Qun Cang was convinced that the person before him was his daughter, and seemed to have no reason left to doubt Qun Qing.

With a glance from Li Xuan, palace maids went behind the screen and led Qun Qing out to pay her respects.

As this plainly dressed figure slowly approached, she drew sidelong glances from those around them, and Shou Xi’s expression changed once again.

A young eunuch beside them muttered first, “Why does it feel like Miss Qing looks somewhat different from before she left the palace?”

Shou Xi nervously watched Li Xuan’s expression. “Nonsense! As the saying goes, ‘A girl changes greatly as she grows.’ It’s common for one’s appearance to mature.”

Li Xuan couldn’t help but look toward her.

Qun Qing had already walked before them, and this face with soft white skin and refined elegant features clearly entered Li Xuan’s vision. It was hard to say exactly what had changed, but compared to before, she possessed an additional measure of gentle beauty and striking grace. Her eyes especially, when looking at someone, were unforgettable. “This commoner woman Qun Qing pays her respects to the Crown Prince.”

She felt Li Xuan’s gaze lingering on her face for a long time without speaking.

The slight changes in her appearance could be attributed to natural development, but could also arouse suspicion of deception. Yet having reached this point, she merely pretended as if nothing was amiss.

Then she heard Li Xuan ask, “Where did these injuries come from?”

When Qun Qing bowed, her sleeves fell open, faintly revealing bruises on her arms.

Qun Qing’s heart eased slightly as she tugged at her sleeves to cover them. “This commoner woman was captured by Chief Administrator Lu. Because I had previously helped the Crown Prince with administrative matters, his subordinates interrogated me. However, seeing that I knew nothing, they let it go.”

Li Xuan had been rotating his tea cup, but now suddenly gripped it tightly. He made no comment, but said mildly, “What about the person who left the palace with you?”

Qun Qing paused, then said, “This commoner woman misjudged people. That person took all the savings I had accumulated in the palace, abandoned me without care, and left on their own.”

Li Xuan gave a cold laugh, his throat moved slightly, and he drank a sip of cold tea.

Meng Guangshen said, “How extraordinarily convenient—every single detail seems arranged to pave the way for Miss Qing’s return to the palace.”

Qun Qing looked up inexplicably. “What does Minister Meng mean by that?”

Li Xuan lost patience. “Do you know that after you left, the Palace Administration Bureau sent your palace registration to my desk, claiming it was fraudulent and that you were actually a Nan Chu spy?”

Qun Qing reacted for a moment, then protested her innocence. “This commoner woman has been in the palace for over ten years, and my registration has existed for over ten years—it absolutely cannot be fraudulent. There are two copies of the registration. One copy was exchanged for travel documents with the Minister of Finance when I left the palace. Your Highness can request it from the Ministry of Finance for verification.”

“The Palace Administration Bureau claims I am a Nan Chu spy, but I would say the Palace Administration Bureau harbors spies. Originally, I had already left the palace and Your Highness was busy with state affairs. For them to stir up trouble at this time, making Your Highness worry over trivial matters—I hear that during this period Prince Yan has already completed revising the Great Chen Code and has gone to investigate cases in Jiangnan Circuit…”

Prince Yan was Li Xuan’s sore spot. Seeing Li Xuan’s face turn livid, Shou Xi quickly called a halt, pleading, “That’s enough, enough. We know Miss Qing is eloquent—stop talking now.”

Qun Qing pressed her lips together.

Li Xuan sneered coldly. “You care so much about me—even after being captured by Prince Yan’s people, you still worried about me. Why did you leave the palace that day?”

Qun Qing’s voice lowered considerably. “Your Highness showed this commoner woman the grace of recognition, and Qun Qing remembers it in her heart. Leaving the palace that day was simply because I had been confined in the palace since childhood and yearned for freedom. But having seen the world outside, I realized I was no longer accustomed to struggling in the marketplace, and nearly fell into someone’s trap. If Your Highness can forgive this servant’s deception, henceforth I will have absolutely no divided loyalties.”

With that, her expression resolute, she performed a deep bow.

Meng Guangshen watched her as if watching a play, because given Li Xuan’s suspicious nature, he would never again employ someone who had calculated against their master like this. However, after waiting a long time—so long that Meng Guangshen couldn’t help but glance at Li Xuan—Li Xuan, lost in thought about something, surprisingly delayed in dismissing her.

At this moment, Wang Xiang entered. Having been injured falling from a horse, his head was wrapped in bandages and his complexion was very pale. Upon seeing Qun Qing, anger rose from his heart. He knelt down and reported to Li Xuan about the Jiangnan Circuit incident. “This subordinate failed in strict management and betrayed Your Highness’s trust… That Song Wen has likely already been taken to the Court of Judicial Review’s prison.”

Meng Guangshen started, lowering his eyes without speaking. Li Xuan said not a word, but the veins on the back of his hand had already bulged. In merely seven days, Lu Huating had been able to uproot the Xuzhou case completely—how could it be so fast?

“Miss Qing should be confined first before deciding her punishment,” Meng Guangshen said.

Li Xuan’s series of coughs interrupted him.

Qun Qing’s long lashes flickered slightly. She needed to fight for her own path forward. “However Your Highness wishes to deal with this commoner woman is acceptable, but I beg that Your Highness, considering that my father has sores on both legs, temporarily not send him back to the imperial prison. Could you dispatch a physician to treat him?”

She only wanted to seek favor for Qun Cang.

The veins at Li Xuan’s temple bulged, his reddened eyes looked toward her, as if suddenly remembering she still had a blood relative. “How much do you care about this father of yours?”

Qun Qing thought for a moment, then firmly bowed down. “This commoner woman is willing to exchange her life for my father’s life.”

Qun Cang urgently called from afar, “Don’t speak such nonsense! I’m already half in the grave. You’re so young—quickly stop talking!”

Li Xuan said to Qun Qing, “What if I could grant you both a reunion?”

“Your Highness.” Meng Guangshen was quite surprised and spoke up in reminder, but Li Xuan stopped him.

Qun Qing’s expression showed astonishment as she performed another deep bow. “If Your Highness shows such great kindness, Qun Qing is willing to work for Your Highness, dedicating herself completely with absolutely no divided loyalties.”

She understood that returning this time, Li Xuan would absolutely not trust her easily. If she were truly “Qun Qing,” by controlling the family member she cared about and seeing her constrained, only then would Li Xuan feel at ease using her.

Indeed, Li Xuan said, “How will you prove it?”

Qun Qing replied, “Within one month as the deadline, this commoner woman will eliminate the Nan Chu spies within the Palace Administration Bureau to prove her innocence.”

“What else?”

“When this commoner woman returned to the palace, I heard that His Majesty now exclusively favors the new consorts. Consort Han and Consort Lü are in their prime, and palace rumors say His Majesty intends to depose the Empress, with the new Empress to be chosen between Consort Han and Consort Lü.”

Qun Qing raised her eyes to look at Li Xuan. “Consort Lü was previously on good terms with Prince Yan’s mansion, but now cracks have secretly emerged. This commoner woman believes there is an opportunity to exploit. Rather than sitting idle while these two ladies compete, it would be better to also bring Consort Lü to our side. I was previously able to persuade Consort Han, so I am confident I can win over Consort Lü.”

Li Xuan gazed at her without speaking.

“I hear that the Empress is unwilling to accept this and is preparing to find a female official to teach Consort Lü proper etiquette as punishment for her monopolizing favor.”

Qun Qing continued, “This commoner woman previously qualified for a female official position in the Palace Wardrobe Bureau and can go to Consort Lü’s palace to undertake this duty. First, I can speak well of Your Highness before Consort Lü. Second, the Crown Princess treats me like a sister, and I don’t wish to cause misunderstandings. Your Highness probably also doesn’t want me to remain serving in the Eastern Palace, correct?”

Li Xuan looked at her, suddenly began coughing again, and after quite a while, he said, “I appoint you as an eighth-rank Ceremony Assistant, serving in the Palace Etiquette Bureau, to go to Consort Lü’s palace. I’ll provide a residence for your father, request a physician to treat him, and henceforth you shall live there first.”

Qun Qing had not expected Li Xuan to be so easily persuaded by her. Her heart eased as she kowtowed in gratitude. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed that Li Xuan seemed much paler and thinner than before.

But she was unwilling to contemplate the reasons further.

Li Xuan wearily said to Wang Xiang, “Go receive your punishment.”

Meng Guangshen said, “This old minister already told Your Highness long ago that you cannot use such young commanders. Previously when Meng Guanlou was still here, matters could be discussed, but now Your Highness doesn’t even have anyone to consult with.”

Wang Xiang said, “This subject is at fault, but the fact that the silk shop in Xuzhou had problems is indisputable. Even if it weren’t me who fell into the trap, sooner or later it would have fallen into others’ hands to become leverage. If truly considering Your Highness’s interests, Minister Meng should be more careful in employing people.”

Meng Guangshen looked at him coldly. “You know nothing of this old minister’s painstaking efforts.”

“Enough.” Li Xuan had already detected the veiled criticism, pressing one hand to his brow bone as he dismissed everyone. “I am weary. Whatever matters there are can be discussed later.”

After the young eunuchs closed the heavy hall doors, only the rustling sound of incense overflowing from the censer remained in the empty Mingde Hall. Shou Xi observed carefully and quickly ordered the young eunuchs to add intoxicating layered incense. Though the windows were already closed without the slightest gap, they still could not stop Li Xuan’s series of coughs.

That afternoon, Li Xuan developed a fever without warning, and in alternating nightmares, he inexplicably returned to his youth.

Every Spring Festival, the Li family could migrate back to Chang’an from that bitter cold northern land. As the eldest son, each year it fell to him to go beneath Tonghua Terrace and ceremonially pay respects to the Emperor and Crown Prince of Chu.

The winter days were cold, his robes thin. Again and again he kowtowed, his knees numb from the cold, enduring it through gritted teeth.

Only when Princess Bao’an emerged did Li Xuan look up toward Tonghua Terrace.

Princess Bao’an had not yet left the palace for marriage, with an attendant beside her holding a round fan to shield her face. Once, Yang Fu stole a glance past the fan and met his gaze. She thought he, like everyone else in the world, admired her, and couldn’t help but blush.

Yang Fu had always thought he was looking at her.

So much so that after losing her virtue at Qingjing Temple, she even considered marrying him.

But Emperor Chu Huang’s single decree had exiled the Li family to Huaiyuan, forcing them to struggle through harsh days in that bitter cold land. How could he possibly like a Chu princess? He didn’t even have time to hate them.

That year at Tonghua Terrace, the female attendant holding the fan for Princess Bao’an stood straight and tall. She was similar in height and age to the princess. The fireworks illuminated her fair and intelligent face, her refined features reflecting the brilliant stars.

Each year Li Xuan looked at her once in the crowd—at seventeen, eighteen, nineteen—watching her grow from youthful inexperience into a strikingly beautiful young woman. Each year at the Chang’an audience, this was his only matter of the heart.

Li Pan had him describe Princess Bao’an’s beauty every year. Only he himself knew he wasn’t looking at Yang Fu.

Until the year he came of age, he claimed illness and did not go to Chang’an for the audience, having Li Huan go in his place. Because he had been forcibly detained at Zheng Zhiyi’s mountain stronghold, and his parents had arranged his marriage.

Li Xuan suddenly awoke, drenched in cold sweat, and in a mass of darkness above the bed canopy, he clearly saw that face he had deliberately forgotten.

Recalling today how Qun Qing’s eyes had looked at him, her face—somehow it allowed him to see a few similar features, stirring the demons buried deep in his heart.

“Do you also think I should not trust Miss Qing?” Li Xuan said to Shou Xi, who was attending by the bedside.

Shou Xi worriedly helped him cool the medicine. “It’s merely appointing a female official. Your Highness is already Crown Prince—you can do whatever you wish. If you always think too heavily, this body will never recover! Your Highness acts with your own reasoning.”

Li Xuan nodded, closed his eyes, and said without context, “Just consider it my guilt then.”

—

Qun Cang was settled in a modest residence within the palace city. The environment was quiet and suitable for recuperation.

Because he had sores on his legs, Qun Qing supported him step by step into the chamber. After closing the door, Qun Cang suddenly slowly withdrew his arm from Qun Qing’s hand. The calm expression on his face completely faded, numbness saturated with sorrow.

Qun Qing started, standing to the side, looking at him at a loss.

“Child, you need not speak.” Two streams of tears rolled continuously from Qun Cang’s eyes. “I have long known—she is gone.”

“Every year as autumn arrives, Qing Qing would send me a set of winter clothes, but the year before last, it suddenly stopped.” Qun Cang said, “After several months, the jailer delivered winter clothes again. When I held them in my hands and felt them, I understood.”

“She did not have your meticulous needlework. At that time, I knew everything.”

For some reason, Qun Qing also shed tears. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I will help you—I have my own reasons.” Qun Cang wiped the tears from his face and with trembling hands drew a slip of paper from his sleeve, handing it to Qun Qing.

It had been placed in his hand by a palace maid as they passed each other while being brought into the Eastern Palace.

With one glance, Qun Qing knew the note was arranged by Lu Huating.

“When you investigated the Xuzhou case and uncovered the Jade Boiling Pills, I knew you were righteous people.” Qun Cang said.

“Years ago, I risked death to appeal to His Majesty precisely because the Lu family brought the scourge of the Northern Rong back to Chu, yet I never imagined that after all these years, the calamity would still be spreading in the south. Chief Administrator Lu promised to help overturn my case. My family has already been completely destroyed—how could I have any reason not to help?”