# Chapter Seventy-Seven
While everyone in the capital thought the King of Lingnan would have to swallow his pride in silence, news arrived from Lingnan.
Unlike other vassal kings, the King of Lingnan's secret reports bypassed the cabinet entirely and went straight to the Emperor's private study, to be opened only by His Majesty himself.
No one knew the contents of the King of Lingnan's letter that day. All that was known was that after reading it, the Emperor specifically ordered the Chief of the Imperial Household Department to select two imperial physicians with sound pulses from the Imperial Medical Academy. He also commanded Fu Hailu to search his private treasury for some aged precious medicinal herbs. Once everything was packed, the Emperor wrote a personal reply, and both the physicians and the medicine were sent to Lingnan.
That wasn't all. After sending off the reply to the King of Lingnan, the next day the Emperor summoned Bai Ren into the palace. From that moment, the rumors that had been swirling furiously for an entire month were essentially confirmed—Wen Yu truly was "incapacitated."
Qi Xiao wasn't worried when the Emperor summoned Bai Ren. For one, the Emperor had always been kind to Bai Ren. For another... Bai Ren's position as heir was now completely secure. The Emperor had always favored Bai Ren over Wen Yu, and would only treat him better from now on.
Qi Xiao gave a mocking smile. The Emperor probably harbored other intentions too, hoping that after Bai Ren ascended the throne, he would settle old scores with Qi Xiao, that they would destroy each other in a final showdown. Qi Xiao gently rubbed the life token at his waist, thinking of how乖巧clingy Bai Ren had been in his arms last night, and smiled faintly. Dream on...
Qi Xiao leisurely reviewed documents when there was a gentle knock on the carved fortune-character window lattice outside. Jiang Deqing's low voice came through: "Your Highness..."
Qi Xiao closed the document. "Come in."
Jiang Deqing dismissed his trusted eunuch to guard the outside, then entered and closed the door tightly. He walked around the carved screen and bowed. "Your Highness, Xi Xiang has sent word."
Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow. "It's done?"
A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Deqing's eyes as he nodded and lowered his voice. "It's done. Your Highness was indeed thorough in your planning. You knew the Emperor would send someone south, so Xi Xiang could prepare in advance. When the Emperor had Xi Xiang select the personnel this time, Xi Xiang specifically went to speak with Chief Physician Xu, asking for his opinion. Chief Physician Xu naturally didn't want his son and grandson to take on such an assignment. Xi Xiang then selected someone else and casually mentioned that due to major staff changes in the Imperial Medical Academy this year, the evaluation might be moved up. What else did Chief Physician Xu need to hear? He was already planning to retire. At this juncture, why would he stand in the way and harm his descendants' futures? Xi Xiang said... Chief Physician Xu thanked him profusely with bows. It seems in a few days he'll be submitting a petition to retire."
Qi Xiao chuckled lightly. "Physician Xu is a wise man. His thoughts are all for his children and grandchildren—this is the perfect time to retire. Don't worry about Physician Liu. We might tip off our hand. I have other ways to contact him."
Jiang Deqing thought things through and felt increasingly that recent events had gone surprisingly smoothly. He couldn't help but ask, "Physician Liu will take over the Imperial Medical Academy sooner... Your Highness, when you were planning to strike at the second young master, had you already thought this far ahead?"
Qi Xiao smiled but said nothing. Jiang Deqing shook his head and laughed despite himself. "Your Highness's mind is so meticulous. With such foresight, how could any great undertaking fail!"
Qi Xiao closed his eyes briefly. Let's hope so. Let's hope the next steps go smoothly too. Physician Liu had always been the one personally attending to the Emperor. Once he took control of the Imperial Medical Academy, things would be even more convenient. The Imperial Household Department had Xi Xiang in charge—anything they needed would be simple. When the time came, Qi Xiao would administer the poison, Xi Xiang would help cover the traces on the household side, and Physician Liu would conceal the Emperor's deteriorating condition. If all went well, in a year's time, their great plan would be accomplished.
Jiang Deqing still felt some unease. He lowered his voice and said, "Just hope nothing goes wrong on the second young master's end. I wonder what the King of Lingnan's secret report said—can he still be cured or not?"
Qi Xiao shook his head. "No need to ask. Obviously beyond cure. Though the best physicians are all in the capital, Lingnan's doctors aren't quacks either. They've been treating him continuously for nearly two months with zero results. Only then did the King of Lingnan lower his pride and ask the Emperor for help. Hah... does he really think imperial physicians from the capital can do any better? Unless they could summon the Laozi's elixir of immortality, there's no hope."
Jiang Deqing nodded grimly. "Even an elixir probably wouldn't help now. This servant has heard that Concubine Xia has practically gone mad. Every other day she's stuffing servants into the second young master's quarters, desperately hoping he'll leave behind a child—even a illegitimate one would do. Your Highness, consider this—she's sabotaging things while they're urgently treating and tonifying him. How could any treatment possibly work?"
Qi Xiao sneered. "Her entire life's hope was pinned on Wen Yu. Now that Wen Yu's body is ruined, and Kangtai has been betrothed to the Xia family, providing her zero support—her world has collapsed. Of course she'll try every method imaginable. Twenty years of fortune, twenty years of misfortune. Back then she relied on the King of Lingnan's favor to bully the primary wife and suppress Bai Ren. Now the wheel turns. Time for her to taste what it feels like when heaven deafens to her cries and earth offers no response."
Jiang Deqing furrowed his brows slightly. "Come to think of it, Concubine Xia has another son. She only lost one second son—why take it so hard?"
Qi Xiao laughed lightly. "What's so hard to understand? Her second son is only seven years old. His talents are unknown. If she wanted to pin her hopes on her second son, she'd have to pray the King of Lingnan lives a long life—long enough for him to grow up, marry, and establish himself. But what then? By that time, Bai Ren's foundations in the capital would be unshakeable. Setting aside matters between us, Bai Ren's legitimate sons would be a whole brood by then. At that point, would the Emperor favor the legitimate son he'd watched grow up under his own eyes, someone he knew inside and out, or that concubine's by-blow? Even forgetting the Emperor's intentions, hard power alone—she couldn't match Bai Ren."
Jiang Deqing grinned. Just then, word came that Bai Ren had returned. Jiang Deqing hastily composed his expression, turned, and walked out to the outer room. He opened the hall doors, waved the young eunuch away, and stationed himself at the entrance to wait.
Shortly, Bai Ren entered. Qi Xiao transformed like a different person—his gaze gentle, a soft smile on his lips. "You're back early. What did they say to you?"
Bai Ren sat down on the chaise longue and chuckled quietly. "Nothing important. Just asked about my studies, said I'd gotten thin, and had Fu Hailu fetch me lots of tonics and delicacies."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "This trick of winning hearts is his old habit. Did he mention anything about Wen Yu?"
Bai Ren shook his head. "No. Just told me to take good care of my health, that my father would still need to rely on me in the future. He never used to say things like that. I suppose my father's letter had its effect."
Qi Xiao nodded. "He never wanted Wen Yu to inherit anyway. The mere fact of his illegitimate status was恶心 enough, let alone his temperament... That month he spent here, he tried to cultivate every official he could possibly connect with. Vassal kings cultivating relationships with capital officials—that's a serious taboo. That brainless fool thought he was building himself a power base. He doesn't even know how he might die. The Emperor never raised the issue before because he didn't want people to think he interfered in vassal family affairs. Now that Wen Yu has brought this disaster upon himself, it serves the Emperor perfectly."
Bai Ren shook his head with a smile and said nothing. Qi Xiao noticed the fine sheen of sweat on Bai Ren's brow and frowned. "Didn't I have Cuizhu accompany you? It's hot in the carriage. Didn't she fan you?"
Bai Ren blinked, then laughed. "No, it's not her fault. I didn't let her come along... The carriage is so small. Having her sit inside would be awkward. Besides, on a hot day like this, if someone's going to suffer the heat, just me alone is enough. Why make her endure it too?"
Bai Ren's initial refusal to cramp the servant girl's space had actually pleased Qi Xiao immensely. But then he changed direction, and his words carried an air of defending the girl. Qi Xiao's mood instantly soured. He said coolly, "How chivalrous of you, protecting the fair."
Bai Ren laughed helplessly. The more time he spent with Qi Xiao, the better he'd come to understand this man's temperament. He knew Qi Xiao was prone to taking offense at the smallest things, and that the more he tried to explain, the more Qi Xiao would overthink. They'd had more than a few arguments about this before. Now that they'd confessed their hearts to each other, Bai Ren had no desire to make Qi Xiao unhappy over something so trivial. He smiled and said, "She's your personal maid. If she got heatstroke, wouldn't you suffer even more? Your Highness... Must you condemn me over a single sentence?"
With such soft, tender words of supplication, even Qi Xiao couldn't hold his stern expression. He smiled and turned to fetch a handkerchief to wipe Bai Ren's face. Bai Ren laughed lightly and teased, "The last girl was called... Qiaoxin, right? You told me yourself that her needlework was good, so I asked her to make me a fan cover. When she delivered it, you gave her such a cold stare it scared the life half out of her. Then you transferred her to another courtyard. Anyone who didn't know better might think I had some history of misconduct, saying a few words to a maid would provoke such fury from you."
Qi Xiao smiled to himself. History? Ceng Chaoge wasn't exactly ancient history, was she? Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. After that one incident, he'd have to keep Bai Ren leashed for the rest of his life.
Qi Xiao knew perfectly well that Bai Ren wasn't the type to fall for everyone he met. But this was simply his nature. His possessions—others shouldn't so much as cast a covetous glance at them. Even if someone merely looked, it upset Qi Xiao's stomach.
Qi Xiao gently pinched Bai Ren's cheek and said coldly, "Good that you know my temper. Let that make you more cautious. Let that remind you whose person you are. Besides... are you really so much more generous than me? Who was it pretending to be ill every day just to keep me at their bedside? Hm? Does your head hurt today?"
As he spoke, Qi Xiao's hand traced along Bai Ren's ribs. Bai Ren dissolved into laughter. "Stop..."
While they were frolicking inside, Jiang Deqing happily entered and knelt. Smiling broadly, he said, "Congratulations to Your Highness! A letter just arrived from the He family. The county princess is with child! The imperial physician just examined her—she's nearly two months along!"