Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 632: Did the Tang Clan's Spring Water Overflow

As Zhao Changhe carried Tang Wanzhuang into the steaming hot spring, Xia Chichi and Huangfu Qing were left glaring at each other.

Huangfu Qing felt as though her head was on fire—green fire[1].

The day had started so well. After all, she was a rebel leader who had plotted for years and, in the end, achieved a resounding victory. Not just any victory, but the largest slice of the spoils among the various factions who had allied for the coup. Anyone in her position would be practically floating with joy.

Her old nemesis, Tang Wanzhuang, had even knelt before her disciple and acknowledged her as empress.

Even if she’s really kneeling for Zhao Changhe, that’s fine—he’s the Fire Pig of Shi, he’s my man. Kneeling to him is the same as kneeling to me. Now I’m the Empress Dowager, and she’s still a minister. Victory is mine!

Her good mood had taken a hit when that shameless woman openly demanded a marriage decree in court. But at least it had not come to fruition. Tang Wanzhuang had wisely refrained from pushing to become Zhao Changhe’s royal concubine. It was perfect.

Huangfu Qing remained cheerful. Upon realizing that the Vermillion Bird persona was not suited for petty squabbles, she had swiftly switched identities.

Her return to the palace was not just to vent frustration—there were genuine matters to attend to. The dragon robe’s production was a minor task; a single order was enough to get it done. The real work lay in asserting control as the new empress dowager. The inner palace needed a thorough purge—replacing staff with her loyalists, securing control of the treasury, and overseeing various palace functions.

During her time as a consort, she had cultivated plenty of supporters and embedded members of the Four Idols Cult in key positions, even among the guards. But eunuchs were another matter. The cult did not have any eunuchs. The best they could do was bribe a few. Most of them were unreliable, tangled in political webs with external ministers. Some were even covertly loyal to the Huangfu Clan. If her own family had such influence, then how much more did the Wang and Cui Clans possess?

Securing the inner palace was as crucial as stabilizing the imperial court.

Busy with these arrangements, she had not noticed the time slip away. When she finally turned back, the dragon robe was ready.

Delighted, she grabbed the robe and rushed off to dress her obedient little disciple-empress. But when she arrived, she found Zhao Changhe off enjoying a steamy bath with Tang Wanzhuang. Her good mood evaporated instantly.

What made it worse was that, for all her frustration, she could not intervene. Tang Wanzhuang was pivotal. The new regime’s stability hinged on her support. If she refused to cooperate or withdrew her loyalty, the consequences would be obvious even to a dog.

And so, she had to sacrifice the Fire Pig of Shi’s masculine allure and bind Tang Wanzhuang to their cause, no matter the personal cost.

Watching Xia Chichi slumped on the dragon throne, knees hugged to her chest, Huangfu Qing’s mind churned with unspoken grievances. If she were still Vermillion Bird, she could scold her disciple into standing tall. But in her current persona, how was she supposed to do that? Switching roles had backfired.

“You...” Huangfu Qing wrestled with her emotions, finally aligning herself with her current identity. She spoke slowly, “Your Majesty, what’s with the pitiful expression? Don’t forget—the chief of the Demon Suppressing Bureau has knelt before us. She is now subject to the Four Idols Cult, ripe for our manipulation.”

The corners of Xia Chichi’s mouth twitched. Is that what you think victory is? Should we crack open a cask of wine to celebrate this triumph?

Huangfu Qing said, “Tang Wanzhuang is an invaluable minister, crucial to stabilizing the current situation. It would have been a shame if her life had been cut short by illness. To secure her loyalty... well, it’s like how Dong Zhuo should have gifted Diaochan to Lü Bu[2]. How could he risk losing the empire over a single woman? The same applies here. Your Majesty aspires to rule the world—how could you let infatuation with a man cost you a loyal and capable subject? You should grant Zhao Changhe to... uh... pfft...”

She had been utterly serious, and her logic was sound. But the absurdity of reversing the genders made even her burst out laughing.

Xia Chichi could not hold it in either. She doubled over with laughter. “Empress Mother, why did I never realize you were so funny?”

Huangfu Qing blinked, only then registering that Xia Chichi had addressed her as Empress Mother. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “What, no more posturing about your status as saintess?”

Xia Chichi hopped off the chair with a grin and wrapped her arms around Huangfu Qing’s waist. “You look so adorable trying to lecture me on how to be a good empress when you’re practically seething with jealousy. Empress Mother, do you think I don’t know about you and Changhe? You weren’t exactly subtle when you snatched him away right in front of me. I was the one who tricked you into bathing with him and sharing his bed. By that measure, I’m practically your matchmaker!”

Huangfu Qing froze. “Uh...”

Well, to be fair, you really are good at setting things up...

Xia Chichi leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Given your current identity, marriage is out of the question. You’ve sacrificed a lot for the cult’s cause, and I understand that. But whether you marry or not doesn’t matter, does it? As long as we’re all in the same position... I can’t publicly declare my intent to marry him right now, and Tang Wanzhuang’s hands are tied as well. We’re even. So long as I don’t get in your way, you can have whatever lovers you want, right?”

Huangfu Qing narrowed her eyes. “And?”

“Let’s work together. The times have changed. We’re now empress and empress dowager. The venerable can’t control us the way she used to. If the empress and empress dowager join forces, there’s nothing the venerable can do to stop us. I won’t interfere with your affairs, and in return, you won’t report my actions to her. We’ll keep things peaceful between us.”

She’s trying to cut off the venerable’s eyes and ears...

Huangfu Qing nearly burst out laughing at the realization. With mock seriousness, she replied, “Your Majesty makes a good point. But the venerable’s spies aren’t limited to me, you know...”

“She relies on you to manage the palace. If you’re willing to conceal things, she’ll be blind here.” Xia Chichi’s voice took on a sly, persuasive note. “In exchange, I’ll grant Changhe a nominal position as the guard commander of the inner palace. That way, if ministers see him near the empress dowager’s chambers, it’ll seem perfectly normal. What do you think?”

Huangfu Qing studied her for a moment, eyes narrowed. Then she asked, “Have you and he already...?”

Xia Chichi would not dare reveal that so easily. She simply shook her head. “I’m just making preparations. If you agree to help...”

Huangfu Qing let out a sigh, caught between exasperation and amusement. Conspiring with me to undermine me... Do you have any idea how you’re going to survive this, you cheeky little brat?

At this moment, Huangfu Qing was not as determined to oppose Xia Chichi’s plans as she might have been in the past. After all, Xia Chichi was now the empress. No religious sect in their right mind would expect an empress to remain single—that would be laughable.

With her current status, coupled with the multi-discipline prowess she had demonstrated, Xia Chichi could easily assume the role of cult leader. Once she did, she would wield the highest authority in interpreting doctrine. Her performance in the imperial court today proved she was no simple nor naive girl. Despite her inability to recognize Huangfu Qing’s true identity, her capacity for manipulating doctrine was clear.

The only troubling thought was how this would end. If Xia Chichi truly became the cult leader, Huangfu Qing would be expected to obey her. The mere thought sent a chill down her spine.

As she hesitated, Lady Three’s languid voice whispered in her ear through a private transmission, “I’m here. Speaking with you in front of Chichi would expose too much. Come out, and let’s talk in private.”

Huangfu Qing nodded. The Four Idols Cult needed internal consensus before they could proceed with reforms. After all, these reforms would align their structure with the new role as the state religion and merge the positions of cult leader and sovereign of the state. This was a discussion she needed to have with Lady Three first. As for Xia Chichi... well, with Zhao Changhe currently preoccupied with Tang Wanzhuang, it was not likely that Xia Chichi would rush off to join the chaos. She was the empress, after all, not Baoqin.

With that thought, Huangfu Qing patted Xia Chichi’s shoulder. “We’ll talk about this later. For now, try on the dragon robe and see how it looks. I have other matters to attend to.”

She slipped away without further delay.

In Xia Chichi’s ear, Lady Three’s voice echoed, “Did you really expect her to openly discuss defying the venerable? With me here, she’ll acquiesce in silence. Just go ahead with your plans.”

Xia Chichi clenched her fist, feeling a surge of confidence. With the support of her aunt-master, everything became simpler. As long as the empress dowager did not interfere, the palace would be her sanctuary—a place for her and Zhao Changhe to be together. Tang Wanzhuang? How often could she enter the palace? An outsider like her was no real threat.

She even considered an alliance with the empress dowager...

Blushing at the thought, Xia Chichi donned the dragon robe and examined herself in the bronze mirror. She was astonished by her own reflection.

The mischievous swordswoman of the jianghu was gone. The regal figure staring back radiated a majesty she could hardly recognize.

Clothes truly do make the person.

Letting out a soft breath, she noticed the sky had darkened. Fatigued from the day’s events, she left the hall and headed toward her chambers to rest.

She did not even know where her chambers were. A group of attendants from the Four Idols Cult, flustered, hurried ahead to guide her. “S-Sa—uh, Your Majesty, this way...”

It was a cold winter night, though snow had not fallen. Xia Chichi walked slowly through the palace, the starlight casting a serene glow over the rooftops. At first, the beauty of the scene captivated her, but with each step, a quiet loneliness crept into her heart.

The palace atmosphere felt stifling and tedious.

These were her own cult followers. Some were trusted members of her Azure Dragon and White Tiger divisions. Yet here, under the weight of imperial decorum, they all fell silent, too fearful to speak freely. When she asked a question, they replied with ingratiating smiles, like obedient lapdogs.

The power of the imperial throne overshadowed the cult’s influence. Even among the most devout followers, the emperor held more significance than the saintess or even the cult leader.

In truth, she was not ready to be a sovereign or empress—not mentally, nor in any other sense.

Suddenly, she stopped walking.

The nearby attendants grew nervous. “Your Majesty...”

Xia Chichi asked, “Where is King Zhao’s bathing pool?”

“Uh, it’s not far from Your Majesty’s chambers. Does Your Majesty wish to go there?”

“What, can’t I wash up first?”

“Of course, Your Majesty can! There are... multiple pools. Please, this way...”

What’s wrong with wanting just one pool?

The largest, most luxurious pool was currently occupied by Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanzhuang. When they led her to a smaller adjacent pool, the attendants cast cautious glances at her face. Her expression was, predictably, less than pleased.

“Leave me. Your services aren’t needed.”

“But Your Majesty, we should assist you with changing...”

“Shoo! You didn’t rush to help me when I was the saintess, so what’s changed now that I’m the empress?”

The attendants hesitated. “...”

“Enough. Leave me be. I’ll rest on my own.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the attendants withdrew, the chamber grew quiet. The flickering candlelight wavered through the mist, casting ghostly shadows that made the space feel vast and oppressive, like a prison.

Xia Chichi paced around the pool a few times, then suddenly slipped out through the window and into the courtyard.

The moonlight bathed the garden in a soft glow, making everything feel serene and refreshing. The crisp night air lifted her spirits.

Satisfied, she nodded to herself, then crept toward the neighboring bathing pool. The mischievous little empress was about to spy on the scene within. If the attendants saw their ruler acting like a cheeky rogue, who knew what they would think? But Xia Chichi did not care—it made her happy. Besides, it wasn’t like she would go blind from peeking!

Let’s see if Tang Wanzhuang’s delicate resolve has melted away yet.

She poked a finger through the paper screen and peeked inside. Her eyes immediately met Zhao Changhe’s sharp, wary gaze. @@novelbin@@

Zhao Changhe had woken suddenly in the middle of the night. It did not take him long to sense someone watching.

He turned his head swiftly and saw a pair of large eyes blinking in surprise before they vanished, retreating in a flash.

He was not about to let the intruder escape. In an instant, he broke through the window. “Who goes th—uh...”

Xia Chichi stood in the courtyard, arms folded, clad in a resplendent dragon robe. She scowled at him. “Are you enjoying yourself, King Zhao?”

Zhao Changhe’s expression grew puzzled. Xia Chichi, wearing the imperial robe... looked strangely captivating.

Seeing his stunned gaze, Xia Chichi lifted her chin, smug. “Well? Do you like what you see?”

“...Yes.”

“Better than your precious First Seat?”

“Uh...”

“Where is she? Has she fainted already? Did the Tang Clan’s spring water overflow the pool?”

“...”

A glint of mischief sparked in Xia Chichi’s eyes. She stepped closer, taking his hand and placing it on her chest. Her voice dropped to a sultry murmur. “If there’s nothing else to attend to... dear subject... shouldn’t you assist your empress with her bath and clothes?”

1. Yes, that’s a classic green hat reference. ☜

2. Diaochan (貂蝉) is depicted as a beautiful woman who becomes the centerpiece of a scheme by Wang Yun to drive a wedge between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, a general famous for his martial prowess. ☜