Chapter 77: Tacit Alliance
The night deepened, and Fang Duobing's shoulder wound ached faintly. The assassination attempt a few days ago still haunted him, and he was even more certain that he had touched upon the core. He was leaning against the window, lost in thought, when a gentle knock came from the door.
When he opened the door, he saw Princess Zhaoling standing alone in the moonlight, without any maids or eunuchs. She was dressed in simple everyday clothes, and her expression was not as innocent as usual. Instead, she had a solemnity and understanding that was inconsistent with her age.
"Mr. Fang, won't you invite me in to sit down?" The princess' voice was soft, but unquestionable.
Fang Duobing was startled, and he stepped aside to invite her in, then carefully closed the door.
The princess didn't beat around the bush. She looked Fang Duobing straight in the eye and said, "You didn't come to the palace to cultivate any feelings with me. What are you looking for? Or rather... who are you investigating?"
Fang Duobing was shocked and subconsciously wanted to deny it.
The princess raised her hand to stop him, continuing, "Although I've lived in the inner palace for a long time, I'm not stupid. The inquiry and anxiety in your eyes cannot be hidden from me. Moreover..." She paused, her voice lowering, "The palace you're exploring is forbidden to anyone by my father's order. Even I only strayed into it once, when I was a child, and was severely reprimanded. It's... very unusual there."
Fang Duobing looked into the princess's clear yet resolute eyes, realizing that hiding the truth any further was futile and might even lead to him missing out on a golden opportunity. He took a deep breath and decided to take a gamble.
"Princess, please understand." He bowed, his tone becoming serious. "I have indeed entered the palace to investigate a case. This matter concerns the safety of the court, and even... concerns the lives of the people of the world." He omitted the complicated details such as Li Lianhua's charges, and only stated that he was tracking down a group of rebels who intended to overthrow the court. Their leader was likely hiding in the palace, and the key evidence might be in the forbidden garden.
"Rebels? The leader is in the palace?" The princess' pupils shrank slightly, showing her extreme shock. She was silent for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons. Finally, she raised her head, a glint of determination in her eyes: "I believe you."
This time it was Fang Duobing's turn to be surprised.
The princess explained, "Although I'm a woman, I understand the righteousness of my country. If someone truly disrupts the government and endangers my father and the country, I cannot sit idly by." She looked at Fang Duobing with sincerity. "You are willing to take the risk and go deep into this place, which shows your sincerity. Fang Duobing, I will help you."
"Princess! This is extremely dangerous!" Fang Duobing hurriedly tried to dissuade her. "Your body is worth millions, how can you risk it? If His Majesty or the rebels find out..."
"Precisely because of the danger, you need an insider." The princess interrupted him, her tone surprisingly firm. "I'm more familiar with the palace's routes, personnel arrangements, and even some of its past events than you are. Furthermore, it would be far less likely to arouse suspicion if I were to investigate or provide cover than if you, the 'future consort,' acted alone."
She paused, a complex emotion crossing her face, and whispered, "Besides... I don't want my lifelong event to be just a drama wrapped up in a conspiracy. I want to help you, and myself, to see the truth of this game."
Fang Duobing looked at the seemingly fragile yet incredibly brave and intelligent girl before him, and an indescribable admiration and emotion welled up in his heart. He no longer hesitated and bowed solemnly: "Fang Duobing, thank you, Princess! I will never forget this kindness and this love!"
"You're welcome." The princess helped him up, regaining some of her agility. "Tell me, what do you need me to do? We're in this together now."
The next day, the emperor gave a banquet, attended by members of the royal family and close ministers. Fang Duo was ill and wanted to excuse himself so he could visit her at night, but Princess Zhaoling sent a messenger ahead of time, saying, "I will definitely be there."
At the banquet, the princess, her usual slightly scrutinizing attitude towards Fang Duobing, became remarkably friendly and natural. She would aptly add a few inconsequential anecdotes to Fang Duobing's responses to the emperor's questions, her gaze brimming with the perfect balance of admiration and shyness. Whenever Fang Duobing showed a touch of restraint due to his unfamiliarity with court etiquette, she would quietly touch his finger under the table, offering a soothing glance before returning to casually chatting and joking with the other princesses.
All of this fell into the eyes of the emperor and everyone, and they looked like a couple whose affection was growing stronger and their tacit understanding was beginning to emerge.
A few days later, Fang Duobing used the excuse of looking up ancient books to find out how the royal library was getting closer to the Forbidden Garden. As soon as he came out of the imperial study, he "ran into" Princess Zhaoling, who had come to bring snacks to her father.
"Master Fang!" The princess' voice was clear and full of surprise. "What a coincidence! I was just about to go to the library to find a chess manual. Could you come with me? I heard that you are very good at chess." Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the eunuchs and palace maids around to hear.
Fang Duobing immediately understood and bowed, "The princess has given an order, and I dare not disobey."
The two walked side by side, the princess sometimes pointing out a blossoming flower outside the corridor and commenting on it with him, or whispering a question about a difficult chess game, her demeanor graceful and close to nature. This "loving" scene not only dispelled some people's concerns about the other's frequent visits to sensitive areas alone due to her illness, but even the emperor, upon hearing about it, stroked his beard and smiled, expressing his even greater satisfaction with the marriage.
At first, Fang Duobing was a bit awkward with this kind of "performance," but the princess's composure and wit quickly infected him. He gradually learned to respond to the princess's affections in public with a gentle look, casually brushing away non-existent fallen flowers from her cloak, and his portrayal of the slightly shy would-be consort, who admired the princess, became increasingly natural.
The tacit understanding developed on the edge of a knife made their "drama" more and more real, and also made them the only allies with limited trust in each other in the deep palace full of dangers.
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