After the longest night of his life, Yuwen Yue, once a pauper prince, woke up as the crown prince. His fate now awaited him as he prepared to meet the Qinghai King.
The Qinghai King, who had been informed of the crown prince's arrival with the Poe Yue Jian sword, suddenly became alert and excited. He inquired about the crown prince's palace and was thrilled by the lively stories he heard, which revived his old emotions.
Instead of his usual party nightclub, the King had his servants prepare his garments, and everything transformed from gray to white.
Like a blank canvas ready to be painted, the King's outlook was fresh and hopeful. He had intended to summon the crown prince to him but could not wait. Instead, he decided to walk the secret path to the old Yueshen's palace with two of his guards.
At dawn, while the palace assumed the King was going about his usual routine, he secretly made his way to meet his long-lost son.
At nearly fifty, the King still exuded remarkable beauty and handsomeness. Dressed in a long black robe with a hood, and wearing an exquisite Hanfu with a luxurious gold hairpin, he made his way down the secret path to the crown prince's palace, accompanied by two guards carrying torches.
Only the King had access to this path, and the last time he visited was when he last saw his son as a baby in his cradle with his mother, Yueshen.
After a short while, the King arrived at the crown prince's palace and took a seat in the mini-throne room. The guards waited outside while the King closed his eyes, lost in meditation and nostalgic thoughts of Yueshen. He sighed deeply, reflecting on the past.
Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue, deep in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes, sensing a powerful energy around him. At the same time, Zuo Zong was conducting his routine spy check, focused on uncovering the identity of Prince Ra Zheng's secret spy.
Yuwen Yue abandoned his meditation and stood up, drawing back the long gold curtains to reveal the golden sunrise. Beyond the curtains, he gazed out at the mountain clouds and the foggy cityscape below. The mists shrouded the forests, townhomes, and the Great Wall of China, which overlooked the Ximeng continent. The Qinghai palace, aptly named "The Palace in the Sky," stood majestically in this breathtaking view.
Dressed in his Qinghai princely garments, Yuwen Yue looked every bit the part with his cold, gentle eyes, thin red lips, and jade-like skin. His appearance was god-like, a stark contrast to the days he spent working and exploring the streets to make a living.
One of the King's personal guards knocked and announced, "Your Highness, His Majesty arrived in secret. He is waiting in the Crown Prince's mini-throne room and would like to meet you."
Yuwen Yue's heartbeat quickened, betraying his calm exterior. He remained rooted to the spot, torn between fear and anticipation at the prospect of meeting his real father, just a few steps away. Gathering his composure, he replied softly, "I am coming out."
Yuwen Yue took his Poe Yue Jian sword and look at himself at the big mirror, from a ruggedly handsome laborer to a Royal crown prince, his transformation was striking, leaving him almost without words to describe his own appearance.
He fixed his princely garment and came out very handsome, neat and on his White Hanfu dress, white deerskin boots, white damask cape with white fur collar made of white fox hair, silver crown hairpin on top of his head. With a slow and confident stride, he walked out of his room, embodying both grace and authority.
"Your Majesty!" Yuwen Yue's voice broke the silence.
The Qinghai King opened his eyes and saw Yuwen Yue kneeling with his head bowed and holding the Poe Yue Jian sword in front of him.
The King straightened his posture, took a deep breath, and cleared his throat with a soft "ahem." He stared at Yuwen Yue without speaking or moving, while Yuwen Yue remained expressionless, waiting for the King's next words.
After a long pause, the King finally said, "Come closer."
Yuwen Yue stood and approached the King, still avoiding eye contact.
"Hand me the Poe Yue Jian sword," the King instructed.
Yuwen Yue handed the sword to the King and stepped back.
The King then said, "You may look at me."
Yuwen Yue glanced at the King, and his eyes widened in surprise as the King descended from his throne, embraced him, and said, "My Son."
Without speaking, Yuwen Yue returned the warm hug. Both felt a profound relief, and time seemed to stand still.
Suddenly, Zuo Zong entered and noticed the two guards outside the throne room. Curious, he approached and saw the King and Yuwen Yue embracing.
The King, with tears in his eyes, patted Yuwen Yue's back. Yuwen Yue, calm on the surface but with bloodshot eyes, hugged his father again before finally letting go.
The King then took the Poe Yue Jian sword and officially handed it to Yuwen Yue, saying:"To my son, this sword has been my life's pursuit. We age not by years but by the stories we live. The pain you feel today will become your strength tomorrow. May the bridges I burned light your way and may you find it in your heart to forgive your father."
Yuwen Yue knelt before his father, bowing his head. The King tapped his shoulders with the Poe Yue Jian sword, and the sword's moon grip handle gleamed as light traced along its blade to the tip.
The King adjusted his hold and, holding the sword horizontally, handed it to Yuwen Yue, who accepted it, mesmerized by its radiant light. His eyes were fixed on the inscription that began to emerge from the blade as if being etched by a laser.
The King then donned his hood and exited the throne room peacefully. Yuwen Yue stood silently, watching the King's retreating figure, feeling a deep sense of contentment.
Zuo Zong witnessed the scene but only caught a glimpse of the Qinghai King without seeing his face. He saw the King's guards follow him down the secret path before they disappeared.
Zuo Zong approached Yuwen Yue, who remained lost in thought, staring at the throne room door as if in a trance. The moment felt both real and magical to Yuwen Yue, who was so absorbed he didn't notice Zuo's presence.
"Master brother, did you just…" Zuo began.
Whatever is it, the answer is yes, Yuwen Yue said.
As the sun climbed higher, Yuwen Yue resumed his usual duties. Zuo Zong, preparing to report to his master, couldn't shake his concern about the Qinghai King.
"Master brother, may I ask something about the Qinghai King?" Zuo inquired.
"What is it?" Yuwen Yue asked, making his way toward his office.
"Did you notice something odd about his appearance? When the sun came out, it seemed like he was fading away."
"What do you mean? The King seemed to disappear as he walked out of the room," Yuwen Yue said.
"I didn't see his shadow. It was like he was floating and becoming invisible," Zuo explained, puzzled.
"Did you say he appeared to be floating?" Yuwen Yue asked, intrigued.
"Yes, it happened when the sunlight passed through him," Zuo confirmed.
Yuwen Yue, in a calm, husky voice, asked, "What was the position of the sundial?"
Zuo responded, "It was about the sixth hour from the North Star when I came in."
Yuwen Yue's eyes narrowed as he recalled his father's words about the Poe Yue Jian sword and wondered if his father was under a spell. He suspected the sword might be connected and decided to investigate further.
He pondered the meaning behind his father's message: "We age not by years but by stories." He wondered if it related to his role as the heir to the Eyes of God.
His father's words, "The pain you feel today will soon become your strength for tomorrow," seemed to acknowledge the hardships Yuwen Yue had faced.
The phrase, "May the bridges I burned, light the way and forgive a father in your heart," was harder to understand. It seemed linked to the destruction of the Xie household and the town of Wei, which had led to a war between the Wei and Qinghai empires.
Yuwen Yue was still unsure why his father had been absent from the throne. With the responsibility of helping his father, running the kingdom, finding his brothers, and locating Xinger, he felt the weight of his duties.
At first, he started this journey, after he found his obituary circulated in the town in a local newspaper. He read the tabloid and twitched his palms and the paper was crumpled. The news was very obnoxious and offensive to him, as the heir to the Eyes of God, the news is a pain on the neck, hard to swallow and seems the Yuwen family did not carefully consider his position.
Yuwen Yue also found Yue Qi's obituary alongside his own, which deepened his sorrow. He had always felt that Yue Qi, his loyal Seventh Yue, had done more than was expected of him.
Anger rose in Yuwen Yue towards those who had killed Yue Qi. The press releases seemed to suggest that he had nothing to return to in Wei.
Determined, Yuwen Yue resolved to reclaim everything he had lost. He was confident that his return would shift the tide and disprove the false stories circulating about him.
He promised to start afresh despite the fake news and vowed to regain the trust of the people and nobles. He also pledged to alter the course of time and change Xinger's destiny if he could find her again.
Yuwen Yue vowed to no longer be complacent or sacrifice his personal matters for others.
Recently, he had trekked through the Hua mountains, reflecting on the bitter battle with Yan Xun. To end his blood pact with Yan Xun, Yuwen Yue cut a piece from his clothes as a symbol of severing ties and cast it into the cold east wind.
This act was similar to what Prince Yuan Song had done when escaping Chang'an. Yuan Song had cut a piece from his dark red damask cape, thrown it to the ground, and let it burn.
After Yuan Song's clean break-up, the 13th Prince of Wei declared Yan Xun and Chu Qiao as enemies of the state from that moment on. Yuan Song even offered Chu Qiao one last chance to return to Wei, but she remained resolute in her decision to become a rebel.
Despite this, Prince Yuan Song, in his nobility, allowed Yan Xun and Chu Qiao to escape from Chang'an. He told them, "The next time we meet, we will be enemies, and we will no longer owe each other any debts of goodwill and friendship."
Yuwen Yue mirrored Yuan Song's actions in his own way—he let the past blow away with the wind. He no longer wished to see Yan Shi Zi in the same light as before. Reflecting on his past actions, Yuwen Yue had secretly protected Yan Xun, even though he couldn't prevent the destruction of his own family. Despite this, he never directly harmed his best friend.
Yuwen Yue had even breached the ethics and codes of being a key official in Wei. As an interim master of the Eyes of God, he acted as a personal spy and bodyguard, taking lives to protect Yanbei Prince and Xinger from assassins.
It was a trying time for Yuwen Yue. He had to keep his support for the Yanbei Prince hidden from the nobles and the Emperor. The only disaster he feared was the Emperor discovering his covert actions.
The Emperor suspected Yuwen Yue of disloyalty and misuse of power, so he removed him from his duties at Green Hills courtyard.
Yuwen Yue was assigned to a three-year term as General of Xiaoqi Camp under the 7th Prince Yuan Che. His new position was dangerous, often leaving him fighting for survival while Yan Xun was imprisoned in Chang'an.
When they met at the frozen lake, Yan Xun warned Yuwen Yue that there would be no mercy if they faced each other in battle. Yuwen Yue struggled to understand why Yan Xun had become so cold towards him.
Yuwen Yue struggled to understand and accept that Yan Xun made Xinger fight while suffering, and then ultimately took her life. The memory of Xinger crying and defending Yan Xun, only to witness his end, haunted him.
As he prepared for his return to confront Yan Xun, Yuwen Yue wanted to ask: "Why? Did you really have to involve Xinger? You could have fought me alone on that field if you wanted revenge."
Yuwen Yue was the kind of friend who expressed his feelings openly, but he had sacrificed much for Yan Xun, only to be betrayed. If Xinger were dead, Yuwen Yue knew he could never forgive Yan Xun. He would hunt him down to make sure Yan Xun paid for what he had done to Xinger.
The master of cold hearts, Yuwen Yue, now holds authority but is still learning how to effectively manage it. His priority is to restore order to the Qinghai kingdom and address his father's condition. Although his father's words were metaphorical, Yuwen Yue knows he must take action.
While some matters are immediately clear to him, others will require time and effort to understand fully. He hopes to balance his responsibilities with the search for Xinger, and he is determined to pursue any opportunity to find her.
On his first day, Zuo Zong officially reported to Yuwen Yue as the Crown Prince. According to Qinghai palace protocol, Zuo addressed Yuwen Yue as "Crown Prince of Qinghai," a practice taught by the palace eunuchs. Yuwen Yue, accustomed to such protocols, had no issues complying.
Yuwen Yue was used to following orders in Wei, but now he found himself in the opposite position—giving orders rather than receiving them. It was a role he had not sought, yet destiny had placed him in control.
After Zuo Zong gave his first morning report, he bowed and, with a playful smile, told Yuwen Yue, "Crown Prince, Zuo is just around the corner if you need anything." He then dismissed himself without waiting for further instructions.
Yuwen Yue took a deep breath and sighed, returning to his work with a faint smile. The smile was partly due to Zuo's changed demeanor and partly in memory of the seventh Yue.
Yuwen Yue noted the differences between Yue Qi and Zuo Zong. Yue Qi was skilled with a sword, mature, and always put others before himself. In contrast, Zuo Zong, a playful Shaolin Kungfu master, prioritized his own needs before helping others. Zuo believed, "If you don't help yourself first, how can you help others?"
Yuwen Yue reflected on his own journey. He had learned from Zuo's self-focused approach and saw the harsh reality of Yan Xun's lack of appreciation for unwavering loyalty. Yuwen Yue questioned whether he could truly help others or even himself and his family if he couldn't find a way to make a meaningful difference, especially for Xinger.
He grappled with his own sense of worth, comparing himself to Yan Xun, the noble Prince of Yanbei. As a mere heir to the Eyes of God, he felt diminished by comparison. His confidence was challenged by his ego.
Yet, destiny had altered his path. He became a crown prince without struggle, inherited an empire without searching, and was positioned as a leader of his band of brothers without asking.
Yuwen Yue felt his ego no longer affected his relationships with other princes. He believed he now had better prospects for Xinger and was ready to offer the vast grasslands of Yanbei in exchange for Qinghai's stunning snow-capped mountains and its beautiful mirror-like lake.
He hoped that Xinger would find warmth in Qinghai and eventually join him there, sharing the Qinghai Empire with her someday.
While Yuwen Yue was writing, an old eunuch knocked and announced, "Your Highness, I have come with the King's decree. For the first time in twenty-nine years, the King will pass the throne to you. The Queen will hand over the throne within thirty days, by the seventh day of the Moon."
Yuwen Yue signaled Zuo to open the door.
He then asked, "Where are the Analects and the records of the Qinghai Empire?"
The old eunuch replied, "I anticipated your request. Here are the three sacred books for you to read."
Yuwen Yue took the three books from the old eunuch and, with a cold stare, asked for clarification on the decree: "What does 'The Queen will hand over the throne to your Highness within thirty days under the Sun and onto the seventh day of the Moon' mean?"
The eunuch explained, "The Sun represents the King, and the Moon represents the Crown Prince. The seventh Moon refers to a secret princess from Chu Jing who is promised to become a significant figure in Qinghai."
Yuwen Yue questioned, "I heard they were brothers. How will such a union work?"
The eunuch replied, "The kingdoms are not related by blood but by an ancient covenant, symbolizing the balance between light and darkness."
Yuwen Yue wondered, "How can I manage both the Sun and the Moon? It sounds challenging."
The eunuch reassured him, "With the Poe Yue Jian sword, uniting even the distant tribes is possible. Do you accept the King's decree?"
Yuwen Yue agreed, "I accept." The eunuch bowed and left.
Zuo, following Yuwen Yue, teased, "I'm afraid you can't refuse the decree. Starting today, you're the Crown Prince, and you'll have to deal with the secret princess from the moon kingdom and the leader of the underworld spies."
Yuwen Yue, looking out at the beautiful Qinghai lake, said, "The changes are happening quickly. I didn't expect them to come so soon."
Zuo asked, "Take your time, Master. I'm also interested in meeting the secret princess."
Yuwen Yue replied, "I'm not interested in the secret princess."
Zuo asked, "Why? Do you prefer anyone other than what was arranged to you, Your Highness?"
Yuwen Yue didn't respond, leaving Zuo's question unanswered. Zuo seemed to be probing into Yuwen Yue's heart, which only belonged to Xinger. At that moment, Yuwen Yue's parrot flew in, chirping, "Xinger, Xinger, Xinger." Zuo approached the bird, imitating its call, "Xinger? Who is Xinger?"
Yuwen Yue ignored the question, took his parrot inside the palace, and placed it on its stand. With clear skies overhead, Yuwen Yue spent the day reading the three sacred books. The parrot's constant chirping of Xinger's name was a soothing melody to his ears.