After standing quietly in the outer corridor for a moment, the oppressive tightness in my chest finally eased somewhat. Estimating the time, I let Chunyu support me as we quietly returned to the banquet.
As I stepped back into the hall, my gaze swept over the scene unintentionally. I saw that the Eighth Princess, Xiao Linyue, had already returned to her seat and was leaning toward a young lady from a military family seated beside her, speaking in low tones, her expression focused—as if she were completely immersed, as though that heart-stopping exchange beneath the corridor had never occurred. However, as my eyes moved on and passed over several seats below hers, my heart paused slightly—the Third Princess Xiao Yuhuang's seat was empty.
Where had she gone?
I suppressed the unease in my heart and took my seat beside Father. He cast me a concerned glance, and I gave a slight shake of my head to indicate I was fine. The music resumed at the banquet, cups were raised and set down as before, yet that empty seat was like a thin thorn, pricking at the edge of my attention.
About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, there was a soft sound from the side door of the hall, and a dark teal figure slipped quietly inside. It was Xiao Yuhuang. Her steps were as steady as ever, yet under the palace lanterns her complexion seemed even paler than before she had left. A few loose strands of hair, stirred by the night wind, clung to her smooth temple. She did not immediately return to her seat, but stood there for a moment—and her gaze unexpectedly fixed straight in my direction.
On ordinary days, if she noticed my gaze, she would always calmly and swiftly avert her eyes, drawing all emotion back into stillness. But this time, she did not.
Our gazes met and locked in the noisy hall. Through the swaying lights and the moving crowd, I saw a look in her eyes unlike any before—not the placid calm of an ancient well, but clearly surging worry, even a rare hint of anxiety. Deeper still, it was as though something heavy had settled into place—a focused gleam that only appears after making a resolute, all-or-nothing decision.
She looked at me like that for several breaths, long enough that the surrounding clamor seemed to fade. Then she slowly lowered her eyes and walked back to her seat, her straight back seeming even more rigid than usual.
Not long after she sat down, an announcement came from outside the hall. His Majesty had finished attending to affairs and returned to the throne. The entire hall grew solemn once more.
After several rounds of wine, His Majesty suddenly set down his cup. His voice was not loud, yet it instantly silenced all murmured conversations:
"Matters of the northern frontier have been much discussed by my beloved ministers of late. Today is a family banquet, and I would also like to hear what thoughts you young ones have."
The question was thrown out abruptly, striking straight at the heart of the matter. The hall fell into dead silence; a pin drop could be heard.
The Eldest Princess, Xiao Lintian, rose first and bowed. "Mother Emperor, the Eighth Sister is young and impetuous, eager for victory, hence this loss. Yet her loyalty and valor are evident to Heaven and Earth. In my view, the urgent task is to properly settle the wounded, compensate the soldiers, reorganize the northern defenses, and select a steady, battle-hardened general to take over, thereby securing the frontier." Her words both pointed out the Eighth Princess's fault and displayed the crown princess's magnanimity and pragmatism, couching the idea of "replacement" in dignified terms.
His Majesty neither affirmed nor denied this, turning her gaze instead to the Eighth Princess. "Linyue, you experienced it firsthand. What do you have to say?"
Xiao Linyue slowly rose. There was a slight stiffness in her movement, her injuries clearly not yet healed, but once she stood, her figure was still as upright as a pine. She lifted her eyes, meeting the imperial gaze directly, her voice somewhat hoarse from her wounds, yet every word was clear:
"Mother Emperor, this daughter is guilty. I underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly, causing losses among the soldiers. This fault lies with me alone, and I am willing to accept any punishment." She first acknowledged her guilt cleanly, then her tone shifted. "However, the precision of the enemy's actions this time, the ingenuity of their ambushes, were by no means accidental. I suspect that there are already flaws in the border intelligence network, perhaps even… someone within the court leaking information."
The last four words were spoken lightly, yet they were like a block of ice hurled into boiling oil. The hall erupted instantly!
"Eighth Sister, watch your words!" The Eldest Princess's face darkened. "Without evidence, how can you recklessly accuse the court of colluding with the enemy?!"
Xiao Linyue tugged at the corner of her mouth, that smile icy and cutting. "Elder Sister is right. Without evidence, I dare not accuse recklessly. Thus I ask for a command—once my injuries recover somewhat, I am willing to return to the northern frontier, bearing my guilt and making amends, to thoroughly investigate this matter! If no proof is found, I will accept double punishment; if there truly is a traitor…" Her gaze flashed like lightning as it swept across certain directions in the hall. "I will drag them out and console the spirits of our fallen soldiers!"
Her words were less a defense than a counterattack. Advancing by retreating, she shifted "fault" toward "conspiracy," and by volunteering to return to danger, she took a hard, unyielding stance. This was entirely in keeping with her usual style.
His Majesty's gaze was deep. She did not immediately state her position, instead looking toward the other side. "Yuhuang, I have read the memorandum you submitted that day. Aside from pointing out long-standing problems, what concrete ideas do you have for the current predicament? And as for what Linyue has said… what is your view?"
All eyes instantly focused on that dark teal figure, including Xiao Linyue's. The Eighth Princess tilted her head slightly toward Xiao Yuhuang, her gaze carrying scrutiny, and a trace of complexity difficult to discern.
Xiao Yuhuang rose slowly. She stood very straight, her spine like a stalk of green bamboo. Under the lantern light, her face was still pale, but the eyes that were usually lowered were now lifted—clear and calm—as she first addressed the throne, then frankly met Xiao Linyue's gaze.
"In reply to Mother Emperor," her voice was clear and steady, devoid of excess emotion. "In this daughter's shallow view, the loss in the northern frontier was not the fault of a single moment or a single general, nor can it be fully explained by intelligence leakage alone. As stated in my memorandum, it was the combined outbreak of multiple accumulated problems—imprecise intelligence, obstructed supply lines, and poor coordination among various parties."
She first defined the problem objectively, neither wholly denying Xiao Linyue's "traitor theory" nor hastily endorsing it. She continued, "The Eighth Sister's courage in taking responsibility and her willingness to return to the northern frontier to investigate are commendable. However, if the fundamental systems are not addressed, then even without this particular leak, similar losses will be hard to avoid in the future."
She paused, then reiterated her earlier proposal: "Therefore, I still maintain my previous recommendation. We should seize this opportunity to thoroughly reform the military, administrative, and intelligence systems of the northern frontier, and establish the post of 'Northern Frontier Inspector-General,' with authority over border affairs and direct accountability to the court. This person must be well-versed in military matters, familiar with border conditions, and capable of coordinating all sides. At the same time, border trade should be expanded—using incentives alongside deterrence. Only by employing both approaches can lasting stability be achieved."
Her proposal remained concrete and bold, yet presented at this moment, it subtly incorporated Xiao Linyue's call to "investigate traitors" into a broader framework of institutional reform. To some extent, it even provided a more legitimate "pretext" and a grander vision of authority—the Inspector-General—for Xiao Linyue should she return to the northern frontier.
Expressions varied across the hall. Those aligned with the Eldest Princess looked displeased. Some neutral officials appeared thoughtful. Xiao Linyue stared at Xiao Yuhuang, her brows slightly knit, as if weighing the intent behind her words.
Minister of War Li could not restrain himself and stepped forward again. "Your Majesty! The Third Princess's words are misguided! Border defense is a matter of state security—how can a new post be lightly established, adding needless confusion? We should rely on veteran generals to hold the line! Since the Eighth Princess is willing to atone through merit, she should focus on investigating the case. Why create further complications!"
Xiao Yuhuang did not retreat, only responding calmly, "Minister Li, it is precisely adherence to old systems that has allowed multiple entrenched problems to accumulate. The establishment of an Inspector-General is not to seize the authority of frontier generals, but to clarify responsibilities, coordinate all parties, and eliminate buck-passing. As for the Eighth Sister's investigation, with the authority and scope of an Inspector-General, would it not be all the more legitimate and efficient?"
"You—!" Minister Li choked with anger.
"Enough." The female emperor spoke lightly, suppressing the dispute. Her gaze lingered between Xiao Linyue and Xiao Yuhuang for a moment, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the throne. "Linyue is valiant; Yuhuang… has grown deeper in her thinking. This matter will be discussed later. Today is a banquet—everyone, sit."
A heated debate that might have erupted was temporarily pressed down, but the undercurrents beneath the surface grew even more turbulent.
In the latter half of the banquet, hidden currents surged. Those toasting the Eldest Princess were still many, yet some military officers and neutral officials also began to raise their cups to the Eighth Princess, their words filled with admiration and consolation. Xiao Linyue accepted all toasts without refusal, draining each cup, her momentum undiminished.
On Xiao Yuhuang's side, some officials who had never previously interacted with her began to offer tentative toasts. She returned each one, her manner still neither servile nor overbearing.
Seated beside Father, my palms grew slightly damp. Xiao Linyue's forceful counterattack and Xiao Yuhuang's cool, strategic maneuvering both unsettled me. This pool of water was deeper and murkier than I had imagined.
Perhaps the hall was too crowded and stifling, or perhaps the tension in my heart had been drawn too tight. Suddenly, a familiar wave of dizziness washed over me, tightness and pain blooming in my chest. I covered my lips and coughed softly a few times despite myself.
Father immediately looked over in alarm, about to call for warm water, when a palace maid I did not recognize appeared silently beside our table. She gently set a cup of warm ginseng tea on the small stand before me and said softly, "Young Master Su, the Third Highness noticed that you seemed unwell and specially ordered this servant to bring you a cup of ginseng tea, for you to moisten your throat."
Her voice was low, yet in the brief quiet around us, it sounded exceptionally clear.
Father froze for a moment and instinctively looked toward Xiao Yuhuang's direction. She still sat there with lowered eyes, as if she had done nothing at all.
My heart was a tangle of emotions. At a moment when all eyes were upon her and every faction was watching closely, she still dared to show me such overt concern… the weight of that sentiment tightened my throat.
"Please… convey my thanks to the Third Highness," I said softly to the maid, lifting the warm teacup. The rising steam blurred my vision.
However, this scene clearly did not escape certain eyes.
The Fourth Princess, Xiao Linyun, had somehow drawn near again. Seeing this, she laughed in a voice neither loud nor soft, just enough for several nearby tables to hear. "Third Elder Sister is truly attentive to Young Master Su. That old Ice Lake connection is indeed something special. No wonder Eighth Elder Sister was just sighing to Mother Emperor the other day, saying that some people may seem cold on the surface, but in truth hide their thoughts deep—coveting fine things they cannot have, and unwilling to let others so much as touch them."
The words were barbed, twisting Xiao Yuhuang's concern for me into some hidden "coveting" and "possessiveness," and further hinting at the Eighth Princess's feelings for me. At once, several gazes of differing meanings swept over.
Father's face went pale. Across the hall, Mother's brows also knit almost imperceptibly.