That morning at dawn, the civil and military officials felt as if they had fallen into a dream. Overnight, the entire imperial city had turned into a different world.

When entering the palace gates, the ones guarding the heavily fortified entrances were no longer eunuchs in splendid uniforms and high hats, but rows of imperial guards clad in heavy armor.

What kind of formation was this?

Even more bizarre, inside the palace gates, across the vast square and along the jade-tiled paths, stood row upon row of unfamiliar attendants dressed in black, cold blades hanging from their waists.

Before daylight had fully broken, many officials had already heard the news.

The palace had been turned upside down! Under cover of last night's Great Nuo exorcism ceremony, that Princess Huining had led people in a palace coup—His Majesty had already been placed under house arrest!

For a moment, all the officials who were supposed to enter the palace to offer New Year’s greetings had gathered outside the palace gates, yet hesitated to go in.

A woman seizing power through a palace coup—this was something unheard of.

Yet this woman was formidable indeed. In a single night, heaven and earth were overturned, and she had somehow conjured up this many soldiers and followers to command.

Right now, no one knew what the situation inside the palace was, let alone what awaited them within those many layers of palace walls.

They were merely civil ministers, without even the strength to bind a chicken—how could they dare act rashly?

In the corner, Dou Huairen paced anxiously in circles, the ivory tablet in his hands nearly sparking under the tight grip of his ceremonial robes.

How could this have happened so suddenly? He had merely woken from sleep, and Zhao Chu had already become a traitor who had seized the throne?

She... She, a mere woman, dared to do something like this...

Then what about him? What about his son? Would all the years of painstaking plotting and scheming now become nothing but a wedding dress for someone else?

At that moment, a minor sixth-rank official—formerly a student of his father and now under his command—came running up to him in haste.

“What’s the situation?” Dou Huairen asked urgently. “What did Zhao Chu say?”

“The guards at the gates aren’t allowing anyone into the palace, nor are they permitting any messages to be sent inside,” the official said, his face full of worry.

“Didn’t I tell you to bribe the Imperial Guards with some silver?!” Dou Huairen growled in frustration.

“Well… it turns out that Commander Meng of the Imperial Guards, at some unknown point, also became one of the Fifth Highness’s people. The Imperial Guards now only take orders from the Fifth Highness… I… I truly have no way in.”

Dou Huairen was stunned.

Even the Imperial Guards had fallen under Zhao Chu’s control?

He, her uncle—her greatest support—how had he never known?

While he stood there momentarily dumbfounded, the little official had already quietly taken two steps back. “Lord Dou, the situation is too unclear now. From here on… let us each go our own way.”

Dou Huairen froze again.

“What did you say?” He turned toward the official.

But the man had already distanced himself, widening the gap between them by the span of several people, looking at him with caution and detachment, with a trace of apology in his eyes.

He didn’t trust him!

Dou Huairen’s eyes widened in fury.

So this man was a petty traitor too! Seeing that he and Zhao Chu had drifted apart, he was already eager to part ways.

Just wait!

Now that the Emperor was likely incapacitated, and the Third Prince nowhere to be found—what could Zhao Chu, a mere woman, possibly accomplish? With so many people in the court, it wouldn’t be long before they began selecting a male heir from the imperial branches and royal clans. The foremost candidate would surely be the child of his wife and Princess Jia…

Dou Huairen glared angrily at the official and ignored him.

But...

When his gaze swept across the gathered ministers outside Kaiyang Gate, his confidence, for some reason, began to waver.

After the turbulence and purges of the previous months, the various court factions were already in a state of collapse and fragmentation. There was no longer a single great minister capable of shouldering the realm.

They lwandered and hesitated outside the palace gates, watching and waiting. Though they had known since early morning about the disturbance within the palace, not even one of them dared to show up without their full ceremonial attire for court greetings.

Including Dou Huairen himself.

With a court full of such officials... could they really do anything to Zhao Chu?

Just then, a faint commotion arose from not far away.

Dou Huairen looked up and saw that it was Minister Su Xin of the Ministry of Personnel—father of the late Noble Consort Qing.

He wore his official robes, his expression solemn, walking directly toward Kaiyang Gate.

All eyes were drawn to him.

The towering palace gates, several zhang high, looked like the gaping maw of a giant beast. The cold gleam of blades and spears were its sharp fangs. In the golden light that shimmered like beast scales, they silently confronted the frail figure of the aged official.

Before all eyes, the elderly minister straightened his back and knelt before the palace gates.

As if he could not see the grim, motionless soldiers, he deeply bowed his head toward the towering palace halls.

“Your old servant Su Xin, humbly requests an audience with His Majesty!” he declared.

“I beg Her Highness the Fifth Princess to permit this old servant to behold our sovereign’s dragon appearance!”

*

Zhao Chu had just finished arranging his robes when he heard of Minister Su’s earnest display.

Standing not far away, Shi Shen couldn’t help but furrow his brow, but Zhao Chu leisurely took a seat in the rear hall, lifted a teacup, and drank slowly—like he was listening to a story.

“Your Highness, for someone of your status to take the reins of court is already an extremely difficult matter,” Shi Shen said.

“This move by Su Xin is to seize the initiative and push you into the fire.”

Zhao Chu calmly set down the teacup and asked Wu Xinghai on the other side, “Have they entered the palace?”

“Seeing Minister Su enter, quite a few court officials followed in,” Wu Xinghai replied.

“And the others?”

“Perhaps unwilling to delay the morning court—they’ve been arriving one after another.”

Zhao Chu gave a short laugh and stood up. “You see, isn't that a good thing?” His expression remained composed.

“Your Highness means…”

“I was just afraid they had no backbone.”

Zhao Chu smiled faintly as he stood, spreading his arms, letting his wide trailing sleeves flow.

Golden phoenixes on the sleeves shimmered with brilliance.

He was only adjusting his sleeves, yet in that moment, a sharp and chilling aura of murderous power burst forth.

He was going to crush their so-called backbone.

*

In the early morning, under Su Xin’s lead, the full assembly of civil and military officials gathered in the Chongde Hall, where the Grand Court Audience was to be held.

Amid the sharp, high-pitched cries of eunuchs announcing the court, Zhao Chu entered from the rear of the hall and stopped before the dense crowd of officials.

Indeed, he had never looked at the full court from this vantage point before.

From childhood, he had been taught to hide his brilliance and bide his time. After coming of age, he remained confined to the inner palace or back residences, maneuvering through covert messages and memorials copied and delivered by others—battling them across the cold barrier of words.

Now, he stood on a high platform; they, stayed below the hall.

This resplendent hall—glittering with gold and jade—was truly a panorama of prosperity, vast enough to contain mountains and rivers.

(NT: The idiom ‘mountains and rivers’ (山河) metaphorically means the nation, the realm, or all under heaven)

Those standing beneath the clouds lowered their brows and did not dare raise their heads. The one above the clouds trampled all beings beneath his feet.

Zhao Chu stood still and silent, until a eunuch stepped forward and placed an intricately carved golden chair beside the dragon throne.

Zhao Chu sat in that chair.

“I’ve just heard that all of you didn’t come to court today to offer congratulations,” he leaned slightly against the chair’s back and said with a faint smile. “But because you have things to say—accounts to settle?”

The guards stationed in the hall were twice as many as usual.

For a time, all present glanced at each other with ears and eyes, but none dared speak.

Until Su Xin stepped forward first. “Fifth Highness, where is His Majesty now?” He stood tall, neither arrogant nor humble. “We are here today to pay respects to His Majesty.”

Zhao Chu looked at him and slowly smiled.

He knew, this old man wasn’t bold—he simply had his last piece of leverage: Zhao Jin was still alive.

“You haven’t heard what’s going on in the palace, Minister Su?” Zhao Chu asked bluntly.

Su Xin was taken aback, surprised by how openly he spoke. He frowned and looked up at Zhao Chu standing high above.

There stood a dazzling woman, her hair adorned in gold and jade, her trailing skirt embroidered with phoenixes spreading their wings arrogantly, shimmering in radiant gold.

“Last night, I forced the palace,” The Fifth Princess declared brazenly. “His Majesty is now imprisoned, so you will not be seeing him.”

Su Xin turned pale with shock, and murmurs and gasps broke out immediately in the hall.

Zhao Chu remained composed, watching them with unhurried leisure.

Even if he hadn’t met these people before, their names, positions, temperaments, personal histories, and even their private dealings—he had thoroughly grasped them all.

Among them, forty percent were his own. The ones now showing alarm and fear were merely acting in concert with the rest.

As for the others…

Those still dreaming of Zhao Jin were nothing more than scattered soldiers with no support.

Zhao Chu wasn’t worried in the slightest, lazily watching until Su Xin couldn’t bear it any longer and shouted: “Preposterous!” he roared. “You are His Majesty’s subject, his child, and a woman married into another house—you dare commit such treasonous and rebellious acts of grave disrespect!”

“Oh?” Zhao Chu only raised an eyebrow. “Minister Su, have you not yet learned why Third Brother was imprisoned by His Majesty?”

The court burst into further panic.

The Third Prince was imprisoned? Wasn’t he said to be staying in the palace to tend to the ailing Emperor?

“You… you speak nonsense!” Su Xin took a startled step back.

But Zhao Chu immediately caught the panic in his eyes.

Of course—what person tending to illness would remain unheard from for days on end, even barring the Crown Princess from visiting?

“Third Brother is currently locked in a secret chamber inside Father’s sleeping quarters.”

Seeing the fear in Su Xin’s expression, Zhao Chu remained unmoved. “Because in Suzhou, he discovered Father’s murder of Noble Consort Su Yunshuang and her child. His Majesty imprisoned him to keep that from spreading.”

Under the increasingly astonished stares of the court, Zhao Chu looked straight at Su Xin. “Minister Su, you didn’t know about that either?”

Su Xin swayed—had a colleague not caught him, he would have collapsed then and there. “No… impossible… His Majesty, he…”

“If Minister Su doesn’t believe me, after court is dismissed, you may view the evidence Third Brother risked much to obtain,” Zhao Chu said.

“Well then, does any other minister still have objections?”

Zhao Chu calmly swept his gaze across the hall.

Within the court, there were those who formed factions for personal gain, and also those who were upright and unyielding in their integrity.

“Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, but even if the matter concerning Consort Qing is true, it is still no more than a private affair within the imperial harem. How could Your Highness use this as an excuse to imprison His Majesty?”

Indeed, an official stepped forward.

Zhao Chu cast a glance over — it was a Censorate official, a surveillance officer. Before Sang Zhixin lost power, he had also been tormented heavily by this man.

“That, of course, is not the reason,” Zhao Chu replied.

The censor was about to ask further, but Zhao Chu calmly continued, “It was because I had a heartfelt conversation with the Emperor last night. He too felt that, in his old age, he had become muddled and increasingly violent and irritable, and was no longer fit to rule the realm.”

“Since His Majesty's ascension, he has been benevolent and wise. How can one speak of him being muddled and tyrannical?” the censor immediately rebutted.

“Commanding Sang Zhixin to fabricate barbarian bandits and burn, kill, and loot the capital — does that not count as muddled?” Zhao Chu lowered his eyes and asked lightly.

Dragging the Emperor’s dirty deeds into court was no joke — Zhao Chu was not playing games with Emperor Hongyou. He had always meant what he said and followed through with action.

The court practically exploded. The Emperor personally ordered chaos in the capital? What an absurdity!

“If you… if you speak such slander and defame His Majesty…”

“Is that what you call slander?” Zhao Chu glanced at the speaker.

“Then, secretly imprisoning the Marquis of Anping in the palace, and sending a trusted agent to impersonate him on campaign — what do you call that?”

Now, the entire court was utterly dumbfounded. What did he just say… the Marquis of Anping?

Wasn’t the Marquis of Anping sent to Longxi by imperial edict? The Turks had invaded, and the danger was grave. Even a three-year-old in the street knew that Fang Linyuan was a divine weapon against enemies — how could he be imprisoned in the palace?

Even the surveillance officer could only stammer, unable to respond.

If this act was indeed done by the Emperor… then the only explanation was jealousy of the capable and persecution of loyal ministers.

They were all struck dumb by the enormity of this revelation, unable to form any rebuttal or argument.

A low buzz of discussion spread throughout the grand hall. Zhao Chu let them murmur for a while before slowly clearing his throat.

The murmurs instantly ceased. The entire court looked up at him, each with a different expression.

But no one dared to speak again.

“Of course, I know that for me to be sitting here today is, by reason and emotion, improper.” Zhao Chu slowly leaned back into his chair. “But the Emperor truly has no other heir capable of bearing the burden. And since I sit here today, though I have no extra eyes or fewer organs than you, I dare say this critical task is not beyond me.”

At this, he raised a hand and calmly said, “Read the decree.”

Wu Xinghai stepped forward and opened the imperial edict written in Emperor Hongyou’s own hand.

Citing illness and weakness, the Emperor entrusted governance to the Fifth Princess, instructed her to appoint a Crown Prince, and to select an auspicious day to ascend the throne.

The majestic, cautious wording — how could the civil and military officials of the court not hear the fear and guilt behind it?

When the words “Thus decreed” fell, the silence was deafening.

Zhao Chu raised his hand and rested it gently against heischeek. “Gentlemen, why have you not yet accepted the decree and expressed gratitude?”

Even knowing the outrageous acts committed by the Emperor… facing this figure in robes, dazzling in beauty, the court was filled with hesitant glances.

They wavered, they hesitated — no one dared to be the first to kneel.

After all… she was a woman.

At that moment, an official suddenly shouted, “But even so, how could it be your place, a mere woman! Even if the Emperor has no successor, there is no shortage of outstanding heirs within the imperial clan. If we truly allow a woman to rule, would it not be the hen crowing at dawn? Great Xuan would be in peril!”

“Exactly!…”

And the one who blurted out agreement was none other than Dou Huairen in the front row.

Zhao Chu glanced at him, not giving him a chance to say more.

“Well said.” He smiled.

The official froze, only to see him sit up slightly, one hand on the armrest, the other lifted lightly.

“Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, Wan Hesong.” Though they had never met, he effortlessly called his name.

“Former student of Sang Zhixin, served in the Ministry for three years, embezzled no less than one hundred thousand taels of silver. A private residence on Fanglin Lane, Shuncheng Street — all the silver is hidden there, correct?”

His tone was slow, like a lazy predator toying with its prey.

And under his gaze, the official’s face turned visibly pale. “You… you…”

This woman of the inner palace… how did she know this clearly?

At Zhao Chu’s final word, he almost collapsed.

When had she learned all his secrets… even the residence the Embroidered Guards hadn’t discovered, she knew of in full detail?

Zhao Chu lowered his eyes, gazing down from above.

The corner of his mouth curled slightly as he calmly said, “Shi Shen, take him to the Eastern Depot. Investigate.”

At this moment, the infamous Governor of the Eastern Depot suddenly appeared, leading a squad of secret guards into the hall.

He stopped beneath the high platform, his posture like a graceful crane, and bowed toward Zhao Chu seated above.

“Yes.”

Even as he spoke, the collapsed official was already being dragged away by the guards.

Just as Shi Shen was about to withdraw, the Fifth Princess on the dais swept her gaze across the dumbfounded court.

“Don’t be hasty,” Zhao Chu said. “If anyone else here has objections, now is the time to voice them all together.”

The hall fell into utter silence.

Among the stunned ministers present, how many could truly claim to be spotless, and able to withstand the scrutiny and torture of the Eastern Depot?

With so many people present, not even a heavy breath could be heard.

“Lord Dou.” Zhao Chu’s gaze swept the room — he had no intention of killing just one to warn the others.

He looked toward Dou Huairen.

“Lord Dou, what were you saying just now—‘Exactly’?” His smile was gentle, but his eyes were cold.

Dou Huairen’s courage had already shattered.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees on the spot.

How could he dare say anything more! The matter of treason—he had followed Zhao Chu step by step in doing it. Now that Zhao Chu had revealed a ruthless streak, if he dared to speak up again, wouldn’t this merciless woman make an example of him?

Zhao Chu had succeeded—sitting up there high and mighty, openly rebelling—but what about him? He had committed a capital crime for Zhao Chu!

Dou Huairen couldn’t care about the stares around him. He kept kowtowing without pause.

“This humble minister meant—preposterous! What that man said to slander Your Highness was utterly preposterous!” he stammered loudly. “The imperial edict has been issued—then it is the Emperor’s will. As ministers, how dare we speak rashly or speculate on His Majesty and the imperial heir!”

A man who knew how to adapt to the times.

Zhao Chu looked at him and, after a moment, withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and lifted a hand.

The eunuchs of the Eastern Depot who were holding the previous official immediately received the order and filed out in single file.

“Well then, gentlemen—when will you accept the decree?”

Zhao Chu sat upright on the throne. As his voice fell, the soldiers standing around drew their blades with a resounding ding.

Immediately, a few officials in the hall began to kneel, scattered here and there.

Once someone took the lead, more followed, and soon the entire mass of officials knelt down like a tide.

Their voices rose like a crashing wave, echoing through the vast hall.

“We humbly receive the edict! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand!”

*

This court audience could be called nothing short of a complete success.

Once the order was given to publicly proclaim the imperial edict, Zhao Chu also announced the dispersal of court.

He had ascended to that position—not something to be secured in a single day.

But with today’s preemptive show of force, any future dissent would be, to him, mere trifles easily suppressed.

Zhao Chu rose and made his way toward the inner palace.

The edict had been issued, and now the entire imperial city was placed under the temporary management of the Eastern Depot—step by step, cleansing and purging, and lifting the restrictions on the palace staff.

But halfway there, he heard that Fang Linyuan had just gone privately to visit Saihan.

Zhao Chu halted in his steps and looked at the palace servant.

“He went to see her?” he asked. “What did they talk about?”

The servant shook her head. “This maid doesn’t know. The marquis went in alone to speak with Consort Yu.”

Alone, again...

A sourness rose in Zhao Chu’s throat.

What did he need to see that woman for?

If she felt unwell, there was a whole Imperial Medical Bureau that could treat her. Fang Linyuan wasn’t a physician—did seeing him magically cure her?

Zhao Chu couldn’t help grumbling inwardly, his face already darkening with jealousy.

The servant dared not say another word. Seeing the Fifth Highness’s expression grow colder, she watched as he strode off toward Yuntai Hall.

He and Fang Linyuan were temporarily staying at Yuntai Hall—not far from Chongde Hall.

After just a quarter-hour’s walk, Zhao Chu arrived in front of the hall.

“The marquis is waiting to have lunch with you, and asked if you'd like any extra dishes added—so he can inform the imperial kitchen ahead of time.”

Juan Su and the others had already entered the palace and were waiting outside the hall.

Zhao Chu’s face remained cold.

Add what dish? Add dumplings? His mouth was already so sour with jealousy that he could skip the vinegar.

He said nothing, righteously jealous as he was.

And rightly so. That Turkic woman had always had designs on Fang Linyuan. Now that they were both living in the palace, shouldn’t they avoid each other out of propriety?

Zhao Chu swept his robes aside with one hand, lifted his foot, and ascended the long jade steps. Amid greetings and bows from those around him, he pushed open the hall doors.

And immediately met a pair of dark, gleaming eyes.

Focused, bright—filled entirely with him.

And only him.

Zhao Chu’s heart softened.

Across from him, perhaps catching the change in his expression, Fang Linyuan clearly froze for a moment, then asked, “What is it? Did something not go well?”

Nothing hadn’t gone well.

Even that full mouth of jealousy turned traitorous at that moment—flowing sweetly into his very bones.

Zhao Chu stepped forward, embraced him. “No, everything went very smoothly.”

He spoke while rubbing up like a big cat, nuzzling Fang Linyuan’s cheek. “And you? What did you do? Did you miss me?”

 

--

Author’s note:

Zhao Chu (fierce): I just don’t—(don’t believe you had anything to say to her in private)

Fang Linyuan (innocent): Don’t what?

Zhao Chu: …Don’t ask whether you love me anymore, baby. You must love me, right? OVO

 

 

Translator : DarNan