The following afternoon, the sun blazed overhead. Xin Yi lay prone on a couch in the Flowing Water Pavilion, deep in a peaceful slumber, with Chichi curled up right by his head. Bai Jiu sat at a nearby desk, leafing through a book. After a moment, he leaned over and gently turned Xin Yi onto his side.
The boy’s chest was soaked with sweat, yet he remained fast asleep and motionless—a level of composure not easily mastered by ordinary people.
Bai Jiu had barely returned to his book and turned a few pages when he saw Old Qu leading Xie Jingsheng along the distant covered walkway. Closing the book, Bai Jiu leaned against the railing and began feeding the fish while he waited.
The Flowing Water Pavilion was surrounded by water on all sides. A waterwheel mechanism pumped water to the roof, which then cascaded down from the four eaves to form shimmering curtains—a "Cool Room," a style of architecture that had recently become fashionable in the capital. The pavilion lacked stone tables or chairs; instead, the floor was laid with fragrant yellow rosewood, covered with cooling mats, soft bolsters, and small wooden desks. Here, one could enjoy the coolness of the water curtains and listen to the rhythmic splashing of droplets from every direction.
Old Qu escorted the guest to the pavilion's edge. Xie Jingsheng changed into soft-soled indoor shoes before stepping inside. The moment his feet touched the "Huanghuali" wood floor, he smirked. Tapping the tip of his handsome nose with his fan, he said with a hint of relish, "This Huanghuali wood is something even the Palace struggles to obtain, yet Your Lordship uses it for common flooring. If Master Zhang’s faction caught wind of this, they’d surely pelt you with a mountain of critical petitions." He sat down behind a desk and rapped his knuckles against the wood. "Truly fine stuff. This pavilion is filled with the gentle scent of sandalwood and a refreshing chill. If Your Lordship were to grace me with a bowl of iced crabapples, it would be perfection itself."
Bai Jiu continued scattering fish food, smiling at the request. He turned to Old Qu and said, "Bring out the ice. Look how he craves it."
Old Qu chuckled and gave the order. Soon, servants brought out dark wooden bowls filled with shaved ice and fruit pulp, presented with great elegance. Xie Jingsheng tucked his fan into his collar and began to eat. Bai Jiu waited until he had finished the fish food before wiping his hands with a handkerchief. By then, Xie Jingsheng had nearly finished his treat.
Since Bai Jiu remained silent, Xie Jingsheng couldn't wait forever. He finished the last of the ice, sat up straight, and said thoughtfully, "My Lord, the reason behind Registrar He’s case has been uncovered."
"Good news," Bai Jiu said with a faint smile. "With you, He Anchang, and Zuo Kaizhi working together, there was no reason it wouldn't be solved."
Xie Jingsheng licked his lips. "This case... I fear it implicates the one currently away."
The one currently away.
The phrasing was subtle, which was unusual for Xie Jingsheng. He was usually a man who feared nothing in heaven or earth, often referring to Prince Qin by his given name, yet he didn't even mention this person’s title. This individual had not been in the capital much in recent years; at the start of this year, he had accompanied the Empress Dowager out of the city to pay respects to the Buddha. Looking at the calendar, he wasn't expected back until the end of the year.
At the mention of this person, the smile on Bai Jiu’s lips merely deepened. "The Crown Prince has always been one who cannot stay idle."
Bai Jiu spoke mildly, but Xie Jingsheng felt an inexplicable chill. He spoke cautiously: "It doesn't just involve the Crown Prince; the ripples are vast. The Shanyin fief has been vacant for some days now. Regardless of whether His Majesty has a candidate in mind, Prince Qin is already growing restless. He has served as the Crown Prince’s eyes and ears in the capital for so long; given the Crown Prince’s temperament, there is no reason not to give him some reward. I fear Prince Qin has felt secure from the very beginning regarding this case."
If this were merely a murder case, it wouldn't be worth such discussion. However, the web behind it was tangled, and too many people were "unclean." Pulling on one thread would drag up a whole mess of corruption, damaging the very foundations of the court. Some might decide to settle the score with whoever exposed them; a cornered dog will jump a wall, and the dangers are manifold. Furthermore, Prince Qin is one thing, but for Xin Wen to be so brazen, only the Crown Prince could be shielding him. If they were to clash head-on with the Crown Prince, Xie Jingsheng feared Bai Jiu might not be able to respond effectively. Having followed Bai Jiu for so many years, the words he had said to He Anchang—*His Lordship understands me*—now felt like mere self-consolation. Bai Jiu and the Crown Prince were the two people who should least face each other directly at this moment. Setting aside their past history, the current political landscape was unsuitable; Bai Jiu was already being watched closely by Zhang Taiyan. If the Crown Prince also began tripping him up, Bai Jiu’s days in court would certainly not be easy.
Feeling a sense of guilt for bringing this up, Xie Jingsheng fell silent.
Bai Jiu’s narrow eyes hooded slightly. "How have the Brocade Guard been lately?"
Xie Jingsheng blinked, startled. "With Your Lordship at the helm, they have been as steady as ever."
"But you are not doing so well," Bai Jiu said, lifting his gaze to meet his. "You have lost your composure."
Xie Jingsheng felt a jolt in his chest. The first thing that flashed through his mind was He Anchang’s smiling face in the sunset the previous evening. He abruptly averted his eyes from Bai Jiu, staring down at his own hands. Clarity dawned on him, though it felt like something he had long anticipated. It wasn't merely a moment of passion that had led him to promise He Anchang he would investigate this case, but he couldn't say that He Anchang didn't carry significant weight in his decision.
The ice clinked softly in the bowl as the water curtains splashed outside.
"He resides within the capital," Bai Jiu said, stirring the ice with a wooden spoon. "He has the He family behind him as a support and Zhang Taiyan in front of him as a shield. Even if the Crown Prince pushes him to the brink, his bones will not be left to rot. You, however, live in the outer city, all alone. If the Crown Prince wishes to take you, it would be like crushing an ant."
"I understand."
"And yet you still want to investigate."
"I do."
The wooden bowl was suddenly slammed onto the desk, sending a shiver racing down Xie Jingsheng’s spine. His heart hammered against his ribs, and his palms grew cold and damp. Then, he heard Bai Jiu say, "The Crown Prince has been away for too long. If he wants to interfere in state affairs, someone must teach him the rules."
Xie Jingsheng snapped his head up.
Bai Jiu leaned back against the railing with a relaxed expression. He pressed the bowl of evenly stirred shaved ice against Xin Yi’s cheek. Xin Yi gave a violent start and opened his bleary eyes. Bai Jiu said, "You’re quite something. You’re so hot your inner robe is soaked, yet you refuse to wake up."
Xin Yi wasn't fully awake yet; he just mumbled an incoherent response and nodded, his hand reaching for the side of the bowl as he gave a dazed smile.
Bai Jiu reached out with a finger to brush away the damp hair clinging to Xin Yi’s cheek. He said, "You hold a piece of vital land; you are the wolf of Beiyang. Why learn the hesitations of a house dog?" His narrow eyes shifted to stare at Xie Jingsheng. "Since you’ve set your mind on this, what is there to fear from them? Everyone speaks of the Crown Prince’s virtues, but I find him far too young. He is unfit for that seat and cannot swallow this chaotic game. People must be reasonable; since they do not understand, what harm is there in you teaching them? If you can't outbite them, you have He Anchang. If you can't outmaneuver them, at worst you simply withdraw to your den. The capital is no longer a place where one merely follows imperial decrees. As for the Crown Prince... before he sits upon the throne, he is nothing more than the Emperor’s son. You’ve already plucked one of the Emperor’s sons; are you really so reluctant to touch another?"
Xie Jingsheng’s face was a mask of shock, but he understood Bai Jiu’s meaning. His Lordship wasn't just going after Prince Qin—he was prepared to move against the Crown Prince. These words were scandalous, yet they carried a thrill that made one tremble.
"A father doesn't even care for his own sons," Bai Jiu said, his fingertip tracing the space between Xin Yi’s brows. "So others will care even less. If we are to take them down, we take them down completely." His smile turned cold. "Let’s pluck Guan Si as well. I see his father is so busy with paperwork at the Court of Censors that he’s forgotten how to teach his son. Guan Si is still young; he needs to learn the rules."
Xin Yi had just scrambled to a sitting position. Hearing the name Guan Si, he felt it sounded familiar but couldn't quite place who it was. Taking the ice bowl from Bai Jiu, he said to Xie Jingsheng, "I have yet to thank Your Lordship. I am grateful for your help at the palace banquet the other day."
Xie Jingsheng hadn't even known the boy could speak. Hearing his voice, Xie Jingsheng’s expression returned to normal. He leaned back, declining the formal thanks. "Don't be so polite, Young Prince. We’re all... cough, we’re all family."
Xin Yi took it as a polite gesture and smiled. His hair was a mess from sleeping and his crown was crooked, but he was entirely unaware of it, his expression serious and solemn. "It’s just that I feel quite guilty for making Your Lordship run about for Registrar He’s case. If there is anything I can do to help, I hope Your Lordship will not hesitate to ask."
Thinking *I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare*, Xie Jingsheng gave a low cough and smiled. "The Young Prince is right. If there is a need, I will certainly speak up."
Xin Yi smiled. Bai Jiu reached out to straighten his crown and said, "Hurry up and eat." Xin Yi obeyed.
Xie Jingsheng, ever observant of the mood, snapped his fan back into his hand, rose, and bowed his departure. As Old Qu escorted him out, Xin Yi took the wooden spoon out of his mouth and looked at Bai Jiu. "Next time Your Lordship discusses such matters, perhaps it shouldn't be in a place where it's so easy to be overheard."
Seeing his serious expression, Bai Jiu only laughed.
Xin Yi grew slightly annoyed. "Such bold words—what if someone else heard them?"
"It wouldn't matter if they did." Bai Jiu reached out and untied the crown he had just failed to straighten. He gathered Xin Yi’s hair in his hands to smooth it out, not forgetting to whisper, "Sit still."
Xin Yi obediently sat with his back to him, still fretting. "I didn't realize this case was so critical. Is Your Lordship truly going to move against the Crown Prince?" Bai Jiu didn't answer, but his fingers running through Xin Yi’s hair brought the boy a great deal of peace. Xin Yi thought for a moment and said, "But Your Lordship is right. If a father doesn't care for his sons, how can he expect others to? Over the years, His Majesty has personally disposed of quite a few sons. Looking at it now, there are only a few left. My Lord?" Bai Jiu still didn't answer. Xin Yi paused, then called out hesitantly, "Jing... Jingyuan."
"The one who wants to move against him isn't me. After Prince Ping’s death, the Emperor has only three sons left. Everyone wants the merit of supporting a new dragon, but there only needs to be one dragon." Bai Jiu pinned the crown back in place but didn't let go. His hand slid down to Xin Yi’s shoulder, and he rested his chin on the top of the boy’s head, his eyes half-closing. "I'm tired. Let me lean on you for a bit."
Enveloped by Bai Jiu’s scent, Xin Yi’s ears burned, and his thoughts seemed to slow down. He wanted to push him away, yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. Bai Jiu treated him well, but he didn't know what kind of "well" it was supposed to be. Bai Jiu was intimate with him, but he didn't know the reason behind it. Just as he was about to sigh, the man behind him pressed against his back, his arms sliding around to his waist and his chin resting on his shoulder, pulling him into a back-hug. Xin Yi’s face flushed; he felt a mix of struggle and shock. He could clearly feel the vibration of Bai Jiu’s chest against his back.
"Tired," Bai Jiu whispered in his ear.
Xin Yi felt like he was about to go up in smoke from the proximity. "Then let's go back to the room."
Bai Jiu’s arms tightened for a moment. Just when Xin Yi thought he wouldn't let go, he abruptly released him and leaned back against the railing, his head tilted back as if he truly were exhausted. The thick, heavy atmosphere between them made Xin Yi’s skin tingle. He felt that the relationship between them was becoming increasingly unusual, but he didn't know how to bring it up.
Bai Jiu’s collar was somewhat disarrayed; he never wore his robes properly when he was at home. His exquisite features lent a certain radiance even to his idleness. He said, "Next month is the Mid-Autumn Festival. People from Beiyang will come to see you." Xin Yi stirred the ice in his bowl. Bai Jiu asked, "You don't want to see them?"
Xin Yi gave a small "mm."
"Staring at the bowl won't help. Look at me." Xin Yi stuffed a mouthful of ice into his mouth, uncharacteristically ignoring him. Bai Jiu laughed and flicked Xin Yi’s forehead. "Speak."
"I don't want to see them," Xin Yi stopped his hand and sighed. "But I have to."
"They certainly remember you clearly." Bai Jiu looked at the shaved ice, then took Xin Yi’s hand and guided a wooden spoonful into his own mouth. Seeing the spoon enter his mouth, Xin Yi said urgently, "My Lord, I just used that spoon."
Bai Jiu acted as if he hadn't heard and took a bite. Xin Yi’s throat bobbed; he didn't know whose saliva was on that spoon anymore. His face turned red again, but Bai Jiu remained perfectly serious, adding, "We’ll spend the Mid-Autumn Festival at home."
At this point, Xin Yi felt that even if they spent it in the heavens, it wouldn't matter to him. There was still half a bowl of ice left; whether to put it down or keep eating was a major dilemma.
"Will we?" Bai Jiu asked him. Xin Yi could only nod. Bai Jiu paused, then asked, "Are you not eating anymore?" Xin Yi stirred the ice and took a huge bite. Perhaps because his expression was too fierce, Bai Jiu couldn't stop laughing. "No one is going to snatch it from you."
After dinner that evening, Xin Yi took Chichi for a walk. As he passed the study, he heard Bai Jiu call him. He turned back to ask what was wrong. Bai Jiu was leaning against the window frame and tossed something over. Xin Yi caught it and turned it over in his hand. It was a jade pendant—a carving of himself. It was the piece of jade Bai Jiu had been carving for the past few days. He didn't understand the meaning behind it and looked up to ask, but Bai Jiu had already left the window and returned to his books.
Xin Yi carried the jade pendant and walked with Chichi. Old Qu, standing nearby, only smiled. Xin Yi asked, "What is His Lordship doing?"
"He's in a good mood," Old Qu said, his beard twitching as he smiled with his hands behind his back. "It's rare to see His Lordship in such high spirits."
Xin Yi said, "You make it sound as if he's usually unhappy." Old Qu thought to himself that that was indeed the case, but he didn't say it aloud. Xin Yi couldn't bear to put the jade pendant down, saying with a smile, "I think he has a very good temper." He teased people constantly, yet always looked so gentle.
Old Qu really couldn't suppress his laughter this time. He quickly stroked his beard and said, "The Young Prince is right. Our Lord has a very good temper. It's always others who are blind and talk nonsense." *Nonsense like the truth.*
Xin Yi smiled.
That night, after the lights were out and he was under the covers, Xin Yi held the jade pendant in his hand again, unable to look at it enough. Remembering that Bai Jiu had carved it himself, his ears turned red and hot again. He buried his face in the pillow, not forgetting to clutch the pendant to his chest.
The next day, Bai Jiu was in the study while Xin Yi was fishing in the pond. He heard Xiao Yang call out, "Young Prince, Young Prince! There's a big one here!" Bai Jiu closed his book and took his tea to the window to watch. He saw Xin Yi reaching out to put a flopping fish into the basket, only to find it was too big to fit. He bent down to ask Xiao Yang, who was in the water, for some reeds. Xiao Yang found one. Xin Yi’s fingers nimbly threaded the reed through the fish and lifted it up. From the collar of his thin robe, the jade pendant hanging on a black cord slid out.
Bai Jiu took a sip of tea, turned back, and reopened his book. His brush did not pause as it left a smooth trail of ink beside the words: *Seeking him waking and sleeping, tossing and turning.*
***
