Chapter 13
In the Yuxiu Palace, Princess Dunsu was dumbfounded: "So you don't want Roujia after all?"
Qi Xiao still felt some guilt toward Princess Dunsu. He had never intended to take a consort in the first place, and this had been a scheme from the start. The princess had only sought his best interests, yet she had been used. Now that Bai Ren was in his grasp, Qi Xiao no longer had reason to keep her in the dark, so he told her everything that had happened, holding nothing back.
"I've already sent word to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau—they'll say that this year is unfavorable for me to have a wedding. The Emperor would be only too glad to see me lose the support of Lingnan, so he won't suspect a thing. He'll jump at the chance to agree, which is how I can get out of the marriage with Lingnan." Qi Xiao went ahead and shared his next move with her. "Auntie doesn't know this yet... but the Empress is also scheming to use this opportunity to betroth her stepdaughter to me as well. I intend to decline that too. What do you think, Auntie?"
Princess Dunsu's face was ashen. She had barely managed to restrain her anger as she listened, but now she erupted: "What do I think?! Do you still see me as your aunt? The marriage alliance with Lingnan—I put in so much effort to secure it for you! And now you destroy it all because of some short-lived heir who might drop dead any day! How dare you ask me what I think?!"
Qi Xiao inwardly cursed his luck. He had expected the princess would be furious, but he hadn't anticipated such an explosive reaction. He stepped forward, took her hand, and hurried to soothe her: "If you're angry, beat me. But please don't upset yourself..."
"You've got eyes and ears everywhere now, so when did you start caring about my well-being? Go ahead, kill me now! I'll hurry to apologize to your father and mother in the underworld. After all these years of exhausting effort, I still couldn't properly educate His Highness the Crown Prince—instead, he ruins his own future for a man!" The princess wrenched her hand away from Qi Xiao and shouted, "Jiang Deqing! Get in here!"
Jiang Deqing had been waiting outside the palace hall. Upon hearing his name called, he internally groaned. With a苦瓜脸 (bitter melon face), he shuffled in and bowed low. The princess gave a cold laugh: "Hmph... You still have the face to see me? Jiang Deqing, what did I instruct you before? You were not to lead the Crown Prince astray with those deviant pursuits! And here you are, dutifully fulfilling your duties—the Crown Prince has even taken a liking to the heir of Lingnan! Are you blind or deaf? Knowing what you knew, couldn't you have advised him? Or have you become mute? Not even able to come to the Yuxiu Palace to tell me a single word?!"
Jiang Deqing didn't dare defend himself. He knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.
Qi Xiao wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. The princess had always been affectionate toward him. He had anticipated being scolded, but he hadn't expected her fury to be so intense. The past few days, the princess had been residing in the palace, witnessing the scheming between princes and the intrigues among concubines. Her patience had worn thin, but her status and reputation wouldn't allow her to lose composure before others. Qi Xiao had walked right into the path of her accumulated frustration, bearing the full brunt of days' worth of anger.
Seeing no way out, Qi Xiao simply stepped forward and knelt beside the princess,苦笑 (wry smile): "Auntie, don't wrong Jiang Deqing. He's been advising me all along—I just didn't listen. Direct your anger at me, don't hold it in."
"If you're still angry..." Qi Xiao smiled, and in a playfully赖皮 (cheeky) manner, he took the princess's hand and said, "Hit me a few times. But please, since I have to meet people later, don't hit my face."
Princess Dunsu frowned and pushed his hand away, scolding: "Stop with this act!"
Seeing that the princess's fury had subsided somewhat from its earlier volcanic peak, Qi Xiao turned his head and gave Jiang Deqing a meaningful look. Jiang Deqing understood and slowly got up and retreated. Qi Xiao smiled slowly: "Then I'll kneel here and wait for you to calm down."
Princess Dunsu glanced at Qi Xiao. Though he was kneeling on a felt rug, it was already autumn—the floor would be cold...
The princess's heart still ached for Qi Xiao. There was no way she'd let him kneel forever. Before even half a cup of tea's time had passed, she impatiently said: "Stop with the act. I still have things to ask you. Get up... Looking down at you makes my neck sore..."
Qi Xiao smiled, rose nimbly, turned around, and poured a cup of tea for Princess Dunsu, presenting it respectfully. Smiling, he said: "This matter was thoughtless of me. This cup of tea is my apology to Auntie. Is that acceptable?"
Princess Dunsu gave him a sideways glance, took the tea, and took a sip. She sighed and said: "It's not that my temper is short. You just worry people to death. Why can't you learn good things? Why must you be like those lowlifes and play with boys?"
By "those," Princess Dunsu meant Second Prince Qi Huo and Third Prince Qi Li. Two years prior, both princes had kept catamites in their estates. There were even rumors that the two had exchanged catamites who had served them, among other unspeakable things. When these whispers reached the Emperor, he flew into a rage, severely reprimanded both princes. Those catamites vanished overnight, and the rumors gradually died down.
Qi Xiao苦笑: "Bai Ren isn't a catamite..."
"Yes, he's an heir. But you're far more ambitious than Qi Huo and the others!" Princess Dunsu couldn't help but poke Qi Xiao on the head, then lowered her voice and hissed: "You think he's just a worthless hostage, but have you considered? No matter how insignificant, he's still the sole legitimate son of the King of Lingnan! He's as noble as you are! You bind him in secret like this—are you not afraid he'll find an opportunity to turn around and bite you?!"
Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "Does Auntie think your nephew is so useless? I'm not afraid of the Emperor. Why would I fear him?"
Princess Dunsu was about to lecture him further, but when she saw his expression, she found herself transfixed. She sighed inwardly. He was exactly like his father—the things he wanted, he always obtained.
"Fine..." Princess Dunsu rubbed her temples wearily. "It's just a side consort. If you don't want to take her, then don't."
When Qi Xiao saw that the princess had finally cooled down, he pressed his advantage like a snake riding the stick. Smiling, he said: "Actually, I still need Auntie to help me one more time... Now that my marriage to Roujia has fallen through, Auntie could say that you liked Roujia so much and felt it such a pity. You could simply adopt her as your goddaughter. With Auntie's prestige, the King and Princess of Lingnan would be overjoyed. With this connection, it would be easier for Auntie to help with Roujia's marriage arrangements in the future."
Princess Dunsu looked at him incredulously: "You've caused such a mess, and I'm barely done scolding you, yet you dare come asking favors of me? If Roujia can't be your side consort anymore, why should I care what becomes of her?"
Qi Xiao smiled helplessly: "I won't hide it from Auntie... To tame this wild horse Bai Ren, I promised him that he would have the final say in Roujia's marriage. But when it comes to matters between a man and a woman, it would be improper for me, the Crown Prince, to interfere in another household's affairs. That's why I need Auntie's help. Your status is unmatched. If you make this proposal, Lingnan will certainly agree."
When he saw that the princess still seemed reluctant, Qi Xiao added: "Auntie... just do this for my sake."
Princess Dunsu looked at Qi Xiao and couldn't help but feel a pang of心疼. This child's fate had been unfortunate, and his temperament was cold and indifferent. From childhood until now, he had never even cared for a favorite object. Now that he had taken a liking to this young lord, why not let him have what he wants? Besides, the marriage alliance with Lingnan was already ruined—nothing more could be done about that. She could only strive to gain the maximum benefit from the situation. Roujia's marriage was merely a matter of her saying a word...
Princess Dunsu gave Qi Xiao a look: "Fate's nemesis from a past life..."
Before Qi Xiao could express his gratitude, she continued: "Understand this—only this once! If it were for some young lady, helping you arrange things would be one thing. But this is just about a boy. Who knows how long your infatuation will last?"
Keeping catamites was nothing unusual in the imperial family, but most lost their looks and favor within a few years. Princess Dunsu wasn't worried at all that Qi Xiao would truly commit to anything serious.
Qi Xiao smiled: "Auntie still cares for me the most."
"Hmph..." Blood ran thicker than water. No matter how great the conflict, once the anger had been vented and Qi Xiao had apologized, Princess Dunsu still loved him as her own flesh and blood. Like when Qi Xiao was young, she held his hand and lectured him for another long while—nothing but nagging about "no more misbehaving" and "don't neglect your duties for pleasure" and such. Qi Xiao obediently agreed to everything. Princess Dunsu nodded in satisfaction: "The evening banquet is still a while away. I'll have someone bring you some pastries to snack on. Don't go to the banquet on an empty stomach again and hurt your health."
Qi Xiao agreed to everything without objection. When the palace servants brought in the pastries, he first offered them to Princess Dunsu, displaying the utmost filial devotion, completely charming away the princess's remaining anger.
While Qi Xiao was dutifully paying his respects in the Yuxiu Palace, he was unaware that not far away, separated only by a few palaces, Bai Ren had stumbled into trouble with contraband medicine.