# Chapter Six
In the Lingnan Prince's residence, Bai Ren dismissed the servants and asked urgently in a low voice, "What did you find out? Whose idea is this really?"
Cen Chaoge furrowed his brows and whispered, "It's the Dunsu Princess's intention."
"The Dunsu Princess..." Bai Ren had heard of her. The princess's husband was from one of the great clans in the imperial capital, a family of generations of high officials, with considerable influence at court. The Dunsu Princess was a pivotal figure among the royal family. Bai Ren recalled what Dong Boru had told him about the imperial secrets—that Qi Xiao was actually the legitimate son of Emperor Wu. If that were the case, it made sense: the Dunsu Princess was Qi Xiao's blood aunt, far closer than the emperor, so of course she would be scheming on his behalf. Bai Ren's head ached worse than before. "So the princess specifically named my sister?"
Cen Chaoge shook his head. "It doesn't seem so. I heard that when the Dunsu Princess returned to the palace that day, she merely mentioned that it was time to select a consort for the Crown Prince, and that's how the conversation turned to our county princess. But at the time, no specific county princess was decided upon. Then for some reason, it was settled on Roujia County Princess just one or two days later. There's no way they could have sent someone to assess her in that short time. What the reason is... I'm not clear on that either."
Bai Ren pressed his thin lips together. "Then that means... the emperor might not even know about this, and if he does know, he hasn't discussed it with Father and the others. There's still room to maneuver, still..."
Bai Ren stared silently out the window, lost in thought as he calculated in his mind. Cen Chaoge hesitated, then persuaded, "Your Highness, actually if Roujia County Princess comes here, it wouldn't be harmful to you. You know the current situation—as things stand, it would be much better if the county princess were here."
"Even you are saying this?" Bai Ren felt greatly disappointed. "Chaoge, we grew up together. Don't you know my sister's temperament? If she enters the Crown Prince's residence, and in the future when the Crown Prince takes a Crown Princess and then takes a few more consorts... will my sister even survive?"
Cen Chaoge was speechless,苦涩地笑了笑 said bitterly, "I'm saying this for your sake too. Our current situation is awkward. We need someone who can help us out of this. Though I'm not familiar with His Highness the Crown Prince, from what I've seen and heard these past few days while gathering information, if His Highness could gain the Crown Prince's favor, our circumstances would improve greatly."
Bai Ren was anxious and had no patience for this. He shook his head with a frown. "I told you, this is not something I'm considering. You've been exhausted these past two days. Go rest first. I'll think carefully about a strategy..."
Cen Chaoge could do nothing but offer Bai Ren a few words of comfort before leaving. As he stepped out of the main hall, he happened to run into Dong Boru, who had come looking for Bai Ren. Cen Chaoge cupped his hands in greeting. "Mr. Dong."
Dong Boru nodded and asked how the inquiry into the marriage alliance was going. Cen Chaoge answered as before, then sighed. "Sir, it's not that my heart is cruel. You've seen the situation as well. Because of these years of antagonism with the imperial capital, we don't have a single distant relative here. The Lingnan Prince's residence in the capital is like an isolated island—no one to rely on. Now that we finally have this connection to the Crown Prince, His Highness actually wants to refuse it."
Dong Boru sighed. "How could I not have tried to persuade His Highness as well? But His Highness has his own difficulties... Sigh. If it could be refused, that would be best. A great man should stand tall and upright under heaven—how could one entrust one's weal and woe to a fragile woman?"
Cen Chaoge smiled bitterly. "I used to say things like that all the time. It was only after coming to the capital that I understood the depths of things... Never mind. Since this is His Highness's wish, even if it requires my utmost effort, I must see it through. In these two days I've been moving around, all I've managed to learn is this much information. I'm truly ashamed. Please go in, sir. I'll go look for other leads."
Dong Boru understood his difficulties, nodded, and went inside.
Cen Chaoge took a deep breath, then left the Lingnan Prince's residence and headed to a restaurant in the western part of the city.
Cen Chaoge had already instructed his servant to reserve a private room at the restaurant, specifically ordering them to have their best chef prepare an elaborate feast. By the si hour, Cen Chaoge had already arrived at the restaurant to wait. It wasn't until the wu hour that the person he was inviting leisurely made his appearance.
"Minister Xi, please, please sit!" Cen Chaoge greeted with a smile, then turned and pressed a piece of silver into the waiter's hand. "Serve the dishes quickly."
The waiter hastily pocketed the silver and hurried off.
Xi Xiang smiled warmly. "Young Master Cen, you're too kind. With such an elaborate arrangement, how could someone like me dare accept such treatment?"
Cen Chaoge hastily laughed. "Minister Xi is too modest. The minister works hard daily at the Imperial Household Department. Others would give anything for an invitation you can't get. Today you grant me this honor of coming out—it's not I being polite, it's you doing me a favor."
Cen Chaoge's words made Xi Xiang feel thoroughly pleased. Smiling, he said "I accept your kindness" and sat down.
Cen Chaoge's servant hastily stepped forward to pour wine that had been warming for them into their cups. After some more pleasantries and as the wine took effect and their mood brightened, Cen Chaoge waved his hand to send the servant out. Smiling, he said, "Minister, regarding what we discussed last time—the matter of His Highness the Crown Prince and our county princess..."
Upon hearing this, the wine-flush on Xi Xiang's face faded somewhat. Leaning in closer and lowering his voice, he said, "Congratulations, Young Master Cen. This matter is half-secured..."
Having said this much, Xi Xiang said nothing more. Pretending to be drunk, he merely ate his dishes. Though Cen Chaoge felt disgusted, he still smiled, drew a bank draft from his breast, and discreetly passed it into Xi Xiang's hand. Smiling, he asked, "But what exactly is this 'half-securing'?"
Xi Xiang glanced down at it and smiled, tucking the bank draft into his breast as he spoke. "The emperor's imperial grace is vast. The hundred thousand dan of grain for disaster relief in Lingnan has already been allocated. It only awaits the eighth day of next month, when His Majesty will send an official to personally escort it. Along with the grain... will come the letter regarding your marriage alliance."
Cen Chaoge's heart stirred. The eighth of next month? That was only ten days away...
"There's not much else. Oh, that's right—I also heard... that since there's been no contact with Lingnan for so long, besides those people, they'll also select a few Lingnan locals to accompany the journey... to accompany them, to prevent any mishaps. You understand, the people from the southern frontier speak in ways we here can't understand..." Xi Xiang seemed truly drunk now, letting out a belch before laughing. "The person will be chosen from among your delegation this time... Hahaha, I think that servant of yours would be excellent. Ask him if he wants to go home—if he does, let him accompany the escort back..."
Cen Chaoge's heart involuntarily raced. After a pause, he laughed. "Minister is joking again..."
"What! You don't believe I have this kind of ability?" Xi Xiang suddenly grew spirited. He stared wide-eyed and swayed as he slapped the table, shouting, "I, as the director of the Imperial Household Department, can't even arrange something this small? Let me tell you... don’t... don't think your servant is the only one... even you! I could put your name on the escort list! What's so difficult about that..."
Cen Chaoge's heart raced even faster. He hastily helped Xi Xiang sit properly and laughed apologetically. "Of course, of course, what the minister says is right..."
"Sigh..." Xi Xiang poured himself another drink and took another cup. Sighing, he said, "Actually... you people have it hard. Take your servant, for instance. Here, no one treats him like anything. Everyone orders him around—even that waiter just now didn't think twice about him. I'm no fool. If he were in your Lingnan, since he's a servant of the Minister of Culture's family and serves you closely, he'd be a servant in the residence, but once outside, others would treat him like a young master! The saying goes 'A prime minister's servant ranks seventh official rank,' and that's the truth of it..."
"But that only applies in your Lingnan. Once you come to the capital, who's heard of some Lingnan Minister of Culture's servant? Who cares?" Xi Xiang spoke without thinking, then realized his mistake. He lightly slapped his own mouth and laughed. "Bah! Look at this mouth of mine... A few drinks and I lose all control. Young Master Cen, please don't take offense. Minister of Culture of Lingnan is truly an able official. I've long admired his great name..."
Cen Chaoge苦笑地摇了摇头 said a bitter smile and shook his head. Crude as the words were, the reasoning was sound. In the month he'd been in the capital, what hadn't he come to understand? He had grown up in Lingnan, where people only acknowledged the Lingnan Prince, not the emperor. As the son of the Prime Minister, Cen Chaoge had been feted everywhere he went—even the Lingnan Prince had treated him with courtesy, not daring to treat him poorly. On an ordinary day, he could say he didn't exactly have the power to summon wind and rain, but at the very least, he'd never had to perform the degrading task of currying favor with a eunuch. Cen Chaoge glanced at the drowsy Xi Xiang beside him, feeling even more disgusted.
After entering the capital, Cen Chaoge had truly opened his eyes. He'd once thought he had some standing, but here in this city teeming with nobles and high officials, he was nobody. And now he had an additional身份—an attendant to a hostage prince. People avoided him like the plague. Who would bother with him?
Over this past month, Cen Chaoge had truly experienced the coldness of human relationships. In the past, he hadn't understood why Bai Ren always harbored such resentment in his heart, always wanting to climb higher. He'd once advised Bai Ren that among the world's things, fame and profit were the two dirtiest words—one shouldn't be attached to them. Now Cen Chaoge felt that his former self had been naively ridiculous in his lofty detachment. He suddenly remembered what his father had said to him before he left Lingnan: This journey will face countless difficulties. Be careful in everything. If you endure it, your future will be immeasurable.
Cen Chaoge couldn't help but苦笑地摇了摇头 at his former ambitions. It was because of his years of friendship with Bai Ren that he'd agreed in a moment of passion. Now that he thought about it, truly...
Xi Xiang, unaware of Cen Chaoge's musings, continued eating meat and drinking wine while muttering, "Why isn't Young Master Cen speaking? Oh... I get it now. Young Master Cen misses home? That makes sense... Lingnan is a good place. Though I've never been to Lingnan, I've heard others describe the scenery of the southern frontier. It's much better than our capital, with spring-like weather year-round, unlike us here... wind and sand all year long... Young Master Cen will understand after a few years here. By then, your fair little face... will look like mine... mi... mine..."
Xi Xiang was drunk. His eyes went glassy, and he murmured, "If I were you... I'd have gone back long ago. Th-the other person accompanies the Crown Prince in his studies... has great prospects ahead... and you? What if someday... someday... you'll just... die along with them..."
Xi Xiang couldn't resist the alcohol's effects and, with his head drooping, fell asleep against his arm.
Cen Chaoge turned his face away, his expression complicated as he looked at Xi Xiang. His heart was uncertain, but since Xi Xiang was thoroughly drunk, there was nothing more to discuss even if he wanted to. Cen Chaoge rose, opened the door of the private room, and let in the two young eunuchs who had accompanied Xi Xiang. He said quietly, "Minister Xi had a bit too much to drink and fell asleep."
One of the young eunuchs nodded. "No problem. He just can't return to the palace like this. We'll take Minister Xi to his residence in the western part of the city."
Cen Chaoge nodded and watched the two young eunuchs carry the man. He closed his eyes tightly, then gritted his teeth and stopped them. After a pause, he drew another small pouch from his breast. His hand felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds as he slowly passed the pouch to the young eunuch. Quietly, he said, "Please give this pouch to Minister Xi when he wakes. Tell him there's another matter I'd like to trouble him with."
The young eunuch hastily agreed and tucked it away. The group then helped Xi Xiang downstairs.
Half an hour later, Xi Xiang's group finally arrived at a modest two-courtyard residence. The young eunuch lifted the curtain of the sedan chair slightly and said softly, "Minister Xi, we've arrived."
Xi Xiang emerged from the sedan chair. There was not a trace of drunkenness on his face. He hurried through the gate, walking directly to the main hall. Inside, Jiang Deqing was leisurely sipping tea. Seeing Xi Xiang arrive, he smiled. "How did it go?"
Xi Xiang hastily stepped forward to bow, then personally poured tea for Jiang Deqing before saying quietly, "Master, rest assured. Everything has been arranged."