Chapter Sixty-Six: First Glimpse of the Celestial Countenance

"Commander Chang Geng and a soldier got into a fight!" As soon as the soldier spoke, a pang of anxiety clenched in Kaiming’s heart—it was just as she had feared.

"Which team is the soldier from?" Da Yin’s gaze turned icy, flashing across her face.

The soldier hesitated before replying, "He’s the guest you brought, General."

"Knowing that he is my guest and still daring to fight!" Da Yin roared. "Tell Chang Geng to come see me immediately!"

The soldier hastily obeyed and hurried away.

"General!" Kaiming interjected anxiously, "This matter is not Commander Chang Geng’s fault!"

"What happened?" Da Yin turned to her, seeking an explanation. "Do you know why Chang Geng and Xuan fought?"

She faltered, unable to answer; either way, she would offend Da Yin. Chang Geng was her subordinate, Xuan her former aide—and once, her admirer—both were Da Yin’s people. If she said they fought over another woman, who knows what Da Yin would think? But if she said no, it would be a lie—they were indeed fighting over her. She was caught in a dilemma, her face showing her distress.

Da Yin gave a cold snort and looked away.

Before long, the soldier who’d been sent scurried back, his voice carrying before he even arrived: "General! Commander Chang Geng refuses to comply. He says he will present himself to you and accept punishment after entering the Central Palace!"

"Chang Geng is too much!" Da Yin gritted her teeth. "What about the guest I brought? If Chang Geng won’t come, is he refusing too?"

The soldier glanced at Da Yin’s expression. "The guest… he’s already left, saying he will fulfill whatever task you gave him, but as for anything else, he cannot comply."

Da Yin fell silent at this. The soldier, uncertain of her thoughts, did not dare rise.

At length, she sighed and waved him away. The soldier wiped his cold sweat and withdrew quickly.

Kaiming listened in silence, twisting the hem of her robe anxiously. Da Yin no longer looked at her but turned and entered the carriage. Kaiming exhaled, gazing at the scattered firelights in the dark. Xuan had left? He said he’d fulfill his promise—what promise had he made to Da Yin? Then she thought of Chang Geng—would he be alright?

Her mind was in turmoil; she wanted to check on them but shrank from Da Yin’s authority. She stood and sat again, uncertain and restless. It was a long time before she heard the clatter of bowls and chopsticks. Dawn’s light began to glimmer on the horizon when the soldier returned to report, "General, we may depart."

From within the carriage came a lazy response. Kaiming wondered whether she should ride with Da Yin, but before she could decide, Da Yin’s voice drifted through the curtain, "Kaiming, come in."

She could only lift the curtain and sit properly across from Da Yin.

"Rest a while, there’s no need to be so tense." Da Yin, massaging her temples and closing her eyes, said, "We still need our strength for the Central Palace. The real challenges are yet to come."

Kaiming murmured assent and leaned back, dozing off. She was so tired—her body felt utterly spent, though her mind was taut as a drawn bowstring. Whenever she closed her eyes, nightmarish images flashed before her. When would this ordeal end?

The carriage rocked gently, but before long, it stopped again. Kaiming, nervous as a startled hare, woke and peeked outside, wondering what was happening now.

The thick curtain was suddenly lifted, and dazzling light forced her to squint and shrink back into the dark carriage.

"It’s morning," Da Yin said, stretching as if waking from a long dream. "It seems we’ve arrived." Kaiming cautiously peered out, allowing her eyes to adjust. The scene outside gradually came into focus—the way it had when Hao once led her, blindfolded, into the imperial city: first blurred outlines, then sharp, vivid color.

The streets in daylight were as splendid as ever; only the mood of the people seemed changed.

Someone called outside, and Da Yin responded. Kaiming quickly swept aside the curtain. They stepped from the carriage, one after the other, and only then did Kaiming see the towering palace before them, its glazed tile roof reflecting rainbows of light.

She was bewildered—where were they?

Da Yin glanced at her, then beckoned a soldier near. Without warning, she pulled off the scarf around his neck and tied it deftly around Kaiming’s own.

Kaiming stared in surprise as Da Yin knotted the drab scarf. "Those bruises will take at least two days to fade," Da Yin murmured. "You cannot meet the Emperor in such a state; it’s unseemly."

Kaiming lowered her gaze, unable to describe what she felt.

Da Yin glanced disapprovingly at the bruise at the corner of her mouth but said nothing more, turning toward the splendid palace. "Follow me. Speak only when spoken to. Understand?"

Ascending the steps guarded by soldiers, Kaiming pressed a hand to her brow and glanced at the gloomy sky. Even if the sun was out, the light would be weak. The weather seemed to weigh on her heart, making her feel heavy and oppressed.

They passed gate after gate, entering endless corridors. Kaiming dared not raise her head, instead fixing her gaze on Da Yin’s heels. Was this the Central Palace, residence of the Emperor of Tianjue? The sheer number of soldiers and towering walls were enough to cow anyone.

Lost in anxious thoughts, she noticed Da Yin stop abruptly. "Are we there?" She looked up and saw steps lined with groups of solemn, well-dressed people. Surely these were the civil and military officials of the court; this was where the Emperor presided over state affairs.

Thinking of their recent defeat, Kaiming shivered and quickly curbed her curiosity. If Da Yin were punished, she would be implicated—self-preservation was paramount now.

They mounted the steps and entered a vast, empty hall—the throne room. Seated on the dais was none other than the current Emperor.

Kaiming remembered Da Yin once saying the Emperor of Tianjue was famed for his beauty, the most handsome man in the Central Palace. Her curiosity got the better of her, and as she crossed the threshold, she stared unabashedly at the man on the dais.

He was indeed striking—fine brows, bright eyes, his noble robes making him seem even more distinguished. But was he truly the fairest of them all? She thought, if Qingyun and Xuan were dressed thus, they would be just as impressive. Even Sikong would not be outshone.

She concluded it was all exaggerated rumor.

"Kaiming!" Da Yin’s voice broke through her thoughts. She instinctively replied, only to see Da Yin already kneeling.

"Kaiming! Kneel! What are you staring at?" Da Yin’s face was taut with suppressed anger.

Kaiming snapped to attention. Everyone in the hall was watching her—some curious, some disdainful. The Emperor’s gaze, too, was fixed on her.

Her legs buckled, and she knelt. Mortified, she realized her lapse—she blamed Da Yin for distracting her with talk of handsome men.

"Your Majesty," Da Yin hastened to explain, bowing low, "my subordinate is inexperienced. She was momentarily dazed by your presence—please forgive her ignorance."

The Emperor smiled faintly. "Ignorance is no crime. Is this the courageous and resourceful soldier you often praise, General Da Yin?"

"It is, Your Majesty," Da Yin replied.

The Emperor regarded Kaiming with interest. She listened as they conversed, unsure what part she was meant to play, but found herself drawn into the exchange. She looked between Da Yin and the Emperor, meeting his inquisitive gaze without flinching.

His interest only grew, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "This soldier is indeed bold."

Kaiming quickly lowered her head, uncertain whether he was praising or mocking her.

"Soldier Kaiming, in a moment of crisis, you sacrificed yourself to protect your commander and the greater good. You deserve recognition. Your deeds should be celebrated throughout the army to inspire others."

His voice was clear and resonant, each word ringing like pearls falling on jade. At his side, a minister hastily recorded his pronouncement.

"Reward: one thousand gold taels, fifty bolts of brocade, and promotion to commander, to take effect immediately. Further military duties will be assigned at a later date."

As the echo of his words faded, Kaiming was left stunned, as if struck by a cannonball. What was happening? The defeat at Nangong wasn’t even mentioned—she was being rewarded first?

"Thank His Majesty!" Da Yin tugged at her sleeve and shot her a look.

In a daze, Kaiming prostrated herself, echoing the lines she’d heard in dramas: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your boundless grace."

"Rise," the Emperor said, his inscrutable smile making her uneasy. Was there some hidden purpose? His will must be aligned with Da Yin’s—what benefit did this promotion bring them?

"Your Majesty!" Suddenly, an official in purple robes stepped forward and bowed.

Kaiming thought, Here we go—someone is bound to object.

She sized him up: the purple robe, the white-streaked hair, the sharp and dignified features—clearly not someone to be trifled with, likely a veteran of many reigns.

"Official Dai, do you object to my rewarding this soldier?" the Emperor asked, his smile radiant but tinged with chill.

"I would not dare question Your Majesty’s wise decision," the official replied promptly.

The Emperor’s voice was soft but probing. "If you do not oppose my decree, what is your concern?"

"Your Majesty, it is not about the soldier. I wish to remind you: the defeat at Yilin claimed countless lives. What punishment awaits General Da Yin?"

At last, Kaiming understood—this Official Dai was concerned for Da Yin’s fate, not hers. Wait—Dai? Could he be from the Dai family, Dai Huang of the Purple Palace? Was he Dai Yuheng’s father?!

(To be continued...)