Shen Xi and Shen Jing had just arrived at Qionghua Pavilion when Zhu Nanxian and his party were already coming out from inside.

Qiling followed behind Zhu Nanxian. In the flickering lamplight, there was a touching flush on her face, but Zhu Nanxian’s expression didn’t look good.

After the group paid respects to Shen Jing, Zhu Zhaowei said: “Imperial Sister-in-law, please don’t blame us. Today’s matter ultimately involves Third Brother. We’re all princes, and Tenth Brother and I didn’t know how best to handle it. Therefore, when Imperial Sister-in-law sent someone to summon us imperial brothers, I had already gone to Minghua Palace to ask Father Emperor’s intentions. I only just heard someone say Imperial Sister-in-law was scratched by a cat. Is Imperial Sister-in-law’s injury serious?”

Hearing this, Zhu Nanxian asked in astonishment: “Sister-in-law was scratched?”

Shen Jing said gently: “It’s nothing serious, just a superficial wound.” After a pause, she asked again: “Have you figured out what happened on your end?”

Zhu Nanxian felt momentarily stifled and didn’t answer.

The Tenth Prince Zhu Yiheng said: “In reply to Imperial Sister-in-law, we understand now.” He glanced at Zhu Nanxian, his words containing no particular blame: “In this matter, Thirteenth also bears some fault. He had someone deliver a token to Fourth Miss Qi, saying he had something to tell her privately, but he was drinking on the opposite bank and forgot the time, making Fourth Miss Qi wait so long that she encountered Third Brother, who came drunk into the grove.”

Shen Jing didn’t believe this explanation in her heart. She looked at Zhu Nanxian: “Thirteenth, was it truly your token?”

Zhu Nanxian was silent for a moment, then answered very briefly: “Yes.”

Qiling said softly: “Crown Princess, please don’t blame His Highness. It’s… this subject-woman who doesn’t understand propriety.”

Zhu Zhaowei said: “Third Brother was confused from drink. Fortunately the guards discovered it in time and no great mistake was made. Father Emperor has punished him to be confined to the palace for these days during the year’s end. He won’t be able to go to tomorrow’s winter hunt.”

As he spoke, he smiled and also looked at Zhu Nanxian: “Thirteenth, you’re really too careless. Even if you wanted to speak with Fourth Miss Qi, there will be opportunities in the future. Why be so anxious now that you didn’t even care about a young lady’s dignity? Imperial Sister-in-law, you really should give Thirteenth a proper scolding.”

His words were quite explicit. Hearing them, Qiling’s face flushed so red it seemed blood would drip out.

However, Shen Jing said: “Seventh Brother’s words aren’t wrong. This matter is indeed Thirteenth’s fault. He’s been careless since childhood. Before acting, he may not think things through clearly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he has other intentions.”

She looked again at Qiling and said harmoniously: “Thirteenth must return to his fiefdom on the seventh. These days he also has the winter hunt and can’t free himself. How about this—once the year’s end passes, this palace and Shen Xi will personally go to Marquis Anping’s residence to apologize in person.”

Before Qiling could answer, Zhu Zhaowei said: “Imperial Sister-in-law’s status is so exalted. If we had Imperial Sister-in-law apologize in person, that would be going too far. Moreover, though this matter is unseemly, the result is still good—at least people now know Thirteenth’s intentions. Just now Father Emperor already issued an edict saying that since it’s already late at night, Thirteenth should escort Fourth Miss Qi back to the Eastern Palace to rest with Imperial Sister-in-law for one night, then bring her along to the winter hunt tomorrow.”

Shen Jing sighed inwardly: “Since Father Emperor has already issued the edict, then so be it.”

At this moment, Shen Xi said: “May I ask Seventh Prince, this subject heard that just now Ninth Prince and Third Prince came over together. Now that Third Prince is confined, where is Ninth Prince?”

Zhu Zhaowei said: “Lord Shen surely knows what kind of temperament this prince’s Ninth Brother has. He’s extremely timid. As soon as he saw such a great commotion, he claimed a headache and left first. In any case, it has nothing to do with him.”

As he spoke, he and Zhu Yiheng together bowed to Shen Jing: “Seeing that Imperial Sister-in-law is unharmed, Imperial Brother and Tenth Brother are relieved.” He patted Zhu Nanxian again and added with a smile: “Next time you mustn’t be so improper. A beauty like a flowering plant—because of you she was frightened. You must take responsibility.”

After the several people finished speaking, Zhu Zhaowei and Zhu Yiheng went to the opposite bank.

On the opposite bank, music still filled the air and wine cups were exchanged. Zhu Nanxian looked across Yaoshui Lake from a distance but couldn’t see clearly where Su Jin was.

Shen Jing said softly: “Thirteenth, since Father Emperor has issued the edict, first escort Fourth Miss Qi back to the Eastern Palace with me. It won’t be too late to come back afterward.” She looked at Shen Xi: “What do you say?”

The opposite bank was unbearably noisy. Between the toasts and cup exchanges were all false airs. Shen Xi’s mind was tangled and confused—how could he have the energy for social niceties? He wished he could find a quiet place to think things through clearly, so he said: “I’ll also go to the Eastern Palace and come back together with Thirteenth later.”

Zhu Nanxian turned to glance at Qiling and said in a low voice: “You… follow this prince.”

Qiling bowed gracefully: “Yes.”

The snowy night made travel difficult. Palace maids and attendants held ornate canopies and carried lanterns, yet it still took them half an hour to reach the Eastern Palace.

Shen Jing and Shen Xi went first to the main hall. Zhu Nanxian had two palace maids lead the way to settle Qiling’s accommodations. Only after dismissing everyone around them did he say in a low voice: “This prince has something to tell you.”

Then he paused and said directly: “The sword tassel in your hand—this prince didn’t give it to you.”

Qiling had a pair of eyes like autumn waters, reflecting this thin night—touching and beautiful. She said softly: “Isn’t it the Thirteenth Prince’s possession?”

Zhu Nanxian said: “It is.” But then he added: “Third Sister of the Shen family doesn’t know much else, but she loves to make braided ornaments and sword tassels. Shen Qingyue is a scholar, so those years she made a hundred or so sword tassels for this prince, Fourth Brother, and Twelfth Brother. This prince had nowhere to put them all—losing one or two is bound to happen.”

Qiling lowered her eyes and said slowly: “Give me a peach, I’ll repay you with jade. A hundred is not too many, one is not too few. This sword tassel may mean nothing to Your Highness, but to Ruyu, it’s treasured like a jewel.”

“Ruyu” were precisely the two characters of Qiling’s given name.

Hearing this character “Yu,” Zhu Nanxian frowned slightly and said: “You haven’t understood. This prince’s meaning is that the sword tassel wasn’t given to you by this prince, and this prince never had anyone arrange to meet you. Tonight’s matter—someone must have taken this prince’s sword tassel to cause trouble, using this prince’s name to arrange a meeting with you, and you fell into the trap.”

Qiling was startled and looked at Zhu Nanxian somewhat bewildered.

The deep night stretched long. Zhu Nanxian’s handsome brows and eyes were especially calm. He continued: “Just now this prince didn’t speak the truth in front of others because you are, after all, a young lady. If this prince further undermined your dignity, then when this matter spreads, your reputation would be completely ruined.”

Indeed it was so. If he had publicly denied it, what would others think of her? Even if she claimed she had been tricked and deceived, who would believe her? Others would only think she deliberately went to be molested by the Third Prince, and when discovered, deliberately cried thief to catch a thief. At that point, she would truly have no way to explain herself.

Only now did Qiling begin to understand the meaning in Zhu Nanxian’s words.

But she was still bewildered. When he was young, he often came to the Qi residence. Among that group of young ladies, hadn’t he only spoken with her? Hadn’t it been said before that he kept a jade pendant carved with the character “Yu” close to his person for two years, planning to give it to her?

Qiling felt somewhat unwilling and disbelieving in her heart, so she said: “Your Highness’s words are too serious. If Ruyu’s heart hadn’t hoped to meet privately with Your Highness, how could she have fallen into a trap?”

Zhu Nanxian was silent for a moment and said: “This prince has said all there is to say. This prince is telling you all this in hopes that you won’t misunderstand anymore.”

Qiling still wanted to ask what exactly “misunderstand” meant. Did he have someone he cared for? But over these years, she had never heard of him being closer to any woman than to her.

But before she could follow two steps, Zhu Nanxian had already stridden far away.

The hall was too warm. Shen Qingyue leaned against a pillar sitting in the corridor, picked up a withered branch, and casually stirred the snow fragments covering the ground.

Shuxiang had already come to report. The reason those cats had hurt people was because someone had drugged them with madness medicine. This madness medicine was so potent that after ingesting it, they were now all barely clinging to life.

Shen Xi sorted through the threads in his mind once more.

Tonight’s events could be roughly divided into two matters—

The first was the death of the old cat and the mad cats. On the surface this didn’t seem like a major incident, but its rumors were directly connected to the death of Beauty Li at the Palace Front Hall. If this matter was truly related to the Palace Front Hall case, then the causes and effects involved were complex, and it could only be set aside for now.

The second was the matter of the Third Prince taking liberties with Qiling. On the surface, this matter also wasn’t complicated. Zhu Jiyou was inherently lustful—seeing beauty and having his heart stirred wasn’t strange. However, thinking more carefully, the current Zhu Jiyou was no longer the vassal prince of former days. His life was currently in danger. Today he went to such great efforts to please Emperor Jingyuan—wasn’t it precisely to have his father emperor spare his life?

If so, why would he provoke the Qi family at this juncture? Wouldn’t that be tantamount to seeking death?

Therefore, though this matter seemed reasonable, in truth it definitely wasn’t Zhu Jiyou’s own intention.

After the Denwen Drum case, Zhu Jiyou had his powers stripped and his fiefdom reduced—equivalent to a discarded chess piece. Then who would want to use this discarded chess piece to accomplish something?

A thought gradually rose in Shen Xi’s mind—since it was a discarded piece, then the key point of this matter definitely wasn’t on Zhu Jiyou. There must be other events happening behind this. Right—it might very well be a feint to the east while attacking the west!

Thinking to this point, Shen Xi suddenly stood up. But before he could walk toward Qionghua Garden, he saw that Zhu Minda had also returned to the Eastern Palace. While giving instructions to the Yulin Guards beside him, he spotted Shen Qingyue and immediately said coldly: “Just now I sent people everywhere looking for you. Why did you hide here?”

Shen Xi felt an ominous premonition in his heart.

It was only the hour of hai. In past years, the Little New Year’s Eve banquet would continue until the end of the hour of zi before dispersing. For Zhu Minda, as Crown Prince, to return to the Eastern Palace so early—something must have happened.

Though he thought this in his heart, his face put on a grinning expression: “For Brother-in-law to return at this hour, which inconsiderate person provoked you to anger and made you unable to continue eating the banquet?”

Zhu Minda was too lazy to watch him put on airs and tossed out: “Come inside with this palace.” Once in the hall, only then did he add: “Liu Yun was injured. The banquet ended early.”

Like someone throwing a boulder into a river, Shen Xi’s already slightly rippling heart finally stirred up waves.

He asked: “It’s Liu Yun?”

Not “Liu Yun” but “It’s Liu Yun.”

However, Zhu Minda didn’t notice this one-character difference and only said: “After the Denwen Drum case, Third Brother was resentful, feeling that Su Shiyu had ruined him. Today he arranged an assassin among that group of sword-bearing young masters, originally intending to kill Su Shiyu. Liu Yun happened to be beside him and helped block—that’s how he got injured himself.”

Shen Xi laughed once: “Oh, Third Prince was really idle today. On this end he had time to molest Fourth Miss Qi, on that end he still had leisure to arrange an assassin. He truly doesn’t want his life anymore?”

Zhu Minda said: “The assassin was caught on the spot. It’s true he was a sword-bearing young master who had been raised in Third Brother’s household for many years.” He paused and asked: “What are you suspecting?”

Shen Xi’s face still wore a smile, but coldness showed through in his eyes: “Then what about Liu Yun? What matter was so coincidental that it required Left Censor-in-Chief Lord Liu to come out and block a blade? He’s not that kind of person.”

Zhu Minda stared at Shen Xi unblinkingly, instinctively feeling his emotions seemed somewhat off. After a moment of silence, he said: “He seemed to be ill. Since the banquet began today, his complexion hasn’t been good.”

Shen Xi laughed coldly: “Is that so? Rare for the Left Censor-in-Chief to fall ill. I must go show my concern.”

As he spoke, without waiting for Zhu Minda to give further instructions, he stepped toward outside the hall. But when he reached the hall entrance, he suddenly turned back and said with a grin: “Brother-in-law, so many things happened today—it’s inauspicious. Why don’t you petition His Majesty to postpone this winter hunt and choose an auspicious day to go another time?”

Zhu Minda said coldly: “You certainly can think of things. The winter hunt is an ancestral system established by Father Emperor. How can it be casually changed because of a mere subject’s injury? What about the imperial family’s dignity?”

Hearing these words, Shen Xi stood quietly at the hall entrance. The smile on his face was completely withdrawn. All the lamplight in the great hall shone upon him. That eye-catching teardrop mole naturally carried a trace of dim melancholy. After a while, he gave a low “Mm” and turned to leave.

Zhu Nanxian was just coming toward the great hall when he saw Shen Xi stride past him.

He was startled. He seemed to have never seen such a cold, gloomy Shen Qingyue. When he turned back wanting to see more clearly, Shen Xi’s robe hem had already brushed past the archway and disappeared.

Upon meeting Zhu Minda, Zhu Nanxian asked: “Imperial Brother, I heard Lord Liu was injured?” He paused slightly: “I’d like to go see him.”

Zhu Minda saw that he seemed to already understand the cause and effect of events, guessing that the person he actually wanted to see was Su Shiyu. He didn’t stop him but only said: “Qingyue seems somewhat off. I’m afraid he might cause some incident. It would be good if you went along to check.”