How did he obtain it? How would he know how he obtained it!
Yan Yihuan had already been terrified, and now his heart was pounding even harder. But based on what he had learned about the palace over these days, something like that was most likely kept in the Imperial Study.
He had explored nearly every corner of the Imperial Study and had never seen it there. He guessed it must be inside that secret chamber, one he still had no idea how to enter.
With that in mind, Yan Yihuan said that he had discovered the secret chamber and obtained it from there. Afraid that he would make more mistakes the more he said, he kept his mouth shut afterward.
Actually, when he mentioned the secret chamber, Li Xuanjing became somewhat more convinced. Very few people knew of that place. Even his father, during his years in the palace, had never managed to enter it.
“You look exhausted. You probably haven’t slept well these past few days either. We can’t stay here for long. We have to leave before dawn tomorrow, and in at most two days we’ll be able to meet up with my father and the others.”
Although Li Xuanjing’s expression remained gentle, his words made Yan Yihuan’s heart leap back into his throat. He realized that no matter how unwilling he was, he would have to obediently follow Li Xuanjing deeper into the rebel forces.
He resisted the idea in his heart and did not want to agree aloud. He merely nodded silently and turned his gaze elsewhere.
“I’ve been traveling for days myself and have hardly slept a wink. Tonight I can finally get a good night’s rest. But don’t worry, Yihuan.” Li Xuanjing smiled and patted his chest. “The map you worked so hard to obtain is right here inside this outer robe of mine. I keep it by my bedside even when I sleep. You can rest easy.”
Those words made Yan Yihuan’s heart skip a beat. His gaze instinctively shifted toward Li Xuanjing and the place where the map was hidden.
A thought flashed through his mind, but he had no time to dwell on it. More than anything, he just wanted to send Li Xuanjing away. Once he was finally alone, Yan Yihuan let out the breath that had been lodged in his throat the entire time. Even so, how could he possibly sleep?
The night was utterly silent. Burdened with worry, Yan Yihuan put on an outer robe, got out of bed, and quietly pulled open a crack in the window to peer outside.
To keep a low profile, they were staying in nothing more than an ordinary house in a small village. There were no guards stationed outside.
Yan Yihuan glanced toward the neighboring room. Li Xuanjing was there. If he stepped outside and turned right, it would take only five or six steps to reach his door.
And the map was there now.
Should he go destroy the defense map?
The thought startled him so badly that he immediately retreated from the window. His heart nearly leaped out of his throat. It felt as though half his soul had left his body, leaving him dazed and bewildered.
He stood there alone for a long while. As he gradually regained his composure, he could not help but think again about Li Xuanjing’s words before leaving. He understood that if the map was delivered to King Qin two days from now, then no one would have any path of retreat left.
If the palace fell because of that map, then even if he had never truly betrayed anyone, he would still be doomed beyond redemption.
He was terrified, but tonight was likely his only chance.
Slowly, Yan Yihuan finished dressing. He cautiously pushed the door open halfway. The creak was not loud, but in the dead silence of the night, it sounded especially harsh.
His scalp tingling with anxiety, he froze in place for a moment. When no one came to investigate, he slipped sideways through the doorway and hurried toward Li Xuanjing’s room. Reaching the door, he gave it a gentle push.
It moved.
The door wasn’t locked?
Yan Yihuan hid behind a tree outside the room, staring through the gap in the door. It was pitch black inside, and naturally he could see nothing, but he room was very quiet. After listening carefully for a while, he was finally able to make out the faint, steady sounds of someone sleeping.
Now that things had come this far, he had no choice but to risk everything.
Clenching his teeth, Yan Yihuan slowly pushed the door open a little farther and finally stepped into the room that filled him with fear, yet one he had entered without hesitation.
His eyes had long since adjusted to the darkness. Bent slightly at the waist and walking on tiptoe, he crept toward the bedside. There he saw the outer robe hanging over the back of a chair. Reaching for it, he quickly found the folded defense map.
At that moment, Yan Yihuan’s head buzzed.
His fingertips trembled and tingled with numbness, while a strange feeling rose in his chest.
His body stiff, he glanced toward Li Xuanjing. Seeing that he was still fast asleep, he relaxed slightly. Pinching the map between two fingers, he prepared to slip it into his robe, already considering whether he should burn it later or soak it in water.
But at that very moment, he caught sight of an inkstone at the corner of his eye, with brushes and paper spread out on a nearby table. Beside them lay a letter that appeared to be only half written.
In an instant, an idea entered his mind.
Destroying the map outright would undoubtedly cause chaos, and Li Xuanjing would become far more vigilant. But if he merely altered a few details, he could keep King Qin placated for the time being. Then he could look for an opportunity to tell his father and brothers the truth. Perhaps he could still persuade them to stop before it was too late.
His thoughts were in complete disarray, but his hands did not dare pause for even a second. The defense map was too large, and Yan Yihuan did not dare unfold it completely. He opened only one corner, dipped a brush into the ink, and, using the faintest trace of light, made out some of the writing. The brush hovered for a moment above the page. When suddenly, at that moment, Yan Yihuan’s heart lurched. An icy chill shot down his spine.
His excessive nervousness had made him so focused that he had not noticed that the steady breathing from the bed had fallen silent at some point. Yan Yihuan did not turn around. Feeling the sharp point pressed against his back, he slowly set down the brush. For some reason, however, he felt much calmer now. With a regretful sigh, he said,
“It seems I really am not suited for this sort of thing.”
“Yihuan.” The sword behind him drew closer. “Your heart truly has belonged to Li Xuanming.”
As he spoke, Li Xuanjing glanced at the unfolded corner of the map. Several drops of ink had already stained it.
He could not help but wonder: if Yan Yihuan had never truly intended to steal the map for him, then why had he not altered it when he first obtained it? Or was the map itself already a fake? Yet if that were the case, why would Yan Yihuan risk sneaking in here tonight to destroy it?
Summer clothing was thin, and the sting of the sword tip pressing against his skin felt especially sharp. He would probably not survive the night. Yan Yihuan felt a deep desolation settle over him, realizing with a start that his greatest regret was not having cleared up this misunderstanding with the emperor.
“That’s right! I would never stoop to associating with a traitorous rebel like you!” Since he was doomed anyway, Yan Yihuan gave up all restraint. “Wasn’t it you and Ming Zhang who conspired together, drugged me unconscious, and framed me by planting this map on me? Of course I’d stay as far away from you as possible. I would never join forces with you!”
Upon hearing this, Li Xuanjing was initially surprised. So it turns out Yan Yihuan had actually been drugged and tricked into coming here by Ming Zhang. Then, in the next instant, the fury he had been suppressing finally exploded, and he hurled the sword onto the ground. The clang of metal striking the floor rang out sharply through the silent night.
A commotion came from outside the door, and a voice called out anxiously, “Your Highness!”
“All of you stay away!”
“But, Your Highness, it won’t be long before the time of departure.”
“Leave!”
Li Xuanjing’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression dark and menacing. The footsteps outside seemed hesitant for a moment but eventually retreated into the distance.
“…What are you doing?” Yan Yihuan had originally shut his eyes, fully prepared to die, never expecting Li Xuanjing to throw away the sword. But now, watching him advance step by step with such a terrifying expression, he no longer resembled the Jing ge he knew.
“Don’t want to join forces with me?” In the past, whenever Yan Yihuan looked at him, his eyes had always been filled with trust and dependence. Now they held nothing but fear and rejection. “Yan Yihuan, I’ve waited for you all these years, and this is how you treat me?!”
The author has something to say:
Being chased by deadlines is exhausting.
I also feel that my writing hasn’t really been at its best lately, and I’m not very satisfied with it.
As for Ming Zhang’s earlier storyline, it really was written rather hurriedly. I couldn’t find quite the right place to develop it.
As for this section, after the novel is finished I’ll give it more thought and revise it.
Thank you all for sticking with me.
I’ll keep working hard too, and together we’ll finally see our baby Yan come to his senses!
