By the time Xi Lingjian returned to the estate, dusk had settled.
The rain had gradually tapered off, and the setting sun appeared exceptionally glaring. The bloodstains on his dark outer robe were not glaring; an inattentive observer might have thought the high official had simply changed into a darker garment, yet all the servants within the estate remained as silent as cicadas in winter.
The news had arrived slightly ahead of the high official, claiming that the hypocritical Official Lü had brought down the wrath of heaven itself. A torrential downpour had exposed a golden cottage at the foot of the mountain, filled entirely with evidence of Official Lü’s illicit and criminal deeds.
Among them were records of his collusion with other crooked officials to persecute loyal ministers and distort the truth, actions that clearly showed he had never wished well for Northern Chu!
Take Chen Yuanji, Vice Minister of the Bureau of Appointments, for instance. With his name and title written down in the documents as unshakeable proof, he still attempted to quibble. He had previously been the most enthusiastic in slandering the high official, and as a result, he had now been directly executed by the high official’s own hand.
Word had it that he was not the one who died on the spot; one could tell just by looking at the high official’s robe. Even with one’s head lowered and seeing nothing, one could still hear the rhythmic patter of something dripping onto the ground.
The faint, lingering scent of iron rust turned the Regent’s residence into something resembling a graveyard, save for the gray wolf kept by the high official.
“Qinglin.”
Catching sight of that lively figure, Xi Lingjian finally wiped the blood from his face.
The surrounding servants collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Catching the familiar scent, the gray wolf trotted forward quickly, attempting to latch onto the outer robe in Yin Ruoche’s hands. Yin Ruoche smoothly raised his hands to pass it to Meng Zhi, who cradled the garment and carried it toward the back courtyard.
Qinglin still tried to leap up, pawing at Yin Ruoche’s blood-stained hands.
Seeing Xi Lingjian wave a hand, Yin Ruoche offered no resistance, letting the large gray wolf lick back and forth across his hands.
“Where did it run off to earlier?”
Noticing the patch of white cloth wrapped around its front leg, Xi Lingjian furrowed his brows slightly.
Yin Ruoche felt somewhat guilty. “This subordinate is unsure. It hadn’t been found when we left early this morning.”
“Qinglin!”
A bright voice echoed from the back courtyard.
Wrapped in a fur cloak, Ji Liandu hurried over, slowing his pace as soon as he spotted Xi Lingjian in the distance.
Xi Lingjian raised an eyebrow. “Since when did you get along so well with Qinglin?”
“Get along my foot.” Ji Liandu shook out his fur cloak, his delicate brows knitting together tightly. “Qinglin was injured, so I helped bandage it. But the moment I finished, it bolted away in a flash, and I was left wondering what had gotten into it.”
Xi Lingjian noticed a missing patch of fabric near the cuff of Ji Liandu’s raised arm.
Suppressing an itch, Yin Ruoche waited until Qinglin finished licking its chops with apparent satisfaction before heading off to fetch water to wash his hands. “Your Highness, this subordinate will go bring back a sheep for Qinglin.”
Xi Lingjian gave his consent and turned his gaze back to Ji Liandu.
“This hardly sounds like something you would do,” he narrowed his eyes. “Weren’t you practically praying for Qinglin to drop dead?”
Qinglin loved lying across Ji Liandu’s doorway, barking loudly at the slightest hint of movement from him.
“I merely grumbled a bit to vent my frustration in daily life, did the high official really take it seriously?” A look of grievance flickered across Ji Liandu’s striking face. “Does the high official imagine anyone else in this world would bother bandaging a half-grown gray wolf?”
Xi Lingjian’s throat tightened slightly.
Staring at the wound on Qinglin’s front leg, he crouched down and pulled its paw over to inspect it from all angles.
Qinglin let out a soft rumble, giving his hand a gentle scratch that left behind a trace of soft mud, gritty and uncomfortably abrasive.
Xi Lingjian carefully examined the lingering residue on his hands.
Only one place possessed that exact type of mud.
Lifting his gaze, Xi Lingjian stared fixedly at Ji Liandu for a long moment.
A chill washed over Ji Liandu, and just as he was about to fabricate an excuse to slip away, Xi Lingjian let out a soft chuckle.
“Do not project your own petty mind onto others,” he said.
Ji Liandu found the remark amusing.
“You have the gall to say that?” he retorted. “High official, since I am cooperating with you, the least you can do is let me see some actual benefits. You have kept me locked inside this estate for half a month; if I do not step outside soon, that wretched eunuch dog is going to treat me as a discarded pawn.”
“Half a month?” Xi Lingjian remained unmoved. “Did you not just go see your beloved heir a few days ago?”
A flash of icy ruthlessness crossed the depths of Ji Liandu’s eyes as he watched dark droplets of water slowly trickle down the long hair of the man before him, his expression shifting subtly.
“I heard that Fu Liao fought you to a standstill,” he sneered. “The Grand Marshal of the pacification forces sitting on equal footing with a frail, useless wastrel, truly unheard of.”
Meng Zhi stepped forward to serve Xi Lingjian a cup of hot tea.
Taking a sip, Xi Lingjian glanced sideways at him. “You and I have lived under the same roof for quite some time, yet even the heir knew to carve out an unorthodox path. And you still expect to extract information from me?”
Ji Liandu instinctively clenched his fists.
“Furthermore, you and I are not cooperating,” Xi Lingjian flexed his fingers. “Deceiving yourself is pointless, Young Master Ji. Instead of wasting time on that, you would do better to ponder how to fulfill your filial duties toward your mother.”
A dark cloud settled over Ji Liandu’s face.
Being blackmailed with his life by that wretched eunuch dog was bad enough, but now, just as he finally managed to get close to Xi Lingjian, the man had discovered his mother whom he had secretly smuggled away to Sizhou, and used her as leverage right out of the gate.
“I have consistently followed your instructions,” Ji Liandu stated. “When will you grant me what you promised?”
Xi Lingjian had repeatedly delayed bestowing the post of Chief Musician that had previously been promised to him, while also sealing off his channels for gathering information and tightening his house arrest. By now, his sole source of news was whatever hearsay happened to drift into the Prince Regent’s residence.
Once he secured the position of Chief Musician, he would finally have the opportunity to approach the Emperor.
Seeming entirely indifferent to his interrogation, Xi Lingjian had already shifted his attention to the sheep Yin Ruoche had just driven over.
“After the Qiandiu Festival,” he replied.
Ji Liandu stared at the pitiful sheep.
No matter what, it could never escape this estate; no matter what, it was destined to be devoured by the gray wolf.
“Qinglin’s favorite food is not mutton,” Ji Liandu watched from the side. “Why feed it only sheep?”
This gray wolf had been named Qinglin specifically because of its unusual fondness for eating fish scales.
Xi Lingjian tilted his head slightly, as if finding the question bizarre.
“Because it likes eating them, I must provide them?”
Watching as one of the sheep’s legs was dragged into the gray wolf’s jaws, Ji Liandu flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
“Cold-blooded,” he tossed out over his shoulder.
Xi Lingjian heard him clearly, but could not even muster the energy to cast a glance in his direction.
A performing artist originating from a pleasure house, yet his insults possessed the refined elegance of legendary scholars, devoid of actual punch. Instead, those verbal barbs hurled by the old faction sounded more like gossip picked up from floral alleys.
Ludicrous.
“Yin Ruoche, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself through meritorious service,” seeing that Qinglin was already dragging the sheep away, Xi Lingjian’s mood inexplicably improved. “Go investigate the cause and effect behind Qinglin’s injury, and focus your investigation on Ji Liandu.”
Surprised as he was, Yin Ruoche still acknowledged the order. At the end, he asked doubtfully, “Your Highness, this subordinate already served his punishment, where would there be any further guilt?”
That day had involved Ji Liandu personally counting out every single stroke of the cane, even adding two extra blows due to a miscount.
Just remembering it made Yin Ruoche’s body ache.
Xi Lingjian shot him a sideways look. “For the next time.”
Yin Ruoche’s face flushed crimson. Cupping his fists, he backed away a few paces and vanished in a flash. “This subordinate knows his error, and will surely not repeat it next time!”
When Xi Lingjian turned his gaze back, he saw Qinglin biting down on the still-struggling sheep, panting heavily as it looked toward him and trotted in circles in place.
The sheep had not lost a single tuft of wool, let alone suffered any bleeding.
Noticing his master’s attention, Qinglin tilted its head toward the direction of the gate and raised its injured front paw.
Xi Lingjian instantly understood its intent. “You want to find the person who bandaged you?”
Qinglin let out a soft whine, tossing its captured prey slightly in the air.
“You are giving this to them as a gift?” Xi Lingjian asked again.
Qinglin spun around in a happy circle.
Meng Zhi voiced a hint of concern, “If others discover Qinglin’s existence, it may invite unnecessary trouble.”
Xi Lingjian rubbed the soft sand left on his palm, then let out a sudden, cold chuckle.
“Go,” he commanded. “Follow Qinglin.”
Having undergone training, Qinglin navigated the paths with practiced ease, avoiding crowds effortlessly, and before long, Xi Lingjian and Meng Zhi found themselves walking down a secluded, narrow alleyway.
Finding the situation utterly bizarre, Meng Zhi rasped out, “Your Highness, after the torrential rain, the scent of the person who helped Qinglin should have long since washed away. How could Qinglin possibly remember it?”
Observing Qinglin choose its route without the slightest hesitation, Meng Zhi could not help feeling uneasy.
“Qinglin would never forget My scent,” Xi Lingjian stated flatly, devoid of emotion.
“Indeed so, but…” Meng Zhi wanted to elaborate, but suddenly catching himself, he clamped his mouth shut.
During this period, the only person who could possibly carry the master’s scent on them was that single individual.
Amidst these thoughts, Meng Zhi caught the sound of a familiar voice drifting over.
“Ah…” The voice sounded surprised, yet entirely unafraid. “Your Highness.”
Having just finished enduring Fu Pengfu’s round of anxious inquiries, Fu Liao’s head was still spinning. Seeking a quiet spot to sit, he had spotted the gray wolf right by the gap in the wall.
And its master.
Xi Lingjian swept a glance over him, his displeasure evident. “Your body has recovered?”
“Not entirely.” Fu Liao coughed twice for effect. “It was simply too stuffy indoors, so I came out to sit for a bit. The clothes are very warm.”
Wrapped in layers upon layers, his mobility was somewhat restricted.
“Why is Your Highness not wearing more layers?” Fu Liao asked in confusion. “Your hair is not even dry yet; catching a chill will make you feel quite unwell.”
Xi Lingjian’s expression instantly chilled. Unsure of what he had said to displease the man once more, Fu Liao abruptly felt the gray wolf pressing heavily against his side.
“Is this sheep… meant for me?”
Fu Liao glanced at Xi Lingjian. Seeing the latter offer no response whatsoever, he cautiously reached out to take it. “Thank you, hey!”
Gripping the sheep’s hind leg, the gray wolf clamped down hard just as Fu Liao reached for it, nearly tearing the limb clean off.
The sheep let out a miserable bleat, and Fu Liao hurriedly released his grip to spare its leg.
It appeared the gray wolf simply wanted to share its meal with him.
Fu Liao found himself in a difficult position.
Though the gray wolf meant no harm, the lame sheep was already frantically crawling behind him for refuge.
He could only stroke the gray wolf’s head.
“Since you are giving it to me, I will handle it myself.”
Attempting to soothe the distressed sheep, Fu Liao could not help laughing between amusement and exasperation. “Why is your leg injured as well?”
“Also?” Xi Lingjian spoke up abruptly, startling Fu Liao.
“Um… yes, indeed.” Fu Liao steadied his nerves. “Zhichang, and Your Highness’s leg as well, are both injured.”
Meng Zhi’s eyes snapped open in shock.
The fact that his master was injured was a secret known only to the ministers who had attended the spring hunt that day.
Could someone from the old faction have informed him? Or perhaps the Marquis of Mingliu?
Xi Lingjian raised his chin slightly.
Fu Liao exhaled softly.
The man was truly accustomed to barking out arbitrary commands.
“While we were on horseback earlier, Guard Yin looked extremely worried about Your Highness’s leg,” Fu Liao said.
At that time, Yin Ruoche had kept his head bowed and looked tense, clearly staring at Xi Lingjian’s leg.
Given Xi Lingjian’s exceptional horsemanship, Yin Ruoche as his personal attendant could not possibly be unaware of his baseline. Though impossible to dwell on amid the chaos on horseback, anomalies inevitably stood out in retrospect.
Xi Lingjian closed his eyes.
Ever since crossing paths with this person, everything that had been meticulously planned seemed to be violently upended, though in reality, the only one whose footing had been thrown off balance was himself.
His chest felt as though it were blocked by something, choking off even his natural heartbeat and inducing an internal sense of suffocation.
And it was all because of this person.
When he opened his eyes again, a pear was thrust abruptly before him.
Fu Liao gazed at him nervously, his pale hand trembling slightly in the chill wind.
“Would Your Highness care for one?”
Pear, effective in clearing heat, calming restlessness, regulating the middle burner, and nourishing the body to build strength.