Marquis of Loyal Bravery Estate.
"What did you say? The people from the Grand Court of Revision didn't just fail to make the arrest in the Southern City—they suffered heavy casualties?"
Song Miaochun had not been sleeping well these past few days. Late at night, she would burn the midnight oil, pouring over the shop ledgers, but she had not expected that staying up late would bring such an unexpected turn of events.
"The people at the Grand Court of Revision are keeping their mouths shut too tightly, Madam. We haven't been able to find out exactly what happened."
As the attendant spoke, Song Miaochun narrowed her eyes, her tone sharp with dissatisfaction. "If you can't get information out of those petty officials, then go ask their superiors."
"You spend all your time dealing with such low-born people that you've forgotten how to gather information."
She set down her brush. "Take the Estate’s token and go directly to the Grand Court of Revision. If there is any news about the person who caused a scene at the Zhang Family, have our own people seize them immediately."
"If you cannot take them alive, kill them."
"If the people at the Grand Court of Revision try to stop you, you know what to do, don't you?"
The attendant nodded hurriedly. "This servant understands!"
"This servant will certainly not bring shame to you, Madam!"
He had forgotten—now that the Marquis was leaning on the Duke’s Estate to cozy up to the most popular candidate for the throne, they were riding the crest of a wave.
With that person backing them, their Estate still wielded some power over those minor officials at the Grand Court of Revision.
Song Miaochun looked at the attendant she had been grooming for two years and curled her lip. If her head maid hadn't been sent to Zhuozhou to manage their property and assist in that person’s secret operations, she would never have to rely on such incompetent hands.
Still, it was not a major problem.
Once that thief was killed, even if he had evidence or intent, he would never be able to turn the tables.
Song Xiyan would always be the infamous daughter of the Duke’s Estate. No one would ever take away everything she possessed today!
...
Early morning, a dilapidated temple outside the Capital.
"Azhu, drink your medicine."
Mother Huang held the bowl of medicine for Azhu, who lay on a bed made of dry straw. After the two elderly people had fled a distance last night and hidden for a short while, Lingxiao had found them and brought them out of the city.
Mother Huang and her husband had not known what Lingxiao was doing, nor did they know Azhu's true identity. They had provided a shelter for Azhu, and even at the very last moment last night, they had not wanted to let Lingxiao drink the drugged tea.
Lingxiao truly could not bear to see the two elders implicated by her actions.
Grandfather Huang was tending the fire and preparing breakfast. Beneath a statue of a deity not far away, Lingxiao was whetting a short blade. Duan Liuguang, who had been leaning against a pillar sleeping, finally woke up—perhaps awakened by the aroma of the food.
"You! You thief! Let me go!"
As soon as he was conscious and saw Lingxiao before him, Duan Liuguang began to shout, "If you don't release me, my brother will definitely kill you!"
Lingxiao merely nodded. "Hmm. If your brother can kill me, by all means, let him try."
Duan Liuguang paused. Thinking of how this woman had fought his older brother to a stalemate last night, he realized that this thief was no ordinary person, and far more difficult to deal with than the ones his brother usually handled.
Now that he was being held hostage, his brother must be frantic. He had to find a way to escape!
At this thought, Duan Liuguang coughed and softened his voice, "Dear sister..."
Lingxiao froze, raising her eyes to look at Duan Liuguang, who was batting his eyelashes at her. "Dear sister, I was blind and ignorant. You are a magnanimous person, please don't be angry with me."
"Look, you are so beautiful, and my brother dotes on me so much—he will certainly be able to do things for you, right?"
"So, if you think about it, since my brother is your man, then I am your man too."
Lingxiao tilted her head, suddenly interested in this fellow.
"Dear sister, you have me tied up like this, but I have an old injury on my arm; I’m afraid it will be ruined if I stay tied up for too long." He said pitifully, "Look, I have no martial arts skills, I am truly weak compared to you. Just let me go, sister."
"That would be perfect; I could even help Grandfather with his chores."
He used reason and emotion, showing he could bend as well as stretch. Unfortunately, these tactics meant nothing to someone like Lingxiao. He wanted something from her, but offered no valuable proposals or actions. Naturally, he would not get the result he wanted.
Moreover, how could Lingxiao not know what he was up to?
"Duan..."
Lingxiao really did not know his name. Duan Liuguang hurriedly spoke up, "Duan Liuguang!"
Lingxiao nodded. "Duan Liuguang, is it?"
She picked up the short blade in her hand. "You have some wit, but not much. I can untie you, but not because of those half-hearted compliments you just gave me."
"It is because I have confidence in my own strength. Even if you untie the ropes, you won't make it a mile away."
Duan Liuguang coughed, but then heard Lingxiao say, "However, you did remind me. You do have a use, and I must make the most of that use."
"So, I’ve decided to untie you."
Duan Liuguang was stunned. "Ah?"
What use did he have? Wasn't it just... threatening his brother?
At the Grand Court of Revision, Duan Bowen received the message. A small beggar holding a candied hawthorn stick handed him a letter and skipped away happily.
The moment Duan Bowen opened the letter, his face darkened.
The letter was written by Duan Liuguang. Even though it was scrawled crookedly, showing how unwillingly he had written it, he could recognize his brother's handwriting.
Lingxiao was threatening him. Every word in the letter was a threat.
On the streets outside, small beggars were holding hands and singing a nursery rhyme about how the Fourth Young Master of the Zhang Family murdered his wife, cut out her heart, and was a wolf-hearted adulterer.
Duan Bowen gritted his teeth. He knew exactly what Lingxiao wanted and what she needed him to do.
On one side was his brother's life; on the other, his own future.
He had never had a choice in the past, and it seemed he had none now, either. He had lost enough, and he had sacrificed enough. Why should those nobles sit high on their pedestals while he and a "lowly" person like Lingxiao were forced to scheme against each other?
He hated being threatened, but he could not bring himself to hate Lingxiao. They were both just desperately seeking a way to survive.
"Make way! Make way!"
In the distance, a large group of Imperial Guards suddenly charged through. The commoners scurried to avoid them, yet some who were too slow were rudely shoved to the sides of the road by the guards.
"What is happening?"
"I heard the Prince Han was assassinated yesterday! The one who did it was none other than the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices!"
"One of the Three Ducal Ministers!"
"That’s right! That Minister was even considered a mentor to Grand Secretary Zhang. Now the Imperial Guards are acting on the Emperor’s orders to confiscate his estate!"
"The Minister plotted to murder a Prince and was caught red-handed. Tsk tsk, I get the feeling things are about to get chaotic."
"Don't you know? The Deposed Crown Prince died in the Celestial Prison a few days ago, and it was the Imperial Grandson who did it!"
"This! This! The Imperial Grandson, killing his own father!"
"It’s chaos! It’s all going to be chaos!"
...
Duan Bowen clenched his fists. In this moment, a mountain of information converged in his mind, and he began to peel back the layers.
He suddenly realized something—something far more useful than his service under the "pure" Grand Secretary Zhang!
If he could seize this opportunity, perhaps his official career would not only continue but lead to a smooth, unobstructed path!
The struggle for the throne was currently in full swing!
Even if the Zhang Family were considered "pure" officials, they had never truly stayed out of the succession struggle. Grand Secretary Zhang had already chosen his side, and every word he spoke represented the one behind him.
The heir to the throne was not yet decided, not only because of the Deposed Crown Prince, but because there were two major candidates!
They were the son of Empress Yuan, the Fifth Prince, Prince Jing, Xiao Yeran!
And the son of the Imperial Noble Consort, the Seventh Prince, Prince Ning, Xiao Haoyu!
It was unclear which of these two would triumph.
Prince Han and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices represented the two opposing factions!
The Deposed Crown Prince was dead, the line of Duke Dingguo was wiped out, the Dingguo Army had been carved up, the Imperial Grandson had returned to the nest, Prince Han had been assassinated, and the Minister’s estate was being confiscated...
Sweat beaded on Duan Bowen’s forehead, but he suddenly picked up the crumpled letter in his hand. From the crooked characters, he managed to discern a hidden message.
"True, North, Dead, Husband..."
"Prince of Zhenbei Estate!"
Duan Bowen gasped.
The Prince of Zhenbei Estate was part of Prince Ning's faction. The Zhang Family was aligned with Prince Jing. Prince Han was also part of Prince Jing’s camp.
The Minister who had assassinated Prince Han and was now having his estate confiscated was a man of Prince Ning. Prince Han had survived, and Prince Ning had suffered a great loss; he was surely looking for a way to vent his rage.
Why couldn't the Song Xiyan case be the blade that cut into the Zhang Family?
So, Lingxiao had already mapped out this path for him, and now, he had no choice.
His only blood relative was in Lingxiao's hands, and he had to admit that compared to civil officials like Grand Secretary Zhang who feigned high-mindedness, he preferred dealing with the crude but straightforward warriors.
The Prince of Zhenbei Estate might be his true destination.
He had originally been an insignificant official, but if he truly turned toward the Prince of Zhenbei Estate, he would become a brilliant, eye-catching piece on this chessboard.
On one side: obscurity and a mediocre life.
On the other: stirring up the winds and clouds with his fate unknown.
Duan Bowen thought for only a moment before turning and heading back toward the Grand Court of Revision.
He had made his choice!
A hero would rather die standing than live on his knees. He needed this opportunity, he needed this kind of fame!
All Duan Bowen had lacked was an opportunity.
This opportunity was one that Lingxiao had forced upon him. Without such extreme measures, he never would have made this choice.
Everything had its destiny, but Lingxiao alone had no destiny, no roots, no heart, no feelings.
She stood outside the chessboard. Aside from the two players moving the pieces, she could bestow chances upon the pawns, or even force them into the game.
"Crackle, crackle..."
The firewood popped. Through the flames, Lingxiao seemed to see countless people trapped in the webs of power, some greedy, some melancholy, some joyful, some sorrowful.
Some people ascended to power, gaining wealth and status.
Others lost their lives, lost their positions, and in an instant, everything turned to nothing.
Before she left yesterday, Prince Han had given her a token. It was this token that gave Lingxiao the channels to gather information.
She knew the situation in the Capital; she knew of the succession struggle and who belonged to whom.
She knew even better that Prince Han wanted to move against the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He hadn't said much to Lingxiao, only repeating one phrase:
"When the snipe and the clam struggle, the fisherman reaps the profit."
He had only two days left. Within that time, he wanted to turn the entire Capital upside down.
He wanted his two brothers to fight tooth and nail!
He wanted their people to die, and die again.
Lingxiao understood what he wanted to do, and so, she pushed the piece that was Duan Bowen into the game.
In this moment, she was looking for revenge, but she was also handing over a blade.
She hadn't truly expected that the surprise Duan Bowen would bring her would far exceed her imagination.
Everything in this Capital began here—waves crashing one after another, power shifting and changing, the tides of fortune flowing heartlessly. More and more people were becoming deeply embroiled in it, with no path left to turn back...