Chapter 20

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Cheng Yun wrapped himself in a quilted long coat and stepped out ahead. Wen Biesang carried a lantern and followed him absentmindedly. After a few steps, Cheng Yun shifted to the side and said, "A bit ahead. If you hold the lantern like that, how can I see?" Wen Biesang kept his pace, so Cheng Yun had to slow down to let the light shine at his feet. Outside the corridor, snow began to fall softly again. The one holding the lantern had features as delicate as a painting, his skin hazy and smooth under the palace lamp’s glow, as if coated with honey. Cheng Yun quietly cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked slowly with his gaze averted. Wen Biesang escorted him to the sleeping chamber, then headed straight to a small room. Cheng Yun took two steps back and called out, "Where are you going?" Wen Biesang turned around. Cheng Yun said, "Undress me." Wen Biesang returned, and a servant promptly took the palace lantern away. Cheng Yun opened his arms, facing him. Wen Biesang, confused, reached out to loosen his outer coat and asked, "Why do you want me to help you again?" "From now on, all your personal affairs shall be managed by me," Cheng Yun said. The servant took away the loosened coat. Wen Biesang followed him inside and asked, "Why?" "Is that even a question?" "Why?" Cheng Yun took off his shoes and socks, looking at him exasperatedly. "Have you completely forgotten what happened last night?" Wen Biesang traced circles on his chest with his fingers and looked up at him. Cheng Yun was silent. Recalling the red swollen mark under the collar from yesterday… Wen Biesang suddenly understood and walked toward him. "That’s why I thanked you, but you got angry. I sincerely thanked you, and you still got angry. Even though you promised to let me leave once my leg was better, you went back on your word." Cheng Yun said in a low voice, "I never went back on my word." Wen Biesang stepped onto the stairs and sat beside him. Cheng Yun turned his face aside, his eyes catching the hand casually resting on his knee. He involuntarily held his breath. "Do you want some aphrodisiac?" The breath held was released. "What?" "I can help you relieve your tension, then we’ll be even." "Even?" "Yes." Cheng Yun fixed his gaze on his face, suddenly stood from the bedside, strode out, then abruptly returned, his eyes fierce as if ready to devour him. "Do you think this is a transaction?" "No." Wen Biesang showed a wary expression. "It’s a small favor; you’re upset, so I’m just returning the kindness." "A small favor?!" "After we’re even, you’ll let me leave. I won’t leave Shengjing anytime soon—you should be able to find me easily. Once my affairs are done, I’ll follow you to the Thunderfire Camp." Cheng Yun was speechless. "You’ve planned it all out clearly..." Wen Biesang asked, "Do you still have aphrodisiacs?" Cheng Yun’s expression shifted repeatedly. "Who else has done such a favor for you?" "No one would rush to help others with something like this." Cheng Yun’s lips moved slightly. Wen Biesang continued, "For now, only you." "For now..." Cheng Yun’s gaze darkened and brooded. Wen Biesang’s brow furrowed, growing more alert. Cheng Yun pressed his lips and sat back down beside him. "From now on, no one is allowed to touch you." Wen Biesang moved toward the foot of the bed. "Return my weapons; no one will touch me then." "You should know that what happened yesterday is something secret." "I’m not a fool." "..."

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"Anyway," Cheng Yun said, "You must never use such things to make deals with others." Wen Biesang furrowed his brow, gradually understanding. "You mean you don’t want me to help you?" "Not that kind of help." "Then..." "Shut up and sleep." Cheng Yun was annoyed. "I can’t reason with a fool like you." With a snap of his fingers, the room fell into darkness. Wen Biesang’s waist was suddenly hooked. Without resisting, he was lightly tossed inside. He propped himself up, but a hand pressed down on his head, pushing him back down. "Shut up. Don’t say a word. If you dare utter one, I’ll cut out your tongue." Wen Biesang immediately fell silent. In the darkness, Cheng Yun saw him draw a dagger and slowly press it against his pillow. He closed his eyes, turned over to face outward, and exhaled. "By dawn tomorrow, you’ll leave far away." Wen Biesang slept soundly. Winter mornings came late, and after another night of snow, the manor’s artificial lake was covered with a thin layer of ice. Wen Biesang opened his eyes in the darkness. He couldn’t tell the time, but guessed it was already the fifth watch. The surroundings were silent. He quietly sat up, shuffled to the foot of the bed, and carefully put on his shoes and socks. Opening the chamber door, snow was still falling outside. Pang Qi yawned as he came out and approached him. "Young master, why are you up so early?" "He told me to get lost." Pang Qi said, "...That’s probably just an angry remark." "I’m going to the study to get something." "Or should I inform the old servant first?" Wen Biesang nodded and took a cloak handed to him by a palace attendant. The sleeping chamber was dim. Outside, Pang Qi whispered, "Your Highness, it seems Master Wen said he’s leaving the manor." "Let him go." Pang Qi was stunned. "Just let him go?" Silence inside. Pang Qi muttered as he left. Just yesterday they were still wrapped in sweetness—what was this quarrel now... In the study, Pang Qi lit a lamp. Wen Biesang took down a familiar wooden box from the bookshelf. He carefully hung a string of walnuts around his waist. The sandalwood beads he had removed were restrung on his wrist, the beads clacking with a dull sound. He folded a small crossbow and pinned it to his hair, then checked each part of the miniature crossbow. Satisfied all was as before, he folded it and tucked it into his sleeve. "Thank you for taking care of me." "Are you really leaving?" "Yes." Wen Biesang stepped out of the study, then suddenly remembered something. "Please deliver this." Pang Qi was shocked. "This is the birthday gift Your Highness received from the late emperor when he was eight. The rubies were personally set by the late emperor. It’s extremely precious to Your Highness and has always been kept under his pillow with his sword. No one else is allowed to touch it!" Wen Biesang hadn’t realized. "I didn’t know it was so precious." Pang Qi seized the chance to admonish, "Since Your Highness has given this to you, you must take good care of it and not disappoint His Highness’s sincere heart." "He didn’t give this to me." "Huh?" "I stole it." "..." Wen Biesang took a few steps closer, turning the dagger to show him. "It’s fine, no scratches, and the gems are all intact." Then he placed the dagger on the table, stepped back two paces, and said, "Leave it here." "..."

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"Oh, right." Leaving the study, Wen Biesang suddenly recalled, "Is Guard Qi around?" Qi Song soon arrived from the outer yard, respectfully greeting, "Master Wen." Wen Biesang turned from the corridor and faced him. "What about the man who was captured with me at the Crown Prince’s mansion last time?" "The scholar who disguised himself as you?" Seeing Wen Biesang nod, Qi Song replied, "He’s still locked up in the dungeon." Wen Biesang’s eyes seemed to glint with a smile. "Can he be released too?" The sound of snow fell softly as the gates of the Crown Prince’s mansion slowly opened. Wen Biesang donned his veil and sprinted out. He kept running past the palace wall’s corner without looking back once. Pang Qi stood at the gate with folded arms, watching him go, his face full of worry. Inside the sleeping chamber, a figure with long hair slowly sat upright on the edge of the bed. In the darkness, the figure bowed his head, his expression unseen but exuding a grim aura. "Ten silver." A shadow silently appeared and knelt respectfully before him. "Assign some capable men to watch closely. Report immediately if anything happens." "Released him?" At the prime minister’s residence, Zhou Cangshu looked at the visitor. "Where is he now?" "Uh..." "What’s wrong?" "He’s outside the prime minister’s gate." Zhou Cangshu asked, "What’s he doing out there?" "Watching." The visitor said, "After leaving the Crown Prince’s mansion, he stayed at an inn for a while. Early this morning, he came to the prime minister’s residence and has been watching nonstop, doing nothing else. He goes back to sleep at night and comes again at dawn..." Zhou Cangshu asked, "Is he carrying anything?" "Just food." "..." Zhou Cangshu asked, "What time did he arrive?" "Around the early morning watch." "That’s court time. He’s here to stalk me," Zhou Cangshu chuckled, then burst into laughter. "This troublemaker really is Zhou Qiao’s child!" The visitor hesitated, "Should we have someone chase him away?" Zhou Cangshu was silent for a moment. "Try it." "..." The visitor left, then hurried back excitedly. "He left!" Zhou Cangshu, who was about to write a leave request, paused. "He left?" "Yes, I just took some men over there, and he left without looking back." "..." Zhou Cangshu whispered, "What’s really going on?" He tossed aside the leave note and suddenly realized, "No! Send someone after him immediately! We must catch him!" "Ahhhhh—" On the street, a man wearing a veil screamed and ran wildly, "Stop chasing me! I’m just a man named Wen Biesang’s double, sent to spy at the prime minister’s residence! If I don’t do it, he’ll kill me!" "Even if you catch me, I really don’t know anything else!!!" "Stop right there!" The man yanked off his veil, revealing the face of the man who had helped Wen Biesang’s parents at the gravesite. He threw the veil behind him, shouting rapidly, "He took me out of the Crown Prince’s dungeon, then we split up and stayed at the same inn. After that, he made me wear his clothes and cap and stay in the room he booked. He said if no one chased me, I should keep watching the prime minister’s residence every day. If someone chased me, I must run without looking back..." He gasped but kept running. "I didn’t want to do it! But he gave me fake silver ingots. I cut one open—it’s really fake!" "Then he gave me twenty taels and promised a hundred more if this mission succeeded! I’ve been in prison so long; I can’t end up with fake money and lose everything!" "I really don’t know where he went—please stop chasing me! That’s all I know!" "Stop! Come with us to see the prime minister!"