In the backlight, that face gradually became clear.
Shen Wei recognized him—it was Li Yuanli, the Emperor of Southern Chu.
She was utterly stunned.
By the banks of the Mingyuan River, the crimson banners of Southern Chu fluttered fiercely in the wind. Shen Wei slowly rose to her feet, the icy river water still dripping from her fingers. The moment she saw Li Yuanli, the mystery that had plagued her for days was finally unraveled.
In an instant, she understood—the inexplicable change of her body, the loss of her peaceful retirement, her sudden displacement to a fishing village in Eastern Lin—all of it was Li Yuanli’s doing. He had quietly orchestrated a grand scheme, robbing her of her tranquil life.
"Long time no see," Li Yuanli said, offering her a faint smile, his sharp, upturned eyes locking onto her face.
Shen Wei’s expression darkened.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the riverside pavilion. Yuan Fu came running, his small face pale with fear. "Sister! Sister!"
He had just fetched water to brew medicine for Shen Wei’s cold. But the moment he lit the fire, the thunderous sound of armored cavalry erupted by the river—a troop of terrifying black-armored knights appeared as if descending from the heavens.
Trembling, Yuan Fu thought war had broken out. He rushed to find Shen Wei, desperate to take her away from danger.
Before he could reach her, one of the armored knights seized him. Prince Wu, his face ashen, stepped forward shakily and cupped his hands in deference to Li Yuanli. "Esteemed sir, I am Prince Wu of Eastern Lin, tasked with escorting tribute. Might I beg your mercy to release my concubine and her brother?"
Prince Wu had never met Li Yuanli. He had no idea the imposing man before him was the infamous Emperor of Southern Chu.
Li Yuanli’s brow arched slightly as his gaze settled on Shen Wei’s sunken, gaunt face. He wasn’t surprised—Shen Wei always had a way of surviving against all odds. No matter how dire the circumstances, she found a way to endure.
"Concubine?" Li Yuanli mused, his voice laced with mockery and menace. "In less than two months, you’ve certainly made yourself at home."
Shen Wei assessed her situation. She was at the border of three kingdoms. Li Yuanjing hadn’t even found her yet, but Li Yuanli had already beaten him to it. Surrounded by Southern Chu’s elite cavalry, escape was impossible—even if she sprouted wings.
Calmly, she said, "Let them go. Whatever grudge you hold, take it out on me alone."
Prince Wu’s heart pounded. Could it be that the fisherwoman Yuan Xi’er had some extraordinary background? Was the prophecy of Yue Kingdom’s royal diviner actually true?
Shen Wei continued, "Shen Xiuming is in Minzhou with a troop of elite guards. If you kill a prince of Eastern Lin here, Qing State and Eastern Lin might unite against Southern Chu."
Li Yuanli’s phoenix eyes narrowed.
Prince Wu’s eyes darted, and with all the courage he could muster, he raised his voice. "Though Eastern Lin is small, we have pride! I am my father’s favorite son. If I die, Eastern Lin will never let Southern Chu go unpunished!"
Li Yuanli scoffed.
He had traveled thousands of miles for Shen Wei alone. The insignificant figures clinging to her meant nothing to him.
Extending his hand, he commanded, "Come with me."
Shen Wei didn’t respond.
A Southern Chu military carriage appeared by the riverbank. Palace attendants bowed their heads and respectfully lifted the ornate curtain.
Shen Wei glanced at Li Yuanli. "Thanks to you, this body is weak and still suffering from a cold. Have the imperial physician prepare medicine and deliver it daily. The journey is long—I don’t intend to die of illness along the way."
Li Yuanli’s eyes gleamed with growing fascination. Even in a different body, her familiar tone and unshaken composure effortlessly stirred something within him.
"Very well," he agreed.
Without another word, Shen Wei stepped into the carriage.
The crimson banners fluttered as the black-armored cavalry of Southern Chu departed in perfect formation. The Mingyuan River flowed quietly, and the mountain breeze brushed against Prince Wu’s youthful face.
His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground. Fifth Zhang, his guard, hurried to support him. "Your Highness! Are you alright?"
Prince Wu’s face was ghostly pale. "D-did you hear that man refer to himself as 'Zhen'?"
Fifth Zhang nodded. "I did."
Trembling, Prince Wu muttered, "H-he couldn’t be… that terrifying Emperor of Southern Chu? The butcher who slaughtered his own royal family?"
Fifth Zhang wasn’t sure either.
The Emperor of Southern Chu had secured his throne through ruthless means, his reputation for bloodshed known far and wide. Prince Wu never imagined he’d encounter him by the Mingyuan River.
Fear left his legs unsteady.
Yuan Fu, tears brimming in his eyes, ran over. "Your Highness, please save my sister! She—she was taken by those evil men!"
Prince Wu studied Yuan Fu with a complicated gaze. "Little Yuan Fu… are you the Emperor’s illegitimate son? Or is your sister his secret daughter?"
Yuan Fu sniffled. "N-no! We’re not!"
His sister had no ties to Southern Chu’s royal family. She had admitted she wasn’t Yuan Xi’er, but she hadn’t revealed her true identity. Yuan Fu’s helplessness brought fresh tears—he hated being powerless.
Because he was young and weak, his sister Yuan Xi’er had been driven to drown herself.
Because he was young and weak, his new sister had been taken away.
Prince Wu clenched his fists, his voice resolute with anger. "If Yuan Xi’er has no connection to Southern Chu, then I must find a way to save her! She is my future concubine—how dare that Emperor steal my wife! I only wish I could cut him down myself!"
Fifth Zhang quickly hushed him. "Your Highness, lower your voice! What if Southern Chu spies are nearby?"
Prince Wu fell silent.
Then, raising his voice, he declared, "We ride for Minzhou at once! We must seek Shen Xiuming’s aid!"
---
Minzhou, an inn.
Armed guards stood watch outside the finest room, their eyes sharp. Inside, Shen Xiuming, dressed in plain clothes, sat at a desk, unfolding a letter from Yanjing City.
His brow furrowed.
Some time ago, his sister Shen Wei had fallen victim to dark sorcery—her body stolen by an evil spirit. Such a fantastical tale, something only found in legends, had actually happened.
The retired emperor and the new ruler were frantic. After uncovering the truth, they had launched a search across Qing State, Yue Kingdom, Southern Chu, Eastern Lin, and beyond.
But in the vast sea of people, Shen Wei remained lost.
"Ah, my poor sister," Shen Xiuming murmured, heart aching.
He had never known a woman as unfortunate as Shen Wei. From a lowly concubine, she had climbed through hardship to become empress dowager—only to be robbed of her peaceful twilight years by the Emperor of Southern Chu.
His eyes stung.
A knock sounded at the door.
A guard entered and cupped his hands. "Sir, our informants report that Southern Chu’s cavalry appeared by the Mingyuan River. They abducted a woman named Yuan Xi’er from Eastern Lin’s tribute convoy."
Shen Xiuming’s face paled. "They found her first! Yuan Xi’er’s identity is suspicious—send men after them at once!"
