13: Teaching Her Calligraphy

Liu Yin said nothing, silently agreeing. She couldn’t deny the truth—whatever the Crown Prince’s intentions, he had helped her today. If a thank-you was in order, so be it. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his actions than simple kindness.

After a few more words, the Empress departed, leaving Sixth Princess behind, chattering excitedly about what had just happened. Her enthusiasm surpassed even Liu Yin’s, who was supposedly the person most affected. Not wanting to indulge her any further, Liu Yin waved her over to Xiyun, whispering instructions into her maid’s ear.

Hearing the words, Xiyun’s face instantly paled. “B-but, Miss, this might not be a good idea…”

“What’s so bad about it? I’m already being merciful by not catching a cobra to bite them,” Liu Yin said firmly. “Now, hurry back home and do exactly as I instructed.”

Seeing her mistress’s determination, Xiyun hesitated for a long moment. Finally, she nodded reluctantly, her face filled with unease as she left the inner chamber.

Sixth Princess, watching all this with curiosity, immediately moved closer. “Cousin, what are you having Xiyun do?” she asked, plopping onto the bed beside her.

Leaning against the headboard, Liu Yin gave a cryptic smile and waved her off. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

Unhappy with being left in the dark, Sixth Princess pouted but eventually stood and headed out to check on the progress of the medicine. Just the thought of that snake still made her shudder. It was unheard of for such a sinister creature to appear in the palace.

Meanwhile, Liu Yin’s resolve remained firm. She wouldn’t let this slide, those schemers had dared to set a snake on her—how could she face all her supporters if she didn’t retaliate?

By the time the medicine was applied, her swelling had reduced significantly, and her dizziness had subsided. The next morning, she could move around, though walking was still a bit uncomfortable. Thankfully, Xiyun hadn’t disappointed her. Bright and early, she returned to the palace carrying exactly what Liu Yin had requested.

When Sixth Princess returned from the academy that afternoon, Liu Yin eagerly summoned her over to unveil her new “treasures.” She opened the box with a flourish, revealing two thumb-sized spiders inside.

The moment Sixth Princess saw the tiny creatures, she shrieked, stumbling backward in fright. Her face turned as pale as a sheet.

“What’s there to be afraid of? It won’t kill anyone,” Liu Yin said with a mischievous smile. She casually closed the box and leaned back on the chaise, popping a grape into her mouth. “If someone gets bitten by one of these spiders, they’ll just itch all over and break out in a rash. At most, they’ll be stuck indoors for half a month. No one’s going to die from it.”

Sixth Princess remained curled up on the far end of the chaise, her wariness unrelenting. Using a hairpin, she cautiously poked at the box, her expression still full of apprehension. “C-Cousin… you’re planning to use this on Princess Mingyue, aren’t you?”

Lightly tapping her fingers on the table, Liu Yin raised an eyebrow. “The empress dowager’s birthday banquet is just a few days away. It’s the perfect opportunity. Those vile girls dared to unleash a snake on me. If I don’t give them a taste of their own medicine, they’ll think I’m easy to push around!”

Sixth Princess glanced at the ominous black box and still looked hesitant. “But…”

“But what? It’s decided!”

With that, Liu Yin pushed herself up from the chaise, taking a jar of snow ointment with her as she spoke, her tone determined. “I’m heading out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

Before Sixth Princess could react, Liu Yin had already left the inner chamber. Though she wanted to follow, Liu Yin waved her off, saying there was no need. Left with no choice, Sixth Princess instructed the maids to safely stow away the spider-filled box.

Her ankle still slightly swollen, Liu Yin moved with some difficulty, but she persisted. Eventually, she arrived at her destination—a rundown, desolate courtyard. Under the blazing sun, the cracked stones near the courtyard well gleamed faintly. The surrounding area was free of weeds, suggesting that someone regularly tended to it.

“Miss… this place…”

“You can stay outside. I’ll be quick,” Liu Yin said, waving her hand dismissively as she limped into the courtyard alone.

The door was slightly ajar, a faint draft of cool air seeping through. As she stepped closer, the dim interior came into view, shadowy and unclear. She cautiously climbed the stone steps, intending to enter. However, just as she crossed the threshold, a dark figure suddenly loomed before her, startling her so much that she instinctively grabbed the wooden door for support.

The man before her was tall and lean, with a youthful yet austere face. A scar stretched across his forehead, lending an air of grim isolation. There was something unsettling about him, especially his eyes—those cold, penetrating eyes made her heart race with unease at a single glance.

“Uh… um…”

Liu Yin stammered, swallowing hard as she hesitantly extended a few bottles of medicine toward him. “These… these are for you. This snow ointment works wonders for reducing scars, and these other ones are for treating injuries. They’re all very effective.”

Her delicate hands, pale and almost luminous under the sun, held the bottles out as though offering a fragile truce. The man stood silent for a long moment before taking a step back and, without a word, shutting the door firmly in her face.

Staring at the now-closed door, Liu Yin was left speechless. She sighed, placed the medicine carefully by the doorway, and called out into the house, “I’ve left the medicine here for you.”

There was no response. Frustration flashed across her face, but she tried again. “Not everyone in the world means you harm. Even in the darkest places, there’s always sunlight. At the end of the day, we’re just people—your worth depends on the person you choose to be. If you don’t cherish yourself, then why would anyone else?”

Her words were met with only silence. Sighing, she shook her head and began limping back toward the courtyard gate. Not everyone, it seemed, believed in the goodwill of others.

But just as she turned away, the wooden door creaked open a sliver. Behind it, a pair of black eyes quietly observed her retreating figure. He watched her until she disappeared from sight, his gaze lingering not on her shadow but on the faint sunlight pooling at the doorstep—a look of yearning, mingled with restraint.

Liu Yin felt that she should probably stop offering goodwill so freely. After all, no one seemed to believe it anyway. Upon returning to the Xiefang Hall, she didn’t even have time to sit down and drink some water before Liu momo, the empress’s confidant, suddenly appeared. That’s when she remembered her promise to the Empress yesterday to thank the Crown Prince.

^_^