At the end of spring, in a secluded courtyard in the Imperial Capital, one could hear the chirping of cicadas. Vines crawled over the grape trellis, and sitting beneath it, in the quiet moments, the sound of children reciting lessons from the neighboring yard drifted over.
The small two-courtyard house was filled with Imperial Guards in plain clothes. Yuan Qingming, also dressed in casual attire, stood guard at the door. Countless eyes hid throughout the courtyard—on the eaves, under the corridors, and within the grape trellis—all men with knives at their sides.
When Xun Changqing entered the courtyard, she was startled by the formation. Yuan Qingming rarely deployed such tight security, so it must have been to prevent assassins from getting in.
Inside the room, candlelight flickered, and moonlight filtered through the gauze window.
Xun Changqing walked in slowly, but the stench of blood and foul medicinal odor made her cover her nose. The wounded man lay on the couch, his eyes dull, his face twisted in pain and struggle. When he saw Xun Changqing strolling in, the lifeless light in his eyes was replaced by thick hatred. He said indifferently, “Princess Xiang’an, what a grand gesture. The Yuan Commander, who has always stayed out of factional struggles, actually takes orders from you. It’s truly shocking.”
Even at a time like this, Shao Lanheng still resorted to sarcasm, which made him seem more like himself than his usual pretense of gentleness. Xun Changqing sat down on a nearby stool, her gaze clear, and said faintly, “You’re wrong. I heard you were assassinated and saved by the Yuan Commander who happened to pass by. Factional struggles have nothing to do with me. I just came to visit a friend.”
The word “friend” pierced Shao Lanheng’s ears. He had resorted to any means for profit, befriending only those in officialdom like himself—sweet on the lips but harboring swords in their bellies, reciting Buddhist scriptures by day and scheming like snakes by night. When he fell on hard times, they wished to step on him to climb higher; sending charcoal in the snow was something he had never heard of.
He drew in a sharp breath, his face paling like frost, his expression trembling slightly. Xun Changqing, adept at reading expressions, caught the change and smiled calmly. “His Majesty even mentioned rewarding you today. Your confession is very important. Soon, they’ll arrest Shao Cheng. You’ve earned some merit too.”
Shao Lanheng jolted in shock, hatred surging in his chest. His eyes turned bloodshot, gleaming with ruthless desperation as he clenched his teeth. “No… it’s Xun Yiran.”
He could no longer afford to gamble. He had schemed this for Xun Yiran—if it succeeded, Xun Yiran would be the only suitable prince to ascend the throne, and he would have merit for assisting, rising above the masses. If it failed, they would frame Shao Cheng. Xun Yiran would suffer no loss, and after the Shao Family fell, he could smoothly take over their connections and wealth.
In success or failure, Xun Yiran benefited.
That day, he had pretended to write a confession framing others. After leaving the palace, he informed Xun Yiran, thinking he would win his trust—after all, betraying his own father was a huge price. But as soon as he left his estate, assassins struck, and at the critical moment, the passing Yuan Qingming saved him.
Otherwise, he would have met King Yama by now, and that confession would have been ironclad proof to destroy the Shao Family, with no one left to contradict it.
Xun Yiran! Xun Changqing’s face lit up with sudden realization, but in her heart, she sneered coldly. Xun Yiran was utterly ruthless, unknowingly falling right into her trap. If he hadn’t tried to kill Shao Lanheng, how could she have heard these truths?
“But your confession that day named Shao Cheng. How did it become my second brother? Are you lying to me?”
Shao Lanheng’s pale face flushed red again after his injury. Xun Yiran’s actions filled him with despair, especially when the assassins claimed they acted on the Second Imperial Prince’s orders. In that instant, he felt like the biggest fool—selling his life for someone, only to be kicked aside. The bitterness was his alone to taste.
He gripped the quilt beneath him tightly and spat hatefully, “This was originally the Second Imperial Prince’s scheme. If His Majesty were poisoned and died, he could ascend the throne and fulfill his long-held wish. If it failed, frame the Shao Family, and the forces behind them would become his support.”
Xun Changqing trimmed the candle wick with scissors, brightening the flame. The flickering light danced across Shao Lanheng’s face, twisted with hatred and regret. She feigned a sigh. “Are you trying to deceive me again? The Shao Family is my second brother’s maternal family and his support. Their downfall wouldn’t benefit him.”
“That’s because my father has fallen out with him. This time, with the Empress confined, my father stood by idly, so the Second Imperial Prince harbored resentment. Such a disobedient man might as well be removed. My father’s subordinates all know he worked for the prince. Once my father is dead, they’ll follow him willingly.”
The scissors paused in Xun Changqing’s hand. She turned to look at him. “Who is behind Shao Cheng that makes Xun Yiran so fixated?”
Seeing that this young girl had come to visit him out of kindness, Shao Lanheng casually replied, “Kang City, fifty li outside the Imperial Capital, is garrisoned by 100,000 troops, commanded by my father’s protégé, Ouyang Su.”
Soldiers and generals were always what those in high positions coveted. This explained it: Xun Yiran framed Shao Cheng because Shao Cheng wouldn’t obey him, but he needed the troops. So, kill the middleman and make Ouyang Su report directly to him.
Kang City was the closest to the Imperial Capital too. Xun Yiran clearly intended to surround the capital with troops and force His Majesty to abdicate.
Xun Changqing wanted to know which court officials were Shao Cheng’s cronies, but Shao Lanheng was breaking out in cold sweat, his breathing growing weaker. Her gaze remained deep and profound as she settled for second best. “Rest well first. You’re safe here.”
