Chapter 38 As long as she's willing to turn back, everything will be alright...

As the night deepened, the chirping of insects in the vibrant summer night was quickly drowned out by the sound of synchronized footsteps.

Waves of troops swept through the streets and alleys, and Prefect Lin Yu personally led his troops, shouting loudly before dawn: "Seal off the city!!"

The heavy city gates closed one by one.

Startled, the eldest princess rushed from the manor to the post station. She bypassed the sullen and distressed Fu Zhongcai and stormed into the small room on the second floor. "Your Highness, what brings you all this trouble?"

Wei Xichen didn't turn around, calmly watching the groups of people rushing past outside the window, his empty eyes devoid of any emotion.

The hazy moonlight transformed into bitter vinegar, blurring his clear gaze and making it indistinct.

"Search for Yan Zhuyi."

The eldest princess stood a step away, her hands clasped over her lower abdomen, looking out the window with her nephew at the tense and oppressive scene.

"The woman has been kidnapped, her fate is unknown, and she may not even be in the city. Your Highness, please reconsider."

The eldest princess knew that the crown prince had sent people to secretly search for Yan Zhuyi's whereabouts, but she didn't understand why the search was so extensive tonight.

"I have a premonition that the people who kidnapped Yan Zhuyi and the people who intercepted Gong Fei are the same group. Some of them are in the city and often loiter near me."

Otherwise, it would be impossible to plan hijacking and interception in time.

Wei Xichen said no more. A heart ailment needs a heart remedy; Yan Zhuyi wasn't his remedy, but she could be a pill, a mixture of antidote and poison, swallowed along with the mixed flavors of life to numb his heart's ailment. Or perhaps she could be used as a target, unleashing a barrage of arrows to vent his inner turmoil.

Wei Xichen could not explain this feeling to anyone. Was Yan Zhuyi the only one who caused this situation?

He knew perfectly well what was going on.

**

Inside the Zhao Family Medical Clinic, a dim light illuminated the slender figure of a woman.

Wei Ying became itchy all over and broke out in a rash after smelling wildflowers by the roadside in the evening. Wei Qin and Jiang Yinyue rushed her to the clinic that night.

Doctor Zhao, who knew Wei Ying well, was sitting on a stool by the door brewing medicine, occasionally peeking out to look at the scene on the street.

"The government is searching house to house? Could it be that a murder has occurred in the city?"

Jiang Yinyue, who was half-embracing Wei Ying and sitting on the small couch, didn't pay attention and was focused on flipping through the medical books spread out on her skirt.

Allergies can be dangerous, ranging from minor to major. This time it might cause a rash, but next time it could lead to fainting and unconsciousness.

"Wei Qin, let's take Ying'er back to the capital together."

If Wei Ying is willing.

The Imperial Medical Academy is full of renowned doctors, which may be able to improve Wei Ying's poor health.

Wei Qin had sought out renowned doctors for his sister, but after more than a decade, the results were minimal. Nevertheless, he still agreed to help.

A yawn came from behind the curtain of a private room in the clinic. Manager Xie, who had been staying at the clinic, lazily walked out. "Oh, you three look familiar."

Wei Ying, whose lips had lost their color, heard the familiar yet unfamiliar teasing and struggled to open her eyes. "Thank you, Manager Xie."

With a grin on his face, Xie Jincheng looked at the delicate young girl and lost his interest in teasing her. "Old Zhao, since she trusts you so much, you'd better show us your best skills."

Dr. Zhao shook his head helplessly.

The weakness she was born with was difficult for even renowned doctors to cure.

Xie Jincheng pulled over a stool, sat down on the edge of the couch, and crossed his legs.

Wei Ying handed over a piece of candy, "Thank you, shopkeeper."

"Oh, more candy, thanks." Xie Jincheng smiled as he took it, peeled it open, and popped it into his mouth. He puffed out one cheek and leisurely waved his palm-leaf fan. "Even an old man like me is remembered."

Wei Ying said weakly, "I must thank you for what happened last time, shopkeeper."

"polite."

Jiang Yinyue continued, "The art of mechanisms is complex and difficult to understand. I wonder if Manager Xie is self-taught or taught by a famous master?"

"Self-taught." Xie Jincheng tapped his forehead. "My brain works really well."

At this moment, a group of yamen runners approached the clinic. "Don't panic, it's just a routine search."

Doctor Zhao quickly stood up. "Whom are you searching, sir? A fugitive?"

Don't ask.

The yamen runners swarmed into the clinic, ransacking the place inside and out.

"There isn't one here."

"There aren't any here either."

The yamen runner, hands on his hips, glanced at the approaching dawn and continued leading his men to the next shop that was still open.

Wei Qin glanced at the rolled-up drawing paper at the team leader's waist.

It should be a portrait of the person being hunted.

Xie Jincheng stretched and said with a smile that he was going out to relieve himself.

A short while later, the hunched man leaning against the wall had a portrait in his hand.

When he opened it, the smile on his lips vanished instantly.

**

The area in front of the Huaijin County Princess's mansion was crowded with people and soldiers. Lin Yu personally led his troops to search the area.

Cui Shihan blocked the entrance to the mansion. "Prefect Lin, you've arrested people and searched my residence? Could it be that I'm colluding with a fugitive?"

Lin Yu gave a forced smile; this little tyrant was not someone an ordinary yamen runner could control.

"I am acting on the Crown Prince's orders to search for and arrest him. I hope the County Magistrate will understand."

"Even the crown prince needs a legitimate reason; there must be some justification!"

"Princess Huaijin, I am not here to discuss this with you! The Crown Prince's decree is the reason!"

This is not a time of being caught between a rock and a hard place. Under the Crown Prince's orders, not even a hundred Princess Huaijin could become his roadblock!

"Men, search immediately!"

A large number of yamen runners poured into the mansion gate, passing by Cui Shihan on both sides. Lin Yu walked into the mansion gate with his hands behind his back, signaling the more than one hundred servants in the mansion not to move around and to stay where they were.

Cui Shihan suppressed her anger, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Lin Yu's personal visit must have been at the Crown Prince's behest. Perhaps his true intention was not what he intended, but to search the prisoner while also checking the residence for any people or things that might be detrimental to the Crown Prince, in order to test Cui's loyalty.

The usually gentle and refined Crown Prince would not suddenly mobilize such a large force. Who exactly is he hunting down?

The old woman standing nearby muttered, "Will the search take this long?"

Cui Shihan took over the conversation, her hoarse voice exactly the same as that of Grand Tutor Cui.

"Search, search all you want! My Cui family is utterly loyal to His Majesty and swears to be his loyal subjects. We can withstand any search!"

The girl leaped onto the high wall of the mansion, cupped her hands to her mouth, and repeated the sound over and over again, raising her voice each time. Her unruly and arrogant manner made Lin Yu shake his head.

How did the Cui family produce such a little devil?

As Cui Shihan shouted, she glanced in another direction. From her vantage point looking down, she could vaguely see a large number of yamen runners moving back and forth in the alley not far away.

Upon hearing the knock, the young man with a scar on his cheekbone opened the door.

"So slow, something's fishy!"

The team leader shouted, gesturing for the young man to step aside, "Search!"

The young man coldly watched the constables pass by one by one, the scar on his cheekbone trembling like a swallow's wing.

"Boss, we've found a secret room!"

The team leader glared at the young man, signaled his subordinates to keep an eye on him, and then strode into the empty secret room, ordering someone to bring the young man in.

"Explain yourself!"

The young man curled his lips. "What secret room? This is a cellar. Is the official desperate for merit?"

"How dare you!"

“I am a butcher, and this place is used to store meat.”

The young man produced a city registration certificate issued by the government to prove his identity as a butcher.

The team leader blew on his disheveled hair, having spent most of the night without achieving anything.

After the constables had gone far away, the young man slammed the door shut, staring at the city register in his hand. "Butcher, what a bastard to come up with this."

In a secret room on the other side, Yan Zhuyi, who had been moved at some point, looked haggard and stared intently at the hunched man in front of her.

"Is the Crown Prince looking for me?"

"Yes." Xie Jincheng sensed the woman's rekindled hope and scoffed, "Still dreaming? Do you think the Crown Prince's search for you will bring anything good?"

"It's better than falling into your hands."

Xie Jincheng couldn't guess the Crown Prince's purpose in suddenly launching a massive manhunt for Yan Zhuyi. He was hesitating whether to risk sending her to the capital ahead of schedule or continue hiding her.

If Yan Yi hadn't been too soft-hearted and hadn't failed to deal with Lao Ma, causing all the city gates to be heavily guarded, he would have already moved Yan Zhuyi out of the city, and there wouldn't be this dangerous situation today.

**

At 2:45 AM, Jiang Yinyue, who had just returned to the Wei residence, was startled by Qibao's frantic barking.

Two women arrived at Hanlan Garden, led by the gatekeeper, Uncle Song.

They are the Han Yan and Han Xun sisters.

"Qibao, stop calling her name."

Qi Bao raised her head, looking stubborn, clearly not welcoming the two women, perhaps because of Yan Zhuyi.

No fond memories of them remained in Qi Bao's mind. It ran off on its own, picked up the toy, and went to pry open Gu's door.

Upon seeing Jiang Yinyue, Han Yan hurriedly stepped forward, choking back tears, and pleaded, "Please, Madam Jiang, help me!"

The two sisters, unable to wait for their brother to return, were filled with anxiety all night and did not sleep. At the crack of dawn, they ran out into the streets to look for him. In the end, news came from the post station that Manager Fu had taken pity on them and secretly sent someone to deliver a message.

"My brother angered the Crown Prince and was injured by him. His life is hanging in the balance. We beg Lady Jiang to put in a good word for us. My sister and I are willing to serve you like slaves!"

The two sisters knelt on the ground, crying and begging, unable to speak.

Jiang Yinyue helped one up, but the other continued to kneel.

"You must explain clearly why the Crown Prince wrote the typhoid fever petition. Han Yan, you tell me!"

Jiang Yinyue, who had noticed something amiss with Han Jian yesterday, had some clues.

I overheard some rumors from Manager Xie that the government was making such a fuss to find Yan Zhuyi, who had been missing for many days. So, it seems that Han Jian confessed something to the Crown Prince, which made the Crown Prince so eager to find Yan Zhuyi.

As for what to confess, Jiang Yinyue couldn't guess.

As Yan Zhuyi's personal attendant, Han Jian might know some of Yan Zhuyi's untold scandals, which is why he was able to enrage the Crown Prince, indicating that Yan Zhuyi had harmed the Crown Prince's interests.

Han Yan grabbed Jiang Yinyue's skirt, "My sister and I went to the post station, but we were stopped at the door. When we asked the guards for details, we were scolded and driven away. We had no choice but to come and ask you for help, madam!"

No matter the time or circumstance, in their eyes, Jiang Yinyue would always be a guest of honor to the Crown Prince and would never be turned away.

Jiang Yinyue remained silent for a while, her peripheral vision falling on the cured meat in the corner of the courtyard. She knew that she and Han Jian had a little bit of a relationship.

Before dawn, Jiang Yinyue rode to the post station and directly stated her purpose.

He requested an audience with the Crown Prince.

The guard stepped aside to let him pass.

Jiang Yinyue lifted her skirt and ran upstairs to the second floor. She exchanged glances with Fu Zhongcai, who was guarding the door. Before she could speak, Fu Zhongcai immediately pushed the door open.

Passing the reporting checkpoint.

What seems like a simple omission is actually a rule that a personal attendant should not cross, and is suspected of being presumptuous.

Sensing the subtle tension, Jiang Yinyue sneered, "Manager Fu kindly informed the Han sisters, how kind of you!"

Fu Zhongcai felt ashamed. The head steward of the Eastern Palace, who could get whatever he wanted, was now feeling quite embarrassed in front of a young lady.

"Please, my lady."

Jiang Yinyue's thoughts raced as she pondered Fu Zhongcai's unusual behavior, concluding that he was luring her into a trap.

The crown prince is waiting for her.

Is Han Jian's matter related to her?

Without offering greetings or exchanging pleasantries, upon seeing the white-clad figure who had just risen, she turned her head away and went straight to the point, "Release Han Jian."

Wei Xichen fastened his brocade robe, tightened his jade belt behind his back, and said gently without the slightest hesitation or apology, "Alright."

Jiang Yinyue felt increasingly strange. "Why did Your Highness hurt him?"

Wei Xichen stood up, his snow-white robes billowing in the wind outside the window, making his figure appear tall and elegant.

He approached Jiang Yinyue, silently gazing at the wary woman through the fine dust in the morning sunlight.

The sliver of morning sunlight between them encapsulates three years of love and hate, forming a barrier of time and a distance between their hearts.

He pierced her passionate, beating heart, and he, in turn, was consumed by his own suspicion.

The desires to retaliate, distance oneself, or forget are countered by throbbing emotions, resentment, and inner turmoil, resulting in a stalemate where both sides suffer and both develop mental anguish.

In the end, it was nothing more than his paranoia.

Jiang Yinyue almost lost her life for him.

The plum he cherished as a precious pearl remained unchanged, crystal clear.

“Nian Nian, I feel ashamed.”

After hearing the true reason for the disagreement between Wei Xichen and Han Jian, Jiang Yinyue's wary almond-shaped eyes flickered slightly, with the morning mist gathering within them, swirling and ethereal.

He said he felt guilty for not trusting her.

He said she was innocent and that he would clear her name and restore her reputation.

He said he would make it up to her.

But can this erase all the grievances she suffered back then?

What was he doing when she needed him most? He was standing by indifferently, even fueling the flames!

"Wei Xichen, do you think that by letting go of your grudges and suspicions, you can be open and honest, and return to the way things were before? You're wrong. You've personally destroyed the Jiang Yinyue of the past!"

During the days of ridicule, doubt, and abuse, she not only failed to find redemption, but was also personally kicked out by him. She fell seriously ill, was bedridden for a long time, and almost died.

He was unaware of all this; he was busy negotiating his marriage with Yan Zhuyi and writing a beautiful story that would be praised by the Emperor!

They received nothing but praise, overcoming countless difficulties, their bond stronger than gold, unwavering to the end.

What did he want to make up for? To make up for the slight regret in his heart?

That was her inescapable nightmare, a brand deeply imprinted on her heart.

"Wei Xichen, you are so selfish."

"Remember...remember!"

Wei Xichen grabbed Jiang Yinyue's arm, not wanting her to leave like this. The sincerity he had stifled in her was also the root of his heartache.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

Jiang Yinyue shook off his hand, ran a few steps, and then suddenly stopped.

Wei Xichen subconsciously stepped forward, "Niannian?"

If she's willing to turn back, it's not too late. He can go through the insults and doubts she's suffered and try to mend the shattered "mirror."

Jiang Yinyue did not turn around, her tone as indifferent as the thin mist dispelled by the morning sunlight, "Put Han Jian away."

Having said that, he quickly left.

The burly man who had been quietly waiting outside the inn also left as Jiang Yinyue departed.

One is heading east, the other west.

The midday sun was intense, and cicadas were chirping. Wei Qin, who had rushed back from the government office, appeared before the woman who was sitting silently with her head down.

He first stood outside the gourd gate of Hanlan Garden, quietly observing for a while, then silently walked up to the woman, held her bent knees, and slowly squatted down.

"Miss."

Jiang Yinyue raised her red almond-shaped eyes, sniffed, and asked, "Why are you back?"

His voice was hoarse as soon as he opened his mouth.

Wei Qin didn't have time to take out a handkerchief, so he used his sleeve to wipe away the tears she couldn't hold back.

"What's wrong? Tell your husband."

Jiang Yinyue did not answer immediately. Looking at Wei Qin's gentle and indifferent face, she truly realized the difference between him and Wei Xichen.

A gentle and pleasant demeanor is a facade of suspicion.

A cool and aloof demeanor is merely a facade of deep affection.

Wei Qin and Wei Xichen are both multifaceted; people are multifaceted.

Jiang Yinyue suddenly felt fortunate that she had been betrayed by hypocritical people back then, which allowed her to meet someone like Wei Qin, who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

"Wei Qin, I'm exhausted. I need to rest for a while. Can you hug me?"

Like her father, mother, and brother, no matter how disappointing she is or how much trouble she causes, they can put aside right and wrong and hug her.

Without hesitation, Wei Qin raised his hand to embrace her, gently patting her back and feeling the trembling of the woman's thin back beneath his palm.

He tightened his arms and held her tightly in his embrace, but no matter how much Qi Bao tried to rub against him, she couldn't squeeze between them.

No matter how tender or dramatic the love between flowers and snow, nothing compares to the enduring companionship of a gentle, flowing stream.

In the familiar embrace, the woman's tearful eyes cleared up.

The midday sun shines brightly, and a tight, intimate embrace speaks louder than a thousand words.