# Chapter 49
Nothing happened through the night. The next morning when Bai Ren woke up, he felt somewhat awkward thinking about last night. Glancing at Qi Xiao, just as he was about to pretend to still be asleep, Qi Xiao turned his head: "Awake?"
Bai Ren nodded. Qi Xiao turned and picked up the medicinal ointment placed by the bed, taking Bai Ren's hand and rolling up his sleeve to apply the medicine. Bai Ren rubbed his eyes and looked—the bruises on his wrists had already improved considerably. After some thought, he quietly asked, "Did His Highness get up in the middle of the night to apply medicine for me?"
Qi Xiao's hand paused: "Did I wake you?"
Bai Ren shook his head: "No, I just sensed someone moving my limbs in my dreams. I was too sleepy to wake up."
Qi Xiao took his other hand and continued applying the medicine, saying softly, "This ointment needs to be applied frequently to heal faster."
Bai Ren wasn't the vengeful type, and certainly not toward Qi Xiao. By now his anger had long since dissipated. Seeing the lingering guilt between Qi Xiao's brows, he couldn't help but say, "It's fine... it doesn't hurt anymore. My skin is just fairer than others, so the injuries look more severe. It's really nothing."
Qi Xiao sighed, bent down to lift the blanket, and while applying medicine to Bai Ren's ankle wounds,苦笑 said with a bitter smile, "Since you came, the injuries on your body have never stopped. I finally got better those scratches that that beast Qi Hua scratched onto you, and now there are these new ones..."
"These are just bruises. They'll heal in a few days." Bai Ren unconsciously tried to comfort Qi Xiao. "Really, it doesn't hurt anymore. What time is it now? Don't we still have to burn incense later? Don't waste time on this."
Qi Xiao shook his head: "It's only the hour of mao (5-7am), not urgent. Give me that foot..."
Bai Ren's wrists and ankles were all warmed by Qi Xiao's rubbing with the ointment, feeling very comfortable. Outside, dawn was just breaking, and he lay nestled in the soft fox fur bedding, too lazy to move. Qi Xiao noticed he still wanted to sleep and smiled: "Sleep a bit more. I'll wake you when it's time."
Bai Ren smiled and shook his head. Outside was too cold; he was just being greedy for the warmth of the bedding. Qi Xiao tucked the blanket around him, and after finishing applying the medicine, placed the small medicine jar by the bed, saying softly, "In the future, don't put this away. Just leave it here."
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh: "So His Highness can use it right away next time he beats me?"
Qi Xiao couldn't help but smile: "Where did you get that idea? I meant for it to stay here, as a reminder for me to remember yesterday's events every moment, so I will never lose my temper with you again."
Bai Ren gave an awkward laugh: "Forget it, it's all in the past. Let's forget about it..."
Qi Xiao looked at Bai Ren, feeling his heart ache. Such a young age, alone in this place, with only himself to rely on, and he had actually lost his mind and hurt this person... Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed Bai Ren's forehead, whispering, "I can never forget in this lifetime."
Bai Ren pressed his lips together and said softly, "In the future... even if we have more disagreements, it's fine. Just... don't let it last through the night. Even if it's as big a fight as yesterday, we should clarify things right then. Don't... don't ignore each other. Yesterday you pushed open the door and just left. I felt really awful inside."
"Bai Ren... are you trying to make my heart ache on purpose?" Qi Xiao couldn't bear it anymore, and fiercely kissed Bai Ren's brow. "Rest assured, even if we have disagreements in the future... I will definitely give in to you. No matter what, we'll talk things out and never let it last through the night. I'll let you sleep well every night, alright?"
Bai Ren's heart felt warm. He nodded. Seeing that he was reluctant to leave the bed, Qi Xiao索性 got up, turned off all the lamps in the warming pavilion, and covered them with the brocade quilt. Qi Xiao pulled Bai Ren into his arms and gently stroked his back, which caused Bai Ren to constantly nestle closer into his embrace. Qi Xiao smiled lightly: "Like this?"
It was also last night that Qi Xiao discovered this method of comforting a baby in swaddling clothes worked very well on Bai Ren. Last night when he applied medicine to Bai Ren, while Bai Ren was half-asleep, he had gently stroked Bai Ren's back like this, and Bai Ren had immediately fallen back asleep. Judging by his expression, he had thoroughly enjoyed it.
Bai Ren's face flushed slightly red. He turned over contentedly. Qi Xiao smiled and stopped teasing him. Soon both of them fell into a deep sleep again.
In the Phoenix Splendor Palace within the palace, Empress Feng sat and stood in agitation. She had received news that the Emperor wanted her to present the palace maid to Qi Hua in front of everyone today. It seemed like the matter was being resolved, but the Emperor had not消气. No one knew better than Empress Feng that the Emperor was not a good-tempered person. After enduring in silence, there would surely be tenfold or even a hundredfold retaliation.
The Emperor had taken away her authority to command the six palaces, only asking her to "rest and recuperate" peacefully. When this illness would end, Empress Feng had not the slightest idea. She had even thought of the worst-case scenario... The Emperor completely abandoning Qi Hua, and instead supporting the Third Prince of Consort Xue. If that happened... the Emperor might very well let her slowly "die of illness" in this Phoenix Splendor Palace.
The thought of those underhanded methods the Emperor had used against others in private made Empress Feng's heart grow cold. In the past, she had not少 helped the Emperor deal with those unspeakable matters. She never imagined that one day it might come to her.
Just as Empress Feng was lost in wild speculation, a palace attendant entered from outside. The moment she saw him, Empress Feng treated him like a lifeline. She hastily dismissed the others, lowered her voice, and asked urgently, "What did my father say? Hm?"
The palace attendant had a woebegone expression. It was clear he had been severely reprimanded at the Feng residence earlier. He kowtowed and cried, "The old master... the old master flew into a rage."
Empress Feng's face turned pale. After that day, she had been on tenterhooks, wanting to find someone to consult with but not daring to speak to others. After much deliberation, the only people she could truly trust were her own family. Therefore, she had her trusted attendant disclose the entire story to her father and elder brother, hoping her family could think of a solution. Old Master Feng was mild-tempered and rarely lost his temper, yet now he was furious—可见 the situation was dire.
The attendant sobbed, "The old master gave this servant a thorough scolding, asking why I didn't counsel Your Highness. He even said he would beat this servant to death... Your Highness knows, how could this servant not have advised you? After the old master's outburst, he summoned the young master, then made this servant repeat everything. Well... the young master's temper was even worse. He grabbed a chair and wanted to kill this servant on the spot. Your Highness, this servant has served you for many years..."
"Just tell me what they said! Why are you going on about these useless details?!" Empress Feng was already guilty and心虚, and the attendant's crying only made her more annoyed. She snapped, "Did my father come up with any method to deal with this?"
The attendant quickly suppressed his tears and shook his head: "The young master did think of quite a few solutions, but the old master said none of them were good. From what the old master said... this matter is truly棘手. We don't know which良心狗肺 spread those rumors. They are utterly vicious. If we told the truth—that the Second Prince, in his cups, took liberties with someone belonging to the Emperor—fine, that would be one thing. But instead, they reversed it, saying the Emperor wanted to snatch someone from the Second Prince. Now the common people all think the Emperor was the one who夺人所爱. This... there are now two streams of rumors outside, getting more heated by the day, and none of them are favorable. The Emperor naturally couldn't tolerate it anymore."
Empress Feng was anxious and desperate: "Could even... even my father not think of anything?"
The attendant苦涩 said, "No, the old master only asked this servant to bring a message to Your Highness: under no circumstances act rashly again. Now, simply obey the Emperor's orders with one heart and one mind. Be patient... perhaps when the rumors fade, there may still be a turning point."
"A turning point? What turning point?" Empress Feng gritted her teeth. "I can't do anything now... The Emperor has ordered me to feign illness, all palace affairs are being handled by those villains as co-regents. If this continues... who will even remember that the Empress lives in Phoenix Splendor Palace?!"
The attendant helplessly said, "There's nothing to be done, Your Highness... The Emperor has already grown suspicious of Your Highness's family. Your Highness and Your Highness's family will be walking on eggshells no matter what you say or do. It would be better to endure for now, and make plans again once the rumors have settled. Your Highness... you still have the Second Prince. As long as the Second Prince remains the Emperor's only legitimate son, Your Highness will always have a chance to rise again."
Empress Feng forced a bitter smile: "A legitimate prince... Qi Xiao is also a legitimate prince, you know... *chuckle* I really let greed blind my judgment before. I only knew how to go along with the Emperor's wishes, focused entirely on having Hua'er compete with Qi Xiao. Not only did I cause Hua'er to make an enemy of this plague god unnecessarily, but I also allowed that贱骨头 raised by Consort Xue to find an opening, growing up peacefully and smoothly... Hua'er already had many enemies. Now that he's suffered misfortune, who wouldn't come to kick him while he's down? How could he possibly rise again..."
These matters were also clear to the attendant. Not just Empress Feng, but even someone as shrewd as Old Master Feng—wasn't he also played by the Emperor? Competing with Qi Xiao through countless covert and overt struggles all these years, gaining no benefits, and now being卸磨杀驴 was not far behind...
While the Phoenix Splendor Palace was tossed by storms, inside the Crown Prince's residence storehouse outside the palace, there was warmth everywhere. Qi Xiao and Bai Ren were looking at the account books together, checking the year-end transactions item by item.
"You see, when we return to the residence, write your account books this way too." Qi Xiao thought about Bai Ren's household staff and was still very dissatisfied. After thinking, he said, "Fine, the next time you go back, I'll send these with you. Those people... must be constantly reminded to have any memory."
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh: "I wouldn't dare trouble His Highness. After you went there once last time, they've been much more obedient. Besides, those outsiders won't be attending to me closely. Now they all have nothing important to do anyway. Let them be."
Qi Xiao coldly snorted: "Even a dung collector, as long as they're in your residence, can find ways to harm you."
They had just finished breakfast. Upon hearing this, Bai Ren felt deeply uncomfortable and couldn't help but furrow his brows: "I wasn't aware that dung collectors can now harm me?"
Qi Xiao couldn't hold back his laughter: "Alright, alright, what's the point of talking about this? Look at this..." Qi Xiao handed a bolt of cloud brocade to Bai Ren and said, "Look... this pattern is no longer made. It's excellent for making clothes. I remember I have twelve bolts here. Take them back with you later."
Bai Ren quickly shook his head: "No need... Besides, these are all like rouge or pomegranate red... and this is peach pink. I can't wear these."
Qi Xiao laughed despite himself: "Who said these were for you to wear? Roujou will be coming in a few days. Keep them and make her spring clothes."
Bai Ren felt a warmth in his heart. He pressed his lips together and didn't respond. Qi Xiao smiled: "This room mostly has antiques. The silks and jewelry are all in the inner room. Go look for yourself later. If you see anything you like, take it to add to Roujou's trousseau." Before Bai Ren could speak, Qi Xiao continued, "How could I possibly use those things? If you don't take them, they'll just sit there and mildew. Stop the objections. Come, watch how I handle these. To have a whole warehouse of goods and still have no money to spend—I really am impressed by you."
Bai Ren was speechless. He had no choice but to obediently hold another account book and follow behind Qi Xiao step by step, listening attentively.