“Does My Lord believe me now?”
Qin Ziyu closed his robes, refastening the lapels before draping Xiao Ci’s navy-blue outer garment over his shoulders.
“So cold,” he murmured.
Xiao Ci was momentarily dazed. “What?”
Qin Ziyu coughed lowly a few times, covering his chest. “My Lord’s name is carved here. I do not wish for it to be seen and made a mockery of.”
Xiao Ci remained noncommittal. The tattoo appeared to have been there for some time; the surrounding skin and flesh had already healed. To a cold-blooded, ruthless man, a minor flesh wound was worth nothing at all.
“I just had a dream,” Xiao Ci said. “The you in the dream was much more likable than the you in reality.”
Qin Ziyu was just about to offer a few teasing words when Xiao Ci suddenly stepped forward and stripped his clothes. Caught off guard, Qin Ziyu twisted his neck mechanically, staring blankly at Xiao Ci. He nearly choked on his own saliva.
“Isn’t this… a bit too fast…?”
Before he could finish, the clothes at his chest were pulled open. Slightly cool fingertips touched his burning heart, rubbing forcefully against it.
“Is it real?”
Xiao Ci grabbed Qin Ziyu’s collar, his eyes deep and swirling like a vortex.
Realizing what was happening, Qin Ziyu curled his lips into a smile. “Of course it is real. I never lie to people.”
If he did lie, then the other party simply wasn’t human.
Xiao Ci looked at him coldly, let go of his collar, and took several steps back. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, finally squeezing out two words:
“Disgusting.”
Qin Ziyu’s attitude remained calm. “To Lord Xiao, my unrequited feelings are indeed a bit extreme. You need not take it to heart; simply act as if you saw nothing.”
“As for anything else, I have never dared to hope. I hope My Lord does not misunderstand—this heart full of thoughts will follow me into my coffin, and I shall never again disturb your peace.”
His gaze was sincere and earnest, his tone carrying a hint of humility. After speaking, he began to cough lowly again. Xiao Ci suddenly remembered the Imperial Physician’s words: Qin Ziyu had been terminally ill, on the verge of breathing his last. What had supported him to wake up, choosing to endure the pain of illness rather than depart?
Xiao Ci’s fingers curled into a tight fist. Just as he was about to speak, Qing Kang’s voice came from outside.
“Your Highness, Side Consort Wen requests an audience.”
Xiao Ci’s expression changed instantly. Without even a word of farewell, he turned and left. At the moment he brushed past the Side Consort, his peripheral vision swept over her face, but his footsteps did not falter.
Side Consort Wen looked up, revealing a perfectly composed smile. “The one just now…”
Qing Kang replied, “That was Director Xiao.”
Side Consort Wen said calmly, “So it was Lord Xiao. Is His Highness very close with him?”
Qing Kang kept his head bowed. “The Director does not often visit the Eastern Palace. I hope he did not startle Your Ladyship.”
Qing An then emerged from the Hall of Supreme Harmony. “Your Ladyship, His Highness invites you in.”
When Side Consort Wen entered the inner chamber, Qin Ziyu had just finished putting away Xiao Ci’s clothes. Xiao Ci had left in such a hurry that he forgot his outer robe; it would serve as a perfect excuse later. Although he forgot the robe, he still had his cloak, so it shouldn’t be too scandalous.
“This concubine pays her respects to Your Highness.”
Side Consort Wen had grown up in the South and was only brought to Chang’an in her teens. Her speech carried the gentle cadence of the Jiangnan water towns—dignified yet tender. She was stunningly beautiful, and one could see a faint shadow of Noble Consort Wen in her. It was no wonder the Emperor liked her. However, while the Noble Consort met the Emperor, Wen Huixin had met Qin Ziyu.
Qin Ziyu loved beauty and appreciated it. Having spent years surrounded by beauties, he had long since developed aesthetic fatigue. Furthermore, he was gay to the core; whether the person before him was as gentle as water or bright and lively, he only felt simple appreciation. Once the initial impression passed, it was truly over.
Side Consort Wen stayed in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for over an hour, fussing over Qin Ziyu with warm inquiries. She personally peeled oranges for him and served him with utmost care and devotion. But her charms fell on deaf ears; in the end, she failed to elicit even a single request for her to stay the night.
After the midday meal, Qin Ziyu began to dismiss her.
“I always feel weary; perhaps my spirit is lacking. Otherwise, in such fine weather, I really should go for a stroll. I wonder if the blossoms in the Plum Garden have quietly bloomed. Huixin, if you have time, you should go out more. Don’t let me hold you back in the palace all day.”
With things said to this point, Wen Huixin had no choice but to take her leave.
“I will come to see Your Highness again tomorrow,” she said. “When the plums are in full bloom, I will certainly pluck several branches for you.”
Watching her retreating back, Qin Ziyu shook his head silently.
Qing An asked cautiously, “Is Your Highness worried that Side Consort Wen will say something to the Noble Consort?”
“No.” Qin Ziyu replied, “Such a fine girl. It’s a pity.”
“A pity?” Qing An did not understand and asked sincerely, “Why is it a pity?”
“A pity she entered the palace. A pity she is my consort. If she had married someone else, they would surely be living in harmony, a perfect match,” Qin Ziyu mused.
If there were a chance in the future, these women in the palace should all be released to choose their own lives again and see another world.
“Where is Xiao Ci?”
Qing An replied, “The Director accompanied the Emperor for the midday meal at Chonghua Palace, and then went to Chang’e Palace.”
“Chang’e Palace…” Qin Ziyu murmured. “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen the Noble Consort in a long while. Little Sixth hasn’t come these past few days, so I might as well go visit. Call Jinfan and have her bring some red date cakes.”
“Yes, this servant will arrange it immediately.”
Upon arriving at Chang’e Palace, he learned that Xiao Ci had recently faced several assassination attempts. The identity of the person behind them was self-evident. Without exception, the assassins were either killed or committed suicide by poison; they were all dead-sworn soldiers.
Hearing this, the Noble Consort was very uneasy. “Then, are you injured?”
Qin Ziyu’s gaze followed the Noble Consort’s to Xiao Ci.
Xiao Ci cupped his hands. “Your Ladyship need not worry. I haven’t lost a single hair. If I were harmed by those people, I would only have my own lack of skill to blame.”
“I have already reported this matter to the Emperor. His Majesty has dispatched the Court of State Ceremonies to assist in the investigation.”
Noble Consort Wen nodded. “En, with the Court involved, I can feel somewhat more at ease.” She turned her gaze. “Xi’er’s complexion looks much better. It seems Physician Chen is quite devoted and even more capable than the previous Physician Li.”
Qin Ziyu took a moment to react, realizing Noble Consort Wen was speaking to him. If Jinfan hadn’t nudged him from behind, he would have continued staring at Xiao Ci indefinitely.
“Chen Zhuo was Physician Li’s top disciple. When Physician Li was here, he helped with preparing and decocting medicine. His medical skills are sound. Before Physician Li retired, he left a prescription; after Chen Zhuo studied it, he changed two ingredients, and it indeed has some effect.”
“The palace affairs have been busy lately, and the Winter Solstice is approaching. Lady Wen, you labor daily and should take care of yourself. If you trust me, I can have Chen Zhuo come to Chang’e Palace for a consultation to prescribe some nourishing formulas.”
Noble Consort Wen looked to be only in her early thirties, her skin radiant and clear, though the corners of her eyes showed traces of fatigue and the passage of time.
“Xi’er is very thoughtful. If I have time later, I will certainly summon Physician Chen,” Noble Consort Wen said.
By right, Qin Ziyu was the Crown Prince, the second master of the Great Qin Dynasty after the Emperor. But the Empress had died early, and Qin Ziyu had never seen his biological mother. Instead, Noble Consort Wen had looked after him quite a bit. Later, after she had her own biological son, the two had gradually grown distant.
Qin Ziyu still called her “Lady Wen,” and the Noble Consort accepted the gesture of respect to show her closeness.
Qin Zizhang, who was nearby, said, “Imperial Brother’s spirit is indeed much better than before. If he can truly be cured, it would be a great achievement.”
He often ran to the Eastern Palace and had met Chen Zhuo. He had even asked about the prescriptions and personally checked medical books. Unfortunately, his knowledge was shallow; he was completely ignorant of medicine and couldn’t understand them at all.
However, after Mo Yun finished reading the prescription, he said it was good and worth a try. But all medicine carries a degree of toxicity; while it could improve his brother’s health, it was not suitable for long-term use. Nevertheless, there was no other way currently; this was the best possible outcome among helpless choices.
Qin Zizhang didn’t know what “maximizing interests” meant; he simply believed in Lu Moyun and Chen Zhuo.
“It’s a pity I can do nothing. I truly hope Imperial Brother recovers soon so Father and Mother can worry less,” Qin Zizhang said.
Qin Ziyu pursed his lips. “To have Father and Lady Wen constantly worrying is my lack of filial piety.”
Noble Consort Wen glared at her own son. “Why say such things among family? I still have palace duties to handle and cannot stay long. While the weather is good, Xi’er, return to your palace early. It gets colder later; don’t catch a chill.”
“Yes, your son/this official takes his leave.”
Qin Ziyu, Qin Zizhang, and Xiao Ci all stood up and withdrew.
Exiting the main hall of Chang’e Palace, Jinfan took the cloak from Qing An and carefully tied it for Qin Ziyu.
Xiao Ci turned to leave but was stopped by Qin Ziyu. “Lord Xiao, please wait.”
Qin Zizhang followed behind them. With him present, Xiao Ci could not be rude and had to stop.
“Does Your Highness have any instructions?”
Qin Ziyu caught up, wrapped in his cloak. “Lord Xiao’s clothes are still at the Eastern Palace. I will have someone take them to Kaiyang Hall.”
“What clothes? Why would they be at the Eastern Palace?” Qin Zizhang asked.
Qin Ziyu said with a beaming smile, “Lord Xiao came to the Eastern Palace to see me today. I was asleep, and Lord Xiao feared I would catch a cold, so he took off his outer robe and draped it over me.”
“I haven’t thanked Lord Xiao yet.”
Xiao Ci’s brows sank. “No need.”
“It’s just one piece of clothing. Your Highness can throw it away.”
Qin Zizhang piped up, “How can you just throw it away? Since Imperial Brother was asleep, why did Lord Xiao enter the inner chamber, and why did he have to take off his outer robe? Were there no quilts in the Hall of Supreme Harmony?”
Xiao Ci: “…”
Qin Zizhang had been familiar with Xiao Ci since childhood. During the years Xiao Ci served in the Eastern Palace, he had never made a mistake; his knowledge of palace rules and etiquette was most thorough. Even if he were in a hurry, it was impossible to forget such things.
Qin Ziyu almost burst out laughing. He followed up with, “Mm, what Little Sixth says… I hadn’t thought of that. Why do you think that is, My Lord?”
Xiao Ci didn’t need to look; he could tell from the voice that the other man was suppressing a laugh. His face turned black.
Why? What else could it be?
Was it not because Qin Ziyu had grabbed his clothes and wouldn’t let go!