She put down her chopsticks and pushed away the dishes. Sitting quietly, her posture was even more upright than before. The hem of her skirt stirred slightly — a sign she was about to rise.Li Ce did have his share of suspicious behavior.But if it truly was him, why would he disclose it to Ye Jiao beneath the archery platform? In order to send a message, he had even aggravated his old ailment and was just lying in bed moments ago.
Ye Jiao sat back down.Li Ce held the willow branch in his hand, examining it closely, letting out a soft cough now and then. Yan Jide's expression was grim — not the angered kind, but the grave seriousness of someone who understood the weight of the matter at hand.Li Ce traced the texture on the branch. Though his cheeks were pale, his eyes were piercing and lucid. After a close inspection, he handed it back to Yan Jide and said in a low voice:"It is not."Just that — no further explanation.
Of course, Yan Jide would not let it go so easily."Your Highness, please clarify — why not?"
Li Ce's lips pressed into a thin line as he looked up, his handsome features now tinged with an icy aloofness. Yet his voice remained calm:"Indeed, such items can be found in tombs. A parted branch of willow, as a token of sorrow and farewell. But the objects buried are all treated to resist decay. This branch bears no such oiling. The lacquer is freshly applied. Therefore, it cannot be an item taken from a tomb."
Yan Jide rubbed the willow branch in his fingers, half-convinced, visibly embarrassed."Then…"The once awe-inspiring commander of the Imperial Guard now resembled a beast cornered into a dead end."I await your guidance, Ninth Prince."
"You…" Li Ce said, "What is your relationship with Li Zhang?"
Li Zhang — the emperor's second son, born of the empress.Zhang — a jade shaped like a ceremonial tablet. It could measure sunlight and hold fine nectar; in rituals, the emperor would cradle it to offer prayers to the heavens.A name both weighty and noble, reserved only for the legitimate sons of the sovereign.
Yan Jide had presented a token bearing the second prince's name. In other words, Li Zhang did not mind others knowing about their connection.There was no need for secrecy — the question was fair.
Li Ce, having resided in the imperial mausoleum for many years, knew little of the capital's inner workings and had no intention of prying.A trace of pride surfaced on Yan Jide's face."My daughter married into the Second Prince's household three months ago, as a jiarenzi."
A jiarenzi — a concubine to an imperial prince not yet enfeoffed.So his daughter had wed Li Zhang, and once Li Zhang was granted a princedom, she would become a titled consort.If the second prince were ever to ascend the throne, she would be an imperial consort.Now everything made sense.
"The craftsmanship on the leaves of this branch is intricate," Li Ce said coolly. "Iron sheets must be forged first, then cut and polished. The grinding work is meticulous — only the Ministry of War has the capability to produce such a thing."
Yan Jide shot to his feet. His chest rose and fell rapidly with excitement."Thank you, Your Highness."
"No need for thanks," Li Ce replied. "You came bearing your brother's token. Of course I would speak without reserve."
Yan Jide hastily took his leave, his lips taut — as though he were about to charge out the door in pursuit of vengeance.
Ye Jiao could no longer contain herself."It was the Ministry of War?"
"Yes."Leisurely, Li Ce slid the last crispy meatball across the table toward her.
But Ye Jiao had no appetite. A faint crease formed between her brows."Who, in the Ministry of War?"
Across the table, Ye Jiao rose to her feet. As she leaned forward, she was almost pressing into Li Ce.
Li Ce gazed at her, wanting to smile, yet too nervous — even his breath grew shallow."You must promise me first," he said gently after a moment's thought. "If I tell you who it is, you mustn't seek revenge. What happened to Ye Xiong was perilous, yes, but the outcome was fortunate. For the Ye family, recuperation and restraint matter more now."
"Don't worry," said Ye Jiao. "If open vengeance won't do, I'll take the covert path."
"That won't do either," Li Ce insisted. "It's too dangerous."
Ye Jiao pouted, her peach blossom eyes lowered as though on the verge of tears.Li Ce's heart immediately softened.
He coaxed her, "All right, I'll tell you — isn't that enough?"
Ye Jiao leaned even closer."Fine. Whisper it so no one else can hear."Leaning over the table, her entire being moved toward him, her ear instinctively brushing close to Li Ce's lips.
The morning sun filtered into the room, illuminating the fine fuzz on Ye Jiao's skin.Her ears were tender and flushed, and her translucent earlobes bore two pearl earrings.The pearls clinked softly against each other — faint, yet striking Li Ce's heart with every sound.Each delicate chime seemed to crack open the shell he'd carefully built around himself, striking the only place in his body still warm.
She didn't know her own beauty, nor the effect of her nearness.Even deities in the heavens might falter at such temptation.
Li Ce's mind swayed. He took a careful step back to restore the proper distance between man and woman.
Holding his breath, he said,"The willow branch came from the Ministry of War, yes — but behind the Ministry stands Li Long.
Li Long resents Li Zhang. The latter had incited the court to petition His Majesty to strip Li Long of his military command and summon him back to the capital, effectively leaving him idle.
Now that Yan Jide is closely allied with Li Zhang, Li Long's actions were clearly aimed at reclaiming control of the Imperial Guard — seizing it from Li Zhang's hands."
"It's not the Ministry of War," Ye Jiao murmured, stepping back. "It's the Crown Prince."
A gust of early autumn wind blew between them, stretching the distance far once more.
Ye Jiao had never thought highly of Li Long, and now her anger surged.
"So it is Li Long?"She flipped her sleeves and grabbed a stick propping up the window as if it were a weapon."He's dead meat today! Let him join his dog in the afterlife!
Why should our Ye family be dragged into his feud with the Second Prince? Watch me—"
Ye Jiao strode toward the door.Li Ce hurried around the table to intercept her.
But Ye Jiao was swift and nimble. Her flowing sash slipped through his fingers — he failed to catch her.
"Didn't you promise not to seek revenge?" Li Ce chased after her.
"I never keep promises."Ye Jiao lifted her skirts and bolted.
Li Ce quickened his pace, finally catching hold of her wrist. Her smooth, delicate skin was now firmly gripped in his hand — he refused to let go.
Face flushed and heart pounding, he said in a low voice,"Be good."
Ye Jiao still struggled.Li Ce clutched his chest and collapsed.
Only then did Ye Jiao drop the stick."What's wrong?"Panic and guilt overwhelmed her as she tried to steady him."Someone fetch the physician!"
Li Ce's body was limp. Ye Jiao dragged, lifted, and half-carried him back to bed.
Only then did the deathly ill man finally speak."I… I'm fine."
"Fine? You call this fine?" Ye Jiao scolded. "What exactly is your illness? Is it incurable? How many years do you have left?"
Beads of sweat glistened on the tip of her small nose, inviting a hand to brush them away.
"I must avoid shock," said Li Ce. "So please…"
Ye Jiao let out a long sigh."I won't go. Even if I do, you won't know about it."
Li Ce began coughing violently.
Ye Jiao finally gave in."Fine, I won't go. Satisfied?"
Li Jing arrived then — in his haste, he hadn't forgotten to bring two Taishan stones.
Legend says these stones ward off evil and protect households from malevolent spirits.
Having heard Ye Jiao was present, he had brought two.
The court physician took Li Ce's pulse.Li Jing stood by, observing. Seeing that Li Ce looked better than the day before, he began to suspect.
In a half-mocking tone, he said,"Who was it that told me faking illness wasn't enough — I had to fake death? Hah!
I haven't even started pretending, and yet you're already at it. Scared me out of my breakfast.
By the time I get back, my wife will have eaten everything — not even a bite left for me."
He rambled on, oblivious to Ye Jiao's shifting expression.
"You lied to me?"She stood at the bedside, anger flaring in her eyes."You lied to me!"
She repeated the words and turned to leave.
Li Ce sat up from the bed.
He had indeed deceived her.A lie made in desperation — his first taste of someone truly caring for him.And like a child, he'd thrown himself into it, begging for a sweet reward.
Naïve, rash, foolish.
Li Ce didn't understand how he had become like this.
He had always been cautious, restrained — whether at the mausoleum or in court.He had spoken and acted with the utmost care, as though walking the edge of a cliff.
Now, flustered, he got up in haste, startling the physician…