Chapter 4

# Chapter 4

The smile faded from Chu Zheng’s face.

“The road ahead is long. To walk it with one or two true companions would be comfort enough for a lifetime. Even if that life proves brief, it is better than wandering through endless years and leaving nothing behind.”

I faltered.

His life had indeed blazed brilliantly. Three years from now, he would ride to war and die on the battlefield, yet still fail to stop the rebels from entering the capital. In the end, the Second Prince would stumble onto the throne.

The Second Prince was astonishingly mediocre. His mother had never been favored, and he had been granted an idle princedom early. He was best known in the capital for keeping birds, painting, and tinkering with carpentry. He had never imagined he might become emperor.

Once thrust onto the throne, he had no idea what to do. Ministers steered him all his life, and he never formed a will of his own. After death, he received the posthumous name “Huai”-kind enough, accomplished in nothing, fit only to be remembered.

I had been given another life. If I confined myself to household quarrels again, I would betray the realm that had raised me.

I lowered my eyes to hide my grief. “Your Highness is right. A single instant of splendor may be beautiful, but I prefer a sword honed for ten years, then drawn once to shake the Nine Provinces.

“Not everyone is born with boundless resources, as Your Highness was. Most people spend a lifetime gathering strength and forging a worthy blade. Only then do they earn the right to stand before you.”

I felt his gaze linger.

Now he was interested in me.

Before, he had approved of my identity as a daughter of the Song clan, perhaps with a measure of a man’s possessiveness. This was the first time he had truly become interested in me as a person.

He smiled. “Those are strange words from you, Lady Song. You were also born to boundless resources. Still, they contain great truth. Thank you for the lesson.”

I bowed.

Then I calmly watched the rest of Gu Jinxin’s punishment. Once his backside was mangled badly enough to keep him in bed for three or four months, I could finally relax. I had been afraid that, armed with memories of the future, he might interfere with my plans.

When I returned home, Father had already heard what happened.

“What did you gain today?” he asked.

I answered respectfully, “The Eldest Princess now owes me a favor, and the Crown Prince has begun to take me seriously.”

Father nodded. “Tomorrow I will submit a memorial urging His Majesty to wage war on the Kingdom of Nanli. Whether you can seize this moment will depend on you.”

“Father!”

I stared at him, astonished. Then I stepped back and bowed with solemn care.

“Your daughter will not disappoint you.”

I would give everything to reverse heaven and earth and remake the course of history.