Chapter 65
Deposed Queen
"Master Xie Tai Shan, my old friend! What can I do to help you today?" exclaimed Lu Zhi.
"Your Highness, like the beauty of the lotus flower that never fades, still running her humble business. How is it going so far?" Xie Tai Shan smiled warmly as he stepped into the Kowloon noodle house, dressed in a green Hanfu.
As he greeted Lu Zhi, the door creaked open again. A man cloaked in black, his face hidden beneath a hood, entered. The lively atmosphere dimmed instantly, and the warm sunshine seemed to be shrouded in darkness. The air grew tense.
Zhan Ziyu, the man in black, locked eyes with Xie Tai Shan, both recognizing each other immediately. Though no words were spoken, the tension between them was noticeable.
Sensing the killer instincts in Zhan Ziyu, Xie Tai Shan instinctively stepped back, his eyes lowering to the floor. Meanwhile, Lu Zhi remained calm, seemingly indifferent to the brewing confrontation. She silently walked to the door, closed it, and retreated to the kitchen.
Mei Xiang, Lu Zhi's old palace maid who had taken over as chef after Chu Qiao left, was busy preparing ginseng soup. Lu Zhi instructed her, "Two bowls of ginseng soup for the gentlemen outside."
Zhan Ziyu, not one to let such an encounter pass without testing his old adversary, quickly threw several needles at Xie Tai Shan. Despite being retired from Emperor Tang's service, Xie Tai Shan's martial skills were far from diminished. He deftly countered the flying needles with his "Kam Sleeves" technique, leaping into the air and landing gracefully on one of the tables.
Zhan Ziyu smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, but then lunged forward, launching into a martial assault.
Xie Tai Shan, tired of the needless skirmish, delivered a precise yet controlled strike aimed at Zhan Ziyu's temple. Although Zhan Ziyu was able to block it, the energy behind the blow left him momentarily stunned. He felt a familiar numbness spreading through his body, he recognized the martial art technique immediately. It was designed to paralyze its target.
Zhan Ziyu struggled to control his meridians, staving off the full effect of the attack. Xie Tai Shan, seeing the brief pause, smiled and said, "Greetings, old friend." He bowed courteously, even as Zhan Ziyu was recovering.
Zhan Ziyu prepared to counterattack, but before he could, Xie Tai Shan used the "Hunting Wind Force" technique. His hand, shaped like a sword, unleashed a powerful gust that halted just at Zhan Ziyu's neck, spreading a numbing force through his shoulder. Once again, Zhan Ziyu found himself immobilized, unable to move for a few seconds.
As Zhan Ziyu regained control over his body, Xie Tai Shan bowed again and said, "Master Ziyu, today is not for fighting. What brings you here?"
Zhan Ziyu regained his composure, clasped his hands, and returned the bow, acknowledging Xie Tai Shan's superior skill. "Even in retirement, you remain a dangerous man, capable of putting a Celestial Dao Master in his place."
Xie Tai Shan chuckled and patted Zhan Ziyu's shoulder. "I've no wish to fight today, brother. If you wish for a duel, perhaps another time."
Before Zhan Ziyu could respond, Lu Zhi reappeared, her presence commanding the room. "No one leaves this place without trying my ginseng soup," she declared.
Zhan Ziyu narrowed his eyes but smiled slightly. "Master Xie Tai Shan, you've bested me once again. I simply wanted to see if the old master's skills were still as sharp as they once were." His tone was cold, yet there was a grudging respect in his words. "Tell me, how did you recover from the poison in your body?"
Xie Tai Shan paused, then returned to his seat. Zhan Ziyu followed, joining him at the table. Mei Xiang brought two steaming bowls of ginseng soup, setting them down before the men.
"This is truly delicious," Xie Tai Shan remarked as he tasted the soup. Zhan Ziyu waited for him to finish before taking a spoonful himself.
"I never thought we'd meet here, of all places," Zhan Ziyu mused, his eyes lingering on Xie Tai Shan.
Lu Zhi took a seat between the two men and said, "Perhaps it's fate."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Xie Tai Shan.
Zhan Ziyu leaned back slightly. "A lot has happened since we last met. Today, we find ourselves in the same place once more, it's no ordinary coincidence."
Xie Tai Shan's expression darkened slightly. "Has the crown prince learned the truth about his real mother?"
Zhan Ziyu shook his head. "If he had, he would have paid her a visit by now."
Lu Zhi sighed, her eyes distant with sorrow. "I followed the advice Zhan Ziyu gave me. When the prince came here, chasing after a woman I knew wasn't meant for him, I didn't reveal myself. I didn't give him any clue to look back into his past."
Xie Tai Shan, disappointed by her response, said, "You had the chance to tell him the truth. Why didn't you?"
Zhan Ziyu interjected, "It's not that simple. I'm here to tell you both, the crown prince's life is in danger. My network tells me that the last time he left the palace, he was ambushed on the road. The present Empress manipulated the report, blaming the Afterlife spies."
Xie Tai Shan, already suspecting foul play, asked, "Were there others involved?"
Zhan Ziyu's eyes darkened. "If I hadn't intervened, the prince would already be dead. My rules are clear: payment first, then the target. But now, I've learned that someone has already paid for the crown prince's death."
The room fell silent as Zhan Ziyu continued. "I've come here to ask you both, is this really my fate? To kill my own nephew?"
Lu Zhi's voice was heavy with resignation. "Is anything truly new in this world? Perhaps this is the answer to my suffering, why I've hidden away all these years."
Zhan Ziyu added, "Exactly. Why did I become this monster, only to now be faced with the task of killing my own blood?"
Xie Tai Shan, ever the realist, responded, "If not you, then someone else will kill him. Fate is written. Whether you go through with it or not, his destiny is set. But maybe, just maybe, we're here to alter that fate."
Lu Zhi's eyes filled with tears. "I've already given everything for his sake. If we don't protect him, the Empire will fall into chaos under the current Empress's greed."
Zhan Ziyu paused before speaking. "For the first time, I'm considering doing something right. My life has been about killing, not saving. But this time, I can't ignore the urge to protect. The prince doesn't even know I've saved him once before. Now, I'll save him again, not for anyone else, but because I choose to."
Xie Tai Shan raised an eyebrow. "So, you were the one who intervened when the blackguards attacked?"
Zhan Ziyu nodded. "Had I been a few seconds late, he'd be dead by now."
He turned to Lu Zhi. "The crown prince recently requested permission from the Emperor to visit Xue Fu Street. He's unknowingly drawn closer to you. Sooner or later, even if we keep hiding the truth, it will come to light."
Lu Zhi reflected, "I saw a bird's nest fall from the roof that day. It felt like a vision, a fleeting glimpse of his face."
Xie Tai Shan gave her a knowing look. "The signs are there. It's only a matter of time. You must be ready to reveal the truth when the moment comes."
Zhan Ziyu then spoke with determination. "And what about me? The Empress plays a dangerous game, but I'll turn it against her. I kill for a living, but this time, I'll reverse it, I'll kill the client instead of the target."
Lu Zhi looked at him with sorrow. "When I found you on the Kong Sang road, I wanted to help you recover. I couldn't change your path, but perhaps now, you can still change your fate."
Zhan Ziyu chuckled darkly. "When it's done, I'll collect payment. But for now, don't worry about it."
Xie Tai Shan stood, ready to leave. "Very well, Your Highness. I'll be watching closely."
He turned to Zhan Ziyu. "When the moment comes, aim your poisoned needles at the right target, the one who truly deserves it."
Outside, in the fragrant Li garden, Emperor Tang enjoyed a peaceful afternoon of music and poetry. He turned to his court poet, Li Bai, and asked, "Write me a poem about a happy excursion."
Li Bai bowed. "What subject, Your Majesty?"
"The Northern Ocean," the Emperor replied.
Li Bai began to recite:
"A fish named Kun, the size of a mountain,
Transforms into a bird, Peng, soaring above.
From the Southern Ocean to the Celestial Lakes,
It flies for six months, carried by the great winds.
Beneath the bird's wings, the mists of spring rise,
The snowy clouds dance, and life breathes below."
The bird wondered whether the skies were truly blue. Was that its real color, or was it merely a reflection of the ocean, a result of distance without end?
As the bird continued to glide through the wind, its wings suddenly became too heavy. The air could no longer hold them aloft, and the bird crashed into the ocean. Yet, the shallow waters accepted it, and the bird continued its journey southward.
Li Bai asked, "A phoenix, Your Majesty? Is that the story you're telling?"
Emperor Tang smiled and replied, "A cicada burrows itself into the roots of a tree and remains there for ten years before it resurfaces. But for a man to journey the depths of every ocean and scale every mountain, he must first fill his stomach. Otherwise, he won't survive. How could these little cicadas understand what a man endures to live righteously, without expecting anything in return?"
Li Bai responded, "Your Majesty, do not speak like this. The Empire is strong. What can any man do to harm it?"
Emperor Tang shook his head. "You still don't understand, do you? For one who is charioteer of Heaven and Earth, driving before him the changing elements as his people roam through the realms of the Infinite, what need has such a person of worldly support? Thus, it is said: the perfect man ignores the self; the divine man ignores achievement; the true Sage ignores reputation."
Li Bai replied solemnly, "Your Majesty, when the time comes, it comes. Not even Heaven can stop it."
The Emperor placed a hand on Li Bai's shoulder, his expression grave. "Continue to write your poems. I will rest for now."
The music in the Pear Garden ceased as the Emperor walked away, heading towards his palace. The musicians quietly packed up their instruments, and a sense of finality hung in the air.
The next day, all of Liang mourned. Royal clansmen, palace ministers, and commoners alike shed tears for Emperor Tang. His reign, the Great Tang Era, ended with the arrival of spring. Empress Yuan took charge of organizing the royal funeral, informing neighboring empires of the Emperor's passing.
As Emperor Tang was finally laid to rest in the Li royal burial chamber, the Liang Palace began preparing for the next chapter: the ascension of Crown Prince Xiao Ce as the new Emperor.
Chu Qiao, always hiding her identity beneath her indigo scarf, quietly witnessed these somber events. She helped Xiao Ce focus on the well-being of the Liang people, subtly guiding him as he navigated the complexities of a nation on the verge of potential revolt and power struggles.
Li Bai, the imperial poet, approached Chu Qiao with a collection of his poems. He handed them to her before departing the Liang Palace for good.
As Chu Qiao read through the poems, she found within them confessions from Emperor Tang about his first Empress, Lu Zhi. She sighed, the weight of the past heavy on her mind.
Meanwhile, Xie Tai Shan and Lu Zhi, the former Empress, secretly visited the royal burial chamber. They bribed the guards to ensure no one from the palace would find out about their visit.
Lu Zhi, standing before the tomb of Emperor Tang, wept for hours. In a quiet, personal moment, she left behind a handkerchief, an intimate token from their first meeting. She whispered her thanks to Emperor Tang for choosing her as his first Empress. Though their love had ended tragically, she carried no regrets about the life they had shared.
Afterward, Lu Zhi and Xie Tai Shan quietly left the chamber. Shortly after, Tie You arrived to place more flowers at the Emperor's grave. It was there he found the handkerchief, inscribed with the words "卢智", "Lu Zhi, my first and last Empress."
As autumn approached, the Liang Empire continued its year-long mourning period for the Emperor. The palace was draped in white, with black ribbons tied to the posts and white flowers decorating the corridors. The changing colors of the season, brown and orange leaves, added to the melancholy atmosphere, deepening the collective grief.
The royal tomb, open to visitors from sunrise to sundown, saw thousands of mourners from distant lands, though the neighboring empires had yet to visit and pay their respects to the fallen Emperor.
This autumn also marks the Annual Celebration of Wei's Lantern Festival, held to commemorate the ancestors' hunting grounds. Yet, despite the festivities, Chu Qiao feels the pressure to leave the Liang palace and Xiao Ce behind.
Her stay in Liang has long overstayed, but Xiao Ce begs for her to remain, unable to sleep without her near. Like a child clinging to a comforter, Xiao Ce pleads, "I need you… please don't go away again. I've waited so long for this moment to be with you. Promise me you'll stay."
Not wanting to burden the soon-to-be Emperor, Chu Qiao always ends up saying yes, and their bond deepens daily, making it harder for her to break away. Their friendship grows stronger, but Viper continues her mission to spy on Yan Xun's army, bringing troubling news.
Yan Xun has become tyrannical, oppressing the Xuili Army with unfair and impossible conditions. The man Chu Qiao once knew is gone, leaving her torn. Should she help the Xuili Army escape Yan Xun's control and seek freedom, or let them stay, risking their deaths defending their homeland? The latter would mean digging their own graves and a confrontation with Yan Xun, something Chu Qiao wishes to avoid. Yet, time is running out, and the confrontation seems inevitable.
Faced with a difficult choice, Chu Qiao requests Xiao Ce's permission to attend Wei's Lantern Festival and visit an old friend in Xue Fu Street.
"Thank you, Your Highness, but I don't need a large entourage. I will take Viper with me," Chu Qiao says.
Xiao Ce, worried, replies, "Please, let Sun Di accompany you. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to you."
Sincerely, he holds her hands and looks into her eyes. "Please, take Sun Di and his envoy."
Reluctantly, Chu Qiao agrees. "Alright, but don't blame me if your envoy complains about me."
Xiao Ce smiles sadly. "No one would dare blame you, Qiao Qiao."
With that, Chu Qiao, Viper, and Sun Di begin their journey. Dressed in a simple Hanfu, Chu Qiao first visits the old lady in Xue Fu Street.
Surprised, Lu Zhi exclaims, "What brings you here? It's been so long! I heard your home was set on fire, and you disappeared. Where is Ra Yue?"
Before Chu Qiao could respond, Viper enters, and Lu Zhi, startled, asks, "Who is she?"
Smiling, Chu Qiao replies, "There's a lot to explain, but I can't right now. I'll come back later, and we'll talk."
Understanding, the old lady nods. "Alright, come back when you can."
Chu Qiao bids her farewell and continues toward Wei. Along the way, they stop briefly at Master Xie Tai Shan's wooden cottage. After a short conversation, Chu Qiao promises to return after the Lantern Festival. She doesn't ask for more details about Yuwen Yue, though she knows Master Xie has much to share.
Sun Di's envoy, along with Chu Qiao and Viper, continue their journey, heading toward the Wei-Liang border.
Meanwhile, He Xiao and the Xuili Army face harassment from Yan Xun's forces. Ge Qi quietly leads the Xuili Army out of the mountains, avoiding confrontation with the Yan Army.
The veterans with sharp eyes scout ahead, leading the way. The soldiers, their horses' feet wrapped in cloth strips, march silently through the night. Snow begins to fall as they press southward. Wu Danyu, leading the soldiers, feels the quiet resilience of the troops, knowing they are on the brink of exhaustion.
After a night of marching nearly 40 miles, the Xuili Army halts. The soldiers, starving and weary, eat a quick meal of dry rations. But as they prepare to move again, they spot a figure approaching, Viper, holding her whip.
Relief floods He Xiao's face as Chu Qiao and her group arrive, bringing much-needed supplies and hope. The Xuili Army, though starving, maintains discipline as they queue for food provided by Sun Di's troops.
After they eat, He Xiao, despite his own exhaustion, shares his last meal with his most trusted officers, Wu Danyu and Ge Qi. The soldiers, having endured so much, find new strength in the arrival of their allies. Survival, once again, becomes their badge of honor.
Chu Qiao, observing the state of the Xuili Army, asks, "Is everyone ready?"
He Xiao, grim but resolute, responds, "Yes, General. But we have many wounded soldiers who cannot travel."
Ge Qi reports, "We left 648 wounded soldiers in a safe place near the Yanbei-Liang border. But without shelter, food, or water, they won't last long."
The situation is dire, and Chu Qiao knows that the Xuili Army cannot survive without help. They need a refuge. Her mind turns to Xiao Ce, hoping he will allow the Liang Empire to take in the refugees. But with tensions rising, she knows convincing Xiao Ce will be a challenge.
Chu Qiao and Viper head toward Wei, planning to confuse Yan Xun's spies and throw them off the Xuili Army's trail. As they move, Viper uses her powers to erase the army's tracks, ensuring their safety for now.
Back at the Liang border, Sun Di approaches with the Xuili Army, seeking refuge. But the Liang prefectures are heavily guarded, and the gatekeepers, suspicious of the fugitive army, refuse them entry. Sun Di is forced to retreat, setting up camp at the seventh prefecture.
In the palace, Empress Yuan receives word of the Xuili Army's arrival. She orders that they be turned away, branding them as traitors. But Xiao Ce, determined to save the refugees, confronts his mother in her palace court.
"Your Majesty," Xiao Ce says, "We must help them. They are not animals to be slaughtered. We claim to uphold pro-life values, and yet we refuse them mercy?"
Empress Yuan, cold and calculating, replies, "These traitors cannot be trusted. They have abandoned their loyalties too many times."
Xiao Ce, standing firm, retorts, "They are human beings, just like us. If we deny them, who will help them? Have we forgotten the values my father instilled in us?"
The court ministers murmur in agreement, swayed by Xiao Ce's argument. Realizing she is losing control, Empress Yuan seethes in silence, allowing Xiao Ce to issue a decree for the Xuili Army's safe passage.
The royal guards deliver the decree to Prince Lou, who initially agrees to follow it. However, General Sui, sensing an opportunity, suggests that Prince Lou use this moment to seize power from Xiao Ce.
Prince Lou, though loyal to his brother, is torn. General Sui tempts him with promises of power, but Prince Lou remains conflicted, unwilling to betray his brother. He hides his true feelings from General Sui, determined to warn Xiao Ce of the brewing conspiracy.
As the tension between the brothers mounts, the fate of the Liang Empire hangs in the balance.
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