# Chapter Five
In the Yuxiu Palace, Princess Dunsu gazed at Qi Xiao with a warm smile, her voice gentle. "What made you suddenly make up your mind? Princess Roujia… well, no matter what, she's of legitimate birth and won't disgrace you. Though Lady Kangtai is also fine, her mother is of low status—unfit for a marriage alliance."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "Your Highness speaks truly."
"Ah…" Princess Dunsu looked around. "Where is Jiang Deqing?"
Qi Xiao lowered his head. "Your nephew sent him on an errand."
"Oh… whatever for? You could have sent anyone. Why specifically assign him to go out? You have plenty of servants, but in my eyes, only Jiang Deqing is truly dependable. Without him by your side, won't you be at a disadvantage? Very well, I was just asking. Stop standing there as if I'm punishing you—come sit over here." The princess doted on him endlessly, unable to resist mothering him. She pulled him close and sat with him warmly, patting the kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin that had loosened slightly at her temple as she laughed. "Now, getting to the matter at hand—regarding the marriage alliance, we should first send word to Lingnan, see how they feel. Once they show willingness, we can make a formal proposal."
Qi Xiao nodded, then asked as if casually, "When might word come back from the Lingnan Prince?"
"I've heard that in a few days your father will send Tang Jing'an to escort grain supplies to Lingnan. We can take this opportunity to pass along a message. Round trip… it'll take at least a month and a half." Princess Dunsu chuckled playfully. "What, are you impatient? I wonder what Princess Roujia looks like… Years ago I met the Lingnan Princess Consort. She was extremely beautiful, so surely her daughter won't be far off."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "If we judge by the Lingnan heir's looks alone… his sister should be fine."
Qi Xiao drifted into thought, remembering once more that night beneath the bamboo grove, Bai Ren's face with its suppressed anguish. He was only fifteen, still a half-formed child, clearly unable to hold on… Then he thought of Cen Chaoge holding and coaxing him. Qi Xiao's heart twisted with cruelty. Did he really think he could rely on Cen Chaoge? How reliable could that man be?
The hint of marriage alliance would travel with those two hundred thousand dan of grain to Lingnan. Round trip, a month and a half. The message alone would take at least a month. More than enough time.
Qi Xiao reviewed his plans thoroughly, considering every detail. Once certain everything was arranged, he relaxed. Princess Dunsu, seeing him silent for a long while, teased, "What happened? Daydreaming about your concubine?"
Qi Xiao paused, then smiled tenderly without answering. He accepted the tea offered by a palace attendant and sipped it, his expression still calm and unruffled.
After half a day of filial attentiveness to Princess Dunsu, Qi Xiao left the palace for his residence. He was no longer young, only staying overnight in the palace occasionally when it grew late. Normally he lived in his mansion outside the palace walls. Unlike other princes, Qi Xiao had been granted his own estate at sixteen. At that time the emperor had undertaken massive construction projects, spending lavishly and seizing lands for miles to build the Crown Prince's residence. Every corridor was carved, every pavilion painted, every terrace and pavilion exquisite beyond compare—utterly extravagant. It had drawn countless remonstrances from officials, but the emperor only said that Qi Xiao had been delicately raised since childhood and could not suffer the slightest grievance. No amount of spending was too much. He gained a reputation for loving fatherly devotion while letting the world believe Qi Xiao was arrogant and insufferable.
Qi Xiao descended from his sedan chair and looked at the four characters "Zhongling Yuxiu" (Spiritual and Radiant) inscribed on the gate by the emperor himself. A mocking smile crossed his face. He led his entourage into the inner courtyard.
Jiang Deqing had been waiting in the mansion. Seeing Qi Xiao return, he hurried out to greet him. Qi Xiao unclasped the jade pendant from his waist and handed it over, walking toward the inner chambers as he asked, "Everything arranged clearly?"
Jiang Deqing followed behind Qi Xiao with a bow, quickly answering, "Yes, Your Highness can rest assured."
Jiang Deqing placed the jade pendant carefully in a box, then turned to help Qi Xiao off with his outer robe. He lowered his voice. "This servant also inquired about that Cen Chaoge. He's the eldest son of Lingnan's Chancellor of Culture, Cen Hailu. Cen Hailu's late wife was the cousin of the Lingnan Princess Consort. Because of this connection, the two grew up close. When the heir came to the imperial capital this time, Cen Hailu ordered Cen Chaoge to escort him all the way. After arriving, he claimed to be the heir's study companion, so he didn't return with the Lingnan delegation."
Qi Xiao's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he repeated, "Cen Hailu ordered Cen Chaoge to escort him all the way…"
Jiang Deqing hesitated. He handed the outer robe to a nearby palace attendant, then asked tentatively, "Your Highness… is something wrong?"
Qi Xiao smiled faintly and shook his head. "No. If things are as I suspect… then this matter becomes much simpler."
Jiang Deqing forced a bitter smile. "Your Highness has plans beyond this old servant's understanding… but Your Highness…"
Jiang Deqing waved his hand, dismissing all the palace attendants. He stepped closer and spoke in a low voice. "This servant only begs to offer one word of advice. Though the young master is merely a hostage, his status is unique. Even the emperor shows him courtesy on the surface, worried sick lest anything befall him. These past two years the southern borders have finally calmed down somewhat. Truly, it's best not to invite trouble. The young master… yes, his looks are fine, but if Your Highness desires someone attractive, this servant could find any number of such people. Why go to such great lengths to involve yourself with him? This old servant has served in the palace a lifetime, seen generations of Lingnan princes. I know well that the Dongling clan are all of fierce temperament. Though the young master is still young, in this old servant's eyes, he has a spine of his own. What if he simply refuses, and does something as drastic as mutual destruction…"
Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Then let him destroy himself for my amusement."
Jiang Deqing hadn't expected Qi Xiao to respond this way after his lengthy persuasion. His anxiety deepened. He had served and raised Qi Xiao since childhood and knew his temperament well. This time, however, he simply could not understand. Indeed, Qi Xiao was no great saint of mercy—his methods were far from lenient and his狠辣 ruthlessness was well-known. But he had always been indifferent toward matters of desire and passion. What had bewitched him this time? He'd only met that Dongling Bai Ren a handful of times, exchanged a few words—and now he was determined to take this person as his own.
Jiang Deqing wiped the sweat from his brow. If it were anyone else, a few warnings, followed by generous rewards to appease them, would generally suffice. But this was the Lingnan Prince's legitimate eldest son! Nothing so simple. Qi Xiao had put in tremendous effort this time, set on having him no matter the cost. The more Jiang Deqing thought, the more troubled he became. He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly does Your Highness like about him? Cold as ice, clearly won't submit easily. Even if you obtain him, where's the fun? How could any concubine compare to someone who actually knows how to serve?"
Qi Xiao straightened his sleeves. After a long pause, he said, "Looking at Bai Ren… don't you think he resembles someone?"
Jiang Deqing froze. He racked his brains trying to think of whom Bai Ren might resemble but couldn't come up with anyone. His mind swirled with uncertainty. He ventured tentatively, "Could he resemble someone Your Highness favored in the past?"
If that were the case, things would be simpler. Whoever it was couldn't possibly be harder to get than Bai Ren. He could simply have that person abducted and save Qi Xiao from this obsession.
Qi Xiao shook his head, smiling gently. "He looks like me."
Jiang Deqing was stunned into silence. "How… how could he possibly resemble Your Highness…"
"He resembles me… but with far better fortune. He still has a mother, has a legitimate elder sister, has that little mandarin duck beside him…" Qi Xiao couldn't help but recall that night in the bamboo grove once more. A cruel smile curved his lips. "With all that… you won't let me have a little fun crushing him?"
Jiang Deqing didn't know what to say. This was simply Qi Xiao's nature—he dared not criticize. But regarding the similarity between them, he truly couldn't fathom it. How could they possibly be alike? Though both were handsome, "swan-thin, phoenix-fat"—they didn't resemble each other at all.
Qi Xiao seemed to perceive Jiang Deqing's confusion. He explained with a smile, "I was confused too at first. After meeting him a few times, why did I keep thinking of him? At first I thought I was beguiled by his looks, that familiar face drawing me to want to get closer. Later I understood—watching him felt like seeing my past self."
"When I first came to understand things as a child, when I learned about my father the emperor and my mother the empress, there were several years when I didn't want to speak a single word. Each day was muddled and lost. Sometimes I thought of taking a dagger to kill the emperor. Sometimes I thought of turning that dagger on myself… I even thought of setting a great fire to burn the entire palace down…" Qi Xiao suddenly smiled. "But then I thought it wasn't enough… burning the whole imperial city would be better…"
Jiang Deqing thought of Emperor Wu and Empress Xiaoxian, his heart aching with compassion. Just as he was about to offer comfort, Qi Xiao continued, "Later I came to understand. I was only ten. I couldn't burn down my own Haiyan Palace, let alone the entire imperial city. The tutors and nurses watched me every moment. Any disturbance and they'd report to the emperor immediately. I accepted my fate. I told myself to endure, to wait. When I grew up, I could burn whomever I pleased…"
A subtle distortion crossed Qi Xiao's handsome face, then instantly smoothed back to his usual appearance—a calm, faint smile. "Later, finally, I came to understand. I stopped trapping myself in knots. I knew what I truly wanted… But those early years left too deep an impression. They come back to me from time to time."
"Of course, Bai Ren's situation differs from mine was then. I was simply mad then. What I mean is—the resemblance is to me at twelve or thirteen, after my great awakening when I knew I had to fight, had to seize. But understanding in my heart wasn't enough. As the Crown Prince, I didn't have a scrap of real power." Qi Xiao thought of those eyes of Bai Ren's—full of unwillingness—and smiled. "Like Bai Ren now. He has the will to fight, but lacks any help."
Jiang Deqing suddenly understood. He paused and said, "So Your Highness is certain the young master will take the bait?"
"He will." Qi Xiao nodded, smiling gently. "If someone had told me back then there was a way to restore my mother's life—not just this body, but give my very life, how could I have refused?"
"Bai Ren will definitely agree."