# Chapter Thirty-Four
At midday, He Yuchun, the consort of Princess Dun Su, also returned. The princess invited Qi Xiao to share the midday meal with them, and after the meal, Qi Xiao stayed briefly before returning to his residence.
In the inner study of the Crown Prince's mansion, Qi Xiao picked up his brush to write a letter. As he wrote, he instructed Jiang Deqing, "Deliver this personally. There are things that can't be explained in a letter or two. Baire will likely have many questions—answer them truthfully."
Jiang Deqing agreed. "Yes, Your Highness... There's also something urgent. The spy just reported—the matter... has seen some progress."
Qi Xiao smiled. Good news kept coming one after another today. "You found something out?"
Jiang Deqing nodded and elaborated for quite some time, then ventured, "Shall this old servant have him brought here?"
"No need." Qi Xiao set down his brush and glanced over the letter, a faint smile on his lips. "Don't alarm the prey. Have them keep the person under close surveillance. When the opportunity arises, I'll confront him myself."
Jiang Deqing nodded in agreement, waiting quietly for the ink to dry before collecting the letter and heading off to the Lingnan Prince's residence.
At the princess's mansion, after her afternoon rest, Princess Dun Su sent someone to fetch He Zichen, and also dispatched people to retrieve her two sons from Maoping Academy. Coincidentally, He Zichen had the day off, so he arrived shortly after. Entering the main hall, he properly knelt to pay his respects to Princess Dun Su. The princess smiled and had him rise, asking cordially about his mother's health and whether his duties at the Hanlin Academy were busy. He Zichen answered each question with downcast eyes. He took after his mother in appearance—quite refined and handsome—with a strong-willed heart hidden beneath a gentle disposition. The more Princess Dun Su looked at him, the more pleased she became. Smiling, she said, "The Crown Prince was here earlier. He said he's recently redecorated his private study, adding some uncommon calligraphy and rare book editions. He's invited your two cousins to his mansion tomorrow to appreciate them together. When I heard this, I laughed—given your two cousins' scholarship, going over there would just give the Crown Prince something to mock. So I mentioned you to him. Good boy, your aunt knows you appreciate these things too. Go along and enjoy yourself."
He Zichen was taken aback. Smiling, he said, "Setting aside that the two young masters' scholarship has improved considerably, when the Crown Prince invites them, though he calls it appreciating calligraphy and paintings, it's surely more about gathering with his cousins to show closeness. My going... wouldn't be appropriate."
"What's appropriateness got to do with it?" Princess Dun Su had no intention of revealing the full picture to He Zichen. For one thing, if he knew the truth, he might feel uncomfortable going. For another, if things fell through, it might leave him with a hangdog feeling, which would be most unfortunate. Princess Dun Su gave He Zichen a reproachful look. "You and the Crown Prince met several times here when you were children, and you're related by blood—you're not an outsider."
Princess Dun Su glanced at the chief maid attending her. The girl understood, and with a gesture, led the rest of the servants out. The princess turned to He Zichen and spoke slowly, "If anyone else heard such an invitation, they'd be scrambling to accept. Yet you try to back out. You've been a Jinshi candidate for over a year now. The Crown Prince now has considerable influence in the Ministry of Personnel. When you complete your academy term next year, with the Crown Prince's help—setting aside other matters—securing you a position as a Hanlin Reviewer wouldn't be a problem."
Before He Zichen could respond, the princess continued, "Don't come at me with grand principles. I don't understand those. All I know is that among your fellow Jinshi recipients, there are still some who haven't landed even a minor official post. Those who passed the imperial examination—do they lack virtue? What exactly are they missing that others have? Isn't it clear to you?"
He Zichen couldn't help but laugh. "Auntie has been scheming on my behalf with such dedication. I'll go."
Princess Dun Su smiled with satisfaction. "That's more like it. Don't be so restrained either. The Crown Prince mentioned that tomorrow he'll also invite the young lord of Lingnan, and probably call a few others as well. It'll be lively and festive—others won't pay particular attention to you. Just treat it as accompanying your cousins for some fun."
Though He Zichen's family had fallen on hard times, he was, after all, a young master from a great aristocratic clan. Growing up, what high officials and noble lords hadn't he seen? He wasn't afraid of appearing inadequate. He nodded in agreement.
The next day, Baire arrived at the Crown Prince's mansion at the Hour of Shen. It was bitterly cold outside. Qi Xiao quickly had him brought into the warm pavilion, smiling and saying, "I really ought to thank He Zichen. Without him, you probably wouldn't have come until the Hour of You."
Baire had matters weighing on his mind. How could he be in the mood for idle banter with Qi Xiao? After entering and having the maids help remove his fox fur cloak, he immediately ordered, "All of you, withdraw. I have words for His Highness."
The maids bowed and withdrew. Qi Xiao stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Baire, teasing with a smile, "One day apart and you missed me this much? First you have them undress you, then send everyone away."
Baire was caught between laughter and frustration. "Don't be ridiculous... I really do have something to ask Your Highness."
"Ask then. It's not like I've sealed your lips." Qi Xiao pinched Baire's chin, turning his face toward him. After examining his neck, he frowned. "You clearly didn't apply the medicine properly yesterday. I remember it was almost healed when you left, yet this spot is swollen and red again. What are your household servants doing?"
Baire felt a twinge of guilt upon hearing this. Yesterday, after hearing Jiang Deqing's words, he had spent the entire evening alone in his room thinking things through. Only after lying down did he remember he hadn't applied the medicine. With so much on his mind, he couldn't be bothered to get up. He had thought it was nearly healed—one day without medicine wouldn't matter. He never expected that by the next day, it would be swollen again.
"Don't blame them. I forgot." Baire turned his head away, not letting Qi Xiao look again. "Never mind that. About that He Zichen..."
Qi Xiao's expression cooled as he looked at Baire. A cold laugh escaped him. "One day apart and you haven't asked me how I am. Instead you rush to inquire about him. You've never even met this person, yet in your heart you already value him more than you value me?"
Baire was caught between laughter and frustration. "Do I need to go through the motions of polite pleasantries with Your Highness? The reason I'm asking about He Zichen is for Roujia's sake. Fine, I was wrong yesterday—forgetting to apply the medicine. His Highness is magnanimous—don't take it to heart."
So they didn't need polite pleasantries between them. That much was acceptable. But Qi Xiao simply couldn't stand seeing Baire fret over others. The more anxious Baire became, the more Qi Xiao remained silent, only watching him with an enigmatic smile. Baire had no recourse,苦笑道，"殿下不是那爱拿别人痛处取乐的人，何必这么说？"
百刃难得的服软了，祁骁也就绷不住了，低头在百刃唇上亲了下低声笑道："你怎么知道我不是那种人？"
"若真是那样的人，就不会这样帮我了……"百刃躲不开，只得让祁骁亲了个实在，断断续续道，"江总管同我说了，为了我姐姐的事……殿下已经否了好几家子了，可见殿下是认真的想替柔嘉寻个好婆家的。"
祁骁心中熨帖，火气也就散了，一笑道："罢了，想问什么，说吧。"
百刃如蒙大赦，一连串的问了半日，有的祁骁还说得出，更多的他也说不好了，失笑道："他屋里有没有丫头我怎么会知道？不过……"
百刃连忙静静的等着祁骁的下文，祁骁笑了下道："据敦肃长公主说，这贺梓辰的父亲当年就是因为在外面胡混送掉了性命，想来贺梓辰他母亲是不会由着儿子也胡来的，且贺梓辰很是自律，我估计是没有这些乱七八糟的事。"
百刃默默出神，祁骁拉着人一同坐到软榻上，不紧不慢道："我昨日从公主府出来就命人暗中去贺梓辰府上看了看，一套三进的宅院，略小了些，仆役也不很多，但院子倒很干净利索，花草侍弄的也好。"
祁骁拉过百刃的手笑着捏了捏："不过这些无关要紧，若你看中了，来日让姑母开口请皇帝赐一套宅院就是了，委屈不着你姐姐。"
百刃忙摇头："我不挑这个，只要他真的人好，那贺太太也肯好好待我姐姐，就是贫苦些也没什么的，再说……说是清贫，那也是跟殿下和公主府这样的府邸比，若同平民百姓比起来已经好多了，我姐姐不是那骄狂的人，守得住贫的。"
祁骁点头："还有就是他如今只是个庶吉士，要想出头且得熬了，不过由进士进翰林，将来再由翰林进内阁，这个路子是对的，他当初辞谢了我姑父给他引荐的差事，自己安心走科举之路，可见还是有些脑子。"
百刃心里已经动了七八分，两人又说了半日的话，酉时贺梓辰同贺家兄弟两兄弟来了，祁骁免了众人的礼，一笑道："本是家宴，免了这些虚礼吧，这位就是贺梓辰了？"
贺梓辰见祁骁点名叫他忙上前一步，躬身道："学生贺梓辰，见过殿下。"
"以前咱们在公主府见过的，孤记得你写了一笔的好字。"祁骁转头看向百刃，"这是岭南王世子。"
贺梓辰行礼问好，百刃难得的没在生人面前露出那副冷冰冰的样子，笑着问了好，又同敦肃长公主的二子寒暄了几句，只是余光还一直留意着贺梓辰，贺梓辰长相虽不及祁骁，但也算是俊秀了，且腹有诗书气自华，一行一动带着温和的书卷气，百刃看了暗暗点头。
略说了几句话众人就去外书房，贺梓辰到底是进士出身，品鉴字画自是难不倒他，不过他为人谦逊，虽懂得多但并不卖弄，只是偶尔祁骁问到他了才答几句，但句句都说在点子上，百刃心中越发满意。
贺家二子不善于此，祁骁本意也不是真的叫人来赏玩什么字画，在书房坐了不到半个时辰就传宴了，酒过三巡后众人都自在了不少，百刃也同贺梓辰说了会儿话，有意无意的试探了贺梓辰几句，贺梓辰本以为自己来太子府是要坐冷板凳的，却不想这岭南王世子这样看的起自己，连连同自己说话，贺梓辰心中纳罕，但也对百刃很有好感，两人有来有往的说了半日的话，酒酣兴浓时贺梓辰也没了些顾忌，笑着道："世子说笑了，学生一心苦读，哪里是为了来日能三妻四妾呢。"
百刃心中一喜，一笑道："是我失言了。"
"世子客气了。"贺梓辰连忙摇头，随即感叹道，"不瞒世子，学生虽年轻，也尝过人情冷暖，知道什么是最要紧的，来日若能有幸得一温婉女儿为妻，定相敬如宾，能和睦一世就足矣了。"
百刃彻底放下心来，下意识的转头看向祁骁，只见祁骁也正笑着看着自己，顿时有些不大好意思，低头吃了口菜遮掩过去了。
怕犯了夜，戌时贺家兄弟就告辞了，众人都带了酒，祁骁嘱咐了下人将几位少爷好生送回去，至于百刃，自然又让祁骁留下了。
"殿下……"换了衣裳擦过身上后百刃呆呆的在榻上坐了好久，半晌问祁骁，"殿下觉得这贺梓辰怎么样？"
祁骁撑不住笑了："你一晚上眼睛就没从他身上移开过，现在倒问我？"
百刃摇头苦笑："我心里觉得他很好，只是我曾识人不清，已经有些不敢信自己了，别的还好说，这干系到柔嘉一辈子的事，不得不仔细。"
祁骁知道他说的是岑朝歌的事，怕他勾起前事来心里不舒服，笑了下道："原来世子殿下这样信得过我了。"
百刃笑了下："殿下看人准，就替我拿一拿主意吧。"
百刃倒了杯茶给祁骁，祁骁接过尝了一口道："我看着很好，这贺梓辰吃过大苦头，难得的是没自怨自艾，不紧不慢的，倒有些甘之如饴的意思，他这样的人对身边人错不了，一旦过上安稳日子定会珍之重之，且他经历过风浪，就是以后有些不顺遂，他也撑得住。"
百刃彻底放下心来，点头一笑道："既如此……就是他吧，下面的事还得麻烦殿下了。"
祁骁笑了下不说话，在自己唇上点了点，这些天两人有诸多亲昵，百刃还有什么看不出来的，一下子红了脸，祁骁也不强秘地，只是笑吟吟的看着他，百刃无法，只得忍着羞凑近了在祁骁唇上亲了下，低声求道："下面的事就劳烦殿下了。"
祁骁笑着加深了这个吻，方才他还有一点没跟百刃说，贺梓辰除了那些好处，还有最重要的一点就是他是贺家的人，那柔嘉嫁过来后，也成了贺家的人。
贺家自武帝时就同嫡系一脉交好，这些年各种姻亲往来，早就成了祁骁背后的一大助力，柔嘉嫁入贺家，几乎同嫁给自己没多大差别。
祁骁放开百刃，宠溺的将人搂在怀里，心中轻笑，将百刃这样看重的亲人划到了自己麾下，还怕百刃以后不听话么。