Chapter 44

“Yu Bin wasn’t sent by him.”

Xie Tinglan’s soft, distant remark sent a thousand waves crashing through Ye Rui’s mind. Frantically, she wondered: How was that possible? Had all her previous guesses been wrong?

“Zhuang Linglong is now a Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel. After taking office, she cleared out several officials who had taken bribes, and that’s why she was targeted.”

Xie Tinglan took a sip of tea to warm herself before continuing, “Yu Bin is indeed from the Chaoyang Sect, but his behavior is erratic. Because he’s addicted to gambling and owes the Dabao Gambling Den a large sum, he also took on some murder-for-hire jobs.”

Ye Rui understood, then asked, “Who hired him?”

She hadn’t expected the truth to be like this. She had thought the Emperor wanted to eliminate Zhuang Linglong, which would be the same as cutting away Xie Tinglan’s power.

“Judging from the officials Zhuang Linglong removed, it’s most likely that old bastard Zhongshan Prince.”

A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Xie Tinglan’s eyes. Her hand tightened around the teacup, her knuckles whitening in an instant, then she relaxed her grip slightly. “Those were all his little claws and fangs. He kept his hands still during this year’s imperial examinations and instead let Duke of Wei make his move. He must already have guessed the Emperor’s intentions, so he wanted to avoid the sharp edge. In any case, there are already plenty of his people in the court.”

Xie Tinglan spoke slowly and clearly so that Ye Rui could hear every word. After listening, Ye Rui’s face filled with more concern. She knew of Zhongshan Prince, but after coming to the Capital City she had rarely heard him clash with Xie Tinglan. In contrast, Duke of Wei had been the one jumping around constantly.

Hearing this now, and seeing that Zhongshan Prince could stay so steady in such an important matter, it was obvious he was far more difficult to deal with than Duke of Wei.

Right, and there was also the Helian family. Though that was Empress Helian Shaohua’s maternal clan, from what Xie Tinglan had said before, the Helian family didn’t seem to have much affection for her. Truly, danger lurked everywhere.

Xie Tinglan let out a cold laugh, then said, “Since this time it touched his people, he probably figured that if a mere Gentleman died, so be it. He could just stuff his own people into those emptied spots.”

She paused, then after a moment of silence continued, “On top of that, he could also cut my people out of the court, burn down all the schemes I painstakingly laid out, and kill two birds with one stone.”

Ye Rui thought it over and still found it wrong, so she asked, “But wasn’t the one who’s been assigning you work all this time trying to distract you?”

Xie Tinglan nodded. “Indeed. He knew that Zhuang Linglong’s actions would certainly provoke Zhongshan Prince’s fury. Keeping me occupied and distracting me was simply taking advantage of the situation, another way to kill with a borrowed knife.”

Ye Rui frowned. She had thought she’d already pieced together the whole story, but it turned out there was still another layer beneath it.

“That Zhongshan Prince is in Youzhou City, and yet his reach is that long?”

Ye Rui knew of Zhongshan Prince, but he wasn’t in the Capital City and rarely came here. She didn’t understand why, though she had heard from people while eating at Baihe Tower that the Emperor seemed wary of him.

Xie Tinglan took another sip of tea. “The court is full of his people; distance isn’t a problem. As long as he sends a word, there will always be people willing to die for him.”

Ye Rui frowned again. That made sense too. Zhongshan Prince was the Emperor’s maternal uncle. Since the previous emperor’s reign, he had already planted many pieces in the court. His foundation and network were not to be underestimated.

After Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, it was said Zhongshan Prince had stayed in the Capital City for a period of time. Perhaps that was when friction arose; later, Emperor Yuan “invited” Zhongshan Prince back to Youzhou City. After that, unless there was some major ceremony in the court, Zhongshan Prince would not appear.

It was said that Zhongshan Prince had also strongly opposed allowing women to take part in the imperial examinations, even sending the Emperor a memorial accusing him of letting women disturb the state’s foundations. Of course, the Emperor had let that matter go. First, because he had believed he could control the outcome of this year’s examinations; second, because he thought women were easier to control than an old fox with such a vast power base as Zhongshan Prince, so he had naturally leaned toward agreeing with Xie Tinglan’s decision.

If he wanted Xie Tinglan to do things for him, he couldn’t oppose her wishes in everything. He had to give her some sweetness; as for how things would ultimately be handled, that would depend entirely on the Emperor’s own methods.

Zhongshan Prince’s rage was no less than an emperor’s wrath. That was why, before the imperial examinations, Xie Tinglan had repeatedly run into assassination attempts; and the Emperor’s inaction had only emboldened Zhongshan Prince further. It was as if there were an unspoken understanding between them, one that needed no communication.

These were all things Ye Rui had heard from Ri Xi. Ri Xi was often very open with her, saying everything she knew without reservation. Ye Rui could tell that this was Xie Tinglan’s instruction; she was deliberately nurturing her.

“Will he make another move next?”

Ye Rui was worried now. She feared Zhongshan Prince’s next target wouldn’t be Zhuang Linglong, but Xie Tinglan.

“Once the grass is disturbed, the snake will be alarmed; the hidden game is already broken. He won’t act again.”

Xie Tinglan paused, and a trace of amusement flickered in her eyes. “Besides, this time Zhongshan Prince accidentally ruined the Emperor’s good deed. The Emperor probably still hasn’t realized that Longevity Grass has gone missing; Ri Xi has already sent people to intercept and kill the Chaoyang Sect disciples who came to deliver the message.”

In other words, Xie Tinglan was now racing against time, trying to retrieve the Longevity Grass from the Dabao Gambling Den one step ahead of the Emperor.

“Good thing there’s Ri Xi.”

Ye Rui only cared about Xie Tinglan’s health and had been running around for her medicinal ingredients all day. After Ri Xi took over the Dabao Gambling Den matter, she moved swiftly, assigning tasks in a matter of minutes and quietly arranging everything behind the scenes.

Compared to that, Ye Rui truly felt ashamed of herself.

Xie Tinglan lifted a hand and touched Ye Rui’s face. In a low voice, she said, “Then you’d better learn well from Ri Xi.”

Her tone wasn’t that of a superior giving orders. It was soft and light, almost like coaxing a child. Ye Rui found it very hard to resist. She took hold of Xie Tinglan’s hand and grumbled, “You should go back and rest. There’s no charcoal fire in my room for heating; look, your hands are freezing.”

“You’re more talkative than Ri Xi, though. She doesn’t nag like this.”

Ye Rui was speechless. So caring for her had become nagging? She said indignantly, “Are you coming or not? If not, I’ll carry you back.”

“Oh?”

Xie Tinglan glanced at Ye Rui’s legs. She remembered Ye Rui had been limping when she came to meet her just now; she probably had bumped into something during the fight.

“With one arm injured and one leg lame, how are you going to carry me?”

Thinking of Ye Rui’s arm, Xie Tinglan frowned again, then added, “You’re out of breath too. Forget carrying me; I’d worry if you could even take a few steps in this courtyard.”

“Who says I can’t!”

Ye Rui shot upright, hands on her hips. She endured the stabbing pain from her clothes brushing her wounds and forced herself to say, “How could I not be able to!”

Seeing Ye Rui flush red, Xie Tinglan hadn’t even said anything yet before she herself started coughing. She stood, lightly brushed Ye Rui’s back, and said, “Ri Xi is waiting for me outside. I don’t need you to carry me. I can go back on my own.”

How had she never thought this person was a little foolish before?

After that, the two of them reminded each other to take care of their bodies, and then Xie Tinglan went back.

That night, Ye Rui kept her promise and went to Xie Tinglan’s bedroom.

The night was deep, and the late-autumn wind carried a biting cold. Ye Rui pulled her fur cloak tight around herself and stepped in through the wind. Inside, the fire was burning and the room was much warmer. The frail woman was sitting against the headboard with a book in her hands.

Ye Rui was a little speechless and didn’t dare look any further. She was standing far enough away that she couldn’t make out the title, but she recognized that color; it was that book, the one even prettier than Two Beauties Play at Love.

Tonight didn’t seem like it would be a peaceful one.

Ye Rui hesitated at the doorway. Xie Tinglan didn’t even look up as she said lazily, “You’re not coming over? Afraid I’ll eat you?”

There was a hint of laughter in her voice. Ye Rui’s heart immediately stalled; she muttered inwardly, I really am afraid you’ll eat me.

In the end, she still went forward, took off her cloak at the bedside, and hung it on the screen. The slight draft from that motion carried the clean scent of her body, and it stirred a little smile on Xie Tinglan’s lips.

Xie Tinglan shifted inward, making room for Ye Rui on the outside. Ye Rui got into bed with practiced ease and asked, “Aren’t you sleeping yet?”

She didn’t dare look at the book’s title at all. Every part of her was telling her to keep her eyes, nose, and heart in order; don’t have any unnecessary wicked thoughts.

Ye Rui lay down as straight as a board and closed her eyes at once, silently reciting to herself: Don’t look, don’t listen.

Xie Tinglan was still holding the book. She glanced at Ye Rui, smiled knowingly, then put the book beside her pillow, brushed back her hair, and lay down as well.

Feeling the person beside her lie down, Ye Rui stiffened all over. She wanted to recite something like the Diamond Sutra or the Heart Sutra, but then realized she didn’t know a single line.

She really regretted not studying enough when she needed it.

Xie Tinglan moved closer to Ye Rui, turned onto her side, and took Ye Rui’s uninjured left hand. In a low voice, she asked, “Do you know what book I was reading just now?”

With her eyes closed, Ye Rui could feel the change in Xie Tinglan’s tone even more clearly. Like a sly fox, her voice carried an ambiguous smile and a hint of pleasure; whether Ye Rui answered that she knew or didn’t know, she would still fall into the trap.

So Ye Rui simply said nothing.

“Mm?”

That soft, lingering hum made Ye Rui’s heart itch. The itch spread to the left side of her body until it went numb; for a moment, she even thought something was wrong with her heart and that she might die of sudden overexertion.

“Go to sleep.”

Ye Rui forced herself to stay calm, but the slight tremor and hoarseness in her voice betrayed the desire she was trying desperately to suppress. Xie Tinglan was such a clever person, yet she didn’t call her out. Instead, she buried her head in Ye Rui’s arm and laughed softly.

In truth, Ye Rui’s arm was quite slender, but firm, and it carried Ye Rui’s unique scent and warmth. Under the same blanket, Xie Tinglan felt that as long as she hugged Ye Rui’s arm, the cold in her body would melt away much more.

“In With the Peony Flowers Deep, one woman is dull and rigid, and the other is a fox spirit...”

Ye Rui’s body tensed. Before she could interrupt, Xie Tinglan went on, “At first, that woman was seduced by the fox spirit. But... once that woman learned about bedroom matters, she became even more uninhibited than the fox spirit.”

The end of Xie Tinglan’s sentence lifted slightly, like a hook that snagged Ye Rui’s heart with perfect accuracy. Ye Rui felt hopeless; just those two short sentences and her mind had already filled in many images. At first they were hazy, but then they started turning into scenes with Xie Tinglan and herself. Her lower abdomen grew hot at once, and even her palms turned damp.

Ye Rui still didn’t move. She kept reciting Amitabha Buddha in her head, as if that could drive the fox spirit away. But this particular fox spirit clearly had no intention of letting her off.

“Ye Rui, what are you restraining yourself for?”

Xie Tinglan rolled over and got up, one arm wrapping around Ye Rui’s body and bracing herself on both sides over her. The person with her eyes tightly shut had no choice but to open them now, wanting to see what exactly Xie Tinglan intended to do.

“Why live in the moment and drink to it while you can?”

Seeing the faint tremble in Ye Rui’s eyes, Xie Tinglan knew it was not fear, but the trembling brought on by some desperate suppression.

“Why keep thinking about whether you like someone or not? Things are unpredictable. Maybe I’ll die tomorrow, and I still won’t have tasted your lips even once.”

Ye Rui frowned. A hoarse voice left her throat: “Don’t talk about dying, okay?”

Ye Rui was afraid too; afraid of the “unpredictability” Xie Tinglan spoke of. She could not bear that kind of uncertainty.

Xie Tinglan said nothing. Slowly, her hand found Ye Rui’s wrist, then gently raised both of Ye Rui’s hands above her head, carefully avoiding the wound that was still bright red even today.

Only one candle was left burning in the room. Its soft glow spread a hazy yellow color, filling the small gaps between their mingled breaths. Their warm body temperatures intertwined. Ye Rui’s breathing grew more and more ragged; looking into Xie Tinglan’s eyes, bright with water and light, she had no resistance at all, and her reason crumbled bit by bit.

“Xie...”

“Shh...”

Xie Tinglan let out a soft shush, stopping Ye Rui from speaking. Under her, the other woman’s cheeks were already flushed red, her chest rising and falling as it brushed against Xie Tinglan’s body almost inadvertently, like a silent invitation.

“I still remember what you said.”

Xie Tinglan’s lips came to Ye Rui’s ear. Her breath turned over and over in that cramped space, brushing Ye Rui’s ear so continuously that even her voice seemed to linger there without dispersing.

“I’m that wolf in human skin; what will you do about it?”

Ye Rui felt her mind starting to blur. But when she heard those words, she suddenly remembered the gentle rain in the mountains. That wolf-like woman had been pressed beneath her, yet there had still been a mocking smile at the corner of her lips, while her eyes remained full of seductive allure.

What had she wanted to do at that moment?

For a fleeting instant, she had wanted to destroy every last trace of calm in this woman, to make her go mad beneath her fingertips.

What a crazed thought. Even Ye Rui felt filthy for having it; she didn’t want to remember it, didn’t want to speak of it.

Ye Rui held her breath and said nothing, staring blankly at the smile growing deeper in Xie Tinglan’s eyes. Just as she was about to speak, just as those red lips parted, a reckless kiss landed on hers. It pressed against her burning lips, soft red lips entwining as all her words melted away in the kiss.

Ye Rui’s gaze had already gone unfocused and drowned. She slowly closed her eyes, her lips moving as if responding on instinct, and the other woman grew even more fervent, nibbling and drawing at her lips a few more times; her movements were still somewhat inexperienced, not nearly as fierce as her words.

“You don’t even know how long I’ve been holding back.”

Her red lips withdrew a little, carrying a sheen of moisture. Looking at Ye Rui’s dazed expression, her heart trembled, and she bent down again to bite gently at those soft lips.

So soft.

A muffled groan escaped Ye Rui’s throat, dragging back half a shred of reason. She was just about to move her wrists, but Xie Tinglan pressed them down hard.

“Don’t hide, little coward.”

Don’t hide... I really can’t hold back.

Xie Tinglan cautiously probed with the tip of her tongue. No one knew who was trembling more. Even the sounds made in their tangled mouths trembled too, as if long-suppressed desire had finally found its comfort, as if the wants that could no longer be restrained had begun to clamor.

Wet, smacking sounds filled the space between their lips and tongues. Xie Tinglan kissed deeply, gradually finding her rhythm, learning how to kiss, how much force to use, and where Ye Rui was especially sensitive. As long as she felt the tendons in Ye Rui’s wrist jump violently beneath her palm, she knew she had done the right thing.

Her wet lips drew back slightly. Xie Tinglan panted and lowered her gaze to Ye Rui, whose breathing was just as unstable. The two of them looked at each other and froze at the same time, then laughed in embarrassment.

They both didn’t know how to breathe properly.

Xie Tinglan’s kiss landed on Ye Rui’s chin, where she gave it a light bite. “It’s fine. We’ll only grow more practiced.”

Ye Rui felt uncomfortable all over, as if a thin layer of sweat had seeped out and made her hot. Seeing that Xie Tinglan seemed intent on kissing lower and lower, her lower abdomen tightened in wave after wave, tugging at the wound there until she hissed sharply in pain.

Xie Tinglan snapped back to her senses from the heat of desire, her red lips letting Ye Rui go at once. She asked worriedly, “Did I press on your wound?”

In truth, Xie Tinglan didn’t even know whether Ye Rui had any other injuries. She loosened her hold on Ye Rui’s hands and looked her over, but Ye Rui only shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“It’s just... the wound on my abdomen hurts a little.”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, the blush on her face deepening even more. Xie Tinglan immediately understood. She reached out and gently touched Ye Rui’s abdomen, and at once felt Ye Rui shudder violently, her brows knitting in pain.

“Does it feel very sensitive?”

Ye Rui bit her lip, but seeing Xie Tinglan’s teasing expression, she grew annoyed again. “Nonsense. Don’t you feel it?”

“Very much.”

Xie Tinglan answered instantly, then leaned by Ye Rui’s ear and whispered, “It’s all wet with it.”

Ye Rui’s ears instantly burned red. Just as Xie Tinglan was about to say something else, Ye Rui placed a hand over her waist. “Stop talking.”

“You’ve only just recovered, and I’m injured too. This isn’t the right time.”

If... if they were really going to do anything, they couldn’t let these things ruin the experience.

Xie Tinglan laughed softly, then lay back down where she had been before and hugged Ye Rui’s arm again. In a lazy voice, she said, “Ye Rui, my first kiss was given to you.”

**

Gong Yinzhi taught Ye Rui how to circulate her internal energy to heal her injuries. Once she learned it, Ye Rui finally understood how this kind of healing worked.

At first, she circulated her inner force as she usually did in cultivation. When the force reached a place that felt painful, she gathered all of it there and repeatedly circulated it through that spot; before long, the blockage there would be cleared.

That was how internal injuries were treated.

The Flaming Fire Art complemented the blazing energy in her body, so healing through internal force was especially effective. Two days later, her internal injuries were about eighty percent healed, and she could bounce around just about anywhere.

After that deep kiss that night, Xie Tinglan had remained very busy. The Capital City seemed to be holding a military selection examination, intended to assess the achievements and martial skill of martial officials and give them a chance at promotion. It was said that in the previous military selection, several outstanding candidates had chosen to go to the frontier and become deputy generals under General Nan Zhenchuan.

Garrisoning the frontier naturally earned military merit the fastest. If one later requested reassignment back to the Capital City, one could at least secure a second-rank post in the Ministry of War. Of course, people who went to the frontier rarely returned. There was always a shortage of manpower there, and the Capital City would not casually pull frontier personnel back.

Duke of Wei Murong Yu was an exception.

Murong Yu had also once guarded the frontier during the previous emperor’s reign, fighting alongside General Nan Zhenchuan’s father and earning countless military merits. Once, when the previous emperor was touring Qingzhou, he was unexpectedly assassinated. It was Murong Yu who protected him at the cost of his own life, and in the end the previous emperor survived.

However, Murong Yu had also suffered irreversible injuries because of that and could no longer go to the battlefield. Grateful for his meritorious service and his role in saving the emperor, the previous emperor eventually transferred him back to the Capital City, conferred upon him the title of duke, made him a first-rank official in the Ministry of War, and placed under his command three thousand troops in Yizhou City.

This military selection was also a major event in the Capital City, usually held during the bitter cold of winter. It was meant to test the endurance of military officers; soldiers feared neither cold nor heat, and they were the unshakable pillars of the nation.

Xie Tinglan was the main person in charge of this matter, and she often busied herself in the administrative district, staying in the Ministry of War for most of the day. From what Silver Moon said, Duke of Wei also came by from time to time to make trouble and deliberately make things difficult. Though Xie Tinglan always blocked him, it still wasted a lot of her working time.

Everyone knew Xie Tinglan’s body suffered even more in winter, so they all rushed to exhaust her.

It was truly infuriating!

Ri Xi had not been idle these past few days either. She kept instructing the kitchen to make many nourishing dishes for Xie Tinglan and was often busy herself in the medicine room. Every two days she would send medicine to Xie Tinglan in the administrative district, stabilizing her condition.

Seeing this, Ye Rui’s unease only piled higher. Thinking of how Xie Tinglan had always relied on all kinds of medicine to get through these times, her heart ached like a dull knife cut. She really couldn’t sit still. She casually threw on a fur cloak and went out. As soon as Li Yun saw her, she immediately put down her work and tried to follow, but by the time they got outside, Ye Rui was nowhere to be seen.

Today the sky was overcast, the clouds stacked thick with hidden worries, heavy enough to seem ready to fall.

Li Yun looked toward the crowd in Beichenfang not far away, then searched closer, but still couldn’t find Ye Rui. After thinking it over, she let it go. Gong Yinzhi had said before that Silver Left would be sent to protect Ye Rui, so she should be fine.

Ye Rui went to Dongfeng Ward on the eastern street. It wasn’t even noon yet when she arrived; the manager had just come out, a handkerchief in hand, and then saw Ye Rui hurrying over.

“Manager, I want to see Miss Mu Xue.”

The manager opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a lazy, alluring voice came from inside the hall. “Little one, coming to see me so early? Don’t tell me you missed me?”

Mu Xue was draped in a pure white fur cloak, but inside she wore only a thin red bandeau and a pair of trousers. She leaned crookedly against the stairs, her sleepy beautiful eyes brimming with endless charm, black hair loose around her shoulders, smiling brightly.

Ye Rui’s expression darkened slightly. She couldn’t bring herself to smile either. Ignoring the manager’s strange look, she rushed into the hall and nearly stepped on a fallen gold ingot, almost slipping. Seeing how reckless she was, Mu Xue seemed to have guessed it was about Xie Tinglan; her interest immediately faded and she yawned. Turning around, she walked upstairs at an unhurried pace.

“Miss Mu Xue, I’ve made some progress on the Longevity Grass. About that Yama Flower, do you really mean you’ll only give it to me if I do things for you?”

Ye Rui followed behind Mu Xue as they went upstairs, still watching her step so she wouldn’t tread on the fur cloak trailing behind her. If she messed up this plea for help, she might end up causing an accident too.

“Of course.”

Mu Xue answered almost without hesitation, not even looking back at Ye Rui once.

“But the terms for the Longevity Grass and the Yama Flower are the same. Now that there’s only the Yama Flower, can’t we... discuss it a little more?”

Ye Rui refused to let it go, even shamelessly trying to bargain. Mu Xue was not angry; instead, she laughed. She stopped and looked back at Ye Rui. “Do you think this is a market? And you need to understand that what’s being traded isn’t a single medicinal herb or two. It’s Xie Tinglan’s life.”

“You’re not suited to being a merchant.”

Mu Xue kept walking upstairs, and Ye Rui continued following in silence.

Once they reached Mu Xue’s room, Mu Xue turned and looked at the person who was still trailing behind her, smiling. “You’ve certainly gotten the hang of things; you just wander right into my bedroom now?”

Only then did Ye Rui realize she had become a little too natural about it. Still, she had no intention of leaving. “Heroes of the world don’t fuss over small details. Miss Mu Xue, just forgive me this once!”

“Save your sweet talk. I don’t buy that.”

Though she said that, the corner of Mu Xue’s mouth still lifted a little. She went to her dressing table, picked up an engraved wooden comb, and began to comb her hair. “What, did that sickly thing get hit by some illness again, and scare you into rushing over here?”

Mu Xue naturally knew about Xie Tinglan collapsing; in fact, anyone who kept tabs on Xie Tinglan would know. She had only returned from handling business in Sanyuan Town the night before, and upon returning, she had heard from the manager that Xie Tinglan had fallen ill. However, she had been too exhausted to learn the details before falling asleep.

“Since winter started, I’ve noticed her body getting worse, and a lot of people keep seizing this chance to cause trouble for her...”

Leaning against the dressing table, arms crossed, Ye Rui spoke of “trouble” with a tightly furrowed brow, as if it was even more urgent than if she had encountered trouble herself.

Mu Xue combed her hair in the mirror and raised a brow with a smile. “That’s normal. She’s made too many enemies; she ought to suffer for it. If I weren’t such a kind person, I’d want to cause her trouble too.”

Ye Rui: “...”

Hearing the words “kind person,” Ye Rui couldn’t help but shiver. This woman truly never stopped talking nonsense.

“You don’t need to say anything else. As long as you come help me do something, I’ll hand over the Yama Flower. No other conditions; I won’t discuss anything else.”

Mu Xue’s attitude was firm. Hearing this, Ye Rui felt utterly cold inside. In Mu Xue’s case, unless she was willing to give it, Ye Rui couldn’t pry out even the slightest benefit.

“Fine, I’ll think about it some more.”

Ye Rui gave up too. Though they hadn’t known each other long, Mu Xue had managed to build her business to its present success. How could someone like that change her mind on a whim?

“Take your time. I’m not rushing you.”

Mu Xue set down the carved wooden comb, picked up a charcoal pencil, and began drawing her brows. Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled in satisfaction. Seeing that, Ye Rui couldn’t help rolling her eyes inwardly and thinking that this person was a narcissist.

Ye Rui was ready to leave. Before she went, she still asked one last unwilling question: “Is there really no chance you’ll change your mind?”

“No chance.”

Mu Xue answered decisively. Ye Rui sighed, then asked, “Did you already know about the blazing fire energy in my body?”

Mu Xue stopped drawing her brows and looked meaningfully at Ye Rui. “I thought everyone in the Xie residence was useless. Something you could figure out with a simple pulse diagnosis, and they still couldn’t tell after all this time. I suppose that’s something the Magic Zither Lord told you?”

So she had known all along.

Ye Rui leaned back against the dressing table again and asked, “Since you reminded me that I can help Xie Tinglan regulate her body, that means you don’t want her to die either. So why are you refusing to change the condition?”

“No, you’ve misunderstood.”

Mu Xue switched to the other eyebrow and kept drawing. She smiled and said, “I reminded you because I want to keep her alive. Only if her life is preserved will you have a chance to agree to my request.”

She glanced at Ye Rui and sneered softly. “No need to look so grim. I know that if she dies, you’ll shoulder everything she left unfinished and complete it for her. By then, I’ll be completely unrelated to you.”

Mu Xue had seen all kinds of people. She knew very well that some people were stubborn to the core; Ye Rui was exactly that kind. A single-minded courage for the sake of one person, even if the road ahead was lined with knives, even if it meant mountains of blades and seas of fire, she would still charge forward.

How could she compete with a dead person?

“Your thoughts are all so tangled. It’s truly incomprehensible.”

Ye Rui sighed again. She really couldn’t beat her at this. Raising a hand to scratch her head, her sleeve fell back, and the scabbed marks on her forearm entered Mu Xue’s sight. Mu Xue stopped and frowned. “How did you get hurt?”

Ye Rui gave a small “ah” before realizing Mu Xue was asking about her hand. She then told her about Yu Bin. Of course, she left out the explanation of the force that had ordered Yu Bin around and only briefly described the process.

Hearing that Ye Rui had gotten hurt while going to fetch medicine for Xie Tinglan, Mu Xue’s heart shrank painfully. Her lowered eyes were full of unwillingness.

“You serve her like this; will she really treat you with sincerity?”

Mu Xue’s tone was heavy. Her gaze fell on those crisscrossing wounds, while the hand hidden in her sleeve tightened and then slowly relaxed.

“I believe... she’s sincere.”

After saying that, Ye Rui turned to leave. But then Mu Xue said quietly, “What kind of person is she, really? She doesn’t even have a heart.”

Ye Rui didn’t argue, and she didn’t agree either. She left quietly.

Mu Xue remained seated at her dressing table, looking at the mature, alluring woman reflected in the mirror. A helpless smile tugged at her lips, and a faint sheen of water gathered in her eyes.

“Feiyuan, if you were still here, you’d definitely agree with me too, right?”

For no reason at all, she thought of that young, immature face. That girl’s youth had forever remained in that summer. Back then, hadn’t Murong Feiyuan also been full of sincerity?

It was a pity she had been born into the Murong family. Otherwise... perhaps her affection...

Forget it. What use were ifs in this world?

**

After the start of winter, the weather in the Capital City became even drier. On her way back, Ye Rui’s wound itched, but she couldn’t scratch it. If she broke it open again, it would be hard to heal.

She looked up at the thick cloud cover and felt like snow was about to fall. Snow in the Capital City seemed to be on its way, and somehow it felt especially early this year.

Ye Rui didn’t go straight back. Instead, she went to the pharmacy to buy some of the medicinal ingredients Xie Tinglan needed and stocked up in advance; otherwise, if someone deliberately bought them up first, it would become troublesome. Even so, she could only buy the herbs after speaking with the shopkeeper ahead of time, paying twice the market price. The extra difference, naturally, came out of Ye Rui’s own pocket.

Ri Xi handled things flawlessly. These days she and Gong Yinzhi were still busy with the Dabao Gambling Den, yet she had not neglected taking care of Xie Tinglan. Huan Jing was rarely at the manor, but Ye Rui knew the information she brought back was always the most extensive and secret; as for Silver Moon, she was the strongest guard in the residence.

As for herself? Ye Rui felt that her own abilities were still lacking. The only thing she could do was spend a little more silver and make sure the supply of medicinal herbs would not be cut off.

When she returned to the Xie residence, she saw Li Yun waiting anxiously at the gate. Ye Rui had not even stepped over the threshold before Li Yun grabbed her hand and hurriedly said, “Ye Rui, you... the lord has ordered you to see her in the study.”

Seeing Li Yun’s expression, which looked genuinely troubled, Ye Rui’s heart lurched. “Did something happen to Xie Tinglan?”

Li Yun’s face looked a little strange, as if she wanted to speak but held back. “N-no... anyway, hurry and go see the lord. Also...”

After thinking for a long time about whether she should tell Ye Rui, Li Yun remembered the look on Xie Tinglan’s face after Silver Left had spoken to her earlier and felt that something was very wrong.

She thought to herself that Ye Rui must have done something to make the lord angry.

“Be careful how you speak. The lord seems to be in a very bad mood.”

Ye Rui’s heart lurched again. This time, it wasn’t because she worried about Xie Tinglan, but because she worried about herself. She suddenly remembered that there was no such thing as a wall in the Capital City that could keep secrets forever. Could Xie Tinglan have found out that she had gone to Rain & Mist Pavilion?

Ye Rui felt cold sweat about to break out.

When she reached Tinglan Pavilion and knocked on the door, she unconsciously held her breath. Even the carved patterns on the door seemed to turn into dizzying shapes, making her more uneasy than before.

“Come in.”

The person inside spoke coldly. Ye Rui’s throat bobbed, and she pushed the door open with tingling scalp.

Inside, Xie Tinglan had not yet taken off her vermilion official robes. Her hair was still gathered in a neat crown, and she stood at the desk with her back to the door. Her thin figure seemed to contain... a great, smoldering anger.

Ye Rui guiltily closed the door. Before she could react, she felt a gust of cold air behind her; Xie Tinglan had already closed in, forcing Ye Rui back against the door.

“Why did you go to Rain & Mist Pavilion again?”

Xie Tinglan’s questioning tone was icy. Even before Ye Rui could make out her expression, she could already feel the immense fury radiating from her.

“To ask Mu Xue about the Yama Flower.”

As soon as Ye Rui said that, Xie Tinglan’s brows instantly relaxed. Even her previously cold eyes softened a little. “She won’t tell you.”

Ye Rui had no intention of telling Xie Tinglan about her deal with Mu Xue, so she said, “Then it was a wasted trip.”

After saying that, she even ended with a sigh, sounding full of regret over the outcome.

However, Xie Tinglan still showed no sign of backing away. She remained pressed close to Ye Rui and said, “I’m still unhappy.”

Ye Rui pressed her lips together. Xie Tinglan was too close; when she spoke, her red lips were almost touching Ye Rui’s, and her warm breath wrapped a layer of heat around her cold lips.

“You... then I can’t do anything about that.”

She had originally wanted to ask, Then what do you want me to do to make you happy? But Ye Rui knew that once that question left her mouth, it would be swallowed by endless desire. She did not think the current Xie Tinglan would really make her do something just to vent her resentment over her trips in and out of the brothel.

Even though she hadn’t asked that question aloud, Xie Tinglan still had no intention of letting her off. She leaned in a little more and said, “I don’t like you interacting with her.”

Ye Rui felt her lips go numb and itchy. She moved uneasily, yet she still couldn’t calm the chaos in her heart.

The current Xie Tinglan was too alluring. Though she wore a proper and imposing vermilion python robe, her tone was soft and seductive, her eyes wet and glistening, her red lips near yet not quite touching. She was clearly asking for... a kiss.

Xie Tinglan, who was unstoppable in the imperial court, whose words were sharp as gems and whose every sentence could kill, was now speaking softly...

“Kiss me, little coward.”

Xie Tinglan’s lips were almost touching hers, but still not quite. She was waiting; waiting for the prey to take the bait, waiting for the prey to walk straight into the trap, waiting for Ye Rui to fall completely for her.

Ye Rui felt a fire raging wildly inside her. She placed one hand on the back of Xie Tinglan’s head; in her palm was the chill and softness of Xie Tinglan’s hair. With a gentle press, her own chin lifted slightly, and their lips finally met without a single gap between them.

Ye Rui couldn’t suppress the flutter in her heart. Unable to resist, she pried open Xie Tinglan’s lips and teeth and danced with that fragrant tongue. The memory of that night surfaced again. This time, Ye Rui took the lead, exploring a little at a time, teasing a little at a time, until Xie Tinglan’s body softened and went limp against hers.

Kissing seemed able to warm Xie Tinglan’s body somewhat, Ye Rui thought as her hand rested at Xie Tinglan’s waist.

“Mm... ah.”

Xie Tinglan gently pushed at Ye Rui’s shoulder and panted lowly. In a hoarse voice, she said, “You learned that pretty quickly, didn’t you?”

Xie Tinglan’s whole body was hot. Her fingertips itched for some unknown reason, and she couldn’t help clenching Ye Rui’s clothes tightly to suppress that strange tingling.

Even her tongue felt numb.

“I’m satisfied now, but...”

Xie Tinglan leaned in, her lips almost touching Ye Rui’s ear as she whispered, “There’s still so much wetness. What am I supposed to do about that?”

Ye Rui’s ears burned with itching heat. Her hand around Xie Tinglan’s waist tightened again, drawing a soft whimper from the person in her arms, as if she had hurt her.

“And you?”

After saying that, Xie Tinglan even let out a few low laughs, already expecting Ye Rui to be too thin-skinned. Ye Rui couldn’t get a single word out in the end; she could only hold Xie Tinglan even tighter and pull her into her arms, refusing to let go even though it pressed on her injured arm and hurt.

You serve her like this; will she really treat you with sincerity?

What kind of person is she, really? She doesn’t even have a heart.

Xie Tinglan was a little surprised. She had thought Ye Rui would push her away and then helplessly roll her eyes at her. She hadn’t expected this reaction.

“Xie Tinglan, do we really never talk about liking each other?”

Ye Rui’s voice was low, so low that Xie Tinglan had the illusion that Ye Rui was not a wild horse at this moment, but a homeless little dog. The hand gripping Ye Rui’s clothes tightened again, and she sighed. “Let’s just talk about today, okay?”

Ye Rui slowly closed her eyes. In that instant, it felt as if all strength had been drawn out of her; her body no longer touched solid ground and seemed to float, wavering like a ghost.

Not good.

Not good at all, Xie Tinglan.

Why exactly was Xie Tinglan unwilling to build anything with her? Ye Rui had always wanted to ask this. But she was afraid; afraid that everything she and Xie Tinglan had built would turn to nothing because of that explanation.

The closer they grew, the more they gained and lost.

She feared losing it; more than that, she feared losing it without even knowing when it would happen.

-----------------------

Author’s note: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone!!

Two kissing scenes to liven things up for you!

[dog head][dog head][yellow heart][yellow heart]