Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie emerged from the governor's mansion well past midnight.
Linzhou was not a large prefecture, its population barely reaching a million at full count.
They walked along Luohua Street, the autumn wind whistling, carrying a subtle chill. The only establishment still open was a tavern.
"I hear the wine in Linzhou is the strongest in the Southern Yue Kingdom, mainly to ward off the cold," Zhong Li said as they walked.
Lu Wuxie glanced at her, rubbing her arms, and pulling her towards the tavern.
"Young Master..."
"The Ten-Mile Fragrance from Jinzhou, the Hundred Flower Brew from Yongcheng, we've tasted both. We certainly can't miss the Jade Spring Nectar of Linzhou," he interrupted Zhong Li, casually ordering two jars of wine and finding a quiet spot to sit.
They were the only patrons in the tavern. Flickering candlelight cast warm hues on their faces, lending an air of softness and intimacy absent in their usual respectful demeanor.
"The wine is here!" The waiter placed two jars on the table, adding a plate of peanuts as a snack.
"They say people in Linzhou can eat peanuts all night with their wine. It seems to be true," Lu Wuxie said, popping a peanut into his mouth and then tipping the wine jar to drink directly from it.
Wine trickled down his chin, tracing a path over his Adam's apple and dampening his clean collar.
Zhong Li was surprised by his behavior. Since they had parted ways at Qingliang Hall in Yuxian, he had rarely been so unrestrained and carefree.
She lowered her gaze, pouring herself a cup of wine. As she brought it to her lips, she started in surprise – the wine was warm?
Lu Wuxie had already drunk more than half a jar. Seeing her reaction, he smiled and said, "In Linzhou, except for summer, the wine is always served warm. It helps with the cold, as you said. You won't be cold when we go back later."
Zhong Li paused, her eyes through the wine cup meeting the man opposite her.
She finally understood why he had pulled her into the tavern without asking her preference. He had noticed she was wearing thin clothes and was feeling the cold.
They drank and their shadows intertwined.
They lost track of how long they had been drinking or how many jars they had consumed. Wine cups lay scattered on the floor. Zhong Li slumped onto the table, only to find the man opposite her also slumped there, gazing at her. Startled, she subtly averted her gaze.
Lu Wuxie was somewhat drunk, his gaze towards Zhong Li hazy.
After a long while, as the waiter replaced a lamp, he murmured,
"Li'er, I had a dream before we came."
Zhong Li looked up, meeting his eyes again. She remembered the dark marks beneath his eyelids when they left Jincheng.
"What did you dream about?" she replied, her voice slightly nasally, likely from the wind and the warmth of the wine.
"In the thirtieth year of Anhe, the Prince Xian's manor caught fire." Lu Wuxie took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing as he continued, "My father died. Lin Jin died protecting me. Nearly a hundred people in the Prince Xian's manor perished overnight."
Zhong Li's brows twitched. She knew Lu Wuxie was dreaming of events before his rebirth.
"I could have escaped, but I was not a stray dog to abandon the Prince Xian's manor. So, I went back. I knew I might die, but I wasn't afraid. If my home was gone, what was the point of living?
At that time, there was no one I cared about," Lu Wuxie said, his eyes growing more distant. His seemingly indifferent demeanor hid a profound pain that she could sense.
Zhong Li looked at his slightly flushed cheeks, reddened by the wine, and asked, "In the thirtieth year of Anhe, was it the Emperor who killed you?"
Lu Wuxie shook his head. "By the time Prince Xian's manor was turned to ashes, the Emperor had already passed away."
Zhong Li's pupils contracted slightly. It was now autumn in the twenty-ninth year of Anhe. The Emperor likely had less than a year to live.
But...
She bit her lip. So far, there had been no news from the court about the Emperor's declining health.
"Then the person who killed you was... the Crown Prince?" Zhong Li asked again, recalling his earlier words and guessing.
Lu Wuxie nodded, then shook his head, feeling it was not entirely accurate. "Lu Yuanhong is paranoid and childishly naive. Though he appears ruthless, he is actually indecisive. The person who captured me was his man, but this entire plot could not have been conceived by him."
"Then it was..."
"I don't know." Lu Wuxie shook his head, then let out a sudden, bitter laugh. "Li'er, do you think I'm very foolish? Living two lives, and still unable to find out who destroyed my entire family and killed my mother."
Zhong Li's lips parted. She reached out and took the wine jar from his fingertips. "No, you are very intelligent. If you had known your opponent from the start, wouldn't an easily discoverable opponent make you look even more foolish?"
Hearing this, Lu Wuxie's smile widened. "I hadn't realized, Li'er, you're quite good at comforting people."
Zhong Li's lips curved upwards, her gaze lingering on him, tracing his contours in the candlelight.
"Young Master, there is something I wish to ask you," she said.
Lu Wuxie nodded. "Li'er, I don't know if this is the right time to say this, but whatever you wish to know, I will no longer hide anything from you."
"Consort Nangong," Zhong Li said softly. "I have always had a doubt. You said Consort Nangong died in the previous life, and evil spirits were discovered in her room. Will this life change?"
Lu Wuxie shook his head. "In the previous life, it was I who discovered the evil spirits in her room."
Zhong Li's lips tightened, awaiting his next words.
"However, the case of Consort Rong in the previous life had some discrepancies compared to this life. At that time, only Consort Shu died in the palace fire, and Lan Heng of the Dali Temple was appointed to investigate.
Lan Heng was Fu Chong's man. Whether he investigated thoroughly, or if he concealed anything after his investigation, I do not know. I only remember that Consort Rong's case was dragged on. By the time of Lu Yuanhong's birthday banquet, Lu Yuanhong was burned to death, and Nangong Xiaodie was utterly devastated.
The Emperor was furious, and the Dali Temple was held accountable. Lan Heng was subsequently demoted to Jinzhou, and the case naturally fell to the Judicial Inspection Office.
When I took over, I discovered that a large amount of evidence and confessions had been destroyed during the thorough investigation. Xi Yun, who was by Consort Shu's side, also bit her tongue and died. Nangong Xiaodie had already lost her beloved son for some time and was often in a state of frenzy within the palace. Once, when I went to question her, I encountered her arguing with Pei, a senior palace attendant of the Empress.
It was then that I discovered the evil spirits she kept in the palace. The Emperor most disliked such practices as 'yan sheng shu' appearing in the harem. Moreover, Nangong Xiaodie was already in a state of madness and had no powerful maternal family to rely on. The Emperor did not wish to expend more resources on this case.
Thus, all the blame was placed upon Nangong Xiaodie, and the case was hastily concluded."
After listening to Lu Wuxie, Zhong Li felt as if every breath she took was trembling.
What kind of situation was this? Nangong Xiaodie had clearly died wrongfully, yet how could this be... So, when Lu Wuxie spoke to her about Lu Yuan Chen, he already knew Lu Yuan Chen was destined to die. Nangong Xiaodie would only suffer in this matter, allowing them to join forces and, incidentally, accept Lu Yuan Feng.
Lu Wuxie was far-sighted, seemingly cold-blooded yet always thinking of those who died unjustly in the previous life. He saved whom he could, and for those he couldn't, he was powerless.
"Li'er!" Lu Wuxie looked at the indignant woman opposite him, a hint of mistiness rising in his eyes.
He recalled when he first met her, the way she looked at the autopsy report and pointed out issues with Xie Xiaoyun's body, so similar to her current expression. It was this unwavering demeanor that had captivated him from that moment.
"Since fate has given me another chance, I will orchestrate all the schemes in the world, but I will not let those who should not succeed, succeed.
And..."
His voice was slightly choked, and he paused for a moment. "I wish to win this game of life with the person I love, until our hair turns white."
Hearing this, Zhong Li's eyes sparkled with a clear light. She gazed at him, unable to look away for a long time.