Wu Shiqing followed closely behind the guard, passing through the winding, dimly lit front courtyard before stopping in front of the main room of an inner courtyard, where the lights shone brightly.
The guard raised his hand and knocked on the door, announcing loudly, “Young Master Yuexi, I’ve brought the attendant from Shuyu Pavilion.”
Wu Shiqing’s palms were covered in cold sweat, and her heart pounded violently like a trapped beast.
She quickly calculated how she might talk her way out of it if her disguise were exposed on the spot. Just then, a cool, clear voice came from inside the room.
“Come in.”
The voice faintly resembled the tone of her Second Brother, but it had lost the youthful clarity of his younger days, transforming into a slightly deeper, low, and mellow voice.
Wu Shiqing’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Before she could think it through, the guard had already reached out and pushed open the door.
“Lord Yuexi is inside. Go in yourself.”
Wu Shiqing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the emotions surging in her chest, then lifted her foot and stepped over the high threshold.
Only a single dim, yellow candle illuminated the room, casting a faint glow.
The “Lord Yuexi” she had glimpsed at the back door earlier was standing quietly beside a folding screen. The hazy candlelight mingled with the white gauze partially covering his face, making his features difficult to discern.
However, Wu Shiqing’s steps came to an abrupt halt, and she no longer dared to advance even half a step recklessly—for besides that young man, five other people with stern expressions stood solemnly in the spacious room.
Her gaze instinctively shifted toward the person seated behind the round table in the center of the room, and she involuntarily began stepping backward.
On an intricately carved sandalwood chair sat a young man dressed in luxurious brocade robes.
He possessed breathtakingly beautiful features, and a hint of tipsy, carefree languor hung between his brows. With one hand propping up his chin and the other leisurely playing with an ivory folding fan, he regarded this uninvited young girl with considerable interest.
On either side of him stood several tall guards, as imposing as black towers, their entire bodies radiating a suffocating aura of murderous intent.
Wu Shiqing’s expression changed drastically. The instant she sensed the danger, she turned around and tried to rush out the door!
With a tremendous bang, the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind her, completely cutting off every possible escape route.
—She realized she had been tricked!
There was no banquet for Lord Yuexi’s departure from the brothel at all. This was nothing more than a trap that had been laid long ago!
Wu Shiqing’s eyes turned bloodshot, and her hand instinctively reached for the dagger concealed at her waist.
But before her fingertips could even touch the hilt, a black shadow darted in front of her like a ghost. A fierce gust of wind accompanied the movement as the person seized her wrist, snatched the weapon away, and sent the icy dagger flying from her grasp.
In the next instant, both her arms were twisted behind her back, and she was firmly restrained in place, unable to move.
“Be gentle. Do not hurt our honored guest.”
The man seated in the chair spoke unhurriedly, his voice languid. He then gave a slight gesture toward the “Lord Yuexi” standing beside the folding screen.
“Serve tea to our guest who has come from afar.”
The young man in the moon-white robe stepped forward and gracefully poured two cups of hot tea. He then lowered his head and obediently withdrew to one side.
The man in the luxurious brocade robe raised his hand and gestured toward Wu Shiqing.
“Sit.”
Although the restraints on her hands had been loosened, two burly guards were already standing on either side of the doorway like guardian deities, blocking off any possibility of escape.
Wu Shiqing did not sit down immediately.
She straightened her slender back and warily scrutinized the young man before her.
He wore a purple brocade robe embroidered with silver patterns, and his entire bearing was noble and distinguished, with an underlying sense of oppression lingering between his brows.
When Wu Shiqing glanced again at the young man in the moon-white robe who had poured the tea, she finally saw clearly. Although the other party wore white gauze that concealed his nose and mouth, his eyes were cold and unfamiliar. He was absolutely not her Second Brother.
An overwhelming sense of disappointment and emptiness crashed down upon her like icy water, tearing at her heart until it hurt.
However, the instincts she had honed over three years on the run allowed her to suppress her emotions quickly. Right now, the most important thing was to stay alive and get out of this place.
Fine beads of cold sweat seeped across Wu Shiqing’s back.
She quickly scanned her surroundings, forcing herself to steady her breathing before lowering her voice and demanding coldly, “Who are you? Why have you set a trap to detain this humble one? What exactly do you want?”
The man took a small sip of tea and slowly raised his deep, night-dark eyes. His tone was calm and even, yet carried an invisible pressure.
“You brought someone with you and went around asking about this prince’s male courtesans throughout the streets of the capital. Now that this prince has personally come here, you no longer recognize me?”
Wu Shiqing’s pupils abruptly contracted, and the words escaped her mouth before she could stop them.
“Prince Yi… Xiao Ying!?”
The commander of the personal guard standing nearby immediately stepped forward and rebuked her sternly.
“How insolent! How dare you address His Highness by name!”
“Stand down.”
Xiao Ying raised his hand slightly, interrupting the commander.
“Why bother arguing with a child?”
He placed his teacup on the table with a crisp clink, then looked at Wu Shiqing again, his tone somewhat softer.
“Sit down. This prince’s time is precious. Let us not waste each other’s time.”
Wu Shiqing gritted her teeth. Under the circumstances, she had no choice but to pull out a chair and sit down.
However, her body remained stiff, and she did not dare touch the hot tea on the table, fearing that it might contain deadly poison or a sedative.
Xiao Ying had no intention of going around in circles with her. He got straight to the point.
“You brought along a guard with exceptional skills and slipped into the capital among a merchant caravan from Jiangnan. As soon as you entered the city, you began keeping an eye on Shuyu Pavilion and Drunken Cherry Court. Speak. Why are you taking such a great risk to find Lord Yuexi? What exactly are you plotting?”
His gaze was not sharp; in fact, it was gentle. Yet the depths of his eyes were cold.
Information about the two of them had continuously reached the prince’s residence through commercial routes, covert informants, and the hidden sentries stationed around Shuyu Pavilion.
Their lodgings had also been located.
As for whether the girl before him really was Wu Shiqing, he was already fairly certain, but he still needed to exercise caution.
Wu Shiqing’s heart sank.
Not only did the other party know they had infiltrated the capital among a merchant caravan from Jiangnan, but he had also kept a thorough account of their every move.
…The hidden sentries outside Shuyu Pavilion really were Prince Yi’s people.
She forcibly calmed herself. Her eyes reddened, and she quickly worked up a few traces of timid grievance, putting on a pitiful expression as she spoke.
“This humble one… is merely a country girl who came to the capital to search for relatives. I was so eager to find my family just now that I mistook someone for another person. I had no intention of offending Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and allow this humble one to leave!”
Xiao Ying lifted his teacup and glanced at her, speaking more slowly.
“This prince is neither a bloodthirsty demon nor interested in killing innocent people indiscriminately. If you honestly explain everything, perhaps this prince might even lend you a hand.”
But how could Wu Shiqing trust the empty promises of someone from the nobility?
She had been born into an official family and had understood the methods of those in positions of power from a young age.
Her eyes shifted slightly as she answered with three parts truth and seven parts falsehood.
“Since Your Highness has put it that way, this humble one dares not conceal anything. I do indeed have an elder brother. Several years ago, we became separated amid the chaos of war. Recently, I heard that there were two exceptionally talented and handsome top courtesans in the capital’s male entertainment houses, both around my elder brother’s age. That was why I took the risk of entering the capital to investigate, hoping to determine whether Lord Yuexi or Night Cherry might be my elder brother… But now it seems I was overthinking things and mistook someone else for him.”
As she spoke, she glanced somewhat dejectedly at the young man wearing white gauze beside the folding screen.
Xiao Ying savored his tea, a trace of amusement passing through his eyes.
He thought to himself that this little girl was indeed crafty and unpredictable. Even in this situation, she had not forgotten to fish for information from him.
Still, he had no intention of hiding the truth.
“This person is not the real Lord Yuexi. He is merely a substitute arranged by this prince.”
Xiao Ying set down his teacup and spoke indifferently.
“Before I have thoroughly confirmed whether you really are Wu Shiqing, naturally I cannot allow you to meet him so easily.”
His words exploded in Wu Shiqing’s mind like a bolt of thunder.
So Prince Yi had not only thoroughly investigated their movements but had also seen through her identity from the beginning.
More importantly, the implication behind his words was practically an admission that Lord Yuexi was indeed Wu Jiuling.
Wu Shiqing’s emotions surged violently. In the briefest instant, she understood the situation.
Since the other party had already seen through her cards, continuing to resist would only make her a laughingstock.
She put away her earlier timidity, and her expression immediately became serious and composed.
“I really am Wu Shiqing. If Your Highness does not believe me, you can simply have Lord Yuexi come out and meet me. The truth will become clear immediately!”
The corners of Xiao Ying’s lips curved in an almost imperceptible smile, but his eyes remained icy.
“This prince has already told you that you cannot see him right now. Besides, how will you prove that you are Wu Shiqing? Three years ago, the Wu family was destroyed, and Wu Shiqing disappeared without a trace. There are countless girls of a similar age in this world. How can you prove that you are not an assassin sent by someone else to approach Lord Yuexi?”
Xiao Ying’s gaze flicked briefly toward the dagger that had just been taken from her.
Wu Shiqing was immediately rendered speechless.
…That was right. What could she use as proof?
She did not even have household registration documents, and she had already pawned the golden plum-blossom hairpin that symbolized her identity.
There were only two people in this world who could prove who she was: Shi Yi and her Second Brother.
But Shi Yi was a fugitive himself and could not prove his own identity, while before her identity was established, Xiao Ying would never allow her to see her Second Brother.
Wu Shiqing took a deep breath and gritted her teeth.
“I really don’t have any official documents bearing the government seal… but I can tell you things that only Wu Shiqing would know!”
Xiao Ying nodded slightly, clearly appreciating her courage and composure.
“Very well. Let me ask you this: at which pawnshop in the neighboring prefecture did you pawn something, and what did you pawn?”
Wu Shiqing was secretly startled. This man even knew about such things. Without revealing her surprise, she immediately answered.
“I asked Uncle Shi to pawn a golden plum-blossom hairpin at Yong’an Pawnshop. It was an important gift my parents personally gave me on my tenth birthday.”
She lowered her eyes, her voice taking on a hint of a sob.
“To come to the capital to find my Second Brother, I needed money, so I had no choice but to pawn the hairpin…”
Xiao Ying’s expression remained unchanged as he continued calmly, “Since it was a treasured personal possession, you must know its distinctive details.”
Wu Shiqing answered without hesitation.
“The hairpin was made of pure gold in the shape of a plum branch, with nine overlapping plum blossoms carved upon it. A small red agate bead was attached to the delicate chain at the end.” She paused briefly before adding, “There is a worn dent on the back of the petal of the lowest plum blossom.”
Her description was precise down to the smallest detail.
However, Xiao Ying understood that anyone who had obtained the hairpin could have memorized its external features just as easily.
As for the information about it being a tenth-birthday gift, he could simply check the goldsmith’s workshop records. Wu Shiqing might also have mentioned it to someone back then, so it was not impossible for others to know.
Xiao Ying remained impassive and posed his final question.
“One last question. What personal possession does Wu Jiuling treasure most?”
A deep memory and sorrow appeared in Wu Shiqing’s eyes, and her voice lowered.
“Second Brother always wears a dark jade pendant at his waist. Father personally carved it and gave it to him when he turned ten. On the back of the pendant, he engraved the character ‘玖’ in small seal script. Second Brother treasures it like his life and never takes it off.”
The girl’s eyes were clear and frank, without the slightest flicker of evasion or falsehood.
Xiao Ying now had his answer.
—The girl before him was indeed the Wu family’s young lady, Wu Shiqing.
She was real, and he was happy for Wu Jiuling.
But the practical problems still had to be dealt with.
Before Xiao Ying could speak, however, Wu Shiqing had already put away her sorrow. She folded her arms across her chest, raised her chin slightly, and glared at Xiao Ying with suspicion and wariness.
“Now it’s my turn to ask questions. How can Your Highness prove that you aren’t lying to me? Is Lord Yuexi really my Second Brother? And why should I trust you?”
Xiao Ying could not help chuckling at her words.
As he looked at this girl before him, dressed in coarse cloth and covered in dust yet possessing an unyielding spirit, he vaguely saw traces of Wu Jiuling in her—especially those defiant eyes.
“Think carefully. Do you really believe this prince has any reason to deceive you?”
Xiao Ying lazily propped up his chin, raising an eyebrow slightly.
“If this prince truly intended to arrest you and hand you over to the authorities to claim credit, why would I go to such lengths to set a trap and lure you here? Back when you entered the city with that merchant caravan, I already had dozens of ways to have you thrown into a dungeon without anyone noticing.”
“Besides… do you really think the two of you could have slipped through the capital’s layers of city defenses so smoothly?”
Wu Shiqing was secretly startled.
Thinking back on how smoothly everything had gone along the way, she recalled how the gates of the capital, which should have been subject to extremely strict inspections, had let them pass after they casually slipped the guards a single silver ingot…
Could it be that Prince Yi had secretly been escorting them all along, arranging everything on their behalf!?
“You two certainly have some nerve.”
Xiao Ying’s gaze suddenly turned stern, and an intimidating pressure radiated from his entire body.
“You are two wanted criminals sought by the imperial court, yet you brazenly wander the capital’s pleasure quarters, asking about the descendants of a disgraced official. You aren’t helping him. You are bringing a catastrophe down upon him.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice turned as cold as ice.
“If you fall into the hands of the authorities, this prince might still be able to maneuver things in your favor. But if you fall into the hands of someone else’s hidden agents, you will become the most lethal blade hanging over Wu Jiuling’s neck. What do you think will happen to him then?”
Last time, merely revealing information related to the Wu family case had been enough to make Wu Jiuling attend that appointment.
If Wu Shiqing were captured this time, Wu Jiuling would probably willingly place his own life into his enemy’s hands.
Wu Shiqing’s face drained of color under the impact of his icy words.
From Xiao Ying’s warning, she understood just how dangerous the situation was—
Her Second Brother’s circumstances in the capital were thousands of times more difficult and perilous than she had imagined.
Xiao Ying said nothing more. He simply took an object from the wide sleeve of his brocade robe, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it toward Wu Shiqing.
Wu Shiqing’s pupils trembled. With shaking fingers, she carefully picked up the object and cradled it in her palm.
It was a dark jade pendant, warm and smooth to the touch. Under the candlelight, it glowed with a lustrous sheen, polished by years of being handled and worn by its owner.
When she turned the pendant over, the neatly engraved character “玖” in small seal script immediately entered her sight. Those were the marks left by her father’s own hand, carved stroke by stroke all those years ago.
“This is Second Brother’s dark jade pendant…” She could never mistake it.
Wu Shiqing’s hands trembled slightly, and hot tears instantly welled in her eyes.
She pressed the pendant against her chest and asked urgently, her voice choked with tears, “Father carved this for Second Brother… He never takes it off. Why does Your Highness have it? Where is he now!?”
Faced with the girl’s rapid-fire questions, Xiao Ying simply replied in a calm tone, “Wu Jiuling personally gave this token to me, of course. But before I answer your other questions, let me ask you something. Why have you gone to such lengths and risked so much to find him? What exactly do you want?”
Wu Shiqing wiped away her tears and answered without hesitation.
“He is my biological elder brother! I only recently learned the truth about what happened three years ago—that our parents and eldest brother had already passed away… Now that I know my Second Brother is still alive, how could I not come looking for him!? Even if the road ahead is a mountain of blades and a sea of flames, I will find him and bring him back!”
“Bring him back, and then what?”
Xiao Ying’s tone was so calm it was almost cruel.
“Of course, I’ll take him away from this hellhole!”
“Take him away?”
Xiao Ying sneered and asked in return, “With what? The two of you are fugitives without even travel permits. You would take him back to a life on the run, living in constant fear, always at risk of being arrested and hunted down? Do you know what he is carrying on his shoulders now? Do you understand the situation he is in?”
Driven to the brink, Wu Shiqing’s eyes turned red. With years of accumulated grievance and resentment, she growled, “I know he was sold into a male brothel. I know he suffered endless torment and humiliation… That is precisely why I must save him and free him from that living hell!”
“Shi Yi attempted to sneak into the courtyard just now. My men apprehended him without injuring him. And now you are in the palm of my hand as well, with no way to escape.”
Xiao Ying sat upright in the purple sandalwood chair, his eyes like a frigid pool. His long, slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the tabletop, producing soft tap, tap sounds, each one seeming to strike heavily against the taut strings of the girl’s heart.
“The person protecting you can barely save himself. As for you… do you still have even the slightest bargaining chip with which to negotiate with this prince?”
“I…”
Wu Shiqing was momentarily at a loss for words. Her breath caught in her throat, and her trembling lips could not produce a single sound.
For three years, she had managed to evade arrest and pursuit through Shi Yi’s careful planning and her own resourcefulness.
But all of it had been torn to pieces in the face of absolute power. She had not a single bargaining chip left with which to secure the freedom of Shi Yi, herself, or her Second Brother.
Crystal-clear tears swirled desperately in her eyes, blurring the coldly beautiful, noble face before her.
Xiao Ying had completely understood the girl’s nature by now. She was brave and deeply devoted to those she loved, with an unyielding resilience in her bones, but in the end, she was also far too impulsive and reckless.
For precisely that reason, he absolutely could not allow her to remain in the capital, where undercurrents surged and danger could swallow people whole at any moment.
…At least, not now.
Looking at the girl before him, who was on the verge of emotional collapse and biting back her tears with clenched teeth, the layer of frost in Xiao Ying’s eyes softened slightly, revealing a faint sigh that was almost impossible to detect.
His tone gentled a little.
“If you truly wish to help Wu Jiuling, there is only one thing you can do for him right now.”
Wu Shiqing sniffled and raised her tear-reddened eyes, a faint, bewildered hope in her voice.
“…What is it?”
“Stay away from him. Do not see him. Do not allow yourself to become a fatal weakness that others can use against him.”
Although this request sounded cruel and heartless, Xiao Ying had no choice but to make it.
Wu Shiqing remaining in the capital would not benefit Wu Jiuling in the slightest. Instead, she would become a blade hanging over his neck.
All the color instantly drained from the girl’s face. Even her fingertips grew cold and numb.
She murmured in a daze, “Why… why would I become a threat to Second Brother?”
Xiao Ying fell silent for a moment.
There were many bloody, cruel political schemes and narrow, muddy paths that he did not wish to expose to this fourteen-year-old girl too early.
If she was to hear about them, it should be Wu Jiuling who told her himself.
“This prince has no obligation to explain it to you.”
Xiao Ying spoke in an even tone.
“The only thing I can promise you is this: I can let you see Wu Jiuling once, but you must agree to one condition.”
Wu Shiqing forced herself to pull together, took a breath, and asked warily, “What condition?”
“If you agree, this prince will arrange for people to secretly escort you and Shi Yi out of the capital early tomorrow morning, to Linzhou on the northern frontier. I will provide you with a secluded and secure place there and ensure that you have enough food and clothing. However, you must not leave your residence in Linzhou without permission, nor may you send private messages. My people will be stationed there to protect you.”
Upon hearing the words “Linzhou on the northern frontier,” Wu Shiqing’s heart sank to the bottom.
Such a distant place… Once she went there, who knew how many years would pass before she could see her Second Brother again?
Xiao Ying saw the desolation and despair in her eyes and added, “This is not a way of making you part forever. It is a necessary measure to protect both of you. Once you are far from the capital’s vortex, he will be able to fight without worrying about what might happen to you. When the turmoil in the capital has settled, this prince will naturally send someone to bring you back.”
“As for news, someone will report to you once a month to let you know he is safe.”
At this point, Xiao Ying paused slightly and turned his face toward her.
“Before you are sent beyond the capital’s inner circle, you and your brother can reunite tonight.”
Wu Shiqing trembled all over, almost unable to believe her ears. Her voice shook as she asked, “Really… I can really see Second Brother?”
“This prince never makes empty promises,” Xiao Ying replied coldly. “But remember the condition you have agreed to.”
Wu Shiqing lowered her head, her gaze falling upon the dark jade pendant in her arms as she quickly weighed her options.
Although she still did not understand many of the hidden circumstances, every word Xiao Ying had spoken had struck at the heart of the matter. She also had no bargaining chips with which to negotiate with Prince Yi.
If her existence really would bring a catastrophe upon her Second Brother, then no matter how deeply she missed him, she was willing to withdraw to a distant place.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness and sobs rising in her heart, and tried to make herself look calm and dignified. The girl rose from her chair and gave Xiao Ying a proper salute, displaying the excellent upbringing of a young lady from a distinguished family.
“Shiqing understands. I agree to Your Highness’s condition and am willing to abide by the rules. I was disrespectful and spoke out of turn to Your Highness earlier. I beg Your Highness to forgive me.”
The corners of Xiao Ying’s lips lifted, revealing a gentle, faint smile.
“This prince already told you that I do not hold things against children.”
Wu Shiqing looked up at the young prince before her and suddenly felt that perhaps the absurd rumors circulating outside about Prince Yi were not entirely true. Although His Highness Prince Yi had been frighteningly stern just now, he was meticulous in his thinking and had even protected her Second Brother with the utmost care.
Xiao Ying stood up.
“There is no time to waste. Come with me.”
He then led the false substitute and the guards outside, and Wu Shiqing hurriedly followed close behind.
They boarded the black carriage waiting at the back gate.
When the carriage arrived at the back entrance of Shuyu Pavilion, Xiao Ying turned his head and instructed her quietly, “Stay in the carriage. Do not show yourself.”
With that, he straightened his clothes and adjusted his appearance before lifting the curtain and stepping down. He then reached out and took the false Lord Yuexi’s hand with “deep affection,” escorting him all the way into Shuyu Pavilion. Only after confirming that the substitute had safely entered the establishment did he return to the carriage.
This was a scene he had to perform once every so often.
The real Lord Yuexi had long since been settled in Wangchen Cove, deep within the prince’s residence, and had not stepped outside the gates even once. The Lord Yuexi seen by the outside world was, from beginning to end, merely a substitute in disguise.
Wu Shiqing sat in the shadows inside the carriage, watching in stunned disbelief. She could not make head or tail of what kind of play His Highness was putting on.
The carriage started moving again. Xiao Ying noticed her bewildered expression and explained indifferently.
“In the eyes of the outside world, this prince and Lord Yuexi are a pair of deeply devoted ‘lovers.’ Naturally, we have to put on a convincing performance in public. Shuyu Pavilion is a mixed bag of people, so the one who appears in public has always been a substitute. As for the real Lord Yuexi… he has long since been settled safely in my residence.”
He paused briefly, his tone turning solemn.
“But there is no absolutely safe place in this world. You must remember to be cautious in everything you do and think about the consequences before you act. Consider what your Second Brother would do to himself if you fell into the hands of wicked people.”
Wu Shiqing lowered her little head, looking somewhat dejected.
“Shiqing will remember…”
“There is no need to be so discouraged. The fact that the two of you managed to escape for these three years and remain safe until now shows that you have some ability.”
Xiao Ying’s tone softened slightly.
“When you see your Second Brother later, do not be too surprised. He has suffered immensely over the years, and his temperament has changed greatly. But there has never been a moment when he forgot you. One of the main reasons he chose to pledge himself to this prince was that he hoped to use my power to find you.”
He looked at Wu Shiqing, a trace of a smile appearing in his eyes.
“He has never forgotten who he is, nor has he fallen into degradation because of what happened. Instead, he has struggled with every ounce of his strength to climb back up. So… you can be proud of him.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Shiqing’s eyes reddened again.
So… Second Brother had been looking for her all along. He had never abandoned her.
She could hardly wait to see him and hear about the suffering he had endured.
Seeing that her little face was covered in dust, Xiao Ying took a clean, white silk handkerchief from his brocade sleeve and handed it to her.
“Wipe your face. When you see your Second Brother later, surely you don’t want him to see you looking like a little kitten covered in dirt?”
Wu Shiqing held the soft handkerchief and hesitated for a moment before finally taking it and carefully wiping the dirt from her face.
Only then did she remember that she was still wearing coarse men’s clothing and looked disheveled and miserable.
It was one thing that Prince Yi had already seen her in this state, but the thought of meeting her Second Brother, whom she had not seen for three years, looking like this made her feel terribly embarrassed.
Xiao Ying saw through her thoughts.
“There are no spare women’s clothes in the prince’s residence. If you don’t mind, I can send someone to fetch a clean men’s brocade robe for you to change into.”
Wu Shiqing shook her head repeatedly.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. There is no need to trouble yourself. I just want to see Second Brother as soon as possible. Besides… Second Brother definitely won’t despise me.”
Xiao Ying chuckled softly.
“That is true. He can hardly wait to see you himself. How could he possibly despise you?”
Wu Shiqing clutched the handkerchief and secretly glanced up at Xiao Ying.
At first, she had heard that Prince Yi was a dissolute prince, but during their confrontation just now, what she had sensed was caution and deep calculation, followed by thoughtfulness and gentleness. She could not help wondering what kind of relationship Xiao Ying and her Second Brother actually had.
She vaguely felt that Prince Yi’s protection of her Second Brother had gone far beyond what would be expected between ordinary acquaintances.
“Your Highness, why are you helping us?” she finally asked. “I am a serious criminal wanted by the imperial court. What exactly is your purpose in helping us?”
Xiao Ying played with the ivory folding fan in his hand, his lowered eyelashes concealing the clear calculations in his eyes.
“This matter is complicated and cannot be explained in just a few words. You need not rush to understand it. You only need to know that there are doubts surrounding the Wu family case from back then, and there may be a chance to clear your family’s name. Your Second Brother is working toward that very goal.”
The folding fan tapped lightly against his palm, producing a crisp sound.
He raised his eyes, the corners of his peach-blossom eyes curving slightly with a hint of amusement and a smile.
“As for this prince, I merely did what I could in advance. As for my true purpose… perhaps you will understand it someday.”
Wu Shiqing blinked and could only nod in confusion.
At that moment, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Xiao Ying raised a hand toward her, signaling her not to make a sound or move recklessly.
The Prince Yi residence was located in the inner city. Ordinarily, when traveling in the prince’s carriage, the guards recognized the insignia on the vehicle and the accompanying personal guards, so they would not usually stop it. But today, he had deliberately prepared an ordinary carriage, making this checkpoint inspection unavoidable.
Xiao Ying lifted one corner of the carriage curtain, leaned out slightly, and untied a white jade waist token from his belt before handing it out.
“It is this prince. The carriage from my residence was temporarily out of order, so I had to change vehicles.”
When the guard saw the white jade token being handed out from the carriage, his expression changed.
The words “Prince Yi” were engraved on the front of the jade token.
He immediately bowed, accepted the token with both hands, and carefully compared it against the records in the official register.
However, the guard’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure inside the carriage through the gap in the curtain.
Xiao Ying signaled the coachman to slip some silver into the guard’s hand, then smiled as he explained, “This is a young attendant I recently purchased.”
The guard immediately understood.
Those nobles who favored men often bought children from the human market, nominally as attendants but in reality keeping them in their residences as personal possessions. Such things were not uncommon among the capital’s nobility, and the guard had long since grown accustomed to them.
He did not dare ask any further questions. After accepting the silver, he respectfully returned the jade token and lowered his head to let the carriage pass.
Only when the carriage had entered the inner city and the sound of the horses’ hooves had returned to a steady rhythm did Wu Shiqing finally let out a long breath of relief.
Her back had already been soaked with cold sweat, but she had stubbornly held herself together without making a sound.
After she had calmed down again, she looked at Prince Yi with a face full of suspicion. During the inspection just now, Xiao Ying had behaved so naturally that he had not shown the slightest trace of guilt. He had even carried out the entire procedure as smoothly as flowing water.
Could it be… that Prince Yi often engaged in this sort of business…?
She could not help worrying about her Second Brother. Although Prince Yi seemed to treat him well, he had also said that, in the eyes of the outside world, the two of them were a pair of “lovers.” What exactly was their relationship in reality?
Noticing her gaze, Xiao Ying casually asked, “What is it?”
Wu Shiqing hesitated for a moment but ultimately could not suppress her curiosity.
“Your Highness… what exactly is your relationship with my Second Brother?”
Xiao Ying raised an eyebrow, an amused smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“Explaining that would be rather complicated. At present, there is no precise relationship that can clearly define it. But rest assured, this prince has not treated him as a male possession. Your Second Brother is still completely innocent.”
Xiao Ying spoke bluntly. Although Wu Shiqing did not fully understand, she had spent these years wandering outside and had heard all sorts of things, so she could more or less grasp what he meant. Hearing him say this, she finally felt a little reassured.
When they arrived at the residence, Xiao Ying got out first and habitually held out his hand to help her down.
Unexpectedly, Wu Shiqing jumped nimbly from the carriage with a thud, showing none of the restraint expected of an official’s daughter. Instead, she resembled a wild little boy who had grown up running free.
Xiao Ying could not help laughing.
It seemed that the three years spent fleeing had changed not only Wu Jiuling, but had also tempered the once-spoiled young lady into a resilient little wildcat.
“Let’s go.”
Xiao Ying led the way, while Wu Shiqing followed closely behind, her heart filled with overwhelming nervousness and excitement.
The two passed through the quiet rear garden. The night was deep, and a faint floral fragrance lingered in the air. Bright lanterns hung beneath the covered walkway, stretching all the way toward the secluded Wangchen Cove.
◆◇◆◇◆
Inside Wangchen Cove, flower shadows swayed in the breeze, and everything was tranquil and peaceful.
A clear, distant flute melody drifted gently through the night, like a mountain stream flowing over clear stones, soothing the clamor of the darkness.
Following behind Xiao Ying, Wu Shiqing came to an abrupt halt when she heard the melody she had not heard for three years. It felt as though her heart had been struck heavily, and she could barely suppress the sob rising in her throat.
She remembered how, years ago, their father had taught Second Brother to play this very tune, guiding his hands in the courtyard beneath the moon. The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms had filled the entire courtyard, mingling with warm laughter. It was one of the most vivid memories of her childhood.
The flute melody remained, but both of them had changed…
Sensing someone approaching, the young man beside the stone table opened his eyes and covered the flute holes, bringing the melody to an abrupt stop.
When he turned and saw Xiao Ying, he had only just begun to say, “Your Highness,” before stopping. The small, slender figure behind Xiao Ying had unexpectedly entered his line of sight.
Xiao Ying turned slightly to the side.
“Jiuling, I’ve brought someone to see you.”
As he spoke, he gently nudged Wu Shiqing forward a little.
When Wu Jiuling finally recognized who had come, his breathing faltered slightly, and his gaze fixed on her face.
The girl before him had grown taller, but she was painfully thin.
She wore a somewhat oversized set of coarse men’s clothing, and traces of wiping still remained on her cheeks. It was almost impossible to recognize the once-spoiled young lady in her… but those eyes were still bright and clear. They had merely lost the carefree innocence of the past, now bearing the hardships and weathering that the last three years had carved into her.
“Qing’er…” Wu Jiuling’s voice trembled faintly.
Throughout every day and night of these past three years, he had never stopped thinking—
Was his younger sister safe? Was she doing well? Where was she?
Was she… still alive?
And now, she was right before his eyes.
He had been completely unprepared. He stood frozen in place, afraid to reach out, terrified that the sight before him was nothing more than an illusory dream he had longed for but could never attain, something that would shatter the moment he touched it.
“Second Brother!”
At last, she had reunited with the family member whose blood was connected to hers. All the grievances, despair, worries, and hopes she had suppressed for three years burst forth like a flood breaking through a dam. Wu Shiqing could no longer maintain her forced composure, and her eyes instantly turned red.
Candlelight and moonlight fell upon Wu Jiuling. He wore a simple moon-white robe, and his ink-black hair was not fully tied up, hanging down to his calves. His slender figure looked as though it might snap with the slightest bend.
His features had grown even colder than she remembered… The starlight had faded from his eyes, replaced by a quietness and weariness that came after all worldly splendor had been stripped away. His entire being radiated a chilling, snow-like aura, making him seem like a completely different person from the spirited young man he had once been.
Like a wounded little beast, Wu Shiqing threw herself into Wu Jiuling’s arms and clung tightly to his waist, bursting into loud, heartbroken sobs.
“Second Brother, it really is you! Qing’er thought I would never see you again!”
Only when he felt the real warmth and trembling of the little figure in his arms did Wu Jiuling finally dare to believe that this was not a dream.
The younger sister he had desperately searched for over three years was truly here.
His outstretched hand hesitated for a moment before slowly wrapping around her small, trembling body. He had wanted to speak and comfort her, but his throat felt as though it were blocked by dry sand and stones. He choked up so badly that he could not utter a single syllable. Only the corners of his eyes burned.
The humiliation, pain, despair, and hatred he had endured over the past three years seemed utterly insignificant at this moment.
Standing to one side, Xiao Ying took a small wooden box from Lan Ningcheng, who had just walked over, and handed it to Wu Shiqing.
“This belongs to you. Be careful not to lose it again in the future. As for your dagger, I’ll return it to you before you leave the capital tomorrow.”
Wu Shiqing vigorously wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and accepted the wooden box with both hands.
She opened it in confusion. When she saw the golden plum-blossom hairpin inside—the one she had painfully pawned to raise money to come to the capital to search for her Second Brother, believing she would never see it again in this lifetime—her tears began falling in large drops once more, even though she had just managed to stop them.
“Shiqing… Shiqing thanks Your Highness for your great kindness…”
Her voice trembled with sobs. She bent forward, about to kneel and knock her head against the ground in gratitude, but Xiao Ying quickly raised his arm and stopped her.
“Why are you Wu siblings all the same? You kneel at the slightest thing. There’s no need for that. Just behave yourself from now on.”
Xiao Ying turned to leave.
“I won’t disturb your reunion any longer. I’ve already arranged for Shi Yi to stay somewhere else. Someone will come to escort you out of the capital early tomorrow morning. Make good use of tonight to say everything you need to say.”
After speaking, Xiao Ying exchanged a glance with Lan Ningcheng, and the two turned and left Wangchen Cove together, leaving this secluded place to the siblings who had been separated for so long.
Wu Jiuling caught the urgency implied in Xiao Ying’s words. He also picked up on the key phrases “leave the capital” and “tomorrow,” along with the considerable amount of information conveyed between the lines. He did not ask any questions, merely bowing deeply toward Xiao Ying’s departing figure.
As he straightened up, his gaze fell on the small wooden box in Wu Shiqing’s hands, then shifted to her little face streaked with tears. He studied her intently for a moment.
Wu Shiqing had only just wiped away her tears. After finally reuniting with her Second Brother today, and now miraculously getting back the hairpin that was so important to her, this should have been a moment of happiness.
Who would have thought that when she looked up, she would find something strange about the way her Second Brother was staring at her? Worse still, the corners of his lips had lifted into a long-lost “gentle” smile—a smile that seemed to radiate a dark aura that chilled her to the bone.
That was the signature smile her Second Brother used to wear when he was angry and preparing to give her a thorough scolding!
“Qing’er…” Wu Jiuling stared at her, his tone so gentle that it made her skin crawl. “You haven’t… caused His Highness any trouble, have you?”
Wu Shiqing’s mind instantly flashed back to her reckless actions over the past few days, as well as the golden hairpin she had pawned. She silently swallowed, a gulp sounding in her throat.
“I-I don’t think… I caused His Highness too much trouble… did I?”
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, and she felt so guilty that she dared not meet her Second Brother’s eyes.
Wu Jiuling nodded slightly, the smile at the corners of his lips deepening. Turning to the side, he said calmly, “That’s good. Then… let’s go inside first. Second Brother wants to hear how you and Shi Yi made your way to the capital, as well as how His Highness ‘invited’ you here, and what happened with the dagger. Let’s sit down… and talk about it slowly.”
Wu Shiqing looked at the gentle smile still hanging on Wu Jiuling’s face, and her feet froze firmly in place. Suddenly, she did not want to go inside at all.
The good news was that although her Second Brother had changed quite a bit, some things about him had remained exactly the same.
The bad news was that she would probably be confined indoors tonight and lectured for the entire night.
In the past, her Second Brother had been like a flawless white lotus, untouched by the dust of the world. But now, that lotus was still there—it had simply become a night-blooming lotus.