Chapter 7: Origins

The veiled woman’s expression was indifferent, unmoved by Li Muxian’s words.

“I am from the Great Li Hidden Spy Bureau.”

The woman regarded Li Muxian, her gaze deep and cold.

She lifted her hand slightly and tossed him a token, saying:

“I have come on account of your origins. I assume you would find this of interest.”

Li Muxian reached out and caught the silver token, glanced at it, and immediately frowned, his face clouded with suspicion.

After his transmigration, he had only known the original body was a homeless orphan.

Before joining the martial arts school, he had once been taken in by an old beggar, but those memories were extremely hazy.

As for the identity of the original’s parents—or whether they were even from Shun’an City—Li Muxian knew nothing at all.

Of course, he himself did not care about his origins.

After all, he was a transmigrator, and an orphan at that; he had no emotional ties to any family and needed none.

Seeing Li Muxian suddenly fall silent, Cang Yin Yue added:

“You are very likely the seventh imperial prince, lost among the common folk of Great Li.”

At these words, Li Muxian leapt down from the city wall and landed beside Cang Yin Yue.

“Miss, are you joking? A prince missing for twenty years, and now you finally decide to look for him?”

Cang Yin Yue stepped back lightly, keeping a distance from Li Muxian, her voice still icy:

“The reasons are complicated. If you wish to confirm your origins, you may come with me to the imperial capital, Shangyang City.”

“So my princely status isn’t even confirmed yet?” Li Muxian rubbed his chin. “I knew it—my bone quality is so poor, how could I possibly be some damn prince?”

Yet Cang Yin Yue shook her head, frowning:

“Do not belittle yourself. Though many factions in the capital are searching, in my view, you are the most likely candidate for that lost prince.”

“Why?” Li Muxian asked, curious.

“Because I am the top Silver-Embossed Secret Agent of the Great Li Hidden Spy Bureau. Every mission I take, I complete—never fail, never miss.”

Cang Yin Yue’s gaze radiated absolute confidence, and with her aloof demeanor, she exuded an aura of proud isolation.

Clearly, a tsundere girl!

Li Muxian raised an eyebrow, paused thoughtfully, then said:

“Going with you isn’t out of the question—I was planning to wander the world anyway; it doesn’t matter where I go.”

“But I won’t follow you blindly. At the very least, you must tell me the full story. I don’t like riddles!”

Cang Yin Yue studied Li Muxian for a moment, then gave a slight nod:

“As long as it doesn’t involve Hidden Spy Bureau secrets, I will answer all your questions truthfully.”

Li Muxian clapped his hands lightly, cheerfully saying:

“Then let’s set off. We can talk on the road.”

Yet at that moment, Cang Yin Yue’s figure suddenly retreated, vanishing several zhang away in the blink of an eye:

“Wait half a stick of incense. I have matters to attend to—I will find you once they’re done!”

Seeing this, Li Muxian didn’t care; he waved his hand and said:

“Go ahead, I’ll wait for you.”

Then he simply sat down under the shade of a tree to cool off.

Half a stick of incense later, Cang Yin Yue arrived precisely, leading two black-maned, yellow horses into Li Muxian’s view.

As she approached, she handed him the reins of one horse, her voice as cold as ever:

“Let’s go.”

“Rich girl, these horses must cost dozens of taels each?”

Li Muxian tossed her token back casually, took the reins, and leapt onto the horseback with effortless grace.

“Once your princely identity is confirmed, mere gold and silver will mean nothing to you.”

Cang Yin Yue spoke lightly, tucked away the token, and turned to mount her horse—only to find Li Muxian had slapped the horse’s rump, and with a sharp whinny, it shot out of the city like an arrow.

“Could he be trying to escape?”

Cang Yin Yue furrowed her delicate brows, kicked off the ground, mounted swiftly, and chased after Li Muxian’s trail, calling out:

“You’re going the wrong way!”

…

As the sun neared setting, the two riders approached a remote small town amid the rhythmic “clip-clop” of hooves.

“We’ll rest here tonight, continue our journey at dawn.”

Cang Yin Yue did not enter the town; instead, she halted on a slope just outside.

Li Muxian glanced around, said nothing, and tossed his horse’s reins aside, letting it graze freely.

He gathered dry firewood and lit a small bonfire in the leeward spot.

“Miss Cang, come sit. Let’s chat.”

Li Muxian gestured.

Along the way today, Cang Yin Yue had already recounted everything related to his origins.

He found the whole affair absurdly melodramatic—substituted princes, false heirs, court intrigues…

The imperial nobility really knew how to play games!

“No need. I’m used to being alone. If you have questions, ask directly.”

Cang Yin Yue leaned against an ancient tree, showing no intention to move.

Li Muxian didn’t press; he poked at the fire, fell silent, and thought about matters concerning himself…

Four months ago, the Imperial Capital’s Tianjin Guard received a secret letter addressed directly to the Guard Commander.

The letter claimed the current seventh prince was not the Emperor’s biological son, but had been swapped twenty years ago through conspiracy.

The true seventh prince had been abandoned on the Daimian River outside Shangyang City; his current fate was unknown.

The matter was swiftly reported to Emperor Yuanwu, who summoned Prince Li Zhi that very night.

No one knew what transpired in Tianqian Palace that night, but before dawn, the palace issued several secret edicts.

Prince Li Zhi was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison; the Tianjin Guard, the Six Ministries Bureau, and the Hidden Spy Bureau all received secret orders to investigate the prince-swapping incident of twenty years ago.

Clearly, the palace had intended to bury this royal scandal—but for reasons unknown, the news spread like wildfire.

By the next day, it had reached every corner of Shangyang City; even street vendors and alley dwellers knew of it.

From that moment on, factions across the capital stirred, all convinced the prince had been swapped, and began searching the land for the true lost seventh prince.

According to Cang Yin Yue, she had mobilized every known agent—overt and covert—of the entire Hidden Spy Bureau, cross-referencing every clue from the past twenty years, before finally locating Li Muxian.

Of course, the Tianjin Guard and the Six Ministries Bureau were also searching for the “seventh prince,” but each side held different information; the final candidates they found would likely differ.

“Miss Cang, are you truly certain I’m that seventh prince? What if I’m not—what then?”

Li Muxian broke his silence, suddenly asking.

(End of Chapter)