Chapter Twenty-Eight

Because this matter involved Zhang Jiuling, Li Chengqi was especially cautious; he only instructed a few trusted eunuchs to search everywhere, and I also told Yixi to send word through the Yongtai Palace, saying that she and I were together so there was no need to panic.

But half an hour passed and there was still no sign. From a distance I saw Taiping and the prince consort calmly watching the polo, while my uncle Wu Sansi was at Wan’er’s side whispering — I clenched my palms in private. Although my uncle was not the host of the banquet this time, he was the imperial aunt’s watchful eye, observing every Li family member involved in the feast. If he learned that Yongtai had secretly met with the newly minted jinshi, he would surely report it to the emperor in secret; it would not be a small matter.

Just as I grew anxious, He Fu hurried over from afar and bowed, saying, “Prince, someone saw Zhang Jiuling head toward the East Market. I’ve already sent men to look.” Li Chengqi was silent a moment before saying, “Send word to the Second Prince about this. You come with me to the East Market.” When he finished, he signaled for me to follow. I had my doubts, but I knew he had his reasons, so I asked no more and went with him, slipping away from the apricot garden toward the East Market.

Because He Fuying was handling it all the way, nobody noticed.

The street was crowded, but most people were returning from the Qujiang banks. Li Chengqi steered me inward to avoid the rushing carriages, and in a low voice asked, “Does anyone know where you are?” I shook my head and said, “I only had Yixi instruct the people around Yongtai; I didn’t alarm anyone else.” Li Chengqi acknowledged once, then fell silent.

After a moment, he slipped into an alley and stopped at the gate of a deep residence. He Fuh stepped forward and knocked lightly. After a while an old woman opened the door; when she saw Li Chengqi her expression changed and she hurriedly bowed, ushering us in. She lit lamps to lead the way and brought us into a study, setting out a few cups of hot tea.

He Fuh stepped back out of the room and closed the door.

Li Chengqi looked at my puzzled face, lifted his teacup and took a sip before saying, “Sit down. You can’t go back to the palace tonight.” I glanced at him instinctively; from the distance I could hear the curfew drums beating, and my heart skipped a beat.

He pushed the hot tea toward me and said calmly, “Yongtai left the banquet with Zhang Jiuling without permission. This could be a big or small matter for Yongtai, but for Zhang Jiuling it’s a death sentence. If the people find her tonight, tomorrow the three of us can enter the palace together and say you and she got separated while playing, and that I led people searching after curfew — maybe we can muddle our way out of it.”

Thinking over his words, I realized he had already made this plan back at Qujiang. If he had gone alone to look for Yongtai, people would have wondered why she left her seat by herself. By bringing me out, the three of us could take the blame; at worst we’d be punished for forgetting decorum and losing face, but it wouldn’t implicate Zhang Jiuling.

Yongtai was simple-minded and would never imagine that such an action could ruin Zhang Jiuling’s career, or that it could shove her into the middle of someone’s plotted scheme. Li Chengqi had sent word to the Second Prince; Li Chengyi would surely have made arrangements in the palace, so there shouldn’t be any major slip-ups.

I only relaxed slightly at that point and glanced at him. He merely smiled, bowed his head in thought, and quietly waited for news from outside.

It was utterly quiet; it seemed the only person left in the residence was that old woman. After a while she knocked and came back in, replaced the tea, added some pastries, and hurriedly slipped out again. Though there was a brazier warming the room, it couldn’t chase away the early-spring chill. I hugged the teacup and felt myself growing colder and colder. Seeing no news yet, my heart grew more and more anxious.

If by tomorrow morning we still couldn’t find her, it would truly be a disaster.

Thinking that, I couldn’t sit still any longer. I set the cup down and went to the window, staring blankly at the new willows in the courtyard. I don’t know how long I stood there before my body began to stiffen with cold. Just as I was about to turn to warm myself by the brazier, a pleasant warmth enveloped me — he had wrapped his robe around me from behind and was holding me in his arms.

“You’ve always been sensitive to the cold; why are you still standing by the window?” His voice was right at my ear, carrying the warmth of his breath. My ears burned and I dared not move. After a moment I managed to speak: “This is the only way, but it’s full of gaps. If Princess Taiping also sends people out of the palace to look for us, wouldn’t that alarm a lot of people?” Li Chengqi said, “She is also of the Li family; she wouldn’t want everyone knowing about this.”

I thought of Wu Sansi again, hesitated, then asked, “If my uncle wanted someone to investigate secretly…” He cut me off, saying, “You needn’t worry about Prince Liang for now. He already knows about our relationship. If he were to suspect anything, he’d only suspect that you and I used Yongtai as an excuse to meet outside the palace.” Heat washed over me; after a moment of silence I murmured, “If he tells the Emperor about this, wouldn’t that make things even worse?”

He said nothing, led me to the couch and seated me, took off his robe and draped it over me, and said, “That is precisely the weapon in his hand.” I stared at him in surprise. “He would use this to force you into compliance?” He smiled faintly. “Yes.” I studied his smiling eyes and couldn’t grasp his meaning at once, so I stared at him. He said gently, “He believes I would fear this being exposed, and therefore that I would be coerced into doing his bidding — which is exactly the outcome I want.”

I lowered my head and turned his words over carefully in my mind.

At the Wu family, Ever since Wu Chengsi fell from favor, Uncle no longer faces any obstacles. Now the only one to contend with is the Li household. Crown Prince Li Dan has never been one to fight; if he could hold a lever over the crown prince’s eldest son, he would surely use it to force him to protect his life. That way, Uncle would devote all his energy to the Imperial Grandmother, to Princess Taiping, and to affairs at court—he would no longer bother with Li Chengqi, whose throat he already has in his grip.

Thinking this, I felt every step was part of a scheme, and that even I had become a piece on the board. I stared silently at the ground and didn’t ask anything more.

He watched me for a moment, then let out a small sigh. “Some things, knowing them only makes you overthink,” he said, then suddenly laughed. “But coming out tonight, I had selfish reasons too.” I looked up at him and met his deepening smile and an indistinct tenderness; the question I was going to ask died on my lips.

He slipped his arm around my waist and drew me closer. I looked into his dark eyes and felt my whole body burn; I closed my eyes without thinking. My heartbeat slowed. After a while, a coolness touched my lips as his kisses moved softly and lightly downward; that gentle tenderness alone stole away all my senses.

After a long while, I began to run out of breath, clinging to his shoulder, feeling him try to leave, but sensing his arm tighten even more.

The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the wall, peaceful and serene. The hand that had been cold a moment ago now bore a thin sheen of sweat; I felt both embarrassed and ashamed, yet I didn’t dare push him away. I could only lie quietly against his chest, not daring to breathe heavily.

At that moment, someone knocked lightly on the door. I flinched instinctively, but heard him chuckle and say, “Come in.” The door opened at once; He Fugu bowed and entered, lowering his head as he said, “Prince, the princess and Young Master Zhang have been found.” Li Chengqi replied calmly and instructed He Fu to take them to rest. He Fu didn’t dare lift his head, only responded and hurried out of the study.

That night I lay on the couch behind the screen, while Li Chengqi sat at the desk and read through the night.

I only dozed off briefly near dawn, then was awakened by low voices in the room. When I sat up, the talking stopped; I guessed it might be Zhang Jiuling, so I didn’t pay it much mind. As I passed the screen, I saw Li Longji half-leaning by the writing desk, lifting a lampshade and burning a slip of paper.

I looked at him in surprise; he casually glanced at me and went on to Li Chengqi: “It’s almost time, let’s go.” Li Chengqi put down his scroll and pressed his temple lightly. “Yong’an just woke up. Going out now would risk catching cold. Wait until after we’ve had breakfast.” Li Longji nodded. “Then I’ll go ahead first.” With that he left the room and reached to close the door.

The room fell quiet for a moment. I wanted to ask something, but didn’t know where to begin.

Li Chengqi only smiled at me and said, “After breakfast we’ll return to the palace. Zhang Jiuling has already left; it’s better if you handle Yongtai.” I made a noncommittal sound and sat to one side, remaining silent for a moment before asking softly, “When did the Prince of Linzi find out?” Li Chengqi closed his eyes with a hint of fatigue. “After the treason case was overturned.” He knitted his brows slightly, as if thinking about something important.

Scenes of our next meeting flashed rapidly through my mind, my heart tugged in waves; I couldn’t tell whether it was joy or worry, so I fell silent.

When we entered the palace, Li Longji deliberately saw me to the gate. Seeing me hesitate to speak, he said offhandedly, “What’s this, so quiet the whole way? And here I was, trying to show I care — I even went outside the palace to look for you.” I looked into the crescent of his eyes; hearing those words now carried a different flavor, and I couldn’t help but smile at him and say, “When did you leave the palace?”

Li Longji’s eyes narrowed and he tilted the corner of his mouth, saying, “I left the palace to the beat of the door drum; it’s still the hour before dawn.” He made me laugh, and I said, “Sorry.” He turned his head to look at the palace maids moving on the steps and said, “Sorry for what? You are to be my future wife. If I were to sleep soundly in the palace, wouldn’t people suspect? Besides, you and I have known each other since childhood; since everyone already thinks our feelings are so deep, we must put on a proper show.”

Looking at the elegant curve of his lips, I suddenly realized he was no longer the proud, impulsive youth who used to stand before the Fengyang Gate.

After his mother’s forced death, the treason case, and the matrilineal exile, the pressure he endured was no less than anyone else’s. As for the arranged marriage, the Empress Dowager, who seemed to dote on him, had nevertheless placed him on the very edge of a blade…

His finger tapped lightly on the stone railing as he said, “Second Brother asked me to give you a message.” I was startled for a moment and said, “Second Prince wants to see me?”

Li Longji lifted his head toward the sunlight, his eyes narrowing into slits, hiding all emotion: “The one from your palace who was pregnant—she was given medicine yesterday and miscarried.”

I stared at him in shock, a sudden chill washing over me. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.