Ji Yuluo had no choice but to get on the bed.
Huo Xian still refused to give up the outer side, signaling her to go inside. However, with their shackles, both found movement inconvenient. She tugged on the handcuffs, causing a string of clinking sounds, and only then did Huo Xian move a couple of steps to the side.
There were two blankets on the bed.
Even true couples often slept separately after the wedding night. Huo Xian lowered the curtain, sniffed the strong smell of medicinal wine, and reminded, “Rest early; we have to report for duty tomorrow morning.”
Ji Yuluo paused as she lifted the blanket. His meaning was clear: he would take her to his post tomorrow morning and probably every day after that until he got some answers. By day, she would be under the watchful eyes of the Zhenfu Division, and by night, she would remain shackled to him.
Ji Yuluo exhaled slowly, calmed herself, and lay down without a word, pulling the chain between them inward.
Huo Xian glanced at her and pulled the chain back to the middle.
Unwilling to be outdone, Ji Yuluo tugged it again.
The sound of the chain clinking echoed back and forth. Huo Xian paused, turned his head to look at her, and said, “Why don’t I just come over and sleep?”
The curtain fell silent.
In the still night, exhaustion was magnified. Their breathing relaxed, yet both remained vigilant against potential danger. After nearly an hour of this standoff, around midnight, Huo Xian heard the breathing beside him gradually slow and steady.
The previous night, they had spent it in mutual tension. By day, they tested and pushed each other, and at night, they exhausted themselves in combat. Anyone would be tired.
Instinctively, Huo Xian raised his left hand to rub his brow but stopped when he heard the sound of the shackles and glanced at the handcuffs pressing on the blanket.
The other end of the handcuffs held a tightly clenched fist.
This was a defensive posture, always ready to react.
In his second year with the Jinyiwei, Zhao Yong took him under his wing, testing his abilities by throwing him into the wilderness training ground. Those who emerged from there became Zhao Yong’s trusted men.
Seven days and nights of fighting, with people and with wolves.
Whether hanging from a tree or sleeping under a bridge, even when closing his eyes, his ears stayed alert. This hyper-vigilance stayed with him even when he later rested in his own bed, accustomed to sleeping with clenched fists.
This was an instinct born of constant danger. A girl from a household could not have developed this habit without years of life-threatening experiences.
The Ji family’s inner quarters held secrets.
–
At dawn, as soon as Huo Xian woke, Ji Yuluo also opened her eyes.
They got up and exchanged a glance. Ji Yuluo raised her hand towards him and said simply, “Unlock.”
Huo Xian didn’t respond. Instead, he lifted the curtain and reached for the robe hanging on the rack, the key in the sleeve pocket.
Ji Yuluo watched carefully, but it was as if he had eyes on the back of his head. His voice was still hoarse as he said, “Stop looking. I won’t hide it here tonight.”
Ji Yuluo: “…”
Huo Xian turned around, dangling the key ring from his middle finger in front of her and said, “If you change your mind and decide to talk, I’ll give you these shackles as a gift.”
Ji Yuluo smirked lightly. “What an honor.”
Huo Xian chuckled and unlocked the shackles.
Before long, a young maid came in to assist with the morning routine. Women’s attire was intricate and time-consuming. Huo Xian, already dressed, sat behind the screen while Ji Yuluo was still arranging her hair. As she picked out hair accessories from the dressing table, her eyes occasionally glanced at Huo Xian’s silhouette behind the screen, pondering how to dissuade him from taking her to the Zhenfu Division.
In reality, even if he didn’t watch her, she wasn’t planning to leave just yet. She needed to find Shen Qingli. As Ji Yuluo lowered her eyes and frowned in thought, a sudden urgent knocking came from outside the beaded curtain.
Yesterday, Nanyue had been punished, and a new guard was on duty. The new guard’s voice was rough as he called, “Master, the officials from the Directorate of Ceremonies are here.”
Ji Yuluo abruptly raised her head, startling the maid who was combing her hair, causing her to break a few strands. However, Ji Yuluo didn’t seem to care.
She knew Huo Xian wouldn’t take her with him, but as he emerged from behind the screen, she feigned a hopeful look and asked, “You’re not taking me?”
Huo Xian didn’t want to go either. Zhao Yong was likely to question him about last night’s failure, and the timing was inconvenient.
Seeing the faint anticipation in Ji Yuluo’s eyes, he snorted with a laugh. “Stay put.”
He then stepped out, gave a few instructions to the guards, and strode away.
As soon as he left, Hongshuang entered the room.
Ji Yuluo glanced at her through the mirror, raised her hand to dismiss the young maid, and waited until the door closed before asking, “What’s going on with that casino?”
Hongshuang replied, “I investigated. Yesterday, the Jinyiwei raided the casino under the pretext of discussing royal affairs. The discussions involved Crown Prince Huaijin, mentioning how the Eastern Palace had been framed back then and how the Crown Prince’s death was regrettable. They compared the current emperor to Crown Prince Huaijin, claiming the current emperor’s absurd and tyrannical rule indicates the nation’s impending doom. These rumors had been circulating among gamblers for a while, but the Jinyiwei’s raid last night escalated the matter.”
Hongshuang continued, “Moreover, several officials were implicated, including Marquis Xuanping.”
Ji Yuluo listened intently, clutching the pearl flower on her hairpin in thought.
No wonder Young Master Huo Cong visited in the middle of the night, so hysterically. The cause was here.
She pondered for a moment and said, “That casino is backed by Shen Qingli. Does the master know about this?”
Hongshuang shook her head, indicating she didn’t know, and then handed over a jade token. “Miss… there are eyes everywhere now. Should we go?”
This was Xie Subai’s token.
Ji Yuluo extracted a slip of paper from beneath the jade token. It read “East Pearl Inn.” She paused, surprised to find Xie Subai still in the capital. Recalling the glimpse of white robes from the second floor of the inn on her way from the Zhenfu Division to Yipin Residence, she realized it had indeed been him.
Conveniently, Ji Yuluo had questions for him as well.
She pocketed the jade token and said, “Let’s go.”
Ji Yuluo made up her mind, quickly finished dressing, and then stepped out with Hongshuang, only to be stopped by a sword sheath.
The guard bowed respectfully and said, “Madam, please forgive me. I have orders from my master to watch over you closely.”
In truth, Huo Xian’s exact words were to watch her tightly, not to let her out of his sight.
Huo Xian hadn’t restricted Ji Yuluo’s movements. In fact, she needed to act for him to catch any slip-ups. However, to avoid arousing suspicion, he specifically instructed the guards not to let her leave immediately but to allow her to go after she became angry and demanded to be followed closely instead.
The guard followed Huo Xian’s instructions to the letter, expecting the gentle and kind madam to bargain. Unexpectedly, the young lady in front of him acted directly, delivering a crisp, decisive slap that turned the guard’s face to the side with a resounding “smack.”
In the sunny morning courtyard, with birds singing and flowers blooming, maids and servants were bustling about. A young maid carrying a broom whispered and laughed with a companion.
Yet, in the clear and loud sound of the slap, everything seemed to freeze.
The guard was utterly shocked and forgot to turn his head back for a moment.
The maids and servants were equally stunned, staring in disbelief. Even Nanny Liu, who had just walked across the corridor, nearly stumbled.
The gentle facade was torn away, revealing a slightly cold and indifferent face that somehow reminded them of the master.
When the master was angry, he looked like this.
Ji Yuluo lowered her hand without a word.
Keeping her confined within the manor offered no advantage. If Huo Xian wasn’t a fool, he should give her the opportunity to go out. They had crossed paths before; if he truly wanted to imprison her, he wouldn’t have just one guard at the door.
Thus, Ji Yuluo withdrew her hand and said coldly, “He told you to watch me, but did he forbid me from leaving the manor?”
The guard, now even more respectful, hurriedly replied, “…No, he did not.”
Ji Yuluo: “Then move aside.”
The guard hesitated, then quickly stepped back two paces.
Ji Yuluo crossed the threshold and headed straight for the side gate after leaving the flower gate.
The unlucky guard who had been slapped signaled to his comrades, who promptly followed behind her. Ji Yuluo glanced sideways, acknowledging their presence without a word.
She had a carriage prepared and headed to the bustling eastern market. After alighting from the carriage, she leisurely browsed the shops, first entering a jade shop to buy several celadon vases, then a cosmetics shop for a few boxes of powder. She visited fabric stores, gold and silver shops, art studios, and more, buying so much that Hongshuang couldn’t carry it all, leaving the items to the guards.
The guards exchanged puzzled looks at the sheer volume of purchases. Was the madam really just out for leisure?
She showed no sign of stopping. After having lunch at a restaurant, she entered a theater, reserving a “Tian” seat1The “Tian” seat in a traditional Chinese theater, especially during the classical period, refers to a premium viewing area often located on the second floor. These seats are typically situated along the balcony railing, offering an unobstructed view of the stage below. The term “Tian” translates to “Heaven” in English, indicating that these seats are among the best available, providing an elevated perspective akin to looking down from the heavens.. The “Tian” seats were on the second-floor balcony, set up with screens and curtains to create a private space, ensuring she wouldn’t be disturbed.
Hongshuang stopped the guards from following her upstairs. “Hey, you can see the madam from here on the first floor. Do you really need to go up? A bunch of men, do you want to share a room with the madam?”
The guards blushed, exchanged glances, and stayed on the first floor. From there, they could indeed keep an eye on the second-floor position without losing sight of her.
Ji Yuluo went upstairs, and at the corner, the young servant guiding her asked, “Miss, are you in some trouble?”
“Yes,” Ji Yuluo replied. “Find a girl about my height, dress her to look like me, and bring her here, avoiding the guards downstairs.”
The servant understood and went off to fetch some tea.
From the guards’ perspective, they saw only the madam drop her handkerchief, bend to pick it up, and then sit back up, fanning herself rhythmically. Her profile was visible as she focused intently on the stage.
–
Leaving Hongshuang behind in the theater, Ji Yuluo successfully slipped away and exited through the back door, heading straight to the East Pearl Inn across the street.
Ao Zhi was waiting outside.
Like Hongshuang, Ao Zhi was also a maidservant of Xie Subai, but Ao Zhi held a more significant position by Xie Subai’s side.
Ao Zhi greeted her respectfully and led Ji Yuluo upstairs.
This inn was the largest in the capital, and the rooms upstairs weren’t just single rooms; they resembled small pavilions, indicating that those who could stay here were either wealthy or noble.
As they walked, Ao Zhi explained, “The master just took his medicine. Doctor Yue is currently administering acupuncture. Miss, please wait in the study for a moment.”
Xie Subai was a meticulous person. Even when staying at an inn, he wouldn’t forget to set up a study, which was typical of his style.
Ji Yuluo nodded. As she pushed the door open and entered, she didn’t see Xie Subai but instead found Shen Qingli sprawled lazily in a chair.
