The northern wind, wrapped in piercing shards of snow like steel needles, lashed against the vermilion gates of the Defender-General's Estate. The manes of the two stone lions before the door were caked with icicles, looking like a frozen roar. Shen Mingyue stood beneath the stone steps, gazing at the peeling gold paint on the plaque, where the four grand characters "Defender-General's Estate" seemed gnawed down to a mere skeleton by the passage of time. The half-sheet of notepaper hidden inside her sleeve radiated a burning warmth—it was the one Jiang Yanbai had clumsily let slip from his sleeve yesterday in the Imperial Study. Though it contained only a few sparse words, it was enough to rip away the Crown Prince's hypocritical mask. Subconsciously rubbing the fabric of her sleeve, she remembered how her mother had clutched her own lapel just like this before her dying breath. A wave of iron-tasting sweetness welled up in her throat, conjuring the image of her mother's paper-white face alongside unuttered, fading parting words.
"Lady Shen, the Ministry of Punishments has arrived." Xuanying's voice carried the chill of the frost. His cloak snapped violently in the wind as his vigilant gaze swept the surroundings.
Shen Mingyue lifted her chin slightly and stepped across the threshold into the estate through the accumulated snow. Muddy, chaotic footprints crisscrossed the bluestone paving. Palace lanterns hung askew from the corridors, their faded silk swaying in the gale like the Jiang Family's crumbling destiny. The air was heavy with the stale scent of sandalwood and blood—left behind when Jiang Yanbai was hauled away two days ago. Mixed with melting snow, it turned into a pungent, sour stench, as though every single inch of the mansion was recounting its former sins.
The scene of the seizure was utter chaos. Servants were driven into the center of the courtyard, the weeping of female attendants and the sobbing of children mingling with the hammering of guards. Treading upon a mess of scattered calligraphy and paintings, Shen Mingyue wandered feignedly into Jiang Yanbai's study. Carved sandalwood bookshelves lay overturned, thread-bound books spilling across the floor like an ocean of ink. Her gaze swept over the hidden patterns on the back of the bookshelf—the very phoenix totem she had seen yesterday on the fragment of secret correspondence. Her heartbeat quickened unbidden; every step she took was cautious, as if she were walking through a powder keg ready to detonate at any moment.
"My lady, I found it!" The shadow guard's voice suddenly rang out, laden with suppressed excitement.
Shen Mingyue turned to see the guard dragging a sandalwood box out from a hidden compartment. The gilt decorations on the lid had been scraped away, exposing the dark red wood underneath like an unhealed wound. When the lid was lifted, a stack of confidential dispatches lay neatly inside; the topmost one clearly bore the inscription "To His Royal Highness the Crown Prince," and the coiled-dragon wax seal still retained fresh cracks. She took a deep breath and unfolded the letter. Familiar vermilion marginalia sprang into view: *“Eliminate Shen Mingyue by utilizing the Blood Fiend Alliance; upon success, grant the Jiangnan salt permits.”*
*Bang!*
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed from afar, making Shen Mingyue's fingertips twitch. The letter gave a faint rustling whisper, and in a daze, she felt herself pulled back to that stormy night. Assassins from the Blood Fiend Alliance had smashed through the window, the cold light of their blades reflecting off her resolute face while the jade fragment left by her mother pressed painfully against her chest. So, from start to finish, Jiang Yanbai had merely been a pawn in the Crown Prince's hand, and she was the most glaring black stone on the board. Anger and resentment surged within her; she gripped the paper so tightly her nails nearly punctured it.
"Lady Shen is remarkably bold, daring to conceal evidence?" A languid voice drifted from the doorway, carrying an inexpressible mockery and oppressive weight.
Shen Mingyue looked up to see Gu Jinghong leaning casually against the doorframe. The gold-threaded cloud patterns on his moon-white brocade robe shimmered in the dim light, and a gilded folding fan tapped rhythmically against his palm with a *tick-tock* sound. The Eastern Depot guards trailing behind him wore dark martial attire, the cold glint of their Xiuchun Sabers interweaving with the reflection from the snow to cast grim shadows on the walls, foretelling an impending storm.
"What is the meaning of this, Eunuch Gu?" Shen Mingyue tucked the confidential dispatches back into her sleeve, pressing her fingertips hard against the edge of the letter while forcing her voice to remain steady. She gazed at the amusement swimming in Gu Jinghong's eyes—the playful look of a predator watching its prey stumble into a trap. Rumor had it that this man had ruled the Eastern Depot for eight years, and the officials he had interrogated could fill the entirety of Zhuque Avenue. Yet he had appeared precisely when she found the crucial evidence; there had to be an ulterior motive at play.
Gu Jinghong paced forward, his folding fan flicking a lock of her hair. The chilly fan ribs brushed her cheek with a fleeting, ambiguous threat. "Things belonging to the Jiang Estate should rightfully be inspected by the Eastern Depot. Since Lady Shen is in such a rush, could it be that you've discovered something interesting?" His gaze fixed like a falcon on the sleeve where she had hidden the letter, yet the curve of his lips resembled a cat toying with its prey, making his true intentions impossible to fathom.
Without batting an eye, Shen Mingyue stepped back half a pace, her skirt brushing against the scattered bamboo slips on the floor with a faint rustle. "Eunuch Gu jests. This commoner is merely assisting the Ministry of Punishments with the case. If the Eunuch wishes to see it, you may take it."
As she handed over the missive, she deliberately let her fingertips tremble slightly—the result of practicing repeatedly in front of the bronze mirror last night. The moment Gu Jinghong took the letters, she noticed a patch of dark red tattoo peeking from his cuff, the "Nether Guide" totem exclusive to the upper echelons of the Eastern Depot. Inwardly, she guessed at his status within the agency and his purpose in coming here today.
Gu Jinghong cast a casual glance over the paper, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, a flicker of hard-to-detect surprise flashing in his eyes. "This is enough to cost lives, yet Lady Shen hands it over so easily?" His voice was as deep as a stagnant pool, and his folding fan spun sharply in his palm, filling the air with a sense of danger.
"This commoner only seeks the truth and justice for the dead." Shen Mingyue met his gaze directly, driving her nails deep into her palms to use the pain to keep her head clear. "If Eunuch Gu finds this useful, take it by all means. I only wonder how His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will react upon seeing this letter?" She deliberately emphasized the words "Crown Prince," catching out of the corner of her eye an operative who instinctively tightened his grip on a saber hilt. This minor detail made her even more certain of her suspicion: the Crown Prince indeed had informants planted within the Eastern Depot.
The temperature in the air plummeted abruptly. Gu Jinghong's expression turned as cold as ice in an instant, his folding fan striking his palm with a dull thud. "Shen Mingyue, are you threatening me?" He pressed half a step closer, the scent of pine mixed with blood washing over her, brimming with pressure.
"I wouldn't dare." Shen Mingyue curtsied, the hairpins at her temples swaying slightly as she forced herself to appear humble and harmless. "This commoner is merely speaking the truth. His Royal Highness is wise, and surely would not engage in such deeds. But if someone with ulterior motives were to spread this letter far and wide..." She paused deliberately, sweeping her gaze past the restless guards behind Gu Jinghong. "The Eastern Depot's eyes and ears are scattered all over the Capital. How many days does Eunuch Gu think this secret can be kept?"
With that, she retrieved a silk handkerchief embroidered with the Eastern Depot's emblem from her sleeve and gently wiped her fingertips—an item she had "borrowed" from an Eastern Depot agent yesterday at Zuixian Tavern, hinting that she was well aware of their operations.
Gu Jinghong stared at her for a long moment before throwing back his head in laughter, the sound shaking the accumulated snow off the rafters. "Interesting, truly interesting! Shen Mingyue, you are certainly no ordinary woman." He tossed the letter back to her, and the paper fluttered down to land by her feet. "Keep this thing. But you had best think carefully about your next move." With that, he turned and left, the wind whipped up by his robes scattering loose scraps of paper on the ground to reveal a yellowed prescription—written in the exact same handwriting as the poison used to murder her mother years ago. The instant he turned, Shen Mingyue noticed a jade pendant hanging at his waist, carved with a pattern remarkably similar to the seal found in a painting within the Second Prince's study. She quietly filed this detail away in her mind.
Three days later, the morning bell and drum summoned the cold crows to scatter from beneath the palace walls. By the time the contents of the confidential letter swept through the imperial court, Shen Mingyue was kneeling before the throne, the broken jade fragment hidden in her sleeve pressing painfully against her ribs. The Second Prince's impassioned impeachment echoed through the grand hall: "Your Majesty, upon hearing of this matter, your humble subject is heartbroken! As the heir apparent, the Crown Prince has actually colluded with outlaws of the pugilistic world, truly failing Your Majesty's heavy trust!"
When he knelt, the jade pendant at his waist struck the blue bricks with a crisp chime, forming a jarring symphony with the Crown Prince's angry defense. Shen Mingyue covertly observed the Crown Prince's expression, noticing that whenever the Blood Fiend Alliance was mentioned, his eyes drifted involuntarily toward Gu Jinghong, who stood off to the side. This subtle action made her even more certain that some clandestine connection existed between the two men.
The Emperor sat upon the Dragon Throne, his expression frighteningly dark. He gazed down at the bickering princes before him, the veins bulging on the back of his hands. When his gaze swept over Shen Mingyue in the corner, she appropriately lowered her gaze, her fingernails pinching a silver needle she had readied in her palm. A single droplet of blood quietly welled up, blooming into a tiny red stain on the white jade steps and painting a picture of fragility, helplessness, and victimhood.
After the court was dismissed, the moment Shen Mingyue stepped out of the palace gates, her path was blocked by a dark figure.
"Lady Shen, stay a moment." Gu Jinghong leaned against the palace wall, toying with a newly swapped ivory folding fan. The inked bamboo painted on the fan's surface was snapped apart by him with a series of crisp cracks, as if venting some sort of emotion. "Lady Shen played her part quite well in court today."
Shen Mingyue turned and curtsied, her hair ornaments chiming softly, a fitting humility gracing her features. "Thank you for the praise, Eunuch Gu. This commoner merely spoke the truth in pursuit of justice." She gazed at the ambiguous smile playing at the corners of Gu Jinghong's lips, remembering how, during the morning assembly just moments ago, this man had lounged lazily among the Eastern Depot ranks yet exchanged glances with the Second Prince three separate times. Inwardly, she pondered what kind of tacit understanding they had reached.
Gu Jinghong drew closer to her, lowering his voice with a warning tone. "Does Lady Shen realize that with this single move, you have completely offended the Crown Prince? He is not a man to let things go easily." As he spoke, the white vapor from his breath carried a faint, bloody tang—the lingering aura of someone who spent his life handling instruments of torture, sending a shiver down the spine.
"This commoner understands." Shen Mingyue met his gaze squarely, her eyes unwavering and fearless. "Yet some things must be done by someone. This commoner will keep Eunuch Gu's assistance today firmly in mind. Should there be any need, I shall certainly render service." She deliberately emphasized the word "service" and produced a small sachet from her sleeve. Embroidered upon it was an orchid pattern, matching Gu Jinghong's known tastes and hinting at her familiarity with his preferences—a sight that brought a flicker of intrigue to his eyes.
Gu Jinghong raised an eyebrow, his fan lifting a strand of her hair while an inquisitive light danced in his gaze. "Lady Shen is certainly straightforward. However, my assistance did not stem from a soft heart." He paused, pulling a brocade pouch from his sleeve bearing embroidered twin lotuses with hidden patterns. "The Crown Prince's downfall benefits the Eastern Depot as well. That said, what are Lady Shen's plans moving forward?"
"The Second Prince holds the common people in his heart, and his reputation for virtue is widespread," Shen Mingyue murmured softly. As she accepted the pouch, her fingertips brushed against the calluses on his palm—the marks left by years of wielding a blade. "This commoner is willing to lend the Second Prince a helping hand to restore peace to the realm."
While speaking, she noted that Gu Jinghong's jade pendant had slipped out once more, its pattern flashing strangely in the sunlight. It bore a striking resemblance to the mysterious symbols recorded in an ancient text she had found in Jiang Yanbai's study, sparking an even greater curiosity regarding his true identity.
Gu Jinghong burst into laughter, the sound startling the sparrows perched on the eaves into flight. "Clever! The Second Prince indeed requires assistance such as yours. Still, Lady Shen would do well to be cautious. The Crown Prince will not go down without a fight, nor will the Blood Fiend Alliance let the matter rest." He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing her flushed earlobe. "I hear their newly crafted 'Soul-Devouring Gu' can make a person's life worse than death." With that, he cast her a meaningful look and turned to leave, leaving Shen Mingyue standing in place, gazing at his retreating figure in deep contemplation.
By the time she returned to the Shen Estate, the evening gloom had thickened. Shen Mingyue opened the brocade pouch to find a roster of names and a map. The list was densely packed with the names of the Crown Prince's partisans; beside several names marked in vermilion were tiny painted skulls. The map marked the safehouses of the Blood Fiend Alliance within the Capital, and next to the marker for Zuixian Tavern in the West City, someone had scrawled in red ink: *“The Nether Guide is here.”*
Gazing at these items, a cold smile curved her lips. Gu Jinghong was truly no simple character. Though he appeared to be helping her, he was actually laying out a much deeper game on the chessboard. Still, that mattered little to her; so long as her goal was achieved, what did it matter if she supped with a tiger? She studied the map closely and discovered that the location of one of the markers overlapped with symbols from a musical score she had previously found in Jiang Yanbai's study. This realization made her suspect that an even greater secret lay hidden behind the map.
As the night grew deeper, the candles flickered within the Shen Estate's study. Shen Mingyue spread out the map, studying it in meticulous detail. Chuntao brought in a cup of hot tea and said with worry, "My lady, are you truly going to cooperate with the Second Prince? A man like Gu Jinghong has too deep a mind; can we really trust him?"
"In this world, there are no eternal enemies nor eternal friends, only eternal interests." Shen Mingyue took a sip of tea, though its warmth could not banish the chill in her fingertips. "Gu Jinghong wants to bring down the Crown Prince, and we also need the intelligence in his hands. As for the Second Prince..." Her gaze landed with steadfast determination upon her mother's portrait on the wall. "If his intentions toward the people are genuine, I will naturally lend my full support. But should he harbor selfish motives..." She clenched her fist, her knuckles popping audibly. "...I will not allow myself to be manipulated."
With that, she picked up her brush and jotted down names and symbols on paper—details of suspicious anomalies she had uncovered during the search of the Jiang Estate. She decided to use these clues to further unravel the conspiracy of the Crown Prince's faction.
Outside the window, wind and snow continued to howl. Shen Mingyue gazed out at the snow-filled sky, her thoughts drifting far away. From her mother's murder to her current entanglement in court struggles, she was no longer the bullied, weak girl of the past. The road ahead might grow even more perilous, but she was long since prepared. For her mother's sake, and for the sake of the innocent, she would walk this path to the end, even if it meant making enemies of the entire world.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Gu Jinghong stood atop the Eastern Depot's watchtower, looking out toward the Shen Estate with a faint smile. A secret missive in his hand read: *“Shen Mingyue can be utilized, but guard against a backlash.”* A trusted subordinate by his side handed over a new piece of intelligence detailing Shen Mingyue's recent contacts with pugilistic figures. Gu Jinghong's gaze grew even more profound; he knew this woman was far more complex than he had imagined, and an even greater storm was quietly closing in.