The seventh day of the fifth lunar month was the birthday of Prince Zhong, Xiao Ze. Consequently, Emperor Jiande issued a decree to hold a banquet in the palace to celebrate the occasion, demonstrating the deep affection between the Imperial brothers.
The late Emperor had many offspring, each skilled in civil and military affairs. Constant disputes in court had delayed the appointment of a Crown Prince for a long time, leading to fratricide during the late Emperor’s twilight years and a prolonged struggle for the throne.
By the time the late Emperor finally resolved to appoint an heir, the princes were mostly dead or deposed. Only three remained. The Fifth Prince had a congenital disability that made him unfit for great responsibilities, and the Fourteenth Prince was a mere child. After much deliberation, only the mediocre Seventh Prince remained, who is the current Emperor.
Emperor Jiande knew well that the late Emperor had granted him the throne only out of necessity. Therefore, for many years, he remained very wary of his intelligent younger brother, the fourteenth. After ascending the throne, he titled this brother as a Commandery Prince with the name Zhong, meaning loyalty, as a constant reminder to remain loyal to the sovereign.
Fortunately, over the years, Prince Zhong had shown an interest only in romantic pursuits and never participated in political struggles. Gradually, the Emperor lowered his guard and treated his brother with great care.
The palace spared no effort for Prince Zhong’s birthday banquet. The event was attended not only by Imperial relatives but also by high ranking ministers of the court, illustrating that Prince Zhong enjoyed significant Imperial favor.
Xiao Qi sat at a secluded spot of the feast, sipping shallowly from a cup of mellow wine. He raised his eyes to steal a glance at Prince Zhong, who sat diagonally ahead. Prince Zhong rarely entered the palace, and Xiao Qi had not seen this Imperial Uncle for a long time.
During the banquet, the sound of the zither was as clear as flowing water. The dancers were graceful and lithe, displaying their beauty to the fullest. Prince Zhong’s gaze followed the women without blinking, his fingertips tapping gently on his wine cup in rhythm with the music, his eyes already showing a state of infatuation.
Xiao Li was conversing with the First Assistant, Yu Zhongqin, but his gaze drifted toward Prince Zhong from time to time. Seeing Xiao Ze in such a state, he could not help but smile secretly.
Xiao Qi took in the entire scene, lowered his brows slightly, and shifted his gaze from Prince Zhong toward the table where Yu Zhongqin and the other ministers sat. After searching for a long while, he failed to see a certain familiar, majestic face, and he could not help but sigh softly.
Yan Qushan sat beside him, arranging food for him. Hearing the sigh, he spoke, “Lord Shangguan’s health is still robust. Your Highness need not worry.”
“I naturally know that since the storm has not yet settled, Grandfather should not show his face. It is just” He paused slightly, then looked at the glowing, talkative Yu Zhongqin not far away. “I fear others are taking advantage of the vacuum.”
Hearing his words, Yan Qushan gave a soft smile and said warmly, “No flower stays red for a hundred days.”
Xiao Qi let out a light huff. “I hope so.”
Yan Qushan raised his hand, using a handkerchief to wipe Xiao Qi’s palm. “The Imperial Physician said Your Highness needs rest. Do not trouble yourself with these matters anymore.” He paused halfway, his gaze lingering on the Imperial dishes in front of Xiao Qi that had hardly been touched. “Does this food not suit Your Highness’s appetite?”
Xiao Qi leaned softly against his side, allowing him to hold his hand. “You know well that these days I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. I cannot touch anything greasy. By the way, I asked you earlier to bring word to Qing’er to send a plate of plum cakes. Why has she not appeared after so long?”
Just as Yan Qushan was about to speak, a familiar face entered from a side door. It was the young eunuch responsible for testing Xiao Qi’s food. Yan Qushan’s lips curved slightly as he said slowly, “He arrived just in time; Qing’er must have sent him.”
Sure enough, the young eunuch carried a food box and walked quickly toward the two of them. As Yan Qushan raised his hand to open the box to take out the pastries, he glanced at the timid eunuch and smiled. “You have worked hard, Manager.”
The young eunuch gave him a deep look, his eyes flickering for a moment before returning to his usual expression. He bowed. “This is my duty.”
Xiao Qi dismissed him. His pale, slender fingertips picked up a piece of plum cake and were about to bring it to his mouth when Yan Qushan’s gaze sharpened. He suddenly raised his hand and intercepted the pastry.
A sharp smack startled Xiao Qi. He looked at Yan Qushan with displeasure. “What are you doing?”
Yan Qushan’s jaw was set, his expression grave. Seeing this, Xiao Qi’s heart skipped a beat. He looked toward the plum cakes as Yan Qushan suddenly reached out and lightly brushed the white jade plate. A small amount of powder appeared on his hand.
The powder was extremely fine. Unless one looked specifically for it, it was impossible to see. Yan Qushan brought the powder to his nose and sniffed it gently. His expression turned to one of horror. “Your Highness!”
“Someone has laced these plum cakes with Heart Breaking Powder!”
Xiao Qi’s fingertips trembled instantly, and his heart sank to the bottom. Having grown up in the palace, how could he not know how lethal Heart Breaking Powder was? It was enough to take a life.
His chest heaved, and he moved to stand up indignantly. “That eunuch who tests the food is a useless fool. I must report this to Father!”
Yan Qushan patted his back to calm him, then spoke in a low voice, “Your Highness, you must not.”
Xiao Qi’s eyes widened suddenly, and he prepared to argue. “Why not? Someone wants my life, I”
“You are mistaken, Your Highness. Since things have come to this, it is better to fulfill that person’s wish.” Yan Qushan turned, his gaze floating on Xiao Qi’s face for a long time like flowing water, appearing infinitely tender at first glance.
That gaze was as heavy as a thousand pounds. Xiao Qi stared back at him blankly, then suddenly realized something from the depths of those eyes. His face turned deathly pale. “Yan Qushan, you, what are you going to do?!”
His beautiful phoenix eyes were full of horror, no longer possessing his usual arrogance but rather a world shaking fear. Xiao Qi tightly gripped Yan Qushan’s wrist, his fingertips ice cold. “What are you doing? You cannot, you must not”
“Yan Qushan!”
But he was one step too late. A small piece of the plum cake had already entered Yan Qushan’s mouth and dissolved instantly. Yan Qushan looked at Xiao Qi, a bitter smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He pried Xiao Qi’s fingers from his wrist one by one, then suddenly raised his hand to briefly caress Xiao Qi’s cheek.
His fingertips moved across his face like a silk ribbon before dropping away, like an invisible stream of water. Yan Qushan looked at Xiao Qi, his gaze infinitely affectionate. “Qi’er.”
He no longer called him Your Highness, but called him Qi’er, a name even his mother had never used.
At that moment, tears rolled down from those crimson eyes. Xiao Qi gripped his hand tightly, pressing Yan Qushan’s palm against his face and rubbing against it like a cat. The spaces between Yan Qushan’s fingers became cold and wet.
“No, Yan Qushan, no” Xiao Qi sobbed, his vision completely blurred. “Yan Qushan!”
Yan Qushan still looked at him tenderly, as if treating a priceless treasure. His fingertips curled slightly against Xiao Qi’s cheek, weak and strained. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more, but he ultimately swallowed it back, offering only a final breath. “The only thing I can do for you is this”
“Much.”
Blood sprayed onto Xiao Qi’s face. He was like a jade statue suddenly struck open from the top. Xiao Qi gripped Yan Qushan’s hand tightly, his eyes bloodshot. Yan Qushan’s blood mixed with his tears, flowing coldly down his neck.
“Yan Qushan!”