The Imperial Palace stood solemn and majestic.
Morning court had already ended, and at this moment, a touching display of “fatherly affection and filial devotion” was unfolding inside the Imperial Study.
Seated in a sandalwood chair, Shang Changge dabbed at nonexistent tears with a handkerchief, looking pitiful, helpless, and utterly wronged as she poured out her grievances.
“Father Emperor, the evidence against the Wen family is irrefutable! You must uphold justice for your daughter!
Right under the Son of Heaven’s nose, they first planted a poison doctor beside me, causing my headaches to worsen again and again. Unsatisfied with how slowly I was dying, they then bribed two of my maids to poison me.
And finally, they hired assassins from the martial world to take my life!
Such contempt for imperial authority is no different from disregarding Father Emperor himself!
Your daughter almost never got to see Father Emperor and Mother Empress again! Wuuu…”
The two assassins kneeling on the floor appeared to be trembling with fear.
In reality, they were covered in invisible black lines.
Look at this princess crying…
Who exactly was the female demon that nearly castrated us last night?
“Outrageous!”
The Emperor exploded with a furious roar.
Dressed in his dragon robes, the old Emperor grabbed a heavy inkstone and hurled it.
Whether intentionally or not, it struck one of the assassins squarely on the forehead.
Stars exploded before the man’s eyes.
His body tilted.
Then he collapsed unconscious.
Meanwhile, Shang Changge continued her tearful performance while secretly clicking her tongue.
The old Emperor was clearly venting his personal frustration.
These useless fools had failed to kill her and had even allowed themselves to be captured alive.
Of course he was angry.
“The daughter of Wen Shian has become utterly lawless!
My daughter—is she someone a mere fifth-rank official’s daughter can bully?!
Li Fuhai!
What are you standing there for?
Get your useless self over to the Wen Residence and drag both Wen Shian and that lawless daughter of his into the palace immediately!”
Perhaps afraid Shang Changge had suddenly developed a brain and might start suspecting things, the Emperor put on a convincing performance.
His face flushed red with rage as he shouted and ranted nonstop.
He certainly looked furious.
As for what he was actually furious about…
That was another matter entirely.
Li Fuhai was the elderly eunuch who had served the Emperor for decades.
Others might not know what the Emperor did behind closed doors.
Li Fuhai knew everything.
Yet he had to pretend ignorance and play along.
“Yes, yes, yes! Your Majesty, please calm your anger and take care of your sacred health.
This old servant will immediately lead men to the Wen Residence!”
After Li Fuhai left, Shang Changge hardened her heart and pinched her own thigh.
The sharp pain instantly brought tears to her eyes.
Looking up at the Emperor through watery lashes, she sniffled innocently.
“Father Emperor… the Wen family harmed your daughter so terribly.
You’ll execute them, won’t you?”
The old Emperor’s face immediately transformed into that of a loving father.
Patting the imperial desk forcefully, he answered without hesitation:
“Of course they must die!
Their entire family must die!”
His voice softened.
“There, there. Stop crying, Ge’er.
You are the daughter your mother and I have cherished in our palms since childhood.
If your eyes become swollen from crying and your mother sees it later, she’ll blame me again.
So don’t cry.
And don’t worry.
Once the Wen family is exterminated, let’s see who dares touch my Ge’er again.”
Then he continued:
“And those servants in your residence.
I’ve long said you should bring people out from the palace to serve you.
But Changze wouldn’t listen.
He insisted on sending people from his own household instead.
Look what happened.”
He shook his head.
“In my opinion, those servants should all be executed alongside the Wen family.
Then you can choose a fresh group from the palace.
That way you’ll have people you can trust.”
Shang Changge narrowed her eyes.
She wasn’t fond of thinking too hard, but that didn’t mean she was stupid.
People sent by her beautiful younger brother.
Or people sent by the Emperor.
Which group was more trustworthy?
She knew the answer perfectly well.
Of course, outright refusing would be unwise.
So she sniffed softly, stood, and gave the Emperor a respectful curtsy before continuing her award-worthy performance.
“Father Emperor, this daughter has another idea.
I’ve already grown accustomed to the people in my residence. Replacing everyone would be troublesome.”
She smiled sweetly.
“How about this?
Father Emperor can issue a decree stating that if I ever die, everyone in my residence must be buried with me.
That way, even if they ever think about betraying me, they’ll have to consider whether their own lives are worth the risk.”
Qingyao stood behind Shang Changge inside the Imperial Study.
Upon hearing those words, her expression didn’t change in the slightest.
In her eyes, this was only natural.
Her life belonged to her mistress.
If her mistress were gone, there would be no reason for her to continue living either.
For the first time, the Emperor did not answer immediately.
His eyes, aged by more than fifty years of life and sharpened by power, settled upon Shang Changge.
Though she kept her head lowered, she could clearly feel the invisible pressure radiating from the ruler of a nation.
She was already wondering whether the old man intended to stop pretending and simply have her killed outright—
When suddenly—
Laughter erupted.
“Good!
Good!”
Emperor Mingde descended from the dais and personally helped her to her feet.
Father and daughter looked at one another.
The very image of familial affection.
Patting the back of her hand, the Emperor praised her meaningfully.
“Ge’er has grown up.
You’re much smarter than before.
This pleases me greatly.”
At once, Shang Changge’s eyes lit up with delighted surprise.
Then, imitating the original owner, she proudly lifted her chin.
Displaying both the arrogance of Qingyan’s infamous Eldest Princess and the obedience expected of a daughter before her father, she declared:
“Well, of course.
Whose daughter do you think I am?”
Without attracting attention, she withdrew her hand from his grasp.
Her tone became bright and cheerful.
“Father Emperor, I still need to visit Mother Empress in Fengyi Palace, so I won’t stay here and disturb your work.
Once the Wen family is thoroughly dead, I’ll go see their miserable corpses myself.
Only then will the hatred in my heart be satisfied!”
“Very well. As you wish.”
Emperor Mingde nodded.
Then he suddenly put on a stern face.
“But don’t say things like ‘death’ so casually in the future.
It’s unlucky.”
Shang Changge immediately nodded like a pecking chick and continued acting cute and obedient.
At last, father and daughter separated with smiles on their faces—
While each harbored entirely different thoughts in their hearts.
Jing Xiuming was present as a witness.
Like the two assassins, he remained kneeling inside the Imperial Study.
As Shang Changge passed him on her way out, the hem of her brilliant gown swept past him without even the slightest pause.
She didn’t spare him a glance.
Much less any pity for a man about to die.
She had truly done exactly as she promised before entering the palace:
“After today, all debts and grievances between us are settled.”
Jing Xiuming lowered his eyes even further.
His long lashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
The handsome, pale face beneath them grew even paler when her skirts brushed past him.
Like a rabbit abandoned by its owner.
You don’t want me anymore, Sister…
You must regret saving me all those years ago…
It’s all my fault…
I was foolish enough to mistake someone else for you…
I nearly harmed you…
It’s all my fault…
But was death really enough?
How could mere death repay his mistakes?
How could it ever repay the kindness she had shown him?
“Men!”
The Emperor’s voice rang out.
“Drag these three villains who dared harm my daughter outside.
Execute them immediately!”
By then, Shang Changge and Qingyao had already walked some distance away.
Whether because her hearing was exceptionally sharp or because the Emperor intentionally spoke loudly enough for her to hear, she caught every word clearly.
Her eyes lifted slightly at the corners.
Yet she neither stopped nor reacted.
The original owner truly had died.
Hadn’t she?
A debt repaid for a debt.
Nothing more.