Chapter 39: Fear of the Future Heir Apparent

Page (1/3)

Because it had lasted only a brief instant, Luo Yunyao merely etched that trembling sensation into her memory. She assumed she had been overthinking things and forced herself not to dwell on it.

Only after hearing Qin Jinghao’s words did Luo Yunyao belatedly understand. Everything had suddenly become clear.

“How dare you!”

Dare what? Xiao Limo’s words meant that Luo Yunyao would dare have some improper relationship with Du Runsheng—not because of Qin Jinghao, nor because of Du Runsheng, but simply because Xiao Limo had decided that she, Luo Yunyao, belonged to Qin Jinghao.

“Yao’er, wait a little longer. Wait until I am the one who can influence my imperial father, rather than my imperial father being the one who controls me. I will never let Yao’er suffer the slightest grievance again. Whatever Yao’er desires, I will present it to you—even if I must overturn the entire world.”

I will lay the whole world at your feet, if that is what you love most.

Why?

Because I love you.

“Go home first, Yao’er. You were frightened today as well, so get some proper rest. As for continuing the investigation, do not take it too much to heart. Do what you ought to do. Whatever happens, I will stand behind you. Do not be afraid.”

I will stand behind you—raise a whole sky over your head and shelter you beneath my wings.

With Qin Jinghao’s reminder, Luo Yunyao finally sorted out the details she had overlooked.

When had it happened?

When had Xiao Limo discovered that she was a woman disguised as a man? And if he had discovered it, why had he never told anyone? If Xiao Limo had revealed that secret, Luo Yunyao could never have remained alive and well, much less survived for so long.

Luo Yunyao, are you stupid, or are you merely pretending not to know? Since he likes you, how could he kill you now? It is like capturing prey: first you tease it and play with it for a while, then make it submit, and only in the end make it wish it were dead.

That voice rang clearly inside her head, driving Luo Yunyao almost mad.

She could only shake her head, forcing herself free of it before returning to her earlier train of thought.

Judging from the previous occasion when Qin Jinghao had discovered her secret, it must have been when she was in a wretched state, or had lost consciousness… Yes, that day Xiao Limo had sent her an invitation. She had drunk some wine and later known nothing of what happened. She did not even know whether she had made a drunken spectacle of herself.

It had to have been then!

Luo Yunyao bitterly regretted not being more careful, not holding fast to her position even at the risk of offending Xiao Limo.

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

No wonder Xiao Limo had begun speaking strangely after that night, leaving her speechless time and again. She had thought his conduct in official circles was simply too crafty and unfathomable. Now that she thought about it, every word had been an implication of love.

“Yao’er. Yao’er.”

For a moment, Luo Yunyao found it difficult to breathe. Xiao Limo’s gentle, passionate eyes seemed to hover before her. Beneath that tender gaze was the face of an elegant young nobleman, yet Luo Yunyao knew what she was truly seeing: the gaze of the heir apparent, the future emperor’s iron certainty of possession, an invisible cage pressing in from every side.

Luo Yunyao leaned closer into Qin Jinghao’s arms, feeling his body heat and the warmth of his embrace.

Qin Jinghao could see that Xiao Limo’s feelings had brought Luo Yunyao no joy whatsoever. They had only filled her with greater fear. He also knew that his earlier jealousy had been ridiculous, and was wondering whether he ought to apologize. His girl was naturally not the sort of vain woman who worshiped status and admiration.

As he was thinking this, Luo Yunyao reached out and placed her hand over his.

“Ah, I shouldn’t have laughed at your rotten peach blossoms before. I never expected one would come back to trouble me.”

Qin Jinghao felt the soft, tender palm resting against his hand. It was no longer warm and gentle as before, but cold, with a thin sheen of sweat. Luo Yunyao was truly terrified. He had never imagined that she would fear Xiao Limo so deeply. After all, Xiao Limo was a man of exceptional talent, power, appearance, and character.

Perhaps it was because the pale moonlight made Luo Yunyao’s delicate face look even whiter. Yet she still forced herself to say, “Don’t worry. The person I like most, the only person I will love in this life, the one I will seek through life after life, is you. You as a person—or your soul…”

Luo Yunyao was about to continue with more moving words of love, but Qin Jinghao took her chilled hand between his palms. He breathed gently upon it, trying to warm her fingers, and interrupted her:

“Don’t be afraid. I will always be by your side. Didn’t I say it before? I will not make you wait.”

Luo Yunyao looked up at Qin Jinghao in confusion. Her eyes held no focus, and she even tilted her head slightly in bewilderment.

Qin Jinghao could not understand what had happened between Xiao Limo and Luo Yunyao—or rather, what kind of impression Xiao Limo had left upon her, that his love alone could frighten her into such a state.

He had no time to rejoice over his complete victory against his rival. Compared with his rival, he was far more concerned with Luo Yunyao’s condition.

Luo Yunyao seemed to have understood, yet seemed not to have understood at all. The corners of her lips curved into a smile, but it was a smile of utter defeat. She turned her head and nestled into Qin Jinghao’s embrace—obedient and docile, more like a small animal seeking dependence, safety, and protection.

Qin Jinghao allowed her to do as she pleased. The jade-like gentleman remained淡淡地 beneath the moon, as though nothing had happened before they had sat beneath the osmanthus tree to admire the moon. He was still as otherworldly as an exiled immortal, still untouched by the mortal world.

Beneath the moon, two people leaned against each other in a rocking chair. Osmanthus blossoms carpeted the ground and drifted around them. Their faint fragrance mingled with the pale moonlight until everything seemed almost tangible, like mist drawing them into an immortal realm. The two jade-like figures within that realm leaned against each other, their expressions tranquil, so much like immortals that they seemed unreal.

Then a cool, clear voice shattered the illusion and dragged everything back into the mortal world, back beneath the restraints of human existence.

Qin Jinghao’s gaze remained lightly fixed upon the osmanthus tree, and even his voice was calm. “Do not come blaming me later for failing to discuss serious matters with you.”

It was such a stiff change of subject that it was rare for him to conceal a trace of laughter within his words.

After struggling for so long, Luo Yunyao had managed to recover somewhat, but she remained listless. She had none of the spirit with which she had teased Qin Jinghao earlier.

“You were discussing it perfectly well just now. You were the one who dragged the conversation elsewhere. Where was I…” she murmured dispiritedly, as if repeating a cold joke. After pausing to think seriously for a moment, she finally remembered what she had meant to say and continued without changing expression. “Oh. We were discussing the purpose of this frame-up and the necessity of Xiao Limo’s involvement. Next…”

Luo Yunyao stopped again. Qin Jinghao reached out and caught her hand, preventing her from striking her own head in frustration at her thoughts short-circuiting.

“Tell me who you think the murderer is.”

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Luo Yunyao gave a soft “Oh,” then began reciting her thoughts in a flat, lifeless tone.

“To identify the murderer, we should start with the person who benefits most. The central figures in this entire affair should be the two of us. And the person now most deeply entangled with both of us is the Marquis Chancellor.”

Luo Yunyao had been the one who initiated the case against the Marquis Chancellor. She had exposed his corruption, raided his residence, and it was because of her that he had rebelled.

Qin Jinghao, meanwhile, had brought the affair to its conclusion. He had taken over the work Luo Yunyao had been forced to abandon after being wounded in an assassination attempt. He had eliminated the Marquis Chancellor’s remaining followers, crushed his rebellion, and in the end had personally witnessed his death.

By Luo Yunyao’s analysis, it did indeed seem that the Marquis Chancellor’s surviving faction was involved. Noble Consort Liu, Lady Jiang, and the Second Prince, Xiao Ming, were all highly suspicious.

Qin Jinghao showed little change in expression despite Luo Yunyao’s listlessness. He continued to hold her in his arms and slowly said, “That would certainly be reasonable. Only… it probably was not them.”

Luo Yunyao’s drooping eyelids moved slightly. Qin Jinghao had been watching her carefully, and when he saw this, he thought she might be recovering her spirit. But the shock she had suffered was simply too severe.

He was not disappointed. He waited quietly.

“Really?” Luo Yunyao merely uttered the two words in a detached tone.

Qin Jinghao lowered his head and gave a quiet assent. He knew that Luo Yunyao would seriously consider his words; she merely needed time to react and think. Time was something he could afford, and something he was willing to wait for.

His gaze drifted once more toward the osmanthus tree. He waited, though in truth he hoped to wait until Luo Yunyao regained her usual spirit—that girl who was lively, mischievous, and forever spouting crooked logic that sounded, at first, like profound truths.

“Du Runsheng,” Qin Jinghao said, suddenly mentioning a name that seemed entirely unrelated.

Runsheng?

Luo Yunyao understood that Qin Jinghao was giving her a hint. After thinking it over, she could not help laughing at her own foolishness.

That was right. If the Marquis Chancellor’s surviving faction had been responsible, there would have been no reason to drag Du Runsheng into the matter. Even if the Minister of Revenue had not belonged to their faction, even if the Marquis Chancellor’s followers had wanted to eliminate him—or Du Runsheng himself—

there would have been no need to do it now.

By bringing him into the affair, they had forced the connection unnaturally and without the slightest logic. They would only have exposed themselves.

What had the maidservant said when she died?

Something like:

“What has our general ever done to wrong you? Why would Minister Luo collude with the Minister of Revenue’s son to carry out such a shameful deed against our general…?”

To Qin Jinghao, the protagonist of the entire affair, those words clearly meant that Luo Yunyao and Du Runsheng were secretly involved, and that Luo Yunyao had approached Qin Jinghao in order to harm him. It further suggested that the entire scheme had been planned by Luo Yunyao and Du Runsheng together.

Luo Yunyao had been haunted by the maidservant’s expression at the moment of her death. That look of longing, despair, reluctance, and apology had replayed again and again in her mind, causing her to overlook many crucial details.

For example, when the maidservant first appeared, she had told Luo Yunyao to hide from Xiao Limo. That clearly meant she knew about Luo Yunyao’s relationship with Qin Jinghao. It was precisely because of this that Luo Yunyao had trusted her enough to let her lead the way. Luo Yunyao had believed that information so important could only have come from one of Qin Jinghao’s trusted confidantes.

Now that she understood the truth, the maidservant had clearly known far too much.

Page (3/3)