Qin Buwen needed to earn Ji Junjiao’s trust.
But judging from their encounters in the past, although Ji Junjiao was unquestionably an upright and honorable gentleman, he was by no means someone who was easy to fool.
Winning his trust would not be easy.
Besides, her current identity was already suspicious. If she couldn’t clear herself of suspicion, Ji Junjiao would never allow her to remain here.
With that thought, Qin Buwen lowered her head even further and quietly waited for the man behind the desk to speak.
Ji Junjiao looked at her calmly.
“What have you remembered, Miss?”
Qin Buwen answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
“This common woman remembers traveling to Chang’an with a group of refugees. My hometown was struck by disaster. I hadn’t eaten for several days, and while I was resting in that abandoned temple… the assassin in black grabbed me and used me to block the sword.”
Ji Junjiao lightly tapped the tabletop with his long fingers.
“Where is your hometown?”
Qin Buwen shook her head.
“I… can’t remember. I only remember carrying a protective talisman with me. It should have been left behind in the ruined temple…”
Ji Junjiao nodded slightly.
“If you remember anything else, you may tell me. I will have someone contact your family.”
Qin Buwen hesitated before speaking.
“My lord… that talisman means a great deal to me. Could I… return to the abandoned temple and look for it?”
Ji Junjiao pondered for a moment.
“You’ve been unconscious for several days. There are many refugees staying in that temple now. It has most likely already been picked up by someone else.”
The corners of Qin Buwen’s eyes reddened.
“My lord… I’d still like to go and look.”
Ji Junjiao didn’t understand why a simple talisman could be so important.
Still, he had never been one to impose his own opinions on others.
“Very well. I’ll have someone accompany you. Refugees have been pouring into Chang’an recently. It isn’t safe for you to go alone.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
…
Qin Buwen knew perfectly well that Ji Junjiao was sending someone with her partly to keep an eye on her.
But earning his trust was her highest priority.
Even if Ji Junjiao hadn’t assigned a guard, she would have requested one herself.
Most of her injuries had healed.
By the time Qin Buwen arrived at the abandoned temple with the guard, evening had already fallen.
“It should be somewhere around here. Could you help me look as well, sir?”
She needed to find a way to separate from him for a little while.
After a brief hesitation, the guard nodded and began searching nearby.
Keeping her back to him, Qin Buwen quietly walked to the corner of the ruined temple.
When the assassin had held her hostage that day, she had instinctively grabbed the token hanging from his waist.
To prevent anyone from finding it while she was unconscious, she had thrown the token into this very spot before losing consciousness.
She pulled aside the broken bricks and rubble.
At last…
She found it.
The moment she saw the emblem and inscription carved into the token, a cold smile spread across her lips.
Just as she’d suspected.
The assassin had been an agent from the Northern Desert.
His appearance here meant he had almost certainly been meeting with a spy operating inside Yaoyun.
What Qin Buwen couldn’t understand, however, was why Ji Junjiao had also appeared there.
Had he received advance intelligence?
And if so…
Who had provided it?
“Miss, I’ve searched over there. There’s nothing.”
Hearing the guard call out, Qin Buwen tucked the token away before turning around.
Her eyes were already rimmed with red.
“I couldn’t find it either.”
The guard couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.
“Miss, perhaps we should search a little more carefully. Maybe we’ve overlooked something.”
Qin Buwen shook her head and sniffled.
“There’s no need. Grand Secretary Ji was right. It’s been so many days already. Someone must have picked it up.”
The guard looked as though he wanted to comfort her further.
Qin Buwen wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes before dejectedly making her way back.
After all…
There had never been any protective talisman to begin with.
If she had actually found one, that would have been a miracle.
…
After returning to the residence, Qin Buwen first hid the token before considering how she could pass this information on to Ji Junjiao.
Meanwhile, Changqing delivered a copy of the tattoo rubbing to Ji Junjiao.
“My lord, who do you think was the one who secretly sent you the message telling you to go to the abandoned temple?”
Ji Junjiao quietly examined the black tattoo pattern.
“I’m still investigating.”
“Whoever it was has extraordinary reach. What could their purpose have been?”
Changqing frowned.
Ji Junjiao’s voice remained cool and detached.
“Whatever their motive, the spy hidden within the court must be uncovered.”
“I understand.”
After leaving the study, Changqing didn’t return to his own quarters.
Instead, he headed straight for Qin Buwen’s courtyard.
At that moment, Qin Buwen was sitting alone, playing chess.
When she’d learned that the Chengping Army had been massacred, grief had nearly consumed her.
Using various excuses, she’d deliberately sent all of her trusted subordinates away.
She wondered whether they were still alive.
She had already borne years of infamy.
She hadn’t wanted them buried alongside her.
A black stone clicked onto the board.
Only then did Changqing’s voice sound from behind her.
“So Miss knows how to play chess?”
His tone was unreadable, carrying a trace of coldness.
Qin Buwen immediately stood and offered him a respectful curtsy.
“Greetings, Lord Changqing.”
Changqing narrowed his eyes and carefully sized her up before lowering his gaze to the stone chessboard.
The black stones were neatly lined up on one side.
The white stones were lined up on the other.
It was obviously nothing more than random placement.
There wasn’t the slightest sign of an actual game.
“I noticed there was a chess set here, so I arranged the pieces for fun.”
Qin Buwen answered without the slightest change in expression.
Changqing pressed his lips together.
“Have you remembered anything else?”
So…
He’d come to test her.
Qin Buwen lowered her eyes.
“I only remember fleeing here with the refugees. Other than that… I haven’t recalled anything.”
Changqing’s voice remained indifferent.
“You don’t even remember your own name?”
Qin Buwen simply lowered her head in silence.
Changqing said nothing more.
“For now, Miss may stay here without worry. My master will see that you are properly cared for.”
“Thank you, Lord Changqing.”
Before the last word had even left her lips—
Changqing suddenly spun around.
His sword flashed from its scabbard, thrusting straight toward Qin Buwen’s forehead!
Qin Buwen frowned almost imperceptibly.
The instant the sword stopped just short of her brow, her eyes flew wide open, and her entire body began trembling uncontrollably.
Without changing expression, Changqing withdrew the sword and held out its tip.
A large spider had been skewered there.
“Please be careful, Miss. A bite from a poisonous spider this season is no pleasant experience.”
Qin Buwen staggered backward several steps.
Her body still trembled violently.
She didn’t even dare look at Changqing as she stammered,
“Th-thank you… Lord Changqing…”
A faint crease appeared between Changqing’s brows.
“Did I frighten you, Miss?”
Qin Buwen said nothing.
She simply lowered her head while her body continued to shake.
Changqing pursed his lips before clasping his fists in apology.
“My apologies, Miss.”
“It’s… it’s nothing…”
“My courage is simply too small. Please don’t blame yourself, Lord Changqing…”
Her voice quivered with the unmistakable edge of tears.
Changqing stayed no longer.
Offering another respectful bow, he said,
“Please rest early, Miss. I’ll take my leave.”
Only after Changqing had finally disappeared did Qin Buwen slowly raise her head.
Her eyes were completely calm, filled only with thoughtfulness.
Ji Junjiao certainly had no shortage of capable people at his side.
…
Inside the study…
“So she only went to the abandoned temple?”
Standing before the desk, Ji Junjiao looked at the rubbing of the tattoo in his hand, lost in thought.
The guard who had accompanied Qin Buwen respectfully replied,
“Yes, my lord. She only went to the abandoned temple.”
“Did she find the talisman?”
“No.”
“The young lady searched for quite some time without finding anything. By the time she left, her eyes were red from crying.”
The guard clearly didn’t believe Qin Buwen was a bad person.
There was even a trace of sympathy in his voice.
Ji Junjiao nodded.
“You may go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
…
Early the next morning, Qin Buwen went to see Ji Junjiao in the study.
The court was on recess these past few days, so Ji Junjiao spent nearly all of his time shut away in the study.
Anyone unaware of the truth might have thought he was hiding some peerless beauty inside.
“My lord, I’ve prepared some tea.”
The soft rustle of papers came from within.
A moment later, Ji Junjiao’s calm voice answered,
“Come in.”
Qin Buwen carried the tea over to his desk.
As she poured him a cup, she hesitated before speaking.
“My lord… are you investigating that assassin in black?”