He called out several times, but Princess Baorong remained motionless—she had clearly fainted. He immediately ordered Pu Wuyong: “Quick! Go summon the imperial physician to the side hall, now!”
After just a few steps, he saw Noble Consort Xiao Liu also unconscious on the ground, and his mood soured even further.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve, yet how many people had died just today alone?!
Even if everything had been Duke Chu’s fault, even if all the mistakes of the past had been caused by the Lu family and Duke Chu—
The true culprits were already dead.
Must the consequences keep spreading endlessly?
He had no energy to look at Liu Wangfei, nor did he have the heart to blame Xiao Mo, whose mind was no longer sound. He could only take a deep breath, hurriedly carrying Princess Baorong to the side hall.
As for Noble Consort Xiao Liu, several older maids carried her inside.
The wound on her forehead was horrifying.
When the physician cut open the back of Princess Baorong’s robe, it revealed injuries just as shocking and dreadful.
Emperor Yongchang closed his eyes in pained silence.
Princess Baorong had been raised in his arms.
In noble families, it was traditional to “hold the grandson, not the son.” So even during the time he most favored Qi Wang, all he ever did was let him play on his knees.
But it was different with Princess Baorong.
From a very young age, she had shown a special attachment to him.
As a toddler, she insisted on being held only by him. If anyone else carried her, she would cry as if her heart were being torn out. But no matter when or where, the moment he took her in his arms, she would rest her little head softly against the crook of his neck.
When she got a little older, she would waddle along on her short legs every day to wait for him along the path where he returned from court.
Sometimes she would even hide melted pastries in her sleeves to give to him.
This girl, who had grown up bit by bit under his watchful eyes, was the daughter he cherished most.
Yes, he did feel guilt toward Xiao Mo, and yes, his heart ached for what Xiao Mo and Liu Wangfei had endured.
But at the same time, he couldn’t help but give in to a deeply rooted human weakness:
The desire to avoid trouble.
He had imagined that the family’s reunion would be a joyful, harmonious one—
Not a trail of blood and broken lives.
Not a disruption of all the existing order.
The Eldest Princess was now questioning Liu Wangfei about what had truly happened.
Liu Wangfei didn’t hide anything. She spoke plainly and calmly.
The Eldest Princess gave a cold sneer and said, “Truly a family legacy—generation after generation, all with the same skill.”
But as she said it, her expression grew heavy.
She took Liu Wangfei’s hand. “Now that Liu Wangfei is safe, we can’t let this go any further. You haven’t seen what that girl Baorong is capable of. I’ve never seen our brother favor any princess the way he favors her—she is the only one.”
Liu Wangfei remained silent.
She quietly glanced at Xiao Mo, who was crouched nearby playing with his cricket, and her eyes slowly filled with sorrow.
Meanwhile, outside the palace, Qi Yuan had actually started making dumplings.
Qi Zhen watched her as she directed the maids to peel the roasted taro. Then she took a pestle and mashed the taro into a soft paste.
She worked with great enthusiasm, even instructing the kitchen maids to prepare three or four different kinds of fillings.
One was a mix of finely chopped mushrooms and shredded radish, blended together with minced meat.
Another combined chopped celery stalks and vegetable hearts with meat.
There was even one made with fish.
Then she began kneading the dough.
But even the dough was different from the usual— She mixed flour with mashed taro paste, kneading it constantly. Then she stirred another batch of flour in a hot pan until it turned semi-translucent, and mixed that into the dough.
Then the dumpling wrapping began.
Qi Zhen thought he must’ve gone mad. On the eve of New Year’s, with who knew what political storm brewing inside the palace, what was he doing?
Watching Qi Yuan make dumplings!
Old Marquis Qi, on the other hand, was all smiles. He and the old marchioness even joined in with great interest, learning from Qi Yuan how to wrap these ingot-shaped dumplings.
As they wrapped, the Old Marquis asked, “Isn’t this a bit too much?”
There’s no way the family could finish it all!
There were more than thirty people in the kitchen wrapping dumplings!
Qi Yuan raised her brows, placed a dumpling on the table, and chuckled lightly: “It’s not too much. Some will be sent to the Eldest Princess, some to Jing Wang. This year, we’re finally having a proper New Year.”
…
The Old Marquis paused mid-dumpling. “Ah Yuan, can you be honest with me—what’s going to be the outcome of all this today?”
Qi Yuan looked up at him and answered calmly, “Duke Chu is dead. A full execution of nine clans won’t happen—after all, if we go that far, wouldn’t Noble Consort Xiao Liu and Princess Baorong count too? Duke Chu’s household will likely be punished by exterminating three branches of the family. As for the Ye family—Duchess Chu’s maternal clan—they won’t escape complete eradication.”
Qi Zhen finally understood why they were making so many dumplings.
One dumpling for every head, perhaps?
Qi Yuan glanced at Qi Zhen, who fumbled clumsily with his own dumpling.
Only then did she say softly, “As for the Lu family, there’s no need to say more. From now on, there will be no more First House of the Lu clan. The position of Grand Commander of the Five Armies will be vacant…”
The Old Marquis couldn’t help but ask, “Will it be given to Princess Consort Lu?”
Qi Yuan set down her dumpling and shook her head. “No. It will be given to Father.”
Smack! Qi Zhen crushed his dumpling flat in his hand, looking at Qi Yuan in a panic.
“Duke Chu murdered his original wife, framed and defamed his own daughter, pursued and tried to kill Liu Wangfei, formed factions for private gain, and raised secret guards—each of these is a capital crime! Execution of three clans!”
Emperor Yongchang slowly closed his eyes and said coldly: “Lu Minghui tried to kill Liu Wangfei, attempted to silence Princess Consort Lu, moved troops without orders, plotted rebellion. As for the First House of the Lu family—all adult male members will be beheaded after the autumn, and the underage boys will be exiled to Ningguta. The women will be consigned to the Bureau of Music and Entertainment!”
He looked deeply at Liu Wangfei, then smiled faintly at her and the Eldest Princess. “With this arrangement, I trust neither of you have any objections?”
As expected, the Eldest Princess gave Liu Wangfei a small tug and signaled her with a glance—don’t push the emperor any further.
The severe injuries to Noble Consort Xiao Liu and Princess Baorong today had already stirred discontent in Emperor Yongchang.
Liu Wangfei’s heart was cold to the extreme. But at that point, she felt nothing mattered anymore.
She knelt with perfect form and bowed: “This Qie thanks Your Majesty for your imperial grace, and for returning justice to me.”
Emperor Yongchang was already exhausted. He waved his hand lightly, glanced at Xiao Mo—who was still tirelessly playing—and said in a deep voice: “You’ll stay in Guangfeng Jiyue Hall for now. After the New Year, I will discuss with the Inner Council restoring your rank.”
But Liu Wangfei shook her head firmly and declined: “Your Majesty, this qie has grown used to living outside the palace over these years and is no longer accustomed to court protocol. As for Mo’er, he finds it difficult to adapt in unfamiliar surroundings. I beg Your Majesty to grant us a favor and allow me to stay temporarily at Baiyun Temple. After all, the Eldest Princess lived there before, so everything should be fully prepared.”
Emperor Yongchang thought for a moment and finally agreed.
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