Chapter 44

Ji Weiqiu paused, unable to continue.

'Damn it, I got too worked up and misspoke. No matter how I try to fix it, it's useless. I should just obediently admit my mistake.'

Those words were a bit too much. Ji Weiqiu slid off the arhat bed with what could be called silky smoothness. He cunningly knelt on the footstool and lowered his head to admit his fault, "Imperial Elder Brother, I misspoke."

Even though he didn't think he had said anything wrong, he just couldn't say it so bluntly in front of Ji Su. If he were to say it, he had to do so tactfully and gently.

Ji Weiqiu actually rarely ever knelt.

Ji Su lowered his gaze to look at the young man before him. His long, snow-white neck was rarely bowed, showing submission and obedience. He knew this very well. This child was raised by him, accustomed to acting spoiled and pestering him since childhood. He was very proud. Even though his status had changed, his age had changed, and his position had changed, he remained the same.

Sometimes when he looked at Ji Weiqiu, he found it strange. Everyone was changing, yet it seemed as if only Ji Weiqiu hadn't changed.

But looking now, he had changed after all.

Not long ago, he had dared to stick his neck out and tell him to his face, 'I'm not wrong,' but that was no longer the case.

Ji Su reflected for a moment. Had he been too strict with him? Just one sentence had scared him into voluntarily kneeling and admitting his mistake?

But wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

Now that his pride was broken, why did he feel that this wasn't what he wanted?

Ji Su was silent in contemplation. Suddenly, he felt the blanket move. He abruptly met Ji Weiqiu's gaze. Ji Weiqiu's eyes were filled with grievance. Seeing him look over, he lowered his eyes to the footstool, then raised them to look at him again. Although he said nothing, Ji Su understood his meaning.

'Brother, are you done zoning out? I'm still kneeling, you know. Can you let me get up before you continue zoning out?'

Insolent thing.

"It's fine." Ji Su's little finger twitched slightly, and he then extended a hand. "Get up."

Ji Weiqiu swiftly got up, plopped back into his original seat, and took a sip of tea. He said, "Thank you, Imperial Elder Brother."

Ji Su scoffed and said, "Finished your tea?"

The hand Ji Weiqiu was holding the teacup with paused. He then tilted his head back and finished the tea cleanly, set down the cup, stood up, and took his leave. As expected, Ji Su did not stop him.

He had just returned to the side hall when he turned to see Eunuch Qingxi had followed him. "Eunuch, did Imperial Elder Brother have an order for me?"

Eunuch Qingxi raised his hand, and palace attendants came over carrying that dead-heavy chest of scrolls. Eunuch Qingxi said, "The Emperor said, please have Your Highness finish reading these as soon as possible. The scrolls must not be taken out of Qingning Hall."

Ji Weiqiu was quite curious about the situation over there—ever since he learned they were being asked to cede territory, he had been very interested in them. He figured that as a prince with no real power, he couldn't do anything major, but knowing a little more was better than knowing nothing at all, so he nodded and agreed.

The scrolls were neatly stacked in the study of the side hall. Ji Weiqiu yawned and went to take a nap. When he woke up, he would have to go to the Imperial Study for another meeting. What a wretched life!

The afternoon's Grand Secretariat meeting naturally still revolved around the state letter from the Tujue. The final result of the discussion was to stall for time, but they did have a more in-depth discussion about border defenses. Ji Weiqiu knew why today's Grand Secretariat meeting had been moved to the afternoon; it was to wait for the Duke of Ying.

Speaking of this Duke of Ying, Zhou Ruhui, he was also one of Ji Su's confidants. Ji Su had always been lenient with his trusted men and hadn't pulled any stunts like 'relieving generals of their command over a cup of wine'. He was currently in Yanjing because his wife had fallen gravely ill two months ago. He and his wife were deeply in love. With no active conflict on the border, the Duke of Ying was overcome with anxiety upon hearing the news and submitted a memorial requesting leave. Ji Su naturally granted it readily. After the Duke of Ying traveled day and night back to Yanjing, his wife saw him one last time, let out her final breath, and passed away.

The Duke of Ying was the same age as Ji Su and was one of his former study companions. When he was little, he also used to call the Duke of Ying "Second Brother Zhou". Seeing him today, Second Brother Zhou seemed to be in good spirits, just with an added air of world-weariness. The Grand Secretariat meeting was not the time for idle chat. When it ended, Ji Weiqiu had intended to leave with the others but hesitated for a moment.

Ji Su was suspicious. He was suspected of colluding with the False King even when he had done nothing. The Duke of Ying was a general who held real military power. Therefore, he asked Ji Su for permission, "Imperial Elder Brother, I'd like to go see the Duke of Ying. The Duke's wife has recently passed, and I was unable to pay my respects. I feel quite bad about it."

Ji Su's expression didn't change as he simply said, "Go ahead."

"Thank you, Imperial Elder Brother!" Having received permission, Ji Weiqiu broke into a smile. Only then did he turn and quickly chase after him, "Second Brother Zhou!"

The Duke of Ying heard him and turned around, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Your Highness."

Ji Weiqiu said apologetically, "I heard the terrible news about sister-in-law. I wasn't in Yanjing at the time and couldn't come to pay my respects. Second Brother Zhou, please forgive me."

In reality, Ji Weiqiu was there, but he was unconscious at the time. How could he have concerned himself with such matters?

Zhou Ruhui nodded and said, "This subject wouldn't dare."

"Why be so formal with me, Second Brother Zhou?" Ji Weiqiu walked shoulder to shoulder with him. Zhou Ruhui acknowledged with a sound and said no more. This was his personality; he wouldn't answer unless asked and wouldn't speak unless spoken to. When he was by Ji Su's side in the past, he was ostracized by the other study companions, who called him a block of wood. Later, after working for Ji Su, he became an inflexible, cold-blooded block of wood.

But Ji Weiqiu thought Zhou Ruhui had an excellent personality. He was just hard to get close to, but once you earned his approval, he would grant almost any request. Among all of Ji Su's study companions, Zhou Ruhui was the one Ji Su trusted and valued the most.

Ji Weiqiu asked with a smile, "Second Brother Zhou, do you have plans tonight?"

"No," Zhou Ruhui replied.

"That's great..." Ji Weiqiu nodded, and in the next instant, he grabbed Zhou Ruhui's sleeve and said, "Let's go, let's go! Second Brother Zhou, tell me about the border, won't you?"

Zhou Ruhui's gaze traveled from the hand clutching his sleeve to the pair of blazing eyes. Just as he was about to agree, he heard Ji Weiqiu say, "No, no, wow, it's so rare to see you, Second Brother. Let's go, let's go! I'll have someone sneak a couple of jars of fine wine from my Imperial Elder Brother's stash! We'll go to your place! It's the day off tomorrow, so I'll stay at your place tonight!"

In the palace, one had to mind the hierarchy, and be constantly careful with one's words. But outside the palace, it didn't matter. He wasn't afraid of much, but drinking wine and discussing state affairs, how normal would it be to let slip some treasonous words by accident! He wasn't afraid, and he didn't think Second Brother Zhou would do it either, but it was still better to be cautious.

Besides, Second Brother Zhou's martial arts were excellent. If he brought two Qingxuan Guards along, leaving the palace would be perfectly safe—provided there was nothing wrong with the Qingxuan Guards.

Thinking of this, Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but smile.

Zhou Ruhui was a little surprised. He thought that now that Ji Weiqiu had entered the Grand Secretariat and was living in the palace—in Qingning Hall, he had heard—plus with some of the unpleasant rumors from before, he had assumed Ji Weiqiu couldn't leave the palace freely. But seeing how casually he spoke, it was clear he could come and go as he pleased.

Zhou Ruhui said, "This subject will wait for you at the east side gate."

Ji Weiqiu agreed immediately. They parted ways, and he returned to Qingning Hall to report the matter to Ji Su. As expected, Ji Su had no objections. He only instructed him to be careful outside and ordered four Qingxuan Guards and a squad of Imperial Guards to escort him. After thanking Ji Su, Ji Weiqiu went out the door and turned to ask Eunuch Qingxi, his voice extremely fawning, "Eunuch—!"

"Aiya! My Little Highness!" Eunuch Qingxi quickly responded, "What are Your Highness's orders?"

Ji Weiqiu chuckled. "Last time in Ganquan Hall, Imperial Elder Brother gifted me some wine. It was quite good. I'm going to be a guest at the Duke of Ying's home, could you find me two jars?"

Eunuch Qingxi knew what he was talking about as soon as he heard it; he remembered the matter vividly. "Is Your Highness referring to the Biyun Brew?"

"I think so? The amber-colored one, as harsh as a blade, with a strong after-kick." Ji Weiqiu thought for a moment but couldn't recall the name. Ji Su probably never mentioned it, so he just described it.

It was indeed that one.

Eunuch Qingxi shook his head and said, "Your Highness, this is difficult. The Emperor has given an order to seal away the Biyun Brew and forbid it from being presented in the future. It's all accounted for, so it's not proper to take any privately. How about this old slave gets you a different kind? There's also Luyun Spring, which has an excellent flavor as well."

Why would perfectly good wine be sealed away? Ji Weiqiu was a little puzzled, but since Ji Su himself had given the order, he didn't insist. Why make things difficult for the palace staff over something like this? At worst, he could go ask for it himself later. He figured Ji Su wouldn't get angry at him over a few jars of wine.

Ji Weiqiu agreed. Soon after, palace attendants arrived carrying several food boxes. Not only were there two large jars of Luyun Spring, but also some unique palace delicacies, as well as two baskets of grapes that looked like purple gems. The grapes had just been taken out of the icehouse, covered with a layer of white frost, plump and round, and truly delightful to see.

Seeing that everything was ready, Ji Weiqiu boarded the carriage and headed for the east side gate.

When Zhou Ruhui saw this entourage, he knew it must have received the Emperor's approval. He rode his horse alongside the carriage, while Ji Weiqiu lifted the curtain to look at the scenery outside, making idle conversation with Zhou Ruhui. "Second Brother Zhou, is it very harsh at the border?"

Zhou Ruhui paused. "It's alright."

"Is there enough beef and mutton to eat at the border? I hear there are merchant caravans that secretly travel between the two countries, and sometimes they have good stuff? Second Brother Zhou, have you secretly gotten yourself a couple of fine horses? Tell me, I definitely won't tell Imperial Elder Brother!"

Zhou Ruhui said helplessly, "There are absolutely no fine-breed horses among smuggled goods."

"Tch," Ji Weiqiu said disdainfully. "That must be because your funds and connections aren't good enough, Second Brother Zhou."

Zhou Ruhui: "..."

The cool evening breeze made Ji Weiqiu squint his eyes. It was the long-lost taste of freedom. Although Ji Su kept a tight rein on him, he actually didn't mind living with Ji Su that much. Ji Weiqiu thought it might be because he was used to it from childhood, but everyone knows it's still better outside the palace!

Who doesn't like not being supervised?

The Duke of Ying's Manor was also not far from the imperial palace. Once Ji Weiqiu entered the Duke of Ying's Manor, the Imperial Guards visibly relaxed. Ji Weiqiu walked shoulder to shoulder with Zhou Ruhui. Before they had taken more than a few steps, Zhou Ruhui looked toward the shadows of the trees nearby.

"Eh? A Shadow Guard followed us too?" Ji Weiqiu asked. "If so, come out and show your face. Be careful, the Duke of Ying's blade knows no eyes. How unjust would that be!"

A Shadow Guard emerged from the shadows of the trees. Ji Weiqiu took a look. "Yo, it's you. Why are you back with the Shadow Guards? Didn't you say you were going to retire in the Qingxuan Guard?"

The Shadow Guard held it in for a long time. Under everyone's gaze, his honest face turned red. "Your Highness, this subordinate was under imperial orders at the time."

Ji Weiqiu: "I get it. You were pretending."

"Alright." He waved his hand. "Just follow along. I'll pretend I don't know. Second Brother Zhou, you pretend you don't know either, lest he get punished when he goes back."

Shadow Guard: "...Thank you, Your Highness."

The author has something to say:

Weiqiu is about to leave the palace. Honestly, I've never written so much romance in my life...