Ling Yan stood before Yumen Jiao, hesitating. A letter had appeared on Xue Feiyan's desk, addressed to her. It invited her here, but the sender was unknown. The handwriting was delicate, feminine.
"Are you Miss Ling Yan?" A waiter bowed as she entered.
She nodded, scanning him. Unsteady gait, uneven breathing. Just a waiter.
"A guest is waiting for you on the second floor. Please." He gestured to the stairs.
She walked a few steps, then realized he wasn't following.
"Lead the way," she said coldly.
"Apologies, miss. My orders are to stay below unless summoned." He looked troubled.
She frowned, eyeing the stairs. Narrow, winding, blind corners. Her lightness skill was not what it had been. An ambush here would be deadly.
Footsteps sounded from above. A man walked down, stopping at the turn.
First, silver boots. Then silver robes. A handsome face, smiling with a boyish charm.
She didn't know him.
"Hesitating, Miss Ling? Afraid my master has set a trap?" Yi laughed.
She lowered her gaze, confirming his guess.
He walked down to her, stopping a few paces away. He opened his hand.
"My master wanted you to see this. Whether you come up or not is your choice."
She looked at his palm. Her eyes went wide. A jade hairpin. His hairpin.
Her gaze snapped up, murderous.
Yi blinked, then looked at the pin, half-hidden in his sleeve. He smiled. "I've shown you. Farewell."
He turned and walked back up. She weighed her options, her hand on her dagger. Finally, she followed.
To catch a tiger, you must enter the tiger's den.
"You have courage, Miss Ling," a woman's voice drifted from the first room at the top of the stairs. "Willing to risk your life for the Seventh Prince."
"You have my master's hairpin. What do you want?" Ling Yan gripped her dagger, every sense alert.
"Why so tense?" The woman laughed softly. "You are here for Xue Feiyan. So am I."
"Hmph. If our goals are the same, show your face." The voice was familiar.
The door opened. A woman stood by the table, her back to the door. She wore a simple silk dress, her hair up, no ornaments. Even from behind, her presence was commanding.
Yi was sitting nearby. He stood and walked out. Ling Yan stepped back, watching him.
"Returning it to its owner." He handed her the pin.
She hesitated, then took it.
"Yi, you can go back now." The woman turned. Murong Jin smiled at him.
He glared at her. "Sister Jin, are you really planning to let your son run wild with me?"
"Why not?"
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. Since your husband is busy. But if he grows up and disowns you, don't blame me."
"I heard the Divine Physician of the Snow Mountain has put a hundred thousand tael bounty on your head. A million if taken alive. Tsk, tsk. That should cover Qi'er's dowry."
"Stop! Sister Jin, you're getting vicious." He groaned. "I'm leaving."
She smiled, triumphant.
Ling Yan watched. She had never seen Murong Jin look so relaxed. Xue Feiyan was right. There were things in her heart more important than love. But no less powerful.
"Please, sit," Murong Jin said warmly.
Ling Yan sat. The doors closed. Sunlight streamed through the open window. Murong Jin poured two cups of tea.
"Please." She held the cup, one hand on the rim, one on the base, steam obscuring her eyes.
Ling Yan reached for it, channeling internal energy into her fingertips. Murong Jin could redirect force; she had to be careful.
Their hands met. The tea rippled. Murong Jin's brow twitched, and she withdrew her hand into her sleeve, her arm aching slightly.
"Thank you." Ling Yan felt a twinge of shame. There was no malice in the other woman's touch.
"I asked you here to discuss Xue Feiyan." Murong Jin sat straight. "You know he is accused of murdering the Crown Prince. Without help, he will die."
"I know. Thanks to the Fifth Prince and yourself."
"Xue Liulan never intended to imprison him. Nor does he wish to destroy him." Her smile remained, expecting Ling Yan's hostility.
"Oh? Should I thank him for his mercy?" Ling Yan stood. "If there is nothing else, I will leave."
"Deng Qinyao is finished. Xue Feiyan's forces in Heluo are matched by Qinling and Yuling. Even if he is released, he cannot rise again." Murong Jin stared into her tea.
Ling Yan stopped. It was true. Xue Liulan had cornered him.
"But in the great hall, Xue Liulan defended him." She smoothed her sleeve. "Ling Yan, you are his confidante. You know their promise."
"We can fight, but we will never kill each other." Ling Yan's voice was low. "So he remembers."
"He remembers. And he won't forget. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here." She sipped her tea.
Ling Yan clenched her fist. She had been plotting with Li Yan to free him, but Xue Liulan held all the cards.
Perhaps it was time to gamble.
"What is your plan?" She turned.
Murong Jin gestured to the seat. Ling Yan sat and drank the tea in one gulp. Bitter at first, then sweet.
"Are you willing to risk your life for him?"
"Willing or not, what does it matter?" She checked her internal energy. No poison.
"If you are unwilling, I won't force you. His fate will be left to heaven. But if you are willing, this will be over in ten days."
Silence. Ling Yan didn't answer. It wasn't fear of death. It was trust.
"If you doubt me, take that hairpin to the prison. Ask him if he trusts Xue Liulan."
She looked down. She remembered that night by the window. We will keep that promise.
"What do you intend to do?" She looked up, her gaze cold.
Murong Jin smiled and pulled a prescription from her sleeve. "From the Divine Physician of the Snow Mountain. She says it can cure your cough."
"You…" Ling Yan stared.
"She says you've been ill for some time. Take this for seven days, and you will be healed." She stood. "In seven days, Yi will tell you what to do next."
"Seven days?" Ling Yan read the prescription. Many of the herbs were unheard of. Was she stalling? Why?
"The medicine is prepared. Pick it up from Li Yan." She walked to the door, then paused. "Take it exactly as prescribed. Remember, Xue Feiyan's life depends on it."
She left.
Ling Yan sat alone, holding the paper. Why?
She knew she wasn't important enough for Murong Jin to scheme against. So why was curing her cough the key to saving Xue Feiyan?