Chu Jiubian brought the food tray in and placed it on the table in the inner room, then sat down in a position where he could easily see the person on the bed.

Due to Qin Xiao’s prolonged absence, Qin Chaoyang had supervised the installation of underfloor heating in the western courtyard. Thus, even though no one had been in this room for two days, it was still very warm.

Chu Jiubian took a sip of tea, then tucked into his meal.

He ate very quietly, but the sound was still audible in the silent room.

The eyelashes of the person on the bed fluttered slightly, and his fingertips twitched, but he didn’t open his eyes.

During his two days in the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian had barely closed his eyes at all. Now, the delayed exhaustion was catching up to him. Engrossed in his food, he nearly nodded off into his bowl and didn’t notice the subtle movements on the bed at all.

After forcing a few more bites down, he was unable to eat any more, and rinsed his mouth.

Chu Jiubian’s exhaustion was so profound that he couldn’t even keep his eyes open, and his mind was a jumbled mess.

He didn’t have the energy to deal with people just now, so he decided to take a nap first before calling Qin Chaoyang and the young emperor over.

After glancing around the room, he lay down on the soft couch by the window.

But before falling asleep, he didn’t forget to ask: “System, monitor Qin Xiao’s vital signs for me and wake me up if there is a problem.”

[Okay, Host.] The System had reaped a fortune in the past two days, and wasn’t going to extort its host over such a small matter now.

Chu Jiubian fell into a deep sleep even more profound than a coma.

More than ten minutes later, the person on the bed managed to open his eyes, but his vision was still somewhat blurry and unfocused.

After a short while of this, Qin Xiao finally regained some control and turned his head to look toward the window.

The seat by the window was covered in dark cushions, and was where Qin Xiao usually sat to drink tea and read.

The soft couch wasn’t long enough, so when laying down, Chu Jiubian couldn’t even straighten his legs. He was curled up into a ball, his long silver hair spread over him like a blanket.

Qin Xiao blinked, but he soon lost the ability to hold onto consciousness, slipping under again without managing to speak a word.

*

*

News of Qin Xiao’s severe injury was impossible to keep under wraps, especially with all of the Imperial Physicians being present at Yangxin Hall that day. This led to much speculation, and when neither Qin Xiao nor Chu Jiubian appeared in the following two days, the severity of Qin Xiao’s injury was basically confirmed.

Naturally, the reactions of various parties differed.

But it was self-evident that very few people were hoping for his survival.

They felt that Qin Xiao would likely be fine due to Chu Jiubian’s “divine” presence, but secretly hoped that something unexpected would happen.

Three days passed in this manner, yet no news emerged from the palace. The powerful Regent who held sway over the entire Imperial Court remained missing, his fate unknown.

They all began to wonder if Qin Xiao was indeed so grievously wounded that even Chu Jiubian, this immortal descended to earth, was unable to save him.

But despite having these thoughts, according to reason, they still believed that with Chu Jiubian’s abilities, he would surely be able to help Qin Xiao overcome his predicament.

Darkness came early in winter, and on this particular day, it grew dark shortly after dinner.

The main hall of the Wang family’s central compound.

Family Head Wang Huanzhi sat at the head of the table, with Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan seated next to him. Seated lower down was Wang Zhang, a family elder and also Wang Huanzhi’s strategist.

Inside the hall stood an iron stove purchased from the Hundred Treasure House. It was unique and exquisitely crafted, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the thin-walled stoves used by ordinary people in later periods.

This iron stove was naturally of the same variety that Chu Jiubian had created for use in the Imperial Palace. He had more produced, and added some different designs and engravings to make them look unique, which allowed them to be sold at a higher price.

It wasn’t that he had no desire to make ordinary goods for the common people, but the amount of iron that could be mined was currently limited. Due to its scarcity and strict government control over the iron trade, the price of iron furnaces was very high, well out of the financial range of the common people.

Since this was the case, it was better to make exquisite, beautiful items and sell them at a high price to noble families.

Leaving aside the noble families in the capital, there were hundreds of iron stoves in affluent households now. Chu Jiubian had even taught the shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasure House how to make heated wall structures to keep rooms warmer.

The Hundred Treasure House was currently running a promotion: Buy one furnace and receive one heated wall, which the establishment’s craftsmen would set up.

At this moment, there was a heated wall in the main hall of the Wang family’s central compound.

The fire burned brightly, making the room warmer than it had been in any previous year.

Dressed in thin emerald green robes, Wang Huanzhi took a sip of his tea and said unhurriedly: “The minister has been quite busy lately. It has been quite some time since I’ve had the opportunity to sit and have tea with you like this.”

Ever since Wang Zhiyuan had instructed Wang Pengyi to diligently handle the task of transporting military supplies, Chu Jiubian had realized Wang Zhiyuan’s intention to align himself with the throne and entrusted him with more tasks, demonstrating an unprecedented level of reliance on the man.

He was now arguably the most powerful of the six government ministers.

Aside from him, there was no need to mention Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi. Even the Wang family disciples who remained in court – Deputy Minister of Works Liu Junqi and senior official Wang Yu from the Ministry of Personnel – had also been given exceptionally important positions.

They were involved in everything, from arranging receptions for the vassal kings, to handling the promotions and transfers of various officials at the end of the year, and to dealing with local taxes and other miscellaneous affairs, making them incredibly frustrating to deal with.

Due to this, during the months that Qin Xiao was away, not only did the Wang family not experience suppression, but they actually grew in power.

Their influence was unrivaled, but this situation was like heating oil over a raging fire.

Everyone knew that Wang Zhiyuan was subtly siding with the Emperor, effectively betraying the alliance of noble families.

The Emperor – or rather, Chu Jiubian – was openly and without reservation relying heavily on members of the Wang family, using their power and connections to suppress the other three great families.

As expected, when everyone later conspired against Qin Xiao, Wang Pengyi diligently and conscientiously performed his duties in maintaining the army’s lifeline. Not only did he protect the supplies well, but he delivered them promptly, ensuring that the army had no worries whatsoever.

It was safe to say that Wang Pengyi played a significant role in Qin Xiao’s conquest of the Sai Kingdom.

Thus, the Wang family had positioned themselves entirely against the other great families.

As the family head, Wang Huanzhi’s ambition was not simply to be a loyal and capable subject serving the Emperor; he wanted to secure more benefits and power for both himself and the Wang family.

However, the actions of Wang Zhiyuan and Wang Pengyi, both high-ranking officials in the court, ran completely contrary to his intentions.

Assisting the throne in weakening the noble families was not a good thing.

Once the other families were suppressed, it would be their turn. Wang Huanzhi didn’t believe that Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao would allow the Wang family to enjoy a monopoly.

But what troubled Wang Huanzhi the most was that Wang Zhiyuan made no effort to conceal his interactions with his heir, Wang Qichen. In fact, during this period, Wang Zhiyuan had met with Wang Qichen more often than he did with Wang Huanzhi, the family head.

And then there was Deputy Minister of Justice Wang Ruzhen, who was a firm supporter of Wang Huanzhi. While most high-ranking members of the Wang family were being given important tasks, he was being marginalized.

Wang Huanzhi could only suspect that Wang Zhiyuan had said something to Chu Jiubian.

He had summoned Wang Zhiyuan today for the purpose of finding out whether he had secretly allied with his rebellious son, Wang Qichen, and whether he had begun to suppress the Wang family’s influence in court, particularly those who were loyal to the family head.

If that was the case, it would be even more difficult for Wang Huanzhi to transfer the title of ‘heir’ to his youngest son, Wang Wenyao.

“There are numerous matters to attend to in the Imperial Court with the end of the year approaching, so I’ve naturally been busier,” Wang Zhiyuan said in a mild voice.

Wang Huanzhi’s faint smile didn’t reach his eyes: “Then I’ll thank the minister for his hard work.”

“The Emperor’s reliance on me is no burden.” 

Wang Zhiyuan’s pompous words wiped the last trace of the fake smile from Wang Huanzhi’s face.

“We’re all family here. Why the need for such formalities, Minister?”

His tone was somewhat unpleasant.

Even though he needed Wang Zhiyuan on his side, Wang Huanzhi still couldn’t bear to humble himself. Unable to let go of his pride as the family head, he constantly treated others with disdain, affording them no respect whatsoever.

Sitting at the lower end of the table, Wang Zhang took a furtive glance at Wang Zhiyuan’s expression. He noticed no emotional fluctuations, but still spoke up to ease the tension: “The family head is meeting with you today to have a heart-to-heart conversation. Hoping My Lord will understand.”

Wang Zhiyuan smiled slightly and gave no response.

Wang Huanzhi then said: “My Wang family has been known for its integrity for generations. We disdain engaging in power struggles and vying for personal gain, and only act out of self-preservation. Surely My Lord understands this.”

With his gaze fixed on Wang Zhiyuan, he continued: “Now that Imperial power is on an upward trend and Ning-wang has returned to the capital after a great victory, enjoying unparalleled prestige, he will surely target our noble family after he recovers.”

Wang Zhang secretly observed the person sitting at the head of the table.

But Wang Zhiyuan remained silent.

Wang Huanzhi frowned and softened his tone, attempting to persuade him: “My Lord must understand that the reason our four great families have reached our positions is because we stand by and support one another. But now, we have all witnessed your association with Chu Jiubian and your close ties to the Imperial family. Surely, you don’t wish to bring ruin to our Wang family without any regard for the consequences?”

“Why does the Family Head say such a thing?” Wang Zhiyuan finally spoke. “Everything I’ve done has been to ensure the continuation of the Wang family for generations. I’ve never meant the family any harm.”

“But your current actions are pushing the Wang family into conflict with other influential figures,  placing us into a precarious position!”

Wang Zhiyuan’s expression iced over at the resounding force of Wang Huanzhi’s voice.

He had long mastered the art of concealing his emotions, and the fact that his feelings were discernable now was solely because he was making no effort to hide them.

Seeing this, Wang Zhang feared that the situation would escalate and damage their relationship, so he hastily spoke up: “The Minister has recognized the abilities of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, and wishes to forge a cooperative relationship with the Imperial family. It is perfectly understandable for him to leverage their influence in order to elevate the Wang family to greater heights. We are naturally grateful, and admire him for it.”

“But I would also ask you, My Lord, are you so certain that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian will not discard you once you have lived out your usefulness?”

Wang Zhiyuan let out a light chuckle.

Wang Zhang and Wang Huanzhi were unfamiliar with how Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao operated, but having spent his days in the Imperial Court, Wang Zhiyuan had a very clear understanding of them.

These two men were powerful and influential. They possessed sharp minds, and were highly-skilled in cunning, strategizing, and manipulation. Both were outstanding figures of their time, and even an elder such as Wang Zhiyuan, who had been immersed in court politics for many years, found it challenging to deal with the two of them.

However, there was one thing that set these two apart from other influential figures.

Ironclad loyalty and integrity.

Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were both men of profound loyalty and integrity, and who also cared deeply for the country and its people.

They worked tirelessly on behalf of the common people, and every action they took was for the purpose of improving the lives of those people and strengthening Great Ning.

And they indeed had the ability to succeed in this endeavor.

Before, Wang Zhiyuan had been engrossed in the political infighting and was unable to see the situation clearly. But when his student Liu Junqi was promoted and Wang Pengyi was entrusted with the vital task of transporting military supplies, he understood everything.

He also realized that the younger generation had a clearer understanding of matters than he did.

This was no longer the era of Emperor Gaozong; the resources of the powerful noble families were no longer needed to restore the livelihoods of the common people, so what Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian needed were people who would genuinely serve the court and the country’s citizens.

It was fortunate that the Wang family, and Wang Zhiyuan himself, had not yet done anything irreversible to Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

Those two were also willing to let byegones be byegones, and didn’t condemn the entirety of the Wang family outright. So when an opportunity to reconcile with them was presented, Wang Zhiyuan naturally took it.

However, the head of the Wang family was clearly preoccupied with his self-contained world and selfish desires, and was unable to see the bigger picture.

He was not as insightful as Young Master Wang Qichen.

Wang Zhiyuan recalled that Chu Jiubian had paid a visit to Yaotai Bookstore on his own initiative and spoke for some time with Wang Qichen.

Although the content of their discussion was unknown, judging from Wang Qichen’s actions during this period, he and Chu Jiubian must have reached some sort of agreement or partnership.

He had also noticed that whenever he happened to bring up Chu Jiubian or spoke of matters related to him, Wang Qichen’s attitude would become more respectful and affectionate.

The exact reason was unknown, but it was clear that Wang Qichen’s relationship with Chu Jiubian was not as simple as a mere business partnership. And this was good news for the Wang family.

But Wang Zhiyuan was unwilling to discuss the complexities and intricacies involved in this matter.

It wasn’t that he didn’t wish to offer advice to Wang Huanzhi, but that with a strategist like Wang Zhang by his side, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of these implications.

This meant that, knowing perfectly well what was happening, he was still determined to oppose the Emperor.

Wang Zhiyuan felt that this stubbornness was partly due to the fact that Wang Huanzhi’s son, Wang Wenfu, had been publicly beheaded by Qin Xiao for consuming mandala.

It was incredibly difficult to rid oneself of resentment after the killing of one’s child.

So ultimately, the division within the Wang family boiled down to differing perspectives.

While previously, the conflict had simply centered on “supporting the family head” or “supporting the young master,” they were now faced with a choice between “supporting the noble families” or “supporting Imperial power.”

Wang Zhiyuan was aware that Wang Huanzhi wanted to recruit him into his faction, but he had greater faith in Wang Qichen, and naturally wouldn’t accept the offer.

Whether he faced coercion or bribes, or emotional manipulation disguised as “righteousness,” he would not change his stance.

Therefore, with no desire to discuss the subject further, he changed tacks: “Instead of worrying about trivial things, the Family Head should be more concerned about the Yaotai Green Paper that has appeared on the market.”

Seeing the change in Wang Huanzhi’s expression, Wang Zhiyuan took a sip of tea before saying slowly: “The Young Master’s bookstore held a literary gathering, which successfully showcased both its reputation and the talents of those involved, not to mention its considerable financial resources. Currently, everyone is saying that the Young Master is the most likely candidate to secure selling rights for the Yaotai paper.”

After much anticipation, the Yaotai Green Paper had finally been released.

The first instance occurred in a brothel in the capital, where a well-educated courtesan skilled in calligraphy publicly unfolded a sheet of the paper and began to write with brush and ink.

The paper had a texture similar to the rice paper used in later periods, and compared to the paper currently available in Great Ning, it could be described as “white as snow, flexible and lightweight,” immediately drawing the admiration of anyone who laid eyes on it.

Moreover, he had learned that such high-quality paper and the young woman’s beautiful handwriting had combined in such a way that those pieces of calligraphy sold at exorbitant prices.

But that intelligent young woman stated that the papermaker did not wish to reveal his identity, and only sought someone to collaborate with. He would be responsible for making the paper, and his partner would be responsible for selling it.

However, the papermaker had his own considerations. He would need to vet anyone who collaborated with him, and only someone who met those requirements would be granted selling rights.

Only, he didn’t specify what those “requirements” were.

The Langya Gold Paper sold by the Wang family had previously fetched as much as one gold ingot per sheet at its peak, and was almost exclusively purchased by wealthy individuals for their collections. Now, the value of this Yaotai Green Paper would be even higher.

With such enormous profits involved, everyone naturally wanted to grab a piece of the pie.

Thus, in recent days, everyone in the capital who wished to sell Yaotai paper was putting in their best effort to showcase themselves.

Either they were searching high and low for information about the papermaker, or showcasing their poetic talent or wealth in order to impress him.

But several days had passed, and there was still no more Yaotai paper for sale on the market, nor had anyone heard of someone being favored for the selling rights.

Wang Huanzhi was naturally one of these people.

Selling paper was the Wang family’s most profitable business, and when anyone thought of writing materials such as brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, they would immediately think of the Wang family.

This was one of the reasons the Wang family was renowned for their adherence to etiquette and unwavering integrity.

However, if this Yaotai paper was seized by someone else, the Wang family would no longer be the sole possessors of a papermaking technique, and would lose both profit and prestige.

Therefore, Wang Huanzhi was willing to pay any price to become acquainted with the person behind this Yaotai paper.

Either the Yaotai paper would be sold to the Wang family, or they would completely eliminate the possibility of Yaotai paper ever appearing again.

If possible, Wang Huanzhi would prefer to have the best of both worlds.

This would give him greater influence within the Wang family, and allow him to break free from the stifling feeling of being overshadowed by Wang Qichen.

His petty schemes were completely transparent, and there wasn’t a soul in the Wang family who was unaware of them.

Besides trying to annoy him, Wang Zhiyuan had brought the topic up at this moment to make him anxious

When someone was anxious, they lost their rationality and composure, and were more susceptible to being deceived. 

Yes, Wang Zhiyuan was entirely aware that the “person” behind the Yaotai Green Paper was merely a scheme devised by Wang Qichen.

Because Wang Qichen was the one who had invented the paper in the first place.

It just wasn’t being sold at “Yaotai Bookstore” at the moment.

Wang Qichen had kept this matter very well-hidden. To make it more convincing, he even spread rumors within the family, claiming that the reason he opened the bookstore was actually to use the name “Yaotai” to establish a connection with the papermaker.

Therefore, none of them suspected anything.

Wang Huanzhi was somewhat anxious when the bookstore opened, but more than anything, he looked down on his eldest son and found his actions childish.

Without even knowing for sure that he would obtain the paper-selling rights, he had invested a huge amount of capital to open a bookstore on the busy Splendid Plaza, which would likely result in him losing everything in the end.

But now, Wang Zhiyuan had deliberately exposed his self-deception, informing him that Wang Qichen’s approach was more sincere than anyone else’s and was most likely to impress the “papermaker.”

As expected, Wang Huanzhi’s expression sank even further.

Wang Zhiyuan didn’t show it on his face, but deep down, he felt somewhat helpless.

In his youth, Wang Huanzhi had been considered one of the most outstanding among his peers. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to secure the position of family head. But as he grew older, Wang Huanzhi mindset became increasingly narrow, and his perspective more one-sided.

He was far too self-serving. He only cared about his second wife and the son she bore him, disregarding the well-being of the rest of the family. 

In fact, he had long since ceased to be a suitable family head for the Wang family.

“If you remain on a mountaintop for too long, you may forget the original reason you started climbing.” Wang Zhiyuan offered one last piece of advice, then stood up and said, “I’m tired. The Family Head should also go and get some rest.”

Having said this, he left through the door.

Wang Zhang watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

Wang Huanzhi, however, disregarded the elder’s last words and said in a dark voice: “It seems he has made up his mind to side with that rebellious son.”

That being the case, he was even more determined to obtain the selling rights for the Yaotai paper and completely suppress Wang Qichen.

Seeing him in this state, Wang Zhang hesitated to speak.

Some things were not suitable for discussion at this time. The most important matter at hand was indeed to secure this new paper supply first.

Meanwhile.

At the Xiao family residence, Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan was reclined halfway back on the soft couch in his bedroom.

His closed eyes were ringed by dark circles, his cheeks were slightly sunken, and his clothes were too loose on him. It would be no exaggeration to say that he was skin and bones.

Across from him, a woman dressed in light garments delicately plucked the strings of her musical instrument with slender fingers.

Amidst the decadent music, the room was filled with swirling smoke.

Xiao Huaiguan took a deep breath, then exhaled with a long sigh, a look of enjoyment on his face.

The woman’s eyes were also a bit hazy. She removed her hands from the instrument and went to his side, where she poured him a cup of tea and held it to his lips with a smile: “My Lord, have some tea.”

But Xiao Huaiguan paid no attention to her, his breaths coming alternately light and heavy.

“My Lord.” The woman said softly, “What kind of incense are you burning? Its fragrance makes one feel utterly blissful…..”

The sounds coming from inside the room were muffled.

Family Head Xiao Yao and former Deputy Minister of Works Xiao Wendao stood outside the door, their expressions equally unbothered.

“It’s gotten worse,” Xiao Wendao said calmly. “He doesn’t have long to live.”

Xiao Yao actually had a smile on his face: “With the vassal kings arriving in the capital, we should make preparations as well.”

The Xiao family was currently weak, and even though Chu Jiubian had given them a small opportunity to rise, if Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan were to perish, they would be left without support in the Imperial Court.

For now, all they could do was suppress the influence of the other noble families. Only then could they all stand on the same mountain and continue to climb upward together.

“Who do you think is responsible for Ning-wang’s grave injury?” asked Xiao Wendao.

“Who do you think it is?”

Xiao Wendao smiled and looked toward the Northwest, saying: “It is naturally easier to get things done on one’s own territory. But I do wonder what the circumstances were like at the time that it led to Ning-wang being injured.”

Xiao Yao said nothing, but a subtle darkness flickered within his eyes.

*

*

They met by chance.

At the official post station closest to the capital, several groups of people were being received by the trembling postmaster and his staff, who offered all of them formal bows: “This humble official greets Zuiliang-wang, Pinxi-wang, Nanjiang-wang, and Dingbei-wang.”

His voice was shaking.

Never in his life had he imagined that he would encounter so many vassal kings arriving at his post station simultaneously.

Fortunately, he knew that the vassal kings were coming to the capital this year and had prepared for it just in case. Otherwise, he might have faced beheading if he called out these people’s names in the wrong order.

Zuiliang-wang Bai Liyan was the third eldest, and Pingxi-wang Bai Lizheng was the fifth eldest, followed by Nanjiang-wang Bai Lihao and Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu, who were ranked sixth and ninth respectively.

Only after he finished addressing them and found that none of them seemed angry did the postmaster breathe a subtle sigh of relief.

It seemed he had done it correctly.

However, it was possible that these four vassal kings simply had amiable personalities, like Huguang-wang Bai Liyue and Dongjiang-wang Bai Lihe, who had arrived together earlier.

These two people, one older and one younger, had been at odds from the moment they met, openly and subtly mocking and scorning each other.

The postmaster didn’t dare to shut his eyes all night, overcome by anxiety and dread. But thankfully, those two had departed for the capital that morning.

“Have guest rooms been prepared?” the young servant attending Zuiliang-wang asked with a smile.

“Indeed, indeed.” The postmaster led everyone upstairs to the second floor. “The best rooms have been prepared for the four vassal kings and their family members. Food and hot water will be brought up shortly.”

He spoke of family members, but it was actually just Bai Lihao who had brought his wife and the twin Situ siblings.

None of the other vassal kings had taken their female relatives along – mainly because the only legitimate female figure in the palace at present was the Empress Dowager, so there would be no point in bringing them.

And as for not bringing their sons, that was another consideration they’d all had to make.

Their fear was that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian would suddenly make a move, demanding that they leave their sons behind in the capital. No matter what plausible reasons they provided, those sons would essentially be kept as hostages.

Therefore, everyone agreed that it was best not to bring their families, but Nanjiang-wang and his family disregarded this completely and came anyway.

Zuiliang-wang Bai Liyan, dressed in light blue robes and a fox fur cloak, asked everyone with a smile: “Who would like to choose their room first?”

He had been a cheerful person since childhood, regarding everyone with a smile. Very few people had ever seen him look angry.

Compared to his two older brothers, who were difficult to get along with, Bai Liyan was clearly the more popular one among them.

This was also the case at present, and the other three showed no signs of tension or awkwardness.

Bai Lizheng said: “Third Brother, you make the arrangements. We’ll listen to you.”

Bai Liyan then said: “Alright, then let’s take rooms in order of rank. If we leave tomorrow morning, we can reach the capital before the city gates close and save ourselves some trouble.”

Although his words seemed casual, they carried an underlying meaning related to the two vassal kings who had come before them.

Those two had arrived the previous night and ate a leisurely breakfast that morning before setting off. At their slow pace of travel, they certainly wouldn’t be able to arrive before the city gates closed.

But with two vassal kings outside the gates, who would possibly refuse to open them?

If the gates were not opened, it would seem like the Imperial Court didn’t value them. Afterward, any rumors they spread about how the Emperor was suppressing them, whether true or false, would be believed by at least some. And even if they were to rebel against the Emperor, those people would see their actions as justifiable.

Were the Emperor to allow the gates to be opened, he would also be creating a potential problem for himself.

As the saying went, “Even the Emperor is subject to the same laws as the citizens.” If he went against the decree that the city gates must be closed by a certain time for the sake of these vassal kings, what would happen afterward if the common people wanted to enter the city at night? Would the gates be opened for them or not?

If the gates were opened once, then they would likely be opened numerous times, in which case it would be better to just leave them open permanently. However, this would make it difficult to guarantee the safety of those inside and outside the city at night.

But if he didn’t open them, wouldn’t that make the Emperor a hypocrite?

Bai Liyue and Bai Lihe were attempting to manipulate the Emperor.

Everyone knew that Qin Xiao’s fate was currently unknown, and that Chu Jiubian had secluded himself in the western courtyard of Yangxin Hall in order to treat him. Therefore, it would fall upon the young Emperor to handle this matter.

Without those two present to help him strategize, it was unclear how the Emperor would react.

The others pretended not to understand Bai Liyan’s underlying meaning, and exchanged a few pleasantries before retiring to their rooms.

After washing up and having a meal, Dingbei-wang read for a while before preparing for bed.

His behavior was impeccable in every respect. Aside from being the most handsome among all the vassal kings, his mannerisms gave no indication as to what kind of person he truly was.

Shortly after the lamps were doused and he settled into bed, someone knocked softly on the window.

Then the window was pushed open slightly, and a crumpled piece of paper was tossed onto the bed.

Everything went silent once more.

Bai Liyu sat up and lit a tinderbox.

Shadows cast by the flickering firelight danced across his face.

His gaze fell upon the note, which contained only four words: Not awake. No confession.

The one who was “not awake” was naturally Qin Xiao, and the one who hadn’t “confessed” was Cheng Shuo, the deputy general who had attempted to assassinate Qin Xiao.

Ever since being imprisoned by Qin Xiao, he had remained completely silent, regardless of the methods the jailors used.

Bai Liyu burned the note, then closed the tinderbox and lay down again to sleep.

But whether or not he actually got any sleep was unknown.

*

*

Inside the palace, it was already the evening of the third day.

Chu Jiubian had been asleep since morning, and it was dark when he awoke.

The room wasn’t entirely pitch black, but it was still too dark to see anything clearly. He could only faintly discern a vague figure on the bed.

“How is he?” Chu Jiubian asked the System.

[The patient has been awake for three hours and seven minutes. An hour ago, he quietly went to relieve himself and returned. He also met with his subordinates, washed his face, and shaved his beard.]

The System normally wouldn’t report to him in such meticulous detail, but things were different for someone who had just undergone surgery. Every little detail must be taken seriously.

He was already awake?

And he had already accomplished so much?

Chu Jiubian looked up at Qin Xiao in astonishment.

His indistinct figure lay quietly in bed.

Chu Jiubian propped himself up into a sitting position, only to feel something slide off him. Reaching out to touch it, he discovered that it was the blanket he had previously draped over Qin Xiao.

[The blanket was placed on you by the patient] the System added.

Sitting on the soft couch, Chu Jiubian observed the other party in the dark.

After some time, he finally spoke: “Qin Xiao.”

His voice was still a little sleepy from just waking up.

“En.” The man’s hoarse voice sounded in the darkness.

For some reason, Chu Jiubain felt that even that single word sounded somewhat tender.

“How are you feeling? Other than the wound, are you uncomfortable anywhere else?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Before Qin Xiao could say anything, the System eagerly chimed in: [Host, the patient’s condition is completely normal. Please rest assured.]

So the points he spent weren’t wasted after all.

Chu Jiubian’s lips curved into a smile.

Qin Xiao answered: “I’m fine.”

Chu Jiubian lay back down on the couch, his long legs bent.

After a moment of silence, Chu Jiubian heard Qin Xiao say: “Thank you.”

“I told you before, as long as you treat me well, I’ll give you everything,” said Chu Jiubian. He would even give him his life.

Qin Xiao’s voice seemed to carry a smile: “Do I treat you well?”

Chu Jiubian didn’t respond, and deliberately avoided dwelling on the matter. He was well aware that he was dodging the issue.

When he received no response, Qin Xiao continued on his own: “It seems I still haven’t treated you well enough.”

The wind had picked up during the night, and howled faintly outside the window. The moonlight was very dim.

Inside, however, it was very warm. Therefore, the night was not desolate, but instead felt very cozy.

This was the first time they had slept in the same room, and it felt a little strange.

Chu Jiubian hiked up his blanket to cover his nose and mouth. It carried a faint scent that he couldn’t identify, but he recalled that it was always present on Qin Xiao.

“You won the bet,” he said, his voice muffled by the blanket.

“How is that?” Qin Xiao asked with a smile.

He watched the young man’s figure, not looking away for an instant.

He was not at all short, but when curled into a ball, he looked very small.

At this moment, the other party was lying on his back with his legs bent, revealing their straight, slender contours.

Chu Jiubian said: “The fact that you can sit here and chat with me about trivial things means you won, doesn’t it?”

Qin Xiao had bet on whether or not Chu Jiubian would save him.

He had now been saved. Qin Xiao had won.

Qin Xiao: “What exactly do you think I bet on?”

“Isn’t it that I would soften my heart?” Chu Jiubian asked casually.

Qin Xiao smiled faintly.

After a while, he said softly: “Something like that.”

He had been gambling on Chu Jiubian’s soft-heartedness.

But not that he would be saved.

He was gambling on whether Chu Jiubian would have a place for him in his heart.

Now, it seemed that he had found the answer – or perhaps not.

Qin Xiao observed the young man’s figure, his penetrating eyes appearing even deeper in the dim room.

Facing death often gave rise to one’s deepest desires.

Qin Xiao didn’t dare think back on what he had dreamed while he was unconscious.

But at this moment, he was perfectly clear on what he desired.

Chu Jiubian could feel Qin Xiao’s gaze fixed on him. It was intense, fiery, forceful…..

He turned onto his side and instinctively curled up, silently pulling the blanket higher so that only his eyes peeked out as he watched the person on the bed.

The wind outside had picked up. Chu Jiubian felt a cold draft seeping through the cracks in the window, and involuntarily shivered.

In the next moment, he heard the man’s low voice: “Come to bed.”

---

Consider donating via Kofi here.

Chapter 70 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 72