Part 1: The Dark Shadows at Chang'an's Gates
The crimson rays of the setting sun bathed the imposing stone walls of Chang'an, dying the monolithic fortress a deep, bloody red. The colossal gates that had stood the test of time now exuded a strangely oppressive and heavy atmosphere. Atop the battlements, hundreds of archers clad in black-scaled armor stood in perfect formation, a human wall casting a freezing gaze at the world below. However, the banners fluttering furiously above their heads were not solely the Golden Dragon of the Liu Dynasty. Superimposed against the imperial flags were the Black Tiger banners of Tao Jin, the Minister of War—a glaring stain openly declaring whose iron grip currently controlled the military might of the capital.
In the vast plaza before the Nanmen Gate, the main artery into the heart of the empire, a bustling crowd of merchants, caravans, and commoners had been brought to a sudden halt. Everyone huddled by the roadsides, their eyes glued to the magnificent royal carriage adorned with five-clawed dragons slowly making its grand approach. Yet, the majestic atmosphere was abruptly shattered by the harsh clash of metal.
CLANG!!
Four massive steel halberds were brazenly lowered, crossing to block the path of the royal vanguard. The resounding impact of the weapons echoed across the stone plaza, forcing the royal carriage to brake so abruptly that a cloud of dust billowed into the air. By pure instinct, twenty Imperial Guards in golden armor unsheathed their swords in perfect unison. The terrifying screech of sharpened steel pushed the tension to its absolute breaking point, like a bowstring on the verge of snapping.
"Audacious! This is the carriage of the Crown Prince! You dare block the path?!" the Captain of the Imperial Guard roared, his eyes bloodshot with absolute fury.
Amidst the suffocating silence, a burly City Gate Commander stepped out from the shadows of the archway. Clad in the heavy armor of the Black Tiger Vanguard, his eyes held not a single ounce of reverence. Instead, they gleamed with open defiance as he stared straight through the pearl curtains of the royal carriage.
Inside the luxurious yet freezing carriage... Crown Prince Liu Tian sat as still as a carved stone statue. His golden robes, embroidered with dragons soaring through the clouds, accentuated his absolute majesty. However, his sword-like brows were knitted tightly. His fingertips, resting on his knees, dug in so hard his knuckles turned bone-white. His sharp jawline flexed as he gritted his teeth to suppress his surging wrath.
But before the young dragon could unleash his imperial fury, a pure white feather fan gently pressed down upon the back of his hand. Zhuge Qing, dressed in deep indigo scholar's robes, sat leaning back in absolute relaxation. He waved his fan slowly, his brilliant eyes remaining as calm as an undisturbed lake.
"Your Highness... if you wish to catch a big fish, you must be patient enough to wait for the water's surface to still," his deep, soothing voice effortlessly quelled the storm.
Liu Tian took a deep breath, relaxing his hands. He knew Zhuge Qing always saw the entire chessboard. The young Crown Prince reached out and slowly lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a handsome face brimming with supreme authority and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. In that exact second, the guards and hundreds of commoners instinctively dropped to their knees, their bodies hitting the dirt. Even the arrogant Commander was forced by military discipline to drop to one knee.
"Paying respects to His Highness, the Crown Prince!" The Commander lowered his head, though his tone remained gratingly rigid. "This subordinate is acting under the direct orders of Grand Secretary Lin Guang and Minister Tao Jin. I beg for Your Highness's forgiveness... but I must request a search of your carriage!"
Liu Tian looked down at the soldiers, his gaze so frigid it sent chills straight to their bones.
"I, the Crown Prince, am returning to my own capital... Do I need the gate-keeping dogs to lecture me on security?" His voice, laced with Inner Qi, thundered across the Nanmen plaza. "Or is it that, in the eyes of Grand Secretary Lin, the royal carriage is a hiding place for rebels?"
Cold sweat instantly drenched the Commander's back. The sheer pressure was so monumental he could barely breathe. However, Zhuge Qing smoothly intervened. He leaned out the carriage window, his feather fan held firmly in hand. A gentle smile adorned his face, yet his voice dripped with profound cunning.
"The Commander is merely executing his duties flawlessly... Let them search, Your Highness. If we resist, the people might start to spread rumors that... we are intentionally concealing a 'highly classified item' we recently acquired outside the city."
The deliberate emphasis on the words 'highly classified item' made the Commander's ears perk up. Envisioning a massive promotion, he immediately barked his orders. "Search! Search every nook and cranny! Leave no stone unturned!"
Several heavily armed soldiers swarmed the carriage, ransacking the luggage like madmen under the mocking gazes of the Imperial Guards. However... after searching until the sun dipped below the horizon, they found absolutely nothing but ancient texts, exotic incense, and royal garments. There was not a single trace of hidden weapons or secret missives.
The Commander's face turned beetroot red with humiliation. He had no choice but to order his men to stand down and clear the path, allowing the magnificent carriage to roll gracefully through the city gates, leaving the frontline guards standing foolishly in the silence.
As the carriage rolled onto the stone-paved streets of the capital, Liu Tian turned to look at his closest confidant, who was gently snapping his feather fan shut.
"You intentionally dropped the phrase 'highly classified item'... just so the loyal dogs would rush back to report it to their master, didn't you?" the Crown Prince asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Indeed..." Zhuge Qing poured a cup of tea with unhurried grace. The lantern light inside the carriage reflected in his eyes like twinkling stars. "Lin Guang is a deeply paranoid man. The less they find, the wilder his imagination will run, until he can neither eat nor sleep. And tomorrow... the Emperor's flower-viewing banquet will be the perfect stage to shatter his composure even further. The moment I announce the 'White Dragon Heir' in the middle of that banquet, the old fox's mask will completely crumble."
Liu Tian accepted the teacup, his eyes turning resolute. "To return peace to this realm... tomorrow, we finally move our most critic
al piece on the board."
Part 2: A Rain of Flora... The Illusion of the Royal Court
The morning atmosphere at the Royal Gardens of Chang'an had been transformed into a paradise on earth. Countless varieties of vibrant peonies bloomed, fiercely competing with the pure, untainted beauty of ten thousand white magnolias. Yet, even more dazzling than the sea of flowers was the tidal wave of humanity pouring into the grandest banquet of the year.
The massive marble plaza was packed with the opulent carriages of the noble clans, lined up as far as the eye could see. High-born ladies from all over the capital emerged in garments tailored from gold-woven silk that sparkled brilliantly under the morning sun. Young misses from powerful families formed cliques, silently competing in beauty and grace, refusing to yield a single inch.
What made this scene as epic as a grand saga was the army of thousands of servants and maids following closely behind their masters. The maids of the great clans wore cotton dresses color-coordinated with their mistresses. Some held oiled-paper umbrellas to block the sun, others fanned their ladies with peacock feathers, while others carried jade trays laden with rare incense and gifts. Their synchronized movements flowed like a colorful tide through the royal gardens, creating a breathtaking, suffocating display of wealth and power.
As the female leader of the Loyalist faction, Zhao Xian, the principal wife of the Left Prime Minister Fang Rushi (and Zhao Long's true aunt), stepped down from her carriage with chilling composure. She wore a soft azure dress embroidered with plum blossom branches, flanked by trusted maids who moved with the sharp discipline of martial artists. Zhao Xian's eyes retained the fierce determination of the White Dragon bloodline. She scanned the venue, nodding in greeting to the wives of the Left faction officials who were naturally gathering into a unified front. She also spotted Su Qing, looking frail and gaunt, surrounded by Lin Clan maids who acted more like prison wardens than servants.
Suddenly, the resounding strike of the royal gong echoed through the gardens, followed immediately by the Chief Eunuch's booming announcement that forced every single person to drop to their knees!
"The Four Imperial Consorts... Arrive!"
Like a grand opera drawing its curtains, the procession of the four highest-ranking concubines passed through the floral archway in a display of absolute majesty, followed by hundreds of senior maids walking like a harem army!
Noble Consort Lin (Lin Guifei), dressed in deep purple adorned with rubies, led the procession with staggering arrogance. Her eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. Her maids all wore dark, intimidating colors. Walking proudly beside her was First Prince Liu Feng, displaying a calm demeanor and an ambition far beyond his years.
Consort Tao (Tao Zhaoyi), glittering in heavy gold ornaments, strutted with domineering pride alongside Princess Liu Yan, who held her chin high with sheer vanity. The maids of her palace all wore golden hairpins specifically to outshine the others.
Consort Wei (Wei Jieyu) and Prince Liu Cheng followed quietly. Clad in cool-toned garments, she and her maids walked with serene restraint, exuding a steadiness like a calm river.
Consort Gu (Gu Meiren) and Princess Liu Mei brought up the rear with gentle sweetness. Her maids carried traditional instruments and baskets of flower petals. The bright, innocent smile of the little princess helped ease the suffocating tension in the air.
However, the true, crushing pressure descended when the Chief Eunuch raised his voice to its absolute limit.
"His Imperial Majesty... and Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress... Arrive!"
At the far end of the marble walkway carved with dragons, the grand procession of the rulers of the earth approached. Golden-armored Imperial Guards lined every inch of the path. Hundreds of eunuchs and maids tossed petals to pave the way.
Emperor Liu Xian arrived upon a golden palanquin. His benevolent face looked slightly weary from the relentless pressure of court politics. Yet, the one who stole every gaze and stopped every breath was the woman seated beside him... Empress Guan Yingpin.
The Hidden Tiger of the Inner Court was draped in fiery red robes, heavily embroidered with golden thread depicting a soaring phoenix. Her pitch-black hair was pinned high with a Dragon-Phoenix Jade Hairpin. The supreme, martial aura inherited directly from her father, the legendary Guan Yu, radiated so fiercely that all the thousands of souls in the garden felt a monumental weight pressing down upon them. No one dared to even lift their heads to look at her.
As the Emperor and Empress took their seats upon the highest throne at the water pavilion, Empress Guan Yingpin slowly stood up. Her piercing gaze swept over the thousands of women, officials, and servants below, as immovable and heavy as a mountain.
"Madams, Young Misses, and Servants... Rise."
The Empress's voice was resonant and bursting with authority. The sheer nobility of her presence forced the women of the corrupt factions into absolute, terrified silence at her feet.
"Today, the flowers of Chang'an bloom in breathtaking splendor. We have organized this banquet for you all to relax your minds. However..." She paused, casting a sidelong glance at Noble Consort Lin and Consort Tao for a fraction of a second, before continuing in an icy tone laced with profound meaning. "Let everyone remember this: A firm, upright taproot ensures that the flower blooms for a long time. If the taproot is eaten away by worms and parasites... no matter how beautiful the flower may be, it will inevitably wither before its time."
Emperor Liu Xian nodded slightly before adding in a softer, benevolent tone. "The words of the Empress are Our words... Today is an auspicious day. Please, revel to your hearts' content before the seasonal winds change direction. We declare the flower-viewing banquet officially open!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
The praises of thousands of people echoed like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the royal gardens. Amidst this epic spectacle, Zhao Xian's eyes met the Empress's for a fleeting second... A silent confirmation that the grand chessboard of Chang'an had finally been set!
Part 3: The Chessboard of Power
The traditional music shifted to a heavier, more imposing rhythm, signaling the arrival of the men who controlled the destiny of the realm. Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of madams and misses, the procession of the Twelve Grand Officials marched into the royal gardens in perfect order. They were clearly divided into two distinct factions, like parallel lines that would never intersect.
Leading the procession were the two pillars of the royal court... Lin Guang, the Right Prime Minister, walked with a deep, composed stride. His eyes hid a lethal glint, forever masked by a hypocritical smile. Walking parallel to him was Fang Rushi, the Left Prime Minister, whose face embodied absolute justice like an unmovable mountain. The aura of his integrity radiated so strongly it easily intimidated the corrupt officials.
Following them were the crucial Ministers and Generals, walking in order of rank:
Tao Jin (Minister of War) walked parallel to Wei Bo (Commander of the Capital Garrison)—two great generals, one treacherous and one fiercely loyal, emitting such a dense martial aura that the air around them turned freezing cold.
Shen Wanqian (Minister of Revenue) and Song Qi (Minister of Works).
Sima Lie (Minister of Justice) and Su Zhengming (Chief Censor).
Yan Kang (Minister of Interior) and Gu Yan (Minister of Rites).
Bringing up the rear was Grand Tutor Chen Guodong, the eldest and most highly respected scholar of the court.
The officials dispersed, taking their assigned seats beside their wives and children. This orderly arrangement barely concealed the stifling tension, as the Left and Right factions were forced to sit facing each other, separated only by a white jade pond.
But the moment everyone was truly waiting for finally arrived when the Chief Eunuch made his loudest announcement yet.
"His Highness the Crown Prince, and Strategist Zhuge... Arrive!"
At the end of the marble walkway, Crown Prince Liu Tian appeared in radiant golden robes, his strides firm and majestic. His handsome face was adorned with resolute eyes that sparkled with the authority of a young dragon ready to soar. By his side was his trusted confidant, Zhuge Qing, exuding an icy calm in his indigo scholar robes, elegantly waving his feather fan. The sight of the two men walking in perfect unison was as breathtaking and flawless as a masterpiece painting.
Liu Tian and Zhuge Qing stopped before the throne, bowing deeply with utmost respect.
"Paying respects to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother... Your son has returned."
"Good... Very good. Come sit by my side, Tian'er," Emperor Liu Xian said with a blissful smile, looking at his son who had grown into a majestic young dragon with profound pride.
As everyone settled in, the late morning sun reflected off the jade teacups lined up before each official. The atmosphere was as beautiful as a painting, yet chilling to the bone. Lin Guang, seated on the right, slowly swirled the tea in his cup. His clouded yet razor-sharp eyes scanned the empty seats beside the Crown Prince before he offered a faint smile. He broke the silence with a soft voice that hid a deadly poison.
"Such a grand and magnificent flower-viewing banquet... yet I feel the royal gardens are noticeably empty without the presence of Princess Lao Ying," Lin Guang remarked, his eyes locking onto Liu Tian, demanding an answer. "And what of General Wei Qing, Your Highness? He is usually your inseparable shadow. Why has your trusted vanguard not come to protect you at this banquet?"
The question was like a massive boulder thrown into a tranquil pond. The officials immediately began whispering among themselves. The simultaneous disappearance of both the Princess and the Grand General right when the Crown Prince returned to the city was undeniably suspicious.
Liu Tian remained as unmoving as a mountain. He took a small sip of his tea before casting an authoritative glance at the Right Prime Minister. "Grand Secretary Lin's eyes and ears are incredibly sharp... Since you ask about my royal sister, I will reveal the truth to everyone present to prevent any inauspicious rumors."
Liu Tian set his teacup down. The sharp clack against the marble table commanded everyone's absolute attention. "At this very moment, Princess Lao Ying is not within the palace. She is executing a 'top-secret imperial mission' outside the city under my direct orders, strictly escorted by General Wei Qing and an elite force of Royal Guards. This mission concerns the very foundation and security of the royal dynasty, and I personally signed the decree authorizing it... Therefore, Lord Lin need not worry that she will stumble or act inappropriately."
The Crown Prince's firm, official response instantly silenced the whispers. No one dared to question a top-secret imperial mission personally endorsed by the Crown Prince himself.
Lin Guang raised an eyebrow slightly. The old fox's eyes flashed with calculation before he let out a soft chuckle. "I see... The Princess is truly capable, worthy of being the daughter of a tiger. My mind is at ease, Your Highness."
However... before Lin Guang could shift the topic, Zhuge Qing gently waved his white feather fan in a slow, deliberate motion. The smile gracing the young strategist's face suddenly appeared strangely freezing. He feigned scanning the gardens, which were packed to the brim with entourages of maids and noble misses, before speaking in a soft voice that resonated perfectly across the pavilion.
"Since the secret regarding the Princess's mission has been revealed... I find myself incredibly curious about something else." Zhuge Qing looked directly at Lin Guang. "Why is it that, at such a grand and vital banquet for the women of the Inner Court, I do not see a single trace of Young Miss Lin Ying, the beloved eldest daughter of the Right Prime Minister?"
The question was a poisoned dart striking Lin Guang dead in the chest! Every single eye in the banquet instantly snapped toward the Right Prime Minister.
"Could it be..." Zhuge Qing paused, snapping his feather fan shut with a sharp CLACK! "That Young Miss Lin Ying also has a 'top-secret mission' that required her to sneak out of the capital at the exact same time as the Princess? Lord Prime Minister... Why would the flawless daughter of a high official fail to pay her respects to the Empress at such an auspicious gathering?"
Lin Guang's face froze solid. His fingertips gripped his teacup so tightly his knuckles turned pale. An agonizing, suffocating silence descended. The most powerful official in the court had just been backed into a corner regarding his own family, surrounded by the skeptical gazes of the officials. They all began to wonder... if he couldn't even control his own daughter, or if he was secretly sending her to do his dirty work, how could he be trusted to control the royal court?
Liu Tian secretly exchanged a deeply satisfied look with Zhuge Qing. This "Reverse Pawn" strategy had successfully begun to crack Lin Guang's mask!
Part 4: The Truth Beneath the Flowers' Shadows
An unbearably heavy silence suffocated the grand pavilion in the center of the royal gardens. The late morning sun reflecting off the jade teacups suddenly felt chilling. The eyes of dozens of top officials and hundreds of noblewomen were locked onto a single target: Grand Secretary Lin Guang.
Lin Guang sat as still as a statue, yet his fingertips, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, trembled uncontrollably. The hypocritical smile that usually adorned his face was frozen stiff. The old fox's eyes wavered with a deeply rooted anxiety, having been struck right in the face regarding his missing daughter.
"Lord Prime Minister... why so quiet?" Zhuge Qing asked, his voice soft but deliberately projected to echo across the entire venue. He waved his white feather fan lightly. His highly amused demeanor made Lin Guang look even more like cornered prey. "Or is Young Miss Lin Ying's illness so severe that you cannot bear to speak of it?"
"I... I am merely deeply concerned for her health, Your Highness," Lin Guang forced the words out, sounding incredibly unnatural. A murderous glare locked onto the young strategist, utterly failing to hide his hostility.
But Zhuge Qing gave the old fox absolutely no room to recover. He snapped his fan shut with a loud CLACK! The sound was like a command issued in the heat of battle. He turned toward Emperor Liu Xian and Empress Guan Yingpin, who were observing the clash with absolute composure.
"Reporting to Your Imperial Majesties... Young Miss Lin Ying's disappearance may not be a mere coincidence. And what His Highness the Crown Prince discovered during his journey outside the city might just be the answer to why the very earth of Chang'an has begun to tremble."
The atmosphere thickened to an absolute boiling point. The four Imperial Consorts were practically jumping out of their seats. Noble Consort Lin's face drained of color as she exchanged a panicked look with her brother. Consort Tao gripped the hem of her dress until it wrinkled. On the loyalist side, Consort Wei and Consort Gu looked at Zhuge Qing with deep admiration for his sheer audacity.
"The priceless treasure His Highness discovered was no mere gold or jade..." Zhuge Qing stepped forward into the center of the pavilion. Thousands of servants and maids held their breath in stunned silence. "Rather, it is the 'lingering breath' of a fiercely loyal general whom everyone believed perished twenty years ago!"
CRASH!!
The wine cup in the hand of Tao Jin, the Minister of War, slipped and shattered into pieces against the marble floor. The burly, treacherous general trembled with pure shock. The beautiful, serene atmosphere of the flower-viewing banquet shattered into a million pieces the moment Zhuge Qing's absolute declaration echoed.
"The White Dragon Heir of the Zhao Clan... is still alive! And he is biding his time, waiting to reclaim justice right here in the heart of Chang'an!"
The words 'Zhao Clan' struck like a thunderbolt into the hearts of everyone present. Emperor Liu Xian abruptly stood up, his face a mix of pure shock and overwhelming joy, his eyes wide with desperate hope. Empress Guan Yingpin stood up with absolute majesty. The aura of a regal tiger erupted from her, terrifying the corrupt officials so deeply they practically shrank into the floor.
"What did you say, Zhuge Qing?! The White Dragon Heir... is still alive?!" the Emperor demanded, his voice trembling heavily.
"Preposterous!! This is nothing but a children's fairy tale!" Lin Guang roared outrageously. His previously composed eyes were now filled with the sheer terror of a cornered beast. "The Zhao Clan was entirely eradicated! How could an heir possibly survive?! You are intentionally fabricating lies to disrupt the peace of the royal court!"
"If it is a lie... why is the Grand Secretary panicking so severely?" Crown Prince Liu Tian stood up beside his trusted strategist. The young dragon's eyes locked fiercely onto Lin Guang. "Or are you terrified that the secret you buried beneath the flames twenty years ago is about to rise from the ashes and burn you alive today?"
On the women's side, Zhao Xian (Zhao Long's true aunt) clutched her handkerchief so tightly her knuckles turned white. The tears she had suppressed for so long threatened to spill. She looked toward the Empress and received a silent signal confirming their victory in this first major step. As for Su Qing, who sat pale-faced beside Lin Guang, she felt as if a massive mountain had been lifted off her chest. The truth she had fought to protect for twenty years was finally being dragged into the light.
Amidst the rain of falling petals, the once-beautiful banquet had transformed into the most brutal of battlefields. The sun was suddenly obscured by massive dark clouds, an ominous omen of the apocalyptic political storm about to engulf Chang'an.
"Prepare your heart, Lord Lin..." Zhuge Qing offered an icy, terrifying smile as he waved his feather fan. "Because the White Dragon that awakens this time... has not come to beg for mercy. He has come to collect the blood debt you owe this realm!"
Part 5: The Old Fox's Trump Card and the Imperial Ceasefire
Amidst the sheer shock paralyzing the entire banquet, Grand Secretary Lin Guang—a man who had survived countless political tempests—took a deep, ragged breath. He forcefully suppressed the terror gnawing at his heart and hastily yanked his mask of self-righteousness back into place. He realized that showing too much panic would be a tacit admission of guilt.
The old fox raised his chin. The mocking smile returned to the corners of his mouth, but this time, it was laced with absolute ruthlessness.
"Strategist Zhuge... Your Highness..." Lin Guang spoke with a loud, powerful voice designed to intimidate the crowd. "Even if everything you just said is true, even if that Zhao Clan heir is truly still alive... so what?"
Lin Guang's question caused the loyalist faction to freeze.
"Twenty years ago, the Royal Court possessed concrete evidence that the Zhao Clan colluded with the enemy and plotted treason, resulting in an imperial decree to execute them to the ninth generation!" Lin Guang swept his gaze across the royal gardens. "Even if he survived, he is the 'bloodline of a traitor'! An enemy of the state! For the Crown Prince to secretly harbor and grant asylum to a state criminal... this subordinate fears that is the true, egregious violation of imperial law!"
This accusation came down like a massive executioner's blade. The officials of the Right faction, who had been deathly pale moments ago, puffed out their chests once more, using their leader's "legal loophole" as an iron shield.
However, Zhuge Qing simply let out a soft chuckle amidst the suffocating tension. He waved his white feather fan slowly, as if brushing away worthless dust.
"Lord Lin Guang is incredibly precise regarding the law... but have you forgotten one crucial detail?" Zhuge Qing lowered his fan. His eagle-like eyes pierced straight through the old fox's mask. "A traitor... or framed? The evidence from twenty years ago that you so proudly cite—was it 'fabricated' or was it the truth? If this so-called traitorous bloodline possesses critical evidence capable of overturning the case, pointing directly at the 'true traitors' who are still enjoying lavish lives right here in Chang'an... would you still dare to order his execution?!"
The phrase 'critical evidence capable of overturning the case' acted like a dagger pressed directly against Lin Guang's throat. The old fox froze completely. His eyes trembled violently. He had absolutely no idea what secrets or evidence the Crown Prince's faction had acquired. If he rashly ordered the arrest of the Zhao Heir, and Zhuge Qing exposed his past crimes in the middle of the Royal Court, everything he had built over twenty years would turn to dust in an instant.
Seeing Lin Guang's hesitation, Crown Prince Liu Tian stepped forward to smooth over the cracks. "Imperial Father... the reason your son has not yet brought him before the court today is precisely because your son knows this matter requires the utmost prudence. Your son is currently gathering the most ironclad evidence possible to ensure there are no doubts, and to guarantee that not a single 'mastermind' behind the scenes can wriggle free."
Emperor Liu Xian watched the brutal psychological warfare between the two factions. He could feel the crushing pressure and the murderous intent radiating through the air. As much as his heart yearned to see the heir of his old friend, as the ruler of the empire, he had to maintain the delicate balance of the court and prevent an all-out civil war from erupting in the middle of an auspicious banquet.
"Enough... That is enough from both sides." Emperor Liu Xian raised his hand. His benevolent yet absolute voice silenced the battlefield. "Today is a flower-viewing banquet. It is not the Supreme Court convened to reopen a twenty-year-old case."
"But Your Majesty..." Tao Jin tried to interject.
"We said, enough!" The Emperor's voice hardened just enough to force Tao Jin to lower his head. "Regarding the matter of the Zhao Clan, since there is currently no tangible person present, and no definitive evidence proving either absolute innocence or guilt... We shall treat this entire matter as mere conjecture. Anyone caught spreading rumors to incite chaos in the realm will be punished. Until the Crown Prince can place undeniable evidence before Us... this matter is suspended!"
Lin Guang secretly breathed a massive sigh of relief at the Emperor's intervention. As furious as he was, in a situation where he was critically disadvantaged regarding information, a tactical retreat to gather intel was undeniably the best move for the old fox.
"Your Majesty's grace is boundless," Lin Guang and the Right faction officials bowed their heads, accepting the imperial decree, as did the Crown Prince and the Left faction.
"Good... since we all understand each other, continue to enjoy this auspicious banquet," the Emperor concluded, before turning and giving a nod to the Chief Eunuch.
The stringed instruments struck up a faster, more upbeat tempo. Dozens of dancers glided into the open plaza. However, the true festive spirit was already dead. The officials and madams drank their wine and admired the flowers with profound unease. Every single pair of eyes secretly observed the opposing faction, constantly assessing their combat strength.
Lin Guang sat sipping his wine, his face as dark as thunderclouds. His brain worked in overdrive, desperately trying to formulate a counter-strategy. Meanwhile, Zhuge Qing simply sat waving his feather fan with a serene smile. The victor of this psychological chessboard was blindingly obvious without another word needing to be spoken.
The flower-viewing banquet dragged on until the sun began to dip low. The sky above Chang'an was dyed a fiery, blood-orange. When the time was appropriate, the Emperor and Empress returned to their palaces. The officials and their wives began to disperse, boarding their clan carriages to exit the royal gardens.
Lin Guang flicked his sleeves, leading the Right faction officials away, his chest practically bursting with frustration. But just as he was about to step onto his carriage, the Empress's most trusted senior maid approached and bowed before Su Qing.
"Reporting to Grand Secretary Lin and Madam Lin... Her Majesty the Empress has issued a decree. She requests that Madam Lin remain in the Inner Palace a while longer. Her Majesty wishes to reminisce in private, as old friends who have not seen each other in a long time."
Lin Guang's footsteps halted. The old fox's eyes narrowed with extreme paranoia. He looked at his wife, who appeared exhausted but perfectly composed. Su Qing turned to her husband and spoke in a flat tone.
"Husband, please return first. Since Her Majesty has so graciously summoned me, I, as an old friend, cannot defy an imperial decree. Do not worry; I will return the moment our conversation concludes."
Lin Guang ground his teeth. No matter how suspicious he was, he absolutely could not obstruct the Mother of the Realm's direct orders in front of an audience. He sharply turned his head, boarded his carriage, and ordered the procession to depart immediately, leaving Su Qing standing amidst the lengthening shadows of the trees.
The moment the carriages of the corrupt officials completely cleared the palace gates, the atmosphere in the royal gardens shifted instantaneously. The remaining core members of the Loyalist faction seamlessly gathered together. Led by Crown Prince Liu Tian, Strategist Zhuge Qing, Left Prime Minister Fang Rushi, Zhao Xian, Su Qing, and—most importantly—Commander Wei Bo (Wei Qing's father), who joined them exuding an overwhelming, imposing martial aura.
"The performance in front of the curtain is over..." Liu Tian said evenly, though his eyes burned with fierce determination. "Now, it is finally time to discuss the critical matters behind the curtain."
"Everyone is present..." Fang Rushi nodded to his comrades, his eyes as steady as stone.
"Her Majesty is waiting for us in the Inner Palace, Your Highness," Zhuge Qing folded his feather fan with profound composure. "The storm we ignited today is merely the beginning."
The procession of the core loyalists turned their backs on the darkening floral gardens, heading deep into the Inner Court toward Empress Guan Yingpin's Phoenix Palace. The historic, top-secret assembly to plan the absolute downfall of the corrupt tyrants and reclaim justice for the Zhao Clan was about to begin!