The morning light was soft, spilling evenly across Baohua Palace. Yet, unlike usual, the palace attendants were not sweeping or bustling about. Instead, they stood obediently at the gates, lined up in a row.
When Qin Fei awoke, her head throbbed as though splitting apart, as if countless flies were buzzing inside her skull. Opening her eyes, she was met with Emperor Qin’s face—beaming at her with a sycophantic smile.
Startled, Qin Fei shivered. *What a giant fly.*
“Fei’er, you’re awake,” the emperor said warmly, smoothing her daughter’s disheveled hair. “Were you too tired last night? Why sleep so little? Did you wake early because you knew your father was coming?”
“…”
*Truly, what a thick skin.*
Qin Fei pressed her forehead. “Father, why are you here?”
The emperor blinked innocently. “You’re my precious daughter. Why shouldn’t I come see you? I even brought fine golden cups and jade ornaments. It’s been so long since I visited—I hadn’t realized Baohua Palace was so shabby. Hardly fitting for my good girl.”
Shabby? Qin Fei glanced around, nearly blinded by the walls glittering with gold bricks. Was it her eyes that were faulty—or her father’s mind?
“Father, you really came today for no reason?” she asked with a forced smile.
The emperor pouted. “Must a father need a reason to visit his own daughter?”
“Well… no,” Qin Fei chuckled awkwardly.
“But…” The emperor’s tone shifted, suddenly grand. “Your bond with the Preceptor seems to be growing stronger.”
“?”
Qin Fei: “What makes you say that?”
“Don’t you remember?” The emperor smiled. “Last night, it was the Preceptor who carried you back into the palace. The palace is vast, yet he entrusted no one else—he cared for you himself.”
“?”
Father must be dreaming. What nonsense ghost story is this?
Qin Fei tried to recall. Her memory seemed broken off—her last clear moment was drinking with Wei Caixing at Zhenxiu Tower. After that… how had she returned?
She turned to Er Ya, who stood nearby. “Er Ya, how did I come back last night?”
Er Ya answered honestly: “The Preceptor carried you back.”
Qin Fei could hardly believe it. “He carried me back?”
Emperor Qin patted her hand. “Why pretend before your father? Earlier, Hejue joked about marrying your third sister. I knew at once it was only a jest—ha ha…”
Qin Fei fixed her gaze on him. The man’s sigh of relief was all too obvious in her eyes. “Father.”
The emperor raised his brows. “What is it?”
“Do you have other business?”
Seeing her impatience, the emperor clicked his tongue. “I haven’t even spoken of the real matter yet.”
Qin Fei gave a small sound. “What matter?”
“I underestimated you before, not knowing my Fei’er was so clever and brave. Yesterday, didn’t you go boating with the noble ladies of the capital?” He patted her hand again, proud as could be. “This morning, I received a pile of memorials praising you. They said bandits attacked the boat, and it was thanks to your wit and courage that the girls were saved. Tell your father—how did you do it?”
Qin Fei looked at his smug expression and sighed. “There were twenty bandits in all. Shouldn’t Father first worry about my safety?”
“Twenty of them?!” The emperor drew a sharp breath, scrutinized her, then raised a thumb. “Fei’er, truly—who do you take after? Your mother is timid and meek, but you are nothing like her. You take after your father’s valor!”
Qin Fei: “…”
“Really, I should never have kept you in the palace. If you had led troops to war, the Qin dynasty would be secure indeed.” He pulled her close by the shoulder. “Yes, you carry the spirit of your father.”
“Father, is there anything else?” Qin Fei asked with a polite smile.
The emperor thought for a moment. “Ah, yes—yesterday the Preceptor brought you back. You ought to thank him properly. The Cen family is vital to me. You must win his heart, so your father will have no worries.”
Qin Fei gave a cold laugh. “Naturally, Father.”
So in the end, it all circled back to Cen Hejue. The old fox was still uneasy about that jest Cen Hejue had made.
…
No sooner had she seen the emperor off than Consort Shen rushed in. She must have heard about the bandit attack. Her eyes were swollen from crying as she clasped Qin Fei tightly. “My child, are you unharmed?”
Qin Fei was nearly smothered. “Mother, I… I am fine.”
Only then did Consort Shen release her and immediately call for the imperial physician to take her pulse.
The physician pondered. “The princess’s pulse is steady and even—she is in good health.”
Consort Shen finally let out a breath of relief. After dismissing the imperial physician, she held Qin Fei close, weeping for a long while before asking how she had driven off the bandits.
Qin Fei had no choice but to explain: “There were guards on the boat. I devised a plan—had them lie in ambush, then struck when the bandits were unprepared. We knocked them out and threw them overboard.”
“How could you be so daring?” Consort Shen clutched her chest and seized Qin Fei’s hand. “From now on, don’t act rashly. In such matters, you must never put yourself forward, do you understand?”
Consort Shen had always believed in self-preservation and naturally taught her daughter the safest way to live.
“I know, Mother. Truly, if not for the Preceptor yesterday, I might have been in danger.” Qin Fei’s heart warmed, and she leaned lightly against her mother’s shoulder.
“He saved you again?” Consort Shen frowned. “I heard this morning—you were drunk last night, and it was the Preceptor who carried you back?”
Qin Fei nodded awkwardly. Though she remembered nothing, everyone said the same, so it could hardly be false.
“Between people, sincerity matters most. It seems I misjudged him before.” After a long pause, Consort Shen said, “If he truly treats you with sincerity, then you must treat him well in return. Only then can the two of you endure.”
Consort Shen had no family background; she entered the palace by beauty alone. Emperor Qin disliked her temperament and soon grew weary of her. From the start, she had resigned herself to a cold, lonely life. The imperial household was the most heartless of all. She did not want her daughter to suffer the same fate.
“I’ve prepared bird’s nest and ginseng soup. Later, send it to the Cen residence as thanks,” Consort Shen advised.
Qin Fei frowned. “Is that proper?”
Her mother squeezed her hand. “The Preceptor may seem cold and aloof, but I’ve heard of how he treats you. He is not without kindness, and he has a sense of responsibility. If you can secure a place in his heart, your life will be smooth and secure.”
Consort Shen was not wrong. If Qin Fei wanted to live idly in the Cen household, she would indeed need to win Cen Hejue’s favor.
“…I understand, Mother…” Qin Fei began, but was interrupted by hurried footsteps outside.
An attendant entered the inner hall and knelt before her. “Your Highness, the Preceptor is investigating yesterday’s bandit attack on your boat. He requests your presence to provide clues.”
She hadn’t even gone to find him—he had already come seeking her.
When Qin Fei arrived at the yamen, the hall was already crowded with people. Dazzled, she could only walk toward the highest seat.
Cen Hejue sat at the side of the main court, on equal footing with the Prefect.
“Greetings to the Eighth Princess.” The Prefect of Kaifeng bowed deeply when he saw her.
“No need for ceremony.” Qin Fei coughed twice, glancing at the man beside the Prefect. He inclined his head to her. “Your Highness.”
Cen Hejue’s expression remained calm, giving no hint that it was he who had carried her back to the palace the night before.
Qin Fei quietly glanced around. Sensing her unease, Cen Hejue tapped the seat beside him with his knuckles. “Here.”
She hurried up the steps and sat down at his side.
“Drink this.” He pushed a teacup across the table toward her.
Qin Fei eyed it suspiciously, sniffed, and asked, “What is it?”
“Poisoned,” Cen Hejue replied without a flicker of emotion.
At that, Qin Fei relaxed. If he said it was poisoned, then it certainly wasn’t.
The Prefect of Kaifeng smiled at her. “It’s a sobering brew, Your Highness. The Young Master ordered it prepared early this morning. Drink it and you won’t have a headache.”
Qin Fei quickly lifted the cup and took a large gulp, only to nearly gag from the bitterness.
Two more taps sounded on the table.
She looked down to see a paper packet with two candied fruits inside.
Startled, she glanced at Cen Hejue, a strange respect rising in her chest. She popped the sweets into her mouth, barely suppressing the bitterness.
“Thank you.” She leaned closer, offering him the food box that Consort Shen had entrusted to her. “This is bird’s nest and ginseng water my mother prepared. You were exhausted last night—she said you should replenish your strength.”
The Prefect of Kaifeng promptly sprayed his tea, his gaze darting between Cen Hejue and Qin Fei.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Cen Hejue, who had been perfectly composed, suddenly flushed crimson, even his ears burning as he glared at her.
Qin Fei looked innocent. “What’s wrong? Men should take good care of themselves. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Don’t be fooled by your youth—men’s prime doesn’t last long. If you don’t maintain your health now, later—” Before she could finish, a broad hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her.
“Mm—” Cen Hejue’s eyes warned her sharply. “This is a public court. Don’t speak recklessly. If the wrong ears catch wind of it, there will be misunderstandings.”
Qin Fei raised her brows, blinking, and instinctively glanced at the Prefect—the only one close enough to hear them. His head was practically buried in his teacup. “This teacup is… quite the teacup,” he muttered, studying it intently.
“Mm-hmm.” Qin Fei nodded obediently at him, playing along. Only then did Cen Hejue release her, pausing before taking the food box from her hands. “Since it’s from Consort Shen, I’ll accept it.”
“So why did you summon me today?” Qin Fei asked the Prefect curiously.
He quickly replied, “We investigated those bandits and found the matter far from simple. They weren’t ordinary brigands—they were sent specifically to attack you.”
At his words, Qin Fei’s mind flashed back to Tan Hua’s earnest invitation to her and Gu Nian the day before.
“Have you thought of something?” Cen Hejue questioned her.
Qin Fei thought for a moment. “Yesterday, Gu Nian and I hadn’t planned to board that large ship. But midway, their vessel rammed into ours. Gu Nian worried our small boat might be unsafe, so we boarded theirs.”
“And during the voyage…” She paused, then lowered her voice to Cen Hejue. “Tan Hua and Pang Xiangsi deliberately sent Gu Nian away. By the time I found her again, she was already drunk and unconscious, unable to move. I suspect they did it on purpose.”
Cen Hejue gave a soft “Oh.” “What makes you think so?”
“It’s only a suspicion,” Qin Fei admitted.
She analyzed further: “Tan Hua and Pang Xiangsi are close friends of Qin Xiu. Qin Xiu has tried to frame Gu Nian several times without success. I suspect those bandits yesterday were targeting Gu Nian. They lured us onto the ship, deliberately got her drunk so she couldn’t escape—when the bandits came, she had no chance to run.”
Cen Hejue paused at her words. “Go on.”
Qin Fei recalled, “And when the bandits attacked, Tan Hua and Pang Xiangsi were nowhere on board. It was as if they already knew danger was coming and fled in advance.”
“So you believe Tan Hua meant to harm Gu Nian.” Cen Hejue’s gaze flickered, as though something had occurred to him.
Soon after, Tan Hua and her father, Tan Mian, were summoned to court.
“Your humble servant greets the Princess and the Young Master.”
Tan Mian lifted his robe and knelt.
Seeing Qin Fei, Tan Hua trembled guiltily before kneeling as well. “This humble daughter greets the Princess and the Perceptor.”
“Lord Tan, do you know why you’ve been summoned today?” Cen Hejue looked down at the father and daughter from the dais.
Tan Mian faltered, swallowing nervously. “This servant… does not know.”
“You don’t know?” Cen Hejue’s smile was unreadable. “First, you used the Qianjin Pavilion for embezzlement, then killed its master—and you claim ignorance?”
Embezzlement? Qin Fei glanced at Cen Hejue in confusion. He was the one who killed the pavilion master—so what did the Tan family’s embezzlement have to do with it?
“Your servant is innocent!” Tan Mian shivered on the floor. “Perceptor, you mustn’t wrong me so unjustly!”
“Wrong you?” Cen Hejue’s eyes remained calm. “You abused your office, taking bribes from examination candidates, deliberately suppressing the scores of poor scholars. With the money you embezzled, you promoted a batch of useless men into court positions. And since you couldn’t spend that money openly, you funneled it through the Qianjin Pavilion.”
Qin Fei’s heart jolted at the revelation.
So Tan Mian wasn’t just corrupt—he was thoroughly rotten.
“I—I did no such thing!” Tan Mian knew Cen Hejue’s reach was vast, but he hadn’t realized it was this boundless. His own dealings had always been kept clean, with the Pang family shielding him in the palace—how had word reached Cen Hejue’s ears?
“You still claim innocence?” Cen Hejue’s voice dropped low as he slammed a stack of examination papers onto Tan Mian’s chest. “These are this year’s exam scripts. I’ve reviewed them all. And you still dare to quibble?”
Qin Fei, listening, couldn’t help her curiosity. “But isn’t the Qianjin Pavilion under the court’s authority? How did Tan Mian manipulate it?”
“An excellent question, Your Highness.” Cen Hejue’s lips curved faintly. “Tan Mian sent useless trinkets from his household to the Pavilion for auction. Those who bribed him would then buy them at inflated prices.”
Qin Fei understood immediately.
Pinning the murder on the Tan family wasn’t so bad—Tan Mian was hardly innocent.
Taking bribes, crushing the hopes of countless poor scholars…
“And beyond corruption and murder, Lord Tan has raised quite a daughter.” Cen Hejue’s back was straight, his tone cool yet steady, enough to make Tan Hua tremble.
*Smack!* The heavy slap of his palm on the table startled even Qin Fei, who stared at him in disbelief.
The man rose, slowly approaching Tan Hua, his words deliberate. “Miss Tan, do you despise me so much?”
Tan Hua’s teeth chattered. “N-no, not at all.”
“If you don’t despise me, why send assassins after the Princess?”
Cen Hejue’s pupils chilled. “Was it not to make me a widower?”
At the word *widower*, Qin Fei froze, goosebumps prickling her skin. For a moment, she didn’t know which part of his statement to focus on. Hadn’t she just told him Tan Hua wanted to kill Gu Nian?
Why had the target suddenly shifted to her?
“Perceptor, my daughter has always been well-behaved. How could she possibly attempt to assassinate Her Highness?” Tan Mian cried, shielding his daughter. “She bears no grudge against the Princess.”
“No grudge?” Cen Hejue folded his arms. “My Ah Fei is peerless, unmatched in beauty. Even if a celestial goddess descended, she wouldn’t compare to a single finger of hers. Perhaps your daughter was simply jealous of my Ah Fei.”
Qin Fei: …??
Since when had she become *his*? And those flowery praises—were they really words Cen Hejue would say? Had he been possessed?