Chapter 35: Gift

Zhao Yan soaked in the pool, her neck and cheeks flushed with the warmth of the bath, her wet hair draped gracefully, adding a touch of charm reminiscent of a lotus emerging from the water.

“Your Royal Highness Su needs those sachets? They’re not valuable items,” said Zhao Yan casually.

Zhao Yan tried to discern whether Wen Renlin’s words were serious or just a sarcastic joke. However, his face was hidden in the shadow of the veil, revealing nothing.

After Wen Renlin left, Zhao Yan climbed out of the pool, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. She changed out of her transparent garments soaked by the water, then wrung out her dripping hair. She leaned against the small couch for a while, lightly humming as she touched her numb lower lip.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise nearby, followed by the sound of bottles and jars shattering, particularly clear in the silent night.

A light approached from outside the door, followed by the voice of Li Fu, “Your Highness, there seems to be some commotion in lady Liu’s room.”

Zhao Yan was startled and hastily pinned up her wet hair with a jade hairpin before throwing on her clothes and quickly opening the door.

Liu Ying also rushed over from the Cloud Viewing Pavilion with a group of people, holding lanterns.

At Zhao Yan’s signal, Li Fu knocked on the door, then raised his voice, “Miss Liu?”

Seeing no response for a while, Zhao Yan began to feel anxious.

She hurried up the steps and was about to force the door open when a faint reply came from inside: “Wait… Hiss! It’s not very convenient now. I haven’t finished dressing.”

There was another rustling sound, and Zhao Yan estimated that it was about time. She pushed the door open with force.

The room was in a mess. The floor tiles were damp, the curtains had fallen, the flower rack had collapsed, and the flower vase lay shattered on the ground. Liu Ji lay among the debris, her hair disheveled, her wide-sleeved garment stained with dirt, and she held her forehead in pain.

Li Fu propped up the flower rack, then hurried outside to fetch a broom and dustpan. He quickly swept away the broken porcelain and carefully felt the seams of the floor with his hands to ensure there were no remaining shards before letting the mistress enter.

Zhao Yan instructed Liu Ying and then crouched down to remove Liu Ji’s hand covering her face. She frowned at the red swelling on her forehead. “How did this happen?”

“I just came back from bathing and was going to put the flowers in the vase. I slipped on the wet floor and fell,” replied Liu Ji, looking extremely frustrated. She pursed her pale lips and added, “I hit the flower rack with my head, sprained my foot, and even spilled the flowers His Highness sent.”

Zhao Yan instructed two palace maids to help Liu Ji to the couch. She then bent down to lift the hem of Liu Ji’s skirt, revealing a slightly swollen ankle.

She examined it seriously, completely ignoring Liu Ji’s gaze fixed on the cut on her lower lip, and asked, “How did His Highness injure his mouth?”

“It’s nothing. I accidentally bumped it in the bath,” replied Zhao Yan, pursing her lips and trying to change the subject. “When you returned, were there any others in the room?”

Liu Ji’s attention was indeed diverted. After a moment of thought, she shook her head, holding her throbbing forehead, “There shouldn’t have been. I’m not used to having someone assist me when changing clothes. I was actually thinking of taking this opportunity to go and bathe with His Highness… but now, with this foot, I’m afraid I won’t be able to touch water for several days.”

Turning her head away, she said with embarrassment, “Your Highness, you should leave quickly. I look useless in this state.”

After the court physician Zhang arrived and treated Liu Ji’s minor injuries, and two diligent palace maids were left to take care of her, Zhao Yan finally left with peace of mind.

“The moonlight tonight is beautiful.”

Unconsciously, the words of Wen Renlin before leaving resurfaced in her mind, “When dealing with troublesome people, it’s best to act decisively.”

Wen Renlin had just left, and now Liu Ji was injured. Was it really just a coincidence?

Zhao Yan didn’t want to think too much about it, but it was difficult not to. The night wind from the mountains blew through the corridor, causing droplets of water from her hair bun to trickle down her neck. Zhao Yan shivered involuntarily, feeling a chill.

Back at the Guanyun Pavilion, Gu Xing was waiting in the corridor.

“I’ll go get some lip balm for Your Highness.”

Liu Ying politely excused herself, taking the attendants from the Guanyun Pavilion with her.

“Your Highness, another young girl and a boy have gone missing in the city tonight.”

Gu Xing delivered the information concisely, “I saw His Royal Highness’s carriage rushing down the mountain just now, so it must be related to this matter. I didn’t dare to follow too closely for fear of being noticed by His Royal Highness.”

Zhao Yan took the information and pondered for a moment. “Did Prince Su go straight down the mountain without stopping at the Yuquan Palace?”

“Subordinate kept a vigilant watch from afar and didn’t see anything unusual.”

Could it be that she was overthinking it, and Liu Ji’s injury was just an accident?

No, when it comes to matters of life and death, it’s better to be cautious.

Zhao Yan suppressed her doubts and unfolded the intelligence report containing information about the missing individuals, her pupils shrinking involuntarily.

[“Little Liu, twelve years old, father a weaver, mother seriously ill, disappeared near the Danning Street at the end of the You hour on the fifth day of the fifth month; Hu Aman, three years old, father Hu Jingde, a principal official of the Ministry of Justice, disappeared from their backyard at the end of the Shen hour on the fifth day of the fifth month.”]

“Little Liu…” Zhao Yan recognized the name.

She subconsciously glanced at the willow basket resting on the wooden rack, recalling the clever and sensible poor girl she had met by the bridge in the afternoon.

The girl’s clothes were so neatly arranged, indicating that she was a well-loved and obedient child of her parents. Now, with her sudden disappearance, her parents must be in anguish, plunged into an endless abyss of pain.

Zhao Yan couldn’t help but grip the paper between her fingers, causing wrinkles to form.

Too slow… The power of the Eastern Palace is insufficient. Even if Gu Xing were to investigate day and night, it would still be too slow.

Every day delayed means more innocent people facing unforeseen dangers. Thinking of this, Zhao Yan calmed down. She walked briskly to the wooden rack, took down the flower basket, and held it in her arms, pondering.

Whether it was for her elder brother’s cause of death or for these abducted children in the city, she had to personally visit Wen Renlin.

Zhao Yan took out the only remaining peach-colored sachet and carefully examined it for a while…

Forget it, let’s change it.

She feared that Wen Renlin would tenderly throw away this bright-colored sachet along with her if she gave it to him.

…

Jinyun Villa.

Torches flickered on the wall of the secret chamber, casting eerie shadows into the bottomless dark cave.

“Useless trash!”

Zhao Yuanyu picked up an inkstone and fiercely threw it at the silent and ferocious man.

On the wall, the extremely tall and thin figure of the man remained motionless. The inkstone bounced off his head, clattering to the ground, and blood oozed from his forehead. He didn’t even blink, not even moving his eyelashes, as if he were a still pool of water, a stone statue.

“I told you to capture those boys, but you, you idiot, took them to an official’s house! With your skills, why didn’t you kill Zhao Yan for me!”

The commotion now was too big. The more Zhao Yuanyu spoke, the angrier he got. He picked up the iron chain used for binding and whipped it at the man, but his strength was misdirected, and he ended up tripping himself with the force of gravity.

“Now is not the time to be angry.”

Lady Chunniang, holding a dusting brush, emerged from the secret chamber and advised with cold eyes, “The situation has already been stirred up. It’s not appropriate to stay here any longer. The young master might as well cut his losses and escape now, erasing all traces as soon as possible.”

“What do you mean, let this young master run away? The day for alchemy is coming soon. Where can I run now?”

Zhao Yuanyu was sweating profusely, his face twisted with malice, “It took so much effort to capture those children. All my hopes are pinned on this!”

“Young Master, choose your words carefully.”

At the mention of “children,” Lady Chunniang’s tone grew even colder.

“A cultivator wouldn’t kill people for alchemy, so those children shouldn’t be called ‘people,’ but rather ‘catalysts.’”

Realizing his taboo, Zhao Yuanyu immediately stopped his aggressive behavior, panting heavily, “I understand, I understand.”

…

After having her morning meal, Zhao Yan put on her veil and got into the carriage heading down the mountain.

She had instructed Gu Xing to be cautious. Wen Renlin had been staying at the Western Mountain Villa in Yining Street for the past few days, about an hour’s drive from the Yuquan Palace.

As the carriage swayed, dappled and bright tree shadows flickered past the curtains. The gauze on Zhao Yan’s veil also gently swayed, concealing her delicate face beneath the disguise of male clothing, subtly adorned with makeup.

She had a folding fan on her knees, which she had personally painted all night long.

Zhao Yan had pondered for a long time. The Dragon Boat Festival had passed yesterday, missing the best time for sending sachets. Sachets were too ambiguous, and she had never learned any feminine skills, nor could she embroider any patterns. Sending jade was unnecessary…

Wen Renlin still had those few pieces of warm jade hanging on him.

There was a tradition in Xuan for the monarch to give the prince a fan during the summer, and Zhao Yan remembered that the fan Wen Renlin had in his hand yesterday was plain and unadorned, all white. With that in mind, she had an idea.

Whether he liked it or not was not so important as using the excuse of going to see him to sound him out. Thinking of this, Zhao Yan felt slightly relieved. She took the fan case handed to her by Liu Ying and held it in her hand.

When she arrived at the villa, it was noon, and Wen Renlin was out and had not yet returned.

The door was opened by another deputy commander of the Wang Family, and Zhao Yan remembered this rugged face, named Zhang Cang.

Zhang Cang knew about the relationship between the Little Prince and his master. Naturally, he dared not let such a fragile little thing stand in the scorching sun. He rubbed his hands and invited her into the hall, serving tea and water attentively.

The sound of pigeons flapping their wings constantly came from the eaves, and Zhang Cang kept glancing outside while guarding Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan knew it all too well. She put down the cold tea and said, “Deputy Zhang, go about your own business. Is there a place for reading or passing the time in the villa? I’ll pick a couple of books to read while waiting for the Grand Tutor to return.”

Zhang Cang said, “There’s a small study. Please come with me.”

The prince was cautious in his actions. Any confidential letters would either be promptly burned or the relevant files left in the Su Wang’s mansion or the Hegui Pavilion. This villa was clean, and there was no worry about leaking any important secrets.

What remained were just harmless words.

Even so, Zhao Yan still found some scattered clues about the missing cases – not that she deliberately searched for them, but this booklet happened to be under a book on the desk, a local gazetteer of Jixian.

Separated in the booklet were records of all the missing children and adolescent girls, far more than what Zhao Yan had found. There were over seventy people reported to the government alone, not to mention the orphans and beggar children among the refugees.

After the long list of missing persons, there was information about the purchaser of Jinyun Villa. Zhao Yan’s eyes darkened as she removed the obstructing veil and placed it on the table, continuing to flip through the pages…

Familiar shadows spread over from behind, casting a shadow over her. A slender hand reached past her ear and gently took away the booklet she was engrossed in.

Zhao Yan turned her head and was startled to see Wen Renlin.

But she quickly calmed down. What she was reading wasn’t anything confidential. If it were…

“If it were confidential, Your Highness would have already lost your life by now.”

Wen Renlin seemed to see through her thoughts, tapping the booklet in his palm. The sleeves of his dark red formal robe spread out before Zhao Yan like the deepest shade of blood.

Zhao Yan collected herself and casually changed the subject, “I came here this time with something to give to the Prince Su.”

With that, she took out the fan she had prepared in advance and handed it to Wen Renlin.

Wen Renlin’s gaze paused for a moment as he sat in the circle chair, opening the fan to reveal the sprawling snow-capped mountains and a solitary moon painted on it. He raised an eyebrow slightly, “Just this?”

What else could it be?

Zhao Yan was puzzled, “I just thought that the mood of the snow and moon is somewhat similar to that of the Prince Su.”

Similarly enigmatic and chilling as the night, as piercing as ice and snow.

“I thought Your Highness had studied the illustrations of the Xuan Nu Scripture for so long and must have some insights.”

“?”

“Forget it.”

Wen Renlin reluctantly closed the fan, looking at Zhao Yan’s embarrassed expression with slightly improved mood. With one hand, he closed the folding fan, staring at the blue-gray tassel hanging from it for a while before finally removing it and replacing it with the warm jade pendant on his own fan.

“Come here.” Wen Renlin leisurely played with the warm jade, looking up at Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan hesitated for a moment before standing in front of him.

Although Wen Renlin was sitting, his imposing aura remained undiminished. His slender fingers held the fan depicting the snow-capped mountains and solitary moon, exuding a warm and elegant demeanor.

“Your fake concubine said something right. I am a ruthless person. Your Highness should stay away from me.”

He slowly raised his hand, pointing at the mole at the corner of her eye with his fingertip, and said in a gentle tone, “Considering that Your Highness has pleased me with your sweet words, here’s some advice: this case is not something you can meddle in. If you want to stay alive, stay out of it. Understand?”

Zhao Yan’s eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, feather-like.

Wen Renlin chuckled softly, brushing his fingertip over her lightly rouged lower lip.

Zhao Yan felt a faint blush appear under his cold white fingertip.

In the next moment, he opened the fan, pressing the rouge scraped from her lips onto the blank surface of the moon on the fan, and made a circle.

The once cool and clear snow moon became a seductive blood moon.

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