That woman was startled, then smiled and slowly said: “A delaying tactic?”
She added: “When you can’t solve things yourself, you call for men? I originally thought you were quite capable, but now it seems you’re nothing special.”
Though her words were slow, her actions weren’t. She reached out swiftly to grab at Qin Chang Ge’s crown, seven-colored light spreading like a rich flower screen, dazzling as a rainbow!
At the same time, someone shouted loudly: “Interrogate this woman thoroughly! Make sure to find out her background! Then kill her immediately!” This was followed by a thud—the sound of a human body being violently thrown to the ground.
With a sweep of her sleeve, her figure turned extremely easily. She stepped with one foot and was already outside the skylight.
Qin Chang Ge looked up and didn’t see her make any gesture—only saw long hair flash and red robes flutter in midair as she shot out like a meteor, followed by continuous screams.
Those screams came at extreme speed, almost one after another, meaning this woman’s killing speed was also extremely fast—no one could withstand even one of her moves.
One step, one kill, traveling a thousand li without leaving traces!
What frightening martial arts!
Faintly she could hear sounds of troop deployment, shouts, powerful crossbow shots, mechanism activation, Xiao Jue’s stern defensive arrangements, and Chu Feihuan’s low-voiced commands at checkpoints.
Qin Chang Ge listened carefully and regretfully shook her head.
If she were still Ruiyi, if Feihuan were still Feihuan, today they could have kept this woman. Unfortunately…
Amid all the boiling chaos, that woman’s voice suddenly rang out clearly and slowly, word by word: “I didn’t kill anyone. This one, I’m taking with me. Whoever blocks me, dies.”
As if to annotate her words, another round of screams followed.
That woman seemed to be treading on blood as she advanced, yet her tone remained calm as ever. The voices of others inevitably carried tense and murderous tension, but only Xiao Jue and Chu Feihuan—one fearlessly continued commanding troops to intercept, the other maintained a steady voice, quickly arranging mechanism activations. Amid the creaking sounds of springs and gears, countless weapons of various shapes carried different wind sounds, fierce and murderous, striking directly at their target.
Flowing light and meteor shower lit up the night sky, voices surged, flying arrows fell like waterfalls, torches reddened half the sky—the three thousand iron-armored guards of Heaven’s Prison poured out in full force!
That woman’s movement speed sounded ghostly—appearing in front then suddenly behind, on the left then suddenly on the right. Wherever she passed, either screams arose or arrows shot back, piercing iron armor with clanging sounds. In the sharp wind, she slowly said: “Good—not bad—pity they have no martial arts—”
Her voice was vast and distant, the last sentence already miles away.
She had broken through.
With the severely injured Yunhua, under siege by three thousand iron-armored guards and mechanism attacks, she had casually broken through.
Saying “broken through” might not even be accurate—judging by her voice, always calm and steady, she probably hadn’t even breathed hard.
Though the Imperial Forest Army and iron-armored guards focused mainly on protecting the emperor since he was present, though the mechanisms hadn’t been used for years and weren’t operated skillfully enough, causing delays—this woman, single-handedly facing a thousand-strong army, casually strolling and killing instantly, treating human lives like grass under her hands with such indifferent contempt, that kind of power so great that everything was beneath her notice, truly sent chills through people.
Probably her only loss today was the hair Qin Chang Ge had burned off.
Hearing her depart, Qin Chang Ge breathed a sigh of relief, fell straight backward, and made gestures in the air as if making a phone call.
Smiling at the imaginary receiver, she said: “Half-face strongwoman, now I’ll answer what you said earlier. You should know that women who recklessly show off are the stupidest. Besides, men are creatures that need you to occasionally depend on them, or they’ll lack achievement and confidence, which isn’t good for their healthy growth…”
――――――――――――
With several clicks, the triple-locked prison door slowly opened. Torchlight flickered in the wind stirred by robes as Xiao Jue swept in like an angry dragon. Qin Chang Ge leaned against the iron bed, lazily watching him, and after a long while said hoarsely: “Heaven’s Prison needs renovation again.”
When Xiao Jue rushed in, he had no time to think of anything except quickly confirming her current safety. Now, being looked at by those eternally smiling, calm eyes with coldness deeply hidden, all his anxiety and fervor immediately cooled down as if meeting ice and snow.
After calming down, that subtle yet continuously surging excited emotion rose again from his blood, like angry waves constantly beating against his heart. This extremely familiar yet long-absent feeling had become more obvious and intense each time since he first saw the palace maid Ming Shuang. Conversely, yesterday in the Great Ceremonial Hall, facing the fake empress who resembled Ruiyi more than Ming Shuang, that deep joy buried in memory never came at all.
This was also why his heart harbored doubts.
His spiritual connection with his unforgettable beloved went deep into his bones, indelible despite worldly trials and hardships.
But what about her?
Ming Shuang, Chang Ge—different bodies but same soul. After experiencing death and returning across lifetimes, with what kind of gaze would those smiling yet coldly flowing eyes welcome her past-life lover?
Chang Ge, Chang Ge—no one knew better than him that she had always been an extraordinary woman, so extraordinary that he often felt any absurd miracle happening to her was possible. He felt she would never die, just like the sun, moon, and stars, eternal and unchanging.
It was precisely this deep understanding and the strong bond formed through long companionship that made him refuse to believe Chang Ge’s death after the Changle fire, committing errors he could never forgive himself for.
Now she had finally returned. The mumbled prayers during countless sleepless nights in Dragon Chapter Palace had become reality. He was so overjoyed he couldn’t speak, yet he who understood her like the lines on his palm suddenly began to panic as he was about to approach her.
Nothing… wouldn’t be so taken for granted, would it?
Having failed to protect him, letting her shed blood in the deep palace, letting her grievances remain uncleared, letting her deep resentment stay buried, letting her in her reincarnation have to search for truth with great hardship in a weak body—he really had no face to expect that “taking for granted.”
Today, due to inadequate consideration, he had again put her in danger, nearly causing her death.
When that red-clothed woman appeared atop the prison, the moment she struck and displayed her supremely powerful martial arts, his heartbeat almost stopped.
If… if he made another mistake, even falling into the nine springs or deep abyss couldn’t repay his overwhelming hatred…
…
The woman before him smiled faintly, her eyes flowing like water—a wisp of smoke, a thread of wind, a clear sound, a trace of fragrance, vast seas and broad misty clouds. Everyone could feel it, but no one could presume to grasp it.
Her heart was clear as a mirror, reflecting the finest dust of this turbid world.
Over these years, past and present lives, the mistakes he had made—she knew them all clearly. Now, what would she think?
She would… hate him, wouldn’t she?
Thinking of this possibility was like someone suddenly whipping his heart hard, instantly tearing skin and flesh, injuring tendons and bones, or someone suddenly overturning burning oil, pouring it down without protection, a large area of burning, heart-rending pain.
Never having known fear in his life, yet at this moment he was timid about approaching home.
Xiao Jue felt that step was suddenly like a deep ravine, far as the horizon, his lead-weighted feet unable to fly across.
…Try once… whatever the result, he would accept it. Though guilty and ashamed, unable to face her, if he didn’t try once, he’d never have peace in this life.
She seemed to have said that those who didn’t even dare try were cowards.
Hands tightly clenched into fists at his robe’s side, fingernails deeply embedded in his palms, Xiao Jue forced a calm smile on his face, his gaze deeply focused as he asked: “Would you be willing to personally renovate it again?”
Qin Chang Ge looked up, her gaze sweeping over his arms with bulging veins, then over Chu Feihuan at the prison entrance who hadn’t followed in, half-turned looking distantly lost in thought, his beautiful features half-hidden in darkness, a melancholy and tranquil silhouette.
How much emotional sorrow, hurting people for nothing—those debts from past lives, owed and owing, should all be settled cleanly.
As for the future… let time and hearts provide the answers.
“With deep vengeance unresolved, where’s the leisure for construction?” Qin Chang Ge smiled and stood. “Ming Shuang is still Ming Shuang, a small woman who currently only dares live modestly due to past memory trauma. But no one can predict what the future holds. If one day Ming Shuang decides something, she’ll naturally be honest about it. Now, what I need to do is seek an answer hidden beyond the clouds on a freely restarting journey.”
As she spoke, she walked toward the exit, stopping near the prison door with a smile.
“I only hope all of you will accommodate me.”
Slow footsteps echoed in the deep prison corridor, sounding like many people walking.
Coming out of Cell A, Qin Chang Ge insisted on not needing Xiao Jue’s support but first suggested visiting the cells where others were imprisoned.
When Cell C opened, Xiao Jue stepped back.
Chu Feihuan’s face paled.
Qin Chang Ge only stood at the prison entrance with hands behind her back. Behind her, torchlight danced like flames, giving her face some ruddy color, but her gaze was dark as an abyss.
Fire colors jumped, vivid and active.
Not matching that cell’s striking, eye-piercing red.
A human hell…
Scattered flesh, brain matter, blood, severed limbs everywhere. Clumps of hair floated in blood pools so thick they flowed across the ground. Bodies lay dead in various bizarre postures—some had struck walls, some strangled themselves, more had died killing each other. Your fingers were shoved into his eye sockets, his teeth had bitten off your tongue, torn-out organs were scattered everywhere. The bloody stench rushed out like a tsunami almost the moment the door cracked open.
“Clatter”—firelight suddenly dimmed as a guard holding a torch couldn’t bear this nauseating, terrifying scene and dropped his torch in shock.
In deeper darkness, everyone’s faces were colorless.
Xiao Jue staggered back a step, losing his voice: “How could… how could this happen…”
Qin Chang Ge said calmly: “Sound Kill.”
Stunned, Xiao Jue said hoarsely: “Just now, that woman?”
“Mm,” Qin Chang Ge said lightly. “Very good, very powerful. I haven’t met such a powerful woman in a long time.”
Xiao Jue’s thoughts weren’t on her words at all, only staring blankly: “Just now… this Sound Kill… you…”
Qin Chang Ge turned to look at him, smiling: “I heard it.”
Stepping back until his back hit the iron door, which struck the iron wall with a huge sound, rumbling like a roar, Xiao Jue seemed not to hear, only standing stunned, suddenly falling silent.
His usually sword-straight back was at this moment a sword with its edge hidden.
After a long while, he said lowly: “I was wrong…”
Qin Chang Ge acted as if she hadn’t heard.
Xiao Jue looked up at her eyes and said again: “I was wrong… I’m sorry.”
Sighing lightly, Qin Chang Ge said: “This matter was a series of misunderstandings with others scheming behind it. You can’t really be blamed.”
The neighboring cell held Dong Chengjia’s widow. Being a female prisoner, she was held separately. Xiao Jue’s lips moved as if to speak but ultimately didn’t.
When the door opened, even Qin Chang Ge was shaken.
On the iron wall facing the door, large characters written in blood were murderously fierce. Every stroke was still dripping thick blood. The ferocious resentment seemed able to break through these copper walls and iron barriers, reaching the nine heavens!
“Xiao Chen, my husband and I will definitely come find you!”
Below the wall, Mrs. Dong’s corpse stood upright.
Staring at that corpse for a long time, Qin Chang Ge slowly said: “This woman was extraordinary. Among all the witnesses, she was the only one who willingly testified without any coercion, threats, or promises. For years she carried a piece of her husband’s bone and his dying blood letter, planning revenge day and night, never sleeping peacefully. That bone fragment we saw was black.”
“This was a heroic woman, her long roar like mountain mist, her spirit like a rainbow.” Qin Chang Ge looked up, her gaze cold and sharp as if trying to see through the iron prison ceiling to the deep black sky. “For the others, though I feel guilty, most had private desires. Since things have come to this, I’ll naturally provide good support for their surviving families. But this woman’s only desire in life was revenge, yet I implicated her in such an end—I didn’t kill Boren, but Boren died because of me.”
His face turning pale as he stepped back, Xiao Jue stood between the two cells, his gaze sweeping again through those unbearable mountains of corpses and seas of blood. In the darkness, he could faintly hear the slight creaking sounds of clenched knuckles. After a long while, Xiao Jue sighed and said coldly: “Issue an edict.”
Xia Houjue, who had arrived, immediately stepped forward and bowed to receive orders.
“Prince Zhao Xiao Chen deceived the sovereign and misled superiors, killed innocents at will, handled affairs recklessly and unrestrained, fabricated charges and framed people. Strip him of his royal title. Have Xia Houjue go to the prince’s mansion to inventory his assets. Temporarily imprison him in Heaven’s Prison. Await judicial trial and sentencing for separate punishment.”
Xia Houjue was shocked, bowing his head lower. After accurately repeating the order, he hurried away.
With a mocking smile, Qin Chang Ge said: “Why not mention the crime of assassinating Ruiyi?”
“I won’t cover for him,” Xiao Jue’s expression was pained, “but you yourself provided no evidence pointing to him killing you—Chang Ge, your target isn’t him, is it?”
“He’s a prince. According to court law, he has the right of noble consultation and family consideration to avoid death,” Qin Chang Ge said lightly. “I have nothing to say. In any case, heaven’s will is cold—don’t take it lightly. There are arrangements in the unseen. For some people, certain punishments are harder to bear than death—but I have one request: during his temporary detention in Heaven’s Prison, please arrange for him to stay in the cell I occupied.”
Upon entering Dragon Chapter Palace, she saw Baozi sleeping soundly on the dragon bed. Qin Chang Ge looked down at that little face flushed with sleep and said with a half-smile: “Look how soundly he sleeps. He wouldn’t know if he were sold. Worried about me? This heartless little fellow.”
“Who’s being sold?” Baozi suddenly opened his eyes. “Do you need me to help you count the money?”
“You’re being sold,” Qin Chang Ge said irritably, “and not only is there no income, I’m losing money.”
Baozi glanced at Xiao Jue, grinned, hugged Qin Chang Ge’s neck, and whispered in her ear: “Losing what? Tomorrow I’ll kick him off the throne. The emperor position should rotate—this year it’s our family’s turn. I’ll make you Empress Dowager. On days 1, 3, 5 I’ll hold court from behind a screen. On 2, 4, 6 you’ll govern. Sundays he’ll handle problems. We brothers will eat 380 dishes a day and won’t stop until we eat him poor!”
“Enough!” Qin Chang Ge sympathetically glanced at Xiao Jue, whose hearing was very good and whose face now looked very strange, and patted her son’s bottom. “It’s from telling too many bedtime stories. You’re getting more talkative. Who told you we’re brothers? Also, what’s this about me holding court from behind a screen and you governing? What’s your IQ?”
Baozi spread his hands: “I can’t help it… I’m behind the times… I feel empty… I just learned I’m the crown prince and I’m not used to it yet. By the way, what should crown princes do? You seemed to mention something… Nine Dragons Seizing the…?”
“Oh,” Qin Chang Ge glanced sideways at Xiao Jue, “if you think you’re very idle, you could suggest your father emperor give you eight more younger brothers for a Xiliang version of Nine Dragons Seizing the Throne. Remember to make the second son mediocre and unvirtuous, the third love literature, the fourth cold and cruel, the eighth virtuous and deep, the ninth sinister and cunning, the tenth rash and crude, the thirteenth chivalrous and heroic, the fourteenth brave and good at warfare… Oh my, big problem—you’re the eldest? The stupidest one?”
Baozi immediately protested: “What’s this about? Why have so many? Is he a stud horse?”
Qin Chang Ge smiled meaningfully, glancing at Xiao Jue. Baozi looked puzzledly at Xiao Jue, suddenly remembering his father’s profession, had an epiphany, also looked him up and down, and smiled extremely cunningly with a “hehe.”
…Xiao Jue had long been confused by this mother-son pair’s fantastic dialogue and otherworldly expressions, only understanding they were roughly talking about his taking concubines. His face couldn’t help but redden slightly. He thought Chang Ge even discussed this with their son—no wonder this little fellow knew about everything despite being only a few years old.
Turning to think that after Chang Ge left, the palace concubines were still there, he feared she might misunderstand and wanted to explain, but really couldn’t speak with their son present. Then he heard Qin Chang Ge suddenly say: “Feihuan, where are you going?”
Xiao Jue turned in shock and only then saw Chu Feihuan had reached the hall entrance, while Chang Ge was looking at his back with complex eyes.
Stopping at the hall door, Chu Feihuan didn’t turn around, only saying lightly: “Congratulations to Your Majesty on your family reunion. Now that Chang Ge has escaped danger, there’s nothing more for me to do. Please allow me to take my leave.”
His voice was calm, his back to everyone. No one saw the deep desolation in those clear eyes. Once the flowers of the heart had scattered, the silk robes lost their old fragrance. How much deep hatred could only be buried forever. Those family reunions, cheerful conversations, mutual affections—he no longer dared hope to possess, but hoped he wouldn’t have to see them.
…Leave, let those reunited be happier. Why be an odd, interfering person?
Chu Feihuan looked up. Moonlight was like water, soaking his beautiful features. He too was like a pale moon, illuminating those silent and enduring dreams in lonely towers, making them more sorrowful.
“No.”
It was Qin Chang Ge who spoke, her voice crisp: “If we leave, we leave together.”
Xiao Jue was shocked. Before he could speak, Qin Chang Ge had already turned, looking deeply at him, saying word by word: “I said before that Ming Shuang is still Ming Shuang. Please believe I have my reasons for doing this. I hope everything starts anew.”
His fingers tightly gripping the flying dragon handle of the gold-inlaid treasure tripod beside him, not caring that the scale edges cut his palm, Xiao Jue said loudly: “But you should also give me a fair chance—Chang Ge, I’m sorry. I couldn’t fulfill what I promised you back then. I know you blame me, so I can’t force you or demand your return. But Chang Ge, considering our many years of devoted companionship, considering we once pledged our hearts to each other, considering Rong’er, you should at least give me a chance!”
“I don’t blame you,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Heaven is the chessboard, stars are the pieces. The game we belong to spans six nations—it’s not something individual human strength can change. What use is blaming you? As for chances… very well. Though I won’t enter the palace, I’ll stay within your sight in another reasonable and public way, which will also be convenient for future actions. Rong’er can often come accompany you, and you can publicly acknowledge his identity.”
“You mean…” Xiao Jue’s eyes flickered, “Rong’er recovers his identity, but what about you? If the crown prince is alive, how do we explain the empress’s whereabouts?”
“There are many reasons to explain it,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “As you wish. I only have one suggestion—you should go talk with Xiao Chen.”
“Hm?”
Qin Chang Ge slowly turned her gaze toward Heaven’s Prison, her look seeming disgusted yet puzzled: “Perhaps if you go, you’ll gain something else?”
―――――――――――――
This night was so brief yet so long.
Brief as the most beautiful memories of the past, long as if it were a lifetime.
Xiao Chen sat in the position Qin Chang Ge had occupied before, looking up at moonlight moving square by square past the skylight, unreachably distant, then suddenly smiled very calmly.
The skylight had been repaired—the Heaven’s Prison iron-armored guards were indeed fast.
After sitting cross-legged for a while, Xiao Chen silently stood and picked up an oil lamp—this was brought by the prison guards due to his special status—and once again carefully examined those words on the wall.
He read very seriously, as if wanting to see every word into his heart, then carve them into his heart with blood and hatred.
“Ruiyi… Qin Chang Ge…” he murmured almost groaning. Candlelight flickered on his elegant features, and his eyes hidden in half-shadow carried a desolate chill.
“You want to force me to speak…” he slowly smiled, “why should I make you happy? I won’t speak.”
“In the future…” his smile was full of malice, gradually adding a trace of excited joy, “just wait to cry…”
That joy gradually faded. He seemed to think of something and suddenly began trembling lightly. “No… no…”
Eyes wide as if seeing some terrifying future scene suddenly approaching, a layer of blue terror rose in his eyes.
After a long time, Xiao Chen slowly bent down and hugged his knees, black hair falling over his thin back. In that tightly protective posture, he firmly hid away the words he wanted to say but would rather die than say, along with all his unspeakable silence.
…Xiao Jue had been watching at the prison door for a long time.
Earlier Xia Houjue had reported that when the edict was announced, Prince Zhao was in plain clothes with loose hair, alone playing the qin in Qingbo Pavilion in his mansion. Hearing the edict, he only said “oh” lightly, looked at the qin in his hands for a while, then with a sweep of his sleeve, pushed the qin into the lake.
Not even a splash—the peerless famous qin sank forever.
“The long strings are broken, famous sounds silenced. Since no one listens, why keep it?”
Prince Zhao looked down at the calm, waveless lake surface and ultimately only said this.
Xia Houjue reported Prince Zhao’s words, expression, and bearing in minute detail to Xiao Jue. After finishing his report, he didn’t dare raise his head for a long while. The emperor stood sideways, gazing distantly, his posture still straight as usual, yet he vaguely felt something in His Majesty’s heart had broken at this moment.
Then Xiao Jue had him lead the way to Heaven’s Prison again. Behind them, Yu Hai carried a golden goblet and jade cup with a pot of blue-green wine swaying in the jade vessel.
Xia Houjue didn’t dare even glance at that wine. After opening the door, he bowed and withdrew.
Standing stunned at the prison door for a while, Xiao Jue slowly stepped forward and entered.
Hearing the sound, Xiao Chen looked up. Seeing it was him, he wasn’t surprised and smiled: “You came quite quickly.”
He glanced at the wine in Yu Hai’s hands, his expression changed, then he smiled very strangely: “Very good, there’s wine.”
Yu Hai’s fingers trembled slightly as he carefully observed Xiao Chen’s expression. Remembering what Qin Chang Ge had instructed him before leaving Dragon Chapter Palace, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
He shrank in the shadows, standing motionless.
Sweeping his long robe aside, Xiao Jue sat opposite Xiao Chen. For a long while he said nothing, only gazing deeply at him. After a while: “A’Chen, why do you torment yourself so?”
“I don’t understand what you mean,” Xiao Chen had regained his calm, smiling as usual. “Your Majesty, I don’t want to discuss my ‘crimes’ now. In any case, it’s all up to you. If you still remember some brotherly affection, then accompany me one last time to chat about family matters.”
Stunned, his gaze sweeping past the wine pot, Xiao Jue knew Xiao Chen had misunderstood, but had no mood to explain now. In any case, he would soon know his true intentions. He nodded lightly: “Speak.”
“What should I say?” Xiao Chen let Yu Hai pour him a cup of wine, gently lifted the cup, and moved it lightly in the moonlight. The jade color reflected by moonlight made his features snow-white. After pondering for a long while, he suddenly smiled: “There are many things I’ve kept in my heart for so long, chewing over them every day and night, thinking that someday I could tell you carefully—how wonderful that would be. But when the final opportunity to speak really comes, I suddenly realize I can no longer speak, that speaking would be useless…”
Yes, what should he say?
Say that night when he couldn’t sleep, remembering hearing the maid sisters mention Zhemei Garden where the plum blossoms bloomed so beautifully—tender yellow, pale red, pure white, verdant green, reflecting the clear Chu sky, fragrant snow on thousands of branches, every branch poetry… In the north wind, night fragrance drifted, and with it came sword light.
Sword light like lightning, bright white lightning, swift as Yi shooting nine suns, concentrated as sea condensing clear light. That youth’s figure was tall and strong, his steps light and agile. The long sword in his rolling movements was light as nothing, brilliant light spinning around him like phoenix dancing and dragon soaring, like a master calligrapher’s free-flowing painting, every stroke filled with the grandeur of swallowing clouds and spitting wind. Plum blossoms of every color were startled into flight by sword qi, then shredded by sword light into fragrant, beautiful snow that fell all over him.
That shoulder full of plum blossom snow—from then on its deep fragrance never dispersed, constantly arriving uninvited to question his dreams.
Or should he speak of their companionship in the study afterward?
He didn’t like reading. He always complained that his tutor’s assignments wasted sword practice time, so he would do them for him—first writing his, then his own. From then on he learned handwriting similar to his. The tutor assigned so much work, always writing and writing until his hand ached. Occasionally turning around, he’d see him sweeping in like wind, stuffing a fruit to him—”Here! Picked from the highest place on the tree! The biggest and reddest!”
…He touched his wrist—did it still ache? That fruit was so sour too… He ate it bit by bit, watching him smile, and smiled back, swallowing saliva.
There was only one fruit on that tree.
In this lifetime, he’d never taste such fruit again…
Or should he speak of the frost on the stone bridge that year?
When he learned from Sister Jing that he was leaving, it was already too late. Fearing he wouldn’t make it in time, he hurriedly rose in the middle of the night, not even having time to put on a cloak, running out in indoor shoes. After waiting a long time, he saw him and her coming—a man and woman in black and white robes galloping through the early autumn maple forest hung with frost. Those maple leaves were magnificently and noisily red, yet couldn’t match his handsomeness and her absolute beauty. What a pair of vivid and beautiful companions. That was his first time seeing her. Leaning against the bridge rail, meeting those cold eyes and that smile clearly inconsistent with those eyes, he knew she was destined to be his lifelong enemy.
He had won before, but ultimately still lost.
That year, after returning home, he fell seriously ill. Later the rheumatism never left, penetrating deep into his lungs, a chronic illness difficult to cure. Actually, even without this incident, he wouldn’t have lived long…
Xiao Chen smiled faintly.
Was it worth it? It was worth it.
His expression was both desolate and joyful, melancholy yet satisfied, carrying complex colors of bewildered pain. Through Xiao Jue’s eyes, he looked toward a distant future he might never see again.
Xiao Jue had been watching his expression, patiently sharing his silence. Seeing his desolate smile, he couldn’t help saying: “A’Chen, why did you—”
“I said I don’t want to discuss this today.” Xiao Chen interrupted him, swirling his wine cup with a smile: “Brother, you come to kill me yet want me to speak honestly? Your younger brother isn’t so easily bullied.”
Smiling proudly with bright and clear expression, Xiao Jue said: “You think this is poisoned wine? Am I such a person? Don’t believe me? I’ll drink with you.”
He was about to pour wine but was stopped by Xiao Chen.
Looking quietly at Xiao Jue, Xiao Chen said: “I misunderstood brother. Let me pour wine for brother to apologize.”
Smiling as he released his hand, Xiao Jue said: “Very well.”
Carefully pouring wine, Xiao Chen picked up his own cup and raised it toward Xiao Jue: “We brothers haven’t drunk together in a long time. Cheers.”
“Cheers!”
“Your Majesty!”
Yu Hai suddenly spoke, reaching out to stop Xiao Jue from drinking.
Under candlelight his face was covered in sweat, his expression tense as he stared at the swaying wine in the cup as if it weren’t wine but bone-corroding, intestine-piercing poison.
Xiao Jue was stunned and about to get angry when he looked up and saw his expression. Startled, he saw Xiao Chen across from him already laughing coldly: “Afraid I poisoned it?”
Xiao Jue frowned, angrily saying: “Yu Hai, are you mad? How dare you be so presumptuous!”
“Your Majesty!” Old Yu Hai fell to his knees with a thud. “It was… Miss Ming’s instruction… Your Majesty’s ten-thousand-fold precious body cannot be careless… please allow this old slave… allow this old slave to test…”
Hearing Ming Shuang’s name, Xiao Jue immediately frowned, and Xiao Chen’s cold smile became more chilling.
Yu Hai acted as if he saw nothing. Seeing Xiao Jue’s tacit consent, he tremblingly took out the silver needle Qin Chang Ge had given him and tested it in Xiao Jue’s wine cup.
A thin black line faintly appeared on the brilliantly bright silver needle.
Poisoned!
Xiao Jue suddenly looked up, his gaze burning as he stared at Xiao Chen!
But Xiao Chen was frozen in place.
Coldly staring at Xiao Chen for a long while, Xiao Jue silently stood, kicked over the wine pot and cups, and left without looking back.
He walked so hurriedly that the wind he stirred extinguished the already weak lamp wick.
No one saw a tear from Xiao Jue fall into the cold dust.
Darkness fell like a curtain with a whoosh, covering all expressions of shock too great to believe.
Xiao Chen stiffened in the darkness. After a long while, he slowly reached out to touch the broken wine cup.
His joints seemed to suddenly die at this moment, every movement making difficult tiny sounds.
After a long while, he looked up and gave a long laugh.
Grief and anger like a wail.
“Good! Good! You’re so good—”
The end of the third year of Qianyuan, a restless year-end, an end filled with undercurrents that stirred up countless sediments from the depths, whose far-reaching effects were destined to extend into the long years ahead, spreading across the six nations, bringing forth war, common people, struggles, slaughter, and all kinds of irresistible trends.
This year, the empire’s sky, always shrouded by distant shadows, began to roll with hunting red clouds due to a commoner woman’s shocking petition.
Her raised chin, with a resolute posture, had pried up all the foundations of the empire’s most favored and honored prince.
There were other involvements and upheavals that couldn’t yet be seen, which would spread silently like cracks in the years to come.
Wind and thunder were about to rise, the nine provinces would surge.
On the fourth day of the twelfth month in the third year of Qianyuan, an edict was issued throughout the realm: “Prince Zhao Xiao Chen deceived the sovereign and misled superiors, killed innocents at will, handled affairs recklessly and unrestrained, fabricated charges and framed people. His royal title is stripped, and he is confined to Anping Palace.”
The edict simultaneously stated that the Changle fire years ago was the work of villainous schemes, but the nation’s mother was blessed by heaven—Empress Ruiyi had not died, Crown Prince Mingxuan was unharmed. The empress’s loyal subordinates had after years of hardship delivered the crown prince safely back to Xiliang. Now the crown prince again resided in Guanhua Palace, with the investiture ceremony to be held on the first day of the first month. The empress, due to severe injuries from three years ago that had not healed, was now recuperating in an overseas immortal residence and would return when recovered.
The people of Xiliang were in an uproar upon hearing this news, spontaneously taking to the streets for three consecutive days to celebrate with drums and dances. The current ruler had been on the throne for many years but had no heir—all of Xiliang worried about the succession issue. Now with the crown prince’s return, the dynasty had continuity. How could they not rejoice?
Many people flocked like tides to Shengde Huguo Temple, competing to pray for the nation’s mother. Countless people donated incense oil and lit eternal lamps, prostrating before Buddha to pray for the founding empress’s early return.
…
New year, new atmosphere. The New Year’s sunlight early illuminated the flower wall behind the coffin shop.
On the flower wall, a new peach blossom had bloomed early.
The peach blossom was delicate and beautiful, pink and charming, the branch strong and graceful with pure beauty. Below the flower, a woman in light clothes with scattered robes and elegant charm gazed deeply at that peach blossom, her eyes distant like blue sky with rolling clouds.
Hearing wheelchair sounds behind her, she turned with a smile like peach blossoms blooming.
“Everything seems to be ending, everything is just beginning.”