Pu Wuyong received news of Cishan’s death on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year.
In previous years, by this time, he would already be preparing for the Lantern Festival banquet at the palace.
Not only that—plenty of officials who could only return to the capital during the New Year would line up around now to offer him their gifts.
Those seeking transfers, promotions, or new assignments in the coming year were all eager for an audience with him.
This was usually the most glorious, triumphant time of his year.
Because his nephew—Cishan, whom he considered his own son—would also return to the capital during this time, using the excuse of giving Buddhist sermons to stay by his side for a few days.
Those were the rare few days when he could enjoy something resembling family happiness.
But the happiest time of previous years had now become the most painful moment of this year.
The instant he received the news of Cishan’s death, it felt as if his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were all being torn apart—like someone had stabbed him with a knife, over and over again!
Back then, the reason he had chosen to castrate himself and become a eunuch was because his family had been too poor to survive.
Becoming a eunuch and entering the palace had been the only way to give his family a chance at life.
But who would’ve thought—even after he became a eunuch, his family still couldn’t make it.
A flood had swept away every single member of his family.
Only Cishan had survived.
He had schemed so carefully for Cishan, planning every step.
All he needed was a few more years. Once no one remembered that old case from their hometown, he could elevate Cishan into someone of true standing.
He could get him a post at the Bureau of Buddhist Clergy, perhaps as an official in charge.
Then he would adopt him as a godson and match him with a noblewoman from a prestigious family.
The Xu family’s incense line would be passed on. Their ancestral spirit lamps would burn on.
From then on, the Xu family would no longer be a family of lowly peasants.
But now, it was all gone!
Pu Wuyong had never been so furious in his life—so enraged he wanted to have his elite Embroidered Uniform Guard tear Qi Yuan to pieces right now.
And his madness wasn’t only aimed at Lai Chenglong.
When he went to see Princess Baorong, a palace maid accidentally knocked over a flower vase beside the purification bowl, causing the blossoms to fall.
He immediately erupted in rage: “Disrespecting the noble consort, disturbing her peaceful rest—drag her out and beat her to death!”
Princess Baorong immediately sensed something was off with Pu Wuyong’s mood.
This d*mn eunuch had always been a master of concealing his emotions.
Even if his own father had died, he wouldn’t have reacted like this.
Could it be… someone had died?
She raised an eyebrow, lighting incense for Consort Xiao while casually asking with a probing tone, “What’s wrong, Pu Gonggong? Why such a temper? It’s the New Year—what could’ve happened?”
Pu Wuyong’s face was dark as ink. He coldly told her about the failure to frame the Qi family.
Princess Baorong bent at the waist and burst into hearty laughter.
Pu Wuyong’s face turned even more grim. He was already on the verge of breaking down.
So even though Baorong was a princess, he couldn’t hold it in anymore and shrieked: “What are you laughing at?!”
Princess or not—if she pushed him too far, he’d have her killed en route to her marriage in a foreign land and pin it all on the Japanese!
Those islanders weren’t exactly trustworthy. Wouldn’t it make perfect sense for them to be blamed for failing to protect the princess?
But Princess Baorong was completely unfazed. When a person has nothing left to lose, they have nothing left to fear.
That was exactly how she felt now.
She clicked her tongue and lowered her voice, laced with sarcasm. “Pu Gonggong, weren’t you full of confidence before? You thought she was just some little girl who couldn’t stir up any real waves… Still think that now?”
Pu Wuyong wanted nothing more than to slap himself in the face.
Why had he bothered scheming against the Qi family to wipe them all out?
He should’ve just sent someone to assassinate Qi Yuan from the start. Kill Qi Yuan!
That demoness—if she had died back then, none of this would have happened. Cishan wouldn’t have died!
Princess Baorong caught on that something was wrong. She glanced at him sideways and clicked her tongue. “What’s the matter, Pu Gonggong? Don’t tell me something happened to that precious nephew of yours?”
At first, Princess Baorong had thought he was grieving a dead father. But then she remembered—this d*mn eunuch didn’t even have a father. His father had died ages ago.
But he did have a nephew. And not just any nephew—one he had mentioned more than once in front of Qi Wang, asking the prince to look after him.
Seeing Pu Wuyong in this frenzied state, she guessed Qi Yuan had struck straight at his weak spot—cut off his bloodline at the root.
Princess Baorong’s face also darkened slightly.
She clicked her tongue inwardly.
What a ruthless character. There was nothing she wouldn’t dare to do.
Pu Wuyong glared at her with bloodshot eyes.
That was all the confirmation she needed. Oh? So it really was the nephew who died.
No wonder he was reacting like this.
She let out a soft laugh. “Pu Gonggong, what’s the point of getting angry? No matter how furious you get, your nephew’s not coming back.”
Then she added with mock sympathy: “And honestly, what’s there to be so upset about? You’ve got power, you’ve got money, and your nephew’s down there all alone. Poor thing didn’t even get to marry, right?”
Pu Wuyong jerked his head up and stared at her.
Only to hear Princess Baorong say sweetly, “I heard that among common folk, when a young man dies tragically and the family can’t bear to let go, they arrange a ghost marriage. Don’t you think… Qi Yuan would be a perfect match?”
Pu Wuyong took a deep breath.
And without a second thought, he found the idea entirely acceptable.
She killed his nephew—then she could go down and serve him!
Qi Yuan must die!
Without another word, he turned and strode out.
But just then, Princess Baorong called after him with a cheerful smile, “Pu Gonggong, be careful now. That woman is a martial arts master, and she’s got Xiao Yunting helping her. You’ve already stumbled once—I’d hate to see you die before I do.”
Such words—truly hard to stomach!
Pu Wuyong let out a chilling, sarcastic laugh. “No need for Your Highness to worry about that. Lantern Festival is just around the corner. Once it passes, Qi Wang will be heading to his fiefdom. I’ve heard the inner court is already discussing reassigning him a smaller domain—with fewer guards.”
He sneered, “Princess, in that case, your days in Japan might be even harder than expected. You’d best start worrying about yourself first.”
Normally, even if he was angry, Pu Wuyong wouldn’t speak so harshly.
But now he had completely lost control of his emotions.
Cishan’s death had driven him into a frenzy.
He had only one thought left in his head— Qi Yuan must die. She must go down to the underworld, kneel at Cishan’s feet, and repent!
Princess Baorong wasn’t the slightest bit offended. She knew full well: The angrier Pu Wuyong became, the more unhinged his words, the more furious he truly was.
And she very much wanted to see Qi Yuan torn apart by this rabid dog.
A ghost marriage… Now that sounded even worse than being shipped off to Japan.
She couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
—
Qi Yuan didn’t get to see Lai Chenglong.
Instead, when she returned to the Qi estate, she received a gift from the Eldest Princess.
In gratitude for saving Lu Jintang and Lu Mingan, the Eldest Princess had sent over a large number of presents.
The Lantern Festival was drawing near.
It would be the first Lantern Festival since Liu Wangfei had returned to the capital—and something stirred in Qi Yuan’s mind.
