Meanwhile, Pei Yunting was leading Fu Boheng toward Li Rao’s study, following the layout they had obtained.
The shadow guard from the Zhen’an Marquis Manor and Yiner followed closely behind.
Finding a spare moment, Pei Yunting turned around and asked,
“I never had the chance to ask before. What’s your name?”
The shadow guard clearly hadn’t expected the question. After a brief pause, he replied,
“This subordinate is called Ling Xuan.”
“You’re one of Yan Huaijin’s men, assigned to protect me?”
Ling Xuan nodded.
“You could say that’s part of my duty.”
Pei Yunting nodded seriously.
“Good then, Ling Xuan. I’ll trouble you to watch over Young Marquis Fu. If anything unexpected happens later, I may not be able to look after him. Your only mission tonight is to keep him safe. Don’t worry about me.”
Ling Xuan hesitated inwardly.
He feared something might happen to Pei Yunting. If he failed in his duty, once his master returned to the capital, he would probably have him strung up and chopped to pieces.
But then he thought again.
Second Miss Pei’s martial skills were on par with his own, and even the maid behind her looked like an expert.
Swallowing his concerns, he answered,
“Understood.”
Fu Boheng was deeply moved.
The admiration and reverence already in his eyes toward Pei Yunting gained another layer of respect and dependence.
In his eyes, she had become a peerless heroine descending from the heavens, radiating dazzling brilliance.
If Pei Yunting knew what he was thinking, she would probably roll her eyes so hard they’d disappear into the back of her head.
Under the protection of the Imperial Guards, the group drew closer and closer to the study.
Before setting out tonight, their people had already thoroughly investigated every corner of the Vice Minister’s residence.
Moreover, everyone accompanying Zhou Sinian tonight was either Yan Huaijin’s trusted confidants or Imperial Guards Zhou Sinian had requested from Emperor Ren’an through the Imperial Guard Office.
With such manpower, withdrawing safely would not be difficult.
As for Pei Yunting, with her exceptional qinggong and Yiner beside her, escaping would be easy regardless.
She had little to worry about.
Their objective was to search Li Rao’s study for military intelligence, correspondence between him and Prince Yi, or any clues that could become leverage.
Fu Boheng followed closely behind Pei Yunting, carefully clutching a corner of her sleeve. He suppressed his curiosity, cautiously sweeping his gaze around before quickly looking away.
Upon reaching the study, Pei Yunting naturally had no intention of entering through the front door.
She pried open a window.
Before anyone could react, she had already landed inside.
The shadow guards stationed nearby had long since been quietly dealt with by the Imperial Guards, so everything proceeded smoothly.
The four of them immediately began rummaging through cabinets and drawers while the Imperial Guards kept watch outside.
After searching for a while, Pei Yunting accidentally discovered several carefully hidden sheets of paper behind an ink landscape painting hanging on the wall.
Holding them up to the light, she realized they were letters exchanged between Li Rao and Prince Yi.
She exchanged a knowing glance with Yiner.
The two smiled in perfect understanding.
Fu Boheng’s eyes sparkled even brighter beneath the moonlight.
“Wow! Sister Pei, how did you find those? That’s incredible!”
She explained casually,
“Li Rao is notorious for his greed and lust. To put it bluntly, he’s hardly a refined gentleman. Someone like him would never display such an elegant ink painting in his study unless it was hiding something.”
“And sure enough, the moment I touched it, I found these.”
There was another reason she didn’t mention.
One corner of the painting was slightly curled upward, proof that someone frequently lifted it from that spot.
Ordinary households wouldn’t repeatedly handle a painting that way.
Pei Yunting quietly confirmed her suspicions.
Li Rao truly was a complete fool.
Aside from his playboy tendencies, if Prince Yi hadn’t protected him all these years, he would probably have died ten thousand times over.
Soon afterward, they also found several military intelligence reports that had yet to be destroyed and took those with them as well.
Sneaking into the Vice Minister’s residence to steal intelligence from the First Prince’s faction was never something that could remain hidden forever.
Everyone understood that.
Since neither side had openly turned against the other yet, there was little to fear.
This operation had been highly rewarding.
Once the mission was complete, the Imperial Guards escorted them safely out of the residence.
After reuniting with Zhou Sinian, Pei Yunting carefully inspected him from head to toe.
Seeing no bloodstains or injuries, she finally handed over everything they had found.
Under the cover of the dark night, the group went their separate ways.
Before leaving, Pei Yunting gave Fu Boheng a severe lecture.
Every word emphasized how reckless he’d been.
He hadn’t even brought a single servant or guard, yet he had dared come alone to do something so dangerous with them.
Fu Boheng now obeyed her almost without question.
Even after being thoroughly scolded, he showed no resentment, repeatedly nodding as he promised,
“I won’t do it again.”
Only then was Pei Yunting finally satisfied enough to let him go.
Ling Xuan escorted Pei Yunting all the way back to the Zhen’an Marquis Manor.
Just as he was about to leave, Pei Yunting called after him.
“Ling Xuan.”
Though fatigue showed faintly between her brows, her bright eyes remained radiant.
“Can you contact your master?”
“Could you deliver a letter to him for me?”
Without hesitation, Ling Xuan nodded.
This shouldn’t count as betraying my master… right?
Youzhou
Inside the Governor’s Residence of Youzhou, Yan Huaijin had just finished discussing official matters with Zhan Zhao and Zhan Yuan when a letter, delivered by Ling Xuan after a frantic ride, finally arrived.
Clad in a dark purple brocade robe, his features remained striking despite days of exhausting travel.
As he tore open the envelope, confusion flickered across his face.
It wasn’t yet time for the scheduled report.
Why had it arrived so urgently?
His heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Could something have happened to Pei Yunting back in Yanjing?
Panicked, he hurriedly unfolded the letter.
Only after reading the very first sentence did he realize something was different.
It was Pei Wanwan’s handwriting!
Yan Huaijin’s pupils contracted.
Joy instantly blossomed across his face, while turbulent emotions surged through his heart.
Because it had been written by the person he missed most these days, reading her words felt almost like seeing her in person.
He read every single line with extraordinary care.
Yan Huaijin,
I hope this letter finds you well.
Has Your Highness been doing well lately?
You quietly ran off to Youzhou without even writing me a letter. I had to ask around myself. Were you afraid I’d expose your whereabouts or something?
These past two days, Zhou Sinian and I accomplished something rather impressive. Once you hear about it, you’d better thank me properly.
Also, I don’t know how long you’ll be staying in Youzhou. If you still haven’t returned before my coming-of-age ceremony, then I’ll ignore you forever.
After all, it doesn’t matter to me. Someone attracts bees and butterflies everywhere he goes. I’m sure plenty of young ladies in Yanjing are already thinking about you.
Remember this—come back quickly.
And you’re absolutely not allowed to get hurt again!
—Pei Yunting
There was actually another note from Ling Xuan tucked inside the envelope.
But Yan Huaijin tossed it aside without giving it even the slightest glance.
He reread Pei Yunting’s letter over and over again, examining every word as though he intended to memorize it by heart.
He could almost picture the expression on her face as she wrote it.
Lively.
Adorable.
Especially those last few lines of gentle reproach.
They were unbearably endearing.
Holding the envelope, Yan Huaijin continued savoring every phrase.
Suddenly, his fingertips brushed against several tiny bumps inside.
Only then did he realize something else remained in the envelope.
Curious, he poured the contents into his palm.
His face immediately lit up with a radiant smile.
Then, as if remembering something, the tips of his ears quickly turned red—
Just like the red beans resting in his hand.
Since ancient times,
red beans have always symbolized longing.
Deep into the night, the First Prince’s palace remained brightly illuminated.
A man sat upon the high seat, wrapped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, silently listening as his subordinate delivered the latest report.
The tip of his folding fan turned.
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
The hall became so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard.
After a long while, he waved his hand.
Everyone withdrew.
The chessboard before him was only half-finished.
Thinking of the person who usually sat across from him, he suddenly lost all interest.
He gathered the pieces back into the container, slowly rubbing the final white stone between his fingers.
Softly, he murmured,
“Ah Pei…”