Chapter 7

"Wisteria, how are the preparations going?" A boy's voice came, followed by a small, expressionless face.

Tengluo was startled. She had been staying with Murong Yue for some time and was still occasionally frightened. Firstly, because she was always thinking, and secondly, because the Ninth Prince always seemed to float over like a ghost.

"Your Highness, are you trying to scare me to death?" Tengluo patted her chest and said to Murong Yue, "It will be over soon, Your Highness, don't worry."

“We need to be more prepared to leave the palace. Although His Majesty has given permission, he did not agree to let His Highness go out as well. Young Master would not have been so reckless before. If he were discovered…” Tengluo muttered to herself.

As she spoke, Tengluo, not seeing anyone out of the corner of her eye, exclaimed, "Eh?" "Your Highness, where are you going?"

Murong Yue: "I'll be back soon."

She couldn't help but sigh, always feeling that the Ninth Prince was elusive and unpredictable. Every time he returned, he either had a sullen face or was in a bad mood, and she guessed someone else would soon suffer. She had already noticed that although the Ninth Prince appeared calm and composed on the surface, he wasn't actually as composed and easygoing as her young master. Their personalities were clearly completely different, so why were they so close lately?

Murong Yue spent most of his time in the Zhizhang Palace, and aside from that, in the Plum Garden leading to the hunting grounds. He picked red plums every day and had thoroughly familiarized himself with the surrounding terrain. He was well-versed in the inner workings of this palace, knowing the specific duties of each palace, the routes leading to each palace, and which palace servants were responsible for each one.

Between the kitchen and the supply room was the Hall of Imperial Respect. This hall was responsible for transporting the rewards bestowed upon court officials by the palace. Because they were related to food, some were wines and some were teas. These could not be stored in the storeroom and were subject to layers of inspection and screening before finally being kept in the Hall of Imperial Respect.

Murong Yue had been observing this place for over half a month. Guards were stationed here, so no one would go to such lengths to steal anything from the Shangjing Hall. However, due to the lost register and frequent comings and goings—sometimes the Emperor bestowed tea upon a certain official, sometimes an official's offerings were temporarily put aside by the Emperor—he obtained the reserved register with just a little ingenuity.

As for the servants who remained here, some of them were appointed here later. The servants in the palace were replaced every year. All the palace servants who served the emperor in their lifetime had been purged, while some of the servants who served the concubines were lucky enough to survive.

Murong Yue arrived at the small door to the back kitchen. His mother's family's influence was entirely in Lidu, which was far from the capital in the southern border region. The servants who had served his mother in the palace were still delivering messages for him.

He knocked gently three times on the door, which creaked open, and the old sweeper opened the door for him. The old man was about fifty years old and had been in the palace for more than twenty years. He was blind and deaf and was responsible for some simple cleaning work.

Murong Yue: "Third Uncle, how have you been lately... I have something to ask of you."

The old man trembled as he tried to kneel down to pay his respects, but he quickly helped him up. The two men clasped hands, and Murong Yue gripped the old man's hand tightly.

"Don't worry... I will fulfill your wish."

Lord Liu of the Ritual Council, Lord Zhang of the Fate Council, and Lord Meng of the Music Bureau.

He didn't recognize any of them... They were probably all newly appointed officials, supporters of the new king. If three of them died in succession, the palace would surely become quite a spectacle.

Murong Yue stared at the register, which had been sent by his mother's family. It listed the names of court officials, clearly indicating their respective factions. He lightly crossed out three names... His gaze suddenly paused, settling on the name Lu Xuejin.

The other party's list is on a separate page, neither belonging to the previous dynasty nor to the new policies.

As he left, he brushed past the palace servants who were transporting goods.

"Get out of the way... This is Hunan liquor that's going to be delivered to Lord Liu tomorrow. If you break it, you'll all lose your heads!"

A palace servant walked past him, bumping into him heavily. He instinctively moved aside, staring at the wine, and muttered "sorry" under his breath, his eyes filled with deep melancholy.

"Are you blind?!" The palace servant exclaimed, only to be met with a ghostly face in the darkness. The young man stared at him, his face youthful yet his features were gloomy and cold, and his smile was even more sinister. Meeting his gaze was terrifying.

“…What bad luck.” The palace servant spat.

The next day.

"Tengluo, how do I look in this outfit?" Murong Yue asked.

Upon hearing this, Tengluo put down her work and looked at the young man in the mirror. He had never asked her about her clothes before going to Zhizhang Palace, so why was he suddenly concerned about her attire today, when he was going out with her young master? She would have to talk to Ziyan about it when she had time.

“Your Highness is so handsome, you look good in anything,” said Tengluo.

Murong Yue was dressed in red today. Looking at the crane pattern on the round collar, she felt it resembled the clothes Lu Xuejin usually liked to wear. The young man had a handsome face, with clear and sharp eyebrows and eyes. His profile was like a splash of bright red, which fell on his shoulder and became a cluster of peonies intertwined with the crane pattern. When he raised his eyes, a dark and gloomy feeling arose.

She praised the person, but didn't see them being particularly happy. It wasn't until the carriage leaving the palace arrived in front of their side hall that she watched as the Ninth Prince's gloomy expression vanished, revealing an expression she had never seen before... She even saw a hint of restraint in the young man.

She even thought she was seeing things… Was the Ninth Prince usually this popular? He seemed like a completely different person. He was like a damp, dull peony by the roadside, but now he had transformed into a vibrant red plum blossom vying for attention.

"What are you standing there for?" Ziyan called to her.

She was still staring in the direction of the Ninth Prince when she suddenly realized what had happened and slapped her forehead. She hadn't seen Ziyan for a long time, and there were so many things to talk about, but the Ninth Prince's interruption had made her completely forget.

Ziyan said to the carriage, "Young master, Lord Song is on duty today and has sealed off the city gates. We might run into him."

Lu Xuejin asked, "What happened?"

“Three officials have died. This afternoon, Lord Liu of the Court of Rites, Lord Zhang of the Court of Fate, and Lord Meng of the Court of Music… all three of them died together today. His Majesty has sent Lord Song Zhao to thoroughly investigate this matter. Lord Song sealed off the palace gates immediately.”

"Since such a thing has happened?" Lu Xuejin said thoughtfully, "I don't know if it's a coincidence or if there's something else going on, but I've never heard of any discord between the three of you."

As Lu Xuejin spoke, he glanced at the boy beside him. The boy was dressed very festively today, and upon seeing him, he was reminded of the red paper-cut dolls by the window, finding them adorable. While he was talking to Ziyan, Murong Yue watched him from the side, seemingly uninterested in their conversation.

"Alright. Let Song Zhao worry about that," Lu Xuejin said.

"Your Highness, has the wound on your face healed?" he asked, looking at the boy's face, where the mark was no longer visible.

“I’m almost recovered,” Murong Yue touched his cheek and said to him, “There’s been a strict investigation lately. If you take me out… won’t that displease the Emperor?”

"Perhaps, but we can hide for a while. The palace is busy today, and they probably won't have time for us," Lu Xuejin said. "I haven't heard Your Highness mention leaving the palace. Which do you prefer, inside or outside the palace?"

He asked casually, and the boy opposite him paused slightly, looking at the palace wall outside the window, his eyes darkening slightly.

“I have never felt that there is anything wrong with the palace, except that my current situation is different from before…” Murong Yue turned his head slightly and said to him, “I was born here, so this place naturally belongs to me.”

"..." Lu Xuejin sensed something different. The young man didn't yearn for the scenery outside the palace. Even though he had fallen to this state, he was born into an imperial family and was adapted to the rules of the palace.

"And you? You prefer the outside of the palace." Murong Yue's clear black and white eyes reflected his expression as he observed him.

"Your Highness asked me, and perhaps I share the same opinion. In my view, a place of joy is where family is," Lu Xuejin said. His mother had passed away early, and his father had taken care of him and Xue Yi. He felt at ease with his father's presence. After his father's death and Xue Yi's ascension to the throne, he accompanied Xue Yi into the palace.

"Are we going to your house now?" Murong Yue asked him, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry, and also a touch of joy.

"Mm." Lu Xuejin responded. They walked to the city gate, where the figures of a group of guards blended into the night like ghosts in the distance.

"Please trouble Your Highness to hide for a moment; it will only take a short while," Lu Xuejin said.

He took a quilt from the side, a brightly colored brocade quilt. The long quilt covered Murong Yue, making him unclear from the outside. The carriage slowly came to a stop, and through the curtains, the face of his former classmate peeked out.

Song Zhao, his name perfectly reflects his character. His temperament is as clear and bright as the moon, his character dignified and courteous, and his actions meticulous and rigorous. The young man has crescent-shaped eyes like a moon reflected in a clear pool, a straight nose framing his fair face, and lips as firm as a tightly drawn string. Such a dignified appearance, like a judge before a shrine, is naturally solemn, inspiring awe in those who behold him.

"Lord Song," Lu Xuejin called out, which served as a greeting.

"It's been a long time," Song Zhao said, looking into the carriage through the deep night. "It's just a routine check; I hope Lord Lu will forgive me."

"Lord Lu went to the former prime minister's residence with two palace maids. He departed tonight... When will he return?" Song Zhao asked him.

Lu Xuejin touched the corner of the brocade quilt beside him. He sensed that the boy was not behaving himself. In the darkness, he touched the boy's fingertips with the side of his palm, and they intertwined their fingers, thus slightly soothing the boy beneath him.

“We don’t know when we’ll be back yet. Perhaps we’ll have to wait until Lord Song finishes his search,” Lu Xuejin said thoughtfully. “...It shouldn’t take more than a few days.”

With one hand holding a pen and the other holding a document, Song Zhao said without looking up, "I will finish the search within three days, and Lord Lu will return to the palace within three days."

Lu Xuejin remained silent; if he didn't reply, the matter was still unresolved. Seeing his former classmate's indifferent expression, he suddenly put down his vermilion pen.

“There is one more thing. I heard that you have been cultivating many withered and weak plum branches in the palace recently... During this search, all those red plums were broken off by me. Please forgive me.”

A note from the author: