Chapter 5 — Ten Years in the Palace

The one chosen to enter the palace was supposed to be Shen Yunzhi, who remained unbetrothed. Yet Yunzhi refused. By nature, she loved her freedom, weeping aloud that she would rather perish in the rivers and lakes than be caged within the towering palace walls. The entire Shen family had knelt before Shen Qing, pleading for her mercy. Initially, Shen Qing refused to yield, for back then, she was still eagerly awaiting Xie Lin to come and propose marriage. It was Qin Ngongzhi who had brutally intervened during that fragile moment. He had dispatched men to intercept the explanatory letter Xie Lin sent to her. The letter stated that the so-called breaking of the engagement was merely a maneuver forced upon the Zhenbei Marquis estate by powerful adversaries. He had to journey to the Northern Frontier to earn military merits, vowing that upon his triumphant return, he would take her as his wife.

Yet Shen Qing never laid eyes on those words. All she knew was that Xie Lin had turned his back and walked away, leaving her behind. The entire capital mocked her for being abandoned. It was then that Ngongzhi approached her, whispering with calculated gentleness: "If you enter the palace, I will protect you." At that time, Qing was drowning in sorrow. Therefore, she took Yunzhi's place and entered the palace, locking herself away within those crimson walls for ten long years. Later, a battle report arrived from the Northern Frontier bearing the news that Xie Lin had fallen in battle, leaving not even a trace of his mortal remains. That very night, Ngongzhi sat alone in the imperial study, gazing upon that victorious dispatch, and laughed softly to himself throughout the entire night. He truly believed that from that moment onward, no one else would ever be able to contest Shen Qing with him.

Yet now, the man who should have long been dead stood alive and resolute before him. Shen Qing stood right behind Xie Lin, looking at the emperor as though his very presence was utterly superfluous. Ngongzhi raised his hand, his voice dropping to a chilling, heavy register.

"Shen Qing, come here."

I lifted my gaze to meet his. Ngongzhi stood a few paces away, flanked by a sea of dark-armored guards. He retained that aloof, high-and-mighty posture as if a mere command from his lips should compel me to lower my head and return obediently to his side as I had done countless times before. But I had already walked that treacherous path once. From the Shen estate to the palace gates, and from those gates to the Phoenix Pavilion. That single journey had cost me ten years of my youth. I lowered my gaze to the parcel of chestnut pastries in my hands; the oiled paper was already wrinkled from my tight grip. Once upon a time, I had adored this sweet delicacy, prompting Ngongzhi to order the imperial kitchens to prepare a fresh batch for me daily—served on golden platters and jade bowls, sweet enough to cloy the senses. But it was never truly what my heart desired, just as the empty title of Empress had never been what I wished for. I shook my head, turned, and mounted my steed.

"I am not returning."

Ngongzhi watched me, his voice sinking ominously.

"Shen Qing, if you dare to leave today, it is considered treason against an imperial decree."

"Defying a decree is punishable by death."

"Every single member of the Shen family will be implicated by your actions."

I let out a low laugh.

"Does Your Majesty intend to execute my entire clan down to the ninth generation?"

Ngongzhi stared at me in tight-lipped silence. I nodded gently.

"The only family member I ever cared for was my mother."

"And she passed away many years ago."

His expression finally fractured. Perhaps he never imagined that I would willingly sever ties even with the Shen family. In the past, I had been far too sensible—so understanding that when the Shen family asked me to take Yunzhi's place, I went without protest; so compliant that when Ngongzhi stole away in the night to visit her, I never uttered a single word of reproach. Because of this, they had all grown to forget that I was not born to be discarded at their whim. Abruptly, Ngongzhi drew his sword, and all the guards fell to their knees in unison. The cold blade swept past me, coming to rest squarely against Xie Lin's shoulder. The razor-sharp edge instantly sliced through the fabric of his robe, and blood began to seep through the cloth. I tightened my grip on the reins, but Xie Lin did not retreat an inch. He looked straight at Ngongzhi, speaking in a quiet, steady tone.

"You still only know how to use this crude method."

Ngongzhi's wrist paused mid-air. Xie Lin chuckled softly.

"When you intercepted my letters back then, did you truly believe that by locking her away inside those palace walls, she would belong to you for all eternity?"

In that fleeting instant, all the color drained from Ngongzhi's face. I broke the heavy silence.

"Everything from the past, Xie Lin has already told me."

"Things have reached this state, and I no longer have the heart to pursue old grievances."

Ngongzhi's hand gripping the hilt tightened violently, and the blood on Xie Lin's shoulder welled up faster. I frowned and ordered, "Put your sword down." Ngongzhi looked at me in disbelief. "You dare give orders to your emperor on his account?" I swung down from my horse, drew my short dagger, and pressed its tip against the flat of Ngongzhi's blade, pushing his weapon aside by half an inch. The guards' expressions shifted drastically as they surged forward simultaneously.

"Protect the Emperor!"

Ngongzhi raised a hand to halt them, his eyes fixed entirely on me.

"Ngongzhi, I managed the inner court for ten years without a single fault."

"Consider it for the sake of those ten years—let me go."

His voice grew hoarse and strained.

"I do not permit it."

I laughed bitterly.

"Then Your Majesty may as well kill me right here."

"In any case, I will never return to that palace."

Ngongzhi's hand trembled noticeably. At last, the cold blade lifted away from Xie Lin's shoulder. Xie Lin immediately caught my wrist, pulling me safely behind him. At that very moment, the frantic sound of galloping hooves echoed from the distance, and a palace eunuch tumbled off his horse, slamming hard onto the ground.

"Your Majesty! The Noble Consort has conceived a child!"

Ngongzhi froze entirely. The eunuch pressed his forehead against the earth, wailing, "You had ordered Her Ladyship confined within the manor, strictly forbidding her from stepping outside."

"Today she threw a violent fit and beat all the servants in the estate."

"Just now, overcome by agitation, she suddenly began to hemorrhage."

"The imperial physicians say her condition is critical, and they beg Your Majesty to return immediately."

Without hesitation, I mounted my horse once more.

"May Your Majesty have a safe journey back."

Xie Lin leaped up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist to take the reins. The moment our horse bolted forward, the rushing wind swept past our ears, and I threw my head back with a free, unrestrained laugh.