Three days before the Autumn Hunt.
The garden of the Seventh Prince's Manor was blooming with chrysanthemums, but the atmosphere in the pavilion was far from peaceful.
Swish!
A silver needle flew through the air, embedding itself deeply into the bark of a willow tree ten paces away. The needle was so fine it was almost invisible, shimmering with a faint blue light—a sign of the paralyzing poison coating it.
"Your aim is good," Xie Lanzhou sat on the stone bench, peeling a grape. "But your killing intent is too obvious. A true assassin smiles like a Buddha before delivering the fatal blow."
Ji Wanyin lowered her hand, admiring the 'Shadow Thorn' ring on her finger. "I am not an assassin. I am an Avenger. I want them to know I am coming."
"Dramatic," Xie Lanzhou chuckled, popping the grape into his mouth. "But effective."
Just then, Nanny Li approached the pavilion. Her face, still swollen from the slapping incident a few days ago, was lowered in submission. She dared not look Ji Wanyin in the eye.
"Your Highness, Princess Consort," Nanny Li announced in a raspy voice. "Someone from the Ji family has arrived. It is... the Second Miss, Ji Qingqing."
Ji Wanyin's eyes turned cold instantly.
Ji Qingqing. Her younger half-sister. The beloved pearl of the Ji family. In her past life, Ji Qingqing was the one who stole her fiancé, framed her for adultery, and finally ordered the fire that burned Ji Wanyin alive.
She was the epitome of a "White Lotus"—pure and innocent on the outside, rotting and venomous on the inside.
"She says she is here to deliver winter clothes for the Princess Consort," Nanny Li added.
"Let her in," Ji Wanyin said, a cruel smile playing on her lips. She turned to Xie Lanzhou. "Husband, time to put on your mask."
Xie Lanzhou sighed but complied. He slumped against the pillar, his eyes losing their luster, his breathing becoming shallow. In an instant, the dangerous predator became a dying invalid.
A moment later, a young woman in pale pink robes walked into the garden.
Ji Qingqing was indeed beautiful. She had large, watery eyes and a delicate frame that aroused a desire for protection in any man who saw her. She walked with a swaying gait, followed by two maids carrying silk bundles.
"Elder Sister!" Ji Qingqing called out sweetly, rushing forward as if she missed Ji Wanyin dearly. "I was so worried about you! I heard rumors that life in the Prince's manor is... difficult."
She stopped before them and curtsied gracefully to Xie Lanzhou. "Greetings to Your Highness, Prince Seventh. Qingqing prays for your good health."
Xie Lanzhou coughed weakly, not even looking at her. "Rise."
Ji Qingqing turned her attention back to Ji Wanyin. Her eyes scanned Ji Wanyin's simple (but high-quality) dress, and a trace of disdain flashed in her eyes before being masked by concern.
"Sister, look at you," Ji Qingqing reached out to hold Ji Wanyin's hand. "You look so thin. Does the Prince's manor not have enough food? Mother was so worried she couldn't sleep. She asked me to bring you these winter clothes made of cloud silk."
She gestured to the maids. The clothes were beautiful, but Ji Wanyin knew better. The 'Cloud Silk' was notoriously thin. It looked pretty but provided no warmth against the winter wind.
If Ji Wanyin wore this, she would freeze to death.
"Mother is truly thoughtful," Ji Wanyin said, pulling her hand back as if touching something dirty. "But I fear I cannot accept."
"Why?" Ji Qingqing blinked, tears welling up instantly. "Sister, are you still angry at Father? He only married you off because he had no choice... You shouldn't hold a grudge against your family."
"Angry?" Ji Wanyin laughed softly. "Qingqing, you misunderstand. I cannot accept because... these clothes are too cheap."
Ji Qingqing froze. "Cheap? This is Cloud Silk!"
"Exactly," Ji Wanyin smoothed her own sleeves. "His Highness only allows me to wear 'Heavenly Ice Silk' from the Imperial Tribute. It is warm in winter and cool in summer. Ordinary Cloud Silk... makes my skin itch."
She leaned closer to her sister, whispering. "You can keep them. They suit your status as a... common minister's daughter."
Ji Qingqing's face turned red, then white. She had come here to show off her wealth and pity her "poor" sister, but instead, she was slapped with status.
"Sister is joking," Ji Qingqing forced a smile, her fingers digging into her palms. "I am just happy you are living well. Oh, by the way... will you be attending the Autumn Hunt in three days?"
"His Highness intends to go," Ji Wanyin replied.
"That is great!" Ji Qingqing's eyes lit up with a malicious glint. "The Third Prince invited me to accompany him. He says the hunting grounds are dangerous for... people with weak constitutions." She glanced at the coughing Xie Lanzhou. "Sister, you must take good care of His Highness. It would be a tragedy if he... couldn't return."
It was a blatant curse. She was implying Xie Lanzhou would die there.
Suddenly, a teacup slammed onto the stone table.
Xie Lanzhou, who had been "dying" in the corner, lifted his head. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he looked at Ji Qingqing.
"Second Miss Ji," he rasped.
"Y-Yes, Your Highness?" Ji Qingqing blushed, thinking the handsome Prince was finally noticing her beauty.
"You are noisy," Xie Lanzhou said bluntly. "Your voice gives me a headache. And your perfume... it smells like cheap brothel powder. It disturbs my rest."
Ji Qingqing's face turned the color of a liver. Cheap brothel powder? This was the most expensive floral scent in the capital!
"Someone," Xie Lanzhou waved his hand. "Throw her out. And burn the spot where she stood. I don't want germs in my garden."
"You...!" Ji Qingqing was trembling with humiliation. She looked at Ji Wanyin for help, expecting her sister to intervene.
But Ji Wanyin just sipped her tea calmly. "You heard His Highness. Goodbye, Sister. See you at the Hunt."
Guards immediately stepped forward. "Second Miss Ji, please."
Ji Qingqing stomped her foot, tears of rage finally falling for real. "You will regret this! Just wait until the Third Prince ascends... just wait!"
She turned and fled the garden, her humiliation complete.
As soon as she was gone, Xie Lanzhou stopped coughing. He picked up another grape.
"That was your sister?" He raised an eyebrow. "She is not very smart. How did she manage to kill you in your past life?"
"Because in my past life, I was blind. I thought family meant loyalty," Ji Wanyin said quietly, staring at the empty path. "But now I know... sometimes family is just a group of people who share the same blood and waiting to drink yours."
Xie Lanzhou paused. He reached out and placed his warm hand over her cold one on the table.
"Then it is fortunate," he said softly.
"Fortunate?"
"Fortunate that you and I are not family," a smirk tugged at his lips. "We are accomplices. And accomplices never betray each other... as long as the profit is good."
Ji Wanyin looked at him. For the first time, she felt a sense of camaraderie with this dangerous man.
"Speaking of profit," she flipped her hand, revealing a small paper packet. "While she was busy acting pitiful, I slipped something into her sleeve."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Powder of the 'Attracting Bee'. It has no smell to humans, but... it drives wild beasts crazy," Ji Wanyin smiled, a smile that would make ghosts weep. "Since she likes the Third Prince so much, I thought I would help them attract some 'attention' during the hunt."
Xie Lanzhou stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing.
"Ji Wanyin, oh Ji Wanyin," he shook his head, his eyes shining with delight. "Remind me never to accept a gift from you."
"Too late," she pointed to the grape he was eating. "I peeled that one."
Xie Lanzhou froze. He looked at the half-eaten grape, then at her.
"Just kidding," she winked.
Xie Lanzhou swallowed the grape, a complex expression on his face. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper.
"You little demoness. If you poison me... I will haunt you as a ghost, every single night."
"I look forward to it, husband."
The wind blew through the pavilion, carrying the faint scent of rain. The pieces were set. The players were ready.
The Autumn Hunt was about to begin, and the forest would soon be stained with blood.