After Pu Jiu Lin entered the palace, the officials remained at the Chancellor’s estate, craning their necks as they waited for him to return and explain the situation. Yet they waited for more than half the day, and when someone was finally sent to inquire, they learned that Chancellor Pu had left the palace only to go straight to Count Yongfeng’s Estate.
Remembering the “record” Count Yongfeng’s son had accumulated inside the Ministry of Justice, everyone inevitably began speculating in astonishment. Could the key to this bewildering puzzle they could not make head or tail of somehow lie with that young man after all?
Once the thought occurred to them, they became even less willing to leave. They waited until the sky was nearly dark before Chancellor Pu finally returned.
Yet after Pu Jiu Lin came back, he did not meet with anyone. Instead, he shut himself inside his study, and whenever someone asked, they were told that he was receiving no visitors.
Just how enormous did this matter have to be for even the Chancellor himself to refuse to say a word?
The officials returned home and spent an anxious night before finally reaching the early hours of the following morning.
Never in their lives had they looked forward to morning court so eagerly. They had even divided up the assignments beforehand: the incident at the Grand Commandant’s residence, the matter concerning Worthy Consort Rong, the Ministry of Justice prison… different people would probe indirectly into each subject.
But Emperor Jianhong refused to play according to anyone else’s script. The moment court convened, he simply revealed the answer outright, declaring Rong Yue and Rong Rong agents of the Northern Lands and catching everyone completely off guard.
“After their crimes were exposed, Rong Yue fled to the Northern Lands. Rong Rong, in her panic, escaped into the Ministry of Justice prison and was killed on the spot.” With two understated sentences, Zhang A Gu brushed the entire matter aside.
The Minister of Justice desperately shot meaningful looks at Left Censor-in-Chief Shi Wei Liang. The Ministry of Justice was currently riddled with disaster: its Vice Minister had been arrested, a murder had taken place inside its prison, and the place was practically falling apart. He truly did not dare draw attention to himself and could only beg a colleague to speak on his behalf.
Shi Wei Liang hesitated before stepping forward. “The other members of the Rong family remain in Haojing. How does Your Majesty intend to deal with them?” The commotion caused by the Rong family’s attempted flight had hardly been small. By daybreak, anyone who wanted to know—or ought to know—already knew.
But a great aristocratic clan that had existed for a thousand years possessed exceedingly deep foundations. Even if the Rong family itself said nothing, there were people within the court who would instinctively come to its aid.
Shi Wei Liang feared that some of them might speak recklessly without understanding the gravity of the situation, angering the emperor and making matters worse, so he personally stepped forward to test the waters.
For the first time, Emperor Jianhong looked down upon the officials and felt the confidence of having everything firmly under control. “Since the founding of the dynasty, generations of the Rong family have devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the state and loyally served the realm. Together with Our imperial ancestors, they created many celebrated tales of wise rulers and worthy ministers. The achievements of generations cannot be erased because of one man’s mistake. Rong Yue fled in treason to the Northern Lands and has dug his own grave. What does that have to do with the rest of the Rong family? We hear Rong Yue’s son is blessed with both fortune and wisdom and possesses exceptional comprehension. We hereby grant him juren status. The spring Metropolitan Examination is approaching, and We hope he will live up to expectations and see his name upon the golden list.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless. This subject thanks Your Majesty on behalf of the Rong family.” No member of the Rong family was present at court, so Shi Wei Liang could only thank the emperor in their place.
On the surface, Emperor Jianhong had merely bestowed a small favor. Examined more closely, however, this was an extraordinarily rare act of sparing people from the blade by his standards and amounted to enormous grace toward the Rong clan. For Rong Yue, who had fled to the Northern Lands, however, it would likely leave him trapped between two difficulties: unable to retreat once he had mounted the tiger, yet equally unable to earn the Northern Lands’ complete trust.
Everyone at court understood perfectly well that this was an overt scheme meant to drive a wedge between Rong Yue and the Northern Lands. Yet from Rong Yue’s perspective, even knowing the emperor harbored malicious intentions, he could only remember that the emperor had spared his family. Whether the Northern Lands would interpret matters the same way was another question entirely.
Seeing that the emperor appeared unusually “merciful” today, Grand Commandant Liu’s former subordinates immediately used the pretext of requesting posthumous honors to probe into what had truly happened at the Grand Commandant’s residence two nights earlier.
Emperor Jianhong went along with them and declared that Yu Shuang Xi had been an assassin sent by Rong Yue, thereby firmly establishing Rong Yue’s attempted regicide as his pledge of allegiance to the Northern Lands. As for why the emperor had mistakenly trusted Yu Shuang Xi, that was entirely because Worthy Consort Rong had poisoned his ear with slander.
The officials understood that the emperor’s role in the entire affair could not possibly have been as innocent as he claimed. He seemed far more like the oriole waiting behind the mantis after luring everyone into his trap. The bloody slaughter, assassinations, and bizarre deaths of that night had most likely all been the result of the struggle between Rong Yue, Rong Rong, and Emperor Jianhong. Grand Commandant Liu, however, had probably died protecting the emperor just as Emperor Jianhong said.
It was hardly their fault for being deceived. Emperor Jianhong and Liu Yan Sheng had maintained appearances far too convincingly. They had looked less like sovereign and minister than brothers, so naturally no one would have imagined that the two had turned against each other, that Grand Commandant Liu had actually been the assassin, and that Yu Shuang Xi had died protecting the emperor.
Thus, granting posthumous honors became perfectly natural. Emperor Jianhong decided Liu Yan Sheng’s posthumous title on the spot: Wenzhong.
Seeing that their superior appeared to be in a good mood, Pu Jiu Lin took the opportunity to bring up the Southern Yu spy-network case. “The investigation is nearly complete. Only a handful of people are genuinely suspicious. The rest were merely innocent parties dragged into the matter.”
Emperor Jianhong said, “Is Chancellor Pu willing to guarantee them?”
Pu Jiu Lin hesitated, then smiled bitterly. “This subject would not dare. Too many people are involved. Even if this subject possessed three heads and six arms, I could not keep watch over all of them. There may be two or three fish that slip through the net, but to implicate several hundred loyal ministers who have rendered service to the realm merely because of that would, in this subject’s opinion, do more harm than good.”
Emperor Jianhong waved a hand. “Then let them guarantee one another. Have each person’s superior go to the Ministry of Justice and claim them. If a superior truly believes the man is worth employing, let him provide a written guarantee accepting collective liability and personally oversee that subordinate’s every word and deed from then on.”
Pu Jiu Lin thought it over and found the arrangement acceptable. At the very least, it was far better than the emperor simply applying one rule to everyone and chopping off all three hundred heads. Besides, people naturally followed the crowd. Once someone took the lead, others would follow, and eventually it would become the prevailing course. In the end, all of those officials could be saved.
From this, it seemed Emperor Jianhong truly was inclined to set down the butcher’s knife today. Whether Liu Yan Sheng’s death had stirred some temporary emotion in him or he had genuinely undergone a great awakening was impossible to say.
＊
During court, Emperor Jianhong had still been rather exhilarated, feeling that he had finally spun this pack of old foxes in circles while making them praise his virtue and achievements at the same time. Yet once court ended and he walked through the familiar palace corridors, an indescribable loneliness and chill began spreading from the depths of his heart.
He had endured for decades and finally climbed step by step to the pinnacle of power, firmly securing the dragon throne beneath him, yet fewer and fewer familiar people remained by his side.
Consort Dowager Chen, Grand Commandant Liu, Zhang Yuan… even Rong Rong. He had clearly hated the last of them to the bone, yet looking back now, he could somehow remember a few things about her fondly. For example, she had once been extremely obedient. Whoever he told her to kill, she killed, never asking whether it was right or wrong or what had led to it. And she never interfered with him. In fact, she had not even wanted to see him.
The more Emperor Jianhong thought about it, the more venomous resentment welled up inside him—the jealousy and frustration born in a man unable to conquer a woman.
When he had first ascended the throne, he too had once ambitiously imagined that his own charm could subdue that insane woman and bring her completely under his control. Instead, she had laughed at him.
To this day, he remembered the look she had given him. As though she were staring at a pile of shit.
And so, she was dead. Emperor Jianhong smiled darkly and perversely to himself, and the tiny, insignificant trace of regret he had felt moments earlier vanished without a trace. To call oneself “the solitary one” and “the lonely one” while possessing all under Heaven—could there possibly be anything more satisfying in this world?
Elio’s Notes: Traditional rulers used self-referential forms such as 孤 and 寡人. 孤 literally evokes being alone or orphaned, while 寡人 is a humble ruler’s self-reference traditionally understood as “a person of scant virtue.” The narration turns these formal self-addresses back into an image of literal loneliness: the emperor possesses the entire realm yet increasingly has no one left beside him.
Zhang A Gu trotted over and handed him a drafted public edict and a drafted secret edict. “Your Majesty, please review them.”
Emperor Jianhong read them word by word, then stamped his personal seal onto the secret edict. “Have Hu Yu take Cen Bao En with him.” After a pause, he added, “Hu Yu will go to Count Yongfeng’s Estate. Cen Bao En will go to the Ministry of Justice.”
Zhang A Gu was about to withdraw when he noticed the emperor was still standing in the middle of the corridor and quietly asked, “Where does Your Majesty wish to proceed?”
Out of habit, Emperor Jianhong almost said Yanying Hall, but suddenly felt overwhelmingly sick of memorials and official business. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Let Us go see Noble Consort Liu.”
＊
The imperial harem was still immersed in the nightmare of Shicui Hall having been slaughtered by the Yulin Guard overnight. How could anyone there know that, in the eyes of the officials who had attended morning court, the tyrant emperor was already showing signs of transforming into a benevolent ruler?
The moment word came that he intended to visit Zhujing Hall, everyone there was terrified. Even Noble Consort Liu’s face turned pale.
Only a few days earlier, she had received a secret letter from her eldest brother instructing her to grow closer to the Tenth Prince and take control of everyone around him. In the blink of an eye, that same elder brother had supposedly died protecting the emperor. The twists behind the affair were too frightening to contemplate. On top of that, a secret message had arrived that morning from men under her second elder brother, asking about the circumstances of their eldest brother’s death. Every one of these details suggested the Liu family might already have fallen out with the emperor.
When Emperor Jianhong entered, she was carefully gathering the ashes left behind after burning the secret letter.
“Why are Beloved Consort’s eyes so red?” He approached with a smile, looking every bit like an affectionate husband concerned about his wife.
But in Noble Consort Liu’s eyes, he looked more like a ghostly executioner come to claim her life, needing only crook one finger for her to die on the spot. She gracefully lowered herself in a bow. “This consort begs Your Majesty’s forgiveness on behalf of my elder brother.”
Emperor Jianhong helped her upright with one hand. “Grand Commandant Liu died saving Us. What crime is there to forgive?” Feeling her arm tremble faintly, he rubbed it with his thumb. “Is Beloved Consort cold?”
Noble Consort Liu forced a smile. “The chill of early spring is rather sharp. It is indeed a little cold, but seeing Your Majesty warms my heart.”
Emperor Jianhong removed his cloak and draped it around her shoulders. “We are not a brazier. If you are cold, wear more clothes.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” She wrapped the cloak more tightly around herself.
Emperor Jianhong looked around. “Have everyone withdraw. We have something to discuss privately with Beloved Consort.”
Noble Consort Liu lowered her eyes. “Very well.”
Once all the palace attendants had withdrawn, Emperor Jianhong led her to sit on the couch, held her hand, and asked softly, “How much did Beloved Consort know about Grand Commandant Liu’s plan to kill Us?”
The color instantly drained from Noble Consort Liu’s beautiful face. Her knees folded beneath her, and she knelt before him. “Your Majesty, please see clearly! This consort truly knew nothing! I-I…”
“It is all right. Speak slowly. We are listening.” Emperor Jianhong said, “If you do not know where to begin, We can remind you. The swill cart early this morning.”
Noble Consort Liu’s entire body shook. Tears poured down like a broken string of pearls, each one crystalline. She raised her head, looking pitiful and helpless. “This consort was not trying to deceive Your Majesty. I simply did not know how to explain. Eldest Brother… the Grand Commandant’s attempt on Your Majesty’s life—I swear to Heaven that I knew absolutely nothing beforehand. It was only that, early this morning, an old man who transports the kitchen waste brought in a letter. He was sent by Second Brother’s people. They had heard of Eldest Brother’s death and wanted to ask me what exactly had happened.”
“Did he ask you to investigate whether We killed him?”
Her body stiffened for an instant before she lowered her head. “Your Majesty possesses the virtue of Yao and Shun, supreme sagacity and enlightenment. Whatever Your Majesty does must have its reasons. This consort would never dare speculate recklessly. I only trust Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jianhong leaned forward and stroked her hair. “Trusting Us is correct. Worthy Consort Rong was Tie Rong Rong, the demoness of the Puppet Path. You know she had always feared the Grand Commandant. To eliminate one of Our greatest supports, she actually turned him into a King Puppet. Were it not for Yu Shuang Xi sacrificing his life to protect Us, Beloved Consort would not be seeing Us today.”
Noble Consort Liu could not distinguish truth from lies, but she knew that “believing him” was her only possible choice. She hurriedly stopped crying, straightened up, and gently covered Emperor Jianhong’s mouth with one hand. “This consort will not allow Your Majesty to speak such ominous words. Your Majesty is the supreme sovereign, the true Son of Heaven, and will surely enjoy ten thousand years of life.”
Emperor Jianhong helped her sit beside him. “Beloved Consort need not worry. We had already informed your second elder brother about this matter beforehand. The men Liu Tan Du sent to escort the Prefect of Jiangling to the capital were stationed at the Grand Commandant’s residence specifically as a precaution. For some reason, however, they did not appear when We were attacked last night. Only afterward did We learn that the Grand Commandant had found an excuse to send them away. Your second elder brother’s people asked you for information not because he suspected Us, but because he feared We might suspect him. Yet Grand Commandant Liu was himself a victim. We are heartbroken by his death. Why would We suspect the Liu family?”
Noble Consort Liu let out a long breath and leaned into his embrace. “Your Majesty, these past two days have truly frightened this consort to death.”
Emperor Jianhong held her and said softly, “We told the outside world that Yu Shuang Xi was the assassin and your eldest brother died protecting Us precisely to preserve the Liu family. Yan Sheng is gone, but you still have your second elder brother. Do not let your thoughts run wild from now on.”
Noble Consort Liu hurriedly said, “Your Majesty’s grace is boundless. This consort cannot express my gratitude. But my eldest brother did commit a grave wrong in the end. Your Majesty should summon Second Brother back to Haojing. The Liu family needs someone here to hold the household together now.”
Whatever the reason, Grand Commandant Liu had attempted to assassinate the emperor. Even if the emperor chose not to pursue the Liu family, could he truly tolerate Liu Tan Du continuing to command troops far from the capital? By voluntarily suggesting his recall, she was giving the emperor a graceful way out while simultaneously demonstrating that the Liu family harbored absolutely no intention of relying on its armies to challenge imperial authority.
Emperor Jianhong patted her back. “Southern Yu watches Us like a tiger eyeing its prey. Only with Tan Du there can We feel at ease.”
Noble Consort Liu said, “Second Brother has spent many years on the southern frontier without ever completely winning over all the troops and commanders. I fear he may disappoint Your Majesty’s expectations.”
Emperor Jianhong regarded her with new appreciation. Perhaps because Grand Commandant Liu was dead and she was now the only member of the Liu family remaining in Haojing who could speak directly before the emperor, the “innocent, bashful young girl” had undergone family catastrophe and rapidly “matured.”
Emperor Jianhong was pleased to see it. “Tan Du is the younger brother of Our dearest friend. How could We make things difficult for him? As for bringing the soldiers and commanders firmly under control, We already have plans.”
Seeing his apparent “sincerity,” Noble Consort Liu hurriedly wiped away her tears and smiled like a blooming flower. “It is rare indeed that Your Majesty still trusts him.”
Emperor Jianhong smiled without quite smiling. “Northern Zhou and Southern Yu are divided by the great river. With Northern Zhou behind him, Tan Du is the sharpest blade for dealing with Southern Yu. But if he defected to Southern Yu and turned that blade against Northern Zhou, the natural barrier of the river would sever Southern Yu’s supply line behind him. Only then would he truly be isolated beyond support, surrounded on all sides.”
Noble Consort Liu dropped to her knees in horror. “My second elder brother is utterly loyal to Your Majesty and harbors no divided heart! Eldest Brother was also harmed by villains!” With those words, she effectively accepted the emperor’s version of what had happened to Liu Yan Sheng and endorsed his handling of the matter.
She was now the Liu family’s eyes and ears in Haojing. Once she rendered that final judgment, there would be no further disturbance from Liu Tan Du’s side.
Emperor Jianhong was delighted. “Naturally, We understand the Liu family’s loyalty. You and the Grand Commandant are both people We trust. You should know what is best for your second elder brother and for the Liu family.”
Grand Commandant Liu had loyally served his sovereign and sacrificed himself protecting the emperor; General Liu patriotically defended the frontier. Though the Liu family no longer had a high-ranking official remaining in Haojing, they still had a Noble Consort inside the palace to support them. No matter how one looked at it, this was a fine tale of worthy ministers assisting a wise ruler and a wise ruler cherishing his worthy ministers.
Noble Consort Liu understood everything perfectly. She knew this was the best path still open to the Liu family.
“This consort understands. I will certainly urge Second Brother to ready his troops and horses and help Your Majesty unite all under Heaven as soon as possible!”
＊
Ready the troops and horses. Unite all under Heaven.
After leaving Zhujing Hall, Emperor Jianhong looked up at the sky above the imperial palace. The clouds had parted and the sun emerged, the world bright and serene. Everywhere he looked seemed perfectly suited to his wishes.
Yet every trace of his soaring ambition vanished the instant he saw the figure leisurely playing pitch-pot inside Qingsi Hall. Emperor Jianhong lowered his eyes, concealed the triumph and excitement within them, composed his expression, and said, “Sect Master Mo enjoys pitch-pot as well?”
Mo Xiao Ran, wearing a golden mask, casually waved one hand and pushed the pot into a corner. Then he threw all the arrows in his hand at once. Only after watching every one of them land neatly inside did he shake his head. “No.”
Emperor Jianhong said, “May We ask what brings Sect Master Mo here?”
Mo Xiao Ran spoke as casually as though making conversation. “Yu Shuang Xi is dead. As an assassin.”
“We had no choice. Liu Yan Sheng’s younger brother commands the frontier. We had to placate him.”
“No matter. The Heaven-and-Earth Mirror has guest retainers like that in abundance.”
This was no exaggeration. The Heaven-and-Earth Mirror had very few true disciples. After Mo Xiao Ran took control, he recruited guest retainers in large numbers and used martial-arts manuals and treasures of Heaven and earth as bargaining chips to make them carry out his affairs.
Emperor Jianhong tactfully said, “We will soon order the third batch of treasures of Heaven and earth sent to Huaying Mountain.”
Mo Xiao Ran said nothing.
Emperor Jianhong added, “And regarding the Fu family, We have already issued the order.”
Mo Xiao Ran turned his head and looked at him seriously. “Did you kill them all?”
“We have ordered their arrest. They will be imprisoned first and handed over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. Conveniently, that fatty has already reserved a room for them in the Ministry of Justice prison.” Emperor Jianhong thought he had made a rather amusing joke, but the atmosphere inside the hall somehow became even heavier. “Afterward, We will make the charge that they secretly colluded with Southern Yu stick.”
Mo Xiao Ran nodded. “Good.”
Although he said “good,” Emperor Jianhong still felt that something about the atmosphere was wrong. The moment suspicion began growing in his heart, that suffocating pressure returned.
Mo Xiao Ran glanced lightly at him, then began walking toward the exit. Just before reaching the doorway, he stopped with his back to Emperor Jianhong and said calmly, “I want something.”
A thousand possibilities raced through Emperor Jianhong’s mind. “Please name it.”
“Liu Yan Sheng’s corpse.”
“What?” The answer was completely outside Emperor Jianhong’s expectations.
Mo Xiao Ran seemed unsurprised by the shock he had caused. “I have already taken it.”
For a moment, Emperor Jianhong was speechless, unsure whether he ought to thank him for being considerate enough to help himself. After all, personally handing over the corpse of a former friend, minister, and brother-in-law as though it were merchandise would still have been difficult for him to stomach.
“That Heart-Shattering Sixteen of yours has the form but not the substance. It can fool the Ministry of Justice coroners, nothing more. Anyone who understands the mysteries of Purple Qi Comes from the East would have little difficulty seeing the flaw.” Mo Xiao Ran turned his head slightly, using the sunlight beyond the doorway to admire the way Emperor Jianhong’s face instantly turned ashen.
Emperor Jianhong said darkly, “What does Sect Master Mo mean by this?”
Mo Xiao Ran said, “I sent Liu Yan Sheng’s corpse to the southern frontier in your name. I wonder whether it will arrive before the Fu family does?” With that, he took one long step and drifted away like an immortal riding the wind.
Emperor Jianhong stared in the direction he had gone. The sky there remained perfectly clear, yet in his eyes it looked darker than if clouds had blotted out the sun.
It seemed that none of his outward compliance, inward defiance, or private plotting had escaped Mo Xiao Ran’s notice.
Liu Yan Sheng’s corpse was Mo Xiao Ran’s warning to him. There was no need for threats or bloodshed. Mo Xiao Ran had merely pressed lightly against his most vulnerable point, and Emperor Jianhong was already terrified.
One major reason Liu Tan Du and Emperor Jianhong could still maintain a harmonious relationship between sovereign and minister was that Liu Tan Du did not know Liu Yan Sheng had retained consciousness after becoming a King Puppet, nor did he know that Liu Yan Sheng had died by Emperor Jianhong’s hand.
Mo Xiao Ran, however, knew both things, and Liu Yan Sheng’s corpse was the evidence. There was no need to waste words. The moment Emperor Jianhong used Purple Qi Comes from the East, Mo Xiao Ran could simply reveal to Liu Tan Du the truth about King Puppets and the secrets of Purple Qi Comes from the East. At that point, Emperor Jianhong would become, beyond any possibility of dispute, the man who had murdered Liu Tan Du’s elder brother!
He had explained to Noble Consort Liu that even if Liu Tan Du rebelled, he would inevitably fail. What he had not told her was that even a failed rebellion by Liu Tan Du would inflict catastrophic damage upon Northern Zhou!
At the thought, Emperor Jianhong nearly vomited blood.
For decades he had plotted painstakingly, exhausting his mind, advancing one carefully calculated step at a time. He had believed he could finally bring both the northern frontier and the southern border firmly into his grasp. Yet with one casual move, Mo Xiao Ran had driven him straight into a deadly position.
Such an ability to overturn the entire game—should he have expected nothing less from the Sect Master of the Puppet Path who had trained that madwoman Tie Rong Rong?
It took Emperor Jianhong only half a day to go from triumphant and high-spirited to once again concealing his edge. He adapted quickly. It was only endurance. He had endured for so many years and endured so many people. Enduring one more made little difference.
Besides, Mo Xiao Ran’s warning was not undeserved.
The Heaven-and-Earth Mirror!
The Immortal Treasury Palace!
He drew a deep breath, stepped outside, and said to Zhang A Gu, “Lock Qingsi Hall again. We will go to Yanying Hall.”
＊
Ever since a gap had opened in his cell, Fu Xi Yan’s prison life had opened a door into an entirely new world. At first, he obediently wandered only around the small patch immediately outside his own cell. After doing that long enough, however, his courage grew, and he began accompanying the guards on their rounds of the prison—chatting along the way, naturally.
Other officials implicated in the Southern Yu spy-network case were still imprisoned there. Fellow sufferers naturally had plenty to complain about together, and after comparing stories, they discovered that several of them had also fallen for that bastard Wei Gang’s tricks!
Of them all, Hanlin Academy Reader Pei De Guang’s experience inspired the most sympathy.
“Every single time I went there, I was asking where to find rare, unique editions! If you don’t believe me, go look at my house. I’ve already collected several. Academician Liu knows about it too.” Pei De Guang was so aggrieved his eyes had turned red. “I used Southern Yu’s spy network to track down lost literary treasures. That was a contribution to Northern Zhou!”
He looked at Fu Xi Yan, who was squatting outside his cell. “Lord Fu, don’t you agree?”
Fu Xi Yan, however, had paid no attention whatsoever to what he had actually said. Instead, he remarked with novelty, “Hey, your surname is Pei too.”
Pei De Guang looked completely baffled. “I do have the surname Pei. What about it?”
Fu Xi Yan shook his head. “Your name doesn’t sound very auspicious.” Pei De Guang—pei de guang, “lose it all.” Really not very lucky.
Pei De Guang said unhappily, “Virtue reaches the four quarters; radiance extends to the four borders. What is wrong with that?”
Elio’s Notes: Pei De Guang (裴德光) sounds like 赔得光, “lose everything” or “lose it all,” which is why Fu Xi Yan finds the name unlucky. Pei De Guang defends it by invoking the characters 德, “virtue,” and 光, “radiance,” in the phrase “Virtue reaches the four quarters; radiance extends to the four borders.”
Fu Xi Yan said, “Compare your name with Pei Yuan Jin’s.”
Pei De Guang shook his head with scholarly satisfaction. “Jin and yu—fine jade…”
Fu Xi Yan was still waiting for him to praise it some more, but after that one sentence, Pei De Guang got stuck. Fu Xi Yan could not help feeling that this Hanlin Academy Reader did not quite live up to his title. He dusted off his clothes and was just about to stand when Pei De Guang and the other prisoners suddenly pointed behind him in terror.
They could hardly be blamed for overreacting. Fu Xi Yan’s “record” inside the prison was truly astonishing: one Capital Prefect and one imperial consort, one missing and one dead. At first, they had only half believed the rumors. Now, seeing the person who had appeared behind Fu Xi Yan, they suddenly remembered the saying— Rumors did not arise without reason!
Fu Xi Yan turned his head and saw Pei Yuan Jin standing behind him with an utterly halfhearted strip of cloth covering his face.
“Here for a prison visit? Come on, come sit at my place.” Fu Xi Yan was exceedingly hospitable and started leading him toward his own cell.
Pei De Guang and the others immediately relaxed and cupped their hands toward Fu Xi Yan in farewell.
Pei Yuan Jin glanced at Pei De Guang and the others.
The prisoners exchanged looks. How should one put it? Anyone capable of achieving something in officialdom was no fool. Pei De Guang immediately cried, “Aiya!” and voluntarily “fainted.”
The others followed suit one after another.
… What are they doing?
Fu Xi Yan was still completely confused when Pei Yuan Jin grabbed his belt and swept away with him.
The scenery on both sides flashed past.
In an instant, the two appeared outside the Ministry of Justice prison.
Liao Shang was speaking with a young man with swordlike brows and bright eyes while several constables stood nearby. He turned, glanced at Fu Xi Yan, then acted as though he had seen absolutely nothing and calmly resumed his conversation with the young man.
Fu Xi Yan asked quietly, “What’s going on?”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “Your family is making a run for it.”
“Huh?”
“The entire family is leaving together.” “You’re the only one missing.”