Three Steps: From Assassin to Empress - Chapter 68
Chapter 68: A Lesson in Names
The chapter begins with Ying Xiu awkwardly trying to say the Emperor’s name, Yin Huan, after being chastised for calling him “Xie Zhou.” The Emperor, with his fingers on Ying Xiu’s face, corrects him with a seemingly calm demeanor that only increases Ying Xiu’s anxiety. Ying Xiu, in an attempt to get a reaction, tries to say the name Xiang Qing, a reference to the Emperor’s original name from the first chapter. The Emperor is visibly affected, and he finally lets go of Ying Xiu.
Ying Xiu, embarrassed, sees a line of saliva on the Emperor’s fingers, which the Emperor nonchalantly wipes away with a handkerchief. He then tells Ying Xiu to kiss him, pointing to his lips. Ying Xiu, feeling a mix of defiance and resignation, bumps his head into the Emperor’s lips instead of kissing them. The Emperor, amused, takes control and gives him a passionate kiss.
Afterward, the Emperor asks him if he remembers his name. Ying Xiu, still flustered, tries to say it correctly but pronounces it Ji Zhu Le, a name from a song. The Emperor laughs and then asks about Ying Xiu’s outing, specifically mentioning the rumor that Ying Xiu eagerly got off his carriage to see a beautiful person. Ying Xiu nervously explains that he was only looking to see if anyone was more beautiful than the Emperor. The Emperor, sensing his lie, calmly warns him that if he looks at another beautiful person, he will “take his eyes.” Ying Xiu, though scared, tries to reassure the Emperor that he was the one who was at fault for pushing him away in the past, leading to the Emperor’s fear of abandonment. The Emperor reassures him that it is no longer an issue.
Justice and a New Kind of Power
Ying Xiu then remembers the important case they were working on and, forgetting his fear, reminds the Emperor to eat. The Emperor, having finished meeting with the foreign ambassadors, calmly tells him they can talk after dinner.
After their meal, the guards take Ying Xiu to the imperial prison to meet the Qiang prince. Ying Xiu questions the prince in the Qiang language about his mother, Ming Xiluan. The prince, arrogant and disdainful of the “weak” Southerners, refuses to talk and threatens war if he is harmed. A guard offers to torture the prince for Ying Xiu, but Ying Xiu opts to handle it himself. He lightly threatens the prince with his sword, and the prince, now frightened, reveals everything he knows about Ming Xiluan, describing her as a fragile and beautiful woman who was mistreated in the Qiang court despite the king’s affection for her. The prince then insults her, calling her a “plaything,” which makes Ying Xiu angry.
Ying Xiu holds his sword to the prince’s neck, scaring him into silence. The guards tell Ying Xiu that the Emperor has given him the authority to kill the prince if he wishes, but Ying Xiu refuses, stating that it’s not the right time. As he leaves, the prince asks why Ying Xiu won’t speak in the Qiang language. Ying Xiu simply replies, “This is the Southern Dynasty,” and leaves.
Meanwhile, the imprisoned Wang Daokui, who framed the Yu family, is waiting for the Qiang prince’s disappearance to cause a diversion that will help him. He reflects on how much has changed since he was in power and how the current Emperor is a true autocrat who does not share power. The chapter ends with Wang Daokui realizing that his plans are failing and that he is truly at the mercy of the new Emperor.
The chapter then shifts to the Emperor meeting with the new Qiang ambassadors, and later, Ying Xiu is seen reading the official documents of the Yu family case. He notices that Wang Daokui has been charged with many more crimes than he committed, and he is saddened by the loss of life. When the Emperor returns, Ying Xiu points out the inconsistencies in the documents. The Emperor calmly tells him that these are minor details that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Ying Xiu, however, insists that every life is important. The Emperor, instead of getting angry, tells him that with his new position, he has the power to investigate and seek justice himself. He states, “The Emperor has imperial power, and so does the Empress.”