Chapter 14: The State Preceptor Scheming to Overthrow the Court Part 1

In mid-May, the pomegranate flowers outside the city moat bloomed as red as blood. Three hundred thousand iron cavalry trampled Li Yue’s facade of peace and prosperity, breaking through relentlessly all the way into the Imperial City.

The pampered Forbidden Guards in the Imperial City could never match the blood-drenched blades from the Border Pass. In just a few short days, they scattered and fled in defeat. The city gates fell, and the surrendering troops knelt on the ground to welcome the righteous army restoring the king. The common folk shut their doors and stayed indoors. The desolate streets echoed only with the long winds, utterly forlorn. A sandalwood carriage crushed the scattered remains of flesh, blood, and gunpowder underfoot as it slowly advanced toward the Imperial Palace, escorted by iron-armored soldiers.

No one in the vast Imperial City dared to stop that carriage even for half a step.

Everyone knew in their hearts that the true master of the Imperial City had returned.

The Female Sovereign of Li Yue, Xu Zhaosu, had made a comeback after a year of ups and downs.

The carriage drove straight through the palace walls. The brutal slaughter had already ended, with blood soaking every inch of the steps. The bloodstains had dried and congealed. Soldiers stood in formation on both sides of the palace path. The carriage stopped before the grand hall.

The Medicine Apprentice who drove the carriage lifted the curtain and bowed low in a gesture of utmost respect. After a long while, a slender, pale hand slowly emerged and rested on his arm.

The iron armor clanged as the soldiers knelt on one knee. The mountains and rivers were dyed in blood at her feet.

“Long live Your Majesty—”

The neat and majestic shout resounded through the skies, startling the crows that had been pecking at the flesh on the treetops into flight.

The person who stepped out of the carriage was still wrapped in a thick cloak even in the warming weather of May. Beneath the noble purple-gold cloak trailed dark skirts. In stark contrast to the dignified, heavy colors was her excessively pale complexion, devoid of any blood color. She was terrifyingly thin, almost like a dying person.

And she truly was a dying person. Xu Zhaosu pressed her hand to the wound at her heart and slowly stepped out of the carriage with the Medicine Apprentice’s support.

The arrow had missed her heart by mere half an inch. Any further deviation, and she would have died on the spot. When the long arrow was removed from her heart without anesthetic, she had bitten her own arm until it was a bloody mess, narrowly escaping death.

But she had finally crawled out of that hell.

The Imperial City was filled with a somber air, the long winds carrying the pungent stench of blood. The Female Sovereign stepped out of the carriage, clutching her trembling heart wound as she surveyed her surroundings.

From prisoner at the foot of the steps to making a comeback, the path she had walked was far too arduous.

“Where is she?”

The Female Sovereign’s voice was chilling. Though soft, in the deathly silence, it carried the weight of a thousand jun, laced with a bone-deep hatred that wished to devour her flesh raw.

The general who had led the assault into the Imperial City lowered his head under that terrifying pressure. “The traitorous minister Shi Qingyi fled into Yuming Hall under the protection of the near guards and stubbornly refuses to come out.”

In truth, there had been a chance to escape. A group had already fought their way out to safety before this. But strangely, the chief culprit had only retreated while fighting, holding out until Yuming Hall before resisting to the death, determined to defend it.

This person’s entanglements with the Female Sovereign were myriad and complex. The Eldest Princess had already ordered her secret execution without mercy. Yet on the eve of their move, the gravely wounded, dying Female Sovereign had arrived in person.

“Stubbornly resisting, refusing to come out?” The Female Sovereign tugged at her deathly pale lips and softly repeated the words, seemingly baffled as to why she would still cling to a corner like this. The next moment, she clutched her heart and coughed lowly. As she coughed, she slowly began to laugh.

That laugh was piercing, laced with sarcasm and madness, as bloody froth trickled from the corner of her mouth.

“If she won’t come out, can’t you force her out?”

The soldiers were stunned. The Female Sovereign’s words were chilling. They could certainly charge in regardless, but with the Female Sovereign here, what if that person lashed out in desperation—

The young sovereign slightly closed her eyes, then suddenly snapped them open. The depths of her eyes burned with utter madness and coldness. “For me, burn it—with fire—”

—

Yuming Hall was already a scene of devastation, the blue stones stained with blood. Even the State Preceptor, who was always in spotless white robes, had blood on her skirts. The last near guard knelt on the ground and said hoarsely, “My Lord, Master Jing E has already escaped through the secret passage. You should go too. As long as the green mountain remains—”

Before he finished, the State Preceptor, who had kept her eyes closed, slowly opened them. Those clear eyes held no impurities or trace of panic. She merely shook her head. “Once Master leaves, the secret passage is exposed. It’s useless now— Are they setting fires outside?”

Yuming Hall was built high up. Black smoke billowed from below, like a terrifying dark cloud enveloping them.

The near guard said bitterly, “The fire has already started in the rear hall, My Lord. Take the front hall. We will protect you and fight a way out, even if it kills us!”

The flames soared to the heavens, leaving no path of retreat. The State Preceptor gazed distantly at the encroaching blaze. After a long moment, she let out a bitter laugh and murmured softly, “So, she hates me this much…”

“I’ve been running my whole life. I’m tired now. I don’t want to keep running. Go, find your own paths to survival.”

The near guard looked up in shock, only to see smoke swirling amid the firelight on the woman’s face, flickering bright and dark. Behind her stretched the undulating sea of fire to the horizon.

Yet she seemed utterly oblivious, walking straight into the bright depths of the flames.

“My Lord—”

The near guard cried out in horror and tried to rush forward, but a crossbeam crashed down, blocking his path and kicking up a wall of fire that also lifted the hem of her dust-stained skirt.

They could only watch helplessly as she walked step by step into the depths of the inferno, never looking back.

—

Later, Xu Zhaosu always dreamed of that night. The great fire blazed fiercely, turning the long night into daylight. She thought someone as venomous as Shi Qingyi would surely value her life above all and come out. But even until the end, when the vast Yuming Hall was reduced to ruins and broken walls, she never emerged.

Sometimes, one wrong step led to endless mistakes—just like this.

She had waited for Shi Qingyi to yield and come out on her own, to bow her head. She had never imagined that Shi Qingyi would rather die than submit to her.

By the time she realized, Yuming Hall had become a sea of fire. The blaze was so fierce that anyone approaching even half a step would be utterly consumed.

—It was already too late.

The mask of ruthlessness on her face cracked inch by inch. She began to tremble uncontrollably, dragging her half-crippled legs in an attempt to approach the raging palace hall, only to be held back firmly.

“Shi Qingyi—”

That voice was shrill and piercing, enough to shatter the silence of the long night. Her eyes burned with despair and madness. If not pinned down by someone of superior martial prowess, she would have rushed into the flames without hesitation.

“Your Majesty, you cannot go! It’s too late—”

Her already half-crippled legs offered no strength. She struggled forward but stumbled after just a few steps, falling to the ground. Her head split open, blood flowing. The green bricks on the ground scraped her forehead and hands raw. Her jet-black hair curled from the heat of the nearby fire, her body covered in soot and blood. She stared fixedly at the sea of fire before her. No one—no one came out—

“Do you hate me this much? Would you rather die than stay by my side?!”

No one answered. Only thick smoke billowed toward the skies.

In her daze, she heard a cold voice from behind. “What are you standing around for? Take Her Majesty back—”

Then came prolonged unconsciousness, repeated dreams, and raging fever.

She dreamed of the girl in white whom she had brought down from Snow Mountain, holding her hand. Though forced and with an utterly cold expression, she still reached out to steady her when she nearly fell, pretending it was accidental, turning her head away and refusing to look at her. She jolted awake suddenly, only to find herself on the soft couch in Mingze Hall.

Not the snowy Snow Mountain, no girl by her side who wouldn’t look at her. Only the dim sunset filtered through the window lattice, transparent dust motes floating in the air.

The two halls were too close; smoke still drifted on the wind, reminding her that it was no dream. Seated by the couch was the Eldest Princess, her own aunt, watching her quietly.

“Where is she?”

After a long time, the Female Sovereign finally rasped the question from her throat, her voice hoarse, not knowing what impossible outcome she hoped for.

The Eldest Princess was silent for a moment, then waved her hand. The Medicine Apprentice entered slowly and respectfully, holding a small porcelain jar. He dropped to his knees with a thud and said tremblingly, “The State Preceptor… is here…”

She stared at the small porcelain jar for a very long time, then slowly shook her head. “No—no—you’re lying—”

How could Shi Qingyi just die like this? They had been entangled for decades; she hadn’t even repaid what she owed. How could she just die?

On what grounds could she abandon her alone and find release?

Her voice was shrill and certain, yet hot tears slowly trickled from her dry eyes. The Medicine Apprentice dared not look up, merely holding the porcelain jar overhead. He rasped, “Yuming Hall has burned to ruins. The State Preceptor…”

The Medicine Apprentice seemed unable to bear it and lowered his head. “The State Preceptor… did not come out…”

In truth, Her Majesty had left the State Preceptor a lifeline. Coming out the front hall would have been her path to life. But who could have thought the State Preceptor would choose the road to death?

She had chosen it herself—she no longer wished to live.

The Eldest Princess sighed. If the person were still alive, she would have worried about her niece being bewitched. Now that she was gone, it saved a lot of trouble. She waved her hand for the Medicine Apprentice to set down the porcelain jar and withdraw. She left as well.

These grievances and resentments were beyond her interference now. She only hoped Zhaosu could emerge from it soon.

Forcing the death of one’s beloved with one’s own hands—how could such pain be easily released?