Yan Congzheng had briefly lost his composure. Though Ye Jiao had only ridiculed him with a few sharp remarks, he understood her meaning—old, poor, and both old and poor. The only reason she still spoke of him alongside Li Ce and Li Jing was their shared past; rejecting him outright would have been too cruel. Her affections belonged to someone else.
Since Li Ce's arrival, Ye Jiao had become a different person. Her every glance, every emotion—even her anger—was directed at him.
Yan Congzheng couldn't comprehend why Li Ce had refused the betrothal. He even felt a trace of anger, yet Li Ce offered no explanation. Instead, he spoke of Imperial Consort Shun—of the reason behind her madness. Palace secrets, especially those tied to Li Ce's birth mother, would never be revealed lightly. Unless, of course, they concerned the listener directly.
Yan Congzheng gathered himself, lifting his gaze with a new solemnity. Setting aside his cup, he declared,"I await your words with the utmost attention."
Li Ce silently removed the burnt charcoal pieces from the brazier, his expression cold, his voice indifferent."Seven years ago, Yan Jide was still the general of the Yulin Guards under the Northern Command. His unit was stationed at the Western Inner Court, safeguarding the imperial city. That winter, a thunderbolt ignited a corner of Shoukang Palace. Yan Jide should have rushed to extinguish the fire. Instead, he seized the moment for political gain and ordered the flames to spread."
This revelation was clearly news to Yan Congzheng. He inhaled deeply, then spoke slowly,"The fire that year claimed the life of the Dowager Concubine residing in Shoukang Palace. His Majesty was furious. Many within the Imperial Guard were punished, yet Yan Jide was promoted to Commander of the Guard."
"Yes," Li Ce replied calmly. "Because before the palace was completely engulfed, he charged in to rescue someone and suffered burns on his arm."A masterful performance—self-sacrifice veiled in ambition, enough to move gods and men.
"But what does this have to do with Consort Shun?" Yan Congzheng asked.
Li Ce nodded gravely and placed the poker aside, sitting still in silence. The autumn wind rustled his robes. He leaned closer to the flames, his face pale."That night, Yan Jide was not on duty, yet he entered the palace to conspire with his confidants. He happened to cross paths with Consort Shun as she returned from the Empress's quarters."
"So…" Even Yan Congzheng's normally warm voice began to chill.
"He didn't dare poison her," Li Ce said. "But he knew Consort Shun regularly took medicine for her unsettled mind. So after the fire, he sent three successive messages to Han Tang Hall, driving her mad."
Each message concerned Li Ce:
—The imperial tomb has collapsed. The Ninth Prince was buried alive. No hope of survival.—The report was mistaken. Do not worry, Your Grace. The Ninth Prince is safe and will return tomorrow.—Your Grace, the Ninth Prince was not buried. He fell into a trap, mauled by wild beasts. Nothing remains of him. A bloodied robe was sent from the tomb. Would Your Grace like to see it?
Three conflicting messages. Joy, grief, and then a crushing blow. Consort Shun, already sleepless from the fire and in mental disarray, broke completely.
Later, Yan Jide sought out the Second Prince, Li Zhang, who silenced every palace servant involved that night.
So when Prince Su, Li Long, claimed that Consort Shun's madness was tied to Li Zhang, he was only half right. Li Zhang had buried the truth. The true culprit was Yan Jide.
A trace of revulsion and fury darkened Yan Congzheng's brows. Though unruly by nature, he loathed evil with a passion. Yet he was also cautious.
"How am I to trust the words of Prince Chu?" he asked.
Moonlight slipped free of the clouds, casting a pale glow upon Li Ce's face. Dressed in dark robes, he seemed weary. Meanwhile, the white-clad Yan Congzheng radiated youthful vitality. Li Ce looked at him, a glimmer of envy flickering in his eyes.Perhaps to live long enough is the truest kind of fulfillment.
He spoke, a note of regret in his voice."One of your men, Tian Yingyu, claimed illness today. But he wasn't sick. My people apprehended him last night. After two hours of interrogation, he confessed everything. He is one of Yan Jide's loyal men. He personally delivered those messages to Consort Shun and now watches you closely. He still lives. You may visit him."
"Tian Yingyu." Yan Congzheng ground the name through clenched teeth. "Does Prince Chu intend to report this to His Majesty?"
"No." Li Ce shook his head. "A lone testimony is not enough. And too much time has passed. I won't allow Consort Shun's name to be dragged through gossip and ridicule again. Let the matter rest. But Yan Jide—I will eliminate him."
To eliminate the Commander of the Imperial Guard, the Dragon General commanding 150,000 troops—such an ambition bordered on madness. Yet Li Ce's honesty left Yan Congzheng unguarded. Because of Ye Jiao, they might not be enemies, but neither were they allies. And yet Li Ce spoke with candor, even revealing his true aim, showing neither fear of betrayal nor concern Yan Congzheng might defect for a reward.
"Why tell me this?" Yan Congzheng leaned back slightly, instinctively wary of the waters ahead.
"Because…" Li Ce's gaze pierced into his, as if stripping his soul bare."The capital is a storm waiting to break. If you wish to protect her, being a mere Left Commandant is far from enough."
So perhaps he should consider the role of Commander of the Imperial Guard. If he understood that, then he would know where to stand in the oncoming storm.
"I…" Having his feelings for Ye Jiao exposed, Yan Congzheng tried to feign nonchalance."My dream has always been to leave the capital, drink and write poetry across the rivers and lakes, and uphold justice."
He remembered a day long ago. A girl perched in a peach tree, gazing into the distance.She said she would travel the world, become a carefree wanderer. From that day, Yan Congzheng had taken her dream as his own. Over time, it became a longing etched into his soul.
Li Ce looked at him, somewhat surprised.Poetry? So that was the source of his scholarly aura.Justice? Yet without official sanction, even a righteous blade could be called treason.
Li Ce rose. His deep-blue robe flowed down like night itself, the jade pendant and golden peach at his waist swaying gently. He did not challenge Yan Congzheng's ideals. Instead, his profound gaze softened with warmth and certainty.
"Have you asked her?" he asked, eyes drifting downward. "Her dream is to protect the An State Ducal Residence, all on her own."
Yan Congzheng rose thoughtfully and walked down the stairs alongside Li Ce. Li Jing, already drunk, was arm-wrestling Bai Xianyu for coin. Bai Xianyu deliberately lost, while Ye Jiao, having bet on his victory, lost money and struck him several times in playful frustration. The Wuhou guards jeered and cheered, paying no attention to the elegant young ladies nearby.
Li Ce and Yan Congzheng both looked at Ye Jiao. One gaze was tender, the other filled with deep affection. No rivalry remained between them. Their shared wish now was simply her happiness.
Though the moonlight couldn't reach the second floor, lanterns and candles illuminated Ye Jiao in all her beauty. Clad in red, she moved like a leaping hare, free-spirited and full of joy.
"Another win!" Li Jing clapped with delight. Ye Jiao, incensed, wanted to take the field herself, but the guards held her back.
"Captain Bai's throwing the match to curry favor with His Highness," they joked. "Watch us instead, Commander!"
Hands on her hips, Ye Jiao kept a sharp eye on Li Jing's wrist, her peach blossom eyes alight with playful tension.
"In just one day," Yan Congzheng murmured, "she's already won over the Wuhou guards. She's more capable than even Liu Yan of the Jingzhao Prefecture."
Could such a girl truly abandon the capital to become a wandering knight?
"That's thanks to the Commandant rushing to the gates to save her," Li Ce said gently.
Zong Quanwu's refusal to submit to inspection at the gates—and the punishment that followed—was the talk of the day.
Yan Congzheng offered a faint smile and sighed."It was Your Highness who sent word to the Sixteen Guard's office, wasn't it?"
Li Ce gave no answer. His gaze drifted from Ye Jiao to the thick night outside as he turned to leave."I'll take my leave. You… escort her home."
Not that Ye Jiao would let anyone escort her, of course…