In the afternoon at the Taiji Palace, even the wind moved with a gentle serenity.

The Lizheng Hall, with its towering dome and magnificent doors, exuded an air of dignity and grace.

It was a place perfectly suited for Empress Wang. Living there, she was like a peony blooming within a golden courtyard, radiating harmonious beauty.

Having resided there for over a month, when the Emperor suddenly visited with Noble Consort Guo, she naturally understood his intentions. Yet she appeared oblivious, her face graced with a dignified smile as she welcomed them inside with relaxed and natural gestures, as if she were still in Penglai Hall, holding sway over the fates of tens of thousands in the Daming Palace and millions across the realm, conversing with effortless ease.

The Emperor asked her, “How do you find this place? You seem to quite like it.”

Empress Wang gazed at him with a gentle smile and said softly, “Your humble servant dares not like it too much, lest Your Majesty decree that I reside here permanently.”

The Emperor looked at this woman, the most familiar yet most strange to him under heaven, and found himself momentarily speechless.

Noble Consort Guo covered her mouth with a fan and laughed, “So the Empress still prefers the Daming Palace? That’s understandable – the Penglai Water Palace is indeed the coolest place in summer. But when the autumn winds arrive, that lonely palace grows cold, requiring extra layers of clothing.”

“Even if it’s cold, when it comes to scenery, apart from Your Majesty’s residence, it’s the finest in the entire palace. I imagine if given the chance, Noble Consort would surely come to love that place as well.”

Noble Consort Guo said dismissively, “I wouldn’t dare to hope for such…”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward the outside once more.

Having navigated palace politics for many years, Empress Wang knew her thoroughly and asked, “Has Linghui been delayed on her way?”

The Emperor was also surprised and asked, “Linghui is coming?”

“Yes, she’s been saying she wants to visit the Empress at Taiji Palace but never found the right opportunity. Since we had the chance today, I had someone inform her.”

The Emperor’s expression grew somewhat displeased: “Today I only wanted to have a few important words with the Empress, why bring Linghui into it? It just creates complications.”

Empress Wang smiled steadily at the Emperor and said, “Noble Consort fears Your Majesty’s heart might soften, so perhaps having your beloved Linghui present might serve as a reminder.”

The Emperor had known she already understood his intentions clearly and feeling embarrassed at having his thoughts exposed, could only say, “If the Empress prefers tranquility, I can arrange that.”

Empress Wang smiled faintly, gazing at him as she spoke, “It’s not that your humble servant doesn’t appreciate tranquility, but for over ten years, I’ve accompanied Your Majesty in viewing countless magnificent scenes in Daming Palace… If heaven would show mercy, I wish to be granted a lifetime by Your Majesty’s side, growing old together hand in hand.”

Noble Consort Guo smiled and said with measured coolness, “The Empress’s ambitions are too great. His Majesty belongs to all under heaven – how could he grow old with just one woman?”

Empress Wang sat upright before her, smiling as she replied, “Noble Consort simply doesn’t understand. I am the Empress, His Majesty’s primary wife. Though the imperial family may be without sentiment, we have been husband and wife for over a decade, weathering countless storms together. Under heaven, if anyone should accompany His Majesty, it would naturally be me.”

The Emperor, being naturally gentle and magnanimous, hearing her speak thus and recalling times past, looked at her still appearing as she once did – her hair arranged in three-tiered cloud-like buns, adorned with kingfisher and golden hairpins that swayed with her movements, dressed in resplendent embroidery that couldn’t outshine her commanding presence.

This was the woman who had been by his side for over ten years. The palace beauties had bloomed and faded like seasonal flowers, their former glory lost, yet this person before him had only grown more radiant by his side, fresh and alluring.

Thus, even knowing she had deceived him, even knowing of her unsavory past, he consoled himself with the thought that in this world, only he was most suitable for her. No matter what she had experienced before, only by his side could she display such brilliant and captivating beauty.

Thinking this way, at least it felt like those ten-plus years of feelings weren’t wasted.

Lost in thought, the Emperor couldn’t help but sigh, looking at her as he said, “Take good care of yourself, Empress. Let me think about this further.”

Empress Wang gracefully bowed, and when she raised her head again, her smile remained, though her eyes had grown moist, tears clinging to her lashes, creating an ineffably moving sight against her smile.

Seeing the Emperor rise to leave, Noble Consort Guo blurted out, “Your Majesty, didn’t you have something to tell the Empress?”

The Emperor walked out without looking back, saying as he went, “I only came to check on the Empress’s health, out of my concern for her. You knew Linghui’s health was poor, yet you had her come out without informing me – that was presumptuous.”

Noble Consort Guo, dissatisfied, burst out, “Linghui is my daughter, what’s presumptuous about her coming…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew they were inappropriate and quickly fell silent.

The Emperor had already left Lizheng Hall and descended the steps.

Left behind, Noble Consort Guo stood dazed in the hall, turning to see Empress Wang approaching slowly. The Empress’s face bore a meaningful smile as she asked softly near her ear, “Does Noble Consort plan to rely on Tongchang? But I don’t recall any consort in history who secured her position through her daughter?”

Looking at her smile, Noble Consort Guo suddenly felt an inexplicable fear. She unconsciously stepped back, forcing herself to say, “If there can be an empress demoted to the cold palace after bearing a son, then surely there can be a consort who rises after bearing a daughter.”

“Wasn’t it just because of that one phrase ‘must live’?” Empress Wang smiled at her, her eyes showing what seemed to be contempt and mockery, while her voice remained gentle and melodious, speaking slowly, “Noble Consort Guo, a woman who doesn’t even have a son, yet dreams of climbing to the highest position in Daming Palace – I truly pity you.”

Noble Consort Guo’s chest heaved rapidly as she glared at her fiercely. But after a long moment, she ultimately said nothing, lowered her head, and hurriedly walked toward the hall’s exit.

Just as Noble Consort Guo descended the steps, several eunuchs came rushing from outside. Besides Changqing who had been waiting outside, there was also Dezheng, the chief eunuch from Noble Consort Guo’s palace, and most unexpectedly, several eunuchs from both the Princess’s mansion and Prince Kui’s residence.

The Emperor had walked toward the front hall, and seeing the panicked expressions of the eunuchs, asked, “Why such alarm at Lizheng Hall?”

Changqing and Dezheng immediately prostrated themselves, weeping profusely, unable to speak.

But Huang Zixia, with a solemn face, knelt and reported, “Your Majesty, Princess Tongchang was attacked while coming to Taiji Palace, in Pingkang Ward.”

The Emperor was shocked and asked, “Attacked? Was she injured?”

Huang Zixia said softly, “The injuries are severe.”

The Emperor’s face changed dramatically as he asked, “Where is Tongchang now?”

“She’s been quickly sent to the Princess’s mansion, and palace physicians have been summoned.”

The Emperor swept his sleeve and strode toward the palace gate, no longer able to contain himself as he shouted, “Fenghun!”

Xu Fenghun beside him quickly ran to follow him out the palace gate: “Your Majesty need not worry, the Princess is blessed by heaven, surely she will be fine…”

“To Tongchang’s mansion!” He cut off Xu Fenghun’s words abruptly.

Noble Consort Guo followed the Emperor out, her face already pale white. As she passed by Huang Zixia, who was still kneeling, she pointed at her angrily saying, “To so frighten His Majesty – when the Princess recovers, you’d better watch yourself!”

The Princess would never recover.

Huang Zixia thought this to herself. After Noble Consort Guo left, she slowly stood up and heaved a long sigh.

The vast blue heavens stretched endlessly above. Princess Tongchang had already returned to the azure sky and yellow earth, no longer connected to this mortal world.

The glory of life, the honor in death – none of it mattered to her anymore.

She raised her hand, looking at the Princess’s blood remaining on it.

This princess, envied by all under heaven, who grew up among golden beams and jade pillars, dressed in finest silks and surrounded by pearls and jade – who would have known she would die in her prime years, in such a desolate corner among wild grass and vines – merely having left her attendants for a brief moment.

The murder weapon was the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin stabbed in her chest, without a doubt. Having pierced her heart, the Princess died shortly after a brief struggle. During her struggle, the connection between the hairpin’s head and shaft had broken.

Upon discovering Princess Tongchang’s death, her attendants all collapsed in shock, only able to wail in grief. Zuiyu was especially frightened, crying and sobbing, “It must have been Noble Consort Pan from Southern Qi! She took the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin, and now she’s used it to take the Princess away!”

The others dared not speak, but Huang Zixia could see from their expressions that the fear and terror in their eyes showed they agreed with Zuiyu’s explanation.

The murderer’s hurried footsteps fleeing toward the ward’s exit had trampled the wild grass to the corner, where they had climbed over the ward wall. This section of wall was near the recently cleared street, full of people scattering in panic. The officials on the scene had caught several people outside, but everyone said they hadn’t noticed if anyone had climbed over the wall.

It seemed the main clues to this case, besides matching the scene evidence, would be to thoroughly investigate who could have stolen the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin from the heavy guard at the Princess’s mansion, and then used it today to stab the Princess to death.

Whoever could steal the Nine-Phoenix Hairpin must have a significant connection to the murderer.

As Huang Zixia was deep in thought, she hadn’t noticed someone approaching her.

A clear yet somewhat sharp voice sounded beside her ear: “Birds on branches, fish in water, people under flowers. In these fleeting splendid years, I wonder what has Eunuch Yang so lost in thought?”

Huang Zixia was startled by the sudden voice beside her, stepping forward before turning to look at the speaker.

It was a man wearing purple palace robes, appearing to be in his early thirties. His skin was unusually pale and his eyes unusually dark, his tall and thin frame leaning against a flowering tree behind him.

Yet even with flower petals falling softly upon him, even with his faint smile, he remained chillingly cold. His gaze falling on Huang Zixia’s face made her involuntarily shiver.

In an instant, she recalled the man from last time in Taiji Palace, the one who had stared at her with snake-like eyes.

Her gaze fell to his hands. A white porcelain bowl as large as a rice bowl, with two small red fish swimming in it.

Seeing her gaze fall on the two fish, he smiled and said, “Does Eunuch Yang also like fish?”

Fish. The two fish with their gossamer-like tails made a splashing sound in the white porcelain bowl.

Huang Zixia suddenly came to her senses amid this coldness. In the Great Tang Dynasty, only one internal servant had the right to wear purple robes.

She instinctively prostrated herself, saying, “Yang Chonggu pays respects to Eunuch Wang.”

He looked down at her, raising his hand to gesture for her to rise. Looking at the slight bloodstains on her hand, he asked, “I heard… something happened to Princess Tongchang?”

Huang Zixia hesitated, then gave a slight nod.

His expression remained calm, only a slight cold curve appearing at the corner of his lips: “Come, extend your hand.”

Huang Zixia hesitantly raised her hand before him.

He grabbed her wrist, his fingers not only dazzlingly white but ice-cold and smooth, with a jade-like texture.

He immersed her bloodstained fingers in the white porcelain bowl.

The dried blood began to dissolve in the clear water, tiny blood clots dispersing.

The two small red fish immediately darted toward these minute blood clots, greedily sucking at the blood traces on her fingers. The subtle tingling sensation made goosebumps immediately rise on Huang Zixia’s arm.

“The Agashne fish most loves human blood. I heard Prince Kui also keeps such a fish. Eunuch Yang might share this secret with Prince Kui.”

Hearing his chilling voice, she couldn’t help but shudder, quickly pulling back her hand.

The splashing water droplets fell on his left hand holding the white porcelain bowl, wetting the purple sleeve, even spattering a few drops on his pale face.

He raised his right hand, gently wiping away the water droplets from his cheeks, silently watching her.

Huang Zixia felt sweat beginning to seep from her back, that feeling of being watched by a poisonous snake rising in her heart once again. She hurriedly bowed and said, “Please forgive me, Eunuch Wang! This humble servant must go to the Princess’s mansion immediately.”

“Go then.” His expression is unchanged, he slightly raised his hand.

Huang Zixia immediately stood up, backed away several steps, then turned and quickly walked out.