Chapter Eleven

A military officer clad in armor hurried over, ordering the guards to stand watch outside the door, while eunuchs tightly barred the door from within. The palace maids had long since vanished without a trace.

The folding screen stood dark and imposing—half resembling a stormy mountain shrouded in clouds, the other half adorned with gilded pavilions—completely concealing whatever lay behind it.

Thus, the vast Eastern Palace seemed to contain only the Crown Prince and Liang Shicheng.

Liang Shicheng spoke first, attempting to cling to the Crown Prince’s leg, but the prince hesitated. “It was only a dream…”

“That dream could cost lives!” Liang Shicheng quickly interrupted, and upon seeing the prince’s brow furrow deeply, pressed on, “Your Highness, do you think this humble servant is speaking alarmist nonsense?”

How could it be mere alarmism? The Crown Prince pondered again and again but could not see how this dream concerned him. Moreover, Liang Shicheng was so close to Prince Yun, even closer than to him, and usually treated Prince Yun with more warmth. Who could truly know what this eunuch was thinking?

“Your Highness and Prince Yun have been at odds these past years…”

Suddenly, the Crown Prince’s eyes widened as he rose from his chair. “Mind your words! My brothers and I have always been amicable. Where is this talk of conflict?”

Liang Shicheng knelt deeply, pounding the ground. “Your Highness! I have placed my life entirely in your hands. If I speak out of turn, please bring me before His Majesty! I will die without regret!”

His usual cheerful face was now pale with resolute determination, and his eyes burned with a stormy intensity. The Crown Prince was momentarily startled, stammered a few words, then sat back down, his tone softening.

“You have your reasons. Speak plainly.”

The matter was settled, Liang Shicheng thought. He had expected the Crown Prince to be more wary, stronger-willed, more decisive. Instead, the prince was benevolent—or so he thought himself to be.

He had goodwill and ambition, but as a sovereign, he lacked certain decisive qualities, which doomed him to be influenced by those around him, eventually becoming weak and falling under their control.

But what was wrong with that? For a powerful eunuch, this kind of emperor was ideal.

Liang Shicheng had come running not because this matter was crucial to the prince, but to urgently mitigate his own risk—an instinct, a vague logical inference. The Crown Prince and Prince Yun had been locked in a struggle that never broke, much like the game of cuju favored by the Grand Commandant Gao—today you accuse my man Yuwen Zan, tomorrow I’ll report your Wang Fu. What of it?

His Majesty was in his prime; the grand duel would come much later.

But now, the ominous dream of the Crown Princess accelerated the process toward that final confrontation! Wang Fu intended to make a bold move, yet even he could not fathom the origin of the Crown Princess’s dark dream! What if His Majesty was behind it? Or if not His Majesty, then others he suspected, using the two failed battles of Yan Capital in the north as a raft to challenge him?

His Majesty was now at Wang Fu’s residence—was he preparing to act?

The most terrifying thing was that when His Majesty acted, he would not target his two own sons first! The Zhao family always seemed to have one more life than others.

So who would die?

Wang Fu could die, but why couldn’t Liang Shicheng die too?

That was why he came to the Eastern Palace—to buy himself another life.

“The Crown Princess is but a child. Could she have concocted such schemes on her own?” Liang Shicheng urged gently. “If not for Prince Yun, would His Majesty have visited Wang Fu’s residence? No matter who is behind this, Your Highness must stay vigilant and devise a response!”

This speech left the Crown Prince dizzy and he instinctively asked, “How should I respond?”

“His Majesty fears the Jin invaders; Your Highness need only produce a strategy to counter the Jin!”

Confusion filled the prince’s eyes, his tone slipping unconsciously, “Does Mr. Liang have such a plan to teach me?”

How could he not? Eagerly, Liang Shicheng stepped closer. “The Grand Master of the Household often visits Yuwen’s residence and has much contact…”

The Crown Prince’s expression shifted.

Sell out Zhao Liangsi? Liang Shicheng explained: the question of allegiance—whether to surrender to Song or not, the defeat at Yan Capital—let Zhao Liangsi take the blame. He was originally from Liao, so the charge wasn’t unjust; he belonged to a prominent Hebei family, separate from the circles of Bianliang’s elites, so no one would defend him; and he had long annoyed His Majesty by opposing Zhang Jue’s surrender to the Jin—these three reasons made him the perfect scapegoat.

If not him, then who? At the critical moment, Your Highness would swiftly accuse Zhao Liangsi, letting him shoulder the black mark. His Majesty would feel relieved, and Your Highness would turn danger into safety.

Not just turning danger into safety, Liang Shicheng raised his voice even more:

“Forget the immortal who draws his sword to slay the wicked dragon! Your Highness is that immortal! Prince Yun’s petty tricks—His Majesty sees through them; soon enough, all will know who the true immortal is!”

The Crown Prince, hearing such flattery, relaxed his frown.

“Your words are like clearing clouds to reveal sunlight, enlightening my mind!”

Behind the screen, the Crown Princess’s brows furrowed tightly.

No one yet knew what His Majesty’s visit to Wang Fu’s mansion would bring, and already in a few words Zhao Liangsi had been sold out!

His Majesty’s steps within Wang Fu’s residence felt as if he were walking through the celestial Jade Pavilion of Nine Splendors, the Starry Heavenly Palace. The jade fungus growing on the hall pillars was the most unremarkable decoration.

Indeed, it had been carefully adorned, dusted with specks resembling silver powder, making it seem auspicious.

Yet compared to the mansion itself, it paled in comparison—the residence was splendid beyond words, radiant and magnificent, rivaling even the imperial palace. His Majesty, dressed in simple hemp robes, standing in such a magnificent hall, appeared somewhat out of place.

But he said nothing, merely admired the jade fungus, offered a few compliments, and then playfully teased Minister Wang.

Then he began to wander through the mansion, inspecting countless rooms, observing the concubines emerging, clad in silk embroidered with blooming flowers, their cool, smooth black hair piled elegantly. They trembled with fear as they bowed low, then lifted their faces as radiant as the blossoms.

His Majesty smiled gently, politely inviting them to rise, and without a glance to the side, continued forward.

Accompanied by Minister Wang, he walked until he reached a small door in the garden and casually asked:

“What lies beyond this door?”

Someone answered before Minister Wang could: “Beyond the door lies the residence of Grand Commandant Liang.”

His Majesty suddenly turned sharply, gazing deeply at Minister Wang: this man, conspiring silently with the eunuchs, had concealed much from him!

He neither wrote talismans nor recited incantations.

Yet a genuine storm had arisen from his eyes and was about to sweep through the entire court.

Zhao Luming knew nothing. She returned once more to the Treasure Talisman Palace.

Since she had been bestowed the title of Guardian Immortal Child, she was to prepare for a ritual purification and bathing before receiving her official investiture from the Jade Purity Patriarch. No idle chatter was permitted during the purification, so no news could be obtained.

Moreover, the Taoist priests cared little for court affairs; their concern was whether the Jade Purity elder brother would grant more land to their temple. If not, and if it was given to others, the ‘little demon’ responsible would have to be dealt with decisively.

Thus, she was confined to her quarters. Fortunately, the room was not dark, and the bathing water was warm. Secretly, she had brought a small yellow wax duck, floating on the water’s surface, which she could poke and nudge.

Her father said that after her investiture, she would be sent off for secluded cultivation.

Though he did not specify where, she had her suspicions.

The contested borderlands were impossible; no matter how precocious she was, she was still only twelve or thirteen, and His Majesty could not treat her like a battle-hardened captain to be sent to Hebei to fight the Jin.

Sending her northwest to fight the Western Xia was equally out of the question. The same reasoning applied.

The south was very promising—the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions housed many Divine Cloud Palaces, wealthy, powerful, and land-rich. The Taoists of the Divine Cloud sect were known to ‘destroy counties and towns’, ‘abusing power without regard for local officials’, and were notoriously arrogant. If she went there, wanting money or men would be no problem.

But it all depended on her father’s intentions, she poked her little yellow duck.

If her father regarded her merely as a celestial fruit, neglecting to guard her carefully, she would likely be sent south to develop. But if he was wary and refused to send her south, she would have no money, no power to intimidate others, just a bare little girl under watchful eyes—then even a clever woman would find it impossible to cook without rice.

She opened her palm, hoping to see some extraordinary talent or mystical divine power bestowed by heaven.

She saw only a pair of tender, youthful hands.

The yellow wax duck slowly dipped its head in the warm water.

Zhao Liangsi lowered his head, silent and still, sitting quietly opposite Yuwen Shizhong.

Before coming to the Yuwen residence, the Crown Prince’s tutor, Geng Nanzhong, had already sought him out and said many things, which, when relayed, left Yuwen Shizhong speechless for a long time.

Indeed, Zhao Liangsi’s official rank and title were all bestowed by His Majesty. Did he have any merit to show that would make others trust him?

Yet he had acted boldly in court, repeatedly opposing Zhang Jue’s surrender, denying the Jin a pretext for southern advances. What skill did he possess to stand out so prominently in court?

Now, the blame had come. He must bear it.

Bestowed by His Majesty, and now reclaimed by him—that was reasonable! Moreover, only his office was taken, not his wealth; he remained a wealthy man. What else could he ask for?

Besides, once this storm passed, would not the Crown Prince remember his loyalty? Surely he would find a vacancy for him to be reinstated, then the scholars of Bianjing would hold him in esteem.

Therefore, when the Crown Prince accuses him tomorrow, he must remain calm, keep silent, and obediently bear the blame.

But was this fair? Why should it be so?

Today he was pushed forth to take the fall, yet remained a wealthy man. What of tomorrow?

When everyone sees him as mere fish meat, who knew when a calamity like confiscation and extermination might suddenly befall him, without reason or warning?

This robust man from Yan and Zhao knelt before Yuwen Shizhong, tears welling in his fierce eyes.

“To serve His Highness the Crown Prince faithfully, even unto death, is no regret! Only, I beg you, sir, teach me how to avoid disaster in the days to come.”

The slender scholar before him was silent for a long time.

“Do you have a young son of fourteen or fifteen?”

“My fourth son! My fourth son is fifteen this year, skilled with bow and horse, versed in poetry and books! Do you wish to take him as—?”

Yuwen Shizhong gazed at him deeply.

“Would you be willing to send him to cultivate the Way?”