On the night of the first snow of Yonghe’s fourth year, Qiao Qingzhi knelt before the gates of the Chancellor’s residence, blood seeping into the cracks between the flagstones.
In the imperial carriage, the new emperor, Chu Yanzhou, held her half-sister in his arms. His voice was colder than the snow swirling all around them. “For offending the imperial procession, give her twenty strokes.”
Just three months earlier, those same hands had gently fastened her cloak. “The capital is about to change. Wait for me to come for you.”
Instead, she received news that the Northern Army had suffered a crushing defeat and her uncle had died on the battlefield, along with an imperial edict betrothing her to Prince Chen, Chu Linyuan, the man who had lost everything because of her.
She donned her wedding robes and entered Qingzhou, determined to atone. She purged his spies, protected his family, spent all her dowry, and paved the way for him. But he never believed her. His unfathomable eyes were always veiled by an impenetrable frost, as if asking, “Qiao Qingzhi, what scheme are you plotting this time?”
Then a poisoned arrow shot through the air toward his mother. Without hesitation, she turned and took the arrow for her.
Her white robes were drenched in blood in an instant. In his arms, she whispered, her breath faint, “Chu Linyuan... Is my life... enough to repay you?”
The man who had always seemed cold and indifferent shattered in an instant. He frantically pressed down on her gaping wound, hot tears falling onto her icy cheek.
“Not enough! Who gave you permission to repay me with your life?”
“I want you to live, and watch as I grind those who wronged you into dust!”
Feeling her warmth fade bit by bit, he finally let out a despairing howl like a trapped beast and buried his face in her bloodied neck.
“Qiao Qingzhi...”
“If you dare to die... I’ll slaughter everyone in this world and make these vast lands mourn you for all eternity!”
He had always believed he was in hell, gazing up at the moonlight. Only now did he understand: that bright moon had long since fallen, all to light his dark road home.
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Looks good, I like it