Volume One, Chapter 14: Shall I Kill Lu Jiaan for You?

“Has anything unusual happened in the courtyard lately?”

Wen Yunxiu thought for a long moment. “Nothing much. You know how it is, Second Sister. The madam assigns us the old, the weak, the sick, or those who are simply waiting to die here. None of them are in good health. Not long ago, two were carried out dead.”

“Two?” Wen Yunmu frowned. That’s a lot of deaths. Losing one person in a courtyard is already a big deal, but two at once? Yet Wen Yunxiu seemed oddly accustomed to it.

Wen Yunxiu nodded. “There’s a woman named Lu, sent by Qin Weishu, about forty or fifty years old and in her prime. She manages the comings and goings of people Qin Weishu sends. None of them are ever healthy. These two who died—one was elderly and caught a cold he couldn’t fight off, and he infected a younger roommate. That young one already had tuberculosis and coughed up blood for days before dying.”

“My mother and I have always been cautious, fearing someone might frame us in the courtyard. Mother and I both examined the bodies—no poison, no wounds, all clearly died of illness.”

That was puzzling. If the concubine Zhao and Wen Yunxiu were so meticulous, where could any fault be found?

Wen Yunmu walked and pondered, when suddenly a fan struck the back of her head.

Without turning, she knew immediately who it was—His Highness, the esteemed Prince Tang! Holding her head, she rolled her eyes. “Greetings, Your Highness. You needn’t greet me in such a unique way.”

Ye Chuiyun looked down at her with the fan in hand, slightly displeased. “You care so much for your brother, yet when you see me, not even a kind face?”

It was autumn, and Ye Chuiyun wore a robe the color of autumn chrysanthemums. Wen Yunmu rarely saw him wear such bright colors, and at a glance, it unsettled her heart.

She had warned herself countless times about girlish feelings, yet knowing and doing are two different things.

It felt as if a thousand tiny needles pricked her heart at once. Because she was so clear-headed, she couldn’t deceive herself: Ye Chuiyun’s kindness was simply because he saw her as a sister.

“Your Highness, is my brother in the capital these days?”

“No.” Ye Chuiyun walked with his hands behind his back, brushing past her. “Do you need him for something?”

“In a few days, something important might happen at my home—”

“Then I’ll clear two days just for you. If there’s anything, have Bai Hong send a message to me.” As he spoke, he suddenly felt the emptiness behind him. Turning, he saw Wen Yunmu standing still, her face wrinkled like a walnut, clearly displeased. “Even though Your Highness grew up with us, you should know I’m a grown woman now. Men and women must keep boundaries. You saying you’ll clear two days just to wait for me—what if someone with a wild imagination thinks you have feelings for me?”

Ye Chuiyun was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Wen Yunmu to say that. He quickly reviewed all his interactions with her in his mind and realized that compared to her brother Wen Xuqing, he was more responsible, more caring—almost like a brother. So why was Wen Yunmu so distant and even disdainful?

He approached and lightly tapped her head with the fan again, half-laughing, half-exasperated. “I tried to help you, and this is how you repay me with hypocrisy? Your brother was right: a grown woman shouldn’t be kept around. Keeping her only breeds resentment. Your brother is younger, he’s your second brother; I’m your eldest brother. Why conjure such nonsense?”

“You helped me? Haven’t I helped you and your brother too?” Wen Yunmu held her head, feeling the sharp sting. Ye Chuiyun was truly unafraid to be harsh.

“All right, today you owe me a public appearance.”

“Where to?”

“The heir of the Prince Chengping’s Mansion just returned. I’m going to deliver something and leave. Everyone knows I’m close with your brother. We’ll go and come back together. The Prince Chengping’s heir hasn’t met your brother yet, but that’s no big deal.” Ye Chuiyun glanced around. “When we return, have Bai Hong cover your ear piercings better.”

“Oh,” Wen Yunmu replied gloomily, “but you must promise to help me if I have any affairs in those two days.”

“Fine. I’ll make sure we’re even and at peace.”

The heir of Prince Chengping was said to have returned to the capital to visit and celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday, but in truth, he came as a hostage. Prince Chengping had gained much favor in the southwest over the years. Last year, a message reached the capital that the twelve tribes of the southwest had united to confer on Prince Chengping a prestigious title—the tribal chief of the twelve tribes.

This compelled the emperor to summon someone from Prince Chengping’s household to the capital under the pretense of celebrating the Empress Dowager’s birthday. The person who came was this heir, Ye Chenlan.

In her previous life, Wen Yunmu had heard scattered gossip about this Ye Chenlan. Before marriage, he was rumored to be openly effeminate. His coming to the capital was voluntary, waiting to pass the heirship to his younger brother upon the latter’s adulthood. It was a clever political move: the emperor couldn’t openly decree the younger brother’s arrival, as that would be too blatant.

She also heard from Lu Jia’an on the night she was dying—he boasted shamelessly that the Wen family, Prince Tang’s household, Prince Chengping’s mansion, the Duke of Liguo’s estate, and many others blind to the truth would all perish. By implication, Ye Chenlan and Ye Chuiyun were very close.

Sure enough, Ye Chuiyun warned her: “My cousin loves men, be careful.”

Wen Xuqing was shocked. “I’m my brother’s identity now. Even if he’s lustful, he shouldn’t make a move on someone with my brother’s status, right?”

“Who knows? Don’t let him get hold of your hand.”

Right, her hands bore no calluses from martial practice—touching them would reveal everything.

Soon, the distinguished guest arrived. Ye Chenlan, the heir of Prince Chengping, was receiving visitors. He was about twenty-five or twenty-six, with a somewhat unruly look between his brows. His hair was loosely tied with a wooden pin, a few strands falling over his forehead. His eyes half-lidded, he listened perfunctorily until he heard Prince Tang had arrived, then his expression brightened abruptly.

“Hey, my cousin is here!” Ye Chenlan strode forward to greet Ye Chuiyun, grabbing his wrist. “I’ve been here for days, and you just arrived? Do I have to come get you myself?”

Ye Chuiyun shrugged off his grip twice but couldn’t break free, so he handed him a box with his left hand. “Here’s what you asked for, just finished today. Want me to send it back to Prince Chengping’s mansion?”

Ye Chenlan pressed his lips, unable to suppress a smile. He leaned close to Ye Chuiyun’s ear and whispered something. Ye Chuiyun smirked coldly. “Looks like your dream will be but a fleeting illusion.”

“I admit it then.”

Wen Yunmu didn’t understand their secretive exchange but followed Ye Chuiyun into the hall. Several banquet tables were set up in the flower hall. They hadn’t expected Wen Yunmu to come along and left only one empty table by the host’s side. Ye Chenlan was clever; since Ye Chuiyun brought her and she was so striking, it was clear she was the eldest son of Marquis Wen. He immediately ordered another table and chairs to be arranged nearby.

Ye Chuiyun waved his hand. “I’ll just sit for a moment and leave. No need to trouble the elder brother further.” Saying this, he ignored Ye Chenlan and sat down with Wen Yunmu.

“Hah, afraid I’ll steal your good brother?”

“Mm.” Ye Chuiyun showed no mercy.

Once seated, they exchanged greetings amidst clinking cups.

Suddenly, Wen Yunmu spotted Lu Jia’an at the end of the table. A surge of intense fear welled up inside her. Her breathing grew rapid, palms sweaty. Those painful nights returned in fragments like snowflakes, overwhelming her.

The more Lu Jia’an smiled, the more terrified she became, because he always smiled as he struck her, each blow heavy. She even feared the moment he raised his hand.

Lu Jia’an raised his cup to Ye Chuiyun and her. Wen Yunmu’s vision darkened briefly, no longer seeing the present Lu Jia’an, but the one who had raised his fist in the woodshed. Her hand trembled involuntarily. Ye Chuiyun glanced subtly and loudly remarked, “Seeing Lu eldest son twice in one month—what a coincidence.”

Lu Jia’an’s gaze shifted to Ye Chuiyun. Unsure of his meaning, he was neither pleased nor reproachful, and awkwardly said, “Seeing Your Highness twice in a month is my honor.”

Ye Chuiyun’s lips twitched in a half-smile. Setting down his cup as the music resumed, he leaned close to Wen Yunmu and said, “Have a drink. I’m the biggest here today. I and the wine are here to bolster your courage—Wen Xuqing.”

That name was like the first light breaking through the night.

Wen Yunmu’s eyes, speckled with golden sparks, grew steadily clearer. Her senses returned. She saw the graceful dancers, the intoxicated young nobles filling the hall, and even felt sweat trickling down her temple onto her collar.

This was the second time. If fear was an acute illness, she vowed to be healed by the third.

At the table, Ye Chuiyun casually asked, “Shall I kill Lu Jia’an for you?”

Wen Yunmu froze, biting her nails into flesh. She heard herself say, “No. I want to kill him myself.”

“Then be careful. Lu Jia’an is going to your family’s school.”

“What?!”