What if I promised to keep you safe, no matter what?

While Jiang Yun was leading Jiang Ye into the corridor for a private conversation, I seized the chance to slip out of Jiang Yun’s chambers. Keeping close to the walls, I moved swiftly out of the Eastern Palace.

But before I’d gone more than a few steps, just as I’d tucked the item into my robe, a sharp voice called, “Stop!”

I turned to see Jiang Ye standing several paces away.

“Your servant greets the Fourth Prince,” I said, dropping to my knees.

“Speak. What did my third brother want with you?” Jiang Ye stood with his hands behind his back, the golden threads on his brocade robe shimmering vividly.

So he had seen me leaving the Eastern Palace and followed. The matter of Xue Yi was known only to the three of us; no one else knew the truth. Since Jiang Xuan had already borne the blame, it ought to end there. I could not reveal what Jiang Ye was not meant to know.

“His Highness the Crown Prince only questioned me about the Ninth Prince, but I regret to say I know nothing of the Ninth Prince’s current situation in the Ancestral Temple.”

Jiang Ye let out a cold laugh, his eyes fierce and menacing. “Do you think I’m as easy to fool as my sixth brother? If you dare lie, I’ll crush your bones.”

“Your servant would not dare lie.”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder—Jiang Ye had seized it in a vice-like grip. With just a little more force, I felt as though my shoulder blade might be shattered.

He’d always been known for his brutish strength and violent temper—an unpredictable man who should not be provoked.

“Spare me, Fourth Prince! I speak the truth, every word.”

“Still lying? Tell me, did the Crown Prince also have a hand in what happened yesterday?”

He’d guessed it! I replied at once, “Your servant does not know what the Fourth Prince refers to. The Crown Prince was not present yesterday.”

“I’ve already asked around—there were three people yesterday. Besides you and the Ninth Prince, who was the third?”

“I… I…” For a moment, I scrambled for a plausible name. But if Jiang Ye had already inquired, he must know the third person was someone of high status. Whom could I possibly name?

“Speak! Was it the Crown Prince?” His eyes bored into me, his grip tightening painfully.

“Ah, so it’s the Fourth Prince.”

A clear, calm voice rang out behind him. Jiang Ye froze, then released me and turned. Standing there was Lord Long Zhan.

“Lord Long, what a coincidence. Why are you here and not with the Emperor?”

Long Zhan saluted Jiang Ye with measured respect. “It is my duty to ensure the safety of the palace. Since this place falls within the palace grounds, my presence here should not be amiss. But Fourth Prince, why are you standing so close to a eunuch? From where I stood, it looked as if your hand was on him…”

What had been a mere act of intimidation was now, thanks to Long Zhan’s words, recast as some shocking secret seen by a bystander. He was truly formidable. I saw Jiang Ye’s face darken.

With a flick of his sleeve, Jiang Ye retorted angrily, “This wretch was blocking my way. I was merely disciplining him. Lord Long, what do you mean by such insinuations?”

Long Zhan replied evenly, “I merely described what I saw. If I am mistaken, I ask your pardon. However, if I can misinterpret, so might the guards behind me. Should word of this spread, I fear…”

“How dare you threaten me? Long Zhan, don’t think that because you command the Imperial Guard, I fear you.”

“If the Fourth Prince wishes, he may best me in the training grounds.”

At this, the guards behind Long Zhan burst into laughter. Jiang Ye’s face grew even darker.

“One day, Long Zhan, you’ll fall into my hands,” he spat, and stormed off.

Once Jiang Ye was gone, Long Zhan addressed the guards, “Continue your patrol ahead. I’ll catch up shortly.”

“Yes, sir!”

After the patrol moved on, I quickly thanked Long Zhan. “Thank you, Lord Long, for your timely help.”

“What for?” he replied. “Didn’t the Fourth Prince place his hand on you just now?”

…There was no point in explaining. As a man trained in martial arts, Long Zhan could see perfectly well whether Jiang Ye was simply touching my shoulder or gripping it to hurt me. Why pretend otherwise?

“Your servant will take his leave.”

“How is your injury?”

“It’s nothing serious, thank you for your concern.”

“I have here a bottle of medicine for bruises and sprains. Don’t worry, it’s not some rare concoction—just a common salve we keep in the army for minor wounds. Take it and apply some.”

He held out a small bottle. As my gaze fell on it, I noticed a drop of blood on his sleeve. It was small and near his wrist—easily missed, but I saw it.

The sight made me gasp, “Was it you who killed her?”

“What?”

Realizing my blunder, I fell silent at once. If Jiang Yun wasn’t responsible for Xue Yi’s death, who else could it be but the Emperor? Such a disgrace to the royal family would surely be eliminated, and the Emperor’s most trusted blade was Long Zhan. Just as it had been with Eunuch He.

Long Zhan’s warning last night—not to underestimate the Emperor—must have referred to this.

“I said nothing. Your servant must return to Emerald Palace; Her Highness has tasks for me.”

I turned, head bowed, and hurried away.

“Xiao Xiaozi!”

Long Zhan’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“You knew it was me all along,” he said—not a question, but a statement.

Cold sweat broke out all over me. Every time I tried to hide things from him, he saw straight through me. I was only fourteen, after all, hardly wise or clever enough to fool him.

Now that he knew, how should I respond?

“Yes!” I drew a breath, faced Long Zhan, and said, “Back in the Office of Affairs, when you pointed your sword at me, I recognized you. And in Xue Yi’s case, it was you as well, wasn’t it?”

“Xiao Xiaozi, you truly are as resourceful as they said. Both Consort Tan and the Empress vied for you, and now I see why.”

“What concerns me now is how Lord Long will deal with me.”

A faint smile touched Long Zhan’s lips. “And how do you hope I’ll deal with you?”

“You might choose to let me live. I recognized you early on and have never breathed a word. I am discreet and know how to read the times, so there’s no need for you to go to great lengths to silence me. If I could deduce you handled Xue Yi, I can also guess why. I’m just a servant, wishing only to survive quietly in the palace. I know what to say and what to take to the grave. You spared my life once in the Office of Affairs, perhaps to see what I would do, and even now you haven’t killed me. Clearly, I’ve passed your test.”

Outwardly, I spoke with composure, but inside I was drenched in cold sweat. Long Zhan was unreadable; though I’d crossed paths with him a few times, he was first and foremost the Emperor’s man, and only secondarily someone I knew. Whether he killed me or not depended on a single thought—I could only stake everything on my gamble.

Long Zhan regarded me with a burning gaze. “Not only will I spare your life, I’ll ensure your safety as well. How about that?”

A heavy clang sounded in my heart. Especially under his gaze, I felt my face flush. I stared at him in silence. Behind us, the corridor columns stood in elegant disorder, snow dusted the vermilion railings, and birds occasionally fluttered by, the rush of their wings only making the quiet between us more profound.

I swallowed and steadied myself. “It would be my greatest fortune to have your protection, Lord Long.”

“I’m not afraid you’ll talk. This palace is full of people who know things best left unsaid. Everyone pretends not to see, because speaking out is worse than silence. Xiao Xiaozi, you are clever—that’s why I trust you.”

“I understand.”

Long Zhan placed his hand on my shoulder—the very spot Jiang Ye had gripped. His touch stung.

“No bones broken. Rest for a few days and keep your distance from the Fourth Prince in the future.”

“Yes, sir.”

Since he didn’t press me further, I was relieved. He had clearly made his decision. I couldn’t help asking, “Why did those guards laugh when you mentioned the training grounds?”

Long Zhan adjusted his sleeve and replied lightly, “Back when I competed for the martial champion’s title, the Fourth Prince, full of himself, sneaked into the candidates’ ranks. He managed to defeat quite a few contenders.”

“But in the end, he lost to you and slunk back to the palace, thoroughly humiliated?” The ending was obvious.

Long Zhan nodded. “It was years ago.”

“You achieved success early, Lord Long. I admire you.” Knowing this gave me some satisfaction. Jiang Ye had toyed with me at the archery range, and I’d disliked him ever since.

Long Zhan actually smiled—a rare sight for someone so stern and handsome. It gave him a special charm.

“Go on, then.”

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, I heard him again behind me, “I was not the one who killed Xue Yi.”

“What?”

I spun around in shock.

Long Zhan raised his arm and glanced at the bloodstain on his sleeve. “This came from a sparring match with a guard this morning. He accidentally grazed me and left some blood on my sleeve.”

“Then was it the Emperor who…”

“Xiao Xiaozi, remember this: there are things you shouldn’t ask or know. Don’t go poking where you shouldn’t.”

I bit my lip and said nothing more, turning toward Emerald Palace.

Even as Long Zhan refused to answer, my mind kept circling back—was it really the Emperor who killed Xue Yi? Who else but him would want her dead?