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Qu You reached out, tracing the outline of his face.
He seemed to have grown thinner.
Zhou Tan gazed at her with a pitiful expression. “Today, I led my men to the gates of Bian Capital just as the Xi Shao troops were leaving the city. Rest assured… Little Yan and the others have already set up an ambush. In a few days, they’ll annihilate them all.”
Cradling her face, his eyes flickered. “Master Ai has decided to take Zi Qian to Lin’an to persuade the noble families and lords of Jiangnan. I’ve heard that the ministers are currently in the Ministry of Justice and are temporarily safe. There’s no unrest in Bian Capital—you’ve done exceptionally well. But I can’t bear to leave you here alone. The Xi Shao troops have already left the city; there’s no benefit in staying longer. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare a boat at the northern dock of Bian River. We’ll leave together.”
Qu You frowned. “How did you get into the city?”
Zhou Tan replied, “I swam.”
He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and pressed it into her hand. “The situation is urgent now. I can’t explain much. After noon tomorrow, I’ll wait for you at the northern dock.”
It seemed he felt she had been in the dark alley for too long, as guards were beginning to grow suspicious and approach. Qu You quickly tucked the handkerchief away and gave Zhou Tan’s hand a gentle squeeze.
Zhou Tan gazed deeply into her eyes, then leapt away, disappearing into the darkness.
After returning to the palace, Qu You briefly reported to Song Shiyan, lit some calming incense for him, and confirmed he had fallen asleep. Then, under the pretense of delivering the Empress’s seal, she detoured to Xuande Hall to retrieve the imperial seal hidden beneath the golden brick.
As the Chief Attendant to Li Yuanjun, she often managed the Empress’s seal on her behalf, so no one suspected her. After visiting Li Yuanjun’s quarters, she went to Chunhua Hall, where Ye Liuchun resided.
Song Shiyan’s coronation had been rushed, and many preparations remained incomplete. Only Li Yuanjun had received her title alongside his ascension, while the status of concubines like Ye Liuchun remained undetermined. For now, they were scattered throughout the inner palace.
In her time within the palace, Qu You learned that Song Shiyan kept around five or six women in his residence, their identities concealed due to their lack of official titles, which helped maintain his reputation for being restrained and virtuous over the years.
One of these women was even the wife of a disgraced minister exiled years ago. Though initially surprised, Qu You soon found it unsurprising—after enduring for so long, Song Shiyan was fundamentally a madman.
And madmen were capable of anything.
Most of these women lived together, except for Ye Liuchun, who was favored and granted a separate palace by Empress Li Yuanjun.
Qu You, as a higher-ranking palace attendant, lived alone. However, everyone knew of her close relationship with Ye Liuchun and wasn’t surprised when she occasionally spent nights serving in Chunhua Hall.
Once they drew the bed curtains, Ye Liuchun asked, “Why have you come?”
Qu You placed the candlestick on her bedside table and turned back. “Tomorrow, you’ll leave the palace with me.”
Ye Liuchun’s brow furrowed slightly as she glanced outside. “How do you plan to leave?”
Qu You retrieved the handkerchief Zhou Tan had given her from her sleeve. “Do you know… there’s a secret passage in Xuande Hall?”
She had already examined it briefly on the carriage ride back. The handkerchief Zhou Tan had slipped her contained a map of the secret passage behind a mechanism in Xuande Hall, likely drawn by Song Shixuan after learning it from Jing Wang.
The passage was intricate and convoluted; without the map, escape would be impossible.
Ye Liuchun studied the handkerchief under the candlelight for a long time before murmuring, “Every afternoon, he takes a short nap after drinking tonics. Perhaps that’s our chance.”
Qu You nodded. “Then we’ll leave at that time tomorrow.”
Ye Liuchun decisively agreed. “Alright.”
After a pause, she hesitated, “Yoyo, tomorrow afternoon, I can invite Song Shiyan to my chambers. He always sleeps soundly there, giving you ample time to escape.”
“No,” Qu You grasped her hand, noticing a bruise on her forearm. “You must leave with me. If he discovers I’ve fled, especially from your quarters, he’ll surely take his anger out on you.”
Seeming to notice her gaze, Ye Liuchun withdrew her hand slightly and gently patted Qu You’s head. “It doesn’t matter if he vents his anger on me. At least you’ll be able to leave safely. Little Zhou is waiting for you.”
Qu You still shook her head. “Shisan is also waiting for you.”
Ye Liuchun fell silent.
After a long moment, she softly laughed. “Shisan traveled south, forging connections and writing new verses. He’s never lacked companions. What does it mean to wait or not wait?”
Song Shiyan’s violent temperament often manifested in sudden outbursts during intimate moments. Even in the short time Qu You had been assisting Li Yuanjun, she had witnessed numerous fresh wounds on her body. As Song Shiyan’s favored concubine, Ye Liuchun’s injuries were undoubtedly worse than those of his empress.
But Qu You knew Ye Liuchun valued dignity, and though she had seen her wounds, she never mentioned them.
Hugging Ye Liuchun’s arm, Qu You stared blankly at the floating bed curtains. “If you stay here, I won’t be able to leave with peace of mind.”
Ye Liuchun spoke with self-deprecation. “Back when I was the top courtesan in Bian Capital, I at least retained some dignity. Now, I’m nothing but a ruined flower…”
“It’s Song Shiyan’s fault, not yours,” Qu You interrupted, glaring at her. After a moment, her voice softened. “Sister Chun, the walls of this inner palace are too high. Who knows when death might strike? I’ve heard you play the moon lute—I know you don’t want to live like this…”
Resting her head on Ye Liuchun’s lap, she continued softly, “I spent two years at the border, experiencing the frost and snow of the northern frontier. Did you know? In winter, when snow falls over the desert, it creates a mist whiter than milk. By dawn, it vanishes abruptly, revealing the sun. Every time I think of it, I find it miraculous… You once played the moon lute and sang ‘Yangguan.’ Don’t you want to see it for yourself? Even if not for Shisan, beyond these palace walls lies a vast, boundless world.”
“I often dream of those grand banquets. You playing the lute in the corridor, me and Yun Yue listening entranced. After Yun Yue injured her face, she often became sad. I even hoped you’d go comfort her for me.”
Ye Liuchun remained silent for a long time before speaking softly. “Will there ever be such a good day?”
Qu You tightened her grip on her hand. “Of course.”
They spoke at length inside the curtains before finally falling into a deep sleep. Half-dreaming, half-awake, Qu You suddenly heard Ye Liuchun say, as if remembering something, “Come to think of it, I do find some aspects of Song Shiyan peculiar…”
Qu You struggled to wake up slightly. “Hmm?”
Ye Liuchun furrowed her brow. “Don’t you think he’s sometimes overly unpredictable?”
Qu You puzzled, “Isn’t he always like that?”
Ye Liuchun shook her head. “When I first met him, he wasn’t like this… Yoyo, his mood has worsened these past days. I always feel…”
She didn’t continue, merely waving her folding fan. “Never mind. Sleep now.”
The next afternoon, Ye Liuchun changed into servant’s attire and followed Qu You toward Xuande Hall.
Qu You carried a food box containing the imperial seal, keeping her head bowed the entire way. Passing through the imperial garden, they encountered a group of patrolling guards.
Their leader bowed to Qu You and asked, “Where is the Palace Attendant heading?”
Qu You calmly replied, “To deliver some fruit to Her Majesty.”
The guards departed understandingly. Just as Qu You began to relax, a soft voice called out, “Lady Qu—”
At that moment, the hairs on her neck stood up, and she couldn’t help but shiver.
It was Li Yuanjun’s voice!
She forced herself to lower her head and turn around, bowing. “Your Highness.”
She was usually in the hall at this time, taking a nap. Why had she come out today, against her usual routine?
Li Yuanjun approached with interest. “Are you bringing me some pastries? The lotus flower pastries you made last time...”
She inadvertently glanced to the side, and her smile froze instantly.
Ye Liuchun kept her head deeply bowed, not raising it, but her hands holding the food box trembled slightly.
Li Yuanjun took a small step back and looked at Qu You again, hesitatingly asking, “You’re delivering pastries to me. Why take this route, going out of your way?”
Qu You’s breath caught, and she didn’t answer.
After a while, Li Yuanjun suddenly said, “I remember now. Yesterday, I mentioned wanting some fresh flowers from the imperial garden for a vase. Lady Qu must be here for that, right? Coincidentally, I ate too much for lunch and feel a bit bloated. I need to walk around a bit before returning. After you’ve picked the flowers, wait in my chambers.”
With that, she turned and left with her attendants.
Before turning away, she glanced at Ye Liuchun.
Qu You suddenly realized that this seemingly meek Crown Princess might not be as foolish as others thought. At least, she had heard their clumsy lies but chose not to expose their disguise.
Li Yuanjun had deliberately let them go.
Qu You no longer hesitated. Together with Ye Liuchun, they circled to the well behind Xuande Hall and easily found the secret passage switch. They threw the food box into the well, taking only the imperial seal, and descended into the secret passage.
Since the day of the bloodshed, Song Shiyan no longer reviewed documents in Xuande Hall, so many guards were dismissed, and those remaining mostly stayed in the front hall, unaware of their presence.
The secret passage was cool and eerie. Qu You clutched the imperial seal wrapped in silk, diligently following the map drawn by Zhou Tan and Song Shixuan to find the exit. The passage was extremely long, stretching from the imperial city to the end of Bian River. A misstep could leave them lost.
She navigated the direction and walked with Ye Liuchun for about an hour before seeing the light at the exit.
As they approached, there was a rustling sound at the exit. Ye Liuchun tightened her grip on the hidden sleeve arrow, but then someone urgently called out, “A Lian!”
It was Zhou Tan!
She finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Tan quickly embraced Qu You and led them onto a prepared carriage. “We must hurry. Let’s go to the dock and board the ship.”
Qu You handed the imperial seal to him, feeling somewhat drained. Zhou Tan took it and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t be afraid.”
Qu You said, “I’m not afraid.”
Zhou Tan acknowledged with a hum and instructed the black-clad driver, “Faster.”
The exit of the secret passage was still some distance from the northern dock where Zhou Tan and the others had sneaked in. Qu You dozed off briefly in Zhou Tan’s arms after a long time. When she opened her eyes, they hadn’t arrived yet.
Voices of inspection came from outside the carriage. The black-clad man reined in the horse and whispered, “I and the master can hold our breath and sneak through the bottom of the ship. But you and Miss Chun have to pass through the checkpoint. Fortunately, the palace is still calm. Change into coarse clothes and present these documents.”
Qu You took a look—it was the prepared household register.
The waterways around Bian Capital were less accessible than the roads, so inspections were more relaxed compared to the city gates.
They changed clothes and exchanged glances, their hearts pounding like drums.
The dock guards stopped them, gruffly asking, “What are you leaving the city for?”
Qu You, speaking with a dialect from the Jiangnan region, respectfully replied, “Officer, we followed our husbands from Jiangnan to Bian Capital for business. But lately, things have been chaotic, and business has become impossible. We plan to return on a merchant ship. Here are our documents.”
She handed them over and slipped a handful of silver coins, smiling broadly. “Our men came early and are waiting for us.”
She intentionally darkened her face when changing clothes. The officer repeatedly checked the documents, finding no issues, and raised his spear. “Alright, go ahead.”
“Thank you, Officer.”
Qu You, holding Ye Liuchun, hurried towards the dock. Zhou Tan and the black-clad man had already boarded a nearby merchant ship, lowering the gangplank to wait for them.
Her heart raced; Qu You felt uneasy and quickened her steps. Just as she saw Zhou Tan amidst the mist on the ship, she heard a whistling sound by her ear.
“Stop them! Don’t let them go!”
Someone galloped in, even drawing a bow and firing an arrow. The arrow grazed past her ear, nearly cutting her neck.
Qu You decisively pushed Ye Liuchun forward. Just as she was about to follow, a second arrow flew past her face.
She heard Song Shiyan’s chilling voice: “Lady Qu!”
Then he commanded, “Hold your fire temporarily. Do not harm her!”
Song Shiyan had personally chased out of the imperial city with a group of guards!
The inspecting officers rushed over with spears. Seeing this, Zhou Tan hurriedly ran from the ship towards her. “A Lian, quickly—”
“Master, be careful!”
An arrow flew past. Zhou Tan, focused solely on finding her, didn’t notice the black-clad man lunging to shield him from the arrow, knocking him down onto the deck.
His silver mask, which he never removed, was shot off by the arrow. Zhou Tan, just regaining his senses, stared in shock.
Behind the mask was none other than his long-lost younger brother, Zhou Yang.
“You…”
But there was no time for more words. He hastily got up. Almost simultaneously, Qu You heard the sound of a bowstring being pulled tight.
“Song Shiyan!”
She fell to the ground, shouting angrily. Song Shiyan slightly raised his hand, signaling everyone to hold their fire temporarily.
Zhou Yang glanced around. The hundred or so men Song Shiyan brought all held bows, aiming at them. With one command, they would surely die under a hail of arrows.
Song Shiyan’s gaze swept over Ye Liuchun on the ship and landed on Qu You. He took two steps closer, his voice both sorrowful and angry. “I trusted you so much, yet you deceived me! How dare you deceive me!”
He had been the crown prince for so long that he still instinctively referred to himself as “lonely.”
Song Shiyan glanced at Zhou Tan, a cold smile appearing on his face. “Lord Zhou, long time no see. I never imagined that you and your wife would be so…”
Before he finished, Qu You, lying on the ground, suddenly pulled out a bright yellow scroll from her sleeve, holding it high above her head.
“I have the late emperor’s edict!” She shouted in the wind, “Song Shiyan, let them go!”
Song Shiyan was stunned. “You… how do you have the edict?”
Qu You answered, “The edict was in Xuande Hall. Did you think I risked everything to escape for nothing?”
Song Shiyan laughed instead of getting angry. “Good, good. You and your husband have tricked me so thoroughly, and now you bring this out to bluff me?”
“You can choose not to believe,” Qu You glanced around. There were originally many civilians and merchant ships at the dock, but when Song Shiyan arrived, most fled, though some curious onlookers remained hidden, watching quietly. “But with the people, soldiers, and guards around, can you silence them without retrieving the edict?”
Zhou Tan scolded from the side, “What are you doing!”
Qu You ignored him and instinctively called out, “Black-clothed man!”
Zhou Yang immediately understood her meaning and, without hesitation, struck the back of Zhou Tan’s neck.
Zhou Tan’s eyes widened as he collapsed unconscious into his arms.
Song Shiyan sinisterly asked, “What do you want to do?”
Qu You looked back. “Let them go, and I’ll hand over the edict to you.”
Song Shiyan asked, “And if I refuse? If I capture you, I can still retrieve the edict!”
“If Your Highness takes another step forward, I will immediately jump into the river and destroy this edict!” Qu You laughed. “You can try. Without the edict, the fake imperial seal means nothing. All the feudal lords can rebel against you. Can you really sit securely on the throne?”
“It was your design!” Upon hearing the discussion about the imperial seal, realization dawned on everyone. Song Shiyan gritted his teeth. “Lady Qu, I treated you so well, and you really… intend to do this to me?”
Hearing his words, Qu You knew he wouldn’t act rashly for the moment and breathed a sigh of relief. Without looking back, she loudly ordered, “Black-clothed man, set sail!”
Zhou Yang, carrying Zhou Tan, jumped onto the ship and called out, “Sister-in-law…”
Qu You paused, looked back at him, slightly surprised, but eventually just smiled. “Go quickly!”
Ye Liuchun also called out from the stern of the ship. “Yoyo—”
“Set sail!”
Perhaps sensing the urgency, the guards Zhou Tan brought didn’t wait for orders but raised the sails. The merchant ship carried little cargo and soon drifted lightly away.
With the favorable wind, it would take only the time of burning one stick of incense for the ship to enter the river current, beyond Song Shiyan’s reach.
The sounds of bowstrings being drawn echoed continuously. Qu You watched the ship leave the shore. Song Shiyan approached her, his expression indistinct, filled with sorrow and anger. “Yoyo, how could you do this to me?”
He squatted in front of Qu You, grabbing her chin. Qu You winced in pain, but Song Shiyan smiled and gestured. Countless arrows flew towards the departing ship.
Qu You’s eyes bulged in fury. She gasped a few breaths and viciously bit Song Shiyan’s hand.
“Hiss—”
Taking advantage of his slight loosening grip, Qu You clutched the edict tightly and plunged into the river beside her.
Through the water, Song Shiyan’s voice sounded distorted and violent. “Quick, someone save her! Save her... Do not shoot underwater...”
She wasn’t a good swimmer, having panicked even during swimming lessons. Needless to say, here, Qu You choked on a few mouthfuls of water, closed her eyes, and let herself sink heavily downward.
A guard quickly swam to her side, grabbing her arm and pulling her upward. She struggled a few times but couldn’t break free.
“Cough...”
After what seemed like forever, Qu You was thrown wetly onto the ground. She looked back and found the ship had disappeared from sight.
She exhaled deeply and looked up to see Song Shiyan’s ornate golden sword at his waist.
Without hesitation—after all, being in his hands might be worse than death—Qu You lunged forward. Just as she touched the sword hilt, Song Shiyan grabbed her wrist, causing excruciating pain as he likely dislocated her wrist.
Song Shiyan leaned close to her ear, softly and sinisterly saying, “Thinking of committing suicide?”
“Nice try.”
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