A jump in time, and the yinshi [1] gong had just sounded; Jiang Changbai, attired neatly, was sitting in a side hall in the depths of the Palace. The early autumn morning was a bit chilly, and the breeze that swept through the corridor made the asparagus ferns rustle. The head spy, attired in inky, close-fitted clothing, knelt before Jiang Changbai, forehead pressed against the gold-threaded velvet rug. "Reporting to Bixia, last night at three quarters past zishi, this subject saw the Regent enter the relay station." Jiang Changbai's hand paused, and the next moment, she set the cup of still steaming tea onto the desk. Her expression was filled with a ferocity, the pressure such that even the candle flames darkened a degree. "Explain carefully." The spy's throat bobbed, and cold sweat rose on her forehead without her realising it. "You said that, without your permission, no one was allowed into the station. This subject and a few sisters have been hidd...

The autumn arrived earlier at the Western border than it did in the capital; in the capital, there still remained some of the warmth of the summer, but the atmosphere of the Western border already carried the nip of chill. The grit was swept about by the whistling North wind, roiling over the endless steppes. Even the grasses with more tenacious life bowed their heads, the heavens pressed extremely low, as if about to pelt down at the very next moment. Though it was midday, the skies were still dim. There was only a few muddy, copper lights, which were cast upon the tents. The was the border between the Great Li and Shejin. With the years of disturbances by Shejin, the commoners who'd originally lived here had all already moved to places closer to the interior, and for dozens of years, it had been desolate and unpopulated. But since Jiang Changbai had ascended the throne, she'd sent troops to set up camp here, and gradually, some commoners who'd found it impossible to make ...

Hearing this, Su Ya's pupils suddenly shrank, and only now did she realise that the features of the person before her were incredibly similar to those of the younger sister she'd chosen to send to the Great Li to form a marriage alliance. But the cheeks of the person before her were full, and her skin was a healthy light brown—how did she resemble at all the thin figure from three years ago, who didn't speak and always shrank into the shadow of the wall, eyes lowered? "Liang Jiwen?" Su Ya asked, disbelievingly. Only now did Liang Jiwen smile. "So Wangjie does recognise me." Su Ya had never purposefully scrutinised this younger sister of hers; residing together in the Shejin Royal Palace for so many years together, her impression of Liang Jiwen was only that of the day she'd left the Palace. At the time, she'd laughed at Liang Jiwen for being foolish, that, being about to step into the lion's den, she'd still smiled so happily. At the tim...

Hearing this, Liang Jiwen startled, feeling as if her eardrums were practically being shattered by the hammering of her heart. Why would Jiang Changbai suddenly summon her? Could it be that Xie Qianbing had revealed what they'd talked about that afternoon to Jiang Changbai? But— Liang Jiwen clenched her hands, her fingernails practically biting into the flesh of her palms. The sound of the hour travelled from outside Rongfan palace, twilight encroaching on the window lattice, and casting scattered shadows beneath Qing Huai's palace attire. At this moment, Qing Huai was standing with her head bowed, and the silver ornaments in her hair shone faintly with a white light. Liang Jiwen looked at Qing Huai from the corner of her eyes, and suddenly remembered the way she'd looked the countless times she'd seen her before It had been like now as well. With Liang Jiwen not showing the intent to leave, Qing Huai finally couldn't help but urge, "Dianxia, please follow afte...

The early autumn afternoon was still hot, the sun hung high in the heavens, but it was, in the end, clearly in slight decline. Xie Qianbing's residence wasn't much more luxurious than Lin Yingqing's, and in the courtyard, not even an ornamental Taihu boulder could be found. Liu Zihe had been shackled and jailed, and Xie Qianbing took the position of Minister of Appointments without need for doubt. In this time, it could even be said that the Xie residence's door was as busy as a marketplace, every person with some power extending their hands. But she wouldn't see a single one. Those people gradually realised that she was an impassable road, and withdrew their cordiality. But the Xie residence had only been peaceful for a few days when another unexpected guest visited. "How is it that Dianxia has the time to find me today?" Xie Qianbing was a bit puzzled, but she still courteously poured a cup of tea for Liang Jiwen. Liang Jiwen didn't have a title of n...

At that time, Lin Yingqing had only just become Minister of Revenue, and the previous Minister of Revenue whom she'd replaced, Zhang Yaozu, had been Liu Zihe's good friend. Zhang Yaozu had died due to being too addled; at the time, Liu Zihe had a monopoly on the Ministry of Appointments, and Wu Dongmu had monopolised the Ministry of War, and though they were able to cover the heavens with a single hand, they weren't able to sway Emperor Tai's personal interest. As for Zhan Yaozu, he'd been foolish to the point of treating the Ministry of Revenue's purse as his own, and he lived his life extravagantly, without the slightest frugality. It was such that when Emperor Tai had wanted to built a new palace, the Ministry of Revenue hadn't been able to provide the money. Emperor Tai had been furious, executing Zhang Yaozu's family to the ninth degree, and only thus had Lin Yingqing been able to take the position. The instant Lin Yingqing became the Minister of Re...

When the group came to the doors of the Lin residence, the sun was already setting. This house was at the very end of the street, and it was even more distant from urban area of the city, and so even it was the time when everyone was returning home, they didn't disturb anyone. It wasn't clear how, but when the palanquin leaned closer to this side, the group could more or less catch the scent of bitter herbs. The remnants of the sunlight drew the shadows of the locust trees long, and the copper of the bells on the lacquered door was faded. The wood of the door was of the plainest quality, and the two characters of "Lin Residence" on the plaque were quite spirited, but the ink had long since faded a bit. Helping Jiang Changbai down from the palanquin, Xun Zhu was about to go and knock on the door without even thinking about it. But before she could step closer to that closed door, Jiang Changbai called her to a halt, and she lowered her voice and said, "Wait a mome...