A carriage. Two people when it arrived, three when it left. One more person: Hou Qianxing. Yet, Shangguan Ye showed no more restraint than usual; in fact, he almost entirely ignored Hou Qianxing.
As soon as he got into the carriage, Shangguan Ye busied himself with the heater and blankets, piling them onto Murong Qiufeng. He grasped Murong Qiufeng’s hands, rubbing them gently, and said, “If you’re cold, wear more layers. With your frame, no amount of clothing will make you look bulky. And even if you do gain a little weight, it’s fine. A bit more flesh would look good on you.”
Murong Qiufeng was so embarrassed he wanted to kick him out of the carriage. Shangguan Ye’s actions were too blatant; after all, it wasn’t just the two of them in the carriage. Anxiously, he glanced at Hou Qianxing, only to find that Hou had already closed his eyes, feigning sleep the moment he got in.
The embarrassment only deepened. Murong Qiufeng looked at Hou Qianxing again. Dressed in a simple official robe, Hou was the one who was truly underdressed for the weather. Murong Qiufeng shot an angry glare at the smiling Shangguan Ye before pushing the heater toward Hou Qianxing. “Lord Hou, it’s cold. Please take care of yourself.”
Hou Qianxing opened his eyes, glanced at the heater, and accepted it without pretense. Holding it in his hands, he gave a faint nod to Murong Qiufeng. “Thank you, Young Master Murong.”
Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow. As expected, Hou Qianxing was a clever man—or perhaps he’d already learned how to play the game. Shangguan’s impression of him improved even further. From a compartment, he retrieved a small set of drinking vessels and unfolded a warm jade table in the middle of the carriage. He poured two cups of wine and handed one to Hou Qianxing. “Lord Hou, what are your thoughts on the recent cases?”
Hou Qianxing accepted the white jade cup with ease and said with a touch of envy, “Your Highness’s carriage is quite well-equipped. One can’t help but feel jealous.”
Shangguan Ye’s lips curled into a smirk as his gaze shifted to Murong Qiufeng. His eyes were full of warmth. “Of course. It has to be.”
Hou Qianxing followed Shangguan Ye’s gaze, immediately understanding the dynamic. He had already noticed something unusual about their relationship during that courtroom session, and today’s interaction after they left the prison only confirmed his suspicions.
Still, beyond mild surprise, he had no other thoughts on the matter. Personal choices were just that—personal—and they had nothing to do with him. Besides, Shangguan Ye wasn’t a foolish ruler. Everything he did was calculated.
Seeing Murong Qiufeng’s flushed cheeks and the way he glared at Shangguan Ye with embarrassment, Hou Qianxing could clearly sense the genuine warmth between them. No amount of pretense could hide that soft, tender affection.
After finishing his cup of wine, Hou Qianxing asked, “What are Your Highness’s thoughts?”
Shangguan Ye refilled his own cup and said with a cryptic smile, “It feels like a thousand tangled knots, but in the end, it’s just one string.”
“Oh? I would appreciate Your Highness’s guidance,” Hou Qianxing said, his eyes lighting up with interest.
Shangguan Ye sipped his wine and answered, “Just have someone keep an eye on the An residence. There will be a good show tonight.”
Nightfall brought with it a chilly wind—perfect for murder and robbery.
In the silent prison, several shadowy figures moved like ghosts through the darkness. The guards were already unconscious, having inhaled the incapacitating powder that had been released earlier.
A dagger, gleaming coldly, pried open the cell’s lock with ease. Five figures slipped inside, navigating directly to the cell where An Lanxin was held. They were clearly familiar with the layout.
The lead figure’s expression shifted when he saw An Lanxin huddled in the corner, eyes vacant. One of his companions moved forward to seize her, but the leader raised a hand to stop him. “Wait. Why hasn’t she been affected by the drug?”
The others tensed. Their eyes fell on a few dead rats near some spilled food on the floor, and they relaxed. “Ah, she didn’t eat. No problem. Let’s take her.”
One of the figures stepped forward to lift An Lanxin. But just as his hand reached her, she suddenly grinned—a pale, eerie smile that looked ghastly against her bloodless face.
The intruders were gripped by a sense of foreboding.
At that moment, torches along the prison walls flared to life, casting sharp, flickering shadows.
“Damn it! We’ve been tricked! Two of you take the woman; the rest of us will hold them off!”
“Understood!” One figure hoisted An Lanxin onto his shoulder while the others drew weapons.
Outside the prison, the Imperial Guards were already assembled. Their commander stood at the forefront, imposing and resolute. “Surrender your weapons now,” he barked, “and you might be granted an intact corpse.”
The intruders exchanged glances and nodded. One yanked open the door, and three figures shot forward like arrows, aiming directly for the guards with lethal precision.
The remaining two fled in the opposite direction. One fired a signal flare into the sky, which was immediately answered by similar flares across the city. Shouts of “Assassins!” echoed through the night, plunging the capital into chaos.
The guards hesitated, uncertain whether to stay or protect the palace. Their commander quickly ordered, “You three, go protect the emperor! The rest of you, attack! Take them alive!”
Though the black-clad intruders were formidable, they were ultimately outnumbered. They were soon captured.
“Dislocate their jaws!” the commander ordered.
The prisoners’ jaws were promptly dislocated to prevent them from biting down on poison.
“Rip their sleeves,” came a new voice.
Shangguan Ye strolled out from behind a flowering bush, eyes cold. His gaze lingered on the three captives, their faces nondescript but their expressions steeped in resignation.
The guards tore off the prisoners’ sleeves, revealing a wolf’s paw tattoo on each left forearm.
The commander’s face paled. He looked to Shangguan Ye with disbelief. “Your Highness… this…”
“Don’t make a fuss,” Shangguan Ye said. “Lock them up and interrogate them thoroughly.”
The commander obeyed without further question, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
“What about An Lanxin?” Shangguan Ye asked.
“She’s unresponsive, Your Highness. Like a living corpse.”
“They went to great lengths to capture her rather than kill her,” Murong Qiufeng observed as he approached, with Can Yang at his side.
Shangguan Ye examined Murong Qiufeng, relieved to see his pristine white robe unstained by blood. “Exactly,” he said. “Which makes her even more valuable.”
Murong Qiufeng frowned. “But these people are skilled fighters. What about Huan…”
“Don’t worry,” Can Yang interrupted, wiping blood from his sword. “That fox has nine lives. He’ll be back with something useful soon.”
The trust in his voice was absolute.
