It was late at night when the mighty general Ding Dayong arrived at the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion in the rain.
He was soaked, but he carefully protected an oilcloth package in his arms.
Xue Yonghuai personally led him into the secret room. Under the candlelight, Ding Dayong took out a roll of bright yellow silk from his arms.
"This is the secret decree given to me by my sister, Concubine Shoukang." Ding Dayong said in a low voice, "The prince born to Concubine Mei is not dead at all."
Xue Yonghuai took the secret decree, his fingers trembling slightly. The writing on the silk had yellowed, but the imperial concubine's seal remained as bright red as blood: "...The prince will be escorted out of the palace by Eunuch Xia... To prevent leaks, all links will remain isolated..."
"So the Concubine Dowager doesn't know who Eunuch Xia gave the child to?" Xue Yonghuai asked in a deep voice.
Ding Dayong shook his head: "I only know that he is from a military family, and the child is about the same age as the youngest son of that family." He suddenly stared at Xue Yonghuai's empty right sleeve, "Brother Xue, your third son Ji Yan...wasn't he suddenly brought back from the border fifteen years ago?"
The candlelight in the room suddenly jumped. Xue Yonghuai slowly stood up, walked to the wall and took down the "Tiger Roar" sword: "Brother Ding, do you remember when my third son was weak and left the house to seek medical treatment?"
He shook his wrist, and the scabbard fell to the ground, revealing the small tiger head emblem on the sword - exactly the same pattern as the one on Xue Jiyan's jade pendant.
"That year, I did take my young son to seek medical treatment, but he died on the way," Xue Yonghuai said in a hoarse voice. "On the way back, I met Eunuch Xia. He brought me a child with a high fever..."
Ding Dayong stood up suddenly: "So you use their own tricks against me..."
"I brought the child back to the barracks and announced to the public that he was a sickly young boy I had found." Xue Yonghuai gently stroked the blade of his sword. "I kept him at the border for a year, deliberately letting him get a tan and practice martial arts so no one could recognize him."
Thunder roared outside the window, illuminating the Xue family motto hanging on the wall: "Loyalty and bravery passed down from generation to generation" - four large characters flickered in the lightning.
"No wonder..." Ding Dayong murmured, "Ji Yan has never looked like a member of the Xue family since he was young. He actually has some of the late emperor's charm..."
Xue Yonghuai suddenly knelt on one knee and said, "Brother Ding, this matter is of great importance. Li Longze is dying now. If Ji Yan's identity is exposed..."
"I understand." Ding Dayong helped him up and took out a red gold token from his bosom. "This is the mobilization order for 100,000 troops from the northern border. Before her death, the Concubine Dowager instructed that if the prince is found, the Ding family will swear allegiance to him until death."
As the two were talking, the secret door of the secret room suddenly opened.
Xue Jiyan stood at the door, and the tea tray in his hand fell to the ground with a bang - he came to deliver ginseng tea, but he overheard the conversation just now.
"Father...I..." His face turned pale and he staggered back.
Xue Yonghuai rushed forward and supported him: "Son, listen to me..."
Xue Jiyan suddenly pushed him away and ripped open his collar. Below his collarbone, a crescent-shaped birthmark was clearly visible in the candlelight. It was the mark of Concubine Mei's family.
"I should have thought of it earlier..." His voice trembled, "Why do I keep dreaming of a palace I've never been to..."
Suddenly, the sound of hurried horse hooves could be heard outside the courtyard. Xue Yuanchu rushed in: "Father! Someone from the palace has come to announce the decree, demanding that my third brother enter the palace immediately!"
Xue Yonghuai and Ding Dayong looked at each other and tightened their swords at their waists.
Xue Yonghuai pressed Xue Jiyan's shoulders, his eyes piercing: "My child, today is the day for you to return to your roots."
He turned to Ding Dayong and said, "Brother Ding, please bring the tiger talisman and call the northern troops into the city. I will personally escort Ji Yan into the palace."
Ding Dayong nodded solemnly, took out a red gold token from his bosom and handed it to Xue Jiyan: "This is a token left by the Concubine Dowager. If Your Majesty sees it, you will understand."
Outside the window, the rain gradually subsided, and a faint dawn could be seen in the east. Xue Yonghuai personally draped a dark cloak over Xue Jiyan and whispered, "Remember, no matter what happens, remain calm. Eunuch Xia will meet you at the Palace of Heavenly Purity."
Outside the palace gates, the imperial guards were already lined up waiting. The leading eunuch, upon seeing the Xue father and son emerge, shrieked, "Your Majesty has issued an oral order; summon Xue Jiyan, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, to the palace for an audience immediately!"
Xue Yonghuai jumped on his horse, the "Tiger Roar" sword at his waist gleaming coldly in the morning light: "I am here to escort you by your order." The unquestionable tone made the eunuch who announced the decree dare not say anything more.
As they walked through the misty streets, the outline of the imperial city gradually became clear. Xue Jiyan noticed that there were many more vendors on Suzaku Street today, with the faint appearance of swords on their waists—clearly, they were sentries deployed by the Ding family.
At the same time, outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the phoenix chariot of Concubine Shoukang was quietly parked.
The elderly concubine held Buddhist beads in her hand, her eyes scanning the palace gates for movement. Behind her stood two rows of palace maids in plain clothes. A closer look revealed their thick knuckles and steady steps—all carefully trained female guards.
"Your Highness," Eunuch Xia appeared silently beside the sedan chair, "I have made all the arrangements. The commander of the imperial guards is one of ours."
The concubine nodded slightly, and the beads in her hand suddenly broke, and the sandalwood beads rolled to the ground. She looked at the scattered beads and said softly, "What is coming will eventually come."
At the palace gate, as soon as the Xue family father and son dismounted from their horses, they heard a commotion coming from the inner palace.
A team of Jinyiwei suddenly rushed out, and the captain in charge shouted sternly: "According to the order, arrest the traitor Xue Yonghuai!"
Xue Yonghuai sneered, and drew his "Tiger Roar" sword with a clang: "Who dares!" The sword flashed, and the captain's official hat fell off.
At this critical moment, Eunuch Xia's shrill voice pierced through the chaos: "The Empress Dowager's decree has arrived—"
Everyone knelt in unison. Eunuch Xia unfolded the imperial edict and announced, "The Empress Dowager has decreed that the Xue family father and son must immediately appear before the Emperor in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Anyone who disobeys this order will be charged with treason!"
Xue Jiyan looked up and met Eunuch Xia's meaningful gaze.
The old eunuch nodded imperceptibly, and a corner of bright yellow silk appeared faintly from his sleeve. It was the remnant of the swaddling clothes that had wrapped the baby.
On both sides of the palace road, the imperial guards silently changed their formations, separating the Jinyiwei from each other. Xue Yonghuai gripped his sword tightly and whispered, "Child, follow me closely."
The Qianqing Palace was just around the corner. The palace door slowly opened, and a strong smell of medicine hit me in the face.
Xue Jiyan took a deep breath and crossed the threshold that would change his fate. What he didn't know was that, on the dragon bed, Li Longze was clutching a secret report that read: "Concubine Mei's son is still alive..."
Li Longze collapsed on the dragon couch, the secret report slipping silently from his hand. He gazed at the dragon-shaped caisson ceiling above the hall and suddenly let out a hoarse, bitter laugh: "It's due...it's due..."
Eunuch Xia stood beside the couch, his cloudy eyes flickering with pity. "Your Majesty, the Xue family father and son are outside the palace."
The emperor struggled to rise, revealing the hideous dark blue lines on his chest beneath his bright yellow nightgown. His trembling fingers pointed at the gilded box on the desk: "Bring... the Imperial Seal..."
The palace door slowly opened, and the moment Xue Jiyan stepped into the inner hall, Li Longze's pupils suddenly contracted. The young man's tall and straight figure and the innate nobility between his brows were exactly the same as the late emperor in his memory.
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