I do not know how much time had passed.
When I woke up, everything before my eyes was pitch black.
A rough black cloth blocked my vision, and my hands were tightly bound behind my back with hemp rope.
I lay on the ground, the cold floor pressing against my cheek, my entire body aching with soreness and numbness.
It was a kidnapping.
I never expected that during this period, while I was on guard against the thugs of the Su family every single moment and deploying countless personnel to protect Yin Xiao, they decided not to kidnap Yin Xiao at all and switched to kidnapping me instead.
Yet why kidnap me? Even if I were to die, Yin Xiao could still securely claim the position of Crown Prince.
I could not quite agree with the kidnappers’ line of reasoning.
I quietly waited for a moment, hearing vague sounds coming from far away across several walls.
Judging by their hurried tones, it seemed they were arguing about something.
I pricked up my ears to listen, but someone suddenly barged into the room, roughly hauled me up, and dragged me out the door.
That person carried me as we rushed outside. In an instant, the chaotic mix of running footsteps and human voices crashed into my ears simultaneously.
The neighing of horses echoed from all directions, and the ground trembled slightly.
“Why are only this many horses left?! Who let the horses loose?!”
“Stop shoving! Let me get on first!”
The noisy commotion rose and fell. I bounced up and down on the kidnapper’s shoulder like sitting in a boat.
Someone shouted out: “Leave him! Let’s go!”
Right after that, I was tossed to the side, my back of the head nearly colliding with something hard.
Wincing, I straightened my aching body. A cloud of dust kicked up by horse hooves hung before me, making me cough violently for a long time.
Those reckless horse hooves nearly kicked right into my face when someone suddenly pulled me aside.
I had a mouthful of dust and felt like I was coughing up my lungs.
That person even kindly patted me on my back.
I gave a weak, lopsided smile and said in an exhausted voice: “Thank you.”
The person remained silent and did not answer me.
Soon, that kind person left as well.
The kidnappers, some riding horses and others running on foot, escaped cleanly.
I was somewhat stunned.
Wait a minute.
After going through all that trouble to kidnap me, they just left me here unattended?
At least help untie my bonds before fleeing for your lives!
When the hurried sound of horse hooves arrived, I had just scraped against the wall and found the location of the main door.
With my hands bound behind my back, the black rope in front of my eyes was tied into a dead knot at the back of my head, making it impossible to untie.
Fortunately, I was barely injured and walked with ease. Just as I was about to escape, a massive wave of chaotic horse hooves galloped to a spot not far in front of me.
As I hesitated whether to hide, a loud crash echoed in front of me.
The fragile wooden door was smashed apart by something just like that.
I instinctively stepped back, unsure whether the newcomer was friend or foe.
Until I was tightly pulled into a strong, familiar embrace, the force almost crushing me into pieces.
His appearance left me no chance to utter the words “I am fine” resting on my lips.
Another person’s voice sounded nearby: “Your Highness the Second Prince, please do not be anxious. Let Lord Ji come out first.”
I jumped in fright. So there were other people nearby.
With my hands trapped behind my back and unable to move, I could only nudge Yin Xiao with my body, terrified that others might notice something amiss between us.
Unfortunately, the difference in strength was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree; I could not push him away at all.
Whether he noticed my tension and unease or not, he lowered his voice and told that person to withdraw first, stating he had something to discuss with me alone.
Hearing Yin Xiao’s fierce and resolute tone, the person hurried away in fear.
Yet Yin Xiao’s voice sounded with a slight, faint tremor.
Once my hands were untied, my very first action was to pat his shoulder.
I did not know much about what happened that night myself.
I only knew that the gang of men who kidnapped me did not do it to bargain for Yin Shu, but out of sheer hatred, intending to tear up the ticket immediately.
However, Yin Xiao’s informants permeated the entire capital, and their tracks were discovered almost instantly.
It was quite fortunate that the matter could be resolved so simply.
Yin Xiao was about to be named Crown Prince, and at a time like this, the fewer complications, the better.
Yet Yin Xiao showed no intention of letting them off lightly.
During the few days I spent recuperating in bed, aside from returning every night travel-worn to pay a single visit, Yin Xiao was absent from Lanyue Palace the rest of the time.
When I asked Jinlan about what was happening outside, Jinlan wore a troubled expression.
I was puzzled: “Why? Is he not letting you speak?”
Jinlan nodded, then shook her head, her complexion looking somewhat poor.
I instinctively sensed that something was amiss.
Jinlan had served Yin Xiao longer than I had and was also an experienced veteran within the imperial palace.
She had witnessed plenty of palace intrigue; violence outside the palace was equally commonplace to her.
She rarely wore an expression like that, looking terrified of me discovering something.
I set the medicine bowl aside and announced I was heading out.
I told Jinlan that if the Second Prince placed the blame, it was entirely my fault and had nothing to do with her.
Jinlan chased me all the way to the palace doors, but ultimately failed to stop me.
That day, I witnessed Li Shi’s execution with my own eyes.
The vegetable market in the western part of the capital bustled with carriages, horses, and passersby. I stood among a crowd of people, watching the prisoners walk up one by one.
Among them was Li Shi.
Having not seen him for years, he had completely changed.
The man who once wore official robes and knelt alongside me among the hundred officials was now trapped by heavy cangues around his head and hands.
He had grown a beard and looked much older than his actual age. I heard the heavy sound of his dragging foot chains and watched him step by step approach the executioner.
Upon reaching the spot, he stood blankly until the executioner forced him down.
He stumbled to his knees, and the moment he opened his eyes, our gazes locked.
We stared at each other in a daze. We used to be friends, and very good friends at that.
I moved my lips silently.
The executioner swung his blade swiftly, and Li Shi’s head rolled to the side.
Suddenly, an urge to vomit rose within me.
That day, the burly executioner chopped off fifteen heads in total.
Not only were there Su family thugs, but also many accomplices of Yin Shu.
They had all participated in that kidnapping, and not a single one was innocent.
The executioners carrying out the sentence told me they were merely following protocol and could not bend the rules. If even a single head were missing, they would have to offer their own heads to make up for it.
Leaving the execution grounds, I stood at the palace gates for a very long time before finally stepping inside.
Upon reaching Lanyue Palace, Yin Xiao was waiting for me in the sleeping quarters.
Seeing me finally return, Yin Xiao abruptly stood up: “Teacher!”
He strode over quickly, wanting to pull me toward him, but I instinctively took a step back.
He froze, his expression instantly turning cold.
I lowered my gaze.
He fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly pinched my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes: “Teacher saw it, didn’t you?”
With a cold face and a frank, uncompromising tone, Yin Xiao said: “A mere Li Shi is not worth Teacher grieving over.”
He seemed eagerly desirous of my affirmation, but I gave none.
I did not feel much like discussing Li Shi.
After letting him go in the past, I had also gradually realized that the Li Shi I thought I knew differed vastly from who he truly was.
If Li Shi genuinely participated in the kidnapping, he certainly deserved his fate.
I was not heartbroken; I understood the logic.
I neither blamed Yin Xiao nor uttered any other words, simply stating that I wanted some peace and quiet.
I left Lanyue Palace and returned to the Ji residence, which I had not visited in a very long time.
The head of the Ji family was staggering around the courtyard in a drunken stupor, smiling as he played unseemly games with his concubines.
Returning to my room, I found a thick layer of dust accumulated on the bed.
The servants hurriedly cleaned up a bed that was passably neat.
I made do and slept there for the night.
Early the next morning, panicked servants woke me up.
With flustered expressions, they informed me that the Second Prince had arrived at the residence.
In a daze, I glanced at the half-sun lingering at the edge of the sky.
Could Yin Xiao possibly fail to understand what the words “want some peace and quiet” meant?
I genuinely wanted peace and quiet.
When Yin Xiao came looking for me, I refused to see him, having the servants relay a message telling him not to come for a while.
I would naturally return in a few days without needing to waste time here on my account.
I was fine; I simply wanted to rest for a few days.
However.
On the second day, and the third day, Yin Xiao came to the Ji residence every single day to sit for a few rounds.
I had no intention of seeing him, until a servant wept in fright, saying the Second Prince was far too terrifying and he dared not deliver messages anymore.
Fine. I understood completely.
I finally agreed to see Yin Xiao.
Following the terrified little servant into the reception room, the moment I stepped through the door, Yin Xiao looked over with thunderous fury.
Seeing that it was me, the anger instantly dissipated cleanly.
I dismissed the servant and, without uttering any superfluous words, told Yin Xiao: “Let us go back.”
Yin Xiao looked as though he had not expected me to say such a thing, the expression on his face truly dramatic.
I told you earlier, I was genuinely fine.
Upon returning to Lanyue Palace, Jinlan’s expression was filled with pleasant surprise to see me finally back.
I smiled at her.
The killing was done, but the matter was far from over.
I knew Yin Xiao was still investigating the mastermind behind my kidnapping that day.
He still only returned to the palace in the deep of night, and sometimes waking up in the middle of the night, I would find a shadowy figure sitting by my bedside.
Tonight was no exception.
Yin Xiao flipped the back of his hand to touch my cheek; it felt cool.
He murmured softly: “Teacher has lost weight.”
Unable to open my eyes fully, I responded casually: “Is that so?”
Inadvertently, the back of his hand slid downward, brushing past my neck, sending a trail of lingering itchiness.
Frowning slightly, I slapped his hand away.
“I am sleepy.”
Had it been any of the previous nights, Yin Xiao would have simply stroked me and left.
Tonight seemed somewhat different.
He placed his hand back, gently wrapping it around my neck.
“Teacher is still dwelling on what happened that day, aren’t you?”
I answered indifferently: “I am not.”
“On my way back just now, I kept thinking,”
Yin Xiao interrupted my words: “If a mere Li Shi could make Teacher grieve, what if I were to accidentally punish His Highness the First Prince? Would Teacher not be even more heartbroken?”
I opened my eyes, looking into Yin Xiao’s exceptionally clear gaze amidst the moonlight.
He was serious.
In the past, Yin Xiao had never truly moved against Yin Shu.
Perhaps due to their shallow fraternal bond, or perhaps because Noble Consort De had briefly shown some kindness back then.
The two brothers had always maintained a relationship as distant as water between gentlemen.
Yet things were different now.
I was familiar with every single reaction of Yin Xiao and was supremely certain that he genuinely harbored killing intent.
Observing my astonishment, Yin Xiao showed not the slightest hint of surprise.
He reached out to touch my cheek, caressing upward.
I instinctively tried to avoid him, but he pressed in closely, leaving not a single gap.
Like stroking a divine statue, Yin Xiao touched the skin of my cheek and neck over and over again with near-religious devotion.
Shivering with cold, I felt all the warmth in my body swallowed and stripped away by him.
His sinister voice carried a hidden, irrepressible hatred: “Noble Consort De guards against us day in and day out. Pity that the First Prince would not make a move, forcing her to take matters into her own hands and target Teacher first.”
Before I knew it, Yin Xiao’s voice reached my ear. I tried to pull away, but he held my face and forced me back.
“Noble Consort De is benevolent yet lacks experience, stumbling at the very first step.”
“Does Teacher believe that the First Prince is entirely innocent in this matter?”
Yin Xiao harbored suspicion, which was the most terrifying thing of all.
Suspicion is far more terrifying than outright hatred. Yin Xiao demanded total control over power in his own hands, and even the slightest shred of suspicion posed a massive threat to him.
“You cannot touch Yin Shu.” I forced an authoritative tone, though it sounded more like a plea: “He is your imperial elder brother after all, your own flesh and blood.”
If anything happened to Yin Shu at this juncture, even if Yin Xiao did not do it, suspicion would still fall upon him.
Things were manageable now, but what about the future? How would historians record it, and how would the common folk discuss it?
He had his considerations, and I had my worries.
While I was consumed with anxiety, Yin Xiao suddenly pulled me into an embrace.
Today was not the full moon night, yet I caught a glimpse of an unusual, burning heat within his eyes.
“Teacher, whether it is the First Prince, Noble Consort De, my birth mother, or even His Majesty, truth be told, I do not care about whether they live or die.”
Acting like a carnivore sniffing out its prey’s scent, he nibbled at my neck repeatedly, the force growing increasingly ruthless.
Unable to push him away, I felt a sharp sting on the front of my neck as he left a bloody tooth mark behind.
“Teacher, they wanted to harm you, and I simply cannot tolerate it.”
His words sounded like spoiled pleading, yet his tone was unyielding and irreconcilable. Holding me tightly, he attempted to bite even deeper.
Remaining silent for those few seconds, his hand had already slowly drifted downward, attempting to untie my clothes.
I quietly closed my eyes.
“If you do this, never address me as Teacher again.”