Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Entanglements

Awu’s gaze trembled as she forced herself to look away from the man’s face.

She glanced around in confusion, searching every corner. The incense of the Daoist temple hung sparse in the air, imperial banners fluttered in the breeze, and everywhere she saw bejeweled figures, sycophantic smiles, ingratiating expressions, faces bowed in obedience.

Yanxiang Temple belonged to Nan Qiongzi, originally an imperial garden reserved for the royal family, with towering walls and soldiers guarding its gates. How could she ever escape this cage, and to whom could she turn for refuge?

The crucial point was… today, the Empress herself had come to Yanxiang Temple. By rights, no outsider men should have been here, yet the Seventh Lord appeared as well. He must be a member of the royal family.

Who exactly was he?

Awu looked again at the Seventh Lord, and he happened to glance back at her. Their eyes met, and he smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to hold everything under his control.

Awu had always been terrified of this man, but now, as she watched him, a wave of rebelliousness surged within her. She clenched her teeth and glared at him fiercely.

Yet the Seventh Lord only arched his brow and smiled more deeply at her reaction.

Awu felt humiliated. He looked at her as if she were a pet cat, baring its claws, raised in his own household.

She wished she could swing her fists at him.

Just then, a voice beside her said, “What are you doing? Do you not know your place?”

Awu quickly looked over. It was the Vice Head of Yanxiang Temple.

She hastily composed herself and replied respectfully, “I dare not.”

The Vice Head grumbled a few words and hurried off.

Awu stole a glance—Seventh Lord had vanished, nowhere to be seen.

At that moment, the Empress led the noble ladies and royal relatives in the ceremonial prayers—a grand spectacle. Miaoxin was eager to witness the event, but Awu felt no such interest.

Her mind was consumed by thoughts of the Seventh Lord.

As she fretted, an elderly nun summoned her to assist at the ceremonial furnace.

Now was not the time to cause trouble; she wished nothing more than to keep her head down, so she hurried after her.

The ceremony had ended. The coins, silk, and jade used in the rite were brought to the furnace by the southern wall, where they were to be counted, called out, and burned.

About seven or eight young nuns gathered by the furnace, chatting animatedly. They discussed the procession, the ceremonial guards, the order in which the armored cavalry withdrew from Yanxiang Temple, and the imposing presence of the dignitaries.

One mentioned someone surnamed Lu, sparking curiosity among the others. Awu listened in, and learned much.

She’d always known him as Lu, seventh in the family, addressed as Young Master Lu or Seventh Lord. But now she heard his true name was Lu Yunjian, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Zhen’an, and the Empress’s true brother.

Awu’s heart raced with fear.

When she had first submitted herself to the Seventh Lord, she’d believed him to be a notorious merchant, perhaps involved with coastal pirates, concealing his real identity for fear of exposure.

But—

The Empress’s own brother?

Awu’s mind reeled, feeling as if she’d plunged into a mist.

She could not understand the Seventh Lord’s true motives. Was he deliberately hiding his identity, traveling in disguise to investigate the pirates, or was he himself the great pirate, merely cloaked in the guise of an imperial prince?

Awu shivered.

She recalled her father and brothers’ stories—the coastal bandits who held islands, gathered ships, demanded “water money” from merchants, even allied with pirates to raid villages.

Whichever scenario, these were matters she should never have known.

She wished she could claw out her own eyes, so she would never have seen the Seventh Lord.

But he had already seen her.

Awu remembered his enigmatic smile, that inscrutable expression as if all was in his grasp.

A sudden thought jolted her.

When she had followed the Seventh Lord, he was unpredictable, yet he coveted her body, holding her night after night, never satisfied, even when she was pregnant, he still wanted her.

But after she gave birth and the child died, his nature changed abruptly. He sent her away, ordered the old nurses to train her, and then delivered her to the Crown Prince.

She should have guessed—he must have had his own plans, plans tied to the great affairs of the court.

The Crown Prince was heir to the throne, destined to become emperor, and of unmatched status. The Seventh Lord wanted her to remain by the Crown Prince’s side, knowing her secrets. If she ever gained the prince’s favor, he could use their past to control her.

Though the Crown Prince was listed as the Empress’s son, he was not her true child. The Emperor and Empress were still young, barely in their thirties; if one day the Empress bore her own child, the Crown Prince’s position would be precarious.

If so… Awu speculated, could it be the Seventh Lord had arranged for her to be placed by the Crown Prince for the Empress’s sake, making her a pawn laid out by his own hand?

The thought left Awu in turmoil.

She had just escaped the Crown Prince, thinking she might finally enjoy a few days of peace, only to realize there was another wolf behind her, its green eyes fixed upon her, waiting to pounce.

No, she had to leave this place!

Not a moment could be wasted!

Even if it meant death, she must escape!

************

That night, Awu worked late into the evening before returning to her room, exhausted and aching.

Yet her eyes darted about, searching every corner. Nie San had come before; perhaps he was lurking somewhere within Yanxiang Temple.

Since he had come to find her, how could he leave empty-handed?

She no longer wanted to question anything, nor to wonder whether Nie San spoke truth or lies.

Nie San might be allied with the Crown Princess, but Lu Yunjian was aligned with the Empress, perhaps even in opposition to the Crown Prince.

None of them were easy to deal with.

Since none could be trusted, she might as well choose any path.

At least for now, Nie San seemed better than Lu Yunjian.

Nie San might ruin her and then kill her, but Lu Yunjian would devour her whole.

She never wanted to fall into Lu Yunjian’s hands again; that would be worse than death.

So now, she actually hoped Nie San would seek her out, so they could confer.

He’d spoken of sailing the Eastern Sea—excellent, they could leave this place of turmoil together, perhaps find a new life across the sea.

But Nie San never appeared.

At night, Awu slept with Miaoxin; there was no chance to see Nie San.

This left Awu feeling disheartened, thinking everyone was a liar, a cheat.

If truly cornered, perhaps she would have to beg the Crown Prince for help.

The Crown Prince must have been persuaded by the Emperor, no longer daring to defy him for her sake. Still, he felt some guilt towards her.

She could use that guilt, ask him to help her escape—though this was a last resort.

She yearned for new beginnings, not to return to the Crown Prince.

So she endured, day after day, until the next morning, when several young nuns planned to pick fruits and mushrooms. Awu volunteered to go in their place, much to their relief.

Awu took a basket to the rear garden, picking idly as she scanned her surroundings.

Suddenly, she saw a shadow on the ground—a long shadow, stretching over her.

Her heart leapt, and she nearly cried out.

A pair of hands swiftly covered her mouth.

A man’s scent enveloped her. She knew at once—it was Nie San.

He released her, then grabbed her hand and pulled her into the grove.

His strength was immense, making Awu acutely aware of her own weakness.

She could spar with a man, matching wits and words, only because he allowed her to play. If he truly wished to act, she had no power to resist.

Nie San stopped abruptly. Awu, still startled, instinctively pushed him away. “What are you doing, dragging me off?”

Nie San said, “Weren’t you looking for me?”

Awu snorted, “Who said I was looking for you?”

Nie San stared at her flushed cheeks. “You kept glancing around—you weren’t searching for me?”

Her thoughts exposed, Awu felt no shame.

She smiled, “So you noticed.”

Then her tone shifted, her gaze cool as she sized him up. “So you knew I was searching for you, but deliberately stayed hidden, making me anxious? Did you find it amusing?”

Nie San: “…”

He looked at Awu with a helpless expression. “Making the immortal lady wait was my mistake.”

Awu said, “Good, since you admit your fault, let’s sit and discuss our future.”

Nie San: “Our future? What, you want to flee with me to the ends of the earth?”

He spoke lightly, expecting her usual retort—this girl had a sharp tongue.

But after he said this, she fell silent.

Her long, delicate lashes lifted. She gazed at him, silent, like a butterfly resting on a leaf, observing a stranger.

Nie San unconsciously held his breath.

He sensed that she was weighing her options, making an important decision.

The air grew still, even the birds’ songs stopped, and the wind ceased to blow.

Nie San had waited countless times in his life, always with endless patience, but never had he endured such torment as now.

He looked at the small woman before him, so fragile and tender—he could lift her with a single hand—yet he waited for her answer.

Just as he was about to speak, she smiled.

Her bright apricot eyes curved into a graceful arc, shimmering with alluring light.

She was smiling at him.

Nie San’s heart quivered fiercely.

In that moment, he understood why the Crown Prince could not let go of such a woman, why wise rulers throughout history would lose their heads for a beauty.

Because she was worth it.

Then Awu spoke, “That day, you said you wanted to sail the Eastern Sea with me?”

Nie San said nothing, merely gazing at her.

She smiled, sweet and enchanting.

When she spoke, she was innocent and bewitching.

Her words brushed his heart like a feather, sending waves of tingling sensation through him.

Nie San knew he could not escape. He was both hunter and prey.

His eyes locked on her face as he asked, “I do mean it, but what does the immortal lady think?”

Awu lowered her eyes and sighed softly, “Sanlang, this mountain temple is too bitter. If I stayed here, suffering day after day, what meaning would there be? I long for someone to take me away—only I fear I’ll entrust myself to the wrong person.”

Nie San immediately understood her meaning.

He pressed his lips, calming his racing heart, and asked gently, “How can you trust me?”

Awu said, “You have a bright future ahead. If you leave everything behind for me, you may lose it all, even become a fugitive, never finding peace again.”

She shook her head, melancholy, “How can I believe a man would go so far for me?”

Her snowy skin and delicate frame, her sigh so heartbreakingly fragile, would move even another woman to pity—let alone a man like Nie San.

Nie San gazed at her in silence, then solemnly replied, “If you trust me, I will take you away, to the Eastern Sea. Since you were born by the Eastern Sea, I will accompany you home.”

Awu’s lashes trembled at his words, her clear eyes shining with hope.

She bit her lip, hardly daring to believe, “Truly, Sanlang? You—can you really take me home?”

Nie San looked at her, sighing inwardly.

He spoke slowly, “If you wish it, I will do everything in my power.”