Chapter 10: Changes

Liu Ji’s voice, with its deceptive and captivating low hum, made one’s ears numb.

When Wen Renlin heard this unbearable noise, he indeed paused for a moment.

Zhao Yan, after all, was not a real man and was very ignorant about marital affairs. She was afraid of getting too close to Liu Ji and arousing her suspicion. She subtly exerted force, trying to regain control, but as soon as she reached out, Liu Ji grabbed her wrist and pressed it down.

Zhao Yan widened her eyes: “Sister, are you so strong?”

Outside was quiet, but she knew Wen Renlin had not left.

Sure enough, just a momentary pause, Wen Renlin strode in, lifted his robe and sat down at the small table in the inner room, even pouring himself a cup of tea with some elegance and savoring it carefully.

With the curtains dim, Wen Renlin’s figure became blurred and indistinct, making it difficult to discern his emotions.

Nevertheless, Zhao Yan could still feel Wen Renlin’s gaze through the curtains, silently sending chills down her spine.

Zhao Yan felt like crying without tears: Why hasn’t he left yet?

Even Liu Ji furrowed her brows, coldly squeezing out a coquettish tone, acting more and more convincingly: “The Prince is here, how can Your Highness handle affairs?”

Zhao Yan’s scalp tingled listening to this, feeling too embarrassed to imagine Wen Renlin’s expression. The shadow sitting outside the curtain remained motionless, only the faint sound of cups being placed back on the table resonated in the quiet chamber, unusually clear.

“I remember, those who seduce their masters should be punished severely,” came Wen Renlin’s calm and indifferent voice, floating lightly.

She knew Wen Renlin wasn’t intentionally threatening; he was capable of doing it for real.

Zhao Yan gestured to Liu Ji with suppressed anger, indicating her to endure.

When Liu Ji released her suppressing hand, Zhao Yan straightened her loose robe slightly, and said in a low voice, “There’s really no need for an audience now. It’s late at night; Prince Su should rest. Whatever matters there are, we can discuss them tomorrow.”

With the most magnetic and indifferent voice, Wen Renlin said the most audacious words, “The Crown Prince is too ill to get out of bed during the day, yet he has the energy to seek pleasure with women at night. It’s truly a miraculous feat in medicine, astounding.”

Zhao Yan felt her body go cold and almost fell as she weakened, emitting a muffled groan.

This groan behind the curtain was inexplicably charming, arousing one’s imagination.

Zhao Yan bit her lip and decided to go along with it, boldly saying, “Indulging in pleasure is human nature. Now is not the time for idle talk. If the Grand Tutor doesn’t leave soon, I really can’t continue.”

Wen Renlin smiled, his expression divided by light and shadow, even his laughter became unpredictable. He made a gesture of understanding, picked up a bottle of medicine from Sun Xianshen’s medicine chest, and elegantly played with it in his beautifully proportioned hand.

“The Crown Prince can continue being the Crown Prince. Just need to free up one hand for Sun Xianshen to take his pulse.”

Zhao Yan’s cheeks burned, and she said with a strained voice, “My headache is almost healed. There’s no need to make a fuss. Please, let the venerable physician rest.”

Wen Renlin remained noncommittal, then changed the subject, “So, will the Crown Prince come to the Imperial Academy to study tomorrow?”

Zhao Yan gritted her teeth, her eyes almost red with urgency. In the current situation, the sooner Wen Renlin left, the better. When Wen Renlin achieved his goal, he finally nodded in satisfaction and rose, straightening his robe.

He took two steps, then paused. “By the way.”

Wen Renlin tilted his head slightly and placed the medicine bottle in his hand on the table. “Remember to take this. It’s good for the Crown Prince’s health.”

He pointed at the medicine bottle with his slender fingers and then left for real.

It wasn’t until the tall figure disappeared into the distance, the palace door closed, and even the sound of footsteps completely faded away that Zhao Yan finally relaxed her tense body, wrapping herself in the bedding.

Liu Ji leaned against the couch, watching her, seemingly pensive, but Zhao Yan didn’t have the energy to guess what she was thinking. Fortunately, Liu Ji soon averted her gaze. She rudely pulled up the cumbersome long skirt blocking the couch, picked up the medicine bottle left by Prince Su, sniffed it, and furrowed her brows.

Seeing her serious expression, Zhao Yan, with her head poking out from the curtain, tightly wrapped in it, nervously asked, “What is this? Is it poisonous?”

Liu Ji said disdainfully, “It’s the Carefree Pill.”

“What pill?” Zhao Yan didn’t understand.

Liu Ji glanced at her and changed her wording, “It’s a tonic for warming the yang.”

“…”

This time Zhao Yan understood. The game she had just managed to turn around was lost again.

…

The room was filled with steam, and Zhao Yan sat by the edge of the bath, hugging her knees, with half of her face buried in the water, only revealing her delicate nose and eyes, letting the rippling water wash away the lingering fear and fatigue.

Only in this moment of the day could she drop her disguise and be herself.

Back in the Huayang Palace, there were plenty of natural hot springs in the mountains, and a natural hot spring villa was even developed in the rear mountains according to local conditions. She used to take her personal palace maids there for a dip when she had nothing to do, living a carefree and unrestrained life, unlike the current situation of constant maneuvering and tension…

Realizing that she was starting to miss the past tranquility, Zhao Yan stood up and shook her head, her gaze becoming calm and determined again.

After changing into her nightclothes and returning to the bedchamber, Liu Ji was already gone.

Zhao Yan yawned and lay down on the couch, waiting for a long time, but Liu Ying did not come to screen out the palace attendants as usual, only retiring after repeatedly checking whether Zhao Yan’s chest binder was tight enough.

It was already midnight, and Zhao Yan no longer waited. She tightened her clothes and blankets and gradually closed her eyes. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she felt something was wrong. She abruptly got up and put on her clothes.

Summoning a palace maid who was on night duty outside the hall, Zhao Yan asked, “Where is Liu Ying?”

The palace maid replied, “I saw Liu Ying just now coming out of the pantry and heading towards the Cheng’en Hall.”

The Cheng’en Hall was where Liu Ji resided.

Zhao Yan’s heart tightened, then she asked, “Has there been any messenger from the palace?”

The palace maid nodded hurriedly, “Miss Zhang from the Kunning Palace came. At that time, His Highness was bathing, so Cheng’en Hall said it was nothing important and didn’t want to disturb His Highness, so she handled it herself.”

Zhao Yan remained calm. After the palace maid left, she quickly grabbed a fox fur coat from the lacquered clothes rack and hurriedly wrapped herself in it, carrying a lantern as she left the hall.

The corridors twisted and turned, and the lights flickered as Liu Ying passed through the courtyard with a tray. Perhaps preoccupied, she didn’t even notice Zhao Yan standing in the corridor.

“Liu Ying.”

Zhao Yan called her softly, “Where are you going at this late hour?”

Liu Ying’s shoulders trembled, and she raised her head, unable to conceal her astonishment and panic.

She quickly lowered her head and said softly, “Lady Liu Ji helped His Highness out of a dilemma, so I’m going to bring her some wine and snacks.”

Zhao Yan glanced at the Cheng’en Hall, where the lights were still on, and asked, “Is it Mother’s intention?”

The subtle change in Liu Ying’s expression did not escape Zhao Yan’s eyes. She understood in her heart and guessed the Empress Mother’s intention. Having been in close proximity to Liu Ji day and night for half a year, even knowing her habits and body like the back of her hand, Liu Ji was the biggest variable in this “bait and switch” plan.

The Empress Mother would never allow such a variable to exist.

If initially, all that was needed was to send Liu Ji out of the palace, then tonight, after Prince Su’s sudden attack, Liu Ji, who had been in close contact with the “Crown Prince,” could not be allowed to live.

After all, to the decisive and cold-hearted Empress, only dead people would not leak secrets.

The cold wind stirred her clothes, and Zhao Yan lowered her eyes. A strand of her half-tied hair fell from behind her ears, and the bandage on her forehead outlined a somewhat sickly appearance. She had no right to blame the Empress’s indifference, as they had chosen a path full of dangers and obstacles, with bones littering the way.

She just felt a little sad.

Perhaps the Crown Prince truly cherished Liu Ji, which was why he allowed her to call him by his name and gave her unrestricted access. If he knew why Liu Ji died tonight, perhaps… he would shed tears of sorrow even in the underworld.

In silence, Liu Ying’s head drooped even lower, her slender shoulder blades protruding from behind, and the knuckles holding the tray turned pale.

“I know you’re following the Empress Mother’s orders and thinking of the bigger picture. I don’t blame you for it,” Zhao Yan focused, her eyes, resembling those of the former Crown Prince, tinged with the heaviness of the night. “Put the things down. I’ll personally go and deliver them.”

Liu Ying pursed her lips tightly, unmoving.

A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Zhao Yan’s mouth, revealing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Don’t worry, I know what’s important.”

The Cheng’en Hall was elegantly furnished, filled with books, and even had an ivory-carved bow hanging on the wall, not quite like a typical women’s chamber.

A lantern was left by the window, with Liu Ji leaning against the railing, one leg bent as she sat behind the table, looking outside at the dangling crescent moon on the branches, lost in thought, as if waiting for someone.

Liu Ying slowed her movements and placed the wine and snacks on the table. Liu Ji’s gaze remained fixed, unwavering.

Warm light reflected on the side of her face, with a straight nose and red lips, clean earlobes without the usual earrings worn by most women. Her figure was not voluptuous, lacking delicate curves. For a moment, Zhao Yan suddenly felt that if Liu Ji removed her makeup and dressed in men’s clothing, she would surely be more handsome and dazzling than herself.

Zhao Yan also didn’t have pierced ears.

According to the customs of Xuan, on a girl’s fifteenth birthday, female elders in the family would personally pierce her ears and give her earrings, symbolizing her readiness for marriage.

Zhao Yan had always rebelled against this tradition: piercing ears meant marrying and having children, how was it any different from branding livestock for sale and leaving a mark that could be sold at market?

Fortunately, hardly anyone in the Huayang Palace remembered her birthday, so she was spared the pain of ear piercing. The only one who remembered her birthday and came through mountains and rivers was her silly brother, Zhao Yan…

And now, she couldn’t even protect her brother’s inner chamber.

Zhao Yan gestured for Liu Ying to leave.

Liu Ying hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself, then after a moment of hesitation, she obediently kneeled and bowed, quietly withdrawing with the tray and guarding the outside of the hall.

Clearing her throat, Zhao Yan, with a collected demeanor, knelt opposite Liu Ji, respectfully saying, “I must thank you for your help tonight.”

Liu Ji turned her face to look at Zhao Yan, her pupils appearing a very light amber under the lamplight.

Her gaze was as unrestrained as her personality, straightforward and without any pretense. Just as Zhao Yan was considering how to continue the conversation in the guise of the Crown Prince, Liu Ji suddenly chuckled.

“I know, you’re not the real Crown Prince,” these were her first words.

Zhao Yan’s heart clenched suddenly, and she stood up with her entire body tense. The cold wind blew in through the window, and the moonlight shattered the shadows of the withered branches on the ground.

“Where is Zhao Yan?” Liu Ji’s next question was equally startling.

Seeing the silent young man before her, Liu Ji furrowed her brows, as if she had found the answer, and her slender fingers tightened slightly.

“How… did he die?”

Her tone was much lower, as if suppressing anger.

Zhao Yan stared at Liu Ji without blinking, the fur collar of her fox fur coat trembling slightly in the night wind by the window, rubbing against her jaw.

Most people who survived in the palace were like honeycombs in their hearts. Zhao Yan knew this very well, and she wasn’t going to confess just because someone deceived her.

“What is Liu Ji talking about? How come I don’t understand?” She maintained her composure, flashing the signature smile of the Crown Prince.

…

Under the palace gate, the carriage stood still, its two lanterns casting warm light about three feet away.

Wen Renlin stood in this light, bowing to the elderly man in the carriage, “Tonight, with the army mobilized, I trouble the old sir to accompany me on this trip.”

“You should know, I’m not doing this for the Eastern Palace, but for you,” said Master Sun, his beard long and drooping, his spirit vigorous, “If you were to die, how could I face General Wenren under the nine springs?”

Wen Renlin straightened up with a faint smile, “I’m not worth the old sir’s concern. Those who have fallen into purgatory cannot be saved.”

Master Sun shook his head and sighed. Soon, the carriage he was riding in left the palace gate, and the remaining crescent moon hung askew over the western tower.

Prince Su walked slowly along the palace road, his crimson official robes soaked with the night turning into a dark purple, his golden belt and jade belt buckle exuding nobility and ease.

Zhang Cang followed from afar, his mind full of questions.

“Isn’t the prince suspicious of something amiss in the Eastern Palace?” he couldn’t help but nudge Cai Tian beside him and whispered, “With such a good opportunity tonight, are we just going to let it slip away like this?”

As he spoke, a sleek black cat leaped lightly from the wall beside the alleyway, its small steps treading on the frosty ground, familiarly circling around Wen Renlin for food.

Cai Tian sighed and nodded towards the man and the cat, “Do you know how cats hunt? After catching their prey, they don’t rush to devour it but rather play with it in their paws, slowly planning their moves.”

Zhang Cang looked puzzled, “What does this have to do with the prince?”

Cai Tian looked at his colleague with the eyes of seeing deadwood, and said calmly, “For the prince, what’s interesting is not the outcome but the enjoyment of the process of laying out the net. Impatience and haste will only lead to self-destruction.”

Zhang Cang remembered the prince’s earlier words: “Those who have fallen into purgatory cannot be saved.”

What had the prince experienced in the past to utter such chilling words at such a vigorous age?

“Meow~”

The black cat received the dried meat and, satisfied, rubbed against Wen Renlin’s palm.

Wen Renlin gently stroked its head, his profile picturesque, his long shadow cast on the palace wall, under the moonlight, his elegant red robes unparalleled.

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