Chapter Eighty-Two
Shun Zi froze instantly. He hadn't known about any of this, so he looked at Cen Chaoge, then turned to Xi Xiang, and asked in bewilderment: "What is he talking about? Isn't he from Lingnan? How could he say... that the Crown Prince lured him back to Lingnan?"
Xi Xiang had a bitter说不出的话 (unspeakable words), caught in this mess. Despite his way with words, there was nothing he could say to defend himself. Xi Xiang glanced anxiously at Bai Ren...
Bai Ren stared fixedly at Cen Chaoge, and in an instant understood everything—why Cen Chaoge had been able to find a way back to Lingnan, why Qi Xiao would forgo marrying Roujia for his sake, why Qi Xiao had set his sights on him...
Cen Chaoge seemed to have grasped a lifeline. The matter of leaving Bai Ren behind and returning to Lingnan alone had always been a thorn in his heart. Every time he thought of it, he was filled with regret. Now, finally having a chance to clear his name, how could he let it go? He stumbled forward, grabbing fistfuls of Bai Ren's clothes, repeatedly insisting: "Bai Ren... you saw it, didn't you? You understand now, don't you? This was all a trap set by the Crown Prince! To lure you to Lingnan, he deliberately harmed me, and caused Roujia to be sent so far away..."
Bai Ren looked down at Cen Chaoge, then raised his hand and slapped him hard across the face with a loud crack!
"A trap he set?" Bai Ren grabbed Cen Chaoge by the collar, coldly meeting his eyes, saying each word deliberately: "Then why did you fall for it?"
Cen Chaoge was like a duck with its neck wrung—he went completely silent. After a long moment, he said with a dazed expression: "I... I had no choice! I had to get back to Lingnan... Didn't you just say it yourself? I'm the only son of the Cen family! I couldn't die! Besides... Bai Ren, didn't you also submit yourself to the Crown Prince to save your own life? The philosophy of 'keeping one's strength for future battles'—since you understand it, why can't you understand me?"
Bai Ren couldn't help but laugh, tears glistening in his eyes as he smiled: "Yes... When I came to the imperial capital, they said I did it to save my life. When I submitted myself to the Crown Prince, they still said it was to save my life... ha ha... Now I finally understand the Crown Prince's suffering..."
Bai Ren shoved Cen Chaoge away and coldly laughed: "Say whatever you want." He turned to Shun Zi: "He knows too much. Keep him under guard. Don't hit him, don't starve him—just to honor Prime Minister Wen's spirit in the heavens."
Xi Xiang nodded. He drew a length of rope from his sleeve and bound Cen Chaoge's hands behind his back. When Cen Chaoge tried to protest further, Shun Zi casually grabbed a piece of mourning cloth, crumpled it, and stuffed it into Cen Chaoge's mouth. He then dragged him out of the hall to find a suitable place.
Uneasy, Xi Xiang stepped forward and tried to explain haltingly: "Your Highness... it's not what you think. Back then, the Crown Prince, he..."
"There's no need, sir." Bai Ren pinched his brow wearily, his voice heavy: "I have no mind for this now... Sir, please go quickly. Get this letter to His Highness—that alone will be a great achievement. And... sir, rest assured about Chaoge... I'll watch over him. Until this matter is resolved, I won't let him see anyone."
Seeing that Bai Ren could still prioritize what mattered, Xi Xiang felt relieved. He lowered his voice: "Whatever the case... whether the Crown Prince truly cares for you or not, Your Lordship knows best. As for what happened before... let's wait for the Crown Prince and Your Lordship to discuss it in detail later. Right now, nothing can be delayed. I'll be going now."
Bai Ren's heart was filled with sorrow. Discuss it in detail later? If only... if only there would still be a chance to sit with Qi Xiao someday and chat quietly.
After seeing Xi Xiang off properly, Bai Ren summoned Dong Boru. Back when Cen Chaoge had left, Dong Boru had taken over the responsibility of secret communication between Bai Ren and the outside. For over a year he hadn't been in the prince's mansion, but recently Bai Ren had been using the gambling den's resources heavily, so Dong Boru had finally had a chance to return. Bai Ren looked at Dong Boru with a bitter smile: "Sir, I assume you know everything?"
Dong Boru nodded: "They told me just now. My lord... what are you planning to do?"
Bai Ren was silent for a long moment, then instead of answering, asked: "All my people combined... how many do we have?"
Dong Boru's heart tightened. After a pause, he said: "Less than five hundred."
Bai Ren nodded: "That's enough."
Dong Boru was anxious beyond measure: "What are you planning to do, my lord?"
Bai Ren took out the gold seal hidden in his sleeve, saying quietly: "Fight back, reclaim what is ours. Before the Emperor can act, be the first to quell the rebels. Then... lead all of Lingnan in surrendering to the Emperor. As long as the internal rebellion is quelled and Lingnan remains part of the Great Xiang empire, the Emperor won't be able to launch another military campaign. After that... whether I successfully inherit the throne or am executed for my crimes, at the very least... all the sin will rest on my shoulders alone, and there will be no more killing."
Dong Boru was greatly shocked. He immediately knelt to dissuade him: "My lord, you must not! Prime Minister Wen's faction has already lost. The Second Young Master controls all of Lingnan now—how could it possibly be that easy..."
Bai Ren looked at Dong Boru quietly: "Then what do you suggest, sir?"
Dong Boru was speechless.
Bai Ren spoke slowly: "Wait for the Emperor to send troops? Wait for news of my mother, my little aunt, all my relatives, and all the nobles in Lingnan being killed by the rebels? Or wait for the Emperor to quash the Lingnan rebellion, reclaim the Lingnan principality, and then graciously grant me some empty title like 'Marquis of Cheng'en' or 'Marquis of Jia'en'?"
Bai Ren gripped the gold seal tightly in his palm, his voice cold: "Sir... Father is already dead. I can no longer be this carefree heir. The lives of countless people in Lingnan rest on my shoulders, and I must bear that responsibility."
"Besides... it's too late for anything else now." Bai Ren tucked the gold seal back into his chest, saying quietly: "I've already sent scouts back to Lingnan. They will bring news of what's happening in the imperial capital, let them understand that the Emperor's thirty thousand iron horsemen are poised to strike. If they don't join me, there's only death."
"Sir, trust me. No one wants to die. There will be those with clear heads. Then with forces acting in concert from within and without, I will have a chance to succeed."
Dong Boru was still worried. He frowned urgently: "But what if you fail?"
"Then I die with honor." Bai Ren smiled faintly. "Sir... do I have any other choice?"
Dong Boru slumped in despair and sighed long: "How did the Dongling clan produce such a beast like Wen Yu?!"
In the side chamber of the Qianqing Palace, Qi Xiao leaned against the chaise lounge in the empress's quarters, gently stroking the life-token at his waist. Jiang Deqing watched Qi Xiao's expression carefully and softly said: "Your Highness... the officials have all gone to dine. Perhaps Your Highness would like something to eat as well?"
Qi Xiao didn't answer. After a long moment, he said: "Uncle, if I had seized this position one day earlier... perhaps none of this would have happened."
Jiang Deqing was greatly alarmed. He hastily said: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words! This... we are still in the palace!"
Qi Xiao closed his eyes and said nothing more.
He naturally knew they were in the palace. He knew everything. It was precisely because he knew too much that his顾虑 were so many. All these years, he had advanced steadily and carefully, step by step, never making a misstep. Qi Xiao had almost believed that as long as his plans were meticulous enough and his scheming thorough enough, nothing was impossible. But now Qi Xiao understood—now he deeply and truly felt—that facing military power, everything else was just empty words.
With a blade at your throat, no matter how brilliant your strategies, can you possibly survive?
Before absolute imperial power, everything else is powerless. And that imperial power should have been in his own hands.
Ever since Qi Xiao could remember, he had been enduring. He endured all the way to today, and Qi Xiao knew he still had to endure.
Jiang Deqing knew that Qi Xiao's heart was currently like mountains of blades and seas of fire. He spoke苦涩ly to try to comfort him: "Your Highness, please don't think too much. You've treated the young lord well enough. If not for you, Lady Roujia would still be in Lingnan now, together with the princess consort, with uncertain life or death. If not for Your Highness, the young lord might have already been计算死 by the Feng family's schemes. You... haven't wronged him at all."
A young eunuch outside softly said: "Your Highness... His Majesty sent the slave to bring Your Highness some food."
Qi Xiao turned to look at Jiang Deqing. Jiang Deqing understood, nodded, and turned to go outside. The young eunuch handed over a food box with both hands, then left. Jiang Deqing returned to the room, set down the box, and passed a letter to Qi Xiao, lowering his voice: "That little eunuch just now was Xi Xiang's disciple. He can be trusted."
Qi Xiao unfolded the letter. The first thing he saw was several lines on the back of the paper. The handwriting was Xi Xiang's. Qi Xiao's heart tightened—Cen Chaoge had returned, and Bai Ren knew everything...
There was no time for that. Qi Xiao flipped the letter over. Though it was only a few short lines, Qi Xiao read them over and over three times.
Jiang Deqing was truly anxious. He couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness, what does it say? What's happened?"
Qi Xiao's eyes were bloodshot. He clenched his teeth and said: "He tells me that whatever he does from now on has nothing to do with me. He wants me to stay out of it, to protect myself. He tells me to take care of myself, so that... we might see each other again someday..."
Jiang Deqing was speechless: "The young lord... what does he intend to do?!"
As he spoke, several young eunuchs rushed in. The leader hastily said: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince... His Majesty summons you to the main hall immediately! Something major has happened!"
Qi Xiao's heart clenched. He rose sharply and demanded: "What's happened?!"
The young eunuch was already panicking, and when faced with Qi Xiao's fierce gaze, he became even more frightened. He stammered: "Lingnan... the Lingnan Prince's Mansion... it's caught fire! Apparently when they were burning spirit money, they ignited the mourning banners. It's... it's all burned down! The slave only heard the ministers inside saying something about sending people to strictly guard the city gates, but... but the sky has already brightened. The city gates were opened an hour ago..."
Qi Xiao's eyes seemed to weep blood. After a long moment, he said: "This... this prince... understands."