The Empress was confined to her quarters, leaving the Fengyi Palace deserted and lonely. In stark contrast, the Hall of Grace saw a constant stream of gold, silver, and paintings by famous masters being delivered within.
The Emperor had further appointed Shangguan Yi to enter the palace as a teacher of riding and archery, allowing him to accompany Xiao Qi daily. It seemed as if the Emperor intended to make up for sixteen years of neglected affection all at once.
As for the Second Prince’s study companion, Yan Qunshan, he had earned the Prince’s full trust by risking his life to test the poison. These days, Xiao Qi was inseparable from Yan Qunshan, asking for his opinion on every decision. He treated him entirely as a trusted confidant, showing that Yan Qunshan’s status in the Prince’s heart was extraordinary.
When the master is favored, the servant’s status naturally rises. Everyone in the palace now addressed him respectfully as Young Master Yan. Although his title had not changed, the way people treated him was nothing like before; it could truly be said that his influence was at its peak.
However, no matter how treacherous or calculating the palace became, the Chonghua Palace remained a place for reading the classics, indifferent to the affairs of the outside world.
The teacher flipped through the princes’ essays one by one, occasionally frowning and yet at other times showing looks of amazement. Finally, he gave a sigh and placed a scroll down. “Second Highness.”
Xiao Qi perked up his ears. The brush in his hand slipped slightly, leaving a trail of ink dots across the rice paper. “Teacher?”
“The wording in this essay is beautiful and the momentum is magnificent; it is fundamentally a good piece of writing. However, the tone between the lines is a bit too sharp, filled with the glint of swords and shadows of spears; the hostility is too heavy.” He stroked his white beard and shook his head gently. “Revise it and submit it to me again tomorrow.”
After finishing, he nodded to everyone. “That will be all for today’s lesson.”
Yan Qunshan bowed and took the essay, then handed it into Xiao Qi’s palm. Xiao Qi spread it out, his gaze fixing on the top.
Understanding his intent, Yan Qunshan leaned close to his ear. “Does Your Highness wish to revise it now?”
Xiao Qi nodded. He glanced at the desk and said, “There is not enough ink. Go and tell Fang Hai to fetch some more.”
Yan Qunshan took the order and left the study to send Fang Hai on the errand. However, when he re-entered the room, he heard the sound of an argument between Xiao Qi and the Third Prince, Xiao Hong, echoing within the pavilion.
“Second Brother is truly hardworking and diligent, still studying?” The one speaking with such sarcasm was Xiao Hong.
Xiao Qi was not one to be outdone and shot back, “It is merely a revision; it will not take much time. On the other hand, you wrote a piece of nonsense that needs to be completely redone. I wonder how many days that will waste.”
Xiao Hong’s triangular eyes widened with rage. Just as he was about to continue the argument, Xue Gongwen tried to mediate, only to be cursed at so severely that the Chonghua Palace was thrown into a state of chaos.
The discord between the Second and Third Princes was no longer news, and their verbal sparring was common. Yan Qunshan did not take it to heart. He was about to go over to organize Xiao Qi’s books when he suddenly found his path blocked. A person stood before him with a fair face, two dimples tucked by the corners of his mouth, smiling brilliantly at him.
It was Xiao Yue.
While the relationship between Xiao Hong and Xiao Qi was like fire and water, Xiao Hong’s younger brother, Xiao Yue, had a gentle temperament. Whenever there were disputes, he was usually the one trying to smooth things over. He had never been particularly close to Yan Qunshan.
“Brother Yan, wait a moment.” He held his scrolls and moved closer to Yan Qunshan. “I am quite dull; I can never memorize this essay. Could you explain it to me?”
Yan Qunshan frowned imperceptibly. “Your Highness may address this student by his name.”
His cold words made Xiao Yue look aggrieved. He looked up at him timidly and delicately. “Does Brother Yan not like it?”
Xiao Yue lowered his eyes. “I only thought that this way I could be closer to Brother Yan.”
“Your Highness is noble, while this student is lowly. I truly do not deserve to be called brother by Your Highness.” Yan Qunshan cupped his hands slightly and took a step back, seeking to distance himself.
Seeing him about to walk away, Xiao Yue reached out in a panic for his sleeve. No one expected the study door to be pushed open at that moment; it was Fang Hai, carrying the ink.
Fang Hai had not expected anyone to be at the door. Startled, his foot slipped, and the ink began to fly toward Xiao Yue.
Yan Qunshan was stunned. He remembered the person before him was a Prince, so he moved quickly to shield Xiao Yue. The ink crashed directly onto his back, leaving a dark, messy stain on his moon white robes.
Even though he had taken the full force of the blow and Xiao Yue was unharmed, Xiao Yue was still terrified. He gave a cry and shrank into Yan Qunshan’s arms, trembling all over.
From that angle, it looked as if Yan Qunshan were embracing him.
The moment he pounced, the hair on Yan Qunshan’s body nearly stood on end. He was about to push him away when someone else acted faster. Xiao Qi strode over and, with unknown strength, grabbed Yan Qunshan by the collar and yanked him aside.
He stood with his arms crossed, looking at the piteous Xiao Yue on the ground. He gave a cold laugh. “Looking at Fourth Brother’s appearance, one would think that ink was some sort of monstrous beast.”
He then kicked Fang Hai, who was dazed at the door, and cursed, “So careless! How do you do your job?”
“And you.” Xiao Qi turned his head to glare at Yan Qunshan. He gave him a fierce look. “What kind of hero are you trying to be?”
Just as Yan Qunshan was about to soothe him, Xiao Yue interrupted timidly from the side. “Second Brother, do not be angry. It is my fault. I only wanted to ask Brother Yan to explain an essay to me.”
Xiao Qi raised an eyebrow, his voice rising slightly. “Brother Yan?”
He snorted and looked down at him through his lashes. “Yan Qunshan? What kind of brother is he to you?”
“You are a member of the Royal Family, yet you try to claim kin like this? Fourth Brother, have you no shame?” Xiao Qi said mercilessly in a deep voice.
Seeing him speak to his younger brother this way, Xiao Hong clicked his tongue and prepared to demand justice, but Xiao Yue stopped him in secret. With red eyes, Xiao Yue’s gaze kept drifting toward Yan Qunshan, looking as if he were about to weep. “Second Brother.”
Although he was not as radiant as Xiao Qi, his strength lay in his frail posture, like a lotus flower that would fall at the slightest breeze, which was quite capable of evoking pity.
Xiao Qi, naturally, saw through his affectionate and hesitant act, and his anger grew even greater. “Stop putting on your pretentious act.”
Leaving that sentence behind, he walked out of the Chonghua Palace without looking back. Xiao Hong watched his retreating figure and then looked at Xiao Yue with confusion. He leaned in and asked softly, “What is going on with you?”
“Why have you been so attentive toward Yan Qunshan lately? In the past, did you not look down most on scholars of such lowly birth?”
At this moment, Xiao Yue’s affected manner vanished completely. He brushed the dust from his clothes and spoke into Xiao Hong’s ear. “I do look down on him, but can you not see it yet?”
“Our Second Brother likes him very, very much.” He seemed to sigh with sentiment.
Xiao Hong finally showed a look of realization. “You are indeed the observant one. So Xiao Qi harbors those kinds of feelings for him.”
He hesitated slightly. “Are you approaching Yan Qunshan on purpose because of those feelings? But that man is deep and calculating; he does not seem like the type to give his heart away.”
Xiao Yue sneered. “Who cares for the heart of someone of lowly status?”
“It is just that if Second Brother likes him, then I must steal him away.” He gave a shallow smile, but his words were chilling. “Is that not what Mother said?”
“Whatever Xiao Qi has, you must take it all.”
Yan Qunshan followed behind Xiao Qi. Seeing his tight face and pursed lips, it was clear he was furious. He raised an eyebrow slightly, intentionally teasing him. “Is Your Highness angry?”
Xiao Qi stopped in his tracks and turned to glare at him. “You ungrateful thing.”
Yan Qunshan knew he must be jealous. He had intended to coax him, but seeing Xiao Qi like a cat with its fur standing on end, he found it adorable. He spread his hands in feigned helplessness. “The Fourth Prince is of noble status, while I am thick skinned; I had to protect him.”
Xiao Qi’s eyes widened, his cheeks flushing red with anger. “You protected him? Who is your master? Have you forgotten! Yan Qunshan, you.” He gasped, unsure whether to call him a “white eyed wolf” or a “bastard.” His breath was stuck.
He felt incredibly wronged and wanted nothing more than to beat him to vent his frustration. Seeing that Xiao Qi was truly about to explode, Yan Qunshan finally burst into laughter. He raised his hand and patted his back. “Calm yourself, Your Highness. I was only joking.”
“The Fourth Prince is a Prince after all; I had to maintain appearances.” Yan Qunshan winked at him. “The Fourth Prince is not as agile as Your Highness; he is clumsy. If that ink had injured him, the Third Prince might have used it as an excuse to take my life.”
He sighed. “At that time, I fear I would have been sent to the Department of Prudence and Justice to suffer all kinds of torture.”
Xiao Qi huffed as if in disdain. “What kind of person is Xiao Hong? Do you think I could not protect you?”
Yan Qunshan smiled. “Your Highness is wise and brave; naturally, you can keep me safe. It seems I was being too timid.”
“You only know how to use your silver tongue to make me happy.” Xiao Qi glared at him with feigned anger, but having been coaxed, his anger vanished. It was more like the flirting of lovers, truly like a cat rolling over to act spoiled.
Yan Qunshan lowered his head, tracing the lines of his features with his gaze, a smile on his lips. “But Your Highness is comfortable now, are you not?”
“In my heart, there is only Your Highness.”
His voice was low, flowing past Xiao Qi’s ear like running water. Xiao Qi’s heart beat like a drum, and in an instant, his cheeks became burning hot.
There was only a thin veil between him and Yan Qunshan, yet neither had ever pierced it. He knew Yan Qunshan’s words meant he was his confidant, serving him alone, but he could not help but think of it in another way.
Xiao Qi glanced up at him and then quickly lowered his eyelashes to hide the affection in his eyes. He reached out and accurately grasped Yan Qunshan’s hand. The warm temperature passed through their palms deep into his heart, making them inseparable.
“Stop talking nonsense,” he said softly. “Let’s go back.”
Yan Qunshan smiled, letting him hold his hand. He looked at Xiao Qi with a gaze as if he were looking at the love of his life, but in his mind, he thought of Xiao Yue’s recent intentional displays of kindness.
He had never had much interaction with Xiao Yue, but these days, whether it was helping the sister of the poison testing eunuch leave the palace a few days ago or throwing himself into his arms today, it all seemed too sudden.
His mind was as clear as a mirror; he naturally knew that Xiao Yue was not as simple or weak as he appeared. However, for the time being, he could not be sure what Xiao Yue’s true purpose was.
The Fourth Prince was born of the Empress, Yan Qunshan thought as he walked. The Fourth Prince has delivered himself to the door. If I can use this to become close to him and open a path into the civil faction, it could be considered a way to build momentum for entering the court in the future.
Before entering the palace, he had decided that even if he became the Second Prince’s man, he could not completely burn his bridges with the Third Prince. By not offending either side, he could adapt to any situation when the time came.
However, in that instant, Yan Qunshan somehow thought of the look Xiao Qi had just given him. The light in his eyes was crystal clear, like a spring where one could see the bottom, containing total trust and love.
Yan Qunshan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling strangely warm for some reason.
Never mind, he sighed inwardly. With the martial faction behind Xiao Qi, he could be considered to have great power in his grasp.
The Hall of Grace seemed even more lively than usual today. As soon as the doors opened, Du Ruo and the others hurried forward to meet them. She glanced at Xiao Qi, her face anxious and hesitant.
Xiao Qi’s eyes flashed with doubt. “What happened? Why the panic?”
Du Ruo looked at him and then at Yan Qunshan. She took a deep breath and then spoke as if staking everything on one throw. “News just came from the court: Yan Liang, the official of the Ministry of Works, has been thrown into the imperial prison!”
The cracks appeared for the first time on Yan Qunshan’s habitually composed face.
Yan Liang; that was Yan Qunshan’s biological father.