Zi Pei, clad in Shen Nong's garments, stood before the bronze mirror, adjusting the hair ornaments. "Eunuch," she asked the man behind her, "do you think this hairpin suits me better, or this jade hairpin?"
Eunuch Yun, engrossed in a secret letter, looked up. He rose and went to Zi Pei's side, taking the two hair ornaments from her. After a moment's consideration, he placed a hairpin into her hair. "Pei'er is young, this hairpin is more fitting."
"But, Pei'er is impersonating the Empress!" Zi Pei pouted, her expression charmingly petulant.
"You'll have a chance to be the Empress later!" Eunuch Yun said, planting a kiss on Zi Pei's cheek.
Zi Pei's cheeks flushed as she shyly replied, "The Eunuch is so gentle."
"Still calling me Eunuch?" Eunuch Yun asked.
"Bian Yuncheng!" Zi Pei murmured, mimicking the Empress's tone.
"There's a surname."
"Bian... Yuncheng." Zi Pei's red lips parted.
Bian Yuncheng drew Zi Pei into his embrace and casually hung something around her neck.
"What is this?" Zi Pei curiously picked up the pendant to examine it. It was a piece of mutton-fat jade, within which was a heart-shaped scar.
"I searched for much jade to find this for you, a symbol that my heart belongs only to you!" Bian Yuncheng whispered into her ear.
"How wicked!" Zi Pei playfully chided, nestling closer into his arms.
After some time, their playful teasing subsided, and they grew tired. Zi Pei leaned against the windowsill and sighed.
"What's wrong?" Bian Yuncheng asked.
"The Empress's temper is already difficult, and now with the Crown Prince's troubles, I live in constant fear," Zi Pei said, biting her lip with a look of distress.
Bian Yuncheng lifted her chin and kissed her scarlet lips, causing Zi Pei to giggle.
"Shen Nong has always had that temper, otherwise I wouldn't have fallen for her Night Blooming Charm to end up in this situation," Bian Yuncheng remarked.
"Then you truly have suffered." Zi Pei looked at the 'man' before her with concern.
"It's nothing. As long as Pei'er doesn't mind our arrangement, what do I care?" Bian Yuncheng said, nibbling her ear.
Zi Pei, ticklish by nature, melted at his touch, leaning heavily against him.
Bian Yuncheng held her, gazing out at the winter scenery, his eyes darkening.
"Hiyah!" Elsewhere, Shen Nong, dressed in a palace maid's attire and a black hooded cloak to ward off the wind, galloped a fine horse through the southern outskirts of Jincheng.
The horse beneath her began to pant, nearing exhaustion. As it stumbled, Shen Nong leaped from its back and rushed into a hidden stable.
Inside the stable, only an old man was present, feeding withered grass.
"I need a thousand-li steed, a Blood-Sweating Horse!" Shen Nong approached the old man.
The old man ignored her, continuing his task.
Shen Nong thought for a moment, then took out a command token from her embrace. It was given to her by Bian Yuncheng.
The old man glanced at the object in her hand and tossed out, "Wait!" He then turned and left the stable.
When he returned a short while later, a magnificent horse followed behind him.
"One hundred taels." The old man held out his hand.
"So much?" Shen Nong was surprised.
The old man snorted and prepared to leave again.
"Wait, one hundred taels it is. I don't have coin on me, but here, take this!" Shen Nong offered a hairpin from her embrace.
The old man looked at it, weighed it in his hand, and said, "I'll give you another horse when you return."
"How do you know I'll be back?" Shen Nong inquired.
The old man replied, "Some people die from talking too much."
Shen Nong was stifled, swallowing her words. She took the horse from the old man and continued her journey.
The horse sped wildly along the road. She looked at the approaching Jinzhou, her heart filled with joy. Soon... her plan would succeed. No matter what, she could not afford to fail.
A day later, at the border of Jinzhou and the Shu Rong Kingdom.
Shen Cong, clad in armor, looked at the kneeling woman before him. "You want me to rescue the Crown Prince?"
Shen Nong nodded, her eyes pleadingly fixed on the man before her, who bore a five-point resemblance to her.
"What exactly happened in the palace?" Shen Cong asked, his brow furrowed.
Shen Nong bit her lip and hesitated for a long time before preparing to speak.
Shen Cong warned, "Nong'er, you know who I am. Your father wants the truth. If there is even a shred of falsehood, do not blame my weapon for not recognizing you."
Shen Nong shivered. She had always feared her father the most. In her memory, he had been consistently strict. When her scandal with Bian Yuncheng had become common knowledge in the household, had it not been for Bian Yuncheng's cleverness in faking his death, Shen Cong would never have forgiven her so easily.
"Father!" Her eyes darted around, an idea surfacing. "I made a mistake, and the Emperor's actions are understandable. However, due to previous events, Hong'er is the only remaining bloodline of the Shen family.
I truly did this for the consideration of the Shen family. Otherwise, not to mention Hong'er being sent to Changting Pavilion, even if he were exiled to Linzhou, I wouldn't have the nerve to come to you."
"What? Hong'er not only lost his position as Crown Prince but was also sent to Changting Pavilion?" Shen Cong looked astonished. "What happened?"
Shen Nong sobbed, recounting the events of Yueming Pavilion in detail.
"Scoundrel! How could Hong'er commit such a despicable act?" Shen Cong was also greatly angered.
"That's why I mentioned earlier, it's not because Hong'er is the last remaining descendant of our Shen family that I come to you. Otherwise, I wouldn't beg you. So, Father, do you know the difference between Hong'er being sent to Changting Pavilion and being sentenced to death?
It's just delaying the inevitable by two years. By then, his health will be ruined, making him useless. How can he possibly live? Father, I implore you, send someone to rescue Hong'er. Only you can speak with the guards at Changting Pavilion.
I promise to discipline Hong'er properly from now on and never let him be swayed."
Shen Nong wept, her tears falling like rain. Her remorse and promise of reform were enough to evoke sympathy from anyone.
Shen Cong remained silent.
Shen Nong secretly glanced at Shen Cong and sobbed even more intensely.
Shen Cong sighed, "The manager of Changting Pavilion is indeed an old friend of mine, but..."
"Father, if the Emperor could act like this, he clearly won't be looking for the Crown Prince anymore. Nong'er is merely a mother who feels heartbroken and only wishes for Hong'er to live well," Shen Nong added fuel to the fire.
"Alas!" Shen Cong sighed, his expression one of deep disappointment, and he shot Shen Nong a stern glare.
Shen Nong flinched, not daring to speak.
"If it weren't for Emperor Jing back then, our Shen family wouldn't be so sparsely populated. I will rescue Hong'er for you."
"Father..." Shen Nong joyfully prepared to rise but was stopped by Shen Cong's outstretched hand. She could only continue kneeling.
"Your Excellency, the Empress, it is customary that I should not accept such a grand gesture. However, considering our generational difference and your actions, you deserve to be on your knees.
I am doing this not for you, but for the Shen family.
Consider it a debt owed by the Emperor that we are now collecting." Shen Cong walked to the table and began to busy himself.
After a moment, he held a secret letter in his hand.
He called out to someone outside, and a small soldier soon entered, took the letter, and ran off.
"Nong'er, rise."
Shen Nong's knees ached from kneeling, and coupled with the arduous journey, she nearly lost her balance as she stood up.
Shen Cong glanced at her. "I will order someone..."
"Father, I came by myself, and I will return by myself. Please rest assured," Shen Nong declined Shen Cong's offer. After all, she had many secrets. If Shen Cong's men escorted her back to Jincheng, and she returned late, the Emperor discovered more matters, which were then overheard by Shen Cong's men, she would surely face dire consequences.
Shen Cong glanced at the fine steed outside the tent, pondered for a moment, and nodded, signaling her to leave quickly.