The messenger maid was about twenty years of age, with clean and delicate features — she was indeed one of Xinyun’s people. Ling Jingshu had seen her a few times before and could put a face to her.

At the sight of Ling Jingshu, the maid quickly stepped forward and bowed in respectful greeting.

Ling Jingshu smiled and said: “Rise, please, no need for ceremony. Xinyun has sent you with a message at such a late hour — I wonder what matter of such importance has arisen?”

The maid hesitated slightly and cast a glance at Bai Yu and Qiao Yun.

With a small signal from Ling Jingshu, Bai Yu and Qiao Yun withdrew. Only then did the maid speak quickly in a low whisper: “Female Official Ling, in truth, I have come to deliver a message on behalf of Imperial Physician Wei.”

Ling Jingshu was somewhat surprised.

Wei Yan had spent years building his network within the palace and had always maintained his own unseen informants. Even so, she truly had not expected him to have someone placed even within Lingbo Palace.

This palace maid had come under the guise of Xinyun’s name — clearly a deliberate cover to avoid attracting notice.

She quickly produced a letter and handed it to Ling Jingshu: “Please, Female Official Ling, read the letter and burn it immediately afterward — it must not be discovered by anyone.”

Ling Jingshu acknowledged this and took the letter. She broke the seal right there in front of the maid.

The letter contained only a sparse few lines.

A’Shu — this journey to the imperial retreat was orchestrated in secret by Prince Yan, who persuaded His Majesty to go. At present there is nothing overtly amiss, yet I cannot shake a sense of foreboding. You must stay alert and on guard, lest anything untoward occur.

I know that Qiao Yun is the Crown Grandson’s person. Pass this news along to the Crown Grandson — as a precaution.

The handwriting was flowing and fluid — thoroughly familiar.

While she had been confined in the imperial prison, she had received letters in this same hand on more than one occasion. Wei Yan’s writing was by now deeply engraved in her memory. After reading the letter through twice with care, she held it to the flame of the candle and burned it to ash.

The maid said nothing more, offered her bow, and withdrew.

Ling Jingshu gazed at the flickering, restless candlelight, momentarily lost in a daze.

All of this had truly been Prince Yan’s doing, conducted in secret.

What in the world was Prince Yan’s purpose in urging the Emperor to make this journey to the imperial retreat? And she could not imagine how much effort Wei Yan had expended to uncover a matter as crucial as this.

And then there was the other thing —

She had never once mentioned Qiao Yun’s circumstances to Wei Yan. How had he come to know of her background? Knowing that she and the Crown Grandson were in occasional contact — what must that have made him feel inside? And why had he never let any of it show in her presence?

What must have been going through his mind when he wrote this letter to her?

From the very beginning to this day, it had always been him who took the initiative to draw closer to her. And she — she had indulged in the warmth of his tenderness, his deep devotion, his forbearance, his care and protection, all while keeping so many things hidden from him.

He was such a perceptive and keen-minded man — he must have noticed long ago. Yet he had never voiced a single complaint, nor made any demands of her. He had remained just as he always was: gentle, patient, and forbearing, quietly waiting for her to open her heart.

Ling Jingshu — how fortunate you are, to have encountered in this lifetime a man who treats you this well.

Ling Jingshu’s nose stung with a subtle ache, and a glimmer of moisture passed through her eyes.

In that moment, she also made a firm resolution within herself. Once this matter had passed, she would no longer conceal anything from him. She would tell him every secret buried deep within her heart.

Bai Yu and Qiao Yun came in one after the other.

The small heap of ash beside the candle caught the eyes of both.

Bai Yu glanced at Ling Jingshu, puzzled. For no apparent reason, there was all this ash on the ground — it looked very much like the remnants of burned letter paper.

Had that palace maid not said she had come to deliver an oral message?

Qiao Yun was far more composed and guarded than Bai Yu. She took one brief look, then drew her gaze away.

Ling Jingshu drew a slow, deep breath, then called Qiao Yun over: “Qiao Yun, come here — I have something important to instruct you.”

Qiao Yun stepped forward swiftly: “Awaiting Miss’s instructions.”

Ling Jingshu made no effort to keep what she said from Bai Yu, and spoke in a measured tone: “I have learned a matter of great importance. His Majesty’s decision to visit the imperial retreat was brought about through Prince Yan’s private influence. Pass this news to His Highness the Crown Grandson at once, and ask His Highness to raise his vigilance and prepare in advance — lest Prince Yan stir up trouble behind the scenes.”

Qiao Yun’s expression sharpened immediately. Not daring to delay, she replied at once: “Yes. However, at this hour the palace gates have already been closed — even if a letter were written now, it could not be sent out through the gates. We will have to wait until early morning tomorrow.”

Ling Jingshu gave a nod.

Qiao Yun quickly withdrew.

Bai Yu frowned and drew closer, asking in a low voice: “Miss, is it truly Prince Yan who secretly persuaded His Majesty to go to the imperial retreat?”

Ling Jingshu gave a nod.

Bai Yu hesitated briefly, then pressed on quietly: “Such a critical matter — how could Xinyun have come to know of it?”

Ling Jingshu looked at Bai Yu steadily and replied in an even tone: “It was not Xinyun who passed the message. This was a letter sent to me by Wei Yan.”

Just as expected — of course it was Wei Yan.

Bai Yu showed little surprise. Though Ling Jingshu had never stated anything outright, the subtle changes in her over these past months had not escaped Bai Yu’s notice. She had long since guessed that the bond between Wei Yan and Ling Jingshu had deepened further.

“This was news that Imperial Physician Wei took special care to send — would it be entirely proper to pass it on to the Crown Grandson just like that?” Bai Yu’s loyalty naturally inclined toward Wei Yan’s side.

Ling Jingshu was quiet for a moment before saying: “This was also Wei Yan’s intention.”

Bai Yu froze, suddenly feeling as though her mind could not quite keep pace: “Miss, what did you say? Imperial Physician Wei asked you to tell this to the Crown Grandson? But — how did he know you and the Crown Grandson were in private contact? And knowing this, is he not upset? And yet he still asked you to reach out to the Crown Grandson on your own initiative?”

Heavens above!

Her thoughts had dissolved into utter confusion — she simply could not process it all.

Ling Jingshu looked at Bai Yu’s thoroughly stunned expression and felt a bittersweet sensation rise within her, sweet yet tinged with a kind of aching: “He did not go into detail in the letter. But I suspect he has known for some time that Qiao Yun is the Crown Grandson’s informant within the palace.”

She paused, then sighed softly: “Bai Yu, I also never anticipated that he would take the initiative to ask me to pass this message to the Crown Grandson.”

Bai Yu stood still for a moment, then exhaled a long, slow breath: “Miss — Imperial Physician Wei truly is very fond of you.”

What man would not be the least bit troubled by the involvement of another man with the woman he cared for?

And yet Wei Yan had endured it in silence. In this instance, even in revealing that he knew, it was done with her safety in mind. The depth of feeling and devotion Wei Yan showed to Miss was something truly rare and hard to find in this world.

The more Bai Yu thought about it, the more she found Wei Yan to be wonderful in every regard, and she could not help saying: “Miss, Imperial Physician Wei treats you so well — please, in the future, do not fail him.”

Even with so much weighing on her mind, Ling Jingshu found herself charmed into a smile: “Bai Yu, you are supposed to be my person. How is it that you have now gone over to his side?”

“This servant is also thinking of Miss’s interests!” Bai Yu replied without a trace of guilt, straightforward and unapologetic: “A good man like this is nearly impossible to find again once lost. Miss must never let his heart grow cold — you should be good to him from now on.”

The corners of Ling Jingshu’s lips curved gently upward, her eyes full of warmth and laughter: “Very well — I will do as you say. I shall be good to him, fill his heart so completely with thoughts of me that he has no room left to think of any other woman.”