Chapter 49

In the dormitory room.

Pei Yuanshao sat lazily beside the eight immortals table, lowering his head to poke at the charcoal fire.

The flames crackled and popped, sparks flying.

Hong Lian stood with her head bowed at his side, respectfully replying: “Tonight, there were three groups of people outside exploring Your Highness’s dormitory – people from the Marquis of Dinyuan’s mansion, the Prince of Zhennan’s mansion, and guards sent by Yu Taifu.”

The flames in the charcoal brazier were stirred up, burning especially vigorously.

The man sitting by the brazier wore a thin outer robe. He kept his head lowered. His ink-black eyes fixed on the back of his own hand.

In the warm yellow candlelight, the deep purple bite mark on the back of his hand was particularly obvious. The two deep indentations seemed to be a symbol, desperate yet joyous.

A fleeting look of confusion flashed in Pei Yuanshao’s eyes. He quickly turned his hand over, palm up.

The back of his hand faced the charcoal brazier, the two indentations burned red-purple by the fire.

As if unaware of the pain, he nonchalantly tilted his head to glance at the guard behind him. His voice had a rare hint of hoarseness as he asked in return: “Yu Taifu… why would people from the Marquis of Dinyuan’s mansion appear as well?”

Hong Lian kept her head bowed, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the ground, not daring to look at His Highness at this moment.

The lingering musk scent of lovemaking in the meditation room reached her nose. What had just happened in this small dormitory was clear.

Hong Lian dared not ask. As the personal guard, she had been keeping watch on the roof.

An hour ago, she had heard clearly the intense sounds from inside the meditation room, but did not dare to intrude.

His Highness’s voice was very… joyful. In all these years, only tonight did she realize he was also a young man, someone who needed protection.

She had followed His Highness for over ten years. He was a master strategist, flexible yet unyielding, like a towering tree of an imperial official.

She had always thought he should be stronger than women, an indomitable man.

Yet unexpectedly, he had melted like water before a strange woman he had only met once. Tonight, the sounds of intimate passion had echoed throughout the meditation room.

In storybooks it was said: This life is for one person alone, to say their love is foolish, to become as soft as silk around their finger.

Hong Lian thought this must refer to His Highness and the woman who was just in the room.

But women are mostly fickle. The outside world praised Liu Changning, first among commoner scholars, as being noble and virtuous, talented and accomplished. But now it seems she is nothing but a heartless person.

She took His Highness’s body, then left without looking back.

Hong Lian carefully glanced at the man before her, only to meet His Highness’s pitch-black eyes looking back at her.

Pei Yuanshao stared at her for a moment. Hong Lian involuntarily shuddered, quickly hiding the indignation in her eyes. She focused her mind and respectfully replied: “Tonight, the Second Prince was ambushed by villains who used an aphrodisiac on him. Yu Taifu sent people to investigate suspicious individuals. They came to Your Highness’s door but were sent away by this servant.”

A flash of sharpness crossed Pei Yuanshao’s eyes. He raised an eyebrow and said slowly: “Yu Taifu? What a good scheme!”

He threw the wooden stick in his hand into the charcoal brazier, saying meaningfully: “The Empress Consort’s position has been vacant for two years. My younger sister is about to take personal control of the government. These goblins and demons want to turn the world upside down.”

The wooden stick crashed into the brazier. The previously roaring flames instantly died down by half.

Hong Lian stood to the side, shivering. She hesitated before saying: “The scouts from the Marquis of Dinyuan’s mansion came rather strangely. After they left at the midnight hour last night, Lady Zhou came once, wishing to see Your Highness, but was stopped by this servant.”

Pei Yuanshao narrowed his eyes, glancing at the pitch-black window outside. Fine goose feather snow was falling silently, landing on the windowsill.

“Besides sending scouts to investigate, did the Prince of Zhennan come personally?”

Hong Lian shook her head: “He did not! Tonight the Second Prince was ambushed by villains. The east wing was in an uproar, wanting to hang himself. The Taifu could not persuade him, and could only ask the Prince of Zhennan to go comfort him. So…”

Before she could finish, the man staring at the crackling flames in the brazier suddenly laughed. His voice was a bit hoarse, low and deep, seemingly mocking: “So that’s how it is. I was wondering why it was so quiet tonight, with no one coming to disturb. Even if others don’t know, how could Jing Huan not suspect the identity of the person entangled with me tonight when she was not in the west wing. What a pity… I slept with her beloved tonight, I wonder what she thinks!”

“Beloved?” Hong Lian asked in a confused low voice, her heart filled with doubt and suspicion. His Highness must be confused about the Lord Commander’s beloved.

But the man sitting by the charcoal brazier did not explain. He just smiled without speaking: “Why do you think these people only guarded outside the door tonight, without breaking in?”

The black-clad guard carefully recalled the night’s events, suddenly raising her head.

Seeming to understand yet not understand, she said: “Those of higher status than you – the Taifu and Prince of Zhennan – were not in the west wing last night. Even if others knew you were entangled with someone in the room, they would not dare act rashly.”

Pei Yuanshao chuckled, picking up the hot tea on the table. He took a small sip to moisten his throat before saying: “You’re only half right. These people likely don’t know the identity of the woman in my room. They’re waiting to see what happens, fearing to startle the snake in the grass. If they had clearly seen who the female guest in my room was, how could they not break down the door to catch me red-handed, with both the person and evidence, to settle this once and for all.”

Cold sweat seeped from Hong Lian’s body. She never imagined tonight was so fraught with hidden dangers.

She narrowed her eyes in fear, saying gratefully: “It’s fortunate that Liu Jieyuan left quietly!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was wrong. Hong Lian covered her mouth, carefully glancing at the man not far away.

In the candlelight, his hand was palm down. The charcoal fire had scorched the back of his hand bright red. From afar, there seemed to be a burnt smell.

Hong Lian cried out in surprise: “Your Highness, you… you…”

Pei Yuanshao turned his head, giving her a calm smile. His black eyes seemed to drip with ink. He curved his lips, smiling with matchless grace: “Yes, it’s best she left quietly, best that she left!”