TPGA - 73

Chapter 73: Unmasked

“Are you cold?” Li Shimin asked. Yunyi trembled and replied, “Mm, a bit of snow slipped into my collar earlier, so I’m feeling a little chilled.”

“To bring you up here in the snow is truly putting you through hardship,” he said. Then he added, “There’s a small cave near the snow lotus where we can take shelter from the storm.”

“Mm.” With that soft response, their brief conversation ended, and silence returned. Yet Yunyi’s mind was anything but calm. Her eyes, fixed on the back of Li Shimin’s neck, were filled with deep apprehension.

She had almost fallen for his trap! This man was truly cunning!

Li Shimin had always harbored suspicions about her. Why else would he risk bringing her alone to such a remote place? Even if he genuinely needed her to paint the snow lotus, he should have at least brought Duan Zhihong or a few attendants—but he hadn’t.

If Li Shimin were an extremely careless and reckless person, this situation might make sense. However, he was quite the opposite—meticulous and calculating. This left only one possibility: everything had been deliberately orchestrated by Li Shimin to lure her into revealing her true intentions.

What puzzled her was that since their encounter in the back garden, Li Shimin had never left her sight. How could he have arranged for someone to secretly follow them without her noticing?

She recalled that aside from speaking briefly with the gatekeepers, Li Shimin had only exchanged a few words with Duan Zhihong. Could it be… that those words contained some hidden meaning?

While she was lost in thought, Li Shimin’s voice broke through her musings. “We’re here! Look, that’s the snow lotus I told you about.”

Suppressing her thoughts, Yunyi followed the direction of his finger. There, perched on a protruding rock, was a budding snow lotus, faintly visible amidst the swirling snow. Though not yet in bloom, it already exuded an ethereal beauty that captivated the eye.

Li Shimin carried her to the small cave he had mentioned earlier, crouched down, and gently let her slide off his back. After carefully helping her sit, he asked, “How are you feeling now? Still cold?”

Yunyi shook her head. “The rocks on either side of the cave block the wind and snow—it’s much better than before.” She then added, “It must have been exhausting for you to carry me all the way up here, Second Master.”

“It’s nothing,” Li Shimin replied, catching his breath as he sat beside her. “I discovered this place during my last visit. A large snake had taken residence inside, and I nearly fell into its trap. Luckily, Zhihong acted swiftly and severed its vital point before it could bite me.”

At the mention of a snake, Yunyi’s face paled slightly, and she cautiously glanced around. Seeing her reaction, Li Shimin chuckled. “Don’t worry—I’ve already checked. There are no snakes or their offspring here. It’s safe.”

Yunyi forced a sheepish smile. She prided herself on not being easily frightened—after all, she had dared to bring Mo Ping to Honghua Commandery to assassinate Li Yuan. Yet, for reasons unknown, she had always been terrified of snakes. Even a harmless little snake the size of a thumb could send her into a panic. Back in the palace, her so-called siblings often used this fear to torment her. Each time, Mo Ping would shield her, even when facing venomous snakes like the bamboo pit viper.

Thinking of Mo Ping, Yunyi’s eyes grew misty. From now on… there would be no one to stand in front of her like that.

Li Shimin smirked faintly. “What’s wrong? Don’t you trust me? Rest assured—if a snake were to appear, I’d definitely protect you.”

Yunyi quickly masked her emotions with a smile. “How could I doubt you, Second Master? I was just wondering when the snow lotus will bloom. Will it take long?”

Li Shimin studied the flower carefully. “Though it’s still a bud, it’s larger than when I saw it two days ago, and the petals aren’t as tightly closed. It should bloom soon.” As he spoke, he opened the leather pouch he’d been carrying, took out some dried provisions and water, and handed them to Yunyi. “Eat something to fill your stomach.”

Yunyi was indeed hungry. After thanking him, she began eating. Li Shimin placed the paper and brush on a nearby rock and also started nibbling on some dried food. Fortunately, the snowstorm hadn’t reached this spot; otherwise, the paper would have been soaked by melting snow within moments.

As he chewed, Li Shimin subtly observed Yunyi out of the corner of his eye. He genuinely wanted to capture the blooming snow lotus in a painting to fulfill Wugou’s wish. At the same time, however, this entire trip was a setup—an attempt to draw out the assassin he suspected was hiding behind the guise of “Meixue.”

He had expected Meixue to strike while he was carrying her, as that would have been the perfect opportunity. Throughout the climb, he remained vigilant, especially regarding the hands encircling his neck. Even if Duan Zhihong hadn’t understood his instructions and followed covertly, Li Shimin was confident he could subdue any attacker. Yet, nothing happened—they had arrived safely.

Was he simply being overly suspicious, or was Meixue exceptionally patient?

Amidst these doubts, he finished his food, brushed the crumbs from his hands, and walked to the mouth of the cave, gazing silently at the shy, unopened snow lotus.

Yunyi approached him and softly asked, “Are you thinking of Miss Wugou, Second Master?”

Li Shimin smiled faintly. “The last time I saw Wugou was over a year ago. It’s been more than a year now. I wonder how she’s faring in Zhuyan County.”

Yunyi frowned. “Is Miss Wugou from Zhuyan County?” She clearly remembered that the Changsun family was a prominent clan from Luoyang, renowned since the Northern Wei Dynasty and through the Sui Dynasty. Their lineage was illustrious—”a family of bells and tripods, a heritage of mountains and rivers”—even surpassing the Li family in prestige. Why would they reside in such an obscure county as Zhuyan?

Li Shimin shook his head. “Wugou is from Luoyang, but her uncle was demoted to serve as the magistrate’s clerk in Zhuyan County, so she accompanied him there.”

Yunyi nodded in understanding but raised another question. “Does Miss Wugou live with her uncle?”

“Yes. Wugou’s father passed away in the fifth year of Daye. Her half-brother, born of a different mother, couldn’t tolerate them and constantly made things difficult. Uncle Gao took them in, and they’ve lived with him for four years now.”

Yunyi smiled. “In that case, Miss Wugou’s uncle must be an excellent man.”

Li Shimin nodded. “Uncle Gao is indeed a good man. He was the one who arranged my betrothal to Wugou. However, due to my mother’s sudden passing, we must wait three years of mourning before we can marry.”

“If you miss Miss Wugou so much, why not visit her in Zhuyan County?” Yunyi asked.

Li Shimin sighed bitterly. “I want to, but Zhuyan County is located deep in Lingnan, far from here. Moreover, there was recently an assassination attempt at the mansion. Father’s injuries have worsened, and he hasn’t fully recovered yet. How can I possibly leave? That’s why I’m so eager for you to paint the blooming snow lotus.”