Chapter 19: Some People Court Death

A fierce storm swept through the palace, rain pouring down like a torrent, striking the glazed tiles with sharp, crisp sounds. Inside the queen’s chamber, candlelight flickered, casting shadows across Feng Ruoqing’s cold and resolute face. She wore plain clothes, yet her commanding aura could not be concealed.

Outside the chamber, Commander Sun patrolled in the rain, casting occasional glances toward the queen’s quarters to ensure she was asleep. Feng Ruoqing was well aware that surveillance within the palace had grown ever more stringent, like a dense spiderweb tightly encircling her. Each venture beyond these walls felt like walking on thin ice, where a single misstep could lead to irrevocable ruin.

Yet, to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death, she had no choice but to take this risk.

The sensation of teetering on the edge of danger kept her nerves taut, like a drawn bowstring, ready to strike back at any moment. She deliberately avoided the usual time for leaving the palace, choosing instead this stormy night of wind and rain. The tempest concealed her movements and disrupted the watchers' sight.

Within the palace, she had sown false clues—some sedative soup left untouched, a bed left in disarray—to deceive those who had never truly known her.

Once Commander Sun’s footsteps faded away, Feng Ruoqing swiftly changed into her night clothes and silently pushed open the window. Raindrops instantly soaked her face but could not extinguish the blazing fury in her eyes. She moved with the lightness of a swallow and vanished into the vast darkness of the night within a few bounds.

Outside the palace walls, a figure had long been waiting. It was Zhao Hu, dressed in black, blending seamlessly with the night.

“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived,” Zhao Hu whispered.

“Let’s go,” Feng Ruoqing replied tersely, her tone laced with undisputed authority.

Together, they hurried toward a secret contact point on the outskirts of the city. Throughout the journey, Feng Ruoqing remained highly alert; even the slightest rustle set her senses on edge.

“Your Majesty, be careful...” Zhao Hu suddenly grabbed her arm, pointing ahead. “There’s... an ambush.”

Following his gaze, Feng Ruoqing saw faint shadows flickering among the bushes lining the path. Yet, it was not an ambush but a ruse Zhao Hu had prepared in advance.

The narrow road to the secret contact was already concealed, and the recent heavy rains had washed away most traces. To be safe, Zhao Hu had laid simple traps and markers—fine strings tied to branches, scattered stones in the bushes—to confuse any palace guards who might be following.

“Bluff and bluster,” Feng Ruoqing snorted, inwardly mocking. “Those palace guards think they can track me so easily—utter fools.”

There was a hint of approval in her voice. Zhao Hu’s caution reassured her. They skirted the decoys and pressed onward.

Soon after they left, Commander Sun arrived at the spot where they had paused. Though briefly deceived by Feng Ruoqing’s fabricated signs, his seasoned instincts quickly sensed something amiss. The untouched sedative soup and deliberately disheveled bedding all indicated the queen was not truly asleep.

He realized he had been tricked and immediately led his men in pursuit.

“The queen is cunning and deceitful; she must have slipped out under cover of night!” His face darkened, eyes fierce. “Search everywhere! Dig to the ends of the earth if you must—find her!”

The guards dispersed, scouring the rain-soaked grounds for any trace. Commander Sun scrutinized the surroundings carefully, detecting the broken strings on the branches and scattered stones. These subtle clues confirmed the queen had passed through here.

“They went this way!” he declared firmly. “Chase them!”

Meanwhile, Feng Ruoqing and Zhao Hu neared the secret rendezvous. Suddenly, Zhao Hu halted, eyes scanning the area vigilantly.

“What is it?” Feng Ruoqing whispered, sensing his unease.

Without replying, Zhao Hu drew a piece of black cloth from his chest and handed it to her. “Cover your eyes,” he murmured, his voice low and hoarse.

Without hesitation, Feng Ruoqing accepted the cloth and blindfolded herself. A faint herbal scent emanated from the fabric, soothing her nerves.

“Follow me,” Zhao Hu’s voice carried a mysterious quality. “Ahead lies the old secret base of the Golden Sands Camp—long abandoned and hidden. Ordinary people would never find it.”

Guided by Zhao Hu, Feng Ruoqing navigated the muddy path. The rain slickened the ground, but her steps remained steady and unfaltering. Her intimate knowledge of the terrain around the capital’s outskirts allowed her to sense her surroundings even blindfolded.

The secret signals Zhao Hu left along the way spoke silently between them, guiding her safely past all dangers.

Commander Sun and his guards pursued relentlessly but could find no trace of Feng Ruoqing. The storm had washed away most signs, and Zhao Hu’s traps had left them hopelessly lost. They floundered in the rain like headless flies, the distance between them and their quarry growing ever wider.

Finally, Zhao Hu stopped before a concealed cave entrance. “We’re here.”

He removed Feng Ruoqing’s blindfold, revealing a cave mouth heavily veiled by thick vines—ancient sentinels emanating an enigmatic aura. The opening was narrow and deep, like a gateway to an unknown realm. A cold breeze wafted from within, carrying a faint scent of decay and mystery.

“You’ve grown thin, Your Majesty,” Zhao Hu said with concern, gazing at her gaunt face.

Used to the harshness of military life, Zhao Hu was usually taciturn, yet now he could not help but show his worry.

Feng Ruoqing felt a warmth in her heart but quickly masked it with a stern expression. She sighed softly. “Each day in this palace is like walking on a razor’s edge. But as long as I discover the truth behind my sister’s death, no hardship is unbearable.”

She knew now was not the time for nostalgia; more urgent matters awaited.

“How is the situation inside the palace?” Zhao Hu’s expression sharpened as he lowered his voice. “Surveillance on you grows ever tighter. The emperor—”

“He is unworthy of that title,” Feng Ruoqing interrupted, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Zhao Hu hastened to agree. “Yes, he has deployed more men to monitor your every move. Even...” He paused carefully, choosing his words. “Even your personal maidservant has been bribed.”

Feng Ruoqing sneered, unsurprised. In this palace, where men devour one another without remorse, there was no true loyalty—only eternal self-interest.

“Enough of pleasantries,” she said icily, leaving no room for argument.

Zhao Hu withdrew a bundle from his chest and handed it to her. “These are clues I have gathered.”

Feng Ruoqing took the bundle and opened it. Inside were letters and ledgers. Her face darkened as she flipped through the pages.

Upon seeing the incriminating references to Consort Shu, she clenched the documents tightly, eyes blazing with vengeful fire. She vowed silently, “Shu, if you dared harm my sister, I will make you pay a thousandfold—even if it tears this harem apart.”

“These...” Zhao Hu began to explain, but Feng Ruoqing raised a hand to silence him.

“I understand,” she said coldly, clutching the bundle. “It seems some are eager to court death.”

She lifted her gaze, razor-sharp. “Zhao Hu.”

“At your command!” Zhao Hu straightened immediately, awaiting orders.

“Issue the orders... Prepare to act...” Her voice bore a resolute finality.

Within the cave, flickering firelight illuminated Feng Ruoqing’s stern features. She studied the letters and ledgers carefully, brow furrowed. The evidence was tangled and complex, yet it pointed in an unexpected direction—the harem itself.

“Seems the waters here run deeper than I imagined...” she sneered, a chill underscoring her words.

The ledgers recorded vast sums of money, and the veiled hints in the letters all implicated a high-ranking consort—Consort Shu. Outwardly gentle and favored by the emperor, she secretly cultivated power with boundless ambition. Her hand seemed inseparable from the death of Feng Ruoqing’s sister.

“What is our next move, Your Majesty?” Zhao Hu asked anxiously.

Feng Ruoqing tucked the documents into her robes, her eyes flashing with determination. “Those who pull strings from the shadows will learn that crossing me, Feng Ruoqing, is digging their own grave. I will hunt them like prey, slowly driving them into a corner. Zhao Hu, remain outside and monitor palace affairs closely. Inform me of any developments immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Zhao Hu acknowledged, watching as Feng Ruoqing vanished into the night.

On her return to the palace, Feng Ruoqing was lost in thought. She knew Consort Shu was but a pawn; the true enemy lurked deeper within. Her nocturnal outing had surely drawn attention, and upon her return, she would face intensified surveillance and deadlier traps.

She deliberately slowed her pace, allowing the rain to wash away all traces.

By the time she reached her chamber, dawn was breaking. Commander Sun paced anxiously outside, and only upon seeing her safe return did he exhale in relief.

“Your Majesty, you...” he began, but Feng Ruoqing cut him off coldly.

“I am weary. You may all leave,” she said, her tone frosty as she strode inside.

Though puzzled, Commander Sun dared not question her and led the guards away.

Inside, Feng Ruoqing changed into her usual queen’s attire and hid the bundle in a secret compartment. She knew from this moment on, every move she made would be watched by enemies.

She must tread carefully to survive this brutal palace intrigue and avenge her sister’s death.

Approaching her dressing table, she gazed into the mirror, a cold smile curving her lips.

“The game has only just begun...”

Suddenly, the chamber door was pushed open, and a sharp voice called out: “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summons you...”