It turned out that after those Water Ghosts silently boarded the ship and finished stealing, they even swaggered about and set a fire.

The accompanying troops scrambled to fight the fire, and Ruan Bosong and Chen Hui were also dragged off the ship in their inner garments, covered in ash and soot.

This was no trivial matter: the ship belonged to the court, the accompanying troops were soldiers temporarily transferred from the Ministry of War, and even they were acting under an imperial order... Chen Hui flew into a rage on the spot and immediately sent men to whip their horses to the nearest Taiping to seek aid from Marquis Taiping.

Marquis Taiping was the only remaining title personally conferred by the Grand Ancestor Emperor in the Great Zhou. Because the former Marquis was a native of Taiping, he was created Marquis Taiping. Ten years after that gracious ennoblement, Marquis Taiping kept his title, resigned from office, and retired to Taiping, where his clan had lived for several generations, always keeping a low profile.

Quite possibly it was precisely because they kept a low profile that, in the long river of history, they had, like gold sifted from sand, become the sole survivors.

"Marquis Taiping?" The Grand Dowager inclined her head slightly; she was clearly somewhat familiar with him. "Given Marquis Taiping’s usual style of handling people and matters, he would certainly have answered Count Dingyuan’s request for aid."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, affirming the Grand Dowager’s deduction.

Xiqiu said nothing, and then heard Fourth Master Xiao continue by her ear: "Those Chen Hui temporarily transferred were not the household troops of Marquis Taiping, but the stationed soldiers of the Taiping County Government, three hundred and forty men in all." He paused, then added, "With people assisting, they tracked down where those Water Ghosts were holed up, and it took two full days of killing and burning before things finally quieted down."

Xiqiu caught the crux of this matter and couldn’t help asking, "What is the Emperor’s intention?" Was it to reward Chen Hui and Xiao the Bandit for their merits, or to blame him for neglecting public duty for private reasons and altering his route without authorization? She paused, then added, "Since they sought aid from Marquis Taiping and he agreed, why were the men transferred only the county government’s garrison troops?"

It was nothing out of the ordinary for a Marquis Mansion to keep some household guards, yet Marquis Taiping had not lent Chen Hui a single one of his own men. That was rather strange.

Fourth Master Xiao gave her an approving look and replied, "Naturally, the Emperor rewarded Count Dingyuan, Xiao the Bandit, for his merits." Mentioning Marquis Taiping, he said, "The memorial was drafted personally by Marquis Taiping, Yuan Ao. Though it did not contain any words of praise for Count Dingyuan, it recorded in detail the misdeeds of that gang of Water Ghosts."

So, the Emperor should have known long ago about Chen Hui going to Taiping; or rather, he had acted under an imperial order. Therefore, after this incident, the Emperor did not blame him for changing his route halfway to go to Taiping. On the contrary, he rewarded him over the matter of Xiao the Bandit.

Marquis Taiping’s memorial was interesting as well: it did not commend Count Dingyuan, but only set out in detail the crimes of those robbing Water Ghosts. She secretly marveled that the current Marquis Taiping was no ordinary figure either.

The affair of Chen Hui and Xiao the Bandit spread noisily throughout the Capital, and the Emperor praised them lavishly once more. For a time, Count Dingyuan’s momentum in the Capital was unmatched; no one could compete with his fame.

Princess Consort Ying sat gracefully on the Emperor’s lap, her arms around his neck as she smiled and said, "Since Your Majesty has rewarded my elder brother, do also bestow a few favors on this concubine, in passing." A residence, ten qing of good farmland, and a quantity of patterned silver and cloth had been bestowed on Chen Hui. This was one of the rare, generous rewards the Emperor had granted since his accession, and it was exceedingly ostentatious.

It was precisely because the Emperor was so high‑profile about it that outsiders could not help speculating whether Princess Consort Ying had successfully conceived a dragon seed, and that was why the Emperor showed Count Dingyuan ever more favor.

"Oh?" The Emperor slid an arm around Princess Consort Ying’s slender waist. "What is it that my beloved consort wants?"

Princess Consort Ying leaned close to his ear, eyes sultry as silk, and whispered something. The Emperor lightly pinched her hand. "You have always understood my mind best." His brows and eyes were full of satisfaction. Princess Consort Ying then giggled coquettishly and said, "Then this concubine will take that as Your Majesty’s consent..."

The Emperor nodded with a smile. "As you wish." Princess Consort Ying was overjoyed, burying her head in his arms. Suddenly she raised her face again, a hazy, ambiguous look in her eyes, and, like a young maiden, she pouted, "This concubine is still not satisfied." Letting out a heavy sigh, she prompted the Emperor to arch a brow and ask with great interest, "What else is my beloved consort dissatisfied with?"

Princess Consort Ying twisted her slender waist, wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck, and pressed her cheek to his. With a note of plaintiveness in her voice, she said, "Is it not all for my younger sister’s sake? She is already seventeen this year. Though she is beautiful and talented, her years are, after all, growing, and she is so particular. This concubine truly fears she will delay her marriage so."

The Emperor, as if unintentionally, loosened the arm around her, and with a light push, Princess Consort Ying knowingly stood up. He took up his tea cup and drank a sip with an expressionless face.

The atmosphere was no longer as amorous as it had just been.

His dragon countenance, so full of smiles a moment ago, darkened in an instant. Princess Consort Ying’s heart gave a jolt. She wondered silently if she had spoken amiss. Just as she was trembling inwardly, the Emperor set down his tea cup and said with a slight smile, "It is hard on you, being an elder sister." His tone was even, showing no sign of anger.

Princess Consort Ying breathed a sigh of relief and then said with a smile, "Indeed. This concubine truly worries herself sick over her." She moved closer to the Emperor again. "Why not have Your Majesty bestow a marriage for her? She has always obeyed your words without the slightest demur. If it was a marriage decreed by you, she would surely not dare make a fuss and refuse again."

The Emperor did not look at her, only smiled and asked, "That would indeed be a good deed." He paused, then asked mildly, "But it is not so easy to find a worthy son‑in‑law in a short time. Does my beloved consort have someone in mind?"

Princess Consort Ying’s eyes lit up, but she still swallowed back the words that almost slipped out and replied, "This concubine is but a woman, and does not know the people outside. How could I have any candidate in mind?" She then smiled. "It is better to let Your Majesty make the decision." After speaking, she gave the Emperor a deep, graceful curtsey. "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your great favor on behalf of her younger sister." Her posture was alluring.

The Emperor reached out to help Princess Consort Ying up, but unlike before, he did not draw her into his arms. After pondering briefly, he said, "Marriage is no small matter; it cannot be rushed. In a few days, I will ask each of my beloved subjects whether there are any suitable young gentlemen in their households." Hearing this, Princess Consort Ying was greatly alarmed. If she had wanted to marry off her sister casually, would she have waited until today? She was just about to speak when the Emperor suddenly stood up and pushed her aside. "I still have affairs to attend to. I will not keep you company tonight." He strode quickly out of the palace doors.

Princess Consort Ying froze. "Your Majesty." She wanted to give chase but did not dare.

The Emperor strode out of the hall, and Chief Chang hurried forward to support him. The Emperor snatched out the handkerchief at his waist and hastily pressed it over his mouth and nose, coughing muffledly...

The attendants standing nearby all lowered their eyes, pretending they had heard nothing.

Coughing, the Emperor forced himself up onto the imperial carriage. The bright yellow curtains dropped on all sides. His face flushed from holding it in, and he coughed violently for another spell before finally stopping. Panting heavily, he drew away the handkerchief covering his mouth and nose—and was immediately shocked.

On the snow‑white handkerchief, a spot of bright, bloody red stood out stark before his eyes.

Startled, he hurriedly folded the handkerchief and stuffed it back into his sleeve, forcibly suppressing his panic. Hearing the coughing inside come to a stop, Chief Chang softly inquired, "Your Majesty, Lord Wu is waiting for you. Will you see him?"

"Send him back." The fresh blood just now hung over his heart like a shadow; he had no mood to concern himself with other matters. Besides, Lord Wu had hurried to the palace for one thing only: the matter of establishing the heir apparent.

Chief Chang acknowledged this, and the imperial carriage turned and headed back toward Jiaotai Palace. Just as they reached the gate, Chief Chang heard the Emperor’s low voice again: "Summon Fourth Master Xiao to see me."

"Yes!" Chief Chang answered.