The mad princess forces love upon him, and the aloof imperial advisor trembles every night.

Cangming looked at him quietly, a very subtle curve appearing at the corners of his lips beneath the mask.

"Seek justice?" His voice was gentle as the clinking of jade stones. "Third Prince, don't you know in your heart whether you've been wronged or not?"

He put down the water ladle, his black boots, though they had stepped through the blood, remained spotless, and took a step closer.

"Three hundred thousand taels of gold to buy a deal—Jinxue Pavilion never does a losing business, nor does it ever...save people for nothing."

Chu Xuanjing's chest heaved violently, each breath aggravating his numerous wounds, causing him to feel dizzy with pain. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the feigned anger in them had vanished, leaving only a cold calculation.

"...What do you want in return for my life?" he asked in a hoarse voice. He paused, then added, "Achen should have already told you. The life I want is not exile and a wretched existence. It means that afterwards, I will still be the Third Prince of Great Chu, and I will still possess... the right to rule the world."

Cangming chuckled softly.

"Why is Your Highness in such a hurry? Let me analyze the situation for you first."

"That day, the assassin was executed in public, and your jade pendant—a dragon-patterned red jade—was cut open from his abdomen in full view of everyone. It was recorded by the Imperial Household Department and is the only one of its kind in the world. This is irrefutable evidence."

Chu Xuanjing's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't speak.

"Moreover, the Inspection Department is not to be trifled with."

"It's been discovered that the assassins that day were from the Blood Blade Sect—and I know you founded the Blood Blade Sect. Do you think the Oversight Department wouldn't find out?"

Chu Xuanjing's pupils constricted sharply: "You... how could you...?"

"How would I know?" Cangming asked for him, then sighed softly, as if lamenting a child who didn't understand.

"Third Prince, Jinxue Pavilion is in the business of buying and selling information."

"In this capital city, from the palace to the marketplace, from the dragon throne to the latrine—wherever there are people, there are things we want to know and can know."

"So, what's done is done."

"His Majesty is furious, and someone has to take the blame—if it wasn't you, could it be Consort Li?"

"Or perhaps it's your maternal grandfather, Minister Li's, clan... one hundred and thirty-seven people?"

"No--!"

Chu Xuanjing violently broke free of his chains, his roar as fierce as a trapped beast: "This has nothing to do with my mother! Don't touch my mother! Don't touch the Li family!"

Cangming waited until he was exhausted and panting before speaking again: "Then, Your Highness, what do you suggest we do?"

Chu Xuanjing lowered his head and remained silent.

After a long while, Cangming suddenly said, "By the way, I heard something interesting on the way here—Qingyao Pavilion was attacked last night, and all of the Fifth Princess's secret guards were slaughtered, leaving no survivors."

Chu Xuanjing suddenly looked up.

Cangming's eyes curved into a smile beneath his mask: "It was our Jinxue Pavilion that made the move."

"..."

Chu Xuanjing stopped breathing.

"Your Highness should have heard of the rules of our Jinxue Pavilion."

"Two hundred thousand taels of gold can buy a human life. If it's for a life worse than death... the price will double."

"Guess," Cangming said softly, as if telling a bedtime story.

"If Her Majesty the Empress were to approach our Jinxue Pavilion now, offering an exceptionally high price for evidence of your crimes of 'treason, fratricide, and collusion with the enemy,' we would..."

"Can't!"

Chu Xuanjing practically roared it out.

"She's trying to kill my child and me... You can't sell her the evidence! You can't!"

"Why not?" Cangming tilted his head, his posture almost innocent.

"In business, Jinxue Pavilion only cares about money, not people. We sell to whoever offers the highest price—that's the rule."

"But you promised me!" Chu Xuanjing's voice was filled with despair.

"You promised to find me a way out and clear my name! Does the prestigious Jinxue Pavilion intend to go back on its word?!"

"How could that be?" Cangming shook his head. "We at Jinxue Pavilion conduct business honestly and fairly, regardless of age or gender."

Even if we sell the evidence of your crimes to the Empress... we can still protect you.

Chu Xuanjing was stunned.

"Do you... want to hear what you're saying?"

"I've made myself perfectly clear," Cangming explained good-naturedly.

"They sold your incriminating evidence, took money from the Empress—and then took money from you again to help you out of this mess. Making money from both sides, isn't that wonderful?"

Chu Xuanjing felt a chill run through his body.

This is not shamelessness.

It's a manipulative, chilling madness.

"Therefore," Cangming said slowly, "based on the Third Prince's current situation, I will give you two choices."

He paused to make sure Chu Xuanjing was fully focused.

"The first option—Your Highness, take the blame for all the crimes."

"I admit it. You founded the Blood Blade Sect, you orchestrated the assassination of the Crown Prince, and you harbored treacherous ambitions to rebel."

"His Majesty, out of consideration for the bond between father and son, may grant you a proper burial. Consort Li... has been banished to the Cold Palace, where she will live a life of misery. However, the entire Li clan will be spared."

Cangming looked into his eyes and spoke each word clearly:

"Look, Consort Li's life is saved—and the entire Li clan is saved as well. Three hundred thousand taels of gold for so many lives, you won't lose out."

Chu Xuanjing trembled all over.

"Then... what about option two?"

"Choose option two..." Cangming drawled, "It's His Highness's way out."

He smiled—though Chu Xuanjing couldn't see the corners of his mouth, he knew he was smiling. That smile was poisonous, hooked, and tempting enough to drag someone into hell.

"You 'reported' Consort Li—saying that she had long been colluding with the remnants of the Northern Underworld, and that this assassination was all her doing, with the intention of disrupting the court and helping you to ascend the throne."

"And you... were deceived, only realizing the truth at the very last moment, and thus choosing righteousness over family ties..."

"Impossible!" Chu Xuanjing roared, breaking the silence. He lunged at him with all his might, but was violently pulled back by the chains, his back slamming against the rack, his wounds reopening. "That's my mother! How could I possibly..."

"So, one choice?" Cangming took a half step back, avoiding the splattered blood. "Your Highness bravely faced death, earning a reputation for 'filial piety and righteousness'—sounds beautiful, doesn't it?"

"But let me give you a friendly reminder—if you die, Consort Li will be sent to the Cold Palace... You should know better than I what that is."

"She's ruthless and heartless. How will those concubines she once trampled underfoot, those enemies who hate her to the core, 'take care' of her?"

"Does the Empress really think she can live a 'peaceful' life? The harem is full of ruthless methods—a cup of poison, a white silk noose, or an 'accidental' fall into a well..."

"At that time, will you be able to rest in peace underground?"

Chu Xuanjing was struck dumb.

Images surged through my mind—

The Cold Palace was dilapidated, and the mother, dressed in thin, old clothes, shivered in the cold winter.

The palace maids and eunuchs, their faces blurred, surrounded her, laughing, cursing, and shoving. Finally... a cup of poisoned wine was brought to her lips.

His mother looked at him with sorrow in her eyes and her lips moved: Jing'er, why won't you save me?

"ah--!!!"

Chu Xuanjing let out a mournful roar.

Cangming waited patiently for him to break down, until his roar turned into a sob, before speaking again:

"Choose two."

The voice suddenly became extremely soft and gentle, like soothing a child in a nightmare:

"The process was brutal, but at least... you're alive. As long as you're alive, there are endless possibilities."

"Consort Li... sacrificed herself for my 'great cause'."

"Her death was 'worthwhile.' If you were to ascend the throne in the future, you could posthumously honor her as Empress Dowager, ensuring she would enjoy eternal worship, receive the homage of all officials, and have her name recorded in history..."

"Isn't that more filial than her being tortured to death in the cold palace, then being wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave?"