Chapter 9: Night Visit

“Before the imperial examination this spring, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince visited Mingde Pavilion. Firstly, to listen to Mr. Linjiang’s lectures, and secondly, to encourage scholars on behalf of the heavenly family, showing respect for talent and virtue.”

In the tightly closed bedroom, Liu Ying recounted the past one by one. “At that time, I was attending to His Highness’s illness at the Kunning Palace and did not accompany him. I only knew that His Highness had a pleasant conversation with many like-minded students, and it was during this time that he met Liu Ji. His Highness developed affection for her, and on the return journey, he brought Liu Ji back and granted her a palace status.”

With a bandage on her forehead, Zhao Yan half-lay on the table, flicking the candlewick with a silver needle, and asked, “Does Elder Brother really like her?”

Liu Ying nodded imperceptibly and said, “His Highness often stays in the Chongwen Palace, studying and painting with her, and having late-night conversations by candlelight.”

Liu Ying paused for a moment and lowered her head. “During that time, His Highness didn’t need me to attend to him.”

Zhao Yan also paused, feeling an inexplicable sense of discord. In her impression, Elder Brother was young and frail, following the rules, not someone who indulged in romantic affairs.

She scratched her neck awkwardly and glanced at the increasingly silent Liu Ying, changing the subject, “Since Liu Ji is such a close friend of the Crown Prince, why have you never mentioned her before?”

Liu Ying replied, “Because of Liu Ji, the Empress once had a dispute with His Royal Highness.”

Understanding dawned on Zhao Yan; it seemed that the Empress didn’t favor this bold and beautiful woman.

“His Royal Highness is filial. On the way to summer retreat, he sent Liu Ji away with a letter. After that, there was no news of her. I thought the matter had ended, so I didn’t mention it to you.”

“If Elder Brother really wanted to let her go, he wouldn’t have left her with the token of the Eastern Palace.”

Almost unconsciously, she blurted out, “Liu Ji cannot stay by His Highness’s side.”

Zhao Yan rarely saw Liu Ying show approval or disapproval, so she couldn’t help but glance at her.

“Is this your idea, or is it Mother’s intention?” she asked.

Seeing Liu Ying turn pale, as if she had committed an unforgivable sin and suddenly knelt down, Zhao Yan sighed lightly, put down the silver needle in her hand, and said, “Having likes and dislikes is normal, as long as one doesn’t harm others arbitrarily based on personal preferences. There’s no need to blame yourself like this. Get up.”

Liu Ying still looked pale. The term “arrogance” seemed more like something she was saying to herself than apologizing to Zhao Yan.

The shadow cast on the ground seemed to be an invisible shackle, tightly binding her.

Zhao Yan had to change her approach. After pondering for a moment, she straightened up slightly and said, “After all, she was with Elder Brother for half a year. Go and revoke her palace status and token, prepare some gold and silver, and send her out of the palace gracefully, saying it’s my intention.”

With the task assigned, Liu Ying finally stood up and regained her usual neat and steady demeanor. After Liu Ying left, Zhao Yan concentrated for a moment, then put on her clothes and walked to the corridor.

She called for the commander of the Eastern Palace guards, Gu Xing, who was patrolling the night with soldiers.

“Before this year’s spring exams, I once studied at Mingde Pavilion. Go and retrieve the writings and books related to my studies. I’ll need them for the year-end examinations.”

After a moment of thought, she added, “Make sure not to miss anything with words on it, and be discreet.”

Gu Xing didn’t ask any questions, respectfully accepted the order, and promptly withdrew. Zhao Yan looked at the night sky as dark as ink and subconsciously touched the small mole under her left eye.

Thanks to Liu Ji’s appearance, she was able to learn that Elder Brother had visited Mingde Pavilion earlier this year.

Knowing Zhao Yan’s temperament, since he befriended so many like-minded scholars, he must have left behind letters and writings. Perhaps some useful clues could be gleaned from them.

Liu Ying and Li Fu were the Empress’s people and always opposed her investigation into the Crown Prince’s cause of death, so this matter had to be entrusted to others. Since entering the Eastern Palace, Zhao Yan had been secretly observing the attendants around her, selecting those who could truly be of use to her.

After several investigations, Gu Xing had a clean background and could be considered honest and reliable. She sent him to retrieve the books from Mingde Pavilion, partly to trace clues and partly to test Gu Xing’s character.

If he managed to bring back the items safely, they could be of great use; if he failed or leaked any information, it wouldn’t matter much and wouldn’t endanger Zhao Yan’s current situation.

It was like a turn of fortune, glimpsing a glimmer of hope, which comforted Zhao Yan.

Just as she returned to her bedroom, there was a loud bang, and the door was suddenly pushed open. Zhao Yan turned around in surprise and saw Liu Ji’s stunning face with thick eyebrows raised.

With a cold laugh, she went straight to the point, “Back then, you invited me to enter the palace with you. Have you forgotten what you said?”

Liu Ying hurriedly followed, looking uneasy. Obviously, things didn’t go as planned. After all, Liu Ji was someone who dared to mention the Crown Prince by name. Ordinary people couldn’t restrain her.

There was no time to stop her now. Zhao Yan had to dismiss all the attendants and discuss matters behind closed doors.

She had to put on a good-natured smile, imitating Zhao Yan’s tone, and said, “The Eastern Palace is not a safe place. I made this decision for your own good after careful consideration.”

Liu Ji only raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes blazing with a flame that was different from ordinary women’s. 

After a while, she pointed her slender finger at Liu Ying, exaggeratingly saying, “His Highness has only kept Liu Ying close by recently. Has he developed a liking for this little thing?”

Zhao Yan’s smile stiffened. She felt no different from an unfaithful man who flirted with different women. But with the change of power in the Eastern Palace, continuing this entanglement was only harmful and not beneficial. It was better to cut the knot quickly.

Zhao Yan shook her head and sighed deeply, innocently saying, “If you think so, I can’t do anything about it.”

Before she could finish her words, she felt nauseated by herself.

Let alone Liu Ji, even she felt a surge of anger at those words.

Liu Ji’s eyes changed several times, and before she could say anything, a louder commotion came from the courtyard.

The light flickered, and the guards’ low voices grew closer, “Prince Su, please stop! His Highness has retired for the night. Breaking into the palace at night is disrespectful!”

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yan’s expression changed slightly.

At this hour, why was he here?

The strongest guard had just been dispatched. It was already too late to stop him now… No, even if the Gu Xing was here, who would dare to stop the Prince Su, who held power over the world, in the Eastern Palace?

He was an evil spirit that even the Emperor had to defer to without kneeling!

She straightened her body and saw a familiar tall figure reflected on the door panel, swaying slightly with the flickering candlelight. The next moment, the door panel opened with a sound, and a gust of wind swept in, causing the curtains in the hall to flutter wildly.

“I usually don’t like to talk behind closed doors, it’s impolite.”

Wen Renlin stepped in with a leisurely pace, and the shadows gradually receded from him, as if white jade was meeting light. With a faint smile, he said, “The Crown Prince has been suffering from headaches for a long time, and it happened again during my lecture. I feel guilty, so I specially invited Master Sun to come out of seclusion to treat the Crown Prince.”

He stepped aside, revealing the graceful old man behind him, and glanced at the inner bed, saying, “Master Sun is renowned for his medical skills and is trusted by the Crown Prince.”

Zhao Yan gritted her teeth and thought to herself, “No wonder he has been so quiet these days. It turns out he was planning this move!”

She didn’t expect Wen Renlin to even invite Master Sun, who had long been retired from the world and could revive the dead.

Such a powerful figure, she dared not let him treat the Crown Prince!

The air seemed to solidify. Liu Ji showed a suspicious look, glancing at the shadow behind the embroidered curtain of the moon gate, then at Zhao Yan in front of her, pondering. The bruise on Zhao Yan’s forehead began to ache faintly again. She couldn’t spare the time to deal with Liu Ji and just looked at Liu Ying.

Liu Ying understood and intervened, saying, “Prince Su is kind, and the Eastern Palace understands. However, it’s not convenient for His Highness to be examined when he has finally fallen asleep. Please, Prince Su…”

Before she could finish her words, she was directly intercepted by two deputy commanders from the Prince Su’s Mansion.

Seeing Wen Renlin coming towards the inner room, Zhao Yan’s heart beat like a drum. In panic, she didn’t have time to think, so she pushed Liu Ji onto the bed.

The golden hooks collided with a clang, the curtain swayed down, and the alternating light and shadow reflected Liu Ji’s astonished phoenix eyes.

“Hush.”

Zhao Yan raised her finger to her lips, gesturing for Liu Ji to be silent, and whispered, “Cooperate with me.”

Bad deeds invite divine retribution. This was the most practical way Zhao Yan could think of to evade Wen Renlin’s examination in her urgent situation.

Liu Ji immediately understood her intentions and showed a hint of strangeness on her face.

Without hesitation, she turned the tables. Their gazes reversed, and this time it was Zhao Yan who was astonished. The carved moon gate was bright, the curtain swayed, and two figures were vaguely reflected.

“Why is His Highness in such a hurry? It would be better to take it slow.”

Liu Ji pinched her voice, sounding reproachful and ambiguous.

Under the carved moon gate, Wen Renlin’s hand paused as he lifted the curtain, halting his steps.

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