Chapter 1: I believe these people must be thieves

As before, she woke up before dawn and could not fall back asleep.

Closing her eyes only brought that nightmare again.

At midnight, the Eastern Palace was brightly lit everywhere.

The Imperial Doctor hurried in, taking Father King’s pulse, but his face turned pale and dreadful.

He looked toward Mother Consort with terror in his eyes, stumbling over his words, “The Crown Prince, the Crown Prince…the Emperor must be summoned immediately!”

Mother Consort’s eyes were red-rimmed.

She took Li Mianyu’s hand and knelt beside the bed, softly calling out Father King’s name.

Beneath the golden quilt, Father King’s face was increasingly pale and gaunt.

He opened his eyes and looked at her, his gaze still warm.

He slowly raised a hand to touch her head.

Her heart trembled, and she suddenly burst into tears, “Father King!”

Father King smiled faintly and croaked, “Yu’er, from now on, you must listen to your Mother Consort. Don’t be naughty anymore. Grow up obediently.”

She nodded tearfully, vision blurred.

“Yu’er will listen and not be naughty anymore. Father King, you must get better. Father King, you have to see Yu’er grow up!”

Father King nodded in agreement but did not improve.

He coughed up blood over and over again.

The quilt was stained with a large, damp, sticky patch.

He looked gently one last time at her and Mother Consort, then closed his eyes.

“Father King! Father King!” she cried for a long time, but he did not wake.

She turned to Mother Consort, crying, “Mother Consort, please wake Father King! Mother Consort!”

Mother Consort’s grief-stricken cries echoed through the hall.

She held Li Mianyu tightly but could say nothing.

Father King had passed away so suddenly.

When the Imperial Grandfather arrived, all he saw was a room full of mourning.

What happened afterward was a blur in her memory.

She only remembered being taken away by the Imperial Grandfather.

Three days later, she found out Mother Consort had also passed on that day.

Li Mianyu thought quietly, sobbing softly beneath the quilt.

She could not wait for dawn.

She wanted to find the Imperial Grandfather immediately.

She knew that only he would remember Father King and Mother Consort with her on this day.

She wiped her face with the quilt carelessly, sat up, and shook the bedbell.

Soon, Qingling’s voice came from the adjacent room.

She was wearing a robe, lit a lamp, and came to the bedside, gently asking, “Princess, do you wish to change your clothes?”

Li Mianyu shook her head.

“Aunt Qingling, I can’t sleep.”

Qingling had once served the Crown Princess and was gentle and caring.

She had watched Li Mianyu grow up.

She knew well why the Princess couldn’t sleep today.

She said nothing further and fetched a plain, light-colored gown already prepared for her.

She dressed Li Mianyu and combed her hair, placing only a white jade hairpin in her bun.

“Aunt Qingling, I want to go find the Imperial Grandfather right now.”

Li Mianyu sat at the dressing table, her eyes red.

Qingling hesitated.

Although the Emperor had always doted on the Princess and, after the former Crown Prince’s death, had defied convention to grant her the title of Ning State Princess and keep her in the palace, it was still very early.

Soon it would be the Emperor’s morning court.

She had heard the court had been anxiously dealing with foreign threats recently.

Before Qingling could say anything, the little princess spoke softly again, “Forget it, I’ll wait a while longer and go after the Imperial Grandfather finishes court.”

Qingling sighed in relief.

Li Mianyu had Qingling accompany her to stroll in the flower garden.

After waiting for dawn, Qingling coaxed her to have breakfast.

Judging the time was right, she immediately went to Taiji Palace.

But she was uncharacteristically refused entry.

“Princess, the Emperor is currently discussing affairs with the ministers. He will be occupied for some time. Please return first,” Yao Steward said gently, but his words shocked Li Mianyu.

In past years, even if the Imperial Grandfather was busy on this day, he would still allow her to enter the inner hall to wait.

Suddenly, Li Mianyu felt a pang of sadness.

Had the Imperial Grandfather forgotten today was Father King’s death anniversary?

She pouted stubbornly, refusing to leave.

“Then I’ll wait here for the Imperial Grandfather.”

Yao Steward seemed about to say something but stopped.

He knew well today was the former Crown Prince’s memorial day, but…

In the end, he said nothing, telling Qingling to take good care of the Princess and returning to the hall.

Qingling frowned, softly advising Li Mianyu to go back and come again later.

But the Princess rarely showed such obstinance and stood firm.

Qingling understood the day’s significance and said no more, only suggesting, “It’s hot today. Princess, why not wait in the shade under those trees? It’s cooler there, so the Emperor won’t worry if he sees you later.”

Though still sad, Li Mianyu did not want the Imperial Grandfather to worry and moved to the shade.

But over an hour passed without any court officials emerging from Taiji Palace.

The summer heat flushed the delicate Ning State Princess’s cheeks.

Qingling advised again, “Perhaps the Emperor has important matters today. Princess, we should return first.”

Li Mianyu frowned, refusing to leave.

Just as Qingling was about to persuade again, they heard some commotion.

Turning her head, Qingling saw Consort Gui.

The usually graceful and composed Consort Gui looked pale and hurried, sweat on her brow smudging her makeup.

Consort Gui did not notice the two beneath the tree and hurried toward the palace gate.

Yao Steward came out.

They spoke briefly.

Consort Gui’s face turned pale with fear.

After a few words, she turned and left in a hurry, even breaking into a run.

Qingling felt the day was unusually tense.

She spoke again, “Princess, the Emperor must truly have urgent matters. We should return first.”

Li Mianyu bit her lip, her heart pounding with unease.

She did not respond to Qingling and lightly jogged to the palace gate.

Yao Steward was still there.

Seeing her, he lowered his voice, “Princess, please return. The Emperor is busy today and cannot attend to you.”

“Then I’ll come again after the Imperial Grandfather is done.”

Li Mianyu finally relented, nodding and speaking softly.

Yao Steward hesitated before nodding, “When the time comes, I will have someone notify the Princess.”

Qingling breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly shaded the Princess with an umbrella as they walked back.

Back in the hall, Qingling saw Li Mianyu’s spirits remained low.

She remembered something and smiled as she ordered a palace maid, “Has Cui Young Master’s letter and gift been delivered to the Princess today?”

Cui Yunqi was the son of a County Princess and eldest son of the Cui family.

He had grown up with Li Mianyu and was five years older.

He was gentle and noble by nature.

When she was young, the Emperor had arranged their engagement, to marry once she came of age.

Li Mianyu was about to turn twelve in just over a month.

This was the marriage preparation period.

Cui Yunqi wrote her daily letters and sent little trinkets for her to play with in the palace.

Hearing Qingling’s words, a faint light returned to Li Mianyu’s face as she looked toward the palace maid.

But the maid said, “No letter from Cui Young Master has arrived today.”

Li Mianyu froze, puzzled.

“Didn’t he write today?”

The maid shook her head, whispering, “No.”

Li Mianyu frowned deeply, growing angry.

Her mood was already low, and she could not help but lose her temper.

“Whatever, then. If he sends another letter, no one is to accept it. Throw it away!”

She said this angrily and stomped back to her chambers.

But when Li Mianyu sat at her desk, she felt a strange unease.

Why were the Imperial Grandfather and Cui Yunqi both acting strangely today?

She could not understand.

Images of Consort Gui’s hurried, pale face flickered in her mind.

She vaguely felt something might have happened.

Hesitating, Li Mianyu looked up at Qingling, who had just entered, and said, “Aunt Qingling, could you find out if anything unusual has happened in the palace?”

Qingling had the same thought and nodded before leaving.

Li Mianyu asked a palace maid to grind ink for her.

She planned to write a memorial essay for Father King and Mother Consort.

In a little over a month, she would come of age.

This time, she was determined to write better.

Burning it for Father King and Mother Consort, she hoped it would comfort them.

When Qingling returned, Li Mianyu was still deep in thought and writing.

Hearing her return, she looked up.

“Nothing unusual has happened in the palace. Perhaps something occurred in court. That’s beyond what I can find out,” Qingling said gently but with obvious anxiety.

She had visited Consort Gui and inquired with palace attendants.

Though she learned nothing, she had inadvertently seen a few palace servants hurrying about with packed bundles.

This made her worry more.

Li Mianyu sighed and stopped asking, focusing on her writing.

“It is noon already. Princess, would you like to have lunch?”

Qingling swallowed her unease and asked softly.

Li Mianyu shook her head, having no appetite.

Qingling understood her mood and said no more.

She looked at the pure and delicate Princess and hesitated.

Having nothing better to do, she began packing some simple clothes and shoes.

Before Li Mianyu finished her memorial, sudden hurried footsteps echoed outside the hall.

She looked up, puzzled.

Why was someone moving so recklessly in her chambers?

Qingling’s heart skipped a beat.

She hurried out and saw Yao Steward’s godson, Yao Fang.

Usually clever and capable, always smiling, but now his face was deathly pale.

“Aunt Qingling, quickly pack some luggage and take the Princess away. Hide her outside for some days. The Emperor has arranged someone to protect her. He should be waiting at the gate now. Though young, he is the best fighter among the Imperial Bodyguards. His name is Yan Shi. His character is not fully disciplined yet, but he is loyal and capable. Perfect to protect the Princess.”

Qingling was bewildered.

She tried to follow Yao Fang inside, asking, “What exactly happened?”

“The Zhao King has colluded with foreign enemies. The earlier news that the rebel army was defeated was false. Today the rebels have broken into the city and are at the palace gates. Aunt Qingling, hurry and pack!”

The young eunuch was frantic.

Qingling’s face changed drastically.

Yao Steward was a close aide of the Emperor; this must be true.

She entered the inner chamber, grabbed the bundles prepared long ago, stuffing in some valuables.

“Princess, we must leave immediately!”

Li Mianyu was dazed.

She set down her brush, nervous.

“Aunt Qingling, why do we have to leave? Where will we go?”

Qingling took a deep breath and quickly repeated what Yao Fang had said.

She grabbed Li Mianyu’s hand and started walking out.

Li Mianyu’s head spun, her body tingling.

She followed Qingling involuntarily.

“Second Imperial Uncle has gone mad?” she asked, then suddenly remembered, “What about the Imperial Grandfather?”

Qingling did not dare ask Yao Fang.

The Emperor was old.

Lately, his old ailments had worsened and he was taking medicine.

He only hid his frailty and forced a strong front before Li Mianyu.

Given the Emperor’s stubborn character, he would not flee in battle.

Moreover, the Zhao King must have already trapped the Emperor in the palace.

They were now outside the hall, seeing palace servants scurrying anxiously everywhere.

In the silence between them, Li Mianyu suddenly stopped Qingling.

“I can’t just leave like this. I have to find the Imperial Grandfather!”

Qingling naturally held her back.

“Princess! The Emperor must have other arrangements. Please obey him and first find a safe place to hide. Historically, when rebels enter the palace, the fate of consorts and princesses is grim. You have been educated; you know this.”

Li Mianyu’s face turned pale, tears welling in her eyes, lips trembling.

“But the Imperial Grandfather raised me. How can I run for my life alone?”

Qingling whispered, “Princess always obeys the Emperor. Now you are only following his orders.”

Li Mianyu breathed rapidly but shook her head.

“No, I won’t leave. Father King and Mother Consort are gone. If the Imperial Grandfather too…What meaning is there for me to live alone?”

Thinking today was Father King’s death anniversary, she felt overwhelming grief.

It seemed as if Father King and Mother Consort were waiting for her.

Her eyes blurred with tears, voice choked, “I won’t leave! I want to be with the Imperial Grandfather and Father King and Mother Consort…ugh!”

Before she finished, the world flipped upside down.

She no longer saw Aunt Qingling’s gentle face.

Instead, a pair of legs dressed all in black appeared, so tall the shoes were out of sight.

The surroundings began to blur past rapidly.

“Ass—assassin! Aunt Qingling, ass…it’s the rebels!”

After a stunned moment, Li Mianyu realized she was being rudely carried away at a sprint.

She did not think further.

She was certain these were thieves.

Her voice trembled with panic as she shouted for Qingling, “Aunt Qingling!”