The sound of drums broke the morning silence. The snow on the ground had not yet melted. A middle-aged man who had entered the city early to sell firewood stopped in his tracks, rubbing his hands for warmth; every breath he took released a cloud of turbid air.
The area outside the Shuntian Prefecture was crowded with people. He curiously squeezed his way through, listening to the people discussing the notorious thief who had recently become the talk of Chang’an City.
“Is he caught?”
The person in front didn’t even turn his head. “What do you mean caught? He turned himself in!”
“Turned himself in?!”
“Yes, look, the ‘Chivalrous Thief’ is coming out!”
Although Chang’an was the Imperial City, standing just outside the palace walls, not everyone was wealthy. There were many poor families who had left their hometowns to earn some silver. Because this thief only stole family heirlooms from the manors of high officials, the commoners spread the news far and wide, eventually dubbing him the “Chivalrous Thief.”
Jiang Changyuan, the Prefect of Shuntian, had a splitting headache. He listened to the man standing in the court claiming to be the thief, asserting that he had accidentally stolen an account book. After reading it, he was so shocked that he didn’t dare keep it for himself, so he personally delivered it to the Shuntian Prefecture to charge Prince Nankang and Prince Puning.
“A mere commoner dares to charge the Princes of the current dynasty? Men! Give him twenty strokes of the heavy board first to serve as a warning to others!”
Jiang Changyuan threw down the command token. This was a rule established by the ancestors; otherwise, if every commoner dared to run to the Shuntian Prefecture to cause trouble, where would the Heavenly Majesty be?
The “Chivalrous Thief” claimed his surname was Xu. He did not resist when he was pressed to the ground, only shouting that it was a grievance of the ages. He claimed that as a chivalrous thief, it was his responsibility to rid the people of a scourge.
Jiang Changyuan’s mustache quirked up in anger. “Don’t forget, you are the scourge!”
The commoners didn’t understand the legal system and called him a chivalrous thief, but did he really start believing he was some great hero? Regardless of this “thief’s” intentions, he certainly wouldn’t escape the charge of theft.
The heavy boards fell. In less than three strokes, blood was visible. The thief Xu gritted his teeth and didn’t make a sound. The commoners cheered one after another, shouting and encouraging him; some even tried to rush forward to beg to be his apprentice on the spot but were blocked by the bailiffs.
“Silence!” Jiang Changyuan said sternly. “This is a government office; loud clamor is not permitted.”
The boards fell with a sound that grew heavier with every stroke. After the punishment, the bailiffs stepped aside. Thief Xu barely managed to kneel. The blood and sweat on his back mingled together, leaving him in a wretched state.
Jiang Changyuan nodded inwardly. The Shuntian Prefecture had set up a net across all of Chang’an to catch the thief, but in the end, they hadn’t caught anyone; instead, the thief had voluntarily turned himself in. Now, after twenty strokes, he hadn’t uttered a single sound—this man was indeed a man of iron character.
But no matter how much character he had, it couldn’t erase the fact that he had turned Chang’an upside down. And now he had launched a “skyrocket” by charging Prince Nankang and Prince Puning. Was he trying to level the Shuntian Prefecture to the ground?
Jiang Changyuan flipped through the account book presented by the bailiffs. The more he read, the more alarmed he became. He immediately had Thief Xu locked up and hurried into the palace with the account book in hand.
Inside the Kaiyang Palace, Qin Ziyu slowly opened his eyes.
The first person he saw was Qing’an, who had his back turned to him, fiddling with the silver charcoal on the heater. Hearing movement, Qing’an turned around. “Your Highness is awake!”
Qin Ziyu nodded and struggled to sit up, feeling weak all over.
“Don’t move around, Your Highness,” Qing’an said. “This servant will go call Imperial Physician Chen.”
Upon seeing Chen Zhuo, Qin Ziyu was puzzled. “Why are you here?”
Chen Zhuo said with a half-smile, “Your Highness had a stomach upset last night and developed a fever in the middle of the night. Your fever has only just broken. It’s better to stay in bed for a few more days and return to the Eastern Palace when the weather gets warmer.”
Hearing his tone, Qin Ziyu knew he had caused trouble for others. “My apologies for the hard work, Imperial Physician Chen. Once I am recovered, I shall reward you handsomely.”
“Where is Lord Xiao?”
Qing’an took a step forward. “The Emperor summoned him for an urgent matter. Lord Xiao watched over Your Highness for most of the night and only just left.”
“He watched over me half the night?” Qin Ziyu processed this information and let out a low laugh.
Chen Zhuo shook his head at the side. The Eastern Palace was so warm, yet His Highness wouldn’t stay there properly, insisting on coming to the Kaiyang Palace to suffer. Wasn’t this just looking for a hard time? The Governor surely didn’t appreciate the gesture. If it weren’t for His Highness’s noble status, he likely would have been thrown out to fend for himself long ago.
Chen Zhuo reminded him, “Your Highness’s commotion in the middle of the night alarmed the Noble Consort. The Sixth Prince came to check on you early this morning.” He had complained for quite a while about how cold the Kaiyang Palace was, freezing his precious Imperial Brother.
“The Noble Consort knows… then wouldn’t Father…” Qin Ziyu exhaled softly. “Was Father angry?”
Qing’an shook his head. “When the Emperor heard Your Highness was ill, he instructed us to take good care of you; he said nothing else.”
“Mhm. You all withdraw first. I will sleep a while longer. If Lord Xiao returns, wake me immediately.”
Qin Ziyu turned over. Although his stomach was empty, he had no appetite. He had been fed medicine while dazed last night, and his mouth was filled with the bitter taste of herbs. Qing’an wanted to advise him further, but Chen Zhuo shook his head and signaled him to stop. His Highness had a stomach upset; missing a couple of meals wouldn’t matter. Once the medicine took effect, he would naturally feel better.
Qin Ziyu slept until late afternoon, but there was still no sign of Xiao Ci. He understood in his heart that the man was likely tied up by matters outside and wouldn’t be back anytime soon.
It wasn’t until late in the hour of the Pig (10:00 PM).
Qin Ziyu put on his clothes and got up, walking out with Qing’an’s support. Just as he reached the screen, Xiao Ci pushed the door open and entered. The two met face-to-face, their gazes meeting and instantly parting.
“Your Highness’s…” “How did your lordship…”
Both spoke at the same time and fell silent at the same time.
Qin Ziyu asked, “Your lordship returns so late; has Father issued an edict?”
Xiao Ci remained silent, turning away to change out of his official uniform. He returned wearing a pale-cloud-colored casual robe. He was tall and lean; the clothes draped over him with an air of cold elegance.
“The Emperor was furious. He summoned Prince Nankang and Prince Puning to the palace and gave them a thorough scolding.”
Qin Ziyu followed his footsteps. “Father intends to protect them then.”
“Old matters from years ago are indeed not worth mentioning.” Xiao Ci’s tone was icy, his gaze carry a chill.
Qin Ziyu sat by the heater. “No, it is because in Father’s eyes, my two cousins still have utility—whether to display his benevolence or to serve as two more pawns on the court board.”
“He can’t even distinguish between a man-eating wolf and a domestic dog.” Xiao Ci fiddled with the jade ring on his thumb. Since this fire wasn’t burning bright enough, he would add some good charcoal and heat the whole room up.
After dinner, Qing’an served Qin Ziyu his medicine.
Once Xiao Ci had finished his official work, he saw that the youth had not yet lain down. His body was leaning to one side, his head nodding like a chicken pecking at grain. He was clearly so tired his eyes were glazed, yet he refused to close them, as if specifically waiting for him.
Qing’an withdrew imperceptibly and closed the door for them.
Xiao Ci walked to the bedside, quietly staring at Qin Ziyu. From this angle, he could see the fluffy top of his head. The ends of his hair were slightly yellowish; because of his weak constitution, his hair wasn’t as smooth as a healthy person’s, giving him a bit of a “mortal” air.
Qin Ziyu raised his face, struggling to open his eyes.
“Since you are tired, why aren’t you sleeping?” Xiao Ci asked.
Qin Ziyu let out a laugh. “Is your lordship concerned about me?” He propped himself up on the bed, his tone soft. “If I keep being ill, can I stay in the Kaiyang Palace forever?”
Xiao Ci turned his head away and sat in a distant chair, his long legs finding no comfortable place as he leaned lazily against the side. “Wouldn’t it be better if Your Highness fell permanently ill and simply passed away?”
Qin Ziyu: “…”
“I thought I had already boarded your ship; I didn’t expect your lordship to still treat me as an outsider.” “Your lordship needn’t be in a hurry. That day will come; I won’t make you wait too long.”
As he spoke, Qin Ziyu’s breathing grew heavy, as if merely sitting up had exhausted all his strength. He could no longer hold himself up and collapsed.
Xiao Ci’s body stiffened for a moment before quickly recovering.
“Zizhen… who is that?”
Qin Ziyu’s ears were ringing, and he didn’t hear the question. He only felt better after turning over.
Xiao Ci repeated, “Last night, Your Highness seemed to call the name ‘Zizhen.’ Who were you calling?”
Qin Ziyu was stunned. “…Zizhen? Isn’t that your name?”
Xiao Ci was the name bestowed by the Emperor. He used to be called “Little Puppy,” but his original surname was Chu, and his name was Chu Zizhen.
“I vaguely remember the first time I met you, I asked your name, and you said it was Zhenzhen.” “Could I have remembered wrongly?”
It shouldn’t be; his memory wasn’t that bad. Xiao Ci’s original name was written in the novel, and the original male lead had called him by that name.
Xiao Ci had been born into an ordinary family. His father had failed the imperial exams and returned to their hometown to open a school; the students all called him Teacher Chu. He had named Xiao Ci “Zizhen” in the hope that he would be most sincere and noble.
These words made Xiao Ci’s teeth ache. What “Zhenzhen”? He couldn’t possibly have answered that way back then.
“Zhenzhen.”
Xiao Ci frowned. “Does Your Highness no longer want your tongue?”
Qin Ziyu shut his mouth tight. He didn’t want to be a mute. Mutes had to learn sign language, and sign language was too hard.
After a long pause, Xiao Ci said, “This subject is no longer the Chu Zizhen of old. Do not forget, Your Highness, that you are the one who turned this subject into what he is today.”
“Your Highness should hurry and nurse your body back to health.” “Once you are well, I shall let Your Highness see a good show.”
Hearing Xiao Ci’s tone, Qin Ziyu’s intuition told him it wasn’t anything good. “Can I choose not to watch?”
“What do you think, Your Highness?” Xiao Ci countered.
Qin Ziyu: “…”
“This subject does not like a crowd. This is not the Eastern Palace. Your Highness suddenly falling ill… though the Emperor said nothing, he ultimately harbors suspicions, thinking this subject did something to cause it.”
Xiao Ci paused, then continued, “And the Noble Consort specifically summoned me to ask why Your Highness is in the Kaiyang Palace. Does Your Highness think I should tell the truth?”
Qin Ziyu choked. The truth…
The truth was that he, the grand Crown Prince, was chasing after a eunuch. If word got out, he would be the laughingstock of the entire palace, Chang’an, and even the whole of Qin.
“It’s not that big a deal.”
Qin Ziyu quickly rationalized it. “Anyway, neither Father nor the Noble Consort like me as the Crown Prince. If word gets out, it will just make it easier to give the position to my Sixth Brother. Wouldn’t you agree, your lordship?”
This time, it was Xiao Ci’s turn to be speechless. When a person reaches a certain level of thick-skinned shamelessness, they are indeed invulnerable.