Chapter 37
Though he'd been saying all along that he wanted Bai Ren to stay, after dinner, Qi Xiao still told Jiang Deqing to prepare the carriage.
"You seemed to like that drunk crab at lunch. I had the kitchen fetch another jar of it. Take it home with you." Qi Xiao straightened Bai Ren's sleeve for him and smiled. "Though this thing is extremely cold in nature, so you really shouldn't eat too much."
Bai Ren found it strange in his heart. Qi Xiao didn't have court tomorrow, and if it were an ordinary day off, he would never have let Bai Ren leave. So Bai Ren hadn't mentioned anything about wanting to return home—yet unexpectedly, for once, Qi Xiao had破天荒地 allowed him to go.
Bai Ren nodded in agreement. Qi Xiao turned toward the outside and called out, "Jiang Deqing..."
Jiang Deqing hastily responded from outside the warm pavilion. Qi Xiao asked, "Is the carriage ready? How about Shunzi?"
"Your Highness, Shunzi has already fed the horses and hitched up the carriage." Jiang Deqing thought for a moment, then added, "In case the roads are still slippery, Shunzi wrapped two chains around the carriage axle. It should be fine."
Qi Xiao smiled with satisfaction. "He always handles things properly." He then turned to smile at Bai Ren. "Go on. When I have time again, I'll have someone come fetch you."
Bai Ren nodded and, turning past the screen, followed Jiang Deqing on his way.
By the time they left the Crown Prince's residence, it was already the hour of You. The evening clouds hung in the west, dyeing the entire street red. Bai Ren propped open the carriage window to look outside. Before long, one of the guards riding behind hurried his horse forward to catch up beside Bai Ren's carriage. He nodded and said, "Your Lordship, His Highness said that now that the weather is cold, just leave a tiny gap in the carriage skylight. Don't open the windows anymore."
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh. Qi Xiao even set rules about this. These hard-nosed soldiers from the military were put in the awkward position of monitoring such small details so meticulously. Bai Ren didn't want to make things difficult for them, so he closed the window. But suddenly, something occurred to him, and he froze.
Bai Ren pressed his lips together and lifted the carriage curtain. He gave a low order: "Change course. Return to the Crown Prince's residence."
Shunzi shouted "Whoa—" to halt the horses, then turned his head in confusion. "Did Your Lordship forget something? We can send someone back to fetch it. We've already traveled halfway—it's not worth going back."
Bai Ren shook his head. After hesitating, he said, "There's something important I forgot to discuss with His Highness. It can't wait. Take me back."
A moment of hesitation flickered in Shunzi's heart. He was someone Qi Xiao had personally assigned to escort Bai Ren. Qi Xiao had given strict orders before—no matter picking someone up or sending them off, not only could they not go anywhere else in between, even which route they took had to follow what Qi Xiao had arranged beforehand. Not a single mistake was permitted. Shunzi had also sworn an oath before Qi Xiao, promising absolutely nothing would go wrong. But this wasn't going somewhere else—it was returning to the Crown Prince's residence...
Shunzi pulled his clothes tighter and吆喝着让马转了个弯儿, turning the horses around and heading back.
Bai Ren lowered the carriage curtain. Cold sweat broke out on his back. Only just now had he understood why Qi Xiao had suddenly sent him home. Shen Xin already knew about his and Qi Xiao's affair. Qi Xiao couldn't keep him around—tonight, Huo Rong would likely be dealt with. With one less person in the Crown Prince's residence, and that person being one the Emperor had bestowed, tomorrow there would definitely be quite a stir. If Bai Ren had stayed, he would have been under suspicion. The people he'd already made enemies of lately were numerous enough. Qi Xiao must be afraid that he'd get into more trouble, so he'd sent Bai Ren away. Bai Ren pressed his lips together. Qi Xiao hadn't said any of this to him explicitly.
Outside, snow began to fall again slowly. Fearing the carriage might slip, everyone traveled very slowly. By the time they reached the Crown Prince's residence, it was nearly the hour of Xu. The sky had completely darkened. The lanterns along the entire street of the Crown Prince's residence had all been lit, a glowing red expanse that was quite a sight. Bai Ren's group had barely turned onto the street when Qi Xiao received the news. Thus, as Bai Ren dismounted, he saw Qi Xiao standing at the ceremonial gate with a furrowed brow, looking at him. For some reason, Bai Ren's heart felt uneasy. He walked closer and said softly, "Your Highness, I... Our residence recently acquired a new chef who makes excellent sea bass. I wonder if Your Highness might have the leisure... to come to my humble home for a small drink?"
Qi Xiao's expression was complicated. "You..."
"Your Highness." Bai Ren's voice couldn't help but tremble. "The horses and carriage are right here. Your Highness... come with me."
Qi Xiao's heart raced wildly. He knew he couldn't fool Bai Ren. Even if he hadn't said anything, once Bai Ren got home, he would probably figure it out. Being secretly protected by his goodwill like this—Bai Ren would surely remember it in his heart. But Qi Xiao absolutely hadn't expected Bai Ren to turn back.
Qi Xiao's gaze was piercing as he stared fixedly at Bai Ren. "Do you really want me to come?"
Bai Ren felt like he must be insane. He couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed at Qi Xiao for asking again and again like this. Many people in the Crown Prince's residence knew about the affair between him and Qi Xiao. They didn't know the details, so in their eyes, Bai Ren's invitation was no different from seeking favor. But even so, Bai Ren still nodded. "Yes."
Qi Xiao suddenly laughed helplessly. "Fine then. I'll go."
Bai Ren let out a long breath of relief and waited with a bow for Qi Xiao to board the carriage. Catching it from the corner of his eye, he confirmed that Huo Rong was indeed absent. Bai Ren felt secretly relieved. Fortunately, he'd figured it out in time. This way, when Qi Xiao returned to his residence with him, they could simply say it was late and they'd been drinking, and that would be enough to explain keeping Qi Xiao there. Then, no matter what happened next at the Crown Prince's residence, it would only be Huo Rong having to explain things to the Emperor himself. It would have nothing to do with Qi Xiao.
Bai Ren gave a silent nod of approval. But just as the carriage turned onto the street corner, Qi Xiao suddenly embraced him from behind. He laughed softly near Bai Ren's ear. "Bai Ren... don't you trust me?"
"No!" Bai Ren retorted instinctively, like a cat whose sore spot had been stepped on. "I'm afraid that just in case... just in case Huo Rong doesn't handle things cleanly, there'll be more trouble."
Qi Xiao laughed softly. "Even if there is more trouble, that's my problem. What has it got to do with you?"
Bai Ren was speechless. Then he turned his face away and said resentfully, "Then Your Highness might as well get out!"
"There we go... I was just asking. If you don't want to say, fine, but what are you sulking about?" Qi Xiao's words were gentle, but his hand moved with force and simply turned Bai Ren around. He stared directly into Bai Ren's eyes and said slowly, one word at a time, "If you're not willing to say it, I'll say it for you."
"Your sister's matter is basically settled now. I'm not much use to you anymore. Even if I died right now, Roujia's marriage would proceed as planned. But there'd be no one left to humiliate you and keep you in check—you'd only benefit from my death. Bai Ren... you should be hoping I die." Qi Xiao looked at Bai Ren and smiled faintly. "Unless... for some reason, you can't bear to see me die."
Qi Xiao pressed closer and closer, his gaze locked on Bai Ren's eyes. "That day at my residence, you asked me why I didn't let Qi Hua's coachman run you down directly. Bai Ren, today I must ask you the same—why didn't you let Huo Rong implicate me?"
Bai Ren's hands trembled involuntarily. He instinctively tried to retreat backward. Qi Xiao grabbed him by the waist, refusing to let him move, and laughed darkly. "Bai Ren, speak."
Qi Xiao almost wanted to thank the Emperor for sending him these two people. All for today—Bai Ren had returned for him. Even if those other people had been more vexing before, it was all worth it.
Qi Xiao knew Bai Ren's temperament. If he didn't press him now, after today he would never be able to ask again. If he wanted Bai Ren's heart and body to submit, he had to make Bai Ren say it himself.
Qi Xiao's heart hardened. He laughed coldly. "Fine. Since you want me to get out, I'll get out."
Qi Xiao made as if to lift the carriage curtain. Bai Ren instinctively grabbed his hand. Qi Xiao curved his lips into a smile—but he didn't expect Bai Ren's eyes to suddenly turn red.
The ferocity Qi Xiao had been exuding drained away instantly. He hastily said, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Bai Ren shook his head. He hadn't expected himself to be so weak. He awkwardly turned his head away so Qi Xiao couldn't see. Qi Xiao laughed helplessly. "Don't make me anxious. What's really wrong?"
Bai Ren himself wasn't clear either. His heart was in turmoil. Why was he thinking for Qi Xiao's sake? Why had he come back without thinking to pick up Qi Xiao? Some part of him understood, deep down. And precisely because he understood, he became even more afraid.
Bai Ren felt like he was poisoned. Qi Xiao had planted a seed in his heart that he couldn't throw away or destroy. Once the spring rain fell, the seed would burst forth and sprout immediately—instinctive, inevitable, unstoppable by anyone.
Bai Ren's heart was panicked and aggrieved. He felt ashamed without knowing why. He shook his head and didn't speak. Qi Xiao's heart ached terribly. He stopped talking about leaving and drew closer, pulling Bai Ren into his embrace. He sighed and said, "Fine then. I won't ask anymore, okay?"
Bai Ren lowered his head and wiped his eyes with his sleeve, then nodded. Qi Xiao苦笑. "In the future, if you're upset, just tell me directly. I'd rather you let it all out than keep everything bottled up like this. Fine, I really have no way with you now. Can't hit you, can't scold you—you even get offended when I ask a few questions..."
Bai Ren was exasperated. His voice hoarse, he said, "Who was getting offended..."
"Yes, yes, you weren't offended..." Qi Xiao smiled gently and softly kissed his forehead. "Then what's this? Are you flirting with me?"
Bai Ren's heart was stuffed full of frustration. He was clearly the one helping Qi Xiao, yet in the end he was the one who ended up in the wrong. It was the same with the incident at Cat Alley last time—clearly it was he who had almost been trampled to death, yet when he asked Qi Xiao about it, Qi Xiao had turned the tables and left him speechless. Qi Xiao simply had this kind of skill—no matter what the matter, he always had his way.
Though he hadn't gotten the words he wanted to hear, Qi Xiao was still quite satisfied in his heart. At least he knew now that Bai Ren had feelings for him. And besides... Bai Ren had always been reserved. That display just now—Lingnan Princess Consort probably hadn't even seen it. This was quite a catch.
Qi Xiao's heart softened unbearably. He lovingly gathered Bai Ren into his arms, constantly coaxing him. Bai Ren could least resist Qi Xiao's gentle coaxing. Before long, the heaviness in his heart was gone. The carriage swayed gently, and finally Bai Ren actually fell asleep, curled up in Qi Xiao's embrace.
Qi Xiao draped his own greatcoat over Bai Ren. A faint smile touched his heart. That sentence—he'd make Bai Ren say it willingly someday.