After summer began, the sunlight was already rather glaring.

Liuying came to inquire: “The sun is at its height—does Your Highness wish to ride the sedan back to the Eastern Palace, or take the carriage?”

Zhao Yen glanced at the deep blue sky, and gently shook her head: “Gu wishes to take a walk.”

After such long rains, Zhao Yen only felt as though even her bones were soaked through with water. It was just the time to bask in the sun and dispel the damp.

Liuying received a paper parasol from an inner attendant, opened it, and shaded her mistress a little.

The two walked, one before and one behind, slowly along the long palace path.

As Zhao Yen was pondering how she might find a natural pretext to leave the palace once, she heard, from the other side of a palace wall, the faint sound of “meow.”

She halted and looked up, raising her hand as a visor to shade her brows, and saw a snow-white cat yawning with its rump raised. Then, with its tail swaying like water-grass, it leapt down from the palace wall and vanished from sight.

If stray cats in the palace had no one to tend them, they could scarcely survive the bitter cold of winter. Besides, this cat’s fur was glossy and sleek—it did not look masterless.

Curious, Zhao Yen instinctively ascended the steps, sleeves gathered, and passed through a hanging-flower gate.

Tree shadows swayed above her head. Passing along a sun-dappled path in the courtyard, she suddenly saw beneath the corridor a familiar tall figure. That scarlet official robe, set amidst the lush greenery of the garden, was striking to the eye.

Wenren Lin sat with legs crossed upon a beauty’s leaning rail under the eaves. Resting upon his knee was a small silk bag, and in his hand he toyed with two pieces of dried meat, leisurely teasing the cats.

At his dark official boots, seven or eight cats of varying colors had already gathered, circling with swaying heads in rhythm with the movements of his fingers.

Wenren Lin seemed to find immense delight in this. Only when the cats were meowing hungrily did he, with great mercy, raise his hand and toss the meat down—the frost-white, slender joints of his fingers tracing a dazzling arc in the sunlight…

His Highness the Prince Su, ruthless and merciless, playing with cats—however one thought of it, the sight was strange. Yet, seen with one’s own eyes, it carried a peculiar, pleasing harmony.

Was he not supposed to be busy investigating the case of the missing boys and maidens? How had he the leisure to feed cats here?

Startled, Zhao Yen could not help but look a few times more. Somehow, Wenren Lin’s motions as he teased the cats seemed somewhat familiar.

Not only familiar, but even evoked a certain sense of intimacy.

Just as she was peering through the gaps in the leaves, she saw Wenren Lin carelessly rub the meat crumbs from his fingertips and say, neither light nor heavy: “Since when has the Crown Prince developed the habit of peeking at others from corners?”

Caught out, Zhao Yen’s heart gave a jolt.

With no way to evade, she simply walked out openly from behind the shadows of the trees, inclined her head toward Wenren Lin, and said: “Just now Gu saw a pretty odd-eyed cat darting over the wall, and out of curiosity followed it here. I did not expect Prince Su to be here as well.”

As soon as her words fell, that white cat with one yellow and one green eye leapt out of a nearby flower bush, affectionately springing onto Wenren Lin’s knee, leaving several dusty plum-blossom paw prints upon his immaculate official robe.

Wenren Lin’s expression did not change. He allowed the cat to step across his broad chest and leap onto his shoulder.

“These little creatures, their origins unknown—when there is food they will act coquettish, let themselves be toyed with; when there is no benefit, they turn away and leave. Unlike dogs, ever wagging their tails in flattery.”

Wenren Lin raised a hand to scratch the white cat’s chin upon his shoulder. Yet his gaze, passing across half the courtyard, landed on Zhao Yen, his look half-smile and half-not: “Does not Your Highness think this very interesting?”

Zhao Yen could not quite grasp the deeper meaning of his words. After a moment, she vaguely replied: “It is very interesting. Then Gu shall not disturb Prince Su’s elegant amusement.”

She slightly gathered her sleeves, then turned and departed.

Wenren Lin gave a low laugh. He plucked the white cat from his shoulder, then calmly brushed away the paw prints and hairs left upon his robe, and called: “Zhang Cang.”

Zhang Cang appeared from some corner, bowed with clasped fists, and said: “This subordinate is here.”

“Go tell Zhang the Supervisor in Taiji Hall, henceforth if the Crown Prince again seeks audience or to leave the palace, refuse on all counts.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Cang well knew that now was a crucial moment; the little Crown Prince must not be allowed to intrude and disturb the great design. Yet he held back for some time, unable to resist softly asking: “Does the Prince not wish to go to Chongwen Hall? It has been over half a month without seeing the Crown Prince—do you not…”

But when he met Prince Su’s pitch-dark, chilling eyes, Zhang Cang swallowed the rest of his words wisely.

“Before, this prince indeed overestimated her.”

Wenren Lin emptied the rest of the dried meat from the silk pouch, his face without expression: “Now it seems, she is no more than that.”

…

Gu Xing returned to the Eastern Palace to deliver his report.

Seeing that he had not merely sent a flying pigeon message but had come back in person, Zhao Yen knew he must have important news.

As expected, the moment Gu Xing entered the study he bowed with clasped fists: “This subordinate has lately discovered that the heir of Prince Yong has frequently been entering and leaving the city gates, each time escorted by guards carrying many wooden chests. At first, this subordinate thought he was transferring private stores of gold and silver. Until yesterday, when this subordinate seized the chance to approach and saw, to my shock, that every chest was bored with ventilation holes.”

“You mean, what is being transported inside the chests are living things?”

Zhao Yen propped her chin in thought. Connecting this with the continuous disappearances of boys and maidens in recent months, a terrifying suspicion surfaced in her mind, making her hair stand on end.

“Not only so.”

Gu Xing paused, then lowered his voice: “This subordinate also saw Prince Su entering and leaving Prince Yong’s residence, as if in secret contact.”

Zhao Yen quickly straightened her body: “Is it known for what matter they meet in private?”

Gu Xing shook his head: “Prince Su is extremely vigilant, and his deputy generals are likewise masters of one in ten thousand. This subordinate’s skill is insufficient—I was already discovered by them, and fear I can no longer get close.”

At this, Zhao Yen’s heart sank.

Was Zhao Yuanyu transporting the missing children within those chests?

With Wenren Lin’s ability—having already drawn near to Prince Yong’s residence—it was impossible that he would not discover some clue…

No matter what Wenren Lin wished to do, Zhao Yuanyu was Zhao Yen’s enemy. She could not sit idly by.

She must find a way to leave the palace once.

Not only to leave the palace, but to do so with proper reason, and to make rightful contact with the very heart of that case.

Yet today her proposal had already been denied by her Imperial Father. Within the entire court, there was no one who could help her fulfill such a wish. The only possible way was…

Zhao Yen thought again of Wenren Lin’s leisurely figure playing with cats, thought of the faint smile that had often tinted his eyes when teasing her into nervousness and blush.

“If he hangs onto the young master in such a way—what is he seeking?”

Suddenly, Zhao Yen felt that the question Liu Ji had once asked her now had a clear answer.

She sat quietly in the study until sunset and twilight, pondering for a long time. As her thoughts grew clearer, her gaze gradually grew resolute. At last she exhaled a long, heavy breath, and stepped out the door in the golden-red glow of the setting sun.

Outside the door only Liuying was dutifully standing guard.

“Liuying, have Li Fu carry a message to Prince Su’s residence, saying that Gu has encountered a difficult problem and cannot resolve it, and asks His Highness Prince Su to enter the Eastern Palace to untangle it for Gu.”

In Zhao Yen’s eyes reflected the gorgeous hues of the sunset; the corner of her lips lightly lifted as she softly added: “And also, bring Gu a set of rouge and powders, and a girl’s gown and skirt.”

After thinking, she supplemented under Liuying’s astonished gaze: “One that will suit Gu to wear.”

Then let it be a wager—that he indeed has interest in her.

…

The doors and windows of the Eastern Palace’s sleeping hall were tightly shut, all attendants dismissed.

Zhao Yen looked into the mirror at the familiar yet unfamiliar self. Raising a hand, she adjusted her coiffure and said: “Enough, the hair ornaments need not be too many.”

In any case, they would have to be removed later, so best not to trouble.

Liuying held the jade comb, hesitating to speak.

Zhao Yen looked at her through the mirror, and comforted her: “Do not worry, I know my own mind.”

She was no longer that little crown prince who trembled at the slightest teasing. She had to fight for her own bargaining chip.

Liuying bit her lip, set down the comb, and said: “This servant has always served His Highness as the Crown Prince, but does not know the cosmetics of women these days. This servant shall invite Liu Ji at once.”

Liu Ji, loyal in spirit, did not even ask what Zhao Yen was attempting with this play. Picking up the powders upon the dressing table, she at once began to apply them.

Zhao Yen did not know what the final result would be. She only knew that when the red adornment was complete, even Liu Ji stared in a daze for a long while.

She propped her chin and sat behind the study desk in the sleeping hall, even the folds of her long skirt spread with deliberate design. From the time of sunset until the first lanterns were lit, at last there came Liuying’s voice outside the doors announcing reverent welcome.

The next moment the door was pushed open, and the sound of familiar, steady footsteps entered.

Wenren Lin, dressed in dark informal robes, with broad shoulders and long legs, hands clasped behind his back, walked leisurely around the screen. Before his eyes was a graceful maiden, radiant beneath the brilliant lamplight.

At her elbow draped a silken shawl flowing with gleam, her pomegranate skirt scattered like petals across her knees, black hair trailing in waves, slender hand lightly supporting her chin, revealing a section of alabaster-white arm, like gathered snow in the moon, a picture made flesh…

It was a sight he had never before seen.

Wenren Lin only raised a brow slightly, then his expression returned to calm as he paced to her side.

Lowering his gaze, he glanced sidelong, and asked with plainness: “For what line that Your Highness cannot understand has the Crown Prince gone to such lengths to invite this prince here?”

Speaking thus, he lifted the cinnabar brush from the pen rack, and bent down to look over the essay spread before her on the desk.