Chapter 10

The duke did not acknowledge Xu Zhaozhao.

The other aristocrats in the residence naturally concluded that the woman they had abused the night before was merely an ordinary camp prostitute.

So, as they were about to leave, I gave them another generous gift.

“Did you enjoy yourselves, gentlemen? Were you pleased with the ‘local specialty’ I brought back?”

“If you were, at least you won’t have caught venereal disease for nothing!”

The moment I spoke, every young aristocrat’s expression changed. “What disease?”

I covered my lips, feigning surprise.

“Didn’t you notice all the red rashes on the prostitute’s lower body last night?”

Second Young Master Chen was the first to turn on me. “Well, Xu Zhaozhao! You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

They had all been drugged last night. Who had been in any state to look for rashes on the woman’s body?

Whenever they sought out women, their exalted status ensured that clean ones were brought to them. Who would have thought of a filthy disease?

I raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Yes, of course I did. I wanted every last one of you to catch it and have your family line die with you!”

I would spare none of the people who had harmed me in my previous life!

They had no time to argue with me. All they could do was rush out to seek treatment from the imperial physicians.

But after so many years as a camp prostitute, I had long known that anyone who slept with a sufferer was certain to catch venereal disease. In severe cases, it could even be passed to their children.

These men were heirs to the capital’s powerful families. Contracting such a disease was as good as losing their right to inherit. That hurt them more than death!

Their families would also hate the ducal household bitterly.

But what could the duke do?

Explain that his household had nothing to do with it? That I, a camp prostitute, had planned everything, while his daughter Xu Zhaozhao was the source of the disease?

Impossible!

He could only grit his teeth and accept it.

“Bitch! Who are you? You’ve ruined us!”

The moment the others left, the duke drew his sword and lunged at me.

I smiled without answering.

Outside the residence, the chief eunuch from the palace was loudly announcing an imperial decree.

“Where is Xu Zhaozhao, legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo? His Majesty decrees: Xu Zhaozhao took up arms beyond the frontier and distinguished herself in its defense. She is to enter the palace at once for an audience and receive rewards according to her service.”

The duke glared at me with hatred.

I knew he wanted nothing more than to kill me. But he could do nothing. He still needed his false “daughter” to conceal the shame of the real one.

I smiled.

“My apologies, Your Grace. I must go and see the emperor. I’ll tell you who I am when I come back. If—”

“You’re still alive by then.”

The duke’s eyes were bloodshot. “What else are you planning?”

I did not answer. I hurried into the carriage bound for the palace.

I watched it carry me away from the ducal residence, through Chang’an’s bustling streets, until it stopped before that magnificent palace.

The man on the throne wore bright yellow, a five-clawed golden dragon embroidered on his chest.

I looked at the emperor’s majestic face. The next instant—

I snatched out my concealed dagger and charged.

“I’ll kill you, you cur of an emperor! The Duke of Zhenguo’s family has served you faithfully for decades. It’s time my father sat on that throne!”

In the spring of the fourth year of Yonghe,

The ducal household was condemned for treason. All nine branches of the clan were implicated. Five hundred members of the family were executed.

The immense hoard of silver confiscated from the residence was sent beyond Ximen Pass to support the army. That same year, the emperor issued a decree abolishing the system of camp prostitution.

Afterward, a place called the Spring Breeze House opened beyond the frontier. Its proprietress was named Song.

The former camp prostitutes, their status as ordinary free subjects restored, learned weaving, tea-making, farming, and other skills from Boss Song.

Yes.

I had made a deal with the emperor.

Before returning to the capital, I sent him a letter by carrier pigeon.

I set out my entire plan, starting with Chen Wu drugging Xu Zhaozhao…

Enclosed with the letter were the pages Xu Zhaozhao had written while guessing who I was.

And the ducal household’s token Li Changzhi had given me.

I did not send this letter through a relay station. I had the duke’s own elite private soldiers deliver it directly.

I wanted the emperor to see just how powerful the ducal household had become.

As I expected, the emperor agreed to stage the trap with me.

I entered the palace and made an attempt on his life in Xu Zhaozhao’s name…

The emperor immediately sent the elite troops he had already positioned in ambush and swept up the entire ducal household.

With all those young aristocrats infected, the duke’s family had also alienated nearly half the capital’s powerful houses.

Few spoke in his defense when judgment came.

…

At last, every one of them had received the punishment they deserved…

And my new life was only just beginning.

“Boss Song, a jug of wine! Warm, please!”

“Coming right up!”