Volume One, Chapter 12: Might I Spend Half the Night Here?

Crackling sounds. The scorching hot stones emitted steam over the water, adding ripples to the fragrant chamber. Qin Qianyue gently strummed the pipa, gradually coaxing out one melody after another—sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful, sometimes stirring. Her gaze grew increasingly tender and enchanting, like a seductive fox spirit exuding boundless softness amidst the mist.

Yet Shen Yi’s thoughts were elsewhere. According to Qin Qianyue’s earlier testimony, the ten victims had been called by someone from the Crown Prince of Jingnan’s entourage. Liu Jing was the fourth son of the Prince of Jingnan and had been part of their small circle of revelers the previous night. Though they were all crown princes, equally inept and indulgent, the others belonged to the legitimate royal family. Shen Yi and Liu Jing were truly wild companions who partied together without involving themselves in family affairs.

Shen Yi had never been to the Prince of Jingnan’s mansion, nor could he enter it. Don’t underestimate these idle princes; while they might lack military power and real authority, every prince possessed immense wealth and estates scattered throughout Dacheng, commanding numerous famous generals and advisors. They might choose inactivity, but they could never lack prestige. Anyone who offended them foolishly would surely meet death or ruin— even the powerful Guanzhong faction would keep their distance. After all, they embodied both royal might and royal dignity.

Investigations required solid evidence, especially concerning royal family members. Without undeniable proof or the emperor’s decree, even questioning them would undermine imperial authority. Moreover, Shen Yi was merely a drinking companion to Liu Jing—daring to suspect him openly could result in a knife attack without hesitation. Thus, Shen Yi found himself in a dilemma. Neither he nor Qin Qianyue could accurately describe the servant involved, making the capture of the culprit nearly impossible.

What troubled Shen Yi most was the absence of motive—why would they kill him when there was no enmity with the Prince of Jingnan? He was skilled at solving cases and needed to understand the motive behind this murder. The root cause, it seemed, traced back to the Feng Tian rebel uprising and the question of who would assume the military command of the Grand Marshal.

The emperor wanted to appoint the Prince of Zhenmu, but the officials openly opposed it, fearing his growing power might lead to rebellion. The Prince of Zhenmu, for his part, sought vengeance against the Hu people for the massacre of tens of thousands in Muzu Prefecture. Yet he also feared the officials’ covert obstruction when commanding the northern and southern armies combined with local forces, which could result in defeat. After all, this was a rebellion that threatened the very foundation of the realm. The Grand Marshal, as chief commander, would bear the brunt of the blame and would surely have to pay with his life if he failed.

Now, aside from the Prince of Zhenmu who wielded military power in Muzu, all other civil officials’ influence had long vanished. If the Prince of Zhenmu died, the entire Shen family and its military faction would be uprooted. The officials dreaded such an outcome. If the Prince of Zhenmu succeeded, their influence would diminish; if he failed and the Guanzhong region fell, causing national division, that too was unbearable. Their hope was simply that the Prince of Zhenmu stay uninvolved.

This was just the surface. The deeper layers remained hidden. Hence, if the Prince of Zhenmu died, he would inevitably harbor resentment toward the emperor, and to protect the Shen clan, he would find excuses to avoid summons. Yet the emperor distrusted the civil officials’ growing power and doubted the generals stationed in Guanzhong, who had never fought real battles, could quell the rebellion. The Prince of Zhenmu was the only one without ties to any powerful families and even harbored enmity toward them. His reputation was renowned far and wide. Therefore, this matter was hardly connected to the idle Prince of Jingnan—unless he planned to rebel.

“Prince Shen, how do you like this tune?” Qin Qianyue’s delicate voice interrupted as her fingers ceased playing. Noticing Shen Yi’s distraction, she asked.

“Hmm, very good,” Shen Yi replied, rising. “Miss Qianyue, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait, Prince Shen,” Qin Qianyue urged, blushing. “I haven’t quite mastered it yet. Could you stay a little longer?”

“It’s late; I need to return,” Shen Yi shook his head, prepared to leave. He wasn’t foolish—Yuncang was watching from the shadows. If he did anything rash, Sibao might report it to the emperor. Meanwhile, he had no immediate means to confront Prince Jing’s circle and could only investigate who had ordered the execution of those ten palace maids last night. He had no intention of remaining a prisoner in the prince’s mansion, living a life without freedom.

“Prince Shen…” Qin Qianyue suddenly bit her lip, looking vulnerable and charming. “Would you stay until midnight in my chamber?”

“Oh?” Shen Yi smiled wryly. “Aren’t you afraid I might lose control and make improper advances?”

After learning that Shen Yi had been falsely accused of slaughtering ten palace maids in a single battle, and witnessing his poetic talent and imposing demeanor, Qin Qianyue found herself developing feelings. She lifted her gaze, lips slightly pursed, her proud little mouth framed by an elegant curve. “If Prince Shen does not disdain my humble origins, spending a night with me would not be unwelcome.”

A smirk curled Shen Yi’s lips. He was not one to believe a courtesan of her rank could truly fall for him at first sight. “You flatter yourself. We all have the same nose and eyes—nothing lofty or lowly about it. If you have any requests, just say the word.”

Qin Qianyue’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and intrigue. “Then I shall be straightforward. I know you want to find the person from Prince Jing’s entourage to question him. My memory is sharp; I can help identify him. Conveniently, five days from now, the Prince of Jingnan’s mansion will hold its annual poetry contest and has invited me to perform. I can take you inside to find this person.”

Shen Yi was momentarily taken aback. “Aren’t you afraid of being implicated if I am discovered?”

“I serve the Prince of Ruyang,” Qin Qianyue replied softly. “The Prince of Jingnan will give some leniency. Even if you are found out, I can feign ignorance.”

Shen Yi pondered, then said, “You want me to stay until midnight so others might suspect something between us. You want to raise my reputation?”

Qin Qianyue’s eyes flickered gently. “Please, Prince Shen, indulge me. That way, I have more reason to accompany you to the Prince of Jingnan’s residence. Others won’t find it odd.”

Indeed, in chaotic times, nothing was simple. Shen Yi nodded slightly. “Very well, I will stay a while longer.” With a beauty by his side, there was no harm in it.

“Thank you, Prince Shen!” Qin Qianyue’s face brightened with anticipation. “Look, the food has gone cold; I’ll have the servants prepare fresh dishes. Meanwhile, I can further refine the melody.” Her lips curved subtly, inwardly pleased and competitive.

The world said Princess Changyang was a peerless beauty and a prodigy. But if Prince Shen stayed late in her chamber, this complete Qingping Melody would no longer compare her beauty to that of a palace princess but would instead depict Shen Yi’s admiration at her feet, reversing roles. Then she would widely spread this poem, secretly honing the tune for a stunning debut. Heh, she wondered how Princess Changyang would react upon hearing the poem and the news of Shen Yi’s prolonged stay.

Qin Qianyue felt a faint thrill; after all, her vermilion mark remained. If investigated later, it would only be known that they composed the melody and poem together—a legendary tale in the making.

“Prince Shen, it’s warm in here. Shall I help you remove your sable cloak?”

Thus began the delicate dance between a top-tier seductress and a man of iron will.