Hollow Paper Doll, Amber Prison of Light 4 (17)
After the wedding banquet ended that night, Grand Chancellor Guo summoned his daughter, Guo Mingxin.
“Today, Princess Baoshu was…”
“Oh, Father, don’t ask,” Guo Mingxin interrupted, blushing and lowering her head in shyness. Anyone could see what the result of the “match” had been.
Grand Chancellor Guo nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Keep that attitude. As for the Crown Prince, don’t be too eager. That Su Qingtang was too forward, and she ended up earning herself a ‘not interested.’”
“Alright, alright,” Guo Mingxin said coquettishly. “Miss Su didn’t mean any harm.”
The Grand Chancellor looked out the window at the flowers and trees growing together in pairs. Sometimes, for one to thrive, the other must die—wasn’t that how life worked?
“Master, Master! The Eldest Miss, she—” A maid came stumbling in from outside, one who served Guo Mingjing.
Guo Mingxin stepped forward. “What is it? Weren’t you attending to my sister?”
The maid grabbed at her skirt, trembling. “Second Miss, the Eldest Miss, she’s… she’s… ah!” The girl suddenly curled up on the floor, as if recalling something terrifying.
The Grand Chancellor, irritated, grabbed the tea cup meant for guests and threw the cold tea in her face. “Are you awake now? Speak properly!”
The maid, now calmer, stammered, “The Eldest Miss is… dancing.”
“Dancing?”
Guo Mingxin frowned. “My sister and I both learned from famous teachers. What’s wrong with dancing? Maybe it’s part of their wedding fun?”
The Grand Chancellor was about to reply when the flicker of firelight caught his eye outside. Then the wet nurse of Guo Mingjing rushed in, crying, “Master, Master! The Eldest Miss has gone mad! She’s filled her room with paper effigies, and now she’s dancing with them!”
The Grand Chancellor’s expression darkened instantly. He kicked the trembling maid aside. “Useless thing—can’t even explain clearly!” He stormed out.
Outside the new bridal chamber, the courtyard was packed with frightened onlookers. When he entered, what he saw would be burned into his memory forever.
His beloved daughter—his carefully raised jewel—was wearing her wedding dress and dancing in the courtyard, leading a group of paper effigies. The clash of bright red and ghostly white created a horrifying contrast, made worse by the faint glow of fire flickering nearby.
“Guo Mingjing! What are you doing? Stop right now! Someone, help her!” the Grand Chancellor shouted.
“Father, we tried! We can’t pull her away!” The groom fell to his knees, holding his wedding hat. “I don’t know what happened! I lifted her veil, and she suddenly moved like she was possessed. Then—then—all these paper effigies jumped out of nowhere, dancing and dancing—”
As he spoke, his body shook violently as if reliving the moment.
The Grand Chancellor’s fury rose. “Old Ding! Go summon the City Patrol Division immediately!” He turned and, in his rage, kicked the groom again. “Useless!”
But as his foot connected, the groom’s body suddenly flattened—his life vanishing in an instant—leaving behind a perfectly cut human-shaped paper figure.
“Ahhh!” Guo Mingxin screamed.
That night happened to be the City Patrol Division’s rest day, and only one human officer was on duty. By the time he arrived, Guo Mingjing had already finished her eerie “dance,” led the paper figures back into her chamber, and fallen asleep, leaving behind a courtyard full of terrified witnesses.
As dawn light crept over the horizon, the Grand Chancellor rubbed his eyes and stood. Guo Mingxin clutched his sleeve. “Father, where are you going? I’m scared.”
He patted her hand. “I’m going to the palace. Yesterday’s events were clearly part of Princess Baoshu’s scheme against the Crown Prince. His Highness will likely stay in the Eastern Palace today, so the City Patrol Division will naturally side with Su Qingtang. Most of those on duty probably don’t even know the full story. I’ll speak with His Majesty directly.”
Guo Mingxin nodded, understanding the situation. “Father, I’ll go with you. I can wait outside. I just remembered—when Su Qingtang and her people investigated the case at Wang Family Village, wasn’t it about a corpse bride?”
“Yes,” she continued, growing more convinced. “Father, the Crown Prince humiliated Su Qingtang in public last night. Could my sister’s situation be her doing?”
The Grand Chancellor thought for a moment. “As much as I’d like to deal with the Su family, remember this—without decisive evidence, don’t speak recklessly. Words can bring disaster.”
“Now go. If you’re idle, comfort your sister—or ask the City Patrol Division about this so-called ‘corpse bride’ case.”
He pulled his hand free and returned to his chamber to wash up. Seeing the plants outside the window growing in twisted pairs, he scowled and shut the window.
In the grand hall, after the usual morning reports, Emperor Xide looked down at his ministers and his son, surprised that the Crown Prince had shown up at court despite his sour expression. The emperor waved his hand. “If there’s nothing else, then—”
“Your Majesty!” Prime Minister Su suddenly stepped forward. “My daughter, Su Qingtang, has served as Deputy Commander of the City Patrol Division for some time, but her health is poor. I fear she cannot fulfill Your Majesty’s trust.”
He had spent the night sleepless, remembering his daughter’s devastated look and how she hadn’t even eaten her favorite roast chicken. He’d made up his mind—better to withdraw her now than let her be caught in another trap and humiliated before all.
Emperor Xide glanced from the bowed, aging prime minister to his silent son, Yin Guhuai. “What does the Crown Prince say?”
Before the prince could speak, Prime Minister Su pressed on, “The appointment was by Your Majesty’s decree. While His Highness oversees the Patrol Division, surely a mere assistant’s position doesn’t require troubling the Crown Prince himself.”
A mere assistant? The emperor almost laughed. His son couldn’t handle a minor official’s transfer?
Xide glanced at Eunuch Fu, whose eyelid twitched violently. The emperor had gone to bed early the previous night and hadn’t yet been briefed on what had happened. But clearly, Su Qingtang wanted to resign—and judging by the prince’s silence, he wasn’t opposing it.
“Very well,” the emperor said. “Granted.”
Prime Minister Su bowed deeply. “My deepest thanks, Your Majesty.”
Just as the emperor was about to dismiss the court, Grand Chancellor Guo stepped forward. “Since Prime Minister Su has spoken and Your Majesty has approved the removal of Miss Su from the Patrol Division, I humbly request that His Highness the Crown Prince, as Commander of the Division, immediately order the arrest of Su Qingtang.”
The hall erupted in shock.
Prime Minister Su frowned. “Lord Guo, what do you mean by this?”
The Grand Chancellor stood tall, turning toward the prince. “I once overheard a Patrol Division constable mention a case in Wang Family Village involving a corpse bride. Miss Su was present then. And now—my eldest daughter, who was married just yesterday, turned into one herself. The only one who had been near that area before was Miss Su. His Highness can attest to this.”
He turned back toward the prime minister. “Yes, Lord Su—you know the place well. It was right behind where you took Miss Su home from.”
Emperor Xide looked at his son again, incredulous. He goes to bed early one night and all this happens?
The Grand Chancellor knelt sharply. “I implore His Highness to uphold justice!”
Prime Minister Su glanced backward; a eunuch quietly exited the hall.
Yin Guhuai said coolly, “I can handle it. This is a matter for the Patrol Division. But since Grand Chancellor Guo is so sure, I must ask his help. I once ordered my officers that such cases must never be disclosed—no matter the threat or bribe. So, Lord Guo, I’ll need you to identify the informant yourself.”
Guo’s lips tightened into a smile. “Of course.”
“Does anyone else have matters to raise?” the emperor asked, itching with curiosity. He wanted to know what on earth was going on.
The other officials, seeing the tension between the two factions, wisely kept silent. Eunuch Fu cleared his throat to announce dismissal—when a woman’s voice cried from outside:
“Father! I’m the Grand Chancellor’s daughter! Father—someone used qinggong to fly toward the Prime Minister’s Manor! I saw it with my own eyes! Call the Crown Prince—Su Qingtang must be hiding something! She’s the one who harmed Sister!”
“Your Majesty—!” “Your Majesty—!” Prime Minister Su and Grand Chancellor Guo shouted in unison.
The emperor raised his hand, motioning for Eunuch Fu to admit her. Guo Mingxin broke free of the guards and rushed inside, stopping before her father. “Father! It’s true! Someone’s heading to the Prime Minister’s residence!”
Prime Minister Su sneered. “How dutiful of Miss Guo—so concerned about my household when her own sister is the one afflicted. Forgive me if I start to wonder at her motives.”
He turned to the emperor. “I beg Your Majesty to grant justice for my daughter.”
His voice was steady but filled with righteous outrage.
Guo Mingxin looked up at Emperor Xide. She had wanted to impress him—the father of the Crown Prince—but the sudden proximity made her knees buckle. “Your Majesty, I… I… Your Highness, I didn’t mean—”
“Then tell the entire truth,” Prime Minister Su said darkly. “False accusations are punishable by execution of nine generations.”
Grand Chancellor Guo snapped back, “So Lord Su’s only skill now is intimidating innocent young women?”
Prime Minister Su gave a cold snort. “My daughter is about your daughter’s age. If yours is ‘innocent,’ then what? Mine is a battle-hardened veteran?”
Caught between the two men’s argument, Guo Mingxin panicked. She remembered what her sister had once told her—how their father’s career had always been overshadowed by the Prime Minister. Would this end the same way?
Desperate, she searched the hall for help—and her eyes fell on the Crown Prince. “Your Highness! It was Miss Su! I’m not lying! She likes you so much, and last night you said you didn’t like her. You even said that if you regretted it, you’d kneel from the Eastern Palace to the Prime Minister’s Manor. I was there, along with Princess Baoshu—she must be taking revenge!”
Her words froze the entire court. Even Emperor Xide stared at his son in disbelief.
“If I wanted revenge,” came a calm voice from the doorway, “I’d take it on the Crown Prince directly. What is your Guo family that I’d bother with you?”
Everyone turned. Emperor Xide arched a brow. Judging from everyone’s startled faces, no one had expected her to appear—he’d have to reassess his imperial guards’ competence later.
Su Qingtang entered slowly, clearly having come straight from home. She walked forward and knelt.
“Your Majesty, your humble subject’s daughter Su Qingtang greets the Emperor. Long live Your Majesty.” She turned and bowed again. “Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live a thousand years.”
“Today, I come alone—this matter concerns me and has nothing to do with my father.”
Her posture was firm and straight—while beside her, Guo Mingxin had collapsed to the floor, pale and trembling.
“Su Qingtang, is it?” Emperor Xide leaned forward, intrigued. “Well then, young Su, the Grand Chancellor’s eldest daughter suffered a strange incident last night, and they claim it’s your doing. What evidence do you have?”
Su Qingtang rose. “It’s true that I went to Wang Family Village with the Patrol Division. But the incident there was due to a local custom—the bride’s family had all passed away, so the villagers used paper effigies to honor them. Outsiders misunderstood, spreading rumors of ‘corpse brides dancing at midnight.’”
“And my daughter?” the Grand Chancellor pressed.
Su Qingtang’s tone stayed calm. “Lord Guo may verify this with your own gatekeepers, or with the staff of Yi Pin Ju and Tianxiang Pavilion. I left the banquet early—because your household summoned me. So tell me, Lord Guo—do you believe I have such power, that I could know the exact layout of your estate and your daughter’s chamber?”
She tilted her head, eyes steady.
“If so,” she added with a faint, cutting smile, “then I must truly be remarkable.”