Chapter 16: The State Preceptor Scheming to Overthrow the Court

The once magnificent and resplendent Mingze Hall was now shrouded in dimness, with only a few palace lamps flickering faintly. Besides the Female Sovereign’s eyes being unable to tolerate strong light, those Taoist priests outside had bluffed that souls could not abide brightness, as it would disturb the departed spirit and prevent it from lingering.

Xu Zhaosu, a woman as clever and perceptive as cut crystal, had actually believed it.

Shi Qingyi didn’t know what to feel in her heart. Xu Zhaosu lay beside her, clutching her hand and refusing to let go. With no other choice, she had brought her back to Mingze Hall along with the Female Sovereign. Now, the Female Sovereign rested on the couch, and Shi Qingyi extended one hand to keep her company.

The grip was too fierce, nails digging almost into the flesh, drawing faint traces of blood, but Shi Qingyi didn’t struggle. She simply let her hold on.

Woken early by a little palace maid, she hadn’t slept well. With the hall so dim and mindful of Xu Zhaosu, she only lightly closed her eyes to rest, not daring to fall asleep. In her half-dreaming, half-awake state, she suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind. A slender, icy arm wrapped around her waist.

Like vines or a beast that had latched onto its prey, it tightened more and more until Shi Qingyi could barely breathe. She reached back to pat the arm and called out hoarsely, “Your Majesty…”

Her voice was low, somewhat raspy as if choked by smoke.

A warm, soft body pressed tightly against her back, pinning her in place, refusing to release her. The breathing was light, as if afraid to disturb this elusive spirit that wouldn’t easily enter dreams. “Have you come back to see me?”

Shi Qingyi was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.

Xu Zhaosu’s chin rested on her shoulder, her teeth chattering unconsciously. She tightened her embrace inch by inch, drawing Shi Qingyi deeper into her arms. Just as Shi Qingyi thought to struggle, a slight movement prompted a reaction like a startled bird—the arms clamped down abruptly. It seemed she wanted to bite her neck but restrained herself with immense willpower, turning it instead into a trembling kiss on her shoulder.

“Are you leaving again?”

Shi Qingyi paused, ceasing her resistance. She had only seen Xu Zhaosu once. Though she had stayed in the palace for the next six months, healing under the System’s aid, Xu Zhaosu had never spotted her again. Yet according to Xu Zhaosu, it seemed she had come more than once?

But she was certain she hadn’t, so—

Darkness flickered in her eyes. Before she could think further, someone nuzzled closer to her ear.

“Stay a little longer this time, alright?”

The voice was as soft as it could be, but the kisses shifted from gentle to stinging in the instant Shi Qingyi zoned out. The pain in her neck made her instinctively want to dodge, but she couldn’t. Warm liquid dripped onto her skin, followed by dense, rustling kisses.

“Qingyi, don’t go… don’t go…”

Before Shi Qingyi could reply, the hall door creaked open. A sliver of soft light pierced the lonely inner chamber. Someone approached slowly, and upon seeing the scene, the palace lamp in their hand shook. They cried out in shock, “Your Majesty?”

Xu Zhaosu’s eyes instantly reddened, like a cornered beast at the end of its road, her breathing trembling. Yet her gaze was filled with sinister malice. She reached out and hurled the things on the couch beside her, roaring hoarsely, “Get out— who told you to come in?! Get out—”

Then she turned in panic, her frail body trying to block the faint light. In a near-obsessive, urgent, and disheveled manner, she said, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’ll make them all leave. I’ll have the priests and monks pray for you and set up arrays. Don’t fear, don’t go…”

But she grasped at empty air.

Beneath the couch, a woman in a simple long skirt knelt with her head bowed. A wooden mask covered half her face, and her voice was hoarse—utterly different from the clear, aloof tone in her dreams. The Female Sovereign’s panicked expression froze. Her spine stiffened as she inched over.

“This commoner, a female physician from Qingmu City, pays respects to Your Majesty—”

This might be an unreal dream, or perhaps another deception. Xu Zhaosu leaned against the couch, her fingers unconsciously clenching. Cold sweat soaked the back of her dark long skirt. Her gaze sharpened like a blade, scrutinizing the kneeling figure from head to toe, as if peeling away flesh to reach the soul within.

The atmosphere grew terrifyingly tense. The palace maid at the door trembled, already envisioning her fate. The Female Sovereign had grown increasingly volatile lately. Disturbing the departed spirit this time might mean she was hallucinating again. This ignorant female physician was surely doomed—perhaps fed to dogs or trampled into pulp by the imperial horses—

Her heart chilled in terror, convinced her life was over. After a long moment, the Female Sovereign suddenly coughed without warning—heart-wrenching, gasping, as if she would cough up her five viscera and six bowels.

Shi Qingyi couldn’t bear that cough. At this rate, her throat would be ruined soon, and her lungs might suffer. After a silent pause, she fetched a cup of warm water from the side and offered it.

Xu Zhaosu said nothing, merely watching her. Even in the darkness, her deep, clear eyes held an undeniable gleam.

Shi Qingyi: “…”

Impossible to ignore, even with her head bowed.

“Cough cough cough…” The coughing worsened, nearly rolling her off the couch.

Unable to resist, Shi Qingyi sighed inwardly, straightened boldly despite the breach of protocol, and supported the tottering figure on the couch. She held the warm water to the Female Sovereign’s pale lips and called, “Your Majesty.”

Her goal achieved, Xu Zhaosu slowly closed her eyes and took a sip, coughing once more. The woman hesitated, then patted her back lightly. “Your Majesty, take care…”

The hand holding the water bore a thin layer of calluses, infused with a faint bitter medicinal scent—like that of an impoverished female physician, not the pampered State Preceptor whose fingers never touched spring water.

“What is your name?” Her gaze burned, as if to scorch a hole through her.

Shi Qingyi had prepared for this. She lowered her eyes calmly. “This commoner is Cao Zhu.”

Xu Zhaosu blanked for an instant, as if recalling something. She tugged weakly at her lips and coughed. Looking at the silent girl before her, her voice weary. “I thought you might be called A-Yi.”

Shi Qingyi: “…”

The System snickered in her mind. “See? I told you your naming skills suck every time.”

“Shut up.”

“Why the mask?” In that momentary distraction, Xu Zhaosu’s icy fingers reached out stealthily, starting from the jawline, trying to touch the rough wooden mask.

Shi Qingyi turned her head to dodge.

Darkness flashed in Xu Zhaosu’s eyes, substantial malice seeping out. Why not let her touch? Why dodge again—still avoiding her—

Her other hand, hidden in her sleeve, nearly dug into her palm.

“This commoner’s features are coarse and ugly, lest they frighten Your Majesty.”

Xu Zhaosu stiffened entirely, finally recalling the massive fire half a year ago. Flames had roared, seeming to incinerate everything in the world to ash. In that blaze, she had lost the girl she cherished for years.

Her hand slid away slowly, afraid of uncovering the other’s scars.

Her trusted aide finally arrived hurriedly, bringing elderly imperial physicians with white beards. They approached the imperial couch tremblingly and reported that the earlier situation had been extremely dire. Fortunately, Cao Zhu’s timely treatment had saved the Female Sovereign from peril; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Shi Qingyi, who had done nothing of the sort: “…”

She could only accept the praise calmly.

The pills Xu Zhaosu had taken had a hypnotic effect. Soon, drowsiness overtook her, yet she fought to keep her eyes open, staring unabashedly at the person by the couch.

She persisted stubbornly for over half a shichen, bloodshot eyes glaring. The imperial physicians grew frantic, like ants on a hot pan, urging Shi Qingyi with their eyes.

“Your Majesty has been interrogating without sleep for two nights straight. Continuing like this could lead to disaster.”

Though the connection was unknown, all of the Female Sovereign’s attention clung to this woman. A hint would do.

With the heavy responsibility, and Xu Zhaosu refusing to sleep, no one could rest. Shi Qingyi finally spoke. “Your Majesty, please rest early…”

At her words, amid everyone’s stunned gazes, the Female Sovereign seized the silent female physician’s arm by the couch—as if finally hearing what she awaited. She closed her eyes in relief, her voice hoarse. “Stay by my side. You may not leave for a moment.”

This sleep was long, a rare sound slumber for Xu Zhaosu in the past half year. No garish nightmares, no heart-tearing losses. She grasped the snow from Snow Mountain once more—something she hadn’t dared dream of in all those months.

Even if she wouldn’t admit it, even if her looks were ruined, she had come back, hadn’t she?

When she finally awoke from that sweet, dark dream, she found only a garment in her grasp. The spot by the couch was empty, with only the wind blowing through the hall.

—She had left.

The gravely ill woman crawled up shakily. The hall felt eerily empty, black gauze curtains stirring in the wind. She stumbled about frantically, searching everywhere in haste.

Not in the rear hall, not in the study, nowhere…

Had she left again? Gone where? Vanished without a word once more?

Madness surged in the eyes of the woman who now held power over the realm, chilling to behold. No matter, no matter. As long as she lived, how could she escape?

The land and rivers for ten thousand li were hers! She couldn’t flee. Ten thousand imperial guards in the Imperial City would dig three chi deep if needed to find her!

She gritted her teeth, a plan forming instantly. Don’t panic. Start from Mingze Hall, then Dongchen Hall, next the West Six Palaces—search them one by one—

She would find her. The command “Come here!” stuck in her throat when a dull pain shot through her foot. She had bumped into a brazier and was about to fall when someone suddenly steadied her waist.

The person held a palace lamp and draped a warm, heavy cloak over her. A faint bitter medicinal scent surrounded them. They sighed softly. “Someone drugged the lamp oil. No wonder Your Majesty couldn’t sleep well.”

Before she finished, the Female Sovereign hugged her fiercely, as if unleashing pent-up rage, murmuring incoherently. She leaned close to her ear, eyes icy cold. “I thought you’d left again. Are you trying to abandon me once more?!”

Her eyes were pitch black, devoid of light, her back slightly hunched like a darkening sky, a mass of dark clouds, no sunlight in sight.

“I knew it…”

—I knew you’d leave. I shouldn’t have indulged you. I should lock you up, chain you, pierce your pipa bones, shatter your hands and feet, so you’d never leave me for eternity.