A fleeting trace of panic flickered across Lou Xiyan's ordinarily serene face. Her brows furrowed tightly, the earlier composure replaced by silence, weighed down by a growing unease. As foreseen, a heavy hand pressed firmly upon her shoulder, and beside her ear rang Yan Hongtian's voice, tinged with amusement and excitement: "It's rare to hear you admit liking something—truly intriguing!"
Though he had long desired Qingling, she was still merely a woman. If Xiyan favored her, gifting her away was no great loss. Yet Yan Hongtian was genuinely curious to witness how the typically aloof and detached Xiyan would appear when enamored.
Outside the hall, nearing midnight, the moon hung veiled in mist, its brilliance subdued, no longer the radiant centerpiece of the grand and lively banquet. Even within the imperial palace's inner sanctum, the night's encroachment was inescapable. Under the precious canopy of ancient trees, the pale moonlight filtered through, casting mottled patterns upon the ground. A chill breeze swept through, crisp enough to sharpen the mind.
Before the inner chamber, two women, strikingly alike in stature and appearance, exchanged gazes—one visibly distraught, eyes brimming with sorrow; the other marked by awkward restraint.
"Sister… do you truly not remember me?" Qingfeng's heart was torn as she looked upon her sister, absent for half a month. The bright, clear eyes that once held gentle affection and warmth now reflected only cold detachment.
"I…" Zhuo Qing opened her mouth to speak but could only offer three words: "I'm sorry."
Though inhabiting another's body was against her will, it was an unalterable reality. Zhuo Qing's mind lingered anxiously on Lou Xiyan inside, where silence suggested unknown happenings; her heart fluttered with unease.
Glancing toward Gao Jin, who stood vigil at the door, Zhuo Qing felt puzzled. Instead of entrusting them to the guards, he had them wait in a corner, allowing their exchange. Was this deliberate or mere oversight?
"I am the one who wronged you. Had I not insisted on ending my life, you would not have lost your memories," her sister's coldness was a burden born of her own mistakes. Yet, recalling Qingling's bewildered awakening, Qingfeng was gripped by guilt—how terrified the lost soul must have been!
Snapping back to reality, Zhuo Qing saw the woman before her had shed the stubborn pride and aloofness she once displayed in the hall. Consumed by self-reproach, Zhuo Qing could scarcely bear it and gently comforted her: "Don't blame yourself too harshly. What's done is done. The important thing is that you're still alive."
Though no longer the same person.
Still, Qingfeng lowered her head, haunted by the memory of her attempted suicide. Zhuo Qing cautioned softly, "But never again attempt such a thing. Only the weak choose to flee or submit. You are not one of them."
Only the weak would choose death to escape—was that true? Had her cherished ideals of honor and pride been a guise for cowardice?
Slowly lifting her head, Qingfeng fixed her gaze toward the inner chamber and replied icily, "Rest assured, I will not take my own life again. The ones who deserve death are not us."
It was the dim-witted ruler under the bright moon who had slain their parents—the true culprit within.
The hatred blazing in her eyes startled Zhuo Qing. The fierce aura radiating from Qingfeng unsettled her, yet it lasted only a moment before her calm returned.
"By the way, have you seen our little sister?" Qingfeng asked. Since Zhuo Qing had managed to enter the palace, meeting her younger sister should be easier.
Zhuo Qing shook her head. "No."
A mix of disappointment and worry shadowed Qingfeng's face. "That General Su doesn't seem trustworthy. I fear our little sister may fall victim to him. She's still so young."
"Don't worry. Su Ling is a general—his cold and taciturn demeanor is normal. Though not a scholar-warrior, he is no brute," Zhuo Qing replied. After a brief time in the hall, she found Su Ling to be a man of both martial spirit and civil grace. He spoke little but was observant in all things.
Such a man would neither harm nor harass a woman—unless, of course, the woman proved fiercer than any man.
Qingfeng lacked Zhuo Qing's optimism. Naturally timid, she was usually shielded and guided by her sisters. Alone now, what could she do? Why was their fate always so cruelly manipulated?
Drawing a deep breath, Qingfeng suppressed her swelling rage and spoke as calmly as she could, fearing to trouble her elder sister: "If Chancellor Lou can convince the Emperor to let you leave, follow him at once. Better that than both of us being imprisoned. Also, don't come to the palace to see me again."
"Why?" Zhuo Qing asked, sensing something amiss. Qingfeng wasn't Qingling anymore, and she had no intention to return, yet this warning felt strange.
Startled, Qingfeng wondered if her sister had perceived her hidden thoughts. Forcing herself to remain composed, she shook her head and explained casually, "Because the Emperor harbors ill intentions toward you. If you leave, don't return to fall into his trap again. Don't worry about me—I'll take care of myself. When you recover, just send me a message."
Something flickered in her eyes; her expression was deliberate—there was another motive Zhuo Qing could not discern.
"Qingfeng, whatever you do, think thrice before acting. Rashness never leads to good," Zhuo Qing warned sharply.
Her sister's keen insight astonished Qingfeng. Was this really her sister? Could memory loss transform a person so profoundly? Was this change for better or worse?
Before Qingfeng could ponder further, the chilling male voice echoed once more: "Bring them both inside."
Gao Jin glanced at them. They complied without resistance, quietly entering the chamber.
Inside, Zhuo Qing immediately sensed a shift in the atmosphere.
Yan Hongtian's expression was no longer somber; a faint, suspicious smile played between his brows. His gaze at her had grown stranger, evoking more chills than the earlier possessiveness or anger.
Lou Xiyan remained composed, yet the melancholy etched between her brows betrayed helplessness. What had transpired in their conversation?
"Regarding the identity exchange between the Qing sisters, once I have verified the facts, I shall issue a verdict," Yan Hongtian declared. "Considering Qingling's possible amnesia, some leniency is warranted. I permit Chancellor Lou to take you back to the mansion for supervision. Until the truth is uncovered, you may not leave."
Yan Hongtian had agreed to let her and Lou Xiyan return to the mansion? What had Lou Xiyan done to sway his decision? Zhuo Qing's curiosity was piqued.
Turning to Qingfeng, Yan Hongtian sneered coldly: "As for you, Qingfeng, even if you were mistakenly delivered by the officials of Haoyue, your clear mind and subsequent impersonation of another while in the palace constitute treason. You shall be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison forthwith, pending full investigation and judgment."
Imprisonment in the Heavenly Prison!
Qingfeng seemed prepared, inhaling deeply and standing proudly—neither begging nor weeping. The mere mention of the Heavenly Prison was a dire omen.
Though no sisterly bond tied her to Qingfeng, Zhuo Qing admired her spirit. Could she truly not save her?
Lou Xiyan's gentle voice broke the silence: "The Emperor is wise. I take my leave."
With a slight wave, Yan Hongtian surprisingly offered no further trouble.
"Let us go."
Taking Zhuo Qing's hand, Lou Xiyan shook her head gently—a silent warning not to act rashly. Zhuo Qing understood; she must tread carefully.
Lou Xiyan's rescue was already a rare mercy. Looking back at the slender woman standing resolute in the hall, their eyes met briefly. Lou Xiyan smiled softly. Qingfeng turned away without a glance, ready to bear the forthcoming trials alone.
Yan Hongtian, you'd better not let me live, or—
As Lou Xiyan led Zhuo Qing away, the image of Qingfeng's radiant yet fleeting smile, like a blooming firework, haunted her mind.
For the first time, Zhuo Qing truly grasped the vast helplessness of this strange world.
The carriage finally departed the palace, hastening toward the mansion, jolting slightly on the uneven road.
Inside, Zhuo Qing watched Lou Xiyan, who had worn a pensive expression since mounting the carriage, feeling a twinge of guilt. If not for her, Lou Xiyan need not have crossed Yan Hongtian—after all, he was the Emperor.
Quietly, Zhuo Qing sighed, "Ask whatever you wish."
Lou Xiyan's eyes refocused on her, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You've lost your memories—do you think you can answer?"
"I… cannot."
So much remained unexplained. Lou Xiyan shrugged lightly, a 'why ask then?' expression, and turned away.
Zhuo Qing called again, "Lou Xiyan, I have questions."
Lou Xiyan regarded her calmly, waiting.
"How long will Qingfeng be confined? Based on your knowledge of Yan Hongtian, how might he treat her?"
Qingfeng's parting smile filled Zhuo Qing's heart with dread. If harm befell her, she would find no peace.
"A round trip to Qiongyue takes at least half a month. If the investigation concludes quickly, she might be released in that time. As for punishment… I do not know."
Yan Hongtian's whims were as unpredictable as the wind.
A chill settled deeper in the carriage. The moon continued hiding behind the clouds, as if unwilling to witness the unfolding tragedies below.