Chapter 37: Arriving for Vengeance

The imperial palace, shrouded in night, was suffocatingly silent.

Feng Ruqing stepped into the side hall. The furnishings remained exactly as they were; every table, every chair, every lamp, and every painting were etched deep into her memory like branding irons.

The air was permeated with a faint scent of sandalwood, identical to the smell in her memories. Yet, this familiar fragrance weighed upon her with an inexplicable oppression, wrapping around her like spider silk and leaving her gasping for air. Her gaze swept over everything in the hall, seeking a sliver of solace, but she found nothing save for a sharper, more piercing hatred.

"Oh, if it isn't Eldest Miss Feng? What wind blew you back here?"

A shrill voice shattered the stillness. Eunuch Li emerged slowly from the shadows, his face wearing a mask of hypocritical smiles, as if he were an old friend Feng Ruqing had not seen in years.

"Eunuch Li," Feng Ruqing said, her tone icy, her gaze like a blade falling upon him. "Long time no see."

Eunuch Li chuckled with an affected, jagged tone. "Indeed, a long time. I honestly thought Eldest Miss Feng had long since forgotten the way to this palace." He paused, a glimmer of malice flashing in his eyes. "In the past, Eldest Miss Feng was so glorious in this palace. It is a pity, though..."

"A pity for what?" Feng Ruqing took a step forward, looming over him with a dangerous aura.

Eunuch Li feigned fear, stepping back while wearing a look of triumph. "It is a pity that the Eldest Miss Feng of today is no longer the Empress of the past."

Feng Ruqing let out a cold laugh. "Eunuch Li, do you truly think you can change anything by provoking me?"

The smile on Eunuch Li's face gradually vanished. "I merely wish to remind you, Eldest Miss, that some things, once past, are gone; some people, once dead, are dead. To remain so obsessed will only bring you greater pain."

Feng Ruqing’s gaze sharpened, a powerful pressure radiating from her. "Eunuch Li, are you threatening me?"

Eunuch Li forced a look of composure. "I am simply offering a kind reminder, Eldest Miss, so that you do not lead yourself astray."

"Astray?" A cold sneer curled her lips. "I shall see who exactly is leading themselves astray." She bore down on him, her voice as chilling as frost. "Eunuch Li, there are some accounts that we really ought to settle."

Feng Ruqing’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile, her gaze like an ice-tempered blade piercing straight into him. "Eunuch Li, your talent for distorting the truth has only grown more refined. It is a pity, however, that the old debts of this palace cannot be erased by a few words from you."

Her tone was light and slow, yet every word was like a knife, sharp and hidden with ulterior intent. Eunuch Li was momentarily struck dumb; the smile on his face froze, looking like a branch snapped off by force—awkward and unsightly.

The young eunuchs serving nearby dared not even draw a full breath. They lowered their heads, pretending to hear nothing, while straining their ears to catch every syllable. They were secretly stunned; this Eldest Miss Feng was truly no ordinary person. With only a few words, she had left the notoriously acerbic Eunuch Li completely speechless. Eunuch Li had long acted like a tyrant in the palace, with everyone bowing and scraping before him; seeing him silenced by Feng Ruqing was truly gratifying.

Ignoring his ugly expression, Feng Ruqing turned slowly, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings. The palace she once knew now felt profoundly alien. A few palace maids who had once served her stood nearby, looking at her with complex expressions—a mixture of awe, pity, and perhaps a flicker of imperceptible guilt.

Their gazes stirred a storm of emotions within her. Once, they had treated her with sincerity, but caught in the gears of a power struggle, they had been helpless, becoming mere pawns in the hands of others. A complicated sentiment spread through her heart: a mix of disgust for this palace and a weary resignation toward these wretched souls.

She withdrew her gaze, suppressing all these complex emotions deep within. She had not returned to the palace today to reminisce or to wallow in sorrow. She had come for vengeance, for the lost souls, and for the dignity that had been trampled underfoot.

"Eunuch Li, do you have anything else to say?" Feng Ruqing looked at him again, her voice cold and carrying a faint, undeniable pressure.

Eunuch Li’s expression shifted, his malicious eyes scanning her before he finally forced a smile. "You jest, Eldest Miss. How could I have anything to say? I was merely reminding you that this palace is not what it used to be."

"Is that so?" Feng Ruqing let out a soft laugh and gave him a meaningful look, then ignored him entirely and walked straight out of the hall.

She emerged from the side hall and looked up at the heavy night sky. The cool wind brushed against her, bringing a chill that only made her feel more clear-headed. She knew the true contest had only just begun.

She stopped before a moon gate, suddenly halting. She heard a faint sound from ahead, as if something had been shifted. A cold smile appeared on her lips—the hidden arrows of this palace were truly everywhere.

"Heh..." Her low, dangerous laugh vanished into the night wind.

As she stood by the gate, the night breeze carried a faint, imperceptible scent. She frowned slightly. This fragrance... there was something wrong.

She scanned her surroundings coolly, her gaze landing on an old tree beside the moon gate. Its shadows danced, looking eerily distorted under the moonlight. A faint "click" sounded, almost completely masked by the wind.

Feng Ruqing’s eyes narrowed. She clearly saw a flash of cold light on the tree trunk. A trap! A cold smile touched her lips. Lord Zhou, you truly are impatient.

Almost at the same moment, the stone slab beneath her feet sank slightly. Feng Ruqing was quick and sharp; with a light touch of her toes, her figure leaped up like a swallow, landing steadily on a different stone.

"Boom—"

The ground where she had stood collapsed, revealing a dark, yawning pit. Had it been anyone else, they would have fallen in by now, likely dead or severely injured.

Feng Ruqing stood with her hands behind her back, watching the front with icy eyes. Amidst the swaying tree shadows, a figure slowly emerged—it was Lord Zhou. A malicious smile played on his face, as if victory were already in his grasp.

"Eldest Miss Feng, I trust you have been well?" Lord Zhou said, his tone dripping with sarcasm and triumph.

Feng Ruqing gave a light laugh. "Lord Zhou, are you welcoming me?"

"Welcoming you?" Lord Zhou sneered. "You jest, Eldest Miss. I merely wanted to remind you that this palace is not a place for you to run wild."

Feng Ruqing did not commit to an answer, merely sweeping a cool glance over him. "Lord Zhou, your methods are a bit too crude."

Lord Zhou’s expression darkened. The trap he had meticulously set had been dismantled by Feng Ruqing so easily, filling him with a sense of utter defeat. She ignored his rising anger and stepped around the collapsed ground, continuing forward. Every step she took was unhurried, as if everything remained under her control.

Watching her retreating figure, Lord Zhou clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, yet he felt no pain. Feng Ruqing stopped before him, looking at him with a half-smile. "Lord Zhou, do you have any other arrangements?"

Lord Zhou suppressed his rage and forced a smile. "You jest, Eldest Miss. I was only concerned for your safety."

"Is that so?" Feng Ruqing laughed lightly. Ignoring him again, she walked straight ahead. She stopped at the palace gate, turned back to look at him, and gave a meaningful smile.

"Lord Zhou," she said, her voice clear and cold, carrying a sense of unquestionable authority. "Tomorrow at noon, in the Fengluan Palace, I shall await your presence."

After leaving the side hall, Feng Ruqing did not return to her manor immediately, but instead went to the Imperial Garden. She walked slowly along the familiar path, the moonlight filtering through the branches to cast dappled shadows. Once, she and her sister had played here; now, everything had changed. She was alone, bearing the weight of these heavy memories by herself.

She stopped at a pavilion and let her gaze fall upon the stone table inside. Carved into the table were lines she and her sister had left in their youth. She reached out and gently touched the carvings, as if she could still feel her sister’s warmth.

"Ruqing, have you truly returned?" A crisp voice broke the silence.

Feng Ruqing turned to see a woman in palace attire walking toward her. The woman was beautiful, her brow furrowed with worry.

"Rulan," Feng Ruqing said faintly, no emotion detectable in her tone.

Rulan walked to her side, watching her with concern. "Ruqing, do you really intend to fight them to the end?"

Feng Ruqing laughed softly. "I have no other choice."

"But..." Rulan hesitated, stopping herself. She knew Feng Ruqing’s character; once she had made a decision, she would not easily change it.

Feng Ruqing looked at Rulan, her tone softening slightly. "Rulan, do not worry. I will not be as impulsive as I was before."

Rulan nodded.

Feng Ruqing stayed in the Imperial Garden for a while longer before turning to leave. She knew that her every move was being watched. What she needed to do was let those people know that she had returned to seek vengeance, but she would no longer be a puppet to be manipulated as she once was.

Back at her manor, she immediately summoned her trusted aides, informed them of her encounters in the palace, and instructed them to spread the word: she had returned only to settle old scores, with no other intentions.

The news spread rapidly throughout the palace, sparking speculation among various factions. Some believed Feng Ruqing was merely playing a game, while others thought she had truly let go of her hatred. For a time, her image became shrouded in mystery.

Feng Ruqing knew this was merely the calm before the storm. She sat in her study, looking at the intelligence reports in her hand, her brow furrowed. The reports indicated that several old officials were secretly discussing new plans to deal with her.

She set the reports aside and walked to the window, looking out at the night.

"Someone come," she said softly.

A figure in black appeared silently behind her. "My Lady."

"Go and find out exactly what they are plotting."

"Yes." The figure in black acknowledged the order and vanished.

Feng Ruqing stood by the window, watching the figure disappear into the night, a cold smile curling her lips.

"The game," she whispered, "has only just begun."

Suddenly, a frantic knocking echoed at the door. "My Lady, urgent intelligence!"