Chapter 248: A Plea to Divorce

In the dead of night, why were the two princesses not staying quietly at home, but instead wandering the Suzaku Avenue? The emperor's brows furrowed deeply. The royal daughters-in-law had lost all semblance of propriety, utterly corrupted under Ye Jiao's influence.

"Where are they?" the empress inquired. It was her duty to instruct and admonish the princesses.

"The one who cursed—the Princess of Chu—leapt from the carriage roof and fled. The other in the carriage has been crying incessantly, refusing to come out," replied the bewildered official from the Ministry of Justice. Tonight was far from peaceful. After the prison break, a noble was struck in the pursuit; it seemed his official post was now at risk.

The emperor remained silent, awaiting the empress's command.

After a moment's thought, the empress said, "Traveling at night must be for a reason. I shall send Du Xiaoran to soothe the matter and escort the Princess of Zhao home."

That Ye Jiao—why bring them out but not take them back? Did she truly intend for the Princess of Zhao to sit crying in a gutter? Surely she had joined the prison raid out of mere curiosity.

Ye Jiao, drenched to the bone, did not change her clothes. Kneeling inside a chamber whose window was shrouded with black cloth, she held a flickering candlelight and gazed at the child lying prone before her. Beside the child, a sorcerer busied himself at his work. Judging by his face, he was barely in his forties, though his hair was already streaked silver. Plain-featured, his lips tightly pressed, bearing a solemn demeanor.

A thin cord woven with five-colored silk bound his forehead, leaving a faint scar on his skin. He wore a loose white robe adorned with buttons carved from peachwood—known for warding off evil spirits. The five-colored silk and peachwood attire were not merely for the Dragon Boat Festival, but also because the sorcerer was working over a corpse—a lifeless eight-year-old boy.

The body was chilled, having been submerged in frigid water. A pale blue liquid coated the sorcerer's hands like a medicinal ointment. He stared intently at the boy's face, his fingers gently pressing, twisting, adhering, pinching, and kneading—subtly altering the child's visage.

Occasionally, the sorcerer glanced behind at Ye Jiao, who then shifted the lamp's light toward another child lying nearby—Li Beichen. His clothes had been changed to dry ones; the boy wore the former garments of the drowned child. His eyes were tightly shut in deep slumber, the injured right eye bandaged with golden salve, bleeding staunched.

At Qujiang Pool, when Yan Congzheng released Li Beichen, Qingfeng—already waiting in the water—dragged him beneath the surface, swimming far to bring him ashore. The child had merely coughed up a few mouthfuls of water, with no threat to life.

The boy whose face was being transformed by the sorcerer was not so fortunate. He had simply accompanied his family to watch the dragon boat races but was swept into the water by the pressing crowd and drowned before rescue could arrive.

A child who died unmarried could not be buried in the ancestral grave. Qingfeng had found him in a mass grave and preserved his body in icy water for two days. This fortuitous corpse spared Ye Jiao from searching nearby towns for a suitable deceased child but reminded her sharply of life's cruel vicissitudes.

"Is it done?" she asked, her tense heart gradually relaxing as she regarded the boy's face. It was uncanny—the eyebrows, nose, lips, chin, even the skin tone mirrored Li Beichen perfectly.

"Does this child bear any distinguishing marks?" the sorcerer's deep voice questioned.

Ye Jiao replied, "Only a mole on his waist."

The sorcerer knelt and motioned for Ye Jiao to lift Li Beichen's garment and inspect the mole's location.

"And anything else?" he probed.

Ye Jiao gently set down the lamp and withdrew a dagger from her sleeve.

"His right eye is injured," she said with mournful sorrow, nearly shedding tears but steel in her voice, "They stabbed his eye—there will be an inspection."

The sorcerer took the dagger; Ye Jiao turned away, hearing the blade slice through flesh.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Ye Jiao rose and opened it to find Qingfeng standing outside. The sky resembled a maiden's face veiled by a thin wind-blown silk, on the verge of unveiling her exquisite beauty.

"They have begun searching the lake, casting fishing nets," Qingfeng reported.

Ye Jiao nodded. Qingfeng stepped inside and was startled upon seeing the boy's transformed face.

"Go," Ye Jiao said, personally lifting the child into Qingfeng's arms. The corpse's cold weight filled her with dread, yet grief and guilt were far stronger.

"We shall treat your family well," she promised the boy, "as atonement and recompense."

The wooden hut abutted the lake. Outside, a splash broke the water's stillness before calm resumed.

"Madam," the sorcerer closed his medicine box and bowed to Ye Jiao, "this old man must take his leave."

Ye Jiao returned his salute. At the doorway, noting her lingering presence and worried expression, he asked, "How fares Your Highness's health?"

"Much improved," Ye Jiao answered, aware that this sorcerer was personally summoned by Yanyun and long acquainted with Li Ce.

The sorcerer smiled, departing with a final caution, "The residual poison in Your Highness's body remains; avoid fear and anger at all costs."

"Residual poison?" Ye Jiao sought clarification, but the sorcerer had already turned away, vanishing into the night. Inside, only Ye Jiao and Li Beichen remained.

She gently roused the slumbering boy. "Wait here," she instructed, "an uncle will come to escort you safely out of the city. A young Taoist priest will accompany you on a journey of amusement."

Li Beichen covered his injured eye silently, confusedly asking, "Where is my uncle?"

"He cannot be with you," Ye Jiao confessed, "else you would both perish."

Lowering his head, his tense shoulders trembling, the boy murmured, "But you saved me—you might be implicated. Sister, please send me back. I do not wish to cause others harm."

Ye Jiao's expression softened, her clear peach blossom eyes locking onto the child. She had saved Li Beichen solely because of Yan Congzheng. He lent the imperial guards to her, enabling her to thwart Li Chen's palace coup and spare Li Beichen from execution.

She knew Yan Congzheng would inevitably storm the prison to rescue him and could not stand idly by. Li Ce discerned her concerns and had devised plans to protect this child.

Uncertain how Yan Shuangxu might raise him or what example Li Chen would set, she now felt only pity. It was inconceivable—their child was like this. Truly unfortunate—the child's parents were them.

Ye Jiao forced a smile and gently patted Li Beichen's shoulder. "Rest assured," she comforted, "none of us shall come to harm. Stay here, be obedient, and live on—to honor your uncle's sacrifice."

Her voice choked, unable to speak further, she turned away. Li Beichen knelt, clutching her sleeve.

"Sister," the tearful child looked up and asked, "what is your name? When I grow up, I will repay you."

"My name matters not," Ye Jiao replied, "choose one for yourself first."

"Beichen—govern with virtue, like the North Star, steadfast as all other stars revolve around it."

Li Chen had named his son Beichen, a beacon of hope and expectation.

From now on, he would have no parents, no family, no friends—only himself.

The hut's door opened once more. A tall man stood at the threshold and addressed Ye Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, you must leave now."

The crown prince, Li Zhang, soon dressed and departed with the Eastern Palace guards to aid the Ministry of Justice in apprehending fugitives.

An attendant added that the emperor wished the prince to take the Prince of Chu along.

"Where is the Prince of Chu? Why not deliver the imperial edict to his residence?" Li Zhang asked while walking.

The attendant grimaced, "Those sent found the Prince of Chu taken by the Prince of Zhao to drink; their whereabouts unknown."

Li Zhang halted. Drinking? Was it mere pretense to conceal ulterior motives?

"Search all the grand taverns in the east and west markets!" Li Zhang commanded grimly. "I shall accompany you. The fugitives are priority, but so is the safety of the princes. What if they fall victim to the criminals?"

They hurried to the East Market, where reports confirmed the Princes of Chu and Zhao were at Huachao Tower, drunk and staggering from a night's binge.

"Utter folly!" Li Zhang strode forward. The tavern's steward cowered aside as armored guards surged upstairs, pushing open the private chamber door just as it swung open.

A woman clad in red stood inside, surveying the armed soldiers. "Did the sovereign send you?" she asked.

Li Zhang stood on the first floor, his gaze traveling over the broad staircase and the soldiers' sharp uniforms to the woman. His heart seemed to halt, his eyes tethered as if by a silken thread to her.

Her hair was simply styled, her red attire plain; her peach blossom eyes appeared weary, lips pale—no longer vibrant as usual, yet still hauntingly beautiful.

Li Zhang spoke, though his voice was stiff and unnatural, betraying the fervor he

tried to conceal. "You are... Ye Jiao?"

She nodded, "I am. It's late; why seek me?"

"The emperor commands you to return at once," he replied.

She laughed bitterly. "Your Highness, why summon me?"

Li Zhang's expression darkened. "The imperial edict orders your return. There's a strong suspicion you aided the prison break."

Her smile faded, replaced by a somber expression. "So, I was truly suspected."

Li Zhang's heart quickened. This woman's calm was unnerving, her gaze fearless.

The guards pushed further inside.

"Li Beichen is here?" Li Zhang asked abruptly.

Ye Jiao's lips twitched slightly.

A scuffle erupted. The Prince of Chu staggered out drunk and wild, snarling insults, "Who dares disturb us? I am a prince! Do you not know?"

"Prince of Chu," Li Zhang said sternly, "the sovereign demands order. Your conduct endangers the realm."

Ye Jiao stepped forward, "Prince Li Zhang, please calm him."

The Prince of Chu lunged toward her.

A swift movement—Ye Jiao dodged and drew a dagger. The fight was brief but fierce.

Li Zhang intervened, holding the Prince of Chu back.

"Enough!" he ordered.

Ye Jiao looked at Li Zhang. "Take the Prince of Chu back. I will stay."

He stared hard at her, voice low, "You must come too. If you refuse, the emperor will act."

Ye Jiao's face hardened.

"Then I beg Your Highness, grant me one request—to divorce," she said calmly.

A hush fell.

"Divorce?"

Ye Jiao nodded firmly.

Li Zhang looked stunned. "Why?"

She looked away, voice soft, "Because I no longer wish to be a pawn in this cruel game. I seek freedom."

Li Zhang's eyes burned.

"Very well," he said, "the emperor will decide."

Ye Jiao bowed deeply and turned away, disappearing into the night.