The banquet hall fell silent as a tomb. Chu Liu threw down the blade, his body weakened by indulgence in wine and women. He panted for a good while before sitting back in his seat and ordering people to carry away that curtained couch.
Blood dripped along the corridor. The palace maids were probably frightened and didn’t carry it steadily—the corpse inside tilted out, half a head visible.
Mo Zi looked intently. Beneath the disheveled hair were dark circles around the eyes, a swollen face, burns and knife wounds too horrible to behold—clearly the executioner had hated him to the bone.
Some noblewomen also saw it and immediately began to retch.
Seeing this, Chu Liu laughed heartlessly, fondling the beauties while saying, “Good that you vomit. Vomit and you’ll be hungry, hungry and you’ll eat. Someone! Serve the meal.”
Mo Zi handed the pale-faced Yang Qiao a cup of tea, gesturing for her to drink it to steady herself.
That couldn’t possibly be Jin Yin. Although the hatred in Chu Liu’s eyes was genuine, the revulsion on his face was genuine, and everyone could feel his relief after the killing. But she wouldn’t believe it. Not because she thought Wu Yanqie would certainly keep his promise, but because exposing Jin Yin’s identity so carelessly before everyone, after previously keeping everything completely sealed—it was too deliberately obvious.
Trying to use such a method to force someone to reveal themselves? Her face showed no expression. Though she could confirm it wasn’t Jin Yin, regardless, the fact was that a person had died.
“Won’t you all congratulate me?” Chu Liu glared with his bulging eyes, somewhat displeased. “The Daqiu King said that once Chu Yu dies, I can soon ascend to the Yuling throne.”
Fool! Death is at your doorstep and you still don’t know it. Mo Zi used her chopsticks to pick up a few vegetable leaves, lifting but not eating.
She didn’t respond, but others did. Amid the sparse congratulations, a pleasant female voice suddenly rang out.
“Congratulations to Crown Prince Chu on the imminent fulfillment of his wishes. Consort Xiang brings gifts and has come especially to celebrate.”
Everyone looked at each other, hardly believing their ears. Everyone knew Consort Xiang was equivalent to Daqiu’s empress. Not only did she manage the inner palace, she was also a pillar of support at the King’s side. For someone of such noble status to actually grace a hostage crown prince’s residence—it caused them all to rise from their seats.
Mo Zi had a very bad feeling. If Wu Yanqie might show her mercy, that Yue Xiang was far more ruthless and cruel. But she wasn’t afraid. As those noblewomen moved forward, she pulled Yang Qiao back.
“Qiao Qiao, leave quickly!” They couldn’t let the Daqiu people have more and more leverage. “Tell Xiao Wei and the others that no matter what happens, they must not act rashly. The greater situation takes priority.”
Phrased this way, Xiao Wei would listen.
Yang Qiao opened her mouth, initially unwilling, but she was ice-smart and knew the situation had changed. This wasn’t the time to play hero, so taking advantage of the distraction, she slowly withdrew.
In the walkway, two young eunuchs were busy laying carpet. Eight palace maids filed in, followed by a graceful and noble woman who stepped inside.
Fair skin, pearl-bright eyes, cherry-red lips, an elegant smile of ten thousand charms. Her cloud-like hair piled high, the hair ornaments all set with phoenix stones of various sizes, shimmering pink and brilliant. She wore a golden palace gown embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix—unspeakably precious. Behind her were eight stern-faced men, copper medallions of the Ke Na tribe hanging at their waists—black-armored warriors who answered only to her command.
“Long live Consort Xiang! Ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
Seeing it truly was Consort Xiang herself, everyone hurriedly prostrated themselves, including Crown Prince Chu.
Mo Zi naturally couldn’t stand tall among this field of bowing figures. She bent down, using the table to hide her form—picking up chopsticks.
“Everyone rise. This is Crown Prince Chu’s banquet. This palace lady has come to join the festivities and wouldn’t want to steal the host’s thunder.” Consort Xiang’s voice was soft and sweet, her tone utterly insincere. “Crown Prince Chu, please rise quickly as well. You are Daqiu’s most honored guest—there’s no need to perform such grand ceremony for this palace lady, a mere consort. If the King were to find out, he would blame me.”
Crown Prince Chu stood and gave the main seat to Consort Xiang, seating himself in the lower position. “Consort Xiang is a person loved by Daqiu’s people and also the King’s most relied-upon right hand. Chu Liu and Yuling are subordinate to Daqiu—how dare we not perform grand ceremony?”
Mo Zi straightened her posture at the appropriate moment, too lazy to listen to the two exchange false courtesies. Her gaze focused on the large flowerpot the eunuchs were carrying in, her heart pounding wildly.
“Crown Prince Chu personally executed a traitor to the nation. This palace lady is delighted. I’ve come today on behalf of the King to present the Crown Prince with a congratulatory gift. Please look, Crown Prince.” Slender jade fingers pointed. “This is Yuling white mountain porcelain. Its value is secondary—it represents sincere goodwill. Moreover, since this is a peony banquet, this palace lady will also show everyone the peonies I’ve cultivated.”
Four eunuchs reached into the large flowerpot and dug at the soil. Before long, they actually pulled out a person from inside.
Mo Zi was instantly filled with rage.
Dirt fell from the figure in cascades, yet still couldn’t hide the breathtaking beauty. Disheveled and wretched, the thin lotus-green garment couldn’t cover her lotus-root arms, exposing her breast bindings, yet her eyes still shone bright as stars, transcendently pure and noble.
Dou Lu!
The younger sister she had vowed to protect had actually been buried in soil like a plant by that venomous woman, even dressed in a dancer’s clothes to subject her to people’s humiliating gazes. She clenched her fists, her whole body trembling.
Chu Liu’s eyes bulged like a toad’s. Recognizing Dou Lu at a glance, his lustful heart stirred greatly. Right in front of Consort Xiang, he walked toward the flowerpot. “This Dou Lu that Consort Xiang presents is truly the world’s most exquisite beauty. This Crown Prince has long wanted to taste her fragrance, but unfortunately that bastard got there first. No matter—what’s been played with can be enjoyed all the more. Many thanks to Consort Xiang for this great gift. This Crown Prince accepts it.”
Dou Lu struggled desperately to climb out of the flowerpot, but the soil covered her from the waist down, and young eunuchs held her hands.
Chu Liu’s dog paws were about to touch Dou Lu’s breast bindings.
Consort Xiang looked on as if seeing nothing, her cold gaze slowly sweeping across the banquet.
Just as Mo Zi was about to move, Dou Lu suddenly stopped struggling and spat out words ice-cold beyond measure.
“Chu Liu, you pig, if you dare touch me, I’ll see you die without a burial place!”
Chu Liu froze, his movements halting.
Consort Xiang raised her eyebrows. “Oh, this palace lady just said Crown Prince Chu is Daqiu’s honored guest, and younger sister Dou Lu threatens his life. This palace lady is in a difficult position.”
Dou Lu laughed lightly. “But Yue Xiang, you’re truly pitiful. Apart from using these underhanded methods, have you ever competed openly and fairly with my sister? No. Because you know clearly that facing my sister directly, you don’t measure up to even her little finger. You can steal. Steal my sister’s abilities, steal away the man my sister loved, steal my sister’s position. Unfortunately, you can’t steal my sister’s talent, can’t steal a man’s heart. Even if you consider yourself first, you’re only what my sister discarded. You want to humiliate me, then you’d better be prepared to bear the consequences. Unless you kill me, I’ll tell Wu Yanqie everything you’ve done. Want to try whether he’ll help you or help me? Even if you wear phoenix stones all over, they can only be pink ones.”
Mo Zi wanted to cheer loudly. What a Dou Lu—she had grown strong enough to fly on her own.
Consort Xiang flew into a rage. Like sister, like sister—did they really think she was afraid?
“Crown Prince Chu, I’m giving this person to you. Enjoy her as you please.” Tell on her? She, Yue Xiang, was the Ke Na family’s most treasured daughter. Even Wu Yanqie, to secure the Ke Na family’s loyalty, had to tolerate her temperament. What was Song Mo Zi? A lowly Han woman from a lowly background. Even if the King married her as empress, she would only be the King’s personal pet. In the inner palace, even in the hearts of Daqiu’s common people, only Consort Xiang was the most noble woman.
The elder sister as empress. The younger sister as plaything. Thinking this, Consort Xiang’s cherry-like mouth smiled, radiating seductive brilliance.
With Consort Xiang’s consent, Chu Liu was overjoyed and again extended his demon claws toward Dou Lu.
But this time he still didn’t succeed. Not only did he fail, his feet slipped, he fell to the ground, his whole body convulsing, white foam followed by black blood from his mouth—he died on the spot.
“Assassin!” someone suddenly shouted.
The entire banquet was shocked. Women screamed, and led by someone, they scattered and fled outside.
The black-armored warriors immediately surrounded Consort Xiang, warily watching all around.
Consort Xiang hid behind the warriors, calling out loudly, “Since elder sister has come, why pretend to be mysterious? I knew that only by doing this could I make you reveal yourself. In all the world, besides your own younger sister, who else can truly win your heart? Elder sister, don’t be angry with me. I didn’t really intend to let Chu Liu humiliate Dou Lu.” What she said and what she thought were completely different things.
Taking advantage of the young eunuchs fleeing, Dou Lu struggled out of the flowerpot. Hearing Consort Xiang’s words, she hesitated briefly but didn’t waver, turning to rush outside. But she hadn’t taken many steps when a group of people ran in from outside, two of whom seized Dou Lu.
Consort Xiang’s voice transformation skills were first-rate. In an instant she became coquettish. “Your Majesty, Xiang’er kindly invited elder sister to appear, but elder sister killed someone to intimidate me and nearly poisoned me too. In these years away, elder sister’s heart seems to have hardened. Now she’s even killed the Yuling Crown Prince—how will we Daqiu people explain this to his subjects?”
The person at the forefront was precisely Wu Yanqie. Looking at the thoroughly dead Chu Liu on the ground, then at Dou Lu in her indecent clothing, his thick brows furrowed into a river. “Xiang’er, why did you bring Dou Lu here?” He removed his royal robe and draped it over Dou Lu.
Consort Xiang lowered her eyes, concealing a flash of viciousness, then raised her head coquettishly. “Wasn’t it all to help the King find elder sister? If I weren’t deliberately vicious, would elder sister become anxious? Your Majesty, don’t blame me. Aren’t you afraid elder sister will run away again?”
“Do you need to be deliberate?” Mo Zi couldn’t escape now—she was the only woman left in the hall. And although Dou Lu’s performance showed great courage, as her elder sister, she couldn’t just walk away. “You’re already evil to the bone—it’s your most natural true self.”
Consort Xiang pushed aside her warriors, watching Mo Zi walk toward Wu Yanqie. Or rather, she thought that’s what was happening. She immediately strode over, wanting to claim position beside Wu Yanqie.
But Mo Zi didn’t act as Consort Xiang expected. She merely picked up the royal robe from Dou Lu and tossed it on the ground, draping her own cloak over her sister instead. Seeing through Consort Xiang’s petty mind, the corner of her mouth curved in a mocking smile at such unnecessary effort.
“You two truly are a married couple.” Her mouth was a hundred times more caustic than Dou Lu’s. “Wu Yanqie, have you become like her from being with her so long? I said we’d meet at Qingming, and naturally I’ll keep my word. You set trap after trap—what’s the point? And also—”
She walked before Consort Xiang and delivered a resounding slap. “This slap is on Dou Lu’s behalf.” With a backhand, another slap. “This is on my own behalf. Next time you dare humiliate Dou Lu, I’ll absolutely take your life!”