Chapter 31: Traveling Together

Wen Renlin disappeared for another two days. Zhao Yan once doubted whether her probing the previous night had failed completely, feeling somewhat disappointed.

On the fifth day of the Duanwu Festival, Zhao Yan unexpectedly had a leisurely day off from her studies at the Chongwen Hall. The palace was busy cleaning and decorating for the festival. Early in the morning, the Guanlu Temple sent fresh dumplings along with items like pomegranate flowers and mugwort. Also included was an edict from the Taiji Hall.

“The intention of the temple’s officials is that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has had poor sleep lately, and the cold accumulated last winter has yet to dissipate, which may affect his longevity. Coincidentally, the Yuquan Palace in the suburbs of the capital has been completed. Soaking in hot springs during the summer aids in detoxification and prolonging life. His Majesty, out of concern for the Crown Prince, specially requests that you move to the Yuquan Palace for half a month to recuperate.”

The old eunuch smiled broadly. “We will depart after lunch, at the hour of Wu. You have half a day to arrange your accompanying matters. I won’t disturb you further. May His Highness be blessed with longevity and health!”

Zhao Yan calmly ordered Liu Ying to make preparations and then headed towards the bedroom.

Her pace quickened, and a slight smile appeared on her lips as she approached the desk and let out a long sigh of relief.

Before, whenever Zhao Yan intentionally or unintentionally mentioned leaving the palace, she was either ignored by the Emperor or obstructed by the Empress. Today’s decree, even a strand of hair could tell it was thanks to Wen Renlin.

The only problem now was that it would be inconvenient to investigate matters in the Yuquan Palace. She needed to find a way to get close to Wen Renlin and seize the opportunity to search for direct evidence related to the “missing children and girls case” and its connection to the Prince Yong’s Mansion.

While contemplating her next move, she heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Recognizing the sound, Zhao Yan raised her eyes and saw Liu Ji entering. She spoke directly, “I heard Your Highness is going to the Yuquan Palace for recuperation. Can I accompany you?”

Zhao Yan smiled, “This departure from the palace is of great importance, and I am worried about the lack of assistance. Even if sister Liu Ji didn’t mention it, I would have invited you to come along.”

Liu Ji gave a somewhat smug expression and raised her eyebrows with a hint of arrogance.

Her summer clothes were thin, lacking the heavy winter robes to cover her body, which made her figure appear even more tall and flat, exuding a kind of freedom and competence that a secluded woman would not possess.

Then, she remembered something, and her expression darkened. Leaning closer with her hands on the desk, she asked, “I endured for two days, but I can’t help but ask again. When you resumed the appearance of a girl and locked yourself in the hall alone the other day, what were you planning?”

Zhao Yan remembered the move “Tiger Step” that was engraved in her heart and felt a sudden panic, her voice lowering, “It’s nothing, um… I’ve just been pretending to be the Crown Prince for too long and wanted to see my true appearance.”

“Your Highness has grown up and has her own secrets.”

Liu Ji snorted, her eyes uncomfortably shifting away from Zhao Yan’s beautiful face for a moment before firmly returning.

“Then, am I the first person since Your Highness entered the Eastern Palace to have the privilege of seeing Your Highness in a girl’s appearance?” Liu Ji asked seriously.

Zhao Yan was about to say “Liu Ying doesn’t count!” when Liu Ji immediately raised her eyebrows and added, “Excluding Liu Ying!”

Zhao Yan couldn’t help but recall the half-day of messing around in the Hegui Pavilion, where everything that should and shouldn’t be seen was undoubtedly revealed in front of Wen Renlin…

“Let’s say… yes?” Zhao Yan said somewhat nervously.

Apart from Liu Ying, Liu Ji was the first “woman” to see her in a girl’s appearance in the Eastern Palace, so it wasn’t a lie. Liu Ji smiled even more, as if she had received some great reward. She handed out a delicately crafted short knife hidden in her sleeve, placing it flat on the desk.

“This is Zhao Yan’s dagger, which has been kept in my box before. Now, I give it to Your Highness. Take it with you when you go out, just in case.”

Zhao Yan knew she was worried about the assassination incident last year recurring, so she nodded, “Thank you.”

“It originally belonged to your brother, so I’m just returning it to its rightful owner.” With that, Liu Ji stared intently at Zhao Yan’s face.

Until Zhao Yan felt puzzled by her gaze, she lightly chuckled and said in a low voice, “Hurry up and get ready. When we arrive at the Yuquan Palace, I’ll accompany Your Highness to soak in the hot springs.”

The matter Zhao Yan was concerned about had nothing to do with the Yuquan Palace, but thinking about relaxing in a hot bath, it might not be a bad thing after all.

Liu Ji turned back to pack her accompanying clothes, took a few steps, then turned back again, saying, “Zhao Yan is right, Your Highness truly is a beauty.”

Zhao Yan didn’t know why Liu Ji was so cheerful. She blinked and decided to focus her gaze on the dagger in front of her.

The scabbard was made of cowhide, modest and restrained, with a faint scratch on it. She lightly ran her finger over it, trying to detect some warmth left behind by Zhao Yan…

Zhao Yan pressed the scabbard against her chest and whispered to herself, “If you have awareness in the afterlife, bless me for a smooth journey and to quickly find the true culprit.”

After lunch, the attendants and luggage for the journey to the Yuquan Palace were all packed.

Liu Ying stood under the hanging flowers, chatting with the female officials from the Kun Ning Palace. When she saw Zhao Yan, dressed in apricot-white, coming slowly, she quickly said something to the female official and then saluted, “Your Highness, the carriage has been arranged.”

Zhao Yan guessed that the Empress was worried about her safety on this trip, so she didn’t inquire further when she saw Liu Ying receiving instructions. She simply nodded and walked out.

Gu Xing led the guards waiting quietly ahead, with two carriages parked in front and behind at the gate. Zhao Yan was hesitating about which carriage to board when she saw a corner of the deep blue curtain of the carriage behind being lifted, revealing a familiar cold and stern face.

Zhao Yan knew what to do. She said to Liu Ying behind her, “You and Liu Ji go to the carriage in front, and I’ll take the one behind.”

Although Liu Ying knew it wasn’t appropriate, seeing the determined and calm look in her master’s eyes, she hesitated for a moment before obeying.

Wen Renlin’s carriage was spacious enough for four people.

The curtains around were drawn, dimming the light slightly. Wen Renlin sat against his temple, with a faint line of golden light shining through the slit in the curtain onto his quiet profile, devoid of any warmth.

For some reason, Zhao Yan felt that his complexion today looked too cold, with his thin lips unusually crimson, and his exquisitely beautiful face exuding a hint of charm.

Before she could look more, she collided with a pair of deep and unfathomable beautiful eyes, just like when they first met in the snow last year. Wen Renlin slightly raised his lips and gently patted the empty seat beside him.

Zhao Yan quietly moved over and sat down beside him.

As the carriage set off swaying, she glanced sideways and saw that Wen Renlin had changed back into dark-colored civilian and military attire, with his right hand casually resting on his knee, holding a bone fan, with a pair of cloud-patterned warm jade pendants hanging from the fan handle.

The cold black iron ring on his index finger was gone, replaced by a warm jade ring, highlighting his long and white fingers. Around his waist was also a brand-new carved dragon jade belt, made of the same warm jade material, adding a touch of gentleness to his scholarly and martial aura.

For some reason, Wen Renlin’s dress today seemed to match the warm jade.

And why did these jade ornaments look somewhat familiar?

Lost in thought, Wen Renlin sneered and shook the fan in front of her eyes, causing the jade pendants on the fan to sway and clink.

“Do you care so much about things you’ve used before, Your Highness?” he asked.

A pair of pendant charms, a ring, a jade belt… Just four items, all roughly the same size.

Zhao Yan suddenly had a ridiculous idea: Could these jade ornaments be… carved from the jade pieces that Wen Renlin took away that night?

Seeing the disbelief in the little princess’s eyes, Wen Renlin rubbed the jade ring on his finger and deliberately said, “It was rushed and made a bit rough. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“…”

Forget it, since it’s his own stuff, and he’s not embarrassed about it, why should she be awkward?

“Has the Prince Su been working on these for the past two days?”

Zhao Yan wrinkled her nose, catching a faint scent of frost and snow again.

“Not necessarily. Your Highness puts aside her status and requests to leave the palace, I, as a prince, must make time to personally see her off.”

Wen Renlin didn’t want to mention the events of the beginning of the month. He tapped Zhao Yan’s sleeve with his fan and asked, “What weapon are you hiding?”

This guy really was like a dog, able to sniff out whatever was hidden in her sleeves!

Although Zhao Yan grumbled internally, she obediently took out the short blade Liu Ji had given her and placed it on the desk. Wen Renlin glanced at it briefly and asked casually, “For me?”

Wen Renlin neither confirmed nor denied it, playing with the jade pendant, “For protecting myself.”

Zhao Yan choked back a response and lifted her clear eyes, saying sincerely, “Even if I wanted to protect myself against Prince Su’s skills, I couldn’t. It’s just a precaution against villains, based on my brother’s experience.”

With that said, she pursed her lips and lowered her voice, “I haven’t thanked Prince Su yet for assisting me in leaving the palace for recuperation.”

Wen Renlin paused as he played with the jade pendant and raised an eyebrow, asking, “How do you plan to thank me?”

Zhao Yan instinctively sneezed, feeling a slight chill. She didn’t expect Wen Renlin to catch her sneezing, let alone worry about it. Wen Renlin’s single hand effortlessly supported her head, preventing her from hitting it. Even in this hot weather, his palm felt as cool as jade, without a hint of warmth.

Feeling embarrassed after the sneeze, Zhao Yan’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly steadied herself. Wen Renlin gently flexed his fingers, feeling the warmth and delicacy, then withdrew his hand and took out a prepared package from under the seat.

Opening it on the desk, there was a set of bright red women’s clothes, a set of hairpins, and a box of rouge and powder.

Wen Renlin opened the rouge box, dipped the fine brush used for makeup, and stained every soft and white bristle with the crimson of the rouge. Then he turned to Zhao Yan, held her chin, and turned her bewildered little face towards him.

The first stroke landed under Zhao Yan’s right eye, covering the overly delicate teardrop mole.

Feeling a bit itchy, Zhao Yan unconsciously blinked her eyelashes. After a moment, she finally realized that Wen Renlin was personally applying makeup for her.

Today was the Duanwu Festival, with many people on the main road, and the carriage was moving slowly and bumpily, yet his hand was so steady. When they got closer, Zhao Yan could even perceive his occasional light breath.

“The night before, I mentioned that if you wanted me to accompany you, you would have to do something for me.”

Wen Renlin carefully drew flower petals at the corner of her eye, then stepped back slightly, pinching her chin and scrutinizing her from side to side, “Does it still count?”

Zhao Yan was stunned, thinking blankly: Didn’t she already demonstrate the “Tiger Step” posture to him in bed?

Could that not count?!

As if hearing her thoughts, Wen Renlin dipped the brush in rouge again and said in a low voice, “Have you thoroughly studied the Xuan Nu Scriptures, Your Highness?”

The hands at Zhao Yan’s side immediately stiffened.

She nodded and then quickly shook her head, guessing anxiously: Could the “something” Wen Renlin mentioned be demonstrating all the moves from that book?

She furrowed her brow slowly: That would be… quite challenging.

Wen Renlin lifted his finger to wipe away the excess powder for her, his cold white fingertip now tinged with a beautiful light red.

His cold gaze shifted to her and he paused with the brush, asking, “Are you going to break your promise, Your Highness?”

Zhao Yan exhaled her bated breath.

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