During the years Qin Buwen had lived as the capital’s most notorious young wastrel, she had mastered everything from brawling and cockfighting to raising crickets, gambling at liubo, cruising pleasure boats, and chasing beautiful women.
She had also read her fair share of romantic storybooks.
But in those stories, people who were reborn always returned to a few years before their deaths.
So why had she skipped straight to five years after hers?
Qin Buwen’s mind was a complete mess.
The Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor from five years ago had now transformed into the most powerful man beneath the emperor.
If Ji Junjiao was now the Grand Secretary, then at the very least it meant the man sitting on the throne was still the former Crown Prince.
That thought eased her mind considerably.
The Second Prince, Song Chengxuan, and Li Yunmu had conspired to slaughter and bury alive her three hundred thousand Chengping Army soldiers.
Now that she was alive again…
It was time to settle that debt.
Judging from this body’s appearance, she was only around twenty years old.
Qin Buwen suddenly realized that if she herself had never died, she would have been twenty-one by now.
If she wanted revenge, the most important thing she needed was power.
She looked up.
The man standing before her was tall and upright, dignified and righteous. He stood above all others save the emperor himself.
He was the perfect choice.
Although…
Back when Ji Junjiao had still been the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, she and he had shared a few… minor disagreements.
But now she wore an entirely different face.
As long as she kept her true identity hidden, there was every chance she could use Ji Junjiao to bring Li Yunmu down.
Having made up her mind, Qin Buwen slowly raised her head. Pressing a hand to her chest, she wore a pale, fragile expression.
“My lord… why do I feel as though… I’ve forgotten everything?”
Since Ji Junjiao had accidentally wounded her, the best way to remain here was to make full use of his guilt and sense of responsibility.
Ji Junjiao frowned slightly.
“Miss, do you remember your own name?”
Qin Buwen looked at him sorrowfully and slowly shook her head.
“I… don’t remember.”
“My lord, the Imperial Physician has arrived!”
The maid entered with the elderly physician in tow.
Ji Junjiao stepped aside to allow the physician to examine her pulse.
“My respects, Grand Secretary.”
“No need for formalities. Please examine this young lady.”
The elderly physician wasted no time. Placing a silk cloth over Qin Buwen’s wrist, he began taking her pulse.
He stroked his beard thoughtfully before speaking.
“My lord, this young lady’s pulse is steady. She is no longer in any serious danger.”
“She was extraordinarily fortunate. The sword missed her heart by barely two inches. Had it gone any deeper, not even the finest medicine could have saved her.”
Ji Junjiao pursed his lips.
“Imperial Physician, she claims to remember nothing. What could have caused this?”
The physician immediately took her pulse once more before lifting her eyelids for a careful examination.
“There is no blood stasis…”
He frowned.
“Miss, have you truly forgotten everything?”
The corners of Qin Buwen’s eyes reddened as she looked at him with a pitiful, helpless expression.
The physician sighed before rising.
“It is most likely that the young lady suffered such overwhelming shock that it resulted in temporary memory loss. I’ll prescribe some medicine for her. Let her take it for a few days, and we’ll observe whether her condition improves.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
Ji Junjiao had the maid escort the physician out before turning back toward Qin Buwen.
Perhaps it was only her imagination…
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a hint of scrutiny in his gaze.
Qin Buwen gave a light cough.
Only then did Ji Junjiao step forward.
“Miss, rest here in the side hall for the next few days. You needn’t concern yourself with anything else.”
Qin Buwen thanked him.
Ji Junjiao offered no further words before turning to leave.
Only after his figure disappeared from sight did the smile fade from Qin Buwen’s face.
Out of habit, she reached for the jade thumb ring on her left thumb.
Then she suddenly remembered.
She was no longer Prince Chang’an.
That thumb ring had probably been thrown into a mass grave together with her corpse.
She let out a quiet chuckle.
First things first—she needed to learn the identity of this body’s original owner.
Otherwise, she might end up inviting unnecessary trouble later.
…
The maid’s name was Qingyue.
She was cheerful, friendly, and easy to talk to.
After asking only a few carefully chosen questions, Qin Buwen had a rough understanding of this body’s background.
Apparently, Ji Junjiao had been pursuing a black-clad assassin when he cornered the man inside an abandoned temple.
The original owner of this body had been dressed in rags.
She was most likely a refugee or a beggar.
With nowhere left to run, the assassin had dragged her over as a human shield, causing Ji Junjiao to accidentally stab her before rescuing her afterward.
Learning all this, Qin Buwen couldn’t help but smile.
“Miss, what are you smiling about?”
Qingyue asked curiously as she stirred the medicine over the stove.
Qin Buwen’s wound had improved considerably, and she was now sitting with Qingyue in the kitchen chatting while the medicine simmered.
Seated on a small wooden stool, Qin Buwen rested her chin on one hand and tilted her head.
“I just think your Grand Secretary is far too kind.”
Far too kind indeed.
If it had been her, she would have suspected this whole “human shield” incident was staged to gain her trust.
She would never have brought such a person back to her own residence so easily.
Qin Buwen suddenly remembered something from years ago.
Back when she had run wild in the Eastern Palace, she had ordered one of the servants there to be beaten.
Ji Junjiao had happened to witness it.
Not only had he protected the servant, but the very next day he had submitted a memorial to impeach her.
Back then, Qin Buwen had held overwhelming power.
Forget beating a servant.
Even if she had killed that servant on the spot, not a single person in the imperial palace would have dared utter one word of criticism.
During those years…
The only person who had ever dared oppose her was the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor.
He truly was…
The very definition of an upright gentleman.
Qingyue completely missed the deeper meaning behind Qin Buwen’s words.
Instead, she smiled proudly.
“Of course! Throughout all of Chang’an, who doesn’t praise our Grand Secretary as a once-in-a-generation genius, unmatched beneath the heavens?”
Qin Buwen simply smiled along with her.
Perfect.
The original owner had been nothing more than a refugee.
Even if she had parents, they had almost certainly become separated during their flight.
That meant Qin Buwen could fabricate whatever identity she pleased.
There would be no one left to contradict her.
…
“My lord, you’re really going to let that young lady stay?”
Inside the study, the man dressed in blue stood before Ji Junjiao, unable to hide his disapproval.
Ji Junjiao sat at his desk, quietly sketching something as he answered without looking up.
“The responsibility lies with me. Naturally, she must remain until she has fully recovered.”
The blue-robed man frowned.
“But, my lord… what if she’s a spy sent by someone else?”
Even seated, Ji Junjiao maintained his perfectly straight posture.
He replied calmly,
“If she is a spy, she’ll reveal herself sooner or later.”
The man cautiously ventured,
“Then… shall I sound her out?”
Ji Junjiao ignored the suggestion entirely.
Instead, he handed over the drawing he had just completed.
“Changqing, have several copies made. Send people to search everywhere for this symbol.”
The man in blue—Changqing—looked down at the strange design.
“My lord, what is this?”
“Although I failed to capture the assassin that day, I caught sight of the tattoo on his arm. Investigate this symbol. It should lead us to some useful clues.”
Changqing nodded before remembering something else.
“Oh, my lord. While you were away these past few days, Vice Minister of Revenue Li Yunmu came to visit you.”
Ji Junjiao nodded.
“I understand. You may go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
…
The moment Changqing left, Qin Buwen appeared outside the study.
“My lord, it’s me. I have something I’d like to tell you.”
Ji Junjiao quietly gathered the books, letters, and memorials spread across his desk.
“Come in.”
As Qin Buwen pushed open the door, she was greeted by the familiar fragrance of sandalwood lingering in the room.
The moment she stepped inside, she dropped to her knees before Ji Junjiao.
“My lord… this common woman has remembered… a few things.”