After several days of bed rest, the chill and high fever in Xiao Ying’s body finally subsided.
Even he had not expected that a single fall into the water would leave him bedridden and so terribly ill for so many days. He had always thought himself reasonably healthy and certainly not so delicate.
Before the bronze mirror, Xiao Ying allowed his attendants to dress him in the elaborate python robe befitting a prince of the blood.
The heavy, gold-woven fabric and jade belt only accentuated the sickly pallor of his face, still recovering from his serious illness. A dull ache lingered in his chest, his cough had yet to disappear completely, and he was still taking medicine.
But today… he had to make a trip to the palace.
It was not for court intrigues or political maneuvering. Consort Wan was confined deep within the imperial palace and could not leave to visit him, so over the past few days she had sent a steady stream of tonics and gifts to his residence.
To put his mother’s mind at ease, he had no choice but to drag his still-recovering body to the palace in person and pay his respects, so she could finally stop worrying.
The door opened quietly, and Lan Ningcheng strode inside.
A silvery-white shadow slipped nimbly through the opening. It was Yinsand, his cat, who had not seen its master for several days.
The cat came to rub against Xiao Ying’s feet, meowing several times as though telling him something.
Lan Ningcheng studied his master’s face, which had yet to regain its full color. His brows drew together almost imperceptibly, but in the end, he offered no words of protest. Instead, he reported quietly, “Your Highness, Young Master Yuexi has arrived. He is waiting for you at the Xuanhua Waterside Pavilion.”
Jun Yuexi had sent a visiting card several days earlier, expressing his wish to come and see Xiao Ying. But Xiao Ying had not wanted him to take any risks at such a time. Moreover, he himself had been too haggard from illness to receive visitors. Thus, he had kept the invitation on hold until today, when he finally permitted Yuexi to visit the prince’s residence.
“I’ll go over now.”
Xiao Ying bent down and casually rubbed the soft fur at the back of Yinsand’s neck. Then he smoothed his robe and headed toward the Xuanhua Waterside Pavilion.
Yinsand followed beside him, its fluffy tail held high and its steps graceful.
◆◇◆◇◆
Following the attendant through a moon-shaped gateway, Jun Yuexi suddenly found the view before him opening into a spacious garden.
The gardens of Prince Yi’s residence were not particularly vast, but every blade of grass and every tree had been arranged with exquisite care. Rare flowers and unusual plants had been cultivated according to the seasons.
A winding path of blue-gray stone stretched ahead. On either side, weeping crabapple trees were in full bloom, their delicate pink blossoms scattering across the ground like a rosy carpet. The sight was utterly romantic.
Wisteria climbed along the covered walkway, its pale-purple clusters hanging like waterfalls while the vines intertwined overhead.
Spring sunlight filtered through the leaves and blossoms, scattering tiny, shimmering golden flecks across the stone path.
At the end stood a waterside pavilion surrounded by water on three sides. Delicate copper bells hung from its upturned eaves, chiming faintly whenever the breeze passed.
It was clear that although the owner of this place was wealthy, he did not flaunt his riches without taste. Rather, he had his own distinctive sense of beauty and his own principles.
Jun Yuexi suddenly stopped.
A peacock was perched on a rockery to the left of the pavilion.
Its long tail feathers cascaded down the rock face like a waterfall of emerald green. When struck by sunlight, their golden and jade-green sheen glimmered with a subdued, luxurious radiance.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, the bird tilted its head slightly and regarded Jun Yuexi with unhurried composure, as though sizing up an unwelcome intruder who had wandered into its territory.
After their brief exchange of glances, the peacock suddenly ruffled its feathers and slowly spread its tail.
Its blue-green fan blossomed spectacularly in the spring sunshine. Countless golden-green “eyes” opened at once, forming a display so magnificent that it took one’s breath away.
Jun Yuexi stood watching for a moment.
He recognized this kind of bird.
Before the Wu family had suffered its catastrophe, his father had kept a pair in the courtyard.
They were usually proud and rarely displayed their tails. But whenever they did, his mother would take his hand and say with a smile, “Look. It’s greeting you!”
Those memories, so distant that they seemed to belong to a previous lifetime, suddenly came rushing back without warning.
Jun Yuexi drew a quiet breath, lowered his lashes, and looked away.
The peacock paid him no further attention. It folded its tail and slowly strutted toward the shadows beside the pond, dragging its magnificent plumage behind it.
At some point in his life, he had stopped liking such extravagant yet useless things.
The peacock was beautiful.
But what did beauty accomplish?
In the end, it could not fly very high. It could only remain confined within this tiny, exquisitely landscaped garden.
Just like the powerful nobles filling the imperial court.
Just like himself.
Not far away, an oriole perched on the branch of a weeping crabapple tree began to sing. Its clear, melodious notes rang out, breaking the brief stillness that had settled over the garden.
Jun Yuexi resumed walking and entered the waterside pavilion along the stone path.
Before long, Xiao Ying arrived at an unhurried pace, wearing the same gentle smile he always did. A pure-white lion cat followed at his feet.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” Jun Yuexi rose and bowed.
“Mm. Sit.”
Xiao Ying waved casually and took a seat beside the stone table.
The maids entered in a quiet procession, serving steaming Biluochun tea and delicate pastries before withdrawing discreetly.
Yinsand seemed curious about the newcomer. It padded over to Jun Yuexi’s feet, sniffed him, then rubbed its furry head against the hem of his robe.
Jun Yuexi paused in surprise, while Xiao Ying cradled his teacup with a languid air.
“His name is Yinsand. He usually pays strangers little attention, but it seems the two of you have taken a liking to each other today.”
Xiao Ying set down his teacup, reached out, and lifted Yinsand onto his lap, stroking the cat’s head with one hand.
There were many birds and cats kept in the residence, but Yinsand was the one most attached to him.
Jun Yuexi studied Xiao Ying carefully, concern appearing between his brows.
“Your Highness still doesn’t look fully recovered. The pavilion is right beside the water, and the breeze is chilly. It might not be good for your health. Why don’t we return to the flower hall to talk?”
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
Xiao Ying warmed his hands around the teacup, his tone lazy. “I’ve been cooped up in my room for days. The whole place reeks of bitter medicine. I really wanted to come out and get some fresh air.”
Then he lifted his expressive eyes and stared at Jun Yuexi’s face for a long moment, as though examining something.
Even Jun Yuexi, who was accustomed to being the center of attention, could not help feeling slightly flustered beneath that steady gaze.
Xiao Ying finally looked away, the corners of his lips curving faintly.
“Fortunately, your face wasn’t left with a scar. It would have been a shame to ruin such a handsome face.”
Only then did Jun Yuexi remember the matter.
“Thank you for sending the physician from your residence especially to treat me, Your Highness. After applying the medicinal ointment, the wound has healed completely.”
Jun Yuexi raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Ying’s calm face.
He had assumed that after such a dangerous assassination attempt and a fall into the water, Xiao Ying would probably be depressed, shaken, or suspicious of everything around him. Yet the man before him seemed as relaxed as though nothing had happened at all. He was even taking the time to show concern over a minor injury on Yuexi’s face.
“Your Highness…”
Jun Yuexi hesitated for a moment before finally asking, “After facing such danger, weren’t you afraid?”
Xiao Ying’s hand paused just as he was about to drink his tea.
He lowered his eyes to the liquid in his cup and remained silent for a moment. Then he let out a faint, indifferent laugh.
“To say I wasn’t afraid at all would be nothing but self-deception. I possess neither peerless martial arts nor a mighty army at my command. All I have is a pile of wealth that I could neither bring into this world nor take with me when I die.”
A trace of self-mockery and clear-eyed understanding flickered in his gaze.
“But so what? This is my fate. As long as I bear the surname Xiao, there is no escaping these overt and covert attacks in this lifetime.”
Jun Yuexi heard the helplessness and lucidity concealed beneath that luxurious exterior.
According to the rumors circulating outside, Prince Yi was a dissolute, idle nobleman who spent his days indulging in pleasure and romance.
But after actually spending time with him, Yuexi began to understand. That rakish exterior was nothing more than layer upon layer of armor Xiao Ying had built to keep himself alive.
Jun Yuexi hesitated for a moment before finally voicing the guilt that had weighed heavily on his heart.
“Your Highness, the attempt on your life this time… was it because of me?”
It was difficult for him not to think so.
The Wu family case had implicated many people back then. If someone was determined to bury the truth forever, Xiao Ying’s deliberate approach toward him—and even his decision to host a musical gathering and invite the sons of officials connected to that old case—would amount to deliberately walking into danger.
Yuexi had hoped to use Xiao Ying’s influence to uncover the truth. If doing so had caused Xiao Ying to be harmed, he would never find peace for the rest of his life.
Seeing the young man’s heavy expression and obvious self-reproach, Xiao Ying could not help laughing softly.
“You’re overthinking it. I investigated things before approaching you, of course, though at first I didn’t give the matter nearly so much thought.”
Xiao Ying pushed a plate of osmanthus cakes toward him.
“But even without you, even without the Wu family case, those people hiding in the shadows would have come looking for me sooner or later. I chose to wade into these muddy waters myself. It has nothing to do with you, so there’s no need to take the blame upon yourself.”
Jun Yuexi could not tell how much of what he said came from the heart.
He reached out, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, and took a small bite. Its sweet, fragrant flavor spread across his tongue.
It was not that he could never afford to eat such delicacies. Rather, he had to deny himself them. To maintain his slender figure, he was not even allowed to eat too much at mealtimes.
Unable to understand, he asked another question. “Then why are you so determined to investigate the Wu family case?”
Xiao Ying did not answer directly. Instead, he shooed Yinsand off his lap.
Only then did he counter with a question of his own.
“Yuexi, if one day you happened to hear a piece of highly classified military intelligence concerning the border garrisons from the mouth of someone completely insignificant, what would you think?”
Jun Yuexi’s expression immediately turned grave. He answered without the slightest hesitation.
“It would mean the imperial government had rotted to its very core. If even some idle ruffian on the roadside could learn military secrets, then I’m afraid the enemy already has all our military intelligence laid out on their desks.”
Xiao Ying nodded slightly, pleased by his keen instincts. His gaze gradually deepened.
“I’ve never liked involving myself in political affairs, but that doesn’t mean I can tolerate anyone ruining the life I have now. After all… if Great Sheng falls, my mother will still be trapped inside the palace, and I’ll no longer be able to enjoy the lavish, pleasure-filled life of Prince Yi’s residence. Some matters simply cannot be left alone.”
In the past, he had stayed out of politics because there had been no need to interfere.
But now, the time had come when he had no choice but to enter the game.
Jun Yuexi understood immediately.
Beneath that rakish exterior lay a line he would never allow anyone to cross: the defense of his homeland.
“So Your Highness suspects that someone at court is betraying the country and colluding with the enemy? And that it might be connected to the Wu family case?”
“Whether they are traitors, and whether they have anything to do with the Wu family case, cannot yet be determined.”
Xiao Ying’s voice turned cold.
“But Seventh Brother is holding the line in the northern frontier, defending our borders with everything he has. If those people know the north is short of grain, yet repeatedly withhold provisions and delay military pay, manipulating things behind the scenes so that even with money in hand, the northern army cannot buy food—and if they are even leaking military intelligence…”
His voice grew colder still.
“Then this is no longer a simple attempt to seize power by forcing Prince Su to his death.”
He looked at Jun Yuexi and spoke slowly.
“They would be dragging all of Great Sheng down into the grave with them.”
He held Yuexi’s gaze and continued, “You know perfectly well who has the authority to interfere with military provisions and pay.”
Jun Yuexi immediately understood the two words Xiao Ying had left unspoken.
He replied quietly, “Every inch of the northern frontier has been stained with blood. If Prince Su were not standing guard like an iron wall, the situation would be far more dire than it is today.”
Xiao Ying glanced at him. “You see things clearly.”
“The guests who frequent Shuyu Pavilion come from all walks of life. There is no shortage of high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants.”
Jun Yuexi answered calmly. “I get along well with the other musicians, so I often manage to pick up a few stray words here and there.”
He had his own intelligence network, one he had deliberately cultivated to serve his goals.
In places where powerful people came to relax, they often said things they would never dare utter in other circumstances.
Xiao Ying changed the subject. “Then have you heard about the pleasure boat we hired for our river outing being burned down?”
“I have.”
Jun Yuexi nodded. When discussing this matter, the composure he displayed was far beyond his years.
“I heard that a fire broke out late at night after we had left the boat. It continued burning until dawn and could not be extinguished. The pleasure boat was almost completely reduced to ashes, and several charred corpses were found inside. For a fire to consume everything so thoroughly, some special method must have been used.”
“What do you make of it?”
Jun Yuexi thought for a moment before offering a clear, orderly analysis.
“Regarding the burning of the boat… I’ll venture a guess, Your Highness. The person who pushed you into the water and the person who later set fire to the boat may not have belonged to the same group.”
“Oh?” A spark of interest appeared in Xiao Ying’s eyes. “Why do you think there were two separate groups?”
“If the mastermind merely wanted to warn Your Highness or silence you, there would have been no need to burn the boat. Your fall into the water could still have been written off as an accident caused by a slip. But once the boat was burned, the matter became far more serious and impossible to settle quietly. That is not how an ordinary assassination attempt would be handled.”
A trace of approval flashed through Xiao Ying’s eyes. He nodded for Yuexi to continue.
“I can’t figure out what the person who burned the boat was after,” Jun Yuexi continued. “But perhaps they wanted to use the fire to escalate the incident and muddy the waters.”
Xiao Ying’s gaze darkened slightly as he looked straight into Yuexi’s eyes.
“What makes you think that?”
Jun Yuexi lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions within them.
“It’s only a personal speculation… If there were someone in this world who was insignificant and powerless, yet burdened with a blood feud, and who had spent a long time trapped in darkness before suddenly stumbling upon an opportunity that might shake the entire balance of power… do you think that person would willingly let it go?”
Xiao Ying understood.
He knew that Jun Yuexi was speaking about himself.
From their very first meeting, the young man had dared to risk his life by writing those two lines of treasonous verse to test Xiao Ying. That alone revealed the resolve buried deep within him.
Xiao Ying silently filed away the possibility.
“Unfortunately, that lead has already gone cold.”
Xiao Ying lifted his teacup, a trace of mockery in his voice.
“Just yesterday, the Jingzhao Prefecture authorities arrested the person responsible for burning the boat.”
Jun Yuexi abruptly raised his head.
“They caught him yesterday?”
“That’s what makes it interesting.”
Xiao Ying’s tone was so calm that it revealed nothing of his feelings.
“The culprit was a local thug who had previously gotten into a dispute with the boatman over an unpaid debt. He confessed without resistance, claiming that he had drunk too much that night and set the fire on impulse.”
He gave a cold laugh.
“Since when has the Jingzhao Prefecture become so efficient at solving cases?”
“Your Highness doesn’t believe the story?” Jun Yuexi asked, his brows knitting together.
“How many coincidences in this world can line up so perfectly?”
Xiao Ying sneered, his eyes full of contempt.
“It just so happens that the boat burned was the one I had hired. It just so happens that the fire was set late that very night. It just so happens that the culprit had a dispute with the boatman. It just so happens that he was drunk. And it just so happens that the authorities followed the trail and caught him so quickly.”
Silence spread between them. Outside the pavilion, the peacock gave a low, rasping cry.
Jun Yuexi understood at once, and his heart shuddered.
That man might simply have been a scapegoat, pushed forward by the mastermind to take the blame.
At that moment, Lan Ningcheng approached and quietly reminded him, “Your Highness, it is almost time. We should set out for the palace.”
As he spoke, he presented a long, exquisitely crafted wooden box with an antique finish—the item Xiao Ying had specifically instructed him to bring.
Xiao Ying accepted the box and handed it to Jun Yuexi.
“You jumped into the water without hesitation to save me that day. Consider this a small token of my gratitude.”
Jun Yuexi hesitantly accepted it and gently lifted the lid.
Inside lay a flawless white jade flute, its smooth surface gleaming with a soft luster. Silver ornaments and a purple tassel adorned its end.
He recognized its value at a glance and hurriedly tried to return the box.
“Your Highness, helping you when you were in danger was only right and proper. You’ve already bestowed so many rare and precious gifts upon me recently. I would never dare accept such an expensive jade flute.”
“Keep it.” Xiao Ying did not take it back. His voice was gentle, yet left no room for refusal.
Looking at Jun Yuexi, he said, “You play the pipa and the guzheng beautifully, but I know you only play them to please the crowds. If we have the opportunity next time, I would like to hear you play the flute.”
Jun Yuexi fell silent, his gaze fixed on the jade flute. For a long time, he could not look away.
Before the Wu family fell, the flute had been his favorite instrument.
Later, after entering Shuyu Pavilion, he had abandoned it and devoted himself to mastering the pipa, all to survive and win smiles from his audience.
It had been far too long since he had played a melody that truly belonged to him.
His fingers tightened slightly around the wooden box. Jun Yuexi bowed deeply.
“…Thank you, Your Highness.”
“I must enter the palace to pay my respects to my mother. We’ll leave our conversation here for today and meet again another time.”
Xiao Ying rose and straightened his elaborate sleeves. Turning his head, he instructed Lan Ningcheng, “Have a carriage prepared and escort Jun Yuexi safely back to Shuyu Pavilion. Make absolutely certain nothing happens along the way.”
After watching Xiao Ying walk away, Lan Ningcheng turned slightly and made an inviting gesture.
“Young Master Yuexi, this way, please.”
Jun Yuexi inclined his head and stepped out of the pavilion.
As he moved, the tiny silver bells sewn into the hem of his robe rang in a delicate, continuous series of chimes, their lively notes rippling through the tranquil garden.
Lan Ningcheng followed behind him, personally seeing the guest out on behalf of Prince Yi.
As they walked one after the other along the blue-gray stone path, Lan Ningcheng lowered his eyes. His gaze inadvertently passed over Jun Yuexi’s bare feet as they stepped directly onto the stone slabs.
The young man’s feet were as white as jade, particularly striking amid the lingering chill of spring and the fallen blossoms scattered across the ground.
Lan Ningcheng promptly looked away, carefully observing the proper boundaries of his position.
He had served at Xiao Ying’s side for many years, yet there were times when he truly could not fathom his master’s thoughts.
If his master merely wanted to investigate the Wu family massacre, then with the wealth and influence of Prince Yi’s residence, he could easily have made arrangements in secret. There would have been no need to make such a conspicuous move as hiring Jun Yuexi of Shuyu Pavilion for an entire year and forbidding him from entertaining other guests.
If the goal had merely been to stir up rumors of romantic scandal and debauchery among the capital’s nobility, then the incident in which Jun Yuexi had made Xiao Ying cross the bridge at Luoyue Terrace alone had already spread throughout the streets and alleys. That alone would have been more than enough to achieve the desired effect.
Lan Ningcheng put those thoughts aside and did not pursue them any further.
Maintaining his usual courteous demeanor, he escorted Jun Yuexi to the carriage that had already been prepared and ordered the prince’s personal guards to accompany him safely back to Shuyu Pavilion.
He remained where he stood, watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
◆◇◆◇◆
Layer upon layer of palace walls surrounded Jinglan Court, where the atmosphere was so quiet it bordered on desolation.
When Consort Wan finally saw her son being led through the doorway by an attendant, her eyes instantly reddened. The tears she had held back for days threatened to spill over.
When she had first heard that Xiao Ying had fallen into the water and developed a dangerously high fever that same night, leaving him gravely ill and unconscious, her heart had nearly shattered into pieces.
Yet because of her status, she had not even been able to leave the palace to see him once.
Although Xiao Ying had sent word several times through intermediaries that he was fine, how could she possibly have put her mind at ease?
“I’ve caused Mother Consort to worry these past few days. It was my fault for making you anxious.” Xiao Ying stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Consort Wan took his hand and examined his face, which still bore the pallor of illness. He looked even thinner than when she had last seen him, and her heart ached unbearably.
“As long as you’re safe… as long as you’re safe…”
She hurriedly took out a silk handkerchief to wipe away the tears that had slipped down her cheeks.
In the past, they had always kept their heads down, remained within their proper bounds, and endured in silence, never involving themselves in the dangers of political intrigue.
But now, with undercurrents surging through the imperial court, she understood that Xiao Ying could no longer pretend to know nothing about what was happening.
Even so, how could a mother remain calm when she had watched her own flesh and blood suffer such a calamity?
Consort Wan clasped Xiao Ying’s hand tightly, her voice pleading.
“Ying’er, why don’t you… stay quietly in your residence for the next few months and concentrate on recovering?”
Xiao Ying looked at the overwhelming worry in his mother’s eyes. His heart softened, but he gently shook his head.
“Mother Consort, even if others see me as nothing more than an idle prince who is good for nothing, there are still things I am willing to protect with my life.”
His gaze was gentle yet resolute as he spoke quietly.
“And you are among them.”
Consort Wan’s body trembled slightly, emotion and sorrow surging through her at the same time.
In her memory, Xiao Ying was still the child who needed her protection beneath her wings.
She had never imagined that, without her even realizing it, her child had grown into a towering tree capable of sheltering her from wind and rain.
Just as Consort Wan was moved enough to speak again, a sudden, piercing announcement rang out from beyond the courtyard gate—
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
The cry crashed through the quiet courtyard like a bolt of thunder, leaving both mother and son frozen in place. In each other’s eyes, they saw the shock neither could conceal in time.