The setting sun cast long shadows as Wei Shufen and Chai Yingluo had spent quite some time inside the Great Peace Hall. The three women stepped out of the hall, and a gust of evening wind made Wei Shufen shiver.
Noticing how the slender Seventeenth Princess wore only a lined long skirt, her sallow face likely feeling even colder, Wei Shufen couldn't help but speak up: "Sister Ying, should we fetch a thicker garment first...?"
Chai Yingluo shook her head and replied softly, "The serving girls in Seventeenth Aunt's chambers..."
Before she could finish, Wei Shufen understood—the palace maids and serving girls in the princess's quarters were undoubtedly all Consort Yin's people. Going there would mean they could never leave again.
Chai Yingluo was dressed in a wide-sleeved Taoist robe without a silk scarf. After a moment's thought, Wei Shufen untied her own thick silk scarf and wrapped it around the princess's shoulders. The little girl nestled close to the female Taoist and looked up with a grateful smile, her thin lips already tinged purple from the cold.
The three women walked straight toward the main gate of the Great Peace Hall courtyard. Without even looking, Wei Shufen knew the sentries on the gate tower and the guards inside and outside were watching them closely. She wasn't sure how Chai Yingluo planned to get past this obstacle, but she was ready to follow her lead.
No matter what, they couldn't hand the poor child back to Consort Yin—who knew if she'd survive the night otherwise.
Through the tall gate passage, Wei Shufen spotted Li Yuangui's tall, lean figure outside. He seemed to have remained standing in the same spot, enduring the winter mountain winds that whipped at his turban ties and robe, silent as the withered grass and trees on the slopes.
"Consort Yin, in her kindness, understands that the siblings haven't seen each other in days. She asked me to bring Seventeenth Miss out for a visit to Prince Wu's residence to talk. We'll return her before nightfall. If the Supreme Emperor needs anything, you may find me at the Seventeenth Prince's Residence."
Chai Yingluo addressed the gate officers with an authoritative tone, calm and commanding. The deputy hesitated, glancing at a middle-aged man beside him—a newcomer. The man smiled ingratiatingly:
"It's not that this humble official dares to contradict the High Truth Master, but shouldn't someone from Consort Yin's retinue accompany them... or at least a gate pass..."
"Preposterous!" The Taoist nun frowned and scolded. "We're not even leaving the Great Peace Palace—why would we need a gate pass? As for the short walk to the Seventeenth Prince's Residence, must we trouble Consort Yin's people?—Seventeenth Aunt, look who's there!"
The princess, who had been gazing longingly outside, now darted through the gate passage at Chai Yingluo's urging, crying "Elder Brother!" as she threw herself into Li Yuangui's waiting arms.
A stir ran through the guards inside and outside the gate, but none moved to stop the slender little princess. Chai Yingluo and Wei Shufen seized the moment to follow her out. The middle-aged man surnamed Yin circled them anxiously, still unwilling to relent:
"High Truth Master, forgive my impertinence, but this lowly official has his duties and cannot afford negligence. The Fourteenth Young Master has been explicitly forbidden from entering the Great Peace Hall without permission..."
"Palace Supervisor Yin, you worry too much," Chai Yingluo shot him a sidelong glance. "The Fourteenth Young Master hasn't taken a single step inside the gate. Who has violated the decree?"
"Ah..." Palace Supervisor Yin was momentarily speechless, his face twisted in distress as he turned to look at Li Yuangui.
Given that he shared Consort Yin's surname, he was likely a relative she had installed to manage affairs in the Great Peace Palace. The gate officers, unwilling to confront Prince Wu directly, had summoned this Yin fellow to take charge after the two women entered.Li Yuangui spread his arms to embrace his younger sister, remaining silent all the while. Then he freed his right hand to grip the hilt of the sword at his waist, raising his head to glare coldly at the palace eunuch Yin. A murderous aura radiated from his entire being.
His stance made one thing perfectly clear—if Eunuch Yin dared obstruct him further, he would draw his blade without hesitation.
Outnumbered as he was, he stood little chance of victory and would likely be subdued quickly. But his status as a prince meant that even if captured, the worst he'd face would be reprimands, fines, dismissal from office, or house arrest. Anyone who dared confront him with weapons would bear the stigma of insubordination and treason, and any injuries or deaths caused by him would go unavenged—no one could expect a prince to pay with his life.
The twenty-some guards outside the Great Peace Hall fell into terrified silence. Chai Yingluo approached with a laugh:
"What are you doing, Fourteenth Uncle? Aren't you happy to see your sister? Consort De has graciously allowed you to reunite at home—why are you still standing here? Time is short. Return to the Seventeenth Prince's Residence."
Li Yuangui nodded but still didn't speak, turning to descend the mountain path with the little girl in his arms. Eunuch Yin stretched his neck to call out "Fourteenth Young Master," but Chai Yingluo's pretty face darkened as she cut him off:
"The Supreme Emperor and Lady Yin are resting. If you cause a disturbance and aggravate the Supreme Emperor's illness with your shouting, you'll bear the consequences yourself!"
This finally silenced Eunuch Yin. Chai Yingluo waved at Wei Shufen and followed Li Yuangui and his sister down the mountain path.
The four of them descended in a staggered line. Once they were roughly out of sight of the Great Peace Hall guards, they quickened their pace, hurrying onto the fork leading to the valley where the Seventeenth Prince's Residence stood. Rounding a bend behind a roadside cliff, they encountered Yang Xinzhi's burly figure holding the reins of four horses.
"Mount up, quickly!" Chai Yingluo commanded methodically. "Seventeenth Aunt, you ride with A Fen. If questioned at the gates, say you're following Consort De's orders to my temple for fasting and healing—ah, if anyone asks, don't speak. I'll handle it. Fourteenth Uncle, let go, don't delay! We must rush through the outer palace gates before the Great Peace Hall thinks to send word!"
Li Yuangui hesitated briefly before lifting his sister onto the sturdiest horse. Then, holding the reins, he looked at Wei Shufen. There was no time to think—Wei Shufen mounted behind the Seventeenth Princess, taking the reins and feeling the little girl's icy, trembling body in her arms.
The other three swiftly mounted as well, with Li Yuangui leading the way. Yang Xinzhi asked Chai Yingluo worriedly:
"What if the palace gates signal the outposts with flags and gongs?"
"That's why I said hurry—don't give them time to react," the female Taoist replied. "They won't sound alarms—they wouldn't dare disturb the Supreme Emperor."
The four riders proceeded in formation, careful not to gallop and draw unnecessary attention, maintaining a brisk trot as they passed through checkpoints. Only at the first gate did a guard ask, "Why is there an extra person?" Chai Yingluo answered smoothly, and the five cleared the checkpoint without issue.
When they finally rode past the outermost gate on the Great Peace Palace mountain path, Wei Shufen couldn't help exhaling deeply in relief. Li Yuangui guided his horse closer and transferred his sister onto his own mount.
Chai Yingluo reined in her horse and declared:
"I've thought it over, and it still won't do. Fourteenth Uncle, we must take Seventeenth Aunt to the Hall of Established Governance—quickly, before the night curfew drums sound.""Didn't we agree to first take Seventeenth Miss to your Purple Void Monastery—"
"No," the female Taoist shook her head. "Consort Yin can command the guards of Great Peace Palace. If tomorrow morning she sends people to Purple Void Monastery demanding the girl, falsely claiming the Supreme Emperor's verbal decree to see Seventeenth Miss, could I openly defy an imperial order? Under heaven, only the Son of Heaven and Empress can protect her. Even with Consort Yin's audacity, she wouldn't dare make trouble at the Hall of Established Governance."
Li Yuangui frowned deeply, opening his mouth but finding no rebuttal. Chai Yingluo turned to Yang Xinzhi and Wei Shufen, giving instructions: "Yang Da, return to Great Peace Palace. Be careful—it's best not to appear in public. If you hear any news, come inform us immediately. A Fen, you should return to Purple Void Monastery—"
"Can we go together to the Hall of Established Governance to plead for Seventeenth Princess?" Wei Shufen asked, glancing at the girl who buried her face in her brother's chest, refusing to show herself. "I witnessed Consort Yin and Seventeenth Miss's situation firsthand—I can testify. If the Son of Heaven and Empress refuse, we can kneel together and beg..."
"I appreciate your kindness, but you really shouldn't get involved further," Chai Yingluo sighed. "This is the imperial family's affair—it mustn't escalate. Moreover, your father is Chancellor Wei, the very advisor Second Uncle fears most... Just wait at the monastery for news from me and Fourteenth Uncle."
With these words, she and Li Yuangui almost simultaneously urged their horses forward, galloping away. Amidst the long neighs, the two riders raced side by side like the wind, soon disappearing into the twilight-shrouded mountain paths.
Wei Shufen bid farewell to Yang Xinzhi, and they went their separate ways. Having ridden all day with barely any food or water, she was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. Returning alone to Purple Void Monastery, she requested some provisions, then sat on the couch to read and rest, quietly awaiting Chai Yingluo's return.
Recalling the afternoon's confrontation at Great Peace Palace, beyond the tension and excitement, she felt mostly puzzled. Consort Yin couldn't have simply fallen asleep for no reason—presumably, the divine physician Chai Yingluo had administered some drug. But how?
The most suspicious was naturally the "Snow Ginseng Soul-Soothing Pill" she had personally placed in the Supreme Emperor's medicine bowl. Yet... Wei Shufen shook her head. She didn't believe Chai Yingluo would dare tamper with the Supreme Emperor's medicine. The old man was already weak, his breath faint—if he ingested a strong sedative, it might well send him into eternal sleep. Chai Yingluo couldn't bear that responsibility if investigated.
Consort Yin must have thought the same, hence she neither stopped Chai Yingluo from adding the pill nor hesitated to taste the medicine with her.
Taste... the medicine... then...
Wei Shufen bit her lip in thought. The only opportunity for Consort Yin to ingest a sedative that afternoon was when she and Chai Yingluo sampled the medicine several times. But that medicine was taken from the Supreme Emperor's bowl—Chai Yingluo herself drank plenty and remained unaffected. How exactly had she managed to incapacitate Consort Yin?
Her head ached from thinking, yet no answers came. Then, noise arose outside the courtyard—likely the monastery's master had returned.
Wei Shufen set down her book and sprang up, throwing on her robe and shoes to greet them. It was around the hour of Xu or Hai (7-11 PM). Under the moonlight, she saw several figures approaching the master's quarters, led by a tall Taoist-robed woman with billowing sleeves—Chai Yingluo.
With a "whoosh," a gust of foul wind swept past Wei Shufen as a dark blur shot toward the female Taoist at astonishing speed. Most present were startled, but Chai Yingluo laughed and called out "Atun," reaching to pat the shadow—it was that fat leopard again.The leopard rubbed against her a few times, then raised its head and bared its teeth threateningly at someone beside Chai Yingluo. Wei Shufen, now closer, recognized the tall, slender figure as Li Yuangui.
Likely, Li Yuangui seldom visited this secluded courtyard of the Master of the Purple Void Monastery and was unfamiliar with her pet. Faced with a threat from a plump leopard, the young prince refused to back down. With a flick of his horsewhip, he intimidated the beast, which immediately retreated behind Chai Yingluo, mewling for protection, drawing laughter from everyone present.
“A Fen, you’re still awake?” Chai Yingluo smiled wearily at Wei Shufen. “Good. Fourteenth Uncle and I just returned from the palace and haven’t eaten all day. Come join us for some wine.”
Though she looked exhausted, her expression was calm, and since she mentioned wine, it was likely that the matter of “pleading with the Empress to adopt the Seventeenth Princess” had been settled. Delighted, Wei Shufen followed the two into the female Taoist’s living quarters.
Inside, warmth and fragrance greeted them. The flickering light of candles at varying heights illuminated the brocade-covered seating, the mother-of-pearl-inlaid vermilion screen adorned with flowers and birds, and the thick Persian carpets covering the floor. An openwork five-legged silver censer in the corner emitted a sweet, intoxicating aroma that made one’s ears tingle and bones soften. The room exuded the lavishness of a wealthy household’s mistress, bearing no resemblance to the austere dwelling of a monastic ascetic.
Before they could exchange formalities and take their seats, Li Yuangui suddenly bowed deeply to Wei Shufen.
This imperial younger brother and prince, known for his arrogance and rudeness, now lowered himself in an unexpected show of deference. Wei Shufen was so startled she forgot to step aside or return the courtesy. Li Yuangui, however, remained silent. Straightening from his bow, he coldly retrieved half a bolt of brocade from under his arm and presented it to her with both hands.
It was… the silk scarf Wei Shufen had draped over the Seventeenth Princess’s shoulders that afternoon.
Since staying at the Purple Void Monastery, Wei Shufen had replaced many of her garments. Jing Xuan and the maidservant A Yuan had brought over new clothes from their mistress’s wardrobe to alter for her. Only this silk scarf remained from the one she had worn when fleeing her wedding—a thick Shu brocade with green background and floral motifs, excellent for warmth and wind protection.
When Wei Shufen had wrapped it around the frail shoulders of the pitiful little girl that afternoon, she hadn’t expected to retrieve it. Now, seeing Li Yuangui offering it with both hands, she froze momentarily. Before she could reach out to take it, Chai Yingluo’s laughter rang out:
“I truly admire you, Fourteenth Young Master. If you want to thank Wei Niangzi for her righteous help in rescuing someone, at least say something like ‘Your great kindness shall be repaid in the future.’ What’s the point of gesturing like a mute gourd?”
She stood by the entrance, instructing the maids outside to prepare wine and dishes. With a sidelong glance and these teasing words, Li Yuangui’s face flushed red, and he stammered,
“G-Great kindness needs no words of thanks…”
The female Taoist, however, wasn’t about to let her young uncle off the hook. Walking over, she laughed, “If great kindness needs no words, then the only repayment is to offer oneself, no? Not a bad idea—you haven’t chosen a Princess Consort of Wu yet, have you? As for A Fen, well, you know her. Why not just—”
“Yingjie!”
“Yingniang!”
The joke had gone too far. Wei Shufen and Li Yuangui both cried out in protest simultaneously—her clear voice and his deep tone intertwining like harmonious strings, making their unison seem all the more synchronized.
Chai Yingluo burst into laughter, her body shaking with mirth. Wei Shufen’s face burned crimson with embarrassment. Without taking the silk scarf, she lowered her head, turned away, and made to leave with a flick of her sleeve.
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