Chapter 56 Good Things Are Near (Part Six) Gentle and Soft.
The last few words were barely uttered, and Xie Yicheng didn't hear them clearly, but the hand she was actively guiding was an unmistakable indication that he knew exactly what she was saying.
Xie Yicheng's finger bones felt numb.
That hand, accustomed to holding a pen and a bowl, is now trapped in a soft, warm prison, no longer belonging to him.
He remained frozen in place.
This restrained composure is one of the reasons why Ye Mu is infatuated with him. At the moment, she is also a little anxious about his overly strict self-discipline.
“It’s not shameful, Xie Yicheng.” Ye Mu’s voice trembled, her long eyelashes were wet. “I want to be close to you.”
She had never said such things to anyone before, revealing her deepest, most primal desires so openly.
But when she faced him, she feared that if she hesitated any longer, he would continue to uphold his precepts. Even though his monk's robes had been removed, the shackles in his heart had not been completely removed.
Ye Mu wanted to be with him, like two children groping in the dark, clumsily, bravely, and wholeheartedly exploring this scorching secret realm.
Although she was also a novice in this matter, Ye Mu had seen that this was how it was done in those romantic tales.
Jiang Si had done it before, but he couldn't manage it with just one hand. It was like an object being casually handled. The only memory he had of the touch was the pain and discomfort of being squeezed tightly by brute force.
But strangely, when Xie Yicheng kissed her, an unfamiliar passion erupted within her.
"Fourth Sister, I don't intend to do that to you right now."
"But I allow you to do that."
His voice was a little hoarse, and she suddenly chuckled softly, "And I also want you to try it."
The softness beneath my palm, even through layers of clothing, reveals its vibrant elasticity.
Xie Yicheng dared not make the slightest disrespectful gesture, but just by looking at the full contour of the palm that perfectly matched his palm shape, he could clearly know that this was probably the most exquisite softness he had ever touched in his life.
The veins on his forehead were slightly visible, and the unhealed wound on his back was also throbbing with a dull pain.
Condemnation, shame, struggle—but his hand remained in place, without attempting to pull it away.
There was no need to try at all; with just a slight twist of his wrist, he could break free from that terrifying flower.
"Don't you want to try?" Ye Mu released her soft hand from the back of his hand.
She gave him the complete choice.
The candlelight flickered, causing the previously still shadow on the wall to sway slightly.
The light revealed his well-defined knuckles, as if he were tentatively and gently closing his hand, like holding a sutra scroll.
The five fingers were not clenched, but slightly bent inward, and instantly fell into the warm and soft.
There was no intention to provoke, but perhaps because of the slow pace, every moment was amplified to each other's senses, almost to the point of torture. Ye Mu couldn't help but shudder, and a very soft groan escaped from his throat.
Xie Yicheng, however, seemed to be burned by the sound and suddenly let go.
For him, this was far too much.
Even Ye Mu was a little out of control. She had never felt this way before, only a fleeting touch.
She already felt wet.
Even though she was the one who started the trouble, she was finding it hard to bear.
Both of them need to calm down.
"It's alright," Ye Mu heard his own voice sound a little unsteady, trying to stabilize the situation and reassure each other, "Then we'll try again next time."
As she spoke, she braced herself on his knees, trying to stand up, but Xie Yicheng reached out and pulled her close, completely enveloping her still-shaky body in his arms, and then lowered his head to kiss her deeply.
Whether it was because Xie Yicheng was too clever and had a keen understanding of all things, or because men truly had a natural talent for these things, after his previous awkwardness, he was obviously much more skilled this time.
He pried open her teeth, entangled her, and pursued her, yet also teased her in subtle ways. He held the back of her neck with one hand, while his other hand instinctively tried to find a foothold, but stiffened slightly when it touched her waist, and in the end only held her loosely.
Ye Mu was so overwhelmed by his kiss that she responded in kind, climbing her hands onto his shoulders and unconsciously digging her fingers deep into his.
The lines of his shoulders and arms are not bulging and aggressive, but rather the refined and even lines honed by years of seclusion and labor, with every inch exuding a sculpted beauty of resilience poised to unleash its power.
I don't know how much time passed, until a few lazy, drawn-out meows came from outside the courtyard.
The only cat around here is Tuan Tuan.
Ye Mu suddenly woke up, realizing it was getting late. She gently pushed him away, her voice soft and sweet, "I have to go back."
Xie Yicheng also slowly calmed his breathing, his eyes dark and deep, and gently rubbed her reddened lips.
He put on his clothes and escorted her to the courtyard gate. It was late at night, and the alley was deserted, with only a few scattered lights in the distance.
Ye Mu paused at the threshold, her eyes still glistening with tears. "Don't you suspect that I seem to have more experience than you?"
Ordinary women wouldn't be as bold as her.
The slanting moonlight outlined his cold and lonely profile.
Who would have thought that he had just kissed her so fiercely? It's really hard to believe.
His tone remained indifferent. "Isn't it perfectly normal for someone to be more experienced than a monk who has been a monk for over ten years?"
He paused for a moment, then said, "Besides, didn't you once diligently transcribe several erotic novels?"
"Huh?" Ye Mu was taken aback, then the heat that had just subsided on his face quietly returned. "How did you know?"
She clearly remembered that although she had told him that this was a temporary means of making a living, she had never mentioned the content of the copying to him.
"At the end of last year, during a routine inspection of the monks' quarters, the abbot confiscated several handwritten copies of rather erotic stories."
He chuckled. "The abbot thought that the handwriting on it was because I was impure and had secretly copied such filth, which was an insult to the Buddhist precepts."
Ye Mu was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, the embarrassment somewhat dispelled by the sudden absurdity. "Did the abbot punish you?"
She was curious, imagining how the usually dignified abbot would be furious at those storybooks, yet helpless against his calm and expressionless face.
"If it wasn't my doing, why should I be punished?"
"But the handwriting is so similar, how could the abbot believe it wasn't you?" Ye Mu pressed.
“The temple has strict rules, so if we want to investigate thoroughly, there will always be clues to follow,” Xie Yicheng said. “The abbot found the monk who was hiding the storybooks, and by following the clues, he found the owner of the bookstore that sold them. The owner confessed that a young woman wearing a veiled hat often came to his shop to copy certain best-selling chapters in her extremely neat handwriting in exchange for some pocket money. Because her handwriting was indeed outstanding, he even kept a few extra copies of the manuscripts.”
Ye Mu listened, realizing that his business from last year had almost implicated him in this way.
She suppressed a laugh. "Your temple actually has monks who don't follow the rules? Passing this around in private?"
"Buddhism helps people, and it also knows that all people have desires and are made of flesh and blood. Who has never had delusions in their heart?"
Xie Yicheng chuckled very softly, with a hint of self-deprecating honesty, "Didn't I also return to secular life because of my own desires?"
According to this logic, he was the one who was more unruly and more decisive.
But his words seemed to Ye Mu to be a veiled expression of love; wasn't his desire for her?
She was somewhat pleased.
"I'm going back now," she said softly. "It's cold in your room, remember to cover yourself well with a blanket tonight."
Xie Yicheng had no idea about her ulterior motives. When she mentioned that the room was cold, he wondered if she had caught a chill earlier.
He was already planning in his mind that he would have to buy some silver charcoal tomorrow.
"Mmm," he responded softly, watching her open the gate to their yard.
Ye Mu practically tiptoed into his own courtyard.
She closed the courtyard gate behind her, leaned against the door, and took a few deep breaths of the cool night air, trying to calm the lingering heat on her face. Her lips were still burning, and the slight tingling sensation from his thumb's touch lingered.
The main room was dark, so Zijing must have already gone to sleep.
Just as she was about to tiptoe back to her room, a very soft cough suddenly came from the east wing. Immediately afterward, a dim yellow light leaked out from the half-inch gap under the door, illuminating a small patch of blue brick floor in front of the door.
It was my mother Liu's room.
"Fourth Sister." A voice called from inside, making Ye Mu's heart skip a beat.
She composed herself, steeled herself, and walked over, gently pushing open the slightly ajar door. "Mother, you're not asleep yet?"
Liu was wearing an indigo-colored padded jacket, sitting against the headboard with a pillow behind her back. In the basket beside the bed, there were some needles and threads, and a spring shirt that was half-sewn was folded inside.
The wick of the oil lamp was cut short, and the flame flickered timidly, casting a dim light throughout the room.
"Is this the spring dress that Mother made for me?" Ye Mu walked over, sat down by the edge of the bed, and looked at the light green fabric.
The color is very tender, the green of newly sprouted buds on branches, which appears particularly soft in the dim light.
Liu nodded slightly, raised his eyes, and his gaze lingered on her face for a moment.
His gaze was calm, taking in the lingering springtime charm in her eyes and brows. She didn't ask anything, but simply patted the spot next to her.
"Come sit down and talk with your mother for a while."
Ye Muyi sat closer, her shoulder gently resting against her mother's arm.
"Has Master Wenkong completely returned to secular life?"
"Yes." Ye Mu nodded. "From now on, he will be Xie Yicheng."
"He won't be returning to the Xie residence anymore, right?"
"Yes, he has severed ties with the Xie family."
“Xie Yicheng.” Madam Liu slowly repeated the name. “Cheng means beautiful jade. It is smooth and flawless, warm and gentle. This name is quite fitting for his character.”
Hearing his mother's praise, Ye Mu felt a surge of joy, as if he had been recognized.
But then, her mother's tone changed, "But now that he has returned to secular life and taken off his monk's robes, he is no longer a person outside the Buddhist community and is no longer protected by Buddhist precepts."
Liu turned her head and, by the dim light of the oil lamp, scrutinized her daughter's young face inch by inch, as if trying to see through the skin and flesh to understand every ripple in her heart.
"Fourth Sister, he is a man now."
Men and women are defined by strict, natural social norms, unlike monks and their disciples, where the distinction between genders creates a chasm.
“Mother knows that you have had some connection with him since childhood. Now that he is in trouble and has moved across the street, you are a kind of support for him in times of hardship. It is only right for neighbors to take care of each other and send each other food and daily necessities. Besides, he was your calligraphy teacher. If others knew about this friendship, they wouldn’t be able to find fault with it.”
Liu reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen out of Ye Mu's ear behind her ear.
"But this 'closeness' must be kept within limits."
“He used to be a monk, the respected Master Wenkong. There was a great chasm between you two, as you were separated by the status of monk and layman and the strict rules and regulations. Even if you got closer, other people would at most laugh and sigh that you had a connection with Buddhism, but they wouldn’t say anything dirty. But things are different now.”
She withdrew her hand.
“A man and a woman living alone, next to each other. If they visit each other too often, talk too much, and lack proper restraint in their interactions, in the eyes of those neighbors who love to gossip, it will be like being caught in a compromising situation, and they will never be able to clear their name. A woman's reputation is thinner than paper, Fourth Sister, I'm afraid you can't withstand those sharp words.”
Ye Mu lowered her eyelashes. She knew her mother was right. She wasn't unaware of the harsh demands this world placed on women; she had personally experienced firsthand the power of gossip to kill. But…
"Does Mother not tolerate him?" She raised her eyes, her voice slightly hoarse. "You just said that he was like a beautiful jade."
Liu gently patted the back of her hand, "I'm not trying to stop you from doing anything, nor am I looking down on him."
"I'm just reminding you that this world is tough. Even if he's an exceptionally good person with impeccable character, there are still too many things to consider between you. His current situation is awkward. He just escaped the quagmire of the Xie family, his future is uncertain, and he has no backing. If you get too close, the gossip outside could overwhelm you in an instant."
She was also worried that Ye Mu would get too enthusiastic and get too involved in the relationship. "Besides, once a man leaves the monastic life, he returns to the secular world. He can't escape the desires, calculations, gains and losses of the secular world. You are straightforward and have no defenses against him. I'm afraid you'll suffer."
Having just experienced the filth and depravity of the Marquis's mansion, and witnessed the extent to which people could be wicked, Madam Liu truly did not want to see Ye Mu suffer any further criticism regarding her innocent reputation.
"From now on, whether you're delivering things to the neighbor across the street or looking after them, let Zijing come with you. Two people are always better than one, and there will be less gossip."
Ye Mu understood her mother's thoughts and nodded, "Daughter understands."
Back in my room, the clear moonlight shone through the window paper, spreading a frosty white on the floor, a scene of utter solitude.
The harm that Zhou inflicted on her mother was truly profound.
That basin of filth almost destroyed the dignity that her mother had upheld for half her life. Ye Mu bit her lip, thinking she had to wait. She planned to settle things thoroughly with Zhou Shi after her third sister got married in a grand manner and was far away from trouble, so as not to implicate her innocent third sister.
But Zhou will settle this score with her sooner or later.
She no longer expects good people to be rewarded, but bad people must be punished.
Then she thought of Xie Yicheng and his actions tonight. Her mother's worries were unnecessary; she was not afraid that she would suffer any loss.
Only when she provoked him to the point of no return would he take a step forward and kiss her so clumsily yet fiercely, making her feel upside down.
Ye Mu pursed his lips, a secret tremor rising deep within his body.
She suddenly realized something, her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly closed her legs, feeling a damp, cool sensation.
This has never happened in my previous life.
Actually, she felt it when he kissed her earlier.
Because it was late at night, she quickly washed herself, changed into dry pajamas, and lay down in bed, but she couldn't fall asleep.
She felt a sense of unfamiliarity with this young and healthy body in this life; it seemed to have its own will, which he easily ignited and broke free from her control.
Ye Mu pulled the quilt up to half her face and smelled the faint fragrance in the quilt. Xie Yicheng was covering himself with her quilt at this moment. Was he also thinking about her?
Will the faint fragrance keep you tossing and turning all night?
But inside the main house of the courtyard across the street, Xie Yicheng never lay down.
He sat cross-legged on the hard bed, his back straight as a pine tree, his eyes slightly closed, his hands forming a mudra on his knees. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a play of light and shadow, his slender figure half bathed in silvery light and half shrouded in shadow.
Although he did not voluntarily enter the Buddhist order, more than ten years of immersion in the Buddhist monastery and meditation had made it his way of calming his inner turmoil.
But tonight, my heart is in turmoil.
The soft, fragrant touch of hers still lingered on his lips, and his palms were burning hot like branding irons. The extreme softness of that brief moment when she closed her mouth repeatedly replayed in his mind. Each recollection caused a disorder in his meridians, and he clearly realized that he wanted more.
Breathe, exhale, focus your mind on the dantian (lower abdomen), and silently recite the Heart Sutra.
The tranquility that I used to be able to enter easily is now out of reach, and I am constantly plagued by distracting thoughts.
Xie Yicheng slowly opened her eyes and looked out the window at the lonely, bright moon.
Sleepless nights.
The next morning, Ye Mu woke up to the aroma of food.
The taste was different from the rice porridge and pickled vegetables that Zijing usually cooked, and also different from the greasy, smoky smell of breakfast stalls outside. Instead, it was a sweet bean aroma that seeped into the room through the cracks in the door and windows, gently awakening the five senses from their slumber.
Ye Mu sat up, still a little dazed, wrapped in the blankets. The daylight outside the window was already bluish-white.
Listening closely, one could hear Zijing's light footsteps and the soft clinking of dishes in the courtyard, along with the faint sound of her mother, Liu, speaking in a voice that seemed gentler than usual.
Ye Mu slipped on his shoes, put on his outer garment, and pushed open the door.
Bowls and chopsticks were already set on the square table in the main room.
In the center is a ceramic bowl of tender tofu pudding, snow-white and glistening, with a smooth, mirror-like surface, simple and mellow in flavor. Next to it is a small dish of amber-colored syrup, a dish of finely ground roasted soybean powder, and several steaming hot steamed buns, white and plump, looking like they were homemade rather than store-bought.
"You're awake, young lady?" Zijing brought the last small dish of pickles to the table with a smile on her face. "Go wash up quickly. Breakfast smells delicious and appetizing."
Ye Mu glanced at her mother.
Liu was sitting upright, holding a steamed bun in her hand. She carefully broke off a small piece, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly. Her face did not show any particular expression, but the gloom between her brows seemed to be diluted a little by the warm morning light and the food.
"Ah Jing's skills are getting better and better these days," Ye Mu laughed. "She can even make tofu pudding now? How early must she get up to do that?"
“I don’t have that ability,” Zijing winked at her. “Master Wen Kong made it. He cooked it early this morning and brought it over, saying it was to thank her for lending him the blanket yesterday. He also steamed the steamed buns.”
Did Xie Yicheng do it?
Ye Mu's heart stirred slightly. Remembering her mother's admonition last night, her gaze involuntarily drifted towards her mother again. However, Liu had already lowered her eyes and was focused on drinking tofu pudding, as if she had only accepted an ordinary gift from a neighbor and did not look at her daughter much.
After washing up, Ye Mu sat down at the table, drizzled some syrup on the tofu pudding, scooped up a spoonful, and the tender white tofu pudding obediently slid into the porcelain spoon. He put it in his mouth, and without chewing, the warm and moist bean fragrance melted away. It was so delicate that it felt like nothing, leaving only a mouthful of sweetness that soothed his throat.
It's even more delicate and refreshing than the most famous tofu pudding stall outside the Baoxiang Temple gate. The steamed buns are also steamed perfectly, with a smooth exterior, a soft and chewy interior, and a rich wheat aroma.
"Mother," Ye Mu asked casually as she ate a small bite, "Did Father ever make you breakfast before?"
“What are you thinking about, young lady?” Zijing answered quickly. “Not to mention breakfast, even tea must be brought to you by the maids, and the temperature must be just right.”
Liu glanced at Zijing indifferently.
"Mother, how was the food Xie Yicheng cooked?"
Liu slowly swallowed the food in her mouth, dabbed her lips with a cloth, and said, "Hmm, it's alright."
Zijing then learned that her master's secular name was Xie Yicheng, but she was more surprised by Liu's words, "Madam, is this alright? The tofu pudding is so tender and the steamed buns are so fluffy. Even the best chef in our Marquis's mansion in the past might not have been able to achieve this level of skill."
Ye Mu listened to Zijing's barrage of praise and chuckled softly.
Before leaving the hospital, she approached Zijing, who was sweeping the courtyard, and said, "You're such a good girl, Zijing. When you come back tonight, I'll bring you some of Guixiangzhai's new almond yogurt. I heard it's the best-selling dessert in the capital right now. You can try it."
“You’re such a kind-hearted girl,” Zijing said, her eyes crinkling into crescents. She put the broom aside, straightened Ye Mu’s clothes, and escorted her to the doorstep. “You’re not only thinking about Tuantuan, but now you’re even thinking about me.”
Ye Mu was still thinking about her neighbor across the hall.
She hadn't seen him all morning, so she glanced at his house and saw that the slightly worn wooden door was tightly closed, with a lock on the door knocker.
Is he not home?
“Don’t look, girl,” Zijing followed behind, noticing her little peeking gesture. “Master went out after delivering breakfast. He came to our place this morning and saw that two tiles on the kitchen roof were badly rotten. Just patching them up won’t do; they need to be replaced. He asked me which kiln had the best tiles, but I didn’t know. Fortunately, Instructor Zheng overheard and told him about Xu’s shop in the west of the city. He thanked him and went there, saying that it would be better to pick out tiles at the morning market.”
He really looks like a prospective son-in-law.
Are all sons-in-law like this in ordinary families?
Silently chopping and stacking firewood, repairing the leaky eaves, not saying anything fancy, but remembering what your family likes to eat, and delivering a hot breakfast before the morning dew has dried.
Everything he does falls into the mundane details of daily life.
Ye Mu curved her lips into a smile, a gentle, warm feeling spreading from her eyes, a good mood that lasted until noon.
At that moment, Ye Mu was checking the accounts of a newly acquired spring banquet when Yun Niangzi quietly lifted the curtain and came in, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Amu, there is an important person who wants to see you at Lanyue Terrace."
"A distinguished person?"
Ye Mu immediately thought of Jiang Si, and her lips instantly drooped. "Miss Yun, I'm not going."
Seeing her expression, Lady Yun knew she was mistaken and whispered, "It's not Jiang Zhuangyan, it's the one from the Eastern Palace."
Your Highness the Crown Prince?
That left me with no choice but to go.
Why did the Crown Prince want to see her? Although she helped him out of a predicament at the Dharma assembly, in the eyes of the Eastern Palace, she should just be a commoner woman with a bit of quick wit. Once the matter was over, she should be forgotten. Why bother to summon her?
Or is there some other motive?
As Ye Mu walked through several corridors, the erotic stories he had copied for a living inappropriately rushed into his mind: royal secrets, peculiar fetishes, and indiscriminate relationships between men and women... Ye Mu subconsciously raised his hand, his fingertips touching the warm, smooth jade ginkgo hairpin in his hair.
Lady Yun did have some protective feelings towards her, but if the Crown Prince really had designs on her, under the power of the Crown Prince, how could a mere manager of a brothel protect her?
However, she had already confessed to the emperor that she had someone she loved, and the whole world knew it.
If the Crown Prince truly harbored such intentions and was concerned about his reputation and conduct, he should not have openly treated her this way.
Although Ye Mu did not think she was beautiful enough to win the Crown Prince's favor, she learned from Jiang Si that one must always be wary of men.
She calmly pushed open the carved wooden door of the Moon-Viewing Platform.
The indoor lighting was much dimmer than the outdoor lighting, the windows were half-closed, and the air was filled with the crisp scent of high-quality agarwood, rather than the usual powdery fragrance.
The Crown Prince did not sit in the main seat, but stood with his hands behind his back by the window, with his back to the door. He was not wearing a python robe today, but only a black brocade casual dress with a jade belt around his waist. He was tall and straight. When he heard the door open, he slowly turned around.
The face was young, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, a high nose bridge, and pale lips. However, the complexion appeared somewhat pale in the dim light, and there were faint dark circles under the eyes.
Ye Mu glanced at his right arm. Her third sister said he was injured. If he really did something reckless, that would be her chance. She had to protect herself.
Ye Mu lowered her eyes and gave a deep bow in courtesy, saying, "This commoner, Ye Mu, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"No need for formalities, please sit down."
The voice sounded gentle.
The young master pointed to a rosewood armchair under the window, and sat down opposite it. Two cups of tea were already set on the table, steaming gently.
Ye Mu thanked him, sat upright on one side of the chair with his back straight, and placed his hands on his knees, waiting for the other person to speak.
The Crown Prince did not speak immediately. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and looked at Ye Mu's face with scrutiny, but without any hint of intimacy.
This put Ye Mu at ease.
"Miss Ye's calligraphy is excellent," he said, praising her first. "Her quick wit was even better during the Dharma assembly. No wonder Scholar Jiang remembers it so fondly, and Father Emperor also highly praised it."
Ye Mu was unaware of his intention in mentioning Jiang Si and the Emperor, and cautiously replied, "Your Highness flatters me. I am unworthy of such praise. In the heat of the moment, I did my best, and fortunately, I did not dishonor the nation."
“You need not be nervous. I have come to see you today not for romantic matters, nor to reminisce about the past.” The Crown Prince put down his teacup. “I have a matter for which I need to rely on Miss Ye’s abilities.”
She's being petty.
Ye Mu raised her eyes. "Your Highness, please speak. If it is within my power, I will certainly do my best."
The prince took out a thin booklet from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Ye Mu.
"Suzhou Prefecture, Wujiang County"
The Crown Prince slowly said, "Last autumn, the court allocated a sum of 50,000 taels of silver for the repair of river embankments and the relief of disaster victims. However, before the new year, the Censorate conducted a secret investigation and found that the amount of materials and labor reported by Wujiang County was more than 30% higher than that of neighboring counties during the same period. Moreover, the resettlement of disaster victims was merely a matter of accounting; in actual visits, it was found that six or seven out of ten households had not received the full amount of relief grain."
His finger pointed to the silk scroll. "These are a few pages of original draft accounts that were leaked from within the Wujiang County government office, discovered by our undercover agents. There are several subtle discrepancies between these and the final accounts submitted to the Ministry of Revenue. They were done extremely discreetly, and would be very difficult to discover unless someone carefully compares them word by word."
Ye Mu didn't expect the Crown Prince to discuss the fundamental issue of embezzling relief funds with her, and couldn't help but glance at him sideways. It seemed that the Crown Prince listened to the woman's words more than the Emperor did.
"Does Your Highness want me to check the accounts and find conclusive evidence?"
"It's not just about checking the accounts."
The Crown Prince said seriously, “Zhou Chongli, the magistrate of Wujiang County, is a distant cousin of Zhou, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He has been operating in the area for many years, and his connections with those above and below him are so strong that they are an unbreakable alliance. If the court were to openly send an imperial envoy down there, I'm afraid the evidence would have been destroyed long before the envoy even arrived. I need someone to infiltrate Wujiang in an inconspicuous capacity to obtain irrefutable evidence that he kept two sets of account books, as well as clues about the flow of the embezzled funds.”
Ye Mu's heart was filled with turbulent emotions.
"Then why me?"
“Miss Yun recommended you to me before, saying that you have an extraordinary talent for numbers, are meticulous, and have a tenacious character.”
Yun Niangzi recommended it? Ye Mu suddenly realized that Fuyao Pavilion had a superior status, and the five gentlemen of Mo Shang knelt on Lanyue Terrace that morning... It turned out that this place of singing and dancing was an informant set up by the East Palace outside the palace walls.
And Lady Yun is probably no ordinary person either.
Ye Mu looked up at the young crown prince again, and couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. The future ruler of a country had actually spread his hand and eyes here.
“Of course, I dare not entrust such an important task to you based solely on Lady Yun’s words,” the Crown Prince said. “At the Dharma Assembly, I personally witnessed your composure in the face of danger. You not only resolved the border conflict but also spoke your mind frankly before the Emperor. Your courage, quick wit, and determination are beyond those of ordinary young ladies. Afterward, I also had someone thoroughly investigate your background. You now have no connection with the high-ranking families in the capital, which makes it easier for you to act.”
"After careful consideration, Ye Mu, you are the most suitable candidate at present."
Ye Mu remained silent.
Going to Suzhou, a thousand miles away, in a place where no one knows the people, venturing into the lion's den to investigate the crimes of a county magistrate—this burden is too heavy, and too dangerous.
“Your Highness,” Ye Mu said, her eyes clear, “I am but a commoner, without any official position or rank. Even if I obtain evidence, how can I gain people's trust? How can I ensure my own safety?”
"I will give you the certificate."
The Crown Prince said, “I have already made arrangements regarding your identity. You need to disguise yourself as a man and go there as a woman. Ye Mu, as long as you obtain irrefutable evidence, I will find a way to get it directly to the Emperor’s ears so that those who should see it can see it.”
Silence fell upon the room once again.
"Ye Mu, you once said at the Dharma assembly that women should not be confined to the inner chambers and should have their own path to walk. If you succeed in this mission, you will be a woman who has done the work of stabilizing the country and bringing peace to the nation, which will attract the attention of the world."
The Crown Prince was adept at manipulating people's hearts. "When I inherit the throne, my first new policy will be to establish a pilot program for women's civil service examinations, allowing talented women to compete with men and obtain official titles based on their abilities."
These last words gently struck Ye Mu's heart. They were a cry from countless women trapped in their boudoirs, and at this moment, they were made by the person most likely to fulfill them in the future.
This was much more reliable than the emperor's simple "I've noted it down." She could tell that the crown prince was a man of action.
But after the initial shock, concerns arose. Her mother, Liu, was frail, and Zijing was innocent. If she went far away, her return was uncertain. How could they be safe?
She can't let it go.
The Crown Prince saw through her hesitation. “This matter is of utmost importance. I know you need time to weigh your options. I will hear your answer in ten days.”
There's still time to calm things down. Ye Mu nodded, "I will remember."
Just as Ye Mu was about to take his leave, he reached the door and heard the Crown Prince cough lightly behind him. "Who was the woman with a slightly plump figure who stood beside you at the Dharma assembly that day?"
Plump?
Ye Mu immediately pictured his third sister Ye Qing's round, pretty face in his mind.
Her heart tightened suddenly, recalling her third sister's terrifying experience in the washroom. Was the Crown Prince asking now to settle scores later?
Without hesitation, she knelt down, her forehead touching the ground. "Your Highness, that was my third sister, Ye Qing, the third daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an. My third sister is timid and cowardly by nature. What happened in the washroom that day was purely an accident. She would never dare to utter a single word about it! I swear on my life that she would never harm Your Highness in any way. Please be magnanimous and do not punish her."
The crown prince remained silent for a moment.
“She’s too stupid. I’m worried about her and need to give her some pointers in person,” he said coldly. “I want to see her here in five days.”
These words were spoken with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation, so Ye Mu could only lower his head deeply.
One thing after another, she finally made it to the end of the workday. She packed up the ledgers and came out through the back door, which she always used. A familiar figure came into view.
It is Xie Yicheng.
He now had short stubble on his head, no longer bald. Although he hadn't grown his hair long, the short, dark green hair made his facial features more defined, with delicate brow bones and a straight nose, making him a handsome young man.
He was leaning against the mottled wall across the alley, his head slightly lowered, lost in thought, perhaps just daydreaming.
Ye Mu couldn't resist sneaking over and touching his stubble. It was slightly itchy and resilient. Her fingertips lingered on it, feeling a sense of novelty.
Xie Yicheng grabbed her restless hand and said, "Naughty."
Ye Mu's wrist was held by him, but she was not afraid at all. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him with a smile, and in those eyes, besides the smile, a more mischievous daydream quietly arose.
What would it feel like to gently press this head with its newly grown short hair against the soft spot in front of you?
What will he do? Will he resist? Or will he become addicted?
Seeing her smile without saying a word, Xie Yicheng pulled her a little closer. "What are you thinking about?"
Ye Mu chuckled softly and pressed her lips to his ear.
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