Chapter 21

Zhao Kai must have prepared a second move.

He dared give me something so important because he had a way to expose it.

Then I would be guilty of knowing and failing to report.

An accomplice in rebellion.

The end was still death.

A vicious plan.

Two birds with one stone.

Whichever I chose, a dead end.

He could keep himself clear of it all. Even appear afterward as a righteous man placing duty above family, clearing the wreckage and earning praise.

All warmth seemed drained from me.

Your calculations were flawless, Zhao Kai.

Except one mistake.

You thought I fought alone.

You didn’t know Zhao Heng stood behind me.

I put the letters away carefully, wrote a note, and handed it to Yunzhou.

“Give this to Tie Mian immediately.”

“Tell him it is desperately urgent.”

Then I nearly collapsed into my chair, my heart still pounding.

So close.

So very close…

I had almost fallen straight into his trap.

This round was perilous.

I had to discuss it carefully with Zhao Heng.

Not only escape certain death.

Strike back hard.

That night at the temple, I showed him the letters and explained all my deductions.

He said nothing, only read them again and again.

His face revealed no emotion.

Fire seemed to burn beneath his eyes.

At length, his voice emerged frighteningly hoarse.

“My dear third brother…”

“After all these years, unchanged.”

“Just as cruel.”

“Just as poisonous.”

He looked up.

“Are you afraid?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Only… chilled at how close I came.”

Approval flickered in his eyes.

“Good.”

“He has shown no mercy. He cannot blame us for showing none.”

“He wants the crown prince dead?”

“We’ll grant his wish.”

“Only…”

His voice lowered, eyes steel.

“The fire must burn a little hotter.”

“Preferably… burn him too.”

I didn’t fully understand.

“What do you mean?”

“We must use these letters.”

He spoke slowly.

“Not now.”

“Not directly ourselves.”

He laid them on the table, his even voice sharp.

“Find the right person, at the right moment, to present them to Father.”

“Who?”

He looked at me and smiled coldly.

“Someone he would never expect.”

“Qin Wanrou.”

16

Qin Wanrou.

My dear cousin, desperate to attach herself to imperial power.

Drawing her in was the cleverest, most ironic move of all.

Didn’t she love Zhao Yi?

Wouldn’t she do anything for him?

I wanted to see which she chose when his life and her own wealth and glory balanced on opposite sides.

First, lower her guard toward me.

Perhaps even restore a sense that we shared the same misfortune.

After the palace incident, I claimed weakness and received no visitors.

My wedding approached, but I was gloomy every day, without a trace of joy.

I locked away the empress’s jewels and silks, refusing even to look.

Rumors spread.

I regretted it.

Offending the empress and crown prince meant a hard future.

Favored though he was, the Seventh Prince was still disabled—an idle prince unable to give me the glory I wanted.

I deliberately let servants carry those words to Qin Wanrou.

Confined and bored, she loved household gossip.

Within days, she sent bird’s-nest soup, claiming sisterly affection and a wish to ease my mind.

I accepted.

I told Yunzhou to return a newly granted set of head ornaments.

After several exchanges, we seemed as outwardly harmonious as before.

The moment came.

One day, I “happened” to meet her in the garden as she went to greet Mother.

I dismissed the servants, and we sat alone for a while in the pavilion.