Chapter Thirty-Two
In the inner study room, it was quite some time before Qi Xiao finally released the man in his arms. Qi Xiao pulled Bai Ren's waist closer and laughed softly: "I really should thank Tang Pei. Because of this screen, you actually let me kiss you for half a day like a good boy. It's a pity that the great scholar Tang passed away years ago, otherwise I could thank him in person. Perhaps I'll burn some incense for him another day."
Bai Ren's face flushed from Qi Xiao's teasing. He lowered his voice and replied: "He's been dead for several hundred years now, Your Highness. Do spare some mercy with your tongue."
Bai Ren genuinely loved calligraphy and paintings. Though he said this, he couldn't help but push Qi Xiao away slightly to look back at the screen. Qi Xiao wrapped his arms around him from behind and listened as Bai Ren explained the intricacies of the painting, all the while pressing kisses to Bai Ren's ear. He smiled and said: "The imperial tutors taught me these things before, but I'm a complete philistine. I could never settle my mind to listen. You're different from me—you have the innate capacity for understanding."
Bai Ren shook his head and smiled: "Your Highness flatters me. I don't know that much either. It's just that my mother, the Consort, was very fond of these things. I grew up surrounded by them, so I learned a little."
A thought stirred in Qi Xiao's heart. He paused and said quietly: "Bai Ren, today... the people heading to Lingnan will be setting off."
Bai Ren froze. Instinctively, he repeated: "They're leaving today?"
Qi Xiao nodded. Looking at the thoughtful expression on Bai Ren's face, an uncomfortable feeling crept into his heart. That expression—was he thinking of Cen Chaoge?
Qi Xiao hesitated, then said as if casually: "I remember your companion left too, didn't he? You'll be short a person now. Is there any inconvenience? Should I find someone reliable for you?"
Bai Ren shook his head. Qi Xiao laughed softly: "Don't overthink it. I'm not trying to plant spies around you."
Bai Ren forced a bitter smile: "That's not what I meant. Besides... I'm here with Your Highness day and night. Would you even need spies?"
Qi Xiao smiled and repeated: "Day and night, you say? Those are your own words."
Bai Ren managed a weak smile and said nothing. Qi Xiao knew he was feeling uncomfortable. He gently rubbed Bai Ren's back in a soothing gesture and said quietly: "You really are something... why not just send some random servant back? Why did you send your own companion away?"
Bai Ren hesitated, his voice slightly hoarse: "He's... he's the only son in his family, and he wanted to go back himself. When I thought about it, being here with me really isn't a good posting. He's helped me so much over the years. Letting him go now—it's paying back that debt of friendship."
A smile flickered in Qi Xiao's heart. So they were even, were they? That was just like Bai Ren. If it were his own person... Qi Xiao thought coldly to himself—if someone under his command enjoyed his patronage and spent his money while secretly paving another path for themselves, he would have their skin pulled off. Would he let them return peacefully to their hometown?
Qi Xiao had meant to test him. Seeing Bai Ren react this way put him at ease. With his wholehearted protection, over time, wouldn't he find a way to completely win this man over? Remembering how Bai Ren couldn't help but warn him to be careful earlier, Qi Xiao felt warm inside. Smiling, he said: "Very well. If you need anyone, just tell me. You show me your true self, and I'll show you mine. I know what you do in your daily life, so there's no need to add more eyes on you. I can't promise the people I give you will be extremely capable, but they will absolutely not harm you."
Seeing how candid Qi Xiao was being, Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh: "So there really are Your Highness's people in my residence."
Qi Xiao neither confirmed nor denied. He turned to look at the screen and said: "You mentioned the Lingnan Princess Consort loves these things? Jiang Deqing..."
After seeing Cen Chaoge off, Jiang Deqing had been waiting outside. He immediately responded: "This servant is here."
"Take good care of this screen and store it properly. Then go to the treasury and select several fine pieces of calligraphy and paintings from the former dynasty. Pack them all together and send them outside the city. Tell Meng Zhiyuan that these are treasures the young lord recently acquired, and remembering that the Lingnan Princess Consort favors such things, His Highness specially ordered them sent to Lingnan together." Qi Xiao turned to look at Bai Ren and asked, "Do you have any message for the Princess Consort?"
Bai Ren quickly shook his head: "Your Highness, please don't... Bai Ren thanks Your Highness for your generous thoughtfulness on behalf of my mother, but these are things money couldn't buy anywhere. It really isn't appropriate..."
"Just tell me if you have any message." Qi Xiao chuckled and gently poked Bai Ren's cheek, smiling softly. "Why are you so tactless? Do you think I'm doing this just to send the Princess Consort some trinkets? Think about it—you're all alone in the capital. The Princess Consort must be worried sick about you. But if she sees you sending back such wonderful things, she'll know you're valued here in the capital, that you have access to whatever you desire. She'll be able to rest easy then. The actual objects are secondary."
Bai Ren stared blankly. Upon hearing Qi Xiao's words, his eyes grew red. Qi Xiao laughed in exasperation: "What's wrong now? Did I say something wrong? You're..." Qi Xiao glanced toward the door, then lowered his voice: "Why are you about to cry?"
Bai Ren fought to suppress the turmoil in his heart. Ever since he'd come to the imperial palace, unless absolutely necessary, he'd never dared send messages to the Princess Consort. First, he was afraid that one careless move would give ammunition to those with ulterior motives. Second, he feared his mother would miss him even more if she saw something of his.
Bai Ren had come to the imperial city with the resolve to die. He knew in his heart that chances to see the Princess Consort again were slim. It would be better to cruelly sever all reminders of himself, hoping that in time, she would forget him. Then, if something terrible happened, she would grieve less.
But only Bai Ren himself knew the suffering this entailed.
"Tell... tell my mother..." Bai Ren's eyes glistened with tears. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to cry, his voice rough: "Tell her I'm doing well. The people here... treat me very well. Tell her not to worry about me. She should take care of... take care of her own health..."
Qi Xiao looked at the healing scratches still visible on Bai Ren's neck. He thought about what Bai Ren had endured these past two months. Listening to these words, it felt like something had pierced his heart. Qi Xiao let out a breath and murmured softly: "Could it be that I've committed too many sins, and Heaven sent you to be my punishment?"
How else to explain feeling this way again and again—hurting for him, aching for him?
Qi Xiao knew Bai Ren was fiercely proud and unwilling to cry in front of others. So he didn't look at him directly. Instead, he pulled Bai Ren into his embrace and called outward: "Did you hear what the young lord said? Tell them every word, verbatim. And tell them—if even a single character is delivered incorrectly, they needn't bother coming back."
Jiang Deqing hastily acknowledged the order. Qi Xiao lowered his head and said softly to Bai Ren: "They're coming to carry this screen. Let's go to the bedchamber first, shall we?"
Bai Ren nodded. It was a long moment before he raised his head from Qi Xiao's chest. Together, they walked toward the bedchamber.
In the warm alcove of the bedchamber, Qi Xiao acted as though he hadn't noticed Bai Ren's slightly red eyes. He laughed softly: "I just remembered—I should also send some brocade and silk to the Princess Consort and the young lady. I have so many fine fabrics and materials in my treasury, just sitting there unused for years."
Bai Ren was truly grateful for Qi Xiao's thoughtfulness just now. He lowered his head and said: "I've already received so much from Your Highness. I'm worried now... when my mother sees that screen, she won't dare believe it could be something I have access to."
"That would only demonstrate how well-connected the young lord is in the imperial city, wouldn't it?" Qi Xiao deliberately teased him. He smiled. "Even the Crown Prince offers his treasured collection as tribute—clearly the young lord holds an exceptional position in the capital."
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh. Qi Xiao sat down beside him and smiled: "I think I can guess what you were thinking before. You give everything for the Princess Consort, but have you considered that she's doing the same for you? By hiding yourself away and refusing to communicate with her regularly, you're only making her suffer more."
Bai Ren nodded, taking the lesson to heart. Suddenly, he thought about how Qi Xiao had lost his mother at a young age, yet understood the complexities of a mother-son relationship so clearly. There must be untold hardships behind that understanding. A feeling of sympathy for Qi Xiao rose in Bai Ren's heart. Hesitantly, he reached out and took Qi Xiao's hand. "Thank you... thank you for your guidance. I understand now."
"That's the spirit. From now on, keep in regular contact without avoiding people. Every month, send things to Lingnan openly. You're being filial to your father and mother—if anyone dares say anything, what can they do? This way, you won't have to keep everything bottled up inside, and your mother will be much more at ease." Qi Xiao had to be honest—his carefree lifestyle came with good reason. Seeing gratitude shining in Bai Ren's eyes pleased him immensely. He shifted gears: "I don't expect repayment for showing kindness, but since the young lord insists on thanking me, this prince can hardly refuse..."
Qi Xiao pulled Bai Ren into his arms and lowered his head, pressing his lips to Bai Ren's.
Qi Xiao hadn't thought much of such fleeting intimacies before, but after experiencing them with Bai Ren a few times, he'd become increasingly enamored. Because of what had just happened, Bai Ren was far more compliant than usual. Qi Xiao grew more passionate, and his hands mischievously slipped inside Bai Ren's clothing. Bai Ren's body tensed and he was about to struggle when Qi Xiao murmured softly, coaxing him: "Don't hide... you know my temperament. Be good. Don't make me angry..."
Bai Ren froze, then indeed stopped resisting. Qi Xiao gently stroked Bai Ren's smooth skin and laughed quietly: "Be good... once you get used to it, you'll like it..."
Bai Ren's cheeks flushed deep red. He gripped Qi Xiao's robes tightly. Qi Xiao亲密了好一会儿才将人放开，亲了亲笑道：「心里不难受了吧？你看这样一亲热多好，你忘了难受，我也得了实惠。」
Qi Xiao kissed him again and laughed: "Don't you feel better now? See? This kind of closeness is wonderful. You forget your troubles, and I get what I want."
Bai Ren found himself caught between laughter and tears. Qi Xiao smiled and kissed his forehead: "Bai Ren, don't be sad... Your suffering these past two months hasn't been in vain. Lingnan has experienced continuous natural disasters these past few years. This autumn's harvest will barely get them through the winter. When the next lean season comes... this grain will save their lives."
Qi Xiao's gaze was tender yet resolute: "Bai Ren, this is all your merit."