The next day, Xiao Yu moved into Yuling Temple with her servants, deliberately choosing a relatively secluded courtyard.
Yuling Temple was built atop a mountain. The courtyard she chose was located at the far right of the temple’s rear grounds. It was a small two-section courtyard, bordered by cliffs on both the left and rear sides. To the right, one had to pass through a bamboo grove before reaching another courtyard, making the place both quiet and convenient.
Among the servants she had brought with her were two elderly nannies, two young male servants who ran errands, and two maids responsible for heavy chores. All six had been born into servant families belonging to the prince’s residence and served in Qinglan Courtyard. They were loyal to Xie Jin.
Xiao Yu arranged for them to stay in the outer courtyard and guard the entrance. Only Anxiang and Yingxiu accompanied her into the inner courtyard.
This way, every move Xiao Yu made would eventually reach Xie Jin’s ears.
She had also completed the task Gu Jiuci had asked of her.
And the person they were waiting for arrived quickly.
Night had only just fallen when Gu Jiuci informed Xiao Yu that someone had arrived.
Xiao Yu sent Anxiang and Yingxiu outside to keep watch while she sat on the cushioned couch in the reception hall, wrapped in a fox-fur cloak.
It was only early autumn, yet the mountain air was already deeply chilled.
“I wonder what could possibly be so important that Princess Rui went to such great lengths to lure me all the way to Yuling Temple?”
An extraordinarily languid voice drifted in from outside.
A moment later, a man dressed in red entered with a folding fan in hand. Without the slightest courtesy, he dropped into the seat opposite Xiao Yu. Despite the already cool weather, he lazily waved his fan while a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes openly swept over her from head to toe.
His gaze was remarkably brazen and impolite, completely at odds with his handsome appearance.
“He’s certainly good-looking, but his clothes are far too gaudy.”
For a man to dress so flamboyantly, he looked as though he were competing with someone for attention. Even his body carried the heavy fragrance of incense.
Xiao Yu muttered under her breath, tightening the cloak around herself as she wrinkled her nose.
Gu Jiuci had already told her that the man coming to meet her was named Fufeng and that he was somewhat… unusual.
It seemed this had to be him.
He certainly was eccentric enough—and ridiculously flamboyant.
“This young master happens to like brightly colored clothes. What of it? Who says a man cannot wear them?”
Fufeng was highly skilled in martial arts, so naturally, Xiao Yu’s quiet muttering could not escape his ears.
Instead of taking offense, however, he seemed rather pleased with himself. He even gave Xiao Yu a flirtatious wink.
“Come now, tell me. Don’t I look good in this?”
“Master Fufeng, after all these years, do you still lose every wager you make with Ninth Imperial Uncle?”
The moment Xiao Yu said this, Fufeng shot to his feet.
“How do you know that?”
No third person knew about the wagers between him and Ninth Imperial Uncle.
Yet the woman before him was Princess Rui, a sheltered noblewoman who spent her days within the inner residence. No matter how he looked at it, she should have had absolutely nothing to do with Ninth Imperial Uncle.
So how did she know?
Could there be something between her and Ninth Imperial Uncle?
Or perhaps… a secret affair?
This… this was far too exciting!
Countless possibilities flashed through Fufeng’s mind in an instant. He even began to resent Gu Jiuci for keeping such an exciting secret from him.
“Could you please control that imagination of yours? What kind of nonsense are you thinking about all day?”
Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at him.
In truth, every word she was saying came directly from Gu Jiuci. He would say something, and she would simply repeat it aloud for him.
“No, no, no… Y-you… Who exactly are you? How could you possibly know that?”
In his agitation, Fufeng began to stammer.
More than that, a strange chill ran through him.
Those words were something Ninth Imperial Uncle frequently said to him.
That tone, that expression…
They were far too similar!
“Do you remember once saying that some things in this world are not impossible, but merely awaiting the right opportunity? I’m afraid I encountered precisely such an opportunity, which resulted in my current circumstances. Right now, I need you to trust me.”
The instant she finished speaking, Fufeng’s expression changed repeatedly, becoming more colorful than a dyer’s workshop.
Perhaps he really had said something like that before.
But saying it was one thing!
He had never actually encountered something so unbelievable himself!
Now that it had seemingly happened right before his eyes, it was terrifying!
Just as Xiao Yu began to think that Fufeng would never believe her—and might already be imagining ten thousand different ways to kill her—his expression gradually turned serious.
“Could it be… that my words actually came true?”
“That’s right. Do you remember when we first met and made our first wager? You said, ‘If I can’t beat you in this lifetime, then I’ll just tie myself to your side for the rest of my life.’ How did I answer you?”
Fufeng closed his folding fan.
A faint trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.
Of course he remembered it clearly.
“You said, ‘It’s not that I lack ambition. I simply have no interest in it.’”
“Exactly. As for why Ninth Imperial Uncle’s health is so poor, I imagine you understand the reason better than anyone. For those born into the imperial family, excessive mercy is the greatest taboo. You are the friend he trusts most, so you must remind him of that. Others may not think the same way he does.”
By this point, Xiao Yu could sense that the scales of Fufeng’s trust were gradually tipping in her favor.
But there was still a little doubt remaining.
“I’m truly curious. Can’t you just tell me exactly how you know all of this?”
After all, whenever he and Gu Jiuci spoke privately, there was almost never a third person present.
Even the hidden guards could not possibly repeat their conversations word for word.
“Heaven’s secrets must not be revealed. You can only make your own guesses.”
Fufeng immediately became interested.
Since she had given him permission to guess, he certainly would not hold back.
“Are you having an affair with Ninth Imperial Uncle?”
Xiao Yu glared at him and rubbed her forehead helplessly.
She knew he would ask that.
“Can you think of anything else?”
Fufeng proceeded to make one ridiculous guess after another until Xiao Yu seriously began to question just how reliable this man actually was.
Gu Jiuci, however, remained perfectly calm.
“Don’t worry. Fufeng has always been like this. It’s true that he can be a little slow to react, but he’s genuinely intelligent. You’ve already told him so much, mixing facts with speculation. He actually started suspecting the truth a while ago. He simply insists on saving his real conclusion for last. If you don’t believe me, just wait and see.”
Sure enough, Fufeng suddenly snapped his folding fan shut and narrowed his long phoenix eyes.
“The last time we made a wager, what did you say?”
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yu’s face.
“I said, ‘Life and death may be determined by fate, but my fate should be mine to command, not Heaven’s.’”
“What?! No way!”
Fufeng nearly jumped out of his skin.
Whether from excitement or shock, even he did not seem to know. He paced around the room several times.
“Y-you… This is ridiculous! Something like this can actually happen?! Wait, let me check your pulse.”
Without waiting for permission, he grabbed Xiao Yu’s wrist, closed his eyes, and carefully examined her pulse.
After a long while, he finally opened his eyes.
His emotions had settled considerably, though faint excitement still lingered in his gaze.
“Don’t worry. I understand now! Leave Ninth Imperial Uncle to me. I’ll make him believe you.”
“You’re seriously lacking capable people around you. Tomorrow, I’ll send a few people over. That will make it easier for us to exchange messages, and they can protect you as well.”
Xiao Yu finally felt relieved.
“Have A-Yan bring her subordinates here.”
Fufeng slapped his forehead.
“Of course! You’re Princess Rui now, so the people serving closely at your side need to be maids. A-Yan and her people are perfect.”
A-Yan was one of Gu Jiuci’s female hidden guards and possessed exceptional martial arts skills. Having her stay beside Xiao Yu would ensure her personal safety.
In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, Fufeng had gone from suspicion to completely trusting Xiao Yu. He even seemed to have vaguely figured out the reason behind everything.
This made Xiao Yu extremely curious about the relationship between Fufeng and Gu Jiuci.
“One more thing. Arrange for someone to travel to the Northern Frontier. If anything unusual happens there, make sure Marquis Weiyuan survives.”
“You mean Marquis Weiyuan is in danger?”
Fufeng immediately grasped the crucial point.
“Hopefully, nothing will happen. But if something truly does occur, keeping him alive will prove extremely useful in the future.”
Xiao Yu had once heard her father mention that Marquis Weiyuan, Lin Zhennan, was unwaveringly loyal to the emperor.
If someone in the Northern Frontier truly intended to make a move against him, then it meant they almost certainly had spies within the imperial court.
If Marquis Weiyuan were killed, the empire would not only lose a great general, but Emperor An would also lose one of his strongest supporters.
It would accomplish two objectives with a single move.