“Stop!”
A thunderous shout shook all the furnishings in the hall to the floor, the palace guards at the door collapsed limply, and the Empress Dowager fell backward, crashing into the jade screen behind her with a clatter that brought down everything on the dais.
Tie Ci appeared ghostlike at the doorway.
Everyone stared in shock, not knowing how the Crown Princess had broken through layers of guards to suddenly appear.
Tie Ci stood at the entrance, seemingly calm, but her chest was still rising and falling slightly, with a vague tearing pain in her internal organs that left her momentarily unable to move.
Racing thousands of li while her injuries were unhealed—though Rong Pu had tended to her along the way and everything appeared normal, Rong Pu had said her foundation was still damaged and she needed prolonged rest with minimal martial arts practice and emotional disturbance. However, when Tie Ci returned from her meeting to learn that the Noble Consort had actually abandoned Pingzong to wander the garden alone, and the people following Pingzong had indeed lost track of her, her scalp immediately went numb.
She and Father Emperor now had established forces in the palace. Even if Pingzong wandered about randomly, going elsewhere, someone would report back to her—except for one place. If she barged in there, those people would never come tell her.
Ciren Palace.
What good could come of the utterly naive Pingzong falling into the hands of that old witch and that black-robed monster?
Tie Ci’s heart burned with anxiety as she raced all the way. Reaching Ciren Palace, she desperately used teleportation regardless of everything, yet was still a step too late—before she could steady herself, she saw that tea water enter Pingzong’s mouth.
It was over.
Her cheap big sister was going to scold her in her dreams.
Tie Ci nearly spat out a mouthful of blood but forcibly swallowed it. Holding onto the last bit of hopeful effort, she said hoarsely: “Spit it out!”
Before her words finished, Pingzong opened her mouth and spat out a piece of green ice that landed with a splat on the Empress Dowager’s face.
Tie Ci: “…”
This method of spitting was truly ferocious.
The Empress Dowager was caught off guard, struck in the eye—it burned painfully, and she didn’t know if the skin was broken. Remembering the toxicity of this tea, she cried out in alarm: “Sang—Tang—”
A black shadow flashed, descending from the coffered ceiling like mist covering the dais. The Empress Dowager desperately brought her face close, and the black-robed person glanced indifferently: “It’s nothing.”
This was the first time Tie Ci heard his name, and also the first time she heard him speak. She immediately used her penetrating vision to examine him up and down.
Then she saw a man’s skeleton with a finger-thick hole at the heart.
Pierced straight through.
However, she didn’t see the heart there. Looking again, she indeed spotted his heart in the right chest.
This person was actually one in ten thousand with a displaced heart.
If not for the displaced heart, this piercing wound should have killed him long ago. He wouldn’t have been able to become the imperial family’s shadow, relied upon by the Empress Dowager to loom over her and Father Emperor all these years.
Tie Ci noticed that the penetrating wound was round and smooth. Having learned some forensics from her master, she knew this type of wound required a circular weapon moving at extreme speed through the torso.
Moreover, the ribs at the wound site were also missing, the gaps equally round, matching the heart wound’s shape—meaning the weapon’s speed through the body reached the extreme.
Tie Ci calculated and felt she couldn’t do it, and probably neither could Pingzong.
This person should be one of the Three Madmen and Five Emperors, a peak figure of those days. Who back then could make such a strike and inflict such terrible injury on him?
Scanning again, she saw half this person’s torso was magnificent, while the right shoulder had already atrophied, with muscles showing pitted wounds—these should be bite marks from the giant bats raised by Chen Tuntian.
Tie Ci took it all in with a glance, hearing the Empress Dowager shriek: “Kill her!”
Pingzong darted toward her. Tie Ci grabbed her with one hand and pushed her behind herself. Pingzong poked her head out from behind her little aunt, pointing and commenting: “She’s so loud, scared me!”
Tie Ci’s heart stirred, thinking that normally the Empress Dowager was quite dignified and noble, speaking and acting unhurriedly, but whenever this black-robed fellow was around, the Empress Dowager seemed particularly hysterical.
She didn’t dare be distracted now and took a defensive stance, but contrary to her expectations, the black-robed person didn’t move at all.
Instead, with a sweep of his sleeve, he slammed the palace door shut with a bang, locking Tie Ci and Pingzong outside.
Tie Ci took advantage to retreat several steps, pulling Pingzong as they ran.
Though angry shouts from the Empress Dowager ordering them stopped still came from within, no one actually dared block them. Tie Ci charged out of Ciren Palace in one breath, and the people behind hurriedly closed the doors.
Even from this distance, Tie Ci could still hear the Empress Dowager’s furious ranting, seemingly directed at the black-robed person who completely ignored her.
Tie Ci raised an eyebrow, thinking that at their first meeting she’d thought the black-robed person was utterly loyal to the Empress Dowager, but now it seemed the Empress Dowager’s ability to control him was limited.
But the black-robed person’s refusal to strike obviously wasn’t from suddenly finding her appealing—it was because of Pingzong.
“Are you alright? You didn’t swallow that tea, did you?”
Pingzong scoffed disdainfully: “Do you take me for a fool? First scratching me constantly with long nails, then inviting me to drink water. I’ve heard all kinds of legendary stories—you palace people can’t be judged by appearances. Every one of you is a white bone demon.”
The white bone demon Tie Ci good-naturedly said: “Yes, yes, grand-niece, you’re absolutely right. How did she scratch you? Did she break the skin?”
“I was on guard.” Pingzong proudly showed her wrist—not a bit of skin was broken.
“Do you know that black wind monster?”
Pingzong then pulled her up onto the wall to show her the multicolored ice house she’d built.
Tie Ci smiled, thinking it was a fortunate accident—pure-hearted people often had good luck.
This counted as an unexpected blessing. With this connection, that black wind monster presumably wouldn’t easily strike at Pingzong, providing another layer of protection for Father Emperor and Mother Consort’s safety.
“Could you defeat him?”
Pingzong’s eyes darted aside as she said airily: “Could give it a try.”
Oh, so she couldn’t win.
Tie Ci abandoned the idea of having Pingzong simply finish off the Empress Dowager in one go.
The black wind monster would at most not provoke trouble, but he definitely had to protect the Empress Dowager. Moving against the Empress Dowager meant confronting him.
Better wait until she returned from Yannan.
Tie Ci instructed Pingzong not to go to Ciren Palace again, sent her back to Yuxiu Palace, and told Dan Shuang and Chi Xue to decline all future invitations from the Noble Consort to Pingzong. Then she hurried back to the imperial study for meetings.
The spring examinations were imminent, and there was fierce dispute over selecting the chief examiner and associate examiners. According to past practice, they were mostly chosen from the Grand Secretariat and Ministry of Rites—the domain of the Xiao and Rong factions. But now with He Zi and Zhu Yi present, the two were implicitly the leaders of civil officials and should rightfully take charge. Both sides had their backing, creating a temporary stalemate.
On the way escorting Rong Pu and the others out of the palace, Yang Yixiu had a sudden inspiration: “How about I knock out my old man again, let him sleep for ten days to half a month this time.”
“Forget it. You’d better try to maintain that precarious father-son relationship.” Tie Ci refused. The Minister of Rites collapsing once was fine, but if he collapsed again, she as Crown Princess would face impeachment.
However, Rong Pu said: “Grand Tutor He has good chances of winning—most civil officials are his supporters. But if the Xiao clan doesn’t compete, that’s when we need to be careful.”
Tie Ci nodded.
Rong Pu continued: “Yueli Academy has been refurbished, and most students have returned from their trials. After the spring examinations and your birthday, I’ll return to the academy.”
Tie Ci nodded again, inwardly sighing that Rong Pu was indeed sensible. He could choose to accumulate credentials in the prestigious Hanlin Academy, with the Chief Minister paving his way for the fastest entry into the cabinet. But he chose to control the academy for her, delaying his career by several years at minimum.
Tie Ci couldn’t promise anything now, but secretly resolved that once she controlled court affairs, she would certainly compensate Rong Pu.
Rong Pu also reminded Shen Mi: “Brother Shen, after today you shouldn’t associate with the Crown Princess anymore, and don’t casually befriend candidates from various regions, to prevent people from finding opportunities and faults to attack and slander.”
Shen Mi was being cultivated as Rong Pu’s backup guard. Now they were just waiting for him to pass the examinations. Once Rong Pu left the academy, Shen Mi would take over—they always needed to keep court reserves in their grasp.
Shen Mi nodded: “I understand. I should have brought the three cats into the palace today to return them to the Crown Princess, but I didn’t bring them, fearing it would cause idle gossip.”
Speaking of this, they reached the palace gate plaza where family carriages came to pick them up. A small girl poked her head out of a blue-curtained carriage in the distance, calling crisply: “Brother, Mother says hail will fall soon—hurry get in the carriage.”
The little girl held a cat with a distinctive heart-shaped black marking—it was Rong Yi.
Shen Mi smiled at Tie Ci: “I brought both Mother and my sister to the capital.”
Tie Ci looked at the sky. Though the sun had dimmed and it was somewhat overcast and cold today, this was early spring after all—hail?
Shen Mi asked her: “Does Your Highness miss the cats? There are still two cats at home. Should Your Highness send someone to fetch them?”
Tie Ci glanced again at Rong Yi. The cat’s dark, round eyes stared unblinkingly at her as if it still recognized her.
This made her heart feel blocked, so she turned away: “No need. I’m afraid Xue Qiu’er would be jealous.”
Shen Mi said no more, bowing farewell with the others before leaving the plaza. Tie Ci watched the carriage depart before turning around, only to hear a crackling sound. Her head hurt—reaching up, she caught a pigeon egg-sized hailstone.
Tie Ci looked back in amazement to see pigeon eggs rolling everywhere on the ground—it was actually hailing!
She remembered encountering Shen Mi’s mother at the academy, who had said the weather would be bad these few days, and indeed strong winds had followed.
So this lady was actually a living weather forecast!
…
Rong Pu’s carriage returned to the mansion. Before he could disembark, he saw the inner residence steward waiting at the gate.
Rong Pu frowned slightly. The steward, seeing him, eagerly approached: “The Old Madam requests Fourth Young Master’s presence.”
Rong Pu ranked fourth among the legitimate younger generation of the Rong family.
Rong Pu smiled and ordered the servant behind him to carefully place the box in his courtyard before following the steward.
Chief Minister Rong’s carriage also returned, one step behind him. Seeing the servant carrying a box to deliver, Chief Minister Rong ordered the box brought for his inspection.
Opening it to see the purple jade ruyi, Chief Minister Rong’s usually expressionless face relaxed slightly.
Returning the box to the servant, he went to his study. After sitting down, he told his aide: “Today Lianzhi went to the palace and received family banquet hospitality from His Majesty, the Noble Consort, and the Crown Princess.”
The aide smiled: “Congratulations, Master.”
Chief Minister Rong said: “That’s one thing. After all, the Crown Princess acts openly—several other classmates were invited simultaneously. I just don’t know what they were all bestowed.”
The aide understood: “I’ll immediately send people to inquire.”
Chief Minister Rong nodded: “If this purple jade ruyi was unique…”
The aide said: “Naturally we should let everyone in the capital know of the imperial family’s unique favor for our Rong clan’s son.”
Chief Minister Rong nodded slightly as master and servant exchanged smiles.
Meanwhile, Rong Pu entered the inner courtyard. The vast courtyard had countless servants and maids, the corridors filled with people, yet everyone kept their heads low and eyes downcast. Not even a cough was heard—the atmosphere was so oppressive it made one’s scalp tingle.
Rong Pu kept smiling, thinking someone had probably gotten in trouble again.
No Rong family young men liked coming to this courtyard—not from lack of filial piety, but from inability to bear the perpetually oppressive, murderous atmosphere. The Old Madam had ridden with armies in her youth, with soldiers at her side, accustomed to military camps’ harsh killing aura. After marriage, old habits remained—unable to command armies, she applied military methods to the inner residence. The maids in her courtyard slept at midnight and rose before dawn, patrolled at night, ran in the morning, and received not monthly silver but military pay.
When descendants came to this courtyard, there were rules for sitting and lying. Except for Rong Pu, who received some leniency due to childhood frailty, the others could be lectured for half a day even for coughing once.
No relative’s daughters could stay in the Rong mansion more than half a day. The longest resident was Di Yiwei, who after half a year in the inner courtyard was exceptionally moved to the outer courtyard to study martial arts under Chief Minister Rong’s personal instruction without avoiding suspicion.
However, Di Yiwei was also the most unteachable and rebellious among those subjected to the Old Madam’s harsh treatment. When the Old Madam demanded strictness, she was particularly lax; when the Old Madam demanded rigidity, she ignored rules; when the Old Madam forbade drinking among her charges, she not only drank but smoked.
She could always infuriate the Old Madam.
Rong Pu was slightly distracted, thinking this time she had probably angered the Old Madam most severely.
The Di family ultimately took their army and pledged to others.
Though Di Yiwei had never been close to the Rong family before, she at least bore the Rong family’s mark. Once the Rong family faced trouble, she would be their most powerful support in military circles.
Yet now, though Di Yiwei hadn’t said anything explicitly and even had many gifts prepared for the Chief Minister as usual this return to the capital, with all attitudes seemingly normal, only he understood most clearly that if the Rong family ever opposed the Crown Princess, Di Yiwei would absolutely not support the Rong family.
He wondered what Grandmother would think.
But at minimum, the Blood Cavalry escorting the Crown Princess back to the capital was enough to bring disaster to the Rong mansion’s inner residence.
The corridor maids silently bowed to him, silently raised the curtains.
No announcement needed—no one else came anyway.
In the inner hall, Old Madam Rong née Di sat on the dais. Looking up, her particularly distinct double eyelids carried natural severity like silent blade strikes.
A middle-aged woman was bowing to serve her tea.
This was Rong Pu’s stepmother, née Xie. His birth mother, Princess Fu’an, had died early, and he was raised by his stepmother. Xie herself was a Grand Secretary’s daughter who had already been a major household mistress as a Minister’s wife, yet still had to stand on ceremony daily before Old Madam Rong, rushing over to serve every afternoon after finishing domestic affairs.
Rong Pu glanced at his mother and bowed to both elders. Only then did Old Madam Rong allow Xie to sit.
Xie sat on half the stool’s edge, eyes only examining Rong Pu.
Old Madam Rong immediately scolded: “When looking at people, eyes must be straight. This sideways glancing appears furtive!”
Xie immediately rose to apologize.
Rong Pu understood this was Grandmother asserting dominance—something had displeased her, and he also rose, pulling out premium Liaodong snow clam paste he’d prepared in advance to present to the Old Madam.
Di in recent years was obsessed with health preservation, particularly believing in northern tonics. Seeing the snow clam paste, her expression softened slightly. She ordered it stored away and got straight to the point: “These past few days I’ve found you an excellent match—the legitimate daughter of newly appointed War Minister Zhang. Grandmother took the opportunity of fulfilling temple vows to see her—she’s a virtuous, dignified good girl. It happens her household’s young master is hosting a poetry gathering soon. You haven’t come out to relax in a long time and have grown distant from many of the capital’s noble young men. You should take this opportunity to renew those relationships.”
Rong Pu listened with a smile: “Grandmother, there’s some inconvenience. Grandson must hurry back to Yueli Academy soon. The academy reopens after New Year with students returned—as Supervising Administrator, I must return to help manage…”
Old Madam Rong interrupted decisively: “Academy matters aren’t urgent. You can go after attending the poetry gathering…”
But her words were cut off by Rong Pu’s sudden violent coughing. Xie anxiously rose, ordering water and medicine brought in a flurry of activity, making it impossible for Old Madam Rong to continue.
Finally, when Rong Pu’s breathing somewhat stabilized, Chief Minister Rong sent someone saying there were urgent matters. Though Old Madam Rong was harsh, she always respected her husband and had to release him. Watching Xie and Rong Pu support each other as they left, she gripped her armrest forcefully—the solid huanghuali wood cracked.
Ungrateful creatures!
She worried about the Rong family losing military power and sought alliance with new military powers like War Minister Zhang, yet those two still played both sides while the other was utterly devoted to the Crown Princess!
They didn’t consider that if that neither-male-nor-female Crown Princess truly cared, Rong Pu should already be Imperial Consort by now!
Foolish!
…
Carriage wheels rolled over the official road’s yellow earth. Stubborn bright forsythia flowers poked through beneath the wheel tracks, only to be ruthlessly crushed into dust and spring mud.
The carriage curtains were rolled high. Though early spring wind remained sharp, the passenger seemed completely unafraid of cold, loving only this bright spring breeze’s refreshing coolness.
The carriage interior was chaotic, piled with books and glittering golden spheres. The passenger lay among books and balls, long legs stretched far out, hands held high, letting the clear wind help flip through books.
Flip through one book—toss it.
Flip through another—toss it.
Books scattered throughout the carriage. The wind entered the curtains and snapped a book closed.
“Chronicles of the Merciful Heart” in large seal script was prominently displayed on the plain blue cover.
After a long moment, the reader suddenly shot up, roaring angrily: “Why am I not in any of the volumes!”