The Cage - Chapter 1

“Mother…”

“Xi’er, are you hungry?”

“Mother…”

“Come, Xi’er, let Mother hold you while you sleep.”

“Mother…”

“Xi’er, I’m in so much pain… Mother hurts so much…”

******

“I offer you two choices. First, you can live as a carefree princess, but your ultimate fate will be to marry a foreign prince.”

“And the other?”

“Join the Spider Silk, the organization I founded. Prove your worth and become their leader, the sharpest blade of the realm, serving as my right hand and aiding the Crown Prince with your life!”

“Father, I choose… to become that blade.”

“I pledge to devote my life to serving you and… the Crown Prince.”

******

In the seventh month of the nineteenth year of the Jinghe era, the sun blazed overhead, casting a harsh light that made everything appear particularly desolate except for the inhabitants of the Princess’s Residence.

Speaking of the Princess’s Residence, there were endless tales to tell, not about the estate itself, but about its mistress: the reigning princess.

The princess’s name was Liu Chunxi, and her title was Lanyue, meaning “extraordinary and unparalleled.” She was granted her own residence at the unprecedented age of twelve, a testament to the emperor’s special regard for her—a fact that inevitably sparked deep contemplation.

“The princess is seventeen this year,” Wan’er whispered, lowering her voice. “At this age, most girls would be discussing marriage, yet there’s been no word of such matters from the palace.” She leaned closer and murmured, “They say His Majesty is unwilling to let her marry.”

The moment these words left her lips, gasps rippled through the group, their eyes widening in disbelief.

“Really? That can’t be true.”

“But it’s possible. The princess’s birth mother was Empress Xiaojing. Haven’t people always said the emperor loved Empress Xiaojing most? Even though the empress passed away years ago, it makes sense that His Majesty might not want to marry the princess off because of that connection.”

“Hey, you know what? That actually makes sense.”

“I think so too,” Bai Yisi said.

The group was chatting merrily in the carriage when a scornful laugh came from the corner. They immediately fell silent and turned to look at the source.

Bai Yisi found their conversation amusing. The person they were talking about simply didn’t exist in this world. Moreover, that person was the Emperor, who had killed countless people to reach his current position. Such a man could never truly love anyone; he would always love only himself.

Therefore, she refused to believe the Emperor had kept his daughter in the palace out of longing for the deceased Empress. There must be another reason.

At twelve, the princess had been named Princess Lanyue, granted a princess’s manor and fiefdom. By fourteen, she was participating in government affairs. Were all these honors and unprecedented exceptions truly beneficial?

Furthermore, this princess knew no martial arts. How could someone at the center of power lack such skills? If she was already involved in governance, why hadn’t she been allowed to learn martial arts? Was it that she didn’t want to learn, or was someone preventing her?

Bai Yisi refused to believe the princess had achieved all this without making any sacrifices.

However, she kept her thoughts to herself, seeing no need to voice them. She glanced at the group and said with a sneer, “Why are you staring at me? Carry on with your conversation. Don’t mind me.”

The women wanted to retort, infuriated by her condescending attitude. She looked at them as if they were fools. But when their eyes met hers, an inexplicable tremor ran through them. Her eyes were bright, yet the emotions within remained unreadable. This was no ordinary gaze.

They fell silent. As the silence stretched, Bai Yisi felt a pang of boredom. Her hand unconsciously clenched and relaxed.

Tch, that feeling again.

This sensation was familiar, likely having haunted her since birth. It had truly erupted when she turned fifteen. For the past five years, it had resurfaced whenever she paused, a deeply unsettling feeling.

Bai Yisi desperately needed something to capture her attention, to distract her before her murderous instincts betrayed her.

She began to scrutinize the carriage interior, though she had already done so upon entering. The carriage was spacious but sparsely decorated or rather, devoid of ornamentation. After all, this was merely a carriage for transporting maids.

Bai Yisi was an assassin, the top-ranked killer at Embroidery Spring Pavilion. She had ascended to the pinnacle in just three years, a testament to her extraordinary skill.

She accepted a mission to assassinate Princess Liu Chunxi of the current dynasty. The challenge excited her, banishing her boredom. She planned to infiltrate the princess’s entourage as a maid, then slit her throat with a single stroke.

Bai Yisi had seen the princess before, about a year ago, when she infiltrated the palace to assassinate a member of the Imperial Guard.

It was a rainy night. She had just entered the palace when she spotted the princess leaving. Though attendants held umbrellas for her, raindrops inevitably clung to her sleeves, yet the princess seemed oblivious.

If it were me, Bai Yisi thought at the time, I’d kill that servant. What use is a hand that can’t even handle such a simple task?

But she never witnessed the princess punish the servant, as the princess vanished from her sight moments later. She had only glimpsed her for an instant.

The princess was slender, yet her back was ramrod straight. Her green robes accentuated her aloofness, making one yearn to see her bow her head, to see her stained with other colors…

Red.

Red suits her, Bai Yisi mused. The color of blood.

Bai Yisi wasn’t intimidated by this woman. After all, she had killed so many people herself; one piercing gaze couldn’t possibly frighten her. While Zhang Sijuan scrutinized them, Bai Yisi raised her head to observe her surroundings, deliberately avoiding eye contact. She wanted to project boldness, and this subtle display was enough. Going further would be foolish, not brave.

The princess’s manor needed bold individuals, not fools. After “accidentally” meeting Zhang Sijuan’s gaze, Bai Yisi first widened her eyes slightly, then offered a perfectly measured smile, and finally dipped her knee in a respectful greeting. These subtle actions portrayed her as a young woman—still green but fearless, unfazed by the occasion or the people present.

Zhang Sijuan’s gaze remained fixed on Bai Yisi, but in the steward’s eyes, she maintained her composure, showing neither panic nor fear. Zhang Sijuan’s expression softened imperceptibly, and she nodded slightly. Then she pointed to several girls, the ones who had nearly burst into tears earlier and said to the slave trader, “I don’t want those ones. Keep the money.”

“The rest of you, follow me inside.”

Bai Yisi didn’t have time to hear the rejected girls’ protests before she moved forward with the group. However, they had only taken a few steps when the line halted.

“The last one in line, come to the front.”

Many in the group turned to look. Bai Yisi showed no particular expression as she calmly stepped forward. Zhang Sijuan studied her for a moment before turning and continuing to walk, but instead of moving ahead of Bai Yisi, she positioned herself beside her, clearly intending to observe her more closely.

The Princess’s residence lived up to its reputation as a lavishly constructed estate. The vermilion gates were edged with gold, and the pillars flanking the entrance were carved with intricate patterns. The interior was even more dazzling. Upon entering, one’s gaze was immediately drawn to a small pond in the courtyard, where white lotuses bloomed in full splendor, their pristine blossoms standing out against the lush green leaves like a clear tear trickling from a beauty’s eye.

While the interior decor might have appeared less ostentatious than the exterior, this was merely an illusion. A closer inspection revealed that the furnishings were even more precious, though deliberately understated. Rare plants were scattered throughout the grounds, and the tables and chairs in the pond pavilion were crafted from exquisite jade.

Zhang Sijuan led them on a lengthy tour, covering nearly the entire estate. As they walked, the group gradually dispersed, leaving only Bai Yisi remaining.

Zhang Sijuan studied Bai Yisi’s profile, mentally reviewing her performance: composed and unflappable at the gate, bold and unafraid of the grand setting; and inside, though she had briefly shown surprise, she quickly regained her composure.

A person worth cultivating, Zhang Sijuan concluded.

Zhang Sijuan stopped at a courtyard gate, and Bai Yisi followed suit. A quick glance revealed the plaque above the gate: Yaqing Courtyard.

A faint smile curved Bai Yisi’s lips. She knew she had caught Zhang Sijuan’s attention, and her plan was unfolding perfectly.

“This is the princess’s courtyard,” Zhang Sijuan said. “You’ll be working here from now on. Someone will take you inside shortly and explain the rules.”

Bai Yisi bent her knee slightly, maintaining an air of respectful composure. “This servant understands.”

Zhang Sijuan exhaled through her nose, let out a soft humph, and glanced at the person standing inside the gate before turning to leave.

The person inside the gate stepped forward and helped Bai Yisi up. “I’m Cuihuan.”

“Greetings, Sister Cuihuan. This servant’s name is… Honghua.” How could I forget to give myself a name? Bai Yisi thought in a panic. Fortunately, she spotted a blooming rose nearby and quickly chose “Honghua,” though it sounded awkward, it would at least avoid suspicion.

When Cuihuan heard the name, the corner of her mouth twitched, and she nearly lost control of her expression. Fortunately, her professional training prevented her from laughing in public. She suppressed the upward curve of her lips and said, “You don’t need to address me as ‘slave’ or ‘servant’ in front of me. I simply arrived here a few days earlier than you. Ultimately, we’re both here to serve our master, so we’re all the same.”

Bai Yisi nodded. “Understood, Sister Cuihuan. Honghua will remember that.”

“Let’s go. I’ll show you around the courtyard first, then take you to your quarters. After that, I’ll explain the rules here.”

Bai Yisi followed Cuihuan, her eyes scanning the surroundings as they walked. During her arrival, she had already memorized the mansion’s layout and the hidden locations of the guards, identifying the escape routes with the fewest encounters. Now that she was familiarizing herself with the courtyard, only one final step remained.

It was the step Bai Yisi had been most eagerly anticipating.

As she thought of this, her eyes gradually took on a frenzied glint, swirling with turbulent waves and howling winds.

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