fright
Yin Li walked along the palace path under the shattered moonlight. The evening breeze swirled the stray hairs at her temples, but could not dispel the flush on her cheeks.
Her heart pounded like a drum, making her ribs ache – the Crown Prince's embarrassed appearance just now was like a pebble thrown into a lake, the ripples spreading for a long time.
People say that the Crown Prince is sinister and obstinate, a lone wolf kept in the deep palace.
But today she clearly saw that beneath that cold mask was a boy who blushed and felt helpless.
His trembling as he gripped her wrist, his panic at having his secret discovered, stirred a strange tenderness within her.
"Perhaps, he just doesn't know how to love." Yin Li gazed at the lonely moon in the sky and sighed softly.
In this deep palace, everyone is an actor; who can see through anyone else's true colors?
Inside the bedchamber, the Crown Prince abruptly threw back the brocade quilt, the warmth of her wrist still lingering on his fingertips. The sudden, unexpected heart palpitation had caused him to lose his composure in her presence.
He covered his burning cheeks, a low, frustrated curse escaping his throat: "You're such a coward!"
From childhood to adulthood, he was a prince revered by all, but he would only shed all pretenses in front of Yin Li.
Her eyes were as clear as a mountain spring, devoid of fear or flattery, filled only with pure worry.
This purity, like a ray of light, shone into his perpetually dark world.
But he only wanted to possess this light alone.
Just as he was getting agitated, a metallic taste suddenly rose in his throat, and the prince coughed violently, dark red blood seeping from between his fingers.
He staggered toward the medicine bowl on the table, but his legs gave way. Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Yin Li walked in carrying the medicine. Upon seeing this scene, her expression changed drastically.
"Your Highness!" She rushed forward to support him, nearly dropping the medicine bowl from his grasp.
The prince hurriedly wiped away the blood with his sleeve, trying to appear calm: "It's nothing, just a slight cold." But his pale face had already betrayed him.
Yin Li held the medicine to his lips, her tone filled with unwavering concern: "Drink the medicine quickly, your health can't be delayed any longer."
The warm medicine slid down his throat, its bitterness tinged with a hint of sweetness. The Crown Prince gazed at her focused profile, his heart pounding uncontrollably again. He suddenly grasped her hand, his voice hoarse: "Yinli, could you... stay with me?"
Yin Li's hand trembled slightly as she looked up and met his deep eyes. Within them surged vulnerability and pleading, like a lost child. She nodded, almost unconsciously, "Okay."
The flickering candlelight cast their shadows overlapping. Unbeknownst to either of them, a dark figure flashed past the window, taking in the entire scene.
Meanwhile, inside the inn, He Mo was lost in thought, staring at the clues. The news brought by A Che was like a key, unlocking the first lock of the conspiracy—the Western Region merchant was actually a tribal prince, Minister Jin was secretly colluding with foreign enemies, and Consort Xi was feigning allegiance to avenge her father.
"It seems like everything is interconnected, but something just doesn't feel right." He Mo rubbed his temples, his fingertips tracing the strip of paper with Western Region symbols drawn on it.
Although Minister Jin is greedy, he may not have the courage to collude with foreign enemies; if Consort Xi was only after revenge, why would she kill the Crown Prince?
"Brother He, I've found out the secret correspondence between Consort Li and the Prime Minister!" A-Che burst through the door, his face beaming with excitement. "The Prime Minister wants to use Consort Li to restrain the Crown Prince, but Consort Li is completely unaware of Minister Jin's conspiracy!"
He Mo suddenly looked up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "So, Minister Jin is the mastermind behind this?"
“It should be!” A-Che handed over the secret letter. “Moreover, I heard that Minister Jin has been meeting with that prince from the Western Regions frequently recently, as if they are plotting something big.”
He Mo picked up the secret letter, his fingertips tracing the delicate handwriting, yet a strange unease stirred within him.
Everything went too smoothly, as if it were a setup deliberately orchestrated by someone.
“Ache, go and investigate the background of that Western Region prince immediately, and also…” He Mo paused, “investigate the true identity of the Shadow Pavilion Master.”
A-Che responded and turned to leave, but suddenly stopped: "Brother He, when I came back just now, I saw several men in black loitering outside the inn. They looked hostile. You should be careful."
He Mo's eyes sharpened: "I know, you should also be careful."
After A-Che left, He-Mo carefully put away the secret letter, his mind filled with alarm bells.
He always felt as if he were walking along a route pre-set by someone else, with every step under their control.
In the dead of night, the Empress Dowager sat in the Buddhist hall of the Cining Palace, her prayer beads turning incessantly. The flickering lamplight illuminated the deep lines etched on her face.
Granny Zhang entered quietly and reported, "Your Majesty, He Mo has discovered that Minister Jin is colluding with the Western Regions."
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, her gaze expressionless: "I understand. Have him continue the investigation and find out the truth about the Shadow Pavilion."
“Yes.” Zhang Mama hesitated for a moment, “but… His Highness the Crown Prince seems to have taken a liking to Miss Yinli.”
The Empress Dowager smiled meaningfully: "It's good that you've fallen in love."
Within this deep palace, only love can truly manipulate people.
The Buddhist hall returned to silence, with only the soft clinking of prayer beads, which was particularly clear in the night.
The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was three days later, and the atmosphere in the capital grew increasingly solemn. He Mo and A Che disguised themselves as guards and infiltrated the palace.
Ache brought new information, which sent a chill down He Mo's spine—the Western Region Prince was not cooperating with Minister Jin at all, but was coerced by the Shadow Pavilion; the so-called secret letter was also forged by the Shadow Pavilion.
“The real mastermind is…” He Mo’s voice trembled.
"It's the Shadow Pavilion Master!" A'Che's face was also very ugly. "Moreover, I found out that the Shadow Pavilion Master is related to an old case from the late emperor's time, and it seems to be connected to the Empress Dowager as well..."
Before he could finish speaking, a hail of arrows suddenly came. He Mo pulled A Che and rolled to the ground, avoiding a fatal blow.
Dozens of men in black surrounded them, the leader of whom was veiled and stood tall and straight like a pine tree.
"Young Master He, you are quite capable." The man in black's voice was hoarse and mocking. "Unfortunately, knowing too much means you are destined to die young."
He Mo drew his longsword, his eyes icy: "So you're the Shadow Pavilion Master?"
"So what if it is?" The sect leader waved his hand, and the men in black swarmed forward.
The clash of swords pierced the night sky as He Mo and A Che fought back to back. However, the men in black were numerous and ruthless, and the two gradually became exhausted.
Ache was stabbed in the shoulder, and blood stained his clothes.
"Brother He, hurry up and go!" A'Che pushed He Mo. "Go find the Empress Dowager and tell her... the Shadow Pavilion's goal is the Heaven-Sacrificing Ceremony!"
He Mo gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't linger in battle. He feinted an attack, then turned and ran towards the Cining Palace. Behind him came A Che's screams, and He Mo's heart felt like it was being torn apart, but he could only quicken his pace.
He must survive, he must uncover the truth.
The Cining Palace was brightly lit, and the Empress Dowager was discussing matters with the commander of the Imperial Guards. When they saw He Mo rush in covered in blood, both of them were startled.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" He Mo knelt on the ground, his voice urgent. "The Shadow Pavilion Master is the mastermind! He's going to make a move during the Heaven-Worshiping Ceremony! A-Che, he..."
Before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the hall. A guard rushed in, shouting, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! His Highness the Crown Prince has been kidnapped by the Shadow Pavilion!"
"What?!" The Empress Dowager stood up abruptly, her face showing panic for the first time. "Quickly, issue my decree: a city-wide manhunt!"
He Mo was also stunned. He hadn't expected the Shadow Pavilion to suddenly target the Crown Prince. Could it be that their target wasn't the Emperor, but the Crown Prince?
Just then, Yin Li stumbled in, her face pale: "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince left this!"
She handed him a jade pendant engraved with the character "墨" (Mo). He Mo's pupils constricted upon seeing the pendant—this was his father Mo Yi's jade pendant; how could it be in the Crown Prince's possession?
The Empress Dowager took the jade pendant, her hand trembling slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "So... he really is Mo Yi's son."
He Mo suddenly looked up: "Your Majesty, what do you mean? What is the relationship between His Highness the Crown Prince and my father?"
The Empress Dowager sighed and slowly recounted: "When the Mo Prince's Mansion suffered a calamity, Mo Yi entrusted his newborn son to me. In order to protect him, I switched him with another man in the palace, claiming him to be the late Emperor's son, and made him the Crown Prince."
The truth struck like a thunderbolt, leaving He Mo frozen in shock. His father's killer, whom he had pursued for years, was actually related to him by blood? And the crown prince he had always wanted to protect was his own younger brother?
"The Shadow Pavilion kidnapped the Crown Prince because..." He Mo's voice trembled.
"For the sake of the ink seal of the Mo Prince's Mansion." The Empress Dowager's eyes were solemn. "Back then, Mo Yi left behind a group of troops, which were said to be able to overthrow the dynasty. The Shadow Pavilion Master has always coveted this position of commander, and it is currently held by the Crown Prince."
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the hall. A member of the Imperial Guard rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, the head of the Shadow Pavilion has sent a message, requesting that you use the Ink Prince's Seal to exchange for the Crown Prince's life. The location is the Garan Temple!"
He Mo gripped his longsword tightly, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Your Majesty, I'll go!"
"No!" The Empress Dowager stopped him. "The Shadow Pavilion Master is cunning and treacherous. You'll only be throwing your life away if you go."
"But His Highness the Crown Prince is my brother!" He Mo's voice was pleading. "I can't just stand by and watch him die!"
The Empress Dowager was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. But you must remember, no matter what happens, you must protect the Crown Prince's life. This is Mo Yi's instruction, and it is also my wish."
He Mo took the map from the Empress Dowager and turned to run out of the palace. The night was deep, and his figure quickly disappeared into the darkness.
Amidst the ruins of the temple, moonlight spilled down like shattered mercury, illuminating the two figures facing each other.
The prince was bound to a broken stone pillar with thick hemp rope, and his ankles were locked with black iron shackles, every inch of his skin taut like a fully drawn bowstring.
His plain nightgown was soaked with blood, and dark red blood was still seeping from the wound on his shoulder, but it did not diminish the arrogance in his eyes at all—the coldness and hardness that had been tempered in the power vortex of the deep palace since childhood, the noble and aloofness that the crown prince was born with.
"Who sent you? Minister Jin? Or the Prime Minister?" The Crown Prince's voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable authority, as if he were the uninvited guest with a long sword in front of him, not him.
His dark eyes, like a cold pool, stared intently at He Mo, trying to find a flaw in the face veiled by a light gauze.
He Mo's grip on the sword hilt tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white. Beneath his veil, his brows furrowed deeply, a storm raging within him. When he had stabbed the man in black, his mind was consumed by thoughts of "saving his brother," but now, facing the Crown Prince's icy questioning, he was suddenly jolted back to reality.
That face, which bore a striking resemblance to his father Mo Yi in his memory, was now filled with vigilance and hostility, like a lone wolf trapped in a siege, ready to pounce on its enemy at any moment.
"Who I am is not important." He Mo suppressed the sob in his throat, deliberately making his voice cold and hoarse. "What is important is that I can save you." He took a step forward, his long sword hanging at his side, indicating that he meant no harm.
Suddenly, it began to struggle violently, the iron chains clashing against the stone pillar with a piercing sound, and the wound on its shoulder was torn open, causing another patch of bright red blood to seep out.
"Save me?" He sneered, his laughter laced with icy frost. "In this deep palace, where can you find genuine help? It's all just a ploy to use my status as the crown prince to seize even greater benefits!"
He Mo stopped in his tracks, feeling as if a dull knife had cut into his heart. Looking at the despair and distrust in the Crown Prince's eyes, he suddenly realized that the deep palace had already worn him down to be covered in thorns—anyone who approached him was seen as having ulterior motives.
He Mo recalled A Che's dying wish, and even more so, his father Mo Yi's unspoken concern before his death.
“I mean no harm.” He Mo’s voice softened, but he still kept his distance. “The man in black is dead. The Shadow Pavilion will find this place soon. If we don’t leave now, it will be too late.”
"A man in black?" The prince's pupils contracted sharply, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by deeper vigilance. "How do you know about the Shadow Pavilion? Who exactly are you?" He leaned forward abruptly, the iron chains taut. "Speak! Are you a remnant of the Shadow Pavilion?"
"He deliberately approached me because of Mo Ling of the Mo Prince's Mansion!"
He Mo's heart sank. So the Crown Prince knew of Mo Ling's existence and thought he had come to steal the treasure.
He opened his mouth, wanting to tell the truth, but he held back—if his identity were exposed now, he would not only fail to gain the Crown Prince's trust, but would also be dragged into deeper danger.
The wrongful conviction of the Prince Mo's family has not yet been overturned, and enemies in the shadows are still eyeing them covetously. Once the Crown Prince learns of his true parentage, he will only become the target of everyone's hatred.
"So what if it is? So what if it isn't?" He Mo deliberately revealed a mocking smile, trying to hide the complexity in his heart. "Now, either come with me, or stay here and wait for the Shadow Pavilion people to collect your corpse. You choose one."
The crown prince stared at him for a long time, his dark eyes churning with struggle.
He could sense no murderous intent from He Mo, but years of living in the deep palace made him hesitant to trust anyone easily. The pain in his shoulder intensified, and his consciousness began to blur. He knew he didn't have much time to hesitate.
"Alright, I'll go with you." The crown prince finally relented, but he remained wary. "But if you dare to play any tricks, I'll risk my life to prevent you from succeeding."
He Mo breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward to untie the ropes binding him. When their fingertips touched the prince's cold skin, both of them were slightly taken aback.
The crown prince instinctively flinched, avoiding his touch, his wariness undiminished.
He Mo didn't care, he just quickly unlocked the shackles and whispered, "Come with me, don't make a sound."
As soon as the two stepped out of the main hall, they heard hurried footsteps in the distance. Startled, He Mo pulled the Crown Prince behind a broken Buddha statue.
In the shadows, the Crown Prince could clearly smell the faint scent of herbs on He Mo's body, mixed with a faint hint of ink fragrance—a scent that was both strange and inexplicably familiar, which made his tense nerves relax a little.
"They're here," He Mo whispered a reminder, his eyes fixed on the direction of the temple gate.
The prince nodded and gripped the wooden stick in his hand tightly—it was something he had picked up casually when he broke free of the ropes.
He looked at He Mo's profile; moonlight streamed through the window lattice onto his veil, outlining his strong features.
For some reason, he felt that the mysterious person's back looked exactly like a blurry figure in his memory, but he could never remember who it was.
The footsteps grew closer; the Shadow Pavilion members had already entered the Garan Temple. He Mo took a deep breath and said to the Crown Prince, "I'll distract them. You take the opportunity to leave through the back door and run towards the palace to find the Empress Dowager."
"Then what will you do?" the Crown Prince blurted out, then realized his tone was too concerned and quickly added, "I'm not worried about you, I'm just afraid something will happen to you and you'll have no one to guide me."
He Mo felt a warmth in his heart, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Remember, no matter who you meet, don't trust them easily, especially Minister Jin and the Prime Minister."
After saying that, He Mo suddenly rushed out from behind the Buddha statue and shouted, "This way!"
The people from Shadow Pavilion were immediately drawn to the scene and gave chase. The Crown Prince watched as He Mo's figure disappeared into the night, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He didn't know who this mysterious person was, nor why he wanted to save him, but he could sense that this person had no ill intentions towards him.
"Thank you," the prince said in a low voice, then turned and ran towards the back door.
Under the moonlight, his figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the temple, leaving only a series of shallow footprints.
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