Chapter 27
Crack of dawn
After the longest night of Yuwen Yue's life, the pauper prince suddenly woke up as the crown prince. Everything was waiting to unfold, his fate to meet the Qinghai King was yet to be told.
The Qinghai King had been informed about the arrival of the crown prince with his Poe Yue Jian sword yesterday, and suddenly, the King became sober.
He asked his servants about the happenings at the crown prince's palace and heard lively stories. As if his blood had been stirred and made new again, he felt excitement, though he did not show it. Inside, his old feelings came alive.
The King did not hold his usual party at the nightclub last night. Instead, he ordered his servants to prepare his garments, and suddenly everything gray became white.
Like a blank canvas ready to be painted, so was the King's outlook. He planned to summon the crown prince to him, but the King could not wait. He walked the secret path to the old Yueshen's palace with two of his palace guards.
At dawn, while everyone in the palace believed the King was following his usual routine, he walked along the secret paths to meet his long-lost son.
The King, near his fifties, still looked stunningly handsome, wearing a long black robe with a hood, an inner garment of the most expensive Hanfu dress, and a gold hairpin atop his head. Trailing the secret path with his palace guards, who held two torches, he made his way toward the crown prince's palace.
Only the King had access, and the last time he came was the last time he saw his son in his cradle with his mother, Yueshen.
After a few minutes, the King finally arrived at the crown prince's palace. He sat in the mini-throne room while the two palace guards stood outside. The King closed his eyes as if meditating, reminiscing about his old memories with Yueshen. He sighed deeply.
Yuwen Yue, in his usual Zen meditation position, suddenly opened his eyes as if sensing a strong energy surrounding him. Zuo Zong, on the other hand, continued his routine spy check, with the day's task being to discover the secret spy of Prince Ra Zheng.
Yuwen Yue did not return to his meditation. Instead, he stood up, opened the long gold curtains, and saw the golden sunrise. From atop the mountain clouds, the foggy mists covered the forest floor, townhomes, and the Great Wall of China, overlooking the Ximeng continent where the Qinghai palace, known as "The Palace in the Sky," was located.
Yuwen Yue, now dressed in his Qinghai princely garments, with cold, gentle eyes, thin red lips, jade-like skin, and a god-like face, reflected on his past, where he once worked and lived on the streets.
One of the King's personal guards knocked on his hall and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty came in secret. He is waiting in the Crown Prince's mini-throne room. He wishes to meet with you."
Suddenly, Yuwen Yue's heartbeat quickened, though outwardly calm. He stared at the door, caught between feelings of fear and resolve to face his real father, who was only a few steps away. Yuwen Yue replied in a calm voice, "I am coming."
Yuwen Yue took his Poe Yue Jian sword and looked at himself in the large mirror. From a ruggedly handsome laborer to a royal crown prince, no words could fully describe his transformation.
He fixed his princely garment and emerged, looking very handsome in his white Hanfu dress, white deerskin boots, white damask cape with a white fur collar made of white fox hair, and a silver crown hairpin atop his head. He walked out of his room slowly and confidently.
"Your Majesty!" Yuwen Yue broke the silence in the air.
The Qinghai King, with his eyes closed, opened them and saw Yuwen Yue kneeling, his head bowed and his two hands holding the Poe Yue Jian sword in front of him.
The Qinghai King straightened his back, opened his chest, and swallowed, making a sound like a cough: "Ahem, ahem." He looked at Yuwen Yue steadily without saying a word or moving, while Yuwen Yue remained expressionless, waiting for the King's words.
Finally, after a long pause, the King said, "Come closer."
Yuwen Yue stood up, still not looking directly at the King's face, and approached him.
The King then said, "Hand me the Poe Yue Jian sword."
Yuwen Yue handed him the sword and returned to his previous position, at a distance from the throne.
The King said, "You may look at me."
For the first time, Yuwen Yue glanced at the King, and his eyes widened as the King descended from his throne, embraced him, and said, "My son."
Without saying a word, Yuwen Yue returned the warm hug. Both felt relieved. How long did it last? Time seemed to stop.
Suddenly, Zuo Zong rushed inside the palace. Seeing the two guards outside the throne room, he became curious and walked towards them. There, he witnessed his master and the King embracing.
The King tapped Yuwen Yue's back as they acknowledged each other's presence. The King, unable to hide his teary eyes, showed emotion.
Yuwen Yue, still expressionless and calm as the sea, had bloodshot red eyes. Suddenly, he embraced his father again. The King allowed his son to hug him once more before Yuwen Yue finally let go.
The King then took the Poe Yue Jian sword and officially commissioned it to his son, saying, "To my son, this sword symbolizes my life. My heart seeks something I cannot name. We age not by years but by stories. The pain you feel today will soon become your strength for tomorrow. May the bridges I burned light the way and forgive a father in your heart."
Yuwen Yue, kneeling, bowed his head to his father. The King tapped his shoulders with the Poe Yue Jian sword, and the sword's moon-grip handle shone. Light crawled along the blade until it reached the tip.
His father shifted his hold on the sword and, in a lateral position, handed it to his son, shining brightly.
Yuwen Yue accepted it, standing in the King's presence, mesmerized by its unblinding light. His eyes were fixed on it. Suddenly, the inscription on the Poe Yue Jian sword appeared on the blade, as if someone were engraving it in real time.
The King put on his hood and walked out of the throne room peacefully. Without saying a word, Yuwen Yue was left standing, watching the King's back, feeling content.
Zuo, who had seen everything, was surprised to see the Qinghai King but never got a clear look at his face. The King's two palace guards joined him, and they disappeared along the secret path.
Zuo approached his master, where Yuwen Yue stood, staring at the door of the throne room, lost in time. Everything felt real, magical, and strange, to the point that he didn't even notice Zuo watching him.
"Master brother, did you just..."
"Whatever it is, the answer is yes," Yuwen Yue said.
The sun was already high, and Yuwen Yue returned to his usual business. Zuo, eager to report to his master, couldn't stop thinking about the King.
"Master brother, may I say something about the Qinghai King?"
"What is it?" Yuwen Yue asked, slowly walking towards his office.
"Did you notice his face? Earlier, when the sun came out, it looked like he was fading away."
"What do you mean? The King faded away when he walked out of the room?" Yuwen Yue asked.
"I didn't see his shadow. The King seemed to be floating and gradually disappearing as soon as he left," Zuo replied.
"Did you say he was floating earlier?" Yuwen Yue inquired further.
"Yes, I saw it when the rays of the sun passed through his skin," Zuo confirmed.
Yuwen Yue, in a calm and husky voice, asked, "What was the position of the sundial?"
Zuo answered, "Not long, about the sixth hour from the North Star when I came in."
Yuwen Yue's brow creased as he remembered his father's words:
"To my son, this sword symbolizes my life. My heart seeks something I cannot name."
Yuwen Yue began to suspect that his father was under a spell, and the Poe Yue Jian sword might be connected to it. He realized he needed to find out more.
"We age not by years but by stories. Does this mean my father knew my whereabouts? That I was the heir to the Eyes of God?" Yuwen Yue pondered, still trying to piece together the puzzle.
"The pain you feel today will soon become your strength for tomorrow."
His father must have known what Yuwen Yue had endured, from the frozen lake to this very moment in the Qinghai Empire.
"May the bridges I burned light the way and forgive a father in your heart."
Yuwen Yue couldn't fully decipher this part, but he suspected it had something to do with the most unforgivable act his father committed against the Xie household in the West.
The King had been under a spell ever since the King's seal was passed to the underworld spies, who then burned the entire town of Wei, where the greatest blacksmiths and swordsmiths lived.
This event triggered the war between the Wei and Qinghai empires. Yuwen Hao had even performed the "celestial warfare" to destroy the Chu Jing Kingdom. Yuwen Yue wasn't surprised, as he had grown up hearing these stories.
One thing Yuwen Yue was unaware of was the real reason behind his father's absence from the throne. Now, he had the responsibility to help his father, run the kingdom, find half of his band of brothers, and locate Xinger.
His journey began after he discovered his own obituary published in the town's local newspaper. When he read it, his palms twitched, and he crumpled the paper. The news was not only obnoxious but deeply offensive to him. As the heir to the Eyes of God, the report was a pain in the neck, hard to swallow, and it seemed the Yuwen family had not carefully considered his position.
Yuwen Yue also found Yue Qi's obituary beside his own, and a wave of sadness washed over him. He had always thought Yue Qi, his Seventh Yue, had done more than what was asked of him.
At this point, Yuwen Yue's heart filled with sorrow for those enemies who had killed Yue Qi. It felt as though the press release was implying there was nothing left for him in Wei.
But Yuwen Yue, with his strong will, made up his mind to regain everything he had lost. He was confident that when people saw him alive, there would be a turning tide, and all these fabricated stories would disappear.
He promised himself to start anew despite all the fake news. He believed people would return to him, and the nobles would trust him once again. He also vowed to change the course of time and Xinger's destiny, should he meet her again.
He swore there would be no more moments of hesitation or sacrificing his personal affairs for the sake of others.
Not so long ago, he trekked the mountains of Hua and confessed his feelings about the bitter bloodbath battle with Yan Xun. To end his blood treaty with Yan Xun, Yuwen Yue cut off a piece of his clothes, signifying a clean break from their loyalty, and threw it to the cold east winds.
It was similar to what Prince Yuan Song did to Prince Yan Xun and Xinger when they were escaping Chang'An. Yuan Song cut a piece of his dark red damask cape, threw it to the ground, and let it burn.
After Yuan Song's symbolic break-up, the 13th Prince of Wei declared Yan Xun and Chu Qiao enemies of the state from that moment forward. Yuan Song even asked Chu Qiao one last time to come back to Wei, but Chu Qiao stood firm in her decision to become a rebel.
Although this action confirmed the end of their past relationships, Prince Yuan Song, noble as he was, allowed Prince Yan Xun and Chu Qiao to pass through Chang'An, saying: "The next time we meet, we will be enemies, and I will owe you no debts of goodwill or friendship."
The same thing happened with Yuwen Yue, though he let his break with Yan Shi Zi fly in the wind. He no longer wanted to see Yan Shi Zi the way he had before. Looking back, Yuwen Yue was the only noble who secretly protected Yan Xun, although he wasn't able to prevent the annihilation of his family. Yuwen Yue's palm never participated in any actions against his best friend.
Yuwen Yue even violated the ethics and codes of Wei officials, as interim master of the Eyes of God, becoming a personal spy and bodyguard who eliminated everyone who attempted to assassinate the Yanbei Prince and Xinger.
It was one of the most difficult times in Yuwen Yue's life. He couldn't allow the nobles or the Emperor to see that he had taken a stand for the Prince of Yanbei. If the Emperor had found out, it would have been a disaster.
At some point, the Emperor suspected that Yuwen Yue's loyalty to the empire was wavering and that he had abused his position. As a result, the Emperor ordered Yuwen Yue to be relieved of his duties at Green Hills Courtyard.
Yuwen Yue was deployed for a three-year term and became General of Xiaoqi Camp, serving the 7th Prince Yuan Che. His life was in constant danger, often fighting for both himself and Yuan Che while Yan Xun was detained in Oriole Courtyard at Chang'An.
Until the day they met at the frozen lake, Yan Xun warned Yuwen Yue: "If we meet on the battlefield, there will be no mercy."
Yuwen Yue struggled to understand why Yan Xun had changed so drastically toward him. Yan Xun had become colder than ever.
But what Yuwen Yue would never understand or accept was the fact that Yan Shi Zi had made Xinger fight before his eyes, breaking his heart and body, and eventually leading to his death. He would never forget how Xinger cried for him, suffering and defending him, only to witness his demise.
This is what Yuwen Yue had been preparing for, his return to confront Yan Xun and ask: "Why? Did you really have to do it that way? You could have done it without involving Xinger. You and I could have faced each other alone on that battlefield. You could have finished your revenge and avenged Yan blood!"
Yuwen Yue wasn't the type of friend to lash out in anger, pouring out bitter words. He was the kind of friend who sacrificed himself for the sake of others, but Yan Xun had taken everything against him and killed him at the frozen lake. Yuwen Yue thought he had repaid whatever he owed, but if Xinger had died, Yuwen Yue would likely never forgive Yan Xun for the rest of his life. He would hunt him down until he paid for what he owed Xinger.
The master of the cold heart remained cold. Now, with the authority granted by his father, Yuwen Yue didn't know how to rule yet. His duty and priority were to restore order to the Qinghai kingdom and help his father. He wished these were easy tasks, but they were only metaphors spoken by his father.
Yuwen Yue understood some things instantly, but others required time and energy to uncover the truth. He hoped that while he was entangled in Qinghai family affairs, he would still have the freedom to search for Xinger.
He would not hesitate to take any road that led him to Xinger.
On his first day, Zuo officially reported to Yuwen Yue as the Crown Prince's personal guard. Due to Qinghai palace protocol, Zuo had to address Yuwen Yue not as "Master brother," but as "Crown Prince of Qinghai," as taught by the palace eunuchs.
Yuwen Yue had no problem following such protocols, as he was accustomed to them in Wei. However, the difference now lay in who was giving the orders and who was following them.
Yuwen Yue's position felt like a promotion he had never asked for. Instead of taking orders from the royals, he was now in control, issuing commands. It had never been his wish, but it was his destiny, set from birth.
After Zuo gave his first-morning report, he bowed his head to Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue gave him a cold glance, but Zuo, ever the playful personal guard, smiled flirtatiously and said, "Crown Prince, Zuo is just around the corner if you need anything."
Zuo dismissed himself without waiting for Yuwen Yue's commands.
Yuwen Yue inhaled deeply and sighed, returning to his writings with a slight smile. The smile was meant for Zuo's change of attitude as Yuwen Yue remembered Yue Qi.
Yuwen Yue reflected on the differences between Yue Qi and Zuo. Yue Qi had been a skilled swordsman, mature, and selfless, always thinking of others before himself. Zuo, on the other hand, was a playful Shaolin Kungfu master who believed in helping himself first before assisting others.
Zuo's philosophy was: "If you don't help yourself first, how can you help others?"
This was a lesson Yuwen Yue was learning from Zuo, especially after discovering his unwavering loyalty to Yan Xun. In return, Yan Xun hadn't appreciated it, not even granting a grain of mercy.
Yuwen Yue thought, "If I can't help myself or my family now, how can I help others? And Xinger… what can I offer her to give up Yan Xun?"
This was something Yuwen Yue had yet to accomplish. Compared to Yan Xun, the noble Prince of Yanbei, Yuwen Yue felt like a common noble in the face of royalty. His ego wrestled with his confidence.
However, destiny had changed the course of time. Without struggle, Yuwen Yue had awakened as a crown prince. Without searching, he had found an empire of his own. Without asking for men, he had been appointed leader of a band of brothers.
His ego no longer interfered with the other princes. He believed he now had a better chance with Xinger. He could offer her twice as much as the grasslands of Yanbei in exchange for Qinghai's magnificent snow-capped mountains and the mirror-like lake and sky.
He hoped that in the coldness of Qinghai, Xinger would find warmth and make her way to its throne, where he would meet her. He hoped to one day share the Qinghai Empire with her.
While still writing, the old eunuch knocked and announced: "Your Highness, I bring the King's decree. For the first time in twenty-nine years, the King passes the throne to the crown prince. The Queen will hand over the throne to Your Highness within thirty days under the sun and on the seventh day of the moon."
Yuwen Yue signaled to Zuo, and the door to his office opened.
Yuwen Yue asked, "Where are the Analects and records of the Qinghai Empire?"
The old eunuch replied, "I expected you would ask for them. Here they are, Your Highness. I have brought the three sacred books for you to read."
Yuwen Yue looked at the old eunuch, who bowed and handed him the three books.
Yuwen Yue, with a cold stare, asked the eunuch, "What do you mean by 'The Queen will hand over the throne within thirty days under the sun and on the seventh day of the moon'?"
"It is the seal of the Qinghai King, Your Highness. The sun represents the King, and the moon represents the son."
"What about the seventh moon?"
"That is the lesser light, Chu Jing Kingdom. The secret princess was promised for the seventh moon of Qinghai, who will become its greater light."
"I heard they were brothers. How could such a union be beneficial?"
"Your Highness, they are not related by blood but by an ancient covenant. They are called brothers of heaven and underworld, brothers of light and darkness."
"How am I supposed to handle both the sun and the moon at the same time? This is hard work," Yuwen Yue said, picking up the blue book first.
"With the Poe Yue Jian sword, it is possible, even to unite the brutal far eastern tribes. Your Highness, this is the King's decree. Do you accept?"
"I accept," Yuwen Yue said. The eunuch bowed and left his presence.
Zuo approached Yuwen Yue and teased him, "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to say no to the decree. From today, the Crown Prince and the secret princess from the Moon Kingdom, leader of the underworld spies…"
Yuwen Yue narrowed his eyes and stood up. He walked outside the palace with Zuo following behind, waiting for his master's words.
After a long pause, looking at the beautiful Qinghai lake, Yuwen Yue said, "The turn of events is quick. I never thought it would be this soon."
Zuo asked, "Take your time, Master. I'm interested to meet your secret princess as well."
Yuwen Yue replied, "I have no interest in the secret princess."
"Why? Do you prefer someone other than the one promised to you, Your Highness?" Zuo asked.
Yuwen Yue didn't answer, leaving Zuo hanging with his question. It seemed Zuo was stirring up old feelings in Yuwen Yue's heart. His heart belonged to no one but Xinger. Suddenly, the Yuwen parrot flew in and tweeted, "Xinger, Xinger, Xinger." Zuo approached the bird and mimicked it, saying, "Xinger? Who is Xinger?"
Yuwen Yue didn't bother to answer. He took the bird inside the palace and placed it on its stand. The skies were clear, and Yuwen Yue spent the entire day reading the three sacred books, with his only interruption being the bird's constant tweeting of Xinger's name, a sound that had become like music to his ears.
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