Luo Sheng lowered her eyes as she listened, an indescribable sorrow filling her heart.

Yes, how utterly foolish indeed.

The wind was strong that night, the darkness deep. Wearing her wedding dress, she rode her horse desperately toward home, while Wei Qiang in his wedding robes chased after her.

She saw the large red lanterns hanging from the eaves before the Prince of Zhennan’s manor swaying precariously. She saw the soldiers wielding sharp blades surrounding the manor layer upon layer.

She only regretted that before seeing her father the prince and her mother the consort, before seeing her infant younger brother still in swaddling clothes, she tumbled from her horse and fell before the leader of those besieging the manor.

The pain of an arrow piercing through her back could not compare to the endless heartache.

Her newlywed husband had killed her at her family’s doorstep, not even allowing her to reunite with her family.

She struggled to crawl forward, crawling through the hot blood flowing from her body toward the astounded expression of the leader besieging the manor, but never had the chance to cross that threshold.

She closed her eyes with infinite hatred and regret, and when she opened them again, she had become Miss Luo.

And Wei Qiang, her childhood friend, her newlywed husband, had become the lofty Crown Prince, the second most noble man in Great Zhou.

Luo Sheng used every ounce of strength to calm herself, showing the old beggar a casual smile: “So you’re saying the princess’s husband became a widower on his very wedding day—”

The old beggar’s expression changed abruptly: “Young master, you mustn’t speak carelessly!”

For the sake of that silver coin, the old beggar lowered his voice: “Young master, have you been so devoted to your studies that you don’t know what happens in the outside world? That princess’s husband is the Crown Prince.”

“The current Crown Prince was actually that princess’s husband?” Luo Sheng showed surprise on her face. “But didn’t the princess marry into the Prince of Pingnan’s manor?”

As she spoke, she discreetly slipped over a piece of broken silver.

Money makes the devil push the millstone, let alone for matters that anyone of some age in Nanyang City knew about. The old beggar pocketed the silver and continued: “The Crown Prince had merit! The evidence of Prince of Zhennan’s treason and collaboration with the enemy was found by the Crown Prince from the Prince of Zhennan’s manor. Later, when the imperial family wanted to select a prince from the clan to be Crown Prince, they chose the heir of the Prince of Pingnan at the time, who is now the current Crown Prince…”

If one asked about these past events in other places, even in the capital, few would know much. But Nanyang City was different.

The old beggar hadn’t been a beggar from the start either. It was just that the tragedy twelve years ago changed not only the Prince of Zhennan’s manor but also altered the fates of many people.

Luo Sheng remained silent for a long while, then showed a faint smile: “I see. His Highness the Crown Prince is truly both courageous and resourceful.”

Having learned what she wanted to know, Luo Sheng changed back into her original attire and walked slowly with Hong Dou toward the inn.

“Hong Dou.”

“What is it, Miss?”

“What kind of person do you think the Crown Prince is?”

Hong Dou glanced around and lowered her voice: “This servant never hides her thoughts from Miss. Before, this servant thought the Crown Prince was really lucky and seemed quite kind.”

“And now?”

Hong Dou curled her lip: “Now I think the Crown Prince is base trash. That princess was too pitiful.”

Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered as she forced back the moisture.

She truly loved this maid Hong Dou.

“However—”

“However what?”

Hong Dou bit her lip, her voice even lower: “The Crown Prince found evidence of Prince of Zhennan’s treason early on yet still married that princess as if nothing was wrong, and after marrying her, swiftly killed her. Could that princess really have never noticed this person was both ruthless and wicked?”

Luo Sheng’s expression remained calm: “Probably because she was blind.”

The little maid nodded vigorously: “Exactly, she was blind! Miss is still the clever one.”

Luo Sheng curved her lips in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

She thanked the heavens for giving her a chance to be a clever person.

Wei Qiang, just you wait.

Luo Sheng met up with Sheng Sanlang at the inn, and he accompanied her to burn paper money by the roadside.

With the Qingming Festival approaching, travelers burning paper money by the roadside to commemorate deceased relatives wouldn’t attract attention.

As the paper money burned to ashes, Sheng Sanlang observed Luo Sheng’s expression and spoke persuasively: “Cousin, let’s go back.”

He always felt that the paper money just burned was only half of what he’d bought, but he had no proof and didn’t dare ask.

Ahem, perhaps it was an illusion. After all, he’d never been very good at arithmetic since childhood.

Luo Sheng stared at the burning paper money turning to ash butterflies and dancing away, nodding lightly: “Mm, let’s go back.”

Night deepened, the crescent moon hanging quietly at the treetops with a kind of lonely desolation.

Dressed in black, Luo Sheng walked out of her room and very smoothly left the inn that had already fallen into slumber.

The streets were empty, with the sound of night watches coming from afar.

“Third watch of zi hour, all is peaceful—”

Night had indeed deepened, especially in such a small city long separated from bustling noise.

Luo Sheng moved lightly along the roadside, quickly arriving before that dilapidated manor.

The stone lions before the gate remained imposing as ever, yet no longer had their former luster.

She walked along the perimeter wall for a while before stopping, taking a few steps back for a running start to climb over the wall, landing inside with ease.

Luo Sheng steadied herself and surveyed her surroundings.

Before her eyes was complete desolation.

Waist-high flourishing weeds, trees that blocked out the sky, and insect chirping woven into a nocturne.

Luo Sheng walked inward step by step, her entire body cold.

Things remained but people had changed—nothing more than this.

Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps heaven’s will, but twelve years ago on this very night was when that calamity occurred.

This day was the day she left her natal home for marriage, and also the death anniversary of her entire family and herself.

Luo Sheng touched the bundle hanging from her arm, which contained the paper money Sheng Sanlang had bought.

There wasn’t much she could do at present. The only thing she could do was burn some paper money for her relatives, to tell them she was still here.

The once crystal-clear lake surface was now covered with dead branches and fallen leaves, a faint odor of decay drilling straight into one’s nostrils.

Luo Sheng stopped before an embroidery tower by the lakeside.

That was her boudoir, though now there was no need to revisit old haunts.

That place held her most joyful youthful times, and also bore her nervousness and anticipation before leaving home for marriage.

She was the lofty Princess Qingyang in the eyes of Nanyang City’s common people, but regarding the major matter of marriage, she was no different from ordinary young women.

Wei Qiang was the husband her parents had chosen for her. His appearance wasn’t ugly, his disposition wasn’t bad, and they had known each other for many years—naturally she had no reason to object.

At that time, leaning against the embroidered screen by her bed, she had also quietly wondered whether she and Wei Qiang would be as loving in the future as her father the prince and mother the consort.

Who knew there would be no future.

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes to stare at her slender, delicate fingers with a self-mocking smile.

Who knew that only now could there be talk of a future.

Luo Sheng took one last look at the embroidery tower standing by the decaying lakeside and was about to turn and leave, when a glimpse from the corner of her eye made her freeze in place.

After a momentary shock, Luo Sheng immediately hid behind a tree, her hand reaching for her dagger.

It was a dagger encrusted with jewels, left behind by Miss Luo.

Luo Sheng had already tested it—it could cut hair like mud, sharp enough.

By moonlight, her gaze closely pursued that figure.

That person’s head and face were covered, making it difficult to determine whether they were male or female. Step by step, they drew closer and closer to Luo Sheng.