Consort Xu smiled charmingly and asked, "Sister, why aren't you going in? Could it be you've done something wrong and are kneeling to beg His Majesty's forgiveness? Shall I go in and plead on your behalf?"
The Empress gritted her teeth. "That won't be necessary."
The struggles of the court often implicated the women of the inner palace. The conflict between Prince Zhou's faction and the Crown Prince's faction represented not just the throne, but also the people standing behind them. If the Crown Prince fell, how long could the Empress maintain her position? One day, Emperor Wenhui would grow old. If Prince Zhou ascended the throne, what fate would await the Empress?
Common official households were rife with countless dirty tricks, but the inner palace was even worse. A single misstep could cost one's life and implicate their family. Living here required constant vigilance.
Consort Xu chuckled. "If Sister is unwilling, I won't insist. However, I have matters to discuss with His Majesty now, so I won't disturb your... contemplation." Covering her mouth with a smile, she prepared to send someone to announce her to Emperor Wenhui.
The Empress nearly clawed Consort Xu's face in her mind. Whatever Consort Xu planned to say inside, the Empress could almost guess—nothing more than fanning the flames and pouring oil on the fire. Emperor Wenhui had always been receptive to Consort Xu's words, and his anger toward the Crown Prince would likely intensify.
Yet she couldn't stop Consort Xu.
Just as Consort Xu was about to enter, someone hurried in from outside. Spotting Consort Xu, the messenger bowed apologetically. "Lady Xu, Prince Rui is outside and requests an audience with His Majesty."
Prince Rui? Both Consort Xu and the Empress froze. Why was Prince Rui here now?
Though usually spoiled, Consort Xu wasn't foolish. Her willfulness was reserved for Emperor Wenhui's indulgence; she dared not be careless in serious matters. She immediately said, "Then I shall return later."
The Empress, being older and more experienced in court affairs, felt a sinking dread. Prince Rui's timing—arriving just as the Crown Prince was in trouble and Emperor Wenhui had issued his verdict—couldn't be coincidental. His intentions were likely far from benign.
Soon, Emperor Wenhui's attendant emerged and whispered to the messenger, who then left. The Empress stood while Consort Xu knelt, but their attention was drawn to a young man in a purple robe approaching from outside.
He wore a half-silver mask, his demeanor relaxed. The Empress felt an inexplicable shame—a nation's Empress, seen in such a pitiful state by an outsider. Consort Xu, however, was momentarily dazed by his presence. Some people were born strangely captivating; even without seeing his full face, his noble elegance was enough to enthrall. It was as if his mere presence commanded all eyes to fall upon him.
Prince Rui passed by the Empress, sparing her only a glance. His eyes held no particular meaning, nor did his steps falter, as if he hadn't noticed the Empress kneeling before the hall. But this wasn't out of consideration—though his expression remained neutral, the Empress sensed his indifference, a deep-seated disdain and contempt.
She felt utterly humiliated.
Inside the study, Emperor Wenhui sat composed at his desk, appearing calm and dignified, as though the man who had raged moments earlier was someone else entirely.
Yet his back was slightly stiff.The young man in purple robes walked in from outside, lazily addressing him as "Your Majesty" as a mere formality before casually taking a seat opposite him. He sat with such ease, as if Emperor Wenhui were the guest, his gaze devoid of any respect or admiration.
That demeanor gave Emperor Wenhui the fleeting impression that he was nothing in the presence of this seemingly young man.
The thought lasted only a moment before Emperor Wenhui snapped back to reality, smiling at Prince Rui and saying, "I’ve been quite busy these days and haven’t had the chance to ask—how are you finding your stay here?"
There was a hint of warmth in his words. With the Qin State currently hostile toward Ming Qi, any additional trouble from Great Coolness would leave Ming Qi truly trapped between a rock and a hard place. Thus, Emperor Wenhui didn’t want relations with Great Coolness to sour—whether it meant yielding or swallowing his pride, he just needed to get through this crisis first. Everything else could wait.
That was why he was going out of his way to ingratiate himself with Prince Rui. If the people of Ming Qi saw their emperor acting this way, they would surely scoff in disdain.
Prince Rui smiled lazily and replied, "Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, I’ve been quite comfortable. Though I’ve heard Your Majesty hasn’t been faring so well these days."
Emperor Wenhui’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged as he shook his head with a bitter smile. "A failure in raising my son. I’m afraid I’ve become a laughingstock in your eyes."
"One can hardly blame Your Majesty," Prince Rui said, his tone unreadable. "After all, you have nine sons. But the Emperor of Qin is truly pitiable—coming to Ming Qi to pay tribute, only to lose both his crown prince and princess here. What an unforeseen calamity."
Emperor Wenhui’s smile grew strained.
Prince Rui wasn’t wrong. The Emperor of Qin’s insistence on the crown prince’s execution wasn’t just about seeking balance—there was another reason. Two nations had come to pay tribute: Prince Rui of Great Coolness had left unscathed, while the Qin State’s crown prince and princess had both perished. What did that imply? Was Ming Qi deliberately targeting Qin? Or was it a sign that Qin was so weak it couldn’t even protect its own crown prince and princess?
Either way, it was a massive blow to Qin’s dignity, and the Emperor of Qin was furious about it. Even if the crown prince were executed in recompense, the emperor’s wounded pride would ensure his lingering resentment toward Ming Qi for some time.
"I’m handling the matter as swiftly as possible," Emperor Wenhui said.
Prince Rui chuckled. "The Emperor of Qin won’t let this go easily."
Emperor Wenhui felt a surge of frustration. He had spoken tactfully, deliberately avoiding further discussion on the topic, yet Prince Rui—whether oblivious or intentional—kept pressing the issue, each remark cutting deeper. Emperor Wenhui knew Prince Rui wasn’t foolish enough to miss the subtext, which meant he was doing this on purpose—to provoke him.
For a moment, Emperor Wenhui wanted to storm off or lash out as he would with a disobedient minister. But Prince Rui wasn’t his subject. Though a prince, in some ways, he was even more formidable than the emperor himself.
Swallowing his anger, Emperor Wenhui stiffly changed the subject. "But I wonder—what brings you here today, Prince Rui?"Prince Rui did not speak, merely tapping his finger idly on the table. In the silence, Emperor Wenhui's heart clenched with each tap. It suddenly occurred to him that Prince Rui's visit at this moment might be to discuss something of great importance.
If Prince Rui were to bring up the cities at the border between Great Coolness and Ming Qi... How could Emperor Wenhui refuse?
His back, initially stiff, was now drenched in cold sweat. The other's silence alone weighed heavily upon him.
After a moment, Prince Rui stopped tapping. He said casually, "It's about my lifelong matter."
"What?" Emperor Wenhui was momentarily stunned by these words. Before he could process them, Prince Rui's calm voice continued.
"Your Majesty has always wished for me to settle down early. Before I came to Ming Qi, I was instructed to bring back a Royal Consort. I happen to share the same intention."
Now Emperor Wenhui understood. Prince Rui wanted to find a woman in Ming Qi? But why? Instinctively, Emperor Wenhui found it strange, suspecting a scheme, but he couldn't show it. He forced a magnanimous smile and said, "So that's it. No matter. Even heroes falter before beauty. A talented young man like Prince Rui naturally deserves a peerless beauty as his match. But may I ask which lady has caught your eye?"
Prince Rui stared at him, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes suddenly glinting with amusement. Emperor Wenhui was taken aback as the young man spoke plainly.
"Shen Miao of the Shen family."
Emperor Wenhui's smile froze.
His heart trembled with rage, wishing he could have Prince Rui dragged out and executed, but he couldn't. He could no longer maintain his facade of friendliness, his expression stiffening unbearably.
His voice hoarse, he asked, "You said... who?"
"The legitimate daughter of the Grand General of Might," Prince Rui replied. "Has Your Majesty forgotten? Not long ago, wasn't the Crown Prince planning to take her as a concubine?"
To push someone to such an extent was utterly outrageous.
Countless thoughts raced through Emperor Wenhui's mind, and in the end, he nearly let out a cold laugh.
This Prince Rui, who always seemed lazy and indifferent, who paid no heed to matters like the alliance between Ming Qi and Qin State, who went about his own business every day—turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, hiding his true intentions here.
To propose marrying the legitimate daughter of the Grand General of Might—was it Shen Miao he wanted, or the Shen family's military power?
Emperor Wenhui knew that to Great Coolness, the Shen family's military power might not mean much, as Great Coolness already had many outstanding generals. But for Ming Qi, most of its finest commanders had been dismissed years ago, and now even the Xie family was in decline. The only pillar upholding Ming Qi's prestige was the Shen family. Without them, Ming Qi would be like a tiger without claws—against Great Coolness, it wouldn't even be able to struggle before being devoured.
What a Prince Rui. What a Great Coolness.
Emperor Wenhui forced a smile and said, "Prince Rui has excellent taste. However, General Shen cherishes his daughter dearly, as everyone knows. If you insist on marrying Shen Miao, General Shen may be reluctant to let his beloved daughter marry far away to Great Coolness."
"What's the difficulty in that?" Prince Rui toyed with the ring on his finger, speaking nonchalantly. "If General Shen refuses, Your Majesty need only issue an Imperial decree."
Emperor Wenhui was stunned.Prince Rui's words continued to reach his ears: "Great Coolness and Ming Qi are currently on friendly terms. Surely His Majesty wouldn't deny me this small favor?" He stretched lazily and said indifferently, "In that case, I should report back to my imperial brother about the city matter."
Emperor Wenhui had lived his entire life, and now he finally understood what it meant to "tremble with rage."
The Shen family was like a piece of fatty meat, and Prince Rui wasn't just trying to snatch it—he wanted the owners to hand it over willingly.
If he were to issue an imperial decree, even if Shen Xin remained in Ming Qi out of loyalty, he would surely bear resentment—after all, it would be the emperor who decreed Shen Miao's distant marriage.
But if he refused to issue the decree... Emperor Wenhui glanced at the man opposite him. Though the mask obscured his expression, there was an undeniable sense that beneath that lazy, indifferent exterior lay formidable tactics. With the alliance between Ming Qi and Qin State already precarious, provoking Great Coolness would be unwise.
Prince Rui had presented him with an unsolvable dilemma—no matter what choice he made, he would lose.
The man's gaze rested on Emperor Wenhui like a cat toying with a trapped mouse. He asked languidly, "Has Your Majesty made up his mind?"
Emperor Wenhui suppressed his anger. Since ascending the throne, he had handled countless difficult situations, but never one as humiliating as this. Had anyone ever dared to treat him with such insolence?
For the first time in his life, Emperor Wenhui regretted his past actions—consolidating military power by suppressing aristocratic families. If Ming Qi had more fierce generals like Shen Xin, perhaps they wouldn't have to grovel before Great Coolness like this.
But there was no cure for regret.
Seeing no response, Prince Rui smiled and stood. "I understand," he said, making as if to leave.
"Wait!" Emperor Wenhui called out.
Prince Rui paused and chuckled. "Your Majesty must think carefully. A ruler's word is unbreakable."
"Ming Qi and Great Coolness are allies. Naturally, I wish to facilitate this happy union." Emperor Wenhui's smile was uglier than a grimace. "If the young lady of the Shen family marries Prince Rui, it would be her good fortune. I am pleased to see it happen. Rest assured, I will draft the decree today and announce it in court in a few days." He hesitated before forcing out the words through gritted teeth: "As for the matter of the cities..."
"Consider them a gift to Your Majesty." Prince Rui smiled and left in high spirits.
Once Prince Rui was gone, Emperor Wenhui collapsed into his chair. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, yet his face burned crimson.
Fury, shame, humiliation, and resentment twisted his features—yet he was powerless to change anything.
This was perhaps the most mortifying thing in the world: to be a sovereign, a Son of Heaven, yet forced to admit his own helplessness.
Nearby, Gao Gonggong didn't dare breathe too loudly. Witnessing an emperor cornered like this was terrifying for a servant.
"Bring me paper and brush," Emperor Wenhui said after a long silence.
Gao Gonggong hurried to comply.
Emperor Wenhui's gaze darkened. Though Prince Rui had temporarily set aside the city matter, it was only bought with this marriage alliance. How long this peace would last, no one knew. Most importantly, once Shen Miao married Prince Rui, even if Shen Xin remained in Ming Qi, Emperor Wenhui could never trust him again.Previously, although Emperor Wenhui had suppressed Shen Xin, it was only out of fear that Shen Xin's achievements might overshadow the throne. Yet, the Grand General of Might had generations of loyal service, and Emperor Wenhui still trusted Shen Xin's loyalty. However, with Shen Miao in Great Coolness, if Great Coolness used her as leverage to coerce Shen Xin, who knew what Shen Xin might do?
Shen Xin was now a useless pawn, and the situation in Ming Qi would become even more precarious. To guard against Great Coolness, Ming Qi urgently needed to restore its alliance with Qin State. Only by joining forces could the two nations stand a chance.
Qin State was still furious with Ming Qi over the incidents involving Huangfu Hao and Ming An Princess, so Ming Qi had to demonstrate sincerity.
The Crown Prince had to die.
Emperor Wenhui closed his eyes.
...
To everyone's surprise, Emperor Wenhui's decree condemning the Crown Prince came swiftly and abruptly, leaving no time for deliberation. The Crown Prince committed suicide in prison.
Whether it was truly suicide was clear to those with discerning eyes. It was merely to preserve the Crown Prince's dignity—after all, the heir apparent could not meet the same fate as a common criminal, executed publicly for the crime of assassinating another nation's crown prince. Such an outcome would strip the Ming Qi royal family of its dignity overnight.
The common people were easily fooled, but officials understood the truth. Who could say whether the Crown Prince had truly taken his own life? The royal family always preferred a dignified pretext, even if the reality was sordid.
When news of the Crown Prince's suicide spread, the Empress reportedly caused a scene before falling gravely ill. She secluded herself in Kunning Palace to recuperate.
The imperial consorts, however, were all on edge. How could the Empress suddenly fall so ill? It was simply because the Crown Prince had fallen. With him gone, the Empress had lost her support in her later years, and her position was now uncertain. Grieving the loss of her beloved son, she might harbor resentment toward Emperor Wenhui, who would naturally take precautions. Whether she was truly ill or under house arrest, only they knew.
If the Empress were to fall as well, who would become the next ruler of the inner palace? The odds seemed highest for Consort Xu, favored by Emperor Wenhui and mother to two princes. Prince Zhou and Prince Jing were locked in a life-and-death struggle with Prince Li's faction, but Prince Li lacked a favored imperial mother.
Prince Zhou and Prince Jing had the advantage of timing, terrain, and popular support.
Thus, the consorts all tread carefully, knowing that any misstep could lead to disaster—either being used as pawns or caught in a trap.
As for the Huangfu Hao incident, aside from the Crown Prince and the Empress, all those implicated suffered consequences. The hardest hit was the household of Assistant Minister Wang.
It was the young master of the Wang family who had proposed visiting the incense shop that day, accompanied by his wife. Who could have foreseen Huangfu Hao's bloody demise at Yifeng Pavilion? Wang Bi and Shen Dongling were inevitably implicated.
Yet, their conviction was not for that crime.
Assistant Minister Wang was secretly accused of trafficking in illegal salt—a grave offense that implicated the entire Wang household. Wang Bi and Shen Dongling were sentenced to execution, while the other male members of the Wang family were exiled, and the women were consigned to military brothels on the frontier.
Those with sharp eyes could see that Emperor Wenhui's actions were driven by rage, as if he were venting his frustrations on others. But the emperor's mind was always inscrutable. Though the court officials were puzzled, they merely carried out his orders.Shen Miao sipped her tea while listening to Jing Zhe recount the events of the past few days. Beside her, Luo Tan kept stuffing snowflake candies into her mouth.
The snowflake candies had been brought in by Cong Yang, who claimed they were made by a famous pastry chef from Great Coolness—something only the imperial family of Great Coolness could enjoy. Shen Miao hadn’t paid much attention, but Luo Tan had discovered them and, after tasting them once, was utterly delighted. She eagerly asked Shen Miao where they had been bought, forcing Shen Miao to mumble some vague response.
“The matter with the Qin Crown Prince has caused quite a stir,” Luo Tan said between bites. “So many people were dragged down with him—even trading a crown prince wouldn’t be enough to make up for it.” Her voice grew quieter toward the end, as if afraid of being overheard.
Shen Miao smiled faintly but said nothing, though inwardly, she was also startled by Emperor Wenhui’s ruthlessness and decisiveness.
Indeed, like father, like son. Back then, Fu Xiuyi had been willing to eradicate the Shen family without a second thought, showing no regard for the lives of Fu Ming and Wan Yu. She had wondered how such a heartless person could exist. Now, it seemed Fu Xiuyi’s actions were no different from Emperor Wenhui’s.
In the eyes of the Fu family, bonds of kinship, love, or friendship were unreliable. The only thing worth pursuing in life was power and dominion. To secure their position, sacrificing a son meant nothing—after all, there would always be other women to bear them more children.
This was likely the inherent treachery ingrained in the Fu family’s nature.
Luo Tan eyed the dwindling pile of snowflake candies on the plate and counted on her fingers. “Aunt and Uncle have had some, Cousin Qiu has too—only Brother Ling hasn’t had any yet. Should we save these for him?” She looked at Shen Miao.
Naturally, Shen Miao wouldn’t fuss over a few sweets and nodded in agreement.
“If only you could remember where you bought these snowflake candies,” Luo Tan sighed regretfully. “I’ve tried all the pastries in Xiaochun City and nearly every kind in Fixed Capital, but this is the first time I’ve tasted something so delicious. Even if you can’t recall, I’ll have someone look for the shop tomorrow—I must find it!”
Shen Miao remained silent. These were made by Great Coolness’ imperial chefs. Even if Luo Tan turned all of Fixed Capital upside down, she wouldn’t find this “shop.” Shen Miao almost regretted saying it was from a shop—she should have just claimed it was from a random street vendor.
“Brother Ling loves pastries too—he’d definitely like these,” Luo Tan added before suddenly remembering something. “Though he’s been acting a bit strange these past few days.”
“How so?” Shen Miao asked. Her daily concerns lay elsewhere, so she truly hadn’t noticed any changes in Luo Ling.
“Aside from going to the Ministry of War, he hardly leaves his quarters after returning home—just practices martial arts in the courtyard,” Luo Tan mused, resting her chin on her hand. “Brother Ling was never this hard on himself before. And when I try to talk to him these days, he seems disinterested, as if something’s weighing on him.” She turned to Shen Miao. “Little cousin, you’re clever—do you know what’s wrong with him?”
“I’m not with him every moment of the day—how would I know what he’s thinking?” Shen Miao replied. Seeing Luo Tan’s worried expression, she comforted her, “Don’t fret. It’s probably just the Ministry of War’s year-end workload. He’ll be fine once this busy period passes.”Luo Tan nodded in agreement. Just as they were speaking, Shen Qiu and Luo Ling walked in one after the other from outside. Seeing both of them in the main hall, Luo Tan greeted them, saying, "Cousin Qiu, Brother Ling, come have some snowflake candy."
Luo Ling entered the room and first glanced at Shen Miao, who was smiling at Shen Qiu. His gaze dimmed slightly as he walked over and sat down on the side.
Shen Qiu unceremoniously grabbed a piece of snowflake candy and stuffed it into his mouth, asking, "What brings you two here with such leisure today?"
Luo Tan was cheerfully bantering with Shen Qiu when they heard the servants outside announce the return of Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan.
Shen Qiu said, "Perfect timing. Now that Father and Mother are back, we can have dinner."
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan entered from outside, but this time, even the usually carefree Luo Tan noticed something was amiss.
Shen Xin's face was ashen, his expression extremely grim, while Luo Xueyan also appeared furious. Normally, even if they encountered frustrations outside, the couple never showed it in front of their children. Moreover, both were naturally open-minded people who were rarely provoked to anger.
But today, they clearly looked absolutely livid.
The servants accompanying Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan didn't dare to breathe too loudly, bowing their heads before quietly retreating.
As cousins, Luo Tan and Luo Ling were puzzled but felt it inappropriate to ask. Shen Qiu wanted to inquire, but seeing his father's murderous glare that seemed to say "ask and die," he hesitated and held his tongue.
In the end, it was Shen Miao who spoke first. Looking at Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, she smiled and asked, "Father, Mother, why do you both look so unhappy? Did something unpleasant happen outside?"
The moment Shen Miao spoke, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan simultaneously turned to look at her. Shen Xin's gaze was a turbulent mix of regret, anger, and bitterness, while Luo Xueyan's eyes held deep guilt and helplessness.
Shen Miao's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly realized that whatever had caused her parents to react this way must be related to her.
Luo Xueyan took a deep breath and forced a smile. "It's nothing, just some court matters. Jiaojiao, you must be hungry—let's eat first."
But the smile was so strained that even Luo Tan's expression turned grave.
What could be so serious that even the ever-cheerful, fearless Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan felt the need to hide it? Was the situation truly that dire?
Shen Miao didn't respond, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, simply watching her parents. Her stance made it clear she wanted an explanation—she didn't believe Luo Xueyan's deflection at all.
Shen Qiu felt a momentary daze, as if seeing the Shen Miao from years ago. Back then, she had been spoiled and distant from them, closer to the second and third branches of the family. Whenever she wanted something from Shen Xin, she would stand before them in stubborn silence.
In truth, though Shen Miao seemed to have changed a lot since then, some habits in her bones remained the same.
Shen Xin said, "Jiaojiao, be good." He rarely spoke sternly to Shen Miao—in the past, such severity would have made her cry.
Luo Ling glanced at her worriedly.
Shen Miao's expression remained unchanged, still calm and composed. She said, "Why won't Father and Mother tell me the truth? If it's something I can't solve, sharing it would at least let us bear it together. If I can solve it, even better. Keeping it to yourselves only creates distance. I'm not a child anymore—like Elder Brother, I'm also part of the Shen family."
Shen Xin's lips moved slightly, but he still didn't speak.
Shen Miao gazed at him, her eyes as clear as a mountain stream. Under such a gaze, it was impossible not to tell her the truth. She added, "Besides, this matter concerns me, doesn't it?"
Luo Xueyan started violently. Luo Tan and Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao in astonishment, while Shen Qiu also appeared confused.
Hearing this, Shen Xin stared at Shen Miao for a long moment before finally letting out a deep sigh. With a bitter smile, he said, "At court today, His Majesty issued an Imperial decree."
"It's a marriage decree," he said with difficulty. "For you... and Prince Rui."
Author's Note:
Are you all stockpiling chapters lately? TOT~ It's so cold (quiet) I can't even hype myself up anymore :3ゝ∠
OpenNovel