Chaotic River Descent

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Xia Yunhe reached out to grab Xie Yi but was evaded. The boy tilted his head back, his amber eyes filled with stubbornness.

“Sir, will you abandon me?”

“Your Highness.” Xia Yunhe had never found Xie Yi so difficult to deal with. She would have preferred that Xie Yi, like herself, was also reborn, so communication would be easier. Instead, it felt like a conversation between chickens and ducks, and she had to coax a child.

Abducting a prince from the palace was a grave crime. If they discovered the boy missing, they would be even more anxious about their tracks being exposed.

What would they do?

They would surely scour the entire Lower River Village relentlessly.

Until they found Xie Yi, regardless of life or death.

They wouldn’t risk telling Prince Seven and thereby exposing themselves.

What threat could a rootless prince possibly pose? Why would they want to kill him so mercilessly?

As a sickly person who needed frequent rests, if she encountered those men, she definitely couldn’t protect Xie Yi.

They had to leave this place quickly and return to the palace before the gates locked, seeking the emperor’s protection. Even if Emperor Hui disliked the seventh prince, he wouldn’t tolerate such a challenge to royal authority.

As for Xu Xing... Xia Yunhe glanced toward the narrow alley leading to his residence and sighed inwardly—there would be time later.

She gathered her thoughts, knelt down, and patiently tried to reason with Xie Yi.

“Your Highness, this matter is complicated. Let us return first and present ourselves before His Majesty.”

“Sir, will you abandon me?”

Xie Yi clutched her sleeve, stubbornly staring at her, insisting on an answer.

The boy’s eyes were as bright as lacquer but carried a cautious test. He didn’t move or avoid her, just shrugged lightly and waited silently.

Suddenly, memories of the fire and death she saw after her own demise surfaced: the man, those eyes—one fierce, one wronged—but both defiant at heart. Vaguely, she recalled the mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Her heart softened; she stroked Xie Yi’s head, lowered her gaze, and smiled softly.

“No, Your Highness, I will never abandon you.”

That single sentence melted away the ice and snow, letting sunlight pour in, coaxing Xie Yi to let down his guard.

He received the answer he longed for, his eyes softened, and he grasped Xia Yunhe’s hand, returning to a gentle, obedient demeanor.

Xia Yunhe stood, suddenly dizzy.

The boy reached out to steady her, his voice tinged with anxiety.

“Sir.”

After spending days crafting congratulatory words and exhausting her energy, it was no surprise she felt faint upon rising.

Waving her hand lightly, she whispered, “Your Highness, I am fine.”

Just as she stood, the clamor of the street surged like a tide, accompanied by the shattering of pottery. A group of ruffians were rampaging, smashing and chasing people away, and the chaos was spreading toward where she and the seventh prince stood.

Two men, both wearing worn leather caps and coarse short brown coats, strolled in their direction.

Xia Yunhe lowered her gaze thoughtfully, draped her cloak over Xie Yi’s slender shoulders, frowned slightly, and pressed him against the wall.

One sighed, rubbed his eyes, and yawned. “Every time we sell teeth, it’s always such a pain.”

The other said, “I heard they’re making a big fuss searching for the one who lost the teeth.”

They glanced at Xia Yunhe, who looked stern and wore a dazzling fur coat, and mistook her for a nobleman visiting a courtesan. They avoided her and walked away.

Xie Yi peeked out, his ears flushed red, probably feeling a bit stifled.

Xia Yunhe touched his forehead, then gently moved away and apologized softly, “Your Highness, forgive me for my rudeness.”

Xie Yi mumbled a faint reply and lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.

Looking around, Xia Yunhe realized the two men were trapped in a dead-end alley. Going forward would mean running into vagrants; retreating would lead toward Xu Xing’s house.

Xu Xing... better to strike while the iron is hot. She took Xie Yi’s hand, ready to head toward Xu Xing’s courtyard when suddenly someone grabbed her.

Startled, she turned to see it was the woman from before.

Now, with her makeup washed away, she smiled slyly and whispered, “You want to go there? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Come with me.”

Before Xia Yunhe could react, the woman pulled her arm aside. Xia Yunhe glanced at the house from afar, sighed silently, resigned to the impossibility, and decided to follow this sister to hide for a while.

Xie Yi, however, remained still, glaring hatefully at the girl.

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Xia Yunhe gently squeezed his palm and silently mouthed, “Your Highness.”

His ears flushed even redder, and he clung tightly to her arm, warning her with his eyes.

The woman rolled her eyes, ignoring him.

They passed through layers of dilapidated houses, turned left three times, and arrived at a desolate little courtyard. The woman pulled a bronze key from under the green bricks of the gate, pushed the door open with her shoulder, and fumbled with the lock. After a long time, a “click” sounded, and the door swung open, though the panel shook and seemed flimsy.

The courtyard was small, with one building—the woman’s residence. The rest was empty. The east wall was pure white, adjoining a neighboring courtyard with a tall roofline that stood out incongruously.

That was... where Xu Xing lived.

Xia Yunhe stared at the wall. Xu Xing’s relationship with Chen Haizhou was complicated. She wished to find Xu Xing but didn’t want Chen Haizhou to notice. Perhaps climbing over this wall would reveal the mystery in her heart.

The woman saw her gazing at the wall, assuming Xia Yunhe was pining for a lover. It is said that longing for a lover ages a person. She also longed, but it was a fleeting image—something unattainable, especially with Chen Haizhou, that demon, standing in the way.

Suddenly feeling a kinship of shared sorrow, she teased Xia Yunhe, “You want to climb over?”

Xia Yunhe’s thoughts were exposed. She turned back, smiled, bowed deeply, and asked, “May I know your name, sister?”

Xie Yi’s expression shifted slightly as he looked up at Xia Yunhe.

The woman teased, touching Xia Yunhe’s sleeve, “You’re asking me? Just call me Third Sister.”

Xie Yi, scowling, stormed over and pushed the woman aside. “Stay away from Sir.”

Xia Yunhe hurriedly held him back, frowning slightly, whispering, “Don’t be like this.”

Third Sister sighed, looped her arm through Xia Yunhe’s, and snorted, “I’m only doing this for the sake of the golden leaves. Taking money without cause would trouble my conscience. Besides, it’s for you—Sir, you’re just a bonus.”

“You!” The boy, like a small lion with bristling fur, scowled and tried to strike Third Sister.

Xia Yunhe quickly broke free from Third Sister’s arm and restrained Xie Yi.

Suddenly, a loud knocking came from outside.

The three froze. Third Sister frowned, about to answer the door, but Xia Yunhe grabbed her roughly. She glanced toward the dividing wall and gave Xie Yi a meaningful look.

Xie Yi understood and leapt over the wall in several strides, landing in Xu Xing’s courtyard.

From the other side of the wall came a questioning voice, “Who are you? What are you—” then silence.

Xia Yunhe turned back. Third Sister was stunned, staring blankly at her. “He... he climbed over.”

Xia Yunhe originally wanted Third Sister’s help to climb too, but suddenly heard a loud bang as the door was kicked open.

Several menacing men burst in, surrounding the two women.

At the doorway, four or five idle men gathered, including the short acrobat and shirtless men she had seen at the market.

The crowd surrounded a burly man with a face full of scars, followed by a pale-faced eunuch with delicate eyebrows and a kerchief.

Xia Yunhe focused and recognized the eunuch she had encountered at the Dark Fragrance Palace. He wore the newest sapphire blue silk robe edged with gold and looked almost ready to shout upon seeing her.

The burly man waved his hand. “Search!”

Several thugs rolled up their sleeves and raised the few pottery jars in Third Sister’s courtyard, ready to make a scene.

Xia Yunhe frowned and shouted sharply, “Stop!” She looked at the pale eunuch hiding behind the ruffians. “What are you doing, sir?”

Everyone froze in place, jars held high.

Third Sister looked stunned, stealing glances at Xia Yunhe.

The pale eunuch’s eyes darted about. Folding his arms and stooping, he hurried over to Xia Yunhe.

“Lady Xia,” he said.

Third Sister opened her mouth wide, looked at Xia Yunhe, then at the crowd, then at the groveling eunuch, covered her mouth, and quietly stepped aside.

“Hmm.” Xia Yunhe lifted her eyelids and glanced at the eunuch, her voice calm, “Sir Eunuch, long time no see.”

He nodded repeatedly but his eyes drifted toward Third Sister’s room. “Since Lady Xia is here, I will not disturb.”

Xia Yunhe called after him with a nod and smile, “If you’re interested in that room, you’re welcome to take a look.”

The eunuch hesitated but quickly pushed open the door to Third Sister’s room and peeked inside carefully.

...

Watching them leave, the crowd that had surged like a tide now dispersed hastily.

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From outside, voices whispered faintly.

“We searched everywhere, no sign. What do we do?”

“Searched everywhere?”

“Uh, only Xu Xing’s place is left.”

“Then he must be there. Let’s go.”

“But he’s there, you know.”

That person, of course, was Chen Haizhou.

“Fear not. If he’s gone today, he can’t be back already.”

Outside, rustling sounds faded, then silence.

Third Sister patted her chest, came over, looked her over front and back, then grabbed her arm, eyes full of envy. “Are you a palace maid?” She thought for a moment and pointed at the wall. “Then, the one just now...”

She furrowed her brows, pondering. “He called you ‘Sir’? But you’re not a maid.” Then she grew confused again.

Xia Yunhe saw she was still deep in thought and considered that if this incident spread, her female identity might be exposed. She grabbed Third Sister’s hand and whispered earnestly, “Sister, I have difficulties too. For the sake of the golden leaves, you must keep my identity secret.”

Third Sister giggled, pinched Xia Yunhe’s cheek. “What’s so hard? Someone as pretty as you looks good in any guise.”

“But,” she said, eyes glinting, “the gentleman, I’m greedy. These few golden leaves are not enough.”

Xia Yunhe pushed her hand away, smiling at her. “Not difficult.”

Suddenly, scolding voices came from Xu Xing’s courtyard.

“What are you doing?!”

The burly man’s harsh voice answered, “Looking for someone!”

How could they be so fast?

Xia Yunhe’s heart clenched. She wanted to climb the wall to check on the seventh prince but couldn’t. She paced anxiously at its base.

Third Sister had an idea and brought a wooden ladder.

Delighted, Xia Yunhe was about to climb when a sinister voice came from the other side of the wall—Chen Haizhou’s.

“How do you want to die?”

The man had returned.

Third Sister hurriedly pulled Xia Yunhe down from the ladder. The two pressed against the wall to listen.

A high-pitched, trembling voice pleaded, “Master Chen, spare me! It’s a misunderstanding!”

“Pfft!”

Xia Yunhe shuddered; the sound was like a knife piercing flesh.

Then came a blood-curdling scream, followed by a chorus of gasps, then piercing shrieks that made ears ache. After a long rumble, silence fell.

Xia Yunhe touched her ear, hearing Xu Xing’s trembling voice, “You, you...”

A heavy thud sounded.

Chen Haizhou shouted in panic, “Zihuai!”

...

All was quiet, save for two caws from crows perched on branches.

Xia Yunhe exhaled, relaxed her tension, wiped the cold sweat from her brow, swallowed hard, and massaged her temples. Thankfully, Chen Haizhou’s appearance had concealed Xie Yi in time.

She then heard the clanging of a wooden door opening, footsteps approaching—ten steps—and Xie Yi’s casual voice came through the wall to her ears:

“Master Chen.”

Xia Yunhe’s heart tightened.