The streets on either side rang with all kinds of sounds… hawkers calling out, people shouting, quarrelling. But Gu Yun heard none of it. The clamour was like a current of air that swept past his ears in an instant.
He tucked the money pouch into his sleeve and stepped out onto the street.
It was already getting late. He needed to hurry; before the curfew, he would not be able to cover the main street, side streets, and the more lively alleys.
He only casually wandered into a few shops, bought a handful of delicate trinkets, and then returned.
The next day, the weather was excellent. Gu Yun rose early and began his grand undertaking of travelling through the main street, the side streets, and the busier alleys. These places did not sound like many, but walking through all of them still took considerable time.
He spent nearly three days thoroughly covering these areas, effectively mapping out the county town and identifying which places sold illicit goods.
In truth, it could have taken less time, but in order not to arouse suspicion among his attendants, he deliberately wandered slowly, even revisiting some of the more bustling areas more than once.
After three days, his legs were aching, though his knees were fine. Ever since the county fire, he had been applying medicine regularly, and the wound on his back still could not have its bandages removed, so he did not know how it was healing, though it itched slightly, suggesting it was improving.
He rested at home for half a day, and also went to visit Magistrate Gu’s wife and son. That same noon, after lunch at a restaurant, he used the excuse of going out for a stroll to head into town, intending to buy some forbidden items from places where they could not be seen.
Just as he reached the threshold of the side room, someone called him back.
Gu Yun feigned an innocent expression and turned to look at the person who had called him. “Your Highness, what is it?”
Chao Yan beckoned to him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Gu Yun shuffled over in small steps to the chair beside him. “Your Highness,” he called softly.
“Do you still have enough money?” Chao Yan asked slowly, rinsing his mouth with tea.
“Yes, enough.”
“Have you enjoyed yourself these past couple of days?”
Gu Yun’s expression brightened, his eyes sparkling. “Yes.”
Today he wore a light green dark-patterned silk short jacket, a greyish-blue satin vest, a pale pine-green pleated skirt with plain satin knee trousers, an elm-green cotton-linen sash at the waist, and a pair of grey-blue satin flat shoes.
It was not as striking as the earlier lotus-coloured outfit, slightly darker, but still good, making his skin look fair and clean, with an elegant air.
Chao Yan’s gaze was calm and steady as it slowly swept over him. “And the things you said you would buy for me?”
Gu Yun thought: that was just something said on the spur of the moment when asking for money. Why has he taken it seriously? Though he thought this, he did not show it. Instead, he smiled with bright, clear eyes and said, “I bought them for you. They are in the cupboard in the room.”
In any case, he had picked up a pile of miscellaneous things on this trip and had no use for them. If he wanted them, he could take them.
Chao Yan asked, “What did you buy for me?”
Gu Yun let out a small “mm”. This was a difficult question; if he answered poorly, he would be questioned further, since he had not asked in advance what the other wanted. He quickly came up with a clever answer. “You will see when you get back. It is something I really like, and I am sure you will like it too.”
Chao Yan smiled. “Very well.”
Gu Yun asked, “Can I go now?” He was getting restless.
“Come back early,” Chao Yan said. “We return to the capital tomorrow morning. I do not know whether those things will be useful, so to avoid confusion, come back early and have your things properly packed.”
Hearing this, Gu Yun became even more eager to leave. He gave a distracted reply and hurried off, nearly colliding with someone entering.
The newcomers were Meng Xuan and Ning Fu, followed by the military commander whom Gu Yun had seen before.
“Madam seems…” Ning Fu frowned, watching Gu Yun’s hurried retreat.
Meng Xuan said, “Perhaps he has urgent matters.”
The three entered in succession. Chao Yan ordered the leftovers to be cleared away and asked whether they had eaten. All replied that they had, so he led them into the adjoining room.
The main room was spacious, divided by a folding bamboo screen into two areas: one for dining, the other for resting. There was not much seating, so two additional chairs had been brought in.
Once seated, Meng Xuan reported, “The border garrison commanders Zhang and Zhao returned to their posts this morning.”
Three days earlier at noon, Chao Yan had hosted a banquet for the reinforcements. Afterward, the border troops led by Commander Zhang and Commander Zhao departed after two days’ rest.
Unlike their hurried arrival, their return journey was unhurried, and they reached their post this morning.
Meng Xuan continued, “In Yanlin County, I have instructed Deputy Magistrate Bi to coordinate with County Deputy Lin in managing county affairs.
“According to our informants, Magistrate Wang did have people holding hostages outside, but not as many as he claimed—around eight or nine households. Thanks to Your Highness’s foresight, those people have already returned home, and all those households are safe.
“Additionally, our people discovered that the bandit leader did not personally take part in the attack. He is currently hiding in a village within Yanlin County. Although this matter should be handled by men sent from the capital, I feared he might harm villagers, so I have already apprehended him. He has had his collarbones pierced and is now held in Zhuyang County prison…”
“Very good,” Chao Yan said. He lifted a cup of clear tea and raised it slightly towards Meng Xuan. “Third Brother’s work always puts my mind at ease.”
Meng Xuan replied, “You are too kind.”
Chao Yan then smiled and turned to the military commander.
The commander, surnamed Huang, felt a sudden pang of guilt under that smile. He scratched his nose and stood. “Sir…”
“Not Your Highness anymore?” Chao Yan asked, showing no trace of anger.
“My mind is only good for remembering things like marching and fighting. Everything else slips away after a moment. Sir, please do not take offence at a brute like me,” General Huang said with a bow. “I hope I have not caused you any trouble.”
That night, he had asked his wife whether His Highness was at home. Seeing her expression change, he immediately realised he had misspoken, and then remembered the instruction that within and without, they were only to address him as “sir”.
Words once spoken were like water spilled; how could they be taken back?
He had been so furious he kicked through a quilt that night. Fortunately, from His Highness’s expression, it seemed he would not be held accountable.
Indeed, he was not. Chao Yan said, “You have caused some trouble, but it is still within manageable bounds. I do have a favour to ask of General Huang.”
“Please speak, Your Highness.”
“I heard you brought two hunting dogs on this mission?”
General Huang paused. “Yes. I was worried that once I arrived in Zhuyang County, I might not find Your Highness with manpower alone.”
“Lend them to me for two days,” Chao Yan said.
“You may take them, Your Highness.”
At that moment, a tapping sound came from the window. Chao Yan walked over. The room was on the second floor, not high. A paper ball flew up from below. He caught it, unfolded it, shook out the stone inside, and glanced at the writing. He smiled faintly.
“Knockout drops.”
…
“How much?” Gu Yun asked the furtive old man opposite him. The man gestured.
“Twenty taels?” Gu Yun thought: that is daylight robbery. He hesitated, but still counted out the silver and handed it over. Only a small silver ingot remained in his pouch. He sighed.
The old man shoved a small paper packet into his hand. “The effect is strong. Not only knockout drops, but also rhododendron, henbane, and other herbs. Use enough and it can knock out a cow.”
Gu Yun took it, tucked it into his sleeve, and returned to the rouge shop through the back entrance.
His attendants were waiting inside.
The rouge shop was a family workshop: the man procured raw materials, while the woman made and sold the products.
Earlier he had spilled rouge and stained his clothes. Using that as an excuse to change, he ordered his attendants not to follow, lest the shopkeeper suspect them of prying into the secrets of production.
He changed clothes in the backyard, found the shopkeeper’s daughter, paid her, and asked her to let him out through the back door, while also covering for him with the attendants.
Then he quickly made his way through the alley to the place selling illicit goods and bought a sedative drug.
When he returned, the two attendants had noticed nothing, only asking if he still wished to look at rouge.
“I am not looking anymore,” Gu Yun said, pointing casually at a few boxes on the shelf. “Pack these and take them.”
The attendants agreed.
Having achieved his goal, he stopped wandering and returned to the rented lodging with them. Chao Yan had already returned and was inspecting the things he had supposedly bought for him. Seeing him enter, he smiled. “You have quite a variety of tastes.” From finely carved wooden hairpins and ornaments to various snacks.
“Do you like them?” Gu Yun asked.
“I suppose I do,” Chao Yan replied, turning his head to examine the trinkets.
Gu Yun lingered at the table, lifted the teapot lid, and found warm tea just recently boiled. He took out the paper packet, quickly unfolded it, and was about to pour the powder in.
Just as it was about to fall, he pulled it back sharply and glanced at Chao Yan. The other had not noticed.
He turned and went to the bamboo cabinet, took out a box of pastries, and, using the cabinet door as cover, crushed them into pieces. He mixed the powder into them, shook it evenly, then brought it out and offered it to Chao Yan.
“Your Highness, would you like to try some?”
Chao Yan glanced sideways. “No. Too sweet and too dry.”
That damned prince, still being picky. Gu Yun picked up a piece and held it to his lips. “It is delicious. It broke on the way back, I did not throw it away.”
“Is that so?” Chao Yan said.
Gu Yun fed him the pastry. “Yes!” As he watched him chew and swallow, he offered another piece. “How is it? Good, right?”
“I do not really like it…” Chao Yan had not finished speaking before Gu Yun boldly stuffed another piece into his mouth.
“You will like it if you eat more,” Gu Yun declared. Chao Yan looked at him quietly. Gu Yun rose on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Once you are used to it, we can eat it together in future. Would that not be good?”
Chao Yan said nothing, simply eating what was offered. Gu Yun continued feeding him a few more pieces until Chao Yan finally pushed his hand away.
“Enough. Stop fooling around. Pack your things.”
Gu Yun agreed at once, set the pastries down, and began packing, while secretly watching him from the corner of his eye. After a moment, seeing him sway slightly, he immediately stepped forward to support him.
“Your Highness, what is wrong?”
“I feel a little dizzy.”
As soon as the words fell, he lost consciousness.
Gu Yun was overjoyed. He half-dragged him to the bed and even thoughtfully covered him with a blanket. Then he rushed out shouting, “Someone! Someone come quickly! Something has happened!”
The attendants hurried forward. “What happened, Madam?”
Gu Yun lowered his voice. “His Highness has fainted. I do not know why. I helped him to bed.”
The attendants were alarmed and rushed in. Sure enough, the Crown Prince lay unconscious.
Gu Yun said gravely, “Everyone out. I have tasks for you.”
Without suspicion, they all came out. Gu Yun counted quickly. Aside from those openly and secretly following him, there were still five people. He thought, relieved: good thing I did not try to run recklessly.
He sent some to fetch Meng Xuan and Ning Fu, others to call for physicians, and the remaining two to boil water.
Once everyone was occupied, he packed two sets of clothes, slipped out through the window, opened the back gate, and left.
Relying on his familiarity with the county layout, he avoided the guards and left Zhuyang County in one go.
It was already night. He found a grove, gathered firewood, lit a fire, and prepared to rest.
As for that damned Crown Prince… once the medicine wore off, he would wake up on his own. If not, there were doctors.
“Who’s going back to the Eastern Palace with you? I am not going back,” he muttered.
Then he suddenly froze. In the distance, two pairs of eyes glowed with a faint yellow light.
Wolves? Wolves?!
