The calligraphy was bold and flowing, a blend of strength and grace, exuding a noble bearing. The golden medallion shimmered under the gentle flicker of candlelight, as if one were transported to the grand halls of the Daming Palace. There, beneath the radiant glow of the sunset, the glazed tiles of the palace roof sparkled like stars. Upon the towering steps before the palace stood the mighty and sagacious Emperor of the Great Tang. Clad in a ceremonial robe of black and yellow adorned with the twelve emblematic motifs, a wide white sash girding his waist, and a coronet with twelve strands of white jade beads cascading from its crown—he was a figure of divine majesty. When he spoke, it was as if Heaven itself had decreed its will, guiding the people and safeguarding the realm. His gaze, sharp and blazing, fell upon the two kneeling before him, shaking both Li Ce and Ye Jiao to their core.
On that golden medallion were four characters engraved: "As If the Emperor Himself Were Present."As! If! The! Emperor! Himself! Were Present!Those words carried an awe-inspiring presence that struck directly into Ye Jiao's heart.
"This must be a fake, right?""My father gave it to me personally. It cannot be false."
Li Ce bent down, picked up the medallion, gently brushed away the dust, his expression solemn.
"But if it's real… why give it to me?"
Ye Jiao dared not touch it. She stepped back and collapsed heavily onto the bed."What exactly did the Emperor say that day?" Li Ce asked patiently.Only by recalling the Emperor's words could they begin to decipher his intentions.
Ye Jiao cupped her head in her hands, concentrating. At that time, the Arsenal had not yet caught fire. She had been invited to dine at Lady Shun's palace and had intended to visit the ailing Emperor, but the eunuchs turned her away. Just as she exited the palace gates, the Emperor sent someone to summon her again. Inside the sleeping quarters of Zichen Hall, she had brought the Emperor a book of tales to entertain him, and he, in return, gifted her this pouch.
"First, His Majesty recited passages from The Art of War, then told me he wanted me to go to the Ministry of War. He praised my boldness and meticulous nature." Recalling the moment, Ye Jiao squinted and smiled. "Later, he said if I ever found the road too long and difficult to tread, I should open this pouch."
Back then, Ye Jiao had assumed it might contain some profound saying. Though curious, she felt life was still manageable and had never opened it. Who would have thought it was this?
This medallion could likely cow the court, command the military, and wield unparalleled authority. Ye Jiao could not understand why the Emperor would entrust it to her—nor did she want to overthink it. Matters requiring brains were better left to Li Ce.
"The road is long and fraught with hardship." Li Ce softly echoed the Emperor's words, lost in thought.
"Exactly," Ye Jiao said with a grin. "Isn't that from the Book of Songs, 'Pursuing him against the current—the path is long and rough; following him upstream—he seems just within reach, yet adrift in the middle of the river.'"
A poem of yearning, of lovers separated and longing to meet.
"True," Li Ce replied. "But it also appears in Xunzi's Cultivation of the Self: 'Though the path be near, without walking it, one never arrives; though the matter be small, without doing it, it remains undone.' Hence, the origin of 'The path is arduous and long, but walk it and you shall arrive.'"
"I know Xunzi," Ye Jiao lifted her head. "He was a Warring States Confucian, revered as the 'Later Sage,' but because he taught Han Fei and Li Si—those two infamously wayward disciples—he's often criticized."
But what did any of this mean?
Li Ce placed the medallion back into its pouch, tied it carefully, and returned it to Ye Jiao's hands.
"Guard this well. It must never be lost or seen by others," he said gravely. "If Father entrusted it to you, he surely had his reasons."
"What reasons?" Ye Jiao squeezed the pouch, joking, "Scrape off the inscription and sell it to a gold shop—we'd make a fortune!"
Li Ce lightly tapped her nose, affectionate but firm. "Don't jest. Perhaps Father sensed something amiss and hoped there would be someone outside the palace willing to stand firm, to remain loyal to the throne and defend the nation."
"Stand against whom?" Ye Jiao was puzzled. "Who would dare oppose His Majesty?"
But even as she spoke, a thought flashed through her mind, leaving her stunned.
Ever since the Emperor fell ill, the Crown Prince had been overseeing the realm. If anyone had the power and daring to oppose the Emperor behind his back, it would be the Crown Prince.
"Could it be that Li Zhang is plotting treason?" Ye Jiao frowned, then quickly shook her head. "No. He merely has to wait for His Majesty's passing to ascend the throne openly. There's no need for rebellion."
Li Ce nodded deeply, agreeing. "It's not the Crown Prince. Certain princes in court possess power no less than his."
Then… who?
Ye Jiao mentally reviewed the capabilities of the other princes, eyeing Li Ce suspiciously.
"Sisi," she said, "I think you're quite formidable. Now that your mother has been promoted to Virtuous Consort and you're assisting in state affairs, everyone says it took you just a year to earn the Emperor's favor and trust. Your future is limitless."
Li Ce couldn't help but laugh. Looking at Ye Jiao was like looking at a pure-hearted child. He said gently, "I've done no more than my humble duty. The court is a tangled web of factions—even if Father wished to act, it wouldn't be easy. In any case, you must keep this safe. With this, I can rest assured even when I'm away."
At the very least, no matter what danger Ye Jiao encountered, those four words could preserve her life.
Saying this, Li Ce walked to the door and instructed Qingfeng to prepare the carriage.
Ye Jiao lingered under the pretense of arranging her clothes. Her eyes scanned the room, wondering if there was anything Li Ce must take with him. Finally, her gaze landed on a wooden chest.
The chest was about two feet wide, made of durable catalpa wood—sturdy yet lightweight. Plum blossoms were carved upon its surface, exuding rustic elegance. Li Ce had used this chest since returning from the imperial tombs to store his plain robes. When he moved into the Prince Zhao's estate, it was the only item he brought. Later, when he went to provide disaster relief, he again used it to carry his clothes. According to Qingfeng, this chest had been part of Lady Shun's dowry.
Ye Jiao made her decision. She opened the chest, lifted the bottom lining, and placed the "As If the Emperor Himself Were Present" medallion inside.
This journey to Jinzhou—inspecting crossbows, calming the populace—Li Ce would be the one to truly need the medallion. If the Emperor demanded an explanation later, she would take the blame.
In the carriage back to the Duke of Anguo's residence, their fingers entwined in silence.
"We depart before dawn tomorrow," Li Ce whispered, placing a kiss on Ye Jiao's forehead. "Sleep well. Don't come to see me off."
"Alright," Ye Jiao agreed, "The Ministry of War wants me to audit the forging, inspection, and distribution records of all long-range crossbows from the past three years. I'll be plenty busy too."
"Will it be too exhausting?" Li Ce asked. "You've only just taken office. If it's too much, I'll help you decline the task."
His tone held a quiet yearning to lighten her burdens.
"As if!" Ye Jiao shot him down. "I've never backed down from a challenge. You didn't shy from responsibility either. Even when Brother told you not to leave the city, you still went to Jinzhou against all odds."
"Very well," Li Ce grasped her hand tightly and said, "While I'm away, if anything arises that you cannot resolve, consult your father or speak with Liu Yan. If all else fails, present the medallion and seek an audience with the Emperor."
By "father," he meant the Duke of Anguo—Ye Jiao's own father—whom Li Ce believed possessed a hidden influence.
Ye Jiao lowered her head and murmured assent.
"And one more thing," Li Ce added, "Avoid meeting the Crown Prince unless absolutely necessary."
"Why?" Ye Jiao asked.
"Just trust me," Li Ce said, offering no explanation. He lifted the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, and extended his arm to help her down.
The night was deep and still. Beyond the Duke's residence, darkness reigned.
But whether or not she met the Crown Prince was no longer up to her.
The very next day after Li Ce's departure, an imperial decree arrived—commanding the Assistant Director of the Ministry of War's Treasury Bureau, along with supervising officials, to bring all records and ledgers of crossbow production into the palace for verification.
As Assistant Director, Ye Jiao had no choice but to comply unless she faked illness.
She led her team herself, hauling the heavy tomes by ox cart to the palace. Behind her, subordinates grumbled under their breath:
"There's never been such a precedent! Does the court distrust the Ministry of War this much?"
Ye Jiao thought to herself: It's not distrust—it's nitpicking. They're deliberately stirring trouble.
Though she had prepared herself mentally, she was still taken aback when the eunuch led them to the designated hall.
It was one of the side halls of the Grand Council of State.
After Li Zhang was named Crown Prince...