The spring was still bitterly cold. Outside the house, the cold wind whipped up rough pebbles and lashed them mercilessly against people's faces. Inside, it was as warm as summer. The high - quality silver - silk charcoal burned away as if it were free. However, the people present looked as cold and solemn as if they were in the cold wind outside, their faces even turning faintly pale.
Princess Shen Mingzhu sat on the wedding bed. The coldness on her face was hidden by the red bridal veil. Only her pair of fair and jade - like hands were visible, and a sword was placed on her knees. Her fingertips gently caressed the patterns on the sword sheath.
"Your Highness," the maid Chuntao whispered with her head bowed. "The imperial consort is missing. I've already sent the guards to look for him."
"Okay."
The cold response carried boundless dignity. The servants of the Xie Mansion, thinking that their young master had abandoned the princess on their wedding night, immediately went weak in the knees and knelt down in unison, trembling like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.
Shen Mingzhu didn't lose her composure as some had expected. Instead, she lifted the bridal veil and tossed it aside. Then she raised her hand to take a sip of hot tea and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sword sheath.
I wonder if the one in the palace is satisfied with this huge farce today?
Shen Mingzhu let out a cold snort.
In just a few days, she, who had once been second only to the emperor and enjoyed boundless favor, was forced into a humiliating marriage to the well - known good - for - nothing eldest son of the Xie family in the capital after the new emperor ascended the throne!
Shen Mingzhu was the eldest legitimate daughter of the queen. She was exceptionally granted a fief at birth and was extremely favored. Unfortunately, her elder brother, the crown prince, died unexpectedly. The queen was so grief - stricken that, on Shen Mingzhu's advice, she adopted the third prince.
The third prince's biological mother was just a maid. She had a humble background and died early. Shen Mingzhu took pity on him and couldn't help feeling compassion.
She never expected that she had met an ungrateful wretch.
It was only after the third prince ascended the throne that Shen Mingzhu learned that there were hidden secrets behind her elder brother's death. Even her father's death was related to him!
The third prince ascended the throne with the support of her and the queen. Maybe he was worried that she would investigate the truth and interfere in the court affairs, so he quickly married her off to Xie Lang, the well - known good - for - nothing in the capital. The empress dowager was sent to a Buddhist temple outside the capital.
The Xie family was a loyal supporter of the new emperor. After the new emperor ascended the throne, their status had risen even higher. General Xie was in charge of hundreds of thousands of troops on the northern border. So Shen Mingzhu knew that the new emperor's move was to keep her firmly in his grasp.
Moreover, to humiliate her, he even said that her princess mansion hadn't been built yet and asked her to marry directly into the Xie family.
Xie Lang was the eldest legitimate son of the General Who Pacifies the South. He had an outstanding family background, but he was equally well - known for being a good - for - nothing. He was spoiled by the general's wife to the point of being lawless. Every time he became famous, it was either because he had a conflict with someone or because he had made another joke.
At the age of twenty, he still did nothing all day long. He lingered in the brothels in the capital all day long. There were even rumors that he was chased by debt collectors from the gambling house. Compared with the other young masters of noble families of the same age, he was simply unbearable to look at.
Compared with Zhou Chengyu, the man she had a crush on, Xie Lang was even more outshone. Zhou Chengyu was the eldest legitimate son of the prime minister's mansion. He was extremely talented and had passed the highest imperial examination with flying colors last year.
If it weren't for... if it weren't for the new emperor's ascension to the throne, maybe she would have married him already.
Thinking of this, Shen Mingzhu's expression dimmed slightly. She looked at the burning red candles in front of her and closed her eyes.
She never expected that he would go too far today!
On the wedding day, there were countless guests, and many well - known families in the capital were here. But Xie Lang left without a word after the wedding ceremony. Now he didn't know which beauty's arms he was in, feeling proud of himself.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shen Mingzhu looked up and saw the door being knocked open. A young woman in a light - yellow ruqun walked in. There was a hint of undisguised pride on her face, and a flash of mockery in her eyes. But she still pretended to be worried and said, "Your Highness, I don't know where my elder brother has gone. He's so muddle - headed. I'll ask Father to scold him tomorrow!"
"Xie Fangfei," Shen Mingzhu sat still and, upon hearing this, shifted her gaze from the sword. Her expression was calm. "You're just a concubine - born daughter. How dare you think you can make decisions?"
"Kneel and pay your respects when you see the princess!"
The maid beside Shen Mingzhu shouted loudly. Xie Fangfei's face changed, and she gritted her teeth and knelt down.
What a princess! Now she was just a fallen phoenix. She couldn't even keep that good - for - nothing Xie Lang on her wedding day.
Maybe she would marry better than this princess in the future! Who would be like her, tied to a good - for - nothing for the rest of her life.
Xie Fangfei tightened the sachet in her sleeve. Her eyes were full of unpredictable emotions, and her fingertips were trembling.
Shen Mingzhu looked at Xie Fangfei kneeling down with a half - smile. She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside. She looked up and saw her guard, his face ashen, saying to her, "Your Highness, we've found the imperial consort."
"The imperial consort... the imperial consort..." The guard stammered for a long time. Under Shen Mingzhu's gaze, his face turned pale, and big beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. "The imperial consort is in the Yichun Tower."
The Yichun Tower was the largest brothel in the capital.
Shen Mingzhu's face remained calm, but there was already a raging fire in her eyes. She stood up, holding the long sword in her hand, and said coldly, "Prepare the horses."
Looking down at the imperial - bestowed sword in her hand, the corners of Shen Mingzhu's lips curled up slightly, but her eyes were icy cold. A hint of killing intent appeared on her bright and beautiful face.
She would never give up investigating the truth and giving an explanation to her father and elder brother. If the new emperor was really related to their deaths, then since she and the queen could support him to the throne, they could also pull him down!
Moreover, today, Xie Lang dared to humiliate her like this. She would surely make him pay the price!
Whipping the horse, Shen Mingzhu tightened the reins and galloped towards the Yichun Tower.
...
The Yichun Tower.
Inside the small building, there was the sound of singing and dancing. Even standing outside, one could hear the sounds of spring inside. The coquettish laughter and the sound of silk and bamboo instruments were intertwined, making people feel a heat in their hearts.
Shen Mingzhu dismounted from the horse. The guard beside her stopped the dissatisfied old madam and kicked the door open with one foot.
With a bang, the door fell directly to the ground, revealing a group of people with panicked expressions who hadn't had time to react.
Shen Mingzhu walked forward slowly. Listening to the sudden stop of the silk and bamboo music, her face was cold. She stood at the door and scanned the room.
Some people present showed dissatisfaction, while others recognized her identity and quickly covered their companions' mouths.
Xie Lang was really easy to find. Except for herself and the dancing girls in red soft silk, he was the only one wearing red clothes, sitting there as if he had no bones.
Xie Lang was blessed with good looks. Privately, some people even sighed about it. It was a pity that the frivolous look between his eyebrows ruined his good looks.
When Shen Mingzhu came, Xie Lang was so drunk that his eyes were blurred. He was half - lying on the table, but still leaned forward and gulped down the wine from the dancing girl's hand.
When Xie Lang heard the sound, his expression paused for a moment. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a beautiful and tall woman with a slender waist and long legs. He immediately smiled and waved his hand frivolously. "Come here, little lady! Let me take a good look at your little face."
Shen Mingzhu walked towards him with a cold face.
When she walked in front of him, the dancing girl leaning against Xie Lang saw the sword in Shen Mingzhu's hand and was so scared that she hid in his arms, softly exclaiming in fear, "My lord, I'm scared!"
Xie Lang frowned and stood up to look at her. Just as he was about to speak, he was startled by Shen Mingzhu's icy gaze.
Looking at Shen Mingzhu, he still couldn't help but comfort the woman in his arms bravely on the surface. "Don't be afraid. I'm the eldest young master of the Xie family. Who dares to hurt you?"
Shen Mingzhu sneered in her heart and drew out her long sword.
She had to teach this person a lesson!
The next second, the tip of the sword was pressed against Xie Lang's chest, right above his pounding heart. Just one more inch forward, and he would be pierced through the heart.
Unexpectedly, something unexpected happened.
Shen Mingzhu didn't know if Xie Lang was too scared or had drunk too much, but he closed his eyes and fell directly onto her sword.
Shen Mingzhu's face turned deathly pale. She quickly retracted the sword and saw a trace of blood on the cold - looking sword tip. Xie Lang also fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Help!" The dancing girl just now let out a scream, but was quickly covered by the guard's hand. She was so suffocated that her face turned pale.
Seeing that someone had died, the on - lookers immediately rushed to get out of the small building, but were blocked by the guards.
It's over! Is the princess going to kill everyone here?
Everyone huddled in the corner, shivering.
Shen Mingzhu's hand trembled, and the sword fell to the ground with a clear sound.
She squatted down, supporting Xie Lang's shoulder with one hand and feeling for his breath with the other. She found that he had stopped breathing.
Xie Lang couldn't die now!
Shen Mingzhu took a deep breath, maintaining her calm on the surface, and tried hard to find a solution in her mind.
Unexpectedly, the next second, Shen Mingzhu suddenly heard a somewhat familiar voice.
[I was careless! I shouldn't have pretended to be dead just now. It's really troublesome now!]
[So annoying. My shoulder is probably injured. It hurts.]
Shen Mingzhu was shocked, and her face was an inscrutable mess.
What's going on! Whose voice is this?