In the study, there were occasional nostalgic sighs and the sound of Shen Qingli’s laughter. The girl’s words were clean and brief, repeating only one phrase: “Don’t touch him.”
Outside the half-closed door, Xie Subai’s lips pressed into a straight line, but no emotion showed on his face. A sliver of light from the crack in the door cut across his nose, revealing a hint of his deep breath.
He raised his hand and made a gesture, prompting Ao Zhi to silently push the wheelchair back.
Back in Xie Subai’s bedroom.
Ao Zhi took care of Xie Subai’s daily needs. On the tea table, a pot of herbal medicine was simmering. She was worried that he wouldn’t be able to sleep after waking up this time, so she brewed another bowl. Under normal circumstances, taking this medicine would ensure a full night’s sleep without waking up, unless someone called him. Knowing Xie Subai’s difficulty in sleeping, Ao Zhi wouldn’t wake him up unless it was a major issue.
She didn’t dare to either, fearing the need for a second bowl, which would be doubly harmful to his body.
But when it came to matters concerning Miss Yuluo, regardless of their size, Xie Subai had to be woken up.
This was the rule, an unwritten rule.
And when did this rule come about? Ao Zhi remembered it vividly; it was three years ago, after the incident at Yunyang Prison.
Due to her special status, Ao Zhi was different from Hongshuang, Yinzhuang, and others. She was a household maid, not a palace maid, and belonged to the Crown Princess. Her parents managed the Crown Princess’s estate in the countryside and got implicated when the Eastern Palace got into trouble. Only she escaped, so her authority extended beyond just attending to Xie Subai’s daily needs; she also managed some affairs of the Cuixue Tower.
She could handle some matters Xie Subai didn’t have time for.
When Miss Yuluo was captured back then, Ao Zhi was the first to handle it.
In fact, she dealt with it promptly and appropriately, except for one mistake: not reporting to Xie Subai immediately. She still remembered the look on Xie Subai’s face then. Ao Zhi didn’t dare to recall it, so from that time on, even if Miss Yuluo returned to the main building late at night after completing a mission, Ao Zhi would wake him up and inform him: Miss Yuluo is back.
But Miss Yuluo didn’t know this, and she didn’t need to know.
“Cough, cough, cough—”
As soon as he entered the room, Xie Subai began to cough.
The harsh, continuous coughing seemed like it was going to tear him apart. Ao Zhi hurriedly handed over the medicine and saw a touch of red on the handkerchief in Xie Subai’s hand.
A shocking red, staining his thin lips with blood.
“Master,” Ao Zhi stammered. It wasn’t the first time his health had worsened, but she still panicked. She stood up and said, “I will go get Doctor Yue.”
Xie Subai leaned forward, his elbow pressing on the armrest of the wheelchair to support his weight. He closed his eyes and rasped, “Come back.”
Ao Zhi’s voice trembled, “Your Highness…”
Your Highness.
Those two words seemed to trigger something deep within Xie Subai. He silently lifted his eyes. His white robe flowed, his gaze blood-red, staring straight at Ao Zhi. Though his face remained expressionless, the rising fury made people instinctively bow their heads to him. He looked coldly and said, “What, am I very frightening?”
Ao Zhi trembled more violently, knowing she had misspoken.
Xie Subai was most sensitive about anyone mentioning his past self. Today, Shen Qingli’s nostalgic words had already struck a heavy blow to his heart, and Ao Zhi’s “Your Highness” had hit the raw nerve.
She immediately knelt, her forehead touching the back of her hand. “This servant knows her mistake.”
Xie Subai, regaining his composure, chuckled softly, slowly wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He folded the handkerchief neatly until no blood was visible on top, then said, “Or do you also think I shouldn’t?”
Ao Zhi shook her head. “Master is of the legitimate royal bloodline. Whatever Master does, this servant will naturally follow.”
Xie Subai softly said, “Is that so?” He turned his head to stare at the wine pot on the tea table brought back from Yipin Residence, his expression growing colder.
Everyone said they followed him, but their hearts did not fully agree.
Liu Panshun helped him but lamented, saying the eldest grandson was originally a person of great virtue and integrity. Shen Qingli, though loyal, would occasionally reveal a look of pain.
But so what?
Xie Subai suddenly smashed the wine pot. The white porcelain shards flew, cutting his cheek. He didn’t feel the pain; instead, his lips curled into a mocking smile as he murmured, “No matter, you will understand.”
All mistakes would be corrected.
He was not wrong.
Xie Subai’s expression returned to normal, resembling a celestial prince from another world. He calmly asked, “Where are the men from Prince Xingnan?”
–
Ji Yuluo left the inn.
She didn’t have to see Xie Subai because it was meaningless. Coming here tonight was a waste of time. She had been driven by anger to see him urgently, but now that she had, she didn’t know what to say.
Shen Qingli even asked if she was so angry that she’d lost her mind.
Shen Qingli also said, “The matter with Huo Xian is not for us to decide. I cannot disobey the Master’s orders. As for tipping him off, once is enough.”
“…Have you ever thought about taking him away?”
Ji Yuluo walked along the houses of the alleys and streets, avoiding the patrolling soldiers, and quietly returned to the Huo residence.
Chaolu was standing under the large sycamore tree in the main courtyard, frowning and glaring at Nanyue. Their faces were ferocious, like two ugly, fierce lions.
Chaolu couldn’t understand why her lady had left without taking her and made her stay in the most conspicuous place in the courtyard.
As she was puzzling over this, she heard a short whistle. Startled, she left the courtyard.
In the shadows, she smiled. “Miss!”
Ji Yuluo motioned for her to be quiet and gestured for her to come closer. After whispering a few words, Chaolu looked up in confusion. But she was not one to question orders. Even if she asked, she might not understand, so she grabbed her sword and dashed under the eaves.
On the other side, Nanyue was stunned by the unexpected scene. Then, enraged, he drew her sword, thinking that the people of Cuixue Tower were indeed heartless!
Outside, the clash of swords and blades began.
Ji Yuluo took the opportunity to slip to the back wall of the main house. Encountering a few guards, she only nodded slightly. The events of tonight had not been publicized, and these people outside didn’t know what had happened. Thus, apart from Nanyue, no one stopped her. They only saw Nanyue’s guards fighting with Chaolu. Meanwhile, the lady tried several windows along the wall, all of which were bolted from the inside, except for the innermost one, but that one was—
Before the guard could warn her, Ji Yuluo had already jumped in.
It was the window of the bathroom.
With a “splash,” she stepped into a puddle, almost slipping. She steadied herself by holding onto a clothes rack. In the long silence that followed, she locked eyes with Huo Xian.
The man was soaking in a bath, his long eyelashes covered with a layer of frost. When he opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flashed across his face. Then, as if understanding something, he smoothed his slightly raised brows and, with a hint of mockery, said, “Are you a thief?”
His breath came out as mist. Ji Yuluo moved closer and noticed floating ice in the water.
Not knowing how much ice had melted, she felt cold just standing there.
She asked, “Does this help?”
The cold could slow blood flow, and the internal Gu worms would also become less active. Huo Xian replied with an “Mm,” saying, “It helps, almost done.”
Ji Yuluo nodded and walked out under Huo Xian’s peculiar gaze. As the curtain lifted and fell, she heard the splash of water as someone stepped out of the tub.
The temperature difference between the inner room and the bathroom was significant. The inner room was warm, with tightly closed doors and windows and a roaring fire. The heat wave hit her as soon as she entered, making her shiver involuntarily at the sudden change.
She sat by the window at the desk, using the breeze from the crack in the door to cool down. Her gaze fell on a small square box on the table.
Ji Yuluo frowned slightly, instinctively picking it up to examine it. She had seen a box like this before, in Nanyue’s hands. One time, when she went to the study to find Huo Xian, she saw him holding such a box, but her attention was diverted by Sheng Lanxin coming out of the room.
As she pondered, Ji Yuluo lowered her head and sniffed. There was a strange medicinal smell, with a groove in the middle, likely for holding pills.
Her frown deepened. She recalled the low groan she heard outside the door that day, Sheng Lanxin’s request for water, and the blackened veins on his wrist at the opera house.
These scattered details suddenly formed a line in her mind. She raised her head abruptly, a thought flashing through her mind.
As enlightenment dawned, footsteps sounded behind her.
Ji Yuluo stood up and took a few steps to face Huo Xian, speaking with certainty, “You were poisoned. Before Hong Shuang drugged you, there were already toxins in your body.”
A few traces of astonishment appeared on Huo Xian’s face. He said, “You can’t just shift the blame to exonerate your own people…”
Ji Yuluo didn’t bother listening to his excuses. She roughly grabbed his icy wrist, both hands feeling his pulse.
Her expression was serious, but after a while, she felt nothing unusual. His pulse was only slow due to just emerging from the cold bath.
But of course, she couldn’t detect anything. Once the poison had dissipated and the Gu worms were inactive, his body would seem normal. Huo Xian said, “Does Doctor Ji have any insights?”
Ji Yuluo, still doubtful, released his hand. “You have taken this medicine before. That day, I clearly heard your suppressed groans. Sheng Lanxin was frantic for water, much like what happened today.”
As she spoke, she stared intently at Huo Xian.
Ji Yuluo’s eyes were cold, and her tone was calm, yet it conveyed an oppressive forcefulness. Under her gaze, most people would struggle to hide their flaws, but Huo Xian simply laughed several times, cracking Ji Yuluo’s serious expression for a moment.
He said, “That day, I suffered a minor injury. Yiniang Sheng, being a woman, was overly alarmed and needed water to treat my wound. As for the sounds, naturally, they were from the pain. This medicine is merely a tonic. If I were truly poisoned, standing here unharmed means the poison has been resolved. Why would I continue taking the same medicine?”
Ji Yuluo still wasn’t fully convinced. Not all poisons cause immediate death. Furthermore, it had been a long time, and he could claim anything without proof. She had no evidence and couldn’t argue her case, so she had to let it go.
Seeing her stop questioning, Huo Xian quietly sighed in relief and leisurely rubbed his hands by the stove. “So concerned about me?”
Ji Yuluo also sat down and said, “Aren’t you curious about who ordered the poisoning?”
Huo Xian’s movements slowed. He smirked and said, “I originally thought your support in the capital was… your master. But now it seems it’s not. As for who poisoned me, it’s naturally not him; it’s someone else.”
He paused, looked at Ji Yuluo, and said, “I want to see him.”
Initially, Huo Xian was puzzled. If Liu Panshun was still around, who could override his authority? Why did Liu Panshun have to contact him through a silver ring rather than a more straightforward method? There was only one possibility: someone else was behind him.
But who could make Liu Panshun willingly serve, hiding his identity for years, and this person had to be connected to the Eastern Palace.
Through this poisoning incident, Huo Xian saw some previously overlooked details. For instance, Hong Shuang was different from Chaolu. Ji Yuluo was clearly more affectionate towards Chaolu, while Hong Shuang had another master.
Hong Shuang’s behavior was too regimented, her posture and movements strictly trained, more proper than those of a noble lady.
Such meticulousness was definitely not Ji Yuluo’s doing. Huo Xian could only think of one person: the Crown Prince, Lianyu.
He had previously been baffled. If Liu Panshun’s actions were merely for revenge, there was no need to spread disease in the capital and stir up trouble. This seemed more like a prelude to seizing power. Who could he support to take the throne? Even Zhao Yong suspected a prince’s rebellion. But if the Crown Prince was still alive, everything made sense.
Ji Yuluo didn’t give a definite answer. She wasn’t sure if Xie Subai would agree to see him, only saying she would try her best.
But even if they met, it wouldn’t change anything.
Shen Qingli had explained the stakes to her today. Cuixue Tower aimed for prestige; obtaining the throne was only the first step. The key was securing it, which required winning the support of more court officials, especially the cabinet, the Imperial Academy, and the three judicial authorities. At this time, having the legitimate royal bloodline paved the way, and public support added weight, helping those officials abandon their belief in the Eastern Palace’s guilt and become supporters of the Crown Prince’s succession.
After all, the Eastern Palace’s treason was an old case. Most involved either died in the great fire or later perished in various accidents. Investigating it was nearly impossible; otherwise, Xie Subai wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to take a different path.
A monarch ascending the throne through reputation would first purge traitors. The sword over the heads of the Court of Sacrificial Rites and the Jinyiwei would be his initial gesture of goodwill, proving his virtue.
In other words, whether Huo Xian obstructed Xie Subai or not, even if Xie Subai had no other plans now, as long as Huo Xian remained in the capital, when power shifted, he would have only one fate.
Ji Yuluo suddenly asked, “Do you like money?”
Huo Xian was taken aback by the abrupt question, then laughed and said, “Of course, although money is an external possession, who doesn’t like such a vulgar thing?”
Ji Yuluo agreed. She thought for a moment and said, “If I gave you a lot of wealth, enough to ensure you never worry about food or drink, no worse off than now, would you be willing to leave the capital?”
Huo Xian paused, his long eyelashes veiling the emotions in his eyes. He let out a laugh and looked up, saying, “Do you know why the Imperial City is the Imperial City?”
Looking into Ji Yuluo’s eyes, Huo Xian sighed and said, “Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, there is always something more important than money: power. Supreme power is far more tempting than gold and silver. I lean on the Directorate of Rites and hold the Commandery Division, with the emperor’s protection. With the emperor and the Directorate confined within the palace walls, Miss Yuluo, I can truly walk horizontally in the capital. Even local officials must kneel to me first when they come to the capital—not the emperor.”
As he leaned back in his chair, listing his privileges, a hint of pride appeared on his face. When he mentioned his influence, he even squinted his eyes happily. His face was filled with desire, making him look like a full-fledged treacherous minister, completely engrossed in his ambitions.
No, not like one—he truly was a treacherous minister.
And he was indirectly telling her that mere money couldn’t tempt him; he could never bear to leave the capital.
In the end, Huo Xian joked, “Interested? Why don’t you leave Cuixue Tower and join me?”
Ji Yuluo looked at him and said, “Sure, when the Jinyiwei can overpower the Directorate of Rites, I’ll cling to the Commander’s leg and try being a bully myself.”
Huo Xian, the bully, laughed.
