“Can you tell me the reason?” Zi Sang Zhen had clearly guessed most of it, but she couldn’t be certain.
Zi Sang Zhen didn’t use honorifics; she wanted to ease the tension, but Qian Yu and Jin Yu didn’t detect the compromise in her tone.
For a fourteen-year-old child, such a choice was beyond her scope. Having experienced so much in a single day, even a “pawn” groomed from birth for the throne couldn’t withstand such turmoil.
Jin Yu lowered her head, conceding for now. “You’ve had a taxing day. Come to my room tonight, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Hearing Jin Yu’s reply, the tension that had risen to Zi Sang Zhen’s throat subsided. She stood up, waved her hand, and dismissed her.
Jin Yu glanced at Qian Yu before leaving the room.
Only then did Zi Sang Zhen notice Qian Yu kneeling before her.
Qian Yu harbored no resentment, kneeling upright in place, awaiting his “master’s” command.
“Why are you still kneeling?”
“It was Your Highness who ordered me to kneel.”
Zi Sang Zhen was momentarily speechless, her mouth agape but unsure how to respond.
“Your Highness should adapt sooner rather than later.”
Zi Sang Zhen didn’t want to discuss such matters with him and changed the subject. “Why didn’t you let me continue training today?”
“Because you need rest these days.”
Zi Sang Zhen realized something and probed further, “Is this the rule in Nanzhen Kingdom? Wouldn’t it cause discontent?”
Qian Yu: “Naturally, there is discontent. But their abilities are sufficiently exceptional, so no one dares to oppose.”
“And if they aren’t exceptional? Like in Beiyue Kingdom, confined to the inner chambers and deep palaces?” Zi Sang Zhen hit the nail on the head.
Qian Yu dared not speak recklessly. Zi Sang Zhen was indeed clever, combining the strengths of Zi Sang Mu and Huangfu Quan, surpassing even them.
“Today was my fault. I hope Master won’t blame me.”
This address of “Master” was only the second time he had heard it in decades.
Qian Yu knew this was the out Zi Sang Zhen offered him. He wanted her to face reality, but after such long companionship, he couldn’t bring himself to be so harsh. Struggling internally, he said, “Your Highness, rest well. Once you’ve made your choice, I’ll come find you.”
Qian Yu didn’t use honorifics. Zi Sang Zhen knew he was willing to accept this compromise and revealed her usual smile. “I will.”
Night.
Zi Sang Zhen entered Jin Yu’s room and closed the door.
“Why couldn’t you say it this morning?”
Jin Yu teased slightly, “Sad stories from the past are best told at night. It suits the atmosphere better, don’t you think?”
Zi Sang Zhen was amused, never expecting Jin Yu to have such a playful side. “You’re joking.”
Just as Zi Sang Zhen’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, Jin Yu straightened her posture and spoke seriously.
“But the past is hardly amusing.”
Jin Yu stood up, went to the back room, and retrieved long-buried letters. Facing these papers, she momentarily couldn’t bring herself to look directly at them.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and finally dared to speak.
“One of the things I taught you was incorrect.”
“There is no longer a Beiyue Kingdom or a Nanzhen Kingdom. They have unified and merged into Yuezhen Kingdom. And your mother was originally the Crown Prince of Nanzhen Kingdom! Do you know why she is now confined to the deep palace?”
As Jin Yu spoke, her emotions stirred uncontrollably. But Zi Sang Zhen’s eyes were filled with evasion, likely having guessed the outcome.
“Because your father deceived your mother, signing an unequal treaty, believing he could trade her freedom for a brief respite for the Southern Zhen Kingdom…”
Zi Sang Mu was summoned to the hall by Zi Sang Yu, already prepared in her heart. It was her mistake that led to the defeat at the Huai River battle, her soft-heartedness that brought about this unequal treaty.
“Your Majesty, it is my fault. I am willing to accept this demand!”
Zi Sang Yu had aged considerably, her eyes weary and haggard with the appearance of this treaty.
What Huangfu Quan demanded was neither territorial concessions nor reparations, nor even trade—it was for her most beloved crown prince to enter his palace as a consort!
This clause was undoubtedly a humiliation that stripped the Southern Zhen Kingdom of all dignity, yet they could not refuse! For three consecutive years, the kingdom had suffered severe floods, compounded by the miasma plaguing the south. They had no other choice!
Zi Sang Yu gazed at Zi Sang Mu kneeling on the ground, her heart filled with endless sorrow. “Back then, you…”
“It was my mistake! There is no room for affection on the battlefield. I have failed Your Majesty’s teachings! Since this matter targets me, let me atone for this error.”
Zi Sang Yu turned her back, unwilling to make this decision. This was the child she held in the highest regard, the one most like her!
“What am I to do?”
Zi Sang Yu had only Zi Sang Mu as her heir. If Zi Sang Mu went to the Northern Yue Kingdom, the Southern Zhen Kingdom would lose its successor. Among the collateral relatives, only Zi Sang Qian showed some promise, but his character was flawed.
Yet, at this moment, there was no choice. Zi Sang Mu’s departure to the Northern Yue Kingdom was already set in stone. No matter how reluctant Zi Sang Yu was, there was no alternative.
“Mu’er, take good care of yourself. If anything troubles you, remember to write to your mother.”
Thus, Zi Sang Mu embarked on a journey to the enemy nation, becoming a woman sent in marriage for alliance.
But Huangfu Quan did not honor the peace treaty.
A year after Zi Sang Mu entered the palace, he secretly harassed the Southern Zhen Kingdom day after day. Coupled with the epidemics caused by floods and miasma, the Southern Zhen Kingdom finally collapsed a year later, defeated.
Huangfu Quan strictly monitored Zi Sang Mu’s incoming and outgoing letters, leaving her isolated in the deep palace, completely unaware of these events.
Later, when Zi Sang Yu stopped writing, it was Consort Shu who deliberately revealed the truth, and only then did Zi Sang Mu learn that her kingdom had fallen and her family was lost!
She frantically sought an explanation from Huangfu Quan, but he repeatedly refused to see her!
At the time, she was seven months pregnant and nearly lost the child.
Jin Yu attended to Zi Sang Mu daily. Her medical skills were exceptional, and she worked tirelessly to save the child.
Zi Sang Mu hated Huangfu Quan—for deceiving her emotions, stripping her of her freedom, killing her loved ones, and destroying her homeland!
But she would not cry. Tears were a woman’s weapon, yet ultimately they were a sign of weakness. There was no need to shed tears for someone utterly worthless!
She would not shed a single tear for such a person. She could only fight back from the brink. This was the calamity she had sown with a moment of soft-heartedness. Since he had destroyed her kingdom and family, she would make him lose his throne!
“I discerned from your pulse that you were a woman, but your identity had to be confirmed by the emperor. That day, I had Qian Yu purchase a newborn boy from outside the palace to take your place. After the emperor verified your gender, Her Highness deliberately provoked him, and from then on, this place became the cold palace.”
Jin Yu slowly recounted the past events, handing her the letter in her hand.
“This is a letter His Highness never sent,” Jin Yu said with a smile as she handed the letter to Zi Sang Zhen. “When we first brought you back, you were already starting to recognize people. At first, you didn’t like His Highness, but later, when you weren’t by his side, you actually cried all night long.”
Zi Sang Zhen took the letter, her hands trembling slightly. “So I never really had a choice, did I?”
It was impossible not to feel hurt. The family she had believed loved her deeply had been using her from the moment she was born.
Zi Sang Zhen felt a tightness in her chest, her eyes already brimming with tears. If Jin Yu were to say “yes” at that moment, the floodgates would likely burst open in no time.
But Jin Yu only smiled, even seeming somewhat relieved. “That’s not the case. When you were six years old, we considered giving up.”
“At that time, His Highness managed to contact His Majesty. His Majesty is safe now, though he ended up displaced. If you are unwilling, Qian Yu and His Highness would do everything in their power to send you out of the palace. If you prefer, you could also remain in the palace as a carefree princess.”
Jin Yu took Zi Sang Zhen’s hands and spoke earnestly. “The choice lies entirely in your hands.”
Zi Sang Zhen opened her mouth but didn’t know what to ask, because she knew that no matter which choice she made, she might regret it.
But life is a series of choices at multiple crossroads.
Her mother had given her seven days to consider, and she didn’t want to make a hasty decision.
She shook her head and offered Jin Yu a faint smile. “In that case, I understand. But I need time to think about this.”
Jin Yu also knew the matter wasn’t so simple. If Zi Sang Zhen chose revenge, the path ahead would be even more difficult.
For all of them, if not for the hatred of the nation and the family’s vengeance, they would have preferred Zi Sang Zhen to take an easier path.
Because Zi Sang Zhen was the child they had cherished and raised!
“No training again today?” Zi Sang Zhen had arrived early in the morning on the lawn outside, but Qian Yu told her to go back. Zi Sang Zhen was utterly confused!
“Rest well. There’s no hurry for this,” Qian Yu insisted, ignoring Zi Sang Zhen’s objections and still urging her to return.
Zi Sang Zhen didn’t need to think any further—she already understood what was going on!
“Is it because I’m having my Kuishui?”
Qian Yu turned his face away, avoiding Zi Sang Zhen’s questioning gaze, but she clearly had no intention of letting him off. “Did Mother receive such preferential treatment back then?”
He hesitated, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to lie to Zi Sang Zhen. “Of course not.”
“Exactly! Since that’s the case, why am I being treated differently?!”
Zi Sang Zhen drew her sword and, without hesitation, launched a direct attack. Putting all her strength into her wrist, she held nothing back, going all out from the start.
Qian Yu immediately noticed Zi Sang Zhen’s lack of restraint, but every move and technique she used had been taught to her by him personally. With a sidestep and a redirecting force from his hands, he quickly evaded Zi Sang Zhen’s strike.
Zi Sang Zhen feinted, abandoning her sword, but her hand techniques showed no sign of slowing. She swept her leg horizontally, then used her lightweight skill to leap up, aiming straight for his neck.
But Qian Yu reacted even faster, grabbing Zi Sang Zhen by the ankle and pulling her down. Defeated in an instant, Zi Sang Zhen glared coldly at him. “Why treat me differently? Just because I’m not a real ‘prince’?”
Zi Sang Zhen was heartbroken by this. Was she being treated this way simply because she hadn’t given a clear answer? She couldn’t understand it!
Qian Yu helped her up and sighed, “It’s not that. It’s because you haven’t yet experienced ‘Tui-Shi,’ so I can’t push you too hard.”
“What’s that?” Zi Sang Zhen lifted her face to ask Qian Yu.
“That’s the ‘inheritance qualification’ that the royal women of Nan Zhen Kingdom fight for with their lives.”
He brushed the dust off Zi Sang Zhen’s clothes and gently patted her head, “If possible, I’d rather you choose the easier path.”
“Why?”
But such melancholy lasted only a moment before he resumed his usual demeanor, “It’s nothing.”