“My Lord, the shadow guards investigating the assassination attempt at the imperial banquet have returned with a breakthrough.”
The black-clad operative knelt respectfully before Xiao Ruochen.
“Report.”
The warmth vanished from Xiao Ruochen’s eyes, replaced by a chilling coldness that made even the veteran operative feel a shiver run down his spine.
“As you predicted, My Lord, the matter is directly connected to Chancellor Murong. The assassins were elite agents secretly cultivated by the Kingdom of Yayao. Over the past several years, the Murong family has maintained covert communication with Yayao. We believe Chancellor Murong provided detailed information regarding the Imperial Forest Guards’ patrol routes and defensive arrangements, allowing the assassins to penetrate the palace so easily.”
At the mention of the Murong family, killing intent flashed through Xiao Ruochen’s eyes.
“That old fox still has the support of the Empress. The time to destroy their faction has not yet arrived.”
His hand tightened into a fist.
“Continue monitoring Murong’s movements at all times.”
“Understood.”
“And one more thing.”
The operative lowered his head.
“I want a complete investigation into Qin Muxi’s years in the countryside. Every detail. Leave nothing out.”
The shadow guard was briefly surprised.
Investigate Miss Qin?
However, he knew better than to question his master’s decisions.
“Yes, My Lord.”
With that, he disappeared into the darkness.
The room fell silent.
Alone once more, Xiao Ruochen’s thoughts drifted back to the distant past.
Back to the happiest years of his childhood.
Back when he was still Crown Prince Mo Yechen.
Before he turned thirteen, the late Emperor and Empress had shared a deeply loving marriage.
As their only son, Mo Yechen had been cherished beyond measure.
Then disaster struck.
A massive fire consumed the Eastern Palace.
The Empress died in the flames while ensuring her son’s escape.
The official explanation was simple.
A palace maid had accidentally knocked over an oil lamp.
A strong wind had spread the fire.
The public accepted the story.
The court accepted the story.
But Mo Yechen knew the truth.
On the afternoon before the fire, Noble Consort Murong had visited the Empress.
He had been resting in a nearby room.
Though half asleep, he had clearly heard their argument.
He still remembered Noble Consort Murong’s furious voice.
“The Empress’s throne should have been mine!”
“The Crown Prince should be my son!”
Not long afterward, the fire began.
The flames spread rapidly.
His mother had desperately tried to lead him to safety.
As burning beams collapsed around them, she used her final strength to push him away.
“Run!”
Her desperate cry still echoed in his memory.
“Stay away from the imperial palace!”
When he regained consciousness, he was no longer in the capital.
He had been rescued by the reclusive master Elder Xiao on Lingling Island.
The old master accepted him as his final disciple.
For more than ten years, Mo Yechen abandoned his identity and buried his name.
While secretly investigating the truth behind the fire, he devoted himself to rigorous training.
Martial arts.
Military strategy.
Scholarship.
Politics.
Under Elder Xiao’s guidance, he mastered them all.
By the time he completed his training, few people in the world could rival him.
Returning to the capital under the name Xiao Ruochen, he gradually rose through the imperial examinations and official ranks.
Eventually, he became Grand Preceptor to the current Crown Prince.
The irony was almost laughable.
The Crown Prince was the biological son of Empress Murong.
For years, Xiao Ruochen had secretly collected evidence against the Empress and the Murong family.
During that investigation, he discovered their connections to the Kingdom of Yayao.
His gaze slowly softened.
Qin Man’s face appeared in his thoughts.
The icy coldness in his eyes melted away.
Yet confusion remained.
According to his investigations, the original Qin Muxi had been timid, quiet, and prone to tears.
She had followed Prince Mo Xuan everywhere since childhood.
The capital had long regarded them as childhood sweethearts.
Furthermore, the former Qin Muxi had always treated Xiao Ruochen with cold indifference.
But the woman before him now was completely different.
She was bright.
Independent.
Fearless.
The energy in her eyes seemed capable of drawing people toward her without resistance.
Could years in the countryside truly change someone so completely?
Or was there something else he didn’t know?
No matter how many questions lingered in his mind, one fact remained unchanged.
She had saved his life twice.
That alone was enough.
Whatever happened in the future, he would protect her.
Completely unaware of the thoughts occupying his mind, Qin Man was focused entirely on his recovery.
Not only did she personally oversee his medicine and acupuncture treatments, she had even taken over part of the manor’s kitchen operations.
Every day, she prepared nutritious meals for him herself.
Originally, Xiao Ruochen had planned to continue pretending to be weak for another half month.
However, Qin Man’s cooking proved far too tempting.
The aroma alone was enough to destroy his determination.
Before long, he found himself abandoning his bed and sitting at the dining table every day.
Her cooking was extraordinary.
Simple ingredients became delicious feasts in her hands.
This afternoon, Qin Man entered carrying a fresh meal.
Xiao Ruochen immediately set aside the documents he had been reading.
The table soon filled with dishes.
Steamed fish with ginger and scallions.
Silken tofu stewed with minced pork.
Fresh mountain vegetables.
The food smelled irresistible.
“Muxi, sit and eat with me.”
By now, they had grown familiar enough to abandon formal titles when alone.
“Alright.”
Qin Man sat down without hesitation.
She filled a bowl with rice and handed it to him before serving herself.
Within a short time, every dish on the table had been completely cleaned out.
Thanks to Qin Man’s meticulous care over the past half month, Xiao Ruochen’s recovery had progressed rapidly.
The unhealthy pallor was gone.
His complexion now looked healthy and vibrant.
After lunch, Qin Man insisted that he spend some time outside in the sun.
The courtyard was peaceful.
Lotus flowers bloomed around a stone pond.
Their fragrance drifted through the warm afternoon air.
Qin Man settled into her favorite wicker rocking chair.
The gentle breeze soon lulled her to sleep.
Xiao Ruochen stood quietly beside her.
Watching her sleeping face, he felt a sense of peace he had never known before.
These past two weeks had been the happiest days of his life.
“My Lord.”
A voice suddenly interrupted the silence.
It was Xiao Mu.
Xiao Ruochen immediately raised a finger.
Quiet.
He carefully removed his white silk cloak and draped it over Qin Man’s shoulders.
Only then did he leave with Xiao Mu and enter his study.
After a pleasant nap, Qin Man slowly woke.
The courtyard was empty.
Pulling the cloak more tightly around herself, she sat for a moment before preparing to return to the East Wing.
Then she remembered something.
The lunch dishes were still inside Xiao Ruochen’s study.
Turning around, she headed toward the room.
Just as she reached for the door handle, a cold voice sounded from within.
Gone was the warmth she normally heard.
What remained was pure ice.
“That old fox Murong and the Empress have actually formed an alliance with Yayao’s Second Prince.”
Xiao Ruochen’s voice was filled with dangerous satisfaction.
“Heaven has delivered the evidence directly into my hands.”
Another unfamiliar male voice responded.
“My Lord, should we immediately present the evidence to the court?”
Qin Man froze.
That wasn’t Xiao Mu’s voice.
Who was inside?
Curiosity immediately took over.
She quietly leaned closer to listen.
“Years ago, that woman murdered my mother.”
Xiao Ruochen’s voice became colder.
“I escaped death and abandoned my identity for one purpose alone.”
“Revenge.”
“However, the Murong family still controls a significant portion of the border armies. Their influence runs too deep. We must wait.”
Murdered his mother?
Abandoned his identity?
Qin Man’s mind raced.
Then the pieces suddenly connected.
His mother was the Empress.
He survived the fire.
He abandoned his identity.
That meant…
Xiao Ruochen was actually Crown Prince Mo Yechen.
The revelation struck her like lightning.
Her legs weakened.
In her shock, her shoulder accidentally hit the door.
Bang!
The sound echoed through the corridor.
Inside the study, everyone immediately heard it.
The door burst open.
Before Qin Man could react, a black-clad figure shot forward.
A powerful hand seized her shoulder.
The next instant, she was dragged into the study.
A cold sword pressed against her throat.
“My Lord.”
The masked operative’s voice was deadly.
“She knows too much. She cannot be allowed to live.”
“Stop!”
Xiao Mu immediately stepped forward.
“Miss Qin saved the Lord’s life!”
Qin Man’s heart pounded wildly.
As a modern woman who had lived in peaceful times, she had never experienced the terror of a blade pressed against her neck.
The room fell silent.
Slowly, Xiao Ruochen walked toward her.
His expression was unreadable.
A thousand emotions seemed hidden behind his eyes.
“Release her.”
His voice was calm.
Absolute.
“Leave us.”
The masked guard immediately sheathed his sword and vanished through the window.
Xiao Mu hesitated before quietly withdrawing as well.
Soon, only two people remained in the room.
Qin Man.
And Xiao Ruochen.
No.
Mo Yechen.
As the fear gradually faded, Qin Man looked at him differently.
Instead of fear, what she felt was sympathy.
A prince who had lost everything.
A son forced to watch his mother die.
A child who spent more than a decade hiding in the shadows.
His path could not have been easy.
“Muxi.”
His voice was unusually soft.
“You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”
He lowered his eyes.
“I am Mo Yechen.”
“I know.”
Qin Man met his gaze.
“Are you going to kill me to protect your secret?”
Mo Yechen remained silent.
He stared at her for a long time.
Then he finally spoke.
“Would you stay in the Grand Preceptor Manor permanently?”
His voice carried an almost imperceptible vulnerability.
Qin Man blinked.
“And if I refuse?”
Silence filled the room.
The answer seemed obvious.
After a long while, Mo Yechen slowly turned away.
His shoulders looked strangely lonely.
“You may leave.”
His voice was quiet.
Empty.
The sight unexpectedly tugged at Qin Man’s heart.
She should have felt relieved.
Instead, she felt uncomfortable.
During her time in this world, he had been the first person she truly trusted.
He had protected her again and again.
And beneath all his strength, she could sense how much he relied upon her presence.
“Mo Yechen.”
Her voice broke the silence.
He immediately turned around.
Qin Man looked directly at him.
“I’ll stay.”
His eyes widened.
“I’ll remain here until your body is completely healed.”
Only then would she leave.
Besides, until she found the ancient medical text and discovered a way home, the Grand Preceptor Manor was the safest place she could stay.
A fair exchange for all the protection he had given her.
The instant the words left her mouth, Mo Yechen crossed the room.
Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms.
His embrace was tight.
Desperate.
As though he feared she would disappear if he let go.
Qin Man’s body stiffened.
Then gradually relaxed.
Memories flashed through her mind.
Their first meeting in the mountain cave.
Their encounters in the capital.
The imperial banquet.
The weeks they had spent together.
Listening to his heartbeat, she slowly closed her eyes.
For the first time, she allowed herself to lean against him.
The darkness that had filled Mo Yechen’s heart for years finally cracked apart.
Light returned to his eyes.
Holding her in his arms, he wished time could stop forever.
Later that evening, Qin Man returned to her room in the East Wing.
Her thoughts were completely tangled.
Pacing around the room, she attempted to think logically.
Alright.
One problem at a time.
She couldn’t solve a royal conspiracy tonight.
She couldn’t magically return to the modern world tonight.
Therefore, the plan remained unchanged.
Eat well.
Sleep well.
And continue searching for a way home.