The dragon boat race was still in full swing. Even after the winner emerged, others continued to compete fervently. The purpose of these races was to ward off evil spirits—a belief deeply held by the people of the time—so it wasn't merely a contest for rankings.
Xiao Huayong grew restless, but since a prearranged scene was yet to unfold, he had to suppress his impatience and refrain from seeking out Shen Xihe.
His eyes briefly met Cui Jinbai's in the crowd, and with a slight nod from Xiao Huayong, Cui Jinbai understood the signal and left his seat. Those who noticed Cui Jinbai's departure—particularly members of the Cui family—watched helplessly as he strode toward Bu Shulin, who had just come ashore after winning the race.
Cui Jinbai unceremoniously hooked his fingers into the back collar of Bu Shulin's robe and dragged her away from the crowd of young admirers surrounding her.
"Cui Shitou, let me go!" Bu Shulin felt utterly humiliated. She immediately twisted around and seized Cui Jinbai's arm.
With a sharp wrench, she tried to break free, but Cui Jinbai merely spun with the motion, refusing to release her. Instead, he pulled her tightly against his chest, restraining her struggles, and murmured vaguely near her ear, "We have a task from His Highness. Cover for me."
Bu Shulin, who had already locked her hands on his shoulders and hooked her leg around his—poised to flip him over with one decisive move—instantly froze.
She completely missed the triumphant smirk that flashed across Cui Jinbai's face as he bundled her away.
Bu Shulin gave up resisting. Theoretically, she now belonged to the Crown Prince's faction. Though not as fanatically loyal as Cui Jinbai, she still had to contribute to His Highness's cause—after all, rewards would be distributed based on merit in the future.
Cui Jinbai's father turned livid at the scene. He rose to pursue them, but was sharply halted by Cui Zheng, Cui Jinbai's grand-uncle: "Sit down."
"Elder Uncle, Zhi He he…"
"If you chase after them now, are you trying to confirm their 'cut-sleeve' rumors? Do you want to escalate this beyond control?" Cui Zheng demanded in a low voice.
At present, no one could definitively prove the truth behind the rumors. If the Cui family rushed to interfere, it would only make them appear guilty—effectively broadcasting that Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai were involved in an improper relationship, to the point where the Cui family could no longer tolerate it.
Cui Jinbai's father had no choice but to take a deep breath and resume his seat. Cui Jinbai had calculated that without concrete evidence, no matter how scandalous the rumors grew, the Cui family wouldn't intervene—doing so would be a self-incriminating admission, which was precisely why he dared to act so brazenly.
Moreover, the Cui family's zenith was during the Wei-Jin period, when societal customs were far more uninhibited than now. Even if the rumors were true, as long as Cui Jinbai remained the future pillar of the Cui family and no junior surpassed him, Cui Zheng would protect him at all costs.
As for the lineage succession—the Cui family was vast and prosperous, with abundant descendants. They could always find an exceptionally talented child to adopt into Cui Jinbai's line later.
Cui Jinbai dragged Bu Shulin into an alley, pressed her facing the wall, and leaned close behind her. "Was that fun earlier?"
"Thrilling," Bu Shulin retorted, trying to break free but wary of drawing attention. She tilted her head back, glancing sideways. "Hurry up—what are His Highness's orders?"
Cui Jinbai leaned forward, nearly pressing against her. "Ahead—the small kitchen. Find a way to put this on the sweet dumplings."
Bu Shulin peeked out slightly and saw the stream of palace servants coming and going. The kitchen was a temporary setup for the imperial family's meals, surrounded by guards and patrols. Carrying out the task here would be as difficult as scaling the heavens.Her eyes darted around before Bu Shulin snatched the porcelain bottle from Cui Jinbai's hand. She opened it and sniffed—there was an indescribable medicinal odor. Shaking it revealed liquid inside. "It has a scent. It'll be detected if we present it."
"Use just a little. The smell will dissipate quickly," Cui Jinbai murmured, his gaze fixed on her earlobe—round and jade-like, utterly adorable.
The sweet dumplings were glutinous rice treats cut into small balls and arranged on lacquered trays—part of a Dragon Boat Festival game for nobles called "shooting the sweet dumplings." Participants used specially crafted tiny bows and arrows to shoot the delicate treats. If hit, the dumplings would either topple or crumble, making them extremely difficult to target—a game highly favored by young aristocrats.
Drugging other items might not guarantee consumption, but anyone who successfully shot a sweet dumpling would inevitably eat it. Who exactly ate it didn't matter—they just needed someone of considerable status to ingest it.
They couldn't risk exposure, as any mishap would immediately cast suspicion on them. Bu Shulin pondered methods, but with guards even on the rooftops, administering the drug precisely without detection seemed nearly impossible.
Just then, she spotted a eunuch hurrying toward the toilet area. An idea sparked. "There's one way we might attempt—though it's risky."
She immediately followed, instructing Cui Jinbai to keep watch, hoping luck would prevent encounters with others. Though guards were posted here too, they maintained enough distance to allow maneuvering. When the young eunuch emerged, Bu Shulin held her breath and struck his neck with a swift chop, knocking him unconscious.
She swiftly changed into the eunuch's robes and hat, bowing her head to mimic the mincing gait of court attendants. Handing the stripped eunuch to Cui Jinbai, she asked, "Can you take him away?"
Cui Jinbai glanced at the undergarment-clad eunuch, his eyes darkening as they swept over Bu Shulin. "Leave him to me."
"When we carry the food boxes past the corridor turning later, have an identical box ready—one with drugged sweet dumplings—and wait there hidden," Bu Shulin instructed.
A small rockery near the turning could conceal one person.
Though she'd be last in line, swapping the boxes required diverting the attention of the guards stationed ahead.
"Leave it all to me." Cui Jinbai had already considered everything she mentioned. His current concern was: "How will you escape?"
Her bowed posture and hunched gait might blend in with other eunuchs while receiving the food box, but once she carried it outside—under countless watching eyes—even a casual glance from someone who recognized her would expose them. The risk was immense.
Bu Shulin flashed him a bright, toothy grin. "This mountain dweller has her own ingenious plan."
With time short, Cui Jinbai didn't press for details but immediately set the plan in motion. To buy him time, Bu Shulin lingered in the toilet area a while longer, washed her hands, and perfumed them with the toilet's incense before hurrying back to the small kitchen.
The head eunuch was already urging the line to form. Attendants queued up one by one to collect food boxes. Bu Shulin stood toward the rear, eyeing the emerging items. To secure the sweet dumplings, she even jostled past a eunuch standing ahead of her.No one collided with anyone, and such minor friction that caused no harm went unnoticed. Then, one by one, they followed the leading eunuch forward. Bu Shulin remained preoccupied, worrying whether Cui Jinbai had enough time.
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