If You Reach Jiangnan in Time for Spring, Be Sure to Embrace Spring…
“Ah, Your Majesty! It seems the situation on the Immortal’s side is unstable—why has the Celestial Screen disappeared again?”
Eunuch Lu reacted the fastest, raising his voice in the suffocating atmosphere of the hall.
The First Prince and Third Prince knew Eunuch Lu was trying to save the situation and quickly nodded in agreement, chiming in: “Yes, yes, it seems the Fusang Envoy has fallen into the same state as at the beginning—”
Emperor Yunqi said nothing. He merely twirled the sword in a flourish and, without even looking, casually tossed the Sword of the Emperor back into the scabbard at his waist.
The Sword of the Emperor slid perfectly into its sheath, the chilling gleam from moments ago completely vanishing. The terrifying pressure that had weighed heavily over the entire Yunxing Hall also receded as the sword was sheathed.
“Xiao Huan… take him away.”
Two Black Dragon Guards dropped from the rafters at the command, swiftly pinning Third Prince Xiao Huan’s hands behind his back and pressing him to the ground, startling the kneeling First Prince.
No matter how many times he witnessed it, he could never get used to the elusive ways of the Black Dragon Guards—just moments ago, he hadn’t seen anyone on the rafters.
The Emperor said nothing more, only casting a cold glance at everyone present before striding briskly out of the hall.
Eunuch Lu hurriedly trotted after him, whispering instructions to the eunuchs behind: “Quickly prepare the carriage for the State Preceptor’s Mansion!”
Though he didn’t know what had come over Emperor Yunqi just now, since it was related to the Celestial Screen, the State Preceptor would surely be able to resolve it!
Better toss this hot potato to the State Preceptor and hope to survive the journey to the State Preceptor’s Mansion. Eunuch Lu thought.
The two unlucky princes remained prostrate on the ground, respectfully seeing off Emperor Yunqi as he strode away. Only when most of the accompanying palace attendants had left, leaving only their own servants in the Yunxing Hall, did First Prince Xiao Ze finally let out a sigh of relief.
Xiao Ze could breathe again.
His gaze swept over his third brother beside him. This younger brother, pinned down by the Black Dragon Guards, stood there with his head bowed, trembling violently as if he had already seen his own fate.
He finally understood why Xiao Huan was so terrified.
Perhaps sensing the gaze of Xiao Ze, his long-time rival, Xiao Huan’s trembling quickly subsided. He merely met the eyes of this former Crown Prince brother with calm detachment.
Sixth Prince Xiao Chuan was the future Qianwu Emperor. The revelation from the Celestial Screen had instantly turned their endless scheming and factional struggles into a joke. What did it matter if Third Prince was the Emperor’s favorite? What did it matter if the former Crown Prince was legitimate and the eldest? Faced with a future Qianwu Emperor who could rebuild Da Qian, what ruler would abandon such a successor?
The two brothers, who had been at odds for so long, now felt a strange sense of shared misfortune.
The Celestial Screen had made the Crown Prince seem less like a crown prince, the princes less like princes, and even Emperor Yunqi, the current Son of Heaven, was overshadowed by the aura of the Martial Emperor, seeming less like an emperor.
Though the current ruler was Emperor Yunqi, how many people in their minds still truly thought of him as such?
No one dared to dwell on it.
Xiao Ze sighed. Seeing the Black Dragon Guards preparing to take Xiao Huan away, he stood up and waved off the palace attendants who were about to follow. “I… I will see Third Brother off. You need not accompany me.”
The palace attendant hesitated for a moment before silently stepping back.
However, Xiao Si, who was restraining Third Prince Xiao Huan, suddenly turned pale.
Seriously, why would someone casually add to others’ workload for no reason?!
Emperor Yunqi had not specified how to deal with Third Prince, so the Black Dragon Guards could only escort the prince to the usual place—the Imperial Prison.
The prison guard widened his eyes in disbelief. Even in his wildest dreams, he never imagined that within just a few days, this prison used for interrogating traitors would welcome two princes.
Oh, the guard recalled the Crown Prince accompanying Third Prince—actually, that made three.
All three of the current emperor’s sons had been to the Imperial Prison. Such a thing, if recorded in history books, would be unbelievable to future generations, wouldn’t it?
Unfortunately, neither Third Prince nor the former Crown Prince had the energy to dwell on these trivial formalities now.
Currently, the only evidence implicating Third Prince as the mastermind behind the corruption case was the one-sided testimony of Bai Gong on the Celestial Screen. Yet, Emperor Yunqi himself had stopped the Celestial Screen precisely at that testimony.
This indicated that the truth was not so simple.
The Black Dragon Guards had already taken action. Over the years, the Crown Prince had handled enough affairs to understand that this meant his father wanted the case to stop here.
At least, stop at Third Prince.
But why? Whom was the emperor trying to protect? What was he covering up? To the extent that he was even willing to risk offending the Immortal by personally severing the Celestial Screen…
The Crown Prince’s mind kept replaying the moment when Emperor Yunqi swung his sword to cut off the divine miracle—the symbol of imperial power on this land was so sharp, so unquestionable. Even now, with the empire confined to a corner, that sword was enough to command everything in the world according to Emperor Yunqi’s will.
That was what he and Xiao Huan had fought for their entire lives. They had exhausted every effort to get closer to that sword, ever closer. The clans and noble families behind them had frantically pushed their chosen future successors, trying to find an anchor to sustain themselves through the changing dynasties.
It was so coveted. But why…
Xiao Ze suddenly trembled. Why, when he thought of that sword now, was his first reaction one of extreme fear?
Yet, he had once desired that sword so intensely.
“…Must Elder Brother stay here to watch your younger brother become a laughingstock?”
The Black Dragon Guards stood guard outside the cell. Xiao Huan watched as his unrelated elder brother settled into a more comfortable position on the straw pile and spoke with cold sarcasm.
Xiao Ze looked up at him strangely. “What? Why would you think that? I’m not even the Crown Prince anymore. If we’re talking about laughingstocks, who knows which of us is the bigger joke?”
Xiao Huan smiled bitterly. “But at least you’re still a prince. My mother and I—”
Before he could finish, he saw Xiao Ze’s expression suddenly change.
“Hahaha, you actually dare mention your mother in front of me! Yes, but you still have a mother! You, Consort Gan, Father—for so long, the three of you have been happily together like a family. Then what about me? What am I? What about my dead mother?”
Xiao Ze suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Xiao Huan by the collar. Gone was his earlier numbness and indifference, as if Xiao Huan’s words had struck his most hidden pain point.
What is that bastard Xiao Huan, who always pleases Father Emperor, thinking? Father Emperor likes him so much that even after he committed such a heinous crime, he was only placed in the Imperial Prison. The fate of Jun He is still fresh in memory—what exactly is Xiao Huan still dissatisfied with?
Jealousy. Xiao Ze is too jealous of this guy. Why does he have a mother, his mother’s love, and even Father Emperor’s affection? Even in the court, many people support this latecomer. Clearly, he is the Crown Prince, the future heir, but now his title is nothing more than empty.
“Xiao Huan, don’t think that just because I comforted you a few times, you can recklessly poke at others’ sore spots here—”
Xiao Huan merely sneered, “Elder Brother, you’re still hung up on this? It seems all of Father Emperor’s efforts over the years have been in vain.”
Hearing this, Xiao Ze grew even angrier, “What nonsense are you spouting? Aren’t these the things you possess? Are you provoking me now?”
What efforts of Father Emperor? What vain efforts? Aren’t they all for you, Xiao Huan?!
Xiao Huan sighed. Though he was the prisoner now, he looked at this elder brother with pity, as if Xiao Ze were the one trapped in dire straits.
Xiao Ze asked, “…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Xiao Huan’s gaze made him deeply uncomfortable, as if he had betrayed many people, even many lives.
If Xiao Huan were the mastermind behind the Jiangnan Corruption Case, what right did he have to look at him with such eyes?
Jun He’s death, the entire Jun Family, Xu Lang, and even the several officials implicated in Jiangnan, the bones of soldiers who died in unknown nights because military funds were embezzled… Aren’t all these sins yours, Xiao Huan?
What right do you have, what right do you have to look at me like that, as if I were the one to blame?
Xiao Ze thought to himself.
Xiao Huan looked at him and could tell at a glance that he still hadn’t grasped the key point. He sighed almost helplessly, his emotions uncontrollably surging.
“Why can’t you understand, Elder Brother? You always think Father Emperor favors me, favors me. Then, where is my fief? My fief is Hexi… it’s Sanqin… How could that be a fief?! It’s not even part of the empire anymore—while your fief, Elder Brother, your fief is Chu-Yue!”
“…Fief? What do you mean? We’ve always been stationed in Jinling. Why are you talking about fiefs now?”
Xiao Ze still wore a bewildered expression.
Xiao Huan took a deep breath, swatted away Xiao Ze’s hand gripping his collar, and sneered, “I’ve already said this much, and you still don’t understand?! Do I have to spell it out so clearly that I’ll be executed tomorrow?”
Xiao Ze was stunned, as if struck by a severe blow. He swayed unsteadily, having never paid attention to his fief. Even the taxation of his fief was managed by Chen Su, the Minister of Revenue from his maternal clan. Everything that was once vague seemed to become clear in that instant, and Xiao Ze felt his mind clearer than ever before.
If what Xiao Huan said was true…
Then the neglect over the years, the laissez-faire attitude, Father Emperor allowing the Two Factions to contend, even favoring the third brother, yet it was the third brother who was sacrificed in the Jiangnan Corruption Case…
What does this mean?
This means… both Third Prince and the so-called Two Factions were merely tools for him, the Crown Prince, to ascend to the throne.
His father was using the most practical means to hone his abilities, to adapt him to the treacherous and turbulent court, to teach him how to make choices, how to become a qualified heir apparent, and how to bring victory and power to those who followed him.
If it was all for him… if it was all for him… then those who died after the Qian-Severing Rebellion…
The former Crown Prince slumped to the ground in despair: “But I… but the reason I contended with you was simply because I wanted to survive.”
Third Prince was favored by their father. Having already lost his mother, if he were to lose his father’s attention as well, how could he possibly survive?
Moreover, as the eldest legitimate son, even if he did not contend, there were plenty who would force him into contention.
Xiao Huan sneered upon hearing this: “You wanted to survive? Everyone wants to survive, we all want to survive, but for some to live, others must die. Do you understand now, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
What a pity, what a pity. With that bastard Sixth Prince being exposed by the Celestial Screen, everyone’s efforts turned to naught, and all those who died to build momentum for the Crown Prince became sacrifices in vain.
Compared to that fool Xiao Ze, Xiao Huan felt even more resentful. Why? Why had he served as a whetstone for so long, only to be discarded by His Majesty now, while the blade he had sharpened was abandoned in such an incomprehensible manner?
Yet, like Xiao Ze, he was powerless, unable to do anything.
The former Crown Prince remained silent for a long time. Just as Xiao Huan could no longer bear it and was about to see him out, he suddenly looked up, startling Xiao Huan.
Those eyes, which usually revealed every emotion clearly, now seemed unfathomably deep… at that moment, they bore a striking resemblance to Emperor Yunqi.
“Third Brother, do you want to survive?”
The former Crown Prince murmured.
Xiao Huan sneered: “Of course I do.”
The former Crown Prince shook his head: “Third Brother, no, you are hiding something. I can see it—you are deflecting the topic… You have always been quicker than I am. You must know that neither of us is qualified to bear the blame for this great case. So I ask you, do you want to survive?”
Xiao Huan was stunned.
**
The State Preceptor’s Mansion in Nan Qian was a legacy left behind by the former Yan nobility. Within the mansion stood a phoenix tree, its age great, said to be an old tree preserved from the Yan era, planted a century ago by Yan’s founding monarch, Emperor Yan An, and the Yan State Preceptor together, in anticipation of the Kunlun Blue Bird, one of the Five Phoenixes.
The founding emperor of the former Great Yan dynasty, who ended a century of chaos, rose from humble origins as a fisherwoman. After achieving hegemony and establishing Great Yan, she began seeking immortality and visiting Daoist masters. Hearing that the Queen Mother of the West on Mount Kunlun possessed the Elixir of Immortality, she repeatedly dispatched envoys deep into Kunlun, and even planted phoenix trees throughout the capital Chang’an and the southern capital Jinling.
The blue bird diligently came to inquire.
Emperor Taizu Yan An of Yan desperately sought immortality, planting phoenix trees everywhere in hopes that the Kunlun Five Phoenixes would take pity. But her vision of eternal life was but a grand dream, much like the enduring legacy of Great Yan, which she hoped would last a thousand years—both vanished like illusions and bubbles in the fires brought by successive uprisings that scorched the heavens.
The State Preceptor sat before the Alchemy Furnace, watching the curling smoke rise, while Emperor Yunqi stood nearby, observing the new batch of “Elixirs” presented by the Alchemy Attendant, his expression unreadable.
“Is Your Majesty satisfied with this batch of Elixirs?”
Seeing the smoke from the alchemy furnace gradually subside, the State Preceptor hastily scrambled to his feet and scurried over to Emperor Yunqi. Earlier, Emperor Yunqi had stormed into the State Preceptor’s Mansion without a word, simply staring blankly at the alchemy furnace, which had frightened the State Preceptor out of his wits.
The State Preceptor’s Mansion had many eyes and ears, so news of Emperor Yunqi using the Sword of the Emperor had naturally reached the State Preceptor quickly.
The Three World-protecting Swords were said to be forged from the Xuanyuan Sword, possessing the miraculous power to slay gods and sever spirits. Legend had it that Qian Taizu of old had once used the Sword of the Emperor to cut down ten thousand troops in a single stroke during the Three Kings’ Conflict.
But even as the current State Preceptor, he had never imagined that this Sword of the Emperor truly possessed such formidable power—enough to sever the Celestial Screen.
The Sword of the Emperor, passed down through generations of the Xiao imperial family, was not merely a legend after all.
Yet the Truths of the Sorcery Path state: The Way of Heaven diminishes excess, yet what is sought remains unfulfilled.
What, then, of the Way of Man?
While forcing a smile, the State Preceptor thought: For Emperor Yunqi to wield his sword and sever the Celestial Screen, the cost must be immense. If it were merely a matter of the Third Prince’s involvement in the corruption case, Emperor Yunqi would have had no need to act so hastily.
“…State Preceptor… This emperor has no time left.”
Emperor Yunqi suddenly looked up, his unfathomable eyes fixed intently on him like a lurking serpent demanding its prey.
“…This subject understands. This subject will expedite the remaining batches and present them to Your Majesty as soon as possible.”
There were still over seventy alchemy attendants in the mansion. If they were to proceed according to the originally planned batches, it would hardly be sufficient.
Emperor Yunqi favored using human blood in his medicines. In the days to come, the bloodstains before the alchemy furnaces in the State Preceptor’s Mansion would likely remain uncleaned even after dozens of rains. But compared to the State Preceptor’s own life, the lives of these alchemy attendants meant nothing.
For the sake of his own skin, the State Preceptor instantly groveled: “May Your Majesty’s immortal path flourish. With the aid of the Celestial Screen, Your Majesty is certain to ascend to immortality in one stroke. This subject will immediately seek suitable human sacrifice blood for Your Majesty.”
Emperor Yunqi said nothing, and so the State Preceptor understood what this Emperor of Nan Qian feared.
He feared that the Celestial Screen would expose a certain truth.
The State Preceptor suddenly felt like laughing. Emperor Yunqi, you killed Jun He with your “pointing at the moon under clear skies, yet right and wrong remain,” never expecting to end up in such a predicament yourself.
The Celestial Screen was constructed by the Fusang Envoy and other immortals. Even if you can sever it, how many times can you do so?
The true clear sky has arrived.
**
Lin’an City.
A cyan bird descended from on high alongside the daylight, landing in the hands of Dian Cui, who wore the bamboo embroidered robe of a State Preceptor’s Mansion alchemy attendant.
Dian Cui grasped the small bird in her hand and squeezed tightly. Faint green light particles flowed down from her palm. She closed her eyes, as if using witchcraft to sense something, then quickly opened them again.
“No wonder the Celestial Screen suddenly broke. I was waiting for it to directly reveal the true mastermind behind the scenes… Turns out it’s because Emperor Yunqi over there hacked the Celestial Screen apart.”
Dian Cui swayed leisurely as she sat in the carriage, lightly scattering the remaining light particles from the cyan bird in her hand outside the carriage.
Jun Youcheng and Gu Yue spoke almost simultaneously: “The Sword of the Emperor?”
Xiao Jingchuan reclined against the high-backed chair inside the carriage and nodded: “What else could it be? It must be that Sword of the Emperor I obtained from the Yan Imperial Palace back then. These Three World-protecting Swords really do seem to have something to them…”
Had such miracles occurred in his time back then?
“But… he’s in a hurry, this cheap father’s grandson.”
Finding the position uncomfortable, Xiao Jingchuan shifted again, leaning sideways as he sighed with emotion.
Everyone knows the Sword of the Emperor is special, but knowing is one thing, while openly exposing its uniqueness is another matter entirely.
Especially since Nan Qian is currently unstable—what exactly is Emperor Yunqi so anxious about? Even if it means revealing the special abilities of the Sword of the Emperor, he must stop the Celestial Screen from continuing to speak.
Xiao Jingchuan sighed. A hundred years had passed, and he felt he was growing increasingly unable to understand the schemes and intrigues everyone was playing in this world.
Things were better during Yan Mo’s time. Back then, people rarely used their brains, and all actions stemmed from humanity’s most primal instinct for slaughter, forming one exhilarating battle after another.
He truly wasn’t adept at things like political maneuvering.
Xiao Jingchuan sighed again, his face clouded with worry. The coachman called out “Whoa—” as the carriage gradually came to a halt.
“Esteemed guest, we’ve arrived!” the coachman shouted.
To uncover the true situation in Lin’an as much as possible, Xiao Jingchuan had deliberately concealed his identity for this inspection. The coachman was also selected from the envoy group—a servant from Jinling City, tight-lipped and more than capable of helping maintain the disguise.
Dian Cui had always been quick on her feet. Before the carriage had fully stopped, she lifted the curtain, ready to be the first to disembark. But her movement froze midway, and she stood there, utterly still.
“Old Cui, why are you frozen? What terrifying thing outside has shocked you like this?”
Xiao Jingchuan was still smiling as he stepped around from behind Dian Cui, standing on the carriage. But when he looked up, he too was stunned.
This was supposed to be the coastal defense frontline. It should have been the coastal defense frontline.
Yet as far as the eye could see, there was only desolate emptiness, with busy civilian laborers hurriedly moving stone materials under the urging of government officials.
But they weren’t building anything at all.
After getting off the carriage, Xiao Jingchuan stood to the side and watched for a long time, only to see these people pointlessly moving stone materials from one place to another.
These people would rather engage in such futile labor than use even a fraction of the allocated funds to construct a barely passable coastal defense frontline.
“I recall when the Ministry of Revenue approved the funds for the Jiangnan coastal defense line, every official in the court was all smiles,” Jun Youcheng said, almost sneering as he observed the absurd scene before him. “Is this the coastal defense frontline built with millions of taels of silver?”
Wasn’t it supposed to be a brilliant strategy to save the people and bring peace? Wasn’t it said to be the only path to lasting harmony?
Didn’t they promise that once the coastal defense line was constructed, the pirates would be quelled, and the coastal residents would gain additional income—a win-win situation?
But where were the people who were supposed to benefit from this now?
“The Speech Officials talk a good game, painting grand pictures, but how to deliver on those promises isn’t their concern,” Xiao Jingchuan’s expression darkened. As an emperor who rose from humble origins, he despised corrupt and lawless individuals more than anything, especially when they came in groups.
He crooked a finger. “Summon the prefect.”
The coachman acknowledged and left.
Xiao Yu arrived quickly. He wasn’t wearing his official robes but had wisely dressed in ordinary clothes like Xiao Jingchuan and the others, resembling a passing scholar.
When he saw it was the coachman, not the Black Dragon Guards, who had summoned him, he realized this visit likely didn’t require him to put on the airs of the Prefect of Lin’an.
But he did not get his wish—when the future sage monarch summoned him, he could not arrive immediately. This was because his fellow provincial administration commissioner ran directly into Xiao Yu right at the entrance of his residence.
The elderly provincial administration commissioner was, in a sense, his superior, overseeing numerous affairs in the Jiangnan region. This time, he had actually come in person to seek him out, leaving Xiao Yu repeatedly expressing his unease.
Why had this superior come to find him? Was it because of the Celestial Screen?
The old provincial administration commissioner grasped Xiao Yu’s hand, nearly moved to tears: “I came to find Prefect Xiao only to share a few heartfelt words. Now… everyone in all of Nan Qian is posing difficult questions to one another. We serve the same court—why must we be so harsh on each other?”
Xiao Yu’s mouth twitched. The Old Provincial Administration Commissioner appeared to be crying, yet not a single tear fell. Nevertheless, Xiao Yu still had to go through the motions of comforting him for the sake of appearances.
“…Prefect Xiao, you are about to depart. Before you leave, this old man must remind you of one thing.”
The Provincial Administration Commissioner stroked his beard, his expression grave, as if he truly were a concerned elder worrying about the future of a junior: “There are times when it is best to feign ignorance.”
Now Xiao Yu understood. He was certain that the Old Provincial Administration Commissioner’s purpose in seeking him out was to secure a fallback for himself—having served as an official in Jiangnan for many years, the Commissioner must have been well aware of the dirty dealings beneath the surface. His only reason for approaching Xiao Yu was to make him owe a favor because of this warning.
Xiao Yu’s favor was not what was valuable; what was valuable was the Sixth Prince now backing Xiao Yu.
The Provincial Administration Commissioner continued meaningfully: “There are many things only heaven knows, things we should not know. Xiao Yu, remember to remind His Highness the Sixth Prince, ‘If you reach Jiangnan in time for spring, be sure to stay with spring.'”
Because of the Black Dragon Guards, the Provincial Administration Commissioner did not linger. After saying these words, he strode away.
Author’s Note: The next update will be on Wednesday at 11 p.m., for the sake of the ranking list. Thank you, dear readers, for your patience qqq.