Wang Muchuan took a roll of silk from the study to draft the imperial edict. Xiao Heng, using Emperor Jianing’s handwriting, composed an urgent edict for the defense of the nation, and then stamped it with his personal seal.

Although Emperor Jianing was not fond of reviewing memorials, he greatly enjoyed stamping documents. He would stamp several seals when looking at books or appreciating paintings. Therefore, Li Jinxi always carried a few seals on him, and that day, by chance, one had escaped the palace, and it was now put to use.

After the writing dried, Xiao Heng handed the scroll to Wang Muchuan, only to see him with red eyes and a tearful expression.

Xiao Heng: “…”

What was going on now?

Wang Muchuan tremblingly took the scroll and looked at the characters written on it, filled with countless emotions.

Is this all real?

The emperor was not dead, and could even write an edict.

And it was written so clearly!

He carefully put the scroll away. “It has been a few days, and His Majesty has changed so much. I almost didn’t recognize him…”

Wang Muchuan had witnessed Emperor Jianing’s ascension. Despite the central army’s military power falling into the hands of the eunuchs due to systemic issues in the later years of the Great Yan dynasty, if Xiao Huan had not been so obsessed with pleasure and abandoned political power to An Youliang, the latter would not have been so rampant. The Great Yan dynasty would not have decayed and collapsed so quickly.

Xiao Heng: “…”

Seeing that Wang Muchuan was getting more melancholic, as if he wanted to pour out all his grievances and sorrow, Xiao Heng quickly stopped him, “It’s getting late. I should return. I trust you with the matter of the edict, and I am at ease.”

Wang Muchuan knelt and bowed, saying, “I am willing to serve His Majesty to the best of my ability, even unto death without regret.”

Xiao Heng stood up and helped him lightly, pursing his lips, “I know of your loyalty, Wang Muchuan. If I were without you, who could I rely on? Do not speak of such unlucky things anymore. Please take care of yourself.”

When he smiled, he always had the habit of pressing his lips together, and even the curve of his mouth seemed casual. If one stayed by Xiao Heng’s side for long enough, they would notice that whenever he encouraged his ministers to die for him, he would wear such an expression. Though the emperor was only being polite, combined with Xiao Heng’s cool and deep eyes, his smile seemed like the sudden appearance of a stove in the vast icy wilderness, like a person in power inadvertently showing a fraction of true emotion. It always made others feel a little dazed, thinking that they were the one the emperor valued most.

This was especially true for Wang Muchuan, who had previously faced an incompetent emperor. At this moment, he was so moved that he almost wished to die for Xiao Heng.

As Xiao Heng got up from his seat and was about to leave, he noticed a plaque hanging high in the main hall, long weathered by the wind and frost. The words “The Mountains and Rivers Will Be Ever-Guarded” were written on it, and through the vigorous strokes, one could faintly perceive the ambition of the calligrapher from back then.

Xiao Heng: “Did Emperor Taizong write this calligraphy?”

In the 29th year of Longwu, the Khan Achina entered Luoyang as a hostage, and the Western Turkic Khaganate was destroyed. At that time, he wrote this calligraphy and gave it to Minister Wang Boyan. The majestic scene of those years seemed like it was only yesterday, but now, everything had changed.

Wang Muchuan nodded, filled with deep emotion. “Indeed, it was personally written by Emperor Taizong.”

Xiao Heng then noticed a painting hanging below the calligraphy, depicting a man with a dark face, broad shoulders, a thick beard, and a physique comparable to that of a fierce warrior. He was holding a dark iron bow and shooting at a wild goose.

Xiao Heng frowned, confused as to why the artist had depicted a door god holding a bow beneath the emperor’s calligraphy.

But Wang Muchuan gazed at the figure in the painting with admiration. “Back then, Emperor Taizong must have been as spirited as the figure in this painting, defeating the Turks in the northern desert, right? This ‘Taizong’s Northern Expedition’ painting is a priceless treasure, a genuine masterpiece by the famous artist Su Mo from the Yongyi period. It was a gift from a dear friend to me…”

Xiao Heng: “……………………”

Even though he had been reborn a hundred years later and the lands of the Great Yan had changed beyond recognition, the old Xiao family still stubbornly inherited two things: the madness of being a tyrant and the pale appearance.

The only similarity between Emperor Jianing Xiao Huan and himself was their face.

When Xiao Heng’s portrait was circulated among the common people, it did not fit the image of the godly warrior emperor in their minds, but instead reminded them of the fox demons and jade-faced scholars from the stories in “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.” As a result, many artists had made artistic modifications to the portrait of Emperor Taizong.

Thus, the current version came into being.

Xiao Heng himself was not someone who paid much attention to appearances or cared for such things, but even so, as he stared at the portrait of a door god, he fell into deep silence. He only glanced at it twice, then left without saying a word.

After sending Xiao Heng off, Wang Muchuan immediately handed the edict to his trusted confidant, instructing him to pose as an envoy from Fengxiang and to deliver the edict to the court within half an hour. He also sent someone to handle the matter with the eunuch in the Imperial Secretariat who had connections with the Wang family.

After confirming that the plan was flawless, Wang Muchuan quickly adjusted his attire and hurried to the court.

…

The imperial palace had been burned down.

Now, the court convened in the former Jingzhao Prefecture.

When Wang Muchuan arrived, he saw a group of guards holding silver spears from a distance.

They were Duan Yunfeng’s personal guards. It was said that these two hundred elite soldiers were handpicked by Duan Yunfeng from the warriors of Hedong. They were invincible, capable of taking on a hundred opponents. After Li Jichang took control of Luoyang, the imperial army in the city had been replaced by his men, but Duan Yunfeng’s army had been stationed in the southern suburbs of the capital. Only this silver spear guard remained by his side, never leaving.

Duan Yunfeng had come on horseback today.

He tightly fastened his armor over a deep purple civil official’s robe, his hair tied in a cap, and his attire, blending both civil and military sleeves, gave him a more graceful and dashing air than even a flower-hunting young scholar riding a horse through the streets.

Wang Muchuan was still immersed in the shocking secret that the Emperor and Duan Yunfeng had married, and couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times. As a result, this look ended up meeting Duan Yunfeng’s gaze just as he dismounted from his horse.

Wang Muchuan inwardly cursed himself. He usually preferred to walk alone on his way to court, disliking to chat with his colleagues unless there was urgent business. He didn’t like starting conversations, so when he saw his colleagues, he would usually pretend not to notice them.

This kind of eye contact, however, was a very bad sign.

Wang Muchuan immediately averted his gaze and quickened his pace.

“Lord Wang,” but Duan Yunfeng was clearly not the type to ignore his colleagues. To him, as long as someone wasn’t a person he disliked, even if a stone by the roadside looked at him, it would be a greeting. With this thought, he stretched out his long legs, walking briskly toward him. To make sure Wang Muchuan didn’t miss hearing him, he called again, “Lord Wang!”

Wang Muchuan: “…”

Now there was no way to pretend he didn’t hear.

“Lord Duan.” He awkwardly stopped, turned his head, and saw Duan Yunfeng’s sword-like brows raised, his eyes wide open, giving him a look that seemed to say, “You just looked at me, you must have something to say.”

Wang Muchuan: “…”

He cleared his throat awkwardly and, to break the silence, said, “I heard that the Lord and the Princess just married a few days ago. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to congratulate you in person, so I’ll say ‘congratulations’ to you now, though belated.”

This statement seemed to trigger something in Duan Yunfeng, whose mouth clearly curved upward, “Not late at all!”

If he didn’t know the truth, that would have been fine.

But now, knowing the “Princess” was actually the Emperor, and that Duan Yunfeng himself seemed unaware, Wang Muchuan felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at Duan Yunfeng’s satisfied smile and felt sweat starting to bead on his forehead. “I… I guess the Lord and the Princess have a very strong bond…”

Duan Yunfeng slapped Wang Muchuan on the shoulder, laughing loudly, “Hahahaha, Lord Wang, you sure know how to talk!”

Though he felt the Princess hadn’t completely opened her heart to him yet, he believed it was only a matter of time. After a few more days, once the Princess realized how great he was, sleeping together and becoming close would be just around the corner.

He patted Wang Muchuan’s shoulder and smiled, “Everything is under control. The Princess and I are quite in tune with each other, and our feelings are naturally very good.”

Wang Muchuan: “…”

Knowing the truth, he closed his eyes, unwilling to look any longer.

The two of them walked side by side to the gate of the Jingzhao Fu.

When they entered the main hall, Li Jichang, sitting on the high seat, paused his gaze on the two of them for a moment. After all the civil and military officials had settled, he slowly spoke, unexpectedly not mentioning the relocation of the capital to Bianzhou, but instead said:

“Now that I am in Luoyang, I fear I cannot continue to hold the position of Governor of Bianzhou. It seems I should select a capable person to take over as Governor of Bianzhou…”

As soon as he said this, everyone lowered their heads and exchanged glances.

Bianzhou was the center of Li Jichang’s power, with his forces and army spread throughout. He had intentions of moving the capital there, so now, if he was choosing a new Governor for Bianzhou, was it to promote one of his own?

Li Jichang’s gaze casually shifted, but he didn’t look at any of his supposed “own people.” Finally, his gaze landed on Duan Yunfeng. He smiled and said, “I believe that though the King of the North’s son is young, he possesses both literary and martial talent, and has the ability to serve the world. If promoted to Governor of Bianzhou, I will feel at ease…”

Duan Yunfeng furrowed his brows. He immediately stepped out of the line, but before he could speak, Li Jichang, sitting in the high seat, observed him with an inscrutable expression and spoke first, “Your father is a loyal and righteous man who has fought for the court for many years. In terms of merit, I think he should be promoted to ‘Prince of Jin.’ What do you think?”

Duan Yunfeng secretly sneered.

Having him transferred to Bianzhou, where Li Jichang’s men were everywhere, how could Li Jichang’s Chu army obey his commands? This was clearly an attempt to strip him of his military power and keep him under surveillance, just like being sent to the capital as a hostage. Then, proposing to elevate his father to a higher rank, it was as if to say, “As long as you listen and behave, your family will not lose its power and glory.”

A clever move, using both “grace and power!”

Li Jichang looked down, watching him with a calm expression and a slight curve at the corner of his lips. “What’s wrong? Is there something amiss?”

“His Majesty’s imperial edict—!”

Just then, a drawn-out cry of alarm suddenly echoed from outside the hall.

A eunuch from the Imperial Secretariat, holding a scroll of imperial decree, rushed inside in a panic, his sleeves flapping as he ran while shouting, “An edict! An imperial edict from Fengxiang!!!” He nearly tripped over the threshold and fell flat on his face.

Barely managing to steady himself, he straightened his crooked official hat and unrolled the decree, declaring: “A secret imperial edict! His Majesty commands the heir of the King of the North to proceed to Fengxiang at once, to defend the throne and escort the imperial carriage back to the capital!”

“What?!” Li Jichang instantly gripped the armrest, his face darkening as he exclaimed in disbelief, “How could the Emperor still be—”

The previously buzzing hall, filled with murmurs and debate, fell into sudden silence. The entire court of civil and military officials turned to stare at him in collective disbelief.

Under the weight of those stunned, accusatory gazes, Li Jichang choked back the word “dead.”