A Fact Everyone Already Knows

The weather today was bright and cloudless, and Wei Qiheng, the Fourth Prince of Liang, had come out to the lake for an outing as well. He had arrived harboring the hope that he might, by some happy chance, cross paths with a beautiful daughter of a noble house — that a fleeting romance might bloom for him here.

Yet though he had caught glimpses of a few young ladies during the entire ride over, not a single one had caught the eye of the dashing, romantic Fourth Prince.

Looking bored, Wei Qiheng leaned against the railing of his pleasure boat and did nothing but toss fish feed into the water. Just as his interest flagged entirely and he was lifting his head with sluggish languor, the Dong family's boat happened to glide past before his eyes.

Wei Qiheng watched the boat slip by his own — before he could even make out what manner of vessel it was, a young man and a magnificently dressed woman standing at the stern filled his gaze completely. As though his soul had left his body, he could not tear his eyes from the woman conversing with the youth.

The willow branches along the lake swayed gently in the breeze, and the wind rippled softly across the water. The woman's thin sleeves fluttered from the pleasure boat, and from a distance she looked as lovely as a celestial maiden on the verge of ascending to the heavens. Beautiful as a woman out of a painting, as a woman out of a poem — she hardly seemed like a person who existed in the real world.

"Is... is that person the County Mistress of Nan Tao, Liu Yafu?"

Wei Qiheng whipped his head around and shouted at his guards and the boatman.

"Yes — quick! Quick, chase after that pleasure boat behind us! Hurry!"

By the time Bai Jingyan arrived home, the plaque of the Zhenguo Commandery Princess Estate had already been hung above the entrance of the Bai Manor.

News of her investiture as the Zhenguo Commandery Princess had spread far and wide as though on wings, and the stream of visitors arriving to pay their respects with gifts never ceased.

When she reached Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Dong was directing the maids in replacing the room's screens — the days were growing steadily warmer, and the old coverings had to be swapped for light-colored silk gauze that looked pleasantly cool.

Lady Dong had already ordered the gifts sent from every residence gathered into Qinghui Courtyard. Jin Mama and Chun Tao had finished recording them all and locked them away in the storeroom, but when they opened the gift sent by Li Zhijie, they found an exquisite red sandalwood silk case containing a single ring. And there was a letter as well.

At the sight of the thing, Jin Mama started in alarm and, together with Chun Tao, brought it straight to Bai Jingyan.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Hearing their report, Bai Jingyan set down the brush she was holding and spoke.

"Mama, hand it here."

Jin Mama stepped forward carrying the red sandalwood case, opened it, and showed her.

Bai Jingyan wiped her hands with a handkerchief before looking down at the case. Her pupils contracted sharply. Inside lay a single ring — Bai Qingqiong's ring. The very ring Bai Jingyan herself had given him.

She picked up the ring and confirmed it once more, then clenched it tight in her fist and unfolded the neatly folded letter.

The Hour of the Rooster...

It was already late in the Hour of the Monkey (3–5 PM).

Bai Jingyan shut her eyes tight and clenched her jaw, rapidly sorting through her thoughts.

Li Zhijie had suffered a crushing defeat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the Southern Border. For him to send the ring now and summon her alone to the post station could only mean an assassination attempt — or some scheme in the making.

But what if her second cousin Bai Qingqiong truly was still alive in Li Zhijie's hands?

There was nothing in the world more important to Bai Jingyan right now than Bai Qingqiong.

Of course she had to go! The letter even said to come alone — if she brought anyone else, Li Zhijie would almost certainly withhold any news of Bai Qingqiong.

Which meant...

First she would go alone and see what Li Zhijie wanted. Only afterward would she have Bai Jinchi bring people. For now, she would send someone to deliver this gift Li Zhijie had sent to the Crown Prince. If this truly was an attempt to frame her, the fact that she had told the Crown Prince in advance would allow her to guard against it.

"Nanny Dong, Chun Tao. Send someone to fetch Jinchi and Nuo Ping. Tell them I have orders to give!"

As she spoke, Bai Jingyan untied ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sandbag weights bound around her arms.

Nanny Dong and Chun Tao immediately dispatched messengers to the Fourth Young Miss Bai Jinchi and to Nuo Ping.

"Jin Mama. Don't breathe a word of this to my mother. I can resolve it well enough on my own — I have no wish to make her worry too."

Bai Jingyan looked at Jin Mama as she continued.

"And Mama, there's an important task I need you to do."

"Command us, Eldest Young Miss!"

Jin Mama had served the eldest daughter of the house for many years. If she said she could handle it, then surely she could. She trusted her.

"In a little while, Nuo Ping will go to the Crown Prince's residence to tell him to come to the post station where the Prince of Yan of Xiliang and the Princess are lodging. You'll send a few trusted people to hide among the commoners outside the post station, and when the Crown Prince arrives—"

Bai Jingyan leaned close to Jin Mama's ear and whispered her instructions.

Bai Jinchi arrived here in short order. She came in to find that Bai Jingyan had already changed into plain, comfortable clothes.

"Sister?"

Gasping for breath, Bai Jinchi could only stare at her, unable to fathom the reason she'd been summoned.

Bai Jingyan strapped her quiver at her waist and, lifting the Sun-Shooting Bow, gave Bai Jinchi her instructions.

"Half an incense stick's time after I leave, take the Bai Manor guards and come into the post station — shouting at Li Zhijie to hand over your second cousin! Make as much noise as you possibly can coming in. Make sure everyone around knows it!"

"Sister, what are you saying? Second cousin? Second cousin is in Li Zhijie's hands?"

Bai Jinchi's eyes went wide.

"Don't ask! I'll explain everything later! Just remember my words exactly!"

Bai Jinchi's heart pounded furiously. She nodded with all her strength.

"Don't worry, Sister! One incense stick's time after you leave, I'll go make sure all of Dadu knows about it!"

"Eldest Young Miss, Guard Nuo Ping has arrived."

Chun Tao announced after offering her greeting.

"Take the silk case Li Zhijie sent. It's for Nuo Ping."

Bai Jinchi nodded, picked up the red sandalwood case from the table, and followed Bai Jingyan out of the upper chamber.

Nuo Ping had been standing at attention outside Qinghui Courtyard, and the moment Bai Jingyan emerged he hurried forward to meet her. Before he could even finish his greeting, Bai Jingyan spoke.

"Half a cup of tea's time from now, Nuo Ping takes this silk case and goes swiftly to the Crown Prince's residence. Tell them this is a congratulatory gift sent by the Prince of Yan of Xiliang — and that I ordered you to deliver it to the Crown Prince on your own initiative. If the Crown Prince asks you anything else, you know nothing at all."

The sight of Bai Jingyan carrying the Sun-Shooting Bow made Nuo Ping realize at once how grave the matter was.

"As you command, Eldest Young Miss."

Li Zhijie stood beside the fish pond at the post station, scattering feed to the fish. Behind him, Liu Chentuo stood meekly in attendance, glancing out the gate every few moments.

"Ah-Tak, how can you be so certain Bai Jingyan will come? And without telling the Crown Prince, no less?"

Li Zhijie watched a plump goldfish muscling in on the feed in the pond. The water rippled, and he narrowed his eyes again.

"If anything, I'd say the relationship between Bai Jingyan and the Crown Prince is far from ordinary."

"There is no question the Crown Prince knew nothing of Bai Jingyan rescuing someone at Chuishanguan. Even now, he remains ignorant of it."

Liu Chentuo lowered his head.

"The moment we entered Dadu, I met with the spies we'd planted throughout the capital and made inquiries everywhere — and it turns out Eldest Miss Bai accomplished extraordinary things here before. She had the rack brought out and very nearly beat Prince Xin, the Emperor of Jin's own legitimate son, to death. Would an emperor truly trust a minister capable of that, without a shred of suspicion? I do not believe the Crown Prince would refrain from guarding against her either."

When Li Zhijie only kept his head bowed and did not reply, Liu Chentuo continued.

"Even if Bai Jingyan told the Crown Prince, then should His Highness ask... simply tell him that Your Highness feels you were rather too harsh with Bai Jingyan in the Southern Border, and that sending the Second Young Master Bai's ring was only meant to trick Eldest Miss Bai into coming here, where you intended to seek a reconciliation. And say it was because you wished to take the Bai family's Fourth Young Miss as your wife. Would that not be hardly any different from our original plan?"

Li Zhijie let out a soft laugh. Hiding the dangerous, cold glint in his eyes, he asked in a quiet voice.

"Then tell me, Ah-Tak. Just when, exactly, did you take the Bai family's Second Young Master, Bai Qingqiong, without my knowledge?"

Li Zhijie flung the fish feed still clutched in his hand into the pond, then turned and looked at Liu Chentuo with smiling peach-blossom eyes.

"Right now, you bring him up because you need me for laying your trap. If not that — then how long were you planning to go on deceiving me?"

Li Zhijie had once trusted Liu Chentuo deeply. But he had recently discovered that Liu Chentuo was hiding quite a number of secrets.

Since when had Liu Chentuo and Li Tianfu been involved with one another?

And on top of that, Liu Chentuo had been holding Bai Qingqiong all along.

That was why doubt had crept into Li Zhijie's mind. Had it been a misjudgment, trusting Liu Chentuo so completely back then and telling him to use his people as he pleased?

Had it even been Liu Chentuo who deliberately dangled the bait — leaking word that a man of the Bai family was in Li Zhijie's hands — so that Bai Jingyan's party would learn of it at Chuishanguan, as part of his attempt on her life?

Li Zhijie had one principle: when employing a man, do not doubt him; when in doubt, do not employ him.

Though of course, from those he trusted fully, he demanded unquestioning loyalty.

But now? The things Liu Chentuo was hiding did not stop at one.

Liu Chentuo had followed Li Zhijie for many years and knew his temperament well. He knelt without protest and begged forgiveness. His voice was resolute and calm.

"Your Highness, your servant did not conceal the truth from you out of any deliberate intent. You have trusted me and looked after me all this while, so my life belongs to you. It is only... as Your Highness knows, your servant owes a great debt to his adopted father. I wish to avenge him. I can swear it upon my adopted father's soul in heaven — I have never once betrayed you."

Li Zhijie gazed down at the kneeling Liu Chentuo with his deep peach-blossom eyes and spoke in a slow, cold voice.

"Once our business in Jin is finished, you will serve at the Princess's side. There will be no need to go on trailing after me."

Liu Chentuo trembled, not daring to raise his head. Li Zhijie might seem easygoing and magnanimous on the surface, but whatever he had resolved to do, he never turned back from. There was no undoing this now.

"Didn't you say you wanted revenge? Once the Princess concludes the marriage alliance with Jin, stay here in Jin with her. You'll have far more chances to avenge him, won't you!"

Li Zhijie's voice was chill as frost.

"Your guilt toward your adopted father will be eased — and I will consider the loyalty I owed a man who served me repaid in full."

Liu Chentuo thought that Li Zhijie sparing his life at all was mercy more than sufficient.

"Thank you... Your Highness."

Liu Chentuo bowed deeply.

"Your Highness!"

A guard of Xiliang came hurrying over. Catching sight of Liu Chentuo kneeling on the ground, he flinched in surprise. Then he raised his head again and delivered his report.

"General Bai of Jin has arrived. Alone."

"Faster than I expected."

Li Zhijie rested a hand over the wound on his chest and looked down at Liu Chentuo, still kneeling and refusing to rise.

"So tell me — is the Bai family's Second Young Master, Bai Qingqiong, alive or dead?"

Liu Chentuo answered in a calm, quiet voice.

"I beheaded him before my adopted father's grave."

Li Zhijie looked down at him.

"Are you going to stay like that? If you mean to drive a wedge into the relations between ruler ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and minister in the Jin court... shouldn't you be telling the Crown Prince that Bai Jingyan came to meet me in private?"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Liu Chentuo withdrew with due reverence.