Wenren Lin had excellent hearing; he heard her but pretended to be unmoved.

Zhao Yān had no choice but to raise her voice slightly and repeat, “My monthly period is approaching, which is inconvenient.”

Wenren Lin looked at her eyes, feigning composure, and after a moment, nodded.

“This prince is not an unreasonable person and has no habit of forcing Your Highness. Since that’s the case, let’s change the condition.”

He appeared willing to negotiate and, after thinking for a moment, said, “As it happens, this prince lacks a personal maidservant. Would Your Highness be willing to condescend to fill that position?”

How dare Wenren Lin ask the dignified Princess Changfeng to dress as a maidservant and serve him?

However, compared to “demonstrating” the nine positions from *The Classic of the Dark Lady*, this request was somewhat more acceptable…

Perhaps Wenren Lin’s initial purpose had nothing to do with *The Classic of the Dark Lady* at all.

Seeing Zhao Yān’s eyes darting around as she pursed her lips in silence, Wenren Lin put away his makeup brush and calmly lifted the carriage curtain, saying, “Someone, escort Your Highness…”

“Just for one day.” Zhao Yān hurriedly grabbed the edge of his sleeve, showing her ability to bend when necessary.

…

…

Choosing the lesser of two evils, even though she knew it was a trap Wenren Lin had dug, she had to grit her teeth and jump in.

Wenren Lin glanced at her sideways. With the rumbling of the carriage wheels, a faint sunlight gently swayed in the depths of his eyes.

With a slight smile, he completed the rest of his sentence in a low and clear voice.

The carriage stopped, and two attendants brought in a heavy copper ice mirror, then silently bowed and withdrew.

The carriage curtains were drawn again, and Zhao Yān’s hand slipped from Wenren Lin’s sleeve, falling limply at her side.

Zhao Yān simply turned her head away from him, frowning as she vengefully lifted the lid of the ice mirror that emitted wisps of cool air. She stuffed the frost-covered iced grapes into her mouth one by one.

“Don’t indulge in cold things at this time. If you get stomach pains again, this prince won’t be responsible.”

Wenren Lin raised his fan to cover her fingers that were about to continue, indicating, “Change your clothes.”

Wenren Lin waited expectantly: “There’s no one else in the carriage.”

Zhao Yān listened to the bustling calls of people coming and going on the street and said with difficulty, “But the carriage curtains sway, and I might accidentally expose myself. Besides, my true appearance cannot be known to others. If I board as the Crown Prince and disembark as a woman, how would the palace attendants think? It would surely cause trouble for the Grand Tutor.”

Seeing Wenren Lin’s silence, she lifted a corner of the carriage curtain as if to cover her unease, and looked outside. In the distance, she could see the seven-story pagoda of Anping Temple towering, and knew they weren’t far from Daning Street, which bordered the northern gate of the capital.

“I’ve heard that Daning Street has many restaurants and taverns, and is exceptionally lively. Why don’t we quietly find a place to stay there, and then I’ll change back into women’s attire to accompany you?”

Zhao Yān blinked her eyelashes and softened her tone, “How about it, Grand Tutor?”

After speaking, as if fearing Wenren Lin would object, she leaned out of the carriage window and commanded, “Let them continue forward. I will change course to Daning Street.”

Because the Crown Prince was still young, she hadn’t bound all her hair. The soft black hair at the back of her head fell to her waist, outlining a slender, graceful silhouette.

Wenren Lin’s eyes were calm, with an almost imperceptible smile, and he didn’t stop her.

He lifted the carriage curtain and gave some instructions to the attendants. The carriage slowly stopped, then separated from the long procession, bringing only the deputy commander and several personal guards and secret guards as they headed toward Daning Street.

Guihai Tower was the largest restaurant on Daning Street, built beside Yunxiao Bridge and along the Dragon Water Canal. Visitors from all directions came and went without cease, and from the railings, one could take in the splendid views of the capital.

They had just finished the dragon boat races, and many spectators were still crowded on the high tower. Among them, leaning against the railing on the fourth floor was a young man of about twenty, dressed in magnificent clothes with an elegant cap. Surrounded by four or five beautifully adorned concubines, he was the son of some wealthy family out for leisure.

The young master accepted a dried fruit fed to him by a concubine and snorted disinterestedly, “I thought today’s grand sight would surely include a cloud of beauties, but after watching all afternoon, I’ve seen nothing but ordinary faces.”

The concubine feeding him the dried fruit was only seventeen or eighteen years old. Upon hearing this, she pouted and spat, “Master already has us, why are you still thinking about dallying with others!”

“In this world, only beautiful women and fine food should not be neglected. You all? You still fall short somehow.”

The elegantly dressed young master smiled and pinched the concubine’s powdered cheek. Just as he turned around, he froze as if his feet had taken root.

A young woman with an apricot-colored scarf was slowly descending the stairs. Her crimson skirt hem swayed with her steps, blossoming lightly like a moving portrait of a beauty. Her face was beyond description—her flower-like countenance was like a bright pearl lost to the world. The bright crabapple flower ornament was not placed between her eyebrows as was common, but instead was innovatively positioned at the corner of her eye, beautiful but not vulgar.

Even more precious was the young woman’s noble and transcendent bearing. Unlike ordinary women who hunched their shoulders and lowered their heads, even her frowning gesture as she adjusted her scarf appeared naturally coquettish and charming.

The elegantly dressed young master swallowed and unconsciously stepped forward. All the beauties in his courtyard, compared to the person before him, lost their luster like clay sculptures.

His concubines knew he was smitten again and angrily pinched his arm. In that moment of distraction, the young woman passed through the hall and corridor, heading toward the railing on the other side.

There stood a tall, imposing man with his hands behind his back. Even from behind, he appeared extraordinary. When he turned his cold, handsome face halfway, the previously irritated concubines were also stunned.

The man raised his finger to brush aside a strand of loose hair near the young woman’s ear, then put his arm around her slender waist and drew her to his side. Their intimate posture indicated they were not siblings.

At once, both the young master and his concubines inhaled sharply, feeling a pang of regret: what a pity, she was already taken.

Only Zhao Yān knew how firmly that large hand, seemingly resting intimately on her waist, was restraining her.

Yet Wenren Lin’s face remained calm and gentle, proper and dignified. He picked up a veiled hat handed to him by a nearby guard and gently placed it on Zhao Yān’s head, saying in a low voice, “Your Highness’s face is truly eye-catching.”

Zhao Yān raised her hand to adjust the veil that the wind had blown against her face, retorting defiantly, “The same goes for you.”

“This prince has been waiting for Your Highness to change clothes and has become somewhat thirsty.”

Seeing Zhao Yān unmoved, he glanced over and said, “Since you’re pretending to be a maidservant, surely you don’t need to be taught such a small matter.”

…Fine, for the sake of finding clues, she would endure him just for this day.

Zhao Yān picked up the cool tea from the table beside them, poured a cup, and handed it to Wenren Lin with one hand.

Wenren Lin didn’t move, so she patiently brought it closer to his lips, gritting her teeth as she smiled, “My lord, please drink.”

Hearing the words “my lord,” Wenren Lin revealed a hint of surprise.

She was supposed to play the role of a maidservant, yet she had elevated her status by calling him “my lord”—a clever calculation. Wenren Lin didn’t correct her but folded his fan with one hand and brought his lips to the cup she was holding.

Zhao Yān felt the teacup grow heavier and had to support it with her other hand as well. In the sunset, Wenren Lin’s thin lips pressed against the rim of the cup, his eyelashes half-lowered in enjoyment, casting two arcs of dark shadows…

He didn’t look at all like the Su Prince who struck fear into the court.

However, when he raised his ink-colored eyes, the deep playfulness within them made Zhao Yān’s teeth itch with irritation.

She put away the teacup, glanced around, and pointed at a little girl selling flowers below, saying, “My lord, I want to buy flowers.”

Wenren Lin raised the corner of his eye, watching to see what mischief she was up to now.

Zhao Yān lifted a corner of the veil of her hat, revealing her bright eye adorned with crabapple makeup at the corner, and smiled brilliantly, “My lord, will you accompany me to buy flowers?”

She had forgotten that she was someone who could imitate Crown Prince Zhao Yǎn vividly; naturally, playing the role of a pampered and willful woman was not beyond her abilities.

Wenren Lin’s interest grew, and he agreed, “Let’s go.”

Like a harmonious couple, behind them at the railing came another wave of heartbroken sighs.

The flower seller was a girl of twelve or thirteen, with average looks and a few freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks. Her coarse cloth dress had patches, but she was clean and lively, presumably a poor child loved by her parents.

At this time, as the sun slanted westward, she had sold only a few sachet pouches from her basket, and more than half of her flowers remained. Despite constantly moistening them with water droplets, they were beginning to wilt.

It was getting late, and if she couldn’t sell the remaining flowers, she would have to return home empty-handed. Recently, there had been frequent disappearances of young girls and children both inside and outside the city, and her parents did not allow her to linger outside after dark.

Seeing a young couple approach, her eyes brightened, and she quickly perked up, asking in a clear voice, “Would the noble guests like to buy flowers? This sister is a great beauty at a glance. Noble guest, why not buy a flower for her?”

Wild plants that hadn’t been trimmed by gardeners had branches growing askew, giving them a natural, wild beauty. As Zhao Yān bent down, having difficulty choosing, Wenren Lin calmly said, “I’ll take them all.”

As soon as he spoke, the prince’s mansion guards appeared from nowhere, handed a small piece of silver to the flower-selling girl, and then silently withdrew.

The little girl’s face lit up with joy, and she honestly said, “These flowers aren’t worth so much money. This basket was woven by my father with willow branches; I’ll give it to my sister as well! And these sachet pouches were all made by my mother’s own hands…”

The little girl gave all her items to Zhao Yān, then carefully tucked the few pieces of silver into her purse and ran away happily.

Today was truly her lucky day, meeting such generous noble guests!

She clutched the purse containing the silver pieces and a few copper coins to her chest, happier than if she had received the sweetest candy in the entire capital: with this money, her mother’s medicine expenses for the month would be covered!

The little girl passed through the flowing crowd, running faster and faster, wishing she could sprout wings on her feet and fly home immediately to share the good news, completely unaware of several sinister eyes watching her from around the corner.

A short, startled cry was stifled, drowned out by the capital’s cheerful laughter.

A cow cart piled high with vegetables drove by, stopping at the corner. When the wheels rolled again, the flower-selling girl had vanished, leaving only an old, faded purse dropped on the ground, kicked and trampled by passing feet.

Wenren Lin didn’t buy the entire basket of flowers to please the little princess.

He simply felt that wasting time on such trivial matters was not worthwhile.

But Zhao Yān was very happy. Back at Huayang Palace, she had loved wandering through the mountains and forests, always returning with large bundles of wildflowers to fill the vases in her hall.

Since becoming the “Crown Prince,” she could no longer do such things, like an elegant, exquisite puppet placed in a position that didn’t belong to her.

Now, as dusk fell and the remnants of the setting sun had not yet faded, the lanterns of Daning Street were already lit. Zhao Yān stood by Yunxiao Bridge with her flower basket, standing in this heavenly splendor of earthly reflections. When she looked back, the wind stirred her light-colored scarf, and her sleeves exuded fragrance.

She wore a jasmine flower bracelet on her wrist. Lowering her head to smell it, a smile secretly spread across her lips, momentarily reminding others that she was originally just a noble, carefree sixteen-year-old girl.

That tael of silver was well spent.

Wenren Lin unconsciously stroked the jade-inlaid ring on his index finger, his hands folded behind his back.

“Your… master.”

Cai Tian strode forward, changing his form of address at the last moment, and whispered, “There’s movement over there.”

Wenren Lin slightly raised his hand, signaling Zhao Yān to come over.

“Are we going to Yuquan Palace now?”

Zhao Yān looked at the rippling canal water reflecting the sunset and lanterns, reluctantly saying, “It’s not yet time for the city gates to close. I’d like to wander around a bit more.”

Wenren Lin looked into her eyes, as if gazing into the depths of her soul, capturing all her secret thoughts.

He slowly spoke: “Whatever Your Highness is planning on this journey, don’t get in this prince’s way.”

The last ray of light faded, and the night wind passed between the two, facing each other.

Zhao Yān’s spine suddenly chilled. She raised her eyes hesitantly, but Wenren Lin’s expression was inscrutable, his tone relatively gentle: “Go play by yourself. We’ll depart in two quarters of an hour.”

After speaking, he left the guards behind and turned to walk toward the restaurant with his hands behind his back.

The crowds surged, and his tall, straight figure soon disappeared into the dim light, solitary and unapproachable, yet unshakeable.

“Miss, and that gentleman, you’re not married yet, are you? I see you’re still wearing a maiden’s hairstyle.”

A silvery, laughing voice came from one side. Zhao Yān turned to look and saw it was one of the concubines she had seen earlier in the restaurant.

“I am called Lan Xiang, the fourth concubine in Master Chen’s household. Look, that is the master.”

Lan Xiang nodded toward the upper floor. Zhao Yān followed her gaze and saw the elegantly dressed young man eagerly waving to her.

She understood: this woman was probably sent by Chen to test the waters.

Zhao Yān said, “Though we’re not yet married, I am already my lord’s person, more or less.”

Lan Xiang understood: “You don’t go out often, do you? I frequently accompany the master to social events and have toured the entire capital, yet I’ve never heard of any family with a young lady of your beauty.”

Hearing that Lan Xiang seemed well-informed about the capital’s affairs, Zhao Yān became interested.

“Indeed, because I’ve been weak and sickly, raised in seclusion where no one knows me. Only recently has my health improved enough to go out.”

Zhao Yān casually asked, “Does Sister Lan Xiang know of any places to play inside and outside the capital?”

Lan Xiang was completely unaware that she had been sent to extract information, but was instead being pumped for information herself. Covering her mouth with a laugh, she said, “There are so many! The lantern festival on Daning Street during the Seventh Night, the international cuisine on Xingning Street, the tile market performances on Changping Street… Oh, and the Sheng Ling Temple in the eastern part of the city, not only uniquely beautiful but also most effective for praying for a good marriage.”

Zhao Yān remembered the map that Liu Ji had marked and asked, “What about the northwestern suburbs? Just now, I looked out from the tower and saw trees in the distance, faintly revealing the corner of an old mansion, with a special charm of exploration.”

Lan Xiang’s expression became strange, and she hurriedly said, “Miss, please stop! That place is off-limits!”

“Why?”

“There’s a Jin Yun Manor there that once had a murder case, and since then, it’s been eerie.”

Lan Xiang shuddered and said mysteriously, “A few months ago, the manor began to be haunted. Anyone who approaches disappears without a trace, without exception. I’ve heard that at night, one can hear ghostly wails and wolf howls, with ghostly fires flickering—it’s terrifying!”

“When did the haunting begin?”

“Around the beginning of spring, though I don’t know the exact time. Recently, young girls and children have been disappearing without a trace in the city. Some say they were eaten by vengeful ghosts from the mountain. Even officials dare not approach, let alone you, miss!”

Zhao Yān’s heart sank, but outwardly she put on a terrified expression: “How frightening! It’s good that Sister Lan Xiang warned me.”

“Well, it’s nothing.”

Lan Xiang glanced at Master Chen on the upper floor, who was scratching his head and ears anxiously, and remembering her mission, said, “Our sisters would like to invite you upstairs for a drink, just to make friends. Would you honor us?”

Zhao Yān said with difficulty, “Thank you for your kindness, sister. But my lord asked me to wait for him here and not wander off. He has official authority and doesn’t tolerate others’ defiance. I shouldn’t cause trouble for you.”

Hearing that the handsome gentleman was an official, Lan Xiang knew her master couldn’t afford to offend him and had to give up.

She excitedly accepted a bunch of peonies that Zhao Yān offered in apology and returned upstairs to report.

In the elegant room on the fourth floor, Wenren Lin looked out from the window toward the Chen master who was eagerly waiting for the beauty, pointed, and ordered, “Go beat this man and throw him far away.”

After speaking, he dropped the window panel with a wave of his sleeve and unfolded the secret message handed to him by Cai Tian.

The evening breeze swept away the day’s heat, and the capital’s night scenery, bathed in the warm orange light of the lanterns, gradually softened.

Zhao Yān sorted through the information she had just obtained and, carrying her flower basket, slowly ascended the Yunxiao Bridge, which arched over the water like a flying rainbow. She stood at the highest point of the stone bridge, looking down at the peaceful canal water below.

This was where Shen Jingming had drowned.

Although Gu Xing had already investigated everything that needed to be investigated, she still wanted to come and see for herself whether the deaths of Shen Jingming and Cheng Jixing were truly “accidents” as rumored.

If she missed this opportunity, she feared she would find it difficult to leave the palace to investigate again.

Zhao Yān didn’t want to regret anything; this was also the main reason why she had been so determined to disembark at Daning Street.

Small boats carrying young couples on outings gradually passed under the bridge arch, with boatmen rowing at the stern and servants punting at the bow.

The punt pole, not quite a zhang long, reached the bottom of the water and was slowly pulled out, creating ripples on the water’s surface.

Zhao Yān looked at the wet marks on the long pole and estimated that the water here was only about six feet deep, roughly to an adult’s shoulders.

“Can such shallow water drown a grown man?” she couldn’t help muttering.

“No.”

A familiar, clear voice suddenly came from beside her, “Unless he fell in drunk and drowned unconsciously.”

Zhao Yān was startled and turned to look, her eyes widening slightly.

Zhou Ji?

She almost cried out in surprise, but fortunately bit her lip in time, thinking chaotically: What was he doing here?!

The wind quietly passed by, lifting Zhao Yān’s veiled hat. That lovely face, still showing traces of surprise, flashed briefly.

With the flower basket hanging from her arm and her crimson skirt dancing, it seemed familiar. Zhou Ji vaguely recalled the headache-inducing girl from the palace, who also often returned from skipping classes with large bundles of mountain flowers.

Zhou Ji tilted his head slightly and asked with confusion, “Princess Changfeng?”

Wasn’t he face-blind? How did he recognize her now?

Was it because she had changed back into girls’ attire?

Zhao Yān’s mind was in chaos. She pressed down on the fluttering veil and, pretending not to understand, distantly said, “Standing on the bridge, one is indeed easily disturbed by the long wind.”

The voice was different.

The confusion in Zhou Ji’s eyes dissipated, and he returned to his usual cold, self-contained manner. Taking a step back and gathering his sleeves, he said with embarrassment, “The young lady resembles an old acquaintance of mine. I mistook you for a moment; please forgive my offense.”

Princess Changfeng should be thousands of miles away at Huayang Palace, so how could she appear in the common areas of the capital in such a manner?

He inwardly ridiculed himself for his worsening condition, having reached such a state.

It had been the same at Huayang. When Princess Changfeng accidentally learned of his difficulty in recognizing people, she often had her palace maid Shi Lan dress up as her and sit in the hall to attend lessons while she sneaked out to play. Zhou Ji only discovered the switch several days later, which strengthened his determination to overcome this flaw.

When he was determined to accomplish something, he would work tirelessly until he succeeded. Thus, without pride or impatience, he followed Princess Changfeng for six or seven days, watching her steal food, climb walls, and pick lotus flowers from boats. After staring long enough, he naturally found the best way to distinguish her—

The most lively and beautiful girl in the crowd, wearing a crimson silk skirt, was surely Princess Changfeng.

Since then, Zhou Ji had never been mistaken again.

He had not expected to mistake today. He wanted to confirm but felt ashamed and improper, so he simply moved a step aside, creating a proper distance between them. His bamboo-green robe seemed as if it might fly away with the wind.

On the fourth-floor railing of the restaurant, all miscellaneous people had been cleared away.

Wenren Lin stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze penetrating through the brilliant sea of lights in the capital, falling on the two people standing and conversing on the stone bridge.

He placed the paper filled with writing near the oil lamp to burn, then released it, allowing the paper ashes to scatter like black butterflies in the wind, disappearing into the noisy lights.

Below, the bridge gradually emptied of pedestrians.

Zhao Yān hadn’t expected that in such a vast capital, she would casually encounter an acquaintance. Wanting to avoid him first, yet somewhat reluctant to leave the previous topic.

She cleared her throat and ambiguously probed, “Is the gentleman also waiting for someone here?”

Zhou Ji looked straight ahead and calmly said, “No.”

“Then why…”

“My junior disciple drowned here. Therefore, whenever I have leisure time on rest days, I come to stand here.”

So that was it—he had also come for Shen Jingming.

“Was your junior disciple drunk when he fell in the water?”

Zhao Yān realized she was about to touch on some important clues, and her voice became more careful.

“Not that either. My junior disciple could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, was never intoxicated, and had learned to swim since childhood.”

Zhou Ji appropriately ended the topic and, gathering his sleeves again, said, “I’ve disturbed the young lady’s enjoyment. Excuse me.”

Zhao Yān knew that Zhou Ji was not one to speak freely with someone he barely knew. Asking too many questions would only arouse his suspicion, so she curtseyed in return.

As she straightened up, a cool, large hand familiarly rested on her waist, neither too light nor too heavy.

Zhao Yān was suddenly alert and was about to bend her elbow to counter when she heard Wenren Lin’s deep, leisurely voice: “What is Zhou Instructor discussing with this prince’s beautiful concubine?”

Beautiful… concubine?

Zhao Yān reluctantly lowered her arm: Fine, whatever Prince Su says goes.

Wenren Lin hadn’t worn his specially made dark iron ring today, so Zhou Ji observed him coolly for a long time before recognizing that this imposing, chilly presence belonged to Prince Su.

But when did Prince Su have a woman by his side? Hadn’t he always viewed women as weaknesses and burdens, never indulging in them?

Zhou Ji didn’t understand and had no desire to speculate.

“Greetings to Prince Su.”

Zhou Ji bowed, neither servile nor overbearing, “I didn’t realize she was your beloved. I meant no offense; please forgive me.”

Zhou Ji’s appearance was truly unexpected. Fearing Wenren Lin might overthink, Zhao Yān explained, “I met this gentleman by chance; we were just discussing the weather and ordinary matters.”

“Even chance meetings are fate; perhaps you’ll meet an old friend in a foreign land. Why doesn’t Instructor Zhou stay and join us for a drink?”

Wenren Lin looked at the young woman in his arms, his deep gaze seeming to penetrate through the thin veil as he said in a measured tone with a smile, “Let this prince’s… Yan Yan pours and raises a cup for Instructor Zhou, how about that?”

Zhao Yān nearly bit her tongue.

Wenren Lin knew she couldn’t reveal her identity; he was doing this on purpose!

She had been so careful—how had she offended him?

As her stubborn streak rose, she refused to yield to his wishes.

She gripped her hand and raised her eyes, smiling as obediently as possible: “Of course, I would be delighted.”

Wenren Lin glanced at her, his eyes darkening slightly.