Chapter 71

After receiving Feng Kun's reply, the biting coldness between Xie Ci's brows finally faded. As his eyes fell on the words "retrieve" and "Gu," his heart eased, a gentle warmth rising from his chest, and his body and demeanor gradually thawed. He tossed the letter into the brazier, paid no mind to his dripping wet hair, quickly tied it up, threw on his clothes, and hurried off to the corner room of the west wing's second courtyard.

For the first time, Xie Ci felt that the tunnel Feng Kun had dug was truly remarkable.

Passing through the tunnel, he emerged into a half-old residence. On Feng Kun's side, a man had come to guide them—a tall, slender figure in black named Yin Luo. He stood straight as a rod, exuding the unmistakable aura of a seasoned soldier fresh from the battlefield, though his face was unfamiliar to Xie Ci. He was one of Feng Kun's secret guards, likely the leader.

Xie Ci glanced him over. "Northern Army?"

Yin Luo replied blandly, "A eunuch."

None of the three wasted words. Yin Luo drew a silk map from his breast, spreading it over the battered square table—the map was obviously freshly cut from a larger one, its reverse side lined with blue satin, the cut edge neat and new.

Xie Ci and Li Yi exchanged a glance and immediately turned their attention to the map. Xie Ci cared little for its original size or age; the most urgent matter now was to retrieve Gu Wan as soon as possible. The thought of her made his heart all the more anxious.

"They're in the inner court, close to the Cold Palace area."

The tunnel map was rather complex, crisscrossed with black drainage channels. The vermillion markings indicated hidden doors and mechanisms. Yin Luo pointed out several red dots, "These places must absolutely be avoided."

Xie Ci took in the map, committing it to memory with speed.

Yin Luo spoke succinctly, offering only a few brief instructions. "The best time to retrieve them is tomorrow at dusk. No more than three people per side." He gave Xie Ci and Li Yi a cool glance. "As for you two, the Chancellor recommends only one of you go, if possible."

Dusk—neither too late nor too early, the palace gates not yet locked for the night. Any sudden summons would be risky. If one of them was delayed, it could be explained, but if both disappeared, suspicion would be aroused.

Yin Luo rolled up the map and departed swiftly.

Xie Ci and Li Yi discussed the plan. In the end, Li Yi would stay behind, for Xie Ci had just taken on new duties and his absence could be explained away. Li Yi, on the other hand, had to handle all the visible affairs; in this tumultuous period, his disappearance would be conspicuous.

Li Yi exhaled and hurried off to make arrangements. Xie Ci did the same.

Meanwhile, on Gu Wan's side, all was well.

That day, following Lu Haide into the palace, she was first brought to a palace chamber, where two middle-aged palace maids thoroughly examined her, washing her face and removing every sharp or loose item from her person, including but not limited to hairpins and earrings.

Nearly half of Gu Wan's belongings were confiscated, but fortunately, she had backups of everything.

Afterward, they walked deeper into the palace. The vast, forbidden grounds were silent, with only the occasional patrol of imperial guards or palace attendants passing by—either silent as shadows or hurrying with lowered heads. The only sound was the autumn wind rustling, sending boxwood and ginkgo leaves fluttering down in golden showers.

The one unpleasant aspect was the company of Yu Manzhen.

Yu Manzhen wore a stone-blue cloak, clutching an orange-apricot swaddled infant. With the wind strong, she unfastened her cloak to wrap the baby more securely. The little girl, just over a year old, had fair, tender cheeks and large, timid eyes. She hardly dared to move, glancing warily at the palace alleys and Gu Wan.

Yu Manzhen was tense as a drawn bowstring. In her previous life, she had never been so nervous, but now she held her child like a hedgehog bristling with quills.

It was the first time Gu Wan had seen Yu Manzhen like this, the first time she saw something in her that aligned with her own values—motherly love. It was clear how anxious Yu Manzhen was for the child in her arms.

Gu Wan could not help but ask, "Why don't you stay by your child's side?"

The first three years are so crucial for an infant. The presence or absence of a parent makes all the difference. Surely Yu Manzhen had noticed how timid the girl was, how distant she felt toward her.

Yu Manzhen suddenly turned, her voice hoarse: "Do you know, in my past life, this child didn't survive?"

She died in an accident, lost to the blade. Yu Manzhen had watched helplessly as her daughter's cries were silenced, her face covered in blood. Amidst the chaos of war, the laughter of those women had been like demonic voices ringing in her ears. Li Yi arrived with troops, but it was already too late.

He slaughtered those women, and all the rebel soldiers who had killed his daughter were drawn and quartered, but what did it matter?

Yu Manzhen hated Gu Wan. She was afraid—afraid of repeating the past. From the start, she had done everything, sparing no means, to climb out of the mire of her previous life. She wished to give birth to her child again, but she could not bear to endure that agony twice. She needed the strength to protect them both.

"You'll never understand!"

They reached the palace gate. Yu Manzhen pressed her lips together, turned, and quickly carried the baby into the left chamber.

Gu Wan recalled that in her past life, Yu Manzhen had indeed lost her eldest daughter. Later, she bore a son, and after her death, Li Yi made the boy crown prince, leaving the consort's position vacant.

She scratched her head—how wretched these tragic loves were. Still, Yu Manzhen did not prefer sons over daughters; that was to her credit, though it could not excuse her other faults.

Now, however, was not the time to settle scores.

Yu Manzhen carried her child into the left chamber, and Gu Wan, giving her no further thought, took the right. She cast a casual, covert look over the little courtyard.

After a long walk through the maze of palace alleys, they reached the residential quarters of the inner palace. Gu Wan, who had seen the general layout of the imperial city, estimated she was near the Cold Palace.

The courtyard walls were especially high, a region where only the imperial guards were permitted. The walls were so tall that unless Gu Wan grew wings, escape was impossible. Guards stood outside; once the three entered, the gate was locked. It opened only briefly each day to exchange essentials—food, water, clothing—and was immediately locked again. The guards and the palace matron inside never exchanged a word.

Within the courtyard was a palace matron, who cooked and cleaned, then retired to her corner room, never speaking or making eye contact with anyone.

Other than that, life was quite free. One could walk anywhere in front or behind the house as one pleased.

But Gu Wan's activities were never routine, lest she create a pattern for anyone to exploit. She might sleep until midmorning or rise early; walks were taken or not, entirely at whim.

Life was leisurely and idle. She ate, drank, strolled, and slept as she pleased—an ideal existence for a slacker. The only pity was that Gu Wan was lively as a fish out of water, and such idleness was not ideal for a growing child. Short-term, though, there was no cause for worry.

Having lived there for over half a month, she had grown used to it. On this day, after a night of rain, the sun peeked out. Gu Wan rose early, stretched energetically, then opened her door to resume her explorations.

First, she looked up at the tall red walls on all sides. Predictably, her ideas were not unique—there was only one set of clothes, and each day one was sent out to be washed and another sent back, the fabric so soft and delicate that a tug would tear it. There was nothing suitable to use as a rope, nor had she found anything that could serve as a grappling hook.

She pursed her lips, rolled her shoulders, and stepped outside. The scent of rain-soaked earth hung in the air. The courtyard was small but lush with lawns, flowers, evergreens, a little rockery, a pond, and a pavilion.

Small, but complete in every detail.

As she flexed her limbs, she cast a sideways glance at the kitchen in the rear, where the palace matron was making breakfast. She withdrew her gaze, covertly surveying the lawns, stone benches, and wall bases.

She had not been idle these past weeks, thoroughly searching and tapping every inch of her chambers, even the locked main hall—which, by palace rule, only a mistress of rank could occupy; no servant or outsider was permitted to live there.

Thus, the main hall was locked, but Gu Wan had picked it open and checked. She had also inspected the rooms where Yu Manzhen and her daughter lived, as well as the kitchen.

This time, Yu Manzhen had said nothing. When Gu Wan crept into her room at midnight, she held her child and kept watch for her. Still, nothing was found.

Could the tunnel entrance be outside?

So Gu Wan shifted her search outdoors. She increased her frequency of walks, methodically checking almost every spot in the courtyard. Only the little pavilion and the rockery remained; if those yielded nothing, only the corner room where the palace matron lived was left.

If it really was the corner room, that would be a challenge! Just thinking about it made her head ache. The palace matron, except for cooking and cleaning, spent nearly twenty-two hours a day shut in that little room, living by a rigid routine, almost obsessive in her tidiness, and the room was locked. Gu Wan knew how cautious she had to be just searching the kitchen.

But heaven was kind enough not to make things that difficult for her.

After days of autumn rain and cold winds, there had been a downpour yesterday. The little pond was overflowing; one of the black fish had been swept into a puddle and was flopping desperately.

Gu Wan hurried to scoop it up and return it to the pond. For a few wild fish to survive here was a miracle—she couldn't let it die so easily.

As she bent down, hand in the water, the fish leapt back into the pond. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a stone at the base of the rockery shift slightly.

At that moment, a melodious birdcall sounded outside.

Having once modified the bird calls for the Flowing Cloud Guard and Xie Family Guard—creating complex phrases beyond simple signals—Gu Wan straightened instantly, excitement surging.

She feigned washing her hands, strolled about, glanced at the kitchen, and darted into Yu Manzhen's room. As Yu Manzhen was changing her child's diaper, Gu Wan whispered, "Get ready. Tonight, before midnight, we're leaving!"

Yu Manzhen's head shot up. She glanced at the kitchen, scooped up her child, and nodded at once despite their mutual dislike.

Gu Wan hurried back to her room, retrieved her hidden silver picks and other little gadgets, took off her shoes to extract her wooden hairpins—one, two, three, four—stashed everything, put her shoes and hair back in order.

It was time to go! If she didn't need these gadgets, all the better. She wondered how Xie Ci was doing lately. These weeks, aside from exploring maps, her thoughts had often circled back to matters between herself and Xie Ci. Perhaps it would all be clearer once she returned.

This was no place to linger.

After being locked up for half a month, Gu Wan found herself desperate for freedom.

She was simply not meant to be an obedient, idle fish!

Xie Ci was already on his way!

Before night had fully fallen, the group was ready. Yin Luo brought seven or eight sets of Jinwu Guard black armor, and with his three men, they formed a ten-man patrol squad. "We'll enter from the outer court."

A contact with a small fire led them into the outer court of the imperial city. Disguised as Jinwu Guard, they followed the set patrol route, making their way to the stretch of the Golden Water River behind the Censorate. There, Yin Luo led them, vaulting over the railing into the gushing drainage outlet, and slipped into a small opening on the left.

Only then did Xie Ci realize that this little entrance led to a tunnel tall enough for three people to walk side by side. In the dim light filtering through the opening, he could see black moss in the cracks between the bricks and a thin layer of dust—evidence of frequent maintenance.

The entrance was clearly a mechanism—heavy stone bricks shifted aside, open today.

Yin Luo's voice sounded raspy in the tunnel as he opened the map and pointed out two other spots. "These two exits are open these days as well. If you can't return this way, try those."

Li Yi's side had three people today: Tianqing, his younger brother, and two others—Luo Min and Li Ke—both top hands, skilled and observant.

Xie Ci brought along the Qin siblings, Qin Guan and Qin Ying. With Gu Wan in mind, he had considered bringing Xie Yun, but since Xie Yun was often recognized among the Jinwu Guard and handled affairs in the capital, he decided against it. Qin Guan's military bearing and Qin Ying's presence, should anything befall Gu Wan, would be most useful.

As they moved forward, the tunnel grew darker, lit only by faint gleams from the drainage vents. Suddenly, Qin Ying whispered, "Someone else is here?"

There were faint footsteps ahead, more than one. Xie Ci had heard them long before. After they rounded the bend, Yin Luo said calmly, "Yes, several groups. Normally, we wouldn't have such a good opportunity."

Xie Ci understood at once. The Crown Prince's men and the Emperor's?

It seemed the Crown Prince's plot extended beneath the ground as well. Upon entry, Yin Luo had already shed his outer armor, revealing a second layer of soft black armor, removed his insignia and sword decorations, and donned another set from a hidden pocket, signaling the others to follow suit.

Xie Ci and the others had noticed the hidden pockets but hadn't guessed their purpose. The imitation insignia were those of the Tiger Guard—a trusted unit within the Jinwu Guard. Each had a set of night-black clothing as well—so thin it was nearly translucent.

Yin Luo said, "Normally, these entrances would never be open, and any bad luck would mean discovery."

Feng Kun had planned every step, anticipating all the chain reactions.

"We'll blend in among them. Each Jinwu unit only patrols its assigned area. No one dares cross into another's ground unless it's a dire emergency. Two sets of uniforms—choose as needed."

This was the old Emperor's most heavily guarded area, with tunnels leading directly to Jade Spring Palace. Yin Luo, of course, did not know this; if Feng Kun had, the old Emperor would have been assassinated long ago.

The Tiger Guard, given their position, were especially circumspect. Unless charged with a grave emergency, they would never step into another team's territory.

As for the night-black uniforms, those were the Crown Prince's men.

What was the Crown Prince planning? How would the Emperor trap him? Xie Ci had no interest in such matters. Yin Luo delivered his instructions tersely, then led the way in silence, Xie Ci and the rest close behind.

They were lucky—no one crossed their path. Twice they skirted around others, but avoided direct contact.

Finally, they reached their destination. Yin Luo had scouted the route that morning. He stopped abruptly, and the others immediately halted. He looked up.

Dusk bled into night. The last ray of sunlight vanished below the horizon; darkness swallowed the earth. Across from the little pavilion, the mossy stone at the base of the rockery shifted and was silently pushed aside.

Out on her post-dinner stroll, Gu Wan spotted it immediately!

She glanced back at the corner room, then dashed over, meeting a familiar, cold stare in the shadows below. Her heart leapt—she turned, waving to Yu Manzhen and her daughter, who were anxiously waiting under the eaves.

Yu Manzhen clutched her child and hurried over. The large stone was noiselessly moved aside. At first glance, Xie Ci met Gu Wan's smiling eyes. The sky was ink-dark, streaked with the last traces of crimson. Gu Wan grinned, and so did Xie Ci. He opened his arms, signaling her to jump.

Gu Wan jumped.

Her soft, supple body landed with a rush in his embrace, carrying a faint scent of fresh grass that filled his lungs. Xie Ci's heart raced; as soon as her feet touched the ground, he quickly let her go.

Gu Wan stepped back, stripped off her clothes, including undergarments, to exchange with the maid who would impersonate her, and expressed concern about the palace matron.

The maid nodded; they'd anticipated this and had a plan to switch places quickly.

With this assurance, Gu Wan handed over her garments.

Behind them, rustling sounds signaled the men's backs were turned, eyes skyward. Xie Ci stepped back to cover her, his keen hearing betraying a flush on his face.

Gu Wan changed swiftly and, with Qin Ying's help, climbed up. Xie Ci forced down his roiling thoughts, took her hand, and asked anxiously, "Are you all right?"

He was so nervous his palms were slick.

"It's fine, it's fine. I've been eating, drinking, and sleeping every day—like fattening a pig."

Gu Wan quickly briefed the two maids on the situation. She noticed that Yin Luo had brought a maid of similar build to Yu Manzhen, holding a swaddled baby girl about the same age as hers. The exchange was swift.

Gu Wan couldn't help but ask, "Will the child be safe?"

Yin Luo raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry. She'll be reunited soon." Gu Wan weighed the words "very soon." Well, if they said so, that would have to do.

With the swaps complete, the two women and the child were lifted out, the stone replaced, and the extraction nearly done. Now, all that remained was to withdraw quickly.

But perhaps luck had run out on the way in—they soon encountered others.

The Crown Prince's men must have spotted the Tiger Guard; suddenly, shouts and pounding footsteps echoed from every direction. Pursuers charged toward them from three directions.

A sudden turn of events—one group came straight through a mechanism door, nearly barreling into them.

At that moment, Xie Ci was running with Gu Wan, quietly explaining the maze of tunnels, with Qin Guan and Qin Ying bringing up the rear.

The abrupt change startled everyone. Tianqing and the others from Li Yi's side nearly cursed aloud!

Yu Manzhen was petite; the maid from Yin Luo's side had platform clogs for disguise, but those were for use outside, impossible to run in now. So Yu Manzhen and Li Yi's men changed into night-black uniforms, discarding their armor.

Being mistaken for the Crown Prince's men, Tianqing's group had to flee.

They retreated in both directions—the tunnel was narrow. Yin Luo's men, the Qin siblings, and Li Ke went one way; in the blink of an eye, they were gone, racing into the darkness.

On Xie Ci and Gu Wan's side, after retreating a dozen yards and rounding a corner, they found themselves directly in the path of the mechanism door. Tianqing and Luo Min could only run.

Tianqing snatched the infant from Yu Manzhen's arms and tossed the bundle to Xie Ci and Gu Wan, then crouched to carry Yu Manzhen, with Luo Min covering the rear as they dashed away.

Good heavens!

Xie Ci leapt and caught the swaddled child securely. Gu Wan hastily took her, and Xie Ci shielded her as they drew their swords and followed after Tianqing, Luo Min, and the others.

The black uniforms were the perfect disguise, and the little girl remained asleep.

After a frantic pursuit, they finally broke away from the Tiger Guard and came to a stop, panting for breath.

Gu Wan had been worried the girl would cry. As much as she disliked the mother, the child was innocent. Now that she had accepted responsibility, she was determined to see her safe.

Still catching her breath, Gu Wan turned to speak to Xie Ci, but just as she was about to remark, "This little one is really well-behaved," her foot slipped on a step. The jolt woke the baby, who screwed up her face and wailed.

Oh no, heavens!

The child's cry made both their scalps prickle. Sure enough, Xie Ci's ears caught the sound of hurried footsteps turning their way.

These pursuers could not be left alive!

Xie Ci released her hand, voice low and steely: "Wait here for me." In the darkness, he melted away.

Gu Wan was frantic. The Tiger Guard were elite among the Jinwu Guard—anyone sent here by the Emperor was sure to be the best of the best.

She gently rocked the infant, praying, Please, ancestor, don't cry.

The little girl calmed quickly, sucking her thumb and sniffling after a few pats on the back.

A few muffled noises echoed from ahead. It wasn't long before Xie Ci returned, the scent of blood on him. Gu Wan, alarmed, reached out, "Are you hurt? Are you—"

Her hand landed on his chest muscle.

The armor was a flexible fabric inlaid with small, black, scale-like plates—very strong, yet thin, designed to be worn under heavier armor. Gu Wan felt the contours of his pectorals, the hard, tiny scales adding friction. Neither was prepared for the sensation. The touch sent a jolt through both.

Having just finished a fight, Xie Ci's muscles were tense and responsive. The touch made his chest jump under her hand. She froze, inwardly cursing.

For Xie Ci, the sensation of her hand and the scales brushing a sensitive spot sent a current of heat from the center of his chest down his back, flooding him with energy—and provoking an instant, physical reaction.

He hissed softly.

A strange, delicate tension filled the air.

Then, his voice, now hoarse: "...I'm fine. The blood isn't mine."

Gu Wan cleared her throat. "Let's get moving!"

They wasted no time, but the way out was fraught with obstacles. They soon ran into two more groups—one in black, the other armored Tiger Guard. A brief, bloody skirmish erupted.

They quickly turned and took another route.

But in the chaos, they triggered a mechanism. The side wall of white marble slid open, the floor tilted, and the pair tumbled unceremoniously into the adjacent drainage system.

Xie Ci heard the rush of water. They slid down as if on a chute, landing in a large water reservoir built to keep floodwater from backing up into the tunnels. Gu Wan spotted the faint gleam of water below and, worried about its depth, quickly placed the infant on a stone platform.

Water cascaded from four channels, splashing them both. They slid to the bottom; Xie Ci twisted midair, and they landed heavily on a mossy stone base, just above the water.

Thud.

The stone was slick with moss, a faint light glimmering in the darkness. Gu Wan found herself cradled in Xie Ci's arms, sitting squarely on his thigh, both hands pressed to his chest.

She was suddenly acutely aware of Xie Ci as a grown man—broad-shouldered and strong, his muscles taut and alive beneath her hands, the scent of his body enveloping her.

Gu Wan held her breath.

In this setting, in this position, she could feel his heat and breath, her hands splayed over his chest and abdomen.

She looked up. In the darkness, she saw the sharp line of his jaw and the sensual movement of his Adam's apple. An electric tension, now tinged with fire, sprang up between them.

At last, something ambiguous and intimate flickered to life.

Gu Wan glanced up at Xie Ci's throat and jaw; in the shadows, the play of light and breath was irresistibly alluring.

Inwardly, she marveled—Ah, she knew it! Appetite and desire—indeed, this was the best way to open the door.

This hot, hormonal contact instantly pulled her onto a new track.

She realized she was seeing Xie Ci in an entirely new light.