“Close your eyes.”

Wenren Lin bent down to instruct Zhao Yān, his breath carrying a bone-chilling coldness. “This Prince’s appearance is not pleasant to look at; I must first clean up properly.”

The coldness in his breath was so sharp that it seemed to pierce through the delicate skin on Zhao Yān’s neck, straight into her flesh.

Without looking, she could imagine the excruciating pain Wenren Lin was enduring. Suppressing her trembling, she closed her eyelashes as told.

Wenren Lin smiled and said “good girl,” raising his clean hand to stroke the back of Zhao Yān’s head. “This Prince needs some time. If you’re tired, go rest on the couch for a while.”

Zhao Yān nodded and said, “Alright.”

The large hand on the back of her head had strong knuckles. It rubbed her head again with satisfaction, conveying a hint of tenderness amid the tumultuous cold and fierce energy.

The large hand departed, and heavy footsteps slowly turned a corner, paused, then trod up the waxed, smooth wooden stairs to the upper floor.

Only when she could no longer hear any sounds did Zhao Yān tremblingly open her eyelashes.

…

…

Her vision was somewhat blurry at first, then gradually cleared. She saw that the small red-lacquered box on the table had been opened, and the space where the medicine pill had been placed was now empty.

Wenren Lin had taken the medicine, and Zhao Yān strangely felt a sense of relief.

She needed time to digest everything that had happened, so she lifted the soft gauze curtain and sat dazedly on the soft couch in the inner room—the same small couch where she and Wenren Lin had first entangled.

Zhang Cang led two silent little eunuchs carrying large buckets of hot water, thumping up the stairs and thumping back down. Perhaps due to urgency, they paid no attention to Zhao Yān sitting quietly behind the gauze in the inner room.

Supporting her chin, she gradually understood some of the minor details, such as why Wenren Lin had confidently entrusted his secret to her discretion.

It was like during their first riding and archery lesson at the end of last year, when Wenren Lin deliberately handed her the only sharp-edged arrow…

He was skilled at baiting and gambling to gauge Zhao Yān’s subtle attitude toward him.

That’s why he could smile so composedly and powerfully in what should have been a vulnerable and embarrassing situation of vomiting blood. In strategic battles and psychological games, Wenren Lin was as steady as a mountain, never having lost.

However, Zhao Yān knew well that her ability to sit safely here contemplating these matters was, in essence, a great victory—

Wenren Lin would rather take roundabout approaches to test her, gently forcing her to make choices, than harm a single hair on her head.

Perhaps between them, victory and defeat had long been indistinguishable.

If it were last year, Zhao Yān wouldn’t have dared imagine that she and Wenren Lin would ever reveal their vulnerabilities to each other and quietly embrace one another.

And unexpectedly, she didn’t resist this feeling.

Zhao Yān didn’t know how long she had been sitting in the inner room, only that Zhang Cang and the others had gone upstairs to change the hot water four times. The light through the window lattice slanted, the sunlight changing from pale white-gold to brilliant red-gold.

The room gradually darkened, and the activity upstairs ceased.

After a long while without hearing any new sounds, Zhao Yān grew uneasy, wondering whether she should go upstairs to check.

Just as she stood up, unhurried footsteps came from the wooden stairs.

Wenren Lin, loosely wearing a snow-white robe, entered with steam rising from his body. He first took a fire starter to light the lamp, then turned around, taking Zhao Yān’s hand and sitting on the soft couch.

Only then did Zhao Yān come to her senses—she had sat foolishly for most of the afternoon, even forgetting to light the lamp.

The lamplight gradually brightened, filling the inner room. Wenren Lin’s complexion was still pale, his lips crimson yet cold. However, his eyes were much calmer, no longer showing that terrifying dark red.

The little eunuchs carried away the cooled water from upstairs and quickly brought several light dishes of porridge and small dishes, placing them on the small round table beside the couch with lowered eyes. Then, without looking around, they withdrew from the pavilion, closing the door again.

“So you just sat here foolishly all afternoon?”

Wenren Lin scooped a bowl of delicious mushroom chicken soup with a small spoon, bringing it to Zhao Yān’s face, his voice somewhat low and lazy.

“Hmm… I’ll do it myself.”

Zhao Yān took the bowl of chicken soup, sipping it in small mouthfuls. She hadn’t had a chance to eat anything at the banquet and had been rushing about all afternoon; she was indeed hungry.

After a moment, she put down the empty bowl and turned her head to observe Wenren Lin’s expression. “Are you still uncomfortable?”

Wenren Lin took a sip from his porridge bowl with one hand, then frowned and put it down.

“Perhaps if Your Highness would kiss it, it wouldn’t hurt… who knows?”

His eyes held a smile as he used that same line again, even more brazenly this time.

Zhao Yān looked away, her fingers clutching the fabric of her lower garment, pursing her lips.

After a moment of struggle, she finally turned slightly, loosely wrapping her arms around Wenren Lin’s waist, her forehead pressing against his chest.

The fabric was thin, allowing her to feel the man’s strong, taut muscles, as well as his slightly cool body temperature that even hot water couldn’t warm.

…That’s acceptable.

Wenren Lin’s eyes moved slightly, quite surprised by her softness today.

He casually removed the eunuch’s hat from Zhao Yān’s head, then slightly lowered his head, his chin resting on the top of her head, his hand occasionally stroking her.

In the quiet, Zhao Yān couldn’t help asking: “If I had chosen to exploit you, to use Grand Tutor’s weakness for my gain, what would Grand Tutor have done?”

Wenren Lin laughed softly when he heard the word “exploit.”

This word had no practical meaning for him, not even as a hypothetical possibility. If he were willing to be controlled by others, he wouldn’t have walked over mountains of corpses and seas of blood to reach where he was today.

“I would have killed Your Highness…”

Zhao Yān stiffened, then heard a deep voice from above her head, “…but I would have been reluctant to do so. Then I could only trouble Your Highness to remove the false Crown Prince skin and take on a more obedient identity by this Prince’s side.”

“Why can’t Grand Tutor finish his sentences in one breath?”

Only then did Zhao Yān relax her body again. After a quiet moment, she asked, “Does my choice satisfy Grand Tutor?”

“Your Highness has always been clever.”

Wenren Lin played with a loose strand of hair at the nape of her neck, neither confirming nor denying.

Taking advantage of his currently good mood, Zhao Yān weighed her words carefully and asked: “Grand Tutor’s body… is it poisoned?”

Wenren Lin lowered his eyelids and slowly said, “Yes.”

“What happened?”

“The Great General personally administered it.”

“What?”

Zhao Yān raised her head from his embrace, her eyes full of surprise.

“General Wenren, this Prince’s birth father,” Wenren Lin looked into her eyes and calmly repeated.

Zhao Yān’s eyes reflected his calm face, unable to comprehend this answer.

She had thought the poison in Wenren Lin’s body was from an enemy or opponent’s secret plot… how could it be from a close relative? This defied normal ethics.

Zhao Yān vaguely felt she was approaching some core truth.

“Did the General… also dislike Grand Tutor?”

But even a tiger wouldn’t eat its cub. No matter how much her mother disliked her or how angry she became, she only sent her away to Huayang.

“Though stern, he loved his children dearly,” Wenren Lin gently denied, then added, “Every child.”

“Then why would he…”

“Shh, Your Highness has asked too many questions today.”

Wenren Lin moved his thumb upward, gently pressing against Zhao Yān’s lips. “This Prince is curious, though—Your Highness’s heart has always been hard as stone and unresponsive to romance, how did you suddenly become so enlightened?”

Zhao Yān was stumped by the question.

This question had been constantly self-examined in her heart since she uncontrollably embraced the blood-vomiting, sneering Wenren Lin.

She frowned in thought for a long time, and finally, honestly said in a small voice: “I don’t know.”

She just felt that perhaps a hug would truly make Wenren Lin feel better.

When she was young and feeling sad or wronged, she always wished someone would hold and comfort her.

Wenren Lin was not satisfied with this economic answer. His beautiful eyes with thick lashes narrowed slightly as he nodded: “It’s not Your Highness’s fault; it’s that this Prince hasn’t taught enough.”

Having said this, he leaned forward, supporting himself on the edge of the couch. Zhao Yān was pressed backward by the weight of his upper body and hurriedly clutched his collar.

Before her head could hit the couch, a large hand firmly supported the back of her head, and then the shadow pressed down on her.

“Perhaps if we touch another ‘red pearl,’ Your Highness might understand better?”

Wenren Lin gazed at Zhao Yān’s instantly flushed cheeks, a touch of tender affection in the corner of his mouth.

He seemed affected by the poison; his entire being couldn’t be bothered to maintain that facade of gentleness and elegance. His emotions were externalized, like a demon in the night, bewitching people’s hearts.

Fearing he would vomit blood again from overexertion, Zhao Yān opened her mouth and bit his knuckle, pressing on her lips, saying: “No, I don’t want to.”

Wenren Lin indulgently let her gnaw on his knuckle, maintaining his composure as he said: “Something else is also acceptable.”

Zhao Yān simply raised her hand to cover his lips.

The two gazed at each other, one above and one below. Zhao Yān, breathing heavily, said: “I remember Grand Tutor once said that having me learn that obscure knowledge wasn’t to tease me, but to allow me to make clear-headed choices without regret. Now you’re ill, and likewise not in a clear-headed state.”

She said seriously, “You need rest, Wenren Lin.”

She called his full name for the first time, giving Wenren Lin a sense of novelty.

He didn’t force the issue, merely biting her delicate palm lightly before pulling her hand from his lips and lying down beside her.

Both were somewhat tired. Zhao Yān also lay on her side, curling up slightly.

Wenren Lin wasn’t accustomed to having someone sleep beside him; his lacquer-black eyes remained half-open as he raised his hand to rest loosely on her slender waist. Zhao Yān, unable to mind him, had already closed her eyes.

The glow of the setting sun gradually receded and faded as time ticked by drop by drop.

Zhao Yān was awakened by a knocking sound.

Opening her eyes suddenly, Wenren Lin was no longer beside her. Zhang Cang’s deliberately lowered voice came from outside the door: “Your Highness, people from Taiji Hall have come twice to request your presence, waiting for you to handle matters…

Also, Princess Changle has learned of the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt and insists on going to the Eastern Palace to visit. They can barely keep up the pretense there.”

Zhao Yān looked at the misty night outside the window, abruptly sat up, and said: “Please trouble Vice General Zhang to have Liu Ying delay for another quarter hour. I will return immediately.”

As she spoke, Zhao Yān found the eunuch’s hat by the couch and put it on, hurriedly putting on her shoes and getting off the couch.

Wenren Lin was already fully dressed. Except for his cold, pale complexion, there was no trace of the poison attack. He walked over, adjusted her hat properly, then raised his finger to flip out the folded part of her clothing, smoothing it inch by inch.

He pinched Zhao Yān’s cheek and said with unclear meaning: “For now, stay away from court affairs.”

Zhao Yān was momentarily stunned, then realized something must have happened at the palace. She nodded and said, “I understand.”

Only then did Wenren Lin curve his lips slightly and let her go.

With Prince Su’s mansion carriage escorting her, the journey was smooth. Taking a shortcut directly through the north gate into the Eastern Palace, it took less than a quarter hour.

Zhao Yān finally understood why Wenren Lin always arrived so promptly and suddenly whenever he visited at night to check her studies.

Just as Zhao Yān stealthily returned to her bedchamber, she heard Huo Zhenzhen arguing with someone in the courtyard.

“I’m so angry! You even have the same temper as that Liu vixen. Why do all the people I dislike have the same face?”

“I’m puzzled too, Princess. Why do you particularly have issues with me? Could it be that you’re too fixated on me, so you think everyone resembles me?”

This was Liu Baiwei’s voice.

“Shameless!”

Huo Zhenzhen’s voice continued, “Before, being blocked by that vixen was one thing, but now you, a man, want to monopolize my Crown Prince brother? Please step aside.”

Seeing they were about to quarrel, Zhao Yān had no choice but to quickly remove her eunuch’s clothes, casually grabbing an outer robe to put on, coughing lightly as she opened the door to her bedchamber.

“What are you arguing about?”

Huo Zhenzhen and Liu Baiwei both looked over simultaneously, one overjoyed, the other relieved.

“Crown Prince brother! Are you alright?”

Huo Zhenzhen lifted her skirt and ran over, followed by two rows of palace maids carrying trays.

“I’m fine, the assassins didn’t harm me. I was just tired and took a short rest.”

Zhao Yān lied without blinking, looking at the two rows of palace servants behind Huo Zhenzhen. “What’s all this?”

“Oh, these! When I heard Crown Prince’s brother was in danger, I specially had my parents prepare these tonics to help you calm your nerves.”

Huo Zhenzhen’s temper came and went quickly. She waved to signal the palace maids to bring the items in, then snorted at Liu Baiwei, “Unlike some people who come to pay respects to the Crown Prince empty-handed, showing no manners.”

Zhao Yān pressed her temple and said gently: “Thank you, Princess. However, I am physically weak and cannot consume these strongly nourishing items.”

“Oh, you can’t eat them?”

Huo Zhenzhen’s eyes turned. “No matter, they can be given to your attendants! They worked hard to protect the Crown Prince’s brother and deserve rewards.”

Zhao Yān patiently agreed, coughing lightly and saying: “It’s already late, and the palace gates will close soon. The Princess should return to the Princess’s mansion first. Otherwise, Aunt and Uncle will worry.”

Huo Zhenzhen hesitantly looked at Zhao Yān.

The Crown Prince’s face was still the same, but she felt something wasn’t quite right, as if there was now a subtle distance between them.

She said despondently, “Well then, Crown Prince brother, rest well. I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.”

Liu Baiwei gave Zhao Yān a headache-induced look and stepped forward: “I’ll escort the Princess.”

“Not necessary!”

Perhaps feeling impolite, the little girl raised her delicate chin slightly and reluctantly added, “Thank you!”

After watching Huo Zhenzhen leave, Zhao Yān immediately returned to her bedchamber, retrieving the half-book from the pile of discarded eunuch clothes.

Only now did she have time to properly examine the contents of this half-book.

The book recorded a directory of people who had dealings with the Divine Light Priest for elixirs, with years, months, days, elixir names, and dosages all documented clearly and in detail. Unfortunately, much of it had been burned, making it appear headless and tailless.

Sitting under the gauze lamp to read, Zhao Yān still deduced quite a few clues. For instance, many royal relatives and nobles had sought various longevity elixirs from Divine Light Priest, including not a few important ministers of the court.

Prince Yong’s heir, the Prince of Yingchuan, and the Minister of Works were all on the list.

On the last page, she even found the words “Ninyang Marquis sought for his wife…” but it stopped there, with the remaining content all burnt, leaving no way to verify.

“Uncle?”

Zhao Yān hadn’t expected that even her upright and honorable uncle would have dealings with the Divine Light Sect priest.

However, considering human nature, it was understandable.

Her aunt Rong Fuyue’s heart ailment hadn’t improved despite consuming many rare medicines. Her uncle, who loved his wife dearly, must have been desperately seeking any cure.

Zhao Yān put down the book, looking at the dancing lamp shadows, involuntarily thinking of Wenren Lin.

Wenren Lin’s antidote contained the cobra gland as a catalyst. Was it also related to the Divine Light Sect?

Now that the Divine Light Priest was dead, what would happen to his poison?