Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 1 Power
The second year of the Kangping era of the Liang Dynasty.

The snowflakes, like willow catkins, covered the glazed tiles of the palace, but made the red walls even more vibrant.

A carriage sped to the palace gate, attracting the attention of the surrounding people who stopped to watch.

Xie Yuyan lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. She looked up at the majestic palace gate, which gave her a feeling of being in another world.

The Qi army marched south, capturing both the capital and secondary capital of Daliang. The Qi people installed Wang Huai as a puppet emperor, and Daliang nearly perished. Only after the Qi army left and through several twists and turns did the capital finally return to Daliang's control.

"The Demon Queen".

The piercing sound brought Xie Yuyan back to his senses. A woman rushed over with a dagger in her hand. The imperial guards protecting the Empress Dowager immediately stepped forward and slashed the woman to the ground.

Before the war, there would never have been a killing at the palace gate, and the people would have been terrified. But in the past four months, countless people have died in the war. People have become accustomed to life and death, which has attracted more people to stop and watch from a distance.

"Mother!" A little girl of seven or eight years old ran out from the crowd. The little girl cried and rushed towards the woman. Halfway there, she suddenly changed direction, squeezed between two guards, and stabbed the wooden stick with broken porcelain tied to it fiercely at Empress Dowager Xie.

Warm blood splattered and landed on Xie Yuyan's hand.

Blood gushed from the young woman's neck, quickly staining her delicate face red. Yet, there was no fear in her eyes, only intense hatred. Upon seeing this, the woman screamed and tried desperately to crawl to her daughter's side, but was pinned to the ground by a sword from a nearby imperial guard.

In the blink of an eye, two lives were lost.

Xie Yuyan wiped the blood splattered on the back of her hand with a handkerchief, didn't even glance at the mother and daughter on the ground, and continued walking towards the palace gate.

"As soon as the Qi people left, the sage of Daliang ordered his soldiers to plunder the people's property and killed several hundred of our clansmen. The soldiers were even more ruthless to the people of Daliang than the Qi people and the bandits. If we don't kill this wicked woman... we will have no way to survive."

"Fight……"

No sooner had he finished speaking than more than thirty people appeared. Like the mother and daughter, they had learned of Empress Dowager Xie's whereabouts and intended to assassinate her here.

These people swarmed forward.

Just as the Imperial Guards were struggling to defend themselves, an arrow flew in and struck the leader of the rioters.

A troop of cavalry charged in, the leader of whom was dressed in armor and had a handsome face; he was none other than Huai, the former self-proclaimed emperor.

After the fall of the capital, Xie, who had been stripped of her title as Empress Dowager and became a Taoist nun, secretly had an affair with the false emperor, Huai. Under her influence, Huai agreed to return power to Daliang, and Xie used this merit to restore her position as Empress Dowager.

During her time in the capital, Empress Dowager Xie committed countless atrocities, allowing her soldiers to plunder and kill anyone who disobeyed. The already turbulent people were plunged into an even more miserable state, with corpses lying everywhere on the roads.

The people were filled with resentment. So many members of the royal family and concubines had been arrested, so why was Empress Dowager Xie the only one left out?
"Empress Dowager...you will be punished..."

In a short time, the rioters were all killed, and Wang Huai dismounted and personally escorted Xie Yuyan into the palace.

The Cixi Palace had been prepared long ago. As soon as Empress Dowager Xie entered, palace servants came forward to help her with her attire.

The dark blue wide sleeves were embroidered with colorful pheasant patterns, and the red silk woven with dragons and clouds seemed ready to take flight at any moment. Cui Shangyi carefully smoothed the clothes with her fingertips, making sure there wasn't a single wrinkle, and then went to adjust the leather belt wrapped in blue silk around Empress Dowager Xie's waist.

Empress Dowager Xie's attire was incredibly luxurious, as if she had returned to the heyday of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Wang Huai lifted the curtain and walked in, his gaze landing squarely on Xie Yuyan. Though originally an official outside the capital, he now had free access to the Empress Dowager's palace, and no one would stop him.

Xie Yuyan's slender eyes were slightly upturned, and her face, accentuated by her attire, was bright and beautiful.

Wang Huai's heart skipped a beat. Empress Dowager Xie was already in her twilight years, but in his eyes she was still no different from when she was young.

The Xie family and the Wang family were on good terms. He and Xie Yuyan were childhood sweethearts who grew up together. He had secretly resolved that after he came of age, he would ask his parents to arrange for him to marry Xie Yuyan.

Unfortunately, the late emperor suddenly selected Xie Yuyan to enter the palace, and from then on he could only carefully hide his affection.

He thought this would be a lifelong regret, but unexpectedly, the people of Qi helped him to the throne and made Xie Yuyan his empress.

This approach was utterly absurd, but it did have one advantage: it fulfilled his long-cherished wish.

A palace maid brought over pastries, and Xie Yuyan poured tea for Wang Huai.

“The Qi people have mobilized their troops again,” Xie Yuyan said. “Erlang once served the Qi people and has troops under his command. Now that he is moving around in the capital, the soldiers guarding the city may become disloyal and unwilling to fight to the death.”

"I need to borrow Erlang's head."

Wang Huai had once surrendered to the Qi people, which is why he was later supported as a false emperor.

With Wang Huai here, the other generals couldn't help but feel a sense of侥幸 (a sense of侥幸, or a feeling of getting away with something).

Wang Huai pondered for a moment, then drank the tea in his cup in one gulp. He looked at Xie Yuyan and said, "I've said it before, as long as you're happy, I'm willing to do anything you ask."

"In that case, thank you very much, Erlang."

Xie Yuyan picked up the pastries and offered them to Wang Huai, but Wang Huai grabbed her hand.

Wang Huai's gaze was intense, and Xie Yuyan, under his intense gaze, recalled many memories of the two of them.

When Wang Huai handed over all his troops to the court after returning power to Daliang, he knew this day would come. However, he still hoped that when Xie Yuyan told him the result, there would be hesitation and struggle in his eyes.

But no... That's just her, as decisive and ruthless as ever.

“My uncle once said that you are smarter than me, but unfortunately I have never improved and can’t help you much.”

Wang Huai was referring to Wang Yan, the prime minister who was said to have been guided by an immortal. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, he led the Great Liang Dynasty to its golden age. Unfortunately, after his death, his new policies could not be implemented in the Great Liang Dynasty; otherwise, the Great Liang Dynasty would not be where it is today.

Wang Yan also became obsessed with cultivating Taoism after encountering a fairy, and never married in his entire life.

Xie Yuyan had seen Wang Yan twice. Once, Wang Yan was sleeping peacefully in the pavilion. A butterfly she was trying to catch landed on his clothes. She hid to the side and watched intently. She felt that Wang Yan's appearance was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember which of her elders in the family he resembled.

The second time, still in that pavilion, Wang Yan shared the pastries with her and Wang Huai.

“Ayan,” Wang Huai said, “our uncle said long ago that the Great Liang would be in great chaos within fifty years. If it had really happened, it would have been good if he were still alive. Perhaps he would have a way to deal with it.”

Wang Huai raised his hand to smooth Xie Yuyan's hair, and in full view of everyone, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Xie Yuyan did not struggle and reached out to hug his waist.

After a long pause, he finally released her and said, "Ayan, I hope your days will be peaceful and prosperous. My thousands of men are at your disposal."

Wang Huai picked up a piece of pastry and put it in his pocket: "You made this yourself, let me keep it as a memento!" After saying that, he stood up and walked out of the hall.

A moment later, a member of the Imperial Guard entered carrying a severed head: "Vice Minister Wang has committed suicide."

Xie Yuyan turned her head and saw that Wang Huai's eyes were closed, but a smile seemed to still linger on his face.

“Ayan, I will go back and talk to my father. Maybe we can find a way to prevent you from entering the palace.”

The boy's face was so sincere; it was then that she realized what the gaze of someone who likes another looks like.

She disliked Wang Huai, but only allowed him into her bedchamber to achieve her goal.

For her, it was simply an exchange of benefits.

Consort Cui, standing nearby, couldn't help but say, "Empress Dowager... if you are sad..."

Xie Yuyan said, "Actually, Erlang doesn't know that I have already taken control of his several thousand men. If he refuses to die, someone will take action."

“Even before I entered the palace, my grandmother said that others who wanted to survive in the palace had to spend their whole lives learning how to scheme and plot, but you only needed to do one thing: don’t let anyone know what you’re thinking.”

If people are born with good and evil in their nature, she is the latter.

She once pretended to be virtuous and kind, and relied on this reputation to be made empress by the late emperor. Unfortunately, she could not compete with the late emperor's favorite concubine and was deposed.

Later, she returned to the palace and regained her position as empress. Those who didn't know the situation might have thought that she had learned some tricks in the fierce palace intrigues, but they didn't know that she was just revealing a little bit of her true nature.

He was deposed a second time because of the struggle for the crown prince position.

The late emperor tried every means to pave the way for his beloved son, but his son had only been on the throne for two years when the capital was captured.

She witnessed the emperor and his favorite wives and princesses being abducted, and when Wang Huai appeared beside the Qi people, she knew her opportunity had arrived.

She encouraged Wang Huai to become a puppet emperor so that the capital could be returned to Liang after the Qi people left.

In such chaotic times, anything is permissible, but the most important thing is to take control of one's own life.

Xie Yuyan closed the box containing Wang Huai's head again.

"Send the head to Grand Commandant Xie."

With the false emperor's head and sufficient military supplies, they no longer had to worry about their rear when fighting the Qi army.

...When the capital was besieged again, Xie Yuyan had just woken up and was having Cui Shangyi style her hair in her favorite way.

Only half of her long hair was pinned up, the rest hanging down at her waist like a raven.

It exudes a sense of unrestrained ease and freedom.

It made people momentarily forget the tense war outside.

The imperial army of 100,000 suffered a crushing defeat upon encountering the Qi people. The newly enthroned emperor of Liang lost all confidence in the battle and fled south under the protection of his officials and generals.

"Grand Commandant Xie also led his men to surrender to the Qi people."

At eighty-four years old, Grand Commandant Xie was no longer fit for battle, but his status and reputation remained a pillar of the Great Liang.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Commandant has not only surrendered, but will also help the Qi army march south."

After saying this, the informant paused and said, "The Grand Commandant said..."

"You are not a member of the Xie family, and we have raised you all these years. You should repay us. When he and the Qi people come to the city gates, you should order the city gates to be opened and help him make his first contribution to the Qi state. In the future, the Xie family will be granted a kingship and a fiefdom, which will naturally be the Empress Dowager's support."

"Your Majesty, as the Empress Dowager, you will have a bright future if you go to the State of Qi."

"Just based on... just based on the fact that Your Majesty was stripped of the title of Empress Dowager twice and regained it twice, it's clear that... you have the means to go to Qi and give birth to a child. Who knows, one day you might become the Empress Dowager of Qi again."

Xie Yuyan suddenly laughed, her face exuding natural charm. Even at her age, her grandfather still wanted to use her face.

Is this an attempt to persuade me to remarry?

The atmosphere in the room froze.

Xie Yuyan said calmly, "Remarriage is not out of the question, as long as he can be like Wang Huai and let me take control of the capital."

Xie Yuyan clenched her hands. Her father had passed away before she was born, and her mother, who was in poor health, also passed away after giving birth to her. After that, she grew up with her grandparents, who always treated her very well. When she was made empress, the Xie family also became famous, and her grandfather was promoted to the position of Grand Commandant.

She knew that the Xie family was more of a transaction for her than a business deal, but... how could she not be a descendant of the Xie family? Her mother was her father's lawfully wedded wife; how could she possibly be carrying another man's child?

She didn't have time to find out the truth.

……

Shouts began to rise outside the palace.

After the city fell, the Qi soldiers and civilians shouted for the capture of Empress Dowager Xie.

By dragging the empress dowager, who had brought disaster to the country, out of the palace, not only could he vent his resentment and anger, but he could also hand her over to the Qi people to receive a reward.

Xie Yuyan stood in Cixi Palace, watching her junior brother busy in the courtyard. When she was stripped of her position as Empress Dowager, she went to a Taoist temple to cultivate Taoism, and this simple-minded junior brother followed her around.

Even now, the junior brother still believes in some kind of heaven-defying formation. He led her to the center of the formation, set it up, and then solemnly activated it.

As a result... it was naturally of no use.

The Imperial Guards had long been unable to hold out, the palace gates were smashed open, and soon those people would be able to find Cixi Palace.

The palace servants and eunuchs all picked up sharp weapons.

The white-haired veteran Yang Qin walked up to her.

This veteran's true talent lay in his studies, but unfortunately, being born into a merchant family, he was ineligible for the imperial examinations. He finally managed to join the army and earn military merits, but due to his alienation from his clan, his official rank was repeatedly suppressed, and he was eventually banished to patrol the Taoist temple.

He wasted all his talent.

Yang Qin asked, "Is the Sage going to wait here, or will he fight his way out?"

Fight your way out, not break through the encirclement.

There's no way to escape now, but it's better than waiting here.

Xie Yuyan and Yang Qin rode together on one horse.

General Yang led the way, while Xie Yuyan seized the opportunity to draw his bow and shoot an arrow.

Upon seeing the Xie family members in the distance, Xie Yuyan did not hesitate for a moment and decisively shot out an arrow, instantly killing one of his cousins.

"Empress Dowager Xie is here."

The Qi people did not expect that Empress Dowager Xie would actually draw her bow and shoot arrows. Caught off guard, they suffered some losses for a moment, but they quickly recovered and more people surrounded her.

One after another, sharp spears thrust towards them without hesitation.

"Kill the Demon Queen."

The spear pierced Xie Yuyan's heart, and he felt the pain.

General Yang, who was blocking her way, had already been pierced by five or six spears.

Xie Yuyan took a deep breath.

The sound of cheers filled her ears, all for the chance to kill her.

Empress Dowager Xie, ruthless, cunning, and extremely scheming, is finally going to die.

Xie Yuyan looked at the jubilant crowd and the people who rushed in, wishing they could devour her whole.

From the moment she entered the palace, her life was like that of a caged bird.

Fortunately, she was never tamed by her family or imperial power.

In her final days, she stood above imperial power, determined to reach the very end even in dire straits.

If there is a next life, I hope to be born in a prosperous era, free and unrestrained, and never have to get involved in such a situation again.

As for marriage...

Having been married twice, Empress Dowager Xie really didn't want to go through that again.

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly and said, "That's fine then!"

Xie Yuyan heard his junior brother's shout from behind, but he couldn't hear what he said. He was about to close his eyes when he suddenly saw a flash of light, and then everything went dark.

……

After an unknown amount of time, Xie Yuyan had a dream in a daze. All the past events gathered and dispersed in her mind like mist, and she floated in and out of them until she gradually regained her senses.

She heard a rustling sound and felt her tightly tied collar being untied. A hand touched her neck, caressed it for a moment, and then, as if that wasn't enough, the hand continued to move downwards.

Xie Yuyan frowned. Could it be that she hadn't died and had fallen into the hands of the Qi people?
Startled and angry, she suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting the one beside her.

Contrary to her expectations, the person in front of her was not a Qi man, but a boy.

He was about seven or eight years old, with a youthful face and features that resembled Yang Qin.

Could they be descendants of General Yang?

The two of them stared at each other silently, as if neither of them had recovered from the situation at hand.

"you……"

After a while, Xie Yuyan spoke, and the boy's expression became even more horrified. When Xie Yuyan reached out his hand, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Is she that scary?

Xie Yuyan looked up at her with a puzzled expression. She was wearing a bright red wedding dress and was sitting in a coffin.

Before I could think too much, shouts came from outside.

"Qin-ge'er, Qin-ge'er, are you inside?"

Qin... Brother?
Xie Yuyan looked at the boy again, and a name subconsciously surfaced in her mind:
Yang... Yang Qin?
My new book is finally here! It's two months later than expected. During that time, I made some adjustments to the female lead's personality, and this version is more in line with my expectations of her.

I hope the new story will bring you joy.

My new book needs your support during its initial release. Please add it to your favorites, read it along, and leave comments. Thank you!
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(End of this chapter)