Volume One, Chapter Five: Wealth and Splendor Await Their Moment
At dawn the next day, before the first faint light had pierced through the narrow window set high in the towering prison wall, the sound of light, measured footsteps approached steadily from afar.
Ye Xuan, seated cross-legged, barely flickered his eyelids. The turbulent blood and vital energy that once surged within him instantly retracted, and he reverted to the feeble, breathless invalid he appeared to be—collapsed weakly on the cold straw, eyes tightly shut, breathing shallow and faint.
Creak—
The heavy prison door was pushed open. A pale-faced, clean-shaven eunuch with a sharp voice entered, holding a scroll of yellow imperial decree, flanked by several imperial guards.
Pinching his nose at the foul surroundings, the eunuch cast a disdainful glance at the “unconscious” Ye Xuan.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees—”
Without allowing any response, the eunuch unrolled the edict and read aloud in his duck-like voice:
“Eighth Prince Ye Xuan, of immoral conduct and corrupt character, is hereby stripped of his royal status and reduced to commoner. So commanded!”
His voice echoed coldly through the empty dungeon, leaving no room for dispute.
“Drag him out! Escort him to the prison cart and exile him to Beiliang immediately—depart at once!”
The eunuch folded the decree with visible impatience as if lingering any longer was torture, then swept his sleeves and left.
Two imperial guards lunged forward like wolves, flanking the limp Ye Xuan and dragging him mercilessly outside.
Though his body was dragged roughly over the coarse ground, beneath his tightly closed eyes, his spirit was clear and sharp.
The Emperor’s Overlord Physique had already healed every wound, transforming him utterly. Now, his strength alone could easily break free from these two guards.
But he did not.
Not yet.
…
The prison cart was forged from hard black ironwood, small and sturdy, with only bowl-sized vents on all four sides.
Ye Xuan was roughly thrown inside, and the heavy lock clicked shut.
The cart moved slowly, departing from the gloomy dungeon and entering the bustling Zhuque Avenue in the capital.
A grand procession: imperial guards clearing the way in front, the conspicuous prison cart in the middle, followed by a squad of escort soldiers.
The spectacle suggested they were transporting a most heinous criminal.
Emperor Ye Qingtian not only sought to depose him but also intended to humiliate him before all his subjects.
Wherever the cart passed, crowds of citizens stopped to stare and whisper.
“Look, that’s the Eighth Prince—no, now commoner Ye Xuan!”
“Tsk, fortune turns swiftly. Just days ago he was a prince on high; today, a prisoner.”
“I heard he offended the Noble Consort. Serves him right! Exile to Beiliang is merciful. That godforsaken place, he might not even survive the winter.”
“Lower your voice! Is it ours to gossip about royal affairs?”
Voices of scorn, mockery, and schadenfreude filled the air.
Leaning against the cold iron bars, Ye Xuan looked out through the gaps with cold detachment at the numb or contorted faces beyond.
In his heart, there was not a ripple.
They were merely the noisy chatter of ants.
Then, his gaze sharpened slightly.
On the second floor of a teahouse at the street corner, a graceful figure stood quietly by the railing.
A woman in a moon-white long gown, unadorned by makeup, pure and extraordinary, like a lotus untouched by dust.
She did not point or whisper like the others, merely watched the prison cart silently, her cool eyes carrying a trace of inquiry and thought.
Su Qingxue.
The eldest daughter of the Prime Minister Su Changqing, a renowned prodigy throughout the capital.
...
At this moment, Su Qingxue’s heart was indeed unsettled.
Watching the slowly passing prison cart, her resolve grew firmer.
Crown Prince Ye Tian was arrogant and decadent, both ambitious and incompetent, willing to stoop to any measure to achieve his ends.
If he could so easily treat a gravely injured brother like this today, how might he treat ministers and the people when he ascended the throne?
To stake her own future—and that of the Su family—on such a man was nothing less than a reckless gamble.
And she never fought battles she could not win.
Marrying the Crown Prince, even as his legitimate wife, was beneath her.
She was about to turn away when a vexing voice sounded behind her.
“Little Qingxue, what a coincidence! You’re here to watch the show too?”
Su Qingxue stiffened imperceptibly, then turned slowly, a composed smile gracing her face.
“Greetings, Seventh Princess.”
The visitor was none other than Seventh Princess Ye Qingge.
Today, she wore a coquettish pale yellow palace dress; the redness and swelling on her face had vanished, her skin smooth as jade—a clear sign the Jade Beauty Ointment worked wonders.
Yet the petulant and resentful aura between her brows remained undiminished.
“We’re sisters; no need for such formalities.” Ye Qingge stepped forward warmly, linking arms with Su Qingxue, but her gaze flicked toward the retreating prison cart, lips curling into a cold, satisfied smile.
“You came to see that wretched bastard’s fate too? Truly gratifying! Father is wise to send him to Beiliang to be food for wild dogs!”
Su Qingxue quietly withdrew her arm, responding with a faint smile:
“Your Highness speaks harshly. Though now a commoner, Ye Xuan was once a prince. Such a fall is truly lamentable.”
“A bastard, nothing worthy of pity! Besides, who in the palace still regards him as a prince, save the commoners outside?” Ye Qingge sneered, her eyes still tinged with lingering hatred; the pain on her face had not yet fully faded.
“Enough of such ill omens. I come with a message from the Crown Prince.”
Here it came.
Su Qingxue sighed inwardly but kept her expression placid.
“The Crown Prince is sincere. He says, if you agree, the position of secondary consort awaits you. Once in the Eastern Palace, your status would be second only to the Crown Princess, enjoying limitless glory.”
Ye Qingge’s tone carried a condescending pride, as though bestowing a great favor.
Su Qingxue regarded her and suddenly found it somewhat amusing.
She bowed slightly, her voice clear, firm, yet impeccably polite.
“Please convey my thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince for his kindness.”
“However, Qingxue has been frail since childhood and yearns for a peaceful life of scholarly seclusion. I fear I am unworthy of the extravagant wealth of the Eastern Palace.”
“His Highness is a dragon among men, the future sovereign. He deserves a virtuous and talented companion. I am but a weak willow, lacking in talent and learning. I dare not hinder His Highness’s grand ambitions.”
Her words were flawless: elevating the Crown Prince while clearly stating her refusal.
Yet the rejection was unmistakable.
Ye Qingge’s smile vanished completely.
She had not expected Su Qingxue to refuse her openly—this was the third time!
“Su Qingxue! How dare you shamelessly reject us!”
Her voice rose sharply, the princess’s arrogance breaking free.
“My Crown Prince is fortunate to notice you! You, the daughter of a mere minister, dare to refuse repeatedly? Where is your respect for royal dignity?”
“Believe me, with one word from my brother, your Su family—”
“Princess.” Su Qingxue’s cool voice cut off her threat calmly.
“My father often teaches me: a subject must fulfill their duty, loyal to the sovereign and country; a child must speak and act with caution, never bringing shame upon their family.”
She raised her eyes to meet Ye Qingge’s gaze, clear and unwavering, yet bearing an invisible weight.
“I am confident I have done nothing wrong.”
The implication was clear: if the Su family suffered for this, it would be due to royal injustice and the Crown Prince’s incompetence.
Ye Qingge was momentarily speechless, her pretty face flushed crimson, chest heaving violently.
She wanted to explode, but in the bustling teahouse, rumors of her bullying the Prime Minister’s daughter into marriage would disgrace both herself and the Crown Prince.
Seeing her on the verge of losing control, Su Qingxue took the opportunity to bow again.
“Family matters call me elsewhere. Princess, please take care.”
Without another glance, she turned with her maid and descended gracefully, her posture upright and steps composed.
Only Ye Qingge remained, trembling with rage, nails digging deep into her palms.
“Su Qingxue! Mark my words!”
…
Inside the prison cart.
Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
Though he had not witnessed the scene directly, the extraordinary hearing granted by the Emperor’s Overlord Physique had allowed him to catch every word clearly.
The Heavenly Emperor’s Divination technique silently activated.
His vision seemed to pierce the iron walls, resting on the graceful figure fading into the distance.
[Name]: Su Qingxue
[Identity]: Eldest daughter of the Prime Minister of the Great Qian Dynasty
[Cultivation]: None
[Fate]: Blue with hints of purple; the shadow of a phoenix flickers faintly. (Destined Phoenix Pattern, Unspeakably Noble)
[Loyalty]: 0 (Stranger)
Destined Phoenix Pattern?
A playful smile curved Ye Xuan’s lips.
Interesting.
More and more interesting.
The Crown Prince Ye Tian is blind to true gems, mistaking a flawless jade for a rough stone, then foolishly trying to seize and shatter it.
Utterly foolish.
He withdrew his gaze from Su Qingxue’s retreating figure and looked toward the distant north.
There lay the icy, snow-covered Beiliang.
A place the world deemed a dead end, a land of exile.
But to Ye Xuan, it would be the starting point of his resurgence—the emergence of a mighty dragon lurking beneath the surface.
Capital, Crown Prince, Emperor—
Wait for me.
Clean your neck, for I shall return to claim it!
The prison cart rolled over the bluestone road with a rumbling noise, carrying a deposed prince, and alongside him, an indomitable will poised to sweep across the realm, fading further into the distance.