Chapter 8
At the hour of Zi (midnight), the Heling Pavilion in the Prince of Lingnan's residence was brightly lit.
Dong Boru had arrived a step late, so after entering he asked Cen Chaoge to repeat what had just been said. Cen Chaoge repeated it in detail, lowering his voice: "Although Xixiang didn't say it explicitly, it seems... the emperor doesn't have much interest in this matter. It's all being managed by Princess Dunyu. Unfortunately, our residence has no female members who can pay a visit to the princess, so... we'll only have to sound out Crown Prince Qi's position."
Dong Boru listened and felt there was indeed room for maneuver. Glancing at Bai Ren, he said quietly, "That's still manageable... Don't be upset, Your Highness. I'll say something that may not be pleasant to hear—Lady Rujia only holds the title of legitimate daughter. When it comes to the prince's favor, it's actually Lady Kangtai who receives more. Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince has some hesitation too. We still have ten days—if we make some moves, there may still be a chance..."
Bai Ren's thin lips pressed together slightly as he said quietly, "It's my fault... Before, because I didn't want to get involved, when the Crown Prince tried to get close to me, I didn't respond. Never mind. I heard the Crown Prince also likes our tea. Prepare some of the best quality for me. I'll visit the Crown Prince's residence tomorrow."
Dong Boru nodded: "Yes, only... this servant has heard that the Crown Prince's temperament isn't particularly agreeable. Since Your Highness didn't respond to him before, this visit... Your Highness may suffer some grievances. Please be patient."
"It's nothing." Bai Ren offered a self-mocking smile. "Am I afraid of suffering grievances?"
Dong Boru shook his head: "Great burdens are laid upon those heaven chooses. Your Highness shouldn't sell yourself short. Chaoge, tomorrow... Chaoge?"
"Ah?" Cen Chaoge suddenly came back to himself, dazed. "Did you call me, sir?"
Bai Ren frowned, and without considering that Dong Boru was right there, couldn't help but ask quietly with concern: "Are you tired?"
"No." Cen Chaoge forced a laugh, rubbing his brow. "Just a bit drowsy. What were you saying, sir?"
Dong Boru smiled: "Nothing much. I was just reminding you—you mentioned that Xixiang was staying outside tonight, right? Make time tomorrow to go pay him a visit. His Highness spent quite a sum of silver to get in with the Chief Steward's circle. We absolutely cannot let that connection slip."
Cen Chaoge had just been worrying about having no excuse to visit Xixiang tomorrow, and Dong Boru's words hit exactly what he needed. He quickly agreed: "Yes, sir. Rest assured. I'll go first thing tomorrow morning."
Dong Boru smiled: "No need to rush so. You've been distracted all day—have you been overworking lately? Go rest."
Cen Chaoge managed a smile, then turned to look at Bai Ren. In front of Dong Boru, Bai Ren couldn't say much, only: "Go."
Nothing happened that night. The next morning at the hour of Si, Bai Ren sent a visiting card to the Crown Prince's residence. At the hour of Mao, he went personally to the Crown Prince's mansion.
In the main hall of the Crown Prince's residence, Jiang Deqing politely served Bai Ren tea, smiling warmly: "My sincere apologies—the Crown Prince left early for court this morning and didn't see the visiting card. We weren't expecting Your Highness to visit. His Highness hasn't returned yet... he may have been detained by court matters."
Bai Ren was anxious inside but kept it from showing on his face. He smiled and asked, "Then I wonder when His Highness the Crown Prince will return?"
Jiang Deqing frowned slightly and shook his head: "That's difficult to say, Your Highness. Now that Princess Dunyu is in the palace, it's common for her to invite the Crown Prince to lunch together. If His Highness gets called over by the Princess... well, there's no telling what hour it would be."
Bai Ren's heart lurched at the mention of Princess Dunyu. The matter had been brought up by Princess Dunyu herself—if祁骁 was frequently with her, and she finalized the marriage arrangement, there would be nothing he could do even with the cleverest scheme. Bai Ren felt increasingly regretful. That day when祁骁 had made small talk with him, why couldn't he have just settled down and had a proper conversation? Now the other party no longer bothered with him, and whatever he wanted to say had come too late. The prince had "left early and hadn't seen the card," but in truth he might simply not want to deal with him. Thinking of Cen Chaoge's ten-day deadline, Bai Ren grew more anxious.
Jiang Deqing observed Bai Ren's expression, then smiled gently: "Does Your Highness have something urgent? No problem, I'll have someone go to the palace right away to find the Crown Prince. Even if he's with Princess Dunyu, if Your Highness has business, the Crown Prince will return."
Those几句话 wiped away Bai Ren's doubts completely. Bai Ren thought to himself: as long as he isn't deliberately avoiding me, that's fine. Jiang Deqing, seeing Bai Ren silent, asked: "Shall Your Highness move to the study? I'll send someone to the palace immediately."
"No need." Bai Ren quickly declined. He had always been discreet—he knew his place. How could he really have someone go to the palace to fetch祁骁? He paused and said quietly, "It's nothing urgent. I merely heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is quite fond of this batch of tribute tea.恰好 our residence happened to have some superior quality on hand. Since I had nothing to do today, I decided to deliver it myself. Since His Highness isn't here, I won't trouble you further."
Jiang Deqing nodded repeatedly: "Very well. The moment the Crown Prince returns, I'll inform him immediately."
Bai Ren turned his head, and an attendant behind him stepped forward with an intricately carved red lacquer box. Jiang Deqing quickly bowed to accept it. Bai Ren paused, then turned to the attendant with displeasure: "Did you only bring this? Didn't I tell you—the tea must be brewed in a Qianquan jade teapot to bring out its flavor? I specifically instructed you to bring it along. Why isn't it here?"
The attendant froze, then quickly knelt to beg forgiveness: "Spare my life, Your Highness! That tea set has been stored away ever since we arrived here and hasn't been touched. I couldn't retrieve it. Last night when I went to inform the steward, he had already gone to sleep. I thought I'd get up early this morning to get the authorization slip and collect the items, but...小的该死, I overslept and completely forgot."
Bai Ren frowned: "You can't even handle such a small task?"
Jiang Deqing smiled in his heart, quickly smoothing things over: "Your Highness, please don't be angry. Do take care of your health."
"My apologies for the laughable display..." Bai Ren forced a bitter smile. "It's just such a shame. This tea is different from others—brewed in porcelain it only tastes ordinary. Only jade brings out its true color, and the Qianquan jade from Lingnan is the best. Ah well... since we're at it, I'll come again tomorrow."
Jiang Deqing readily agreed: "That would be best, only it troubles Your Highness so much."
Bai Ren smiled faintly: "It's nothing."
Bai Ren left with his people. Jiang Deqing called for servants to clear the leftover tea and refreshments, then carried the box around a folding screen and bowed: "Your Highness, the Prince of Lingnan has left."
Behind the screen,祁骁 looked at the box in Jiang Deqing's hands with an amused smile: "He's quite quick-witted, making up that whole story."
"Anyone His Highness favors is naturally no fool." Jiang Deqing opened the box for祁骁 to examine while smilingly flattering. "His Highness is determined to see you. He'll probably come again early tomorrow."
Inside the box were four small bottles of tea, each sealed tightly with red silk.祁骁 casually picked up one and smelled it: "When he comes again tomorrow, I still won't see him."
Jiang Deqing laughed in surprise: "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
祁骁 set the tea back in the box and said calmly: "First, to temper his patience. Second... let's wait for news from Xixiang."
祁骁 didn't have to wait long. News came quickly after two days. The accompanying roster for the grain convoy's return to Lingnan came out, and祁骁 made some adjustments, taking charge of the dispatch documents himself. Since祁骁 was already involved in the grain dispatch affair anyway, others had no reason to suspect. Dispatching documents from the Ministry of Rites or from the Crown Prince's residence—it was all the same.
Jiang Deqing looked at the dispatch document on祁骁's desk and smiled flatteringly: "Your Highness can rest easy now. By the way, Xixiang also had me give this to Your Highness..." Jiang Deqing drew out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and handed them to祁骁. "This is all the money Cen Chaoge has been sending Xixiang these past days. Xixiang said this is for serving Your Highness. Though he knows Your Highness doesn't care for such a small sum, he wouldn't dare keep it privately. He asked me to bring it to Your Highness and please, he insists you accept it."
祁骁 laughed lightly: "He's quite obedient... How much is it altogether?"
"Fifteen thousand taels." Jiang Deqing paused, then added, "Three thousand taels were for gathering information about the marriage alliance previously, and twelve thousand taels were for securing passage back to Lingnan with the grain convoy."
祁骁 smiled mockingly: "How much silver does Bai Ren have to let him spend like this?"
Jiang Deqing shook his head: "His Highness probably doesn't even know about this. He only thinks it's all for handling the marriage affair. Sigh..."
Just as they were talking, a maid entered and curtsied: "Crown Prince, the Prince of Lingnan is here."
Jiang Deqing looked at祁骁. Counting this visit, Bai Ren had now come three times, and祁骁 had politely turned him away each time. Jiang Deqing watched祁骁's expression: "Your Highness, this time..."
"This time I'll see him."祁骁 glanced at the dispatch document on his desk and smiled faintly. "His Highness has sent me so many gifts these past days. I should return the favor..."