SGSHE137

Two months later, winter had set in.

Outside the window, the wind howled, but inside a secluded courtyard of Jing Heguang’s manor, a coal fire burned brightly for warmth.

Jing Heguang sat wrapped in a fur coat, clutching an exquisite hand warmer, listening to the conversation of the men below.

“That ‘Yellow Flower Sect’ has been truly outrageous these past two months. They’re actually stirring up trouble under the banner of the ‘Virtuous Emperor’!”

“That rebel Xu is useless too, letting a rabble like the Yellow Flower Sect cause such a massive commotion.”

“Hah. The sect leader even claims he’s coming to the capital to slaughter corrupt officials!”

The Yellow Flower Sect was a group that had emerged over the last two months. They were wreaking havoc in the desert region, making quite a stir by invoking the name of a virtuous ancestor of the previous dynasty, an ancestor from whom Jing Heguang nominally descended.

Since the founding of the Xu dynasty a few years ago, the people had generally lived well.

However, some regions were inherently impoverished. Even with strong support from the imperial court, life there remained a struggle.

The desert region was one such place. When a corrupt official appeared, the people’s lives became even harder, making them easily susceptible to incitement.

Killing corrupt officials was, in itself, a gratifying prospect. However, because the Yellow Flower Sect operated under the banner of the previous dynasty, the ‘regular army’ gathered in the courtyard felt personally affronted.

The ‘Virtuous Emperor’ was the original owner’s father’s grandfather, a figure from over a century ago.

After a hundred years, everyone from that era was long dead. There was no genuine reverence left, merely the appropriation of a name for the sake of a facade.

If ‘they’ were the ones doing it, they would certainly do a better job than the Yellow Flower Sect. That was the unspoken thought buried deep in everyone’s hearts.

Chi Xiu pondered for a long moment before speaking: “The sudden emergence of the Yellow Flower Sect is rather odd. One can only hope it is a coincidence and not the result of ulterior motives.”

Trouble caused by remnants of the previous dynasty was the surest way to trigger the vigilance of the current rulers.

As Chi Xiu’s words fell, several men were startled, silently weighing whether this was merely a coincidence or something more significant. Jing Heguang knew the situation well.

There was no record of such an event in the original owner’s memories.

The desert region were remote, and his own actions shouldn’t have had any impact there. Logically speaking, the Yellow Flower Sect incident shouldn’t be happening now.

Yet, the reality was that not only was it happening, but it was causing quite a stir! Well now, that was certainly curious.

There weren’t many people capable of making such a commotion.

Jing Heguang spoke up to reassure them: “It’s nothing. Let’s just go on living our lives peacefully. It’s a bitter winter this year, so you gentlemen should take this chance to spend more time with your families, to make up for all the busy past years!”

Although Jing Heguang no longer harbored grand ambitions, his prestige remained intact, a few words were enough to put everyone at ease.

After sitting there for a while, Jing Heguang rose and headed back to the main courtyard.

***

Upon returning to the main courtyard, Jing Heguang’s first question was, “Where is Seventh Master?”

“Replying to Master, he is in the study.”

So, Jing Heguang set off for the study.

The study was laid out in two distinct sections.

On one side, tall bookshelves stood against the wall, and the desk was piled high with official documents alongside a few agricultural manuals with dog-eared pages.

Xing Qi sat on the other side.

The bookshelves there were half the height, and the desk held fewer items, giving the space an uncluttered, refreshing feel.

Jing Heguang walked around behind Xing Qi and leaned lightly against his back.

Glancing down, he noticed a reddish flush on the back of Xing Qi’s hand. “It’s so cold out, why not take a break today? There’s no rush,” he said, his voice full of concern.

Xing Qi finished the final stroke and set down his brush.

“There may be no rush for today, but if I rest today, I’ll want to rest tomorrow, too. One simply can’t afford to get lazy.”

Jing Heguang clasped Xing Qi’s hands and placed a hand warmer between them.

“You make a fair point. Still, you need to keep warm. Chilblains on your hands are no fun.”

Xing Qi cradled the toasty little hand warmer and felt the artificial warmth radiating against the back of his hand. He smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Recalling that Jing Heguang had just returned from the side courtyard, Xing Qi turned and asked, “Father said the Yellow Flower Sect killed quite a few officials out in the desert. Are they really descendants of the Virtuous Emperor?”

“You actually believe that?” Jing Heguang laughed at him. “How many years has it been since then?”

“Besides, if they really were the Virtuous Emperor’s descendants, wouldn’t it have been better to step forward during the dynastic transition? Waiting until the situation is already settled just means they’re walking right into a trap.”

Xing Qi wrinkled his nose.

Of course, he knew it was a fake. He just wasn’t sure if there was any connection between the Yellow Flower Sect and Jing Heguang’s people.

Judging by Jing Heguang’s tone, there was absolutely no connection.

Xing Qi blinked. “That’s the rumor going around outside, I’m not the only one who believes it.”

Jing Heguang pinched his cheek, finding it cold, as expected, and cupped it with his hand to warm it up.

“Someone *wants* that rumor to spread,” Jing Heguang said, acting as both a hand warmer and a wise confidant. “Every move a clever person makes has a hidden purpose. Just wait and see.”

Xing Qi didn’t quite follow, but he reassured himself, “As long as we’re safe, that’s all that matters.”

***

That night, as the wind picked up, darkness fell.

Inside the palace complex, a massive fire marked the opening act of an extraordinary night.

“Fire! Put out the fire! Put out the fire!”

“Fire! Someone, quick, fight the fire!”

Amidst the clamor, a large number of guards were dispatched to battle the blaze.

With gaps left in the patrol rotations, intruders managed to slip into the palace.

The chaos began with the fire. One event triggered the next, allowing the intruders to advance perfectly according to their scheme.

The Emperor had not come to the Fengluan Palace for a meal that night, nor was the Crown Prince present.

Jing Ya’an had washed her hair, and it had only just dried.

The hall was filled with a cozy warmth. She reclined leisurely on a chaise longue, savoring this moment of tranquility.

A senior palace maid beside her smiled and remarked, “It is truly a rarity. His Highness the Crown Prince hadn’t finished his lessons and actually got into an argument with Grand Tutor Liu. To think our little Crown Prince has learned to quarrel with others!”

Jing Ya’an was of a gentle disposition, and the young Crown Prince shared that same mild temperament.

Hearing that the little one had picked a fight, and knowing the Emperor had already gone to see him, the attendants in the hall felt at ease enough to joke and indulge their curiosity.

Jing Ya’an smiled as well. “I must ask tomorrow what the argument was about. With both father and son away today, I finally have a moment of peace.”

Just as laughter filled the Fengluan Palace, news arrived, a fire had broken out, intruders had breached the palace…

A flurry of reports descended upon them like withered leaves swept down by the wind, weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts.

With her thick, dark hair simply tied back, Jing Ya’an rushed to the front of the hall and gazed toward the building where the Emperor was staying.

Shouts and the sounds of battle drifted over from that direction.

Jing Ya’an glared furiously at the deputy commander of the guards, who stubbornly insisted on remaining at his post before the hall. “Why are you still standing here?! Go to the Emperor! Hurry!”

The Empress, usually so gentle and composed, shouted until her voice cracked with strain.

Yet, the deputy commander dared not move an inch. He knelt and pleaded for understanding. “Your highness, I was dispatched by the Emperor. He decreed that if I dared to leave the Fengluan Palace, I would have to forfeit my head.”

“Your highness!” Palace attendants rushed to steady Jing Ya’an.

Others tried to dissuade her: “Your highness, we must consider your safety as well…”

The Fengluan Palace was not far from the Emperor’s quarters, and Jing Ya’an could see that the situation was rapidly deteriorating.

She had no time to ponder how so many intruders had breached the palace or why reinforcements from elsewhere had yet to arrive.

Consumed by burning anxiety, she dismissed those urging caution as mere cowards clinging to their lives.

Yet she was unafraid, at least, she did not fear death in this moment. Her only dread was that harm might befall the two, the elder and the younger.

Jing Ya’an gave a soft, derisive snort, her gaze fixing on the saber at the deputy commander’s waist.

Stepping forward, she snatched the gleaming, cold-glinting long saber from its scabbard.

With a deft twist of her wrist, she reversed the weapon, extending the hilt toward the man kneeling before her.

“Take this and return at once. Otherwise, I shall cut you down right here! If His majesty later seeks to punish you, I will personally save your head.”

The deputy commander looked up and saw that the hilt was pointed toward him.

He weighed the situation for a moment, then reached out to take back his saber, saying respectfully, “Yes. Your humble servant shall lead the men there immediately!”

Jing Ya’an glanced at him, then turned to the eunuch her brother had assigned to guard her safety. “Baofu, you go with them.”

The deputy commander departed with half the guards, and the eunuch in tow, racing toward the palace where the Emperor resided.

Jing Ya’an watched them go, yet her anxiety remained.

She bitterly regretted not applying herself to martial arts in her youth. The few flashy moves she had learned were useless now. Rushing out there would only make her a burden.

A quarter of an hour passed.

The sounds of combat in the distance had ceased, yet no one came to the Feng Luan Palace to bring word.

Jing Ya’an had bitten her lip until it bled, with reddened eyes, she issued the command: “Escort me there.” Her voice was hoarse.

***

The Yellow Flower Sect made a name for itself that night.

Everyone had dismissed their talk of entering the capital to assassinate corrupt officials as mere bluster, yet they had actually pulled it off.

Not only had they succeeded, but they had caused a massive uproar, storming the palace itself to seize the Emperor!

Upon receiving the news, Jing Heguang dressed once more and stepped outside to stand guard at the entrance.

Before long, a carriage draped in luxurious, imperial-yellow fabric pulled up in front of the imperial brother-in-law’s manor.

Jing Ya’an, wearing a veiled hat, stumbled slightly as she stepped down.

Jing Heguang stepped forward to steady her, his gaze shifting to the space behind her: “Was the Crown Prince captured too?”

Jing Ya’an closed her eyes, yet tears streamed down instantly.

She gripped Jing Heguang’s arm tightly, as if clinging to a lifeline, while her other hand produced a blood-stained handkerchief. “Brother, here is the list.”

“They want to see the heads of everyone on this list before dawn.”

Jing Heguang took the handkerchief and swept his gaze over it.

The names of ten people were written there.

To Jing Heguang’s knowledge, none of these men were decent sorts. Several were notorious for their greed and lust, though they had been spared punishment simply because the timing wasn’t right.

In a few years, the Emperor would have dealt with them all anyway.

After reading it, Jing Heguang said, “They can be killed. But…”

Jing Ya’an removed her veil and looked at Jing Heguang with pleading eyes. “Brother! I beg you!”

Her lips were split, her smooth hair disheveled, and her eyes rimmed with red, evidence of bitter weeping, with tear tracks still visible on her cheeks.

In short, she looked utterly wretched.

Jing Ya’an was well aware that with both the Emperor and her son captured, this was not only a prime opportunity for the Yellow Flower Sect but also a rare, golden opportunity for her brother.

Yet she had no choice. The only person she could trust, someone outside the palace capable of securing those heads, was her brother.

Tears welled in Jing Ya’an’s eyes, trembling on the verge of falling, yet she held them back with sheer determination.

It was as if she feared that letting them drop might disturb Jing Heguang.

Jing Heguang swallowed the words he had been about to speak and used his fingers to tuck a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.

“Alright. Rest assured, leave it to me.”