The relentless gale intertwined with the torrential rain, creating a sound akin to a long blade slicing through the sky. Thunder and lightning accompanied the scene, while the sole candle flickered unsteadily, as if it might extinguish at any moment.
In this chaos, the sound of rapid breathing seemed especially small and weak.
When Huo Xian pressed down, Ji Yuluo didn’t evade, allowing herself to be cornered in the narrow space. Their lips and tongues collided in a fierce kiss, not a gentle taste but a full-on battle. Their mouths opened and closed as if they wanted to devour each other, competing to see who would win.
The taste of blood was stronger when they swallowed, but the metallic tang only heightened their excitement. The numbing pain at the tip of their tongues coursed through their bodies, reaching their heads. Ji Yuluo even thought that the sound of their kissing was wilder than the storm outside, a madness that temporarily covered their pent-up frustration.
Eventually, both of them were unsteady on their feet. Huo Xian pressed his hands against her lower back, pulling her toward the table as they continued to tangle. Ji Yuluo followed his lead, and someone accidentally kicked over a wooden stool, but no one paid it any mind.
Their breaths were hot and erratic.
Hotter than that night, Ji Yuluo thought, realizing it hadn’t been a dream.
Huo Xian gradually stopped.
Their lips still touched, their breaths mingling, and he remained still for a long time before slightly pulling back to gaze at her eyes. His thumb gently slid to the corner of her eye, lightly brushing against it.
Those eyes were truly remarkable.
They often harbored an icy frost, even now, when she was almost out of breath, they remained clear and cold. A slight lift of her eyes could draw out a hint of seductive charm, something Ji Yuluo herself might not have noticed.
Looking into her eyes, Huo Xian’s thoughts seemed to drift into the rain, as if he was trying hard to find a reasonable explanation for the current situation.
But on a stormy night, who needs a reason to release desire? Huo Xian thought. Between men and women, there’s no need for so many causes and effects.
Ji Yuluo frowned, impatiently turned her head, and sought his lips with hers. Only then did he lower his head again, letting out a soft sigh between their lips and teeth, deciding not to care anymore.
Yet, at that moment, with his eyes closed, he suddenly remembered Ji Yuluo sitting in the theater, feigning innocence with her words, “Young Master Huo was born weak. Even if you don’t harm him, he can’t bear the burden of the marquis household.” It felt like a lone boat on the sea, with someone suddenly standing at the bow and picking up the oar.
Whether she did it intentionally or not.
Ji Yuluo didn’t adhere to societal norms or moral boundaries. She wanted to kill Zhao Yong purely for revenge, not because he was a treacherous eunuch. Likewise, she wouldn’t abandon her conspiracy with him just because he was a lapdog of the eunuch faction. She didn’t even care that it might elevate Huo Xian, a dangerous dog, to a higher position.
She wasn’t a good person, so he didn’t need to be one in front of her either. There was no need to drop his guard and prove his innocence.
That might have been the beginning of desire.
Huo Xian’s kisses grew fiercer, plunging deeper.
Ji Yuluo’s tongue went numb, her jaw ached, the difference in strength between men and women was evident. She had to concede and gradually ceased struggling.
After a long time, they broke apart, panting.
Their gazes remained locked.
Huo Xian looked at her and said, “You never blush, do you?”
****
The storm gradually subsided, and even the robe tied to the window frame stopped moving.
Ji Yuluo sat at the table, pouring herself some tea. When the scorching liquid touched her swollen lips, she furrowed her brow slightly, then let the tea cool without a second thought. Her emotions had already settled as she said, “According to Zhou Fu, before Qin Wei audited the accounts, a large sum of silver was indeed missing from the Yunyang treasury. He claimed that Yunyang’s prefect, Wang Qian, had intended to expand the local militia to strengthen the troops, which was a precaution due to the frequent wars in Yunyang. He didn’t have any dealings with the Xiao family and only followed Wang Qian’s orders. However, he didn’t anticipate that after Yunyang’s defeat, the court would send someone to audit the accounts. During those days, Zhou Fu was frantic, trying to cover the deficit, but the hole was too large, and Yunyang’s accounts were already a mess.”
As for how it was later filled, Zhou Fu didn’t know, but Ji Yuluo’s thoughts became clear.
To fill such a huge gap at that time in post-war Yunyang, only the wealthiest Qiao family had the financial resources. Coincidentally, the looting by bandits was also real. Wang Qian conspired with others, deciding to rob the Qiao family and blame it on the bandits. At that time, everyone was too busy with their own troubles, and this scheme went almost unnoticed.
So, by the time Qin Wei arrived, the accounts were balanced.
For the Qiao family, this was a calamity without cause. It was absurd and incredible that such a ridiculous reason could cost the lives of dozens of the Qiao family members.
The Qiao couple were such good people.
Ji Yuluo felt restless.
Huo Xian observed her serious expression and said, “Militia? Where are the troops? When the court officials counted them, there wasn’t an extra soldier. If Zhou Fu is to be believed, Wang Qian likely maintained a private army.”
Ji Yuluo replied, “Or rather, Wang Qian raised troops for Zhao Yong. But hiding an army in Yunyang, did Xiao Cheng, who was in charge of the military, really not know? In other words, Zhao Yong, trapped in the palace, needed someone to recruit soldiers for him. This person couldn’t be Wang Qian; it had to be Xiao Cheng.”
Thus, by sorting this out, Xiao Cheng not only had the court’s soldiers but also a private army of considerable size.
Based on Zhao Yong’s specific inquiry about Huo Xian investigating Yunyang, he was likely worried Huo Xian would uncover this. Secretly maintaining a private army was a capital offense.
And this army was very likely still hidden in Yunyang!
Ji Yuluo and Huo Xian had the same thought. She said, “I’ve helped you trace the matter this far. If you can prove that the Xiao family raised troops privately, you can easily control them. Zhao Yong should be mine then, right?”
Huo Xian didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, he said, “Why the rush? All of this is just speculation. We need evidence. I just hope that in the meantime, Cuixue Tower can stay out of trouble. What do you think, Miss Yuluo?”
Ji Yuluo lifted her eyelids. She had no involvement in Xie Subai’s matters, so she didn’t respond, turning instead to watch the light rain mist.
The wind had left no trace, and outside the window, there was no sound at all. The torrential rain had washed the world clean.
A fallen pink flower on the windowsill looked like the lingering red at the corner of Huo Xian’s eyes, she thought.
—
A spring rain had completely driven away the harsh winter. The spring breeze brought warmth, buds sprouted on the branches, and the fires at the mass graves burned brightly. The number of Jinyiwei Guards in Qinghe District gradually decreased, and the streets began to return to their bustling scenes.
The speed of the Jinyiwei Guards was so fast that the plague didn’t have time to spread throughout the capital. No one would have thought that the disaster should not have ended there.
Xie Subai opened the window, indifferent to the bustling scene outside. Although it was February, he still carried a chill, and a blanket lay over his knees.
A faint smile curved his lips as he said, “Lanxu, look.”
Shen Qingli walked over and followed his gaze down to the street.
Xie Subai said, “If it weren’t for him, these people below would have become victims of the plague. Were we too slow, or was he too fast?”
Shen Qingli paused for a moment and said, “The Jinyiwei Guards are sharp, and with Huo Xian patrolling the city day and night, they seem to be on alert. Our people haven’t been able to make a move.”
Xie Subai replied calmly, “He’s been smart since he was a child, quicker in thought than anyone else. Even the Grand Tutor said that even if he didn’t pursue a military career, he would still achieve great things. Someone like him is truly a hindrance if he stays here.”
Shen Qingli understood Xie Subai’s concern. Personally, he also didn’t want Huo Xian entangled in this struggle. It would be fine if he could become one of their own, but if not… Shen Qingli dared not think further.
So he said, “I’ll find a way to lure him out of the capital.”
Xie Subai remained silent, then after a moment lifted his eyes to look at Shen Qingli. “What I mean is, there’s no need to keep him around.”
Shen Qingli was taken aback, his pupils constricting. “Your Highness!”
But after his initial shock, he quickly understood.
Over the years, Xie Subai had built a good reputation for Cuixue Tower. He intended to ascend to that position cleanly and honorably, seeking the praise and admiration of the people, just like the former Crown Prince Huaijin. Thus, he couldn’t afford to have any blemishes on his record—not even a speck! Even when he held great power in the future, Huo Xian could never be someone he kept close, because he was a member of the Jinyiwei Guards, a dog of the eunuch faction, someone everyone wanted to kill!
His hands were stained with too much blood. Even if he was willing to abandon Zhao Yong and follow them, he could only be a tool, to be discarded after the slaughter.
From the beginning to the end, Xie Subai never intended to keep him.
Shen Qingli felt a sense of defeat. “Your Highness…”
The scent of medicine wafted in as Ao Zhi pushed the door open gently. “Master, it’s time to take your medicine.”
Shen Qingli’s eyes were red. Ao Zhi dared not look too much, lowering her head as she served the medicine. Shen Qingli stood for a moment before taking his leave.
Xie Subai took the medicine, drinking it slowly and gracefully. Even when taking medicine, his actions were elegant; his slender fingers holding the jade spoon, not even furrowing his brow at the bitterness, still exuding a warm and gentle demeanor, pleasing to the eye.
His gaze settled on the tavern across the street, the famous “Yipinju” of the capital. Its pear blossom wine was the most mellow in winter, with a sweet aftertaste. He remembered that the manager back then was a slightly chubby uncle, now replaced by his son. He wondered if the wine still tasted the same.
Back then, at fourteen or fifteen, Huo Xian and Shen Lanxu would sit on the open-air platform of the tavern, coaxing him to drink, wanting to see the usually rule-abiding Grandson break his rules. Annoyed, Xie Subai actually drank but refused to return to the palace, fearing to worry the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. He followed Huo Xian to the Huo household, where Huo Xian was severely beaten by Marquis Xuanping for corrupting the young master and confined to the ancestral hall for half a month.
After that, he spoke to Xie Subai in a peculiar tone, refusing to accompany him out of the palace again.
But Huo Xian was actually quite easy to appease.
He was competitive and wanted to be first in everything. As a teenager, he was sharp and sought praise. Xie Subai could flatter him with a few scholarly words, and he would calm down, obediently accompanying him to study the next day.
Well, not exactly obediently.
Since becoming his study companion, he had driven away over a dozen teachers. If not for Xie Subai’s protection, Emperor Xianzhen would have beaten him.
Thinking of this, Xie Subai suddenly laughed, startling Ao Zhi. “Master?”
The smile at Xie Subai’s lips faded. “It’s nothing.”
After a long while, he suddenly set down the spoon. “Ao Zhi, go across the street and buy me a pot of pear blossom wine.”
He added, “I won’t drink it, just want to smell it.”
Author’s Note:
The romantic development between the male and female leads won’t follow a gradual progression, nor will they sit down calmly to talk about love and wait until everything is ready before taking the next step. That’s not how it will be. Their relationship is the kind that ignites with just a little spark. They actually like each other—maybe I haven’t made that clear enough? For instance, earlier, when Huo Xian almost kissed her, she didn’t dodge. Luo Luo reacts so quickly—if she didn’t kick him away, doesn’t that say something? TvT
