The Secret Letter

She suddenly recalled a forgotten memory. In her past life, she had once taught him how to fly a kite. That beautiful, dreamlike memory was one she thought she had forgotten. Dazed, she let go of his hand and said:

"Well, if you do not wish to play, I will not force you."

Bai Xiao remained motionless for a moment before saying:

"Bai Xiao takes his leave."

Bai Xiao turned and left, while she kept staring at his retreating figure. Seeing that he had left his kite behind, she decided to fly both her kite and his.

The kites soared high—a dragonfly kite, a triangular kite with the words "Forever Victorious," and a butterfly kite.

They flew so high that Hao Qian and Xing Mei at Ji Xia could see them. Seeing the triangular kite, Hao Qian said, "That triangular kite is clearly my sister's."

"Perhaps the princess is playing with Dan Hong."

She tied her kite to a stone pillar, while letting Bai Xiao's kite fly exceptionally high.

As she stepped backward to control the kite more easily, she tripped over a stone, and the string slipped from her hand. The kite drifted away with the wind.

"Oh!"

Dan Hong ran over to support her, saying, "Is the princess alright?"

She quickly stood up, watching the kite fly away helplessly, and said, "I am fine. It is getting late anyway, you may withdraw."

Dan Hong bowed and left. She retrieved her own kite and asked Qing Yan, "Did you see which way my brother went?"

"This maid does not know."

"Never mind, I won't look for him then."

Night fell, and the moon was obscured by melancholy clouds.

A eunuch carrying a lantern looked around sneakily, casting glances in every direction.

He walked over to a stone lion, pulled a letter from his sleeve, and stuffed it into its mouth.

When he turned around, Wan Ru and Hao Qian were already standing tall before him, with several imperial guards behind them.

The eunuch fell to his knees in terror, crying:

"Spare my life, Princess, Crown Prince!"

She looked at the guards. Understanding her look, they stepped forward, hauled him up, and searched him.

From his inner robe, the guards pulled out a letter and handed it to the Crown Prince:

"We found this on his person."

Hao Qian took it, opened and read it, then handed it to her.

On the letter was written a single, concise word: "Kill."

She took the paper, tore it to shreds, scattered them over the eunuch's head, and said:

"Search him further. Otherwise, white mourning paper will cover your entire household."

The guards fell to their knees in fear. Hao Qian said in a stern voice:

"Take him to the dungeon for interrogation immediately!"

They immediately obeyed, dragging the eunuch away. He cried out:

"Princess, Crown Prince, please have mercy! I only found that letter by chance. Seeing nothing special about it, I merely stuffed it into the stone statue."

Wan Ru said angrily, "Still denying it at this point? Beat him until he confesses everything."

"Yes."

Hao Qian patted her shoulder and said, "Calm down. Did you find any clues?"

She turned to look at the stone lion and slowly walked over.

Reaching her hand into its mouth, she tried to search deeper. Angered by finding nothing, she kicked the stone lion.

When the stone lion was knocked to the ground, a small round stone rolled out of its mouth. She crouched down to search further. After a moment, her eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth curled upward.

Nàng lôi ra một mảnh giấy nhỏ, cầm lên mở ra rồi đưa cho Hạo Khiêm.
She pulled out a small piece of paper, opened it, and handed it to Hao Qian.

Hao Qian read it and said:

"I see nothing."

"Smell the paper, Brother."

Hao Qian brought the paper to his nose and sniffed, saying, "It smells of lemon."

She took the candle from the lantern and said:

"Give me the paper."

Hao Qian handed her the paper. She held it over the flame. The hidden words gradually appeared.

"Meet on the night of the bright moon
When heaven and earth tremble
Is when the two pieces shall unite."

She heated it word by word, as if wanting to tear those fragile characters apart. As she heated the entire paper, an inverted rose symbol became visible.

She handed the paper to Hao Qian and said:

"Brother, you know what to do, right?"

Hao Qian nodded. A piercing scream rang out, bringing an end to the shrouded night.

The next morning.

She bolted upright in bed and asked:

"What? That eunuch is dead?"

Qing Yan replied, "Yes, Princess. Following your orders, I went to bring him soup early this morning, only to be informed that he had committed suicide."

She looked at the rose on the table, thinking: *I had intended to bring him porridge, using a carrot-and-stick approach to extract more information from him. Who would have thought...*

"Quickly prepare my things. I must go see my brother."

She went to Hao Qian's palace. Pushing the door open, she saw him writing a memorial and said:

"Brother, stop!"