Chapter Eighty-One
The Emperor had decided to send troops, so naturally the ministers could not leave the palace. While those in the private chamber discussed in low voices which forces should be mobilized, Qi Xiao slipped out.
Jiang Deqing had been waiting outside the main hall. Seeing Qi Xiao emerge, he hurried over. Qi Xiao made as if to relieve himself and, supporting himself on Jiang Deqing, walked toward an empty area. After avoiding the crowd, Qi Xiao lowered his voice: "Find a way to get someone out of the palace to deliver a message to Bai Ren. Tell him... the Emperor is sending troops. I'll delay the provisions as much as I can, but at most three days. After three days... I'll think of something else, but he must protect himself first and be extremely careful."
Jiang Deqing had spent many years navigating the palace intricacies. Knowing the stakes involved, his heart lurched at these words. He glanced around and whispered, "Th-there really is no other way?"
Qi Xiao's eyes blazed with fury. Jiang Deqing understood and shook his head, speaking quietly: "This servant understands. But we must be careful not to arouse suspicion. If the Emperor learns that His Highness revealed this information... the consequences would be unthinkable. I'll have Fuzi find Xixiang right away. The Lingnan Prince's household is in mourning, so the Imperial Household Department will certainly send someone to deliver funeral offerings. Let Xixiang convey the message. Your Highness can rest easy."
"Your Highness..." Jiang Deqing truly cared for the young lord he had watched over for over a year. Unable to bear it, he whispered, "Is there truly... no other way? If the Emperor sends troops, the young lord will have no hope of succession, and the countless people of Lingnan..."
Qi Xiao pressed his thin lips together tightly. Of course he knew all this! But what could he do? If Wen Yu had rebelled, should he rebel too? And if he did rebel, did he have absolute certainty of victory? No! Since he didn't, what good would逞一时意气—acting on momentary impulse—do? It would only send more people to their deaths!
Qi Xiao's eyes reddened. At this moment, no one suffered more than he. Others didn't understand the Wen Yu situation, but he did. This calamity had been caused by him, yet the consequences were falling on Bai Ren. Qi Xiao closed his eyes.因果报应—karma—was indeed merciless.
Qi Xiao took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Go make the arrangements. As for other matters..." He paused, then turned back toward the main hall without finishing.
Jiang Deqing sighed and hurried off.
In the Lingnan Prince's mansion, Shunzi leaned against a pillar of the entrance hall, watching Cen Chaoqiao coldly. Qi Xiao had given strict orders: better to kill ten thousand by mistake than let one slip through. Though Shunzi had never seen this man before, for some reason he despised him from the start. The dagger in his chest was eager for action. If he hadn't seen how much the young lord valued this person, Shunzi would have made his move long ago.
Bai Ren was inside writing a secret letter. Cen Chaoqiao couldn't stand guard inside, so he had come out. He glanced at Shunzi and frowned: "Aren't you supposed to be outside serving?"
Shunzi wore simple cloth clothes, looking no different from an ordinary coachman. He was used to people like Cen Chaoqiao looking down on him and paid it no mind. He turned his head aside and spat out the blade of grass from between his lips, saying casually: "My master's orders—I must guard the young lord at all times. Right now I'm seventeen steps away from him. That's my limit."
Cen Chaoqiao's brow furrowed. Just as he was about to reprimand the man, he suddenly remembered what he had seen last year when he accidentally entered the Crown Prince's inner study. Understanding struck him like lightning, and he stammered: "You're... you're one of the Crown Prince's men?"
Shunzi raised an eyebrow. He assumed the young lord had told Cen Chaoqiao about him, so he didn't think much of it and simply nodded. But upon hearing this, Cen Chaoqiao grew even more despondent. Shunzi despised this kind of spineless scholar most of all. Remembering what he had heard earlier—that this man had abandoned his own father and fled—his disgust deepened. He moved closer, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed, his eyes still firmly fixed on Bai Ren, paying Cen Chaoqiao no further attention.
Days of rushing about had made Cen Chaoqiao forget the truth of the matter: the person inside was no longer his childhood sweetheart, but the Crown Prince's plaything. Cen Chaoqiao's face went pale, his heart heavy with sorrow. Bai Ren must have had no choice but to rely on the Crown Prince for survival. If that were the case, perhaps he could understand why Cen Chaoqiao had abandoned him back then—it was all不得已—beyond his control.
While Cen Chaoqiao was lost in these gloomy thoughts, news came that someone from the Imperial Household Department had arrived. Shunzi immediately stepped forward. He knew Xixiang was one of their people, but Bai Ren didn't. Fearing trouble, Shunzi slipped into the inner chamber and said quietly: "Young lord... someone from the Imperial Household Department is here. Perhaps the young lord should receive them."
Shunzi lowered his voice further: "The Crown Prince cannot come himself, but he may send word through others."
Bai Ren nodded. Without waiting for the ink to dry, he folded the letter. Unable to find an envelope, he casually picked up an oil lamp and dripped some wax onto the folded paper to seal it. He handed the letter to Shunzi and said quietly: "Find a way to deliver this to the Crown Prince."
Shunzi nodded and tucked the letter into his chest.
Bai Ren followed Shunzi out of the entrance hall. Glancing at Cen Chaoqiao, he said: "Many people here have seen you... be careful. Don't show yourself. Just stay inside."
Cen Chaoqiao nodded. Bai Ren took the white cloth Shunzi handed him and tied it around his forehead before heading outside.
Outside, dawn was approaching. Servants throughout the courtyard were busy draping white cloth everywhere and tying black silk. In the central courtyard, Xixiang was speaking with the old housekeeper of the mansion. When he saw Bai Ren emerge, he hurried forward and bowed: "Young lord, please accept our condolences..."
Bai Ren waved his hand. Xixiang rose and, with both hands, presented a dark-colored letter. His voice heavy with sympathy, he said: "When His Majesty heard of the Prince's passing, his heart was pierced with grief. He wept bitterly and was deeply distressed. He specifically sent this servant to deliver funeral offerings. His Majesty urges the young lord to accept his condolences and not to grieve so deeply that you harm your health. He also asked this servant to inquire whether the mansion is lacking anything. The young lord need not stand on ceremony—just speak freely."
Just as Bai Ren was about to say there was nothing needed, he felt someone touch his wrist. He glanced sideways at Shunzi and changed his words: "The Emperor's great kindness overwhelms your subject with shame. Now that my father has passed, I feel as if the heavens have collapsed. I truly don't know how to manage..."
Xixiang sighed: "If the young lord wouldn't mind, perhaps this servant could take a look at the preparations inside? This servant has handled several important ceremonies in the palace. I may not excel at much, but I can certainly help with some arrangements."
Bai Ren lowered his gaze: "If you would be so kind, I am most grateful."
The group walked toward the inner courtyard. Once inside, Shunzi immediately bolted the gate behind them and said flatly: "There's no one else here. Sir, what's happening in the palace?"
Bai Ren stared in surprise: "You are..."
Xixiang dropped the distant demeanor he had maintained in front of others. He bowed deeply and respectfully: "Young lord, please don't be alarmed. This servant is originally a disciple of Eunuch Jiang Deqing. This servant's life was worthless, and in the palace those days, I nearly couldn't survive. It was only through the late Empress Xiaoxian and my master that I have a today. When the Emperor passed and the court underwent its transformation, my master worried that my advancement would be hindered, so he didn't associate with me in public. But this servant's heart has always been devoted to the Crown Prince. Young lord need not have the slightest doubt. Simply give this servant your orders."
Bai Ren turned to look at Shunzi, who nodded. Bai Ren felt relieved. He quickly said to Shunzi: "Give me that letter..."
Shunzi pulled out the letter and handed it over. Bai Ren immediately stuffed it into Xixiang's hand and, lowering his voice seriously: "Trouble you, sir... to bring this letter to the Crown Prince. Please hurry, please hurry!"
Xixiang hastily agreed, tucking it into his chest as he spoke: "The Crown Prince sent me to tell the young lord something. Young lord..."
Xixiang sighed: "His Majesty has decided to send troops. The Crown Prince has done everything he could, but... Young lord, please don't worry. The Crown Prince said he will delay the provisions by at least three days. Within those three days, the Crown Prince will certainly devise a strategy. The young lord must not act hastily."
As expected. Bai Ren took a deep breath and shook his head: "There's no need to comfort me. The Emperor's decision to send troops is not something His Highness can stop... It's fine. Just make sure the letter gets delivered."
Xixiang nodded, then hesitated before adding: "There's more... His Highness is deploying people to come here. Since the Emperor has decided to send troops, he will definitely place the young lord under surveillance. We just don't know when they'll arrive—probably the day before the troops march. His Highness said that if it's merely house arrest, then there's no problem. But if the Emperor summons the young lord to the palace, the young lord must find a way to delay. Pretend to be ill, pretend to be mad—pretend anything. But no matter what you pretend, you must stall until the Crown Prince arrives. If they use force, then the young lord should use force too. If anything goes wrong, the Crown Prince will have an explanation ready for the Emperor. The young lord just needs to keep himself safe."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ren's eyes instantly reddened. He nodded and said hoarsely: "Tell the Crown Prince... not to worry about me."
Xixiang nodded. He was nervous himself. After a long while of talking things over, just as he was about to take his leave, someone knocked softly on the door outside. Xixiang startled and asked quietly: "Who is it?"
Bai Ren shushed him and went to open the door himself. Outside stood Cen Chaoqiao carrying a red-lacquered food box. He said quietly: "You haven't eaten or drunk anything all night. You can't sustain this. Have some porridge..."
The tension in Bai Ren's heart instantly released. How could he have any appetite for porridge? He shook his head and turned toward the inner room: "It's nothing. He's an old subordinate from Lingnan. No problem."
Xixiang came out. The moment he saw Cen Chaoqiao, his heart lurched. Why had he come back?!
Cen Chaoqiao froze when he saw Xixiang. Just as Xixiang was about to say something to divert attention, Shunzi moved first. His dagger flashed out of its sheath and pressed against Cen Chaoqiao's throat. Shunzi's eyes blazed with killing intent as he coldly said: "Delivering porridge? More like eavesdropping, I'd say. This matter concerns the Crown Prince's very life. I have to be cautious. Besides, this man has already delivered the official seal here. He's of no further use. Why don't I just finish him off and spare future trouble?"
Cen Chaoqiao cried out: "No... I didn't hear anything! I heard nothing! I..."
Bai Ren hastily intervened: "Don't... His father died for my sake. The Cen family has only him as the man left. I cannot let anything happen to him!"
Shunzi's face was full of fury. He coldly shoved the man aside. Cen Chaoqiao was so frightened he broke out in a cold sweat, gasping unceasingly. He fell to the ground and scrambled backward until he hit a door pillar. Yet it was precisely this shock that cleared his mind. Like a flash of lightning across his thoughts, understanding struck him. Pointing at Xixiang with a trembling finger, he stammered: "You... you're the Crown Prince's man. You... back then, back then..."
Xixiang's heart sank. He cursed his own carelessness—but how could he have known that this Cen Chaoqiao would actually return?!
Bai Ren looked at Cen Chaoqiao in confusion. Cen Chaoqiao howled: "It was him! He was the one who lured me back to Lingnan! He said he had connections... and then it just so happened that the Crown Prince caught him taking bribes and sent back the banknotes I had sent! It made me lose face in front of you! This was all a play by the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince... he knew long ago about us, about us being together. To steal you away from me, he deliberately lured me back to Lingnan!!"