Chapter 64
Qi Xiao had something on his mind. After breakfast, while Bai Ren was bathing, he summoned the estate manager.
Qi Xiao took a sip of tea and, choosing his words carefully, said slowly: "Is there something... with your estate here?"
The estate manager dropped to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling: "Your Highness... last year there was a drought that lasted an entire year, so the harvest was poor. I truly dare not lie, Your Highness can ask the neighboring estates—they're all the same... Besides the natural disaster, after the summer harvest the court issued an official decree to send grain to Lingnan for disaster relief. Even families with titles had to contribute grain, not a single grain less. Our estate is different from those outside the capital; under heaven's gaze, we dare not be careless in the slightest. The summer harvest grain alone, after paying the disaster tax, was..."
"Who asked you about any of that?!" Qi Xiao laughed in exasperation. "Get up and speak properly..."
Qi Xiao had a clear picture of last year's accounts in his mind; he certainly wasn't here to nitpick old ledgers. He knew about the taxes paid here, but even after that, the estate's returns were still quite good. Qi Xiao wouldn't have given Bai Ren an estate that produced nothing. This time he had summoned the estate manager because he was thinking about how Bai Ren had mentioned liking chicks and ducklings before.
Qi Xiao rubbed his brow: "Last year you sent up quite a bit of venison as tribute. Are there deer being raised on the estate now?"
The estate manager wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded: "Manager Jiang mentioned it casually the year before last, that Your Highness enjoys venison. We brought in a batch of breeding deer last year, but perhaps the水土不服 wasn't suitable. They didn't grow well, and many died. Later, the previous Manager Li went back to his hometown and found a few experienced hands to look after them, and things improved somewhat. They got through the winter, and they're probably established now..."
This estate manager was too afraid of Qi Xiao. No matter what Qi Xiao asked, he would ramble on endlessly. Qi Xiao grew impatient and frowned: "I didn't ask about any of that... Are there any fawns now?"
The estate manager愣了一下 and faltered: "Well, there are a few female deer that are big in the belly, but... they still have over a month before they give birth."
Qi Xiao grew even more impatient: "Then what about chicks and goslings?"
The estate manager's legs started trembling again. He swallowed and said: "We're afraid of dirtying the hot spring, so the estate doesn't allow raising ducks or geese. Chickens, chickens... it's still too cold, they haven't started brooding at this time of year."
Qi Xiao's expression immediately darkened. Jiang Deqing, seeing the estate manager's face had gone pale with fear, hastily stepped in: "It doesn't have to be chicks or ducklings, anything else will do... His Highness the Young Lord hasn't spent much time on estates. He likes these small creatures. Think carefully—is there really nothing else you could offer?"
The estate manager was overjoyed, as if granted a reprieve, and quickly kowtowed: "There is, there is! The rabbits at my home gave birth to several litters over a month ago. The kits can already run and hop now. Would... would that be acceptable?"
Qi Xiao勉强 nodded. The estate manager quickly withdrew to go fetch the young rabbits.
Jiang Deqing smiled: "Country folk, too timid. They haven't seen His Highness many times. Now that Your Highness is here, they're too happy and don't know how to properly serve you. Please forgive them."
Qi Xiao naturally didn't mind such things. He lazily said: "Am I going to eat them or something? Why does everyone get so scared..." Jiang Deqing couldn't help but laugh. He stepped forward to pour tea for Qi Xiao and boldly teased: "If Your Highness could treat them with even a tenth of the gentleness you show the Young Lord, these people below wouldn't be afraid of Your Highness either."
Qi Xiao嗤笑一声 and didn't respond. After a moment he said: "正好 while Bai Ren isn't here, write a letter for me and have it sent to the secret shop at theConfucius Temple in the north city. I have a task for them."
The people at the Confucius Temple were among Qi Xiao's most trusted confidants, rarely called upon for ordinary matters. Jiang Deqing frowned and lowered his voice: "I venture to ask Your Highness—what task do you want them to perform?"
Qi Xiao gave an enigmatic smile and spoke softly. Jiang Deqing was shocked and instinctively looked around. He leaned closer and frowned: "Your Highness, please reconsider. If this is discovered... setting aside that there will surely be a war in the southern frontier, the Emperor will definitely use this opportunity to punish Your Highness severely!"
Qi Xiao淡淡道: "That would require them to be able to find out."
Jiang Deqing's heart ached with anxiety: "Why must Your Highness be so set against him? Once he's gone, Your Highness might never see him again. Why bother?"
A flash of cruelty crossed Qi Xiao's eyes. He冷笑: "Why? Because he's made me unhappy more times than I can count! Do you know? Since hearing Bai Ren say that Wen Yu had tried to harm him several times, I've had people investigate. Heh... you don't know until you look. Wen Yu appears timid on the surface, but he's truly venomous at heart."
Jiang Deqing was speechless: "Could it be that besides the incidents the Young Lord mentioned... there are others?"
Qi Xiao's voice was cold: "Many."
"Do you remember Bai Ren saying Wen Yu pushed him off a high platform? Heh... Bai Ren tends to tell half the story and hold back the rest. Only when I investigated did I learn that, before that, Bai Ren and Wen Yu had been living in the same courtyard all along. Such incidents weren't just once or twice—it was only that time when Bai Ren was injured badly enough that the Princess risked her life to carry him back to her own courtyard. Before that, these sordid matters were too numerous to count. If Bai Ren wasn't lucky, he wouldn't have survived to now! Don't try to dissuade me... I'm not the one harming him. Heaven itself can't stand it anymore and wants to deliver divine punishment. This Prince is merely carrying out heaven's will."
Qi Xiao leaned back against the soft pillow and let out a long breath. Slowly he said: "And... this isn't entirely about avenging my own grievances. The third son of the Lingnan King is only seven years old—whether he can hold his position is uncertain. There are only two adult males: Bai Ren and Wen Yu. If Wen Yu is eliminated, the Lingnan King will have to think carefully: is Bai Ren truly that dispensable?"
Jiang Deqing blinked, not fully understanding Qi Xiao's meaning: "Your Highness means... the Lingnan King would fear being without heirs?"
Qi Xiao gave a sinister smile: "No, it's far worse than that... Let me ask you: after Emperor Taizu unified the world, he enfeoffed seven lords of different surnames. Within ten years, five of them fell from grace. Besides the Lingnan King, only the Zhang clan of the Zhenbei Kingdom survived intact. Do you know why?"
Jiang Deqing nodded: "I've heard. Back then, the old Zhenbei King accompanied Emperor Taizu in conquering the world but sustained old injuries. His health was never good. Less than five years after receiving his title, he passed away. He left behind only two sons—one legitimate and one by a concubine. Emperor Taizu originally intended to pass the title to the legitimate son, but before the mourning period for the Zhenbei King had even ended, that legitimate son was also gone. As it happened, the concubine's mother had been a singing girl, and there was much议论 in court. Everyone said the concubine's mother was far too low in status for her son to inherit the title. Many officials even knelt in court to protest... In the end, to quell the议论, Emperor Taizu revoked the Zhenbei Kingdom, took away the hereditary honor, and instead made the concubine's son a Marquis. The emperor's grace extends five generations, then ends. By this generation, the Zhang family seems to have only a nominal First-Class General title left."
Qi Xiao continued: "Before the mourning period ended, the Zhenbei King's legitimate son was gone. What do you think happened?"
Jiang Deqing paused, then instantly understood. He said in horror: "It was... it was..."
Qi Xiao curled his lips into a smile: "Speak not."
"The Lingnan King has never valued Bai Ren because he's complacent—he thinks Wen Yu can serve as heir just as well. But once he realizes Wen Yu is beyond hope, he'll have to think carefully. If something happened to Bai Ren, the Imperial City can simply follow the precedent of how they dealt with the Zhenbei Kingdom back then—seize his hereditary iron bowl by taking advantage of the situation." Qi Xiao淡淡 smiled. "I want to see... if he still dares to think Bai Ren is dispensable. The Dongling clan is one of the few among the seven lords who managed to pass down their title through generations after the other six fell. How much effort it took, how many lives were sacrificed—Lingnan King knows better than anyone. If he loses the kingdom... I wonder what face he'll have to meet his ancestors."
Jiang Deqing nodded. After some thought, he couldn't help but voice the worry he'd been harboring: "Your Highness, setting aside how to treat the Young Lord, the Lingnan issue has always been a thorn in the Imperial City's side. Every emperor has wanted to figure out how to reduce the vassal kingdoms' power. This old servant has always had a worry... When Your Highness eventually ascends the throne, how will you treat Lingnan? Looking at how Your Highness dotes on the Young Lord now... in the future, surely no reward would be too great. But..."
Jiang Deqing steadied himself and continued: "This old servant ventures to speak boldly. After the Young Lord passes on, there will surely be great chaos in Lingnan. The Young Lord may be loyal to Your Highness for a lifetime, but dragons beget nine sons—the Young Lord's descendants may not be the same. For the sake of the realm, Your Highness must make plans."
Qi Xiao listened quietly to Jiang Deqing finish, then laughed lightly: "You worry too much."
Jiang Deqing frowned slightly and knelt: "Your Highness... today this old servant presumes on having served Your Highness a few days longer than others. I dare to ask one more bold question: after ascending the throne, how does Your Highness intend to treat the Young Lord? Enfeoff him as King of Lingnan, separated by thousands of miles? Or keep him in the palace and hand the Lingnan throne to someone else?"
Qi Xiao shook his head slightly: "Neither."
Jiang Deqing was about to speak again when Qi Xiao smiled first: "You're getting old, Uncle Jiang. You worry too much. Get up..."
Jiang Deqing had no choice but to rise. Qi Xiao lowered his voice: "When that day truly comes, I'll naturally have a plan that benefits both sides. But..." Qi Xiao smiled: "Uncle Jiang, right now you're like a scholar who hasn't even passed the autumn provincial examinations yet, worrying about whether he'll enter the Zhongshu or Menxia ministries afterward. You're worrying far too early."
Jiang Deqing was deeply embarrassed. Just as he was about to speak again, the estate manager returned. Qi Xiao called him forward. Soon the estate manager came carrying a bamboo basket woven from willow branches. Qi Xiao glanced at it and smiled with satisfaction. He turned to Jiang Deqing: "We'll continue this later. First, carry out what I just said."
Jiang Deqing had no choice but to nod and go make arrangements.
Qi Xiao went to find Bai Ren in the back. As he entered the room, he saw Bai Ren rummaging through a cabinet. Qi Xiao gestured for the maids to be quiet. The maids understood and quietly withdrew. Qi Xiao watched silently from inside as Bai Ren took out a small box, opened it, and found a thin chain of pure gold. He then took out the life charm he'd been keeping in his chest and, cutting off the tassel, carefully threaded the charm onto the gold chain. Satisfied, he smiled and put the chain around his neck. The chain was neither too long nor too short—it fit perfectly to hide the charm inside his clothing.
Qi Xiao's heart warmed. He softly said: "Be careful, it might be cold against your neck..."
Bai Ren was startled, then his face flushed: "You saw that? I... I don't dare wear it openly. It's fine at home, but outside, if others see me wearing the same jade pendant as you, they'll surely gossip."
Qi Xiao nodded and smiled, then handed the basket in his hand to Bai Ren: "See if you like it."
Bai Ren took it and, upon lifting the willow branch covering, exclaimed: "Rabbits!"
Inside the basket was a thick layer of dry grass, on which four snow-white rabbits huddled. When the cover was lifted, all four perked up their ears and looked at Bai Ren with eager eyes. Bai Ren's face was flushed with excitement. He whispered in delight: "Where did these come from?"
Qi Xiao casually fabricated: "The people below heard you were young, so they specifically sent these for you to play with."
Bai Ren carefully picked up one of the little rabbits. It was only the size of a palm,呆呆 resting in Bai Ren's palm—adorably cute. Bai Ren touched the little rabbit's warm belly and smiled: "So soft. Feel it, Your Highness..."
Qi Xiao didn't care for such things. He perfunctorily poked the rabbit's forehead. Bai Ren held the basket close, completely smitten with the rabbits. After watching for a while, Qi Xiao suddenly said: "Bai Ren... if you were never allowed to return to Lingnan, would you miss home?"