Lu Shuo answered and turned to go out and call for people. For a moment, the hall fell silent, with only the cold, sharp clang of weapons clashing echoing in the dead of night.

The Emperor's face was deeply shrouded in the shadows cast by the beams and pillars, his expression unclear. But Wen Chan could feel his gaze resting upon her, and it was surely filled with many complex emotions—after tonight, everyone who witnessed this mutiny would know she was a ruthless character who could kill without batting an eye. For a woman, such an evaluation could hardly be considered a compliment.

How would the Emperor view this daughter of his?

A moment later, an announcement came from outside the hall, and Lu Shuo returned with men in tow. The generals of the Xiaoji Guard and Baotao Guard had not followed their superiors; they were all fighting desperately on the front lines. Being summoned in at this moment, the first thing they saw upon entering was Fu Ming's corpse on the ground. Both immediately drew in a long, sharp breath.

The Emperor asked coldly, "Do you know why the Imperial Guard mutinied tonight? Report truthfully."

The two generals couldn't help but cast their gazes toward the ashen-faced Fu Ming to the side. From the clouds to the abyss in but a single night, the great general who was smugly cracking his whip just yesterday was now a wretched sight, like prey scared witless.

The Emperor knew what they were hesitant about, and because he knew full well, he grew even more enraged. "We will only listen to the truth. If you dare to hide even the slightest bit, Fu Ming's fate will be yours!"

With a clatter of armor across the floor, the two generals kowtowed heavily. "Your subjects will speak of all we know and would never dare to deceive Your Majesty!"

Most generals of the Imperial Guard had risen through military merit, but Fu Tong and Fu Ming had entered service as imperial relatives. Having often heard that the Imperial Guard was arrogant and unruly, they feared their subordinates would not submit to their authority. Thus, since taking office, they had made a habit of using harsh punishments and strict laws to establish their dominance, frequently having men dragged off to be beaten with military rods for the slightest offense. If it were merely severity, it might have been tolerable, but the two were also greedy and cruel by nature. Finding excuses to skim from salaries and military provisions was a common occurrence. Over time, deep-seated resentment had accumulated in the army, but due to the favored Noble Consort in the palace, no one dared to stick their neck out.

Recently, when the Son of Heaven went hunting, the Fu brothers, seeking to curry favor, ordered their subordinates to enter the mountains in the snow to drive out prey. This year's winter uniforms had been secretly skimmed by the pair, and the mountain climate was severe. Many soldiers suffered frostbite on their hands and feet, making it difficult for them to move in the snow. The Emperor caught a glimpse of this from afar and remarked that their military bearing was untidy. The Fu brothers felt they had lost face and used this as an excuse to vent their anger, severely punishing dozens of men. Three of them died from their severe injuries, which finally ignited the soldiers' fury and triggered the mutiny of the Imperial Guard.

This explained why Fu Tong and Fu Ming were scared into such a state. They were the main culprits of this mutiny. Whether they fell into the hands of the Imperial Guard or the truth was exposed, only death awaited them.

"Fu Tong."

The roars of battle outside the window were like a resounding slap to the Emperor's face. Wen Jingxing, in his extreme anger, paradoxically calmed down. He stared down at Fu Tong, his deep voice echoing through the cold palace hall, "Is what they said true?"

Fu Tong crawled forward on his knees, weeping bitterly. He hugged the Emperor's leg and wailed, "Your Majesty... I beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness... Your subject was wrong, I know I was wrong!"

"So this is your loyalty to Us. This is how your Fu Clan repays Us." The Emperor raised his foot and kicked him away. "Lu Shuo!"

"Your subject is here."

"Take Fu Tong and Fu Ming's corpse to the front lines. Relay Our order to the armies: We are fully aware of the inner workings of this matter. The chief culprits are now being executed on the spot. Tell them to cease at once, and We will not pursue their crimes. If any dare to put up a stubborn resistance, they will be treated as traitors and killed without mercy."

Lu Shuo bowed and replied, "Your subject receives the order."

He strode forward and efficiently dragged away Fu Tong, who was like a dead dog. As he passed Wen Chan, he even gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment.

After everyone had withdrawn, only Wen Chan remained kneeling before the Emperor.

"Ah Tan."

The Emperor studied her in silence for a moment before finally calling her by her pet name.

Wen Chan straightened her kneeling posture. "Your daughter is here."

The Emperor said, "Do you know how the world will view you after today's events become known?"

"Your daughter knows." Wen Chan lowered her head and answered calmly, "But in this moment of crisis, I had no other choice. Though I am a woman, I am still a descendant of the Wen Clan. I could not just sit by and wait for death."

The Emperor: "How did you know the reason for the Imperial Guard's mutiny?"

This sharp question was like a stone tossed into a lake, shattering her water-still composure. Wen Chan raised her head to meet the Emperor's gaze. "Your daughter does not have the ability to foretell the future. There was only one reason for my action—Fu Tong and Fu Ming's conduct today meant a dead end for them no matter what. For the commanders of the Imperial Guard to desert at such a critical moment, if they were not punished severely, morale would have collapsed. The Yulin Army is the Son of Heaven's personal guard, but are the Baotao and Xiaoji Guards not as well? The situation is ever-changing; who would dare to gamble with Your Majesty's safety?"

The implication was that even if it had been Lu Shuo who fled, she would have cut him down all the same; it was not a targeted attack against anyone in particular.

The answer was not pleasant to hear, but it did have the effect of clearing away the clouds of doubt. After hearing it, the Emperor let out a soft sigh. His gaze softened, and in a tone that was both a warning and a lesson, he said, "You are the princess of a nation, of noble birth. In the future, you must learn to command others. You need not do everything yourself and dirty your own hands."

Wen Chan also sighed in her heart and prostrated herself deeply. "I will respectfully obey Father Emperor's teachings."

The Emperor grunted in acknowledgment and said to the eunuch behind him, "Go help the Princess up." He then rose from his throne and ordered someone to fetch two thick cloaks. He put one on himself and personally draped the other over Wen Chan's shoulders.

"Later, when We go out to pacify the Imperial Guard, you... will stay by Our side."

If being born into the imperial family was the beginning of her glory, then this moment on a winter night, when life and death hung on the edge of a blade, was the starting point of Princess Chiming's lifelong, realm-shaking power.

In the Twelfth Year of Yanshou, the Princess married Pei Rusong, the eldest legitimate son of Left Imperial Secretary Pei Luan. After leaving the palace to establish her own manor, whenever the Emperor was faced with an uncertain matter, he often summoned the Princess to ask for her counsel. For ten years, she wielded immense influence in the imperial court. The power of factions led by Prime Minister of the Right Xu Wei, Military Governor of Tangshan Xiang Guihai, and the Prince of Jin Wen Rui was all broken at her hands. Half of the civil officials at court had sided with the Princess, the Imperial Guard held her in high esteem, and the head of the military officials, Military Governor of Wuyuan and Great General of the Jinwu Guard, Lu Shuo, had known her since they were young and could be considered her first ally.

To this day, rumors flew wildly both inside and outside the court, all speculating whether the Princess had intentions to vie for the throne. After all, if this trend continued, no matter which prince became emperor in the future, he would first have to eliminate the Princess to avoid becoming a powerless figurehead.

The Princess seemed to pay no mind to the rumors, but someone had listened, and had finally decided they could not wait to make the first move.

"The Prince of Yue is launching a palace coup tonight," Wen Chan said, glancing at the sky outside as casually as if she were making small talk. "He has you in the Imperial Guard and his mother, Consort Yu, providing support from within the palace. What pretext does he plan to use to send troops in?"

Wang Song was beaded with cold sweat. After much hesitation, he still answered truthfully, "His Majesty has been ill for a long time and is unable to manage state affairs. The Prince of Yue suspects someone in the palace is practicing witchcraft, so he is acting on Her Ladyship Consort Yu's decree to enter the palace to conduct a search."

"Witchcraft." Wen Chan sneered. "Fine. It seems he plans to live off this trick for the rest of his life. And who is the unlucky scapegoat meant to take the fall? The Prince of Yan's mother, Radiant Consort Yang?"

Wang Song truly did not dare to answer again, lowering his head and keeping his mouth tightly shut.

"Kill me, then frame the Prince of Yan, and he can become the emperor without a care in the world." Wen Chan even had the leisure to offer a compliment. "The method is a bit crude, but if it succeeds, the profits are enormous. It is indeed a risk worth taking."

A strange, subtle feeling flashed through Wang Song's heart. He couldn't grasp the details, but he couldn't help but tighten his grip on the hilt of his sword.

Five hundred Imperial Guards surrounding two women. There was no way he could fail today.

The Princess asked again, "After I die, how does the Prince of Yue plan to deal with the Prince Consort?"

Wang Song was slightly taken aback.

The question wasn't difficult to answer. Wang Song even felt the Princess already knew the answer in her heart. What he hadn't expected was that her final question would be about the Prince Consort. After all, everyone in the Capital City knew that Princess Chiming and her Prince Consort, Pei Rusong, had a poor relationship. The marriage had been forced and was not as glamorous as it appeared on the surface.

The Pei Clan of Jiechuan was a clan of hereditary officials, a noble and respected household with profound family learning, making them a top choice for marriage alliances among the Capital City's aristocracy. As the eldest legitimate son of the Pei Clan, Pei Rusong was not only incomparably handsome but also possessed talent unrivaled in his generation, making him a highly sought-after prize. He had long been betrothed to the Su Clan, a prominent family from Zhongzhou. Moreover, the Third Young Lady Su was the niece of Consort Su Li, the Crown Prince's mother, and was known as the number one beauty in Zhaojing. Theirs was truly a match of a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, a union made in heaven. Yet, because the Princess interfered, using imperial power to coerce the Pei Clan into breaking the engagement, it became a great regret.

While the Princess thrived in the imperial court like a fish in water, her marriage was a mess. It not only failed to benefit her but also earned her the enmity of the Pei and Su clans. Pei Rusong was originally the Pei Family's chosen successor, expected to enter the heart of the central government. But somehow he offended the Princess, and a few years after their marriage, he was sent out of the Capital City and dispatched to serve as a military advisor to the Prince of Yan, who was garrisoned in the north. He has yet to be recalled.

Rumors in the Capital City all said that the Princess was merely attracted to Pei Rusong's looks, while his heart still yearned for the Third Young Lady Su. This was said to have infuriated the Princess, leading to the complete breakdown of their marital bond, to the point that he would rather go to a distant land than ever see her again.

Wang Song cautiously observed the Princess's expression. She was no longer in the bloom of her youth, but she still looked young. She had a high-bridged nose, thin lips, and the handsome, heroic features that were a trademark of the Wen Clan. Though her makeup was light and her clothes simple and elegant, they could not conceal the sharp, imperious air that was natural to her.

Even knowing her own fate, her expression remained as calm as ever, just as it had been for the past ten years in her study, behind beaded curtains, and before the golden throne... every time she faced attacks, doubts, and both open and hidden assaults.

Could such a person truly have a lingering attachment in her heart?

Wang Song said in a low voice, "In response to Your Highness's inquiry, your subject dares not conceal anything. His Highness the Prince of Yue has ordered—"

"To cut the grass and pull up the roots."

Wen Chan did not seem surprised, whether because she had foreseen it or simply did not care. She nodded. By now, the setting sun had completely sunk below the city walls, leaving only a dim twilight at the horizon. The entire Imperial City seemed to have fallen into a great fissure between dusk and dawn. Wang Song bowed slightly and urged, "Your Highness, it is getting late."

Wen Chan gestured for the female official to come forward. She took the medicine vial, glanced at it, then casually tossed it back to Wang Song, instructing, "General, please wait outside the door for now."

Wang Song: "This..."

Wen Chan: "Do not worry, the result will be the same. I can't let everything go according to the Prince of Yue's wishes. How boring would that be?"

The female official made a gesture of invitation. Wang Song took the hint and retreated to wait outside the Buddhist hall. He then heard the Princess inside thank the female official, "Thank you for your trouble, Huiqing. You should go, too."

The female official gently held her hand and said softly, "Your Highness, I am already old. Where else could I go? You are all alone. Let me stay with you."

But the Princess shook her head and pushed her toward the door, gently but unequivocally. "This is the path I have chosen, and I must be the one to walk it to the end, alone. Huiqing, you still have days to come. The future is long."

With a sweep of her sleeve, she knocked over a bronze lamp brimming with oil. The floor had already been sprinkled with fine pine powder, which burst into flame on contact. In an instant, the prayer flags and the wooden altar were engulfed in a sea of fire. Amid the billowing smoke, the figure who had left an indelible mark on the hearts of countless people stood before a giant Buddha statue, meeting its gaze with a smile, until the towering, red-lotus karmic fire surged forward and utterly consumed her.

In the autumn of the twenty-fourth year of Yanshou, the Prince of Yue staged a coup, first dispatching the Imperial Guard to seize Princess Chiming. The Princess then self-immolated at Ciyun Temple. The blaze lit up the heavens, and that night, the very stars seemed to fall from the sky.