Chapter 12

Father glanced at Qin Wanrou, trembling like a leaf, and at the dazed Doctor Sun. Then his eyes settled on my calm face.

In an instant, he seemed to understand everything.

After seeing Eunuch Li out, his first words were to my cousin.

“Wanrou, it’s late. Go home.”

No warmth in his voice.

“Uncle, I…”

“Go!”

His firmer tone startled her. She dared say no more, only threw me a venomous look and hurried away.

Then he turned to Doctor Sun.

“Thank you for today. The steward will pay double your fee. But a physician of your stature is too grand for our modest household. We shall not trouble you again.”

A dismissal—and a severing of ties.

The doctor dared not object. Bowing repeatedly in apology, he quietly withdrew.

Only the three of us remained.

Father sighed at Mother.

“Be more careful in future. Don’t let people use you without even knowing.”

She lowered her head in shame.

At last, he looked at me for a long time. Astonishment and scrutiny mingled with a respect I had never seen.

“Yue’er,” he said quietly, “you did very well.”

The weight in my heart finally lifted. I had not merely won this round. I had gained Father’s trust and a changed view of me from Zhao Heng.

That night, Tie Mian appeared silently in my room again.

Without a word, he handed me a small, heavy box.

Inside was no letter or token. Only a chess piece.

Carved from the finest translucent mutton-fat white jade, it bore the character for Marshal—the strategist who commanded the armies.

I took it. Cold spread from my fingertips into my heart, and I understood Zhao Heng’s meaning.

From today, I was no longer a piece in his hand.

I would sit beside him, another player at the board.

The best act of this revenge play was only beginning.

10

The wedding decree arrived sooner than expected. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had chosen the eighth of next month—less than a month away.

Fresh gossip rose in the capital. Some said the Seventh Prince’s household feared I would change my mind and wanted the wedding held before their almost-certain bride slipped away.

I ignored it. My time was short. Before marrying into his residence, I had to arrange the next move—for both of us.

These days appeared quiet.

Father confined Qin Wanrou to her courtyard to copy *Admonitions for Women* every day. My “good” aunt, badly weakened by losing her assets, shut herself indoors.

With Vice Minister Zhang Kainian gone and Qin funds cut off, the Eastern Palace behaved itself for now too.

Everything looked peaceful. I knew it was only the calm before the storm.

They would never let it go.

Especially the empress, Zhao Yi’s mother.

In my previous life, she had been Qin Wanrou’s strongest support. She had played no small part in the false charges that led to our family’s execution.

Now I had ruined her son’s marriage and humiliated her. She would not swallow that anger easily.

Before long, she sent gifts to our residence.

Supposedly to congratulate me on my marriage.

Matron Zhang, her most trusted attendant, led the procession.

The display was grand. Silks, jewels, jade, antiques—every item exquisite—flowed into my courtyard.

Mother smiled so broadly she could barely close her mouth. She thought the empress was offering goodwill, an immense honor from above.

Only I felt cold inside.

Smiling warmly, Matron Zhang lifted a blood-red pendant from a brocade box.

The jade was pure, its red even and flawless. A lifelike phoenix was carved on it with such delicacy that, under the light, its wings seemed to tremble.