Chapter 16: New Year’s Eve

In the study, Zhao Yan showed Gu Xing the arrow-shaped iris in the wristguard.

“I’ve inspected it myself, and indeed it’s a sleeve arrow with no issues inside or out. However…”

Gu Xing returned the iris to the sleeve and continued, meeting Zhao Yan’s puzzled gaze, “But this item is small and seems to be meant for women’s self-defense.”

Seeing Zhao Yan frown, Gu Xing lowered his head and quickly added, “Though it could also be used by a young lad.”

The delicate and exquisite iris carved on the wristguard was indeed a style favored by women. Moreover, young boys grow rapidly, their bone structure changing by the day. How many would bother to customize such a weapon for self-defense that would become obsolete in a few months?

Was it mocking the Crown Prince for having feminine traits, or was there suspicion…?

Zhao Yan dared not speculate further, finding the object in front of her increasingly disturbing.

She picked up the iris in the sleeve, intending to throw it out of the door. However, her hand hesitated in midair, and she slowly withdrew it.

Now she had to forget her original name and preferences while bearing Zhao Yan’s identity. Zhao Yan was a person of such broad-mindedness, almost to the point of foolishness. He wouldn’t harbor any resentment or panic over a suspected sleeve arrow meant for women’s use.

Zhao Yan decided to remain unchanged amidst the changes. She wanted to see what kind of thoughts lay beneath the harmless appearance of Wen Renlin.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Yan regained the gentle and sincere demeanor expected of the Crown Prince, holding the seemingly harmless iris with concealed killing intent and said, “By the way, what about those two old friends of mine? Any news?”

After the winter festival, Zhao Yan secretly instructed Gu Xing to visit Mingde Pavilion and look for Wang Yu and Cheng Jixing, who had exchanged letters with the former Crown Prince.

She had many questions for these two. It had been over half a month now, and there should have been results by now.

After a moment of silence, he reported truthfully, “Reporting to His Royal Highness, the one surnamed Cheng, a tribute student, suddenly fell ill in mid-July and died suddenly in his dormitory. His widowed mother from the countryside claimed his body without raising any questions, and he was buried shortly after.”

Zhao Yan was surprised and asked, “What did he die of?”

Gu Xing replied, “It seems to be a heart condition triggered by staying up all night studying.”

Two tribute students from Mingde Pavilion died suddenly within a month, both of whom had connections to Zhao Yan. Shen Jingming and Cheng Jixing had both passed away successively. Could such coincidences really happen?

After a moment of thought, she asked, “Have you checked Cheng Jixing’s medical history to confirm that he died of a sudden heart condition?”

Understanding her intentions, Gu Xing nodded and said, “I claimed to be from the same hometown as Cheng and inquired about this matter from his classmates. Strangely enough, his classmates all said that Cheng was usually healthy, excelled in archery, and rarely fell ill. Looking through the attendance records of Mingde Pavilion for this year, Cheng never took sick leave.”

“This means he never reported sick this entire year.”

Understanding dawned on Zhao Yan; this behavior was not typical of someone suffering from a heart condition.

Zhao Yan pinned her hopes on the last person.

“Not long after Cheng’s death, this person thanked his teacher and left on a journey, and there has been no news of him since.”

Gu Xing clasped his fists and said, “Your Highness, rest assured, I am actively investigating.”

Many scholars saw the imperial examination as a ladder to heaven, hoping to leap to success. Wang Yu was already a tribute student, just one step away from the final palace examination. Why did he choose to resign and travel at this time?

With growing suspicion, Zhao Yan felt it necessary to talk to Liu Ji again.

As she approached the entrance of Cheng’en Hall, she heard a series of crashes from inside.

Liu Ying had brought fresh pastries, about to advise, but Zhao Yan stopped her and said, “Mother only said not to let her go out, she didn’t say I couldn’t go in to see her, right?”

With that, she personally took the pastry tray and pushed open the door.

As a boot stepped into the hall, it accidentally stepped on an old book lying on the floor tiles. There were also numerous papers, pens, and scrolls scattered around, leaving almost no place to stand.

Liu Ji was lounging by the window, lazily tossing chess pieces.

A white piece bounced towards Zhao Yan’s boot. She picked it up and placed it back on the chessboard at the broken point.

“Heh! It’s not even Qingming Festival yet, why is Your Highness thinking of visiting me?” Liu Ji’s words were sharp, not mentioning any grievances but subtly mocking the extreme boredom of being confined to the hall.

“If I want Mother to let her guard down, it will take some time. Besides, I’ve been waiting for you to come to a realization and give me an answer.”

Zhao Yan chuckled at her teasing, placing the tray of assorted pastries on the table and sitting opposite her. “I heard from Liu Ying that you love sweets, so I had the kitchen make more.”

Liu Ji wrinkled her nose and after a while, couldn’t resist picking up a piece of bean paste cake and stuffing it into her mouth, muttering, “I have nothing to answer you. Now that it’s confirmed Zhao Yan is no more, what does the truth matter?”

“If that’s how you really feel, you wouldn’t have risked returning to the palace.”

Without further ado, Zhao Yan took out the list of names that had corresponded with Zhao Yan, “Do you know these three people?”

Liu Ji’s gaze swept over the paper without hesitation, “I don’t know them.”

“Shen Jingming and Cheng Jixing are dead, and Wang Yu’s whereabouts are unknown,” Zhao Yan said, “They died a month before the incident with the Crown Prince.”

Upon hearing this, the indifferent glint in Liu Ji’s glassy eyes trembled imperceptibly, but soon she nonchalantly picked up a new piece of cake. Liu Ji lied, almost resolved to remain silent to the death.

Knowing this, Zhao Yan tactfully retreated and placed another piece of paper in front of Liu Ji—

It was the note found in the “Annotations on Ancient and Modern” book gifted by Shen Jingming to the Crown Prince.

“Then let me ask another question, what does ‘Fu Deng’ mean?”

This time, Liu Ji’s gaze lingered on the paper for a long time, her expression changing several times.

Zhao Yan paused, then slowly furrowed her brows, “I’m not joking with you.”

“I’m not joking with you either. Haven’t you read that ‘Ancient and Modern Annotations’ carefully?” Liu Ji was impatient, swallowing the cake and saying, ” ‘Fei Mo Shan Fu Deng, Yi Ming Huo Hua, Yi Ming Mu Guang.’ Fu Deng means flying insects, commonly known as moths.”

She didn’t expect that the note she considered an important clue, meticulously investigated, turned out to be just a nickname for flying insects casually written by Shen Jingming.

Liu Ji held the cake, watching as Zhao Yan’s eyelids drooped slowly, the sparkle in her eyes visibly dimming. Memories flashed through her mind, and the figure in front of her became blurred, replaced by another youth who bore a resemblance.

There was a time when Liu Ji and Zhao Yan used to play chess here, laughing and teasing each other.

“Zhao Yan, why are you like a wooden man, not even accompanied by a beauty?” She sat cross-legged, complaining, “I can only look at your little white face all day, it’s so boring.”

Zhao Yan draped his robe over his thin shoulders, speaking softly, “No beauties, but I have a twin sister who is very beautiful.”

“How beautiful?” Liu Ji’s eyes sparkled.

Zhao Yan pondered with his chin in his hand for a long time before slowly saying, “Hmm… as beautiful as me.”

Liu Ji pretended to be angry, but Zhao Yan just shrugged and chuckled, laughing until he suddenly coughed violently. Unable to bear it, Liu Ji lowered her raised hand gently and instead patted his back to soothe him.

“If you love her so much, why not protect her by your side?” she asked.

Gasping for breath, Zhao Yan shook his head.

“Lacking strength and ability, I often provoke her anger and disgust. Moreover, the Eastern Palace is not safe, and I don’t want to… drag her into the mud,” he explained.

“She dislikes you? Yet, you still care about her so much,” Liu Ji remarked.

Zhao Yan just shook his head with a smile. “I know Xiao’er says those things out of anger because she has a proud heart and likes to respond aggressively. Like ‘Who cares about your things’ or ‘Who worries about you’… After saying these things, she’ll secretly regret it alone, with a stubborn but soft-hearted demeanor, somewhat similar to you.”

His eyes were full of the elder brother’s kindness and warmth. He promised, “Next time there’s a chance, I’ll definitely introduce you two.”

Liu Ji didn’t wait for his “introduction,” but she remembered the girl Zhao Yan described who would instinctively counter-question.

The poor little princess, like her, had been deprived of her original identity and name, replacing others in the precarious seat of the Eastern Palace.

“What about you? Why do you care about the Crown Prince’s cause of death?” Liu Ji unconsciously lowered her voice. “I’ve heard Zhao Yan say that you seem to dislike him.”

The extremely low “dislike” pierced Zhao Yan’s most vulnerable spot.

She curled her fingers, causing the fine fabric to wrinkle between them.

“Yes, I dislike him,” she said softly. “I dislike how he carries the love and expectations of so many people, while no matter how hard I try, I am never acknowledged. I dislike how he is obviously so fragile that he cannot even control his own life, yet he still always wants to take care of others…”

In just a moment, she raised her lowered eyelids again, her gaze clear and determined.

“But so what? He is my blood-connected brother, the only person in this world who cares about me!”

Her gentle voice was as firm..

Liu Ji’s lips parted slightly, speechless for a long time. Zhao Yan thought today would end without progress and sighed lightly, preparing to leave.

“Wang Yu has property in Cangzhou,” came Liu Ji’s low voice from behind suddenly.

Zhao Yan turned around in surprise to see Liu Ji brushing the crumbs off her fingertips as she stood up.

“I don’t know more than Your Highness does, but since our goals align, I’m willing to cooperate with Your Highness,” she declared, laying out her terms. “I want freedom of movement. Being confined to the house every day has become tiresome for me.”

Like clouds parting to reveal the sun, everything suddenly became clear.

With a smile and a wave of her sleeve, Zhao Yan replied lightly yet solemnly, “Of course.”

In the blink of an eye, a year passed, and New Year’s Eve arrived amidst the bustling fireworks of the city.

The governor of Liangzhou returned with hundreds of carts loaded with treasures obtained as gifts, prepared for military preparations. And though the siege had been resolved less than half a month ago, the court was already peaceful and prosperous.

During the New Year’s family banquet, the Emperor did not attend.

Unfamiliar with the few concubines and unmarried princesses present, Zhao Yan found an excuse to return to the Eastern Palace early.

After bathing away the fatigue, Zhao Yan only loosely tied a gentleman’s hairband around the ends of her hair and wrapped herself in a thick fox fur. She then saw Liu Ji, dressed in crimson, approaching with a small jar of Loufushun wine in hand.

“Why did Your Highness return at this hour?” 

Once the ban on her movement was lifted, she reverted to her former casual self, free to come and go as she pleased. At this moment, without any makeup, her features were even more striking and clear than when adorned with cosmetics.

Upon mentioning what she had heard at the family banquet, Zhao Yan felt bored.

“That Shenguang Sect’s National Teacher, under the guise of divining fate, has persuaded Father Emperor to hold a grand Spring Festival sacrifice, hoping for the blessings of heaven for a prosperous and peaceful next year,” she explained wearily. “Besides being a waste of resources and labor, the Spring Festival sacrifice coincides with the Lantern Festival. Now, I won’t even get to see the lanterns.”

Without the need to wear the disguise of the “Crown Prince,” she always referred to herself as “I,” as if only at this moment could she truly be herself.

Liu Ji squinted her phoenix eyes and teased as she shook the wine jar in her hand, “Care to drink with me? Loufushun wine is sweet.”

Zhao Yan sniffed the faint sweet fragrance in the air, and her stomach, which had barely touched any food at the banquet, began to growl. With a twinkle in her eye, she nodded and smiled, “Quietly, don’t let Liu Ying find out.”

Liu Ji affectionately moved to hook her shoulder, but as her arm lifted, she realized that the charming youth in front of her was no longer the original Zhao Yan.

With no trace of hesitation, she withdrew, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison the wine?”

“With this face, are you willing to harm me?” Zhao Yan retorted nonchalantly, then asked, “What about Wang Yu in Cangzhou? Any news?”

“Not yet.”

The two chatted idly, and to the patrolling palace attendants, they seemed like a loving couple.

As the accumulated snow fell from the eaves, colorful lights rose in the distance, exploding into blooms against the black-blue night sky. It wasn’t until the fireworks had fully bloomed, with deafening bangs echoing, that Zhao Yan stopped in her tracks and looked towards the end of the corridor.

Liu Ying sat alone in the shadows of the stone steps, gazing up at the bright moon in a daze, bathed in the colorful residual light of the fireworks.

On New Year’s Eve, when everyone else was celebrating, the other palace attendants who served her closely had gone to the side rooms for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Zhao Yan had finally persuaded Liu Ying to rest for a couple of hours, only to find her sitting alone here, her silhouette desolate and lonely.

After a moment’s thought, Zhao Yan walked towards Liu Ying.

“What are you looking at, Liu Ying?”

Hearing the movement behind her, Liu Ying quickly rubbed her eyes and turned around. As the fireworks soared into the sky, casting a brilliant glow, her eyes were tinged with a faint redness.

In that moment, Zhao Yan suddenly understood something.

She adjusted the hem of her fox fur and sat down next to Liu Ying.

Liu Ying hesitated and was about to get up, her voice hoarse as she said, “The stone steps are cold, Your Highness should not sit here.”

Frowning, Liu Ji pushed Liu Ying back down and sat down beside her. With “Crown Prince” on one side and “Favored Consort” on the other, they sandwiched the composed and restrained palace maid in between.

Now, Liu Ying couldn’t move and had to sit stiffly.

“Do you miss him too?” Zhao Yan rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the fragmented moon cut by snow and bare branches.

Liu Ying remained silent, her usually calm eyes showing a hint of sorrow. Returning with three wine cups from somewhere, Liu Ji poured a cup for each of them after uncorking the wine jar. Zhao Yan took a cup of wine first, and after hesitating for a moment, Liu Ying also took one and held it in her hands.

“To old friends,” Zhao Yan proposed, raising her cup.

“To old friends,” Liu Ji echoed.

Under the moonlight, the three cups clinked together and then were simultaneously emptied in front of the steps, offering solace to the lonely souls below.

As the wine flowed from left to right, Zhao Yan’s eyes reddened.

Under the moonlit fireworks, the three leaned together in this quiet and deserted corner, looking at the same bright moon, drinking from the same wine jar, reminiscing about the same gentle youth who had touched their lives.

The night breeze brushed past, and the city lights swayed with it, sparkling like a galaxy.

As the fireworks continued to burst, the gates of the Su Palace remained tightly closed, isolating them from the festivities outside.

In the study, only a pair of crane-shaped bronze lamps were lit. Wen Renlin sat nearest to the charcoal fire, using a scarlet vermilion brush to mark names in a book.

Right Vice Marshal Cai Tian brought news from outside, knowing that his master’s days of cold bone poisoning were approaching, making his mood even worse. He spoke in a respectful tone, “The Emperor has decided to hold the Lantern Festival sacrifice, and the Crown Prince will also attend.”

Seeing his master’s silence, Cai Tian continued to report, “A scout reported that someone is secretly investigating the whereabouts of those Confucian scholars in the Mingde Pavilion.”

Wen Renlin’s vermilion brush slowed down.

Cai Tian continued, “Recently, many Jianghu wanderers have infiltrated the city. Upon investigation, it was found that these people have had contact with the Crown Prince’s advisors. With the Lantern Festival approaching, they may take action.”

The Lantern Festival?

Standing beside him, Zhang Cang instantly bristled. “Isn’t that targeting the Crown Prince’s position? Those scoundrels only know how to vie with our Lord for food!”

Cai Tian bowed his head with folded hands, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. His colleague was good at everything, except that he talked too much and wasn’t very smart.

Zhang, being obtuse, didn’t catch Cai Tian’s implication at all and rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Lord, should we intervene this time?”

The light from the charcoal basin reflected on Wen Renlin’s face, devoid of any warmth. He looked at the pale fingertips stained with vermilion, his eyelashes casting a shadow as he seemed to contemplate whether to save a mysterious stray cat or not.

After a long while, the vermilion brush in his hand finally fell, ruthlessly crossing out the last name.

“I’ve said before, it’s not just me blocking the Crown Prince’s path in the Eastern Palace. Whether he lives a few more days or fewer, what difference does it make?”

On this lively New Year’s Eve, his indifferent voice sounded particularly icy.

The wrist guard in her sleeve, that was his greatest kindness to her.

As for whether she ultimately lived or died…

What did it matter to him?

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