TPGA - 49

Chapter 49: Lifting the Ban

“They are much appreciated, though they are too valuable. I feel somewhat unworthy,” Yunyi said. Li Shimin smiled and responded, “Keep them with peace of mind. They are what you deserve.” He sighed and continued, “It’s just unfortunate that we haven’t been able to find the escaped assassin. Who knows where she is hiding.” Saying this, he gripped Yunyi’s shoulder firmly and asked, “You were closest to Shen Yunyi. After the assassination attempt, did she really not contact you again?”

The place where Li Shimin gripped was precisely where Yunyi was injured. A piercing pain shot through her shoulder. She could clearly feel the wound, which had begun to heal, tearing open again due to his action. However, she dared not show any signs of it on her face; otherwise, death would surely await her.

Yunyi shook her head and said, “Truly, she has not. Otherwise, I would have certainly informed Master Shimin.”

Li Shimin stared at her for a while. After confirming there were no abnormalities, he slowly withdrew his hand. There was no blood seeping from Yunyi’s left shoulder. He was well aware that his grip was strong enough to reopen an incompletely healed wound and cause bleeding. Yet Yunyi did not bleed. It seemed... what Nanny Qi saw was indeed just a tattoo. She wasn’t impersonating the assassin. But how could her killing of Shen Moping be explained? Could it really be, as she claimed, just to save Brother Jiancheng?

“Master Shimin, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave,” Yunyi’s words pulled Li Shimin from his thoughts. He replied, “I don’t have anything pressing. Let me accompany you for a walk.”

Yunyi nodded, enduring the intense pain in her shoulder, and walked with him towards the music hall. The cold wind of early winter howled, bringing waves of chill.

Li Shimin gazed at the dry leaves swirling in the cold wind and suddenly said, “I remember you entered the mansion in September. It’s been almost two months. Tomorrow is the first day of the month. Have you thought about going home to visit?”

Yunyi’s heart skipped a beat. Lowering her eyes, she replied, “Of course I want to, but with the current restrictions in the mansion, I cannot leave. I’ll have to wait for next time.”

Li Shimin rubbed his hands together and breathed warm air onto them, saying, “I plan to see Father later and lift the mansion’s restrictions. That way, you can leave tomorrow.”

Yunyi was surprised and asked, “Lift the ban? Isn’t Master Shimin afraid the assassin might escape?”

Li Shimin gave a bitter smile and said, “We’ve searched for so long and haven’t found the assassin. Do you really think she’s still in the mansion?”

“But ever since Lord Taishou’s incident, the entire mansion has been under lockdown. We even found traces of Shen Yunyi in the ice cellar before. It should be...”

Li Shimin interrupted her, asking, “Do you know why I had all of you come for the body search today?”

Thinking back to her naked state in the side room, Yunyi couldn’t help but blush. Despite having faced life and death before, she still couldn’t remain calm about such matters. “This servant doesn’t know.”

Li Shimin sighed and explained, “I’ve been wondering: if we’ve searched the entire mansion and still can’t find the assassin, could it be that she’s disguised herself? Perhaps wearing a human-skin mask. But now it seems I was wrong.”

Yunyi pretended to have an epiphany and said, “I understand now. Earlier, when Qi嬷嬷 touched my face, it was to confirm whether I was wearing a human-skin mask.”

“Exactly,” Li Shimin nodded. “As for the results, you’ve seen them too. So, we can basically confirm that the assassin is no longer in the mansion. The question is how she managed to slip away right under our noses.”

Yunyi asked, “Does that mean we’ll never catch the assassin?”

Li Shimin snorted softly and replied, “I’ve already ordered the soldiers to strictly inspect everyone entering and leaving the city gates, and they’re conducting searches throughout Honghua Prefecture. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we’ll find her!”

“Mm.” Yunyi acknowledged his words. After walking a little further, she stopped and said, “Master Shimin, I’ve arrived.”

Li Shimin nodded and said, “Then go inside. Remember to visit your family tomorrow, and take those pearls with you. They should make life much easier for your family.”

“I know. Thank you for your concern, Master Shimin.” After seeing Li Shimin off, Yunyi returned to her room. Upon hearing the news of the lifted restrictions, Jiang Caiping was overjoyed and kept muttering, “Before, because of dance practice, I didn’t have time to go home. When I finally had time, the assassin incident happened, and I thought I’d have to wait until the 15th. I never expected the restrictions to be lifted just before the 1st—it’s such good news!” As she spoke, she took out a small embroidered pouch from under her pillow, poured out the loose silver coins onto the table, and began counting them one by one. By the end, her eyes were crinkled with joy. This was her monthly allowance from last month. As a dancing girl, her pay was slightly higher than that of ordinary servants. Since she hadn’t gone home on the 1st or the 15th last month, she had saved up 900 copper coins—equivalent to seven taels of silver.

She proudly showed Yunyi, saying, “Sister, look! This is the first time I’ve earned so much money. If I take it home to my parents tomorrow, they’ll surely be so happy!” Then, counting on her fingers, she added, “This month might be a bit less, but at least there’s over 700 coins. With this money, life at home will be much better.”

Yunyi looked at Jiang Caiping’s cheerful expression with a complicated gaze. For Jiang Caiping, going home was a cause for joy, but for Yunyi, it was a difficult matter. She didn’t even know where Meixue’s home was—only that Meixue was adopted and lived with a foster father.

Her demeanor caught Jiang Caiping’s attention, who asked curiously, “Sister, what’s wrong? You seem… not very happy.”

Yunyi quickly composed herself and said, “It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about how it’s been over a month since I’ve seen Father. I wonder how he’s doing.” Pretending to joke, she added, “I haven’t been home for so long—I feel like I almost don’t remember the way back.”

Jiang Caiping giggled and said, “Don’t worry, Sister. You used to talk about the way home so often in front of me that even I could find it.”

Yunyi felt a flicker of relief and quickly asked, “Really? Then tell me how to get there.” To avoid arousing suspicion, she added, “Let’s see if you really remember or are just saying it to humor me.”

Jiang Caiping fell for it and earnestly replied, “Of course I remember! It’s true! Just go straight down Changshi Lane in Shuangqiao Village, and you’ll see a house with an osmanthus tree planted at the entrance—that’s it.”

Yunyi carefully memorized her words and then playfully pinched Jiang Caiping’s nose, saying, “At least you haven’t forgotten what I told you, you little rascal.”

“Naturally!” Laughing, Jiang Caiping suddenly remembered something and asked, “Oh, right, Sister—why did Master Shimin keep you behind earlier?”

“It wasn’t anything important. He just asked a few more questions about Shen Yunyi. He also told me about lifting the restrictions.”