Chen Jingchen.
Gao Yuexing, who had been holding a teacup, suddenly put it down, even making her breathing extraordinarily light and careful. Her hearing was now sharper than ever.
The sound of footsteps shifted from disorderly to orderly and then came to a halt.
Chen Jingchen had entered the room.
Gao Jing exchanged a few polite greetings with him.
What Gao Yuexing admired most about these bureaucrats was their ability to deliver pleasantries. Despite their scheming hearts and dark intentions, they all seemed naturally adept at maintaining a façade of peace.
After ordering tea to be served, Chen Jingchen spoke about the matter at hand: “A few days ago, the disgraceful family matters of this subordinate caused Lord Gao much trouble.”
Gao Jing replied with a smiling face, “A homicide case, right under the Emperor’s feet in the capital, with a perpetrator so heinous it defies description—solving this case and seeking justice for the deceased isn’t just a directive from His Majesty but also my duty. However, Lord Chen, you…” Gao Jing sighed at just the right moment. “Please accept my condolences.”
If Gao Jing hadn’t mentioned it, no one would have noticed.
But the moment he did, Gao Yuexing immediately grew suspicious.
—This Lord Chen had lost his daughter, yet there wasn’t a trace of sorrow in his words or demeanor.
The funeral rites for the eldest Miss Chen were hastily conducted after the seven-day mourning period.
As for Chen Jingchen, apart from his initial grief and indignation when pleading for justice from the Emperor, he had since remained unusually quiet.
After Gao Jing’s comment, Chen Jingchen fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Ah, my poor, ill-fated daughter. I raised her all these years, only to find that the bond between father and daughter was so shallow after all…”
It sounded convincing, as if it were genuine.
Whether it was heartfelt or feigned, only he himself knew the truth.
Gao Jing then shifted the conversation. “Has Lord Chen come to inquire about the progress of the case?”
Chen Jingchen let out an “Ah.”
Gao Jing said, “There’s been some progress. Please be patient for a little longer, and I will ensure that both you and your wife receive a proper explanation.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Jingchen’s attitude suddenly shifted. He waved his hand repeatedly and said, “I came to see you today precisely because of this matter. Regarding my younger daughter’s murder case… I am ashamed to say, it seems your words that day were correct—the culprit was hiding within my inner residence all along. I have just uncovered the truth myself, and I dared not delay for even a moment before coming to report it to you.”
Gao Jing was so surprised that he placed his teacup heavily on the desk. “Lord Chen, you… discovered it?”
Chen Jingchen gritted his teeth. “Yes, yes, it was a concubine in my rear court.”
What a coincidence.
Gao Yuexing had just cast her net in front of the second Miss Chen.
And Chen Jingchen had so eagerly taken the bait.
The more Gao Yuexing thought about it, the colder her heart grew. Judging from the situation, everyone in the Chen household seemed to know about the eldest Miss Chen’s death. Chen Jingchen, needless to say, and even Madam Chen, the second Miss Chen…
All the blood relatives surrounding her were nothing but wolves and tigers.
Almost everyone was waiting for her to die.
How hopeless must Miss Chen have felt, trapped in such a perilous situation?
Chen Jingchen said, “It was a concubine in my residence. After hiding for several days, she finally revealed a clue. I caught her rummaging through my younger daughter’s boudoir. When I interrogated her, she refused to speak, so I temporarily locked her in the woodshed. I dared not delay and came immediately to seek your advice, Lord Gao.”
Gao Jing pondered for a moment before saying, “Although this matter technically falls under your household’s jurisdiction… given that it has already been handed over to the Court of Justice and inadvertently involves His Highness Prince Xiang, I’m afraid it is no longer something you can handle on your own.”
Chen Jingchen quickly agreed and then asked, “In that case, would it be acceptable for me to send that wretched woman to the Court of Justice myself?”
Gao Jing replied, “There’s no need to trouble yourself, Lord Chen. Since the culprit is already in your custody, I will bring some men and accompany you there.”
With that, the two officials rose to their feet, politely gesturing for the other to proceed first, and left the room together. Gao Yuexing waited until their footsteps had faded into the distance before stepping out from behind the partition.
At that moment, the side door opened, and the coachman was waiting outside. He said, “Second Miss, shall we leave as well?”
Gao Yuexing followed him, asking as they walked, “Are we going to the Chen residence?”
The coachman nodded and replied, “The carriage is ready, and we’ll head there right away. I’ve reserved a private room at the Juxian Tower across from the Chen residence, where you can enjoy a drink while watching the drama unfold today.”
Gao Yuexing remarked with a sigh, “Father… truly a man without a care in the world!”
Under Gao Jing’s deliberate pacing, his and Chen Jingchen’s actions were intentionally slowed.
Meanwhile, Gao Yuexing’s carriage set off first. Upon arriving at Juxian Tower, the coachman called for the waiter, who confirmed the reservation and cheerfully led Gao Yuexing upstairs after receiving a tip.
The private room by the window had a clear, unobstructed view of the Chen residence’s main gate.
Gao Yuexing silently praised the arrangement and gave the waiter another tip.
The waiter, thrilled, withdrew, while the coachman stood guard nearby, serving as a temporary escort.
Gao Yuexing lowered the curtains for the time being. Then she heard footsteps on the staircase and signaled to the coachman to move the screen closer to the table, not wanting to be recognized.
Through the screen, she listened. The sound of the footsteps seemed vaguely familiar.
The person stopped just outside her screen.
The coachman, startled, called out, “Your Highness?”
Who else could it be but the one prince whose presence she found so familiar?
Gao Yuexing turned her head to stare at the screen. First, she saw a pair of black boots and a hem edged with gold. Then the man himself stood tall and elegant outside the screen.
Gao Yuexing raised an eyebrow. “What a coincidence.”
Roughly two quarters of an hour earlier, they had just parted hurriedly at the Xiaonan Pavilion.
Li Fuxiang hadn’t even changed his clothes.
He replied, “It is quite the coincidence.” Without an invitation, he sat across from Gao Yuexing. “Is there a cup of tea for me?”
Gao Yuexing gestured for him to help himself and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Li Fuxiang answered matter-of-factly, “To watch the show. Aren’t you here for the same reason?”
As he moved, Gao Yuexing heard a crisp, pleasant clinking sound. She followed the noise with her gaze and saw a small white jade seal tied to his waist.
The seal was made of mutton-fat jade, with a meticulously carved five-clawed golden dragon coiled atop it.
Gao Yuexing asked, “Are the Jinyiwei here?”
Li Fuxiang held his teacup, bringing it to his lips, and as he drank, his gaze swept over her quietly from the rim of the cup.
Whatever a fox’s eyes looked like, his eyes were the same—still carrying traces of youthful innocence, yet the slyness had already begun to emerge.
Gao Yuexing continued, “You arrived early with the Jinyiwei, saw my carriage downstairs, and then decided to follow me up here, didn’t you?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “Where did I slip up for you to figure that out?”
Gao Yuexing smirked. “You hid well. It’s just that my nose is too sharp—I caught your scent.”
Li Fuxiang finished his tea. Perhaps feeling the distance between them too formal, he stood up. With a light step, he effortlessly crossed over to her side.
The coachman standing nearby looked angry but dared not say a word.
Li Fuxiang said, “There’s still some time before the show begins. You arrived too early.”
When Gao Yuexing turned her head, his face was suddenly so close that she didn’t dare meet his gaze. Forcing herself to remain calm, she looked away and said, “Since we still have time, why don’t you explain the play to me first?”
Li Fuxiang sat upright beside her, maintaining decorum without a hint of impropriety. He said, “Your father initially suspected that Chen Jingchen might sacrifice a pawn to save the king. The Jinyiwei had already prepared for that possibility. But now, it seems he overestimated Chen Jingchen.”
Gao Yuexing was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Li Fuxiang explained, “Chen Jingchen has no intention of sacrificing a pawn to save himself. He’s greedy—he wants to protect both pieces, treating everyone else like fools.”
He wanted to save both, but in the end, he might not even be able to save one.
Gao Yuexing waited until her tea had gone cold, but still, no one appeared. She grew suspicious. The distance from the Court of Justice to the Chen residence wasn’t far—crawling should have gotten them there by now. Could something have happened on the way?
As she mulled over the possibilities, a man’s voice suddenly came from outside the screen. “Your Highness.”
Caught off guard, Gao Yuexing startled in her seat.
Turning to look, she found Li Fuxiang equally unnerved. He peeked outside and said, “Speak.”
The Jinyiwei subordinate reported, “Lord Chen’s carriage encountered some trouble on the way and was delayed. They’ll take a bit longer to arrive.”
Li Fuxiang nodded.
The Jinyiwei retreated silently, leaving no trace of where he had come from or how he left. It was so unsettling that only by witnessing it firsthand could one truly grasp its eerie nature.
Li Fuxiang lifted the beaded curtain and glanced outside. “We’ll wait a bit longer.”
Gao Yuexing didn’t know what game they were playing or what medicine they were selling, but she didn’t ask. The river will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge—when the time came for her to know, she would. Since she was here to watch the show, she decided to wait and see how things unfolded.
Li Fuxiang, perhaps bored from sitting too long, idly hooked his finger around the silk ribbon hanging from her dress, gently twirling it in his hand.
Gao Yuexing stared at his long, elegant fingers, her gaze gradually deepening.
Li Fuxiang—he hadn’t even begun to understand.
The Emperor would teach Li Fuxiang everything, except for this.
For noble sons of the imperial family, by his age, it was customary to begin allowing people into their chambers. It was said that Prince Xin, Li Fuqian, had already been attended to by a palace maid under the tacit approval of Consort Xian when he was just fifteen.
But in Li Fuxiang’s eyes, there was only Gao Yuexing, from beginning to end.
He had no understanding of qing shi (romantic or physical matters), nor any desire to explore them.
His only wish was to marry his beloved wife and have her by his side every day and night. To him, the most perfect life was one where he could open his eyes and see her—it was as simple as that.
Gao Yuexing noticed the silk ribbon that had once hung smoothly from her dress was now crumpled and wrinkled from his twisting. Unable to hold back, she tied a knot in it, trapping his hand inside.
Li Fuxiang’s fingers paused, then deftly slipped free. With great care, he untied the knot and returned the ribbon to her, bringing it to his nose for a sniff. “Why doesn’t it have any fragrance?”
Gao Yuexing hadn’t used incense in the past two days, and even the usual medicinal scent she carried was absent. During the Hundred Flowers Banquet, she had picked up traces of perfume from the other noblewomen, but after being out in the wind for so long, it had all dissipated.
Surprised, Gao Yuexing raised an eyebrow. “You like smelling fragrances?”
Li Fuxiang reached into his robes and pulled out a sachet.
Gao Yuexing found it strangely familiar.
Li Fuxiang remarked, “It hasn’t had a scent for a long time.”
Gao Yuexing suddenly remembered—it was the sachet she had given him when she was six years old, back at the Xiaonan Pavilion. Her heart softened inexplicably. “You still kept it?”
She touched it gently. It felt soft inside, as though it held something. Curious, she opened it and found a handkerchief embroidered with crabapple blossoms.
Gao Yuexing could never forget this handkerchief for the rest of her life.
She said, “You can’t smell fragrances.”
She returned the handkerchief to the sachet and handed it back to Li Fuxiang, explaining, “Many incenses, if not carefully prepared, can easily trigger asthma attacks again.”
This was also why she had stopped using scented products.
Li Fuxiang replied, “But now I can’t smell your scent anymore.”
Gao Yuexing smiled warmly. “Don’t worry. Be patient for a few more years, and you’ll be able to smell it again.”