The next morning, Han walked into the regent's study.
"Lu Yan came to see me last night," he announced.
Ji Jing, who had ignored his entrance, raised his head like a hound at the words.
Han smiled. It felt good to hold something over Ji Jing for once.
Seeing him pause, Ji Jing said mildly, "Talk."
Over the years, everyone in court had learnt that a loud Ji Jing was safe. On the other hand, when he went quiet, his ministers, eunuchs and servants all knew to flee promptly.
Han didn't seem to know or care. He walked around the study, calmly looking at the books until Ji Jing's eyes became murderous.
Only then did he take a seat, saying, "She told me not to pursue the assassins."
There was a moment of silence.
Ji Jing frowned, "So Chen Yuan sent the assassins, but she wants to protect the Chen family?"
"That's what I thought. I just can't understand why."
"Perhaps she really loves her husband," Ji Jing jabbed.
Han smiled, and it was the same strange smile from last night, "It doesn't matter. They're finished anyway."
Ji Jing looked at Han with lazy eyes, "She wouldn't protect them for nothing. There must be something else."
Han stood back up, and began pacing back and forth, "New information won't change anything. The Chen family has to fall. They're too close to Prince Rui, and now we have proof."
Ji Jing sipped his tea calmly, "Don't be too hasty. You still need to find the evidence."
"I can find it. If not now, then in a few weeks. I don't believe Chen Yuan can hide all his tails from me."
"No matter what, you're not allowed to act on your own."
Han smiled mockingly, "I know, your highness."
After another pause, Ji Jing said, "I wonder what Lu Yan is hiding."
Han didn't seem to care.
He continued pacing, stuck on the same point, "The Chen family is finished. You care too much about Lu Yan to let her fall with them. There's still a chance."
"Is this what they call being blinded by hope?" Ji Jing ridiculed, "Even if Lu Yan is free again, she might not choose you."
This seemed to startle Han. He paused his pacing, and looked questioningly at Ji Jing.
Ji Jing smiled, "You broke your promise to her. Do you think she'll give you another chance?"
Han clenched his fist.
Without another word, he left, slamming the door on his way out.
---
Even though there was some truth to Ji Jing's words, Han refused to believe it.
His heart was racing, because a dead hope had suddenly been revived.
There was a chance for them. In this life, there was still a chance for them.
He galloped into the forest, breathing fast.
He found the clearing filled with wildflowers. Dismounting quickly, he ran to the tree in the middle, and dug around in the dirt underneath.
He found the bracelet with the colored wooden beads. He grabbed it and closed his fist around it.
"This is fate Lu Yan," he whispered. "You can't blame me."
---
Lu Yan was lying in bed.
Chen Hai walked into the room, holding a bowl of medicine.
"Here," he said, "Time to drink."
Lu Yan drank the bitter concoction.
Looking at her long-suffering expression, he smiled fondly, "You don't need to look so unhappy."
"I'm not unhappy," Lu Yan said, "I'm angry."
Chen Hai set up a go board, "Let's play a few games to pass the time."
Lu Yan looked at him, "Didn't you have plans to go riding with the other young masters today?"
He smiled easily, "I thought you'd be bored alone. To tell you the truth, I don't like riding."
Lu Yan already knew.
Chen Hai was a year younger than her, only sixteen this year. Unlike Lu Yan, he had grown up safe and protected by his family, especially his mother, and his elder brother Chen Yuan.
The most suffering he had experienced was when the other young masters bullied him for not being good at archery, riding, hunting and fighting. Even then, his brother would speak a word, and no one dared to say or do anything extreme.
In the year since they'd been married, Lu Yan had learnt everything about him.
He was a simple person: he smiled when he was happy, cried when he was sad. There wasn't a thread of guile in him. He loved his brother, his mother and his wife. If he could, he would spend every moment painting, and forget to eat, drink or sleep.
Lu Yan loved and hated his clear heart.
Sometimes, she wished he would see through her. Other times, she thanked the heavens that he was as naive as he was.
They played.
He lost. Like he always did.
But there wasn't a trace of resentment in him. He looked at her admiringly, "You're amazing! I think you might be as good as elder brother."
Lu Yan scoffed, "It's not that I'm good. It's that you're too bad at go. Even my little nephews could win against you."
He laughed, "Let's not tell them. I don't think I'd be able to keep my serious dignified image as you husband if they knew."
Lu Yan couldn't help laughing.
There was nothing serious and dignified about his interactions with her brothers' children. He played and roughhoused around with them as if he too were their age.
Chen Hai looked at her, "It's good to see you smile. You haven't been happy recently."
Lu Yan stopped collecting the pieces, and looked up at him.
Before she could say anything, he continued, "Brother said it might have something to do with General Han. Did you know him before?"
Lu Yan froze, looking carefully at Chen Hai's open expression.
Was it Chen Hai asking this question? Or was it Chen Yuan?
Suddenly, she was painfully aware of Chen Hai's maids in the room.
No matter who had asked, every word she said would reach Chen Yuan's ears.
"Hmm," she said casually, continuing to collect go pieces like it was no big deal, "When I was younger, I went to visit eldest sister-in-law's family. We were attacked by bandits. At that time, General Han saved me."
This incident was well known to everyone in the capital. Because the bandits were actually barbarian scouts and they'd appeared just one day away from the capital. It had caused a huge uproar at that time.
It was also the incident where Lu Yan's reputation had been destroyed completely.
Details of Lu Yan being taken prisoner by the barbarians had spread far and wide in the capital. And despite nothing happening, the gossip had always followed her.
Everyone knew, but it seemed Chen Hai didn't.
Chen Hai's eyes were wide, "You were attacked by bandits?"
Lu Yan glanced at him, "Didn't you ask around about the wife you were marrying?"
Chen Hai shrugged, "Elder brother said you were good. And it would benefit both our families." He smiled at her impishly, "Later, I saw you. And I immediately ran to brother and agreed."
Lu Yan rolled her eyes at him.
Chen Hai poked her arm, "What happened?"
Lu Yan nodded absently, thinking about that incident.
It had truly been fated.
Seeing his eager eyes, she sighed and began, "At that time..."