Qin Xiu collapsed as if struck by lightning, eyes rolling back—this time her faint was no act.
“Xiu’er! Xiu’er!” The Emperor rushed forward in panic to check her condition.
Song Jinglan was just about to propose marriage to Qin Fei when Cen Hejue suddenly laughed. Normally, he rarely laughed, and when he did, it was tinged with mockery. But now he laughed aloud—so strange that even Qin Fei felt goosebumps.
His shoulders trembled faintly as he laughed, his handsome face caught between ridicule and genuine amusement. Only after a long moment did he rein it in, saying coolly: “I was only joking. Who would have thought the Third Princess couldn’t even stand a tease?”
“?!” The Emperor’s expression froze. He looked from the unconscious Qin Xiu on the floor to Cen Hejue, who stood calm and composed.
A joke? A joke delivered so seriously?
Qin Fei, who had already prepared herself to flee with her wealth, now had to adjust her mood when Cen Hejue pulled back at the last moment. “Third Sister truly fainted. Father, perhaps summon the physician?”
The Emperor scowled, glaring at them all, then ordered the attendants and elderly servants to carry Qin Xiu back to her chambers.
Seeing Gu Nian pale and weary—her health only recently recovered, now shaken by all this—Qin Fei stepped close and whispered, “Go rest. When you’re better, in a few days we’ll go boating.”
Gu Nian looked at her with concern. “Will His Majesty still blame you?”
“Of course not. You saw it yourself—Qin Xiu can’t win against me.” Qin Fei patted her hand reassuringly.
As Gu Nian departed, Song Jinglan rose smoothly. “Your Highness, since Miss Gu is unwell, I’ll escort her back.”
This was clearly a matter between the male and female leads; Qin Fei had no interest in meddling. She waved him off. “Go, go, go.”
Soon, the palace bustled with attendants carrying Qin Xiu, summoning physicians. At last, only Qin Fei and Cen Hejue remained, facing each other in silence.
“Has Your Highness gotten the answer you wanted?” Cen Hejue’s gaze was cool, his expression oddly severe.
“Preceptor, don’t take offense.” Qin Fei glanced toward Qin Xiu’s chambers, then tiptoed closer. “Just now I was only tricking her and Father, borrowing your authority for a moment. Surely you won’t blame me?”
“How could I blame Your Highness?” His lips curved with the faintest trace of irony. “I am frightening by nature. You knew how to use that to protect yourself. Clever indeed.”
Perhaps she imagined it, but when he said he was frightening, Qin Fei sensed a deep sadness in him—like a man born to be the villain, committing countless misdeeds, unloved by all, as though it were inevitable.
But was that truly what Cen Hejue wanted? To make the world fear him, to bend others through dread—wouldn’t that wound his own heart?
“Preceptor…” Qin Fei suddenly felt pity for him, speaking softly, cautiously. “I don’t think you’re frightening at all.”
“Is that so?” He pressed his lips together, eyes narrowing at her. Then, suddenly, he leaned closer. “Perhaps that’s because you don’t yet understand me. Once you truly do…”
Qin Fei froze as he suddenly leaned closer, his hot breath wrapping around her. If he came just a little nearer, she could have kissed the tiny red mole on the bridge of his nose.
The sun was brilliant that day. Cen Hejue stood against the light, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, his figure wrapped in sunlight. The rays slipped through the gaps around him, reflecting in Qin Fei’s eyes.
His bone structure was exquisite, his facial contours sharp. Those pitch-black pupils seemed dredged from a silent midnight pool—darker than the stars, yet utterly devoid of starlight, lifeless. Though only twenty, he looked emotionless, like a walking corpse. Through those eyes, she felt nothing but piercing cold, a madness bordering on violence. And yet, outwardly, he was calm.
“Once I understand you?” Qin Fei’s gaze softened with a hint of spring brightness, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
The Qin Fei of old had been spoiled and foolish, never pleasing Cen Hejue. But this version of her—eyes alive and bright—only made him loathe her more. He had never known light. Why should she possess it? The sight of it made him lose control, made him want to destroy it.
“Your Highness had better not understand me.” Cen Hejue’s lips curved into a cruel smile as he stared straight at her. “Because I’ve said before—I only bare my heart to the dead.”
“…”
What kind of morbid, sickly act is this? Qin Fei forced down the wild pounding in her chest and withdrew her gaze. “I only take you as a friend. Between friends, there’s nothing that can’t be said. Of course.” Then she added, “But if it costs me my life, forget it. I value survival.”
He tilted his head. “I can see that.”
But she wouldn’t value it for long. Soon, she would die at his hands—just like all the others who had learned his secrets. The thought lifted his mood. Mischief glimmered in his eyes as he straightened, resuming his usual noble bearing. “Your Highness, guard your life well. I wish you success.”
“?”
Qin Fei blinked, baffled. Was that supposed to be a blessing? Why did it sound so… ominous?
Originally, Cen Hejue had only the Lantern Festival duties, with a single day’s rest at Mingxin Hall. But then the Emperor assigned him another task, stretching into several days without lessons.
As for Qin Xiu—after fainting in fright, she burned with fever through the night. To Qin Fei, this was double fortune. She was delighted, lounging idly in bed for two whole days.
It wasn’t until the day of her scheduled boat outing with Gu Nian that Qin Fei was finally roused by Er Ya. She sat before the dressing table, letting the maid fuss with her hairpins.
“Your Highness, early this morning, Grand Academician Tan from Guanwen Hall was urgently summoned to Zichen Hall. Word has spread through the palace—it seems connected to the Thousand Gold Pavilion murder case, and Lord Tan is involved.”
As Er Ya combed her hair, she added, “The Second Prince heard the news and rushed straight to Zichen Hall.”
The Tan family? Qin Fei had little impression of them, but hearing of the Pavilion case and recalling Cen Hejue’s recent assignments, she suspected it was all part of his plan. But why would Qin Jin go to Zichen Hall?
Yawning, Qin Fei couldn’t make sense of it. “What does Qin Jin have to do with the Thousand Gold Pavilion?”
“The Second Prince has no connection to the Pavilion, but he does to Lord Tan,” Er Ya explained, puzzled. “Your Highness doesn’t remember? His Majesty had intended for Lord Tan’s daughter to become the Second Prince’s consort.”
So the Tan family and Qin Jin were likely to become in-laws.
No wonder—when trouble struck the Tan household, Qin Jin scurried off to Zichen Hall. He was simply covering for his future father-in-law.
“Not interested.” Qin Fei leaned lazily against the chair back, urging, “Hurry up, Sister Er Ya. Gu Nian is waiting at the docks.”
She was excited for today’s boat trip. She remembered the last time she’d gone boating—it was back in her first year of high school, during an autumn excursion organized by the school. She had begged her mother for days before she finally handed over the seventy yuan for the transportation fee. But that was all she got. On the day of the trip, after the activities, everyone went off happily to eat together. She had no money for food, so she sat by the sea, watching people feed bread to the pigeons. Her stomach had growled so badly she nearly wanted to snatch the bread from the birds’ beaks. Later, when she returned home and searched the kitchen for food, she found an empty family-bucket box on the table, with only chicken bones left inside. In the trash were two amusement park ticket stubs.
That amusement park was the only one in their county, with tickets costing over three hundred yuan each—far too expensive for her family. She remembered once going there with classmates, watching them enter while she waited outside at the gate. So when her mother begrudged her even the seventy yuan for the school trip, she had instead taken her younger brother to the amusement park, eating a family bucket meal Qin Fei herself had never even tasted.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking? We’ve arrived.”
The carriage had reached the docks. Er Ya gave Qin Fei a gentle push.
She came back to herself belatedly, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped down—only to see Gu Nian waiting by the side, smiling warmly. “You’re here.”
Behind Gu Nian was a small boat, just large enough for the two of them. Qin Fei handed her purse to Er Ya. “I’ll go with Miss Gu. You take the money and go buy whatever you like, all right?”
There was no room on the boat, and since Gu Nian hadn’t brought anyone along, it wouldn’t be proper to bring Er Ya aboard.
“Of course, of course!” The maid’s eyes widened at the sight of the purse. “Then I’ll find a good restaurant and have dinner ready for you both later.”
Qin Fei nodded, watching the girl run off in high spirits. She couldn’t help but feel cheerful herself. Money really was a wonderful thing. Just as she turned back, her gaze was caught by a group of officers in the distance. “What are they doing?”
Gu Nian looked too, then explained, “Seems they’re investigating. After the murder at the Thousand Gold Pavilion, the authorities have been searching for the culprit. Perhaps they found some trace by the river.”
At that, Gu Nian added, “Your Highness must know—the case has been handed to the Preceptor.”
Of course, Qin Fei knew. She only smiled. “Then let’s get on the boat quickly.” Better to avoid running into Cen Hejue. She wanted nothing to do with the Pavilion case.
The sky was clear, the river sparkling under the sun.
Qin Fei reclined on the long bench, glancing at Gu Nian seated primly beside her—their postures worlds apart.
“We’re here to relax. Don’t sit so stiffly.” Qin Fei tapped the back of her chair. Gu Nian blinked, then laughed, and lay back in imitation.
A gentle breeze rippled across the water, sunlight soft and warm. Qin Fei was nearly dozing when she heard the girl sigh. “Only at Your Highness’s side do I feel free.”
Qin Fei was taken aback.
Gu Nian turned her gaze to Qin Fei’s wrist, where a bright red cord bracelet encircled it beautifully. “Having Your Highness is such a blessing.”
Qin Fei picked up a pastry—one Gu Nian had baked that morning—and popped it into her mouth. “Then make yourself free.”
Gu Nian frowned slightly. “How does one do that?”
“You carry too much in your heart.” Qin Fei looked at her steadily. “Empty it. Always put yourself first. Don’t worry about others’ well-being. Your own health and happiness matter most. Once you understand that, you’ll be free.”
Gu Nian’s eyes flickered. “Easy to say… but so hard to do.”
“But still…” She lifted her eyes, smiling gently. “Your Highness is fine just as you are.”
Qin Fei raised a brow. “?”
“I want Your Highness to be happy.” Gu Nian’s smile was radiant. “As long as you stay this way, it’s enough.” She herself couldn’t manage it—but she hoped Qin Fei could.
Qin Fei fell silent at that. Before she could reply, the boat suddenly jolted violently.
Both women stumbled, but Qin Fei reacted first, steadying Gu Nian.