“How did Your Highness return so early without waiting for me?”

Liu Baiwei muttered softly as he rounded the folding screen toward the inner chamber door. “Your Highness, guess who I saw today…”

Zhao Yān, with her wrists bound behind her back, realized this was not a good time for a discussion and promptly stopped him: “Wait!”

“What’s wrong?” Liu Ji froze in surprise, abruptly halting her steps.

Zhao Yān had barely uttered the word “I” when she felt a large hand grip her ankle.

In the dim bed curtains, Wenren Lin knelt on the bed and leaned forward, saying: “The bruising hasn’t dispersed yet. Why are you running about…”

His voice was very soft, almost a whisper, but Zhao Yān still felt terrified. She hurriedly widened her eyes to glare at him, signaling him to be quiet.

The more tense she became, the more composed Wenren Lin appeared, with a faint, mischievous smile spreading in his eyes.

Sure enough, rather than retreating, he advanced, saying gently: “Your Highness has also injured her **. Perhaps I should examine that as well…”

…

…

Unable to cover his mouth with her hands and fearing he would continue his inappropriate talk for all to hear, Zhao Yān turned her head and leaned forward, sealing his lips with her own.

The bed curtains billowed as the unfinished whisper was trapped between their soft lips.

Wenren Lin finally quieted down. His lowered eyelashes cast dense shadows as he deliberately grazed his teeth against her delicate lips.

Zhao Yān winced in pain and made a small sound.

“What was that noise?”

Liu Baiwei heard the sound, and her shadow appeared on the hanging curtains as she approached two steps closer, limping.

After suspicious rustling of clothing, Zhao Yān’s unsteady voice came through the layers of curtains, saying curtly: “Nothing, just… just a muscle cramp.”

Her voice was somewhat hoarse with exasperation.

Liu Baiwei asked suspiciously: “Really? Should I call someone to massage Your Highness?”

How could Zhao Yān dare to allow that?

In the dim enclosure, Wenren Lin’s expression became shadowy and tender as he meaningfully raised his finger to gently stroke his lips. When he looked up at her, his thick eyebrows lowered over his eyes, making his beautiful eyes particularly dark and captivating.

Zhao Yān couldn’t help but press her painful, numbing lips together, certainly not wanting to seal his mouth again.

“No need, I’ve already undressed.”

Zhao Yān guessed that what Liu Baiwei wanted to discuss related to her brother and his companions, which would be dangerous to talk about in front of Wenren Lin. She quickly explained, “I’m truly exhausted today. Whatever important matters you have, let’s discuss them tomorrow.”

Liu Baiwei let out a surprised “Oh,” and limped painfully to place a small food box on the table behind the folding screen.

“There’s a dumpling shop behind Mingde Hall that’s delicious. I brought some back for Your Highness.”

Remembering something, she added with a smile, “Don’t worry, they’re crab roe dumplings, not sweet ones. The box is lined with cotton fabric to keep them warm. Your Highness should eat them while they’re hot; they become greasy when cold.”

“Thank you.”

Zhao Yān didn’t dare look directly into Wenren Lin’s eyes before her. Her gaze followed Liu Baiwei’s shadow on the hanging curtains as she cleared her throat and said, “Your leg is still injured. You should go back and rest.”

Perhaps because her dismissal was too obvious, Liu Baiwei hummed: “Your Highness used to refer to me as your sister, but now it’s just ‘you’ this and ‘you’ that. It feels strangely distant.”

Now that Zhao Yān knew Liu Baiwei was male, she certainly couldn’t address him as “Sister Liu Ji” as before. Mindful of the dangerous Wenren Lin in the bed, she also couldn’t boldly call Liu Baiwei by his real name, so she chose to remain silent.

Liu Baiwei muttered jokingly: “If I can’t be called sister anymore, we could address each other as brothers.”

Unaware that Wenren Lin was inside the curtains, he nearly revealed his true identity completely.

Zhao Yān was startled and instinctively glanced at Wenren Lin.

Wenren Lin was reclining on the bed with one elbow, his other hand casually placed behind Zhao Yān’s slender waist, gently massaging it. His expression was calm, revealing neither pleasure nor anger.

When Liu Ji received no response for a long time, he finally cleared his throat to hide his disappointment and said, “Farewell.”

The chamber door closed again, and in the narrow confines of the bed curtains, only Zhao Yān’s careful breathing could be heard. She wasn’t sure if Wenren Lin knew Liu Baiwei’s true identity, or what his reaction would be if he did…

However, it was impossible to tell. Wenren Lin’s posture was leisurely, his expression almost perfectly gentle.

He lifted his sleeve that had been slightly wrinkled under Zhao Yān’s weight and parted the bed curtains with his frost-white fingers to place the unfinished medicinal ointment on the bedside table.

Was he leaving?

Zhao Yān quickly reminded him: “My hands aren’t untied yet.”

Wenren Lin glanced at her sideways and suddenly smiled: “Your Highness never lacks people around you. Simply call any brother or elder brother to untie you. Why should this Prince trouble himself?”

Well then, so this was what he was waiting for!

Zhao Yān could indeed call someone else to untie her, but she had always been self-conscious and wouldn’t allow Liu Ying and others to see her in such a disheveled state.

As the dignified Princess Changfeng, she couldn’t lose face like this!

Moreover, if Liu Baiwei’s identity truly displeased Wenren Lin, there would likely be serious consequences. It would be better to resolve things here and now.

Seeing that Wenren Lin was truly about to leave, Zhao Yān, in her urgency, hooked her legs around Wenren Lin’s strong, taut waist, attempting to stop him—the cool sensation of the jade hook belt pressed against the exposed skin of Zhao Yān’s calves. No one knew better than Zhao Yān how “formidable” this waist was.

But she forced herself not to retreat.

Wenren Lin was surprised. He lowered his eyelids slightly, his gaze falling on the pair of well-proportioned, slender legs wrapped around his waist.

The curtains moved gently. In the dim light of the bedchamber, those two legs seemed to glow white, emitting a soft, moonlike radiance. Wenren Lin couldn’t help but reach out and gently pat the legs tightening around his waist.

The softness and smoothness beneath his palm made Wenren Lin linger momentarily before he softly said: “Who taught Your Highness to be so unreasonable, hmm?”

“I don’t want someone else to untie me…”

“What is Your Highness saying?”

Wenren Lin pretended not to hear, forcing Zhao Yān to raise her voice slightly.

“I don’t want someone else to untie me.”

She repeated clearly, lifting her chin slightly to say, “I’ve said before, Prince Su is always my first choice.”

Wenren Lin sat with his back turned, seemingly dissatisfied with this response. His tall figure cast a shadow that completely enveloped the half-reclining Zhao Yān.

Zhao Yān felt aggrieved—this man was so difficult to deal with!

The position of lying with her hands bound behind her was uncomfortable. She gripped her numbing fingertips in irritation and, using her core strength, lifted herself while keeping her legs hooked around his waist, and bit Wenren Lin’s shoulder.

Through the clothing, the bite was as mild as a cat’s scratch.

Thus, Wenren Lin remained motionless. After a while, he finally raised his hand to stroke the head biting his shoulder and snickered: “Aren’t you worried about it being dirty?”

“Even if Prince Su is angry, after bullying me for so long, he should have cooled down by now. Otherwise, it would be too petty.”

Zhao Yān resentfully released her bite and pressed her forehead against Wenren Lin’s back in a light headbutt, saying in a muffled voice: “It’s because Prince Su always forbids me from investigating cases that I’m forced to use others. And now what’s this about? Tying me up but not untying me—truly excessive.”

Wenren Lin almost laughed from her indignation.

“It seems Your Highness has fully recovered from her illness and returned to her sharp-tongued ways. This Prince hasn’t yet settled accounts with you, yet you’re criticizing this Prince first.”

“How would I dare? But my hands have been bound for so long that it’s uncomfortable. My fingertips are all numb.”

Wenren Lin had tied the sash himself, so he knew exactly how tight it was. He didn’t expose her lie but simply grabbed the legs wrapped around his waist with one hand and grasped Zhao Yān’s arm behind him with the other, applying force to turn her.

Zhao Yān hadn’t even realized what was happening before her entire body rotated half a circle around Wenren Lin’s waist, going from behind him to in front of him, sitting cross-legged on his thighs, face to face.

The man’s legs were hard as stone. Zhao Yān blinked her eyelashes as descriptions of “cranes intertwining their necks” flooded her mind.

She released her legs and hurriedly switched to a kneeling position. Just as she was about to rise, Wenren Lin pressed down on her shoulder with one palm.

“Your Highness will eventually have to get used to the pressure of being bound by leather straps.”

Wenren Lin lowered his gaze calmly, almost embracing her with his cheek touching hers, freeing his other hand to undo the slip knot on her wrist. “If you don’t behave, there will be plenty more opportunities to lock you up in the future.”

As soon as her wrist was freed, Zhao Yān immediately pulled away with relief, rubbing her slightly sore wrists.

Wenren Lin held the decorative belt in his palm, looking at his now-empty embrace, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Zhao Yān also knew she had been somewhat ungrateful and tried to make amends: “Prince Su has traveled far and worked hard. Would you like to stay for some dumplings?”

Wenren Lin glanced at her, the corners of his mouth lifting as he said: “This Prince particularly enjoys cherry flavor. Sweet.”

After saying this, he raised his finger and pressed it meaningfully against Zhao Yān’s rosy lips.

The pressure on her lips vanished as quickly as it came. Zhao Yān was stunned for a moment before realizing that the “cherry” Wenren Lin referred to was not that sort of cherry.

She touched her lips, and when she looked up again, Wenren Lin had already parted the curtains and was slowly walking away through the main entrance of Guanyun Hall.

The stone path in the courtyard gleamed white. The mountain breeze brushed his face as Wenren Lin strolled through the night, walking with elegant slowness.

A figure awkwardly flashed past in the shadows beneath the corridor. He curled his lips in a cold smile, pretending not to see.

……

In the bright midsummer, the mountains were lush with greenery, with several palace buildings nestled among them, like a fairyland retreat from the heat.

Remembering that Liu Baiwei had important matters to report last night, Zhao Yān headed to Tingyu Pavilion along the shaded corridor after breakfast.

The windows of Tingyu Pavilion were wide open, revealing the distant mountain ranges.

Liu Baiwei sat by the window, seeming mentally exhausted. He didn’t even have the appetite for the lotus pastries specially brought for him, and rested his chin on his hand as he recounted the events of meeting Wang Yu the previous night.

“Cheng Jixing died suddenly in his chambers, and Wang Yu was the first to discover him. According to him, Cheng Jixing was found face down on his desk, the oil lamp depleted, with a half-read copy of ‘Treatise on Feng Shui’ before him.”

Liu Baiwei paused, then continued gravely, “Cheng Jixing valued practicality above all and despised the ethereal concepts of feng shui and divine teachings. This was the main reason he supported the Crown Prince’s new policies.”

Zhao Yān understood: “In other words, given his personality, he wouldn’t likely spend all night studying a ‘Treatise on Feng Shui.'”

Liu Baiwei nodded: “Wang Yu also sensed something was wrong. With Shen Jingming’s cautionary tale in mind, he immediately hid the ‘Treatise on Feng Shui,’ packed his belongings, and fled to Cangzhou that night.”

Zhao Yān concentrated, quickly asking: “Is the book still available?”

“Wang Yu… he was too ashamed to face Your Highness directly, so last night he entrusted the book to me.”

As he spoke, Liu Baiwei retrieved a tightly wrapped small cloth bundle from a chest in the inner room and placed it on the table.

Zhao Yān reached out to take it, but Liu Baiwei pressed her hand down, saying: “Don’t touch it. Wang Yu mentioned an odd faint fragrance on the book. He merely touched it briefly while packing, yet afterward suffered from dizziness for several days before recovering. I suspect it contains poison.”

Zhao Yān’s heart sank: If true, this poisoning technique was identical to that used in the letter that harmed the Crown Prince.

Could it be the same person?

“We need to find a way to examine it,” Liu Baiwei said.

Zhao Yān rose and went to the corridor, instructing Gu Xing to invite Zhang Xu and bring the evidence collected earlier from Zhao Yuan’yu’s alchemy room.

Imperial Physician Zhang had been responsible for the “Crown Prince’s” health care, so he had accompanied them to Yuquan Palace. In less than half an hour, he entered with his medicine box and performed a greeting.

As usual, Zhang Xu maintained his reclusive, indifferent demeanor. Only when receiving the “Treatise on Feng Shui” scroll from Liu Baiwei did a spark of excitement flash in his droopy eyes.

He took the scroll, unhesitatingly flipped through it, and sniffed it.

Zhao Yān watched anxiously and warned: “Be careful of poison.”

“Your Highness need not worry. This humble official has been immersed in strange poisons since childhood and won’t face mortal danger.”

After speaking, Zhang Xu’s young brows furrowed. “This fragrance seems familiar.”

“Do you have any leads?” Zhao Yān asked hopefully.

Zhang Xu thought for a moment, then shook his head: “I’ll need time to investigate.”

“This object is very important to me. I implore Imperial Physician Zhang to devote his full efforts to this matter.”

Zhao Yān’s expression was solemn as she motioned for Gu Xing to present the pills and prescriptions collected from Zhao Yuan’yu’s secret chamber, instructing: “Please examine these as well, Imperial Physician Zhang, to see if there are any connections.”

Zhang Xu was a medicine enthusiast. Upon receiving all the suspicious poisonous items, he merely said: “This humble official requires a well-ventilated medicine hut and two assistants.”

“Very well.” Zhao Yān signaled Gu Xing to make arrangements.

Zhang Xu was delighted with his acquisitions and even forgot to bow farewell, immediately turning to follow Gu Xing to the medicine hut to begin work.

Having arranged everything, Zhao Yān finally noticed that Liu Baiwei’s condition was indeed not right; he seemed preoccupied, as if troubled by something.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Looking at the fatigue shadows under Liu Baiwei’s eyes, she asked with concern: “Did you not sleep well last night?”

Liu Baiwei came to his senses and opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again reluctantly.

“The sky has clouded over. Let’s go for a walk,” Zhao Yān suggested, looking at the drifting clouds outside the window.

In the past, at the Eastern Palace, when Zhao Yān and he grew tired of discussing strategies, they would often stroll in the courtyard.

Liu Baiwei had no objection and followed her out, walking aimlessly along the corridor, lost in thought.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Liu Baiwei asked.

Zhao Yān knew he referred to continuing the investigation. After some thought, she answered honestly: “Sometimes, a little. And you?”

“Me?”

Liu Baiwei laughed briefly. “To face thunder and lightning with the body of a mayfly—isn’t that exhilarating!”

Zhao Yān also smiled, saying softly: “I feel the same way, with a clear conscience.”

Liu Baiwei looked at her for a while before suddenly saying: “Back then in the Eastern Palace, I once told Your Highness: With Zhao Yǎn gone, I would protect you in his place…”

After a pause, he turned his head away: “Your Highness’s brother is the Crown Prince. Although what I say may seem presumptuous, that promise was sincere.”

Liu Ji’s gender was false, but those words were true.

He just wanted to tell Her Highness this one thing.

Although Zhao Yān didn’t understand why Liu Baiwei suddenly brought this up, she nodded and said: “Sister Liu Ji was the first outsider to know my identity, and also the first person I truly trusted. Of course, your words are genuine. I believe you.”

“Really?”

Liu Baiwei’s face brightened like the sun breaking through clouds, revealing a satisfied smile.

However, as he was smiling, he suddenly stopped in his tracks as if facing a great enemy.

Zhao Yān wondered why his expression had changed so abruptly and was about to ask when Liu Baiwei grabbed her wrist and said, “Let’s take another path.”

Zhao Yān was startled. She instinctively looked back and discovered a familiar figure standing under the pavilion ahead.

Wenren Lin stood tall in an ink-black robe, facing Zhao Yān’s direction. It was unclear whether he was looking at her or the pine forests and mountains behind her.

Zhao Yān felt a chill down her spine, accompanied by an ominous premonition.

She tried to free her wrist, but Liu Baiwei’s grip was truly tight.

Zhao Yān followed him for at least ten zhang before finally stopping, frowning as she said: “Liu Baiwei, what’s wrong with you?”

The cicadas sang wearily as Liu Baiwei stopped with his back to Zhao Yān.

After a long while, he said breathlessly, telling the truth: “Last night, I saw him coming out of your chamber.”