Xi Cai, the gentle and kind daughter of the Xi family, was a victim of this political struggle. Because of that, most people felt sympathy for her rather than blaming her for the conflict between her family and the Marquis. No one deliberately made things difficult for her simply because they disliked her father.
There was only one exception: Princess Tianshui, who had been eyeing her suspiciously from the very beginning.
To Yang Su, Xi Cai was like a grain of sand that had forcibly flown into her eye. It irritated her to no end. Every time her gaze passed over Xi Cai, she would roll her eyes in disgust.
When Xi Cai greeted the women one by one and was about to approach her, Yang Su rudely scolded the palace servants.
“Has no one lit any incense? The smell in this hall is so strong, and you haven’t even thought to burn some incense to cover it up!”
Her words immediately offended everyone present.
They had all traveled from their respective residences to attend the Emperor’s coming-of-age ceremony and offer their congratulations. Which noblewoman from a distinguished family would arrive at the palace without making sure she was clean and properly dressed? Yet somehow, their presence had offended the princess’s delicate senses.
Several wives of dukes and marquises turned away, their lips curling into mocking smiles.
The Princess Consort of Ping, who was standing beside the Empress Dowager, had never liked Yang Su’s arrogant behavior. She deliberately raised her sleeve and sniffed it.
“What smell? I don’t smell anything. Fortunately, I bathed and burned incense before coming here. Otherwise, I might have had difficulty explaining myself!”
The Great Ancestor had nine sons, but only two of them were born to the Grand Empress Dowager: Emperor Taizong and the fourth son, Prince Ping.
The others, including Prince Wu and Prince Yue, had been born to concubines. They had little respect for Yang Su, who had been raised by the Grand Empress Dowager herself. They believed she was merely taking advantage of the old woman’s affection for her and acting as though she were someone important.
Seeing that Yang Su was about to argue back, the Empress Dowager interrupted her first.
“If my younger sister finds the smell in the hall unpleasant, she should return to her own chambers for now. I’ll send an imperial physician to examine you later. Once your pulse has been checked, you can put your mind at ease.”
Although the Empress Dowager had not said it directly, her meaning was obvious.
If the princess’s nose was giving her trouble, she should stay away from this gathering and go home to rest.
Yang Su had tried to provoke others but ended up embarrassing herself instead. She turned toward the Grand Empress Dowager for support.
The Grand Empress Dowager frowned.
“Stand to one side and stop talking.”
Under ordinary circumstances, Yang Su would have stormed out in anger. But Xi Cai was here today, and she was determined to stay and uncover whatever secrets the woman might be hiding.
Swallowing her grievance, she fell silent.
However, her eyes remained fixed on Xi Cai’s every movement. She wanted to examine every gesture and every expression, hoping to find proof of the woman’s malicious intentions.
Xi Cai met her gaze directly. She blinked and offered a slightly awkward smile.
Xi Cai had never considered Yang Su her rival in love. On the contrary, she found the princess rather interesting.
From what she had learned so far, Yang Su was deeply devoted to Yang Xun. Unlike Lü Hua, she possessed status, a distinguished background, and unwavering determination.
Lü Hua could be sent away with a simple order. Yang Su, however, was not someone Xi Cai could easily dismiss.
Since the princess made no effort to conceal her feelings, Yang Xun must already understand her intentions. If the two of them became entangled in a prolonged struggle over him, it would undoubtedly consume a great deal of energy.
Yang Su knew nothing about the calculations running through Xi Cai’s mind. All she saw was the woman’s smile, which she interpreted as a deliberate provocation.
Consequently, she paid no attention to anything the Grand Empress Dowager or the Empress Dowager said.
Like a hunter who had locked onto her prey, Yang Su had eyes only for Xi Cai. The last time, the woman had managed to escape her easily. This time, with Ninth Brother absent, Xi Cai would not be able to get away, even if she grew wings.
At last, the auspicious hour for the Emperor’s coming-of-age ceremony arrived.
Ceremonial music began to play, and the drums sounded three times. Once the third round of drumming was completed, the ceremony would begin.
The grand ritual was to take place along the imperial avenue in front of Zhengyang Hall. When the second round of drumming sounded, the women had already ascended the covered walkway overlooking the avenue.
This had always been the rule. Only the Emperor’s officials could participate directly in the coming-of-age ceremony. The women were permitted to watch from a distance but could not approach the ceremonial grounds.
There was still a short while before the third round of drumming when Xi Cai casually turned her head.
She discovered that Yang Su was standing right beside her.
The princess’s gaze was still full of contempt. Since their eyes had already met, Yang Su decided to have a little confrontation with her.
But just as she was about to open her mouth, Xi Cai pointed toward the imperial avenue.
“The grand ceremony is about to begin.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the deep, muffled sound of the drums rolled through the air. The vibrations were so strong that even the covered walkway beneath their feet seemed to tremble.
Yang Su had been interrupted and could only purse her lips and suppress her anger.
The Emperor’s coming-of-age ceremony was indeed complicated. First, offerings had to be made to Heaven and Earth, followed by sacrifices to the imperial ancestors.
The ceremonial official’s powerful voice rang out above the grand music, making the entire occasion feel solemn and sacred.
Xi Cai searched the crowd for her father.
The officials of the same rank all wore similar official robes, so it took her quite some time to locate him.
Yang Xun, however, was easy to spot.
Although he had not been granted a royal title, he held the reins of government and assisted in governing the empire. He stood at the very front of the officials, shoulder to shoulder with the Three Dukes and Three Grand Masters.
He was indeed slender and somewhat frail in appearance, but that only gave him a refined and handsome air. Even in such a grand setting, his bearing remained striking. Anyone could pick him out of the crowd at a glance.
Xi Cai turned to look at Yang Su.
The princess’s expression had grown solemn. Her eyes were fixed intently on Yang Xun.
Perhaps she sensed Xi Cai watching her, because when she turned around, a brief look of surprise crossed her face, followed by a hint of embarrassment that she could barely conceal.
Since a confrontation between them was inevitable, Xi Cai remained calm and waited for the ceremony to end. She expected Yang Su to corner her afterward.
As it turned out, she was right.
After the ceremony was completed, the women prepared to return to Cihe Palace. Xi Cai was about to leave when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The grip was so forceful that she was pulled back, and her next step was halted. Before she knew it, she had been left at the very end of the procession.
“Does the princess have something to say to me?” Xi Cai asked sincerely. “If there’s a misunderstanding between us, let’s clear it up today. This is only the second time I’ve met you, and I honestly cannot think of anything I’ve done to offend you. If I’ve behaved improperly in any way, please tell me directly.”
Yang Su was still very young, and the Grand Empress Dowager had spoiled her for years. As a result, she had grown impulsive and reckless.
She stared at Xi Cai and spoke angrily.
“Your Xi family has always opposed Ninth Brother in court! You keep pressuring him to surrender his military authority and forcing him to leave the capital for his fief. You gather a pack of wolves and dogs to isolate him and frame him. And now you’ve married into his household, placing yourself right beside him. Did your father order you to harm him? Let me tell you something. If anything happens to him, I will never forgive you!”
Xi Cai blinked innocently.
The princess’s instincts were surprisingly accurate, but her obvious bias had distorted her understanding of the facts.
“Wasn’t it the Marquis himself who proposed this marriage to my father? Didn’t the princess know that?” she asked calmly, her hands tucked into her sleeves.
“At first, it was merely a joke. None of us expected the Marquis to take it seriously. When the news reached our household, everyone was deeply alarmed.
“Besides, I must correct something you’ve said. Officials disagreeing over political matters is perfectly normal. That doesn’t mean they are deliberately targeting or persecuting someone.
“Every official in the court serves the Emperor and works for the stability and prosperity of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Even if you and the Marquis share a deep sibling bond, you shouldn’t make reckless accusations.”
Yang Su was rendered speechless.
This was the problem with people who had quick tempers. They often understood perfectly well what they wanted to say, but when it came time to express themselves, they could not find the right words.
Seeing Xi Cai remain so composed only made her angrier. Her face flushed red.
“Don’t lecture me about the greater good!” Yang Su sneered. “You and your father are both hypocrites who seek fame and a good reputation.
“Ninth Brother is already in poor health. I bet you’re planning to work with your father from within his household, slowly wearing him down until he dies. That way, your family can finally eliminate the thorn in its side.
“But if that’s what you’re thinking, you’ve made a serious mistake. If anything happens to him, you won’t escape either. I’ll be watching you closely. If you give me even the slightest reason to suspect you, I’ll have you nailed to the city gate for everyone to see. Then we’ll find out what the common people have to say about you!”
Xi Cai’s eyes widened in shock.
“Do you really hate me that much? You’re making baseless accusations and threatening to kill me without a shred of evidence!
“If you and the Marquis were full siblings, then I could at least understand why you would warn me so sternly. But you share neither the same father nor the same mother. Why are you being so aggressive toward me?”
She paused, then asked directly, “Could it be that you like him?”
Yang Su had never expected Xi Cai to tear away the veil so bluntly. For a moment, she was thrown completely off balance.
In this era, following the wars, social customs and moral rules had not yet fully settled into place. In some ways, people were relatively open-minded; in others, they remained deeply conservative.
Widows could remarry, and men and women could become acquainted before their families arranged a marriage. But once a relationship had been formally defined, the rules surrounding it were difficult to break.
Even if Yang Su was not born into the Yang family, she had been given the Yang surname. That alone meant there was little hope for her to marry into another branch of the family in the way she desired.
Being exposed so directly was humiliating. She wanted to argue, but no words came out.
Xi Cai seemed to understand her feelings.
“What’s so surprising about that? A hero like the Marquis would naturally attract the admiration of countless women. Even though I’ve married him, I understand that I cannot monopolize his affection.
“These past few days, I’ve even considered finding a few concubines to help me take care of him. Unfortunately, I don’t know their backgrounds well enough, so I haven’t dared to bring anyone into the rear courtyard.”
After saying this, she returned to the subject at hand.
“Princess, I’ve noticed how deeply you care for him. If you don’t mind, why not come to the Marquis’s residence? You and I can treat each other as sisters, regardless of seniority. What do you think?”
Yang Su was completely stunned.
“What did you just say? Are you making fun of me?”
Xi Cai replied earnestly, “I’m being completely sincere. Now that I’ve married into the Yang family, I should understand and follow its customs. Look at the Marquis’s brothers. Whether it’s Emperor Taizong or the various princes, don’t they all have wives and concubines?
“Our Marquis married rather late already. If we don’t find a few more women to help care for him, how will the family grow and flourish?”
For an ordinary woman, such a statement would have been highly unusual. But this was Xi Cai, whose reputation for virtue was almost absurdly good. Coming from her mouth, the proposal seemed strangely believable.
Yang Su began to waver, though she still understood the practical difficulties.
“Stop joking with me. With my status, it’s impossible for me to enter your household.”
Xi Cai considered the matter.
“If entering the Marquis’s residence is impossible, that doesn’t mean you can’t visit regularly. We can go back and forth between the two residences. Or, if the Marquis agrees, you could even invite him to your own princess’s residence.”
Yang Su had no idea how to respond to such a generous offer.
She looked at Xi Cai’s expression and saw what appeared to be genuine sincerity.
A certain truth suddenly became clear.
Xi Cai did not love Yang Xun.
Because she did not love him, she was willing to share him.
Yang Su’s heart suddenly felt much lighter.
Xi Cai, however, had her own concerns.
“The Marquis is a man who follows rules and conventions. When I proposed taking a concubine, he refused. So even if you and I agree on this arrangement, it may be difficult to obtain his approval.
“That is why I hope you’ll make an effort on your side. Visit him more often and let him know how you feel. People have hearts, after all. Once he understands your affection, surely he won’t have the heart to disappoint you.”
With a few gentle words and a little persuasion, Xi Cai managed to convince Yang Su completely.
“As long as Ninth Brother is willing to accept me, I’d be willing to give up even my title as a princess,” Yang Su declared.
Xi Cai was genuinely impressed by the princess’s devotion.
Could romantic love really last forever? To give up her noble title and the income from her fiefdom for a man—wasn’t that a little foolish?
Still, Xi Cai’s words were full of admiration.
“Princess, you truly follow your heart. I could already tell that the first time we met. Then it’s settled. You don’t need to worry about me. Just do whatever you feel is right.”
After saying that, she smiled and turned to catch up with the procession, leaving Yang Su standing there in a daze.
The princess turned to the maid beside her and asked, “Do you think she was sincere, or was she pretending?”
The maid replied, “Whether she was sincere or not, she still can’t make the Marquis do what she wants. By pretending to be generous, she can save herself some embarrassment if the Marquis eventually takes another woman.
“In this servant’s opinion, Madam is quite clever. By avoiding a direct conflict with the princess, she’s simply protecting herself.”
Yang Su let out a long sigh, her spirits sinking.
“Even if we agree on everything, what difference does it make? If Ninth Brother were willing to accept me, I would have become the Marchioness of Yanling long ago.”
After all, it was impossible to hide one’s feelings for someone.
When Yang Su first began to understand romantic love, Yang Xun had already been the only man she wanted.
Although they had not met often over the years, she had never concealed her feelings. Unfortunately, he either pretended not to notice or simply ignored her altogether.
In the end, he had actually married Xi Jiyuan’s daughter.
Whether he had done it for political reasons or for his own private motives, the marriage was enough to drive Yang Su mad with jealousy.
While Yang Su’s heart was in turmoil, Xi Cai remained completely untroubled.
After returning to Cihe Palace, she stayed beside the Grand Empress Dowager, behaving obediently and quietly without drawing anyone’s attention.
When lunch was served, she was happy to sample the palace cuisine. In the afternoon, she sat among the other women, listening to music and watching theatrical performances. She was having a perfectly pleasant time.
From time to time, she overheard the Grand Empress Dowager speaking with two noblewomen. They mentioned that the Princess Consort of Bin had not attended the gathering because she had fallen ill on her journey back to the capital and had requested leave.
The Grand Empress Dowager responded with a casual “Oh.”
“What about Prince Bin? Has he come?”
Everyone laughed.
“Prince Bin is famous for being completely devoted to his wife. He’s staying at the official residence to take care of the princess consort.”
The Grand Empress Dowager said nothing. Her expression remained indifferent as she watched the performance onstage.
Two clowns were performing acrobatics, flipping through the air more than a dozen times in succession before finally collapsing onto their backsides.
The audience burst into laughter.
The afternoon passed peacefully, and nobody noticed anything unusual.
By evening, lamps were being lit throughout the palace. Servants hurried back and forth, making the final preparations for the evening banquet.
Gao Ban stepped forward to report that everything was ready and asked the Grand Empress Dowager whether the banquet should begin.
She nodded.
But before she could give the order, a deafening uproar suddenly erupted outside.
As the people listened more carefully, they could make out the clash of iron armor mixed with frantic shouting. The sounds surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam, sweeping across the stone terraces and corridors before penetrating the palace walls.
Terror rose in everyone’s hearts.
Memories from ten years earlier came rushing back. The women stared in panic toward the palace gates.
Outside, palace servants were screaming and fleeing in every direction. The orchids arranged to decorate the palace for the Emperor’s birthday had been knocked over, and the hems of their skirts were torn in the chaos.
A squad leader came running over, trembling so badly that he could barely speak.
“Reporting to the Grand Empress Dowager! Prince Bin and Prince Cao have rebelled! They’ve brought a large army and are fighting their way in through Guangmo Gate!”
The Grand Empress Dowager froze.
The event she had feared for so long had finally happened.
The grudges accumulated during Emperor Taizong’s reign had never truly disappeared with the passage of time. If even the powerful brothers who had rendered great service to the dynasty still feared their eldest brother, then a young Emperor certainly had no chance of keeping these battle-hardened royal uncles under control.
What surprised the Grand Empress Dowager most was that Ninth Son, whom she had spent years guarding against, was not the one who had started the rebellion.
Instead, Prince Bin and Prince Cao—two men who usually kept quiet and rarely revealed their intentions—had raised their armies against the throne.
It seemed that the dogs most likely to bite were the ones that barked the least.
But by the time she realized what was happening, it was already too late.
With the rebels forcing their way into the palace, the entire capital of Luo was bound to descend into chaos.
The princess consorts and noblewomen in Cihe Palace were thrown into a panic. They watched as the palace gates, which had just been shut, were suddenly smashed open again.
A cold wind carrying the stench of blood swept into the hall.
Armored soldiers stormed through the gates. One of them swung his blade at a palace attendant who had failed to dodge in time. Blood sprayed from the tip of the sword and splashed across the steps.
Everyone stood frozen like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, staring helplessly at the approaching disaster. Some were so terrified that they had even forgotten to run.
At that critical moment, palace guards wearing brilliant armor adorned with red plumes charged forward from behind.
They appeared like a beam of light cutting through the darkness.
A fierce battle erupted in front of the main hall. The guards launched a counterattack, surrounding and trapping the rebel soldiers. In a matter of moments, they forcefully brought the situation under control.
After checking the area and confirming that none of the rebels were still breathing, the commanding officer dropped to one knee and reported to the Grand Empress Dowager.
“Your Majesty, we apologize for frightening you. This officer is the commander of a unit of the Northern Garrison. We have been ordered to suppress the rebellion.”
The Northern Garrison was the army under the command of the Marquis of Yanling.
The Grand Empress Dowager finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“You arrived just in time. Ninth Son has earned another great merit.”
One might have expected Yang Xun’s achievement in protecting the imperial family to bring honor to his wife as well.
But that was not what happened.
After the guards dragged the slain rebels out of the palace, another group of soldiers entered through the gates.
They bowed respectfully to the Grand Empress Dowager before announcing, “Prince Bin and Prince Cao have committed treason, and they have many accomplices within the imperial court. By the Emperor’s command, we are here to escort the Princess Consort of Yue, the Lady of Chen, and the Marchioness of Yanling away for questioning and trial.”
Everyone immediately turned to look at the women who had been named.
They quickly stepped away from them, distancing themselves as cleanly and decisively as if severing ties with strangers.
The Grand Empress Dowager was already exhausted. She waved her hand wearily, no longer having the strength to intervene.
Amid the chaos, Xi Cai was taken away from Cihe Palace under guard.