Feng Jiu’er ran her fingers over the box, its surface so worn the original pattern could barely be made out, and a quiet ache stirred in her heart.

The moment she had arrived, her wet nurse had died.

The memories of her wet nurse that surfaced in her mind all belonged to the true Feng Jiu’er.

Yet even as she recalled them now, she felt them as her own.

Feng Jiu’er knelt there for quite some time before finally gathering the box in her arms and rising to her feet. She turned and walked away from the cold, desolate room.

In the Imperial Hall of御霄殿 — the Hall of Soaring Heavens — Zhan Yuheng was in the midst of reviewing memorials.

An elderly eunuch stepped inside and knelt in the center of the hall: “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“What is it?” Qing Yun, who stood not far from Zhan Yuheng’s side, asked in a low voice.

The elderly eunuch raised his eyes toward Qing Yun and stood up.

“Your Majesty, this was just delivered by the prison guards — they say it was discovered in Noble Consort Qing’s cell.”

Zhan Yuheng waved a dismissive hand and made no move to attend to it.

Qing Yun clasped his hands and went to take from the elderly eunuch an arrow — along with a folded letter.

When he spread open the rolled note, his thick brows furrowed instantly.

Qing Yun turned at once, looking toward Zhan Yuheng, and bowed slightly.

“Your Majesty — it is… Little Golden Chrysanthemum.”

Just as Qing Yun had expected, the moment Little Golden Chrysanthemum was mentioned, the Emperor was transformed entirely.

“Bring it here.” Zhan Yuheng’s gaze fell upon what Qing Yun held, and he spoke in a low, steady voice.

Qing Yun stepped forward immediately, presenting both the arrow and the note before Zhan Yuheng.

He could clearly perceive that even the hands with which the Emperor received them — his very palms — were trembling faintly.

Feng Jiu’er was not only beautiful enough to bring kingdoms to ruin, but possessed extraordinary ability — yet it was a pity that the Emperor had let her slip away. To miss her was to lose her for a lifetime.

Qing Yun could not help but feel a quiet sorrow — yet even the Emperor himself was powerless in this matter, so what help could he possibly offer?

Zhan Yuheng accepted the short arrow and the note wrapped around a small cluster of little golden chrysanthemums with both hands, and set them with the utmost care upon the desk.

He held the little golden chrysanthemums in his grip, closed his eyes, drew a long, slow breath, and then at last gently unfolded the note.

The handwriting on the letter was unmistakably Feng Jiu’er’s.

Your Majesty, this may be the last thing I shall ever ask of you.

Whatever wrongs Feng Qingyin has committed, I ask that Your Majesty, in consideration of Grandfather Feng’s past service and contributions to the court, show him leniency.

A minister of true loyalty — surely you would not wish to see him end his days in misery and desolation, would you?

With sincerity, I earnestly hope Your Majesty will weigh carefully the punishment to be rendered upon the Feng Family.

The closing of the letter bore only the two characters meaning “with gratitude,” and no name had been left behind.

Feng Jiu’er had supposed that with Zhan Yuheng’s keen intelligence, he would be able to deduce who she was.

This matter had never been part of her plans — she simply could not bear to see Grandfather Feng, his temples already white with age, living out his days in gloom and sorrow, and so she had left the note behind.

Those brief three lines — Zhan Yuheng read them over and over again, more times than he could count.

Then, suddenly, he curled the note in the palm of his hand and looked at Qing Yun.

“Tell her to come find this Emperor. Tell her to come in person. As long as she comes herself, this Emperor will grant her every request.”

Qing Yun found himself in a difficult position. He turned to look at the elderly eunuch: “Where did you say this came from?”

“Reporting to General Yun — it was sent up by the prison staff. It was found in Noble Consort Qing’s cell, but… the person herself was — was nowhere to be found.”

Before Qing Yun could even formulate a response, Zhan Yuheng had already risen to his feet and was striding toward the door.

“Your Majesty.” Qing Yun followed at once. “Your Majesty, are you going to the prison?”

Zhan Yuheng made no reply and walked out without a backward glance.

Anxious as Qing Yun was, he could only follow close behind.

The elderly eunuch, who had no idea what was happening, dared not overthink it and broke into a half-walk, half-run to catch up.

Qing Yun glanced sidelong at the elderly eunuch hurrying forward and asked in a low voice: “Is Noble Consort Qing’s execution not set for tomorrow?”

“Yes.” The elderly eunuch answered softly.

“Quickly — go and prepare the carriage.” Qing Yun gestured with his hand.

“Yes.” The elderly eunuch dipped his head and rushed ahead.

By the time the carriage arrived, Zhan Yuheng had already covered some distance on foot.

“Your Majesty, please board the carriage — it is quite a distance to the prison from here.” Qing Yun ran forward and gestured.

Only then did Zhan Yuheng halt his steps and board the carriage.

A short while later, the area outside the prison was thrown into chaos.

Had they not failed in their duties, no one would have been able to slip in — and yet someone had entered and left without a single soul noticing.

Word that the Emperor was coming in person sent the prison guards into a panic.

Before long, the elderly eunuch’s voice rang out from outside: “His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

A number of guards split into two lines, standing to either side, heads bowed.

As Zhan Yuheng stepped into the prison, everyone present dropped to their knees simultaneously.

“We pay respects to His Majesty the Emperor! Long may His Majesty reign, ten thousand years and ten thousand years more!”

Zhan Yuheng did not pause, striding forward in long, measured steps.

“Where was the note found? Lead His Majesty there at once.” Qing Yun’s low voice rang out.

“In the innermost cell.” The head guard immediately stepped forward with a deferential bow and sweep of his arm, leading the way.

“Bring oil lamps in.” His voice, taut with anxiety, carried back out.

“Yes.” Someone outside answered.

Several guards grabbed oil lamps and hurried in after them.

Ever since Feng Qingyin had been imprisoned, Zhan Yuheng had paid her no attention whatsoever and had certainly never come to see her. Among the rear palace consorts — those of the late Emperor who had not yet been killed off by Feng Qingyin — none would pass up an opportunity for revenge given the current state of affairs.

That Feng Qingyin had been confined in the darkest and coldest cell was indeed not by Zhan Yuheng’s order.

Zhan Yuheng’s sudden visit to Feng Qingyin’s cell had everyone in the prison consumed with worry.

Soon, light flooded into Feng Qingyin’s cell.

Qing Yun glanced at Zhan Yuheng, then gestured calmly: “Open the door.”

“Yes.” The head guard immediately retrieved the key and unlocked the cell door.

Feng Qingyin sat in the pile of hay — unkempt and filthy, her face and body still smeared with bloodstains, almost unrecognizable from her former appearance.

“What is the meaning of this?” Seeing that Zhan Yuheng had said nothing, Qing Yun’s voice came again.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, reporting to General Yun — we ourselves do not know how this came to pass.” The head guard bowed and answered.

“When we delivered the evening meal earlier today, she was perfectly fine. We do not know why, but deep into the night she began laughing continuously without stopping.”

“When this subordinate brought men in to check, we found her face appeared to have been injured.”

The head guard reached to his waist and produced a piece of white cloth, spreading it open before Zhan Yuheng and Qing Yun.

“This is the shard this subordinate found inside — she had likely hidden a bowl away.”

“Upon careful inspection, we found the arrow lodged in the beam by the window, and this subordinate immediately sent men to deliver it to Your Majesty.”

The moment his words fell, the head guard dropped to his knees.

With him kneeling, every other guard knelt down as well.

“Your subordinates have not left the prison for even a moment this entire day, yet somehow someone slipped in without our knowledge — this subordinate begs Your Majesty for mercy!” The head guard lowered his voice in supplication.

“We know our guilt — we beg Your Majesty for mercy!” The guards cried out in unison.

The guards’ voices roused Feng Qingyin inside. She raised her eyes, opened them wide, scrambled to her feet, and came running toward Zhan Yuheng in large strides.

“Imperial Brother, Your Majesty — you’ve come to see your subject consort! Imperial Brother, you’ve come — you’ve finally come!”