seeking medical treatment

As the mule-drawn carriage moved forward, Holding Ying sat restlessly inside, trying to calm herself. She wondered how she would escape if she encountered the imperial guards or if she caught up with Cui Xiang. The more she thought, the more confused she became, feeling overwhelmed.

Cui Xiang, being the youngest surviving son of the late Emperor Jianyuan, had lost most of his younger brothers to infant mortality. Those who survived past six years old died in court intrigues. As the youngest, he only needed to be a good son and brother. His naivety and lack of judgment led him to foolishly return to the dragon's den.

Holding Ying wasn't sure she could persuade this stubborn young uncle. After his escape, abandoning them would be the wisest choice, but she knew Cui Yi couldn't bear to see his mother and brother die. Even if he became emperor, he wouldn't be happy.

No matter what, she had to save him—at least Cui Xiang.

Meanwhile, Cui Xiang, comically enough, got lost. Having never traveled alone, the seventh prince found himself unable to find his way back to the capital. At a critical fork in the road, he chose the wrong path and rode further away from the city.

Holding Ying anxiously scanned the area, asking everyone she met, but no one had seen him. Approaching Drunken Butterfly Mountain, she saw layers of imperial guards checking passersby. She dared not approach and peered through the window, seeing no sign of Cui Xiang among the crowd.

Confused, she wondered if she had passed him on the road or if he had already been captured. Then she saw a group of monks led by a red-robed abbot heading up the mountain. Realizing someone had died, she remembered the customs: the first day involved monks performing rituals, followed by cleansing and burial preparations. Only someone of high rank would warrant such attention.

An ominous thought struck her—could it be Ye Shi? But recalling her lively demeanor the previous day, it seemed unlikely. Perhaps Emperor Cui Jie, unable to find them, had taken out his anger on Ye Shi, using the monks' presence to cover up her murder. Given Ye Shi's year-long illness, it wouldn't raise suspicions if she were declared dead from natural causes.

The farmer asked, "Madam, shall we continue?"

Holding Ying thought for a moment, "Let's enter the city. If anyone asks, say I'm your daughter and we're seeking medical treatment."

The farmer agreed after receiving another payment and drove toward the checkpoint.

When the carriage approached, the guards immediately questioned them. The farmer explained as instructed, and the officer opened the door to find a sickly-looking woman lying inside. Seeing her condition, they allowed the carriage to pass, unaware that Cui Yi's younger brother was the target.

Once in the city, Holding Ying instructed the farmer to wait at an inn and set off on foot.

Longsun Tai, as the Emperor's father-in-law, commanded respect in the capital, but Holding Ying, as a discarded daughter, felt isolated. She decided to visit Cheng Fu's residence, hoping for help. Despite Cheng Fu's enmity with Emperor Cui Jie, she hoped they wouldn't betray her.

Arriving at Cheng Fu's house, the gatekeeper was shocked to see her and quickly ushered her inside. Cheng Hu, visibly aged and frail, greeted her with a bow.

"Tang Fei, how are you?"

Holding Ying, moved by his state, helped him sit. She explained her reason for returning, and Cheng Hu, sounding weary, replied, "I've heard about your brother marrying the Tang family, but I don't know the details. Since resigning, I've distanced myself from former colleagues and can't assist you much."

Holding Ying thanked him and expressed concern for his health. Cheng Hu's condition was dire, and his maid confirmed he had been ill for months without improvement. Holding Ying offered to examine him and prescribed medicine based on her limited knowledge.

Cheng Hu's son, Cheng Ziheng, soon arrived and listened to Holding Ying's story. Shocked, he nodded and sighed, "The Emperor's impatience has indeed caused grave consequences."

"The Emperor realizes his mistake, but it's too late for us," Holding Ying said grimly. "Prince Jing escaped and may have been recaptured. I saw monks heading up Drunken Butterfly Mountain; perhaps Consort Qing has also fallen victim."

Cheng Ziheng was alarmed, "Consort Qing too?"

Cheng Hu lamented, "I warned the late Emperor about the Crown Prince's cunning and narrow-mindedness, but he ignored me. Now, three princes and four kings have perished, and even if the late Emperor returned, it would be too late."

Cheng Ziheng offered to let Holding Ying stay temporarily and promised to investigate Cui Xiang's whereabouts. Grateful, she thanked him profusely.

That night, Holding Ying stayed at Cheng Fu's residence. Little Shuping, now grown, recognized her and clung to her playfully until bedtime. Finally alone, Holding Ying visited Xiao Jingxuan, Cheng Fu's former quarters.

Under the moonlight, she recalled peaceful afternoons spent here with Cheng Fu, discussing books and life. Now, everything had changed. Feeling nostalgic, she wandered onto the pavilion, remembering Cheng Fu's gentle smile.

Suddenly, Cheng Ziheng's voice startled her. "Madam, why are you still awake?"

Holding Ying acknowledged him, explaining she wanted to reminisce. Cheng Ziheng joined her, reflecting on happier times.

"Why did you stop coming?" Holding Ying asked.

Cheng Ziheng chuckled bitterly, "The more I miss the past, the harder it is to sleep. Every night, I regret not being able to protect her."

Holding Ying sympathized, "You've done your best."

Cheng Ziheng sighed, "I wish I had half the power of King Jing. Maybe then, I could have saved her."

They shared a moment of silence, each lost in their thoughts.

"You said that Cheng Sister was taken away as part of a conspiracy, that the royal guards weren't defeated by him but intentionally pretended to be weaker. The Emperor and Huerhanan secretly have an agreement, and it's certain that they will hand over Cheng Sister!" Zhai Rang was suddenly startled: "What did you say?" Chi Ying clenched her fists, speaking firmly: "When the Prince received your letter, he immediately set off south with his men, searching separately, and intercepted Huerhanan's troops on the way. At that time, the Prince wasn't there, but General Yang, even while injured, could fight evenly with Huerhanan. The royal guards are especially skilled in close combat, how could they not be a match for Huerhanan? If you were the Emperor, would you sacrifice a woman who has nothing to do with you to gain several years of peace within the pass? Such a cheap deal, would you let it go?" Zhai Rang stood with his back to the moonlight, but Chi Ying could still see his expression, which seemed like he had witnessed a landslide. His eyes bulged out, his face twitched uncontrollably, and he tried several times to speak but couldn't make a sound. "Cheng Sister and I are friends, and Elder Cheng is the Minister of Personnel. The Emperor must be very wary," Chi Ying softened her tone and continued, "I think Elder Cheng probably knew this too, so after the late Emperor passed away, he resigned from his post to avoid this whirlpool. Unfortunately, in life, many things are often beyond one's control. As long as Huerhanan asks for her, the Emperor has no reason to refuse." Zhai Rang didn't know what expression to use to face this matter: "This..." Chi Ying looked sorrowful: "Do you really think the Emperor would send troops to attack Changyao for Cheng Sister? He wouldn't. He doesn't care about his own women, how could he care about Cheng Sister's life or death?" Zhai Rang fell silent. Chi Ying also feared she might have gone too far and stopped, waiting quietly for his response. In fact, when Zhai Rang returned to the Cheng residence and came to Xiao Jingxuan himself instead of sending a maid to fetch her, it was already suspicious. If Zhai Rang sincerely wanted to help her, regardless of whether he found any news or not, he would want to tell her immediately rather than come to her just to vent. What scared Chi Ying even more was his hope for Cui Jie! Cui Jie said he would send troops to Changyao, so Zhai Rang endured the strange looks from others around him, staying in the capital waiting for that day. If he helped Chi Ying now, offending Cui Jie, not only would Cheng Fenyi not return, but he, Cheng Hu, and Xiaoshu Jin could lose their lives. Although the agreement between Cui Jie and Huerhanan was merely Shan Jian's speculation, given the current situation, Chi Ying couldn't afford to be kind-hearted. If Zhai Rang sided with Cui Jie, she would be like a lamb thrown into the tiger's mouth, never to come out again. Forced by circumstances, she had to deceive. She apologized to Cheng Fenyi in her heart. After a while, Zhai Rang took a deep breath, looking up at the night sky, trembling: "I heard... about the great victory at Hubenguan... I thought you hadn't saved her. My father-in-law told me not to write to you, but... I didn't want to give up the last bit of hope... Watching her being taken away, although I knew that if the Prince left Yanzhou, the Northern Di people would definitely take advantage of the opportunity. Then everyone would die. But I still... still..." He painfully hit the wooden railing with his hand, sobbing, deeply bowing his head. Chi Ying felt bad too and comforted him: "I understand your feelings. When we received the letter, the Prince and I also hesitated, but in the end, the Prince went." Zhai Rang cried bitterly: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." His apology made Chi Ying feel ominous, stepping back two steps: "You..." At that moment, a large group of people rushed into Xiao Jingxuan, led by a man and a woman. The moonlight shone on their graying temples and deep nasolabial folds. It was a familiar face, but it only made Chi Ying feel cold. They were Zhangsun Tai and his wife, Fan Shi, her biological parents. They had been hiding outside the door for who knows how long. Fan Shi spoke anxiously: "Ying'er! Come here quickly!" But Chi Ying stepped back further, anger at betrayal clouding her judgment until she bumped into a pillar and stopped. Zhangsun Tai held his hand in front of him, his voice thin: "Ying'er, since you've returned to the capital, why haven't you returned home?" "Home?" Chi Ying repeated blankly, "Which home? Wu Wangfu has been ransacked clean. You detained half of the carriages leaving the city. Where is my home in this capital?" Zhangsun Tai instantly became furious: "Nonsense! Listen to yourself! Isn't the Zhangsun residence your home? Parents raise you, and once you're married, you forget your parents and don't recognize your home anymore?" Fan Shi chimed in: "Yes, Ying'er, home is always home. How could your parents harm you? We're heartbroken seeing you suffer outside!" Chi Ying suddenly found it laughable—heartbroken? Did they ever truly care about her? Helping her brother-in-law plot against her husband, confiscating carriages after the raid, hoping she died on the road. Over a year apart, not a single word of concern or care. Now, hearing she's back, they mobilized overnight to capture her. This is the so-called heartbreak? A quick glance revealed over ten servants rushing in, and who knows how many more were outside. Being a lady confined to the inner chambers, she couldn't possibly escape. Given Zhai Rang's betrayal, the Cheng residence must be surrounded, and she had no chance of escaping. "You..." Knowing she couldn't escape, Chi Ying calmed down: "After capturing me, what do you plan to do? Hand me over to the Emperor to force the Prince to surrender? Or make me write a letter to lure the Prince into the city? Or kill me outright to show the Zhangsun family's loyalty?" Zhangsun Tai remained silent, his stern face revealing nothing. Chi Ying sneered, realizing they had likely considered all these options. "Silly child, how can you think like that about your parents? Even though Lingfang is the Empress and you are the Princess Consort, our family cannot support both sides, but flesh and blood are inseparable! How could we bear to see you suffer?" Fan Shi pressed her hands to her chest, earnestly persuading her. Seeing she remained unmoved, Zhangsun Tai nodded, and the servants immediately swarmed the waterside pavilion, grabbing Chi Ying tightly. As she was escorted away, she glanced back at Zhai Rang, who had curled up on the ground, hugging his head, sobbing softly, utterly ashamed. So be it, she told herself, this is karma. For abandoning her sister to save Cheng Fenyi, sacrificing her for the sake of Cui Ye and Yanzhou, this is the retribution she deserved. Returning to the place where she grew up, Chi Ying felt like she was experiencing a different lifetime, as if her rebirth was just an illusion, and she was still the deceived, tragic Zhangsun Chi Ying who died in the fire. Passing through the courtyard, Zhangsun Tai ordered: "Take Miss to rest and serve her well." Chi Ying's heart skipped a beat, sensing danger in her father's words, but before she could think further, she was dragged back to her old room. The furnishings were the same as before, enough to evoke nostalgia for one night. The attendants were unfamiliar, serving her wash-up and bed without intending to leave. One sat beside her bed, two opposite, and two on the outer couches, treating her like a prisoner. Chi Ying found it absurd. If they had shown such caution when confining Xie Yuchan in Yanzhou, there wouldn't have been so much trouble. To her parents, she was more dangerous and troublesome than Xie Yuchan ever was. Captured, thinking further was pointless. Her fate would be decided the next morning. Chi Ying shrugged, ignoring them, and turned over to sleep.