Before the dragon boat race began, the former Emperor of Nande, now Prince Jing, nervously read his final imperial decree through the loudspeaker—his edict of self-reproach. It listed offenses such as heeding the slanders of Grand Preceptor Wu, allowing the Empress Dowager to monopolize court authority, failing to understand the people’s sentiments, and living in extravagant decadence.
Simultaneously, officials in the marketplace distributed “copies.” Such a momentous event immediately quieted the river bend, allowing Mo Zi’s somewhat makeshift amplifier to perform at its maximum capacity, enabling many people to hear the Nande Emperor’s voice with their own ears.
“From this moment, I restore my name Liu Zhi and step down from the throne. The Liu surname is no longer the imperial surname, and I shall obey the Cabinet’s decree from the Song territories. The lands of Nande are merged into the lands of Song, the people of Nande are merged into the people of Song. Henceforth, the nation of Nande becomes bone of Song’s bone, blood of Song’s blood, never again to be distinguished from one another.” Liu Zhi formally announced his abdication, ending the corruption-riddled Nande dynasty.
Solemn silence one moment, jubilant cheers the next. From near to far, from south to north, the literate spread the written word, the illiterate spread it orally, rushing to share the news far and wide.
Liu Zhi lowered his head and returned to his seat. Unlike the jubilant people on shore, he resembled a shadow of charred ash, utterly devoid of presence.
Yuan Cheng walked to the bow of the ship.
His appearance elicited even louder responses from the crowd.
But when he raised his hand and pressed down slightly, the surroundings fell silent. In a calm tone, he read the Cabinet document. It conferred upon Liu Zhi the title of Prince Jing, non-hereditary, with Jiang Shi as Princess Jing, and Liu Bao’er as county princess, allocating Mingjing Garden as their residence. The Empress Dowager, for usurping imperial authority, creating unjust cases, oppressing the people, and living in extravagant decadence, was to be granted death according to Song law. Grand Preceptor Wu, Wu Jian, and other corrupt officials who treated state wealth as personal wealth, arbitrarily increasing taxes and levies, amassing fortunes without restraint, causing the national treasury to empty and the people to suffer miserably, were to be executed according to Personnel Ministry criminal statutes. All their “private” assets were to be confiscated and placed in the Song territory treasury, to be returned for the people’s use.
Someone shouted loudly, “Prime Minister Yuan’s word is worth ten thousand pieces of gold.”
Immediately, a hundred voices echoed, then a thousand.
As cheers rolled toward her like waves, Mo Zi did not immerse herself in the glory-sharing joy. She smiled and held her cup, her eyes flowing with subtle glances, seemingly casual, but taking in every detail of the expressions on the siblings Liu Zhi and Liu Bao’er’s faces.
When Liu Zhi heard that his mother and maternal grandfather would be granted death, he quickly raised his head and glared viciously at Yuan Cheng standing behind the amplifier, his gaze filled with murderous hatred.
Liu Bao’er trembled all over, because she discovered she too would have to live in Mingjing Garden. Outsiders might not understand, but she knew all too well—it was a place of house arrest, and once you entered, you couldn’t come and go freely. She blamed all of this on Mo Zi, convinced this woman—beloved by the citizens of Yang City and holding official status second only to Prime Minister Yuan—must have manipulated things behind the scenes. She was actually a wicked, venomous woman. Liu Bao’er wanted to publicly expose her. But Yuan Cheng was sending her to Mingjing Garden. Her expression became pitiful as she realized what Mo Zi had just said wasn’t spoken carelessly. The man she loved, knowing full well her feelings, was pushing her into a cage.
Liu Bao’er’s hands clenched into fists under the table, and just then, she heard Yuxiang’s voice.
“Princess, I’ll kill her for you.”
Kill her? Kill Song Mo Zi? Yes, exactly—if she died, it would be perfect. If she died, Yuan Cheng could marry her. Liu Bao’er thought of nothing else, only knowing that her most trusted person offered a solution, and she could escape this desperate situation.
Her own voice rang so clearly.
What happened next appeared to Liu Bao’er like an illusion.
A short blade suddenly appeared in Yuxiang’s hand. She whirled around and lunged at Yuan Cheng’s back, shouting miserably, “Yuan, you treacherous villain, disloyal and unrighteous rebel, go to your death!”
Sitting on either side, Li Yan and Zhang were shocked and cried out, “Assassin! Someone—there’s an assassin!”
Because Yuan Cheng stood at the railing’s edge, people on shore could all see the gleaming blade in Yuxiang’s hand. After stunned silence, a tremendous uproar erupted. Some shouted for the Prime Minister to be careful, some shrieked in alarm, some were filled with righteous indignation—chaos reigned.
“Zan Jin!” Mo Zi called out.
Zan Jin shot forward.
But the attack came so suddenly, and no one expected Yuxiang to know martial arts, so although Zan Jin grabbed Yuan Cheng’s sleeve, that lightning-fast blade still pierced his black robe.
Yuan Cheng groaned.
Zan Jin struck with his palm.
Though Yuxiang had some skill, she was far inferior to Zan Jin. She relied on the element of surprise, aiming for a single decisive strike. Once her preemptive attack failed to kill her target, she would have no second chance. Therefore, when Zan Jin struck her down, she fell in the center of the platform.
Guards rushed over and held her under their blades.
Amid everyone’s panic, Mo Zi displayed extraordinary composure. She first ordered the guards to keep the assassin alive, then examined Yuan Cheng’s wound while summoning Imperial Physician Hua.
But anyone familiar with her would notice her face had turned pale as snow, her breathing was rapid, and when her hands touched Yuan Cheng’s clothing and were stained with blood, they trembled violently. When she looked up, her eyes were ice-cold.
“A Yue, check if the blade is poisoned.” Her voice was also cold.
A Yue went over to examine it carefully. “Reporting to Madam, there’s no poison.”
Yuan Cheng sat up, his large hand covering hers. “It’s just a minor wound, don’t worry.”
“Whether it’s major or minor isn’t for you to say—the physician’s word is what counts.” Mo Zi’s palms were damp with cold sweat. She couldn’t understand why, even if Liu Bao’er disliked her, Yuxiang would attack Yuan Cheng.
Old Physician Hua arrived. The wound was at the shoulder well point. After confirming there was no poison and no life-threatening danger, he noted that the wound was quite deep—silver needles couldn’t stop the bleeding, and medicine would need to be applied.
While treating him, Old Physician Hua said, “If your shoulder gets injured one more time, I won’t treat you anymore. Count for yourself—from the first time I met you until now, how many times have you been injured? Dislocation, arrow wounds, knife wounds. Even though I have complete confidence in my medical skills, when faced with an obstinately unlucky patient like you, there will come a day when I’m at my wits’ end. Before you destroy this old man’s lifelong reputation, I’m refusing you as a troublesome patient first.”
Yuan Cheng only smiled without speaking.
Mo Zi helped him placate the divine physician. “Old Physician Hua has miraculous healing hands. Though this person is troublesome, fortunately he’s thick-skinned and hardy enough to withstand torment. Even if you don’t care about him, at least for my sake, don’t let me become a widow at such a young age.”
Li Yan ran over just in time to hear these words and found them somewhat amusing, thinking that even at a time like this, she could still be so humorous. However, after hearing what came next, he secretly thought she indeed had insight.
“The people on shore must also be frightened and surely worried about your safety. Should you show yourself so they know you’re not seriously harmed?” Mo Zi had actually set her mind at ease.
Yuan Cheng nodded, took Mo Zi’s hand and stood up. Using a white handkerchief to press against his shoulder wound, he walked with her to the railing.
When people first saw the Prime Minister smile and appear, they felt somewhat reassured. But many sharp-eyed observers noticed blood seeping through the white handkerchief and knew the wound was deep.
“Please, Prime Minister, take care of your health!” someone shouted loudly.
“Severely punish the assassin and investigate the true culprit!” another person yelled.
“Repaying kindness with resentment—death is insufficient punishment!” This cry made many people think of Liu Zhi. This ruler of all under heaven had been forced to abdicate. Though granted a princely title, it was worlds apart from before. Add to that his mother being granted death and his grandfather facing execution—how could he not hate the Prime Minister?
Those who knew Yuxiang was a palace maid of the Third Princess speculated she was Liu Zhi’s spy. Because of the Third Princess’s connection to the Prime Minister, she was placed beside the Third Princess to wait for an opportunity, finally finding one today.
Soon, everyone began whispering among themselves.
Yuan Cheng opened his mouth but couldn’t muster the strength to speak.
Mo Zi cooperated seamlessly and announced loudly, “Everyone need not speculate wildly. We will certainly investigate who the culprit is thoroughly and will definitely not lightly forgive the crime of attempted murder. It happens to be the Dragon Boat Festival, originally meant to celebrate joyfully and ward off evil. Let Prime Minister Yuan’s injury serve to drive away all malevolent spirits. From now on, may our Song territories have favorable weather, abundant harvests, thriving industries, and peaceful lives. So everyone should be as festive as you wish—we can’t let the heroes participating in the dragon boat race lose their spirit for nothing.”
People praised her one after another—truly worthy of being Prime Minister Yuan’s wife, with such great spirit.
“Beat the drums!” Mo Zi commanded.
Boom boom boom boom—the drumbeats thundered. The men on the dragon boats chanted “heave ho, heave ho” as they paddled toward the starting point, drawing everyone’s attention.
Mo Zi helped Yuan Cheng sit down again and bandaged his wound without saying a word. Interrogating the assassin was not her responsibility.
Yuan Cheng gazed at her, his eyes gentle. She always knew when to step forward for him and when to retreat to his side.
“Yuxiang.” He looked at the dejected woman in the center. “Who ordered you to do this?”
“No one ordered me. I just couldn’t stand it. If you say Grand Preceptor Wu was corrupt, weren’t you corrupt when you held office? You think that by becoming a condemned criminal and escaping, then returning, you become a hero? Stop pretending to be innocent! Others might fall for the tricks of people like you, but I remember very clearly the reputation as Nande’s number one corrupt official.” Raising her disheveled head, Yuxiang cursed.
“How dare you! Spreading such lies!” Li Yan refuted. “The label of number one corrupt official was pinned on Prime Minister Yuan by that vicious Empress Dowager. If the Prime Minister had truly been corrupt, why was no silver found when his home was raided? We have definitive records from the Nande palace showing that the alleged ten million taels of family wealth was falsely reported by Wu Jian, who was in charge of the raid. Nothing was actually transported from the Prime Minister’s mansion, nor were any assets moved into the national treasury. The truth has long been revealed, yet you’re bringing up old accounts—isn’t that absurd! Speak quickly—who is behind this?”
All the officials denounced Yuxiang.
“County Princess.” Yuan Cheng called out her title.
Liu Bao’er was startled, feeling as if she were in a terrible nightmare, confused and bewildered, not understanding what was happening.
“Why did you address the Princess as Yuxiang?” Yuxiang’s eyes reddened with urgency. “The assassination was my doing alone, it has nothing to do with her.”
Jiang Shu sat rigidly. Honestly speaking, Yuxiang’s assassination was completely beyond his expectations. His gaze swept past his sister’s ashen face and looked toward Liu Zhi. Liu Bao’er wanted to marry Yuan Cheng but failed, so she had Yuxiang act—but instead of targeting Lady Yuan, she targeted Yuan Cheng himself. This didn’t make sense no matter how you looked at it. Yuxiang was from the palace, and it was no secret that the Empress Dowager had planted informants in various halls. Liu Zhi learned of Yuxiang’s identity from the Empress Dowager and ordered her to assassinate, framing his own sister—this explanation seemed more reasonable. He looked at Liu Bao’er again. All along, he had liked her and wanted to marry her. If there hadn’t been a war, by now she should already be his wife. Although Lady Yuan’s marriage proposal on his behalf was rejected by her, feelings couldn’t change just like that. If she were identified as the culprit, what should he do?
“County Princess.” Yuan Cheng spoke for the second time. “She’s merely your servant, so you don’t care if she becomes a scapegoat?”
Liu Bao’er’s entire body trembled, her beautiful eyes red with fury.