In the next moment, she cried even harder, her voice muffled as she said, "I knew you wanted to destroy my Grand Tutor's mansion."
Shen Muzhou's expression turned awkward. He whispered, "With you here, I won't make things difficult for the Grand Tutor's mansion."
She asked suspiciously, "Really?"
He nodded.
Lin Yanxi's almond-shaped eyes darted back to him, feeling that he wouldn't easily let her father off the hook, given all the harm her father had done to him.
She extended her pinky finger and said, "Come on, the seal."
Shen Muzhou gazed at her watery eyes. Tears still streaked her fair, young face.
"Hurry up!" she urged.
"Is it necessary?"
Though he grumbled his displeasure, he mimicked her gesture and positioned himself. Lin Yanxi hooked her little finger around his, they shook them a few times, then pressed their thumbs together.
"Of course, it's already being lenient that I'm not making you sign a written confession. So, it's settled, you're not allowed to trouble my father or the Grand Tutor's mansion anymore."
He nodded again in the darkness, "Mm."
"Xiao Liu found the Twin Heart Flower in the western suburbs."
Lin Yanxi's expression froze. He had actually found it, but after tomorrow's palace banquet, he would be imprisoned for the loss of the jade talisman, falsely accused.
"Then, I'll help you break the curse before you enter the palace tomorrow."
She thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "After breaking it, will you return the Soul Ring to me, and we'll have no more ties between us?"
Shen Muzhou's eyes dimmed. Perhaps at first, due to the prophecy from the Imperial Observatory, he had indeed intended to use the Soul Ring to threaten her into saving him.
Now, he was no longer sure of his own thoughts, nor was he clear about his feelings for Lin Yanxi. The only certainty was that he had never again thought of using the Soul Ring to coerce her into doing anything she was unwilling to do.
Lin Yanxi felt she had said the wrong thing and didn't press the issue further.
---
In the Grand Tutor's mansion, Wanxin Pavilion.
"Madam, Madam, you're finally awake."
Jiang Wan's face was pale, her brows tightly furrowed. She slightly opened her eyes and asked, "What time is it?"
Yu Gu replied, "Madam, it has just passed the hour of Mao. The doctor has prescribed medicine for you. Please drink some first."
Saying this, Yu Gu brought the dark brown medicinal soup to Jiang Wan. A bitter scent assailed her nostrils.
Jiang Wan shook her head. She knew her physical condition; her time was running out.
"Yu Gu, go... get the white jade box."
"Madam... absolutely not. I beg you, don't do this to the second young lady." Yu Gu knelt on the ground with a 'plop'. The medicine bowl she was holding became unstable, spilling a large portion and scalding her hand red.
The white jade box contained the Soul Confinement Talisman.
The Diviner had predicted Lin Yanxi's Heavenly Calamity Star destiny before she was even born. To avert disaster, Jiang Wan had requested two Soul Confinement Talismans from Jiang Qi.
This Soul Confinement Talisman could dissolve in water. Once ingested, it would render the recipient foolish.
Yu Gu knelt on the ground, pleading, "I watched the second young lady grow up. She was such a clever and bright girl when she was little. If she becomes foolish, it will be for ten years. For these ten years, she would know everything but be unable to say anything."
"She was schemed against by people from the second branch, bullied by noble ladies in the capital, and looked down upon by the people of Nan Min. Having suffered once is enough. I beg you, Madam, do not let the second young lady endure these hardships again."
"The Soul Confinement Talisman can only be used once. If used on the same person a second time, it will not merely result in foolishness. She will become a living dead person. Are you truly willing to let the second young lady become a mere breathing shell?"
Jiang Wan's eyes welled up with tears, "Do you think I don't feel pain? Using the Soul Confinement Talisman on her twice is like me enduring the pain twice. But compared to the world-ending suffering she will bring to Yue You in the future, and suffering the backlash of the heavenly tribulation herself, I would rather she be a living dead person, and I will care for her for a lifetime as atonement."
"Moreover, spellcasters have been searching for Talisman Masters. If Lin Yanxi falls into their hands, it would be worse than death."
"Give me the Soul Confinement Talisman."
Yu Gu knew she could not sway Jiang Wan. She got up to retrieve the white jade box.
Jiang Wan's hand trembled slightly as she touched the white jade box. "This cannot be done in the Grand Tutor's mansion. Prepare a carriage and take Zhao Zhao to the manor. I will go ahead and prepare everything."
The use of the Soul Confinement Talisman could not be interrupted by anyone, nor could anyone know that Lin Yanxi had used it.
At the same time, a figure in dark blue glided past Jiang Wan's window, unnoticed by those inside.
A few days prior, the Emperor had summoned Shen Muzhou for a private meeting. He had received intelligence that the Grand Tutor's mansion was harboring a defense map of the capital.
For a highly influential civil official, this was a grave offense.
The Emperor was inherently suspicious and would not let even the slightest disturbance pass him by. He had sent Shen Muzhou to investigate the truth.
This was also one of the reasons Shen Muzhou had to sneak into Lin Yanxi's room to spend the night a few days ago. After Lin Yanxi fell asleep, he would search the Grand Tutor's mansion before leaving.
He found the guards to be lax, no different from ordinary wealthy families. Only a few servants with some martial arts skills patrolled at night. However, there was something unusual in the courtyard of Jiang Wan, the principal wife of the Grand Tutor.
Her courtyard seemed to be guarded by a few servants, but in reality, these individuals moved with light steps, carrying curved swords at their waists, and their eyes were watchful. Other servants worked in three shifts, but her courtyard only changed guards shortly after the hour of Mao.
Shen Muzhou, taking advantage of the shift change at the hour of Mao today, sneaked into Jiang Wan's courtyard and overheard their conversation.
However, because their voices were very low, he could only catch fragments of words like "Soul Confinement Talisman" and "manor."
He couldn't hear clearly, and after confirming that their discussion was not related to the defense map, he left, intending to climb over the back wall.
"This has been going on for several mornings."
"Yes. The day before yesterday, they were going to send the second young lady away, and we had to work early in the morning. Today, we have to go to the manor. We don't get to sleep anymore."
As Shen Muzhou was about to slip out of the mansion over the back wall, he vaguely heard the sound of hurried footsteps and the complaining dialogue of servants from both sides. He was caught in the middle, unable to retreat safely.
In his desperation, he had no choice but to sneak back into Lin Yanxi's courtyard.
Lin Yanxi's eyes were closed, and she was still asleep. Her skin was smooth and delicate, like warm jade with a soft sheen. Her cherry-red lips moved unconsciously, and then she gently curved into a sweet and obedient smile.
"Mother... you're not angry with me anymore..."
Shen Muzhou leaned in to listen to her murmuring. As he drew closer, he could smell a natural, sweet milky fragrance emanating from her.
"I'll never make Mother angry again."
So, she was having a dream about her mother. The morning light brushed across her cheek, casting a golden glow, making the girl in her dream appear incredibly beautiful.
"Miss. Miss!" A knocking sound came from outside the door.
Lin Yanxi startled awake from her dream. She saw Shen Muzhou's face expanding infinitely before her eyes. They were so close that they were about to touch. She opened her mouth to scream.
Shen Muzhou reacted quickly, covering her mouth and stifling the scream.
She blinked, then remembered that Shen Muzhou had secretly entered her room again yesterday and insisted on staying, refusing to leave. Strangely, he always left early in the past, so as not to be discovered by anyone in the mansion.
"Why are you still here?"
Shen Muzhou looked straight ahead, his lips pressed into a flat line, concealing a slight blush on his earlobes. "I was just about to leave."
Just about to leave?
She glanced at him, who would believe that? If he was about to leave, why was he so close to her!
In the next moment, she seemed to remember something and quickly pulled her brocade quilt tighter. Her fair skin turned a deep red. She stammered, "You're not... planning to do anything improper to this young lady, are you?"
She whispered the last few words, her pronunciation muffled, like a mosquito's hum.
Shen Muzhou slanted his gaze at her, and after a while, he said, "Don't be overly wishful."
Lin Yanxi felt like a startled cat, wanting to scratch that peerlessly alluring face of his.
What did he mean by her being wishful!
"Miss, Miss, something's wrong!" Tangchao was so anxious she wanted to push the door open, but it wouldn't budge.
Lin Yanxi's hair stood on end, her heart leaping into her throat. Fortunately, she had latched the door from the inside when she went to sleep yesterday.
She scrambled out of bed, pulling Shen Muzhou along, and made a shushing gesture at him.
"Wait, wait a moment, I'm getting dressed."
"Hurry and go, leave through the back window." She pulled Shen Muzhou towards the back window.
Shen Muzhou looked at her flustered appearance and remained motionless, arrogantly saying, "What are you afraid of? If we're discovered, I'll take the blame?"
How could she not be afraid?!
She smiled apologetically, "Yes, yes, yes, Ninth Prince is wise and powerful, of course, he's not afraid. However! Ninth Prince should hide for a moment. I'm considering this for you. If someone discovers you in my boudoir, it might damage Ninth Prince's reputation if it gets out."
As she spoke, she tried to push him into a cabinet, but after a couple of attempts, Shen Muzhou was too tall to fit.
"Under the bed."
Shen Muzhou followed the direction of her finger towards the bed and shook his head without hesitation.
"I, the dignified Ninth..."
Lin Yanxi didn't have time to listen to his nonsense. Before he could finish, she forcefully shoved him under the bed.
"Shh, don't speak."
She opened the door. Tangchao and Lizi were waiting outside, pacing anxiously.
Tangchao looked surprised, "Miss, aren't you getting dressed?"
Lin Yanxi glanced awkwardly at her plain clothes and scratched her head, "Yes, oh dear, what is it?"
"Miss, Madam has arranged for you to go to the manor immediately. Please wash up quickly and go. Yu Gu has already prepared the carriage at the mansion gate."
As Tangchao spoke, she tried to pull Lin Yanxi inside to change.
She said anxiously, "I can't change in here!"
With that, she quickly turned back to close the door, glancing at everyone with a guilty conscience, and made an excuse.
"Let's go change in the study. I need to get something from the study anyway."
As she spoke, she pulled Tangchao and Lizi towards the study. As they passed Lin Ze's courtyard, she saw two servants standing outside the door.
Finding these two somewhat familiar, she looked at them a second time. The two looked at Lin Yanxi with caution and bowed to her.
Were these two servants of the mansion?
!!!
She suddenly thought of something. They were the Crown Prince's personal guards. Although they were wearing servant's clothes, she remembered that when the Crown Prince had locked her in a room and beaten her until she was near death, it was these two who had taken turns bringing her spoiled food.
Why would the Crown Prince's personal guards be in the Grand Tutor's mansion? Could it be that the Crown Prince was also here?
"Uh, I need to go to the latrine. You two wait for me in the study."
She used an excuse and slipped into the small courtyard of Lin Ze's study. Based on her knowledge of the Grand Tutor's mansion, she could pass through the side courtyard, where there was a small door leading to the study's courtyard.
Lin Yanxi quietly snuck to the base of the window behind the study, crouched down, held her breath, and pressed her ear to the wall, eavesdropping.
"What jade talisman is lost? When did this happen? You're only telling me now?" asked the Grand Tutor.