Chapter 29

In the Qing-Song Garden of the Princess’s residence, An Qi carefully opened a crack in the door. After confirming that no one was lurking around, he relayed the news he had just received to Pei Muci.

"Yun Ting wishes to see you, Young Master."

"Where was he assigned to work?"

Pei Muci had been present the day Hanyue pleaded with Qingwu, so he was not surprised by this turn of events.

"The Princess kept him by her side to serve," An Qi said, his brow furrowing. "Young Master, if that is the case, there will be no one left in the Zhongyi Hall to keep an eye on the Emperor’s movements."

"Forget about the palace. Withdraw everyone and have them join the main camp," Pei Muci said, his gaze shifting from the book in his hand to a fixed point in the room. Even without his interference, the Emperor’s surrender of the city was only a matter of time. However, as long as the snipe and the clam were still locked in their struggle, he, the fisherman, would certainly not reveal his hand.

In the corner, on top of a cabinet, sat several packages wrapped in brown paper. They had been delivered by Du Jin just moments ago; according to him, they could temporarily suppress the toxins in Pei Muci's body but could not fully purge them. Du Jin had left only a note detailing the dosage and dietary restrictions, and the two had not met. No doubt, Du Jin had been acting under Qingwu’s instructions and had delivered the medicine reluctantly.

Seeing Pei Muci turning his attention back to the medicine, An Qi urged anxiously, "If something happens to you, what will become of the arrangements in the capital?"

"Everything is prepared. You shall act in my stead," Pei Muci said calmly. He rubbed the twine on the medicine package with his fingertips, his mind filled with thoughts of Qingwu. He had to resolve everything before Qingwu was forced into a political marriage.

"But shouldn't you personally oversee the matter of Yun Ting?" An Qi was desperate to have every detail confirmed to put his mind at ease. Yun Ting was a sleeper agent planted in the palace long ago; after years of silence, it was unclear if he remained loyal.

"No need. Just keep a close watch on that secret guard, Hanyue, by the Princess's side. Yun Ting will obey you obediently."

"Hanyue?" An Qi muttered the name twice, puzzled.

"Achoo!"

Hanyue, the subject of their conversation, let out a sneeze. She glanced up at the Emperor and the Princess in the hall; they were unharmed. Before she could regain her composure, she sneezed twice more.

In the fleeting moment her eyelashes fluttered, a dark shadow flashed past. Hanyue did not cry out to alert the others. Instead, she reached into the darkness, caught the shadow, and hurled the person onto the ground with a single, fluid, and ruthless motion.

Old Nine was stunned by the impact, his recovery sluggish. Hanyue stood guard at the door, hands behind her back, not even bothering to draw her sword. She viewed the man before her as nothing more than an ant, not worth a second thought. Old Nine knew he should have fled, but feeling insulted at having been slighted by a sweet-looking girl, he gathered his strength and lunged again.

Hanyue did not engage in a duel. She merely ducked, grabbed his kicking leg, and tossed him aside like garbage once more.

Old Nine: ... If this got out, the others would mock him for a lifetime. He had no heart left to threaten her; he cast one deep look at the girl before scurrying back to Qi Yu to report the situation.

"Don't you already know that woman is the Princess?" Qi Yu took a deep breath, trying to control his temper.

Old Nine stood there blankly, failing to grasp his meaning. If the Yong Dynasty wanted to survive a little longer, a political marriage was inevitable. Wasn't the Princess already in the General's grasp? What was this about?

Unable to deal with his subordinate's lack of intellect, Qi Yu prompted, "My younger brother was rescued by the Princess, wasn't he? If you go to her side, won't you find him?"

Old Nine nodded thoughtfully, though his eyes still held a hidden confusion. Finally losing his patience, Qi Yu kicked him. "Do you think my brother would be content acting as a gigolo for a woman? He must be plotting something with that Gu boy. Go and find out what his plan is!"

Old Nine’s eyes widened in sudden realization, and he began to marvel at the General's brilliance.

"Why are you still standing there? Go and spy!" Qi Yu closed his eyes, cursed under his breath, and raised his hand to strike. Old Nine retreated to a safe distance, bowed, and left.

***

The court officials, seeing the two main figures leave their seats, exchanged pleasantries and dispersed. Qingwu walked with the Emperor through the hall and sat in a carved lacquer chair behind a large screen.

"Return to your residence tomorrow to pack your belongings; do not enter the palace again," Emperor Minghui said, his body weary and his spirit too drained to care about anything else.

"The chances of us winning this war are slim. Father, retreat to the north," Qingwu whispered, massaging the Emperor's temples. Ever since she had requested that Yun Ting be assigned to her, the Emperor had not chosen a new attendant, leaving the leader of the secret guards to accompany him, which relieved her of the worry of spies being planted nearby.

The Emperor spoke with a desolate tone, "Eyes from all directions are fixed on the Zhongyi Hall. It is not as simple as it seems."

"Father had Du Jin build a secret tunnel—is that not for us to leave together?" Qingwu probed, her eyes fixed on the Emperor, not missing the slightest tremor on his face.

Unfortunately, Emperor Minghui had long since detached himself from worldly concerns; his eyes were clouded, and he did not guess the deeper meaning behind her words. He merely shook his head helplessly. "Du Jin cannot keep secrets; he tells you everything."

"What is there to hide? When the day comes, he can't just knock me unconscious and drag me away," Qingwu said dismissively, as if that were just Du Jin’s nature. She never worried that Du Jin would do anything against her interests, so she never thought twice about whether they were keeping things from her.

"It is better that you know." The Emperor's head throbbed, but he forced a smile to keep Qingwu from seeing the truth. "Knowing means you can prepare early. Go to your fief as soon as possible, so you don't have to worry about the chaos in the capital."

"What is the point of escaping there? If there is a change in the capital, the rebels will simply drag me back to threaten you." A sense of ominous panic rose in Qingwu’s heart when she realized the Emperor did not intend to go with her.

Emperor Minghui seemed lost in thought, offering no response for a long while.

"If Father is not going with Rongzhao, then Rongzhao is not leaving either."

Qingwu had been raised by great scholars and despised the idea of a leader abandoning their people for personal safety. She had assumed the Emperor would head north to regroup, which was why she had agreed to flee before the city fell. But if the Emperor stayed and she left, what kind of person would that make her?

"If Father sends me away alone, the moment the Princess leaves the palace, the hearts of the people will be lost forever. Rongzhao does not want to be remembered by history as a coward who fled in the face of battle."

Qingwu’s words were resonant and firm. The Emperor realized for the first time how deeply the Empress’s rigid upbringing had influenced Rongzhao’s thinking. He was the one who had brought about this situation; he should be the one to bear the consequences. He did not want Rongzhao to be involved, nor did he want to sacrifice her to buy a little more time.

"Then prepare with Du Jin. Do not take too much; you can acquire what you need once you are out," Emperor Minghui said, speaking casually to appease her.

Qingwu pressed him, "When will Father come?"

"In a few days, it will be your mother’s death anniversary. I will use the opportunity of going to the memorial rites with you to leave the palace."

Qingwu caught the deliberate concealment in his tone and immediately thought of another method. "Did General Qi Yu of the Southern Dynasty not make a proposal? We can feign acceptance of the marriage and stall him in the palace."

The Emperor felt an inexplicable irritation; his breath hitched just hearing the man's name. "He would not dare to come to the capital at such a critical moment unless he had other motives."

Qingwu knew this, of course. Seeing the Emperor’s poor state, she wanted to quickly explain her plan. "I will approach him first. After spending some time with him, won't I be able to figure out what he really wants?"

Emperor Minghui slammed his fist onto the table with a loud *thud*.

The brush holder and rice paper on the table suddenly flew into the air. He looked up from his lethargy, his face filled with anger. "Rongzhao! How many times must I tell you not to concern yourself with the affairs of the court? Do you refuse to listen to me?"

The Emperor rarely showed this side to Qingwu. She was startled, then quickly provoked into a rage. "Why?"

"Don't all the things that worry you ultimately boil down to me? If I can solve them, why won't you let me?" She spoke rapidly, yet her hand continued to gently massage the Emperor’s bruised palm.

Emperor Minghui was filled with self-reproach, but his tone remained firm. "State affairs are not for you to meddle in. Be obedient!"

He could indulge Rongzhao in everything else, but not this. He wanted her to remain a carefree princess, even if it meant she continued to be wayward and indulgent. That way, outsiders would never discover her true nature. If any accident occurred, they would only see her as a pampered royal, and perhaps, with her beauty, she might at least save her life.

Qingwu was in the heat of her temper and did not stop to consider these things. She flicked her wide sleeves and stormed out. "If I cannot be of any help, then I will not stay in the palace." Although she was acting out of spite, she did not forget to remind him, "You must come on the day of the memorial. I will be waiting for you."

***

Qingwu did not leave her room for several days after returning to her residence. When Du Jin came to check her pulse and opened the door, he was met with the heavy scent of incense. He found a place to put down his medicine box and used a pole to prop open the window frames.

"The Princess is just like she was as a child, always loving to shut herself in her room."

"Ling Yu, you're here." Qingwu stretched, stepped barefoot across the rug, and placed her wrist on the medicine cushion.

Du Jin clenched his fist, waiting a long moment before touching her wrist. Qingwu pretended not to notice. Du Jin’s brow furrowed tightly, and finally, he smiled. "It seems the Princess has not taken Physician Li’s words to heart at all."

"Grandpa He is always making a fuss over nothing; how could it be serious?" Qingwu brewed tea and poured him a cup.

Du Jin didn't even glance at it, his eyes fixed on his own fingertips as if weighing his words. If he spoke too lightly, she wouldn't listen; if he spoke too heavily, he feared frightening her.

"Melancholy and agitation are attacking your heart," he finally managed to say after a long silence.

Qingwu, as expected, did not take it seriously. "That’s not a major illness."

"Princess, you injured your foundation long ago; it is already extremely difficult to regulate." Du Jin didn't know what she was thinking—why wouldn't she take better care of herself?

Seeing him worried, Qingwu added lazily, "That’s why I have you."

Du Jin stared at her, sighed helplessly after a long while, and changed the subject. "I have arranged everything. In these next two days, you only need to commit these things to memory." He took out a picture album marked with many crossroads.

Qingwu unfolded the diagram. "What is this for?"

"Everything is ready. You must remember these routes and take the correct path to leave the city."

"You aren't coming with me?" Qingwu rolled the parchment into a tube and tapped it against her knee like a baton.

"I cannot go with you," Du Jin said solemnly.

"I have to go by myself?" Qingwu felt she had already given him another chance.

Unexpectedly, Du Jin was determined and would not budge. "Not just me—the people who are usually by your side cannot leave either, lest it arouse suspicion."

"Get out!" Qingwu threw the diagram onto the floor, repeating the command in her fury, "Get out!"

Du Jin glanced at her, and Qingwu immediately stood up to push him.

"Princess, didn't I just warn you that your emotions must not fluctuate so violently?" Du Jin watched the door slam shut in front of him and leaned against the frame, calling out to the room.

Qingwu drank both cups of tea in one breath and cleared her throat. "We go together, or not at all. Not one person left behind, otherwise, I won't go."

Du Jin was speechless. He wanted to say more, but found it difficult to speak, so he found a stone stool in the courtyard and sat there, waiting for Qingwu’s anger to subside.

"Even Physician Du can't persuade the Princess," Ningchun and Zhixue whispered outside the courtyard gate.

"What should we do?" Zhixue, who always followed Ningchun's lead, asked.

Ningchun pondered for a moment, then cast a meaningful look at Zhixue.

"I’m not going!" she immediately refused.

"Under the current circumstances, the only thing to do is find Young Master Pei and bring him here," Ningchun said earnestly. "Perhaps the Princess’s mood will improve when she sees him?"

Zhixue felt her teeth itch with anger at the suggestion, calling Pei Muci an ungrateful wolf. "The Princess is so good to him, and what does he do?" Zhixue pounded her leg in frustration. "The Princess has been cooped up for so many days; have you seen him take the initiative to come once? If we had known, we should have played matchmaker for Physician Du from the start. He is the one who truly holds the Princess in the palm of his hand."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Ningchun raised her voice slightly to interrupt.

"It’s the truth! He’s capable of such ingratitude, are we not allowed to talk about it?" Zhixue didn't dare let Du Jin hear, whispering so only the two of them could hear.

Ningchun poked her head. "How can you be so blunt? This mouth of yours will ruin you sooner or later."

Zhixue wilted. Ningchun, unable to stay angry—having served the Princess together since childhood like sisters—softened. "Young Master Pei seems to have been poisoned. After the Princess returned from the palace, she ordered Physician Du to detoxify him. He probably only woke up this morning."

Only An Qi took care of Young Master Pei in the Qing-Song Garden, so the rest of the household knew nothing of this.

"That just proves Physician Du is better; he does whatever the Princess says."

"That’s enough!" Ningchun frowned. "Is it for you or me to decide who the Princess chooses to be close to? I don't want to hear this again!"

Zhixue was cowed, biting her lip in silence.

"Why are you still standing there? Go and invite him," Ningchun said, shaking her head. After urging her, she paced back and forth in the courtyard.

A gentle breeze drifted through the bamboo grove, the tips of the bamboo swaying and casting mottled, fragmented light. Before Zhixue even reached the Qing-Song Garden, she smelled the bitter, unbearable scent of medicine. She happened to run into Hanyue, who had just returned from outside, and tried to pull her along, but was unexpectedly refused.

"I’m in a hurry to deliver a letter to the Princess." Hanyue was about to dash off when Zhixue grabbed her.

"What letter? In such a rush."

Hanyue made a vague excuse. "The Princess’s new clothes were intercepted."

"Who is so bold as to dare rob clothes being sent to the residence?" Zhixue lingered at the gate of the Qing-Song Garden, hesitant to go inside. She didn't want to hand over such a great opportunity to comfort the Princess to Young Master Pei. Physician Du was still waiting in the courtyard; what if the Princess had a change of heart and summoned him inside?

"Then why aren't you chasing them? Why are you delivering a letter to the Princess?"

"My dear sister, why wouldn't I chase them? I caught the person, but they confessed—it was one of Physician Du’s men!" Hanyue said, looking troubled.

Zhixue froze. Why would Physician Du be sneaking around with the Princess’s clothes? In the moment she was distracted, Hanyue slipped past her, fearing further questioning.

***

While the two maids were talking outside, An Qi pushed open the window to air out the heavy smell of medicinal broth in the room.

"Young Master, is this medicine really useful?" He brought the medicine up, turning his face away as if suffocating. It seemed as if Physician Du had scoured the world for the most bitter herbs to brew this soup. An Qi often suspected that Physician Du held a grudge against his master and was playing tricks on the brew.

"It probably isn't," Pei Muci said, his smile as luminous as jade. He accepted the medicine without a change in expression and drained it quickly. He didn't move a muscle from start to finish, while An Qi’s features were twisted into a knot, as if he were the one drinking it.

"Let me change your dressing, Young Master." An Qi noticed the Princess’s maid standing at the door, likely sent to fetch the young master. He had to take this chance to change the bandages quickly.

Pei Muci smiled faintly and gave a soft "mm." An Qi was long used to his master's demeanor and continued his chatter. He diligently wrapped the wound, his words flowing like a flood. "How did you manage to get yourself hurt like this on a trip? If something happens to you, wouldn't all these long-term preparations be in vain?"

Pei Muci sat there quietly, holding a cup of tea for rinsing his mouth.

An Qi continued to ramble, his words like a thread that couldn't be cut. "Those people were clearly sent by the General. How could you just let them go? And the Princess, too—with so many secret guards in the residence, not one followed you. These servants really are heartless."

"Too noisy," Pei Muci said, unbothered, his fingers resting on the rim of the cup. "Go and get the pills."

An Qi huffed through his nose and brought the wooden box over, looking reluctant. Several pitch-black, perfectly round pills lay neatly inside, emitting a sharp, metallic scent.

"You haven't even had these checked, Young Master. If there’s something harmful mixed in..." An Qi noticed the icy coldness in Pei Muci’s peripheral vision, sharp as a blade, and immediately fell silent.

Pei Muci picked up one pill, held it under his lip, and looked at the empty spaces in the box. One, two, three... Today was exactly the seventh day, which meant he would finish the seventh pill. He lifted his tea cup lazily, took a sip, and swallowed the pill along with the charred-tasting tea.

*Knock, knock.* Two knocks sounded, and Zhixue held the door latch.

"Is Young Master Pei in? The Princess is looking for you."

***

The Biyuan Garden, where Qingwu resided, was elegantly decorated. Compared to the opulent Princess's residence, it felt more like a villa for poets and scholars to recite verses. The room was quiet, with none of the sobbing she had expected.

Pei Muci took a long stride, his robes—embroidered with clouds and bamboo—sweeping across the door frame without leaving a trace. He carried a plate of lotus cakes with perfect grace and walked straight toward the room.

The maids who usually served were nowhere to be found. The food on the stone table had gone cold, and Du Jin sat on a stone stool like a statue, having not moved. The two men locked eyes, and Du Jin moved the porcelain bowl containing the medicine onto Pei Muci’s tray.

"Have you made up your mind, Young Master Pei?" Du Jin knew that Qingwu wanted to see Pei Muci, so he gave him the medicine to take inside. But then he wanted to add a word of advice and didn't know how to start.

The obscure status between the two of them made every question difficult to voice. Should he ask if he had taken the medicine for seven days? Or ask if he knew how to serve the Princess? These questions would be appropriate from a physician’s perspective, but standing before Qingwu’s door, he couldn't get the words out.

Pei Muci gave him a faint glance, his eyes as still as a deep pool. Du Jin stood stunned for a few seconds, struggling to speak, and finally walked away in silence.

"Your Highness." Pei Muci knocked. There was no response. He slowly pushed the door open a crack, and Qingwu did not stop him.

"I am coming in."

The room was filled with curling smoke and a scent that warmed the whole body. Qingwu wore a translucent single-layer silk dress that covered her feet. She sat motionless, hugging her knees, her back a straight line, leaning powerlessly against the bedpost.

Pei Muci set down what he was carrying and sat on the footstool by the bed. A soft, thin curtain hung between them. Qingwu watched him for a long while, her fingertips touching the gauze, tracing his silhouette from afar.

"Come up."

She pushed aside the pink curtain, and Pei Muci leaned over, sitting beside her. Qingwu grabbed his thumb, as if a drowning person had found driftwood. Pei Muci picked her up and held her in his arms. Qingwu adjusted to a comfortable position, turning to sit sideways, her ankles hooking around his calves. This time, her hands hung honestly by his waist.

"I just wanted to be quiet for a while. Why does everyone have to come and annoy me?"

"Who else has been annoying you, Your Highness?" Pei Muci supported her waist with his palm, letting her lean more comfortably.

Qingwu looked up and cast a meaningful glance at him. "No one. I chased them all out."

Pei Muci curled the corner of his mouth into a smile. Qingwu loved to lean against his shoulder and listen to his heartbeat. All the agitation from moments ago was slowly soothed by that steady, powerful rhythm. She heard his voice ask calmly.

"You do not wish to go through with the political marriage."

It was a statement, not a question. The rumors of the Princess's marriage had been rampant among the people, and everyone hoped she would sacrifice herself for the country to buy a period of peace. During her days in the palace, some people had even used the banner of royalty to urge her to marry into the Southern Barbarians. Pei Muci, staying in the residence, had naturally heard it all.

"Father only has one daughter. It is not up to me." Qingwu’s face remained clouded. "But the civil and military officials—the civil ministers are at their wits' end, and the generals are unwilling to lead their troops. They all hope to use a marriage to make the invading army withdraw."

It was absurd. Qingwu’s voice grew louder. "But how is this a long-term plan? If foreign enemies invade again, what other Princess will there be to marry off?"

"Then don't go."

Pei Muci’s eyes deepened, his thumb rubbing the seam of Qingwu’s waistband, his tone noncommittal.

"You don't understand," she said, her head dropping lower, her eyes fixed on her abdomen. The pure white scene before her became increasingly blurred. Her eyes grew hot, and tears welled up, falling in large drops.

Pei Muci bounced her slightly, his palm resting on her back to help her catch her breath. Qingwu’s mind went blank. By the time she finished crying, she had forgotten the reason for her sorrow, only focusing on the tears falling.

Until she felt a cool touch on both cheeks, Qingwu lifted her eyes, looking at him through a teary haze. Pei Muci rubbed his nose against her temple and kissed away the tear tracks on her cheeks. He bent slightly, tilting his face to reach her, the hot air from his breath spraying against her jaw. The warm, moist sensation intensified as time passed.

His sharp nose slid across her slender, jade-like neck; the neat collar blocked his path downward. Pei Muci buried his face in her collarbone, his hands encircling her waist, his thumbs rubbing the soft flesh of her lower back.

As the heat surged, Qingwu felt her reason controlled by the agitation rising within her. She slowly raised her hands and ran them through his hair. Suddenly, Pei Muci changed direction, picking her up by the waist and pinning her against the bedpost. He used his strength, his hands cushioning her back and the base of her skull.