The nightmares of midnight, the long-haired ghost lurking in a dark corner, the dilapidated village, the woman with her swollen belly…
Cheng Huaili felt something inside his mind explode with a deafening buzz. Countless faded, shadowy images went flying outward, slicing sharply through his reason to expose the hideous thing beneath that could no longer be concealed.
Almost on pure instinct, he moved to shove her out of the hall.
“Oh—” Chen Baoxiang went along with it and fell to the floor. The crutch in her hand clattered away, and the hem of her official’s robes tore open, revealing the trouser leg beneath — still seeping blood.
Zhang Zhixu, who had entered just behind her, immediately called out loudly: “General Cheng, what is the meaning of this?”
He was already the center of attention, and with that shout, everyone at the banquet turned to look in their direction.
Chen Baoxiang trembled, and looked up at Cheng Huaili with wide, fearful eyes. “Have I somehow given offense to the General? If I have displeased you, I will apologize — but this is still before the Emperor’s presence. Why would you raise a hand against me here?”
It was not the season for osmanthus blossoms, yet she had deliberately pinned a branch of purple osmanthus at her temple. Though it was an artificial flower, the petals trembled delicately, irresistibly calling to mind the endless pale violet osmanthus that had once blanketed the hills and fields of Guilan — and the woman who had always loved to snap off osmanthus branches and bring them home.
Cheng Huaili knew perfectly well that striking someone in the Emperor’s presence was sheer madness.
But Chen Baoxiang’s face was like a blade pressed flat against his throat. He understood exactly what she was trying to do, and knew that every moment of hesitation would make his position more precarious.
“General Cheng?” She raised her eyes. Her expression was soft and pitiable, but her gaze was unmistakably a provocation.
Cheng Huaili suddenly braced himself against his wheelchair and stood on one leg. He lurched forward two steps and lunged at Chen Baoxiang, clamping both hands around her throat in a vicious grip. His strength was enormous to begin with, and his palms were thick and heavy — the grip was like two slabs of iron closing tightly around her windpipe.
Zhang Zhixu’s expression changed at once. He stepped forward immediately and tried to pull Cheng Huaili away. He had assumed a man with a crippled leg would be easy to restrain — but Cheng Huaili exerted the force of an ox, and in the midst of the struggle, he was still trying to reach for Chen Baoxiang.
In an instant, everyone at the banquet rose to their feet. The Princess Imperial called out sharply: “Someone come!”
Her personal guard moved faster than the Imperial Guards. Right there in front of the new Emperor, they forced Cheng Huaili down to the ground with his head bowed.
The new Emperor’s expression was deeply unpleasant. He looked at the Princess Imperial, then at Cheng Huaili on the floor. “All was well and we were speaking civilly — what is the meaning of this?”
“Your Majesty, it was she who killed Lu Shouhuai — it was her!” The veins at Cheng Huaili’s temples stood out in sharp relief as he screamed hysterically. “She has come here to seek vengeance against me! She cannot be allowed to live — she absolutely cannot be allowed to live!”
Zhang Zhixu went over to help Chen Baoxiang up. He glanced at the red marks already rising on her throat, and his breath caught for a moment.
He turned first to bow to His Majesty, then looked toward Cheng Huaili. “Might I ask what old grievance General Cheng has with Commissioner Chen, such that he would seek to kill someone on this day of shared joy between ruler and subject, before the very eyes of His Majesty?”
Cheng Huaili opened his mouth — and choked.
How could he possibly say it? That old enmity — not a single word of it could be spoken aloud.
Yet the vile creature standing before him had to die. Her painstaking, calculated appearance here before him could only mean she harbored malicious intentions.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty — this old servant is willing to surrender all my rewards and titles in exchange for this woman being granted the grace of death!” He ignored Zhang Zhixu’s question entirely, roaring and kowtowing in the direction of the throne.
Li Bingsheng raised her fan over her nose with a look of disdain. “Ever since General Cheng was attacked, he has seemed afflicted with madness. His Majesty’s benevolence has tolerated it all this time — but must Your Majesty truly allow him to ruin today’s palace banquet with this kind of outburst?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. General Cheng has behaved in this manner yet cannot explain any reason for it. It would be best to summon the imperial physician.”
Despite their various allegiances, the officials present all spoke up in agreement.
The new Emperor nodded with a benevolent air. “Yes, the imperial physician should have a look. We will trouble Lord Zhang to escort him to a side hall.”
On the surface he said this calmly, but inwardly he was seething with fury. They had clearly agreed beforehand that Cheng Huaili would smooth things over on the surface — only then could he get the Princess Imperial to hand the woman over to Cheng Huaili’s household. And yet Cheng Huaili could not even manage this simple thing. Whatever grievance he had, why couldn’t he settle it in private? Why did he have to cause a scene in the hall?
Truly absurd.
Chen Baoxiang was given a seat of honor beside the Princess Imperial. She lowered her head and shed tears, a picture of helpless pathos. “This humble official had no prior acquaintance with General Cheng, and does not know why he finds me so intolerable. It seems I am simply not fortunate enough — I am not fit to serve as his deputy officer.”
“What happened today was General Cheng’s fault,” the new Emperor said kindly. “But you rendered meritorious service protecting the imperial party at Tianning Mountain, and you should rightfully receive the post of Deputy Officer, rank: Fourth Grade, Upper.”
Fourth Grade, Upper — a meaningless title carrying not a shred of real authority, while she would be fish on Cheng Huaili’s chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered.
Li Bingsheng began waving her fragrant fan and spoke: “Had today’s incident not occurred, I would have wished to thank Your Majesty on Baoxiang’s behalf for your generous favor. But Your Majesty has seen what just transpired — General Cheng was willing to surrender his entire fortune and titles in exchange for my sworn sister’s death. He clearly hates her to the bone. If Your Majesty sends her to Cheng’s household now, how is that any different from putting her to death?”
She paused her fan, and looked up with an expression of surprise. “Could it be that my sworn younger sister has somehow offended Your Majesty?”
“Elder sister jests,” the new Emperor said warmly. “Commissioner Chen also protected Us at Tianning Mountain — We hold her in considerable regard.”
“In that case, why not promote Commissioner Chen to the position of Commander of the Patrol Division?” The Princess Imperial smiled. “There happens to be a vacancy on my side — I ask that Your Majesty kindly grant this.”
Before the Emperor above could even respond, Chen Baoxiang immediately ran to the center of the hall and knocked her forehead against the floor three times with resounding thumps, declaring loudly: “Many thanks to Your Majesty! This official will certainly not fail Your Majesty’s expectations — I will give my utmost devotion until my dying breath!”
The new Emperor’s smile remained on his face, but the expression in his eyes turned cold.
This was not the first time the Princess Imperial had decided things on his behalf like this. He was Emperor — and yet he was fettered at every turn. Not only could he not reclaim military power or financial authority, he even had to allow the Princess Imperial’s personal guards to enter the palace at will.
And now, apparently, he could not even determine the appointment of a mere low-ranking official.
The sounds of strings and woodwinds filled the palace banquet hall; officials all around began offering their congratulations. But Chen Baoxiang could feel a blade hanging over her head, and she had no idea when it would fall.
Acting as though she had noticed nothing, she began making her rounds to offer toasts — whether they belonged to the Emperor’s faction or the Princess Imperial’s faction, she came to each of them in turn and said into their ears without stopping: “I am Chen Baoxiang. Tomorrow I will take up my post at the Patrol Division — I ask for everyone’s guidance and kind support.”