Chapter 18

When Yun Yin emerged from the study, the rain was coming down hard.

Mu Ke, clad in black with a conical rain hat, stood silently on the veranda, waiting.

Gu Qingdai, who had come out of the room with Yun Yin, was momentarily startled by the unexpected sight of him. He quickly averted his gaze.

He said to Yun Yin, “I’ll be off then. I’ll arrive early for tomorrow’s Morning Court. The situation in Songxiang has subsided for now, but it started strangely, so we should remain vigilant.”

“I understand. Safe travels, Uncle,” Yun Yin said.

After Gu Qingdai departed, Yun Yin’s gaze returned. “With rain this heavy, why not return tomorrow?”

“I finished the investigation. Afraid you couldn’t wait, Master, so I came back,” Mu Ke said, scratching his head.

He didn’t waste words. Following Yun Yin inside, he got straight to the point: “I checked the palace records from that time. On the day Consort Xu died, it was indeed Lu Zhong who collected the body. He was still working under Wen Zizhang back then. Wen Zizhang didn’t want to deal with the mess of the Cold Palace, so he left it all to him. It was handled properly, all things considered.”

Yun Yin’s face was expressionless. He said, “He’s always been thorough.”

“And?”

“That’s it,” Mu Ke said. “Consort Xu had very little interaction with anyone in the palace. Based on transfer records, Lu Zhong never crossed paths with her. I questioned the Palace Servants from the Cold Palace and her old hall, and they all said they’d almost never seen him visit. As for him and His Majesty…”

He paused.

“On the day the body was collected, His Majesty was badly frightened. Lu Zhong only took a glance, instructed that the child be watched carefully to prevent any further trouble, and then left with his men. That should be the only time they ever met.”

It was completely in line with Lu Zhong’s consistent, detached style.

Mu Ke could almost picture the man’s impassive expression as he said those words.

Yun Yin remained silent, only turning the pinky ring on his finger absently.

Mu Ke ventured, “Is there… a problem with Director Lu?”

The Yun Clan’s Covert Guards each had their own duties. Given his position, Lu Zhong could be considered one of Yun Yin’s most important agents within the Imperial Palace.

Investigating a few people wasn’t difficult; the reason it had taken so many days was purely to avoid Lu Zhong. That spoke volumes about his importance.

If there was a problem with him, it would undoubtedly be a very dangerous thing.

Mu Ke was somewhat worried, but Yun Yin’s expression remained calm.

“If he had a problem,” he said flatly, “the palace would have ceased to be this peaceful long ago.”

He paused. “And he wouldn’t have been able to hide it from me until now.”

Mu Ke thought it over and nodded. “Then…”

“A few days ago, when His Majesty and I left the palace, they met,” Yun Yin mused. “I can’t shake the feeling that the atmosphere between them was strange, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Mu Ke was slightly taken aback.

After a moment, he considered, “Could it be related to the day Consort Xu passed?”

“His Majesty was very young then,” he said. “A sudden, traumatic event would leave a deep impression of any stranger who burst in. Especially Director Lu, with that scar of his.”

This speculation aligned with Li Zhaoyi’s own words. Yun Yin’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t confirm or deny it.

After a moment, he asked, “How has His Majesty been these days?”

“Same as usual,” Mu Ke replied. “Either in court or having lessons in Bright Clarity Hall. He hardly goes out. Uh… Master, when I passed by Bright Clarity Hall on my way out of the palace, the lights were off. His Majesty should already be asleep.”

Yun Yin stopped walking and gave him a flat look.

“Did I say I was going to the palace?” he asked.

Mu Ke: “…”

Given the question, and the direction he was walking…

Wasn’t it obvious?

But contradicting him wasn’t an option. After all, he was the Master.

Mu Ke kept his eyes downcast, adopting a deadpan expression. “I made a presumptuous assumption. Please punish me, Master.”

Yun Yin let out a very soft laugh.

Then he said, “I need to enter the palace tomorrow. Keep an eye on the affairs of the residence.”

Mu Ke bowed in acknowledgment.

After he left, Yun Yin stood by the window, looking into the distance.

The grand and imposing palace that shone in the daylight was now shrouded in the thick curtain of rain, appearing exceptionally hazy.

He lowered his eyes.

Li Zhao Yi.

He chewed on the name.

He didn’t think Li Zhaoyi would dare to do anything after that night, nor did he believe a subordinate who had never erred in so many years would betray him. The investigation results had indeed revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

So…

Was it just his imagination?

–

Imperial Palace, Bright Clarity Hall.

The moment Li Zhaoyi saw who it was, his eyelashes trembled.

He was released and sat up slowly, a bit dazed. His long hair fell smoothly behind him, and his eyes were wet, still holding a trace of lingering fear.

“You’re soaked from the rain,” he said softly.

Rainwater dripped steadily, forming a small puddle beside the bed.

The man grunted an acknowledgment, not finding his abrupt statement strange, as though long accustomed to this manner of speech.

“Mu Ke just left,” the man said. “He’s been investigating me these past few days. There was no chance to come. Only tonight.”

His voice was still very hoarse, with a grating quality, as if scraped by a blade.

Li Zhaoyi pressed his lips tightly together.

The sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside. He looked up, instantly panicked.

The moment a eunuch in a dark blue robe appeared, his pupils constricted. He reflexively moved to shield the man in front of him. His hands were trembling, but De Quan’s expression before him was perfectly composed, showing no surprise at the stranger.

De Quan handed over a towel. The man took it, and De Quan bowed and withdrew.

The man lowered his eyes and meticulously wiped the water stains from the edge of Li Zhaoyi’s bed. Li Zhaoyi finally regained his senses.

He realized something and said quietly, “He really is one of your people.”

The man seemed to smile very faintly. The scar on his face twisted momentarily with the expression, becoming even more terrifying. Yet Li Zhaoyi stared at him unblinkingly, without a trace of fear.

After a long moment, the man put away the towel.

Li Zhaoyi kept watching him, his eyes sore and reddening from staring.

In the silence, he called out:

“Master.”

The man’s hand paused.

Then, a warm, calloused hand covered the top of Li Zhaoyi’s head and ruffled his hair firmly.

The man’s voice was even more hoarse.

“Little Highness,” he said softly. “Long time no see.”

~

If there was still one person in this world who cared whether Li Zhaoyi lived or died,

Li Zhaoyi thought, that person must be Lu Zhong alone.

He wasn’t really someone with good fortune.

Born into the imperial family, he entered the Cold Palace before he was even born.

He had a mother, but by the time he was born, she could no longer recognize him. In her only moment of lucidity, as she was dying, she’d tried to take him with her.

Only Lu Zhong.

For as long as he could remember, Lu Zhong had always been with him. He always appeared late at night, once or twice a month. At first, he brought food and drink. Later, he kept him company, talking to him, teaching him to read and write.

Initially, Li Zhaoyi was afraid of Lu Zhong’s scar. So Lu Zhong covered his face.

Later, he said, “I want to see your face.”

Lu Zhong removed the covering and said, “Little Highness, see this scar? I nearly died because of it.”

Then he added, “It was Consort Xu who saved me.”

Consort Xu, Xu Yingcai.

In the eyes of others, his mother’s entire life had been a joke. Perhaps she herself never imagined that a lowly Little Eunuch she’d casually saved at the height of her favor would, by any means possible, protect her child for seventeen years.

Almost the instant Lu Zhong said “Long time no see,” Li Zhaoyi’s eyes reddened.

“I didn’t dare look for you,” he said, his voice hoarse and trembling slightly. “I was afraid someone would find out.”

“I know,” Lu Zhong praised him softly. “You did very well. Our Little Highness is very smart.”

“I’ve been so worried about you,” Li Zhaoyi said, looking at him.

And then he finally cried.

All the fright, worry, and bewilderment of these past days transformed into lingering fear and grievance the moment he saw that most familiar, closest person. He bit his lower lip hard, but couldn’t stifle the sobs in his throat.

Lu Zhong closed his eyes briefly.

Not one to wear his heart on his sleeve, he couldn’t help but press his lips together tightly now.

But after a moment, he still spoke:

“Little Highness.”

“I used the pretext of running an errand to come see you,” he said hoarsely. “I must return soon to avoid detection. Time is short, so I’ll be brief.”

Li Zhaoyi looked at him and sniffled.

“Alright,” he said quickly.

Lu Zhong paused for a few seconds.

Then, looking at Li Zhaoyi, he asked in a grave tone, “I want to know, what is your relationship with the Prince of Pingnan now?”