Chapter 5 — Calling Off the Wedding at the Shen Estate

Truong Lac, why have you returned to the palace so soon?

Once wed, one cannot remain as wilful as before.

Before my words had even faded, the Emperor’s gaze fell upon me. More specifically, it landed upon the obsidian-colored cloak I wore, beneath which the edge of a snow-white undergarment was left in disarray. The smile upon the Emperor’s face froze instantly.

What is the meaning of this?

I shook my head gently. Father, please calm your anger. Your daughter is unharmed.

Yen Soc stepped forward and recounted every detail of the events that had transpired at the Shen estate, omitting nothing. As the Emperor listened, his expression grew increasingly ominous. By the end, the teacup in his hand shattered under the pressure of his grip.

A fine Shen family indeed! I bestowed upon them my most beloved princess, and this is how they repay my favor? They dare to humiliate my Truong Lac in such a manner? Guards! Issue a decree immediately—

Yen Soc suddenly interjected. Your Majesty, the matter in the Northern Territory that I was commanded to investigate now has its results.

The Emperor’s demeanor shifted to one of grave focus. You have found the truth?

Yes. Yen Soc bowed his head and spoke in a low, resonant voice. I implore your Majesty to move the court to the celestial prison.

Inside the damp, shadowed confinement of the celestial prison, Shen Nghien huddled in a corner, his hair a wild, matted mess. Beside him, Lieu Y Y clutched a severed hand, hovering on the verge of fainting. Only the Matriarch of the Shen clan remained seated on a straw mat, her spine rigid, still gripping the phoenix-headed staff that symbolized her status.

Princess, do you believe that locking me away in this prison constitutes a victory? She slowly smoothed her rumpled robes, her expression still maintaining a sliver of aristocratic disdain. I am the Matriarch of An Quoc, personally titled by the late Emperor, and Nghien has rendered service by saving the life of the Sovereign. If he had not risked his own life to shield the throne from assassins, his Majesty would have perished long ago. The Emperor himself bestowed upon us the iron scroll of amnesty, granting the Shen family prosperity for generations to come.

She lifted her head, looking at me with a cold, mocking smile. You are nothing more than a daughter who has been married off. Even if you have suffered grievances today, you have no authority to surpass the Emperor’s decree in judging my house. As soon as his Majesty sees me, he will be reminded of the years I spent acting as a mother to him!

Hearing this, Shen Nghien regained a shred of his former arrogance. He scrambled forward on his knees. Grandmother is right! No matter how favored you are, your Highness cannot simply slaughter loyal subjects without cause!

I let out a sudden, sharp laugh. I stepped slowly toward him, looking down from my height, and spoke: Shen Nghien, are you certain that the act you claim as saving the Emperor was truly your own doing?

Shen Nghien’s throat bobbed, and cold sweat erupted across his forehead. Yet, he gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. Of... of course. Every official in the court knows of it! Do you think you can simply label it a lie?

I gestured lightly. A black wooden box was presented by the soldiers of the Northern Territory. I opened it, spreading a thick stack of secret letters, confessions, and dossiers across the stone table. The letter on top was addressed to Shen Nghien, clearly marked with the wolf-head seal of the Northern Di royal court.

Matters as grave as the assassination of an Emperor cannot be dismissed with a simple claim of heroism, I said. How the attempt occurred, why it was orchestrated, and by whom—everything must be brought to light. You surely did not believe that by pretending to save the Emperor, your secrets would be buried alongside the corpses of the assassins.

Shen Nghien began to tremble violently. I unfolded a confession. To fabricate the merit of saving the Emperor, you engaged in back-channel deals with enemy spies! As a subject of the Great Chu, Shen Nghien, how dare you commit such treason!

Shen Nghien’s face drained of all color, his lips trembling uncontrollably. No... that is not...

I laughed coldly. It is a pity that the enemy spies never intended to play along with your charade. They truly meant to take his Majesty’s life. If Yen Soc had not arrived with the Northern troops in time, do you truly believe a coward like you could have stopped those death squads?

Within the cell, the air turned frigid as everyone’s faces went pale. I continued, It is even more laughable that you thought you had slaughtered all the assassins to silence them. You never imagined that several spies escaped during the chaos, fleeing toward the Northern Territory to coordinate an internal strike with the enemy forces at the border.

I raised my eyes to meet Yen Soc’s. The Emperor, fearing that any premature action would alert the enemy, ordered the Marquis of Wu An to remain at the border and track the remnants of these spies. As for my marriage into the Shen family, it was purely to prevent you from being further manipulated by foreign agents into committing irreparable crimes. I was merely sent to watch over you.

I turned my gaze to the Matriarch, who was still struggling to maintain her composure. Matriarch, I am indeed a minor princess. The humiliation I suffered at your hands is of little consequence. But now that Shen Nghien has committed the capital crime of extermination, I wonder what you, the Matriarch of An Quoc, intend to use to protect him?

The color fled from the Matriarch’s face in an instant, leaving her a hollow shell.