Chapter Seventeen
"When did Your Highness come to the Moon-Inviting Tower?"
"Right after leaving the Shadowed Radiance Pavilion."
So Prince Wei hadn’t even bothered to attend the main banquet? That was just like him.
Following the pebbled path along the lakeshore eastward, they soon reached an artificial hillscape of Taihu rocks blocking the way. After winding around it with a few turns, the octagonal Moon-Inviting Tower came into view, rising tall before them.
Accompanied by Buyan, Cui Lanyin ascended the tower. By the window overlooking the lake, a carved sandalwood couch was placed, where Prince Wei reclined with his eyes half-closed.
"Greetings, Uncle."
"Hmm."
Cui Lanyin took a seat in a nearby chair and noticed how close the Moon-Inviting Tower was to the Emerald Wave Pavilion. Through the wide-open windows, the happenings in the pavilion were clearly visible, and even the laughter and chatter from there faintly carried over.
However, the rock formations shielded this tower from the view of those in the pavilion.
No wonder the Fourth Elder Lady of the Yao family hadn’t suggested Prince Wei join the gathering at the Emerald Wave Pavilion but instead directed him here. If he wished to observe the young ladies, he could easily do so from this vantage point. If not, he wouldn’t be disturbed. It was a perfect arrangement—fulfilling the Emperor’s request without inconveniencing Prince Wei. The matriarchs of noble families truly considered every detail.
A thought struck Cui Lanyin, and she blurted out, "Did Uncle summon me here because you saw me in an awkward situation?"
"Never mind, I was mistaken." She quickly corrected herself. Tan Shao had barely entered the pavilion when Buyan arrived to fetch her. Given the distance, the timing didn’t add up.
"No need to see." Prince Wei responded languidly.
With Prince Wei’s keen perception, he wouldn’t need to witness it firsthand. What surprised Cui Lanyin was that he had bothered to intervene on her behalf.
Recalling how the Yao sisters had defended her, unaware that she had already met Prince Wei, she wondered how they must feel now.
Genuinely moved, she said, "Uncle, you’re too kind to your niece." She felt compelled to do something in return. Glancing at the Emerald Wave Pavilion, where couples had begun slipping away from the crowd to converse privately, she leaned closer. "Uncle, would you like me to tell you about the young ladies present today?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two slender, pale fingers tap lightly on the couch. The gesture could mean dismissal—a silent "leave me be"—or something else. Cui Lanyin straightened. "Alright, I’ll be quiet."
Yet, she still wanted to express her gratitude. Soon, she ventured again, "Uncle, there’s something I’m unsure whether I should mention."
Another single tap. She glanced around. "But here…"
Buyan, ever sharp, chimed in, "Master Bailin is enjoying the breeze on the rooftop. No one can approach unnoticed."
Since Buyan had served tea during her previous visits and was now accompanying Prince Wei, it was clear he had become a trusted attendant.
Given that neither Buyan nor Prince Wei dismissed her, Cui Lanyin took it as permission to proceed. Still, she lowered her voice. "My father once dabbled in alchemy. He tested the so-called longevity pills given to His Majesty and found them fraudulent—prolonged use would shorten one’s lifespan instead. If you’d like details, my father could experiment with a few formulas and document the effects."
The Tan family never spoke of what they witnessed in the palace years ago. Combined with the hints dropped by Empress Dowager Chen, Cui Lanyin understood the dangers lurking within the imperial household. At the very least, Empress Dowager Chen’s departure with Prince Wei had been shrouded in unspeakable secrets.
That was why she had resolved to keep Third Master Cui’s discovery about the pills a secret—until now.
But Prince Wei’s kindness and unwavering support made her feel guilty for withholding the truth. Whether or not Prince Wei held any filial affection for the Emperor, this knowledge could serve him well—offering leverage or a means of defense. Keeping it from him felt like a betrayal, and she could no longer accept his protection with a clear conscience.
"Not afraid?" Prince Wei sat up, his expression unreadable.
"A little. But hiding it from you felt worse."
"You trust me?"
"I do. If anything goes wrong, I believe you’d shield me and my family." She didn’t know why she felt such conviction.
Prince Wei suddenly smiled—a rare sight. Though faint, it was enough to make the room seem brighter. "Uncle, you should smile more often."
Another two-fingered tap. "Fine, I’ll be quiet."
Prince Wei leaned back lazily. "Too late."
Did he mean her silence came too late? Cui Lanyin met his indifferent gaze and stiffened. "Is it His Majesty…?"
"Hmm."
A shiver ran down her spine. Emperor Xuanning had been frequently ill these past six months. If Prince Wei’s "too late" referred to the Emperor’s dwindling time… Did Prince Duan and the Li family know? Did Prince Wei truly have no ambitions for the throne?
Countless questions swirled in her mind, but she dared not voice them.
"Nothing to fear." Prince Wei’s reassurance was like a calming pill. Remembering his deliberate inactivity in the Ministry of War, Cui Lanyin’s worries settled.
After this exchange, she felt closer to Prince Wei—as if they were now allies sharing a secret.
Her earlier restraint faded, and she asked casually, "Uncle, are you aware that Liu Heipi came looking for me at home?"
Prince Wei tapped the window frame. In an instant, a shadow flickered past the eastern window, and Bailin appeared.
"Second Young Lady."
"Master Bailin."
Bailin, ever attuned to Prince Wei’s intentions, didn’t need explicit instructions. "Second Young Lady, I’ve already questioned Geng Dayou. I’ll handle Liu Heipi’s matter upon our return."
Cui Lanyin tapped three fingers lightly. "Like this?" Then she pressed all five fingers down. "Or this?" She wondered if she should plead for leniency if the latter was the case.
Bailin choked on air, turning away to stifle laughter before facing her again. "Second Young Lady knows this too?"
He glanced at Prince Wei, then dissolved into silent laughter once more.
Was her imitation that amusing? "What’s wrong?"
Prince Wei turned toward the window, as if refusing to acknowledge the scene.
Bailin marveled at the rare liveliness in Prince Wei’s demeanor. As Qinglin had observed, the prince seemed more animated around Cui Lanyin.
Prince Wei’s intellect far surpassed ordinary men’s, granting him premature clarity about the world. What others chased after held no allure for him, making it rare for anything to stir his emotions.
Only someone as vibrant as Cui Lanyin could breathe life into his detachment.
Still, Bailin was puzzled. "Nothing’s wrong. Three taps mean ‘eliminate,’ and a five-fingered press means ‘leave no witnesses.’ You’ve seen the former at the teahouse, but how did you know the latter?"
"Five fingers carry the right weight for such gravity." Cui Lanyin demonstrated with four fingers. "See? This lacks impact. It wouldn’t do justice to Uncle’s decisiveness."
Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Prince Wei’s lips twitch. No one else would dare mimic him so brazenly.
Bailin had to admit that he, the one who could best decipher Prince Wei’s intentions, was now overshadowed. What took him and others a long time to learn through observation, the Second Young Lady Cui Lanyin grasped in just a few encounters—even understanding gestures she had never seen before.
“There’s no ‘kill on sight,’ no ‘leave no survivors.’ You can rest easy, Second Young Lady.” Originally intending to keep it brief, Bailin changed his mind. “Though Liu Heipi is slippery, he’s no villain. He’s capable, and this ordeal has taught him a lesson. I’ll inform the Five-City Military Command later—consider the matter with Liu Heipi settled.”
“Does Uncle intend to recruit Liu Heipi?”
Bailin was surprised. “How did you know, Second Young Lady?”
“The affair with the Heir Apparent of Dingguo Duke didn’t require his involvement. That’s when I sensed something was off.”
Bailin glanced at Prince Wei, unsure how much more to disclose.
Prince Wei shifted from the cushion, sitting cross-legged. Cui Lanyin promptly handed him a small plate with a hibiscus cake. “Niece thought you might like this.”
Prince Wei accepted it and ate slowly. Buyan brought over a cup of hot tea, which Cui Lanyin carefully placed by his hand. The prince finished the cake with a few sips of tea.
When Buyan moved to pour another cup, Cui Lanyin waved it off. “The snack wasn’t quite to Uncle’s taste. No need for more tea.”
Bailin thought the prince had eaten it well enough—when something didn’t suit him, he’d barely take a bite. Clearly, the Second Young Lady still had some nuances to learn about Prince Wei’s preferences.
“You do pay attention,” Prince Wei remarked, acknowledging her observation.
“Of course I do. When something pleases you, Uncle, you don’t drink a whole cup of tea afterward.”
Prince Wei ignored her and turned to Bailin. “Tell her.” His tone suggested he was humoring a talkative child.
Bailin understood there were no restrictions now. “Second Young Lady, His Highness previously established a formidable reputation in the martial world and built certain… business connections. Now that he’s returned to court, the reputation matters less, but the ventures must remain. Liu Heipi is shrewd and capable, with his own standing in the martial world. Despite knowing the risks in the Dingguo Duke affair, he gritted his teeth and took it on—proving he can handle responsibility. His Highness and I discussed it and decided to have him manage our affairs in the martial world.”
What kind of world was it, that even after returning to his princely duties, Uncle couldn’t let it go? Cui Lanyin felt a pang of envy—how wonderful it must be to be a man, free to explore such vast horizons.
“Can you manage accounts?” Prince Wei’s question interrupted her reverie.
Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes. I’ve been reviewing ledgers with Grandmother since I was six. My father taught me practical mathematics—I calculate faster and more accurately than seasoned accountants.”
After today’s events, Prince Wei had become, in her eyes, a trusted elder second only to Tan Shao—someone she could be her true self around. Outwardly, she was poised and thoughtful, but with family she trusted, she was lively and talkative.
Prince Wei shot Bailin a glance. After a brief pause, Bailin caught on.
Turning to Cui Lanyin, he smiled warmly. “Second Young Lady, His Highness means for you to take charge of our external accounts.”
