After only a few days, Qin Chang Ge once again stepped into Jin’Ou Palace.

Seeing Jin’Ou Palace in daylight, it truly lived up to its “Jin’Ou” name – brilliant and splendid, exquisitely beautiful beyond compare. The central courtyard was vermillion red, the halls painted with gold, coated in yellow gold with white jade steps, walls adorned with purple gold bands and decorated with bright pearls and kingfisher feathers. Compared to the Emperor and Empress’s Dragon Chapter and Phoenix Ceremony palaces, it was no less magnificent.

Xiao Jue could be said to be utterly sincere toward this sister of his.

Because of this, everyone throughout the nation praised him as benevolent, caring, and a wise ruler of the country.

Benevolent and caring… Qin Chang Ge raised her head, looking at the two characters “Jin’Ou” written in Xiao Jue’s own hand, illuminated by the evening sunlight. The dragon-like and phoenix-like strokes seemed about to break free from the surface and soar away. She smiled very, very slowly.

After that brief smile, she humbly and respectfully followed behind the eunuch, announced all the way as she entered the main hall.

Princess Wen Chang was playing chess with someone, and unfortunately, that someone was Xiao Jue.

She caught sight of Qin Chang Ge entering the hall and instinctively started to rise in greeting, but was immediately frozen in place by Qin Chang Ge’s almost imperceptible glance.

Across from her, Xiao Jue had already raised his head.

Forcing a smile, Wen Chang said: “Is this the servant girl you mentioned, the one you selected for me who is devoted to Buddhist studies?”

Xiao Jue made a “hmm” sound, his thoughts still immersed in the chess game. Without looking up, he casually ordered: “How lacking in perception… Don’t you see that I and the Princess are playing chess? Wait outside the hall.”

The eunuch immediately bowed carefully and retreated, glaring angrily at Qin Chang Ge as he passed her, saying: “Unlucky wretch… Get out!”

Qin Chang Ge gently withdrew immediately.

Waiting below the steps, she could vaguely see the silhouettes of the Emperor and Princess behind the heavy curtains – one smiling faintly with dignified bearing, the other focused intently with sharp eyes. Qin Chang Ge smiled as she watched, remembering long, long ago in Changle Palace, there had been similar scenes.

Then there were cheerful conversations and laughter; now they were strangers across palace halls. Affection could not keep people close – all had departed with the passing years.

The truth remained unclear, the dark clouds undispersed. From now on, whom could she trust completely?

Time had not aged, but hearts had already grown old…

The sound of flapping wings came from overhead. Looking up, she saw golden clouds tinted by the setting sun with rose-colored evening glow. Large flocks of snow-white doves raised in the palace, like enormous white clouds, rose into the air. Their nimble wing tips traced perfect arcs across the pale blue sky.

These were… the doves she had loved to raise in the past. She had never expected that in this palace where almost all memories related to her had been purged, these innocent creatures still existed.

Xiao Jue, should I say you are sentimental or heartless?

You would fly into a rage because Concubine Rou wore a spiral bun that Ruiyi loved to wear when alive, indirectly causing the deaths of so many palace maids. You forbade anyone in the palace from mentioning Ruiyi even once – violators were immediately beaten to death. The former Changle Palace was reduced to ashes, and you built Fengyi Palace on top of it, leaving not a trace.

Yet Fengyi Palace remained empty for years, while the doves I raised reproduced generation after generation, until they covered half the clear sky above the palace.

Sentimental? Heartless?

Deep in her heart, she sighed softly, but her face showed an even brighter smile, appearing as if life were so pleasant and fulfilling.

She didn’t know how long she had been lost in thought when she heard the summons from within the hall.

Qin Chang Ge entered with eyes observing her nose and nose observing her heart. Xiao Jue sat cross-legged on the couch, his black robe embroidered with jade dragons in flowing needle patterns rippling like water. His handsomeness was so striking that without any artifice, he could still radiate brilliance in all directions.

“The Princess will go pray for the nation’s blessing,” Xiao Jue had always been straightforward, getting directly to the point without idle chatter. “She has taken a liking to you. Serve her well.”

Qin Chang Ge respectfully acknowledged.

Xiao Jue’s gaze slid across her face, lingering briefly, then turned to Wen Chang: “Sister, are you troubled? I noticed you were distracted during today’s chess game. Even though I gave you three stones, you still lost. If you don’t wish to leave the palace, then don’t go.”

Wen Chang smiled gently. “Your Majesty, I simply slept too much yesterday, so my spirits were low. Since I have made a vow, there is absolutely no reason to regret it. Otherwise, Buddha would blame me.”

Xiao Jue fell silent. After a long while, he sighed listlessly and stood up: “I will come see you. Don’t refuse me.”

Wen Chang smiled. “The main gate of Shanglin Convent will always be open for Your Majesty.”

“What good is it being open?” Xiao Jue’s expression was desolate, his thick eyelashes casting crescent-shaped shadows beneath his eyes. “Even you are leaving…” He seemed about to say more but stopped, sweeping his robes as he stepped down from the couch.

Wen Chang saw him to the door. Watching her brother’s dragon palanquin depart in the distance, seeing his tall but lonely figure disappear among the layers of palace buildings, she sighed softly. Then she heard the gentle voice of the woman behind her laughing: “It’s not a parting of life and death. Why the sorrow and lamentation?”

Turning around, Wen Chang looked at Qin Chang Ge’s eternally smiling eyes and prayed silently in her heart.

Brother, please don’t let it be you. Please, don’t.

That night Qin Chang Ge lodged in Jin’Ou Palace. The sister-in-law from the previous life talked by candlelight until the third watch. The autumn night was deep and cool, with a full moon casting cold radiance for thousands of miles, frost-like traces appearing on the window frames. The palace buildings that had been golden and brilliant during the day were half-bright, half-dark, hidden in shadows, looking quite sinister and mysterious. The distant sound of the night watch drums could be heard, each beat deep and heavy, as if pounding on one’s heart.

“I always feel somewhat uneasy,” Qin Chang Ge stood by the window, carefully examining the palace she hadn’t seen for several years. “It seems like something is about to happen.”

Wen Chang frowned. “What could happen? You’re safe here with me.”

“No,” Qin Chang Ge shook her head, thought for a moment, then smiled: “Perhaps I’m overthinking.”

She was about to move away from the window when suddenly her eyes flashed and she called out sharply: “Who’s there?”

“It’s this servant,” came the voice of Wen Chang’s personal maid Qi Mo, her expression somewhat uneasy.

Night dew clung to her hair, showing she had been standing outside for quite a while.

Wen Chang frowned at her. “You should have announced yourself before entering. Why this sneaky behavior?”

Responding with a low “yes,” Qi Mo said pitifully: “This servant saw it was late and didn’t dare disturb the Princess. I also wasn’t sure if this matter was worth reporting…”

“Why are you still so muddled in your speech?” Wen Chang said helplessly. “Speaking incoherently – what exactly is the matter?”

“It’s little Ou Zi from Cuiwei Palace…” Qi Mo rubbed at her sleeve. “He secretly came seeking to see Miss Ming. This servant thought, what kind of matter is this? I already told him the young lady had gone to sleep, but little Ou Zi refused to leave, only saying it was a matter of life and death… This servant had no choice but to disturb my master…”

Qin Chang Ge turned around sharply: “Is little Ou Zi young, with delicate features and a very clever appearance?”

“Yes, he’s a servant eunuch from Cuiwei Palace. Miss Ming, you’re not familiar with him?”

Qin Chang Ge had already thrown on her cloak, saying urgently: “Please trouble the young lady to take me to see him.”

Qi Mo looked at Wen Chang, who nodded. The two hurried out. In the shadows of the flowering trees outside the hall door, a thin figure was rubbing his hands and pacing restlessly, occasionally looking up toward the hall entrance with an anxious expression.

It was indeed the little eunuch Qin Chang Ge had seen dragging corpses on the day of her rebirth.

Seeing Qin Chang Ge, his eyes flashed and he hurried forward, immediately saying: “Something’s happened to Aunt Jin Yun! Concubine Rou is going to beat her to death!”

Qin Chang Ge’s heart turned cold. She immediately looked back at Wen Chang, who understood her meaning and said: “You go first, I’ll be right there.”

Nodding, Qin Chang Ge followed little Ou Zi as he left, listening to the little eunuch explain the situation as they walked. It turned out that after being scolded by His Majesty today, Concubine Rou was in a foul mood. She had been smashing bowls and dishes in the palace, punishing several people in succession but still couldn’t vent her anger. It happened that Nanny Hu, who was on duty, had some grievances with Aunt Jin Yun, so she sowed discord before Concubine Rou, saying that Your Ladyship’s humiliation today was all caused by that little wretch Ming Shuang. If Ming Shuang hadn’t appeared, His Majesty would definitely have stayed the night at Cuiwei Palace. Speaking of which, that girl should have died long ago – it was all because Jin Yun saved her. She even heard that Jin Yun secretly gave her tribute wound medicine. This medicine was Your Ladyship’s gracious reward to us senior palace servants – it should have been enshrined properly. How could it be casually given to lowly palace servants? Now His Majesty has decreed that Ming Shuang not be made difficult for, but he didn’t say other people couldn’t be punished.

These words made the already hot-tempered Concubine Rou grit her silver teeth. She ordered Jin Yun to be summoned, first asking her where the wound medicine had gone. Jin Yun naturally couldn’t answer, so Concubine Rou gave a cold laugh and backhanded the scalding bird’s nest soup at her side, splashing it onto Jin Yun’s face!

Jin Yun had no time to react before meeting with disaster, covering her swollen face and screaming for mercy. Concubine Rou’s willow eyebrows stood on end as she commanded them to drag her out, strip her clothes and beat her – beat her to death!

The eunuchs were all the type to step on the high and climb over the low. With the concubine in a rage, clearly not intending to spare Jin Yun’s life, they struck particularly viciously. These people had all practiced their whip techniques – they could make flesh fly without injuring tendons and bones, or leave the surface unmarked while pulverizing internal organs. Jin Yun’s treatment involved vicious attacks both external and internal.

They stripped Jin Yun naked in two or three moves. Concubine Rou also ordered all the palace men and women to come out and watch as a warning. Under the gaze of many eyes, Jin Yun suffered naked humiliation as the salt-water-soaked silk hemp whip fell mercilessly on her bare body, bringing up spattering flesh and blood. The dull sounds shook people’s hearts, the thick scent of blood filled the dark night, sticky fresh blood slowly flowed down from the punishment bench, creating crisscrossing channels on the white stone ground.

Among the watching crowd, though there were some eunuchs who lewdly stared at Jin Yun’s body, most closed their eyes with expressions of pity. Only Nanny Hu maintained a satisfied cold smile throughout.

Little Ou Zi had received kindness from Jin Yun before. Seeing the beating was going badly, he quietly slipped out. Knowing no one would help Jin Yun, he could only hope for Ming Shuang, who had just become Princess Wen Chang’s maid, thinking perhaps the Princess might show mercy and lend a helping hand.

Little Ou Zi finished speaking urgently, but heard no response from Qin Chang Ge. Looking up in confusion, he saw the young woman’s face heavy as cold frost in the moonlight, with a hint of killing intent growing between her usually gentle features. Though her expression seemed very calm, somehow he felt a forest-like chill pressing against his body, making him shiver involuntarily.

By this time they had reached Cuiwei Palace.

The quiet Cuiwei Palace had no moaning, wailing, or conversational voices – only the faint sound of long whips whistling through the air could be heard, echoing in the pitch-black night, making the dark palace city seem even more silent as death.

Overhead, night-roaming birds cawed strangely, flapping their blue-black wings. In a flash they split through the cloudy, overcast sky, staring with deep eyes as they alighted on the gorgeous glazed eaves of the palace roof, greedily sniffing the thick bloody scent in the air.

Someone was about to die, while countless living beings watched with indifference.

Qin Chang Ge hurried forward, suddenly stopping at the hall entrance.

Little Ou Zi looked down in confusion and drew in a sharp breath.

Blood – a lot of blood – had converged into a thin stream, winding like a snake as it slowly flowed from ahead, as if alive, pressing toward their feet.

From here to the execution courtyard was still more than ten meters away. How much blood could one person have to flow this long distance?

Qin Chang Ge raised her head and closed her eyes. She knew she had arrived too late.

No vigorous life could endure such massive blood loss.

Pushing past little Ou Zi, Qin Chang Ge said flatly: “Don’t come with me, lest you also suffer misfortune. Find somewhere to stay.” She quickly entered the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, moonlight was like washing, contrasting with blood like brocade. The courtyard full of palace servants stood like clay and wooden sculptures, staring at the horrifying “piece of flesh” on the punishment bench.

It could no longer be called a complete human body. Scattered, rolled pieces of flesh tangled with blood-soaked black hair. From head to foot there wasn’t a patch of white skin left. Above the tattered, blood-floss-like body, the eunuch’s heavy whip continued falling without pause. Each movement brought flying bits of flesh, with white bone showing through in some places.

That powerless body was constantly shaken by the whip’s force, causing blood to flow even faster.

Seeing someone enter, the eunuch stopped in amazement. Qin Chang Ge had already quickly approached, removing her cloak without looking and covering Jin Yun’s body. The moon-white cloak instantly turned bright red. Qin Chang Ge bent low, half-kneeling in the pool of blood, leaning close to Jin Yun’s only relatively intact face, calling softly: “Auntie, auntie…”

Her voice was low and mournful, echoing in the silent courtyard as someone began sobbing quietly.

Of the two executing eunuchs, one silently stopped and stepped back, while the other raised his eyebrows and shrieked: “Bitch, get away!”

On the steps, Nanny Hu said coldly: “Ming Shuang? You dare come back?”

Qin Chang Ge completely ignored these people’s noise, reaching out to check Jin Yun’s pulse. There was still a thread-like breath, barely perceptible.

After thinking, Qin Chang Ge stopped calling out and immediately began untying the ropes binding Jin Yun’s hands and feet.

“Whoosh!” A sharp wind sound descended from above, accompanied by the eunuch’s angry shout: “Insolent servant girl!”

Nanny Hu simultaneously gave a cold laugh, shouting: “Beat her to death too!”

“Crack!” The long whip struck flesh, cloth tore, blood appeared. Qin Chang Ge’s shoulder burned with pain, but she didn’t even look, only quickly untied the ropes one by one, reaching under Jin Yun’s arms to gently lift her, very carefully trying to carry her on her back.

Crack! Another whip, this time aimed straight at Qin Chang Ge’s face. Qin Chang Ge nimbly shook her head, the long whip caught her hair bun, and when the eunuch pulled with force, the bun came apart. Black hair immediately cascaded like flowing water over her shoulder, fluttering down onto Jin Yun’s face.

As if by miracle, Jin Yun slowly opened her eyes.

Though she was dying, her gaze was clear. Those crystal-clear eyes looked over, and the eunuch actually froze for a moment, stepping back and stopping his hand.

Qin Chang Ge smiled gently: “Auntie… you’re a bit injured. I’ll take you to ask the Princess for medical treatment…” As she spoke, she lifted Jin Yun onto her back, but Jin Yun said: “Put… me… down…”

Startled, Qin Chang Ge turned around. Before she could speak, she saw Jin Yun somehow find the strength to shakily stand up on her own. Blood immediately gushed from her various wounds, quickly pooling on the ground below. She looked down at the cloak wrapped around her, actually showing a comforted expression in her eyes, and with a tragic smile said: “…Thank you…”

Her heart ached. Silent and speechless, she heard someone sigh at the hall entrance. Qin Chang Ge turned to see Wen Chang with a face full of compassion, standing at the doorway.

Just in that moment of turning around.

Jin Yun suddenly rushed forward, shouting loudly: “Rather be a ghost than swear to kill you!”

Her cry was as piercing as if she had charged out from the nine-layered netherworld, carrying towering blood energy and blazing resentment. Like a sharp sword piercing through the heavy clouds and haze pressing down on this dark palace court, it struck the trembling moon behind the clouds, splashing it with a layer of blood light.

“Bang!”

A muffled sound.

She had violently crashed into a jade stone pillar!

Blood and brain matter splattered like a large ink painting, bright red and pink-white blooming gorgeously, scattered across the snow-white stone pillar.

Fresh blood splashed three feet, reaching the feet of Nanny Hu on the steps. She screamed, her face ghastly pale as she jumped down the steps.

Before Qin Chang Ge could turn her head, that muffled sound had already frozen her in place.

Her fingers tucked in her sleeves clenched, cold light flashing in her eyes.

Suddenly turning around, Qin Chang Ge had already rushed to Jin Yun’s corpse that had fallen softly to the ground. All the palace servants in the hall were shocked speechless by this tragic scene, their souls stolen and spirits captured. Qin Chang Ge rushed over with her long hair covering her face, and everyone forgot to react.

Reaching out, with her back to the crowd, she lifted Jin Yun’s corpse and pulled out the sharp hairpin from her bun, firmly inserting it into Jin Yun’s tightly clenched fist.

She said softly: “Come… I’ll take you to get revenge.”

Carrying Jin Yun on her back, estimating positions and figures, Qin Chang Ge slowly moved forward. Palace servants all around stepped back in panic, covering their faces, not daring to look directly.

Qin Chang Ge looked at no one. Just now, she had seen everyone’s positions clearly.

Nanny Hu was hiding behind the palace maid Chun Qing, concealed tightly.

With a cold smile at the corner of her mouth, Qin Chang Ge walked slowly and unsteadily. She deliberately made her steps heavy, her voice drawn out in a low, long tone, saying softly: “Auntie, just watch… Auntie, you’re a ghost now, so don’t forget those who owe you a life… Auntie… if you couldn’t get revenge while alive, surely you can when dead…”

A ghostly wind swirled along the ground, rolling up fallen leaves with a rustling sound like ghostly footsteps.

Night owls wore a wheel of blood-red moon, cackling even more joyfully on the palace roof.

The crowd all around stood in this place of bloody carnage, watching Qin Chang Ge walk along with the corpse on her back dripping blood that curved and twisted like curse marks, listening to her sinister voice as if transmitted from the underworld. Remembering Jin Yun’s final words before death, they all couldn’t help but shiver together, ice-cold dread rising from their hearts. They stared with wide, dull eyes, looking fearfully around at the bottomless darkness, feeling as if countless demons and spirits lurked in those shadowy places, ready to move at a summoning.

They wanted not to look but were transfixed as if their souls were bound, staring deadly at those dripping blood drops. They wanted to flee but their legs were soft as if tied, unable to lift their feet.

Qin Chang Ge had already reached in front of Chun Qing. The palace maid timidly stepped back.

Qin Chang Ge suddenly seemed to lose strength, her legs going soft as she tilted to one side.

Jin Yun’s corpse behind her immediately fell toward them.

With piercing screams, Chun Qing covered her face and fled regardless of everything. Nanny Hu’s face, ghastly pale with fright, was immediately exposed. She watched Jin Yun’s bloody, brain-matter-covered corpse falling toward her. The overwhelming bloody scent made her heart and courage shatter as she nearly went mad. She cried out incoherently, desperately trying to escape, but her skirt was somehow stepped on by someone. Jin Yun’s corpse had already fallen down, pressing heavily toward her. Fresh blood dripped on her face, and in a trance, that scalded, horrifying face suddenly opened its eyes and grinned at her with bared teeth.

Ahhh!!!

Earth-shaking screams. Nanny Hu frantically waved her hands, desperately fighting to push away that terrible face. She vaguely saw Qin Chang Ge also rushing over with a panicked expression, seemingly trying to support Jin Yun’s corpse. In the chaotic red and black shifting shadows, she was too confused to see anything clearly. Somehow her throat suddenly felt cold – it didn’t seem to hurt much, but all the strength in her body suddenly drained away like flowing water.

Wildly spraying fresh blood splashed up to great heights, and that slightly red moon turned completely blood-colored.

Nanny Hu lay on the ground, her eyes nearly bulging from their sockets, but her pupils had already dispersed. Jin Yun’s corpse pressed down on her, and in that corpse’s hand, a coldly gleaming golden hairpin was inserted precisely in her throat.

She was dead.

The palace servants and eunuchs who had scattered and fled stood stiffly in place, looking at this eerie and terrifying scene. In the deathly silent and congealed atmosphere, everyone’s faces were cold and white as ghosts. After a long while, with a “thud,” a palace maid collapsed to the ground.

She had been scared unconscious.

Another “thud” came from inside the hall. Everyone looked over blankly to see Concubine Rou collapsed on the threshold.

She had already been asleep but came out after hearing the commotion, just in time to see Jin Yun’s corpse falling toward Nanny Hu.

How could a pampered concubine endure such a sight? She fainted without a sound.

“A vengeful spirit is claiming lives!”

A piercing shriek shattered the soul-freezing silence. Everyone frantically ran, screaming shrilly, scattering in all directions, and in an instant the place was empty.

They couldn’t even care about the unconscious concubine.

Only Qin Chang Ge remained, standing with hands behind her back in the courtyard full of blood-colored moonlight.

Giving a slight smile to Wen Chang who was looking at her with concern, Qin Chang Ge unhurriedly turned around and walked softly to Concubine Rou’s side. Crouching down to examine her, she said flatly: “Beautiful face, poisonous heart – there’s always retribution. It’s not convenient for me to kill you now, so I’ll leave you a memento.”

Extending both hands, she struck heavily behind Concubine Rou’s left and right ears.

After a while, blood slowly flowed from both of Concubine Rou’s ears.

Carefully taking out a handkerchief, she wiped the blood clean. Concubine Rou looked completely unharmed.

“You’ll never again hear the words of treacherous people sowing discord,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Beauties should most of all cultivate their hearts and natures.”

No longer paying attention to Concubine Rou, she stepped down from the platform. Qin Chang Ge silently gazed at Jin Yun’s corpse.

This woman was the only person since her rebirth who had actively given her warmth.

Their first meeting – the dark storage room, corpses scattered everywhere, Jin Yun anxiously peering through the window. The moment she saw that Qin Chang Ge was still alive, her face bloomed with genuine joy. The bottle of medicine she handed over – something most ordinary to her as Empress Ruiyi – unexpectedly became the cause of her death.

In this palace where human feelings were as cold and distant as far mountains, only she had embraced her, only she had smiled sincerely, saying: “Auntie just wants to remind you – in this palace, every step is dangerous, every moment holds killing intent. You must be careful.”

In just a few hours, that killing intent had silently descended, claiming her own life.

And the repayment Qin Chang Ge had promised would never have a chance to be fulfilled.

She wore Ming Shuang’s body and enjoyed her care, but could never, like Ming Shuang, show kindness to her.

The moonlight was slightly red, like the blood a vengeful spirit’s eyes wished to shed.

Qin Chang Ge looked at her wide-open eyes and said softly: “I promise you, one day I will end the injustice of valuing human lives based on status, end the privilege of those in power to arbitrarily control others’ life and death. I will make those who harmed us moan under our vengeful blade, watering the white bones beneath our barren mounds with their blood. I will not hesitate to crush countless skulls underfoot as I advance, only to not disappoint this reunion of unknown sorrow and joy.”

Her fingers gently touched Jin Yun’s eyelids, softly brushing across them.

When her hand moved away, Jin Yun had peacefully closed her eyes.

Qin Chang Ge stood up and left without looking back.

Wen Chang watched her from the hall entrance, saying in surprise: “You won’t collect her body?”

“A corpse knows nothing and feels nothing – it’s just a pile of skin. Why bother collecting it?” Qin Chang Ge looked at her calmly.

“Leaving her here, Cuiwei Palace can better conceal the news and make it convenient for you and me to leave.”