When crane’s crest red takes effect, ordinary people would roll in pain, crashing against the prison door making sounds.

Lu Huating watched him motionlessly, listening to this cruel commotion until fresh blood sprayed onto a sheet of sized rice paper laid outside the cell, like a plum blossom painting.

Until the commotion stopped for a long while and the bloodstains dried, Lu Huating finally rose, bent down to pick up this sheet of sized rice paper, held it up to admire it, and carried it toward the other side.

For a moment all was silent, leaving only amplified heartbeats, one after another. The cold sweat on his back had already dried.

Neither painful nor empty, only a deep fatigue, just like every time he won a chess match. He glanced at the continuously falling snow outside the window. The day his mother left had also been a snowy day. The surging emotions in his chest became a fishy taste rising to his throat, which he swallowed back down.

Previously he hadn’t known how long he could live. Victory was only a moment’s joy—afterward he always felt it meaningless. But this time was different.

His hand accidentally touched the embroidery thread on the sachet. Thinking of the half snake head on it, he actually curved his lips, then quickly suppressed it.

“Shall we return?” Zhu Su asked.

The light in the prison was dim. Lu Huating’s face was pale as plain jade: “You go report to His Majesty that Meng Guangshen has been executed.”

Zhu Su looked at him: “What Prime Minister Meng said might not be true.”

“I know. This person’s mouth was full of lies—even in death he wanted to manipulate me. If I were disturbed by him, wouldn’t that fulfill his wish?” Lu Huating’s eyes were extremely dark, his steps unceasing. “I’ll verify this matter myself. Don’t let her know for now.”

If it was false, it held no meaning. If it was true… then it was his grievance with Zhu Ying, nothing to do with Qun Qing. Right now Zhu Ying hadn’t been found yet—why needlessly add complications?

“Is my lord going to the Deposed Crown Prince’s place?” Zhu Su followed him all the way to the cell holding Li Xuan. The Jinwu Guards received the fish tally and opened the bronze door. Lu Huating also entered.

Inside the secret hall, the Court of Judicial Review had been secretly interrogating Li Xuan for over half a month, aiming to obtain a confession of the Deposed Crown Prince’s misconduct at the Qingjing Temple so His Majesty could render judgment and determine his crimes.

However, Li Xuan refused to confess, which gave the Crown Prince faction outside an opportunity to make trouble.

“Outside, the Crown Prince faction cries injustice for the Deposed Crown Prince daily—it’s become a thorn in His Majesty’s side. Do you think a mere Meng Guangshen would be worth His Majesty specially issuing an edict summoning me?” Lu Huating said, taking out Li Huan’s written order and placing it at the corner of the desk, smiling. “His Majesty understands best what I’m skilled at.”

Li Huan acted swiftly and decisively. Seeing Li Huan’s written order, everyone rose and bowed. At the desk’s edge, Xiao Jingxing set down his brush and stood up. He had now assumed the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, his features even more resolute, but his pair of distinguished eyebrows knitted together. He said in a low voice: “Why are you still wading into these murky waters? Afraid the reputation of harsh official won’t spread far enough? If the Deposed Crown Prince meets with any misfortune related to you, aren’t you afraid of making enemies?”

Following his gaze, Lu Huating saw Li Xuan and behind him, on the damp wall, poetry written with blood from bitten fingertips. Li Xuan’s calligraphy was powerful and vigorous—written in blood it was even more blood-weeping word by word, crying out the injustice of being harmed. If this poem spread, even more people might take the opportunity to cause chaos.

Lu Huating had Xiao Jingxing give Li Xuan that paper stained with Meng Guangshen’s blood.

The former Crown Prince sat colorlessly among the grass. For many days no one had helped him wash—he had lost much weight, but his pair of phoenix eyes still burned like fire, full of unwillingness. Even knowing this day would eventually come, the hand holding the paper trembled, making his shackles clatter: “The Grand Tutor is finally dead. Now it’s my turn?”

Lu Huating said: “This subject is only assisting the Minister of Judicial Review with interrogation. I hope Your Highness will sign the confession soon.”

Li Xuan smiled: “I have committed no crime, so naturally I won’t confess. How can my reputation be smeared by others at will? Otherwise, just kill me or torture me. Isn’t this what Lord Lu is most skilled at?”

Xiao Jingxing quickly shook his head at Lu Huating.

Li Huan wanted evidence and reason to convince the realm and overturn his own reputation for brutality. Who knew Li Xuan would not comply with Li Huan’s wishes? Perhaps knowing there were still people working for him outside, he refused to give up that thread of hope. Going days without food or water, he still wouldn’t confess. It seemed Li Xuan’s character was too hard—even under torture he wouldn’t sign.

Matters involving the Deposed Crown Prince—any carelessness would provoke imperial fury and implicate oneself.

Lu Huating observed Li Xuan with dark eyes. After a long while he said: “That day Your Highness begged His Majesty to spare Consort Zheng and her child. His Majesty fulfilled your wish. Does Your Highness know that Li Zhang is currently being raised in this subject’s mansion?”

Li Xuan’s expression cooled, hearing the threatening intent within.

“A several-month-old infant, weak and sickly, crying all day. My wife personally cares for him and even saved his life from a spy’s hands. After this subject finishes duty, I often go see him. He’s now being raised very well. Between his brows and eyes, he resembles Consort Zheng.”

“Your Highness hasn’t seen him yet, have you?” Lu Huating said. “Truly a pity. Originally Consort Zheng just struggled to find a way to live, but who knew because of Your Highness, mother and child will soon die at Yellow Springs. If so, it would have been better to die on the night of the palace seizure. Why give people hope only to cruelly snatch it from their hands?”

Li Xuan suddenly laughed, interrupting him: “Yunming, with Third Prince’s character, do you think if I confess they won’t die? If I were Third Prince, I would eliminate the roots.”

“This subject cannot fathom imperial intentions, but can promise Your Highness—as long as I live, I’ll ensure they don’t die.” Lu Huating said. “You know I never lie, and you clearly know the situation is lost. Does Your Highness want to gamble, or trust me?”

Li Xuan looked at him. After a long while, his pressed lips relaxed: “I want to see Li Zhang.”

Xiao Jingxing felt this was somewhat improper, but Lu Huating ordered Zhu Su to send word.

Outside, wind and snow were dense, making rustling sounds. Yet that maid, guided by Zhu Su and Juan Su, arrived quite quickly. Her face was covered by a veil, her steps quick and soundless.

Past the bronze door, Lu Huating guarded the entrance. The moment they brushed past each other, he sensed something and grabbed her wrist.

Qun Qing steadily held the swaddled Li Zhang in one hand, allowing the other hand to experience pain. From his force she sensed incomprehension.

Incomprehension at her taking this opportunity to come in disguise. If Li Huan learned of this, it would inevitably cause turmoil.

She turned her head. The white gauze had already been lifted upward by his finger, revealing a slender jaw and vermillion lips. Lu Huating’s eyes deepened. He lowered the veil and let it flutter down, but that touch of vivid red pierced his heart: “You added makeup.”

Qun Qing didn’t deny it.

Hearing Zhu Su’s message, she had arranged her hair and changed clothes at the fastest speed, drawing her brows and dyeing her lips—the formal attire of old Chu women for official occasions.

“I know what you’re doing. I came to help you. Watch for me outside.” Qun Qing struggled. Lu Huating refused to release her: “Who asked you to help?”

“I have my own grievances to settle. Don’t obstruct me.”

Her tone brooked no argument. She gently broke free and entered the secret hall.

Lu Huating obeyed and stood outside the door, quietly watching the snow outside the window. Juan Su elbowed Zhu Su. Zhu Su winced: “You can’t blame me. In just a few words, Lord Qun figured it out herself.”

Through the railing, Li Xuan saw clearly the Li Zhang in the swaddling.

Li Zhang slept peacefully. Indeed as Lu Huating said, he was being raised very well—his thin skin showing a warm blood color.

Li Xuan stared at the infant for a good while, then suddenly spoke: “This is how you repay me?”

Qun Qing’s heart jumped. She was dressed as a maid with her face covered by a veil and hadn’t yet spoken, but Li Xuan had still recognized her.

Qun Qing said: “I will care for the Grand Prince. Only if Your Highness confesses can the Deposed Crown Princess and Grand Prince have a way to live.”

Immediately Li Xuan’s sharp gaze fell on her face, his phoenix eyes concealing pain: “Confess? In matters of victors and vanquished, what crime have I committed? I’ve wronged others, but I never wronged you. I want a reason.”

It now appeared she had been on Li Huan’s side from long ago, secretly opposing him.

Qun Qing was someone he had personally supported. He didn’t believe he had misjudged her from the start.

Qun Qing said: “Former dynasty’s ruler and subjects—if they’ve already surrendered, according to rules they cannot be killed. The people of the two wards had already opened their gates in surrender. Why still massacre the city? Qingjing Temple guard Shi Yuming had already surrendered. Why did Your Highness still kill all thirty-two people?”

Li Xuan’s breathing suddenly became rapid.

“I know that day Your Highness was controlled by Weima, your mind confused. But on the day the city fell, placing personal ambition for merit above the realm and people—from the people’s perspective, isn’t that a great crime reaching to heaven?” Qun Qing said. “Your Highness still refuses to face this matter directly—only because it’s your stain, not out of remorse. Fortunately Your Highness did not become ruler, otherwise these people would have been written off with a stroke of the pen.”

Li Xuan’s thoughts seemed to return to that day of the siege. After years of warfare, on that day of proud satisfaction, he as Crown Prince refused to let Li Huan enter the city first. Hearing Meng Guanlou say Weima could temporarily restore his body, he rashly drank it.

For years he had fallen from horses countless times, catching cold and developing fevers. This was the first time his body had surplus strength, able to shoot arrows and ride horses, just like returning to his most glorious youth. Galloping on horseback, fastening the bronze demon mask, Li Xuan felt he had become Li Huan—the Li Huan who fought everywhere and repeatedly achieved extraordinary merit. In the cold wind, he charged into the city holding his sword, enjoying the fruits of victory. He was dizzy with wild joy. The violence, bloodlust, and regret suppressed beneath his gentle surface exploded outward.

He no longer remembered what orders he gave, only remembered that roadblocks before him were all cleared away, his undergarments soaked through with fresh blood. Beyond killing, naturally he also had to use formerly lofty imperial family members to embellish the joy of victory. He knew Li Huan liked Princess Bao’an. Meng Guanlou led him to find the Qingjing Temple. Poor Princess Bao’an was right there cultivating and awaiting marriage.

“That day outside the temple, an inner attendant carrying the Princess’s verbal order went out to surrender and was killed by your sword from horseback.” Qun Qing said. “Using phosphorus fire to frighten, your horse leaped over. All the crossbow arrows had been shot—still they couldn’t stop your people. Shi Yuming used his body to block the door panel. You broke through the door on horseback and forced Princess Bao’an out with your sword.”

Li Xuan’s whole body began trembling, as if in the midst of winter: “Who are you? That day you were in the temple. Who are you?”

Qun Qing slowly lifted the white gauze with one hand, from bottom to top. A slightly spirited and gorgeous face was exposed before Li Xuan. Her dark eyes stared fixedly at him. This face gradually overlapped with that childishly pure face beside the Princess every year on Paulownia Flower Terrace. Only with growing years, soft curves had been added between brows and eyes, but her gaze was shockingly cold.

Li Xuan looked at her, his breathing nearly stopping.

After a long while, he laughed mockingly. Immediately he coughed up a mouthful of blood, filthy blood splattering on the railing.

He remembered.

That day in the temple, she spread her arms, blocking the coffin. She said the Princess had already surrendered—according to law she shouldn’t be killed. He had already killed until his eyes were red. His sword tip moved slightly, indicating she should move aside.

The fifteen-year-old girl didn’t move, only raised her face to look at him. That selfless expression like a deity made him furious, made him see his own evil. His sword entered her chest.

Afterward his heart ached obscurely. Seeming to have forgotten something, he suddenly awakened from delusion. His head splitting with pain, he was dragged and carried away from the Qingjing Temple by Meng Guanlou and Shouxi.

The next day when the incident was exposed, in the Qingjing Temple he had looked at the corpses one by one, his face pale. Among the corpses, she wasn’t there.

He comforted himself that perhaps it was only an illusion. Learning she most likely died in the palace chaos, he could also comfort himself it wasn’t by his hand.

Now Qun Qing met his gaze, making his chest churn and twist in pain, cold sweat dripping. She was yesterday’s bright moon, shattered in his own hands, the fragments burning his hands.

He looked at Qun Qing. She didn’t know why he showed such an expression. Seeing him vomit blood, she handed over a plain handkerchief.

But Li Xuan didn’t accept it, only looking at her and asking: “What about after?”

“What after?”

Li Xuan wiped his own lips, his phoenix eyes full of hollow emotions: “After leaving the palace, how did you return?”

Speaking as if they had known each other before.

Qun Qing paused for a moment and said: “After leaving the palace, I made a living through medicine halls and lived well. To meet the Princess again, when there was opportunity I returned to the Lateral Courts.”

Hearing this, Li Xuan didn’t expose it. After a long while, he nodded: “To be able to see you today brings great joy to my heart. Take the child away.”

He turned his head: “Thank you for coming to see me off.”