Another one.
Murong Jin sighed as she read He Chengjian's report, then sat staring into space. For days, she had been trying to understand why Liu would choose now to make his move. It made no sense. And now, not even Xing could find him. A dark premonition settled in her heart.
"Your Highness!" Little Dingzi came flying through the door.
She looked up at his beaming face. "What's happened?"
"The master… he…" the eunuch stammered, pointing.
Murong Jin shot to her feet and looked.
At the entrance, Ning Bi was bowing. A man stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his lips as the noon sun traced the lazy, familiar line of his profile. He turned, as if sensing her gaze. His deep eyes locked on hers, and in that moment, she was the only person in the world.
Xue Liulan? He's back? She stared as he walked toward her. Little Dingzi and Ning Bi, sensing the mood, quietly withdrew.
"Xue Liulan?" she whispered, unsure.
"What? It's only been a month. Have you already forgotten your own husband?" he teased, his smile widening.
She reached out, her fingers tracing the contour of his cheek. After a long moment, she laughed.
"You're really back." She let out a long, shuddering breath. The stone that had been weighing on her heart had finally lifted.
"Yes, I'm back." He pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her shoulder. "You've worked too hard."
"It doesn't matter, as long as you're safe," she mumbled, her arms wrapped around his waist, unwilling to let go.
After he had bathed and changed, he lounged on the couch. Murong Jin sat beside him, just holding his hand, silent.
"It's good to see the sun again," he said with a lazy smile. "And I have you to thank for it. I even heard someone at the palace singing your praises today."
"Oh? Who?"
"Guess."
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "There are hundreds of officials. How could I guess?"
He laughed. "The same one who once said you weren't good enough for me."
"Deng Qinyu?" Murong Jin was stunned. "Why? She's not the type to flatter anyone."
"Because you insisted on seeing me in the prison. You're her hero now."
What? It took her a second, then she understood. With the Seventh Prince now in prison, Deng Qinyu saw a chance to prove her own loyalty. If she, too, risked the Emperor's anger to visit him…
"She's truly devoted to him," Murong Jin said. "But if she angers the Emperor, she'll bring trouble on the entire Deng family. You're saying Deng Qinyao is just letting this happen?"
"Our seventh brother may be the Empress's adopted son, but he's still wary of her family. A plan like this… I doubt Deng Qinyu thought of it herself. Her grandfather must have approved it." He shifted, lacing his fingers through hers. "As for whether it's true devotion… who knows? But it's not as true as yours."
She shot him a look. "That was just an act. To make it seem like the Fifth Prince's household was falling apart."
"And to earn you a virtuous reputation," he added. "So that when I make you my Empress, no one can object."
She stared at him. He was a fox. A seemingly careless act, all part of a plan that stretched months into the future.
"By the way, how did the Emperor agree to release you? Didn't Li Yan object?"
"There were more assassinations in Jindu. Same method as before. And Li Yan has already traced them back to a descendant of the former Vice Minister, Xu Cheng," he said calmly. "So the suspicion that was on me has now conveniently fallen on Liu."
Murong Jin shot up from the couch, staring down at him. "Liu's sudden move for revenge… was that your doing?"
"He's a Murong man. Do you think he'd listen to me?" he asked, his own gaze placid.
"Then it was my father." Her heart sank, a cold dread spreading through her.
"It would seem so."
"But… my father always told Liu to wait. Why now? Why have him kill all of them in such a short time?" she murmured, pacing.
Xue Liulan watched her. Murong Yan's move had surprised him, too. Such a ruthless sacrifice, a pawn for a king. Is his next move to march his army on the capital and place me on the throne?
Suddenly, Murong Jin stopped, her gaze as sharp as a blade. "You told my father about my deal for the military command, didn't you?"
He looked away. "Yes. He had a right to know."
"And that's why he did this," she whispered. "To draw suspicion away, to have Liu take the fall for you. He knows Liu would do anything for the family. His mother is still in the camp."
She turned to leave. He caught her arm.
"Where are you going? It's late."
"To Yumen Jiao. Liu's identity is exposed, and he left a trail at the Liu residence. The ministry will have a warrant out for his arrest. I have to get him out of the city." She tried to pull away, but he held her fast. "Let go."
"No need. I'll send the Fifteen."
"This is my family's business. Your interference will only make it worse. And I won't risk your men."
"Murong Jin, you are my wife. Do you think your affairs are not my own?" he said, his voice hardening. He was tired of her trying to carry everything alone, of her willingness to sacrifice herself.
His anger startled her. She paused. "Fine. Have your men do it."
She wrote a quick note and handed it to him. "Xing will know what this means."
He stepped outside. "Hanlu."
A shadow appeared.
"Take this to the Third Young Master at Yumen Jiao."
"Yes."
"And find Liu. If he's in trouble, give him aid. But do not reveal yourself."
Hanlu hesitated. "My lord, if this Liu doesn't die, the case remains open. The Seventh Prince will eventually trace it back to Thousand Day Drunk. If he's captured now, it solves the problem."
Xue Liulan just shook his head. "Do as I say."
Hanlu vanished. Xue Liulan stood in the corridor, staring into the darkness. He knew the bond she shared with the men of her camp was like that of family. He knew what losing Liu would do to her.
But in this world, things rarely went as planned.
"Say that again." Murong Jin's face was as pale as paper. She rose from her chair, her grip on the armrest whitening her knuckles.
"A report from the ministry, Your Highness," He Chengjian said, his gaze fixed on the floor. "The assassin, the one from the Xu family… is dead."
"How?" Her vision tunneled. She swayed, biting back a wave of nausea.
"He went to Minister Li Yan's residence last night. After speaking with him, he disfigured his own face and took poison. He died on the spot." He Chengjian couldn't bring himself to describe the state of the body.
Murong Jin's legs gave out. Xue Liulan, who had been standing by the door, caught her just as she fell.
"What's wrong?" he asked, alarmed at the deathly cold of her skin.
"Xue Liulan," she said, her voice a raw whisper, her hands clutching his robes. "I need to know what he said before he died. I need to know exactly what he said."
"Alright. I'll have someone find out."
She just stared at him, her eyes vacant, then she closed them and went limp in his arms.