Shen and Xie

The voice trembled and broke, already thick with tears.

Rong An glanced at the fireworks, which were still going off.

"Forgive my presumption."

As he spoke, he raised his hands and covered Zhao Huiluan's ears.

"Your Highness, please come with me."

Rong An led Zhao Huiluan into Chongwen Pavilion and settled her in a chair. As soon as he rose, she grabbed the hem of his robe.

Zhao Huiluan looked up at him, on the verge of tears.

"Rong An, don't go."

"Don't be afraid, Your Highness. I'm not leaving. I'm only going to shut the doors and windows."

Her hand tightened on his robe a little more before she let go.

When Rong An returned after shutting the doors and windows, he found Zhao Huiluan sitting quietly in the chair, her head bowed, her right hand digging hard at her left thumb again and again.

Rong An could hardly bear to watch. His fingers stirred, and he wanted to take Zhao Huiluan's hands to stop her from hurting herself, but he felt it would be improper, so he could only lower his hand.

"Your Highness, are you afraid of fireworks?"

At his words, Zhao Huiluan stopped picking at her thumb.

She raised her eyes and gazed steadily at Rong An, who was crouching before her as he spoke. Then she shook her head.

"I used to love them. It's just..."

It was just that in her previous life, amid the sound of those fireworks, a palace attendant had gripped her younger brother's throat and forced poison down it. Amid that same sound, her brother had slowly grown cold in her arms, and she... had hacked down the guards who stood in her way like a madwoman.

"Rong An, do you know? They set off fireworks in the palace every New Year's Eve. I hate them to death!"

"If I'm fortunate enough to live to seventeen, I'll have fireworks set off for the entire night at my seventeenth birthday banquet!"

"But until then, I don't want to see them at all!"

Rong An heard her clearly, but he was puzzled. He wanted to ask, yet did not know how to begin.

The sound of fireworks gradually faded from their ears.

Zhao Huiluan gradually calmed down. She saw the puzzlement in Rong An's eyes and snorted through clenched teeth.

"Rest assured, Minister Rong, there's nothing wrong with me!"

Rong An could not help laughing.

When she was afraid, it was "Rong An" every other word. Now that she was better, it was "Minister Rong" again.

He shook his head, rose, and went to sit at a desk nearby. Before him lay a sheet of paper with a passage half copied out; judging by the handwriting, it belonged to Shen Zhiyao.

Just as he was about to pick it up for a look, a shadow fell over it.

A slender, fair hand slapped down on the xuan paper.

"Minister Rong! Join hands with me!"

Rong An looked up and met the young girl's eyes, big and round, dark and bright.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"Judging by your features, Minister Rong, you should be a man destined for high office and a generous salary. But in Yan Capital, you have neither a foothold nor connections, and you are unwilling to drift with the current and learn to be another Wang He. Your official career is bound to be less smooth than others'."

Rong An smiled. "I didn't know Your Highness could read faces."

"Though the spring breeze may fail to understand, the crimson wisteria's buds will bloom in their own time. Minister Rong, don't you also know very well what lies ahead of you?"

Zhao Huiluan leaned forward, looked at the man just inches away, and said with conviction, "I don't believe you have no desire to become a grand secretary and enter the Grand Secretariat!"

"Minister Rong, join hands with me, and I'll help you enter the Grand Secretariat and wield power. What do you say?"

Rong An recalled the scene that night on the hilltop when Zhao Huiluan had spoken with Tao Xuanzhi. She had said little, but every sentence had carried a sharp edge.

First she had asked after His Majesty's health, using an ordinary opening to put him off guard; then she had asked about the secret of the pills to unsettle him; next she had spoken frankly of her concern to draw him closer; then she had questioned him on grounds of both emotion and reason; finally, she had pointed directly to Hequ and the Oirats' invasion from the north.

She had lured him along, pressing him at every step. Princess Zhenning truly could not be underestimated.

"Then what does Your Highness want?"

Zhao Huiluan's eyes darted around. "Once you enter the Grand Secretariat, you'll know."

"Does that mean you agree, Minister Rong?"

Rong An lowered his head and said coolly, "Your Highness does not trust me."

Zhao Huiluan fell silent. She withdrew the hand resting on the xuan paper and clenched it tightly into a fist.

"Minister Rong, I want you to help the crown prince ascend the throne smoothly."

Rong An was shocked. He looked at her in disbelief. "Does Your Highness know what you're saying?"

His Majesty was still alive and well. What Princess Zhenning had said sounded utterly treasonous!

Chapter 28: Shen and Xie

Zhao Huiluan thought back over what she had said and realized that Rong An had misunderstood.

"I do not mean to defy my sovereign and stir up rebellion. But the affairs of the world are fickle, as are people's hearts. Today I am a princess, exalted above all; tomorrow I may be a prisoner beneath the steps, reviled by everyone."

"Minister Rong, what my heart desires is to enjoy this glory and wealth forever."

As Zhao Huiluan spoke, she raised her right hand.

"Are you willing to help me, Minister Rong?"

Rong An slowly stood and studied the bright, beautiful face before him.

She had clearly said "may," clearly meant to mend the roof before the rain and think of danger in times of peace. Why, then, did it sound from Princess Zhenning's lips as though she had already lived through it?

Rong An looked down at his palm, then raised it and struck it against Zhao Huiluan's, sealing their alliance with composure and resolve.

Zhao Huiluan smiled. Candlelight reflected in her clear eyes, sparkling like a river of stars.

"Then from this day forward, you are one of my people, Minister Rong!"

"In that case, Minister Rong, could you tell me frankly whether you and Shen Zhiyao were acquainted before?"

Rong An had just started to withdraw his hand when Zhao Huiluan caught hold of it instead.

Her palm was warm, and it was truly rather embarrassing.

"Your Highness, you've overstepped."

It was rare for Zhao Huiluan to see him flustered, and she found it most novel. She tightened her grip a little more. Then she saw the tips of Rong An's ears turn red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Heh~"

Zhao Huiluan could not help laughing aloud.

Rong An pulled his hand free with force, clenched it into a fist, and held it behind his back.

"Your Highness, it's getting late. You should return to the dormitory."

"There's no hurry."

Zhao Huiluan stepped in front of Rong An, blocking his path.

"Minister Rong, you still haven't answered me. You and Shen Zhiyao..."

"What does Your Highness wish to know?" Rong An had recovered from his earlier embarrassment. "Why don't you tell me what you think first, Your Highness?"