THAT DAY AT NOON, Feng Xiao had entered the palace to meet the emperor.
He spotted a few more strands of gray in the Sui emperor's hair than there had been when he left the capital. It had only been three years since the founding of the new dynasty, yet for the first time, Feng Xiao found Yang Jian despondent.
The emperor sighed, confirming his impression. "Yuntian, it's only the two of us here. I often speak frankly to you, so I might as well tell you: I feel overwhelmed."
Feng Xiao arched a brow. "Your Majesty, you manage countless affairs each day. You rise early and sleep late; it's immensely taxing. I urge you to consider getting more rest. If you do, your health will improve too."
Yang Jian was silent a moment. "A new song has been going around the capital. Have you heard it?"
"I rushed here from Luoyang. As soon as I refreshed myself and changed my clothes, I entered the palace to pay my respects. I haven't had the chance to hear any songs."
"'The willow flowers wilt, the drizzling rain falls, good and evil will reap their own rewards.' A few days ago, Li Mu died; last night, Liu Fang also passed away. The empress said she dreamed of someone from the Yuwen family, then caught a cold and has been bedridden ever since." The longer Yang Jian spoke, the more confounded he looked. "What do you think? Does this world truly contain resentful spirits that cannot rest?"
Feng Xiao shook his head. "What one thinks about during the day manifests in dreams at night. A cold is hardly a serious illness, and the empress is a virtuous person blessed by heaven. She's sure to recover soon. As for Li Mu and Liu Fang, I did not witness their deaths and cannot draw conclusions. As for the song, I must speak frankly: Songs and prophecies have existed since antiquity, and are often merely a tool to sway public sentiment. When a dynasty is nearing its end, it's not uncommon to see songs arise amid the competing ambitions of warlords. But Your Majesty has just established a new nation, and your governance is clear-eyed and benevolent. The common folk see this too and are full of hope. Why waste time worrying over these rumormongers? They should be captured and dealt with decisively!"
Yang Jian finally smiled. "Such spirited words. It truly uplifts one's heart. I should have called you back to the capital sooner; I do enjoy listening to you talk."
"Your Majesty needn't dwell on such trivial matters," Feng Xiao replied.
Yang Jian sighed. "When I first ascended the throne, I faced criticism from many old acquaintances—this is something you know well. I've been reflecting. Perhaps I was too heavy-handed with the Yuwen family."
The emperor would never have confided in anyone else like this. But Feng Xiao had long enjoyed this level of familiarity with Yang Jian. The line between ruler and subject was not so stark in private; when they were alone, they resembled old friends.
In truth, it wasn't only Yang Jian who thought he'd been overly harsh. Many others felt he'd gone too far in uprooting the entire Yuwen family. Yang Jian's eldest daughter, Princess Leping, had nursed a grudge against her parents for years over this very thing.
"Perhaps there were some I could have spared, yet I executed them all. Yuwen Chan, for example. The boy was only nine when he abdicated. Princess Leping pled for his life, but still I killed him. It wouldn't have been impossible to spare the boy."
"Your Majesty," Feng Xiao replied, unperturbed, "you mustn't get worked up over these matters. You have always seen things with clear eyes, and this has made you one of the greatest rulers of your generation. If the members of the Yuwen family had been capable men, would they have fallen as they did? The Yuwen family has produced no one of note since Emperor Wu of Zhou. In my opinion, the only exceptional Yuwen since Yuwen Yong is the current Princess Dayi, who resides in the Khaganate."
Yang Jian smiled wryly at his ruthless critique. "You…"
"When a dynasty's time is up," Feng Xiao continued, "a new one will receive the Mandate of Heaven and replace it. When the Qin dynasty fell, the Han replaced them; this is how it's always been. The Yuwen family refused to be replaced, and so they perished. Had the heavens and the people been with them, they would not have. Once a head rolls, it cannot be reattached. Your Majesty has drafted the new Kaihuang Code, which incorporates books and texts from all over the country, compiling and amending them. Compared to these efforts, the remnants of the Yuwen family are insignificant; Your Majesty should act against them without hesitation. Why unsettle yourself over these trivial matters?"
His tone was brazen, yet Yang Jian was amused rather than angry. The conversation had improved his mood significantly, and with his spirits lifted, he regained his usual clarity and decisiveness. "The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Li Mu and Liu Fang are strange. I'll have the Ministry of Justice transfer the case files to you. Investigate discreetly; avoid alarming people."
After a pause, he continued, "And ask Cui Buqu to work with you on the case. The two of you have worked well together in the past—to my surprise, I'll admit. I trust you will also do so on this occasion. The Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus were always at odds before. After collaborating so many times, I trust your views have changed?"
An edge of teasing sarcasm crept into the emperor's tone as he finished speaking. Before Feng Xiao could respond, a palace attendant entered to report that the Prince of Qin had come to pay his respects.
The Prince of Qin, Yang Jun, was the third son of the emperor and empress. He enjoyed neither the special favor nor disfavor of his parents, and his status was neither extremely high nor particularly low. This young man was broadminded but lacked ambition. He acted docile and obedient before the emperor and empress while indulging himself in fine food and lavish entertainments in secret.
Feng Xiao, too, loved to enjoy himself. The two had crossed paths a number of times, to the point that they were comfortably familiar.
The moment the Prince of Qin entered the hall, he threw Feng Xiao a wink. The emperor coughed lightly. "Behave yourself!"
Only then did the Prince of Qin make the proper bows, grinning broadly the whole time. "Your son came to see you, Father. Have you been eating and drinking well these past few days?"
The emperor pinned him with a stare. "Have you been to see your mother?"
"I'll go see her shortly."
The emperor sighed. "Your mother has been ill lately; she's in poor spirits. Make sure you speak kindly to her when you visit. Don't anger her."
The Prince of Qin cupped his hands obediently. "Yes, Father."
When the prince lingered, the emperor prompted, "Anything else?"
The Prince of Qin beamed. "I heard my second brother brought down a deer in the city outskirts yesterday and presented it to you. Since I know you don't drink deer blood, may I have it?"
The emperor looked as if he would scold him for his indulgence, but he wasn't in the mood to give a long lecture. "Ask Feng An for it," he said with a wave, directing him to the attendant waiting outside.
The Prince of Qin was overjoyed. He knelt to express his gratitude, then made ready to leave.
"Daxingshan Temple will hold a Buddhist ceremony the day after tomorrow," the emperor reminded him. "I will go then to pray for the empress. You must remember to attend as well."
Many considered the emperor without a single fault save for the fact that he feared his wife. But Yang Jian never forgot that Empress Dugu had supported him through his most difficult moments. When he hesitated, she had dragged him forward. They weren't merely husband and wife, but close confidants and allies. The emperor had his moments of selfishness, and the couple sometimes quarreled, but to him, a single one of Empress Dugu's words held more weight than ten of anyone else's. Seeing her so ill was a heavy blow.
The Prince of Qin promptly agreed. "How could your son forget to pray for Mother? I will put on my finest clothes and pray with utmost sincerity!"
He winked at Feng Xiao again and glanced toward the door, hinting that Feng Xiao should leave with him. Feng Xiao paid him no mind, and so the Prince of Qin had no choice but to leave alone.
"Your Majesty," Feng Xiao said when he was gone. "Your subject wishes to borrow a painter."
The emperor started at this unexpected request. "Why a painter all of a sudden?"
Feng Xiao put on his most earnest expression. "Whenever I look in the mirror, I feel my graceful charm must be captured by a master's brush, lest future generations refuse to believe that such devastating beauty existed."
The emperor eyed him. He had known Feng Xiao long enough to understand that this was his nature: When the mountains lost their peaks, when heaven and earth united, only then would he give up his vanity.
The two of them gazed at each other for a moment, and the emperor conceded. "There's an artist in the palace, a member of the Lin family named Shouheng. His skills are incredible—a match for the most famous of painters. I'll lend him to you. When you're happy with your painting, return him."
Feng Xiao smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Prince of Qin had waited half an age outside the palace gates with his bowl of deer blood before he finally spotted Feng Xiao as he emerged.
"What took you so long?" he complained.
Feng Xiao glanced at the bowl. "Bolstering your virile yang energy?"
Yang Jun chuckled. "And you? Enjoy any amorous encounters on this last trip?" he asked.
Feng Xiao thought for a moment and nodded. "I did."
Yang Jun's eyes lit up. "Considering how high your standards are, she must be a stunning beauty. Am I right?"
"What beauty could compare to me?"
I almost forgot what this guy was like! thought Yang Jun. He tried a different approach. "Even if her looks aren't a match for yours, there must be something about her that caught your eye, some allure? When can I meet this person?"
That person… A characteristic smile, thin-lipped and cold, flashed through Feng Xiao's mind. The corner of his mouth curled upward despite himself. "Their allure…lies in cursing people out and scheming behind their backs."
Yang Jun was bewildered.
"They have a heart of stone and a terrible temper. If they suffer even a slight loss, they'll pay it back tenfold."
Dubious, Yang Jun looked him over. "Are you sure you're talking about someone you like and not an enemy?"
"My enemies are all dead." Feng Xiao glanced at him. "This person isn't allowed to die. I want them to live a good, long life."
Yang Jun nodded. "I see now. You don't like the submissive type; you prefer those who challenge you. My friend, that's what we call masochism."
Declining to waste more breath on the prince, Feng Xiao turned away. Yang Jun hurriedly stopped him. "Okay, okay! I won't joke anymore. I have good news: I'm hosting a banquet at my residence tonight for the Lantern Festival. The crown prince and my second brother will both be in attendance. Come join the fun!"
Feng Xiao raised a brow. "Anything new and exciting?"
Yang Jun puffed up with pride. "What do you think? I brought an entire troupe of performers from Kucha for this. There's even a dancing girl—I guarantee her act will blow your mind! You've never seen anything like it!"
"Very well," Feng Xiao said indifferently. "If I'm free in time tonight, I'll join you."
He turned to leave again, and Yang Jun grabbed his sleeve. "You must come! I promised them you'd be there!"
There was a faint curve to Feng Xiao's lips, the ghost of a smile. "Ah, the Prince of Qin had sold me out!"
"Don't say that," said the prince with an apologetic smile. "A-Wu is coming too, that's all."
"I've told His Majesty I have no intention of using Princess Lanling to climb the social ladder," Feng Xiao replied. "And I have even less intention of becoming a princess's consort."
"All right; I understand," said Yang Jun. "But you're both unmarried, and you're such a good match. Surely meeting just for tonight can't hurt? If you have someone you like, bring her to the banquet; perhaps A-Wu will give up once she sees her."
The clatter of wheels on the stone behind them interrupted their conversation. Both men turned toward the sound. A carriage bearing the emblem of Princess Leping slowly rolled toward them.
"Dajie must be here with her daughter to visit Mother," Yang Jun guessed.
But when the carriage stopped before them, the curtains lifted to reveal only the young duchess.
"Why have you come to the palace alone?" Yang Jun asked in surprise. "Where is your mother?"
Duchess Yuwen stepped down from the carriage and performed a graceful bow. "Greetings, Third Uncle. Greetings, Deputy Chief Feng." Her voice was sweet and melodic. "My mother is unwell herself today, so she sent me to the palace to check on Grandmother. Chief Cui was visiting as well, so Grandmother spoke to me a bit longer than usual."
Before Cui Buqu had last left the capital, rumors of the empress's attempts to make a match between him and Duchess Yuwen had run rampant. Many believed that if it were not for the empress's sudden illness, the two might have been betrothed by now.
"Then did you speak to Chief Cui a bit longer than usual too?" Yang Jun teased.
Duchess Yuwen flushed and shyly dipped her head.
"Did Princess Leping not object to this marriage?" Feng Xiao cut in. "Yet in the span of a single night, Duchess Yuwen seems to have grown fond of Cui Buqu."
Yang Jun smiled. "You've been away from the capital, so perhaps you don't know. Ying-niang here has been asking us quite a lot of questions about Cui Buqu and the Zuoyue Bureau. After learning of your efforts to reclaim the Jade of Heaven Lake in Liugong City, her attitude toward him changed completely. You know how it is: Beauties always love a hero. Cui Buqu is frail, but with proper treatment, he may very well enjoy a happy marriage and a head of snowy white hair!"
"So that's how it is," said Feng Xiao. Before anyone could react, he reached out and brushed Duchess Yuwen's cheek.
He'd moved quickly, though not as fast as he could. Duchess Yuwen started and took a step back, her sweet voice tinged with indignation. "What are you doing, Deputy Chief Feng?!"
Even if Duchess Yuwen had been an ordinary girl and not the emperor's own granddaughter, Feng Xiao's behavior would have been exceedingly forward. But Feng Xiao remained unruffled. "The duchess has a lovely complexion. My hand moved quite on its own—my sincerest apologies."
If this was flirting, he was the most brazen flirt to ever exist. In broad daylight, in the imperial palace, he'd immodestly manhandled the emperor's granddaughter. But as Yang Jun looked from Feng Xiao to Duchess Yuwen, he suddenly thought that maybe this was a turn of good luck for his niece.
Duchess Yuwen bit her lip. Seeing that Yang Jun made no attempt to scold Feng Xiao, she swallowed her anger and reboarded her carriage without another word.
Only then did Yang Jun return to his senses. He turned to Feng Xiao. "That was far too bold of you. I'm her uncle, you know. Do you think so little of me?"
Feng Xiao smiled. "Of course not. To be honest, just now when the duchess was flustered, she reminded me so much of the person I like that I couldn't stop myself. I'll apologize again when I see her later."
Yang Jun was successfully distracted. Curious, he fired off several more questions about Feng Xiao's beloved.
Feng Xiao answered some of his questions while ignoring others. He shot several contemplative glances at the departing carriage. That Cui bastard is incredibly sharp. Knowing him, he already picked up on it.
***
At that very moment, that Cui bastard was still in the palace.
Empress Dugu made up one half of the Two Saints who ruled the nation, and in light of that title, she was one of few empresses permitted to receive subjects within the women's palace. Due to her position and the contributions she made, neither the emperor nor any officials objected.
Cui Buqu was one of her most frequent visitors. Yet now, the once vibrant empress lay sick in her bed, wracked by coughs. It was difficult to say whose complexion was more alarming: hers or Cui Buqu's. Her round face had grown thin; her cheeks were sunken, and dark circles ringed her eyes.
The empress sighed softly. She was a strong-willed person who rarely allowed herself such indulgences, but illness had taken its toll.
"Before, I only suggested betrothing Ying-niang to you as part of the plan you proposed. But my illness has taken a turn I did not foresee. As both your ruler and your friend, I genuinely wish to see this marriage come to pass, so you can settle down and start a family. Tell me, are you willing?"