Surviving the Succession (A Transmigration Fantasy)

Character Index

Li Que: Vice Director of the Imperial Investigation Bureau, head of the newly created palace branch.

Empress An: Yunqi's Empress, a young woman from the An clan (Kuang's maternal clan).

Halime: Yunqi's Royal Consort, a young princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Qiu Jinwei: Yunqi's advisor, an eccentric but brilliant man with little care for societal norms and etiquette.

Zhou Yunqi: The Emperor of the Wu.

Vice-Commander Jiang: Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard. Friends with Kayla, helped her place Yunqi on the throne.

Ashina: Personal name Ibilga, Princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Chuluo Khagan: Khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Duan Wuxie: A Senior Investigator of the Imperial Investigation Bureau.

Emperor Xuanzong: Previous Emperor, father of Yunqi, Xianchun, and Kuang.

Li Que's words hung taut in the air, seeming to drain the oxygen out of the room. Yunqi clenched his fist in his lap, his face bloodless. The breathless silence stretched, stiffened, and finally snapped.

"I don't believe this is possible! My own Empress and Royal Consort?! This is outrageous!"

Kayla glanced at the Emperor's whitened knuckles.

He's actually afraid, Kayla realized. And angry. That was rarer, and far more dangerous.

"My liege, please do not trouble yourself. Nothing is more important than your health," Kayla said. "From my time at the Ministry of Justice and Imperial Investigation Bureau, I know all too well that we can't know anything for sure until a full investigation has been carried out. Even with how valuable a nullification talisman is, the Empress and Royal Consort can hardly be expected to personally guard every item they own for all hours of the day. Even if that item is a precious gift from the Emperor himself!"

Yunqi nodded, mollified. The tense atmosphere in the room was alleviated somewhat.

"But that doesn't mean it isn't them," Qiu Jinwei's voice cut in.

Kayla stared at him in shock. My dude? What in the actual fuck is wrong with you?

Li Que seemed just as shocked, even downright upset, a rare display from the man who always kept a professional demeanor.

"The investigation will reveal the truth," Li Que said.

"But are you even going to investigate properly? You can't just remove two major suspects right at the start!"

"You want to investigate the Empress of this nation?" It was Yunqi who cut in, his voice dangerously sharp. But Qiu Jinwei was, after all, Qiu Jinwei. He had accompanied Yunqi for far too long to be worried.

"I don't see any other option. These women live in intimate closeness to you, my liege. They must be proven innocent or removed from your access."

An uneasy silence descended over the room. Vice-Commander Jiang was desperately trying to make eye contact with Kayla, as was Li Que. Yunqi, entirely immobile, was staring at Qiu Jinwei with a stillness that suggested a displeasure greater than what words could express.

Of course we need to know if someone that high up in the palace is trying to kill the Emperor, but we can do that off the record! There's no reason to leave a paper trail that can make Yunqi lose face or destroy the political alliances these marriages ensure!

Even worse, if Halime was implicated somehow, it just cemented her demise once relations with the Khaganate went south. The best case scenario for when that happened was that Halime lived the rest of her life in comfortable isolation at a summer palace of some sort or an Imperial villa outside the capital–the worst was receiving poisoned wine or a length of white silk.

This is my hunting ground, Kayla thought darkly. Don't think you can step in and shape things how you like.

Kayla collected herself, breathing in deeply before stepping forward.

"There's no point in speculating on anyone's guilt or innocence," Kayla interjected. "I recommend that we investigate this with a completely open mind, and only follow where the evidence leads. Overthinking it will only increase tensions in the palace and send people into a panic. For now, all we know is that traces of a nullification talisman were found. It is true that only two people in the palace own a talisman that is outside the control of the Internal Administrative Department. However, even if it's within the palace, many more people have access to the talismans owned by Her Majesty and Her Highness, and that doesn't even account for the possibility of a talisman being smuggled in from outside the palace. Each possibility needs to be proven wrong for the final culprit to emerge, whoever that is."

"Indeed," Yunqi said immediately, taking the out she'd given him with lightning speed. "Li Que, I trust you to conduct this investigation with fairness. Wenyuan, though it may be impossible to completely excise your personal feelings, I nonetheless trust you to oversee this matter."

Kayla and Li Que bowed their heads.

"I grow weary," Yunqi said. "I leave this in your hands."

"Understood! Please rest, Your Majesty, we will do everything within an inch of our lives to see this through!" Kayla said. Behind her, Li Que bowed sharply.

"Then we will take our leave of you," Kayla said, bowing her head.

Yunqi nodded, managing a smile.

Kayla stepped out of the room, followed by Li Que and the Imperial Guards. With a hint of unease, she noted that Qiu Jinwei remained behind. Nodding at Vice-Commander Jiang and Sir Yang, Kayla headed towards the Empress' palace, Li Que and the Investigators outside falling into step behind her.

She had barely made it ten steps before a eunuch was rushing towards her, dismay written over her face.

"Your Excellency!" The eunuch was stopped by Li Que's hand placed firmly on his chest before he could grab Kayla's arm.

"Watch yourself!" Li Que barked. "Who gave you permission to lay hands on His Excellency?"

"I-I apologize! I wasn't thinking properly. Forgive me, Your Excellency." The eunuch collected himself. "You're urgently needed, my lord."

"Where?" Kayla asked.

"At the Royal Consort's palace, my lord."

"I understand, but I need to make haste to the Empress' palace first," Kayla said. "If the Royal Consort needs anything, the Imperial–"

"The Empress," the eunuch said breathlessly. "She's at the Royal Consort's palace."

Kayla wordlessly changed direction and began marching at full speed, stopping just short of sprinting.

She glanced at the sweating eunuch who was struggling to keep up. "How bad is it?"

"Please hurry," he said in response.

What the fuck? What the actual fuck?

Well, it was the Empress and Royal Consort, two of the most esteemed women in the country by virtue of position if nor ability. How bad could things get?

Kayla quickened her steps.

There was already a frightened mill of servants, eunuchs, and guards outside by the time Kayla arrived.

"Make way!" Li Que barked. The crowd parted to let them through.

"Don't let any of them leave until we're done," Kayla ordered.

"Yes sir!"

"His Excellency Duke Zhao has arrived!" The eunuch announced, managing to make an impressive volume despite being short of breath.

Kayla stepped into the sitting room of the Royal Consort, bowing deeply in greeting.

"This lowly subject humbly greets Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Royal Consort," Kayla said, slowly straightening to make eye contact with first one woman, then the other.

The room had fallen into one of those abrupt silences that felt especially quiet after an extended duration of shouting. Both the Empress and the Royal Consort were flushed and a little winded. Around them, aghast ladies-in-waiting and attendants glanced this way and that, unsure of how to intervene.

That was the problem of serving someone in such a revered position, Kayla supposed. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Kayla was the only one in the room who came close to being high up enough to intervene without it seeming a gross overstep.

"Duke Zhao," the Empress returned Kayla's greeting, her voice taut. "I hope you are here to arrest the culprit?"

Kayla swallowed a million different curses as they sped through her mind.

"Your Majesty, I am here to take your statement, as well as that of the Royal Consort's," Kayla said levelly. "At this point, we do not yet have a culprit."

"You have one right here!" The Empress pointed at Halime, who looked as if she wanted to bite the Empress' finger off. "She's behind this, her and her foreign servants!"

"May I ask if Your Majesty has any evidence to prove that?" Kayla asked as gently as she could.

"Her talisman is gone," the Empress snapped. "Is that not evidence enough?"

Kayla kept her face politely blank. The Empress bristled.

"Surely you would not suspect me?! I have no reason to harm my husband!"

"Neither do I! I have done nothing to deserve this treatment!" The Royal Consort protested.

"Please calm yourselves, there is no reason to place the blame at anyone's door before the truth is revealed," Kayla said. "The Emperor wishes for a full investigation to protect the safety of the palace and its occupants, including both your eminent persons. Both of you are known for your wisdom and virtue, I beg you now to obey your husband's wishes for the sake of the Imperial family."

Kayla glanced between their faces, sensing the imminent a second too late to stop it from happening.

"He would protect even a foreign agent?!" The Empress snarled, glaring at the Royal Consort.

"And what about you?! Who knows if your clan is up to something?!" The Royal Consort snapped back. "I'm only a Royal Consort, what good do I gain from harming the Emperor?! You, on the other hand, you would become Empress Dowager. You're far more suspect than I am!"

"There's no need for these accusations," Kayla interjected. "Neither of you are under suspicion at the moment, but we do need to figure out where your talismans are. This is a matter of national security!"

Kayla might as well have told them to calm down for all the good it did. Neither of them seemed to hear her words at all. Both women were trembling in rage. One had gone white in the face, the other red.

"Who knows what the Royal Consort would do for her father?!"

"How dare you! I am the Emperor's consort, my loyalty belongs to him!"

"And how do we know that?!"

"Your Majesty, surely you–", Kayla began, cut off by the Royal Consort's angry shouting.

"I have given everything to this marriage!" The Royal Consort cried, on the verge of tears. "Only the heavens know what I've been through to become a proper consort for His Majesty"

"She doesn't even like her position, and she expects us to believe her heart lies with the Emperor?!" The Empress whirled towards Kayla, pointing at the Royal Consort.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

What the fuck, was the Empress this kind of person?

Kayla had never even seen the usually elegant and poised Empress raise her voice in three years of time. It was no wonder the Empress' attendants had been rendered speechless. Poor Halime, on the other hand, was known to have a temper, but she was not good at arguments–for one, Chinese wasn't even her mother tongue. Kayla felt a flash of sympathy for her beleaguered sister-in-law, who was close to a breakdown.

More than anything though, she to put an end to this farce.

All the work I put into saving face for them–

"Your Majesty, there is nothing to prove anyone's involvement at this point," Kayla carefully replied. "We are only acting in the best interests of His Majesty's safety, which all of us surely hold dearly to our hearts."

"That's exactly why she needs to be put under house arrest and each of her servants tortured for information!" The Empress seethed. "It'll be too late after–it's already too late! Look at poor Consort Li with her life still on the line! And the Royal Consort didn't even bother to visit!"

"Nor did you, and you barred me from going!" The Royal Consort snarled.

"It would not be prudent for either of you to go until this matter is resolved," Kayla cut in. "I must also ask both of you to stay away from the Emperor for both your security and his. Please, Your Majesty, Your Highness, this matter is to be investigated discreetly! Not just for your sake, but also to protect the reputation of your husband and your respective families. Publicly arguing this matter only serves to worsen the situation!"

The Empress had gone a sickly shade of pale in anger.

"My husband surely understands that I would not have done such a thing," the Empress said in disbelief. "Her guilt is evident!"

"Nothing proves that."

Ah fuck. Kayla glanced over her shoulder in dread, hoping that she was just hallucinating. She was not. Qiu Jinwei stepped in through the door, unannounced and without bowing in greeting. And here's another one.

"Your Majesty is just as suspect right now," Qiu Jinwei said blandly.

"What did you say?" The Empress said in disbelief. "Advisor Qiu, you overstep!"

"His Majesty has given me permission to do so," Qiu Jinwei said. "I am to assist in the investigation. I apologize in advance for any offenses."

"Surely you can't–Advisor Qiu, you're an intelligent man! You know it would not make sense for me to harm the Emperor! She, on the other hand, with her father glaring down at us from the North–! Her sister could have easily gotten her the ingredients, with how often she visits!" The Empress snarled.

Kayla's blood ran cold. "Your Majesty, do you accuse my wife?"

The words came out far more icily than Kayla had intended. The shouting abruptly ceased altogether, and for a moment, the temperature in the room seemed to freeze.

"No, I merely…" Empress An quickly collected herself, but she had lost her edge. "I merely mean that the Royal Consort has far more visitors from outside the palace. It would be far easier for her to procure anything necessary!"

"The same could be said of you, Your Majesty," Qiu Jinwei said, as blase as he had been since the start of this. "As the mistress of the palace and its affairs, it would be easy for you to outright purchase the ingredients through eunuchs and maids. Going by only what's possible would implicate the greater half of this palace. Hence why we need an investigation, so that the innocent are proven innocent and the guilty sent to the execution block."

Okay, you know what, he might as well.

Kayla took half a step back to ensure they could see Qiu Jinwei unobstructed.

"You would threaten the Empress of this nation?" The Empress drew herself up in outrage.

Qiu Jinwei remained unimpressed. "Are you guilty?"

"Of course not!"

"Then I recommend Your Majesty to return to your own quarters and comply with the investigation," Qiu Jinwei said. The Empress and Royal Consort had both been stunned into speechlessness by his unapologetic rudeness.

I guess that personality of his has its uses.

"Your Majesty, please consider your reputation," Kayla said softly, seeing her chance. "After a major incident, people's memories are easily influenced by what they see or hear in the aftermath. To ensure that the investigation is not misled by confused statements, it would be best to return to your palace and preserve the site in order to prevent tampering."

The Empress swallowed, her face still deathly pale. But she took the steps Kayla offered for her to climb down, accepting the excuse to back out.

"Very well," the Empress said. "I will follow Your Excellency's advice."

"A wise decision, Your Majesty," Kayla said, offering a deep bow. "I will join you shortly after I control the scene here. The Imperial Investigators will escort you over, please leave your staff members outside to us for the time being."

A blatant offer to clean up her mess. The Empress dipped her head in a jerky motion. With a parting glare at Qiu Jinwei, the Empress swept out of her room with her attendants in tow.

Kayla straightened her back, watching as the Empress strode off.

"Take the statements of everyone outside and temporarily bind them to silence," Kayla ordered. All but Li Que peeled out of the room. Kayla turned her attention towards Halime, who had begun to cry silently. With her usual dignity and imposing aura of royalty gone, she looked every bit the part of a frightened and confused twenty-year-old.

"Advisor Qiu, perhaps this is best left to me," Kayla said quietly. "The Royal Consort will need a moment to collect herself before she can give a coherent statement."

Qiu Jinwei frowned in deliberation, then decided he didn't want to deal with a sobbing woman anyhow. He bowed his head slightly in the Royal Consort's direction before leaving.

"Wait outside, but not too far," Kayla murmured to Li Que.

He dipped his head and left as well. Kayla approached the Royal Consort.

"Sister, are you alright?"

The Royal Consort burst into sobs, slumping into the nearest chair.

"I swear I didn't have anything to do with it!" She cried. "I didn't even know what was going on until the Empress barged in!"

"I understand," Kayla said. "It must have been quite frightening. Everyone's on edge right now, that's all. You're not in any kind of trouble."

This didn't appease her.

"Brother, do you see how she treats me?!" The Royal Consort sobbed. "I've lowered myself to grit my teeth and show respect to the daughter of some backwater nobleman and this is what I get in return!"

"Please don't cry, Your Highness," Kayla said helplessly.

Or say anything like that out loud again.

"It's just the stress of the situation, that's all. Doesn't she usually treat you cordially?"

The Royal Consort's face contorted. "A smiling mask that hides killing intent, that's all! I wouldn't be surprised if she was behind this! She's the only one with anything to gain!"

Kayla grimaced. This whole thing was spiraling out of control. With Emperor Xuanzong, the harem's suspicions didn't matter because they had been completely sidelined by the Emperor's own suspicions. Yunqi's harem was different, whether in terms of the political ties that the marriages symbolized or his own relations with the consorts. Yes, he was almost ten years older than most of them, but he did care. This was not necessarily always a good thing.

I need to keep this from getting worse.

"Your Highness, please, just listen to me. I understand how upsetting this is, but take what I'm saying to heart. I'm your brother-in-law. I'm the father of your nephew. I wouldn't give you advice that would harm you," Kayla said.

The Royal Consort nodded.

"Just stay still. Do nothing. Don't make any accusations. The investigation won't take very long, and it's obvious you'll be found innocent, so just stay still until then and you'll be safe," Kayla said.

"So the Empress is behind this," the Royal Consort said in realization.

"No! That's not what I'm saying. Most likely, a servant was bribed to do this by a third party. Neither you nor the Empress have reason to do this, and certainly not the disposition for it either," Kayla said. "I'm sure the Empress could have handled this better, but frankly, if the two of you hadn't argued like that, this could have been wrapped up very quietly. It still can, but with significantly more difficulty. That's why I'm telling you to just stay still and wait it out. The more you stir up a fuss, the worse it looks."

"But you saw what that woman said," the Royal Consort said, tears welling up in her eyes again. "The bitch!"

Kayla hastily swiveled her head around the room. The attendants present stared blankly into the distance as if they didn't hear anything.

"Please never say that again, not out loud," Kayla said, mildly despairing.

The Royal Consort took that as a cue to start crying again.

I doubt they'll say anything, since most of them are from the Khaganate and the remaining fear being targeted in revenge. But even so…

"My dear sister, everything will be fine," Kayla said, half-pleading. "Have some faith in me. It will all work out."

The Royal Consort's hand shot out, closing around Kayla's wrist.

"Brother," she wept. "Brother, you have no idea how afraid I've been."

Kayla's eyes narrowed. The Royal Consort had melted into Halime. Something had changed in the princess' demeanor. She was no longer just hurt and angry, and she wasn't just saying it–she really was afraid.

About what? She's not guilty, and even if she were, I've basically promised to cover it up for her, though not in so many words. That only left one other possibility.

Some deep part of Kayla knew the answer already, but she asked all the same. Kayla carefully lowered herself to Halime's eye level, balancing on one knee.

"Why, sister? What do you have to be afraid of?" Kayla asked, her tone perfectly gentle.

She's still very young, Kayla reminded herself. If you were in her position you would also be afraid.

A foreign consort in the palace of a xenophobic Empress was not in an enviable position.

Halime's lovely eyes teemed with large droplets of tears that spilled out every time she blinked, shimmering against her skin as they rolled down her cheeks.

"Brother, I-" Halime's lips wobbled.

"You have nothing to be afraid of, not with me here," Kayla said soothingly. "Tell me."

"But I…" Halime's grip tightened on Kayla's wrist. Finally, her voice came out in a whisper. "I'm pregnant."

A child.

Kayla did not move at all, keeping cautiously still. A child, born of this union both blessed and cursed. A union that bought peace for a time, one that foreshadowed war in the future. Slowly, Kayla formed her face into a smile.

"What wonderful news, sister! Allow me to congratulate you."

"I haven't told anyone," Halime said, voice quavering.

"Have you confirmed it?" Kayla asked.

"Yes, my attendant and a healer both checked," Halime said. "But I'm afraid! The Imperial Healer was sworn to silence until I wish to reveal it, but she could renege! What should I do, brother? I'm scared!!"

"Scared of what?"

"Of-of–" Halime's face crumpled. "I don't want to die! Just look at what happened to Consort Li today, and she wasn't even pregnant! And if the Emperor–if anything happens to him–"

She was sobbing again, clinging to Kayla's arm like it was a lifeline.

"You most certainly will not die," Kayla said calmly. "Trust me on this–you will be perfectly safe. I will arrange it, though I will have to inform your husband to do so. If you truly feel you cannot afford to have this known to the palace, he will respect your wishes. I will assign you all the precautions you need and a few that you probably don't–everything will be fine, investigation or not."

"But if I tell him–"

"Believe me that you'd be better off telling him," Kayla said. "He wants a child with you, sister."

"Does he really?"

I sure fucking hope he does.

"Why of course! This is exactly what he's hoped for. Just leave it to me, I'll make sure to present this to him properly."

"Please do! Oh thank Tengri! Brother, I place both my life and that of my child's in your hands!" Halime gave Kayla a look so desperate that Kayla nearly drew back from it.

"And I will do all I can to protect you both," Kayla said.

Yunqi wouldn't try to end the pregnancy…at least not yet at this point in time, when keeping Chuluo tethered is more important than ever. And he wouldn't harm his own child once they're born.

"I will be relying on you then, in all matters," Halime said with a note of emphasis.

Kayla stilled.

The child isn't even born yet, Halime. You don't know if it's a boy or a girl. Isn't this a bit hasty?

Plus, even if it were a boy, the child of this union could never become Emperor. Nor would he become Khagan, though he would still be tossed into the fray nonetheless. She did know that, didn't she?

"I serve and protect the Imperial Family with this very life," Kayla replied. "Though it may not be much, I offer my loyalty entirely."

Halime seemed appeased at that, and slowly uncurled her fingers from around Kayla's wrist. Her grasp was indeed that of a Khaganate princess', as vivid in its strength as in its feeling. The red fingerprints would purple soon enough.

Kayla discreetly tugged her sleeve to cover it.

"Then allow me to thank you, brother, in place of my child."

"I am honored," Kayla said, bowing her head. "Once again, please accept my congratulations and assurances."

Halime inclined her head slightly, having regained her composure and grace.

"Then I will take my leave now," Kayla said. "Please take care. Advisor Qiu, though he may be blunt in his wording, is a man of integrity. He will take your statement to avoid any conflicts of interest. Please try to bear with him."

Halime nodded.

"Are you going to the Empress' palace?" Halime asked.

"Probably. I will go where the Emperor tells me to," Kayla replied. "Then, please excuse me."

She left with a maelstrom in her mind, tossing and turning the implications of Halime's pregnancy this way and that.

"Advisor Qiu, please go ahead," Kayla said. "I will leave the Royal Consort's statement to you."

Qiu Jinwei nodded curtly and headed inside. Kayla turned, making eye contact with Li Que. He had heard, as she had intended. An assurance against any attempt to smear her name afterward. It came with the unwitting effect of informing him about Halime's pregnancy as well, but Kayla supposed that was for the best. This was, after all, a delicate matter. One that he would be partly responsible for in his new position.

"Vice-Director Li, please watch over things here. I will take some Investigators over to the Empress' palace," Kayla said. "Has Duan Wuxie arrived yet?"

Li Que bowed his head. "Yes, my lord."

"Great. Then I will take him with me. I will excuse your absence to Her Majesty."

"Thank you, my lord."

He hesitated, then gave her an earnest, pleading look. "My lord, please know that I will do everything in my power to support you in this investigation and in all other matters."

So he's afraid after all. He was right to be.

"Thank you, Vice-Director. You are as reliable as always," Kayla replied.

Li Que relaxed slightly. Kayla gave him a nod before heading to the Empress' palace.

She was joined halfway by Empress An's chief eunuch.

"Your Excellency, we've finally awaited your arrival," he said.

"I apologize for the delay. Please be assured that we have been making haste to the greatest extent possible," Kayla said.

"Goodness, we certainly wouldn't dare to rush you," the eunuch said. He lowered his voice to speak in a conspiratorial tone. "But I do warn you, the Empress is unhappy."

Yeah, thanks, I noticed.

"Then we will have to do all that we can to appease her," Kayla replied, biting down on a sigh.

Cultural Notes

Length of white silk: A common tool for suicide in Ancient China. White was the color for mourning, and hanging oneself was considered a relatively "proper" way of death as it left your body intact.

给台阶下/Give [them] steps [by which] to climb down: A Chinese saying that means to give someone face, aka give someone an excuse to back down without losing face, just like allowing someone to take the stairs down from a platform rather than jump down and risk embarrassment and injury.

笑里藏刀/Hiding killing intent behind a smile: An Ancient Chinese proverb.