09. The Secret

The business was settled with a few orders from the princess and Linzhi sent out from the palace. Since she passed the first hurdle of this path, she decided to go to Ri temple. It was the god of victory from the ancient celestial tales.

In front of the main hall, there was a plum tree but it is currently covered in snow. The fragrance of the incense lingered in front of the temple despite the low number of people visiting. Linzhi straightened her clothes after worshiping. She took a walk to the back garden when she caught a nauseating sight.

Enemy really met on a narrow road, eh?

A few dozen steps away, she saw Zhang Siyuan's tall figure and beside him was his wife, the granddaughter of Prime Minister Lu - Lu Molan, with her hand on his arm.

Zhang Siyuan's ambition was admirable, knowing the second princess consort position was up he married the prime minister's only granddaughter to consolidate the second prince's faction. After all, for them, marriage was not an act of love, but an alliance for power.

"That's none of your business, Molan."

"None of my business? You sent my secret guards to attack the boat, you sabotaged Duke Li's marriage and that man went berserk to annihilate an entire city!"

"Get over it, it's a couple years ago."

"A couple years ago? Duke Li is out here making trouble for my clans because he already knew those people are from my house! Now you want me to just get over it? Are you crazy?!"

Zhang Siyuan pulled out his hands, "I'm not crazy, it's nothing compared to what your family did in the past. Stop playing victim."

Lu Molan was visibly confused, "What? What do you mean?"

"Your youngest aunt never married, she was in love with Nie Jinhao. She drugged Mrs. Nie and she went into premature labor, but their daughter survived and Nie Jinhao focused his time on Nie Linzhi instead."

"How.. how do you know?"

"The most important thing is, unlike her parents, Nie Linzhi was hard to kill. That's why I sent your people to make sure she was dead. We don't need complication on our plan. We need the dead to stay dead or we'll lose this chess game."

"What do you mean, unlike her parents? Third rank officer Nie Jinhao died because of an accident.."

"That's your take on this? I told you we can lose the entire chess game."

Her voice trailing, she looked at the man she shared a pillow with, "Nie Jinhao.. Did you.. What.. Are you.."

"Yeah, yeah.. I designed the accident," he nonchalantly admitted the accusation. "Nie Linzhi should have been there and died together with him, but she didn't. Then I have to clean her up later, but she hid in Junyu. So stupid."

Lu Molan was trembling, she took a few steps backward before her fainting body was held by a female guard out of nowhere.

"Send the madam home and don't let her out of the courtyard until the second trimester."

"Yes, My Lord."

While Lu Molan was taken away, another guard reported to him; "Duke Li's entourage is on their way. The first prince's side is on the move."

He sneered. What a joke, I can't let them form an alliance.

"Invite the Second Highness for a meeting."

"Yes, My Lord."

Blood was trickling from Linzhi's palm, it was proof of how hard her nail had dug the skin.

She was too naive, she thought Zhang Siyuan was just choosing power and regarded feelings as insignificant. The marriage sabotage and asassination was serious enough, but was he actually the murderer of her father?

Linzhi had been dormant for too long, it's time to move.

.

.

The night was dark and Lin Rui frowned.

"Why are you dressing as a man, Sister?"

Linzhi perfected the makeup, "I'm going to the gambling house."

"What? Are you crazy? Why do you-"

"Zhang Siyuan killed my father."

Lin Rui was stunned. They knew each other's story before they played house. He thought Zhang Siyuan was just being unfaithful and spiteful, he never thought Zhang Siyuan had messed with her family even earlier than that.

"Are you sure? Where do you get this information from?"

"I went to Ri Temple after the palace, the bastard was there with his wife. I was hidden but close enough to hear their conversation. Do you think he'll be lying when no one is around?"

Lin Rui was younger, he teased and annoyed her a lot of times, but deep down he knew she was reluctant to hurt the man she once loved. He had blood feud with the Zhangs and he didn't mind to let Linzhi had Zhang Siyuan to be tortured, but this changes everything.

"You don't have to go there, I have enough money for the officialdom."

"No, you don't get it. I no longer want Zhang Siyuan's life.. I want him to live in agony and eternally in pain for not achieving his goal when he was so close to it. I want to crush him until nothing is left."

The resolute voice, the fire on her eyes.. Lin Rui had it since he was eight. Lin Zhi was now in the point of no return, she would have her revenge no matter how it takes.

"I understand, Sister, but you can't be reckless. We need to wait for-"

"Wait?" The mancing voice startled him. "We can't afford to wait, we can't let him and his faction get stronger. We must grow bigger and ally ourselves with his enemy."

"His enemy? Do you mean the first prince?"

"Yeah, I'll ask for Feng Xinian's help and from there we'll convince Duke Li to join the first prince's camp."

"Are you going to reveal your identity? Are you crazy?"

"No, I'm not crazy. I'm desperate. I really want to crack Zhang Siyuan's skull and skin him alive, but I know that won't hurt him the slightest. I want to hurt him badly, Lin Rui. We must make the first prince the crown prince as soon as possible."

Linzhi was in a bloodlust state, he knew it. He was familiar with it. Nothing could stop her now.

"Are you sure you want to start the plan now?"

"Yes."

Lin Rui rummaged through his pocket and handed a white jade token, "Bring my guards, just in case."

"Thanks."

Feng Xinian was the grandson of the Royal Tutor. His grandfather was the schoolmate of the late king and the teacher of the current king and the princes. Despite Feng Xinian's outstanding scholarly background, the man was infamously known as a dandy. He might not be sleeping among flowers, visiting fragrance building, or drowning in liquor.. but he was a gambler.

Everyone knew you could find Young Master Feng in Xi Gambling House in the entertainment gang, at any time of the day. His attendant wasn't surprised when a child handed him a note, he would ignore it if it wasn't for the small bar of gold. Anyone asking the audience with his master was either lovesick young ladies or another dandy inviting him for drinks.

Feng Xinian was waiting for his nth winning when his attendant passed him the note, he knew his people, they passed it because they knew the sender couldn't be offended.

'Are you ready for the fastest snail race?'

The bored and deprived young man suddenly stood up, grabbing his attendant's colar. "Where's the person sending this note?"

"I don't know, it's a child, Young Master. He says the sender will meet you at the usual tea house."

Feng Xinian knew it was crazy, it was impossible but he needed to be sure. The only one known about the snail race was Nie Linzhi and even if the chance was smaller than a needle hole, he must go.

"Young master Feng, if you leave now then it means you're forfeiting."

"It doesn't matter."

Feng Xinian was too anxious and carelessly left the betting table, missing the glint of anger and envy from his opponent.

Nie Linzhi and him have had a special bond since they're young. When Feng Xianian was 6 years old he finally got rid of the long term sickness haunting him since he was a baby. The boy was smaller than his peer, he was frail and weak and the other children bullied him for it.

They tricked him into the hunting dog's cage and left him there.

Feng Xinian remembered he was running like crazy, lungs bursting and heart pumping, but still he failed to leave. At the darkest, scariest moment of his life, 8 year old Nie Linzhi saved him. Beating and kicking the hungry dogs while pushing him to run out the cage. The little Linzhi was bitten on the calf before adults came. The two have been inseparable ever since.

Feng Xinian still regretted his cowardly and obedience to Nie Linzhi on the carriage, he never thought their meeting would be the last time they see each other. He couldn't even make it to her funeral because his presence would raise people's eyebrows and her reputation might be ruined, just like how Zhang Siyuan wanted it.

'You've come faster than I ima-"

The attendant was shocked, but as a worker it was his duty to keep the employer secret. So what if his young master was hugging a young man as soon as he opened the door? What does it have to do with him?

He just closed the private room's door slowly and retreated. Guarding the door from afar.

"Stop it! I can't breathe!" Linzhi pushed the man a couple years younger than her, "Did you take a bath at all, you smell foul."

Knees on the ground, hands on her shoulders, and tears brimming on his eyes; "It's really you?"

The sadness, the self loathing, and the happiness was blended into making the young man crying like no tomorrow.

"Calm down and drink this," Linzhi helped him, sat down and handed him the tea, "Why are you crying? Shouldn't you be happy that I'm alive?"

"Of course I'm happy!" He interjected, "What the heck happened? Duke Li announced your death and there's a funeral. Who is your family burying that day?"

"Zhang Siyuan sent another assassin to kill me, but the maid saving my life died by the killer's hand. I was kidnapped by Ma Zifeng and everything will be more convenient if I was dead. So I changed my clothes with the maid and lit the fire. I disposed of the assassin's body outside and tricked Zhang Siyuan. I guess it worked since I've been on the run for 2 years."

Feng Xinian punched the table, "He already sent me to mess up your marriage and he still sent an assassin? What is wrong with this guy?!"

With a self depreciative smile, she finished her tea. "He killed my father too."

"Huh?" Feng Xinian certainly just misheard, "Sorry, over gambling makes me dumb. Can you say it again?"

"My father's accident is man-made and Zhang Siyuan is behind it."

"That son of a b-"

Linzhi dragged him back by the collar.

"Are you out of your mind?! You should've killed- no, you should've chopped him and fed him to the dogs! No, wait, that's animal abuse and cannibalism. We should have beheaded him and hung his head in the city gate!"

Linzhi chuckled.

"Why are you laughing? I'm being serious. He tried to kill you three times, three times! And he also killed Uncle Nie? Shouldn't you be like.. seeking revenge or something?"

Linzhi propped her chin with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "That's why I come to you."