On New Year’s Eve, the daytime managed to clear up for a brief moment. The accumulated snow along the palace pathways had been hastily swept to both sides by palace attendants, revealing the damp bluestone slabs.
At a secluded corner of the palace courtyard, a few young palace maids wearing brand-new padded jackets were gathered together, chattering away as they cleared the icicles hanging from the eaves.
Their voices were lowered.
“Did you hear? Yesterday, two more people were carried out of the Punishment Department.”
“Sigh, with the New Year right around the corner, His Majesty…”
“Hush! Keep it down! Do you want your head?”
“What is there to be afraid of, who in this palace doesn’t know… I heard children outside the palace are even singing, ‘December snow, blossoming blood, high on the dragon throne skeletons are buried; the rich gates reek of wine and meat, while on the road lie frozen bones, the tyranny invites…'”
The final few words were frantically muffled by another palace maid, turning into a muffled sob.
Not far away, a figure approached.
“Just now, what was that being sung?” The person’s voice was not loud, yet it carried a chilling penetration that made the few young palace maids tremble all over.
The lead palace maid raised her eyes to see a young man standing before her with a cold and stern appearance. His features resembled accumulated snow among the mountains, naturally bearing a proud aura. The material of his garments was decent, yet far from precious, clearly indicating he was no person of high rank.
Xiao Huaiyan had not been in the palace for very long, and mostly spent his time in the kitchens and the Zichen Hall, so many people did not recognize him.
Seeing that he looked unfamiliar, the palace maid forced herself to remain calm and replied, “It’s nothing important; it’s just, just a few nursery rhymes randomly sung by children outside the palace.” She did not dare to repeat those treasonous lyrics.
Xiao Huaiyan stared at her for a moment, a gaze that made the palace maid feel as though she had plunged into an icy abyss.
He turned and left without continuing his inquiry.
As night fell, lanterns were lit all around. The Weiyang Palace was illuminated as brightly as day by countless giant tallow candles and jewel-inlaid palace lanterns. Agarwood was rich and fragrant, and the sound of string and wind instruments was delightful. The grand New Year’s Eve palace banquet had already commenced.
Shen Chaoqing sat loftily upon the nine-dragon gilded-lacquer throne, attired in an intricate and solemn black crown-dress bearing the twelve embroidered symbols, wearing a crown with twelve hanging bead-strings.
Civil and military officials sat on both sides according to their ranks, exchanging cups and toasting one another, with laughter and chatter filling the air. Dancers clad in colorful garments danced gracefully in the center of the grand hall, which was covered with thick Persian carpets, their long water-sleeves fluttering as if in a fairyland.
Xiao Huaiyan stood in attendance half a step behind and to the right of Shen Chaoqing’s imperial throne.
Fu An personally stepped forward holding an exquisite golden tray, upon which rested a delicate and small jade wine cup. Bowing deeply, he presented it before Shen Chaoqing: “Your Majesty, the Tusu wine has been warmed. Please partake of this New Year’s wine to pray for peace and well-being in the coming year.”
Before Shen Chaoqing could make a move, a pair of distinct, slightly pale joints steadily lifted the wine cup first.
It was Xiao Huaiyan. His movements were natural, as if it should have been precisely so, as he handed the wine cup over to Shen Chaoqing’s side.
Shen Chaoqing’s movements paused, and his gaze behind the pearl curtains seemed to glance at him before he took the wine cup. His icy fingertips briefly brushed against Xiao Huaiyan’s warm fingers, touching and parting instantly.
Shen Chaoqing raised the wine cup. “My lords, let us share this cup to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.”
“Long live our Emperor, long live, long live, long live!” The officials chorused in unison, raising their cups to drink together.
The pungent and warm Tusu wine slid down his throat, bringing a burning sensation. Shen Chaoqing frowned slightly, then returned to calm.
He had never been fond of alcohol; this fiery, choking stuff was far less comforting to body and mind than plain tea. Yet as an emperor, drinking Tusu wine on New Year’s Eve was an ancestral regulation, and he had to wet his lips with it.
Symbolically taking a sip, he casually pushed the jade cup, which still held more than half of its contents, toward the edge of the dragon desk. His gaze swept across the table full of delicacies, finally resting upon a distant plate of sweet-and-sour fish with a bright red hue and a faintly perceptible sweet-and-sour aroma.
He lifted his chin toward Xiao Huaiyan, signaling with his eyes: Move that plate of fish closer.
Xiao Huaiyan’s lowered eyelashes twitched, and he stepped forward half a step with a respectful demeanor. Extending his hand, his distinct fingers did not directly pick up the jade plate containing the sweet-and-sour fish, but instead picked up the jade cup Shen Chaoqing had just pushed aside.
Xiao Huaiyan expressionlessly drained it in a single gulp.
Was it a misunderstanding, or was it intentional? Shen Chaoqing widened his eyes slightly.
Amidst this stagnant silence, a sudden burst of hurried and heavy footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by the clanging resonance of armor crashing from afar and drawing near.
Before Shen Chaoqing could say anything, a rapid and heavy sound of footsteps suddenly rang out outside the hall, accompanied by the clanging rattle of armor, approaching from afar.
“Reporting!” A courier covered in dust, having just removed his armor, practically rushed into the grand hall, dropping to one knee with a heavy thud as he spoke in a booming voice: “Reporting to Your Majesty! Grand General of the Northern Suppression, Duan Zufeng, has quelled the rebellion in the northern frontier and achieved a complete victory! He has now returned to the capital at the head of his army and awaits outside the palace gates for an imperial audience!”
“General Duan has returned?!”
“Splendid! The northern frontier is pacified!”
A wave of joyful low murmurs instantly erupted inside the hall, dissipating much of the prior solemn atmosphere.
A glint of light flashed through Shen Chaoqing’s eyes, and he swept an extremely subtle glance toward Xiao Huaiyan, who stood in attendance at his side.
He saw that the exact moment the name “Duan Zufeng” was spoken, Xiao Huaiyan’s body tightened imperceptibly. The lowered eyelids suddenly lifted, and within that pair of eyes, which were always as dormant as a cold abyss, an arresting, bone-deep, icy killing intent erupted with the force of reality.
That murderous intent vanished in a flash, yet it was enough for Shen Chaoqing, standing at close quarters, to capture it with absolute clarity.
A playful arc curved the corners of Shen Chaoqing’s lips.
“Proclaim him in.” Retracting his gaze, he looked toward the palace doors.
“Proclaim—Grand General of the Northern Suppression, Duan Zufeng, to enter for an audience—!” Fu An’s shrill voice pierced through the grand hall.
The heavy palace doors were slowly pushed open, and the breath of the wind and snow enveloped a tall, upright figure as he strode into the New Year’s Eve banquet.
“This subject, Duan Zufeng, pays homage to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live!”
A newly appointed official softly asked, “How can he wear armor before the Emperor?”
“You wouldn’t know, that is the Grand General of the Northern Suppression, who has repeatedly rendered meritorious military service. The late Emperor specially bestowed upon him a death-exempt medallion, permitting Duan Zufeng to face the sovereign without removing his armor.”
Duan Zufeng’s raven hair was pulled up high, without a mask, revealing a handsome and dashing face with naturally upturned brows and eyes resembling blooming peach blossoms.
Many people imagined he ought to possess three heads and six arms or a body of adamantine steel, yet very few knew that he possessed a romantic and dashing appearance. If someone did not recognize him and looked solely at his face, they would definitely assume this was an unrestrained, devil-may-care young gentleman.
He had just concluded months of border patrol in the northern regions, and the iron-blooded murderous aura across his person had yet to fully dissipate.
“General Duan, rise.” Shen Chaoqing sat securely upon the dragon throne. “The northern border is bitterly cold; General, you have worked hard.”
“Guarding the borders of the country is my duty; I dare not speak of hardship.” Duan Zufeng clasped his fists and spoke in a ringing voice. His bright gaze swept across the palace attendants standing in attendance within the hall, and when his sight landed upon Xiao Huaiyan, who stood quietly in the shadows slightly behind and to the right of Shen Chaoqing’s dragon throne, that sharp gaze abruptly froze.
Duan Zufeng’s look resembled a tangible blade, causing several ministers to involuntarily shiver. In the Battle of Pengcheng, Duan Zufeng had killed Xiao Huaiyan’s maternal uncle, Tuoba Xiong, but Tuoba Xiong had previously buried three thousand citizens of the Jin State alive—a blood feud spanning debt upon debt.
Yet, just as everyone expected this general famed for his ferocious bravery and straightforwardness to make a scene on the spot, Duan Zufeng instead re-hung that slightly flamboyant, even somewhat roguish smile, as if the terrifying momentum from just a moment ago had never existed.
Withdrawing his gaze and no longer looking at Xiao Huaiyan, he turned instead to cup his fists and laugh toward Shen Chaoqing upon the imperial seat: “Those petty scoundrels in the northern frontier are nothing more than a rabble of mobsters! This subject hurried as fast as he could, finally managing to pat all these annoying flies completely clean before New Year’s Eve! It’s truly fortunate that I didn’t delay accompanying you to celebrate the New Year!”
His tone was relaxed, carrying a touch of claiming credit that instantly diluted the atmosphere that had congealed due to his killing intent earlier. Quite a few ministers in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, smiles returning to their faces.
“General Duan is extraordinarily brave!” Someone softly praised.
As though he hadn’t heard, Duan Zufeng turned slightly sideways and beckoned toward outside the hall: “Come, present the ‘New Year gift’ this general brought for His Majesty.”
Outside the palace doors, two personal guards cautiously carried in a precision iron cage covered with a thick black cloth. The cage was not large, but exceptionally heavy, and within it, some living creature seemed to be growling irritably, scratching against the iron bars and producing a harsh scraping sound.
Everyone’s gaze was drawn over, filled with curiosity. What rare treasure had General Duan brought back?
Stepping forward, Duan Zufeng pulled the black cloth right off!
“Awooo—!” A youthful yet wild howl instantly resounded throughout the grand hall!
Within the cage was confined precisely a wolf cub with a body entirely pitch-black save for four snow-white paws.
The wolf cub was not large in size, yet exceptionally ferocious. Its jade-green wolf eyes flashed with wild light beneath the lamplight, and baring its unfully grown fangs, it emitted threatening low growls toward the surrounding crowd, continually slamming its body against the sturdy iron cage in an attempt to break free.
“Hiss…” A collective gasp of intake echoed across the hall.
A wolf! Alive! And with such a rare coat color!