Xiao Jin had already notified Manager Zhang last night that she would be traveling far tomorrow.
So early this morning, Old Zhang had prepared both a carriage and a boat, just waiting for Xiao Jin to choose between land and water routes.
Juege offered a suggestion: “Xinyang isn’t far from the capital. Between the two cities flows a river called Moon Crossing River. If the situation is urgent, the Prince can take the water route.”
Xiao Jin nodded, thinking Juege was truly very capable—much more like a system than that garbage System.
The silently maligned System quietly noted this grievance.
Xiao Jin also thought that being too capable might not be good either.
For instance now, even though she had said countless times that experts were protecting her nearby, Juege still gazed at her with worry, practically writing “I can’t rest easy” on her face.
But a master’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed, so Juege could only hand hidden weapons and sleeve darts to Xiao Jin. “These are weapons forged by Yan Territory’s finest craftsmen. Take these, Prince. They can serve as self-defense.”
Xiao Jin happily accepted the defensive hidden weapons, feeling she now possessed the standard equipment of a web novel protagonist.
Instantly, there was an illusion of maxed-out style.
However, watching Juege’s reluctant expression, Xiao Jin corrected one of her mistakes: “Juege, your task is indeed to investigate the case, but before that, you need to board the boat first.”
Juege immediately understood Xiao Jin’s meaning.
This time, her early return to the capital, though swift, meant a general was missing from the front lines. News had likely already reached the capital.
As head of the manor’s garrison troops, if she didn’t accompany Xiao Jin at this time, it would inevitably draw suspicion—was she following Prince Yan’s orders, doing something behind the scenes?
But then, this brought up another problem.
Juege was somewhat worried: “If the Prince travels to Xinyang by boat, it will certainly alert the capital’s spies. When the mastermind receives word, they might act in advance or temporarily postpone the assassination plan.”
Xiao Jin neither agreed nor disagreed, saying: “Who said this Prince is going to Xinyang today?”
Juege looked at Xiao Jin, puzzled.
Xiao Jin smiled slightly and explained: “This Prince is simply in the mood today to take the Princess Consort to Qingzhou for sightseeing. Naturally, this won’t obstruct anyone’s plans.”
Hearing this, Juege suddenly understood something.
The Prince’s move was very clever.
If they went to Xinyang with great fanfare, they would certainly be detected by others’ spies.
Since they would be detected anyway, better to make a detour—first go to Qingzhou, which was close to Xinyang, and then secretly cross to Xinyang.
Seeing Xiao Jin think so thoroughly, Juege realized that although the Prince had lost her memory, she was still as cautious and sharp as before. She let out a long breath and set her heart at ease.
Only, Juege had followed Xiao Jin since childhood and naturally knew she was a woman disguised as a man.
Now Xiao Jin suffered from a leg ailment, making movement extremely inconvenient, yet she couldn’t let servants or maids attend her—otherwise her identity would be exposed.
In short, everything had to be done personally.
Juege’s heart ached. She felt her master, who should have been a Princess of Qi enjoying boundless favor, had no reason to suffer like this.
Glancing at the clothes on the tray, she said to Xiao Jin: “Prince… your legs are inconvenient. Let this subordinate help you change.”
Then Juege lowered her voice, leaned in, and spoke in a whisper only they could hear: “Prince need not worry. This subordinate knows you are a daughter.”
Xiao Jin was slightly stunned. Meeting Juege’s eyes, she saw the other’s awkwardness and unease.
She thought: clearly you’re the one offering to help me change, so why does it feel like you’re the one being forced?
However, Xiao Jin had never been accustomed to others helping her dress. She felt that even with crippled legs, she was still an adult.
Spending extra time didn’t matter—she couldn’t possibly become a giant baby.
She was about to politely decline the kind offer when a gentle, clear voice suddenly sounded from outside the door: “Prince, let this humble wife do it.”
The voice was very pleasant, but the effect was utterly lethal.
No matter the circumstances, hearing Chu Shao’s voice always made Xiao Jin’s scalp tingle.
After all, it was the voice of Death.
Juege also began to grow wary. Someone had been standing outside the door for so long without her noticing—this meant the other’s martial arts must surpass her own.
A blade slipped from her sleeve.
She was about to grip the thin blade when, upon hearing the words “this humble wife,” she frowned slightly and returned the hidden weapon to her sleeve.
Just then, a hand gently pushed open the red wooden door.
Juege always assessed people by first looking at their build, then physique, to determine if they posed a threat.
But when she raised her head and saw the newcomer—her first glance was drawn to the woman’s face.
It was also the first time she knew that someone could be so beautiful it made her heart tremble.
And the person was a woman.
On the other side, Xiao Jin had long since become immune to Chu Shao’s face. Even the most beautiful appearance, when doing those insane things, would make her scalp tingle.
Chu Shao walked in slowly, looking from Juege to Xiao Jin. She asked gently: “Who is this young lady?”
Juege came back to herself, clasped her fist and bowed to Chu Shao, saying: “Greetings to the Princess Consort. This one’s surname is Ye, given name Juege.”
It was only then that Xiao Jin learned Juege’s surname was Ye.
But the surname Ye…
If it was that Ye Family from the original novel, it might carry considerable weight.
Chu Shao also seemed somewhat surprised and smiled. “What a cold name.” [T/N: Juege means Severed/Silent Song]
Xiao Jin was slightly startled.
She had thought the same?
Chu Shao looked at Ye Juege, gentleness rising between her brows and eyes—making even the latter appear somewhat uncomfortable. But the words that followed weren’t so easy to fathom.
“The name is indeed very pleasant, but Miss Ye seems to be standing a bit too close.”
Ye Juege was momentarily stunned, unsure for a moment whether Chu Shao meant too close to her or to someone else. After all, right now, she was three feet away from both Xiao Jin and Chu Shao.
And “a cold name” and “standing too close”…
There seemed to be no necessary connection.
Chu Shao gazed gently at Ye Juege. In truth, her thoughts were simple.
When she had raised her hand to knock but heard Ye Juege offer to help Xiao Jin change clothes from outside the door, the smile at her lips had gradually faded.
She knew she had been seized by an unpleasant emotion, but didn’t quite understand why.
In the past, pain and blood had always been clear. Chu Shao knew exactly why she felt pleasure and why she was drenched in blood.
Everything was within expectation.
There was no excess ecstasy or grief—those were boring things she didn’t care about.
But when Chu Shao felt this uncomfortable emotion gradually spread to her heart, the smile on her face slowly dissipated.
Pressing the beating heart in her chest, she knew she was very unhappy right now and very much wanted to kill someone.
But if she truly created a massacre, it would prove she had been completely controlled by another, rather than controlling others.
Chu Shao understood the source of her discomfort was Xiao Jin.
So she should kill the person talking to Xiao Jin.
Chu Shao felt no problem with her logic at all, because that was simply the truth. If she killed Xiao Jin, it would prove Xiao Jin controlled her—so she couldn’t kill Xiao Jin.
This also indirectly proved Xiao Jin was innocent and the other person was guilty.
But at this moment, Chu Shao felt Ye Juege’s name was cold and somewhat pleasant to hear. Moreover, her martial skills were good and reaction speed fast.
Keeping this person alive, Xiao Jin should feel happy.
That said, if Ye Juege could understand her words, perhaps…
Thinking this far, Chu Shao furrowed her brow slightly.
No.
Ultimately, what did Xiao Jin’s happiness have to do with her?
By the time Chu Shao came back to herself, Ye Juege had already been quietly dismissed by Xiao Jin and was nowhere to be seen.
Earlier, Xiao Jin had noticed Juege saying something to Chu Shao while Chu Shao remained completely unresponsive, as if lost in her own world.
Seizing the chance, she coughed and signaled Juege to withdraw first.
After Juege left, Chu Shao finally returned to her senses. Looking at the vanished figure before her, she seemed somewhat puzzled.
Xiao Jin didn’t know what Chu Shao was thinking again but understood it was absolutely nothing good.
Watching the slight furrow in the other’s brow, Xiao Jin decided to strike first before Chu Shao fully recovered her wits and make her forget what had just happened.
She said: “For matters like changing clothes, this Prince can handle it alone. Princess Consort, please wait outside for a moment. This Prince will come out after changing, alright?”
That final “alright” even made Xiao Jin herself somewhat incredulous.
Though she hadn’t meant it that way, after switching to a consultative tone, it felt like coaxing someone.
Chu Shao lowered her gaze to look at the speaker.
When Xiao Jin’s hair was unbound, black tresses draped over her shoulders, the dark silk smooth and glossy. Now, Xiao Jin slightly raised her eyes to look at her, her tone still calm but her gaze unusually focused.
As if discussing something important with someone important.
Chu Shao met Xiao Jin’s gaze for a long time. Finally, she smiled and agreed: “Alright.”
Xiao Jin breathed a sigh of relief.
Though she didn’t even know why she felt relieved.
Before leaving the bedroom, Chu Shao, while Xiao Jin wasn’t paying attention, reached out and gently hooked a strand of hair.
Xiao Jin frowned and instinctively brushed Chu Shao’s hand away.
Yet Chu Shao didn’t seem displeased. Instead, she curved her brows and eyes and leaned close to Xiao Jin’s ear, whispering: “Prince, your hair smells very fragrant.”
…
Even after Xiao Jin was already sitting on the boat, she still couldn’t accept the fact that she had inexplicably been flirted with by Chu Shao.
So much so that when Juege left the vessel, Xiao Jin only absently gave a few instructions.
Because Chu Shao had been too close at that moment. That clear, pine-like fragrance lingered beside her. Turning her head, she could see that smiling face.
If this was a honey trap, probably no one could withstand it.
Fortunately, Xiao Jin had long since decided not to be human anymore.
Only then could she calmly pick up the clothes on the tray and say to Chu Shao: “Princess Consort, please withdraw.”
When the pine fragrance in the room had completely dissipated, Xiao Jin pressed her hand to her forehead, but could still clearly hear the unmeasured pounding in her chest.
Thinking to herself: a honey trap—truly the supreme stratagem.
Now, sitting in the cabin, Xiao Jin flipped through a book while irritably pondering that she seemed to have fallen for the trap.
She raised her head to look outside the cabin. Spring was approaching. The scenery was no longer a sheet of white shrouded in mist. The thin ice on the river had completely melted.
The boatman stood at the bow, rowing.
The flowing water of Moon Crossing River wound around the wooden oars like hair passing through comb teeth, gently parting into long, distant jade waves.
Occasionally, birds flew past, echoing the fishermen’s songs and leaving water trails on the river’s surface.
Xiao Jin listened to this singing and found it quite crisp and resonant. She put down her book and turned to ask Chu Shao beside her: “What are they singing?”
It sounded pleasant, but it was in a dialect—she couldn’t understand a word.
Chu Shao, however, had made out what the fishermen were singing. She laughed softly: “The Prince probably doesn’t want to know what they’re singing.”
Xiao Jin grew more curious. “Why?”
Chu Shao answered: “Because they’re singing the Song of the Yue Boatman.”
Before Xiao Jin could react, Chu Shao was already gazing at the water beyond the boat and had begun to sing.
“What evening is this evening, that I take a boat into the stream?”
“What day is this day, that I share a boat with a prince? Ashamed am I to receive such favor, not shunning disgrace.”
“My heart is so troubled and never at peace, knowing the prince…”
The singing was melodious and graceful, extremely pleasant.
Just as Chu Shao was about to sing the final line, Xiao Jin spoke up, cutting her off: “That’s enough. No need to continue.”
Chu Shao watched Xiao Jin stiffly turn her head away. Perhaps it was the bright spring light, but the other’s profile was suffused with a faint rosy hue in the misty air.
Then it dispersed with the gradually calming flowing water.
Chu Shao smiled and asked softly: “Was this humble wife’s singing not pleasing?”
Xiao Jin maintained this awkward posture, refusing to answer.
When the stare had pushed her awkwardness to its limit, Xiao Jin—while inwardly cursing how even fishermen in this ancient world were so cultured—
Turned her head to look at Chu Shao and nodded.
“No. It was very beautiful.”
