Volume One: The Emperor's Edict Chapter Twenty-Six: Lights Aglow in a Thousand Homes

Central Plains, White Jade Capital. Beneath the glazed eaves, footsteps echoed endlessly as people came and went, all impeccably dressed. Civil officials wore splendid brocade robes, black gauze hats upon their heads, and cloud-patterned boots on their feet. Military officers, clad in armor with swords at their waists, strode in and out with equal composure.

The courtyard was exceedingly spacious, with rooms on all sides adorned with carved beams and ornate columns, the decor exuding utmost luxury. Even the surrounding servants were attired in fine soft silks, their manners measured and respectful.

“Eunuch Li, what time is it now?” In the center of the main hall, upon the grand armchair, sat a vigorous old man with snow-white hair at his temples—Xue Pan, a veteran of three reigns and the current Prime Minister.

Eunuch Li, standing at his side, hastened to reply, “My lord, it is nearly the hour of Hai.”

Night had deepened outside; only a crescent moon and a scattering of stars hung high above. Within the courtyard, handmaidens raised lanterns, illuminating the grounds as bright as day.

In the years past, the Prime Minister’s residence had twice been lit through the night—each time marking the change of a dynasty.

The old minister grasped his crane-winged cane and slowly stood. Officials on both sides bowed with smiles, for all present were innocent people here seeking refuge.

Since morning, the capital had been under strict lockdown. The well-informed had already fled the previous night to avoid being caught in the struggle for imperial power.

The old emperor had been bedridden for some time, and the crown prince could wait no longer. The Blue Plume Army seized the four gates of the imperial city, then surrounded the Fourth Prince’s residence, both sides bristling with hostility.

The Fourth Prince had long endured in silence. Though most of the court, both civil and military, favored him for his youth and wisdom, the crown prince’s decade of painstaking cultivation had filled the city with his spies.

By midday, three of the six ministry heads had been arrested, and the remaining officials, with families in tow, had surged into the Prime Minister’s mansion.

This evergreen pillar of the Iron Dynasty was untouchable. Some sycophantic youths were already congratulating the minister on soon becoming a peerless statesman across four reigns.

When Xue Pan reached the courtyard and saw the fearful faces of officials and their families, tears welled in his eyes.

“Whether the Iron Dynasty’s golden age continues depends on tonight.”

Eunuch Li dared not speak. In over forty years at the minister’s side, he had never seen him so despondent.

A guard rushed in to announce, “Prime Minister, Guan Sixi requests an audience.”

“Let him in!” Xue Pan snorted coldly and ordered the officials to stand in four neat ranks to receive the visitor.

Guan Sixi, one of the crown prince’s eight swordsmen, entered—bookish in appearance, with a blue scarf around his head and plain robes. He followed the guards in and greeted the officials with clasped fists.

“And what brings you here? Surely not to make arrests?” Xue Pan’s face darkened as he questioned him quietly.

“Prime Minister, nothing of the sort. The crown prince fears unrest outside may disturb your rest, so he sent me to guard you.” Behind Guan Sixi, two rows of Imperial Guards filed in, forming a tight ring.

An official, enraged, cried, “Bringing armed men to surround the Prime Minister’s residence—what is your intention, Guan Sixi?”

With weapons drawn, the atmosphere became even more tense. The civil officials flushed with anger; the military officers unsheathed swords and pressed forward.

“Stand down, all of you. The crown prince means well for me, does he not?” Xue Pan’s eyes were sharp as blades; Guan Sixi dared not meet his gaze.

“But…” With the old minister unmoved, the others dared not object further, and the two sides stood in stalemate in the courtyard.

Similar scenes unfolded in other residences: the Prime Minister’s, the Minister of War’s, Prince Qin’s, and the Duke’s, each watched over by a swordsman and Imperial Guards.

Those who held military power were kept under close surveillance by the crown prince, barred from interfering in tonight’s events.

The Fourth Prince, isolated and helpless, seemed doomed in the eyes of outsiders; his defeat was only a matter of time.

Yet inside his residence, a grand banquet was underway, entertaining a host of guests.

Over twenty were seated—each with striking features and attire, their table manners as varied as their backgrounds, unmistakably men of the martial world.

“Fourth Prince, word just came—the crown prince has all his men focused on Changle City, completely unaware we’re here, ha!” A rotund monk raised his wine bowl and downed it with a laugh.

Another traveler chimed in, “Those eight swordsmen are useless. The Old Thief is in Changle City—no one can stop him.”

At the seat of honor sat a youth of seventeen or eighteen, with skin like polished jade, dressed in a robe of golden thread, eyes bright as stars, lips red and teeth white, eyebrows like drawn swords—a truly noble bearing.

Favored by the old emperor and supported by the court, he had, in just a few years, expanded his influence throughout the Central Plains, carving out a path right under the crown prince’s nose.

But his greatest reliance was not on the court, but on the myriad monks at his command.

From the day of his birth, a hundred monks had chanted sutras, proclaiming him the reincarnation of the Buddha, and ever since, they obeyed his every word.

Under the pretext of a martial contest before the Buddha, monks from across the Iron Dynasty had gathered in the capital—just the renowned abbots numbered in the thousands.

Half a month earlier, after the contest ended, many monks had not left the capital, merely awaiting the Fourth Prince’s command to storm the palace and seize the crown prince alive.

“Your Highness, news from Changle City!” A messenger rushed in, delivering a letter which was handed to the prince.

“The plan has changed. Nie Xiang is advancing to the Heavenly Sun realm—we need to move the Flying Horse Statue early.”

“How can that old eunuch attain the Heavenly Sun realm? Then the rumors must be true!” The Heavenly Sun realm required perfectly preserved vital energy; a eunuch, incomplete by nature, should be unable to achieve it.

This was the Fourth Prince’s trump card—what had been smuggled out of Yongle Lane was a letter from years past, and a jade pendant belonging to the current empress.

“Let the world know that my elder brother’s liaisons were illicit—what will Father think of that?” The Fourth Prince laughed. “The Iron Dynasty may not survive the night!”

“What does it matter? Your Highness holds two royal tokens. If the dynasty falls, we’ll build our own!”

Laughter echoed as they raised their cups. Servants brought delicacies and fine wines, the fragrance drifting through the streets to the army camps, and even to the crown prince’s residence.

“Old Fourth must be holding another banquet! Disaster is at hand and he still finds time for revelry—truly my brother.” The crown prince, clad in gold-threaded armor with a sword at his waist, waited for news from Changle City.

Once matters were settled in Changle City, he would have nothing left to fear and could act with abandon.

What vexed him was Prince Qin’s attitude—his uncle, holding the military tally, remained motionless, as if tonight’s turmoil had nothing to do with him.

That old fox insisted on seeing the Night-Shining Flying Horse Statue. Old Fourth’s hiding place wouldn’t be so easy to breach.

For days, the crown prince had been cursing Prince Qin, saying age had dulled his wits. Could it be that the statue concealed some hidden secret?

With a hundred thousand Blue Plume soldiers, eight swordsmen, and three thousand Imperial Guards under his command, his strength was beyond question. With the aid of his senior brothers, nothing should go awry—yet an uneasy premonition lingered in his heart, one he could not dispel.