Volume One, Chapter Sixteen: The Strategist

She quietly put away the sample of the purple star grass, hiding it in a concealed corner before finally walking to the door and opening it.

The maid, Bao Luan, stood outside holding a tray of pastries, her face adorned with a hint of ingratiating smile. "Your Highness, these pastries were specially ordered by the Secondary Consort for you. She said since you are new to the Prince's residence, she wanted you to try something fresh."

"Please thank the Secondary Consort for her kindness on my behalf."

Lin Wantai took the pastries, her tone calm, her face betraying nothing.

After Bao Luan departed, Lin Wantai did not touch the pastries. She knew very well that Su Wan'er would never be so kind.

She set the pastries on the table, then checked the room once more, searching for any trace of tampering.

At that moment, a familiar set of footsteps sounded outside.

Lin Wantai looked up to see Murong Yunyi standing at the doorway, his deep gaze fixed on her.

"Did something happen?"

"Someone tampered with my things," Lin Wantai replied.

Murong Yunyi entered the room, instantly perceiving the strange atmosphere.

His eyes swept over the pastries on the table, then returned to Lin Wantai's face.

He did not question further. Instead, he walked to the table, picked up a pastry, brought it to his nose for a light sniff, and set it back down.

"Anything sent by Secondary Consort Su is best approached with caution," Murong Yunyi said, his voice laced with a barely perceptible warning.

A warmth rose in Lin Wantai's heart. Though Murong Yunyi had not spoken explicitly, he had clearly discerned Su Wan'er's intentions and was discreetly warning her to be careful.

"I know," Lin Wantai replied with a nod, though her heart grew heavier.

Su Wan'er's attacks were nothing to fear. What concerned her far more was that she had not yet determined the antidote, and Murong Yunyi's illness was worsening.

How could she protect herself while continuing her research for a cure?

That evening, Murong Yunyi stayed for dinner in Tingyu Pavilion.

He had already arranged for Tingyu Pavilion to be renovated, erasing all traces of the dilapidation that had greeted Lin Wantai upon her arrival.

The next morning.

Lin Wantai walked to the window, opened it, and gazed at the blossoming flowers outside. Yet her heart was lost in confusion.

Just then, a figure appeared on the garden path, walking in her direction.

Clad in a blue robe and holding a folding fan, it was Zhao Qian, the prince's strategist.

He stopped beneath Lin Wantai's window, bowed slightly, and looked up with a concerned smile. "Your Highness, is His Lordship feeling any better?"

Lin Wantai regarded Zhao Qian below the window, her mind instantly alert.

Zhao Qian, Murong Yunyi's strategist, rarely left his quarters and seldom interacted with the women of the inner residence. For him to approach her directly today was highly unusual.

"His Lordship's spirits are fair today. Thank you for your concern, Strategist Zhao," Lin Wantai replied, her tone polite yet distant, with a hint of probing.

Zhao Qian gently waved his fan, his smile deep and meaningful. "Your Highness is a skilled physician. With you here, I'm sure His Lordship will recover soon. However, the hearts within this residence are treacherous. There are those who wish nothing more than for His Lordship to..."

He trailed off deliberately, casting a fleeting glance around the courtyard before lowering his voice. "You must be extremely cautious, Your Highness."

Lin Wantai laughed coldly in her heart; Zhao Qian's words were clearly a veiled warning. The "some" he spoke of most likely referred to Su Wan'er.

But what she could not fathom was why Zhao Qian would go out of his way to warn her. Was he trying to win her over?

"You are right, Strategist Zhao. This residence is indeed far from peaceful," Lin Wantai replied, following his lead and watching him closely for any reaction.

Seeing that Lin Wantai did not refute his words, Zhao Qian's smile deepened.

"Your Highness is wise and your medical skill is unparalleled. There is no need for me to speak too plainly. With His Lordship ailing, many matters are beyond his power to control. If you were to aid him, would not the future of this residence lie in your hands?"

His words fell like a stone into a tranquil lake, sending ripples through her heart.

Lin Wantai was startled. Zhao Qian's ambition was so brazenly obvious. Was he implying that if she helped him control Murong Yunyi, he would support her as the true mistress of the house?

Though her expression remained calm, Lin Wantai's mind raced.

What game was Zhao Qian playing? Why had he chosen her as his potential ally? Did he think she was merely a powerless daughter of a concubine, someone he could manipulate at will?

"You flatter me, Strategist Zhao. I am only doing my duty to care for His Lordship and dare not aspire to anything more," Lin Wantai replied, her humility concealing a hidden sharpness.

Zhao Qian seemed unfazed by her refusal and continued, "No need for such modesty, Your Highness. Your skill and intelligence make you unassailable in this residence. All you need is an opportunity—a chance to display your abilities."

He had been watching her in secret for some time.

Pausing, Zhao Qian stared intently at Lin Wantai, his tone laced with subtle inducement. "I can give you that opportunity. If you cooperate with me, the wealth and glory of this household will be yours for the taking."

Wealth and glory? Lin Wantai sneered inwardly.

These had never been what she truly desired.

All she wanted was to cure Murong Yunyi, uncover the truth behind her mother's death, and fulfill the last wish entrusted to her by the soul of this body as it faded away.

Once her task was done, she would divorce Murong Yunyi and leave the turbulent capital behind in search of a peaceful life.

"Strategist Zhao, I appreciate your goodwill," Lin Wantai declined gently, "but I fear my abilities are limited and I cannot be of help to you."

A flicker of displeasure crossed Zhao Qian's face as his smile faltered. He had not expected her to refuse—this was beyond his calculations.

"Your Highness, have you thought this through? I have read your notes—they do not appear to be written in our language... Could it be that you are a spy from an enemy state?"

His voice lowered, tinged with threat. "You only get one chance. Miss it, and there will be no other."

Lin Wantai's anger flared, but her tone remained even. "So, it was you who sneaked into Tingyu Pavilion and meddled with my things."

"It was not meddling—merely paying my respects," Zhao Qian replied, staring at her for a long time before sighing, shaking his head, and turning to leave.

"Your Highness, I hope you will not regret your decision today."

At the corner of the garden, he stopped abruptly, looked back at Lin Wantai, and his lips curled into a cold and sinister smile. "Your Highness, some secrets are best buried deep..."

After Zhao Qian left, Lin Wantai remained where she was, her brow tightly knit.

His words were like a thorn in her heart, leaving her uneasy. What did he mean by his final remark? What secrets? Did he know something?

She returned to her room, her mind in turmoil.

Zhao Qian's appearance was too abrupt, too dangerous.

What exactly did he want from her?

Lin Wantai resolved to probe Zhao Qian's true intentions.

She instructed her maid to prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, then wrote a letter, subtly expressing interest in Zhao Qian's proposal and inquiring what exactly the "opportunity" he spoke of entailed.

The next day, Lin Wantai found an excuse to visit the garden and entrusted the letter to an inconspicuous page, instructing him to deliver it discreetly to Zhao Qian.

Two days later, Lin Wantai received Zhao Qian's reply.