The conversation between the two seemed pointless, yet each sentence was laden with hidden meanings.
After Huo Xian finished laughing, no one spoke again, as if exhausted from the night’s turmoil, now falling silent. Ji Yuluo sat sideways in her chair, her right arm against the backrest, casting a sidelong glance at him warming his hands. His eyelashes were lowered, casting long shadows under his eyes.
She suddenly remembered the time on their way back from the casino, when they intercepted the prison cart. He had cornered her, removed her mask without a word, and lifted her up. From that angle, Huo Xian’s eyelashes seemed even longer.
No wonder Shen Qingli eventually asked her, “Did you also fall for his looks?”
“He has a dog’s temper; besides his face, there’s nothing good about him.”
In the end, Shen Qingli was exasperated: “I never expected you to be so superficial.”
To warm Huo Xian, the whole room was heated, making it almost stifling. Although he didn’t seem to mind, his breath was still cold. Ji Yuluo’s temples were damp, and tiny beads of sweat formed on the tip of her nose. She sat sideways to avoid the heat.
After warming his hands for a while, Huo Xian extinguished the brazier, got up, and opened the window to let the heat out. He said, “I have matters to attend to. You should sleep first—tell that girl at the door to stop. We can discuss the rest tomorrow.”
Outside, Chaolu and Nanyue were still fighting fervently.
With the window open, Ji Yuluo could breathe more easily, but she didn’t call Chaolu to stop. From the sound of it, Chaolu was already fighting like mad. She only asked, “Are you alright now?”
She knew that when the poison acted up, even the strongest body became extremely weak. Being in an ice bucket might temporarily alleviate the pain, but afterward, the cold would penetrate deeply, and external heat wouldn’t quickly expel it. It was just a temporary relief.
Ji Yuluo grasped his wrist and found that his pulse was still the same.
But Huo Xian was good at enduring, his face betraying no discomfort.
Ji Yuluo walked over, lifted the bed curtains, and said to him, “I’ll help you.”
Huo Xian raised his eyebrows meaningfully. Ji Yuluo realized her words could be misinterpreted. Seeing the teasing look in his eyes, she calmly said, “I’ll use my inner strength to drive out the cold for you.”
Huo Xian walked over without surprise, knowing she meant exactly that and was just teasing her.
They sat back to back, legs crossed, and Ji Yuluo began to channel her energy.
Those who practiced light martial arts had strong inner strength. Soon, Ji Yuluo’s palms felt hot, hovering a finger’s width from Huo Xian’s broad back. He felt warmth spreading through his body.
After about a quarter of an hour, he felt much better.
Suddenly, “Huo Xian.”
He turned his head slightly, constrained by his position, and heard Ji Yuluo’s steady voice as she continued to channel her energy: “The year my birth mother died of illness, I came to the Ji family. Ji Chongwang wanted Lin Chan to take me to an estate outside the capital. Lin Chan sold me halfway. At that time, many girls were imprisoned in the underground cell. I don’t remember how long I was kept there, only that the place was pitch dark, damp, and foul-smelling, enough to make one retch.”
Huo Xian was stunned, realizing that Ji Yuluo was answering the question he had asked earlier.
Ji Yuluo withdrew her hands, and Huo Xian turned back. There was no sympathy on his face. He covered Ji Yuluo’s eyes with his hand and asked, “When the lights go out, do you still feel uncomfortable?”
At night, he hadn’t noticed anything unusual about her.
Ji Yuluo replied, “No, the situation is different.”
Huo Xian acknowledged with an “Oh” but didn’t let go. He said, “You being so honest all of a sudden makes things… difficult for me.”
Ji Yuluo remained still, and Huo Xian also paused.
The wind rustled the bed curtains softly.
Huo Xian asked, “If I kiss you now, will you bite me?”
Ji Yuluo answered, “No.”
—
The next morning, Huo Xian had to explain the poisoning incident to Zhao Yong, so he entered the palace early. When Ji Yuluo woke up, she gasped. She touched her bitten lower lip, got up, and tidied herself before heading to the west courtyard.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Chaolu holding her sword, examining it closely under the sunlight with a worried expression. Seeing Ji Yuluo, she complained, “Miss, my sword has a nick.”
Ji Yuluo recalled hearing the clashing of swords in the middle of the night. “Nanyue?”
Chaolu nodded twice, saying that Nanyue’s saber was lighter and sharper than her sword, a rare treasure, not an ordinary weapon.
Her tone was somewhat resentful. Ji Yuluo couldn’t help but sympathize; she had seen Nanyue’s saber before. It wasn’t something a regular weapons shop could forge. It must have been procured by Huo Xian. So, she could only pat Chaolu’s head affectionately. “Go find Biwu.”
Chaolu, feeling wronged, replied, “Alright.”
After sending Chaolu off, Ji Yuluo headed alone to the west courtyard.
Sheng Lanxin had her own separate courtyard. She was painting in the garden, creating an ink wash painting of a moonlit lotus pond, with faint shadows of three figures drinking and singing among the swaying reeds.
She was surprised by Ji Yuluo’s visit. Her eyes briefly swept over Ji Yuluo’s injured lip. “Why has Madam come?”
Ji Yuluo glanced at Sheng Lanxin’s painting but didn’t exchange pleasantries. With a serious expression, she got straight to the point, “Huo Xian’s poison.”
Sheng Lanxin’s face changed.
Ji Yuluo watched her intently, not missing any hint of emotion. “How long… have you known?”
Sheng Lanxin’s breath nearly stopped for a moment, then she exhaled heavily. She was shocked that he had disclosed this matter to her.
Pressing her lips together, Sheng Lanxin still held back. “Why ask me, Miss? I’m just a concubine.”
Ji Yuluo frowned slightly, confirming it was true. At this moment, Sheng Lanxin also realized, dropping her paintbrush onto the stone table. The ink splattered. She exclaimed, “You—”
—
Two days later, the weather was clear and breezy, the most comfortable time of spring.
On the second floor of an inn, a screen separated two people.
On the other side of the screen sat a burly man with a beard, wearing a hood. He looked inconspicuous, but he was a guest of Prince Xingnan’s mansion, a trusted confidant named Gong Rui.
Over the past few years, Cuixue Tower had sporadically been in contact with the mansion, doing many things for Prince Xingnan in exchange for money. This time, Gong Rui came to the capital intending to take advantage of the recent uprisings in various places, claiming to benefit the people and aiming directly at the imperial city.
Although they were far in the south, they had heard that the current court was in disarray, the national treasury depleted. Over the years, Prince Xingnan’s mansion had thrived under the guidance of Cuixue Tower, gathering strength. Impatient, Prince Xingnan sent his confidant to inform and consult with Xie Subai.
But rather than saying they approached him, it was more accurate to say Xie Subai had lured them. Years of planning and strategizing had made Prince Xingnan’s mansion his first step into the capital.
The Eastern Palace had already suffered one rebellion charge and couldn’t afford another. To ascend the throne legitimately, Xie Subai couldn’t use his own troops. He needed to be the fisherman reaping the benefits from the fight between the snipe and the clam.
However, the plague in the capital hadn’t spread as planned. If it had infected the palace and the army, there would be no need for battle.
Nonetheless, it didn’t matter.
At most, Prince Xingnan would face more difficulty, but Xie Subai had calculated the current strength of the court. It was already struggling to deal with various uprisings, and this battle still had a chance of success.
Hidden behind the screen, Xie Subai said calmly, “Tell the prince I will assist him in the capital. The time is ripe, and he can act now.”
As he finished, Ao Zhi handed over a map of the city defenses. Gong Rui felt a mix of shock and joy. He knew the master of Cuixue Tower was resourceful and skilled, not only highly regarded in the martial world but also intricately connected with many court officials. Yet, he hadn’t expected that even such a thing could be obtained.
Gong Rui, now even more respectful, bowed and said, “I thank the master on behalf of the prince. Should the day come when he ascends the throne, you shall be granted the position of the national preceptor! May I ask, has the master held a grudge against the royal family all these years?”
The person behind the screen set down the teacup. “See the guest out.”
The voice, neither loud nor soft, sent a chill to his heart. Gong Rui shivered and quickly said, “I spoke out of turn. I will take my leave and deliver the items back to the prince posthaste.”
Xie Subai responded with a simple “Hmm,” and Gong Rui bowed and left.
Outside the inn, Gong Rui climbed into the carriage. His attendant asked, “How did it go?”
Gong Rui tossed the map of the city defenses over. “Who would have thought that a cripple could be so capable? With all the recent major events in the capital, I suspect he’s involved in every one of them… This man is truly extraordinary. His aura is unlike any other. He must have a deep-seated grudge against the royal family. When the prince ascends the throne, this man must be eliminated.”
The attendant nodded in agreement.
Inside, the screen was removed, and Xie Subai faced the wind by the window.
With a warm breeze and sunshine, he still had a thin blanket on his legs. Ao Zhi, beside him, worried, “Prince Xingnan is ambitious. I fear raising a tiger to court calamity. If he wins, he may not hand over the throne…”
“The throne in hand, who would willingly give it up?”
Xie Subai sipped his tea and said, “Then we’ll kill him.”
Ao Zhi thought for a moment and agreed. By then, Prince Xingnan would be useless.
At that moment, the door creaked open. A young maid, Yinzhuang, brought a letter, saying, “Sister Ao Zhi, Chaolu came by earlier and asked me to deliver this to the master.”
Xie Subai paused his reading, reached out, and took the letter.
He read it and handed it to Ao Zhi, who skimmed it quickly and exclaimed, “Lord Huo… he knows?”
Xie Subai wasn’t surprised. Given how astute Huo Xian was, how could he not have noticed as things progressed to this stage?
He sighed lightly, covered his teacup, and with a faint, indifferent smile, said, “Pick a sunny day to meet with my long-lost… friend.”
“At Yipin Pavilion. He likes it there.”
