Chapter Three: The Road Ahead Is Hard

Ye Qianling searched all around the lakeside, but still failed to find any clue left behind by the murderer. Grieving for her brother, she hadn’t said a word since she began looking for evidence. Chu Ming trailed silently behind, not daring to disturb her—the sorrow of this moment was beyond the reach of any comfort.

How could the killer be so meticulous? The timing was precise to the second, not a single piece of evidence left behind, and even calculated the patrolling schedule of the palace guards, knowing exactly when they wouldn’t pass by the Flowing Heart Lake. The plan was flawlessly executed; it must have been someone from within the palace. Yet, who among these people would dare to murder a prince? Ye Qianling simply couldn’t fathom it, couldn’t think of anyone suspicious.

She turned to look at Chu Ming, who was startled by her gaze, his body tensing as he ventured a careful question: “Fifth Princess, is something wrong?” In truth, Ye Qianling hadn’t meant to say anything to Chu Ming; she was simply lost in thought, trying to discern where the problem lay. When she didn’t answer, Chu Ming shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, her expression utterly blank, as if she were looking through him at something distant. He repeated, “Fifth Princess?”

His voice finally drew Ye Qianling back from her reverie. She was startled to find Chu Ming so close, quickly stepping back to put a safer distance between them, a touch embarrassed. “A Ming, I was just thinking—it’s all so baffling. No matter how I turn it over, I can’t see through it.”

Catching his slightly questioning look, she finally voiced her confusion, “Who in the palace could carry this out without a single flaw? I truly cannot understand.”

“Why are you so sure it’s someone from the palace?” Chu Ming replied. “Even with such precise timing, isn’t it possible the killer simply learned the guards’ schedule and slipped in from outside? The accuracy of the plan might be intended to mislead us into thinking it’s an inside job. If we follow the trail they left, we’ll find nothing and might even wrongfully accuse someone innocent.”

Ye Qianling was somewhat surprised by how much Chu Ming suddenly said, managing the faintest smile, teasing, “A Ming, I rarely hear you talk this much at once.” She looked up at him, and though her heart was heavy, she let out a gentle sigh. “Thank you, truly, A Ming. But…”

She wanted to say more, but stopped herself. She was not ignorant of Chu Ming’s feelings for her, but she could not force herself to love someone simply out of gratitude. At least, she was not capable of that. Stifling a subtle wave of frustration, she kept silent.

Regaining her composure, she lightly patted Chu Ming on the shoulder, paused, and nodded slightly. “I understand.” With that, since her search around the lake had yielded nothing, she returned to the place where Ye Qianhao had met his fate.

Seeing her mother arrive, Ye Qianling wanted to rush into Empress Mu Ziying’s embrace, but seeing her father and mother at odds, ready to clash, she thought better of adding fuel to the fire. Such scenes had become all too common these past two years. Once she would have tried to mediate, but now she was at a loss for words to ease the tension. Princess Mu stood awkwardly to one side, offering comfort to Consort Lu, but her words made no ripple, returning to her unanswered as Consort Lu sat unresponsive.

Yet moments later, to everyone’s surprise, her parents embraced. Ye Qianling stared, hardly daring to believe it. It had been so long since she’d seen them hold each other. At last, the tension might soften; otherwise, their five children would be caught in perpetual awkwardness, trying to comfort both sides and pleasing neither.

The heavy atmosphere was shattered when Consort Lu suddenly fainted in tears. Everyone rushed to her side in alarm. Emperor Guangde and Mu Ziying exchanged a glance, immediately lifting Consort Lu’s upper body and ordering those nearby to summon the imperial physician at once.

As everyone crowded around Consort Lu, Ye Qianling approached and caught a strange scent. She froze, then quickly realized—it was the same scent that clung to Ye Qianhao’s body! Normally, water would have washed away any trace, but this aroma was unmistakable.

Ye Qianling’s mind flashed back to her first time on the battlefield, serving as a common soldier under her eldest brother. They fought An State for two days and nights, finally breaking its spirit and forcing surrender. When the surrender was delivered, she’d noticed this very scent on a female envoy from An State. It was explained as a unique medicinal balm from An, good for promoting blood flow, dispersing bruises, and staunching bleeding.

She paced the scene, searching for the source of the scent. The fragrance grew stronger, and the truth became painfully clear.

It was Late Maple, the Empress’s closest attendant—so trusted that even Ye Qianling addressed her as Aunt Maple! This was the woman to whom the Empress was most loyal and whom Ye Qianling herself respected.

Ye Qianling was rooted to the spot in shock. Who else could quietly dispatch a prince without a sound? Who else would dare, or know so intimately the palace’s hidden schedules?

But why? Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed, overwhelmed. Princess Mu caught her swiftly, whispering, “Are you alright?” Seeing Ye Qianling’s trembling, her legs weak with shock, Princess Mu was taken aback—she had never seen her like this before.

Princess Mu supported her, waving off others who wished to help, her voice lowered and her worry plain. “Ling’er, what’s wrong?”

Ye Qianling knew that this matter must not leak out, especially not here. The fewer who knew, the less harm would come. Who could bear the thought of their mother killing their half-brother? Yet, as a child, how could one betray their own mother?

Steadying herself, Ye Qianling drew a ragged breath and finally raised her head. Her eyes were bloodshot, lips trembling if examined closely, her face deathly pale. Seeing her in such a state, Princess Mu shuddered. “Ling’er?” For years to come, this image of her haunted Princess Mu as an unsolvable riddle.

“Did you hear me? Ling’er? What happened?” Princess Mu pressed, anxious, never having seen Ye Qianling like this.

“I’m fine,” Ye Qianling finally managed, pulling away and masking her distress by clutching her injured arm—the same one hurt in battle not long ago. “It’s nothing, sister. I was wounded a few days ago, and suddenly my arm started hurting.” She forced herself upright, determined to show no sign of her inner turmoil.

“I’ll go to the medical pavilion to have it bandaged. I’ll be back soon.” Without waiting for a reply, she hurried off.

What was she to do now? Ye Qianling was beset by frustration, but deeper still was fear and grief. The situation was a true dilemma, but her loyalty to her mother was unwavering; her mind raced with plans to protect her. If she must deceive everyone to shield her mother, she would not hesitate. Yet the thought of her baby brother, not yet two years old, brought a fresh wave of heartbreak.

“I heard the guards found a lady’s earring at the scene—green with a diamond border. They’re trying to identify the owner. Whoever dared murder a prince in the palace, once caught, will have their entire clan executed,” a few palace maids gossiped, unaware that Ye Qianling was quietly eavesdropping from behind a rockery nearby.

There was no time to waste. Ye Qianling knew that if she delayed, the investigation would inevitably lead to Late Maple and then to the Empress herself. If the mother of the nation were implicated in such a deed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She slipped silently to the Empress’s chambers, using her lightness skills. In Late Maple’s room, she found the matching pair to the familiar earring—Late Maple’s cherished possession, a gift from the Empress herself on her wedding day, worth ten thousand gold taels. She also discovered medicinal powders laced with sedatives hidden in the room, which she took and stashed away in her own quarters. Then, feigning calm, she returned to the scene of the crime, but Late Maple was already gone—taken away for questioning.

Realizing things had taken a dire turn, Ye Qianling understood that with Late Maple’s arrest, suspicion would soon fall on her mother. She could not comprehend why her mother would do such a thing, but there was no time for curiosity now.

To avoid suspicion, she openly went to the medical pavilion to have her arm bandaged, then, under the pretense of leaving, doubled back to her chambers to retrieve a bottle of poison. After all her preparations, she went to the council hall where Late Maple was being interrogated. Before she even entered, she heard the cruel sound of rods striking flesh and hurried her steps.

Late Maple lay on the ground, her clothes soaked in blood, as guards wielding cudgels thick as a grown man’s wrist beat her relentlessly. Crimson blood pooled around her, her body convulsing with each blow until finally she seized up and lost consciousness.

“Your Majesty, a search of Maid Wan’s quarters yielded nothing of consequence,” reported the commander of the palace guards, Xun Xun, entering quickly. The emperor’s furious expression eased slightly at this, and he glanced at the anxious Empress. Seeing Mu Ziying turn away in anger, Emperor Guangde rose to stop her, but she broke free, lifted Late Maple from the ground, and left without a word. After her departure, Commander Xun hesitated before speaking again, perplexed, “But, Your Majesty, I found another earring and the remainder of the sedatives in a different palace.”

The emperor immediately halted, his face turning grim as he faced Xun Xun. “Who dared plot against my son?” Emperor Guangde’s voice grew cold and menacing, like a demon risen from the underworld. “Who?”

Ye Qianling knew that nothing could be avoided now, uncertain what awaited her, a faint, bitter smile on her lips. Even Xun Xun, a veteran of countless battles, seemed incredulous and hesitant.

Emperor Guangde grew impatient, his tone sharp. “Speak! Who has such audacity?” Seeing Xun Xun, usually decisive and ruthless, still waver, the emperor realized the culprit could not be ordinary. He waited for the name.

Xun Xun hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Ye Qianling, who had just quietly entered and stood silently to the side.