Chapter Five: It's Actually Him!

"Miss, you've returned!" As soon as Su Liluo stepped into the courtyard, Liu Zhu hurried up to greet her. Su Liluo took the pre-rain Dragon Well tea Liu Zhu handed her and sat down on the soft couch. Not seeing the other maid, she asked, "Where's Liu Ying?"

"Liu Ying went to the main kitchen to fetch some easily digestible food. She was worried you might be hungry after returning, since you probably didn't eat much at the banquet. A bowl of millet porridge would be better for your stomach," Liu Zhu replied, hanging Su Liluo’s cloak on the rack as she spoke.

As soon as Liu Zhu finished speaking, Liu Ying returned, carrying several small dishes and a bowl of millet porridge that looked particularly appetizing.

"Miss, you must not have eaten much, please have some," Liu Ying said as she and Liu Zhu neatly arranged everything. Su Liluo had only tasted a few pastries at the banquet before having Liu Ying clear the table.

Now that she had time to herself, Su Liluo couldn't help but ponder who had wanted her to witness the illicit affair between Su Baizhi and Yun Fengxiao. Did they expect her to expose the matter?

But who would benefit from such exposure?

Suddenly, a thought flashed across her mind—could it be the Imperial Consort? If the Crown Prince was found consorting with his fiancée’s sister, the entire royal family’s reputation would be ruined, and the Third Prince’s chances of ascending the throne would rise dramatically.

"Miss, what are you thinking about? You've seemed distracted ever since you returned from the palace banquet. You didn’t even notice your tea had gone cold," Liu Zhu said as she poured a fresh cup of hot tea and handed it to Su Liluo.

Interrupted by her maid, Su Liluo set aside her worries about the evening's events.

"Miss, it's getting late—you should rest now," Liu Zhu and Liu Ying had the servants bring in hot water and filled the bathing tub with flower petals before quietly leaving the room.

Su Liluo stirred the water in the tub, watching the vivid rose petals float, but her brows drew together in a frown. If it truly was the Imperial Consort, she would not rest until her goals were achieved.

Bang! As Su Liluo was considering what to do next if her suspicions were correct, a sudden crash startled her—someone had broken in through the window!

"Who’s there?" Su Liluo called out warily, quickly grabbing a robe from the screen to wrap around herself as she turned toward the window.

A shadow slumped beneath the sill, but no reply came.

Cautiously, she approached. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating a man dressed in black nightwear collapsed on the ground, the thick scent of blood hanging in the air.

"Hey, wake up. Who are you?" Su Liluo couldn’t see his face clearly, but his figure seemed vaguely familiar.

She knelt beside him, gently pulling away the cloth covering his face. A well-known countenance came into view—"Yun Yanyi!"

Outside, Liu Zhu and Liu Ying heard the commotion and assumed Su Liluo was done bathing. "Miss, do you need us to help you dress?" they called.

"No need. It’s late, you may go rest. The bath can be cleaned tomorrow," Su Liluo hastily responded. Only after the sound of footsteps faded did she collapse to the floor, her palms slick with sweat.

Glancing again at Yun Yanyi, who lay unconscious on the floor, her brows knitted tighter.

His face was flushed, and when Su Liluo touched his forehead, she found it burning with fever.

Su Liluo quickly shut the window, then slung Yun Yanyi’s arm over her shoulder and used all her strength to lift him.

It took nearly all her effort, but she finally managed to drag Yun Yanyi onto the soft couch. As they neared it, her grip slackened and he fell heavily onto the cushions.

He lay there, barely alive, unresponsive. She poked his chest with her finger. "Hey, you’re not dead, are you? If you’re going to die, don’t die here!"

Suddenly, Yun Yanyi coughed, startling her. But after a moment, he still didn’t stir.

"Oh well. You saved me once—now I’ll save you. Consider us even," Su Liluo sighed. She retrieved a small bottle from under her pillow, tore open Yun Yanyi’s blood-soaked clothes at the wound, and saw the gash was still bleeding. Even she, accustomed to the wounds of the sick and injured, was taken aback by the severity.

The skin around the wound was blackened—a sign that the weapon had been poisoned.

With much difficulty, Su Liluo squeezed out the poisoned blood, applied medicine with care, and bandaged the wound with gauze.

She was just about to cover Yun Yanyi with a quilt when a sudden urgent knocking sounded at the door. "Miss, the First Lady and Second Miss have arrived with others."

Su Liluo frowned. Her courtyard was usually deserted—if those two white-lotus mother and daughter arrived so late, it surely meant trouble.

She quickly dragged a quilt over Yun Yanyi, hiding him underneath, then hurried to open the door and stepped out, closing it swiftly behind her.

Outside, Liu Ying and several maids and matrons blocked the entrance. Yao Ruoshui’s face was twisted with suppressed rage.

"Mother, what is the meaning of this? Disturbing my sleep so late at night?" Su Liluo stretched lazily, her tone languid.

"Su Liluo, what kind of discipline do you have over your servants? They don’t greet me or Baizhi, and instead bar our way. Is this what the matrons have taught you?" Yao Ruoshui seized the chance to accuse her, setting the stage for what would come next.

"I had no idea you were coming, Mother. Forgive me for not welcoming you properly. But what could be so urgent that you and my sister would come here with an entourage at this hour?" Su Liluo replied unhurriedly, unfazed by Yao Ruoshui’s scolding.

"The jade ruyi bestowed by His Majesty has gone missing. Step aside, I must have the place searched thoroughly. Your innocence will depend on the results," declared Yao Ruoshui, gesturing for a matron behind her to proceed.

Su Liluo sneered. "What, Mother—do you suspect me of stealing it?"

Su Baizhi tugged gently at Yao Ruoshui’s sleeve. Now was not the time to get tangled with Su Liluo; they needed to plant the evidence first to ruin her.

Reminded, Yao Ruoshui pressed on, "Su Liluo, move aside. I have no time to argue with you. Let the matrons search your room. Your innocence will be proven after the search!"

Su Liluo smiled faintly and exchanged a glance with Liu Ying, who quietly slipped away to the east to send a message.

"Has Mother searched everyone else’s quarters? Or is mine the only one? That seems unfair," Su Liluo said, catching Yao Ruoshui off guard. She hadn't expected the usually docile Su Liluo to become so troublesome.

Su Baizhi coughed softly, her delicate figure eliciting pity—though there were no men about to appreciate the display.

"Sister, Mother only wishes to search. Surely you don’t want the Prime Minister’s Residence to be punished by the Emperor over the missing ruyi?" Su Baizhi’s words invoked the whole household’s safety; if Su Liluo refused, it would seem she cared nothing for their wellbeing.

"You’re right, sister. But if only my courtyard is searched, it’s clear who Mother suspects. If I let you search, whether or not you find it, the news will spread that the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s house stole the imperial ruyi. The family’s reputation would be ruined," Su Liluo replied, eyes narrowed, standing her ground.

The group remained deadlocked at the courtyard entrance.

"What is this racket in the middle of the night?" Old Madam Su arrived with a retinue of servants. Su Liluo stood unmoving at the door.

Yao Ruoshui quickly turned and bowed, biting her lip in frustration. "Greetings, Madam. I had no choice—His Majesty’s ruyi has gone missing. If the palace hears of it, it will bring trouble to the Master."

Su Liluo stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Grandmother, Mother brought people late at night to search my quarters for the missing imperial ruyi, with no evidence. Naturally, I couldn’t consent. I apologize for disturbing you."

Old Madam Su shot Yao Ruoshui a displeased look. "If a search is necessary, then all the young ladies’ quarters must be searched—none singled out!"

Yao Ruoshui hastily agreed. "Madam is right, I did not consider it thoroughly. Since we’re here, let’s start with Liluo’s quarters, shall we?"

It mattered not how many courtyards were searched, as long as the ruyi was "found" in Su Liluo’s, her goal would be achieved.

"Granny Hua, you will go as a witness. I will not favor any one side, but I will not allow deceit under my very nose," Old Madam Su declared. Yao Ruoshui’s expression faltered—she hadn’t expected the old lady to handle it thus.

"As you command, Madam!"

Yao Ruoshui signaled to her trusted Matron Ping, who nodded and led several maids into Su Liluo’s quarters, with Su Liluo following closely behind.

"Madam, the eldest miss seems eager to go in—could it be a thief’s guilty conscience?" Yao Ruoshui remarked sarcastically.

Su Liluo remained composed. "Even if it’s your trusted people searching, accidents can happen. I am the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter and the future Crown Princess—should anything be found missing or added, it would be hard to explain, wouldn’t it?"

At the mention of the future Crown Princess, Su Liluo deliberately arched her brow at Su Baizhi. After tonight’s events, wasn’t Su Baizhi coveting the marriage with Yun Xiaofeng?

Seeing Su Liluo’s smug look, Su Baizhi gritted her teeth in fury. It was only thanks to her late mother that Su Liluo had secured such a good match—what was so impressive about that? Sooner or later, Su Baizhi would trample her underfoot.

But Su Liluo had no time to relish Su Baizhi’s expression; with a man hidden in her room, if he were discovered, she would be beyond saving.

Su Liluo strode forward and was the first to push open the door. Her gaze landed on the couch—its quilt was curled into a suspicious lump.