Alone
Amidst the wind and rain, palace maids accompanied Xiao Yu, holding umbrellas for her. She adjusted her posture, mimicking the manners of the palace maids, and walked out following the route she remembered when she entered the palace.
Not far away, in an octagonal pavilion, Xiao Yu saw a familiar figure. He was leaning alone against the vermilion railing, looking casually at the koi carp raised in the palace canal.
Perhaps it was because of the rain, Pei Wenjin hadn't gone far.
The rain splashed up layers of water, and Xiao Yu could see his exhaustion from afar.
Given that this person had defended her multiple times in the Imperial Study, Xiao Yu didn't dislike him. She turned to the side and instructed a palace maid to bring him an umbrella, then left without looking back, unwilling to have any further entanglement with him.
That's the idea, but reality always falls short of expectations.
Pei Wenjin had noticed her early on. The palace maid who brought the umbrella ran back, panting, and called out to her, "Your Highness, please wait! Lord Pei invites you to a chat!"
The invitation was ostensibly an invitation, but it was actually a form of coercion. In terms of status, it was Pei Wenjin who was supposed to come and pay his respects to the princess. However, he had never seen her before because of their unequal status, so he was only polite to her in front of the old emperor.
It seems that red aura is good for one's health; he was truly extremely unruly.
Xiao Yu laughed in anger. She had no choice. There were too many things she didn't know after suddenly arriving in this world. She could only slowly move towards that person while holding the umbrella, cursing him a thousand times in her heart.
"Greetings, Lord Pei." Xiao Yu nodded restrainedly, put away his paper umbrella, and dismissed the palace maids who remained nearby. The drizzle slid down the eaves of the octagonal pavilion, forming a fine, natural barrier that enveloped the two of them.
Pei Wenjin didn't answer, but finally sneered, "You want to investigate the case with the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
What seemed like a question was actually a statement of certainty. Under the same roof, Pei Wenjin made no move to bow; instead, he straightened up and moved closer to Xiao Yu.
He was tall and slender, casting a shadow over Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu was forced to take a step back, causing the dry branches beneath his feet to creak.
Pei Wenjin seemed to snap out of his daze, put away his arrogant expression, lowered his eyes, and shook his head insincerely: "In my humble opinion, it would be best if Your Highness didn't cause any trouble."
Pei Wenjin was furious on his way here. He had painstakingly investigated for a long time, but the clues had gone cold. He was then scolded by the emperor in the inner palace, which increased the pressure on him. After rethinking the situation, he couldn't even be bothered to pretend when he saw Xiao Yu again.
Xiao Yu, not to be outdone, moved closer to him, shortening the distance between them. She feigned an air of superiority: "Of course, I was very ashamed for accidentally ruining Lord Pei's carefully laid-out chess game, and I am eager to make amends—after all, no one dares to displease Lord Pei, who now has all the power and influence in the world."
The two were very close. Pei Wenjin could see a small patch of purplish skin exposed at her neckline when he looked down. It was a mark left when someone had choked her. This mark pierced his eyes like needles.
Pei Wenjin turned his face away first, took out a document from his pocket and threw it to Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu asked, puzzled, "What is this?"
Pei Wenjin sheathed his sharp edge, his expression languid: "Didn't we agree to cooperate? Here are the case files. Since Your Highness is so enthusiastic, why not take a good look... I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
After saying that, he seemed to remember something and paused in his steps. Xiao Yu looked puzzled and whispered, "If it weren't for the Embroidered Uniform Guard coming today, Your Highness would not have been able to escape unscathed. Even if you are skilled, it would be difficult to defeat someone with a treacherous heart. I hope Your Highness will take good care of yourself and not cause me any more trouble."
He didn't ask Xiao Yu why she went to Xuanlan Courtyard, assuming she had her own plans.
Xiao Yu twirled the official document in his hand; it still retained the warmth of its original owner, and a faint fragrance could be smelled upon closer inspection.
She frowned. Things were going much more smoothly than she had expected. She had thought she would have to put in more effort and negotiate with the commander, but to her surprise, he agreed very readily.
There was no indication that she was being made things difficult for.
As expected, her guess was wrong; the mastermind behind Rouge was not Pei Wenjin at all.
From a standpoint of fact, setting aside the blood ties between the original owner and the emperor, Pei Wenjin is very likely the only ally he can rely on at present.
After returning to the palace, Xiao Yu had someone prepare bathwater, carefully tidied herself up, changed into a clean and warm robe, and sat down at her desk to open the documents Pei Wenjin had given her.
After a quick glance, her delicate eyebrows furrowed.
The matter is very complicated and cannot be explained in a few words.
The document contained details of Pei Wenjin's personal investigations of the local conditions in Huaizhou and the other four prefectures, as well as some clues he had gathered over the past year and a half.
Xiao Yu, a former police officer, had assisted the government in investigating similar cases of economic corruption, and she was able to deduce a great deal from the words.
At least Pei Wenjin investigated the case seriously. He arrested many "intermediaries" who were transporting grain and recovered a lot of disaster relief grain. However, he could not find out anything more about what was behind the scenes.
The related content is only briefly mentioned and vaguely described.
The forces behind the case are very complex, and Xiao Yu understands why Pei Wenjin is so troubled and finds it difficult to close the case.
At that time, the pressure from the Northwest was also extremely intense. In the summer of the same year, the capital spent a lot of money repairing ditches and drainage systems. With the end of the year approaching, Commander Yu was bound to return to the capital to report on his duties. The military expenses in the Northwest could not be interrupted... In addition to some miscellaneous support, the imperial court was out of money.
If it weren't for the famine, Huaizhou and the other four prefectures would have been the main source of military provisions for the Northwest. Now, these five prefectures are struggling to survive, let alone the Northwest.
Xiao Yu became increasingly agitated as he looked at the scene. Those corrupt officials who held their positions without any real regard for the lives of the common people and the soldiers on the border were completely indifferent to their plight!
She angrily threw the document aside. It was true that there were always such villains who committed evil deeds in every era. Xiao Yu knew there was not much she could do, but since she had come here, she should get involved in this mess, even if it was just for the sake of her reputation.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yu pinched his brow and prepared to extinguish the candle and go to bed, when the palace maid waiting outside the palace knocked on the door of the bedchamber.
Xiao Yu leaned back in the nanmu chair, rubbed his forehead and smiled wryly: "Go in."
The palace maid followed closely behind, bringing a secret letter to her desk. Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
The palace maid knelt and bowed: "They sent someone to warn Your Highness not to cause any trouble. This time, you took a risk and almost exposed your superiors."
Xiao Yu's pupils contracted sharply, and he froze on the spot.
"What do you mean by that?" Xiao Yu stood up, wary of the palace maid making a move, but the palace maid had no such intention.
She composed herself and said succinctly, "Please rest well today. I will inform you of any tasks I have to discuss with you."
After speaking, the "palace maid" left quickly without looking at her after completing her task, carefully closing the palace door for Xiao Yu. With a "click," the inner hall returned to silence once more.
As if waking from a dream, Xiao Yu hurriedly tore open the seal on the secret letter, a more unsettling thought creeping into his mind.
"Thank you for your great help the other day, Your Highness. However, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard pressing us at every turn, it would be best if we suspended our cooperation."
Those few words felt like a bullet to her heart.
She herself, or rather, the original owner of the body, Xiao Diting, the third princess of the current dynasty, was indeed involved in this major corruption case. Unfortunately, she had just applied for cooperation with the Embroidered Uniform Guard earlier.
This is a partnership that cannot be easily reversed. Pei Wenjin's willingness to agree is risking offending the emperor. If he were to recklessly go back on his word and arouse the emperor's suspicion, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The rain outside was still falling in a fine drizzle. Xiao Yu was wide awake. She picked up Pei Wenjin's document and read it over and over again, thinking wearily.
Why did you do this? Why give up being a princess and get involved in this mess? Are you starving or not dressed well...? What are you after?
No one could answer her question.
She slumped into her chair with a self-deprecating laugh. Things were more complicated than she had imagined; this was truly a case of trying to get something from a tiger, leaving her breathless.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu handed the secret letter related to the matter to the candlestick that was providing light. The candlelight was dim, and as she watched the letter burn out in the flame, she seemed to foresee that she was now in a predicament.
The modern-day "Xiao Yu" also vanished with the fireworks, just like when he first went undercover, now carrying a new identity and code name.
From this moment on, "Xiao Yu" is dead, and she is "Xiao Diting".
Thanks to that mysterious "palace maid," Xiao Diting, who had a clear understanding of the situation, couldn't sleep and decided to test her useless "external trait."
The rumored third princess has an eccentric personality, and as long as she doesn't go too far, no one will suspect her.
She summoned the palace maids and nannies who were guarding outside into the inner palace, partly to find the person who had delivered the message, and partly to understand the specifics of her abilities.
She took a sip of the Grain Rain tea that the old nanny handed her, her fingertips unintentionally brushing against the other woman's hand holding the teacup, but unfortunately, she still didn't "hear" anything.
Xiao Diting glanced at the palace maids and nannies kneeling on the ground. Just now, she pretended to say that she had a sudden urge to read everyone's palms, but in reality, she wanted to find that mysterious "palace maid".
Just as she expected, that person was not from her palace at all.
No one dared to question it, after all, to be favored by the princess was an unparalleled honor.
She pretended to hold the hand of a thin-looking palace maid, and then stretched out her palm to examine the lines on her hand.
The young palace maid was only eleven years old when her family sent her to the palace to make a living.
This was the first time she had been so close to the princess. She knelt on the ground, holding her breath and remaining motionless. The princess's hand was very cold, like a razor blade pressing on her pulse; if it were even an inch off, it could sever her pulse.
Xiao Diting sensed the little palace maid trembling, smiled, and his sharp features softened considerably, making him appear somewhat charming.
"Look up and tell me your name."
The young palace maid met her clear eyes and was speechless for a moment. She hadn't dared to look at the princess's face before, but now that she saw it clearly, she realized her lapse in composure under Xiao Diting's patient gaze.
"This servant's nickname is Chunlan..."
Xiao Diting bent his fingers and closed Chunlan's hand: "A long and clear lifeline indicates longevity and good fortune. That's good."
After saying this, she leaned to the side nonchalantly and waved her hand to indicate that Chunlan could leave. Chunlan hurriedly knelt down to express her gratitude.
The princess's words are as precious as gold, surpassing all others.
Chunlan happily withdrew, while Xiao Diting appeared neither sad nor happy on the surface, but was actually extremely anxious inside.
It was no use. The talent mentioned in the memorial had no effect at all. Although she gained nothing, she still needed to play this charade to the end.
They stayed in the courtyard for a long time. The princess rarely left her quarters, and her thoughts were naturally beyond the comprehension of these servants. Everyone cooperated fully, wanting to finish as soon as possible and go back to sleep.
Xiao Diting tried for a long time without any response, which made her very frustrated. She appeared calm on the surface, but was actually extremely agitated inside.
Isn't light contact enough to trigger it?
She was upset and couldn't find the person who sent the letter, which meant that she was actually being monitored. Her every move was under the watchful eye of the other party, who had the means to freely enter and leave the palace and whose strength should not be underestimated.
She waved her hand, signaling everyone to leave quickly: "Alright, I'm tired today, go back and rest."
Everyone bowed in unison, their voices resounding: "This servant takes her leave!"
Xiao Diting had long lost interest; the time she had spent since transmigrating had been filled with thrills and suspense. She casually tossed out, "Let's call it a day."
Perhaps God took pity on this unlucky girl, for someone passed by and accidentally stepped on her skirt. Xiao Diting reached out and caught it, casually asking with concern, "Are you alright?"
The palace maid slipped and fell to the ground, replying hastily, "It's alright."
Seeing that her arm was still on Xiao Diting's hand, she quickly withdrew it and apologized for her rudeness: "This servant has offended the princess, please forgive me."
Xiao Diting's eyelids twitched; what she heard was clearly—
[So annoying! I was woken up in the middle of the night by this lunatic, do you even know that...]
[You're asking for trouble! Pah!]
Amidst the rising and falling chorus of flattery such as "As long as Your Highness is happy" and "This is what we servants should do," Xiao Diting heard two extremely abrupt curses. She had just stood up to prepare for bed when she fell heavily back to her original position, startling everyone.
The candlelight was dim, illuminating half of Xiao Diting's face. She lowered her head in an almost eerie posture, looking at the palace maid who was apologizing at her feet.
Her voice was hoarse and distorted: "You don't seem to like the games I'm playing with you?"
The palace maid suddenly remembered the advice of the old nannies who had taken care of the princess for a long time: "Don't lie to the princess, 'that thing' inside her is listening..."
A gust of cold wind extinguished the candles in the inner chamber, and darkness instantly engulfed her.
The princess's name is "Di Ting" (谛听), because she is hypocritical, and "that person" is coming to judge them.
The others kneeling in the inner hall had dispersed at some point, leaving only her and "that person" sitting and kneeling, as if they were dissecting their abdomens in front of a Buddhist temple to verify their true feelings.
Time stretched on endlessly until "that person" burst out laughing.
Her voice carried a hint of laughter, though her breath was still weak: "Everyone else has left, and you're still here in the middle of the night. Are you trying to offer yourself as my concubine?"
The palace maid, who had been harassed, was furious but unable to retaliate. After being extremely frightened, she felt utterly resentful and her stereotypes about the princess intensified. She ran away in a panic.
Xiao Diting was writhing in pain from the backlash, but she was in a good mood because she now understood the triggering conditions for her talent.
By touching others and asking them questions, she can gain insight into their inner thoughts if they lie. The downside is that her physical body will suffer varying degrees of backlash.
It means "listening attentively".
She slowly rose, leaning on the desk for support. Sitting was never as comfortable as lying down. She had been watching the palace maids' changing expressions with amusement, which was actually a way for her to catch her breath. She couldn't let anyone know that she was unwell.
Only when she could barely speak did she openly chat and laugh, but secretly drive people away in anger.
In a dizzying moment, Xiao Diting sank weakly into the bedding. She fell to the ground so fast that it hurt, but she was very tired. So she drifted off to sleep, forgetting all about the conspiracy.
Whatever, I'm not going to die right now, I'll just go to sleep.
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