Chapter 1: First Encounter

Since the migration of the elite to the south, with the northern lands overrun by "barbarian dust," the aristocratic families and high officials of the court have enjoyed a precarious peace in Jiangzuo for over two centuries.

During these two hundred years, dynasties have risen and fallen like a carousel, and the bluestone imperial roads of Jiankang City have been repeatedly soaked in blood, turning the dream of peace into a stark, crimson reality.

Four years have passed since the Xiao Clan ascended the throne.

For the aristocratic families and officials who personally helped place the Xiao Clan on the imperial throne, only one word resonated deeply: regret.

The Xiao siblings, who had brazenly seized the Zigong Palace, were once the subject of the aristocracy's highest hopes. They believed that without the support of their families, the siblings would be easy to manipulate and control.

But they were utterly wrong.

The Xiao Clan's reign could be summarized in two points: first, they eliminated the aristocratic families and officials; second, they eliminated the imperial consorts and beautiful ladies.

Under the siblings' rule, the consumption rate of imperial consorts in the harem was directly proportional to the consumption rate of the aristocratic families and officials.

The once-lofty nobles now lived through fiery times, where one might "see the court today and the funeral hall tomorrow."

Some chose to retreat from the world, while others resolved to plunge into the raging current.

Among them was Jiang Lingzhi, a seventeen-year-old daughter of the Jiang Clan of Qiantang. Her beauty was unparalleled, and her talent exceptional. Her given name, Lingzhi, combined "Ling" (meaning clever and agile) with "Zhi" (meaning flexible and unyielding).

As the eldest and most cherished daughter, meticulously sculpted by her family's efforts, she resolutely volunteered to enter the palace. She swore to carve out a glimmer of hope for her clan in the dark and hopeless court of the Southern Kingdom, and to secure a foothold for their survival.

The fourth year of the Sui'an reign, July.

The double-decked treasure ship from Jiankang City carried Jiang Lingzhi away.

The grand vessel cut through the waves, escorted by brightly armored Imperial Guards, and sailed up the coast straight to the capital.

As the eldest daughter of a noble family and born to the primary wife, Jiang Lingzhi was appointed a third-rank Zhaorong—a position equivalent to that of the Nine Ministers—even before she had met the Emperor.

To skip over the lower ranks and receive such a high-ranking title was, in theory, an unparalleled honor!

Provided one ignored the fact that two previous Zhaorongs had already died in the palace.

This grim news was something Jiang Lingzhi had deliberately spent a fortune to learn from a eunuch.

Honestly, it would have been better not to know!

The ship traveled swiftly, arriving in Jiankang City the next day.

Assisted by palace attendants, Jiang Lingzhi boarded the Huagai Palace Carriage, its gold-inlaid and jade-inlaid panels gleaming. The wheels rolled over the mirror-smooth bluestone imperial road, rumbling toward the depths of the Imperial City.

The timing was unfortunate. At an intersection of the imperial road, the carriage met another procession. The elderly eunuch leading the way immediately halted the carriage and retreated to the side with solemn deference.

A flicker of curiosity crossed Jiang Lingzhi's mind. Which important figure could command such a grand procession?

Intrigued, she lifted the carriage curtain to peer outside.

Prison carts rumbled into view, each packed with prisoners stripped down to their undergarments. Though their faces were gaunt and their expressions pained, a closer look at their skin and bearing revealed lingering traces of their former pampered lives.

Jiang Lingzhi immediately recognized their origin: the Tao Clan of Xunyang.

Rumors abounded in the marketplace about how this once-wealthy clan, which had controlled Jiangzhou's grain transport and amassed vast riches, had collapsed overnight. Some said they had opposed imperial decrees, others that they had secretly plotted against the royal family, and still others that their clan chief had simply voiced his discontent with the current Emperor's tyranny.

Regardless of the cause, the once-prominent clan, which had flourished for a century, now stood as shackled prisoners.

As a member of another noble family, Jiang Lingzhi gazed at the scene of devastation, and a metallic chill seemed to rise in her throat.

When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.

Yueya, a maid Jiang Lingzhi had brought with her from the Jiang Clan, went to inquire and returned with the news: "Miss, that is the Princess Royal's procession."

Jiang Lingzhi understood. They would indeed need to yield the way.

The Southern Kingdom's Emperor was known for his brutal and unjust rule, a fact recognized throughout the land.

Rebellions had occurred, but each had failed, often met with the royal family's hundredfold retaliation.

It could be said that the Xiao Clan's continued hold on the throne depended entirely on the Princess Royal, hailed as the "Pillar of the Empire."

Xiao Yuan.

The moment those two words formed in her mind, a figure appeared in her line of sight.

At the very front of the prison cart, a woman with a tall, straight posture rode a black horse. She wore a dark, gold-threaded brocade outfit, her ink-black hair bound by a golden crown, its long tail trailing down her back and swaying slightly.

The woman's back was turned to Jiang Lingzhi, so her face remained hidden. Yet the moment Jiang Lingzhi saw her, the surrounding world seemed to lose its color, leaving only the silhouette of the black-robed figure on the black horse.

Perhaps because Jiang Lingzhi's gaze was too obvious, the woman suddenly turned her head to look back.

From a distance, Jiang Lingzhi could only make out her sharply defined features and ivory-skinned complexion.

The instant their eyes met, Jiang Lingzhi's breath hitched.

It felt as if an invisible blade had pierced the air, carrying the blood-soaked aura of battlefields and mountains of corpses, cutting through the clamor to strike her with precision.

That single glance made the voyeur feel as if she had been targeted by a predatory bird or a ferocious beast. If she dodged too slowly, she would be torn open and disemboweled in the next instant.

Startled, Jiang Lingzhi abruptly lowered the carriage curtain. She pressed herself against the wall, no longer daring to look out.

Even though she had never met this woman before, Jiang Lingzhi knew with near certainty that her suspicions were correct.

It was Xiao Yuan!

More precisely, she should be addressed as: Xiao Yuan, Holder of the Imperial Seal, Palace Attendant, Governor of the Military Affairs of the Interior and Exterior, Minister of the Court of State Affairs, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince of Ping'an, with an estate of 200,000 households, and Grand General Who Guards the State.

Yueya was startled by Jiang Lingzhi's reaction and quickly moved to support her, asking with concern, "What's wrong, Miss?"

Jiang Lingzhi steadied her breathing, took the calming sachet Yueya offered, and sniffed it. Then, with a mix of resignation and apprehension, she said, "Entering the palace this time will be more difficult than I anticipated."

The harem had never been a place of comfort and luxury, and the Xiao Clan's harem was no exception.

Jiang Lingzhi had been mentally prepared for this when she decided to enter the palace, but she hadn't expected the word "difficult" to feel so tangible and pressing.

The eunuch led her to her residence, the plaque above the gate reading "Lanlin Pavilion."

The courtyard was sun-drenched, the pavilion exquisite. Its green-glazed tiles and soaring eaves, along with the carved beams and painted rafters, all radiated imperial grandeur.

The assigned palace staff were submissive and well-trained. As Jiang Lingzhi's trusted confidante from home, Yueya naturally took charge of personnel matters within Lanlin Pavilion.

Jiang Lingzhi stood in the courtyard, leisurely surveying this new world.

Under the distant corridor, concubines from nearby residences peered over, but as soon as their eyes met Jiang Lingzhi's, they quickly averted their gaze as if seeing a ghost, a clear look of fear and misfortune flashing across their faces.

Jiang Lingzhi knew exactly why.

Lanlin Pavilion had seen two Zhaorongs die in succession. The previous Zhaorong had somehow angered the Emperor and was strangled to death beneath the main hall's beam.

Even all the eunuchs and maids in Lanlin Pavilion had been replaced.

The once magnificent palace had become a place of ill omen, a place the six palaces avoided mentioning.

Yueya, her heart trembling, held a bundle of mugwort for purification and meticulously fumigated the pavilion three times, inside and out.

Jiang Lingzhi couldn't help but wonder, what good would fumigating this single room do?

Beneath the Imperial City lay countless bones. Had any inch of land here ever been truly auspicious?

The second day after her arrival in the palace fell on the 15th of the seventh lunar month, the Ghost Festival.

But His Majesty had ingeniously decided to host a grand banquet to celebrate his Imperial Sister Xiao Yuan's victory in eradicating the Tao Clan of Xunyang.

The Tao Clan, a merchant family with a century of accumulated wealth, had rivaled the state in riches. Their annihilation and confiscation of property had brought immense profit to the imperial treasury.

Thus, the palace banquet that night was exceptionally lavish.

As a high-ranking concubine, Jiang Lingzhi naturally had to attend.

Given her rank, the palace showed her great courtesy. The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau, following protocol, sent three ceremonial gowns for her selection.

Jiang Lingzhi's fingertips brushed over the most elaborate brocade robe embroidered with phoenixes and clouds, but ultimately settled on the simplest one:

A Sky-Water Green cross-collared, wide-sleeved juqun (a two-piece garment consisting of a skirt and a jacket), over which she wore a light sandalwood-colored gauze shirt with wide sleeves.

The skirt was divided into twelve panels, interspersed with pale cloud-white sections. In motion, it billowed like mist over water, tied at the waist with a light blue silk ribbon ending in inch-long tassels, completely devoid of any clinking ornaments.

Dressed according to her rank as a consort, her dark hair was styled into an elegant suiyun (flowing cloud) updo. A carved jade hairpin, depicting orchid leaves in white and pale green, was slanted at her temple, as pure as water.

On her wrists, she wore a pair of unadorned mutton-fat jade bangles, their warmth and flawless luster radiating.

While adjusting her shawl, Yueya seized the opportunity to lean in and whisper, "The secret letter to Young Master Jiang has been sent. He won't attend the banquet tonight."

Jiang Lingzhi replied calmly, "What's the excuse?"

"He fell from his horse while riding and is currently receiving medical treatment at his residence."

Jiang Lingzhi suddenly turned her head. "Is he truly injured?"

Yueya nodded. "Otherwise, he couldn't have deceived those questioning guards. My Lady... Your Ladyship, rest assured, Young Master Jiang said he knows how to handle this."

Jiang Lingzhi said no more.

To control the noble clans, the Xiao Clan had specially stationed the eldest sons of each clan in Jiankang, appointing them to positions in the imperial court. While this was presented as a mark of imperial favor and honor, it was in reality a form of hostage-taking.

The Jiang Clan's hostage was Jiang Tingyun, Jiang Lingzhi's younger twin brother, who was seventeen years old and served as a Yuanyuan Sanqi Shilang and Secretary Province Library Supervisor.

The twins had been inseparable since childhood, their bond deep and enduring.

Jiang Lingzhi's attendance at the palace had two purposes: to represent the Jiang Clan and to keep watch over her only blood relative.

The timing of this night banquet struck her as highly inappropriate. Based on intelligence reports about the Xiao Clan, Jiang Lingzhi had a premonition that the Emperor was planning something treacherous tonight.

Therefore, she had advised Jiang Tingyun to avoid the event if possible.

The imperial night banquet required all officials to bring their families. Courtiers and members of the imperial clan mingled together in celebration.

As the night deepened, the palace lanterns blazed like daylight.

Inside Taiji Hall, the air thrummed with the melodies of flutes and zithers. The rustle of silk and the fragrance of hairpins wove together, creating a dreamlike illusion of Southern Kingdom splendor.

Jiang Lingzhi sat quietly at her assigned seat, subtly observing the assembled guests.

As expected, this banquet is no ordinary affair. The presence of consorts, officials' wives, and courtiers all seated together... such an arrangement was truly...

Many had already realized the impropriety of the situation and were regretting their attendance.

But with things having come to this, they had no choice but to proceed with utmost caution.

The officials and their families held their breath, their faces solemn. Conversations were kept to a bare whisper, lest even a hint of laughter might invite disaster.

The Xiao Clan had been exterminated by the previous dynasty. After seizing the throne, the imperial family had dwindled to just a brother and sister, barely enough to sustain the lineage.

Yet even this diminished royal line was not easily challenged.

After all, the blood of the vanquished still stained the land.

The melodies of zithers and flutes filled the banquet hall. When the dancers finished their performance, the music ceased, plunging the grand hall into sudden silence.

This abrupt atmospheric void sent a chill through the ministers. Before they could think of how to revive the mood, a clear, languid tsk echoed from the jade steps, piercing the silence like a needle.

Jiang Lingzhi's eyes flickered upward almost instinctively, her gaze darting toward the throne. She caught only a fleeting glint of the bright yellow dragon robe before forcing herself to lower her eyes, staring at the amber light swirling in her jade cup.

A clear, yet inexplicably unsettling voice drifted down: "Are my loyal ministers always so dull, even in their own homes?"

With a soft clink, the Emperor casually set his golden goblet down on the imperial desk.

The ministers' hearts tightened.

One quick-witted minister hastily rose, bowed, and replied, "Your Majesty's divine presence is near. How would we dare to be disrespectful or reckless?"

"Oh?" The Emperor drew out his tone, then chuckled, the sound devoid of warmth. "What if I were to grant you special permission to be as reckless as you please tonight?"

Jiang Lingzhi's fingertips silently curled inward, her hand closing around the cool jade cup.

The Emperor's words, so light and frivolous, carried an unsettling undercurrent of danger.

"Your Majesty... I... I..." The minister's forehead beaded with sweat; he clearly sensed the peril and stammered, unable to respond.

"Eureka! I've got it!"

The Emperor suddenly clapped his hands together and burst into raucous laughter. His laughter echoed through the vast hall, carrying a pure, childlike delight as if he had discovered a novel toy. Yet the sound sent a shiver down the spines of those who heard it.

Jiang Lingzhi finally dared to lift her gaze, truly seeing the man on the throne.

The bright yellow dragon robe made him appear somewhat slender. His face was strikingly handsome, even possessing a delicate, almost feminine beauty. The corners of his eyes, slightly upturned, now glistened with moisture from his laughter.

No wonder... no wonder... the whispers in the marketplace had been true: the last emperor of the previous dynasty had once forced him into the harem, treating him as a plaything.

When the Emperor's laughter subsided, he wiped the moisture from the corners of his eyes with a fingertip. His gaze swept slowly over the silent courtiers and ladies below. Then, his crimson lips parted, and he uttered words that shook the hall to its foundations:

"I have long heard that my loyal ministers share a profound bond with their virtuous wives. But hearing is not seeing. Why not use this auspicious night to demonstrate before me and my Imperial Sister the depth of your devotion? Show me what this profound bond truly looks like. What do you say?"