My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 60

Helan Ci herself could no longer remember clearly—it felt as though time had stretched invisibly longer.

In truth, her current days were not much different from before she and Lu Wuyou were married. In fact, without having to worry about the household running into debt or about her own marriage reputation, things were even more relaxed. She could also do whatever she wanted with more freedom.

However, whenever she passed by his study, she couldn’t help but glance at the door.

As if Lu Wuyou might walk in from there at any moment.

He always walked briskly. After leaving the study, he would loosen his collar and head straight to the bedroom to change into casual clothes. If he ran into Helan Ci, he’d raise his brows in a smile, greet her, and then ask the cook what was for dinner. When in a particularly good mood, he’d even circle around to kiss her for a bit, regardless of the occasion.

If Helan Ci was in the middle of something serious, she would sometimes find it a little annoying.

Now that annoyance was gone, and strangely enough, she felt a bit empty instead.

With Lu Wuyou gone, fewer people came to visit. Helan Ci put all the articles she had read before into Lu Wuyou’s study. However, if she suddenly thinks of any questions, there is no one to ask.

She sat idly in Lu Wuyou’s study for a while.

Realizing she was wasting time meaninglessly, she clearly still had so many things to do.

Shuangzhi then suggested again, “How about we go for a spring outing?”

Helan Ci replied, “No need. Going out now would likely just invite unnecessary trouble.”

Ever since Lu Wuyou left, more people had been sneaking glances at the gates—not just those with bad intentions, but also onlookers. Everyone knew that Helan Ci’s beauty was the talk of the capital, and now that her husband had been away for months, gossip and idle chatter were bound to stir.

Shuangzhi drooped her head and said, “Then don’t be unhappy.”

Helan Ci asked in surprise, “How could I be unhappy?” After a pause, she said, “At most, I just feel it’s a bit too quiet.”

Shuangzhi said, “But… but you haven’t smiled in a while.”

Only then did Helan Ci come to a faint realization.

It wasn’t just quiet. After a certain someone left, even the days themselves seemed dull.

Yao Qianxue, knowing she was alone, came specially to visit her. Stroking her hair, she comforted her, “It’s normal for officials to be away on assignments.”

Helan Ci smiled in response, “I know.”

She knew well how her own father used to run all over the place, barely home at all.

Yao Qianxue added, “If you’re feeling bored, why don’t I take you to a banquet? Although it’s been raining a lot lately, watching the flowers and the rain from a pavilion is a different kind of pleasure. They’re also holding poetry gatherings and zither recitals and the like. If you’re interested, I’ll help you get an invitation.”

Helan Ci thought for a moment, but politely declined. She didn’t really want the hustle and bustle.

Yao Qianxue was also quite helpless, so she continued to share some gossip. When she got to talking about Second Miss Wei and Lin Zhang, she animatedly said, “It really made me laugh to death. Though Marquis Kangning’s second daughter has always been blunt, did you know? She was actually complaining to her close friend that she thought Young Master Lin might be… lacking in ability¹. But Lin Zhang overheard her! He looked utterly stunned and blurted out that they hadn’t even consummated their marriage. The young lady was indignant and said, ‘Isn’t that proof you’re the problem?’ They ended up in a huge fight. Though it’s just gossip from the servants, it’s still hilarious. But seriously, they’ve been married for so long and haven’t consummated… Maybe something really is wrong with him.”

Helan Ci inexplicably blushed at the corners of her cheeks.

Fortunately, she and Lu Wuyou had consummated their marriage, but… Helan Ci came to her senses and thought, why was it that every train of thought always circled back to Lu Wuyou?

But she couldn’t help but ask, “After getting married, do most couples consummate right away?”

The unmarried Yao Qianxue answered with the tone of someone experienced, “Of course. Isn’t it usually done on the wedding night? You wouldn’t believe it—there was this young lady from a very proper, scholarly family. Maybe no one told her what to expect, and she found the whole thing too shameful. Even after marrying, she refused to consummate for over a month. In the end, it almost led to a divorce.”

Helan Ci: “…”

Yao Qianxue continued to give examples, saying, “Your man must be the same, right? He was so eager to marry you before the wedding, I just feel he must… cough cough cough, but considering how good he is to you, I won’t say any more.”

Helan Ci felt a bit embarrassed.

Judging by… his enthusiasm, she had probably made him hold back for quite some time.

“But now that he’s away for so long, you’d better be careful. Write him more letters and send him some things. Don’t let him get carried away out there thinking he has other options…” Yao Qianxue advised earnestly.

Helan Ci nodded and pondered for a while.

Lu Wuyou had told her that if she had letters, she could have them sent through Dongfeng Buye shops. But she didn’t have anything interesting to write about. She couldn’t very well fill a letter with the gossip Yao Qianxue had just told her.

For the moment, she wasn’t even sure how—or whether—to begin.

In the end, Yao Qianxue shared a few more amusing stories, then hugged her and said, “Xiao Ci, I’ll come visit you again next time.”

But Helan Ci never expected that next time, it wouldn’t be Yao Qianxue coming to see her, but her rushing to find Yao Qianxue in a hurry.

When she received the news, Helan Ci was momentarily flustered, but immediately sent someone to prepare a carriage to go to the Yao residence.

——Her uncle, Daren Yao, who was the Vice Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was dismissed and exiled, apparently due to issues with the ministry’s accounts.

Helan Ci heard a few words from the Ministry of Revenue officials who went with her on land surveys. It seems that the emperor needed some money, and there were issues with the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts, so someone had to take the blame.

As for why money was needed, Helan Ci suddenly remembered something Lu Wuyou had told her: His Majesty seemed to be planning to build an Ascension Tower, a structure to rival the Three Great Halls, which would cost a fortune. The Ministry of Revenue was likely already running low on funds.

Even adding in the extra taxes squeezed out from the capital’s nobility during the last survey was merely a drop in the bucket.

At this moment, the servants of the Yao residence were already bustling about, moving things around.

When the Emperor tells you to scram, there’s no room for delay.

Yet the atmosphere wasn’t as bleak and desolate as Helan Ci had imagined—it even appeared rather orderly.

Helan Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had witnessed the horrors of a house raid in her childhood, where lives could be lost in a brutal manner.

But perhaps officials in Dayong had long since grown accustomed to such rises and falls. This wasn’t the same as falling from grace—being dismissed and sent away was no more than taking an extended leave. As long as one still had connections at court, it wasn’t that hard to climb back up once someone submitted a recommendation memorial.

Even so, she couldn’t really feel happy.

At the very least, Yao Qianxue was sobbing and sniffling. Helan Ci quickly went over and whispered soothing words. Yao Qianxue sniffled and said, “I’m supposed to get married after the New Year, now I’m definitely going to be the laughingstock.”

Before Helan Ci could offer much comfort, Song Qichuan arrived with his men.

Regardless of being outdoors, Yao Qianxue immediately threw herself into Song Qichuan’s arms, tears rubbing off on his clothes. “Chuan-chuan, what am I going to do? My parents are leaving soon, and I’ll only have you left…”

This stern-faced military officer once again looked helpless, merely holding the girl in his arms gently and saying, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Then he added, “Everything will be arranged properly. I’ll make sure Lord Yao travels safely.”

That was probably the longest sentence Helan Ci had ever heard him say.

Yet Yao Qianxue, as if not comforted at all, kept weeping and clutched tightly at his sleeve, burying herself even deeper in his embrace. “My father’s been demoted. Will you look down on me? Will you not want to marry me anymore?”

Song Qichuan’s body stiffened, tightening his embrace around her even more. He quickly shook his head and said, “No… I want to marry you.”

“What if people laugh at me?”

Song Qichuan’s voice grew slightly cold. “Who dares laugh at you.”

Yao Qianxue shook her head, tears still falling like rain. “But I’m still scared… sob sob… I want to marry you right now. I’m afraid of anything going wrong. What if your parents suddenly make you marry someone else? What if we can’t get married on time? Chuan-chuan, I don’t want to be separated from you.”

Song Qichuan was even more anxious than she was, carefully wiping her tears with his sleeve as if handling precious treasure, softly coaxing her, one step away from making vows and oaths.

Helan Ci suddenly remembered Lu Wuyou’s words, “You should rely on me a little,” and she seemed to understand his meaning.

She had become used to holding back like this. Expressing everything so openly like her cousin was not an easy thing for her. She always worried she’d trouble him or that he’d find her a nuisance.

It’s subconscious cautions and restraints.

But… At that moment, watching her cousin openly pour out her anxieties in her fiancé’s arms, she felt a faint trace of envy.

Helan Ci thought about the days and realized—it really had been a long time since he left.

So long… she was starting to miss him.

As Lu Wuyou had said, perhaps he was under surveillance in Yizhou, or perhaps there was danger. He’d been gone two months with not even a word returned, no news at all, and no clue when he’d come back.

Days of endless rain seemed to have made the Qinglan River overflow its banks again.

The skies over the capital were always shrouded in mist.

Helan Ci picked up her brush, wanting to write a letter to Lu Wuyou. She deliberated for a long while and only managed to write a few sparse lines. Then she crossed them out and rewrote them—wanting to reassure him, wanting to know how he was doing, and wanting to share a bit of her own thoughts. But expressing it all was unexpectedly difficult.

So she wrote on and off for a few days, then took another sheet of paper, intending to rewrite it.

She hadn’t even finished writing the opening address when Shuangzhi burst in, panic-stricken and stumbling, and said, “N-No, it’s bad… I just heard…”

Helan Ci had never seen her so flustered.

“What is it? Speak slowly.”

But Shuangzhi was tongue-tied for a moment. “I… heard something about young master…”

Helan Ci abruptly looked up. “What about him?”

Shuangzhi seemed hesitant to speak, stammering for quite a while before saying, “It’s all rumors from outside. I don’t think it’s necessarily true… They—they say young master… died in Yizhou.”

That was absolutely impossible.

Lu Wuyou dared to venture into danger alone because he was highly skilled and confident, with a well-thought-out plan. There was no way he would perish so easily in Yizhou.

However, in that moment, Helan Ci felt her hands and feet turn cold, and her heart skipped a beat.

The brush in her hand was almost snapped in half by her grip, carving a deep, glaring black line across the paper, the ink bleeding through the entire sheet.

She opened her mouth, took a long while to find her voice again, and said dazedly, “…What exactly happened?”

“I heard, I heard it was an accident, it seems like there was a big fire in a lumber warehouse in Yizhou, and young master, he, he seems to not have escaped…” Shuangzhi stammered, not daring to look at Helan Ci’s expression. “Afterwards, only a few charred… bodies remained. But I believe the Master is a person of good fortune, he definitely won’t be in any danger, it’s all just hearsay…”

Helan Ci tried hard to steady herself. “Go and find out more.”

“Yes, I’ll go now. Please don’t worry too much! young master will be fine for sure!”

Helan Ci slowly sat down on the chair, supporting her forehead with one hand and taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself. In this kind of situation—where there was no body—she was almost certain Lu Wuyou was still alive, probably faking his death on purpose. However, the distance between them made it impossible to dispel her worries and unease.

…Even if he wasn’t dead, things probably weren’t going well for him either.

He was risking himself over there, and she could only wait here.

This feeling was awful. Absolutely awful.

Helan Ci’s guess was not wrong. By dusk, a passerby pretended to ask for water and came to their door. As the gatekeeper handed him a ladle, the man discreetly passed him a slip of paper.

The paper was handed to Helan Ci. When she unfolded it, she saw Lu Wuyou’s familiar handwriting—elegant, with a hidden sharpness—now appearing even more casual than before.

—All is well. Don’t worry. Inconvenient to explain. Your husband, Wuyou.

Just some hasty lines.

Helan Ci’s heart settled slightly, but then she realized he still hadn’t mentioned a return date. He must still be in Yizhou investigating the case. At this rate, it might truly be months before he came back.

The waiting became all the more difficult.

After Shuangzhi finished inquiring, she returned with a mournful face. Instead, Helan Ci was the one who comforted her: “It’s fine, there will be a turning point.”

She sounded calm, but that night she hardly slept. Tossing and turning, she eventually slipped into a dream.

In the dream, Lu Wuyou wore the same plain clothes he had on when he left. Behind him, a sea of flames blazed. He looked at her, his usually sly and smiling peach blossom eyes now lowered, quiet, and even tinged with sorrow.

Helan Ci hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong? Where is this? When did you come back?”

But Lu Wuyou only took slow steps backward, his gaze growing sadder, his voice faint and drifting: “Miss Helan, I might not be able to come back.”

Helan Ci rushed forward: “Why? Didn’t you say you were fine? Why can’t you come back? Say it clearly!”

Thick smoke surged behind Lu Wuyou, the swirling fog curling around him. The sea of fire behind him grew ever more terrifying, flames leaping to the sky, lighting the heavens ablaze, casting an even paler hue upon Lu Wuyou’s face.

Lu Wuyou took another step back, almost stepping into the sea of fire, and said, “I lied to you, just so you wouldn’t worry.”

Helan Ci’s heart tightened, and she shouted, “Lu Wuyou, stop right there! You’re not allowed to go any further!”

Suddenly, Lu Wuyou smiled at her, his eyes like rippling waves, and his smile was so enchanting it seemed to bewitch her, truly like a ghost in the dark night. He reached out his hand to her, his fingertips seemingly sketching the outline of Helan Ci in the air.

Carrying a hint of unspoken deep affection.

His soft, clear voice was so faint it seemed it would vanish with the wind.

“…But I’m already dead. How could I possibly come back?”

—And in the next moment, the tongues of fire swallowed him whole.

Helan Ci jolted awake. The front and back of her sleeping robe were completely drenched in sweat. Her forehead, too, was slick with cold moisture.

Her fingers clutched the bedding tightly, knuckles white, and for a moment she felt she could barely breathe.

All around her, it was deathly silent.

Even the lights were extinguished. Only the icy, flickering night wind remained, so chilling it truly felt like a ghost had visited her in a dream.

It was late autumn, after all. The wind blows and the sweat cools.

Helan Ci shivered.

She kept repeating to herself that Lu Wuyou was fine, that it had only been a dream. Her rational mind was clear—she knew Lu Wuyou wouldn’t be so reckless. The handwriting was his, the tone was his. There was no doubt he was still alive.

But emotionally, she couldn’t shake the unease.

*****

Upon hearing news about Lu Wuyou, Yao Qianxue came to see her immediately.

Even her scatterbrained brother, Helan Jian, brought a letter from their father to her door.

“Xiao Ci, are you okay?” Helan Jian handed her the letter and looked at her with concern. “I asked around for you. Actually, it’s not certain yet. Yizhou is so far away, maybe he is not dead, and… if it really doesn’t work out, we can just find someone better! It’s not like he was anything special—just a little better looking and can write a little. Brother knows loads of people at the Imperial Academy!”

Helan Ci opened the letter. Her father tried to comfort her with a few lines.

But the awkward tone—it was almost like the timid way she herself wrote her letters home.

Helan Jian was still rambling: “Xiao Ci, you’re not seriously thinking of being a widow for him, are you? That won’t do. You’ve got to live happily…”

“I’m fine. Brother, you should go back now.”

Helan Ci had still wanted to say a few more words, but when she heard that phrase “live happily” her heart tightened again.

She had never thought that staying alone in the manor could be such a tormenting thing. It was as if she were tied up and helpless against everything.

Gradually, a crazy idea came to her mind.

Helan Ci held her bow, shooting arrows one after another at the target. She was getting better and better at archery. Although hitting the bullseye was still difficult, she could almost always stay within the ring.

Ten long arrows flew in quick succession—whoosh, whoosh—piercing the target one by one.

Each arrow carried more strength than the last.

The slight sense of release took away a little of the irritation that had plagued her for days.

But soon, more frustration rose to take its place.

In her ears, Lu Wuyou’s voice echoed: “You could be freer. You don’t have to stay here…”

“Do whatever you want to do…”

It sounded even more real and bewitching than in her dreams.

Outside the manor gates, the voices of the guards stopping someone could be heard again.

“Furen is not receiving visitors. Please understand.”

Rumors in the capital were boiling over. No one had expected that the famous, emperor-favored Lu daren, who had just married the much-admired miss Helan and looked like he had a bright future ahead—would lose his life delivering an imperial edict to Yizhou.

While some sighed that the heavens were jealous of talent, others’ minds turned with opportunity.

Lu daren was gone—didn’t that make the miss Helan a widow?

And she hadn’t even reached her twenties yet. She was still young and beautiful.

The country didn’t forbid widows from remarrying. In fact, marrying her might be easier than before. Wasn’t this the time to hurry and show some concern?

So, the gates of the Lu Manor had suddenly become bustling in recent days.

“I was Lu Daren’s good friend! I’m truly worried about his affairs—how is sister-in-law doing?”

“I knew Lu daren too! Now that he’s gone, does the household need any help…”

“What a coincidence, me too!”

But the gates of the Lu residence remained tightly shut, and they were all turned away.

After all, Helan daren was still in office, and Lu Wuyou’s body hadn’t yet been returned—no funeral had been held. Officially, he was still alive. These men didn’t dare to go too far and left in embarrassment.

The crazy idea in Helan Ci’s heart became more and more intense.

Lu Wuyou had taken Qingye with him, and she wasn’t particularly familiar to the others in the manor. So she called for Zizhu.

“If I wanted to leave the capital, do you think it’s possible?” she asked.

Zizhu was stunned, then replied in a serious tone, “This subordinate is only responsible for the young furen’s safety. The rest is for you to decide.”

“—So if I go to Yizhou, it’s not impossible?”

Zizhu paused, then said, “This subordinate does not know.”

Helan Ci was silent for a moment, then said calmly, “I want to go to Yizhou.”

Just like how, even knowing that Lu Wuyou was likely fine, she still couldn’t help but worry.

Even knowing that staying in the house might be the safest, the thought of going to Yizhou had become nearly unstoppable.

For the first time, Helan Ci had such a rebellious thought.

And then…

Helan Ci made another visit to the Helan residence.

Her father wasn’t surprised. He only looked at her and sighed, “If you want to come live here, it’s better to wait a little longer. Otherwise…”

Helan Ci said, “Father, that’s not what I came to say. I wanted to ask you something—do you still remember the case of the former Yizhou Censor, Shen Yiguang?”

Helan Jin’s expression immediately changed. “Why are you asking about that?”

Helan Ci didn’t waste words and said directly, “Father, Lu Wuyou didn’t just go to Yizhou to deliver an edict—he went to investigate a case. It is this very case. I heard that before that censor death, he submitted a memorial to the Censorate. I don’t know if it’s related to the case, but could you…”

Helan Jin’s tone turned stern at once. “This is not something you should be involved in. Just go home and stay put.”

But that didn’t scare Helan Ci in the slightest.

She even raised her voice slightly, “Father, there’s something suspicious about this case—if even he could see it, I don’t believe you didn’t. You must’ve had your reasons for not pursuing it further. But Lu Wuyou may have died in Yizhou because of this investigation. I can’t just ignore it. I’ve already decided to set off for Yizhou soon. Whether you support me or not doesn’t matter—I only came to ask.”

Helan Jin’s tone suddenly grew anxious. “You want to go to Yizhou?”

Helan Ci said, “Yes.”

Helan Jin snapped, “Absolutely not!”

Helan Ci replied calmly, “I’m already married, Father. I’m no longer just your daughter. As a wife, women should follow her husband. He went to Yizhou—I go to Yizhou. It’s perfectly reasonable. You can’t stop me.”

Helan Jin looked at this daughter who, while a bit rebellious before, had always been mostly obedient—and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

He had thought that once she married, she would dutifully support her husband and raise a family. He hadn’t expected that after this one return, she would become even more defiant than before.

He didn’t even know where she got the confidence from.

He stared at her for a long moment.

Her gaze was firm, her soft and clear eyes as steady as still water—without a trace of hesitation or doubt. It was as if she knew the road ahead would be full of hardship, but was still willing to forge ahead without turning back.

It suddenly reminded Helan Jin of himself, when he first stepped into officialdom.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to investigate the case—it was that he simply couldn’t spare himself. The higher one stood, the more one had to tread carefully. He always wanted to do more for the people of the world, but one man’s strength had its limits.

He didn’t want her to know too much. That, too, was for her protection.

But his daughter was his daughter, through and through.

Just as stubborn.

After a moment, Helan Jin closed his eyes, a trace of weariness in his voice. “I understand.”

Helan Ci hadn’t expected that her crazy idea would actually begin to take shape in reality.

In the past, it wasn’t unheard of for a wife to go seek out her official husband in another province. But her case was different—Lu Wuyou had gone to Yizhou and vanished without a trace, his life or death uncertain. Moreover, he wasn’t even serving an external post. However, after making this decision, she felt relaxed all over.

Suddenly, she even felt very comfortable.

While reading a book, one of the two girls sent by the Second Prince, Yulian, came to her and said, “I heard Furen is going to Yizhou?”

Helan Ci nodded, only then recalling that these two girls were also from Yizhou.

Yulian hesitated a moment before speaking. “Furen may not know, but my elder sister is still in Yizhou, and she is…” She seemed to struggle with the words. “She is a concubine in a prefect’s household. I have a letter here. Furen…”

Helan Ci answered truthfully, “I may not be able to deliver it.”

Yulian said, “It doesn’t matter. I just thought, perhaps I could be of some help to Furen. If you don’t trust me, you may open the letter—it’s just a regular family letter.”

Helan Ci was slightly surprised. She hadn’t expected kindness.

Though she had remained guarded ever since learning the girl had been sent by the Second Prince, at this moment, she felt a rare sense of warmth.

“Thank you,” regardless, she said softly.

Everything was prepared within days.

Helan Ci traveled even lighter than Lu Wuyou had. She had even mapped out a route—if Yizhou turned out to be a dead end, she would head to Qingzhou instead. Once there, she would send a letter and have Lu Wuyou meet her in Qingzhou. It was close to Yizhou anyway, and far preferable than staying in the capital.

Before departure, Shuangzhi was still anxious. “Does miss really have to go to Yizhou? Everyone’s saying…”

It was as if she were headed to mourn someone. And indeed, she had been wearing white every day since his departure.

Helan Ci spoke lightly, “If he’s alive, I want to see him. If he’s dead, I want to see his body. Either way, I don’t want to stay passively in the capital.”

This kind of helpless waiting was simply too tormenting.

The sky, gloomy for days, finally cleared. Helan Ci took one last look at the gates of the Lu residence, then stepped into the carriage without looking back.

The wheels rumbled as the carriage rolled out of the city.

Helan Ci was a known figure, so the journey out of the city was unusually smooth, almost entirely unobstructed.

But just as she disappeared down the road, whispers stirred among the bystanders.

“…I didn’t think Helan Furen would be so devoted. She really went to Yizhou!”

“I thought she was just a beauty. Who would’ve thought…”

“She’s really has deep feelings for Lu Daren, isn’t she?”

“Well… Even I feel a little envious of that Lu Zhuangyuan…”

There had been no obstruction within the city, but outside the gates, things weren’t so simple. They had left early in the morning to make good time, but after traveling for about an hour, someone blocked their path.

A voice outside sounded vaguely familiar.

“…This is the carriage! I’d recognize it anywhere!”

“Helan Furen, please wait!”

The carriage was halted.

Helan Ci lifted the curtain and looked out—then suddenly recognized the figures before her. The pursuers matched a scene from a distant dream. They were people from the Eastern Bureau². Leading them was a eunuch, with a piercingly sharp voice.

She had considered sneaking out of the capital in the night. In fact, in the dream, that was exactly what she’d done. But the Eastern Bureau and the Jinyiwei Guards always had sharp ears and eyes, they’re always alert. Even if she had really managed to evade all the court’s eyes and ears, it would also have raised suspicion.

Better, then, to leave openly. And besides, with her father still holding office, even the most malicious would have to tread lightly.

In the dream, she had been frantic and terrified, focused solely on escape. But now, she felt surprisingly calm.

Helan Ci even made a prearranged hand gesture, signaling Zizhu and the others to stay calm and not act rashly—because she knew exactly who had sent these people.

She hadn’t thought that Xiao Nanxun could command the Eastern Bureau. It was surprising, but not entirely unexpected.

The eunuch approached, his manner still quite courteous. “Helan Furen, a noble personage would like to invite you for a talk. Would Madam be willing to oblige?”

He looked harmless. He probably thought she was weak woman—at most, capable of drawing a bow.

Helan Ci decided to test whether her months of training had paid off. In a gentle voice, she said, “Then would you kindly come closer and tell me, which noble personage?”

The eunuch, hearing her calm and even somewhat friendly tone, relaxed. He thought perhaps this Helan Furen was sensible after all. Her husband was dead, and their master was…

He stepped forward with a flattering smile. “Furen, rest assured…”

If this woman gained favor, perhaps he might even rely on her in the future.

But before he could react, he felt himself yanked forward. A thin but unrelenting arm locked around his throat. A cold, gleaming dagger pressed against his throat.

Helan Ci clutched his neck tightly and said, “Eunuch. Now, I wonder, could you let me go?”

The eunuch’s eyes widened in shock. He had not anticipated this turn of events.

He stammered, “Furen, surely you jest. Please, let go of me…”

But the dagger pressed harder against his throat.

Helan Ci remained unnaturally calm as she said, “You give me a way out, I give you one too. Isn’t that good?”

The dagger dug a little deeper.

Finally, the eunuch panicked, stammering, “Furen, I—I’m only following orders! Please, be careful, don’t… don’t make things difficult…”

Helan Ci had just opened her mouth when a cold, slippery voice—like a snake hissing—cut in.

“—Helan Ci, even if you kill him, you won’t get away.”

She turned toward the voice.

Not far away, dressed in riding gear and dismounting with ease, was someone she hadn’t seen in a long time: the Second Prince, Xiao Nanxun.

His eyes were always fixed on her.