Chapter 52

The imperial decree announced that the second daughter of the Vice Minister of Works—blessed with both virtue and talent, in the very flower of her youth—was to be enfeoffed as the Shengping County Princess and granted in marriage as a consort to the Sixth Prince of the Southern Frontier.

On the day the decree was issued, the Shengping County Princess was bathed and dressed up before being sent straight into the palace. The official reason was to allow her to cultivate feelings with the Sixth Prince of the Southern Frontier; a month later, she would set off with the Southern Frontier Delegation for the royal palace in the Southern Frontier.

The other ministers all breathed sighs of relief, but the household of the Vice Minister of Works was shrouded in gloom.

Yinghong sighed more than once. “What a pity for such a fine young woman. The Shengping County Princess is in for a rough time.”

Political marriages with the imperial family had long been commonplace, dooming women to a lifetime of sacrifice for the sake of amicable relations between realms.

Nangong Yunshang stared off into the Peach Blossom Grove, lost in thought. If one day she could seize that absolute power, she would shatter this custom once and for all.

“The Shengping County Princess… is in for a rough time?”

Tao Chuyi tilted her head, seemingly pondering what exactly that entailed.

Nangong Yunshang came back to herself and gently patted her head. “Yes. She’s to marry a scoundrel, so of course her life won’t be a happy one.”

At those words, Tao Chuyi nodded solemnly. “Can’t we help her?”

Nangong Yunshang hesitated before letting out a soft sigh. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

The decree had already been issued. How could it be reversed?

As was her custom, Nangong Yunshang entered the palace every few days to pay her respects, even though there was little real courtesy involved. For now, she still needed to play the part. Such visits demonstrated submission and helped put those in high positions at ease.

The next day, when Nangong Yunshang went to the palace to pay her respects, Tao Chuyi insisted on coming along, claiming she wanted to protect her. Unable to dissuade her, Nangong Yunshang had no choice but to bring her.

While the Third Princess headed to Yangxin Hall, Tao Chuyi was left waiting in the Imperial Garden. She sat obediently on a stone bench, her posture ramrod straight, head held high, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Her big sister had told her to wait here, so she would do exactly that and behave. If that big bad Southern Frontier scoundrel dared bully her sister, she would beat him to death.

After waiting a good while with no sign of Nangong Yunshang, Tao Chuyi grew restless. She scratched at her head one moment and tugged at her clothes the next, unable to sit still.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps nearby. Leaping up in delight, she saw not Nangong Yunshang, but the detestable Southern Frontier scoundrel.

Liao Mi strolled ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, trailed by maids. At the edge of the group was a woman in pink satin robes, standing with her head bowed.

“Aren’t you going to say something?”

Liao Mi halted abruptly and whirled on the pink-robed woman with a roar.

The woman dipped in a curtsy. “This concubine… does not know what to say.”

Liao Mi flew into a rage from nowhere and grabbed her by the collar, yanking her forward.

“I could find a better girl than you—a block of wood—in any brothel.”

With that, he flung her to the ground.

The maids didn’t dare make a sound and shrank back with heads lowered. Still unsatisfied, Liao Mi strode forward, hauled the woman up again, and slammed her down once more. He repeated this several times.

“You’re nothing special to look at, and you’re just the daughter of some Vice Minister of Works. As if you’re fit for royalty! Jingyun is just brushing me off!”

The more Liao Mi ranted, the angrier he got. He even kicked her twice, both blows landing on her abdomen.

“Your looks are mediocre, and you can’t even sweet-talk. What’s the point of keeping you around!”

“You big bad Southern Frontier guy! You’re not allowed to hit people!”

Tao Chuyi charged forward, shoving Liao Mi away and planting herself in front of the woman, glaring furiously up at him.

Despite being much smaller than Liao Mi, she somehow managed to send him staggering several paces back.

“Why are you hitting her!”

Caught off guard, Liao Mi nearly tumbled over. When he saw who it was, he barked a laugh.

“The Third Princess Consort? Where’s Her Highness the Princess? I haven’t seen her in a day, and it feels like three years have passed. I miss her terribly.”

Tao Chuyi’s cheeks puffed out in fury, making her look like a pufferfish.

“You’re not allowed to mention her!”

She barreled forward, tackling Liao Mi and tussling with him. The maids shrieked in alarm. Tao Chuyi locked her arms around his head and pounded away, then hooked his neck and spun him around several times.

The commotion grew louder and louder until Imperial Guards finally rushed in to pull the pair apart.

Nangong Yunshang had just finished paying her respects and returned to find the scene. Her heart skipped a beat as she hurried over to check if Tao Chuyi was hurt.

“Are you alright, Chuyi? Does it hurt anywhere?”

The moment Tao Chuyi spotted Nangong Yunshang, she burst into wails.

“Sister, waaah… my arm hurts…”

Nangong Yunshang’s heart ached terribly. She quickly rubbed the spot for her, then turned to glare at the bruised and swollen-faced Liao Mi. Fury surged within her.

“What grand airs the Sixth Prince cuts, daring to run wild in Jingyun Imperial Palace!”

Liao Mi jabbed a finger at Tao Chuyi. “It was her! She struck first!”

“The Sixth Prince is still trying to shift blame? She’s so small and weak—how could she possibly hurt you?”

Nangong Yunshang’s anger flared even hotter. Not only had this man bullied Chuyi, he was now slandering her too.

Behind her, the small, pitiful, and helpless-looking Tao Chuyi huddled against Nangong Yunshang, tears pooling in her eyes as she whimpered about the pain now and then.

Liao Mi gaped at Tao Chuyi in disbelief, nearly choking on his breath, his finger trembling.

“Are these colors on my face courtesy of a ghost?”

Tao Chuyi shrank fearfully behind Nangong Yunshang and tugged at her sleeve.

“He hits people. He hit this lady.”

Only then did everyone notice the pink-robed woman crumpled on the ground. She struggled to her feet and staggered into a curtsy.

“Shengping pays respects to Your Highness the Princess.”

Nangong Yunshang looked her up and down. “You’re the Shengping County Princess?”

The Shengping County Princess’s clothes were streaked with dirt, a red mark marred her cheek, and blood lingered at the corner of her mouth. She looked utterly disheveled.

Nangong Yunshang’s cold gaze swept toward Liao Mi. “Does the Sixth Prince have any defense left?”

Liao Mi shook off those supporting him and stormed away.

“What a stroke of bad luck!”

With him gone, the Shengping County Princess also dipped in a curtsy, preparing to leave.

“Shengping County Princess? Do you need help? I’m really strong.”

Tao Chuyi boasted proudly.

The Shengping County Princess raised her eyes, momentarily stunned by the sincerity in her gaze, then offered a faint smile.

“My thanks to the Third Princess Consort for coming to my aid. It’s not necessary. All is fated; I’ve already accepted my lot.”

Her figure gradually faded from view, as if the entire farce had been nothing but an illusion.

If a person refused to save themselves, no amount of effort from others would make a difference.

Nangong Yunshang explained to Tao Chuyi that they had to respect others’ choices. Tao Chuyi didn’t quite understand; she just thought one should always strive hard—that was what her father had taught her.

Any emotion came and went swiftly for Tao Chuyi. Back at the Princess Mansion, she was her usual carefree self.

“I want to make pretty clothes for Sister.”

She declared this while swinging on the swing.

Xichan couldn’t help laughing at her. “If the young master makes them, will they even be wearable?”

Tao Chuyi hurriedly defended herself. “They will! They definitely will! I’m really good at it!”

She swung back and forth while Nangong Yunshang sat opposite, sipping tea. One in motion, one serene—the scene was one of perfect harmony.

“The Third Princess Consort has such a wonderful temperament, always so cheerful.”

Yinghong remarked as she refilled Nangong Yunshang’s tea.

Nangong Yunshang’s lips curved. “It’s a blessing to be forever carefree like that. I hope she can stay this happy always.”

Yinghong seemed to recall something and murmured softly, “Your Highness is growing ever more concerned for the Third Princess Consort.”

“Because she’s wonderful.”

Far better than those gilded shells hiding rotten cores by a thousand—no, a million—times.

The swing reached its highest arc, carrying Tao Chuyi up to meet the spring breeze amid birdsong and blooming flowers.

As it swung back down, she hopped off in a flash and dashed to Nangong Yunshang’s side. “Sister! Did I swing really high?”

Nangong Yunshang gently scraped her fingertip along the bridge of her nose. “Very high. Chuyi is amazing.”

“Hee hee!”

Delighted, Tao Chuyi rolled playfully around her.

Nangong Yunshang could only laugh helplessly. “Get up quickly. You’ll dirty your clothes.”

Fifteen barked from afar and bounded over, pouncing on Tao Chuyi to roll around with her. Little dogs probably all loved that sort of thing.

Just then, a guard rushed in with an urgent report, shattering the peaceful moment.

“Your Highness, Temple Minister Tao has entered the palace. He sent word that something terrible has happened: the Shengping County Princess was found dead in her chambers.”

Nangong Yunshang’s brows furrowed sharply. “What?”

The Shengping County Princess’s body had been discovered at noon by a maid. She had been seen leaving early that morning but not since.

By the time Nangong Yunshang and Tao Chuyi arrived, the coroner had already finished the examination. The Shengping County Princess’s corpse was gruesome—her skin a mottled blue-purple, her once-lovely features unrecognizable. It was clear she had died of poisoning, but no one knew what kind of poison.

Liao Mi lingered in the outer chamber, sighing now and then.

“I regret Shengping’s death as well.”

Tao Chuyi bristled at the sight of him. “Did you kill the Shengping County Princess? It must have been you!”

“Third Princess Consort, don’t go throwing around baseless accusations.”

Liao Mi replied innocently. “She was mine. Why would I harm her?”

“Because you weren’t satisfied with her.”

Nangong Yunshang was all but certain that Shengping’s death was tied to Liao Mi.

The imperial physicians finished testing the poison and reported gravely, “This servant cannot identify it, but we can say for certain it is no poison from the Central Plains.”

As murmurs rose among the crowd, the Emperor spoke thoughtfully. “Zhen regrets the death of Shengping as well. Give the County Princess a lavish burial and compensate her parents with a thousand taels of gold. Since the marriage alliance cannot proceed, I hope the Sixth Prince will not take offense.”

“How could I? Your Majesty has lost a righteous daughter, and I share in your grief.”

Liao Mi put on an understanding front, spouting a few flowery words.

“Your Majesty, this matter for Dali Temple…”

The Emperor cut off Temple Minister Tao. “The matter is clear: Shengping died after mistakenly ingesting poison. There is no need for further investigation.”

With Liao Mi and the Emperor playing off each other, the case was brushed aside just like that. No one truly cared about Shengping’s fate—only their own interests.

The Second Princess suddenly chuckled. “In my humble opinion, Father Emperor, why not grant the Sixth Prince a few other beauties as concubines to console him for the loss of his beloved wife?”

The Emperor nodded. “Yuan’er speaks wisely.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Second Princess!”

Liao Mi bowed respectfully. When he raised his head again, his gaze fell upon the Third Princess and the prince consort, carrying a hint of provocation.

The Princess Mansion and Dali Temple had both returned empty-handed, and Shengping County Princess’s death remained unresolved.

“This servant knew Shengping County Princess was in for some suffering. I never thought she’d lose her life too.”

Yinghong was incensed, hands planted on her hips as she paced in circles.

“It’s too much! Isn’t a woman’s life a life?”

Nangong Yunshang gripped the edge of the table. It seemed her Second Imperial Sister had already become entangled with the Sixth Prince of the Southern Frontier; otherwise, she would not have stepped forward to speak on his behalf.

“Instruct the servants below to tread carefully these days. Don’t give anyone anything they can use against us.”

Yinghong nodded. “This servant understands.”

At that moment, the sound of crying drifted in from nearby. The voice clearly belonged to Tao Chuyi.

Nangong Yunshang rose immediately and followed the sound. Tao Chuyi sat in the outer chamber of the bedroom, surrounded by maids and matrons.

“Oh dear, Young Master, please stop crying.”

Xichan had tried consoling Tao Chuyi at length, but to no avail. She could only wait for the princess—and fortunately, Nangong Yunshang entered the room right away.