Even Shu Hong’s usually composed face couldn’t hide her anger and hatred as she said: “How cruel.” In her childhood, when traveling with her family, her parents were killed by mountain bandits. After escaping, she was captured by human traffickers who intended to sell her to a brothel but fortunately encountered Madam Wang.

Madam Wang, being kindhearted, bought Shu Hong to be Han Yan’s maid. Thus, Shu Hong’s deep respect for Madam Wang and loyalty to Han Yan were not without reason. Having lost her parents to bandits, she particularly despised the massacre of entire families.

“In the end, it’s all my fault,” Han Yan’s gaze was filled with sorrow. “If I had been more careful, all these lives… I’m indebted to them.”

“Young Miss, don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault,” Ji Lan comforted her. “Those people were too cruel, killing dozens of innocent lives for nothing.”

Han Yan lowered her head: “Their sacrifice wasn’t entirely in vain. At least now I can be certain… those people must be from the imperial family.”

Only members of the imperial family could act so swiftly and on such a scale. The wounds were clean, and many were killed with a single stroke – it resembled the work of imperial guards. Who else could so easily command imperial guards, just to kill someone as insignificant as A Bi, and massacre an entire village without hesitation? The method was ruthless, leaving no loose ends. Han Yan felt a strange sensation – this seemed oddly similar to the extermination of the Eastern Marquis Wang’s family many years ago.

Could it be that the destruction of the Eastern Marquis’s manor also stemmed from just one person in the household?

Han Yan shook her head; these were merely her speculations. The lead from A Bi was now dead. But who else would know what happened on the day of her birth?

The Emperor? Not necessarily.

Thinking of this, she pulled out the handkerchief from her sleeve and examined it carefully.

The handkerchief was embroidered with a scorpion, strangely adorned with a flower on its tail, and beside it was a character: Qiao.

Qiao?

Her mother’s maiden name didn’t contain the character “Qiao.” This handkerchief was made by a woman – women’s handkerchiefs usually featured either poems or drawings, with their names written in the bottom right corner.

This woman wasn’t her mother, and certainly not the impoverished A Bi, so who could it be?

Han Yan stroked the handkerchief, feeling a peculiar sensation rise in her heart. The handkerchief was exceptionally fine, unlike ordinary items, but…

At this thought, she said to Ji Lan: “Let’s go to Ru Yi Tower.”

On Zhuang Yu Shan’s first day entering Wei Prince Manor as a concubine, she felt deeply wronged. Being a secondary wife, she couldn’t enter through the main gate or make a grand entrance, only being carried in a soft sedan through the back door. She was furious, thinking that if not for her birth status, she would surely have been the proper primary wife. Though now only a concubine, she thought if she could capture Wei Ru Feng’s heart and gain his favor, things would work out well.

Thinking this, she found some comfort. What did it matter if the main wife of the Zhuang family had status? Without favor, hadn’t she still perished under her mother’s schemes? Only that daughter of hers was troublesome to deal with. But now she was destined to be Xuan Qing Prince Manor’s primary wife. Zhuang Yu Shan twisted the handkerchief in her hands – how could someone inferior to her in both beauty and talent have such good fortune?

With these thoughts, she entered Wei Prince Manor.

At this moment, Wei Ru Feng was drinking with the Seventh Prince in the manor. The Seventh Prince glanced at him coldly: “Now that your beautiful concubine has arrived, why are you drinking here instead of accompanying her!”

Wei Ru Feng, surrounded by empty wine bottles and already quite drunk, responded to the Seventh Prince’s words with a cold smile: “She’s nothing but a lowly concubine.”

The Seventh Prince toyed with a wine bottle and said: “You must still be thinking of that Fourth Miss Zhuang, or rather,” he smiled, “she should now be called Xuan Qing Princess.”

“Hmph.” Wei Ru Feng refilled his cup and drained it in one gulp.

The Seventh Prince leaned closer: “Can you accept that the woman you love will soon become another man’s wife?”

Wei Ru Feng’s expression darkened: “But I have no way to prevent it!”

“This Prince can lend you a hand,” the Seventh Prince raised his head, seeing Wei Ru Feng’s eyes brighten as he eagerly asked, “Does Your Highness have a plan?”

“In a few days, it will be Imperial Mother’s birthday,” the Seventh Prince said. “If you truly can’t let go of Fourth Miss Zhuang, why not create an irreversible situation with her? Once done, no one can change it.”

Wei Ru Feng startled, sobering considerably: “That’s impossible. Let alone how to accomplish this in the palace, she’s now Xuan Qing’s Princess. If I were to sully her, His Majesty would never forgive me.”

The Seventh Prince leisurely examined his wine cup: “This Prince will testify for you, proving that she seduced you. How about that?” Seeing Wei Ru Feng’s incredulous expression, he continued: “You need only claim you were drunk and place all the blame on her. Then Xuan Qing Prince will have an unchaste princess, becoming the laughingstock of the world. As for Fourth Miss Zhuang, forget punishment – once she’s been intimate with you, who would want such an infamous woman? You can take her as your wife and do as you please, and better yet, you’ll gain a reputation for being magnanimous.”

Wei Ru Feng’s expression began to waver, particularly tempted by the idea of making Fu Yun Xi a laughingstock. In his mind, Fu Yun Xi had stolen what should have been his. Now he could both get what he wanted and strike at Fu Yun Xi – such opportunities were rare.

But after some thought, he said: “Your Highness, if Han Yan were to face this situation, being unchaste and impure, when His Majesty’s punishment comes down, if it leads to her death…”

“What if she’s flogged to death on the spot?” The Seventh Prince narrowed his eyes. “Even if she dies, isn’t that better than marrying Xuan Qing Prince? Would you prefer to see her become Xuan Qing Princess, where you’d have to bow to her when you meet?”

Thinking of Han Yan’s possible death, Wei Ru Feng hesitated, still harboring feelings for her. Yet he couldn’t bear to watch her marry Fu Yun Xi. As the Seventh Prince said – if you can’t have it, destroy it. But…

The Seventh Prince watched him calmly, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his gaze: “A man must be ruthless to achieve greatness. To accomplish great things, one cannot be swayed by sentiment.”

Wei Ru Feng gritted his teeth: “I’m grateful for Your Highness’s help.”

The Seventh Prince patted his shoulder: “We share a common enemy, so we’re in the same boat. This Prince helps you resolve a matter of the heart, and you can repay the favor in the future.” He smiled and added: “Though your concubine waits in the back courtroom now, a man should keep his horizons broad. Give her a try – she is quite a beauty after all.”

Wei Ru Feng, already quite drunk, felt his desires stir at the Seventh Prince’s words. He laughed: “Then I’ll go see her. Hehe, Your Highness, please enjoy your drink.”

The Seventh Prince waved him off, waiting until Wei Ru Feng’s swaying figure disappeared outside before beckoning to someone who looked like a servant.