Carrying the tea set, Qin Buwen made her way toward the main hall.
The main hall of Wenyuan Pavilion was spacious, but its furnishings were remarkably plain.
Compared to her former Prince Chang’an’s residence, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Then again, that was only to be expected.
Ji Junjiao was famous for his integrity and incorruptible character. Aside from his official salary and the rewards bestowed upon him by the Emperor, there was hardly a single valuable item in Wenyuan Pavilion.
When the Emperor had first ascended the throne, he had launched a sweeping purge throughout the court.
Countless corrupt officials were brought down, while even those who had merely accepted minor gifts or favors received severe punishment.
The purge implicated an astonishing number of officials—something not seen in a century.
More than ninety percent of the imperial court was caught up in it.
At the time, Ji Junjiao was serving as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor.
Amid countless disgraced officials, he alone stood untouched.
Spotless.
Unyielding.
Utterly incorruptible.
That had also been the first time Qin Buwen met Ji Junjiao.
She had always known he was an upright man, but she hadn’t expected that after all these years, even after reaching such a lofty position, he had remained exactly the same.
As she stepped into the main hall, she immediately saw Li Yunmu seated in the guest’s chair.
Oddly enough…
Five years wasn’t that long.
Besides, Qin Buwen and Li Yunmu had once spent nearly every day together.
She had thought she would recognize him at a glance.
Yet the moment their eyes met, it suddenly dawned on her—
Five years could change a person more than she had imagined.
Long enough for the spirited young man she once knew…
…to become the cold, emotionless man before her.
She suddenly remembered the day they first met.
Back then, Li Yunmu had been filthy, disheveled, and utterly miserable.
Yet his eyes had shone with astonishing determination.
“Your Highness, Prince Chang’an, I beg you to uphold justice and restore my family’s honor!”
A flicker of emotion crossed Qin Buwen’s eyes.
Lowering her gaze, she absentmindedly stroked the jade thumb ring on her finger.
“What does the fate of the Li family have to do with me?”
Li Yunmu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Your Highness… more than a hundred members of the Li family died unjustly…”
Qin Buwen let out a mocking laugh, as though she had just heard the greatest joke in the world.
“Whether they died unjustly or not is none of my concern.”
Then she slowly looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow.
“On the other hand… Young Master Li is rather handsome. Quite pleasing to the eye.”
Li Yunmu stared at her in stunned silence before finally finding his voice.
“Your Highness… what do you mean?”
Qin Buwen smiled faintly.
“Now that the Li family has been exterminated, Li Yunmu… if you wish to survive, how about becoming one of my attendants?”
Everyone in Chang’an knew perfectly well what Prince Chang’an meant by “attendants.”
They were little more than beautiful companions kept for amusement.
A long silence followed.
So long that Qin Buwen eventually yawned in boredom.
At last…
Li Yunmu’s rigidly straight back slowly bent.
“This commoner… thanks Your Highness for your mercy.”
Because of a selfish whim, Qin Buwen had taken Li Yunmu into her household.
Yan Tang had lectured her for days over that decision.
And it was precisely because of that incident that rumors spread throughout the capital.
People claimed that the powerful Prince Chang’an doted on the eldest son of the Li family…
That the prince had a taste for men.
That he indulged in the “Passion of Longyang.”
The rumors had annoyed Qin Buwen for quite some time.
Thinking back on it now, she looked at Li Yunmu with renewed interest.
She had borne those slanders before.
But now that she had been given a second chance at life…
There was no way she would let Li Yunmu continue living comfortably.
Straightening herself, Qin Buwen approached him with the tea tray.
Li Yunmu sat quietly in his moon-white robes, his expression restrained and cold.
Time had worn away the sharp edges of youth, leaving behind only emotions buried too deeply to read.
He was growing impatient.
“My lord, your tea.”
Qin Buwen lifted the teapot.
Then—
As if by accident…
She poured the scalding tea directly onto Li Yunmu’s hand.
“Hiss—!”
Li Yunmu jerked to his feet in pain.
Before he could explode in anger, Qin Buwen hurriedly cried,
“My lord, forgive me! Please forgive me! I truly didn’t mean to!”
As she frantically gathered the fallen tea set, she muttered under her breath,
“Why wasn’t it boiling…?”
Otherwise, it would’ve been nice if it had peeled off a layer of his skin.
“What did you just say!?”
Li Yunmu barked.
Had it been anyone else, they would have been terrified by the murderous expression on his face.
But Qin Buwen was hardly “anyone else.”
She blinked rapidly.
Her eyes immediately grew moist, and the tip of her nose flushed red.
“My lord, please forgive me… I truly didn’t do it on purpose!”
Li Yunmu wanted nothing more than to lash out.
But remembering that this was Wenyuan Pavilion, he merely shot her a frigid glare before sitting back down.
Qin Buwen raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
Over the past five years, perhaps he hadn’t learned much else.
But his patience had certainly improved.
She sneered inwardly while continuing to play the timid little maid on the outside.
After pouring him another cup of tea, Qin Buwen made no move to leave.
“My lord…”
she said timidly.
“May I ask you a question?”
Her voice was soft and delicate, making her look like nothing more than an innocent little white flower.
Li Yunmu frowned even more deeply and glanced sideways at her.
Completely oblivious—or pretending to be—Qin Buwen hesitated before speaking.
“My lord… I heard…”
“…that you like men?”
Bang!
Li Yunmu slammed his hand onto the table hard enough to shake it.
He shot to his feet, glaring at Qin Buwen.
Clearly…
This was a chapter of his past he never wanted anyone to mention.
But Qin Buwen…
Specialized in stabbing people exactly where it hurt most.
“Who told you that!?”
The words were squeezed through clenched teeth, every syllable dripping with rage.
Qin Buwen blinked innocently, as though she hadn’t noticed his anger at all.
“Everyone in Chang’an says so.”
“Otherwise… why haven’t you married the woman you love yet?”
She paused.
Her large apricot eyes looked as innocent as a startled fawn.
“Or… is it that you simply don’t want to?”
“Impudent!”
Li Yunmu completely lost his temper.
Five years had passed, and he still hadn’t been able to marry the woman he loved.
It had always been the thorn lodged deepest in his heart.
He had spent years trying to bury those feelings.
And now…
A complete stranger had dragged them into the open without the slightest hesitation.
At that moment, Qin Buwen heard footsteps approaching outside the hall.
Closer.
Closer still.
The corners of her lips curled upward almost imperceptibly.
Yet she immediately put on a terrified expression, stumbling backward several steps as she lowered her head.
“My lord, please calm your anger! I-I truly didn’t mean it…”
As if.
“What is your name?!”
“How could the Grand Secretary’s residence employ such an insolent, brainless maid!?”
Li Yunmu strode toward her, raising his hand high.
“Today, I shall discipline you on the Grand Secretary’s behalf!”
With that, his palm came swinging down toward Qin Buwen.
Qin Buwen seized the perfect moment.
She raised the serving tray to block his hand while allowing herself to fall dramatically to the floor.
Crash!
The teapot and teacups shattered across the ground.
Lowering her head slightly, she caught sight of a pair of black boots standing just a short distance away.
A tiny smile tugged at her lips.
When she looked up again, tears already shimmered in her eyes.
Yet her voice rang out with unwavering conviction.
“You are not allowed to speak ill of the Grand Secretary!”
Li Yunmu had been ready to slap her again after missing the first time.
But hearing her righteous declaration, he froze for a brief moment.
And in that very instant…
A cool, composed voice sounded from outside the doorway.
“What an impressive display of authority from the Vice Minister.”
“So now you’ve taken to disciplining the servants of my residence?”