Chapter 28

The capital, the Fourth Prince’s Residence.

The Fourth Prince sat upright in the main hall, lifting his brush to paint crape myrtle flowers on the rice paper.

He used the tip of his brush to outline the contours of the blossoms, his expression remarkably focused.

Whether the petals were crimson or scarlet, whether they appeared in a courtyard or by a lakeside, they were equally vivid and beautiful wherever they landed.

In his youth, the Fourth Prince had greatly adored the crape myrtle flowers in the Imperial Garden.

However, ever since he came of age and learned that the Crape Myrtle Star was the Emperor Star, he no longer casually plucked the crape myrtle blossoms of the Imperial Palace.

Because the Imperial Palace belonged to the Emperor, and in the future, it would belong to the Crown Prince. No matter how beautifully the crape myrtle bloomed in the Imperial Garden, he had no right to pick them. He could only paint them on paper.

When he made mistakes as a child, others would say he was still young—it was just childishness. But making such a mistake after growing up would be an act of overstepping one’s bounds, defying the Emperor.

Having painted the last petal of the crape myrtle, the Fourth Prince finally set down his brush with satisfaction.

Looking up, he noticed that the steward of his residence was standing before him, seemingly having waited there for quite some time.

Since he’d already waited so long, a little longer wouldn’t matter.

The Fourth Prince pinched the two bottom corners of the rice paper, lowered his gaze, and unfurled the painting to examine it. Only then did he address the steward: “If there is something to report, speak.”

Receiving his master’s command, the steward began: “Following Your Highness’s orders, this old slave bribed someone within the Court of Judicial Review. The information sent back says that those men died in similar ways, likely all killed by the same person. Moreover, a fragrance pill was found lodged in each of their throats.”

“Where did that fragrance pill originate?” The Fourth Prince looked at the steward.

“It is said, from the Misty Rain Pavilion.”

The Fourth Prince put down his painting and said regretfully: “Although this prince would also like to investigate the case on behalf of Third Brother, the Misty Rain Pavilion belongs to the Bai family, and the Bai family’s backer is the Crown Prince. Therefore, this matter is beyond this prince’s jurisdiction.”

“Besides, if even you could extract such intelligence from the Court of Judicial Review, then this intel was very likely deliberately leaked by the Crown Prince to mislead and confuse. This prince… does not believe it.”

Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on the steward’s forehead. He felt His Highness was perhaps subtly cursing him for being stupid, for believing such a message.

But recalling how, these past few days, His Highness had ordered him to keep a close watch on the Misty Rain Pavilion, it didn’t seem like someone who didn’t want to get involved.

So the steward steeled himself and reported today’s situation: “Your Highness, our spies embedded in the Misty Rain Pavilion report that three unfamiliar guests have arrived at the Pavilion.”

“One of the women has difficulty walking, uses a wheelchair, and has a white cloth wrapped around her eyes. She appears to be blind.”

The Fourth Prince mused thoughtfully, repeating: “Wheelchair, blind woman?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. That description reminds this prince of someone. However, Xiao Jin has always been arrogant and proud. He would absolutely never do such a thing.”

The Fourth Prince seemed to recall something and smiled again: “Ah, yes. Aunt Zhaoyang and Consort Shu have already spent several days at the White Horse Temple. When will they depart and return to the capital?”

The steward replied: “To answer Your Highness, it should be tomorrow.”

“So it’s tomorrow.”

The Fourth Prince looked at the painted crape myrtle on the scroll and frowned, pondering a matter that had troubled him for a long time, yet he still couldn’t figure it out.

Why did Xiao Jin steal the bride on his own wedding day?

To this very day, the Fourth Prince still couldn’t quite understand. But he could vaguely sense that Xiao Jin had likely changed in some way.

Thinking this, the Fourth Prince rose and picked up the fur coat resting beside his chair.

Draping the heavy fur garment over his shoulders, he smiled slightly: “If it’s tomorrow, then this prince can still act willfully one more time.”

“Old Wang, take a squad of men to the Misty Rain Pavilion. Remember, you must be quick. After all, if that person really is Third Brother, this prince wants to give him a surprise.”

…

“Who are you?”

Bai Zheng’s voice was exceptionally cool, but the implications of this question were many.

Because the scope this question covered was vast.

It could be asking about Chu Shao’s origins, or it could be asking who Chu Shao truly was, setting aside the identity of “Young Master Chu.”

A few days ago, the rain on Lotus Street had fallen all night.

The night rain was desolately cold, penetrating to the bone. Poured upon that mysterious sword master, one wondered if it could wash their features clean.

Hearing Bai Zheng’s question, Chu Shao, though puzzled, still symbolically offered a polite smile: “This one resides in Cloud Qin. My surname is Chu, with the given name Yu.”

Bai Zheng looked at Chu Shao, knowing full well that the other was almost certainly lying. Still, she smiled warmly: “Young Master Chu’s ‘Yu’ character—could it be the ‘Yu’ from ‘Yuan Yu’?”

Chu Shao also looked at Bai Zheng, a faint smile lingering on her lips: “No, it is the ‘Yu’ from ‘Wo Jin Huai Yu’.”

Wo Jin Huai Yu—holding jade and embracing gems.

Xiao Jin fell silent.

Was there no other phrase in Chu Shao’s repository of knowledge?

Why did she absolutely have to form a phrase like that?

Although the two people before her both wore gentle smiles and appeared to be exceedingly amiable, Xiao Jin inexplicably detected a hint of something off from within.

This scent often arose when war drums began to beat, the kind of gunpowder smoke lit between two sides during the clash of battle.

Commonly known as the smell of gunpowder.

It was quite normal for the female lead and the third female lead to dislike each other on sight. But for the flames of war to ignite before the male lead had even made an appearance was truly somewhat absurd.

Upon hearing the four characters “Wo Jin Huai Yu,” the smile on Bai Zheng’s face seemed to diminish somewhat.

She held Chu Shao’s gaze for a long moment. After a while, the corner of her lips curved upwards once more. She skirted past the topic just mentioned and began to speak of another matter.

“Just now, Young Master Chu mentioned wanting to find a pleasant fragrance for Miss Chu. Coincidentally, the Misty Rain Pavilion possesses a fragrance that is subtle yet not common, very fitting for Miss Chu’s temperament.”

Chu Shao: “What kind of fragrance? This one listens with respectful attention.”

“This fragrance is called ‘Spring Mountain Void.’ It is a pill I concocted several years ago. It requires deep winter white plum blossoms, early summer peonies, supplemented by spikenard, sweet clover, and Poria cocos to create this scent.”

Xiao Jin was somewhat surprised.

Bai Zheng had unhesitatingly disclosed trade secrets, explaining the formula for “Spring Mountain Void,” and even sharing the origin of this fragrance pill.

“That was during the early spring season, the first year His Highness Prince Yan went on the expedition against Yao. With time on my hands, listening to the rain outside my window, I created this fragrance pill and named it ‘Spring Mountain Void’.”

As Bai Zheng spoke these words, a trace of a maiden’s sentimentality still lingered in her brows and eyes.

A moment later, she gazed at Xiao Jin in her wheelchair and sighed softly: “After all, spring rain does easily stir up melancholy for no reason. But you two grew up in Cloud Qin and likely don’t know some of the past affairs of Great Qi.”

Hearing Bai Zheng mention the original owner’s situation, Xiao Jin felt a strange sensation creep over her.

Thus, she tried her best to suppress the clamping voice the System had cursed her with, rasping a reply to Bai Zheng: “May I ask, Miss Bai, what sorrows you?”

Bai Zheng looked at the white silk bound over Xiao Jin’s eyes: “Indeed. This young woman should not be sorrowful. It’s just that rumor has it, when His Highness Prince Yan was campaigning against Yao, the heavens were unkind and sent a great downpour.”

“Because the heavy rain obscured his vision, His Highness Prince Yan was momentarily careless and was struck by a poisoned arrow. That is how he contracted his leg ailment and developed the chronic coughing of blood. That is why this young woman says that rain was truly inopportune and utterly detestable.”

With the genuine person right before her, discussing that very person’s affairs, Xiao Jin could only remain silent.

After all, she was merely a transmigrator. She had no clear idea how the original owner’s lung disease and crippled legs had actually come about.

Still, it seemed far too exaggerated that a few mere arrows could simultaneously cause both a chronic illness and a permanent disability.

The original author’s sloppy world-building left Xiao Jin wanting to complain but unsure where to even start.

Although she didn’t know why the original owner being struck by an arrow would make Bai Zheng hate a particular type of weather, Bai Zheng’s melancholy expression did not seem feigned.

Could it be that Bai Zheng knew the original owner and had even had some interactions with her?

But the mere thought of this possibility made Xiao Jin quickly dismiss the frightening idea. After all, if that were truly the case, then her disguise would be completely useless.

Chu Shao’s lips curved into a smile, but she also remained silent.

Thanks to Bai Zheng’s prompting, she finally recalled the scene of her first encounter with Xiao Jin.

It had indeed been a rainy day back then. But when Xiao Jin, clad in silver armor, strode into the Imperial Palace of Great Yao, she had not yet suffered from any leg ailment.

The fine drizzle, like silk threads, wasn’t particularly sorrowful. It merely dampened the visitor’s eyes somewhat.

Recalling the indifferent look in the eyes of Prince Yan of Northern Qi as she raised her long sword and gazed upon her, Chu Shao thought of her damp black hair and that slightly hoarse voice.

Prince Yan’s brows and eyes were very pleasing, but her lips and complexion were somewhat pale.

After a long pause, she asked her one question: “Are you Chu Shao?”

Only after she nodded did the other person shift her gaze and reply with a single word: “Good.”

Thinking of this old matter, Chu Shao smiled faintly, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Because she truly didn’t know what exactly was good about her being Chu Shao for Xiao Jin.

After all, she and Xiao Jin had never met before. Such dialogue seemed profoundly strange. And even more curious was Chu Shao’s intuition that the current Xiao Jin would never utter such ambiguous words.

Then what exactly had caused Xiao Jin to become the way she was now?

Bai Zheng had no idea that her casually mentioned past events would set Chu Shao and Xiao Jin pondering so many things.

Realizing she had digressed into too many irrelevant topics, she smiled again and halted the conversation: “But this cannot be blamed on the heavens. Some matters were not predetermined by fate but rather caused by people.”

“Too many people live in this world. Many past affairs, this young woman has not yet fully clarified.”

Through the layer of silk, Xiao Jin could faintly see the smile on Bai Zheng’s face, but she constantly felt the other’s words were cryptic, as if layered with hidden meaning.

Fortunately, Bai Zheng wasn’t purely speaking in riddles. After delivering her string of vaguely suggestive statements, she beamed and retrieved a box of fragrance pills from a drawer, opening it.

“This fragrance is the ‘Spring Mountain Void.’ These pills are of excellent quality and are frequently used by the girls of the Pavilion. I hope Miss Chu will not disdain them.”

Seeing Bai Zheng proffer the box to her, Xiao Jin, for a long moment, failed to register that she herself was “Miss Chu.”

If Su Tan hadn’t been unable to watch any longer and couldn’t resist a light cough, Xiao Jin probably never would have realized in this lifetime that Bai Zheng was actually speaking to her.

It was also only after Su Tan’s cough that Bai Zheng seemed to recognize her own oversight.

The person before her was blind. How could she see the box being offered?

Bai Zheng smiled apologetically, murmured an “I beg your pardon,” and instead handed the box to Chu Shao.

In truth, she had harbored the intent to test from the start. If the other party was truly blind, they certainly wouldn’t know she had extended the box.

Conversely, if they were deliberately disguised as a blind woman, they would subconsciously accept it.

Moments later, Xiao Jin also quickly caught on, realizing that in her current role as a blind woman, Bai Zheng’s earlier action was likely not so simple in its intent.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The ancient world was too full of tricks; not a single lamp was fuel-efficient.

Clearly, Bai Zheng’s series of tests wasn’t over yet.

Although the blind woman’s voice did not resemble Xiao Jin’s, and her eyes appeared truly sightless,

Bai Zheng had liked Xiao Jin for so many years. She firmly believed that even if, one day, the other person suddenly transformed into a woman, her intuition would absolutely not be mistaken.

Moreover, those knuckles—even if they had become pale and bloodless, merely resting quietly among the snow-white robes—were still as beautiful as the posture of drawing a bow back then.

Bai Zheng believed she had not been wrong.

Although they had only met a few times, Xiao Jin’s brows, eyes, nose—every trace of joy and anger—had already been sketched and traced by her a thousand times over.

She might have misjudged many things, but how could she fail to recognize the person she held at the very tip of her heart?

So she smiled and brought up a matter that should not have been mentioned here: “Seeing this fragrance pill, I am suddenly reminded of an unpleasant incident that occurred in the Pavilion a few days ago.”

“That unpleasant incident concerns a swordsman.”