Even You Qi, who only knew a little about the situation, reacted this way, let alone the emperor, who was completely in the dark when he first learned of it. After reading the compiled records of Qiu Liuyue’s romantic escapades and the profiles of the men she had ambiguous relationships with, the emperor slammed the table in fury: “The Duke truly raised a fine daughter, didn’t he?”
You Qi remained as quiet as a mouse, pretending to be an inconspicuous and serene background figure.
To be fair, Qiu Liuyue’s methods were indeed impressive. With the halo of a transmigrated protagonist, she had charmed many talented young men. And Qiu Liuyue wasn’t entirely without brains—before things settled, she made each of these men believe they were her one and only, skillfully concealing the fact that she was juggling multiple relationships.
Now, however, You Qi had dug up all her dirty secrets.
Lin Jiarui, Yue Hengyan—these two were just the tip of the iceberg. Among them was even the son of a southern kingdom’s ruler, whom the emperor had long wanted to eliminate, as well as a somewhat notorious assassin. The variety of outstanding men she had entangled with was truly astonishing.
As for the assassin, he had been drawn to Qiu Liuyue when she coincidentally saved him after he was injured and hiding in a dark alley. Like a gentle beam of moonlight, she entered his heart, becoming the sole light in his cold, bleak life. From then on, he was willing to serve her loyally, sacrificing everything for her.
During the flower-viewing banquet at the Duke’s residence where You Qi and Chi Huai first met, Qiu Liuyue was framed by the Duchess and Qiu Muxue. The only reason she managed to escape unscathed and even turn the tables was due to the assassin’s covert assistance. Without him, that ordeal wouldn’t have been so easily overcome.
However, after detecting the assassin’s movements, You Qi later arranged for his capture. Since the assassin was principled and had only turned to that life out of necessity, the imperial court had a special policy for recruiting such individuals. Thus, the assassin now served under You Qi, dedicating his life to the Great Zhou, ready to sacrifice everything at any moment.
At present, though, the assassin’s emotions were undoubtedly complicated, likely indescribably so.
Yes, indeed—the one who investigated Qiu Liuyue’s romantic history and past deeds was none other than the assassin himself. And this was precisely You Qi’s arrangement.
As long as it didn’t interfere with the greater good or harm the nation and its people, You Qi didn’t oppose his subordinates pursuing love. But if one was going to fall in love, they ought to choose a decent partner. Thus, You Qi ruthlessly tore off Qiu Liuyue’s mask in front of the assassin, forcing him to see her true, unchangeable nature.
You Qi: *Saving misguided young men—this is what I, as a righteous youth of the new era, ought to do. No need to thank me; it’s my duty.*
Meanwhile, the emperor appeared calm on the surface, but inside, he was seething. The Noble Consort and the Duke’s household wouldn’t escape unscathed this time. The wrath of the Son of Heaven was not something to be taken lightly.
On the other side, the empress sighed upon hearing the news: “I wonder how His Majesty is doing now. He must be suffering from another headache.” As his closest companion, she was well aware of the emperor’s chronic headaches, caused by the endless burdens of state and personal affairs.
Gazing at the scenery outside, the empress murmured, “His Majesty works so hard. I must do my part to assist him.” Over the years, she had deeply appreciated the emperor’s affection and support. She was no ungrateful wretch. Husband and wife were one; it was her duty to help him in whatever way she could.
Elsewhere, the Noble Consort shattered an exquisite tea set in fury, while the Duke and Duchess engaged in a long-overdue argument. No matter how angry they were, when summoned by the emperor, they had no choice but to obey.
Qiu Liuyue knelt dazedly on the ground, her mind in chaos, unable to comprehend why nothing had gone according to her plans.
When the Noble Consort entered and saw Qiu Liuyue kneeling there, she flew into a rage and began beating her. The Noble Consort, who had ruled the rear palace (under the empress’s management) with cruelty and ruthlessness, was far more experienced than the still-naive Qiu Liuyue. Within moments, Qiu Liuyue was at a disadvantage. Yet, even in defeat, she refused to surrender easily, and the two soon clashed fiercely.
However, the Noble Consort had her maids and eunuchs to assist her, while Qiu Liuyue stood alone. The Duke and Duchess, far from defending her, were delighted to see her suffer. After all, wasn’t she the one who had dragged their household into this mess?
The stark contrast—like a solitary figure plunged into darkness—only fueled Qiu Liuyue’s growing madness.
Outside, chaos reigned, while inside, the emperor privately met with the second prince.
The emperor gazed at his second son with mixed emotions. “You… have made your decision?”
“Yes, Father.” The second prince’s eyes were resolute. “They say affection grows from time spent together. My mother and I… perhaps truly lack the bond of kinship. In this life, I only wish to see my elder brother become a wise ruler like you, to witness the Great Zhou flourish in peace and prosperity, and to travel its beautiful landscapes. That would be enough for me.”
The emperor’s heart ached, knowing the hardships his son had endured under the Noble Consort’s care. After a long silence, he sighed. “Very well. You’ve grown up and have your own mind. I won’t stop you. But remember—you are the second prince of the Great Zhou. I, your elder brother the crown prince, and the empress will always stand behind you.”
The second prince smiled brightly, a genuine expression of joy. “Thank you, Father.”
The emperor waved him off. After this conversation, he had a clearer idea of how to proceed. Soon, the crown prince, having received the news, hastily dressed and rushed over.
For some reason, the crown prince felt an ominous tension in the air, though he couldn’t tell whether it boded well or ill.
Thanks to You Qi, Chi Huai was also present, though the two remained in a side chamber, uninvolved in the main events. Sensing the tension, Chi Huai tugged at You Qi’s sleeve. “Ah-Qi, what do you think will happen next? For some reason, the atmosphere feels so tense.”
You Qi patted his hand reassuringly. “Tension is inevitable. I suspect His Majesty will use this opportunity for a major move. But don’t worry, Ah-Huai. With me here, the Chi family won’t be implicated.”
Later, events unfolded exactly as You Qi had predicted—a sweeping purge began.
On the surface, Qiu Liuyue’s actions could be dismissed as a woman’s scandalous romantic entanglements. Had it been a man, it might have been brushed off as mere gossip. But for a woman, even in these less restrictive times, her behavior offended many self-righteous scholars and officials.
On a deeper level, however, it was an affront to the imperial family, a stain on royal dignity. The severity of the matter depended entirely on the emperor’s stance. If he chose to overlook it, a light punishment would suffice. But if he insisted on harsh consequences, the fallout would be immense. And the current emperor was determined to make an example of her.
With the crown prince leading the charge and You Qi orchestrating from the shadows, a thorough cleansing of the court commenced. Officials trembled in fear.
The emperor valued balance in court, but that didn’t mean he would tolerate treason or threats to the nation. Having witnessed the suffering of the people during his campaigns, he had no patience for such treachery.
Soon, the Duke’s household collapsed entirely. Qiu Muxue, the Noble Consort’s elder sister, was banished to the cold palace. The Noble Consort herself was confined to her quarters, likely never to emerge again. Her family, long a thorn in the emperor’s side, was finally purged after years of immunity.
When the emperor first ascended the throne, he had been powerless against the Noble Consort’s brother’s military influence. But now, with marshals like Jin Shaoxin commanding loyal forces, the emperor had the leverage to excise this long-festering tumor.
Without her family’s backing and confined indefinitely, the Noble Consort’s future was bleak. Once arrogant and domineering, she had made many enemies in the rear palace. Now, with her downfall, those she had wronged were eager to kick her while she was down.
The second prince was spared the worst, receiving only minor reprimands. After the Noble Consort’s imprisonment and her family’s ruin, he visited the empress’s palace and wept in her arms like a child, bidding farewell to his painful past.
From then on, he embarked on a new life.
In time, the second prince thrived. After the crown prince’s ascension, he traveled freely, eventually meeting a spirited, free-spirited woman who shared his love for adventure. They married and lived happily ever after.
As for Qiu Liuyue—with the Duke’s household and the Noble Consort’s family in ruins, the mastermind behind it all naturally faced dire consequences.
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