Author
If you ever skip this chapter... You will never understand the plot and Beiping background, nor did Zhan and Cao origin. So please be patience and read till the end.
After 8 o'clock, with steady determination, Zhan answered Dowager Ruyan's call.
He walked carefully, because even today he still felt the deep pain from being intimate with his husband, and the fever that had been burning through him since earlier refused to break. He didn't know when he would ever grow used to such things, just as King Yibo had tried to tell him earlier.
Zhan winced slightly as he continued walking slowly. He had come alone, with no escort. Even King Yibo had not returned from the temple since he left. Along the way, he occasionally passed attendants. Although the palace hallways were brightly lit, they didn't recognize his face—only the distinguished style of his clothing made them bow respectfully, the way they would to any member of the royal household, young or old.
Zhan only raised his hand in silent acknowledgment; he had no desire to speak until he finally reached Dowager Ruyan's quarters. Even there, no one really noticed who he was, and as he tried to enter her private sitting room, Banou....the attendant....attempted to stop him in haste. But the moment their eyes locked, she froze, collapsing to her knees, trembling violently in shock.
She bit her tongue while trying to greet him, but Zhan only stared sharply at her, as if searching for something hidden. His face tightened, and he threw her a cold glare.
"You. You still haven't stopped digging into people's souls, have you? Don't worry. I'll deal with you soon."
He walked past her without responding to her greeting.
Banou collapsed fully, sitting on the floor as her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. She feared this boy....Zhan....more than anyone else. Only she knew what she sees inside him. She remained frozen for a long while before staggering to her feet and slipping away. She headed into the small garden behind Dowager Ruyan's quarters. From beneath a cluster of thick flowers, she pulled out a small clay pot, tightly wrapped and sealed with cord.
With shaking hands she untied the string, revealing strange objects inside....shrunken pieces of what looked like raw flesh. She spread some onto the ground, selecting four, and then re-tied the rest, returning them to their hiding place. She put two of the pieces into her mouth, chewing hungrily, licking her lips repeatedly and set the other two free. She kept glancing over her shoulder the entire time, only leaving when she finished.
Zhan received a respectful welcome from Dowager Ruyan. Everything had been carefully arranged for his visit, just as they would prepare for King Yibo himself.
Zhan was stunned...he had never imagined he would ever be given such honor, especially considering his young age and the humble family he came from.
Dowager Ruyan observed him closely; with a single look she understood his current state. She lowered her gaze softly, feeling a deep compassion. She knew King Yibo would never endure leaving him alone long enough to heal properly. She had no choice but to support this boy with whatever would strengthen him, without allowing him to suffer further.
Silently, she opened her arms, motioning him closer.
Smiling faintly with his head lowered, Zhan stepped forward and leaned into her embrace. He released a long, trembling breath, and Dowager Ruyan did the same. They remained like that for almost two minutes before she guided him to sit very close beside her; she cared for him deeply, from the bottom of her heart.
Despite Zhan's embarrassment, Dowager Ruyan insisted they eat together, and they shared their meal in warmth and quiet joy. While they were eating, Daneen also entered. Zhan greeted her respectfully, and she responded with gentle affection.
After the meal, the attendants cleared the table. Dowager Ruyan handed Zhan a small cup of creamy milk with a unique taste....he couldn't identify what type it was, clearly crafted from a special recipe. He finished it in one swallow. Then she gave him a small bowl containing a blended mixture of honey, dates, coconut, and other unfamiliar ingredients, along with a tiny spoon.
"Grandson."
Dowager Ruyan called softly.
Zhan answered with his head bowed.
She continued calmly, "Do you know why I asked you to come see me?"
He shook his head. "No, Grandma."
Dowager Ruyan glanced briefly at Daneen, sharing a small knowing smile, before returning her attention to Zhan.
"There is something important we need to discuss, and I know you will not lie to me."
Zhan nodded silently.
"At the court trial earlier, you mentioned something about seeing the body of the royal consort. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Did you notice anything unusual? Any signs that point to something more than a straightforward murder and injuries?"
Silence fell as Zhan hesitated, confused by the question. He struggled to understand any of this. Yibo had told that he never seen his wives....not alive, not dead. Their bodies were never shown. Did that mean even the Dowager Ruyan, with all her authority in the palace, had never seen their corpses, while those rotting cowards like Deng somehow could? What exactly was going on here?
"Son…"
Daneen's voice pulled him abruptly from his thoughts. Zhan exhaled sharply, startled, and looked up at them, before lowering his head again and releasing another long, steady breath.
"Grandma, I'll tell you everything you need to know," he said quietly. "But please… forgive me, I also want to ask something."
"Go ahead," Dowager Ruyan replied immediately, granting permission.
Zhan inhaled deeply before speaking.
"Grandma, I can't understand… All of his wives who died—none of you ever saw their bodies? Just like King Yibo said he has never seen them either?"
Both Dowager Ruyan and Daneen stared at Zhan in shock, disbelief written clearly on their faces.
Daneen asked, "Yibo told you he has never even seen their bodies?"
"He said he never saw them alive either," Zhan answered softly.
Daneen and Dowager Ruyan exchanged a long look, then both turned back to Zhan, who watched them from the corner of his eye.
"This is serious…" Dowager Ruyan murmured.
"Very serious, truly," Daneen agreed. "Even I can't grasp the depth of it."
Dowager Ruyan exhaled.
"Grandson, let me answer your question. This palace runs on strict systems and boundaries. Each role has limits. I am not permitted authority over anything concerning the king's royal consorts. That privilege belonged to his mother. My authority concerns those who married my sons, not my grandson wives. That is why I have never seen them."
She looked into his eyes gently.
"And you, standing with you all this time, is because of complications that forced the Empress Dowager to withdraw from your affairs. I refused to abandon you. So I kept you with me."
Zhan nodded slowly, satisfied with the explanation, and continued describing what he had seen.
Daneen suddenly clutched his hand tightly as if struck by lightning.
"Snake bite?" she gasped.
Zhan nodded. "Yes, Mamy… a snake bite. But from what I saw, she tried to defend herself. The entire room looked violently torn apart."
"Oh no… Cao." Daneen whispered. "Momma, this is the mark of Cao. It's....her… she never left us. She's alive...she's alive, I know she is...."
Her voice trembled wildly, and she gripped her head as though splitting pain was tearing through her skull. She staggered, nearly collapsing. Zhan leapt up, catching her in alarm. Dowager Ruyan was equally shaken; she understood immediately that the buried trauma of many years was crashing back into Daneen's mind with full force.
Together they comforted her until she finally calmed, slowly fell into deep, heavy sleep, and lay breathing with difficulty.
Dowager Ruyan gasped repeatedly, anxiety etched into every breath.
The name Cao, echoing in Zhan's memory, made his chest pound violently.
"Grandma… who is this Cao?"
The question escaped his mouth before he even realized he was saying it.
Dowager Ruyan stared at him without speaking. So long passed that Zhan nearly gave up hope of a reply. Almost five silent minutes later, she finally sighed.
"Cao… Cao…" she whispered. "Knowing who Cao is belongs to the deepest history of this palace, Grandson. A long story...one of the greatest tragedies held in the heart of the Wang Mo Tao lineage. Even though centuries have passed, and we believed time had finally washed it away, it seems forgetting is impossible."
Zhan lifted his eyes steadily.
"Grandma, if I insist on knowing, would I be crossing a boundary that does not belong to me? Because I truly want to understand…"
Dowager Ruyan let out a painful smile, her gaze settling gently on Zhan as she nodded slowly.
"You have not crossed any boundaries, Grandson. You are already one of us...and we are now a part of you. But the laws of this bloodline demanded that this history be erased, forgotten forever, never spoken of again."
She inhaled deeply, the breath heavy and trembling.
"If I could turn you away for your own sake, I would tell you not to ask again. But I feel deep in my heart that I cannot. If the past truly intends to return and repeat itself...as I fear it may...then two stories must resurface together. Because they are bound to each other, even if I cannot yet understand how, after so long buried beneath silence and dust."
Zhan stared at her, completely lost in the complexity of her final words. He could not comprehend what she meant. He simply watched her, eyes unblinking.
Dowager Ruyan smiled softly again, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them directly into his.
"If I can untangle these pieces and confirm my suspicions, I will tell you everything you want to know, Grandson. I will tell you the history....and the origin of Cao in this empire, just as you ask."
Slowly, Zhan released a warm smile, bowing his head with sincere respect.
"Thank you, Grandma. I truly appreciate it."
"You're welcome," she replied gently, adjusting her position in her wheelchair and turning fully to face him.
FLASH BACK...
"The story began long ago, in the era of our parents and grandparents, when Beiping called YANJING AND THEN Ji, a time when knowledge and civilization were extremely limited. Not only within the Beiping Kingdom, but throughout many neighboring kingdoms and even among the common people of Beiping, there was a deep and widespread belief in mystical rituals and supernatural practices during those ancient centuries.
Regardless of whether someone was rich or poor, everyone relied on a sorcerer who could predict their movements, warn them of dangers, or guarantee success in whatever they planned to do. When more modern ideologies first entered our land, anyone who accepted them risked execution. And if the person was a leader, they would be dethroned and exiled together with their entire family. Those who tried to introduce new thinking suffered greatly in that era.
Everything changed after a disaster struck...an overwhelming flood that surrounded the entire kingdom of Beiping, swallowing houses, wealth, and even countless lives. It was not only Beiping that trembled; the whole region of Asia, and even parts of the world beyond, were shaken. Aid came from every direction. This became the beginning of transformation.
During this period, many travelers and scholars from different nations and different schools of thought arrived, determined to influence the people. They offered knowledge, material support, and even opportunities to travel with them to other lands.
But no one wanted to abandon their homeland. The people believed their land was their freedom, their protection, and their pride. Then, a wise elder stepped forward and spoke to them in a powerful voice...urging them to rise with courage and rebuild their nation. He promised to support them with strength and loyalty, along with his companions who stood by his side.
His words inspired everyone and ignited hope, especially in the crown prince, Wang Mo Tao. Because Prince Wang Tao stood behind the message, he gained countless followers. The most remarkable thing about this elder was that he came from China but belonged to a foreign belief. Yet he never forced anyone to follow him, nor did he tempt them with wealth. He focused only on helping the people and remained steadfast in his personal practices. His character impressed many, and gradually, people began to adopt his teachings.
Soon after, more foreign nations arrived, forming an alliance to help rebuild Beiping. In just a few short years, everything changed...the economy strengthened across multiple fields.
A major step was taken to control the water that had destroyed the land, and the kingdom expanded. Belief in ritual sorcery began to fade. Many practitioners abandoned their tools and turned to modern understanding, while the stubborn ones resisted and retreated into forests or continued secretly."
She paused, taking a long breath and sipping the water beside her before continuing:
"Cao was the daughter of the greatest sorceress in this kingdom, known as Tai-Bunu. After her mother died, Cao inherited her power. It happened just before the great flood. At that time Cao was only beginning to enjoy her authority, but she was far more ruthless than her mother. Nothing could be done without her approval....if she opposed something, it was immediately stopped.
She was extremely powerful. Even though the king before King Wang Mo Du ze allowed the people to choose their beliefs freely, he himself could not break free from Cao's influence. After his death, Prince Wang Tao became king. He tried to resist her at the beginning, but no one knew what happened...he failed, and he continued obeying every command she gave. Truthfully, Cao held more power than the throne, and even the king needed her permission before addressing his people.
King Wang Tao completed his reign and his son, Prince Wang Li, succeeded him. When his rule ended, my husband, Prince Tengshan, took control of the Kingdom of Beiping."
"We continued to live under Cao's authority, but it troubled me deeply because I was highly educated and understood the dangers behind her actions. Many times when she issued commands, I challenged her decisions and tried to make King Tengshan see the consequences. Every three months, she ordered the slaughter of black cattle, dogs, and camels as part of her so-called empire rituals. She forced one of the King's daughters to marry a commoner or a servant, only to conceive a child. Once the woman became pregnant, she was forced to divorce him. The child born from the union would remain in the palace but was denied any rights or power.
But something strange happened that changed my view completely and made me rebel against her practices."
Zhan slowly shook his head.
Dowager Ruyan took a deep breath and continued:
"All those children born through this ritual never lived past the age of seven. They died mysteriously. I discovered this after studying the recorded history of the empire, since I have always been a person who loved historical research.
When I first challenged the ritual slaughter of animals every three months, Cao retaliated by forcing King Tengshan to marry Deng's mother. I ignored her attempt to intimidate me and continued to oppose the practice and warn others about the consequences of these killings. Eventually, I succeeded. Many people began to recognize the harm being done, and the tradition was changed publicly to a harmless offering of symbolic gifts instead of animal sacrifice. Some even claimed the animals were used as charity since their meat was distributed to servants and the poor."
"During that chaotic time, I gave birth to Murong....your husband's father. Murong suffered terribly from unexplained diseases throughout his childhood. And his days were not numbered, fate allowed him to live beyond those cursed seven years. After him, Daneen was brought to me just an hour after her birth. Her father was royal by blood, but he had died months before she was born. Her mother, one of the palace consorts, died during Dannen childbirth. Children of royal lineage who lost both parents were always entrusted to the queen to raise.
I still remember seeing Daneen wrapped in her tiny shawl, sucking her thumb, with that large birthmark on her upper back. Something in me instantly loved her... a love between a mother and daughter. I took her into my arms wholeheartedly. I could not nurse her, because I had already weaned Murong and my milk was gone. But Daneen came into this world with something extraordinary....she was no ordinary child."
"Later, I gave birth to Chuchu, and then the youngest, Nayyar. By that time, there were four wives of King Tengshan, and each had children....boys and girls."
"Now, let me return to the subject of the animal rituals. Even though my resistance had ended the practice publicly, Cao and her followers continued it secretly without the knowledge of King Tengshan or myself. One Friday evening, an argument broke out among the children. Deng and his siblings attacked Murong. Daneen intervened to defend him, and during the fight she was struck in the head and collapsed. The moment the children saw blood flowing from her nose, they all screamed for help. She was rushed to me, bleeding heavily. Fortunately, I remained calm. It was only a severe nosebleed, and after urgent care, the blood stopped and she fell asleep.
But when she woke up, she jumped up in terror. When I asked her what had frightened her, she told me she had seen a vision...cattle, dogs, and camels being slaughtered in great numbers, and their father bound and gagged in rage. At first, I dismissed what she said as nothing more than a frightened dream."
Two days after that incident, she fainted again and experienced another severe nosebleed. Treatment was given and she slept. But when she woke, she sprang up in terror just like before, repeating the exact same vision she previously described. I began to feel uneasy, though I still didn't give it too much weight. After that day, it never happened again...not even once...until she was nearly fifteen years old.
From then on, her days were normal. You would see Daneen wake up frightened, and whenever we asked, she insisted nothing was wrong. I never pressured her, even though it worried me. I simply watched over her quietly, always sending good intentions her way and caring for her and her siblings. Strange events continued happening around her, but we did not become truly alarmed until the day Nayyar's body was found in the water.
What Daneen did that day shook every living soul in the palace. She screamed uncontrollably, vowing she would avenge her sibling's blood. No matter how much we tried to question her about what she meant or what she knew, she refused to say a word. At one point, I became so frustrated that I leave her alone. She then packed her things and left for medical school in America. She returned only occasionally for short visits before going back to her studies.
She dedicated herself completely to her education....she loved it deeply, and she excelled. The school she attended was a prestigious institution. In her final year of study, Murong was married, and so was her younger sister Chuchu. People pushed her to consider marriage too, but she refused and said she was waiting for someone. We never pressured her...she was small and delicate, still very young, and if you didn't know, you would think Chuchu was the older one.
Murong and Chuchu's weddings were celebrated beautifully. Daneen continued working in the royal clinic here in Beiping, and she also served in two different provinces every week through a volunteer medical organization she joined.
Four years passed and still Murong's wife could not conceive. She became pregnant once, but lost the baby before three months. Meanwhile, Chuchu also had no child. That didn't trouble anyone since she and her husband had already adopted Wuxia. But for Murong, whispers began to rise....some insisted he should take another wife because he was the Crown Prince and future heir to the throne. He refused at first, but his father pressured him. Murong requested time to choose someone on his own, and the King agreed.
Within three months, Murong presented the name Taihou. She was the younger sister of his school friend, from a respected family in Beiping...her father a distinguished scholar. Because of her fine background, there was no need for excessive investigation, and the wedding proceeded. But she too remained without a child. Cixi conceived once but also lost the pregnancy.
After two years in the palace, Taihou was still barren. Cixi also suffered another loss. So Murong was advised again to take another wife, and he married Danish-Ara. As if by destiny, within a month Taihou became pregnant. Joy filled the Palace.... especially Murong and the wives, and us as well. Daneen was the happiest of all; she moved to her brother's quarters and took full responsibility for Taihou's care.
We did not stop her, although her unmarried state troubled us. We understood she was carrying some deep struggle within herself, and we could only hope that time would soften whatever burden she bore."
"The pregnancy was delivered safely, and it was a boy, healthy and beautiful. He was named Yibo. Yibo was an adorable child, charming and full of life, the kind who captured everyone's heart instantly.
Taihou loved him deeply...so intensely that even I sometimes felt overwhelmed just watching her. Her attachment became so consuming that Chuchu eventually intervened, asking her to step back a little, and they began bringing the child to me instead.
He grew up clever and quiet, difficult to read, and you could never easily tell what he liked or disliked. Yibo never cared for the usual playful friendships of childhood. He preferred solitude, buried in books....especially historical records of past emperors. Yet he loved riding horses, playing basketball, and practicing sword fighting. And when he was with his grandfather or father, he spoke more...though always sparingly.
It is tradition in this empire that once the Crowned Prince turns seven to ten years old, he is sent away to a hidden estate, where he must remain until maturity. The King may also choose to abdicate early and pass the throne to him. But if he does not abdicate, the prince returns only once he is old enough to marry...never before twenty. That is why princes often grow up with fathers who still appear young.
At first, Taihou adamantly refused to let them take her son away...and I supported her because I remembered how painful it was when they separated me from Murong. But then rumors began to spread, and strange charms and dark practices from Cao started appearing around him. I insisted he needed to be taken away for safety. Cao became furious with me, openly warning me to stay out of her path, accusing me and my family of meddling. Her threats never frightened me. I pressed forward until King Tengshan finally agreed, and Yibo was taken to the estate in Cuba.
Cao and Taihou nearly lost their minds in rage, but for whatever reason, fear kept them from acting further. No matter how chaotic Cao became, her hatred toward me always stopped at empty threats behind my back. She swore I would regret it, but I refused to be intimidated.
Life returned to normal for a while, and everyone resumed their affairs. It was then that King Tengshan asked me to travel with him to visit Yibo, to take him around the world and spend time with him, and then return him safely to Cuba afterward. I agreed. Murong came with us. We persuaded Dannen repeatedly to join the trip, but she insisted on staying behind. Later we discovered she had met a young man who had promised to visit her in the Palace.
At first, I was upset and assumed she simply wanted to avoid meeting her sister, Chuchu. But after she explained her reason, I was moved. She told me she wanted time to study the young man's character, and that upon our return, she wished to marry him. We were happy for her and wished her the best."
Dowager Ruyan fell silent and took a deep breath.
Zhan listened intensely, impatient to hear what happened next, but he said nothing until she continued after drinking from the glass before her.
"That journey marked the beginning of Dannen's fate. It became the beginning of Cao's downfall, the beginning of endless tears for us and the people of Beiping, and the beginning of Murong ascending the throne as Regent in his father's place.
After our departure, and under Murong's brother Deng's agreement, Cao forced the family to conduct a secret marriage between Dannen and a servants son from the imperial stables. The young man had only come to deliver ceremonial horse accessories for the upcoming festivities in his father's place. With no way to contact us, and with no witnesses, they coerced him into the marriage and forced him to sleep with her under threat that if he refused, they would kill him and every member of his family. Terrified, he obeyed...crying...and Dannen cried too.
When we returned, we found Dannen in a terrible state....completely broken. Everyone finally admitted something was deeply wrong. Murong and I cried for her, and her father was furious. He imprisoned Deng along with all who supported the scheme. He summoned Cao, but she refused to come. They even brought shamans to summoned her, but she rejected them all.
Months passed, and the pregnancy became visible. Dannen health collapsed... she barely spoke, only cried, and had to be forced to eat. She lost her mind entirely. But somehow, the child survived until the day he was born."
King Tengshan sent people to search for the husband to whom Dannen had been secretly married, but they were never found. It was said that they fled their village overnight. After extensive searching produced nothing, the matter was eventually abandoned.
One night, Dannen gave birth safely after great suffering. She delivered a beautiful baby boy. Yet he bore no resemblance to her at all, except for the birthmark carried by the bloodline of this family. We did not know who his father truly was, nor who he resembled.
We received the child with open arms, though we kept him surrounded closely for protection against Cao's malice. On the day he was born, an elderly healer around his Fifties arrived at the palace.
Dowager Ruyan gave a painful smile.
"Do you know something?" she asked.
Zhan, wiping tears from his face, shook his head silently.
Dowager Ruyan exhaled and continued:
"That healer was extraordinary. With a single summon, he demanded Cao be brought before him once the child reached his third day in the palace. She appeared instantly, panicked and disheveled. He warned her that if he were a cruel man, he would end her life that very moment, and she would never draw another breath. But instead, he said he would destroy the life she knew so she would never again think of harming anyone.
He forced her to undo all the dark spells and curses she had cast around us. He exposed every hidden secret of hers before us all, humiliating her, and delivered a harsh warning.
She cried and begged for forgiveness, promising to abandon her malicious deeds if allowed to continue living among us, but he refused to listen.
Guards carried her away and threw her deep inside the Forbidden Forest, a place of storms and deadly creatures. That was the night Cao disappeared from our lives forever."
But that same night, Dannen's newborn son died. And the following morning, King Tengshan also passed away, after suffering both a sudden heart failure and the bite of a serpent whose origin no one could trace....on top of the turmoil caused by the accusations of sorcery spreading through the palace, including against his own son, Deng.
King Tengshan was gone. Cao vanished. Dannen's baby was dead. Murong became King.
After the storm settled, peace slowly returned. The young man Dannen once intended to marry came back, still hoping to wed her, even after learning of everything she had endured. He explained that previously he had withdrawn because Deng had warned him never to return, saying she was already married. Later, when he heard she had been released from that forced marriage, he returned....but was not allowed to see her.
Dannen tried to resist the marriage, as she had not fully recovered mentally. But her sister and I comforted her until she agreed. The marriage was completed...only for another misfortune to arise.
Whenever her husband attempted to be intimate with her, her body would transform, and her private parts would turn male. There was nothing the man could do. He separated from her and she returned home. She never married again.
From that time on, we never heard of Cao again, nor of the mysterious elderly healer. Deng repented and swore loyalty to protect the throne. Under King Murong's rule, strict laws were set against allowing any shamanic practices within the palace."
Zhan wept heavily....grieving for Dannen, for Dowager Ruyan, and the unbearable tragedy that felt like a tale from a dark play. Such was the world they lived in....filled with ambition, cruelty, and the desire to rise above others at any cost. Life in the royal family was like no other; power could destroy bloodlines.
Seeing Zhan crying, Dowager Ruyan pulled him close and comforted him. Only when he calmed down did she gently help him stand up.
"Grandson, it's late. You should go....your spouse is probably waiting for you."
While wiping his tears, Zhan murmured,
"He does not even know I came here."
Dowager Ruyan's eyes widened in shock.
"You reckless child! Hurry....wash your face. I'll walk you out."
Zhan obeyed and washed his face. Dowager Ruyan handed him a small elegant bag, smiling softly.
"Take this. Use everything inside exactly as I wrote. Spend time soaking in hot water until you grow used to being intimate."
Zhan lowered his head in embarrassment. He had not imagined that Dowager Ruyan knew his condition, especially considering how he had struggled to walk evenly through the pain…
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛