Early the next morning
An unexpected drizzle stretched for miles.
In the deep autumn of Jiangnan, the chill was desolate and bleak.
Pearl-like raindrops struck the bluestone pavement, rippling outward beneath pedestrians’ feet.
“Make way!”
“Clear the road quickly!”
Several horses cleared the path ahead in the alley, black-clad guards with stern, cold expressions whipping their reins, bringing waves of chilliness.
“Who’s that? So fierce. Even high officials from the capital aren’t this aggressive!”
“Hush… I heard it’s the Second Prince, you know.”
“Ah! Prince Qin? Say no more, let’s go home.”
Inside the nanmu carriage hung with four-cornered palace bells
Bai Ze, Prince Qin whose reputation was so fearsome it could make children stop crying at night, lounged obliquely against the tea table.
His dark purple wide-sleeved robe draped casually, long hair loosely tied and falling behind him, exuding lazy elegance.
Between his slender fingers rested a thin piece of xuan paper.
After reading it twice, Bai Ze chuckled softly.
His fingertips slowly rubbed together, turning the letter into white powder that scattered across the floor.
After listening to the shadow guard’s report, Ling Shuang immediately turned and knocked on the wooden door, whispering:
“Master, the Crown Prince departed for the Great Zhao Cloud Platform three days ago. Barring any incidents, he should return in ten days.”
“Mm, proceed as usual.”
Hearing the languid response, Ling Shuang bowed and acknowledged before resuming driving the carriage.
Though inwardly, he added silently:
[Did Master not sleep well last night? Why does he seem listless again? Ah!]
The carriage traveled swiftly and steadily
Reaching the imperial palace just before sunset in less than three days.
The moment Prince Qin entered the palace, news spread instantly within the high walls.
Countless eyes and ears waited quietly.
A young eunuch approached from afar, bowing deeply, and immediately prostrated himself upon seeing Bai Ze to deliver the message.
“Wangye, His Majesty has been speaking of you all day. He requests your presence at the Hall of Heavenly Purity upon your arrival.”
Bai Ze waved his hand dismissively, “Mm.”
The cold syllable uttered, he swept his sleeves behind his back and strode into the night.
His personal guards Ling Shuang and Feiyun followed closely behind.
Both dressed in night suits, they maintained a careful distance without making a single footstep.
Silently merging with the darkness as if they didn’t exist.
Having served their master for ten years, they had grown accustomed to maintaining complete silence, knowing he detested noise.
Hall of Heavenly Purity.
Bai Ze stood in the outer chamber, allowing the dampness to dissipate from his clothes. Only when the chill had been warmed away by the heating stove did he step into the inner chamber.
“Your son pays respects to Father Emperor.”
Emperor Bai Yan of Yue smiled and beckoned to him, “Come now, I’ve told you there’s no need for such formality every time. Come closer, let your father look at you.”
Bai Yan, who had captivated the Holy Maiden at first sight in his youth, possessed not only eloquence and grace but also exceptionally handsome features.
Now in his forties, with hair mostly silvered, he still retained his high-bridged nose, deep-set eyes, and extraordinary dignified bearing.
Bai Ze sat nearby, slightly raising his face with a perfectly measured smile gracing his lips.
Bai Yan looked at his favorite child and chuckled:
“Two months away, yet you haven’t grown thinner—even fairer? The south truly nurtures well.”
“Speaking of the south, Grand Secretary Sun just returned from Jinling. Had you been a few days earlier, you might have met on the road and returned together.”
Bai Ze lowered his eyes, the smile never leaving his lips.
His long, thick eyelashes fluttered slightly with each blink, concealing all emotion.
“Grand Secretary Sun? He must be here for Grandmother’s birthday celebration. After handling official matters these two days, I shall pay him a visit.”
The Emperor affectionately ruffled his hair, gazing at his increasingly handsome features—every smile and frown resembled his late mother’s. For a moment, the Emperor’s expression shifted repeatedly.
Like any ordinary father and son, they chatted harmoniously and playfully for a while.
A quarter of an hour later, Bai Ze yawned and took his leave.
“Father, your son is tired and will return to his residence now. Rest early—don’t stay up too late reviewing memorials.”
As he spoke, Bai Ze rose and walked to the table. He picked up the Bone Knife, removed the Buddhist Beads, and cut open his heavily scarred wrist, which had long been concealed beneath the beads.
Drip, drip.
“Father, I’ve been feeling increasingly exhausted lately. May I offer a little less today?”
Bai Ze handed a small bowl of blood to Chief Eunuch Li Changsheng.
Li Changsheng’s upturned eyes flickered toward Prince Qin. Catching the prince’s meaningful glance, he immediately understood and lowered his head. Switching hands, he silently brushed his fingertips along the rim of the bowl.
Bai Yan set aside the memorial and, seeing his trusted eunuch approaching with the bowl, turned his gaze to his son. His tone, as usual, was filled with guilt:
“Xiao Ze… Ah.”
Bai Ze always carried powdered medicine to staunch bleeding. With practiced ease, he casually applied it to his wound. Once the bleeding stopped, he slipped the Buddhist Beads back on.
“Father is your son’s heaven. What does it matter if you take all the flesh and blood from this body?”
Bai Ze stood beside the palace lantern, half of his figure shrouded in darkness. The smile on his lips made Li Changsheng’s heart pound fiercely.