Shen Nong sat blankly on a stool, gazing at the budding winter plum blossoms outside the window. She recalled that it was in this very season she had fallen in love with him.
As dusk began to fall, just as she was drifting off to sleep, a figure rushed in from outside.
“You’ve finally come!” Shen Nong exclaimed, seeing the approaching figure. She stood up excitedly and went to greet him, her demeanor still possessing a touch of girlish charm.
“Nong’er, why have you summoned me to the palace so late? You know it’s dangerous if the Emperor discovers me at this hour!” Eunuch Yun said softly, reminding her as he looked at Shen Nong’s expectant face.
Shen Nong sighed, her hand that had reached out to grasp the man’s falling limp. “It’s alright, the Emperor is with Nangong Xiaodie.”
“Nong’er, please don’t be angry. We are at a critical juncture, we must act with caution,” Eunuch Yun reminded her again.
Shen Nong returned to her seat and said, “How could I not know such things? It’s just…”
She looked at him pitifully and said, “Ying’er and I had a fight.”
“Did Ying’er make you angry?” Eunuch Yun asked.
Shen Nong sighed. “Back then, I acted stubbornly, putting you in a difficult position. Otherwise, Ying’er would undoubtedly have grown up under my care and could have legitimately been the little princess of Nanyue Kingdom. Now, her status is low, and her marriage prospects have also been dashed. It’s only natural that she blames me, but you know I can’t have it both ways. I truly…”
“Nong’er!” Eunuch Yun, seeing Shen Nong so self-pitying, held her tenderly in his arms. “We are doing this for Ying’er, aren’t we? If this world truly falls into someone else’s hands, you and I won’t even have the right to speak like this. Nong’er, don’t dwell on it. Ying’er will understand when she grows up.”
Shen Nong nodded aggrievedly, worrying, “It would be best if she could understand. Now she has already done something bad.”
“What do you mean?” Eunuch Yun asked.
“She… Zhong Li was assassinated outside Baolin Temple. It was her doing, and I let a survivor fall into Lu Wu Xie’s hands,” Shen Nong said.
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Yun’s expression darkened. He knew this matter would solidify the suspicions of Dali Temple and the Judicial Inspection Office against them.
“What should we do?” Shen Nong looked up at him.
Eunuch Yun pondered for a moment. “I heard that Lu Wu Xie and Zhong Li went to Jinzhou?”
“Yes!” Shen Nong nodded. “Wu Zhong and Wu You of the Wu family disappeared with Tian Lian Xue’s body on the official road in Anding County. Furthermore, the Wu family’s mole hidden beside Governor Ren was discovered. Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie have gone to investigate thoroughly.”
“Heh!” Eunuch Yun let out a laugh, his face turning grim. “Since that is the case, they are not in Jincheng. Without anyone to protect them in Jincheng, Nong’er, don’t you think now is a good time for us to make our move?”
Shen Nong’s willow brows furrowed upon hearing this. “This… if we fail, we…”
“No womanly kindness!” Eunuch Yun interrupted Shen Nong. “The arrow is nocked and must be loosed. Nong’er, it has come to a point where it’s either you die or I die. This is our only move.”
“Alright!” Shen Nong said, standing up and walking to the makeup box. She pulled open a drawer, took out a black token, and handed it to the man opposite her.
Eunuch Yun took the token, tucked it into his robe, and turned to leave. He felt his sleeve tighten and looked back to see Shen Nong standing there, looking at him coyly.
“It’s so late, and the Emperor isn’t coming. Everyone in my Fengluan Palace is one of us. Are you sure you’re leaving so soon?” Shen Nong’s tone was coquettish and gentle.
Eunuch Yun coughed lightly, leaning closer to Shen Nong’s ear and smiling. “Then I’ll go wash my hands.”
“Mmm!” Shen Nong nodded, her face flushing even deeper.
-------------------------------------
It was still a bit cold in Jinzhou, close to the time of Xiao Xue (Minor Snow). Zhong Li put on the outer cloak Lu Wu Xie had given her and stepped out of the carriage.
Jinzhou was as bustling and noisy as when she had last visited. She recalled the pastries she had eaten here were quite good and was about to find a small stall to buy some when a voice called out from not far away, “Officer Zhong!”
Zhong Li turned her head and saw Ren Wen Shu, dressed in a thick coat and riding a fine horse, galloping towards them. She smiled and waved, “Young Master Ren.”
Ren Wen Shu dismounted and, seeing the pastry in Zhong Li’s hand, asked with a smile, “Officer Zhong likes this?”
“Yes, I tried it last time and it was quite good. I wanted to take some with me, but it was hot then and spoiled easily, which was a pity,” Zhong Li said, preparing to pay the vendor.
“I’ll do it!” Ren Wen Shu quickly took out his money pouch to pay. However, a hand quickly stopped him and a pleasant voice sounded by his ear, “Young Master Ren, allow me. My wife’s things should naturally be paid for by her husband.”
With that, a small piece of silver was placed in the vendor’s hand.
Wife? Husband?
Ren Wen Shu found it a bit awkward. He turned his head, wanting to see who the presumptuous person was who dared to take advantage of Zhong Li, but when he saw Lu Wu Xie’s handsome face, all his words were swallowed back.
“Se… Your Highness?” he stammered.
“Are you not welcoming?” Lu Wu Xie asked.
Ren Wen Shu recovered and pointed at Zhong Li, “You two…”
Lu Wu Xie gave him a look that said, ‘That’s right, it’s just as you think.’
Ren Wen Shu felt a pang in his chest, then quickly mounted his horse and galloped away, kicking up dust.
Zhong Li was still eating the pastry in her hand. Seeing Ren Wen Shu suddenly leave, she nudged Lu Wu Xie with her arm. “He looks quite sad.”
Lu Wu Xie shot her a glance. “Hmph, anyone who dares to covet you, I will crush their heart.”
Zhong Li shrugged. She didn’t mind, but she thought of Ren Zhong. It seemed Ren Wen Shu must have gone to him for comfort. Daddies’ boys were generally like that.
Zhong Li and Lu Wu Xie walked through the streets, buying many things, all paid for by Lu Wu Xie, of course.
About half an hour later, they arrived at the Jinzhou yamen.
As soon as Zhong Li alighted from the carriage, Ren Zhong rushed out from inside. Upon seeing the woman before him, he exclaimed, “Officer Zhong, you and His Highness have finally arrived?”
Zhong Li nodded. “Master Ren, thank you for waiting.”
Ren Zhong smiled and welcomed them inside. It was the same familiar inner hall.
As soon as Zhong Li sat down, she heard cries from a neighboring courtyard. She glanced at Ren Zhong.
Ren Zhong gave an embarrassed smile. “Officer Zhong and His Highness, please don’t mind. My son is just like this. He’ll be fine in a while.”
Zhong Li and Ren Wen Shu were friends, but that didn’t mean she was on good terms with Lu Wu Xie.
He cast a glance at Ren Zhong and casually set aside the teacup in his hand. “Master Ren, you must understand that doting too much on one’s children will only make them crybabies who never grow up.”
Ren Zhong’s lips twitched, and he gave an awkward smile, wanting to say something. But before he could, Lu Wu Xie spoke again, “I took a look when I came in. Many familiar faces in the yamen have been replaced. Master Ren, have you found the moles?”
“Alas!” Upon mentioning the serious matter, Ren Zhong couldn’t help but sigh. “Your Highness, as an official, I admit this is the first time I’ve had to make such a drastic change in the yamen’s personnel. It has delayed a lot of government affairs. Fortunately, the person was caught. Regrettably, during the interrogation, he had hidden poison in his teeth, and before I could get any information, he died.”
“As expected,” Lu Wu Xie said lightly, swirling the teacup in his hand. “Now, Master Ren, you don’t have any trusted confidants around you, do you?”
Ren Zhong nodded.
“In that case, your son should be less childish and refrain from coveting other people’s wives. He should focus on investigating cases properly.”
As soon as Lu Wu Xie finished speaking, both Ren Zhong and Zhong Li turned their gaze to him.
This was a roundabout way of saying things, the real intention was not just about the case.