Chapter 16: Seeking a Shortcut

Lin Cheng arrived at the Myriad Phenomena Garden where Cheng Guang was supposed to be, but found no trace of him. He scratched his head in disappointment. As a mere guard, he dared not venture too far in and instead remained quietly at a respectful distance outside the pavilion, standing watch. Though Lin Cheng was a bit simple-minded, he knew his place well. Unless the heir gave him instructions or called him over, barging in uninvited might expose him to sights or secrets he should not witness or hear, and things would become irreparably complicated.

Meanwhile, in the bedchamber, the luxurious bed was draped in fine white gauze, its four posts entwined with sculpted dragons. A round window, reminiscent of an ancient painting, offered a glimpse of sparse winter plum blossoms and slender willows, as if painted upon a scroll. Cheng Guang lay upon this splendid, silk-cushioned bed, lost in deep thought.

Earlier, while searching for information about the heir in the library, he had already made up his mind to impersonate him. Upon leaving the library, he happened to run into Qingluan and decided to step into the role immediately. Even if she saw through his act, Cheng Guang doubted Qingluan would pose him any real threat; after all, she would hardly dare to kill him. Thus, he felt no pressure.

To his surprise, his impersonation worked far better than he had expected. Truth be told, his acting skills were nothing remarkable, yet he managed to deceive Qingluan. The pivotal factor, he realized, was the wealth of intelligence he had gathered. He had memorized every quirk and habit of the heir, as well as his style of conduct, and relied on countless subtle details to achieve a convincing performance.

Of course, the Concealing Essence Pearl played an indispensable role as well. Until now, Cheng Guang had not fully appreciated its true value. During his time in the library, he had chanced upon information about rare treasures. Such objects were divided into nine tiers, and the Concealing Essence Pearl he possessed was of the seventh tier—Heavenly grade. Above that were King and Divine grades. A Heavenly-grade treasure was not in the least common; on the contrary, it was exceedingly rare. Throughout the entire Zhen Guo Duke’s estate, and even within the imperial family of Great Zhou, there were but a handful of such treasures.

Rare treasures appeared spontaneously in the world and could not be crafted by human hands; acquiring one depended entirely on fate. If fortune favored you, a rare treasure might fall into your possession; if not, no effort could avail you. In the history of Great Zhou, many a person had stumbled upon such a treasure by sheer luck, offering it to the court or selling it, and thereafter enjoyed a life of wealth and glory. In a sense, rare treasures possessed the power to change one’s destiny.

Should Cheng Guang sell the Concealing Essence Pearl, he would never want for food or clothing for the rest of his life.

But clearly, he had no intention of doing so. A Heavenly-grade treasure was not merely “hard to come by”; most people never even heard of such things, let alone saw one. Even the lowest tier, Ashen-grade, could spark a bloody storm in the martial world. One could well imagine how difficult it was to obtain a Heavenly-grade treasure!

Because rare treasures were so scarce and elusive, the majority of people in the world remained ignorant of their existence. No one could say how many types existed or what powers they possessed.

This was why the Concealing Essence Pearl defied all expectations. It could mask one’s presence and obscure one’s fate, violating the fundamental law of this world, which held that one’s aura could never be concealed or altered. Thanks to it, Cheng Guang could evade any attempt to probe his identity. Otherwise, the very moment Qingluan seized his arm, his secret would have been exposed.

Reflecting on the recent encounter, Cheng Guang’s eyes lowered, a trace of relief flickering across his face. Though he possessed the Concealing Essence Pearl, any behavior out of step with the heir’s habits would instantly arouse Qingluan’s suspicion. Even just now, he had sensed her doubt him no fewer than five times.

“Qingluan is too clever,” he thought. “Not only is she astute, but she has been with the heir longer than anyone else—longer even than his own parents. I managed to fool her for the moment using some silk as a distraction, but if ever something comes up that falls outside my knowledge, I’ll inevitably betray myself. Qingluan must be dealt with—either completely bound to my side, or forever silenced.”

Such thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

When he summoned Qingluan to his bedchamber, it was not out of momentary whim or for revenge, but to see if he might seize the chance to win her over. As the saying goes, there is a shortcut to a woman’s heart. Though that path might be dark and treacherous, Cheng Guang was willing to try. If things did not go as he hoped and he failed to win her loyalty, he would rather become ruthless and cold-blooded. Keeping such a threat by his side left him uneasy; should disaster strike, he could well imagine his own fate.

To prepare for any eventuality, Cheng Guang had specifically called Lin Cheng to serve as his guard in the courtyard. Lin Cheng was highly skilled and, being rather simple-minded, easy to manipulate.

With him nearby, even if Qingluan saw through his disguise, she would be unable to strike him down by force.

Cheng Guang lowered his head in thought as time drifted by. The sun sank behind the hills, and the moon climbed above the eastern ridge. In a short while, dusk deepened, winds swept the clouds, and the stars dimmed, blinking with a strange, ghostly brilliance.

Pale moonlight spilled into the courtyard, casting deep shadows. It was now the hour of You.

Lin Cheng leaned against a willow tree, idly chewing on a blade of dried grass and counting the stars overhead. Suddenly sensing something, he turned his head toward the gate.

A graceful figure approached with measured steps. The woman looked as if she had just bathed, fresh as a lotus emerging from water, her features tender and radiant. Her lips were alluring yet carried a hint of boldness, and faint color lingered on her delicate face. Beneath her blue gown was a shapely figure, and through the hem, a glimpse of fair skin could be seen—one could only imagine how flawless her complexion was, or how long her legs.

Though her expression seemed calm and composed, her tightly clenched fists and the grip on her skirt betrayed her inner tension.

One glance was enough for Lin Cheng to recognize her—Qingluan herself.

Dressed like this, was she really going to warm the heir’s bed?

In the next moment, his suspicion was confirmed as Qingluan walked straight toward the heir’s bedchamber. Lin Cheng could not help but feel a twinge of envy as he watched her glide effortlessly in without the slightest hindrance.

He would never have the chance to approach the heir so freely.

“If only I, Lin Cheng, were not a man! How could Qingluan have such an opportunity otherwise?”

With a sigh, Lin Cheng beat his chest in mock despair and gazed up at the sky. A rare note of melancholy crossed his usually simple face.

…