Chapter 13: Why Did She Secretly Go to the Jiang Family’s Old Residence in the Middle of the Night?

After returning to her chambers, Gu Nanshu took up her brush and began to write down the “romantic tales” involving Feng Zhinian. It took her two full hours to complete, chronicling the entire journey from their first meeting to acquaintance, then to deep understanding, and finally to love.

She included details of her arranged marriage to Prince Beichen, Lu Heng, her attempt to escape the marriage, and the plan she and Feng Zhinian had concocted to elope. There were scribbles and doodles interspersed throughout, deliberately placed to conceal any clues that might reveal the truth to Lu Heng.

By the time she finished, twilight had already settled in, casting a hazy gloom over the sky.

Slightly weary, Gu Nanshu carefully reviewed the journal she had written and found no faults. She handed the notebook to Huan Tao, her personal maid, with precise instructions: “Deliver this to the prince at the hour of the pig. Once he reads it, he should have no reason to suspect anything.”

Though the journal was prepared in a short time, Gu Nanshu believed it was meticulous enough. If Lu Heng could still find fault, it would only mean his mind was overly sharp. For now, she could only proceed cautiously, step by step, ensuring every move was calculated to reach her ultimate goal.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The night was deep and ink-dark. A crescent moon hung high, partially veiled by drifting clouds. A few night hawks fluttered among the branches. Suddenly, a series of knocks echoed against the door of the prince’s chamber.

Lu Heng, preparing to undress for sleep, asked coldly, “What is it?”

At the door, Lie Yan and Yun Feng exchanged uneasy glances upon seeing Huan Tao’s anxious expression. Lie Yan bowed respectfully toward the door and reported, “Your Highness, the princess’s personal maid, Huan Tao, requests an audience. She says she has obtained something the princess wrote and wishes to deliver it.”

Before the words had fully fallen, the door creaked open.

Lu Heng, casually draped in a white cloak, looked coldly at Huan Tao.

Huan Tao quickly knelt, head bowed, holding out the small journal. “Your servant has fulfilled your orders and obtained what the lady wrote. Please review it, Your Highness.”

Lu Heng’s brows knitted slightly. He thought this girl was quite efficient. Taking the journal, he asked, “How did you get it? Did you read what’s inside?”

“I obtained it while the lady was secretly bathing,” Huan Tao replied, shaking her head. “I didn’t dare to read its contents.”

“Oh?” Lu Heng opened the journal calmly. The first page was filled with messy scribblings of Feng Zhinian’s name, written in varying sizes and densely packed. The handwriting was the worst example of standard script he had ever seen—far from elegant.

His brows furrowed deeply as he lowered his gaze, turning to the second page. It was filled with repeated phrases: “Feng Zhinian, I miss you, I miss you…”

Lu Heng’s lips twitched involuntarily—what nonsense!

He scoffed and continued flipping through the pages. Whether he read attentively beyond that was uncertain.

His expression darkened. When he reached the last page, he slammed the journal shut and fixed Huan Tao with a sharp glance. Then, tossing it to Lie Yan, he said coldly, “I have seen enough. You may return to serve your lady.”

Huan Tao paused, puzzled. “Yes, Your Highness.” She retreated, bewildered—why had the prince asked nothing? Was he merely accepting this at face value?

Lie Yan frowned, flipping through the journal himself. His eyes widened in astonishment. “Your Highness, this… this princess truly is something else. I want to tear it up—it’s outrageous!”

“Don’t tear it,” Yun Feng interrupted, taking the journal. He frowned deeply. “The handwriting…”

“What about it?” Lie Yan asked, confused.

Standing stiffly, Lu Heng lifted his gaze to the bright moon. His curiosity outweighed suspicion as he said, “Although Minister Gu Lianxu’s scholarship is not extensive, he is very strict with his children. Gu Nanshu mastered all the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, painting—from a young age. She especially loved studying calligraphy and painting, and is known for excellent handwriting.”

He withdrew his gaze and turned to Yun Feng and Lie Yan. “Today’s poem in ‘Hidden Book Sea’—I have seen her write it once before, when she was tutoring Princess Qianting in the royal study. Her handwriting was delicate and dignified. It would never look as disgraceful as in this journal. The difference is like heaven and earth.”

Lu Heng pondered silently. A person’s temperament might change with life’s experiences; that was understandable. But one’s knowledge and culture could never regress—they only grew stronger.

There was something strange about Gu Nanshu. But where did the problem lie?

She gave him the impression that she didn’t truly care for Feng Zhinian. After all, her attitude during the noon incident in the chambers had been as if she bore him a grudge, which puzzled him greatly.

After the prince’s words, Lie Yan quickly snatched the journal back from Yun Feng and examined it again. “It really is unlike her handwriting. Could it be a forgery?”

Lu Heng thought deeply. “Whether it is her own writing or someone else’s, there is something puzzling. To find out the truth, we must observe her closely.” He made a decision. “From today onward, you two will take turns watching Gu Nanshu. If she acts suspiciously in any way, report to me immediately. I want to see exactly what secrets she hides.”

“Yes,” they answered in unison.

At the fourth watch, the time for deep sleep, Gu Nanshu rested her chin in her hands, waiting for Huan Tao’s return. Her eyes drooped, her head bobbing like a chicken pecking grain.

“Your Highness!” Huan Tao burst in, waking her completely. Rubbing her eyes, Gu Nanshu asked anxiously, “Is it done?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Good. Did the prince ask anything?” That was what she cared about most.

Huan Tao’s face was puzzled. “Strangely, after the prince looked at the journal, he said nothing—not a word. As your husband, he should have reacted to you and Feng Zhinian’s affair, shouldn’t he?”

…

The old Jiang family mansion lay in the northern district of the capital. Compared to the bustling east, south, and west districts, the north was remote and quiet.

Most residents were low-ranking officials below the sixth rank. The house had been granted by the emperor when Jiang Mubai passed the imperial exam.

Since Feng Sanniang’s death, night watchmen passing by the Jiang residence often heard strange noises—sometimes the laughter of a woman, sometimes her crying—as if a restless spirit lingered.

Once, an elderly watchman surnamed Zhang passed by at midnight and suddenly saw a disheveled woman in red standing at the gate. At first, he thought she was a relative visiting the Jiang household and kindly approached to inform her that the master had moved to East Street.

But when he was two steps away, the woman turned suddenly, making a ghastly face. Zhang was so terrified that he fled on the spot.

Since then, rumors spread throughout the capital that the Jiang mansion was haunted. They said Feng Sanniang’s spirit could not rest, unable to let go of Minister Jiang.

Fearful, nearby families moved away, unwilling to be tainted by any unclean presence. The mansion grew ever quieter.

The night wind howled, a mournful whistle in the ears.

Gu Nanshu and Huan Tao, dressed in night clothes, appeared before the old Jiang residence, each carrying a lantern, ready to enter and retrieve what they needed.

Huan Tao shivered as she looked at the ominous inscription “Jiang Residence” on the gate. Nervously, she whispered to Gu Nanshu, “Your Highness, do we really have to go inside? It’s so creepy.”

Gu Nanshu’s face was covered with a black veil. Her eyes fixed on the gate, memories flooding her mind like a torrent.

She forced down the pain stirring in her heart, clasped her hands tightly, and looked back at Huan Tao. “Don’t be afraid. The Jiang residence isn’t haunted—that’s just rumor. Do I look like a ghost to you?”

That gave Huan Tao the courage she needed. She shook her head vigorously. “Of course not.”

“Then let’s go in.” Gu Nanshu pointed to a dog hole near the gate, which had been sealed and locked. “The main door is locked. We have to crawl through the dog hole. Let’s go.”

“What? Crawl through the dog hole? You’re a princess now! How can you crawl through a dog hole?” Huan Tao was speechless. If her lady found out, she’d be hitting her head against the wall. This young lady truly was something else.

The dog hole measured about five inches long and two inches wide—quite narrow.

As a maid, Huan Tao had to go first.

But she had never crawled through a dog hole before and hesitated, crouching at its entrance. “Your Highness, may I wait outside?”

“No. You must go in and keep watch. Though no one should come now, you must stay vigilant just in case.”

“But—”

Before she could finish, Gu Nanshu kicked her lightly on the backside. “Ah!” Huan Tao was pushed into the hole.

Gu Nanshu didn’t hesitate and quickly followed.

In the shadows nearby, Yun Feng watched the two enter the Jiang mansion, his brow furrowed deeply. He wondered why the princess would venture to the abandoned Jiang estate at night. What was she planning? She was certainly daring.

Unable to understand, he leapt onto the rooftop with lightness skill and hurried to report to the prince.

Lu Heng was already in bed, but his alertness was sharp. Hearing that Gu Nanshu had gone to the old Jiang mansion, he suddenly opened his eyes and furrowed his brows tightly. She claimed not to know Jiang Mubai, yet here she was sneaking off to his old home in the dead of night.

He threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. “Keep watching her. Above all… protect her.”

“Yes.”

“Wait.” Changing his mind, Lu Heng grabbed a set of night clothes and dressed quickly. “I will personally oversee this matter. Station guards nearby. No one must discover the princess entering the Jiang mansion. If anyone finds out, they will be executed without mercy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He had to see for himself what Gu Nanshu was hiding. Since their wedding, her behavior had been strange and evasive about Jiang Mubai.

Why?

Tonight, he must uncover the truth.