Chapter 67: The Beginning of the End
Tonight was destined to be an extraordinarily long one. The night sky was veiled in layers of turbulent, ominous clouds, as though on the verge of unleashing a heavy downpour.
Within the imperial palace, chaos reigned. Ministers crowded the Zhengshi Hall, anxiously awaiting updates from the imperial physicians regarding the Emperor’s condition.
The Emperor, known for his capricious temperament, had no particular close confidants. Most of his once-trusted officials had either been dismissed or fallen out of favor. Recently, the only person he summoned frequently was Liu Hexiao.
As Liu Hexiao finally stepped into the Zhengshi Hall, all eyes turned to him in unison.
But to everyone’s shock, Liu Hexiao wasn’t alone. Behind him loomed a tall, imposing figure.
“Prince Qi?”
The crowd was stunned. Wasn’t Prince Qi supposed to be recovering from illness?
Yet here he stood, his face composed and his physique robust—there was no trace of sickness about him.
Prince Qi offered a faint nod. “This prince’s health has already recovered… I heard His Majesty has fallen ill. How is he doing now?”
Before the ministers could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the inner chambers.
The crowd turned toward the noise and saw a group of imperial physicians entering in haste, led by an anxious-looking Physician Wang. His forehead was slick with sweat as he reported, “The Emperor likely suffered a sudden surge of rage, which damaged his heart and caused him to collapse. He then fell heavily to the ground, resulting in severe blood loss…”
An elderly minister stepped forward. “When will His Majesty regain consciousness?”
Physician Wang shook his head gravely. “I do not know…”
The hall erupted into murmurs of alarm.
Prince Qi’s voice cut through the noise like a blade: “My lords, the Emperor is gravely ill. The immediate priority is for everyone to fulfill their duties and maintain the stability of the court. No word of tonight’s events must be leaked beyond these walls!”
The ministers fell silent, nodding hastily in agreement.
However, the Minister of Justice, Lord Du, coldly interjected: “It is said that there are fifty thousand Qiannan troops stationed outside the city. How should we deal with this?”
Liu Hexiao smiled faintly. “I’ve already gone to investigate. The one leading the troops is the young general of Qiannan, Yang Zhaozhi.”
The ministers were startled. “What is the meaning of this?”
Liu Hexiao replied evenly, “General Yang entered the capital under a secret imperial edict from His Majesty. As for the specific purpose… I am not privy to the details.”
He raised an eyebrow and cast a calm yet pointed look at Lord Du, the Minister of Justice.
“A secret edict? Where is it?” Lord Du, who was perhaps the most desperate for the Emperor to wake up, demanded.
The Emperor’s harsh and punitive governance had made the Ministry of Justice exceptionally powerful in recent years—but it had also earned them numerous enemies.
Liu Hexiao’s smile didn’t waver. “Since it was a secret edict, naturally only the Emperor and the Yang family would know its contents.” He paused, his tone chilling as he added, “If Lord Du doubts me, you’re welcome to ask the Emperor—or perhaps you’d prefer to verify it directly with General Yang.”
Lord Du’s expression froze. The Emperor’s survival was uncertain, and going outside the city to confront General Yang was a dangerous gamble. If the troops were indeed rebels, it would be akin to walking into a trap.
Although Liu Hexiao’s words seemed innocuous, every line was a potential pitfall.
Lord Du seethed with frustration, while the other ministers exchanged uneasy glances, each harboring their own thoughts.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Eunuch Yan emerged from the inner chamber.
“Eunuch Yan!” Lord Du called out urgently. “Lord Liu claims the Emperor issued a secret edict summoning General Yang to the capital. You serve His Majesty day and night—do you know anything about this?”
Eunuch Yan hesitated briefly, his gaze flickering toward Liu Hexiao before scanning the room.
After a moment’s pause, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke in a measured tone: “Some days ago… His Majesty did issue a secret edict. As to whether it was directed to Qiannan, this old servant does not know.”
Lord Du inhaled sharply, his face paling further.
Eunuch Yan was well aware that the Emperor’s fate was uncertain. He had no intention of tying himself too closely to any one faction. By confirming the existence of the edict but leaving its details ambiguous, he ensured he had a card to play no matter what happened next.
Prince Qi’s voice rang out again, steady and commanding: “It’s late. Everyone should return to their respective posts. The imperial physicians will stay behind to care for His Majesty.”
The ministers departed with heavy hearts, while Prince Qi gathered a few key officials to discuss the next day’s court proceedings.
As the group began to disperse, Liu Hexiao lingered at the rear. A soft voice called out to him: “Ah-Xiao.”
He turned to see his sister, Liu Hening, standing by the palace doors. Clad in formal court attire, her face was pale and drawn with fatigue.
In the absence of an Empress, Liu Hening, as the highest-ranking woman in the palace, bore the brunt of courtly responsibilities.
She led Liu Hexiao into the inner chambers, where Eunuch Yan opened the door and gestured for them to enter.
As Liu Hexiao passed Eunuch Yan, he offered a faint smile. “Thank you, Eunuch Yan.”
Eunuch Yan hesitated for a moment before replying curtly, “My lord, please.”
Inside, the room was thick with the scent of incense and the bitterness of medicinal herbs.
Liu Hening lowered her voice and asked, “Those imperial physicians… are their lips sealed?”
Liu Hexiao said coldly, “If their lips aren’t sealed, their families won’t live to see another day.”
Liu Hening nodded silently. The two siblings moved past the glazed screen. The palace chamber was extravagantly adorned, but its master lay motionless on the dragon bed, helpless.
Contrary to what the imperial physicians had reported, Emperor Li Ze had already regained consciousness.
His eyes were wide open, glaring at the siblings with an intensity that brimmed with unrelenting hatred. Yet his body was stiff as a board; without assistance, he couldn’t even lift his head.
Liu Hexiao stared at him coolly, a mocking smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Li Ze’s gaze was filled with malice, his lips moving as if to speak—but no sound emerged.
Liu Hexiao sneered, “I had hoped you’d live long enough to apologize to my elder brother, but it seems fate has rendered you mute.”
Li Ze’s expression grew more contorted as he glared harder, his eyes filled with fury and unwillingness.
Unfazed, Liu Hexiao began speaking, his tone laced with disdain: “Years ago, you abused your authority to consolidate your rule. You deceived my elder brother and sent him to the battlefield, where he and his soldiers died in a sea of blood. When your schemes came to light, you covered up the truth to preserve your reputation. My father, for the sake of the empire’s stability and out of gratitude for the late Emperor’s grace, endured this humiliation in silence.”
Liu Hexiao’s voice grew colder as he continued: “But even then, you didn’t trust us. You feared that our family might ally with the Yangs, so you forcibly tore apart Yang Zhaozhi and my sister. You brought her into the palace, only to subject her to cruelty and torment, leaving her to drown in her tears.”
Liu Hening turned her face away, her expression tinged with humiliation. Li Ze’s pupils dilated, as if unwilling to hear more.
But the more Li Ze wanted to block it out, the clearer Liu Hexiao’s voice became: “You are tyrannical and ruthless, obstinate and arrogant. You’ve slaughtered the loyal, trampled the innocent, and ruled with nothing but brutality!”
Liu Hexiao leaned closer, his gaze piercing as he asked contemptuously, “What right does someone like you have to be Emperor?”
Each accusation struck like a hammer blow. Li Ze’s body twitched violently, his eyes bulging as if about to burst. He lay stiffly, his entire frame trembling, as though on the verge of passing out.
Liu Hexiao regarded him with icy indifference. “Stay here and wait for death.”
Li Ze’s face twisted in terror. He stared blankly at Liu Hexiao, a trace of pleading flickering in his eyes.
But Liu Hexiao merely glanced at him with disdain before turning and leaving the chamber.
The siblings exited one after the other, descending the grand staircase.
Walking a step behind her brother, Liu Hening couldn’t help but notice how much taller he seemed compared to the frail figure in her memories. He had once been a slender boy, all gangly limbs and quiet defiance. After years of despondency following their elder brother’s death, he had finally regained the confident and decisive aura he had as a youth.
He was now sharp, decisive, and unflinchingly clear about his loyalties.
“Ah-Xiao…” Liu Hening called softly. “What will you do next?”
The two walked under the shadowy weight of the moonlight, their steps unhurried.
“I’ll bring Lin Xiang back,” Liu Hexiao replied evenly. “He and Father will serve as co-regents. After that, I’ll ensure Zhuo’er is made Crown Prince.”
Liu Hening froze. “Zhuo’er?”
In the current imperial court, there weren’t many royal heirs left. As a Noble Consort backed by the Prince Qi estate, Liu Hening’s son was the most logical candidate for the throne.
She hesitated before asking, “And what about you?”
Liu Hexiao chuckled. “I haven’t thought about it yet. We’ll see.”
Liu Hening paused mid-step. For months, her brother had meticulously set this plan into motion. From secretly administering medicine to the Emperor a month ago, to timing Yang Zhaozhi’s arrival with troops, every step had been calculated to avert unexpected disasters and ensure her son’s smooth ascension.
He had avenged their elder brother, rescued her from a life of misery, vindicated the wronged ministers, and purged the court of a tyrant.
And yet, in the end, he had made no plans for himself.
Seeing her hesitation, Liu Hexiao smiled faintly. “Don’t worry about me, Sister. I’m not like our elder brother—I lack his grand ambitions, nor do I possess his talents. I’m just an ordinary man.”
He paused, his voice steady and sincere. “From beginning to end, all I’ve cared about are the people closest to me. As long as I can protect those who matter most, that’s enough for me.”
Liu Hexiao had never been greedy.
Liu Hening stared at her brother’s profile, suddenly struck by the thought that perhaps it was for the best. If he could hold onto what he truly wanted, then he might live a life free of the regrets that plagued her own.
Liu Hexiao lifted his gaze to the sky, where the heavy clouds hung low, threatening to burst.
“This world has been murky for far too long,” he murmured. “It’s time to wash it clean.”
He stepped through the palace gates and boarded a carriage.
Moments later, the heavens opened, and rain poured down in torrents.
Three Days Later
The Emperor’s dire condition became public knowledge, plunging the capital into unrest.
Prince Qi convened the court, summoning ministers to discuss the pressing matter of choosing a Crown Prince among the remaining imperial heirs.
The matter of succession was critical, and every minister harbored their own agendas. Just as the deadlock reached an impasse, Yang Zhaozhi marched into the city with his troops, formally supporting the Noble Consort’s son, Li Zhuo, as Crown Prince.
After the Crown Prince was officially instated, Lin Xiang was welcomed back to court and appointed as the Crown Prince’s mentor. The postponed imperial examinations were rescheduled, and the detained scholars were released.
Corrupt officials were rounded up, and those in the Ministry of Justice who had aided the Emperor’s cruel policies were publicly executed on Liu Hexiao’s orders, their punishment carried out in the city square.
The execution site was near Changming Street, drawing a curious crowd of onlookers. Though many were too frightened to watch, the area was soon packed with jostling spectators.
At the same time, the bustling streets surrounding the Shengjing Dessert Shop were much quieter.
A hiatus had been declared at the shop while Ah-Miao and Qing Nu ran errands for Yihuan. During that time, officials from the Jingzhao Office had attempted to pry into Yihuan’s affairs. Unfortunately for them, they crossed paths with Liu Hexiao’s personal guard, Cheng Lingwei.
After a brief interrogation, the nosy officials found themselves punished—one lost his job, while another was left with a broken leg.
When Yihuan returned to her shop, the city had undergone a dramatic transformation. In just two weeks, the oppressive air had lifted, leaving the capital revitalized and thriving once more.
Standing on the long street outside her shop, Yihuan stared at the bustling crowd, feeling as though an entire lifetime had passed.
Since that fateful night, she hadn’t seen Liu Hexiao again. Cheng Lingwei had visited a few times, explaining that the young lord had been so busy he barely managed two hours of sleep each night. He assured her that Liu Hexiao would visit her once things settled down.
Yihuan had smiled and nodded, hiding the ripple of emotion in her heart.
She turned her attention back to the shop, handing coffee to a young nobleman and accepting his payment with a faint smile.
Just then, a commotion broke out nearby as groups of citizens gathered, rushing toward the street corner.
“What’s going on?” Ah-Miao asked, wiping her hands curiously.
The young nobleman sipping his coffee replied, “Today, Lin Xiang is returning to the capital. They must be heading to the city gates to welcome him. Lin Xiang is truly a great scholar and statesman, admired by all.”
Yihuan froze, exchanging a glance with Ah-Miao before running to look.
“Wait!” the nobleman called after her, alarmed. “What about my membership points?!”
