Chapter One, Who Will Pick Up the Golden Branch That Has Fallen to the Ground

Shen Jue lowered his head, his demeanor respectful and humble, "I humbly welcome the princess and the noble consort to the residence of Prince Chang to take refuge temporarily, in order to avoid the disturbances of military affairs". In the courtyard, the noble consort had already been seized by the eunuchs, one on each side holding her tightly, and terrified screams echoed one after another.

Yunhuang raised her gaze, her pair of eyes exceptionally clear and bright, as if she intended to see through him completely

This arrow was originally meant for the first rebel who stepped into the Xinyi Palace

This bow was originally prepared to gain the favor of Father Emperor

The head of the Emperor has been hanging at Yong'an Gate for more than half a day

The Consort seized the opportunity to break free and rushed out of the palace.

She tightly grasped Yunhuang's sleeve, her eyes filled with eager anticipation. Yunhuang nodded and smiled, "Mother, I remember." Thus, she truly believed that she remembered, becoming even more delighted, running into the courtyard to gaze at the sky filled with flames, jumping with joy like a child. Yunhuang leaned against the corridor pillar, quietly watching her for a while, before finally directing her gaze towards the distant horizon beneath the firelight

It is said that after the rebels invaded the Duke Rui's residence, they turned all the women in the household into camp prostitutes, and even subjected Princess Anle to humiliation until her death

Yunhuang froze, slowly putting down the wine jug, and mustered the greatest courage to turn around. She saw Ke Fei being knocked to the ground by a eunuch, unharmed, while a white feathered arrow struck the hibiscus tree behind her, the arrow's tail still trembling. Yunhuang took a breath, no longer having the strength to support herself, and softly collapsed in front of the table, gazing blankly at the person behind Ke Fei.

The palace gate was struck with such force that it seemed on the verge of collapse. The Concubine Ke was so frightened by the commotion that she was at a loss, no longer daring to run forward. For a moment, she stood timidly in the courtyard, gazing blankly at her daughter in front of the hall. Yunhuang stood on the steps of the hall, her pale fingertips steadily holding the tail of a white feather arrow, aiming the triangular iron arrowhead at her mother's heart.

The visage of my father has become distant and blurred, and I can no longer recall what he looked like. The only memories I have are from before I turned three, and for the following sixteen years, he never spoke a word to me again. ... I have stood at a distance, having once observed the royal ceremonies, bowing from afar behind my siblings ... . ... Beyond this, there are no further impressions.

The archery skills honed over many years have never been put to use even once

The rebels breached the palace city from the outer city after three full days of assault. It is said that the moat was filled with corpses, and the blood flowed all the way to Yong'an Gate. Although their fate was sealed, the remaining over ten thousand royal troops and three thousand imperial guards still devoted their final loyalty to the late Emperor. After the last loyal army perished, the Emperor personally led the Crown Prince and five princes into battle. It could be said that they went to battle, but rather it was a march to death. They all fell on the battlefield, and even the Emperor's head was severed. Such a brutal death indeed befits the Emperor's notorious reputation for violence. He had a lifelong penchant for bloodshed, ultimately preferring to charge headlong into the slaughter with his sons rather than die a cowardly death in the depths of the palace with his consorts.

Half an hour ago, a flustered eunuch came, conveying the Empress's imperial decree, summoning Consort Ke and Princess Qingping to hasten to the palace for an audience. Given the current situation, it is indeed time; the rebel forces are about to breach the palace. The Empress's summons to the various consorts and princesses must surely be to prepare the poisoned wine for their journey together

Yun Huang suddenly closed her eyes, and the strength in her fingertips relaxed

Yunhuang did not open her eyes, turned around and pounced in front of the qin table, raised the remaining half pot of poison wine and drank it down.

Yunhuang held the jade comb and gently combed through her mother's hair, having styled her mother's hair for seven or eight years, watching as white strands gradually emerged from the black tresses. In the past, she would quietly pluck out the white hairs, fearing that one day she would see her mother with a head full of frost.

The girl in plain clothes raised her head, her features resembling those of the woman in scarlet. However, the woman in scarlet was no longer young, with traces of time evident at the corners of her eyes and lips. The girl reached out her hand to her, her smile warm, "Mother, your hairpin has come undone"

Thinking this way, I do not feel sad, as if I am merely a person unrelated to her

Accompanying this was the choked and terrified cry of the Consort, "Let me go!"

However, this time is different. Yunhuang does not accept the imperial decree and has no intention of going to the Central Palace. The humble and gentle Princess Qingping shows no response to the Empress's imperial edict, leaving the eunuch who delivered the message at a loss as he returns.

"Princess, wait!" A man's voice called out urgently, revealing a sharpness born of anxiety

Protecting the royal carriage, he said he came to protect the royal carriage

With a rustling sound, a large mass of accumulated dust on the old eaves in front of the hall was shaken loose, and a dull, thunderous roar once again emanated from the southern palace gate. Accompanying this was a strange, tide-like sound. The flames, which illuminated half of the sky, rumbled like molten lava, as if they were about to burn a hole in the heavens.

After today, my mother's cherished long hair will no longer turn white

Yunhuang did not pursue, but turned around to pick up a red lacquered carved bow from the qin table, strung the bow and nocked an arrow, aiming at her mother's silhouette.

The mad and disgraced Consort Ke, even the lowly-ranked talents dare to bully her to her face, let alone the noble consorts. Yun Huang looked at her mother, who was still joyfully running about, and smiled faintly. After enduring for more than a decade, she finally no longer had to conceal the hatred in her heart at this moment. Even if it meant death, she could not be bothered to die alongside them.

We can no longer wait; once the rebels break in, it will be impossible to seek death even if we desire it.

The wine glass slipped from the hand and fell to the ground

Yun Huang wanted to stand up, but her whole body felt weak and soft, and she was drenched in cold sweat without knowing when it had happened. The man strode over and helped her lean against the qin table, his pair of deep, profound eyes gazing intently at her. Yun Huang despondently closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they were calm and devoid of emotion. "Lord Shen, it has been a long time."

From serving as a reader for the Crown Prince to becoming a guest of the Crown Prince, he was appointed as a minimum official at the age of twenty. This favored son of the Emperor, regarded as the foremost talent of his time, turned against his own side at a critical moment, carrying military secrets to the rebel forces. This led to the disastrous defeat of the royal army of one hundred thousand at the Battle of Luochuan, allowing the rebels to advance unimpeded into the imperial capital. On the day the palace fell, he brazenly entered the Xinyi Palace, claiming to be there to protect the Emperor.

The midday sun shone brightly on his crimson purple ceremonial robe, making him radiate with brilliance, dazzling the eyes of Yun Huang.

Yunhuang, Yunhuang, can you hear me

A woman dressed in palace attire, trailing a long veil, rushed in from outside the hall, as light as a butterfly. The hall doors stood wide open, and not a soul was to be seen in the vast, empty space; only her delicate footsteps echoed as she made her way straight to the jade-carved screen depicting soaring phoenixes, where she clapped her hands and laughed at the girl in plain clothes seated behind the qin table, saying, "Quick, listen, it's lively outside; the palace is setting off fireworks again!"

Yunhuang held the jade cup with both hands in front of Consort Ke, smiling with bright eyes and said, "The beautiful lady's face is flushed with intoxication; Mother, please drink a little wine. Father will surely be very pleased to see you." Consort Ke bit her lip and chuckled lightly, feeling shy as she took the cup and brought it to her lips. Suddenly, there was another loud tremor, causing her to spill most of the wine. Yunhuang had no choice but to refill the cup, but Consort Ke set it down, smiling shyly, "No, I want to wait for the Emperor to come before drinking together." After saying this, she gracefully turned around, went to the dressing table, and admired her reflection, carefully picking up a golden hairpin to insert beside her temple.

The wine jug on the table is already filled, the jade-colored wine is fragrant and delightful

At this moment, the bow is drawn, yet it is aimed at one's own mother

Father, it has been sixteen years since you last visited the Xinyi Palace, and you will not come again in the future

The clamorous cries of battle were faintly approaching, and Yun Huang raised her wine cup, yet she could no longer persuade Ke Fei. The madwoman stubbornly resisted at this moment. With gritted teeth, Yun Huang forcefully brought the cup to her lips. Ke Fei screamed and broke free, staggering back a few steps, but her wrist was tightly held by Yun Huang. Without a word, Yun Huang pressed her lips together, yet her hand holding the cup trembled violently, spilling wine onto her own garment. Ke Fei looked at her face and finally became frightened, desperately shaking her head and struggling, refusing to drink no matter what. Without a word, Yun Huang pressed her lips together, yet her hand holding the cup trembled violently, spilling wine onto her own garment. Ke Fei looked at her face and finally became frightened, desperately shaking her head and struggling, refusing to drink no matter what.

The consort let out a sharp scream

"Mother." Yun Huang walked slowly down the palace steps and stood under the pear blossom tree, her long silk robe trailing behind her. "The time is almost here; we should go to see Father now." She extended her hand towards her mother, her wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, and the falling petals were scattered by the breeze, resembling snowflakes. A few petals landed in her palm, delicate as the first snow, yet not as pure as the radiance of her hand.

The current emperor values martial prowess, and every year during the archery competition in the royal gardens, all adult princes and princesses are allowed to showcase their skills. Those who secure the top position are sure to receive commendations from the emperor. Yunhuang began practicing at the age of nine, secretly seeking guidance from the guards and hiding in the Xinyi Palace, where she damaged countless straw stacks while shooting. When she turned fifteen and reached the age of maturity, she was finally eligible to participate in the competition, but the empress issued a decree keeping her in the palace, ordering Princess Qingping to attend to the ailing Empress Shunhui and not to go to the royal gardens. For the next four years of the archery competitions, the empress always had just the right reasons to keep Princess Qingping behind. When she turned fifteen and reached the age of maturity, she was finally eligible to participate in the competition, but the empress issued a decree keeping her in the palace, ordering Princess Qingping to attend to the ailing Empress Shunhui and not to go to the royal gardens. For the next four years of the archery competitions, the empress always had just the right reasons to keep Princess Qingping behind.

In the final resounding blast, the tall palace gate was forcefully swung open

With a loud bang, the locked palace gate was suddenly struck from the outside

Yun Huang coldly looked on, her right hand hanging by her side slowly clenched into a fist. Shen Jue noticed her movement, his finely arched brows slightly raised, yet he could not utter a word. Her double phoenix hairpins had long since come undone, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, accentuating the pallor of her cheeks. Watching her mother struggle and cry in the courtyard, the resolute determination to embrace death just moments ago dissipated like ashes. Yun Huang spoke indifferently, "Do not frighten her, I will go with you."

Another thunderous sound shook the grand hall, followed by the crisp sound of glazed tiles falling. The woman in the crimson dress suddenly became excited, pointing at the blood-red flames in the sky and exclaimed, "Look, there are fireworks, so many fireworks! Yunhuang, look, look!" She was so thrilled that her cheeks flushed, and without further ado, she tugged at Yunhuang's sleeve, dragging her to the corridor outside the hall. "The sky is so bright, just like the fireworks from the year you were born... That year during the New Year, the Emperor granted a general amnesty to celebrate your birth, and the palace set off fireworks for three days and nights, just like this. Yunhuang, do you remember?"

Yun Huang stared at her in a daze, as the booming sounds from outside the hall came one after another, seemingly drawing closer to the Xinyi Palace.

It is a pity that she does not remember his appearance; now, the head hanging on the city wall is unknown whether it is fierce or desolate

The desolate Magnolia Palace has grown increasingly cold and silent, resembling a tomb. The few elderly palace attendants have either fled or hidden away. The entire palace has been turned upside down, with no regard for the relationships between sovereign and subjects; those who can escape have prioritized their own survival.

"I would die a thousand deaths, I am late in protecting Your Highness." Shen Jue lowered his gaze and did not dare to look at her

"Are we done?" The woman in the crimson dress paused slightly, obediently sitting down as the young girl began to comb her hair. The girl knelt behind her, gathering the satin-like long hair in her hands, but noticed a few strands of white hair hidden among the black, which was quite striking. "Hurry up and comb it," the woman in the crimson dress urged, "The palace is setting off fireworks; there must be a celebration tonight, and your father might come! Yunhuang, I want to style my hair in a fairy spiral bun; the Emperor loves this hairstyle the most. On that day, he stood under the hibiscus flowers, looking at me and said, 'The autumn water is as divine as jade is to the bone...'" The palace is setting off fireworks; there must be a celebration tonight, and your father might come! Yunhuang, I want to style my hair in a fairy spiral bun; the Emperor loves this hairstyle the most. On that day, he stood under the hibiscus flowers, looking at me and said, 'The autumn water is as divine as jade is to the bone...'" She murmured, her cheeks flushed with shyness, lost in the dreamy memories of the past, while the girl behind her also revealed a hint of a smile.