Volume One, Chapter Six: The Cunning Fox’s Tea of Atonement

Su Manor, Hall of Serenity.

The scent of sandalwood curled in the air, refreshing and soothing. Su Qingxue, dressed in a moon-white gown, stood quietly by the window, gazing at the century-old ginkgo tree in the courtyard. Though autumn’s chill had yet to arrive, the leaves already bore a hint of desolate decay.

Her expression remained as cold and aloof as ever, as if the near-confrontation moments ago with the Seventh Princess, Ye Qingge, at the teahouse had been nothing more than a passing breeze over a pond, leaving not a single ripple behind.

"You have returned."

A steady, gentle voice sounded from behind her.

Su Qingxue turned to face the middle-aged man sitting behind the desk. Dressed in scarlet official robes, with frost at his temples but a back as straight as a blade, he was Su Changqing, the Grand Secretary of the Great Qian Dynasty, a man second only to the Emperor.

He did not look up, continuing to review official documents. He asked calmly, "Did you meet with the太子’s emissary?"

"It was the Seventh Princess," Su Qingxue replied, her voice devoid of emotion.

"She is still as impatient as ever." Su Changqing’s brush paused. He set it upon the inkstone and looked up, his deep, penetrating gaze resting on the daughter he was so proud of. "You refused?"

"I did."

"Your reason?"

"I told her that my fragile beauty is unworthy of the Eastern Palace’s splendor, and I fear I would only hinder the Crown Prince’s grand ambitions."

A look of approval flickered at the corner of Su Changqing’s mouth, but it was quickly replaced by a profound gravity.

"Well said. Impeccable."

He stood up and paced to the window, standing side-by-side with his daughter.

"But Crown Prince Ye Tian is not a man who listens to reason."

Su Changqing’s gaze seemed to pierce through the high walls of the manor, looking toward the magnificent Eastern Palace.

"He is a starving wolf. Once he sets his sights on prey, he will stop at nothing to possess it. He has tried a polite knock at the door; since the door did not open, his next step will be to tear down the wall."

A flicker of realization crossed Su Qingxue’s cold eyes. "What do you mean, Father?"

"The Crown Prince is a man of great ambition but little talent, and his temperament is cruel. Today, he can demote his own brothers to commoners and exile them to barren lands; tomorrow, he will surely raise his blade against the ministers of the court for his own selfish gains."

Su Changqing’s voice was low, yet each word rang like iron.

"Our Su family has stood in this court for a century, relying not on picking sides, but on our devotion to the nation and its people. I had intended to remain neutral, watching the princes compete, waiting for a true sovereign. But now, the Crown Prince has pushed us to the edge of a cliff."

He turned to look at Su Qingxue’s peerless, elegant face, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes.

"Refusing him was not your fault. It is this Crown Prince who is unworthy of a daughter of the Su family."

"But his retaliation will come soon. On the surface, he may petition the Emperor for a royal decree to force a marriage, using the Emperor’s authority to pressure us."

Su Qingxue frowned slightly. "If the Emperor grants the decree..."

"Then that would be an act of usurpation," Su Changqing sneered. "If I, Su Changqing, cannot even protect my own daughter, then this position of Grand Secretary is not worth keeping! When that day comes, how will the court officials and the scholars of the world view him as their successor?"

"But he is more likely to use underhanded methods," Su Changqing’s eyes grew sharp. "He will use dirty tactics to force your hand, or perhaps... abduct you directly into the Eastern Palace. Once the deed is done, the Su family will be trapped, forced to swallow the insult and serve as his lackeys."

Su Qingxue’s heart sank. She knew that, given Ye Tian’s character, such a thing was well within his capabilities.

"Therefore, you must leave the capital immediately," Su Changqing said, emphasizing every word.

"Leave?"

"Yes, leave." A look of cunning calculation flashed in Su Changqing’s eyes. "As long as you are not in the capital, he has no way to strike—neither with a royal decree nor with force. This is a risky move, but it is the only way to break the deadlock."

Su Qingxue was sharp-witted and immediately understood her father’s intent. If she were gone, the Su family would have room to maneuver.

"I understand," she replied without hesitation, nodding. "Where should I go?"

Su Changqing looked at her deeply, then slowly uttered two words:

"Go North."

Su Qingxue’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Go North? In the direction of Northern Liang?

"The Crown Prince will assume you have fled to the water towns of the South or returned to our ancestral home. He will never expect you to head toward that bitter, frozen land of exile," Su Changqing’s lips curled into a meaningful arc. "The most dangerous place is often the safest."

He paused, then added, "Besides, I have always felt that the exiled Eighth Prince is not as simple as he appears. Go and see for yourself; it may be for the best."

For the first time, ripples stirred in the calm lake of Su Qingxue’s heart. She remembered the limp, dying figure in the prison cart as it passed by. For some reason, she felt as if a gaze had pierced through the iron walls of the cart and landed upon her.

"Very well," she agreed.

***

Eastern Palace.

"Insolent! Absolutely insolent!"

A precious glazed cup was smashed violently against the floor, shattering into pieces. Crown Prince Ye Tian’s face was livid, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with rage.

"She dares! She dares to refuse me in public!"

Ye Qingge stood to the side, wearing a look of gleeful satisfaction while continuing to fan the flames.

"Indeed, brother Crown Prince! That Su Qingxue has no respect for you or our royal family! I kindly went to deliver your message, and she talked about her 'fragile beauty' not being worthy of you—isn't that just a roundabout way of saying you have poor taste? She even said you should be with a virtuous noblewoman, implying that she disdains to be in your company!"

Each word was like a ladle of boiling oil poured onto the fire in Ye Tian’s heart.

"What a fine Su Qingxue! What a fine daughter of the Grand Secretary!"

Ye Tian laughed in his fury, his eyes chillingly cold.

"If she refuses a toast, she shall be forced to drink a forfeit!"

"I gave her three chances; she chose this herself!"

He turned abruptly and shouted toward the shadows outside the hall, "Come here!"

A guard clad in black armor, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura, appeared like a ghost and knelt on one knee.

"Your Highness!"

"Pass on my order: have the elite guards of the Eastern Palace watch the Su Manor day and night!" Ye Tian’s voice was filled with unquestionable cruelty. "Bring Su Qingxue to the Eastern Palace—unharmed!"

"Remember, 'invite' her!" He emphasized the word, the threat implicit.

"If anyone from the Su family dares to interfere, kill them without mercy!"

"Understood!"

The black-armored guard acknowledged the order and vanished back into the darkness. Ye Tian watched the direction in which the guard disappeared, a grim, sinister sneer on his face.

Su Qingxue, who do you think you are? High and mighty? A talented lady? In my eyes, you are nothing but a plaything I can crush whenever I please! Once I have you in my grasp, I will make you know what it means to wish for death but be unable to die!

However, his triumphant smile did not last long.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, a guard rushed in to report.

"Reporting to Your Highness, a carriage just left the back gate of the Su Manor, moving in a hurry toward the North Gate!"

"Oh?" Ye Tian raised an eyebrow, then sneered.

"Trying to run?"

"Su Changqing, oh Su Changqing, you old fox, is that all you’ve got? You think sending your daughter out of the city will stop me?"

A flash of disdain crossed his eyes. "How naive!"

"Pass the order: have the troops outside the city pursue her at full speed, no need for secrecy! I want to see Su Qingxue kneeling before me by nightfall!"

"As you command!"

Watching his subordinates hurry away, Ye Tian’s mood lightened considerably, as if he could already see the look of terror and despair on Su Qingxue’s cold, peerless face.

He slowly sat back in his main seat and picked up a cup of freshly brewed tea, sipping it leisurely.

Everything was under control.

But just then, a eunuch trotted in, reporting in a shrill voice:

"Reporting to the Crown Prince, the Grand Secretary, Lord Su Changqing, is outside the palace requesting an audience."