Ten miles outside the county town of Sanshui, there was a pavilion used by travelers to rest. Normally, it was bustling with people, but today it was deserted. Near the pavilion, there were usually villagers selling tea and water to earn some pocket money. However, the man selling tea today cowered in a corner, his eyes filled with fear as he glanced at the black-clad man self-pouring and drinking tea in the pavilion.
The man was quite young, sitting with his back to the official road. He wore a simple yet elegant black satin robe, and his long hair was adorned with a white jade hairpin. It was hard to tell which was brighter, his black hair or the black satin, and it was difficult to distinguish between the jade hairpin and his slender fingers.
Several people stood in the pavilion in various poses, some with arms crossed, some leaning against pillars, and others gazing at the approaching road. They all sighed, though each with a different posture.
“Lord,” a man frowned and disapproved, “You’ve found the emperor, so why must you give up, leave Sanshui County, and make way for Gong Yin?”
The black-clad man didn’t answer, his fingers tapping on the edge of the bowl, making a crisp sound. The bowl was just an ordinary coarse porcelain bowl used for serving tea in the pavilion, with a notch on the edge. Despite his noble appearance, he drank water from it nonchalantly.
Another person snorted, “Lord, you’re not making way for Gong Yin; Gong Yin is just a puppet.”
The black-clad man smiled, the sound of his fingers tapping the bowl clear and melodious, unhurried and unchanged.
“I don’t understand what he’s up to,” someone said indignantly. “He holds absolute power in the palace, controls the government, and even bullies you. Isn’t that enough? Why does he have to interfere in matters like welcoming the lord back from abroad? Isn’t he afraid that once the lord leaves Dahuang, the Six States and Eight Tribes will take advantage of the situation to cause chaos?”
“Chaos would be great!” someone laughed heartily. “Gong Yin dominates the court and the people, even determining the succession to the throne. If this continues, it won’t be long before he sits on that throne himself, becoming the first male emperor in our dynasty. Our dynasty has been blessed since the reign of the Holy Ancestor, with a decree that no man shall become emperor for generations. He dares to covet the Grand Heir; it’s just asking for self-destruction!”
“The Emperor Taizu was proficient in the art of astrological calculations and once said that during the reign of the Empress of Dahuang, there would be a shocking turning point in the one hundred and eighth generation. Those who followed would witness prosperity across the world, while those who resisted would see Dahuang decline. Isn’t this the one-hundred-and-eighth generation now? Could it be that Emperor Taizu’s prophecy refers to Gong Yin replacing the traditional female rule of Dahuang and becoming the first male emperor?”
“His ambitions go beyond that. He wants centralization, the unification of Dahuang. Currently, the Dahuang Dynasty only rules the land of the Imperial Song City and its surrounding three provinces and twelve counties. The other six vassal states and eight tribes were originally enfeoffed during Emperor Taizu’s reign, enjoying autonomy and developing as independent entities. They have long become self-contained states, and the various kings reside within their territories, often disregarding imperial commands, gradually becoming a situation where the tail is wagging the dog. However, since Gong Yin took power and forcefully summoned the sons of the six states as hostages to reside in the Imperial Song, the attitudes of the six states and eight tribes have become delicate.”
“Speaking of the hostage incident, I don’t understand. What methods did Gong Yin use to make the sons of the six states willingly send their sons as hostages? It’s simply unbelievable!”
“Unbelievable is just the beginning. He ordered a re-survey of the entire country’s land, enacted commercial laws, lifted many trade restrictions, and exerted commercial control over the six states. At the same time, he played them against each other, causing discord among the nations, and forcing several weaker vassal states to tightly depend on him. As his power grew, a Queen with a Heaven’s Mandate emerged…”
“Ding!” The sound of the black-clad man’s fingers tapping on the bowl was crisp, causing everyone to immediately fall silent.
The pavilion became quiet, and the sound of breathing seemed somewhat suppressed. The man who served the tea wanted to leave but didn’t dare. Listening to these rebellious words, he felt it was bad, almost wanting to cover his ears.
After a while, someone muttered lowly, “The dynasty’s control over the six states is weakening, but the six states are wary of the eight tribes surrounding them. The eight tribes are currently oppressed by the six states, and they’re seeking our lord’s help. Lord, what do you think?”
The group fell silent again. The vast territory of Dahuang was peculiarly distributed. At the center were the Imperial City and the provinces and counties within the reach of its influence. The six states surrounded the Imperial City, while the eight tribes surrounded the six states. The outermost layer was a variety of natural swamps, isolating the various countries on the continent. The entire Dahuang was like a giant layer cake, emitting various mysterious scents in corners beyond people’s reach.
In this configuration, it would be impossible for any other countries on the continent to exist. The Imperial City, surrounded by powerful vassal states, located at the very center, would result in an imminent destruction. However, Da Huang had its unique characteristics. The outermost eight tribes held deep-seated grudges against the rulers of the six states. If the six states attempted to attack the Imperial City, they would inevitably face retaliation from the eight tribes. In such a scenario, the six states would find themselves surrounded by enemies, destined for a tragic end.
On the other hand, the eight tribes couldn’t initiate an attack on the six states either. There were various conflicts among the eight tribes, and if one tribe initiated war, they had to be wary of neighboring tribes taking advantage of the chaos. Moreover, there was no escape route for them as the swamp lay behind them.
Over the years, the relationships between the dynasty and the six states, as well as between the six states and the eight tribes, became increasingly complex. Interests were intertwined, survival was at stake, and interactions were delicately balanced. It truly formed a situation where a slight movement in one part would affect the entire structure. Everyone wanted to make a move, but no one dared to be the first.
Every time they discussed this chaotic situation, people couldn’t help but marvel at the wisdom and painstaking efforts of Emperor Taizu. The unique national structure was related to the special circumstances during the founding of Da Huang, but Emperor Taizu established such a mutually constraining structure in this adversity, maintaining stability for hundreds of years. His strategic arrangements had reached an almost transcendental level.
Thinking about Emperor Taizu, people couldn’t help but recall the generations-long entanglement between Emperor Taizu and the Yelu family. They tightly closed their mouths, fearing to discuss the sensitive topic.
As they pondered about Right Country Teacher Gong Yin’s ambitions, which included monopolizing power, intimidating the six states, and ambitious designs to unify Da Huang, they also considered Left Country Teacher Yelu Qi’s dissatisfaction with the declining influence of his family. Yelu Qi, along with his associated forces, moved between the six states and the eight tribes, forming alliances to resist Gong Yin’s encroachment on imperial authority. The most direct conflict between the two was centered around their attitudes towards the Empress — Gong Yin’s reluctance to welcome the Queen, disrupting his carefully laid plans, and Yelu Qi’s insistence on welcoming the Queen to delay and disrupt Gong Yin’s plans.
So, that unfortunate Queen unknowingly became a piece of filling, unsure whether it was sweet or bitter. She hoped that after the struggle, she would at least have some crumbs left…
The crowd fell silent, but Yelu Qi seemed to be in the mood for conversation. He tapped his fingers on the bowl and drank the bitter tea in one gulp.
The tea leaves were of poor quality, and the tea had an unclean, oily sheen. It was far from the best tea he usually enjoyed, but he drank it smoothly, without even wrinkling his brow. Whether it was delicacies or humble fare, the realm of those in power didn’t bother with the trivial matters of the mortal world.
He set down the teacup, smiled, and asked, “Have they already left?”
“Yes,” someone replied, “Gong Yin has taken them away from San Shui.”
Yelu Qi nodded and chuckled, “Since Gong Yin personally came to fetch the Queen, let him handle it. We will return to the country.”
“Sir!”
Yelu Qi raised his hand, and the crowd immediately fell silent.
“What’s the matter? Feeling wronged and losing face?” Yelu Qi smiled amiably. “Let us return first so that Grand Master Gong and Her Majesty the Queen can have a clear path along the way. Of course, after we return to the country, we naturally need to spread the news that the Queen has been found throughout the nation. This way, the courtiers can also prepare in advance and welcome Her Majesty from a hundred miles away.”
The crowd seemed to understand.
“Da Yan is an enemy state, a long journey of a thousand miles with wind, frost, and enemy blades,” Yelu Qi sighed, looking concerned. “I wonder if the Grand Master can safely accompany Her Majesty back to the country. It makes one worried.”
The eyes of the crowd lit up.
A thousand miles of journey, surrounded by enemies, the Grand Master escorting Her Majesty back to the country—if anything unexpected happened on this journey, wouldn’t it become the Grand Master’s grave offense? And with the Lord returning to the country ahead of time, it would be a perfect opportunity to make some arrangements while Gong Yin was away.
Seeing the mysterious smile on the Lord’s face, some recalled the letter he had received a few days ago. Perhaps Gong Yin had already received some “care” on the way.
“Moreover, when Queen Xian was alive…” someone insinuated with a sinister smile.
The crowd immediately understood, lips curling into a smirk.
Queen Xian died tragically and was posthumously labeled with an unchaste reputation. There were also some unsavory rumors circulating inside and outside the court, smearing the deceased woman’s posthumous life with ambiguous colors. Although the rumors had not yet subsided, a new queen had appeared. Even though she was a different person, in the eyes of the people of Da Huang who firmly believed in reincarnation, the new queen was the reincarnation of the former one, inheriting not only the reputation but also the characteristics of her predecessor. The previous queen was the only one among all queens who had died with a disgraceful name. In such a situation, what those sticklers for rules and the enemies of the former queen would do was not hard to imagine…
“But, my Lord…” someone asked in confusion, “Weren’t you advocating for the Queen’s accession? If something happens to the Queen, wouldn’t it be…”
Yelu Qi smiled at him, his expression truly amiable. The person who asked couldn’t help but shiver, feeling uneasy and confused.
The others sighed.
This newcomer, in the future, would never have the chance to rise to prominence.
An emperor could be found anytime, but the opportunity to implicate Grand Master Gong Yin wouldn’t come so easily. Gong Yin wielded immense power, was cautious, and had spent years without leaving the Jade Mirror Palace. Finding a flaw in him was more challenging than reaching the heavens. Finally, when he left the palace or even the country, seizing such an opportunity was not something anyone would let slip by. The moment they heard about Gong Yin’s arrival, the Lord immediately distanced himself, part of his plan to wash away suspicions.
Yelu Qi flicked his fingers, set down the tea bowl, and stood up, leaving.
“Remember, before interests and the bigger picture, there is never a goal that must be strictly adhered to.”
He, dressed in black, drifted away like the shadow of the sky after dusk, silently slipping out without casting a glance at the tea-serving man throughout the entire encounter.
The others bowed and followed him out.
The man who had been nervously serving tea on the side waited until the others had left. He quickly rushed into the pavilion and noticed a silver ingot, weighing ten taels, lying beside the tea bowl. The ingot had a frosty hue, indicating its excellent quality, and he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes with a smile.
Although the guests were generous with just a bowl of tea, the content of their discussion was too unsettling. Should he take the time to talk to the pavilion manager about it?
As he pondered, he reached out to collect the silver ingot and planned to pick up the tea bowl. However, when his fingers touched the tea bowl, he suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
Countless radial cracks had appeared on the tea bowl, probably caused by the black-clad man’s finger tapping. Strangely, with so many cracks, the bowl should have shattered long ago, yet it remained intact. Not a drop of the remaining tea had leaked.
The tea-serving man curiously touched the bowl.
With a sharp sound, the tea bowl shattered, and a piece of porcelain, stained with tea, shot out. It made a crisp sound as it pierced into the tea-serving man’s throat.
He collapsed backward without a sound. Before the blood could flow, the shard blocked it, leaving only a slowly darkening stain around the edge of the porcelain.
The assassin had planned not just one move but two. Even the last drop of tea was poisoned.
The tea-serving man lay silently on the ground, with the ten taels of silver beside him.
Five taels for an oak coffin inlaid with silver patterns, three taels for mourning attire and accessories, and two taels for hiring someone to dig a grave.
In total, exactly ten taels of silver.
