The next day, Bianjing spread news that the current dynasty’s Second Prince had contracted a malignant illness and, after seven days of treatment, had unfortunately perished.

Because the imperial physicians determined this illness had infectious characteristics, saying the Second Prince’s family members had also successively shown similar symptoms, the Emperor painfully ordered that everyone in the entire Prince’s residence—from the Prince’s consort and young imperial grandson down to servants and attendants—collectively relocate out of densely populated Bianjing City to receive quarantine treatment.

In the streets and alleys, people discussed this extensively, saying no wonder the Second Prince had been missing since seven days ago, and the Prince’s residence had recently been like an empty house with no one entering or leaving. They also said the Second Prince was in the prime of life—such a sudden calamity was truly regrettable and lamentable.

To avoid causing panic, the Emperor dispatched imperial physicians to begin epidemic prevention throughout the court and even the entire city. After several days passed and it was confirmed the epidemic had not broken out, the alert was lifted.

As the common people breathed sighs of relief, those who knew the inside story were sighing that to maintain the imperial family’s dignity, the Emperor had gone to great pains to stage this performance.

As the saying goes, family scandals should not be made public. If word got out that the imperial family had raised a son who collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country, the entire Daqi would become a laughingstock to the world. So from the very beginning, the Emperor never planned to publicly prosecute Zhao Rui’s crime.

Executing an entire clan didn’t necessarily require the execution grounds—it could also be carried out through such subtle means.

But paper ultimately cannot contain fire. This matter deceived the world but couldn’t deceive the court.

The upper-level officials in the court mostly had keen political sense and abundant information channels. They quickly became clear about the beginning and end of the collaboration case, and thus learned of the Crown Prince’s deeds of speaking out with a death remonstrance for the court ministers, disregarding his own body.

Though the implicated officials dared not publicize it openly, they all secretly noted this debt of gratitude in their hearts. Hearing that the Crown Prince had been bedridden since vomiting blood on the spot during his death remonstrance and was unable to manage government affairs, and seeing Fourth Prince seizing the opportunity to display his brilliance during court discussions, they one by one secretly created obstacles for him, spontaneously gravitating toward the Crown Prince’s faction.

Zhao Xun had gone to great lengths to bring down Zhao Rui. He had originally expected the court’s favor would shift toward him, but unexpectedly gained no benefit at all and instead made a wedding dress for the Crown Prince.

Even the Xue family, who originally didn’t participate in factional politics, occasionally began to align with the Crown Prince faction’s political views.

The triangular situation that had been stable for many years, having lost the Second Prince’s corner, became like a seesaw with both ends rising and falling unpredictably.

From this point on, Bianjing’s court succession struggle became increasingly turbulent.

——

Several days after the dust settled on Zhao Rui’s collaboration case, the Emperor summoned Huo Shuyi, who had escorted the spy to the capital on her father’s behalf, into the palace.

Huo Shuyi had previously been secretly standing by outside the city under imperial command. Having just entered the city and now having to go to the palace alone, Shen Lingzhen couldn’t help but worry for her, fearing the Emperor would probe the Huo family’s situation through her.

However, Huo Liuxing reassured Shen Lingzhen, saying nothing would go wrong. Huo Shuyi had spent the past year training with Huo Qi in the military and had matured and become much more steady. Otherwise, Huo Qi wouldn’t have entrusted her with this important mission.

After resting for several days, Huo Liuxing’s body had become somewhat more agile. Occasionally he could already move about on the ground, but to accelerate recovery, he still obediently stayed in bed to heal most of the time.

When Huo Shuyi came out of the palace, he had just taken pain-relieving and calming medicine not long ago and was taking an afternoon nap.

Since Huo Shuyi would be staying in the capital for a while anyway and there was no rush, Shen Lingzhen didn’t wake Huo Liuxing and went to the residence gate herself to welcome her.

To avoid bringing unnecessary trouble to the Huo family, Huo Shuyi had previously not communicated with Huo Liuxing at all and didn’t yet know about his injury. After dismounting from her tall horse and seeing only Shen Lingzhen at the gate, her eyes dimmed slightly. She forced out a smile and called: “Second Sister-in-law.”

The two hadn’t seen each other for over a year. When they last parted, they were still planning to distribute porridge on the streets together. Now there was a somewhat surreal strangeness.

But Shen Lingzhen’s mind was entirely on the palace situation. For the moment she didn’t think about awkwardness and immediately stepped forward, asking in a lowered voice: “His Majesty didn’t make things difficult for you, did he? Did he ask you about anything?”

Huo Shuyi shook her head: “He only gave me some rewards. When he was about to question me, someone came from the Eastern Palace and I was released.”

Shen Lingzhen felt relieved and exchanged pleasantries with her: “You’ve worked hard on this trip. Come inside first for some tea and rest. Your and Miaoling’s courtyard was prepared long ago, though the layout is inevitably somewhat different from Qingyang’s. If you feel anything is unsuitable, feel free to have the servants make changes.”

Huo Shuyi nodded absentmindedly. After following her inside, she looked left and right, finally unable to resist asking: “…Where’s Second Brother?”

“He’s taking an afternoon nap.”

Huo Shuyi said suspiciously: “Didn’t Second Brother never have the habit of afternoon naps before?”

Shen Lingzhen gave her a look indicating it wasn’t convenient to explain at the moment. She led her all the way to an empty room in the inner courtyard and, having avoided idle people, only then told her the causes and effects of Huo Liuxing’s injury.

Huo Shuyi was shocked for quite a while before coming to her senses. She lifted her foot to go find Huo Liuxing, but remembered mid-step that this wasn’t the Qingyang Huo residence. She stopped and turned back to ask Shen Lingzhen: “How is Second Brother now? Where is his courtyard? Can I go see him?”

“Don’t worry. The physician says he’s recovering well. As long as he heals properly, he won’t be left with any serious lingering ailments.” Shen Lingzhen hesitated. “I’ll take you to see him in a bit, but right now, I have some private words I want to say to you…”

As she spoke, she dismissed the maidservants and closed the door.

Huo Shuyi looked at her strangely. Before she could make sense of the situation, she suddenly saw her kneel down facing her.

In great alarm, Huo Shuyi also forgot to stop her: “You… why are you kneeling to me…”

“This kowtow is for my second uncle’s slanderous words years ago that caused General Shu to die in Xiqiang and destroyed your family.” Shen Lingzhen said with lowered head. “Shuyi, I’m sorry. In the past in Qingyang I didn’t know. I never even apologized to you, Miaoling, or Mother-in-law…”

“You…” Huo Shuyi looked at her at a loss. She wanted to pull her up and extended her hand, but withdrew it halfway. She opened her mouth to say something but after gaping for a long time, didn’t utter a single word.

Shen Lingzhen knelt ramrod straight and continued: “I know this kowtow isn’t worth anything, and I don’t ask that you forgive me from now on or accept me. But regarding the Huo family’s matters, I can promise you—I can distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, and have long decided to advance and retreat together with my lord. The sins my relatives committed in the past, I absolutely will not take their side.”

Huo Shuyi gaped speechlessly for quite a while before finally pulling her up: “Get up…” She said, slapping her thigh in frustration, “If you damage yourself from kneeling and Second Brother finds out, I’ll be the unlucky one!”

Shen Lingzhen was startled, thinking she had misunderstood this as a scheme to harm her. She hurriedly waved her hands to explain: “I don’t mean that. This is a private matter between the two of us. I didn’t plan to let my lord know. If he does find out, I’ll definitely explain it clearly to him.”

Shen Lingzhen looked at her sincerely, but Huo Shuyi seemed unable to meet such a gaze directly. She stared fixedly at the door with tightly furrowed brows, her boot tip grinding against the floor: “How annoying…”

Shen Lingzhen stopped speaking and lowered her eyes.

From the corner of her eye, Huo Shuyi caught this movement. Turning her head to see her eyes had reddened, she was alarmed: “Hey, don’t cry! I wasn’t saying you’re annoying. I meant… I meant with you kneeling to me and apologizing to me, I’m so annoyed I don’t know what to do!”

Huo Shuyi herself had a strong temperament and wasn’t afraid of confronting people head-on, but encountering this kind of soft approach truly left her helpless. To say she had let go of the Shen family—she really couldn’t. But to continue being hostile toward Shen Lingzhen also felt wrong.

Shen Lingzhen shook her head to indicate she wasn’t going to cry and raised her head again: “Then I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll take you to see my lord. My lord has been separated from you for so long—he must miss you too.”

Though Huo Shuyi had been anxious to see Huo Liuxing earlier, she now hesitated.

Shen Lingzhen didn’t know about her feelings for Huo Liuxing that went beyond sibling affection—didn’t know from beginning to end. Now being so sincerely willing to take her to see Huo Liuxing made Huo Shuyi momentarily feel she herself was very dishonorable.

She shook her head: “Never mind. As long as Second Brother is all right, I won’t disturb his afternoon nap. I’ll go bathe and rest first.”

Shen Lingzhen quickly nodded: “All right, then I’ll have the servants prepare water for you.” She moved to the door about to go out.

“Wait,” Huo Shuyi stopped her and said without preamble, “I can also distinguish right from wrong, good from evil.”

Shen Lingzhen turned back in puzzlement.

Huo Shuyi furrowed her brow, hesitated for a while, then gritted her teeth and said: “What I mean is, grievances have their source and debts have their owner. In the past my perspective was too narrow. In the future I won’t misdirect my anger at you anymore. In the Huo family, you only need Second Brother’s recognition. You don’t need my acceptance. There’s no need to have unpleasantness with Second Brother because of our Shu family’s matters. I…” She lowered her eyes. “I’m calling you Second Sister-in-law now. Though this doesn’t mean I like you, it means I…”

It meant she would restrain her feelings for Huo Liuxing and no longer entertain vain hopes.

Shen Lingzhen looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

But Huo Shuyi shook her head, indicating it was nothing. Those words that would embarrass herself and others—better to let them rot inside.

She said: “In any case, I came to Bianjing this time to help Second Brother, not to create trouble for you two. The court situation is turbulent now and could erupt in bloodshed at any time. I know the larger situation must take priority.”

Shen Lingzhen nodded. Just as she was about to thank her, she suddenly heard a “clang”—the clear sound of a bell tolling from far away.

Immediately after came the second toll, the third toll…

Both were startled and exchanged glances.

“That’s…” Huo Shuyi was stunned. “That’s the mourning bell from the palace?”

Shen Lingzhen nodded. While still silently counting the bell tolls in her heart, she suddenly remembered something: “You said earlier that when His Majesty was questioning you, someone came from the Eastern Palace. What person?”

“Just a eunuch. I didn’t hear clearly what he said, but in any case he seemed quite anxious.”

Since the Emperor had summoned Huo Shuyi to the palace alone, he couldn’t possibly not take the opportunity to probe and inquire about things. To so easily let her return, he must have coincidentally encountered an incident at the Eastern Palace.

Huo Shuyi realized: “Could it be that the Crown Prince has died?”

Shen Lingzhen’s eyelashes trembled as she raised her head toward the horizon where layers of clouds churned.

The skies over Bianjing were truly about to change.