Back in Riluo Residence in Swift Breeze Sect, Tang Daiyu discussed what she had learned with Liang Yingzhou.

"When Prince Yelang had come to Chang as an ambassador from Heping, that was just a ruse."

"What do you mean?"

"He was never supposed to be there. He and my father were having a meal together, and I overheard him saying how he was actually there on account of helping Sixth Concubine Luli with something. My father was shocked. He tried asking Prince Yelang to leave with Feng Rong, but Prince Yelang threatened my father with evidence of treason if he said anything to Emperor Jianyuan. My father knew the consequences of that." Her eyes flicked down to her lap. "We'd all die."

"So what happened?"

"He forced my father into promising that he'd never tell anyone about the correspondences between Prince Yelang and Sixth Concubine Luli. That's how my father got involved into all of this. It wasn't because he was doing it willingly. He was doing it to keep his family alive."

"Was there anything else, Ah Daiyu?"

She looked back up at him and swallowed.

"Yes."

"What?"

“Prince Yelang showed up to Tang Residence a few days before my family was arrested.”

"What was he doing in Chang'an then?"

"I don't know. That was the first I had seen him in years. He held my father at sword-point. I remember him saying something about how he'd bring about the destruction of our family if my father did anything. But I don't know anything more than that."

"Is there anything else? Anything that seemed major?"

Tang Daiyu closed her eyes, trying to remember. Her fists clenched as she struggled. Liang Yingzhou reached out and held her hands.

"Don't... Ah Daiyu. If it's too much, don't strain yourself. It's okay. These memories have been locked for a long time. They might need some more to fully return."

She sighed and nodded before relaxing. Her eyelids slowly opened. "I need to do something, Zhou-ge. I can't let myself be bullied by them anymore. And I want to bring honour back to my family name. We've been wrongly disgraced."

"I know, we'll come up with something. We just need to plan strategically."

Tang Daiyu agreed. "But what though?"

"Let me think about it. You stay here and rest; I'll be back later, okay?"

She pouted but acquiesced. Her eyes never left Liang Yingzhou as he exited her residence. Once he was gone, she sighed sadly.

Mother, Father, Baobao, I'm sorry. I'm not a filial daughter. But I promise that I'm working on it. I'll revive our family name. We'll be respected once again. Then, I can finally give you proper headstones and honour you all.

Tang Daiyu laid down on her bed and closed her eyes.

~~~

That evening, Liang Yingzhou returned to Riluo Residence. He brought with him a tray of food and wine. The delicious smells woke Tang Daiyu up. She turned her head and watched as he set the tray down on the table.

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"Is that for me?"

"Yes. I already ate with the elders. I just figured that you might be hungry so I brought some dishes with me."

She sat up and stood. Walking over to the table, Tang Daiyu inspected the food. She clapped happily.

"It looks delicious, Zhou-ge."

He smiled and said, "Sit and eat. Once you're finished, I'll tell you what I came up with."

"Okay."

She sat down and picked up the chopsticks. He poured her some Tiger Bone wine and set it down next to her plate.

"Ah Daiyu?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you want this war?"

Her chopsticks froze halfway to her mouth. She set them down and looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you instigated both Emperors towards war. But why? What use is it to you? It won't avenge your family's deaths."

"No," she agreed. "But both sides will suffer losses. Maybe not familial losses, but losses all the same."

"You want them to feel the same way."

Tang Daiyu nodded and resumed eating.

"And you really think it'll work? Emperor Rong is a sociopath. He doesn't feel compassion or empathy. The war might work on Emperor Jianyuan, but he's also power-crazy. Ah Daiyu, why did you really do this?"

Her head tilted, and she gave him a 'really?' look. She sighed exaggeratedly.

"It's just a cover."

Liang Yingzhou's eyes nearly bugged. "Just a cover? You're toying with peoples' lives!"

"They toyed with mine! So what?"

"I thought you were better than this, Empress Tang," he shook his head sadly and stood up. "Are you planning on dragging the martial arts world into your revenge too? Will you not be happy until everything is a disaster? How far will go you? Until everyone from Swift Breeze Sect is dead because they fought for you? Until everyone from Thunder Cloud Sword Sect and Serenity Lake Sect has also been dragged into this because of the Three Ancient Sects Alliance? When, Tang Daiyu? When all of the Chang exiles have died fighting for you? When I can no longer protect or help you? Or when you lose sight of your original goal: to restore honour to your family name?"

Before she could respond, he turned and left.

"He couldn't understand," she muttered to herself. "While the Emperors are busy fighting with each other, I can come from behind and attack them both while their forces are spread out. That way, I will be able to avenge my family."

But a small feeling tugged at her heartstrings: guilt.

I did it again. Stupid, stupid. It’s getting worse.

She suddenly broke out coughing, blood splattered onto the table in front of her, ruining the food and wine. As she coughed, her eyes remained on the door, hoping Liang Yingzhou wouldn’t return. He didn't. Her eyelids fluttered, and pain shot through her body. As her back arched, she couldn’t help but cry out. When the pain subsided, and she managed to stop coughing, Tang Daiyu sighed.

I've caused another rift between us. But maybe that's better anyways. If I don't succeed, then he won't die with me. I wouldn't have dragged him and Swift Breeze Sect down.

Making up her mind, she stood up and looked around Riluo Residence sadly.

"I wish I could just stay here, away from the politics of everything else. But unfortunately, I can't. I have a job to do, and I must complete it. Soon. Otherwise, it’ll be too late."

She headed for the door and pulled it open. Tang Daiyu closed it behind her and walked towards the entrance. At the gate, she turned around and took one last look at Swift Breeze Sect.

I can't let my family's legacy die with me.

Turning back around, she opened the gate slightly, slipped through, and left. She turned northwest and continued up into the tree-capped mountains.

Luoyang, here I come.