Chapter 276: Night At The Royal Palace, Han People Enter Gaochang
The palace walls of Hami City gleamed with a cold, hard gray light in the twilight, the clashing sounds of Wuwei Army armor replacing the usual silk and bamboo elegance of the court, becoming the new background noise of this palace.
Inside and outside the Imperial Palace, the gilded beast-head door rings that once symbolized the power of the Kingdom of Qocho were now guarded by the Wuwei Army under Li Xiao.
They were all clad in bright yellow cotton armor with red trim, tasseled helmets on their heads, hands on their hilts, gazes sharp as eagles, surveilling every inch of the corners.
The original palace Imperial Guards had long been driven entirely out of the city; though those Uyghur Imperial Guards were confidants hand-picked by Alkus, Li Xiao never entrusted his life to anyone.
Even if the other party was his nominal father-in-law.
Deep in the palace, incense and wine fumes intertwined and permeated the air.
Li Xiao reclined lazily on the high seat of the King of Gaochang chair, his dark brocade robe embroidered with subtle golden dragon patterns, his fingertips toying with a golden square seal.
His gaze idly swept down the steps, landing on the group of women twirling in dance.
These women wore gossamer-thin crimson dance garments, fine golden bells tied at their waists; as they spun lightly, their skirts bloomed like layered lotus flowers, adding a touch of extravagance to the hall.
King of Gaochang Qibidu and Prime Minister Alkus sat behind tables on the left and right respectively.
Alkus’s face was flushed with red, his graying beard neatly trimmed.
He stroked his beard, his eye wrinkles piled with smiles, nodding slightly toward Li Xiao, his voice loud yet deliberately mild.
“This is a dance specially rehearsed for the triumphant return of my Northern Frontier Army, named《Qinghong》.”
“The dancers are the finest entertainer women in the kingdom, who began rehearsing from the time the army set out, hoping the General would appreciate it at this moment.”
As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously flicked to Qibidu beside him, his eyes carrying a subtle pressure.
Qibidu sat in the left position, clad in his royal robe yet unable to hide the unease between his brows.
Hearing Alkus’s words, he stiffly tugged at the corner of his mouth, his voice dry: “Yes, the Great Protector has greatly defeated the Xia Kingdom army this time, reclaiming the Hexi Corridor, ridding our Kingdom of Qocho of eastern border threats.”
“Your merits are great; you deserve this cup.”
His fingers tightened slightly on the wine cup, knuckles whitening, the grape wine in the cup rippling with his faint trembling.
Looking at Li Xiao’s demeanor of controlling the overall situation, and glancing at Alkus’s fawning face, he felt his throat tighten.
These two—one an overtaking and occupying strong soldier, the other a powerful official controlling state affairs—both treated him, the king, as mere decoration.
He was king in name, but in reality just a prisoner confined within his crown.
Candlelight flickered in his eyes, reflecting a malice unnoticed by others, his rebellious heart growing ever stronger in this moment.
Li Xiao sat high on the throne, taking in both their expressions, a faint arc hooking at his lips as he spoke indifferently: “The Prime Minister and the King are thoughtful.”
“However, compared to song and dance, this General is more concerned with the movements of the Royal Court.”
“I hear that during this General’s expedition, the Prime Minister caught more than one Royal Court spy.”
“Is there such a matter?”
Li Xiao’s voice was not loud, yet it carried the strength to pierce through the music.
Alkus’s smile stiffened for an instant, then piled up again: “Indeed, this humble one was just planning to report to the Great Protector; I didn’t expect the Great Protector to already know—truly, nothing escapes the Great Protector’s eyes.”
“Rest assured, Great Protector; they were just a few Royal Court scouts come to the city to sabotage, already ordered by this humble one to be publicly torn apart by five camels.”
And as he said this, his gaze turned to Qibidu opposite, then subtly glanced at a minister beside Qibidu.
A cold smile lifted at the corner of his mouth.
Clearly, Qibidu was not being honest.
Those Royal Court scouts had come to contact him, planning to incite Qibidu to kill Alkus and realign with the Royal Court.
“Oh? That’s good.” Li Xiao nodded faintly.
He then looked toward Qibidu: “What does Your Majesty think?”
Qibidu snapped back to attention, meeting Li Xiao’s gaze, feeling that look like a knife tempered with ice, chilling his spine.
He hurriedly stood and said: “Well killed.”
“The Royal Court bandits have oppressed our Kingdom of Qocho for too long; thanks to the Great Protector’s intervention, Gaochang has escaped the Royal Court’s control.”
“They still refuse to mend their ways? Kill one for each that comes.”
“Our Gaochang royal family is loyal to the Northern Frontier; this king has long admired the Great Protector and is willing to go through fire and water for him without hesitation.”
Listening to Qibidu’s mouthful of formal speech, Li Xiao laughed heartily.
Harsh environments temper the will.
Back when Gaochang City fell, this kid was still a hot-headed youth, all his emotions plain on his face.
Now he had made some progress.
Flattery for Li Xiao came readily.
At least it pleased Li Xiao’s ears: “Hahaha.”
“Good, King Qibidu’s loyalty is commendable; reward wine.”
Taking the Western Wind Fierce handed by his guard, Qibidu respectfully gave thanks: “Thanks to the Great Protector for the reward.”
With that, he drained the cup, the spicy liquid burning his throat, yet unable to suppress the surging anger in his eyes.
He hated Alkus’s overbearing control, hated Li Xiao’s overtaking and occupying, and hated his own cowardice and incompetence even more.
Clearly the master of the Kingdom of Qocho, yet under their oppression he could only endure humiliation, not daring to utter a single retort.
The song and dance in the hall continued, silver bells, silk and bamboo sounds, and urgings to drink weaving together into a web of hypocrisy and extravagance.
Qibidu lowered his head, hiding the chill in his eyes, his nails quietly digging into his palm.
In his heart, he repeated over and over: “One day, I will make all of them pay the price.”
Agi Beke, in Chinese, means Minister of Justice.
Because the Gaochang Uyghur Kingdom inherited Turkic institutions, the Prime Minister is called ‘Yuyue’, and the ministers handling specific affairs are called ‘Beke’.
Agi Beke is the minister in charge of judiciary, named Kudina Yan.
Before Gaochang City was breached by the Northern Frontier Army, he served as Agi Beke in Gaochang City.
After Gaochang City fell, he happened to be at a manor outside the city with his family, escaping the disaster.
Then, with a heart full of zeal, he came to Hami City to aid the new king.
But he never imagined that the once seemingly honest and loyal Alkus harbored wolfish ambitions, becoming a lackey of the Northern Frontier People, self-titling ‘Yuyue’, imprisoning the King, and refusing to return power.
Thus, this group of old ministers including Agi Beke gathered together, forming a faction to oppose Alkus.
He even married his daughter to Qibidu, making her the Imperial Consort.
As for the Empress, of course it had to be Alkus’s daughter.
After the banquet ended, Qibidu and Kudina Yan shared a horse carriage back to the Minister’s Mansion.
Because the Imperial Palace had been seized by Li Xiao, Qibidu could only bring his consorts and come to the Minister’s Mansion to stay temporarily.
The wheels crunched over the hard ground, the atmosphere in the carriage heavier than the night outside.
Qibidu suddenly smashed a fist against the carriage wall, his chest heaving violently, anger churning in his eyes.
“Collude in Evil! Utterly collude in evil!”
He growled lowly, his voice hoarse with rage: “That old fool Alkus has utterly disgraced Gaochang.”
“Fawning before the Northern Barbarians like a Pekingese Dog.”
“And that Li the Thief, who killed my father the king and slaughtered how many of my Gaochang men?”
“Now he’s even occupied the Imperial Palace—does he really think this Qibidu is made of mud?”
“I must kill them, must thousand-cut those two scoundrels.”
Kudina Yan sat opposite, his ink-black brocade robe accentuating his calm demeanor; he was one of the few confidants Qibidu could trust.
At this moment, looking at the furious king, he slowly raised a hand to press Qibidu’s trembling shoulder: “Your Majesty, calm your anger; outside the carriage are Northern Barbarian patrols—walls have ears.”
Qibidu violently shook off his hand, veins throbbing at his temple: “Calm? How can I calm!”
He pointed at his royal robe, his voice laced with a sob: “Look at this royal robe—on me, it’s no different from on a puppet!”
“Alkus controls the Imperial Court, Li the Thief occupies the palace chambers; the civil and military officials are either the old thief’s lackeys or opportunistic villains.”
“I, the king, don’t even have the right to choose my own residence, forced to eke out an existence in your Minister’s Mansion!”
Suddenly, the sound of hooves came from outside the carriage window; Qibidu instantly fell silent, his eye’s anger replaced by fear.
Only after the Northern Frontier Cavalry patrol passed did he slump against the brocade cushion, gasping heavily.
The composure he had feigned in the palace earlier had collapsed, leaving only years of suppressed humiliation and resentment.
Kudina Yan pulled a handkerchief from his bosom and handed it over, his voice low and firm: “Your Majesty, this minister knows your grievances.”
“But don’t forget, the entire Kingdom of Qocho rests on you alone; you are the last remaining bloodline of the royal clan.”
“The Han People have a saying: Endure for a moment’s calm, and when your wings are full, the clouds will part to reveal the sun.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Qibidu’s clenched fist, continuing: “The Northern Barbarians and Alkus are merely using each other.”
“The Northern Barbarians need Gaochang’s provisions to sustain their army; Alkus needs to borrow the Northern Barbarians’ might to check opposing forces in the Imperial Court. Once this paper-thin window is pierced, they will surely turn on each other.”
Qibidu’s eyes snapped up, a flicker of hope flashing, then quickly dimming: “Turn on each other? Impossible?”
“Alkus is Li the Thief’s father-in-law…”
“Moreover, the officers inside and outside Hami City are all Alkus’s confidants—where is our opening?”
“Opportunities are waited out.”
Kudina Yan leaned closer, voice even lower: “This time the Northern Barbarians’ eastern expedition forcibly conscripted five thousand soldiers and servants from our Gaochang; this minister has already set dark lines to watch news from outside the city.”
“The Northern Barbarians are greed incarnate; no matter how much they loot, they likely won’t share much with our Gaochang soldiers.”
“Plus, this time the Northern Barbarians migrated numerous common people from the Hexi Corridor to our Gaochang for garrison farming; in time, friction with our Gaochang people is inevitable, and then…”
He trailed off, but the gleam in his eyes said it all.
Hearing this, Qibidu’s face finally showed a trace of excitement, anger and fear gradually replaced by cold resolve.
Yes, he had endured for several years already; he didn’t mind waiting a bit longer.
Soon, the carriage stopped outside the Minister’s Mansion, which had become Qibidu’s temporary royal palace.
He had only brought the Queen, Imperial Consort, and other consorts along with a few palace maids to stay here temporarily; as for the rest of the palace maids in the Royal Palace, let those Northern Barbarian beasts have their way.
Qibidu couldn’t manage it anyway.
After parting with Kudina Yan in the front courtyard, Qibidu stepped into his back courtyard residence; the Imperial Guards on both sides of the corridor treated him like air.
Qibidu’s gaze swept over those expressionless faces, his heart full of disgust, for these Imperial Guards were all Alkus’s men.
They were less protectors than jailers surveilling him.
But he was powerless to resist, and could only casually walk to a courtyard.
This was Aisha’s residence, Kudina Yan’s daughter, a gentle woman ennobled by Qibidu as Imperial Consort.
“Aisha~”
Entering the courtyard, Qibidu called his beloved consort’s name, his tone laced with deliberate doting, his steps even lightening.
Kudina Yan’s earlier words “sole royal scion” pricked his heart like a needle.
The Gaochang royal clan had once been flourishing, but now only he remained alone; if Aisha couldn’t bear him an heir, how could he face his ancestors after a century?
As for the Queen?
That was the old thief Alkus’s youngest daughter, whom Qibidu utterly loathed—how could he want her to bear his child?
Thus, Qibidu planned to spend the night with his beloved consort making babies, exploring human anatomy, pursuing the truths of yin and yang.
However, the moment he pushed open the door, he froze.
The warm and gentle girl who should have been waiting at the door to greet him was gone, even the serving maidservant missing.
“Where is everyone?”
Qibidu’s voice abruptly changed tone, all prior warmth vanished.
He spun and rushed outside, asking: “Where is the Imperial Consort? Where has Aisha gone?”
Outside the courtyard, a guard merely glanced indifferently at him and said gravely: “The Imperial Consort Niangniang has gone to the Royal Palace.”
“What? Royal Palace?”
Qibidu was struck like lightning, his expression shocked.
That Royal Palace occupied by the Northern Frontier Army was now Li Xiao’s domain—what was Alkus sending Aisha there for?
He recalled Li Xiao’s half-smiling eyes at the palace banquet, Alkus’s fawning during the dance offering, a chill running up his spine.
“No, no, prepare the carriage immediately.”
“To the Royal Palace.”
Qibidu roared madly, his heart nearly exploding with rage.
But the guard didn’t indulge him, snorting: “Your Majesty, you can’t go anywhere.”
“The Prime Minister has ordered: it’s late, to guard against Royal Court scouts harming Your Majesty, please stay in your room to rest.”
“Escort His Majesty back to bed.”
With that, two guards stepped forward, clamping Qibidu’s arms to forcibly take him back to his room.
“No, no, let me go, I must go to the Royal Palace.”
“Let me go~”
“Old thief Alkus, I am irreconcilable with you…”
In a side hall of the Royal Palace inner courtyard, under candlelight, Aisha sat on a soft leather stool, fingers unconsciously twisting together, appearing slightly tense.
She was an exceedingly beautiful Uyghur beauty, almond eyes under willow-leaf brows misty with moisture, carrying innate charm.
Beneath her high nose bridge was a full cherry mouth, now lightly bitten by pearly teeth, paling slightly.
Her skin gleamed like jade, as if a pinch would draw water.
She had waited nearly an hour already.
Aisha’s heart grew more anxious.
On the way here, the palace servants had clearly said His Majesty had urgent business summoning her, to enter the palace immediately.
But she had been in the side hall a long time—why had His Majesty not appeared?
“Crash—”
The hall door was pushed open from outside; Aisha looked up sharply, joy in her heart, rising to call “Your Majesty,” but froze upon seeing the intruder.
At the door stood not Qibidu, but Li Xiao.
Right after the banquet ended, Alkus told him the long night might leave him bored.
So he offered Hami City’s most beautiful woman, already placed in the side hall.
Li Xiao patted his shoulder approvingly—the old fellow was testing his soft spot.
Li Xiao casually agreed, curious what beauty Alkus deemed worthy.
At first glance, her looks were indeed exceptional.
This gift pleased Li Xiao greatly.
“Y-y-you, who are you?”
Seeing Li Xiao’s figure, Aisha’s voice trembled as she hurriedly hid behind the curtain.
“Why are you here? Where is His Majesty?”
Li Xiao said nothing, slowly walking into the hall.
His cowhide boots thudded on the wool blanket floor, each step pounding on Aisha’s heart.
He casually tossed his outer robe to the ground, stepping toward Aisha.
“Don’t come closer~”
Aisha bluffed despite her fear, mustering courage to shout: “Insolent! Do you know who I am?”
“I am Imperial Consort Aisha.”
“Such rudeness—aren’t you afraid His Majesty will punish you?”
Imperial Consort?
Hearing the woman reveal her identity, Li Xiao was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected her to be Qibidu’s consort.
He instantly understood the old thief Alkus’s scheme—this was forcing him to play Dong Zhuo!
Tired of Qibidu not dying fast enough, pushing him to hasten his ascent to the throne?
But that old thief read people well.
Now that she was here, how could Li Xiao care about Aisha’s status as Imperial Consort?
Precisely speaking, this woman was just a tool in Alkus and Qibidu’s power struggle.
Li Xiao was happy to watch them fight.
“Qibidu? Heh!”
Li Xiao shook his head with a disdainful smile: “If he wants to punish this Protector, let him come.”
Alkus this old fox had Qibidu plotted to death; if Qibidu could rage for the beauty, Li Xiao might think higher of him.
With that, Li Xiao yanked down the curtain shielding Aisha.
The wind and sand outside suddenly strengthened, battering the carved window frames with wailing howls.
Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Alkus stood in the courtyard, gazing at the bright moonlight, a faint smile on his cheek.
“Doesn’t Qibidu like Kudina Yan’s daughter and disdain this Prime Minister’s daughter?”
“After tonight, see how you and that old thief Kudina Yan carry yourselves.”
“Pity I didn’t catch your handle last time,” Alkus shook his head.
His desire to depose the king and self-install was not so simple.
It mainly depended on Li Xiao’s attitude, and secondarily on the thoughts of the kingdom’s great nobles.
He needed a legitimate opportunity.
Sending the woman to the palace—see if Qibidu could endure that.
While Li Xiao lingered in Hami, the common people caravan merely rested briefly before continuing toward their destinations.
In the Turpan Basin, on a dusty Gobi road, a caravan of common people trudged onward with difficulty.
Over two months of arduous travel had worn away the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness from their faces, leaving only numb exhaustion.
Some shouldered tattered sacks with their last dry rations; others carried young children, their feet blistered and bloody.
Along the way, some had died of illness, exhaustion, or been slain by Northern Frontier Army while trying to resist or flee.
Mid-September in the Hexi Corridor should have been crisp autumn, but upon entering Gaochang territory, a scorching wave hit like an invisible net enveloping all.
The sun hung like a red-hot copper ball, baking the land with sizzling heat, the air thick with a scorched smell.
“It’s already September—why is it still so hot?” San Wa Zi wiped sweat from his face, panting.
A woman holding a child nearby chimed in: “Yeah, snow in two months, yet here it’s still like summer?”
Everyone echoed complaints filled with despair; this swelter was worse than Hexi Corridor summers.
Only because this was the famed Turpan Basin, the hottest place in all Huaxia, home to the mythical Flame Mountain.
But precisely due to abundant accumulated temperature, it had become the Western Regions’ most vital granary.
After another half-day’s march, as the sun neared setting, leader Wang Da Niu suddenly reined in his war horse, squinting at the foot of the distant mountain, heaving a heavy sigh of relief.
He thought to himself: “This stretch looks unclaimed.”
“No more walking; camp here.”
Wang Da Niu was a Northern Frontier retired officer, now Centurion of this common people caravan.
Their migration was straightforward: follow the main force, and at suitable spots for settlement and reclamation, leave a portion.
The rest continued, but overall, distances between groups weren’t too far.
Wang Da Niu had just split from several other Centurions.
Turning a short distance, he found a feng shui treasure land.
This place was originally a Gaochang Uyghur village, but war had depopulated it, leaving land fallow for a year.
The Northern Frontier previously lacked manpower for planting; now Wang Da Niu’s group had come to take over.
Raising his horsewhip and pointing ahead, he shouted to the crowd: “Buck up! See that land ahead?”
The common people looked where his whip pointed: endless wilderness stretching to the distant mountain foot.
Weeds taller than men swayed wildly in the hot wind.
But looking closely, traces of field ridges were visible amid the weeds—clearly once grain fields, now overgrown from neglect.
Many common people’s eyes lit up; they saw that weeding, plowing, and irrigating would yield full crops next year.
Sure enough, next instant Wang Da Niu waved his whip, a rare smile on his face, shouting loudly: “From now on, this is our turf.”
“Clean it up, grow grain, pay rent and tax on time, and this land belongs to our Hundred Households Office.”
“And this place yields more grain than Gansu, two crops a year.”
“What?”
The crowd erupted in commotion, numb faces alive with surprise, doubt, excitement mingling.
“Two crops? Really!” a man asked incredulously, voice trembling.
In this era, grain yields were low, usually under two hundred jin per year, only one season.
Two seasons—they dared not dream.
Even after full rent and tax, enough left to fill their granaries.
Wang Da Niu thumped his chest: “Would I lie? Obey, and good days await!”
No sooner said, a man dropped to his knees with a thud, clutching red-brown mud: “Land… we finally have land…”
His kneel ignited long-pent emotions in all.
Some wailed, venting two months’ hardship; some embraced, smiles returning.
Children, though uncomprehending, caught the fervor and cheered along.
Wang Da Niu watched, a gratified smile on his face.
Gaochang was prime land—wasteful letting those barbarians hold it.
Henceforth, he’d stay here with these common people, fetch his wife over, and settle into retirement.
Meanwhile, nearly a hundred thousand common people took root on Gaochang Kingdom’s land.
Their arrival would revive this Western Regions granary’s prosperity, but also spark irreconcilable conflicts with local Uyghur People.
