Li Ruantang frowned, her fingers hidden in her sleeves curling slightly. But for the sake of the male courtesan’s reputation, no matter how difficult, she had to pay a visit to the Empress.

The sound of horse hooves gradually quieted. The lively shouting also disappeared. Outside the carriage curtains occasionally lifted by the wind, a vermilion path wound and coiled.

Meng Jun was stunned, a self-mocking smile appearing on the corners of his lips. Initially, he had been afraid of not being able to get away after returning to the capital. Now it seemed he had overthought it.

The young man pursed his lips. He clearly knew this was a good thing for him, but no matter what, his eyebrows and eyes could not show joy, only gloomily drooping.

If only, if only—

He himself wasn’t sure what he was hypothesizing.

Meng Jun glanced to the side. The frost-colored sleeve was gently lifted by the wind, briefly touching her brocade garment before separating again.

The tightly closed palace gates creaked open. Warm light filtered through the hall doors, and a tranquil fragrance wafted over.

The Empress was over forty years old, but the days of being revered and pampered had not left marks of time on his eyebrows and eyes. Sitting on the upper seat, he smiled lightly, but what he asked was not why Li Ruantang had come.

“Long time no see. You’ve grown so much.” The Empress looked at those lowered eyebrows and eyes with considerable sentimentality. “Years ago, when I heard you went to the frontier, I was constantly worried.”

“Later, when I heard that Qi Taifu’s son also chased after you to the frontier, I thought it was your destined fate.” He glanced indifferently at Meng Jun kneeling behind Li Ruantang. “Do you know, since you fell off the cliff, Young Master Qi has been on a hunger strike. How will you repay his deep affection?”

“Your Majesty is teasing Ruantang again. Young Master Qi is one of the four elegant gentlemen in the capital. Ruantang is just an impetuous person who doesn’t even understand the meaning of literary elegance, so how could I catch Young Master Qi’s eye? It must be more idle gossip using Ruantang as a joke.”

Li Ruantang was neither hurried nor slow, avoiding the Empress’s verbal trap. She also did not directly refer to herself as a subject.

Glancing slightly at Meng Jun, who was obediently kneeling beside her, Li Ruantang solemnly bowed and said, “Your Majesty, actually Ruantang came this time for the alchemy case.”

“Oh?” The Empress hooked his lips, smiling faintly. His face appeared casual, but his posture that had been lounging just now leaned forward slightly. The prayer beads he had been turning in his hands paused for a moment. Those upturned eyes glanced sideways at the frost-colored figure kneeling on the ground. He smiled and said, “Look at my memory. Lady Li and Meng Gongzi have been here for so long, yet I’ve only been making small talk. Someone, give them seats!”

Li Ruantang bowed in thanks. After Meng Jun was also seated, she began to speak about what they discovered in Hu Village.

“You’re saying it was Meng Gongzi who discovered the altar for alchemy sacrifices?” The Empress raised his eyebrows, looking at the young man sitting properly, surprised in his heart.

“That’s right.” Li Ruantang spoke fluently. “Moreover, if it weren’t for Meng Gongzi’s quick wit, I’m afraid Ruantang would have long been buried in that mudslide.”

Li Ruantang was clear about the suspicious nature of those in the palace. Her words mixed truth and falsehood. Although she pushed most of the credit to Meng Jun, it indeed matched the young man’s temperament and did not sound abrupt.

Moreover, Fu Lanxian, who had been brought back to the capital early by Wei Dan, was tied up outside. Li Ruantang was not worried she would speak carelessly. Someone waiting for an antidote to survive naturally knew what should be said and what shouldn’t.

Therefore, after the eunuch went out to interrogate a few times, the information obtained was not much different from what Li Ruantang reported.

Since there was a breakthrough in the alchemy case, the Empress’s face gradually became more amiable. “I see Meng Gongzi is only of age for the coming-of-age ceremony, yet this courage is indeed rare.”

“It seems you two suffered a lot this time. Investigating the case was hard work, and it was in an unfamiliar place. It was really difficult for you. Now that you have safely returned, is there any reward you desire?”

Meng Jun shook his head. Her efforts to push the credit to him were nothing more than wanting to completely sever ties.

Li Ruantang remembered Hu Sanniang, remembered Fu Lanxian, and even Zhou Fulang and Miss Cao. But she had truly forgotten Jiu’er.

Forgetting was good. What was originally wrong should be forgotten. That was what was right.

Reason still remained, but the young man’s heart seemed to be covered with rain-laden dark clouds, heavily pressing in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

Li Ruantang took the opportunity to clasp her hands. “Your Majesty, your subject has a request.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.” The smile on the Empress’s lips did not diminish, but it did not reach his eyes. Qi Taifu was his cousin, and Qi Yun had been brought into the palace to be raised by him since childhood. Although his temperament was somewhat willful, he was a soft-hearted young man.

Who knew what Yun’er saw in this orphan of Prince Su. Not only did he make a fuss about marrying no one but her, but now he was even going on a hunger strike to express his determination to live and die with her.

But unfortunately…

The Empress’s eyes turned cold as they swept over Meng Jun, who had his head lowered.

Li Ruantang stepped forward, blocking his inquiring gaze without bias. She knelt straight on the ground and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, although this time falling off the cliff was an accident, the world’s gossip is fearsome. I hope Your Majesty can clear Meng Gongzi’s name.”

“I thought it was something else.”

So it was to sever ties. How could the Empress not hear the implied meaning in her words? He pondered slightly and nodded in agreement. “How about this? Coincidentally, the Dragon Boat Festival is in a few days. The palace usually has a lively event. I will issue a decree to arrange for Meng Gongzi to be this year’s Mu (Eye) position among the auspicious Phoenix Eight Constellations.”

Upon hearing this, Li Ruantang’s heart was greatly relieved.

Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, the palace would select eight young men with excellent appearance and pure body and mind from the aristocratic families. They would sing and dance in front of the altar to pray for favorable weather, national prosperity, and people’s peace.

As long as nothing goes wrong on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, no one in this world would question Meng Jun’s reputation.

Li Ruantang hurriedly expressed her gratitude.

After the two walked out of Funing Hall one after the other, Wu, the eunuch who had served by the Empress’s side for many years, respectfully stepped forward. “Your Majesty, in previous years, the aristocratic families would spare no effort to present rare treasures to compete for the name of the Eight Constellations. Why do you have to give Lady Li such great face?”

“What do you understand!” The Empress closed her eyes wearily, leaning on the soft pillow, lazily saying, “No matter how many vulgar things there are, how can they compare to the usefulness of a sharp sword?”

“If it weren’t for Her Majesty’s favor towards Wei Junshi, suspending court for many days, how would she come seeking help from me, the one without favor?”

The Empress slightly raised the corners of her lips. “The alchemy case involves too many people. Her willingness to bring forth a witness is firstly to sever ties with the young man beside her, and secondly, it implies her allegiance.”

“However, she is indeed clever and knows how to adapt.”

“In this old servant’s opinion, no matter how smart she is, she is just a chess piece. Everything in Great Jin is in your hands.” Wu, the eunuch, smiled flatteringly, massaging the Empress’s calf with just the right force. “Even that fox-like woman can only enjoy two or three years of glory at most.”

“You old thing, always good at flattery.” The Empress rubbed her forehead, unwilling to hear him mention that person again. She only said, “Tell Yun’er that Li Ruantang is still alive.”

“Yes.” Wu, the eunuch, hurriedly agreed before lowering his head to exit the hall.

Then he heard that majestic voice inside say, “Forget it. He is outside the palace, so the news probably reaches him even faster. At this moment, he might already be waiting at the gate of Prince Su’s mansion.”

*

In the palace wall corridors, the eunuchs coming and going were all in a hurry.

Meng Jun gloomily followed behind Li Ruantang, stepping on her shadow with every step.

Not far ahead was the palace gate. He was very clear that once they passed through this gate, she would still be the lady, and he would just be the young master of the Meng family.

Those days in Hu Village should be like a dream, like smoke, dissipating into the world.

But the heart pressed in his chest was always unwilling, especially knowing that she still had a devoted person like Young Master Qi waiting for her.

The young man pursed his lips, his eyebrows and eyes drooping even more. In the future, he might not even have the chance to do small things like being close to her shadow.

In his ears, the sound of horse hooves clattered.

The way back was much shorter than the way there. Before Meng Jun could compose his emotions to bid her farewell, the carriage stopped, already between the Prince Su Mansion and the Meng Mansion.

The young man was surrounded by the overjoyed servant, and even Han Fushi, who came out to welcome him, kept wiping tears with a handkerchief. They repeatedly said it was good to be home.

Everything was exactly the same as he had imagined before.

Without Li Ruantang.

The young man sighed miserably. Yes, it was normal to be without her. They were originally fake wife and husband, and now they were just returning to their respective positions.

But why did his heart feel so empty and sad, as if he was unwilling to part with her?

Those reddened phoenix eyes looked back at her retreating figure with reluctance, and the teardrops he had been holding back for a long time fell, salty and astringent.

He pitifully leaned on the servant’s shoulder, crying uncontrollably.

What on earth… was the reason for this?