Chapter 1

Every year on this day, Lianyu’s heart weighed heavy with sorrow.

As before, she awoke before dawn and could not fall asleep again. Closing her eyes brought the nightmare—the midnight hour, the Eastern Palace ablaze with lanterns, the imperial physician rushing in, feeling the pulse of her father, the emperor, only to face a pale and fearful countenance. Stammering, the physician implored the empress dowager, “The crown prince, the crown prince... the emperor must be summoned immediately!”

The empress dowager’s eyes were rimmed with red as she grasped Lianyu’s hand and knelt by the bedside, softly calling the emperor’s name.

Beneath the golden quilt, the emperor’s face grew increasingly pale and gaunt. He opened his eyes and looked at her, his gaze still warm. Slowly, he raised his hand as if to stroke her hair. Overcome, she burst into tears, “Father!”

The emperor smiled faintly, his voice hoarse, “Yu’er, from now on, you must listen to your mother. No more mischief. Be a good girl and grow strong.”

Through her tears, she nodded, vision blurred, “Yu’er will be good, no more mischief. Father must get better. Father must see Yu’er grow up!”

He nodded in agreement but did not recover. He coughed up blood until the quilt was stained dark and damp. His final look was a gentle one shared with her and the empress dowager before he closed his eyes.

“Father! Father!” she cried out for a long time, but he never woke. She turned to the empress dowager, sobbing, “Mother, please wake Father, mother!”

The empress dowager’s wails filled the hall as she held her tightly, unable to speak.

Her father had left too suddenly. When her imperial grandfather arrived, all he found was a room of sorrowful weeping.

What came after she could not remember clearly. She only recalled being taken away by her grandfather and learned three days later that her mother had followed as well.

Lianyu sobbed quietly beneath the quilt. She could not wait for dawn to break. She yearned to find her grandfather immediately, knowing that on this day, only he would share her longing for her father and mother.

She wiped her face clumsily with the quilt, sat up, and shook the bedbell.

Soon, Aunt Qingling’s voice came from the adjoining room. She dressed quickly, lit a lamp, and approached the bedside, gently asking, “Princess, do you wish to change your clothes?”

Lianyu shook her head. “Auntie, I can’t sleep.”

Qingling had served the late crown princess and was kind and attentive. She had watched Lianyu grow up and understood why she could not sleep today without a word of complaint. She brought a simple, plain dress she had prepared and helped her change, then carefully styled her hair, adorning it with a single white jade hairpin.

“Auntie, I want to go find my grandfather now.” Sitting before the dressing table, Lianyu’s eyes were red-rimmed.

Qingling hesitated. Although the emperor had always doted on the princess and, after the former crown prince’s passing, had defied convention to grant her the title of Princess of Ningguo and kept her in the palace, it was still very early. The emperor’s morning court was about to begin, and the realm’s ministers were anxious over threats from foreign enemies, so the emperor surely could not spare time for the princess...

Before she could speak, the young princess whispered, “Never mind. I’ll wait a little longer, after grandfather finishes court.”

Qingling breathed a sigh of relief.

Accompanying Lianyu for a stroll through the flower garden, they waited until daylight. After coaxing her to eat breakfast, Qingling judged the time was right and they headed to the Taiji Palace.

Yet, to Lianyu’s surprise, she was given a rare refusal at the door.

“Princess, the emperor is currently deliberating with his ministers and will be occupied for some time. Please return for now,” Steward Yao said gently, but the words struck Lianyu hard.

In previous years, even if her grandfather was busy, he would have allowed her to wait inside the inner court.

Suddenly saddened, she wondered if her grandfather had forgotten that today was her father’s death anniversary.

Pouting, she refused to leave. “Then I’ll wait here for grandfather.”

Steward Yao seemed reluctant to speak. He knew perfectly well what day it was, but said nothing further. He entrusted Qingling to watch over the princess before re-entering the hall.

Qingling frowned and gently urged Lianyu to return and come back later.

Yet, rarely stubborn, Lianyu stood her ground. “I’ll wait right here.”

Knowing the day was special, Qingling said nothing more but suggested, “It’s hot today, Princess. Wait under the shade over there; it’s cooler. Otherwise, the emperor might worry if he sees you in the sun.”

Though saddened, Lianyu did not want her grandfather to worry and moved to the shaded spot.

Yet as she waited, more than an hour passed with no courtier emerging. The summer heat flushed the delicate princess’s cheeks.

Qingling tried again, “Perhaps the emperor has important matters today. Princess, shall we return for now?”

Lianyu frowned, unwilling to leave. Just then, Qingling noticed movement and turned to see the consort approaching.

Usually graceful and composed, the consort today looked pale and hurried, sweat dampening her makeup.

She did not notice Lianyu and Qingling in the shade and hurried straight to the palace gate. Steward Yao appeared, and after a brief, whispered conversation, the consort’s face grew even paler and more anxious. She spoke a few words, then abruptly turned and fled, even breaking into a run.

Qingling’s instincts screamed that something was amiss. She urged again, “Princess, the emperor must truly have urgent matters. Shall we go back for now?”

Biting her lip, Lianyu’s heart pounded wildly with unease but did not answer. Instead, she ran lightly toward the palace gate.

Steward Yao was still there. Seeing her approach, he quickly said, “Princess, please return. The emperor has many affairs today and cannot attend to you.”

“I’ll come back once grandfather is free,” Lianyu said softly, no longer defiant.

Yao hesitated, then nodded. “When the time comes, I will send someone to inform you.”

Qingling sighed in relief and held the parasol as they walked back.

Back inside, seeing Lianyu’s gloom, Qingling recalled something and smiled, asking a maid, “Where are the letters and gifts from Master Cui today?”

Cui Yunqi was the eldest son of a neighboring lord, a childhood companion five years her senior. Gentle and noble in character, the emperor had arranged their betrothal when Lianyu was young, to be formalized once she reached maturity.

Now, a month before her coming-of-age ceremony, Cui Yunqi sent daily letters with small trinkets for her amusement, delivered secretly into the palace.

Hearing Qingling’s question, Lianyu’s face brightened slightly, looking toward the maid.

But the maid answered, “No letters from Master Cui have been received today.”

Lianyu was stunned. “He didn’t write today?”

The maid shook her head softly, “No.”

Frowning deeply, anger flared within her. Already low in spirits, she snapped, “Let him be! If he sends any more letters, no one is to accept them. Throw them away!”

With that, she stormed back to her chamber.

Yet sitting at the desk, her heart raced with an inexplicable unease. How could her grandfather and Cui Yunqi both act so strangely today?

She could not make sense of it, but the image of the consort’s hurried, pale face kept flashing through her mind, suggesting something was terribly wrong.

After a moment’s hesitation, she looked up at Qingling, who had followed in, and said, “Auntie, can you find out if anything has happened in the palace?”

Qingling nodded, sharing the same concern, and went out.

Lianyu instructed a maid to grind ink, intending to write a memorial to her father and mother. With her coming-of-age ceremony approaching in just over a month, she wanted to write something beautiful that, when burned as an offering, would bring them comfort.

When Qingling returned, Lianyu was still deep in thought, pen in hand. Noticing her, Qingling said softly, “Nothing unusual has happened in the palace. Perhaps there was trouble at the court this morning—something beyond a servant’s knowledge.”

Qingling had visited the consort and questioned familiar palace staff. She found no clear answers but had noticed several servants rushing about, carrying bundled packages.

This unsettled her greatly.

Lianyu relaxed slightly and resumed her writing.

“It’s noon. Would the princess like to have her meal served?” Qingling asked quietly, suppressing her worry.

Lianyu shook her head, without appetite.

Seeing this, Qingling said no more. Looking at the innocent and delicate princess, she hesitated but, having time, decided to pack some clothing and shoes for her.

Before Lianyu could finish the memorial, hurried footsteps echoed outside the hall. She looked up in puzzlement—who could be rushing so recklessly within her chambers?

Qingling’s heart skipped a beat as she stepped outside. It was Yao Fang, Steward Yao’s godson. Usually sharp and capable with a cheerful smile, now his face was deathly pale.

“Auntie, quickly pack some belongings and take the princess away. The emperor has arranged for someone to wait outside. Though young, he is the best in the secret guards, his name is Yan Shi. He is unrecorded in any register and though his temper is wild, his loyalty and skill make him the best protector for the princess.”

Qingling was confused but urged Yao Fang to follow her inside as she asked, “What exactly has happened?”

“Prince Zhao has colluded with the enemy. The recent news that the rebel army was defeated was false. Today the rebels have breached the city and are at the palace gates. Auntie, quickly pack!”

Qingling’s expression turned grave. As Steward Yao’s trusted aide, this was no false alarm. Inside, she grabbed the luggage prepared long ago, stuffing in valuables. “Princess, we must leave immediately!”

Lianyu stood, bewildered and nervous. “Auntie, why must we go? Where are we going?”

Taking a deep breath, Qingling repeated what Yao Fang had said and took Lianyu’s hand, moving swiftly outside.

Dizziness and numbness swept over Lianyu as she followed. “Is Second Prince mad?” She stopped, then suddenly asked, “But what about Grandfather?”

Qingling dared not ask Yao Fang. The emperor was old and had been ill lately, relying on medicine, though he masked his weakness in front of Lianyu, forcing a strong appearance. Knowing his resolute nature, he would not flee the palace in a crisis. Moreover, Prince Zhao had surely already trapped the emperor inside.

Outside, hurried servants bustled about.

Realizing this, Lianyu grabbed Qingling’s arm, stopping her. “I cannot just run away. I have to find Grandfather!”

Qingling held her back firmly. “Princess! The emperor must have made other arrangements. You must obey his orders and find a safe place to hide. Since ancient times, when rebels storm the palace, the fate of the consorts and princesses is known well enough. You’ve read the books; you understand!”

Lianyu’s face went pale, tears welling in her eyes, lips trembling. “But Grandfather raised me. How can I flee alone?”

Qingling spoke gently, “Princess, you have always obeyed the emperor. Now you must follow his command.”

Lianyu’s breath quickened, but she shook her head. “No, I won’t go. Father and Mother are gone. If... if Grandfather is gone too... what meaning is there in living alone?”

Thinking of today, her father’s death anniversary, grief overwhelmed her. It felt as though her father and mother were waiting for her from beyond. Blurred by tears, her voice choked with sobs, “I won’t go! I want to be with Grandfather and Father and Mother... ugh!”

Before she could finish, the world spun upside down. Her eyes no longer saw Aunt Qingling’s gentle face but instead caught a pair of legs clad in black, the man’s feet hidden beneath long trousers.

The surroundings flashed past rapidly.

“Assassin! Auntie, an assass—It's the rebels!” Lianyu’s mind cleared just in time to realize she was being abruptly lifted and carried away. Without hesitation, she assumed these must be enemies, her voice trembling with fear as she called out to Qingling, “Auntie!”