That man’s expression was naturally intimidating, the slight curve of his lips resembling a bloodthirsty blade. A faint stench of dried blood seemed to cling to him inherently, serving as the leader of evil ghosts meant to intimidate his own kind.
Xi Lingjian.
The hand pressing down on Fu Liao’s right collarbone applied more force, the bamboo-carved jade thumb ring resting precisely against the most prominent spot, intensifying an already unbearable ache.
Fu Liao broke out in a cold sweat.
Until Xi Lingjian spoke, he had not noticed a thing, not even the sound of footsteps, let alone an announcement from the household staff.
What is he doing here?
Fu Liao’s heart sank as he cast a sideways glance at Ji Liandu.
Ji Liandu had already lowered his head in a bow, practically kneeling as he dared only look at the ground.
A chilly remark carrying a hint of a smile fell from above, sending a circle of frost rippling down Fu Liao’s body.
“Do you want your eyes that badly?” Xi Lingjian smiled. “I am asking you, Heir Apparent, who did you say you were going to deal with?”
Fu Liao frowned, his shoulders slightly raised as he attempted to break free from this silent torment.
The excuse of gouging out eyes felt thoroughly dated.
If Ji Liandu was sensitive, Xi Lingjian was paranoid; dropping character now was out of the question.
“Does the Prince of Jing still remember that this nobleman is an heir?” He let out a light laugh, laced with breathy amusement. “What, do you intend to have me beaten at court as well?”
“You certainly dare to defy me.” Xi Lingjian’s voice turned sharp, the smile vanishing completely. “I am asking you a question.”
The warm jade pressed against his thin, nearly transparent skin right against the bone, pushing harder and harder as if trying to grind it straight into powder.
Unable to break free, Fu Liao tried to stand, only to be pinned down effortlessly by a few fingers.
The piercing pain brought beads of fine sweat to his forehead.
He let out a cool, mocking chuckle.
“The Prince’s methods for treating the sick are truly bizarre, a miraculous recovery indeed. I am afraid even the dead could be brought back to life.”
His voice was slightly ethereal from being a bit short of breath, yet exceptionally calm in this situation, like someone who had foreseen heavenly secrets.
“This nobleman said I am going to deal with the treacherous officials in the imperial court. Does the Prince find that improper?”
Though no names were mentioned, it was practically pointing a finger and cursing to his face.
Mentioning treacherous officials, anyone would instantly think of this person.
The late emperor’s eldest son, the Prince of Jing, Xi Lingjian, had left the capital in his youth and spent nearly twenty years guarding the borders, almost entirely detached from court politics.
In reality, seeing the country on the verge of collapse, he used the merit of reclaiming lost territory to return to the capital in a single stroke, supporting a teenage emperor to the throne and declaring himself Regent.
Only then did people realize he had secretly laid down informants throughout the capital for years. Once his brothers died in struggles or wars, he seized power in one fell swoop.
He killed like mowing grass on the battlefield, and in officialdom just as well. On the day he declared himself Regent, he openly and covertly slaughtered those who defied him. Within three days, the imperial city was slick with undried blood, and the lives taken by his hands were countless.
He was the leader of the current New Party, the head of the military faction that held monumental combat achievements following the reunification.
The New Party was small in number, but its influence shrouded the entire realm.
The smile on Xi Lingjian’s face deepened. “Treacherous officials at court? Who might that be?”
Fu Liao licked his somewhat dry lips, raised his head, and met his gaze naturally.
“Has the Prince, who has been ruling as Regent for so long, truly not noticed the wolves and tigers in the court?” He let out a soft laugh. “If that is the case, the Prince is being far too derelict in his duties.”
Xi Lingjian’s smile faded slightly as he shot a quick glance to the side.
Fu Liao thought it did not look good. The heavy pressure on his body suddenly lifted.
The pain vanished by more than half, leaving behind only lingering soreness and numbness.
He touched the spot; the most painful area already bore the distinct imprint of an indentation.
Xi Lingjian cast a condescending look at Ji Liandu beside them.
“Come here.”
Like a master addressing a pet.
Ji Liandu kept his head down, not daring to show the slightest negligence as he crawled slowly across the ground toward the back of Xi Lingjian.
“Did you not take to heart what I told you?” Xi Lingjian said softly. “If your ears are of no use, we can simply cut them off. To be my person, there is no need to listen to anyone else’s words.”
Ji Liandu trembled slightly, biting down hard on his teeth. “Your Highness, Youji knows his wrong.”
Fu Liao frowned.
“Don’t do that,” he could not help speaking up.
Xi Lingjian raised an eyebrow, a hint of provocation hidden in his gaze. “Heir Apparent, he is still my person for now.”
Yet he saw only a faint look of sadness and worry on Fu Liao’s face, devoid of any anger.
“Then treat him like a human being,” Fu Liao said.
Fu Liao knew he ought to act wildly frantic, matching the original owner’s aggressive drive to fight Xi Lingjian to the death. He could only lift his chin, feigning a sneer at Xi Lingjian to salvage a shred of the original persona.
He could not pull it off.
Every minor action now would gradually accumulate until the day it erupted. By then, a few words would not suffice to clear things up.
If he wanted to prevent the tragedy to come, changing Xi Lingjian sooner was better.
He met Xi Lingjian’s gaze steadily.
The sudden silence fell within Fu Liao’s expectations.
Xi Lingjian suddenly chuckled softly. “Good. Well said.”
“I did not expect such an unexpected delight today. For the Heir Apparent’s sake, I will spare him for now.” Xi Lingjian shifted topics. “It seems the Heir Apparent also has his own set of theories when consulting the Dragon King on the art of horse-riding.”
Xi Lingjian was referring to the commoners’ mocking phrase for his throwing himself into the pond, the implication clear as day.
“How could a mere Marquis of Mingliu’s estate trap the Dragon King? You jest, Your Highness,” Fu Liao smiled faintly.
“Everyone in the world is discussing this matter; it is quite lively,” Xi Lingjian said leisurely. “When the Heir Apparent was gravely ill earlier, I was quite worried. Since you have recovered, I eagerly anticipate tomorrow’s wager with you.”
He stepped closer to Fu Liao, leaning down as slender ribbons hung from his sides, the two small suspended jade trinkets swinging leisurely before Fu Liao’s eyes.
“The Heir Apparent’s eyes are truly mesmerizing,” Xi Lingjian murmured with a light smile.
Fu Liao stiffened, then offered a bitter laugh inwardly.
Eyes?
Let alone losing and having them dug out, staying on a horse and surviving without falling off was a massive question mark.
Although the Marquis of Mingliu was a military official, the original owner, much like himself, had always been in frail health. A few bounces in the saddle would likely leave him unable to even grip the reins.
“Enough said, the Heir Apparent should take care of himself.” Xi Lingjian surveyed the surroundings. “My original intention was merely to catch a disobedient little cat, but unfortunately, I stumbled into the estate and inadvertently disturbed you.”
“Wait.”
A sharp pain flared anew at his collarbone.
With the strength in Xi Lingjian’s grip, he could probably snap his neck right then and there.
Fu Liao planted his feet firmly, frowning slightly. His slightly oversized garments fluttered in the wind, still looking unstable and frail.
“I’ll see you out.”
Xi Lingjian glanced back, pausing to scrutinize him.
After a moment, he said, “Why should I burden the Heir Apparent with such grand courtesy? The Marquis of Mingliu’s estate is not lacking in people.”
His gaze shifted to Ji Liandu, turning icy cold in an instant.
“It is just a newly raised little thing that does not know what is good for it.”
Ji Liandu shrank back, staring fixedly at the ground.
Fu Liao frowned. “I will just head back.”
His temper was truly nasty, using Ji Liandu to threaten him.
Clearly not wanting anyone else to covet Ji Liandu, yet forcing him to bear the brunt of the injuries.
Fu Liao unconsciously hugged his own arms tighter.
Knowing Xi Lingjian’s objective, his heart nonetheless panicked noticeably, breaking out in a layer of cold sweat.
Since his probing had gone unanswered, his top priority was keeping his eyes and his life intact.
Fu Liao clutched his chest, offered a slight bow, and stopped at the doorway, wisely turning back to his room without investigating where they were heading.
Xi Lingjian glanced at his fluttering, weightless figure.
Fu Liao only heard the retreating footsteps grow fainter and fainter, then vanish abruptly as if no one had ever been there.
Outside the estate, beside a dark alley.
Two men were already waiting to the right, a sedan carriage parked nearby.
“He stopped watching long ago.”
Ji Liandu let out a cold scoff, retreating several steps to put distance between himself and Xi Lingjian.
Xi Lingjian chuckled, his fingertip resting on the dragon-shaped ring of the saber at his waist.
“You are the one who brought it up, yet now you are unhappy?”
The invisible pressure suddenly left everyone around gasping for breath.
Ji Liandu felt a chill run through his entire body, his palms breaking out in a sticky sweat.
“Your Highness is no actor; why put on such a convincing show?” he sneered.
Not a single good thing about it was genuine, yet the restrictions placed on him felt all too real. If not for achieving his goals, who would willingly pretend to be his kept favorite, subject to house arrest at any moment?
“Well said. If I had not come, how much longer did you plan on staying?” Xi Lingjian’s voice drifted down from above, piercing his spine like an ice pick. “I already granted you the incense stick of time.”
Ji Liandu’s breathing paused for a fraction of a second.
“You knew all along…”
The terror welling up from the soles of his feet made his gaze panic, glancing inadvertently toward a spot behind Xi Lingjian.
Xi Lingjian did not even twitch a single eyelash. “You are the one begging me, yet you still tried to hoodwink my people?”
“This subordinate knows his wrong!”
A young guard wearing a black cloth cap and a dark round-collared robe stepped forward, cupping his fists in shame. “This subordinate is the one who let Young Master Ji go. I will go back and receive my punishment right now!”
Xi Lingjian glanced at him indifferently.
“No rush.”
Xi Lingjian parted his thin lips without turning his body, bestowing another look at Ji Liandu, who remained frozen in place.
“Go back. You, watch him take his punishment.”
“Meng Zhui,” Xi Lingjian called out again.
The grim-faced eunuch bowed and said, “This servant failed in his supervision and neglected his duty; he is willing to accept punishment of his own accord.”
His voice was hoarse, consisting almost entirely of breathy whispers, resembling a dying man.
Ji Liandu clenched his fists tightly.
A personal bodyguard, a personal eunuch, both had followed him for years, yet punishments were dealt out just like that.
And yet he, the root cause of it all, remained completely unscathed.
“How could we let the Heir Apparent’s beloved suffer punishment?” Xi Lingjian said with a half-smile. “If he found out, would he not come making a scene at the estate again?”
Ji Liandu’s gaze shifted a few times, remaining silent.
The foolishness and arrogance deep in the Heir Apparent’s bones were not things easily faked.
A flicker of complexity flashed through his eyes.
Besides, how could a noble heir remember the affairs of common folk?
That Heir Apparent he had known since childhood, who claimed to dote on him, had never once remembered his birthday.
Yet this person actually knew his feet were perpetually cold year-round and was even willing to fetch medicine for him.
The words he said to stop Xi Lingjian sounded like a plea, yet they lacked no dignity, as if he truly viewed him as an equal and close confidant.
Ji Liandu bit his teeth, his handsome and delicate face shrouded in a hint of gloom.
New variables were hard to control and would inevitably become a hindrance in the future.
Xi Lingjian glanced at Ji Liandu, feeling disgusted enough to look away an instant later.
He recalled the moment he met Fu Liao’s gaze.
Vast and deep, as calm as a bottomless pool of nearly frozen stagnant water.
Throwing a few stones to test it only caused small ripples to stir across the clear surface before returning to dead stillness, not even kicking up a splash, as if his actions appeared utterly naive in the eyes of this vast lake.
It was irritating.
He wanted to shatter this tranquility, stir up this lake, cause monstrous waves to rise across the quiet waters, and leave them forever unsettled.
He wanted to see how deep this lake truly was and what mysteries lay hidden within.
However, Xi Lingjian’s lips twitched slightly, vanishing in an instant.
“Get in the sedan,” he told Ji Liandu.
The latter clenched his fists tightly and complied without a word.
Once the carriage curtain dropped completely, Xi Lingjian called out again. “Meng Zhui.”
The eunuch bowed.
“Thoroughly investigate the Marquis of Mingliu’s estate,” Xi Lingjian ordered. “Every change in the past three months, report it to me without missing a single word.”
“Understood,” Meng Zhui acknowledged.
Xi Lingjian nodded slightly and spoke again. “Yin Ruche.”
The guard cupped his fists.
“Go test Fu Liao.”
He rubbed his thumb ring. “I want a conclusion by tonight.”
Remembering the thin, weary face of the Heir Apparent stepping forward quickly and frowning from the pulled wound, his movements paused briefly.
“If he truly turns out to be an impostor…”
That flawless skin untouched by hardship left a deep impression of his own engraving upon that prominent yet fragile spot, vivid enough that one could not tear their eyes away.
Much like the undeniable resilience carried within his weak voice, steadfast like aged bamboo.
Yet wrapped in trivial distractions.
The rubbing motion on his hand suddenly sped up, as if tinged with a trace of irritation.
“Do not leave him.”