As Pei Xie drew closer, Zhu Xingxu felt the temperature around her drop.
While she was still savoring the chill, Pei Xie casually walked away as if nothing had happened.
How wonderful it would be if she had the same sensitivity.
Wearing so many layers in ancient times, she always felt somewhat stifled except during winter.
Jinzhu didn’t know about the arrangement between Pei Xie and Zhu Xingxu. When her mistress said she wanted to come, she had the coachman bring Zhu Xingxu to Xianlai Tavern.
Zhu Xingxu instinctively felt that he was about to tell her something very secret.
Since it involved the Deputy Minister of Justice Li Dong, she decided to be cautious.
She had a private room opened by a waiter and took a seat, ordering a pot of tea and a few plates of snacks while waiting.
Before an hour had passed, Pei Xie arrived, dust-streaked and hurried.
After asking the waiter, he went straight to the private room where Zhu Xingxu was.
Seeing him arrive, Zhu Xingxu paused in her eating, brushed off the crumbs on her clothes, and stood up.
Pei Xie came alone, and he glanced at Jinzhu.
Zhu Xingxu understood and signaled Jinzhu to leave.
Jinzhu pursed her lips and gave Zhu Xingxu a resentful look.
Alone together… Wasn’t her mistress’s reputation important to her?
But in front of the two of them, she dared not speak.
Zhu Xingxu nudged her again.
Only then did Jinzhu step out and close the door behind her.
She silently vowed that for Zhu Xingxu’s sake, this matter must not spread.
Now, only the two of them remained in the room.
Pei Xie walked to the table and sat down.
“Before formal introductions, my name is Pei Xie, Fifth Prince of the current emperor.”
To Zhu Xingxu, this sounded like a boast.
Yet coming from Pei Xie, it felt as casual as saying, “I had a bowl of noodles today.”
Zhu Xingxu politely replied, “Zhu Xingxu, eldest daughter of Minister of Revenue Zhu Mingli.”
Pei Xie nodded.
“I also have a few items I wish to retrieve from Deputy Minister Li Dong.”
Zhu Xingxu watched him, waiting for the rest.
Pei Xie poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp.
Since the day they had first met, he had secretly been investigating her.
The more he learned, the more he felt she was sent by heaven to aid him.
Raised in the capital in an official household, she had mastered all the expected skills, yet she avoided socializing and had no close acquaintances.
A faint citrus scent drifted from her.
Pei Xie was certain it came from Zhu Xingxu.
He looked at her and saw her staring at him intently.
His heartbeat skipped.
He didn’t show it, instead continuing.
“We will infiltrate Li Dong’s residence to retrieve what we both seek.”
Zhu Xingxu frowned, “Infiltrate? How?”
He spoke so casually; he must already have a plan.
Pei Xie produced two contracts of servitude, with a male and female name, place of origin, and birthdates.
“We will disguise ourselves as these two people and enter Li’s residence through the servants.”
Zhu Xingxu understood.
“But I am a noblewoman, and you are a prince. Doing this… if it gets out, it won’t look good.”
Zhu Xingxu had no feudal notions, she simply felt it was inappropriate.
If anyone found out or noticed, it could bring trouble.
She might lose her daily freedom entirely.
Pei Xie said, “I just returned from my fief, no one has seen me. And you,” he looked directly at her, “you have always stayed indoors, never attending gatherings, never exchanging handkerchiefs with other noblewomen. Who would recognize you?”
Zhu Xingxu’s expression changed slightly, “You investigated me?”
Pei Xie gave her a faint, enigmatic smile.
“I returned to the capital on official business; I know all about everyone here.”
Zhu Xingxu secretly exhaled in relief.
It wasn’t just her being investigated.
It was like in the modern era when a single person’s data is leaked, you get angry, but when all information is exposed, it feels different.
Pei Xie noticed her quick recovery and was somewhat surprised.
He had expected her to scold him for his actions, but this saved him many words.
A mission required someone of her temperament.
“In three days, the servants will wait at the city gate, and we will go together.”
He placed a jar of ointment on the table.
“Apply this Cloud Black Ointment to your skin. It lasts three days. Apply it regularly.”
Curious, Zhu Xingxu opened it and scooped some onto her hand. Her skin immediately darkened several shades.
“Is this enough?”
Pei Xie revealed five more jars of Cloud Black Ointment.
“If not, I have more.”
Zhu Xingxu noted it was for their mission.
He had worked hard.
She couldn’t help glancing at Pei Xie a few more times.
After a morning of official duties and with the citrus scent lingering, he must be hungry.
“Let’s order some food,” he said, speaking to her, yet leaving no room for refusal.
Zhu Xingxu was still examining the ointment and nodded casually.
Pei Xie opened the door and called the waiter to take their order.
After ordering, he poured tea for her.
“I picked a few signature dishes. Try them later.”
Zhu Xingxu was not picky, “Okay.”
Suddenly, she realized something.
If she went to Li’s residence as a maid, what about the Zhu residence?
Not returning home at night could arouse suspicion.
“What about my father?”
Pei Xie had already thought of it.
“I will have your distant cousin come to take you on a trip.”
Zhu Xingxu was stunned. She had a distant cousin?
Indeed, two days later, a girl claiming to be her distant cousin arrived at the Zhu residence.
Zhu Mingli happened to be home.
Zhu Xingxu looked at the girl nervously.
Zhu Mingli greeted her warmly, “After so many years, you’ve grown so much.”
The girl politely returned the greeting, “Second Uncle, you still look so young.”
After explaining her purpose, Zhu Mingli happily said, “You can spend this month traveling with Yan’er. Enjoy it to the fullest before returning.”
The girl smiled and led Zhu Xingxu into a carriage.
Even sitting inside, Zhu Xingxu felt unreal.
Once inside, the girl’s smile faded into seriousness.
The carriage arrived at a modest house.
Pei Xie, wearing simple coarse clothing, sat at the main seat drinking tea.
“You’re here, go change your clothes,” he said.
He seemed to have tidied himself, his face less princely, resembling a hardworking farmer, yet still recognizable as Pei Xie.
Zhu Xingxu was taken to a side room where a brown cloth top and skirt were laid out on the bed.
After changing and applying half a jar of Cloud Black Ointment, she came to the main hall.
Pei Xie stopped drinking tea and handed her one of the servitude contracts.
Zhu Xingxu took it, tucking it into her pocket.
They walked out together, blending in perfectly with the common people.
Near the city gate, Zhu Xingxu grew anxious.
She walked quickly, shoulder to shoulder with Pei Xie.
“What if we’re discovered?”
Pei Xie said, “They won’t notice us.”
She looked up at him, “Why?”
Pei Xie met her gaze.
“By the time they notice, we will already be gone.”
Zhu Xingxu did not understand the source of his confidence.
Still… fortune favors the bold. If she didn’t get this brush, she couldn’t go home.
Unable to return, she would be forced to marry.
After marriage, she’d have several children, running around crying and fussing.
The thought frightened her, giving her a sense of tragic resolve.
She must get home!
Pei Xie noticed her change and seemed even more determined.
Though he did not understand what she was resolute about, such spirit was good.
He smiled lightly, just for a moment.
At the city gate, they saw a servant counting people.
The servant scowled when he saw them, scolding, “Why are you so slow! Delaying noble affairs, you’ll pay for this!”
Pei Xie said nothing and handed over his servitude contract.
Zhu Xingxu quickly followed, giving hers as well.
The servant glanced at them and tucked the contracts into his clothing.
“Go, go.”
They followed the other servants to Li’s residence.
Zhu Xingxu observed the others; all were meek, perfectly fitting the image of real servants.
She wasn’t sure if they were Pei Xie’s men, nor if the gate servant was working for him.
She dared not act rashly.
Pei Xie slipped several pieces of small silver into her hand.
His hand, like the coins, was icy cold.
He seemed unaware of her shiver, whispering, “When asked, say you’re going to the mistress’s room to serve.”
Zhu Xingxu nodded.
Pei Xie clasped his hands behind his back, recalling the warmth of her hand earlier, like a never-dying ember.
The servant led them through the side gate.
A steward waited there. He looked at the group, nodding with satisfaction.
“Where would you like to serve?”
Pei Xie went first, slipping silver to the steward while wearing a fawning expression, “I wish to serve the young master.”
The steward handed over Pei Xie’s contract appropriately.
Zhu Xingxu gaped at his transformation.
The Fifth Prince showed such humility!
The steward nodded approvingly and instructed a scribe, “Record, young master’s room.”
Zhu Xingxu hurriedly said, “I wish to serve the mistress’s room.”
The steward took her contract, “Cuihua, mistress’s room.”
Zhu Xingxu was inwardly exasperated.
She hadn’t noticed the name on the contract earlier.
It was too common, like every dog being called Wangcai or every cat called Mimi.
Throwing a hand grenade into the maid group could hit ten named Cuihua.
She secretly glared at Pei Xie. He stood beside her, oblivious.
Those without silver were assigned dirty, laborious tasks.
Once assignments were complete, a maid, Su Lan, escorted Zhu Xingxu to the mistress’s room.
Su Lan gave her instructions along the way.
“The mistress does not like people entering during prayer.”
“During meals with the master, she does not like interruption.”
“When summoned, you must respond immediately.”
Zhu Xingxu felt like she had returned to her first internship after university.
The senior staff member had droned on with rules just like this.
She wanted to take notes but found nothing on her person.
So she listened carefully, repeating everything mentally.
Su Lan glanced at Zhu Xingxu’s humble demeanor and took a better impression of her.
They passed through one arched doorway after another, arriving at the mistress’s Zen courtyard.
Su Lan led her to the dormitory.
“Get settled first. Later I’ll call you to serve during the meal.”
Zhu Xingxu knew she was now considered one of them and nodded, beginning to tidy the bed.
Li’s residence was well-appointed; beds were single, four maids per room.
Though far from Zhu residence’s rooms, it was still livable.
Zhu Xingxu gritted her teeth.
For the sake of going home, such discomfort was nothing.
Then she thought of Pei Xie, the Fifth Prince, living in the same arrangement.
Her mood improved considerably.
Spotting a bronze mirror on the table, she grabbed it.
She hadn’t looked carefully after tidying the other room.
In the reflection, her face, darkened by the ointment, looked like coal.
Zhu Xingxu flipped the mirror down, unwilling to look further.
Soon after finishing, Su Lan returned to summon her.
“Cuihua, come help serve the mistress for the meal.”