Chapter 272: Hidden Intentions

She had indeed harbored murderous thoughts. But with Shang Qinghua present, she could not make them too obvious.

Even so, Yin Su had perceived it.

Gu Xiang could not understand it.

A young girl raised within Flying Opera Group, what ability could she possibly possess to sense killing intent from such a distance?

Because Yin Su had never been sent on a single mission, Gu Xiang had no clear grasp of her capabilities. Yet from what she had just witnessed, the girl might already surpass her.

That thought made Gu Xiang’s brows knit tightly.

Yin Su lowered her eyes and brushed her plain skirt lightly, dusting it off.

On the ground beneath her feet were still the step diagrams Yue Mingxuan had drawn earlier.

She let out a soft laugh.

“Sister Gu worries too much. I’m nothing more than an ordinary person. My apologies for disturbing your martial practice. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she leapt away, her toes landing lightly on the same tree branch as before.

She spun once and settled into a seated position, looking for all the world like someone watching a lively spectacle.

Yue Mingxuan cleared his throat softly and drawing everyone’s attention back.

His gaze flicked briefly toward Gu Xiang before he said calmly, “Let’s continue.”

The process remained as difficult as ever.

He would often falter halfway through with sweat soaking his clothes. But since he had made up his mind, he would see it through.

He wiped his brow and continued.

By the time they had exhausted themselves through the night, Yue Mingxuan was barely clinging to consciousness when he rested on the top floor of Flying Opera Group.

He pounded his aching back and yawned widely as Shang Qinghua explained the key points of the inner cultivation method practiced that day.

Not a word seemed to enter his mind.

Halfway through the explanation, drowsiness overtook him.

While propping his chin on his hand at the table, he swayed and on the verge of collapsing into sleep.

With a snap, Shang Qinghua closed his folding fan.

His eyes darkened as he looked at Yue Mingxuan who had already fallen asleep with his head supported on his palm.

He truly did not know what to say.

Just moments ago, the man had pushed himself so fiercely.

And now he was completely careless, dozing off without a care.

Shaking his head with a quiet sigh, Shang Qinghua lifted Yue Mingxuan and carried him to the bed.

After settling him properly and pulling the blanket over him, he stepped out again.

Red gauze curtains stirred gently in the breeze.

The moon hung bright among sparse stars.

Wind from the window nudged the vase placed beneath it.

A few fragrant blossoms inside trembled and fell loose.

A figure dressed in white drifted silently into the room and came to a stop beside the bed.

After a long while, a voice came softly from within the red gauze.

“Don’t let anyone discover it.”

Then all returned to silence.

…

In the adjoining room, Shang Qinghua listened as Mo Yi reported on Rong Zishen’s recent movements.

There was nothing particularly unusual.

Ever since the selection of his principal consort had been decided, Rong Zishen had been leaving the palace daily.

In truth, he was merely making contact with the sons of court officials—nothing extraordinary.

As a prince of Xieshang, Shang Qinghua was more than familiar with such maneuvers.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.

“Go investigate a young girl from Flying Opera Group. Her name is Yin Su. I want to know everything about herz, who her master is, what school she comes from, and details about her parents.”

“Yes.”

“You may go.”

After Mo Yi left, Shang Qinghua remained seated at the table for a while longer. Then he rose and went next door to check on Yue Mingxuan.

He had not moved from the position he had been left in. His breathing was steady; exhaustion had clearly dragged him into deep sleep. Yet even in slumber, his rest was uneasy.

His brows remained faintly furrowed.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he turned around and left.

…

He still returned to the palace at dawn.

He had long grown accustomed to this routine.

Every morning, he would wake on his own without needing Shang Qinghua to rouse him.

He would slip back into the palace just in time for Sui He to come call him from bed, then pretend he had only just awakened, allowing her to attend to his washing and dressing.

These past few days, however, he had hardly gone out at all.

For one thing, Rong Zishen—that wolf—had been lurking outside, watching with predatory patience.

Even when Gongsun Xing told him that Rong Zishen had left the palace, Yue Mingxuan still could not be bothered to step outside.

Scheming and maneuvering against others was the most tedious thing in the world.

If he had the time, he would rather sit facing that mechanical box.

The craftsmanship truly was exquisite.

Every edge and corner of the box was inlaid with gilded trim, worked with remarkable ingenuity.

Taking advantage of gold’s natural softness, the maker had subtly reinforced it against impact.

No matter from which angle it fell, it simply would not break.

At most, when he picked it up afterward, he might notice that the small lion-head ornament had dented in slightly.

He had no idea how many times he had sighed over it by now.

Ever since bringing the box back, he had spent his days staring at it, steeped in a deep sense of frustration.

When Gongsun Xing entered, he caught Yue Mingxuan just as he was about to pour tea over the box.

“What are you doing?”

“I remembered a kind of mechanical trick. If you pour hot water over it, it’ll open by itself!”

Of course, this was something he had once read in a storybook.

In that tale, someone had spotted a lion statue of unknown material lying on a carpet in a bustling antique street.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep