Every year, scholars traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations would gather here to discuss history, current events, and politics. The teahouse owner was originally a scholar himself, but after failing the exams three times, he gave up on the idea of entering officialdom and opened this elegant teahouse. During the examination season, he would specifically entertain scholars from all over the country who came to take the exams, listening to their discussions on politics. Those with outstanding talent would be treated to meals free of charge. Thus, this place became a gathering place for scholars traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations every year.
"The imperial examination will be held in a few days. After ten years of hard study, we will finally be able to enter officialdom and serve the court!"
"I've heard that although the current emperor is young, he is very capable and has a keen eye for talent, making good use of people from humble backgrounds. We are fortunate to have met such an enlightened ruler!"
"His Majesty is a benevolent ruler of our time. If we are able to serve as officials, we should do our best to assist him and create a beautiful story of a benevolent ruler and loyal ministers."
"Although the Emperor is kind, he is ruthless in his methods. Just looking at how he handles state affairs in an orderly manner is admirable."
...
The scholars who were taking the imperial examinations had a lively discussion.
On the second floor, in a private room, Qingluan, her black hair tied with a white ribbon inlaid with a pearl, dressed in a snow-white silk robe, with a long white silk tassel tied around her waist, adorned with a piece of mutton-fat jade, sat at an antique pearwood table, intently sipping tea and listening quietly. Standing behind her were Qingxi and others disguised as maids and attendants.
As everyone was engaged in a heated discussion, a cold voice rang out: "The Emperor is nothing but a figurehead now. His power has long been usurped by Prime Minister Wei. He's just playing the old trick of using the Emperor to command the nobles!"
The voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone to hear. The room fell silent instantly as everyone looked around, wondering who had dared to utter such taboo words. Although everyone knew that Prime Minister Wei held absolute power, no one dared to say it aloud. Who was Prime Minister Wei? He was the Emperor's maternal uncle and father-in-law, and the Consort Xian was the most favored concubine in the harem. The Wei family controlled both the court and the harem! Offending Prime Minister Wei would be tantamount to ruining one's own future!
Following the direction from which the sound came, everyone's gaze settled on a young man in a blue robe sitting and drinking tea. He appeared to be around ten years old, with a serene expression and a distant gaze, seemingly out of place in the bustling teahouse. Despite having uttered such bold words, he remained unmoved, occasionally exchanging a few words with his companion at the table.
"How dare you slander the current Prime Minister! Do you know what your punishment is?" A furious voice rang out. Someone recognized him as a distant relative of Prime Minister Wei, a scholar who had come to participate in the imperial examination this year.
The man in blue raised his head, glanced at him, and smiled: "Then which article of the Great Zhou law have I violated?"
The relative was speechless. Indeed, there is no law that forbids one from telling the truth!
Qingluan raised an eyebrow, "Interesting!" She instructed Zhiqiu, "Go and invite that scholar up."
Zhi Qiu was ordered to go down.
Zhi Qiu spoke a few words to the scholar in blue, who seemed unwilling to come up. Zhi Qiu flicked his sleeve and said another word. The man's face turned ugly, and he stiffly followed Zhi Qiu up.
Upon reaching the private room on the second floor, Qingluan saw that the man's face was flushed red, and knew that Zhi Qiu had made him suffer. She quickly stood up, clasped her hands in a salute, and said, "This servant is ignorant of etiquette, please do not blame me, sir!" She gave Zhi Qiu a wink, and Zhi Qiu quickly released the pressure points that he had just used on the scholar in green.
"Hmph, even under the emperor's nose, there are people so arrogant. Are you Prime Minister Wei's men?" The scholar stretched his arms, still indignant.
Qingluan laughed and said, "Are you afraid? You've slandered the Prime Minister like this, I can get rid of you without anyone knowing!"
The man raised his cold eyes to look at Qingluan, his expression contemptuous: "Do you think I'm made of paper? When you brought me up, my friends were watching downstairs. If anything happened to me, they would have reported it to the authorities! This young master has an outstanding demeanor and such a distinguished follower, so his status must be extraordinary. If the authorities want to investigate, I believe it won't be difficult! Young master, you'd better watch yourself!"
Qingluan was very pleased to hear this. Indeed, he was thoughtful, courageous and resourceful, and even more importantly, fearless of authority. He was exactly the kind of talent she needed!
With a flick of her delicate hand, a nine-dragon pendant, symbolizing the emperor's presence, appeared before the man. He stared at it blankly for a long time, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately knelt down, proclaiming "Long live the emperor!"
Qingluan instructed Qingxi to help him up, saying, "Sir, could you please tell me your name, place of origin, and family situation?"
Upon seeing the Nine Dragon Pendant, even the most foolish person would know that this person was of extraordinary origin and a close confidant of the Emperor.
The scholar in blue robes replied respectfully, "I am Wang Chenglin, a native of Pi County. My parents have both passed away, leaving me all alone. This year, I have come to the capital to take the imperial examination, hoping to be selected by the Emperor to serve the court."
"Now that you have seen the Nine Dragon Pendant, you know my identity. Are you willing to serve me?"
"I am ready to obey your orders, sir."
“Very well. What you said earlier is correct. His Majesty has only been on the throne for a short time and his foundation is not yet stable. Now, Prime Minister Wei is wielding power, acting perversely and committing all sorts of evil deeds, which greatly troubles His Majesty. I have a plan that can help His Majesty, but this matter is quite difficult and may be risky. If the plan fails, neither His Majesty nor I have ever met you?” Qingluan said, looking at Wang Chenglin.
Wang Chenglin understood, his expression shifting uncertainly, before finally replying firmly after a long pause: "This student is willing to give his life to share your burdens!"
"Very well, come closer!"
...
After arranging Wang Chenglin's tasks, Qingluan breathed a sigh of relief and said to Qingxi, "Send a few people to protect him. The Imperial Guards will also be under his command. If they need anything, find a way to provide it first, and then report to the Emperor later." She paused for a moment and then added, "You go and protect him yourself. My plan cannot fail. I cannot fully trust this person yet. Do you understand what I mean?" Qingxi replied that she understood and then went out to find Wang Chenglin.
Seeing Qingxi leave, Zhi Qiu asked again, "Master, what are we doing now?"
"Wait," Qingluan said calmly.
While explaining her plan to Wang Chenglin, Qingluan was even more pleased with him, as Wang Chenglin had discovered several minor flaws and offered suggestions to remedy them. Since he possessed such talent, the plan's chances of success were greatly increased. Moreover, the plan's success was related to his life and fortune; how could he not exert himself fully!
Now that everything is arranged, let's just wait and see what happens!
After paying for the tea, Qingluan stood up, and the group slowly descended the stairs, preparing to return to the palace. In the next private room, a man dressed entirely in white caught Qingluan's attention. He was sipping tea alone, leisurely and content. Though dressed in white, a color symbolizing purity, he exuded a captivatingly sinister aura. A silver mask covered half of his face, obscuring the upper half, revealing only his ethereal and extraordinary presence, not his features. His figure seemed somewhat familiar, but Qingluan quickly went through the names of people she knew, confirming that this man did not exist.
Qingluan frowned, sensing something was amiss, and turned to Zhiqiu, instructing, "Have someone investigate his background." Zhiqiu nodded.
As expected, Wang Chenglin secretly contacted over a dozen scholars and began his operation. A rumor began circulating among the people that Prime Minister Wei was no longer content with being second only to the emperor and was preparing to depose him and take his place. This rumor grew increasingly believable, even the design of the dragon robe the prime minister had prepared became a topic of conversation. Like a tiger formed by three men, the rumor spread so widely that some even secretly went to the prime minister's residence to pledge their allegiance, hoping Prime Minister Wei would appreciate and promote them as founding heroes.
Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Prime Minister Wei was pale and trembling with anger. His trusted steward hurriedly stepped forward to advise him, "My lord, such rumors are nothing but nonsense; the Emperor surely won't believe them!"
Prime Minister Wei's expression softened slightly, and he said, "What do you know? Although I am the Emperor's maternal uncle, what is the most taboo thing for a ruler? It is the unruly subordinates. Now I hold great power in the court, and my daughter stands out in the harem. If my daughter gives birth to a prince in the future, it is hard to guarantee that the Emperor will not become suspicious of me. Now—in order to protect my family, it seems that I have no choice but to step down!"
Seeing Prime Minister Wei deep in thought, the steward dared not disturb him and simply stayed quietly by his side.
The following day, Prime Minister Wei submitted a memorial, stating that he was old and hoped that the emperor would allow him to retire to his hometown. Between life and power, he would naturally choose life.
"Haha, Wang Chenglin is indeed quite capable, and your idea is even more brilliant! It allowed me to solve this major problem without shedding a drop of blood!" Jun Yifeng was very pleased. "Whatever reward you want, I'll give it to you!"
Seeing him happy, Qingluan was also delighted: "My wish is for you to achieve your goal of unifying the country as soon as possible."
“Okay, if you ever remember needing anything, just tell me. This promise is valid forever!” Jun Yifeng’s eyes were full of smiles.
With this, Jun Yifeng finally cleared away the obstacles in the court and became the emperor with real power, no longer subject to the constraints of others. Ye Zhanqing and Wang Chenglin, having made great contributions in this war without gunpowder, succeeded Linghu Hongyu and Wei Zhili as the new Grand General and Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The atmosphere in the court was completely renewed.
Recalling Wang Chenglin's surprised expression when they went to the Imperial Study to discuss matters that day, Qingluan chuckled to herself. He never expected that she was actually a woman!
A few days later, Wang Chenglin sent a letter to Qingluan through someone, expressing his gratitude for her guidance and promising to never forget it. Qingluan simply smiled faintly and then forgot about it.
That day, Qingluan was sent to investigate the white-robed man. The news Zhi Qiu brought back greatly surprised her; he said he couldn't find anything about him! For an intelligence system as powerful as Dark Night Tower to be completely unable to find any information about that person was truly terrifying. No matter who he was, no matter if the news was good or bad, it shouldn't have given Qingluan this chilling feeling. This person—is far from simple!
However, the plan had now been perfectly executed, and the intended objectives had been achieved. This person was probably unrelated. Qingluan suppressed her doubts and had no choice but to temporarily abandon the investigation. If Qingluan knew that this decision would later lead to a fate worse than death, she would surely have used all her power to pursue the matter to the very end.
☆、Thirteen、Feelings
As usual, they went to the Imperial Study that day. Jun Yifeng pointed to a set of common women's clothing on the table and said to Qingluan, "Go change into this. We won't be looking at memorials today. I'll take you out for a stroll." Qingluan obeyed and went to the next room to change.
Since arriving in Zhou, Qingluan had never explored the capital. Her last trip out of the palace was always a hasty return to report to Jun Yifeng after completing her business. Now that the situation had stabilized, it was understandable that Jun Yifeng wanted to inspect his capital. However, the thought of going out for fun also stirred a flicker of excitement in Qingluan's heart. Although she was shrewd and capable of governing, she was still a young girl in the prime of her life, especially with Jun Yifeng alone! This thought startled Qingluan. Did she really long to be alone with him—not when they were discussing state affairs?
The two changed into casual clothes and left the palace in a small entourage. Unexpectedly, Jun Yifeng brought Qingluan to Tingfeng Water Pavilion again. Jun Yifeng and Qingluan sat in the same elegant seat on the second floor as before. Tomorrow was the special imperial examination, and the scholars were still gathered together, making various guesses about tomorrow's exam questions.
"Is it strange why I brought you here?" Jun Yifeng asked, seeing Qingluan's lack of interest.
Qingluan nodded, her eyes asking a question.
"The purpose of the imperial examination is to select talented people. Those selected through the imperial examination will become the pillars of the country in the future. However, it is difficult to judge a person's true talent based on just one article, which is why I came here," Jun Yifeng explained patiently.
At this point, Qingluan understood Jun Yifeng's plan. This was the largest teahouse in the capital and a gathering place for scholars taking the imperial examinations. Here, they spoke freely, expressed their feelings, and displayed their talents. If one observed carefully from the side, one could truly assess a person's character and learning.
Qingluan was somewhat disappointed to find out they weren't out for fun.
Seeing Qingluan's disappointed look, Jun Yifeng smiled gently. His laughter was like a feather caressing Qingluan's heart. He said, "I'll take you to the market this afternoon."
After spending the morning enjoying tea, Jun Yifeng had indeed discovered a few talented individuals, as well as several good-for-nothing sons of officials. Having achieved his purpose for the day, Jun Yifeng instructed that after lunch they should go to the market.
The market was bustling with activity, selling everything from cosmetics and jade to small handicrafts—a scene of peaceful and prosperous life for the people. Seeing this lively scene, Qingluan couldn't resist buying quite a few things. While she was watching a vendor selling sugar figurines with great interest, she suddenly felt something in her hand. Picking it up, she saw it was a box of rouge. Looking at Jun Yifeng standing opposite her with a bewildered expression, she saw him looking away with a half-smile and saying, "Ningfangtang's rouge is of top quality." Qingluan's heart pounded, and she quickly slipped it into her bosom when no one was looking.
Just then, a man rushed over and bumped into Qingluan. Caught off guard, Qingluan almost fell. Jun Yifeng caught her, and the two looked at each other silently. Jun Yifeng asked, "Have you lost anything?" Qingluan blushed, quickly straightened up, and felt around. Sure enough, the Nine Dragon Pendant she had hidden on her person and hadn't returned to Jun Yifeng was gone. Other things were one thing, but this absolutely couldn't fall into someone else's hands. So everyone quickly went after him.
After chasing them to a secluded corner, the thief stopped running and turned to look at Jun Yifeng and his group who had followed them. A bad feeling crept into Qingluan's heart, and she tugged at Jun Yifeng's sleeve. Sure enough, a dozen or so men in tight-fitting clothes surrounded Jun Yifeng and Qingluan. Jun Yifeng remained as calm as ever: "Who are you? What is your purpose in leading us here? If you have any difficulties, tell me, and perhaps I can help you."
Qingluan understood that Jun Yifeng wanted to negotiate with them, but the other party's identity and purpose were still unclear. Only by knowing what they needed could they escape smoothly.
The thief from before stepped forward; he was clearly the leader of the group. He said, "Haha, Your Majesty, it's not easy for you to leave the palace once in a while. How could we waste such a good opportunity?"
Qingluan was shocked upon hearing this. She had been traveling incognito today, and no one else knew of her whereabouts. Who were these people who knew the Emperor's location? Could it be Wei Zhili? Or…?
Although Jun Yifeng was shocked, he maintained a calm expression.
"Who exactly are you people, and what are your purposes? If you tell me, I will forgive your past mistakes and even reward you," Jun Yifeng said calmly.
"Go ask King Yama when you get to the underworld!" the man said, raising his hand. The others immediately drew their knives and attacked.
Knowing her martial arts skills were too weak, Qingluan dared not rush in. Jun Yifeng quickly shielded her behind him. His martial arts were decent, but even two fists couldn't fight four hands, let alone a dozen top experts. At this moment, Qingluan secretly regretted not bringing Qingxi and the others with her. It seemed she couldn't let this go easily. Qingluan made up her mind to lure the assassins away herself, allowing Yifeng to escape. Her own death wouldn't matter much, but if Jun Yifeng died, the world would surely descend into chaos!
Just as she was about to rush forward, Jun Yifeng knocked back the assassin in front of him with a palm strike, and with his other hand, he pushed Qingluan from behind, sending her onto the opposite rooftop, shouting, "Go quickly, don't worry about me!"
These past few days, I've frequently dreamt of that scene: a chilling atmosphere, a richly dressed young man struggling against a dozen or so men in tight-fitting clothes. Autumn winds swept up fallen leaves, but what fell to the ground wasn't just withered yellow leaves, but also bloodstains! The man's face showed no fear or panic; even with his clothes disheveled and splattered with blood, he strolled about as if in a leisurely garden. On the rooftop lay a girl with tear-streaked face, her hair fluttering in the wind, her eyes filled with anxiety and concern… Suddenly, a sword pierced the man's chest. Qingluan cried out, waking from the dream.
Just thinking about the scene at that time makes Qingluan's heart clench with excruciating pain! If it weren't for the Imperial Guards who were waiting on another street and rushed to her rescue after receiving Qingluan's signal, I really can't imagine what the outcome would have been.
Jun Yifeng was injured, but not fatally. Upon returning to the palace, he ordered his men to investigate the assassins' identities. Some of the assassins were killed on the spot, while others escaped. To expedite Jun Yifeng's treatment, Qingluan instructed the Imperial Guards not to pursue the fleeing enemy and to return to the palace immediately.
Meanwhile, Qingluan, who had returned to the palace, also instructed the people of Dark Night Tower to secretly investigate the assassin's background.
Jun Yifeng was recuperating in his bedchamber. Qingluan, constrained by her status, couldn't visit him often, and was anxious. She could only listen to Zhi Qiu's reports from her spies, and only after learning that he was well did Qingluan feel relieved. Zhi Qiu also handed her a piece of paper, saying that the Emperor had sent it to her. Qingluan unfolded it and read: "All is well, do not worry." So even though he was injured, he was still worried about her. Qingluan's eyes welled up with tears.
Three days later, despite his injuries, Jun Yifeng insisted on attending court. The court officials all praised him, saying that the current emperor was a wise ruler who cared about the people and the affairs of the country! After court, Qingluan waited anxiously in the imperial study. When she saw Jun Yifeng enter, she hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Yifeng, are you alright? Is there anything still wrong?"
Jun Yifeng casually closed the door, turned around and looked tenderly at Qingluan, taking her hand in his. Qingluan shyly tried to pull away, but he held on even tighter. Jun Yifeng's voice was no longer the calm stream it usually was, but rather tinged with passion: "Luan'er, listen to me, I originally planned to tell you my feelings after some time had passed, but after what happened this time, I understand that life is unpredictable. If I don't tell you now, I'm afraid I'll regret it later!"
Two blushes rose on Qingluan's face. She dared not struggle, feeling both worried and hopeful.
Jun Yifeng gazed at Qingluan and continued, "From the moment I saw you in the Imperial Study, I knew my heart could never hold another. But at that time, you were focused on revenge and unwilling to be my concubine. Even though I was heartbroken, I dared not reveal my feelings, for fear of scaring you away. Until that day—" Jun Yifeng's eyes warmed even more, "That day, although we were in danger, seeing you escape safely, my heart was free of all worries. Luan'er, please tell me your feelings. If you still don't have me in your heart, then let's pretend that what we said today was never said, and we can still be like before. However, I'm afraid we can never go back to the way things were—" Jun Yifeng's expression changed from its usual calm, becoming somewhat tense. He became somewhat melancholic as he spoke the last sentence. He gently released Qingluan's hand, no longer looking at her, and quietly sat down to await her answer. Qingluan's mind was in turmoil, and she also sat down to the side. Jun Yifeng did not urge him. He placed the zither horizontally on the table, plucked the strings with his right hand, and pressed the strings with his left to produce notes. After a few simple tunings, a clear and bright sound rose from the "Green Jade" that Jun Yifeng had always kept in the Imperial Study.
There is a beautiful woman, whom I cannot forget once I have seen her. If I do not see her for a day, I am driven mad with longing.
The phoenix soars high, seeking its mate across the four seas. Alas, the fair maiden is not on the eastern wall.
I'll use the zither to express my feelings, to write down my innermost thoughts. When will I be granted permission to meet you, to soothe my anxieties?
I wish to be worthy of your virtue, to walk hand in hand with you. But I cannot fly with you, and thus I perish.
Qingluan's heart trembled with the sound of the zither, "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate"!
The blush that had just faded returned to her cheeks. It wasn't that she felt nothing, but that she had been suppressing it; it wasn't that she wasn't moved, but that she was afraid to face it...
Thoughts swirled in my mind, my heart pounded like a drum in my ears, and the jumbled thoughts in my head gradually flowed into a unified river as the tender and melodious strains of "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate" were sung repeatedly.
Qingluan finally raised her head and looked at Jun Yifeng, who was focused on playing the zither. As if sensing her gaze, he lowered his hands and looked at Qingluan with a smile. The music stopped, and the room fell silent. The two looked at each other in silence. The smile in Jun Yifeng's eyes melted the ice in Qingluan's heart, turning it into a warm current that warmed her whole body.
Qingluan blushed, but said firmly, "I wish to find a single-hearted lover, and stay together until our hair turns white."
Jun Yifeng's eyes were filled with wild joy, but he still suppressed it. He got up and walked closer, slowly kneeling in front of Qingluan, holding her hand, and said, "I will never let you be like Zhuo Wenjun, who 'severed ties with you because she heard you had two minds'."
That day, Jun Yifeng promised Qingluan that he would fulfill her wish of "finding a single-hearted lover and staying together until old age," and that he would abolish the six palaces for her sake, dedicating himself solely to her. The two agreed to hold the coronation ceremony after Qingluan's eighteenth birthday. Although there were still several months to go, there was a great deal to prepare. Jun Yifeng had already instructed the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites to make the preparations, and Qingluan could only wait patiently to become Yifeng's bride.
When the Empress Dowager heard about this, she initially objected, but she couldn't overcome Jun Yifeng's insistence. After a half-day private conversation between Jun Yifeng and the Empress Dowager, she finally changed her mind and stopped objecting. When Qingluan went to pay her respects, the Empress Dowager only gave her a series of detailed instructions, mainly about adhering to the rules for women, serving the Emperor well, and having children for the royal family.
During this time, Jun Yifeng was also considering how to settle the women of the harem. Those who hadn't served him were easy to deal with; they could simply be sent out of the palace. However, those who had served him, especially Consort Ya, who had borne him a daughter, were a different story. Jun Yifeng discussed with Qingluan the possibility of settling them in the Western Six Palaces, where the Dowager Consorts resided. Although the Western Six Palaces were also within the harem, their structure was separate from the main harem due to the status of the residents, and neither side was allowed to enter or leave without permission. By settling them in this way, they would be removed from the harem and never see each other again.