Chapter Eighty-Two: Candid Words

Night had fallen deep and heavy over the Prince of Qin's Estate. In the bedchamber of the eldest young master, Jing Min lay sprawled on the bed, his eyes vacant, muttering incoherently as if lost to the world. Beside him, his younger brother Jing Yu sat, a look of utter disdain on his face as he sneered, "Jing Min, oh Jing Min, my dear elder brother, you've always been the favored heir in our household, the apple of Father's eye. Even when it came to escaping from the capital, you left me behind. I even orchestrated the riot at the Yingtian Prefecture prison to help you slip away, drawing the officials' attention elsewhere so you could get out unnoticed. I don't know why both our plans failed, but how did you end up in such a miserable state!"

Jing Yu slapped his brother's cheeks sharply, his voice seething with anger. "Look at you now, you're less than a good-for-nothing! I don't know what you've been hiding in that secret room of your study, or what dark dealings you got yourself into this time to provoke such powerful enemies that even Steward Fang was killed. As long as you don't drag me down with you, that's all I care about. Do you hear me? Do you hear me?" He punctuated his words with another series of loud slaps. Still, Jing Min only rambled unintelligibly, oblivious to everything.

Jing Yu leaned in, his tone turning cold and sinister. "Do you think I don't know about your little conspiracies with Father? I've been patient all these years. I thought, if I helped you escape and Father raised the banners in revolt, and if you two succeeded in taking the capital, then you'd see that the one you've always looked down upon—me, Jing Yu—had been laying plans all along. All your schemes would become mere stepping stones for me! But seeing you like this, I needn't trouble myself to remove you. Even if you weren't mad or stupid, look at you now—what hope could you possibly have? I wonder, should I call you unlucky, or lucky?"

He muttered on, his words a string of endless complaints.

As dawn crept softly into the sky, Yang Yaozong awoke to find Yin Ruxin sitting at his bedside, quietly mending clothes. "Did you sit here all night?" he asked.

Yin Ruxin set down her needlework, graced him with a gentle smile, and walked to the washbasin by the door. She moistened a cloth with fresh water and came back to him. "Not at all. After you fell asleep last night, I asked Ruyi to watch over you. I," she glanced at Yang Yaozong as she gently wiped his face, "went to the front hall to keep vigil with my sister by our master’s side." When she had finished with his face, she tenderly wiped his hands as well. "Yesterday, my sister and I arranged the front hall as a mourning chamber, to hold Master's coffin for now. I want my sister to take Master’s coffin back to our hometown for burial in the next few days. There are still many matters I must attend to here in the capital, so I cannot accompany my sister home, nor can I leave you behind."

Yang Yaozong said, "Yes. You mustn't grieve too much. The dead cannot return, but now your master may finally rest in peace, and her soul find solace in her homeland. You look exhausted—your eyes are as red as a little rabbit’s." He patted the space beside him on the bed. "Come, rest for a while."

Yin Ruxin blushed and shook her head. "Day is already breaking."

Seeing her shy demeanor, Yang Yaozong smiled, "I only asked you to lie down and rest a bit. Look at the state I’m in—what else could I possibly do?" As he spoke, a pang of guilt struck him, remembering his complicated relationship with Yin Ruyun.

Yin Ruxin glanced at him and replied softly, "I won’t rest. But if you can't sleep, I can tell you about myself."

Yang Yaozong nodded. "That would be nice." He shifted inward on the bed. "But lie down and tell me—dawn is only just breaking, you can rest in your clothes for a while."

Yin Ruxin nodded, took off her shoes, and lay beside him. Yang Yaozong pulled the quilt over her as well, let her rest her head in the crook of his arm, and wrapped his arm gently around her slender, delicate form. "Now, tell me."

Feeling Yang Yaozong’s gentle embrace and care, Yin Ruxin spoke in a low, soft voice. "My sister and I are twins. When we were three, our master chose us, and we left our parents to enter the most secretive sect of the Miao people in Xiangxi—the Valley of Venom. Our master was the valley’s leader. For some reason, I was chosen to be the Sacred Maiden, while my sister was raised to become a Protector of the Valley."

Yang Yaozong listened silently, rhythmically stroking her back.

"About ten years ago, Master began to travel down the mountain on affairs, and life for our people improved a little, though it was never easy. From that time, I began to take over the valley’s affairs. Last year, the Prince of Qin suddenly sent someone to the valley, bringing a letter from Master. The writing seemed to have been penned on her deathbed, saying she had long been aiding the Prince of Qin, helping him plot rebellion. In one such mission, she was poisoned by the court’s machinations, afflicted with an incurable toxin. Before dying, she wrote this letter and entrusted it to the prince to deliver to the valley. She instructed me to succeed her as Valley Master and oversee all affairs, while my sister was to serve as Left Protector to ensure my safety. We were to continue aiding the prince in his secret plans, in exchange for the promise that the Miao people would no longer suffer oppression. When I first read that letter, I was suspicious. The handwriting was hers, but Master was a formidable woman—versed in poisons, medicine, and martial arts. How could she have died to poison?"

Her voice quivered as she spoke, recalling how her sister had told her Master perished from the Xiangjin toxin. Hatred twisted in her heart—she longed to carve the Prince of Qin and his son to pieces. She knew her master’s character well; to be killed by Xiangjin was a humiliation beyond bearing. Master must have died in agony, her final moments filled with rage and shame. As these thoughts overwhelmed her, tears streamed down Yin Ruxin’s cheeks.

Sensing her sorrow, Yang Yaozong pulled her tighter into his embrace. "In the end, good and evil always reap their due—only a matter of time. Heaven sees all, even if justice is delayed." He remembered how the Prince of Qin had his own father exiled, how he had orchestrated the death of Yin Ruxin’s master, and all the secrets the Emperor had confided in him. "The Prince of Qin is ruthless and cunning, but heaven is watching. I promise you, I will help you avenge your master."

Recalling the fearless tempers of Yin Ruxin and her sister, Yang Yaozong added, "I told your sister the same when she saved me yesterday—don’t rush blindly into revenge. Doing so may only bring disaster upon yourselves, and if you don’t eliminate the prince and his followers in one strike, he will surely bring ruin to your people. The estate is under heavy surveillance. News of Jing Min’s failed escape likely hasn’t reached the prince yet. Once I recover, I’ll go to the capital myself, to probe his strength and make a thorough plan. Then, when we strike, we will wipe them out completely."

"In the end, good and evil always reap their due—only a matter of time. Heaven sees all, even if justice is delayed." Yin Ruxin repeated the words silently in her heart.

When she learned the truth of her master’s death, her first thought had been to seek vengeance at once. If not for Yang Yaozong’s injuries, the need to bury her master first, and the lack of capable allies, she would have gone to the capital immediately. Now, hearing Yang Yaozong’s words, her heart warmed, and she nodded vigorously in his arms.

After a moment, she composed herself and continued, "I always suspected there was more to Master’s death, but I followed the instructions in her will and obeyed the prince, coming to the capital to take over Master’s affairs and secretly relay information to him. Still, I was always on guard and even sent my sister to investigate him in person. She returned in May, saying the prince was recruiting soldiers in secret and building a palace. The capital is tightly guarded—no stranger may enter without an introduction and background check, and leaving the city is even more difficult."

Yang Yaozong frowned, thinking of the Eagle Squad he’d sent to gather intelligence in the capital—he wondered if they’d managed to get in. If not, surely they would have returned by now. His frown gradually relaxed.

Suddenly, Yin Ruxin propped herself up and frowned at him. "My sister mentioned the prince was dealing with the Turks, but she wasn’t sure if it was the Eastern or Western Turks."

Yang Yaozong’s expression grew serious. He’d always thought the prince meant to rebel during the war with the Turks, but he hadn’t expected him to actually be in contact with them. If true, that would complicate matters. "It doesn’t matter which Turks—any connection with them is trouble. We’ll need to move faster."

Yin Ruxin’s eyes widened. "We? Yaozong, does this mean I can join you in your plans?"

Yang Yaozong smiled and nodded. "Of course. Didn't I say I’d bring you to my side? And since this is about avenging your master, how could I deny you your own justice? Even if I did it for you, you’d never be at peace unless you took part yourself. But you must promise to listen to me."

Yin Ruxin’s eyes glistened with emotion as she gazed at him, her voice soft and coquettish. "When have I ever disobeyed? From now on, whatever you say, I shall obey."