Chapter 47: Jinhe

Just as Ye Fang had gone to fetch the physician and had not yet had time to rest, now he was being ordered to dredge the lotus pond.

Once Yu Hualiang had finally fallen asleep, the Seventh Prince carried him back to his own quarters. At this time, Yu Hualiang was burning with fever, muttering deliriously, “Don’t come near… Don’t come near…”

“I’m here, Ziliang,” the Seventh Prince grasped his hand, and only then did Yu Hualiang’s murmurs subside.

In the darkness, Yu Hualiang seemed to sense a glimmer of light, and following it, his fear gradually faded.

Worried that his fever might flare up again at night, the Seventh Prince kept vigil by his side all night. The next day, once Yu Hualiang’s fever finally subsided, the prince was able to relax.

Meanwhile, Ye Fang kept watch over the lotus pond all night, and sure enough, a corpse was fished out.

The body’s face was so bloated and disfigured that it was impossible to identify, but from the clothing, it was clear this was a servant, and the features bore some resemblance to Qingzhang.

The Seventh Prince examined the body and ordered his men to check if any servants were missing. The investigation confirmed it: the missing person was indeed Qingzhang, who had been summoned away by Lady Xuan the previous day.

Qingzhang had disappeared after nightfall yesterday. Upon learning that his body had been found, Lady Xuan insisted on seeing it for herself.

The Seventh Prince blocked her path: “What are you doing here?”

Lady Xuan was anxious, dreading the possibility that the corpse truly was Qingzhang. How could he have died so soon, not even a night after leaving with her?

“Your Highness, Qingzhang returned to my quarters with me yesterday. How could he have died here?”

The Seventh Prince ignored her, instead ordering Ye Fang to summon the coroner. The verdict was clear: the man had been dead for over a day. But Lady Xuan knew better than anyone that before last night, Qingzhang had been alive and well in her own quarters.

Only Yu Hualiang could explain the truth behind all this.

Once Yu Hualiang’s fever had broken, Jinhe was assigned to care for him. Seeing her, Yu Hualiang sighed and asked, “Has the Seventh Prince left?”

Jinhe shook her head. “No, he’s investigating the lotus pond in your courtyard.”

“The lotus pond? What for?”

She replied, “Didn’t you know? They found Qingzhang’s body in your pond.”

Yu Hualiang’s face went pale with shock, but Jinhe hurried to explain, “Don’t be afraid. I told them you fell ill after seeing the pond—just as a precaution.”

“How did you move the body…” Yu Hualiang was no fool; the corpse couldn’t have moved itself, and apart from him and Jinhe, no one else knew about this.

Jinhe hung her head. “Seeing how ill you were, and afraid you couldn’t keep up the lie if questioned by the prince, I went to find that friend of yours for help.”

“Cao Zhileng? Where is he now?”

Jinhe pressed Yu Hualiang back onto the bed and continued, “Don’t worry. After I found him yesterday, he already escaped the prince’s manor.”

“What about Lady Xuan?” Yu Hualiang asked worriedly.

“As long as you do as I say, this matter won’t implicate either of us…”

Yu Hualiang had seen plots like this on television plenty of times, but this was his first encounter with such a scheming woman in ancient times. Warily, he asked, “What are you up to?”

Jinhe feigned concern, her face full of “I’m doing this for you.” “I’m just looking out for our future,” she replied.

“Tell me… was it you who killed Qingzhang?”

At this, Jinhe was visibly shaken. Her eyes grew more aggrieved. “You know Qingzhang threatened me… I only did it to protect myself.”

Though she was an expert at playing the victim, Yu Hualiang still caught a flicker of pleasure in her eyes when she mentioned Qingzhang’s death.

Now, Jinhe felt dangerous to Yu Hualiang, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He looked at her solemnly. “Go turn yourself in.”

Jinhe froze, then laughed. “Are you joking? If the Seventh Prince finds out, you’ll be implicated too.”

“I don’t care! A life for a life—that’s just. I’ll testify for you; you won’t be locked away long.”

He threw back the covers, ready to leave, but Jinhe’s expression turned cold. She grabbed his hand, her grip painfully tight, and before he realized it, she had pushed him back onto the bed.

Yu Hualiang was stunned. He was a grown man—how could a girl overpower him so easily? Yet he was pinned, unable to move.

“What do you want? Let go!”

Tears welled up in Jinhe’s eyes and splashed onto his face, as if she were the one being held down. Yu Hualiang was amazed at her acting skills.

“Please, Master Yu, have mercy on me. If I’m imprisoned, what will become of me?”

“I don’t think you need pity. What kind of weak woman can pin a grown man to the bed? Who are you, really?”

Jinhe ignored the question, continuing, “All you need to say is that Qingzhang’s behavior was inappropriate and, fearing you’d report him to the prince, he threatened you and injured your hand. But you generously forgave him. Later, because Lady Xuan took a liking to him, you let her have him, and who could have foreseen his death?”

“No! What about Lady Xuan?” Yu Hualiang protested.

“Don’t worry. She’s the daughter of a high official. The prince won’t harm her.”

Now Yu Hualiang understood—she wanted to distance herself from any responsibility, no matter who else she implicated. Such a selfish woman! How could he betray Qingzhang and Lady Xuan like this?

“Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”

Jinhe saw he wouldn’t comply and sighed. “Aren’t you worried about your friend? If they find out Cao Zhileng is still alive, and that he helped you… wouldn’t the prince kill him too?”

True, if Cao Zhileng was discovered, who knew what the prince might do?

He was bitterly reluctant but realized the stakes. “Are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Jinhe suddenly leaned in close, making Yu Hualiang uncomfortable. She abruptly pulled him up, then fell back herself, so that he tumbled on top of her.

He quickly pushed himself up, about to demand what she was playing at, when the door swung open.

“Ziliang…”

The Seventh Prince stood there, stunned into silence.

Yu Hualiang looked from the prince’s expression to Jinhe’s subtly triumphant face beneath him, suddenly realizing her ploy.

Desperate to avoid a misunderstanding, he scrambled up and explained anxiously, “It’s not what you think, Your Highness! Let me explain!”

“Your Highness, you’re mistaken. Master Yu merely tried to get up and I went to assist him. He’s still weak from illness, that’s all…”

Yu Hualiang thought she would accuse him of impropriety, but instead, she exonerated him.

Though the prince’s expression was hard, his smile was tinged with a twisted gentleness. He lifted Yu Hualiang into his arms, saying, “You may leave.”

Jinhe gave Yu Hualiang a glance and exited. Once she was gone, the prince set Yu Hualiang on the bed. Yu Hualiang was about to explain when, without warning, the prince pressed a kiss to his lips, silencing him.

The prince held him tightly, making it impossible for Yu Hualiang to break free. He could only let the prince kiss him, the fervor relentless as a torrential downpour. When at last it relented, Yu Hualiang was left breathless, slumped against the prince’s shoulder.

“Hey… enough already?”

The prince stroked his hair gently, and after hearing this, placed another kiss on his hair. Irritated, Yu Hualiang shoved him away. “That’s enough!”

The prince said nothing, only pulled him back into his arms, holding him still, his voice hushed, “Don’t ever scare me like that again… Don’t fall for anyone else but me…”

“Are you… jealous?” Yu Hualiang asked.

The prince nodded against his neck, pecking softly, a far cry from his earlier demeanor—more like a child now.

After a moment, the prince released him and asked, “Did you kill Qingzhang?”

Yu Hualiang was dumbfounded. “Of course not! Why would I?”

The prince’s tone softened. “Even if you did, it doesn’t matter. What did he do to you?”

Vivid images of Qingzhang trying to touch Yu Hualiang flashed through the prince’s mind, and Yu Hualiang, seeing his expression, realized what he was imagining.

He pulled a face. “Nothing happened!”

“Then what about your hand?” the prince asked, taking his hand to examine the wound.

Yu Hualiang suddenly remembered the injury—there was no way to explain it away now. He might as well use Jinhe’s story.

Resigned, he began, “Actually… it’s like this. Qingzhang would always—late at night—be improper with the maids, keeping me up. I scolded him that night…”

“So that night… you came to my quarters to hide?” the prince asked.

Yu Hualiang hadn’t meant to say that, but since the prince gave him an out, he nodded and continued, “Then, fearing I’d report him, he cut my hand with a knife…”

“Is it only your hand? Are you hurt anywhere else?” asked the prince, worry evident.

Yu Hualiang pulled away the hand that was wandering over him and replied, “No. I talked him down, then Lady Xuan came and took him away… Maybe he killed himself out of fear.”

The prince embraced him again. “As long as you’re safe. Qingzhang took his own life out of guilt.”

But Yu Hualiang grew uneasy—the way things were being framed, it was as if he’d orchestrated Qingzhang’s death and, by virtue of his closeness to the prince, made it look like a suicide.

He had to clarify once more, “I swear I didn’t kill him! You have to believe me!”

“I believe you…” The prince gazed at him with such sincerity that Yu Hualiang’s grievances faded.

Suddenly remembering, he asked, “Lady Xuan… she must be terribly frightened. Is she all right?”

A flash of anger lit the prince’s eyes. “Don’t mention her.”