Fifty: The Snipe and the Clam

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On a morning during the season of Light Snow, the air was cool with a lingering chill. Delicate white flecks drifted into the capital, settling atop the stone pavilion outside the Weiyang Palace within the Forbidden City.

Inside the pavilion sat two figures facing each other. One wore a robe of gold-embroidered dragons, while the other was wrapped tightly in a resplendent scarlet phoenix gown, swathed in sable furs so well that not even the tips of her shoes were visible beneath the trailing hem of her dress.

These two stood at the very pinnacle of power in the Great Zhou.

Outside the stone pavilion, there were no heavy guards—only a middle-aged palace maid and a eunuch with a horsetail whisk, each standing by, exchanging distant glances.

Upon the table within the pavilion, aside from the exquisite pastries sent from the imperial kitchens, there was an assortment of fruits that had no business appearing in this season.

Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, sat with her arms folded, casting a sidelong glance at the Emperor Zhaoning, who was diligently peeling grapes. She asked, her tone cold and unfamiliar:

“May I ask, Your Majesty, what brings you to seek me out so early in the morning?”

“It is nothing of great urgency,” replied Emperor Zhaoning, offering a peeled grape with his chopsticks to the Empress Dowager. “It is merely that I have not seen Mother for several days. With this bitter cold, I feared for your health. You are precious to the realm; you must have physicians examine you regularly. If you require, I can summon the imperial doctors at once…”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern.” The Empress Dowager, eyes narrowed, watched the grape he extended. Quick as a flash, she moved a plate over, gesturing with her fingernail for him to set it down. Then she continued, “Sulan is already an excellent physician. With her care, I am unlikely to come to any harm. Oh… she tells me to eat fewer grapes.”

“If there is nothing else, I shall retire and rest.” With a yawn, the Empress Dowager made as if to rise, but Emperor Zhaoning interjected:

“Mother, wait. I wished to ask your thoughts on the alchemy guilds, which have long been hampered by the great clans.”

“Since the war began, the price of elixirs has soared, yet the noble families have not contributed a single tael of silver to the treasury. The people are resentful, but I am powerless…”

The Empress Dowager inwardly scoffed. He speaks of profiteering from war—does he not realize who started this conflict?

Yet her expression betrayed nothing. Sweeping her long sleeves over her crossed knees, she pondered for a moment before speaking plainly:

“The alchemy guilds have been under the thumb of the great clans for many years, as entrenched as the hereditary titles of their noble houses. I know you wish to take control of the guilds, but… even one with Your Majesty’s power cannot easily accomplish this, can you?”

She sighed inwardly. “Why trouble me with this? With the meager power I hold, how could I possibly threaten those illustrious families?”

Only the Empress Dowager could speak so dismissively of the two institutions with the authority to oversee officials and bypass the Ministry of Justice to summon them directly.

Emperor Zhaoning, however, showed little annoyance. To move against the interconnected nobility was as difficult as scaling the heavens. He merely nodded, saying:

“Mother’s words are true, but what if I were to act with thunderous force?”

Thunderous force? Would he eradicate the noble clans or destroy the guilds?

To strike at the nobility—who knows what chaos that would bring? And if he moved against the guilds, how would the great families react?

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Such an act would be pure folly.

If Emperor Zhaoning was determined to do something foolish, it ought to be praised.

If he went through with it, the noble families would surely impeach and retaliate. Whether he was forced to abdicate or assassinated, it would only be repaying the sins of his father—a debt not nearly cleared by his death alone.

The Empress Dowager discreetly scanned the area with her spiritual sense, confirming there were no recording talismans nearby, before smiling and saying:

“Mandated by Heaven, may your reign be everlasting. If Your Majesty acts for the people and the border troops, then what does it matter if you move against the noble clans?”

Emperor Zhaoning laughed heartily, then grew solemn. “With Mother’s blessing, it seems that after a few hours, by day’s end, the noble families will have no more alchemy guilds.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at the palace maid standing not far outside the pavilion, then snorted, “Since Your Majesty has already decided, why bother consulting me?”

Emperor Zhaoning smiled, neither confirming nor denying her words, instead steering the conversation elsewhere. “What are your thoughts on Nian’er?”

At the mention of this question, the Empress Dowager sensed that Emperor Zhaoning’s plan might also involve Pei Xiunian.

That little scoundrel, always taking liberties because of his status—where did such rural bravado come from? Sooner or later, he would need a lesson that would chill him to the bone.

Yet he was clever and capable. Would someone like him act without considering the consequences? These were unlikely to be deliberate offenses—perhaps just thoughtless accidents?

But the Empress Dowager had no desire to dwell on it now. She pursed her lips, then spoke frankly:

“Nian’er is both courageous and resourceful. He has helped the Great Zhou reclaim Yunchuan, and has uncovered the secret of the Demon Farm. To have such a prince is a blessing for our dynasty.”

“Indeed,” Emperor Zhaoning agreed, raising his head to watch the falling snow, lost in thought. He spoke softly, “I remember when he was a boy, studying diligently, sometimes found asleep at the Academy. I never imagined that, upon descending the mountain, he would achieve so much.”

The Empress Dowager’s heart skipped a beat. There was a hint of suspicion toward Pei Xiunian in those words.

The possibility was slim, but still… she felt a twinge of inexplicable anxiety. After all, Pei Xiunian was central to her own grand designs.

Composing herself, she replied lightly, “Recently, Nian’er has emerged as the dark horse in the succession struggle. Both court and city discuss whether he or the other favored princes is more formidable. Has Your Majesty considered who is truly the strongest?”

This was as close as she could come to asking outright whom Emperor Zhaoning favored. The succession struggle was one thing, but the emperor’s own preference was crucial.

The contest had begun. If the heir was not chosen wisely, a storm of blood and intrigue would engulf the imperial line.

Emperor Zhaoning waved a hand, replying ambiguously, “It has been some time since I saw Qier and Yan’er. When they return, I’ll observe them closely.”

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“Indeed,” the Empress Dowager nodded gracefully. “There is no rush to select an heir. Observing Your Majesty, you seem more vigorous than before—perhaps our dynasty’s fortunes have grown stronger as well.”

Such words pleased Emperor Zhaoning, and his tone lightened. “The main reason I came today was to ask you to lend a hand. Let us claim the alchemy guild affair as the work of the Divine Machine Corps. I ask you to provide cover for me. Once the noble families’ guilds are abolished, I shall have many elixirs made to reward you.”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze flickered with surprise. “But is it not common knowledge that the Divine Machine Corps is under Your Majesty’s command?”

Emperor Zhaoning shook his head. “I have not funded the Corps for a long time. Since the war began, the ledgers are clear and unambiguous. Yet the Corps remains standing—who can say who supports them now?”

He paused, then continued, “In any case, there has long been enmity between the Corps and the noble families. Now that this has happened, it is only natural. Let them exhaust each other, and we shall profit as the fisherman.”

If all went as planned, once Emperor Zhaoning’s involvement was washed clean, the noble families’ guilds would indeed be finished. The great clans would not openly confront the Divine Machine Corps; instead, the pressure would fall on the hidden manipulators. Zhaoning needed only to wait for private guilds to rise, then quietly absorb them.

“In that case…” The Empress Dowager considered briefly, then nodded. “I shall act as if nothing has happened.”

Her decision hardly mattered now—she merely needed her subordinates to refrain from meddling. Even if they tried, nothing could alter the set course of events.

Emperor Zhaoning rose with a smile, saluted her, and said, “Then I shall take my leave for today.”

The Empress Dowager did not look at him directly, replying carelessly, “Take care, Your Majesty.”

When both Emperor Zhaoning and Lord He had departed, the Empress Dowager summoned the palace maid waiting outside the pavilion. Supporting her head with one hand, she mused aloud:

“Sulan, it has been some days since I saw him. Send a maid to fetch Nian’er. Tell him I am craving grapes and ask him to buy a fresh bunch from outside the Forbidden City.”

Sulan glanced at the table laden with fruit and the plate of peeled grapes, puzzled. “Your Majesty?”

The Empress Dowager seemed to awaken from a trance, as if suddenly enlightened. “Ah, yes, clear away all these from the table.”

She then pointed to the plate and added emphatically, “And throw that plate out as well.”

Sulan bowed slightly, reminding her, “But Your Majesty, it is already the season of Light Snow. Grapes are out of season now. If not for the imperial kitchens, it would be nearly impossible to find any…”

“I know. That is precisely why I am sending him.” The Empress Dowager gave a huff. “Do you think that, having just finished this conversation, I could allow him to appear in my palace straight away? Do you think I am deliberately making things difficult for him?”