“His Highness has returned!” “He looks terrible…”
Whispers filled the Second Prince’s Residence upon its master’s return—naturally, these hushed discussions occurred beyond the notice of the Second Prince, Xiao Dezi, and Xiao Chengzi.
The atmosphere was oppressive. Ju Zi, a rough labor maid responsible for sweeping, gritted her teeth and whispered to her companion: “I heard the First Prince’s concubine gave birth to an Imperial Grandson and needs more hands. I’ve asked a senior maid I know to put in a word—we might be able to transfer there… Shall we go together?”
“We shouldn’t aspire to serve in the main halls, but sweeping work… Where isn’t the same?”
Her friend Sun Zi was tempted too, immediately grabbing Ju Zi’s hand and pulling her back to their room to fetch her savings. She complained while doing so: “Yes! After all these years in this hopeless place, who would have thought even a prince can’t be relied upon… They say that’s in Lingnan! We’d likely die on the journey there.”
“…!” Bi Shu, overhearing this at the doorway, was furious and about to charge in to scold them when Xiao Dezi stopped her.
Xiao Chengzi shook his head with a meaningful expression.
He had been angry too, but His Highness proved his worth—they intended to use this very night, after news of the Second Prince’s fiefdom establishment spread, to identify exactly how many in their residence were disloyal, how many sought greener pastures, and how many wished to stay.
“Your Highness, aren’t you angry?” Xiao Dezi whispered by the doorway while discreetly observing the surrounding halls.
“Nothing to be angry about. Everyone seeks their own interests.” Qi Chengming calmly picked up a book and opened it at the window table as cover, while in reality he had activated his Infrastructure System. He was cross-referencing the Talent Roster against the palace staff list Xiao Dezi had reported.
The Imperial Son’s Residence wasn’t permitted to have palace maids.
Thus, all the maids currently in his hall were rough labor maids assigned by the Imperial Household Department—responsible for sweeping, gardening, and manual labor. They rotated through this area and technically didn’t belong exclusively to the Second Prince’s Residence.
But who made the Second Prince’s Residence the most remote and isolated? The area was large, people were scarce, and maids assigned here seemed to belong to the Second Prince’s Residence.
The Second Prince had long been unpopular, and now he had no future, being “exiled.One could imagine how these young maids and eunuchs had suffered over the years, enduring how much hardship. Their future days would clearly be a bitter struggle—staying meant enduring loneliness while awaiting death.
Under these circumstances, their urgency to find new positions was understandable to Qi Chengming. Had he transmigrated into such a servant, he’d want to escape too.
Similarly, it was normal for spies who deemed him worthless to seize this chance to transfer. As for those originally from his residence who now felt restless and unwilling to accompany him to suffer in Liuzhou, wanting better prospects for themselves—fine, that was also understandable.
Everything followed reason.
Having made choices, one must bear the consequences—that was all.
They looked down on the Second Prince, while Qi Chengming disdained their disloyalty. Before departure, he certainly didn’t want a chaotic foundation.
Qi Chengming shook his head—therefore, he wasn’t angry.
He truly cherished the palace servants willing to accompany him—like Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi, and that palace maid Bi Shu who was originally responsible for gardening but voluntarily helped him experiment with planting beans in the rear hall.
He gave the servants of the Second Prince’s Residence half an hour to contemplate.
Half an hour later, the flickering names on the talent roster had largely stabilized, surprisingly categorized into four groups: [Second Prince’s Residence], [Court of the Imperial Clan], [Imperial Guards], and [Outside the Palace].
“Alright, gather everyone,” Qi Chengming set down his book.
Only after all the maids and eunuchs of the Second Prince’s Residence had crowded densely before the hall did he straightforwardly announce: “You must have heard about my current situation. Those unwilling to accompany me to establish a fiefdom in Liuzhou—pursue whatever future you each have. We’ve shared a master-servant relationship, so let’s part on good terms. I won’t hold any of you back.”
“…” The entire Second Prince’s Residence had been buzzing with restlessness earlier, but now the courtyard fell dead silent. No one dared speak, the air thick with stillness.
“Don’t worry that I’m making threats or planning punishments. We’ll start organizing tomorrow morning,” Qi Chengming’s tone carried a lazy weariness, as if beaten down by despair. “Those willing to accompany me to Liuzhou—work hard these coming days packing and preparing. I’ll do my utmost to protect you all and ensure you’re treated fairly. That’s all, dismissed.”
The crowd remained motionless in silence for a while before gradually dispersing.
Amid the murmurs, eunuch Xiao Suo Zi whispered to his companion: “…The Second Prince is too ruthless. He didn’t even offer any incentives to those following him to Liuzhou.”
Xiao Suo Zi had been wavering earlier. Having no promising prospects in the palace anyway, wouldn’t accompanying the Second Prince count as… what was it called—offering fuel in snowy weather? If he gritted his teeth and gambled his life, might he find better fortune in Liuzhou? Yet the Second Prince offered no concrete rewards, just that hollow promise of “won’t treat you poorly?” It felt utterly empty.
Xiao Suo Zi couldn’t help reconsidering.
“Let’s still try to find alternatives,” his companion lamented with a worried frown.
…
“I originally intended to give half a tael of silver to all willing to accompany me to Liuzhou,” Qi Chengming confided to Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi while seated in the hall. “But I changed my mind.”
“Your Highness made the right decision. Who knows how much money we’ll need during the journey,” Xiao Dezi immediately fretted.
Their Second Highness possessed little personal wealth and had always lived frugally. Although the Court of the Imperial Clan would disburse settlement funds according to the Prince’s Stipend, that silver was meant for Liuzhou. With traveling expenses for people and horses along the way—who could predict the costs? Better to save where possible.
“Money is indeed tight,” Qi Chengming admitted his embarrassment, though that wasn’t why he withheld the silver. Those still willing to follow him at this morale’s lowest point were truly loyal—it felt wrong not to encourage them. But before embarking on this long journey, Qi Chengming felt… ensuring their higher survival rates mattered more than distributing silver.
This was the ancient era, after all.
The journey to Liuzhou… He consulted the infrastructure map, estimating months of travel where countless lives might be lost along the way.
“I plan to visit the Imperial Hospital to inquire about medicinal formulas and prepare a large stock of herbs. Also, we need to have winter clothes tailored in advance for everyone,” Qi Chengming listed meticulously. Though it was currently June, he estimated that by the time they reached Liuzhou—or even midway—the weather would begin turning cold. With so many people, it would be impossible to arrange warm clothing on short notice. For minor ailments like headaches and fevers along the journey, they could rely on decoctions to cope.
Since they couldn’t obtain clothing or herbs from the palace for free, they had to purchase them with their own funds. Qi Chengming had to admit he wasn’t well-off. Much of the Second Prince’s savings since childhood consisted of imperial gifts that couldn’t be sold. Aside from those, the remaining silver, after being distributed as rewards, wasn’t enough for such detailed preparations.
After calculating for a long while, Qi Chengming decided against distributing silver directly and instead opted to convert it into life-saving supplies for the journey. He would compensate these loyal palace attendants later, once he found a way to earn money on the road.
“This servant… understands. Tomorrow morning, after those disloyal ones have left, I’ll go inform the others!” Xiao Dezi was so moved his lips trembled, eager to explain immediately. He didn’t want those willing to stay to doubt whether their master was worth following.
Who else was as thoughtful and generous as their Second Highness? He’d actually considered every minor difficulty they might face. Simply handing out silver and ignoring their well-being on the journey would have been the easier option.
“Wait. Tomorrow, first deliver this list to my granduncle, then inform the people on it,” Qi Chengming said, blowing on the ink of a newly written roster of personnel and luggage before carefully handing it to Xiao Dezi.
As for luggage, his residence had no valuable or notable items worth bringing—he felt no attachment to them. Still, Qi Chengming included some imperial gifts, thinking they might prove unexpectedly useful in Liuzhou.
“Your Highness…?” Xiao Dezi was both surprised and delighted. He suddenly realized that, regardless of whether the palace staff chose to stay or seek better prospects, His Highness already had a plan and a prepared list.
Perhaps some in the rear hall were still wavering about whether to stay or gamble on seeking fortune elsewhere, but His Highness had already left them behind. They were going to Liuzhou—without those people!
“……” Xiao Chengzi also gazed at the Second Prince in silent reverence.
He noticed that after the heavy blow of establishing a fiefdom, His Highness had completely transformed.
Instead of collapsing in despair, he’d gained profound clarity, shedding his former insecurity and sensitivity. Going to Liuzhou no longer seemed like an unbearable hardship. Though he appeared disheartened and didn’t stop the servants from leaving, he had actually given up on them.
…Would those who heard the news tomorrow morning regret their choices when they learned that not only had the Emperor granted His Highness a hundred Imperial Guards for the journey, but he also had the support of a senior Director of the Imperial Clan Court who’d confronted the Imperial Kitchen on his behalf?
…
Meanwhile, Qi Chengming had completed one task.
He gazed contentedly as the [Daily Task: Understand Your Own Forces] was marked complete. On the infrastructure panel, three herbal formulas appeared in clear handwriting, detailing each step of preparation and the appearance of the herbs.
The Antidiarrheal Formula and Fever-Reducing Decoction would handle most minor illnesses and discomforts on the journey. Additionally, since Liuzhou was in the mosquito-prone south, the Mosquito Repellent Herb Formula would help them adapt more quickly.
…Next, I need to figure out how to purchase large quantities of medicinal herbs!
Qi Chengming pondered. Since the palace didn’t have such reserves, he might discreetly entrust this matter to his maternal family’s Weiyong Count’s Mansion for assistance…
This would also serve as an opportunity to reconnect with his maternal relatives.
Qi Chengming hadn’t forgotten—there was a prominent name on his Talent Roster: [Wang Shuo].
It was none other than his young cousin.
Just how exceptional was this child? Was he particularly intelligent? Skilled in martial arts? Or gifted in some other way? To be included on his Talent Roster at merely ten years old!
Qi Chengming was deeply curious.
Author’s Note:
Qi Chengming: Let me see, let me go take a look! (Curious cat head)
.