Chapter 45

Hu Tu issued a new main quest: lead a team into Yushan to suppress the bandits and bring a woman named Lu Yihua under her command.

If she succeeded, Agility would increase by ten points. If she failed, Agility would drop by twenty.

When Ye Rui heard the quest, her mind went blank. She was a guard, wasn’t she? So why had she suddenly been sent into the mountains to suppress bandits?

No matter how hard she thought about it, it didn’t make sense. What kind of plot development was this supposed to be?

Confused as she was, Ye Rui didn’t have much time to dwell on it. The Wuxuan was approaching, and military commanders from all over had flocked to the Capital City, ready to show off their skills on the stage of the martial selection.

Ri Xi held no official post, but she belonged to Xie Tinglan, and there were always countless trivial matters for her to handle. Ye Rui had volunteered to help, so she ended up busying herself alongside Ri Xi as well.

Originally, the Ministry of Rites was responsible for arranging the commanders’ lodgings, but many of its officials had fallen ill in the winter and taken leave. The assignment was pushed around until, in the end, the Emperor handed it directly to Xie Tinglan. The matter itself was not difficult, but the commanders were divided into factions, and those factions did not get along. That meant Ye Rui and Ri Xi had to pore over the records again and again to make arrangements, so as to avoid any unnecessary clashes.

On top of that, to build good relationships, Ri Xi took her to meet many of the commanders who admired Xie Tinglan or were on good terms with her. It wasn’t a hardship; commanders did not bother with nearly as much roundabout speech. They did, however, love drinking, and Ye Rui had to keep pace with them through several cups. Every night, she came home drunk.

After returning, she would occasionally go keep Xie Tinglan company in bed. Naturally, that often led her to want to kiss her, to press close and linger. But she was so dazed from drink that after kissing, she would always fall into a deep sleep. Fortunately, she still remembered to hold Xie Tinglan while she slept; otherwise, she didn’t know whether Xie Tinglan would be angry.

During that time, Ye Rui also met quite a few people. One of them, in particular, became very close to her: a young Capital Prefecture Commandant from Wenzhou named Yu Lang. He was lively and outgoing, admired Xie Tinglan’s thunderous methods, and admired Ri Xi’s composure and dignity even more; but the person he got along with best was Ye Rui.

Yu Lang especially liked talking to Ye Rui, saying she was unusually interesting and sincere. Once, on a whim, he even challenged her to a spar, and to his surprise, the two of them were evenly matched. One had to know that Wenzhou was often ravaged by mountain bandits, and the scale was no small matter. Wenzhou troops frequently had to fight bandits; Yu Lang’s real combat experience was certainly not poor.

As a Capital Prefecture Commandant, he had led troops to attack countless bandit strongholds, and had even gone to Qingzhou City briefly to fight the barbarians. Rumor had it that the Wenzhou governor was about to promote him to a thousand-man commander, and his prospects were limitless. Yet Ye Rui had been able to hold him to a draw, and in archery she had even shown no weakness at all. That made Yu Lang respect her all the more.

Busy as she was, Ye Rui still reaped a great deal from this period and got to see how hard all sides were working to recruit talent. Xie Tinglan’s camp was not the strongest, but the commanders who were friendly with her were formidable and had bright futures ahead of them. It was the classic case of quality over quantity.

After the last imperial examination incident at Shenwu Plaza, the major aristocratic families had quieted down this time. They were still making covert moves to win people over, but they did not tamper with the examination grounds. At the very least, this spared Xie Tinglan a great deal of trouble; she no longer had to exhaust herself every day scheming in the light and the shadows.

The influx of commanders into the Capital City was not only a good opportunity for all sides to recruit power, but also the best chance for everyone to probe the fighting strength of the various cities.

Naturally, the Emperor would not miss such an opportunity. Before the martial selection, he had traveled in disguise and held a grand banquet to entertain many commanders. Though the matter was carried out in secret and kept very confidential, it did not escape Xie Tinglan’s eyes.

After thinking it over, Ye Rui felt that the person who had leaked the information to Xie Tinglan had to be that one.

Today, Ye Rui once again accompanied Xie Tinglan to Rizhao Temple to pay respects, and once again saw the temple cleared out, with the city garrison layered three deep around it. Ye Rui knew then that that person had also come.

As before, Ri Xi walked around the temple with her, exchanged a few words with the nuns, and waited for Xie Tinglan to come out from the inner hall before preparing to leave.

Yet this time, something was different.

Helian Shaohua rested one hand on the back of Shen Zhuiying’s hand. Her gilded armor gauntlet tilted slightly, and she turned her richly elegant face toward Ye Rui and Ri Xi, saying, “Why don’t you stay for a vegetarian meal, and let this palace have a chance to speak with you young people.”

In truth, Helian Shaohua was not old at all. She looked quite young; it was only that she always carried herself with such poise and restraint, and with the calm ease of one who stood above others, that she gave the impression of an elder.

Ye Rui and Ri Xi naturally did not dare speak. They both looked to Xie Tinglan, only to see Xie Tinglan say calmly and unhurriedly, “Since Your Highness is so kind, I shall accept without further politeness.”

Xie Tinglan agreed.

Helian Shaohua made no display of airs either; she went straight to the temple refectory for the meal, and ate the same vegetarian dishes as everyone else without exception.

Ye Rui was always especially cheerful when it came time to eat, but today, faced with the most noble woman in the entire realm, she did not even dare sit down, let alone eat.

Once Helian Shaohua took her seat and saw that Shen Zhuiying, Ye Rui, and Ri Xi were still standing, she smiled lightly. “There’s no need. Today there are no distinctions between ruler and subject. Sit.”

Ye Rui and Ri Xi exchanged a look, then saw Xie Tinglan nod. Only then did they sit down tremblingly. She used to complain about Baihe Tower’s dishes being unappetizing; now it was all well and good, because even if the vegetarian food was delicious, she couldn’t eat it.

She really wanted to tell Xie Tinglan that she would never again complain about Baihe Tower’s cooking. Please, just take her away.

This atmosphere was no different from eating with her immediate superior; she had to watch her words, and the food no longer tasted like food.

Shen Zhuiying was the last to sit down. She kept her back straight, and whether standing or sitting, she looked like a loyal shadow.

Aside from a few nuns serving the vegetarian dishes, there was no one else in the refectory. Once all the dishes had been brought out, the nuns left, and the room was left with only the four of them.

Helian Shaohua did not speak much about court matters. Instead, she talked about worldly pleasures, about the wines and tea of Youlan City. That made Ye Rui breathe a quiet sigh of relief. She had thought Helian Shaohua would say something to test her, though she didn’t know what there was to test in the first place, aside from the fact that she had the System.

As the conversation went on, Ye Rui realized Helian Shaohua was nothing like an ordinary woman secluded in the deep palace. She was widely informed, never once mentioned the inner harem, and spoke with gentle propriety. Even when Ye Rui or Ri Xi added a few words, she listened carefully, like a kind elder.

To be honest, it was hard to dislike someone like Helian Shaohua.

Yet Ye Rui understood very well that since Helian Shaohua was tied to Xie Tinglan, she was most likely an accomplice, and certainly not as peaceful as she appeared.

Just as everyone was nearing the end of the meal, a city guard walked over and said that the Emperor had already returned to the palace and wished to summon Helian Shaohua.

Because Ye Rui was far too curious about Helian Shaohua and had been staring at her the entire time, she unexpectedly caught the flash of ruthlessness that crossed Helian Shaohua’s eyes the moment the guard said the words “the Emperor.”

In that instant, goosebumps rose all over Ye Rui’s body. Her heart skipped a beat, and fear welled up in her for no reason.

It was as though she had accidentally glimpsed the dangerous core beneath Helian Shaohua’s calm exterior; it was an intimidation even more frightening than Xie Tinglan’s.

“Very well, this palace understands. I’ll return to the palace at once.”

Helian Shaohua curved her lips in a smile, one hand resting naturally over Shen Zhuiying’s, her gilded gauntlet’s little finger slightly raised. She looked toward Xie Tinglan and said, “Tinglan, this meeting has truly pleased this palace. If you find the time, you must come to the palace and keep this palace company; help me pass the time.”

“Yes. This subject understands.”

Helian Shaohua left, and Xie Tinglan did not linger any longer at Rizhao Temple.

As the three of them walked down the steps, Ye Rui could not stop thinking about the sharpness she had just seen in Helian Shaohua’s eyes.

Every time she remembered it, she still felt a chill run through her.

The gentler and more serene a person seemed on the surface, the more terrifying they became when they bared their true claws.

Before getting into the carriage, Xie Tinglan quietly gave Ri Xi a few instructions, and Ri Xi then left alone to carry out some unknown errand.

Inside the carriage, after sitting down, Xie Tinglan set down the hand warmer first thing, then took Ye Rui’s hand and enclosed it in her own, smiling. “Your body heat is more effective than the hand warmer.”

Ye Rui felt the cool, soft hand in her palm move slightly. When her fingertips brushed the calluses from writing between Xie Tinglan’s fingers, she subconsciously stroked there a few more times, as if trying to smooth over that tiny patch of coldness.

Ye Rui gently rubbed Xie Tinglan’s hand. Outside, the coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage began rattling forward.

“What exactly is your relationship with the Empress?”

Ye Rui’s voice was low. Under the cover of the rolling wheels, it was just loud enough for Xie Tinglan to hear clearly. After hearing it, Xie Tinglan did not seem surprised that Ye Rui would ask such a question. The curve of her red lips deepened, and she smiled with a hint of teasing. “I thought you wouldn’t ask.”

“I’m curious.”

Come to think of it, the Empress did not have a strong sense of presence. Ye Rui had only seen her a few times, and heard little about her. She kept a very low profile. It was the Emperor, on the other hand, whom Ye Rui heard about from Ri Xi from time to time. When she thought of the things he was secretly doing, the man felt like a thorn lodged in her side.

Compared to that, Ye Rui’s impression of Helian Shaohua was still frozen at the image of how deeply devoted she and the Emperor were, how she embodied the grace of a mother to the nation, and how noble and dignified she seemed.

With the brief interaction just now, Ye Rui’s impression of her had gained one more layer: a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Another dangerous wolf.

Thinking of that, Ye Rui could not help glancing at Xie Tinglan. These two wolves were kind of frightening.

“Accomplices.”

Xie Tinglan used only two words to explain her relationship with Helian Shaohua, then added, “My first accomplice.”

Ye Rui turned those two sentences over and over in her mind. Then she remembered Xie Tinglan had once said that her goal was to create a new emperor. Put together, the two things formed a highly dangerous piece of information.

Ye Rui held her breath. Seeing the change in her expression, Xie Tinglan’s smile only deepened, and she said nothing else.

When they returned to the Xie residence, Ye Rui immediately buried herself in the study to practice calligraphy. But no matter how she practiced, she felt restless. She glanced at Xie Tinglan several times; that thought hovered on the tip of her tongue, yet in the end she still did not ask.

Some things, once asked, meant stepping fully into the game. If she wanted to pull back later, she would only end up in danger.

At that moment, Ri Xi returned, carrying an exquisitely made food box. She placed it on the desk and said, “My lord, everything is here.”

“Mm, you may go.”

Ri Xi glanced at Ye Rui, smiled at her, and then withdrew. Ye Rui had already caught the fragrance of the food, and her appetite immediately surged. She asked, “You... are hungry?”

Xie Tinglan looked at her in slight astonishment. Ye Rui was practically incapable of hiding her greedy-cat expression, yet she was still asking if the hungry one was her?

“I saw that you barely ate at Rizhao Temple just now, so I thought you probably weren’t full. I asked Ri Xi to buy some delicious things back from Tianfu Teahouse.”

Tianfu Teahouse! Could it be her favorite roast goose?

Ye Rui stood up and pulled the food box closer, not opening it immediately. “You must be hungry too. Let’s eat together.”

“Mm.”

Xie Tinglan actually wasn’t very hungry. After hearing what Helian Shaohua had said to her at Rizhao Temple, she had lost her appetite. But seeing how eager Ye Rui was, her own appetite seemed to be stirred as well. Eating together would be fine.

When Ye Rui opened the box, she indeed saw the roast goose. She quickly arranged all the dishes, picked up her chopsticks, and was ready to eat. She ate happily, and her heart was sweet too.

She had once mentioned that Tianfu Teahouse’s roast goose was delicious; she hadn’t expected Xie Tinglan to remember.

Xie Tinglan, you’re sincere with me, aren’t you?

**

The carriage traveling along the main road was decorated on all four sides with cloud-and-phoenix motifs. At the windows and door hung crimson gauze curtains embroidered with golden phoenix patterns, and the tassels below swayed in the wind, displaying unmistakable magnificence and splendor.

Two fine horses pulled the carriage at an even pace ahead, while city guards followed tightly on both sides. When the common people saw it, they all dropped to their knees and lowered their heads, faces full of reverence.

Helian Shaohua was feigning sleep inside the carriage. One hand propped against the cushion supported her head, and the pearl tassels beneath the gilded phoenix hairpin atop her head swayed gently, standing out vividly against her dark hair. Shen Zhuiying sat upright to one side. She stole a careful glance at Helian Shaohua, then seemed hesitant to speak, afraid of waking her, and looked somewhat flustered.

“If you have something to say, then say it. Since we have not yet returned to the palace, you need not be so guarded.”

Helian Shaohua had long noticed Shen Zhuiying’s repeated glances. She was like a vigilant beast; she knew every stir in the wind and grass.

“Your Highness, the hidden sentries have sent word that the one in Xingchen Palace is pregnant.”

Helian Shaohua slowly opened her eyes. There was only coldness in them as she curled her lips in a frosty smile. “Whether she is pregnant or not, and whether she can give birth or not, the final result will be the same.”

The outside world said Helian Shaohua had suffered a serious illness, and that she would likely never bear the Emperor’s child in the future. But the Emperor was not without heirs. In the harem now, the consorts had given birth to three princesses and two princes. The eldest princess was only ten, and the two princes were still in swaddling clothes, watched over day and night under strict guard for fear that anything might happen.

Yes... they had to be strictly guarded, or something would certainly happen.

Shen Zhuiying rarely mentioned the word “heirs” in front of Helian Shaohua. She had once seen Helian Shaohua’s desolation that night, and did not dare bring it up for fear of touching the wound.

“Are you afraid that if you mention a consort in the harem being pregnant, this palace will be unhappy?”

Helian Shaohua raised a brow and placed her hand over Shen Zhuiying’s. Seeing Shen Zhuiying frown and nod, Helian Shaohua smiled and said, “Back then, this palace was indeed heartbroken.”

She paused. The light in her eyes turned into a band of harshness, hiding countless blades. “It was also that ‘accident’ that made this palace understand that some people were never meant to be human. If I don’t want to be devoured by those demons and ghosts, then I can only become the fiercest evil ghost in this hell.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

Helian Shaohua patted Shen Zhuiying’s hand as if comforting her. “It’s a good thing.”

It had been a scarlet, joyous event that stripped away her original flesh and blood and transformed her into the person she was today.

“Your Highness..."

After hesitating for a long while, Shen Zhuiying still took Helian Shaohua’s hand. “Please forgive this subordinate’s presumption. If Your Highness is willing, Zhuiying can also become your support, and never betray you.”

Faced with such sincere and fervent words, Helian Shaohua only smiled faintly. She reached out and touched Shen Zhuiying’s cheek, the cold gilded armor lightly brushing the hair by her cheek. “Then are you prepared to lose everything?”

Shen Zhuiying looked at Helian Shaohua with unwavering eyes, and answered in a steady voice, “I’m prepared.”

“Good girl.”

Helian Shaohua gently rubbed Shen Zhuiying’s cheek with her thumb. Meeting Shen Zhuiying’s burning gaze, a complicated thought flashed through Helian Shaohua’s eyes. She said, “However, lately this palace does not wish to see that man. It would not be impossible to make a little noise in Xingchen Palace.”

At that, Shen Zhuiying’s eyes lit up. “Life or death doesn’t matter?”

Helian Shaohua withdrew her hand and resumed pretending to sleep, her red lips parting as she gave a light answer.

“Life or death doesn’t matter.”

**

On the day of the martial selection, the wind was biting, but the sun was good. The city guards surrounded Shenwu Plaza so tightly that not a drop could leak through. The flag of Great Yan fluttered above the city walls, and several people in light armor and masks patrolled back and forth along the battlements.

Ri Xi had said they were the experts within the imperial city, the Azure Dragon Guards who protected the imperial family from generation to generation. They never showed their true faces. The person walking beside you in the marketplace might very well be one of them. They were in charge of gathering intelligence and protecting the Emperor; they were extremely troublesome opponents.

Precisely because of their existence, aside from the assassination of the previous Emperor in Qingzhou City, there had never been another attempt on an emperor’s life. Back in Qingzhou, it was only because the barbarians had suddenly invaded and the Azure Dragon Guards had been distracted that the assassin had found an opportunity.

Ye Rui once again appeared at Shenwu Plaza. She looked up at those figures in blue and only felt that their aura was intimidating. Yet judging from their breathing and footwork, their strength might not necessarily be as great as Gong Yinzhi’s.

By now, all the commanders had already assembled at Shenwu Plaza, each holding the banner of their city. Their momentum was like troops setting out on campaign, and a powerful pressure naturally spread.

Ye Rui also spotted Yu Lang. He was the standard-bearer, holding Wenzhou City’s banner and standing at the very front, staring straight at the two vacant seats on the high platform.

The Emperor and Empress had not arrived yet.

By rights, the Emperor should already have completed the sacrifice by now, so why had they still not heard Chief Eunuch Zhaosheng’s sharp voice?

Ye Rui looked toward the gate leading into Shenwu Plaza. Aside from a few withered yellow leaves blown in by the wind and some dust, there was no sign of anyone approaching.

The sound of banners snapping in the wind filled her ears. Perhaps the commanders’ pressure was too strong; even the officials inside the tents did not dare speak loudly. They all whispered among themselves, occasionally leaning together to murmur a few words. The entire Shenwu Plaza was quiet in a way that made people uneasy.

Ye Rui stepped forward and leaned close to Xie Tinglan’s ear. “Isn’t it already the hour of Chen?”

She had looked over the schedule the Ministry of Rites had sent over. By now, it was past the time when the Emperor and Empress were supposed to be seated. Could there have been a mistake at the sacrificial rite?

Xie Tinglan was resting her eyes. Hearing Ye Rui’s voice, she only murmured, “My guess is that something happened, but it shouldn’t affect the martial selection.”

Roughly a quarter of an hour later, Chief Eunuch Zhaosheng bellowed at the top of his voice, “The Empress arrives—!”

The Empress? What about the Emperor?

Before Ye Rui could think further, everyone rose in unison and bowed with clasped hands toward the gate. The commanders on Shenwu Plaza also neatly stepped aside and knelt on one knee, their right hands over their left breasts, heads lowered as they awaited the arrival of the most noble woman in the land.

Soon, Helian Shaohua came in wearing a gold-and-black palace robe. Two gilded phoenix hairpins adorned her head, and golden thread embroidered phoenixes across the black fabric, making her look imposing and majestic. Her expression was gentle and dignified, her gaze sharp as a torch as she dragged the long phoenix robe step by step toward the high platform, finally taking her seat upon the phoenix throne.

Ye Rui sneaked a glance and saw several eunuchs moving the heavy dragon throne away, then shifting the phoenix seat to a slightly more central position so Helian Shaohua could sit.

“Rise, all of you.”

Helian Shaohua’s voice was not loud, but it reached everyone’s ears perfectly. Once everyone had stood properly, Chief Eunuch Zhaosheng finally read out the Emperor’s decree.

Under Zhaosheng’s shrill reading, the martial selection officially began. But before that, Helian Shaohua still explained why the Emperor was absent today.

“His Majesty was unable to attend personally due to an urgent matter, but as the martial selection concerns the foundation of the realm, this palace has been ordered to preside, with Prime Minister Xie assisting from the side.”

Everyone understood perfectly well that the Emperor could not possibly have had any urgent matter at this moment. Yet none of them could guess what had happened to keep him from showing up.

Still, the martial selection had to proceed even without the Emperor. After drawing lots, the competition began. The first event was swordsmanship, followed by mounted archery, standing archery, and crossbow shooting.

When the competition began, each faction’s guards came to stand protectively before their masters, fearing stray arrows or that someone might deliberately “accidentally” injure someone present. Fortunately, the contest went fairly smoothly. Perhaps because these were all martial commanders, blood and ferocity were in their bones. The winners let out thunderous roars, and the losers were no less unbowed.

The scene was lively, and Ye Rui watched with growing interest. Xie Tinglan seemed to have caught the mood too, and asked her, “Could any of these people’s archery skills compare with yours?”

Ye Rui thought about it, then found the man under the Yuzhou City banner with the furrowed brow. “The sour-faced one from Yuzhou City; he can go toe-to-toe with me.”

Ye Rui still had complete confidence in her archery. Not to mention strength, but in terms of accuracy alone, there were only a handful in the entire plaza whose skill could match hers. That sour-faced man from Yuzhou City was one of them.

His name was Tan Ye, a captain from Yuzhou City and one of Xie Tinglan’s people. Ye Rui had met him before. At the banquet table he did not talk much, always wearing a stern face and a perpetually furrowed brow, as though he was thinking about something no one else could guess. Since she had met so many people and could not remember all their names, later when reporting work to Xie Tinglan, she started calling him Sour Face.

“Why don’t we make a bet on whether he’ll win?”

Xie Tinglan’s interest was piqued. Her hand, still holding the hand warmer, tightened slightly as she took Ye Rui’s hand, her burning eyes fixed on her. Ye Rui had wanted to refuse, but seeing Xie Tinglan so rarely enthusiastic, she could only agree. “How do you want to bet?”

“I’ll bet that Yu Lang from Wenzhou City will beat him.”

After Xie Tinglan said that, Ye Rui felt a little troubled. Yu Lang’s archery was excellent too, roughly on par with Tan Ye’s. It was truly hard to tell who would win.

“Then I can only bet that Sour Face wins.”

Wait, what exactly was the wager?

Before Ye Rui could ask, Xie Tinglan said, “If I win, then tonight you have to come keep me company in bed.”

Ye Rui was speechless. She always felt that the word “bed” in this sentence was not so simple. These days she often accompanied Xie Tinglan to sleep, but because they were always so busy and exhausted, the two of them would lie down, kiss twice, and then fall asleep. Since Xie Tinglan had deliberately brought up this matter, then perhaps...

Ye Rui’s ears grew a little hot. She asked, “What if I win?”

“Then I’ll keep you company in bed tonight.”

As she finished, Xie Tinglan looked in a very good mood, the corner of her lips lifting. Xie the wolf rarely showed such an expression, especially in public.

Today the Emperor had not come, and she seemed to be far more unrestrained than usual.

Ye Rui: “...”

Hu Tu: "[...]"

Look at this. Even the System had nothing to say. What difference did it make who won or lost? This cunning, unreasonable bad woman!

“How about it?”

Seeing that Ye Rui still hadn’t answered, Xie Tinglan turned her head to look at her. The interest in her eyes was far stronger than when she watched the competition.

She was clearly just making fun of Ye Rui.

“Fine, I accept.”

Ye Rui thought that after today’s events wrapped up, they would probably both be tired anyway. If she went to keep Xie Tinglan company, she’d likely just lie down and fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. What else could she possibly do?

After that, the two of them watched the competition seriously. To be honest, it was a bet without a real winner or loser; the outcome would be the same either way. But watching all the commanders demonstrate their skills at the target was certainly far more exciting than the imperial examinations.

Helian Shaohua sat quietly and watched as well. Just as she was about to lift her tea, she found the cup in her hand somewhat light and paused.

As soon as Chief Eunuch Zhaosheng saw it, he hurriedly bent over and said, “This servant deserves death. This servant will change the Empress’s tea at once.”

“No matter. Go.”

Helian Shaohua’s tone remained gentle, and Zhaosheng answered before going to change the tea. At that moment, Shen Zhuiying, who had somehow left earlier, came up from the other side of the platform and quietly said into Helian Shaohua’s ear, “Your Highness, the child is gone. The one in Xingchen Palace cried bitterly for a while, then fainted.”

“Mm.”

Helian Shaohua slowly closed her eyes, though the corner of her lips was slightly raised. Then Shen Zhuiying added, “It is said that the one there has already rushed angrily toward Qingfeng Palace.”

Helian Shaohua did not take it seriously, only letting out a cold laugh. “She couldn’t even endure a few words whispered in her ear, and she didn’t clean up the trail afterward either. Serves her right.”

Qingfeng Palace and Xingchen Palace had always been at odds, and they had caused plenty of conflict over fighting for favor. The one in Qingfeng Palace was Consort Yan, daughter of the Minister of Personnel’s Li family. The one in Xingchen Palace was Consort Jing, daughter of the Minister of Works’ Huang family. Both were daughters of powerful officials, so of course they would compete for the hundred days of glory.

It was far too easy to make the two clash. Consort Yan had a domineering, impulsive personality; just whisper a few things in her ear, and have Xie Tinglan make things difficult for Minister Li in court, and she would believe the Emperor’s favor had all fallen on Consort Jing, who had just conceived an heir.

Add in the fact that the Emperor frequently rushed to Xingchen Palace, and how could she possibly continue to hold back?

Thus wicked thoughts were born, and the whole board was lost.

Helian Shaohua felt a gaze fall on her, so she looked toward Xie Tinglan. Seeing the questioning look in Xie Tinglan’s eyes, Helian Shaohua only nodded once, and a pleased light appeared in Xie Tinglan’s eyes.

Consort Yan’s attempt to harm the imperial heir would certainly implicate Minister Li. The Ministry of Personnel was bound to experience an earthquake, and Zhuang Linglong and the others whom Xie Tinglan had planted there would have an opening to rise. It was exactly the right time for her to seize control of the ministry.

Helian Shaohua’s eyes settled on the plaza, and a faint smile touched her red lips.

During this period, that man would surely be very busy, and she could also steal some peace for herself, without having to see that face pretending to be deeply affectionate.

The archery event ended with Yu Lang’s victory. After everyone took a break to reorganize, the hand-to-hand dueling would begin; that was the real centerpiece of the martial selection.

The commanders were ranked according to the points they earned in each contest. At present, the highest ranked was naturally Yu Lang, followed by Tan Ye. Ye Rui did not know the next few, but the tenth place was still one of Xie Tinglan’s people: a young commander from Youlan City.

Seeing this, one had to admit that Xie Tinglan’s eye for talent was truly sharp. Ye Rui had not met many of these people, and Xie Tinglan kept a low profile too, yet three of them were in the top ten, and she had taken the top two spots outright.

And if one were to talk about sharp eyes, then the earlier wager also counted. Xie Tinglan won, and immediately gave Ye Rui an ambiguous look, her expression carrying a hint of smugness. Ye Rui rarely saw Xie Tinglan so unrestrained, so she did not spoil the mood and obediently admitted defeat.

The eunuchs brought over some tea snacks. As they placed them on the table, Yin Yue and Ri Xi watched closely, afraid that what had happened last time might repeat itself. Fortunately, there were no mishaps this time. But Xie Tinglan did not touch a single one of the delicate pastries on the table.

While everyone was eating tea snacks, Shenwu Plaza became much livelier, with continuous conversation and none of the pressure from before. Ye Rui looked around and, seeing that the Emperor truly showed no sign of coming, asked Xie Tinglan in a low voice, “He really isn’t coming?”

“There’s been a death in the harem. He won’t be able to make it back in time.”

Xie Tinglan sipped the tea handed over by Ri Xi, her eyes carrying a trace of amusement. At one glance, Ye Rui knew Xie Tinglan had known about this long ago.

If Xie Tinglan could know about matters in the harem, then the only possible explanation was that the one up on the platform had leaked it. And it was very likely that she was an accomplice. However, matters in the harem should have been handled by the Empress, so why had the Emperor gone instead? Could it be that the matter was important to the Emperor?

“What’s going on?”

Ye Rui was curious. Why was the front acting like The Legend of Zhen Huan, while the back had turned into Nirvana in Fire?

“That one used a little trick, and the matter was settled. It’s a minor thing.”

Xie Tinglan took a sip of tea. The fragrance spread through her mouth, and her mood seemed to brighten a little more. Today, the corners of Xie Tinglan’s mouth kept lifting in a cheerful curve. Unlike her usual contempt and cold sneer, she was in a pretty good mood, which only made Ye Rui more curious.

“You seem to be in a good mood today?”

Ye Rui asked. Xie Tinglan turned her head to look at her, and the heat in her gaze made Ye Rui’s cheeks start to burn.

The desire hidden in those eyes was far too obvious.

“Today there’s something to be done, and I won the bet, so of course I’m happy.”

After hearing that, the slightest hint of bashfulness in Ye Rui vanished completely. Instead, she felt genuinely happy for Xie Tinglan.

If only you could be this happy every day.

The hand-to-hand duels then began. The commanders were paired off and fought one-on-one across the plaza. Ye Rui watched carefully. Gong Yinzhi had once said that the martial arts of soldiers in the army were different from those of jianghu fighters. Most martial men in the army trained hard, their external techniques full of brute force, with an air of being able to uproot mountains and overturn rivers. Their advantage was obvious: they took battles head-on with raw strength. Moreover, army martial artists had iron willpower; ordinary people could not easily bring them down.

By contrast, jianghu fighters relied more on technique. Army martial artists also practiced internal energy, but it was mostly to strengthen power and defense. Jianghu internal arts, however, were divided into many branches, with different people cultivating different methods, each with its own intricacies. Army martial artists instead drove one and the same internal art to its extreme.

Jianghu fighters also tended to favor lightness and agility. Gong Yinzhi had said that observing the duels of soldiers could teach one how to deal with them, and that too was a kind of cultivation.

Helian Shaohua watched with great interest as well. Turning her head, she saw Xie Tinglan speaking with Ye Rui and, smiling, asked, “Take a look at Ye Rui. How does she seem to you now?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, she has improved considerably. She can no longer be compared with how she was at the last hunt.”

Shen Zhuiying had also been paying close attention to Ye Rui. She had not met Ye Rui many times, but Helian Shaohua had mentioned her several times, and even Prime Minister Xie had given her much support. So Shen Zhuiying had kept her in mind.

“Mm. Time should be enough to make one look at another differently. Tinglan’s eye for people is as sharp as ever. However...”

Thinking of the news she had sent Xie Tinglan this morning, Helian Shaohua’s gaze dimmed.

A good seedling still growing would be wasted if it were targeted by a massive storm. More importantly, she could not become a stumbling block.

Helian Shaohua withdrew her gaze and looked up at the flag of the blazing eagle. Her eyes grew distant, and she could not help but sigh, “If that Grand Princess were still here, these martial men would certainly admire her.”

Helian Shaohua’s voice was very soft; only Shen Zhuiying could hear it. This was only possible because Chief Eunuch Zhaosheng had gone to change her tea snacks, leaving them a chance to chat.

“Mm.”

Shen Zhuiying merely gave a soft response and did not offer any further comment.

Helian Shaohua’s eyes, however, sank as her thoughts drifted far away. The Grand Princess had long ago become someone forgotten by the people of Great Yan. Once, there had even been a poem that fully described her accomplishments:

Red horse, scarlet-faced, riding to battle in the sands;

Blood stained the banners red beneath the daylight.

A woman of the halberd and silver spear upheld the realm;

Her long song never failed Great Yan.

No matter how formidable a martial person was, no matter how much they bled themselves dry for Great Yan, what did it matter in the end? Did they not still lose to the fact that they were women?

She had once shed her rouge and donned battle armor, spilling blood and laying down her life on the Qingzhou battlefield. Even the barbarian tribal chiefs who never bowed to Great Yan feared her like a shura.

The barbarians’ most elite troops had once quaked before this female general of slaughter.

And yet, because rumors spread that she intended to seize the throne, all sides had done their utmost to crush her.

No one had ever defeated her on the battlefield, but her heroic brilliance was broken by those backward and filthy ideas.

And afterward? To strike at her former subordinates, the Emperor decided to give the Qingzhou Army no support whatsoever, letting the soldiers guarding the frontier fend for themselves. Fortunately, the Qingzhou City governor was somewhat capable and held out for so many years that the Qingzhou Army remained standing, and the barbarians never succeeded in invading.

Now Qingzhou City was like a place cut out of Great Yan’s plans, with no aid at all; even the martial selection did not summon them. This was the Emperor’s anger and punishment for the Qingzhou people praising the Grand Princess back then.

The Emperor’s youngest sister; the woman once so dazzling and brilliant; the woman who led the Qingzhou Army in fierce resistance against foreign enemies and was thus bestowed the title of Grand Princess; the woman whose name did not even appear in Great Yan’s history books, so much so that even the words Grand Princess were never mentioned.

Who still remembered this history, this forbidden person?

-----------------------

Author’s note: The Empress’s scenes will increase from here on.

I quite like the Empress. Ruthless, crazy enough, the quiet kind of crazy.

[dog head]