Seven Yin, rubbing his head, nodded in agreement. Seeing Xie Yunian’s sullen expression, he couldn’t help but ask softly, “And the matter with the residence…”
“I will personally report back to the palace once we return to the capital.” A hint of frustration was evident between Xie Yunian’s brows.
On the other side, Jiang Yao, after scrambling back into her room, gasped, still shaken. She walked to the table, wanting a sip of tea to calm her nerves, but her hand trembled violently.
She drew a ragged breath, trying hard to slow her breathing.
She had seen it. She had seen it clearly—in that room, there wasn’t just Xie Yunian and his attendant. There was distinctly another man, dressed in night clothes, hiding behind the screen.
A dark night with a high wind is the time for murder and arson.
The murderous intent in Xie Yunian’s eyes when their gazes met could not be faked.
But Xie Yunian had lost his memory, hadn’t he? Why would someone come to speak with him late at night?
Unless…
His amnesia was fake.
Clang! The teacup in her hand slipped, rolled off the table, and instantly shattered into pieces on the floor.
Jiang Yao stared blankly at the fragmented porcelain pieces scattered on the ground, her heart in turmoil.
“Miss? What’s wrong?” Chunlan’s voice rang out from outside the room.
“It’s nothing…” Jiang Yao struggled to find her voice, feigning composure. “I wanted water and accidentally knocked it over. You can clean it up tomorrow.”
“Then please be careful, Miss. Don’t touch it. Your servant will come in and clean it first thing tomorrow morning.”
The room fell silent.
Not necessarily…
Not necessarily…
Perhaps that man was Xie Yunian’s lover…
Jiang Yao forced a smile that looked worse than a cry.
How could that be?
Suddenly, something flashed in Jiang Yao’s mind. She reached up and touched the back of her neck, and instantly, she understood.
That was not a dream at all.
She was absolutely hit on the back of the neck by Xie Yunian!
But why would he hit her and then save her?
Jiang Yao furrowed her brow, replaying the chaotic scenes of the day in her mind, trying to sort out the clues.
What was Xie Yunian’s goal? To save her, and then collapse himself?
Wait! Collapse!
Jiang Yao’s eyes snapped open. If Xie Yunian’s amnesia was fake, then his collapse could also be fake!
Jiang Yao took a deep breath.
She had initially thought that Xie Yunian was simply weak and had succumbed to exhaustion after pulling her ashore.
Now she realized: Xie Yunian saved her and intentionally collapsed in order to gain access to this residence.
It’s so complicated…
Jiang Yao’s head began to feel heavier and heavier.
The candlelight flickered in the room. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects outside and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
In the early morning, the air still carried the dampness of last night’s rain.
“Miss, it’s time to return to the manor.”
Jiang Yao sat up, rubbing her eyes.
After the ordeal the previous night, she had not slept soundly for the latter half of the night.
She was terrified that Xie Yunian would suddenly barge in and slit her throat.
In that life-or-death moment, Jiang Yao had been forced to be bold and act, but reflecting on it afterward only made her increasingly scared.
After tossing and turning all night, she had only managed to doze off briefly just before dawn.
“M-Master Xie… where is he?”
“People from the Earl’s manor came early this morning and have already taken Master Xie away,” Chunlan replied quickly, surprised that her mistress’s first thought upon waking was Master Xie.
It was normal for the Xie manor to be worried since Master Xie had fallen into the water yesterday.
Hearing that Xie Yunian had already left the residence, Jiang Yao finally let out a sigh of relief.
Inside the Imperial Study.
The Emperor sat alone before a carved sandalwood chess table, facing an unfinished game.
“Your Majesty, Lord Xie has arrived.”
“Let him enter.”
Xie Yunian was led in by a palace attendant.
“Come and sit.” The Emperor waved his hand, dispensing with the need for a bow, and gestured toward a chair nearby. “The Imperial Physician has told me everything—about the blood clot in your brain and your loss of memory.”
Xie Yunian meticulously completed the full set of proper courtesies before thanking him and sitting down.
A palace attendant came over and offered a hot cup of tea to both men.
Seeing his demeanor, the Emperor laughed. “You truly have lost your memory. You weren’t like this in front of me before.”
The current Emperor had ascended the throne at a young age and was not much older than Xie Yunian.
Xie Yunian lowered his eyes and replied, “I do not recall past events, Your Majesty, but the distinction between ruler and subject must be respected.”
“Since that is the case, your military duties in the capital will be temporarily suspended. When your memory returns, you may go back to the Imperial Guard camp outside the capital.”
“Understood.”
The Emperor sighed and instructed the palace attendant standing beside him, “Go to the Imperial Household Department and tell them to prepare some supplements, which are to be delivered to the Earl Chengbo’s manor shortly.”
A flicker of hesitation crossed the attendant’s eyes.
“Why are you standing there?” The Emperor frowned, seeing him hesitate.
“Your servant will go immediately.”
After the attendant left, the smile on the Emperor’s face faded slightly. “My Imperial Uncle is becoming increasingly distrustful of me.”
Xie Yunian pressed his thin lips together. He was in no position to comment on the private affairs of the Royal Family.
He simply presented the intelligence report he had gathered at Ming Cui Mountain to the Emperor.
The report confirmed that Zhao Quan’s tracks had indeed been found near Ming Cui Mountain.
As the Emperor read, he let out a light chuckle, but suddenly began to cough violently.
“Your Majesty…” Xie Yunian quickly stood up.
The Emperor waved him down, signaling him to sit back. He covered his mouth and coughed a few more times before suppressing the urge and continuing to read.
“I have already dispatched men to stake out an abandoned temple halfway up Ming Cui Mountain,” Xie Yunian reported.
The raindrops gently tapped on the eaves outside.
The candlelight flickered in the hall, casting dappled light and shadow that made the Emperor’s expression appear more complex and inscrutable.
The Emperor finished reading the memorial, placing it aside. “How is the wound on your waist? There is no harm in recovering at home for a while.”
Xie Yunian bowed and replied, “They are minor injuries. I have sustained far worse injuries in the military camp. I cannot be bedridden every time.”
“My esteemed subject, did you also visit my younger brother Heng’s residence yesterday?” the Emperor asked, seemingly casually, his voice still a little hoarse.
“Yes. I went for an outing near Ming Cui Mountain at the invitation of the Third Miss Jiang,” Xie Yunian replied, lowering his gaze so his expression was unclear.
“His Royal Highness Prince Jin also accompanied us.”
He pointed to the memorial on the table, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. “Is this matter truly unrelated to my younger brother Heng?”
Zhao Quan travels to Ming Cui Mountain every month, and Prince Jin happens to have a separate residence there.
Years of experience had sharpened the young Emperor’s gaze.
He quietly observed Xie Yunian, showing no obvious emotion, but exerting an invisible pressure.
The breeze began to pick up outside, and the palace lanterns hanging from the eaves swayed in the wind, making a faint clinking sound.
Dawn had not fully broken, and the palace lanterns were still lit in the Imperial Study, casting flickering light.
Xie Yunian’s expression was calm, and his gaze was candid. “My scout confirmed that Zhao Quan did not go to the residence. I also checked the backyard of the residence and found nothing.”
This was the truth.
“His Royal Highness Prince Jin… he even personally grilled meat for us,” Xie Yunian added, remembering the incident, his expression shifting slightly.