Volume One, Chapter 18: The Turning Point Arrives

Two days earlier.

Yu Mingyue spent the entire afternoon in the Empress’s palace. That very night, the Empress went before the Emperor to plead on behalf of Liang Nianci for the grace to spend a reunion New Year together.

After all these years, the Emperor’s feelings had blurred between love and hate. He thought that since the princess had grown up, it was only right to let her show her face; she couldn’t be locked away forever.

It was at this moment that Yu Mingyue approached Liang Nianci.

She deliberately brought along a few flashy clothes and pieces of jewelry. Upon meeting, she warmly took the little princess’s hand.

“Princess, I am Yu Mingyue, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s mansion. I have heard that you reside in the Ji Qiu Hall for many years. Today, I finally have the chance to meet you. You are as beautiful as I imagined.”

Liang Nianci let her pull her along and sat down beneath the withered tree in the courtyard.

“Is that so? Miss Yu, you are very beautiful as well.”

Yu Mingyue touched her own hairpin, raised her brow arrogantly, and looked around at the dilapidation. She clicked her tongue, “Hmm, there isn’t even a single servant attending you in this hall. Princess, you’ve suffered these past years.”

She made an effort to appear sympathetic.

Liang Nianci blinked innocently in response, lowering her voice, “Though not rich or noble, at least we lack neither clothes nor food.”

Yu Mingyue sneered inwardly, but seeing her resigned demeanor, she thought the princess would be easy to manipulate. She stopped beating around the bush and cut straight to the point.

“You’ve truly had it hard, Princess. It’s one thing to manage daily necessities, but as one grows older, illnesses inevitably come. What about your mother, the Empress? Hasn’t a kind-hearted imperial physician come to help?”

She stared at Liang Nianci, searching for any hint of abnormality.

When the princess remained silent, Yu Mingyue circled back, “I feel like we are kindred spirits. If you find me too noisy or don’t wish to get close or confide in me, I won’t bother you again.”

She did not believe a neglected, lonely girl would give up so easily when faced with such a warm “friend.”

Sure enough, the moment she stood up, her sleeve was grabbed.

Tears welled in Liang Nianci’s eyes as she pleaded, “Miss Yu, please don’t go. I’ll tell you everything.”

Yu Mingyue’s heart leapt with joy. She sat back down shyly and held the princess’s hand.

“All right, I won’t leave. But why are you crying? Come, let me wipe your tears.”

“Thank you, you’re so kind.” Liang Nianci took the handkerchief and glanced weakly toward the empty doorway before whispering, “I only tell this to you, Miss Yu. You must keep it a secret.”

Yu Mingyue nodded impatiently. “Of course. Sisters outside the palace share secrets with each other. Princess, you seem worried. Is there something important you want to tell me?”

“It’s not especially grave,” Liang Nianci shrank back slightly.

After much inner struggle, she hesitated and said, “A few days ago, I ate something unclean and was rescued by a passing imperial physician.”

“Is that so?” Yu Mingyue feigned shock, then narrowed her eyes. “It can’t be that simple, can it?”

Under her relentless questioning, Liang Nianci’s gaze flickered nervously. “Also, he behaved inappropriately. I... I was very scared...”

Yu Mingyue’s nose twitched. “Is that true?!”

This was even more explosive than she expected!

She immediately slammed the table, barely hiding her excitement. “Princess, don’t be afraid. We will go see the Emperor right now. The Emperor will surely have that scoundrel torn apart!”

“Ah?” Liang Nianci panicked, clutching her waist. “No! No, that won’t do. Mother said this matter must not be spoken of, or I too will die!”

Yu Mingyue clenched her fists but gradually calmed herself. “All right, I’ll keep your secret, but the villain cannot go unpunished. I have a plan. Will the princess hear it?”

She looked down at the little princess, who nodded gratefully, and sat back down.

Though Yu Mingyue had long known the culprit was Wen Shiyan, she coaxed the princess into drawing his likeness to make the story more believable.

As Liang Nianci drew, she listened to her new friend’s clever idea.

“Princess, the palace banquet is the day after tomorrow. You just need to pretend to be ill. I’ll find a way to make the scoundrel appear before everyone. You don’t have to say much—just name him immediately, and I will handle justice for you.”

Liang Nianci’s eyes grew dependent. “As long as my secret isn’t mentioned, I’ll follow your lead.”

“Good.” Yu Mingyue smiled faintly, her eyes not quite meeting hers. She agreed aloud but was already calculating.

A fool—why wouldn’t she use this chance to give the dead imperial physician one more accusation?

—

At the palace banquet.

As Liang Nianci finished speaking, the hall erupted into a cacophony of whispered discussions.

If not for the maid beside her restraining her, Yu Mingyue would have jumped up in triumph. She proudly lifted her chin, flaring her nostrils at Wen Shiyan.

“You have quite the nerve. The princess surely wouldn’t accuse a humble imperial physician without cause!”

Wen Shiyan looked at Liang Nianci in confusion. “Princess, please be cautious with your words.”

She then glanced toward Liang Jiang, whose expression remained calm as if everything was under his control. This inexplicably eased her heart.

No one present could outmaneuver Liang Jiang; after all, most of them would eventually fall by his hand.

Yet what, exactly, were these siblings plotting?

Liang Nianci folded her hands, tilting her head, gazing at Wen Shiyan with innocent eyes.

“Imperial Physician Wen, have you forgotten so soon? You saved me.”

“I…” Wen Shiyan was momentarily speechless. With such a naïve tone, she spoke as if wishing death upon herself.

Yu Mingyue sensed something was off. Was this really how a bullied girl treated her tormentor?

Fearful of change, she hurried to condemn Wen Shiyan.

“Empress, you heard that he entered Ji Qiu Hall without summons during his confinement. Though he saved the princess, his crime outweighs his merit. Disobedience to the imperial edict is punishable by death.”

Zhu Fenghua stepped forward. “Miss Yu, aren’t you overstepping? Neither the Emperor nor Empress has spoken yet, yet you have already convicted him?”

“What’s it to you!” Yu Mingyue glared.

“This is my concern.” Liang Nianci took over the words, gently touching her chest. “Miss Yu, I was vomiting uncontrollably and unable to come out to clarify earlier. Perhaps you misunderstood something?”

“Misunderstood?” Yu Mingyue gritted her teeth.

Leaning on Wen Shiyan’s side, Liang Nianci continued, “Yes, when have I ever said Imperial Physician Wen came during the confinement? It was clearly the night before last. I suddenly vomited blood and had a high fever. My brother hurriedly brought Wen Shiyan to treat me in time, preventing any serious consequences.”

Her sincere words and innocent appearance convinced most.

Yu Mingyue finally realized she had been played by these people and took a shaky step back.

The Emperor spoke at last, “How could this be? What did the imperial physician say?”

Liang Nianci knelt, replying blankly, “Father, I am unharmed. Imperial Physician Wen says I ingested a poisonous mushroom called Jianqin and has…”

“Impossible!” Yu Mingyue instinctively retorted upon hearing “Jianqin.”

It was clear Liang Nianci had been poisoned on the day of the winter hunt; otherwise, why would the third prince have abandoned the competition and rushed back to the palace?

But her mouth outran her mind, and Yu Mingyue’s words gave Wen Shiyan an opening.

“Miss Yu, you are quite strange. Do you know more about this than the princess herself? Or is there some inside information you wish to report?”