Li Fuyin lowered her head, watching the funeral offerings roll across the ground. A fire, cold and tangible, began to surge within her dark eyes.
She clenched her fists, grinding her teeth in a fury that made her entire body tremble. She had been so close—only a hair's breadth away from rescuing He Ran—only to have Rong Qi intercept and snatch her away. The audacity of him threatening her in public!
Since her rebirth, this was the first time Li Fuyin had truly harbored a desire to kill.
Having known him for six years, she was all too familiar with the character and methods of that boy, Rong Qi. He was a man of his word. He Ran had never gotten along with him; now that she had fallen into his hands, she likely wouldn't survive the night. More importantly, He Ran’s temperament was fiery and unyielding. Having been utterly devoted to her mistress, she would likely provoke Rong Qi with scathing remarks, only hastening her own demise.
At this thought, Li Fuyin was frantic with anxiety, regretting only that she had not steeled her heart sooner to crush that black-hearted little wolf cub.
Li Fuyin glanced at Lin Xun not far away. Although he was not looking at her, he stood deliberately by the carriage, clearly waiting. Approaching him now would be far too conspicuous, and she hesitated for a moment.
Just then, Zhao Yunchi limped over. He picked up a crudely fashioned silver pot from the ground and stared down at it, his expression caught between laughing and weeping. "He was right..." he muttered. "Her Highness is not dead. She cannot be dead. She must have just disliked the pot I made... It doesn't matter... I’ve made so many more over the years..."
Completely oblivious to the figure just a step away, he turned and limped back toward Lin Xun.
Zhao Yunchi’s back was broad and sturdy, his armor imposing. Years of campaigning on the battlefield had stripped away the naivety of his youth, leaving him looking far more composed. Yet, Li Fuyin knew he was still the same Zhao Yunchi—the little chubby boy who would secretly craft trinkets for her, stand up for her unconditionally, charge into battle for her, take the blame and punishment for her, and come bounding over with joy at the mere wave of her hand.
But unlike Lin Xun, his emotions were too transparent, too easy to expose.
And so, Li Fuyin could not—not yet—let him know she was alive.
When Zhao Yunchi reached Lin Xun, his legs finally gave way. He sank to one knee, his voice bordering on a plea. "You must know where she is. Please, take me to see her."
Lin Xun immediately helped him up. "Very well. Get in the carriage; I will take you to her."
Lin Xun saw her as the most important person in his life, just as Zhao Yunchi did. He could empathize with Zhao’s despair and pain, but he also knew there were things Zhao Yunchi could never be allowed to know. Even if it caused him agony, it had to be endured, for otherwise...
There were countless vengeful spirits like Rong Qi in this world. When Li Fuyin had lived in the imperial palace, surrounded by elite hidden guards, she had still fallen victim to treachery. Now that she was alone in the Marquis Residence, her situation was even more precarious. The fewer people who knew this secret, the better.
Once they were in the carriage, Lin Xun lit a stick of incense and handed Zhao Yunchi a cup of tea. As the carriage rolled toward the palace, Zhao finished the tea and drifted into a heavy sleep, clutching the silver pot. He had been traveling for seven days and nights, swapping over a dozen horses and engaging in a fierce battle with Rong Qi, his strength completely spent. Now that his tension had snapped, he slept as if dead; even if the heavens collapsed, he would not wake.
Under the cover of night, Li Fuyin slipped into Lin Xun’s carriage.
"I will rescue He Ran myself."
She stated her intent the moment she entered, her tone cold, decisive, and brooking no argument.
Seeing the look on her face, Lin Xun knew she was beyond furious. He did not try to stop her, but instead analyzed the situation calmly. "If you go, Rong Qi will not let you off. The man is deeply cunning, and his methods..."
"I know." Li Fuyin sneered. "Whoever goes to save her will be walking into a trap. Even if you went yourself, you couldn't bring He Ran back. He has plenty of ways to torture her." After all, Rong Qi had learned quite a lot while at her side in the past; she knew his methods all too well.
"Then what do you intend to do? Do you need me to arrange men for you?" Lin Xun never questioned her decisions; he only silently sought to ensure her safety and help her as best he could.
Li Fuyin looked at the sleeping Zhao Yunchi and a flicker of pity crossed her eyes. "Let him see my body, then have it sent to the Princess Mansion to be burned. Once Rong Qi hears the news, he will surely rush there."
"Rong Qi fears an ambush at the Princess Mansion, so he won't bring He Ran with him. He will go alone. That will be my chance to save her."
"He Ran knows martial arts. She will only find the will to live if she sees me in the flesh and knows I am alive. Otherwise, if she loses the will to live, sending an army to save her would be useless."
"So, as long as you keep Rong Qi occupied, I will find a way to rescue her."
Lin Xun pondered for a moment. "And if Rong Qi doesn't come?" He was not doubting her judgment; it was simply his habit to prepare for the worst.
"Then do not burn the body," Li Fuyin said. "Ensure he sees my 'corpse' with his own eyes. Let everyone believe that Princess Qingrong is dead."
Lin Xun was silent for a moment before uttering a low "Very well." He said nothing more.
Li Fuyin knew that once the body was burned, both Li Yuanzhao and Zhao Yunchi would be devastated. But since she had not yet found the true culprit who had killed her in her past life, nor had she found a way to eliminate Bai Xiyue, she could not afford to expose her identity. For now, they would have to accept the reality, while she slowly laid her traps. At the very least, Li Yuanzhao had not yet left the palace, nor had he been poisoned or injured; Bai Xiyue could not reach him, and he had not yet spiraled into folly.
At the mention of Bai Xiyue, a plan flashed through Li Fuyin’s mind. She narrowed her eyes, her fingers absently brushing her chin. Since the men Bai Xiyue pursued were destined to be drawn to her, and Rong Qi was no exception, then... why not take this opportunity to nudge the two of them together?
As she contemplated what was to come, the suffocating anger in her chest eased. She pulled back the curtain to look outside. "We are almost at the Marquis Residence. I am returning now. Remember, do not draw too much attention to me. You only need to keep an eye on Bai Xiyue. The moment she leaves the house, you can release the news."
With that, she jumped from the carriage without a moment’s hesitation.
Lin Xun gasped, reaching out to catch her, but he was too late. He could only watch as her legs buckled upon landing, her body lurching forward, on the verge of face-planting into the dirt.
Supported by a sudden burst of Lin Xun’s internal energy that stabilized her, Li Fuyin scrambled into the darkness, not once looking back.
*Damn it!* she cursed. *I still haven't gotten used to this weak, fragile body...*