After collecting his money, Bai Yi took a moment to praise the scholar. “That poem of yours was excellent, truly top-tier.” It was, after all, one he actually knew.
The poetry competition had officially come to a close. Once the crowd dispersed, Bai Yi pulled Zhang Kongting to a deserted corner. “Do you know where I can rent a carriage nearby?”
“I am afraid there are none around here. However, I can personally escort you home. Where are you headed?” Zhang Kongting asked.
Bai Yi hesitated. Could he actually say where? “Uh, I am going back to the Prince’s Mansion near the Meridian Gate, near the Imperial Palace.”
“Are you a young master from the Prince’s Mansion?”
“No, no! You misunderstand. I am just a servant from the mansion. I came out to buy wine for the Prince. It would be a great help if you could give me a lift.” Bai Yi marveled at his own quick wit. Not only was he saving money on a carriage, but he was also getting a ride back to the palace.
Zhang Kongting nodded thoughtfully. “My name is Zhang Kongting. Might I ask yours?”
“Bai Yi.”
“Good. Follow me. My carriage is parked on Jingxian Bridge.” Zhang Kongting led Bai Yi through the crowd, but when he turned back, the youth was gone.
Before Bai Yi could make a sound, everything went black. A sack was pulled over his head, and a sharp pain in the back of his neck knocked him unconscious.
When he came to, he felt like the world was spinning. He was being jolted along an uneven road, and the nausea was overwhelming. He was lying on a flatbed cart, and the hard wood rattled against his bones until he felt his waist might snap.
As his consciousness fully returned, the throbbing pain in his neck flooded his senses. His hands were tied behind his back, and the darkness of the sack swallowed him. Terror took hold.
“Great Hero! I only have thirty taels of silver on me. You can take it all, just please, do not kill me! If it is not enough, I can go back and get more for you!”
No one answered. Bai Yi continued to babble, pouring out a stream of complaints and pleas as if reciting his last will and testament.
“Look, how much can you really make in this line of work? Big brother, you are risking your life for a few coins. Why not let me lead you? I guarantee I can make you filthy rich!”
“Do you know what food delivery is? We could start a business together. People order food, and we send someone to deliver it. I will do the deliveries, you handle the cash! We could make enough in a year to build our own palace!”
Still, there was silence. Beneath the sack, Bai Yi began to weep. “I have parents to look after. I am the sole provider for my family, young and old.”
Suddenly, he felt the lethal edge of a sword pierce the wooden boards he was lying on. Bai Yi shuddered and wisely shut his mouth.
Seventeen, the secret guard driving the cart, covered his ears in agony. “Shut up! Have you not spoken in eight hundred days? Did you just hop out from under a rock?”
Upon reaching the destination, Bai Yi was led into a room with the sack still over his head. He stumbled a few steps before being pushed forward.
His palms touched the cold, hard floor. Bai Yi froze. Wait, this texture, isn’t this the marble from the palace?
He felt around on the floor, then flipped over to face the ground. With his hands tied behind his back, he managed to sit up on his knees. “Is this the palace? Is anyone there?”
Suddenly, a cold leather whip wrapped around Bai Yi’s neck, slowly tightening. He widened his eyes, gasping for air. “Wait, wait, wait! I was wrong! Truly wrong! Whatever you want, I will give it to you.”
A wave of hot air approached him, and it felt as though warm droplets of water landed on his face. The whip loosened slightly, and a dangerous voice reached his ears. “You will give me whatever I want? Hmm?”
“Young and old to support?”
The person leaned in, face to face, questioning him through gritted teeth. “And what exactly are you sorry for? Were you not just having a grand, carefree time?”
“Xiao Shiyun!” Bai Yi cried out, struggling. “Is there really a need to be this angry? What did I even do to you? Let me go! Tell me, how did I provoke you this time?”
Xiao Shiyun kicked him over. One kick was not enough to vent his frustration; taking advantage of the sack still over Bai Yi’s head, he added a few more kicks for good measure.
“You provoked me in every way possible! I finally had the mood to go out, and you ruined it all, you idiot. If I never want to leave the palace again, it is all your fault.”
With his hands tied, Bai Yi rolled around on the floor a few times before hopping up like a mummy. “How did I ruin your mood? I just could not keep up because I walk a bit slower. What else?”
The sack was finally yanked off. Bai Yi met Xiao Shiyun’s burning gaze, and goosebumps erupted on his arms. “And I did not go looking for you.”
“And?”
“I truly do not know what I did wrong!”
“Who was that man you were so chummy with today?”
“Huh?” Bai Yi was baffled.
Xiao Shiyun, his temper still flaring, threw the whip aside and hauled him up. “Do not play dumb. The one you were reciting poetry with. Why were you so obedient? Someone says a few words to you and you follow him? For all you know, he could have sold you, gouged out your eyes, and cut off your hands.”
The only person who wants to gouge out my eyes and cut off my hands is you, Bai Yi thought, but dared not say a word.
“I really do not know where he came from. He asked me where the wine shop was, so I let him taste the wine we just bought, and that is how we met.” Bai Yi told the truth, explaining the whole encounter.
Xiao Shiyun gave a cold, frustrated laugh. “You even let him drink the wine I bought? Fine. Pay me back.”
“How many sips did he take?”
“I gave him a whole jar. Honestly, Xiao Shiyun, you are so petty! You are counting every sip he took? You are the Emperor, can you not be a bit more generous?”
“What if I am petty? One sip is a hundred taels of gold. A jar is a thousand taels. What I buy with my money is mine. Whether I am generous or petty is none of your business.”
Unreasonable. Bai Yi could not help but recall the kindness of the university-era Xiao Shiyun. He regretted not cherishing him more back then; that version of him was so mature, so steady, so charming.
“I do not have the money. I have no money, only my life.” Bai Yi gave up. Ever since meeting this man, he had been in constant debt.
“Then I will take your life as payment. Do you think your life is worth much?”
Bai Yi moved his head toward him. “Then kill me. I have had enough of this place!” Better to die early and be reincarnated.
“Take off your clothes,” Xiao Shiyun commanded.
“What?” Bai Yi felt he was on the verge of a mental breakdown thanks to Xiao Shiyun.
“You are paying with your life. The method is for me to decide.” Xiao Shiyun ordered someone to untie Bai Yi. Now, only the two of them remained in the hall.
He grabbed Bai Yi’s arm and dragged him toward the bedchamber. Bai Yi felt a sudden surge of panic. My dignity is at stake! We can only be brothers in the next life.
Bai Yi thought quickly. Xiao Shiyun was acting like a child; there had to be a reason for this tantrum. He had said he never wanted to go out again.
“Hey, wait a minute! I know you did not have enough fun, right? How about we go again?”
“This time, you can use a pair of handcuffs to lock our hands together. That way we will not get separated. Can we just try again?” Bai Yi blinked, speaking with total sincerity.
“Go to hell! The sun is almost up. Are you going to attend the morning court in my place tomorrow?” Xiao Shiyun said with a dark face.
“What are you afraid of? It is not like I do not have to work tomorrow. This time, you can keep me on a leash. Whatever you want to do, you decide.”
The person who made this suggestion was a fool. Shortly after, Bai Yi appeared at the night market with his hands cuffed.
Xiao Shiyun was holding the chain, leading him like a dog. Finally, a trace of a wicked smile appeared in his eyes.
“Let’s go, My Lady,” Bai Yi said helplessly. How is this man any different from my bratty younger cousin?