Just seeing Nangong Yunshang’s stunning beauty left Tao Chuyi grinning like a fool. And now, with that peerless beauty gazing at her with a smile full of tender affection, Tao Chuyi was utterly lost, completely head over heels.
Chuyi didn’t know what to call this feeling. She only knew that her sister was so beautiful—beautiful enough to make her want to take a bite.
“I saw a huge snake!”
Tao Chuyi gestured wildly as she recounted the entire story from start to finish. Worried that Nangong Yunshang might not understand, she repeated it several times, though she never quite got it straight. Fortunately, piecing it together from her fragmented account made the gist clear enough.
Nangong Yunshang’s smile didn’t fade. She gently stroked Chuyi’s cheek and said softly, “Chuyi is such a good girl. But you must never mention this to anyone else besides me.”
Tao Chuyi raised her hands and feet in solemn promise. “Chuyi listens to Sister the most!”
“Mm, Chuyi is a good child.”
As she spoke, Nangong Yunshang’s beautiful eyes swept over to Zishan, now laced with reproach.
Zishan froze, guiltily lowering her head. After all, her carelessness had nearly led to disaster. She’d thought the prince consort was just a novice, never imagining the depths of their hidden strength. Probably not even the prince consort realized it themselves.
The banquet carried on, with musicians singing and dancers whirling, pushing the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
Tao Chuyi gnawed on a piece of venison, only then remembering to glance at Nangong Yunshang.
Was Sister mad at her?
Seeing Nangong Yunshang’s expression as calm as ever, she finally relaxed and dove back into the dishes on the table. Because of the drunken fiasco the day before, there were no wine jugs on their table this time—only clear tea. Tao Chuyi didn’t dare complain and quietly focused on her meat and tea.
Halfway through the dance, the dancer in the blue gossamer skirt suddenly collapsed to the ground. The music screeched to a halt as the other dancers panicked and knelt before the emperor, heads bowed low.
The crowd erupted in gasps, and the emperor’s face darkened with displeasure.
The crown prince slammed the table. “What is this? Can’t you even dance properly?”
The dancers begged for mercy, crying out for the crown prince to spare them, for His Majesty to spare them. But the fallen dancer remained the calmest of all. She pulled a brocade handkerchief from her sleeve and held it high above her head with both hands.
“Your Majesty! This servant accuses the crown prince of corruption and abuse of power, of colluding with court officials to take innocent lives! I beg Your Majesty to investigate every charge!”
The accusation sent varied reactions rippling through the crowd, but no one dared speak up.
Nangong Yunshang watched the drama unfold—a classic case of dogs turning on each other, shedding fur in all directions. It posed no threat to her, so she paid it no mind.
She took Tao Chuyi’s hand. “Don’t be afraid.”
Tao Chuyi nodded vigorously. “Chuyi isn’t afraid. Chuyi will protect Sister!”
The two exchanged smiles, a stark contrast to the tension gripping everyone else.
The crown prince rushed over and slapped the dancer hard across the face. “You wretch! Has this crown prince not treated you well? And yet you betray me like this!”
Blood trickled from the dancer’s swollen lips, but she held her kneeling posture firm, still holding the accusation aloft.
“Please, Your Majesty, investigate!”
The crown prince moved to strike again, but the emperor had him pulled away. When the blood letter was presented, the emperor’s expression grew even stormier.
Everyone knew the crown prince indulged in wine and women, knowing only revelry and ignoring the people’s suffering. The emperor had been aware of that much, thinking his son merely playful. But to learn he was secretly colluding with so many officials… The emperor wouldn’t last forever.
“You rebellious son! Look at this yourself!”
The emperor flung the blood letter in his face.
The crown prince picked it up and scanned it, his face draining of color.
“These are all lies, Father Emperor! All lies!”
At that moment, the second prince and Prince Ning both pleaded for him, only to be sharply rebuked by the emperor. No one else dared speak.
“Whether true or false, the Dali Temple will investigate and decide.”
With a grim face, the emperor summoned Temple Minister Tao Siqing to receive the imperial order. He insisted the Dali Temple escort the crown prince to the cells for strict interrogation.
“Father Emperor! Father Emperor, you can’t do this to me!”
The crown prince bellowed at the top of his lungs, face flushed and veins bulging.
As the crown prince was dragged away, the others fell silent. Speaking now would be playing with fire.
The emperor turned his angry gaze on the dancer who had lodged the complaint.
“Do you know that performers accusing imperial kin means rolling on the nail board?”
“This servant knows.”
The imperial order went out, and guards carried in the nail board, surrounding the dancer to supervise.
The dancer smiled radiantly, utterly fearless, and lay down on it.
Nangong Yunshang immediately covered Tao Chuyi’s eyes. She didn’t want Chuyi’s innocent heart tainted by such brutality.
“Be good and close your eyes.”
But Tao Chuyi blinked, her long lashes brushing Nangong Yunshang’s palm, tickling it.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the dancer rolled across the nail board, emerging covered in blood and lying motionless on the ground. The guards checked and confirmed she had no breath left before reporting to the emperor.
Everyone knew how the emperor doted on the crown prince. Without this complaint, he could have turned a blind eye forever. But now the fig leaf was torn away. To preserve imperial authority, he had no choice but to sacrifice his son. And the one who forced his hand was this dancer—she could not be allowed to live.
The banquet ended on a sour note, with everyone retreating to their tents, wary of wandering in such uncertain times.
Tao Chuyi obediently followed Nangong Yunshang back and sat on the couch, waiting patiently.
After instructing her subordinates, Nangong Yunshang returned to find Chuyi still sitting there.
“Have you got a stomachache?”
Tao Chuyi nodded, swinging her feet. For some reason, even indigestion made her happy.
Nangong Yunshang had her lie down and gently rubbed her belly beside her.
Perhaps from spending so much time with Fifteen lately, Tao Chuyi was delighted even by a belly rub, wriggling like a puppy rolling over in joy. Just like a puppy exposing its belly to show trust in its master—and she was no different.
“Don’t run around for the next couple of days, got it? Stick with Zishan and stay in her sight.”
Nangong Yunshang instructed worriedly. “If you’re still unwell tomorrow, I can have you excused from the hunt. Say you’re not feeling up to it.”
“Okay!”
Tao Chuyi agreed enthusiastically.
No hunt meant she could stay by Sister’s side all day, seeing her every moment. She hated being stuck with that crowd anyway.
Nangong Yunshang pinched her nose. “You little clingy one.”
Tao Chuyi couldn’t breathe and quickly freed her nose, then hugged Nangong Yunshang’s arm and whined coquettishly.
The next day, Nangong Yunshang duly reported Tao Chuyi’s illness and claimed her own to skip the viewing platform. According to the guards’ report, the emperor stayed away too, leaving the entire hunt in the second prince’s hands.
Tao Chuyi tugged at Nangong Yunshang’s sleeve, demanding she play house.
“How do we play, oh ancestor of mine?”
Nangong Yunshang said helplessly.
Tao Chuyi pointed at herself. “I’m the groom, Sister’s the bride. We’ll bow to heaven and earth!”
Just then, Zishan entered from outside, cupped her hands in salute, and reported, “Your Highness, Your Majesty has summoned the court elders. Word is he’s considering deposing the crown prince.”
Nangong Yunshang toyed with Tao Chuyi’s hair, unconcerned. “If the crown prince falls, there’s still the second prince. It has nothing to do with us. Still, tell our people to stay vigilant—the crown prince won’t go down quietly.”
“Yes!”
Zishan looked up, greeted Tao Chuyi as well, and left.
Tao Chuyi climbed onto Nangong Yunshang’s lap and tilted her head back. “If any bad guys come, Chuyi will beat them up.”
Nangong Yunshang chuckled lightly, her mood brightening. She planted a kiss on Chuyi’s cheek, sending her rolling about in delight.
That night, they turned in early. They only woke when faint sounds of fighting drifted from outside the tent.
“Sister, there are bad guys outside.”
Tao Chuyi wanted to go take a look.
Nangong Yunshang quickly pulled her close. “Be good, Chuyi. It’s dangerous out there—we’re not going. Besides… besides, Sister’s scared all alone. Don’t you want to keep me company?”
Tao Chuyi happily accepted the excuse and stopped fussing.
The clash outside grew fiercer, like the roar of thousands of troops.
Suddenly, a group of soldiers burst into the princess’s tent, their broad knives gleaming coldly as they charged straight at the two.
“Chuyi!”
In an instant, Tao Chuyi vaulted into the air, snatching a blade barehanded. She spun and took down the other soldiers in three shakes of a lamb’s tail.
The broad knife clattered to the ground.
Tao Chuyi snapped back to herself and stared down at her hands.
Was she really this strong?
Nangong Yunshang rushed over, checking her up and down. “Are you okay? Not hurt?”
Tao Chuyi shook her head, beaming. “Chuyi can fight!”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than another group charged in. Tao Chuyi tensed to meet them, only to see it was Zishan.
Seeing the tent floor littered with bodies, Zishan and her men apologized profusely.
“This subordinate failed in her duty, alarming Your Highness and the prince consort. The assassins outside have been dealt with—most headed for the imperial tent. Your Highness, do we go to the emperor’s aid?”
Nangong Yunshang remained calmly indifferent, showing no worry.
“Have the bodies cleared. Plenty are rushing to save the emperor—we’re not needed. Bide your time and sweep up the remnants when the moment’s right. No need to risk your lives.”
Soon, the princess’s tent was restored to order, even the bloodstains scrubbed clean.
Outside, the battle raged like thunder. Inside, Tao Chuyi lay on Nangong Yunshang’s lap, listening to her tell stories.
“Today, let’s do the little rabbit story.”
Tao Chuyi pouted and tugged her sleeve. “I want the little dog story.”
Nangong Yunshang lightly tapped her forehead, teasing, “Fine, we’ll tell the story of little dog Chuyi.”
“Chuyi isn’t a little dog.”
Tao Chuyi sat up, turning her back in a sulk, leaving a dazed silhouette.
The two frolicked intimately in the tent for a good while before Zishan’s voice came from outside.
“Your Highness, all the rebels have been captured. They’ve confessed—the mastermind behind it all is the current crown prince and his faction.”
Nangong Yunshang had guessed who engineered this chaos to corner the crown prince into desperate action, but in the end, it worked in their favor.
“We should go take a look.”
~~~
Tao Chuyi held Nangong Yunshang’s hand and strode forthrightly ahead. Everywhere they passed lay a scene of devastation, with countless casualties strewn about.
By the time they reached the imperial tent, everyone else had already gathered. The Second Prince and Second Princess were earnestly tending to their Father Emperor, behaving like paragons of filial piety down the ages.
Outside the tent knelt a group of soldiers bound hand and foot, along with the current Crown Prince. Guards with drawn swords stood watch nearby; anyone who dared to act rashly would lose their head on the spot.
Tao Chuyi turned to Nangong Yunshang. “Sister, aren’t you going to check on your father?”
Nangong Yunshang gave Tao Chuyi’s fingers a gentle pinch and whispered, “He doesn’t deserve it.”
If her sister said he didn’t deserve it, then he didn’t. Whatever her sister said was right.
Glancing at the pale-faced emperor, Tao Chuyi suddenly found him utterly detestable too.
