While I was still immersed in the joy of helping the Empress Dowager regain her appetite, I didn't notice at all that a huge net was quietly closing in on me.

That morning, I got up early as usual and prepared to go to the kitchen to make congee for the Empress Dowager to nourish her body. Just as I approached the door of the imperial kitchen, I heard whispers coming from inside.


"Have you heard? That Fenglin..."

"Shh, keep your voice down, she's here."

Seeing me enter, the maids who had been chatting immediately fell silent, but the way they looked at me became strange, a mix of fear and pity.


I was puzzled but didn’t think too much of it. After all, gossip in the palace never ceased, and I seldom paid attention to such things.

"Jade, help me prepare some yam and lotus seeds. I’m going to cook congee for the Empress Dowager," I said to Jade, who was washing vegetables.


Jade looked up at me, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What's wrong? You all seem so strange today," I couldn’t help but ask.

"Fenglin..." Jade bit her lip, "There are some rumors outside... you’d better be careful."

"What rumor?"

"I... I don’t know if I should say it..." Jade's face turned pale. "Some say you... you are the child of a disgraced official, sneaking into the palace for revenge."

I was stunned.

"What?" I thought I must have misheard. "The child of a disgraced official? What do you mean?"

Seeing my bewildered expression, Jade seemed to relax a little: "You really don’t know? It’s being spread that your father was once the teacher of the deposed Crown Prince. He was executed along with his entire family for rebellion, and you were the only one who escaped..."

My mind buzzed, and the world seemed to spin around me.

Father... the teacher of the deposed Crown Prince... rebellion... the execution of the entire family...

These words stabbed into my heart like knives. Suddenly, memories I had buried deep within began to surge uncontrollably.

A blood-red dusk, a house engulfed in flames, the desperate cries of my parents, and the soldiers with swords in their hands...

"No... impossible..." I shook my head, my voice trembling violently, "This can't be..."

But the more I tried to deny it, the clearer those memories became. I recalled the words my father had once said—he had indeed mentioned something about the Crown Prince, something about court affairs... And that night, when he hurriedly hid me away, telling me not to make a sound no matter what happened...

"Fenglin! Fenglin!" Jade's voice pulled me back to reality, "What's wrong? You look so pale!"

I found myself crouching on the ground, my arms tightly wrapped around my head, cold sweat soaking my back.

At that moment, Matron Ruyi rushed in, her face filled with anxiety, "Miss Fenglin, it's terrible! The Emperor has issued an edict summoning you to the Imperial Study immediately!"

My heart sank completely.

Why would the Emperor summon me? Had he also heard those rumors? Was he going to...

My legs began to weaken, and I could barely stand.

"Young lady, you'd better hurry," Mother Ruyi whispered in a low voice, "The longer you delay, the worse it becomes."

I reluctantly stood up and followed Mother Ruyi toward the imperial study. Along the way, I felt as though everyone I encountered was looking at me with strange eyes, and the whispered voices seemed to say: Look, that's the descendant of the disgraced official, she’s here for revenge...

By the time I reached the door of the imperial study, my legs were trembling.

"Fenglin, come in," the emperor's deep voice sounded from inside.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The emperor sat behind the dragon desk, his expression terrifyingly grim. Beside him stood a few courtiers I didn’t recognize, and... Noble Consort Lewis.

Noble Consort Lewis saw me enter, a smug smile curling at the corner of her lips.

"Fenglin," the emperor's voice lacked its usual gentleness, "Do you know why I summoned you here?"

"Your subject... your subject does not know," my voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"You don't know?" The emperor sneered and picked up a document from the desk. "What about this? Feng Wenyuan, courtesy name Ziyu, once served as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. Ten years ago, he was executed along with his entire family for the crime of treason. Tell me, what is your relationship with this Feng Wenyuan?"

Hearing my father’s name spoken by the emperor, I completely broke down. Memories buried deep in my heart surged out like a flood through a breached dam.

I recalled my father's gentle smile, his patience when teaching me to read and write, and that bloody night...

"He... he was my father," I said in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

The imperial study fell into a terrifying silence.

"Just as I thought," Noble Consort Liu spoke up at this moment, her voice dripping with malice. "Your Majesty, this Feng Lin has concealed her identity to infiltrate the palace. Her intentions are unforgivable! Perhaps she has already poisoned your food, plotting to harm you!"

"No! I didn't!" I hastily denied, "I never thought of harming anyone!"

"Then why did you conceal your identity?" The Emperor's voice was like ice, "What is your true purpose for entering the palace?"

I opened my mouth but found that I could say nothing.

Why did I enter the palace? To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure myself. Since childhood, I had always believed my parents died in an accident and that we fled here to escape famine. Entering the palace was merely out of necessity, to find work and support myself.

But now, facing the Emperor's skeptical gaze and Noble Consort Lewis's smug smile, I suddenly realized how feeble all my explanations seemed.

"I am asking you!" The Emperor slammed the table, his dragon-like authority trembling with anger.

I was so frightened that I fell to my knees, trembling uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," a courtier beside him said, "This girl doesn't seem to harbor any ill intent. Why not detain her and investigate slowly?"

The emperor pondered for a moment, then said, "Very well. Fenglin, considering that you have not committed any wrongdoings in these past days, I will not execute you immediately. However, your identity is sensitive, and I must investigate this matter thoroughly. From now on, you are confined to your residence and are not to step outside your room, awaiting my final decision."

"Guards, take her away!"

Two guards stepped forward, grabbed my arms, and began to escort me out. I wanted to say something, but my throat felt as if it was stuffed with cotton, and no sound came out.

As I passed by Noble Consort Lewis, I heard her whisper in a voice only I could hear, "This is the fate of those who oppose me."

After returning to my residence, guards were stationed outside, keeping a close watch. Jade was driven away, and I was left alone in the room.

I sat blankly on the edge of the bed, my mind a chaotic mess.

Is all of this true? Was my father really a traitor? Am I truly the descendant of a criminal?

Those bloody memories are becoming clearer and clearer. I remembered that night when my father shoved me into a hidden compartment under the bed and told me not to come out no matter what sounds I heard. Then there were the banging on the door, the screams, the wailing...

I stayed in that cramped space for the entire night until the next evening, when an old woman I had never met rescued me. She told me that my parents were dead, the house had been burned, and from then on, I was an orphan.

But she didn’t tell me why my father had died, and I never thought to ask. I thought it was just an accidental fire, or perhaps an invasion by bandits...

Turns out, turns out everything was not as I had imagined.

My father was a traitor, and I was the daughter of a criminal.

No wonder the old woman wanted to take me away from that place, no wonder she gave me a new identity... She was protecting me, keeping me away from that horrifying past.

But now, everything has been exposed.

I curled up on the bed, hugging my knees, tears streaming down my face.

Father, are you truly a traitor? Did you really intend to rebel? Or... or were you also framed by someone?

But does any of this still matter to me now? What matters is that the emperor already knows my identity, Noble Consort Lewis has obtained the weapon she wanted, and I... I am completely exposed.

I thought of the Empress Dowager. How would she see me? Would she think I deliberately got close to her to harm her?

I thought of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. His care and protection for me, does it all seem like a joke now?

I thought of my colleagues in the imperial kitchen. They must be terrified now, afraid to be associated with the daughter of a traitor.

Everyone will leave me, everyone will look at me with fear and disgust.

I am like a cursed being, destined to live a life of solitude.

Night has fallen, and the room is pitch black. I didn’t light the lamp, just sitting in the darkness, letting despair envelop me.

I don’t know how long it has been, but a faint knock came from outside the door.

"Fenglin, it’s me, Jade," Jade whispered in a low voice, "I’ve brought you some food."

I didn’t answer, nor did I open the door.

"Fenglin, I know you’re in there. Could you please open the door?" Jade’s voice was choked with tears. "How can you not eat?"

I still didn’t move.

Food? How could I possibly have the appetite to eat now? The girl who once found solace in food is already dead. All that’s left of me now is fear and despair.

"Fenglin... please..." Jade seemed on the verge of tears.

But I couldn’t open the door. I couldn’t let her see me like this. I’m the descendant of a disgraced official, a cursed existence. I shouldn’t drag anyone down with me.

From now on, I won’t trust anyone anymore, nor will I let anyone get close to me.

Such is my fate, destined to walk alone till the end.

In the darkness, I held myself tightly, just like that little girl hiding in the secret compartment, waiting for the dawn that might never come.