The subordinates looked at one another, uncertain whom to obey.The eunuch's message was that Yejiao had already reported to the Crown Prince—she would be working through the night, thus the meal was sent.Yet Yejiao's intention seemed entirely different: to accept the Crown Prince's specially bestowed meal, eat it clean, then turn her back and go home as if nothing had happened?Their expressions turned subtly awkward.They picked up their chopsticks and saw that Yejiao was already seated before the meal table, using a slice of steamed bun to wrap a piece of tender, glistening pork belly, preparing to eat.The subordinates were famished but unsure if eating would bring punishment.
"Eat," Yejiao urged them. "If you're not hungry, then finish drafting the official dispatches to Jiangnan Xidao."
Jiangnan Xidao governed nineteen prefectures, and each required an official letter for coordination.Starting now truly meant working all night.Upon hearing that, the subordinates immediately sat down and grabbed the nearest dish without hesitation.The meal was delicious; though wine was absent, everyone ate with satisfaction.
But with full stomachs came drowsiness, and none were inclined to continue working.They turned again to Yejiao, who was calmly dabbing her lips with a handkerchief. After carefully folding it away, she stood and declared, "Let's go."
She acted without hesitation, as if she were not burdened at all.Left with no choice, the subordinates braced themselves and followed.
Yet as the palace doors opened, someone was already stepping through from outside.Bathed in the hazy night, the man came unaccompanied by guards or servants, carrying only a square palace lantern.Its glow stretched his shadow across the clean, polished stone path.
As he slightly lifted his gaze, the noble and solemn features—strikingly similar to the Emperor's—came into view.
It was the Crown Prince, Li Zhang.
"Your Highness," the crowd greeted him with reverent bows.When officials met a Crown Prince or royal prince, the proper etiquette was to kneel with hands and forehead to the ground—four full bows to complete the rite.
Behind Yejiao, her subordinates knelt in unison.She, too, was about to kneel, when Li Zhang's voice interrupted her.
"No need, Lord Ye," he said as he stepped into the hall. "You and I are family."
Before long, Yejiao would become Princess Consort of Chu, and thus a member of the Tang imperial family in name and in truth.
Yejiao remained standing—she obeyed but did not soften her expression.Seeing this, one of her subordinates stepped forward to earn favor.
"Your Highness, today the Department of Treasury has finished sorting the accounts for Hedong, Hebei, and Shannan Circuits. The number of crossbows distributed is clearly recorded, and official letters of inquiry have been drafted. May Your Highness review them at your convenience."
Li Zhang turned his gaze toward the reporting official, eyes filled with skepticism and disdain. Without responding to him, he addressed Yejiao:
"Are your department officials allowed to bypass ranks and report directly?"
His voice was not loud, yet it carried the chill of an underworld breeze—enough to strike fear into the heart.
The moment the words fell, the subordinate's eyes widened in panic.With a thud, he dropped to his knees and cried, "Your servant is guilty!"
Seeking merit but inviting rebuke instead, he trembled, unsure what punishment awaited.
Silence fell over the hall like a moonless night on the steppe.The eunuchs collecting the dishes began to quietly retreat.
Li Zhang stood beneath the palace lights, his face inexplicably shadowed with a trace of menace.
Yejiao, resigned, said with weariness, "It was my negligence in supervision. If Your Highness has questions, your servant shall answer."
Li Zhang nodded and handed the lantern to Yejiao. Then, glancing at the remaining officials, he said coolly, "You've worked hard today. You may go and rest."
The officials, more than eager, offered hurried salutes and withdrew.
The hall was suddenly empty. Only a few eunuchs remained clearing the table, leaving Yejiao alone to face Li Zhang.
He slowly stepped forward to her desk, where the official documents were neatly arranged.Glancing at them, he asked, "Last year, how many repeating crossbows did Jinzhou of Hedong Circuit receive?"
Jinzhou—where a waterworks project had incited riots—was the epicenter of the notorious crossbow incident.
"Thirty," Yejiao replied without hesitation.
Li Zhang raised a brow. "So few?"
"That's already quite a lot," she replied quickly, walking over to point at the entry in the ledger."Last year, due to unrest in Tibet, most of the bows and crossbows were supplied to the Northwest Army."
And at that time, Li Zhang himself was the commanding general of the Northwest.He fell silent, eyes fixed on that single line—then on Yejiao's fingertip.
Her finger, pressing firmly against the page, had turned pale at the tip, while the rest remained petal-pink—like a peach blossom, drifting out of season before his eyes.
After a prolonged gaze, Li Zhang pulled back slightly, then said,"I remember Hedong Circuit petitioned to form a vanguard unit of crossbowmen to guard against the Turks.Minister Song of the War Department had to reassign troops from Henan Circuit, all armed with crossbows.Many of them were deployed to Jinzhou. Did you account for that?"
Yejiao froze for a moment.
No one had informed her of this.She hadn't yet reviewed Henan Circuit's ledgers and thus hadn't discovered the anomaly.Had Li Zhang not mentioned it, these documents would've been signed and dispatched tomorrow—too late for correction.
"Is that so?" she murmured, turning quickly to search for the record.
All the ledgers brought today were stored on tall bookshelves.The section labeled "Henan Circuit" was on a high tier.Yejiao rose on tiptoe to reach it, but her hand still fell short.
In her haste, she turned to fetch a ladder—only to nearly collide with Li Zhang, who had silently moved behind her.
Like his brother Li Ce, he was tall.Standing near the shelf, he only needed to extend his arm slightly to retrieve the book.
Yejiao now found herself trapped between the shelf and his figure.To move away meant brushing against him; to remain was awkward and tense.So she pressed her back firmly against the bookshelf until it creaked, barely managing to hold still.
Li Zhang said nothing.As if unaware of her discomfort, he leisurely reached for the ledger, then slowly, deliberately placed it in her hands.
"This one?" he asked.
"Yes."
With the single step he retreated, Yejiao escaped as quickly as she could, returning to her desk.
The sensation was unspeakably strange.
Yejiao was not a reserved or delicate woman—she had once pinned Li Ce against a wall to rob him of gold.But now, faced with Li Zhang, she wanted nothing more than to flee.
Ever since the incident in the Prince of Jin's mansion, when he nearly poured tea on her head, just thinking of him gave her goosebumps.
It was a deep-rooted revulsion—body and soul in unison—that made her wish to complete her task and be gone.
But Li Zhang showed no intention of letting her go.After Jinzhou, he asked about the neighboring prefectures as well.
Fortunately, the rest of the ledgers were in order, and he found no fault.He offered a small nod at last.
When the final document was reviewed, Yejiao breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
"I shall deliver today's account to Minister Song before the morning court, so he may report to Your Highness.It's late, I shall take my leave."
She rose and, not waiting for Li Zhang's response, offered a simple bow and turned toward the door.
Li Zhang sat unmoving at the desk. Only when she reached the threshold did he speak:
"Court Secretary Ye, the palace gates have been locked."
Yejiao froze in shock, staring into the pitch-black night.Though many palace halls remained lit, night was still night—it brought unease.
"When were they locked?" she asked instinctively.
"A quarter-hour ago," Li Zhang replied, his eyes glinting with a faint smile. "Once locked, no one may enter or leave, regardless of status."
His expression bore an unmistakable trace of mischief.
He had done it on purpose—deliberately delaying her with endless questions, timing it precisely to trap her in the palace overnight.
Why?Because she had once struck him?Because Li Ce had seized part of his power?Or…