In the winter of the thirty-seventh year of Jianning, the case of Crown Prince Xiao Yi colluding with the Governor of Hedong, Song Luyang, to harm a prince was exposed, shocking the government and the public.

Grand Tutor Song and over a hundred honest and upright civil officials submitted memorials in court. Under the pretext that Xiao Yi was disloyal and unfilial, and unfit to be an example for the world, they demanded that his position as Crown Prince be deposed.

Furthermore, students from the Imperial Academy and the Hanlin Academy jointly submitted a petition, arguing that the Crown Prince's act of harming his younger brother showed a complete lack of benevolence, making him incompetent to be the ruler of the world.

Emperor Jianning was a long-lived emperor. Having reigned for nearly forty years, he was now in his sixties, and his health was declining day by day. Xiao Yi, on the other hand, was in his prime. His consolidation of power in the court had already aroused Emperor Jianning's suspicion, and with this incident, the Emperor could tolerate him no longer.

Thus, the Emperor deliberated with the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries for a long time. Eventually, an imperial edict was issued to depose Xiao Yi from his position as Crown Prince. Moreover, due to the Empress's pleas, Xiao Yi was made the Prince of Ning instead, confined to his manor, and forbidden to leave without an edict.

In the following six months, Emperor Jianning initiated a massive purge of the Crown Prince's partisans.

Confessions and case files flew like snowflakes to the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicature and Revision. The desks of the heads of these departments were piled high like mountains. Embezzlement of silver, falsification of accounts, forming cliques for private gain, and framing loyal officials—every single offense was undeniable. Emperor Jianning smashed quite a few imperial seals in fury. The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard turned out in full force. Throughout the court and the public, people paled at the mere mention of the Eastern Palace.

By the time the dust settled, nearly half of the officials in the court had been replaced.

In the spring of that same year, the Second Prince Xiao Shao entered and became the master of the Eastern Palace.

Emperor Jianning worried that he was a playboy and incapable of shouldering heavy responsibilities, so he deliberately arranged for him to be in the Imperial Study. Every time he reviewed memorials or met with subordinate officials, Xiao Shao was required to listen by his side and learn how to govern the country. To his pleasant surprise, his youngest son possessed outstanding natural talent and even completely changed his past habits. After only a few months of listening, he was able to handle affairs in an orderly and systematic manner.

Even Grand Tutor Song's look toward Xiao Shao became quite peculiar. He would occasionally stroke his beard and mutter, "Did this old man truly misjudge him?"

But in fact, Xiao Shao was still hiding his true abilities.

Having been an emperor for so many years in his past life, Xiao Shao was already highly skilled at this. He perfectly executed the role of a "prodigal son returning" and a "playboy repenting," transforming step by step from a green and immature youth into a mature emperor.

After several months of this, the tranquil palace was disrupted once again.

In the winter of the thirty-eighth year of Jianning, the Emperor's health took a sudden turn for the worse. This emperor, who had reigned for nearly forty years, reached the end of his life. He threw all the affairs in his hands to the Eastern Palace, secluded himself in the inner palace, and began to worship Buddha and practice Daoism to recuperate in peace.

Xiao Shao was not surprised; his royal father had also passed away at this time in his past life.

Emperor Jianning was not sick; he simply died of old age and passed away quite peacefully. He was now over sixty, nearing his seventieth year. Among all the emperors of the Daqian Dynasty, he was considered long-lived. Therefore, when this day truly arrived, both father and son remained fairly calm.

Xiao Shao entered the palace more frequently, eating vegetarian meals with Emperor Jianning every day. Finally, on the very day he remembered from his past life, Emperor Jianning closed his eyes and peacefully passed away, accompanied by Xiao Shao and the Empress.

Xiao Shao discussed the posthumous title, burial, and other matters with the Ministry of Rites. Afterward, amidst the congratulations of all the officials, he donned the twelve-tasseled crown and ascended the throne as Emperor.

It was a full six years earlier than in his past life.

A new emperor brings new courtiers. Just as Xiao Shao ascended the throne, his royal father's head eunuch, Li Dequan, submitted his resignation from the position of the Director of Ceremonial. Bowing low before Xiao Shao, he asked, "Your Majesty, regarding the Director of Ceremonial... will it be Young Master Qi...?"

Ever since Xiao Shao moved into the palace, Qi Yan had also moved in, living in the same place as Xiao Shao and frequently entering and leaving the Imperial Study. He was even more favored than the favored eunuchs of the previous dynasty. However, Xiao Shao hadn't given him any official status. Unsure of how to address him, Li Dequan could only call him Young Master Qi.

Xiao Shao replied, "He won't be the Director of Ceremonial. I have other arrangements for him."

Qi Yan truly didn't know what these arrangements were. He just followed Xiao Shao, quietly helping him review memorials. Qi Yan decided on minor matters himself, while picking out major and important matters for Xiao Shao to look over, even writing neat comments on them. Because of this, Xiao Shao's workload was less than half of what it was in his past life. He didn't feel dizzy, his back didn't ache, and he wasn't overworked anymore. He even had time between reviewing memorials to prop up his chin and admire Qi Yan.

It was as if he treated him as a precious ornamental plant.

The little Tanhua currently had no name, no status, and no specific position. He wore the attire of a palace eunuch, his black hair neatly tied up in a three-peaked cap. He wore a plain green silk robe covered by jade-colored gauze, and his waist was cinched with a two-finger-wide belt that perfectly outlined his waistline. Sitting there, he looked like a green bamboo. Right now, he was bowing his head to write, a section of his neck curving softly downward, only to be firmly wrapped by his collar.

Xiao Shao said, "Change your clothes, little Tanhua."

Qi Yan didn't even lift his head. "Mm."

Xiao Shao asked, "Aren't you going to ask what clothes?"

Qi Yan happened to close a memorial and asked, "What clothes?"

Xiao Shao replied, "This."

He pushed over a bamboo-green long gown, paired with a jade hairpin, a jade waist pendant, and even a fan. It was clearly the attire of a Confucian scholar.

Qi Yan was taken aback. "This is inside the palace. I can't dress like this."

Xiao Shao countered, "Who said you have to stay in the palace?"

Without allowing any argument, he pushed the clothes over. "You will participate in this year's spring examination."

The spring examination was the metropolitan examination of the imperial exams. Calculating the time, it was only a little over half a month away.

Qi Yan's hand holding the brush trembled, dragging a long line of ink across the memorial. He hurriedly wiped it with paper, then set it aside to dry. "Your Majesty is joking. How could I possibly take the imperial examination?"

Not to mention that he had already taken it; even with his current identity as a eunuch, it was impossible for him to sit in the same room as the candidates.

Xiao Shao stated, "You won't take it. Qi Pingzhang will take it."

Qi Yan's eyelids trembled. It was as if someone had gripped his throat, and his breathing stopped entirely.

A moment later, he managed to squeeze a few words out of his throat with great difficulty: "...What do you mean?"

Xiao Shao said, "The courtesy name your teacher gave you—don't you want people to call you by it? When I called you that before, you clearly liked it very much."

Qi Yan stood in front of the desk, completely still. His fingers clutched his cuffs, almost wrinkling his outer robe to pieces before he managed to force a smile. "Your Majesty, this goes against propriety."

"Within this imperial city, if I say it conforms to propriety, then it conforms to propriety." Xiao Shao pulled an official document out from the clothes and pushed it toward him. "Here, I've prepared everything for you."

Qi Yan lowered his eyes to look. It was a document stamped with an official seal.

"Qi Pingzhang, a native of Bingzhou. Passed the provincial examination in Tai'an Prefecture of Bingzhou in the thirty-seventh year of Jianning..."

As he looked at that thin piece of paper, his wrist holding the brush began to tremble.

Qi Yan had taken the imperial examinations, so he naturally knew what this was. It was an identity document stating that Qi Pingzhang, a native of Bingzhou, was a Juren, and possessed the qualifications to take the Jinshi examination.

Once he passed the Jinshi examination, whether he entered the Hanlin Academy, joined the Six Ministries, or was dispatched to a local post in the future, he would ultimately be among the ranks of civil officials. He would have the right to declare that he conveyed the Dao through literature, assisted the emperor, and supported the state. And if his natural talent was outstanding, he might even be able to enter the Grand Secretariat and become a prime minister, rightfully leaving his name on a certain page of history.

This was nothing more than what countless people sought for their entire lives.

Qi Yan gripped the brush shaft, almost snapping the bamboo stick. He looked up at Xiao Shao without blinking, as if trying to discern whether this was a joke. Emotions like shock and astonishment flashed across his face, eventually turning into deep hope and pleading.

Xiao Shao thought, 'If this is just a joke, he will definitely be very sad.'

He could even imagine the little Tanhua in that scenario. He would surely be devastated, pressing his lips tightly together to suppress all his emotions, and then continue reviewing memorials without a word. Yet, the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye would tremble like a teardrop.

Just thinking about it made his heart soften.

Therefore, Xiao Shao withdrew his teasing thoughts and pushed the clothes further forward until they touched Qi Yan's pale, blueish fingers, letting the soft fabric brush against his skin.

Xiao Shao said softly, "I promised to let you enter the Grand Secretariat."

Although Xiao Shao had also said this when he was still a prince, he had always liked to tease people, so Qi Yan had never taken it seriously. Now, seeing this official document and its vermilion seal with his own eyes, he finally knew that Xiao Shao was serious.

He really used the name Pingzhang, forged an identity, and arranged every single detail.

Qi Yan opened his mouth, but he couldn't speak a single word.

...

Silence, a long period of silence.

Qi Yan leaned against the edge of the desk and slowly closed his eyes.

There was a sour and astringent urge in his chest. He couldn't tell whether it was joy or pain, confusion or grievance. That feeling gripped his heart and suppressed his breathing. It was too vivid and too intense, as if some long-suppressed emotions had broken through the barriers and burst out of the ground, making it difficult for him to even maintain basic decency.

For a moment, Qi Yan felt dizzy, and the strokes on the paper twisted and deformed. His literary talent ranked third in the first tier, yet he couldn't read the few lines of text on it, much less know what they said. Qi Yan's hand also trembled violently. A thin piece of paper felt as heavy as a thousand catties, and he surprisingly couldn't pick it up.

He was somewhat unable to distinguish whether this was reality or a dream.

Xiao Shao touched his cheek with his hand. "...Pingzhang?"

This call seemed to bring back his senses, and Qi Yan took a deep breath.

After a long time, he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. "Your Majesty... can you listen to me say a few words?"

These words were very strange and quite unruly, far from what a eunuch should say to a emperor. But Qi Yan's mind was a tangled mess, and he blurted them out without thinking.

His tone was very light and carried a nasal sound.

Xiao Shao felt a slight itch in his heart, as if scratched by something. He sat down next to Qi Yan. "Speak."

Qi Yan lowered his eyes and spoke softly. "When I was young, my father hadn't yet become an official. He couldn't afford a house in the Capital City, so our family temporarily lived in a temple on the mountain south of the Capital City. Looking down from the mountaintop, one could overlook the entire imperial city."

"At that time, I rode on his shoulders. My father pointed to a certain place in the imperial city and told me, 'That is the most yearned-for place for scholars in the world. Only the most outstanding scholars can enter and leave it.' It was only later that I learned it was the Grand Secretariat."

"I asked my father: 'How outstanding must the most outstanding scholar be?' My father coaxed me, saying: 'An outstanding scholar like my Yan Yan will definitely be able to enter when he grows up.'"

"He said he was slow-witted since childhood, not as smart as me. He didn't seek to enter the Grand Secretariat; he only wanted to be an honest censor, with uncorrupted integrity, pleading for the people. He didn't seek to leave his name in history, only to live this life with no regrets..."

At this point, Qi Yan choked up slightly, his voice trembling. He quickly calmed down and continued, "He said that the task of entering the Grand Secretariat would be left to his son. That was the first time I knew of the Grand Secretariat."

"I then asked my father if there would be a reward if I truly entered it in the future. At that time, I especially loved eating the pastries from Tongxing Hall in the Capital City. However, those pastries were expensive, and my mother couldn't bear to buy them for me. So I begged my father, asking if I truly entered the Grand Secretariat, could I eat as much as I wanted? Eating plum blossom cake today, osmanthus cake tomorrow, eating all of them one by one, every day without stopping?"

"My father threw his head back and laughed aloud, saying that when that time came, he would buy Tongxing Hall for me, and he would also take my mother back to our hometown to burn incense at the ancestral tombs."

"So I asked him, why bring my mother but not me? If I entered the Grand Secretariat, shouldn't he bring me along?"

"He stroked the top of my head and said, 'By then, you won't be able to get away. You will be the emperor's right-hand man, a person who governs the world. There will be so many important matters in the world waiting for your decision. A small matter like paying respects to ancestors can just be left to your father and mother.'"

Qi Yan suppressed his voice, speaking intermittently. If it were an ordinary emperor, he probably wouldn't have the time to listen to an inner attendant talk about these trivial things. However, Xiao Shao just sat quietly beside him, soothingly stroking his neck. He neither commented nor interrupted, letting him continue.

"Later, I began my elementary education, and my father's official position grew higher and higher. He took me to meet Grand Tutor Song, saying that he was a great Confucian scholar of this dynasty and the Emperor's teacher. I studied under him. Out of so many disciples, Grand Tutor Song liked me the most. He would always stroke his beard and say, 'With this child's aptitude, he should enter the Grand Secretariat in the future.'"

"I also felt that I should enter the Grand Secretariat."

"I became a Tanhua before I even reached the age of twenty. In terms of literary talent, among all the scholars in the world, I ranked third. The Zhuangyuan of that year was twenty-three years older than me, and the Bangyan was seventeen years older than me. If we were the same age, I should have been the first in the world."

"In terms of qualifications, my father was a current censor, and my teacher was the current Grand Tutor. I was the Emperor's teacher's most outstanding student. If I couldn't enter the Grand Secretariat, who could? If I am unworthy of entering the Grand Secretariat, who in this world is worthy?"

"But... but..."

But one day the winds and clouds changed drastically, and he no longer had this qualification.

He was unwilling, he was resentful, he was wronged. In the end, all emotions burned out, leaving only a deathly stillness and emptiness.

At this point, Qi Yan couldn't speak any further.

Xiao Shao sighed softly.

He reached out and tapped the corner of the little Tanhua's eye, touching that teardrop mole, and wiped away the slight trace of moisture that was about to fall. He stuffed the document into his hand: "Hold onto it properly. If you lose it, I won't help you get a second copy."

Qi Yan turned his head and rubbed against his fingertips.

He seemed to have already lost his mind, his brain too chaotic to think. Relying purely on instinct, he leaned over naturally and affectionately.

For some unknown reason, Xiao Shao quickly withdrew his hand and changed the subject with feigned ease. "Also, I'm just giving you the qualification. If you can't pass the exam or do poorly, I won't let you off easy. If the former Tanhua ends up dropping to the second or third tier this time, or even fails entirely, you can forget about the Grand Secretariat. Be good and come back to the palace to be my chief eunuch and review memorials for me. Do you hear me?"

"Furthermore, just like ordinary candidates, you will have to first go to the Hanlin Academy, then to the Six Ministries, or be sent out for local experience. Only when you have enough seniority will you be allowed to enter the Grand Secretariat. I will enforce the law impartially on this matter. If you don't meet the requirements, I won't fish you out."

Thanks to his banter, Qi Yan recovered somewhat and softly responded, "...Mm, I won't lose it, and I won't fail the exam. I won't be your chief eunuch, and there will be no need to fish me out."

He actually replied to every single point mentioned above.

Xiao Shao: "..."

He patted the little Tanhua's shoulder. "Put the thing away and change your clothes."

Once the long-suppressed emotions were released, it felt as if a giant boulder in his chest had finally been removed. Qi Yan slowly calmed his breathing, folded the document, and tucked it away closely against his body. Then, he picked up the clothes, walked behind the folding screen, and changed his outer robe and trousers one by one.

Having recuperated by Xiao Shao's side for over a year, Qi Yan had finally recovered somewhat and wasn't as emaciated as before. Drawing the green gown together and pairing it with the warm jade, he appeared slender and tall, elegant and noble.

Xiao Shao looked him up and down from head to toe, saying in satisfaction, "Not bad."

His gaze lingered on Qi Yan's waist, and he suddenly thought, 'It probably won't feel boney when hugging him now.'

As soon as this thought popped up, Xiao Shao startled himself. He was clearly used to being a playboy, but at this moment, he felt inexplicably guilty. He just coughed once and shifted his gaze away.

Qi Yan followed his gaze to his own waist and out of nowhere said, "During the Silver Case back then, the late Emperor originally wanted to sentence your entire family to death by a thousand cuts."

Xiao Shao hummed in response and looked back. "Yes, he was dizzy with anger at the time and could think of any method. Fortunately, Grand Tutor Song and a group of honest and upright civil officials stopped him, so it wasn't carried out... Why are you bringing this up out of the blue?"

He looked at Qi Yan suspiciously. "Do you want to settle old scores with me?"

Qi Yan shook his head and smiled instead. "You must be joking. How could I? It's nothing really, I just suddenly thought of it."

He lowered his eyes to look at his outfit. They were all excellent fabrics, and the soft cotton cloth wrapped around his body, making it feel warm and soft.

He just remembered that at that time, although he wasn't subjected to death by a thousand cuts and was left with this physical shell, he was in a daze, no different from having suffered the punishment. He was a skeletal walking corpse. But without him realizing when it happened, this barren pile of dry bones had actually managed to grow new flesh and blood.