Chapter 19
The banquet had ended by the Hour of the Boar. Qi Xiao personally escorted the senior ministers out of the palace, then sent Princess Dunyu back to Yuxiu Palace before returning to his own chambers.
In the sleeping quarters of Haiyan Palace, Jiang Deqing helped Qi Xiao change his clothes, lowering his voice as he reported, "For dinner, the young lord ate a bowl of porridge and two pieces of Baozhen pastries. He didn't touch much of the other dishes, but he seemed quite fond of that old duck soup—he had two bowls."
Qi Xiao smiled. To think he could eat so much here at his place—he must have truly been famished. Qi Xiao slightly raised his chin to let Jiang Deqing unfasten his collar buttons. Noticing several books scattered near the couch, he asked quietly, "What's the deal with those books? Was he reading these late at night?"
Jiang Deqing couldn't help but laugh, pausing before he explained slowly, "The young lord said he's not used to a strange bed and wouldn't be able to sleep tonight no matter what. Since the long night stretched ahead, he thought he might as well read to pass the time. This servant went to Your Highness's study and found a few unassuming books for him. But it hadn't even been the length of a single incense stick..."
Qi Xiao looked at the soundly sleeping Bai Ren on the couch and burst out laughing.
The next morning, Bai Ren woke up in the crook of Qi Xiao's arm. Bai Ren usually woke early, but today, for some reason, he didn't stir until nearly the Hour of the Chen. His brow furrowed, and for a long moment he couldn't quite回过神来. Qi Xiao found his dazed, confused look delightful, and lowering his head, he kissed Bai Ren's forehead with a soft laugh. "Can't remember where you are?"
Only then did Bai Ren recall last night's events. He immediately tensed and sat up. Qi Xiao amusedly watched Bai Ren's nervous reaction. "What's the matter? Even if something really happened last night, being careful now would be far too late."
Qi Xiao leaned back against the soft cushions, his inner robe wide open, revealing a clearly defined, muscular frame. Bai Ren slightly turned his face away, refusing to look at Qi Xiao. "Your Highness jests..."
"I'm just teasing. Come closer..." Qi Xiao sat up and pulled Bai Ren toward him. When Bai Ren resisted, he hastily made up an excuse. "Let me check your wound... Last night you kept trying to scratch it several times, and I stopped you each time. I couldn't stay awake all night just watching over you. I need to know if you actually scratched that spot."
Bai Ren hesitated. Last night in the depths of night, he had indeed vaguely felt an itch on his neck, but whether he had actually scratched it... he couldn't remember clearly.
Qi Xiao drew him closer, carefully pulling back the edge of the bandage to check. Seeing that the medicine was still applied properly, he felt relieved and smiled. "It should be fine. Let's get up first. We'll have the imperial physician examine you after breakfast..."
Bai Ren nodded. Qi Xiao, seeing he was still a bit tense, helplessly smiled. He got out of bed first, lowered the layered bed curtains, and only then allowed the servants to enter to attend to them.
Because Bai Ren was there, breakfast at Haiyan Palace was much more elaborate than usual. Unfortunately, neither of them had much appetite so early in the morning, and they stopped after eating a little. Bai Ren hesitated, then said softly, "Your Highness... after paying respects to His Majesty this morning... I'll return to my manor first."
Bai Ren spoke slowly, feeling humiliated inside. It was all because of that ridiculous agreement with Qi Xiao that now he had to ask Qi Xiao's permission before going anywhere, not a shred of freedom left. Qi Xiao took the cloth handed to him by a palace attendant and wiped his hands slowly. "Why only eat so little? Is it that the food at my place doesn't suit your taste?"
"I wouldn't dare." Bai Ren slightly lowered his head, then continued, "I've been away from my manor for a day already. There are some household matters that need attending to. Besides... I've been gone for a day and a night, and they are still waiting for news from me..."
Bai Ren actually wanted to tell Dong Boru about the failed marriage negotiations and the grudge he had now formed with Qi Huo. But when these words reached Qi Xiao's ears, they took on a different meaning. 'They are waiting for my news'? 'They'—who was he talking about? Cen Chaoge?
Qi Xiao tossed the cloth carelessly onto the serving tray and laughed. "These are minor matters. The people managing your household will handle everything. If you need to fetch something... I'll send someone to get it for you."
So he wasn't going to let him leave? Bai Ren苦笑 and sighed. "Your Highness... that's not what you said at the beginning. Are you planning to imprison me?"
"Of course not." Qi Xiao's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You're the young lord of a princely house. Even if I wanted to imprison you, I wouldn't have the ability."
Bai Ren wanted to protest further, but the thought of his agreement with Qi Xiao made his heart sink. What could he say when he had promised this himself?
Bai Ren tiredly rubbed his brow and said softly, "Then... may I at least write a letter to my household? The incident in the side hall of Qianqing Palace yesterday—they probably already know about it. I should at least let them know I'm safe."
Even if he wrote the letter, it would still pass through Qi Xiao's hands. Whether to deliver it or not was entirely up to him. Qi Xiao nodded in agreement, then turned to instruct Jiang Deqing, "Prepare the writing implements."
Soon Jiang Deqing had arranged the ink stone, brush, and paper. Since there was no writing desk in the sleeping quarters, everything was set up on the small kang table. Bai Ren didn't stand on ceremony, casually picking up a brush and a sheet of paper. Qi Xiao brought Bai Ren a cup of tea, then stood at his side and waited motionless for Bai Ren to start writing.
Bai Ren couldn't help but grumble internally. He knew his letter would definitely pass through Qi Xiao's hands, but couldn't he at least wait until no one was around before secretly reading it? The man was being so blatant about it!
Qi Xiao wasn't aware of Bai Ren's thoughts, but when he saw the opening of the letter Bai Ren was writing, all the inexplicable frustration he'd been feeling earlier dissipated. Bai Ren was writing to Dong Boru.
Bai Ren briefly described what had happened yesterday, then discreetly mentioned the matter with Roujia. In the end, he told Dong Boru not to worry—his injuries weren't serious. It was only that His Majesty's imperial grace was boundless, and the Crown Prince's care was so attentive, which was why he had stayed on at the palace.
Bai Ren quietly waited for the ink to dry, then folded the letter and placed it in an envelope, handing it to Qi Xiao. "Trouble you, Your Highness."
Qi Xiao passed the envelope to Jiang Deqing. "Deliver this carefully for the young lord. Not a single mistake." Jiang Deqing hurried off with repeated assurances. Qi Xiao turned to Bai Ren and smiled. "Are you unhappy?"
Bai Ren looked up at Qi Xiao, puzzled. Just moments ago this man had been cold and sarcastic, and now he was like this.
"Don't overthink it. I was just worried about your injury... Why not recuperate here for a couple of days? Your manor may be comfortable, but you can't have the imperial physician by your side around the clock. Your wound is neither serious nor minor. I'm still a bit worried." Qi Xiao also sat down, taking Bai Ren's hand and squeezing it as he smiled. "Just now I let my worry get the better of me and my tone wasn't very good. I hope the young lord will be magnanimous and not take it to heart."
Qi Xiao had lowered himself to apologize like this. What else could Bai Ren do but shake his head? "It's nothing. I wasn't angry in the first place."
He didn't know why, but rather than Bai Ren truly falling out with him and making a scene, Qi Xiao actually disliked it more when Bai Ren was this indifferent. At fifteen years old, shouldn't one be full of vigor and spirit? But Qi Xiao rarely felt that kind of vitality from Bai Ren. He couldn't help but reflect on whether he was being too overbearing.
Qi Xiao gently held Bai Ren's hand. After a long moment, he said gently, "Bai Ren... do you hate me?"
Bai Ren paused, then shook his head. Qi Xiao laughed bitterly. "You don't have to lie. I've treated you this way—you hating me would only be natural."
"No." Bai Ren's eyes were clear and guileless, without a trace of evasion. He truly wasn't lying. "I really don't hate Your Highness."
"What you've done to me, to be frank, was taking advantage of my predicament. But that... that agreement—I agreed to it myself. I wanted to protect Roujia. Your Highness has no relation to me, so of course you wouldn't help for nothing. That's only human nature." Bai Ren uncomfortably shifted the hand Qi Xiao was holding, lowering his head as he spoke slowly. "Having genuinely benefited from someone yet still harboring resentment, treating that person as the cause of all one's misfortune—that would be too hypocritical. As for hate... I do have people I hate, but it's not Your Highness. Between us, it's simply a matter of mutual benefit. There's no room for that."
Qi Xiao had never expected that someone so young would see things so clearly. He laughed bitterly to himself. If someday Bai Ren learned that the arranged marriage and the matter with Cen Chaoge were both schemes he had set up long ago, he wondered if Bai Ren could still speak to him this calmly.
Qi Xiao didn't like seeing Bai Ren so despondent. Deliberately smiling, he leaned closer and said softly, "Mutual benefit—well said. The marriage arrangement is practically settled now. Young lord... how do you intend to repay me?"
Just moments ago Bai Ren had been speaking with such detachment about the coldness of human relationships, but at these words his expression instantly changed. He stammered, "Your Highness... said you wouldn't—not yet—and besides, I... I still have my injury..."
"Relax. Your lord here isn't that reckless. Even with your injury..." Qi Xiao leaned close to Bai Ren's ear, whispering with a smile, "it wouldn't get in the way. I'll be careful and won't hurt you, alright? Bai Ren, I was too soft-hearted last night. If I hadn't been... right now you'd probably be clinging to me, flirting and unwilling to leave."
"Your Highness!" How could Bai Ren have heard such words before? Qi Xiao's teasing left him blushing furiously as he admonished with all due formality, "It... it's broad daylight..."
Qi Xiao laughed. Turning his head, he kissed Bai Ren's cheek and said with a smile, "Fine, fine. I won't do anything, I won't say anything either? You just stay here and wait for the imperial physician to change your dressing. If you're bored, you can go to the study and find some popular novels to read. I'm going to court. I'll be back at midday to have lunch with you."
Bai Ren was more than eager for Qi Xiao to leave quickly, so he nodded immediately. Qi Xiao teased him a few more times before finally departing.
Just as Qi Xiao stepped out of the sleeping quarters, Jiang Deqing came forward. Bai Ren's letter was still in his hand. Jiang Deqing stepped closer and said quietly, "Your Highness... are you really going to send this letter?"
"Mm." Qi Xiao nodded. "Keep a close eye on it. Make sure it reaches Dong Boru's hands personally."
Jiang Deqing glanced back toward the chambers, feeling somewhat confused. He苦笑 and said, "Your Highness... you don't actually intend to do anything with him, yet you insist on keeping him here. You're not getting what you want, and just now you almost upset the young lord."
Qi Xiao coldly laughed. "Let him be unhappy. He'll just have to endure it. Cen Chaoge is leaving in a few days. Do you think I'm crazy enough to let him go back now? If something goes wrong, who would I have to reason with?"
Jiang Deqing thought about it and realized Qi Xiao had a point. He quickly smiled and nodded. "Your Highness is truly thorough in your considerations."