Seeing that she truly had no memory of it, Lady Li sighed with heartache.
“You… after that terrible fright, you fell gravely ill. When you woke up, you’d forgotten so many people and so many things. Back then, the Third Prince apprenticed under your father to learn martial arts.”
Sinan fell silent.
She genuinely couldn’t remember any of it.
Thinking back to those days, Xiahou Jin’s expression darkened.
Lady Li never knew what had frightened Sinan so badly.
He did.
At the time, he had been ten years old, while Sinan was only five.
He had studied under the Great General to learn the skills necessary to survive. Every now and then, little Sinan would come looking for her father. Back then, she hadn’t become the notorious young wastrel she was now. She had been mischievous, but never enough to make anyone dislike her.
As they met more often, the two children gradually became close. Every few days, Xiahou Jin would secretly bring her lotus pastries that could only be found inside the imperial palace.
Once, after the General returned victorious from battle, Sinan accidentally drank a cup of fruit wine.
Drunk, she had thrown herself at him and solemnly declared that she was going to marry him and make him her wife…
Then…
Later…
Together, they stumbled upon a spy who had infiltrated the General’s Residence.
The old servant woman had lived in the manor for over a decade.
Feigning pitiful weakness, she begged for mercy, hoping Sinan would soften and let her go.
Instead, Xiahou Jin ended her life with a single stroke of his sword.
Several drops of blood accidentally splattered across Sinan’s face.
She fainted from fright.
Afterward, she fell dangerously ill.
When she finally recovered…
She looked at him like he was a complete stranger.
Believing he had failed both Sinan and his master, Xiahou Jin deliberately distanced himself from the General’s Residence. From that day forward, he never openly associated with them again, nor did he ever step through its gates.
Sinan’s pink lips parted slightly in surprise, revealing a glimpse of the red inside.
Xiahou Jin’s eyes drifted toward them.
His gaze lingered.
Then, for some inexplicable reason, guilt flickered across his face and he hurriedly looked away.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
His throat suddenly felt dry.
Lady Li smiled warmly.
“It’s rare for you to visit these days. The training grounds where you used to practice swordsmanship haven’t changed at all. Let Sinan show you around.”
Sinan looked at her mother in disbelief.
“Mother, it’s already so late. Please don’t keep His Highness from getting back to rest.”
“Your Highness?”
Lady Li’s voice snapped Xiahou Jin out of his thoughts.
He hadn’t even realized he’d been distracted.
“Shimu,” he said softly, “when we’re in private, you may continue calling me Ah Jin, just as you used to. There are no outsiders here, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
Lady Li accepted naturally.
“At your age, this is the perfect hour for a leisurely stroll. As for me, I’m getting old. I’ll retire for the night.”
“Mother! I want to sleep too!”
Lady Li shot her a stern look.
“You’re not in such a hurry. It’s rare for Ah Jin to visit. Show him around.”
Watching her mother leave without a trace of hesitation, Sinan nearly burst into tears.
Has Mother forgotten that I’m a woman?
It’s the middle of the night! A man and a woman alone together! How is this appropriate?!
Turning toward Xiahou Jin, she forced a smile.
“It’s very late. I won’t keep Your Highness any longer. I’ll escort you out.”
Unhurriedly, Xiahou Jin replied,
“I’m not tired.”
Sinan rolled her eyes inwardly.
Could he seriously not tell I was trying to send him away?
“Then please excuse yourself. I’m going to bed.”
She had only just turned to leave when Xiahou Jin deliberately raised his voice.
“Shi—mu—”
Sinan stumbled in panic.
Whirling around, she rushed back and slapped a hand over his mouth.
“Shh! Don’t call her!”
Her delicate palm carried the faint fragrance of pear blossoms.
Xiahou Jin’s eyes shifted slightly.
His lips parted beneath her hand.
“Still tired now?”
His soft lips moved gently against her palm, their warmth sending an unexpected shiver through her.
Only then did Sinan realize how improper their posture had become.
Her bright eyes trembled.
Flushing slightly, she hastily stepped backward, putting distance between them.
Blinking nervously, she turned around and hurried away, looking very much like someone fleeing for her life.
“Just follow me! If you get lost, don’t blame me!”
Xiahou Jin silently followed behind.
His mind was filled with nothing but the image of Sinan’s slightly flushed profile, as though rouge had been brushed across her cheeks.
She resembled a half-ripe apple…
One that made people want to pick it…
…and savor it.
The cool night breeze gradually cleared his head.
Darkness gathered once more in Xiahou Jin’s eyes.
What kind of outrageous thought was that?
That strange feeling had returned.
Did Sinan cast some kind of spell on me tonight?
Why do I keep having such improper thoughts?
“This is where Father usually practices martial arts. You probably trained with him here too, didn’t you?”
“…Mm.”
“There. You’ve seen it. Let’s go.”
Xiahou Jin couldn’t explain the irritation welling up inside him.
It felt as though Sinan couldn’t wait for him to leave.
Beside the training grounds lay a lotus pond.
Most of the water lilies had already bloomed, looking particularly enchanting beneath the moonlit night.
Sinan leaned over the edge, quietly admiring the scenery.
The gentle breeze lifted strands of her long hair.
Her black robes blended seamlessly into the darkness.
Standing there, she radiated a tranquil peace, as though time itself had slowed.
Xiahou Jin stood motionless behind her for a long while, simply watching her back.
The entire residence was silent.
Assuming he had grown bored and already left, Sinan yawned and prepared to return to her room.
The moment she turned around—
She nearly jumped out of her skin.
“You’re still here?”
His expression remained calm.
“I’m leaving.”
Out of basic courtesy, Sinan escorted him to the front gate.
“Take care, Your Highness.”
Just then, a young maid hurried over carrying a long wooden box.
“Your Highness, Madam asked this servant to deliver this to you. She said it’s the sword you used in your youth. It’s being returned to its rightful owner.”
Shou Yi, seated on the carriage, was about to move.
Suddenly, Shou Er appeared soundlessly from the darkness, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.
“Stand down.”
At Xiahou Jin’s command, Shou Er immediately stepped back.
Staring at the wooden box, Sinan murmured,
“Why does that box look so familiar…?”
Xiahou Jin nodded slightly.
“Please thank Shimu on my behalf.”
Shou Er accepted the box before following Xiahou Jin onto the carriage.
Only after the carriage departed did Sinan finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The great Buddha has finally been sent away…
Pulling Little Ju aside, she asked suspiciously,
“Didn’t Mother already go to bed? How was it such a coincidence that she sent you with that box just as the Third Prince was leaving?”
Little Ju stammered helplessly, obviously trying to come up with an excuse.
“I’m going to ask Mother myself. I want to know exactly what she’s plotting.”
Sinan stormed into Lady Li’s bedroom.
Lady Li was removing her hairpins, preparing for bed.
“Mother!”
“What is it? Why are you in such a panic?”
“Mother… I think you’re acting strangely.”
“My little Nannan is overthinking things.”
Sinan leaned in close, studying every subtle expression on her mother’s face.
Unfortunately, Lady Li looked perfectly natural.
She couldn’t detect anything suspicious.
Then suddenly—
A flash of inspiration struck.
Her eyes widened.
She finally remembered why the wooden box looked so familiar.
It was identical to the one containing the only portrait ever painted of her wearing women’s clothing—the painting Lady Li had made after her coming-of-age ceremony.
She felt as though she’d been struck by lightning.
Her mother had to have lost her mind…
Lady Li continued smiling gently.
“What is it, Nannan? Why are you making that face?”
“Mother! What exactly are you trying to do?!”
“I truly don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Stop pretending! What’s actually inside that box?!”
“Didn’t Little Ju already tell you? Ah Jin’s old sword.”
“You’re lying! My portrait in women’s clothing is inside that box!”
Lady Li looked genuinely shocked.
“How could that be? I’m not senile. How could I possibly mix them up? If you don’t believe me, come with me.”
She led Sinan to the storage room.
Opening a cabinet, she took out another long wooden box.
“Look. Isn’t yours right here?”
Sinan stared blankly.
“Why does this box look exactly the same as his?”
“They were made by the same craftsman at the same time. I liked them both, so I bought both of them.”
The knot in Sinan’s chest finally loosened.
Still…
Something felt wrong.
Was her portrait really inside?
Before Lady Li realized what she was doing, Sinan had already snatched the box and flipped it open.
Inside…
Lay nothing but an old, rusted short sword.
Mother and daughter froze.
They stared at one another, both equally horrified.
“…Mother.”
“You really didn’t mix up the boxes on purpose?”
Judging from Lady Li’s expression, she was just as shocked.
Sinan covered her face helplessly.
Heavens… what kind of disaster is this?
Trying to salvage the situation, Lady Li quickly said,
“Ah Jin probably hasn’t opened the box yet. Your martial arts aren’t bad. It shouldn’t be too difficult to steal it back.”
Sinan sighed.
“I suppose that’s the only thing I can do.”
“Hurry!” Lady Li urged anxiously.
“If you’re too late, things will become much more troublesome.”
Sinan dashed out of the room like a gust of wind.
Watching her disappear, Lady Li slowly raised an eyebrow and took a quiet breath.
“Put out the lamps.”
Third Prince’s Residence.
Half a head cautiously peeked over the courtyard wall.
She had rushed here so quickly that she hadn’t even had time to disguise herself.
If anyone recognized her…
She’d never live it down.
Her concern wasn’t unfounded.
Her martial arts were only slightly above average.
She could barely fight Shou Yi to a draw.
But Shou Er…
His skills surpassed hers.
Trying to sneak in, steal the box, and leave unnoticed was asking the impossible.
Yet she had no choice.
Although Xiahou Jin had once been her father’s disciple…
Although he was generally an honorable man…
She couldn’t gamble that he would keep her true identity secret after discovering she was a woman.
Concealing her identity was a crime of deceiving the emperor.
Worse still…
Knowing her secret would give him leverage over the General’s Residence—another advantage in the struggle for the imperial throne.
She couldn’t risk it.
Fortunately…
Xiahou Jin still hadn’t opened the box.
It sat untouched on a display shelf inside his bedroom.
She silently prayed.
Perhaps Heaven truly heard her sincerity.
Even after dismissing every servant, extinguishing the lamps, and lying down to sleep…
Xiahou Jin still never opened it.
Sinan lightly tapped the wall with her toes and landed soundlessly inside the courtyard.
Hidden in the darkness, Shou Er’s sharp eyes instantly locked onto the intruder.
Shou Yi glanced over.
The moment he recognized Sinan, he relaxed.
“No need to interfere. If you hurt him, His Highness will punish you.”
Shou Er looked utterly bewildered.
Shou Yi stared at him as though he were an idiot.
“Even if I explained it, you wouldn’t understand. Just trust me—I wouldn’t set up my own brother.”
“But what if His Highness is in danger?”
Shou Yi sighed.
“Young Master Si is the Great General Si Gongzhen’s son. No matter how much of a playboy he is, he’d never betray Qian—much less try to assassinate a prince.”
Shou Er gradually relaxed.
“…You’re right.”
“So let’s just watch. Maybe His Highness will actually be happy to see Young Master Si.”
Shou Er frowned, clearly unconvinced.
Shou Yi rolled his eyes dramatically.
Hopeless fool. No sense at all.
Meanwhile, Sinan carefully approached Xiahou Jin’s room.
Tonight, the Third Prince’s residence was unnaturally quiet.
She reached his door far too easily.
Why aren’t any of Xiahou Jin’s shadow guards reacting?
Have my martial arts improved that much?
Even Shou Er didn’t notice me…?
From inside came the slow, steady rhythm of breathing.
She was certain he had already fallen asleep.
Carefully, she pushed the door open just enough to slip through.
With a swift movement, she disappeared silently into the room.