Chapter 15

Outside the alley, Zhao Mingzhu scrambled into the carriage using both hands and feet—and sure enough, Gu Qingheng was seated inside. Even sitting down, he was a sight to behold. His posture was upright, head bowed over a book, evoking the phrase jade branches and elegant trees without effort.

Zhao Mingzhu sat down but found the seat awkward, so she gave up and slouched comfortably instead. “Your Highness, is that man still alive? Did you get anything out of him?”

She casually flipped her hair, sneaking glances at Gu Qingheng’s expression, then cleared her throat and began her self-congratulatory report: “He approached me before, too. I could tell at a glance he was no good, so I ignored him. Who knew he’d be so deranged as to ask me to drug you! Treasonous madness—I could never do something so vile. He’s clearly insane.”

“Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

“So I went to that trap of a banquet, and right after, I sent someone back to the Eastern Palace to alert Chang He to lie in wait. We had to bring him to justice—can’t let him roam free!”

Gu Qingheng closed his book, lips curved in a half-smile. “Anything else?”

Zhao Mingzhu: sweating bullets.

She felt utterly exposed, like her bluff had been seen through. She ducked her head. “Just praying to the heavens not to wrong a good person. That’s all.”

Gu Qingheng, tall as he was, could easily read the flickers of calculation on her face. She hadn’t even realized she should be hiding her true thoughts. “Crown Princess, I forgot to mention—about that promise I made earlier. It’s only valid for three days.”

Zhao Mingzhu was still mentally scrambling to patch her story when she heard that. She let out a startled “Ah!”

She shot upright—only to smack her head on the carriage roof. The dull thud made her wince and bare her teeth. “That’s so mean.”

She’d planned to treat that promise like a resurrection talisman. Now it was downgraded to a disposable dagger.

“Your Highness, what happened?” came Chang He’s voice from outside the curtain.

“I hit my head,” Zhao Mingzhu replied. “Please prepare the most expensive bruise-healing medicine, thank you!”

Chang He paused, then answered, “Yes, Crown Princess. Understood.” He drove the carriage forward, having overheard everything. And suddenly, a thought crept into his mind: Maybe Zhao Mingzhu wasn’t going to die after all.

Zhao Mingzhu rubbed the top of her head, trying to reason with him. “Your Highness, changing the terms on the fly like this… isn’t very fair.”

Gu Qingheng suddenly beckoned her over. Zhao Mingzhu didn’t understand but took two steps forward. He reached out with two fingers and plucked a dried leaf from the hem of her robe. His voice was as clear and pleasant as shattered jade. “Crown Princess, the rules are mine to set. You can either use the promise now—or watch it expire.”

She hadn’t even noticed the leaf. Her “thank you” got stuck in her throat, and her face fell. “Fine, fine, fine. At least let me think about how to use it.”

She flopped back into her seat and began strategizing how to deploy her “revival talisman.” After thinking it through, the only viable option was the “illicit lover” case.

Her original plan was to blow the matter wide open, with An Yun as a witness, the suspect already in custody, and the Duke of the Nation lending support. That way, everything could be resolved cleanly.

No sudden disasters. No helpless scrambling.

After some thought, Zhao Mingzhu nodded to herself. Since Gu Qingheng had made the offer, she had to use this life-saving card to settle the matter once and for all.

“Your Highness, I’ve made up my mind.” She sat up straight, her speech rehearsed. “Please interrogate that man thoroughly. Best to follow the trail and root out everyone involved.”

“And if…” She swallowed nervously, watching Gu Qingheng’s expression. “If it turns out I was brainwashed and got mixed up in all this nonsense, I hope Your Highness will show mercy. Consider it a case of me turning back at the edge of the cliff.”

She didn’t know the full plot, but she knew enough about the original Zhao Mingzhu to suspect there might be some nasty surprises waiting.

She raised two fingers and solemnly swore, “I swear this is the last time I act stupid. If I break this vow, may lightning strike me down, and may I fall into the animal realm, never to reincarnate!”

Gu Qingheng heard exactly what he wanted. His gaze lingered on her serious face before drifting away; his voice light, “Alright.”

That single word made Zhao Mingzhu blink in disbelief. She’d expected to be dragged off by Chang He for interrogation or for Gu Qingheng to lay out a dozen conditions. But he simply said, “Alright.”

Her internal alarm system powered down. She was so happy she nearly bounced in her seat. Who would’ve thought!

This was a case of attempted regicide. If exposed, it could wipe out nine generations. It was egg-yolk-shattering level serious. And yet it ended just like that?

Zhao Mingzhu turned to Gu Qingheng and said, “Your Highness, in my heart, you’re a triple-gold good guy!”

Gu Qingheng didn’t respond. He closed his eyes for a nap, but his mind drifted back to their wedding night—when Zhao Mingzhu had looked at him like he was a serial killer. Whichever version of Zhao Mingzhu she was, it didn’t matter. Keeping her around for amusement wasn’t a bad idea.

Half an hour later, Zhao Mingzhu slowly woke up. She stretched lazily, then turned to find Gu Qingheng already gone.

Huh? Where’d he go?

She lifted the carriage curtain and saw they were parked outside Zhuque Gate.

Yin Zhu’s face suddenly appeared.

“Crown Princess, you’re awake. His Highness was summoned by the Emperor to the imperial study. Will you return to the Eastern Palace or wait here?”

“Oh, I’ll wait.” Zhao Mingzhu thought it over. This was a perfect chance to earn some favor points!

She felt quite pleased with herself and told Yin Zhu she’d stay.

Yin Zhu nodded and stepped aside to wait.

A moment later, Zhao Mingzhu poked her head out of the curtain, smiling sheepishly. “I didn’t eat lunch. Yin Zhu, do you have any snacks?”

Yin Zhu shook her head. “Apologies, I don’t have any on me.” She saw the flicker of disappointment in Zhao Mingzhu’s eyes. “I can go buy some, if Your Highness wishes to wait here?”

Zhao Mingzhu agreed immediately. “Go ahead, I’m not going anywhere.” She braided the tassels hanging from the curtain.

Soon, Yin Zhu returned with a handful of snacks. “Crown Princess, do any of these suit your taste?”

Zhao Mingzhu accepted them all. As she chewed on a piece of honey-dried sweet potato, she asked how Yin Zhu had returned so quickly—wasn’t street vending banned near Zhuque Street?

Yin Zhu, worried that Zhao Mingzhu had figured out she knew martial arts, replied stiffly: “I happened to run into some palace staff out shopping and asked them for a few things.”

“Oh, I see.” Zhao Mingzhu suddenly stopped chewing. She turned to Yin Zhu with a mysterious glint in her eye. “Do you know what your master likes? Tell me.”

This was essential knowledge. If she wanted to butter up the boss, she had to aim straight for the heart.

Yin Zhu tensed. She’d only ever been trained to kill—being a maid was a whole new experience. Luckily, she could still answer this one.

“In the past, His Highness liked killing people. Now, I’m not sure.”

Killing people? Zhao Mingzhu was genuinely puzzled. He didn’t look the type. He was the textbook noble son, born of gold and jade. Anyone would peg him as a refined gentleman. Wanting to kill the original Zhao Mingzhu made sense—she’d brought it on herself. But based on their recent interactions, he didn’t seem bloodthirsty at all.

Then again, Zhao Mingzhu remembered that dream. And suddenly, it didn’t seem so far-fetched.