confident, so she didn’t insist.

She decided to sleep a bit and wait for Xie Ci’s return.

Unexpectedly, in just a few hours, everything was settled!

As Xie Ci walked, he issued orders; Xie Yun, Xie Feng, Chen Yan, and others followed, listening, quickly receiving their instructions. Everyone moved briskly, morale soaring, the earlier gloom swept away!

Boots thudded, the cold wind blowing as Xie Ci, armored in black with a stern face, strode at the center, ascending the steps, his cloak whipping—a true display of command, strategizing and decisive.

But in his previous life, he was solitary and lonely.

Gu Wan had changed into soft black armor, draped in a blue velvet cloak, standing under the corridor, watching Xie Ci stride in from the gate, ascending the steps and corridor.

She felt her heart beat wildly.

He was truly handsome, beyond words.

He was raised by her, and his love for her was unwavering. Watching him climb to new heights, fierce to his foes, loyal at home—

She recalled a phrase she’d read somewhere, and thought it fit perfectly.

She was smiling; Xie Ci smiled at her too. All his coldness and tension melted away at the sight of her under the lantern, as if the morning dew had chased away the autumn chill.

He quickened his steps, stepped up, and stood beside her in the glow.

"Ah Ci, you’re amazing."

Do you need me to go?

Xie Ci considered, "Yes, you’d better disguise yourself as someone else."

Gu Wan made a gesture of agreement, smiling brightly. Xie Yun and the others tactfully withdrew and turned aside; she glanced at them, then leaned in and whispered, "There’ll be a reward when you come back~"

Her cheerful voice, trailing playfully, hooked a thread in Xie Ci’s heart.

He turned, "…What is it?"

His eyes widened, voice small and nervous—adorably anxious.

Gu Wan laughed, scanning his brows and eyes, finally fixing on his lips, then glanced aside. The autumn wind stirred; her beautiful eyes swept back to his, lips curled, "I won’t tell you yet."

The autumn night was cold, moonlight like water; her gaze and laughter were as soft as silk, and Xie Ci’s heart raced.

She looked at his eyes and lips—did she mean…?

Author’s note:

Xie Ci: Ah, is Wan Wan going to kiss me? Really? I’m imagining it, nervous and excited, can’t stop! The greatest masculine charm—besides physique, is having a career, ha ha ha.