"Take a good rest," he said, his voice so soft it was almost a murmur. "Tangtang."
The emperor sneered inwardly.
Not familiar?
If they weren't familiar, how could they have been so affectionate for three years?
"There are still many miscellaneous affairs in the Censorate. I would like to take my leave first," Pei Zhaolin said, bowing with his hands clasped.
The emperor smiled on the surface and nodded slightly. "You may leave."
Pei Zhaolin slowly stepped back, then turned and left. From beginning to end, he didn't even glance at Cui Jintang.
Cui Jintang heaved a sigh of relief.
This was fine.
She took a step back and lowered her head to avoid the emperor's inquisitive gaze.
"The palace gate will be locked soon. As an outsider, I really can't stay any longer."
The words "an outsider" made the emperor's eyebrows relax.
He personally helped Cui Jintang up and chided gently, "You're just too well - behaved, child."
"Alright, hurry out of the palace."
Cui Jintang replied in the affirmative.
---
The night was as black as ink. The palace walls were deep. The wind swept across the eaves, kicking up a few withered leaves.
Cui Jintang wrapped a cloak around herself to cover her face and silently walked across the official road.
When she reached the inner - palace entrance, the little eunuch who had carried the lantern for her respectfully handed it to her.
"The palace rules are strict. This is as far as I can accompany you, miss."
Cui Jintang nodded, took the lantern, and turned to leave.
She was very familiar with this official road. She could even walk it with her eyes closed.
Just as Cui Jintang rounded the rockery, she suddenly felt a chill on the back of her neck.
Immediately afterwards, a sweet and cloying fragrance wafted into her nose.
She whirled around and saw a figure standing under the tree.
"You..."
Her clear mind became muddled. Cui Jintang shook her head with dazed eyes. Her body went limp, and she tilted her head and fell.
Just as she was about to hit the ground, the man flashed forward, turned, and caught her in his arms.
Looking at Cui Jintang's peaceful sleeping face, Pei Zhaolin's eyes darkened.
Then, he bent down to pick her up and turned to leave the palace gate.
---
When Cui Jintang opened her eyes again, the canopy above her was embroidered with plum blossoms in branch - breaking style.
The candle beside her flickered twice in the wind, making Cui Jintang's eyes blur.
She raised her hand to shield her eyes, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pei Zhaolin sitting at the desk, reading a book.
Pei Zhaolin sat upright, his eyes downcast as he held the book. Half of his face was in the shadow of the lamp.
His long eyelashes drooped, his thin lips were slightly pursed, and his action of turning the page was slow and unhurried.
The candle wick crackled. The firelight flickered on the tips of his eyelashes, hiding the emotions in his eyes.
"Awake?"
Pei Zhaolin's gaze never left the book. He just turned another page.
His voice was gentle and calm, showing no trace of joy or anger.
Cui Jintang had no strength in her body. She managed to sit up, but her hands went limp and she fell back onto the couch.
Hearing the noise, Pei Zhaolin's action of turning the page paused.
His fingertips trembled.
When Cui Jintang, not giving up, propped up her weak hands and tried to sit up again, Pei Zhaolin put down the book in his hand.
"You've been poisoned by the tendon - weakening powder. It'll be half an hour before you recover."
Cui Jintang half - propped herself up on the couch. The feeling of weakness made her feel like a fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.
She turned to look around. Everything was completely unfamiliar.
A look of confusion appeared on her face. "Where... where is this?"
Pei Zhaolin stared at her quietly, his eyes dark.
His pitch - black pupils were like a bottomless abyss, but the words he said were tender and affectionate, quite unlike his expression.
"What should I call you? Jiang Wu... or the head of the Cui family?"
Cui Jintang's fingertips trembled. Her face still showed confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Pei Zhaolin sighed.
He put down the book and got up. Under Cui Jintang's evasive gaze, he stopped in front of her.
Whenever Cui Jintang was nervous and uneasy, she unconsciously dug her nails into her palm without even realizing it.
Just like now.
Pei Zhaolin suddenly reached out.
His slightly cool fingertips brushed across her cheek, as if she were a fragile treasure.
Cui Jintang trembled all over and tried to dodge.
His hand slid down along her neck and finally stopped on the small mole in the shape of cinnabar.
Pei Zhaolin lowered his eyes and let out a soft laugh.
But there was no trace of a smile in his dark eyes.
"Your people should still be fooling the Xuanjia Army in Boling, right?"
His voice was very soft and gentle. "But I've already sent people to Zhujin Mountain to draw your portrait."
Cui Jintang's heart tightened suddenly. The shock and panic of having her identity suddenly exposed intertwined.
Her pupils trembled violently. She looked at Pei Zhaolin. Countless words came to her lips, but she didn't know how to start.
As time ticked by, the glimmer of expectation in Pei Zhaolin's eyes gradually faded away.
Cui Jintang only managed to say half a sentence. "I had my reasons for doing this."
But Pei Zhaolin had already stood up.
With his back to her, the candlelight cast a long shadow of him.
"Take a good rest," he said, his voice so soft it was almost a murmur. "Tangtang."
"Pei Zhaolin! Listen to my explanation—"
Pei Zhaolin didn't hesitate for a moment. He turned and left.
The door closed.
Cui Jintang stared at the flickering candle flame, her fingertips slowly digging into her palm.
Outside the door, Pei Zhaolin's cold order came faintly.
"No one is allowed to get close."
Cui Jintang's hands could no longer support her. She fell heavily back onto the soft couch.
This chaotic situation was really beyond her expectations.
---
In Jinsheng Mansion, A Xun paced back and forth in a panic, making the elder's eyes dizzy.
Immediately, the elder scolded, "How did they teach you when you were in the Cui family? Have you forgotten the poise of remaining calm in the face of great danger?"
A Xun angrily turned her head. She raised the writing brush in her hand, and the butler in the mansion immediately presented a piece of rice paper.
When the elder saw A Xun writing quickly, his head ached even more.
He looked puzzled. "Couldn't you talk when you were young—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a piece of paper from A Xun was pasted on his face.
It clearly read:
"Old fool, if you keep shouting, I'll feed you to the dog!"
"Blasphemy!"
The elder slapped the stone table.
Zhu Er, who was standing beside him with a saber, quickly stepped in front of A Xun.
Zhu Er didn't have a good look on his face either when facing the elder. "If the elder hadn't misjudged the situation and made a hasty decision, miss wouldn't still be in the palace by now!"
"What does a dead - servant know?"
The elder snorted coldly, looked up at the night sky, and calculated the time.
At this hour, the palace gate had already been locked.
Could it be that she was really trapped in the palace?
The elder's face looked ugly. This was really a mess!
---
Early the next morning.
As soon as Cui Jintang opened her eyes, eight maids stood in front of her.
They were holding all kinds of dresses and jewelry in their hands.
The leading maid bowed to her and said respectfully, "Miss, please get dressed and do your makeup first now that you're awake."
These people were all strangers she had never seen before.
As soon as Cui Jintang got off the couch, her legs weren't used to it yet. Her legs went limp, and she almost knelt down.
In the nick of time, luckily the maid supported her.
Cui Jintang quickly took off the hairpin in her hand and pressed it against the maid's neck, shouting sternly, "Where is this? I want to see Pei Zhaolin!"
Even though the hairpin cut the maid's skin, the maid still calmly repeated, "Miss, please get dressed and do your makeup first now that you're awake!"