Longsha’s palace complex was formally called Longxiao Palace, though it was commonly referred to simply as the inner palace. It stood at the center of Bihan City. Yonghe Hall was the main hall used for court assemblies, while Qianchun Hall to the north was where the king handled state affairs and lived in his daily life.
The weather was clear and warm. A spring breeze swept away the heavy sandalwood fragrance inside the chamber, stirring the smoke-veiled curtains and gauzy drapes as it carried in the faint scent of apricot blossoms.
“Little Uncle, please sit. Cough, cough… Tian Qing, have them bring in tea and refreshments. Everyone else can wait outside. Guard the door and don’t let anyone approach.”
The king, Yugong Lie, wore an ivory-white robe embroidered in gold and silver, along with a black gauze cap. His face and hands were even paler than his collar, likely because he had powdered them. His brows had been carefully drawn long and delicate, while his eyes drooped languidly, giving him the appearance of a sickly beauty almost too fragile to bear the weight of his own clothes.
Yugong Zhaoye saw nothing strange about this. If Longsha could boast of anything, it was open-minded customs. Men dressing as women and women dressing as men were common sights. Nobles and aristocrats had too much time on their hands, and most of their thoughts went either into food and entertainment or clothes and cosmetics. The fact that His Majesty had merely painted himself into something that still vaguely resembled a human being already counted as restraint.
Seeing Yugong Lie cough into a silk handkerchief after speaking only a few sentences, Yugong Zhaoye politely asked, “Has Your Majesty been unwell lately? Have you summoned a royal physician?”
“Just a cold. Royal Physician Wu Chuanjie prescribed some medicine. It’s a minor ailment, nothing worth worrying about.” Yugong Lie waved dismissively. “Little Uncle rarely comes to the palace. Has something happened with Yeguang?”
Yugong Zhaoye rose, went down on one knee, and bowed his head. “This subject failed in vigilance and duty and has come to plead guilty before Your Majesty.”
“Little Uncle, what are you doing?” Yugong Lie was so startled that even his manner of address changed. He hurried down personally to pull Yugong Zhaoye up. “Get up, quickly! Whatever happened, we can discuss it slowly. How could it possibly warrant pleading guilty the moment you arrive?”
Once Yugong Zhaoye had been hurriedly helped to his feet, he gave a detailed account of Xie Youlan’s request before admitting his fault. “This matter began because I harbored suspicions toward Chancellor Wei, which led to Kui Yue falling into enemy hands and becoming leverage for Beizhu Palace. This subject cannot escape responsibility.”
Yugong Lie hurried to reassure him. “Little Uncle, don’t say that. You were only carrying out your duties. How could that count as negligence? Besides, who could possibly have expected Chancellor Wei’s background to be so complicated… Right, does Chancellor Wei know about this?”
Not only did he know, he was even insisting on going.
The two exchanged glances. Yugong Zhaoye gave a faint nod. “Chancellor Wei is exceptionally perceptive. I could not hide the fact that I had been investigating him. But judging from Xie Youlan’s tone, Chancellor Wei and he have had no contact for many years. If anyone tries to exploit this matter to sow discord, I ask that Your Majesty judge clearly.”
Yugong Lie gave an acknowledging hum. “I understand. Although Chancellor Wei was not originally a subject of Longsha, when it comes to supporting the ruler and stabilizing the state, his interests and mine are aligned. I won’t suspect him without cause.”
Because of his position, Yugong Zhaoye rarely involved himself in discussions of state affairs. Having made his point and seen that Wei Fu had successfully won over the king, with ruler and minister presently working in perfect accord, he said no more about it. Instead, he continued, “This subject ought properly to remain confined at home and reflect upon my failings, but Yeguang is short-handed and cannot afford further losses. I ask Your Majesty to permit me to take Ying Yue with me, assist Xie Youlan in uncovering the truth, and rescue Kui Yue as quickly as possible.”
“Ying Yue… I remember he’s Kui Yue’s elder brother? Will just the two of you be enough? Shouldn’t you take a few more people?”
“The two of us are enough,” Yugong Zhaoye replied. “Ying Yue is desperate to save his sister. He is determined to go; even if I left him behind, he wouldn’t stay put. I will also need assistance from the Southern Dipper Division of the Royal Medical Academy in case of emergency. Afterward, I intend to visit Donghua Pavilion and consult its maps of Dongyu.”
Years ago, when they were trying to counter Yanyuan’s use of epidemics, the Royal Medical Academy, which oversaw physicians and medical administration, had selected a group of medical experts to form the Southern Dipper Division, specifically tasked with researching and combating infectious disease. Because its work involved matters of enormous importance, the division remained under the Imperial Guards’ strict protection, and no one could enter without a handwritten order from the king.
Donghua Pavilion, meanwhile, housed the inner palace’s collection of books. Its front halls now served as offices for the Cabinet, while a four-story library tower stood behind them.
Yugong Lie immediately picked up his brush and wrote a personal order, stamped it himself, rolled it up, and handed it to Yugong Zhaoye. He continued fretting, “Is there truly nothing else you need? Think again. Three days is far too rushed; nothing can be properly prepared. Last time you went to Xiling, you at least brought dozens of people. This time you’re practically going alone. I truly can’t help worrying.”
Now it was Yugong Zhaoye’s turn to reassure him. “It’s merely a minor dispute among jianghu factions. How could that compare with matters of state and war? There’s no need to mobilize forces on a grand scale. Your Majesty need not worry. This subject will return soon.”
Yugong Lie sighed so heavily that he started coughing again. “I’m not afraid of embarrassing myself by admitting it, Little Uncle. While you were in Xiling, I truly felt as though I had no one to rely on. By day I was overwhelmed, and at night I could barely sleep. It was only after Chancellor Wei joined the court and you remained here in the capital that I finally began to feel a little steadier. And now you’re leaving again… sigh…”
The two had been born in adjacent years. Yugong Zhaoye was nominally a year older, though in truth only a few months separated them and they were effectively the same age. Genealogically, however, Yugong Lie was one generation junior to him. The former king, Yugong Du, had lived a long life and fathered his crown prince early; by the time Noble Consort Xie entered the palace, Crown Prince Yugong Fengting was already married and established.
The uncle and nephew had studied together in the palace as children and shared some affection from having grown up side by side. Later, when Yugong Zhaoye devoted himself to Bihua, he gradually disappeared from public view. Yugong Lie knew nothing of the reason and assumed that he was voluntarily retreating to avoid the struggle for succession and prevent Yugong Fengting from becoming suspicious of him. Because of that, he repeatedly sent people to inquire after Yugong Zhaoye and even wrote personal letters asking about his life.
Every one of Yugong Lie’s letters ran two or three pages. Getting even half a page in reply from Yugong Zhaoye counted as generous.
The misunderstanding persisted until after Yugong Fengting ascended the throne and the war between Longsha and Yanyuan erupted. With the crushing weight of national destruction suspended overhead, Yugong Fengting was finally forced to settle the question of succession.
Yugong Lie was appointed crown prince amid the crisis, with the understanding that if Bihan City fell beneath Yanyuan’s cavalry, trusted retainers would immediately escort him out by sea to Qiyun, where he would seek aid from the surrounding states and someday attempt to restore the kingdom.
As the eldest son, it would have been impossible for Yugong Lie never to dream of the throne. He simply had never imagined that the throne awaiting him might belong to an exiled sovereign and a ruler without a country.
He waited in terror for the executioner’s blade to fall. Instead, what arrived was Helan Zhenjia’s severed head.
That unparalleled achievement shook the realm. As crown prince, Yugong Lie became one of the very few people permitted to learn Bihua’s core secrets—though the process by which he discovered them had been embarrassingly undignified.
That day, he saw Yugong Zhaoye outside Bihua Pavilion after many years apart. Nervous and overexcited, with nowhere to vent either feeling, he grabbed Yugong Zhaoye and babbled at him for ages before stupidly asking, “Little Uncle, what brings you here today? Are you here to see Father? Father won’t be free for a while. Why don’t you come back this afternoon?”
Looking back, Yugong Zhaoye’s expression at the time had plainly said, This country appears to be doomed.
Fortunately, Yugong Lie’s father and Yugong Zhaoye’s mother appeared in time. The members of Bihua all knelt to greet the crown prince, while Yugong Lie stared at the kneeling Yugong Zhaoye with his mouth hanging wide enough for a frog to jump into.
Years later, after Yugong Fengting passed away and the blade that protected the nation was placed into Yugong Lie’s hands, he remained deeply afraid.
He knew that he lacked his father’s foresight and authority. With a new ruler ascending the throne, he feared that he would be unable to command those proud and extraordinary talents, and feared still more that such a peerless deadly weapon might someday turn and wound its own master. Fortunately, Yugong Zhaoye remained firmly at his side, quietly resolving countless difficulties behind the scenes. He had even personally traveled to Xiling, overcome every obstacle, and safely brought back the Minister-Regent.
During the most chaotic period of transition between the old reign and the new, Yugong Lie came to regard Yugong Zhaoye as the support holding him upright. He never spoke that dependence aloud, and Yugong Zhaoye silently carried it anyway.
“Even if this subject is absent, Chancellor Wei remains, and Yeguang remains. In the outer court and inner palace alike, everyone loyal to Your Majesty remains at their post. Your Majesty need not be afraid.”
Yugong Zhaoye did not raise his voice, but every word landed with unmistakable weight. “As long as Your Majesty takes care of your health and cherishes yourself, we subjects will have no worries behind us and can devote ourselves wholeheartedly to serving you.”
“You must take care too, Little Uncle.” Yugong Lie was fairly easy to reassure. Once his emotions settled, he instructed him with renewed steadiness, “There is nothing here worthy of punishment. Although I may not possess Father’s wisdom and foresight, I understand that Yeguang has its own methods and cannot be bound by rigid rules. Act as you see fit. Don’t burden yourself with unnecessary concerns.”
Yugong Zhaoye tucked the handwritten order into his sleeve and bowed properly. “This subject accepts the command. Many thanks, Your Majesty.”
After taking his leave from Qianchun Hall, Yugong Zhaoye headed east along the palace road and entered Donghua Pavilion through the rear entrance.
He told the eunuch guards not to follow and climbed alone to the third floor of the library tower, where he found two rolled maps carelessly piled on a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in one corner.
Apparently, the people responsible for maintaining the library believed “guarding it” consisted solely of placing someone at the entrance. The shelves looked as though they had not been cleaned in years. Pulling the maps free was like kicking up a sandstorm, sending dust billowing everywhere.
Yugong Zhaoye frowned and waved away the drifting dust. Suddenly, the tip of his nose twitched. His ears caught the faint creak of an old floorboard, followed by carefully muffled footsteps creeping toward him.
Yugong Zhaoye: “…”
The frown on his face silently smoothed away. Originally, he had intended to grab the maps and leave. Now, instead, he stayed exactly where he was, unrolled one of the maps in front of the shelf, and pretended to study it in the dim light.
A hand quietly reached out from behind and swiftly covered his eyes. Another unruly arm slipped around his waist and tightened, trapping him firmly against a warm chest. “What little thief is this? Sneaking into Donghua Pavilion in broad daylight to steal books? Hmph, caught you at last!”
Yugong Zhaoye replied calmly, “The thief crying ‘thief.’ You sneaked into Donghua Pavilion to steal a person. How exactly is that more respectable than stealing books?”
“True enough.” The man leaned close to his ear, sounding bashful while actually issuing an invitation. “Then why don’t we have a secret affair together?”
Yugong Zhaoye: “…”
This man’s ability to push his luck had reached the pinnacle of perfection. Yugong Zhaoye could only marvel coldly. “Did all those Confucian classics you studied end up inside a dog’s stomach?”
“Ah, it can’t be helped. I’d like the proper Three Letters and Six Rites and an honorable wedding too,” the man said with smiling eyes. “But since the heartless one refuses to give me a proper status, I’m forced to resort to desperate measures.”
Yugong Zhaoye thought, You’re enjoying the sneaking around more than anyone. What desperate measures? This is exactly what you wanted. “Still not letting go?”
“No.” The man tightened his arm around Yugong Zhaoye’s waist until the two of them fit together like nested spoons. “If I catch you, you’re mine. Besides, you didn’t even try to dodge…”
The shameless flower thief even asked triumphantly, “I’ve heard Prince Yugong possesses peerless martial arts and lightning-fast reflexes, capable of facing a hundred enemies alone. So why is it that when someone attacks you from behind, you don’t even bother avoiding it? Hm?”
Yugong Zhaoye thought, I didn’t resist because I was afraid the wall would end up with a human-shaped hole punched through it. But the flower thief took his silence as proof that he was an easy target and grew even more brazen. “Judging from how proper and serious Your Highness usually looks, it turns out you enjoy secret affairs too. Then shall we meet in private often from now on?”
Yugong Zhaoye: “…You’re going to end up in prison sooner or later for extortion and illicit affairs.”