Xie Yunshu felt his words had come out aggressive, clearly looking to pick a fight, yet Shen Yichi’s expression betrayed nothing. Calmly, he bowed with a face full of smiles: “I wonder what instructions the Prince has for this humble one?”
As if he weren’t the one who had abandoned him in the outskirts, as if he weren’t the one who had taken his guards to inspect the relay station as if this were the first time the two of them had ever met.
Xie Yunshu was so angry he almost laughed. He couldn’t help straightening his back slightly. Since this man loved acting so much, he was willing to play along to the very end.
“Eunuch Chi, what impressive authority you wielded last night.”
Shen Yichi lowered his head, the picture of obedient contrition: “It was all this humble one’s fault, Prince. To kill or to flay, whatever you wish.”
If it were the Emperor and the others, who knew what kind of punishment they might devise, but his younger brother had a gentle temperament since childhood. Shen Yichi wasn’t worried at all.
Sure enough, Xie Yunshu looked away and let out a quiet “tsk.” “Eunuch, you flatter yourself far too much. Just now in the hall, you and I already sorted out the whole affair with the Emperor. Why would I still punish you?”
“I only wish to ask, did the man you captured last night say anything?”
Xie Yunshu’s question was airtight, he wanted to ask about Uncle Lin’s whereabouts, yet his words carried the probing of someone afraid of being implicated. It was a pity, though…
Shen Yichi sighed softly. “That criminal passed away last night. But rest assured, Prince, we have already verified that the criminal truly had no connection to you whatsoever.”
Xie Yunshu froze. He had never imagined that Uncle Lin was already dead. “He passed away?”
Shen Yichi gave a slight nod, glancing at the palace attendants not far away. “But rest assured, Prince, this matter has nothing to do with you. It’s just that even I didn’t expect it before we even resorted to torture, the man was already gone.”
Xie Yunshu clenched his fists. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but mindful of the location, he could only glare at him, his eyes blazing with towering fury, looking as though he wanted to kill him.
Shen Yichi, as if scalded, quietly looked away. He recalled what his subordinates had reported yesterday: after Prince Xian appeared in the Imperial Capital, the remnants of Marquis Anning had likewise begun stirring in the capital. Shen Yichi had been somewhat worried about how to muddle through this affair, but fortunately, they had been careful and cautious during their contact, leaving no trace whatsoever.
He licked his lower lip, suddenly craving one of those bitter pills.
It took Xie Yunshu a long while to come back to himself. With a cold face, he said “good” three times. “Good, good, good. Eunuch Chi is truly so dutiful.”
Shen Yichi didn’t want to keep sparring with him. Perhaps it was because he’d just thought of the pills, but his vision kept going dark. He clenched his palms to force himself to stay standing. “If there is nothing else, Prince, this humble one must go back inside to attend to the Emperor.”
But Xie Yunshu blocked his path, lowering his voice. “Eunuch Chi, carrying this air of bloodshed about you, you move so freely at the Emperor’s and Eldest Royal Brother’s sides. Tell me, does the Emperor know?”
Shen Yichi didn’t answer. He only kept his head lowered, the corner of his mouth curling up, and replied loudly: “Prince, you should return home soon. Just now a servant came to report that Prince Xian’s Manor has been cleaned and readied. This humble one must go attend to the Emperor.”