Jing Wan’er’s breathing shifted from heavy to light. Though she could not see Pei Tan behind her, she knew it was him. At the prow of the barge, the only person she had seen was him.
Pei Tan, entering the palace, naturally wore his official robes to face the emperor. The sleeves of the third-rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review fluttered in the wind at the prow, catching Jing Wan’er’s eyes.
“You are… Lord Pei?” she asked cautiously, as if seeking confirmation.
She could hardly believe such a coincidence—that on the very night she fled, she would encounter Pei Tan within the palace.
Pei Tan, though holding her at knifepoint, soon noticed she wore the attire of a palace maid. A maid appearing at Taiye Pool in the middle of the night?
As he sensed something amiss, he heard her question. He could feel the careful tone in her words.
Pei Tan realized something was wrong. With a dagger pressed to her neck, this woman showed no fear—she immediately spoke his name.
After a long silence, Pei Tan asked: “How do you know me?”
Those familiar with Pei Tan knew he rarely used the phrase “this official.” He often retained the courteous habits of the Pei family’s young master, preferring the modest “Pei” that put others at ease.
Jing Wan’er could not describe her feelings. Even with a dagger at her throat, she felt more at ease than at any moment in the past five years.
Though Pei Tan could not see her expression, in the darkness, his senses were sharp. He felt that this maid, held at knifepoint, had no fear at all. Even knowing his identity, she showed no panic.
Pei Tan prided himself on being a gentleman. He had thought she was a thief in the Daming Palace, but she was only a frail woman. Wet and bedraggled, and now threatened by a man’s blade—Pei Tan frowned and released her.
The chill at her neck vanished. Jing Wan’er reached up and found the dagger gone. At last, she dared to turn, her lips curving faintly as she lifted her head. Pei Tan drew a fire striker from his sleeve, igniting a faint glow. In that dim light, they saw each other for the first time.
Pei Tan was slightly surprised—a delicate face beyond his imagination. Jing Wan’er too saw Pei Tan for the first time, younger than she had expected. He held the fire striker in his bandaged right hand.
“It truly is Lord Pei…” Jing Wan’er murmured.
Pei Tan studied her closely. Just as he was about to question further, the entire barge suddenly lurched.
Jing Wan’er was startled by the jolt.
Pei Tan, holding the fire striker, saw her instinctively glance toward the cabin door, her face pale—paler than when the dagger had been at her throat.
Then Pei Tan understood—the barge had drifted to shore. He had floated upon Taiye Pool the entire night.
The night’s tranquility was shattered. Countless voices clamored outside the barge. Someone shouted harshly: “Who is inside the barge!? Come out immediately!”
The voice was cold and stern—palace guards.
Jing Wan’er knew at once: these were the ones who had searched all night. She had not expected them to find even here.
The escape of a palace maid from the servants’ quarters had already spread throughout the Daming Palace. All the guards had been mobilized to capture a wingless fugitive.
“Send men inside to search the barge!” Pei Tan heard someone order outside.
The barge was open front to back, with only five cabins in total. Searching it would be no difficulty at all.
Judging from the voices outside, they were boarding from the prow of the barge and would begin their search there.
At that moment, the palace maid before him suddenly stepped closer, her eyes burning into him: “…Lord Pei, has Zong Huo already escaped from Chang’an?”
All the noise outside could not compare to the clarity of that single youthful voice.
Pei Tan turned sharply toward her. Jing Wan’er’s eyes shone brightly, like stars in the dark night, holding within them something unimaginable.
In this world, there was only one palace maid who would care whether Zong Huo lived.
Pei Tan’s mind was suddenly clear.
Outside the barge, someone remarked meaningfully: “Look—why are there water stains on the deck?”
Jing Wan’er, soaked from the river, had naturally left them behind.
Pei Tan at once extinguished the fire striker in his hand, stepped forward, and pushed open the cabin door.
The palace guards searching the barge had indeed gathered at the prow.
Standing with his back to Jing Wan’er, Pei Tan spoke softly, like drifting clouds: “Stay inside. Do not come out.”
Then the cabin door closed before her, and she heard his footsteps receding.
When Pei Tan’s figure appeared in the barge, the guards were momentarily stunned.
His third-rank official robes were genuine, and his calm bearing made them hesitate to advance or retreat.
“Who are you?” the leading guard asked, his eyes narrowing.
As Pei Tan stepped to the prow, he saw the shore crowded with Qian Niu Guards in silver armor.
One of them spoke with a subtle gaze: “So it is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review… My lord, why are you in this barge?”
Pei Tan looked at the speaker: “I entered the palace last night. It grew late, and His Majesty graciously allowed me to lodge here.”
“I see…” The leader’s eyes flickered. “May I ask—was Lord Pei alone in this barge?”
Then, how to explain the water stains?
Pei Tan said calmly, “I drifted alone on the Taiye Pool for some time. The current was strong at night—it must have dampened the stern.”
The leader’s gaze grew deep and subtle, showing no sign of belief.
After a long pause, he gave a thin smile: “We too have our duty. Might Lord Pei permit us to search the barge? If no one is found, we can report back.”
Pei Tan’s eyes darkened. After a moment, he said: “Please do as you wish.”
The leader smiled: “In that case, we shall—”
“Wait!” From the crowd came a sharp, angry voice.
The eunuch who had accompanied Pei Tan the previous night hurriedly pushed through the guards to stand before him.
Seeing Pei Tan alone at the prow, the eunuch seemed relieved: “Lord Pei, His Majesty sent me to ask—did you enjoy your night upon the lake?”
Pei Tan’s expression did not change: “Very much so.”
The eunuch smiled: “Then all is well. My task is complete.”
Though the Taiye Pool was vast, drifting with the current would inevitably bring the barge here. It seemed the eunuch had been waiting at this spot all along.
The palace guards, upon seeing the eunuch from Emperor Zhongzong’s side, immediately grew more cautious.
The eunuch swept his gaze over them, his face turning cold: “Lord Pei was personally granted permission by His Majesty to enjoy the pleasure barge upon Taiye Pool. You search even here, disturbing Lord Pei—do you doubt the emperor’s command itself?”
The guards instantly dropped to their knees in fear: “We would not dare.”
The eunuch snapped impatiently: “Go, go! Search elsewhere. Remember—alive, you must find the person; dead, you must find the corpse!”
Once one enters the palace, one remains a servant for life; even in death, one dies within its walls.
After the guards dispersed, the eunuch’s ruthless expression shifted back into a sycophantic smile. “By the way, Lord Pei, dawn is near. His Majesty has ordered me to escort you out of the palace, so as not to delay your duties.”
Pei Tan looked at the eunuch: “Very well. Allow me a moment to prepare.”
The eunuch grinned obsequiously: “Of course.”
Pei Tan turned back into the barge.
Jing Wan’er had been leaning against the cabin door, listening to most of the commotion outside. Hearing Pei Tan’s footsteps, she instinctively stepped back.
Pei Tan pushed open the door and saw her standing there, gazing at him.
Her entire body, shoes and socks included, was soaked. In such a state, if she went outside, she would surely be caught at once.
Pei Tan looked at her: “From here on, do exactly as I say.”
As the sky grew brighter, the eunuch led Pei Tan along the outer palace path. Ahead lay the gate out of the palace.
Pei Tan halted and said to the eunuch: “This is far enough. When I entered the palace, I instructed my guard and carriage to wait near the gate.”
The eunuch quickly smiled: “In that case, I shall take my leave.”
Pei Tan replied: “My thanks.”
The eunuch bowed and turned back along the palace path, while Pei Tan continued forward, seeing the gate draw nearer.
His attendant, Pei Xian, was indeed waiting with the carriage near Wenchang Gate.
Though Pei Tan had not emerged all night, Pei Xian had remained faithfully at his post, never leaving.
But just after dawn, Pei Xian noticed a small, thin eunuch walking toward him and the carriage, head bowed.
The palace path was dim and empty; the little eunuch stood out clearly.
Pei Xian assumed perhaps his master had sent a message, just as another eunuch had come the previous night to tell him Pei Tan would remain in the palace until morning.
Step by step, the small eunuch approached the carriage.
Pei Xian suddenly noticed the eunuch’s feet—delicate and slender, unmistakably those of a woman. His hand tightened on his sword, his gaze sharp upon the approaching “eunuch.”
Just as he was about to draw his blade, the eunuch reached him, lifting a face filled with panic: “Are you Lord Pei’s guard? Lord Pei ordered me to find you!”
At those words, Pei Xian’s grip on the sword loosened.
This “little eunuch” was, of course, Jing Wan’er in disguise. She recalled when Pei Tan had returned to the barge: She had seen him go to a chest in the cabin’s corner, pulling out a garment. He had tossed it to her. It was not a woman’s clothing at all, but a green robe belonging to a palace eunuch.
“Put this on. Wait for me at Wenchang Gate.”