Shao Shang returned to the Everlasting Autumn Palace without being scolded, but facing the Empress's self-reproachful gaze, she almost wished she had been reprimanded instead.
The Empress didn't say anything at the time, but the next morning her eyes were red and swollen. She thought about how Shao Shang had left in the morning full of energy, only to return in such a state. If Ling Buyi hadn't rescued her in time, she might have lost her life.
Shao Shang felt wronged—this assignment was supposed to be perfectly safe. Liang Manor wasn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair, and Ling Buyi had even reinforced the security with a group of highly skilled guards outside the study. With such precautions, who could have expected that fool Liang Xia would be driven to desperate measures? To divert the Empress's attention, Shao Shang quickly sent someone to the Eastern Palace to summon the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Ever since being publicly rebuked by the Crown Prince that day, the Crown Princess had become much more subdued. Even when her own cousin was involved in the incident, she dared not intervene and had been hiding in the Eastern Palace like a quail. Now, seated beside Shao Shang, she couldn't stop praising her for being clever and capable, solving a murder case in just three short days.
"...Yes, it really only took three days," Shao Shang mused, surprised at her own talent in this area.
Before the Crown Princess could finish her praise, Ling Buyi hurried in and immediately demanded, "What are you up to now?"
The opening gong hadn't even sounded, and the investigator was already here. Shao Shang retorted irritably, "None of your business!"
"None of my business?" Ling Buyi snorted. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be sitting here unharmed."
Shao Shang sighed. "...At first, when you saved my life, you always said, 'Don't take it to heart,' acting all chivalrous and selfless. Why bring it up now?"
The Empress and Crown Prince chuckled lightly, while the Crown Princess looked somewhat sour.
Ling Buyi's handsome eyes gleamed with amusement. "Before, I thought you understood, so I spoke generously. Now I realize you need reminders." During the Lou Family banquet, he had met Shao Shang in a flower-lined path. At the time, he had already saved and helped her multiple times, yet she still only agreed to meet when threatened.
The memory made him grit his teeth slightly. "...No matter how well anyone treats you, you'll play dumb when it suits you. It's better to remind you constantly."
Shao Shang seemed to recall the incident as well, her soft cheeks flushing slightly. She said meekly, "How could I forget? You've saved me so many times—it's impossible to overlook."
Ling Buyi's chest warmed at the sight of her sparkling eyes. He coughed lightly to mask his feelings. "Fine. We'll... talk more later."
The Crown Prince had had enough. Knowing full well his own marital discord, did these two have to rub it in his face? He said sternly, "Shao Shang, why did you summon Us?"
"What for?" Shao Shang blinked, then quickly snapped back to attention. "Ah, right. Actually, today I have a gift for the Crown Princess."
The Crown Princess was taken aback. "For me?"
Shao Shang retrieved an item from her sleeve and presented it respectfully with both hands. Everyone focused on it—a small piece of snow-white silk. The Crown Princess's face immediately paled, while the Crown Prince and Ling Buyi exchanged glances.
The Empress was puzzled. "What does this mean?"
Shao Shang smiled at the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, are you aware that the Crown Princess often bestows gifts upon Madam Qu?"
The Crown Prince nodded. "We know." He glanced at the Crown Princess. "But We thought it was out of her virtuous nature."Shao Shang turned her gaze to Ling Buyi. "You knew about this too, didn't you?"
Ling Buyi's expression darkened. "I knew they were sent almost every year. But I thought the Crown Princess was doing it to show goodwill to the Crown Prince." He was beginning to understand.
Shao Shang chuckled coldly. "Everyone knows the gifts are from the Crown Princess, except Madam Qu and the people of Liang Manor. They all believe those gifts are bestowed by the Crown Prince—out of lingering affection!"
The Crown Prince's wine cup clattered to the floor as he exclaimed, "What nonsense is this! I haven't heard from Lingjun in ten years!"
Shao Shang said icily, "I saw this silk in the possession of Madam Qu's maid. The maid said Madam Qu was beaten again by Liang Shang because of this 'gift from the Crown Prince'! I found it strange—this silk was part of the recent tribute from Jingzhou for the New Year. Her Majesty gave the first portion to the Crown Princess, and the rest is still with me. So I questioned the maid thoroughly and uncovered the Crown Princess's scheme!"
"What has she done?" the Crown Prince asked hoarsely.
Shao Shang retorted angrily, "What else? Using underhanded tricks to harm others! She puts on a virtuous front before the Crown Prince and Her Majesty, but when her junior palace attendants deliver gifts to the Liang family in Hedong, they pretend to be sent by the Crown Prince, spouting nonsense in front of the couple—'His Highness caught a chill recently and often thinks of you in his illness,' or 'His Highness often sighs that no one understands him like you...' And the gifts are always intimate items—last year it was a golden silk mat, next year a jade pillow, and this time, it's this silk meant for undergarments!" She pointed at the small piece of snow-white fabric.
"This is a lie! Qu Lingjun is framing me! Now that she's a widow, she's scheming for the Eastern Palace's position! She's treacherous and delusional!" the Crown Princess shrieked.
Ling Buyi said calmly, "It wouldn't be hard to verify the truth. Just apprehend the servants who delivered those gifts to Madam Qu and interrogate them."
The Crown Princess broke into a cold sweat, unable to defend herself.
The Crown Prince's face was pale, his fingers trembling as he looked at his wife with icy disappointment. "No wonder... no wonder Lingjun told me that day to stop thinking of her. I didn't understand then..."
The Crown Princess collapsed in tears, prostrating herself and begging for mercy. The Empress, now grasping the full picture, swayed in anger.
Shao Shang slammed the table furiously. "I always wondered why it felt so odd! Madam Qu isn't the type to endure humiliation—how could she tolerate this for years? The maid also said Madam Qu once sent letters through the gift-bearers, likely pleading with the Crown Prince to stop sending gifts. Hmph! I bet those letters ended up with the Crown Princess!"
"I've pieced it all together. The gifts started arriving in Hedong soon after Madam Qu's marriage. The messengers spoke ambiguously, and the gifts were suggestive. At first, Madam Qu probably felt guilty toward her new husband and endured it. But within a few years, she realized Liang Shang was nothing but a beast and couldn't just wait for death—so she hired martial maids for protection. In recent years, Liang Shang had actually calmed down. But then the Crown Princess sent another provocative gift, catching Madam Qu off guard, and she suffered another beating."The Crown Princess, consumed with venomous resentment, shouted at Shao Shang, “What grudge do you hold against me that you would say such things?! The Crown Prince and I have been married for ten years, and now you come to ruin me! What good does it do you to make the Crown Prince and Her Majesty grieve?”
“Oh my! Just days ago, the Crown Princess was threatening me, saying what she’d do to me once she became Empress. And now she asks ‘what grudge’? How utterly ridiculous!”
Shao Shang launched into a barrage of sarcastic remarks before turning to the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, I understand that Madam Qu’s case has just concluded, and it’s not the time for the Eastern Palace to take any drastic actions. But given the Crown Princess’s behavior, Madam Qu has suffered too much. How about this—why don’t you give the Crown Princess a few beatings first? I have a whip at my place… Hey, why are you dragging me? I haven’t finished speaking yet…”
Ling Buyi had heard enough. He deftly picked up his fiancée and hauled her out of the hall, not releasing her until they reached a courtyard beside the side palace.
“Why did you drag me out? The Crown Princess is so despicable—shouldn’t we seize this chance to teach her a lesson?” Shao Shang yanked back her sleeve, fuming.
“Ultimately, this is the Crown Prince’s family matter. No matter how close we are, we shouldn’t interfere too much.”
“So we just let Lady Sun remain as Crown Princess?!” Shao Shang couldn’t agree. “That woman is talentless, virtueless, petty, and narrow-minded. If she gets off unscathed, there’s no justice in this world!”
Ling Buyi said gravely, “Lady Sun is indeed unfit to stay in the Eastern Palace, but now is not the time to act against her. Let her go recuperate first. We’ll deal with her in a year or two.”
Shao Shang had been all bluster earlier, but now, sensing the chilling undertone in her fiancé’s words, she shrank back. “Uh, I think deposing her would be enough. Are you planning to… make her ‘pass away from illness’?”
Ling Buyi gently ruffled her hair. “Silly girl, someone like Lady Sun, who values status and reputation more than life itself, would rather die than be deposed.”
After a long silence, Shao Shang asked, “All these years, you never noticed anything amiss with the things she sent to Hedong?”
Ling Buyi gave a bitter smile. “Ten years ago, I was just a child. Later, it became routine, and I never imagined the Crown Princess could be so vindictive—holding a grudge against Qu Lingjun for a full decade without relenting.”
Shao Shang patted him. “You can’t be blamed. Most people wouldn’t think of such things. After all, Madam Qu was already married far away in Hedong—the Crown Princess had won completely. Why cling to resentment? Even though you overlooked this and I ended up uncovering it, you really shouldn’t take it to heart. Honestly, it’s not your fault…”
Ling Buyi chuckled and reached to pinch her cheek. “Go look in a mirror—you’re positively gloating.”
Shao Shang glared. “If I’m petty, then what does that make you?”
“Someone who loves a petty person.”
Her anger melted into a radiant smile.
Holding the girl’s hand, Ling Buyi suggested they go admire the plum trees in the garden ahead. As they walked, he mused, “The Crown Princess is shallow and ignorant, while Qu Lingjun is intelligent and decisive, with insights into current affairs no less sharp than any man’s. Yet the Crown Princess tormented Qu Lingjun for ten whole years. Had you not exposed her this time, Qu Lingjun might never have known the truth. Alas, it shows that no one in this world should be underestimated.”
“Is it because the Crown Prince never stopped longing for Madam Qu that the Crown Princess was so relentless?” Shao Shang frowned.Ling Buyi shook his head. "Although the Crown Prince is gentle and kind, he is not the type to remain entangled. Back then, he sincerely wanted to live well with the Crown Princess, but who knew he would encounter such a person..."
Shao Shang felt a surge of respect for the Crown Prince. "Indeed. The Crown Prince is truly a good man. I heard from Zhai Nanny that one harsh winter when you were young, you accidentally fell into a mountain spring while hunting with His Majesty at Mount Tu Gao, and it was the Crown Prince who jumped in to pull you out."
Ling Buyi replied casually, "Yes, I still remember how bone-chilling the water was. But..." He turned his head with a smile, "If it were you in that situation, what would you do?"
Shao Shang's eyes sparkled mischievously. "If I had to marry into the Liang family, I'd choose the Governor of Liangzhou! Between a coward who beats women and an old uncle, the latter is clearly better. Did you see how impressive the Governor was with those three arrows yesterday?"
"Unlikely. Ten years ago, the Governor of Liangzhou's wife was still alive," Ling Buyi said coldly. "And I was asking what you would do if you were the Crown Prince, not if you were Madam Qu!"
Shao Shang laughed. "If I were the Crown Prince... needless to say, the Crown Princess's petty schemes wouldn't fool me. Wait a minute, didn't I hear that the Governor of Liangzhou's wife passed away a long time ago?"
"That was his first wife, Madam Qu. The one who passed away recently was his second wife."
"Tsk tsk, the Governor of Liangzhou really has no luck with wives—one after another. He should just resign himself to growing old alone."
A rare look of uncertainty crossed Ling Buyi's face. "Shao Shang, now that Liang Shang is dead and the Crown Princess has met her end, do you think Qu Lingjun and the Crown Prince might...?"
"Might reconcile? Of course they will!" Shao Shang declared firmly.
Ling Buyi raised an eyebrow, signaling his confusion.
Shao Shang looked utterly confident. "As soon as I get back, I'll write a letter detailing all the Crown Princess's malicious schemes and send it to Madam Qu! Ten whole years of framing—just to vent her anger, Madam Qu would storm back into the Eastern Palace! Then the Crown Princess can watch her former enemy rise above her. That would be truly satisfying!"
Ling Buyi remained skeptical.
A few days later, Qu Lingjun's father and brother finally arrived with their entourage. Their timing couldn't have been better. When they first heard the tragic news, they were frantic with worry. But upon reaching the Capital City, all they heard in the streets were murmurs of 'Poor Madam Qu, caught in the crossfire of the Liang brothers' feud over the family leadership,' or 'The Liang family, a century-old noble clan, yet their descendants are so disgraceful,' and the like.
When Liang Xia was executed, at least two hundred people had gathered inside and out. Aside from Liang clansmen, half were relatives and old acquaintances—all shrewd enough to deliberately let their servants spread word of what they'd witnessed. Fresh gossip replaced the old, and by then, no one questioned Madam Qu's character anymore, nor did they gossip about the Crown Prince.
Two more days passed, and Shao Shang received a handwritten letter from Qu Lingjun. After reading it, she was momentarily speechless in astonishment.
Ling Buyi took the letter and glanced at the girl with amusement. "You were wrong on every count. The Governor of Liangzhou won't grow old alone, and Qu Lingjun won't storm back into the Eastern Palace."
Shao Shang let out a dry chuckle.The letter was brief, covering three matters: First, Qu Lingjun expressed gratitude to Shao Shang for her efforts in clearing her name over the past few days, stating that though she was currently in dire straits and unable to reciprocate, she would remember this kindness. Second, the Governor of Liangzhou had received the Emperor's gracious decree and would soon return to his post to resume his duties (reading this, Shao Shang felt a subtle unease—just days ago, Qu Lingjun had wanted to escape the Liang family, so what did Old Man Liang's return to office have to do with a young widow like her?). The final point delivered the hammer blow—
Qu Lingjun announced that, after discussions between the Liang and Qu families, she was to marry the Governor of Liangzhou. Given the sensitive timing, the wedding would be kept low-key and held after his return to his post. Yes, like He Zhaojun, she too would marry during the mourning period.
Shao Shang's expression froze, her mind blank with confusion: "How... how did this come about...?"
Ling Buyi slowly placed the letter back into the exquisite lacquer wood box tied with a silk ribbon.
Shao Shang added, "I thought remarrying a brother's widow was something that only happened in rural areas." Such arrangements were common among commoners to ensure the continuation of lineage and avoid property disputes, but among noble families...
Ling Buyi remained silent.
Shao Shang continued, "The Governor of Liangzhou is forty-seven, while Madam Qu is only twenty-six."
Ling Buyi still said nothing, his lashes lowered.
Shao Shang poked his cheek with a slender finger. Ling Buyi caught the nape of her neck in response, kneading it gently as if she were a kitten. She squirmed, struggling to free herself from his grasp.
Ling Buyi smiled faintly. "The Liang and Qu families wish to keep this quiet, but the Crown Prince should still be informed. Now, who will tell him, and how?"
Shao Shang's gaze flickered over Ling Buyi's face before she shifted slightly away, using body language to make it clear she wanted no part of this hot potato.
Ling Buyi chuckled.
Later, no one knew exactly how Ling Buyi broke the news to the Crown Prince, but it was said the Crown Prince fell from his horse while riding and had to rest to recover from a leg injury. Since the Crown Princess had already been confined to seclusion to "recuperate," the Empress had no choice but to personally oversee the Crown Prince's care.
Upon returning from the Eastern Palace, the Empress was visibly downcast. When Shao Shang asked what troubled her, she replied, "The Crown Prince was wrong—not in upholding the marriage contract, but in failing to recognize the Crown Princess's malicious nature."
Shao Shang consoled her, "It's not easy to see through one's spouse."
The Empress smiled bitterly. "But he is the heir, the future ruler. How can he not know how to judge people?"
Shao Shang said, "That's not entirely fair. Even the First Emperor failed to see Zhao Gao for what he was, believing him to be a loyal and honest old servant. Yet the moment the First Emperor passed, Zhao Gao began stirring up chaos in every way imaginable! If even the First Emperor, with all his brilliance, could misjudge someone, Your Majesty shouldn't be too hard on the Crown Prince."
"True," the Empress replied with a sorrowful smile. "And that is why the First Emperor's empire collapsed within two generations."
Shao Shang pondered this. She believed the fall of Qin was due to complex reasons and couldn't be blamed solely on a few individuals. She continued comforting the Empress, "Your Majesty, wisdom comes from experience. After this, the Crown Prince will learn how to judge people better."
Seeing the girl's persistent efforts, the Empress gently stroked her hair. "May it be as you say."
...
Two days later, Shao Shang deliberately slipped away from Ling Buyi to see Qu Lingjun off.Ten miles outside the city, by the roadside pavilion, the caravans of the Liang and Qu families stretched long and vast, with many coming to see them off. Among the crowd, an elderly man bearing some resemblance to Qu Lingjun stood by the farewell pavilion conversing with General Han, while a middle-aged man of similar features stood by attentively. The three of them burst into laughter from time to time.
Qu Lingjun glanced at them before turning to Shao Shang. "My father and elder brother are accompanying us to the Governor's new post and will help arrange my wedding along the way."
Shao Shang couldn't help but ask, "Why exactly are you marrying..." She paused, then rephrased her question. "The Crown Prince, he..." She trailed off again, unsure how to continue.
Qu Lingjun smiled faintly. Though dressed in heavy mourning attire, her countenance remained as radiant as morning clouds, breathtakingly beautiful.
"I thought His Highness had remembered me for ten years. Though it often weighed on my mind, there were moments of secret joy. Who would have known he resolved to forget me a decade ago? It makes all my years of dwelling on it seem rather foolish. Since his heart is no longer mine, there's nothing left between the Crown Prince and me."
Shao Shang knew she spoke the truth and could only sigh deeply. "But must you marry the Governor of Liangzhou? He is, after all, advanced in years, while you're in the bloom of youth."
Qu Lingjun smiled. "You're clever. Think carefully—marrying the Governor is actually the most appropriate choice for both the Liang and Qu families, as well as for my children."
Shao Shang fell silent again.
Meanwhile, Qu Lingjun's two children, dressed in tiny mourning garments, ran about under the care of Mother Fu and maidservants, appearing even happier than when their father was alive. They scampered over to Liang Wuji, who was speaking with Yuhou, one clinging to his leg and the other tugging at his sleeve, laughing without a care. Though no longer young, Liang Wuji possessed considerable strength. He lifted both children effortlessly, guiding their tiny hands to bow to Yuhou, who laughed heartily at the sight.
After watching for a while, Qu Lingjun said, "The Governor is pitiable—a hero all his life, yet nearing fifty without heirs. My children are also pitiable, better off without their father. In the future, I will serve him well, and he will care for my children. This way, everyone benefits."
Shao Shang began to understand. Everyone has different values—some live for themselves, others for family and children. From this perspective, Qu Lingjun and Liang Wuji were actually aligned in their priorities.
Before departing, Shao Shang glanced back and saw Liang Wuji kneeling on one knee, plucking dried grass to weave into grasshoppers and birds. The two children nestled close to him, watching with rapt attention.
Suddenly, she thought—perhaps this wasn't so bad after all.
Author's Note:
First, I must commend the reader 'Sing a Different Tune'—through careful observation, I've determined she was the earliest to predict Qu Lingjun would end up with Liang Wuji. At the time, I thought my outline had been leaked!
Let's give her a round of applause—
Secondly, Liang Qiuqi and Liang Qiu Fei—their surname is 'Liang Qiu,' a compound surname, not simply 'Liang.' Thank you.
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