Hollow Paper Doll, Amber Prison of Light 5 (18)
Su Qingtang’s final words carried a faint tone of irony.
“As for the Guo family’s eldest daughter, I don’t acknowledge any responsibility. If this so-called ‘corpse bride’ case is to be investigated, perhaps you should start elsewhere. Of course, this matter no longer has anything to do with me.”
She paused, then looked toward the Crown Prince.
“Lastly, Your Highness, I admit I once had feelings for you. But my sincerity was never something to be trampled or sworn upon. Since we are not destined to walk the same path, I will not insist. I’ve said enough these past days.”
Su Qingtang bowed deeply to Yin Guhuai.
Emperor Xide looked around the hall. “Prince, you went to the Guo family’s wedding banquet yesterday as well?”
From what he had heard, the emperor could piece together most of what had happened—but what surprised him was that his son had attended instead of staying quietly in the Eastern Palace as usual.
“The Crown Prince went with Princess Baoshu,” Guo Mingxin quickly answered.
“Baoshu?” The emperor frowned. He recalled his daughter mentioning she wanted the prince to meet other noble ladies. As a father, he hadn’t objected—but a wedding banquet was hardly the place for it.
Seeing there was no point in hiding it, Yin Guhuai replied calmly, “Yes, Father, I went with Royal Sister yesterday.”
“Then what caused this corpse bride incident?”
“I’ve already sent men to the bride’s hometown to investigate,” Yin Guhuai replied. “It’s a remote place, so they haven’t returned yet. But regarding Wang Family Village—what Miss Su said is true.”
Emperor Xide rubbed the ring on his finger thoughtfully. “If that’s the case, then investigate thoroughly. Clear the Guo family’s name—and the Su family’s as well.”
That clearly showed he stood on the Su family’s side.
Yin Guhuai understood his father’s stance and bowed. “Your son accepts the decree.”
“Also, Miss Su,” the emperor added with a kind smile, “since you can no longer serve as Deputy Commander, how about I confer upon you the title of Princess?”
The words were gentle, but the hall was shaken. This was clearly an imperial insistence on granting her rank.
Before anyone could react, a sudden ethereal voice echoed through the air.
[Will you accept it? Hurry, I don’t have much time.]
[No. Decline politely. I don’t know the reason yet, but it surely ties back to yesterday—when Princess Baoshu and the Crown Prince humiliated me. I admit His Majesty is a wise and kind ruler, but still…]
Before the heart voice could finish, Su Qingtang’s eyes flickered.
“Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. However, since this is merely an inquiry, I believe I still have the right to decline. I wish to remain by my father’s side. Please, Your Majesty, rescind your decree.”
Two alternating voices—one calm, one soft, both clearly hers—rang through the hall. Everyone turned instinctively toward the emperor.
Prime Minister Su knew it was useless to hide.
“Your Majesty, whether or not my daughter serves in court, the entire Su family will always remain loyal subjects of the throne.”
His words were tactful but firm—a declaration of allegiance, not only for the emperor’s sake, but also in response to the heart-voice revelation and the Crown Prince’s and Princess’s involvement.
Guo Mingxin couldn’t believe the matter would end so easily. Their family was in shambles, yet the Su family remained untouched—and if not for that revealed heart voice, Su Qingtang might even have become a princess.
But she dared not speak of the heart voice itself. Everyone already knew, especially the emperor.
“Enough, Xin’er! Must you make things worse?” Guo Shoufu barked coldly.
He couldn’t help but feel that his daughter was no match for Su Qingtang—not in bearing, nor in wit.
Just when it seemed the matter would conclude, the emperor said, “Both of you, this is the imperial court. You cannot enter and leave as you please.”
Earlier he had allowed them to plead their cases, but now came the punishment.
Guo Mingxin trembled and clung to her father’s sleeve. “Father, no—it’s not like that! I was just afraid Su Qingtang would escape… Please, save me…”
Su Qingtang stood calmly. “Your Majesty, I am willing to accept punishment. But this matter has nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s manor. It was my mistake alone. The Prime Minister did not send me to the palace.”
[Can your body endure it?]
[Guess.]
[If you keep joking, I’ll make you offend the emperor even more.]
[It’s fine. I was sturdy as a child—this won’t kill me.]
“Then… twenty strokes each,” Emperor Xide decreed.
At his word, the guards stepped forward to prepare for the punishment.
Prime Minister Su held his daughter’s hand. “It’s alright, Tangtang. Father’s here.”
Su Qingtang looked at the familiar hand—the one that had once lifted her when she was small. “I know,” she whispered.
Then she followed the guards without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Guo Mingxin clung to her father’s leg, screaming, “No! I don’t want to! She deserves it—Su Qingtang should be beaten! Why should I be punished? Father, I’m the future Crown Princess!”
Her cries rose higher and higher. “Princess Baoshu! Someone call Princess Baoshu from Yueqing Palace! I’m her future sister-in-law—we agreed!”
Her shrieking was hysterical, devoid of any grace, and her words revealed more than they should have—especially the princess’s involvement.
Just then, a cold, familiar voice echoed through the hall.
“Oh? So by merely visiting your home for tea, I’ve become your elder sister now?”
Princess Yin Guling—Baoshu herself—entered, dressed in full regalia, attendants from Yueqing Palace parting the way before her.
It truly was one drama after another.
The commander of the imperial guards, General Lin, clenched his jaw. Calm down, he told himself. Letting one in or two in—it’s all the same at this point.
Guo Mingxin, seeing the princess, grew frantic. She crawled forward on hands and knees. “Princess! Please, help me!”
Before she could reach her, the palace attendants dragged her aside.
Yin Guling walked straight to Su Qingtang. “You’re really just going to stand there and take your punishment? No defense, no plea?”
Su Qingtang gave a faint, weary smile. “The one ordering the punishment is the Emperor of Dayi—the model for all under heaven, the leader of all officials—not merely my father’s ruler. Besides, storming into court was wrong in the first place.”
Yin Guling regarded her quietly. “You are… sensible. But perhaps you’d like to tell me—where did you take Xiao Heng?”
[Xiao Heng? Who’s Xiao Heng? Qin Qinyuan, what have you done with my body?!]
Hearing that name, Yin Guhuai’s eyes darkened. No wonder she’d been so restrained yesterday.
Su Qingtang’s expression changed again. Her once-bright eyes now carried a deep sorrow. “Is Your Highness accusing me without cause?”
“I have a revealing pearl,” Yin Guling said, “which I happened to give to Xiao Heng. Let everyone take a look.”
A maid stepped forward, holding up the glowing pearl.
Within it played an image—Su Qingtang’s agile movements as she silently struck Qi Ruheng unconscious, slung him over her shoulder, and leapt out the window—graceful as wind, vanishing without a sound.
“Have you anything to say?”
Yin Guling stepped back. Guards moved forward at once to seize Su Qingtang.
Su Qingtang leapt backward, and from her sleeve burst a flurry of paper dolls. The moment they touched the air, they transformed into human shapes—but they were weak and easily kicked aside by the guards.
Seeing that, she turned and seized the Prime Minister, her hand tightening around his throat. “No one move! Or I’ll kill him! I am not Su Qingtang—none of you have anything to do with me!”
Guo Mingxin screamed, “See! Those are the same paper dolls from my sister’s dance! It’s her! Su Qingtang did it because she’s jealous I’m to be the Crown Princess!”
Yin Guling looked at the kneeling, desperate girl, then turned toward the figure holding the Prime Minister. “You do realize you’re holding Miss Su’s father hostage?”
The intruder—Qin Qinyuan—snapped, “I know. I just want to leave. If you don’t send anyone after me, I won’t hurt him.”
“Everyone, make way!” she shouted. “I don’t have much time!”
Emperor Xide’s voice was low but commanding. “I don’t know who you are, but you are opposing the royal family—and dragging Miss Su into ruin. Think carefully before you act.”
Qin Qinyuan didn’t respond. She tightened her grip and began backing toward the exit.
The guards surrounding the hall silently drew their blades, the steel gleaming under the light—casting reflections on Su Qingtang’s increasingly pale face.
Yin Guhuai said quietly, “Father…”
“Go,” the emperor ordered, rising. He looked at Yin Guling. “This is a summoning of the dead. Those paper figures are manifestations of yin energy. Because this is the main hall, they can’t fully form.”
Then his tone hardened. “Baoshu, I’ve overlooked much of your behavior. But do you know what kind of man that Qi Ruheng is? Anyone who plays with the dead cannot be pure.”
With that, both he and Yin Guhuai vanished in twin streaks of starlight, reappearing in the courtyard.
Qin Qinyuan, cornered, hissed, “Prepare a carriage! I want to leave the city!”
One of the officials sneered. “Miss, first you demanded a clear path, now a carriage—shall we pack you rations and silver next?”
Yin Guhuai narrowed his eyes. “Father—Su Qingtang’s body won’t last much longer.”
The emperor raised a brow. “Didn’t she just say she could take a beating?”
“Su Qingtang is fighting Qin Qinyuan for control of the body,” Yin Guhuai explained. “And the Dragon Fang inside her—it’s nearly depleted.”
So fast? the emperor thought grimly.
Qin Qinyuan’s lips were pale; her fingernails lengthened unnaturally. “Hurry! I have no patience left!”
Her claws were about to pierce the Prime Minister’s neck when a familiar voice rang out—
“Tangtang! That’s your father!”
It was Madam Su. She had flown in with qinggong, landing gracefully before them.
“I don’t know who you are or when you took over my daughter’s body,” she said steadily, “but you cannot use it to harm her father.”
Qin Qinyuan’s grip trembled. Her body curled as if in pain, tears slipping silently from her eyes. She looked at the Prime Minister’s back—then suddenly shoved him away. “Father—go!”
The Prime Minister stumbled into the crowd and was caught by Madam Su. “My dear!”
“Father, Mother, go!” Su Qingtang fell to her knees, clutching her head. “Qin Qinyuan, you liar!”
Her expression twisted with pain—then turned cold. “How did I lie? If you hadn’t pleaded for your father, I would’ve left with Qi Ruheng long ago. I wouldn’t be trapped here!”
“So what if that’s true? This is my body—I’ll do as I please! It’s mine!”
Her voice shifted again, eyes losing focus, then slowly regaining clarity—before dark fury returned to her face. “You’re strong, but you’re just a mortal. I’ve crossed mountains of corpses and seas of blood.”
Qin Qinyuan had regained dominance. She glanced around—the crowd had formed a ring, and only the Prime Minister stood unguarded, Madam Su beside him.
Biting her finger, she flicked droplets of blood onto the air—summoning another horde of paper soldiers. But this time, each one bore Su Qingtang’s blood, giving them far greater strength.
Chaos erupted. The formation broke apart. Qin Qinyuan seized her chance, lunging to grab the Prime Minister again—but Madam Su swiftly switched places with her husband and was caught instead.
“Madam!” the Prime Minister cried.
This time, Qin Qinyuan meant to kill. Her free hand slashed toward Madam Su’s heart.
“Madam!”
“Xiao Huai!”
“Miss Qin!”
Several voices cried out—but it was too late.
Just as her nails were about to pierce Madam Su’s chest, Su Qingtang coughed up a mouthful of blood. The spattered drops glowed with blue starlight as they hit the floor. The paper soldiers faltered, their strength fading.
“I told you,” Su Qingtang gasped weakly, “this is my body. If you won’t leave on your own—and insist on dragging my parents down with you—I’ll show you what it means to perish together.”
She’d seized back control again.
Qin Qinyuan’s voice surfaced one last time. “Fine.”
She glanced at everyone—especially Princess Yin Guling—then shot into the sky and vanished.
Madam Su shouted after her, “Miss Qin! Protect Tangtang’s body!”