The Imperial City, Kunpeng District.
While half the palace was shrouded in a blood-red glow, the closest official residence to the palace—the Prime Minister’s Mansion—stood quietly.
In the back garden, artificial rock mountains soared a hundred zhang high.
Atop the towering Lingyun Tower, which reached several tens of zhang into the sky, dozens of officials clad in purple robes stood by the railings, gazing out toward the imperial city bathed in the eerie blood light.
The current Grand Chancellor Zhu Chong, newly appointed ministers of the six ministries under the Prime Minister's Mansion, heads of departments such as the Tribunal Office, Censorate, Court of Justice, Ministry of Imperial Hospitality, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even the National Academy and the Imperial Academy—dozens of high-ranking officials with authority over civil education and the cultural realm of Dayin—all gathered here.
“The Son of Heaven has entered the palace.”
“I heard the Empress Dowager intends to use the Son of Heaven’s aura to suppress the evil spirits.”
“Son of Heaven’s aura? What if the Son of Heaven dies inside the palace tonight?”
“The Empress Dowager, the General-in-Chief, and the core members of the Le family are all inside the palace. What if...”
“The Dayin royal family is vast and numerous. Even if the Son of Heaven perishes, it’s just a matter of choosing the most suitable successor.”
“White Mountain Chief, even within the Imperial Academy, there are scions of the royal bloodline studying; who do you think is the most fitting?”
White Changkong stood proudly against the wind, stroking his long beard with his right hand, a subtle smile on his lips: “Gentlemen, regarding the issue of deposition and enthronement, for those of us in the civil education realm, such matters have become quite routine by now. No need to fret over it.”
“The most pressing concern today is the genuine appearance of ghosts and spirits.”
“If these legendary beings have truly emerged, what impact will they have on our Dayin kingdom and its mandate?”
“Where did they come from? What is their purpose? How do we exterminate them? How do we respond? These are, esteemed gentlemen, the matters that demand your utmost attention today.”
“Compared to these ghosts and spirits, mere court politics is just like reading a text in your palm, as easy as flipping your hand!”
White Changkong said all this with great confidence, smiling warmly at his colleagues and old friends around him.
From Zhu Chong downward, the circle of cultural and educational dignitaries nodded with restraint, their faces full of smiles.
Indeed, even if the Son of Heaven perished, it would only mean replacing one emperor with another… Moreover, if the Empress Dowager also died in this incident, it could actually be a blessing in disguise for these civil officials.
Replacing the throne with a dependent-less royal scion might be the better choice.
If that scion hailed from the Imperial Academy, he might even be more obedient.
Having a student of their own bloodline on the throne could be a hundred times better than the current sluggish and inept sovereign!
Compared to the small matter of changing emperors, these suddenly appeared ghosts and spirits truly gave these gentlemen a headache.
“Perhaps the Empress Dowager’s actions today hold some merit,” Li Ziggan, the Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, smiled wryly. “My lords, the vast Dayin realm surely harbors hidden talents among the common people—strange and talented individuals still unrecognized. A recruitment decree alone should be enough...”
At these words, Zhu Chong and the gathered dignitaries immediately applauded, laughter filling the air.
“Well said, well said! Minister Li speaks sensibly. This recruitment decree should rightfully be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so it can spread swiftly across the Nine Provinces,” Zhu Chong praised. “After all, among all the ministries, only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains the closest contact and greatest channels with the surrounding states... If we can recruit three or five worthy people to deal with these ghosts and spirits, Minister Li will be credited with primary merit!”
Everyone laughed in unison.
Zhu Chong stretched out his hand and smiled at his colleagues: “Come, come, come. Standing around like this is dull. I’ve prepared fine wine and delicacies, invited several masters of musical and theatrical arts for entertainment. Let us drink and be merry, and see what fate awaits the Imperial City tonight.”
The phrase “what fate awaits” carried a subtle hint of derision—one could easily discern Zhu Chong’s attitude toward the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven.
Soon, on the high tower, the fragrance of rich food filled the air, beautiful women danced wildly, and several top-tier beauties from Gaoging played zithers and flutes.
The great officials gathered for this feast had an indescribably joyous time.
Meanwhile, in the office of the Inspection Department of Yuanshun District, inside Lu Yao’s working quarters, Ah Hu frowned as he slipped a small note into Lu Yao’s drawer.
“In recent days, the brothers in Kunpeng District have noticed that the daily sales of various snacks and foods from the grain and oil shops have increased by several thousand portions. Our income has gone up quite a bit.”
“Eh, isn’t making more money a good thing?”
Ah Hu mumbled indistinctly, “It’s the New Year, everyone’s got some money, appetites are bigger, so it’s normal to eat more.”
As he spoke, a small stream of drool slipped from the corner of Ah Hu’s mouth.
He strode out the door and shouted loudly, “Hungry! Hungry! Hey, eunuchs, are you hungry? I’m treating you! Nothing fancy, old wine to fill the belly, stinky tofu to your heart’s content, lamb skewers, beef skewers—all you want!”
“Hey, anyone want some roasted—ram—genitals? That’s a good delicacy... oh right, you can’t use those!”
Several small eunuchs looked at Ah Hu with glum eyes.
If Ah Hu weren’t Lu Yao’s trusted man personally assigned here, with their cruel nature, these eunuchs definitely would have given him a good lesson.
But since he was Lu Yao’s confidant, what could they do?
Eat or not eat, it’s free!
Several eunuchs called their friends, and soon about twenty little eunuchs gathered, lining up to follow Ah Hu out of their compound toward a bustling night market at the street corner.
Under the cover of night, patrolling city guards whispered with chuckles, “Doesn’t it look like a proud rooster leading a group of chicks to catch bugs for dinner?”
From the darkness came bursts of quiet laughter from the guards.
Ah Hu turned back and waved toward the compound, “Who wants to come along? I’m taking these little masters to eat the best spicy and savory dishes. Brothers shouldn’t be left hungry. I’ll bring back roasted lamb, roasted pig, and some fine wine—everyone will have a blast.”
The guards cheered and immediately a group of fifty men rushed out of the barracks eagerly trailing Ah Hu.
Ah Hu held his head high, leading his troop off to feast and drink.
This was Lu Yao’s instruction: money was not a problem.
Use fine meats and expensive wine, lavish rewards to keep the eunuchs and guards tightly under control.
These eunuchs were all experts, these guards all skilled fighters.
Equipped with top-quality military gear, they formed a small but powerful mobile force.
If it came to brains, Ah Hu was not talented.
But when it came to drinking, bragging, eating meat, and fighting, all brotherhood and blood oath style—ah, here he was indeed experienced beyond measure.
Skewers of unspeakable ram parts covered with cumin and chili powder roasted over coals, filling the air with rich aroma—while on the main thoroughfare of Kunpeng District, ‘Kunpeng Avenue’, a squadron of cavalry quietly moved forward.
Though not large—only a few hundred cavalry—they wore heavy armor, steel helmets with visors; their specially made powerful bows were nearly as long as their bodies, and they wielded long horse spears measuring two zhang and four chi in length.
Their mounts were not ordinary warhorses, but great wolves with grayish-white fur, larger and taller than normal thoroughbreds.
As darkness deepened, the changes in the imperial city were hidden behind massive walls standing hundreds of zhang tall.
Commoners, even climbing high, could not see the strange events unfolding inside the palace.
Thus, Kunpeng Avenue was still lively, bustling with pedestrians and carriages.
Seeing this group of wolf-mounted riders galloping down the broad military carriageway, over a hundred zhang wide, the sons of officials by the roadside clicked their tongues in amazement: “Those are the Icefield Grey Wolf Cavalry from Northern Border City, the direct elite troops of the Marquis of Heavenly Grace! Why have they returned to the capital?”
The grim wolf cavalry said nothing.
Their commander held aloft the Emperor’s bestowed golden battle axe, forcing a path forward.
All city patrol soldiers and watch post commanders on the road turned their heads but none dared to block their way.
This golden axe was an imperial token of authority—used to lead troops against rebels and traitors, often executing first and reporting later.
Of course, today the emperor’s authority was weak; using such power to slay dukes or high-ranking ministers was impossible.
But ordinary officials of third or fourth rank, if unlucky enough to cross swords with them, could be executed without hesitation.
If they could kill high-ranking officials, then surely their lowly subordinates were no problem.
Thus, the Grey Wolf Cavalry swept through like a ghost, riding straight north along Kunpeng Avenue.
Nearing the Imperial City, they veered east, sweeping past the gates of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
A few li further east, before a vast, heavy, dark-hued building, over a thousand armored, hulking soldiers stood arrayed in military formations, guarding the entrance in a wedge-shaped defensive line.
This was the Dayin Ministry of War’s compound, guarded by city defense troops of Gaoging.
The Gaoging city defense troops didn’t even exist a century ago.
Until about a hundred years prior, when the rise of civil education led the Grand Chancellor—who controlled the civil administration under the Prime Minister’s Mansion—to slice the power of traditional court offices.
The six ministries were divided freshly, cutting interests away from old aristocrats—which was euphemistically called ‘reform’.
The Ministry of Justice targeted the Tribunal Office.
The Ministry of Revenue set its sights on the Imperial Treasury.
The Ministry of Rites turned the blade toward the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Imperial Hospitality.
And naturally, the Ministry of War fixed its gaze on the General-in-Chief’s mansion and the Five Armies’ headquarters.
The power struggles therein a century long were blood-soaked storms worthy of a long, grim story nearly as foul and endless as the foot wraps of Old Lady Wang.
Seeing the several hundred Icefield Grey Wolf Cavalry galloping close, the city defense soldiers guarding the Ministry of War trembled.
With a ‘clang’, their long spears and great halberds thrust forward in mock defense.
A commander clad in a flying tiger robe, shining silver armor, and a sword at his waist strode forward and barked fiercely:
“Who goes there? This is the Ministry of War’s compound, the nerve center of Dayin’s military affairs. How dare you barge in unruly?”
The swiftly charging wolf cavalry suddenly halted.
The Icefield Grey Wolves went from full gallop to full stop in merely two or three zhang of space—a change so sudden and smooth that the city defense troops, who had never seen a battle or fought a day in their lives, paled in shock.
The commander with the golden axe at his waist pulled out a copper tube as thick as an arm and tossed it forward.
“Two months ago, my lord the Marquis reported to the Son of Heaven that he was returning home to pay respects. Per Ministry of War orders, this is reported accordingly.”
“This time, my lord the Marquis returns to Gaoging. According to the regulations of the General-in-Chief’s Mansion and my lord’s rank, ten thousand guards have been stationed outside the city, already encamped. Three thousand Grey Wolf Cavalry personally escort my lord into the city. You will register all details carefully—no mishaps allowed!”
The commander raised the golden battle axe and lightly struck forward.
A wolf’s howl sounded as a crimson aura blazed out from the axe, shooting forward thirty zhang before exploding with a ‘boom’ into a hurricane blast, nearly knocking the silver-armored commander off his feet.
The hundreds of Grey Wolf Cavalry laughed in unison, turned their mounts around, and rode straight west toward Wuyin District.
In the northwest corner of Kunpeng District, right next to the Imperial City, stood the General-in-Chief’s Mansion.
Lu Tai, Marquis of Heavenly Grace, had already arrived at the gate with two thousand bodyguard Grey Wolf Cavalry.
“For the last general, Lu Tai reporting back to Gaoging to pay respects, here to report to the General-in-Chief!”
(End of Chapter)