Night fell, and while the outdoor banquet had not yet been cleared away, the grand feast inside had already begun to unfold. Even though the weather in Tang was warm, the winter chill of the first month still brought a hint of coldness. The night breeze carried a chill that crept up from one’s feet even through a cloak, making one’s spine shiver.

It had rained lightly at noon, only stopping by dusk, which added an extra chill to the pitch-black night.

Yet the ladies in their splendid dresses and elaborate hairstyles still confidently exposed their snow-white chests, their eyes seductive and arms gracefully extended. Occasionally, a bold lady would step forward to offer a toast, and with a slight misstep, might reveal a small glimpse of her smooth, delicate leg.

Li Ce had drunk a lot of wine and was reclining on a soft chair with narrowed eyes. The doors of Rou Fu Palace were wide open, revealing a dazzling array of brocade lanterns before him. Boats carrying musicians floated around the lake, playing music whose soft, luxurious melodies rode the cold night wind into the great hall. Snake-like waists swayed nimbly before his eyes, and a pair of long legs occasionally danced out alluring, enchanting steps. Honey-colored skin was dotted with beads of sweat. A bold dancer spun lightly and fell into Li Ce’s arms, her eyes slightly raised, with gold powder tracing spiraling cloud patterns along the corners. Her lips were full, her hips slender, and her round breasts wrapped in thin fabric. Through the sheer material, one could almost see the delicate pink beneath.

The dancer raised a cup of rich, mellow grape wine. Her snow-white arm lifted high, then with a flip of her wrist, the wine poured down along her swan-like neck and flowed between the two snow-white mounds of her chest.

“Your Majesty, are you drunk?”

She was indeed a rare beauty. As her red lips parted, her voice was enchanting. The dancer, soft as if without bones, gently rubbed her fragrant shoulder against Li Ce’s chest and slid her hand inside his slightly open collar. One delicate white hand moved downward but stopped at the crucial moment, her eyes raised provocatively as she looked at him.

This was Lady Zi Ming, who had maintained the imperial favor in Jin Wu Palace for a year. Li Ce was known for his romantic nature and rarely favored a woman for more than a month, yet this Lady Zi Ming, from a fallen noble family, had enjoyed his favor for a full year, clearly possessing some unique charm.

Li Ce looked down with slightly drunk eyes, wearing an elegant blue-purple brocade robe with a jet-black sable fur collar. His collar was slightly open, revealing a winding crevice. The man’s athletic physique appeared somewhat seductive in the disorienting lamplight. He habitually narrowed his eyes, with a hint of a playful frown between his brows. A quiet flow of light surged in the depths of his eyes, like a fox in contemplation.

Several young dancers on the stage continued to dance vigorously. They performed Eastern Hu’s whirling dance, bold and uninhibited, wearing only light gauze, with tiny pieces of leather sewn at private areas. Their breasts and buttocks swayed, their bodies covered in fragrant sweat.

“Your Majesty, it’s been half a month since you last entered Rou Fu Palace. Have you forgotten about this servant so quickly?”

Lady Zi Ming leaned closer, her eyes like pools of water, gently staring at Li Ce like a seductive enchantress.

Li Ce’s eyes were drunk as if even his limbs were drunk, but there was always a pool of clarity in his brow. The woman’s scarlet nails crawled up from his lower abdomen, winding their way to his brow. She breathed fragrantly against his ear and said in a drawn-out tone, “Why is Your Majesty unhappy? Because of whom?”

Li Ce’s lips curved into a quiet smile. He wrapped one arm around her slender waist, his fingertips caressing that intoxicating smoothness, and laughed lightly, “You little enchantress.”

“Will Your Majesty be so heartless tonight, leaving Ming’er to sleep alone?”

Li Ce’s expression momentarily showed two traces of distraction, as a figure silently appeared in his mind. He frowned with annoyance, surprisingly unable to maintain his usual composure.

It had been half a month of madness already. Was he to continue being mad?

He turned to look at Lady Zi Ming’s charming face. A turbid feeling rose from the depths of his heart, seeming to suppress something – something like bitterness, or perhaps desire. There was no longer joy or anger or delight in his heart. He simply smiled wickedly, returning to his usual state, and laughed lightly, “When has the emperor not been one to cherish beauty?”

“Your Majesty.”

A calm voice suddenly sounded from outside the hall. Li Ce looked up to see Tie You standing at the door. He smiled and greeted him, and the armor-clad guard captain came into the hall with his sword, ignoring the expressions of the surrounding women. He knelt and said in a resonant tone, “News from Great Xia.”

Li Ce lazily yawned and extended his hand. “Bring it here.”

“This…” Tie You hesitated slightly, then said somewhat awkwardly, “The letter is for Miss Chu, but she’s already asleep. What do you think…?”

Li Ce walked down and took the letter, frowning and muttering, “Zhuge family’s fourth son?”

From afar came the sound of entertainers singing, the tune drawn out like a melodious song. The wind on the lake was cool, carrying several wisps of fragrance. Li Ce stood tall with thick black hair, exceptionally handsome in the brilliant lamplight.

This isn’t me seeking her out again on my own.

Li Ce raised his head, suddenly feeling two parts of childlike excitement in his heart. He smiled with satisfaction: It’s just because there’s something important.

“Let’s go.”

Li Ce took the letter and walked out. Tie You was stunned and quickly asked, “Where is Your Majesty going?”

“Mi He Residence.”

From afar, Li Ce’s voice scattered in the night of gold powder and luxury. Tie You quickly followed with the guards.

Lady Zi Ming slowly stood up, her soft gauze gently swaying in the night breeze, but without the myriad charms from before. Her eyes gazed coldly at Li Ce’s gradually disappearing figure, her gaze cool, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

“My lady.”

A servant girl carefully approached. She took a cloak and draped it over her shoulders, silently waving her hand, “Disperse.”

The palace people scattered like water, and among the fragrant incense of wine and herbs, only the entertainers by the lake continued to sing melodiously.

The flowers on the lotus pond had long withered, and the parasol trees in front were also in a state of decline. The moon was just a thin crescent, casting a hazy glow that silently fell on the white stone steps.

The pearl curtains touched lightly, making a scattered sound. Qiu Sui, keeping night watch in the outer room, was startled awake. Li Ce made a gesture for silence, and the little maid immediately lowered her head and knelt on the ground, not daring to make another sound.

Fortunately, the one keeping watch tonight was Qiu Sui, not the Mei Xiang who had come with her from the north. Otherwise, he might have had to climb over walls and roofs to get in again.

The air was cold, and the windows were tightly closed, but there was still a faint moonlight shining through the clean window paper. Chu Qiao was sleeping, covered with a moon-white brocade quilt, only exposing her small head. Her brows were clear, and her expression showed a rare sense of peace. Li Ce leaned against the doorframe, his head slightly tilted, and for a moment, he just stood there, not moving at all.

Perhaps that person truly was her best choice.

Without such deep burdens and responsibilities, nor such heavy hatred and obsessions, able to leave carefree whenever she wished.

He stared at her, with light flowing in his eyes. It was so quiet around, and the thin light fell on the hair at her temples, bearing a bright and cold luster. The wind passed through from outside, and one could vaguely see the shadows of trees swaying, like a woman’s lingering hands, gently caressing this cold and desolate palace.

The night grew colder, and the charcoal in the corner brazier emitted a subtle warmth. Outside the window, a nightingale perched in the village issued a clear and pleasing cry. The person on the bed turned slightly, her white fingers grabbing the quilt, shrinking a little as if cold. Her brow furrowed, and she opened her eyes.

Suddenly seeing Li Ce standing there smiling, Chu Qiao was not particularly alarmed, as if already accustomed to it. She sat up and glared at him, saying, “Don’t you know how to knock?”

Li Ce smiled and walked forward, sitting down close to her.

“I was afraid of waking you.”

Chu Qiao looked out the window; it was still pitch black. She jumped out of bed barefoot, lit the candle, and quietly asked, “Has the banquet ended over there?”

Li Ce stretched lazily, bent one arm, and lay down on her bed. He yawned and said, “Yes, it’s cold, and the mood was gone.”

Chu Qiao poured a cup of sobering tea, walked over, and kicked his ankle, her brow slightly furrowed. “Don’t tell me you just randomly came over on a whim. If you don’t have anything important, be careful or I’ll throw you out.”

Li Ce sat up, took the tea, and drank it down, grumbling as he drank, “I don’t even know who’s the host and who’s the guest here.”

“Do you have anything important or not?”

“Here, here, here!” Li Ce handed over the letter impatiently, huffing, “I have to get beaten just for delivering your love letters? There’s no justice in the world.”

When Chu Qiao saw the letter, she was immediately delighted. Zhuge Yue had been gone for more than ten days without any news, and she didn’t know how he had handled that matter.

She hurriedly opened it, but when she saw the unfamiliar handwriting, Chu Qiao was stunned.

“Sixth Sister:

I am truly happy to have this opportunity to speak with you like this. After eleven years apart, I have never stopped thinking of you. Learning that you are well fills my heart with joy. I wish I could grow wings to come see you, but alas, I am not free and am entangled in worldly affairs. When everything is over, no matter where you are, I must serve by my sister’s side and kneel to thank you for your kindness back then.

That the two of us sisters have fortunately lived until today is truly a blessing. The hardships and twists along the way are too numerous to count, and cannot be told in a few words. When we meet someday, I will tell you everything just as it was. Having heard that your sister has left Yan Bei, my only wish is for you to follow your true nature. Don’t let so-called guilt or responsibility ruin your life again. Most men in this world are unfaithful; being deceived once is enough, how can there be a second time? As you once said, the world is so vast, how can there not be a place for us sisters? I owe someone a debt, and after I repay it, I will surely come to meet you, so you won’t be lonely and suffer abuse from outsiders.

I know this letter will be secretly read by shameless individuals, so I will not elaborate on how I have suffered under certain people’s inhuman torture these many years – living worse than death, enduring abuse, tasting humiliation, not knowing if I would live to see the next day, being treated worse than pigs and dogs, struggling painfully to survive. I am not someone who speaks ill of others behind their backs, and I believe that with enough time, sister will discover the true nature of certain people – their vicious hearts, cruel hands, insane minds, cold-blooded lack of feeling, wastrel debauchery, and corrupt character. Sixth Sister, don’t rush to avenge me. When I finish my business here, I will come to meet you. Then it will be the day of reckoning – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Sister, take care of yourself and wait for me to come. Even if the whole world betrays you, your little sister is still here. Please cherish yourself, for the sake of our departed parents and relatives.

Sister, be happy. Besides that, nothing else matters.

Little Eight.”

Chu Qiao held that thin letter for a long time, a hint of bitterness gradually rising from her heart. The corner of her eye reddened, and she felt a sense of desolation spiraling in her chest.

“Little Eight.”

In her mind, the image of that thin, small child appeared once more. She remembered the seven-year-old child’s determined eyes and cold words: “You take our brothers and sisters and walk slowly. Just wait and see, wait and see how Little Eight and Sister Yue’er avenge you all.”

In the blink of an eye, eleven years had passed. She thought Little Eight was dead. She had seen with her own eyes how she was locked in a prisoner’s cart and taken to the scaffold. In the end, it was she who secretly went at night to collect the remains of the lingchi execution, snatching the bones from the mouths of vicious dogs and sinking them into Chi Shui Lake.

So, she was still alive?

That child who had repeatedly told her, “Sister Yue’er, Little Eight believes in you,” was still alive and well.

Chu Qiao stood cold for a long time, reading that short family letter over and over, her gaze finally fixing on the last two words.

Little Eight. Little Eight. So, she was still alive.

Her lips curved up uncontrollably, and she smiled quietly. The candlelight illuminated her face, giving it a peaceful glow. Such deep joy rose from her heart that she wanted to cry with happiness. She sat on the bed, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the letter tightly.

“Qiaoqiao, you haven’t gone crazy with joy, have you? Hasn’t Zhuge Four told you about this before?”

Chu Qiao seemed lost in thought and only heard his words clearly after a while. The woman turned her head very alertly and suddenly asked coldly, “How do you know what’s written in it?”

Li Ce was stunned, then grinned and said somewhat embarrassingly, “I accidentally glanced at it a couple of times.”

“What kind of accident would let you read someone else’s letter?”

Chu Qiao glared at him angrily. Li Ce suddenly frowned and said, “Why are you just blaming me? Didn’t Zhuge Four also read it?”

“Him?”

“Yes!”

Chu Qiao quickly picked up the family letter, and sure enough, at the bottom of the note, two bold ink characters caught her eye. They were clear and vigorous, written with a deep stroke, immediately revealing the writer’s mood at the time.

Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly: “Already read.”

“That’s too much!” Li Ce righteously declared, “Not only did he peek at someone else’s letter, but he also openly admitted it. Qiaoqiao, this clearly shows he doesn’t respect you.”

“What about you?”

Below the words “Already read,” someone had written in fine brushwork, extremely elegant and beautiful: “The third paragraph of this letter contains precise and profound language, hits the nail on the head, and is both artistic and realistic. I recommend readers carefully consider its deeper meaning, lest they regret it for life.”

Li Ce stood up, yawned, and smiled, saying:

“Well, it’s getting late. I’m going back to rest. No need to see me out, miss.”

Chu Qiao abruptly stood up and commanded with authority: “Li Ce!”

“Qiaoqiao, I just couldn’t resist the temptation!”

Li Ce turned around with a pained face and said, “At most, I won’t look next time.”

After speaking, he made a face as if he had suffered a great loss while looking at her.

Chu Qiao glared at him for a while, then suddenly burst out laughing and said, “Fine, I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t hold it against you two.”

“It’s fine not to hold it against me, but you should show your spirit when dealing with him.”

Li Ce quickly walked over with a smile, patting Chu Qiao’s shoulder like an old friend: “Otherwise, you’ll suffer later.”

Chu Qiao looked him up and down with squinted eyes: “Li Ce, you’re such a busybody.”

“Busybody?”

“It means you meddle in too many things, like a woman.”

Unexpectedly, Li Ce’s expression remained unchanged as he said: “Being an emperor, one has to care about both big and small matters.”

Chu Qiao’s drowsiness was completely gone, and she sat leisurely by the small table drinking tea. The night tea had already gone cold and tasted somewhat bitter, but today it had a unique flavor in her mouth.

Li Ce sat lazily across from her, his hand supporting the table, and suddenly asked:

“Qiaoqiao, do you remember a question I once asked you in the Great Xia palace?”

Chu Qiao turned her head, looking at him with confusion.

Li Ce half-narrowed his eyes, his eyelids raised, still looking like a fox.

“Now I’m going to change the order and ask you again.”

A raven suddenly cawed strangely outside the window, shattering the quiet night. Li Ce’s smile was like a poppy, with a nightmarish magic.

“If I killed Zhao Song, what would you do?”

A hint of bitterness slowly rose from the depths of her heart. Chu Qiao looked at him, silent.

“Then if I killed Yan Xun?”

The window suddenly creaked, blown open by the wind, making a small gap. A cold wind blew in through the crack, sweeping across Chu Qiao’s cheeks, thread by a thread of coldness.

“If I killed Zhuge Yue?”

The man spoke slowly, word by word, his voice so low, like a pool of deep water.

The relaxed atmosphere instantly disappeared. Chu Qiao’s hands were ice-cold as she sat there in silence. Three years had passed in the blink of an eye, and those beliefs that were once as firm as steel had ultimately left her. She still remembered her answer then – she said she would fight him with her life, spend her whole life destroying Tang, and then let him live like a pig or a dog.

Her heart suddenly became so cold, so cold.

“I would die.”

Li Ce’s eyebrows raised slightly, and Chu Qiao looked up, the bitter smile on her lips appearing as desolate as the moonlight outside.

“I no longer can seek revenge, so I can only follow him in death.”

“You haven’t answered the previous one.” Li Ce was silent for a long time, but finally asked heartlessly: “What about Yan Xun?”

Chu Qiao looked up, frowning at him as if reproaching him for raising this question.

Li Ce stared at her steadily, not retreating at all. Finally, Chu Qiao turned away and said in a low tone, “He won’t die.”

“That’s not necessarily—”

“He won’t die!”

Chu Qiao suddenly declared sternly, her tone also growing heavier.

Her gaze suddenly became distant. She took a deep breath and slowly said, “I’ve been deceiving myself all along. The young master of Yan Bei died long ago on the Nine Abyss Platform. The Yan Xun who crawled up from there was born only for revenge. I’ve been deceiving myself all along. Things have come to this point; I don’t blame others.

But Li Ce, don’t set your sights on him. You can’t defeat him. Everything that stands in his way will inevitably be removed, no matter who it is. Before achieving his goal, he absolutely will not fall.”

Li Ce looked at Chu Qiao and suddenly asked, “Qiaoqiao, what if it was Zhuge Yue who killed Yan Xun?”

“He wouldn’t.” Chu Qiao said confidently.

“How do you know he wouldn’t? The path of an emperor, the sweetness of power – which man can easily resist?”

Chu Qiao’s eyes were pained as she stared at him, then turned away and said in a deep voice: “If that were the case, I would leave.”

“Then, what if it was Yan Xun who killed Zhuge Yue?”

Chu Qiao stood up abruptly: “Where do you get so many ‘what ifs’?”

“You dare not answer?”

“I would kill him!”

This answer burst out suddenly, leaving Chu Qiao completely stunned. She stood frozen in place, the candlelight on her body making her appear so frail. She slowly lowered her head, and her long hair slid down from both sides, covering her face. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and her hand covered her eyes. Tears flowed through her fingers, but there wasn’t a sound.

These days, these anxieties pulling her in different directions had nearly driven her mad. She knew about Yan Xun and Nalan Hongyi’s relationship. She knew Yan Xun had planned this diplomatic marriage. What she didn’t know was how Zhuge Yue would react and how the situation would develop. The court was actively deploying troops, and Yan Bei was also prepared for war after the new year. Everything was so unusual that even the most foolish person could foresee that many things were no longer simple. Would Zhuge Yue, like Yan Xun, forget his promise to her? But even if he did, what right did she have to oppose him?

She had kept all her worries and fears pressed down in her heart for so long, but suddenly, they completely collapsed with Li Ce’s few questions.

They would eventually face each other on the battlefield, fighting to the death. And at that moment, what should she do? Would it be as she said? Could she do it?

“Qiaoqiao.”

Li Ce knelt in front of her, gently patting her back.

“Don’t blame me for being harsh. I just want to see your thoughts clearly and don’t want you to make the wrong decision. If I didn’t push you like this, you would never get past that barrier in your heart.”

Li Ce’s smile was smooth as if covered with a layer of mist, so faint that it seemed it would disappear with a slight wave of his hand. “Qiaoqiao, I promise you, what you fear won’t happen. No matter how the situation changes, I will protect you. Whether Zhuge ultimately can give up everything to take you far from the battlefield or not, I won’t let those irrelevant people prevent your happiness.”

“Li Ce.”

Chu Qiao raised her head, her face covered in tears. She looked at Li Ce and smiled bitterly: “I’m afraid too. I have no belief left, and my ideals have died. I have nowhere to go. What should I do?”

Yes, she was also a woman. She would also be afraid, sad, heartbroken, and confused about where to go. She was caught in the middle – one was a man she had lived with for eleven years, and the other was her current lover. Whichever one died would be a torment. What made it worse was that they could not coexist.

“Qiaoqiao, do you trust me?”

Chu Qiao nodded.

“Then do you trust Zhuge?”

Chu Qiao was slightly stunned for a moment but ultimately nodded.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about. Just wait here, wait for him to come and take you away.”

“Will you come?”

“He will come.”