Third Prince Min‑Sheng's Mansion
The Third Prince sat alone in his courtyard, brush in hand, composing a poem. A faint smile curved his lips as memories drifted through his mind. But in the very next moment, his expression hardened, turning cold and distant. He dipped his brush again and continued writing, forcing calm upon himself.
Suddenly—
A soldier rushed in and dropped to his knees before him.
"What happened?" Min‑Sheng demanded. "Why are you running like this?"
"Your Highness," the soldier said urgently, "First Lady Ning—Lady Ya‑Ting—has arrived. Her condition is extremely poor. She insists on seeing you immediately."
Min‑Sheng's heart skipped a beat.
Without hesitation, he stood and hurried outside.
At the entrance, Ya‑Ting lay collapsed on the ground, motionless and frail.
"Lady Ning!" Min‑Sheng exclaimed as he rushed forward. "What happened to you?"
He turned sharply to the guards. "Why are you just standing there? Bring her inside at once! Call a doctor—quickly!"
They carried her into a guest room and laid her gently on the bed.
Slowly, Ya‑Ting opened her eyes and looked at him weakly. "Prince... are you... here?" Her voice trembled, as if she might faint again at any moment.
Her performance was flawless—pitiful, fragile, heartbreaking.
"Yes," Min‑Sheng said, frowning deeply. "You are in my mansion. How did you end up in such a state?"
Tears welled up in Ya‑Ting's eyes. "Your Highness... I came to tell you something important. No... no, I came to apologize. Yes, to apologize for my crime."
"Lady Ning," he said gently, "you should rest first. We can talk later."
"No!" she cried, gripping the edge of the bed. "I must tell you now. I... I have to speak."
His brows knit together. "What have you done?"
Taking a shaky breath, Ya‑Ting spoke slowly, as if each word was tearing her apart.
"Your Highness... this matter concerns my little sister, Bai‑Xue. For the past month, I have searched everywhere for her. I did not leave a single corner of the forest untouched. I searched day and night... but I could not find her."
Her voice cracked.
"At last, when I reached the peak of the mountain... I saw her blood‑soaked clothes. Her shoes were lying there."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with despair.
"Your Highness... my sister fell into the abyss below that mountain. Bai‑Xue is dead."
Min‑Sheng froze, as if struck by lightning.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" he said sharply. "You have wandered too long in the forest. Your mind has been affected. You need to see a doctor."
"I am telling the truth!" Ya‑Ting cried desperately. "I would never wish harm upon my sister—not even in my dreams! Everything I did was for her. I worked so hard for so many years because of her!"
She covered her face and sobbed uncontrollably.
"And now she is gone... I cannot even describe my pain. But my mother's condition is far worse than mine. How will I face her? With what face will I tell her that her most beloved daughter is no longer in this world?"
She looked at him pleadingly. "Your Highness... my mother will die if she hears this news."
Each word stabbed into Min‑Sheng's heart.
He stood there in silence, his face pale, his mind blank. He could neither think nor breathe properly.
Noticing the doctor waiting outside, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Let the doctor examine her. I... I will step outside."
He went straight to his private chamber and collapsed onto a chair.
"How... how can this be?" he whispered to himself. "How could anything happen to you? How could I lose you so easily?"
His fists clenched tightly.
"I don't believe it. I can still feel you... your presence still exists in this world. As long as I can feel it, I will not believe you are gone."
He stood up abruptly, his eyes burning with determination.
"Wherever you are—no matter your condition—I will find you. You are mine. Only mine. I will bring you back."
Just then, a soldier entered. "Your Highness, the doctor wishes to speak with you. Lady Ning's examination is complete."
The doctor bowed. "Your Highness, Lady Ning is suffering from extreme weakness caused by prolonged starvation."
Min‑Sheng returned to Ya‑Ting's room.
"You may return today if you wish," he said quietly. "I will make the arrangements."
At once, Ya‑Ting began to cry again.
"Your Highness, I cannot face my mother alone," she pleaded. "Please... come with me. Help me tell her this painful truth."
She weakly grabbed his sleeve.
"She trusts you deeply. If you explain it to her, she may be able to endure it. I... I am not strong enough to handle her grief."
For a brief moment, she glanced at Min‑Sheng's conflicted expression—
A faint, evil smile flickered across her lips.
Then she buried her face in her hands and cried once more.
The next day, Third Prince Min‑Sheng escorted Ya‑Ting to her home. As soon as they approached the Ning family mansion, they noticed a small crowd waiting in front. Strangely, it felt as if they had known the prince would arrive. Min‑Sheng found it odd but ignored the thought, dismounting his horse.
The family rushed forward and bowed their heads in greeting.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Third Prince," they said in unison.
Jing‑Yi, Ya‑Ting's mother, stepped forward, her face bright with forced joy. "I am so happy to see you, Third Prince. I wish I could see your face every day like this. But... please, tell us—how did you come here, Your Highness?"
Min‑Sheng turned toward his carriage and gestured to his guard. The guard stepped forward and helped Ya‑Ting out of the carriage. Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd. Everyone seemed shocked to see her—everyone, that is, except Hai‑Rang and Jing‑Yi, who quickly masked their expressions.
Jing‑Yi's voice rang out, carefully controlled: "Where did you find her, Your Highness? I am glad to see you both together."
She then turned to Ya‑Ting with feigned curiosity. "And you... what are you doing with the Third Prince? Did you meet him on the way?"
Ya‑Ting's eyes flicked toward Min‑Sheng, and she gestured subtly, urging him to relay the false news of Bai‑Xue's death. Min‑Sheng, however, avoided the question. Deep down, he did not believe Bai‑Xue was dead. He did not want to speak such a thing in front of everyone.
Seeing the prince remain silent, Jing‑Yi and Hai‑Rang exchanged worried glances. Jing‑Yi's voice trembled slightly as she tried to cover it. "Ya‑Ting... you've returned home safely. That must mean you found my daughter, right? Where is she? Tell me, where is my younger daughter?"
Ya‑Ting seized the opportunity. Without hesitation, she collapsed at her mother's feet, letting out loud, mournful sobs.
Jing‑Yi's hands trembled as she helped her daughter to her feet. "Why are you crying like this? Tell me—where is my daughter? I cannot bear this sight..."