Chapter Forty-Seven: The Enchantress and the Twin Spirits

Night Eleven and his two companions could see that Mianyin, the assassin, was no easy opponent. Together, they struck down the flying darts that came their way. With a glance, Night Eleven signaled Night Nine and Night Ten to shield Weishao Qianyu. He then leapt forward to engage the enemy himself.

“Princess, judging by her voice and weapons, I believe this is one of the top ten killers on the assassin’s list—one of the Meiji Twins. From what I’ve heard, the Meiji Twins are sisters. This one should be the younger, Mianyin, skilled in darts and hidden weapons,” Night Ten explained warily, secretly relieved that both sisters had not appeared together. If they had, he feared even their combined strength would not be enough.

Upon hearing this, Night Nine immediately asked, “Princess, should we send a signal to the Prince?”

Weishao Qianyu fell silent, watching as Night Eleven exchanged blows with Mianyin. Night Eleven was swift, but Mianyin matched his speed. Weishao Qianyu was uneasy, aware that the elder Meiji sister might be nearby. With reluctance, she nodded her consent for Night Nine to send the signal to the Prince’s manor.

She remained vigilant. “We don’t know if the elder Meiji is lurking nearby. Stay alert, everyone.”

Dong Nuan, having heard of the Meiji Twins, recalled that the younger was adept with darts, while the elder favored a curved phantom blade. Yet she eyed Mianyin with suspicion. “Why do I feel this one is more like the elder Meiji?”

“Look at how naturally she wields the curved blade—and she’s already wounded the Princess!” As Dong Nuan mentioned Weishao Qianyu’s injury, both Night Ten and Night Nine shuddered. If their Prince arrived, would their lives still be safe?

Night Nine quickly tossed a signal tube into the sky. A moment later, a fan-shaped firework bloomed above. Weishao Qianyu shook her head—such a flamboyant design could only be Yunning’s handiwork.

At the Prince’s manor, Feng Jinye could neither sit nor stand still. He had no appetite, his nerves taut. Ever since Night Eleven had reported that Weishao Qianyu had been dressing as a man each day to lure out assassins, Feng Jinye had been restless.

He gazed out at the moon beyond the courtyard, relieved as the night wore on and he assumed she must have returned. But just as he relaxed, a fan-shaped firework flared on the horizon.

Outside Wanlai Xue, the tide of battle was turning against Mianyin. Weishao Qianyu, seeing that the other Meiji twin had yet to appear and knowing the signal had already been sent, was stifled with frustration. Suddenly, inspiration struck: she flung a handful of powder toward Mianyin and Night Eleven.

Night Eleven’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Weishao Qianyu. “Prin...cess, you—”

Before he could finish, both he and Meiji collapsed. Weishao Qianyu ordered Night Nine and Night Ten to depart with Mianyin, and she and Dong Nuan swiftly withdrew as well.

By the time Feng Jinye arrived, breathless with haste, only Night Eleven remained, abandoned to the merciless winter chill in the empty street.

Feng Jinye was frantic. With a kick, he roused Night Eleven, then grabbed him by the collar, demanding, “Where is she?”

Night Eleven answered bitterly, “Prince, the Princess knocked me out. I believe she took the assassin with her.”

He recounted the events in detail, telling Feng Jinye that the assassin wore a hairpin that belonged to Feng Qingxuan.

Feng Jinye gave a sigh, both relieved and vexed. If Weishao Qianyu wished to avoid him, why had she lit the signal flare?

Night Eleven hastened to explain, “Prince, the assassin is one of the Meiji Twins. We don’t know if it’s the elder or the younger. The Princess was likely concerned the other was nearby.”

“Meiji Twins!” Feng Jinye made a mental note—anyone who dared harm her would not be allowed to live.

His fists clenched at the thought: she refused to see him, the twins had not appeared together, and she had not hesitated to drug Night Eleven and spirit the captive away.

Once the fighting had ceased, Xue Chun emerged with her family from the wonton stall, hurrying over to Night Eleven. “The one in black—where is my lady?”

Night Eleven was bewildered by her words—everyone around was dressed in black, even the Prince wore dark robes that were nearly indistinguishable in the night.

“I don’t know,” he replied coldly, not missing a beat.

—

Weishao Qianyu made a detour and returned to Wanlai Xue. Xue Chun had no idea she’d been misled and sent out to cause confusion.

Weishao Qianyu ordered Night Nine and Night Ten to lock up the assassin, then approached to remove the red sandalwood and agate plum-blossom hairpin from Mianyin’s hair. At a glance, she was certain—it was Feng Qingxuan’s.

Four years ago, Weishao Qianyu had been lively and full of spirit, her days as a noblewoman dull and uneventful. She had learned that as long as one created some mischief, life would never be boring. After discovering a plum grove in the Prince’s manor, she often went there to enjoy the blossoms.

One winter’s day, the plum trees were in full bloom, transforming the grove into an earthly paradise. On a whim, Weishao Qianyu climbed a plum tree to pick a few branches for decoration. Just as she plucked two, she looked down to see a young man suddenly appear, startling her.

Perched on a branch, she sized up the figure below—Feng Qingxuan. Feng Qingxuan looked up as well, and for a moment, their eyes met in silent appraisal.

Feng Qingxuan’s own eyes were not small, and as she stood in the sunlight, she squinted, wondering who this person was. But Weishao Qianyu broke the silence first. “Who are you?”

Feng Qingxuan found it amusing. This was the Prince’s manor—her brother’s estate—and yet here was a young woman, brimming with hostility, demanding to know her identity. Could this be her future sister-in-law, the Princess-to-be?

Excitement flickered in Feng Qingxuan’s heart. She saw Weishao Qianyu, dressed plainly, sitting on a branch with two plum blossoms in hand, her dress billowing, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, her face as delicate as a peach blossom—a fairy untouched by earthly dust. But then, remembering that Weishao Qianyu was dressed as a man, she couldn’t resist teasing the beauty.

“I’ve heard someone like a plum-blossom fairy haunts this grove. I came today hoping to steal a kiss...” Such words would have made any ordinary lady blush, but Weishao Qianyu burst out laughing.

“Haha, you’re quite the talker! You’re absolutely right—I am a little fairy!” Her laughter shattered the fairy-like image Feng Qingxuan had just conjured.

Xue Chun and Qing Xia both covered their faces, and Qing Xia reminded helplessly, “Miss, you’re being flirted with.”

“I know. But that’s because I’m beautiful—she can’t help but flirt. Who would bother with someone ugly?” Weishao Qianyu replied, seeing at once that Feng Qingxuan meant no harm.

From the first glance, she realized Feng Qingxuan was a woman in men’s clothes. That was why she’d initially been a bit wary, but the more she looked, the more familiar Feng Qingxuan seemed.

“Young master, have we met before? You look so familiar...” Weishao Qianyu couldn’t recall where she’d seen her, so she asked directly.

“This is just a trick young lords use to pursue beauties. Have you really fallen for me?” Feng Qingxuan was well-versed in the ways of the world, and her tone was playful.

Weishao Qianyu didn’t realize it was a tired old line for a first meeting.

But she was certain she’d seen her before, and as she pondered, she realized it was improper to converse from atop a tree. She stood, preparing to descend—only to slip and nearly fall.

Feng Qingxuan, quick as lightning, rushed forward and caught her just in time. The scene was witnessed by none other than Feng Jinye, who had just arrived.

Once she was steady, Feng Jinye strode over and pulled Weishao Qianyu from Feng Qingxuan’s arms, about to kick Feng Qingxuan aside. But Weishao Qianyu exclaimed, “Feng Jinye!”

She wriggled free from his embrace and pushed him away.

He stared, dumbfounded, as Weishao Qianyu grabbed Feng Qingxuan’s hand. Feng Jinye’s sharp gaze fell on their clasped hands, and the surrounding guards felt their Prince’s glare was murderous enough to kill them all. Even Feng Qingxuan shivered.

With a smile, Weishao Qianyu continued, “You look like Feng Jinye!”

Feng Jinye nearly coughed up blood at that. Just because she looked like him, did that mean it was all right to hold her hand? His gaze swept over Feng Qingxuan.

“You—you—you’re Feng Qingxuan!” Weishao Qianyu exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement.

At her words, silence fell around them.

Feng Qingxuan broke it with a laugh. “After all these years, my brother doesn’t recognize his own sister—he only knows his future wife.”

Feng Jinye said nothing, his gaze softening as he looked Feng Qingxuan up and down, finally sure it was truly his sister.

But remembering the scene he’d just witnessed, jealousy still simmered. He stepped forward and uttered a single word: “Ugly!”

Without a backward glance at Feng Qingxuan, he turned and wrapped his arm around Weishao Qianyu, leading her away.

It took Feng Qingxuan a moment to process, then she shouted indignantly, “You’re the ugly one! Didn’t you hear your wife say I look like you? That’s why I’m ugly!”

Her words left the crowd speechless; even the servants exchanged furtive glances in silence.

—

That was the first time Weishao Qianyu and Feng Qingxuan met. Now, gazing at the hairpin in her hand, Weishao Qianyu’s thoughts returned to the present. This hairpin was crafted by Feng Jinye, originally meant for her, which she had later gifted to Feng Qingxuan. She could not be mistaken.

Mianyin slowly opened her eyes, meeting Weishao Qianyu’s gaze with a fierce look. “Who are you?” she demanded.

Weishao Qianyu paused. The voice was no longer Mianyin’s. It had a seductive lilt, and the features had grown sharper, completely transformed—it was as if she were someone else entirely, and her eyes betrayed no deception.

“Are you Meiji?” Weishao Qianyu ventured cautiously.

“You don’t know I’m Meiji—so why have you captured me?” Meiji tried to break free from her restraints, voice sharp.

At this moment, Meiji seemed to have no memory of what had happened before.

Weishao Qianyu suspected a split personality, one person playing two roles. She probed further, “There was a woman, whose skills were very like those of your Meiji Twin, Mianyin, hired to assassinate me. Shouldn’t I hold you accountable?”

“Mianyin?” Meiji’s voice trembled, emotions surging. “Impossible!”

Noticing her agitation, Weishao Qianyu forced a smile. “You Meiji Twins are not to be trifled with. If you hadn’t come looking for trouble, why would I have gone to the trouble of capturing you?”

Meiji was beside herself, shaking all over, repeating, “Impossible, impossible, impossible...”

Weishao Qianyu frowned. She had no interest in discussing Meiji’s personal demons, but in this state, how would she extract any information about Feng Qingxuan?