Chapter 15: A Letter from My Sister

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The moment Cui'er withdrew, Feng Ruqing keenly sensed the faint hint of murderous intent outside the door.

A cold smile curved her lips. She made no sound, calmly removed her outer robe, and stepped into the bathing tub.

Steam billowed through the room, but it could not conceal the footsteps drawing ever nearer.

In the blink of an eye, the door was kicked open. Two men in black, blades in hand, lunged straight at Feng Ruqing.

She had been prepared. With a swift sidestep, she evaded their attack, then drew the dagger concealed in her sleeve. A flash of cold steel passed through the air, and one of the assassins collapsed with a cry.

The other attacked with even greater ferocity, but Feng Ruqing subdued him in the time it took for a thunderclap to sound.

She pressed the dagger against his throat and asked coldly, “Who sent you?”

The assassin clenched his teeth and refused to utter a single word.

A chill flickered through Feng Ruqing’s eyes. She applied the slightest pressure, and a thin line of blood appeared on his neck.

“Not talking? Then die.”

The man’s face changed drastically. At last, he broke down.

“It was… Lady Bai!”

Feng Ruqing’s gaze sharpened.

Bai Zhi. So it really was her.

She had long suspected that Bai Zhi was connected to her younger sister’s death, but she had suffered from a lack of evidence.

After dealing with the assassins, Feng Ruqing changed her clothes and immediately went to the palace where her sister had once lived—Jingyi Palace, now long abandoned.

Following the remaining clues in the diary, she found another diary hidden in a secret compartment within the palace.

Its owner was none other than her younger sister, Feng Ruge. Within its pages was a detailed account of how Bai Zhi had framed her step by step, ultimately leading to her being violated and beaten to death.

Feng Ruqing clutched the diary tightly until her knuckles turned white. Blazing fury burned in her eyes.

Bai Zhi, you deserve to die.

When Bai Zhi learned that Feng Ruqing had begun investigating her, fear took root in her heart, though she pretended to remain composed.

She knew that Feng Ruqing was currently enjoying the emperor’s favor. If she confronted her directly, both sides would suffer.

Thus, she cleverly exploited the emperor’s suspicions toward Feng Ruqing, embellishing the truth before him and accusing the empress of forming factions within the harem and harboring treasonous intentions.

The emperor had already been displeased by Feng Ruqing’s forceful nature and refusal to depend upon him. With Bai Zhi stirring the waters, his doubts only deepened.

He summoned Feng Ruqing at once and questioned her publicly in the Imperial Garden.

“Empress, I am deeply dissatisfied with your recent conduct!”

Feng Ruqing remained calm as she met his gaze, not the slightest trace of fear in her eyes.

“Oh? What conduct does Your Majesty mean?”

The emperor roared, “You are winning over the women of the inner palace, forming cliques for your own purposes. What exactly are you plotting?”

Unlike before, Feng Ruqing did not rush to defend herself. She merely said calmly, “Your Majesty, I need three days. Please grant me that time. In three days, I will give you an explanation.”

Seeing the sincerity in her words, the emperor found himself momentarily unable to refute her. He could only nod reluctantly.

“Very well. I will give you three days. But if you cannot produce evidence, you will bear the consequences yourself.”

Feng Ruqing inclined her head slightly, her manner unhurried.

“I understand.”

For the next three days, Feng Ruqing did not dare waste a single moment.

She pieced together every clue, located the guards and palace maids who had once crossed paths with Bai Zhi, and even secretly summoned her former military subordinates to escort the key witnesses into the imperial palace.

At the same time, she discovered several unsent letters in Feng Ruge’s diary. They contained evidence of Bai Zhi’s secret collusion with ministers of the court.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Feng Ruqing appeared in the Imperial Garden precisely on schedule, dressed in red and resembling a demon of war reborn.

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The women of the inner palace had already gathered. Each wore an expression of eager curiosity, as though they feared nothing so much as peace and quiet.

The emperor sat at the head of the assembly, his expression dark and his sharp gaze sweeping over Feng Ruqing.

The Imperial Garden was bursting with flowers, but no one had the heart to admire them.

Feng Ruqing walked to the center, unfolded the stack of letters and several rolls of documents in her hands, and laid the evidence out upon the table. Her cool voice rang through the garden as petals drifted to the ground.

“Your Majesty, I have found conclusive evidence proving that Bai Zhi colluded with ministers of the court and caused the death of my younger sister, Feng Ruge.”

The crowd erupted. The consorts whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with shock and curiosity.

Feng Ruqing stood there like a goddess high above the mortal realm. Her gaze was stern and imposing, and whenever it passed over the assembled women, it seemed to carry the biting chill of winter.

She continued, “This letter was written by Feng Ruge to me. It records in detail how Bai Zhi framed her.

“And these guards and palace maids personally witnessed Bai Zhi order others to poison and violate Feng Ruge. They are witnesses.”

She turned and pointed toward several guards and palace maids nearby. Fear showed on their faces, but their eyes remained resolute.

Everyone’s attention followed her gesture. Amid the uproar, Bai Zhi’s face turned livid, though she still forced herself to remain composed. A cold smile touched her lips.

At last, Feng Ruqing turned her gaze toward the emperor. Her voice was icy and unwavering.

“Your Majesty, Bai Zhi’s crimes are proven beyond doubt. I ask Your Majesty to judge this matter fairly.”

At that moment, Feng Ruqing seemed to radiate an invisible power. The very air around her appeared to solidify beneath her presence, and everyone held their breath as they awaited the emperor’s verdict.

The emperor gripped the letters in his hand, his eyes shifting as he weighed the advantages and consequences.

On the one hand, he was furious at Bai Zhi’s deeds. On the other, he feared that news of the affair would damage the dignity of the imperial house.

As he looked into Feng Ruqing’s steadfast eyes, a trace of guilt stirred within him. He had listened to Bai Zhi’s slander and wronged this courageous woman.

Yet as emperor, he could not easily admit his mistake. He could only struggle with the matter in silence.

Bai Zhi, meanwhile, clenched her teeth, despair flickering through her eyes.

Feng Ruqing said nothing more. She simply stood there, watching the emperor coldly as she waited for his decision.

“Your Majesty…”

Bai Zhi’s voice trembled, but Feng Ruqing had already turned and begun walking toward the exit of the Imperial Garden.

After reading through the evidence, the emperor was overcome with rage. He slammed the letters onto the table and shouted, “Bai Zhi, how dare you! How could you commit such vicious acts?”

Bai Zhi’s face went deathly pale, yet she still struggled to protest.

“Your Majesty, I have been wronged! The empress forged all of this. She… she is trying to frame me!”

Feng Ruqing let out a cold laugh. From her sleeve, she took a brocade pouch and slowly opened it. Inside lay a jade pendant.

It was Bai Zhi’s personal token—and the sign she had used to communicate with the ministers of the court.

“Lady Bai, you recognize this jade pendant, do you not?”

Feng Ruqing’s voice was cold enough to pierce the bone, like a judgment from the depths of hell.

The instant Bai Zhi saw the pendant, she looked as though she had been struck by lightning. She collapsed to the ground, unable to utter another word.

That pendant had been the token she used to contact the ministers. Now that Feng Ruqing had produced it, all her denials appeared feeble and hollow.

“Guards! Send Bai Zhi to the Cold Palace. Without my decree, no one is permitted to visit her!”

The emperor was consumed by fury. At his command, the guards immediately dragged Bai Zhi away.

As she was hauled off, Bai Zhi fixed Feng Ruqing with a venomous stare, as though she wished to tear her apart and swallow her alive.

Feng Ruqing did not even spare her a glance. She turned to face the emperor, her tone cold.

“Your Majesty, my sister is dead. I only hope that such a tragedy will never happen to anyone else.”

A complicated emotion flickered through the emperor’s eyes as he looked at her.

He began to realize that he had wronged Feng Ruqing all along. She was not the sinister and scheming woman Bai Zhi had described. On the contrary, she was courageous, strong, loyal, and deeply compassionate.

“Empress, I… I…”

The emperor wanted to say something, but Feng Ruqing interrupted him.

“Your Majesty, I am tired. I shall take my leave.”

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Feng Ruqing paid no attention to the emperor. She turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.

As he watched her retreating figure, an inexplicable sense of loss welled up within him.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to be losing something—and that loss filled him with panic.

Feng Ruqing did not gradually calm down until she had returned to her own palace.

She knew this was only the first step. She would seek justice for her sister and protect herself, never again allowing others to treat her as helpless prey.

The harem consorts’ attitudes toward Feng Ruqing had completely changed. Their initial mockery and contempt had become awe—and even a trace of fear.

None of them had expected this seemingly delicate empress to be so forceful and decisive.

For a time, Feng Ruqing’s palace became crowded with visitors. The women of the inner palace came rushing to pay their respects, some bearing gifts and others begging forgiveness, as though they had never mocked her before.

Feng Ruqing looked coldly upon these fair-weather women. She sneered inwardly, though her expression remained impassive.

“I appreciate the goodwill of all my sisters.”

Her indifferent gaze swept over them.

“But I hope nothing like this will happen again. Otherwise, I will show no mercy.”

Everyone shuddered at her words and hastily promised never again to show the slightest disrespect toward Feng Ruqing.

Feng Ruqing waved her hand, signaling that they could leave.

After they had dispersed, Feng Ruqing sat alone beside the window, watching the sky darken outside as countless thoughts churned in her heart.

Although Bai Zhi had been sent to the Cold Palace, the true mastermind remained at large.

Feng Ruqing knew this was merely the beginning. She had to uncover the whole truth and avenge her sister.

Late that night, Feng Ruqing changed into black clothing and slipped silently out of her palace.

She intended to contact her former military subordinates and continue investigating the true cause of her sister’s death.

The imperial palace was heavily guarded, but Feng Ruqing had long been accustomed to walking along the edge of a blade. This small measure of danger meant nothing to her.

She came to a secluded corner and released a carrier pigeon.

A note was tied to its leg. Upon it were written only a few words:

“Come see me at once.”

The pigeon flew into the night sky and vanished into the vast darkness.

Feng Ruqing watched the direction in which it disappeared, determination flashing in her eyes.

She knew the road ahead was filled with danger, but she would never retreat.

Suddenly, a deep voice sounded behind her.

“Her Majesty the Empress is out so late instead of sleeping. Where might you be going?”

Feng Ruqing spun around.

A figure stood some distance away. Moonlight fell across his face, revealing him unmistakably as—

the emperor, Ji Ran.