Holding Hands

Lin Yuejiao was wearing a tea-white Shu embroidery long dress today, her dark hair combed into a simple and elegant floating-cloud bun from which strands fell gracefully, adorned only by a jade-carved camellia hairpin at the side. She looked cold, aloof, and refined, yet nothing could conceal her breathtaking beauty and grace.

"Thanks to the Heir's rescue at Black Wind Stronghold, Yuejiao has prepared a gift for the Heir to express her gratitude. I hope the Heir will not disdain this humble token," Lin Yuejiao said, curtsying as she presented the set of garments she held in her hands.

Just as Yun Jian was about to take them, Rong Yu had already walked up to Lin Yuejiao, his brow furrowing deeply. "Do you think a single gift settles all accounts between us?"

Last time, Lin Yuejiao had not uttered a single word about repayment, which had pleased Rong Yu somewhat, making him think she finally considered him one of her own, sparing him from such rigid calculations and strict boundaries.

But looking at Lin Yuejiao's demeanor now, Rong Yu knew he had simply wished for too much.

This stubborn young woman wanted nothing more than to draw a clear line between them at every turn.

"A mere set of clothes naturally cannot compare to the Heir's life-saving grace. In the future, should the Heir ever encounter danger, Yuejiao will undoubtedly step forward to block spears and swords for the Heir without a moment's hesitation," Lin Yuejiao stated as if it were only natural.

Rong Yu's expression grew even colder. "Do you think this Heir is one to encounter danger and be reduced to needing a fragile young woman to shield me from blades?"

"The Heir's martial arts are extraordinary, and the guards by your side are masters; naturally, such opportunities are rare. But should such a contingency ever arise, Yuejiao will surely stand before the Heir and never break her promise." Lin Yuejiao looked at Rong Yu, unyielding yet respectful, her words resolute.

Rong Yu clenched his fists, a surge of unprovoked anger rising from the depths of his heart.

He had been genuinely pleased upon hearing she had come to see him, but seeing that her purpose was to sever ties with him, anger flared uncontrollably.

"And what if this Heir refuses?" Rong Yu said. "This Heir wants neither your shield against blades nor your gift. You may leave."

*I do not want to draw a clear line between us.*

Lin Yuejiao was momentarily stunned.

Their interactions had always been thus; regardless of what Rong Yu did for her, she invariably sought ways to repay the debt.

"If the Heir refuses, Yuejiao naturally wouldn't dare to force the matter. I have made a laughingstock of the Heir. For the Heir's great kindness, Yuejiao has no way to repay it, but it shall be forever engraved in my heart. Yuejiao takes her leave." Recovering from her brief astonishment, Lin Yuejiao offered a gentle smile and a graceful curtsy, her expression warm and serene, betraying no trace of emotional turmoil.

Dismissed so abruptly by Rong Yu, her countenance remained entirely unruffled.

Liao Moqian, watching from the side, wanted to say something yet knew not what to utter. There was simply no room for him to insert a word before these two had already parted on such sour terms.

Emerging from the main hall, the warm smile faded from Lin Yuejiao's face. Looking down at the red garments in her hands, an inexplicable ache squeezed her heart.

Stitch by stitch, woven into brocade; through countless days and nights, a full month's labor.

Yet Rong Yu hadn't even deigned to look at them.

"Lin Yuejiao," a cool voice called out from behind her.

Lin Yuejiao turned back to see Rong Yu walking straight toward her. With slender fingers, he lifted the red garments from her arms and said coldly, "I accept the gift. But I have a favor to ask of you. Once you accomplish this for me, our life-saving debts are settled, and you need no longer fret over blocking blades and swords for me."

"Your will is my command, Heir," Lin Yuejiao murmured, biting her lip. She could not comprehend why Rong Yu had suddenly changed his mind.

Yet, as he yielded to her wish to sever ties between them, the feeling did not bring the anticipated sense of a burden lifted, but rather an inexplicable melancholy.

"Come inside and speak." Rong Yu's gaze lingered upon her, silently compromising with himself in his heart.

He had always known how proud and aloof she was. Regardless of her smiling countenance, this young woman never easily accepted a favor from others.

Seeing the silent, retreating figure of her departure earlier, seeing her accept dismissal with impeccable courtesy and not a flicker of annoyance, Rong Yu had felt thoroughly unsettled inside.

He truly had no way of dealing with her.

Inadvertently brushing his fingers against the embroidery on the red garments, he found that he could scarcely feel the texture of the threads; they were as soft as falling snow.

Lowering his gaze to inspect them closely, he discovered that an ink-wash landscape painting was faintly discernible across the fabric, seemingly present yet elusive.

This embroidery technique was known as Ink-Hidden Embroidery, a needlework skill far more difficult than both double-sided embroidery and micro-embroidery. Across the entire realm, only one or two embroiderers in the imperial palace possessed the skill. Because it was so arduous to learn, the tradition was nearly lost, rendering every single garment crafted with Ink-Hidden Embroidery worth a thousand pieces of gold.

"Did you... make this?" Rong Yu asked in astonishment.

Lin Yuejiao lowered her gaze, her eyelashes casting delicate shadows. "This humble woman's craftsmanship is crude and unworthy of the Heir's discerning eyes, making a fool of myself before you."

Who said Lin Yuejiao was submissive in his presence? This remark was clearly spoken in petty retaliation for his earlier disdainful rejection of her gift. If such craftsmanship were considered crude, every embroiderer in the land ought to die of shame.

"Had I known you made this, I wouldn't have been angry just now." Rong Yu bit his lip, undisguised amusement filling his eyes as the fleeting displeasure vanished entirely from his mind.

He had never imagined Lin Yuejiao would personally craft a garment for him.

Personally made by her.

Stitched needle by needle.

"You spent a whole month without stepping outside just to make this outfit? This embroidery technique is exceedingly difficult, your hands..." Rong Yu's brows knitted together as he reached out and grabbed Lin Yuejiao's hands.

Seeing her slender fingers remain as white and flawless as jade, without a single bandage wrapping them up like little zongzi, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

No needle pricks.

"If my needlework were clumsy enough to pierce my own fingers, I wouldn't be worthy of the Heir bestowing the plaque upon me." Lin Yuejiao was utterly bewildered by his actions. Did she look like someone who would injure herself over such trivial matters?

A soft, elegant smile touched his lips. "Indeed, Lin Yuejiao is not so foolish."

Of course he knew how skilled she was, but without seeing it with his own eyes, his heart could not rest.

"Ahem, I truly have no wish to disturb the two of you, but might I ask you both—standing right in the middle of the doorway—to allow this old man to enter first?" Sai Huatuo coughed, suppressing a smile that threatened to split his face.

"Divine Doctor Sai!" Lin Yuejiao was startled, hurriedly withdrawing her hand. Turning to look at Sai Huatuo, who stood at the entrance with a deeply meaningful smile, she explained, "Divine Doctor Sai, the Heir and I are nothing—"

Stroke his snow-white beard, Sai Huatuo strolled in leisurely. "Fourth Miss need not explain; this old man apologizes for the intrusion. Perhaps the two of you would prefer to continue in a more secluded spot."

With that, he cast a peculiar glance and chuckled twice at Rong Yu, as if to say, *Well, well, who would have thought this boy of yours would one day resort to teasing a maiden?*

Rong Yu swept a blank gaze over Sai Huatuo, then grabbed Lin Yuejiao's hand and turned back toward the direction of the main hall.

Caught off guard, Lin Yuejiao found her hand captured once more, and before she could react, she was already being pulled along in his wake.

At the hour of Shen, at the Jinghua Palace, the Qingfang Banquet was underway.

This year's Qingfang Banquet was exceptionally lively. In addition to the top hundred young ladies of high birth, several talented scholars from Jiangnan were invited, including Sichengyu and Mujueyue, two of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan.

Furthermore, Chi Zhuyi, who had long since been disqualified from the imperial selection, was also in attendance.

Half an hour later, all one hundred and eight dishes of the Manchu-Han Banquet had been fully served. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying the feast when a guard's loud announcement sounded from outside: "His Lordship the Heir of Loyalty and Righteousness has arrived!"

The assembly rose to their feet and bowed in salutation to Rong Yu.

Clad in a fiery red robe, Rong Yu walked in from the entrance. His three thousand strands of silver hair cascaded like snow, framing a handsome face of consummate perfection.

Favored uniquely by the spirit of heaven and earth, he invariably drew every eye the instant he appeared.

"Thanks to the Heir's hospitality in bestowing the Manchu-Han Banquet upon us, we are truly flattered," Lian Shi'er said first, acting in her capacity as the leader of the young ladies. "We are also indebted to the two chief examiners for preparing such a magnificent feast for us."

Rong Yu's gaze unusually lingered upon her face, a slight upward curve forming at the corners of his lips. "Miss Lian once served in the palace and partook of the Manchu-Han Banquet personally bestowed by His Majesty. How does Miss Lian find today's banquet by comparison?"

"It is naturally exquisite, bringing back memories of the flavors I tasted when serving in the palace in earlier years. The two chief examiners are indeed former imperial chefs, and their craftsmanship is sublime," Lian Shi'er replied.

Mujueyue chimed in with a smile, "Seeing this table, one finally understands what is meant by 'jade platters and precious delicacies worth ten thousand gold.' To partake in a full Manchu-Han Banquet—attending the Qingfang Banquet today was well worth the journey."

"Though I have never tasted the Manchu-Han Banquet before, the flavors are precisely as I imagined," another young lady added.

The others chimed in with continuous praises, lauding the banquet to the skies.

Rong Yu surveyed the crowd. His expression was an unreadable mix of amusement and frost.

Liao Moqian, trailing behind him, understood his mood all too well. Someone here was notoriously stingy about sharing even a single plate of pastries, yet had just distributed one hundred and eight dishes all at once; could anyone expect him to be truly happy?

"The Heir's red robe today is exceptionally exquisite," Lian Shi'er remarked with a gentle smile. "At a glance, one can tell it is a bestowal from His Majesty—exceedingly precious."

Shi Xianyue proved herself worthy of being the ultimate echo, asking with a puzzled expression, "Where on earth did Miss Lian see that this was bestowed by His Majesty? The Heir is always of supreme nobility, yet I cannot tell how this red robe differs from his usual attire."

"The Heir has always been exalted, but all the embroiderers skilled in Ink-Hidden Embroidery reside within the imperial household, and such garments exist exclusively within the palace. Legend has it that weaving a single garment of Ink-Hidden Embroidery consumes immense physical and mental effort. Because the patterns of Ink-Hidden Embroidery are layered one atop another, with each layer forming a different motif, it achieves the transformation of multiple patterns," Lian Shi'er explained, her beautiful eyes fixed upon Rong Yu. "When the embroiderers stitch these layers upon layers, a single misstep on any layer forces them to restart entirely, without even the possibility of alteration—it is exceptionally rare. For the Heir's garment to transform into four or five distinct patterns, the skill of the artisan who crafted this piece has reached the pinnacle of perfection, likely standing among the very best even within the imperial workshops. What is even more precious is that despite so many stacked layers of embroidery, the fabric remains as soft and smooth as damask, faint and elusive, as though no embroidery exists at all. The demands on needlework are supremely rigorous, which is why, outside of the imperial family, such garments exist nowhere else."

The crowd listened with expressions of awe.

"Had Miss Lian not enlightened us, I would never have known such an embroidery technique existed in this world. It truly makes me feel as though my years of studying needlework were wasted," Yi Qinxue praised. "Miss Lian's vast erudition is genuinely admirable."

Lian Shi'er assumed a modest air. "I merely caught a glimpse of a noble imperial concubine wearing an Ink-Hidden Embroidery garment when I attended in the palace a few years ago. However, that imperial consort's piece was not nearly as complex or intricate as the Heir of Loyalty and Righteousness's attire. His Majesty indeed holds the Heir in high regard, even bestowing the finest garments in the palace upon him."

"No wonder my needlework only managed a passing grade and failed to win a superior plaque; seeing this attire, I concede defeat. A superior plaque is indeed not easily attained. To think I always considered double-sided embroidery to be the absolute pinnacle of difficulty," another young lady lamented.

Lian Shi'er smiled. "Double-sided embroidery is naturally extremely difficult, but compared to Ink-Hidden Embroidery, it is not in the same league. However, as far as I know, obtaining a superior plaque only requires mastery of double-sided embroidery. Rumor has it that Lin Yuejiao earned her superior plaque precisely through a piece of double-sided embroidery, did she not?"

She deliberately steered the conversation toward Lin Yuejiao without a trace of artificiality.

"None of us ever laid eyes on that so-called double-sided embroidery; it was just something the Lin family claimed," Chi Zhuyi sneered.

Lin Zijing interjected, "I was present at the time and witnessed with my own eyes my eldest sister embroider a piece of double-sided embroidery."

"She is your sister, so naturally you speak on her behalf," Chi Zhuyi retorted sharply.

Sichengyu also remarked, "Seeing is believing, hearing is doubting."

"And have not everyone here just witnessed it with their own eyes?" Liao Moqian said with a smile. "The very attire upon the Heir was crafted by Lin Yuejiao. As Miss Lian Shi'er just explained to everyone what Ink-Hidden Embroidery entails, I presume there can no longer be any doubt regarding Fourth Miss Lin's needlework."

What?

"Impossible! How could Lin Yuejiao possibly know Ink-Hidden Embroidery?" Chi Zhuyi found it incredible.

Liao Moqian countered, "Fourth Miss Lin is skilled in double-sided embroidery, and likewise in the more demanding Ink-Hidden Embroidery—what is there to doubt?"

"Yet this embroidery technique is known to no one outside the imperial embroiderers; how could Lin Yuejiao possibly know it? Heir, how can you pass off something from the palace as Lin Yuejiao's work?" Chi Zhuyi demanded angrily.

Rong Yu swept a cold glance over her. "Every single item in the imperial household is recorded in ledgers. Passing off items bestowed by His Majesty as something else—such a crime of deceiving the sovereign, do you take this Heir to be as foolish as you?"

"Chi Zhuyi, stop slandering the Heir!" Although Lian Shi'er was inwardly extremely shocked, she recovered first and rebuked sternly, "Such matters can be verified with a simple inquiry. How could anyone impersonate it? Besides, desecrating imperial bestowed items is a crime of treason."

An imperial嬷嬷 (matron) seated within the banquet table spoke up. "This old servant serves in the Imperial Manufactory and can confirm that this Ink-Hidden Embroidery garment does not originate from the imperial household."

She had also served as one of the chief examiners for needlework this time around.

"Then... then Lin Yuejiao must have hired someone else to embroider it for her!" Chi Zhuyi insisted.

Lin Zijing replied, "Then perhaps Miss Chi would care to name anyone in Jiangnan capable of Ink-Hidden Embroidery? Whom could my sister possibly hire?"

At these words, Chi Zhuyi was left speechless.

"From this day onward, should anyone dare to slander Lin Yuejiao's needlework or culinary skills again, it shall be treated as an insult to the impartiality of the Zhaohuang Academy and an insult to this Heir. This Heir shall be forced to invite them to reflect upon themselves within the prison walls," Rong Yu declared coldly.

Sichengyu asked, perplexed, "The Ink-Hidden Embroidery belongs to Lin Yuejiao, but what do culinary skills have to—"

"It seems today's Manchu-Han Banquet originated from Miss Lin's hands, then?" Mujueyue realized the truth, speaking with genuine appreciation. "Miss Lin possesses brilliant talent, truly living up to her reputation. Given the rampant fabrication of rumors in Jiangnan lately, the Heir should indeed root them out thoroughly."

Hearing Rong Yu mention culinary skills, anyone with even a shred of intellect immediately connected the dots to the Manchu-Han Banquet.

The two chief examiners of culinary arts who had accompanied Rong Yu spoke up. "Today's Manchu-Han Banquet was entirely orchestrated by Miss Lin single-handedly, with us merely serving as her assistants. Miss Lin's attainments in culinary arts fully justify her possession of that superior plaque."

The task Rong Yu had assigned Lin Yuejiao that day was precisely to prepare a high-difficulty dish at the Qingfang Banquet to clear her name.

And upon hearing that Rong Yu wanted something difficult, Lin Yuejiao had naturally chosen the hardest possible option—the Manchu-Han Banquet.

Consequently, after completing all one hundred and eight dishes, her physical strength was utterly depleted, and she had collapsed from exhaustion by this point.

Lian Shi'er clenched her fists tightly.

"We must also thank Miss Lian Shi'er for her righteous words in explaining it to everyone," Liao Moqian said with a courteous smile toward Lian Shi'er. "Were it not for Miss Lian Shi'er, I presume everyone might not have understood so quickly why Fourth Miss Lin's seven superior plaques are so thoroughly deserved."

This single remark made Lian Shi'er's complexion even more unsightly.

Yi Qinxue sighed in wonder, "I never imagined Fourth Miss could be so formidable. I am truly humbled and convinced of her abilities."

Chi Zhuyi's face was deathly pale; wishing to refute, she found herself utterly devoid of words.

Sichengyu also fell silent, and in that moment, a profound sense of helplessness washed over them all.

At that precise moment, a figure attired in official guard uniform strode into the hall, cupping his fists toward Rong Yu. "Pardon this interruption, Heir. We are under orders to apprehend Chi Zhuyi, family member of a criminal. May the Heir grant us your convenience."

Rong Yu gave a slight nod.

Panic seized Chi Zhuyi. "What did you say? What criminal's family member?"

"Chi Zhuyi, your Chi family's crimes have come to light. Chi Shuangxiang has already been cast into prison, and we are now acting under the imperial commissioner's decree to arrest all relatives of the Chi household," the guard leader announced.

Chi Zhuyi shook her head frantically. "You lie! What crime could my Chi family possibly have committed!"

"Take her away!" Too lazy to waste further words on her, the guard leader gave a sweeping wave of his hand, and two guards stepped forward to seize Chi Zhuyi.

Frowning at the sight, Lian Shi'er demanded, "Hold on. Might I ask what crime the Chi family has committed?"

Knowing that the attendees of the Qingfang Banquet were daughters of high officials and not to be trifled with, the bailiff answered with polite restraint, "Minister of Works Chi Shuangxiang falsified household registration numbers a decade ago, deceived the sovereign and flouted the law, embezzled government silver, orchestrated the massacre of a village by the Azure Dragon Bandits, and slaughtered innocent civilians. His crimes are monstrous and supported by irrefutable evidence. His Majesty has personally issued a decree arresting Chi Shuangxiang to be put to death by hanging, while the entire Chi clan is sentenced to banishment to the northern frontier."

Upon hearing these words, Chi Zhuyi's legs turned to jelly. She collapsed heavily to the floor, utterly devoid of soul. "No, impossible... how could this happen? Impossible..."

Lian Shi'er, too, was filled with shock.

"Heir, do you know anything of this matter? Such a major case has erupted in Jiangnan, yet we remained utterly oblivious—our sources are truly sluggish," Mujueyue said with a bitter smile.

Rong Yu calmly replied, "The Chi family case was personally investigated under this Heir's supervision. Once the evidence was verified, a 800-li urgent dispatch was sent to the capital. Tomorrow, the full sequence of events regarding the Chi family case will be posted on the imperial notice boards. Should any of you harbor doubts, you may inspect the announcements there."

At these words, Sichengyu and the others felt their hearts sink heavily into an abyss.