Chapter 15

When Liu Yuanxun stirred, Gu Lianzhao thought he was about to wake. But after a few breaths, the man fell back asleep without making another sound.

It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that Liu Yuanxun finally opened his eyes. His voice was hoarse as he croaked, “Water…”

Warm water sat on the small table. Ling Ting came every half hour to replace it, and now its temperature was just right for drinking.

Gu Lianzhao poured the water and held the cup to Liu Yuanxun’s lips. Mimicking Ling Ting’s manner, he half-supported his head and tilted the cup slightly, feeding him sips little by little.

The candlelight cast a soft, hazy glow over the room. Liu Yuanxun slowly opened his eyes and looked at the person beside him. After studying his face for a moment, he murmured in a daze, “Is that you, Gu Jiu?”

Gu Lianzhao gave a soft “Mm” in response. “Do you want more water?”

“No need.” Liu Yuanxun lay back down, his voice raspy. “Where is Ling Ting?”

What deep loyalty between master and servant—one reluctant to let go, the other asking for him the moment he woke.

Gu Lianzhao set the teacup back on the table. “He watched over you for several nights. I told him to get some rest.”

Liu Yuanxun let out a soft breath, his voice weak. “How long have I been asleep?”

Gu Lianzhao replied, “Including today, nine days.”

Liu Yuanxun turned his head and coughed twice. His head throbbed fiercely, and in his muddled state, he felt a hand press gently against his back, patting softly to ease his breathing.

“You’ve worked hard. I’m fine now—go and rest. Call Ling Ting.” He managed those few words in fits and starts.

But Gu Lianzhao didn’t move. Instead, he said, “Eunuch Hong has come by several times. He only left this afternoon, and before he went, he called me to the side hall…”

Liu Yuanxun lacked the strength for much, but at those words, he merely frowned and waited quietly for Gu Lianzhao to finish.

The aversion and weariness on his face were plain as day. Anyone with a brain could guess that the Seventh Prince knew about the Emperor urging them to consummate their marriage—and that he rejected the idea too. That made the next steps far smoother.

Gu Lianzhao continued, “Eunuch Hong said that you pleaded with the Emperor on my behalf, so His Majesty restored my position. Once you…”

He gave a light cough and rephrased. “Once you give me that aphrodisiac, I can return to duty with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. And… once you’re recovered, I’ll kowtow to you in thanks.”

Liu Yuanxun was too weak to speak. He simply patted Gu Lianzhao’s hand, signaling that it wasn’t necessary.

But Eunuch Hong’s words left him puzzled.

Before leaving the Imperial Study, the Emperor’s words had clearly meant “I won’t interfere anymore—do as you please.” That implied no restrictions on consummation, so Gu Lianzhao could resume his duties whenever he wanted.

How had His Majesty changed his mind after just a few days of his coma?

Liu Yuanxun swallowed lightly, his throat parched and painful—hardly suitable for conversation. He decided to drop it and wait until he felt better.

With Liu Yuanxun silent, Gu Lianzhao held his tongue as well. The room grew so quiet that a needle dropping to the floor would have been audible.

This couldn’t go on forever. Gu Lianzhao said softly, “Lord Ling doesn’t know you’ve woken yet. I’ll go call him.”

Liu Yuanxun nodded.

As soon as Ling Ting arrived, Ling Qing entered too—having vanished for several days.

Neither of them looked pleased, as if they’d just argued. Ling Ting believed nothing mattered more than Liu Yuanxun’s health and wanted to wait until he recovered. Ling Qing insisted the matter at hand took priority; deciding for their master would be overstepping.

In the end, Gu Lianzhao intervened, siding with Ling Qing, and Ling Ting relented and let her in.

“Master, how are you feeling?” Though focused on business, Ling Qing’s first concern was still Liu Yuanxun’s condition, so she checked on him before speaking.

Unlike Gu Lianzhao, Ling Ting needed no words from Liu Yuanxun—just a slight reaction, and he understood his master’s intent.

“Speak. Master’s spirits are decent enough now.” Ling Ting stepped around Gu Lianzhao and went to the couch. He helped Liu Yuanxun sit up, wrapping him tightly in the quilt to block any drafts, then stepped aside for Ling Qing to approach.

“Master, you should remember Liu San.”

Liu San—the man who had delivered the fake zither score.

“He’s dead.” Ling Qing’s fine brows furrowed slightly as she spoke clearly. “I took him to the east market to buy a horse and then to the yamen for the travel documents. I watched him leave through the city gate before returning.”

“By rights, with a fine steed under him and official papers in hand, he should have returned in seven or eight days. But instead of Liu San, I received an urgent report from the Capital Prefecture Yamen—from Tonglu County, over seven hundred li away.”

Ling Qing unfolded the urgent report in her hand and pointed to the text. “According to the documents, Liu San was passing through Tonglu County when bandits ambushed him. They must have coveted his horse, so they killed him, stole the mount, and dumped the body in the woods.”

“Tonglu County officials found a Taichang Temple special order on his body after locals reported it. Realizing he was on business for a capital minister, they sent their constables day and night to deliver this report to the Capital Prefecture Yamen.”

On the surface, it all seemed perfectly normal. Liu San had indeed ridden a fine horse, and bandits were known to roam near Tonglu County. Such an accident was just bad luck.

At first, Ling Qing treated it as a misfortune and planned to find Liu San’s family, give them some compensation, and call it settled.

But when she visited his home, she found it burned to the ground—his elderly mother the only occupant, perished in the flames. One death might be coincidence, but none surviving pointed to foul play.

“Liu San had mentioned he was betrothed, so I checked with the bride’s family. They were cooperative but knew nothing; even the match was made by a go-between. The daughter had only met him twice and barely knew him.”

Liu Yuanxun straightened up slightly, his voice hoarse. “We need to investigate, but not openly. Ling Qing, go to Liu San’s house first and search for any useful clues. Then borrow a few skilled investigators from Dali Temple to check the incident site—do it in a private capacity. Expenses from the steward’s funds…”

“I’ll go.” Gu Lianzhao interjected. “Since you don’t want an official inquiry, involving Dali Temple would be inconvenient. If you trust me, entrust this to me.”

Gu Lianzhao was undoubtedly the best choice.

Every member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was skilled in martial arts, but Gu Lianzhao excelled at criminal investigations. If even he found nothing amiss, sending anyone else would be pointless.

He counted as part of the prince’s mansion now anyway, and after being cooped up for so long, some fieldwork would do him good. Without hesitation, Liu Yuanxun nodded. “Then it’s yours.”

Gu Lianzhao’s first rule in handling affairs was to mind his own business—hear nothing he shouldn’t, ask nothing he shouldn’t. He volunteered only to handle some “personal matters” in the process.

Ling Qing shoved the Prince Rui’s Personal Soldier Token from her bosom into Gu Lianzhao’s arms. “Then get going! I’ll check the fire-ravaged ruins again. You take the Rui Prince’s Mansion Token and head out of the city. With that, Tonglu County’s magistrate will point you to the spot.”

With that, she reached for his sleeve to drag him along—but Gu Lianzhao merely lifted his hand slightly, and she grabbed air.

Ling Qing itched with frustration. Another one whose martial arts surpass mine!

Ling Qing had stormed in with purpose and left in a whirlwind, taking Gu Lianzhao with her.

Once they were gone, only Ling Ting and Liu Yuanxun remained.

“Master, why not hand this to the Capital Prefecture Yamen?”

Liu Yuanxun’s brows knit faintly. In a low voice, he said, “I have a feeling it’s not that simple. Too many threads could complicate it.”

If Liu San’s death was mere accident, involving the yamen would be making a mountain of a molehill. But if it tied to the fake zither score, things got messy—too much attention might stir trouble.

His energy was waning; after a few words, darkness crept into his vision. Pushing further risked another collapse. Better to recover first.

“Ling Ting, put the zither score you brought earlier into the hidden compartment in the study. Be discreet—no one else can know.”

Such instructions were rare from him, so Ling Ting took them seriously. He immediately fetched a wooden box from the bedside cabinet and headed to the study.

…

Gu Lianzhao took the Rui Prince’s Mansion Token and spurred his horse straight for the city gate. His hooves thundered brazenly, scattering bystanders in panic. Three hundred meters from the gate, the sentry post halted him.

“Who goes there? Galloping wildly in the capital!”

Gu Lianzhao reined in sharply. The horse reared, front hooves pawing the air for two seconds before slamming down amid a cloud of dust. Even the guards intercepting him stepped back instinctively, bracing for some unruly tough.

But the rider on horseback was all courtesy. He dismounted and presented the token politely. “On manor business leaving the city—my haste caused you trouble, brothers. My apologies.”

So polite, and with the prince’s mansion token to boot—the gate guards grew flustered instead. One saluted with clasped fists and waved the others through.

Once Gu Lianzhao vaulted back onto his horse and sped away, a guard sidled up to the interceptor. “Brother, do you know who that was?”

The guard frowned. “Now that you mention it, he does look familiar.”

“That was Lord Gu.” He gestured vaguely, then pointed toward the city depths, voice low. “The one from the Imperial Prison.”

That jogged the guard’s memory completely. Gu Lianzhao’s infamous reputation preceded him; even those who hadn’t seen him knew the name. The guard shivered, breaking out in cold sweat as he reviewed his own conduct for any discourtesy.

All the fuss ensured they remembered Gu Lianzhao leaving the city.

Outside the gates, Gu Lianzhao galloped for several li before veering onto another path and doubling back. He tethered the horse in the woods and, under cover of night, slipped into the moat.

An excellent swimmer, he glided through the water like a fish. Thanks to his authority in the Imperial Prison, he knew its secrets well. He made straight for a hidden river gate, groped underwater until he pried open a man-sized opening, and squeezed through.

Once inside the city, he didn’t surface immediately. Instead, he swam slowly along the bank with a reed in his mouth for air, past the patrolling guards. Only then did he climb ashore, wring out his clothes behind a large tree.