Chapter 60: Bai Yueguang Returns, Storm Rises Again

In late autumn, the streets of the capital, seemingly deserted and quiet amidst the morning mist, were abuzz with activity. In front of tea stalls, outside restaurants, and even on the stone steps at the entrance to the palace, people gathered together, chatting and exclaiming, their voices filled with sighs and exclamations. Not even the cold wind could dampen the bustle.

"Have you heard? Prime Minister Shen's daughter, Shen Qingyue, didn't die when she fell off the cliff!"

"Is this true? It's been three years, why are you suddenly back?"

"That's right! He was rescued by a hermit master and has been cultivating in the mountains for three years. He has now returned specially to honor the Prime Minister!"

"Tsk tsk, she's so lucky! So many people thought she was gone, but Prince Duan even took down the Yun family for her!"

"That's great now! Prince Duan's white moonlight is back. I wonder if that criminal slave Yun Zhi still has a chance to survive..."

The discussion spread like a tide, even the palace guards were whispering to each other. Meanwhile, in the study of Prince Duan's mansion, Xiao Jin was clutching a secret report, his fingertips pale and his face livid. The report read, "Shen Qingyue arrived in Beijing at noon today and has entered the Prime Minister's residence."

"She... isn't dead?" Xiao Jin's voice was hoarse, filled with disbelief and shock. He stood up suddenly, knocking over the teacup on the table, spilling tea all over the floor, but he was completely unaware.

Three years ago, the image of Shen Qingyue falling from a cliff flashed through his mind—she was wearing a white dress, falling from the cliff, and he tried his best but could only grab a piece of her clothes. He thought she was dead, that the Yun family had harmed her, so he humiliated Yun Zhi in every way and hated the Yun family to the core. But now, she was back?

"Your Highness, someone from the Prime Minister's residence is here to invite you. Miss Chen wants to invite you to her house to reminisce about the past." The captain of the guards bowed and reported, carefully watching Xiao Jin's face.

Xiao Jin didn't answer immediately. His gaze fell out the window, as if he saw the gentle and graceful Shen Qingyue from three years ago, watching her play the zither for him and grind ink for him. His heart felt like it was being tugged at, a mixture of ecstasy at having lost something and a hint of inexplicable panic—a panic that was vaguely related to Yun Zhi.

He remembered Yunzhi's pale face when she miscarried, her despair when he gave her to Batu, and her words, "Xiao Jin, I remember the pain of today." But he quickly suppressed these thoughts - Qingyue was his true love, and Yunzhi was just a substitute, a slave. How could she compare to Qingyue?

"Prepare the car!" Xiao Jin finally spoke, his tone tinged with urgency, "Let's go to the Prime Minister's Residence!"

The captain of the guards quickly agreed, but his heart was full of doubts - the prince had previously had a big fight with Prime Minister Shen because of Yun Zhi being sent to the embassy, ​​so why did he immediately change his attitude when he heard that Miss Shen was back?

The carriage sped toward the Prime Minister's residence. Xiao Jin sat inside, his fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant on his sleeve—a token of love Shen Qingyue had given him. He was so consumed with anticipation of meeting Shen Qingyue that he failed to notice that, in the shadows of a street corner, a secret guard was quietly reporting his whereabouts to Liu Zhong's men.

Yet, in the dilapidated mountain temple outside Beijing, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. Xie Heng remained unconscious, his chest rising and falling faintly. Liu Zhongzheng stood by his side, his brow furrowed. Yun Zhi sat in a corner, holding a dagger and carefully wiping the blade with a coarse cloth. The blade shone coldly, making her face look particularly pale.

"Miss, there's news from outside that Shen Qingyue is back." Liu Zhong's voice was low and filled with a hint of worry. "She entered the Prime Minister's residence right after arriving in Beijing and even invited Prince Duan to come over. I'm afraid she's about to start planning something."

Yun Zhi's hand, wiping the dagger, suddenly stopped, the blade nearly slicing her finger. She looked up, her eyes showing no surprise, only a hint of cold mockery: "She's finally back? I thought she'd be hiding forever."

At this moment, a conversation between two passersby was heard outside the temple gate. The voices were not loud, but they reached Yun Zhi's ears clearly: "Do you think that if Miss Chen comes back, will Prince Duan immediately divorce Yun Zhi? After all, Yun Zhi is just a substitute, how can she compare to the real one?"

"Of course! Maybe they'll even execute Yun Zhi to make amends to Miss Shen!"

Yun Zhi's fingers gripped the dagger tightly, her knuckles turning white. She recalled the words in Shen Qingyue's diary: "Yun Zhi is just my substitute. I will get rid of her when I return." Thinking of Prime Minister Shen's cruelty and Xiao Jin's foolishness, the corners of her mouth slowly curled up into an icy smile.

There was no warmth in that smile, only deep hatred and determination, which made Liu Zhong feel cold in his heart.

"Uncle Liu," Yun Zhi stood up, twirling the dagger in her hand and holding it firmly, "Brother Xie is now in your hands. You must make sure he wakes up safely."

"Where are you going?" Liu Zhong asked hurriedly, with a bad feeling in his heart.

"Let's go to the capital." Yun Zhi looked outside the temple, as if she could see through the layers of trees and see the direction of the capital. "Shen Qingyue is back, and the good show is about to begin. I have to go and see how my identity as a 'good substitute' and my 'white moonlight' are going to play this role."

She paused, her eyes becoming more determined: "Moreover, I will hand over the evidence to the emperor. Prime Minister Shen and Shen Qingyue owe me, the Yun family, and Brother Xie everything, and I will make them pay it back bit by bit in front of the people of the capital!"

Liu Zhong looked at her resolute expression and knew that he could not persuade her, so he nodded: "I will take good care of Doctor Xie, you should be careful. Shen Qingyue just came back, and the Prime Minister's Mansion must be heavily guarded, you must be careful!"

"I know." Yun Zhi nodded, and took one last look at the unconscious Xie Heng, her eyes full of determination. "Brother Xie, when I come back, I will make sure you see the Shen family and Xiao Jin pay the price for what they did!"

She turned and walked out of the dilapidated temple. The morning light shone through the leaves, but it couldn't reach the coldness in her eyes. She walked along the mountain road, step by step, towards the capital. Her back was thin but resolute. She knew that what awaited her was a dangerous war, but she was no longer afraid.

At this moment, in the living room of the Prime Minister's residence, Shen Qingyue, dressed in a simple and elegant white dress, was sitting next to Prime Minister Shen. With red eyes, she looked at Xiao Jin who walked in, and her voice was choked with sobs: "Your Highness... I finally see you again..."

Xiao Jin looked at her tearful face and his heart softened instantly. He walked over quickly and said in a gentle voice, "Qingyue...you have suffered..."

He didn't notice at all the calculation that flashed across Shen Qingyue's eyes, nor did he notice the subtle smile at the corner of Prime Minister Shen's mouth - a bigger conspiracy was quietly brewing.