Seducing the Heart - Chapter 35

Qingyang Pavilion was an annex of the Changning Palace where the Grand Princess resided. It was frequently used by the Young Highness to handle administrative affairs. Qin Zhanluo sat inside the pavilion, listening to her subordinates report the fragmented clues they had traced from the corpses of the assassins.

“We have not traced the household registration of those death soldiers. They have no names or surnames, and we found no items on their bodies that could be used to prove their identities.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhanluo merely knitted her brows and waved her hand, signaling for the man to withdraw. To be able to act so flawlessly and maintain such precise knowledge of her movements, it was evident that these people had come prepared. Bringing Yun Jin back from Yundu had caused her to lower her guard out of joy, and she had inevitably become somewhat careless.

As the only Grand Princess of Northern Chu and the sole imperial heir of Qin Yuxiao, Qin Zhanluo had actually encountered several such assassination attempts two or three years ago. From beginning to end, she had never felt the slightest bit of fear. But the situation now was different because she had involved Yun Jin this time. Qin Zhanluo’s eyes darkened, and her gaze fell aimlessly toward the area outside the pavilion door as she sank into thought.

The night grew deeper, and the layers of clouds at the horizon became dark and indistinct. One could only vaguely tell that they were quietly drifting by the way they occasionally obscured the crescent moon.

The herbs were crushed in a stone mortar and ground into juice. Finally, they were boiled and filtered, combined with other medicinal ingredients, and roasted over a high flame before being simmered slowly over a low heat. Xie Lianjing performed these seemingly tedious steps of decocting medicine with composed patience, not feeling the slightest bit of boredom. Nangong Ning had personally escorted the medicinal herb and delivered it to her immediately; she arrived just in time.

Before Nangong Ning’s arrival, Xie Lianjing had already administered acupuncture to Yun Jin three times to draw the poison out of her body. She needed to focus her mind and spirit during the process, and no one was allowed to remain nearby to disturb her. Consequently, she had to wash the used silver needles herself. After several such rounds of exertion, she finally managed to thoroughly remove the residual poison just as Nangong Ning arrived in haste.

After leaving the medicine with Xie Lianjing, Nangong Ning went into the hall to see Yun Jin. Her sleep was restless, and beads of fine sweat still formed on her forehead. Fortunately, her lips had begun to regain some color, signaling the start of her recovery.

Nangong Ning frowned, remembering that when she asked Miss Xie about the approximate time Yun Jin would wake up, the other woman said they could only wait for her to regain consciousness after the medicine was administered. During the days Yun Jin had been away from Yundu, many changes had occurred within and outside the court. Meanwhile, Nangong Ning had strictly followed the eight word instruction given before departure: stay out of it, do not participate. Consequently, the Prince of Jin’s manor had remained calm and peaceful.

“What kind of people were the assassins? Have they been thoroughly investigated yet?” Nangong Ning asked expressionlessly, watching Xie Lianjing decoct the medicine while holding her sword.

Rising steam occasionally escaped from the rim of the medicinal pot, lingering for a while before dispersing. Having always protected Yun Jin in the past, she could not help but wonder if Yun Jin might not have been so easily injured or rendered unconscious if she had been present this time.

“The Princess sent people to investigate, but the opposition had planned this long ago. All clues were lost once those death soldiers committed suicide.” Xie Lianjing used a palm leaf fan to stoke the fire under the pot and gave a somewhat mocking smile. “They truly acted flawlessly, leaving no trace to be found.”

The two remained silent for a while, both looking at the medicinal soup that was almost finished. Although Yun Jin had been physically weak all these years, no one had ever posed a threat to her life. She herself was extremely cautious, willing to drink her medicine on time every day and steadily regulate her body. Yun Jin had things to do and had always been clear about what she was doing. Yet now she was severely injured. Furthermore, she had done so to save someone else who was outside her plans, and she had even done so willingly. It was somewhat hard to believe.

Though no clear thoughts had emerged yet, there was obviously a more pressing matter at hand. Xie Lianjing first tried to twist her slightly stiff neck, then rubbed her shoulders with some force, a trace of fatigue appearing on her face. Counting from the moment she learned Yun Jin was poisoned, she had been continuously administering needles, washing them, and changing them. She had not closed her eyes for a day and two nights.

Xie Lianjing stood up to stretch and could almost not stop herself from yawning twice in a row, a few tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She looked at Nangong Ning and pressed the palm leaf fan into her arms. “A Ning, help watch the fire. The medicine can be brought to the hall to feed Jin Er in about half an hour. I cannot go on; I need to find a place to rest first.”

Perceiving Xie Lianjing’s exhaustion, Nangong Ning silently took over the remaining task and sat by the pot, waiting for the medicinal soup inside to be finished.

Inside the Changning Palace, it was exceptionally quiet and elegant at this moment, with only the faint scent of soothing incense drifting from the burner. After personally feeding Yun Jin the bowl of medicine, Qin Zhanluo dismissed the maids waiting outside and stayed by her side alone. Everyone had been busy, and they finally saw the unconscious Yun Jin wake up.

The first person Yun Jin saw upon waking was Qin Zhanluo, who had fallen asleep by the couch. Yun Jin looked sideways at her, feeling as though she could almost count the other woman’s eyelashes. Qin Zhanluo’s brow was not relaxed in sleep; it still carried a faint trace of worry and fatigue. It was unknown how long she had been keeping watch.

Yun Jin exerted a little strength and struggled to sit up straight. A dull pain came from her shoulder. Her movements were not large, yet they still woke the lightly sleeping Qin Zhanluo, who looked at her with concern. “Your Highness is finally awake. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Seeing Yun Jin’s slightly dry lips, Qin Zhanluo immediately stood up to pour a cup of tea and handed it to her. Yun Jin lowered her eyes and drank most of the tea while Qin Zhanluo watched her quietly. At the same time, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief. The inexplicable worry in her heart that the other might never wake up dispersed entirely. Thus, when Yun Jin raised her eyes to hand the teacup back to Qin Zhanluo, what she saw was the other woman looking at her with gentle eyes.

Her throat bobbed slightly as she unconsciously swallowed the last mouthful of tea.

“Cough, cough, cough.” Yun Jin was caught off guard and choked because her mind had wandered. She immediately covered her mouth and began to cough violently.

Qin Zhanluo was startled and hurried to check on her, trying to gently pat her back. During the movement, Yun Jin’s wound opened slightly, and blood began to slowly seep out of her shoulder. Fortunately, the blood flowing out now had returned to a bright red. The poison had indeed been completely removed.

Seeing the wound seeping blood again before it had even healed, Qin Zhanluo immediately frowned and stood up to head outside. “I shall go call Miss Xie.”

Her wrist was gently caught.

Turning around, she saw a faint smile in Yun Jin’s eyes, which were slightly misty from the coughing. “The medicine is right by the couch. The Princess can change the dressing for me personally.”

Her tone was calm, but she did not feel as composed as she sounded. There was even a strange hint of nervousness. She then loosened her fingers slightly and tilted her head a bit, as if waiting for Qin Zhanluo’s response. Qin Zhanluo’s eyes flickered. Looking at Yun Jin’s still somewhat pale face, she softly replied, “Alright.”

She watched Yun Jin sit up straight and picked up the medicinal ointment that was prepared by the couch. Her expression was neutral. “A Jin already knows who I am, does she not?”

She was merely asking what she already knew. During Yun Jin’s occasional tests a few days ago, Qin Zhanluo already knew the other woman had found out. Yet she had not taken the initiative to admit it. But after unexpectedly encountering this incident, Qin Zhanluo quickly felt regret. She should have revealed their identities to each other sooner. Perhaps then she could have protected her from the beginning.

“Little Li Luo.” With her clothes half lowered, Yun Jin looked away somewhat unnaturally, a hint of a smile in her voice. “Long time no see.”

She naturally knew and intended to make it clear now. Otherwise, she would not have asked Qin Zhanluo to change the dressing for her. The smooth, rounded shoulder exposed skin as white as snow that seemed as if it might break at a touch, save for the strikingly sharp wound that had torn and expanded due to the rapid spread of the toxin.

Qin Zhanluo focused entirely on removing the slightly reddened white cloth from Yun Jin’s wound and opened the medicinal ointment specially prepared by Xie Lianjing. Yun Jin cast a glance at Qin Zhanluo. The other woman’s gaze was focused entirely on the wound. Clearly, she had no improper thoughts.

Qin Zhanluo’s fingers carried a hint of warmth as she applied the ointment, and Yun Jin’s inexplicable nervousness relaxed slightly. Only Qin Zhanluo herself knew that she was not calm, not indifferent, and certainly not entirely free of stray thoughts. In fact, the moment she touched Yun Jin’s body, her breathing had uncontrollably faltered for a few moments, though she had masked it well.

“Why was the Princess unwilling to tell me her real name back then?” Yun Jin fixed her gaze randomly on a spot and asked the question that had puzzled her before.

Yun Jin had been physically weak since childhood. Due to her status and rank, she could not play as freely as ordinary children, and she had never made many true friends.

Before her mother passed away, the period she spent with Li Luo was the last time she felt genuine happiness. Li Luo was her first real friend. Although she understood that the other person held a special status and that it was natural for a Grand Princess of a nation to maintain some secrecy, Yun Jin had shared her true self back then.

Qin Zhanluo’s hand paused briefly before she continued to spread the ointment evenly, eventually replacing the dressing with a clean cloth.

“A-Jin, back then, I truly wanted to tell you my real name. But I was afraid that once you knew, you would no longer want to be my friend.”

Initially, Qin Zhanluo had assumed Yun Jin was the daughter of a wealthy family. She feared that if the other girl learned of her royal status, the gap in their positions would make it difficult for their friendship to remain pure. Later, she felt regret, fearing that if Yun Jin had hidden her true identity as she had, they might never have found each other again. Fortunately, Yun Jin had not done so.

This was why the investigators Qin Zhanluo sent out were able to discover Yun Jin’s true identity: she was the esteemed Young Prince of Yundu. Qin Zhanluo also realized why Yun Jin had sometimes presented herself as a quiet, elegant young lady and at other times as a graceful young gentleman.

The dressing was finished, requiring only a final, gentle knot.

“Princess,” a soft call came from above. Qin Zhanluo tied the knot instinctively and looked up at the sound. She thought the knot might have been too tight, causing Yun Jin pain.

However, Yun Jin’s eyes were brimming with a smile. “Why do you not dare to look at me?”

“I am looking,” Qin Zhanluo replied flatly. Her hands moved without hesitation to pull Yun Jin’s robes back into place. Then, she looked directly at Yun Jin with her usual composure. “Your Highness has just awakened and needs to lie down to rest.”

Only after watching Yun Jin lie back down did Qin Zhanluo rise and head toward the door, though her pace was somewhat hurried. Yun Jin watched her silently, wondering if this qualified as a “fleeing in panic.” Clearly, just a moment ago, the Princess had appeared perfectly calm.

Yun Jin remained on the Princess’s couch for three or four days, receiving Qin Zhanluo’s meticulous care every day. Occasionally, on a whim, Qin Zhanluo would even go to the kitchen to prepare porridge herself, much to the astonishment of the imperial kitchen staff. The affection between the Princess and the Prince Consort was evidently profound.

Xie Lianjing’s medical skills were extraordinary. With a little extra effort, she was able to nurse Yun Jin’s body back to health in the shortest possible time. However, Xie Lianjing felt puzzled by Qin Zhanluo’s attitude toward Yun Jin. Was this diligent care because Yun Jin was her nominal husband, or because Yun Jin had been injured saving her?

When Xie Lianjing expressed her confusion privately, the simple explanation Yun Jin provided left her even more shocked. Qin Zhanluo knew Yun Jin’s true identity—perhaps she had known since the beginning of the marriage alliance in Yundu.

“Then why?”

Xie Lianjing grew even more confused. Yun Jin, however, chose that moment to be cryptic. As a result, when Xie Lianjing later visited Bai Yueli’s residence, she still carried that lingering doubt.

At Bai Yueli’s place, there happened to be several commoners seeking medical attention. Busy with consultations, Bai Yueli could not attend to her guest immediately. Xie Lianjing sat to the side, resting her chin on her hand as she tried to untangle the relationship between Yun Jin and Qin Zhanluo.

When the last patient finished their consultation, Bai Yueli picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write with her eyes lowered. “Three parts Sanqi, five parts Wuwei, three grams of dried tangerine peel.”

She handed the prescription to an elderly woman. “Take this medicine every month. In about three months, your ailment will be cured.”

The elderly woman left half a basket of eggs as a gift, refusing to take them back despite all protests, and departed with repeated thanks.

Only then did Bai Yueli turn to Xie Lianjing. Seeing her troubled expression, she asked softly, “What is the matter?”

Xie Lianjing recounted her confusion in full, hoping Bai Yueli might help analyze the situation. Instead, she received a cryptic answer.

“So, you are truly insensitive when it comes to feelings.”

Xie Lianjing did not hear her clearly and instinctively looked up. “Hmm?”

Bai Yueli stared at her for a moment before insulting her bluntly. “I do not repeat myself, you dull goose.”

Indignant, Xie Lianjing responded as she always did—by tossing a handful of medicinal powder at her.

The news of Yun Jin’s injury was not kept entirely secret, and visitors eventually came to pay their respects. Yang Efeng and Zhou Zhongguang were among them.

Since the hunt where Yun Jin saved Liu Zi from the tiger’s jaws, Zhou Zhongguang’s opinion of Yun Jin had completely changed. He felt deep guilt for his past actions. Seeing Yun Jin injured while saving the Princess only solidified his view that Yun Jin was a true man of character. He brought gifts both as a visit and as a formal apology for his previous conduct.

“Zhongguang, I have a few words I wish to say to the Princess alone. You should head back first.” Though the two had arrived together, Yang Efeng remained behind.

Zhou Zhongguang understood Yang Efeng’s intention and agreed. Even though Yang Efeng was his brother-in-arms, he now felt that the Princess was a better match with Yun Jin. Still, some things had to be said clearly before one could let go. Zhou Zhongguang patted Yang Efeng’s shoulder silently and departed.

“General, what is it you wish to say to me?” Qin Zhanluo asked calmly.

“Five years ago, I returned in triumph with my father. I was waiting outside the hall for him to finish receiving his rewards. The sun was scorching that day, and the heat was unbearable,” Yang Efeng said, a reminiscent look appearing on his face. “Though I was swaying from the heat, I did not dare to move. Fortunately, Your Highness passed by. Out of compassion for the ministers waiting outside, you ordered cooling soup to be sent. I caught a fleeting glimpse of you then.”

Since then, he had found it impossible to forget her.

Qin Zhanluo listened quietly until he finished, then said indifferently, “General, that was not me.”

She had indeed ordered the soup that day, but the person who actually showed her face was a maidservant she had ordered to wear a veil and impersonate her. Yang Efeng’s vision must have been blurred by the heat, making him unable to distinguish the truth.

Yang Efeng was stunned. He had been laboring under a misunderstanding for all these years. However, he still did not give up. “Princess, actually, over these years, I have always—”

“General!”

Qin Zhanluo cut him off before he could continue.

“I have known A-Jin since our youth. Even now, my feelings remain unchanged.” Qin Zhanluo spoke calmly, yet with absolute conviction. “I thank the General for his high regard, but the person in my heart will never change. I wish the General a speedy journey in finding a suitable companion.”

Yang Efeng’s lips parted, but in the end, he could only cup his fists and say, “I understand. I wish the Princess and the Prince Consort a long and harmonious marriage.”

Qin Zhanluo’s love for Yun Jin was unshakeable. Yang Efeng realized this profoundly in that moment: the light in the Princess’s eyes when she spoke of Yun Jin was unlike anything else. He had originally thought she was merely momentarily enchanted by Yun Jin, but he had not realized that he had lost completely many years ago.

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