Chapter 10: Mask

Chapter 10: The Mask

When Qiao Wan returned from the embroidery shop, Mu Chi was no longer at the street corner. Only a few scattered candied hawthorn skewers lay discarded nearby, their sugar glaze smeared with mud and withered leaves.

Qiao Wan paused, a strange feeling welling up inside her—as if… Mu Chi didn’t actually like candied hawthorn.

Instinctively, she turned to look around and spotted two figures not far away. Mu Chi stood there, his white brocade fur coat seeming to glow amidst the bleak, dreary winter. His handsome, refined features were full of tenderness, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Before him stood an unfamiliar woman dressed in a sky-blue, pleated ruyi-pattern skirt. Her demeanor was gentle and elegant, her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her voice carried a tender warmth: "I apologize for bumping into you just now, young master. Please forgive my carelessness."

She had merely been laughing and joking around with someone in the marketplace moments earlier. How was she to know that the previously empty street corner would suddenly have such an incredibly handsome young man standing there?

"Don’t mention it, miss," Mu Chi replied just as gently.

The woman hesitated for a moment, unsure of what else to say, before lowering her head and quickly hurrying off, the tips of her ears flushed with embarrassment.

Qiao Wan narrowed her eyes and silently walked forward.

Mu Chi turned to look at her, then smiled and nodded. "Princess."

Qiao Wan murmured in reply, still feeling a twinge of jealousy. "What happened to those candied hawthorn skewers?"

Mu Chi’s gaze flickered slightly before he lowered his eyes, a hint of self-deprecation and regret in his expression. "Just after you left, someone bumped into me, and I couldn’t keep hold of them properly."

Remembering what the woman had said earlier, Qiao Wan understood, and her odd feeling faded. She instinctively glanced in the direction the woman had gone, only to find that the woman was also looking back, her expression shy, her eyes shimmering. When their eyes met, she quickly turned away like a spooked deer.

Qiao Wan blinked, glanced at the woman’s graceful retreating figure, then turned to look at Mu Chi’s exceptionally attractive face beside her. Instantly annoyed, she said, "I ought to lock you up in the princess’s estate and never let you out again."

With a light huff, she turned and headed off toward a shop selling oil-paper umbrellas.

Mu Chi watched her retreating figure with a faint smile, but his gaze gradually lost its warmth, shrouded in shadow.

He had truly been imprisoned before—for fourteen whole years.

Meanwhile, Qiao Wan, looking at the colorful array of oil-paper umbrellas, was still annoyed. Even the shopkeeper’s enthusiastic tales of the romantic or amusing stories behind each umbrella didn’t interest her.

After looking for a while, Qiao Wan had planned to continue walking alone but suddenly remembered something and stopped in her tracks.

In that vivid dream, Mu Chi had been locked in a dungeon from a young age. Hearing her say she would imprison him in the princess’s estate must have upset him.

Besides, it wasn’t his fault that he was so good-looking. Hadn’t she herself only wanted the most beautiful person when she bought his freedom?

Moreover, in two days, she would be entering the palace to see Qiao Heng, after which she didn’t know how long it would be before she could laugh and spend time with Mu Chi as freely as today.

At this thought, Qiao Wan felt guilty and hurriedly turned back the way she came. Before she had taken more than a few steps, she stopped again.

At a mask vendor’s stall, Mu Chi was handing a few copper coins to the seller with one hand while holding a green-faced, fanged mask in the other.

Many people around were staring at him. Those who knew his former status were whispering to others, their eyes filled with malice and judgment.

He seemed oblivious to the gossip, his expression cold as he turned with the mask in hand. When he saw Qiao Wan, he paused, then gave her a gentle smile and placed the ugly mask over his face.

Qiao Wan’s breath caught. Something in her chest pounded intensely, carrying a hint of joy—like the first time she had ever seen fireworks light up the sky.

"Princess," Mu Chi’s voice sounded somewhat muffled from behind the mask.

Qiao Wan snapped out of her daze, coughed lightly, and silently walked forward. She took Mu Chi’s hand and prepared to leave, but not before turning to glare at the onlookers.

Mu Chi let her pull him along. With the mask shielding his face, he didn’t bother maintaining his gentle, affectionate facade anymore. Instead, he cast a sarcastic glance at her flushed ears.

Winter days darkened early, and the two didn’t stay much longer before returning to the princess’s estate.

Unexpectedly, the sky, which had been clear all day, grew overcast by evening. It also became much colder.

Remembering Mu Chi’s naturally cold body, Qiao Wan didn’t keep him confined and let him go.

Once free, Mu Chi returned to his warm rooms and called for water. He had returned in a hurry, and the servants hadn’t had time to heat it, so only cold water was available.

Mu Chi didn’t mind. He immersed his hands in the icy water and meticulously washed the hand Qiao Wan had held that day.

Again and again.

But even after changing the water five times, Mu Chi still felt as if that warm, sticky sensation lingered faintly on his palm.

After dismissing the servants, Mu Chi stood coldly for a long while until he caught a whiff of plum blossom scent on himself—Qiao Wan’s fragrance.

Frowning, Mu Chi casually took off his outer robe, changed into loose white sleepwear, and prepared to rest on the daybed.

The door was gently knocked twice. The maid named Yicui spoke from outside, "Master Mu, the temperature is expected to drop tonight. The princess said you tend to feel cold, so she ordered me to bring you a brazier."

Mu Chi let her wait a moment before opening the door, a smile already on his lips. "Miss Yicui."

Yicui bowed slightly to Mu Chi, instructed the servants to set up the brazier, nodded politely, and then quietly left.

The room grew warmer with the added brazier, making Mu Chi increasingly irritable. He got up and opened the window. The cold wind instantly rushed in, jolting him awake.

That night, Mu Chi didn’t close the window until late.

The next day, the sky was indeed even gloomier.

Early in the morning, Mu Chi heard several respectful calls of "Princess" outside his door before Qiao Wan bustled in, followed by servants carrying a zither (han zheng). Made of high-quality red sandalwood with excellent silk strings, the instrument was clearly priceless.

Mu Chi curved his lips into a smile. "Princess, what is this?"

Qiao Wan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "You’re going to teach me how to play the zither!"

She had thought of it the previous night, but both of them had been too tired, so she had to postpone it.

Mu Chi looked down at her, his eyes shimmering like rippling water. "Why would the princess suddenly want to learn the zither?"

Qiao Wan felt her cheeks grow warm under his gaze. She coughed lightly and said, "I just felt like learning. Why does there need to be a reason?" She then feigned toughness, "Just tell me whether you’ll teach me or not!"

Mu Chi chuckled, a note of helplessness in his voice. "Of course I will teach you."

Qiao Wan’s eyelashes fluttered. His tone made her feel as if a honey jar had been overturned in her heart.

"What would the princess like to learn?" Mu Chi asked.

Qiao Wan immediately replied, "Frost Mountain Dawn."

The piece he played that day at the Pine and Bamboo House.

The smile on Mu Chi’s lips faded slightly, his eyes turning cold.

His mind, which had been somewhat uneventful these past few days, was once again stirred with a hint of irritation.

Frost Mountain Dawn and Cloud Robe Song were a pair of dragon and phoenix melodies. The score for the former was in the hands of the Great Qi imperial family.

Li Muxuan had studied it for three months but had never managed to play Frost Mountain Dawn in its entirety.

Mu Chi had memorized the score in just three days.

He had played this piece at the Pine and Bamboo House to attract Qiao Qingni's attention, never expecting Qiao Wan to interrupt.

And yet, she remained utterly oblivious, now even wanting to learn a piece that was never meant for her in the first place.

"Mu Chi?" Qiao Wan called out, puzzled.

"That piece doesn’t suit you, Princess," Mu Chi refused, his tone slightly cold and stiff. Then, catching himself, he softened his voice with a light laugh. "Frost Mountain Dawn has a complex score, and my right hand might be inconvenient. Perhaps you should start with something simpler."

Qiao Wan had only wanted to spend time with him and didn’t mind what piece they played. She glanced at the burn on his right fingertips and nodded with a smile. "Alright."

Mu Chi taught her Yu Beauty, a relatively simple piece. Having learned the zheng at the Imperial Academy, Qiao Wan could stumble through it after a few tries.

Mu Chi listened quietly nearby.

Despite the slightly sorrowful nature of the tune, her playing carried a sense of exuberance and boldness.

Just like her.

Mu Chi lowered his gaze slightly.

He could vaguely guess why she had been sticking close to him these past few days. If he could obtain the Snow Bodhi without alerting anyone, he didn’t mind putting on an act with her.

Of course, he wouldn’t give her any other choices either.

The two of them spent the entire day in the warm pavilion, even having their midday meal there.

By evening, Eunuch Sun indeed brought Qiao Heng’s oral decree, which essentially said, "His Majesty is concerned about Princess Changle and summons her to the palace tomorrow at the Shen hour (3-5 PM)."

After receiving the decree and sending Sun Lianhai off, Qiao Wan stopped playing the zheng. She simply sat beside Mu Chi, looking somewhat dazed.

Mu Chi remained quiet, not saying a word.

After a long while, she turned to him. "Mu Chi, those two days when I asked the renowned physicians of Lingjing to examine you were not entirely without results."

Mu Chi looked surprised. "What do you mean, Princess?"

Qiao Wan pursed her lips. "The physician said that Snow Bodhi might be able to cure your inability to feel pain."

Mu Chi asked doubtfully, "Snow Bodhi?"

"Yes," Qiao Wan nodded. "Tomorrow at the Shen hour, I will enter the palace. At the You hour (5-7 PM), I will have the coachman pick you up and wait outside the palace gates. If all goes well, we will go directly to retrieve the Snow Bodhi."

Mu Chi feigned "delight," but then turned to her with a concerned look. "Will you be alright, Princess?"

Qiao Wan blinked, then laughed. "Of course."

"That’s good." Mu Chi lowered his gaze and smiled faintly.

Qiao Wan’s cheeks flushed, and she felt her chest grow hotter. She quickly stood up. "Well, I should head back now."

Without waiting for Mu Chi’s response, she turned and walked straight toward her bedchamber.

Yicui was waiting at the entrance to the bedchamber and hurried forward when she saw Qiao Wan. "Princess."

"Is the medicine prepared?" Qiao Wan asked before even stepping inside.

"It is," Yicui hesitated, her eyes full of worry. "Are you sure you want to do this, Princess?"

"Of course." Qiao Wan walked to the table and saw an inconspicuous celadon bottle.

She tucked the bottle into her sleeve and stared blankly at the flickering candle flame, her expression no longer as carefree as before but instead listless.

The medicine in this bottle was a formula she had secretly obtained from a folk healer five years ago to alleviate the heat discomfort in her chest.

Unexpectedly, it not only failed to relieve the heat discomfort but caused her to toss and turn in discomfort after taking just one small pill. She only felt slightly better the next day after vomiting blood.

To avoid implicating the servants of the princess’s residence, Qiao Wan sought out a traveling physician. The physician couldn’t identify all the ingredients in the tonic but determined that the formula she had taken to relieve the heat discomfort clashed violently with the "tonic" Qiao Heng had been giving her.

It was then that she realized the "tonic" her doting father had been giving her during each palace visit was not as "tonic" as it seemed.

This time, it wasn’t just for Mu Chi.

She also wanted to know just how important she was to Qiao Heng.

"Princess, you must enter the palace tomorrow. You should rest now," Yicui said softly.

Qiao Wan snapped out of her thoughts and responded with a smile, "Alright."

***

Warm Pavilion.

Si Li swiftly slipped into the room and looked at Mu Chi, who stood with his back to him, alone by the window. "Young Master."

Mu Chi turned his head slightly, his tone devoid of any emotion. "Well?"

Si Li hurriedly replied, "I have been keeping watch near the medical clinic. As you suspected, the maid named Yicui did go to the clinic to fetch medicine."

Mu Chi let out an "Mmm," his voice seeming to come from his nasal passages, carrying a hint of indifferent coldness.

As he had expected, she had taken the bait.

Now, all that was left was to wait for the Snow Bodhi to be delivered.

After that, Qiao Wan would be of no further use. He only needed to reveal the matter of Jing Lan.

But then, Mu Chi’s fingers twitched. He frowned, inexplicably feeling as if the warm, clingy sensation from when she had held his hand yesterday still lingered.

Si Li stood behind Mu Chi. Even after years by the young master’s side, he still couldn’t decipher what he was thinking.

"Si Li, look." After a while, Mu Chi suddenly spoke.

Si Li snapped back to attention, unsure what the young master wanted him to see. He could only brace himself and follow Mu Chi’s gaze outside, where he saw the candlelight still burning in the bedchamber against the early winter darkness.

Princess Changle’s bedchamber.

Si Li paused. This seemed to be the first time the young master had mentioned Princess Changle without a tone of annoyance or mockery.

"Young Master?"

Mu Chi was quiet for a moment, as if thinking of something pleasant, and let out a low chuckle. "She really is naive."