Yan Shian asked, “Don’t you want to finish the transaction as soon as possible?”

“I do. I want to go back and see Whitebeard. If I don’t see it with my own eyes, I’ll always worry they’re lying to me.”

Shi Buyu leaned back against the hidden table. “But ever since I was little, he taught me not to rush. The more anxious you are, the more likely you’ll make mistakes. You also shouldn’t take shortcuts. He said that when many people travel the same road, all the potholes and bumps become visible. There will be signs warning of cliffs, and danger will be out in the open. Even if you fall and get hurt, someone passing by will see you and lend a hand. But shortcuts are less traveled, more dangerous, and easier to lose your way. In the end, you may not arrive any faster than the others.”

Yan Shian looked at her, now quiet. “No one has ever said things like this to me before.”

“That’s just because no one ever whispered such things in your ear when you were young. That’s why you look so envious now. But if you’d heard it too many times, you’d want to run away from it.”

“When you’re grown up and think back on it, you’d still smile, wouldn’t you?”

That was true. Shi Buyu nodded.

“I don’t like thinking back. No matter which age or stage of life I recall, I’ve always been the same—too boring.” Yan Shian leaned into the hidden table like her. But he was so used to sitting upright that even while leaning, his back stayed straight.

Suddenly, he changed the topic. “I’m in.”

Shi Buyu looked at him. “You don’t have to involve yourself.”

“I’m just going with the flow.” Yan Shian lightly rubbed his arm. “This trap began with Zhang Xuzhi. I was the one he framed. No matter how this ends, the emperor won’t suspect us. My men have never been able to trace how they dumped the corpse from the palace, nor track the people who kidnapped others. They must have a very secret route. We have to find it.”

“A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall.”

“But if you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch a tiger cub? I’m willing to take the risk.” Yan Shian smiled at her. “Besides, you’ll protect me, won’t you?”

Shi Buyu couldn’t understand the meaning behind that smile. She only knew that, at this moment, Yan Shian was quite different from his usual self.

She sat up and solemnly promised, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Something came to mind. She pulled out her embroidered pouch and dumped its contents onto the desk. She first handed him a small, conspicuous bead. “Take this for self-defense. I’ll ask Big Brother for another one later.”

Yan Shian was startled. “This was a birthday gift from your Big Brother. How can you give it to me?”

“Your life is more important.” Shi Buyu waved it off, then pushed over another item sealed with wax. “This medicine was made by Mister Gongyi. Whitebeard had to beg and pester him just to get two pills—one for me, one for Big Brother. This medicine is powerful enough to neutralize most illicit drugs, especially when used with this.”

She turned away and pulled from her chest a sachet she wore close to her skin. She placed it beside the wax pill. “Carry this sachet with you at all times. Don’t let it get wet. Replace it every two months. A-Gugu knows the formula, I’ll have her make more. The scent is very faint—barely detectable—but it neutralizes all nearby scents, including those of knockout drugs. Big Brother even trained special fire-ears that can follow this scent to find someone. And this—”

Shi Buyu placed a small paper packet next to the other items. “Inside is medicinal powder. Carry a fire striker on you. Just ignite the powder—no matter how skilled someone is, they’ll be half-dead in no time. These are all made by Mister Gongyi. As long as you wear the sachet, you’ll be safe.”

Yan Shian watched as she laid out these life-saving treasures one by one, explaining their uses, but what he truly saw was Whitebeard doing everything he could to protect her.

“I can’t accept these,” Yan Shian pushed the items back toward her. “These are a token of love and care from an elder. How could I take them?”

“You think I’m giving them to you? Dream on. I’m lending them to you for now. Once you make it through, you have to return them.”

Shi Buyu toyed with the sachet in her hand. It had to be replaced often, so she didn’t consider it particularly private. “Based on what they’ve done before, they’re just using underhanded methods. These are enough to protect against that. The sachet isn’t unusual, so they won’t be on guard. As long as you wear it, I’ll be able to find you.”

The items were indeed excellent, and it was necessary to prepare them—but…

Yan Shian still returned the sachet. He couldn’t take advantage of her ignorance like that. “They won’t act so fast. A-Gugu can make another one in time.”

Shi Buyu thought that made sense and hung the sachet back around her neck. She continued, “Your men should keep things tight inside and loose outside. When the time comes, don’t reveal your full strength too soon—avoid making them suspicious. Then tail them. I’ll tell Big Brother everything. If he weren’t in the capital, I wouldn’t dare let you take this risk.”

“He is…”

“I can’t tell you who he is yet.” Shi Buyu shook her head. “There’s still time. I’ll plan carefully. I won’t let you fall into real danger.”

Yan Shian smiled. “It’s precisely because I know you’ll plan it all out that I dare to take the risk.”

“If Madam finds out what we’re planning, she’ll probably eat me alive.”

“She’d chip a tooth. You’re too tough.”

Shi Buyu grinned. “She really can’t chew me up.”

Thinking about how his mother had never managed to gain the upper hand against Shi Buyu, Yan Shian laughed. Things had been quieter lately, and he actually felt a bit more relaxed.

The two of them were daring beyond measure, prepared to risk their lives—but they both knew how serious the matter was. Neither dared take it lightly.

Yan Shian began preparing his men. Meanwhile, Shi Buyu returned to her room and first informed A-Gugu of the situation. A-Gugu often executed her plans, so she never kept things from her.

“This is too dangerous,” Wan Xia uncharacteristically disagreed. “Young Master Yan is crucial. If something happens to him, the consequences are unimaginable.”

“I know. I wasn’t going to let him take the risk. But once he brought it up, I realized—it might not be a bad idea.” Shi Buyu counted the sheets of paper—twelve now. “If the emperor targets him, it’ll be because he sees him as a commoner with no noble background, just like the other victims. That means he won’t be too suspicious. If we act with intent while they are careless, we’ll have the upper hand.”

Wan Xia nodded slightly. That was true.

“Given who he is, he’s surely equipped with countless ways to stay alive. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to volunteer. Add in what I’ve given him—if the emperor can still beat us after all that, then we might as well admit defeat. At least Yan Shian will live and spend the rest of his life in peace.”

Wan Xia hesitated. “What if things go completely wrong?”

“Then we release Qinghuan.” Shi Buyu grinned. “If it really comes to that, I’ll tell her who Yan Shian really is. Guess what—do you think she’d burn the palace to the ground?”

Wan Xia finally laughed. “I’ll go make the sachet.”