Chapter 5

Chapter 5

As the wedding date drew near, the capital grew increasingly restless.

From the shadows, Ah Ying had tracked a lead pointing to the remnants of the old faction that Gu Yanzhi had purged years ago. These people had been lurking in the capital all this time, waiting for the day of Gu Yanzhi’s grand wedding to strike.

Following the trail to a derelict temple in the south of the city, she captured a survivor. Unable to endure the torture, the captive spat out a single sentence: “It will be most satisfying to see the Prince die in the Wedding Hall.”

When Ah Ying presented the confession to Gu Yanzhi, the wedding ceremony registers sent by the Shen Family were laid out in his study.

After finishing the secret letter, Gu Yanzhi’s expression remained calm. He merely said, “Continue the investigation.”

“Yes.”

Ah Ying retreated to the door, but her footsteps faltered. She couldn’t help but ask one more question: “Your Highness, do we need to add more personal guards on the day of the wedding?”

Gu Yanzhi looked up at her, a hint of impatience in his eyes. “I have my own arrangements for my wedding.”

Ah Ying lowered her head. “This subordinate overstepped.”

As she withdrew, she heard someone entering the study to report that Shen Zhiheng had sent several hand-embroidered sachets. Gu Yanzhi’s voice softened in response, carrying a rare, faint trace of a smile.

It wasn’t until Ah Ying reached the corridor that she realized her palms were covered in blood.

She had been so focused while reporting that she hadn’t noticed her nails digging deep into her flesh.

That night, she returned to the derelict temple to transcribe the list of remnants one by one. The wind was cold, but the lamplight remained steady. She suddenly recalled that day many years ago when Gu Yanzhi had casually given her a name.

Back then, she thought that as long as she was obedient and useful enough, she could stay by his side forever.

Only later did she understand that staying by someone’s side and staying in their heart were two entirely different things.

In the end, she was nothing.

Just an old weapon that had been used for too long, its blade already chipped and curled.

On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the capital saw its first heavy snowfall of the year.

When Gu Yanzhi returned from the palace, his chronic headaches had flared up severely, leaving his face pale. Ah Ying kept watch from the shadows as usual. Seeing that he hadn’t called for a meal long after entering the study, she went to the side courtyard to brew a bowl of soothing tonic and handed it to the attendant at the door.

Shortly after the attendant went inside, he came back out and said, “The Prince asks you to enter.”

Ah Ying was stunned.

It had been a long time since she had stood in the light like this, stepping into Gu Yanzhi’s study.

The room was filled with the scent of ambergris, and it was quite warm. Gu Yanzhi sat at his desk wrapped in an outer robe, his brow showing a rare sign of exhaustion. He glanced at her and said coolly, “Bai Qingheng said you were the one who ordered this medicine to be brewed?”

Ah Ying bowed her head. “Your Highness has been suffering from severe headaches lately.”

Gu Yanzhi didn’t say thank you. He simply picked up the bowl and took two sips before suddenly asking, “How many years have you followed me?”

Ah Ying’s breath hitched.

“Fourteen years.”

“So long.” He seemed to mention it casually, yet also as if he were realizing the fact for the first time. After a moment, he took a warm jade peace charm from the desk and tossed it in front of her. “An item from the late Emperor. Wear it. There will be many people on the wedding day; don’t die too unsightly a death.”

The jade charm landed in her palm, still carrying a hint of warmth from his fingertips.

Ah Ying could barely keep her grip steady.

That night, she returned to the Cold Palace Old Courtyard. She placed the peace charm in a wooden box and stared at it for a long time before finally deciding to wear it close to her body.

She wrote another page in her journal.

“Today, His Highness gifted me a jade charm.”

After writing this, she paused, then slowly added another line.

“If this is his way of granting me closure, then I shall accept it as such.”

She was already dying.

To have received a name, a jade charm, and a question so brief it could hardly be called one from Gu Yanzhi in this lifetime already seemed like far more than she was ever meant to have.