Chapter 4

I could only explain in terms they understood.

“Father. Mother.”

I looked up with tears in my eyes. Half acted, half real—for their terrible deaths.

“I’m not being foolish. I’ve seen certain things clearly. The crown prince has no place for me in his heart. He only loves my cousin.”

I chose a few accounts of Zhao Yi and Qin Wanrou’s secret intimacy, partly true and partly fabricated. I omitted the worst, saying only that they loved each other and I was an obstacle.

“Rather than marry and live like a widow, or be tormented to death by them together, I’d choose someone who lets me live peacefully.”

Father’s expression kept changing. Intelligent as he was, he knew something of the imperial family’s ugliness. He had never imagined it would reach his daughter.

“Why the Seventh Prince?” Mother asked through tears.

“He’s safest.”

I explained calmly.

“His legs are disabled. He’s out of the succession struggle. The crown prince won’t see him as a threat. Only marrying him lets our family escape this whirlpool.”

“We’re saving our lives, Father.”

I stressed those words.

He trembled slightly and watched me with complicated eyes. At length, he sighed.

“Enough.”

“The decree is issued. More talk is useless.”

“Take care of yourself.”

He waved me out.

He didn’t fully believe me, but had accepted the outcome for now. Enough.

Back in my courtyard, I dismissed everyone and sat alone at the window.

Past and present memories overlapped. My chest grew heavy. The blood debt choked my breath.

But this wasn’t the time to sink into grief.

Marrying Zhao Heng was only the first step—a safeguard, a shield against the storm.

Next, I would drag Zhao Yi and Qin Wanrou down and make them taste betrayal, abandonment, and destruction to the bone.

As I planned, my maid Yunzhou reported softly outside.

“Miss, someone from the Seventh Prince’s residence.”

I paused. So soon?

“Let him in.”

An unfamiliar young eunuch entered, bowed, and gave me a letter.

“Your Highness, my prince sent this.”

It wasn’t sealed. Inside was a single sheet.

I opened it. A brief question in sharp, forceful strokes.

[What do you really want?]

My heart sank.

He was cleverer than I had imagined. He didn’t believe my claims of long admiration.

He asked what I sought with this elaborate performance.

His probe. Our first game.

A real contest of minds had begun.

My answer would determine whether we became allies or mortal enemies.

I turned the paper over and wrote my own brief answer.

[I want the crown prince’s position.]

Folding it carefully, I gave it to the eunuch.

“Tell your prince this is my answer.”

After he left, I watched the moon outside.

From tonight, everything was different.

The capital’s board would have to be reset.

04

The eunuch left, but I couldn’t settle.

[I want the crown prince’s position.]

Treasonous words. Madness. My ambition laid bare before another man—an imperial son, Zhao Yi’s brother, my future husband.

I didn’t know his response.

He could think me insane, or hand the paper to the emperor or Zhao Yi.

Then Zhao Yi wouldn’t even need to act. Those few words could destroy the Qins beyond recovery.