"A healer of great skill?" Murong Jin tilted her head, considering Xue Liulan's words. "If Yan Lingfu speaks the truth, then I can rest easy."
"Yan Lingfu is arrogant, but he's an honest man," Xue Liulan said, gently pulling her into his arms. "He didn't name the place, so even if I wanted to harm Yi, his words would be useless to me."
"Indeed, he has no reason to lie to you." She looked down, swallowing the rest of her thought. But you have every reason to lie to me. Even if his intentions were good, she could understand, but she could not forgive.
He chose to ignore the edge in her voice. He only wanted her peace of mind. Whether she still trusted him was a question for another day. After Yi's disappearance, that trust was shattered, perhaps for a long time.
He released her and stepped back. "I should go."
"Xue Liulan."
He stopped.
"The end of the year is approaching," she said. "Even with the pregnancy, we must go to the palace to pay our respects to your father. Pick me up at noon the day after tomorrow."
"And the social calls? The noble wives? Who will handle them?" Her voice trembled. If Die Man received the guests, even if it was due to Murong Jin's health, it would be seen as usurping her position as the legal wife.
He turned, confused. "I told Ning Bi to turn everyone away. You are unwell. No guests."
She relaxed, then laughed at herself. When did I become so petty?
He watched her expression shift from anxiety to relief to amusement. He walked back to her. "What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing." She looked away. "You have the token. When do you make your move?"
"The night after tomorrow. At the hour of the Rat."
"Are you sure?" She worried. If he failed to protect the Emperor, it would become a weapon against him. Xue Feiyan or Guo Shangzhong could accuse him of regicide.
He laughed. "There is no such thing as a sure thing in this world. But even if I fail, it won't be the end." He smoothed the worry from her brow. "Don't worry. It will be fine."
She took his hand and pressed it to her chest. "I'm afraid Guo Shangzhong will use this to accuse you of colluding with the assassins."
"Not yet. He's a eunuch. If he wants to keep his power in the new reign, he needs a patron. Of all the princes, I am the most useful to him."
"And later?" She looked into his eyes, her voice soft, afraid of the answer. "The in-laws and the eunuchs. Both are threats to the throne, but both will have helped you ascend. What will you do then?"
His breath hitched. He looked away. He couldn't answer. As a husband, he should protect her family. But as a scion of the Xue clan, he knew the truth. Neither faction could remain.
Seeing his silence, her eyes dimmed. "I understand."
"Don't think too much. Rest early."
She nodded and turned toward the bed, then stopped. "If the Murong family had no power, the threat of the imperial in-laws would be resolved, wouldn't it?"
His brow twitched. His hand clenched into a fist. "Murong Jin, what are you thinking?"
"The reason in-laws are a threat is because of the Empress's power. But if the inner palace has no backing, if the connection between the harem and the court is severed, then the threat is gone." She looked at him calmly.
The day had finally come. She had to choose between her family and him. There was no escape.
He stared at her, processing her words. "At the very least," he said slowly, "I will ensure your father lives out his days in peace."
"Thank you." She gave a faint smile and walked behind the screen, sinking onto the bed. For my father, the fall of the Murong family is a fate worse than death. Thank you for your mercy, Xue Liulan, but it is a drop in the bucket.
He left the Ninghe Courtyard with a heavy heart. What was she planning?
"Greetings, master." A woman's voice came from the shadows of his study.
"Is it done?"
"Yes. They believe the token came from Moke. Our men have infiltrated their ranks."
"Tell them to be careful. Don't show any flaws." He paused. "And the men from Thousand Day Drunk?"
"Xueluo has integrated the designated men into the Imperial Guard, as you ordered. Guo Shangzhong suspects nothing. He sends word that he awaits your arrival."
If Xue Liulan didn't show up personally, Guo Shangzhong wouldn't feel safe.
He saw her hesitation. "Ask."
"I don't understand why we must kill them. Thousand Day Drunk is one of your strengths. Even if Lady Die Man brought them to you, you spent years forging them into a sharp blade. Why destroy two-thirds of them now?"
His order to Xueluo had been specific: use the chaos to help his infiltrators wipe out the Thousand Day Drunk assassins hidden among the Yanyun death squad.
He smiled. "You said it yourself. It is a blade. But if the point is turned toward me, it is better to break it."
"You mean… there are still traitors within Thousand Day Drunk?"
"Po Jun was not an accident. Without Die Man's instruction, he would never have dared to move against the organization." He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant.
Is it because of her betrayal? Guyu wondered. Die Man had fought beside him for five years.
To build his reputation as a dissolute prince, he had fought over her in public, taken beatings for her. They had laughed about it then, saying perhaps he truly cared. But now, that bond was broken.
"She wants to destroy everything. I can't blame her," he sighed. He hadn't expected to meet a woman who would make him feel that even taking a concubine was a betrayal.
"But you married her. Didn't she just want to stay by your side?"
"I promised to keep her until she found a good home. I thought I would never love, so it didn't matter who was beside me. I thought she would eventually give up and leave."
But he had met Murong Jin too late.
Guyu sighed. "She didn't expect love to turn to hate. She thought she would be the only one, even if you didn't love her. Now, you have a wife, and you have given your heart away. Her pride cannot take it."
He nodded.
"Betrayal is punishable by death, in both the Fifteen and Thousand Day Drunk. You have been more than kind to her."
He gave a bitter laugh and dismissed her.
As Guyu left, a figure stepped out from behind a pillar. In the dim light, she stared at the silhouette on the window paper. Two shadows, merged as if in an embrace.
"Who's there?" He pushed open the window.
Die Man stood there, her dark eyes fixed on him.
He relaxed. "It's you. It's cold. Come inside."
"No need." She stopped him from opening the door. "Xue Liulan, do you know what a woman of the south does when a man changes his heart?"
He listened, their eyes meeting through the open window.
"She takes everything from him." Her lips curved into a mocking smile. "So, I advise you to kill me now. Or everything you have worked for will be destroyed by my hand."
He listened to her venomous words and gave a faint smile. "Alright. I'll be waiting."
He had no right to ask her to stop. So he would let her vent her hate.