The courtyard, once crowded with onlookers, was halved by the fright caused by the collapsing alchemical furnace. Those remaining were soon driven away by Li Ce's words. "Leave quickly—how can one spy on lovers beneath the moon and blossoms? Eavesdropping is one thing, but spying is another." Only Ye Jiao remained, smiling with a coy innocence.
"It's nothing, I was just fooling around," Ye Jiao explained hurriedly, fearing Li Ce might worry or be saddened by the incident. She had already sensed the subtle chill in his tone—like the cool water of an early autumn brook. But her excuses were evidently futile. A mind as keen as Li Ce's could not be deceived by a few lies.
Li Ce lifted his head; his once profound eyes were bloodshot, like sunset-streaked clouds burning fiercely before dispersing at the corners. "Sulfur," he said in a low, grave voice as he gazed into Ye Jiao's clear eyes, "powdered sulfur ignites explosively upon contact with fire, foul-smelling and toxic; saltpeter is forbidden by the court for its use in black powder. What recklessness drove you to practice alchemy here? What if—"
What if it weren't the furnace that exploded, but the entire Marquis's residence?
Suppressing the storm of emotions within, Li Ce's voice hardened as he confronted Ye Jiao. "What medicine are you trying to concoct? I'd rather die than see you in such danger."
"It won't happen," Ye Jiao protested, "the quantities of sulfur and saltpeter are minimal, at worst only the furnace would blow. See? I'm perfectly fine." She twirled her arm coquettishly, just as she always did.
Li Ce watched her silently; his clenched jaw throbbed with a dull ache as the anger in his heart gradually dissipated. "You must never do this again," he sighed helplessly, "and the furnace must be dismantled."
Ye Jiao pouted reluctantly, but Li Ce's stern demeanor was somewhat intimidating. "Fine!" she stamped her foot, "Someone! Dismantle the furnace!"
The Marquis's residence plunged back into chaos, and Lady Ye finally allowed herself a breath of relief. She gently fanned herself and said to Ye Rou, "See? Only the Prince of Chu can manage her." Then she sighed softly, "But how is it that the Prince's health still does not improve?"
Though Ye Jiao was not necessarily destined to marry Li Ce, Lady Ye wished for his well-being. The boy was so endearing.
"Rest assured," Ye Rou rubbed her mother's shoulders, "there are many renowned physicians and Taoists. If alchemy truly worked, the Prince of Chu would have sought it out."
"Indeed," Lady Ye sipped her tea lightly and nodded. "There's a Taoist temple on Mount Li to the east; I've heard the immortal Wang there masters the transformation of qi, understands yin and yang, and knows life and death. If the Prince finds time, he might seek his aid."
Though Lady Ye spoke casually, Ye Rou kept the matter close to heart and informed Ye Jiao that very night.
"Really?" Ye Jiao was bathing, and upon hearing this, she rose from the tub, only to be ordered back down by her nanny. The floor was wet, and Ye Rou stood beyond the screen, nodding. "Just tell the Prince of Chu. You're a young lady; don't go yourself."
"Don't worry." Ye Jiao chuckled softly and sank beneath the water again, her long hair fanning out like ink in a stream.
Mount Li was not far; she would go and return quickly, avoiding trouble.
Zhang Li was Li Long's personal guard. Since Li Long was seventeen, Zhang Li had served him. Illiterate and only recognizing a few characters, he was nonetheless willing to do any task, strong, and ruthless, making him highly valued by Li Long. Though highly regarded, Zhang Li was never granted official rank; Li Long feared that appointment would draw the attention of the court, risking his loss. Zhang Li was privy to secrets and thus kept under watch. With no official post, he received scant payment and often skimmed benefits during errands.
The estates and houses of Sima Cheng'en were among these illicit gains, though Zhang Li could never have guessed they would bring him mortal peril.
After leaving Li Long's residence, Zhang Li returned home, changed from his usual clothes into a nondescript black robe, discarded his conspicuous greatsword, concealed two daggers in his sleeves, gathered some silver notes, and set out lightly. He could no longer remain in the capital.
Today, Zhang Li had overheard Li Long, Liu Yan, and the prince's steward plotting to kill witnesses. No sooner had he stepped into the alley than officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture stormed in.
Zhang Li climbed over a wall into a courtyard, evading the officers, and brooded silently. He knew he must flee beyond the city. But where could he hide?
Turning his gaze to the distant Mount Li, he pondered.
The position of Prefect of Jingzhao was difficult to hold, commanding numerous subordinate counties, while the capital teemed with royal relatives none dared offend. Yet Liu Yan had his own way of navigating the world. Taciturn, avoiding factions or flattery, he focused on justice, determined to prevent wrongful convictions and keep the people's faith unshaken. The case of Sima Cheng'en was no exception. No matter how long ago or how accused of treason, if one died in his jurisdiction, he would see the truth uncovered.
Yet his men failed to capture Zhang Li. The man who had secretly disposed of Sima's estates had fled first.
Liu Yan promptly detained all of Zhang Li's relatives. Citizens watched in stunned silence as a procession of suspects was marched into the prefecture office.
"How can you officials catch people like a swarm of locusts? Is this justice?" they muttered.
Liu Yan cared little for the rumors; uncovering clues was paramount. Sure enough, one relative, fearing implication, whispered to Liu Yan that an elder in the family had become a monk on Mount Li.
Mount Li… Liu Yan's expression darkened. That was an excellent hiding place.
He ordered the mountain sealed off to hunt for Zhang Li.
Before this, soldiers of the Duke of Su had already entered Mount Li. The Qingyun Temple at the summit was surrounded. Taoists inside looked on, bewildered by the sudden intrusion.
Liu Yan assured the head priests, then inquired about a Taoist named Lin Daozhen—Zhang Li's kin.
"He went to gather herbs," the Taoists replied.
"And your master, the immortal Wang?"
"He went as well."
Mount Li rose hundreds of fathoms high, its terrain winding and dense with verdure. Finding one herb-gatherer here was no easy task, even for Taoists.
"There was a female benefactor seeking Master Wang before you came, but none knew if she found him."
"What kind of benefactor?" Liu Yan asked, wary of leaks.
The head priest clasped his hands in a protective seal: "Fuxing Wuliang Tianzun, I only know she is from the capital."
Ye Jiao had vanished.
At dusk, Ye Rou sought audience with Li Ce outside the Zhao Prince's residence, stirring him and even catching the eye of Li Jing, who favored beauties.
"Don't rush," Li Jing said, serving tea while the princess was away. "Take your time."
Tears glistened in Ye Rou's eyes. "My little sister went to Mount Li."
"She went there too?" Li Jing exclaimed. "Not with Liu Yan, surely? Little Nine, you're done for—Mother Lioness has taken a fancy to the taciturn one."
Li Ce ignored Li Jing, his face darkening instantly. "Ye Jiao went to Mount Li? When?"
"She left early morning and hasn't returned. I hid it from Mother and sent men to look, but the mountain is sealed. Her carriage was at the foot of the mountain, but she was nowhere to be found."
Li Ce rose abruptly.
"It's my fault," Ye Rou fretted, sitting then standing again. "I told her about the immortal Wang who can make alchemical medicine, that's why she ran off to the temple."
Li Ce understood—it was to find medicine for him. The foolish girl. Her luck had run out this time; perhaps she was already in danger.
"Don't panic," he reassured Ye Rou, though his shoulder struck a pillar in frustration. "The city gates are closing soon; I'll leave quickly and search Mount Li."
"I heard there are wild beasts there," Ye Rou bit her lip.
"Fear not," Li Jing soothed, "your sister is far fiercer than any beast."
Though joking, Li Jing's concern deepened after Ye Rou left. "Liu Yan's going to Mount Li to investigate. Are you really going? If you get involved, don't hide at the Zhao Prince's residence."
"I'm going," Li Ce took down his bow and arrows, "to bring her back."
"If you cross certain people, the cost will be high."
Stepping over the threshold, he declared, "At any cost."
Turning back to Li Jing, he ordered, "Send me two carriages, thirty guards, two hundred torches. Every guard must be mounted and robust. Don't light the torches yet; wrap them in oiled cloth inside the carriages. Give me your horse and your coachman. Hurry—I'll wait outside for your arrangements."
With that, he strode out, leaving Li Jing frozen.
"So—" Li Jing drew a deep breath, "the cost you're willing to pay for Ye Jiao… is me?"
My carriage, my horse, my men.
Before the gates closed, Li Ce rode forth toward Mount Li, his heart heavy with regret—the remorse of a lover whose beloved was endangered because of him.
Torches blazed, hooves shattered the night's silence, and amidst the galloping steeds, Li Ce glimpsed Ye Jiao's figure—dressed in radiant red, her eyes sparkling like stars.
No more.
He had once exploited his frailty to win the emperor's pity and affection. He had grown accustomed to showing weakness before Ye Jiao to receive warmth and passion in return.
But now Li Ce suddenly saw how detestable that self was.
Because if she truly cared, she would risk everything for him, braving peril alone.
Ye Jiao…
Li Ce sat upright in the saddle, gazing at the moonlit shadows of Mount Li.
He had never before thought so fervently of holding someone close, never parting—even in death.