The last traces of the cottage’s intimacy and absurdity faded away.
The confusion and complexity in Chu Jinhan’s eyes quickly vanished, and his expression once again became as inscrutable as ever.
He did not open the door at once. Instead, he walked over to it and asked in a low voice, “What is it?”
“News from the capital.” The voice outside belonged to his trusted aide, the Eastern Palace’s chief guard, Mofeng.
Chu Jinhan turned his head and looked toward Song Yunfei, fast asleep in the inner room.
She was sleeping soundly, completely oblivious to everything around her. After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Jinhan ordered, “Wait at the usual place.”
“Yes.” Mofeng accepted the order and fell silent.
Chu Jinhan gently smoothed the folds of the curtain separating the inner room from the outer one. Then he studied Song Yunfei’s eyelashes carefully. They did not stir. Only then did he quietly open the door, slip outside, and carefully close it behind him.
The night breeze was cool, heavy with the damp scent of plants and trees.
He drew in a deep breath. Only then did the turmoil Song Yunfei had stirred in him begin to settle.
Beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance, Mofeng saw Chu Jinhan approaching and hurried out to meet him. He dropped to one knee. “This subordinate greets Your Highness.”
“Rise and speak.” Chu Jinhan stood with his hands behind his back, the moonlight stretching his shadow into a long silhouette. “What news is there from the capital?”
“Your Highness, the Second Prince’s men have gone south, while the Third Prince’s have gone north.” Mofeng rose and reported respectfully. “They seem convinced that Your Highness is no longer anywhere near the capital. They are now searching the Jiangnan and Yumen Pass regions with all their strength.”
“Chu Jinyu… Chu Jinliang…” Chu Jinhan’s lips curved slightly. “They’re both clever. They even know how to divide the work.”
“Indeed. According to the news Lord Seventh brought, the capital’s defenses around the outskirts have grown much laxer as a result. That was how this subordinate managed to slip in.” Mofeng paused, then continued, “However, Your Highness, Lord Seventh asks how much longer you intend to remain here. Noble Consort Sun in the palace has already begun using your complete disappearance as an excuse to repeatedly urge His Majesty to appoint a new Crown Prince. Grand Tutor Lin’s faction is also fanning the flames at court… Lord Seventh fears that if this goes on much longer, something may change.”
Chu Jinhan’s gaze shifted toward the dilapidated thatched cottage. His expression was unreadable.
How much longer would he stay?
The day he fell from the mountain, his internal injuries were severe. He had indeed been unconscious for a time, which was when that woman had taken advantage of the situation, brought him out of the capital, and hidden him here.
Later, the woman had said she would treat his hidden ailment. She spent every last coin she had and forced him to drink countless bitter concoctions. His constitution had always been excellent; in little more than a month, his mind had cleared and his memories had fully returned.
He had kept quiet only to play along with her scheme.
He watched coldly as she brought him bitter medicine every day, acting out her clumsy “life-saving kindness” routine, while he secretly contacted Seventh Brother. Under the pretense of his death, he had laid a trap, waiting for every demon and fiend who sought to harm him to reveal themselves so he could wipe them all out at once.
As for the palace maid, his original plan had been to take her back to the palace once everything was settled, find out how she had managed to bring him out of the capital, and then end her life with a three-foot length of white silk, putting an end to it all…
But now, not only had he truly been intimate with her; more importantly, there were the things Song Yunfei had babbled after eating Jianshouqing Mushroom.
“Transmigration into a book,” “villainess,” “three feet of white silk”…
All those words wound around his mind like strands of spider silk, weaving themselves into a tangled web.
He did not understand what they meant, but he had keenly caught the most crucial piece of information.
That palace maid named Song Yunfei seemed to know the future.
This discovery excited him far more than the prospect of executing those treacherous ministers. It made him feel as though he had finally met a worthy opponent—and gave him the heady pleasure of being in control of everything.
“Your Highness?” Seeing him lost in thought, Mofeng could not help calling out, his voice plainly edged with worry. “The woman by your side…”
“Do not touch her.” Chu Jinhan came back to himself and glanced at Mofeng, issuing a cold order. “Have someone follow her in secret. Every word and action of hers is to be recorded truthfully.”
Mofeng’s heart tightened.
He had served the Crown Prince for many years and knew his master well: a man whose intelligence bordered on the demonic, and whose methods were ruthless. The woman might have saved His Highness, but she had seen him at his most vulnerable. She was a grave threat and could not be allowed to live.
Could it be… that His Highness had developed feelings for her?
Something suddenly occurred to Mofeng. His ears reddened, but he quickly composed himself.
If that was the case, then she had to be killed all the more!
“Your Highness, this woman’s origins are mysterious. If she reveals your whereabouts…”
At the thought of the Crown Prince being forced by a mere woman to chop wood and cook every day, the killing intent in Mofeng’s eyes grew stronger.
But if His Highness and she really had already…
Seeing Chu Jinhan’s expression darken, Mofeng gathered his courage and said, “This subordinate is willing to relieve Your Highness of this burden…”
“Do not touch her.” Anger flashed across Chu Jinhan’s face, and a faint, unmistakable trace of murderous intent flickered in his eyes. “Have you stopped understanding my words?”
Frightened, Mofeng dropped to one knee again. “This subordinate will obey.”
Chu Jinhan added, “Send word to Gu Huai'an. Have him keep a close watch on the Lin Family and on what is happening at the residences of my two imperial brothers. Also, have Seventh Brother investigate whether there was ever a palace maid named Song Yunfei at the imperial retreat.”
“Yes.” Mofeng accepted the order, though his thoughts were in turmoil.
His Highness had shown such protectiveness toward a woman—and was even asking Lord Seventh to investigate her background?
This was nothing like the decisive Crown Prince he knew!
“One more thing.” Chu Jinhan’s voice rang out again, cold as ice. “Go back and tell Seventh Brother that I will remain here for several more months. My whereabouts must not be disclosed—not even to His Majesty.”
“This subordinate understands.”
“Leave.”
Mofeng vanished into the darkness almost instantly.
Chu Jinhan remained alone beneath the locust tree for a little while longer, then turned and walked slowly back to the thatched cottage.
When he opened the door, the air inside was unchanged.
He went to the window and, by the moonlight outside, quietly watched the person on the bed.
Moonlight streamed over Song Yunfei’s graceful figure. Her sleeping face was peaceful, long lashes resting like butterfly wings, a faint smile playing on her lips.
When she was asleep, she was much more obedient than when she was awake.
Without that careful pretense, her features were relaxed, and she looked utterly at ease.
Song Yunfei, who are you, really?
Why have you suddenly become so different from before?
What does “transmigration into a book” mean?
The villainess you mentioned must be yourself, and the Crown Prince must naturally be me.
You said that once I recovered my memory, I would sentence you to death with three feet of white silk.
That’s right. That had indeed been my plan.
So… Song Yunfei, do you truly know what is going to happen in the future?
Interesting.
Chu Jinhan’s lips slowly curved upward, a smile both dangerous and amused appearing in his eyes.
What if I simply refuse to follow the ending you know?
What kind of expression would this timid woman, whose mind was full of such strange and bizarre ideas, wear then?
Without thinking, Chu Jinhan rubbed his lips with his thumb. It seemed he could still feel the clumsy, burning touch of Song Yunfei’s lips from the night before.
Chu Jinhan closed his eyes.
When you wake tomorrow, what kind of “surprise” will you bring me?