“I…”
“Go quickly. There’s no need to thank me.” Gu Changze cut her off before she could finish.
A moment later, Xie Yao’s carriage shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Behind him, a guard lowered his head and asked Gu Changze, “Your Highness’s condition seems to have worsened again. Will you still be going to see Physician Feng tonight?”
The bright moonlight illuminated Gu Changze’s face. He idly turned the jade pendant in his hand, and the smile on his face slowly faded away.
“What do you think? Someone has bullied one of my people. If I don’t return the favor, wouldn’t that be unacceptable?”
Carrying Gu Changze’s token, Xie Yao arrived at the city gate.
The deputy commander, Madam Xiao’s nephew, had initially acted arrogantly and refused to let her enter. The instant Xie Yao produced the token, however, his swagger vanished completely.
After her carriage passed through the gate, the deputy commander spat on the ground behind her and cursed, “That little bitch sure knows how to seduce people. I was planning to keep her stranded outside all night and let her freeze to death. Would’ve saved us the trouble. Looks like she’s lucky this time.”
When the carriage reached the Prince’s Manor, Xie Yao jumped down and hurried inside, worried.
“How is she?”
“This servant has already sent people to fetch a physician. But the young miss’s condition isn’t looking good. The coughing up blood has finally stopped, but she’s now unconscious.”
“How were you looking after her? If someone wanted to beat her, you simply let them?”
A trace of cold anger tinged Xie Yao’s usually gentle voice, causing the steward’s face to pale with fear.
“At the time, this servant was going over the accounts in the storeroom. After Madam Cao arrived, she insisted on entering your room. The young miss happened to come looking for you and saw Madam Cao trying on your belongings. She remarked that taking things without permission was no different from theft. Madam Cao felt humiliated by the comment and, claiming the young miss had offended her, ordered people to beat her.”
Xie Yao’s cousin, Xie Yan, had lost her mother earlier that year. She was subsequently raised by her stepmother, who treated her poorly and fed her nothing but leftovers every day.
The previous winter, Xie Yan was so hungry that she sneaked out in the middle of the night to look for food. She accidentally missed her footing and fell onto a stone by the roadside. Xie Yao happened to pass by, rescued her, and from then on the two cousins began spending much more time together.
Yet Xie Yao was still an outsider to that household and could not easily interfere in their family affairs. All she could do was secretly help Xie Yan whenever she could.
Xie Yan was young and timid. Combined with her stepmother’s dislike and her branch’s low status within the clan, Madam Cao had the perfect excuse to vent her humiliation and anger.
With a grim expression, Xie Yao entered the inner chamber and immediately saw the petite figure lying motionless on the couch.
Xie Yan was still muttering incoherently in her delirium. When Xie Yao lifted the blanket, she was startled by the wounds covering the girl’s back. “Sister… Sister…”
Hearing Xie Yao’s voice, Xie Yan struggled to open her eyes. Barely clinging to consciousness, she called out weakly. “She took your things. I couldn’t bear it… I…”
The obedient little girl lay against the pillow beside Xie Yao, her palm-sized face flushed a feverish red.
She was still such a small child, yet she had suffered so many blows. Xie Yao’s heart ached for her. Quickly, she soothed her with a few gentle words and wiped the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief.
Afraid of causing death, Madam Cao had shown some restraint when administering the punishment. But Xie Yan’s constitution had always been frail, and naturally she could not withstand it.
“The physician prescribed some medicine and instructed that it be decocted for the young miss. He also left an ointment for her wounds…”
“Go fetch the Yuming Ointment from my room.” Xie Yao interrupted him, gently squeezing Xie Yan’s small hand as she comforted her.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore. Your sister has already called a physician to treat you.”
“This is actually the second matter this servant intended to report to you, Miss.” The steward lowered his head even further.
“While taking inventory of the storeroom today, this servant discovered that a month ago, when you fell gravely ill and remained unconscious in bed for three full days, your aunt took away the title deeds to the thirty estates and farms left behind by the Princess Consort, claiming she would safeguard them.”
“I heard that Madam Cao reprimanded several maids and forbade them from informing you. This servant has already had those maids bound and questioned about the matter.”
By the time she heard this, Xie Yao’s expression had turned decidedly unpleasant. “Is there anything else?”
She knew that if Madam Cao had dared to take something, she certainly would not have stopped at just thirty title deeds.
Sure enough, after glancing at her, the steward continued, “There is also the Yuming Ointment from the storeroom. And the treasured inkstone that our late prince obtained last year. Madam Cao said that the young master of the Ming family will be sitting for the Spring Examination this year. Since no one is using the inkstone anyway, she thought it might as well be taken back for him to use rather than go to waste.”
That inkstone had been her father’s prized possession. After his death, she had carefully preserved it in the study. She had never imagined that while she lay unconscious for several days, the manor would descend into such chaos.
Xie Yao was so angry she almost laughed. She had thought Madam Cao’s shameless request a few nights ago was the first time she had spoken of such things. Who would have guessed she had already looted the place several times and still had the nerve to ask for more?
What did she take the Prince Xie’s Manor for? The Ming family’s private treasury?
When Prince Xie and his wife died, the Ming family had ignored her for three whole months, and she had endured it. When her engagement was broken off, they had been eager to distance themselves from her, only to come fawning back later, and she had said nothing. But now they had stolen the Xie family’s possessions and beaten one of her people.
Did they really think Xie Yao was made of clay, with no temper at all?
Xie Yao sprang to her feet. “You will remain here and take good care of the young miss. As for your negligence, I will settle accounts with you when I return. Qingyu, come with me. We’re going to pay a visit to my aunt.”
Late that night, the gates of the Ming residence were pounded open.
Madam Cao, still bleary-eyed from sleep, was summoned from her bed. The moment she saw the person seated in the main hall of the central courtyard, she became more than half awake. Even when she spoke, her voice lacked its usual confidence.
“Whatever is the matter, Yao’er? Why have you come over so late at night?”
“It is only the Hour of Xu. Yet Aunt has already gone to bed so early. You must be in an excellent mood today. Is it because you managed to take something from the Xie Manor that pleased you? Or because you had one of our people punished and enjoyed throwing your weight around?”
Xie Yao was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with Madam Cao. Smiling faintly, she got straight to the point, every word concealing a barb beneath its softness.
Madam Cao’s heart immediately skipped a beat. Noticing the curious looks from everyone in the courtyard, her face grew hot with embarrassment.
“What are you talking about? Why would your aunt take your things?”
“In early February, while I was unconscious at home, Aunt took away the title deeds from my mother’s dowry and several other belongings under the pretense of safeguarding them. If the Ming family were truly in such desperate need, all you had to do was ask. Whether by request or demand, would I really have refused? But surely it should never have come to secretly taking them without even informing me.”
With a small smile, Xie Yao rose.
Already guilty, Madam Cao instinctively took several steps backward. “Yao’er, don’t listen to their nonsense and let it damage the affection between our families. Whoever is spreading malicious rumors and stirring up trouble should be dragged out and beaten to death. As your elder, how could I possibly take your belongings without permission?”
Her words sounded righteous enough, but Xie Yao paid them no heed and continued walking toward her.
Madam Cao retreated another two steps, her confidence rapidly evaporating. “You…”
“I would like to believe Aunt hasn’t been taking my things. But the hairpin you took from the Xie family is still sitting on your head. Surely you don’t think everyone in this courtyard and I are blind and unable to recognize an item personally bestowed by His Majesty.”
The moment she finished speaking, Xie Yao reached out and pulled the golden hairpin from Madam Cao’s hair.
With a clatter, the jeweled ornaments adorning her coiffure tumbled to the ground. Her carefully arranged hairstyle instantly fell into disarray.
Meanwhile, the golden hairpin in Xie Yao’s hand gleamed brilliantly beneath the lantern light.
“Xie Yao, you—!” Madam Cao flew into a rage and was just about to lash out when she caught sight of the hairpin clenched in Xie Yao’s hand and the icy coldness on Xie Yao’s beautiful face.
At once, Madam Cao’s heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran through her. She came from a humble background, and the Ming family had risen to prominence only because they had produced a successful daughter who married into the royal family as Princess Consort. Her husband’s official rank was not particularly high, so the things she normally used were nothing remarkable either.
After Princess Consort Xie passed away, Madam Cao had taken advantage of the fact that Xie Yao had no one backing her. She had visited the Prince’s Manor several times, strutting about with newfound confidence. The servants scattered at her approach, and the once-prosperous manor had fallen into desolation, far from its former glory. Emboldened, Madam Cao arrogantly helped herself to various items.
Once there was a first time; there was a second. Land deeds, estates, jewelry, ornaments… In her eyes, the only person left in the manor was a niece whose engagement had already been broken off. Leaving such fine things with her would only be a waste. Besides, Xie Yao had always been gentle by nature. Surely she would not care about such matters.
Earlier that day, Xie Yan, despite being so young, had dared to criticize her. The incident had left Madam Cao feeling extremely disgruntled. Since the girl was merely a concubine-born daughter and not particularly favored, Madam Cao had simply ordered her beaten. She had never expected Xie Yao to rush back from Huguo Temple that very night. Not only had she come to confront her directly, but she had also learned about everything Madam Cao had taken before.
“My father’s inkstone and my mother’s Yuming Ointment were both items bestowed by imperial decree. Aunt, how many heads do you think you have to dare take such things at will? Aren’t you afraid of drawing His Majesty’s wrath and implicating Uncle and my two cousins as well?”
Her uncle, Ming Hui, who had likewise been dragged from bed in the middle of the night, shot Madam Cao a vicious glare when he heard this.
“I… I didn’t know they were gifts from His Majesty…”
Thoroughly intimidated by Xie Yao’s accusations, Madam Cao panicked and blurted out a confession.
“The estates and land deeds were part of my mother’s dowry. If the Ming family is truly so impoverished that it must rely on a married daughter’s dowry to survive, Uncle need only say the word. I would gladly give them to you. That would still be better than having word spread tomorrow that the Ming family is so shameless it has to snatch back the property once given to its own daughter. Such rumors would only damage Uncle’s reputation.”
Ming Hui’s expression darkened as well. Not only had Xie Yao’s words openly and indirectly rebuked him, but Madam Cao’s short-sighted greed and theft had utterly disgraced him. “You fool! Return Yao’er’s land deeds at once!”
Startled by his glare, Madam Cao shuddered and hurriedly ordered someone to fetch them.
“And don’t forget the Yuming Ointment, Aunt.” Xie Yao smiled faintly. “The storeroom records every item you’ve taken from the Xie family. If anything is missing, then should His Majesty or Her Highness inquire about it someday, I can only report the facts as they are.”
Reluctantly, Madam Cao brought out all the items. The land deeds, estate documents, jeweled hair ornaments, and gold hairpins soon piled up, covering half the table.
Ming Hui lifted his foot and kicked her. “You wretched woman! You even stole from my niece!”
Madam Cao endured the kick in silence, not daring to utter a word.
After the items had been checked and accounted for, Ming Hui stepped forward with a flattering smile, hoping to smooth things over with Xie Yao.
Although his niece no longer had her parents’ protection, she was soon to become the Crown Princess. He still hoped to benefit from that connection and rise in status himself, so he could not afford to offend her.
“Yao’er, about this matter…”
“Who was it that beat Xie Yan today?” Xie Yao cut him off and cast her gaze downward.
Immediately, the two elderly nursemaids standing beside Madam Cao trembled and lowered their heads.
Sharp-eyed as ever, Qingyu spotted the reaction and exclaimed, “Miss! The steward said it was the old nursemaids serving Madam Cao!”
“Bring them out. Punish them.”
At Xie Yao’s command, the guards behind her stepped forward at once. Without giving the women a chance to protest, they dragged them into the courtyard and began administering the blows.
Smack! Smack! The paddles came down hard.
Madam Cao opened her mouth to defend them, but one glare from Ming Hui made her shrink back and fall silent.
The guards showed no mercy. After only ten strokes, the two nursemaids were already battered and bloodied. Their agonized screams echoed throughout the entire courtyard.
A deathly silence fell over everyone present. No one dared make a sound.
Only after the punishment was finished did Xie Yao turn to Ming Hui, offer him a slight curtsey, and smile. “Tonight I have disturbed you, Uncle. Causing such a commotion in your residence was indeed improper of me. But if there is a next time, I assure you, I will do it again.”
Ming Hui naturally did not dare voice a single complaint. Wearing a forced smile, he escorted Xie Yao to the gate, repeatedly urging her not to speak of this matter to anyone else.
The moment she left and the doors closed behind her, he turned and slapped Madam Cao across the face with a loud crack. “You wretched woman! You’ve utterly disgraced me!”
*
“Please, I won’t dare do it again! Spare my life!”
In the dim dungeon, the heavy scent of blood hung thick in the air, while screams echoed without end.
The deputy commander, Madam Xiao’s nephew, who had been throwing his weight around atop the city walls only yesterday, had been knocked unconscious and bound before the end of his shift. He had been dragged to this unknown place, where every torture imaginable had been used on him. At first, he had stubbornly refused to talk. But now, with barely half his life left in him, all that remained were desperate pleas for mercy.
“I don’t know how I’ve offended you, sir. Please spare this worthless life of mine.”
“You don’t know what you’ve done wrong?”
His face was covered, so he couldn’t see the person before him. All he could hear was a remarkably gentle voice. Yet that same person held a cold blade beneath his chin. With chilling calm, the knife sliced across the skin of his neck. Blood immediately welled up.
Terrified, he let out another scream. “H-Hero, please…”
“Have you forgotten who you gave trouble to at the city gate yesterday?”
Who? Who had he offended? The scream died abruptly in his throat. He racked his brains but could not think of anyone.
“You trapped Miss Xie outside the city walls. Before the curfew had even begun, you openly ordered the gates shut. Were you merely trying to leave her stranded in the bitter cold and make her suffer?”
The speaker paused.
Then his voice suddenly turned cold. “Or had you already arranged for fierce beasts and armed guards to be waiting outside the city, intending to put Miss Xie’s life at risk?”
“I… I didn’t…”
By now, the deputy commander had a vague idea of what this was about. Hearing the man’s words, he shook his head frantically. Yet terror filled his heart. It was true that he had arranged for men to be there. He had done so at his aunt Madam Xiao’s instruction. She had said that if the woman died, she would no longer be a burden to her cousin. But he had never told anyone about it. So how did the man before him know?
“Still unwilling to tell the truth?”
The man opposite him frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer. The icy blade brushed against his skin, making him tremble even harder. “I-I-I… I…”
“You know, the Great Sheng Empire has many punishments specially reserved for criminals who dislike telling the truth. Piercing the shoulder blades, the Five Punishments, flaying… Which do you prefer?” His measured, unhurried voice drifted through the dim chamber, chilling everyone who heard it to the bone.
The deputy commander was instantly too frightened to speak.
“Not talking?”
“Then let’s try them all.”
A trace of regret appeared on the man’s gentle face. He sighed softly and examined the dagger in his hand, as though deciding where it would be best to begin.
“No! No! Aaaah…!” A bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout the dungeon.
A quarter of an hour later, the dagger was tossed onto the floor. A few drops of blood stained the young man’s pristine blue robes. As he stepped out of the room, the shadows concealed the dark, sinister look in his eyes. Afterward, he returned indoors and changed into fresh clothes.
A servant brought in a basin of clean water. His long fingers dipped into it, calmly washing away the traces of blood. Every movement was unhurried, refined, and pleasing to the eye.
A servant entered from outside, head lowered respectfully. “Your Highness, Miss Xie has sent a calling card to the Eastern Palace.”
The man by the window paused mid-wash. He took a handkerchief and carefully wiped away the last traces of moisture.
It was the Chen Hour. Sunlight streamed warmly through the lattice windows.
Turning around, he curved his lips into a gentle smile. “Escort Miss Xie to the main hall. I shall be there shortly.”