That night, the raindrops continued to fall, showing no sign of stopping.
Inside the Li Garden of the Ping Prince's Mansion.
"Bi'er, Bi'er..."
Shen Hua'er's voice called out, and Bi'er, who was keeping watch outside, hurried into the room. "Concubine, are you feeling unwell? This servant will fetch the physician at once."
"No need..."
Shen Hua'er simply felt restless, her spirits low for several days.
Today, her unease was even worse—each clap of thunder sent a splitting pain through her head.
"You've served me since childhood. Stay and talk with me." Shen Hua'er curled up on the bed, looking pitifully fragile.
Bi'er knew all her secrets, the only person before whom she could reveal her true self.
"Concubine must be unsettled by the recent turmoil, frightened by the Shen family's affairs. Let this servant keep you company." Bi'er quietly lit calming incense and knelt by the bedside.
"Bi'er... do you think the Shen family's troubles will end here?"
"His Majesty himself decreed their punishment, yet you, the Second Young Miss, and the lady in the cold palace remain unharmed." Bi'er gazed gently at Shen Hua'er. Though the concubine had committed many misdeeds, she had never mistreated Bi'er—to her, that was kindness enough.
"The lady has been stripped of her title, imprisoned for life in the cold palace. What difference does it make whether she lives or dies?" Shen Hua'er murmured. "All those decades of planning by the Shen family, and in the end, we’re left with nothing."
Boom—
Another thunderclap.
Shen Hua'er shuddered violently.
"Bi'er, I have a terrible feeling..."
"Concubine, don’t dwell on such thoughts..."
Before Bi'er could finish, the door was kicked open.
"Who dares intrude upon the concubine's chambers?"
Bi'er instinctively yanked down the bed curtains, shielding Shen Hua'er with her body.
"The Imperial Guards are here by His Majesty’s order to search the Ping Prince's Mansion."
Imperial Guards!
Shen Hua'er's eyes filled with terror. Why would the Imperial Guards raid the mansion in the dead of night?
With that, the guards lit the room’s candles and began searching every corner. At the same time, the same scene unfolded in every courtyard of the mansion.
The main hall of Li Garden.
"The Imperial Guards are here." Lady Chang stood beneath the eaves as guards ransacked the room behind her.
Yet she smiled faintly. At last, they had come.
The mansion, which should have been deep in slumber, was now wide awake, ablaze with light.
The mansion’s masters were summoned to the front courtyard.
Song Yanzheng appeared the most agitated.
"Who knows what’s happened? They barged in demanding a search—how is this any different from confiscating our property?" Song Xiyan pouted, annoyed at her sleep being disturbed.
"Silence."
Song Yanzheng’s expression darkened as he scanned the group. "Whatever the Imperial Guards’ purpose, we’re all bound together now. Some secrets must never leave our lips."
Shen Hua'er was too distraught to heed his words.
Meanwhile, Lady Chang stared at the frail figure of Song Yanchao, who had been carried in. After some time apart, he had become a mere skeleton—hardly human anymore.
The search lasted a full hour.
When Shen Xiao finally appeared, the room tensed.
"Commander Shen, has His Majesty issued some decree?" Song Yanzheng forced a smile.
But Shen Xiao ignored him, turning instead to Shen Hua'er.
"Concubine, when you married into this household, Lady Shen gave you a secret pill. Where is it now?"
"We’ve searched every corner of the mansion and found nothing."
Instantly, everyone but Lady Chang paled.
"Commander Shen... I—I don’t understand..." Shen Hua'er stammered, her legs trembling.
"The Life-Sacrifice Pill—it drains the patient’s vitality to sustain false vigor, like a final flare before death." Shen Xiao’s face was impassive. "I wouldn’t be here without evidence. Even if you refuse to speak, I can take you away."
"Take her."
"Wait!" Song Yanzheng suddenly interjected, his face twisting with disbelief. "Drained vitality... false vigor... Commander Shen, are you accusing the concubine of poisoning my father?"
Without waiting for an answer, his shock turned to grief. "No... impossible. We all trusted her with Father’s care—she never let anyone else tend to him."
"That’s right, Commander Shen. The concubine would never harm Father." Song Xiyan, realizing the gravity of the situation, fought back tears. "Concubine, tell them you didn’t do it!"
Even Song Yanchao and Song Yanming wore expressions of profound sorrow.
Shen Hua'er’s vision darkened, and she collapsed.
Before losing consciousness, one thought pierced her like ice:
What now...
——
When Shen Hua'er awoke, a blurry figure in imperial yellow robes came into focus. Her mind jolted awake.
"Your Majesty."
Emperor Yuanyou looked at her as though she were already dead.
Song Yu, standing nearby, spoke coolly. "Among your dowry was a Life-Sacrifice Pill—your mother, Lady Shen, confirmed this under oath."
As he spoke, Song Shihuan handed Shen Hua'er the signed testimony Shen Qingping had forced Lady Shen to provide.
"Before Song Ling’s death, blood spots appeared on his brow. The Miao tribesmen confirmed this as a symptom of the Life-Sacrifice Pill’s poison."
With each word, Shen Hua'er’s breathing grew fainter, her face ashen.
"Furthermore, I personally inspected the imperial tomb. The exhumation confirmed Song Ling was poisoned before death."
Exhumation!
The word crushed the air from Shen Hua'er’s lungs.
"Since the pill is nowhere in the mansion, Shen Hua'er, even if you deny it, the evidence is irrefutable. With these testimonies, your guilt in poisoning a royal prince is certain."
Song Yu’s lips curled, his gaze darkening.
"Now, tell me—who else was involved?"
His voice, neither loud nor soft, carried clearly to the princes kneeling outside the palace hall. Song Yanzheng stiffened, fists clenching in his sleeves.
Would Shen Hua'er... reveal the truth of that year?
