The Yellow Path Palace had no chamber of commerce in the Capital City, but it did have a base of operations. The teahouse where Jiang Chenbi had previously met Qian Yuan was one of them. After seeing the Palace Lord taken away, Ying Lan and Liu Yao hadn’t stayed at the teahouse but had gone elsewhere.
To the courtyard where Jiang Chenbi had brought Cui Wangshu on the day she returned.
Ying Lan looked serious, frowning up at the eagle circling in the sky above. She said sternly, “Liu Yao, come out. The Palace Lord is looking for us.”
Liu Yao opened the door and asked, “What is it?”
Ying Lan turned her head, frowning at her as she said coldly, “Change into something more proper and come with me.”
Liu Yao looked down at her own clothes. Wasn’t it just a low-cut dress? What was improper about it…
The two followed the eagle in the sky all the way to the gates of the Shangshu Residence.
They looked up at the bright, gleaming gold characters spelling “Shangshu Residence” and silently exchanged a glance. They both saw the hesitation in each other’s eyes.
Were they really going in?
Liu Yao swallowed. Good thing she’d changed her clothes.
Ying Lan took a deep breath, raised her hand, and knocked on the door. A guard opened it from inside and asked gravely, “Are you here for Miss Jiang?”
Ying Lan nodded, and the guard led them into the main hall.
In the stern and coldly elegant main hall stood a concubine’s chair placed abruptly in the center. Jiang Chenbi lounged lazily on it with her eyes closed, pretending to nap. Hearing the guard’s announcement, she opened her eyes and glanced at the two. “You’re here.”
Liu Yao stared at the concubine’s chair, her mind wandering improperly: Could the Palace Lord be so tired that she couldn’t even sit properly?
If Jiang Chenbi knew, she would explode. She was just too lazy— she’d lie down if she could, sit if she couldn’t lie down, and stand only as a last resort.
Jiang Chenbi sat up and said, “Since He Yin was able to find Qingcang Mountain, she must know something about the Yellow Path Palace. If she asks you anything, just tell her everything you know.”
Liu Yao nodded. “Yes.”
Jiang Chenbi examined her makeup, her gaze darkening slightly. “Don’t wear makeup. She likes them pure and innocent—best if you look a bit sickly and weak.”
Liu Yao hesitated, then lowered her eyes. “Yes, Palace Lord.”
Jiang Chenbi raised an eyebrow. “What? Unwilling?”
Liu Yao shook her head. “I’m just a bit surprised, that’s all.”
Ying Lan quietly glanced up at Jiang Chenbi and saw her expression was normal, so she breathed a sigh of relief.
“He Yin isn’t easy to deal with. That act you put on today…” Jiang Chenbi paused, her face turning a little unnatural, before continuing, “The anxiety in your eyes was still too obvious.”
Liu Yao kept her eyes lowered, listening to Jiang Chenbi.
“Once you’re by her side, you have to truly believe from the bottom of your heart that the Yellow Path Palace has abandoned you, and that He Yin is your only lifeline. She’s very smart, so you absolutely cannot reveal any connection to me.”
Finally, Jiang Chenbi added, “Even if she asks you to assassinate me as a show of loyalty, you have to give it your all. Got it?”
Liu Yao pressed her lips together. She knew that if you were going to act, you had to go all in—especially since Jiang Chenbi had put it this way. What couldn’t she do?
“I’ve got it.”
Jiang Chenbi lowered her eyes, her gaze complicated. Originally, to make Liu Yao show that heart-wrenching hatred in front of He Yin, she should have helped her get into character today.
But now…
Jiang Chenbi hesitated. Liu Yao had never carried out a mission before and was the best candidate to approach He Yin. If this move worked well, it would give them an edge in the future. But it was a risky play.
Liu Yao’s skills weren’t fully mature yet. Someone like He Yin would see through her easily if she wasn’t fully immersed.
But to immerse herself… Jiang Chenbi looked up at Liu Yao and asked, “Do you hate me?”
Liu Yao froze, puzzled. “Why would I hate the Palace Lord?”
That was the problem. If Liu Yao didn’t truly hate her, how could she fool He Yin?
Before, she would have unhesitatingly thrown Liu Yao into a dungeon to make her hate her for real. But now they were in the Capital City, and she’d planned to handle it herself—only for Cui Wangshu to…
Jiang Chenbi sighed inwardly and lowered her eyes to think of another way.
Just then, light footsteps came from the doorway. Jiang Chenbi looked up to see Cui Wangshu.
She was carrying a bowl of sugar-steamed cheese custard… and had even found time to change clothes.
She’d swapped her original black attire for a set of white cloud brocade just like Jiang Chenbi’s. The gold-threaded auspicious cloud patterns at their collars matched. She hadn’t pinned up all her hair with a coronet but left some cascading down her back.
Her figure was tall and noble, her brows and eyes deep and coldly aloof.
She looked warm and refined as jade, yet carried a hint of otherworldly arrogance. Wasn’t she just the exiled immortal people talked about?
For some reason, Jiang Chenbi felt a subtle twinge in her heart. Cui Wangshu seemed meticulously refined down to every strand of hair.
Walking over to Jiang Chenbi’s side, Cui Wangshu set the sugar-steamed cheese custard on the table and asked softly, “All handled?”
Jiang Chenbi licked her lips. “Almost.”
Cui Wangshu curved her lips and sat beside her. She picked up the bowl, scooped a bit with a spoon, and held it to Jiang Chenbi’s lips, asking casually, “You don’t mind me being here, do you?”
Jiang Chenbi: “…”
“Of course not. I have no secrets from you—you can know everything.” Jiang Chenbi tugged the corners of her lips into a smile, subtly coaxing her.
Ying Lan: “…No secrets?”
Cui Wangshu curved her lips as if only she and Jiang Chenbi were there. She said softly, “Try it?”
Jiang Chenbi stared at the appetizing bowl of sugar-steamed cheese custard, paused slightly, then opened her mouth and ate the spoonful Cui Wangshu fed her.
It tasted of milk’s fragrance with a hint of rice wine, mixed with rose petals sprinkled on top—surprisingly fresh.
Jiang Chenbi’s eyes lit up. She looked at Cui Wangshu, swallowed, and praised, “It’s delicious. Better than the stuff outside.”
Cui Wangshu’s eyes curved as she scooped another spoonful and fed her, ignoring everyone else.
Ying Lan and Liu Yao: “…”
What an undeserved disaster.
After being fed several mouthfuls and downing half the bowl, Jiang Chenbi seemed to suddenly remember the other two were there. Her expression turned a bit unnatural.
“I’m full…” Jiang Chenbi said softly.
Cui Wangshu’s gaze darkened slightly. She stopped as requested, set the bowl on the table while turning her body slightly, and casually glanced at Liu Yao.
Liu Yao: “…Is that necessary?”
Jiang Chenbi pressed her lips together. With Cui Wangshu there, she couldn’t help recalling the teahouse incident that day, and her ear tips turned red.
She’d hypnotized herself into forgetting it, but now with everyone gathered, she couldn’t ignore it even if she wanted to.
Cui Wangshu looked at Jiang Chenbi and curved her lips. “I’m making you uncomfortable. You handle it first.”
She paused, narrowed her eyes, and forced a magnanimous smile. “If there’s really a task that has to be done, I won’t mind.”
Jiang Chenbi looked at that eerie smile and thought it was better than her cold face—it still made her hair stand on end.
With a light cough, Jiang Chenbi said seriously, “It’s fine. You can stay.”
Cui Wangshu’s eyes curved. She showed no intention of holding back. “Alright.”
Jiang Chenbi: “…”
Fine, if she wanted to stay, let her stay. There was nothing that couldn’t be said anyway.
Jiang Chenbi deliberately looked toward Ying Lan as if instructing her. “Tonight when you go back, train with Liu Yao some more. You’ve been by my side for years and seen similar missions. Try to help her get into character.”
Cui Wangshu kept a faint smile on her face, but a vein at her temple twitched sharply.
Similar missions, hmm. There had been some before.
Ying Lan nodded, a hint of schadenfreude in her tone. “Yes.”
There was nothing else to say. Jiang Chenbi dismissed them to go train. Watching them leave the main hall, she turned back to see Cui Wangshu’s expression stiff from holding back.
Jiang Chenbi chuckled lightly, pinched Cui Wangshu’s cheeks, and rubbed them gently. Smiling, she said, “Someone’s about to open a vinegar shop.”
Cui Wangshu turned her head slightly and mumbled, “…Then why don’t you kiss me?”
Jiang Chenbi stared at her face in novelty. Had she seen right? Was this person pouting?
Wow… It was just too, too irresistible.
Cui Wangshu waited left and right but got no kiss from Jiang Chenbi. Turning to look, she saw her staring with bright eyes, like she was some novel toy.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jiang Chenbi blinked and asked sincerely, “Why are you so cute?”
Cui Wangshu: ?
What? She… cute?
Jiang Chenbi leaned in, pecking her lips lightly over and over, her brows and eyes full of laughter. Each peck came with a pinch of Cui Wangshu’s cheek.
Cui Wangshu’s face hurt a little from the pinching. Her feigned tension cracked when she saw the delighted smile.
“What are you doing?” Cui Wangshu caught her hand and said in mock anger.
Jiang Chenbi shook her head wildly in her mind. How could she be like this! She really wanted to…
A strange smile appeared on Jiang Chenbi’s face, making Cui Wangshu’s skin crawl.
Was it her imagination? Why did Jiang Chenbi’s smile just now seem a bit… lecherous?
Jiang Chenbi composed herself, placed both hands seriously on Cui Wangshu’s shoulders like they shared an unbreakable bond of friendship, and said, “Little lady, would you be willing to slack off tonight?”
Cui Wangshu: “…”
So that’s what she’d been leading up to.
Cui Wangshu found her expectant expression amusing. She withdrew the gentleness from her brows, narrowed her eyes, and her aura shifted instantly to cold and dignified.
With a playful smile at her lips, Cui Wangshu removed Jiang Chenbi’s hand and stared at her with invasive intensity, chuckling lowly, “No.”
Over the years, Cui Wangshu had navigated the Cui Family and the previous dynasty—her acting wasn’t half bad. And aside from facing Jiang Chenbi, this was her usual demeanor.
Jiang Chenbi couldn’t accept the cute Cui Wangshu from moments ago turning into this. She pushed her shoulder pleadingly. “Please? Can I be on top tonight? With that expression you had earlier.”
Cui Wangshu didn’t have to be the one in control. They were both women with needs, but seeing Jiang Chenbi like this sparked a sudden urge to tease.
She asked meaningfully, “You want to be on top?”
Jiang Chenbi thought about it—close enough—and nodded. “Yes.”
Cui Wangshu’s lips curved playfully. She pretended to hesitate, then put on that irresistible cute expression, saying shyly, “Alright then…”
