The Tiancheng Imperial Palace was built upon the ruins of the previous dynasty’s seat of power. Having been razed and rebuilt, no trace of its former self remained, save for the three layers of palace walls. When viewed from the mountains outside Que City, they resembled three concentric rings nested within one another.
The main hall of the palace was the Yuanming Hall. Before it lay the Path of Radiance, a ceremonial walkway that made the civil and military officials feel as though they were treading upon a celestial road during their morning audiences.
Yet, within the hall itself, there was no "radiance" to speak of. The Yuanming Hall was a long, narrow rectangle. Upon entering, one had to walk a hundred paces to reach the imperial presence. This hundred-pace stretch had neither side windows nor natural light; it was illuminated only by luminous pearls, making it as dim and hazy as a dreamscape regardless of day or night. One could easily lose track of the passing hours within its depths.
At the request of the ministers, the palace attendants had placed a massive bronze lotus clepsydra in the center of the hall. However, the officials had not anticipated that the current Emperor would be so unpredictable and sparing with his words. Whenever silence fell over the hall, the rhythmic *drip-drop* of the water clock sounded like a death-knell incantation, sending shivers down their spines.
Such was the scene at present.
*Drip. Drop.*
The sound of the clepsydra echoed through the vast Yuanming Hall, intertwining with the relentless patter of rain outside. The hundred officials stood in the hall like clay figurines—none moving, none speaking.
The figure seated high upon the dais had also remained silent for a long time. Heavy beaded curtains obscured his face, making his gaze even more difficult to discern. He resembled a stone statue enshrined within this ancient palace—cold and awe-inspiring.
Finally, a voice, calm to the point of being flat and slightly raspy from long disuse, rang out through the hall.
"Why are my lords silent? Is it that We are asking the impossible?"
This was more than asking the impossible; it was demanding the unattainable!
The Bijiang Rebellion had lasted for over a decade. Since the new Emperor’s ascension, he had hardly ever mentioned its recovery. Now, he had suddenly opened his mouth to demand it be settled within a three-month limit. Was this not a death sentence?
The ministers grumbled inwardly, cold sweat sliding down their faces, nearly syncing with the rhythm of the clepsydra.
Among them, only the three standing at the very front maintained their composure. Xiao Zhun was one of them.
"This subject requests to attempt it."
It was Marquis Qinghuai again. The officials breathed a small sigh of relief, but then felt something was amiss.
Sure enough, the Emperor on the throne spoke leisurely, "The General’s devoted heart brings Us great comfort, but the security of the capital cannot do without the General. Therefore, to suppress the Bai clan rebels this time, We must find another brave soul."
The silence was finally broken as the officials erupted in hushed astonishment. To demand Bijiang’s surrender in three months, yet forbid the Great General from marching? The capital’s security was maintained by the Six Armies; why would they need a titan like Xiao Zhun to stay behind? What exactly was the Emperor’s intention?
"We pray Your Majesty reconsider."
Grand Marshal Xu You was the first to voice his stance, and the other officials followed suit.
Prince Xuanyuan, Su Che, stood beside Xiao Zhun. He remained silent for the moment. He was quite tall, appearing even taller than the martially-trained Xiao Zhun. His hair and beard were streaked with grey, but his eyes remained sharp.
"Why does Imperial Uncle remain silent? Do you have some reservations?"
The Emperor’s eyesight was remarkably keen; even from such a distance, he could tell at a glance who had joined the chorus and who had not.
Su Che stepped forward with a bow and spoke in a heavy tone, "This subject believes that perhaps deploying troops at this time is not the best course of action."
Hearing this, Xu You grew spirited and disagreed, "I do not understand the Prince’s meaning. Could it be that our Tiancheng armies, after years of rest and recuperation, cannot contend with a mere local rebel?"
Prince Xuanyuan’s expression remained unchanged. "Grand Marshal Xu is mistaken. A war between two sides involves far more than just the combatants. If Tiancheng truly had no worries about its borders, why would it have tolerated the Bijiang matter for so many years?"
What Prince Xuanyuan spoke of was exactly Xiao Zhun’s long-standing concern.
The Tiancheng Dynasty had not yet reached its centennial. Aside from the Bijiang trouble, it seemed to have no external threats, but in reality, it was hemmed in on multiple sides.
To the east, the Shen clan of Huozhou held local power with an ambiguous attitude. To the north, the Gelete Plateau was remote and beyond the reach of imperial authority. Jizhou in the southwest had once been the most stable part of the empire, but it was now precarious due to the fall of neighboring Bijiang.
The Bai clan had chosen Bijiang as their sanctuary because of its vastness and complex terrain. A large-scale army entering the region might not gain any advantage; without accurate intelligence, searching for the enemy would be a monumental task. It would inevitably devolve into a war of attrition. Once the main army departed, the capital’s defenses would be hollowed out, and at that point, even a small potential crisis could destabilize the dynasty.
However, how could the current Emperor not know this?
"Imperial Uncle is quite right. But I wonder, what brilliant plan do you have to resolve this dilemma?"
The hot potato was tossed back to Prince Xuanyuan. The officials, seeing it was none of their business, began to watch the spectacle.
Before Su Che could speak, another voice rang out.
"This subject believes the Bijiang rebellion is not a malady of a single day. The pacification should perhaps be planned with deliberation over the long term."
The speaker was a fair-faced, bearded elder. He was the third man standing at the front—the current Prime Minister, Bai Zhaoyu.
These words voiced the inner thoughts of the officials, and the hall suddenly became a sea of nodding heads.
The Emperor leaned his body slightly, resting his head on one hand in a playful posture.
"The Prime Minister is mistaken. From the Yuan’an Rebellion to the traitorous Bai clan’s flight to Bijiang, it took only a little over a month. Now, We have given a full three months; that is already quite a generous allowance."
These words sounded somewhat like a rogue’s logic.
While the Bai clan’s flight had taken only a month, that was over a decade ago. Even the late Emperor had been unable to deal with them. Now that the rebels had been tolerated for years, they were bound to be even harder to uproot; they certainly couldn't be treated as a minor disturbance. Yet, if the Emperor chose to be unreasonable, what could his subjects say?
Ultimately, they had grown accustomed to years of peace and prosperity. This sudden call for blood and slaughter left everyone unable to find their footing.
Bai Zhaoyu was nearly seventy. Every few sentences were punctuated by a cough. He looked like an oil lamp that could be snuffed out by the wind at any moment, yet his words were firm: "What Your Majesty speaks of was the situation back then. Now that over a decade has passed, the circumstances are vastly different. We must proceed with caution."
The old Prime Minister’s voice wavered as it spread through the air, like a feather lightly brushing against the whiskers of the tiger on the throne.
The ministers held their breath, praying to get through this ordeal quickly.
The languid tiger finally lifted his eyelids. It seemed he was in a good mood today and decided to temporarily spare the trembling flock of sheep below.
"We also understand the difficulties our lords face."
The officials breathed a massive sigh of relief, but the Emperor’s next words followed immediately.
"Let us set a one-month term instead. In one month’s time, We hope our dear ministers will display their various talents and submit brilliant strategies to help Tiancheng pacify these remaining rebels. For those who find themselves at their wits' end, We shall not force you—simply donate some grain and funds instead."
With that, the figure on the throne rose and departed gracefully. The attendant shouted, "Court is adjourned!"
This was a blatant threat.
The officials lamented incessantly, feeling their steps grow even heavier as they walked out of the hall.
***
The crowd of departing officials dispersed in small groups. Civil and military officers each had their own worries. Knowing they were still within the palace, they did not dare to gather and discuss things openly, only exchanging meaningful glances as they brushed past one another. It was likely that every private room in the city’s teahouses would be packed tonight.
Xiao Zhun had much on his mind, and his pace quickened. By the time he reached the gates of Yuanhe Hall, he happened to run into Prime Minister Bai Zhaoyu.
Xiao Zhun raised an eyebrow. He had headed straight here after the session. Within the Tiancheng Palace, running or rushing was forbidden except for those delivering military reports; within the first wall, even fast walking was strictly prohibited. Thus, he was only walking a bit faster than usual. But being from the military, his strides were naturally larger than others'. He hadn't expected the old Prime Minister’s legs to be more nimble than they appeared.
Bai Zhaoyu looked up and saw Xiao Zhun, then lowered his eyes again, coughing as he caught his breath. His heavy court robes looked as though they might crush the life out of him.
Xiao Zhun bowed and said, "Greetings, Prime Minister Bai."
Bai Zhaoyu composed himself and returned the greeting, "Great General."
Xiao Zhun held two titles: one was Marquis Qinghuai, and the other was Great General of Agile Cavalry.
However, whether in official business or private settings, people in court preferred to call him Marquis Qinghuai rather than Great General. After all, a Marquis held a higher rank and sounded more prestigious.
But while others might find the title fine, it always carried a hint of pain when it reached Xiao Zhun’s ears.
*Qinghuai*—cherishing *Qing*.
*Qing* was the given name of the late Prince Consort, Xiao Qing. When the Emperor had bestowed the title, he had clearly put some thought into it.
Now, having just endured the ordeal in Yuanming Hall, Bai Zhaoyu addressed him only as Great General without mentioning the word "Qinghuai." This was enough to show how perceptive and delicate the man’s mind was.
"Is the General here to see His Majesty? I wonder for what matter?"
Xiao Zhun paused for only a moment before answering truthfully, "I have come regarding the matter of deploying troops to Bijiang."
An old fox like Bai Zhaoyu only asked as a formality; he had likely guessed the reason long ago.
Bai Zhaoyu gave a light cough and looked at him with a half-smile. "I heard the General requested an audience with His Majesty yesterday for this very reason. I wonder if His Majesty summoned you for a face-to-face talk to plan together?"
Xiao Zhun was stunned for a moment, then fell into silence.
He had entered the palace yesterday before the hour of the Tiger. After the morning audience, he had gone to the Yuanhe Hall. Grand Marshal Xu You and Garrison Commandant Ma Mengren had come with him. There was no reason for the Emperor to refuse to see any one of them, let alone all three together.
However, the Emperor had only summoned the three of them to wait in a side hall. Separated by a curtain, he had stayed with them for about an hour, mostly just watching the three of them debate one another.
After an hour, the Emperor stopped speaking but kept them in the side hall for a meal. After noon, Xu You and Ma Mengren took their leave one after another. Unwilling to give up, Xiao Zhun stayed a while longer. To his surprise, an attendant brought out a stand, stating that if he could solve the *Linglong Shrine* atop it, the Emperor would be willing to speak with him face-to-face.
The *Linglong Shrine* puzzles were always complex and ever-changing, and that particular one was exceptionally difficult. He had tried until nightfall without success. He requested to take it back to his manor to study, but was told it could not leave the palace. In the end, he had no choice but to give up.
Thinking back now, it was clearly the Emperor’s intentional obstruction.
"To be honest with the Prime Minister, His Majesty has rarely spoken with me face-to-face about the pacification lately. Even with the recent movements of the vassal kings, he hasn't discussed troop deployments. Today, he finally brought it up in court, yet he won't allow me to lead the army..."
"General," Bai Zhaoyu softly interrupted Xiao Zhun. "What the General speaks of is His Majesty’s decision. Since it is a decision, it must have its purpose. For a subject, the greatest taboo is a lack of faith; between ruler and subject, the greatest taboo is suspicion. Does the General not agree?"
Xiao Zhun looked into the old Prime Minister’s bright eyes and felt a momentary daze, as if he were seeing his father admonishing him in years past. Back then, he had been arrogant and never learned how to bow his head.
Now, he had changed much. But as long as it involved this matter, he still could not pretend to be indifferent.
"Does the Prime Minister know what it means to have unreconciled grievances?"
Bai Zhaoyu sighed inwardly, withdrawing his gaze in an instant.
"The General’s heart is known even to a three-year-old child in Que City; how could His Majesty not know? The General’s heart is not hard to fathom, but the Emperor’s heart is unfathomable. I hope the General will reflect on this. *Cough*, this old official has an appointment to play chess with His Majesty. Would the General like to come along?"
Xiao Zhun thought again of the *Linglong Shrine* outside the side hall and came to his own conclusion.
"In that case, I shall trouble the Prime Minister to lead the way."
Bai Zhaoyu glanced at the man beside him. As if sensing nothing of his inner thoughts, he walked forward with a cheerful smile.
***
