Yan Di was the victor of the previous power struggle. In a chaotic world of smoke and fire, he and the Late Emperor wielded their swords and raised their banners, laying the centuries-old foundations of the Great Yan Dynasty. He was by no means an ordinary person.
However, after ascending the throne, the enthusiasm in Yan Di’s heart faded over the years, leaving behind a suspicious and sensitive ruler, full of doubts and suspicions.
When Yan Di entered the hall, all the courtiers stood up and saluted, shouting, “Long live the Emperor!”
The resounding voice echoed throughout the Palace, exuding an aura of lingering dominance.
Chu Xinian glanced discreetly towards the entrance and saw a middle-aged man in imperial robes, surrounded by palace maids. He was seated on the dragon throne, his twelve-jade crown hiding his eyes, making it difficult to discern his emotions.
Yan Di’s voice was deep and conveyed a profound grandeur, “There is no need for formalities, my ministers.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The courtiers replied in unison and then took their seats.
Chu Xinian noticed a general wearing silver-scale armor standing beside Yan Di, radiating a deep, immovable presence. He guessed it must be Zhou Wenchen, the Commander of the Imperial Guard.
Superficially, there seemed to be no loopholes or weaknesses to exploit.
Chu Xinian looked back at Xie Jingyuan and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, continuing their earlier conversation. He asked in a low voice, implying something, “Who should I eliminate so that the General will give me the other half of his life?”
Xie Jingyuan raised an eyebrow in response, “Is that what you wish?”
Chu Xinian looked at him earnestly, “Instead of the General easily giving away his life to someone else, why not give it to me? Wouldn’t you agree, General?”
As he uttered these words, Chu Xinian took Xie Jingyuan’s hand from under the table, his grip firm and unflinching.
Somehow, Xie Jingyuan’s heart skipped a beat. He struggled for a moment, but Chu Xinian’s grip only grew stronger. Only when Yan Di’s gaze landed on the lower end of the table, noticing Xie Jingyuan’s presence, and asked, “General Xie, you have been suffering from a prolonged illness. Today, you attend the banquet showing fewer traces of illness than before. It seems that the Court Astrologer’s calculations were accurate. Take good care of yourself. You are a pillar of the Great Yan Dynasty, and in the future, I will rely even more on you.”
To an outsider, Xie Jingyuan, though absent from the Court for a long time, still received the Emperor’s favor and frequent queries. However, Chu Xinian detected a hint of aloofness and caution in Yan Di’s words. Quietly, he told Xie Jingyuan, “Hide your abilities and wait for your time.”
The Crown Prince had the same intention. He discreetly looked at Xie Jingyuan and shook his head, telling him to continue pretending to be sick.
Xie Jingyuan stood up and expressed his gratitude to Yan Di, his gaze lowered, hiding his true emotions. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief, his voice hoarse and his face pale and weak, as if he would faint at any moment, “I thank Your Majesty for your concern…”
The courtiers exchanged glances in silence, realizing that Xie Jingyuan’s illness seemed serious. They wondered if the Emperor would find someone to replace him. They had heard the news that Prince Jin had won consecutive victories on the northern frontier, quickly quelling the riots. Rumors had already spread throughout the Capital, and some ministers went so far as to claim that Prince Jin was an exemplary figure among the imperial princes, excelling in both the literary and martial arts.
If Prince Jin was the exemplary figure among imperial princes, where did that leave the Crown Prince?
Some influential noble families, with shrewd minds, had already begun to consider whether or not to realign their loyalties.
Yan Di was unaware of the thoughts swirling among the courtiers. He noticed a young man in white sitting next to Xie Jingyuan, adorned with a jade belt and brocade robe, who exuded a remarkable charm. There was a hint of familiarity in his features, so he asked, “Could you be the second son of the Marquis of Quyang?”
Chu Xinian rose from his seat, graceful and imposing. He replied, “Indeed, Your Majesty, that is this humble subject.”
Yan Di nodded, impressed, “I heard that you solved a perplexing case at the Talent Banquet, proving to be an outstanding figure among them. Today, having met you, I can see that you are truly remarkable and not inferior in behavior to your older brother. The Marquis of Quyang has raised two outstanding sons. Please take a seat.”
It was evident that Yan Di admired the exceptional talent of Chu Xinian, a junior who posed little threat. His words carried a hint of amusement.
“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty,” replied Chu Xinian.
Chu Xinian had no intention of stealing the limelight in front of this distrustful Emperor. He sat with a faint smile, maintaining his composure both for and against.
During the banquet, Muchaha, the head of the Qiang Tribe, silently observed Yan Di’s mood. Seeing the Emperor’s pleased expression, Muchaha took the opportunity to stand up, raise his cup, and make a tribal salute, “Respected Majesty, Muchaha has come from afar and witnessed the prosperity of the Capital. You have truly opened my eyes.”
“Only the bravest and most capable monarch can rule such a prosperous nation. Please allow Muchaha to toast to you.”
It was evident that Yan Di was quite pleased with this kind of flattery. He raised his glass and toasted Muchaha respectfully from a distance, not caring to display Great Yan’s strength, “We are neighboring countries. If you like the customs and culture of the Capital, you are welcome to stay a while longer and explore.”
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.
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Sure enough, before the banquet was even halfway through, Muchaha revealed the purpose of his visit, “Respected Majesty, the Qiang Tribe has been living in the harsh and frigid grasslands. Last year, a heavy snowfall caused the death of countless cattle, and our people have been suffering from hunger and starvation. Muchaha humbly requests Your Majesty’s mercy to allow the Qiang people to enter Baiyue City and trade salt, iron, and cotton with the merchants of Great Yan. I will be immensely grateful to you.”
As soon as Muchaha finished speaking, Xie Jingyuan narrowed his eyes coldly. A military general, following his instructions, immediately stood up and objected, bowing to Yan Di, “Your Majesty, this matter should not be agreed upon! Baiyue City is a border fortress, and allowing the free entry of people of other ethnicities would lead to unimaginable consequences!”
Yan Di, who was no fool, frowned and said to Muchaha, “Although we are friendly countries, our territories are delimited. It is better not to cross the border easily.”
Muchaha looked anxious and bowed deeply, saying, “Respected Majesty, I implore you to believe in our tribe’s sincere intention for this peace negotiation. The Qiang Tribe will be Great Yan’s firmest ally in the future, forging an everlasting friendship.”
The Crown Prince, observing the situation, said to Yan Di, “Father, your son does not know whether the Qiang Tribe’s desire for peace is genuine, but I know that during the previous emperor’s reign, they repeatedly breached the alliance agreement. They cannot be easily trusted. Please, Father, think twice.”
Opening trade between the two countries would only strengthen the power of the Qiang Tribe, without much benefit to Great Yan. The enemy’s strength in some respects meant one’s disadvantage. Therefore, many ministers did not agree with Muchaha’s request.
Qin Daoyan had remained silent all along. Seeing Muchaha’s pleading look, he finally motioned for him to calm down and slowly stood up, addressing Yan Di, “Your Majesty, I have something to say, I am not sure whether I should say it or not.”
Yan Di replied, “You can speak freely.”
Qin Daoyan said, “Great Yan and the Qiang Tribe are separated by a mere stretch of water and enjoy friendly neighborly relations. The Qiang Tribe now sincerely proposes peace talks. Why cling to the grievances of the past? Your Majesty, with your broad-mindedness and to show the greatness of our great dynasty, it is also reasonable to assist the Qiang Tribe in opening up trade. This would not only spread benevolence but also bring benefits to our trade routes.”
The Crown Prince had long had a dislike for Qin Daoyan, whom he called ‘one-eyed dragon’ in a sarcastic tone, “Then, according to Minister Qin’s suggestion, should we open our gates wide and let people from other countries come and go freely?”
“I have no such intention. Baiyue City is a border fortress. Naturally, we cannot allow anyone to come and go as they please. However, just because the Qiang Tribe can’t enter doesn’t mean we can’t leave. As long as His Majesty gives the order, we can send our merchants to the grasslands to trade, and all problems will be solved.”
Qin Daoyan was indeed a shrewd fox; he found a compromise that resolved the issue. However, there were still ministers who disagreed, and arguments broke out in the hall.
“But the Qiang Tribe has been raiding our caravans sent to the grasslands. If we allow those merchants to go and trade, wouldn’t it be like sending lambs into a wolf’s mouth? I wonder how much benefit the Qin Minister has received from the Qiang Tribe to be so considerate of them.”
The speaker was Jin Ruhai. His words were cutting, and there was silence after he spoke. Qin Daoyan looked at him unconsciously, unable to understand why Jin Ruhai was suddenly confronting him. His face showed mixed emotions.
Yan Di also somewhat favored Qin Daoyan and spoke to calm the situation, ”We believe that Minister Qin has no such intentions. Jin Ruhai, your words are too harsh.”
Jin Ruhai straightened his attire, stood up from his seat, and unexpectedly performed a kneeling ceremony before Yan Di, “Your Majesty is kind and cares about your subjects, but I cannot stand by and watch Your Majesty being deceived!”
Yan Di could not tolerate being deceived by the ministers, and Jin Ruhai’s words struck a nerve, causing his face to darken, “Jin Ruhai, why are you saying such things!”
Qin Daoyan recalled sending many rare treasures to the Jin Family not long ago. His expression changed drastically, thinking that Jin Ruhai might be planning to expose him. He was about to speak up to stop him, but it was too late.
“I accuse Minister Qin Daoyan of privately accepting bribes from other countries, disregarding the laws. To help the Qiang Tribe establish trade routes, he presented gold and silver at my residence. I was filled with fear and anger, intending to reject him outright, but feared that Your Majesty would not be aware of his heinous actions. Therefore, I pretended to accept them as evidence”.
Qin Daoyan did not care about anything else at this point. He hurriedly stepped forward, pointing at Jin Ruhai angrily, “Jin Ruhai, you dare to spout such nonsense!”
Jin Ruhai remained indifferent, “Nonsense or not, Minister Qin will soon find out.”
When he finished speaking, he ordered two large jewel boxes to be brought in from outside. As he lifted the lids, a dazzling glow filled the room. Inside were mother-of-pearl as big as a child’s fist, and precious stones as red as blood. Each object was a unique treasure. There were also ancient pieces of porcelain, all of them tribute used by the Imperial Court.
The surrounding people were instantly in an uproar, and Yan Di’s expression turned ugly. He slammed loudly on the table, startling both civil and military officials, making them tremble in fear, “What exactly is going on? Explain everything to me.”
Chu Xinian lowered his gaze and took a sip of wine, hiding the curve of his lips.
Jin Ruhai said loudly, “Your Majesty, Qin Daoyan accepted bribes from the Qiang Tribe, regardless of Great Yan’s gains and losses. I humbly request Your Majesty to punish him.”
Qin Daoyan knelt straight down and rebutted, “Your Majesty, I have never done such a thing. Can’t Minister Jin randomly present a box of gold and silver as irrefutable proof? I refuse to accept it.”
Muchaha did not expect the situation to develop like this and hastened to speak, “Informing His Majesty, Muchaha can guarantee that this is not true.”
The Crown Prince, observing the situation from the side, saw that the time was right and suddenly stood up in front of everyone, saying, “I have something to report to Your Majesty!”
Qin Daoyan did not know why, but he suddenly felt a sense of restlessness and a bad feeling arose in his heart.
Yan Di, seeing the Crown Prince unexpectedly getting involved, suppressed his anger and asked, “What do you have to say?”
The Crown Prince handed over a readymade memorial and then bowed, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I want to impeach the Minister of War, Qin Daoyan, for conspiring with foreign powers, framing loyal officials, and disregarding human lives. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”
When he finished speaking, he revealed everything before Qin Daoyan’s terrified eyes. This included Jiu Niang’s death, the hidden message in the ancient well, the assassination of Qin Shuang, and finally he presented the jade pendant and letters found from Jiu Niang.
“Father, if General Xie and Chu Xinian had not harbored doubts about Jiu Niang’s death that day and pursued a strict investigation while riding in the carriage with me, I’m afraid we would not have discovered this matter. Qin Daoyan privately recruited hundreds of loyal followers, and each of them wore a jade pendant, enough to prove that Jiu Niang was one of the people he recruited. The contents of the letters also confirm their authenticity”.
The Crown Prince concealed some details, mixing truth with falsehood, presenting a list of evidence that would be enough to prove the authenticity of the letters.
Qin Daoyan paled in fear, his facial muscles twitched and he could not utter a word for a long time. However, that was not the end. The Crown Prince presented a familiar black box.
“I wonder if Father has heard of the recent appearance in the Capital of a thief called ‘The Thief of a Thousand Faces’. This is an individual with an uncanny knack for lightness, who appears and disappears without a trace. Although he is a thief, he possesses a sense of nobility. He infiltrated Qin Daoyan’s residence intending to steal treasures but accidentally stumbled upon evidence of his treachery. Taking advantage of the night, he threw the evidence directly into my residence. I dare not conceal anything and leave everything in Father’s hands.”
Yan Di remained silent as he quickly browsed through the correspondence between Qin Daoyan and others. The more he read, the more his anger grew. In the end, he let out a cold laugh, gritting his teeth, “Very well, very well! This is truly my loyal subject!”
With a wave of his sleeve, the cups and plates in front of him crashed to the ground, startling everyone who immediately knelt and begged for forgiveness, “Your Majesty, please calm down!”
Chu Xinian looked at Xie Jingyuan with clear implication. Today, Qin Daoyan was undoubtedly doomed to die and would no longer be able to escape. He muttered with a smile without being one, “General, how are you going to give me that half-life?”
Chu Xinian’s attitude was completely different from the previous night’s refusal. Xie Jingyuan sensed his fickleness as if he was toying with him. He lowered his eyes, ambiguously tensed the corner of his lips, and said, “If you have the ability, come and take it yourself.”
After speaking, he looked towards the center of the hall, only to see Qin Daoyan trembling and unable to speak. His official hat fell to the floor and he looked as miserable as a stray dog. He struggled to step forward and defend himself but was immediately dragged away by Yan Di’s order and imprisoned for severe interrogation.
The head of the Qiang Tribe, Muchaha, suddenly became the target of public criticism. Seeing Yan Di’s displeased expression and sweating profusely, he did not know what to say.
The Crown Prince dealt another heavy blow to the enemy, saying, “Father, the Qiang Tribe’s claims of sincerity for peace are motivated by ulterior motives. They have just solemnly denied any involvement, but now the evidence is irrefutable, revealing their silver tongue. There is no need to open trade routes between our two countries, and no need for peace negotiations. Can’t our mighty Great Yan deal with a mere Qiang Tribe!”
Qin Daoyan realized that he was already in a desperate situation, and anyone who spoke in favor of the Qiang Tribe at this time would be brainless. Seeing this, the civil and military officials intervened, directly condemning the Qiang Tribe to the lowest position.
“They are barbarians, uncivilized by nature. The outlook may change, but their true nature is difficult to change. Your Majesty, you must not accept them!”
“Please, Your Majesty, quickly expel them from the hall and avoid defiling this place!”
The power of the Yan Dynasty far surpassed that of the Qiang Tribe, so naturally, Yan Di did not hold them in high regard. When he was in a good mood, he could form some connections with them, but when he was in a bad mood, he would easily crush them like ants. Now that this matter had occurred, there was no longer any room for a friendly look.
Yan Di’s face turned ashen and he waved his sleeve, signaling the Imperial Guards to drive them out of the hall. The dozens of tribal warriors brought in by Muchaha did not understand the language. When they saw the Imperial Guards forcibly chasing them away, they looked at them angrily. One burly warrior snatched the weapons straight from the hands of the Imperial Guards and shouted angrily in the Qiang language, “Emperor of Great Yan, you have gone too far! Do you think we are afraid of you?”
Muchaha’s expression turned fearful at the words, but before he could intervene, conflict broke out between the two sides. Within the one-meter radius near the Emperor, no weapons were allowed, however, the Qiang warriors directly seized the Imperial Guards’ weapons and went on the attack, causing chaos.
The Imperial Guards outside immediately rushed into the hall, clashing swords and creating a battlefield in what was supposed to be a fine banquet. The Court officials, fearing they would be harmed, retreated in panic, thinking that the Qiang Tribe was indeed a barbaric land where bloodshed was expected at the slightest provocation.
A true gentleman does not stand under a tottering wall. Chu Xinian did not want to get involved, so he immediately pulled Xie Jingyuan behind him and they distanced themselves from the battlefield, “General, be careful.”
Xie Jingyuan paused when he saw him standing in front of him, then grimaced and said, “You should be the one to be careful.”
No sooner had he spoken than he heard a quick sound that broke the air. Instinctively, he looked up at the cause and saw a sword flying towards Chu Xinian.
Behind them were the pillars, leaving them with no room to retreat.
Xie Jingyuan’s expression changed slightly upon seeing this. He pushed Chu Xinian away and was about to use his inner Qi to defend against the sword. However, he suddenly felt a chilling gaze watching him from the shadows: it was Zhou Wenchen. His movement faltered and he changed his attack to evasive action, allowing the sword to brush his right arm and embed itself into the pillar.
“Ugh-” Xie Jingyuan grunted in pain, his face growing paler and paler.
He knew Zhou Wenchen was testing whether he was truly on the verge of death. If he forcibly deflected the sword, he would be exposed. He could only withstand the blow.
All this happened in an instant. When Chu Xinian regained his senses, he saw Xie Jingyuan, his face pale, clutching his right arm, blood oozing between his fingers. His pupils shrank involuntarily.
“General!”
Chu Xinian hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing his wrist, wanting to assess the severity of the injury. However, Xie Jingyuan refused to let him see, frowning and saying in a hoarse voice, “There are too many eyes in the Palace. Let’s discuss it at home.”
Chu Xinian paused at his words, instantly understanding his meaning. He quickly tore the hem of his robe and used the cloth to bandage Xie Jingyuan’s wound, stopping the bleeding. His expression was unusually solemn, and it was difficult to discern his emotions as he asked Xie Jingyuan, “Who did it?”
“…” Xie Jingyuan remained silent. He had never seen Chu Xinian frown angrily before, and now, seeing his furrowed brows, he couldn’t help but take a couple more glances. His pale lips twitched silently, “I’ll tell you when we get back.”
Xie Jingyuan thought to himself that Chu Xinian also had things he did not know.
Although the Qiang warriors were skilled in combat, they were outnumbered and quickly subdued by the Imperial Guards. Muchaha now wished for death, regretting why he had brought these fools with him. He knelt on the ground, repeatedly bowing and begging for forgiveness.
“Please, Your Majesty, forgive us, forgive us…”
But Emperor Yan no longer wanted to listen. He angrily left his seat, shaking his sleeve. Zhou Wenchen ordered the Imperial Guards to detain the Qiang Tribe members and wait for the Emperor to calm down before making further decisions. As he left the main hall, he discreetly glanced at Xie Jingyuan before leaving.
The Crown Prince had been watching them the whole time. Seeing Xie Jingyuan injured, he frowned and walked over, “Is it serious?”
Xie Jingyuan’s expression remained unchanged, and he even smiled in satisfaction, “It’s not fatal. Today, I saw Qin Daoyan fall into the dust, what is a simple cut?”
The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Xie Jingyuan was fine. He turned to Chu Xinian and said, “Take him back as soon as possible and have someone tend to his wounds. The Imperial Doctors cannot be trusted.”
Chu Xinian nodded and quickly escorted Xie Jingyuan out of the Palace. They quickly mounted the horse carriage, but the rough ride made Xie Jingyuan’s wounds worse. Blood was beginning to flow uncontrollably, soaking half of his sleeve.
“General…” Chu Xinian hugged him tightly, applying pressure on Xie Jingyuan’s wound, wanting to say something but refraining from doing so.
However, Xie Jingyuan seemed to understand what he meant. In a hoarse voice, he muttered, “It’s not deadly…”
When Wan Jimai arrived upon receiving the news, he saw the severity of Xie Jingyuan’s wounds and couldn’t help but grumble and complain. He stitched Xie Jingyuan’s wound, applied medicines, and wrapped him in gauze, toiling for several hours. He was exasperated, “If you encounter such a situation again in the future, don’t come looking for me!”
Xie Jingyuan, lying on the bed with half his body uncovered and his right arm bandaged, laughed, “I won’t come looking for you if I don’t have to.”
He was also a person who refused to admit defeat.
Wan Jimai was so enraged that he snorted and slammed the door.
Chu Xinian wrung out a clean handkerchief and used it to wipe the remaining bloodstains on Xie Jingyuan’s body. His voice was low and solemn, “General, do you know that one should not offend a doctor?”
During the chaos of tending to his wounds earlier, Xie Jingyuan’s mask got lost somewhere. It wasn’t until Chu Xinian approached that he could see his reflection in the other’s clear pupils.
Instinctively, Xie Jingyuan turned his head slightly, his emotions becoming somewhat irritable. His voice turned sinister, “Where’s my mask?”
Chu Xinian watched him silently without making a move.
Xie Jingyuan decided to look for it himself. He forced himself out of bed, the movement aggravated his wounds and his complexion paled even more. He frowned as he looked around the room and noticed that the mask had fallen near the pillow. As he picked it up, however, a sudden warmth covered the side of his face.
Chu Xinian leaned over, kissing Xie Jingyuan’s scarred right cheek directly. The warm lips slowly moved down, landing on his eye, his cheek, and finally his lips, completing the unfinished business from the night before. It was passionate and ambiguous.
“…”
Xie Jingyuan’s eyelids twitched, and the mask slipped from his fingertips, falling to the floor with a clatter.
He kissed him on his scar! 🥹 I love these two. Thanks for the chapters!!’
OMG WHAT A CLIFFHANGER
AGGGHHHHH THEY KISSED HAHEHEJSBWW OMG YOU’RE SO SEXY CHU XINIAN VERY VERY GONGGGG
MY DARLINGS this is the perfect way to end my night!! He kissed him! 🥹💖💖
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thank you for the update!
AAAAAAAAAA