When Xin Yi woke, Tiandao was by his pillow. He reached out to touch it in the darkness, momentarily lost as to where he had come from or where he was going. He had thought it would take many more years to reach this point, yet it had happened so abruptly. Now that it was done, he did not know where his next step should lead.
There was the sound of footsteps outside the tent.
Xin Yi did not particularly want to move. He lay there with his eyes open, his gaze aimless, his mind a blank.
A corner of the tent flap was suddenly lifted, and Xin Yi rolled over to sit up. Ji Baiyue entered but stopped by the curtain, remaining silent for a long time.
Xin Yi said nothing either. After a lengthy pause, Ji Baiyue finally spoke. "Kyoto." He hesitated, the rest of his words catching in his throat. "Orders have come from the capital."
"What do they say?" Xin Yi asked calmly.
"They want the Northern Yang army to secure Mount Canaan. As soon as the provincial troops from the neighboring prefectures arrive to garrison it, we are to retreat to Northern Yang, bypassing Shangjin."
Xin Yi got out of bed and pulled on his outer robe. "Provincial troops? The closest forces are in Northern Yang, yet they insist on bringing in troops from other prefectures across the borders." He let out a silent, cold sneer. "Mount Canaan is not an easy place to garrison. Tell the capital that it will take the Northern Yang army more than a month to secure it. If the other provincial troops aren't afraid of a counterattack from the Zhadalan tribe, then let them come."
As Ji Baiyue turned to leave, Xin Yi asked, "What of Jiangtang?"
"The Prince of Tang has shown no reaction," Ji Baiyue replied after a moment's thought. "However, the Prince of Pacification has a thorough grasp of Yan Jueshu's detailed movements."
"The capital wants Mount Canaan." Xin Yi turned and gave Ji Baiyue a small smile. "But that depends on whether they can survive the Prince of Tang first."
When the year turned its page, the Emperor suddenly fell ill again.
This time, the illness was aggressive, no better than the Prince of Qin’s previous bout. Within half a month of his collapse, the court began to stir with restless ambition. The foremost development was the Crown Prince taking control of the Capital Guard, including Xiao Jin; everything was now under the Crown Prince's command.
This meant that both inside and outside the capital, the power of decision had fallen into the Crown Prince's hands.
The orders recalling Xin Yi to the capital grew increasingly urgent, even beginning to take on a tone of intimidation. But Xin Yi remained unhurried, using the instability of Canaan as an excuse to delay his return. Meanwhile, the Prince of Pacification remained stationed in Qingping, likewise refusing to return to the capital.
Three months later.
The Emperor died suddenly.
It was a truly abrupt death, without any warning. Only the day before, the Imperial Academy of Medicine had asserted that the Emperor was merely lingering on his sickbed and could hold on longer; the very next day, he perished in the palace.
It was only when Kang Fu went to wake him in the morning that he discovered the Emperor was gone.
The Crown Prince was furious and immediately ordered the arrest of the palace attendants. Unexpectedly, when the matter fell to Zuo Kaizhi for interrogation, Kang Fu insisted that the Crown Prince had tampered with something, leading to the Emperor's sudden death. Zuo Kaizhi immediately submitted a memorial, denouncing the Crown Prince for his unfilial conduct. These words stirred up a thousand waves; the neutral faction, which had previously been undecided, immediately turned their spears, attacking the Crown Prince for seizing control of the Capital Guard.
The Crown Prince intended to use execution to quell the dissent.
However, Jiangtang was the first to make a move.
The Prince of Tang, who had always been quiet, weak, and easily manipulated in the capital, raised his banner under the pretext of avenging the late Emperor. He claimed he would act on the Emperor's behalf to punish the Crown Prince's wicked deeds. The Crown Prince immediately issued a proclamation denouncing the Prince of Tang for treasonous intent. The two sides snapped at each other like rabid dogs, vowing to fight to the death.
The Prince of Tang followed his words with action. Yan Jueshu provided ample grain and military supplies, transforming the Jiangtang army into a well-equipped force that surged along the Great River to blockade the capital.
The Prince of Tang wrote personal letters to both Xin Yi and Bai Jiu, testifying to the Crown Prince's lack of virtue and seeking their alliance in the war.
The letter he wrote to Xin Yi was particularly well-crafted. It first reminisced about his childhood friendship with the Prince of Yan, then recounted the Prince of Yan's heroic deeds, and finally bitterly cursed the Crown Prince for his lack of benevolence and for murdering his father and brothers. He also subtly touched upon the issue of the Northern Yang army's deployment orders, hinting that if the heavens of Dalan changed, Northern Yang would remain Xin Yi's Northern Yang.
The language was fierce and full of emotion.
Xin Yi did not reply.
At that time, the various prefectures and provinces had their own hidden agendas. Whether by design or accident, Qingping did not intercept the Jiangtang ships. Yan Jueshu struck first, besieging Qingping and trapping the Prince of Pacification and Xie Jingsheng within the city, leaving them unable to move. Furthermore, because the Northern Yang army was far away in Canaan assisting the Qiyan tribe in attacking the territory of the Habugeqin clan, the Jiangtang army advanced with irresistible force, actually reaching the three prefectures surrounding the capital.
The Capital Guard numbered only a few tens of thousands. The Crown Prince held the city gates strictly, refusing to come out. The Prince of Tang besieged the capital without retreating a single step. The supply of grain was cut off by the Jiangtang army, and the secret trade routes were severed by Yan Jueshu. The capital instantly transformed from the pinnacle of effortless power into a lonely, increasingly desperate city.
The capital's situation looked bleak.
The Prince of Tang paced in his camp. Yan Jueshu, feeling the wind was too cold, was single-mindedly huddled in his own tent counting his money. The Prince of Tang gazed toward Mount Luyi, lingering outside his tent for a long time.
His confidant, Zhong Ziming, a hermit with a transcendent, immortal air, saw him pacing incessantly and knew his heart was uneasy.
"Your Highness has reached the outskirts of the capital; the righteousness of the world is within your grasp. Why are you uneasy?"
The Prince of Tang stopped and pinched a fresh sprout that had just emerged. "Do you think the Prince of Pacification truly cannot leave Qingping?"
Zhong Ziming guessed he was worried about the stability of his rear. "Even if the Prince of Pacification has great ability, he is distressed by the lack of troops to assist him. Even if Qingping cannot trap him, it leaves him with no options."
"Xuhang is of vital importance to me, and Qingping is separated from Xuhang only by a river." The Prince of Tang lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Sir, do you think Yan Jueshu can withstand a Prince of Pacification?"
"If we speak of politics, the Prince of Pacification is naturally much more decisive and formidable. But if we speak of commerce, who can compare to Master Yan?" Zhong Ziming stepped forward and comforted him softly. "If Your Highness fears the Prince of Pacification, once the capital is taken and the matter is settled, you may do as you wish." He smiled slightly. "He will be at Your Highness's disposal."
The Prince of Tang’s brow remained furrowed. He added, "Xin Yi is in Northern Yang. His intentions are currently unclear; I fear he cannot be allowed to remain either."
"The Northern Yang army is far away; they cannot put out this fire," Zhong Ziming said indifferently. "As long as Your Highness takes the capital."
The Prince of Tang attacked the capital, and it fell in just three days. The Capital Guard could not sustain a long battle; Xiao Jin retreated first and then yielded the city gates. The Jiangtang army surged into the city in one breath. The Crown Prince attempted to flee through the rear, but unexpectedly, he was caught and hacked to death amidst the chaotic army.
However, before they could enter the royal palace, their rear was completely blocked by Xin Yi, who was supposed to be far away in Canaan. For some reason, Yan Jueshu’s supplies were cut off. Before the Prince of Tang even had time to turn his head, he was cut down from his horse by the Northern Yang army.
As the saying goes, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. With this double execution, the middle generation of the Dalan imperial family was severed. Looking down the line, in the vast imperial clan, only Xin Yi remained as a legitimate successor.
When the Northern Yang army retreated to Mount Luyi, Xiao Jin led the welcome. During the handover with Xin Yi, Xiao Jin actually draped a yellow robe over him and knelt, hailing him as "Long Live."
As for the matter of his muteness, no one even mentioned it.
He Anchang followed with formal rites, and Xin Yi’s ascension to the throne became a matter of course. After all, everyone else was dead; there was no one else for them to choose.
Most importantly, the Prince of Pacification had pacified Xuhang, held Yan Jueshu in his hand, and prepared the granaries. Since he favored the Prince of Yan, the Bai Jiu faction naturally had no objections. Zuo Kaizhi was the Prince of Yan’s former teacher, so there was a bond of affection there. Zhang Taiyan of the Zuo faction no longer held onto power, and with Hou Ke at the head, they also showed their intent to assist.
Xin Yi leaped to the throne as Emperor.
By this time, the weather had finally turned warm, growing hot.
There was one very interesting matter.
The young cub Xin Yi had brought back from Xianglan took his surname, Xin, and was named Ming, meaning "clarity of heart." This little cub wasn't afraid of Bai Jiu; he wasn't afraid of anyone in the manor, but he was extremely clingy toward Xin Yi.
Since the two of them had no sons, they treated him as one.
In just a few years, as the cub grew older, his features began to open up, and he truly started to look a bit like Xin Yi.
That transcendent Mr. Zhong Ziming had, under orders, entrapped the Prince of Tang, and was then ordered to Dezhou to investigate the cub's birth. He only managed to gather a bit of information in Dezhou, saying that years ago, when the Crown Prince went to offer incense at Mount Wuhan, the nearby prefectures came to pay their respects, and Xianglan presented three women who were knowledgeable in Buddhist rites. Because the Crown Prince was accompanying the Empress Dowager, he didn't dare to be reckless and kept things quiet; only a few days later, he sent the women to Yan Jueshu. Unfortunately, Yan Jueshu preferred those who looked like golden ingots. It happened that the Prince of Tang favored Sun Baiping, so Yan Jueshu did him a favor and gave the women to Sun Baiping.
Sun Baiping took the women and kept quiet about it.
Who would have thought a life was carried there?
Zhong Ziming wrote down everything he had discovered in a memorial, submitted it, and then made himself scarce.
Xin Yi read the memorial and then shared it with Bai Jiu.
"No wonder." Bai Jiu closed the memorial. "He has good luck."
"I originally intended to favor A-Ming, and now that this layer has come to light, it can be considered a rightful succession. It won't be seen as falling to an outsider." Xin Yi hesitated. "Wait a few more years, and then I can..." He stopped.
Bai Jiu leaned over, listening intently. "Then you can what?"
Xin Yi whispered a few words into his ear.
Bai Jiu raised a hand to stroke his chin and laughed. "What a fine new Emperor, already thinking of slacking off. Where do you want to go?"
Xin Yi smiled as well. "Nansui, perhaps." His face reddened slightly as he looked at Bai Jiu and whispered, "To see Mount Nansui."
Bai Jiu paused slightly, tossed his book aside, and turned around. Pressing very close, he asked, "What are you going to Mount Nansui for?" His narrow eyes hid a glint of light as his fingertips brushed against Xin Yi's lips. "Aren't other places better?"
"To see the Nansui Dragon Steed," Xin Yi said softly. "Bai Xuan."
Bai Jiu pressed his lips against Xin Yi's, murmuring indistinctly, "What did you call me?"
"Bai..." That 'Xuan' was blocked between their lips and teeth, not allowing him to say it, yet demanding he continue. Xin Yi stammered "Bai" for a long time before he could finally say the name in full.
Zhong Ziming waited and waited outside, but the Emperor and the Prince of Pacification did not summon him.
He thought to himself, this matter isn't that big.
It's just the Crown Prince's orphaned son; why does it need to be discussed for so long?
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
辛明 | Xin Ming | The child Xin Yi rescued; "Ming" means clarity/brightness.
钟子鸣 | Zhong Ziming | A strategist/confidant of the Prince of Tang who later serves Xin Yi.
白玹 | Bai Xuan | Bai Jiu's personal name/style name.
鹿懿山 | Mount Luyi | A strategic location near the capital.
哈布格钦 | Habugeqin | A northern tribe/clan.
乞颜 | Qiyan | A northern tribe/clan allied with Xin Yi.
阿明 | A-Ming | An affectionate nickname for Xin Ming.
南睢龙驹 | Nansui Dragon Steed | A reference to a legendary horse, but here used as a romantic metaphor for Bai Jiu.
