After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 1

During the spring of the fourth year of Shenglin, the heavens are shrouded in a gentle rain

The Luanyi Pavilion of Crown Princess Yang Fu, once the grandest palace in the Daming Palace, now dimly lit, with only half of its candles and floor lanterns still flickering. The palace maids had been dismissed, and a cold, desolate shadow hung over the incense burner and the once-glistening gold ornaments.

Ten days prior, the Crown Prince had been thrown into the imperial prison, and Emperor Chenming suddenly fell ill. The third prince, Prince Yan, still clad in his armor, swiftly ascends the throne. Rumors spread that Prince Yan was rumored to be ruthless, and the entire palace trembled in fear under his shadow, uncertain of the new emperor’s temperament.

The Crown Prince was not dead, thus Prince Yan did not act recklessly. He frequently summoned the confined Crown Princess, asking her to copy scriptures and pray for Emperor Chenming in the Liuyi Hall.

Yang Fu, a princess from the previous dynasty, was well-educated and fluent in Sanskrit. However, the carriage that brought back the terrified Yang Fu often returned later each time, and the gossip among the palace servants spread wildly like weeds.

Some claimed they saw the Crown Princess, so terrified that her legs were too weak to walk, being helped back by palace maids.

Some said that Prince Yan’s prayers were a pretense and that his true motive was revenge. Years ago, when the Chu state fell, Prince Yan had sought to marry the beautiful Princess Bao’an¹, but Yang Fu ultimately rejected him and married the Crown Prince instead. Though Prince Yan had never truly believed in gods or Buddhas, now that he held great power, he imprisoned his brother and took his sister-in-law for himself. After all, this wasn’t the first time he had acted in such a way.

As the gossip grew increasingly unpleasant, Qun Qing could no longer bear to listen and struck the window frame with force.

The sound of the knock echoed like a stone disturbing a flock of birds, scattering the whispers at the base of the wall. Inside the hall, the steady dripping of water felt like a countdown, matching the rapid beat of Qun Qing’s heart. She stared intently at the palace corridor, completely ignoring the pain that seeped into her bones.

Finally, Qun Qing saw the figure with her hair styled in a high bun and wearing a ruqun² running back along the palace path.

She called out as she ran,”Registrar Qun, Registrar Qun, I’m back!”

It was Xiangcao, Yang Fu’s maidservant.

Before Xiangcao approached, Qun Qing pushed the window open and saw the red sandalwood box intact in Xiangcao’s arms. Her heart sank.

“You didn’t see the Crown Princess?”

“No… I didn’t.” Xiangcao’s voice trembled slightly.

“There were many guards in armor outside Liangyi Palace. They were from the Yan Palace, and… they wouldn’t let any servants in. I tried to tell them I was bringing medicine for the Crown Princess, but they still wouldn’t let me through.” Her eyes welled up as she spoke.

“They only passed on a message: since the three volumes of the Buddhist Scriptures were unfinished, His Highness, Prince Yan wished for the Crown Princess to stay for the meal and continue in the afternoon.” Xiangcao bit her lip, worry evident on her face.

“It’s already past noon… and I’m so worried about her health. I just… I don’t know if she can take it…”

Qun Qing’s expression froze for a moment.

“There were guards surrounding the palace gate today?”

Xiangcao wiped the sweat from her face.

“Yes. They said that Prince Yan ordered an attack on Southern Chu. The spies from Southern Chu inside the palace got wind of it and, like cornered dogs, have been attempting desperate measures. There have already been three or four assassination attempts in recent days. So, now, wherever His Highness goes, there are guards closely protecting him. That’s what they said, but…”

She looked around nervously, her voice trailing off. Suddenly, she stopped, appearing as if she was about to cry.

“Registrar, I’m really scared that something has happened inside the palace. Tell me… could it be that the Crown Princess offended Prince Yan somehow, and that’s why so many guards were deployed? Otherwise, why wouldn’t they let me see her?”

Qun Qing fixed her dark eyes on her.

“I asked you to remind the Crown Princess to come back early to take her medicine. Did she respond?”

“Yes.” Xiangcao took a deep breath, calming herself.

“The Crown Princess had someone pass a message to me… that she knows and will return after she finishes copying.”

Qun Qing was silent for a moment before dismissing her.

“Since the Crown Princess said so, there’s no need to worry.”

“It’s just me being overly fearful,” Xiangcao said, lifting her skirt slightly as she turned to leave. She suddenly looked back with a small smile.

“Registrar, you haven’t been teaching at Luanyi Pavilion for long, yet you already remember the exact time the Crown Princess takes her medicine every day. Since the palace servants were reduced, I’ve been so busy that I, her maid, nearly forgot to deliver the medicine if it weren’t for your reminder.”

Qun Qing seemed slightly surprised, but the emotion quickly vanished beneath her long, raven-black lashes. She offered a faint, fleeting smile in response.

The female officials of the six department of palace services were mostly reserved and stoic, driven by intelligence and ambition. Their dedication to their careers left little common ground with the palace maids. Among them, Qun Qing was particularly silent, always arriving with her box and leaving just as quietly. Yet, despite her aloofness, Xiangcao never felt the cold arrogance from her that others exuded.

Once, Xiangcao had been secretly exchanging tokens with a young courtier in the front courtyard. It was Qun Qing’s well-timed stone toss that alerted her to the approach of Her Majesty, saving her from being caught. From that day on, Xiangcao believed Qun Qing had a warm heart beneath her cool exterior.

If she weren’t a person with feelings, how could she continue to teach the Crown Princess even after the Crown Prince’s imprisonment, when everyone else avoided them like the plague?

But in recent months, Qun Qing had grown noticeably thinner, weighed down by heavy burdens.

Xiangcao glanced around the empty hall and hesitated before offering,

“Do you still need to wait for the Crown Princess? Won’t this delay your other duties? Should I run to the Liangyi Hall to ask…?”

“No need for your meddling,” Qun Qing abruptly cut her off. “Just mind your own tasks.”

Xiangcao bit her lip and withdrew.

Qun Qing shut the window, her face suddenly pale and tense. She hurriedly spread paper and took up her brush, her movements urgent and clumsy. The sky outside darkened as if a storm was brewing, and the dim light from the window barely illuminated the page.

The palace guard surrounding the hall gave Xiangcao a bad feeling. If she knew that today, Crown Princess Yang Fu had gone to assassinate Prince Yan, she would have fainted on the spot.

Now, Yang Fu was like a fish on a chopping board, trapped in the Liangyi Hall, surrounded by layers of soldiers. It was a dire situation.

Qun Qing stared at the paper, trying to stay calm. She thought, This may be the last letter I leave for the Princess. With that thought, she bit her finger until it bled, using her blood to write.

The sharp pain made her stomach churn, and a wave of nausea swept over her, soaking her clothes in cold sweat.

Since the failed assassination on Winter Solstice, her injuries had never healed, and she often felt on the edge of death. As dizziness set in, her writing grew shaky.

In recent years, hope for Southern Chu’s restoration had faded, the kingdom slowly swallowed by Da Chen. They had reached the end of the road, and even Princess Bao’an had been pulled into this doomed cause.

The people of Southern Chu had long wanted to use Princess Bao’an as a pawn. Despite Prince Yan’s imperial talents, he had one fatal weakness— his obsession with Princess Bao’an. He didn’t care that she was a princess from a fallen dynasty or that she had married Da Chen’s Crown Prince. His infatuation clouded his judgment, creating an opportunity. The logical move would have been for Princess Bao’an to pretend to surrender, gain his trust, then strike at the right moment. What plan could be simpler?

But Qun Qing couldn’t bear to see the Princess degraded in such a way.

Yang Fu had already lost her kingdom and family; how could she endure the agony of appeasing a man she hated? So Qun Qing took the hardest road, never passing this scheme to the Princess. She handled all the dirty work herself.

Princess Bao’an had enjoyed a peaceful life in the palace. She married her childhood love, Crown Prince Li Xuan, and became the Crown Princess.

The Crown Prince was gentle and virtuous. If he had ascended the throne, he might have granted Southern Chu a small, peaceful corner to recover. But soon after, Prince Yan had forced him into prison. With his militaristic prowess, Prince Yan’s first action upon seizing power was to lead troops against Southern Chu, aiming to unify Zhongzhou.

The Southern Chu Crown Prince Zhao panicked. Ignoring Qun Qing’s advice, he sent a direct order to Princess Bao’an, commanding her to act.

“I’ve received my brother’s letter,”

Yang Fu had said that night, tears streaming down her face as she embraced Qun Qing. The Princess’s body was cold and heavy, like a statue weighing Qun Qing down.

“I am still a princess of Southern Chu. How could Li Huan treat me this way? If I bear this humiliation, how can I face my father, my sister, and our people?”

Tearfully, she whispered into Qun Qing’s ear,

“When you returned injured, it scared me so much. You bled so much. I only have you left. Without you, how could I survive in this den of wolves and tigers? Li Huan has eight bodyguards around him. You would have to risk your life to get near him. But I can get close easily—he always asks me to copy scriptures for him. Let me do this. Don’t talk anymore about dying and leaving me alone.”

Unable to stop her, Qun Qing treated this assassination as a final stand. She retrieved the poison pearl left by her mother, hid it in the Princess’s fingernail, and taught her how to poison Li Huan without being caught. The plan seemed simple in theory, but it turned out far harder in practice.

Li Huan was a seasoned general, while Princess Bao’an was a sheltered flower, unfamiliar with violence. When she didn’t return, Qun Qing knew something had gone wrong, fearing that the Princess had been discovered.

She sent Xiangcao to deliver medicine, but it was really a coded message to check on the Princess’s safety. The Princess had agreed to respond with one of two phrases: “I took it this morning” if everything was fine, or “I’ll take it tonight” if she was in danger.

But the reply was neither.

Qun Qing suspected that Yang Fu had been captured by Li Huan and that the message had been written by Prince Yan himself.

Xiangcao also reported that the Southern Chu assassins had been captured and sent to the Ministry of Justice. If any of them revealed Qun Qing’s identity as a hidden agent, her fate was sealed.

Looking back, she regretted letting Yang Fu take such a risk. Now, she had to protect the Princess before her own capture.

Qun Qing folded the letter and placed it in the jade pillow of Princess Bao’an. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed, and the door flew open.

Xiangcao gasped, “Q-Qun Qing, Eunuch Liang from Prince Yan’s residence is here.”

Behind her, a eunuch in a crimson robe entered, sharp gaze fixed on her.

“By order of His Highness Prince Yan—”

Xiangcao dropped to the ground, trembling. Qun Qing stood still, waiting for the decree. Eunuch Liang unrolled a white silk scroll and declared loudly,

“Qun Qing, Sixth-rank official of the Shangyi Bureau³, is charged with treason and plotting to assassinate a prince. You are to report to Jinglian Pavilion for questioning.”

The words struck like a blow. Xiangcao stared at Qun Qing, trembling as if seeing a stranger.

Qun Qing’s face grew pale as she focused on the scroll. It felt as though she were standing on a sinking ship in a storm.

“I, Qun Qing, am falsely accused,” she said calmly. “I serve in the inner palace, far from court matters. I’ve never even seen His Highness, let alone plotted treason. I ask Eunuch Liang to explain this charge.”

As she stalled for time, her mind raced. Treason, assassination, Jinglian Pavilion—something was wrong. Prince Yan was currently in Liangyi Hall, so why send her to the far-off Jinglian Pavilion?

Eunuch Liang sneered, “I should ask you, Registrar. Why were you, an official of the Shangyi Bureau, found in the Crown Princess’s quarters when you were supposed to be on duty? Don’t you know the Crown Princess is under house arrest and not allowed visitors?”

Xiangcao hesitated, but Qun Qing answered, “By order of the Empress, I’m assigned to teach the Crown Princess palace rules on the second and third of each month. Her Majesty gave me this duty, and I’ve received no other instructions. Eunuch Liang can confirm this with Her Majesty.”

Eunuch Liang chuckled, “There’s no need. Your story is full of holes! Lessons are given in the early morning and never last more than an hour. The Crown Princess left for the Liangyi Hall long ago. Were you teaching an empty room, or plotting behind closed doors with her?”

Qun Qing kept her composure. “I did finish the lesson this morning, but the Crown Princess, bored in her confinement, asked me to play chess with her. In the middle of our game, His Highness called her away to copy scriptures in the Liangyi Hall.”

She slowly stepped aside, revealing the chessboard on the table.

She didn’t want to leave the game unfinished and asked me to watch over it until she returned. Eunuch Liang, as long as the Crown Prince hasn’t been convicted, the Crown Princess remains the future mother of the nation. I’m just a low-ranking official. How could I refuse her? Would you have done differently in my position?”

Eunuch Liang craned his neck to see the board, where black and white pieces were locked in a tense battle. Nearby, a cold cup of tea and half-eaten cakes added to the scene, making it difficult to discern the truth of the situation.

The thought that these two seemingly unconnected women had been plotting treason was indeed hard to believe.

Annoyed, Eunuch Liang scoffed,

“I’m just following orders. Arguing with me is pointless. Get ready to leave.”

Xiangcao, lying prostrate on the floor, was trembling. She remembered clearly that there had been no chessboard or tea when the Princess left earlier. And more frightening was Qun Qing’s boldness in challenging Prince Yan’s order. Was she not afraid of being beaten to death? Summoning all her courage, Xiangcao reached out to tug at Qun Qing’s skirt, but before she could, Qun Qing moved forward, causing Xiangcao to fall flat on the ground.

“Eunuch Liang,” Qun Qing continued, approaching him slowly,

“I’ve always followed palace rules closely. If His Highness doesn’t have solid evidence against me, you shouldn’t make baseless accusations. It tarnishes my reputation—and that of the Crown Princess.”

Her voice was calm, yet her words carried authority. As she drew closer, her almond-shaped eyes and thin lips gave her a delicate appearance, but the angle of her neck beneath her hairpin was firm and unwavering. Her tone carried the authority of someone used to following the rules.

Qun Qing’s gaze shifted to the silk scroll in Eunuch Liang’s hand. The fabric looked roughly cut, its edges frayed. After studying it for a moment, she quickly snatched it from his hand.

Eunuch Liang jumped in surprise, shouting,

“What do you think you’re doing? How dare you!”

“Since the second year of Shenglin’s reign, it has been decreed that no silk products—robes, hats, or scarves—made of mulberry silk be used by His Highness, Prince Yan, because he has a severe allergic reaction to it. There shouldn’t be a single silk item in his possession, so how could he have used it to issue a decree?”

Her voice grew sharper.

“Eunuch Liang, you’re the one being bold here. Whose orders are you following to forge a royal decree? Can they bear the punishment on your behalf?”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but the room fell silent. Xiangcao was stunned, and Eunuch Liang, unable to respond, showed a flicker of panic in his eyes.

There’s still hope… Qun Qing felt as if she had just come up for air after nearly drowning. She unfolded the silk scroll, inspecting it carefully. The writing hadn’t seemed right earlier, and now she knew why. It wasn’t Prince Yan’s handwriting, and the words didn’t match what Eunuch Liang had read aloud.

Her eyes locked onto the words, a chill running down her spine. The writing was elegant, yet full of mockery:

“Qun Qing, always so diligent in your duties, I feel ashamed in comparison. The fate of Princess Bao’an is in your hands. You’ll understand when you see this letter. Let’s meet soon.”

The person who wrote this had foreseen everything. They knew she’d figure out the forgery and take the scroll. This whole situation had been set up just for her.

If she had panicked or made a wrong move, she would have already been captured by now!

Eunuch Liang, now visibly nervous, said,

“I’ll tell you the truth, Registrar. I acted under the orders of Chancellor Lu from Prince Yan’s residence. If there is fault, I will accept the consequences, but I beg you to show mercy.”

Lu Huating. That name struck more fear into her than even Prince Yan’s.

Every time she heard it, a cold dread settled over her.

Lu Huating was Prince Yan’s most trusted advisor, a man of cunning and foresight. He was the reason Prince Yan had risen to power so quickly. She had crossed paths with him several times in their secret battle. Every time she tried to strike back at Li Huan, Lu Huating had been the one to ruin her plans.

He was like a serpent lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. More than once, he had almost trapped her. His name weighed on her like a dark cloud, always haunting her steps.

At this moment, Qun Qing gripped the scroll tightly, cold sweat forming on her forehead as her heart raced. Her body was reacting purely on instinct.

In the past, Prince Yan had been out in the open while she hid in the shadows, an unnoticed pawn among court officials. But now, Lu Huating had called her out by name, tearing away her cover. The terror of being exposed hit her like a crushing wave.

In that instant, she understood—he had found out who she really was. The game was over; the outcome already decided. She had failed.

“The fate of Princess Bao’an is in your hands…”

The words were like poison, coiling around her. The princess’s life wasn’t in Li Huan’s hands—it was in Lu Huating’s.

Li Huan might still have feelings for the princess, but Lu Huating? He was ruthless. He had long wanted Princess Bao’an gone but was only held back by Li Huan.

In recent years, as Prince Yan’s power grew, Lu Huating’s influence had become unstoppable. He had even killed people against Prince Yan’s wishes, but in the end, Li Huan always protected him.

After all, to an emperor, beauty is easy to come by, but a capable strategist is hard to find.

Suppressing the tremor in her hands, Qun Qing straightened her sleeves and collar.

“Please, Eunuch Liang,” she said quietly, “give me a moment to change.”

Translator Notes:

Hey everyone! I’m Kat, and I’m excited to kick off my journey as a new translator with my very first project! I’m really enjoying this novel, which is why I decided to take it on for translation.

I’m also a huge fan of the author’s work, especially The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus. This new novel is his first dive into palace intrigues, and it’s quite different from his other books, so I’m looking forward to sharing it with you all!