Upon hearing General Ye’s words, Yuwen Jing felt as if the blood in his veins had frozen.
At this moment, he couldn’t even lift his head, let alone move. The box containing the military insignia in his hands felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Seeing Yuwen Jing remain silent, General Ye cautiously glanced at him, his expression shifting slightly. “Y-Your Majesty… is… is the Consort perhaps unable to receive this subject?”
The usually fearless general was actually nervous—yet Yuwen Jing found nothing unusual about it.
Everyone in the capital knew just how much the Ye father and son doted on Ye Shaohua.
It was no surprise that General Ye, having returned victorious, would want to see his daughter.
But how could Yuwen Jing respond? Could he tell General Ye that his daughter had been locked in the imperial dungeon for days and nights?
The Ye family had served the court with unwavering loyalty, even at the cost of their only son’s crippling injury. And what had he done? Not only had he cast their daughter aside, but he had also imprisoned her.
“General,” Yuwen Jing, too ashamed to speak the truth, could only bow deeply to General Ye. “I will soon arrange for Shaohua to return to the General’s Manor.”
Seemingly satisfied with this answer, General Ye finally expressed his gratitude with joy. “This subject thanks Your Majesty.”
The imperial guards outside had already withdrawn under Yuwen Zhe’s orders.
After General Ye left, Yuwen Jing collapsed weakly into his chair. He looked at Yuwen Zhe, who was equally stunned, and let out a bitter laugh. “Imperial Brother, we’ve made a grave mistake this time.”
Yuwen Zhe had yet to recover from the shock. Staring at the military insignia in Yuwen Jing’s hands, he recalled the harsh interrogations he had subjected Ye Shaohua to—cold sweat drenched his back.
Without waiting for Yuwen Zhe’s response, Yuwen Jing immediately issued orders to retrieve Ye Shaohua from the dungeon. Instead of sending her back to the Cold Palace, she was taken to one of the Four Great Palaces, with strict instructions for the servants to attend to Consort Ye with the utmost care.
Yet, despite his urgency, Yuwen Jing couldn’t bring himself to face her—he was far too ashamed.
For now, he could only delay the inevitable.
…
The Moonflower Palace, once the residence of the late Emperor’s most favored consort (the mother of the Seventh Prince), was one of the Four Great Palaces. Though not as prestigious as the Empress’s Eternal Spring Palace, it surpassed it in grandeur.
Since the late Emperor’s passing was still recent, the palace’s lavishness remained untouched.
However, the place was nearly empty. Most of Ye Shaohua’s former attendants had been transferred to the Eternal Spring Palace, leaving only the temporary servants assigned by Yuwen Jing.
After bathing and changing into fresh robes, Ye Shaohua sat quietly as Imperial Physician Liu dressed her wounds.
The physician couldn’t help but steal curious glances at this consort—who had been cast into the Cold Palace, then imprisoned, only to emerge unscathed and now reside in the coveted Moonflower Palace.
The aura of unyielding strength around her left no doubt that she was no ordinary woman.
Meanwhile, Outside the Palace
Not only had General Ye left the palace unharmed, but the new Emperor also showered the Ye family with rewards—treasures, silks, gold, and rare medicines arrived in waves.
Furthermore, Yuwen Jing ordered most of the imperial physicians to stay at the Ye residence until Young Master Ye fully recovered.
News traveled fast in the capital. Within half a day, it became clear that the illustrious Ye family was not only spared the Emperor’s wrath but was instead favored beyond measure.
With Ye Shaohua’s release and her move into the Moonflower Palace, those who had sided with Grand Tutor Qu grew restless.
Unable to wait until the next morning’s court session, the high-ranking officials submitted urgent petitions to see the Emperor.
Yuwen Jing, still preoccupied with the Ye family’s affairs, had no desire to entertain these ministers.
“Your Majesty, you cannot refuse Grand Tutor Qu and the others,” the Right Chancellor, Yuwen Jing’s trusted advisor, cautioned. “This isn’t just about Grand Tutor Qu—the Left Chancellor, along with the Ministers of Personnel, Revenue, and Works, are all pivotal figures in the court. You’ve only just ascended the throne. While you may dismiss others, these elders cannot be ignored.”
Hearing this, Yuwen Jing suddenly realized just how deeply entrenched the Qu family’s influence was.
The Qu faction—Grand Tutor Qu, the Left Chancellor, and the three Ministers—had effectively seized control of half the court.
His fingers clenched at the thought.
In the Imperial Study
“Your Majesty!” Grand Tutor Qu, due to his relation to Qu Huashang, had always been treated with deference by Yuwen Jing—even exempted from the usual kneeling rites. This privilege had drawn many to the Qu faction. “You’ve acted recklessly! How could you release the Ye family? They harbor treacherous ambitions and command a powerful army. And now, after imprisoning Consort Ye, they will surely hold a grudge!”
Yuwen Jing studied the Grand Tutor, who had entered without bowing and now spoke in a tone bordering on reprimand. His wariness deepened.
“General Ye has long been stationed at the border. How would he know of court affairs?” Yuwen Jing replied, his voice measured.
Grand Tutor Qu scoffed. “The Ye family undoubtedly has spies in the capital! How could they not know? Your Majesty, you’ve been deceived by their cunning!”
Had Yuwen Jing not met General Ye in person, he might have been swayed.
But he had seen the man’s genuine concern for his daughter—his eagerness to see her, his obliviousness to court politics, and his voluntary surrender of the military insignia. Such loyalty left no room for doubt.
“Enough, Grand Tutor Qu,” Yuwen Jing said firmly, disturbed by how easily the court had fallen under the Qu family’s sway. “My decision is final.”
With that, he dismissed the ministers.
Left in solitude, Yuwen Jing felt an unfamiliar emptiness.
In the past, he would have sought solace in Qu Huashang’s company—her talent for poetry and her comforting presence. But now, aware of the Qu family’s overreach, he hesitated.
After a long silence, he turned toward the Moonflower Palace to see Ye Shaohua.
Moonflower Palace – Ye Shaohua’s Chambers
Ye Shaohua, thinner than before, sat in her inner robes, her bandaged arms resting limply.
When Yuwen Jing arrived, Imperial Physician Liu had just finished tending to her. The physician bowed, about to announce the Emperor’s presence, but Yuwen Jing silenced him with a gesture.
Standing at the palace gates, Yuwen Jing watched as a maid carried out a basin of bloodied water.
His fingers tightened.
Of course—when he had thrown her into the dungeon, her wounds had yet to heal. He didn’t even know if she had endured further torment there.
He couldn’t bring himself to enter.
But Ye Shaohua, with her keen senses, had already detected his presence.
“Your Majesty, since you’re here, why hesitate?”
With no choice, Yuwen Jing stepped inside.
The woman before him had followed him for two years. The days in prison had left her pallid, her inner robes still stained with traces of blood.
She either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care.
This time, she didn’t bother with formalities, leaning against the windowsill instead. The hostility she once radiated—the aura that had always reminded him of the blood on her hands—was gone.
Now, she was eerily calm.
“Your Majesty,” Ye Shaohua finally glanced at him, her gaze colder than ever. “Since your heart belongs to another, why not release me? My wish was always to wander the world. Who would’ve thought… but no matter. This outcome suits me just fine.”
A faint, mocking smile touched her lips.
In the past, Yuwen Jing would have gladly let her go. Now, the words stuck in his throat.
“I once promised Shaofeng I’d take care of you for life,” he said stiffly. “I won’t break that vow. You—”
“Do as you please,” she interrupted indifferently. “You know these palace walls can’t hold me anyway.”
Yuwen Jing opened his mouth but found no retort.
He studied her, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
Back then, for the sake of the throne, he had forced himself to marry Ye Shaohua—pretending to adore the woman he loathed. The humiliation had only deepened his resentment.
He had loved Qu Huashang, whose refined elegance matched his own, not this rough, battle-hardened woman who reeked of blood.
The mere thought of her touch had repulsed him.
Yet now, he wondered—had he been blind all along?
Ye Shaohua had done nothing wrong. She had taken wounds for him, shielded him with her life, and helped him secure the throne.
And how had he repaid her?
With scorn. With betrayal. With a death sentence.
While handing the position of Empress to the woman he truly loved.
