The Grand Minister, as was his unwavering habit, had his hands clasped behind his back. He traversed the narrow, dimly lit palace corridor with brisk strides that betrayed his inner turmoil. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, yet the deep furrow between his brows revealed that his mind was leagues away, entangled in sinister machinations. His attendant followed a short distance behind, stepping like an obedient shadow.
Suddenly, the heavy silence of the corridor was shattered by the gruesome sound of wood striking bone. One of the heavy doors swung open with manic force, slamming directly into the Minister's forehead. A stifled groan escaped his throat as the impact threw him backward; the heels of his boots skidded on the polished flagstones, and he lost his footing.
The attendant lunged forward frantically, catching the Minister's arm to prevent his fall. Clutching his head as a throbbing pain flared through his skull, the Grand Minister screwed his eyes shut. He was prepared to unleash a thunderous roar to punish the reckless offender; however, the moment he opened his eyes, the shout died in his throat.
Lady Měizhū (美珠), the Emperor's second consort, stood in the doorway. Her exquisite silk robes were dishevelled, and her eyes flickered with a light that wavered between lucidity and madness. Upon seeing the Grand Minister, she paused for a heartbeat, her eyes widening suddenly. She let out a shriek that echoed off the corridor walls:
"I found him!"
Before he could react, the Lady lunged at him, clawing violently at the collar of his robes:
"Yes... it was you! Where have you hidden my child?"
The Grand Minister froze. His hand remained pressed to his forehead as an instinctive dread washed over him—not merely from the woman's madness, but from the fact that the Emperor's consort had touched him, an act that, by palace law, could cost him his life.
Wincing with distaste, he tried to pull back, his eyes darting around in search of an escape.
Finally, a handmaid arrived, running and pale-faced. She grabbed the Lady's arms to pull her away, but the Lady's fingers were so tightly locked into the fabric of the robe that the efforts seemed futile. The handmaid pleaded:
"My Lady, I beg of you... this is the Grand Minister! Let him go!"
Tears welled in the Lady's eyes, and her shrieks dissolved into heart-wrenching wails:
"Do you hear?! That is the sound of his crying! Where is my baby? Answer me, now!"
Hearing the commotion, another handmaid rushed to the scene. Together, they finally managed to prize the Lady away from the Minister. She thrashed in their arms, screaming with a voice torn from a raw throat:
"No... let me go! This old turtle knows where my child is! Let me go..."
Panting for breath, the Grand Minister stood and began straightening his crumpled robes with trembling hands. He snapped at the handmaid with suppressed rage:
"Why did you allow the Lady out of her quarters? Did you not see that this area of the palace is forbidden?"
Sobbing, the handmaid bowed:
"Forgive me, Your Excellency... I am no match for her strength; she escapes constantly..."
He looked at the still-wailing Lady with a gaze full of loathing and fear:
"Return her to her residence immediately. If this happens but once more, I shall report directly to the Emperor, and you will forfeit your head. Take her away, this instant!"
Once they had retreated, the Grand Minister clenched his teeth in anger and stared after them for a moment. Then, with a sigh of exasperation, he beckoned his attendant to follow. They moved through the labyrinthine corridors and entered a private chamber, where the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Chariots were already seated around a wooden table, waiting.
Seeing the red swelling on his forehead, the Minister of Chariots asked in astonishment:
"Excellency! Whatever has happened to you?"
The Grand Minister replied, his voice quivering with anger:
"That mad wretch of a woman! On my way here, she suddenly lunged out of a room like a wild animal and slammed the door into my face. If she were not Lord Yìfēng (逸風)'s sister, I swear I would not have hesitated to have her killed!"
He then suppressed his rage, took a seat, and got straight to the point:
"Any word of the Crown Prince and Shénwǔ (神武)?"
The Minister of Finance replied:
"No news. However, given the time that has elapsed, it would seem their business is concluded."
The Minister of Chariots struck the table firmly and said hesitantly:
"If they are dead, why have our spies in the camp remained silent and failed to report? Furthermore, the Emperor's behaviour has become unpredictable; he has quarantined the city and taken personal command of the army!"
The Minister of Finance added immediately:
"This cursed lockdown... it has severed our link to the outside world. Intelligence is reaching us at a snail's pace!"
The Minister of Chariots insisted:
"Your Excellency, you must obtain the Tiger Tally (虎符 - Hǔfú) from the Emperor at any cost to mobilise the army."
Pressing his hand against his injured forehead, the Grand Minister said:
"That tally... shall only come to me when the capital faces the certainty of a foreign invasion. According to my discussion with Lord Yìfēng, he must dispatch the Jīn (金) army to our aid as swiftly as possible. I have instructed Master Míngdé (明德) to monitor their every move."
Meanwhile, the Minister of Chariots stared into a corner and added anxiously:
"The only one who unnerves me is Hēiláng (黑狼)."
The Minister of Finance said mockingly:
"In this regard, the Emperor's mistrust of us has worked in our favour. For fear that we might kill the Crown Prince, he refused to send any of the regular Generals to search for him. Sending Hēiláng on this mission was precisely what we wanted. He shall be slaughtered alongside his brother."
The Minister of Chariots pointed a finger from within his wide sleeve and emphasised to the Minister of Finance:
"Nonetheless, I shall not rest easy until I see Hēiláng 's corpse with my own eyes."
At that moment, Míngdé entered the room and reported with a grave expression:
" Your Excellency, the spies have noticed suspicious movements within the Lán (嵐) army. They have encamped near the Northern district of Luoyang (洛阳)."
The Minister of Finance asked in terror:
"Why there? Do they intend to march on the capital?"
Stroking his beard, the Minister of Chariots analysed the situation:
"This area is the Southernmost region of Lán. It is likely that Liángwáng (良王) has stationed those forces to protect his state given the current instability. The silence from the camp is undoubtedly due to this heavy presence of their army."
After listening intently, Míngdé confirmed:
"We have prepared everything according to Lord Yìfēng's wishes. As soon as the Jīn reinforcements arrive, we can engage the Lán army if necessary. There is no cause for alarm."
The Grand Minister leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and took a deep breath:
"Very well… Do whatever is required. Our time is short."