When Xue Liulan knocked, Yan Lingfu was still sleeping off a hangover. He stumbled to the door, bleary-eyed.
"Hey! What is it this early?"
The man before Xue Liulan was a mess—inner robes hanging loose, a shadow of stubble on his chin, eyes half-shut. Xue Liulan glanced at He Chengjian, who nodded.
"Are you the clerk who wrote the memorial?" Xue Liulan asked with a smile.
Yan Lingfu jolted awake. He looked the prince up and down. Purple robes, white jade belt, a handsome face with peach-blossom eyes that held a sharp glint.
"The Fifth Prince. I've been waiting." He stepped back, ushering them in.
Empty wine jars littered the table. The air reeked of stale alcohol. Xue Liulan walked to the window and pushed it open.
Ting-a-ling.
A bell chimed. Three arrows shot from the lintel, straight for his heart.
"My lord!" He Chengjian drew his sword, stepping in front. Flash. Three arrowheads clattered to the floor.
"Hahaha! Good skills!" Yan Lingfu clapped.
He Chengjian grabbed him by the collar. "Assassination attempt on a prince? Come with me to the Ministry of Justice."
"Hey, I didn't tell him to open the window. How is that assassination?" Yan Lingfu shrugged. "Besides, I didn't invite you."
"You…"
Yan Lingfu pried the guard's fingers off his robe, flopped onto the bed, and closed his eyes. "Speak or leave. I'm sleeping."
"What a madman," He Chengjian muttered.
Xue Liulan rubbed his nose. "He Chengjian, go buy two jars of wine. Rice Flower Fragrance."
"Wine?" He Chengjian stared. He checked the room for more traps, then bowed. "Yes."
He left, closing the door.
Xue Liulan stood by the window, looking out. He could see the gates of his own residence.
"You said you were waiting. What if I hadn't come?" He closed the window and sat at the table. "It seems someone has already tried to kill you."
"Sharp eyes," Yan Lingfu sneered from the bed.
Xue Liulan took the memorial from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "Every word in this is true. But forgive me, I cannot act on your suggestion immediately."
"Then I must be blind." Yan Lingfu's hand tightened over his chest.
Just another noble relying on eunuchs.
"Our paths diverge. Please leave."
Xue Liulan didn't move. "So, you plan to take this to the Seventh Prince next?"
"None of your concern."
Xue Liulan nodded, but stayed put. After a while, Yan Lingfu sat up, suspicious. The prince was studying the memorial's cover.
"Is there anything else?"
"I just remembered. Most of this details Guo Shangzhong's crimes. With evidence." Xue Liulan stood, holding the paper.
"Correct." Yan Lingfu's hand slid under the blanket, gripping a knife. "So?"
"As someone who relies on Guo Shangzhong, what do you think I should do?" Xue Liulan smiled. "He is my pillar. How can I let you destroy him?"
"Parasite! I must have been blind to listen to Yi!" Yan Lingfu yelled, lunging with the knife.
Yi? Xue Liulan froze. He stared at the blade. At the last second, he blocked with the memorial, sidestepped, and pinned the scholar to the table.
"Who did you say?" His voice dropped, dangerous. "Where is he?"
Yan Lingfu snorted.
"Stubborn." Xue Liulan released him. He pulled the knife from the memorial and tossed it back. "Chased by assassins so many times, yet a scholar like you survives. You have a charmed life."
Yan Lingfu caught the knife, wary.
"The crossbow, the knife… from the northern frontier. You met Yi in Sushen?"
"Master, wine." He Chengjian entered, eyes locking on the knife.
"Put it down and leave," Xue Liulan ordered.
He Chengjian obeyed.
"What do you want?" Yan Lingfu asked after a silence.
"I've read your memorial. It's the truth. But I cannot eliminate the eunuch faction yet."
"Because you need him," Yan Lingfu spat.
"Eunuch interference is deep-rooted. Your method solves the symptom, not the cause." Xue Liulan unsealed a jar and offered it. "But to see a man like you still loyal… perhaps heaven has not abandoned the Xue family."
Yan Lingfu hesitated.
"I accept this memorial. You've offended Guo Shangzhong, so you can't stay here. I'll send you to Gongzi Suyi in Yin. When the time comes, I will recall you. Together, we will root out the eunuchs." Xue Liulan opened the second jar and drank.
Yan Lingfu stared. "You… you're letting me go?"
"Yes." Xue Liulan set down the jar. "But tell me one thing."
A condition. Yan Lingfu sneered.
Xue Liulan bowed deeply. "Please, tell me the whereabouts of Yi."
"Why?" Yan Lingfu was on guard.
"He is a friend of my wife. He went missing on a mission for me. She is worried. Just tell me… is he alive?"
Yan Lingfu stared at him. Finally, he spoke. "I was chased to the border. Yi saved me. He was with a woman, a healer. I stayed in Sushen to recover. He told me to give you the memorial."
"Has the poison been cured?"
"When we parted, the woman said she was taking him back to recover. Where, I don't know."
Xue Liulan exhaled. "Thank you." Murong Jin would be overjoyed.
Outside the inn, Xue Liulan gave instructions. "Send men to secretly escort Yan Lingfu to Gongzi Suyi."
"Yes."
He turned to leave, but a knock came at the door.
"Who?" His hand went to his soft sword.
"The waiter said a guest had arrived. I came to see." A woman's voice, low but charming. "And to deliver a message for Miss Murong."
Miss Murong. His heart trembled. Murong Jin had left three days ago.
He opened the door. A'Ya stood there.
"Which Miss Murong?" he asked, blocking the door.
"The Little General of the Murong family. The current Empress." A'Ya smiled.
"What did she say?" He relaxed.
A'Ya raised an eyebrow. He smiled and stepped back, letting her in.
"Who is this?" Yan Lingfu asked, confused.
"The mistress of Yumen Jiao," Xue Liulan said quickly. "Where is Murong Jin? Has she left for Wuchuan?"
"Yes, yes. Can our Little General get lost?" A'Ya rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. She's fine. But this gentleman…" She looked at Yan Lingfu. "The General said if he has nowhere safe to go, he can stay at Yumen Jiao."
"Ah?" Yan Lingfu looked at the prince.
Xue Liulan suppressed a laugh. "Alright. If she says so, Miss A'Ya must have the skill to protect him."
"Naturally. Yumen Jiao is not a place for ordinary troublemakers."
"Thank you." Xue Liulan bowed.
A'Ya curtsied. "Oh, and she left a message for the Emperor."
"What?"
"On the fourth month, the day of her mother's suffering—her birthday—the Emperor must remember to prepare the Yinghong."