Xie Yuzhang woke to the sight of the familiar canopy above her. This was her own bedchamber, her own bed.

She felt an indescribable weakness, a sense of total helplessness. Since she had been reborn more than nine years ago, she had not felt this way in a very long time.

It was like her previous life — where nothing had been within her control, where every action she took was driven and whipped forward by enormous outside forces. Not a single thing she did had come from her own heart’s desire.

“She’s awake!” someone exclaimed in a low voice.

Someone immediately came to the bedside, took her hand, and called to her softly, “Zhuzhu? Zhuzhu?”

It was Lin Fei.

The maids brought water. They helped Xie Yuzhang sit up, and Lin Fei fed her water with her own hands, then let her lie back down.

After a long while, Xie Yuzhang’s lips moved. “A’Fei…”

She wanted to ask but did not dare.

How could Lin Fei not know the question she had left unspoken? She held her hand in silence for a very long time.

Xie Yuzhang’s heart was seized by that silence, squeezed so tight she could not breathe. Her hand gripped tighter, her fingernails even digging painfully into Lin Fei’s hand: “A’Fei!”

Lin Fei finally told her in a low voice, “There were no survivors. All of them…”

Xie Yuzhang’s heart bled. “Yi’er, Luan’er…” she asked, asking after the former Crown Prince and Madam Yu’s children.

Lin Fei said nothing.

Xie Yuzhang asked again. “My sister-in-law…”

Lin Fei still said nothing.

Xie Yuzhang released her hand and closed her eyes.

Lin Fei took her hand again. “Zhuzhu, let yourself cry. It will feel better if you cry.”

But Xie Yuzhang could not cry. Her tears seemed to have run dry.

She said, “Leave me in quiet for a while…”

Lin Fei rose in silence and withdrew.

Xie Yuzhang lay there and did not get up, only drinking a little water. She would not eat — even when Lin Fei tried to feed her, she would not part her lips.

By the afternoon, someone brought Xie Baozhu to her.

Lin Fei was surprised. “My Lady!”

Xie Baozhu said, “Fei Niang, it has been a long time.”

But this was not the moment for reunion pleasantries. Lin Fei said, “She will not eat, and she cannot cry. I am at a loss.”

Xie Baozhu said, “I understand. Let me speak with her for a moment.”

Xie Baozhu stepped into Xie Yuzhang’s bedchamber.

Her cousin lay there, her eyes empty and unfocused.

“Zhuzhu.” Xie Baozhu called to her, walked over, sat down on the edge of the bed, and took Xie Yuzhang’s hand.

When Xie Yuzhang saw her, a flicker of response finally came to her. She pushed herself upright. “Elder Sister!”

“The Emperor sent someone to bring me here,” Xie Baozhu said. “Xie Family Village is safe — don’t worry.”

She added, “Li Qī is conducting a thorough investigation of Xie Family Village. Don’t be afraid. The garrison officer who guards the village is his man, and I had already come to an understanding with Li Qī long ago — anything of consequence in the village would be reported to me. For the past half year, I have known about every major and minor matter in the village. There can be no one there who colluded with the southerners. As long as there is no collective punishment, everything will be fine.”

Xie Yuzhang finally found some strength. She gripped Xie Baozhu’s hand tightly. “He promised me there would be no collective punishment.”

The Emperor had sent Li Weifeng to investigate Xie Family Village — from this alone, Xie Baozhu had already inferred something of the Emperor’s intentions. She had also heard a rough account of what had happened the previous night from Li Weifeng.

As far as the common people knew, it was simply a fire. But among those close to power, the truth was known: the Xin Prefecture Gao Clan had attempted to follow the Lu Clan’s example in propping up a false ruler, had set their sights on the Xiaoyao Marquis, and had been discovered in time by Princess Yongning, who sealed off the manor with her guards. When the Gao Clan failed in their kidnapping attempt, they set fire to Xiaoyao Marquis Manor.

The matter of the arson at the end was something no one quite understood, but that was not the central point. The central point was that Xie Yuzhang had prevented anyone from the Xiaoyao Marquis’s household from fleeing south.

By morning, when the fire was extinguished and the bodies were counted, from the Last Emperor down to the former imperial grandchildren — not a single one had survived.

The old Yunjing factions breathed a collective sigh of relief, no longer having to deal with this awkwardness. Only — the Xiaoyao Marquis had died with his entire household, and the Emperor’s reputation would surely suffer going forward. They also worried that the southerners would use this to attack him, and that there would be endless arguments to come.

But those were things that only the ministers needed to trouble themselves with. Xie Baozhu did not concern herself with them.

She concerned herself with two things only: Xie Family Village, and Xie Yuzhang.

Xie Yuzhang’s actions had saved Xie Family Village. Xie Baozhu tightened her grip on Xie Yuzhang’s hand and told her, “You did everything you could. You did well.”

Her health was poor, and even when she exerted herself, the strength in her hands was slight. Yet that small strength truly did pass itself to Xie Yuzhang.

Xie Yuzhang did not shed tears. But Xie Baozhu could tell… that she was crying.

Li Gu was occupied until dusk before he came. He walked directly into Xie Yuzhang’s bedchamber — not for the first time, for it had been he who had carried the unconscious Xie Yuzhang back here the previous night.

Xie Yuzhang was sitting against the window-side couch, her dark hair falling loose over one shoulder. The room was not yet lit; the light of the setting sun filtered through the paper window pane, soft and heavy at once, settling across her face.

Li Gu’s footsteps slowed for a moment. He walked over and sat across from her.

Upon seeing him come, Xie Yuzhang straightened herself, adjusting from her casual posture to sit properly upright.

Li Gu was silent for a long time before he said, “It was not me.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “I know.”

Li Gu said, “Your father will be posthumously titled Prince of Wu and will be interred in due course.”

The Xie clan’s forebears had originally come from the Wu region. Xie Yuzhang gave a small nod.

Li Gu continued, “Xie Family Village has already been investigated — there was no collusion with anyone. They bear no responsibility.”

Xie Yuzhang leaned forward and acknowledged this in silence.

Li Gu went on, “Several people from last night were captured, but unfortunately they all took their own lives. There was no time to question them.”

But Xie Yuzhang found she had no real interest in these things anymore. With Xiaoyao Marquis Manor gone, none of the affairs of the Jiangnan families, none of the contest over legitimacy, bore any further connection to her.

The business of sealing off the city, of pursuit and arrest, investigation and interrogation — none of that concerned her either.

Li Gu noticed the emptiness in her eyes and stopped, saying no more about it.

After a long silence, he asked, “Yuzhang, what are your plans going forward?”

“As for me…” Xie Yuzhang gathered the hair off her shoulder, sat in quiet thought for a moment, and said, “I would like to rest for a while.”

Li Gu said nothing.

“Do not worry about me,” said Xie Yuzhang. “I actually… feel at ease. It has been nearly ten years since I felt this at ease.”

Her gaze rested on the low table beside the couch without focusing on anything there.

“I know that everyone understands this too, in their hearts, though they would never say it aloud. To say it aloud would be a gross violation of filial piety — utterly unfilial.” She said, “Xiaoyao Marquis Manor is gone, and I — his own daughter — feel the burden lift from my shoulders.”

Li Gu’s lips pressed together tightly.

Xie Yuzhang raised her eyes. “Your Majesty sees now what manner of person I am. How frightening.”

Li Gu said, “There are people who were never fit to be parents. When they die, their children feel no grief. There is nothing frightening in this. For in this world, it has always been a matter of heart given for heart, of genuine feeling returned for genuine feeling.”

Xie Yuzhang gazed at him for a moment, then gave a nod. “Your Majesty is a good husband and a good father. I have seen this clearly.”

Li Gu’s gaze fell on the low table beside the couch as well.

After a long moment, he said, “I have done my best.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “So have I.”

The light in the room faded quickly, but neither the Emperor nor the Princess inside uttered a word, and the maids waiting in the outer room had prepared lamps but dared not enter uninvited.

The bedchamber was quiet for a long time. At last, the Emperor emerged and said, “Find someone to keep her company.”

But Lin Fei and Xie Baozhu had already gone home. The maids sent for Jia You.

Jia You said nothing either; she simply held Yaya and sat in silence across from Xie Yuzhang.

Until Yaya had eaten her fill of pastries and was beginning to drowse off in Jia You’s arms, her eyes too heavy to stay open, Xie Yuzhang said, “Go home.”

Jia You went home.

Lin Fei left the Princess’s manor but did not return to the Guangping Earl’s residence. She went to the Lin family manor instead.

It had been before dawn that the Emperor sent someone to wake her — it was only then that she had learned, with shock, what had happened the previous night. From early morning until now, she had not even seen her husband, but she wanted to go and see her elder brother.

When she arrived at the Lin family manor, however, Lin Zi had not yet returned. Lin Fei sat with her sister-in-law Yan Shi and talked.

Yan Shi and Lin Fei got along well. She was simply a few years younger, and having never weathered much hardship in her life, she seemed almost like a younger sister to Lin Fei in spite of being the sister-in-law — innocent in a way that was rather endearing.

She said, worried, “Last night, the master went out very late before coming home, and he barely slept at all. Then he was up early for morning court. I don’t know how he is managing.”

Lin Fei was startled. “Where did he go?”

Yan Shi said, “Matters outside — I never ask. Only, we were already asleep when someone came to call on him and he rushed out.”

Lin Fei asked, “Approximately what hour was it?”

Yan Shi thought for a moment. “Past the hour of Hai, not yet the hour of Zi.”

Lin Fei’s lashes gave the faintest tremble.

A servant came in to report that Lin Zi had returned and had gone first to his study.

Yan Shi knew that Lin Fei had come with something to discuss with Lin Zi — after all, everyone had heard today about the events at Xiaoyao Marquis Manor, and given Lin Fei’s closeness to Princess Yongning, this was only to be expected. She said, “Go ahead. Tell him to come and rest early.”

Lin Fei nodded and went to the study.

When Lin Fei came in, Lin Zi showed no surprise. He asked, “Is Her Highness all right?”

Lin Fei said, “The Kangle Commandery Princess came by, told her Xie Family Village was safe. She is much better.”

Lin Zi nodded. “For her, it is also a kind of release.”

Though Xie Family Village still stood, its weight could in no way compare to that of Xiaoyao Marquis Manor. With the unpredictable threat of the Marquis Manor now gone, the people of Xie Family Village needed only to live quietly and keep to themselves — they would be fine.

Lin Fei said, “Yes. No more need for walking on eggshells, for wearing a face she does not feel.”

But she paused and asked, “Elder Brother went out last night?”

Lin Zi raised his eyes.

The elder brother’s eyes were dark and deep, identical in Lin Fei’s memory to the eyes of their grandfather, their father, and their eldest brother.

Only they were all gone now. The third brother, once the most playful and carefree and easy in spirit, had been forced to set aside his own nature and become the man who held the family together. His shoulders bore too much — responsibility, and also hatred.

At that moment, the book-boy pushed open the door and entered, “Third Master, the wine is here!”

Lin Zi picked up the flask and poured.

“Last night was like a thousand trees in flower, stars falling like rain — pity you did not see it. But she will be free from now on, and I imagine you are glad of that too. Worth raising a full cup.” He held the wine cup up before Lin Fei. “Fei Fei, let us drink, brother and sister together.”

Lin Fei stared at that wine cup for a long moment, then said, “Quite so.”

She reached out and took it, drank it down in one go, and asked no more questions.

Lin Zi gave a faint smile — a fine jade gentleman, beautiful as jade-white flowers drifting down.

He tilted his head back and drained his cup. Invigorating.

The posthumous decree was issued. The Xiaoyao Marquis, with the posthumous title of Prince of Wu, was interred in the Xie mausoleum. From him downward — the former Crown Prince, the various princes, Madam Yu, and her children — all were buried alongside.

Some quietly mocked the Emperor for it: all that performative benevolence, and in the end it had not earned him a good name in the history books. Future readers would look at the passage — “On the third night of the sixth month of the fourth year of Kaiyuan, Xiaoyao Marquis Manor was consumed by fire; all within perished” — and certainly conclude it had been the Emperor’s doing.

Li Gu himself was not in the least concerned. If he had wanted to kill the Last Emperor, or if he had needed to, he would not have blinked — he would have acted directly. The reason he had not done so before was simply that there had been no need.

Now he concerned himself with only two things: the capture of the southern operatives who had infiltrated Yunjing, and Xie Yuzhang.

Princess Yongning’s manor closed its gates to all visitors.

Noble Consort, Pure Consort, and Worthy Consort all sent people to offer their condolences; the Senior Secretary Yang, along with his wife, his two sons, and daughters-in-law, all came in person; as did others who had been close to Xie Yuzhang. Princess Yongning claimed illness and refused to see any of them. People sighed and shook their heads.

The maids could turn away these visitors, but they could not turn away the Emperor.

The Emperor now came and entered directly into the Princess’s inner chambers. For the Princess, these past several days, had not left her inner chambers at all.

Li Gu came several days in succession, and on this particular day, he said to Xie Yuzhang, “Come out and walk for a bit.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “I was just thinking of that. Once Father is interred, I would like to borrow my uncle’s mountain retreat in the Western Hills and stay there for a while.”

Li Gu said, “There is no need to borrow anyone else’s. I will give you one.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Very well.”

Ten days later, on an auspicious day — favorable for breaking ground and for burial — the Emperor granted a generous funeral accompaniment, and the people of Xiaoyao Marquis Manor were laid to rest.

Several days after that, Princess Yongning departed the capital to recuperate in the Western Hills.

Lin Fei, after consulting with her husband, went along to accompany her.