◎When a common man rages, at least three zhang of blood will splatter◎

After saying this, Xie Heng spoke no more, and Luo Wanqing dared not make a sound either.

The carriage fell silent, with only the sound of wheels rolling outside the window.

When the three returned to the imperial city, Qingya had already led Zhang Jiuran and the others into the palace.

All other physical evidence was brought to the court by Qingya, with only Zhang Jiuran and Zhuque arranged to wait outside the great hall.

Zhang Jiuran couldn’t see, so Zhuque had someone bring her a chair. Zhang Jiuran sat on the chair, feeling the cool breeze and listening to the sounds from inside.

First, Qingya presented the case details, then Qin Jue’s voice rang out.

“This commoner Qin Jue is the son of Qin Wenyan. My father lived his entire life loyal to the ruler and loving the country, never harboring even half a thought of transgression. Yet unexpectedly, in the sixth month of the year before last, he was framed by someone. The entire Qin family suffered injustice, and this commoner has barely survived until now, seeking only to clear my father’s name. This is my father’s blood letter, which I present to His Majesty today. I implore His Majesty to investigate clearly!”

“Qin Jue came too?”

Zhang Jiuran listened to Qin Jue’s voice and curved her lips, as if reminiscing.

Zhuque glanced at her and couldn’t help but frown: “You still dare to smile? He’s been here the whole time,” Zhuque glanced at the great hall, “we were all afraid he might get agitated and stab you, yet you act as if nothing’s wrong.”

“He won’t.”

Zhang Jiuran shook her head, her tone gentle: “He’s always been soft-hearted.”

“You…”

“What clothes is he wearing today?”

Zhang Jiuran inquired. Zhuque was startled, then answered somewhat bewildered: “White?”

“Yes, today he wouldn’t wear any other color.”

Zhang Jiuran nodded, turning her ear toward the great hall, feeling the gentle breeze as she listened carefully to Qin Jue confronting those inside.

“You say your family was framed? Who framed you?”

“I once saved a woman, later discovered she was a Fengyu Pavilion assassin…”

“What grudge or enmity does Fengyu Pavilion have with your Qin family?”

“You’ll have to ask them that!”

“Your words are without proof…”

“Then let her come in!”

At these words, the great hall fell silent.

Zhang Jiuran knew it was time for her to speak, so she groped her way to standing.

After a moment, a eunuch came outside the hall to summon her. Zhang Jiuran was helped by a maid and escorted by Zhuque, slowly walking into the great hall.

She felt as if she walked past many people, until finally, she caught a familiar scent.

She remembered this scent – from countless embraces, from many nights of entanglement, she had memorized it in her heart.

Her steps paused. The maid released her, and Zhang Jiuran knelt, respectfully saying: “This commoner woman Zhang Jiuran pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Zhang Jiuran.” Li Zong’s contemplative voice came from above. “Jiu, the ultimate number. Young lady, taking this name is quite rare.”

“Not only rare, but also very familiar,” Crown Prince Li Shangwen’s voice came, as he turned to look at Zhang Jiuran and smiled. “The third-place scholar from the year before last seemed to be called Zhang Yiran? Only one character is different from this name. Oh,” Li Shangwen looked around, seeming puzzled, “where is Lord Zhang? Why didn’t he come today?”

Hearing this, Zhang Jiuran’s movements paused.

Others couldn’t hear the implication, but Zhang Jiuran knew—

This was a warning.

They were using Zhang Yiran to warn her.

No one present spoke. Li Shangwen looked toward the Ministry of Works: “Lord Zhang didn’t come?”

“Unrelated minor matters should be set aside for now.”

Li Zong, hearing Li Shangwen’s rambling, waved his hand to signal him to step back.

Li Shangwen bowed and retreated, then saw Li Zong lower his gaze to Zhang Jiuran on the ground, coldly saying: “Zhang Jiuran, Qin Jue accuses you of framing his Qin family for treason. Is this true?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Jiuran answered without hesitation.

Li Zong frowned: “How could you accomplish this alone?”

“This commoner woman was not alone,” Zhang Jiuran said calmly. “This commoner woman comes from the premier assassin organization of the martial world, Fengyu Pavilion. I was ordered to frame the Qin family. Fengyu Pavilion’s master Xiang Sizi prepared weapons and treasonous documents. I was responsible for obtaining the keys to the Qin family’s warehouse and their private seal. After obtaining these, on the night before the accusation, I worked with others from within the pavilion to place the weapons and documents in the Qin warehouse, then reported to Jinling Prefect Sun Yingsheng. The search the next day found both people and evidence.”

At these words, everyone was in uproar.

Li Zong pondered: “You, a martial world organization, why would you do such a thing?”

Zhang Jiuran fell silent. An official nearby coughed lightly, as if reminding her.

Seeing these repeated warnings, Qin Jue coldly spoke: “Zhang Jiuran, don’t make mistake after mistake.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jiuran’s movements paused.

She seemed to want to look toward the voice, but that person said no more.

After a moment, she finally made her decision, turned her head, and kowtowed again, raising her voice: “Fengyu Pavilion is not a martial world organization—it belongs to the Taiyuan Wang family!”

“Nonsense!”

Hearing this, Li Shangwen immediately shouted angrily, and those present showed various expressions.

This statement didn’t need Zhang Jiuran to say—they had already heard rumors when the accusations were first made.

The Taiyuan Wang family was the maternal family of the Crown Prince and Empress, currently a prominent aristocratic family at the height of their influence.

Fengyu Pavilion had no grudge against the Qin family, but the Wang family might well have had one.

Everyone discussed among themselves. Zheng Pingsheng stepped forward, his expression grave as he scolded: “You woman, speaking nonsense! Do you have evidence?!”

Though he was scolding her, he was guiding her to provide evidence.

Li Shangwen looked angrily at Zheng Pingsheng, while Zheng Pingsheng glanced at the Crown Prince with some mockery.

Zhang Jiuran lowered her eyes, only saying: “I once saw a dagger used by Wang family death-sworn warriors on the pavilion master.”

“Just a dagger.” Li Guiyu sneered. “This can count as evidence?”

“A dagger cannot determine guilt.”

Just as the words fell, Xie Heng’s voice came from outside.

Everyone looked over to see Xie Heng leading two people. Luo Wanqing and Zhang Yiran were both holding ledgers that the Supervision Department Inspector had just seized from the Dark Pavilion, following behind Xie Heng as he led them striding into the hall.

Li Shangwen showed some tension upon seeing Xie Heng. Xie Heng bowed to the Emperor, then said: “Your Majesty, we were clearing out the remaining Fengyu Pavilion members last night and arrived somewhat late. Please forgive us, Your Majesty. These are internal rosters seized from Fengyu Pavilion last night.” As Xie Heng spoke, he casually picked up a book and threw it in front of Li Shangwen. “Crown Prince, take a look—how many of the names on it do you recognize?”

Li Shangwen’s expression changed slightly, but he still tried to maintain composure: “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“It’s normal not to understand. It might not necessarily be something the Crown Prince did—it could be other Wang family members.”

Xie Heng went along with Li Shangwen’s words, then continued: “But there should be no objection to the point that the Qin family was wrongly accused, should there?”

“I object!” Li Shangwen gritted his teeth. “Zhang Jiuran’s testimony keeps changing, inconsistent, and contradictory, not credible. Such a woman who even falsified her identity, deceiving the ruler and misleading the court, deserves death by law. Her words should not be taken as evidence!”

“Hmm?” Li Zong listened to Li Shangwen’s words, tapping the table. “She falsified her identity?”

“Yes!”

Li Shangwen looked at Zhang Jiuran and shouted: “Do you dare say who you are? Do you dare say where you’re from, who your family is, who you are?!”

Zhang Jiuran remained silent. Li Shangwen chuckled: “See, someone who doesn’t even dare admit her own identity…”

“She is my sister.”

A calm and steady voice came from behind Xie Heng. Zhang Jiuran’s spine straightened abruptly, not daring to turn around.

Only then did Li Shangwen notice Zhang Yiran. He stared blankly at Zhang Yiran, holding the documents, listening to him say word by word: “This official’s original name was Zhang Jiuxian. Due to avoiding disaster, I came from Yangzhou to the Eastern Capital, was adopted as a son by my adoptive father Zhang Ming, and changed my name to Zhang Yiran. This woman is my elder sister Zhang Jiuran, born of the same mother. We were separated many years ago and only reunited today. Your Highness, what doubts do you have about my sister’s identity?”

Hearing this, Zhang Jiuran closed her eyes in pain.

Li Shangwen forced a smile: “Lord Zhang, you cannot speak carelessly. This is a bloodthirsty assassin who frames and falsely accuses others. Lord Zhang is upright and honest—how could you have such a sister?”

“She is my sister.”

Zhang Yiran stubbornly repeated only this one sentence.

His clear, upright eyes fixed steadily on Li Shangwen as he said calmly: “A gentleman stands in the world with openness and no doubt. If my sister has committed crimes, I will bear them with her. But I wonder how Your Highness will bear your crimes?!”

Hearing this, Li Shangwen’s expression stiffened slightly, then he forced a laugh: “What are you saying? I have crimes? What crimes do I have?”

“You allowed your subordinates to kidnap and traffic people. Is Your Highness without guilt?”

Zhang Yiran spoke coldly. Li Shangwen froze, completely unexpected that today’s trial of the Qin family case would drag up what he considered such trivial matters.

But such things, normally small, now became like a spark rolling into dry grass. Li Shangwen immediately cursed: “What nonsense are you spouting now!”

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Yiran ignored Li Shangwen and turned to bow to Li Zong, kowtowing respectfully. “Some days ago, while this minister was surveying waterways and returning from the outskirts of the city, I encountered a woman calling for help and discovered a group of kidnappers. These people had been deceiving and forcibly abducting good citizens in the Eastern Capital, planning to sell thirteen people to neighboring small countries. When this minister was rescuing people, those people declared that arresting them would offend the Eastern Palace. This minister didn’t believe it and immediately went to report to the Eastern Capital, but unexpectedly, the Eastern Capital Prefecture Governor didn’t dare take the case. Having no choice, this minister turned to report to the Supervision Department.”

“You’re slandering!” Li Shangwen had no idea there was such a matter and angrily said: “I am the Crown Prince—would I engage in such despicable acts?!”

“Indeed, it wasn’t the Crown Prince who did it,” Qingya suddenly spoke up. Everyone looked over as Qingya bowed to the Emperor respectfully. “This case is one of the recent cases the Supervision Department is about to close. Lord Zhang misunderstood—the person protecting these human traffickers was not the Crown Prince himself, but a guest of the Eastern Palace named ‘Zhu Qinglai.’ His Highness probably didn’t know about it either.”

The Crown Prince didn’t know, but a mere guest of the Crown Prince could protect a human trafficking organization, contact the Eastern Capital Prefecture Governor, and even threaten a sixth-rank court official.

Qingya’s words ostensibly protected Li Shangwen, but they made Li Zong’s face darken instantly.

Zhang Yiran’s character was known to all in court. Though the Supervision Department was feared by many, it never handled cases without evidence. If it could reach the stage of “about to close,” the evidence must be conclusive.

No one present dared say more. Li Shangwen thought for a moment, then immediately knelt and kowtowed urgently: “Father Emperor, your son failed to manage subordinates properly. Your son acknowledges his fault!”

“Is it only failure to manage subordinates?”

Xie Heng glanced at him and said lightly: “A few months ago, the Supervision Department also received a case about a courtesan from Eighteenth Alley, Yan Sanhong. Does Your Highness remember?”

Li Shangwen’s face turned pale. Xie Heng continued calmly: “She was strangled and thrown into the river, but she clutched a ring in her hand.” He looked up. “It was yours, Crown Prince.”

“Xie Heng!”

Hearing this, Li Shangwen angrily shouted: “When did your Supervision Department start managing even prostitutes? What are your intentions today?!”

“Isn’t a prostitute’s life still a life?!” Xie Heng’s expression turned cold, angrily raising his voice. “Is this how Your Highness views the lives of your subjects?!”

“She was just a prostitute!” Li Shangwen slammed the ground. “Lives have nobility and baseness, Xie Heng, don’t go too far.”

“Did you kill her or not?”

Xie Heng asked directly. Li Shangwen immediately retorted excitedly: “No!”

“Good,” Xie Heng nodded. “The Supervision Department took fingerprints from Yan Sanhong’s neck. Would Your Highness be willing to come to the Supervision Department for verification?”

“Director Xie,” Wang Shenfeng, who had been silent, finally spoke up to remind him: “This is the Crown Prince. Director Xie is a minister. Please remember, Director Xie, that there are distinctions between ruler and subject.”

“The ruler is above,” Xie Heng turned his gaze and looked coldly at Wang Shenfeng. “The ruler specially granted the Supervision Department authority over all criminal law and supervision. Xie Heng’s ruler is the Son of Heaven. Lord Wang, is the Crown Prince your ruler?”

“Enough.”

Li Zong raised his hand to stop their argument. “Today’s hearing of the Qin family case is nearly complete. The Qin family was wrongly accused—the Supervision Department will compile and report this. Fengyu Pavilion falsely accused the Qin family and deserves death by law. As for the mastermind behind Fengyu Pavilion…”

Li Zong lowered his gaze, deliberating: “The Supervision Department will continue investigating. Regardless of nobility or rank, the Supervision Department may arrest anyone. This case must be thoroughly investigated to uphold national integrity.”

Hearing this, the Wang family members present turned pale.

“May arrest anyone”…

Now the Wang family bore the brunt. Randomly arresting any one of them for interrogation under torture was something the Wang family didn’t want to see.

Moreover, if the Wang family’s secrets were truly exposed, they would only have two paths: rebellion or surrendering the main culprit.

Rebellion now would bring more harm than benefit. The Wang family stood alone, and even mutual destruction with the Li family would only benefit others.

But to surrender someone—who?

Everyone had their calculations.

Li Shangwen heard the silence behind him and realized something was wrong. Though he was lustful and weak, he had been in the Crown Prince position for years. He instinctively turned around and saw his uncle Wang Shenfeng’s somewhat reluctant expression.

Li Shangwen’s heart trembled, then he heard a young man emerge from the Imperial Censorate ranks and respectfully say: “Your Majesty, this minister has a memorial to present.”

At these words, everyone looked over.

This was Attending Censor Lin Min, whose wife was Wang Shenfeng’s third daughter, making him one of the Wang family’s closest sons-in-law.

His stepping forward at this time caused various expressions among the crowd. Li Zong thoughtfully raised his hand: “Speak.”

Lin Min bowed and said calmly: “Previously, when this minister was playing chess with the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace, I discovered secret correspondence between the Crown Prince and Fengyu Pavilion. Due to the Crown Prince’s noble status, this minister dared not rashly conclude. Today, hearing the public trial, I fear this letter may be related to the case, so I dare not hide it. I request Your Majesty immediately seal off the Eastern Palace for a search to ensure the letter hasn’t been destroyed.”

Hearing this, Li Shangwen angrily turned: “Lin Min!”

Lin Min remained kowtowing motionless. Li Zong coldly said, “Grand Eunuch Yang, take people from the Imperial Household Department and the Supervision Department to the Eastern Palace.”

Yang Chun, standing above, bowed and walked down from the upper part of the hall. Xie Heng glanced at Xuanshan, who turned to follow.

The Imperial Household Department and Supervision Department searched together, and in less than a quarter-hour, they had turned the Eastern Palace upside down. Yang Chun then led people back with documents, placing them before Li Zong and respectfully saying: “Your Majesty, we found them.”

Hearing this, Li Shangwen stared blankly at that letter, incredulous.

He knew about the Qin family case, but Fengyu Pavilion had never been contacted by him—there couldn’t be such physical evidence as correspondence.

This was a frame-up, definitely a frame-up!

No…

Li Shangwen paused, suddenly realizing he had written something.

One day, when his mother had a headache, he helped copy a letter…

Realizing this, Li Shangwen stared blankly upward, meeting Li Zong’s cold gaze as he looked up from the documents.

“Li Shangwen,” Li Zong called him by name, violently throwing the letter at his head and angrily shouting: “What do you have to say?!”

Li Shangwen scrambled forward to see the letter he had written in his hand.

Luo Wanqing glanced at it—it was indeed instructing Xiang Sizi to send Zhang Jiuran to infiltrate Qin Jue’s circle.

Seeing this letter, he began shaking his head frantically: “No, this wasn’t me, it was Mother Empress…”

“Crown Prince!” Wang Shenfeng looked over coldly. “Stop talking nonsense. If you truly did this, confess!”

Li Shangwen was stunned. Wang Shenfeng reminded him: “The Crown Prince is young. When you make mistakes, you should accept punishment. His Majesty is your father and won’t make things difficult for you. Tell the truth!”

Li Shangwen froze, understanding the meaning in Wang Shenfeng’s words.

He was the Crown Prince, his father was the Son of Heaven, and his mother was still the Empress. As long as they remained and helped him, he still had a chance to live.

Even if he wasn’t the Crown Prince, he was still a prince—he could live well.

Now the Supervision Department was determined to pin this on him, everyone was determined to pin this on him. They couldn’t sacrifice the entire Wang family for him alone.

The decision to abandon the chariot to save the commander was already made—he was destined to be the sacrificial pawn.

If he cooperated with the Wang family, he could still live. If he didn’t cooperate, the Wang family wouldn’t protect him. Even if he dragged his mother down with him, he would still die.

Realizing this, Li Shangwen trembled and lowered his head.

He looked at the letter in his hands, his face pale. After a long time, he knelt and kowtowed, saying hoarsely: “Your son confesses.”

“It was truly you?”

Li Zong frowned.

“Yes.”

“You acted alone?!” Li Zong couldn’t believe it.

Li Shangwen trembled but still gritted his teeth: “Yes.”

“Why?” Li Zong couldn’t understand. “You are the heir to the nation—why would you go to such lengths to frame the Qin family?”

“Your son… your son was also deceived by others.” The Crown Prince closed his eyes and began weaving half-truths and accusations. “Your son’s concubine, Lady Jiang, in the residence, comes from a famous Jiangnan family. The two families often had disputes in Jiangnan. Three years ago, Qin Wenyan executed Lady Jiang’s father. Lady Jiang was heartbroken, and your son, deceived by Lady Jiang’s words, believed in a moment of anger that the Qin family had falsely accused Jiang’s father, so I wanted to use their methods against them, therefore…”

The Crown Prince kowtowed on the ground: “Your son knows his error and begs Father Emperor for mercy!”

“Lady Jiang, that demon woman, misled the ruler!” Wang Shenfeng sighed upon hearing this. “Your Highness was confused.”

“Your son was wrong.” Li Shangwen’s head struck the ground repeatedly. “I beg Father Emperor for mercy!”

Wang Shenfeng was first to kneel, respectfully saying: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is young and ignorant, deceived by others. Though he committed great errors, the Crown Prince is still of imperial blood, pure-hearted by nature. In the past, he has done many good deeds in disaster relief and helping people. Now, weighing merits against faults, I hope Your Majesty will show mercy.”

At this, many in the court knelt, beginning to plead for the Emperor’s mercy.

Li Zong suppressed his temper and said nothing. In the wave of pleas for mercy, Qin Jue slowly stood up.

Noticing his movement, the voices gradually quieted as everyone looked toward Qin Jue.

Qin Jue raised his head, looking at Li Zong on the throne, and said calmly: “Your Majesty, do you know how many people the Qin family originally had?”

Li Zong paused. Qin Jue’s eyes reddened: “I had one older sister, one younger sister, plus branch relatives—over one hundred forty people. Of over one hundred forty people, fewer than seventy remain, all imprisoned in Jiangnan jails. And my family,” Qin Jue placed his hand on his chest, “only I remain. Seventy-three lives…”

Qin Jue smiled: “Just because of the Crown Prince’s momentary anger? How long was the Crown Prince’s ‘momentary’—long enough to be so calculating? Lady Jiang deceived the ruler, but didn’t the Crown Prince personally inquire why Lady Jiang’s father was executed by my father?”

“That Lady Jiang,” Qin Jue pointed south with a trembling hand, “was executed because he sent private soldiers to massacre over a hundred people in one night to seize farmland—such a shocking case that stirred public outrage, yet you, as heir apparent, didn’t know?! It was clearly because the Jiang family paid annual tribute to the Eastern Palace, and my Qin family blocked your source of wealth! Now you use a woman as your shield—is this what the heir of Great Xia amounts to?!”

“Qin Jue!” Li Shangwen angrily shouted, raising his head. “What do you want then?”

“I want you dead!” Qin Jue roared. “I want all those involved in this matter to pay blood for blood, life for life!”

“Pay with life?” Li Shangwen laughed upon hearing this, standing up. He pointed at Zhang Jiuran nearby: “She deceived you, played you like a fool, yet you don’t want her to pay with her life, but you want me to pay with mine?”

Qin Jue froze, and just as Li Shangwen was about to speak, Zhang Jiuran said: “Naturally, it must be paid.”

Li Shangwen was stunned, then saw Zhang Jiuran stand and turn toward Qin Jue, respectfully kneeling and performing a grand bow.

“Jiuran deceived the young master years ago, causing harm to his entire family. This was Jiuran’s fault. Jiuran’s sins are deep.”

Qin Jue looked at the person kneeling before him, his hands trembling slightly as he said hoarsely: “You… were deceived by others…”

“It’s the same.” Zhang Jiuran shook her head. “Whether I was deceived or not, the dead are dead. Jiuran has preserved her life until now only for the young master. Now I’ve said all I know, I’ve done all I can. Jiuran dares not seek the young master’s forgiveness, only hoping that in the future, the young master will forget the past, resolve his heart’s knots, marry and have children, and live out this life. Zhang Jiuran—”

Zhang Jiuran knelt before him, raising her head. The black cloth over her eyes fell along her cheeks as she bathed in the morning light, like a white crane spreading its wings, carrying a layer of soft radiance.

Everyone was drawn by her movement, but only Luo Wanqing sensed something was wrong. Her heart raced as she rushed forward, but in that instant, Zhang Jiuran’s palm slashed fiercely across her neck!

“As you wished, blood debt paid with blood.”

“No!”

Qin Jue and Zhang Jiuran’s voices rang out simultaneously. Luo Wanqing lunged toward Zhang Jiuran, but Zhang Jiuran was faster—the blade hidden between her fingers sliced sharply across her neck, blood spraying out.

Her blood splattered on Luo Wanqing’s face, on Qin Jue’s white robes, across the entire hall floor.

Luo Wanqing’s hand crossed paths with her blade, missing by just a fraction.

Through the crimson blood, she stared blankly at Zhang Jiuran falling to the ground.

Zhang Yiran and Xie Heng both rushed over. Zhang Yiran called out frantically: “Sister! Sister!”

Xie Heng grabbed Zhang Jiuran’s arm, channeling his internal energy into her body to protect her heart meridian, ordering Zhuque to call for imperial physicians.

Only Qin Jue stood there dazed, watching the woman before him, walking step by step to her side.

She listened to the sounds around her, trembling as she tried to remove the black cloth covering her eyes.

The doctor had said her eyes were nearly healed, but couldn’t be exposed to strong light, so she had been using black cloth to shield them these past days.

But she had no future left.

She wanted to see him once.

To see him, to see Zhang Yiran, to see Luo Wanqing…

She felt life flowing away, struggling with all her might to touch that black cloth, the darkness covering her eyes, the gloom that had shrouded her entire life.

But she couldn’t move.

She tried so hard, yet couldn’t even touch that black cloth. Even lifting her hand was beyond hope.

She felt life ebbing away in the darkness, until moments later, the black cloth was suddenly yanked away.

Light instantly pierced her eyes, the brightness making tears flow.

She embraced this grand radiance with all her strength, seeing the weeping Zhang Yiran, seeing Luo Wanqing with blood on her face, and finally, she saw Qin Jue kneeling beside her.

He was still the same as when she first met him—gentle, kind, even facing her, his enemy, with compassion in his expression.

Looking at him, she couldn’t help but smile.

“You could have lived.”

Qin Jue clenched his fists, saying hoarsely: “You were only an accomplice, and willing to testify. Director Xie said you could be exiled—your crime wasn’t worthy of death.”

“I know.”

Zhang Jiuran’s voice was very soft as she extended her hand, gently placing it on the back of his hand.

“I know you’re soft-hearted,” she looked at him tenderly, as if understanding everything. “But from now on, neither of us will have nightmares anymore.”

Hearing this, Qin Jue trembled violently.

He looked up at her in disbelief.

She knew.

It was he who had been caring for her—he had never wanted her to die.

But she also knew that every night, he had nightmares.

In his dreams, he saw those who had died, repeatedly questioning himself about right and wrong. Night after night he would wake wanting to kill her, only to flee in panic when he saw her lying on the bed with severed meridians.

She had known all of this.

She pretended not to know, calmly accepting his care, joking with Luo Wanqing, acting as if nothing had happened while peacefully waiting for the public trial—all for this moment.

She had never thought of living.

She knew he was soft-hearted, so the person he couldn’t kill, she would help him kill.

Including herself.

She had never changed her mind about dying—not in prison, not at Huguo Temple, not after being saved by Qin Jue and regaining consciousness, not even now.

She had always only hoped that her death would be more valuable, able to repay more.

The fact that she had harmed Qin Jue’s family was unchangeable. For Zhang Jiuran, unable to forgive herself, there was never a path to life.

In the past, she had only wanted to die after avenging her father. Later, she wanted to die after helping Luo Wanqing. Now, she wanted to die after helping Qin Jue get his revenge.

Hearing her words, Qin Jue’s tears fell like rain.

He told himself he couldn’t cry—he couldn’t shed tears for this enemy.

But he couldn’t do it.

Zhang Jiuran watched his tears fall, then turned to see Zhang Yiran crying his heart out, and said hoarsely: “I’m sorry… Yiran… don’t tell Mother…”

“But she knows!” Zhang Yiran cried until he couldn’t see clearly. “Mother has always known you were alive. She sent you so many things every time, she waits for you to come home every day—she knows!”

Zhang Jiuran was stunned. Hearing this, she struggled to raise her eyes toward outside the palace.

She couldn’t see anymore.

She couldn’t see her mother, and she couldn’t go back.

The imperial physician hurried over. She watched the clouds drift outside the palace.

Somehow, she suddenly had a thought.

She seemed like she should have been a person who died in the northwest.

Quietly and alone, dying under a poplar tree, with no one knowing, no one remembering.

Yet at this moment, she had been able to return, to see her family, to bid farewell to Qin Jue, to hear Zhang Yiran call her sister, to do something for Qin Jue and for the wrongs she had committed.

She had eaten the little wontons she wanted to eat, drunk the wine she wanted to drink, and learned that family was waiting for her.

Zhang Jiuran suddenly realized something. She turned her head and looked up at Luo Wanqing, who stood silently behind them.

She smiled brilliantly. Sunlight fell into the great hall. She opened her mouth, said two words, then slowly closed her eyes.

Seeing those two words, Luo Wanqing’s tears burst forth.

Her hands trembled slightly as she struggled with all her might to control herself and not lose composure.

Just then, Li Shangwen nervously called out: “How did she bring that blade in?! She used to be an assassin—how could you let her bring a blade in? What if she had tried to assassinate someone?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing trembled. She felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet. She looked up incredulously at Li Shangwen, who seemed like a survivor of disaster.

How did she bring the blade in?

She was dead—Zhang Jiuran had died here, her blood still on the hall floor—yet Li Shangwen’s concern was only how she had brought the blade in?!

Fury rose within her. She suddenly felt Zhang Jiuran had been wrong.

She shouldn’t have killed herself—she should have personally slain this bastard before her!

She should have killed him.

But she knew it was impossible.

If Zhang Jiuran had assassinated the Crown Prince, Zhang Yiran, Aunt Zhao, her family, none of them would have escaped.

The only person she could kill was herself.

Luo Wanqing stared fixedly at Li Shangwen. Li Shangwen grew somewhat flustered and said: “What are you looking at? This is the great hall!”

“Beloved Minister Xie?”

Li Zong spoke from above, but it wasn’t the rebuke Luo Wanqing expected. He calmly inquired: “Where did the blade come from?”

Xie Heng paused.

Luo Wanqing looked at him and saw his hand on Zhang Jiuran’s now-still pulse.

He lowered his eyes, looking at Zhang Jiuran’s wounded arm. After a moment, he stood up and said calmly: “She had a wound on her arm. She hid the blade within the wound and brought it into the hall.”

“I see.” Li Zong nodded, frowning. “In the future, wounds on such people must also be examined. Fortunately, today she only committed suicide. If it had been an assassination attempt, that would have been troublesome.”

Fortunately, she had only committed suicide.

Luo Wanqing lowered her head, feeling like laughing.

She watched as the imperial physician came up, guards carried away the weeping Zhang Yiran, and the crowd hurriedly bore Zhang Jiuran away.

She suddenly felt an inexpressible sorrow welling up.

Zhang Jiuran’s life, Qin Jue’s life—here, they were nothing more than a few names.

They didn’t care.

Those without power or influence, the dead—they cared about none of them.

Zhang Jiuran’s blood was still on the hall floor, yet what they discussed was only where her blade had come from.

And—

Fortunately, she had only committed suicide.

Luo Wanqing clenched her fists tightly, suppressing all emotions as she stood in the hall, hearing Li Zong above say: “Very well, I understand everything now. Crown Prince, what you did was excessive.”

“Father Emperor, forgive me.”

Li Shangwen knelt on the ground, frantically kowtowing and saying hoarsely: “Your son knows his error. Your son was all deceived by Lady Jiang. I beg Father Emperor’s forgiveness!”

“As Crown Prince, you should be a model for all under Heaven. But instead of leading by example, you indulged in feminine charms, falsely accused the loyal and good, framed the Qin family, causing their entire clan to die unjustly. By law, you deserve death!”

Li Zong’s voice suddenly turned stern. Li Shangwen panicked and began weeping, crying out urgently: “Father Emperor!”

Li Zong looked at the sobbing Li Shangwen, his movements pausing slightly.

This child—he had watched him grow up from childhood.

He stared at Li Shangwen, thought for a moment, then glanced at Wang Shenfeng.

That the Wang family could voluntarily hand over Li Shangwen was already their limit. The Wang family had retreated a step—he couldn’t go too far either.

And after all, this was his son.

Li Zong pressed his lips together. After a long time, he finally said: “But considering that you are still young, of gentle nature, and in your past position as heir apparent, you did many good deeds—weighing merits against faults, I hereby strip you of your Crown Prince position. Go to the imperial mausoleum and serve our ancestors with filial piety.”

Guarding the imperial mausoleum was also a form of house arrest.

But for Li Shangwen, this was already an excellent outcome.

He breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said: “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

Hearing this, Qin Jue looked up numbly. He instinctively tried to stand but was firmly held down by Xie Heng.

“Qin Jue,” Xie Heng said coldly, “thank His Majesty for his grace.”

Hearing this, Qin Jue trembled all over. Luo Wanqing turned to see Qin Jue bend his spine inch by inch, laughing through tears as he cried out: “Thank His Majesty for his grace!”

This voice cut into Luo Wanqing’s heart like a blade. She looked at the hall floor covered in fresh blood and slowly closed her eyes.

“As for others involved in related cases,” Li Zong looked up at Xie Heng, “Beloved Minister Xie, this case is entrusted to the Supervision Department for thorough investigation.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng bowed his head and responded: “Yes.”

“And Zhang Yiran…” Li Zong considered. “Though Zhang Jiuran was a criminal of poor character, she was also deceived by others. Now that she has paid with her death, it can be considered settled. Zhang Yiran could clearly have disowned Zhang Jiuran and chosen to protect himself, yet he pursued the way of a gentleman—he is a person complete in loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness. Zhang Jiuran’s matter should not implicate him, I believe. Let him remain in his original position.”

Li Zong looked up at everyone: “Do you beloved ministers have any other thoughts?”

No one present responded.

The Crown Prince was finished. Whether the remaining Li Shangwen lived or died, no one cared. Today’s goals had been achieved—no one wanted to speak up at this moment.

Seeing that no one spoke, Li Zong nodded and waved his hand: “Then court is dismissed. I am also weary.”

Yang Chun came forward to help Li Zong up, and everyone saw the emperor off.

After Li Zong left, everyone dispersed. Luo Wanqing stood motionless before Zhang Jiuran’s blood.

Xie Heng approached and sighed: “Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing bowed respectfully. Her expression showed no abnormality—only her tightly clenched fists betrayed her emotions.

Xie Heng hesitated for a moment, then turned to lead her out of the palace. Just as they exited the palace gates, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but ask: “Young Master, the Crown Prince didn’t die—won’t you be unwilling?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng didn’t turn back. Walking ahead, he said calmly: “Deposing the Crown Prince is sufficient.”

Deposing the Crown Prince and killing the Crown Prince made no difference to him.

With the Crown Prince’s position vacant, the succession struggle would begin anew. He had the opportunity to divide the Crown Prince’s forces—for Xie Heng, this was enough.

He wasn’t seeking justice for the Qin family.

He was only after power.

Just like when he had slaughtered the Cui family years ago to establish the Supervision Department, and just like his concern for Luo Wanqing, everything in his hands was merely chess pieces.

These nobles—nobles-the high and mighty power holders—cared only about how Zhang Jiuran had brought her blade up.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t breathe. She clenched her fists tightly, controlling her emotions.

By the time they reached outside the palace, Luo Wanqing’s face showed no trace of disturbance.

Upon exiting the palace gates, Luo Wanqing saw Zhang Yiran wrestling with Xuanshan over something.

She and Xie Heng approached to see Zhang Yiran pressing down on Zhang Jiuran’s stretcher, gritting his teeth: “This is my sister. Today I’m taking her home. Let go!”

“This is a major criminal of the Supervision Department,” Xuanshan frowned with some anger. “Even if you want to claim the body, you must wait for the autopsy…”

“Chief Xuanshan.” Luo Wanqing interrupted.

Xuanshan turned to look, and seeing Xie Heng, immediately turned to bow: “Young Master.”

“What’s this about?”

Xie Heng glanced at the deadlocked people. Xuanshan reported truthfully: “Lord Zhang wants to take Zhang Jiuran’s body home, but according to regulations, Zhang Jiuran must first be taken to the Supervision Department. After the Supervision Department conducts an autopsy to confirm Zhang Jiuran’s death and verifies the relative’s identity, they will then notify the relative to claim the body.”

“How long will that take?” Zhang Yiran stared at Xuanshan. “When? What else will you do to her?”

“Lord Zhang.”

Understanding the situation, Luo Wanqing looked up at Zhang Yiran and reminded him: “Jiuran doesn’t want Aunt Zhao to know.”

This made Zhang Yiran freeze. Luo Wanqing said calmly, “Aunt Zhao can still wait now.”

Living with hope day after day was better than watching her daughter leave.

Zhang Yiran was speechless. Luo Wanqing turned to look at Qin Jue, who had been standing aside.

His expression was calm, as if he had left with Zhang Jiuran.

Sensing Luo Wanqing’s gaze, Qin Jue looked up.

“If I remember correctly,” Luo Wanqing asked him, “you should have filed papers at the government office—she is your wife.”

Qin Jue was stunned, then he slowly smiled.

Tears filled his eyes as he said hoarsely: “Yes.”

He raised his hand, crying and trembling as he laughed: “She is my wife, she is finally my wife…”

“Then go back to the Supervision Department and wait for notification. Young Master Qin will handle the funeral arrangements. Lord Zhang, when you find an opportunity,” Luo Wanqing turned and said hoarsely, “bring Aunt Zhao to pay respects to this friend.”

Zhang Yiran stared at Luo Wanqing.

He knew Luo Wanqing was right—there was no better solution.

His mother wouldn’t hear about these court events, nor would she know that Zhang Jiuran had once appeared so briefly and openly.

She could continue living as before, waiting daily for her daughter’s return.

His lips trembled lightly. After a long time, he could only raise his hand, bow to Luo Wanqing, and say hoarsely: “I will follow Inspector Liu’s arrangements.”

Luo Wanqing nodded. After arranging everything for everyone, she retreated behind Xie Heng.

Xie Heng glanced at her and said lightly, “You should ride in my carriage.”

Luo Wanqing was very calm and responded: “Yes.”

She followed Xie Heng onto the carriage one after the other.

After boarding, Xie Heng was also silent for a moment, then said slowly: “The Crown Prince is just a chess piece—he’s just someone the people behind him pushed out to protect others. Whether it’s Zhang Qiuzhi’s death or Fengyu Pavilion’s mastermind, the Crown Prince is insignificant. You needn’t concern yourself with his life or death.”

“This subordinate understands.”

Luo Wanqing answered appropriately, as if Zhang Jiuran’s matter had nothing to do with her.

Seeing her impervious response, Xie Heng thought for a moment and changed the subject, speaking in a business-like manner: “Did the Dark Pavilion yield anything?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s movements paused slightly. She thought of that roster and momentarily didn’t know whether to hand it over.

Handing it over could confirm Jiang Fengwan’s identity as a death-sworn warrior.

But it would also prove her father’s identity as a death-sworn warrior.

But what of it?

The Luo family was all gone. Now the one alive was Liu Xiniang—a Luo family member who had changed her name. Even if they knew her father had been a Wang family spy planted in the Cui family, besides proving the Wang family had ulterior motives in the Cui family incident years ago, what else could happen?

If it could bring down the Wang family, then Li Guiyu would truly lose all support.

After calculating in her mind, Luo Wanqing reached a decision and said calmly: “We seized a roster of Wang family death-sworn warriors.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked up: “Where is it?”

Knowing Xie Heng was interested in this item, Luo Wanqing reached into her garment: “It’s here…”

Before finishing her words, Luo Wanqing froze.

Xie Heng sensed something was wrong and looked at where her hand had gone into her clothing, frowning: “What’s wrong?”

Luo Wanqing pulled out a handful of paper fragments that had been shattered to pieces, her face extremely grim.

Seeing this, Xie Heng understood what had happened and thought for a moment: “If Li Guiyu’s sword today had been aimed at you, you should be dead now. Long-distance internal force strikes—someone of his level can indeed achieve this.”

When she escaped, his sword hadn’t been aimed at her, but at the roster in her garment.

Having fought so hard to bring something out only to have it destroyed, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help feeling angry. She pressed her lips tight and said nothing. Xie Heng felt somewhat amused.

Looking at her expression, Xie Heng inexplicably wanted to laugh, though he felt it inappropriate.

He lowered his head to drink tea, concealing his emotions, and said lightly: “Put it back. Don’t lose the fragments. Later, have Zhuque find professional craftsmen to paste it together—perhaps it can still be used.”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing kept her head down and said no more.

Xie Heng thought for a moment and asked: “Didn’t sleep all night?”

“Yes.”

“Then sleep.” Xie Heng pointed to a small couch nearby and said lightly, “Zhuque usually sleeps there.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t move. Xie Heng looked up, his tone commanding: “Sleep.”

Sensing Xie Heng’s firm attitude, Luo Wanqing didn’t argue with him. She got up and lay down on the nearby couch, covering herself with a blanket and turning her back to Xie Heng.

Seeing her lie down, Xie Heng’s heart softened somewhat. He thought for a moment and said quietly to comfort her, “Regarding Zhang Jiuran’s matter, you’ve already done very well. People each have their destiny—don’t let it weigh on your mind.”

Each has their destiny…

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing wanted to laugh.

Destiny?

What is fate?

Her fate was supposed to be exile to Lingnan in her previous life, waiting to die. It was Zhang Jiuran who had fought desperately to change all that.

She had given Luo Wanqing all her internal energy, sent her on this path to heaven, and given Luo Wanqing everything she needed as Liu Xiniang in the beginning. And in the end, she still had to say “thank you” to her?

Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, remembering Zhang Jiuran turning back in that final radiance to say “thank you.”

Thank you?

What did Luo Wanqing have that Zhang Jiuran should thank her for?

She couldn’t save her, couldn’t change Zhang Jiuran’s fate.

Everything she had done seemed only to watch Zhang Jiuran’s destiny reach the same end through different paths.

In her previous life, Zhang Jiuran died in the northwest.

This time, Zhang Jiuran died in the court.

But no matter where she died, she still died in the end.

Everything Luo Wanqing had fought desperately to do was meaningless.

She had desperately sought “blood for blood” justice for Qin Jue, yet let alone the Empress behind it all or the Wang family—even this sacrificial pawn of a Crown Prince who had been pushed forward, “blood for blood” seemed like a joke.

Her blood had splattered throughout the hall, but not one person in power had seen it.

They only cared about how she had brought the blade in.

Zhang Jiuran’s life, the Luo family’s life—their lives to these power holders were like ants crushed on the roadside.

Even if they desperately splashed blood on their shoes, they wouldn’t realize they had trampled these insects to death.

She knew this.

In prison, when she met that official and heard him say, “Today’s Great Xia will not be moved by the death of a commoner to implicate a minister or even a prince,” she understood.

But when Zhang Jiuran showed her this hierarchy of life in such a sharp and direct way, she still couldn’t help trembling with rage.

She felt she had to do something.

She had to do something to be worthy of this path she had climbed, to be worthy of everything Zhang Jiuran had given her.

If even now, everything she could do was still the same as before—just watching and waiting—then what was the point of reaching this day?

Luo Wanqing silently rubbed the Qianji bracelet, feeling a fire burning in her chest. She had to do something to extinguish it.

Do what?

Blood surged in her chest as images of Xie Heng’s crimes from her previous life flashed through her mind.

“Assassinate the Crown Prince.”

When this thought arose, she felt sudden joy.

Yes, he should die. Li Shangwen should die.

He killed Yan Sanhong, and he harmed so many people. Zhang Jiuran died seeking his death—why shouldn’t he die?

Because he was noble? Because he had an Empress mother? Because he was born into an aristocratic family?

But hadn’t he died in her previous life, too?

If Zhang Jiuran was destined for her fate, then why should Li Shangwen live?

At this thought, Luo Wanqing’s heart suddenly calmed.

She pulled the blanket tight, closed her eyes, and made her decision.

She would go kill him.

Since all of them—

The Emperor, the ministers, even Xie Heng, regarded their lives as grass.

Then she did not need to follow their rules either.

When a common man rages, at least three zhang of blood will splatter.

She would kill him.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Baili: “Fool, you like her!! Do you want me to shout it through a megaphone?!! You don’t like her but only want to sleep with her?!! You ten-thousand-year bachelor, use your brain!!”

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “I’m willing to follow Young Master through mountains of blades and seas of fire, to accomplish great things together!”

Xie Heng: “Holy shit, she’s confessing to me, she likes me!”