In the study of the Prince's manor, Qi Xiao stood before the desk, carefully examining a newly acquired set of purple brushes. There were twelve brushes in total, with handles resembling withered branches or emerald bamboo, all exquisitely carved from Hotan jade.

Qi Xiao randomly picked one and dipped it in water. The brush tip was sharp, even, round, and sturdy, each one flawless. Qi Xiao smiled with satisfaction and asked in a low voice, "Do you know why I summoned you?"

Huo Rong had been kneeling on the ground for a long time without moving, his face calm. "Your Highness, this subordinate is ignorant."

"You don't know..." Qi Xiao casually put down the brush in his hand, took a silk handkerchief to wipe his hands, and slowly said, "Actually, it's nothing... I was just in Falling Plum Residence and thought I saw the one who entered the manor with you, called... yes, Shen Xin. Were my eyes playing tricks on me?"

Huo Rong inwardly cursed Shen Xin for being reckless. After a moment's hesitation, he said in a low voice, "Your Highness, since Shen Xin and I entered the manor, we haven't been given proper tasks. Wherever there's a shortage of people, we're sent there. I'm afraid Falling Plum Residence had some rough work that required him."

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "So that's how it is... It's fine, fortunately there are no concubines of mine in Falling Plum Residence, otherwise I would have overthought it, wondering why he ran over there."

Huo Rong lowered his head, "Your Highness jests."

Qi Xiao remained unhurried and said lightly, "Huo Rong... I see you're not young anymore. Have you taken a wife?"

Huo Rong shook his head, "Your Highness, this subordinate is twenty-three this year. Because I've been serving, I haven't married."

Qi Xiao smiled, "That's strange. How come I heard that you already have a son and a daughter?"

Huo Rong suddenly looked at Qi Xiao, beads of sweat slowly forming on his forehead...

"Huo Rong, from Changping, orphaned at a young age, raised by uncles and elders in the clan..." Qi Xiao's slender fingers lightly tapped the desk, "Later, you entered the palace. Because of your steady and experienced handling of affairs, you gained the appreciation of Jiang Deqing*, the chief steward of the Qianqing Palace. He even took you as his adopted son.

*T/N: Another Jiang Deqing. Did the author get lazy with naming, or was this an accidental mistake?

"In your third year in the palace, you returned to your hometown once. That month... hehe, you know best what happened. After that, you would return to Changping every six months, saying you were visiting relatives. You visited for five years, and had a son and a daughter. Hehe... Huo Rong, did I say anything wrong?"

Every word Qi Xiao said heavily pounded on Huo Rong's heart. Huo Rong no longer had the earlier composure, his face as pale as paper. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "No... no."

Qi Xiao smiled, "You hid it really well. Even your relatives in Changping didn't know you had started a family, let alone your adoptive father Jiang Deqing, who knew nothing at all. I have to admire you for being able to conceal it so tightly."

Huo Rong swallowed and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness..."

"For you to go to such lengths to hide it, I guess... you also know that Jiang Deqing is unreliable." Qi Xiao looked at Huo Rong with a smile and said slowly, "Don't worry, since you don't want others to know, I won't spread it either."

Huo Rong's lips quivered unnaturally. He tried his best to suppress the unease in his heart and said hoarsely, "Your Highness... what do you want to know..."

Qi Xiao smiled with satisfaction, "Smart, no wonder I went to such great lengths to investigate your background. But it's not what I want to know, it's my turn to ask you, Jiang Deqing... or rather, the Emperor, what did they instruct you to do? What do they want to know?"

Huo Rong closed his eyes, thought of his son and daughter, gritted his teeth and said, "Steward Jiang wants to know... who Your Highness associates with daily, what you do every day after returning to the manor, and also... also to keep a close eye on Your Highness's movements. If anything is amiss, report to the palace immediately."

Qi Xiao nodded and said lightly, "Then why did Shen Xin go to the rear courtyard today? What did you see and hear?"

"Your Highness, this subordinate truly didn't know about Shen Xin going to the Falling Plum Residence." Huo Rong hesitated for a moment, lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Last night, Shen Xin told this subordinate that he saw Your Highness and the Crown Prince behind the painting gallery. Behind the painting gallery..."

Qi Xiao frowned impatiently, "I know, continue."

"Yes. They were too far away, and Shen Xin didn't actually see clearly. He told this subordinate that he wanted to find a way to sneak back there and figure it out..." Huo Rong glanced at Qi Xiao cautiously and said in a low voice, "Although this subordinate and Shen Xin were assigned to Your Highness's side together, we weren't familiar with each other before. I also advised Shen Xin not to be impatient for quick success and instant benefits. He..."

Qi Xiao sneered, "He didn't listen, always thinking about quickly getting a big handle on me to make a contribution. Idiot..."

Huo Rong took a deep breath, "Your Highness is extremely perceptive. It's... it's just like that."

Qi Xiao laughed softly, "Since you've told me the truth, I won't hide it from you either. The Crown Prince and I... are indeed as you imagine."

Huo Rong was greatly shocked. Qi Xiao continued, "Huo Rong, do you know why I summoned you alone today and not Shen Xin?"

Sweat slowly flowed down from Huo Rong's forehead, along his neck, and seeped into his clothes. He slowly shook his head. Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "No need to be so afraid. This matter is not really a secret in my manor. Many who follow me know about it. I never guard against my own people. If you also become 'my person', then it doesn't matter if you know."

Qi Xiao's tone suddenly turned, carrying a hint of murderous intent, "But Shen Xin... is different. I can't keep him. Huo Rong, to put my mind at ease, and to let your son and daughter continue living safely in your Changping hometown, take care of this trouble for me."

Huo Rong's face instantly turned deathly pale. He had killed people before and had no affection for Shen Xin, but to just take Shen Xin's life like this, how could he explain it to the Emperor?

Qi Xiao seemed to see through Huo Rong's concerns and smiled, "What's so difficult about this? You just go ahead and do it. Afterwards, you can tell the Emperor that Shen Xin had already been bought off by me. Fearing he would reveal things he shouldn't, you took care of him first. Isn't that enough?"

Huo Rong calmed down and thought about it. This was indeed a way. Seeing that Huo Rong was persuaded, Qi Xiao smiled and said, "Don't worry, although I have a not-so-good temperament, I still have some compassion for children. As long as you do as I say in the future, I guarantee the safety of your wife and children."

Qi Xiao stood up and handed the set of purple brushes he had been playing with to Huo Rong, smiling, "These few brushes aren't bad. Next time you return home, bring them to your son." With that, he no longer paid attention to Huo Rong and turned past the screen to leave the study, going to look for Bairen.

In the warm chamber, Bairen was casually flipping through a book. Seeing Qi Xiao come in, he stood up and said, "Your Highness."

"Sit." There were no servants in the room, so Qi Xiao poured himself a cup of tea and drank it. Bairen turned his head and looked at Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao smiled, "Why are you looking at me like that, is there something on my face?"

Bairen shook his head, "Your Highness, did you hear some good news just now?"

Qi Xiao laughed, "You could tell?"

Bairen secretly regretted his rashness and hurriedly said, "I don't mean to pry into Your Highness's affairs..."

"It's alright, you can freely inquire about my matters." Qi Xiao sat down beside Bairen and took his hand, squeezing it. "Do you still remember I told you last time that the Emperor sent four people to me?"

Bairen nodded. Qi Xiao smiled, "I just dealt with them, so I feel relieved and it showed on my face."

Bairen widened his eyes, "Dealt with them? But they were sent to Your Highness by the Emperor, how could you casually deal with them?"

"I have my ways." Qi Xiao lowered his head and lightly kissed Bairen's lips, smiling easily. "From now on, you can feel at ease in my manor."

Bairen was still curious. He had always detested these things and suffered quite a bit in this regard. He really didn't understand how Qi Xiao dealt with the people so simply. He couldn't help but ask Qi Xiao for advice.

Qi Xiao laughed, "To become an apprentice and learn skills, one must bring two taels of tuition fee. Young Prince wants to learn the skill of guarding the house from me empty-handed, isn't that a bit too much?"

Bairen was not good at being teased. He thought Qi Xiao was unwilling to say and felt a bit embarrassed. "It's just that even if I could offer something, I'm afraid Your Highness wouldn't fancy it..."

Qi Xiao felt as if a kitten was scratching his heart. He sighed softly, "Bairen... are you deliberately making me feel distressed for you?"

Before Bairen could speak, Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed his forehead, laughing softly, "Every time I kiss you, you always look like you're being forced. If you take the initiative to kiss me today, I'll tell you everything."

Bairen's face turned red upon hearing this. Qi Xiao smiled, "Not only this, but I also have a way to help you resolve those spies in your manor."

Bairen's heart stirred, "Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" Qi Xiao sat up straight, smiling at Bairen. "If you don't want it, then forget it."

This temptation was really too great. Bairen struggled in his heart several times. In the end, he still endured the embarrassment and moved closer to Qi Xiao.

If it were usual, Qi Xiao would have already embraced him. Who knew that this time Qi Xiao was determined to tease him and didn't move at all, only looking at him with a smile.

Bairen's face became even hotter. He hesitated and put his hand on Qi Xiao's back, slightly raising his head and touching Qi Xiao's lips. Qi Xiao looked down at him and smiled, "How did I kiss you before? Is Young Master going to brush me off like this?"

Bairen frowned. After a moment, he kissed Qi Xiao's lips, imitating Qi Xiao's usual manner. He tentatively licked Qi Xiao's lips in a pleasing way. He had just eaten yogurt, and there was still a milky fragrance between his lips and teeth. Qi Xiao could no longer restrain himself and took the initiative...

After a good while, Qi Xiao was satisfied and let him go. Bairen's face was red, and he said in a low voice, "Your Highness... can you tell me now?"

Qi Xiao had no intention of hiding it from him anyway. He told Bairen how he ordered people to investigate Huo Rong, how he detected something fishy and sent people to Huo Rong's hometown, and finally how he subdued Huo Rong with both favors and pressure.

Bairen secretly sighed. Finally, he smiled bitterly, "Your Highness is meticulous in thought, but such methods... without capable spies, it can't be done. I also have some people in my hands, but they can only investigate superficial matters. Things like investigating someone's hometown without alarming anyone... they can't do it."

Qi Xiao smiled complacently. Bairen hesitated for a moment and asked again, "Your Highness... didn't you just say that you would help me deal with those spies in my manor?"

"That's even simpler." Qi Xiao took Bairen's hand and smiled easily, "My manor is clean now. You just need to stay here with me every day, and I guarantee they won't be able to monitor you anymore."

Bairen was furious. He flung his hand away and went into the inner room. Qi Xiao laughed endlessly and followed him into the inner room. He apologized softly for a good while before coaxing him to turn around.