# Chapter Seventy-Five
After giving Shun Zi his instructions, Bai Ren was still uneasy. Over the past half year, he had grown accustomed to following Qi Xiao's directions in everything. Now that such a major incident had occurred, Bai Ren's heart was restless. After some hesitation, he ordered a carriage prepared and went to find Qi Xiao himself.
In the inner study of the Crown Prince's residence, Qi Xiao was reading a secret report from the Confucian Temple. Hearing that Bai Ren had arrived, Qi Xiao's brow furrowed slightly. He skimmed through the report at a glance, then opened the incense burner and tossed the report inside. By the time Bai Ren entered, Qi Xiao was calmly using a silver twine-picker to stir the incense ash.
"Your Highness..."
Qi Xiao waved his hand, dismissing the maids from the room, and smiled at Bai Ren. "What brings you here?"
Bai Ren paused, then lowered his voice. "Does Your Highness know? Wen Yu... Wen Yu has had an accident."
Qi Xiao nodded. "Shun Zi told me before he left. What's the matter? Is there something you want them to do? Just instruct Shun Zi directly. Didn't I tell you before? All the people from the gambling den are at your disposal. Use them as you see fit."
Bai Ren shook his head. "No... I have no instructions. I just... I just wanted to come find you."
Qi Xiao sighed softly in his heart. Heaven bless him—after a year of careful cultivation, it had finally paid off.
Bai Ren, seeing Qi Xiao say nothing, forced a laugh. "Do you think I have no mind of my own? Something happens and I come running to you."
Qi Xiao shook his head with a smile. "No, I'm grateful." Qi Xiao stepped closer, wrapped an arm around Bai Ren's waist, and murmured softly, "Grateful that the Crown Princess knows to come running home when it rains."
Bai Ren froze, then couldn't help but laugh. Qi Xiao lowered his head and lovingly kissed his lips, whispering softly, "If only you'd asked me everything and listened to me from the start, we wouldn't have gone around in such a big circle. Come, let's go to the bedchamber."
Bai Ren was dumbfounded. "We haven't had dinner yet. Why are we going to the bedchamber?"
Qi Xiao clicked his tongue in displeasure and flicked Bai Ren's forehead. "Just praised you for finally coming to your senses, and now you've regressed. Have you ever seen a married couple discuss matters in a study? Don't they prepare some pastries, brew a pot of hot tea, then sit together on the kang, cover themselves with a blanket, and discuss things intimately? We may not dare compare ourselves to others, but we can't talk in this cold manner here either, can we? The joys of the bedchamber—do you understand?"
Bai Ren's heart warmed, and he smiled as he went with Qi Xiao.
In the bedchamber, Qi Xiao reclined on the kang, quietly listening to Bai Ren repeat what he already knew. Finally, he asked, "What do you think?"
Bai Ren sat before Qi Xiao and shook his head at the question. "I don't know... When Shun Zi first told me, the first thing I thought was that you did it."
Qi Xiao burst out laughing. "Am I some infamous bandit chief in your mind? Whatever happens, you think of me first."
Bai Ren quickly explained, "No, it's not that. You're kind to me and want to avenge me on my behalf—that makes sense..."
Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Good, as long as you know I'm good to you." He pulled Bai Ren into his arms, rubbing his back a couple times, then continued asking, "And then?"
Bai Ren leaned in Qi Xiao's arm and said softly, "Then I thought of the Feng family. With all these successive incidents, the Feng household and our residence have become sworn enemies. Now that the Fengs have no hope of being reinstated, wanting revenge makes sense. But it's still a bit far-fetched... After all, they should hate me even more. If they went to such lengths, shouldn't their schemes be aimed at me? It doesn't make sense they'd go all the way to Lingnan to take this step."
Qi Xiao listened with a smile as Bai Ren analyzed the situation, nodding. "Go on."
Bai Ren frowned. "And also... If the Feng family could act, why would they only... only harm someone in that way? Wouldn't it be more satisfying to simply end the person? That's hard to explain. Neither possibility fits, so maybe Wen Yu really just had bad luck. I'd only heard of the Five-Stone Powder before but never seen it. Perhaps the drug's effects really are that strong. Besides, I heard that Five-Stone Powder is also called Cold-Food Powder. After taking it, one must drink cold wine and eat cold food; one can't even keep clothes on. Shun Zi said that when they pushed the door open, Wen Yu was... was lying on the floor naked. That detail also checks out."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "After the Wei and Jin dynasties, fewer and fewer people took Five-Stone Powder, and most of the formulas were incomplete. Most Five-Stone Powder sold on the market now is fake—it's made by mixing medicinal stones with aphrodisiacs. After taking it, the effects are similar to the legendary Five-Stone Powder, but it's all just for show. Since it's all fake, some batches inevitably have overly potent effects. It's hard to say whether Wen Yu's misfortune was divine punishment or just bad luck."
Bai Ren felt a pang of sympathy and shook his head. "I really can't figure it out. Why would anyone take such a thing in the first place? I remember reading in some unofficial histories that both Emperor Jin Aidi and Emperor Wei Wencheng died from taking this stuff. I couldn't understand it then—why would anyone deliberately destroy their own body like that for no reason?"
Qi Xiao curved his lips into a smile. "What's so hard to understand?... Did you think everyone was as 'formidable' as your husband? They have weak constitutions, so they have to resort to medicine."
Bai Ren was caught between laughter and frustration. "How can Your Highness be like this? We're having a serious discussion about history and you turn it into an opportunity to praise yourself."
Qi Xiao looked innocent. "What did I do? Am I wrong? Crown Princess, do you not know whether your lord is 'capable' or not?"
This was Qi Xiao's special talent—speaking lewdly while maintaining a completely straight face. It never failed to make Bai Ren blush. Bai Ren couldn't take any more and quickly tried to change the subject. "How do you know so much about what Five-Stone Powder on the market is like?"
Qi Xiao paused, wondering if Bai Ren had grown suspicious. He smiled, then rolled over and pressed Bai Ren beneath him. He lowered his head and kissed Bai Ren's forehead, whispering, "Since we're this far, I might as well tell you. When I first tricked you into my hands last year, I asked Jiang Deqing to buy me quite a lot of aphrodisiacs. That's how I learned about it back then."
Bai Ren stared, dumbstruck. "You... you wanted to take medicine?!"
Qi Xiao laughed. "What are you thinking? I prepared them for you to take."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "I knew at that time that you hated me and would never submit willingly. So I thought that someday, when you pushed me too far, I'd drug you and make you乖乖听话. But..."
Bai Ren bit his lip. "But you never actually used it on me."
Qi Xiao hummed in confirmation, his voice low. "The plan was sound, but after I actually got you... I couldn't bear to do it."
Bai Ren's face flushed slightly red. Qi Xiao chuckled deeply. "And now it's even less necessary." As he spoke, he reached for Bai Ren's clothes again. Bai Ren hastily retreated backward, repeatedly urging, "Your Highness... dinner is coming soon. What if someone sees...?"
Qi Xiao waved dismissively. "I'll bring the meal to you myself later... No one else will come in." Bai Ren continued dodging, so Qi Xiao deliberately tickled him under the ribs and at the hollow of his collarbone. Bai Ren collapsed into a laughing heap. Just as they were play-wrestling, a servant announced that Shun Zi had returned and wished to see Qi Xiao.
Bai Ren felt as though he'd been granted a reprieve. He tumbled aside to straighten his clothes. Qi Xiao rubbed his neck and frowned. "I should instruct them from now on—when His Highness the Prince Consort and I are discussing matters, nothing short of a fire burning down the palace needs to be announced. What a mood-killer..."
Bai Ren groaned. "Your Highness... please leave me some dignity."
Qi Xiao smiled softly. "I'm teasing you. Fix your collar..." After Qi Xiao helped Bai Ren straighten up, he summoned Shun Zi in.
Shun Zi curtsied behind the screen and said quietly, "I just returned from over there and gathered some more information."
"After the physicians saved the Second Young Master that day, they didn't delay long before sending him back to Lingnan City. When the Prince of Lingnan learned the full story, he was furious. He strictly ordered everyone to keep quiet while also launching an investigation into that night's events. However, it's said that nothing unusual was found in the Five-Stone Powder—just an ordinary催情药. Though how much the Second Young Master consumed, no one knows for certain. There's also..."
Shun Zi paused, then continued. "Concubine Xia was crying her eyes out and practically wanted to devour whoever was with the Second Young Master alive. She's hired famous doctors and invited masters to perform rituals. She's made such a ruckus that the whole household is in an uproar. But the Prince of Lingnan, unusually, didn't indulge Concubine Xia this time. He gave her a scolding for not properly educating her children and letting incidents happen one after another. He also forbade her from making more trouble. Since the Second Young Master has an... intimate problem in that area, it can't be widely publicized."
"The rituals didn't work, but they did bring in many famous doctors. The Second Young Master is willing to take any medicine; the decoctions never stop brewing in his courtyard. But... there's no word of any improvement. However, it took us ten days just for the journey. His condition may have improved by now."
"There's also Princess Kangtai. At first, our people thought the Prince of Lingnan mentioning a betrothal for Princess Kangtai was just empty talk, but this matter turned out to be real. She's been betrothed to the Second Son of the Xia family—the legitimate son, raised in Grandmother Xia's chambers since childhood, doted on by both Grandmother Xia and Lady Xia. When I ventured to ask about this person's character, they only said one thing... 'A doting mother ruins her children.' I imagine Princess Kangtai isn't pleased either. When she learned the marriage was real, she threw a tantrum in the main courtyard of the princely mansion. The Prince of Lingnan was already furious and distressed over the Second Young Master's incident; Princess Kangtai ran right into him. Besides receiving a tongue-lashing and a slap, I heard she was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall. Our people left before she was released. The marriage to the Xia family is practically set in stone."
Qi Xiao knew what Bai Ren most wanted to hear. He said gravely, "And the Princess Consort?"
Shun Zi nodded. "The Princess Consort fell ill the moment the Second Young Master and Princess returned home. She hasn't left her own courtyard since. In the middle of it all, she勉强 had someone help her out once to see the Second Young Master. But the Princess Consort's expression was so distressed that the Prince of Lingnan sent her back to rest and recuperate, telling her not to worry about managing affairs anymore." Afraid Bai Ren would worry, Shun Zi quickly added, "Your Highness, rest assured. They specifically asked the imperial physician who feels the Princess Consort's pulse. Her health is actually fine. These past few days of staying in bed... there must be other reasons."
Bai Ren finally relaxed. He turned to look at Qi Xiao with gratitude. Before Princess Roujia's wedding, Qi Xiao had secretly dispatched one of his most trusted matrons to join the escort team going to Lingnan to fetch the bride. Afterward, when the escort team returned with the Lingnan delegation, that matron stayed behind. After much difficulty, she entered the princely mansion and now serves the Princess Consort exclusively.
This was a seasoned elder from Qi Xiao's household, naturally different from ordinary people. The matron had served in the palace for half her life; she had served three emperors alone. There was nothing about inner court affairs she didn't know. Now that the Princess Consort could learn to feign illness and deceive everyone, it must be thanks to this matron's careful arrangements.
Bai Ren lowered his head and sighed softly. "My mother has been foolishly devoted for half her life. Now she's finally seen through some things and learned to protect herself."
Qi Xiao smiled softly. "There are no other women in my household. The matron has long been distressed with nowhere to display her talents. Now that she's in Lingnan, she can finally spread her wings."
Shun Zi spoke from outside, "These are all the major points. I've already told them to withdraw all our people. But this deployment and recall takes time. It won't be until half a month later when everyone returns. There may be new developments then. I'll report the details to Your Highness when that time comes."
Qi Xiao heard this and frowned. "Withdraw the people? Who told them to withdraw?!"
Shun Zi froze. "Your Highness the Prince Consort... didn't inform Your Highness?"
Qi Xiao looked at Bai Ren. Bai Ren looked slightly awkward. Qi Xiao thought for a moment and understood everything. His heart churned with mixed emotions. He waved his hand and said, "No... he did tell me. I simply forgot... You may go."
Shun Zi nodded, curtsied, and withdrew. Qi Xiao turned and pulled Bai Ren into his arms, then fiercely bit down on the tender flesh of Bai Ren's neck. "Acting on your own..."
Bai Ren startled and tried to shrink back. Qi Xiao sighed, then lovingly kissed the spot where he'd bitten...