"Head Yin," Lan Tianyu called out. As a professional opera singer, his voice was naturally melodious; even a simple greeting was delivered with a lingering, lyrical grace. "Fishing alone beneath the moon—you truly are a person of refined tastes."
Yin Zhuli gave a bitter smile. "You know full well I have a home I cannot return to. Why mock me so?"
Lan Tianyu’s lips curved slightly. He was quite handsome, though his years on the stage had left him with an inescapable air of rouge and powder. "How could such an unreasonable person be worthy of your favor, Head Yin?"
Yin Zhuli skewered another fish and set it over the fire. "Haha, as they say, if you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, you follow the dog. It isn't as if I had much of a choice. Would Master Lan like to sample my cooking?"
Lan Tianyu did not refuse. He sat down naturally before the fire. Yin Zhuli reached out to hand him the fish, and as he moved to take it, she caught his hand. He froze for a moment, then leaned across the fire, gazing at her with eyes full of tender affection.
Yin Zhuli pulled him closer. Suddenly, the short flute at her waist was unsheathed. With a sharp thrust, she drove it into his chest, stopping barely an inch from his heart. Her voice turned cold and murderous. "Who are you?"
Lan Tianyu, never expecting such a sudden strike, looked at her in shock. "Head Yin, you... I am Lan Tianyu!"
Yin Zhuli gave the blade a slight twist. Finally, the enchanting smile vanished from his face. His voice shed its previous feminine softness, becoming low and gravelly. "Fine, Head Yin. How did you see through me?"
Yin Zhuli smiled thinly. "Hu Xing is a man driven by greed and lust. Since he paid for Master Lan’s company today, how could he possibly give him the chance to come here and offer himself to me for free?"
The man let out a bitter laugh. "To strike so ruthlessly based on such a small suspicion... were you not afraid of being wrong?"
"There is another reason: I truly have touched the real Master Lan’s hand before." Yin Zhuli pinned him to the grass, pressing her knee into his waist. Only then did a look of genuine pain appear on his face. "Head Yin rarely travels the martial world, so you likely wouldn't recognize my name even if I told you. I am merely a hired hand. If you wish to know who my employer is, I'm afraid you'll be wasting your breath."
Yin Zhuli sneered. Looking down at him while his life hung by a thread gave her a profound sense of security. "I only want to know how many of you came. Is the target me, or the Ninth Lord?"
The blade had not pierced deep, and since it hadn't been withdrawn, the blood flow was minimal. However, every time she twisted the edge, the wound widened. The man beneath her gritted his teeth. It was only on the fourth twist that he managed to speak through the pain. "Six blades in total. Tonight, the ones responsible for testing the waters are myself and Mu Yan. Mu Yan is handling the Ninth Lord. The goal is two heads. Beyond that, I truly know nothing more."
Yin Zhuli understood. A moment later, her hand surged forward, driving the blade three inches deeper before giving it a forceful wrench. The man’s eyes bulged, and he expired instantly. She let out a soft sigh. "You see, you people kill for a living; your skills must be extraordinary. Unfortunately, my own training is lacking, and I have zero experience wandering the martial world. If I were to let you go and face you in a fair fight, I would certainly be no match for you. So, you see... sigh, I really am quite sorry."
She began to calculate her next move. Since the enemy had come prepared, there were bound to be other arrangements. The best method for an ambush would be for a second assassin to hide in the lake. After the first failed, the target would likely discard the body or wash their hands in the water, making them an easy mark. Even if the target didn't approach the water, they would eventually have to leave. This place was surrounded by mountains on three sides; the only exit was the small path. If an ambush was set there, with the enemy in the dark and her in the light, she would be at a disadvantage.
A plan quickly formed in her mind—she would use the first assassin's corpse as a decoy. Visibility underwater was poor, and the night was dark; it would be hard to tell the difference. After killing the second one, she would pretend to enter the water, and the third would surely come to investigate. It would be much easier to deal with them then.
As she was thinking, another voice drifted through the night. "If you know your skills are lacking, you should be more cautious. Look at you—sending Lian Kang off to Luoyang and leaving Tan Yue to guard Shen the Ninth, while you dare to come out here all alone without a single soul by your side."
The moon had just risen, casting enough light to see by. Yin Zhuli’s eyes instantly lit up. "Master!"
The man walking slowly through the sparse shadows of the trees—who else could it be but Tang Yin?
Yin Zhuli’s voice was brimming with joy. "Master, why are you here!"
She took Tang Yin’s arm. He used the *Azure Descent* in his hand to give her a light tap on the head. "I stayed in Chang'an for a while, but the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. I decided it was better to follow you."
He carried a faint scent of blood. Yin Zhuli looked up and saw a figure slumped amidst the shadows of the trees. Her voice was strangely cheerful. "Master, you're playing at sneak attacks too!"
Tang Yin sat down by the fire and gave a cold huff. "These people have established names in the martial world. I fear those in Chang'an are truly determined to eliminate the Ninth Lord this time."
Yin Zhuli sat down beside him. Using her own famous weapon, the *Underworld Usher*, she gutted another fish. Just as she was about to head to the lake to wash it, Tang Yin caught her hand. "Martial artists often use interlocking traps. This time, they had one person strike while another waited in ambush along your most likely escape route. It’s almost certain there is another hiding in the lake. A person who wins two consecutive bouts will inevitably grow arrogant; if they throw the corpse into the lake or go to wash their hands, they will fall right into the trap."
This thought coincided perfectly with Yin Zhuli’s own, but as Tang Yin held her hand, the warmth of his touch made her mind wander, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Tang Yin released her hand, turned, and picked up the corpse from the grass, walking slowly toward the lakeshore. These "blades" who killed for a living preferred to work alone; even on a joint mission, they mostly acted independently. To ambush from the lake, the best way was to hide in the water and strike with a sword the moment the person on the bank leaned down. As he brought the corpse near the water’s edge, a long sword indeed thrust upward from beneath the surface, piercing straight into the corpse’s chest.
Tang Yin was just as fast. His *Azure Descent* flashed into the water. Beneath the moonlit, shimmering surface, a plume of dark blood spread. The life of the person in the water was forfeit.
He leaned down to wash his hands, then cleaned Yin Zhuli’s *Azure Descent* as well before handing it back to her. "Go back and check on the Ninth Lord. The people who came this time are quite capable."
Yin Zhuli was in no hurry. She simply lay back on the green grass, cushioning her head with her hands. "Tan Yue is there. Besides, the Tianlai Residence has official guards from the Central Plains Bodyguards and secret protection hired from the Heavenly Net Sect. Nothing will happen."
Tang Yin sat down beside her, his voice gentle. "He is your husband, after all. Regardless of whether he is safe, you should be with him."
Yin Zhuli rolled over and rested her head on his lap. He froze for a moment, but then, treating her as if she were still the child who used to act spoiled, he gently smoothed her long hair. "Get up now. This is no way for the Princess of Fulu to behave."
Yin Zhuli didn't move. "Master, how did you and my mother meet?"
Tang Yin hadn't expected her to bring this up. After a long silence, he gave a dry cough. "You're just a child. Why ask about such things?"
Yin Zhuli closed her eyes. The sound of the wind brushed past her ears; all else was silent. "Master, I am not small anymore. I am no longer a child."
When Shen Tingjiao arrived, this was the scene he witnessed. The night sky was a deep blue, the bright moon hung high, and the wind rolled through the green waves of grass. Two figures—one in green, one in blue—one sitting, one lying down. Although Tang Yin moved quickly, Shen Tingjiao still saw Yin Zhuli resting her head on his lap.
He still managed a smile as he greeted them. "Master Tang, what brings you here?"
Tang Yin stood up and gave a slight bow. "Ninth Prince. This journey is long, and I was worried about the safety of the Prince and Princess, so I came to check."
Shen Tingjiao nodded slightly. Yin Zhuli remained lying on the grass, making no move to get up. He pounced on her like a puppy, his posture incredibly intimate. "Zhuli, I'm not angry anymore."
Yin Zhuli continued to lie there spread-eagled, her expression indifferent. "It's fine. Your Lordship can keep being angry. There's no need to give this commoner any face."
The young Prince pressed close to her neck, nuzzling her gently. His tone was affectionate. "I've thought it over. I am a man, after all; I should naturally be more tolerant of my Princess. Besides, those are all issues left over from history. So, I've decided not to be angry."
The scene was far too intimate. Tang Yin gave a light cough. "This is no place for talk. Let us return to the Tianlai Residence first."
Yin Zhuli rose with a look of helplessness, glancing at the Prince with pointed meaning. "The Tianlai Residence... the Tianlai Residence is even less of a place for talk..."
The Prince knew he was being slighted, but for once, he didn't fly into a tantrum.
Before leaving, Yin Zhuli went to the lake to wash her hands—not because of the smell of blood, but because of the fishy scent. Tang Yin was a cautious man; as she approached the water, he stood close to her. If there were another ambush in the lake, it was best to be prepared.
Yin Zhuli washed her hands and splashed water on her face. After doing this several times, she opened her eyes and suddenly saw the pale face of the floating corpse. Startled, she jerked back. Behind her, Tang Yin’s hand already gripped her shoulder. The steady strength of his hand caused her fear to vanish.
This was her dependence on Tang Yin. If it had been anyone else by her side, she would have at most joked: "My friend, the mountains and rivers here are magnificent, the lake is beautiful. Since you've found a resting place here with another fellow to keep you company, why come out to frighten me?"
Beneath the smile, she would have silently wiped the cold sweat from her palms.
But because it was Tang Yin, she could tell him honestly: "Master, we shouldn't throw things into the lake. This, this, this is too terrifying, ahhh!!"
Tang Yin’s response was to fish the two corpses out and discard them openly on the bank. His voice was extremely soft as he guided her to look at the water again. "They're gone. There is nothing in the water now. Zhuli, don't be afraid."
He signaled for her to head back. His expression was gentle, but his heart felt a slight pang. Twelve years had passed, yet he wasn't the only one who couldn't forget Yin Zichuan; Yin Mengyuan couldn't either. Perhaps only he knew whose face she had really seen in that accidental glimpse of the moonlit lake.
Shen Tingjiao stood silently to the side. He considered himself a master of acting. He knew that without extreme measures, it would be difficult to shake this man's importance to Yin Zhuli.
The three of them returned to the Tianlai Residence together. Tang Yin and Tan Yue stayed in the room next to Yin Zhuli’s. They had much to discuss. A few assassins had come here as well, but the blades of the Heavenly Net Sect were not to be trifled with. Shen Tingjiao had been worried about Yin Zhuli, which was why he and Tan Yue had gone out to find her. Tan Yue, who knew quite a bit about complex assassination techniques, had stayed hidden in case the enemy had other plans.
Back in the room, Yin Zhuli undressed. The Prince sidled up to her like a puppy. The summer heat was at its peak, and basins of ice had been placed in the room to cool it down. If it had been yesterday, Yin Zhuli would have inevitably picked up a few ice cubes to tease him. Her goal in sending Xiao He and Zhang Qing away was to properly cultivate her relationship with the Prince. Even if the tides turned in the future, she wanted to leave herself a way out.
The Prince snuggled up to her as they lay down, his lips pressing against her chin. The hint was obvious. She rubbed his long hair. "I'm tired today. No playing."
Had it not been for what happened earlier, perhaps Shen Tingjiao would have accepted this reason. He was a patient man. But the scene by the lake was like a thorn in his throat—furthermore, how could this energetic woman be so tired she lacked the strength for the joys of the bed?
It was simply because Tang Yin had arrived. She no longer had the heart to even humoring him.
His fingers curled into a tight fist, nails digging into his palm. He told himself repeatedly not to act rashly, but what was this fire burning in his chest? Jealousy? He didn't even want to think of the word.
He shifted his leg slightly, gently rubbing against hers to let her feel his need. He called softly, "Zhuli."
Yin Zhuli continued to pat his back. "Sleep."
Whether it was anger or jealousy, the fire was enough to drive one mad. He rolled over to pin her down, forcing a kiss upon her. But Yin Zhuli was not one to be easily handled. Her reaction was to kick him directly off the bed.
The noise was quite loud. Tan Yue and Tang Yin next door were martial artists; they naturally heard it. But as it was a matter between husband and wife, they could hardly intervene.
Shen Tingjiao bit his lip as he stared at her. In the twelve years they had known each other, this was the first time she had treated him this way. He was naturally cruel and calculating; if anyone else had insulted him, he would have found a way to make them wish they were dead. Yet before this person, he only felt a crushing weight in his chest.
Yin Zhuli continued to look at her coldly. How could he not know she was a heartless creature? If he annoyed her further now, she would find some wilderness or a brothel and stay out all night. And with hidden forces still moving in the shadows, it would be dangerous for her to go out like that.
He could only gaze at her silently, his eyes filled with extreme grievance.
Yin Zhuli watched him coldly for a while. Seeing his pitiful, lovely appearance, a sliver of guilt finally rose within her. "Cough, alright, alright. It was my fault. Does it hurt?" She got off the bed and gently rubbed his waist. "I apologize. I'm a scoundrel, I'm a piece of work. Hmm?"
She carried him back onto the bed, pulled over a thin quilt, and tucked him in. "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. Go to sleep."
Shen Tingjiao leaned into her embrace. Listening to her steady heartbeat, he felt a sudden sense of sorrow.
*It has been twelve years. Who is the one who has truly been by your side all this time? Yin Zhuli, can't you think about it? I beg you, please, just think about it.*
***
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