Just as the fish in Spring Fragrance Garden was taking the bait, Ren Ye was, once again, leaning against the wall outside the Consort's chambers, his body slick with a cold, exhausting sweat.
Clad only in his pink underbreeches, his body utterly drained, a final burst of professional pride made him ask hoarsely, "My… my beloved Consort… was my performance today… stronger than yesterday's?"
From behind the drapes, the Consort's form was a tantalizing silhouette. Her voice was cool and detached. "...Unremarkable."
Heh. A full hour isn't enough? This woman is hard to please, Ren Ye internally scoffed. He immediately shifted to shamelessly begging. "After returning to my chambers yesterday, my head was spinning, my body weak. Beloved Consort, might you have any spiritual elixirs you could spare me… so this Prince might recuperate and better satisfy you?"
"None," came the immediate, flat refusal.
Damn. So you just want a free ride, huh? An hour a day, no tonics, no money, you use me up and then hit me with an 'unremarkable'?
Even the border compound bosses weren't this ruthless!
After a brief silence, the Consort offered a cryptic reminder. "The Dao of Yin and Yang gives birth to all things. Our time together in this chamber, augmented by the array, is meant for mutual benefit. If you would but carefully perceive the profound mysteries of the dual energies, you too would gain greatly."
Enough with the empty promises already.
Ren Ye was a pragmatist. He felt being drained of his Heaven's Pardon essence was a raw deal. He needed to find a way to squeeze something more out of her.
Boom! Boom!
Just then, Lian'er's voice came from outside the hall. "Your Highness! This servant has urgent news…!"
Ren Ye started, quickly bid the Consort a rushed farewell, and left.
After he was gone, the Consort summoned her maid, Xue'er, and meticulously wrote out a prescription. "Prepare this elixir yourself within these halls," she instructed personally. "Once it is finished, deliver it to Prince Huai."
Xue'er looked puzzled. "Is His Highness unwell?"
"The Heaven's Pardon individual is tangled in karma. This Consort merely wishes to avoid further… entanglement with him," the Consort stated flatly before turning and walking barefoot toward her side chamber.
…
A quarter of an hour later, in a side room of the Hall of Tranquil Heart.
Er Leng, his left arm bleeding, looked up as Ren Ye entered, his face a mask of guilt. "This subordinate has failed in his duty. I beg Your Highness's punishment."
On the way over, Lian'er had briefed Ren Ye. He knew the night's "fishing operation" hadn't been a complete success.
"What happened? Details," Ren Ye asked, his tone more anxious than accusatory.
Tonight's plan hadn't been complex, but it was meticulously designed. Only three people knew the full truth: Ren Ye, Lian'er, and Er Leng.
After distributing the gold and silver that morning, Ren Ye had begun setting the trap to lure out the "mole." After last night's failed Gu attempt, the mastermind would be alert and unlikely to act again rashly. So, the plan's core revolved around the mole hidden within his chambers.
He first had Lian'er monitor all the maids and eunuchs, ensuring none left during the day. Then, he had her and Er Leng separately "leak" different pieces of information—subtly, (implicitly)—making it seem each servant had personally discovered something crucial. This made it feel real.
And these "accidentally" leaked clues were all different: one saw Lian'er preparing a room in the Hall of Tranquil Heart; another saw Er Leng sneaking to the Dowager Consort's chambers, even delivering a banquet prepared by the kitchens…
From different angles, the servants saw different things.
This led to the young eunuch risking a meeting with Liu Ling'er in Spring Fragrance Garden.
And it had worked. The eunuch, believing he held vital intelligence, successfully drew Liu Ling'er out…
But unfortunately, Er Leng had failed to capture her!
In the flickering candlelight of the side room, Er Leng recounted the encounter. "I followed the eunuch to Spring Fragrance Garden. Soon after, the culprit appeared—a woman. She wore black robes, a black scarf covered her face… I couldn't see her features. But she was clever. She spoke only a few words to the eunuch before killing him…!"
"She realized she was exposed instantly?" Ren Ye frowned.
"Yes," Er Leng nodded. "I crossed blades with her. But her lightness skill was exceptional, her hidden weapon technique masterful. In a prolonged fight of ten exchanges or more, I surely would have prevailed. But she was focused solely on escape… I couldn't stop her."
"So, you fought her, not only failed to capture her, but got wounded by her hidden weapons?" Ren Ye summarized, his neck craned forward.
"That is the essence of it…!"
"Dammit!" Ren Ye was crestfallen. "Didn't you say you were 'invincible below the Immortal realm, and could trade one-for-one with an Immortal'?! Where was your skill? Your fast saber?! You should have cut her down!"
"Your Highness doesn't understand. That female thief's lightness skill is peerless. In the entire Great Qian, fewer than ten could surpass her…!"
"Enough, enough, stop bigging her up," Ren Ye waved his hand irritably. "Just admit you weren't up to the task. I might as well have gone myself."
Hearing this, Er Leng looked even more guilty and (wronged). "This subordinate is incompetent. I beg Your Highness's punishment."
"Never mind. This Prince will think of another way," Ren Ye muttered, stroking his chin as he paced the room, his mind racing.
He truly didn't blame Er Leng in his heart. This Star Gate contained supernatural elements. His Imperial Brush could even replicate any skill, which meant… many events were beyond human control.
Incredible lightness skill… does she have some important item?
Ren Ye suspected the woman was likely another player. In his memories, Er Leng's martial prowess was top-tier within the palace, his signature trait being his blindingly fast saber. For a female flyer to escape him unscathed, having previously shown no such ability, fit the "player profile." Ten hidden agents—it made sense they'd have some special tricks.
"Ah, Your Highness!" Er Leng suddenly spoke up. "This subordinate discovered an important clue."
"What?" Ren Ye turned.
"I grew up in the Southern Frontiers. My homeland is lush, rich with many rare herbs," Er Leng said, slowly rising. "Before coming to the palace, I often gathered herbs in the mountains with my uncle. My sense of smell is very keen. That woman had a very distinct scent on her. I've smelled it before, when I accompanied you to the Li Gardens… though I couldn't place its source then!"
"The Li Gardens?"
"Yes." Er Leng nodded gravely. "I remember that scent. Even if she hid among a hundred people, I could easily pick her out!"
Ren Ye looked at him skeptically. "Are you (shooting the bull) again?!"
"What is 'bull'? Why would one shoot it?!"
"I mean, are you sure you can identify that woman by her scent?" Ren Ye pressed, frowning.
"This subordinate wouldn't dare deceive you!" Er Leng bowed.
"And you're certain this scent was present in the Li Gardens?"
"Certain!"
"…!" Ren Ye's eyes flashed with wild excitement. He paced a quick circle, muttering to himself, "So… she doesn't know you have this sensitivity to smell. She doesn't know you have a way to find her?"
"Your Highness is truly brilliant…!" Er Leng thought for a moment, utterly impressed.
"Enough, enough licking," Ren Ye waved him off, his eyes now bright. He looked at Er Leng. "If you encounter her again, can you defeat her?"
"I will certainly defeat her."
"Good. This Prince will believe you one more time." Ren Ye clasped his hands behind his back. "Go to the Li Gardens shortly. Tell the eunuch in charge that this Prince has been troubled lately and wishes for a troupe of singing girls for diversion. Under the pretext of personally selecting them for me, gather all the women of the Li Gardens together. If you discover that woman, don't alert her. Just select a group at random, ensuring she is among them."
"What if she resists on the spot?" Er Leng asked cautiously.
"Then subdue her. But try to keep her alive."
Er Leng immediately nodded. "This subordinate obeys. I will go at once." He turned to leave.
Ren Ye thought for a moment longer, then suddenly called out, "No, no. Not tonight. Go tomorrow, after the hour of the rat." *[Translator's Note: (zishi) is 11 pm - 1 am]*
"Why?" Er Leng was confused. "Going now, she should be off guard."
Ren Ye naturally wouldn't tell Er Leng he wanted to manipulate the timing. His initial 72-hour entry period into this Star Gate was more than half over; it would end the morning after next. That was a rule he could use…
"Tomorrow," Ren Ye said in a low voice. "Have Lian'er tend to your wound. I need to think more about tomorrow's plan." With that, he left.
Lian'er looked at Er Leng with disappointment, pouting. "Always boasting about being a master, yet you can't even handle a small task for His Highness…!" She picked up the medicine kit reluctantly. "Let me see the wound on your arm."
In the flickering lamplight, a flash of annoyance crossed Er Leng's eyes. "It's no trouble. I'll tend to it myself."
Huh?
Since when did this blockhead change his tune? He used to seize every chance to be alone with me… hoping for something unspeakable to happen…
Hmph. Probably got his ego crushed by His Highness's scolding…
Lian'er slammed the medicine kit on the table and left without another word.
…
The failed fishing operation left Ren Ye deeply anxious, too wired to sleep.
After staying in the Hall of Tranquil Heart for a while, he couldn't resist going to the Spring Fragrance Garden himself to see the scene. It was risky—if the woman, likely a player, returned, they'd be forced into a life-or-death struggle.
But to a veteran investigator, not seeing the crime scene firsthand felt like missing a crucial piece.
Taking only Lian'er, he walked the dark path, tense, ready to activate the Imperial Brush's replication skill at any moment.
Dry leaves crunched underfoot, branches swayed in the wind. The Spring Fragrance Garden was eerily silent…
Soon, they reached the "crime scene." Standing in the shadows, Ren Ye saw broken branches and cracked flagstones—signs of a (fierce) struggle. Their fight must have been intense.
Moving forward, Ren Ye noticed two large pools of blood.
One was a wide, chaotic spray, staining the ground red for meters. Clearly, this was from the eunuch's slit throat.
A slashed carotid artery sprays blood. The victim's instinct is to clutch the wound, explaining the messy spatter. The marks where Er Leng had dragged the body away were also obvious. He'd seen scenes like this many times in his past life.
Ren Ye walked another ten paces or so, then slowly knelt, examining the second pool of blood.
This one was different. Neatly contained, not sprayed, its area small and defined…
Huh?
That's not right…
Ren Ye's brow furrowed instantly. He lifted his head, staring into the distance, his investigator's instincts screaming.