Ming Shu hadn’t expected that when she finished her conversation with Master Lu Wenhan, General Cao Hai would still be waiting in the Flower Hall.
“I noticed you seemed anxious and might have urgent matters, so I decided to wait here,” General Cao Hai, who had been drinking tea at the Lu Manor for half the day, stood up with visible relief upon seeing Ming Shu.
Ming Shu was equally surprised and said apologetically, “My apologies for keeping General Cao waiting.”
“It’s no trouble. If not for you, I wouldn’t have had the chance to enter Lord Shangshu’s manor. Where else do you need to go? I can escort you further,” General Cao Hai asked with a grin.
“The Great Xiangguo Temple.”
This time, she truly needed to visit the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Although she didn’t know Tang Li’s true intentions, Ming Shu had a very strong sense of foreboding that this year’s Ullambana Festival ceremony would not be peaceful.
Sitting in General Cao Hai’s carriage again, she heard him call out “Forward!” from outside. As the carriage began moving, from slow to fast, Ming Shu’s heart grew increasingly heavy.
In truth, while the Third Prince ascending the meditation platform and Liu Wan’er hosting the Universal Salvation Ceremony seemed like two unrelated events, careful consideration would reveal their subtle connection.
If the Third Prince hadn’t ascended the meditation platform, Liu Wan’er’s Universal Salvation Ceremony wouldn’t have proceeded smoothly. If Prince Yu’s target was only the Third Prince, why would Tang Li go to such lengths to facilitate the ceremony? If she only wanted to use the Minister of Works’ name to interfere with the ceremony, she had already successfully sent Liu Wan’er into the Lu Family – there was no need for these extra steps. If something were to happen to the Third Prince during the ceremony, Minister Lu Zegang, as the supervisor responsible for the ceremony’s construction, would certainly be punished. This scheme would achieve two goals – not only helping Prince Yu but also taking revenge on Minister Lu Zegang.
Then… what was the purpose of such a grand Universal Salvation Ceremony?
It couldn’t be that after everything was done, Liu Wan’er planned to stay with the Lu Family pretending to be Third Lady Lu, continuing to build a good reputation… The Lu Family was about to fall, this made no sense.
While Ming Shu was lost in thought, the carriage gradually came to a stop. Outside, General Cao Hai announced, “Lady Lu, we’ve arrived.” Only then did Ming Shu awaken from her contemplation and step down from the carriage.
Due to this grand ceremony, the three main streets near the Great Xiangguo Temple had been blocked off. Whether nobles or commoners, everyone had to enter on foot. Although darkness was falling, there were still many people coming and going on the streets. Lanterns hung on both sides of the street had already been lit, making the entire street as bright as day.
“Lady Lu, is there anything you need assistance with?” General Cao Hai, noting her urgent expression, took the initiative to ask.
Fearing something major might happen, Ming Shu wanted to leverage General Cao Hai’s help – more people would make things easier. However, without evidence and not knowing what might occur at the ceremony, she couldn’t explain it to General Cao Hai. She could only say, “Would General Cao be willing to accompany me for a while?”
“Of course, no problem.” General Cao Hai agreed readily, summoning his subordinates to accompany them toward the temple gate.
“General Cao, your adjutant isn’t with you today?” Ming Shu asked casually as they walked.
“That lad has no patience for these womanly gatherings, so I let him find his own entertainment,” General Cao Hai replied offhandedly, then realizing “womanly” might have offended Ming Shu, quickly added, “Not referring to you.”
Ming Shu was just making conversation and paid no mind to his response.
Including the guards Wei Zhuo had arranged to protect Ming Shu, over a dozen people walked magnificently toward the Great Xiangguo Temple’s main gate. The temple interior was already brilliantly lit – besides the hanging lanterns, there were roaring bonfires. The strong scent of sandalwood incense mixed with the smell of burning paper clothes permeated the vast temple grounds.
Standing at the main gate, Ming Shu could already smell that peculiar fragrance that was neither pleasant nor acrid.
The temple was adorned with prayer flags everywhere, and all the precious halls gleamed with candlelight. Even though night had fallen, there were still crowds of worshippers, and Imperial Guards could be seen throughout the temple grounds. Outside the Main Buddha Hall, imperial yellow curtains had been hung, with Imperial Guards posted every five steps. Within their defense perimeter stood the tall meditation platform, with the altar set below it. A hundred monks sat surrounding the platform, chanting sutras continuously.
The scene within the curtains was difficult for outsiders to discern, only the towering platform was visible from afar. The seven-story pagoda-like platform was surrounded by prayer flags, and someone appeared to be sitting atop it, though at such a distance and in the darkness, their appearance was unclear.
However, only Third Prince Zhao Jingren had the authority to ascend the meditation platform.
Ming Shu observed from afar for a few moments. The security around the altar was tight, with Commander Wei Zhuo personally leading the guard. The monks entering the area underwent multiple layers of screening. The meditation platform was built very tall, higher than surrounding buildings, making it impossible for archers to be positioned nearby for assassination attempts. Feeling somewhat reassured about the security, Ming Shu inquired about the location of the Universal Salvation Ceremony and hurried there.
Because of the rice and porridge distribution, the temple had arranged the western meditation court and side halls for Liu Wan’er and the various noble ladies, with pavilions for distributing porridge and areas for the ladies to rest. Along the way, Ming Shu could see commoners both coming from and heading toward the Western meditation court.
Those leaving the Western meditation court received not only a bowl of peace porridge but also a bag of peace rice and sky lanterns.
“Mother, when can we release the lanterns?” A small boy on the path asked his mother while holding a sky lantern.
His mother stroked his head and replied, “At the release pond up ahead. We can release them after a while.”
The boy was overjoyed: “I wrote on it asking for blessings for Father and Mother’s health!”
“Good boy.” His mother smiled tenderly and took his hand to leave.
“Madam, may I ask where they obtained the sky lantern?” Ming Shu inquired.
“Tonight’s sky lantern blessing ceremony – you can get them at the Lu Family’s porridge pavilion, but they’re limited to Ninety-Nine lanterns, probably all given out by now. Everyone will gather at the release pond ahead to release them together. If you’re interested, you can go watch,” the mother answered Ming Shu before leaving with her son.
Ming Shu watched their retreating figures hesitantly for a moment, then asked General Cao Hai: “General, do you know which way the wind is blowing today?”
“I hadn’t noticed…” General Cao Hai said while standing still to feel the wind. As someone who led troops in military campaigns, he had some expertise in wind conditions. Given the stronger mountain winds, after a moment he added, “It seems to be a northwestern wind.”
Northwestern… the wind was blowing toward the western meditation court.
Was she overthinking it?
Ming Shu shook her head and ran toward the Western meditation court, reaching its exterior after a few steps.
The pavilions for distributing rice and porridge were set up outside the meditation court. Because so many commoners had come to the Great Xiangguo Temple today, the porridge and steamed buns had to be cooked and steamed fresh to barely keep up with distribution. Therefore, newly built earthen stoves were under each pavilion, with large pots either bubbling with porridge or steaming buns imprinted with characters for “Peace” and “Long Life.”
The fire in the stoves burned fiercely, and the aroma of food wafted through the air, churning Ming Shu’s stomach. She hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice for lunch or dinner today, but hunger was the least of her concerns now.
“Ming Shu?” Someone suddenly called out to her from the crowd.
“Song Qingzhao?” Ming Shu turned to see Song Qingzhao, “Why are you here?”
“I came to check on my mother. She promised Third Lady Lu to participate in this Universal Salvation Ceremony and has been busy here all day,” Song Qingzhao bowed to General Cao Hai in greeting before answering Ming Shu, “What about you? Are you here for the ceremony?”
“No, I’m looking for Liu Wan’er and Tang Li,” Ming Shu replied.
Hearing these two names, Song Qingzhao furrowed his brow: “Liu Wan’er… isn’t that Third Lady Lu? She’s already gone to the release pond to prepare for the lantern blessing ceremony. Tang Li… what’s the connection between these two?”
Explaining would take too long, and Ming Shu had no time. She shook her head and only asked, “Do you know which families are participating in Liu Wan’er’s Universal Salvation Ceremony?”
Song Qingzhao thought for a moment and said, “Yes. My mother is also officially responsible for this Universal Salvation Ceremony, and the personnel list was sent to her hands. As it happens, she had me verify it… though I only remember about seventy or eighty percent.”
Remembering seventy or eighty percent was already exceptional memory, and he was likely being modest.
As Song Qingzhao listed the personnel and their backgrounds, Ming Shu’s expression grew increasingly grave. By the end, her hands were trembling.
If she remembered correctly, thirty percent of these people were connected to the Su Changhua case from years ago, either as witnesses or those who had kicked him while he was down. Besides the primary informant Lu Zegang, Master Lu Wenhan had made it clear that Prince Shun’an’s case was far-reaching. At the time, Beijing officials had accused each other to protect themselves, hoping for chances of amnesty, while others had climbed over the corpses of the implicated officials. Though Su Changhua might have been insignificant, he had unknowingly become a stepping stone for many. Master Lu Wenhan had mentioned several officials’ names – she had been focused on the Lu Family at the time and hadn’t completely memorized them, but even the few she remembered were enough to make her shudder.
Tang Li hadn’t gathered these people together without reason.
“Where are they now? What about the Lu Family members?” Ming Shu asked urgently.
Only servants from various households remained at the porridge distribution – the masters were nowhere to be seen.
“They’ve all returned to the meditation chambers to rest,” Song Qingzhao had just come from inside, where there were too many ladies for his comfort, so he had found an excuse to leave.
The Lu Family’s matriarch Madam Feng, several legitimate and illegitimate daughters and sons, and ladies from other households had all gone to rest in the meditation chambers.
Ming Shu’s headache returned – what exactly did Tang Li plan to do?
Just then, two more people came running – it was Ying Xun and his colleague.
“Finally found you,” Ying Xun was out of breath, clearly as anxious as she was. “We showed your sketch to the Peng mother and son, they confirmed it was Tang Li.”
Ming Shu made an immediate decision: “Never mind that now. Since we’ve confirmed Liu Wan’er isn’t Third Lady Lu, let’s arrest her for questioning first. One less threat is one less threat.”
Seeing Ying Xun’s limited manpower, she turned to Master Qiu Ming and others: “Liu Wan’er has many guards. Some of you go with Constable Ying to the release pond, but remember, there are many commoners there now – you must not cause any disturbance.”
Master Qiu Ming and others wanted to stay by her side, but she firmly refused: “This is no time to worry about personal safety. There are many commoners here today, if something happens innocents could be involved. Hurry now.”
Master Qiu Ming accepted the order and left with Ying Xun. Ming Shu then handed Ying Xun’s sketch to General Cao Hai, saying only: “The person in this drawing is very dangerous. I suspect they must be in the temple, perhaps nearby. Please help us search, General. We should split up to look.”
General Cao Hai took the sketch and distributed it to his subordinates, saying simply: “No problem.”
Soon General Cao Hai led his men to search in different directions. Ming Shu and Song Qingzhao both recognized Tang Li and didn’t need the sketch for reference, so they also split up to search. Song Qingzhao went to search outside, while Ming Shu searched the meditation court again but found no one resembling Tang Li. As she stood catching her breath under a tree, she suddenly saw a maid walking along the corridor.
The maid walked with her head slightly lowered, slowly passing by and turning the corner toward the back of the side halls. Ming Shu watched for a moment, then followed. When she reached the back of the side halls following the maid’s direction, the person had vanished, leaving only an empty back alley.
The back alley was full of miscellaneous items covered with oilcloth, stacked high. There were no lanterns here, only the candlelight from the side halls filtering through the window screens cast a hazy light, making the outside clamor seem somewhat unreal.
Ming Shu wandered a few steps into the back alley, wondering where the person had gone when suddenly there was a rustling sound behind her. Her heart jumped, and she spun around to see the maid emerging from between two piles of items, coldly saying: “Is Lady Lu looking for me?”
She had raised her head, revealing an expressionless but delicate face.
Who else could it be but Tang Li?
No wonder they couldn’t find anyone after searching for so long – she had changed back into women’s clothing.
“So it is you!” Ming Shu stepped back two paces and said warily, “You’re the one who set up the plot to use me to send Lin Wan’er into the Lu Manor, aren’t you? And arranging this Universal Salvation Ceremony through Third Prince was also your doing? What exactly are you planning?”
“Since you could find me here, shouldn’t you already know? Why bother asking?” Tang Li’s voice was icy and deep in the darkness.
“You’re working for Prince Yu, planning to harm Third Prince?” Ming Shu probed.
As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Li laughed, showing several stark white teeth, and said: “I wrongly considered you a worthy opponent, thinking you had real ability, but you’re just like ordinary people, disappointingly unoriginal. No one in this world is worthy of my service, what is Prince Yu to me?”
Her smile and words exuded an arrogant air, a distinctly unpleasant superiority.
Ming Shu said: “Oh? So you’re not helping Prince Yu compete for the throne?”
“In my eyes, even those of imperial blood are no different from mediocre people like Zhang Song and Xie Xi, whose desires are predictable. I merely borrow them for my use,” Tang Li sneered, then suddenly spoke as if to a close friend, “This is all your fault. If not for you siblings interfering at Songling Academy back then, I wouldn’t be following Prince Yu now, and none of today’s affairs would have happened.”
“So…” Ming Shu gasped, “At Songling Academy, you did guide Zhang Song to kill Yang Zishu, and you had planned to use that case to showcase your abilities and find the true culprit to win the Third Prince’s favor?”
Then, with her abilities, she could have become Third Prince’s strategist, leaving the academy honorably instead of as a disgraced official’s daughter who had been expelled.
If this story had developed in a different direction, it would be entirely different from the present.
Tang Li smiled: “What a pity… my schemes ended up benefiting you instead.” She had to find another way, using her beauty to approach Prince Yu through Xie Xi.
Looking up at the sky, then back at Ming Shu, she asked: “What? You want to reminisce with me here?”
Ming Shu narrowed her eyes: “Why not? I want to see what you’re waiting for.” She couldn’t leave, couldn’t let Tang Li stay here alone, or who knew what madness Tang Li might commit.
Tang Li seemed to sigh: “You still have the mind to fence with me? Shouldn’t you go check on your brother? You know, today’s proposal for the Third Prince to ascend the meditation platform came from your brother. If something happens to Third Prince up there, do you understand the charges your brother will face? Along with your mother… they likely won’t escape disaster.”
Ming Shu’s heart jolted violently: “Impossible, why would my brother fulfill your wishes by letting the Third Prince ascend the platform?”
“I told you, those with desires can be controlled. Zhou Xiuqing is in my hands, and Lu Chang only has this one witness left. For your sake, he’s risking everything – his status and his life. Aren’t you going to save him? According to the plan, the Third Prince’s final step on the platform will be fatal. If you hurry now, you might still stop it.”
She had learned from Prince Yu that the Third Prince was investigating the Jian family robbery case in Jiangning under imperial orders. Growing suspicious, she persuaded Prince Yu to send people to Jiangning, orchestrating a scheme of “the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” They not only discovered Ming Shu’s identity but also kidnapped Zhou Xiuqing from Lu Chang en route, using her to threaten him.
Ming Shu’s face turned pale as she stared at Tang Li in fear for two beats before turning quickly. Tang Li’s triumphant smile grew wider, but she hadn’t expected Ming Shu to stop and turn back after just two steps.
“Do you take my brother for a fool?” Ming Shu’s fearful expression vanished, replaced by a mocking smile.
Though her heart was pounding as if it would tear through her chest, she had to stay calm now. It wasn’t that she wasn’t worried about Lu Chang, wasn’t that she didn’t want to fly to his side, but she couldn’t right now. She had to trust Lu Chang – from several days ago when he asked her to act together, Lu Chang must have had his arrangements. They just hadn’t expected their opponent would be the same person.
Even if it was a life-and-death situation, she had to trust Lu Chang now.
This time it was Tang Li’s smile that froze slightly.
“Your scheme to kill two birds with one stone isn’t bad at all. Arranging for the Third Prince to ascend the meditation platform satisfies Prince Yu’s demands while making Minister of Works Lu Zegang the scapegoat, avenging your Su family’s private grudge. All this talk of Eastern Palace power struggles is just smoke to hide your agenda. Prince Yu thought he found himself a blade, not realizing he was being used by the blade instead.”
Tang Li was a lone woman – to accomplish such a grand scheme, she could only borrow power and influence. Setting up Third Prince was merely her means of gaining Prince Yu’s trust. Otherwise, why would Prince Yu let her command manpower and resources to complete this plan?
“Since you understand so clearly, why waste time standing here talking with me?” Tang Li sneered, not denying Ming Shu’s conjectures.
“But didn’t you say I was just like ordinary people, without originality? Tang Li, do you know that during our conversation, you’ve looked at the sky three times? What are you waiting for? Waiting for Liu Wan’er?” Ming Shu curled her lip and questioned, showing an aggressive stance, giving Tang Li no room to evade as she pressed, “‘Liu Wan’er’ is someone Prince Yu lent you, pretending to be that deceased daughter of the Liu family returning to the city. To establish her identity as Third Lady Lu, that fire at her home wasn’t an accident, was it? Madam Cai wasn’t afraid of people knowing Liu Wan’er was Third Lady Lu visiting – because whether it was the real Liu Wan’er or the fake one, neither was the Lu family’s real Third Lady! You chose Liu Wan’er only because her identity was the easiest to forge. You lured Madam Cai to visit, then deliberately set the fire to murder her… am I wrong?”
Tang Li’s smile gradually faded as she stared coldly at Ming Shu, saying nothing.
“This Liu Wan’er probably doesn’t know what you plan to do, right? She’s just following your instructions, organizing commoners to release sky lanterns for blessings at the release pond… Tonight’s northwestern wind will blow those lanterns this way, won’t it? If a couple accidentally falls near the meditation chambers and starts a fire…”
Ming Shu’s voice grew colder as she spoke, her heart increasingly alarmed. These were just her guesses, but seeing Tang Li’s increasingly cold expression, she thought she must be eight or nine-tenths correct.
The sky lanterns had either been tampered with to fall when they drifted nearby or even if they didn’t fall, creating the appearance of sky lanterns causing a fire would be very easy.
“Lady Lu has quite an imagination, I must admire that. There are people inside and outside the meditation chambers – if there was a fire, wouldn’t it be discovered immediately? Would they just sit there waiting to die?” Tang Li suddenly smiled again, refuting while moving closer to Ming Shu.
Ming Shu looked up at the two-story side hall… no shadows were cast on the window screens, and no sounds came from inside.
“What if they’ve been drugged and can’t move?” Ming Shu said.
Tang Li said nothing, but suddenly lunged at her, hands reaching to strangle her throat.
A cold glint flashed in the darkness, followed by the sound of cloth and flesh being cut. Tang Li grunted and stood still, clutching her arm, staring intently at the sharp dagger in Ming Shu’s hand.
Tang Li had shown her true colors, forced to act. Fortunately, Ming Shu was prepared, holding the dagger Lu Chang had given her. She tried not to let her hand shake as she pointed the dagger at Tang Li.
“Don’t come closer.” Ming Shu forced herself to stay calm while scanning the surroundings with her peripheral vision.
There was no sound from the meditation chambers, no one passing in the corridors on either side, and it was noisy outside – even if she shouted for help, probably no one would hear.
“Tang Li, the evidence of your father’s crimes was conclusive and irrefutable – no one owes him anything! If you had doubts, you should have found ways to clear his name and wash away your Su family’s grievances, not seek mad revenge. Among those in these meditation chambers, which ones harmed your father? Not to mention those few households barely connected to your Su family, but the other seventy percent are completely innocent people. How could you be so heartless and mad as to make them die with the others?”
The coldness on Tang Li’s face lasted only a moment before she burst into sharp laughter.
“Innocent? So what? Wasn’t I innocent back then? Weren’t my mother and siblings innocent? Weren’t all dozen-plus members of my Su family innocent? My father was an honest official all his life, yet didn’t have enough for my grandmother’s medical fees. When my younger brother fell ill, he took those hundred taels of silver to save his life. Others used this weakness to force him to act against his conscience for them, leading to our family’s confiscation and exile. He couldn’t protect any of the family members he tried to save! Men and women alike were sold as servants, slaves, and prostitutes! Yet those who climbed up by stepping on my father enjoyed glory and wealth! Why? I want them to taste what it’s like when their families are destroyed and people die! I know some inside are innocent, but so what? The innocent without power are merely insects, not worth grieving over. Don’t talk to me about heavenly principles or righteousness – I don’t believe in them!”
She kept backing away as she spoke.
“It doesn’t matter anymore…” Tang Li released her wounded arm, letting blood soak her sleeve as she took out a fire striker and lit it.
The firelight revealed the madness on her face. Perhaps guessing she could no longer wait for Liu Wan’er’s sky lanterns, the cold light in her eyes was replaced by insanity.
“What are you doing?” Ming Shu saw her reckless demeanor but dared not approach, letting her retreat to the end of the back alley.
Tang Li smiled again and pulled away the oilcloth covering the piled items against the wall.
Under the oilcloth were stacked cotton wadding with ceramic urns pressed on top. Before Ming Shu could react, she suddenly smashed them.
The smell of lamp oil hit Ming Shu’s nose, and she understood in an instant.
What was stored in this back alley were fuels like cotton wadding, dry grass, firewood, and lamp oil that Tang Li had Liu Wan’er bring in earlier under the pretext of cooking porridge and releasing sky lanterns – this was her backup plan.
If the sky lantern plan failed, she could set the fire herself.
She would not allow her revenge any chance of failure.
“No!” Ming Shu cried out.
The lamp oil had already soaked into the cotton wadding, surrounded by dry grass and other combustibles. With the meditation chambers full of prayer flags and gauze curtains, once a fire started it would be unstoppable, impossible to save in time.
At this critical moment, a black shadow suddenly darted out from around the corner, lunging at Tang Li. Ming Shu, who had started running forward, stopped in shock at this development, her eyes fixed on the fire striker, terrified it would fall onto the cotton wadding.
The black shadow was a man, though his identity was unknown. He gripped Tang Li’s hand tightly as she struggled and twisted frantically. There was a sound of flesh being pierced as a knife blade went through from front to back, impaling them both.
Tang Li turned her head in disbelief to look at the person behind her.
“A’Li, you must be tired. Let me accompany you for a good rest.”
Xie Xi’s voice rang out.
The fire striker was thrown far away. After Ming Shu stamped it out, she watched in shock as the two embraced back-to-back.
Blood gushed out wildly, soaking the ground.
Ming Shu didn’t know when Xie Xi had arrived but guessed he must have followed Tang Li and been eavesdropping nearby for some time.
“Xie Xi… why… why did you…” Tang Li looked down at the knife in his hand that had pierced them both. “Didn’t I tell you… not to mind me anymore…”
“A’Li, I don’t blame you for using me… If I had shown more backbone back then… refused the County Princess’s marriage… perhaps you wouldn’t have become so desperate… right? It was my fault… I’ll accompany you… wherever you go from now on, I’ll accompany you…” His voice grew gradually weaker as he spoke.
Tang Li’s face turned ashen, but she laughed again: “How can you be so stupid… I told you it was just using you… I never loved you! Don’t need your company… don’t need…” She struggled to leave Xie Xi’s embrace but had no strength left.
Footsteps approached from outside, seemingly people searching, with faint calls of Ming Shu’s name. Soon someone found them.
“Ming Shu…” It was Song Qingzhao who came, startled by the scene in the dark alley. He quickly pulled Ming Shu to his side.
Ming Shu came to her senses, feeling her legs shaking like sieves. She stood with difficulty, pushed away Song Qingzhao, and said through gritted teeth: “The people in the meditation chambers were probably drugged by Tang Li. She planned to set fire to the building but Xie Xi… I’ll explain the details later. Stay here and keep watch, remember don’t let them release the sky lanterns. I… I need to go to Third Prince!”
Things weren’t over yet.
As she turned to leave, Tang Li suddenly spoke again, her voice weak: “Don’t bother… without my signal, Lu Chang won’t find Zhou Xiuqing… If I die, Zhou Xiuqing won’t live either… The Jian family case… is destined to remain unsolved… You… you’ll become like me… I’ll wait to see you become me…”
With those final words, she breathed her last.
Ming Shu froze until Song Qingzhao shook her awake.
Song Qingzhao looked at her with complex emotions: “Don’t listen to her. Hurry to Third Prince, leave this to me!”
Ming Shu came to her senses. With the situation urgent, she could only temporarily set aside everything and run toward the Main Buddha Hall.
Sweat rolled down her forehead, her back soaked, yet her hands and feet were ice cold. Ming Shu felt she had never run so fast in her life.
Halfway there she met General Cao Hai, briefly explained the situation, and he quickly ordered people to notify Constable Ying while personally taking two guards to accompany Ming Shu to find Zhao Jingren.
The area outside the altar platform had been cordoned off. In complete darkness, the person on the high platform could no longer be seen clearly. When Ming Shu and General Cao Hai reached the outside of the altar platform and reported their identities, they surprisingly alerted Commander Wei Zhuo, who brought them both to see him in the pavilion on the west side of the Precious Hall.
After Ming Shu explained the situation, Commander Wei Zhuo exclaimed in shock: “To think such evil acts occurred?! Your brother is currently waiting with the Third Prince in his sutra chamber, not allowed to see outsiders…” He thought for a moment and added, “Well then, come with me.”
He took Ming Shu away, leaving General Cao Hai in the pavilion.
Ming Shu followed Commander Wei Zhuo outside the sutra chamber beside the main hall. He had the eunuch standing guard outside passing a message. Soon the eunuch inside came out to invite them in.
“Lady Lu, please enter. The Assistant Governor is waiting for you inside.”
They had only agreed to see Ming Shu.
“Go ahead.” Commander Wei Zhuo patted her shoulder.
Ming Shu nodded and hurriedly followed the eunuch into the sutra chamber.
The chamber was large, with a huge screen dividing the middle. A man’s shadow could be vaguely seen behind the screen. The eunuch stood outside the screen and gestured to Ming Shu: “Please.”
Ming Shu frowned – since when did Lu Chang put on such airs?
She hurriedly went around the screen, the word “Brother” barely out of her throat before she froze.
Behind the screen was not Lu Chang, but Third Prince Zhao Jingren.
Seeing the Third Prince safe and sound, Ming Shu first felt relief, then after paying her respects asked in confusion: “Your Highness, where is my brother?”
“Ziyou took my place on the meditation platform.”
“…” Ming Shu was shocked and speechless.
Her Lu Chang hadn’t compromised his principles for her sake – he had chosen an even more dangerous path.
The person who had sat cross-legged on the platform all day, from dawn to dusk, had not had a drop of water or grain of rice, and now his legs were numb.
The wind was strong on the platform, making his clothes flap loudly. In a while, the ceremony would end, and Lu Chang hoped he could still stand normally.
The sky was completely dark now, but as far as the eye could see, both heaven and earth were dotted with starry lights. The nighttime city of Bianjing was spread out below. He wondered how Ming Shu was doing now.
And wondered… how that matter was progressing.
Just as he was thinking, suddenly a bright silver firework rose in the distant sky, flying halfway up before bursting with a “whoosh.”
A faint smile lifted the corners of Lu Chang’s lips.
It was done.
Zhou Xiuqing had been found by his people!
He had finally managed to stay one step ahead.