As Qi Sheng led a group of court officials hurrying towards the Cold Palace, they were greeted by the sight of towering flames and a ground littered with corpses.
The officials couldn’t help but be shocked. The fire in the Cold Palace on New Year’s Eve was no accident, and a murder had occurred!
When Qi Sheng saw the body of the woman carried out by the Imperial Guards who had gone to fight the fire, his face darkened. Clinging to a sliver of hope, he demanded, “What happened? Did someone dare to break into the Cold Palace at night and cause trouble with the imperial concubines?”
The commander of the Imperial Guards who had gone to fight the fire, sweating profusely, bowed and replied, “This humble servant doesn’t know. When we arrived after seeing the flames from the Cold Palace, it was already like this.”
Disregarding royal decorum, Qi Sheng, his eyes bulging with rage, pressed further, “Where is the intruder who broke into the Cold Palace?”
The Imperial Guard commander bowed even lower: “This humble servant has already dispatched the Imperial Guards to search the entire palace. As long as the culprit hasn’t left the palace, they will surely be caught.”
Qi Sheng’s face was as dark as if he could devour someone.
He had planned everything so meticulously, even obtaining the long-lost prohibited drugs Ruogu San and Raozhi Rou. Why had Xie Zheng still managed to escape?
Weren’t Ruogu San supposed to be able to incapacitate even wild oxen, and Raozhi Rou said to make even the most chaste and virtuous women more wanton than brothel girls?
Could it be that they did not affect Xie Zheng?
The frustration of his carefully laid plan failing and the fear of Xie Zheng’s retaliation tore at Qi Sheng, making his expression even more ferocious. Under the shocked and confused gazes of the court officials, he kicked over a half-bucket of water placed on the ground for firefighting and ordered harshly, “Search! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find that intruder for me!”
The Imperial Guard commander accepted the order and led his men to search the entire palace.
Qi Sheng turned around in the increasingly fierce firelight, looking grimly at the anxious-faced officials: “This is preposterous! What do they think my imperial palace is? Tonight, I only invited the court ministers for a banquet, and your servants are all waiting outside the Meridian Gate. Could it be that the one who snuck into the Cold Palace to fish in troubled waters is one of my beloved ministers?”
The crime of causing trouble in the imperial harem was no small matter. The officials looked at each other, feeling that Qi Sheng’s words were utterly absurd.
Qi Sheng, however, didn’t seem to notice and continued with his insinuations: “To be able to kill so many of my Imperial Guards, this person’s martial arts must be extraordinary!”
The only one who had been absent from the banquet for a long time was the Marquis of Wu’an. Qi Sheng’s implications were too obvious, making the officials even more silent.
Qi Sheng might be the emperor, but since he ascended the throne, he had been nothing more than a puppet propped up by Wei Yan. The officials’ fear of him was not as great as their wariness of Xie Zheng.
After all, one was just an emperor without real power, while the other was a border-guarding military marquis commanding tens of thousands of troops.
The more astute officials had already figured out that tonight’s fire was likely a deliberate act by Qi Sheng. Bringing them here was intended to make them witnesses, using the power of the entire court to pin a crime punishable by the execution of nine clans on the Marquis of Wu’an.
However, something had gone wrong in the middle, resulting in the current situation.
The court officials who realized this felt endless trepidation. If the Marquis of Wu’an fell into Qi Sheng’s hands, it would be nothing, but if he escaped this calamity and they were forced to become “witnesses,” wouldn’t they be silenced by the Marquis of Wu’an afterward?
At once, not a few officials found their backs soaked with cold sweat.
Tang Peiyi, He Xiuyun, and others following at the end of the group heard Qi Sheng’s words. Thinking of Xie Zheng’s long absence from the banquet and Fan Changyu’s failure to return, they exchanged a glance, their brows furrowed with worry.
At Taiye Pool, after Fan Changyu was kissed by Xie Zheng, she feared the Imperial Guards would search her. She was anxious but didn’t dare push too hard as Xie Zheng was injured. She ended up being held and kissed for half a breath.
As Xie Zheng’s lips moved down to nuzzle and peck at her neck, Fan Changyu vigilantly surveyed the Taiye Pool area. Confirming it was temporarily safe, she seized the opportunity to half-drag, half-pull the barely conscious man out of the water.
During this time, Xie Zheng nudged open the collar of her clothes, seeking that faint fragrance on her body as he attempted to continue kissing downward. Fan Changyu, whether from heat or extreme nervousness, found her face burning red. She pushed away his head, wanting to scold him but knowing he was under the influence of drugs and not in control. She could only grit her teeth and say, “Bear with it for a moment, I’ll get you out of the palace.”
Fan Changyu placed Xie Zheng on the ground, his back against a fake mountain. His face, previously pale from the cold pool water, now had a thin flush. His breathing was heavy, his strong chest heaving violently. The wet clothes clinging to his body revealed a glimpse of his chest, as white as porcelain. The soaked inner garments adhered to his toned muscles, almost as if they weren’t there.
His wet black hair clung to his collarbone and shoulders, clear and bewitching. His blood-red eyes, though devoid of clarity, still fixed steadily on Fan Changyu. “Help me…” he said.
He had taken Ruogu San and could barely maintain any strength except by cutting himself with a knife. Even sitting up was difficult.
Having endured for too long, the veins on his neck were protruding, as if the blood vessels under his skin were about to burst.
Seeing him in this state, Fan Changyu felt heartache. Thinking of the emperor’s despicable plot, she was also filled with rage.
She hastily wrung out their soaked robes as best she could, then cupped Xie Zheng’s face with her hands, still cold from the water. “We can’t stay here. Someone could come at any moment.”
His face was burning hot, either from the drug or from being in the cold water for too long. As soon as Fan Changyu’s hands touched him, he grabbed her wrists with his own hands, the wounds on his palms already white from the water, trying to press closer.
Fan Changyu asked him, “Where did you put your court robes?”
He wasn’t wearing his court robes. If the Imperial Guards found them and took them to the Cold Palace to frame him, tonight’s situation would still not be resolved.
Perhaps soothed somewhat by the coolness of Fan Changyu’s hands, Xie Zheng regained a bit of consciousness. As he sucked and kissed her fingers, he answered breathlessly, “In the rock cave of the fake mountain in the Imperial Garden.”
Taiye Pool covered a vast area, divided into east and west pools. The east pool was close to the Cold Palace, where they were now. The west pool served as the axis of the entire inner palace, with the Imperial Garden also by its shore, even built with a cluster of fake mountains and rock formations.
Knowing that Xie Zheng planned to investigate the Cold Palace at night, Fan Changyu studied the map of the entire palace thoroughly.
So when Xie Zheng mentioned the rock cave in the Imperial Garden’s fake mountain, Fan Changyu immediately knew the location.
With the Cold Palace on fire, the water in the large vats along the imperial road had been used up. The eunuchs and imperial guards fighting the fire, for convenience, would likely come to the east pool for water. The west pool area should still be safe for now.
Fan Changyu used her teeth to tear a hole in her eunuch’s outfit, then ripped it into strips with both hands. She wrapped these around the wounds on Xie Zheng’s palms and arms, saying, “I’ll take you there now.”
The fire at the Cold Palace was intense, and the nearby patrolling Imperial Guards had probably gone to help fight the fire. Fan Changyu, carrying Xie Zheng on her back, encountered almost no obstacles on their way to the fake mountain and rock formations in the Imperial Garden.
If there was any hindrance, it was that Xie Zheng kept kissing the back of her neck as she carried him, loosening her collar. Fan Changyu nearly stumbled several times, so she finally darkened her face and knocked him unconscious with a chop.
After finding the rock cave, Fan Changyu discovered that the entrance was narrow, but the inside was quite spacious.
Fearing detection, she didn’t dare light a fire stick. Fortunately, there was an oval-shaped opening at the top of the rock cave. Looking up, she could even see the not-quite-full cold moon. The moonlight shining through the top opening allowed Fan Changyu to barely make out objects.
After finding the cloak and court robes Xie Zheng had previously placed inside, she was about to remove his wet clothes and wrap him in these dry ones. However, a flash of torchlight passed outside the fake mountain, followed by the sound of armor clashing.
“Quickly! Seal the palace gates! An assassin has infiltrated the palace! A concubine has been killed in the Cold Palace!”
Fan Changyu, holding Xie Zheng, immediately dared not move, fearing any noise would alert the Imperial Guards outside.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zheng woke up at this moment. As soon as a hoarse moan escaped his lips, Fan Changyu, in her urgency, silenced him with her lips.
He instinctively entwined his tongue with Fan Changyu’s. Weakened by the Ruogu San, his kiss was gentler than before, but still left Fan Changyu breathless.
His body was much hotter than when they were by the Taiye Pool earlier. The blood under his skin seemed to be boiling as if he had reached a critical point. If this continued, he might start bleeding from all seven apertures.
Even through the wet clothes, Fan Changyu could feel the iron-like heat below.
Both their breathing grew heavier, but footsteps were approaching.
Xie Zheng was completely unconscious now. Fan Changyu allowed him to gnaw at her neck while her eyes coldly and vigilantly watched the cave entrance. Her hand even reached for the boning knife hidden in her boot.
The footsteps drew closer. Fan Changyu’s grip on the knife handle tightened involuntarily. Xie Zheng, sucking on a soft spot on her neck, suddenly raised his eyes. His blood-red phoenix eyes no longer looked human, filled only with cold, bloodthirsty killing intent, like an alpha wolf whose territory had been invaded.
Suddenly, several shrill cat cries came from the top of the fake mountain, sounding almost like a baby’s wail.
The Imperial Guard searching in this direction sighed in relief and chuckled, “So it’s just the palace cats in heat.”
He struck the branches near the fake mountain with his scabbard, startling two cats into screeching and scattering.
The Imperial Guard sheathed his sword and walked back. His companion ahead asked, “Did you find anything over there?”
The guard replied, “Just two wild cats. False alarm.”
As the footsteps faded completely, the tension in Fan Changyu’s body eased, and she slumped slightly. She leaned against Xie Zheng, catching her breath.
The heat from Xie Zheng’s body had steamed his wet clothes warm. He lowered his head to kiss Fan Changyu’s cheek, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, sweat forming on his neck.
Fan Changyu gently stroked his face, her fingers sliding from his temples into his hair. Looking at his lip corner, bitten and bleeding from extreme restraint, her eyes, reflecting the moonlight, were full of pity. She pressed her lips together and said, “I’ll help you.”
At the Cold Palace, the Imperial Guards who had gone searching quickly returned, carrying an object: “Your Majesty, we followed the blood trail and found this mask by the east shore of Taiye Pool.”
Qi Sheng took the scarred-face mask and examined it closely, unable to hide his excitement. He asked, “Where’s the person?”
The Imperial Guard commander lowered his head: “We haven’t found the person yet. The blood trail ends at the edge of the east pool. This humble servant suspects the intruder escaped by swimming. We’re currently ordering people to search along Taiye Pool.”
Qi Sheng’s hand suddenly tightened on the mask as he berated the Imperial Guard commander: “Useless! You found the intruder’s belongings but couldn’t catch the person? What use are you a lot of rice buckets to me? Go back and continue searching!”
The Imperial Guard commander hastily retreated with the order.
The cold moon cast a frost-like, clear light.
Fan Changyu’s temples were slightly damp with sweat. She turned her head to look at Xie Zheng’s profile as he rested on her shoulder.
He seemed not to have fully recovered yet. His long black eyelashes lightly covered his eyelids, his pale face tinged with a faint blush. There was no trace of the fierceness from moments ago when he had been gnawing at her neck as if he wanted to devour her whole. Now he looked quiet and docile.
Fan Changyu’s breathing was still unsteady. She wiped her hands on her wet eunuch’s outfit and asked, “Are you feeling better?”
Xie Zheng opened his eyes slightly and nodded, then raised his hand to press against the back of Fan Changyu’s head, kissing her for a good while before letting go.
Earlier, apart from their heavy breathing, all of Fan Changyu’s senses had been almost numb. She didn’t even know how much time had passed. She just handed him his court robes to put on, saying, “The Imperial Guards are searching the entire palace. We need to leave.”
His undergarments were still wet, but the inner clothes had dried from his body heat.
However, Xie Zheng said, “Wet the court robes too.”
Fan Changyu frowned, “You’ll catch a cold.”
Xie Zheng pressed his forehead against hers: “I can’t explain everything to you right now. Just do as I say.”
So Fan Changyu went out, soaked his court robes in water, wrung them out, and put them on him. She wrapped the night-stalking clothes in a large stone and sank them into Taiye Pool.
When everything was ready and Fan Changyu supported Xie Zheng out, she felt that his feet were still somewhat unsteady, apparently not just from the aphrodisiac.
As if knowing what she was thinking, Xie Zheng said, “The effects of Ruogu San haven’t worn off yet.”
Fan Changyu’s fingers gripping his wrist tightened. So he had also been drugged with Ruogu San!
No wonder Qi Sheng dared to place only a dozen guards outside the Cold Palace to stop him.
Fan Changyu gritted out three words: “Dog! Of! An! Emperor!”
She rarely cursed, and this was the first time Xie Zheng had heard her swear so vehemently.
He turned to look at Fan Changyu in surprise, feeling as if his heart had been immersed in a pool of warm water. The malevolence that had risen in him from tonight’s scheme dissipated somewhat, and he found himself comforting Fan Changyu instead: “Let’s get out of the palace first. We’ll settle this score with Qi Sheng later.”
Fan Changyu didn’t speak again, but her lips were pressed tightly together.
The two of them didn’t manage to leave as they had hoped. On their way to Taiji Palace, they ran into Qi Sheng, who was leading a group of court officials.
Qi Sheng was fiddling with something leather-like in his hand. Upon seeing the two, he immediately sneered, “Minister Xie went to change clothes and didn’t return. You truly had me worried.”
The flush on Xie Zheng’s face had completely faded, leaving only the paleness from blood loss and being in Taiye Pool for too long. He could only walk with Fan Changyu’s support, but his voice was as clear and steady as ever: “It is my fault for causing Your Majesty concern.”
Qi Sheng glanced at Xie Zheng’s court robes, which hadn’t been changed, and his eyes flashed with a strange light. He pressed, “I see Minister Xie’s wine-stained robes haven’t been changed. Where has Minister Xie been all this time?”
Tang Peiyi, He Xiuyun, and others cast worried glances at them.
Seeing the situation, Fan Changyu couldn’t help but feel anxious for Xie Zheng, but his response was exceptionally composed: “I’m ashamed. This humble minister was led by an attendant to change clothes but saw a thief passing over the wall. Thinking that nothing should go wrong on this New Year’s Eve feast, I went to chase the thief. Unexpectedly, being drunk, I wasn’t at my best. I was injured by the thief and accidentally fell into Taiye Pool. If not for the Cloud and Banner General passing by, I’m afraid I would have become a lost soul in Taiye Pool.”
So this was why he had asked her to soak his court robes as well.
While Fan Changyu was still marveling at his ability to lie so smoothly, Qi Sheng and the court officials’ gazes all swept toward her, with her hair and official robes soaked through.
Acting as a human crutch, she put on her best poker face, opening her large, slightly round almond eyes and nodding, looking as honest as could be.
However, her palms were covered in cold sweat.
Xie Zheng seemed to notice and, under the cover of his wide sleeves, discreetly squeezed her hand.
Qi Sheng sneered and asked Fan Changyu, “May I ask why the Cloud and Banner General happened to be at Taiye Pool?”
Fan Changyu put on a stern face and said, “This subordinate had drunk too much and wanted to relieve myself. As soon as I left the main hall, I saw the fire in the direction of the Cold Palace. I was on my way to help fight the fire when I passed by Taiye Pool and found the Marquis who had fallen into the lake.”
Receiving this answer, Qi Sheng’s face turned extremely ugly. He held up the face-changing mask in his hand: “The Imperial Guards found this mask following the blood trail by the east shore of Taiye Pool. Does Minister Xie recognize it?”
Xie Zheng examined the mask closely for a moment, then said, “It looks somewhat familiar. Although the thief I fought with had his face covered, I remember he had a sword scar across his brow and nose. It seems the thief had changed his appearance, and this mask must be his.”
Qi Sheng was gnashing his teeth in hatred at such sophistry. With a false smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said, “What a coincidence. The thief who broke into the Cold Palace was injured, and Minister Xie was also injured. I wonder, has anyone else seen this thief Minister Xie speaks of?”
He was determined to pin the crime of breaking into the Cold Palace on Xie Zheng.
Fan Changyu looked at Qi Sheng, her gaze filled with barely suppressed coldness.
However, Xie Zheng calmly said, “The palace servant who led me to change clothes also saw him.”
A flash of surprise crossed Fan Changyu’s eyes, and even Qi Sheng’s expression changed dramatically. He demanded, “Where is that eunuch now?”
Xie Zheng’s phoenix eyes, still not completely drained of color, met Qi Sheng’s gaze. There seemed to be a faint smile in his eyes, but beneath that smile was an undisguised bloody killing intent that made Qi Sheng involuntarily shudder, the ferocity on his face receding somewhat.
Xie Zheng withdrew his gaze and said softly, “He was startled by the sight of the thief and cried out, causing the thief to knock him unconscious. He’s now in the side hall of Linde Palace.”
Qi Sheng’s back was already soaked with cold sweat. He knew that if Xie Zheng couldn’t be convicted today, it would be his turn to wash his neck and wait for Xie Zheng to come and take his head.
Even though his heart was filled with fear, he still gritted his teeth and said, “Set up court in Linde Palace.”
He was certain that Xie Zheng was bluffing.
Fearing that Xie Zheng would notice, he hadn’t used anyone who knew about this plan as the eunuch who led Xie Zheng to change clothes. He knew there was no thief in the palace, so he was sure Xie Zheng was making it up.
As long as they found that eunuch and interrogated him, they could convict Xie Zheng!
Qi Sheng led the group, walking at the front, but his hands behind his back were covered in cold sweat.
He kept reassuring himself that everything would be fine once they found that eunuch…
The group headed grandly to Linde Palace.
Fan Changyu, supporting Xie Zheng, clearly felt that his arm had become burning hot again. Although he was trying hard to control his breathing, it was still somewhat heavy.
She cast a worried glance at Xie Zheng, but he was looking straight ahead, his face showing no signs of distress.
Fan Changyu couldn’t tell if this was a fever from catching a cold or if the effects of that vile drug were resurfacing. It wasn’t the time to speak, so she remained silent. But throughout the journey, Xie Zheng’s grip on her arm had been getting increasingly tight, and although his gaze remained clear and sharp, sweat had begun to form at his temples.
The Imperial Guards quickly found the eunuch collapsed under the corridor pillar. When the eunuch was awakened by a bucket of cold water, instinctively recalling what he had heard before being knocked unconscious, he shouted, “There’s an assassin!”
Hearing this, Qi Sheng’s face grew even more ferocious. He kicked the eunuch directly in the chest: “You dog slave, what assassin? Tell me!”
The eunuch was knocked to the ground, in too much pain to get up for a long time. Seeing the emperor and all the ministers surrounding him, he looked even more flustered.
At this moment, Xie Zheng spoke up: “When the eunuch was leading this Marquis to change clothes, didn’t you see a thief passing over the wall?”
The eunuch had only heard a noise from the top of the wall at the time, but having been kicked by Qi Sheng and questioned about the assassin, with so many court officials watching him, he was terrified and his mind was blank. He immediately nodded along with Xie Zheng’s words: “Yes, yes, yes, there was indeed someone passing over the palace wall!”
With this eyewitness account, Xie Zheng could now completely prove his innocence for tonight.
Qi Sheng staggered back a step, and the eunuch who hurriedly supported him also looked extremely frightened.
Qi Sheng’s face was ashen. At this moment, only one thought was in his mind: It’s over, he’s done for!
A flush had risen again on Xie Zheng’s face. He covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice, his cold gaze passing lightly over Qi Sheng: “This minister was injured fighting that thief, and then caught a chill from nearly drowning in Taiye Pool. Being ill and indisposed, I lack the strength to help Your Majesty search for that thief, so I shall take my leave from the palace first.”
Qi Sheng’s mind was buzzing, and he could barely hear what Xie Zheng was saying.
Without waiting for Qi Sheng’s permission, Xie Zheng left, and the court officials dared not speak.
At this moment, an urgent report came from the narrow passage of the Long Gate: “Report — An assassin attacked the Court of Judicial Review at night and rescued the important prisoner of the Sui family!”
Upon hearing this, the court officials couldn’t help but be in an uproar.
Fan Changyu knew that it must be Xie Zheng’s men who had successfully rescued the person from the Court of Judicial Review, and she felt relieved.
Unexpectedly, despite such a major incident occurring, there wasn’t a ripple on Qi Sheng’s face. He didn’t even question the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review who was among the officials attending the palace banquet. Even the order for the court officials to disperse and return home was relayed by the Chief Eunuch.
Tang Peiyi and others had been holding their breath for Xie Zheng ever since they followed Qi Sheng to the Cold Palace. It was only now that they could finally breathe easy.
As the group left the palace together, Zheng Wenchang, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the Marquis of Wu’an ahead seemed to be seriously injured. He was leaning heavily on Fan Changyu’s slender shoulders as she supported him. He immediately wanted to go forward to help.
Tang Peiyi grabbed him and asked, “What are you doing?”
Zheng Wenchang said, “The Marquis seems to be quite badly injured. How can we let General Fan, a woman, support him alone? I’m going to help the Marquis.”
Tang Peiyi looked at him with an expression that was hard to describe, and finally just said, “Don’t bother.”
Zheng Wenchang was very confused: “Why not?”
He Xiuyun, standing nearby, coughed lightly and put his arm around Zheng Wenchang’s shoulders, saying, “Brother Wenchang, you can support me instead. I’m a bit drunk.”
Zheng Wenchang was He Jingyan’s student and also a close friend of He Xiuyun. How could he not know his drinking capacity? He immediately shrugged off He Xiuyun’s arm: “You’re still about seventy percent away from being drunk!”
He looked at his friend in confusion: “Why are you and General Tang acting so strange?”
He Xiuyun sighed and finally chose to speak directly: “Are you a blockhead? Can’t you see that the Marquis and General Fan are about to become a couple?”
Zheng Wenchang frowned deeply: “Because General Fan jumped into Taiye Pool to save the Marquis and they had skin contact?”
He immediately said, “Then you don’t understand General Fan at all. General Fan has the spirit and courage that doesn’t lose to any great man. How could she be bound by such mundane customs…”
Tang Peiyi and He Xiuyun’s expressions became even more indescribable as they looked at him.
Hadn’t this man noticed anything unusual at all when they were in Lu City?
Finally, He Xiuyun just patted Zheng Wenchang’s shoulder and said, “Brother Wenchang, if you have trouble finding a wife in the future, come ask your sister-in-law to play matchmaker for you.”
Zheng Wenchang stood rooted to the spot, watching Tang and He walked away, his face growing increasingly bewildered.
How had this suddenly become related to his future marriage?