Most of the Qu family’s old servants had long been dismissed; of those who remained, none aside from Qu Fu had served for more than twenty years. Second Young Master Qu had searched until he was on the verge of despair when the situation suddenly took a turn. He managed to track down an old servant who had been sent back to his ancestral home to retire.
The man was very old, but he still remembered some fragments of the past. "The Second Young Master is asking about the Head of the Yin family..." He racked his brain, finally recalling some scattered pieces. "Back then, the Founding Emperor actually lacked the funds and provisions to raise an army. However, Emperor Shengwu of Northern Zhao had confiscated the assets of the Yin family in Fugui City. To save the lives of her clansmen, the Yin Matriarch surrendered to the Founding Emperor, assisting him in raising an army to overthrow Northern Zhao and establish the Great Xing Dynasty."
Qu Huaishang showed a hint of impatience. "Everyone knows that. Get to the point."
The servant’s face was a map of wrinkles, but his memory was decent. "I remember it was shortly after you were born, Second Young Master. The Master married another wife in Fu City. He never spoke of that lady’s identity, but a few people with some worldly knowledge recognized her. They said she was none other than Yin Biwu, the Head of the Yin family from Fugui City."
He thought harder, straining. "At the time, the Master and his new wife were very much in love. Not long after the wedding, the new lady gave the Master two treasure maps. The Master presented them to the Founding Emperor, who led his troops to unearth the riches. Only then did they raise enough funds for provisions, fighting all the way to the capital of Chang'an, finally changing the mandate of heaven and becoming the founding monarch of the Great Xing Dynasty."
Qu Huaishang was stunned. The *Historical Records of Great Xing* contained no such mention. "The Yin Matriarch was married to my father?"
The old servant was certain. "It is absolutely true. Everyone in the manor received a reward from the new lady—silver ingots weighing ten taels each." He gestured with his hands, his expression firm. "Later, when the new lady became pregnant, the Master stopped going out as often, spending every day by her side. Most of the servants in the manor at that time were temporary hires, and no one mentioned the Master’s original wife. A few months later, when the new lady’s pregnancy began to show, the Master suddenly killed all of her attendants. That day, the blood in the manor stained the floors a deep, terrifying crimson."
Fear still lingered in his eyes. "No one knew what had happened. The Master took his blade and stormed into the new lady’s courtyard. Everyone said the Master had gone mad, and many fled for their lives. But later, the Founding Emperor suddenly sent men with an order for the Master to spare the new lady’s life."
Qu Huaishang was utterly confused. "What exactly happened?"
The old servant allowed himself a touch of pride. "If you asked anyone else this, Second Young Master, you would never get an answer. Because most of the servants had fled, I was the one who led the Emperor’s messenger into the courtyard. That soldier told the Master that the second treasure map the lady had provided was a fake. There was no treasure at that location at all. The Master was livid, but the lady just kept laughing."
The servant mimicked Yin Biwu’s voice: "'General Qu, I placed both maps into your hands personally. If I die a violent death today, do you think Shen Wanyan won't use his head and wonder where the real treasure map went? Furthermore, I, Yin Biwu, have always been one to settle every grievance. If you hand me over to Shen Wanyan, do you think I won't tell him that you forged a fake map with the intent to keep the treasure for yourself?'"
Recalling the past, the old servant captured about sixty percent of Qu Tianji’s original demeanor. "The Master was furious. He said... 'There was never a second treasure map at all. You’ve been lying to me the whole time!' Even though the lady was gravely injured, she continued to laugh. 'I lied to you? General Qu, then who was it that lied to me? If you want to bind me and take me to Shen Wanyan, then be quick about it. I shall wait for you, General, on the road to the Yellow Springs. Ha! But since the General will be bringing his wife, children, and elders along, I imagine you won't be traveling very fast. I'm afraid I'll be waiting a long time.'"
At this point, Qu Huaishang began to understand. "The official history only records that the Yin clan assisted the Shen family in raising an army; it never mentions this kind of mutual suspicion and calculation. Yin Biwu kept a tight grip on the finances, ensuring the Founding Emperor had enough to start a war but not enough to govern the country. Coupled with internal strife, external threats, and years of constant warfare, the court was stretched thin and restricted at every turn, forced to allow the Yin family to maintain their glory to this day. Wait, that’s not right... Yin Zhuli..." He suddenly realized the truth, his face paling. "Yin Zhuli is the child Yin Biwu was carrying back then? Then—then doesn't that mean she is—"
The old servant didn't quite follow. "The Master killed the soldier sent by the Founding Emperor and let the new lady go. Once she left, she was never heard from again. The Yin family only claimed their Head was missing—no body was found, and no news ever came."
Qu Huaishang knew the truth in his heart. If she had fled back to the Yin family, would they have dared to make it public? They must have suppressed all news of her. But calculating the timeline, Yin Zhuli was actually his younger half-sister... He recalled that day, and the words Yin Zhuli had said that seemed to carry a double meaning—*We are family, after all...*
Was that why his father, who usually disdained socializing with court officials, had personally gone to offer his congratulations when she married the Ninth Prince?
The more he thought, the more alarmed he became. Why had his father kept this so hidden? Over the years, she seemed to harbor no resentment toward him. Then again, a child does not speak of a father’s faults; no matter what, she still carried the blood of the Qu clan. Perhaps his father had simply been too cautious. The Qu family was currently at the height of its power; if they acknowledged this sister, what more could the Qu family possibly want?
***
Half a month later, the wheat harvest was plentiful. To satisfy the will of the people, King Shen Tingyao prepared to travel to the Imperial Tombs to worship his ancestors. He specifically ordered General Qu and his two sons to escort him. Shen Tingjiao was an idle prince with no official duties, so naturally, he was to go as well. Though Yin Zhuli was busy, this was her first ancestral rite since marrying into the royal family, and she could not decline.
As the group prepared for the journey, Yin Zhuli returned to the Yin manor to ask Ke Tingfeng for some medicinal ingredients. Since the young Prince was in poor health, she figured it was best to be well-prepared.
Ke Tingfeng looked her in the eye, his expression cold. "Yin Zhuli, though you are of Qu Tianji’s blood, you were carried for ten months by Biwu. When she fled back here gravely injured, she knew her time was up. She lived a life worse than death, counting the days, only so she could give birth to you."
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered that woman from years ago, saying calmly: *"I won't survive, so you must save the one in my belly. At least one of us should live, so my arduous escape wasn't in vain."*
Though much time had passed, a sudden pang of grief struck his heart. Yet his expression remained as icy as ever. "As her daughter, it is bad enough that you cannot seek vengeance, but now you are actually going to worship the ancestors of the Shen family? Chief Yin, when you stand in the Shen family cemetery, you might want to think of Yin Biwu, who traded her life for yours. If you can truly bring yourself to bow, I fear the world will look upon you with cold contempt."
Yin Zhuli looked up at him, her gaze so playful and knowing that he turned his face away to avoid her eyes.
"You loved my mother too, didn't you?" Her tone was certain.
Ke Tingfeng gave a cold snort, but for once, he did not deny it. Yin Zhuli placed both hands on his shoulders, her smile deepening. "I was wondering why you stayed with the Yin family for so many years. My goodness, my mother certainly left a lot of romantic debts behind."
Her face was too similar to her mother's. Ke Tingfeng grew tense and tried to break free from her hold, but she hooked a hand under his chin, her smile wicked and glamorous. "Ke Tingfeng, don't say I don't have the power to kill him now. Even if I did, I wouldn't. Do you know why?"
Ke Tingfeng still refused to look at her. She gave a low laugh, her slender hand sliding across his cheek. "To kill the person is easy, but to strike at the heart—that is the goal, my dear Physician Ke. Alright, prepare the medicine. You needn't worry. Once we reach the Imperial Tombs, Yin Zhuli will most certainly be able to bow. Hahahaha!"
Amidst her long laughter, she sauntered away. Only then did Ke Tingfeng watch her retreating figure. So many years had passed—so many that he had begun to confuse the image of Yin Biwu with the person standing before him.
***
**Glossary**
