As Xin Long stepped out of the Duke Dingguo Estate, a chilly gust of wind rushed toward her, lifting the loose strands of hair across her forehead.
Late autumn had settled over the capital. The air carried a bleak stillness as withered yellow leaves spiraled through the wind.
Pulling her cloak tighter around herself, she carefully made her way across the cracks in the bluestone pavement toward the sedan chair waiting by the roadside.
The curtain was lifted, and she bent down to climb inside.
The sedan chair was soon hoisted into the air and began moving forward smoothly.
A corner of the curtain was suddenly pulled aside, and Eunuch Rui’an’s shrill, flustered voice came from outside.
“Your Highness, what exactly happened?”
“Where is the fake Imperial Seal?”
“Weren’t you supposed to hide it beneath the pillow?”
“Why did we search the entire Duke Dingguo Estate without finding it?”
Xin Long remained perfectly composed.
“There’s no need to panic, Eunuch Rui’an. Circumstances changed unexpectedly. I simply didn’t have the chance to place the seal.”
“Oh? You didn’t have the chance?” Rui’an sneered. “Save that explanation for His Majesty.”
“Your Highness has ruined the Emperor’s entire plan.”
“When His Majesty’s wrath falls upon you, you’d better think carefully about how to calm his anger.”
Xin Long smiled faintly.
“Then I’ll have to trouble Eunuch Rui’an to put in a few kind words for me before Imperial Brother.”
Rui’an snorted coldly.
“I can’t help you. Your Highness should pray for your own fortune.”
Watching his smug expression, Xin Long sneered inwardly.
This Rui’an was exactly the sort of man who loved kicking people when they were down.
Blinking innocently, she suddenly asked,
“Eunuch Rui’an, do you smell something?”
He frowned.
Smell what?
His mind was still consumed by the frustration of failing to confiscate the Duke Dingguo Estate.
What he hated most were righteous families like the Xiao clan. Originally, tonight he had expected to watch the women of the Duke’s household weep helplessly while he humiliated them.
Instead, because the princess hadn’t planted the fake seal, he’d lost that opportunity.
Next time the Emperor finds another excuse to confiscate the Xiao family…
I’ll definitely get this useless princess into my hands and torture and humiliate her to vent my anger.
Distracted, he replied absentmindedly,
“What smell?”
Xin Long exaggeratedly sniffed the air.
“The smell of something burning. Don’t you smell it?”
Only then did Rui’an pay attention.
He took a careful breath.
Sure enough.
A faint scent of burning drifted through the night air.
Confused, he looked toward her.
Xin Long pointed into the distance and cried out in alarm.
“Oh! Eunuch Rui’an, look! Why is there a fire over there?”
“Th-That… doesn’t that look like your residence?”
Rui’an immediately looked in the direction she was pointing.
Against the deep blue night sky, crimson flames leaped upward like blossoms blooming straight out of hell.
One fire…
Two…
Three…
Soon, countless blazes merged into one continuous sea of fire, dyeing the entire night sky blood-red.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, wondering if he was seeing things.
What’s going on?
The sun hasn’t even risen yet! Why is the entire capital on fire?
The thought of the mountains of gold, silver, and jewels hidden inside his residence made his heart nearly stop.
Heavens!
I’d risked my life and accumulated those treasures one piece at a time!
Please don’t let them all burn to ashes!
He desperately wanted to rush home to see whether his mansion was truly on fire.
But the fake Imperial Seal still hadn’t been found.
He had to escort Xin Long back to the palace to report to the Emperor.
He didn’t dare disobey an imperial command.
Anxious, terrified, furious—every emotion surged through him until he could barely breathe.
“Your Highness… let’s… let’s hurry back to the palace.”
His voice trembled.
None of his previous arrogance remained.
Right now, he wanted only to finish his duty as quickly as possible so he could rush home.
Watching Rui’an’s utterly frazzled appearance, Xin Long lowered the curtain and curled her lips into a satisfied smile.
The sedan chair sped through the streets and soon arrived at the Imperial Palace.
The guards outside the palace gates couldn’t help staring at Rui’an’s panicked appearance in surprise.
Ignoring their looks, he hurried straight toward the Imperial Study.
Inside the Imperial Study, every lamp was brightly lit.
The Emperor had not yet retired for the night.
He sat upright upon the Dragon Throne, his brows tightly furrowed as though deep in thought.
Rui’an bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty, this servant has returned.”
“Was everything taken care of?”
The Emperor’s deep voice carried obvious impatience.
Rui’an recounted everything that had happened that night without leaving out a single detail.
“Useless fool!”
The Emperor slammed his palm onto the desk so hard that the teacup jumped.
“I ordered you to confiscate the Duke Dingguo Estate, and you couldn’t even find a single Imperial Seal!”
Rui’an trembled violently and immediately fell to his knees.
“Please forgive me, Your Majesty! This servant deserves death! It was the Grand Princess who failed to follow the plan. There was nothing this servant could do!”
The Emperor inhaled deeply, his expression unreadable.
“Bring her in.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”
Rui’an hurried outside and said to Xin Long, who had been waiting outside the Imperial Study,
“Your Highness, His Majesty summons you.”
The moment he finished speaking, he hurried away.
Xin Long watched his departing figure.
She knew he was eager to leave the palace and check on his own estate.
Withdrawing her gaze, she looked toward the brightly lit Imperial Study before her.
Warm golden light spilled from the windows, illuminating the surrounding courtyard.
A faint fragrance of sandalwood lingered in the air—the incense the Emperor always favored.
To be honest…
She was still a little nervous.
After all, the man she was about to face was the supreme ruler of the entire empire.
Carefully, she rehearsed what she planned to say and recalled how the original princess had usually interacted with the Emperor.
Only after mentally preparing herself did Xin Long take a deep breath and step into the Imperial Study.
As Xin Long entered, the rich scent of sandalwood wrapped around her, making her frown ever so slightly.
The Imperial Study was enormous.
Its solemn furnishings exuded a suffocating sense of authority.
The Emperor sat behind a magnificent purple sandalwood desk carved with dragons and phoenixes. Beneath the warm glow of the lanterns, his bright yellow dragon robe appeared even more imposing.
He was around thirty years old.
His features resembled those of the late Emperor—not particularly handsome nor unattractive—but years of absolute power had given him an overwhelming aura of majesty and superiority.
Although Xin Long was his half-sister, the two shared almost no resemblance.
She looked strikingly like her late mother.
“You—”
The Emperor had just begun to speak when Xin Long suddenly dropped to her knees with a loud thud.
“Imperial Brother, please forgive me! Your sister has failed the important task you entrusted to me!”
She discreetly pinched her thigh with all her strength.
Her eyes immediately reddened, tears gathering along her lashes until she looked heartbreakingly pitiful.
Seeing her tearful appearance only made the Emperor feel even more irritated.
“What exactly happened? Speak!”
His voice was low, suppressing barely restrained anger.
Tonight should have been the night the Duke Dingguo Estate was confiscated.
Instead, they had alerted their enemies.
How could he not be furious?
“I originally intended to hide the Imperial Seal beneath his pillow… but… Xiao Jinghe suddenly returned home earlier than expected…”
She paused before continuing.
“I feared he would notice something suspicious, so… I could only remain still and wait…”
The Emperor’s expression darkened further.
A cold, sinister light flashed across his eyes.
This failed operation had disrupted every one of his plans.
Taking a deep breath to suppress his fury, he said icily,
“So you simply stood there and watched the entire plan fail?”
“I know I was wrong!”
Xin Long raised her head, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“I shouldn’t have been so timid! Please, Imperial Brother, give me one more chance to atone for my mistake!”
“Next time… I absolutely won’t disappoint you again!”
Her voice was firm, her expression filled with determination.
The Emperor gazed at her silently, his eyes unreadable.
He had never doubted Xin Long’s loyalty.
After all, when he had ordered her to drug Xiao Jinghe and marry into the Duke Dingguo Estate as part of his scheme, she had agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Still…
Because of her failure in such an important mission, he had alerted the Xiao family and returned empty-handed.
That was enough to infuriate him.
Fortunately, Xiao Jinghe was still in his grasp.
The Xiao family wouldn’t dare act rashly.
He could simply fabricate another excuse to confiscate the Duke Dingguo Estate.
Once Xiao Jinghe was crippled, the remaining old women, children, and widows of the household would be incapable of causing any trouble.
The Emperor lightly tapped his fingers against the desk in a steady rhythm.
His gaze settled upon Xin Long, who remained kneeling before him.
Once the Duke Dingguo Estate falls…
Xin Long’s usefulness will have nearly come to an end.