Chapter 15: Scheming

Song Yue felt a chill run down her spine as she met Xuan Sibei's deep, calculating gaze. It made her uneasy.

How sharp his eyes are... The stall that Li Deshun had cleared for them belonged to an elderly woman, and even the arrangement of the items hadn't changed. Xuan Sibei had simply walked past and glanced at it, yet he had already memorized every detail.

"Hmm..." Song Yue was secretly startled by Xuan Sibei's sharpness. As she gently guided him toward her chest, letting him hear her steady heartbeat, she tried to act like a calm and serene mother, speaking slowly, "Yes, earlier I had to leave urgently, so I asked an elderly woman from another stall to watch my things. I didn't expect to almost miss you."

Xuan Sibei buried his head in her chest and let out a soft laugh. "I see." Her body was soft, and though it appeared somewhat faded on the surface, it was clear that the fabric had been washed countless times, carrying a faint scent of a special plant. "So, you've been staying in Yandu these days?"

Her embrace inexplicably eased his sharp hatred for the land of the Yan Kingdom, making him feel a moment of peace. It was as if, as long as he was in her arms, the entire world could become calm, dissolving the bloodlust inside him.

"Yes..."

"Then where are you staying?" A cold glint flickered in the half-closed depths of Xuan Sibei's eyes.

Song Yue had mentioned before that she was an "illegal resident," and a true illegal resident couldn't stay in an inn. With the little money she had left, she couldn't afford a house... She wasn't foolish enough to stay in a dilapidated, abandoned house in the slums for the night, was she?

"I..." Song Yue hesitated, unable to answer. She briefly considered pretending to be worse off, saying she lived in a dilapidated temple. But then she realized she would likely have to stay with him tonight, so the conditions couldn't be too bad. Quickly, she came up with an excuse, "I have a business friend. We've been looking out for each other for a while, and this time, seeing me come to Yan alone, he cleared out a small courtyard for me..."

This was entirely due to the Empress Dowager's favor. Ji Wuchao's mother had arranged a courtyard for her in Yandu, but the real reason behind it had never been fully explained before her passing. Ji Wuchao had only visited once, so her impression was vague. Aside from Li Deshun sending people to clean it regularly, no one ever stayed there.

That matter was quickly brushed aside. It seemed that Xuan Sibei didn't have any suspicions about her identity. His eyes narrowed slightly, always reminding her of the obedient little white rabbit she had once given him.

[Host, in his eyes, you're just a little rabbit...]

Song Yue: ...What the hell! I'm super fierce!

She couldn't help but press him closer, her gaze fixed on his soft, black hair, like silk.

She had been wanting to touch his head for a long time, but this kid had too much pride and wouldn't let her. Now was the perfect opportunity to pet her well-behaved son!

As soon as Song Yue reached out, unexpectedly, he suddenly raised his eyes and asked seriously, "Are you really thirty-three?"

Her hand froze in mid-air, and in his cold gaze, it pulled back halfway. She forced a smile, saying, "How could that be fake..." She suddenly noticed the position he was in her arms and realized the awkwardness. In a flash, she pushed him away and clutched her chest, her face turning dark, "At such a young age, not learning well... What kind of mother am I?!"

Part of it was due to irritation, and another part was guilt. So, she clutched her chest and pretended to be angry, afraid he might notice something odd.

Although Song Yue could dress and apply makeup to replicate the appearance of a thirty-year-old woman as much as possible, Ji Wuchao's body was still that of a young teenager. Perhaps due to years of binding her chest, it appeared flat, without any curves. If she hadn't padded it with a few layers when wearing women's clothing, she would have been exposed immediately.

This child had never experienced anything intimate, so he probably couldn't tell the difference. However, she still felt a desire to hit him after hearing his earlier words.

Xuan Sibei, pushed away by her, had a smile in his eyes.

It was rare to see this woman so flustered and angry.

Earlier, he had some suspicions, but seeing her reaction, it was clear she was not a naive young girl who had never experienced life. She truly treated him like a son.

...

By evening, when the crowd began to thin out, Xuan Sibei stayed by Song Yue's side, helping her with small tasks. Aside from questioning her age and denying her status as his godmother, their interaction was quite harmonious.

Song Yue rested her head in her hand, watching the pampered Crown Prince of Chu deftly help customers with their change. She found it somewhat amusing. He showed no displeasure, so it seemed he genuinely wanted to help her. Perhaps all her previous guidance wasn't entirely in vain.

Looking at him now, he seemed like a well-behaved child, with a pair of innocent, harmless eyes that easily won the favor of passersby. His speech was gentle and calm, with no trace of hostility. No matter how much she tried to think about it, she couldn't reconcile him with the cold-eyed man she had met earlier that day.

Xuan Sibei continued helping to pack up, his mood becoming more complex. He was doing his best, placing all the silver they received into Song Yue's pocket.

According to the plan, tomorrow he would enter the palace... The days of being with Song Yue were down to just one more night.

This was all he could do for her.

He had thought about telling her his true identity, but he couldn't predict her reaction. Such shocking news would probably be too much for an ordinary merchant woman to bear, especially when she saw him as her own son.

Song Yue enjoyed being served by her "adopted son," feeling a sense of accomplishment as if the little sapling she had carefully nurtured had grown. She took his hand, and they walked side by side down the alley. "You came to Yandu alone without a place to stay... you can stay at mine for now."

The young man beside her, wearing a clean white robe, seemed out of place next to her rough cloth outfit.

Xuan Sibei held a gold ingot in his hand, thinking about how to give it to her. If he said he earned it, would the naive Song Yue suspect something? But if he gave nothing, it would feel like he was wronging her.

After several twists and turns, Song Yue pointed to an ordinary, vacant house ahead. "Here we are."

Just as she was about to pull her "son" inside, the door was suddenly opened from the inside. A young, handsome man in black glanced at Xuan Sibei with some confusion. His gaze then slowly moved to Song Yue's face, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes before he opened the door. "Come in."

Song Yue: ???

In Ji Wuchao's memory, it seemed she didn't know this person!

If he were a stranger, he wouldn't be so calm about letting them inside. This man must know Ji Wuchao's true appearance and real identity. The fact that Ji Wuchao was disguised as a man was something even her confidant, Li Deshun, didn't know, and she had managed to hide it from the Emperor. Only Ji Wuchao's mother knew about it.

Thinking further... this house was indeed hers, but it had been built by her mother specifically for her. So, this man must be one of her mother's most loyal subordinates. Otherwise, he wouldn't be familiar with her original appearance and wouldn't have come to manage this empty house after her mother's death.

It seemed that, by accident, she had stumbled upon a loyal ally?!

Song Yue was almost moved to tears. If it weren't for Xuan Sibei being present, she might have started a conversation with the man in black right away. But now, she could only smile politely, and in a way Xuan Sibei couldn't see, she winked at him to signal him not to say anything wrong.

"Brother Li, I'm so sorry... I've troubled you by staying here these days, and now I've brought a little one with me..." She deliberately hinted at this while gently lowering her gaze.

The man in black was momentarily stunned but quickly understood her meaning. He replied briefly, "It's no trouble," and then turned back to his business.

If it hadn't been for years of training, he might not have recognized Ji Wuchao's face. She looked exactly like the portrait, yet she wore a coarse robe far too old for her age, with her hair styled in a bun, making her appear at least ten years older. And now, she had brought a handsome little boy with her—what was she trying to do?

He had heard the rumors in the palace. Ji Wuchao, as the Emperor, lived freely and recklessly—why was she pretending in front of this young boy? But these things weren't his concern.

Song Yue shoved Xuan Sibei into the bedroom, pretending to unpack her things, then hurried to catch up with the man in black. She forcibly pulled him behind the large tree.

What she was confused about, the man understood well. It wasn't surprising that Ji Wuchao reacted this way, since her mother had never mentioned the shadow guard to her.

He cleared his throat, about to speak openly, when Song Yue leaned toward him, lowered her voice, and abruptly whispered, "You're not the shadow guard my mother prepared for me, are you?"

"..." The man looked stunned.

Seeing his reaction, she more or less understood. She released his collar and let out a soft sigh. "As expected, my mother knows how to care for me... What's your name?"

"Feiyu."

"How many shadow guards are there? Why do I only see you?"

"Twenty. The others... have dispersed."

"Why has this been kept from me?"

"..." He looked at her, silent.

Song Yue pursed her lips, turned away, and placed her hands behind her back, nonchalantly saying, "Even if you don't say it, I already know... My mother is your true master. As for me, the young master, you probably don't take me seriously. After hearing such rumors in the palace, I'm sure you never considered serving me, and have probably lost heart."

If it were a normal person, assisting a completely useless master would indeed be difficult. Ji Wuchao had done many ridiculous things in the past, but fortunately, she hadn't had much power at her disposal, so the consequences weren't severe. For example, she had taken in a handsome young man to keep in the harem—if Feiyu had been by her side all along, such things would definitely have happened more than once.

She could understand that.

Feiyu remained silent for a moment, then half-knelt in shame, lowering his head. However, he didn't realize that a hand had grasped his chin, forcing him to look up into Ji Wuchao's slightly narrowed eyes. This time, Song Yue didn't hide anything and directly gazed into his eyes. "I understand. It's not your fault. The past is forgiven. If you don't want to stay, I will set you free."

"I..." Feiyu had originally intended to leave, but looking at her face, which resembled the master's so much, he hesitated.

After all, she was the master's flesh and blood, even if she had committed heinous acts...

"I'll give you one day to think about it." Song Yue clasped her hands behind her back, her slender figure somehow carrying the imposing presence of a dragon robe, even in the plain coarse cloth she wore. Feiyu, kneeling on the ground, was momentarily stunned.

This was one of the few times he had seen Ji Wuchao up close, and now that he was in such close proximity, it seemed... somewhat different from his impressions.

Song Yue walked into her courtyard with a solemn expression, her thoughts in turmoil. After entering her room, she stared blankly at the candleholder for a while.

Feiyu moved with extreme lightness, and she had been able to tell from their first meeting that his lightness skills were top-notch. She was destined to become a female emperor—why waste such a good resource?

But just now... she wasn't sure why, but when she saw the despair in his eyes, she suddenly didn't want to force him into serving her. The life of shadow guards had always been tough and monotonous. Letting them scatter, marry, and live their lives wasn't such a bad thing...

[By the way, host, how did you figure out he was a shadow guard?]

Song Yue: He didn't show any hostility toward me, and he cooperated with me in acting. He's definitely an ally, one who's been trained. Then, considering the origin of this house, the answer was clear.

[6666, didn't realize the host's reasoning ability was so good...]

Song Yue: The most important thing is that dramas always use this kind of plot, so I guessed it right away.

[...There's no reasoning ability at all.]

Song Yue was lost in thought by the candlelight, staring blankly at the flames, when suddenly she noticed, in the flickering light, a shadow standing perfectly still by the window.

She hadn't sensed anyone's presence outside the courtyard, so she was startled and quickly pushed open the door.

There, standing motionless in the courtyard, was Xuan Sibei, holding a pillow and blanket in his arms. His clear eyes were pure and without any hint of impurity, quietly gazing at the entrance to her room. He stood there without moving. The cool night wind gently lifted the corners of his clothes, and his white inner garments appeared somewhat thin.

Three seconds of eerie silence.

Song Yue remained holding the door, staring blankly at Xuan Sibei. She opened her mouth but couldn't find her voice. "You... what are you doing?"

"I can't sleep." He looked like an innocent child, with little expression on his face, but he seemed pure and harmless. Half of his delicate face was hidden in the darkness, and the corner of his mouth curled into a slight smile, only for it to vanish when she looked at him. "I want to sleep with Song Yue."