In the afternoon, Zhang Bao conveyed a message through the door that General Fan had gone out for sightseeing.

Shu Shenhui laughed and said, “Not easy. Finally, he should have figured it out.”

When he said this, the two were by the window facing the full view of the lake scenery and mountains. Jiang Hanyuan sat on his lap while he held her hands to guide her in writing. In broad daylight, he wore only a thin white silk inner garment with the sash untied. She wore an azure bamboo gauze summer shirt, her long hair unkempt. Both appeared disheveled. It turned out they hadn’t ventured outside for several consecutive days, only clinging together, day and night without distinction, even omitting the trouble of dressing properly.

Hearing that Fan Jing had finally gone out sightseeing instead of staying here all day waiting for her, Jiang Hanyuan breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly felt quite sorry toward him, as if she had betrayed their trust. Her hand holding the brush paused.

“What are you thinking about?” He immediately noticed her distraction, leaning slightly toward her, his chest gently pressing against her back, opening his mouth to intimately take her earlobe between his lips and ask her.

Jiang Hanyuan felt ticklish and dodged, avoiding his mouth. He seemed to glimpse her thoughts and laughed softly, “Don’t mind Fan Jing. I sympathize with his difficulty, traveling long distances day and night to fetch you early—how could I treat him poorly? Perhaps when you’re ready to leave, he won’t want to go either.”

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t understand and turned her head, “What do you mean?” He only smiled without speaking, lowering his head to gently sniff her hair fragrance, kissing her neck, trailing down her back. When blocked by her collar, he used his teeth to grasp it, pulling the collar from her shoulder, exposing most of her back, then following the scar on her back, carefully pecking and kissing downward.

How could Jiang Hanyuan continue writing? Her hand trembled, and the brush tip went askew—it was also because they had been sleeping in reverse day and night these past few days, and they had just woken up not long ago. She didn’t want him pestering her again like this. So she ordered him to go away, saying she didn’t need him teaching her to write like this.

Earlier, it was he who insisted she sit on his lap like this. If he continued bothering her, forget writing—they’d probably end up on the couch again soon.

She thought he would continue being roguish, but unexpectedly, after a moment of confrontation, he sighed and actually obediently released her, moving to a couch by the window, reclining against it and becoming quiet.

Jiang Hanyuan, freed from him, breathed a sigh of relief, adjusted her clothes, and continued practicing calligraphy on her own.

These past few days, besides that kind of activity, his teaching her to write had also become one of their pleasures. It must be said that although seven or eight times out of ten, they inevitably ended up writing those characters on the bed, under his guidance, Jiang Hanyuan truly felt she had found enlightenment. Each time she held the brush, she felt a new understanding about brush techniques, making her even more enthusiastic.

At first, she thought he was tired, which was why he was so obedient—exactly what she wanted. But after a while, she gradually felt something was wrong with him. Though he lay with his eyes closed, his mood seemed somewhat low. She could sense it.

She looked at him several times, suspecting he was angry that she had just rejected him.

Men could be so petty, too, which she found both amusing and helpless. Just as she was thinking of putting down her brush to go coax him, Zhang Bao’s announcement came from outside the door, saying the Prefect of Qiantang and the County Magistrate had arrived and were stopped by Liu Xiang’s men at the mountain foot. Those people were inquiring whether His Highness the Regent Prince had arrived, and if so, requesting an audience.

Shu Shenhui immediately opened his eyes, got off the couch, and walked to the window, leaning out to look. This place had an excellent view—the scene at the foot was visible. Indeed, he saw a large group of people had arrived there, with several officials in government robes standing at the mountain foot, gazing toward the temporary palace.

He withdrew.

Though he had arrived early on this trip incognito, with local officials and people completely unaware, first the normally reclusive Dowager Consort Zhuang had come to stay here for two days, then the past few days, there had been frequent comings and goings at the temporary palace. The local county magistrate naturally heard about this and suspected whether the Regent Prince had arrived early for a private inspection. Not daring to intrude rashly himself, he sent the news to his superior. The prefect, hearing this, rushed over overnight and came together today to tentatively inquire at the palace gates.

Shu Shenhui frowned, put a robe on Jiang Hanyuan, walked out himself, opened the door and said: “Tell them all to go back. Say I’m not here—I went to Jiangdu and will head south next month, arriving in Qiantang then.”

Zhang Bao, seeing his disheveled clothing, dared not look inside, bowed in acknowledgment, turned, and scurried away like smoke.

Interrupted like this, Jiang Hanyuan lost interest in writing. Seeing him return looking somewhat displeased, knowing he disliked being disturbed, she coaxed him: “Lie down, I’ll peel water chestnuts for you to eat.”

Though it was only early summer, freshwater chestnuts were already available in Jiangnan, just in small quantities and rarely seen. Compared to the black water chestnuts with floury flesh in midsummer, the seasonal fresh ones had red shells, and when peeled, revealed sweet, tender, juicy flesh with a unique texture.

He did as she said and lay down. Jiang Hanyuan indeed sat beside him, peeled one and brought it to his mouth, feeding it to him. After eating just two, noisy sounds carried on the wind from the direction of the mountain foot. Seeing him frown again, she got up to close the window, but suddenly her hand was grabbed by him. Looking back, she saw him leap up from the couch, “Let’s find a quiet place!”

Jiang Hanyuan was startled. She heard him continue, “There’ll be no peace here. I’ll take you boating on the lake. You’ve been here all this time, and I haven’t taken you out to play.” After saying this, he urged her to dress while going out himself to call people and arrange for boats.

These past few days, though the scenery outside was beautiful beyond compare, the two hadn’t stepped out at all, remaining in the temporary palace. His sudden enthusiasm caught Jiang Hanyuan off guard, but she went along with him. The two quickly dressed and got ready, and the servants also prepared everything needed for the lake excursion. He led Jiang Hanyuan down a back path from the rear gate of the temporary palace. At the bottom, it led directly to the lake surface where a pleasure boat was moored at the water’s edge. The two boarded, Liu Xiang brought several people along, the boatmen raised their oars, and the pleasure boat slowly left shore.

Today the sun shone brilliantly, perfect for an outing. The water surface near shore was dotted with boats of all sizes. Besides fishing boats that made their living on the lake, the rest carried local wealthy people and literary scholars on pleasure trips with courtesans. The sounds of plucked strings, songs, poetry recitation, and couplet composition rose and fell in succession, carried by wind across the lake surface—a scene of complete peace and prosperity.

Liu Xiang and the others stayed on the lower deck while Shu Shenhui and Jiang Hanyuan were alone in the upper cabin. He reclined on a couch by the window and had Jiang Hanyuan sit in his embrace. This time, he served Jiang Hanyuan, peeling tender water chestnuts for her to eat and feeding her cherries. After eating some food and gradually reaching the lake center with cool breezes, it was very comfortable. Jiang Hanyuan hadn’t slept well last night and felt drowsy, unconsciously falling asleep. When she woke, she found herself still in Shu Shenhui’s arms. Looking up, she saw him lowering his head as if he had been watching her sleep the whole time.

He smiled slightly: “You’re awake?”

Jiang Hanyuan sat up and looked around outside the windows, discovering it was already evening. Not only that, the weather had changed dramatically—from the brilliant afternoon sunshine to overcast skies. Dark clouds covered the lake, the wind was strong, the air oppressive, as if rain was imminent. No other boats could be seen around them.

She said hurriedly, “Why didn’t you wake me? The weather’s changing—shall we return?”

He glanced at the dark, cloudy sky outside and lazily lay back down, saying: “No rush. We’ll go back slowly.”

His mood seemed to have dropped again—she could sense it. Remembering how he seemed the same way after she had sent him away during the day, she moved closer and asked: “What’s wrong with you today?”

He looked at her for a moment and said: “News came last night—the main force has taken the water route and will reach Jiangdu, Yangzhou by early next month. I can’t have people waiting for me there.”

“At the latest, I must also set out in three days,” he said slowly at last.

That meant in three days, she could depart northward.

Jiang Hanyuan also fell silent for a while.

He looked at her again for a moment, then patted the space beside him. Understanding his meaning, she crawled over. He extended his arm to embrace her, holding her quietly for a moment, then suddenly said: “Si Si, do you like Jiangnan?”

Jiang Hanyuan nodded.

“Then have you thought about leaving later?”

Jiang Hanyuan understood. He hoped she would accompany him to Jiangdu. She looked up, their eyes meeting. He held her tighter and sighed, “I really can’t bear for you to leave like this…”

Jiang Hanyuan’s heart was full of conflict. After struggling for a long time, she finally said, “I am a military person. Being away from the army camp too long, I fear I’ll forget the feeling of gripping a blade.”

He fell silent.

Jiang Hanyuan embraced his neck, kissed him, and explained: “I also can’t bear to part from you, but…” She paused, “We must eventually part. But going to Yanmen, I will think of His Highness.”

He gazed at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled, “Forget it. You should return—I know your aspirations. I take back what I just said.”

Thunder rumbled from the depths of the lake. Soon, large raindrops began falling, pattering loudly on the boat’s canopy. The water surface was whipped by fierce winds with rolling waves, causing the boat to sway slightly.

He glanced outside and smiled again, “It’s pouring now. Those people I was avoiding should have left. Let’s go back!” Saying this, he leaned out the window and shouted orders to the lower deck against the fierce wind.

The pleasure boat cut through the water, returning to the rear mountain shore where they had departed. By now, the sky was pitch black with torrential rain. The group went directly up the mountain into the palace. Just before reaching the palace gates, one of Liu Xiang’s subordinates approached: “General Liu, Captain Cheng has sent an urgent message!”

Liu Xiang turned and quickly glanced at the Regent Prince. He was personally holding an umbrella for the Princess Consort, as if he hadn’t heard, his eyes fixed on the wet palace steps ahead, protecting her as they ascended while saying: “Careful not to slip.”

Liu Xiang withdrew his gaze, stood in place watching the Regent Prince and Princess Consort enter, then turned and hurried away.

Jiang Hanyuan had also heard the conversation between Liu Xiang and his subordinate.

Captain Cheng was Cheng Chong, who had lost to Lan Rong in the final competition for the Six Armies championship at the Chang’an spring races. On this southern journey, Cheng Chong was not among the accompanying party. Sending a message to Liu Xiang today suggested some other matter.

Since it had nothing to do with her, she naturally paid no attention.

Tonight’s rain was truly heavy, with fierce winds. In just that short distance, even though Shu Shenhui had angled all the rain gear toward her, by the time they entered the palace gates, half her body was wet, and he was completely soaked. Like a pair of drowned chickens just out of water, they looked at each other and simultaneously burst into laughter.

Palace servants had already come to greet them, and hot baths were quickly prepared in Jianqun Pavilion. Both were drenched. After entering, he pulled her to bathe together. Jiang Hanyuan went along with him. During their shared bath, there was inevitably another round of entanglement. When they finally emerged, he seemed tired. After eating some food together, he held her and immediately fell asleep.

Jiang Hanyuan had slept during the day and couldn’t sleep right away. Listening to the fierce wind and sudden rain filling her ears outside the hall, she carefully distinguished the steady breathing of the person beside her pillow, thinking that they would part in a few days and not knowing when they might meet again. Remembering his scene today of wanting to keep her but then giving up, her heart felt conflicted again. Like this, thinking for a long time as night deepened and drowsiness came, she fell asleep, but not deeply. A night breeze carrying rain moisture quietly surged from the direction of the pavilion door, stirring the curtains before the couch. She opened her eyes and found herself left on the couch.

Shu Shenhui had gone somewhere.

She waited a moment without seeing him return, got up from the couch, and found his clothes were also gone. He must have dressed and gone out. Hearing the sounds of fierce wind and sudden rain outside, feeling somewhat worried, she also dressed, opened the ajar door, and went out to ask the nearby night-duty palace servants. The servants said the Regent Prince had come out not long ago, seemingly heading toward Mingxuan Hall, telling people not to follow.

Mingxuan Hall was the library in the temporary palace.

Why would he go there alone in the middle of the night without sleeping? Could it be that after waking, his mood was still poor, and not wanting to disturb her, he went to the study to distract himself?

Jiang Hanyuan hesitated, then told the servants not to follow and went toward Mingxuan Hall herself. Passing through the rain corridor and gradually approaching, she indeed saw a lamplight glowing from within the pavilion from afar.

She reached the vicinity. The pavilion door was ajar. Just as she was about to push the door and enter, she heard voices from inside.

At this moment, the night rain continued unabated, pattering loudly on the banana leaves in the courtyard not far behind her. She couldn’t hear clearly what the people inside were saying at first, but the voice was very familiar—it was Liu Xiang.

So he was discussing matters with Liu Xiang.

Since there was business, she naturally shouldn’t go in, nor was it appropriate to stay. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly heard Liu Xiang’s voice reach her ears. Mixed with wind and rain, and since he wasn’t speaking loudly, she didn’t hear it all clearly, but she vaguely seemed to hear the two words “Wu Sheng.”

Jiang Hanyuan was startled, thinking she had misheard. Her footsteps stopped.

Inside the hall pavilion, Shu Shenhui sat behind a desk holding a book, reading by the candlelight on the desk.

Liu Xiang stood before him, having finished reporting the news that Cheng Chong’s letter had brought during the day. He held his breath and waited for a moment, seeing that the Regent Prince above hadn’t responded for a long time, still lowering his head slightly with his gaze fixed on the scroll in his hands.

He carefully observed the Regent Prince’s expression, hesitated, then said again: “That Wu Sheng seems to be suffering from climate sickness. May I ask Your Highness how he should be dealt with?”

A gust of wind and rain struck, bursting open a western window of the library that hadn’t been properly closed. The window banged against the window posts, rain water gushed in with a whoosh, and the wind made the candles inside the pavilion flicker wildly, nearly extinguishing them.

Liu Xiang hurried over to close the window, then returned.

Shu Shenhui’s gaze swept over the candleflame before him that gradually brightened again, and he said coldly: “If he’s sick, treat him. If he can’t be cured and dies, then bury him on the spot. Do you need to ask me about such things?”

His expression was extremely cold. After saying this, he added, “Before the Princess Consort returns to Yanmen, finish this matter for me. I don’t want to hear any news about this monk ever again.” After saying this, he waved his hand dismissively.

Liu Xiang withdrew, hurrying back to a night duty station outside the temporary palace. He found the person still waiting for him and gave some low-voiced instructions. The person acknowledged, immediately put on a straw raincoat and rain hat, bowed to Liu Xiang and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the night rain.

Liu Xiang watched the person leave, stood in place for a moment, looked up at the pitch-black sky, wondering when this rain would stop. He turned around, about to return to his quarters to sleep, when suddenly he was startled and his footsteps halted.

The Princess Consort was standing not far behind him, looking at him. He quickly reacted, stepped forward, and greeted her as if nothing had happened: “Why is Your Highness the Princess Consort here?”

Jiang Hanyuan said, “Come with me.” She turned and left.

Liu Xiang had no choice but to follow, entering uneasily with her to an empty corner of a courtyard corridor. Jiang Hanyuan stopped and smiled: “Uncle Liu, I won’t ask about anything else. I only want to know—that monk, where is he now?”

When he saw the Princess Consort behind him after meeting with the Regent Prince, his heart had already sensed trouble. Now, hearing her immediately ask about Wu Sheng, his suspicions were further confirmed.

Even before departing Chang’an, he had already been secretly ordered to send people to Yunluo to take this young monk who lived alone in a cliffside cave outside the city to a place of exile in Lingnan under the pretext of hosting scripture lectures. This matter was handled by Cheng Chong. Unexpectedly, perhaps due to traveling too hastily, and Wu Sheng being accustomed to the north, he suffered from climate sickness. Before reaching their destination, he fell seriously ill and couldn’t recover. Seeing that he might not survive, Cheng Chong could only stop first and send an urgent message to inquire with his superior.

Although Liu Xiang wasn’t entirely clear about the real circumstances of this matter or why the Regent Prince wanted to send the monk to exile, he could only make vague guesses in his heart. But the Princess Consort absolutely could not know about this—he was crystal clear on this point.

He suppressed the guilt in his heart and could only kneel, kowtowing: “Your Highness, the Princess Consort, please forgive me. This humble minister doesn’t understand what Your Highness means.”

The sky was ink black, night rain slanted with the wind, occasionally sweeping in from the eaves. Liu Xiang knelt in the corridor, motionless. After a moment, half his shoulder was soaked by the rain mist.

Jiang Hanyuan looked at him and nodded, “You may go.”

Liu Xiang’s back was already covered in hot sweat. He acknowledged twice, and after rising, not daring to look at her, bowed his head and hurried away. Just as he turned the corridor corner, his footsteps halted again.

“Your Highness!”

He hastily stepped back several paces, moving aside.

Jiang Hanyuan turned her head to see Shu Shenhui standing right at the corner of the corridor. Their eyes met. He stepped forward, draped an outer cloak over her shoulders, then extended an arm to gently embrace her waist, saying softly: “It’s raining here, your clothes are all wet. Let’s go back to sleep.”