Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 28 | The Shadow of Tianshu | Novela.app

Meanwhile, within the Imperial Palace, at the Qingluan Palace. The hall was as warm as spring, the air thick with a rich fragrance. Everything within sight was exquisite and opulent, crafted with the utmost precision. Noble Consort Yin usually favored robes of vibrant red, possessing a bewitching and peerless beauty. Today, however, due to the Grand Princess’s passing, she had changed into a simple, elegant white palace gown. Her makeup was light, devoid of pearls or emeralds. She sat at the head of the room, reclining lazily against a gold-threaded jade bolster. "Father," she remarked, her tone languid, "it is a pity you had to sacrifice your fourth niece today." Though she was already the mother of the grown Second Prince, her beauty remained undeniable; every arch of her brow and every glance carried an innate grace. Grand Elder Yin sat in the chair to the left. His aged eyes were somewhat clouded, his face etched with contemplation. Hearing her, he replied, "It is no pity. She is but a granddaughter born of a concubine. If she must be cast aside, then so be it." Minister Yin glanced at his father. In his heart, he could not remain entirely unmoved. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up, "She is, after all, my daughter." Upon hearing this, Grand Elder Yin turned his head to look at him, his gaze devoid of any concern. "Let me ask you: were you aware of the affair between her and that Zhang boy?" Minister Yin paused. "...I was." However, Zhang Zuoyao’s father was a man aligned with the Crown Prince. Thus, Grand Elder Yin questioned him, "What exactly were you planning?" "The Zhang family wished to defect to our side. Months ago, they sent their legitimate son, Zhang Zuoyao, to secretly approach the fourth girl. At first, I looked down upon their house. But as Father knows, among the Six Ministries, only the Ministry of War is under our control. It is far too difficult to plant our people in the other five." Especially the Ministry of Revenue. Minister Yin continued slowly, "Though the Zhang family’s influence is waning, Lord Zhang is nonetheless a member of the Ministry of Revenue with significant seniority. He is also the Crown Prince’s only eyes and ears within that ministry. I thought..." Before he could finish, Grand Elder Yin interrupted, completing the thought for him. "You thought to secretly ally with him, planting a hidden stake next to the Crown Prince? To have him bite back at the Crown Prince when the time was right?" "Foolish!" Grand Elder Yin’s voice suddenly rose in volume. He slammed his hand onto the table, his face flushed with faint anger. Minister Yin was stunned. He looked at his father in confusion, suppressing the urge to kneel and admit fault. "Do you think Old Man Qian is a pushover?" Seeing Minister Yin’s cowering appearance only fueled Grand Elder Yin’s irritation. He held nothing but disdain for this son of his, yet he could do nothing about the fact that the man was his own flesh and blood. He suppressed the churning emotions in his heart and let out a cold snort. "Do you think he doesn't know what kind of ghosts are lurking in the hearts of those in the Ministry of Revenue?" "Of the Six Ministries, the Ministers of Revenue, Works, and Rites are all veterans from the same era as your father. Those men were personally cultivated by Lord Tianshu; not one of them is a fool, and they are loyal only to His Majesty. Do you truly believe Old Man Qian would allow the Crown Prince’s man to just linger in the Ministry of Revenue?" It was merely a deliberate allowance. A touch of lament appeared on Grand Elder Yin’s aged face, his eyes filled with irony as he shot a glance at Minister Yin. "Think about it—why would His Majesty allow you to serve as the Minister of War? Let’s put it this way: if your father hadn't stepped down, you likely wouldn't have become the Minister of War in this lifetime, nor would you have been allowed into any of the other ministries." Grand Elder Yin sighed. "You should spend your time figuring out exactly what kind of creatures are working under you. Don't wait until you've fallen to realize you don't even know whose hand tripped you. As for anything else, stop overthinking for the time being..." He continued, "In the Ministry of War, our Yin family stands alone. Would you deny the Crown Prince even a single informant in the other departments? If you push too hard, I fear even His Majesty will find it intolerable." This ambiguous statement served as a wake-up call for Minister Yin. *Of course. Could it be that all of this was tacitly permitted by the Emperor?* *The Crown Prince is, in the end, the Crown Prince...* Minister Yin shuddered, quickly lowering his head to acknowledge his mistake. Grand Elder Yin said nothing more, only sighing. In his heart, he only regretted that Noble Consort Yin had not been born a man. Seeing her brother’s ashamed state, Noble Consort Yin spoke up, partly to ease the tension and partly out of genuine curiosity. "Father, does Ye Zhao truly resemble Lord Tianshu that much?" Grand Elder Yin remained silent for a moment before looking at her and asking in return, "Did you not see the portrait in the Hall of Eternal Brilliance today?" Noble Consort Yin paused, recalling the scene when she later saw Ye Zhao. She added, "No, I saw that they look alike. But I am referring to other aspects." "Other aspects"—that was a broad range. Based on that brief encounter, Grand Elder Yin’s knowledge of Ye Zhao was limited. He pondered for a while before saying, "He is like him. And yet, he is not." Grand Elder Yin’s expression became slightly dazed, his tone tinged with a strange quality. "I spent a long time in the Hall of Eternal Brilliance today, and I paid special attention to Ye Zhao. At first glance, I didn't feel he was that similar to Lord Tianshu; he even has a way of making one subconsciously overlook that face which so closely resembles Lord Tianshu’s." "But... you don't know." His voice sank. "When I saw Ye Zhao again, I even had the illusion that I was looking at Lord Tianshu himself." He looked down at his slightly trembling palm. There was nothing in it, yet at that moment, the trembling was not due to the frailty of age, but rather a long-forgotten terror. It was as if it were etched into his very marrow. After so many years, it had flared up again today. He murmured unconsciously, "Too similar... it’s as if they are the same person..." "The gaze, the movements, even the tone of voice..." Grand Elder Yin propped his head up with one hand, as if recalling a terrible memory. "They are all too similar..." "Father..." Noble Consort Yin called out softly, pulling him back from his thoughts. Seeing the involuntary panic and fear on Grand Elder Yin’s face, the other two exchanged a look. Grand Elder Yin took a sip of tea to calm his emotions, then added, "But when Ye Zhao does *not* resemble him, he is the polar opposite of Lord Tianshu." The statement seemed contradictory, but one could only understand his meaning by empathizing with his emotions. He meant that when Ye Zhao was like him, the resemblance was uncanny; when he wasn't, the difference was absolute. It was indeed a paradox. Noble Consort Yin was deep in thought when she suddenly heard her father snap into a state of alertness. "What are you planning to do to Ye Zhao?" It was as if Ye Zhao were his own child and she were some wicked woman. Noble Consort Yin fell silent, glancing at her father with waning interest. "...I wasn't planning anything. Don't be so nervous, old man." She thought to herself that her father’s fear of Lord Tianshu was indeed profound, so much so that it cast a shadow over Ye Zhao as well. Thus, she asked a vital question directly: "Is Ye Zhao truly the son of Tianshu?" This was a question Grand Elder Yin could not easily answer, but based on everything he had seen and heard today, he spat out an answer: "In all likelihood, yes." It seemed the rumors had found solid ground with Grand Elder Yin. The other two now had a clearer understanding of the situation. Then they heard Grand Elder Yin warn the Noble Consort, "His Majesty is already investigating Ye Zhao’s identity. Do not be in a hurry to do anything. I hear someone has already set their sights on Ye Zhao to kill him; we should keep our distance. Be careful not to get dragged in and end up covered in filth." When the situation was unclear, Grand Elder Yin always opted for a conservative approach, retreating and remaining still—cunning and cautious. It was hard to imagine how he had offended Lord Tianshu back then to receive such a warning. The other two curiously asked about it. Grand Elder Yin looked at his son and daughter. It took a long time before he uttered a single sentence: "It was merely the ignorance and arrogance of youth. There is no need to mention it again." ... It seemed he had been crushed quite severely. Perhaps feeling he had lost too much face, Grand Elder Yin began to drag others down with him. "Do you think I was the only one afraid of Lord Tianshu? Back then, who among the civil and military officials wasn't terrified? Everyone went to court with their nerves stretched to the limit, terrified of making even the slightest mistake. Even Old Man Qian and the others—though they all look as if they revere Lord Tianshu, it is half respect and half dread." Minister Yin grew curious. "Did Lord Tianshu kill people at the drop of a hat? Did he have a foul temper?" But he hadn't heard that Lord Tianshu was that kind of person. Confusion mirrored in the eyes of the other two. Grand Elder Yin sneered. "In terms of a violent temper, who could possibly surpass Wei Xiyang?" The smile on his face vanished. "Lord Tianshu generally did not kill." He said "generally," which implied there were exceptions. Sure enough, he continued, "But when he did kill, it became a living hell." His voice carried an indescribable dread. He seemed to be envisioning a scene of absolute horror, and for a moment, he didn't want to continue. But after a pause, he forced out the words: "Do you know of the Nine Great Clans of Wei from twenty years ago?" Twenty years ago, they were still young and not yet privy to state affairs. But the terms "Great Clan" and "Great House" were rarely heard in Wei nowadays; even now, they were uncommon. They knew a bit of this history from records, but the details were murky. "Back then, the Nine Great Clans were at the height of their power, occupying half of Wei’s territory. Even with our Yin family’s current power and status, we would likely not equal any one of them. Yet, such powerful entities were entirely erased by that man, Tianshu." The other two froze. What did he mean by... "erased"? "In those days, the national system was vastly different; the Great Clans held sway. A single Great House had at least a thousand members; nine of them meant nearly ten thousand people. Yet, in a single stroke, entire families were exterminated—thoroughly and completely. From the masters down to the private soldiers and servants, not a single soul was left..." "In the years that followed, who in Wei dared to call themselves a 'Great Clan' again?" His weathered face was filled with unconcealed trepidation as he let out a long sigh. "There were none left..." "Half of the imperial court was emptied. All officials had to be re-selected. The Wei of today was entirely rebuilt by Tianshu from the ground up. Five years—it took only five years for him to change the very heavens and earth of Wei..." "Such a legacy that could last for generations... a reputation built literally upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Are you not afraid?" As Grand Elder Yin finished speaking, a deathly silence fell over the room. After a long while, Minister Yin spoke, his voice strained. "We have never heard of this..." Grand Elder Yin gave a mocking smile. "Of course you later generations haven't heard of it. Those who wanted to stir up trouble are all dead. Who would go around publicizing such things for no reason?" "Do not affect the stability of the state. Do not hinder the development of the nation. Do not look for trouble where there is none. And do not cross Lord Tianshu." Grand Elder Yin let out a long, long sigh. "The first two were things Lord Tianshu said often; no one dared to violate them. The third was a tacit understanding among all court officials at the time." "And the last one...?" Minister Yin asked instinctively after hearing the others. In the next second, Noble Consort Yin gave him a look that told him to shut his mouth. "?" Minister Yin found it strange, only to see his father look at him with a faint, airy gaze. Without a hint of guilt or shame, the old man said gloomily, "That last one is the iron rule your father followed to ensure the Yin family is still standing today." Noble Consort Yin and Minister Yin: "..." Perhaps because their expressions were too silent, Grand Elder Yin arched an eyebrow. "What? You think your father is a coward?" Noble Consort Yin smiled, masking the awkwardness in her eyes as she said softly, "Not at all. Lord Tianshu was such a formidable figure; who would dare question him? It’s just..." It was just that her father had been too blunt, leaving the two of them unable to react for a moment, feeling quite uneasy. Minister Yin cleared his throat and said nothing. Recalling those years, the Grand Elder pointed out several others. "Your father was considered one of the better ones. Many others, including Old Man Song, simply did whatever Lord Tianshu said. They were loyal to the death." Grand Elder Yin’s expression was one of undisguised disdain, as if he were remembering a certain memory, letting out a disgusted "Ugh." The other two thought about it and could roughly imagine what the civil and military officials looked like when they faced Lord Tianshu back then. However, there was one concerning point. "But if the entire court followed Lord Tianshu’s lead, what if he made a poor decision? Then..." "A poor decision?" Grand Elder Yin squinted at Minister Yin and gave a cold, emotionless chuckle. "When he was restructuring the national system, many people thought Lord Tianshu was wrong—reorganizing the court, revising the laws, rebuilding Tianshangjing, and implementing all sorts of other measures..." "Heh... to use a phrase from Old Man Song: Lord Tianshu is never wrong." The only ones who were wrong were they, the mere mortals. Of course, Grand Elder Yin added slowly, "How should I put it... Lord Tianshu wasn't an autocrat. On the contrary, he quite hoped we could come up with more good ideas that were useful to the country and the people." "He often told us to dare to think and dare to act. But..." Grand Elder Yin stroked his large beard, his expression conflicted. He skipped over a large portion of the story and went straight to the conclusion. "Anyway, as time went on, it simply became a matter of doing whatever Lord Tianshu said. We learned as we worked." The earlier parts might have been the reality of those years; though his father had omitted the process, they could imagine it. It was simply a matter of making so many mistakes that they eventually learned to be obedient and stopped questioning him altogether. But those last four words—"learned as we worked"—were definitely the realization of his father and a few others! The other two thought to themselves, momentarily at a loss for words. They had originally only wanted to hear their father’s opinion on the matter of Ye Zhao, but they hadn't expected to hear such a legendary tale of Lord Tianshu’s past might. Truly... an eye-opening experience! *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation :--- | :--- | :--- 青鸾殿 | Qingluan Palace | The residence of Noble Consort Yin. 殷国丈 | Grand Elder Yin | Father of Noble Consort Yin and Minister Yin; the Emperor's father-in-law. 殷尚书 | Minister Yin | The Minister of War; brother of Noble Consort Yin. 兵部 | Ministry of War | One of the Six Ministries of the imperial government. 户部 | Ministry of Revenue | One of the Six Ministries; manages census, taxes, and finances. 工部 | Ministry of Works | One of the Six Ministries; manages construction and public works. 礼部 | Ministry of Rites | One of the Six Ministries; manages ceremonies and foreign relations. 九大世家 | Nine Great Clans | Powerful aristocratic families that dominated Wei before Tianshu's reforms. 天上京 | Tianshangjing | The capital city of the Great Wei Empire.