In the Purple and Gold Palace there is a pavilion named Yangling, offering a panoramic view of the entire city. On its top floor lies a library, outside of which stone-carved dragons spew water. Auntie Sweet Potato had planted five crabapple trees by the pavilion. Xu Fengnian had recently moved from Qingliu Courtyard to the library within the pavilion. He often stood by the window for hours on end. In Wutong Courtyard, Sweet Potato could leisurely enjoy herself within that small plot of land like koi fish swimming in water, but such ease was impossible in Dunhuang City. Now, with nearly 70,000 people relying on her, she was like a young empress regnant behind a curtain. Though a group of capable female officials from the Purple and Gold Palace assisted in governance, the tangled forces of Dunhuang City presented a chaotic web of affairs, all needing her final decision. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian did not insist on keeping her by his side. There is no wall that does not leak secrets, even if it is the wall of an imperial palace. Xu Fengnian, occasionally wandering secretly within the palace, sensed a hidden undercurrent spreading outward, only to return and nourish the palace itself. He did not know whether this was the norm for the Giant Immortal Palace and Dunhuang City. Once, he asked Sweet Potato about it. She said that under her aunt’s rule, Dunhuang City had always been unable to control people or their tongues. When the demon Luo Yang was outside the city, Dunhuang was fragmented, and those factions that had benefited from her aunt watched helplessly as she rode out alone and returned severely wounded. After Luo Yang left, they merely tried to add flowers to brocade. As for the common people, they regarded it as natural: “You are the city lord; if you don’t go, who will? If you die, we’ll just get a new master. Even if Luo Yang kills indiscriminately, it’s unlikely she would reach us all. At worst, we’d suffer together, better than sticking out our necks to be slaughtered by the demon.” Xu Fengnian merely smiled at this answer.
At that time, Sweet Potato asked, “If one day the thirty thousand iron cavalry of Beiliang fails to defend the northwest border, and the million households of Beiliang surrender en masse or even side with Beiman, turning against the Beiliang army, would you lose heart, Master?”
Xu Fengnian countered, “If you were me, what would you do?”
Sweet Potato’s fingers brushed her lips, smiling. “If I were the hereditary Prince of Beiliang, I would kill each one I saw.”
Xu Fengnian sighed, “You would still be underutilized as the city lord of Dunhuang.”
The gentle land is ultimately a hero’s tomb. When Sweet Potato mentioned the ruins of the Wu Clan’s Nine Swords Breaking Ten Thousand Riders, five hundred miles north in Jinxi Prefecture, Xu Fengnian decided to leave the city. That night, in the Giant Immortal Palace’s main hall, she wore imperial robes and sat on the dragon throne, exuding an air of supreme authority. If senior Beiman officials had seen her, they would have mistaken her for a rejuvenated empress. In late spring, after a night of indulgence, fortunately, Dunhuang had no morning court, so before dawn, they returned to Qingliu Courtyard. Together they bathed, and Xu Fengnian, dressed by Sweet Potato, donned his scholar’s attire with black sleeves and white collar, carrying a book case. Sweet Potato circled him twice, checking for flaws, ensuring perfection. Finally, she sighed, “Master, in this attire, you look like a learned scholar, very handsome, but the purple dragon robe was even more magnificent.”
Xu Fengnian patted the Spring and Autumn Sword, softly saying, “Don’t see me off.”
Sweet Potato shook her head. “I’ll see you to the Benyuan Gate.”
At the Benyuan Gate, Sweet Potato insisted on accompanying him ten miles further. Xu Fengnian Helpless said, “At this rate, I might as well return to Beiliang.”
After further meticulous preparations, Sweet Potato asked, “Really don’t take that Night Illuminating Jade Lion? Even if it’s too conspicuous, a fine horse would suffice, or you could discard it when tired.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head. “Who takes care of whom is uncertain. Walking is easier. Getting attached makes it hard to part.”
Sweet Potato softly said, “Master, travel safely.”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “Return to Beiliang soon. I don’t care how crucial Dunhuang is to Beiliang’s strategy, you must stay alive.”
Sweet Potato lowered her eyes. “I understand.”
Xu Fengnian added, “Keep an eye on the young eunuch Tong Guan for another couple of years, then send him to Yangling Pavilion. His education and martial foundation will require your attention. Leaving him to chance won’t do.”
Sweet Potato smiled. “Rest assured, Dongshou will surely surprise Dunhuang. The scripture pavilion has a few suitable manuals for him. He’s lucky.”
Xu Fengnian nodded, whispering, “May the world reward another diligent soul.”
“Goodbye.”
Xu Fengnian turned away from Sweet Potato, her brocade robes like lotus petals, and waved.
Sweet Potato seemed to want to follow, but hesitated at the threshold. When the palace bell rang at dawn, she passed through Benyuan Gate toward the Yeting Palace, standing on the Spring Hill, gazing afar. Dunhuang convened its court every fifteenth day, a modest gathering where factions divided interests. Her aunt had always sought unity but failed until her death. Sweet Potato did not expect unity, yet even the pretense of harmony seemed unattainable now. She narrowed her eyes, exuding a coldness unseen with Xu Fengnian. The clowns were rising. Actually, after her aunt’s death, they had begun to stir, especially after confirming Luo Yang’s indifference to Dunhuang. These self-proclaimed elders wanted to target her, a lonely fox. The rumors of a concubine usurping power were their bait. Sweet Potato descended Spring Hill. Though a first-class maid of the Beiliang Prince’s Mansion, she spent two or three months annually in Dunhuang, watching her aunt govern. Those factions that had seen her grow knew her only as the beloved niece of the “Two Kings,” destined to be the next city lord, unaware she was Jin She.
Passing a flowerbed, she encountered Dongshou, who had risen early to tend to his old eunuch master. Standing outside the flowerbed, Sweet Potato remained still.
Dongshou glimpsed her, vaguely recalling an impression, mistaking her for a palace maid involved with his benefactor, smiling shyly, genuinely innocent. He thought the stone carver had excellent taste; this sister was like a Dunhuang flying fairy from murals.
Sweet Potato softly asked, “You’re Dongshou?”
The young eunuch hastily put down his bronze watering can, kneeling smartly. “Dongshou greets the lady official.”
Sweet Potato smiled. “Rise. Kneeling too long will dirty your clothes again. Spring rains are frequent; it’ll rain soon. If the clothes don’t dry, they’ll be uncomfortable.”
Dongshou slowly stood, eyes clear, face bright. “Lady official, you have a kind heart. May you enjoy many blessings.”
Sweet Potato laughed heartily. “Indeed, you’re perceptive. At your age, a thoughtful soul. Your master’s phlegm is yellow and sticky, with chronic coughing—tuberculosis. I’ll send someone to treat him. The root may not be cured, but he can spend his twilight years peacefully.”
Dongshou cried out, bowing deeply. “You and the stone carver are living bodhisattvas. Dongshou will never forget your kindness!”
Sweet Potato coldly said, “Crying and bowing are good habits in the palace.”
When Dongshou looked up, the fairy sister had vanished.
Sweet Potato exited the Yeting Palace. Between the two palaces, the Yulong Road was a forbidden line. Several female officials, personally trained by her aunt, stood solemnly, exuding a willingness to die.
Walking toward the Bai Xiang Gate, the southern entrance of the Giant Immortal Palace, a female official with an oval face softly said, “City Lord, outside the palace, of the 500 Jinwu Guards, 300 are loyal, while 200 have been bribed.”
A tall female official, resembling a robust man, calmly stated, “Miss, intelligence reports indicate that aside from the Buque Platform’s indecision and reluctance to reveal themselves early, the Yuwen and Du Mu families remain inactive. The remaining factions have openly gathered at Bai Xiang Gate, attempting to stage a coup. Among them, the Mao family has hired nearly a hundred martial artists to take advantage of the Jinwu Guards’ internal conflict. The 500 Jinwu Guards outside the city, led by Mao Rou, are about to charge through the main gate, heading toward the Giant Immortal Palace with great momentum. The Purple and Gold Palace currently lacks the strength to block them. Miss, this might sway many neutral parties to the rebels.”
A female official with a baby face and wearing a purple satin robe frowned. “Mistress, why not contact the demon Luo Yang? The city lord once said that on this day, we could invoke this demon to suppress the rebellion. Even if it means inviting a wolf to drive away tigers, it’s better than letting these ungrateful traitors rule Dunhuang. After all, Luo Yang is the nominal palace master of Yeting, with legitimacy. Given her status, she wouldn’t overstep too much.”
Sweet Potato playfully tapped the female official’s forehead. “Already siding with that demon, huh? Luo Yang hasn’t even entered Dunhuang, what will happen later? You might sell me out.”
The baby-faced female official blushed, puffing her cheeks. “Mistress is bullying me!”
Along the way, several elderly eunuchs with blood-stained sleeves joined, having resolved internal palace threats. They addressed themselves as subjects before Sweet Potato, hidden agents placed by her aunt before death, including those who had seemingly defected to the enemy. Once revealed, these old eunuchs proved more loyal than the Jinwu Guards, understanding the importance of loyalty to a master. Historically, eunuchs in imperial courts often gained power from Bewilderedemperors, used to counterbalance prime ministers or imperial relatives, not without reason. A prime minister can sit on the dragon throne, an imperial relative can wear the yellow robe, but who has heard of eunuchs without offspring becoming emperors?
Thirty heavily armored golden soldiers joined the group.
Sweet Potato smiled; she had a grand way to die.
Before dying, she would drag hundreds to accompany her.
Thus, Dunhuang would be thoroughly cleansed.
Then it would be time for the unknown Beiliang forces to take over.
During her last departure from Beiliang, Li Yishan of the Tingchao Pavilion had meticulously planned this strategy, step by step, which she followed without complaint.
Leaving Beiliang, she would never return.
Sweet Potato looked north, whispering, “Master, travel safely.”
Unbeknownst to her, at the city gate of Dunhuang, a young scholar with a sword on his back stood alone, facing 500 cavalry, guarding the gate for her.
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