How did your father die?

Chen Shi lay on the pillow with her eyes closed, dazed for a moment.

“Mother, Mother.”

A small body swayed as it slipped through the bed curtains and climbed onto the bed.

The woman on the bed reached out to her with a sickly smile.

“Xue Niang, where did you go to play?” she asked gently, coughing several times after speaking this sentence.

“Mother, eat sweet cake.” The little girl held up half a pastry to the woman’s mouth.

The woman gently took a bite and smiled, praising how delicious it was.

“The Empress gave it to me, only for me to eat,” the child said in her sweet voice with some pride.

The smile faded from the woman’s face.

“Xue Niang, don’t eat their things anymore…” she said, gripping the child’s soft wrist. “They killed your father. Don’t eat their things…”

The pastry fell from the little girl’s hand to the floor.

“Mother, Mother. Don’t die…”

The child woke from her nightmare crying in anguish, and a pair of hands reached out in time to gently pat and comfort her.

“Xue Niang, don’t be afraid. Xue Niang, don’t be afraid.” A soft female voice drifted over.

The child saw the concerned face of a woman through her dazed state.

The night palace was not empty. Several floor lamps flickered, and gentle female voices came intermittently through the window lattice.

“…Now that her mother is gone, the child has been misled into saying a few unpleasant words. She’s so young, what does she understand? How is this disobedient? Why are you getting angry…”

“…How her father died – others may not be clear, but aren’t we clear?”

The little girl lying in the inner room covered her mouth with her hand, forcibly swallowing back the breath that reached her throat, and curled up into a ball holding her quilt.

Chen Shi’s hand clutched at her clothing, feeling as if she couldn’t catch her breath.

This breath had been pressing on her chest ever since that time. No matter how she tried to exhale, she couldn’t get it out.

“I understand those grand principles, but some things in this world simply have no reason,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing ignored Chen Shi’s distress and exhaled, saying calmly, “The victor is king, the defeated are bandits. The Great Zhou imperial clan should not have continued to exist.”

“Yes, we lost, lost. It’s not that we can’t accept defeat,” Chen Shi spoke up, lying without moving. “But the hatred of a father’s murder is irreconcilable – there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Nothing wrong, quite right,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing nodded, looking at Chen Shi. “What’s wrong is mistaking the enemy for a benefactor, and the benefactor for an enemy.”

She snorted with laughter at this point, feeling somewhat tired, so she put her feet up on the kang and leaned against the other side.

“Xue Niang, how did our Chen family gain its current honor and favor?” she said.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Chen Shi’s mouth. She didn’t speak, and Old Madam of Duke Deqing didn’t expect her to.

“Xue Niang, do you think it’s because your main branch did wrong things, were remnants of the previous dynasty, so His Majesty elevated the Western Chen to suppress the Eastern Chen, and our glory was gained by trampling on your father’s dignity?” Old Madam of Duke Deqing continued.

At this point, she also smiled.

“You think your father died trying to save Emperor Renzong Jing, but have you ever seen the bodies of your father and Emperor Jing?” Old Madam of Duke Deqing said, lowering her voice.

Chen Shi’s wooden expression finally wavered, and her breathing became rapid.

“Everyone says your father died trying to save Emperor Jing, but have you ever seen a rescuer and rescued person both pierced through by the same long sword?” Old Madam of Duke Deqing said slowly.

What?

Chen Shi suddenly sat up, her blank, unseeing eyes looking toward Old Madam of Duke Deqing.

“You think Emperor Taizu wanted to kill Emperor Jing, and your father died protecting Emperor Jing?” Old Madam of Duke Deqing continued. “Wrong. Your father indeed wanted to protect someone, but that definitely wasn’t Emperor Jing. He knew the dragon boat absolutely could not dock. This world was no longer the Great Zhou’s world. Rather than put Emperor Taizu in a difficult position, rather than let others do this deed, he preferred to do it himself! He was also very happy to do it! Willingly did it!”

Chen Shi gasped heavily, clutching her chest, her already bloodless face beginning to turn azure.

“Your father didn’t die for Emperor Renzong Jing, didn’t die for the Great Zhou, but for himself. He chose this path himself. No one forced him, no one harmed him. On the contrary, he harmed quite a few people,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing exhaled and said calmly. “Because of his death, some felt guilty, some harbored secret resentment, some grieved, some sneered, some were determined to repay the debt, others were determined to seek revenge. He died clean and finished with everything.”

Chen Shi shook her head.

“No, no, liar,” she said in a trembling voice.

“You see, I told you – you refuse to listen to us speak. You only believe what you want to believe,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing said with a cold laugh. “Why are you called Xue?”

Chen Shi was stunned, and Qi Yue was also taken aback.

This topic…

“Only with snow can one know the beauty of plum blossoms,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing turned to look out the window at a plum tree that grew crooked and twisted.

What does this mean?

Qi Yue looked confused, but saw Chen Shi stare blankly for a moment, then suddenly laugh.

“Ha, ha.” She laughed dryly twice, then suddenly closed her eyes and fell back heavily.

Qi Yue was frightened and rushed forward, shaking her and calling out.

“Xue Niang, Xue Niang.”

A young man’s cool voice sounded in her ear.

“This name sounds very nice. The person who gave you this name must like you very much,” he said with a smile.

The young man’s bright smile was reflected in the clear lake water.

Chen Xue kept her head down, not daring to move, whether from leg pain or shyness.

“Your maid has gone back to call for help. You can’t keep soaking in the water like this. Come, let me help you sit up here first,” the young man said.

A slender hand extended before her eyes.

Chen Xue lowered her head even further.

“You’re Chen Qing’s daughter, aren’t you?” The young man’s voice came from above. “I heard what your family’s maid said.”

Chen Xue was stunned and slightly raised her head, seeing the young man brilliant as sunlight.

“Your father is a benefactor to my family,” the young man smiled, extending his hand again and leaning forward. “Please allow me to repay this kindness, Miss.”

No…

No…

He shouldn’t repay kindness, he should seek revenge…

Your Highness…

Tears rolled down Chen Xue’s cheeks.

“Do you have anything else to say to me now?” Old Madam of Duke Deqing looked at her and asked, her gaze falling on Qi Yue for the second time.

Qi Yue felt somewhat unsettled under her gaze, and the hand reaching toward Chen Shi involuntarily dropped.

“Do you have anything else to entrust to me?” Old Madam of Duke Deqing asked again, her gaze still on Qi Yue.

Qi Yue lowered her hand and looked at her with a calm expression.

“Nothing more,” Chen Shi’s weak voice responded.

The room fell into silence.

“Xue Niang, I truly regret taking you there that day,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing murmured, her entire person no longer having the imposing manner from before, slumping on the kang as tears flowed.

Chen Shi smiled faintly.

“But…” she also murmured, “I don’t regret it…”

Carefully placing her hand on the young man’s arm, but still wet and slippery and frightened and in pain, Chen Xue still fell sideways. Before she could fall into the water again, the young man caught her around the waist and lifted her up.

Chen Xue screamed in fright.

In that moment, the young man had already turned to the shore and steadily set her down.

“You have really beautiful legs,” the young man said, flashing her a brilliant smile before turning to walk away.

Chen Xue couldn’t help but stand up.

“Your Highness…” she called out, watching the gradually receding figure. “Wait for me…”

Chen Shi closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. The hand gripping her chest softly dropped, and a jade pendant fell from her hand with a clatter.

Qi Yue bit her lower lip as tears began to fall.

Just like this?

Just this simple?

This person was gone just like that…

“Miss Qi,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing called out in a hoarse voice.

Qi Yue looked at her.

“You are no longer the young mistress of the Marquis Dingxi estate, nor are you a relative of our Chen family, so you don’t need to come to Xue Niang’s funeral,” Old Madam of Duke Deqing said hoarsely.

Qi Yue looked at her and nodded, then looked at Chen Shi.

“You don’t need to kowtow either. Old Madam Chang showed life-saving grace to Xue Niang, and you showed kindness to Old Madam Chang. She doesn’t deserve your courtesy…” Old Madam of Duke Deqing said. “You… may go.”

Qi Yue looked at Chen Shi, who seemed to have fallen into peaceful sleep, and in a trance saw her for the first time – the sickly woman in the reclining chair instantly showing heartfelt joy and concern, reaching out to her.

Truly sincere feelings, just not for Qi Yueniang.

Farewell.

Qi Yue turned and walked out. Behind her, Old Madam of Duke Deqing’s wailing began, and beside her, maids and servants ran about in chaos, crying and calling out, carrying prepared funeral clothes, and mourning cloth began to be hung up.

Qi Yue walked out the door as the main gate of the Chen residence gradually closed, shutting out everything inside.

Three days later, Prince Julu again apologized and expressed gratitude to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, then brought Little Prince Sima out of the palace.

“The imperial physicians say he can travel by carriage now,” he said.

The Emperor said nothing.

“Your Majesty, did Miss Qi also agree?” Cai Zhong asked with some concern.

Prince Julu smiled and responded affirmatively.

“We also invited Miss Qi to stay at our residence for a few days,” he added.

The Emperor nodded.

“Take good care of him. If you need anything, come to the palace for it,” he said.

Prince Julu expressed his gratitude and withdrew.

When the Emperor entered Jingren Palace, the patient and imperial physicians had all left. Only disciples from Qianjin Hall remained, packing up the beds and medical instruments, while young eunuchs cleaned and tidied.

“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager says she won’t come to live here,” Cai Zhong said.

“I said there was no need to ask – she definitely wouldn’t come,” the Emperor said with a slight smile.

His gaze fell to one side and stopped.

Through the partition screen of the back door, he saw the woman sitting on the back door steps.

The sound of footsteps didn’t bring the woman back to awareness.

She held her hands on her drawn-up knees, looking at the sky.

The Emperor also looked up.

The sky was cloudless for ten thousand li, not even a single bird could be seen flying by.

The Emperor lowered his head and leaned forward slightly to look at this woman, seeing her face somewhat haggard.

This leaning forward finally brought Qi Yue back to her senses.

“Is everything packed up?” she said casually, then turned to see the Emperor and was startled, quickly rising to bow.

“You… didn’t go?” the Emperor asked.

Today was the day Chen Shi’s coffin left the capital.

Qi Yue smiled and reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, lowering her head.

“Oh,” she said, “I won’t go today. They’re all Chen family relatives, and I… it’s not very convenient.”

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment.

“These past days, thanks to Your Majesty’s care, causing Your Majesty and the ladies alarm – this woman feels very ashamed. Today I must leave…” Qi Yue said again, bowing once more.

“At first it’s shocking, but after seeing it more, you get used to it,” the Emperor said.

Thinking of the reactions of the palace women after this incident, the Emperor couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“How can you say you get used to such things?” Qi Yue laughed. “Your Majesty, isn’t there a saying: ‘May the medicine cabinet gather dust, rather than have sick people in the world’? This woman would prefer that Your Majesty and the ladies never get used to it.”

The Emperor smiled.

“Such nice words, making one feel this is truly a gentle and kind physician,” he said.

Qi Yue smiled and bowed her head in gratitude.

“Your Majesty, though such matters need not be reported to Your Majesty, this woman still wishes to inform Your Majesty,” she said, raising her head.

“What were you looking at just now?” The Emperor didn’t pick up the topic, but said this instead, looking at the sky.

“Nothing,” Qi Yue quickly answered. “Waiting for Little Prince Sima…”

“Are you uneasy because Madam Chen is gone?” the Emperor interrupted her again.

“Yes,” Qi Yue said, looking at the Emperor.

“This is nothing to be uneasy about,” the Emperor said, walking with his hands behind his back as he looked at the courtyard.

The Emperor’s words were indeed magnanimous.

Qi Yue smiled.

“It’s not because of that,” she said. “It’s just that it feels quite sudden and unexpected. In any case, while people are alive, they should cherish life properly.”

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment and turned around.

Qi Yue quickly called out to stop him.

“Your Majesty, this woman requests to resign from the position of court physician. I hope Your Majesty will grant permission,” she said, bowing low.

The Emperor turned to look at this woman performing a deep bow, his expression slightly stern.

Even though he had repeatedly interrupted what she wanted to say, she was still determined to say it.