Chapter 161: Theory

Prince Jin handed a cup of tea to Noble Consort Mu and said, "Having a mother like you is the greatest fortune of my life." These words brought a delicate smile to Noble Consort Mu's lips, and as they chatted for a while, Prince Jin, eager to keep her in high spirits, brought up some amusing anecdotes from outside the palace, filling the hall with cheerful laughter.

"Would you stay and share a meal with your mother today?" Noble Consort Mu asked as she saw that the hour for serving dinner was approaching, retaining him with a warm invitation.

"Naturally, I must take advantage of my mother's hospitality today and share your meal," Prince Jin readily agreed. Noble Consort Mu gently patted his head and said, "You child, you say that every time you come, yet you always eat so very little. Does your mother not wonder if the food fails to suit your taste?"

"The food here suits my taste perfectly, Mother. You worry too much." Hearing this, Noble Consort Mu felt entirely comforted and ceased to press him further.

Upon returning to her courtyard after being away for several days, Su Liluo finally saw the Abbess, thereby setting one matter at rest. Noticing that the weather was exceptionally fine, she called Su Dongxuan to take a stroll around the temple grounds. Seeing the charming smile on the young girl's small face, Su Liluo felt that this trip had truly been worthwhile.

"Fifth Sister, we have been away for a few days and will return to the Prime Minister's Estate today. Is there anything else you would like to do?" Su Liluo instructed her maidservants to return and pack their belongings, while she and Su Dongxuan admired the scenery of the temple.

"I shall follow whatever the eldest sister decides. We originally came out to accompany you, Sister, and now that you have brought Xuan'er out to enjoy the scenery, my heart's desire is already fulfilled." Su Dongxuan shook her head, being a person easily content and reluctant to trouble Su Liluo any further.

"Very well, once the maids have finished packing, we shall return to the Prime Minister's Estate," Su Liluo replied, seeing that Su Dongxuan was not merely being polite, and the two began to walk back.

Shortly after the hour of Wei (1:00 PM), the carriage stopped at the gates of the Prime Minister's Estate. Assisted by the maidservants, the two alighted from the carriage, entered the estate through the side gate, paid their respects to the Old Madam Su, and then returned to their respective courtyards.

As soon as she stepped inside her room, Yuxin followed closely by her side and reported, "Mistress, the shopkeeper sent word that Boss Jiang is looking for you."

"Did he say whether it was an urgent matter?" Liuzhu helped remove her cloak, while Liuying handed her a damp handkerchief to wash her hands and face.

"He said that the matter Mistress entrusted to him last time has finally made some headway." Hearing Yuxin's words, Su Liluo could no longer sit still. She called out to the side, "Liuzhu, fetch my cloak. I need to make a trip out of the estate."

"Mistress, you have only just returned. If the Old Madam finds out, there will surely be another severe reprimand," Liuzhu said with a bitter expression. Reluctant as she was, she obediently tied the cloak around Su Liluo.

"Rest assured, as long as the estate doesn't find out, it will be fine. Yuxin will come with me, while the two of you remain in the estate. If anyone asks for me, say that I have just returned from the temple and am feeling rather tired. If you truly cannot turn them away, say that I have gone to Xuexiu. Do you understand?" Su Liluo gave her instructions point by point, deeply afraid that they might suffer physical punishment again.

"This servant understands. Mistress must return early." Once Su Liluo made up her mind, she would not take her words back; whoever tried to stop her would fail. Knowing the inevitable outcome, no one in the room tried to dissuade her, and they all obediently followed her orders.

"Understood. If you truly cannot fend them off, find an excuse to decline, and do not let yourselves get hurt." Su Liluo was still somewhat uneasy, but the matter investigated by Jiang Nan concerned her very life, and she could not afford to miss it. No matter how difficult, she had to leave the estate.

"Understood, Mistress, please go quickly. We will act according to the circumstances." Liuzhu and Liuying escorted Su Liluo to the courtyard gate before closing it tightly. Su Liluo took Yuxin towards the back door of the Prime Minister's Estate. Giving Yuxin a meaningful look, Yuxin removed a hairpin from her head and fumbled with the lock for a moment before it clicked open. The two slipped out, bent low, and carefully latched the door back into place just as it had been.

Su Liluo brought Yuxin to the back room of Xuexiu, where Jiang Nan was already waiting. The shopkeeper had tea served before returning to the front to attend to business. Yuxin stood guard at the entrance, and Su Liluo anxiously asked, "Who on earth is investigating Xuexiu? You said there was progress, tell me quickly."

"Don't rush, listen to me slowly. Those people are still searching for you in secret. It seems they are people from the State of Li. Boss Su, are these people the enemies of that old friend of yours?" Jiang Nan looked at Su Liluo with concern, wondering who that old friend truly was.

Upon hearing the words "State of Li," Su Liluo feigned calmness, let out a sigh of relief, and said, "So they are people from the State of Li. Boss Jiang need not worry; it is likely that old friend looking for me. There is no need for Boss Jiang to investigate further; just tend to your business with peace of mind. If not for Boss Jiang's help, I wouldn't have received the news so quickly. Today, let us use tea in place of wine, and I offer this cup to Boss Jiang."

Jiang Nan raised his cup and clinked it against Su Liluo's. "Boss Su is too polite. Such a minor matter is not worth mentioning. Since we are business partners now, helping each other is only natural."

Su Liluo nodded in agreement, careful not to let him see the bitter agony hidden in her heart, forcing a smile to prevent Jiang Nan from noticing any flaws.

She had no idea whether these people from the State of Li were friends or foes. Though she spoke lightly of the matter in front of Jiang Nan, Su Liluo's heart was drumming anxiously. Her mother had once been a great general of the State of Yun, yet nowadays few dared to mention her name, which made one sigh with sorrow.

People from the State of Li... Of the three candidates Abbess Juechen had mentioned, two were from the State of Li. Since they were close confidants of her mother, surely they would not endanger her life, right? Su Liluo felt uncertain and could only hope for the best. As long as she stayed obediently within the Prime Minister's Estate, presumably no one would boldly break in to take her life. Thinking along these lines, she felt temporarily safe and regained the mood to jest with Jiang Nan.

The two chatted further about business matters, and before they knew it, an hour had passed. Su Liluo saw Jiang Nan off, checked the operations inside Xuexiu, and realizing that it was getting late, immediately took Yuxin and hurried back to the estate.

Stealthily slipping in through the back door and returning to the courtyard, the maidservants breathed a sigh of relief. Su Liluo untied her cloak and walked toward the inner chamber, intending to drape the cloak over the folding screen. Suddenly, a hand appeared before her eyes, and before she could recover her wits, her mouth was tightly muffled.

Su Liluo's mind raced, her heart pounding against her ribs several times faster than usual. Her sole thought was that those people had tracked her down to the Prime Minister's Estate, and her little life was in grave peril.

Trembling with tension, Su Liluo found her body refusing to obey her will, gripped by a profound sense of helplessness. It was only when a low chuckle sounded from behind her—"Su Liluo, after being apart for a while, your courage has grown much smaller"—that the familiar male voice allowed her entire body to relax. Her legs grew so weak that she would have collapsed in embarrassment had someone not been supporting her from behind. She let out muffled sounds of protest, prompting Yun Yanyi to loosen his grip slightly.

Stepping a short distance away from him, Su Liluo immediately mustered her aura to accuse him, "Your Highness the King of Yi, do you find this amusing? Don't you know that scaring people can frighten them to death? Besides, this is my bedchamber! How can a grown man barge in here at will? Please leave immediately." She had been walking on thin ice for days, yet this man had actually played such a trick on her, nearly frightening her out of her wits. Her words were laced with deep resentment.

Hearing the commotion in the inner chamber, the maids outside prepared to push the door open to investigate. Su Liluo's heart instantly tightened as she listened to the sounds outside. Liuzhu asked with concern, "Mistress, have you finished changing your clothes? Do you need this servant to come in and serve you?"

"Um, no need, I can change by myself. You all go outside first and close the door." Terrified that they might burst in and discover a living man like Yun Yanyi—which would be impossible to explain—Su Liluo hurriedly dismissed the maids.

The room grew quiet once more. Su Liluo gently pushed Yun Yanyi aside, walked over to the table by herself, and poured a cup of tea. After a moment of thought, she poured another cup and pushed it toward him, asking in puzzlement, "Could His Highness the King of Yi have come here simply to see whether I am a coward?"