The festive red silks of the mansion grew ever redder, stained by firelight. The caged birds flapped in frenzied terror. Princess Huairou, woken and told to flee, lifted her head to see the sky choked with blazing fire.
Her face went deathly pale. “Momo, what’s happening!”
“Your Highness, General Xing’s quarters have caught fire! Both the general and the princess consort are still inside,” Zihua Momo answered. “They say there are assassins…”
Princess Huairou burst out crying. “It’s terrifying! Momo, I want to find my royal mother —I want to go back to the palace!”
“Your Highness, now that General Xing and the princess consort are your father-in-law and husband, both affection and duty demand you show concern—”
“I won’t! I won’t go! I’m scared, Momo—I want to go back to the palace, right now!”
The courtyard outside was in chaos, the fire blazing ever larger, its distorted red glow staining the black night sky, thick smoke curling like the monstrous grin of a demon. Terrified half to death, Princess Huairou insisted on returning to the palace at once.
Zihua Momo was helpless. A master’s command could not be denied. She had a carriage readied, and under the princess’s tearful wailing, they set out for the palace. She left two young eunuchs behind, instructing them to report at once should news come of the general or princess consort.
But by the time the carriage reached the Zhuque Gate of the imperial palace—not quickly yet not too slowly—no eunuch had come chasing with word. Zihua Momo’s heart grew ever more uneasy.
Meanwhile, in the palace, another person was waiting anxiously for news: Emperor Yongtai himself. Alone in his hall, he had not closed his eyes all night, waiting for the shadow guards’ report. But no report came—only the tidings that Princess Huairou was weeping at the palace gate, demanding to be let in.
It was supposed to be her wedding night, and by rule, once money and grain were sent out, the palace gates would not be opened again. For the princess to return at such a time was wholly improper. The gate guards, unwilling to open and fearful of entanglement, had the matter reported upward, step by step, until it reached the imperial hall. Eunuch Yu Xi, after weighing the situation, relayed it to Emperor Yongtai.
The emperor, impatient, immediately ordered his daughter brought inside. He paid no heed to her tears, clutching his frail daughter’s shoulders and demanding, “Why has the princess returned to the palace?”
Huairou, who had cried all the way, had nearly exhausted herself, yet at the sight of her father, she wailed all the louder. She only sought comfort in sobs, paying no attention to his question, whining of her grievances. Emperor Yongtai, quickly losing patience, had her taken away and summoned Zihua Momo instead.
“Why has the princess returned!” Emperor Yongtai no longer wished to beat around the bush.
Zihua Momo knelt on the ground and said, “In reply to Your Majesty, the Xing residence suddenly caught fire. It is said assassins entered. Princess Huairou is still young…”
“Assassins entered! What of Xing, Beloved Official Xing? Was Beloved Official Xing assassinated?”
“This… this old servant truly does not know. I only heard there was a fire, and that General Xing and the Princess Consort were both still inside that courtyard and had not come out!”
“Why was the Princess Consort in Beloved Official Xing’s courtyard as well?” Emperor Yongtai’s eyes widened. Originally, he had planned to kill Xing Muzheng, leaving behind his useless son Xing Pingchun so that the Xing line might continue—this, in itself, would already count as imperial benevolence.
“This… the Princess Consort was drunk, and the Princess refused to share the bridal chamber with him…”
“Useless! Worse than useless! And now you don’t even know whether they live or die!”
Zihua Momo knocked her head on the floor again and again to beg forgiveness. Emperor Yongtai, unable to vent his anger, seized on it as an excuse and had her dragged out to be beaten with twenty heavy strokes.
“Yu Xi, Yu Xi!” Emperor Yongtai bellowed. “Send more men to investigate—bring word back at once!”
Yu Xi hurried off. But by the time dawn broke, Xing Muzheng’s residence within the Xing estate had already burned to ash. Only then did a belated report arrive: “Your Majesty, none of the shadow guards we dispatched survived. Xing Muzheng and Xing Pingchun are missing!”
Emperor Yongtai kicked the messenger to the ground. “Find them! Search every inch of the earth if you must!”
The fire that raged half the night at the Marquis Dingxi’s residence had already spread through the city of Yongan. Before dawn, officials large and small all departed their homes earlier than usual, riding hastily to court. Along the way, they could hear commoners chattering about the sudden conflagration at the Marquis’s estate.
The Prefect of Shuntian had been roused from sleep in the night and rushed to the Xing estate to aid in fighting the fire, yet even then neither of the two marquises was found. His head had nearly split from the pain. When the Imperial Guards arrived with an edict to take control, the prefect—who had already sensed something amiss—was not surprised, only full of sighs.
At the city gates, the gates had not yet been opened, but the gate officers had already been replaced by the Imperial Guards. Everyone wishing to leave the city was thoroughly examined.
“My lord, we go out every day to quarry stone outside the city. The gate officers all know us.”
“Enough chatter—stand still honestly!”
At the southern gate, the Imperial Guards were checking carefully, when in the distance came two rows of maids. Their hair was styled in double loops, their attire white short jackets and pink long skirts. A grand sedan borne by twelve, studded with pearls, draped with embroidered silks, dragons and phoenixes twining pearls, sheer gauze layers fluttering—it was instantly recognizable to all who lived in Yongan as the carriage of Princess Jianan.
All the guards knew this Princess. Though unmarried and living alone, she was dearly beloved by the Grand Empress Dowager Huici, and as the emperor’s aunt, she was not someone to provoke.
The guard captain stepped forward to kneel and offer respects. The princess’s lady-in-waiting declared, “Her Highness goes to Wuling Temple to pray for the Grand Empress Dowager. Clear the way.”
The captain hesitated. “We are under imperial command to seize traitors to the court. I fear villains may have slipped into Her Highness’s procession. I must beg your ladyship’s indulgence and allow us to carry out our duty.”
The lady-in-waiting’s face went cold. “How could villains be among the princess’s attendants?”
The captain truly did not wish to offend Princess Jianan, but the emperor’s command could not be defied. For the sake of his own head, he could only grit his teeth and say, “This lowly one is but obeying orders. I beg your ladyship not to make it hard for me.”
“A petty official dares to block the princess’s carriage? How bold!”
“Let him search. Do not delay this princess’ outing,” came Princess Jianan’s cold voice from within the ornate sedan.
Since her mistress had spoken, the lady-in-waiting fell silent and stepped aside. The guard captain gave thanks to the princess, then waved his men forward to check the attendants one by one. Xing Muzheng and Xing Pingchun were well-known figures in Yongan City, and the guards naturally would recognize them.
But after going over the attendants, they found nothing. The men all shook their heads to the captain. His gaze lingered on the twelve bearers of the princess’s sedan, hesitating. The imperial order was clear: leave no suspicious place unchecked. And now, the most suspicious place was precisely the princess’s carriage.
“Have you searched thoroughly?” Princess Jianan’s lofty voice came from inside.
The captain forced a smile. “The attendants have been searched. Only, the edict says we must not overlook any carriage… Your Highness, perhaps…”
Princess Jianan said coolly, “Oh? You suspect this princess of harboring criminals, and would search my carriage?”
The captain pleaded, “I beg Your Highness to understand our plight.”
“Impudent!” the lady-in-waiting barked.
Princess Jianan gave a cold laugh. “Since you are so intent on seeing, then see. Imperial Guard Officer Gong Xun.”
She pronounced his name one syllable at a time. At once the captain broke into a cold sweat. He rose and walked to the carriage, hand trembling as he reached toward the pearl-studded curtain. Just as he was about to grasp it, he snatched his hand back.
If the Xing father and son were inside, he would die. If they were not inside, he would still die. With elderly parents above and children below, he could not afford to throw his life away so pointlessly.
Dropping to one knee, the captain said, “This lowly one has offended. May Your Highness proceed.”
From within the sedan, Princess Jianan asked, “You are certain your search is complete?”
“Yes, it is complete.”
“Did this princess harbor criminals?”
“Your Highness is a royal princess—how could you ever harbor criminals?” the captain said.
Princess Jianan gave a cold snort. “Lift the carriage.”
The lady-in-waiting bowed slightly and signaled the palace maids to lead the way. The twelve bearers lifted the sedan and carried it slowly through the south gate.
Once outside the city, the princess’s carriage stopped in a secluded bamboo grove. The lady-in-waiting dismissed the servants. From within the sedan stepped out two strikingly similar, handsome men—Xing Muzheng and his son Xing Pingchun.
Princess Jianan also alighted, her eyes soft with affection as she looked at Xing Muzheng. “My Xinglang, you’ve suffered.”
Xing Muzheng himself had not imagined that Xing Pingchun would seek help from Princess Jianan, nor did he know how his son had convinced her. He only replied, calm and steady, “I am indebted to Your Highness for your aid.”
“Between you and me, why such formality? As long as I see you safe, I am at ease. Would you have me send men to escort you back?”
Xing Pingchun said, “This humble official has already made preparations. I dare not implicate Your Highness any further.”
Princess Jianan nodded. “Then let us part here for now.” From her sleeve she drew out a brocade box and offered it with both hands to Xing Muzheng. “Xinglang, I wish you a safe journey.”
Xing Pingchun secretly poked Xing Muzheng. Xing Muzheng accepted the brocade box. “Many thanks, Princess.”
Princess Jianan’s eyes lit up with delight, though she still maintained her princessly restraint, and watched the father and son vanish into the depths of the bamboo grove.
***
Xing Muzheng and Xing Pingchun exited the bamboo forest, crossed a small valley, where thirty-odd guards disguised as escort bodyguards were already waiting at the agreed spot. They were in fact secret shadow guards raised by strategist Huang Gong in Yongan for precisely this day. These men had slipped out of the city pretending to be tenant farmers or quarry workers, changed their clothes, and now waited for the Xing father and son. Travel passes and other documents had all been prepared by Huang Gong and already handed to Xing Pingchun.
Without many words, the group immediately set off toward Yuzhou.
In the carriage, father and son finished changing their disguises. Xing Muzheng cast a sidelong glance at his son. “Speak. How did you persuade Princess Jianan?” This boy’s mind did run crooked—yet he had chosen just the right person. Now, even if the emperor searched for who in Yongan had aided them, he would never trace it back to their own heads.
Xing Pingchun fastened the last button and grinned ingratiatingly. “Father, this was all for the sake of our lives. When Mother beats me later, you must shield me.”
“Your mother beats you?” Xing Muzheng narrowed his eyes.
Scratching his head, Xing Pingchun said, “I noticed Princess Jianan still harbors feelings for you, so I borrowed Mother’s name to speak with her. I told her the Xing household could not survive under the new emperor. Rather than sit and wait for death, we’d rather fight with our backs to the river and support the Second Prince to ascend. If the day came that he succeeded, Mother would willingly give up her place as principal wife, yield her seat to the princess, and fulfill Father’s lifelong bond with her.”
Xing Pingchun blurted it all out in one breath, then quickly hugged his head, afraid Xing Muzheng might strike him.
But Xing Muzheng was silent for a moment, then let out a half-smile, half-sneer. “Not exactly a clever plan, but certainly a cunning one.”
“Father… you don’t blame me?”
“Why should I blame you? War is the way of deception, never shunning trickery. This scheme both lets us escape and shifts the trouble eastward—it was well done. If your mother knew, she would not blame you either.”
Xing Pingchun exhaled in relief, patting his chest. “Father, don’t worry about reputation. Once our work is done, I’ll kill Princess Jianan myself, and no one will ever know.”
Xing Muzheng said, “Princess Jianan kindly saved you, and you would still harbor murderous thoughts against her?”
Xing Pingchun replied, “She has tried time and again to kill Mother. I’ve long wished to rid us of that venomous woman. This is nothing more than enduring humiliation for a greater cause.”
Xing Muzheng smiled. This son of his was becoming more and more like him and Jiaoniang.
After speaking, Xing Pingchun raised his eyes toward his father, uneasily asking, “Father, do you blame me for not being an upright man?”
Xing Muzheng said, “With the circumstances we are in, we can no longer be upright men.” He paused. “Now that you understand how hard it is to be upright, when in the future you encounter men of integrity and ambition, you must respect them greatly and protect their virtue.”
Xing Pingchun pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Your son understands.”
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