Xi Lingjian’s brow twitched slightly, and he turned to look at him.
Fu Liao stared cautiously at the man’s leg, almost as if he were the one who had been injured.
A leg injury was already unsuited for horseback riding, and with the heavy rain from the previous day bringing high humidity, it posed a massive strain on the limb.
“I told you,” Xi Lingjian said coolly. “I am not as fragile as you.”
Yin Ruche’s expression turned unsightly.
Everyone in Jingzhou knew that the absolute last thing one could mention in front of the Marquis of Mingliu’s heir was his frail constitution. Even in casual conversation, whenever the topic turned to it, the Heir Apparent would instantly fly into a rage.
Yet, for the Regent himself, that injury was hardly something to be tossed around lightly either.
Lowering his voice, Yin Ruche leaned in close to Fu Liao’s ear without drawing attention.
“Heir Apparent, do not mention His Lordship’s injury.”
As he leaned in slightly closer, the damp chill and scent of blood clinging to his robes washed over them.
Fu Liao abruptly realized who had reduced this servant to such a state before Xi Lingjian had even added insult to injury.
Yin Ruche was taken aback by Fu Liao’s silence, breathing a sigh of relief on one hand that the Heir Apparent wasn’t stirring up trouble, while remaining tense on the other as his master approached.
The soles of boots stepped onto the solid wood floor, producing a dull da-da sound. Because they were smeared with filth, the steps carried a sticky, sluggish drag compared to their usual crispness, decidedly messy.
The gruesome sight before them was blocked by Xi Lingjian’s tall frame, allowing Fu Liao to gradually unwind and remember to take a couple of breaths.
Yet the smell of blood lingering in the hall refused to dissipate, stinging his senses until tears nearly pricked his eyes.
“Are you not afraid?” Xi Lingjian asked him.
Afraid.
Of course he was afraid.
He needed mental preparation just to look at a drop of blood in his modern life, let alone this pile of things that could only be described as butchered pulp.
At just a single glance, those fractured bones and exposed flesh had branded themselves into his mind. The harder he tried to forget, the clearer the memory became.
So clear that he felt an urge to look back again and verify whether it matched the details in his mind.
Fu Liao’s brow furrowed sharply as he bit down on his lower lip.
“Perhaps one day I will be treated by you in this manner as well.” His words strayed slightly from the question, sounding more like a muttered monologue.
Seemingly amused, Xi Lingjian offered a teasing scoff. “Then why do you still dare to approach me?”
Stroke by stroke, Fu Liao petted the sheep in his arms, offering a pale, bitter smile without answering.
Xi Lingjian fell silent as well, closely scrutinizing Fu Liao’s abrupt change in expression.
After a long pause, he spoke.
“Find a way to make Ji Liandu return,” Xi Lingjian said. “I can leave him with a breath of life.”
“Ah?”
The exclamation came from Yin Ruche.
Startled by the sudden interjection, Fu Liao jumped slightly, causing the sheep in his arms to let out a frightened bleat as if recognizing its master’s alarm.
Xi Lingjian waved a hand, signaling Yin Ruche to shut his mouth, then turned his gaze back to Fu Liao, waiting for his reply.
Fu Liao paused, instinctively wanting to look toward that gruesome sight, only to realize the revolting scene was entirely blocked from view.
Centered precisely as though it had never been meant for his eyes in the first place.
Slowly, Fu Liao shook his head.
“This is Your Highness’s personal affair, I dare not meddle. Finding Ji Liandu should be no difficult task for Your Highness, why make a redundant gesture?”
The corners of Xi Lingjian’s lips twitched slightly, looking somewhat surprised by Fu Liao’s choice.
Tilting his head slightly, Fu Liao met his gaze directly and offered a faint smile. “Did I not say before? I will not allow myself to be consumed.”
If he saved him, the eunuchs would instantly perceive Ji Liandu’s rebellious intent, driving a wedge between them.
A pawn that tried to bite the hand that fed it would likely no longer be trusted by the eunuch faction, and might even be silenced permanently.
Thus, Ji Liandu would have no choice but to rely on Xi Lingjian.
Wasn’t this simply locking him up in a different way?
And as Ji Liandu harbored resentment while being forced to compromise, his attitude toward Xi Lingjian would only grow increasingly hostile.
His entire goal was to prevent all of this from happening again.
Besides, if Xi Lingjian were to suddenly expose the truth and claim he had sold him out, Ji Liandu would have a concrete, undeniable reason to want him dead.
Fu Liao’s brow ached with a sour tension, prompting him to rub his temples unthinkingly.
Since Xi Lingjian was well aware of Ji Liandu’s motives and hadn’t killed him either, there was naturally no reason to target this servant.
Yet the man had targeted him. With Ji Liandu absent, putting on a show was pointless, and it wasn’t out of mere frustration, which meant there had to be another reason.
He wasn’t particularly important in Xi Lingjian’s eyes, so there was no need to deliberately spare his life, Fu Liao thought.
Important in a negative sense, however, was entirely true.
Thinking back on it, Xi Lingjian was actually exceptionally rational.
He understood everyone’s hidden motives, saw through Ji Liandu’s intentions, and appeared completely unlike the explosive, jealous wreck from the original text, nor did he act like a bloodthirsty power-hungry official.
Had he simply not gone off the deep end yet at this point, or was he genuinely managing to influence the man even a little?
Or had he completely misjudged him all along?
Fu Liao’s gaze flickered with uncertainty.
Noticing his eyes darting back and forth, Xi Lingjian let out a soft, dry laugh. “Excessive intelligence leads to an early demise, Heir Apparent.”
“I dare not accept such praise.”
Fu Liao’s reply was neither servile nor overbearing, though he no longer dared to meet the man’s eyes.
Nodding, Xi Lingjian signaled Yin Ruche to withdraw. In the blink of an eye, the attendant vanished from behind Fu Liao.
“Meng Zhui.”
At Xi Lingjian’s call, Meng Zhui stepped forward to escort Fu Liao to the guest quarters to rest.
Uncertain of what was happening, and truly at a loss for how to brush off the excuse of training the Feathered Forest Guards, Fu Liao decided to submit to Xi Lingjian’s arrangements for the time being.
Once Fu Liao was settled, Meng Zhui closed the door and returned to Xi Lingjian’s side.
Bowing, he reported, “The Emperor has already heard about the duel.”
Seated inside the hall, Xi Lingjian glanced at the cleared space where the mess had already been scrubbed clean. “Naturally, otherwise how would Xu Jingyi have dared to come knocking.”
“The Emperor is extremely intrigued by the Heir Apparent and intends to fabricate an excuse to skip tomorrow morning’s court session, planning to slip out of the palace to meet the Heir Apparent while you are attending court.”
Xi Lingjian’s eyes grew icy. “Miyin’s idea?”
“It has nothing to do with Grand Eunuch Mi,” Meng Zhui replied. “It was Official Xu who lured the Emperor into making this decision, which has caused Grand Eunuch Mi to develop a slight rift with Official Xu.”
A trace of playful amusement surfaced on Xi Lingjian’s face.
“He really cannot live without Fu Liao for even a single day.”
In a raspy voice, Meng Zhui asked, “Shall we keep this from the Heir Apparent?”
“Naturally, do not tell him,” Xi Lingjian murmured thoughtfully. “Let us see how the Heir Apparent handles the Emperor.”
“Yet the Heir Apparent’s stance is unpredictable, Your Lordship need not take such a risk…”
Before Meng Zhui could finish his warning, Xi Lingjian interrupted, “I know what I am doing.”
Sighing, Meng Zhui asked, “Then how does Your Lordship plan to deploy our men?”
“Deploy?” Xi Lingjian arched a brow. “There is no need for such trouble.”
Meng Zhui stared blankly as he listened to his master’s plan.
“Drop a hint to the Emperor, I will bring him to court tomorrow morning.” Xi Lingjian let out a cold, soft laugh, the mist rising from his cup of hot tea seeming to thin instantly.
“He gifted me an arrow, naturally I must return the favor.”
The following morning.
As Fu Liao was inspecting the sheep’s injury, the door was abruptly pushed open.
Causing Xi Lingjian’s very first glance upon entering to land squarely on Fu Liao’s open collar.
Unusually pale skin stood out sharply against the dim interior of the bedroom, as though laying bare an unmasked intent to capture a person’s gaze.
Lying face down on the bed, Fu Liao scrambled up in a panic, hurriedly wrapping that expanse of exposed skin back inside his robes.
“So early?” he asked.
Xi Lingjian followed the motion of his hands.
The loose robes cinched tightly with a silk sash perfectly accentuated the man’s slender waist. The weak morning light filtering through the window outlined his physique beneath the white undergarment, quiet and tranquil like a silhouette.
His lowered eyelids were relaxed, and a natural smile curved the corners of his lips, as though he were preparing to go on a spring outing with a close friend.
“Awake?” Xi Lingjian countered.
Fu Liao pinched the bridge of his nose.
He hadn’t slept at all, to be honest.
He never expected he would actually spend a night inside the Regent’s manor.
A night where nothing happened, resting as peacefully as his ordinary life in the modern world.
Yet this tranquility came with a price.
Fu Liao could roughly guess why the Emperor wanted to see him, and Xi Lingjian intended to drag him right into the palace during morning court.
It seemed that ever since the pleasure banquet, he had already been placed on a roasting spit over an open fire.
“Come here,” Xi Lingjian said.
He watched as Fu Liao released the sheep and obediently walked over, acting far more submissive than a wooden puppet dangled in a shadow play.
Pressing a finger against his chin, Xi Lingjian tilted his head from side to side to inspect him. “Finished washing up?”
“Yes,” Fu Liao murmured, his head tilted back far enough to cause slight oxygen deprivation, making him lower his brow slightly.
“Fragile body,” Xi Lingjian muttered under his breath with a soft scoff, releasing his chin.
“It’s fine, I sat on a horse for a round and didn’t fall apart,” Fu Liao smiled.
Whether it was the serene morning atmosphere or his own groggy head, Fu Liao felt an unusual sense of peace at the moment. Even Xi Lingjian appeared amiable, entirely devoid of yesterday’s fierce cruelty and chill.
“Change your clothes.”
Xi Lingjian’s gaze swept across his slightly exposed collarbone.
The scar was fainter than before.
Fu Liao acknowledged the order and noticed a servant behind Xi Lingjian holding a set of lavish garments.
Tendering his thanks, he picked up a piece of clothing without immediately putting it on, simply staring at Xi Lingjian instead.
“Need someone to wait on you?” Xi Lingjian asked.
“I can manage myself.” Fu Liao kept staring at Xi Lingjian.
Unwilling to catch the hint, Xi Lingjian remained immovable, leaving Fu Liao no choice but to turn around and change into the newly provided attire.
Fu Liao wore only a whisper-thin layer of silk inner wear, making him look almost as frail as a sheet of paper.
As he reached out his arms to slide into the outer robe, the wide inner garment slipped slightly aside, exposing his prominent shoulder blades. They moved fluidly with his motions like a butterfly fluttering its wings, or perhaps a gentle, winding snake.
Fu Liao tried his best to steady his breathing, systematically layering on the thickening pieces of cloth.
Suddenly, the field of vision darkened, and the familiar scent of agarwood enveloped him.
“Your Highness…” Fu Liao felt rather embarrassed.
A smiling voice drifted from right behind him. “Do not know how to dress?”
“It is overly complicated, I am afraid of making a fool of myself.” Fu Liao felt his earlobes burn with uncomfortable heat.
These garments were far more intricate to put on than they looked, and his body was struggling to cope with this prolonged exertion.
Admitting that he was exhausted from getting dressed was admittedly quite awkward.
Rough fingertips suddenly pressed against his back, and the blooming warmth caused Fu Liao to instinctively shrink inward.
“What is it?” Fu Liao asked.
“You…”
Cutting himself off mid-sentence, Xi Lingjian tapped his back a couple more times. “Are you unaware of this yourself?”
Fu Liao had no idea what he was pointing at.
“Has no one ever told you?”
The fingertips glided slowly across his skin, reminding Fu Liao of the way the sheep liked to roll against him.
“Parents? Friends?”
Fu Liao tightened his grip on the fabric across his chest.
Xi Lingjian’s gaze never wavered.
“You have a small mole here.”
It rested right in the dead center of that pale expanse.
Like a solitary plum blossom blooming alone on the peak of a freezing mountain, it formed the most captivating scenery.
Making a person yearn to touch it.
“It is merely a mole,” Fu Liao said finally.
His voice was exceptionally soft, resembling the last fallen leaf drifting down at the onset of spring.
He tried to gloss over Xi Lingjian’s question.
Parents, friends… he practically possessed none of these things.
He had no desire to speak of it.
Hurriedly pulling up his slipping inner robe, the slight pressure against his back vanished, and once more he felt the brush of long hair trailing past.
For a split second, the sensation vanished without a trace.
“Oh, right.” Fu Liao attempted to lighten the suffocating air in the room. “Ji Liandu has a mole on his waist as well.”
The original text had repeatedly described that perfectly placed mole.
The moment the words left his mouth, Fu Liao realized he had spoken out of turn.
The sheep lay lazily sprawled on the bed, looking to Fu Liao like it had already given up on life and resigned itself to death.
Glancing sideways, he saw Xi Lingjian resting his hand casually on the adjacent bedpost, waiting leisurely for him to continue. His brain short-circuited for an instant.
Fu Liao blurted out, “No, wait, Ji Liandu doesn’t have a mole on his waist.”
Wrong.
Fu Liao buried his face in both hands.
I am doomed.