Shao Shang felt as though she had been placed into a massive, heavy millstone. As the vertical shaft and grinding stone rotated, the upper and lower grinding teeth clacked together, crushing her bones like the jagged fangs of a beast. Then it was as if she had been thrown into a pit of burning coals, skewered and roasted repeatedly until her flesh and skin were charred. She tumbled and struggled endlessly in this boundless hell, for what felt like an eternity, before she finally managed to wake up.
Outside, it was still pitch black. Was it still the same night, or had she slept through an entire day and into the next night?
Through her sluggish senses, she saw A Zhu weeping as she called maidservants to dress her wounds, change her clothes, and feed her water and medicine. Gradually, her hearing returned, and she could make out the fierce quarreling outside—men, women, the old, the young, familiar voices and unfamiliar ones—a cacophony of noise. The flickering light of lanterns and torches danced chaotically, interspersed with the clashing of weapons.
Shao Shang suddenly shivered. She was afraid of that sound.
The events of last night flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern—galloping horses, the Golden Halberd, moonlight on the hillside, the thunderous shouts of hundreds of soldiers, the wind lifting the deep crimson brocade robe he wore, the dark golden Prison Ox embroidery seeming to come alive—he had charged forward against the cold wind, agile and resolute, never looking back.
Something soft brushed against her fingers. She looked down and saw the fur-lined cloak he had wrapped around her—broad, heavy, and dense, half spread on the bed and half trailing onto the floor.
A Zhu, noticing this, immediately tried to gather the cloak and take it away, but the girl’s fingers clung to the fur like iron wire embedded in it. A Zhu didn’t dare pull too hard, as the girl’s fingers were covered in wounds, eight out of ten wrapped in bandages.
Outside, Madam Xiao’s shrill scream rang out:
"…Third Prince, please restrain yourself! Though you are of noble birth, this is my daughter’s inner chamber—how dare you barge in!"
This was followed by Old Man Cheng’s deep roar, echoing the same sentiment.
The Third Prince must have arrived with fully armed household troops but without the proper imperial decree, which was why Cheng Shi and his wife had resisted him until now.
After a few more heated exchanges, the Third Prince seemed to lose patience. Amid the violent clashing of weapons, heavy leather boots stomped onto the porch, and the delicate wooden partition door was violently flung open with tremendous force—the cold night wind rushed in unchecked, sweeping away the medicinal and bloody scents in the room.
The Third Prince stood in the center of the inner chamber, dressed in a soldier’s practical attire, his face covered in dust, his hair disheveled, his golden crown askew, and his tall boots caked in mud—as if he had traveled a great distance in haste. He glared furiously at the loose-haired girl sitting by the bed, flanked by four guards with drawn swords, their auras fierce and menacing.
The maidservants in the room scattered in terror, hiding behind screens or shrinking into corners. A Zhu, trembling, shielded the bed with her body. Amid the chaos, only Shao Shang remained motionless, seated by the bed, with Lian Fang and Sang Guo curled at her feet.
"…Is he dead?" Shao Shang looked up at him, hearing her own hoarse, dry voice.
The Third Prince took a step forward, his eyes blazing with fury.
"You dare ask! After all his devotion to you, you heartlessly betrayed him—you cold, selfish wretch!"Shao Shang tilted her head slightly. "I've been to that hillside before for an outing. The cliff below isn't very high, and there are many crooked pine trees growing on its face. Last time at Xiaoyue Mountain, even with that bare cliff face, he managed to bring me down safely. But this time..." She shook her head slowly. "It's hard to say. He's injured, and his movements might not be as agile as usual."
The Third Prince felt his chest heave with anger, wishing he could strangle this cunning, heartless girl.
Shao Shang raised her head again, her voice weary. "Your Highness didn't barge into Cheng Residence today just to scold me. Perhaps you should get to the important matter first... Is he still alive?"
The Third Prince took a deep breath. "He's alive. Chen An Guo had the Tiger Brave Army lower ropes to investigate. He's currently in a narrow cave at the bottom of the cliff, unable to move."
Shao Shang caught the implication in his words. "Why hasn't he been pulled up for proper treatment?"
Unable to contain himself, the Third Prince roared, "Because the cave is rugged—easy to roll into but hard to get out of! And his injuries are severe; he can't be hauled up directly with ropes. We'd need to send a large team to chisel open the cave before we can slowly carry him out! But last night he committed unforgivable crimes—patricide, military insurrection, forging imperial edicts... He nearly caused chaos in both the eastern and western garrisons! The court is in an uproar. This morning, eighteen high-ranking officials jointly petitioned for his execution!"
Shao Shang stared blankly at the Third Prince. "So... he's still at the bottom of the cliff, and no one dares to bring him up. Is that it?"
Furious beyond measure, the Third Prince strode forward, grabbed the girl's arm, and yanked her up, berating her through clenched teeth. "It's all your fault, you wretched girl! If not for your betrayal, he wouldn't have ended up like this!"
Shao Shang's face was pale. Though her arm ached from his grip, her tone remained steady. "Then what outcome did Your Highness wish for him? A life on the run, hiding under an assumed name? Or after achieving his goals, falling on his sword?"
The Third Prince faltered.
"From the moment I learned Ling Yi was celebrating his birthday at the Secluded Residence outside the city, I knew what he intended to do. Patricide, unauthorized troop movements—last night's events could never have ended well. Even if he had succeeded, what would his fate have been?"
Shao Shang met the Third Prince's gaze, the wounds on her back beginning to throb.
"Either flee or stay," she said slowly. "But all land under heaven belongs to Your Majesty. Where could he have gone? Defected to Shu? Sought refuge with the northern barbarians? Or lived incognito in the wilderness or markets, waiting day after day for Your Majesty to pass and Your Highness to secure the throne, so he could emerge again?"
Her gaze was bleak yet piercing, and the Third Prince found himself unable to meet it.
"Your Highness knows his character better than I do. He wouldn't have wanted that—to live in hiding and deceit. He'd rather die than endure such an existence."
The Third Prince released his grip and set the girl back on the edge of the bed, stepping away.
"So he would have stayed. Either surrendered or taken his own life." Shao Shang rubbed her sore arm. "But he wouldn't have killed himself in front of me."
The Third Prince whirled around, sneering. "How prescient of you! You seem to know everything!"
Shao Shang looked up at him. "I know because he couldn't bear to frighten me."
The Third Prince turned away angrily, saying nothing.
"If he's to be imprisoned and tried, then the less he does, the better."Shao Shang was somewhat breathless and couldn't help panting, "I specifically asked General Chen of the Tiger Brave Army to inform Your Majesty, thinking he's always been friendly with us and would show some consideration. But who knew... Who is that Blue Armor General?"
"That man is of equal fame with Chen An Guo. Three years ago, he thought Father would hand the Feather Forest to him, but instead, Father gave it to Zisheng! Never mind him—I'll deal with him later!" The Third Prince clenched his fists in anger, then turned to glare at the young girl. "Don't act so clever. If he dies, it'll all be your fault!"
Shao Shang whispered, "If he dies, I'll pay with my life. Will that satisfy Your Highness?"
The Third Prince remained silent, continuing to glare at her.
Shao Shang said, "Actually, saying it's all my fault isn't entirely accurate. Your Highness's frantic urgency tonight must also stem from some guilt—in fact, there are three questions I've wanted to ask you since last night."
The Third Prince clasped his hands behind his back, his expression icy. "What three questions?"
"First, was the pond in Winter Cypress Mausoleum cold? Second, is the view from Returning Goose Tower pleasant? Third, after all these years, aren't you tired of pretending?"
The Third Prince's face changed. "You know everything?"
Leaning on A Zhu's arm, Shao Shang struggled to stand like an elderly woman in her seventies or eighties. "We can discuss this on the way—in fact, even if Your Highness hadn't come, I would have gone to the palace. Now, please allow me to change and freshen up. Your Highness might also want to tidy up here. Appearing disheveled before His Majesty would be disrespectful..."
The Third Prince stared at her for a long moment before saying word by word, "If you can defend him properly, I won't hold anything against you! But if you dare to be even slightly deceitful or evasive, I will take your life in the future!"
...
On the cold, empty streets late at night, a line of armored soldiers rode in silence, their horses' hooves making dull sounds on the stone pavement. A carriage in their midst was surrounded by an empty circle, with only one rider keeping pace beside it—Shao Shang, wrapped in a fluffy fur coat, leaned out the window to speak with the Third Prince outside.
"He once mentioned casually that the Crown Prince saved him from freezing water, earning his eternal gratitude. I always felt something was off about that—half of Mount Tu Gao has hot springs, so even in deep winter, the ponds remain warm. Besides, would His Majesty choose a place without hot springs for his residence? So where did that statement come from?"
"On the other hand, in the early spring when Your Highness fell ill with a high fever, the pond in Winter Cypress Mausoleum must still have been covered in unmelted ice. Lord Zisheng is twenty-one now. At five or six, he was separated from Madam Huo and spent two years in exile. Shortly after returning, Madam Huo fell ill with madness, and he was taken into the palace by His Majesty—exactly thirteen years ago, when he was about eight. Your Highness, it was you who saved him, wasn't it?"
The Third Prince was silent for a long time before murmuring, "You're right. Zisheng had just entered the palace that year. He was withdrawn and didn't fit in. Somehow, he wandered to a deserted pond and slipped in. Luckily, he managed to grab some withered grass by the bank. I've always been withdrawn too and was there seeking solitude when I noticed what happened and pulled him out."
"So Your Highness's clothes were half-soaked, and you came down with a fever afterward," Shao Shang nodded. "From then on, you two secretly kept in touch. So, even as a child, Your Highness had grand ambitions?"The Third Prince shot Shao Shang a dark glance. "A petty mind measures the heart of a gentleman! The Empress and my mother have always kept their distance, and the princes and princesses on both sides are not particularly close. Since Zisheng was raised in the Everlasting Autumn Palace, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention, we chose not to publicize this matter."
"So the Crown Prince rescuing someone from the water was a lie?" Shao Shang frowned.
The Third Prince explained, "At the time, Zisheng had just learned to swim. Seeing the warm waters of Mount Tu Gao's pond, he practiced holding his breath underwater. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince mistook him for drowning and 'rescued' him without asking. When the Emperor found out, he was delighted, and the incident became a celebrated tale among the people, praising the Crown Prince for his bravery despite his scholarly appearance. Zisheng couldn’t very well refute it, so he let the misunderstanding stand."
Shao Shang sighed inwardly. Many misunderstandings only appear beautiful on the surface.
"How did you see through the Returning Goose Tower incident?" the Third Prince pressed.
"Your Highness, why not first tell me when you began planning to depose the heir apparent?" Shao Shang extended her fingertips, feeling the cool night breeze.
After a brief hesitation, the Third Prince admitted frankly, "At first, it wasn’t about deposing the heir… It started about two or three years after the Crown Prince’s marriage. Zisheng and I were barely ten years old then. We were merely dissatisfied with the Crown Princess’s family running amok in the Capital City. Initially, the Crown Prince was oblivious. Later, we secretly arranged for the victims to bring their grievances to him. But the Sun Family was cunning with their words—weeping, threatening suicide, and even accusing the victims of false charges. Zisheng was furious and personally confronted the Crown Prince with evidence of their crimes…"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Shao Shang shook her head repeatedly. "Back then, the Crown Princess’s reputation was still impeccable. Everyone praised her as 'virtuous, dignified, and wise.' The Crown Prince must have found it difficult to act."
The Third Prince glanced at the girl in the carriage. "Exactly. Even after the crimes were exposed, the Crown Prince hesitated to take action, swayed by the Crown Princess’s tears and pleas—she even lost her unborn child in the process. In the end, it was the Emperor who intervened, banishing her entire clan back to their hometown."
By now, the procession was nearing the southern palace gates. The high arch of the city gate loomed overhead, the bright full moon hanging in the deep blue night. The towering watchtowers on either side stood like sentinels, their pointed roofs almost touching the moon.
"The common folk are innocent and pitiable. All they wish for is favorable weather and honest governance, so they may live in peace with their families, well-fed and clothed. But let there be drought, flood, locusts, or corrupt officials, and their lives are ruined in an instant. The Sun Family was merely a local gentry, dazzled by the Capital’s grandeur, losing all restraint. From the Emperor’s initial favor to their expulsion, barely two years had passed—yet dozens of families had their lands seized, and hundreds were enslaved. I remember a young girl, about your age, abducted by the Crown Princess’s younger brother. When her body was discarded, not an inch of her skin was left unmarked." The Third Prince’s eyes darkened, his anger still palpable even years later.
Shao Shang frowned. "Wang Chun is one thing, but didn’t Junior Mentor Lou Jing do anything?"
The Third Prince smirked mockingly. "In the early years of the dynasty, one reason the courtiers supported Emperor Wen’s ascension was precisely because his maternal and marital families were weak and powerless. The court officials aside, the Eastern Palace’s ministers might have even welcomed the Sun Family’s downfall."
"And the Crown Prince did nothing?""Of course not. The Crown Prince wept bitterly in grief, refused to speak to the Crown Princess for three months, and gave a large sum of money to the little girl's family. Well, the common people harmed by the Sun Family were also compensated—as long as they were still alive." The Third Prince couldn't help but mock.
Shao Shang fell silent.
"To preserve the heir apparent's dignity, His Majesty quietly expelled the Sun Family from the Capital City and left their punishment to the local officials. Hmph!" The Third Prince sneered repeatedly. "I don’t care about their schemes, but they shouldn’t have used innocent commoners as pawns!"
Shao Shang said softly, "Your Highness, don’t be angry."
"I’m not angry," the Third Prince said. "Because on their way back to their hometown, the Sun Family encountered falling rocks in a narrow mountain path. Many were killed or injured, especially the Crown Princess’s two brothers—they were crushed into pulp."
Shao Shang glanced up at the man on horseback. "Truly, Heaven has eyes."
The Third Prince: "Indeed, Heaven has eyes... Enough of this. It’s your turn to speak."
Shao Shang sighed. "There’s nothing extraordinary about it. Your Highness, have you seen Cui You’s family’s secret technique, the 'Returning Swallow Whirl'? With just a few light steps, one can circle through the air around a tree like a swallow."
"You heard wrong. That technique isn’t a Cui family secret. I heard from my second uncle that Cui Hou’s father bought it from a wandering swordsman for a few hundred coins. Later, that swordsman died from his injuries, and the Cui family even held a funeral for him." The Third Prince earnestly exposed the truth.
Shao Shang was speechless: Third Prince, you really need to work on your personality. Haven’t you heard the saying, 'Don’t expose others’ shortcomings'?
"Regardless of how the technique came to be, given Cui Hou’s sentiments, how could he not teach it to Madam Huo’s son? If even the two young Cui masters can circle a tree with it, then for someone of Zisheng’s skill, flying around a tower would hardly be difficult—yet he told me he was also eavesdropping on the secret conversation inside the tower and didn’t hear clearly either... How is that possible?"
Shao Shang smiled bitterly. "I should have realized it sooner. No wonder I always unconsciously refused to trust him." She took out half of a jade pendant from her bosom, engraved with only the character 'weak,' and gently rubbed it—this was what Ling Buyi had returned to her during their most intimate moments.
"I heard two voices inside, so I thought there were two people, but in truth, there should have been three. The third person was Zisheng! As a trained warrior, the moment he sensed someone outside, he immediately leaped out the window, then used the 'Returning Swallow Whirl' to circle around to the tower window behind me. When he saw it was me, he pretended he had also been eavesdropping. He even broke my jade pendant to scare me—I suppose the other half is still in his possession."
They passed through one towering gate after another, shadows flickering over the rider and the carriage. Ahead lay the brightly lit Chongming Hall on the western side of the Southern Palace.
After a long silence, the Third Prince said, "Your guess is absolutely correct. There were indeed three people in the tower that day—me, Zisheng, and Teacher Ouyang. However, we weren’t plotting against the Crown Prince. That day, we were only discussing the theft of the Eastern Palace’s seal, trying to figure out which family was behind it."
"I believe that," Shao Shang said.
The carriage stopped. The deaf and mute driver brought out a stepping stool, allowing the girl to alight while holding the carriage frame. The Third Prince also dismounted, bending slightly as he left his horse.Shao Shang stood firm and looked directly at the Third Prince. "Someone once told me that ever since Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty slaughtered countless people over his ministers' conspiracy to replace the heir apparent, no one has dared to use schemes to plot for the throne. Therefore, as long as His Majesty's will remains unchanged, the Crown Prince's position is unshakable. Emperor Xuan's heir was similarly weak and timid, yet he still ascended the throne—how much more so our Crown Prince."
"To put it plainly, your greatest adversary is not the Crown Prince but His Majesty. So, how can His Majesty's will be swayed? No covert harm, no slander—only open stratagems remain."
"You must make His Majesty see clearly that the Crown Prince is truly unfit to rule."
Shao Shang gazed at the brightly lit hall ahead and smoothed her dress. "So, Lord Zisheng thought, since the Ling family was to be exterminated tonight anyway, why not settle the major affairs for His Highness in one stroke."
She smiled faintly. "After last night, His Majesty likely felt just as Emperor Gao did upon seeing the Four Elders of Shangshan—realizing the tide had turned and heaven's will could not be defied. Those destined to hold the throne will hold it; those who aren’t, never will."
"Zisheng, Zisheng..." The Third Prince trembled, tears welling in his eyes. "He shouldn’t have, shouldn’t have..."
"That’s just the kind of man he is," Shao Shang said, her face pale and her frame frail. "Noble yet shadowy; bold and heroic, yet meticulous in thought. He would risk his life to save me, yet wouldn’t hesitate to abandon me..."
She lowered her head slightly, letting the moisture in her eyes fall, then raised it again to point at the hall ahead. "His Majesty chose this place for deliberation—it must be quite the spectacle. Why don’t you tell me what’s happening, Third Highness?"
The Third Prince looked forward and said gravely, "Early this morning, eighteen high-ranking ministers jointly impeached Zisheng. Cui Hou, who was recuperating at home, rushed to the palace to plead for leniency upon hearing the news. But Cui Hou couldn’t explain the reasons, and His Majesty was already furious, refusing to listen. The dispute dragged on until afternoon, when Chen An Guo brought Zisheng’s household troops back to the Capital City. After questioning them with Cui Hou, we heard..."
He struggled for words, seemingly bewildered. "Something about Zisheng’s father not being Ling Yi! Then who could it be? And something about avenging his parents... I’ve never heard of this, and Cui Hou was also in the dark. So we went to the Apricot Blossom Secluded Residence to question an old woman..."
"A'ao?" Shao Shang asked.
"Yes, her. But after Madam Huo passed away, Zisheng had already sent her to retire in the countryside. How could we possibly find her in such short notice!" The Third Prince frowned anxiously.
"Grand Marshal Cai Yun suggested that Madam Huo’s son might have died long ago in the chaos of war, and Zisheng was merely adopted by her. Lord Tian, the court official, claimed Zisheng was the son of Ling Hou’s enemy, living under a false identity for over a decade, and last night’s events were an act of vengeance. But the most widespread rumor is that Zisheng killed his own father to avenge Madam Huo’s grievances... In short, the truth is unclear, and everyone’s saying something different!"
"Originally, His Majesty intended to summon Zisheng for questioning, but the effort to excavate the mountain was too great. Some argued that since Zisheng was already condemned to death, he might as well be left to perish at the cliff’s base... The debate dragged on until nightfall! So I had no choice but to interrogate Zisheng’s household troops again. Their leader, Liang Qiuqi, remains unconscious, while another named A Fei spoke incoherently before finally suggesting you might know the truth..."Shao Shang gave a bitter smile. "That's right, I do know. I'm afraid even Lord Zisheng doesn't know as much as I do now—I've figured everything out."
As she spoke, she stepped forward toward the great hall ahead. The Third Prince grabbed her arm and said coldly, "Are you certain about this?"
Staggered by the pull, Shao Shang steadied herself before replying calmly, "I've said it before—if he doesn't survive, how about I pay with my life?"
The Third Prince was burning with impatience and couldn't stand her indifferent demeanor. He lowered his voice and scolded, "Stop this nonsense! Zisheng has given you his heart and soul—have you ever once tried to put yourself in his shoes? When disaster struck, your first thought was how to keep the Cheng family out of it. Now you speak so logically and coherently, as if you're just an outsider! Do you even know what it means to be so concerned that you act rashly, or to live and die together? Is your blood truly so cold..."
At these words, Shao Shang could no longer contain herself. She slammed the half-piece of Jade Pendant in her hand onto the ground—with a crash, the jade shattered into pieces!
"I can brew wine!"—her chest heaved with anger, her eyes sparking like flames.
The Third Prince was taken aback.
"...I can brew the purest, strongest wine in the entire Capital City! But I know Your Majesty advocates frugality, and brewing wine consumes a lot of grain, so I can't go around boasting about it. I can build waterwheels. The ones I make are more ingenious and simpler than those from the artisans' workshops, saving thirty percent of human and animal labor. But because I'm a woman, aside from receiving some gold, silver, and land as rewards, I can't hold an official position. I can also build kilns and fire tiles. The tiles I produce are as sturdy and durable as palace tiles, yet they save half the firewood and labor!"
"With or without Ling Buyi, I am still a person living my own life. I have parents and siblings to care for! Just because I'm a woman, does that mean I should be aggressively questioned, 'Your man is about to die, why aren't you going to die with him'?!"
"And certainly not because I'm a woman, kept in the dark about who my Son-in-law even is, what his name is, or what kind of person he is—only to discover a thunderbolt three days before the wedding and then be told I can't resent or rage, or else I'm cold-hearted, selfish, and self-serving?!"
"If he treats me with his heart and soul, then I'll carve open my body and give him my heart, liver, and lungs in return! If he saves my life, I'll repay him with my life! If I can't save him tonight, I'll pay with my life—I won't cling to life out of fear of death!"
"If one day I wish to die, it will be because I'm tired of living, not because I have to accompany someone else in life and death! Ling Buyi is the person I love most in this world, but I am still myself!"
The girl's slender shoulders trembled like butterfly wings, yet she maintained an upright posture. Tears rolled down her pale, fragile face, soaking her clothes.—This near-heroic stubbornness formed a kind of captivating arrogance.
Author's Note: I'm exhausted. Updates might be late tomorrow, so those who can't wait shouldn't wait.
Let me say a bit more today. I wonder if any of you have read Agatha Christie.
Like in the "locked room" or "isolated island" mysteries, with only a handful of suspects—you can guess them all eventually. The point isn't guessing "who," but "how" and "why."
What I mean is, it's good to speculate actively, but please do so based on clues and evidence. I've already said the Emperor isn't the villain—why are you still guessing he is? Where have I ever written signs of him being the villain, ahhh?!
As for the main and supporting characters, I never intended to write perfect roles, so it's normal for everyone to have opinions. No need to get angry and curse—casual discussions are fine.
Lastly, about my daily updates these past few days... don't you have anything to say? Like "well-written," "amazing," or "so diligent," perhaps?After carefully reading through the comments on the previous chapter—thousands of them—almost all were either criticizing the female lead, defending the female lead, or pitying the male lead. Only three or four mentioned me. I was nearly moved to tears, okay!
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