Because she was a woman, there was no way for her to help Li Qingwu with the poison.

After Qiu Che spoke these words, she had no expectation of receiving a response from Li Qingwu.

She immediately regretted saying it.

Without even looking at the other’s expression, she gently brushed away the other’s hand and turned to leave.

Her back seemed to carry a hint of fleeing in haste.

As expected, Li Qingwu didn’t try to stop her.

She dreamt the same dream again, just like a month ago.

Although she forgot most of the details upon waking, the face of the person in the dream still lingered in Li Qingwu’s mind.

Strangely enough, she suddenly asked the emperor for permission to leave the city for a walk in the spring.

And “by coincidence,” she returned to the capital just in time for Qiu Che’s examination.

But this time, unlike the first dream, the dream was longer.

It was clearer, with more logic.

But still brief and frantic.

In the dream, it was the same scene: at the Empress Dowager’s birthday feast, she had been poisoned.

And she found herself begging Qiu Che to help, completely stripped of dignity.

The only difference was that the scene was set not in a strange courtyard but in the imperial garden.

In the dream, Qiu Che also refused her request.

But strangely, when she looked at her, there was an unnatural flush to her expression.

In the end, they ended up together.

It was an enchanting yet chaotic affair, with Li Qingwu’s thoughts in disarray, unable to see things clearly.

Then, there was the sound of footsteps in the crowd.

The Emperor’s darkened face, and the resentful, disgusted gaze of her biological mother.

The pointed fingers of the people around her.

Those fleeting, dreamlike images flashed through her mind, each one leaving a huge impact.

Then the scene froze on her kneeling in the great hall, bowing to the Emperor.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, surrounded by a heavy atmosphere, his expression one of extreme irritation.

She could tell that the emperor truly harbored murderous intent—being his daughter, raised under his care for over ten years, Li Qingwu could read the signs.

She was like a wandering soul, drifting nearby, watching the version of herself in the dream speak: “I, your daughter, request to marry Qiu Che, to silence the tongues of the people.”

“Only asking my father, the Emperor, to spare Qiu Che’s life.”

The Emperor’s rage was explosive, cursing and sentencing her to two months of confinement.

Two months later, she sat in the bridal sedan, covered by a red veil, on her way to the Qiu family.

In the bridal chamber, Qiu Che, dressed in a groom’s red robe, with a jade crown securing her hair, her lips red and teeth white.

She lifted the veil with a jade ruyi.

And then, the dream abruptly ended the moment their eyes met.

Qiu Che sat in the courtyard for nearly an hour, reading about “overcoming emotional barriers.”

Fu Ling’s expression remained impassive, and she didn’t ask what had happened during the brief time inside.

Instead, she sat by the window ledge, listlessly lost in thought.

Later, Qiu Che arranged for her to return to the palace to report to the emperor, claiming Li Qingwu was unwell and needed to leave early.

The banquet wouldn’t end until later that evening, but since Qiu Che had received special privileges, she could leave early.

Yu Yan followed, passing messages to Qiu Che as needed.

Recently, her martial skills had improved, and since today’s event was in the imperial garden, the palace guards weren’t particularly vigilant. Otherwise, Qiu Che wouldn’t have arranged for her to pick up Li Qingwu. Hence, she wasn’t worried.

Yaotai had already left, and as the head courtesan at Hongxiu, she had to return to oversee things that night.

Yu Ming had returned to Night Bright City to hold down the fort.

A few new maids stayed with her, assisting in organizing the records she had collected from Night Bright City about the strange occurrences involving southern poison.

By dusk, Qiu Che had finished reading the materials.

It wasn’t complicated: thirty years ago, the world was in turmoil with constant wars.

The previous emperor, born of humble origins, had the talent to recognize and use capable people. With the help of Zhao Wang and Wu Xiang, two of his closest aides, he unified four countries, establishing the Great Xia.

Only two nations remained: Southern Yi and Northern Xiong.

After the previous emperor proclaimed himself emperor, he waged wars for years.

However, the Northern Xiong people were fierce warriors, unruly and brutal, while the Southern Yi were known for their poison and cunning, skilled in underhanded tactics.

They were like a stubborn bone in the throat, impossible to swallow.

After several years, not only had the two nations not been conquered, but the treasury was also drained.

So, after the Empress Dowager took charge, she brokered a peace treaty with the two nations, agreeing not to invade each other for fifty years.

The Southern Yi had been allowed to rest and recover, and there had been no major disturbances in the past decade.

A century ago, the Southern Yi had used poison to unify the Central Plains, becoming the dominant force of the time. But they had been struck by a backlash, and their position plummeted—after all, poison could not rule a country.

The news of the “overcoming emotional barriers” only existed in Southern Yi rumors.

Qiu Che spent the afternoon reading, only finding one mention of the phrase.

It was from a Southern Yi historical text, describing how blending the blood of the Southern Yi “Heavenly Saint Maiden” with rosemary could create a potion that caused the drinker to experience excruciating emotional pain.

Qiu Che recalled Li Qingwu casually pulling out a strange drug, “Broken Bone Grass,” earlier.

At the time, she had wondered how Li Qingwu had gotten hold of something from Southern Yi.

Could she really have some hidden connection to Southern Yi?

And what exactly did “Heavenly Saint” mean?

Lost in thought, she heard a light cough from inside.

Being a martial artist, Qiu Che’s hearing was sharp, and she immediately recognized it.

Recalling that it had been quiet shortly after she left, she deduced that Li Qingwu must have fallen asleep and had just woken up.

Qiu Che put down the book and walked to the door. Hesitating for a moment, she curled her fingers and then turned to one of the maids: “Please ask Mr. Chen to come and bring the medicinal soup that’s been brewing.”

“Intimate matters harm the body, especially such potent drugs.”

Qiu Che couldn’t do much to help but had to focus on the aftermath.

—And yes, Mr. Chen Huichun had not yet been sent away.

Naturally, Qiu Che was worried that Li Qingwu might experience further issues. Though Mr. Chen had insisted that if it was indeed the “overcoming emotional barriers” poison, his presence here would be pointless, Qiu Che had insisted on keeping him.

Mr. Chen Huichun at the time: “……”

It seemed they had found the reason for her being “kidnapped.”

These female bandits must have learned from the bandit leader!

The maid curtsied: “Yes.”

Just then, a faint voice came from within: “No need.”

The door in front of Qiu Che opened.

Li Qingwu was draped in a long gown, her lips still pale, her face weary.

But it seemed the poison’s effect had passed.

She glanced at Qiu Che, opened her mouth, and finally said, “Young Master Qiu."

“Let’s talk inside.”

Qiu Che sighed deeply, gesturing for the maids to continue organizing the books, and then hesitantly stepped into the room.

Li Qingwu sat back on the bed, adjusting her gown, as though too weak to keep her eyes open.

The bed behind her had been tidied, showing no sign of the previous chaos.

Qiu Che carefully spoke: “Your Highness, you must have realized that your condition is unusual. This isn’t a normal sleeping potion… there’s an 80% chance it’s Southern Yi’s poison, the ‘overcoming emotional barriers.’”

Considering Li Qingwu’s reputation and to avoid too many people learning of it, Qiu Che hadn’t asked for another doctor’s opinion.

But with Mr. Chen Huichun confirming it, it was almost certain.

Li Qingwu leaned against the headboard, her eyelashes fluttering: “...Overcoming emotional barriers?”

“Yes.”

Qiu Che briefly explained and then lowered her head, saying, “This matter, it’s still my involvement, and it’s complicated. If you wish, I will find a good man for you, one with a clean family background and good character...”

“Qiu Che.”

Li Qingwu suddenly spoke, gently interrupting her.

Qiu Che looked up at the sound.

“Let’s marry.”

Qiu Che almost tore the clasp of the jade pendant at her waist.

She gasped for a moment. "Your Highness... Do you know what you're saying?"

"I do," Li Qingwu replied calmly, in contrast to Qiu Che's reaction. She nodded and said, "I mean that I want to marry you."

Qiu Che struggled to speak, "Did Your Highness forget what we just talked about? I... am a woman."

Li Qingwu didn't respond.

She looked Qiu Che up and down, neither believing nor disbelieving.

Qiu Che stayed silent for a moment, then reached up to wipe away her fake Adam's apple. "This... is fake."

She quickly unbuttoned her clothes, pulling out two wooden pieces from her shoulder pads. "This too... is fake."

As she spoke, Qiu Che suppressed the man's voice and used her long-unused feminine tone.

Clear, bright, and steady.

Just like herself.

But it was undeniably a woman's voice.

"Also fake."

"As for my chest..." Calmly, she placed the wooden pieces back into place, adjusted her throat, and shifted her voice back to that of a man. As she buttoned her clothes, she continued, "You've seen enough, Your Highness. Surely, you don't need to inspect this too?"

Li Qingwu stared blankly for a moment before, inexplicably, her ears turned slightly red. She averted her gaze and muttered, "I never said I didn't believe you. There's no need to prove it."

"In that case, Your Highness should not make light of such an important matter as marriage," Qiu Che lowered her head and said, "I have told you my greatest secret. I ask that you find it in your heart to forgive me."

"No need for forgiveness, and it's not a joke..." Li Qingwu exhaled. Seeing Qiu Che still with her head lowered, she paused.

After a while, she said softly, "Fine, please sit down."

"I have a few questions. I wonder if you're willing to answer?"

"Please, Your Highness."

"This poisoning... is it related to you?"

"... Yes."

"Who wanted to harm me?"

Qiu Che fell silent for a moment before softly answering, "It was my father and brothers. They schemed to make you marry me."

This was something she shouldn't have said.

After all, she owed Li Qingwu now. Revealing this put even more leverage in her hands.

But she was afraid that if she didn't speak up, Li Qingwu would foolishly insist on marrying her.

She revealed the truth, partly because Li Qingwu had the right to know, and partly to make her reconsider.

Li Qingwu furrowed her brow. "Why?"

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"The Princess has been pampered and favored since childhood, made a first-class princess as soon as she came of age... This is well known," Qiu Che said softly. "The Qiu family has long been in decline, and my father wanted to rise quickly. He set his sights on you."

The idea did seem rather sudden.

How could her father be so sure that the princess would marry him under such a scheme?

Wasn't he afraid of the Emperor's wrath?

As Qiu Che pondered this, Li Qingwu remained eerily quiet for a moment, then said casually, "I understand."

"Second question," Li Qingwu hesitated before asking softly, "Why do you dress as a man?"

Qiu Che was momentarily caught off guard, her gaze shifting slightly.

She forced a smile. "It’s just because my father values sons over daughters. To survive, I had no choice but to do this... I never intended for things to go this far."

"But no matter what, even though I was forced to deceive the emperor, I won't betray my country. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Li Qingwu nodded, still confused. "But... you’ve told me all this, aren’t you worried I’ll expose it or use it to blackmail you?"

Dressing as a man and entering the imperial exams was considered treason.

If the Emperor found out, it could lead to the execution of an entire family.

Not to mention her current official position, she might lose her life.

"Will the Princess say anything?" Qiu Che countered.

Li Qingwu blinked slowly. "It's hard to say."

Qiu Che sighed helplessly. "Then it must be my fate."

The two exchanged a glance and suddenly started laughing.

The atmosphere in the room lightened considerably.

Qiu Che thought Li Qingwu understood her point and was about to speak again, but she heard Li Qingwu ask, "So, have you considered my proposal?"

"What?"

Li Qingwu smiled. "Marriage. Us."

Qiu Che fell silent for a moment. "May I ask, Your Highness, why are you so insistent on marrying me?"

Li Qingwu thought for a moment before answering, "Why don’t you want to agree?"

"I’m a woman," Qiu Che smiled bitterly. "If you marry me, and one day the Emperor finds out that I’ve been dressing as a man, yet you, my spouse, didn’t notice... it would be hard to explain."

"If my reputation is ruined, you could very well be dragged down with me, facing scorn from the world."

This reason was partially true, but mostly false.

While she did fear discovery, in her previous life, she had disguised herself for ten years without anyone uncovering the truth, so she wasn’t too worried about that.

Things would work out when the time came.

The bigger reason was that she didn’t want Li Qingwu to follow the same tragic path as in her past life.

But she couldn’t say that out loud.

So, she used her disguise as an excuse, hoping to discourage Li Qingwu.

"I’m no good for you. If you marry me, you’ll gain nothing. If you have feelings for me... now you know I'm a woman, with a complicated family, and a future full of uncertainties. I can't offer you the peace and happiness you deserve."

She was genuinely trying to persuade Li Qingwu to reconsider.

Li Qingwu stared into her eyes for a moment, realizing her intent.

She thought for a moment, then spoke carefully, "I want to marry you, not just for you."

Qiu Che was taken aback.

But it wasn’t the content of Li Qingwu’s words that surprised her, but her sudden frankness.

Without Qiu Che noticing, Li Qingwu tightened her grip on her cloak, then released it.

Then she softly said, "You said you dressed as a man to survive... My situation isn’t much better than yours."

Qiu Che blinked in surprise.

But her surprise wasn’t at the content of Li Qingwu’s words, but at her unexpected candor.

Li Qingwu smiled wryly. "Not to make you laugh, but... I’m not as pampered as people think. My father loves me, but it's more like he loves a delicate, obedient, and docile puppet."

"If I don't follow his will, I face confinement at best, and at worst... punishment, kneeling, or whipping."

As she spoke, Qiu Che furrowed her brow and unconsciously glanced behind her.

Li Qingwu smiled again. "You can't see it... there are so many people in the palace who excel in punishments. There are a thousand ways to whip someone without leaving marks."

"It doesn't hurt, but it’s torturous... tortuous enough to leave a lasting impression."

"He only wants a perfect puppet. And it has to be perfect because he’s all about face, and he needs that perfection and the superficial honor to win the loyalty of the court officials."

"Look, I’m giving you such a pampered daughter, and if you don’t stay loyal to me, isn’t that too much?"

"And I’m just an important piece in his game."

Qiu Che fell silent, exhaling with mixed feelings.

Considering how Li Qingwu was sent to the south for ten years of neglect in her previous life and the Emperor barely questioned her, Qiu Che had suspected that Li Qingwu wasn’t as favored as the rumors suggested.

And in this life, hearing Li Qingwu's words in the imperial garden, she became even more certain of her guess.

But she didn’t expect that the seemingly pampered Princess was, in fact, closely monitored and had no freedom at all.

To put it bluntly, she was no better than an ordinary palace maid.

"So, you want to marry me to escape this control?"

Qiu Che paused for a moment, then gently said, "But the Qiu family... can’t be much better."

"Yes," Li Qingwu nodded decisively, "To be honest, during this imperial banquet, my father invited many noble sons and daughters. Some were for choosing a husband for me, and some were for arranging a marriage for you."

"Me?"

Qiu Che frowned in confusion. "Why... would His Majesty want to arrange a marriage for me?"

That was a close call.

She almost blurted out, “That old Emperor…”

Of course, it was all to urge you to marry quickly, to put an end to my thoughts.

Li Qingwu silently murmured in her heart.

But she didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she calmly shifted the conversation. Then, she said, “I’ve always been in the midst of turmoil. If I don’t marry you, I’ll soon be arranged to marry someone else.”

“Rather than marry those old men in their fifties as pawns, I might as well marry you early… At least you still have the face to make people feel pleased.”

Li Qingwu seemed to recall something, then smiled gently and said slowly, “Moreover, the Qiu family isn’t all that bad. It’s just stepping from one familiar hell into another strange cage…” She paused and joked, “At least it’ll still feel a bit novel, don’t you think?”

Qiu Che helplessly responded, “Your Highness, this joke cannot be made.”

“Qiu Che.”

Li Qingwu looked up at her. Her long hair cascaded down, making her already pale face appear even paler.

Qiu Che returned her gaze.

“Losing one’s senses and becoming numb is a painful thing.”

Li Qingwu spoke slowly, “I just… want to live while still feeling alive.”

Seeing Qiu Che dazed, Li Qingwu lowered her eyes again, speaking softly, “Moreover, since you are disguised as a man and don’t want others to know, it’s impossible for you to marry. But what if my father the Emperor forces a marriage on you?… We already know each other well enough, so marriage wouldn’t hurt either side.”

The two of them fell into a long silence. After a while, Qiu Che’s chest rose and fell slightly, and she whispered, “Alright. You’ve convinced me.”

Li Qingwu also curved her lips. “So, you agree then?”

“… I suppose.”

Qiu Che hesitated, then asked, “But I still have to ask Your Highness, are you marrying me only for cooperation?”

Li Qingwu pressed her lips together, studying her expression. “Don’t you wish it weren’t?”

Qiu Che didn’t speak.

But the answer was clear.

Li Qingwu smiled lightly, replying calmly, “Then that’s it.”

Qiu Che instinctively skipped over the word “then,” and hearing the answer, she sighed with relief in her heart, nodding, “I understand.”

The main thing was, she always felt indebted to Li Qingwu.

If Li Qingwu had already decided that she had no other intentions, and was simply in a hurry to marry someone she found agreeable, then cooperating to help her escape the painful situation was acceptable.

It could be seen as compensating for Qiu Che’s repeated mistakes in judgment earlier.

“Since our goals are aligned, there are still some matters that I must clarify first.”

Li Qingwu slightly paused, signaling for her to continue.

“Let’s make it a five-year term,” Qiu Che calculated, then said, “After five years, if I haven’t reached the rank of Prime Minister, you and I will divorce.”

“I’ll set you free, and I won’t let your father… the Emperor knows your whereabouts. You can leave in peace.”

“During this time, if either of us finds someone we prefer, we can suspend the cooperation and part ways at any moment.”

Qiu Che finished and looked at her, asking, “How does that sound?”

Li Qingwu was surprised. “You… want to be Prime Minister?”

Qiu Che replied, “Is that not allowed?”

Li Qingwu fell silent. “The court is full of complex forces, with Minister Wu controlling everything. And… you’re a woman. Do you really want to wade through this muddy water?”

Qiu Che responded, “What does being a woman have to do with it? My ambitions aren’t limited to the inner chambers.”

But in the grand halls.

“So, I say, Your Highness, you need to think carefully,” Qiu Che said, running her fingers over the edge of a jade pendant, speaking calmly, “Marrying me means having nothing, and always being in danger.”

Li Qingwu was speechless for a long time, then finally turned her gaze, murmuring, “...Alright.”

Qiu Che didn’t hear her clearly. “What?”

Li Qingwu turned to look at her again. Her clear, doe-like eyes gazed calmly at Qiu Che, her tone serious, “I said, alright.”

“I will help you.”

She couldn’t understand the spark in Qiu Che’s eyes.

But this was Qiu Che.

So, the light in her eyes seemed to ignite something in Li Qingwu’s heart that had been dormant for many years.

It started to beat again, slowly at first, then more steadily.

—If this was what Qiu Che wanted, it didn’t seem like such a rebellious goal.

She would help her and let this spark grow into a blazing fire.

Since they had decided to cooperate, they naturally needed to discuss how to face the coming challenges.

And how to make the Emperor agree to the marriage.

The two of them discussed for a while longer, then rose to leave. Before they parted, Qiu Che paused and spoke again, “What about the poison? What does Your Highness plan to do?”

Li Qingwu looked down at her embroidered shoes and sighed softly, “We’ll just take it one step at a time. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it… Anyway, no one will die from it for now.”

And truly, there was no other way.

Qiu Che remained silent.

But in her heart, her guilt grew stronger, and she decided that, no matter what, even if she couldn’t cure the poison, she’d do everything she could to ease the pain when it flared up.

As she turned, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Since she had confessed she was a woman, Li Qingwu seemed to have become more at ease with her?

When she returned to the Qiu residence, night had already fallen.

The Qiu father and son were still locked up in the Court of Judicial Review, but Lady Liu had only received the news that they had been detained for some crime.

When she heard that Qiu Che had returned, she hurried over, flustered. “Where are your father and brother? What happened? Why are they still in the palace?”

Qiu Che sat openly in Qiu Zhe’s courtyard, holding a pen to write a letter. She glanced up at her and answered coldly, “You’ll have to ask Father and Brother that.”

Lady Liu frowned. “You’re lying! You went with them! How could you not know what happened?”

Qiu Che smiled slightly, “Madam, you’re jumping to conclusions. I’ve heard it’s a big case — but I’m just a minor official. How could I possibly know what’s really going on?”

Lady Liu scowled at her, coldly snorted, and then hurried away.

Perhaps to gather money and inquire further.

After she left, Qiu Che calmly finished writing the letter, sent it off with a pigeon, and then rose, leaving the empty courtyard.

She saw servants rushing by, but remained unfazed as she made her way toward Concubine Wang’s quarters.

She recalled that eleven years ago, when the Qiu residence was flooded, everything had been just as chaotic.

That had been the beginning of her nightmare.

Then she saw Qiu Che’s chest band.

At seven years old, a child was not supposed to have developed yet.

But Wang had always been cautious, paying close attention to everything, afraid that Qiu Chudong would notice something strange. So, she had wrapped Qiu Che up early.

Qiu Che remembered her father’s face, first filled with worry, then his expression froze.

He then sent two maids, who, disregarding Wang’s cries, stripped Qiu Che and examined her body.

The result, of course, was not pleasant.

Upon learning that the son she had raised for seven years was a daughter, Qiu Chudong’s face turned completely dark.

Wang pressed Qiu Che’s head onto the ground.

Furious, Qiu Chudong immediately wanted to expel the mother and daughter, and though Qiu Zhe stood by, confused and unaware of what had happened, he clapped his hands in approval.

But in the end, the decision was stopped by the late-arriving Madam Liu.

She did not know what had happened, and Qiu Chudong, embarrassed for having been deceived for so long, refused to tell her.

Madam Liu then ignored the mother and daughter kneeling on the ground and gently advised Qiu Chudong, “Since Qiu Zhe is unwilling to attend school, why not send Qiu Che instead? After all, the two children are not only similar in looks but also close in age.”

This would make everyone happy, wouldn’t it?

Qiu Chudong thought for a long time before nodding.

Thus, Qiu Che, bearing Qiu Zhe’s name, attended the National Academy for eight years.

However, the mother and daughter did not escape punishment during that time.

She knelt on the ground, watching her mother take the punishment for her.

The longboard struck Wang’s back again and again, leaving her skin broken, and the seven-year-old girl’s heart felt a chill.

At that moment, Qiu Che looked at the butterfly-like wounds on her wrist, her mind blank, thinking:

It was clearly my brother who made the mistake, why am I kneeling here?

Why is my mother the one who is being punished?

From that moment on, a sense of resistance began to awaken within her.

Also, from that time on, Qiu Chudong, whenever things didn’t go his way, would beat and scold them.

He beat Wang into a sickly, fragile woman and scolded Qiu Che as a quiet, bookish fool.

During the years at the National Academy, Qiu Che remained unremarkable, not wanting to attract attention under Qiu Zhe’s name.

Privately, however, she devoured books, desperately absorbing all the knowledge she could.

Her body was deteriorating, but her mind was sharp and full.

At that time, Qiu Chudong probably never imagined that the later Qiu Che would become the top scholar in the imperial exams.

So, when Qiu Che asked him for money to participate in the civil exams, he casually thought, “If she can pass, there's a salary to be earned. Her salary will be mine,” and didn’t ask which name she had written on the exam.

Coincidentally, Qiu Che had her own agenda, writing her real name on the exam.

She wanted her father to see who the truly talented person was.

But ultimately, it was just a childish act of defiance.

Thus, the talented “Qiu Che” emerged out of nowhere.

That seemingly accidental decision turned her life around completely.

No longer did she need to go to great lengths to replace her older brother, but now her brother had to work hard to replace her academic achievements.

But to this day, Qiu Che could never figure out whether that moment was a sudden act of kindness from Madam Liu, who was normally harsh, or whether it was just because she spoiled the child and thus pushed Qiu Che forward.

After all, in the following eleven years, Madam Liu’s acid-tongued and sharp remarks toward them weren’t fake.

The human heart is truly unpredictable.

At that moment, Qiu Che stopped in her tracks.

She saw Yu Yan, carrying the bag of peacock-colored fabric, standing in front of Madam Wang’s courtyard, her face serious as she said, “Master, everything’s ready.”

Qiu Che’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted.

She looked up and said, “Why… are you still keeping that bag?”

Yu Yan scratched her head, “It’s quite pretty, isn’t it? And with all the recent kidnappings, I thought it might come in handy, so I didn’t want to waste it.”

Qiu Che glanced at the motionless bag, then at Yu Yan’s face, which was full of pride, as though begging for praise. She said nothing in response.

Forget it, if it makes her happy.

When Madam Wang awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar courtyard. She was scared for quite a while, but when she saw Qiu Che, she finally felt a bit more at ease.

Her tone was filled with reproach as she said, “Child, what are you doing? Your father and brother don’t even know what’s happening, and you’re causing trouble at such a critical time? Go back to the Qiu residence…”

“Mother,” Qiu Che paused, then used a different title, “Mother.”

Wang was confused, noticing something off in her expression, “What’s wrong?”

“If I had to choose between Father and Qiu Chudong, which would you choose?”

Qiu Che swallowed, her tone still calm, “If it were between him and me, between Qiu Zhe and me, would it not end in a fight to the death?”

“Who would you choose?”

Madam Wang stared at her in shock for a long time before grabbing her hand, “Silly child! What are you saying? They are your father and brother. You are a daughter, and your future is for your brother, as it should be…”

Qiu Che interrupted, “You think like that too?”

Madam Wang was stunned, “Otherwise? You can’t stay dressed as a man forever, never marrying or having children. What kind of manners are those?!”

“Exactly because I am a daughter that I’ve struggled so much. That’s why I must enter this game of fame and fortune.”

Qiu Che’s voice was cold, “I want to rise to the top, I want power… And I want them to be destroyed.”

Madam Wang became agitated, “Stop saying such things! Be quiet!”

“Since you know how difficult this path is, why do you choose to walk it? This is treason! This is a crime against the Emperor—”

“I’ve tasted the feeling of being trampled once. I don’t want a second time.”

“Dignity is a privilege of those in power.”

Qiu Che spoke each word lightly but with an unyielding determination, “I’d rather die on the road to the peak than be stepped on by ants.”

“Mother, today, you must choose.”

“If you choose me, then do not go back.”

“That is no longer my home.”

Wang stared at her as if she was seeing her for the first time.

After a long while, she stepped back, collapsing onto the bed.

She muttered, “You… You, let me think.”

“Let me… calm down.”

Qiu Che nodded, “I’ll just remind you, don’t forget that you too were once free, before you became trapped in this cage.”

Once, Madam Wang was the daughter of an honorable family.

She had been forcibly married to Qiu Chudong after he took a fancy to her, becoming his concubine. In her youth, she had her feet bound because of his peculiarities, breaking her bones in the process.

At first, she had wanted to die, unwilling to stay.

But her three-inch golden lotus feet bound her to this life.

And it seemed that this also bound her for life.

After a moment, the door that had just closed suddenly opened again.

Qiu Che appeared behind it, “Oh, by the way, Mother.”

Wang looked at her in confusion.

“I forgot to tell you something.”

Madam Wang asked, “Huh?”

Qiu Che grinned, “You’re going to be a mother-in-law.”

Madam Wang: “Oh.”

The next second, Wang’s heart skipped a beat, “What did you say???”

But after Qiu Che delivered the news, she had already closed the door and floated away.