Princess Consort Cui’s words were like a thunderbolt from clear skies—everyone, including Huo Qi Lang and Li Yuanying, was shocked and stunned.
Once the floodgates of truth opened, secrets carefully guarded in her heart for years poured out like a torrent. Cui Lingrong spoke without pause: “Ciyin was the granddaughter of Prince Yiyang. Because her grandfather was demoted to commoner status years ago for treason, she was fostered in my family from childhood and grew up with me. Though we shared no blood, we were closer than sisters—intimate friends who shared everything and understood each other’s hearts. We once swore to become nuns together in the future, to depend on each other in life and death, never to be separated.
Who could have foreseen that Hexi and Longright would fall in succession? During the peace negotiations, the Tibetan king sought marriage with Princess Wangshou. The Emperor, unable to bear parting with his own daughter, selected the most helpless orphan from among the imperial clan women to serve as a substitute bride. Thus Ciyin replaced the real princess, sent to a foreign land ten thousand li away, with mountains and rivers separating us, our reunion indefinitely postponed…”
Cui Lingrong’s tears glistened as she said sorrowfully: “Among the barbarians, when fathers die, sons inherit; when brothers die, younger brothers succeed. After the Tibetan king’s death, Ciyin was forced to marry his son, enduring such tragedy that violated human ethics. The Prince, born of a Noble Consort, with dragon’s blood and phoenix marrow, holds high position and great power. Your sisters are treasured like pearls and gems, not suffering the slightest harm; my sister was treated like cattle and sheep, to be sent to barbarians for trampling and humiliation.”
Hearing this, everyone’s hearts were filled with sighs, and Li Yuanying remained completely silent.
Madam Li thought that the princess had died suddenly without cause. News from Chang’an revealed she had coincidentally been buried alive in Prince Yiyang’s long-vacant tomb. In the mysterious workings of fate, what karmic connection had entangled these two unfortunate young women?
She couldn’t help but defend: “The princess was only nine years old then, and the young master was merely fifteen or sixteen, having just undergone the coming-of-age ceremony. The siblings lived deep in the palace and didn’t even know Li Ciyin. How could they have had the ability to influence court politics or deliberately harm any imperial clan member?”
Cui Lingrong smiled faintly: “I used to console myself with the same reasoning—destiny is like natural disaster, no one can defy imperial edicts. Years later, I was assigned in marriage to the Prince by the Emperor, just like Ciyin, with no room for discussion. I thought: accept fate, this is heaven’s will. A lifetime drifting like duckweed, following the current, never having any major matter I could decide myself. The Prince was also merely powerless, having to marry a plain-looking stranger.”
Li Yuanying said calmly: “But in the end, you still decided to poison me, seeking revenge for Princess Dongyi.”
Cui Lingrong was silent for a moment, then asked: “Does the Prince still remember what you said to me on our wedding night?”
Li Yuanying’s face was pale as he answered: “I remember every word I said.”
Cui Lingrong raised the corners of her mouth, showing a fierce smile: “Excellent. You saw your new bride looking melancholy and comforted her gently, saying: ‘My sister Bao Zhu is clever and lively—perhaps she could become a good friend to you in the future.'”
She breathed heavily, the hatred accumulated in her chest like a wild beast, impossible to restrain: “It was precisely those words that gave birth to my thoughts of revenge. Not only using my sister as a substitute for your sister, but also wanting her to replace the dear friend I had lost. At that moment I secretly swore in my heart to make you pay a painful price!”
So I claimed ‘my heart already belongs to another,’ and the Prince, being a true gentleman, left the bridal chamber. This was the greatest mistake in my plan. If I had endured that momentary humiliation and become your bedside companion, acting would surely not have been so difficult. After years of planning, I still fell short of success.
Unfortunately, after extensive searching, I only found the channel of poisoning through clothing. Arsenic dissolves in water—after soaking colored silk, it makes the fabric colors more vivid and prevents fading. There was no more concealed method than this.”
Household Administrator Li Chengyin said urgently: “We only learned today that Princess Dongyi was raised by the Cui family. How could the Prince have intentionally said those words to hurt you?!”
Cui Lingrong said coldly: “Whether unintentional or deliberate, ultimately the Li family wronged both Ciyin and me. I wanted to revenge myself on the Emperor, but he was beyond reach, so I could only strike at the closest person. Back then, losing Longright and Hexi—clearly it was incompetent fools who lost battles and ceded territory, yet they sent women to negotiate peace and end wars while they remained safely in the palace enjoying themselves. You royals are the parasites and vermin of the nation, living in extreme luxury, never wearing washed clothes. If not for this, how would I have had the opportunity to poison clothing?
All these years I’ve observed coldly—the Prince is brilliant, determined and patient, balancing firmness with mercy. You are the Li family’s most outstanding heir. The remaining princes are all mediocre fools. As long as I eliminated you, the Tang would have no worthy ruler. This is the greatest revenge a small inner-chamber woman could achieve.”
Everyone was struck speechless by her heretical, mad words. Who could have imagined that this seemingly gentle and refined lady from a prestigious family would dare commit such unprecedented crimes, fearless of clan extermination, attempting to murder imperial offspring while harboring treasonous thoughts of overthrowing the Tang?
Having poured out all the secrets in her heart, Cui Lingrong finally relaxed, showing a carefree smile as she mocked: “‘Sending this humble woman’s body to secure the state—who knows where to deploy the general.’ This verse doesn’t tell the whole story. It should be changed to ‘who knows where to deploy the emperor,’ or ‘who knows where to deploy the prince.’ With the Prince’s exceptional beauty, neither Ciyin nor the princess could compare to you. For that political marriage, they should have sent you instead.”
Hearing the Princess Consort’s mockery, Li Yuanying remained silent for a long time before saying: “You knew this act would bring disaster upon your family and implicate your trusted subordinates, yet you disregarded their lives and dragged everyone down with you. You must have anticipated the outcome long ago. What a pity—if we hadn’t been forced into this resentful marriage, you and I might have made good partners.”
Cui Lingrong thought of her wet nurse Madam Xu and also fell silent. After a moment she smiled numbly: “The Prince understands—for people of our status and position, there’s no right or wrong, only victory and defeat. I wagered everything and still lost, so I can only bear the consequences of defeat.”
Without waiting for Li Yuanying’s response, she turned toward Yuan Shaobo and said proudly: “No need for the Captain to act—I have poison and white silk prepared in my room.” With that, she picked up the oiled paper umbrella from the ground, held her head high, and turned to leave without hesitation.
Huo Qi Lang watched Princess Consort Cui’s resolute departing figure, her heart echoing with those words filled with bone-deep hatred—incompetent fools who lost battles and ceded territory. Having sacrificed everything and fought to the last person, in the eyes of the nobles, were they still just incompetent defeated generals?
Yuan Shaobo looked toward his master. Li Yuanying said emotionlessly: “Send people to watch her—don’t let her commit suicide. The Prince’s mansion needs a Princess Consort, otherwise others will continuously place women here. Before I settle accounts with the traitors of the Qinghe Cui family, the hostage must remain alive. Investigate carefully and extract those who were unaware…”
Huo Qi Lang stood to the side, waiting for him to speak that curse. Li Yuanying lowered his head, fingering the rouge box filled with arsenic. After a long silence, he quietly spoke: “Conspirators and accomplices—execute them on the spot.”
The crows in the western courtyard perched on the eaves, witnessing with their deep, night-dark eyes a strange occurrence. A group of humans burst into the courtyard and used gleaming sharp instruments to kill other humans.
The crows felt a sincere joy surge in their hearts.
This had once been their carefree feeding paradise. Until several human villains living here poured deadly poisoned water into the seepage well, contaminating the food and causing several companions to die in extreme agony.
The crows’ hearts filled with anger and grief. They gathered together, warning each other not to touch these foods that concealed death. They circled and lingered in the courtyard, unwilling to leave—both mourning their departed companions and wholeheartedly seeking opportunities for revenge.
They firmly remembered these humans’ faces, voices, and characteristics, launching their own form of retaliation. But that was far from enough… until today.
Human weeping and screams echoed through the courtyard, fresh blood flowing freely across the stone slabs, the enemies’ blood slowly spreading toward the well cover, just like the poisoned water that had once flowed into the seepage well.
The crows didn’t understand what was happening, but could feel a sense of release. Perhaps one or two people were still missing, but regardless, most of their enemies had been eliminated through human hands, and their tragically dead companions could finally rest in peace.
From the Prince Shao’s mansion, once occupied by crows, a great flock suddenly took to the air. The sky-darkening crows circled overhead like heavy storm clouds, their wings beating as they issued piercing victory cries. The residents of Youzhou City were amazed and puzzled, coming out of their houses to gaze at the spectacle occurring in the northern part of the city.
After hovering for a long time, the crows departed one by one, never to return.
Author’s Note: The theme of this volume is revenge.
Three revenge stories:
Li Yuanying’s revenge: seeking the truth about his mother and sister’s deaths; the Princess Consort’s revenge: avenging Ciyin against the Li Tang imperial family; the crows’ revenge: for their poisoned companions, indirectly revealing the truth about the Princess Consort’s poisoning.
Crow-Prince-Princess Consort form a triangle of vengeance.
This volume’s content is not yet finished—there’s still one story about someone who chooses not to seek revenge: Huo Qi Lang.