The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 24: Merit

After taking a short rest, the group from Du Family Village drove the mule cart to the foot of the burial hill in Shangliang Village. Six strong young men unloaded the new coffin from the cart and placed it on a wooden support frame tied together with ropes. Three men on each side lifted the frame and carried it on their shoulders.

At the very front center of the support frame, a hemp rope as thick as a child’s arm was tied. The rest of the group walked ahead in a line, pulling the rope as they climbed the hill together. With their combined effort, they transported the new coffin to the gravesite of Mei Xue’er.

Since no one had visited or maintained the grave for a long time, part of the burial mound had collapsed due to rain, and weeds had grown all over it.

The feng shui master, known as a yin-yang practitioner, had also arrived. Exhuming a grave required strict adherence to ritual—most importantly, the remains must not be exposed to sunlight. Qiu Huanian took out half a bolt of black hemp cloth that had been prepared in advance. Following the direction of the sun, a few people stretched the fabric out and held it up, casting a shadow over the burial mound to block the sunlight.

At the auspicious date and hour, the yin-yang practitioner took out a plow, recited the Breaking Ground Incantation, and made a furrow in the mound’s soil. This marked the official beginning of the excavation. Those who were not otherwise occupied picked up their iron spades and began shoveling away the remnants of the burial mound, one scoop at a time.

Mei Xue’er had been buried in a rushed and careless manner. The group had barely dug a meter deep before they reached the coarse, thin coffin, no thicker than a fingertip.

The coffin was already so corroded that it was on the verge of collapsing. Those with experience carefully lowered ropes into the pit, securely tied the coffin, and gently lifted it onto level ground. The people holding the black hemp cloth coordinated seamlessly, adjusting their positions and angles throughout the process to ensure that no sunlight touched the remains, allowing the deceased to rest undisturbed.

Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian knelt together. A son-in-law was considered half a son, and since Mei Xue’er’s origins were unknown, she had only Qiu Huanian as her sole descendant. At this moment, only the two of them could personally handle Mei Xue’er’s remains.

With no sturdy coffin to protect the body, the remains inside the thin, fragile coffin had already turned into a disordered pile of stark white bones and tattered clothing, appearing pitifully bleak.

Who had she once been? Whose daughter? Whose sister? What places had she visited? What poetry had she read? Now, nothing remained but a scattered heap of bones in the dark earth.

The yin-yang practitioner shook his ritual bell and chanted sutras, his somber and ancient verses echoing through the mountains, startling a few birds into flight.

Qiu Huanian took out a long length of white silk, which he had specially purchased for the occasion. Together with Du Yunse, he solemnly and sorrowfully gathered the bones, carefully wrapping them in the white silk before placing them inside the new, sturdier coffin, adorned with painted decorations.

The coffin lid was closed, nails were driven in to seal it, and the black hemp cloth was put away. But the process was not yet complete.

Since the earth had been disturbed, the Earth Deity had to be placated. Once the people from Du Family Village filled the burial pit and covered the old coffin, the yin-yang practitioner burned yellow paper money at the four corners of the grave and in the position dedicated to the Earth Deity, chanting the Peaceful Rest Incantation. Only then was the ritual in Shangliang Village officially completed.

Under the bright sunlight, the mule cart carrying the new coffin with Mei Xue’er’s remains departed from Shangliang Village. Qiu Huanian instinctively turned his head back to look. That village, which was forever imprinted in the original owner’s memories, slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.

Once they left, perhaps they would never return again.

More than half an hour later, the mule cart arrived at the burial hill of Du Family Village. The new gravesite had already been chosen by the yin-yang practitioner two days prior. The ground had been broken, and the burial pit had been dug in advance. As per Qiu Huanian’s instructions, the site was selected for its tranquil surroundings, nestled in a quiet and secluded location with scenic mountains and flowing water. From there, one could see the grave of Widow Li.

The others did not understand why Qiu Huanian insisted on this location, but only he knew—it was because the cenotaph of the original owner in this world was also there.

At the next auspicious hour, the yin-yang practitioner repeated the ritual process. The sturdy, painted coffin was covered with black hemp cloth and lowered into a burial pit over two meters deep. The high mound of soil was watered and compacted into a new burial mound, and a wooden tombstone was erected, bearing the inscription:

“Grave of the Late Mother, Mei Xue’er.”

Only then was everything finally settled.

(Note 1: Since Mei Xue’er’s reasons for concealing her identity were still unclear, the name Mei Zhengchun could not be used for now.)

After burning the yellow and spirit money, the group walked back toward the village along the mountain path. Midway, a fine, misty drizzle suddenly began to fall—so light that it did not even wet their clothes, yet it dampened Qiu Huanian’s fluttering eyelashes.

By the time they returned to the village, the unexpected drizzle had already stopped, vanishing as suddenly as it had appeared—just like a soft sigh from a distant place.

While Qiu Huanian had been away, Hu Qiuyan had taken full charge of preparing the banquet. She had Yun Kang and Chunsheng keep watch at the village entrance. As soon as they saw the grave relocation group returning, they ran to inform her.

Upon arriving home, Qiu Huanian found that ten tables and a pile of wooden benches had already been set up inside and outside the courtyard. Most of them had been borrowed from other households.

Since the two stoves in the house were not enough, Hu Qiuyan had borrowed several more from neighbors. As soon as she heard they were back, the village women tending the stoves began cooking all at once. In no time, the feast was ready and served.

Qiu Huanian invited everyone to take their seats and expressed his gratitude to all who had helped with the grave relocation. The previous day, he and Du Yunse had personally visited the clan elder to invite him. The clan elder also gave a brief speech at the banquet, signaling that the estrangement between the two families, which had started because of Madam Zhao, was now temporarily put to rest.

Some of the dishes were common at rural banquets in Zhang County, while others had been adapted by Qiu Huanian himself. Though simple, they were full of color, aroma, and flavor, making the villagers relish every bite.

The sticky rice sweet dumplings, generously filled with white sugar and red dates, were snatched up by the children in an instant. The milky-white, rich-flavored corn bone soup became the talk of the banquet, with people repeatedly asking Qiu Huanian for the recipe.

Corn was abundant in rural areas, and bones were far cheaper than meat. Even if good dishes were unaffordable, this soup was something they could try making at home.

With this banquet, the final step of the grave relocation ritual was formally completed. In ancient rural society, this meant that Qiu Huanian’s divorce and his act of moving his mother’s grave had now been publicly acknowledged and accepted.

They remained busy until the sunset bathed the sky in warm hues. Only then did Qiu Huanian and the others finish washing and returning all the borrowed dishes, bowls, tables, and benches.

After tidying up the kitchen, he set aside the leftovers that were still edible and distributed them to those who had helped with cooking and cleaning. Finally, he closed the courtyard gate, exhausted.

Corn was everywhere in the countryside, and bones were much cheaper than meat. Other good dishes were unaffordable, but after asking about the recipe, this soup could still be made at home.

After this banquet, the final step of the grave-moving ceremony was completed. In ancient rural society, this meant that Qiu Huanians’ separation from his mother and the grave-moving matter had been made clear to the public, gaining formal recognition in terms of propriety.

They were busy until the sunset painted the sky. Finally, Qiu Huanian and the helpers finished washing and returning all the borrowed bowls, chopsticks, tables, and benches.

After tidying up the stove, he separated the leftovers that were still edible and gave them to the people who had cooked and washed the dishes. Then, exhausted, he shut the courtyard gate.

Du Yunse carried clean water and heated it. The two of them took turns bathing in the large wooden tub, then rested under the big pear tree while their hair dried.

The moon had risen high, and its clear glow filled the ground. Jiujiu and Chunsheng were already asleep. Qiu Huanian idly played with his long, jet-black hair, lowering his voice as he said, “The grave-moving ceremony cost a total of two taels and five qian of silver. We’ll have to tighten our spending for the next month. Otherwise, you won’t have enough money to travel to the provincial capital for the academy exam.”

The coffin had cost one tael, and the white satin for wrapping the bones had cost seven qian of silver—these were the two biggest expenses. The rest, including hiring the yin-yang master, buying food for the banquet, and purchasing black hemp fabric, added up to eight qian of silver in total.

At present, the family’s savings were down to just over one tael of silver. If it weren’t for Meng Wudong securing several channels for exporting sorghum candy in the past few days, ensuring that Qiu Huanian’s daily income stabilized at over 150 wen, Qiu Huanian wouldn’t have dared to spend so much.

Qiu Huanian calculated one item at a time. “If we save 120 wen per day, there’s still over a month before your exam, so we should be able to save more than three taels of silver. The cost of travel and lodging in the provincial capital should just barely be covered.”

“The only unknown is the cost of social engagements. The scholars who pass the exam with you will be your future network. You’ll need to host some meals and build connections.”

As Qiu Huanian spoke, he absentmindedly twirled his fingers through his own hair. By the time he noticed, the ends had already knotted together, and he tugged a few times but couldn’t undo them.

Unable to watch any longer, Du Yunse gently took his long, silky black hair and patiently untangled it strand by strand.

“You don’t have to work so hard. You should do things according to your means. True friends are about quality, not quantity. There’s no need to associate with superficial ones.”

Qiu Huanian nodded in agreement, following the motion of his hands. He wasn’t the type to deprive himself just to save money. The reason he planned to save only 120 wen per day was to leave 30 wen for daily expenses—to improve their meals and maintain a decent quality of life.

The whole point of hard work was to live well; there was no reason to put the cart before the horse.

Among the four people at home, Jiujiu and Chunsheng were still growing children, and Du Yunse had to both study and do labor-intensive work, taxing both his body and mind. Qiu Huanian himself was busy from morning to night, so their diet and nutrition had to keep up.

The two half-grown hens that Qiu Huanian bought when he first arrived had already started laying eggs. The household had plenty of grain, and Jiujiu and Chunsheng frequently gathered wild greens. The chicken coop had ample feed, so the hens laid more eggs—at least four a day, sometimes even five or six.

Their current standard of living allowed each person one egg per day. Every meal included tofu, staple foods were a mix of white rice and wheat flour, and they ate meat every five days.

With Qiu Huanian’s careful planning, Jiujiu and Chunsheng were both growing strong and healthy, their hair dark and their skin fair. Under Du Yunse’s patient guidance, they were also developing refined manners, carrying themselves with increasing poise. Hu Qiuyan often joked that even a landlord’s family might not raise children this well.

A few days ago, someone had even come to discuss a marriage proposal for Jiujiu, which startled Qiu Huanian so much that he quickly turned them down, stating outright that he wouldn’t consider such matters for several years.

Jiujiu was still a little girl, not even ten years old—wasn’t this far too early?

Du Yunse gently unraveled the last of Qiu Huanian’s tangled hair. The silky strands slipped through his fingertips, stirring an inexplicable itch in his heart.

He looked up at Qiu Huanian and found that at some point, the other man had leaned back against his chair and dozed off. A few white pear blossoms drifted down, landing on his brow, covering the vivid red mark at the center of his forehead.

Du Yunse couldn’t help but reach out, wanting to brush away the petals. Just as his fingers were about to touch the sleeping beauty’s brow, Qiu Huanian suddenly stirred and drowsily opened his eyes.

Du Yunse curled his fingers back and withdrew his hand.

“You’re tired, so go rest. You’ve been busy all day—sleep in a little tomorrow morning.”

Qiu Huanian yawned, too sleepy to register what Du Yunse had just been doing. He nodded and groggily walked back to the left-side room.

A few days later, the cotton seedlings in the nursery trays had grown enough to be transplanted; they would soon outgrow the trays.

Qiu Huanian busied himself plowing and fertilizing three mu of land. The single-person plow hadn’t worked out, but with the help of a mule and his reinforced curved-beam plow, the overall labor was still reduced severalfold.

He first spread a layer of farmhouse compost mixed with wood ash as a base fertilizer, then had the mule pull the curved-beam plow through the land several times, turning the weeds into natural fertilizer. Finally, he divided the field into ridges and furrows, completing the preparation.

Du Yunse spent half the day reading and the other half working in the fields. The clan leader’s family had plenty of hands, so after finishing their own acre of cotton, they came over to help. With everyone pitching in, the three acres were soon ready.

Qiu Huanian wanted to pay the helpers, but they all refused—after all, just learning how to grow cotton from him was invaluable.

That day, after checking the condition of the seedlings, Qiu Huanian was about to pick a day to transplant them when he suddenly received a message from the county magistrate, Wang.

“Magistrate Wang wants us to go to the county office tomorrow?” Qiu Huanian put the nursery tray back in place. “Did the messenger say what it’s about?”

“Magistrate Wang said he’d explain when we arrive,” Du Yunse replied while fetching water for him to wash his hands. “It’s probably about the human trafficking case—it must finally be closed.”

Qiu Huanian’s eyes brightened. Not long after Qiu Chuanzong and Zhou Shi were released, they were arrested again along with Qiu Fu and Qiu Gui. Qiu Huanian had been worried about unexpected complications, but now, at last, it seemed everything had been settled.

The next day, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse set aside their work and drove the mule cart to Zhang County’s magistrate office.

When Magistrate Wang met them at midday, he looked thinner than before but in excellent spirits, smiling as he said, “Yunse, thanks to you, I’ve made a great achievement this time!”

Seeing their confusion, he stroked his beard and explained the confidential details.

It turned out that a noblewoman from a neighboring county had been searching for a younger ge’er kidnapped over a decade ago. When interrogating the captured traffickers, Magistrate Wang uncovered leads. The case had to be urgently reported up the chain to the capital, and now that the matter was out of his hands, he could finally inform them.

Because the outcome was still uncertain, there was no immediate reward, but Magistrate Wang assured them that once the verdict and rewards came down, he would inform them at once.

As they left, he mentioned that the rescued Ge’er’s family had been eager to thank them. Since the case had now been made public, they could finally meet.

The family, surnamed Wei, owned a seasoning shop and a sauce-making workshop in the county. The rescued boy had been their youngest son.

“The old lady of the house had stopped eating and drinking since Li Ge’er went missing. If not for your help, we wouldn’t have known what to do!”

After being kidnapped once, Li Ge’er was frightened and kept his head down without speaking. After he paid respects to his benefactors, Wei Dexing waved his hand and dismissed him.

Qiu Huanian observed coldly, sensing that Wei Dexing did not care much about Li Ge’er. Moreover, from his words, it was clear that his main interest was Du Yunse. Qiu Huanian immediately understood the situation.

It was likely that County Magistrate Wang’s attitude had made Wei Dexing believe that the person who saved Li Ge’er was someone extraordinary, which was why he insisted on thanking them in person. Rather than showing gratitude for saving his child, he was more interested in seizing an opportunity to form connections.

Du Yunse also noticed this and responded indifferently.

After chatting for a while, Wei Dexing discreetly glanced at Qiu Huanian several times before forcing a smile and inquiring, “May I ask where the other benefactor is residing now? I would like to know so that I can send my gratitude.”

Meeting his gaze, Qiu Huanian smiled. “Young Master Wu has not sent back any news, so we do not know either. Why don’t you give us the gift together, and when we hear from him, we can find someone to deliver it?”

In reality, Wu Shen had already sent a letter through a traveling merchant, informing Du Yunse of his residence and current situation, but there was no need to disclose this to someone with ulterior motives.

Wei Dexing continued to probe, subtly inquiring whether Wu Shen was married, but Du Yunse did not respond, leaving Wei Dexing disappointed.

Sensing the unpleasant atmosphere, Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian stood up to leave after just ten minutes. Seeing that his scheme had failed, Wei Dexing did not insist on them staying and instead had his family present the gifts of gratitude.

The gifts included a string of copper coins wrapped in red paper, a bolt of cotton cloth, half a jin each of vinegar, soy sauce, and salt, as well as a small jar of the trendy red fermented bean curd. Wu Shen was also given an identical set.

Though the gifts seemed abundant, their total market value was less than two taels of silver. Many of the items came from the Wei family’s own condiment shop, making their actual cost even lower. It was far less than what Wei Dexing had initially planned to give.

If not for the fact that he had used gratitude as an excuse, and fearing that County Magistrate Wang might question him, Wei Dexing would not have even bothered to send these gifts.

“My son, Li Ge’er, is still unmarried. Please do not spread word of his kidnapping, lest it affects his chances of finding a husband.”

“The city folks have more concerns compared to those in villages, where Ge’ers can wander about without issue.”

This statement carried an implicit jab at Qiu Huanian for lacking propriety. Du Yunse’s brows furrowed slightly, but before he could react, Qiu Huanian had already chuckled.

“The customs in the city are indeed numerous, unlike in our villages, where if we hear stray dogs barking, we simply chase them away with a stick.”

Wei Dexing’s face turned ashen. Du Yunse cast a gentle look at Qiu Huanian before nodding at Wei Dexing. “We have received your gifts, and our debt of gratitude is settled. There’s no need for further contact in the future. Why assume we are gossipy people?”

Once the two of them had disappeared out the door, Wei Dexing could no longer hold back and let out a heavy snort. Wei Li, who had been hiding in the back, came out and silently served him tea.

Seeing his youngest son’s face only fueled Wei Dexing’s anger. Both he and his wife had average looks, yet by some stroke of luck, they had given birth to a particularly delicate and attractive son. As Wei Li grew older, Wei Dexing’s ambitions expanded.

He had no intention of letting Wei Li marry into an ordinary family. His only goal was to secure a powerful connection. If an opportunity arose, he was even willing to send Wei Li to become a concubine in a noble household.

Unfortunately, the county magistrate, Wang Chuci, was too old and had no interest in beauty, leaving Wei Dexing with no way to arrange anything. As for other influential figures, he had no access to them.

When Wei Li was kidnapped, Wei Dexing had first been furious, believing the incident would ruin his plans. But after inquiring from the magistrate and others at the county office, he learned that the person who saved Wei Li was no ordinary man—one of them was even a young seventh-rank military officer. Suddenly, he saw a golden opportunity.

A hero rescuing a beauty—what better reason was there for repaying the kindness with marriage?

Compared to Du Yunse, who was merely a scholar and already engaged, Wu Shen was a much more suitable target for Wei Dexing’s ambitions. But unfortunately, Wu Shen had already left for the northeastern border, and his exact whereabouts were unknown. Wei Dexing had hoped to extract this information from Du Yunse, but both he and his husband refused to reveal a single word.

How dare a mere Ge’er interrupt the conversation between men?

With a furious expression, Wei Dexing slammed his teacup onto the ground. The scalding tea splashed onto Wei Li’s hands, turning his fair skin red in an instant. Tears welled up in Wei Li’s eyes, but he did not dare utter a single word. Yet, Wei Dexing’s anger still did not subside.

“It’s all your fault, you useless thing! If you had woken up back then and clung to that military officer, I wouldn’t have had to waste my efforts!”

…

After leaving the Wei household, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse headed to the city’s Wan Shi Escort Agency to send a package to Wu Shen. This escort agency had several branches in the northeast, and Wu Shen’s last letter had been delivered through them. The head of the agency even seemed to have some personal ties with Wu Shen.

Because seasonings were inconvenient to transport, Qiu Huanian only sent Wu Shen copper coins and cotton cloth, along with an additional two hundred wen in cash. Du Yunse borrowed paper and brush to write a short letter to Wu Shen explaining the reason.

When the people at the escort bureau heard that they were delivering things to Wu Shen, they refused to accept any money no matter what. “Our Escort Chief specifically instructed us last time that, whether Young General Wu is sending something to others or others are sending things to him, in Wan Shi Escort Bureau, there is no need to pay. You two need not be so polite.”

“From here to Jing Shan Garrison, where Young General Wu is stationed, it takes only five days by fast horse. We are very familiar with the route, and we will make sure to deliver both the items and the letter safely. You can rest assured!”

As they stepped out of the escort bureau, Qiu Huanian smiled and said, “Wu Shen has already made good friends at the border so quickly. That’s really impressive.”

Du Yunse nodded. “He has always been skilled at forging bonds of loyalty, and the northeastern border still carries much of his father’s lingering influence. Naturally, he moves like a fish in water.”

If not for this, the Emperor would not have placed Wu Shen in this position like a piece on the chessboard.

“That Boss Wei just now clearly has his eyes on Wu Shen, wanting him as a golden son-in-law, yet he looks down on us two villagers. His words were filled with arrogance.”

Du Yunse never cared about others looking down on him, but when such a gaze fell upon Hua-ge’er, it made him extremely displeased. “Did that make you feel wronged?”

Qiu Huanian smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t say wronged, just… I realized something.”

Back in the village and town, the feeling was not so obvious, but today, after meeting a wealthy household from the county, Qiu Huanian finally became fully aware of the many limitations and helpless realities that “ge’er” faced in this era.

Although the Yu Dynasty was relatively open-minded, the unreasonable oppression against women and ge’er still persisted. Qiu Huanian could only strive to make himself more confident, to protect the people he cared about, and to always remember who he was.

…

A thousand miles away, within the imperial palace, the nearly fifty-year-old Emperor Yuanhua, still vigorous like a dragon and tiger, set down the memorial in his hand.

The chief eunuch, Wen Xing, who had served the Emperor for many years, immediately stepped forward and softly reminded, “Would Your Majesty like to rest for a while and have a bowl of Hundred-Flavored Harmony Soup?”

Emperor Yuanhua closed his eyes and gave a slight hum. “Hundred-Flavored Harmony Soup? Who sent it?”

“It was sent by Consort Kang. She does not dare to disturb Your Majesty and is still waiting outside the hall. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

“I was just reviewing a memorial concerning her younger brother. Let her come in.”

Wen Xing responded and personally stepped out of the hall to invite Consort Kang in.

This woman, once a country beauty presented to the Emperor by Prince Pingxian over a decade ago, was now nearing forty, yet she remained exquisitely beautiful. Years of palace life had bestowed upon her an air of grace and nobility, making her resemble a vivid peony in full bloom, standing alone by the carved balustrades.

Emperor Yuanhua excused her from formal greetings and granted her a seat before him. “I have already ordered the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough investigation of this case. There will be results soon. Your family has few members, and once your younger brother is found, I will grant him a duke title to ease your worries.”

Consort Kang stood up and expressed her gratitude.

Emperor Yuanhua continued, “In a few days, it will be the day to leave the palace and perform the sacrificial rites to the Sun God at the Ritan Altar. This year, you shall accompany me.”

Standing by the palace doors, Consort Kang’s senior palace maid, Cailian, kept her head down as she listened, barely able to contain her shock.

A brother being granted a duke tilte and an invitation to the Sun God sacrifice—these were honors befitting an empress!

Since the passing of the former empress, the Emperor had never spoken of establishing a new empress. Even among the consorts who bore imperial sons, none had ever received such privileges.

The Emperor was not yet old, Consort Kang enjoyed his undivided favor, and the Crown Prince, having lost imperial favor due to the Jiangnan faction incident, was now confined in the Eastern Palace. If Consort Kang could conceive, securing the position of Empress—and even Empress Dowager in the future—was not impossible!

If Prince Pingxian learned of this, he would surely be overjoyed…

Compared to Cailian’s excitement, Consort Kang remained composed and gracefully thanked the Emperor, showing no trace of ambition.

After a few more words, Emperor Yuanhua waved his hand, dismissing her.

Several dozen meters away from Jingshen Hall, Cailian could no longer hold back and said, “Congratulations, Your Highness! After the Sun God sacrifice and the duke title for your brother, you will be the undisputed first among all the consorts of the inner palace!”

Consort Kang merely smiled faintly. “Do not speak recklessly.”

She looked at the senior palace maid who had accompanied her from Prince Pingxian’s manor and had served her for over ten years.

She buried all her emotions and thoughts deep within.

Duke titles, Sun God sacrifices, the highest rank among the consorts—she cared for none of it.

She only remembered, deep in her heart, who her true enemy was, and for that, she would endure for a lifetime without yielding.

A young eunuch ran out from Jingshen Hall, and upon seeing him, Cailian stopped speaking.

The young eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and relayed the Emperor’s message.

“His Majesty instructs Your Highness that, in the memorial from Zhang County’s magistrate, Du Yunse and Wu Shen are noted to have rendered meritorious service and should be rewarded. However, since their mentors are still under punishment, they must not be granted excessive rewards. Your Highness may bestow practical items such as books and weapons instead.”

After the young eunuch left, Cailian shook her head and chuckled softly. “General Wu and Grand Scholar Wen must have truly offended His Majesty deeply. He even specifically ordered that their juniors must not be rewarded too generously, lest Your Highness be too generous and allow them a comfortable life.”

Consort Kang said nothing and continued walking toward her palace.

After over a decade of serving the Emperor, she knew this ruler better than anyone.

This Emperor, who had fought his way to the throne over the corpses of his brothers, would never send out such an order merely because he disliked Wu Dingshan and Wen Huiyang.

He was performing a play for those who wished to see it.

Beyond that, those seemingly insignificant individuals, Du Yunse and Wu Shen, had already become knives in the Emperor’s view.

That was why he would not allow anyone to interfere with the sharpening of his blades, nor permit any outsiders to grant them favors.

As for who the chosen wielder of these blades would be—Consort Kang could guess, but she would never say it aloud.

The “Kang” in her imperial title was taken from the name of the late Empress. Many people knew that she remained in the Emperor’s favor because she resembled the former Empress.

But they seemed to forget—

The Crown Prince, who was now stripped of his wings and confined in the Eastern Palace, was the former Empress’s only child.

Author’s Note:

Note 1: The tomb-visiting ritual in the text is adapted from the customs of the author’s hometown.

Note 2: The palace layout in the text is based on the Ming Imperial Palace in Nanjing.