Volume One: Turmoil in Eastern Commandery

Prologue: The Empress Passes Away

On the fifth day of the first month in the twenty-ninth year of Zhenye, heavy snow blanketed the capital. The city of Yongjing was filled with tension and unease. The Empress of the Great Ning Dynasty had been gravely ill for three months and was now at her final moments.

Night deepened, and the snow in the sky fell even harder. The biting cold flakes were whipped by the fierce wind into long, thin lines, swirling everywhere.

A horseman galloped through the storm, racing through the wind and snow. The sound of hooves shattered the silence of the night. The rider wore a bamboo hat and a black robe, his eyes beneath the hat filled with excitement and anxiety. He rushed to the front of a mansion, dismounted in a flurry, and scrambled up the steps.

‘Bang! Bang!’ The sound of knocking echoed.

“Who is it!”

The gatekeeper, clearly impatient, opened a small window in the side door and glanced at the visitor. He couldn’t help but yawn, “It’s so late, what’s the matter?”

“Urgent report for Duke Sullivan, tell him there’s an emergency from the palace…” The visitor’s voice was sharp and piercing, especially jarring in the dead of night.

“Ah!” The gatekeeper was startled, hurriedly opened the door, and the man in black slipped inside. He asked the gatekeeper in a low voice, “Is Duke Sullivan asleep?”

“He just went to bed, but he gave orders that if anything comes from the palace, he is to be woken immediately.”

“This is indeed a major matter from the palace!”

“So it’s true… Come with me, quickly.”

……

The room was lit. The tall, fat, and puffy-eyed Duke Sullivan sat down in the grand master’s chair. Although he had only just gone to sleep, his anticipation had driven away all drowsiness. He was waiting for that thrilling moment to arrive.

Duke Sullivan, nearly forty years old, held the post of Minister of Revenue. He was the elder brother of Lady Sullivan, one of the most powerful imperial in-laws at court. These days, he had been waiting for news of Queen Young. If Queen Young passed away, his sister would become the new Empress, the mother of the nation.

The steward led the man in black hurriedly into the room. The man had already removed his bamboo hat. In the bright light, it was clear he had no beard and a receded Adam’s apple—obviously a eunuch. He was also extremely excited at this moment. Taking two steps forward, he knelt down, “Lord Imperial Uncle, Queen Young passed away half an hour ago!”

Though he had expected it, Duke Sullivan still let out a long sigh of relief, slumping heavily into the chair, his eyes shining with immense joy. Queen Young was dead—was the era of the Sullivan family finally about to begin?

Suddenly, he remembered something, his brows furrowing deeply. “Mr. Walker, did Her Majesty leave any instructions?”

The eunuch nodded. “Yes! Her Majesty left two matters for Duke Spencer to accomplish without fail.”

“Speak, what are they?”

“The first is that His Highness King Clark must open his own residence as soon as possible. Her Majesty said this is very important—only by establishing his own household will King Clark have a chance to replace the Crown Prince.”

King Clark was the son of Lady Sullivan, who had just turned twelve last month and still lived with his mother. According to the Great Ning Dynasty’s rites, a prince could only establish his own residence at fourteen, but Lady Sullivan could wait no longer.

The matter of King Clark establishing his own residence was somewhat difficult, but Duke Sullivan still nodded in agreement.

“I will ask the Office of the Imperial Clan to see it done. What is the second matter?”

“The second is the appointment of the new Prefect of Donghai Commandery. Her Majesty said this concerns our financial resources, and asks Duke Spencer to secure the position of Prefect of Donghai.”

Duke Sullivan did not respond. Securing the Prefect of Donghai post was not so easy. Donghai Commandery was the financial hub of the Great Ning Dynasty. The current prefect was about to be transferred to Yuzhang Commandery, leaving the position vacant. Several factions were fiercely competing for it. The most favored candidate was Helen Foster, the Senior Advisor of the Eastern Palace, recommended by the Crown Prince. The candidate Duke Sullivan recommended, Jack Grant, a Gentleman of the Ministry of Rites, was somewhat lacking in seniority.

There were also candidates recommended by Prime Minister Bolton, as well as secret maneuvering by King Reed and King Bennett. To secure this crucial post, his own efforts might not be enough—he would need Lady Spencer to whisper in the Emperor’s ear.

“I will do my best with the second matter, but I must also ask Her Highness to help me by the Emperor’s pillow.”

Chapter One: The Young Man of Donghai

At dawn, the weather was clear, with a few wisps of white cloud drifting across the sky. The sea was as blue and clear as the sky, shimmering with silvery light like brocade. In the distance, on the calm, sleeping surface of the sea, a large ship sailed with the wind.

This was a three-thousand-stone sea vessel, over twenty zhang long, a common six-masted passenger ship for coastal waters. The ship was extremely large, with three decks. The second and third decks had been reserved by guests. Atop the ship flew a purple triangular official flag—the passengers were the new Prefect of Donghai Commandery, heading to take up his post.

The strong sea wind made the flag snap loudly. At this moment, at the bow of the third deck, stood a middle-aged man with his hands behind his back. He wore a gauze cap and a plain white robe, with three long whiskers floating on his chest, exuding a scholarly air. He was the new Prefect of Donghai Commandery, Helen Foster. As he neared his new post, he felt a growing unease at returning so close to home.