Sitting across from Ming Zhang at that moment, head lowered as he gently blew across the tea leaves in his cup, was none other than Li Xuanjing!
Everyone thought that with the Northern Di invading and Changyun Prefecture in danger, the Heir Apparent would have rushed back the moment he received the news. There was no way he could still be sitting calmly in the capital.
Yet here he was, very much present, with not the slightest hint of urgency on his face.
“He was nothing more than a merchant,” Li Xuanjing said with a faint smile. “Relying on that little bit of his ancestors’ achievements, he dared to dream of climbing higher. I merely cut off such foolish hopes early. After all, the Xu family has four sons. What if they refused to give up?”
“Is that really all?” Ming Zhang raised an eyebrow. He showed no hesitation despite the man opposite him being the Qin Heir, his gaze instead growing sharper, “As Your Highness said, he was merely a merchant. How could he truly pose a threat to you? So what was the real reason he had to be killed?”
“Someone who coveted what is mine. Am I not allowed to remove him?” Li Xuanjing let out a cold snort. “Besides, with this commotion, King Yan will also rein in his plans for Yihuan’s marriage, allowing me to focus on getting through this busy period in peace.”
“Your Highness, you know how risky it is for me to choose to join forces with you. Shouldn’t you show some sincerity?”
“Sincerity?” Li Xuanjing’s expression changed slightly, his eyes darkening. “My willingness to meet you in person is already the greatest sincerity.”
As he spoke, Li Xuanjing set his teacup down heavily on the table, splashing a little of the tea. “Ming Zhang, with the loyalty you bear toward Li Xuanming, the fact that you are willing to work with me at all, how much do you think I can truly trust you?”
“You once said that although what you and I seek is different, our paths ultimately lead to the same end. My reason is just that simple.” Ming Zhang’s expression grew even calmer, yet a visible restraint flickered in his eyes.
“Ming Zhang, is this what you call sincerity?” Li Xuanjing knew that Ming Zhang cared deeply for Li Xuanming. He had indeed intended to exploit this to take Yan Yihuan away from Li Xuanming’s side. Yet a vague unease lingered in his mind. Something felt off. Ming Zhang’s purpose seemed to go beyond that alone.
“Since we are to work together, shouldn’t you also be more honest?”
At this, Ming Zhang smiled and shook his head, looking rather helpless. “I have indeed told the truth, it’s only that Your Highness does not believe it. But having come this far, I have no way back. I might as well explain everything to you.”
“I have been by his side since childhood. I always believed he would never become emperor. So I spent my days thinking that once he was enfeoffed as a lord and left the capital, I would go with him. There would be no need to remain bound to a fief. With such vast lands under heaven, we could go wherever we wished.” Ming Zhang gave a self-mocking smile. “I truly thought he had no desire for the throne. Yet whether by coincidence or by design, he became Crown Prince, and then, without warning, Emperor. At that point, there was no longer any room to turn back.”
Although the two sat under the same roof, sharing a pot of tea, neither could truly trust the other. Naturally, Li Xuanjing did not believe that Ming Zhang would genuinely ally with him.
“Just because you wish to travel the mountains and rivers with him?” Li Xuanjing sneered. “Such a reason is absurd and laughable.”
“Because I need to…” Ming Zhang leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Li Xuanjing. His pale lips parted just enough to speak, “Borrow Your Highness’s power to pull him down from the throne.”
Li Xuanjing’s breath hitched. Even he had avoided stating such words aloud, yet Ming Zhang spoke them so directly. For a moment, he did not know whether to assent or object.
“Reason being?”
“There is no such thing as a male empress in Northern Jin. I will not resign myself to being a mere consort. To watch him take another woman as his rightful wife, let alone the countless others in the harem…” Ming Zhang’s smile barely touched his eyes. As his lowered lashes cast a shadow, his gaze grew unreadable. “If I cannot be his, then I will make him mine.”
His words sent a chill through Li Xuanjing. He could no longer guess what Ming Zhang truly wanted to do.
“So my cooperation with Your Highness involves only two matters: first, to help you ascend the throne; second, to ensure that you spare his life once you have achieved your goal.”
Silence fell over the room, tense and thick. Li Xuanjing’s fingers absently twisted the teacup, still absorbing Ming Zhang’s words.
“Ming Zhang, what makes you think I need your help? And even if I were to achieve my goal, how could I possibly spare his life?” Li Xuanjing sneered. “You are far too self-assured.”
After Ming Zhang finished speaking, the room fell into a tense silence. Li Xuanjing’s fingers unconsciously traced the rim of his teacup, still digesting Ming Zhang’s words.
“Ming Zhang, what makes you think I need your help? And even if I achieve my goals, why would I spare his life?” Li Xuanjing gave a contemptuous smile, “You’re far too full of yourself.”
“Your Highness is sitting directly across from me. Whether you require my help needs no further clarification. As for the second point…” Ming Zhang’s voice lowered, making the already dim room carry a sudden chill, “I spoke only of sparing his life. Everything else is entirely up to you.”
Li Xuanjing’s pupils contracted, and in an instant the hairs on his body stood on end. He understood perfectly what Ming Zhang meant: as long as Li Xuanming’s life was spared, whether maimed or broken, as long as he no longer posed a threat to the throne, it was entirely up to him to decide.
A low, quiet laugh escaped him, gradually replacing his initial shock. Li Xuanjing could not help but smile, and a trace of admiration appeared in his gaze toward Ming Zhang. “I never would have expected this. Ming Zhang, the world regards you as a gentleman, upright and fair. Yet here you are, ruthless and cunning, willing to use any means necessary.”
Li Xuanjing paused, leaning slightly forward in his chair with an elbow on the table, and asked with curiosity, “Does Li Xuanming even know what kind of person you truly are?”
Ming Zhang’s eyes flicked to Li Xuanjing’s arm. It was a subtle gesture, yet it revealed that the prince had lowered some of his guard. When he looked back up, his gaze was calm, composed, and resolute.
“Will Your Highness let Yan Yihuan know the truth?” Ming Zhang asked, tracing his hand down his neck, mimicking a blade. “This is the first time I’ve laid myself bare to anyone. And it’s only for Your Highness to see.”
The candle’s wick, too long and untrimmed, sparked as it drooped into the wax. The tiny crackling sound broke the tense atmosphere between them, breaking the standoff. In that shared glance was a mutual understanding only they could share, accompanied by a meaningful smile.
—
As the members of the Youluo Jian arrived, Xu Xinyao’s body was moved from under the eaves to the middle of the street, making its condition even more apparent.
Seeing this, Yan Yihuan finally could no longer hold himself and slowly squatted down against the wall, hugging himself tightly. Although terrified, his eyes remained fixed on Xu Xinyao lying on the ground.
What had once been a healthy, rosy face had now turned a ghastly gray. His eyes were still wide open, the cloudy pupils shrouded in a thin mist under the moonlight. Though not entirely clear, one could still strongly feel the fear and unwillingness that had gripped him before death.
Yan Yihuan could not imagine how a living, breathing person could simply be gone. He struggled to steady his breathing until Ling Chen stepped in front of him, blocking his unwavering gaze.
“Grand Historian Yan, allow me to escort you back to the palace.”
“No!” The words ‘back to the palace’ seemed to shock Yan Yihuan, and his fierce refusal made Ling Chen hesitate for a moment, but he worried something might happen if Yan Yihuan stayed here. Just as he was about to urge him again, someone who had been inspecting the body approached Ling Chen with a serious expression and whispered something into his ear.
Ling Chen’s expression instantly turned extremely surprised. He looked at the man and asked in a low voice, “Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
“This six-pointed star-shaped wound is extremely rare. I’ve never seen anyone other than him use a weapon like this.”
“Who?” Yan Yihuan, who had been silent until now, suddenly lifted his head from his bent arms, braced himself against the wall, and stood up, “The weapon that killed Big Brother Xu, whose is it?”
“This…”
Ling Chen’s hesitation only made Yan Yihuan’s panic grow. As the two of them remained at a standstill, someone suddenly bent over to examine the body and cried out,
“Isn’t this the wound left by Guard Han’s dagger?”
