# Chapter Thirty-Nine
The two lay in a half-sleep, half-awake state on the bed until the Chen hour, when they finally rose. The servants that Qi Xiao had brought took the liberty of attending to both their morning ablutions, while the servants of the Lingnan Prince's residence stood orderly outside the warm pavilion, waiting until both were fully prepared before entering to serve breakfast.
Yesterday, everyone had just experienced His Highness the Crown Prince's formidable manner, so now they served with particular diligence. They were terrified that Qi Xiao might in a moment of displeasure throw down his soup spoon, overturn the table, and chop them all down for good measure.
In truth, Qi Xiao was in an excellent mood. The breakfast suited his taste perfectly, and he had no intention of taking his frustrations out on anyone. After finishing breakfast, Qi Xiao washed his hands and sat together with Bai Ren in the main hall, slowly savoring their tea.
Qi Xiao glanced around the hall. In just one night, the room had been tidied up considerably. Several pots of camellias were blooming nicely beside the warming stove, and with the heat from the stove, their faint floral fragrance filled the entire room. The furnishings and decorative objects in the room had been replaced with a new set as well. Qi Xiao gave them a cursory look and nodded inwardly—they were barely acceptable to the eye.
Qi Xiao accepted the cracked-pattern blue porcelain tea cup from the maid, took a sip, and after looking over the dozen-odd stewards standing in the hall, turned to Bai Ren with a smile. "世子, you are still far too young, and with no woman of the house to manage affairs, you are likely to suffer the same losses I did when I first established my own residence. I am an outsider, but there are two things I cannot bear: first, watching you walk the same difficult path I once did, and second, seeing Young Madam Roujia wronged when she arrives in the capital next year. So yesterday I overstepped my bounds with a few words. You won't blame me for meddling too much, will you?"
Bai Ren quickly shook his head. "Your Highness is too kind. How could I possibly?"
"Good." Qi Xiao set his tea cup on the table, glanced at the stewards in the room, and gave a soft laugh. "Then in the future... whenever I have free time, I shall come sit with you. And if there are things I find unacceptable, I shall deal with them accordingly."
Bai Ren instantly understood Qi Xiao's meaning—he intended to play the villain, reminding everyone to stay vigilant. Bai Ren barely managed to suppress a smile, maintaining a respectfully deferential expression. "I would be most grateful, only it will be such a burden on Your Highness."
Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow with a smile. "No burden at all."
Qi Xiao rose to his feet, and his maids hurried forward to drape a fur cloak over his shoulders. He turned to Bai Ren's elderly steward with a cool smile. "If there are any servants who dare to deceive their master... the steward need not trouble himself. I have several estates that are short-handed. Just send them to me. Those who fancy themselves fearless, let them come..."
The words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present, but Qi Xiao's face remained smiling as he departed, cradling his hand warmer.
Half an hour later, upon arriving at the Crown Prince's residence, Qi Xiao had barely stepped down from his carriage when Jiang Deqing rushed forward to greet him, speaking hastily. "Your Highness, yesterday... yesterday Shen Xin was drinking with someone. Due to the alcohol, he was careless and... accidentally fell into the Jade Wave Pond."
Qi Xiao frowned slightly. "Was he rescued?"
Jiang Deqing had performed his role perfectly, his face showing proper fear as he murmured meekly. "No... The Jade Wave Pond had frozen over. When one falls into a hole in the ice, how could anyone be rescued? By the time they pulled him out... he was already dead."
Qi Xiao nodded and walked inside, remarking slowly, "Send someone to the palace to inform them. After all, he was a person His Majesty bestowed upon me. We should make the circumstances clear."
Jiang Deqing hastened to agree. The group proceeded to Qi Xiao's private study, and once the maids had been dismissed, Qi Xiao gave a cold smile. "Huo Rong works swiftly."
Jiang Deqing nodded with a smile. "Indeed, Your Highness. Yesterday he drank with Shen Xin all night, and somehow managed to quietly dispose of him. This morning, this old servant personally supervised him as he wrote the memorial to His Majesty. Both Your Highness and he have been cleanly absolved."
Qi Xiao nodded in satisfaction. This matter, at least, had been resolved cleanly.
"Your Highness..." Jiang Deqing ventured, "just now I noticed a small sedan chair following behind Your Highness's carriage. That was..."
Qi Xiao gave a cold laugh. "Nothing important. Find her an empty room to stay in. See that she lacks for nothing in food or clothing. After a year or two, when everyone has forgotten, she can be married off."
Jiang Deqing agreed, then after some thought added, "Your Highness... although Your Highness does have several such concubines openly, you have yet to take a wife. Lately, with all these visits to the世子, if something should happen..."
Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow with a smile. "If something should happen, what?"
"Your Highness, forgive me." Jiang Deqing slightly bowed. "If His Majesty were to find out about Your Highness and the世子... how would Your Highness打算应付呢?"
Qi Xiao shook his head with a laugh. "Do you truly think such matters can be kept hidden from him? Perhaps they can for now, but after some time... he will find out eventually."
Jiang Deqing frowned. "Is Your Highness not worried?"
"Worried about what?" Qi Xiao laughed first. "What do you think he would do? Summon me for a beating and demand I mend my wicked ways, never touching Bai Ren again? Hehe... I called him 'Father Emperor' just now, but do you truly believe he is my father?"
Qi Xiao smiled mockingly. "If he found out, he would probably be even more pleased. These past years, what he's feared most is me marrying a Crown Princess with a powerful family behind her and begetting a legitimate heir, thereby securing my position as Crown Prince... Now that I am close to Bai Ren, he would have nothing but satisfaction. You'll see—when someone brings up marriage negotiations again, he'll make sure others expose my preference for the same sex, using it to ruin my marital prospects. That's the kind of schemes he plays..."
Jiang Deqing had been holding back words for some time, and now that the conversation had naturally reached this point, he could not help speaking directly. "Does Your Highness truly have no urgency about marriage? Your Highness will be coming of age soon. Having a powerful family as in-laws would be of infinite benefit!"
Qi Xiao shook his head with a frown. "No... Setting aside that the Emperor and Empress Feng are meddling in my affairs, what kind of in-law family could I possibly find? And that's not even mentioning marriage itself..." Qi Xiao laughed self-deprecatingly, then looked up at Jiang Deqing. "Uncle, you've watched me grow up. Do you think I could ever open my heart to a woman I've never even met?"
Jiang Deqing was speechless. Qi Xiao sneered. "There it is. Even if I did marry, it would merely mean having another person to guard against, and this person would be in my residence day and night... Ugh, just thinking about it gives me a headache."
Jiang Deqing could not help but laugh. "Then Your Highness simply won't marry? This... it doesn't have to be so. There was nothing to trust at first, but slowly one could learn to trust. Just like Your Highness with the世子—when you first slept in the same bed as him, you kept a dagger under your pillow, but now don't you—"
"Hush..." At the mention of Bai Ren, a faint smile appeared on Qi Xiao's face. "Don't speak of this again. Be careful he doesn't find out."
Jiang Deqing understood, laughing lightly and giving himself a gentle slap. "This old servant misspoke."
Qi Xiao knew Jiang Deqing was worrying about him, so he smiled reassuringly. "Rest assured. I have everything under control. Those matters can wait."
Jiang Deqing nodded, then after some thought asked, "Then... if His Majesty found out about Your Highness and the世子, and used the世子 to threaten Your Highness?"
Qi Xiao could not help but laugh. "Do you think the Emperor would believe I genuinely care for Bai Ren? Hehe... in his heart, I suspect he's more worried about Bai Ren's safety than I am."
Jiang Deqing also laughed after hearing this. When Princess Dunsu had first learned of this matter, she had thought Qi Xiao was merely playing around. Even Jiang Deqing himself, when he first learned of it, had assumed Qi Xiao was merely bored and amusing himself with Bai Ren. But now... Jiang Deqing sighed quietly in his heart, hoping he was overthinking things.
Shortly after, a message came back from the palace. The Emperor had offered Qi Xiao some words of comfort, telling him not to dwell on it, and had commanded him to hire a group of monks to perform Buddhist rites to expel evil spirits. Qi Xiao felt relieved—the Emperor had believed Huo Rong's account.
Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the year. On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Qi Xiao rose early and entered the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor and Empress. Qi Hua's injuries had healed, and he too had arrived early with the other princes, waiting outside the Phoenix Glory Palace.
This was Qi Hua's first appearance before everyone since being punished by the Emperor. Having always been overbearing, his accumulated prestige still commanded fear; none of the princes dared speak much, lest they provoke his displeasure. Qi Xiao, on the other hand, could not be bothered with him. With the New Year approaching, Bai Ren was busy, and Qi Xiao was hardly idle either. It had already been over ten days since he had last seen Bai Ren, and he felt a hollow ache in his heart. He thought that after paying respects to the Emperor and Empress, he would find time to see Bai Ren.
Lost in thought, Qi Xiao suddenly noticed Qi Hua approaching with a smile. "Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince. It's been quite some time since I've seen Your Highness. This younger brother has missed you terribly."
Qi Xiao glanced up at him with a smile. "Has Second Brother's injury healed completely? It takes a hundred days for bone injuries to mend, and that time hasn't even arrived yet."
Qi Xiao had immediately pressed on Qi Hua's sore spot. Hatred boiled in Qi Hua's heart, but he forced a smile. "It's already... completely healed. I haven't yet thanked Your Highness. I hear that lately Your Highness has been quite close with the Lingnan Prince's世子. I trust Your Highness has explained many things on my behalf... I wonder if the世子 has generously forgiven me for my past transgressions?"
Qi Xiao smiled coolly. "As for that, I should thank Second Brother. If you hadn't had that little disagreement with the世子 that day, I wouldn't have had the chance to take him to my place for treatment. Over time... I've grown familiar with the世子, and now we're even about to become relatives. Hehe... Second Brother can rest assured, the世子 long ago forgot those minor matters."
Qi Hua's smile did not reach his eyes. "Then that's for the best."
Just as everyone was speaking, Princess Dunsu also entered the palace. The Emperor promptly had her shown in, and everyone proceeded into the hall together. After the elaborate rituals were concluded and they had taken their seats in order, the Emperor smiled warmly at Princess Dunsu. "It's been several days since we've seen each other, Imperial Sister. Your complexion looks even better."
Princess Dunsu smiled graciously, then turned to Empress Feng. "What treats did Empress give the Emperor this morning that makes His words so sweet?"
Empress Feng laughed, and Princess Dunsu smiled charmingly. "With so much to attend to at year's end, I'm kept so busy I can barely catch my breath. How could my complexion possibly be good? But it really is excellent, because today I'm so happy to come see the Emperor and Empress."
Princess Dunsu had always known how to make pleasant conversation. Before long, the hall had grown warm and lively. When the Emperor inquired about He Zichen, Princess Dunsu responded, "This child knows how greatly His Majesty honors him, and feels deeply grateful for imperial grace. He has become even more diligent, and his mother daily offers prayers for the Emperor. The whole family is filled with gratitude. I've also told them that with the New Year approaching, they should spruce up their residence properly. When the time comes to welcome the young madam, they must not make it too shabby, lest they let down His Majesty's great benevolence. Only..."
Princess Dunsu smiled and said, "Only their family's finances are limited, and they cannot afford to make things look truly presentable. I've subsidized them somewhat, making it barely acceptable."
The Emperor, ever ready to do the generous thing, smiled and said, "How could I let Imperial Sister bear such expense? I'll leave this matter with the Imperial Household Department. Let them find a suitable estate and help furnish it."
Princess Dunsu had been waiting for exactly these words. Smiling, she said, "Then I'll thank Your Majesty's great grace on behalf of my nephew."
The Emperor shook his head with a smile. Such a small expenditure was nothing to him. Truth be told, the Emperor was quite satisfied with this marriage arrangement. While the young madam would be marrying into the He household and thus becoming connected to Qi Xiao, compared to marrying any of the other princes, this was the best possible outcome.
Unlike Emperor Wu, the current Emperor had no great passion for territorial expansion. What mattered far more to him than such pursuits was securing his throne and governing the realm well. He knew his own limitations—warfare was not his strength, and he had few generals he could completely trust. Thus, he was extremely reluctant to start wars. As long as Lingnan maintained a presentable relationship with him, the Emperor would not easily move against that region.
He wished to forge an alliance and maintain friendly relations with Lingnan, yet he did not want any prince to gain such a powerful backing. Having Young Madam Roujia marry into a common gentry family was the best possible result.
Moreover, this gentry family's young master was quite down on his luck and could not stand on his own feet—no situation could be more ideal for the Emperor.
Since Princess Dunsu had returned to court, this was the first time she had done something that truly pleased the Emperor. As a result, the former friction between the siblings vanished, and their surface demeanor returned to its previous warmth and cordiality.
"By the way, Crown Prince... you are, in a sense, a matchmaker in this affair. After the New Year, when Young Madam Roujia arrives in the capital, you shall oversee the wedding arrangements somewhat." Princess Dunsu turned to Qi Xiao with a smile. "It's a pity the Lingnan Prince and Princess cannot come to the capital. Bai Ren is so young, and I'm afraid he cannot manage such a major event."
Qi Xiao nodded with a smile. "Of course."
Princess Dunsu then turned to converse merrily with Empress Feng. Qi Xiao's thoughts wandered elsewhere. Today was the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month—the Little New Year's Eve. Once he had gotten through these obligations, he still had something to give Bai Ren.