Chapter 56: Shamefaced Annoyance: Leaving Without a Word

At the third quarter of the Wei hour, a full hour had passed since Zhao Huairen entered the palace.

Although the case had reached a conclusion, the Hejia Princess’s confusion lingered unresolved. After hesitating for a long time, she quickened her steps and intercepted the swaggering Liu Zhengyan. “Uncle Wang, please hold on a moment.”

“What is it?” Liu Zhengyan turned back to look at her.

Had her royal uncle decided to side with the Crown Prince? But he was just an idle prince—why had he suddenly gotten involved in the struggle for the throne?

“Uh… Uncle Wang today,” her fingers clenched unconsciously in her sleeve. The Hejia Princess paused before probing sideways, “Why did Uncle Wang suddenly enter the palace to pay respects today?”

Though Liu Zhengyan paid no attention to court affairs, he could still discern the subtext in the Hejia Princess’s words. “This king has not sided with anyone. Both Jingqian and Jingde are this king’s nephews, and this king has always treated them impartially.”

“Then what Uncle Wang said earlier in Xuanzheng Hall—” Her dark eyes seemed to flicker with unspoken thoughts.

“You needn’t probe. This king will not—and does not wish to—interfere in any struggles.” Liu Zhengyan sighed and flicked his sleeve. “But since the matter happened right before this king’s eyes, and this king saw it with his own eyes, he cannot pretend he saw nothing.”

The Hejia Princess frowned in thought, gradually piecing together the full picture: the issue lay not with her royal uncle, but with Zhao Huaijin. She had no idea what methods he had used to convince her uncle that he had seen Meng Sanlang at Zhaixiang Tower that night.

Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Liu Zhengyan clicked his tongue and urged, “This king still needs to go watch the polo match.”

“Uncle Wang, take care.” The Hejia Princess curtsied.

Qin An, who had been waiting at Donghua Gate for Zhao Huairen, overheard the exchange between uncle and niece. A trace of worry colored her gaze as she craned her neck to peer into the palace gates.

There was no sign of the Heir Apparent.

Even Meng Shuting and Jiang Wenwei had already come out.

“Why hasn’t the Heir Apparent come out yet?” Qin An paced back and forth beside the carriage. Seeing Zhuyu’s calm demeanor, she couldn’t help but ask, “You’re always the most concerned about the Heir Apparent—why aren’t you worried at all this time?”

Her gaze fell on Meng Shuting’s retreating figure. Zhuyu looked up slightly and gestured, “The key piece in this game is Meng Shuting. Since he’s already out, what are you still worried about?”

“Who cares about him? The focus is that the Heir Apparent hasn’t come out.” Anxiety was written all over her forehead. Qin An glanced at Liu Zhengyan boarding his carriage and added, “Prince Yan has old grudges with us. Who knows what he said in the hall…”

Seeing how truly anxious she was, Zhuyu scanned the surroundings before gesturing, “You needn’t worry. He was a witness summoned by the Heir Apparent.”

“Prince Yan?!” Qin An’s mouth fell open.

Zhuyu nodded.

Qin An’s expression shifted repeatedly. She leaned in closer and whispered to Zhuyu, who was sitting by the carriage tracks, “Something’s off. How could the witness the Heir Apparent mentioned be Prince Yan?”

Zhuyu shook her head, offering no explanation for her doubts.

“Zhuyu, just tell me~” Qin An clasped her hands together, her round eyes brimming with curiosity.

Although Zhaixiang Tower was an elegant place for listening to music and watching dances, after a few rounds of drinks, guests often got into arguments.

On the second day after the Vice Minister of War’s incident, the Heir Apparent had arranged for a hidden guard disguised as Meng Caizhe to stage a scene in the private room next to Liu Zhengyan’s. The guard, posing as Meng Caizhe, argued with Le Niang at the same time, demanding back the betrothal jade pendant he had given her, acting every bit the heartless cad.

Their argument pierced through the walls.

Liu Zhengyan loved a good spectacle, and Lan Qin had tried multiple times to stop him to no avail.

In the end, the prince witnessed with his own eyes Meng Sanlang’s ungrateful and ruthless demeanor. Liu Zhengyan held no official position and spent his days in a daze, not particularly sensitive to the passage of dates.

Mandala grass had been slipped into his wine in advance.

Combined with rumors spreading like wildfire, the date of the incident was shifted to the previous day.

Living the same routine every day, after a few days, Liu Zhengyan could hardly recall which day was which.

But the most crucial part was that the Heir Apparent had thoroughly grasped this prince’s mindset.

Le Niang, “abandoned” by Meng Caizhe, was deeply infatuated with him and pleaded with Prince Yan to testify on his behalf. Liu Zhengyan fancied himself a romantic and adored such dramatic tropes. With Xie Lanqin fanning the flames beside him, he finally stepped forward—to honor Le Niang’s touching devotion.

Before Liu Zhengyan left his residence, the Heir Apparent had prepared two contingencies. If he refused to testify, Le Niang would step in instead. Afterward, Liu Zhengyan would still be drawn in as a knowing party.

By using the coroner’s testimony to clear Meng Sanlang of suspicion in the Vice Minister of War’s murder, and with the Hejia Princess persistently harping on his whereabouts, the Heir Apparent only needed to provide a reasonable alibi… With the two factions evenly matched, and His Majesty unwilling to see them clash, he would surely close the case smoothly.

The Heir Apparent had long wanted to go to Yumu County personally.

But as a capital official, leaving Yanjing was no easy feat.

This case was a quadruple win with no apparent oddities: gaining the Crown Prince Party’s trust, resolving a matter for the Emperor once more, heading to Yumu County with the perfect excuse, and even cashing in a favor from Young Master Yan…

“Zhuyu?” Qin An waved her hand in front of her eyes. “What are you thinking about? The Heir Apparent’s already out.”

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as Zhuyu lifted her gaze to the approaching figure.

A clear breeze brushed her robes, and flecks of light danced across Zhao Huairen’s brows and eyes. Her jet-black lashes drooped meekly, and faint purplish shadows lingered beneath them.

She had barely slept the entire night before.

After rising, she had prepared her responses for the hall proceedings.

Though every step had unfolded as she anticipated, the mental toll showed no sign of easing.

“The Heir Apparent’s finally out. Phew, this subordinate was worried sick.” The stone in Qin An’s heart had just settled when she spotted the bright yellow imperial edict in Zhao Huairen’s hand. Her expression tightened instantly.

Zhuyu showed no surprise at the sight of the edict.

This imperial edict had been part of the Heir Apparent’s plan from the start.

Zhao Huairen gripped the edict, which felt as heavy as a thousand catties, and parted her thin lips. “Let’s return to the residence. This isn’t the place to talk.”

“Yes.” Qin An nodded.

Zhuyu pursed her lips, stepped aside, and lifted the carriage curtain for Zhao Huairen.

…

Seeing Zhao Huairen only deepened the doubts in her heart. Zhuyu wasn’t sure if she should ask—but she truly couldn’t figure it out.

Why settle for just one favor?

With the Heir Apparent nearly grasping the vital pulse, she could have demanded far more.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Zhao Huairen noticed the gaze and turned to her. “Speak.”

Her arm, hanging at her side, lifted slightly before falling dejectedly. Zhuyu’s gestures brimmed with hesitation.

“Zhuyu, you are the person I trust most.”

Her light brown eyes were focused and earnest.

The woman’s voice was soft, but her words carried immense weight.

Swallowing, Zhuyu met her gaze and gestured, “Is there something special about Young Master Yan?”

Caught utterly off guard, her hidden feelings were brought up by someone close.

Like an ice river in silence facing utter devastation, Zhao Huairen lowered her eyes to smooth her sleeves, naturally avoiding Zhuyu’s gaze. Her voice remained steady. “Hm? Why do you ask that?”

At Zhao Huairen’s words, the confusion in Zhuyu’s eyes intensified. Her gestures grew urgent. “Young Master Yan’s backing is unclear, and with leverage in hand, the Heir Apparent should have exchanged it for more.”

This round seemed like a complete victory.

But the Heir Apparent could have gained more.

Though she hadn’t thought of other solutions yet, with her Heir Apparent’s intelligence, how could she not have?

Her long lashes fluttered rapidly, a chill of hindsight creeping up her spine. Zhao Huairen clenched her fists, her gaze uncharacteristically flustered.

Her mind was invaded by something beyond her comprehension.

At that moment, she truly… hadn’t considered other paths.

She could have taken the shortcut.

Yet she chose the long way around.

Taking in Zhao Huairen’s changing expression, Zhuyu withdrew her hands. Her brows knitted tightly, a sudden regret stirring in her heart—had she asked too much?

Her thin lips pressed pale, as if scorched by fire in her throat. Zhao Huairen lowered her eyes to her palms.

Before Zhuyu exposed her selfish motive, she had smugly believed that this affection was under her control.

She could bury this unseemly sentiment deep, without it affecting her or anyone else in the slightest.

“I’ve fallen for her.”

Though her question was answered, Zhuyu was even more bewildered. She blinked dazedly, her expression mirroring Zhichun’s.

Arrogance was the world’s most terrifying plague.

It eroded reason and doomed everyone around her.

The woman’s voice was like a snapped lute string—muffled, laced with a broken sob. “Zhuyu, I like her.”

The Heir Apparent liked Young Master Yan?

What did that mean? Weren’t they both women?

Her lips twitched unnaturally. Zhuyu’s fists clenched and unclenched, like a lost little mouse.

Not a cowardice begging forgiveness.

Quite the opposite—it was a sincere plea for aid.

As Zhuyu floundered, unsure what to do, Zhao Huairen suddenly lifted her face, her gaze calm as she looked at her. “Zhuyu, I have no mind for liking anyone.”

“What does the Heir Apparent need me to do?” Zhuyu gestured.

Truth be told, she had no confidence in killing Young Master Yan.

But if the Heir Apparent needed it, she was willing to fight to the death.

“No.”

The killing intent faded from her eyes. Zhuyu tilted her head, gazing at Zhao Huairen in confusion.

“She’s Princess Gong Consort’s younger sister.”

“And my… wife. If something happens to her, the aftermath would be troublesome.”

Her Heir Apparent’s reasoning made perfect sense.

But why did it feel somehow off?

Zhuyu straightened her lips and gestured, “Then what?”

“Perhaps from spending every day together.” Her sword brows furrowed slightly as Zhao Huairen glanced at the bright yellow beside her. “Some time apart, and this feeling might fade naturally.”

“I told you this because I hope… you can warn me.”

“After all, an outsider sees clearly.”

She didn’t want this emotion to disrupt her plans or endanger those around her.

Though Zhuyu didn’t fully understand, she nodded in agreement in the end.

–

Back at Linzhu Courtyard, Zhao Huairen instinctively glanced toward the main chamber.

“The Heir Apparent is back so early today?” Zhichun emerged from the side room, cradling a vase of flowers.

It wasn’t yet You hour; Yan Yiqing was surely still on duty at Si Nong Temple. She was truly… bewitched. Zhao Huairen tightened her fingers and looked up. “Is the luggage packed?”

“Mm!” Zhichun nodded vigorously. “It’s all in the trunks in the side room.”

She had just agreed to see her as a friend.

Yet days later, she resolved to distance herself.

Her brows furrowed faintly as Zhao Huairen headed to the study, feeling both absurd and torn over whether to bid Yan Yiqing farewell.

A farewell meant one more contact;

Leaving without a word seemed odd and guilty.

She had gone mad.

Was something like this worth agonizing over?

As if meeting herself for the first time, Zhao Huairen stopped before the bronze mirror, displeased brows knitting tightly. The jade-like beauty’s features bristled with icy frost, her slightly pale lower lip bearing faint teeth marks from her bite.

A clear breeze slipped through the window.

Hollyhock petals quivered, swaying and scattering their fragrance.

The sweet floral scent soothed the heart. Zhao Huairen’s furrowed brows eased slightly as she lowered her gaze to that lingering pale pink.

Zhichun was fortunate.

That person was so attentive to her.

Flowers weren’t rare, but the daily persistence and thoughtful arrangements…

If everything weren’t…

She might have wanted to offer her feelings too.

The fragile thought trembled tentatively in her heart, barely sprouting before she ruthlessly snapped it off.

Her phoenix eyes blazed with obvious shame and annoyance. Zhao Huairen’s ear tips flushed red as she schooled her face and sat at the desk.

Time passed slowly.

Her fanciful thoughts seemed worn away by the words.

“Knock knock.”

Her fingers paused on the page. Zhao Huairen looked up at the visitor, her breath catching.