Chapter Forty-Two: Be Careful

Liu Ru opened her eyes and gazed at the snow-white ceiling above her. Without lingering in bed any longer, she rose, dressed, and carefully applied her makeup in front of the mirror—a skill she had learned from Su Ziye.

As Su Ziye would say, beauty itself is a powerful weapon for a woman, and makeup is the best way to maintain and enhance this asset.

Su Ziye had taught Liu Ru the art of makeup in meticulous detail; after all, he was a master of disguise, and every cosmetic he used was of the highest quality. The reason Liu Ru could so often captivate everyone around her was not only her natural beauty, but also the artful application of her makeup.

As for those rare few who could achieve, or even surpass, such an effect without any makeup at all—Liu Ru thought for a moment—there was probably only the Third Prince.

But the Third Prince was precisely the kind of person whom others could not even bring themselves to be jealous of.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

“I’m still putting on my makeup,” Liu Ru said quietly.

In the past, Su Ziye and Liu Ru usually shared a room; it was convenient for plotting together, and Su Ziye’s training of Liu Ru was comprehensive and unrelenting, requiring constant proximity.

Over time, Liu Ru had come to realize that, in some sense, Su Ziye regarded her as his first student. Yet because they were close in age, and Su Ziye had never made any overtures in that regard, it was more accurate to say that Liu Ru was his follower for the time being.

“Breakfast is ready. Come out and eat,” Su Ziye called from outside the door, then fell silent.

Liu Ru couldn’t help but laugh as she looked at her own reflection, her face alight with genuine joy.

Su Ziye truly was an odd person; Liu Ru used to think so often. Now, such thoughts came less frequently, but the feeling would still surge up from time to time.

He was unfailingly respectful to everyone, and his manner toward Liu Ru was often akin to that shown to a guest. He would rise early to make her breakfast, call her to eat like a fussy old woman, and even knock before entering her room.

It was hard to imagine this was the same young man who had once ruthlessly nailed over a hundred imperial soldiers to the frozen tundra with his own hands.

Liu Ru had never truly loved anyone before; for a time, she thought she would never love anyone again. But when this youth entered her world, she found herself wavering, if only slightly.

Yet very soon, Liu Ru understood that Su Ziye had never harbored any affection for her, nor could she truly love him. Their relationship would likely remain in this strange but harmonious balance.

With that thought, Liu Ru finished the final touches to her face, stood up, and stepped out the door.

...

Breakfast today was steamed buns.

Meat buns.

Dough, fermented to perfection, wrapped around a savory filling and steamed until plump and snowy white, making for an especially tempting sight.

The Third Prince had already picked up a bun, biting cautiously into the still-hot pastry and seeming a little startled by the heat. Liu Ru, meanwhile, looked at Su Ziye, who wore a white apron: “Are we going out today?”

It was June fourth, two days before the start of the Night of Leaves’ third trial. In theory, there was no longer any need to go out, but everything depended on Su Ziye’s arrangements.

Su Ziye picked up a bun, bit off a small piece, then poured a little aromatic vinegar and chili into it with a spoon. After taking a big bite, he said, “Yes.”

The Third Prince watched Su Ziye’s actions, tempted to imitate him, but stopped upon seeing that fiery red sauce.

“Where are we going today?” Liu Ru inquired.

“It’s not you who’s going out today, but me,” Su Ziye replied with a smile.

“Why?” Liu Ru looked at him. “Aren’t we going together?”

Yesterday, they had split up because they only had one ticket; only one person could enter the Hall of Stars. But today was different.

“Because I have to take care of something that only Liu Ru can do. As for you, you’ll need to stay home and continue your special training,” Su Ziye said, smiling at her. “Training for the third trial.”

Liu Ru nodded. “Then be careful.”

“That’s not something you should say to me.” Su Ziye turned to smile at her. “You should say it to them.”

“To whom?” Liu Ru asked.

“You’ll find out tonight,” Su Ziye answered, biting into his bun again. “Or would you like to hazard a guess?”

“Let me think.” Liu Ru pressed her temples. “Yesterday, I obtained the real questions for the third trial and even appeared before them unmasked. Now, I am the one who ‘holds a jade and is guilty by virtue of possessing it.’”

“And since neither Liu Ru nor Su Ziye has any discoverable background, if I show up on the streets of Night of Leaves today, I will surely be tested.”

“Correct,” Su Ziye said with a nod. “And I also need to take care of some formalities, so today’s outing isn’t exactly a deliberate trap.”

“I trust your judgment,” Liu Ru said, looking at Su Ziye. “I’ll wait for you here.”

“I can keep the Third Prince company at chess.”

Hearing this, the Third Prince nodded. She preferred having someone to keep her company, though she would not have been troubled by solitude.

“The Third Prince still has lessons, and you need to continue your training. But you can play chess during your breaks—I’ll leave the chess set in the usual place.” With that, Su Ziye got up and walked into the inner room.

Liu Ru watched his retreating figure but did not follow. Instead, she turned to the Third Prince. “Can you describe to me how he disguised himself as me?”

The Third Prince thought for a moment, then silently raised her writing board.

“Impossible to describe.”

...

You Lie stood silently in the center of Night of Leaves City’s thoroughfare.

The blazing sun hung high, casting people’s shadows into brief lines upon the ground.

But You Lie had no shadow.

The passersby bustling around seemed utterly unaware of his presence; he was like a ghost drifting through the city.

Of course, he was no ghost. He was waiting for someone.

Soon, a fair-haired girl in white appeared in his field of vision. She was tall and strikingly beautiful, with delicate features that drew many second glances from those around her. But to You Lie, she was nothing more than prey.

In that instant, You Lie began to move. His body stretched into a long, invisible shadow beneath the sunlight. One moment, he was a distant specter; the next, he stood directly before the blonde girl, close enough to see her ice-blue eyes.

He grabbed her wrist, and with a sudden exertion, the two of them vanished from the street almost simultaneously.

No one seemed to notice the event, and even if someone had, they would have dismissed it as a trick of the eye.

In a dark, shadowy chamber, You Lie’s silhouette appeared without a sound, still holding the girl’s wrist.

“Miss Liu Ru, how do you do?” You Lie rasped, his voice tinged with both delight and cruelty.

“Where is this place?” Despite the sudden assault, Liu Ru remained remarkably composed.

“I must say, Miss Liu Ru, you’re living up to your reputation. Were you any ordinary noblewoman, you’d be screaming or in tears by now,” You Lie remarked, studying his prey with a smile.

Liu Ru regarded him calmly. He appeared to be in his early forties, with two deep scars running across his face. Though he seemed composed, sweat beaded on his forehead.

It was the height of summer, but You Lie looked uncomfortably hot, especially in this dark chamber, where the temperature hovered at a constant sixteen degrees.

“Where is this?” Liu Ru repeated, her voice steady as ever.

“Don’t worry, we’re still in Night of Leaves City,” You Lie said, licking his lips. “As you know, the city’s security is maintained by the Snow Burial Society. No one wants to clash with them, so some… special methods have developed.”

“These methods—were they given to you by Dark Star?” Liu Ru asked.

“You know more than I expected, Miss,” You Lie did not deny it. “Given that, I trust you’ll be cooperative.”

“What do you want?” Liu Ru looked at him. “I’m not sure I can give it to you.”

“Yesterday, you took something from the Hall of Stars. In fact, many were waiting outside that night, hoping to have a chat. But you never left—perhaps Carotes provided you with protection. I’m curious, though, why has that protection vanished today?” You Lie’s voice was a rough whisper.

“Perhaps I no longer need such protection,” Liu Ru replied with a faint smile.

“I trust you’ve already seen the contents of what you took, so it doesn’t matter if you’re carrying it or not,” You Lie said, not quite grasping Liu Ru’s meaning. He continued, “If you would kindly hand over the third trial’s questions, I can guarantee you’ll be spared unnecessary suffering.”

“Certainly.” Liu Ru nodded and raised her left hand. “Here.”

In her hand was a newspaper edged in crimson.

“Are you mocking me?” You Lie glared at her, anger flaring.

“I’m not joking.” Liu Ru smiled. “The first thing I did after leaving the house was buy today’s issue of the Crimson Heart Journal.”

“Would you like a look?”

You Lie felt utterly disregarded. He had dragged her to a place where even cries for help would go unanswered, yet she remained composed—mocking, even.

His face twisted with rage. “I think you’re confused about your situation.”

With that, he abruptly raised his right arm. A black shadow flashed into existence in his hand, slicing the air with a cold, sharp line.

In the next instant, a thin red line should have appeared across the bridge of Liu Ru’s nose.

A dagger’s mark.

But, unexpectedly, before the moment arrived, Liu Ru silently shifted half a step back.

You Lie’s dagger cut only empty air.

He was stunned.

Liu Ru regarded him, a subtle, delighted smile curving her lips. “I told you, even if you scream here, no one will hear you.”

Startled by her words, You Lie barely had time to react before Liu Ru calmly clenched her fist and, in the next moment, drove her entire body into him, striking his chest with a punch.

He never saw her move, but in that instant, it felt as though his ribs had shattered.

He had taken a tremendous blow, yet his body was not sent flying—somehow, all the force had been perfectly absorbed. It was a masterful feat, requiring precise control and application of strength.

In that instant, You Lie could not help but collapse to his knees.

“One punch and you’re finished? The assassins of Blue Wing are disappointingly weak,” Liu Ru mocked, her movements ceaseless.

The girl bent, seizing his right hand with one hand, while the other deftly twisted his wrist.

Just like snapping sugarcane, she broke his forearm cleanly.

You Lie’s agonized scream echoed through the darkness.

At the same time, a black dagger clattered to the floor.

Liu Ru stooped to pick it up.

“Who dropped this Winter’s Songer? How uncivilized. Does anyone want it?” she said, kicking the gasping You Lie aside before he could speak.

He crashed against the chamber’s shadowy boundary and slid to the floor as Liu Ru, thoroughly satisfied, tucked the dagger into her clothes. “Since no one’s claiming it, I suppose I’ll have to accept it as a gift.”

You Lie lay motionless, like a dead dog.

It was not that he could not move, but that he did not wish to.

No matter how he racked his brain, he could not fathom how things had taken such a drastic, absurd turn.

Everything had been going according to plan—why had it all gone awry in the end?

He did not want to get up, for to rise would be to invite further humiliation.

He had already had his ribs punched in and his arm snapped—what point was there in fighting on?

While he was playing ostrich, Liu Ru’s footsteps approached, steady and unhurried.

“Need me to kill you?” she asked quietly, standing before him.

“Would you let me go?” You Lie replied with a touch of self-mockery.

“You haven’t harmed me, and I even gained a spirit-forged dagger. I should be thanking you, not killing you,” Liu Ru said coolly. “Of course, if you beg me for death, I won’t refuse.”

“Then please let me go, Miss. I promise, Blue Wing will never trouble you again,” You Lie pledged without hesitation.

“Your promise isn’t worth much, but since your attitude is passable, let’s end it here today.”

With that, Liu Ru bent down and gently took hold of his unbroken left wrist.

“Alright, take me back.”

...

On the streets of Night of Leaves City, Liu Ru and You Lie reappeared in the sunlight.

“Thank you,” Liu Ru said politely, handing him the Crimson Heart Journal. “Take it back and report to your young master.”

With that, she released his wrist and continued walking along as if nothing had happened.

You Lie crouched on the ground in pain. Without Winter’s Songer, he could no longer vanish beneath the daylight.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, just as members of the Snow Burial Society, clad in white uniforms, appeared before him. “Sir, is something wrong?”

You Lie stared at the newspaper in his hand, then spoke slowly.

“No, nothing happened.”

On the front page of that scarlet-edged newspaper, in the largest type, the headline read:

“Extra! Extra! Crimson Heart Martial Hall brings exclusive coverage of the third trial’s questions!”

“The first question is—”

“Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum.”