The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten and the first faint rays of dawn appeared, the small courtyard of Wangchen Lodge remained immersed in the chill of the predawn hours. Those within the courtyard had spent a sleepless night.
Shi Yi was led into Wangchen Lodge.
The moment he caught sight of Wu Jiuling, standing alone in a pale moon-white robe with his usual cool, detached bearing, his tall frame could no longer hold itself upright. He fell heavily to his knees. The shoulders of this weather-beaten guard trembled violently as he choked out his words.
“Second Young Master… Shi Yi has failed you, and failed Master even more!”
Back then, when Wu Junqing had been entrusted with a critical mission in a time of crisis, he had placed his family’s fate and his only surviving bloodline in Shi Yi’s hands, ordering him in the strictest terms to take the Second Young Master and Eldest Miss out of the capital and protect them at all costs.
But the situation had collapsed far too quickly. Despite exhausting every effort, Shi Yi had only managed to save Wu Shiqing at the cost of his own life being nearly forfeit. He had been forced to watch helplessly as Wu Jiuling was swept into that overwhelming maelstrom.
Over the past three years, this thought had cut into his heart like a dull knife through countless sleepless nights. If only he had been a little faster back then. If only he could have taken the Second Young Master with him as well…
To confirm whether Wu Jiuling was alive or dead, Shi Yi had once risked being arrested on the spot by the Imperial Guards. Disguised, he had secretly returned to the southern part of the city to investigate the official notices posted there.
On that cold sheet of paper bearing the names of those condemned, the names of Wu Junqing, his wife, and their eldest son had been listed in plain sight. The three scarlet characters Execution Without Delay had pierced his eyes so painfully that he had nearly lost control on the spot. Gritting his teeth, he had tremblingly read the list over and over until he reached the section at the end listing those registered in the music and entertainment establishments and saw the name Wu Jiuling.
Rather than easing his anxiety, the discovery had completely overwhelmed him with an intense sense of guilt and remorse.
Master had treated him with a kindness as vast as the mountains and seas, regarding him almost as a member of the family. Shi Yi had once sworn to protect the Wu family with his life.
Yet now, the Second Young Master had ended up in a male courtesan house, enduring three years of humiliation and torment. Shi Yi hated his own incompetence. He hated himself for failing to take the young master away back then.
Wu Jiuling stood beside the stone path, calmly watching Shi Yi, who had broken down in tears.
The previous night, he had already heard the entire story from his younger sister. He knew all too well how Shi Yi had struggled to survive with the young Shiqing over the past three years, living each day in fear and uncertainty, constantly fleeing from one danger to the next.
There was hatred in his heart, but it was directed at the true mastermind hiding in the highest seats of power. He would never take that hatred out on the loyal guard standing before him.
“Uncle Shi, please raise your head.”
Wu Jiuling stepped forward slowly and personally helped him to his feet. His voice was gentle, yet carried a reassuring strength.
“You have already done enough. You kept Shiqing safe and brought her back to the capital unharmed. The fact that we can reunite here today is largely thanks to you. As for what happened in the past… you need not dwell on it. If Father knew what happened from beyond the grave, he would certainly not blame you. Nor have I ever resented you.”
Shi Yi slowly raised his head and looked at the young man before him, who had once spent his days reading and practicing calligraphy, playing the flute and the qin before his father.
The Second Young Master had now shed the youthful innocence and brightness he once possessed. An impenetrable frost seemed to have settled deep within his eyes.
Yet his straight back and resolute gaze gave the impression that he could shoulder the burden of his entire fallen family.
Shi Yi’s shoulders, which had remained tense for three years, finally slumped. He released a long, relieved breath.
Under the corridor not far away, Wu Shiqing stood quietly, secretly wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief.
She had changed into a clean, comfortable dress in a plain color. After washing away the dust and disheveled appearance from her face, her naturally beautiful features were revealed once more, faintly recalling the appearance of a young lady from a prestigious family.
However, the joy of their reunion could not ultimately overcome the cruelty of reality.
With the arrival of dawn came the time for parting.
Wu Jiuling walked up to his younger sister and personally pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, carefully concealing her slightly pale face in the shadows. As he gazed into her eyes, they were filled with an overwhelming reluctance to part and concern for her well-being.
“When you reach Linzhou, remember to rest and recuperate properly. The residence there is secluded and secure. It will keep you safe.”
Then he took a small bundle from Ai Qin and placed it in Wu Shiqing’s hands.
“There is some travel money inside. Use this first whenever you need it.”
“Second Brother…”
Wu Shiqing clutched the small bundle he had given her with both hands and accepted it gratefully. She knew those must be the savings her second brother had painstakingly accumulated over the years.
Her eyes reddened once again.
“You must take good care of yourself. Promise me you won’t push yourself too hard… Uncle Shi and I will wait for you in Linzhou. No matter how long it takes, we’ll wait for you to come and bring us home.”
“Second Brother promises.”
Wu Jiuling smiled gently. He raised his long, slender fingers and softly brushed away the stray hairs along the edge of her hood, committing every detail of her present appearance to memory.
“Once you get there, don’t be so reckless anymore. Don’t cause trouble for others.”
“Shiqing will remember…”
Wu Shiqing sniffed and fought back her tears.
As though suddenly remembering something, she hurriedly reached into her robe and took out the smooth, dark jade pendant. Holding it carefully in both hands, she offered it to him.
“Second Brother, this is something you always carry with you. Take it back.”
Wu Jiuling lowered his eyes and glanced at the dark jade pendant, polished smooth from repeated handling. However, he did not accept it. Instead, he gently pushed her hands back, laying his slender palm over the back of hers.
“Keep it for now. Think of it as… Second Brother staying by your side. When the day comes that we truly reunite, you can return it to me personally.”
Wu Shiqing gazed into her elder brother’s deep, resolute eyes and nodded firmly, tucking the jade pendant safely against her body.
“All right. I’ll take good care of it for you.”
She turned and looked at Shi Yi standing nearby.
Shi Yi immediately understood. He untied the bundle he carried with him and carefully took out an old-fashioned wooden box from the very bottom, presenting it to her.
Wu Shiqing accepted the wooden box and solemnly handed it to Wu Jiuling.
“Second Brother, please keep this box.”
When Wu Jiuling’s fingertips touched the surface of the wooden box, his slender fingers paused slightly.
The box was not large. Its material was neither gold nor jade, yet it carried the heavy aura of age.
A finely carved emblem of a double-tiered crimson-snow plum blossom was stamped prominently on both the clasp and the lid. It was the family crest passed down through generations of the Wu family.
This was clearly no ordinary object. The clasp was fitted with a complicated, old-fashioned iron lock made of refined steel.
“Shiqing, what is this…?”
Even Wu Jiuling’s usually cool, detached voice took on a note of gravity.
“The day the Wu family met with disaster three years ago, Father entrusted this box to me.” Wu Shiqing raised her face and slowly recounted what had happened back then. “Father repeatedly warned me that no matter what happened in the future, I must never open it on my own. He told me to guard it carefully, even at the cost of my life.”
At the time, she had still been young and had no idea what earth-shattering secret the box might contain. She had only known that it was something her father had entrusted to her with his life.
Now, she understood the turbulent state of affairs in the capital. She also knew that her second brother and Prince Yi were secretly investigating the wrongful case from that year.
Keeping the wooden box in the hands of a helpless young woman about to flee to the northern frontier would serve little purpose. Only by entrusting it to her second brother might it finally fulfill its true purpose.
Wu Jiuling stared at the cold iron lock and took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the thoughts churning in his mind.
The situation remained unclear, and blind speculation would accomplish nothing.
But he knew that the object his father had left behind might well be the key to uncovering the truth behind the corruption case and the massacre of the Wu family.
He accepted the wooden box with the utmost solemnity.
Lan Ningcheng quietly observed the scene from the side. Seeing that the sky was growing brighter, he had no choice but to remind them, “It’s getting late. We should set out.”
Wu Shiqing reluctantly raised her eyes to look at Wu Jiuling.
She restrained the urge to throw herself into her brother’s arms one last time. Instead, she composed herself and performed a proper curtsy, bidding him farewell in the most dignified manner befitting a young lady of a prestigious family.
“…Second Brother, please take good care of yourself. Shiqing will certainly follow the rules and behave properly on this journey. I will never give you any reason to worry.”
She tried her best to remain calm, but the tremor in her voice and the crystalline tears swirling in her eyes ultimately betrayed the overwhelming sorrow in her heart.
After the heart-wrenching separation three years ago, she had believed that enduring all those hardships would eventually bring her family back together. Instead, she had been confronted with the cruel truth that her family had been destroyed.
She was no longer naive. Naturally, she understood that the northern frontier was far away, with mountains and rivers stretching between them, and that the road ahead was fraught with unpredictable dangers. One wrong step could mean utter destruction.
But she also understood that if she continued to remain in the capital, she would become the most fatal weakness hanging around her second brother’s neck.
Only by following Prince Yi’s arrangements and disappearing into the distance could she best protect her brother.
Wu Jiuling met his sister’s tearful gaze. His expression remained calm, though a thousand tender emotions surged deep within his eyes. He raised a hand and gently patted her shoulder. In the end, all the words he wished to say were reduced to a single reminder.
“Take good care of yourself on the road, too.”
Shi Yi stepped forward, swept aside the hem of his robe, and knelt before Wu Jiuling. He struck his forehead heavily against the ground and spoke with unwavering conviction.
“Second Young Master, rest assured. As long as I draw breath, I swear to protect Miss with my life!”
“Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Shi.” Wu Jiuling nodded solemnly.
Under Lan Ningcheng’s personal escort, Wu Shiqing and Shi Yi turned around and resolutely left Wangchen Lodge, quietly making their way out of the prince’s residence along a secluded path.
Wu Jiuling stood in the dawn breeze, watching the two departing figures disappear beyond the courtyard gate. He remained motionless for a long time.
Only after a considerable while did he finally hug the heavy wooden box to his chest, turn around, and walk back into the dimly lit room.
Outside a side gate of the prince’s residence, an extremely inconspicuous carriage silently disappeared into the morning mist enveloping the capital.
Inside the carriage, accompanied by the creaking of the turning wheels, Wu Shiqing leaned against the cold wall of the carriage. Yet her heart was no longer filled with the confusion and helplessness she had felt when she first arrived in the capital.
In their place was a sense of security and hope unlike anything she had ever known.
Because she knew that her second brother was still alive.
As long as he remained alive, the roots of the Wu family would never be severed.
Their family had not yet truly fallen apart.
◆◇◆◇◆
That night, when Xiao Ying returned to his residence after finishing his duties, he listened as Lan Ningcheng reported on household affairs and other intelligence along the way, casually making his way toward the study in the main courtyard.
Wu Jiuling was already waiting there.
The lanterns beneath the corridor swayed in the wind, illuminating his slender figure. In his arms, he held the ironwood box engraved with the double-tiered crimson-snow plum blossom crest.
“Come in.”
Xiao Ying paused briefly, his gaze lingering on the wooden box for a moment before he pushed open the door and entered.
The three of them proceeded deeper into the study. Lan Ningcheng turned and closed the door behind them, then sternly instructed the personal guards outside to remain on high alert and not allow any unauthorized person to approach.
Xiao Ying walked directly to the bookshelf and removed several thick books. He then pressed precisely against a nearly imperceptible hidden mechanism in the wall.
A dull click sounded. The entire bookshelf silently slid to one side, revealing a concealed door leading into a secret chamber.
The three entered one after another.
The chamber was not large. Its walls were densely covered with case files and intelligence reports. On one wall, red threads and tiny nails had been arranged into an intricate web of connections.
The Jiangnan Grain Transport Shortfall Case, the Pruning Case, the Drowning Case, the Burning of the Pleasure Boat, the Calming Decoction… Every incident pointed toward the tangled power struggles in the capital.
And right at the center of the web of red threads was a note bearing an emblem of a half-opened peony.
Wu Jiuling carefully concealed his emotions. He walked to the table, gently set down the wooden box, and pushed it toward Xiao Ying.
“This box bears the Wu family crest. It was also something my father entrusted to my younger sister at the cost of his life, instructing her to take it away. He specifically warned her never to open it casually… Perhaps the truth my father risked his life to keep hidden is inside.”
Xiao Ying stared at the old wooden box, a thoughtful glint passing through his eyes. His voice carried a hint of suspicion.
“This wooden box… isn’t it one of those mechanical boxes that will spontaneously combust if opened without following a specific procedure, burning the box, its contents, and the person unlocking it to ashes?”
He had heard that the Xia clan possessed many lost mechanical techniques and had even developed a secret mechanical box designed to destroy all evidence if handled carelessly. Someone had once tried to force one open. Not only had the box and its contents burned, but the person had also suffered burns, with all his hair singed off.
Wu Jiuling could not help giving a wry smile.
“Your Highness is overthinking it. The Wu family doesn’t have such a deep foundation. We couldn’t create mechanisms as ingenious as those of the Xia clan.” His gaze fell on the iron lock at the opening of the box. “However, this lock is indeed no ordinary lock. Neither my sister nor I have the key…”
“Have someone try to unlock it first. If they really can’t open it, then we can consider breaking it,” Lan Ningcheng calmly suggested from the side.
Xiao Ying nodded in agreement.
Lan Ningcheng immediately went to fetch a prince’s residence shadow guard who was skilled in mechanical techniques.
The guard knelt on one knee, his expression solemn, and took several specially made fine steel needles and miniature iron pliers from a leather tool case. Holding his breath, he carefully inserted them into the keyhole.
The faint scraping of metal sounded particularly clear in the silent chamber. Fine sweat gradually appeared on the guard’s forehead as he repeatedly adjusted his technique.
Just as everyone was beginning to consider forcibly breaking the wooden box—
Finally, with a crisp little click, the iron lock that had remained closed for three years sprang open.
The guard bowed and withdrew.
Wu Jiuling took a deep breath. His cool fingers settled on the lid, and he slowly lifted it.
Inside the wooden box, two objects lay quietly against faded, mottled red velvet:
Three unusually shaped, thin silver coins covered in intricately carved holes, and a sealed envelope carefully closed with wax.
Wu Jiuling first picked up the three silver coins.
They were thinner than ordinary coins, with anti-counterfeiting wave patterns engraved along their edges. The center of each bore the Wu family crest—the double-tiered crimson-snow plum blossom—and each was covered with tiny holes of various shapes.
Wu Jiuling ran his fingers over the miniature engravings, his gaze growing intent.
“These are… the Wu family’s coded silver coins.”
He had not seen these objects in three years. But rather than feeling nostalgic, he was alarmed. These were clearly not ordinary coins casually placed in a box to be exchanged for money.
“Coded silver coins?” Xiao Ying raised his eyebrows slightly. He had not known that the Wu family possessed such things.
“My father was once in charge of Jiangnan’s granaries, storage facilities, and commercial routes. To prevent important internal accounts from being secretly altered, he specially had this set of coded silver coins minted.”
Wu Jiuling arranged the three coins in a particular order and orientation, overlapping them before handing them to Xiao Ying.
“Your Highness, look. If you stack these three coins in the correct sequence and align the specific markings, then hold them up to candlelight, the overlapping holes will reveal hidden numbers.”
Xiao Ying followed his instructions and held the coins near the candle flame.
Sure enough, as the light passed through them, the tiny holes in the overlapping coins formed a clear sequence of digits.
He picked up his wolf-hair brush and casually wrote the numbers on the paper before him.
547\.
“It seems Lord Wu really did leave himself a contingency plan.”
A gleam passed through Xiao Ying’s eyes.
They had finally found a lead, and it had been hidden all along in the box Wu Shiqing had carried with her throughout her three years of wandering.
However, a single, isolated number could correspond to countless things.
Whether it was a granary ledger number, a grain warehouse code, or a cross-reference to multiple account books remained unknown.
“We should open the letter first,” Lan Ningcheng reminded them.
“Quite right.” Xiao Ying pushed the letter back toward Wu Jiuling. “Jiuling, you open it.”
Wu Jiuling did not hesitate. He carefully peeled away the seal and withdrew two yellowed sheets of paper from the envelope.
One was a neatly folded letter.
The other was likewise neatly folded and yellowed, a page torn directly from an account book.
Wu Jiuling unfolded the torn page. Half of the original seal crossing the edge of the page was still clearly visible.
As he gazed at the fragment, a trace of pain appeared in his eyes.
On that night three years ago, his father had burned most of the core account books to prevent the entire set from falling into the hands of his enemies, who would have altered every record and turned the falsified accounts into conclusive evidence against him. Before destroying them, he had secretly torn out this most crucial page and hidden it together with the coded silver coins.
When Wu Jiuling’s eyes swept over the page number at the edge of the fragment, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
“This torn page…”
He abruptly raised his head and compared the fragment with the number Xiao Ying had just written, 547.
“Your Highness, these three digits aren’t an isolated code. They represent the volume and page numbers. Of the ten original volumes among the core account books my father destroyed back then, this fragment… comes from the fifth volume!”
Xiao Ying glanced at the page. The page number was marked ‘Yu No. 4.’
“So if we separate the digits five, four, and seven, they correspond to the fifth volume of the Jiangnan grain transport ledgers, the fourth page, and the seventh transaction.”
His gaze swiftly locked onto the seventh entry on the torn page.
Jiangnan Grain Transport Directorate — Autumn Grain Warehouse Receipt Register, Year 32 of Yongsheng
Grain transport along the Eastern Jiangnan Route: 37,000 shi of grain
Handled by: Wang Shenkui, Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue
Verified by: Xiang Qinghong, Clerk of the Grain Transport Directorate
Third day of the ninth month, Year 32 of Yongsheng
When the names Wang Shenkui and Xiang Qinghong came into view, Lan Ningcheng’s expression turned grave. He stepped forward, pulled an old file concerning a regional granary from the case documents, and spoke in a low voice.
“Your Highness, Wang Shenkui, the person who handled the transaction recorded on this fragment, is indeed a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue under Vice Minister Zuo Sheng Yuanli. He is also connected to the person who previously spread the rumor about ‘recovering lost territory in three months,’ and he has ties to the fluctuations in Jiangnan grain prices. When I was previously ordered to verify the three intelligence reports compiled by Young Master Yuexi, this transaction happened to match information circulating among the common people.”
Xiao Ying’s gaze sharpened.
“Be more specific.”
Lan Ningcheng laid the old granary records alongside a map of the shipping routes.
“In the intelligence Young Master had secretly gathered through Shuyu Pavilion, there were records of several abnormal grain transport losses and discrepancies in warehouse inventories around Year 32 of Yongsheng. After I sent people to verify them, we discovered that the large quantity of grain officially reported as received for that shipment differed measurably from the records kept by the regional granaries and the independently preserved transportation logs.
“Furthermore, the reason given for the losses in the second volume involved a transportation route that overlapped almost exactly with the route taken by this autumn grain shipment. As for the weighing clerks and warehouse officials mentioned in the third volume, the dates of their resignations or transfers to distant posts coincided precisely with the period immediately before and after the accounts were reviewed again.”
Xiao Ying rapidly connected the information on the torn page, Wang Shenkui’s background, and Lan Ningcheng’s findings in his mind. He let out a cold laugh.
“Wang Shenkui. Not only did he handle these accounts back then, but recently he has also been frequently accessing old records. At present, he may not be the central mastermind behind the entire hidden network, but he is the clearest point of intersection connecting the Jiangnan grain transport shortfall case from that year with the financial network in the current court.”
Wu Jiuling then unfolded the yellowed letter.
The familiar handwriting made his eyes grow hot. It was unmistakably his father’s own hand.
Every word in the letter was earnest, and every line seemed to have been written in blood and tears.
In the letter, Wu Junqing explained that when he had reviewed the Jiangnan grain transport accounts, he had already discovered serious discrepancies between the actual transportation of grain and the official records.
Furthermore, part of the grain silver had been circulated through several seemingly unrelated trading companies, while certain people within the Ministry of Revenue had used routine reimbursement and document-access procedures to provide the transactions with a veneer of legitimacy.
The secret financial network ultimately led to the Sheng family.
He knew that if he submitted a memorial recklessly, the evidence would inevitably be suppressed or altered. That was why he had burned most of the core account books in advance, leaving behind only this fragment recording Wang Shenkui as the person who handled the transaction, along with the original evidence.
He had also instructed his descendants to cross-check the original accounts against transportation records and the silver used for reimbursement.
After reading the letter, Xiao Ying’s lips curled into an utterly icy smile.
“Well done, Sheng Yuanli. Using the Ministry of Revenue as a cover to drain the national treasury, then pinning the blame on loyal officials…”
The candlelight flickered gently in the secret chamber. Xiao Ying quickly suppressed his emotions, turned toward Lan Ningcheng and Wu Jiuling, and decisively issued his next set of instructions.
“Now that we have this original ledger fragment and Lord Wu’s handwritten instructions, we finally possess a crucial entry point. Immediately divide into three groups and secretly gather evidence.
“First, retrieve the surviving old grain transport records and the case files from that year, searching for specific discrepancies substantial enough to overturn the original case.
“Second, secretly investigate the procedures Wang Shenkui and Xiang Qinghong followed when handling the accounts back then, as well as their recent movements in accessing old records. Determine what original documents Xiang Qinghong relied upon to verify the accounts.
“Third, trace the flow of settlement silver from this transaction to the associated trading companies, then cross-reference them against the companies we have already identified.”
Xiao Ying’s gaze was sharp as a torch.
“Until we obtain conclusive, irrefutable evidence of the discrepancies, remember not to alert them. Do not move against Wang Shenkui for now, and do not let Sheng Yuanli catch wind of this. Before they realize what is happening, we must tear a gaping hole in this network.”
◆◇◆◇◆
The night had grown deep. Under the soft moonlight, the flowers and trees outdoors cast indistinct shadows across the ground.
When Wu Jiuling stepped out of the study in the main courtyard and was about to return to the secluded Wangchen Lodge, a sudden flurry of hurried, disordered footsteps broke the silence. An exasperated shout followed.
“Stop! Give me back my things!”
Wu Jiuling frowned slightly and turned to look.
A small black figure darted nimbly through the corridor and rushed straight toward him. Instinctively, he raised an arm and caught the warm little creature securely against his chest.
It was none other than the mischievous black cat that was always up to something, Moyu.
And the person chasing close behind, barging into the forbidden grounds of the main courtyard with an embarrassed expression, was unmistakably Li Ziao.
The air instantly froze. The personal guards immediately blocked Li Ziao’s path.
Li Ziao stopped abruptly. When he recognized the familiar figure, he froze in surprise and blurted out, “Yuexi? Why are you here…?”
Wu Jiuling’s heart sank slightly. His face swiftly assumed the cool detachment characteristic of Lord Yuexi. He opened his mouth, preparing to respond—
“—Naturally, because I invited him.”
Xiao Ying’s clear, magnetic voice, tinged with laziness, came from the study doorway.
He slowly stepped outside. The slight coldness that had settled over his features due to the late hour gave way to a trace of helplessness when he saw Li Ziao.
He had nearly forgotten that this fellow was still in the residence.
He strode forward and naturally slipped an arm around Wu Jiuling’s slender waist, drawing him to his side. A hint of authority showed in his slightly raised, peach-blossom eyes.
“Guard Li, the area you are assigned to defend tonight isn’t the main courtyard, is it? What crime do you think you have committed by trespassing into this prince’s private courtyard in the middle of the night and disturbing an honored guest?”
The sudden questioning left Li Ziao momentarily speechless. He hurriedly cupped his fists.
“This subordinate knows his fault! But—but it really was because… Moyu just snatched my personal jade pendant while I wasn’t paying attention. I was so anxious that I chased after it without thinking, and that’s how I accidentally entered the main courtyard. I beg Your Highness to forgive me!”
Xiao Ying lowered his gaze, following the opportunity to look at the cat in Wu Jiuling’s arms, which was blinking innocently.
Sure enough, Moyu had a smooth, dark-green jade pendant dangling from its mouth.
The pendant was of excellent quality and exquisitely carved, clearly no ordinary object. Why would a military officer wear something so refined? It looked more like a personal token he intended to present to someone with great solemnity.
Xiao Ying flicked his slender fingers, removed the pendant from Moyu’s mouth, and casually tossed it back into Li Ziao’s hands with pinpoint accuracy.
“Let this be a one-time exception.”
Xiao Ying’s tone was casual, but his eyes held a chill.
“Leave. I won’t pursue the matter tonight. Return to your assigned post immediately.”
Li Ziao clutched the jade pendant in his palm. He looked up at Xiao Ying, then at the coolly composed young man being protected at his side. A look of desperate resolve flashed through his eyes.
“Your Highness, I’ve been thinking about this for a long time… I know that you and Yuexi aren’t truly in love with each other, and those pieces of information that were deliberately spread were bait you released on purpose!”
The smile in Xiao Ying’s eyes abruptly faded, and the atmosphere around him grew heavier.
“Young General Li, what makes you say that?”
Li Ziao took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.
“It’s my intuition, combined with the conclusions I’ve reached after thinking about everything these past few days. Whenever Your Highness looks at Yuexi, your eyes are far too calm and restrained. There isn’t even the slightest trace of the emotions someone in the throes of love should have. If it were me… if the person I loved were standing right beside me, I wouldn’t be able to pretend to be calm.”
He had already vaguely sensed something amiss between Lord Yuexi and Xiao Ying.
On top of that, Lan Ningcheng had previously reminded him that there might be a problem with the duty log.
After thinking it over again and again, he had finally figured it out.
Xiao Ying: “…”
Even someone who had weathered countless storms like Xiao Ying could not help laughing inwardly at that moment.
This fellow had stumbled into the truth by sheer accident. He had actually gotten half of it right.
Wu Jiuling, standing to the side, felt a subtle ripple pass through his heart as he listened.
Li Ziao was not wrong.
Behind Xiao Ying’s seemingly affectionate eyes, with all their romantic charm and countless shades of emotion, there was always a mind calculating with absolute coldness.
The man treated him exceptionally well, even going beyond what reason or gratitude could explain. Yet, strangely enough… he had never displayed the slightest hint of romantic desire or possessiveness.
Sometimes, even Wu Jiuling himself could not help wondering what exactly he was in the eyes of this noble Prince Yi.
But then he remembered that he, too, had originally intended to use Xiao Ying for his own purposes. He had no standing to say anything about it.
…He should be content with what he had.
Seeing Xiao Ying remain silent, Li Ziao realized he had overstepped and hurriedly cupped his fists.
“This subordinate has overstepped. But please rest assured, Your Highness. I will absolutely not record seeing Yuexi here tonight in the duty log. As for the Li family… my elder brother has already begun secretly investigating the Ministry of Justice’s movements. If we obtain any results, I will report them to Your Highness. This subordinate takes his leave.”
With that, Li Ziao did not linger any longer. He turned and quickly withdrew.
The lanterns beneath the corridor swayed in the wind.
Only after Li Ziao had completely disappeared into the night did Xiao Ying slowly withdraw the arm he had wrapped around Wu Jiuling’s waist, restoring the safe distance between them.
As though amused into laughter by the straightforward young general’s words, he muttered softly, “I thought he was a stupid roe deer without a brain. It seems he’s actually got a little cleverness in him.”
Wu Jiuling gazed in the direction Li Ziao had left and replied calmly, “Young General Li may be impulsive by nature and simple-minded, but he isn’t a bad person at heart. With the guidance of Heir Li, he’s unlikely to misjudge the overall situation.”
“His willingness to act as a bridge between our two households isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Li family isn’t our ally, but neither are they our enemy. An open alliance is impossible, but at the very least… if they can recognize who the real enemy is when it matters, they simply must not choose the wrong side.”
Xiao Ying set aside the coldness he had worn while discussing political affairs and turned to the young man beside him. A gentle smile returned to his peach-blossom eyes.
“Would you accompany this prince to Xuanhua Waterside Pavilion for a few cups before returning?”
“Of course. Jiuling would be delighted to accompany Your Highness.”
The two walked side by side beneath the carved corridor.
Xiao Ying glanced at the person beside him and casually asked, “Have you been getting used to the food lately? Your complexion looks healthier, and it seems your frame has begun to fill out a little.”
In the end, he did not dare to use any overly sensitive words. Although the young man’s waist remained slender enough to fit within a single hand, it had acquired a little more healthy substance than when they had first met.
Wu Jiuling met his gaze without hesitation and answered bluntly, “You could simply say I’ve gained weight, Your Highness. There’s no need to be so tactful and cautious.”
Xiao Ying laughed at that.
“You’re still a long way from being fat. For someone of your height, you’re still far too thin.”
“Recently, I’ve been following the medicinal diet prescribed by the residence physician for all three meals each day. If I keep nourishing myself like this…”
Wu Jiuling lowered his eyes slightly, a hint of concern mixed into his voice.
“I probably won’t be able to maintain my former appearance as Lord Yuexi for much longer.”
During this period, not only had his stamina improved considerably, but his bones and tendons had also begun to ache faintly. The residence physician had explained that this was a sign of growth returning after years of chronic malnutrition.
If he truly grew back into the physique he should have had as a young man…
He secretly glanced at Xiao Ying, who stood a full head taller than him.
“This is simply a normal part of your body’s recovery.”
Xiao Ying’s gaze softened.
“In any case, you won’t have to set foot in that kind of place again. Who cares whether you can maintain the disguise? Isn’t it better to grow a little taller and become healthier?”
As he spoke, Xiao Ying’s steps slowed slightly. The smile on his face faded, and his voice dropped.
“This prince… made a decision on my own and sent your younger sister to the northern frontier without your consent. Have you… ever resented me for it?”
Wu Jiuling stopped walking and turned to look seriously at the man beside him.
Moonlight fell into his clear eyes, illuminating them with a faint glow.
“Your Highness helped me find my younger sister and arranged a way for her to settle down and support herself in the future. I have every reason to be grateful. How could I resent you?”
His heart was as clear as a mirror. Xiao Ying could have used dozens of simpler methods to send her away quietly, yet he had deliberately chosen the most dangerous and complicated plan within a plan. Unless every step had been calculated in advance, even the slightest miscalculation could have created an even more troublesome situation.
Wu Jiuling spoke softly.
“Your Highness went to so much trouble to bring her to the capital. I imagine it was also so that my sister and I could see each other one last time before parting?”
Although Wu Shiqing would not be truly free in Linzhou, it was still the best destination available to her under the circumstances, far better than following them and continuing to risk their lives at every turn.
“I’m relieved that you can see it that way.”
Xiao Ying seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
As they talked, the two had already arrived at Xuanhua Waterside Pavilion.
The servants had long since prepared some warmed Pear Blossom Spring wine and several delicate dishes to accompany it. They then bowed and withdrew without making a sound.
Wu Jiuling lifted the hem of his robe and sat down, skillfully pouring a cup of wine for Xiao Ying.
They drank several cups together, remaining silent for a while.
By the faint lamplight, Wu Jiuling noticed the unmistakable fatigue between Xiao Ying’s brows. Over this period, he had witnessed the man’s growing thinness and constant tension.
“Your Highness… are you still drinking every night?” Wu Jiuling finally could not resist asking out of concern.
Xiao Ying curled his lips into a self-mocking smile and lifted his cup, draining it in one gulp.
“In the past, I had no choice but to spend every night in pleasure houses, pretending to be a dissolute wastrel for the sake of protecting myself. Now, wouldn’t you know it, my body has developed problems from all that drinking.”
Four years of putting on an act and keeping day and night upside down had ultimately left lasting, difficult-to-reverse damage to his body.
Seeing the genuine worry in Wu Jiuling’s eyes, Xiao Ying smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. It’s only a few old ailments and minor complaints. Once this turmoil settles down and I can finally enjoy some peace, I’ll naturally be able to recuperate little by little.”
His dismissive explanation did not reassure Wu Jiuling.
Over the past few days, he had clearly seen that Xiao Ying had already arranged every contingency with meticulous care.
He had settled Xie Qiuhe in the outskirts of the capital and sent Wu Shiqing to Linzhou on the northern frontier. Even the contract explicitly stated that certain provisions would remain in force and could never be revoked if Prince Yi himself suffered an accident, died, or encountered some other uncontrollable circumstance.
It felt almost as though he were arranging his affairs before death, severing all possible ties to the people who might be implicated and leaving himself alone at the very center of the most dangerous storm.
“Your Highness…” Wu Jiuling suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked solemnly, “What exactly are you worried about? You’ve planned everything to this extent, yet you always give me the impression that… you’re racing against time.”
Xiao Ying’s fingers stiffened slightly around his wine cup.
He raised his head and gazed into the dark, ink-like night beyond the waterside pavilion. After a long silence, he let out a soft sigh.
“You understand the current situation as well as I do. I have neither troops nor power, and no maternal clan to rely on. To stand alone and snatch a prize from the jaws of the tiger between my imperial father, the Crown Prince, and Sheng Yuanli… overturning the situation is no easy task. What’s more… there’s a blade hanging over my head, counting down the time.”
“Your Highness means… the three-month deadline for Prince Su to recover the lost territory?”
Wu Jiuling quickly grasped the heart of the matter.
“My Seventh Brother’s life and death are inseparably linked to my own safety at court.”
Xiao Ying’s gaze turned cold.
“I am doing everything in my power to help him, not only for the sake of Great Sheng, but also to prolong these precarious days a little longer.”
Wu Jiuling finally realized that Xiao Ying had previously mentioned wanting to replace the current heir apparent, but at the time, he had not explicitly stated whom he intended to put in his place.
Now, it seemed he had already chosen someone.
Only a little over a month remained before the three-month deadline issued to the northern frontier.
No wonder Xiao Ying had been working himself to the bone day and night.
Although they had obtained many clues, they still had not secured the most crucial evidence.
“Your Highness,” Wu Jiuling said with a deeply furrowed brow and an exceptionally serious tone, “the evidence we’ve secretly gathered so far is still insufficient to bring down the Eastern Palace and the Sheng family. For this matter to succeed, we must have His Majesty’s tacit approval and cooperation.”
At the mention of the emperor seated high upon the Golden Throne, a trace of irony and helplessness flashed through Xiao Ying’s eyes.
“How could I not know? But my imperial father’s thoughts are unfathomable. If he has no intention of deposing the Crown Prince, then even if we slap irrefutable evidence onto his imperial desk, all we’ll accomplish is alerting our enemies. We might even invite disaster upon ourselves.”
His father trusted no one. Acting recklessly might instead convince the emperor that he harbored ambitions to seize the throne.
“Although His Majesty is not an emperor for the ages, neither is he an incompetent ruler.”
Wu Jiuling suppressed his personal feelings and analyzed the political situation calmly and objectively.
“He protects the Crown Prince because the Crown Prince’s position is legitimate and he is easy to control. But if the Crown Prince’s faction grows powerful enough to threaten imperial authority, His Majesty will be more eager than anyone to find a blade to strike them down. What His Majesty lacks right now is a hard stone capable of smashing through the Eastern Palace’s defenses.”
“So… my imperial father and I join forces to become that hard stone that sticks its head out?”
Xiao Ying laughed.
“If I personally bring all this filth into the open, by tomorrow, the gates of my residence will probably be trampled flat by assassins from every side.”
“That’s too dangerous…”
Wu Jiuling pressed his lips together, his eyes filled with concern for Xiao Ying.
He did not want Xiao Ying to put himself in danger again. The man had already taken on more than enough.
Xiao Ying quietly watched the concern in his eyes and spoke in a low voice.
“The Heaven-Offering and War-Prayer Ceremony is one day away. As a prince, I must attend in person. This is… a sacrificial ceremony to pray to Heaven for the northern campaign.”
Wu Jiuling was secretly surprised to hear this.
But upon reconsideration, even if the emperor had originally intended to issue a death sentence forcing Prince Su into an impossible situation, that would not necessarily conflict with offering sacrifices to Heaven and praying for the northern campaign.
Perhaps the emperor intended to establish his own image and reputation while using the occasion to strike a warning blow against the Crown Prince’s faction.
Xiao Ying reached for the wine pot on the table again.
“For some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that something is going to happen at this ceremony…”
A cool hand suddenly reached out and pressed down on the wine pot.
Wu Jiuling raised his eyes, his tone carrying an unmistakable firmness.
“Your Highness, you must observe a sincere three-day fast before the Heaven-Offering Ceremony. Not a drop of alcohol.”
Xiao Ying looked at the wine pot beneath his hand. His eyebrows rose slightly, and a somewhat roguish smile curled his lips.
“I’ve strictly avoided meat and fish for the past two days. Aside from these few cups of light wine, I haven’t broken a single other rule. Tomorrow I’ll be entering the fasting chamber anyway. I’ve practically exhausted myself worrying over the realm of Great Sheng. Surely Heaven and our imperial ancestors won’t begrudge me this tiny indulgence?”
Wu Jiuling could not win an argument with him. Although he removed his hand, he took the entire pot of wine and placed it at the far edge of the stone table.
“Then consider this your last cup tonight. From now on, Your Highness should gradually give up drinking. Alcohol is extremely harmful to the body. I shouldn’t have to explain that to you.”
Xiao Ying looked at his now-empty right hand. A rare expression of half-genuine, half-feigned grievance flashed through his eyes.
“How nice for you. Now you’re even managing this prince’s daily meals and routines so strictly.”
Wu Jiuling neither avoided his gaze nor backed down. He met those smiling eyes with an entirely proper and earnest expression, answering each word clearly.
“Of course I have to. Because I sincerely hope… that Your Highness will remain free of illness and disaster, and live to a hundred.”
The words were spoken lightly, yet they were like a pebble dropped into an ancient well, sending countless silent ripples through the depths.
Xiao Ying was slightly stunned. A moment later, a warm smile spread through his eyes.
He made no attempt to retrieve the wine pot that had been moved out of reach. Instead, he set down his cup, reached toward his waist with his long, slender fingers, untied the jade pendant fastened with a palace sash, and held it out to Wu Jiuling.
It was a rare piece of icy jadeite, as clear as the spring ice melting in Jiangnan. Yet within its translucent white surface shimmered a delicate shade of cherry-blossom pink tinged with purple, its warm and romantic glow flowing gently beneath the moonlight.
Wu Jiuling was startled.
“Your Highness… what is this?”
“You gave your beloved dark jade pendant to your younger sister. Now your waist is bare, so this will make a suitable replacement.”
Xiao Ying’s tone was as natural as though he were handing over an ordinary object.
“Its color is elegant and refined. It suits you perfectly.”
Wu Jiuling naturally recognized the object.
This rare overseas icy jadeite was worth a fortune. More importantly, it was something Xiao Ying wore close to his body. How could he possibly accept it?
He hurriedly tried to refuse.
“I should not accept a reward without merit. I’ve already received too many favors from Your Highness. I absolutely cannot accept something so precious again.”
“Who says you haven’t earned it?”
The corners of Xiao Ying’s lips lifted. Without allowing any further argument, he pressed the icy jadeite, still retaining some of his body heat, into Wu Jiuling’s cool palm.
“You accompanied me in drinking and discussing our thoughts tonight, and every word you spoke was worth its weight in gold. I found it most beneficial. If I tell you to keep it, then keep it. Why are you making so many excuses?”
The moment their fingertips touched, coolness and warmth mingled.
Wu Jiuling’s heart trembled slightly. In the end, he could not bring himself to push the pendant away, and could only lower his eyes and accept it.
He held the icy jadeite, still carrying the warmth of Xiao Ying’s body. An intangible heat seemed to travel from his palm straight into the depths of his heart, throwing the rhythm of his usually steady heartbeat into disarray.
He took a deep breath and solemnly fastened the spring-cherry-colored jade pendant to his plain sash.
Xiao Ying raised his eyes to examine him. Seeing how well the clear, icy green of the jade complemented the young man’s slender figure, he looked satisfied.
Still reluctant to give up, he glanced at his now-empty wine cup, then at the white jade wine pot confiscated at the edge of the stone table. He was considering whether he could retrieve another cup when no one was looking, but a cool, clear voice had already sounded beside him.
“No. That’s enough for tonight. Your Highness, please stop looking at it.”
Wu Jiuling raised his eyes. His voice was soft but left no room for argument.
“It’s late, and the night dew is heavy. Your Highness should return to the main courtyard and rest early.”
Xiao Ying laughed and shook his head with a hint of helplessness.
“In the past, the most I had to deal with at home was Chief Secretary Lan keeping me in line. Now look at me. I’ve got another person keeping me under control. Fine, then. I’ll consider it part of gradually giving up alcohol.”
Despite saying that, he reached into his wide sleeve and took out a finely crafted booklet tied with a silver cord, offering it to Wu Jiuling.
Wu Jiuling was slightly taken aback and accepted it hesitantly.
“What is this…?”
“This is the flute score for Asking the Plum Blossoms Amid Condensing Rain, which I revised over the past few days.”
Xiao Ying looked at him, the depth in his peach-blossom eyes transforming into a gentle smile.
“I know you’re well versed in flute music. This piece… was composed by my mother consort herself. But I asked her about it, and she said that if someone has cherished this piece for so many years, she would naturally be willing to pass it on.”
Wu Jiuling’s fingertips lightly brushed the faintly fragrant cover, and his heart trembled.
The young prince who had once played the qin alone amid the clamor of a palace banquet, his gaze proud and aloof, had left a deep impression on him. The sound of that konghou, piercing through the darkness of the night, remained engraved in his memory to this day.
After years of searching, he had unexpectedly found the answer to that poignant mystery in Prince Yi’s residence.
And Xiao Ying was still willing to give him the piece…?
“The sound of the konghou is cool and austere. I put considerable effort into adapting it into a melody suitable for the transverse flute.”
Every word Xiao Ying spoke was filled with solemn care.
“My mother consort entrusted this prayer for blessings to me back then. Now, I am giving it to you. If I am no longer by your side in the future, or if the situation becomes dangerous… play this piece and consider it my prayer for your safety.”
Wu Jiuling held the flute score, his emotions surging.
This was not merely a book of music. It was the purest and most sincere part of Xiao Ying’s heart, revealed after stripping away all his schemes and disguises.
“…Jiuling will treasure it and keep it safe. I will never betray the thought behind Your Highness’s gift.”
Wu Jiuling opened the booklet.
The cover was made of plain, fine silk, with the four characters Asking the Plum Blossoms Amid Condensing Rain written in ink. The handwriting was slender and vigorous, unmistakably Xiao Ying’s.
Inside were traditional gongche musical notations, each page written with exceptional neatness. Small annotations beside the notes explained the fingering and rhythmic patterns.
He began at the front and turned through the pages one by one. Only when he reached the last page did he discover that it contained no music, but a brief inscription.
“—This piece was composed by my mother consort, Lady Lin, and rearranged by Linhua. Now rearranged as a flute score and presented to Jiuling.”
Wu Jiuling’s fingers stopped over the two characters Lady Lin, the surname of Consort Wan.
At the signature were two characters: Linhua.
Wu Jiuling stared at them, momentarily lost in thought.
He raised his head to look at Xiao Ying and asked cautiously, “Linhua… is that Your Highness’s courtesy name?”
Xiao Ying replied naturally, “That’s right. My mother consort chose it for me when I underwent my capping ceremony.”
Wu Jiuling listened and spoke softly.
“It’s a very fitting name for Your Highness. The character Lin carries a sense of coldness, yet also an imposing dignity that brooks no offense. Hua means radiance and literary brilliance, as well as the finest essence of something. It can also refer to flowers. Together, Linhua echoes Your Highness’s given name while expressing your mother’s hopes for you.”
Inwardly, Wu Jiuling thought that to him, His Highness was his radiance amid the cold—a light that continued to shine through the bitterest winter, illuminating his path.
Xiao Ying laughed and teased him with a half-smile.
“After hearing you put it that way, I’m almost embarrassed. But I do like this courtesy name very much.”
He paused slightly, his affectionate peach-blossom eyes resting on Wu Jiuling.
“In private, you may call me by my courtesy name if you wish.”
Wu Jiuling’s fingertips, resting on the booklet, contracted slightly. His thoughts faltered for a moment, and he murmured softly, “That… that would be improper.”
Xiao Ying did not take it to heart.
“When we’re in private, whatever I say is the rule. Since I’ve already given my permission, there’s no need to be so concerned with all those formalities. Still, it’s entirely up to you.”
Wu Jiuling closed the booklet and held it gently against his chest. His long eyelashes lowered, and the tips of his fair ears had quietly taken on a faint pink hue.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Ying’s lips curled into a small smile. He did not press the matter further. Instead, he rose and gestured for the servants outside the pavilion to come forward and clear away the remaining cups and dishes.
“It’s late. You should get some rest early, too.”
Amid the moonlight and night breeze, Xiao Ying turned and followed the corridor back toward the main courtyard.
Wu Jiuling watched his retreating figure, holding the flute score of Asking the Plum Blossoms Amid Condensing Rain, unable to calm his heart for a long time.
During the time he had known Xiao Ying, the man had given him far too much… far too much.
So much that his heart had not even had time to define and process each gift one by one.
From the protection he had offered at the beginning to helping him find his younger sister, and now even personally entrusting him with the warmth and prayers once given to him by Consort Wan.
These countless layers of weight had accumulated in his heart, heavy and profound. Yet they did not suffocate him. Instead, they resembled the warm current of melting snow in spring, slowly dissolving the heart that had long been frozen and guarded.
The emptiness and loneliness that had lingered through so many long nights were gradually being filled, drop by drop, with a tenderness so profound that it was almost overwhelming.
In that instant, Wu Jiuling vaguely remembered that he, too, had once been a carefree young man, cherished and protected by his parents and elder brother, held in the palm of their hands without a worry in the world.
He had long since stopped daring to recall the feeling of being treasured and protected by someone who held him dear. He had a deep blood feud that he could never forget.
Yet someone had continued to stand in the wind and rain, gently reminding him in the softest possible way—
That hatred was not the only thing in this world.
This flute score was a rare treasure, personally placed in his hands by someone after he had endured one profound hardship after another.
“…Linhua.”
The whispered name was so soft that the night wind almost carried it away, yet it echoed heavily in the depths of Wu Jiuling’s heart.