“Before this spring’s Metropolitan Examination, His Highness the Crown Prince once went to the Mingde Hall. First, to listen to Mister Linjiang’s lecture, second, to exhort the scholars on behalf of the Imperial Family, as a sign of cherishing talent and valuing the worthy.”
Inside the tightly shut sleeping palace, Liuying recounted the past one by one. “At that time this servant was attending to illness in Kunning Palace and did not accompany him. I only know that His Highness conversed happily with many like-minded students, and it was during this period that he came to know Liu Ji. His Highness grew fond of her, and on the return journey brought Liu Ji back, granting her palace registration.”
Zhao Yen, her forehead bound with bandages, half-reclined at the table, pinching a silver needle to pick at the lamp wick of the candlestick, asked: “Elder Brother likes her very much?”
Liuying imperceptibly nodded and said: “His Highness often lodges in Cheng’en Hall, together with her practicing calligraphy and painting, talking by candlelight deep into the night.”
Cheng’en Hall was precisely the place allotted for Liu Ji’s residence.
“What do they talk about?” Zhao Yen asked.
Liuying was stunned, lowering her head: “At that time, His Highness did not need this servant to attend.”
Zhao Yen also froze, in the end giving rise to a kind of indescribable sense of disharmony.
In her impression, Elder Brother was thin and youthful, orderly and rule-abiding, not like one who indulged in female charms.
She somewhat unnaturally scratched the side of her neck, glanced at the increasingly silent Liuying, and changed the subject: “Since Liu Ji is one with whom the Crown Prince is deeply associated, why did you never mention it before?”
Liuying replied: “Because of Liu Ji’s matter, Her Majesty the Empress once quarreled with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Zhao Yen understood. It seemed Mother did not like this flamboyant and valiant great beauty.
“His Highness the Crown Prince, being benevolent and filial, during the journey out of the palace for summer respite, wrote a letter and sent Liu Ji away. Afterwards there was no further news of Liu Ji. This servant thought the matter already settled, and therefore did not tell you.”
“If Elder Brother truly bore to part with her, he would not have left her the token of the Eastern Palace.”
This also was Liuying’s greatest worry.
She almost subconsciously spoke out: “Liu Ji cannot remain at His Highness’s side.”
Zhao Yen very seldom saw Liuying show likes and dislikes, and could not help looking at her once more.
“Is this your thought, or Mother’s meaning?” she asked.
Liuying suddenly lifted her head.
Zhao Yen saw her complexion turn pale at once, as if she had committed some unforgivable sin, abruptly kneeling in formal obeisance, properly saying: “This servant has overstepped, may Your Highness punish.”
“Again…”
Zhao Yen lightly sighed, set down the silver needle in her hand, and said, “For people to have likes and dislikes is a very normal matter. So long as one does not, because of personal likes and dislikes, arbitrarily harm others, then there is no need to blame oneself in this way. Rise.”
Liuying’s face was still pale. That word “overstepped,” rather than directed at Zhao Yen to plead guilty, seemed more like it was spoken to herself.
The shadow cast on the ground, like invisible shackles, bound her tightly.
Zhao Yen had no choice but to change methods. After pondering for a moment, she sat a little straighter and said: “After all, she has been with Elder Brother for half a year. You go and take back her palace registration and token, then prepare some gold and silver valuables. Politely send her out of the palace to settle, just say it is Gu’s.”
Having received a task, Liuying then rose, returning to her usual neat and steady manner.
After Liuying departed, Zhao Yen concentrated for a moment, then put on her robe and walked to the corridor.
She summoned Gu Xing, Commander of the Eastern Palace Guards who was leading troops on night patrol.
“Before this year’s Spring Examination, Gu once listened to lectures at Mingde Hall. Go and retrieve the writings and books related to the Lonely One. At the year-end assessment, Gu will use them.”
Thinking it over, she again added slowly: “As long as there are characters written, do not let any be left behind. Act discreetly.”
Gu Xing did not ask an extra word. He clasped his fists to accept the order and withdrew swiftly.
Zhao Yen gazed at the ink-dark night sky, unconsciously stroking the small mole at the corner of her left eye.
Thanks to Liu Ji’s appearance, she came to know that Elder Brother had gone to Mingde Hall to listen to lectures at the beginning of the year.
With Zhao Yan’s disposition, since he had made friends with so many like-minded scholars, he must certainly have left behind letters and writings. From within them perhaps something useful could be discerned.
Liuying and Li Fu were Mother’s people, always opposing her pursuit of the Crown Prince’s cause of death, so this matter could only be entrusted to others.
From the moment she entered the Eastern Palace, Zhao Yen had secretly observed the attendants around her, selecting those who could truly be used by her.
After several rounds of scrutiny, Gu Xing’s background was clean, he could be considered honest and reliable. She let him go fetch the writings from Mingde Hall—first, to pursue clues; second, to use this chance as a test, to probe Gu Xing’s character.
If he truly brought the things back properly, then he could be of great use; if he failed to bring them or let slip the news, it would also not matter, and would not endanger Zhao Yen’s present situation.
It could be said to be a sudden turn, allowing her to glimpse a ray of dawn, and Zhao Yen’s heart was comforted.
Just as she returned to the sleeping palace and shed the disguise upon her face called “Crown Prince,” she heard a noisy clamor outside.
Then with a bang, the great doors of the sleeping palace were suddenly pushed open.
Zhao Yen turned back in astonishment, and saw that face of Liu Ji, thickly beautiful, long brows arched upward.
“Your Highness would drive me away?”
She gave a cold laugh, speaking bluntly, “At the start it was you who invited me to enter the palace with you. Have you forgotten what you said?”
Liuying hastily followed in, face full of difficulty—clearly the matter had been spoiled.
Liu Ji, after all, was one bold enough to call the Crown Prince by name; ordinary people truly could not suppress her.
At this moment it was already too late to obstruct. Zhao Yen had no choice but to dismiss all attendants, shutting the hall doors to confer.
She could only force out a good-tempered smile, imitating Zhao Yan’s tone, and said: “The Eastern Palace stands at the very tip of the storm, it is not a good place to belong. Gu weighed it again and again to make this decision, it is also for your good.”
Liu Ji merely lifted her brows, her eyes like a flame burning fiercely, revealing a sharpness unlike ordinary women.
After a long pause, her slender fingertip pointed toward Liuying, her expression exaggerated: “Your Highness lately keeps only Liuying at your side to attend—have you shifted affections, and taken a fancy to this little slut?”
Zhao Yen’s smile stiffened, feeling herself no different from a fickle and faithless man.
But with the Eastern Palace having secretly changed masters, to continue dragging on in entanglement would bring only harm and no benefit. Better to cut the knot cleanly with a sharp blade.
Zhao Yen shook her head with a long sigh, helplessly saying: “If you insist on thinking so, Gu has no way.”
Before the words had finished, she herself was already disgusted.
Let alone Liu Ji—even she, hearing this, felt a nameless fire rise.
Liu Ji’s gaze shifted several times, then she strode forward, seizing Zhao Yen’s fox-fur collar: “You damn—”
The words of rebellious insult had not yet been spoken, when from the courtyard came a louder commotion.
The light of lamps wavered, the deep voices of guards drew nearer: “Prince Su, please halt! His Highness has already retired. To break into the palace gates at night is discourtesy!”
The most skilled in martial arts, Gu Xing, had just been sent away. At this moment it was already too late to have anyone stop him… No, even if Gu Xing were present, in the whole Eastern Palace who would dare block Prince Su, whose power overshadowed the realm?
That was a fiend who, before the Emperor, had no need to kneel, and even the Emperor had to yield him three points!
She straightened her body, and saw a tall, familiar shadow cast upon the door panels, flickering slightly with the wavering candlelight.
Zhao Yen suddenly had a foreboding premonition.
The next moment, the door panels opened with a sound, a swift wind rushing through, the silken hangings in the hall madly billowing.
“This Prince has ever disliked speaking through doors—pardon the discourtesy.”
Wenren Lin stepped slowly inside, the shadow retreating from his body inch by inch, like white jade greeting the light. Containing the faintest of smiles, he said: “The Crown Prince’s head ailment has long failed to heal, and again flared up during this Prince’s lecture. This Prince feels guilt, and thus has specially invited the Immortal Physician Sun to come forth to diagnose the Crown Prince.”
He gave way for the white-haired, immortal-like elder behind him, his gaze turning toward the inner sleeping chamber: “Immortal Physician Sun practices medicine to aid the world, the foremost among the healing arts. The Crown Prince has always trusted his medical virtue.”
Zhao Yen clenched her teeth and cursed inwardly: So this is why he has been so quiet these days—he was preparing this move!
Who would have thought Wenren Lin would even invite Immortal Physician Sun, long retired from the world, one who could bring flesh upon withered bones.
Such a formidable figure—how could she dare let him examine her!
The air seemed to congeal. Liu Ji’s face showed doubt, glancing at the shadow behind the moon-gate curtain, then at Zhao Yen before her, as if thoughtful.
The bruise at Zhao Yen’s temple began to throb faintly again. She had no time to handle Liu Ji, only cast a look at Liuying.
Liuying understood, stepping forward to say: “Prince Su’s good will, the Eastern Palace receives with gratitude. Only, His Highness has with difficulty fallen asleep, and truly it is inconvenient to question his illness. We ask Prince Su to—”
Before the words were finished, she was directly blocked left and right by the Vice-Generals of Prince Su’s residence.
Watching as Wenren Lin came toward the inner chamber, Zhao Yen’s heart pounded like a drum. Alarmed, with no time to think, she suddenly grabbed Liu Ji and pushed her onto the couch.
Golden hooks struck together with a ringing sound. The bed curtain swayed and fell, light and shadow alternating, illuminating Liu Ji’s pair of startled phoenix eyes.
“Hush.”
Zhao Yen raised a finger to her own lips, signaling Liu Ji to keep silent, hoarsely saying: “Cooperate with Gu.”
Bad deeds or good deeds, let Heaven strike with thunder—this was the most practical method Zhao Yen, in desperate urgency, could think of to avoid Wenren Lin’s examination.
Liu Ji immediately understood her intention, a trace of strangeness flashing across her face.
No time to hesitate—she turned over, seizing the initiative.
The view inverted—this time it was Zhao Yen who was astonished.
The gauze lamp shone bright, the bed curtains swayed, faintly showing the blur of two overlapping figures, one above and one below.
“Your Highness, why so hasty? Slower is better.”
Liu Ji pinched her voice in feigned reproach, ambiguous words spilling forth with ease.
Beneath the carved moon-gate, Wenren Lin’s lifted fingers paused upon the curtain’s edge, his steps halting.
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