Chapter 6
Edward Quan ·
I handed the paper to Father.
“Please return this to the messenger.”
Reading it, his pupils contracted.
He looked deeply at me, shocked and confused, but asked nothing.
He took it silently and went out.
I knew his view of me had changed completely.
I waited a night without reply, almost thinking Zhao Heng meant to keep all the credit—or didn’t believe me.
Early on the third morning, Yunzhou woke me.
“Miss, his people are here again.”
The same young eunuch presented a food box respectfully.
“His Highness says these are the capital’s finest osmanthus cakes. Please try them.”
The cakes were indeed exquisite.
Beneath them lay a slip of paper.
Only a place and time.
[Tonight, midnight. Abandoned temple in the west.]
05
Night was ink-thick.
In dark clothes easy to move in, I slipped past the household guards and crawled through the dog hole in the rear wall.
My practiced movements surprised even me.
I had used it many times to meet Zhao Yi secretly before. Now I used it for another man.
How ironic.
The temple wasn’t far. I found it quickly.
Dark inside. A half-headed Buddha looked fiercer in moonlight.
A figure emerged behind it.
Not Zhao Heng.
A tall man wearing half an iron mask. Killing intent surrounded him. Clearly someone who had crawled out of piles of bodies.
He saluted, voice hoarse.
“Your Highness, the prince waits inside.”
He stepped aside.
A hidden door behind the Buddha stood open, faint candlelight within.
Without hesitation, I entered a small secret room.
Zhao Heng sat in his familiar wheelchair at its center, reading by candlelight.
Only at my footsteps did he slowly look up.
“You came.”
His voice was clearer than expected, unlike his sickly appearance.
“Your Highness.”
I bowed.
“Sit.”
I took the opposite chair.
Only a low table and flickering candle separated us. Light and shadow moved over his face.
Then I noticed how handsome he was—sharp brows, bright eyes, straight nose. His pallor alone made him look ill.
Without disabled legs, he might have been the capital’s finest match.
“Your information was useful.”
He spoke first.
“The Court of Judicial Review is watching Zhang Kainian. Within three days, the Eastern Palace loses an arm.”
Casual as a small matter.
I knew elaborate arrangements and dangerous contests lay behind it.
“Only the beginning.”
I looked at him.
“The crown prince has more weaknesses.”
“Oh?”
His brow rose slightly, interested.
“Tell me.”
“Why assume I’ll reveal every card? We haven’t built the trust needed to share all secrets.”
He smiled.
“What do you want?”
“A promise.”
“After your accession, clear my family’s name.”
“And give Zhao Yi and Qin Wanrou to me.”
My sole obsession since rebirth.
His smile faded. His gaze deepened.
After watching me, he asked, “You bear a grudge?”
“A blood debt deep as the sea.”
I didn’t hide it.
He fell silent.
Only the candle’s crackle sounded clearly in the room.