The sky was dim and overcast, distant mountains wrapped in a thick layer of mist.
Fine, dense rain wove through the air like a net, falling in a steady drift. Between two buildings lay a narrow path, muddy water pooling on the ground, ripples forming continuously with each raindrop.
“Plop—” Two black umbrellas entered the alley, moving forward at an even pace. Near the end of the path, they stopped and turned into a small courtyard on the side.
Gu Yun lowered his umbrella.
A faint light from above poured down, laying a pale, almost translucent veil over his overly fair face. His rain-damp eyelashes lifted as he closed the umbrella.
Li Lan, who had followed behind him, said, “That master is waiting for you in the east wing.”
Gu Yun thanked him and headed straight there. Sure enough, Xu Jingzhou was in the main room of the east wing. Xu Jingzhou glanced outside, saw no one else, relaxed, leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, and said, “You still have the nerve to come see me?”
Gu Yun looked at him, puzzled.
Xu Jingzhou said, “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about leaving me at the tavern that day!”
Gu Yun’s gaze flickered briefly. He immediately said he remembered clearly and would make it up to him later. Xu Jingzhou stared at him, sneered, and said, “I swore I wouldn’t talk to you for ten days. If you’ve got something to say, hurry up. I’m heading to the clinic. I saved someone.”
Gu Yun asked in surprise, “You saved someone?”
Xu Jingzhou said, “After leaving the tavern that day, I saw someone hiding in a pile of straw, covered in blood, so I brought him to the clinic. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.”
Gu Yun frowned. “Have you identified who he is? Don’t get yourself into trouble.”
Xu Jingzhou replied, “He doesn’t look like a bad person. But I’ll be careful. I won’t put myself in danger.”
Gu Yun nodded. “I came today to tell you something. The Crown Prince has agreed to give you a new identity. If you want to leave Cining Temple, you can leave now. He’ll handle everything afterward.”
Last night, Gu Yun originally wanted to ask for money as compensation, but then felt that such compensation was too light. It was barely enough to scratch the surface. So he tentatively proposed giving Xu Jingzhou a new identity instead, leaving him with two remaining “wishes” to ask of Chao Yan.
Of the three conditions obtained through the fire spear deal, he had only used one so far, and the other party had only exchanged one.
Xu Jingzhou thought for a moment and said, “I still haven’t finished learning the staff techniques. Give me ten more days. After ten days, I’ll leave Cining Temple.” He was already tired of life there and didn’t want to endure vegetarian meals and chanting any longer.
Gu Yun agreed.
At that moment, voices came from outside the courtyard.
They stepped out and saw a ragged child speaking to Li Lan. The child said he was looking for someone. When he saw Xu Jingzhou, his eyes lit up. “Monk,” he said, “that patient’s condition has worsened. The doctor asked whether you still want to continue treatment. It’ll cost a lot of money!”
Xu Jingzhou looked at Gu Yun. Gu Yun nodded. “Treat him.”
Xu Jingzhou replied, “Then treat him.” He quickly said goodbye and hurried toward the clinic.
Gu Yun watched him leave, then returned to the Eastern Palace with Li Lan. The palace was currently hunting for a leak in security. How could he not join in?
Last night, Chao Yan had asked him to cooperate in catching the traitor.
So early that morning, he had left the palace after preparing, and passing the message to Xu Jingzhou had simply been part of the plan.
Meanwhile, Chao Yan had first gone to refuse Princess Hanzhu on his behalf, then pretended to leave the palace while secretly watching those entering and leaving the Eastern Palace from the shadows. With unrest inside, he could not be at ease.
As expected. Had they caught someone?
When Gu Yun returned, the culprit had indeed been captured: a young palace maid, ordinary in appearance and timid in nature.
Gu Yun had no memory of her.
Zhang Zhangshe and Zhao He also didn’t recognise her. After questioning her, they learned she was a low-ranking maid responsible for sweeping the outer areas of the side hall.
She had no access to the inner chambers, so how did she know Gu Yun was not in the Eastern Palace?
Kneeling on the ground, her forehead bleeding from repeated kowtows, she tremblingly confessed that she had identified it through the scent on one of the personal maids.
Although Gu Yun was absent from the palace, supplies still had to be consumed to avoid suspicion. Zhang Zhangshe had distributed those supplies as rewards to several close maids.
Most items were harmless, but the rose-scented soap was different. It had a strong lingering fragrance. One of the maids used it daily in an overly conspicuous manner, which drew attention.
The maid’s sense of smell had always been sharp. She noticed the inconsistency and deduced the truth.
At first, she had not intended to report it. But her younger sister was about to be married, and the family could not afford the promised dowry. Driven by temptation and the ambition tied to Princess Hanzhu, she eventually cooperated with the palace procurement staff to leak the information.
That was how Princess Hanzhu arrived at the Eastern Palace that very night. Upon seeing Gu Yun, she believed she had been deceived and ordered someone to reclaim her reward.
When she later learned Gu Yun had been out of the palace, she immediately relayed the information. The procurement officer was caught in the act and she was implicated as well.
The ostentatious maid turned pale and collapsed to her knees.
The hall fell into complete silence.
Chao Yan sat above, quietly watching them. Zhang Zhangshe attempted to step forward to plead for mercy but was stopped by Zhao He.
Chao Yan said, “Zhao He.”
Zhao He stepped forward. “This servant is here.”
“Handle it.”
Zhao He glanced at Gu Yun, understanding why Chao Yan would not act personally, and replied softly, “Yes.”
Later, as they left the palace, Gu Yun hesitated before asking, “Will they die?”
Chao Yan gestured for him to turn around. Confused, Gu Yun did so… and felt his hair being gathered.
“What are you doing?” he asked, but his head was gently turned back.
“Don’t move,” Chao Yan said.
Behind him came soft rustling sounds. Soon, the faint sound of fabric tightening was heard.
“All done,” Chao Yan said, stepping back.
Gu Yun reached up and found his hair tied. He was used to wearing it loose and hadn’t realised it had grown to below his collarbone. Though not fully long, it now brushed his neck and could be tied into a low ponytail. For neatness, it had been secured with a grey-blue ribbon, even finished with a small knot.
“Thank you,” Gu Yun said.
Chao Yan replied, “No need to thank me.”
Then he added, “I understand what you’re thinking. I think the same. But if she isn’t punished, others will follow. Don’t worry about it, alright? I don’t want you troubled by this.”
Gu Yun thought: This is probably why I’d never make a good boss.
He sighed and agreed.
Chao Yan continued, “I haven’t seen the improved fire lance yet. Show me when I’m done. And I’ve read your workshop improvement notes. They’re good. I’ll have people implement them.”
Then, shifting topics, he said, “The person you asked me to find. I’ve found him.”
His expression was strange.
“This person matches your description exactly. You’re a native of Great Xuan. How do you know so much about him? What exactly is his connection to you and Xu Jingzhou?”
“He’s been found.”
Guo Yangquan, found.
Gu Yun asked, “Where is he?”
…
On the other side, Princess Hanzhu never expected Chao Yan to go so far as to personally refuse her orders for the sake of his consort.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Soon after being refused, she went to see the Emperor.
“Your Majesty,” she said, “Chao Ziyu has truly gone mad over that Consort Gu.”
The Emperor had just taken his medicine and was in a good mood. “Oh? How so?”
Princess Hanzhu explained everything, insisting that Chao Yan had humiliated her and her daughter. The Emperor frowned slightly, letting out a rough sound from his throat.
Seeing this, she hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for us!”
The Emperor said calmly, “Go back. I’ve made my decision.”
He then rewarded her with items from the private treasury to comfort her.
Satisfied, Princess Hanzhu left.
Meanwhile, Princess Roujia woke up and realise her mother had been busy all night. She smashed her hairpin in frustration and cried.
Her maids panicked, asking what was wrong, but she could not explain. She only felt trapped… by her mother, by the Crown Prince, and by Consort Gu. Everyone entangled in a web she could not escape.
When Princess Hanzhu returned and saw her daughter crying, her temper flared. She slapped her.
“Do you think crying makes you look noble?” she snapped.
“Go reflect on your mistakes. Don’t come out until you understand what you did wrong.”
Left alone, Princess Roujia shrank into the shadows, crying silently.
…
The Grand Eunuch Huang returned after escorting Princess Hanzhu and said, “Your Majesty, should we send a matron to teach Consort Gu proper etiquette?”
“Etiquette?” the Emperor repeated, amused.
He said, “When she saw me, did she lack etiquette?”
Huang replied carefully, “No, she was very proper.”
The Emperor chuckled. “Refusing the invitation was probably Chao Ziyu’s idea. I know my sister’s temperament. But his indulgence of Consort Gu is indeed excessive. A crown prince cannot be consumed by personal affection.”
“Your Majesty is right.”
“Select a few talented and virtuous ladies. The Eastern Palace should have some liveliness.”
…
Elsewhere, Chao Yan had not yet finished his affairs. Gu Yun rode with him in a carriage and soon arrived outside the capital.
Chao Yan led him to the secluded courtyard where they had once spoken of “deep affection.”
“The person is here,” he said. “Go ahead. I won’t accompany you. I still have matters to attend to.”
Gu Yun nodded, then asked casually, “What unfinished matter?”
Chao Yan smiled faintly. “Something good.”
