Under the dim yellow sky, raindrops fell at an angle.
When Eunuch Liang turned around, he saw Qunqing standing behind him. From time to time, she covered her mouth with her sleeve and coughed.
She looked as if she were trembling from the cold, which surprised him.
Just now in the palace, the young lady had been so intimidating that even he had almost been frightened by her. He never expected her to become so weak after merely reading the silk letter.
If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that Lu Huating was so powerful. With only three lines of writing, he had managed to break through someone’s defenses so easily.
“Is that Palace Academy Doctor Su Run a friend of Si Ji?” Eunuch Liang held his whisk inside his sleeve and waited for her to come over.
Qunqing’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “I don’t know her.”
Still refusing to admit it.
Eunuch Liang sneered.
“If you had not guided her, Si Ji, who would have dared to block the road outside Chang Le Gate after court and openly hug Chief Secretary Lu while demanding an explanation from him?
The two of them were hugging each other in broad daylight, leaving all the civil and military officials around them completely stunned.”
Qunqing was deeply shocked and speechless for a moment.
Because of her instructions, Su Run had said she was confident she could stop Lu Huating after court and prevent him from meeting Prince Yan in the Liangyi Hall, giving Yang Fu a chance to carry out the assassination.
She had thought it was a good plan, but it had turned into this…
She had always considered her relationship with Su Run to be nothing more than that between two decent friends. How could a man of such good character ruin his own reputation just to help her?
Qunqing handed Eunuch Liang a gold bead and asked, “What happened to Doctor Su afterward?”
“What else could he do? Chief Secretary Lu kicked him and had him dragged away.”
Eunuch Liang chuckled as he quietly slipped the gold bead into his sleeve.
“Don’t blame Chief Secretary Lu for reacting so strongly. If he hadn’t, wouldn’t that have made Doctor Su’s accusation seem true?
“You really know how to strike at someone’s weakness, Siji. Chief Secretary Lu has no wife or concubines, and there have long been rumors that he is like Le Jun, the cruel official from the previous dynasty—a man who prefers men.
“Being accused of that isn’t even the worst part. The real problem is that His Highness Prince Yan has favored Chief Secretary Lu for many years. Whose reputation are you trying to ruin?
“People have tried to send courtesans to Chief Secretary Lu before, but he always knew how to deal with them.
However, having a ninth-rank official openly harass him like this is a first. That’s why he wasted the entire morning dealing with this matter and even missed today’s scripture chanting at the Liangyi Hall…”
Eunuch Liang continued talking, but Qunqing only caught one important detail.
Lu Huating had not gone to the Liangyi Hall at all.
She smiled.
The poisonous pearl Qunqing had given Yang Fu was a Miao poison secretly passed down to her by her mother.
The pearl was sealed with snake-scale glue and attached to her tail armor. Snake-scale glue melted when it came into contact with gold.
When Yang Fu went to the Liangyi Hall, all she had to do was dip her fingernail into the inkstone containing gold foil in Li Huan’s inkstone.
The glue covering the pearl would immediately melt, allowing the poison inside to dissolve into the golden ink.
The two of them would sit separately, divided by a screen, while copying scriptures. Within fifteen minutes, the poison would evaporate and enter Li Huan’s skin and lungs whenever he dipped his brush into the ink.
Li Huan was arrogant and much less cautious than Lu Huating. He thought Princess Bao’an was harmless, which was why he continued secretly meeting her during this critical period of the regency.
He was extremely careful about everything he ate and drank, but he never suspected that the poison could be hidden in the golden ink.
The few hours that Princess Bao’an and Prince Yan spent alone together would be enough to carry out their plan.
Qunqing felt a rush of satisfaction when she realized that the poison had most likely already entered Li Huan’s body.
However, the poison did not take effect immediately. It would remain hidden in the body and slowly destroy it.
That was what her mother had told her, although it had never been confirmed.
She guessed that after inhaling the poison, Prince Yan had begun feeling unwell and became suspicious. Since he could not find any evidence, he ordered the guards to surround the Liangyi Hall and arrest Princess Bao’an and all the palace servants.
Lu Huating had not even been in the palace at that time, and there had not been enough time for him to investigate anything.
It was clear that although Lu Huating had threatened her with the princess, he did not actually have any evidence. Instead, he wanted to force her into revealing evidence that could be used to convict Yang Fu.
Qunqing’s panicked heart slowly became calm.
She lifted her skirt and walked into the courtyard, her expression already peaceful.
It was nothing more than another kind of torture.
She had already given up hope of living.
Eunuch Liang pushed open the door of Jinglian Pavilion.
The wind blew the colorful banners high into the air, brushing them against the doorway like the cries of ghosts and spirits.
Qunqing closed her eyes and removed the banners.
Eunuch Liang explained, “Jinglian Pavilion was where the former King of Chu used to practice meditation. It is now Chief Secretary Lu’s residence. Siji, have you ever met Chief Secretary Lu before?”
Qunqing shook her head.
Lu Huating was a strategist in Prince Yan’s court. Unless Prince Yan brought him into the palace, he was not allowed to attend court.
Qunqing had once wanted to observe him from a distance, but she had never had the chance to meet him.
She had only seen him once, when he walked out of Chengtian Gate while laughing and talking with Prince Yan.
Lu Huating and Prince Yan were about the same height and age.
Lu Huating wore a blue linen robe and carried a gold-inlaid dagger. As he walked, he suddenly stood on his toes and used the handle of his fan to knock at the green fruit hanging from a tree.
His fitted clothes showed off his slim waist, giving him a hint of youthful playfulness.
She had also caught a brief glimpse of his face at last year’s winter solstice banquet. Unfortunately, she had been focused on the assassination attempt and had paid no attention to Lu Huating.
Afterward, no matter how hard she tried to remember, she could not recall what he looked like.
There was naturally no point in mentioning this to Eunuch Liang.
Suddenly, Eunuch Liang pulled her aside.
“There is something I should tell you. Chief Secretary Lu is a notorious and ruthless man who is famous for his private punishments. Do you know his rules?”
“I know.”
“You don’t know!” Eunuch Liang stressed. “Once you meet Chief Secretary Lu, whether you are guilty or innocent, he will torture you privately before questioning you.
“Spies, assassins, even tough wandering heroes—all of them eventually confess. He will show no mercy just because you are a young lady.”
Qunqing remained silent.
She had already written this information in her notes. She had been holding on to a tiny bit of hope, but now even that hope was gone.
The bronze door before them reached all the way to the roof. Two bronze beasts with blue faces and sharp fangs stood guard beside it, making the place look like the entrance to a forbidden land.
Faint screams and cries for mercy came from behind the door.
They sounded more like the voices of ghosts than living people, sending chills down Qunqing’s spine and cutting off her conversation with Eunuch Liang.
If she remembered correctly, the people Lu Huating had tortured to death in the past had all been tortured here.
This was the very place where the former emperor had once practiced meditation and sought enlightenment.
And now it was Lu Huating’s residence.
This man was cruel, rebellious, and completely without restraint.
Even a clever person would be afraid of dealing with someone like him.
Qunqing had experienced life and death and still suffered from old injuries and illness, but she had never been tortured.
She was not made of stone, so she could not pretend she was not afraid.
“Siji, is there anything else you want to say? This servant can bring it out for you.”
Eunuch Liang’s attitude had become respectful, but there was pity in his voice—the kind of pity one showed to someone who was about to die.
It sounded almost like a death sentence.
Qunqing asked, “Does Chief Secretary Lu still prepare the bodies of the people he kills?”
“You even know about that?” Eunuch Liang asked in surprise. “Yes, he does. Chief Secretary Lu used to personally prepare the bodies of everyone he killed. But in recent years, there have been too many people, so now he only does it for those he personally kills…”
Qunqing nodded.
She had heard that Lu Huating had a strange habit of killing people and personally collecting their bodies. She had written that down in her notes as well.
It seemed the rumors were true.
She also knew that Lu Huating came from the countryside. Even after becoming a strategist, he still wore simple clothes every day.
He only worked for half a day, rested during the daytime, and went out at night.
With so many strange habits, it was difficult to imagine him as a normal person.
Qunqing gritted her teeth.
As the moment drew closer, her fear turned into cold sweat that kept appearing on her skin.
The strange sounds inside continued.
Eunuch Liang came out of the darkness carrying a wooden tray.
He lowered his voice and said, “Since the Director has given me gold and pearls, I am willing to do one good thing for you. Once you enter this gate, you will suffer all kinds of terrible torture. Even if you want to die quickly, he won’t let you. The Director can make sure of that.”
He lifted the wooden tray.
As expected, there was poisoned wine, a dagger, and several poison pills on it.
Eunuch Liang really was being kind.
Compared with being tortured to death by Lu Huating, these three choices were almost a blessing.
Qunqing looked at them.
“Which one is the fastest?”
“The poisoned wine. In about fifteen minutes, it will take effect, and you will die.”
Qunqing picked up the poisoned wine and drank it in one gulp.
Her decisiveness shocked Eunuch Liang. He lowered his head and avoided her eyes.
Qunqing wiped her lips.
Then she quickly knocked three times on the brass ring before pushing the door open and entering.
Her movements were so quick that it seemed she was afraid she might change her mind.
Behind her, Eunuch Liang’s voice rang out:
“Qun Siji has been brought here…”
The bronze door slammed shut.
Qunqing walked forward step by step.
The hall was large and empty. Unlike an ordinary palace, there were no incense burners, floor lamps, or chairs.
The warm smell of blood still lingered in the air, but there were no torture instruments or prisoners.
The person who had been tortured must have just been taken away.
The first thing Qunqing noticed was a window on the opposite wall.
Calling it a window was actually a little generous. It was more like a square opening in the wall.
She also noticed two hidden doors behind the wooden pillars along the wall.
Pale sunlight fell across the floor as a breeze blew through the room.
Qunqing looked to the right and saw a half-open carved window. Outside, the shadows of thick green trees swayed gently.
So it was still a warm spring day outside.
When she looked to the left, Qunqing was startled.
A white curtain hung from a high stone platform. The old curtain was embroidered with a Bagua pattern and moved gently in the wind.
Behind it was a table and a person sitting cross-legged.
He had made no sound since she entered, almost like a ghost.
Qunqing knelt down and did not dare waste any time.
“Qunqing, a sixth-rank official of the Shangyi Bureau, has an important matter to report to Chief Secretary Lu.”
The room was so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling could be heard.
Qunqing could hear only her own breathing.
The man showed no interest or reaction to her words.
The situation was already going badly.
Qunqing held her breath for a few moments before speaking again.
“This concerns the life and death of His Highness Prince Yan.”
Still, there was no response.
The long silence made it difficult to breathe.
Several thoughts flashed through Qunqing’s mind.
Did he already know about the poisoning and have evidence?
Otherwise, why did he not seem to care about Prince Yan’s life or death?
Or was he deliberately trying to break down her defenses?
In the silence, a very faint sound suddenly came from behind the curtain.
It sounded like something slowly being torn apart.
Qunqing focused on the sound.
A moment later, a sharp, sour smell filled the air.
The figure behind the curtain lowered his eyes, holding something in his hand.
He was peeling an orange.
Qunqing almost could not believe it.
Lu Huating calmly peeled the orange. Soon, the entire pavilion was filled with its fresh citrus scent.
Suddenly, a restrained cry came from the darkness.
Qunqing looked toward the entrance.
The sound was coming from behind the window.
It really did lead to a hidden room.
A moment later, muffled groans followed. The person sounded as if he were in terrible pain, and hurried footsteps could be heard as people rushed to help.
Qunqing recognized the voice.
It was Su Run.
“The poisoning of His Highness Prince Yan was entirely my doing. It has nothing to do with the Crown Princess or anyone else.”
Before the third scream could be heard, Qunqing quickly continued, “Doctor Su has asthma. If you don’t want him to die, call a physician and treat him immediately!”
Behind the curtain, Lu Huating stopped peeling the orange.
He placed it on the table.
It seemed that he was disappointed that she had lost her composure so quickly and had made such a foolish confession.
Yet even in the shadows, Qunqing’s kneeling posture remained steady.
It was rare to see someone kneel so quietly and proudly in the inner palace.
Her back was straight as if supported by a ruler, and her sleeves hung down naturally.
In the light behind her, she looked like a crane with broken wings.
The person behind the curtain seemed to turn his head and examine her.
The breeze from the carved window gently touched the sweaty back of Qunqing’s neck.
Then it brushed across her cheeks and blew toward the stone platform, continuously lifting the curtain.
She also took the opportunity to look up, but she saw neither official robes nor ordinary clothes. Instead, she saw a black-and-white silk brocade robe, a folding fan resting on his knees, and a belt around his waist—the elegant style young men in Chang’an wore at banquets and scholarly gatherings.
The curtain rose again with the wind, but a cold, pale hand suddenly caught it. With a light pull, the curtain fell, revealing an extremely handsome face.
His sharp, upturned eyes looked at her coldly.
“So you sent me away so you could instruct the Crown Princess to poison Prince Yan?”
He lightly raised a finger.
One of the hidden doors immediately opened.
But when he saw that Qunqing’s expression remained calm, he suspected that her foolish confession earlier had been intentional. It was impossible to tell whether it was true or false.
Lu Huating counted on his fingers again.
The hidden door closed.
“Is it true, or is the official records office playing tricks again?” Lu Huating asked slowly.
Qunqing stood frozen for a moment.
Her mind went blank when she saw his face.
But she quickly lowered her eyes.
“If Chief Secretary Lu believes it, then it is true. If you don’t believe me, there is nothing I can do.”
Lu Huating ignored her answer. He seemed used to checking everything for himself.
He turned his head slightly.
A guard wearing light armor hurried in through a hidden door and whispered into his ear, “The imperial physician… has examined His Highness… His Highness is unharmed…”
“I am indeed fine now. But this poison works slowly. After ten days, my knees will begin to ache, and rainy days will become unbearable. After a year, I will suffer from constant fatigue and headaches. If the poison suddenly attacks my heart, I could collapse and have convulsions. It could even be fatal.”
Qunqing’s clear voice drowned out the guard’s report.
“His Highness Prince Yan is famous for his horsemanship and archery and has achieved great military victories. If he can only drag around a crippled body in the future, how can he bear the responsibility of ruling the country?
“At that time, we will have no choice but to bring the Crown Prince back. Wouldn’t all the Chief Secretary’s plans over the past few years be wasted?”
The smile disappeared from Lu Huating’s face.
The guard immediately understood his expression and quietly withdrew.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Qunqing looked at his blurred reflection on the floor and continued.
“Since I dare to say that I can cure him, and I am certain that the imperial physicians cannot, it all depends on whether Chief Secretary Lu is willing to save His Highness Prince Yan.”
“Are you trying to negotiate with me?” Lu Huating looked at her with a faint smile.
“Siji went through all that trouble to plan the rebellion and kill Prince Yan. Why would you save him now and let all those years of effort go to waste?”
“I have no personal grudge against Chief Secretary Lu. We simply serve different masters. Why can’t we discuss this calmly?” Qunqing said.
“Since you threatened me with Princess Bao’an’s life, you should know that she is my master. Prince Yan’s life is important, but it cannot compare to the princess’s life.
“I am not asking for much. I only ask Chief Secretary Lu to protect the princess and not casually decide to kill her.
“His Highness Prince Yan loves the princess, and the princess is too weak to accomplish anything. Why risk offending His Highness over such a small matter?”
Lu Huating did not answer.
He seemed to be studying her face.
Qunqing slowly steadied her breathing. She raised her eyes and met his gaze directly.
Her eyes were clear and bright.
“Chief Secretary Lu is a man of extraordinary wisdom and strategy. I have always admired you. As a strategist, everyone envies you for reaching such a position.
“If you become prime minister one day, I will have no regrets. Losing to you today would not be a meaningless defeat.
“Chief Secretary Lu, offending Prince Yan over what happened in the past would be unwise. I am willing to give you the credit for saving my lord. I only ask that you record me as a loyal subject in the history books…”
Lu Huating suddenly reached into his sleeve.
He took something out and threw it in front of Qunqing.
The object rolled across the floor several times before finally stopping face up.
It was a small peach-wood doll dressed in cloth. It had no facial features, and a silver ear-piercing needle was stuck deep into its chest.
The needle had pierced through the two embroidered characters, “Yunming,” on its clothes.
The needle had gone so deep that it showed just how much hatred the person who made it had carried.
Yunming was Lu Huating’s courtesy name.
The moment Qunqing saw the doll, she understood.
While Eunuch Liang had been bringing her here, Lu Huating had already ordered someone to search her residence thoroughly.
That was how they had found this secret object hidden inside the compartment of her dressing case.
“Is the official register yours?” Lu Huating asked coldly.
Qunqing picked up the peach-wood doll and remained silent.
The evidence was already right in front of her.
Anything else she said would only make her look foolish and give Lu Huating another chance to humiliate her.
She was only relieved that she had burned her journal beforehand.
Not even ashes had been left behind.
Otherwise, she could not imagine how Lu Huating would interpret its contents.
Lu Huating walked down and sat on the stone steps.
He leaned forward and looked at her.
His gaze was like a soft sword, lightly brushing across her face.
He seemed slightly surprised.
“Siji has a face that does not lie. You speak calmly and sincerely. If you did not have such a face, I might never have realized that you actually hate me to the bone, yet you can still speak so calmly about admiring and respecting me.”
Qunqing said nothing.
Her heart was full of disdain.
So what?
By this point in her struggle against Lu Huating, she was willing to use any method.
Even if she had to curse him with witchcraft, sacrifice her own lifespan, make a wish, perform a blood ritual, or burn incense and pray to Buddha, as long as there was a way to shorten Lu Huating’s life, she would probably do it.
Suddenly, he lifted her chin.
Qunqing was forced to raise her head.
An even stronger citrus scent came from his fingers, making it difficult for her to breathe.
She had no choice but to look directly into his eyes.
His eyes were dark, with slightly upturned corners, and seemed to carry a hint of warmth.
Lu Huating stared closely at her.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve met. We met at the Winter Solstice banquet last year.
“You were also the one who killed Minister Wei.”