Whether startled by those words or not, Li Ce withdrew his hand from the carriage window, the curtain falling swiftly to cloak the interior in sudden shadow, casting an inexplicable and intimate atmosphere between them. Ye Jiao wore a strictly businesslike expression, her sharp, compelling peach-blossom eyes scrutinizing Li Ce up and down several times, silently urging him to cooperate with the inspection.
"Lord Ye Wuhou," Li Ce looked up at Ye Jiao with a hint of helplessness, "I have yet to hear of any notorious thief roaming the capital. Pray tell, what is this bandit's name, and what has he stolen?"
He settled cross-legged, smiling casually, his relaxed posture contrasted by his erect spine and handsome countenance, exuding an aura of transcendent elegance. It was as if he were not seated within a carriage but rather beside a forest stream bathed in the amber glow of sunset — a distant waterfall cascading, a gentle brook murmuring nearby, the handsome youth clutching a scroll with a slight frown amid the mist. Even passing deer would hesitate to disrupt this exquisite tableau.
But Ye Jiao was no fool for handsome men's charms. Without hesitation, she retorted, "The thief goes by Zhang San Li Si, and he has stolen a prized steed and a costly fur robe. Now, will you submit or not?"
As she spoke, she toyed with the dagger in her hand, her imposing presence unmistakable. The cramped space of the carriage made wielding a greatsword impractical; the dagger was far more fitting. Clearly, no gentle deer had arrived but a cunning fox instead.
Li Ce regarded Ye Jiao, stifling a laugh. Zhang San Li Si... prized steed... even the lies are entertaining. Still amusing, indeed.
Deciding against further resistance, Li Ce allowed Ye Jiao to search him, eager to resume their journey promptly. He first untied the cords of his black cloak, lifting it to show it concealed nothing, then tossed it aside. He loosened the leather belt at his waist, the deer-shaped jade pendant and peach-shaped gold piece clinking softly together. Setting the belt down gently, the dark slanting collar of his robe parted to reveal a crimson inner garment — a subtle yet passionate interplay of black and red, like a fiercely burning flame. Though his collarbones and chest were lean, the structure beneath held undeniable strength, reminiscent of jagged mountain stones and steadfast pines swaying in the wind.
"Still searching?" Li Ce spread his arms, letting his sleeves flutter broadly, clearly empty.
"Continue," Ye Jiao commanded, "I'll do the rest myself."
She watched his every move, maintaining a commanding aura that refused to yield to the man before her. Li Ce removed his outer robe and handed it over. Ye Jiao reached out, fingertips just touching the fabric before he let go abruptly. Instinctively bending forward to grasp it, the garment slipped, causing her to lose balance and stumble. Still clutching the dagger, she panicked, hurling it away to avoid piercing Li Ce.
The dagger's cold gleam flashed harshly in the carriage's dimness, yet Li Ce made no attempt to dodge. His hands shot upward, catching Ye Jiao as she fell. The sudden collision pressed their bodies close; her lips brushed against his neck, her chin nestled in his embrace, her entire being frozen, utterly still.
Li Ce lay on the floor, cautious yet concerned. "Ye Jiao... are you alright?"
Her voice emerged muffled, as if from a hot spring, bubbling and indistinct. "I'm hurt... and..." she murmured hoarsely, "my right hand is inside your clothes."
During her fall, her hand had slipped beneath Li Ce's collar, pressed tightly against his cool, firm skin.
"Lord Ye Wuhou," Li Ce's voice drifted softly from above, "do all of you in the Wuhou Office conduct searches this thoroughly?"
"Not at all!" Ye Jiao snapped, lifting her head abruptly, hitting his chin. She took a sharp breath, swiftly withdrawing her hand and rising. Enough! What she'd touched was merely flesh.
Feigning indignation, she scolded, "I'm just thorough! Fine, you may leave now. When you return to the city, we'll search you again!"
She tidied her clothes and, as she drew back the curtain, cast Li Ce a sharp glare.
Li Ce remained sprawled, the sudden movement revealing a glimpse of his face hidden beneath her fallen robe. He let the fabric cover him, weakly raising an arm to wave at Ye Jiao: "No see-off."
Only after the carriage passed the city gate did Li Ce notice the dagger left behind. The An Guo Duke's mansion customarily forged their own blades; this double-edged dagger was slender and pointed, its ebony sheath wrapped in hemp cord. Though unadorned with jewels, its sharpness was undeniable — a fine weapon indeed. Li Ce slipped the dagger into his sleeve. Now, his sleeves were no longer empty.
By the time Ye Jiao realized the dagger was missing, Li Ce had been out of the city for half an hour. She climbed the city wall, gazing into the night along the official road. Li Ce had only brought two guards. Was that enough? She should follow him, at least to reclaim the dagger.
The darkness outside was deep, punctuated only by flickering campfires — refugees from Ganzhou spending the night outdoors. The Jingzhao Prefecture had established charity stations outside the city for porridge distribution, but as custom dictated, the destitute were barred from entering the capital.
"What are you staring at, Lord Wuhou?" Bai Xianyu appeared, returning just as the city gates closed after a day's outing to remind everyone he still existed.
"Why are there so few refugees?" Ye Jiao frowned. "Isn't the situation in Ganzhou dire?"
"That?" Bai Xianyu slipped his hands into his pockets, wearing the air of a privileged nobleman. "Those who survive to reach the capital still have food. The truly destitute either turn bandit on the road or perish from starvation."
So that was why His Majesty sent Li Ce for disaster relief?
Ye Jiao sighed with concern. "How pitiful. I once thought the An Guo Duke's mansion had it tough, but these common folk truly suffer."
"What's there to pity?" Bai Xianyu took the dagger from Ye Jiao, helping her with her cloak, grinning. "Fate decides life. You see me? I was born lucky — the only son of the Bai family. My parents feared for my life and forbade me from joining the Forbidden Army."
The Forbidden Army was Tang's most elite fighting force, deployed beyond the city walls for battle. Fearing death, the Bai family preferred him stationed safely in the Wuhou Office, avoiding service in the army or militia.
Ye Jiao halted, smiling faintly at Bai Xianyu. In the night, her smile bore a subtle chill.
Bai Xianyu quickly quieted himself, his playful grin returning. "Your fate's even better — you were born a girl, beautiful, and can rise by marriage, completing a second rebirth."
Ye Jiao shook her head, cutting off his nonsense. "Tang isn't only home to privileged sons like you but to countless commoners who toil day and night, paying taxes to sustain officials, soldiers, and warriors like us. It's not your fate that's good — it's the people's."
Rebellions by commoners were hardly rare in any dynasty, yet Ye Jiao dared not speak too freely. Retrieving her long knife and cloak, she strode down the steps.
Bai Xianyu stood dumbfounded behind her, scratching his head, murmuring, "What does that mean?"
"What does what mean?"
At the relay station north of the capital near Longzhou, Yan Yun asked the station master the same question. After a night's hard travel, they sought rest and a hot meal at dawn, but the station master reported no food available.
"The refugees looted two carts of fruits, vegetables, and grain originally allocated to the station," the station master explained. "Only coarse rice porridge remains. It's rough — His Highness may not like it."
"No matter," Li Ce entered the station calmly. "As long as it fills the stomach."
The station master hastened to have porridge served. Li Ce found a quiet spot to sit and asked, "I thought all relay station wagons had local militia escorts. If the refugees stole the grain, why did the militia not intervene?"
"They couldn't!" the station master grimaced. "One militia was severely injured. The Longzhou Prefecture retaliated and has them surrounded to the north."
At this, Qingfeng couldn't help but ask, "What about the disaster relief grain from the Ministry of Revenue?"
"All distributed," the station master replied bitterly. "Never expected them to be so greedy."
Li Ce said no more, finishing his bowl of porridge and rising. "Let's go see."
Barely two miles from the station, the official road was blocked by a tree. Three ragged young men emerged from the thicket, clutching battered sticks, barring Li Ce's carriage.
"This mountain is mine to clear, this tree is my—" Before he could finish, an arrow embedded itself at the leader's toes.
"Move aside!" Yan Yun, who'd been dozing near the carriage frame, shouted sharply, withdrawing his bow.
Qingfeng cracked his whip, voice calm: "Move that troublesome tree too."
"Who are you to be so arrogant?" the bandits advanced, brandishing their sticks. "Big deal if you can shoot arrows—" Another arrow struck, this time the bandit's hand. Dropping their weapons, they fled in panic.
Li Ce commanded from inside the carriage, "Seize him."
Yan Yun quickly apprehended one. The captive confessed to being a starving refugee from Ganzhou, begging for mercy.
"No," Li Ce said, "your accent betrays you — you're not from Ganzhou."
Surprised, the bandit looked up. "You understand the Ganzhou dialect?"
"Why would I need to?" Yan Yun kicked him. "You're speaking the capital's tongue."
Elated, the bandit exclaimed, "A fellow townsman! Where are you from? Please let me go. I won't steal again. I'll live honestly."
"You're no bandit," Li Ce shook his head. "You're Forbidden Army."
Forbidden Army? Yan Yun stiffened. What kind of soldier would masquerade as a refugee and rob travelers?
The bandit lowered his head, then chuckled eerily, eyes rolling back as he stared at Li Ce.
"Prince Chu," he hissed, "The An Guo Duke's mansion has you under suspicion. But the truth will come out."
Li Ce paled. The stolen dagger, the mysterious warning—was this only the beginning?