Jiang Huaichu’s heart raced wildly. Years of tempering allowed him to suppress the turbulent emotions after a brief moment of shock, restoring calm and naturalness to his expression.
The highest, most unattainable man in Daning was here in this small teahouse.
Jiang Huaichu’s expression stiffened slightly.
He had already spoken words of refusal…
His mind stirred slightly as he took a couple more discreet glances at the jade in the box before silently shifting his gaze away.
The Changling Guard had been secretly observing his expression. Seeing his eyes widen slightly the moment the box was opened and now his sudden silence, the guard also abandoned his earlier earnest persuasion and tacitly remained quiet.
In that brief, subtle one or two seconds, Jiang Huaichu glanced at him, and coincidentally, the Changling Guard also looked his way. Their eyes met briefly in the air before each knowingly lowered their gaze.
Every member of the Changling Guard was sharp and perceptive, skilled at reading people’s minds. By now, he understood Jiang Huaichu’s thoughts very, very well. His eyes shifted slightly as he spoke with a mix of consideration and difficulty: “My master says that once he gives something away, he never takes it back. If you refuse to accept it, young master, he instructed me to destroy it directly.”
Jiang Huaichu appropriately showed a hint of surprise and reluctance.
The Changling Guard sighed: “Although this item isn’t priceless, it is still quite rare. Destroying such a treasure would be a pity. So, young master, perhaps you could reluctantly…”
Jiang Huaichu, filled with mixed emotions, took the hinted-at opportunity and sighed softly: “Indeed. In that case, I’ll accept it graciously.”
The Changling Guard breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s for the best. This way, my master won’t be angry with me. Thank you for your kindness, young master.”
Jiang Huaichu received it with both hands, closed the brocade box, his mind racing with countless thoughts. He bowed with a smile: “Please convey my gratitude to your master. Xie Caiqing comes from humble origins and is honored that he does not look down on me, gifting me such an item. If I ever rise to prominence, I will certainly serve him in some capacity.”
The Changling Guard was momentarily stunned, making sure he hadn’t misheard. Suppressing a laugh, he nodded to Jiang Huaichu before turning and leaving.
Behind him, Jiang Huaichu held the brocade box, feeling as if he were holding a hot potato.
…
Upstairs, Xiao Yun casually took a bite of a tribute fruit from the crystal-clear tray: “Did he say anything?”
The Changling Guard’s expression shifted slightly as he began to report.
“If I ever rise to prominence, what?” Xiao Yun said impatiently. “Can’t you speak clearly? Hurry up.”
The Changling Guard quickly replied: “He said… he would certainly serve you in some capacity.”
Xiao Yun’s expression froze for a moment.
He choked violently, feeling both angry and amused: “Does he think I’m his father? ‘Serve me in some capacity.’”
Such words were typically spoken by a disciple to a teacher or an adopted son to a godfather—always from a junior to a senior. If spoken between peers, it would imply… a same-sex attraction.
Xie Zhe struggled to hold back his laughter and couldn’t help but speak up for Xie Caiqing: “The Changling Guard referred to you as ‘master’ in front of him, and that jade is no ordinary item. To casually gift something like that, the giver would have to be at least a third-rank official or higher in the court. Those who have climbed the ranks to such a position are almost all over fifty. How could he have imagined it was the young and handsome Emperor?”
“When did you learn to be so slick-tongued?” Xiao Yun laughed and scolded.
He turned and casually asked: “You said earlier that he initially refused but accepted after seeing it?”
The Changling Guard nodded.
Xie Zhe whispered: “Is he greedy for wealth or drawn to power?”
Initially refusing to take it was likely due to either heavy caution or high standards looking down on it. Suddenly wanting it after seeing it meant either being moved by its considerable value or, upon seeing such a precious item, guessing the giver must be someone of high status and wanting to make a connection.
Whichever it was, going back on one’s word and breaking promises showed a restless nature—either driven by greed for wealth or consumed by lust for power. This clearly didn’t match the confident, world-embracing image he had projected.
Xiao Yun couldn’t quite figure it out for the moment and didn’t bother to dwell on it. He suddenly recalled how the man, despite dressing plainly, still wore an exquisitely embroidered sachet at his waist, matched his hair ribbon to his clothes, and insisted the ribbons hanging on both sides be perfectly symmetrical in length. He found it inexplicably amusing.
“Xie Zhe, don’t always assume people are so worldly. At his age, he’s not like those old men at court. He might have just wanted it because it looked pretty—like a little girl.”
Xie Zhe thought for a moment and laughed along.
…
Inside the inn.
After returning from Yixian Lou, Jiang Huaichu sat quietly by the window, silently rubbing the jade in his hand.
Jiang Huaichu knew jade. This piece was mutton-fat white jade, pure white throughout, crystal clear and flawless, feeling as fine and warm as lard to the touch, with a glossy, oily sheen on the surface.
The jade was shaped like a peace knot, except the hollow center was carved with a lifelike little Pixiu.
The peace knot symbolized safety, while the Pixiu attracted wealth and warded off evil—both meanings were excellent. Its appearance was simple yet elegant. In the past, he would have adored it. The problem was… it was given by Xiao Yun.
Consort Dowager knew that when he encountered trouble, he tended to stay quiet, preferring to sit alone and silently think of solutions without worrying others.
She, always impatient, walked over and patted his shoulder, gently comforting him, “This jade might not necessarily be Xiao Yun’s.”
Jiang Huaichu snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. “It’s his.”
Consort Dowager disagreed, “Oh, how could it be such a coincidence? Xiao Yun left the palace, our informants just happened to lose track of him, you just happened to invite me to Yixian Lou, you just happened to argue and defend your elder brother, Xiao Yun just happened to be in the private room hearing everything, and you refused it only to ask for it later—already making a fool of yourself in front of him without even meeting him? How is that possible?”
“…Stop talking,” Jiang Huaichu muttered, unusually listless, his ears slightly red.
In all these years, he had never made such a big mistake.
“If the two of you had that kind of fate, wouldn’t the matchmaker have tied you together as a perfect pair? So it can’t be. Daning has so many high-ranking officials and nobles. This jade is precious, but it’s not priceless. Many could afford to give it. Don’t overthink it, just relax—”
With a creak, Rushi gently pushed the door open, and Jiang Huaichu immediately looked at him.
Rushi turned to close the door, strode over, pulled a piece of rice paper stamped with the Milo Secret Seal from his sleeve, and spread it out on the table.
Consort Dowager’s comforting smile instantly froze on her face.
The jade depicted on the paper was identical to the one Jiang Huaichu held in his hand.
Jiang Huaichu compared the jade in his hand with the drawing—not a single detail differed.
He looked at Consort Dowager.
Consort Dowager: “…I won’t say anything.”
After a few seconds, she couldn’t help but add, “How did you know it was Xiao Yun’s just by looking at it?”
Rushi thoughtfully explained for the young prince: “Two months ago, the young master asked me for all information regarding Xiao Yun—his accessories, commonly worn robes, and such. I had people redraw everything at the time, thousands of copies sent together to the young master. What I’m holding now is the original painting stored in the organization. He hardly ever wore this jade, so the painting was extremely difficult to find—I almost couldn’t locate it.”
Consort Dowager privately marveled at Jiang Huaichu’s remarkable memory.
The emperor’s possessions were something others dared not replicate.
This jade was one of a kind in the world.
It undoubtedly belonged to Xiao Yun.
Consort Dowager said incredulously: “Then why did he not only gift you this jade but also say those refined words when you rejected him and belittled his appearance? Could it be that he’s a masochist who only likes those who look down on him? Oh, everyone else is eager to cling to him, but he treats me with indifference—how unique he is, how much I adore him?”
Rushi also looked over, utterly bewildered.
“…” Jiang Huaichu rubbed his temples. This was precisely the question he had been pondering earlier.
If he hadn’t carefully analyzed Xiao Yun’s personality, he would have likely concluded the same.
Over the past two months, disregarding the rumors circulating about Xiao Yun, he had slowly compiled everything that could be known about him, breaking it down piece by piece, examining it meticulously, attempting to understand the most authentic Xiao Yun.
But Xiao Yun was renowned throughout the land for defying convention—fighting wars not by military strategy, governing not by ancestral laws, refusing to establish an empress as expected—one could almost say he acted entirely on whim. The gloomy and extreme personality that should have resulted from his childhood experiences was completely opposite to his current disposition.
He was a fractured, enigmatic figure.
Jiang Huaichu was also well aware that if the emperor of a nation were so easily deciphered, then anyone could manipulate him to rise swiftly to prominence.
He even suspected that much of the information was false, deliberately spread by Xiao Yun to confuse and deceive the world.
Over the years, Jiang Huaichu had navigated skillfully among various factions, discerning countless individuals, yet he had to admit that Xiao Yun was the most complex and difficult to grasp among them.
He had only gleaned a few faint clues.
Jiang Huaichu rubbed the jade that might have been in Xiao Yun’s hands just an hour ago, his eyes curving into a smile: “I suspect he might be trying to tease me in retaliation.”
Rushi and Consort Dowager were both startled.
Consort Dowager’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked: “How is gifting something considered retaliation?”
Jiang Huaichu said: “What he specifically did isn’t actually important; emotions cannot be faked. Given his nature, if I made him suffer a silent loss, he would surely want me to suffer one as well.”
Consort Dowager had never heard such a novel explanation before: “Then what does the young master plan to do?”
“I don’t specifically know what he will do either. We’ll take it step by step,” Jiang Huaichu said. “Let’s set this aside for now. The urgent matter is to pass the imperial exam as the Zhuangyuan. This cannot be delayed.”
Consort Dowager nodded, knowing he had his own plans, and did not press further: “Then what do you intend to do with this jade? Wear it at your waist?”
She then shook her head: “That’s not good. If Xiao Yun’s possession is stolen or broken, it would be a significant risk. What if you meet him in the future and he asks about it…”
Jiang Huaichu thought for a moment and smiled.
He asked Rushi to go out and buy a red cord. Threading the cord through the circular hole in the jade, he lowered his head, letting the jade hang against his chest. With both hands, he brought the ends of the cord behind his neck, his slender, soft fingers deftly and lightly tying a firm knot.
The flawless white jade now hung heavily against his flawless white neck.
Jiang Huaichu slightly loosened his always impeccably neat collar, tucked the jade inside against his fair skin, then gathered the fabric back and meticulously straightened his robes.
Only a slender, inconspicuous red cord remained around his neck.
Rushi lowered his eyes, and the Consort Dowager inexplicably coughed.