“Don’t be so nervous. Before Lord Xiao gives his nod of approval, I won’t do anything to you.”
Xiao Ci looked at him coldly. To think that a person he could squeeze to death at any moment still harbored delusions of doing something to him?
Qin Ziyu looked left and right. “Which room do you stay in? Let me put the blanket down; it’s a bit heavy.”
“Crown Prince.” Xiao Ci put down his brush, suppressing the fury in his heart. Since Qin Ziyu had returned from the gates of hell, he seemed like a different person. Although he still feared Xiao Ci, he always came forward with a thick skin, remaining unmoved even when scolded forever maintaining the attitude of a “dead pig who doesn’t fear boiling water.”
“You seem to have misunderstood something.”
He rose and walked over to stand before Qin Ziyu. “The only reason I haven’t moved against you is that I haven’t found a suitable scapegoat yet, not because I lack the courage to do so.”
Qin Ziyu replied unhurriedly, “There is no misunderstanding.”
“I know. I also know that your initial target was the Prince of Jing.”
Inside the hall, the doors and windows were tightly shut. Though there was no wind, the air was thick with a brewing storm. The flickering candlelight broke the silence, jumping abruptly a few times.
Qin Ziyu turned around. “Is it this room? It’s too cold in here. Is one blanket enough? If not, I can go to the Eastern Palace and fetch a few more.”
He ignored Xiao Ci’s murderous gaze. Framing someone required the right timing; Xiao Ci could not possibly strike at this moment.
The furnishings in the inner chamber were even simpler, resembling a temporary dormitory: a single large carved bed, a screen to block the outside world, and two cabinets for clothes. There wasn’t even a chair.
Xiao Ci followed close behind Qin Ziyu, watching his movements intently.
“What else do you know?”
Qin Ziyu set the blanket down. “I know far too much. Why doesn’t Lord Xiao try some strict interrogation and torture?”
“Perhaps you might even find some unexpected rewards.”
Faking weakness was not his style. Qin Ziyu was not a soft-hearted person by nature; once or twice was fine, but a permanent facade would eventually slip. It was better to let nature take its course, as a strong opponent is more likely to incite a desire for conquest.
As for the difference in personality from the original host, Qin Ziyu had been making gradual changes over the past few days. The people around him were already used to it and no longer suspected he was possessed by a ghost.
Xiao Ci leaned half-way against the screen, his long hair cascading to his waist. He had not yet reached the age to wear a formal cap, so his hair was simply held by a black jade hairpin. The stray hairs at his forehead curled slightly, and the patterns on his dark purple robes shimmered faintly in the candlelight. His face, caught between light and shadow, was like the sea calm on the surface, but with turbulent currents surging underneath.
“A clever person never exposes their cleverness before others.”
Xiao Ci’s tone was chilly. “Your Highness clearly knows my intentions, yet you frequently come here to be an eyesore. Are you creating an opportunity for me?”
“Yes. So, when does Lord Xiao plan to strike?” Qin Ziyu walked to his side, looking up at him.
Xiao Ci rubbed his fingers together, clearly tempted to act.
Qin Ziyu suddenly shifted the topic: “I am not a clever person; I can only guess some of your lordship’s thoughts.”
“Plotting with a tiger is not as good as becoming a true superior. Wouldn’t it be better to control the entire board?”
Xiao Ci straightened his posture. He realized he had underestimated this sickly youth. He had assumed Qin Ziyu, having spent his life in the palace unable to study or practice martial arts, was indifferent to the court situation and only enjoyed tormenting people in secret. Now, he found the person standing before him was vastly different from his imagination.
Qin Ziyu didn’t just understand the situation—he had it in the palm of his hand. This applied not only to Xiao Ci, but to the Prince of Jing and the Emperor as well.
“I’m afraid Your Highness won’t be able to step out of the Kaiyang Palace doors today,” Xiao Ci said.
To such a threatening statement, an ordinary person would feel fear. Qin Ziyu simply waved it off. “Don’t be polite. Since I’ve come, I haven’t planned on leaving.”
“Have you had dinner? Have them prepare an extra portion.”
Fear solved nothing. If he were afraid, he would have died at Xiao Ci’s hands long ago. Back when he was first taken to that abandoned dark room, he would have died of fright and illness.
Qin Ziyu reached out, intending to pat Xiao Ci’s shoulder. Xiao Ci took a step back, leaving Qin Ziyu’s hand frozen in mid-air. He then acted as if nothing had happened and walked outward. “Let’s talk while we eat. My body cannot handle hunger.”
Xiao Ci clenched his fists and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, he had regained his usual expressionless mask.
Dinner at the Kaiyang Palace was much more lavish than at the Eastern Palace. Qin Ziyu ate with great delight and decided he would come here for meals every day. Ideally, he would stay and never leave.
However, he didn’t eat much. Xiao Ci, on the other hand, despite looking like a harmless “pretty boy,” actually had quite an appetite. He ate unhurriedly and with great elegance; one could hardly imagine him as a child fighting other beggars for food.
To grow so tall despite malnutrition had he been raised in luxury, would he have pierced the sky? The title of “Giant of the Great Qing” should be given to Xiao Ci.
After Qin Ziyu was full, Xiao Ci was still eating.
“Lord Xiao can carefully consider my proposal from earlier.”
“It is true that I harmed you in the past, and it is only right that you harbor resentment. But what would killing me achieve? Even if you don’t act, I won’t live long anyway. It’s better to keep me around; perhaps I’ll be of use later.”
Xiao Ci put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth composedly, and had the servants clear away the remains of the meal.
“The Prince of Jing is not a tiger.”
“He is a cat.”
And an adolescent cat at that. To Xiao Ci, he was no threat—perhaps he had some bite, but he was ultimately fragile.
Qin Ziyu said, “With Grand Secretary Zhang behind him, he will not remain a cat.”
“I am the cat.”
Xiao Ci threw the handkerchief aside and stared at Qin Ziyu’s face, saying seriously, “Your Highness flatters yourself too much.”
Qin Ziyu: “…”
“Your lordship’s speech is getting more and more sophisticated.”
“Since that is the case, I am a far more suitable choice than the Prince of Jing.”
“First, I am the legitimate Crown Prince; supporting the Crown Prince is not considered rebellion. Second, my body is weak; I am easy to control and will have no heirs. In a few years, your lordship can select a young child from the imperial clan to raise personally. Third…”
He approached slowly, coming to a halt less than half a meter from Xiao Ci.
“I admire your lordship in my heart and am willing to be a pawn in your hands. How does that saying go?”
“Follow the chicken if you marry a chicken, follow the dog if you marry a dog… a husband leads and the wife follows… a couple as one, through wind and rain, in the same boat across ten thousand waves…”
Xiao Ci interrupted him: “Your Highness.”
“I have official business and cannot accompany Your Highness in this theatrical performance. Please suit yourself.”
He swiftly put on his official uniform and departed with the wind. Before Qin Ziyu could even shout a word, the silhouette had already vanished into the darkness.
Ah well, it seems today was another failure.
Xiao Ci had to investigate the matter of the thief and truly had no time for him. However, the goal had been achieved. As long as those words reached Xiao Ci’s ears, there would be an opportunity for cooperation… or an opportunity to be a pawn.
When Lu Moyun heard that Qin Ziyu had chased someone to the Kaiyang Palace while hugging a blanket, he nearly fell off his chair.
“Are you chasing him or trying to disgust him?”
Was he really not afraid of Xiao Ci striking out?!
Qin Ziyu raised an eyebrow. “Chasing him, naturally.”
“Am I not charming enough? I’ve ‘washed myself white’ yet no one wants me.”
Seeing Lu Moyun’s expression growing increasingly grim, Qin Ziyu admitted, “Alright, I was indeed trying to disgust him.”
“While he won’t strike at me for now, I’ll be as nauseating as I can. Later on, I won’t have the chance.”
Lu Moyun replied, “Yes, later you can become a ghost to scare him.”
Qin Ziyu had a headache. He truly had no other options. If the original host hadn’t left such a massive mess even if he had brought Xiao Ci into the palace and then ignored him at least that could be explained away. He could have said he was afraid Xiao Ci would starve and at least the palace offered food and warmth. You weren’t the first to enter the palace as a eunuch; didn’t everyone just want to survive and get ahead?
The difficulty lay in the fact that the original host didn’t just personally bring him into the palace; he humiliated Xiao Ci multiple times after he became a eunuch. Multiple times! So many times that both hands couldn’t count them.
“The Prince of Jing is ambitious, and Xiao Ci is a clever man. He knows how to choose.”
“How is the investigation I asked you to do?”
Lu Moyun shook his head. “Nothing found.”
“Imperial Physician Li vanished without a trace. I cannot investigate openly. I scouted the manor at night; the family only took ready cash. Many pieces of jewelry were scattered on the floor, likely dropped while running. They left in a chaotic hurry; it was clearly a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“The Prince of Jing might know the inside story. If this has nothing to do with him, you must be careful.”
Qin Ziyu nodded. “I understand.”
Xiao Ci wouldn’t move against an elderly physician. If he wanted his life, he would just kill him directly; there was no need to go in circles. The suicide note Imperial Physician Li left before leaving clearly showed he knew he would die. Who was behind it?
Aside from the physician, there was also no progress on the thief. This was a game played by the Prince of Jing and Xiao Ci together to throw the court into chaos and fish in troubled waters.
“How is that… ‘Yuan’ person now?” Qin Ziyu asked.
Lu Moyun: “Xue Huaiyuan.”
“Oh, Xue Huaiyuan. I only remembered the ‘Yuan.’ You’re his senior brother now, right? How is your relationship?” Qin Ziyu continued.
Lu Moyun: “Huaiyuan is very hard-working. He reads until dawn every day. The teacher likes him very much. He can take the imperial exams in two years. He trusts me deeply and often comes to me for discussion.”
“I’ll introduce you later.”
Qin Ziyu shook his head. “No need. It’s just a precaution. After all, he shares blood with Xiao Ci. With him around, it’s the same as holding a handle against Xiao Ci.”
“Speaking of handles, the one in your palace is more useful,” Lu Moyun said.
They had read the novel and knew where Xiao Ci’s “life-gate” was. Coincidentally, Xiao Ci’s brother had been easily found by Lu Moyun, and their biological elder sister was currently in the Eastern Palace.
Xiao Ci was three years older than his brother. When they were separated, the brother was only five. Coupled with a persistent high fever, he had lost his memory and was adopted by a family named Xue outside Chang’an. They weren’t wealthy, but they had no lack of food or clothing. Plus, with Xue Huaiyuan’s hard work, he had passed the county exam at the age of twelve.
As for Xiao Ci’s sister, she had been sold into a wealthy household as a maid. She hadn’t lost her memory and remembered everything, but being trapped in the palace, she had no way to search for her siblings. She certainly couldn’t have imagined that the lowly “Little Puppy” of the past was now the illustrious Governor of the West Depot.