Volume One, Chapter 13: Grace or Punishment

A piercing scream shattered the silence, startling the sparrows perched in the trees.

Seeing the old nurse’s wrist grotesquely twisted, Shi Zhao smiled coldly.

“Little eunuch, it seems the bird has calmed down and is no longer in serious danger. I think there’s no need to see His Majesty the Emperor for now.”

The young eunuch, eager to avoid getting involved in their affairs, replied as if granted a great pardon, “Ah, my dear lady, please be careful. This is a royal gift. If it thrives, it is a blessing; but if anything unfortunate happens to the bird, it will spell disaster for you!”

Shi Zhao nodded. “Thank you for your advice, little eunuch.”

With that, she held the birdcage and followed the eunuch toward the palace exit, giving the fallen old nurse not a single glance.

After only a few steps, Zhang Huaijin grasped the hem of Shi Zhao’s robe.

His eyes were deep and his voice tinged with a hint of pity. “When did you injure your wrist? Was it in the inner prison?”

Shi Zhao’s gaze turned icy. “By the grace of Consort De, I must beg forgiveness for not thanking Her Highness in person.”

With that, she forcefully tore her robe free from Zhang Huaijin’s hand and walked away without looking back.

Only Zhang Huaijin was left standing there.

A cold wind blew, and his usually upright figure bent slightly.

“Master Zhang, please save this humble servant! I have watched you grow up!” The old nurse, pampered for years, could not endure such pain and begged Zhang Huaijin.

He stared silently at her, the coldness in his eyes sending chills down her spine.

He said, “Old Nurse Bai, you have disrespected your superiors and acted recklessly. I shall report your offenses to Consort De.”

Those few words sealed her fate with a heavy sentence.

Old Nurse Bai gaped in disbelief.

She couldn’t believe Zhang Huaijin, once so gentle and refined, would condemn her.

Was this still the same courteous young master she had known?

Zhang Huaijin had always shown respect to Consort De. Since Yu Xuanyao’s return, Consort De had hinted that Zhang Huaijin should get close to her, and he had complied fully.

She had thought Zhang Huaijin felt nothing for Shi Zhao.

Now... was he defending Shi Zhao?

Old Nurse Bai’s face turned ashen, deep regret swelling in her chest.

She should never have provoked that wild girl.

But Zhang Huaijin paid no heed to her thoughts. He summoned several passing eunuchs to lift Old Nurse Bai.

She was a sturdy woman, and the eunuchs barely managed to support her, but Zhang Huaijin, indifferent to her disheveled state, said coldly, “Hurry up. Consort De is still waiting.”

His calm tone carried an unmistakable hint of menace.

Old Nurse Bai shivered instantly.

She suddenly realized that even without the Empress Dowager or the Emperor, Zhang Huaijin would not spare her.

————————————

Madame Lan held Shi Zhao’s right arm, silently weeping as they walked toward the palace exit.

Fortunately, no one disturbed them this time. They soon reached the palace gates.

After the young eunuch explained the situation to the gate guards, the gates finally opened before Shi Zhao.

Outside stood a familiar and upright figure.

Shi Zhao blinked, a sudden surge of overlapping memories washing over her.

She had returned to the moment just after leaving the inner prison.

Yu Siwen stood at the palace gate, beside the carriage of the Marquis Wen’an’s estate.

Seeing Shi Zhao, Yu Siwen hurried forward, immediately noticing her injuries. He asked anxiously, “Siyao, how did you hurt your wrist again?”

His face full of worry and guilt.

Shi Zhao no longer felt the grievance and anger she had earlier that day. Instead, she was unusually calm.

A sense of relief suddenly washed over her.

She corrected him sharply, “My name is Shi Zhao—bestowed by the Empress Dowager. From now on, Yu Shizi, do not call me otherwise.”

Yu Siwen was stunned and instinctively denied, “Siyao, don’t joke with me. You are the daughter of the Marquis Wen’an’s estate. How could the Empress Dowager give you another name?”

Yet his heart was uneasy. He looked helplessly at Madame Lan, hoping she would confirm his doubt.

Madame Lan nodded solemnly.

Yu Siwen felt dizzy. How could his own sister change her surname?

The sister he had guarded for so many years stood before him, yet she was no longer his sister.

How could this be?

“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager ordered the young lady to keep her hair and cultivate herself in seclusion, and she must enter the palace monthly to accompany the Empress Dowager in worship.”

Madame Lan’s voice choked, tears welling in her eyes.

The girl she had watched grow from childhood—still a budding flower of youth—was to spend her days with Buddha alone.

Upon hearing this, Yu Siwen’s head buzzed as if struck by a heavy blow.

He opened his mouth but could not speak.

This was revenge—undoubtedly the royal family’s retribution.

Because the Marquis Wen’an’s estate had outshone the crown, the royal family used this method to tear them apart.

Why should their cherished daughter be forced into monastic life?

A nameless fury surged in Yu Siwen’s mind. His face reddened, his expression growing fierce. Disregarding palace rules, he strode toward the palace with a single thought: to see the Empress Dowager and beg her to revoke the decree!

Shi Zhao’s heart skipped as she saw Yu Siwen’s darkening expression, unsure of what mischief he intended.

Seeing him take a step toward the palace, Shi Zhao’s brow twitched. Summoning all her strength, she slapped him hard.

Her palm tingled with numbness as she sternly whispered, “You are the Marquis Wen’an’s heir. Think of your family before acting!”

Yu Siwen’s face was turned aside by the blow, his left cheek flushed red. His mind cleared briefly.

If he dared break into the palace, not only would his life be at risk, but the entire Marquis Wen’an estate would be imprisoned.

Yet...

Yu Siwen clenched his eyes tightly, veins bulging on his hand as he suppressed the rising rage within. He said to Shi Zhao, “Let’s go home.”

There must be another way. He would never let his sister live a life of solitude and devotion to Buddha forever.

Shi Zhao stood silently, watching Yu Siwen’s expression shift from ferocious to calm, his gaze filled with tenderness and protection. She pressed her lips together.

His sympathy made her deeply uncomfortable, as if her life was over.

Yu Siwen personally drove the carriage, urging the horses swiftly to the Marquis Wen’an estate. Before the carriage even stopped, he pulled Shi Zhao toward the old marquis’s study.

Shi Zhao had no choice but to send Madame Lan ahead with the birdcage to Rong’en Hall, instructing her not to reveal what had happened in the palace to anyone.

During this time, everyone waited in the study without leaving.

At the sight of Shi Zhao, the Marquis Wen’an’s wife sprang up from her chair, rushing to her side with anxious concern.

“My child, are you all right? What did the Empress Dowager say to you?”

Before Shi Zhao could answer, Zhang Huaijin gently drew the woman aside, his voice low and grave.

“Siyao’s wrist is injured again. She needs Doctor Li to examine her.”

The Marquis Wen’an’s wife was stunned. She arranged for someone to fetch Doctor Li and tenderly lifted Shi Zhao’s hand. Tears rolled down her beautiful eyes.

“My child, you have suffered in the palace. How did your hand get hurt? Did the Empress Dowager punish you again?”

The old marquis sat at the head of the table, placing his teacup heavily down. His sharp gaze and oppressive tone filled the room.

“What exactly did you say in the palace?”

“Grandfather, the Empress Dowager ordered Siyao to change her name and to keep her hair and practice devotion,” Yu Siwen’s voice was hoarse, his face stormy. The words he had repressed finally burst out.

“Our Marquis Wen’an estate has guarded the border for generations, and this is how the royal family repays us?”

“Silence! Blasphemy! How dare you speak such insolence!” The old marquis interrupted Yu Siwen before he could finish, raising his teacup and smashing it down on Yu Siwen.

Scalding tea spilled over Yu Siwen’s body, leaving him in disarray. Yet he still held his ground and said, “Grandfather once held military power, but my father and I cannot even wield a sword—only study and write. The Marquis Wen’an estate has retreated so far; what else does the royal family want? To vent their anger on a girl?”

The old marquis was so enraged he could not stand. Sitting back down, he shook his trembling finger at Yu Siwen.

“You fool... shut your mouth!”

The Marquis Wen’an estate had kept a low profile for so many years. If these words reached the Emperor’s ears, it would mean confiscation and destruction of the entire family.

What meaning had all their patience and schemes held?

Seeing Yu Siwen almost make the old marquis faint from anger, Shi Zhao spoke.

“Your Highness, there’s no need to be so angry. I asked for this favor myself.”

What?

For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded.