Hollow Paper Doll, Amber Prison of Light 6 (19)
Inside the Qianyuan Hall, the imperial physicians had just finished taking the pulses of Prime Minister Su and Madam Su. Bowing, one of them reported, “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister and Madam’s health are fine. They are merely over-worried… likely because of Miss Su—”
Emperor Xide didn’t need to hear the rest. Sitting to the side, he said coldly, “So, you all knew there was something wrong with Miss Su?”
It wasn’t a question—it was an accusation.
Madam Su gave a weary, bitter smile. “Tangtang is my child—I carried her for ten months. No mother can fail to notice when her child changes.”
Prime Minister Su glanced at the Crown Prince and Princess sitting opposite. “Ordinarily, being rejected by His Highness might upset her—but everyone here knows Tangtang was never truly interested. She wouldn’t be so distraught that she’d even lose her appetite for her favorite food.”
Yin Guhuai could feel the surrounding stares. Ignoring his own discomfort, he said evenly, “The immediate concern is finding Miss Su. The longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes.”
Prime Minister Su’s attention snapped to him. “Does Your Highness know where my daughter was taken?”
When Qin Qinyuan had seized Su Qingtang’s body and flown out over the palace walls, she had vanished straight into the crowds, clearly having planned her escape. They had already sent men to search, but no word had returned.
It was impossible not to worry—but aside from waiting, there was nothing they could do.
Madam Su said softly, “Your Highness, Tangtang has no ill intentions. You know her purpose as well as we do. If this stems from some misunderstanding from childhood, I, as her mother, am willing to apologize on her behalf.”
She began to kneel, and the Prime Minister followed her lead.
Yin Guhuai quickly stepped forward, taking one by each arm. “There’s no need. That day at Minister Lu’s residence, I infused some of my energy into Miss Su. It’s faint, but I can still sense it.”
Then he turned serious. “However, I must confirm two things. First—Prime Minister, I wish to see the spirit in your household tree. I have questions for it.”
After saying this, he looked toward his sister. “Second—Royal Sister, I need Qi Ruheng’s amber. I suspect it’s far more than just a piece of amber.”
Outside Yinyue City, in Wang Family Village—
Qin Qinyuan sat beside the sleeping Qi Ruheng, tracing his features with her fingertips, eyes filled with aching affection. “Ruheng… do you miss me? I missed you so much. Let me take you to see Father and Mother… and your parents, too.”
Qi Ruheng didn’t stir. Qin Qinyuan wasn’t angered. With a wave of her hand, the paper effigies beside her came alive, gently helping Qi Ruheng up to follow her.
They walked through the courtyard, down the covered walkway, until they reached the Qiu family’s main hall.
The moment Qin Qinyuan saw Master Qiu, her face brightened. “Father, I’ve brought your son home.”
Master Qiu looked at the unfamiliar figure before him, his throat tightening. “Xiao… Xiao Qin? Is this… Ah Ming?”
“Yes,” Qin Qinyuan said sweetly. “He also has another name—Qi Ruheng.” She smiled, watching his expression shift. Stroking Qi Ruheng’s face, she murmured, “My Ruheng promised to marry me. He never broke his word.”
Master Qiu took several deep breaths, forcing a strained smile. “Of course.”
Qin Qinyuan gestured, and the paper men seated Qi Ruheng in a chair. She strolled slowly around the hall, observing the decor. “This house is nicely furnished. It’s fit for me and my Ruheng.”
Then she turned, her skirt swirling into a perfect circle as she sat down beside him, eyes fixed on his face. “Let’s hold the wedding again. I still haven’t paid my respects to his parents. Tomorrow will do.”
With that, she rose and left the room.
The paper effigies helped Qi Ruheng stand and followed her out.
Once they were gone, the steward rushed to support Master Qiu. “Master, what should we do? Should we report this to the authorities? To the City Patrol Division? To the Crown Prince?”
Master Qiu closed his eyes. “Report? Have you tried stepping beyond the gates? That woman’s power rivals the Crown Prince’s.”
The steward was frantic. “But Qin Qinyuan is dead, sir! How can this—this—be happening?”
Master Qiu pressed a hand over the steward’s trembling one. “Do as she says, for now.”
After all… Qi Ruheng was only an adopted son.
That night, red lanterns hung again at the Qiu residence. Watching from afar, Gu An signaled one of his men. “Go. Tell His Highness—it’s started.”
Inside, Qin Qinyuan stood before Qi Ruheng. This time she wore no bridal veil. Smiling, she completed the ceremonial bows with him—heaven, earth, and ancestors—and then stopped mid-procession.
Walking up to him, she said softly, “This wedding shouldn’t just exist in my memory.”
She pulled the red string from her neck—on it hung a piece of amber. “I know when you wake, you might go mad. But why should I be the only one to suffer?”
Biting her finger, she let her blood drip onto the amber. It began to glow an eerie blue.
Across the courtyard, seated on the railing, Yin Guhuai stared at his own mother amber—its light pulsing in resonance.
“Your Highness,” Gu An murmured, “isn’t that the same energy as yours?”
Yin Guhuai sneered. “From the beginning, Su Qingtang was already caught in this web. When the time comes, we strike.”
“Understood.” Gu An glanced toward the noisy courtyard opposite.
The glow of the amber dimmed. Qi Ruheng, freed from its control, groaned and pressed his hand to his forehead. Slowly, he opened his eyes—to see a room draped in red, and a woman’s unfamiliar face. “Who are you? Where’s the princess?”
He remembered falling asleep in Princess Baoshu’s Huaqing Palace.
Qin Qinyuan didn’t bother hiding the amber. She dangled it before his eyes. “Guess who I am, Ruheng.”
Her voice was ghostly, otherworldly—and in an instant, Qi Ruheng’s buried memories flooded back. He stumbled backward, trembling. “Qin Qinyuan? Is it really you?”
Her smile widened in satisfaction. “So you do remember me. I thought once you had wealth and power, you’d forget.” She caressed the amber. “Remember this? We dug it up together in Fengyuan County. You swore never to forget your roots.”
Her tone softened with nostalgia—but then turned sharp. Her hands gripped the armrest, eyes blazing. “Then why? Why did you betray me?”
“I—I don’t know what you mean,” Qi Ruheng stammered. “I’m the future prince consort—beloved of the Emperor and Empress! Let me go!”
Qin Qinyuan’s eyes filled with tears, but she smiled bitterly. “Prince consort? So that’s it?”
“All those vows, all those promises—and they meant nothing compared to one princess?”
Qi Ruheng’s fear only fueled his defensiveness. “And what did you expect? To rot away with you in that impoverished mountain village? I may have been born there, but I was never meant to stay. Birds choose fine trees to nest in—surely you, a learned woman, understand that!”
Qin Qinyuan laughed hysterically. “So I was the tree to be abandoned?”
Her voice broke into fury. “I should never have pushed you out of that fire!”
She turned away, forcing herself calm, wiping her tears. Then she extended her hand. “Then come. Let’s go see our old village together.”
As she gathered her power, a blue light suddenly burst through the air—tearing them apart.
A cold voice echoed through the hall. “Using my power, within Miss Su’s body… you planned well, didn’t you, Miss Qin?”
The City Patrol Division stormed in. The paper effigies on both sides animated, charging forward as the two forces clashed.
Qin Qinyuan’s energy was nearly spent. Her paper soldiers fell quickly. Gu An lit a torch, stuffed the captives into an iron barrel, and set them ablaze.
Qi Ruheng, recognizing Yin Guhuai, cried out in terror. “Your Highness! Please! This madwoman’s trying to kill me!”
Neither man paid him any mind. Qin Qinyuan’s gaze fixed on the prince. “You came to save him?”
“No,” Yin Guhuai said coolly. “I came to save my people—the Prime Minister’s daughter, Su Qingtang.”
Qin Qinyuan turned to look out the window. “Her body’s nearly drained. That Dragon Fang inside her—I felt it the moment I used it.”
Yin Guhuai nodded. “Not hard to guess. You’d already marked her back at Tianxiang Pavilion, hadn’t you? The carriage driver’s room next door—the witness—that was you.”
Qin Qinyuan tilted her head. “And how did you know?”
He twirled the mother amber in his hand. “Simple. The servant girl Xiao Cui had branches of the huai tree embedded in her. You needed spiritual energy to sustain your resentment. Xiao Cui’s rampage on the road caught your attention. The upstairs rooms at Tianxiang Pavilion were rare—but you’re different. You can disguise yourself, and with that amber, you escaped notice. That’s when you spotted Su Qingtang.”
Qin Qinyuan closed her eyes. “Clever, Your Highness. Very clever.”
“Then the matter’s over,” he said impatiently, extending a hand. “Return Su Qingtang’s body.”
“Not yet,” Qin Qinyuan replied, smiling faintly. “You’re not the only one here. The princess—Her Highness Baoshu—is here too, isn’t she? My Ruheng always admired her.”
“Since we’re all gathered, let’s enjoy the show.”
A wave of heat rolled in from outside. The Patrol guards instinctively stepped back.
“Meeting me should be your honor,” drawled Princess Yin Guling as she entered.
The Fire Phoenix princess radiated heat, her crimson robes dazzling even amid the chaos. Yin Guhuai stood quickly, yielding her a seat. “Please, Your Highness.”
Qi Ruheng scrambled to her side, desperate. “Princess! Save me! She’s mad—she wants to kill me! She burned me before and killed everyone in this house—please!”
The hall fell silent—his panicked cries echoing in the still air.
Yin Guling smiled faintly, her expression curious. “Oh? You say she was the one who harmed you?”
Qi Ruheng’s eyes darted nervously, fists clenching. After a pause, he nodded. “Yes. She’s the one who tried to kill me.”
Yin Guling nodded once and turned to Qin Qinyuan. “And you? He says you hurt him—and tried to kill him. Do you admit it?”
Three people. Six eyes. All fixed on her.
Qin Qinyuan blinked, then looked at Qi Ruheng—no longer the charming man she’d once loved, but a coward groveling on the floor. She lowered her head and laughed softly.
“Admit it? Why not?”