Volume One, Chapter 11: Betrayal

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In the capital, in a private room on the second floor of the Heavenly Blessing Inn.

The wine cup halted halfway to his lips. A trace of doubt appeared on Shen Yan’s austere face. “Did she truly say that?”

Ning Yu folded his arms across his chest, his brows drawn into a deep frown. “Every word is true! In those seven years among the Xiongnu, she may not have learned anything good, but she certainly picked up plenty of deceit and intrigue!”

Shen Yan silently drained the wine in his hand, then slowly lowered the cup. “What does Your Highness intend to do?”

“I…” Ning Yu abruptly stopped. After glancing around to make sure no one was nearby, he lowered his eyes and his voice. “You know I have never cared much for power, but I cannot disregard Mother Consort’s wishes.”

How could he not have known what his mother wanted all these years? It was only that, before Ning Yunshu had exposed everything to his face, he had pretended not to know and had never taken the initiative to bring it up.

Now that those shameful secrets had been brought into the open by Ning Yunshu, he could no longer continue playing dumb.

Shen Yan looked at him. The First Prince was renowned for his filial devotion; for the sake of Consort Xian, he truly was willing to do anything.

Yet when faced with that supreme position, surely no one could remain entirely unmoved.

“But even if I truly intend to contend for the position of Crown Prince, I have no need of her help!” Anger edged Ning Yu’s voice. “She took matters into her own hands and went to Father Emperor, making such a dangerous move. Did she ever consider that Mother Consort and I would worry about her?!”

“The Princess may have acted rashly and overstepped herself,” Shen Yan said evenly, “but in the end, she did it all for Your Highness.”

She had only just returned to the palace, yet her every thought was already devoted to making plans for Ning Yu. The sight stirred a trace of envy in him.

Shen Yan recalled the way she had looked at him outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony that day—her gaze so cold and indifferent—yet when she had faced the token of the Xiongnu envoy, the sincerity in her eyes had been unmistakable.

For some reason, a thread of bitterness rose within his heart.

But seven years ago, he had never once held her in his eyes. His joys and angers had never been stirred by her.

Back then, she had begged the Emperor to grant them a marriage. Though he had reluctantly accepted the imperial decree, he would rather lead troops to the battlefield than return to marry her…

Ning Yu slammed his palm against the table. “All for me?! It would be one thing if Mother Consort did not know the truth, but could I possibly be unaware? She is clearly burdened by guilt over what happened back then, and that is why she could not wait to make amends the moment she returned to the palace!”

A flicker of doubt entered Shen Yan’s eyes.

Ning Yu countered, “Snowy never told you what happened that year?”

“What happened?”

There had been something he did not know after all—and it concerned her?

Ning Yu drew a deep breath and recalled, “After the imperial edict for the political marriage was issued, she resisted with everything she had. She even ordered the palace servants to bind Snowy and take her to the Cold Palace, intending to force Snowy to marry in her place!”

Shen Yan’s pupils trembled faintly. There had been such a thing?

At the time, he had thought only that she was timid and cowardly, unwilling to enter the political marriage, and had therefore fabricated an excuse to accuse Mo Xue of stealing and replacing the token. He had never imagined that, simply to avoid the marriage, she could treat her own sister and closest kin in such a manner.

Seeing that Shen Yan clearly knew nothing of it, Ning Yu sighed. “It was only because Snowy is kind-hearted. Even after something like that happened, she would not let me tell anyone. Otherwise, if Father Emperor had learned the truth, Yunshu could never have escaped severe punishment!”

Shen Yan’s eyes grew dark and unreadable.

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“Yunshu has been willful since childhood. After seven years among the Xiongnu with no one to discipline her, she became even more reckless and unrestrained. She is absolutely unfit to remain in the palace any longer.” Ning Yu spoke with grave earnestness.

Shen Yan recalled every word and gesture of hers in court. Though her composure and calm far surpassed that of ordinary people, each sentence she uttered was wholly unexpected, leaving one with an unsettling sense that matters had slipped beyond control.

It was hardly surprising that Ning Yu could say such a thing today.

And he was right. She truly should not remain in the palace. Otherwise, what if what she had done to Mo Xue seven years ago happened again…?

Shen Yan considered this. “The imperial decree has already been issued, and the Eldest Princess has been granted the Emperor’s favor to reside in the palace. How does Your Highness intend to change that?”

Ning Yu’s gaze turned cold and severe. “Marry her off.”

Shen Yan paused, his expression growing solemn.

“Your Highness must know that the Princess has returned from a political marriage…”

Ning Yu naturally understood his meaning. Everyone knew that Ning Yunshu had spent seven years married off to the Xiongnu. Even with her current status as Eldest Princess, those young men of impeccable family backgrounds and outstanding ability would never be willing to become her consort.

“Do not worry. I have already made arrangements.” Ning Yu was brimming with confidence.

The finest young men were out of the question, but at the very least, they could find her someone handsome and respectable—a minor official or the son of a minister, perhaps, someone with a little status.

For a princess who had already been married off to the Xiongnu, remarrying a man like that would be more than suitable. She ought to know her good fortune.

Shen Yan said nothing more. He silently poured himself another cup of wine and drained it in one swallow.

Perhaps this was for the best.

The Imperial Palace, Falling Blossoms Hall.

Ning Moxue sat on a long couch while two palace maids fanned her from either side. On the table stood a round white jade platter carved with flowers, heaped with ice to dispel the summer heat.

Imperial Physician Quan carefully felt her pulse. He then rose and reported, “Princess, judging from your pulse, you have been weighed down by excessive worry of late, which has affected your spleen and lungs. I shall prescribe some medicine to restore your health, but I hope the Princess will find relief from these troubles soon and cease harming her body.”

“Mm.” Ning Moxue answered softly, then let out a long sigh. Her eyes were plaintive, worry written plainly across her brows and the corners of her eyes.

How could she not be troubled?

Ning Yunshu had returned. What had happened that year was like a thorn growing back out through flesh, impossible to pull free no matter how hard she tried.

And now that Ning Yunshu had returned, what did her elder brother truly think? What did Brother Yan think?

Ning Yunshu had even been made Eldest Princess, placing her status above that of the Pearl Princess, Ning Moxue herself…

She knew she should not be so troubled, nor should she speculate about such things. Yet she could not control herself. She constantly felt as though she were about to lose everything.

In recent days, she had even dreamed of the time when she had first returned to the Imperial Palace and become a princess. She had seen Ning Yunshu doted upon by her elder brother, protected by Mother Consort, with Brother Yan gazing at her affectionately from behind.

She would never forget that scene, nor how deeply she had envied Ning Yunshu—perhaps even resented her.

They were both princesses. Ning Moxue had endured more than a decade of hardship among commoners, while Ning Yunshu had grown up clothed in silk and satin, cherished by everyone around her. Therefore, the political marriage should have been Ning Yunshu’s duty from the beginning!

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“Princess?” Imperial Physician Quan called once more, then repeated, “Princess, please rest well. I shall take my leave.”

Ning Moxue returned to herself, nodded with a slight frown, and said, “Thank you, Imperial Physician Quan.”

Once she had finished speaking, Nanny Zhao took a gold ingot from her robes and handed it to him. “This is the Princess’s reward.”

Quan Ren drew a quiet breath and accepted it with both hands. “This humble servant thanks the Princess!”

Only after seeing him take the gold did Ning Moxue ask tentatively, “I heard that the Eldest Princess summoned you some days ago?”

Quan Ren lowered his gaze. There was hardly any news in the palace that could be kept secret forever.

“Reporting to the Princess, the Eldest Princess has a weak constitution, so I prescribed some medicine for her as well.”

Ning Moxue looked deeply concerned. “Imperial Physician Quan, tell me honestly—what exactly is wrong with my elder sister? I could tell something was amiss when I saw her at Eternal Peace Hall that day.”

Cold sweat broke out across Quan Ren’s brow. Both women were princesses; neither could be offended.

Seeing his predicament, Ning Moxue said, “You need not worry, Physician. I am merely too concerned about my elder sister’s health. She must have suffered greatly during those seven years among the Xiongnu. Now that she has finally returned to the palace, she still has to bear her pain alone. As her sister, I cannot share her burden. It pains me deeply.”

Conflict appeared in Quan Ren’s eyes. He had promised the Eldest Princess that he would not tell anyone. Yet the Pearl Princess was clearly sincere in her sisterly affection, and worry for the Eldest Princess had already weighed so heavily upon her that she had fallen ill herself…

“Physician Quan, you knew the Eldest Princess was unwell and failed to report it. Now you are still being evasive before the Princess. If this reaches His Majesty’s ears and he investigates, it will be no small offense!” Nanny Zhao said sharply.

Quan Ren struggled inwardly for a long while before kneeling. “Princess, forgive this humble servant. I promised the Eldest Princess that I would not speak of it. But please rest assured: within three months, I will certainly restore the Eldest Princess to health.”

“The more you say that, Physician, the more worried I become. No, I must go and ask my elder sister myself!” Ning Moxue said, starting to rise.

“Princess!” Quan Ren cried helplessly. “I am deeply moved by the affection between the two princesses. I shall tell you the truth, but you must keep the Eldest Princess’s condition secret!”

Ning Moxue’s face was filled with sincerity. “Naturally. I only want to know what is wrong with my elder sister. If it is nothing serious, then I can set my mind at ease.”

Quan Ren lowered his voice, his brows tightly drawn. “The Eldest Princess has… contracted a filthy disease.”

Ning Moxue’s expression turned so shocked that she was rendered speechless.

It was not until long after Quan Ren had taken his leave that Ning Moxue finally returned to her senses and slowly rose. Her face was deathly pale. “Nanny, where is Mother Consort now?”

“Princess, at this hour, Her Ladyship Consort Xian should be worshipping Buddha together with Noble Consort Xiao.”

“This matter is of great importance. To the Buddhist Hall…” As she spoke, she hurried outside.

She could scarcely imagine that Ning Yunshu, a princess of the realm, had actually contracted a filthy disease!

If word of this got out, the Imperial Family’s honor would surely be ruined. The matter was far too serious. Now that she knew, she could no longer pretend that nothing had happened. Though she felt somewhat sorry for Ning Yunshu, she was the Pearl Princess of Great Su—naturally, everything had to be placed after the interests of Great Su!

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