Chapter 5: 5.第5章 深宫1

He looked toward Lan Qingxue with a profound, lingering gaze, thinking silently: *You have suffered, Qingxue. Not only have you delayed your own marriage to maintain my brother's influence, but you also had to travel this long distance with me. Qingxue, what I owe you... I fear I can never repay you in this lifetime.*

As the saying goes, good news travels slowly, but bad news flies a thousand miles. The news of Yue Xiyan succeeding to the position of Empress—standing at the center of the storm and caught in the midst of turmoil—flew back to Lichuan as if it had grown wings.

Inside the Xiaoyue Pavilion, a heavy, depressing atmosphere shrouded the entire room.

Yue Mulin sat silently before the hall, his head lowered as he stared at the letter in his hands. Although his expression was hidden, Lan Jiayi could tell from the rise and fall of his shoulders that he was surely on the verge of a violent rage. The person he had cherished in the palm of his hand since childhood was now being constrained at every turn for his sake, and was even facing such immense threats. This moment was the calm before the storm.

With his fists clenched tightly, he constantly told himself that given her supreme intelligence, protecting her life would absolutely not be a problem. Yet, his heart could not help but be tethered to her. Thinking of the humiliations she had endured, he suddenly loathed his own cowardice and pedantry. He had thought he was doing what was best for her, only to realize he had actually caused her harm.

*Why... why didn't I take her away from the clamor of the mortal world...*

Perhaps a deep breath would calm him down? Thinking this, he put it into action. But he did not know that doing so might only make him more furious. Gradually, his hands began to tremble. Within his complex gaze, pain, anger, and helplessness constantly intertwined. He took a deep breath, wanting to speak but hesitating. Then, with teeth clenched, he struck a small side table with his fist. With a loud *bang*, the small table, crafted from century-old iron birch, shattered into pieces in an instant.

This left Lan Jiayi, standing beside him, truly stunned. Iron birch was the hardest of woods, even more so when a century old. A man in a rage had destroyed it with a single punch. His cultivation had naturally deepened; there was no doubt about that. However, Yue Xiyan's influence on him was truly, truly too great.

That small table, which seemed to represent the "separation of body and soul," did nothing to alleviate his pain. He simply did not know how to vent his fury. That person he cherished like a pearl or a treasure was currently suffering from cold poison, navigating the life-threatening perils of the Imperial Palace; this was something he could not accept no matter what.

"Xiyan... what should I do..." *Xiyan, my Xiyan.*

Tears flowed down his cheeks, and within his pained eyes lay the person he missed with incomparable longing.

As his good brother, Lan Jiayi stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and said comfortingly, "With that girl Qingxue there, Xiyan will surely be safe."

***

Glazed eaves, emerald tiles, and crimson walls.

The sunlight fell, shimmering with golden light.

The vast Fengyi Hall contained not a single valuable object. Compared to her lady's boudoir in Lichuan, this Empress's sleeping palace appeared quite desolate. However, Yue Xiyan did not mind.

The Empress had been formally invested. At this moment, a long line of women stood below, all meticulously dressed concubines. Some were cold and elegant, some charming, some gentle... it could be described as a hundred flowers blooming in all their colors.

This large group of women, with flowery faces, cloud-like hair, and golden hairpins, wore five-colored silk skirts that displayed their graceful postures. Every single pair of eyes was fixed intently on Yue Xiyan, who sat in the high seat of Fengyi Hall. Aside from Zhuang Yayun, all the other concubines were meeting her for the first time. Seeing the legendary enchantress, the women were struck dumb one after another. Those eyes as red as blood, that exceptionally elegant temperament, and that once-in-a-million beauty—some women marveled at her, some envied her, and many more were jealous. Naturally, the latter was the majority.

The autumn wind, laced with floral scents, blew into the hall, making the silk skirts sway like floating clouds.

Zhuang Yayun lowered her eyes to hide the jealousy within them: "This servant leads the sisters of the inner palace to pay respects to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. Long live the Empress, long live, long live, long live!"

Prompted by Consort Yun's call, the women snapped out of it: "Long live the Empress, long live, long live, long live..."

"This Palace knows the rules of the inner palace. Everything shall remain as it was before. My constitution is weak and I cannot be exposed to the wind; therefore, for the coming days, the daily morning salutations shall not be necessary. If the sisters have nothing else to do, you may disperse. This Palace is weary."

Her heart was as clear as a mirror; she knew that certain plays could not be performed by her alone.

The women looked at one another: "This servant takes her leave!"

Watching expressionlessly as the women withdrew, Yue Xiyan slowly reached out, picked up a chess piece, and placed it on the board with a crisp sound. Then, she said softly, "Your Majesty, this servant's chess skills are poor. I venture to invite Your Majesty to a game; I hope Your Majesty will not be stingy with your guidance."

Such provocative words, spoken with such feigned weakness, sounded incredibly desolate. It caused Qin Yihan, who was hiding in the shadows, to knit his brows tightly.

Qin Yihan, who had suddenly appeared in Fengyi Hall, looked at the pale woman with some displeasure: "Must you resist me so much? Put away your thorns. I am not a man without heart or principle. If you are willing to submit, I will do my best to ensure your safety."

He needed an obedient pawn. The woman before him appeared submissive and low-profile, but in reality, her mind was full of schemes that no one could truly fathom. She was a good piece—dangerous yet alluring, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

"May I ask Your Majesty, does this servant have any choice?" The trust of an Emperor was the most ethereal thing in this world. Even the closest and most beloved people appeared insignificant when faced with the empire and power. A ruler required no burdens.

Qin Yihan stepped forward, picked up a white chess piece, and placed it on the board: "What does Xiyan think a nation is established upon?"

Yue Xiyan curled her lips and placed another piece: "Officials."

Seeing that Qin Yihan did not understand, her pale lips continued: "Use corrupt officials to fight corrupt officials. If Your Majesty wants your ministers to risk their lives for you, you must provide sufficient chips. Of course, if the national treasury is tight and there isn't enough money to give them, you must grant them power. With power, corrupt officials will fleece the people, and thus, benefits are created. Because the corrupt officials receive benefits from the power granted by Your Majesty, they must, in order to protect their own interests, uphold imperial authority. Thus, Your Majesty's position can be considered stable. If there were no corrupt officials to uphold the Emperor's regime, how then could the rule be consolidated?"

Having finished, she raised her bright eyes to look seriously at the Emperor before her, slowly placing a piece right next to his, without deviation.

It was as if a sudden enlightenment had struck Qin Yihan. He realized the truth instantly, then asked in confusion, "Since you use corrupt officials, why must you also fight them?"

While they chatted, the game of chess continued without pause.