Chapter Eleven: Parting with the Beauty as She Ages

Prince Jiang slowly shook his head. “I was nothing but a minor general, powerless to change anything. I slipped out of the city, hoping I could save her on my own. But when I arrived, I was already too late.”

“In a way, perhaps that was for the best. Otherwise, how could I have faced her? Could I have told her that I was the one who killed her father?”

Prince Jiang gave a bitter smile. “A year later, the Yue clan waned, and the Jie clan alone held power. The Jie became ever more arrogant, repeatedly encroaching on our borders, their wolfish ambitions knowing no bounds.”

“The alliance, bound by shared interests, unraveled. Zhao Mengliang was mediocre at best; when he realized the tides were turning, he was powerless to change anything. I devised a plan to capture Ye Tu, and with his fall, the Jie clan splintered and collapsed. I killed Ye Tu with my own hands—my way of making amends.”

“In the twelfth year of Emperor Chengxuan’s reign, when His Majesty was still Grand Marshal, he staged a palace coup, replaced the Chen dynasty, and established the Yang dynasty. The Emperor of Chen was a tyrant, and the world had suffered long enough under his rule. His Majesty’s ascension was in accordance with Heaven’s will. That same year, I was granted a marquisate, and my residence was established in the capital.”

“Around that time, a courtesan named Yi Liu rose to fame in the Emerald Smoke Pavilion. Countless nobles and princes flocked to see her beauty. I was too busy with official duties and declined my friends’ invitations more than once.”

“That was Mother…” Mingchu murmured.

“Zhao Mengliang was a lecher, and he frequented the Emerald Smoke Pavilion. Not long after, one morning, he was found lying at the entrance, blood streaming from every orifice, his body already cold and stiff.”

All the details and images began to come together. The heavy fog in Mingchu’s mind started to lift, and something was on the verge of revelation.

“Zhao Mengliang’s death was suspicious, and the authorities began to investigate everyone in the Emerald Smoke Pavilion. For some reason, I felt particularly uneasy during those days. I speculated, I pondered, I imagined. Perhaps my thoughts were too fanciful, for I was certain she had perished in that great fire. In the end, I couldn’t restrain myself and went to the Emerald Smoke Pavilion in person.”

“The place was surrounded by soldiers. I entered smoothly under the pretense of assisting with the investigation. The hall was filled with singing girls, but I searched in vain for the one I longed to see. I laughed at my own wild imaginings. Zhao Mengliang had offended many with his treachery; his assassination was no surprise.”

“As I was preparing to leave through the back door, I saw her crouched in the corner, hiding.”

Prince Jiang’s expression twisted in pain. In that moment, he seemed rooted to the spot, and a surge of uncontrollable emotion welled up within him. He nearly rushed to her side. But she gestured for him to remain silent. “I knew she didn’t remember me; after all, she had saved so many lives.” Prince Jiang smiled bitterly.

He was lost in memory, recalling that moment of reunion. Three years had passed; she had grown, become even more beautiful. The lively, delicate princess of old was gone, replaced with a graceful composure and the sorrow of a lost homeland. His chest tightened—he dared not look at her for long.

She tried to slip out the back, but was unfortunately spotted by the soldiers. She showed no panic, reaching for the dagger hidden in her bundle. In that instant, he instinctively stepped forward, announcing to the guards that this lady was his, hiding here only because she was angry with him.

Perhaps they didn’t quite believe him, but out of respect for his status, they let her be. Once the soldiers had withdrawn, she thanked him. He suppressed his tangled emotions and asked if she had killed Zhao Mengliang. She admitted it. As the courtesan Yi Liu, she had found it easy to get close to her target. He could never forget the boundless hatred burning in her eyes.

He forced himself to remain calm and asked whether she would like to take refuge in his manor for a time, explaining that he too harbored a deep grudge against Zhao Mengliang, whose death had lifted a weight from his heart. She believed him.

Prince Jiang smiled knowingly. “She was still so innocent, without the slightest wariness. It was as if she were still the carefree little princess of the grasslands.”

“So Yi Liu was Danruo? But I saw her body with my own eyes—though her face was unrecognizable, the figure was exactly the same,” Wu Xuan exclaimed in confusion.

“I think you should ask her. She always accompanied Danruo,” Prince Jiang said, turning to the nursemaid.

“Nanny, you?”

The nursemaid gave Mingchu a sorrowful smile.

“My family lived in a small town outside the capital. One evening, I found a young woman collapsed at my doorstep. She was utterly exhausted and slept for two days and nights. When she woke, she said she had nowhere left to go. I had no children, so I took her in. Grateful for my help, she did not hide her past. When the enemy closed in on her camp, her mother fought desperately to help her escape. To make it seem she had died, her maid sacrificed herself. The fire left everything unrecognizable, so no one knew who was who. Thus she escaped, safe in the chaos.”

“So that’s how it was.”

“She survived for the sake of revenge. After much investigation, she found the culprit: Zhao Mengliang.”

“The Emerald Smoke Pavilion was favored by the powerful. I suggested she could hide there as one of them.”

“I thought Danruo had died long ago. Who would have guessed? If she was alive, why didn’t she come to find me?” Wu Xuan beat his chest in regret.

“She cared only for revenge; she could think of nothing else.”

Prince Jiang nodded. “After her vengeance was fulfilled, you never expected she would come with me to the manor, did you?”

In the Hall of Snow and Reflections

Mingrou slapped the table and stood up, her face full of shock. “So Mingchu’s mother was the little princess of the Yue clan?”

The princess consort shook her head. “When she first came to the house, I didn’t know her true identity. I thought she was just a common songstress. The prince truly cared for her—the way he looked at her could not be concealed. I could feel it.”

Her gaze dimmed. “It pained me, but unexpectedly, she came to visit me herself. Her eyes were so clear, and when she smiled at me, I could feel her sincerity and warmth.”

The consort smiled faintly. “She was exceptionally beautiful—her beauty was gentle and natural. But there was a depth and sorrow in her that convinced me she could not be just a simple songstress.”

“Mother, what happened afterward?”

“The prince always treated her well, and later Mingchu was born. But for reasons unknown, she suddenly became frosty and distant toward him.”

Prince Jiang unrolled a painting, his eyes full of tenderness. Danruo had returned with him to the manor, and he would always rush to see her whenever his affairs were done—how could he possibly restrain his heart?

Yet at the same time, he was constantly uneasy. The wide-sleeved dress of joy was still in his possession—a relic of the carefree happiness she once knew.

He hoped she was still ignorant of what he had done, yet he was perpetually anxious, especially as she treated him so sincerely.

“She always wanted to return. I was reluctant and found countless reasons to keep her. So she stayed, and bore me a child. I knew she didn’t love me—she only pitied my unwavering devotion. Her heart remained forever on the grasslands.” Prince Jiang gave a bitter laugh.