**Xuanwen's Residence**
The frail boy tossed and turned, his small body twitching as if his sleep was a battle. Every shift seemed like an attempt to escape some invisible discomfort lying beneath him.
Xuanwen stood by, watching him intently, worry etched into her face. From what Hualing had explained, the boy bore fresh bruises and older injuries across his body. A large one on his back was only just beginning to heal, while his feet had suffered so severely that the flesh had started to rot. If he'd been left in that condition for much longer, he might have lost them altogether to infection.
Such a small child—yet marked by such pain. What could he have endured to be so battered? Child labor? But even then, how could it have led to wounds so grievous? What had he been through?
Xuanwen sighed. Just then, the boy's eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes clouded with fear. His gaze fixed on her, and he scrambled upright, pressing himself back into the corner of the bed.
"It's okay," Xuanwen said gently, raising her hands as if in surrender. "It's me. Remember? I gave you some food before you fainted."
Fear flickered across his face, and his voice trembled. "Why are you doing this? Leave me alone!" he pleaded, his red-rimmed eyes betraying recent tears.
Xuanwen lowered her hands slowly, trying to put him at ease. "Hey now, you make it sound like I'm some villain. I'm just trying to help you, kid. I'm no monster, and I certainly don't want to hurt you. Besides, with the shape you're in, I'd probably hurt myself trying to do anything" She attempted a gentle smile, hoping to coax a little trust.
The boy fell silent, still wary.
Clearing her throat, Xuanwen pressed on. "So, um...my name is Liu Xuanwen. What's yours? And where are your parents? I could help you find them after you've healed a bit."
The mention of his parents cast a shadow over his expression. Xuanwen felt her heart sink. Had she struck a nerve?
"You're...not an orphan, are you?" she asked softly, her voice gentle but tinged with concern.
The boy looked away, his lips trembling as tears began to well in his eyes. A sob escaped him as he tucked his head into his knees.
Xuanwen bit her lip, realizing she'd gone too far. She wasn't used to dealing with children and found herself fumbling for the right words. "Hey, I'm sorry kid. You know...being an orphan isn't the end of the world. I'm basically an orphan myself. Sometimes...people just aren't meant to be parents, and we don't always know why until we're older."
The boy lifted his head, his cheeks streaked with tears, eyes blazing. "Don't talk about my parents like that!" he cried. "They loved me...they saved me...I miss them so much."
Xuanwen gave him a gentle smile. "Then we'll go find them," she said reassuringly.
The boy lowered his head back onto his knees, voice barely above a whisper. "I can't...it's impossible. They're...they're somewhere I can't reach."
Xuanwen's gaze softened, realizing that wherever his parents were, it was a place he couldn't reach. Tentatively, she placed a hand on his shoulder and sat beside him. "I'm sorry, kid. Sometimes...we lose people we love. It's a hard part of life, but it happens to all of us."
The boy looked up, anger flashing in his eyes. "My parents aren't dead!" he shouted.
Xuanwen, taken aback, gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, so...they're in prison, then? If that's the case, I'll see if I can help—"
"No!" he interrupted, his voice cracking. "They were...they were abducted. But nobody believed me."
Xuanwen froze, his words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. Before she could respond, Hualing entered, having heard the commotion from outside.
"What happened?" she asked, glancing from Xuanwen to the boy.
But he didn't wait. The boy bolted out the door, his small frame disappearing in an instant. Hualing raised an eyebrow, silently questioning Xuanwen.
Xuanwen sat there, lost in thought, her mind spinning. Abducted? Again? Why were there so many abductions, and how could no one believe him? Was it because he was just a child, or were the officials here also corrupted?
Later, in the dining room, the comforting smell of Aunt Yin's cooking filled the air. Xuanwen entered and was greeted by the sight of the boy shoveling food into his mouth, not letting a single crumb go to waste.
"You didn't run away after all, huh?" she said, taking a seat across from him.
He looked up briefly before returning to his food, barely acknowledging her presence.
"Well, I guess with your injuries, you wouldn't get very far anyway," Xuanwen teased, leaning her chin on her hands.
The boy glared at her briefly before continuing to eat, only to start choking from his eagerness. Aunt Yin quickly handed him a cup of water, patting his back gently.
"Slow down, dear," she murmured kindly.
Hualing, who had joined them at the table, tutted disapprovingly as she took away the plate of solid food, replacing it with a bowl of porridge. "Your stomach's not strong enough for this yet," she said firmly.
The boy's face fell as he watched the delicious dishes vanish, but he made no protest, lowering his head to the porridge.
After breakfast, Xuanwen rolled a wooden wheelchair over and carefully helped him into it.
"Here, this should help while you're recovering," she said with a small smile. Hualing, carrying a tray of herbs, looked at him approvingly.
"You're lucky Xuanwen thought of everything. She even had this chair made," Hualing remarked, placing the herbs nearby. "Usually, I'd have to charge for treatments. But thanks to her, you're covered. So consider yourself fortunate." She shot Xuanwen a grateful glance.
The boy looked up with a spark of determination in his eyes. "I'll pay you back," he said firmly.
Xuanwen and Hualing exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter. "Really?" Hualing chuckled, folding her arms. "Then I'll expect 100 gold and 500 silver!"
The boy's face fell slightly, his determination wavering. "That's..."
"Why? Your life is not worth that much?" Xuanwen teased.
At her words, he lowered his head, looking almost crestfallen.
Xuanwen chuckled, ruffling his hair. "I'm kidding, kid. Don't worry about that. Oh, by the way, you never told us your name."
The boy hesitated before speaking quietly. "Bao. Just Bao."
Xuanwen tilted her head, thoughtful. "No surname?"
Bao nodded, his voice even softer. "My parents...we came to Guizhou illegally. We're from somewhere else, so we don't have a surname."
Xuanwen smiled. "Then let's give you one. How about Wang Bao?"
The boy looked up, a shy smile playing on his lips. "I...I like it."
"Then Wang Bao it is," Xuanwen said warmly. "Now...can you tell me what happened to your parents?"
Wang Bao lowered his gaze, his face darkening with sadness. "My parents and I had set out for Fuyuan to visit some relatives, but when we got there, we learned they'd already left. Disappointed, my parents decided we'd head home that same night. On our way back, we came across an inn close to a village and decided to rest there. If only I hadn't insisted on staying," he said, voice cracking. "I was so tired, I couldn't go on, so my parents agreed to stay the night."
Wang Bao's voice trembled. "We had almost no money left for the return trip. I… I snuck into their kitchen to get food. That's when…"
Xuanwen leaned forward. "When what?"
"I heard voices—strangers dressed head-to-toe in black. They were talking, and then one of them started yelling." Wang Bao's hands shook. "I fell back, trying to hide, but they found me. The next thing I knew, everything went dark. When I woke up, we were in some cave. They… they kicked my parents and forced my mother to dig. They kept shouting a strange word… 'Dantocin,' or something like that."
Hualing gently asked, "What happened to your father?"
Wang Bao's face filled with sorrow. "I haven't seen him since. But he's alive. He has to be."
Xuanwen reached out to calm him. "Wang Bao, how did you escape?"
He took a shuddering breath. "My mother… she hid me in one of the gold containers they were taking out. That's how I ended up with these bruises—the gold piled on top of me." He pointed to the dark marks on his arms. "When the wagon started moving, I slipped out, but they found me and… stabbed me."
Hualing winced. "Is that why your back is injured?"
He nodded, holding back tears. "I pretended to be dead. Then I ran. I ran until my feet bled. That's how I made it to Guizhou."
Xuanwen sighed, stroking his hair softly. "You did well, Wang Bao. Thank you for surviving. I promise, I'll make sure your parents are safe."
"Y-you will?" he asked, his voice small and desperate.
Xuanwen's voice was firm. "Yes. I helped you, and I'll help your parents too."
As Xuanwen looked out the window, a single word echoed in her mind: Dantocin. If her suspicions were right, she was on the verge of uncovering something dire.
In the novel, Dantocin had been the lethal poison used to kill the emperor and gravely wound the crown prince, a substance so insidious there was no cure. Only the blood of Su Huian, the novel's female lead, held the miraculous ability to neutralize its effects, saving the male lead but, tragically, not the emperor. Though the cure defied reason, it fit the surreal logic of the novel. And if Xuanwen's memory served her well, then Wang Bao's father was likely being forced into brutal training to join their ranks as an assassin.
She sighed deeply. She had once vowed to distance herself from the storyline, to ignore the novel's twists and perils. But the boundaries between fiction and her reality were quickly blurring. Especially after seeing Wang Bao's injuries, she couldn't simply turn away.
Wang Bao's parents were enmeshed in a deadly plot, orchestrated by none other than the story's hidden villain. Though Zhusheng had always seemed like the primary antagonist, there was another lurking in the shadows—Zhao Liyuan, a man far more ruthless and cunning.
Just then, Hualing placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Where is your mind wandering?" she teased lightly. "I hope you're not serious about trying to rescue Wang Bao's parents. This is dangerous, Xuanwen. Leave it to the officials or someone who's capable. You're a noblewoman, and this is not your fight."
Xuanwen chuckled, brushing off Hualing's concern. "How's Wang Bao?"
"He's resting. Poor thing hasn't seen sunlight in so long; he's far from stable. But don't worry," Hualing said with determination, "I'll use every skill I know to heal him. I won't waste the trust you've placed in me."
Xuanwen gave her a small smile. She appreciated Hualing's dedication to healing and her gratitude for the small herbal shop Xuanwen had helped set up. In time, it seemed the entire village had come to know them.
"Oh! I nearly forgot," Hualing said. "What are you planning to do with the money from yesterday? That'll last us a while, and we won't need to travel to Guizhou anytime soon."
Xuanwen teased, "Sounds like you're avoiding someone."
Hualing blushed, chasing after Xuanwen. "How many times do I have to tell you—I don't like Yao Huan!"
---
**Crown Prince's Residence**
In a dimly lit courtyard, the crown prince, Jianyu, practiced his sword technique, each swing sharp and precise. With every move, his body flowed smoothly with the weapon, dancing in the night air.
"I surrender," came a voice, breaking the silence. Weimin stepped back, raising his hands in mock defeat.
Jianyu lowered his sword, breathing heavily. Gao Liqin handed Weimin a flask of water, which he took gratefully. "Thank you, Liqin. Your Highness, give us a break," he laughed. "It's not fair for you to be better at everything."
Jianyu wiped sweat from his brow and sat down. "How's the investigation?"
Weimin's smile faded. "Not well. Every lead has come to a dead end. And… the Empress has ordered us to close it."
"Mother did?" Jianyu's eyes darkened.
Weimin nodded. "You know why."
Jianyu knew all too well. His mother had visited him a few days earlier to discuss the crown princess selection. She'd sensed his obsession with the Xiao case and, likely fearing political rumors, had ordered the investigation closed. She worried that his involvement with the Xiaos would only strengthen the whispers about his favoritism, particularly regarding Xiao Rong.
Weimin spoke again, his tone curious. "Your Highness, are the rumors true? Do you intend to choose Miss Xiao Rong as the crown princess?"
Jianyu gave Weimin a stern look. "Do I seem like someone who mixes personal feelings with duty?"
Weimin raised his hands in surrender. "Who knows, Your Highness. People change, and perhaps you have too."
Jianyu's stern expression softened, and he sighed.
---
**Outside the Palace – Former Empress Li Ruyi's Grave**
Zhusheng knelt beside his mother's grave, pouring a small cup of wine onto the earth. His aunt, Consort Li Jiman, who'd become his adopted mother, had told him that his mother loved to drink. Now, sitting alone, he stared at the gentle sway of the trees and the breeze that whispered through them.
"I've come to visit you, Mother," he murmured. "It's been so long. I miss you more than I can say. Mother…" His voice cracked. "I know you never wanted this—but what can I do? I can't let go of this anger. "
His mother, Empress Li Ruyi, had passed when Zhusheng was just five. Most claimed she had died of a simple illness, but he knew otherwise. She was a young, healthy woman whose heartache hadn't been enough to kill her.
Zhusheng couldn't forgive the emperor for replacing her so quickly. His father, the Emperor, had always favored Consort Guo Yunqing, now the Empress. Soon after her arrival, she had borne a child—Zheng Jianyu. Zhusheng had never known his mother's love, and her place had been taken without a second thought. He couldn't forget the bitterness, nor could he forgive it.
As he returned to the small hut , Fan Ye entered, bowing low. "The guild has completed the investigation. It seems, their evidence is all talk and we still hadn't figured out who else his highness is suspecting, but we'd made sure to clean everything up. There's no sign that would implicate us."
Zhusheng smiled. "So, that's what Jianyu's been digging into all these years—tax evasion?" He chuckled. "It seems the gods are on our side."
Fan Ye added, "I've made sure no traces remain. Even if they suspect, they'll find it hard to prove. Such coincidence is too much"
Zhusheng grinned and poured the last drops of his drink into a nearby potted plant. "What a fascinating game we're playing, don't you think, Fan Ye?
---
**Liu Mansion**
Liu Xuanqing stared at the embroidery in her lap, her frustration reaching a breaking point as she tossed it to the floor. Mo Meili quickly retrieved it, her voice laced with worry. "Miss, are you hurt?"
Xuanqing's eyes flashed with indignation. "Hurt? More like humiliated!," she spat, "Is something wrong with people! Xiao Rong as crown princess? How could such a ridiculous rumor even circulate?" She crossed her arms, her disdain clear. "How could she ever compare to me?"
Meili's voice was soft but steady. "You're right, Young Miss. No one is suited for the position as much as you. This is all just baseless gossip; it'll fade soon."
As Xuanqing simmered, Madame Ye entered the room, her tone calm. "Xuanqing, darling, don't let idle chatter upset you."
Xuanqing rushed to her mother's side, desperate. "How could I stay calm, Mother? That conniving snake is trying to take what's mine!"
Madame Ye guided her to sit. "The Empress's birthday banquet will be soon. I'll ensure you're seen," she murmured, tucking a stray hair behind her daughter's ear. "Remember, you must be patient. Don't let anyone glimpse your thoughts. You'll be the next crown princess; no one can take that from you."
Xuanqing pouted, crossing her arms. "I thought getting rid of Xuanwen would reduce the competition. But Xiao Rong... she's like a fox, trying to sway the Crown Prince by using her grandmother's incident."
Madame Ye smiled softly. "Then let's not let thoughts of her ruin our mood."
Though Xuanqing nodded, her heart remained uneasy.
---
**Su Shaocheng Drugstore**
Su Huian sighed, one after another, unable to shake her worries.
"Young Miss, how many times are you going to sigh?" Jiaying asked, watching her. "The patient is waiting for you."
Huian looked up at the elderly man, her thoughts scattered. "I apologize. You have a cold. Please wait over there, and Shopkeeper Cao will assist you with the prescription."
As the man moved on, Jiaying turned back to her. "Young Miss, are you alright? You've been distracted all morning."
Huian attempted a weak smile. "I'm fine."
But in truth, she wasn't. The investigation she and Weimin had been following was abruptly halted, leaving her confused and disheartened. They'd been so close to uncovering the truth.
And as if that weren't enough, Xuanwen had vanished, as though she'd never existed.
Huian leaned on the counter, thoughts swirling. Why had Xuanwen suddenly left for Nankou, a place so desolate? If she recalls correctly, before her regression, Xuanwen had only been focused on wooing the Crown Prince and feuding with Liu Xuanqing. Now, it was as if she'd dropped out of sight entirely.
Did Huian's return to the past have something to do with it? She hardly knew Xuanwen—they'd only met once or twice. And though Xuanwen had admitted to poisoning her in her previous life, why had she simply vanished afterward?
Huian rested her head on the table, overwhelmed. The weight of her family's downfall seemed to press down on her with every passing second.
---
**Guizhou**
Dressed in dark, masculine clothing, with a mask and a discreet mustache, Xuanwen stepped into a secluded building. She whispered a few words to the shopkeeper, who then led her to a quiet room.
Inside, Liu Junhui, a man with sharp eyes and a sly smile, awaited her. He was a subordinate to the Crown Prince—and, unknowingly, Xuanwen's cousin, though he didn't recognize her now.
He greeted her with a slight smirk. "Well, stranger, who might you be?"
" I'm sure you're aware. Things like that, can't be disclose in a place like this"
Liu Junhui chuckles and observes carefully," You're not wrong. But it would be better to know who I'm dealing with, don't you think so?".
Xuanwen deepened her voice. "I have no name."
Junhui chuckled, puzzled. "No name? Are you not a person, then?"
"Perhaps I'm not. Lord Liu Junhui"
He frowned, clearly intrigued. "You—"
"There's no time for banter," Xuanwen interrupted. "Deliver this message to His Highness immediately. And remember," she leaned in, her tone chilling, "you didn't see me, and I was never here."
Before he could react, she delivered a swift blow, knocking him unconscious. She glanced around the room, leaving a slip of paper on the table before making her silent exit.
Out in the bustling streets, Xuanwen had already changed her clothes and demeanor, blending seamlessly with the crowd. She'd fetched the herbs Hualing needed as a cover for her visit to Guizhou.
In the guild, Liu Junhui groaned as he awoke. "My lord! Are you alright?" his subordinate asked, rushing to his side.
Junhui sat up, his head throbbing. "Where is he?!"
His subordinate scratched his head, puzzled. "But, my lord, you were the only one here."
Frustrated, Junhui scanned the room, and his gaze fell on the slip of paper left behind. He remembered the stranger's words: deliver it to the Crown Prince. Cautiously, he pocketed the note, feeling a mix of frustration and intrigue as he steps out of the room.