After the Cold and Aloof Husband's Mask Falls - Chapter 41

A deep, snowy night.

By the time Gu Wanlan was led to the Qianxin Hall, people were already inside. The palace doors were tightly shut, and the attending eunuchs and maids had all retreated outside.

Gu Wanlan paused and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Before entering the palace, Xiao Chen had told her that this matter might be related to the Roulan hostage the Cui family had sent in previously—that His Majesty had interrogated something out of him and summoned her to verify the details. She wasn’t the only witness to the attack on the hostage, so there would certainly be outsiders present. Thus, after leaving the manor, she had first changed into her “Feiyuan” attire before entering the palace.

It did not surprise her that the Cui family had arrived a step ahead.

However, given such tight security, what exactly had the Cui family or His Majesty dug out of that Roulan hostage…

“Your Majesty, Commander Feiyuan requests an audience.”

As soon as Eunuch Yuanxi’s voice fell, Gu Wanlan swept her robes, knelt on one knee before the vermilion doors, and projected the voice of Feiyuan, declaring loudly, “This official, Feiyuan, is late. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Inside the hall.

Emperor Qingyuan gave Cui Jue, who stood before him, a meaningful look. He then shifted his gaze toward the closed doors. “Grant entry.”

“Summoning Feiyuan, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Messengers, for an audience—”

Following Yuanxi’s high-pitched voice, the doors were pulled open, gradually revealing the woman’s figure outside.

Gu Wanlan was about to rise when her ears twitched. She suddenly stood and looked behind her. Through the night, she saw Xiao Chen approaching in a hurried state!

“Your Majesty, urgent news regarding Xiao Sun!”

His voice arrived before he did.

Cui Jue stepped back noiselessly, letting half of his face blend into the shadows behind a pillar.

Emperor Qingyuan glanced at Cui Jue but knew this was not the time for petty calculations. He stepped forward quickly. “Where is Xiao Sun!”

As fate would have it, it was a coincidence.

Originally, searching for Xiao Sun was not the responsibility of the Embroidered Uniform Messengers. However, Xiao Chen had received orders today to have Gu Wanlan enter the palace, so he went to the Protector Duke’s Manor late at night. After Gu Wanlan left, he found himself unable to sleep and unconsciously wandered back near the manor. This time, he accidentally discovered someone lurking nearby.

Upon testing the lurker, he realized it was likely Xiao Sun!

Xiao Chen feared alerting the enemy and worried that Xiao Sun intended to harm those within the Protector Duke’s Manor. After secretly contacting several messengers to follow him closely, Xiao Chen immediately came to report.

Xiao Sun’s last appearance was actually—around the Protector Duke’s Manor!

Hearing Xiao Chen’s words, the expressions of all three changed.

Gu Wanlan knew well that Xiao Sun was a ticking time bomb. The fact that she and Xiao Sun had a history in Roulan would eventually reach Emperor Qingyuan’s ears. He had slipped through her fingers once before; if she let him escape again tonight, the Emperor might begin to suspect they were accomplices!

Her mind racing, Gu Wanlan immediately knelt on one knee and spoke quickly, “Your Majesty! This official requests the decree to lead the capture of Xiao Sun tonight! I shall resolve the crisis at the Protector Duke’s Manor!”

“Very well. Feiyuan, do not disappoint me.” Emperor Qingyuan gave her a deep, searching look.

Gu Wanlan’s heart tightened. Meeting his gaze, she replied, “I am honored by Your Majesty’s trust! I shall not fail!”

With that, she turned to leave. Her gaze swept across the hall, and she caught a glimpse of a figure in a black cloak standing beside the Emperor. Half of the person’s face was hidden in the shadow of a pillar, making it impossible to see clearly.

It matched the style of clothing Cui Jue usually preferred, but today, he seemed far too quiet…

The thought only circled her mind for a moment before vanishing. Gu Wanlan turned and led Xiao Chen out of the palace in a hurry.

The two came and went like a gust of wind, and the hall fell silent once more.

Emperor Qingyuan was the first to speak. “Shenzhi (Cui Jue), what do you think of this person, Feiyuan?”

Cui Jue slowly stepped out of the shadows. “She is not one to be made an enemy of.”

“Oh? It seems you hold her in high regard.”

“During the hostage incident last time, my people utilized her. Officially, once we revealed our identities, she released my people quite briskly. However, privately, at the end, she also made me suffer a minor setback.” Cui Jue paused and reached a conclusion. “She has both courage and strategy, knows when to advance and retreat. She will be a good official, but she is not a fine blade for killing.”

Emperor Qingyuan narrowed his eyes. “Do you think she is unsuitable for the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Messengers?”

Cui Jue shook his head. “A blade can kill or save; it purely depends on how Your Majesty wields it.”

For a long time, no one spoke. Finally, the Emperor sighed. “Forget it. Since trouble has arisen at the Protector Duke’s Manor tonight, I shall not keep you. You may return.”

“Yes.” Cui Jue bowed and turned to step into the dark, snowy night outside.

Watching the young man’s lonely silhouette, the Emperor sighed again. Yuanxi hurried forward to pour a cup of hot tea, smiling. “This servant saw three young talents in a single night. This is a sign of Your Majesty’s virtue and the prosperity of Great Xia. What worries could Your Majesty possibly have?”

“You old slave, you certainly know how to talk,” the Emperor scolded with a laugh, but then his expression darkened again. “They are indeed talents, but…”

Though the trial tonight was interrupted by the accident, Cui Jue should not know of Gu Wanlan’s identity; otherwise, he wouldn’t have said their relationship should “let nature take its course.”

Although the two currently showed no signs of forming a faction, one was a general he still found useful in Roulan, and the other was someone he already heavily relied upon…

He could not part with either of them, yet he feared they might join forces in the future.

Thinking of this, the Emperor felt a headache coming on. Forget it, I’ll solve the problem at hand first.

Gu Wanlan led her people through the wind and snow. She thought it would take some effort to track Xiao Sun again and expected a fierce battle. To her surprise, when they reached the gates of the Protector Duke’s Manor, they saw Xiao Sun standing there alone.

He showed no signs of the disheveled state one might expect from someone on the run. He stood alone in the snow, surrounded by messengers who held weapons but dared not move a step closer.

Gu Wanlan was wondering why they hadn’t seized him yet. As she drew closer and saw his figure clearly, her pupils shrank.

Xiao Sun was wearing a lapelled robe lined with white fox fur. His naturally curly long hair was now meticulously braided into small plaits hanging behind him—the traditional attire of the Roulan grasslands.

Gu Wanlan instinctively slowed her horse.

Sensing the gaze behind him, Xiao Sun turned his head. His eyes were like blades, meeting Gu Wanlan’s gaze directly.

Gu Wanlan felt a momentary trance, as if through the wind and snow, she had returned to the Roulan grasslands, to the days when she and Ah Sun huddled together in a sheepfold to survive.

However, the golden crown on the young man’s brow—the symbol of the Roulan royal family—was so distinct and dazzling in the snow that she almost dared not look directly at it.

Gu Wanlan felt as though her throat were stuffed with cotton. She composed herself and dismounted.

She walked over slowly, staring into Xiao Sun’s heterochromatic eyes, and spoke word for word, “Should I address you as Xiao Sun, or as the ninth son of the former Roulan King—Prince Sobud?”

Xiao Sun was somewhat surprised that Feiyuan would ask such trivial matters upon seeing him again. He shrugged noncommittally. “Since I have entered Great Xia, I should follow the local customs. Xiao Sun is this Prince’s name in Great Xia.”

“Very well. Then, you first disguised yourself as a hostage’s attendant and later set an ambush. What exactly is your motive?!”

Gu Wanlan knew she was being aggressive, but she couldn’t help it. She had once lied to Xiao Sun to escape Roulan; now, learning that she had been played from the start, she could only sigh that heaven’s justice is swift and retribution is certain.

More importantly, she thought of that rainy night at the post station. Clarity struck her in an instant.

On that night of the storm, he wanted the fake hostage to die at the hands of Great Xia people and then destroy the evidence. Once the hostage died, conflict would erupt between Roulan and Great Xia, allowing him, a member of the Roulan royalty, to hide in the shadows and reap the benefits!

“You have no right to question this Prince.”

Recalling that day, killing intent suddenly exploded in Xiao Sun’s eyes. If possible, he wanted to draw his blade and kill this woman who had ruined his plans right then and there! Unfortunately, this person hid herself extremely well; he had been unable to dig out her location during this time.

With a shua sound, amidst the gasps of the crowd, Gu Wanlan drew her sword and held it against Xiao Sun’s neck.

She spoke with a cold smile, “You say you’re a servant when you want to be a servant, and a master when you want to be a master. You’ve lied to us once; do you think you can lie to us a second time? Show your proof before you try to act like a Prince!”

Xiao Sun looked at her for a moment and laughed. “If this Prince shows proof, will the Commander then say you are unfamiliar with Roulan script and cannot recognize it?”

Gu Wanlan tapped his neck with the sword, her posture relaxed. “That is indeed possible. So, I must trouble you to take a trip to the Great Prison with me today. Once I find a civil official who can read Roulan, we shall judge your identity.”

“Take him away!” she shouted, sheathing her sword.

The messengers cheered and surrounded him. They had finally tracked him down after great difficulty, but just as they were about to close the net, he had revealed his identity. They were wary and didn’t dare move against him, forced to watch him act arrogantly all the way to the Protector Duke’s Manor. It was stifling.

Who would have thought that with just a few words, their boss would strip him of his prestige? It was immensely satisfying!

“Feiyuan, no one can stop this Prince tonight.”

Xiao Sun’s low, amused voice rang out from behind her.

Gu Wanlan’s heart skipped a beat. She whirled around and roared, “Quick! Dislocate his arms and jaw!”

But Xiao Sun was faster than her. He grabbed her throat but looked down at her as if she were a lowly ant. “Take your people and get out.”

Although everyone knew Xiao Sun only did this to force her back and wouldn’t actually kill her, only Gu Wanlan knew how far he could go if he turned “mad.” His life was precious now; she did not dare to use force.

“Fine, fine. I won’t disturb you for now.” Gu Wanlan gritted her teeth, signaling the crowd to step back while secretly asking, “You arrived early; do you know what he intends to do tonight?!”

The messenger being questioned hesitated. Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Chen walked up from behind, his gaze toward Gu Wanlan holding a hint of darkness. “He wants to see Gu Wanlan.”

“?!”

Seeing Xiao Chen speak, the messengers nearby also looked a bit conflicted. “Yes, Commander. He has been waiting at the gates for nearly half an hour, saying he wants to see Gu Wanlan. In the middle of the night, wanting to see a newlywed woman… these Roulan people truly have, truly have…”

“No sense of shame or etiquette!”

Xiao Chen’s hand tightened around his sword hilt. He wasn’t Xiao Sun, yet hearing these insults made him feel a sense of embarrassment, and he didn’t even dare look at the person.

Gu Wanlan didn’t notice Xiao Chen’s tension; she only felt herself ignited by a surge of fury.

What was Xiao Sun trying to do?! Why was he forcing her out to see him like this?!

“Keep an eye on him! I’m going to find the Eldest Miss Gu!”

Giving her instructions, Gu Wanlan moved like a flash, leaping toward the interior of the Protector Duke’s Manor. She wished she could strip off this Feiyuan disguise right now, curse Xiao Sun until his ears bled, and cut ties with him forever.

But as soon as she entered the manor and saw the courtyard lit up—clearly disturbed by the commotion outside—her scalp went numb.

Crap!

Her late-night excursion was about to be exposed to Cui Jue!

Even if she had left word that she would be staying in Gu Lehua’s small courtyard tonight, Xiao Sun had been causing a scene outside for half an hour. Everyone in the manor must have been awakened and would eventually search for her at Gu Lehua’s place.

Since this involved the Roulan royalty, even Qi Rong must have been woken up. Gu Lehua couldn’t stall them for that long!

Gu Wanlan shifted her direction and sped toward her original courtyard. As she leaped across the rooftops, she stripped off her Feiyuan outer robe.

From a distance, the courtyard was pitch black; no lamps were lit.

Gu Wanlan felt a wave of relief. She bundled all her removed outer clothes, shoes, socks, mask, and hair ornaments into the outer robe. She grabbed a handful of snow, rubbed it hard against her face, and then, wearing only her undergarments, sprinted toward the door.

Unexpectedly—creak—the bedroom door was pulled open from the inside at that exact moment.

Seeing that her falling footsteps could not be retracted, Gu Wanlan could only thrust the large bundle of cloth upward, barely covering the lower half of her face which still bore traces of disguise.

And found herself face-to-face with Cui Jue, who was panting, hair disheveled, and wearing only a single inner robe.