The cyan silk handkerchief was made of ordinary material, nothing particularly special.
Yet the small embroidered white flower in its lower corner was etched deeply into Yun Wan’s gaze—she recognized it instantly.
Because this handkerchief was hers!
That flower had been stitched by her own hand!
Yun Wan remembered clearly how, after that night years ago, she had fled the bamboo pavilion in haste, only to later realize her handkerchief was missing.
She hadn’t been sure where she’d lost it. To avoid it falling into the wrong hands, Yun Wan had gathered and hidden all her handkerchiefs bearing the same embroidery.
Fortunately, she had never been fond of overly intricate patterns or embroidering her name on them. Even if lost, no one could trace it back to her.
Yet now, after five years, that familiar pattern reappeared before her eyes. Yun Wan’s heart pounded violently, her breath catching in her throat.
She stared fixedly at the handkerchief in her hand, forgetting even to breathe.
Why—why was this handkerchief in Emperor Jingxuan’s possession?
The only answer, the worst possible answer, was that she had accidentally left it behind in that pavilion on that absurd night five years ago.
Noticing her silence, Emperor Jingxuan asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Suppressing her panic, Yun Wan steadied her breathing and forced a calm smile. Lifting the handkerchief, she met his gaze with bright, inquisitive eyes. “Is this handkerchief yours, Your Majesty?”
His expression flickered as his gaze fell on her hand.
He gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Seeing his reluctance to elaborate, Yun Wan’s heart sank. She traced the embroidered flower with her fingertip and murmured, “This little flower is quite exquisite. Since Your Majesty carries it, could it be a gift from one of the imperial consorts?”
Her tone was light, feigning hesitant curiosity.
A glint flashed in Emperor Jingxuan’s eyes—he mistook her probing for jealousy, and his spirits lifted.
Was she... concerned about this handkerchief? Did that mean she cared for him? Otherwise, why would she question its origin?
The thought pleased him immensely.
Still—
An explanation was necessary.
With a casual glance at the handkerchief, he replied indifferently, “Do not misunderstand, my lady. This was merely something I came upon by chance.”
Under her puzzled gaze, he tilted his chin slightly. “Take a closer smell. Does the fragrance seem familiar?”
Yun Wan hesitated but complied. After a careful whiff, her expression froze.
This scent...
Her eyes widened slowly as she stared at him in disbelief.
Emperor Jingxuan nodded. “Indeed. The incense I previously asked you to replicate was derived from this.”
The confirmation sent shockwaves through Yun Wan’s mind.
No wonder the scent had felt so familiar when she first encountered it.
In a flash of realization, she grasped the crucial detail. “So... the fragrance on this handkerchief can alleviate your headaches?”
Her stunned expression made her appear adorably naive.
Unable to resist, Emperor Jingxuan sat beside her, then gently pulled her into his arms.
Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he inhaled deeply, intoxicated by her sweet, intoxicating scent.
She smells divine.
A satisfied gleam flickered in his eyes as his voice dropped to a husky murmur. “I’ll admit something rather embarrassing. Five years ago, I was ambushed by a scheming woman who managed to get close to me. Afterward, she fled, leaving this handkerchief behind.”
His breath brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
Yun Wan’s sensitive ears flushed instantly.
But she barely registered it—her mind was reeling, thoughts scattering like tangled threads.
“A... scheming woman?” Her voice faltered. “Who would dare such audacity?”
Emperor Jingxuan’s expression darkened, his tone icy. “Just another power-hungry, treacherous wretch.”
Yun Wan’s heart plummeted, her mood turning unbearably heavy.
Digging her nails into her palm, she asked softly, “Has Your Majesty caught her yet?”
His lips thinned. “Not yet.”
Then he added, “But it won’t be long. We’ve already uncovered leads.”
As he spoke, he studied her expression, wary that she might misinterpret his leniency toward the culprit.
Yun Wan pressed her lips together before voicing her deepest concern. “And if she is caught... what will Your Majesty do?”
Her tone was eerily composed, her lashes lowered.
Emperor Jingxuan’s brow twitched. Without hesitation, he answered, “Naturally—”
“Lingchi execution.”
Execution.
By slow slicing.
Yun Wan’s face paled, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Not a shred of hesitation or mercy—his hatred for that woman, for that night, ran bone-deep.
Of course. He was the emperor, wielder of absolute power, accustomed to controlling all. To be tricked into such a compromising situation—forced into intimacy—was an unforgivable insult.
Any man would resent it bitterly.
His decisive tone made it clear he had long fantasized about ending that woman’s life.
And that woman... was her.
Seeing her distress, Emperor Jingxuan regretted his words. “Forgive me. Did I frighten you?”
He took her cold hands in his, ordering the ice basins removed. Softening his voice, he reassured her, “You needn’t worry. That woman dared to scheme against me—she will pay dearly. The only reason I kept this handkerchief was for the scent, which eases my headaches.”
“If it displeases you, I’ll discard it at once.”
As for the headaches—they wouldn’t kill him.
And if the pain returned, perhaps it would earn him her tender care. That wouldn’t be so bad.
Besides, with her by his side, the agonizing headaches had already faded.
It seemed she was his cure.
Unbeknownst to him, his words chilled Yun Wan to the core.
Steeling herself, she neatly folded the handkerchief and returned it to him, forcing a smile. “Your Majesty needn’t trouble yourself. If it helps you, keep it.”
Emperor Jingxuan set it aside carelessly. Then, in a gentle voice, she ventured, “How can Your Majesty be certain the owner schemed against you? What if it was... accidental?”
She trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.
Understanding her meaning, Emperor Jingxuan’s eyes turned frosty. “That night, I was drunk and drugged. The place I rested was secluded—no one else intruded. So why her?”
“Moreover, her escape proves she had accomplices. Hiding for five years suggests formidable backing and grand ambitions.”
His gaze sharpened as he studied the handkerchief, his voice laced with menace. “This was likely left deliberately. And by sheer coincidence, it carries a fragrance that soothes my torment.”
As his gaze withdrew, the lingering light in his eyes settled on her snow-white cheeks tinged with a faint blush, and Emperor Jingxuan's expression softened. "My lady, tell me—could such coincidences truly exist in this world?"
One or two oddities might be dismissed, but with each added peculiarity, the entire affair grew increasingly enigmatic, shrouded in mist. Emperor Jingxuan refused to believe that fate could weave such an improbable tapestry.
Yet, to unravel this tangled mystery, there was but one direct solution: to find the owner of the handkerchief.
