Chapter 40

Before the hour of the tiger had arrived, the palace on Daluo Mountain was already brightly lit.

Yiling was dragged out of bed by Mallow and Mama Cao. By the time she fully woke up, Xie Hengzhi had already dressed and was sitting at the table, having already drunk three cups of tea.

When the two of them stepped out of the room, Xie Xuan was already supporting the elderly Mrs. Xie, who had been waiting in the cold wind.

Yiling’s face instantly turned red with shame, and she hurriedly gathered her composure.

The emperor no longer attends court, and ordinary officials rarely get the opportunity to appear before him.

Therefore, everyone particularly valued the annual Daluo Mountain. As the Xie family left the palace and walked toward the ritual site, they saw the officials, both civil and military, in magnificent robes, full of energy, not showing the slightest sign of fatigue despite having risen early on such a cold morning. They greeted each other courteously, bowing, with no trace of the weariness from waking up in the middle of the night.

Fortunately, Yiling, as a female family member, did not need to participate in the socializing.

After parting ways with Xie Hengzhi, she followed the Taoist youths toward the ritual site.

The other ladies seemed less enthusiastic than the men. Whenever they met, it was simply a brief exchange of greetings.

After all, it was so dark in the night that it was hard to even make out each other’s faces. The cold and exhaustion made it difficult for them to engage in any idle pleasantries.

The ritual site was set up on the highest terrace of Daluo Mountain. Mrs. Xie, who was blind and walked slowly, caused the group to gradually fall behind.

When they finally arrived at the ritual site, they found it packed with people, standing around the altar.

Though no one dared to speak loudly, the murmur of voices was enough to make the entire mountain seem bustling.

Though over a thousand people had gathered for the grand ceremony, positions and identities were easily distinguishable by their attire.

The inner circle was occupied by nobles and the Taoist priests conducting the ceremony, while the middle layer was made up of civil and military officials in court attire.

Yiling and the other female family members stood on the outermost edge, on a gentle slope, with dense forests behind them, making it especially chilly.

Now that everyone had arrived, it was a matter of waiting in silence. Time seemed to move slowly, and the sky grew darker as dawn approached.

She didn’t know which madam, accompanied by her granddaughter, came forward to greet Mrs. Xie. The two elderly ladies exchanged polite and insincere words, making Yiling sleepy.

Unable to resist, she turned her head and quietly stifled a delicate yawning, only to be noticed by the old lady next to her.

The old lady immediately assumed that Yiling was trying to subtly usher them away and hurriedly took her granddaughter and left.

Yiling felt a bit awkward as she had unintentionally ruined the pleasantries. She awkwardly smiled, not knowing what to say, so she asked, “Mother, didn’t you come to Daluo Mountain last year?”

She had overheard this during their earlier conversation.

“Mm.”

Mrs. Xie replied, “Last year, Jin Xuan thought that, being blind, it would be inconvenient for me to travel, so he specially requested permission from the emperor for me to stay home.”

Upon hearing this reason, Yiling couldn’t help but feel a bit dissatisfied.

So, he really had the power to let family members stay home and avoid such events.

Why wasn’t it possible this year?

Wasn’t it because he had fallen out of favor with the Crown Prince and had lost power, unable to speak up?

Tch, useless.

While Yiling silently criticized him, her gaze wandered to the altar in the distance.

The altar was set with three layers of tables, adorned with golden bells, jade chimes, and the sacred banners. Surrounding it were numerous protective talismans and lights.

Unfortunately, at this hour, just before dawn, Yiling couldn’t clearly see the grandeur of the inner altar, but her attention was drawn to the hundred or so lights around the place.

If today were not the solemn Daluo Mountain, these lights, which were lit up in the night, would have been quite beautiful, rivaling the lantern displays of the Lantern Festival.

Bored, Yiling looked around again and directed her gaze toward where the officials had gathered.

They all wore similar court attire, and Yiling scanned the rows, unable to tell which one was Xie Hengzhi, though she did spot a familiar yet unfamiliar face.

As one of the ministers of the Six Ministries, Yishangshu’s position was relatively forward. He habitually kept his hands in his sleeves, his head tilted to avoid facing others directly, indicating that he was speaking with a subordinate.

Yiling sighed lightly, withdrawing her gaze and absently fiddling with the warm stove in her hands.

Not long after, there was a sudden stir in the crowd ahead.

Everyone stood on tiptoe to look, and although the night was pitch dark, the grand procession could be easily identified—

The guards, carrying lamps, led the way, with the emperor in a golden Daoist robe at the front, followed by the queen mother, the queen, and the princes and princesses, but notably, the Crown Prince and his wife were missing.

As they appeared, the crowd gradually quieted, and a solemn atmosphere descended.

There were eyes everywhere, and Yiling dared not move, standing properly in place.

When the Crown Prince stepped forward to greet the emperor, Yiling carefully looked, and then she saw Xie Hengzhi trailing behind.

Xie Hengzhi, who was usually the center of attention, was now obediently standing behind, looking somewhat repressed.

Thinking of this, Yiling couldn’t help but curl her lips coldly.

Thus, the Daluo Mountain officially began.

The grand ritual, presided over by the emperor, was a long and tedious process. Yiling’s hand warmer had long since gone cold, and as she grew irritated, someone behind her suddenly handed her a new, steaming warm stove.

Yiling thought it was Mallow and was about to turn around to ask her where she had found it when she saw a woman she didn’t recognize standing behind her.

“Madam,” the woman whispered, “The master sent me to bring you and the old madam a heater.”

Before Yiling could respond, Mrs. Xie nodded and said, “Jin Xuan is thoughtful.”

The task completed, the woman made no move to leave and stood silently behind Yiling and Mrs. Xie, her head lowered.

After observing her for a moment, Yiling finally recognized her as Dao Yu, a subordinate who usually followed Xie Hengzhi.

Dao Yu, like Li Chun, was one of Xie Hengzhi’s trusted aides, but being sent to handle such a small matter showed his attentiveness.

The harsh cold wind howled unceasingly, and the banners in the altar field fluttered. After Yiling’s new heater had once again gone cold, the main sacrificial ceremony of the Emperor finally reached its conclusion.

The Emperor stood in the center of the altar, raising a large incense to honor the gods, praying for the prosperity of the country and favorable weather.

The surroundings were solemn and quiet, and even the crows seemed to be moved by the reverent atmosphere, not making a sound.

Yiling had never believed in gods or spirits, but after experiencing death and resurrection, a sense of awe grew in her.

Unconsciously, she closed her eyes and silently prayed in her heart.

Although she didn’t dare to hope for returning to her original body, at least she prayed that her new body would be free from danger and obstacles, avoiding any more inexplicable crises.

Just as she finished her prayer, the crowd suddenly erupted in hushed exclamations.

The noise grew louder, and the royal family and officials in front seemed to be in a frenzy.

Yiling opened her eyes in confusion and saw the lamps of the sun and moon, which surrounded the altar, slowly detach from their ropes and rise into the sky.

The Emperor, still standing in the center, seemed not to have reacted yet, staring in awe at the glowing sky.

At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly kneeled and shouted, “Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Father! This is a sign from the gods, rewarding your virtuous rule and ensuring the country’s protection and disaster removal!”

The surrounding officials seemed still stunned, until Xie Hengzhi followed the Crown Prince and knelt, and others quickly followed suit, shouting “Long live the Emperor!”

The Emperor, dressed in a golden-embroidered robe, finally realized what was happening.

He spread his arms, trembling with excitement, welcoming every lamp that rose to the sky. His joy was beyond words, and finally, under the countless lamps, he fell to the ground, crying and shouting.

“Supreme Dao, welcome the high immortals of the Three Realms and the 1,200 holy deities from the heavens!”

The altar scene turned into a historic spectacle, and everyone was filled with excitement. Even the women standing on the outer edges were moved and rushed forward, hoping to share in the blessings.

Only Mrs. Xie, hearing the noise, was unsure of what was happening, and Xie Xuan couldn’t explain it to her.

“The sun and moon lamps are rising to the sky,” Yiling marveled, gazing at the lights in the sky, murmuring, “It seems the gods are showing their power.”

As she spoke, she was unable to resist following the crowd forward.

Just as she stepped forward, Dao Yu suddenly grabbed her arm from behind.

She turned around and saw Dao Yu’s calm face, unfazed by the spectacle.

“Madam, be careful; the road is slippery in the dark.”

She didn’t let go of Yiling’s arm and turned to look at Xie Xuan.

“Miss, please make sure to hold the old madam steady and avoid being pushed by the crowd.”

These two reminders halted Yiling’s steps. As she pondered whether it was dangerous to join the crowd, a sharp scream suddenly pierced through the noise.

Yiling felt a sudden tension in her scalp and quickly turned her head, only to see the sun and moon lamps burning through the oil paper, transforming into fiery tongues of flame that rapidly fell.

“Be careful, Your Majesty!”

With Xie Hengzhi rushing forward to shield the Emperor from the falling flames, the entire scene erupted into chaos. People screamed and scattered, the air filled with panic and confusion.

Only the Crown Prince remained frozen in disbelief, watching the lamps fall like fire rain, turning the carefully arranged altar into a fiery disaster.

The chaotic and dim sunlight finally broke through the heavy clouds, casting a pale light on the Daluo Mountain.

Daylight had arrived, but the darkest moment of the day had just begun.

The solemnity of the altar had vanished, leaving only a few trembling Taoist boys cleaning up the ashes and remnants, a scene of desolation and ruin.

The grand ceremony of the Luo Tian Great Ceremony had been burned before everyone’s eyes.

What were once regarded as divine lamps had turned into demons, setting the altar ablaze and reducing everything to ashes.

In the fire, even though Xie Hengzhi had risked his life to save the Emperor, the Emperor’s robe still caught fire, leaving a burn on his leg.

The elderly queen mother fainted from shock, and the queen’s hairpin was burned, leaving her in a disheveled state.

However, the worst injuries were to the Crown Prince.

It was said that he was the last to avoid the fire, and when the guards realized what had happened, they found his clothes were already burning. He stood motionless, unaware of the danger to himself.

Others were fortunate to escape unharmed, but all were from noble families, and even those not injured needed to be soothed by the imperial doctors.

Now, the busiest people on Daluo Mountain were the attending doctors, experienced in the Imperial Hospital, yet now running about with their medical kits to treat the wounds.

The head physician, who usually served the Emperor alone, had made several trips in and out of the Emperor’s chambers but dared not even glance at the Crown Prince, who knelt at the door.

His charred clothes had not yet been replaced, the back torn to shreds, revealing the blackened undergarment beneath.

The eldest son of the royal family, in such a sorry state, kneeled before the Emperor’s chambers, crying bitterly, yet no one dared to look directly at him.

“Father Emperor! Father Emperor! Please see your son!”

“Please see your son! Father Emperor!”

The cries echoed; the Crown Prince had already injured his forehead from bowing, but there was still no response from within the palace room.

After a long time, the door finally opened.

The Crown Prince immediately crawled forward, but after a few steps, he realized that it was Xie Hengzhi who had come out.

Standing on the stairs, Xie Hengzhi’s clothes were partially burnt, still covered in ashes, but as he looked down at the Crown Prince, his expression showed no trace of distress, only the demeanor of an unchallenged victor.

The two exchanged glances, and in that moment, the Crown Prince’s expression changed dramatically, his chest heaving violently.

Xie Hengzhi spoke, his tone particularly calm.

“Your Highness, do you know that His Majesty took a pill this morning?”

The Crown Prince did not understand Xie Hengzhi’s meaning, nor did he have the energy to think about it.

Xie Hengzhi continued, “His Majesty’s anger has caused him to faint; you should avoid making things worse.”

Hearing the word “faint,” the Crown Prince trembled all over.

Even years ago, when Uncle Dingyuan was exposed for rebellion, His Majesty only nearly fainted.

How could this happen…

This dawn seemed like a nightmare, and he still could not believe that the great ceremony had turned into a disaster under his design.

He had tested it multiple times; those lanterns, after being modified by the craftsmen, were supposed to rise into the air like Kongming lanterns. How could they suddenly catch fire and fall?

“It was you!” Suddenly, the Crown Prince seemed to wake from his dream, pointing at Xie Hengzhi, “This is all your doing! You tampered with the lanterns!”

“Your Highness, do not speak recklessly.”

Xie Hengzhi stepped down two stairs and stood in front of him. “The lanterns rising into the air were your deliberate action, a crime of deceiving the emperor. I would never dare to do such a thing.”

He smiled slightly. “Last night, you boasted in front of His Majesty, claiming that this grand ceremony was all arranged by you alone, and I was merely assisting. How is it that when something goes wrong, you want to blame me? Your Highness, are you not being a bit too unreasonable?”

At this moment, no matter what Xie Hengzhi said, it sounded like a defense to the Crown Prince. He lunged forward as if mad.

“It was you! You and the Crown Prince teamed up to frame me! It was you!”

Unfortunately, before the Crown Prince could lay a finger on Xie Hengzhi, the guards stepped forward and pulled him away.

Now, although His Majesty was still unconscious, everyone knew that the Crown Prince could not escape the punishment, and the guilt on his head was too great for mercy.

Seeing the Crown Prince being restrained, Xie Hengzhi glanced at the severe burn marks on his neck and suddenly asked, “Your Highness, do you think it hurts more to be burned by fire in this cold weather or to be soaked in ice water?”

—
Inside the palace guest room.

Yiling did not know how she returned to the room. Her whole body was trembling, and she could hardly walk without the support of the maidservants.

Although she had been back for a while, her mind could not calm down, and the sound of frantic screams still seemed to echo in her ears.

“Madam, it is already noon.” Mama Cao brought a few bowls of plain porridge from outside. “Now the entire Daluo Mountain is in chaos, and there’s nothing to eat. Please have some porridge for now.”

Yiling shook her head, still pacing back and forth in the room.

Seeing this, Mama Cao tried to comfort her: “It’s all over, Madam; don’t be afraid. We are safely back, aren’t we?”

“I’m not hungry. You all eat first.”

Yiling frowned, truly having no appetite.

Because what she feared wasn’t the chaos, but…

She raised her eyes and looked at the figure of Dao Yu guarding outside the door.

She remembered how Dao Yu had suddenly brought the heater to her and how, along with Mrs. Xie and Xie Xuan, Dao Yu had remained calm and led the way out of the ritual grounds.

Yiling was certain that this was a calamity Xie Hengzhi had long anticipated.

But if he had foreseen it, why did he bring his family to Daluo Mountain?

Given his protective nature, if he knew the trip would be dangerous, he would have kept his family safe at the Xie residence, not letting them leave.

Unless…

As she thought about Xie Hengzhi’s position in the court, Yiling’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Unless this was all part of his deliberate plot to frame her.

From the moment the Crown Prince claimed illness, their plan began.

So he had to bring his family to ensure no one could use them to expose his actions.

With this thought, Yiling suddenly shivered in the room with the fire burning.

She usually stayed at the Xie residence, accustomed to Xie Hengzhi’s gentle and generous demeanor, nearly forgetting that he was a man who could control the fates of the capital with a wave of his hand.

He was the eldest son of the Emperor, the one at the pinnacle of power in the entire dynasty.

If the Crown Prince stood before Yiling, she would hesitate even to meet his gaze. Ordinary commoners wouldn’t dare dream of interacting with the royal family.

Yet Xie Hengzhi acted as though he intended for the Crown Prince to meet a miserable end.

As Yiling recalled the scene, it seemed as though she could still see the Emperor in panic, the queen mother and queen pale with shock, and the nobles fleeing in terror.

How dare he…

Just as Yiling was shivering with dread, Xie Hengzhi returned.

The moment he entered the room, Mama Cao and Mallow discreetly left, thinking Yiling would finally feel some peace.

However, the moment she saw him, Yiling took a step back, hurriedly falling onto the bed.

Hearing the noise, Xie Hengzhi, who had been wiping his face, turned to look at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Yiling said nothing, only looking at him in fear and unease.

This man before her was truly terrifying.

“Still afraid?”

Xie Hengzhi put down the damp cloth he had been using to wipe his face and walked toward Yiling. “It’s over now. It was just an accident.”

“An accident?”

Yiling blurted out, “You’re saying this was just an accident?”

Xie Hengzhi’s steps suddenly halted, and his gaze turned heavy.

He didn’t reply, but his silence was an admission.

Yiling’s thoughts nearly came to a standstill, stunned. Staring at the man in front of him, now somewhat familiar, he stammered, “… Aren’t you afraid? He’s the emperor’s eldest son.”

“Afraid?”

Xie Hengzhi turned his back and walked to the brazier table, raising his hand to warm it.

Yiling couldn’t see his expression, only hearing his calm, detached voice.

“If he dared to touch my people, he should have known this day would come.”