Suzhen’s final memory was of Li Zhaoting releasing Hong Xiao, rushing over to check her breathing, and at the courtyard gate, the Empress Dowager with her consorts who had somehow quietly arrived, along with Wei Chenghui’s chattering, smiling face…

Half an hour later, Princess Jin returned to her sleeping quarters.

Her personal palace maid Xiaochun asked in confusion: “Your Majesty, when Marquis Wei notified Your Majesty to lead the consorts there, why did Your Majesty agree? After all, this isn’t anything glorious. Aren’t you afraid the Emperor will harbor resentment in his heart—”

“Resent me?”

Before she could finish, Princess Jin calmly interrupted her.

“I’m not unaware of what Wei Chenghui is calculating in his heart, but only this way will the Emperor not soften momentarily and allow this woman who betrayed him to continue living in this world. He can’t lose face. It also lets the palace consorts see that betraying the Emperor leads to no good death – let’s see who dares in the future! The Empress acted quite admirably today!”

…

In the Central Palace, someone harbored similar doubts.

“Your Majesty, why did you make that move? With Feng Suzhen dead, the Emperor will probably resent you for life…”

Hong Xiao had already changed into clean clothes, standing before the bronze mirror, quietly looking at the person in the reflection.

Slightly haggard, yet incomparably cold and hard.

Glancing lightly at the servant girl behind her, Hong Xiao said coldly: “What if the Emperor softened his heart? I couldn’t not gamble. Sometimes the living can’t compete with the dead, but more often, the living can’t compete with the living. With her dead, the Emperor might still have a change of heart. If she didn’t die, I… would never have another chance.”

“Since that’s the case, why wouldn’t I gamble on it!”

“Today I pulled out this thorn from his heart for him. He’ll definitely feel pain, but that woman betrayed him, so you see,” she said, lightly touching the cut on her neck where the blade had grazed, “I bore this sin for him. He ultimately couldn’t bear to part with me, forcibly grasping my sword, not allowing me to commit suicide…”

“Mei’er, I still won.”

Mei’er thought about the earlier scene – indeed, at that critical moment, the Emperor was willing to be injured, forcefully grasping the sword in her mistress’s hand…

The great stone in her heart fell, and she wept with relief: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And that bastard child.” Hong Xiao looked at herself in the mirror, her smile blooming like flowers.

“Lian Yu, if this child were yours with any other palace woman, I would find ways to keep her for you, but…”

She suddenly changed topic: “Come, accompany me out for a trip.”

Mei’er was confused: “But the Emperor hasn’t yet ordered that bastard child’s death – could he still harbor a trace of compassion? If you act against her now, won’t it—”

Hong Xiao smiled: “Who said I’m going to find the Emperor! I’m going to meet Sang Zhan. It’s time to return something to him.”

Mei’er was startled: “That Sang Zhan is a male guest, and Your Majesty’s status is special… Having just experienced the Feng Suzhen incident, the Emperor will inevitably be especially wary of such things. Won’t this displease the Emperor?”

“I want to displease him. Only then can he quickly refocus his attention on me.” The person in the mirror’s lips opened and closed, speaking slowly.

When Sang Zhan was leaving, he happened to encounter Hong Xiao’s visit. He was somewhat surprised: “What brings Your Majesty here? What instructions do you have?”

“Indeed, I wouldn’t visit the temple without cause.” Hong Xiao smiled slightly, waving for Mei’er to retreat to a spot beneath some flowers and trees farther in the garden.

“What matter, if I may ask?” he asked indifferently.

Last night, unable to contain his inner fire, he had used carving to control it – during those difficult days, he had also used this method to restore his calm. Only this morning did he discover that last night’s excessive force had gouged out a large chunk from the wooden figure’s shoulder!

His heart held both pain and anger toward her, yet felt especially dull and stifled.

After seeing Li Zhaoting today – both to “check on” his injuries and simultaneously present preliminary methods for separating and dismantling the Wei family – he left the palace to select some fine wood to fill that gap.

Hong Xiao, seeing his indifferent attitude, couldn’t help feeling somewhat annoyed, saying coolly: “I’ve come to return something to you, Young Master.”

“Your Majesty is too kind – it’s really not necessary.” Sang Zhan said.

“I insist.” She handed over the handkerchief.

The atmosphere became somewhat subtle for a moment. Sang Zhan’s brow furrowed, and he didn’t refuse again, reaching out to take it.

The handkerchief had been washed and perfumed, giving off a clear, elegant fragrance.

Hong Xiao’s fingers brushed across his palm.

He paused, nodded farewell, and left.

Even though his attitude remained somewhat distant throughout, Hong Xiao still felt he harbored some feelings for her. She had come originally to create some talk in the palace, but in this instant, her heart gave birth to an inexplicable fondness.

She deliberately swayed her body. He was passing by her side when, seeing this, he showed a moment’s hesitation, but the next moment still immediately reached out to support her.

She smiled: “Thank you.”

When Sang Zhan reached the Imperial Palace, it was nearly half an hour later.

The sky, which had been dark and gloomy for half the day, finally poured down in torrential rain.

Accompanied by fierce thunder and lightning.

Lightning writhed like dragons and serpents opening their mouths to swallow, thunder roared – how frightening it was.

Today the Imperial Palace seemed no different from usual – the guards were just as strict – but somehow, his heart held an indescribable feeling of unease and trembling!

His shoulders were thoroughly soaked from collecting his umbrella. Though it was late autumn turning to early winter with some chill, he paid it no mind, stepping forward to request an audience.

Si Lanfeng wasn’t accompanying the Emperor in the hall but was outside.

But today’s Si Lanfeng truly seemed different somehow. He kept his head slightly lowered, his entire being seemingly permeated with desolation.

Hearing his voice, Si Lanfeng looked up and replied: “Young Master Sang, please return today. The Emperor… well, is still recuperating and won’t see guests. This will probably continue for some time.”

Sang Zhan was somewhat surprised. Whatever grudges existed between him and Li Zhaoting, he understood Li Zhaoting to be an extremely diligent person who had been handling court affairs despite his injuries these past days. For the other to say this was rather strange.

“Then this humble citizen will come another day to pay respects. Please convey my regards to the Emperor for Commander Si.”

But imperial affairs couldn’t be inquired about too deeply. He smiled and took his leave.

“Young Master, please go slowly.” Si Lanfeng, toward someone Li Zhaoting valued, would not be remiss, immediately returning the courtesy humbly.

“Who’s outside the hall?”

Just as Sang Zhan turned around, Li Zhaoting’s voice suddenly came from within the hall. Low and hoarse, sounding especially weary.

“Replying to Your Majesty, it’s Young Master Sang.” Si Lanfeng quickly reported.

Li Zhaoting said: “Let him in. Order them to prepare some wine and have it sent in – I want to drink a few cups with Young Master Sang.”

“Your Majesty, your injuries haven’t…”

Si Lanfeng seemed to hesitate but then stopped, only saying “Yes.”

Sang Zhan’s doubts deepened. Seeing Si Lanfeng had personally opened the hall doors, he strode quickly inside.

The scene within the hall made his heart tighten!

Li Zhaoting sat behind a round table in the center of the room, his eye sockets blood-red, temples disheveled, his entire body soaked through as if pulled from water, with a faint bloody smell wafting from somewhere unknown.

“With Your Majesty’s injuries unhealed, why not summon imperial physicians for examination?” he spoke slowly.

Li Zhaoting was noncommittal, tapping the chair opposite with his finger and saying “Please.”

“This blood isn’t mine. Oh, no – my hand is injured, but at least most of the blood… isn’t mine.”

He thought Li Zhaoting wouldn’t answer, but as he sat down, the other suddenly spoke indifferently.

He was startled, and before he could ask, Li Zhaoting smiled and slowly continued: “It’s from a woman. My consort.”

“Her identity was somewhat special – she was once my fiancée, that ugly creature you saw that day.”

The wine hadn’t yet arrived, but Li Zhaoting seemed drunk, talking to himself.

Sang Zhan’s heart felt as if heavily hammered. If not for the temperament cultivated over twenty-plus years, in this moment he feared he couldn’t restrain himself from doing something.

“What happened to her?” He heard himself ask in the calmest voice, while under the table, he gripped his hands tightly to stop their trembling from fury.

Li Zhaoting didn’t answer him, still talking to himself: “She once swore to me as a child, saying she would love me until old age and death in this lifetime, otherwise she would die a horrible death. After I ascended the throne, I devoted all my heart and soul to her, yet she was false to me, having already changed her heart and fallen in love with another man. She presumed with her own strength to drive a wedge between me and my powerful ministers. Even though she killed my old minister’s son, I still protected her. Revenge for her father?” He laughed: “She wanted revenge for her lover! That man died, so she went to every length to save his siblings. I sent her to the Laundry Bureau where she suffered greatly, her hands nearly rotting, yet she remained unrepentant. Submitting to me was only so she could leave the palace to bear that man’s bastard child…”

“So after you learned this, you killed her?”

He was sunk in all his emotions, completely unaware that the man across from him had suddenly risen, his tone calm – terrifyingly calm.

“Kill her?” He laughed: “I wanted to kill that bastard child before her eyes, to kill her, but why should I lift a hand? She fell under my Empress’s sword, fulfilling her own oath.”

“When the imperial physicians came, they said she had used childbirth-inducing methods and her body was already withered – death was only a matter of time. She knew this clearly, so she schemed to return to the palace in every way… That fire was set by her, her appearance was also destroyed by herself. She wanted me never to touch her again, wanted me to feel guilty, wanted to revenge her paramour before dying. Even near death, she still thought of that man. Haha.”

Sang Zhan froze for an instant, something falling rapidly from his eye sockets onto his hands pressed firmly on the table. It was as if something was being rapidly drawn from within his body, when suddenly he heard weak whimpering cries nearby.

Both men almost simultaneously looked up, discovering the strange sound was coming from a red swaddling cloth on the imperial concubine’s couch not far away.