Zhan was surprised that Grandpa allowed him to follow Huan the next day without argument, even though Wei Po had initially tried to stop him. But a few cryptic words from Grandpa silenced any further objections.
Grandpa gave Zhan a serious warning about the items he had handed over, insisting that if Zhan failed to use even one of them, he would feel the consequences himself.
Slowly, Zhan rubbed the bracelet Grandpa had placed on his wrist. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a slow breath. This bracelet felt different.....heavier, more unique than the ones he used to wear just to adorned his wrist. Whatever the reason for that difference, he didn't know.
When Mah and Babiy saw Zhan and Huan enter, they both looked startled. Huan quickly shook his head and said, "It's not my fault, Babiy. He insisted on coming with me, and Grandpa supported him. According to him, 'There's no distance far enough to escape what's meant to happen. Sometimes, instead of running from a storm, it's better to face it head-on. Not every cave is a safe place for someone who's afraid of danger.'"
Babiy didn't understand the meaning.... it was typical of Grandpa to speak in tangled words that were hard to unravel.
"If you know what that means," Huan muttered, "please explain it to me."
Before anyone could answer, Babiy suddenly swayed as if he might collapse. Fortunately, he steadied himself by grabbing a wall and touching his forehead. Mah quickly sat down, trembling, which only added to the tension.
They both insisted they were fine, Babiy even managing a faint smile as he said, "Don't trouble yourselves over this. It's not your grandfather's words..... it's just that I haven't been feeling well these past two days."
No one argued. Huan helped Babiy back inside the varander, while Zhan supported Mah.
★★★
The next day, without telling anyone, Babiy set off early for Yizhou village. There, he was warmly received by his in-law.
The elderly man standing before him was still striking, even with age having thinned his skin and silvered his hair. Babiy looked at him quietly for a long time before finally lowering his head in respect.
The man took a deep breath before speaking, "Hmmm… Xiao Mo Zinnu."
He spoke Babiy's name as if recalling it from the day it had been first given. Babiy looked up briefly, then lowered his head again. "Yes, Baba."
"I've seen something written across your face since you arrived, but your mouth has yet to speak it. Did something happen to Huan and his younger brother on their way back home yesterday?"
"No, Baba, nothing like that. They returned in good health. It's just that…"
He trailed off, unable to finish. Grandpa gave him a small smile.
"You didn't want Zhan to go back, did you?"
"That's true, Baba. Nothing has changed in the Beiping Empire. We're afraid of losing him the same way we lost his sisters. We don't even know if they'll come back to us again. But your words… they left us uneasy. None of us could sleep last night."
The old man replied calmly, "Losing sleep doesn't give you the power to change what has already been set in motion, Mo Zinnu. If our fate was truly in our own hands, most people would redraw the course of their lives. But life doesn't work that way. Don't concern yourself with trying to uncover what's hidden deep in the mountain..... it can only unsettle you. What's meant to happen will happen, and the signs you're allowed to see will come when they are ready."
Babiy exhaled heavily, nodding, not because he had found comfort, but because he realized he had no choice but to accept it.
***
It had been two days since Zhan returned home, yet his return felt to him like carrying an unshakable weight. Every day, he shed countless tears over the loss of his two siblings.
Anything he looked at that once belonged to them brought back vivid memories of their laughter, moments so full of joy it was impossible to believe they had ended. Throughout all this, Mah and Babiy were deeply concerned for him. His sorrow touched them both, and at times even Mah would quietly wipe away her own tears.
That morning was no different from the others since his return. After getting ready for school, he left....not because Mah felt reassured, but because Zhan was determined to go. They had allowed him to return to his routine, hoping it might bring him a small measure of peace and happiness, though neither of those things showed on his face anymore.
Zhan wore golden-yellow pants and a plain white T-shirt....their school uniform.....layered with a short white cardigan. A face mask covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible. A backpack hung from his shoulders.
He walked slowly, eyes fixed on the ground, as if unwilling to step on it. At the roadside, he stood for barely three minutes before a vehicle arrived, just like for the other students who were spilling out from every corner. His school was one of the largest in the region, known for gathering top-performing students from various institutions.
Unlike before, Zhan didn't pay attention to anyone and went straight to his seat. In the past, he had been spirited and talkative.....sometimes even troublesome.....but now, he spoke to no one unless necessary. His quietness was noticed by both lecturers and students, who understood he was going through something that needed compassion, not questions.
Every person who entered the classroom greeted him, and he returned their greetings without hesitation. Once the first lecture arrived, Zhan tried to focus on the lesson, but before long, his mind drifted back to the thoughts he had been wrestling with for days. By the time the lecture left, he hadn't absorbed a single word.
Period after period passed like that. He sat still, hearing but not listening, present yet elsewhere entirely.
When school ended, Zhan was among the first to leave. For some reason, he felt like walking instead of taking transport, so he joined a handful of students whose homes were close enough to school. He walked far without showing any signs of fatigue until he reached a large roundabout.....the one separating the road to his house from the main route toward the Palace of the Beiping Empire.
From the roundabout, the massive golden lions emblem gate of the Palace was clearly visible. Zhan clicked his tongue sharply and turned away, irritation flickering in his chest.
Just before crossing, he noticed an elderly woman holding the hand of a boy in a school uniform. They seemed to want to cross but kept hesitating. For the first time in days, a faint smile crossed Zhan's face at the sight of the boy tugging the woman forward, only for her to pull him back and scold him.
Zhan spoke to them, and the woman replied. He greeted her politely and asked, "Lao shi, are you trying to cross?"
"Yes," the old woman answered.
Zhan smiled faintly from behind his face mask before reaching out to take the old woman's hand, the one that wasn't holding the young boy. As they were about to reach the middle of the road, the boy suddenly yanked his hand free and dashed back, shouting that he had left his toy behind.
The old woman tried to pull away as well, scolding the boy and calling for him to return, but Zhan held her firmly and helped her finish crossing.
"Lao shi, don't worry. I'll go back and bring him across for you," Zhan said....just as the screech of hard brakes split the air, followed by a sharp, chilling blare of a car horn.
Zhan's heart lurched. He spun around instinctively, the sound still ringing in his head. Without realizing it, he had pulled down his face mask, his striking eyes wide with shock.....there, in the middle of the road, stood the boy, frozen as a car's bumper stopped only inches from him.
Zhan and the old woman reached him at almost the same moment, her voice breaking into sobs as she cried the boy's name in terror.
Still trembling, Zhan pulled the boy into his arms, scanning him quickly from head to toe before exhaling in relief. No injuries. He handed the boy back to the old woman, but his gaze shifted to the car that had nearly hit him. The driver hadn't even stepped out....he'd only leaned slightly forward, then pulled back, seemingly satisfied he didn't hit the boy.
Anger burned in Zhan's chest. He strode to the car and yanked open the driver's door. The young man behind the wheel looked startled, and the passenger beside him finally glanced up from the laptop resting on his knees.
Zhan's piercing eyes locked on both of them, his voice low but razor-sharp.
"Do you have no value for human life? You almost hit a child, and instead of checking on him, you sit there like it's nothing. People like you think the poor are no different from the dirt under your tires."
"Hey!" the driver snapped, stunned by Zhan's boldness.
Zhan's glare didn't waver. He reached in, plucked the car keys from the ignition, and stepped back.
"You're not getting these until you both check on him and apologize to his grandmother. If not, we'll be standing here all day."
The driver lunged for the keys, brushing Zhan's pant leg in the process.
Zhan's expression darkened. He jabbed a finger toward the man's face, his voice a dangerous whisper.
"If you so much as touch my cardigan again, I'll make sure you regret it. Even if King Yibo himself pulled a stunt like this, he wouldn't be leaving without an apology.....so what makes you think you will, you halfwit?"
The passenger's eyes widened. From the backseat, a man who had been silent until now finally stirred. Papers were stacked neatly beside him, and a laptop sat on his knees. His handsome features were shadowed with fatigue, but his eyes were sharp.
He closed the laptop, set it aside, and opened the door. The driver and the passenger nearest him tensed, moving quickly to follow....but the well-dressed man was already stepping out into the street.
Zhan took the boy's hand, ready to leave the scene, the car keys of the strangers still firmly in his grasp. At that exact moment, the steady sound of measured footsteps approached.... accompanied by a faint, refined scent, as if the breeze carried it for him alone.
For a brief moment, the place seemed to fall into stillness. The few bystanders who had gathered since the commotion turned their eyes toward the newcomer. Even Zhan, usually so composed, felt his chest tighten when the man's striking eyes locked onto his.
With effort, Zhan broke the gaze, his lips pressing into a slight pout as he cover his face with his face mask with deliberate calm.
The man shifted his attention from Zhan to the boy. Lowering himself to one knee to match the boy's height, he spoke in a smooth, deep voice, the words leaving his lips as if they had been gently pulled out.
"Are you alright?"
The boy nodded. The man's brow lifted slightly, as though considering something.
"And your name?"
"A Li," the boy answered confidently.
The man's eyes softened; a faint smile curved his lips for the first time, his gaze warm enough to tint the boy's cheeks pink. "Oh, my friend....good name. Will you be my friend too?"
The boy grinned wide and nodded quickly. The man extended his hand, and they shook, the small moment drawing quiet admiration from those watching.
No one seemed to know who he was, but even the blind could tell he was someone important. The pure white suit he wore was almost dazzling, but it was his presence....poised, assured, effortlessly dignified.....that truly held attention. His skin had a healthy glow, his movements precise, and that calming scent seemed to anchor the air around him.
He greeted the boy's grandmother next, her smile stretching with gratitude as he pressed a neat bundle of crisp bills into A Li's palm.
Zhan caught his gaze again.....just for a heartbeat....before quickly looking away, a strange chill running up from his feet to the crown of his head.
With the same quiet authority, the man turned and walked away, each step deliberate, as if the ground itself bent to his stride. Zhan tossed the car keys back to the young driver, who rushed to open the door for their boss.
Just before the man entered the car, Zhan shot the key-catcher a hard glare.
"From today on, if you ever spot me..... even from a distance.... You better change your route. Even if you're in the airplane."
The words reached the handsome stranger ears just as he was stepping inside. He glanced up briefly, but the person he intended to look at was already walking away, as if the entire encounter had never happened.
As the car eased toward the roundabout, his eyes found Zhan again, walking calmly down the street, his face still hidden once more behind his mask.
That one… one day, someone's going to teach him a lesson in the street if he doesn't change his ways, he thought, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
****
"You didn't walk all the way here, did you, Zhan? You look worn out, like someone chased you."
Zhan sank down onto the mat where Mah was sitting, resting his head in her lap and making a mock-pouting face.
"I walked here, Mah. I just felt like coming on foot."
"Well, now you've worn yourself out, and you're not even in the best shape to begin with. Go splash some water on your face or better take a bath; you smell like the sun."
"Smell like the sun? Really, Mah?" Zhan sniffed at his shirt with an exaggerated expression. Standing up, he pushed out his lips and muttered, "You just wanted to tease me.....I actually smell like cologne."
Mah only smiled and shook her head, while Zhan marched off to his room, still blowing out air in a mock huff.
That evening, under the glow of the bright moon in the courtyard, Huan was helping Zhan with his schoolwork. Mah and Babiy were nearby, with Babiy eating his dinner.
They chatted about the garden harvest Babiy would be taking to market at the end of the week. Zhan perked up when he heard Babiy say the honey hadn't turned out well this time and would only amount to two jars.
"Babiy, we should just keep it for ourselves. Mah could make me honey snacks to take to school," Zhan grinned.
Babiy chuckled. "I'd like that, son, but that won't happen....the honey is going to the Palace."
The smile fell from Zhan's face. He almost said something, then turned back to his work as if he hadn't heard. Babiy didn't mention the honey again, and the conversation drifted back to garden talk between Huan and Mah.
No one brought up the honey again after that. Babiy and Huan got busy preparing vegetables for the market.
Zhan kept going to school, acting as though nothing bothered him....but deep down, the mention of sending honey to the Beiping Empire's Palace had never left his mind. Every day, thoughts of revenge churned inside him.
He knew there was only one way to act...through the honey Babiy always delivered to the Palace, which Zhan had heard was consumed only by the King himself.
- - - - -
Two days before the delivery, Zhan still hadn't figured out exactly how to pull it off. On his way to school, he pulled aside an old friend.... someone he had drifted apart from after a disagreement. Yao, noticing Zhan's cheerful mood return, agreed to follow him to a shady tree where they sat.
"You know, Zhan, I don't like how you've been avoiding me lately. Can't we forget everything and go back to the way we were?" Yao asked.
"Hmm," Zhan muttered, a faint smirk on his face. "That's not why I called you over. I want to ask you something."
"Then ask." Yao adjusted her seat.
"You told me before that your late sister got sick after eating porridge mix with honey, right? That her stomach hurt so badly her intestines were damaged before they could even get her to the hospital?"
"Yes, it's true. She died after four days. Later they found out her fiancé had mixed something into it. Even though the doctors claimed they couldn't detect anything, his friend betrayed him and confessed they had bought the substance together."
"Are you sure that friend wasn't lying to frame him?" Zhan asked.
"We don't know for sure. My grandmother said it's better to drop the case and let the truth come out on its own."
"Still, I find it strange. What kind of poison is so well-hidden that even doctors can't find it, but can still shred a person's intestines?" Zhan said.
Yao shrugged. "I think the doctors were bribed. The fiancé came from a powerful family. But his friend did mention the name of the poison.... though I've forgotten it."
"Whatever it is, I'd like to know. I want to research it," Zhan said firmly.
"You and your endless investigations," Yao laughed. "If you ever become a reporter like you dream, you'll probably end up meddling in police work too."
"Just remember the name of the poison before we part today, or I'll bother you until you do."
Yao stood, still laughing. "If that's all, I'll try. I remember it wasn't anything fancy.....it was something usually used to kill insects, dissolved into water or food. It has no smell or taste, so people can drink or eat it without noticing."
"That could be useful, even for us.... we work in the garden all the time, and there are plenty of dangerous creatures that wander close to the house," Zhan replied, already deep in thought.
"Yes, that's true. It might even help you a lot."
Before they left, Yao kept her promise and gave Zhan the name of the poison. He smiled so wide his teeth showed..... a smile he hadn't worn in years.
He only had enough cash left for transportation. Zhan had already worked out the lie he would tell to get money for the poison once he got home. When he arrived, he didn't even sit before telling Mah they'd been given an extremely difficult assignment and that he didn't have the book he needed to finish it...he'd have to buy it.
Hearing the seriousness in his tone, Mah gave him a soft, reassuring smile.
"Maybe we can wait until Huan goes out and have him get it for you. Or maybe we could check Juan's school books. You might find it there."
"They don't have it, Mah. A few months ago, when the teacher mentioned it, they were right there. If they had it, they would've lent it to me."
"That's true. Well, let's just wait until Huan comes back so he can check for you."
"Mah, just give me the money now. I'll take a bath and go myself. I might even learn something extra along the way."
"Zhan, you know we don't like you going out so much."
"I know. Nothing will happen, I promise. And I'll be fully covered my face before I go."
Mah reluctantly agreed, not because she felt comfortable, but because Zhan insisted the assignment was due tomorrow. If he waited for Huan, it would be late.....Huan was headed to the main market at the end of the month to deliver farm goods to the Beiping Empire's palace.
As always, Zhan dressed neatly, covering himself completely except for his eyes. The ash-gray fabric embroidered with bright red stones suited him perfectly, even though no one could see his face.
He walked calmly, almost like a nobleman. Even as a child, Zhan had been proud, stylish, and precise.....the type of boy people whispered would grow into a sharp and self-assured man.
He walked all the way to the main road and hailed a ride, telling the driver where to drop him.
The vehicle stopped in front of a large store that sold all kinds of chemicals for farming and pest control. Zhan paid the fare and stepped inside, handing over the paper with the poison's name.....he'd written it down so he wouldn't forget. He paid and received the package.
The thought of going home without a book, which might raise suspicion, made him change plans. He told the driver to take him to a big bookstore instead. When they arrived, Zhan told the man to wait outside.....the taxi driver warn him that the fare would keep running... and Zhan slipped inside.
The store was large but quiet, without the kind of noise that told you exactly how many people were there. Zhan lowered his mask so he could see clearly. Each type of book had its own section, neatly labeled.
Instead of heading straight to the shelves he needed, Zhan began wandering. He made a slow loop around the store before finally focusing on the section that had the right kind of book.
He heard the sound of children's voices somewhere behind him, but there was no clear spot to peek without making it obvious, so he ignored it. He reached for a book..... but at that exact moment, another hand grabbed it from the other side of the shelf.
They both pulled. Zhan, being shorter than the other people behind the shelf, had to stand on his toes to keep his grip. Irritated, he gave it a sharper tug.
Through the narrow space left when the book came free, their eyes met.
For some reason, Zhan's skin prickled, though the gap wasn't wide enough for a clear view.
The face on the other side was sharply defined, serious, and unmistakably familiar..... Zhan didn't quiet recognize him, but the man already knew exactly who Zhan was…
★ Who exactly is this man challenging Zhan in the bookstore?
★ What does Zhan plan to do with the poison he bought?
★ Will he succeed in his mission?
★ If he does, what happens next?
★ Who really killed King Yibo's wife?
★ And who is King Yibo, truly?
★ How will we uncover his real identity?
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛