Yang Yulan left the first prince's palace with a feeling of unwavering determination and immediately headed for Shin Zuzhou's palace. By this time, Yang Yusheng and Qing Zixiao were already behind her, immersed in conversation. The prince persistently tried to persuade the latter to join him for a drinking binge, and the general had no choice but to agree.
It seemed Qing Zixiao addressed Yang Yulan several times for help, but the girl's mind was so turbulent with anxious thoughts at that moment that she paid no attention to his calls.
Yang Yulan couldn't allow herself to return to the White Lotus Pavilion just yet and explain things to Chu Qi. There were reasons for that. First, the princess was tormented by guilt for what had happened. After all, her maid had suffered as a result of her thoughtless actions. Second, to go home, she first needed permission. She didn't dare to be absent for a long time without explanation, as this could lead to unpleasant consequences. So, gathering her courage, the girl went to ask her current mistress for time off.
The palace where Shin Zuzhou resided was not trembling from an earthquake this time. On the contrary, it seemed completely silent. Its outer walls, like jade giants, towered above the ground and reflected the gusts of cold autumn wind. Nothing outside or inside this building hinted at what had happened here just last evening.
«So her episode has finally passed?» Yang Yulan thought. «Then as a reward for saving her, she could let me go for a while.»
Yang Yulan walked through the dark, deserted corridors of the palace, wondering where all the servants could have gone, when she heard a reproachful voice behind her.
«Where have you been wandering off to again?»
Yang Yulan barely restrained herself from jumping. She would never get used to Xin's sudden appearances.
«I just went out for some fresh air.»
«Who gave you permission?»
«Who said I need permission?»
Xin snorted and was about to express her displeasure again when she was interrupted.
«Never mind. I'm not interested in you at all. Better tell me where your mistress is right now.»
Xin froze for a second, then returned to her usual dissatisfied state.
«You can't see her.»
«And why not?»
«She's unwell again due to an energy imbalance in her body. You're probably the last person in this world she wants to see right now.»
«What?! Is she smashing things up again?»
«No, it's under control. She'll lie in bed for a couple of days and then return to her previous state. The Empress has already been informed that the princess will be absent for a while due to the earthquake situation. So don't cause any extra trouble.»
«And where are the servants who should be taking care of her? During my absence, everyone disappeared somewhere. Hasn't the Empress done anything about it?»
«The servants are afraid to show up here again because of the earthquake. They say this palace is cursed. Her Highness will soon have to move from here due to the Empress's concerns. But we'll handle everything. All you need to do is sit in your room and wait until you're called.»
Yang Yulan couldn't shake a vague sense of unease. She needed to see Shin Zuzhou.
«Is she in her bedroom?»
«Hey, where do you think you're going? I said you can't see her.»
«I have something to discuss with her.»
Yang Yulan made several attempts to get around Xin, but she constantly blocked her path. When fists came into play, the bodyguard, with just a couple of sharp blows, knocked all remaining confidence out of the insolent princess. The latter's head spun.
«Go back to your room. Stop acting childish.»
The outcome of the battle, of course, did not satisfy the now quite heated Yang Yulan. The fight was unfair. And she had no intention of giving up so easily.
«If the main path is blocked, then I need to find another,» she thought, and pretending to head towards her room, she left the building and climbed onto the wall. There she managed to crawl through one of the open windows closest to Shin Zuzhou's quarters.
Running down the corridor, Yang Yulan stopped right in front of the desired door when a blade glinted at her throat in an instant.
«Who do you think you are? Do you think I'll allow you to barge so brazenly into a woman's chambers?» Xin whispered coldly.
«When did she even manage to get here?»
«I don't know what you're talking about. I've been here before.»
Yang Yulin decided not to waste time on idle chatter and immediately knocked on the door before the enraged Xin could stab her on the spot.
«Who dares?» Despite the commanding tone, the voice of the speaker was quiet and even a little hoarse.
Yang Yulan immediately perked up.
«It's your favorite. I'd like to bother you with a request.»
For a while, deathly silence reigned in the air. Even Xin held her breath. She threw a look at Yang Yulan that practically said: «Do you value your life so little?»
From the other side came a strong cough. It seemed Shin Zuzhou took a long time to recover from such a bold statement.
«Enter.»
Yang Yulan entered the room and stopped before Shin Zuzhou's bed. At first glance, it was impossible to tell if this girl was sick or not. It was obvious that she was trying with all her might to hide her weakness. She looked around coldly and maintained a calm expression. However, there was something in her state that made Yang Yulan's heart beat with anxiety. Perhaps it was her cheeks, slightly flushed from fever, perhaps her eyes tired from pain. Or maybe her hollow cheeks and complete indifference to what was happening.
«What do you want? Speak and leave.»
Yang Yulan looked at the sick girl, and for a moment, all the words she was about to say got stuck in her throat.
«I wanted to ask you for a couple of days off. I want to meet with my family.»
«Hah, your family, you say?» Shin Zuzhou smirked, but at that same second, wrinkles of pain appeared on her face from a sudden attack. Her whole body stung as if pierced by thousands of needles. Her head spun and throbbed, and she saw double. On top of everything, she felt a strong fever, as if a fire were being lit right on her body.
Yang Yulan didn't reply. For some reason, she felt utterly miserable.
«Do whatever you want,» the villainess said coldly. Yang Yulan hesitated for a second. She hadn't expected to get permission so quickly.
«What is it? Why are you still standing? I believe I told you to go.»
«Do you need any help?» the princess hesitated.
«I don't need anything.»
Yang Yulan looked closely at the girl. Shin Zuzhou's patience was running out. Her whole face was sweaty, and the blush on her cheeks had reddened even more from the fever.
Yang Yulan left the room in a daze of confused feelings.
«Why aren't you taking care of your mistress?» she asked Xin, who was standing at the exit.
«My job is to follow orders. Her Highness ordered me not to come within a step of her.»
«And doctors won't help in this situation either,» Yang Yulan decided in her mind, and then stopped herself from a sudden thought.
Why should she worry about the villainess's condition? If she's been given freedom, she should use this chance. And she didn't care if Shin Zuzhou died right there. It would only benefit the plot.
Yang Yulan walked to her room to pack her things and change clothes, but her thoughts constantly returned to the room with the sick girl.
«Squee-»
«Little Bell! I completely forgot about you.»
The little beast, who had been following the girl on the way home, stamped his feet in indignation.
«Forgive me. So much has happened lately. I just forget about everything in the world.»
«Squee-»
«I'm glad you understand me. You always support me.»
Yang Yulan gently stroked the gray fur.
«You know, I originally named you after a pet I had before. But now I realize you're nothing like him. You're so loyal and kind, and he was a little...» Yang Yulan smiled warmly, «let's just say, he was a little grumpy.»
The day Little Bell appeared in her life was rainy and cold. She and her father were sitting at home watching TV. Yang Yulan was still very small and didn't even understand half the jokes the TV show hosts made, but she always laughed at the moments when her father laughed. The evening was dark. The weather was raging outside, while in their small, cozy living room with the old orange sofa and the nearly falling apart armchair, silence and calm reigned.
Of course, such an idyll couldn't last too long. Around eight in the evening, the family heard strange sounds coming from the kitchen. Going in there, they noticed a little kitten pressed against the window from the street side. He was rubbing against the window frame, wanting to get as close as possible to the warmth of a stranger's home. But between him and his desired comfort stood the unfortunate glass.
The head of the family didn't wait long and immediately opened the kitchen window. The little gray creature darted inside and huddled in the corner right next to the garbage bags.
Looking at him more closely, little Yang Yulan noticed some peculiarities about this little beast. The kitten's whiskers had somehow been trimmed, and his right eye was closed.
«Ow, he bites!» the girl cried out when she reached her hands out to the cat. She only wanted to warm him up after the cold rain, but he hissed at her and retreated even further behind the bags. «I don't think he wants us to help him, Dad.»
Her father left for a while and returned to the kitchen with a first-aid kit. He needed to treat his daughter's and the cat's wounds.
«He's just scared,» the man said, stroking his daughter's head. «I'm afraid this little one has been through some terrible things. I think there's no one else to take care of him, so he has to defend himself.»
«But we're good people and we want to help him,» Yang Yulan didn't understand.
«Exactly. We're good,» the man smiled and took a couple of clean bandages from the first-aid kit. «That's why you and I will be patient and help him regain faith in kind people.»
Tears welled up in Yang Yulan's eyes. Just a few years after that incident, Little Bell died from serious complications. She and her father couldn't do anything.
«Do you think, Little Bell, did he regain faith in people before his death?» the girl mumbled, holding back sobs.
«Squee-»
The little beast couldn't understand his friend's train of thought at all, so he just agreed with her as usual.
«Ah,» Yang Yulan sighed and sank onto the bed. «You know, one thing keeps bothering me.»
«If my father were in my place now, what do you think he would do?»
«Squee-»
«Of course. I probably knew the right answer myself.» Yang Yulan jumped up from the bed and immediately dashed out of the room.
«Come with me, help me get into Shin Zuzhou's quarters.»
The little beast immediately perked up and followed his princess. He quickly found Shin Zuzhou's quarters and swiftly slipped inside, becoming invisible. Fortunately, despite her almost impeccable instincts, Xin couldn't detect the presence of magical beasts.
But someone else could.
«Hey, what are you doing here?» Shin Zuzhou became alert, noticing an unfamiliar presence. «You're Fishy's pet, aren't you?»
The little beast paid no attention to her words and, going to the window, opened it from the inside. Yang Yulan jumped into the quarters. In her hands, she had colorful towels, and on her belt hung a strap with a vessel tied to it. Fortunately, the water hadn't spilled while she was climbing the wall.
Shin Zuzhou looked at the newcomer with her clouded gaze. When Yang Yulan approached her bed, she could no longer maintain her calm state and fell onto the pillow.
Yang Yulan didn't stand on ceremony and, dipping one of the towels in cold water, began thoroughly wiping the face and body of the sick villainess.
At first, Shin Zuzhou still tried to drive away this annoying fish, but as soon as she felt the cold touch on her skin, she completely relaxed.
«Bear with it. You need to cool down a bit. My god, you're burning up.»
«Shut up and do what you're doing,» Shin Zuzhou whispered half-asleep.
Yang Yulan obediently fell silent and continued wiping the villainess's body, closing her eyes when she had to reach under the girl's robe.
Shin Zuzhou's skin was red and hot all over. With smooth movements, Yang Yulan ran the towel over her exposed stomach, chest, and collarbones, providing such gentle care that Shin Zuzhou involuntarily let out a sigh of relief.
Yang Yulan's hands got goosebumps when touching the villainess's delicate legs. She gently ran the towel from thigh to knee, carefully tracing every graceful line. Feeling the smooth skin and graceful contours of her legs under her hands, Yang Yulan experienced a genuine desire to touch them directly.
With a soft motion of her moisture-soaked hand, Yang Yulan stroked from the villainess's knee down to her ankles, then stopped at her heels, gently massaging them.
«What are you doing?»
«Nothing!» the girl almost shouted in reply.
Shin Zuzhou immediately noticed the tremor in the youth's voice. She glanced at the clumsy and slightly nervous movements of the masked person. She had noticed before that he had beautiful hands, but now she was finally convinced. From the roughness of his palms due to constant training, Shin Zuzhou's skin tingled pleasantly.
«But where did such beautiful hands get these scars?»
Yang Yulan had rolled up her sleeves to wring out the wet towels, so it was only today that Shin Zuzhou could see the full extent of the disaster. It seemed the boy had been constantly subjected to inhuman torture. Even scars from deep cuts and ropes could be seen.
Shin Zuzhou reached out her hand and touched the scar on someone else's wrist. By then, Yang Yulan had already managed to calm her heart and, after wetting the towel again, placed it on the girl's forehead. Noticing the villainess's gaze fixed on the scars, Yang Yulan pulled her sleeves down again.
Having finished the whole process, the girl was about to step away from the bed for a moment when Shin Zuzhou suddenly grabbed her hands and pressed her palms to her own cheeks.
«So cool.»
Yang Yulan's heart raced again. She turned her face away and mumbled:
«How do you plan to oppose Mei Baijie when you're so weak?»
This time, Shin Zuzhou didn't get angry and replied with a slight mockery:
«Who did you call weak? Even in this state, I could destroy you with a snap of my fingers.»
«There you go again. If you were a little kinder, maybe I wouldn't feel so sad taking care of you right now.»
«Nobody asked you to. If you don't like it, leave.»
Yang Yulan pouted in displeasure.
«Just imagine she's a grumpy cat,» she tried to convince herself. «Grumpy cats also deserve affection. And they're even a little cute.»
«I don't think there's a single drop of kindness in you.»
«You won't survive in this world if you're kind to everyone.»
«I'm not saying be that way with everyone. But at least with close people and with loved ones.»
«I don't have people like that. I only have people I hate.»
Yang Yulan tensed at her answer. She remembered the letter she had recently read. In her home country, they clearly treated the villainess badly.
«And Xin?»
«What about her? Xin is just a tool I use to achieve my goals. And I don't treat her badly. I'm sure she's satisfied with everything.»
Yang Yulan was clearly unsatisfied with her answer. She couldn't understand her policy towards other people.
«Why do you want to kill Mei Baijie?»
«What a sudden question? Seems like you're starting to forget your place again.»
«If I work for you, I should at least understand who we're fighting.»
«Hah, of course. That's the only reason.»
«Well, it's no secret. Mei Baijie is preventing me from legally concluding a marriage. It's not my fault she's in my way and sleeping with my husband.»
«But how is it her fault? Isn't the prince the one to blame?»
«I still need him alive. If I kill him, I'll never ascend the throne.»
«Is that all? Wait, don't you like my brother?»
«What do you mean?»
«I thought you were angry at Mei Baijie because she won the prince's heart.»
Shin Zuzhou burst into loud laughter, then doubled over from the surging pain.
«Lie still.»
«I was sure the Northern Princess, besides power, was also fighting for the prince's heart. Is that not the case, or is the princess hiding something?»
Lost in thought, Yang Yulan mechanically wet her hands in cold water and again pressed her palms to the villainess's cheeks.
«Fine. Do what you want, I'll help. Just be careful with your health.»
«And in turn, I'll make you believe in kindness and change your opinion towards the heroine and other people.»
Yang Yulan was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice how Shin Zuzhou's face softened and her gaze warmed at that moment.
«Achoo!» Yang Yulan sniffled and lowered her hands into the water again.
«Are you sick too?»
«Got soaked in the rain during the mission. But it's okay, I'll recover soon.»
«Go back to your room now. You've helped enough.»
«No, you still have a high fever.»
«That's an order. Do you dare disobey me?»
«Sort of.»
«He's such a problem,» flashed through Shin Zuzhou's mind. However, she didn't threaten him anymore.
Until the evening, Yang Yulan kept sneaking through the window into the courtyard and back to fetch fresh water. Fortunately, the sick girl didn't hinder her actions and, though with some reluctance, accepted her help.
Closer to night, Shin Zuzhou finally managed to drive the persistent boy from her room. She sighed in relief and sat up on the bed. By the time he left, she already felt much better.
«Xin, come in.»
«Yes, Your Highness,» came from outside, after which the bodyguard entered the room and lowered her gaze.
«Any news from the palace?»
«The Empress expressed her condolences regarding the incident and ordered you to leave the cursed palace as soon as possible and move to another.»
«Is that so. And what about the Crown Prince?»
«After his mistress returned, His Highness locked himself in the palace again and didn't even speak with the Empress. However, he did let a doctor into the palace to examine the girl.»
«How did that fragile girl manage to recover from the attack?»
«I think the masked boy is to blame for everything, Your Highness. He behaves very suspiciously.»
Shin Zuzhou frowned.
«I didn't give you permission to speak. And certainly not to voice your assumptions.»
Xin immediately fell to her knees and began begging for forgiveness.
«Enough. Leave him be. Better tell me, what palaces do we have available?»
«Yes, Your Highness. There are buildings in the south and southwest. Close associates of the royal family live there, as well as relatives of the Empress.»
«Ah, those sycophants. I wouldn't have a free second if I moved in with them. Is there something quieter?»
«Yes. There are several buildings in the north. No one lives there currently.»
«Isn't Yang Jinlong's palace located in the north?»
«Yes, Your Highness.»
Shin Zuzhou grimaced in disgust.
«Definitely not. I need something even quieter and more remote from all this royal commotion.»
Xin hesitated for a while. She didn't know whether to speak or not.
«What is it? Why have you suddenly fallen silent?»
«Forgive me, Your Highness. I'm just not entirely sure if I should suggest one place.»
«Speak.»
«There is a pavilion at some distance from the main palace. No one ever goes there.»
«You mean the one where Fishy worked?»
Xin nodded.
«So, why doesn't it suit us?»
«The thing is, the mistress of that pavilion is crazy.»
«Crazy?»
«Yes. The Emperor's eldest daughter by his legal wife. You saw her at the welcoming celebration.»
«Ah, the one who caused a commotion and confessed her sodomy right in the middle of the hall?»
«Yes, Your Highness. There are bad rumors about her. Even her relatives are wary of her. She constantly tries to commit suicide, is afraid of men, and looks like a walking corpse. Some even say she's cursed.»
Hearing Xin's story, Shin Zuzhou seemed to cheer up. This princess was perhaps the only interesting personality among all the inhabitants of this palace.
«Good. We're moving to the White Lotus Pavilion. Inform the princess of my imminent visit.»