CHAPTER 149: A SEARCH THROUGH SHADOWS
When Ye Lanjue finally stepped out of the imperial study, the night air struck him like a cold blade. He had barely crossed the palace gates when a figure rushed toward him.
"Third Imperial Brother! You're finally out—I've been waiting for ages."
Ye Lanchen's voice was breathless with urgency.
Ye Lanjue's brows drew together.
"What has happened?"
"The Northern Prince took Xin away," Ye Lanchen blurted. "I stayed here to tell you. I've been waiting a long time."
Ye Lanjue froze.
"What did you say?"
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "The Northern Prince took Tang Kexin?"
Why?
For what purpose?
Nothing about it made sense.
"I think… the Northern Prince has fallen for her," Ye Lanchen said, half‑muttering his suspicion.
He never finished the sentence.
A gust of wind swept past him—Ye Lanjue had vanished.
Ye Lanchen stared after him, then let out a helpless sigh.
The Third Brother's heart is truly different. He's terrified.
And yet, he smiled faintly.
If Tang Kexin chose the Third Prince, he would sincerely give them his blessing.
---
The Northern Prince's Lodgings
Ye Lanjue arrived at the restaurant in the blink of an eye. He stormed up the stairs and kicked open the door to the Northern Prince's private room.
Only the Northern Prince was inside—calmly bathing.
There was no Tang Kexin.
Ye Lanjue's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What is the meaning of this?"
The Northern Prince lifted his gaze lazily, lips curving in a faint, mocking smile.
"Your Highness came to bathe as well? Have you come to inspect me?"
Ye Lanjue's jaw tightened.
He had acted too impulsively. The moment Ye Lanchen spoke, he had rushed here without thought.
Perhaps Tang Kexin had already returned home.
He had indeed spent a long time in the study.
Without another word, he turned to leave.
But the Northern Prince's voice drifted after him, soft and amused.
"This king has heard a rumour about the Third Prince… that he does not like women, but prefers men. I, however, am quite normal. I like women."
Ye Lanjue stopped.
Slowly, he turned his head, eyes cold as winter steel.
The killing intent in them was unmistakable.
He had always ignored such rumours. They were beneath his notice.
But now—now they mattered.
If Tang Kexin heard such nonsense, she would avoid him even more than she already did.
She had already said she did not like him.
She had even claimed he would never like her.
Why was she so certain?
A thought struck him like lightning.
Had she heard the rumour long ago? Had she rejected him from the very beginning because of it?
If so…
She would never allow herself to fall for him.
She would never believe he could love her.
The Northern Prince's careless remark had pierced straight into the heart of the matter.
Ye Lanjue left without another word, descending the stairs with swift, silent steps.
Behind him, the Northern Prince's expression darkened.
He hoped Ye Lanjue would act quickly—before his father made his decision. Once the Northern Emperor intervened, Ye Lanjue's path would become far more difficult.
He had already done all he could to help.
If Ye Lanjue wished to keep Tang Kexin, he needed to move now—marry her, claim her, protect her.
As for himself…
He had long accepted that his own path would be bitter.
He would endure it.
He would persist.
He would wait.
Even if one day he abandoned his identity, he would never abandon the woman in his heart.
---
The Prime Minister's Residence
Ye Lanjue arrived at Tang Kexin's courtyard in record time.
Only Dong'er was there.
"Your Highness," she said, bowing quickly.
"Where is your young miss?"
Dong'er blinked.
"Miss has not returned yet."
Ye Lanjue's brows tightened.
She still wasn't back?
Perhaps he had taken a different route and arrived before her.
He searched the other paths. Nothing.
He sent out messengers. Nothing.
He waited two hours.
Still nothing.
A cold, suffocating fear crept into his chest.
Where is she?
The Northern Prince had not lied—Tang Kexin was not at his residence.
Then where had she gone?
His mind raced through recent events.
A masked man.
A mysterious intruder.
A threat lurking in the shadows.
Ye Lanjue's body stiffened.
Could she have been taken by that man?
Even now, despite all his power, he had been unable to uncover the man's identity. Not even the Sou Yan Sect could find a trace.
Whoever he was, he was terrifyingly well‑hidden.
If that man had taken Tang Kexin…
Ye Lanjue's heart clenched.
He moved instantly, vanishing into the night.
If she was in danger—
If that man had touched her—
He would tear the world apart to find her.
And he would not stop until she was safe.
CHAPTER 150: WHEN THE PAST RETURNED TO CLAIM ITS DUE
Tang Kexin remained in the quiet courtyard, having eaten and drunk her fill. She had waited patiently—far longer than most young women would have tolerated—yet the mysterious "Master" still had not returned.
The sky deepened into indigo. The lanterns flickered. A faint chill crept into the air.
It is already so late…
If she did not return soon, her family would surely begin to worry.
"It's getting late. I should go back," she said at last, rising to her feet.
Curiosity tugged at her, but she was not reckless. Whatever answers awaited her here could wait another day. She would not allow the Prime Minister and his wife to spend a sleepless night on her account.
Lie Ying bowed, a trace of apology in his eyes.
"Very well. I shall escort Miss Tang back."
He regretted that his Master had not arrived in time. Miss Tang had waited nearly four hours—calm, composed, uncomplaining. Such patience was rare.
Tang Kexin accepted the escort. It was late, and the Northern carriage was faster and safer than walking alone.
---
The Prime Minister's Residence
When she returned, the estate was unusually quiet. She slipped back into her courtyard.
Dong'er rushed out the moment she appeared.
"Miss, you're finally back! The Third Prince has been waiting for you for a long time."
Tang Kexin blinked.
"The Third Prince? Why would he be looking for me?"
Dong'er shook her head.
"I don't know. His Highness didn't say. But he seemed very anxious… and worried."
A faint unease stirred in Tang Kexin's chest.
Could the Emperor be displeased? Had something happened because of the Crown Prince? Had she implicated Ye Lanjue?
She opened her mouth to send Dong'er to fetch him—
But a maidservant from the Prime Minister's wife hurried into the courtyard.
"Miss, Madam requests your presence immediately."
Tang Kexin turned.
"What is it?"
"Madam did not say, only that you must come at once. She seemed very anxious."
Tang Kexin nodded.
"Dong'er, go to the Third Prince's estate. Ask why he sought me."
"Yes, Miss."
Tang Kexin followed the maid to the Prime Minister's wife's chambers.
---
A Sudden Departure
"Mother, you were looking for me?" Tang Kexin entered with a smile.
The Prime Minister's wife stood at once, her expression tight with urgency.
"Xin'er, prepare yourself. You must accompany me for a few days."
Tang Kexin blinked.
"Go out? Where?"
"Do not ask questions for now. Everything is ready. We must leave immediately."
She took Tang Kexin's hand and pulled her toward the door.
"Mother, even if we are going out, why such haste? Where are we going?"
The Prime Minister's wife hesitated, then sighed.
"Xin'er… Mother has been troubled these past days. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat. Your father suggested I go somewhere quiet to rest. I want you with me."
Tang Kexin's expression softened.
"Mother, are you unwell?"
The Prime Minister's wife lowered her gaze.
"To tell you the truth… your sister has returned, and there has been much commotion. Your aunt has caused trouble as well. I wish to stay somewhere peaceful for a few days. Not far—still within the city—but quiet. No disturbances."
Her voice trembled with helplessness.
Tang Kexin nodded gently.
"Very well. I will accompany Mother."
The Prime Minister's wife smiled faintly, though her eyes were shadowed with worry.
She had received a secret message from the Empress—an urgent command to take Xin'er to the Clear Origin Pavilion at once. The Empress had already arranged elite guards to protect the place.
Something had happened. Something grave.
The Prime Minister's wife did not know what, and she dared not ask. She only knew she must obey.
---
Clear Origin Pavilion
When they arrived, Tang Kexin's brows drew together.
This place…
It did not belong to the Prime Minister's estate.
It was too secluded, too heavily guarded, too carefully arranged.
Why would Mother bring me here?
Too many strange things had happened recently. Her unease grew.
---
In the Palace
"Have they arrived?" the Empress asked quietly.
The palace maid—one of the secret guards trained to protect Xin'er—bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty. They have moved in. The guards are all in place."
The Empress exhaled, though her heart remained heavy.
She did not know whether the Clear Origin Pavilion was truly safe. The masked man's martial skill had been terrifying—far beyond anything she could counter.
But she had no other choice.
Until she found him—the only man capable of protecting Xin'er—she could only rely on herself.
Nineteen years had passed since she last saw him.
Nineteen years since she had loved him without knowing his true identity.
Nineteen years since she had discovered she was carrying his child.
She had been barely seventeen.
She had wanted to find him, but she had known nothing—not his true name, not his family, not his origins. The name he had given her had been a single character—one known only to those closest to him.
Then the imperial decree came.
She was to enter the palace as the Emperor's consort.
She had tried to flee.
She had been caught.
Her father had drugged her and delivered her to the palace like an offering.
She remembered nothing of her wedding night—only waking beside the Emperor, despair crushing her chest.
She had wanted to die.
But she could not.
She carried a child.
She had shut her doors, refused to see anyone. The Emperor had come often at first, then less and less. She had thought he would eventually abandon her.
But he had not.
He had returned again and again, even when she hid from him.
And all the while, her belly grew.
The child had been late—more than a month overdue.
Later, by chance, she had seen a portrait.
His portrait.
The man she had loved.
The man she had lost.
The man who was Xin'er's true father.
And now—
Now that Xin'er was in danger—
She would have to find him.
Even if it meant losing her daughter forever.