Wenren Lin disappeared again for two days.

Zhao Yen once suspected that her attempt at testing the waters the night before had failed completely, and she could not help but feel somewhat disgruntled.

On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhao Yen rarely had a free day, not needing to go to Chongwen Hall for lessons. The Eastern Palace was busy from top to bottom with sweeping and decorating. Early in the morning, the Guanglu Temple had people deliver fresh zongzi, as well as pomegranate blossoms and mugwort. Delivered together was also an oral decree from the Taihe Hall.

“The meaning of the various Lords of the Imperial Medical Bureau is that His Highness the Crown Prince has lately not been sleeping well. The yin cold energy that accumulated during last winter has yet to be dispelled, and it may be detrimental to his lifespan. By chance, the Yuquan Palace in the outskirts of the capital has just been completed. In summer, bathing in the hot springs is beneficial for expelling toxins and prolonging life. His Majesty, pitying His Highness the Crown Prince, especially requests that you move to Lingquan Palace to recuperate for half a month.”

The old eunuch’s face was covered with smiles. “After the midday meal, you will set out at the time of wei [1:00–3:00 p.m.]. There is still half a day for you to arrange matters regarding those who will accompany you. This old slave will not disturb further, and wishes Your Highness blessings of fortune and long life!”

Zhao Yen calmly ordered Liuying to give out rewards, then turned and walked toward the sleeping palace.

Her steps grew faster and faster, and the corners of her lips also curved upward slightly. As soon as she entered the room, she leaned over the writing desk and let out a long breath.

Previously, Zhao Yen had, intentionally or otherwise, brought up the matter of leaving the palace, but either her Imperial Father ignored her or her Imperial Mother obstructed her. Today, with just a strand of hair’s thought, she knew this decree was Wenren Lin’s doing.

She knew that she had, for now, won this gamble.

At present the only problem was that it would not be convenient to act within Yuquan Palace. She would need to find a way to approach Wenren Lin, and take the opportunity to search for direct evidence linking the “case of missing young children and girls” with the Prince of Yong’s residence.

Just as she was pondering how to act next, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Zhao Yen, hearing that sound, knew at once who it was. Lifting her eyes, she indeed saw Liu Ji stride into the room, speaking directly: “I heard that Your Highness is going to Yuquan Palace to recuperate. May I accompany you?”

“Of course.”

Zhao Yen curved her lips in a smile. “This time leaving the palace is of great importance. I was just worrying that there were too few to help. Even if Elder Sister Liu Ji did not say so, I would have taken the initiative to ask you to travel with me.”

Liu Ji showed a look of “that’s more like it,” raising her brows with quite a bit of pride.

The summer robe was thin, with no heavy winter jacket covering her body, so her figure appeared all the taller and straighter, carrying a kind of free and capable air not found on women secluded in the inner chambers.

Thinking of something, her expression sank again. She leaned her hand on the desk and bent forward, pressing closer. “I endured it for two days, but still could not resist asking once more. The other day you returned to a girl’s dress, locking yourself alone inside the hall. What exactly were you scheming?”

Zhao Yen recalled that “Tiger Step” which had etched itself into her memory, and for no reason felt flustered, her voice lowering: “Nothing, um… it’s just that after being ‘the Crown Prince’ for so long, I wanted to see my true appearance.”

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

Liu Ji gave a snort, her eyes shifting uncomfortably away from Zhao Yen’s strikingly beautiful face, but after a while, firmly shifted back again.

“Then, am I the first person since Your Highness entered the Eastern Palace who has had the fortune to see Your Highness’s appearance as a girl?” Liu Ji asked seriously.

Zhao Yen had just said the word “Liu—,” when Liu Ji immediately raised her brows to add, “Liuying does not count!”

Zhao Yen could not help recalling that half-day of entanglement at Hegui Pavilion. What should have been seen and what should not have been seen had all been revealed before Wenren Lin…

“Count… I suppose?” Zhao Yen spoke not without some guilty conscience.

Liu Ji was, apart from Liuying, the first “woman” in the Eastern Palace to see her dressed as a girl, so it was not a lie.

As expected, Liu Ji’s brows spread and her eyes lit up, as though she had received some great reward. She drew out a finely made short dagger hidden in her sleeve, laid flat on the desk.

“This is?”

Zhao Yen accepted the short dagger, her thumb drawing the sheath back an inch. She saw that the blade was thin as autumn water, cold as frost and snow—one look and it was clear this was a treasure capable of cutting hair blown against it.

Liu Ji said: “This is Zhao Yan’s pendant blade. Before, I had always kept it stored in my chest. Now I transfer it to Your Highness. On this journey out, you may carry it for self-defense, just in case.”

Zhao Yen knew she was worried about the assassination attempt from last year recurring, and she nodded, saying: “Many thanks.”

“It was originally your elder brother’s possession. I am merely returning it to its rightful owner.” As she spoke, Liu Ji fixed her eyes unblinkingly on Zhao Yen’s face.

Until Zhao Yen grew puzzled under her gaze, Liu Ji finally gave a low laugh and said hoarsely: “Hurry and pack. Once we reach Yuquan Palace, I will accompany Your Highness to soak in the hot springs.”

What Zhao Yen sought had nothing to do with Yuquan Palace, yet the thought of taking a hot bath to relax was not necessarily a bad thing.

“Alright.” She agreed with a smile.

Liu Ji turned to go pack her clothes for travel. After taking two steps, she looked back again and said: “Zhao Yan was not wrong. Your Highness truly is a beauty.”

Having said this, she left with a smile.

Zhao Yen did not know why Liu Ji was so delighted. She blinked, then simply placed her gaze on the dagger before her.

The sheath was made of cowhide, restrained and subdued, with a shallow scratch upon it. She lightly stroked it with her finger, attempting to find some lingering trace of Zhao Yan’s warmth…

“Very soon, Zhao Yan.”

Zhao Yen pressed the sheath against her chest, closed her eyes and murmured: “If you have knowledge beneath the springs [the netherworld], bless me that this journey will go smoothly, and that I may swiftly uncover the true culprit.”

After the midday meal, those accompanying to Yuquan Palace and the luggage had all been made ready.

Liuying stood beneath the carved-flower gate, head lowered, speaking of something with a female official from Kunning Palace. Seeing Zhao Yen approach in a pale apricot robe, she quickly said something, then gave a bow: “Your Highness, the carriages have been prepared.”

Zhao Yen guessed that her Imperial Mother, worried for her safety on this journey, had sent someone to give Liuying repeated admonitions. She asked no more, but only nodded slightly and stepped toward the gate.

Gu Xing led the guards waiting quietly at the front. At the entrance, two four-horse carriages stood, one before and one behind.

As Zhao Yen hesitated over which to board, she saw the deep green curtain of the rear carriage lift at the corner, revealing half of a familiar cold, stern face.

Zhao Yen understood at once, and turned back to Liuying, saying: “You and Liu Ji board the front carriage. I will sit in the rear one.”

Though Liuying knew this was improper, seeing the firm and calm look in her mistress’s eyes, after hesitating a moment she obeyed.

Wenren Lin’s carriage was quite spacious, more than enough for four people to sit inside.

The curtains hung down all around, the light somewhat dim. Wenren Lin leaned back against the window, sitting in the main seat. A thread of golden-white sunlight spilled through a gap in the curtains, falling upon his quiet profile, carrying not the least trace of warmth.

For some reason, Zhao Yen always felt that his complexion today appeared overly pale and cold, while his thin lips were strikingly red. On his face, handsome as an immortal, there was revealed a faintly alluring, demonic quality.

Before she had time to look a moment longer, her gaze collided with a pair of deep and unfathomable beautiful eyes—just as when they had first met amidst the snow last year. Wenren Lin slightly curved his lips, raised his hand, and lightly patted the empty seat beside him.

Zhao Yen quietly moved over and sat properly at his side.

The carriage swayed as it set out. She glanced sideways with the corner of her eye and saw Wenren Lin had changed back into a dark robe of both civil and martial sleeves. His right hand rested casually on his knee, holding a folding fan of jade bone. From its handle hung a pair of cloud-pattern warm-jade pendants, each the length of a knuckle.

The cold black-iron ring that had been on his forefinger was gone, replaced with a ring set with warm jade, making his long, white fingers appear even more elegant.

At his waist he also wore a brand-new belt hook carved with dragons, likewise made of warm jade, adding for him an extra air of the refined general’s gentle grace.

For some reason, today Wenren Lin’s attire seemed to be thoroughly paired with warm jade.

And the material of these jade ornaments looked… somewhat familiar?

Just as she was gazing intently, Wenren Lin gave a soft sneer, snapping open the fan and shaking it lightly before her eyes. The pair of jade pendants swayed with a jingling sound.

“Your Highness is so concerned about things you yourself once used?” he asked.

Things I have used?

A pair of fan pendants, a ring, a jade belt hook… precisely four items, and their sizes all matched.

All at once, Zhao Yen had an absurd thought: could it be that these jade ornaments were carved from that box of jade slips Wenren Lin had taken that night…?

Seeing the disbelief filling the little princess’s eyes, Wenren Lin rubbed the jade inlaid ring with his fingertip, deliberately asking: “Rushed out in haste, made somewhat rough. May Your Highness be tolerant.”

“…”

Forget it. Since they were things he himself used, if he felt no shame, why should she feel embarrassed?

“These past two days, Prince Su has been occupied with carving these?”

Zhao Yen wrinkled her nose. Once again she caught a faint breath of frost and snow.

“Not entirely so. Since Your Highness lowered herself to request to leave the palace, this prince must spare the time to personally see you off for a stretch.”

Wenren Lin did not wish to mention the encounter at the start of the month. With his fan he tapped Zhao Yen’s sleeve robe. “What weapon have you hidden?”

This fellow was truly like a dog—what she hid in her sleeve could not be concealed from him!

Though she complained inwardly, Zhao Yen still obediently took out the short blade Liu Ji had given her, and placed it on the small desk. Wenren Lin gave it a cursory glance and asked indifferently: “A man’s?”

“It is my elder brother’s relic. I carry it for self-defense.”

Wenren Lin made no comment, merely playing with the jade pendants. “Defense against this prince.”

Zhao Yen choked, then raised her clear eyes, speaking sincerely: “With Prince Su’s abilities, even if I wished to defend, I could not. It is only with my elder brother’s former example before me, that I defend against petty villains.”

At this, she pressed together her crimson lips, lowering her voice: “I have yet to thank Prince Su, for aiding me in leaving the palace to recuperate.”

The fingers with which Wenren Lin played the pendants paused slightly. He lifted his eyes and asked: “And how will you thank me?”

Zhao Yen rested her chin, lowered her lids, pondering how to steer the subject to her own advantage, when suddenly the carriage braked sharply.

Unprepared, Zhao Yen pitched forward, her forehead colliding into a palm cool as jade.

With one hand, Wenren Lin steadily supported her head, sparing her from the misfortune of cracking her skull. In such hot weather, that palm was still like cold jade, carrying not the least bit of heat or dampness.

But Zhao Yen, startled then relieved, felt her blood surge upward. Her cheeks nearly caught fire. She hastily sat back upright.

Wenren Lin curled and released his fingers lightly, savoring the lingering warmth and fineness, before withdrawing his hand. From beneath the seat he brought out a bundle long prepared.

He placed it on the small desk and opened it—it was a set of crimson gowns for a girl, a set of hair ornaments, a box of rouge and powders.

Wenren Lin unscrewed the rouge box, lifted a fine brush for painting makeup, letting each soft white hair of the brush be dyed with rouge’s crimson. Then he turned, supported Zhao Yen’s chin, and turned her bewildered little face toward himself.

The first stroke fell beneath Zhao Yen’s right eye, the bright red dye covering that too-fragile tear mole.

It tickled a bit. Zhao Yen unconsciously trembled her lashes, then at last realized—Wenren Lin was personally painting her makeup.

It was the Dragon Boat Festival today. The avenue outside was crowded, the carriage moving slowly and bumping along. Yet his hand was so steady. Drawn close, Zhao Yen could even feel the faintest brush of his breath upon her from time to time.

“The night before, this prince said: if Your Highness wished for this prince to accompany you on the journey, then you must do one thing for this prince.”

Wenren Lin carefully painted petals at the corner of her eye, then leaned back a little, pinched her chin and studied left and right for a few moments. “Does that still count?”

Zhao Yen was dumbfounded, blankly thinking: Wasn’t it already settled when I demonstrated the stance of the ‘Tiger Step’ with him upon the couch?

Could it be—that did not count?!

It was as though Wenren Lin could hear her innermost thoughts. He dipped the brush into the rouge once more and said in a low voice:

“That Classic of the Mysterious Maiden—has Your Highness studied it thoroughly?”

The hands Zhao Yen had resting at her sides instantly stiffened and curled up tight.

She nodded, then quickly shook her head, uneasily guessing: could what Wenren Lin referred to as “doing one thing” be nothing other than demonstrating every move recorded in that booklet?

Her brows slowly drew together. That truly… would be somewhat difficult.

Wenren Lin lifted a finger to wipe away the excess rouge for her, and the cold-white fingertip was then stained with a dazzling pale red.

His cold gaze shifted toward her, the brush pausing as he asked:

“Does Your Highness intend to break her word?”