When Li Ce leapt down from the wall, Ye Jiao had already walked a long way ahead. He dashed to catch up, but a carriage came barreling toward him. Ye Jiao jumped aside, only to turn and see the carriage about to strike Li Ce. Spinning back, she furiously yanked him away and delivered a fierce kick to the carriage's side."Are you blind? Can't you see he can barely walk straight?"The coachman, emboldened perhaps by his master's influence, cracked his whip toward Ye Jiao. She reached out to seize it midair, but before she could, Li Ce pulled her into his arms. He lowered his head and took the full lash across his back.
This was the scene Li Jing witnessed — Li Ce nearly collapsing from the blow, caught in Ye Jiao's embrace.The carriage tried to move on, but Ye Jiao stepped forward to block its path."What's going on here?" Li Jing finally sensed something was amiss."He hit someone, then tried to whip him!" Ye Jiao pointed accusingly at the coachman.
"Out of the way! Who dares block my master's carriage?" the coachman shouted. But when he saw that Li Jing did not share Li Ce's modest attire, his arrogance waned slightly.
Li Jing's interest was piqued. He wore a robe of deep violet embroidered with blue patterns and gold-threaded brocade, lambskin boots on his feet, and an array of jade pendants chiming at his waist. With a tilt of his chin, he strode over."Your master? Who might that be?"
There were many noble lords under heaven, but the most powerful one happened to be his own father.The coachman raised his brows toward the emblem on the carriage."His Highness, Prince Su."Prince Su — the emperor's eldest son. No wonder he believed he could disregard common folk.
"Oh?" Li Jing gave a drawn-out sigh and turned to Li Ce, who was now walking over."You may go," Li Ce said to the coachman, his expression curiously void of anger.
The coachman, smug in his supposed triumph, cracked his whip again and sped off — the carriage wheel nearly grazing Li Jing's foot."Quite the majestic presence," Li Jing commented sarcastically.
Li Ce gave a faint smile."No, this won't do," Li Jing clenched his fists and frowned. "I'm going to complain to Father. If you'd died, it wouldn't be because I was stingy with medicine — it'd be because Prince Su's lackeys beat you to death."
"Don't," Li Ce said softly, tugging at his sleeve.
Was it because he was too quiet that everyone around him always seemed so frantic? The thought struck him — when had he begun to think in terms of "those around me"?
"I can't swallow this indignation!" Li Jing nearly leapt up.There was no need to quarrel with a servant. A servant's offense, after all, reflected on the master.
"Go in two days," Li Ce said. "It'll be more advantageous."Li Jing blinked his large eyes and leaned in. "What kind of advantage?"He adored anything that promised a benefit. Since Li Ce's arrival, his luck had taken a nosedive.
But Li Ce said no more. He turned to Ye Jiao."There's so much I wish to tell you, but if someone's swinging a whip nearby, or if there's a flamboyant rooster standing beside us, I simply can't speak. I know a place that sells the finest sugar figurines. May I treat you to one?"
Ye Jiao's gaze lingered on the whip mark across his back. She bit her lip, then nodded.She chose to accept his offer — for now, vengeance against Li Long could wait. If even Li Jing could hold off for two days, so could she.
"Where's the rooster?"Left behind, Li Jing glanced about, puzzled by the remark. Then he realized they were far from every gate of the residence — and fumed. He should've known nothing good would come from following those two.
On West Street stood a sugar sculpture shop that blended honey into molten sugar to create all kinds of shapes. Business was brisk.Li Ce queued at the back with Ye Jiao. She noticed his clothing was soiled and even torn in places."Aren't you going to change?" she asked."No need," Li Ce smiled, eyes glinting. "Daylight is too fleeting to waste."
He had wasted much time before — those days standing guard at the imperial tomb, lounging with a book under the sun from morning till dusk, then strolling back alone to his silent courtyard.He could waste every day — except for this one.
The line didn't seem long to him, for every now and then, Ye Jiao's sleeve would brush against the back of his hand. Occasionally, their hands even touched.Ye Jiao showed no reaction, but Li Ce's heart surged like a storm-tossed sea.
Each holding a sugar figurine, they nibbled slowly."I used to think these would be too sweet. It's my first time trying one," Ye Jiao said.Li Ce's heart felt sweeter still.
The crisp autumn air surrounded them as they strolled through West Market Street.Clerks from bookstores would greet Li Ce, but all the food and wine establishments called out to Ye Jiao.
"Miss Ye, out and about?""Miss Ye, our new dishes are worth a try!""Miss Ye, remember the belly-dancing Hu girl you wanted to see? The owner brought her in just for you!"
Usually, Ye Jiao would wave nonchalantly and promise to drop by another day.But today, for some reason, her ears flushed pink.
"I'm not... out that often..." she mumbled."You're wonderful just as you are," Li Ce replied. "As Grand Historian Sima Qian wrote, 'The sovereign regards the people as heaven, and the people regard food as heaven.' If every citizen of the Great Tang appreciated fine food like Miss Ye, had silver to eat and dress well, then the people would be prosperous, the nation wealthy — a golden age indeed."
Ye Jiao licked her sugar figurine. It truly did taste sweet."What was it you wanted to say?" she asked, already having forgiven his earlier deceit.Anyone with such sweet words must mean well.Still, she resolved: even if Li Ce ever passed out cold, she'd never save him again.
They entered a narrow alley, quiet and flanked by tall walls, away from the market's din.Li Ce stopped and turned to her."First, I must apologize. I used your concern to deceive you. It was inexcusable. This is my offering of atonement."
He unfastened a piece of white jade from his waist — smooth and luminous, carved into the shape of a deer."My mother tucked this into my swaddling clothes when I was sent to guard the imperial tombs as an infant. The deer is a sacred beast — a charm for health and safety. This jade isn't valuable, but I ask you to accept it."
He offered it with both hands. Ye Jiao took it, inhaled sharply."A charm for health, is it?" she asked, doubting silently.Was this what he called "health" — clinging to life by a thread?
Her eyes darted to the golden peach ornament still hanging from his belt. Honestly, that seemed more fitting.
"I accept your apology," Ye Jiao said, gently patting his shoulder. "But stop scaring people like that. Look at your fifth brother — he was nearly frightened to death."
Li Ce nodded with a soft smile."I bought him a sugar figurine to make amends."
Ye Jiao suddenly felt like she'd come out ahead — and burst into laughter.She skipped ahead, while Li Ce seemed to murmur casually behind her:"By the way, may I be your friend?"
"Of course," she replied, her voice bright as she twirled the string tied to the jade deer.
Li Ce watched her figure, the swaying hairpin, the fluttering scarf, and the sunlight dancing at her hem.This was the best day — the best of his life.
Each day recently had been torment for Yan Jide. He had first investigated the imperial guards, but found nothing.The willow branches had been picked that very morning, placed in a wooden box. The box had changed hands many times before reaching the guards by the target. So they assumed the iron-coated willows were intended.
But Li Ce had named the Ministry of War. That made it easier to trace.From the emperor's decree to the archery demonstration on the imperial street, only one day had passed.
Who entered or exited the Ministry of War that day — who visited the armory — all was on record.The investigation finally pointed to a subordinate of Prince Su, Li Long.And that was enough.
Yan Jide requested permission to report in the morning court.The emperor granted it.So, clad in coarse linen, he stepped into the hall...