Whether it was because my face had gone pale, I couldn’t say, but the little eunuch gave me a strange look before speaking slowly. "That is Lord Han Sheng, Commander of the Ministry of War."
I stared at him blankly. "Lord Han?"
The eunuch nodded. "Indeed, Lord Han."
I followed him out with my head bowed, the name *Han Sheng* echoing in my mind. How could it be him? This was far from the answer I had expected. Had so much time passed that my memory was playing tricks on me?
I turned the matter over and over as we walked, and before I knew it, we had reached the South Hua Gate. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw several figures in armor approaching. The little eunuch hurried to lead me aside to give way. Then, a voice I knew all too well called out to me.
"Xixia!"
The tension in my nerves snapped and dissolved the moment I heard that voice.
It was Mingshao.
He stood in the sunlight, clad in silver-white armor, looking gallant and spirited. The smile on his face and the gleam of his plate radiated a brilliance that was almost hard to look upon. While I was still dazed, he had already crossed the distance between us in a few strides.
"What are you doing here?" His gaze swept over my face, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake. "Are you here to see the Side Consort?"
I nodded, meeting his eyes. I felt as though I had a thousand things to say, but this was clearly not the place for them.
Mingshao’s hand reached out toward me, then hesitated and pulled back. "My uncle and I just returned today. I’ll come find you tonight."
I nodded again. With a lingering look, Mingshao turned and returned to Grand Marshal Chu De’s side.
This was my first time seeing Marshal Chu. My first impression was of a towering man in his forties with eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. When he saw me salute, the corners of his mouth quirked into the faintest ghost of a smile. Then, he turned and walked away with great, sweeping strides.
Mingshao gave me one last smile before hurrying after him.
The unease stirred by the encounter with Han Sheng vanished without a trace. I stood outside the palace gates for a moment before deciding to head straight to Luo Jin.
Luo Jin listened to my report but merely shook his head. "Xixia, the Emperor has already issued a decree. The case of the illegal gold mines has been transferred to the Inner Court. Neither you nor I have the authority to interfere further."
According to the traditions of the Yantian Clan, only cases involving the harem were handed to the Inner Court to be handled by the Emperor’s personal confidants. Though the suspect, Lady Changping, was of noble status, she wasn't exactly royalty.
Seeing my confusion, Luo Jin sighed. "I’ve seen the Grand Preceptor. He says a great storm is about to break over the court. From what he implies, the Emperor has already made his decision. The formal decree should arrive within the next few days."
My heart gave a heavy thud.
Luo Jin continued, murmuring to himself, "Han Sheng? That man is far from simple..."
"Is he of the same clan as Left Chancellor Han Gao?" I asked curiously.
Luo Jin shook his head. "Han Sheng was originally a retainer for Prince Xian. Later, during the Ministry of Justice’s martial examinations, he defeated the top martial scholar. He was recommended for a position in the Ministry of War by the Second Prince. They say his martial prowess is extraordinary."
My head began to throb. If Han Sheng was Prince Xian’s retainer, would his actions in the capital implicate Prince Xian, who was far away in Binzhou? The image of Mingrui’s bright, cheerful face rose in my mind, and I felt as though a heavy stone were pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I felt like a fisherman sitting by a familiar pond, using familiar bait, only to pull up a string of monsters I didn't recognize at all.
For a moment, I was at a complete loss.
Because of the matter with Han Sheng, I remained distracted even after leaving the Ministry of Justice.
When I returned home, my father learned that Wuxiu wanted me to return the jade pendant to the Grand Preceptor. Whether he was angry with her or with me, his face clouded over. The whole situation left me frustrated, and I secretly vowed that if I ever saw that eccentric, white-bearded old man again, I would make him suffer a little.
I remained in this restless state until nightfall. It was only when I slipped out and climbed the large thicket tree outside our yard that my heart began to settle. I remembered in the movies I used to watch, it was always the man who waited anxiously for the heroine to appear. Why was it the opposite for me? Almost every time, I was the one waiting for him.
The leaves above rustled, and Mingshao dropped onto the branch before me like a monkey darting down for food.
"Have you been waiting long?" His eyes shimmered in the dappled light, and his voice held a tenderness that was impossible to resist. I knew he was doing this on purpose—dazzling me first so I wouldn't hold his lateness against him.
Before I could think of a retort, his warm, strong arms had already pulled me into his embrace. My head went fuzzy again, and I found I couldn't think of anything at all. His embrace carried a scent that intoxicated me; it felt like a nest I had built here a thousand years ago—utterly familiar, utterly safe.
Mingshao pulled my hand to his lips and pressed a light kiss into my palm. "Do you know what my uncle said about you?"
I shook my head lazily. I was thinking: *He can say whatever he likes; it’s not like I’m marrying him.*
Mingshao seemed to guess my thoughts and let out a soft laugh. "He said you have the bone of a rebel behind your ear."
I blinked, startled. That was a critique I never would have expected. "Did he say anything else?"
Mingshao laughed again. "He did. He said you were born into the wrong family."
My curiosity was piqued. This Marshal Chu was an interesting man. "Then did the Marshal say which family I should have been born into?"
Mingshao seemed to find the words amusing. "His own, of course. He said you aren't suited for officialdom by nature. The place that suits you best is... the battlefield."
I was stunned again. Did he say that because of my martial arts? But my dream was to be a pioneer of justice, a constable. I knew nothing of military strategy or leading troops. Besides, going to the battlefield would be even harder than being a catcher; the military was notoriously exclusionary toward women. Even the Marshal himself couldn't bring family along when he went to war.
Mingshao stroked my hair and let out a soft sigh. "I’ve already spoken to Mingrui. If you need anything and he can help, don't hesitate to go to him."
At the mention of Mingrui, my heart skipped a beat. "Mingrui... why isn't he going to the front with you?"
Mingshao was silent for a long moment before he spoke slowly. "He is... essentially a hostage held in the Emperor’s palm. Of course he won't be allowed to leave."
I stared at Mingshao’s face, another answer I hadn't expected. His tone held a trace of indefinable sorrow. "When Uncle Nine was banished to his fiefdom years ago for some unknown reason, Mingrui was kept behind. He was raised in our household. Without the Emperor’s express permission, he cannot leave the capital. In all the years he’s been growing up, the only time he was allowed to return to Binzhou was last month, when Uncle Nine fell gravely ill."
I caught a thread in the tangled mess of my thoughts. "Is Prince Xian in Binzhou now?"
Mingshao shook his head. "Uncle Nine was brought back by the Emperor’s personal guards. He is currently recovering at the traveling palace in Dai County. Mingrui is still living at our estate."
This was the first I had heard of Mingrui’s private affairs, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of pity for that bright, sunny boy. If something happened to Prince Xian... how would the court deal with Mingrui?
It was a question Mingshao likely couldn't answer.
The Emperor’s will was truly inscrutable.
Ever since Luo Jin told me the gold mine case had been moved to the Inner Court, I had felt the tension of a gathering storm. Yet the speed of events still caught me off guard.
Three days later, the Emperor held a banquet in the palace for his imperial uncle, Prince Rongsheng—the late Emperor’s only brother. It was ostensibly to celebrate the birthday of the old prince, who lived in seclusion at the Dai County villa. But that night, the Forbidden City was surrounded by heavily armed Imperial Guards, and a city-wide curfew was enacted before nightfall.
All of Zhongjing was submerged in an atmosphere of dread.
The next day, the court issued two public notices to pacify the people. The first stated that an assassin had struck during Prince Rongsheng’s banquet, and Prince Xian had been killed on the spot. Because his eldest son, Mingrui, had been instrumental in protecting the Emperor, he was granted the title of Prince and permitted to escort his father’s coffin back to their fief in Binzhou immediately.
The second notice announced the house arrest of the Second Prince, Qing Jinxian. The charges were "dereliction of duty" and "great disrespect toward the Empress Dowager."
Simultaneously, news came from the palace that the Grand Preceptor had selected an auspicious day three days hence. After the Lutai Appointment ceremony, Marshal Chu would depart with the grand army.
I couldn't quite untangle the logic behind Prince Xian’s assassination and the Second Prince’s imprisonment, but I knew one thing: whether they had actually intended to rebel or not, the court would never make a public spectacle of it at such a critical juncture. As for Han Sheng, the former retainer of Prince Xian and current Commander in the Ministry of War, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. No one knew his whereabouts.
Furthermore, the eyes of the entire nation were fixed on the Lutai Appointment. The fates of the two princes were like two insignificant bubbles that swirled briefly on the surface before being swallowed by the unprecedented wave of patriotism sweeping the populace. There was no unnecessary chaos.
I had to admire the Emperor’s meticulous planning. I suspected this precise scheme had been crafted by that white-bearded old fox, Xu Liufeng.
I was curious to know if the massive amount of gold and silver had been recovered. However, since the matter was being handled by the Inner Court, the Emperor had clearly categorized it as a private imperial affair. A minor sixth-rank official like me would likely never touch the truth of it in this lifetime.
For the first time since arriving in this era, I felt the staggering weight of imperial power with absolute clarity.
*It* enjoyed supreme status and was eternally correct. *It* could turn the clouds into rain with a flip of a hand. *It* held the final right of interpretation for all things and owed an explanation to no one. *It* could manipulate anyone and anything, commanding life or death at a whim.
Realizing this so clearly made me feel a flicker of uncertainty about my own identity. I wasn't sure what I was holding onto anymore.
Was everything I was doing truly fulfilling my ideals?
My self-reflection didn't last long, because like everyone else, my heart was soon filled with the excitement of the Lutai Appointment.
The ceremony took place on the sacrificial altar outside the Great East Gate. It was a long, drawn-out affair. The Emperor personally offered incense and read the proclamation to the heavens, the palace musicians played the melodies of departure, and finally, Marshal Chu ascended the altar to receive the commander’s seal from the Emperor’s hands and deliver his inaugural address.
I and all my brothers from the Ministry of Justice were dressed in brand-new uniforms, patrolling the route the Grand Marshal would take. The Imperial Guard was primarily responsible for the safety of the Forbidden Palace, while the security of the city streets was handled by us and a troop of elite soldiers specially transferred from the Lutai Camp. We had set up cordons along both sides of the street early in the morning to prevent the crowds from losing control. Fortunately, though the people’s eyes were gleaming with fervor, they remained orderly.
Though autumn had arrived, the air was thick with a palpable, burning heat.
Three cannon blasts sounded from the distance. The faint sound of military music mingled with the cheers of the people, rising in wave after wave. I couldn't help but look toward the sound. First to appear at the end of the street was an honor guard of a hundred elite soldiers, all mounted on tall horses, carrying colorful flags embroidered with thunder-beasts. They passed before us in pairs, a dazzling blur of color.
After the honor guard came six pairs of formidable riders, each carrying the Grand Marshal’s banners.
Then, the man who had said I had a "rebellious bone" appeared in my sight—the majestic Grand Marshal. In the autumn sun, his armor reflected a brilliant light, making him look like a god of war descended from the heavens to protect the Yantian Kingdom.
Not far behind him was Mingshao.
Mingshao saw me almost the same moment I saw him. The anxiety in his eyes vanished the instant our gazes met, replaced by a tenderness I knew so well, deep as the sea. He stared at me without blinking, his right hand pressed lightly against his chest...
My vision suddenly blurred. He was getting closer and closer, yet I could no longer see anything clearly. My body moved of its own accord, urging my black horse to follow the procession.
Someone grabbed my arm. An anxious voice shouted close to my ear, "Quick, to the rear city gate!"
I turned blankly. Through my blurred vision, it looked like Chen Zhan. He seemed startled to see me as well. But in that moment of distraction, Mingshao was gone.
Before me were countless soldiers in bright armor. Every one of them looked like him, yet none of them were him.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 韩盛 | Han Sheng | Commander of the Ministry of War, former retainer of Prince Xian. |
| 兵部统领 | Commander of the Ministry of War | A high-ranking military official position. |
| 容晟亲王 | Prince Rongsheng | The late Emperor's brother, an elderly prince living in seclusion. |
| 戴县 | Dai County | Location of an imperial traveling palace/villa. |
| 录台拜相 | Lutai Appointment | A grand ceremony for appointing a Prime Minister or Commander-in-Chief. |
| 帅印 | Commander's Seal | The official seal representing military authority. |
| 雷兽 | Thunder-beast | A mythical creature used on military banners. |
| 反骨 | Rebellious bone | A physiognomy term suggesting a natural disposition toward rebellion or non-conformity. |
| 录台大营 | Lutai Camp | A specific military camp or garrison. |
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