A few days later, when Xin Yi stepped out in the morning, he was greeted by the sight of white snow blanketing the steps. He paused, only realizing it was snowing when a stray flake brushed against his neck. He instinctively shrank back for a moment, but the warmth of his fur-lined cloak against his skin soon allowed him to relax.
Though another winter had arrived, he was no longer freezing in the stables of the Prince of Ping’s manor.
Xin Yi fastened his collar and walked along the corridor toward the training grounds as usual. Old Qu had already seen to it that the area was cleared early in the morning. Xin Yi stood outside the corridor, waiting. Meng Chen arrived early today as well; having seen the snow, he likely expected that Xin Yi would not slack off. Indeed, he found the young prince standing in the snow, his breath hitching in white plumes as he stared into the grey expanse of the sky. He did not turn to greet him as "Uncle Meng" with his usual reverence.
Meng Chen stopped and followed his gaze, spotting a falcon circling above the estate. Startled, Meng Chen remarked, "Who would keep a falcon in the capital?"
Raptors were mostly kept by hunters these days, and the people of Danyuan were the most skilled in this art; Arslan kept several gyrfalcons at Mount Canaan. Even in the Beiyang Army, white falcons like this were rare. To see one in the soft, flowery world of the capital was naturally shocking.
Xin Yi’s eyes followed the bird’s movements. He watched the white falcon soar and dive from above, eventually vanishing behind the grey, snow-dusted eaves of a distant building. "Perhaps some noble brought it here for amusement," he said, appearing indifferent. He turned to Meng Chen with a smile. "Uncle Meng."
Having spent much of his life in the military, Meng Chen was very attentive to the raptors of Danyuan. His gaze remained fixed on the spot where the falcon had disappeared. He warned Xin Yi, "To allow it to fly so freely over the capital suggests its owner holds no small status. In the army, I saw the Danyuan use trained raptors for scouting and support. Though I cannot say if this one is trained for such, it would be wise for the Young Prince to remain vigilant."
Xin Yi nodded in agreement. "Uncle Meng is right."
As they walked toward their usual spot, Meng Chen said, "The Young Prince lacks a blade. Catching a blade with bare hands is no permanent solution. I have sent word to Ji Baiyue. He says that while the Prince’s saber was confiscated by the palace, the Eldest Young Master’s blade remains. If the Young Prince finds it acceptable, he will have someone deliver it. What are your thoughts?"
Xin Yi’s steps faltered slightly. He shook his head. "My skills are lacking. How could I dare touch Eldest Brother’s blade?"
Xin Jing’s saber was named "Tiandao"—The Way of Heaven. It was named after the proverb: *“When the work is done and fame achieved, to withdraw is the Way of Heaven.”* Sadly, while the name was profound, he had never been able to withdraw. He had fallen amidst the marshes of Wanze, a fact that left a lingering melancholy whenever his name was invoked.
"Young Prince." Meng Chen suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. "When the Princess Consort’s ashes were brought to the gates, the cowards of Shangjin refused to receive them out of fear and suspicion. The Princess Consort is now trapped within the palace gates, and the Young Master died with grievances in Wanze. All of Liyuan remembers this debt."
Xin Yi walked forward a few slow steps, his back to Meng Chen amidst the white expanse. He said nothing.
"The thirty thousand soldiers of Beiyang are scattered across the borders, but their hearts all turn toward the Young Prince. If only you would return to Beiyang and raise the call, why worry about being unable to claim your fief as King?" Meng Chen gripped the hilt of his saber, looking up at the swirling snow. His calmed emotions began to churn once more; he felt as though the snow of the capital was trying to bury both people and the past, digesting them into nothingness. Seeing Xin Yi’s silence, he raised his voice. "As long as the Young Prince is in Beiyang, why fear that old Emperor? His court is in chaos and the Crown Prince is calculating; it is hard to say if the Emperor will even survive the year. We have troops and grain to hold the northern border. With Danyuan watching like a tiger, even the Crown Prince wouldn't dare try to restrain us! Once you accept the title and return as King, Beiyang and the capital need never associate again. When Danyuan makes its move and the world’s military power falls into your hands, who would dare utter a single word against the Prince’s legacy? Bringing the Princess Consort home would be a simple matter! Young Prince, do you truly not wish for revenge?"
Meng Chen spat the word "revenge" through gritted teeth. He clearly harbored years of hatred for the capital and lacked Ji Baiyue’s ability to endure. Having spent the last month with Xin Yi, he finally felt the need to speak his mind. Just as his passion reached its peak, he heard Xin Yi let out a laugh—his shoulders even shook with it.
"Meng Chen." Xin Yi turned around. "What kind of revenge do you want? Do you want me to tear the man on the dragon throne limb from limb, or do you want me to overturn the world and shatter the peace?" His eyes were rimmed with red, a fierce light glinting within them. "My father spent his life guarding the northern border, seeking only to be a loyal subject. My brothers all lost their souls there, seeking only peace. How should I take this revenge? To kill the Emperor would be to betray my father’s lifelong conviction. To stir up chaos would be to trample upon the lifeblood my brothers shed. Whom should I kill? Whom *can* I kill?"
Meng Chen was stunned. "But the Emperor—"
"To my father, he was both sovereign and father-figure. No matter how much malice I harbor in my heart, I cannot break that bond of righteousness," Xin Yi sneered. "The Beiyang Army was in Prince Yan’s hands; my father and brothers swore to protect the state and the people. Even though my eldest brother knew of the blood feud, he still took up his blade to defend Dalan. Do you think he was unable to move against the Prince of Ping? If he had opened the northern border back then and let the Danyuan iron cavalry into the mountains, then today, whether it be the Emperor, the Crown Prince, or the common people of Dalan, all would be nothing more than prisoners under the hooves of a fractured kingdom!" He turned sharply, his voice cold. "Setting aside whether I have the ability to stir the world, even if I returned to Beiyang, raised the call, and held my troops to pressure the capital—what then? Should I declare independence and name myself Emperor of Beiyang? If the land is broken and the people exhausted by war, the day my soul returns to the Yellow Springs, my eldest brother would kick me into non-existence!"
Meng Chen was unconvinced. He gritted his teeth and challenged, "Does the Young Prince intend to cower in the capital for the rest of his life just for the sake of stability?"
"I will have my revenge." Xin Yi looked toward the Imperial Palace, his voice calm. "I will have my revenge without betraying those who came before me."
The sharp edge of hatred in his youthful brow was unpolished. It had been rooted in his heart from the beginning, buried deep amidst the horsewhips and the stench of the stables, growing more profound beneath the silks and refinement of his current life. The oaths on his back and shoulders prevented him from acting on whim, but they also ensured that hatred would not compromise his bottom line. Prince Yan had raised four sons; his greatest consolation would be that none of them were cowards who would harm the land and its people for the sake of a private grudge.
***
Inside the house, the floor heaters were active against the capital’s snow. Bai Jiu had been waiting for Xin Yi since his return, ordering milk to be warmed while he read at his desk. When the time was right, he heard footsteps approaching from the corridor. Even though they were light, Bai Jiu knew exactly who it was. But today was strange; the person lingered at the door for a moment before pushing it open.
As the curtain was lifted, Bai Jiu leaned his head on his hand, looking up from his book. With just a glance, he detected something unusual in the space between Xin Yi’s brows. However, the little brat had clearly practiced his expression against the door; the moment he saw Bai Jiu, his dimples appeared. He walked over and tucked his cold hands into the back of Bai Jiu’s collar. "I'm back."
Bai Jiu reached up and caught both of his hands, sliding them from his neck down to his chest. He leaned back against the soft cushions, his eyes narrowing at the chill. "Warm them up."
The tip of Xin Yi’s nose was red from the cold. Hearing this, he laughed and tried to pull away. "My hands are cold."
Bai Jiu held them firm. "The snow is heavy today. Shall we have something warming for lunch?"
Xin Yi thought for a moment. "I want to drink milk."
Bai Jiu stood up and led him toward the brazier. He lifted the lid of a bowl on the small table and handed it to him. Xin Yi knew what it was the moment he took it; he gave Bai Jiu a thin-lipped smile and drank it all in one go. Once he was finished, Bai Jiu led him back to the couch.
"How was Meng Chen today?" Bai Jiu asked casually.
Xin Yi shifted his gaze from their joined hands to Bai Jiu’s face and sighed. "Jingyuan, how do you know everything?"
"I have piercing eyes." Bai Jiu looked at him with narrowed eyes. "What happened?"
"The same old dispute." Xin Yi picked through the dried fruits left on the desk for him and popped an almond into his mouth, only to find it was a bitter one. His brow furrowed slightly. Before he could say anything, Bai Jiu already knew; he held his palm out to Xin Yi’s lips. "Spit it out."
Xin Yi thought it was unhygienic, so he kept it in his mouth and shook his head. Bai Jiu pinched his chin and gave it a little shake, his own brow furrowing. "Getting bold, are we? Spit it out, quickly."
When Xin Yi finally opened his mouth, the nut landed in Bai Jiu’s palm, along with a bit of lingering saliva. His face flushed red, and he reached out to wipe it away, but Bai Jiu just let him. Xin Yi muttered, "That’s saliva, My Lord."
Bai Jiu hummed in response, only asking, "What did Meng Chen want?"
"The same old literal meaning." Xin Yi toyed with Bai Jiu’s fingers, looking down. "They’re all waiting for me to return so I can command the three armies and turn the world upside down." He laughed at the thought. "And while I'm at it, take out the Emperor, wipe the capital off the map, and become a legendary hegemon of the North."
Bai Jiu looked at his long eyelashes and brushed them lightly. "You cannot do it."
"I thought so too." Xin Yi looked up at him. "Even if my father or brothers were told to do it, they wouldn't. So how could I?"
"No." Bai Jiu pressed the back of his hand against Xin Yi’s cheek, his narrow eyes seeing through everything. "It is because your family *refuses* to do it that it cannot be done." Bai Jiu paused. "Karma is a cycle. The day they get what they deserve will not be delayed by a single moment."
Xin Yi sighed softly. "Everyone is impatient, but we can only wait."
"Until the time is right, no one can touch anyone else," Bai Jiu sneered. "The Emperor may be failing, but there is still a Crown Prince who is as fierce as a wolf or tiger."
"The snow has fallen; the Crown Prince should be arriving soon." Xin Yi asked, "Why haven't I heard any news?"
"Within the next few days." Bai Jiu tilted his head back slightly. "They should all be arriving."
As if to prove Bai Jiu’s words, within half a month, not only did the Crown Prince reach the city gates, but the Provincial Governors of various regions also returned to the capital by imperial decree, along with Prince Tang of Jiangtang to report on his duties. The Crown Prince arrived first. The Emperor led the civil and military officials to meet him. Because the Empress Dowager was in poor health, there wasn't much ceremony or idle talk; they quickly brought the party back to the palace.
Xin Yi followed behind Prince Qin, noticing that the Prince had become gaunt in the days since they last met. His princely robes seemed to weigh him down, making him look slightly hunched; from behind, he appeared to be the same age as the Emperor. He looked at Xin Yi with total indifference, his eyes like stagnant water that only rippled when he passed Bai Jiu. The hatred was so profound that Xin Yi felt Prince Qin must have experienced something traumatic; otherwise, how could he have forgotten what Xin Yi did to Xin Wen and undergone such a drastic change in temperament?
As he was thinking, he saw Prince Qin step forward. A voice cut through his attempt to bow, and a hand supported him. "Zhenming, why have you become so thin!"
Xin Yi’s heart gave a sudden, violent jolt. He found the voice vaguely familiar. He looked up and saw the man holding Prince Qin, his eyes filled with sorrowful compassion.
He bore a thirty-percent resemblance to Prince Yan, but the rugged, martial aura of Prince Yan had been transformed into a face of great mercy and Buddhist compassion. One look at him inspired an instinctive sense of closeness and a desire to press one's palms together in reverence. If not for the four-clawed dragon robes of a Crown Prince, one might have been tempted to chant "Amitabha."
Xin Yi froze, and his reaction was caught by the Crown Prince. The Prince smiled, his tone gentle. "Ah, Yi’er has grown so much. He looks exactly like A-Sheng."
Though he spoke softly, the voice made Xin Yi recoil a step. A sensation like a venomous snake slithered frantically up his spine. Xin Yi pinched his palm hard to steady himself and forced a faint smile. Normally, no court official should have been standing behind him, but Bai Jiu, guarding against any eventuality, had placed Xiao Jin right behind him. When Xin Yi stepped back, he bumped right into Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin knew Xin Yi wouldn't lose his composure for no reason. He supported him and said, "Whoa, Young Prince, careful. I just changed into these shoes this morning." He then bowed to the Crown Prince. "I have startled Your Highness. I am Xiao Jin of the Capital Guard. Greetings to the Crown Prince; I kowtow to Your Highness."
The Crown Prince smiled. "The youngest of the Marquis of Huiyang’s house. I held you when you were a babe."
Bai Jiu, standing slightly behind the Emperor, glanced at Xin Yi and whispered something to the sovereign. The Emperor nodded and said, "Let us return to the palace first. The Empress Dowager cannot bear the wind."
The officials responded in unison. The Crown Prince and Prince Qin began to walk. As the Crown Prince passed Xin Yi, he paused briefly, patted Xin Yi’s arm, and said kindly, "Good child."
Xin Yi’s stomach churned, and his face went deathly pale. Yet, he immediately looked up, dimples showing, and bowed. The Crown Prince looked down at him, the wind and snow tossing Xin Yi’s stray hairs. From beginning to end, the Prince maintained the benevolent smile of an elder, but Xin Yi felt as though that gaze contained ten thousand screams, tightening around his throat. It wasn't until someone squeezed his hand that he snapped back to his senses. Bai Jiu appeared as usual, his narrow eyes looking down at him.
Xin Yi swallowed hard and instinctively reached up to loosen his collar; the feeling of suffocation seemed to linger.
A pinky finger hooked into his. Bai Jiu leaned down and let out a low, questioning hum. Xin Yi’s expression softened. He tilted his head slightly, and without drawing attention, he caught the scent of the cold air clinging to Bai Jiu. He exhaled and shook his head to indicate he was fine.
Bai Jiu raised his eyes to look at the Crown Prince, his gaze unfathomable.
The time that followed passed even more quickly. Xin Yi kept replaying the Crown Prince’s words in his mind, digging through his memories, but he couldn't place where he had heard that voice before. Even as he left with Xiao Jin after the gathering, he was still lost in thought.
"Have you met the Crown Prince before?" Xiao Jin asked as they descended the steps. "Your face went white the moment you saw him. You aren't even afraid of the Prince of Ping, so why fear him?"
Xin Yi exhaled. "The Lord isn't scary."
Xiao Jin scoffed. "That’s because you haven't seen his methods. They don't call him the King of Hell for nothing. It’s just that he acts like a different person around you—and you do the same."
Xin Yi had no time for idle chatter today; he just wanted to go back. As they neared the palace gates, they heard a woman’s sharp shout: "Xiao Qingchan! Keep your chest out and your stride straight for your old lady!"
Xin Yi was wondering who that name belonged to when he saw Xiao Jin snap to attention, standing as straight as a nail. He shouted back, "Yes! Sister!"
As he spoke, someone else laughed nearby, swinging a riding crop. "Little brat, look at you, acting like you've seen a tiger." The speaker then caught a look from someone, tapped his fan against his mouth, and grinned. "Ah, my mistake. I should watch my tongue."
It was Xie Jingsheng and Xiao Yan, who had just arrived.
Xie Jingsheng was looking dashing on horseback. Seeing Xin Yi, he was about to call out, but then he saw a man even colder than the snow approaching. His words faltered, a smile spreading across his face. Seeing that pale, elegant face, he looked ready to tumble off his horse to get to him.
"Greetings, Master He! It’s been—" His excitement was cut short as the man walked right past him without a glance. Xie Jingsheng blinked, reached out, and grabbed a handful of He Anchang’s robe. He tightened his grip and grinned. "What are you running for?"
He Anchang turned back with composure. His face, looking even colder in the heavy snow, resembled a peacock about to sneer. He said, "I'm going to see a little widow."
Xie Jingsheng’s expression went cold. "What little widow? I see, He Anchang, so that’s your type."
"Indeed." He Anchang brushed his hand away, eyeing him coldly. "I was thinking of asking Master Xie for some pointers."
Xie Jingsheng couldn't fathom how this man had gotten involved with a "little widow." He simply grabbed the man’s wrist and hissed through his teeth, "Have the guts to show me then. Let's see what kind of trash dares to solicit you!"
Nearby, Xiao Jin suddenly shuddered. He felt as though he had forgotten something... and that peace was about to be a very rare commodity.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 天道 | Tiandao | "The Way of Heaven"; the name of Xin Jing's saber. |
| 辛靖 | Xin Jing | Xin Yi's eldest brother. |
| 辛盛 (阿盛) | Xin Sheng (A-Sheng) | Xin Yi's father, the late Prince Yan. |
| 萧嫣 | Xiao Yan | Xiao Jin's elder sister. |
| 贺安常 | He Anchang | A cold and aloof official. |
| 谢净生 | Xie Jingsheng | A playful and flirtatious official. |
| 萧青阐 | Xiao Qingchan | Xiao Jin's formal name. |
| 振明 | Zhenming | Prince Qin's name. |
| 唐王 | Prince Tang | A regional prince from Jiangtang. |
