For days, there was no sign of Xue Liulan. Murong Jin, for her part, couldn't be bothered to stay in the empty residence. It was late autumn, and the only place that felt remotely familiar was Yumen Jiao.
"You come here every day. Aren't you afraid of raising suspicion?" Liu asked, leaning against the doorway. Murong Jin sat by the window, her gaze lost on the dancer below.
She turned and smiled. "And what if I do? You think they can find any proof?"
Liu was speechless. He sat across from her. "Even if they can't, it'll still cause trouble. You really have a steady hand."
"The man following me is gone. If nothing's happened, then he clearly wasn't sent by our enemies."
"Do you know who it was?"
She shook her head. "Not a single clue. How would I know? But we already know he isn't an enemy. Why worry about the rest?"
Liu stared at her, then gave a helpless laugh. "Jin, you have a guess, don't you? You're just not saying."
She looked away. "It's just a guess."
"You suspect it was Xue Liulan's man, don't you?" Liu leaned back, arms crossed. "Jin, why can't you tell me?"
She didn't answer, her eyes fixed on the dancers. If it was him, it meant he was watching her. Whatever the reason, the thought was a tiny needle lodged in her heart—not a searing pain, but a constant, dull ache.
Liu saw her frown and sighed. "He was probably just trying to protect you. After all, if something happened, how would he explain it to the General?"
"I know. But judging by that assassin's skill, Xue Liulan's hidden power is beyond our imagination." She turned to Liu, her gaze serious. "Do you think his alliance with Guo Shangzhong will be a threat to my father?"
The question had been circling her mind for days. She might be the Fifth Prince's consort, but she was still her father's daughter—and she'd seen the enmity with her own eyes. With both of them now serving the same master, she feared her family would be the one to suffer.
Liu didn't know how to answer. He coughed and looked away.
Seeing his reaction, Murong Jin sighed. "You think it's possible, too, don't you?"
"Jin, even if he did have such intentions, he won't act now. If he succeeds and makes you his Empress, the Murong family will serve him loyally. He has no reason to destroy a loyal general," Liu reasoned. "The most important thing now is to help him take the throne. The future may not be as bad as you think."
She nodded, but the worry in her eyes did not fade.
The silence was broken by the door opening. Yi strode in, flopped into a chair, and grabbing a teapot, poured the contents straight into his mouth.
"Weren't you monitoring the Minister of War's case?" Murong Jin asked, watching him guzzle her tea.
Yi finally set the pot down. "I've never seen a more incompetent Vice Minister in my life," he fumed.
"What?" Liu asked. It took a lot to get a rise out of Yi.
"I nearly jumped down from the rafters to interrogate the witnesses for him. They practically beat a confession out of Yu Weide's daughter-in-law."
Murong Jin was confused. "They think the daughter-in-law poisoned him?"
"They do. And they found arsenic in her room." Yi shook his head.
Murong Jin and Liu exchanged a look. They knew it wasn't arsenic. This was a frame-up.
"Although, she did have a good reason," Yi added. "I did some digging. Yu Weide's son kidnapped her—a married woman—then had her entire family and her husband's family slaughtered and thrown off a cliff."
"What?" Liu was stunned, then let out a dark laugh. "So much for Yu Weide's reputation. To raise a son like that…"
Murong Jin nodded. Something clicked into place.
"Jin, what is it?"
She smiled. "Yi, remember who else recommended Guo Ren for Sushen?"
"Yu Weide," Yi answered.
"Exactly," she said. "I never understood why Yu Weide, who was always neutral, would suddenly side with the Fourth Prince and offend the Seventh. Now it makes sense."
"What's the reason?" Yi asked, leaning closer.
Liu thought for a moment. "You're saying someone knew what his son had done?"
"Yes," Murong Jin nodded. "I'm sure Guo Shangzhong had leverage. That's why Yu Weide had no choice but to side with him."
"So he recommended Guo Ren because of Guo Shangzhong, not the Fourth Prince?" Yi looked at her with a newfound respect. She hadn't lost her general's cunning.
"Most likely." Murong Jin's smile faded.
"If that's true, then the killer was likely acting on the Seventh Prince's orders," Liu concluded.
Murong Jin shook her head. "Not Xue Feiyan."
"But he's the most likely suspect," Yi said.
She smiled faintly. "If I were him, I wouldn't have made a move at such a risky time."
With that, she rose.
"You're going back?"
"Something's come up. Liu, wait for news from Xing. Yi, go to the Yichun Courtyard. Tell Xue Liulan I want to see him. Midnight, at the residence."
"Yes." The two men exchanged a confused look. Aren't they fighting?
In the Yichun Courtyard, Xue Liulan stared at Yi, who had appeared out of thin air. The suddenness of it had made his hand slip, ruining a painting.
"You're looking well, Fifth Prince," Yi said, seating himself.
Xue Liulan set down his brush. "You, too. What brings you here?"
"Just checking in. All of Jindu is saying my sister kicked you out. Seems you're doing alright." Yi's gaze swept the room, landing on a jade box on the vanity. "Is that Huaying rouge?"
Xue Liulan followed his gaze. "A sharp eye."
Yi sneered. "The Fifth Prince truly lives up to his reputation. Willing to waste anything."
Xue Liulan knew what he meant, but just smiled. "A rare rouge for a rare beauty. How is that a waste?"
"This 'Yinghong' rouge is nearly impossible to make. The Yang family only produces three boxes every five years. Priceless." Yi walked to the vanity and picked it up. "Last time, it was impossible to get, even for a thousand gold pieces."
"True. It wasn't easy to acquire," Xue Liulan said with a soft smile. Easy things are not worthy of her.
Yi tossed the box into the air. Xue Liulan's eyes widened, his body tensing to leap.
The box landed safely back in Yi's hand. He smirked. "Priceless things are so fragile, aren't they?" Xue Liulan relaxed, just barely.
"What was it you came here for?" he asked.
Yi set the box down. "Jin wants to see you. Tonight, midnight, at your residence."
"She wants to see me?"
"That's the message. I'll be going." Yi started for the door, then paused. "Xue Liulan, you truly are an expert at wasting priceless things."