TEN YEARS AGO

The scent of wood hung thick in the air when Shen Wei stepped into the Hall of Auspicious Harmony.

The Emperor was alone, seated behind his desk, his face cast in half-shadow by the morning light that filtered through the windows. He did not raise his eyes when Shen Wei bowed and saluted. For a long moment, the silence stretched, broken only by the subtle rustle of the Emperor's robes as he reached for a scroll at his side.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low and grave.

"Preceptor Shen," he said, sliding the sealed document across the polished surface of the desk.

"Tell me. Does this look like something I would write?"

Shen Wei took the scroll carefully. The seal was flawless. Imperial seal precise. The script within was fluid, looking like an imperial edict. But Shen Wei's brows faintly furrowed. He was not reading just the words.

"This edict orders the reassignment of three regional governors," Shen Wei said calmly, looking up.

The Emperor gave a short nod.

"Exactly."

He leaned back in his chair, fingers curling around the edge of the armrest.

"It was for sure never issued through the Secretariat and I only learned of it because an old official in Yancheng grew suspicious and requested confirmation. The writing is mine, but I did not write this."

There was a pause.

"My friend suspects the forgery comes from within the Ministry of Personnel. And I suspect," he added slowly, "that this is not the first forgery they have issued under my name."

Shen Wei's gaze lowered.

"May I ask, is Your Majesty suspecting anyone in particular?

— I am suspecting many things," the Emperor replied grimly. "But I cannot move based on suspicion. You, however... I want you to investigate this in silence. Discreetly. If you find evidence, bring it to me first. No one else."

Shen Wei bowed deeply.

"This one shall obey."

The Emperor held his gaze for a long time before adding,

"I trust only you for this, Shen Wei. But know that what you uncover may shake half the court. Bring me back the documents."

He left the hall with the forged scroll pressed flat under his arm, his white robe trailing behind him. Outside, the sun had risen fully, casting shadows over the walls.

Two days later, before the break of dawn, his manor stirred quietly.

Shen Wei stood in the main courtyard, dressed in his usual black clothes and cloak. A thin layer of mist was still covering the ground when Feng Jiu approached with the horses, holding the reins of Shen Wei's steed.

"The carriage has been prepared should Master wish not to ride," he offered.

Shen Wei shook his head.

"No need. I'll make faster time on horseback and I'll be more discreet."

Feng Jiu nodded and stepped aside. With a light motion, Shen Wei mounted the horse. A moment later, he galloped through the open gates, cloak flying behind him like a shadow in the wind.

It was almost dusk when Shen Wei reached the outer gate of Yancheng.

The city walls loomed high, their red lacquer faded from years of wind and sun. Compared to the grandeur of the capital, Yancheng was quieter, but not less important. It was a border city, surrounded by merchant routes and grain fields, and the officials stationed here held more power than they let show.

Shen Wei's presence did go unnoticed. As he entered the city gate, local guards moved aside without a word, eyes lowering with respect when he showed Li Wenbo's letter.

He did not delay. That very evening, he arrived at the estate of the Li Wenbo, the retired official who had alerted the Emperor.

The old man greeted him personally at the door with his servant, his expression both relieved and nervous. His hair had grown more white since Shen Wei last saw him, but his spine was straight and his eyes still sharp.

"Preceptor Shen," he bowed. "It has been many years."

Shen Wei returned the gesture.

"Minister Li. Thank you for your letter. I came as quickly as I could."

Li Wenbo led him through a small side corridor, lit only by dim lanterns.

"Please call me Teacher Li. Thank you for coming here. It was a risk, but I knew the forgery had to be brought to light. I feared bringing it through the official channels would mean its disappearance before Your Majesty even laid eyes on it."

He paused before opening the door to his study.

"I kept everything. The copy, the reports I received, the name seals that arrived attached. Once you see it, I believe you will understand why I risked summoning you here directly."

Shen Wei entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Outside, the cicadas had begun to sing.

The study was modest, lined with old pinewood shelves and yellowing scrolls, but Minister Li's hand had always been meticulous. Documents were neatly ordered, the seals intact, each bundle bound with a string. Shen Wei sat opposite the old man, sleeves folded neatly, his gaze fixed on the table where the documents were spread open one by one.

He did not speak much, only asked for names, timelines, and signatures. His ink brush glided across the table as he took notes, his brow furrowing with each new document. The signature on the final transfer order caught his eye, Su Yuan.

He tapped the edge of the paper with the end of his brush.

"This was issued under the Ministry of Personnel?"

Li Wenbo nodded slowly, his expression grim.

"This one case in particular caught your attention?" Shen Wei asked.

"Yes," Minister Li replied, turning to retrieve another document from his drawer.

"When I retired and returned to Yancheng, I visited Wu Boquan, my childhood friend. He was posted here for over twenty years. Honest, hardworking, careful in all his matters. Yet only months before my return, he had been transferred to a remote province in the mountains. A posting reserved for men half his age, with less than half his merit."

Shen Wei looked up.

"And he said nothing about it?"

Minister Li's jaw tightened.

"He accepted it quietly. But I found it strange. When I inquired discreetly, I learned that a young and newly promoted governor would be taking his place here. A man with no known record of distinction."

He handed Shen Wei a second scroll.

"I followed the trail. All roads led back to the Ministry of Personnel, and more precisely, to the man who handled these movements directly, Su Yuan. The eldest son of the Su family. Their family recently regained status when he was appointed to the ministry."

Shen Wei's fingers paused at the mention of the name.

"Su Yuan..." he repeated softly.

Li Wenbo exhaled.

"You must remember that the Su family once held court influence under the late Empress's faction. After their decline, this new appointment raised many brows. Some believed they bought their way back. But now it seems they're not only buying status, they are placing their own men where they can consolidate control. Favoritism. Bribery. Falsification of credentials. Even forged appointments."

Shen Wei slowly leaned back, thoughts racing.

"Then this is no longer about a single man's transfer. It's installing a network loyal to their family and not the Emperor."

He reached for the list of names appended to the forged documents.

"These are the officials who were removed or transferred?

— Yes. Most of them replaced by candidates affiliated with the Su family," Li confirmed. "And those who dared to complain were... silenced, disgraced, or transferred themselves."

Shen Wei's eyes narrowed on a name toward the bottom of the page.

"This one. Lin Fenghua. He was a student of the imperial academy. Appointed by merit after the state exam.

— Yes," said Li grimly. "He was dismissed after a single month in his post. Accused of negligence without clear evidence. Another man was placed in his stead, one with no recorded scores."

Shen Wei's lips drew into a cold line.

"I see," he murmured. "You were right to summon me, Minister Li. The implications are far greater than one unjust transfer. If we confirm this, we are looking at treason."

Li Wenbo nodded.

"That is why I kept it quiet. If the Su family catches wind of an inquiry, they will bury the rest of the evidence before it can be uncovered.

— And they will do worse," Shen Wei added. "To anyone they suspect of aiding it."

He stood, gathering the scrolls carefully. His tone was calm,

"I will return to the capital tonight. The rest must be pursued in silence. No one can know what we suspect, not before I report to His Majesty."

As he walked to the door, Shen Wei paused, glancing over his shoulder.

"From here on, the city may become dangerous, hide yourself until you hear from the capital that they've been seized."

The old minister gave a weary smile.

"I've served long enough to know the cost of being too trustful."

With a final bow, Shen Wei stepped into the dusk, scrolls in a chest.

By the time Shen Wei returned to the capital, the moon had waned twice again. Riding beneath his cloak, he entered through the North gate just before dawn.

When he arrived at the palace, he did not announce himself through the usual way. He went instead by the quiet corridors, guided by the same old eunuch. Eunuch Zheng nodded with faint approval when Shen Wei handed over the report and whispered,

"His Majesty said you may enter the inner hall the moment you return."

The sky was still faintly blue when Shen Wei stepped into the emperor's private chamber, its tall curtains drawn open, revealing the lacquered screens and calligraphy of peace and virtue. But the man seated on the dais did not look peaceful.

The Emperor sat unmoving, dressed in a simple indigo robe. He raised his eyes when Shen Wei bowed low.

"Have you returned?" he asked, voice low, but not surprised.

Shen Wei lifted the chest and placed it at his feet.

"The proof you required."

The Emperor gave a signal. Eunuch Zheng stepped forward to take them, unfolding each scroll in silence. His Majesty read for a long while, and his jaw clenched with each new name he saw.

"So it was true..." he muttered. "They dared replace merit with favoritism. Sell posts like spices in the market. Poison the spine of my court for profit."

He leaned forward, as if trying to steady himself.

"And Su Yuan. The son of the Su family... he was at the center of it all?"

Shen Wei did not look away.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Every path led to him."

The Emperor fell into long silence. Shen Wei remained kneeling. He did not dare break the quiet.

Finally, the Emperor spoke, his voice distant.

"I allowed their return. I believed a new generation might cleanse the sins of the old. But this family... they buried their rot under civility and sent it through my walls."

His hand closed tightly over the edge of the imperial desk. "I gave them titles, power, gold. And this is how they repay me... They look like they did not even try that hard to hide it from me... Such fools."

He turned toward Eunuch Zheng.

"Prepare an edict. The Su family, every member above the age of fifteen, will be executed. Their property seized, no burial allowed, no mourning. The children shall be sent into state servitude. The younger girls will be sent to the weaving bureau. The boys to labor fields and construction camps. They are not to return to the capital."

Eunuch Zheng lowered his head without hesitation.

The sun was rising when he stepped out of the hall, the red light of day washing over the tiled courtyards. Behind him, the Emperor remained in silence.

When the sun rose, the air in the capital was eerie, hush blanketed the streets. All across the inner city, rumors had begun to swirl like dust in a storm. An entire noble family was to be executed at the execution grounds.

They were saying that at dawn, the Su residence was surrounded. Armored boots shattered the quiet, and frightened servants screamed as they saw the imperial guards push through the gates with Pei Fan, the Minister of Justice, leading the charge. There was no warning, no mercy.

Su Yuan, still half-dressed in a silken robe, stood pale and trembling in the main hall. Behind him, his brothers, cousins, and uncles were being pulled out from every corner of the estate. None were spared. The younger children, crying, clutching their mothers, were separated by decree. The adults were dragged outside, tied and bound.

The Su family, once among the most prominent in the court, were now nothing more than criminals awaiting judgment. By the time they reached the execution grounds, the sun was out. Still, hundreds had already gathered. Officials, commoners, merchants... Word had traveled fast. The platform was filled with noble families whispering behind their fans, faces pale, eyes watching. This was obviously a warning.

Pei Fan stood before the accused. He was known for his cold impartiality, and today, he showed no hesitation.

Su Yuan was forced to kneel before the execution block, alongside his uncles and elder cousins. Chains rattled as they were arranged.

"I have done nothing!" Su Yuan shouted, his face reddened with desperation. "This is a plot... Shen Wei has framed me!"

But his voice only drew murmurs from the crowd. Pei Fan held up the imperial decree, his voice steady as he read.

"Su Yuan, former Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, was found guilty of corruption, document falsification, unlawful appointment of officials, and disruption of state function. Let this serve as justice in the name of His Majesty."

He lowered the scroll and threw the thick wooden execution tally onto the ground. It struck the stone with a sharp crack.

The guards did not hesitate. One by one, the executioners stepped forward, preparing their blades with alcohol. The first sword was raised, and in a clean arc, it fell.

Su Yuan's body twitched, his head dropping on the ground. His blood then seeped into the dust like ink.

Screams erupted from the back of the crowd, but the executions continued, swift and unrelenting.

By the time it ended, thirteen men lay beheaded before the stand. The square was deathly silent. Pei Fan turned, expression as unreadable as stone, and gave a final order.

"Burn the remains. No one shall mourn them, no one shall bury them."

The news of the Su family's execution reached every corner of the capital by midday. It traveled like wildfire. But when it reached the Jiang's courtyard where Su Xue had quietly lived since her marriage to Jiang Zijing, it did not arrive as a good news.

Su Xue had always been the quietest among her siblings. Graceful, refined, and cautious with her words, she had never concerned herself with politics or power. But her family had been everything to her. Her roots, her heart, her identity. When she heard of their death, something inside her collapsed beyond repair.

She did not scream. She did not weep. She simply sat in her room for days, barely eating, staring into the brazier as if hoping the fire would consume her too.

By the sixth day, her attendants found her lifeless, her body cold beneath the moonlight, dressed in white, her hair undone. A delicate ribbon of silk had taken her before grief could. On the low table by her side lay a letter, brief and unembellished:

"My heart has followed them. I cannot bear to remain."

Everyone knew what had driven her to this end.

And no one could ignore the name behind the events.

Shen Wei.

The man who had investigated the Su family. And because of him, an entire family was erased. Because of that, Su Xue, beloved sister, loyal wife, gentle mother, had died from grief.

Jiang Zijing, the Prime Minister, received the news of his wife's death with stony silence. Not a flicker of emotion passed his face during the funeral. But behind his composed features, a storm was brewing.

To the world, he remained the loyal statesman. In his heart, he had made a vow.

He would never forget Shen Wei's name. And neither would his daughter, Jiang Mu.

She was only thirteen when her mother passed, still too young to understand the scale of court politics, but old enough to see the change in her father's eyes. From that day on, they were bound not only by blood but by revenge.

It began with small things. Jiang Mu was taught to observe, to charm, to listen between words. She learned to read, to study how the court worked. Her beauty was praised, her wit admired... but behind her smile was the coldness of purpose.

Shen Wei would one day fall.

And Jiang Mu would be there to watch it happen.

✤

PRESENT

The sun had risen early that day, gilding the Prince Yu Mansion in soft golden light. Red lanterns swayed gently with the morning breeze, and festive silk drapes adorned the courtyard, their crimson hue striking against the spring blossoms in full bloom. Servants bustled about in hushed excitement, and music from bamboo flutes floated through the air, light and ceremonial.

Today was the wedding day of Prince Yu, Shen Wei and Qin Yufei.

Yet, despite the cheer in every corner of the household, something between the bride and groom remained suspended. Ever since that night in the study, they hadn't spoken again.

But the day had arrived, and neither the heavens nor the court could postpone it now.

Guests began pouring into the manor. Nobles, scholars, acquaintances, some genuinely joyful, some merely curious. It had been months since a royal wedding took place. The once cold and lifeless Shen manor had become the radiant Prince Yu Mansion, and today, it glowed.

Just as the early crowd began to settle near the outer hall, the arrival of a certain figure sent ripples through the guests.

Crown Princess Jiang Mu.

Her robes trailed elegantly behind her as she stepped into the courtyard, head held high, a faint, practiced smile on her lips. A hush fell. No one had expected her presence, how could they? It was known that Qin Yuli, the late royal concubine and sister to the bride, had been her rival for the prince's attention.

Yet today, Jiang Mu played the role of the perfect dignitary. She greeted the people with grace, offering them perfunctory nods. When questioned about her unexpected visit, she simply answered with a gentle voice.

"Though Royal Concubine Qin has passed, her sister enters a new chapter today. I come not as Crown Princess, but as someone offering respect... for the one who is no longer with us."

Such words, so measured and poised, made bystanders murmur in admiration.

"What magnanimity," they whispered. "What grace, to overlook jealousy and offer such concern for the deceased's family."

Jiang Mu let them speak. She had mastered the art of giving people something to praise, just enough to veil her intentions.

She made her way quietly toward the soon-to-be newlyweds' table, where the final preparations for the ceremony were taking place. Seating herself nearby, she exchanged polite greetings with several ministers' wives, all while letting her gaze linger, just slightly, on the bridal seat that remained empty for now.

Soon after, a man entered through the side of the venue, quiet as mist and composed like wind on still water.

It was Bai Jing.

Dressed in a robe of pale gray, he did not draw much attention. His demeanor was refined, and his face, although bearing the traceable elegance of noble blood, remained unfamiliar to most of the guests. Few knew who he was after years of being exiled. He blended seamlessly into the gathering.

He took a seat not too far facing where Jiang Mu sat, and with the smallest movement, sent her a glance.

Behind her embroidered fan, Jiang Mu's eyes gleamed, a smile curving her lips. She did not need words to communicate with him. Their plan, cultivated carefully like a bed of poisonous flowers, was progressing perfectly.

The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived just as the sun tilted higher in the sky. The drums beat low and ceremonial, and the red silk curtain was drawn aside.

Qin Yufei entered.

Her steps were light, but each one struck hearts as if she were walking upon them. Draped in a flowing crimson wedding robe embroidered with gold-threaded peonies, her every movement seemed to shimmer with light. Her dark hair, partially pinned up, held golden hairpieces shaped like flowers and birds mid-flight. A red gauze veil hung lightly from her headdress, though not enough to hide the porcelain of her skin.

Gasps spread like wind through the gathered crowd.

"She looks like a goddess descended," someone whispered.

"Is that really Second Young Lady Qin?"

"She's always been beautiful, but today..."

Even the wives of court officials found themselves momentarily silent in awe.

And seated among them, Jiang Mu's smile faltered. She had been prepared for everything, but not for this sight. Qin Yufei looked like someone... chosen. The envy crept uninvited beneath her skin. Her fingers tightened around her fan.

When she turned slightly to see Bai Jing's reaction, she found his gaze fixed on the bride.

Steady and captivated.

Jiang Mu said nothing. Her eyes returned to the front. The ceremony would begin soon. And so would the next phase of their plan. This thought made her smile.

The rites proceeded flawlessly. The two of them bowed to the heavens, to the earth, to their ancestors. Then they turned and bowed to each other. Then, came the ceremonial wine, two cups tied together by a red thread, the bride and groom each holding one.

Qin Yufei's hands trembled ever so slightly as she accepted hers. Shen Wei's fingers brushed hers in the exchange, and the heat from that fleeting touch seemed to travel through her skin and into her chest. She looked up and found his eyes already on her.

Shen Wei looked as though he were barely breathing.

To him, she was radiant, too radiant, too surreal. Her hair gleamed beneath the golden ornaments, her cheeks were soft with color, her lips touched with a gentle red. And though her eyes seemed avoidant, there was a quiet light in them. The kind that made him want to hold her, shield her, devour her whole.

As she lifted the wine to her lips, he found himself torn between awe and an almost feral desire to pull her away, to carry her off before this hall of watchful eyes could see too much. He wanted to kiss the red off her lips. To loosen the gold from her hair. But he did not have the rights.

He forced himself to look away. But the moment his gaze dropped, he heard a sound.

A gasp.

Then, a cough.

A spray of crimson stained Qin Yufei's hands.

Shen Wei's blood froze.

The ceremonial cup fell from her fingers, clattering against the stone. Another cough. More blood. Her knees buckled as her body tilted to the side. Shen Wei was at her side in an instant, catching her before she hit the ground.

"Yufei!" he shouted, voice sharp, trembling with a kind of fear he hadn't known in years.

All around them, the hall burst into chaos.

Some stood up. Some screamed. Officials rushed forward, wives covered their mouths. A servant rushed to call for an imperial physician.

But not everyone moved.

Among the sea of confusion, one woman remained perfectly composed.

Seated calmly behind her fan, Jiang Mu's lips curved into a faint, nearly imperceptible smile. Her eyes never left Qin Yufei.

As if she had been waiting for this moment all along. 

_________

Sù Yuán, 肃缘, appointed in the Ministry of Personnel.

Wú Bózī, 无博滋, previous governor or Yancheng

Péi Fán, 裴凡, Minister of Justice

Sù Xuě, 肃雪