chapter 3
I demanded to go to Shen Qingbi’s residence.
“Eldest Sister was moved to the palace,” Prince Liang said. “The empress dowager is caring for her personally.”
He had forgotten that he had just claimed she was at home.
“Don’t you trust me, Sister?”
Even if it was a trap, I had to enter it for Shen Qingbi.
I turned to Bai Zhou. “Bind Chi Yuan and Commandery Princess Jiashu and bring them to me.”
“Second Sister!”
“Were they not the ones who harmed her?”
It was their story, after all.
“They are noble. This would be terribly undignified…”
I lashed him across the face. Skin split on his tender cheek.
“Second Sister?” He looked shocked and almost hurt.
What a joke. There was no affection between us, yet he insisted on acting. Only Shen Qingbi could be fooled by such a performance.
“Noble? Without Eldest Sister, they would all be slaves of a fallen dynasty.”
The hurt vanished from Prince Liang’s eyes. He lowered his gaze, pitiful again.
“Jiashu is at home, but Chi Yuan left the city half a month ago. You will find nothing.”
“Bring Jiashu first.”
Bai Zhou saluted. “As commanded.”
Prince Liang shoved away the servant who tried to dress his wound.
“I thought you spent your years amusing yourself with horses. I did not expect you to become so military.”
“Then let us enter the palace and see what punishment His Majesty and the empress dowager devise for me.”
His gaze turned venomous. “Rest assured. I will accompany you.”
Entering the palace meant dismounting, removing armor, and leaving one’s followers. He clearly thought I was finished.
My hundred “favorites” were stopped outside the imperial city. I obeyed the rules and entered with only two female riders, Jinyu and Zhenzhu.
The empress dowager sat in Tai Chi Hall beside the young Empress Wang.
Prince Liang stepped forward eagerly, his wound displayed. “Empress Dowager, Imperial Sister-in-law, Second Sister has come to pay her respects.”
I had no intention of bowing.
“Qingning!” the empress dowager shouted. “Did you strike your brother?”
“Please calm yourself,” Prince Liang said. “There was a misunderstanding, but now that Second Sister is here, we should settle it quickly.”
“What a good child. You have suffered.”
“I have not—”
I found a chair. “Should I leave while you finish your little play?”
The empress dowager slammed her armrest. “Look at yourself! You refuse to choose a consort, then return with five thousand male favorites. Is it true?”
“Of course not. They are my private army.”
“Absurd. You have been useless since childhood. What army could you train? You may feel no shame, but I must protect your reputation.”
She considered, then said, “That Ran Mu is a descendant of the former dynasty’s Ran clan. However handsome he is, you cannot covet him.”
“How should I deal with him, then?”
“Send him into the capital and surrender him to the emperor. As for you, you remain a grand princess despite your absurdity. Choose a proper consort, and this affair will be forgotten.”
It was her usual tactic: retreat to advance. If she did not call my actions rebellion, then they were not rebellion—and I had surrendered it. If I mistook that for mercy and relaxed, I would become a turtle in her jar.
“Very well. My marriage will be arranged by Eldest Sister.”
“Her health—”
“Do not tell me she is unwell.”
Shouting erupted outside. A eunuch rushed in.
“Empress Dowager! Grand Princess Wan’an has had Commandery Princess Jiashu seized!”
The empress dowager jolted. “Shen Qingning!”
I looked at her calmly. “This appears rather more like rebellion, does it not?”
“Nonsense!”
Shen Qingbi devoted herself to bright ideals. She did not understand that imperial affection lasted only while the realm trembled and everyone needed the same boat. In prosperous times, when benefits were divided, hearts became filthy.
As a child I had watched the empress dowager slowly boil many people to death with these gentle methods. She still trusted the same tricks now.
Shen Qingbi, I wondered, how many times had she fooled you?
Jiashu was dragged inside and threw herself at her aunt’s feet.
“Aunt! I am a commandery princess, yet that woman dragged me out before thousands. I cannot live after such humiliation!”
Bai Zhou gave me a warrior’s salute and stood behind me.
Jiashu wailed that her only crime was loving Chi Yuan.
“You touched my imperial sister,” I said. “Naturally, you do not deserve to live.”
She clutched the empress dowager’s skirts, certain of her protection. She did not notice her aunt’s ghastly face. Empress Wang was frozen. Prince Liang stared at Bai Zhou in alarm.
He was fully armored. He could not have passed the palace gates. He had crossed a thirty-foot wall and appeared without warning.
I pretended to realize their concern. “Surely you did not think I would rebel with only one Ran Mu?”
“What do you want?” the empress dowager stammered.
“I told you. I am rebelling.”
Bai Zhou gave her a murderous grin.
“Have you heard,” I asked, “that when an ordinary man erupts in fury, blood splashes five paces around him?”
She collapsed into her seat.
“Must you truly turn blood against blood?” she asked. “Must kin spill kin’s blood?”
I crossed my legs and laced my fingers, imitating Shen Qingbi.
“Blood already turned against blood. Whether it spills is up to you.”
“Give me time to think.”
Before I could answer, Jinyu seized Jiashu by the hair and tore her away. Even I was surprised, but I quickly understood.
“Consider at your leisure. I will take your precious niece home.”
Jinyu dragged so hard Jiashu’s eyes slanted upward with pain. Jiashu stared tearfully at her aunt.
“Go with her and explain yourself,” was all the empress dowager said.
We left.
The Northern Guard followed at a distance, watching rather than attacking. They never moved against us before the palace gates closed behind me.