Chapter 44

Liu Xun had received no prior notice of Liu Yuanxun’s arrival, so upon first hearing the news, he assumed that Gu Lianzhao’s cunning had somehow persuaded Prince Rui to come and back him up, personally escorting him back to his post.

But the Embroidered Uniform Guard who came to report quickly added, “His Highness is wearing a token at his waist and dressed in a dragon robe.”

A dragon robe?

Liu Xun’s heart sank, an inexplicable unease settling over him like a storm brewing.

His steps faltered for a moment. He beckoned his trusted aide and said gravely, “Head to the palace from the back courtyard right away. Find Eunuch Hong and report Prince Rui’s arrival exactly as it happened. Pay close attention to Eunuch Hong’s attitude and every action, no matter how small, and come back to report it all to me in detail.”

The Embroidered Uniform Guard clasped his fists crisply in acknowledgment, then turned and raced toward the imperial palace.

…

From the moment Gu Lianzhao lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, Ling Ting’s gaze had locked onto the jade pendant hanging at his waist.

Ling Ting had personally fastened that jade pendant around Liu Yuanxun’s neck that very morning, yet in mere moments, Gu Lianzhao had somehow coaxed His Highness into giving it to him.

Ling Ting’s hearing was exceptionally keen; he had caught every subtle sound from inside the carriage.

On countless sleepless nights, he had been unable to stop himself from imagining scenes of Prince Rui and Gu Lianzhao together.

He had always believed that His Highness was being deceived by Gu Lianzhao. Yet reason constantly reminded him that Prince Rui was no fool. If anyone could easily dupe him, how could he have survived the treacherous intrigues of the deep palace all these years?

He also thought that His Highness’s treatment of Gu Lianzhao might stem from mere pity, or perhaps a sense of duty as a superior—surely not love.

Ling Ting simply couldn’t picture what Prince Rui would look like in love, let alone imagine him sharing intimate moments with another like lovers.

But that brief journey in the carriage had transformed those vague, imaginary scenes into vivid reality.

So, His Highness had a side Ling Ting had never seen. He wasn’t always aloof; he could pout and get angry, press for explanations, and even be easily coaxed into giving away the jade pendant from his own waist…

As Ling Ting listened to the conversation inside the carriage, jealousy surged in his heart, and a long-suppressed desire began to swell.

When he realized that the distant, moon-like prince—untouchable as the heavens—could actually be held in someone’s arms, a shameful and pathetic greed took root in his heart: If Gu Lianzhao could do it, did that mean he had a chance too?

Before he could sort through these thoughts, the carriage had already pulled up to the gates of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commandant Office.

He forcibly suppressed the turmoil inside him and carefully helped Liu Yuanxun down from the carriage.

Moments later, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Liu Xun hurried out to greet them.

In terms of rank, Liu Xun and Liu Yuanxun were both third-rank officials, and they usually exchanged simple bows when they met.

But today, Liu Yuanxun wasn’t in his court robes; he wore the dragon robe symbolizing a prince’s status. This forced Liu Xun to show him proper obeisance.

Liu Xun dropped to one knee, clasped his fists, and said respectfully, “Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Liu Xun pays his respects to Your Highness, Prince Rui.”

Liu Yuanxun raised his hand in exemption and said mildly, “Lord Liu, please rise. I’m here on official business today. Shall we go inside and discuss the details?”

Liu Xun nodded hastily in agreement, rose, and gestured for them to follow. At the same time, his gaze swept over Gu Lianzhao and lingered for a couple of seconds.

Gu Lianzhao met his eyes, his expression as deferential and humble as ever. Yet beneath that deference lurked something that sent a chill through Liu Xun’s heart.

Liu Xun averted his gaze smoothly and led the way for Liu Yuanxun.

The interior of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters was a restricted area of utmost secrecy, so Ling Ting couldn’t accompany them inside. He could only wait in a side chamber to the right of the main gate.

Gu Lianzhao walked with Liu Yuanxun into the meeting hall. Once Liu Yuanxun had settled firmly into the seat of honor, a young servant responsible for cleaning brought in some rough tea.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had a fearsome reputation outside, but inside the commandant office, no one was particular about such things.

Meals were usually hearty with plenty of meat and fish—just enough to fill the belly—washed down with good liquor. No one cared much about tea, and certainly no one came here to savor it.

Thus, the quality of the tea was predictable.

Gu Lianzhao had never been picky about such matters. If there was wine, he’d drink wine; if not, tea would do. If he was thirsty, he’d simply ladle a scoop from the well.

But when the steeped tea was placed before Liu Yuanxun, Gu Lianzhao couldn’t help frowning. “Your Highness, shall I get you some plain water instead? I’m afraid this tea isn’t to your taste.”

“No need,” Liu Yuanxun waved it off, his expression calm. “Business first.”

Since Liu Yuanxun had said so, Gu Lianzhao didn’t press the issue.

Liu Yuanxun paid it no mind, but Liu Xun glanced at Gu Lianzhao in surprise, unable to believe such words had come from his mouth.

“Lord Liu,” Liu Yuanxun had no intention of revealing too much before the facts were clear, so he cut straight to the point. “I have received an imperial token from His Imperial Majesty, and I hold the Imperial Sword of Authority. The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commandant Office must fully cooperate with me in reinvestigating a certain case.”

Reinvestigate a case?

Prince Rui wanted to come to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to reopen a case?

Liu Xun understood each word individually, but together, they made little sense.

Although the emperor had strictly forbidden the Embroidered Uniform Guard from prying into Prince Rui’s affairs, Liu Xun spent much time around Eunuch Hong and knew a fair bit about His Highness anyway.

In his mind, Prince Rui was like a delicate piece of fine porcelain—precious yet fragile. Liu Xun had privately speculated that the prince’s greatest achievement in life would be to sit like an exquisite ornament, surrounded by silks and nobles, adorning the glittering world of fame and fortune.

Yet now, Prince Rui had appeared in person, demanding to investigate a case at the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, backed by an imperial token…

This sparked doubts in Liu Xun’s mind: Was the emperor instructing the Embroidered Uniform Guard to fully assist Prince Rui in solving the case, burnishing his reputation? Or was it just a perfunctory show, like humoring a child?

Anyone else, and it wouldn’t matter—but anything involving Prince Rui turned even trifles into complications.

Liu Xun inwardly congratulated himself on his quick thinking; the moment he’d heard the news, he’d sent a subordinate to the palace to probe the situation.

Until he received a clear read from the palace, he neither dared flatly refuse Prince Rui entry to the Imperial Prison, lest it cause trouble, nor could he afford the slightest discourtesy, lest it offend His Highness.

With that in mind, Liu Xun quickly responded, “No matter which case Your Highness wishes to investigate, the two divisions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard will cooperate fully. Our cases are numerous, however—might I ask which one specifically Your Highness has in mind?”

Liu Yuanxun replied concisely, “Xiao Jinye.”

At those three words, Liu Xun paused, then quickly caught on. “Ah, him.”

Fearing he might offend Liu Yuanxun, he didn’t pry further. Instead, he said cautiously, “The Xiao Jinye case is extremely complex, and with years having passed, the relevant records have long been buried at the bottom of the stacks. Does Your Highness wish to visit Xiao Jinye himself in the Imperial Prison first, or review the records?”

Liu Yuanxun said, “The records first.”

He knew full well that going to the Imperial Prison ignorant of the case details would yield nothing useful, even if he saw Xiao Jinye.

Moreover, he wasn’t worried about Xiao Jinye’s safety.

If those people could reach into the Imperial Prison, Xiao Jinye wouldn’t have survived eight years unscathed there in the first place—and they wouldn’t have been forced to target him directly.

Having decided on the records, Liu Xun escorted Liu Yuanxun to the Record Repository.

Along the way, Liu Yuanxun seemed to remember something. He turned to Gu Lianzhao and said, “With Lord Liu here, you don’t need to stay by my side the whole time. It’s been a month since you last returned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard—you must have urgent matters to attend to. Go handle them. We’ll talk once Lord Liu and I have reviewed the records.”

Gu Lianzhao nodded, his expression deferential. “If Your Highness and milord will wait a moment, I’ll change clothes and be right back.”

Liu Yuanxun inclined his head slightly. Then they parted ways: he and Liu Xun headed to the Record Repository, while Gu Lianzhao went to his usual resting quarters.

He made his way along the winding corridors and finally stopped before a familiar door.

He had lived in this room for four full years. His court robes had hung on the wall, his saber rested on the table, and every corner bore traces of his life there.

Yet when he pushed the door open, the sight before him made him pause in faint surprise.

The court robes and saber were still in their places, but the entire room had clearly been thoroughly cleared out and then rearranged.

Gu Lianzhao stood in the center of the room as a chill spread from the depths of his heart.

His thoughts drifted to something Eunuch Hong had once told him: his selection had been carefully orchestrated by Liu Xun.

Liu Xun was a steady, seasoned operator, no reckless fool. It wasn’t strange that he’d sent him to Prince Rui’s Mansion for gain—but what was strange was his attitude, as if Gu Lianzhao would never return.

Liu Xun knew his abilities and temperament inside out. He knew Gu Lianzhao thrived in the Imperial Prison and wouldn’t lightly abandon everything he’d built.

Either Liu Xun was certain that, once married into the prince’s mansion, the imperial prestige would bind him to the inner courtyard, barring him forever from the Embroidered Uniform Guard…

Or…

Gu Lianzhao’s body tensed, his heart contracting. With his sharp instincts, he seized on a crucial clue—if Liu Xun believed he’d be confined to the prince’s inner courtyard, then he shouldn’t have so hastily cleared out his belongings.

After all, based on the clues so far, if he could save Liu Yuanxun’s life, he’d hold a certain status in the mansion. Add his role as a royal consort, and even without Liu Xun fawning over him, the man would at least have stored his items safely, awaiting his return.

But now, everything had been swept clean, and his position eagerly handed to another…

This pointed to only one possibility: Liu Xun was convinced he would never come back.

And who could never return to the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Gu Lianzhao knew the answer all too well: a dead man.