The lotus pond was dotted with pink and pale yellow flowers, creating a dreamy scene against the vermillion walls and green waters. The essence of summer was thick in the air.
Xia Jingshi stood by the pond, hands behind his back, eyes half-closed, his expression calm and solemn. For days, he had remained silent, maintaining his former composure in his movements. When alone, however, he was more prone to falling into reverie, just as he was now.
In his memory, there was a cool palace surrounded by lush trees and flowers. During the hot summers, his Imperial Mother would often take him there for meals. To the east of the cool palace was a vast Ningbi Pool, its waters stretching as far as the eye could see. Three artificial islands resembling the mythical mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou stood in the pool. Along the shore, over a hundred pavilions and towers gleamed in gold and jade, breathtakingly beautiful, encircling the Mingde Palace where his Imperial Mother resided like stars around the moon. Everything had a dreamlike air of opulence.
Many summers ago, the Emperor and Imperial Mother would often take a boat to admire the lotus flowers on Ningbi Pool. The Emperor was pale and handsome, while the Imperial Mother was beautiful with moth-like eyebrows, her every smile radiant. And by his side, there was always a charming companion with a sweet smile.
It was a name etched into his very being – Rao Ran. When his original study companion, Maid Li Ze, suddenly fell gravely ill, Rao Ran emerged from among the servants to stand behind him.
Love is like a trap covered with grass and flowers. When you’re attracted by its beauty and reach out to pick it, you suddenly fall into the pre-set trap, struggling in pain…
The young and tender-hearted Xia Jingshi couldn’t resist Rao Ran’s deliberately displayed charms. Their love blossomed fiercely from the start. He still remembered the moment Rao Ran embraced him, her scent sweet and warm, her hands like coal and ice as they slid over his trembling body, very familiar, sliding over—then, the allure on her face was suddenly replaced by an expression of surprise. He heard Rao Ran softly ask, “Your Highness, don’t you want Rao Ran?” He was stunned, gradually breaking out in a fine sweat, watching as her surprise turned to realization, then to a mysterious smile. Then, she pushed him away and left.
Outside, thunder and lightning raged. Xia Jingshi drank alone in his room, his throat burning with disappointment. Before he passed out, he vaguely called out, “Rao Ran…”
He suddenly awoke at noon, with a light rain falling outside. He struggled to his feet, wanting to pour a glass of water, but found none. Only then did he remember that he had ordered everyone to stay away from his courtyard for several days.
Xia Jingshi slowly walked to the window. He poked his head out, opened his mouth, and let the slightly sweet raindrops fall on his bitter tongue. Tears suddenly flowed, beyond his control, mingling with the rain as they trickled down his neck.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before him. Through the damp air, this silhouette was more dazzling than sunlight. So this was the ominous feeling he had first sensed, so ominous indeed— “By order of the Imperial Consort, Prince Xia Jingshi is summoned for an audience.”
He remembered following two palace attendants through the winding paths of the deep palace, past swaying flowers and trees, through lofty halls. Their footsteps sounded light and secretive. His heart was pounding, and his eyes could barely make out this solemn and splendid imperial home.
The Imperial Consort’s bedchamber was as bright as day. Among the palace lamps and silver candles, a woman reclined on the phoenix couch.
The Imperial Consort was having tea. A strange, clear fragrance wafted from the small cup in her hand. She seemed not to have heard the attendant’s announcement, nor did she glance at Xia Jingshi, who was kneeling and requesting an audience.
“Do you know why I summoned you to the palace?” After a long while, the Imperial Consort finally put down her porcelain cup and turned to scrutinize Xia Jingshi. He only shook his head, but he heard the palace attendants gradually withdrawing from the hall.
“Stand up. I want you to meet someone,” the Imperial Consort’s languid eyes suddenly shot out an extremely scorching light.
A familiar pattern of footsteps sounded. He didn’t want to turn around, silently praying it wasn’t her, please don’t let it be her, but— “This humble servant Rao Ran pays respects to the Imperial Consort and the Prince.”
“How are you here?” he asked in confusion. “I haven’t seen you for the past few days. I thought something had happened to you.”
“Rao Ran, rise and speak,” the Imperial Consort had already begun to laugh. Rao Ran’s expression was as usual, smiling shyly and timidly as she gracefully stood up.
Her smile pierced Xia Jingshi’s eyes like an awl. To him, Rao Ran was like a beautiful and passionate dream. No matter how beautiful, one must eventually wake up.
“Was your love for me all a lie?” His face was as still as dead water, his lips drained of color.
“Love?” Rao Ran covered her mouth and smiled. “This is truly the biggest joke in at least the last few hundred years since the profession of prostitution began.”
Prostitute.
His gaze fell into space, and he couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “It’s a pity you became a whore. You should have been an actress.”
Rao Ran smiled sweetly, “Rao Ran was naturally first an actress and then a whore. How else could I have presented such a convincing performance before the Prince, making him fall for me, and ultimately withdraw unscathed?”
“I was wholeheartedly devoted to you. Why did you deceive me?!” He finally couldn’t help but lose his temper.
“Hasn’t the Prince heard? Whores have no feelings, actors no loyalty—did the Prince believe in the vows of eternal love from a brothel girl? Hehe, that’s just an act in a play. In this world, the most enduring emotion is no emotion at all,” Rao Ran said softly, giggling coquettishly, but her words cut like knives.
“It was I who arranged for her to ‘serve’ you. I had originally planned to put her to use later, but I never expected—it turned out like this,” the Imperial Consort suddenly laughed loudly. “Xia Jingshi, you are destined to be only a nobleman. You are destined not to inherit the throne. Hahaha!”
Xia Jingshi’s tightly clenched teeth made a grinding sound. Cold sweat poured down into his eyes, but the stinging sensation didn’t make him close them. In his unfocused pupils, there was no more pain, only bewilderment, hollow bewilderment.
The Imperial Consort slowly sat up. Rao Ran obediently came forward to adjust her pillows, then gently massaged her shoulders. “I’ll give you two choices. First, you can voluntarily withdraw from the competition for the heir apparent position. I promise to keep this secret for you. Second, hehe, I will immediately summon the Imperial Physicians for a consultation and make the results public. Everything will be left for the Holy Emperor and the court officials to decide. What do you say?”
Xia Jingshi lowered his gaze and answered calmly, “I’ll withdraw.”
“Hahaha, I didn’t expect this. How pitiful…” the Imperial Consort laughed out loud. “Xia Jingshi, I overestimated you, you poor wretch!!!” Rao Ran also began to giggle.
Xia Jingshi woodenly watched the two women laughing together. No, they were two venomous snakes, their fangs deeply embedded in his heart, never to be removed.
Finally done laughing, the Imperial Consort slowly stood up, dragging her long skirt as she walked to his side. Her phoenix eyes, brimming with tears from laughter, glanced at him. “It’s time for me to fulfill my promise,” she gestured for Rao Ran to come closer. “Would you like to spend the rest of your life with him?”
Rao Ran chuckled lightly, “The Imperial Consort jests. If Rao Ran were to return with the Prince, she would surely be flayed alive.” The Imperial Consort nodded thoughtfully, “You have a point. Then—” The smile in her phoenix eyes suddenly turned to a cold, murderous intent. Before Rao Ran could react, a sharp dagger had slid out from the Imperial Consort’s wide sleeve and plunged deep into her abdomen. “Then you shall not live!”
Rao Ran’s mouth hung half-open, her throat making gurgling sounds. Her eyes bulged, looking at the Imperial Consort in disbelief. Both hands firmly grasped the Imperial Consort’s wrist, trying to push the dagger out of her body, but with just a slight twist of the hand holding the dagger, she was in too much pain to exert any strength.
“Save…” Her plaintive eyes turned to the stunned Xia Jingshi, reaching out a hand already covered in blood. “Save me… please…”
Xia Jingshi instinctively stepped forward to support her. “What?” the Imperial Consort’s phoenix eyes were filled with a cold smile, but her hand didn’t relax at all. “Do you want her to take this secret out of the palace, back to that place of courtesans to use as drinking gossip for all the world to hear?” His movement instantly froze.
“For being so obedient, I’ll teach you a lesson—love is both a fetter and a shackle. In this life, once you’ve felt love or affection, you already have a weakness. So, you are no longer perfect,” she smiled, her eyes devoid of any warmth. “You are indeed excellent, but it’s a pity you were born to the wrong mother. If you were my son, the throne would undoubtedly be yours!”
In Xia Jingshi’s dazed gaze, the Imperial Consort gracefully stepped back. Rao Ran’s body immediately rolled to the ground. She twitched slightly, struggling to crawl towards the hall door, leaving a thick trail of blood behind her.
The Imperial Consort, with a playful smile, slowly followed Rao Ran step by step towards the door, softly encouraging, “Almost there. If you can crawl out, I might consider sparing your life…” Suddenly, Xia Jingshi strode forward, reaching out to the Imperial Consort, “Give it to me.” The Imperial Consort glanced at him with slight surprise but still handed the blood-soaked dagger to him.
Xia Jingshi slowly crouched down and said softly, “Close your eyes. Don’t look.”
The thin blade slid across Rao Ran’s neck, and a large amount of blood spurted from the gaping flesh. Gradually, her body stopped writhing. On the finely polished bluestone floor, the meandering line of blood stopped twenty paces from the hall door.
A drop of crimson fell from the slightly trembling dagger in Xia Jingshi’s hand.