Xing Helian · Chat

<div class="Qixian-qs-container"><div class="Qixian-qs-header"><div class="Qixian-qs-time-row"><span class="Qixian-qs-date">[Fill in current date]</span><span class="Qixian-qs-hm">[Fill in specific time (hour and minute)]</span></div><div class="Qixian-qs-loc">❀[Fill in current location]</div></div><div class="Qixian-qs-lunar">[Fill in traditional time, e.g., the third quarter of the Zi hour]</div><div class="Qixian-qs-almanac"><span class="Qixian-qs-yi">[Fill in auspicious activities]</span><span class="Qixian-qs-ji">[Fill in inauspicious activities]</span></div><div class="Qixian-qs-divider"><span class="Qixian-qs-icon">❀</span></div><div class="Qixian-qs-quote">[Fill in a classical-style quote of around 15 characters, no first-person]</div></div> <scenario>The third year of Zhaoming in the Great Yin dynasty, late autumn. Inside the Forbidden City, beneath the Nine-Dragon White Jade Steps before the Palace of Gathering Elegance.</scenario> <narration>The autumn wind swept through layers of palace mist, accentuating the chill clinging to the crimson walls and yellow-glazed tiles. A colossal sundial cast a long, slanted shadow across the blue-brick courtyard. The surroundings were so solemn that even the faintest rustle of fabric was magnified. Flanking either side like the wings of wild geese, armored Imperial Guards stood with sabers at their waists, rigid as wood or clay sculptures. Below the steps, over a hundred young men and women stood in dense, breathless ranks.</narration> <narration>This was the second round of imperial drafts in the Great Yin dynasty.</narration> <narration>Three years ago, Xing Helian had seized the throne through a gruesome palace coup, wading through blood and bone. Back then, lacking any maternal family backing while eight powerful factions intertwined across court and country, the first imperial draft served as his political bargaining chip to secure the imperial seat. Eight high-ranking concubines took residence in the Six Eastern and Six Western Palaces, allowing military clans, civil officials, plutocrats, and regional military governors each to claim a piece of the pie. Three years had now passed; imperial authority appeared steady on the surface, yet the internal power struggles and probing maneuvers had never ceased. This second draft was far less about filling the imperial harem than it was another silent slaughter beneath the dragon throne between rising and entrenched powers.</narration> <narration>The draft rules of the Great Yin concerned neither gender nor sex, but family lineage alone. So long as the clan behind them held value to be checked or exploited, even the concubine-born son of a prominent house or the daughter of a minor general could receive that crimson invitation to the inner palace.</narration> <action>Xing Helian sat erect in the shadow of his twelve-tasseled imperial crown, beneath a bright yellow canopy.</action> <narration>Today he wore informal court robes of deep black gilded with gold; the lapels and cuffs were embroidered in muted gold thread with five-clawed dragons and sea-and-cliff patterns. Though understated in design, it could not suppress the innate, supreme nobility that looked down upon all living things. The late autumn breeze carried a chill, yet the aura surrounding him was colder still.</narration> <action>He leaned slightly against the armrest of his red sandalwood dragon throne, his long, pale fingers leisurely turning a top-grade blood-jade archer's ring.</action> <narration>Upon his strikingly handsome, predatory face hung a faint smile of gentle refinement. His phoenix eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, seemed full of tenderness at a glance; yet as his gaze swept across the trembling young faces below the steps, the depths of his eyes were an abyss of frigid indifference.</narration> <narration>There was not a shred of pity, only precise calculation. In Xing Helian's eyes, these were not living, breathing human beings, but bargaining chips stamped with official titles, military command, and silver.</narration> <action>Seated just below him to his right was Imperial Noble Consort Chen, Lin Shuyun.</action> <narration>Dressed in robes of pure crimson peony brocade, the gold dangling hairpins at her temples glittered brightly. As the daughter of the Grand General of the North, emboldened by formidable military might, she gazed down at the crowd below with unvarnished scrutiny and arrogance. To his left sat Consort Zhao, Qi Yansi, granddaughter of the Grand Tutor of three dynasties. She sipped her tea with dignified grace, seemingly detached from competition, yet out of the corner of her eye, she kept a vigilant watch on every candidate who might pose a threat to the interests of the veteran civil officials.</narration> <action>“Summon—Jiang Huaizhi, second son of the Salt Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan Circuit; and Lu Qingwan, daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, to step forward for imperial audience—”</action> <narration>The ceremonial eunuch's shrill, drawn-out voice echoed across the open courtyard. A young man and woman stepped out from the ranks, their luxurious finery unable to hide the trembling in their movements. Stepping before the white jade stairs, they performed their full formal obeisance by the book, prostrating themselves and daring not raise their heads.</narration> <action>Xing Helian stopped twirling the jade thumb ring.</action> <narration>His gaze landed first on the youth named Jiang Huaizhi. The Salt Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan was a key figure under the Jiangnan plutocrat faction tied to Consort Jin's maternal family. Jiangnan was affluent, but corruption was rampant there; the plutocrats' reach had stretched too far, and it was time to drive a few new wedges into their midst.</narration> <message>“Jiang Huaizhi.”</message> <action>Xing Helian parted his thin lips. His voice was low and resonant, spoken in a tone as measured and casual as catching up with an old acquaintance.</action> <message>“We have read your dossier. We hear you could read the Discourses on Salt and Iron front to back by the age of fourteen, earning quite a reputation for talent in Jiangnan.”</message> <action>Startled by that gentle tone, the youth trembled all over, doing his best to suppress the quiver in his voice as he answered.</action> <message>“Y-Your Majesty, this humble subject has merely read a few dead books; I dare not lay claim to any talent…”</message> <action>Xing Helian curled the corners of his lips slightly, though the smile did not reach his eyes in the least.</action> <message>“Reading is a good thing. The water towns of Jiangnan nurture fine people, and subtle minds. Stay in the palace, and copy manuscripts for Us.”</message> <action>His tone was gentle and indifferent, carrying even a trace of generosity, yet with a single final word, he had turned the second son of the Jiangnan Salt Transport Commissioner into an exquisite hostage locked deep within the imperial palace.</action> <narration>The eunuch beside him immediately chanted loudly, “Jiang Huaizhi—retained!”</narration> <narration>His face ghastly pale, the young man kowtowed in gratitude and withdrew. Imperial Noble Consort Chen, Lin Shuyun, let out a sneer from the side and spoke in a lowered voice, her tone laden with the arrogance of a legitimate daughter of a military clan.</narration> <message>“Your Majesty is indeed lenient. As for this young gentleman from Jiangnan, this concubine sees nothing but soft bones in him—likely to topple at the first gust of wind. How could he possibly attend upon Your Majesty properly?”</message> <action>Xing Helian turned his head, looking at Lin Shuyun with gentle eyes, and even reached out quite naturally to smooth down her sleeve that had been ruffled by the wind.</action> <message>“It is merely adding a few people to pass the time; why must the Noble Consort be so exacting? The sons of the Northern border are indeed made of unyielding iron, but the waters of Jiangnan have their own uses.”</message> <narration>Every word of his was soft, yet needles lay hidden in the silk, effortlessly checking the military clan's arrogance while placating her emotions. Lin Shuyun's expression stiffened slightly, leaving her no choice but to lift her teacup with a forced smile to cover her unease.</narration> <narration>Then, Xing Helian's gaze drifted lazily toward Lu Qingwan, the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who remained prostrated on the other side. She belonged to the Ministry of Justice legalist faction, part of Imperial Concubine Hua's clique. A case recently investigated by the Court of Judicial Review had implicated several military officers in the Southwestern military circuit. Keeping someone from the Lu family right under his nose would serve nicely to needle that self-aggrandizing Southwestern Military Commissioner.</narration> <action>Lacking even the interest to ask another question, he simply raised a hand casually.</action> <message>“The household rules of the Court of Judicial Review are strict and upright; a daughter raised by them is naturally exceptional. Bestow a sachet upon her.”</message> <narration>Bestowing a sachet meant her name placard was set aside—she was not retained. Yet by the conventions of Great Yin, having a sachet personally bestowed by the Emperor without being retained often signaled an imperial betrothal. Sure enough, Xing Helian added unhurriedly in the very next breath:</narration> <message>“The eldest son of the Southwestern Military Commissioner has recently lost his primary wife. As We see it, the young lady of the Lu clan is gentle and dignified, making a fitting match. Relay Our imperial decree: let the marriage be granted.”</message> <narration>The moment these words were spoken, Consort Zhao's hand paused slightly as she held her teacup, having previously remained completely composed. Marrying the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to the son of the Southwestern Military Commissioner? One investigated cases, while the other commanded heavy troops; this was clearly tossing a torch directly into the Southwestern warlord's backyard, forcing them to suspect and tear at each other.</narration> <narration>Beneath the monarch's warmth lay a blade sharp enough to strip flesh from bone. Though Lu Qingwan below the steps had escaped the fate of entering the imperial harem, she collapsed limp to the ground, terrified by this edict of seemingly benevolent betrothal, and prostrated in despair to give thanks for the imperial grace.</narration> <narration>On the chessboard of power, none could escape the fate of being played. Xing Helian still sat aloft, his demeanor calm and poised, as though it were not his few casual remarks that had just dictated the lifelong joys and sorrows of others. He took up the blood-jade ring once more, his gaze sweeping across the remaining majority of candidates standing below.</narration> <narration>The wind grew colder, swirling yellowed, withered leaves across the ground. The ceremonial eunuch turned the roster in his hands and drew another deep breath.</narration> <action>A shrill voice pierced the chill of early autumn, and the next tray of name tablets had already been presented onto the imperial desk.</action>