Author’s Note: If you would, the best song for this chapter (and novel in general) is perhaps Carp Reborn’s ending themes, especially season 2 here https://youtu.be/BDea3n7Ei24
—-
Bowen dropped to a knee and held out a paper to him, “Changyu, this just came in.”
Frowning, Li Changyu nudged Xiaoyao off his chest – the tiger was honestly becoming too big to keep laying on him like this – and reached for the note. He unfolded the single sheet and read it outloud.
“Urgent,” Li Changyu sat upright, and Xiaoyao voiced his displeasure with a high pitched, gravely whine when Li Changyu turned in the divan to set his feet on the ground. “I can’t come in, you can’t come out. Meet me by the gate. Send a signal, will clear the way. Signed, Shixiong…”
Crumpling the note immediately, he stuffed it back into Bowen’s outstretched palm. “Burn this.”
Li Changyu wasted no time pulling on a lighter cloak than his gifted one and his shoes. He knew that if he tried to sneak this early in the afternoon toward the Imperial Palace, he would look far too suspicious. The court where the Harem was kept was adjacent to it, with Maple Hall being the closest of the Inner Court residences. He chose to walk casually, but with a quick stride, towards the gate leading to the Imperial Palace. He noticed the guards immediately and drifted towards Maple Hall’s entrance. First Prince Zhao Lanhu lived there, so it would not be suspicious to find him there.
Looking left, then to his right, Li Changyu made sure the coast was clear before he lifted his hands up to his mouth like he was covering a cough, but instead he stuck his fingers in his mouth and made a bird call. He repeated it three more times and waited, watching the guarded gate carefully. Almost immediately, Ping Feng appeared, dressed in his red courtier robes and black hat. He held a fan and something else in his hand, palming it off to the two men on duty. After looking at one another, the men nodded and wandered off.
Li Changyu hurried towards the wall next to the gate, pressed his back against it, and inched towards the edge. He could see just a hint of Shixiong just out of the corner of the gate, but they were on opposite sides. It was close enough to speak, but not much else.
“Shidi?” Ping-Shixiong called.
“I’m here. What is going on?”
“Your Brother Guangzhu received a note from his Martial Brother. The Martial Brother’s Family recently had their village ransacked by a group with eagle tattoos.”
He frowned, not understanding the importance, “You called me all the way over here for this?”
“Shut up,” Ping-Shixiong sounded serious. “I just received a report of the same thing. Over a thousand men attacked Henglu. Shidi, this mysterious group is camped less than forty li from the Capital.”
Henglu? Li Changyu’s heart began to pound. On good horses, that’s less than two hours away! He turned to face the wall and rested his hands against it, trying to think while asking questions. “How did they bypass the border garrison? Weren’t they attacking the caravans in the northeast? Wait, why aren’t you talking to His Majesty about it now?”
“I have no clue how, but I have my assistants sending a strongly worded letter to the Unit Commander. They did attack those caravans, which is why men were sent over there.” Ping Feng took a deep breath. “I have a subordinate discussing it with His Majesty now, but I need to bring you along.”
“Me?!” He didn’t bother hiding his shock, “Why me?”
“Shidi…you are still registered as a Lieutenant General. We need–”
Li Changyu sprang into action before thinking of any consequences. He rushed around the opening of the gate and grabbed his Shixiong by the robes and pushed him into the wall. He looked up at Feng Ping, wide eyed. “What did you say?!”
Ping Feng placed his hands over Li Changyu’s trembling fists and pushed them down. He created a bit of distance between them after slipping out of Li Changyu’s grasp and coughed lightly.
“Exactly what you heard. You were never taken off the rosters. I don’t know how I didn’t notice this before, but you are still designated as a Lieutenant General for your Father’s garrison. It was transferred to Guangzhu’s command, but he still is recovering from his injury.”
Ping Feng’s expression was bleak, and he went on, “Your Brother would not want me to say this, but he has trouble using that arm even now. He may not have a career in the military any longer.”
Have they been keeping the seriousness of his injury from me? Li Changyu pushed a hand through his hair, struggling to take his next breath. I’m still in the military? His mind whirled, but Ping Feng’s voice pulled him back into the moment.
Ping Feng grabbed him by the shoulders with a squeeze. He lowered his head to make them level with Li Changyu’s gaze. “The closest garrison is led by Sun Shangwu, but they are six hours away.”
Li Changyu stared into Ping Feng’s eyes for a long moment as he slowly pieced together what his Shixiong was asking of him. He tore away from Ping Feng and began to pace.
“There are no other Generals? Not even my rank?”
“Many are of old age, and the other Lieutenant Generals are not as experienced as you.”
He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. The situation was sounding even worse than he could imagine. Biting his lip, he thought, The state of the city guard as it is, even with my Father’s garrison… Li Changyu knew that it would not look good for enemies to be so close to the capital. To the citizens, they would be afraid and blame Jin Xiyan. To their loose allies and diplomatic friends, it would be a weakness that any one of them might want to exploit for their own gain.
At his back, Ping Feng whispered, “Li-shidi, you are the only one that can lead them.”
Li Changyu pulled his hand down from his neck and looked down at his open palm. I’m not good at many things, but…He curled his fingers into a tight fist. I’m best at fighting.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Turning, he said, “What do you need me to do?”
——-
“Your Majesty, this is the highest priority!”
“What if this is just a fraction of their forces!?”
“This isn’t good. What will the Western Kingdom think?”
“Surely they will look down on us!”
The headache Jin Xiyan was developing grew with each new shout from an official. Arguments were thrown back and forth across the aisle, one yelling at the other, and another accusing someone else in order to pass the blame. They sure can complain, but cannot offer any solutions.
“If your troops dealt with this on the caravan trail, we wouldn’t be in this mess!” Minister Gong shouted at Commander Yuan.
Commander Yuan’s ears turned beet red, his teeth gnashing together, and his subordinates that flanked him on either side were also visibly stewing. Just as the old man opened his mouth, the court doors flew open with a bang, silencing everyone.
Minister Ping and a young man in pristine martial attire came in. He wore a set of black pants and high boots covered with a pair of iron shin guards. The light glinted off them with each sure, strong step he took. His short black shirt was covered with a wide, brown leather studded belt that carried a longsword at his right hip. On his shoulders was a set of mountain pattern guards wrapped around them, broadening them considerably and making the bright blue cape on his back billow and dance behind him. The man’s sleek black hair was held back in a high, tight knot on top of his head which exposed his pretty face—
Li Changyu?! Jin Xiyan lurched forward to the edge of his Dragon Throne. Li Changyu looked straight ahead, his golden eyes sharp. A few stray hairs that could not be caught up in the bun curled against his temples and jaw, which was set in a tight clench. Side-by-side, Minister Ping and Li Changyu approached, while the ones around them began to whisper amongst themselves.
“Isn’t that–!”
“What is he doing here?”
“I don’t know who that is, do you?”
Li Beidou, also present, stepped out from the crowd with a slack jaw. His wide eyed stare confirmed for Jin Xiyan that this was as much of a surprise as it was for him, so Son and Father could not have collaborated on this stunt. Li Changyu passed a glance at his Father before dropping down onto his knees in front of the platform Jin Xiyan was on. He bent forward and touched his forehead to the floor. Ping Feng remained standing and cupped his hands to Jin Xiyan with a bow.
“Glory to Your Majesty,” Ping Feng kept his head down.
The whispering didn’t die down, and Jin Xiyan caught the slight sneers on the lips of some of the courtiers. His hand squeezed the end of the armrest of his throne.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded.
“Your Majesty, as my fellow officials have told you, there is danger just at our door. It is this Minister’s humble opinion that the most qualified leader in the military for this mission is Your Majesty’s Empress, His Highness Li Changyu.”
“That is preposterous!” said a red-faced Minister beside Minister Gong whose name he couldn’t recall. Su Ao was about to whisper in his ear about the Minister like he normally would, but Jin Xiyan held up a hand to brush him off.
“Your Majesty!” Ping Feng drew his attention back to him, “There is a long history of Empresses who were skilled in martial arts and have fought to defend the Empire.”
Jin Xiyan’s gut twisted at his words. And there were plenty of those in that history that died that way!
“That may be true,” Jin Ai, his biological Brother, drawled from the corner. “But there is just a teensie problem – all those Empresses who fought? They were alphas.”
A murmur of agreement rumbled through the gathering, but Ping Feng didn’t appear to be deterred.
“While that is the case for those Empresses, His Highness is still marked as an official with the Lieutenant General seal, and by that right alone he is eligible to help us in our time of need!”
“He should have been stripped of his rank before he was married!” said Third Prince Uncle, Zhang Wenru.
Commander Yuan stepped out from the crowded line of officials to bow, “This servant can confirm Minister Ping’s words. It is unsure how it happened, but there is no record of his title being removed.”
Cold sweat beaded along his brow. A ringing in his ear garbled their voices, and an infectious laugh ghosted through his consciousness.
…waaannnaaa geeet married! I want to beat up bad guys!
Jin Xiyan could barely make out their words any longer and he shut his eyes when the light in the room made spots appear before his eyes. Why am I having one of these attacks now? For weeks his headaches felt worse and worse with each passing day, and the same voice taunted him each time. The sound of the ring in his ears began to climb.
…maaake themm regrrret the daay they chose to mess with!— At the crescendo, the ringing abruptly stopped and the voice faded away. The bickering and arguing rushed back into his ears and his head throbbed.
He yelled loud enough to strain his voice, “Enough!”
Finally, the room was quiet, and the only sound in his ears was the thump of his heart. He looked down at Li Changyu, who had not moved an inch since going down onto his knees. Wanting to hear his side of things, Jin Xiyan addressed Li Changyu directly.
“You have been quiet. What do you have to say?”
There was a pause, like Li Changyu was thinking, then he lifted himself up onto his knees. He held his arms out and cupped his hands, and he spoke in a loud clear voice.
“Your Majesty, this subject has long served the country, and after being briefed by Minister Ping, I can say with confidence that I am the best fit for this task.”
Jin Xiyan wasn’t skeptical, but he wanted to press why Li Changyu would throw himself in like this. He should be furious that the Harem was involving itself in Court affairs, as it was against the rules and punishable, but his heart squeezed with equal parts anger and concern.
“And what makes you think that?”
Li Changyu kept his eyes down as he answered, “My Father is no longer a General, and my Brother is too injured to fulfil this duty. Your Majesty’s other Generals are scattered across the great land, and others are too inexperienced. Like Your Majesty, His Majesty the Fallen Emperor valued people of skill and merit. I have over ten years of experience, the majority of which is in the cold North, and I have not lost or retreated from a battle yet. Five hundred of my men can fight like one thousand, Your Majesty.”
Li Changyu dropped forward again, his palms flat on the ground as he touched his forehead once more to it. “This Empress does not know much, but fighting is what I excel at, Your Majesty.”
This didn’t explain why Li Changyu wanted to go, only all the reasons he should go. Everyone was quiet, eyes glued to them both as the courtiers waited expectantly on Jin Xiyan’s answer. He looked at the top of Li Changyu’s head, wishing for him to say more, but Li Changyu remained quiet and still. Jin Xiyan was reminded of the old wounds on Li Changyu’s body, and he knew it was more than likely he would collect more if he went.
It can even end in death…His heart began to race, because if he were honest, he did not want Li Changyu to go.
If I say no…would you know that I am being selfish? Or would you think I am being spiteful? Jin Xiyan, feeling the weight of the decision, clenched his teeth together. Or if I said yes, would you think I was casting you off?
Jin Xiyan also understood that the Court was judging his reactions as well. If he appeared too eager to send Li Changyu away, would they perceive this as him unjustly favoring Li Changyu, or putting him in danger? Rumors had long circulated about them, and the lack of an heir was something many officials pressed him hard about, but it felt like he could never please either of the scheming parties.
Minister Ping fell down onto his knees and urged him further, “Your Majesty, please take this opportunity! Think of the safety of the people!”
Li Beidou joined in and knelt beside his son, “Your Majesty, if we want success, this is the wisest course of action!”
This started the flow of Ministers and other officials kneeling along with the three of them, beseeching him.
“His Highness the Empress has fought valiantly against the men in the North!”
“There are tales of his success known throughout the capital, Your Majesty!”
Even his Uncle came and knelt down, hanging his head. “There is no question about His Highness’ military prowess, Your Majesty. This may be our only solution right now.”
Though there were many officials still clearly camped in the no side, with their faces red in anger or muttering to one another, he had to answer. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and despite his overwhelming sense of dread, he said, “If – If – Zhen lets you go…How many men will you take?”
Without rising, Li Changyu answered, “Answering Your Majesty, if the reports are accurate, a thousand men.”
“You will take an additional two hundred,” he blurted and a flush rose to his cheeks.
“Your Majesty!” Minister Gong whined, “How can you–”
“Silence!” He snapped at the man, glaring at him and the other Ministers. Jin Xiyan rose to his full height and all the Ministers went to their knees now and bowed. “Zhen decrees this: the Empress will lead a troop of twelve hundred men and meet the enemy. Eight scouts are to accompany them and report back on anything that happens.”
A chorus of All Hail His Majesty! echoed off the walls of his Court, and instead of feeling accomplished, Jin Xiyan felt sick to his stomach.
—-
Some time later…
“Some people would say goodbyes in a moment like this, Little Brother.”
Jin Xiyan stood some feet away from the main gate that separated the Imperial City to the Capital. At one side was his Eldest Brother, Zhao Lanhu, and the other, his Mother. Royal Grandmother had her arms around Li Changyu, who was closest to the gate and out of earshot from them. He was smothered in Royal Grandmother’s embrace, patiently hugging her back as she openly wept. Behind Li Changyu was his Father, holding the reins of an all black steed.
Looking at Zhao Lanhu, Jin Xiyan sighed. “Eldest Brother, if I went over there right now, I would go back on my word and send him back to the Inner Court.”
His Brother frowned, “But if you do not, you could come to regret it.”
“Hmph,” his Mother huffed and brushed a stray hair away from his face. “You sound like you doubt your little friends’ skill.”
Zhao Lanhu’s shoulders tensed, but his voice remained polite as he addressed Jin Xiyan’s Mother. “Empress Dowager, I have the utmost confidence in His Highness.” He turned his head to look up at Jin Xiyan, the corners of his lips turned down. “But please, heed this Brother. I would have been heartbroken if I could not have said goodbye to A-Qiao when I had the chance.”
Reminded of his Eldest Brother’s Husband’s death ratcheted up his nerves even more. With fists clenched at his side, Jin Xiyan turned away so he couldn’t look at Li Changyu. The urge to call everything off was just too overwhelming.
“It is not as if His Majesty doesn’t have other wives,” his Mother pointed out, his words as cold as his eyes. “At least His Majesty still has Qin Yuze.”
“Mother!” he hissed, truly offended. Truth be told, Qin Yuze and his Mother never saw eye to eye either until Li Changyu entered the Harem. His Wife still distrusted his Mother, but this was the closest to praise his Mother had ever given Qin Yuze.
His Mother stepped back, his hand reaching for his own chest in shock from his response. Jin Xiyan rarely ever snapped at his Mother, but this time, it felt warranted.
“This Mother apologizes to my Emperor Son,” the Empress Dowager lowered his eyes and bowed respectfully. He swung open his fan and covered his face before turning to walk away.
Jin Xiyan glanced over his shoulder where Li Changyu had finally settled his Grandmother down some. Li Changyu turned his head and his eyes caught Jin Xiyan’s. Finally, Li Changyu looked him in the eye and the breath was stolen from him. His Wife’s bright golden eyes shimmered faintly and there was a flutter of tension in his gaze, but their stare was just a fleeting moment. Li Changyu’s attention quickly shifted to Zhao Lanhu when he approached.
Regardless if Li Changyu wanted him to say goodbye, nothing good would come from it. Every fiber in his muscles cried out for him to do what his heart wanted, which was to grab Li Changyu by the back of his shirt and drag him all the way back to the Phoenix Palace where it would be safe.
He lingered there as the foursome exchanged words, but when Li Changyu prepared to mount his horse, it became unbearable. If I do not leave now, I will do something that I regret. He stole one more fleeting glance before forcing himself to turn and walk away.
——
“You can still turn back now,” the Grand Empress Dowager whispered hoarsely against his hair. “Please, do not go, A-Chang.”
“Royal Grandmother…” Li Changyu sighed and pressed his forehead against her shoulder. He squeezed her close and let her cry some more. It was already her seventh protest. She tried bribery, blackmail, and everything in between to try and get him to stay, but he remained steadfast.
“Your Highness…” His Father touched his back and Li Changyu pulled away enough to turn. He caught Jin Xiyan looking at him, but he quickly shifted his focus to Zhao Lanhu as he walked towards them. The less he looked at Jin Xiyan, the easier it was to forget that he was there, doing anything but sending him off.
Zhao Lanhu’s smile to their Grandmother was sad as he offered her a handkerchief. Grand Empress Dowager finally let him go and took it to dab the corners of her wet eyes with it. The First Prince looked to him next.
“Our Family’s Empress honors us with your bravery and loyalty to His Majesty’s dynasty.” Zhao Lanhu went so far as to cup hands and bow, which surprised him.
Li Changyu was quick to wave the gesture off, “You do not need to thank me. I am just doing what I have been for years.”
The hand on his back shifted up to the back of his head and he was pulled towards his Father. Li Beidou half-smothered him in the same way Royal Grandmother did, but there was a stiffness in his body like his Father was holding something back.
“You better come back,” he murmured to Li Changyu. “No funny stunts.”
He tried to tease his Father, in order to ease the tension. “Papa, they call me the Crazy Lieutenant General for a reason…how can I not give the people what they want?”
He pried himself out of Li Beidou’s grasp and smiled as best as he could. His Father’s thick brows were knitted together so much that they almost looked like one. He reached up a hand and smoothed a thumb over them.
“Stop that, you will get wrinkles.” Li Changyu patted his Father’s cheek before taking Weixiao’s reins from him. He peeked at Jin Xiyan from the corner of his eye, wondering if the hovering ghost would finally come say goodbye, but he walked off instead.
No matter how many times Li Changyu told himself that he wasn’t Jin Xiyan’s Wife and that it didn’t matter anymore, he was still hurt by the Emperor. There would be a flash of pain that squeezed his heart until he smothered it by focusing on his task at hand. Taking a deep breath, he repeated his mantra in his head as he lifted his leg to fit his foot in the stirrup.
It does not matter, I’m just a subject. I’m just a subject. Soldiers don’t go off galavanting off into the sunset with the Emperor. It. Doesn’t. Matter.
With one final goodbye, Li Changyu did not bother to look back at Jin Xiyan’s retreating form. He turned Weixiao towards the gate and sped off to meet the garrison at the other end of the Capital. Citizens stopped to stare, and carts and caravans made way for him. Not many had ever seen an omega ride a horse before, let alone one dressed in a top official’s uniform. Children gawked at how mighty and tall Li Changyu appeared on his powerful black horse, and many women were impressed by his good looks.
It did not take long for news to spread that it was the Empress that they had seen, and by the time the battle had begun far away, stories had already spread about what was going on just outside of their borders. People would exaggerate Li Changyu’s looks, good or bad, and others claimed he was riding a golden chariot pulled by two obsidian black beasts.
Of course, not much of what was said was true. People tended to share tall tales, this was nothing new. However, none of them would have ever predicted that this ride through the Capital would be retold over and over again as part of the tale that would be known as The Downfall of Empress Li Changyu.
I think if I was in the empress shoes, I would also go into battle. Especially to get away from all the palace drama.
RUNNING away from the palace with great speed.
I spy, I spy something not quite right. LCY’s heart must be made of some unknown matter to remain loyal to his county still after all that mess with it’s leader. Bruh. I’d be like, “the city is on fire? Let it burn.”
LOL thank the country that LCY is loyal.
You’re killing me, Domino! I’m excited and scared for the next chapters. Thanks for not leaving us hanging.
Author san, is thus this novel had a BE? Huhuhujuu you make me cry tons of buckets already from the previous chapters…
I promise it is an extremely happy ending!
Battling a war is better than fighting in the harem. LCY suits to be a warrior. The last part scares me…
prepares tissues
Jin Xiyan doesn’t understand why Li Changyu wants to go? The only reason to stay anymore is for the investigation, but Jin Xiyan doesn’t believe there was anything to investigate so he would have had to give him another reason. It would probably do them good to have some distance for a while if it wasn’t for the Ominous Ending of this chapter 🥺.
waits for Auntie’s angry yelling
‘ The Downfall of Empress Li Changyu.’ this gives me chills … LCY be safe
Best be scared!!
Me asustó el final del capítulo. Por favor, que LCY regrese sano y salvo.🥺🥺
Uh, excuse you, the DOWNFALL? What!!!!
Yes. He’s outside. He’s much safer now..
I hope he wins in the war and brings pride as an omega. If that doesn’t happen then people will probably sh!t talk omegas even more if he fails (not that it’s his fault).