Li Dequan watched as the emperor had already circled the two Ru porcelain vases, separated as if at the ends of the earth, for the seventh time.
“Your Majesty… aren’t you dizzy? I’m already feeling faint just watching.”
Miss Jing Miaoyi is sick? Why is she sick? She was fine when she left the palace that day.
Is it because of me?
Or is it because she feels too guilty toward Shen Jueming, pressed so hard that she can’t breathe?
No, no, could it really be that I am not as important as that wretched Shen Jueming?
Besides, they are already divorced; the divorce has been stamped by the local authorities.
Even if I had ordered it directly without following procedures, it’s not my fault. She has nothing to do with Shen Jueming anymore; her illness cannot be because of me.
“Li Dequan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Li Dequan hurriedly ran forward.
“Am I angry?”
Li Dequan quickly shook his head. “Your Majesty is the true dragon emperor, commanding respect naturally.”
“Hehe.” The emperor grabbed his ear. “If you keep fooling me like this, do you believe I’ll cut your ear off and have the imperial kitchen make you a cold pig-ear dish?”
“Your Majesty, how dare I…” Li Dequan looked up at the emperor, choosing his words carefully. “Even with a gentle tone, Your Majesty’s presence commands utmost respect; no one dares to act carelessly.”
The emperor frowned, arms crossed. “It’s really because of me, isn’t it?”
“?” Li Dequan tilted his head, thinking the emperor’s thoughts were jumping too fast.
“I’m leaving the palace.”
“Ah?” Li Dequan immediately knelt, blocking the emperor. “Your Majesty, you must not go! Miss Jing is currently at the Yan residence. If you go, how will it be explained? The Jing family of Qingzhou is very strict with rules and etiquette. If… just if someone takes advantage, Miss Jing could be in mortal danger.”
The emperor’s cold gaze fixed on Li Dequan, who was sweating bullets, not daring to move a step.
The young emperor had just encountered someone interesting; naturally, he was easily invested. As a close attendant, Li Dequan’s mind had to stay alert.
“Heh,” the emperor sneered, crouching down and patting him on the shoulder. “Who told you I’m going to see Jing Miaoyi?”
Li Dequan, seeing the emperor finally calm down, covered his mouth. “Your Majesty, your servant spoke out of turn.”
“All right, I see you’re willing to bear some punishment,” the emperor said irritably, sitting on the dragon throne.
When Wei Wuyan entered, it was the first time he saw the emperor not reviewing memorials but doodling on paper.
Confused, he glanced at Li Dequan, who was gesturing frantically, while Wei Wuyan thought it looked like some kind of magic symbols.
He stepped forward and whispered into the emperor’s ear.
The emperor’s hand holding the brush paused. “You mean the Princess?”
Wei Wuyan nodded.
“Because of Shen Jueming?”
Wei Wuyan’s expression darkened. “Your Majesty, have you forgotten the engagement between the Cui and Jing families back then?”
The emperor’s expression hardened. “The Princess of Changle is already three years old, and my eldest sister still hasn’t let it go?”
Wei Wuyan said nothing. Even if the princess had passed away, it’s doubtful she would have let it go. Everyone knew the eldest princess of Daqian had a heart smaller than sesame seeds.
The emperor whispered a few words to Wei Wuyan.
Princess Residence
A maid had just poured water into the flowerbeds when blood seeped from the soil.
The maid rubbed her eyes, and the next moment, screamed.
“You dead girl, what’s going on?!”
She collapsed, trembling violently, teeth chattering. “Grandmother… bodies… so many dead…”
Before finishing, the little maid fainted.
Even the experienced grandmother gagged upon seeing the corpses scattered across the flowerbeds.
“Someone! Quick, come quickly!”
The eldest princess lay on the noblewoman’s chair in a gorgeous red gauze dress draped over her shoulders. Her long legs extended gracefully, hands pressing with measured force.
With a soft, enchanting hum from the princess, the maids outside blushed. In recent days, such sounds often came from the princess’s quarters.
Since the divorce from Shen Jueming, visits had become more frequent, making the princess even more excited, causing those guarding outside to flush with embarrassment.
“It’s bad, Your Highness!” Elder Chang burst in, not noticing the threshold, pulling the curtain aside.
Inside, the scene was shocking, and everyone quickly knelt, closing their eyes.
Shen Jueming climbed off the princess, a warm but angry expression on his face, yet he first adjusted her clothing.
“What’s the fuss?” The princess was still annoyed by the disruption.
“Your Highness, in the courtyard… there are bodies… not fragments.”
The princess stood abruptly. “What did you say?”
She put on her shoes, kicked aside the curtain, and moved toward the backyard, the smell of blood hitting her before she arrived.
Seeing the sword-bearing Jingu guards and officials, her frown deepened.
“Who reported this?”
The leader, in deep crimson robes, bowed. “Junior Minister of the Court of Justice pays respects, Your Highness.”
Another stepped forward. “Vice Minister of Punishments pays respects, Your Highness.”
“Middle Commander of the Jingu Guards pays respects, Your Highness.”
The princess sneered. “I didn’t know my residence would be so lively today. By protocol, this matter should have been reviewed by He’an County, and only if they failed, transferred to Qizhou Prefecture. Yet the Ministry of Punishments, the Court of Justice, and Jingu Guards were all alerted.”
The princess’s gaze fell on the head beneath the white cloth, realizing instantly that this was the person she had sent to assassinate Jing Miaoyi.
That shameless Jing Miaoyi dared publicly challenge her? She had stirred up the Court of Justice, Punishments, and Jingu Guards—how audacious.
“Your Highness, we act under the emperor’s orders.”
“The emperor commands that multiple corpses appeared at the Princess’s residence. Concerned for your safety, he ordered the Ministry of Punishments and the Court of Justice to investigate, with the Jingu Guards assisting, to capture the culprit within ten days.”
The princess narrowed her eyes, showing no emotion. Cui Hao had dragged this matter to the emperor.
A joke—he thinks this will intimidate me. The more he protects her, the more I want her to suffer.
“I understand the emperor’s intentions.”
The princess swished her sleeve and turned.
Shen Jueming glanced at the wounds on the severed limbs, his expression shifting, and followed the princess.
Before entering, he heard the crash of porcelain. A flash of impatience crossed his eyes. “Princess, no need to be so angry. The emperor cares for you.”
He obediently took out a handkerchief, carefully wiping her palms.
The princess looked at the man kneeling beside her, calm and composed, a subtle smile on her lips. “Shen Lang.”
The man slightly shifted.
“Do you know who these corpses are?”
Shen Jueming met her gaze, a vague thought forming.
“Exactly as you think,” the princess’s armor lifted his chin. “These are the people I arranged to assassinate Jing Miaoyi.”
Shen Jueming froze.
“Shen Lang, you won’t blame me, will you?”
Miaoyi—was she hurt? No, he had to go back.
“Shen Lang, are you worried for her? Don’t worry, she’s alive; she survived.”
The princess’s hand discreetly grasped his neck, her gaze growing colder.
Shen Jueming sneered. “A discarded ex-wife, why would I care? My heart belongs only to the princess.”
He looked at her tenderly, lifting her into his arms and heading toward the inner chamber.
The princess wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers toying with his earlobe, her hot breath on his neck. “Shen Lang, since you love me so much, then kill her for me. You know my heart is small; if she lives, how can I trust your heart belongs only to me?”
She raised her hand.
Elder Chang produced a bottle of medicine, placing it in Shen Jueming’s hand.
“This medicine is colorless and tasteless; once taken, death is immediate,” the princess raised an eyebrow.
She pressed her head to his shoulder, whispering like a demon: “Shen Lang, don’t you know I’m vengeful? If she doesn’t die, you will.”
“Imperial Physician Zhang, how is my sister?”
Zhang, grabbed by Princess Zhao Jia, shook violently, nearly vomiting last night’s leftovers.
Yan Qingzhi, embarrassed, pulled his wife back. “Imperial Physician Zhang, how is my junior sister’s condition?”
Zhang sighed deeply.
“Don’t sigh, Imperial Physician! You are the finest in the Imperial Medical Office.”
As the saying goes, it’s not illness to fear, but the doctor’s sigh.
Zhang, trembling under the pressure of Princess Zhao Jia, hurriedly explained: “Miss Jing is young but burdened, with too many worries and poor rest. The shock caused persistent high fever. Prior medications risked harm if continued. The current fever persists because she’s trapped in nightmares. Someone close should comfort her. She repeatedly calls for father and brother; let them soothe her.”
“Impossible, Imperial Physician. Miaoyi’s father is gone, and I…” Princess Zhao Jia hadn’t finished when Yan Qingzhi covered her mouth.
“Hua’er, take Imperial Physician Zhang back to the palace.”
“Ah!” Yan Qingzhi loosened his hand in pain. “I said, wife, why bite me?”
“If you let Zhang go, what about Miaoyi? What a joke—should I dig up Master Jing’s grave? And Miaoyi is an only child; where would a brother come from?”
Yan Qingzhi glanced at the servants; everyone quickly withdrew.
Only the two remained inside.
“Do you know the Oath at Sishui?”
Princess Zhao Jia’s eyes lit up. “I… could it be Cui—”
Yan Qingzhi quickly covered her mouth.
“Really?”
He nodded.
Having joined the sect at thirteen, he knew these matters best.
“I…” Princess Zhao Jia didn’t know what to say, biting her nails.
“Lives are at stake; never mind. You’re colleagues; just summon him to the residence.”
“He won’t come.”
“If he won’t come, tie him here. Back then, he broke his promise.”