The scene within Tangyi City was horrifying. Most of the soldiers in the city were garrison troops sent by the princely estate, while the rest were forces recruited by the Zhang family. Zhang Fengtong’s two brothers were spreading rumors everywhere, claiming that the imperial court had just suffered a crushing defeat beyond the frontier, its vital essence severely depleted. They boasted that reinforcements were on their way and demanded everyone defend the city with their lives. If they succeeded in capturing the imperial capital in the future, each would be rewarded with titles and ranks. But if the city fell before reinforcements arrived, they would face massacre, with no place to bury their dead.
Throughout the streets and alleys, corpses of soldiers who had died in the recent internal strife lay haphazardly, left unattended and uncollected. Some had already begun to rot, piled against walls and carelessly covered with straw or tattered mats. The soldiers appeared to have gone days without a proper meal, their eyes bloodshot, filled with fear and the hysterical glare of cornered beasts. The air reeked of the foul stench of festering wounds and blood.
The Changle Wang’s estate was now occupied by Xiao Yintang. The princely mansion was vast, with lavish decorations in both its front courtyards and rear gardens. Beautiful maids stood with hands clasped, silently awaiting orders. Inside and outside its gates were like two different worlds.
As soon as Jiafu entered, she spotted the figure of a woman in ornate robes standing just beyond the doorway. Her posture was unnaturally straight—so rigid it seemed almost stiff.
This woman was Zhang Fengtong.
Years had changed her appearance drastically. The plump, radiant face Jiafu remembered was gone. Now she was gaunt, her twenty-something years looking more like middle age. Her expression, once composed and dignified, had vanished, replaced by undisguised bitterness and sharpness, all etched into her protruding cheekbones and dull, shadowed gaze.
She stared fixedly at Jiafu, her eyes never leaving her from the moment she entered. Then, abruptly, her pupils flickered slightly, shifting toward Xiao Yintang.
Xiao Yintang acted as though he hadn’t noticed her, walking past her without pause as he led Jiafu inside and pushed open a door.
Slowly, Jiafu removed her cloak and turned to face Xiao Yintang, who had followed her in.
Xiao Yintang said nothing, merely studying her for a moment, his eyes glinting. Then he took a step forward, advancing toward her slowly.
Jiafu didn’t retreat, meeting his gaze squarely. "Xiao Yintang, if I’m not mistaken, the reason you summoned me now is simply to use me as leverage against my husband. Even if you get your way—even if your father passes the throne to you—you still fear him. Now that I’m here, I’m not afraid to die. Which serves you better: a living me or a dead one? You know the answer better than I do."
Xiao Yintang stopped before her, locking eyes with her for a long moment before his gaze gradually cooled. "If you knew, why come? What did my father say?"
"He fell ill. When I left, he hadn’t yet awakened—" Jiafu’s eyes bore into his. "How did you know I was in the capital? If I hadn’t arrived within ten days, would you really have risked mutual destruction?"
"Was it so hard to guess you were in the palace? During the imperial birthday celebrations, my father carried a child up to the Noon Gate Tower—did you think I wouldn’t recognize who that child was? The so-called descendant of the divine maiden…"
He let out a cold laugh."He intends to pass the throne to Pei You'an's son! Since that child has entered the palace, I assume you must be nearby as well. Driven to such extremes, what do I have left to lose? I was born the Crown Prince, yet my father has been so biased, and Pei You'an has harmed me deeply. During those years imprisoned behind high walls, I wept blood day and night, living a life worse than death! Rather than endure such a wretched existence, I might as well stake everything today!"
"If I hadn't come, and General Liu breached the city, how would you have spread the news? Who in the world would believe your words?"
"Let me be frank with you—I knew my father wouldn't agree easily. I can't hold this city for long. Since I made my declaration, I've prepared thoroughly. Today marks the tenth day. I've already arranged for people to spread the news if you didn't come or if word of my death got out. Within days, every imperial clan member and regional prince would receive the message!"
His expression grew increasingly agitated, his cheeks flushing with excitement. "Those imperial clansmen and princes—over the years, stripped of land and power, each one cornered by my father—what do you think they'll do once they learn the emperor had an illicit affair with the Tianxi Empress, and that Pei You'an is their bastard son? What does one fake Xiao Yu matter? Soon, there'll be fake Xiao Yus everywhere! As long as my father remains on the throne, this empire will never know peace! Even in death, his scandal with the empress will be known to all! By then, let's see how Pei You'an dares to live on shamelessly!"
He laughed wildly. "My death means nothing—I want my father and Pei You'an to suffer a fate worse than death! Even in death, they'll find no peace!"
Even before coming, Jiafu had anticipated that, based on her past life's understanding of Xiao Yintang's obsessive nature, the letter's threats wouldn't be empty.
Yet hearing such words from him now sent an uncontrollable chill through her.
She stared at the nearly deranged man before her, her back drenched in cold sweat, her heart pounding so violently it felt ready to leap from her throat.
"Xiao Yintang, how do you know this? Who else knows besides you?"
Xiao Yintang stopped laughing, fixing his gaze on Jiafu. A slow, eerie smile curled his lips, sending shivers down her spine. "A'fu, truthfully, your coming here today surprised me. Are you probing for information? You disappoint me. Don't you know? In this life, you were destined to be my woman, Xiao Yintang's, and I was meant to rule this empire. But since you're here now, I won't hold it against you..."
His eyes softened unexpectedly as he gazed at her, his voice tender. "A'fu, from now on, forget Pei You'an. Stay by my side peacefully, won't you?"
A wave of terror washed over Jiafu. In an instant, everything became clear.
From the moment Xiao Yintang first called her "A'fu," that familiar tone had reminded her of her past life.
Her eyes widened in horror as she stared at the man before her.
So he was just like her!"A'fu, you don't know this, but in our past life, you were already mine, Xiao Yintang's woman. In this life, if I can become emperor again, you will be my lucky star. I will fulfill my promise to you—this time, I will make you my empress. I'll treat you well, so very well..."
He reached out toward Jiafu, slowly advancing.
Jiafu retreated, step after step, until her back met the wall with nowhere left to go. Suddenly, she spoke coldly: "Xiao Yintang, in our past life, you imprisoned me, leaving me without name or status, hidden from the world. You died in this very frontier war—wounded and gone—yet still you wouldn't let me go, demanding I follow you in death. Even that I could bear, but do you know how I truly died? I was still alive when they nailed me into the coffin!"
Xiao Yintang froze mid-step, the tenderness in his eyes vanishing, replaced by shock and horror.
"No need to look so surprised. You remember our past life, and so do I."
After a long pause, Xiao Yintang finally seemed to process her words, his face twisting with rage: "That vile woman—how dare she treat you like that! Once I break free, I'll avenge you. I won't let her get away with this! Whatever she did to you, I'll repay her in kind!"
Jiafu shook her head. "I'd long since stopped caring about our past life. I only ask you this: Was it your doing that Pei You'an died in Suyeh City? After his death, you ascended the throne, and the very next year, this frontier war began. You envied him—even after his death, even as emperor, his legacy still overshadowed you. To prove to your ministers and the world that you were his equal, you led the campaign yourself. Yet heaven showed you no mercy, and you died in that war. Call it karma."
"I remember clearly—even on your deathbed, you trembled in fear of his spirit. That was your past life, and it seems this one is no different. I'm just a woman who came here alone, ready to risk everything, even death. But you, Xiao Yintang—a man who claims to care for me—what have you ever done besides threaten me?"
Xiao Yintang's gaze flickered with a mix of astonishment and shame, his expression cooling into silence.
After staring at Jiafu for a long moment, he finally spoke coldly: "I am the true Son of Heaven. He was never my match before, and in this life, he won't find it so easy to best me either!"
With that, he turned and left, locking the door behind him.
As night fell, a maidservant came to attend to Jiafu, but Xiao Yintang himself did not reappear, nor was Zhang Fengtong seen. Three days passed with Jiafu confined to that room, utterly unaware of events outside. On the third midnight, as she lay dressed on the bed, eyes closed in restless thought, a sudden commotion erupted outside—shouts piercing the silent night.
Jiafu scrambled from the bed and rushed to the window. Through the nailed-shut gaps, she saw flames erupting near the manor's main gate. Another wave of clamoring voices followed, as if someone was forcing their way inside.Jiafu quickly glanced around, plucked a candle from its holder, and gripped the sharp-tipped brass candlestick she had noticed earlier, concealing its base within her sleeve. No sooner had she hidden it than hurried footsteps echoed outside. The locked door was kicked open by Xiao Yintang, who strode in with a dark expression. Spotting Jiafu cowering in the corner, he seized her arm and dragged her swiftly toward the rear courtyard.
Before the imperial troops could breach the city, chaos had erupted within. Over the past two days, rumors had spread like wildfire—claims of a great victory beyond the frontier and the imminent arrival of heavy reinforcements. The tales of relief forces within the city were mere fabrications, sowing panic among the populace. Even the Zhang brothers couldn’t quell the unrest. Tonight, a band of starving guards from the prince’s mansion had mutinied, killing one of Zhang Fengtong’s brothers and storming the residence. Another brother now led his men in desperate resistance, but the situation had spiraled beyond control.
Without a word, Xiao Yintang hauled the stumbling Jiafu toward the rear courtyard. They passed through a moon gate and reached a rockery. With a forceful shove, he revealed a hidden door behind it. Pushing against it yielded no result—a thick iron chain barred the way. Enraged, Xiao Yintang kicked the door repeatedly, but it held firm. Drawing his sword, he hacked at the chain, sparks flying in the darkness.
"Crown Prince, where do you think you're going?"
A voice rang out behind them.
Jiafu turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows of a grove. Moonlight illuminated Zhang Fengtong’s face. She still wore her resplendent palace robes and a phoenix crown that glimmered under the night sky. Her eyes fixed on Xiao Yintang, her expression was a chilling blend of amusement and malice.
Xiao Yintang spared her a glance before redoubling his efforts to sever the chain. With a metallic clang, his sword snapped in two.
"You think to escape through this secret passage and rise again? That chain is forged of black gold—you’ll never break it," Zhang Fengtong said with a smile.
Xiao Yintang roared, "So it was your doing, you wretched woman! Incapable of success, yet adept at sabotage!"
He whirled around and advanced on her, seizing her collar.
"The key!" he demanded.
Suddenly, his body stiffened as if struck by an invisible blow. He hunched over slowly, then collapsed to his knees with a grunt.
Zhang Fengtong withdrew the dagger she had plunged into his abdomen.
Xiao Yintang crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach in agony, his gaze one of stunned betrayal.
"You... treacherous..."
Zhang Fengtong stepped back, watching his writhing form with a cold laugh. "Crown Prince, since our marriage, I’ve given you my all—never once failing you. After your downfall, I agonized day and night. To secure your rescue, I even sacrificed my own daughter. I feigned madness, swallowed filth to maintain the ruse. Once free of the palace, I persuaded my family to scheme on your behalf until you were liberated. And how did you repay me? On the word of that woman’s lies, you sought to bury me alive? To make her your queen? How heartless you are!"She laughed mockingly, "Let me tell you the truth—all the rumors spreading through the city these past few days were my doing! You want me dead? How could I let you live alone? If we must die, let us all perish together!"
With that, she turned away from Xiao Yintang and strode toward Jiafu, the dagger in her hand glinting coldly.
Jiafu was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Seeing Zhang Fengtong approach her with eyes gleaming like a specter, she turned and fled, only to find the moon gate she had just passed through now locked by Zhang Fengtong, leaving her with no escape.
Zhang Fengtong was already upon her, raising the dagger to strike.
Clutching the candlestick in her hand, Jiafu flipped it around and swung it wildly before Zhang Fengtong could reach her. Caught off guard, Zhang Fengtong shrieked in pain as the sharp edge of the candlestick slashed her wrist, blood instantly gushing out.
"You wretch! You vile wretch! I will kill you!"
Clutching her injured hand, Zhang Fengtong flew into a rage, her phoenix crown tilting askew. Yet, with terrifying ferocity, she still gripped the dagger tightly, staggering forward to pursue Jiafu.
Terrified, Jiafu could only desperately evade her around the courtyard, finally hiding in a hollow within the winding rockery under the cover of darkness.
"Come out, you wretch!"
Zhang Fengtong, now deranged, screamed hoarsely while slashing wildly at bushes and stones with her dagger, the metallic clangs ringing through the night.
Jiafu held her breath, not daring to move.
"Wretch! Wretch!"
Zhang Fengtong's voice drew nearer and nearer. Just as Jiafu, trembling with fear, was about to flee again, a sudden scream pierced the air.
Peering through the crevices of the rockery, Jiafu saw Xiao Yintang—who had somehow risen from the ground—standing behind Zhang Fengtong. The broken sword in his hand plunged straight through her back, emerging from her chest.
Zhang Fengtong froze, the dagger slipping from her grasp and clattering to the ground.
Moonlight illuminated her twisted face, her eyes wide and unseeing. Slowly, she turned, murmuring faintly, "Crown Prince, you..."
Xiao Yintang's expression was icy as he yanked the broken sword free. Zhang Fengtong collapsed at his feet, her struggles gradually ceasing, one hand still clutching his ankle in a death grip.
Disgusted, Xiao Yintang shook her off and tore a strip from his robe to bind the wound on his abdomen. Scanning the surroundings, he called out, "A'fu, where are you? Come out. I'll take you away from here."
Suddenly, the distant clamor of battle rose again, flames leaping into the sky as half the manor burned.
Xiao Yintang grew restless, continuing his search as he called out, "A'fu! You can't hide! If you don't come out now, don't blame me for what happens when I find you..."
His footsteps drew closer.
Jiafu curled into a tight ball in the hollow, not daring to breathe.
Just then, rapid footsteps echoed outside the moon gate, followed by Liu Jiushao's voice: "Deposed Crown Prince! You're surrounded by my men! Surrender now, and you might still have a chance to live!"Xiao Yintang's figure froze, the broken sword pressed against a rockery. Slowly, he turned his head, staring fixedly at the torchlight outside the door. After a dazed moment, he suddenly burst into laughter: "Liu Jiushao, what kind of thing are you? How dare you speak to me? I am the Crown Prince! Go summon the Emperor! If he comes in person, I'll submit to whatever punishment he decrees! Otherwise, do you know who that woman sent into the city the other day is? She's in my hands now—if I die with her, it's no loss!"
A series of banging sounds came from beyond the moon gate as the door was forcibly hacked open. Under the illumination of a row of torches, Xiao Yintang saw a simple sedan chair parked outside, with the eunuch Li Yuangui standing beside it.
The guards retreated one after another, Liu Jiushao also withdrew, until only Li Yuangui remained.
Li Yuangui lifted the sedan curtain, and from within, a figure slowly emerged—dressed in plain blue clothes and cloth shoes, his gaze fixed on the stunned Xiao Yintang as he stepped inside, one slow step at a time.
Xiao Lie had arrived.
"Wretched beast! Kneel before your Emperor!" Xiao Lie's eyes bore into Xiao Yintang, his authority palpable even without anger, his voice deep and commanding.
Xiao Yintang's eyes widened, his hands trembling until, with a clang, the broken sword fell to the ground. Slowly, he knelt.
"Imperial Father—" His voice choked with tears.
"You unfilial son! First, you attempted regicide, yet I spared your life out of paternal mercy. Still, your treacherous heart remained, and you conspired with outsiders to rebel. Even that I might have overlooked, but today you actually..." Xiao Lie's words trailed off.
At first, Xiao Yintang kept his head lowered, but gradually, he raised it, teeth clenched. "Imperial Father's reprimand is just. But why not admit your own favoritism? Pei You'an is your son—am I not? You think only of him, giving him everything good! It was I who wanted Zhen first—you had already agreed! Yet the moment Pei You'an spoke, you changed your mind! Imperial Father, with such blatant partiality, how could there be any place for me in your heart?"
Xiao Lie replied coldly, "The greedy mind of a snake trying to swallow an elephant—that describes you perfectly! At the beginning of my reign, I named you Crown Prince. Had you remained dutiful, why would I have considered deposing you? After stripping you of your title, I sent you back to our ancestral lands in Geng Province, hoping you would reflect on your mistakes. Instead, you remained unrepentant, and now you've brought this calamity upon yourself. What can Heaven do with such willful self-destruction?"
Xiao Yintang stared fixedly at Xiao Lie. "Imperial Father, are you sentencing your son to death?"
Xiao Lie closed his eyes.
Tears welling in his eyes, Xiao Yintang crawled forward on his knees, prostrating himself on the ground. After a moment of anguished weeping, he suddenly lifted his head and roared, "Imperial Father, I was born into the imperial family—I was meant to be Emperor! I refuse to accept this! I refuse—"
He lunged violently toward Xiao Lie, but before he could reach him, Li Yuangui swiftly drew his blade. With a dull thud, the sword plunged into Xiao Yintang's chest.
Xiao Yintang's tall frame collapsed soundlessly to the ground. His body convulsed briefly before stilling, blood slowly seeping from his mouth, his eyes remaining wide open in death.
The vast courtyard fell into utter silence. Jiafu, still hidden in the rockery cave, could hear her own heart pounding like thunder.
Li Yuangui knelt before Xiao Lie.
Xiao Lie slowly opened his eyes, his expression desolate, refusing to look at Xiao Yintang's corpse on the ground. Softly, he murmured, "Find Zhen... then we return..."He turned around and slowly walked forward, stopping at the arched gate before leaning weakly against the doorframe, his body gradually tilting to one side.
The rebellion led by Prince Changle, which had lasted for over half a year, was finally quelled.
When the emperor left the capital, Imperial Physician Hu accompanied the imperial procession. On his recommendation, the entourage secretly stayed in Tangyi for several days to recuperate, preparing to return to the capital tomorrow.
In the evening, Jiafu brought in medicine and, along with a palace attendant, helped the emperor take it. Li Yuangui hurried in, a faint hint of joy on his face, and whispered to the emperor, "This servant has just received word that we have traced the remnants of the deposed Crown Prince’s faction, who were hidden away months ago, through the confessions of the Zhang brothers. All have been captured without exception, and the secret guards are closely monitoring all princely residences. Everything is under control."
After delivering his report, Li Yuangui glanced at Jiafu, nodding and smiling slightly at her before stepping aside.
The emperor seemed to have fallen asleep.
Jiafu closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly, and was about to quietly withdraw when she suddenly heard the emperor call her name, making her halt in her steps.
The emperor opened his eyes, gazing at the golden rays of the setting sun filtering through the window lattice. After a moment, he said, "You'an will likely arrive here soon as well. You need not accompany me tomorrow; stay here and wait for him. When you see him, tell him that Xiao Yu has been imprisoned on Golden Dragon Island these past few years. If he wishes to go, he may do so at any time."
Having spoken, the emperor closed his eyes once more.
Jiafu slowly knelt down and solemnly kowtowed to the emperor on the bed.
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