They arrived in Yanzhou at night, but the city was still under martial law. Fu Xi Yan was debating whether they ought to land and knock at the gate when Pei Yuan Jin swept him straight over the city wall on the flying sword.
The flying sword moved so quickly that the guards at the gate merely glimpsed something streaking past and assumed it was a bird. After all, at that altitude, they had no concept of a human being flying.
Once inside, Fu Xi Yan went directly to the government office where Marquis Guangxin was staying. Strictly speaking, the Count Yongfeng and Marquis Guangxin families were related by marriage. Fu Li An’s wife, Fu Xi Yan’s eldest sister-in-law, was the marquis’s own granddaughter, and the two households had kept in touch before the Count Yongfeng family moved. Fu Xi Yan therefore paid his respects as a junior.
They had arrived at an unfortunate time.
The Northern Alliance and Mongol coalition had assaulted the city for several days in succession, retreating only recently. Taking advantage of their exhaustion, Marquis Guangxin had led his troops in pursuit and was still on the battlefield.
Fu Xi Yan glanced at Pei Yuan Jin. “I’ll go take a look.” He still did not want to drag Immortal Treasury Palace into a war between states.
Pei Yuan Jin evidently saw matters differently. To him, husband and husband were one. Since Fu Xi Yan had chosen to get involved, the two of them would face the consequences together. Besides, now that he had a flying sword, he could come and go much more quickly.
Carrying Fu Xi Yan through the air, he flew out of Yanzhou and ten li northward before they finally spotted the two armies.
Marquis Guangxin was a veteran commander. Even while pursuing a beaten enemy, he took care not to give them any opportunity to encircle him. Whenever the main enemy force turned around, he withdrew immediately.
The flying sword swept over Marquis Guangxin’s head and went straight above the coalition troops.
With Pei Yuan Jin’s help, Fu Xi Yan finally managed to stand upright on the sword. Looking down from above, he declared, “Anyone who violates Northern Zhou’s borders shall be killed without mercy!” He then used Object-Commanding Art to sweep the weapons of the soldiers below into the sky, forming a whole forest of weapons suspended in midair. One by one, he brought them back down, tracing an enormous “X.”
The coalition army was, sure enough, terrified. None of them had ever seen a person standing in the air. This surely went beyond martial arts. Was it some kind of divine magic?
Wen Hong Xuan stood amid the crowd, looking up at Fu Xi Yan and Pei Yuan Jin with complicated emotions. He had known early on that Pei Yuan Jin was no ordinary creature and had placed his bet accordingly. Unfortunately, in the end, human calculations could never outmatch Heaven’s.
That evening, the Northern Alliance’s spies in Haojing had reported that the iron tower of the great formation had collapsed. Wen Hong Xuan knew something had gone wrong. After consulting the others, he strongly advised the Mongol king to pull back twenty li and watch how events unfolded. That was why the troops had retreated. Now it seemed Zheng Jiao Jiao’s scheme had indeed failed, and had even provoked Immortal Treasury Palace into joining the war.
He was weighing whether to retreat another ten li when, before he had made up his mind, the Mongol king sent orders to keep withdrawing. From the tone of the order, it was going to be far more than ten or twenty li.
The Northern Alliance owed its entire position to Mongol support. Without Mongol troops, opposing Northern Zhou would be like an ant trying to shake a tree. Though Wen Hong Xuan was unwilling, he knew the decision was out of his hands. As the Mongol army hastily withdrew, he had no choice but to order his own forces to follow.
Watching the coalition flee with its tail between its legs, Fu Xi Yan and Pei Yuan Jin landed and greeted Marquis Guangxin. They also told him that Emperor Jianhong had died. The marquis had been preparing to withdraw, but at this news he decided to continue the pursuit.
At a time like this, displaying strength was the only way to intimidate the enemy.
Fu Xi Yan dared not interrupt the military campaign. He took leave of the marquis, carried Pu Jiu Lin’s letter of introduction, and returned to Yanzhou to seek out the prefect.
The prefect was preparing for bed when he heard that the Master of the Heaven-and-Earth Mirror and the young master of Immortal Treasury Palace had come. He hurriedly dressed and rose. When he learned that they were asking about Prince Longnan, his expression turned rather unpleasant.
Afraid the prefect might lie, Fu Xi Yan told him outright that Emperor Jianhong had died defending the country and that he had been sent by Chancellor Pu.
The prefect was deeply shocked, but the letter in Pu Jiu Lin’s own hand could not be a forgery. After weighing the situation, he took them to a secluded courtyard residence in the city.
It was just past the hour of Xu. All Yanzhou was silent. In days of war, quiet was the most beautiful sound of all. Yet when they reached the courtyard wall, graceful music from a qin floated over it.
Fu Xi Yan asked curiously, “Hasn’t anyone complained about the noise?”
The prefect replied tactfully, “This is an Immortal Treasury Palace branch residence. The neighbors are all wealthy households.”
Fu Xi Yan nodded knowingly. Wealthy households had two advantages: they were well informed and knew whom not to offend; and their homes were large enough that they did not have to sit with their ears against the neighbor’s wall.
The prefect left them at the gate. The news Fu Xi Yan had brought was too shocking. He needed to gather his advisers and think carefully about what came next. An imperial succession brought both danger and opportunity.
The arrival of the young master and his spouse threw the Immortal Treasury Palace branch into a flurry. But the steward knew better than to intrude. Realizing that they must have important business, he soon withdrew with everyone who was not needed.
Fu Xi Yan looked enviously toward the pavilion, where a handsome couple sat, one playing the qin and the other listening. “Having at least one person in a marriage who understands music really does add a little elegance to everyday life.”
After saying this, he could not resist glancing at Pei Yuan Jin. Pei Yuan Jin was looking right back at him, and spoke before he could open his mouth. “So you’ll learn?”
Fu Xi Yan: “…” He had been too slow with his words!
He cleared his throat. “Actually, I already know how.”
They were walking toward the pavilion and had made no attempt to lower their voices, so the people inside heard every word. Prince Longnan asked with interest, “You are accomplished in music as well?”
Yu Su Huan answered modestly, “I only know a few pieces. I wouldn’t call myself accomplished.”
Fu Xi Yan, who could only sing The Lone Warrior, gave an awkward laugh. “I know even less.” Fearing further questions, he changed the subject. “Has Marquis Guangxin made things difficult for you these past few days?”
Yu Su Huan plucked a string. “We aren’t allowed near military affairs, but we lack nothing in food or clothing. I wouldn’t call it being mistreated.”
Prince Longnan took the hand she had laid on the qin and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Yu Su Huan changed the subject too. “Apothecary Jiang left several days ago to head south and give you two a scolding. Did you happen to meet him?”
Fu Xi Yan hurried to say, “We did. Apothecary Jiang was an enormous help this time.”
“Oh? How so?” Prince Longnan was curious. If his help had truly been considerable, they must have accomplished something important.
Fu Xi Yan glanced at Pei Yuan Jin, then smiled bitterly. “It’s a long story.” Emperor Jianhong and Prince Longnan could probably be counted as enemies, but they were brothers nonetheless. Fu Xi Yan had no idea whether the news he brought would cause grief or joy.
Hearing that the story was long, Yu Su Huan rose to prepare a late-night snack. Fu Xi Yan meant to wait until she returned, but she took so long that he finally could not hold back and began without her.
He had not witnessed Wang Yu’s battle with Mo Xiao Ran himself, and Yin Fei Yu’s account had not been especially detailed. Perhaps his own feelings colored his retelling, but the few dry facts somehow became a stirring, heroic tale when they passed his lips.
Whether it was the cold wind, the cold night, or the chill in his heart, Prince Longnan began coughing. His face turned bluish and his lips white.
Fu Xi Yan stopped speaking.
Yu Su Huan brought over the late-night snack: a bowl of sweet glutinous rice balls fragrant with osmanthus for each of them. The candles in the lanterns were running low, so they were replaced. By the light of the fresh candles, all four finished their bowls, down to the last drop of osmanthus-scented syrup.
Prince Longnan’s coughing finally subsided, and he regained a little color. He asked what had happened afterward.
Everything that came next Fu Xi Yan had experienced firsthand, so his account became much more fluid and exciting. Yet when he reached Pu Jiu Lin’s late-night visit, he chose his words more carefully.
Cautious as he was, Emperor Jianhong’s decision had been so bold that the proposed succession still sounded unbelievable.
Neither Yu Su Huan nor Prince Longnan could quite believe it. Even Fu Xi Yan, who was telling the story, found it incredible. But Wang Yu’s letter to Prince Longnan was tucked inside his robe.
Prince Longnan would not commit himself on the question of becoming emperor. He said only that he wanted to see the letter.
Fu Xi Yan took it out and handed it over.
The envelope contained a secret edict and a small note. The edict exonerated Prince Yunzhong and Prince Longnan, restoring their honor and titles. In other words, even if Prince Longnan never became emperor, he could continue to be Northern Zhou’s Prince Longnan.
As for the note…
Prince Longnan made no effort to conceal it. He unfolded it openly.
Unable to restrain his curiosity, Fu Xi Yan stole a quick glance. The words read: In the end, none of you measures up to me.
The corner of Prince Longnan’s mouth lifted in a mocking smile, but he said nothing. He simply read the note and edict once more, and his eyes reddened slightly.
Fu Xi Yan immediately felt he could no longer sit there. Pei Yuan Jin declared that they were tired and sleepy, and Yu Su Huan took the opportunity to lead them to a guest room.
Nothing more happened that night.
Early the following morning, they heard voices outside their door. When they opened it, they discovered Liu Huan. The last time they had seen him, he had been lying unconscious in bed. At long last, he was awake.
Although Fu Xi Yan had removed Liu Huan from his list of prospective brothers-in-law because of the man’s complicated parentage and connections with the Northern Alliance, he had no particular dislike of Liu Huan himself. Their reunion was courteous and cordial.
Liu Huan had come to ask for news of Liu Tan Du.
All Fu Xi Yan knew was that Liu Tan Du had gone to escort the Tenth Prince away for his studies and had not returned by the time of the Haojing disaster. For Liu Huan, however, even that was good news.
Liu Huan invited Fu Xi Yan and Pei Yuan Jin to breakfast in the front courtyard. Prince Longnan and Yu Su Huan were there as well.
After only one night, Prince Longnan seemed to have more white hair at his temples, yet his eyes shone and his spirits were unexpectedly high.
Fu Xi Yan thought to himself that happy occasions really did put color in people’s cheeks. Was Prince Longnan preparing to accept his new job? Once he ascended the throne, Auntie Yu ought, in both feeling and propriety, to become empress. Fu Xi Yan only wondered whether Prince Longnan would fill the rest of the imperial harem.
While Fu Xi Yan was entertaining these wild thoughts, Prince Longnan said, “I’ve already discussed this with Huan’er.”
Fu Xi Yan immediately sat up straighter.
“I have music, poetry, wine, and song. My life is already complete. Governing the realm is beyond what I can manage. And Huan’er has always considered himself a member of the Liu family. We’ve discussed it. If he has both a son and a daughter one day, one can carry the surname Wang and the other Liu. That would satisfy both sides. As for him, let him do what he likes and use whatever surname he chooses.”
That was how he put it. Yet by saying that Liu Huan had always considered himself part of the Liu family, Prince Longnan had already made it clear that the young man had chosen.
Fu Xi Yan was startled, but on reflection the outcome made sense. It meant the imperial succession had narrowed to two candidates. He asked, “Which would be more suitable, the Third Prince or the Tenth Prince?”
Prince Longnan said, “I don’t know either of them well enough to pass judgment.”
Fu Xi Yan did not regard that as evasive. On the contrary, it was the responsible answer.
“So I intend to return to the capital with you.” After speaking, Prince Longnan could not help touching his chest. A little brocade pouch hung there, containing the note Wang Yu had written in his own hand.
Still not as good as Wang Yu?
Prince Longnan gave a soft laugh. He was not dead yet. That meant the contest was not over.