A gentle breeze blew, causing the candle flames to flicker and sway.
Seeing the meaningful smile spread across Shen Ying’s face, Wei Jinhu felt a chill run down his spine.
“Sister Ying, am I not right in what I said?”
“What do you think? Wildfire can never burn everything away, for the grass grows again when the spring wind blows. This child is still young now and poses no threat to you, but what of the future? He will grow up eventually.”
Raised under the red flag and nurtured by the spring breeze.
When she had first arrived in this world after crossing over, she too had been soft-hearted, believing that one should show mercy whenever possible.
Yet the inner palace was a place of constant danger and bloodshed, where kindness could cost people their lives—even the lives of their companions.
That was why they held fast to the principle of rooting out every trace of trouble, leaving no hidden danger behind.
“Very well. Think carefully about what I have said. Go and rest now, and tomorrow evening we will settle the score and reclaim what belongs to us.”
Shen Ying carried the child back to her room.
In the main hall, Wei Jinhu and his sister Chunya stood facing each other, neither speaking.
After a long while, Wei Jinhu finally found his voice again. “Does Sister Ying mean we should kill the child?”
Chunya’s small face tightened with resolve. “And what if that is what she means? Since we have already declared them our enemies, why not eliminate all of them? What does it matter that he is a child? He will grow up one day. I would rather wrong all the people in the world than let any of them wrong me.”
“Ah, you little rascal. You have only just learned to read and write for a few days, yet here you are spouting lofty phrases and fancy words.”
Wei Jinhu realized he was being looked down upon by the young girl, and his expression filled with discontent.
Chunya paid him no mind, turning around and walking back to her own room.
The moon hung high above the willow branches.
Back in her quarters, Shen Ying took out some medicine she had purchased several days earlier.
She knew that what she had said earlier had come as a profound shock to everyone present, yet some truths were better spoken sooner rather than later.
In times of chaos, those who clung to blind kindness and misplaced mercy often became the first to fall.
It was good that Wei Jinhu possessed a chivalrous spirit, but without the strength and ability to act on it, such virtue amounted to nothing more than empty words.
The further south they traveled, the more refugees they encountered.
Her words that day had also been a test, to see whether Chunya and the others would be swayed by foolish compassion.
After all, if they let their soft hearts guide them into sharing their limited food supplies with strangers, it would bring nothing but utter disaster upon them all.
The Second Prince had fallen asleep, his small mouth twitching slightly as if he had just tasted something delicious.
Tears glistened in Shen Ying’s eyes. “My young master, even if I must lay down my own life, I will protect you at all costs.”
Thud, thud, thud. The sound of knocking echoed against the door.
“Anyone inside? Open up. We are government officials searching for fugitives. All women and children in the house are to come out immediately.”
Women and children.
Shen Ying’s face turned pale. Glancing at the soundly sleeping Second Prince, she picked up a porcelain bottle and, without the slightest hesitation, sprinkled its powdered contents over the child.
In an instant, the fair skin of the young prince’s face turned bright red, covered in a dense rash of small bumps that was a harrowing sight to behold.
Bracing herself with grim determination, she then sprinkled the same powder across her own face.
…
In the open courtyard outside.
Having learned from past mistakes, Wei Jinhu bowed and scraped before the officials, his manner extremely deferential. “Honorable Sirs, what brings you here at this late hour?”
“We have every reason to be here. Neighbors have reported that you have an infant of several months in this house. Bring the child out so we may see him. Also, what is the relationship between all of you? Where have you come from, and where are you heading?”
The officials took out a portrait and swept their stern gazes across everyone present.
Wei Jinhu’s heart tightened, but recalling the instructions Shen Ying had given him, he spoke his lies smoothly and without hesitation. “We do indeed have a child in our home. He is my elder sister’s son. My sister has led a hard life. She once worked as a servant in the household of a wealthy family, but was violated by the young master of the house and cast out onto the streets. With nowhere else to turn, we had no choice but to travel back to our hometown…”
Chunya and Tudou stepped out from their rooms, nodding in agreement with every word he said.
The officials frowned, clearly not entirely convinced. “Enough of this idle talk. Bring the person out here immediately.”
The wooden door creaked open.
Shen Ying walked out from inside, her clothing not yet fully fastened, giving the appearance of someone who had just woken from sleep. “What is happening here?”
“Good heavens! What has happened to you?”
At the sight of Shen Ying’s appearance, the expressions of everyone in the courtyard shifted in alarm.
The officials reacted with great alarm, stepping back rapidly to keep their distance. “What is the matter with you?”
Shen Ying instinctively raised her sleeve to cover her face. “Honorable Sirs, please do not be afraid. This is neither an infectious plague nor a deadly fever. It is the result of being poisoned. The young mistress of the household where I once served was cruel and ruthless, and she forced me to swallow poison against my will. Cough, cough, cough… I do not have long left to live. Woe is me…”
As if recalling painful memories, tears began to stream down her face without end.
Hearing this, the officials moved even further away. “Now I recognize you. You are Liu Ruxie, who once worked as a maid. Very well, return to your room at once. We will continue our search elsewhere.”
The officials valued their own lives greatly, and without even stepping inside to inspect the child, they turned and departed.
The moment the main gate was closed, Wei Jinhu and the others gathered around Shen Ying at once.
Shen Ying waved her hand to reassure them. “It is nothing serious. The effects will fade away after seven days. However, starting tomorrow, I will need to wear a veil whenever I go out.”
Hearing this, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.
The officials had left, but the danger was far from over.
It was destined to be a night where no one would find rest.
Throughout the entire lane, government officials went from door to door asking whether any strangers had taken up residence, and they inspected every child with extreme care and thoroughness.
Even the child born just a few months earlier to a family living locally—whose status was confirmed by all their neighbors—was examined again and again by the officials.
It was clear that new orders had been sent from the capital, commanding them to locate the Second Prince at all costs.
Inside the pitch-black room, Shen Ying remained wide awake through the entire night, listening intently to every sound coming from the surrounding area.
It was not until the first light of dawn began to brighten the sky and the officials finally departed from the lane that she was able to breathe a heavy sigh of relief.
What was she to do now?
The searches conducted by the authorities were growing stricter with each passing day, and the question of the child’s true identity remained a grave concern.
As the morning light spread across the land, Shen Ying set out early the next day, bringing Wei Jinhu and the child with her to the local government office.
“Honorable Sir, I beg you to grant us a way to survive. This child was born in secret, and neither the young master nor the young mistress of the household I served knows of his existence. If they were to find out, they would certainly take his life. Now, before my own life comes to an end, I only wish to secure a future for this child. I beg you, please help me register him in the official household records, and list him under the name of my cousin. Would that be possible?”
Tears streamed down Shen Ying’s face as she spoke, her voice trembling with grief, and she recounted her life story in the most tragic and pitiful terms imaginable.
Though the official was moved by her words, he remained unmoved by her plea. “This is not permitted under the law and regulations. If everyone were to come here and ask for such favors, the entire system would fall into chaos.”
Raising her head, Shen Ying caught the glint of calculation in the official’s eyes. Concealed beneath the wide sleeve of her clothing, she slipped a banknote into his hand. “I would not ask for such a thing unless I had absolutely no other choice. My only wish now is that this child may live. I beg you, please help me.”
The official did not give an immediate reply. Instead, he carefully examined the banknote in his hand. “Very well. Wait here a moment, and I will process this for you right away.”
It was often said that money could make even the spirits work for you, and it seemed that saying held true.
In less time than it took to drink a cup of tea, the Second Prince was finally granted a legal and recognized identity.
From that day onward, his name would be Wei Bao’er.
“Remember this well. From this moment forward, no matter who asks you any questions, you must tell the exact same story we have agreed upon.” Shen Ying spoke each word slowly and clearly, her tone carrying a sharp note of warning.
Wei Jinhu nodded his head firmly. “I understand. Once we leave this county town, you will be my elder cousin, and this child will be known as my son. As for those two, they will be my younger brother and sister.”
During this visit, Shen Ying had not only secured an official travel permit for the Second Prince, but had also arranged new legal identities for Chunya and Tudou.
From that point on, should they encounter government officials conducting searches in the future, their group would no longer be viewed with suspicion.
Having completed all necessary arrangements, Shen Ying and her companions were just about to depart when a large group of government officials came running toward them from a distance.