CUI BUQU HAD NO INTEREST in fame. He preferred to remain behind the scenes, strategizing in the shadows. Being the chief of the Zuoyue Bureau came with its own unique privileges, yet before his trip to Liugong City, even Feng Xiao had never met him.
During their journey to the Western Khaganate, however, they'd destroyed a potential treaty between Ishbara and Apa Khagan, sending Yuxiu fleeing with grave injuries and pushing the Western Khaganate to ally with the Sui dynasty. Even if Cui Buqu had no interest in making a name for himself, his reputation inevitably spread among the Göktürks.
Kuhezhen, the prince Ishbara Khagan had sent to Daxing City to pledge allegiance to the Sui dynasty, had long admired Cui Buqu, and now he'd finally come face to face with him. Kuhezhen raised a brow as surprise flickered across his face. He'd heard Cui Buqu's health was poor, but he hadn't expected it to be quite this bad. Cui Buqu's complexion was as pale as the white jade Kuhezhen had offered to the emperor of Sui.
"The first month is cold," Kuhezhen said with genuine concern. "Even if you're busy with official duties, you must take care of yourself."
This was also Cui Buqu's first time meeting the seventh prince of the Göktürks. The prince wore traditional Han garb, his hair gathered in a neat topknot. His dress was no different from anyone on the street in Daxing, and he spoke Chinese with the official accent of the north. If anything, his accent was too precise, to the point that it sounded slightly artificial. His eyes shimmered a soft blue in the sunlight, boundlessly gentle yet hinting at inscrutable depths within.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," said Cui Buqu. "I've recently been occupied with business outside the capital and only returned a few days ago, or I would have come to pay my respects sooner. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
Kuhezhen's gaze shifted from Cui Buqu's face, sweeping over the large contingent of Imperial Guards behind him. He laughed. "So, Chief Cui, you came here with this many soldiers to apologize?"
His expression was gentle—there was something there besides the ruggedness of a typical Göktürk man. Perhaps he had a little Han heritage. When he smiled, it evoked the delicate willow fronds of Jiangnan as they swayed gracefully in the spring breeze.
Cui Buqu wasn't moved in the slightest. He'd journeyed through many lands and encountered many Göktürk men and women. Among them were several children of mixed Han and Göktürk heritage, their mothers stolen Han women who'd borne their captors' children in the Khaganate. These children faced frequent discrimination due to their lineage among the Göktürks. To earn the favor and trust of their peers, they pushed themselves harder than their full-blooded counterparts and were often far more unscrupulous in their quest to climb the ranks.
Yuxiu was one such child. As for Kuhezhen…
Cui Buqu cupped his hands in greeting, but the gesture was hollow and perfunctory. "The Buddhist ceremony is tomorrow. His Majesty will personally visit Daxingshan Temple to offer prayers. It's come to my attention that certain individuals with ulterior motives may seek to exploit the occasion. To ensure Your Highness's personal safety and that of the friendship between Sui and the Khaganate, I fear I must resort to these crude methods. I hope Your Highness understands."
He raised a hand, and Guan Shanhai whistled. The guards swiftly split themselves into two groups that encircled the seventh prince's residence.
The many Göktürk attendants and guards who'd accompanied Kuhezhen to the capital rushed forward with expressions of outrage. They rained condemnation down on Cui Buqu in their native tongue, crying that he was threatening Kuhezhen and trying to incite a war. Cui Buqu remained expressionless throughout, as if he couldn't understand a word of the Turkic language.
In contrast to his subordinates, Kuhezhen remained calm. "Chief Cui," he reasoned patiently, "although I have come to Great Sui to serve His Majesty, my people and I are not sheep to be slaughtered. Look how many soldiers you've summoned to my residence. What kind of turmoil would it stir up between our nations if I send a letter back to the Khaganate?"
"Your Highness, these guards are only here to protect you from the harm of nefarious individuals," Cui Buqu replied. "They will depart after tomorrow's ceremony, and Your Highness will once again have your liberty. Your Highness's safety is our highest priority, even if it means you must endure this injustice for a day or two. Surely Your Highness can see how hard this is on His Majesty and the court."
He paused and gave Kuhezhen a probing look. "Unless Your Highness has somewhere to be—some plans that require you to leave?"
"You misunderstand, Chief Cui." Kuhezhen's expression was innocent. "I'm merely concerned that after the Buddhist ceremony, you'll find yourself in an awkward position. How will you explain this to His Majesty? What will you tell the Khaganate?"
"Please don't worry too much for my sake, Your Highness."
"I've heard many stories about you, Chief Cui, and I hold you in high esteem," said Kuhezhen earnestly. "I'd hate to see you backed into a corner."
He took a few careful steps forward. Guan Shanhai's hand flew to the hilt of his sword, but before he could step up and block the prince's path, Cui Buqu raised a hand to stop him.
Kuhezhen leaned in, enunciating his next words carefully. "You've stirred up quite a commotion. Have you thought how you'll resolve it?"
"Does Your Highness truly believe Xiao Lü to be a reliable and trustworthy ally, one who will never betray you?" countered Cui Buqu.
Kuhezhen smiled slightly and shook his head. He took a few steps back, then abruptly changed the subject. "The weather is rather nice today—clear skies."
Before Cui Buqu could ponder the deeper meaning of this remark, a clamor erupted around them. The once-disciplined Imperial Guards became agitated, falling out of formation as they whispered among themselves. Even the horses grew restless, shifting anxiously. Their riders grasped for the reins and patted their necks but failed to soothe their distress.
"Lord Chief…" Guan Shanhai cried out. "Look at the sky!"
It was the first time Cui Buqu had heard the voice of the steady Guan Shanhai tremble with fear. What could be in the sky? As formidable as Xiao Lü and Kuhezhen might have been, they couldn't control the heavens.
But Cui Buqu, too, had realized his surroundings were slowly growing dimmer. Dawn had broken hours ago; the morning sun should have been bright. But now the shadows around them lengthened, as if it were nearing dusk.
"An eclipse! The celestial dogs are eating the sun!"
"Quick, hide!"
"What should we do?!"
Everyone's faces were slack with panic. The Imperial Guards were no exception, and even the Göktürks around Kuhezhen looked up at the sky with expressions of terror and confusion. Some had already begun to seek places to hide. Guan Shanhai struggled to compose himself and ordered the guards to quiet down.
Only Kuhezhen and Cui Buqu maintained their composure. Slowly, Cui Buqu raised his head.
The daylight was no longer blinding. The sun was shrouded by darkness, as if truly devoured by a celestial dog. He didn't need to look around to know that the entire capital must be in an uproar both within and without.
As stated in the ancient texts—
The sun symbolizes the essence of life; it embodies grace, benevolence, and the sovereign himself. When eclipsed, it foretells a calamity for the emperor: His nation will collapse within three years. When a ruler is fickle and volatile, when he recklessly executes innocents and disregards the will of the heavens, the lands, and the divine, he summons the devouring eclipse.4
Throughout history, both in the highest echelons of court and the lowest rural villages, eclipses had always been considered bad omens. The more complete the eclipse, the more dire the state of the nation. The reactions of those around him reflected this.
But something was wrong.
The Grand Historian was responsible for astronomical calculations. Eclipses could unsettle a nation, but they were highly predictable. So why hadn't he warned the emperor of this one? Or—had the emperor known but not communicated it to Cui Buqu? Cui Buqu quickly dismissed the thought. If the emperor had known, he would have made sure to alert him.
He gazed at Kuhezhen, whose eyes curved in a smile, his fathomless blue irises as gentle as water. The look he turned upon Cui Buqu was indescribably lovely, as if the chief of the Zuoyue Bureau was someone he'd pledged his heart to and couldn't bear to disappoint. He hadn't said a word, but Cui Buqu was certain he had anticipated this.
Cui Buqu suddenly turned to the guards. "Only a nation without virtue will see the sun and moon lose their light!" he cried in a ringing voice.
Everyone's eyes went to him.
"The Southern dynasty has long been marked by ineptitude. The emperors of Chen indulge in hedonism and surround themselves with corrupt ministers and wicked consorts! In contrast, our Great Sui is revitalized and renewed, with a wise ruler and capable ministers, like the sun rising in the east! One light, one dark. This is a revelation from the heavens: Our Great Sui will flourish while Southern Chen will fade into obscurity. Wherever our imperial troops march, they shall surely prevail, crushing all before them!"
As Cui Buqu reached the latter half of his speech, Guan Shanhai discreetly pressed a hand to his back, infusing him with internal energy and ensuring his voice could carry further.
His declaration was instantly effective. As they listened, many shook off their confusion. Indeed, the Sui dynasty is only three years old, they couldn't help but think. Our emperor has reformed the laws, lightened punishments, and amassed men of great talent. These are signs of a new dynasty's vigor and glory! Surely the solar eclipse cannot bode ill for us. If it wasn't referring to them, then it must, as Cui Buqu said, refer to the south. Or perhaps it was an indictment of the rapacious ambitions of the Göktürks right in front of them!
There was no need for Cui Buqu to go on. As the Imperial Guards gradually calmed, they turned to Kuhezhen and the Göktürks and nailed them with hostile glares.
Compared to the throng of guards before them, Kuhezhen's forces now appeared small and vulnerable. They circled protectively around Kuhezhen, wary of an attack.
Surprise flickered across Kuhezhen's face—not at how the tables had turned, but rather because he knew how terrified the people of the Central Plains were of eclipses. Their fear ran as deep as the Göktürks' when their god's wrath swept over the steppes of the Khaganate. Yet Cui Buqu not only remained unaffected, he had managed to immediately stabilize the situation, transforming the guards' fear into animosity toward the Göktürks.
After a moment of astonishment, Kuhezhen burst into laughter. "Chief Cui truly lives up to his reputation! I've been told you're one of the most formidable men in all of Great Sui, and now I've seen it for myself."
Cui Buqu had no interest in engaging any further with Kuhezhen. He ordered Guan Shanhai to tighten the circle around the seventh prince's residence, then turned his horse back toward Daxing Palace.
He was on his way to the palace gates when two pieces of news found him, on the lips of two different people.
The first was Qin Miaoyu, who had been ordered to keep an eye on Zheng Yi and ensure he didn't share Liu Fang and Li Mu's fate. But what she'd considered an easy task had gone utterly wrong. Zheng Yi was dead.
The second was Ming Yue. He'd gone to the palace to pay his respects, but after the eclipse, he'd learned another piece of crucial news and rushed out to share it with Cui Buqu. The Grand Historian, Hong Yuan, was also dead.