Chapter 103: Words That Offend

“How did you end up here?” Beigong Juechen tilted his head, eyeing the figure leaning against the doorframe with a raised brow. The person pursed their lips and settled onto the chair beside him. “I came to see how you’re doing.”

Beigong Juechen smiled faintly. “You left me on our wedding day and walked away with another woman. So now, you’re here to apologize?”

Qiang Yanxi tapped the armrest gently, shaking his head slowly. “I’m not here to apologize. We agreed before the wedding—we both had someone we were fighting for.”

“So, you’re doing this for her?” Beigong Juechen picked up a piece of incense and placed it in the burner. Watching his movements, Qiang Yanxi nodded. “Yes, I am.”

A thin wisp of smoke curled from the incense. Beigong Juechen closed the lid and pointed at it. “I stumbled upon this incense. It’s peculiar—watch closely.”

The scent was faint but refreshing. Qiang Yanxi watched the burner carefully but saw nothing unusual at first. He glanced up at Beigong Juechen, who raised the corner of his eyes, silently urging him to wait. Sure enough, after a while, the smoke gradually shifted from pale blue to a deep crimson, and the once subtle aroma thickened noticeably.

“This?” Qiang Yanxi glanced at Beigong Juechen in confusion. The man smiled slightly. “Keep watching.” Qiang Yanxi nodded, and soon the crimson smoke reverted to its original hue, the scent fading once more. Beigong Juechen opened the lid and blew out the incense, smirking faintly. “Only when Beigong Qiyi is present does this incense burn. Every time I light it, there’s a moment when I feel something’s wrong, but it always passes.”

Qiang Yanxi turned the remaining half of the incense over in his hand, bringing it up to his nose. “From the texture and scent, nothing unusual.”

Beigong Juechen took the incense back with a scoff. “I didn’t notice anything either, until one day the smoke shifted from red to pale blue. I snuffed it out and took a closer look, then I saw the problem.”

He brushed the burnt tip and held it up before Qiang Yanxi. The latter examined the burning end closely and indeed spotted a tiny red spot at the center—so small it could easily have been missed.

“This incense was taken from Beigong Qiyi’s room,” Beigong Juechen said, reclining in his chair. “He seemed to have left it intentionally, right beside the burner in his room.”

Qiang Yanxi nodded and pocketed the incense. “I’ll take it back to Ran Luo for a look.”

Beigong Juechen smiled faintly and spoke in a low voice, “Every time I’m about to remember something, this incense makes me forget instantly. I know Beigong Qiyi well—he wants me to have it to show he’s not afraid of me recalling anything.”

He turned his head toward Qiang Yanxi, his dark green eyes icy as snow. “He’s not afraid I’ll remember, because even if I recall everything, I can’t do anything to him. ‘Crossing emotions’ binds not only feelings but lives. I can’t even stray too far from him. He truly is formidable—truly formidable.”

At that moment, Qiang Yanxi noticed a faint brown powder trickling from Beigong Juechen’s hand as he gripped the armrest.

Qiang Yanxi frowned slightly. “I ran into Beigong Qiyi a few days ago.”

Beigong Juechen’s face grew cold as he nodded sharply. “I saw you bore injuries. His martial skills have improved.”

“I fought him. He wounded me, and I wounded him,” Qiang Yanxi said, watching Juechen’s expression closely. Yet the man’s face and eyes revealed no trace of feeling.

“Is that so?” Beigong Juechen gave a cold laugh. “Did he break a rib?”

“How do you know?” Qiang Yanxi asked, surprised. “My palm strike should have broken at least two ribs.” He pulled off his belt to wipe the powder from his hand as Beigong Juechen chuckled softly. “Because a few days ago, my ribs started hurting for no reason.”

He tossed the belt aside and looked at Qiang Yanxi with a half-smile. “Now, Beigong Qiyi and I are like two people sharing one body. I just hurt less than he does.” At that, Beigong Qiyi’s voice seemed to echo in his mind, “Big brother, I do hurt more—not the body, but the heart...”

Since the night he received Beigong Qiyi’s invitation, Zhao Yixiao had been on alert. Yet no one came in the days that followed, and he quietly set the matter aside to focus on the salt merchants’ case. But today, as he stepped inside, he spotted a flash of yellow sitting calmly, sipping tea.

Hearing the door open, Beigong Qiyi turned his head with a slight smile. “Second Prince, how do you do?”

The room was empty besides them. Zhao Yixiao thought the guards must have changed—few could have entered unnoticed. But then, remembering this was Beigong Qiyi, young master of the Lì Manor, he realized few could move silently enough to evade detection.

Zhao Yixiao approached with a smile. “It’s been some time, young master. I hope you’re well.”

Beigong Qiyi raised his slender eyebrows and pursed his lips. “I’m well. Second Prince, don’t stand—please sit.”

...Who really owns this house? Zhao Yixiao thought wryly, but he smiled and took the seat opposite Beigong Qiyi. “What brings you here today?”

Beigong Qiyi sipped quietly without answering. Zhao Yixiao’s gaze never wavered from the boy’s dazzling beauty; his usual side-swept bangs were pinned atop his head in a pearl-studded coronet, radiating youthful vigor. Though he hadn’t touched the wine or tea, Zhao Yixiao felt dizzy, as if intoxicated.

“Do you think I’m handsome?” the boy suddenly asked with a faint smile.

Zhao Yixiao froze, about to nod, but quickly caught himself and looked away, lowering his head to hide his awkwardness. “Young master, you are truly a celestial beauty.”

“Clink.” The teacup slammed down hard. Zhao Yixiao looked up to find the boy’s face utterly expressionless. Worrying his words might have been improper, he tensed, alert to any hostility. If Beigong Qiyi were in a foul mood and wanted to vent, the household’s guards wouldn’t stand a chance.

Instead, the boy’s face hardened as he said coldly, “I heard the cook in the Second Prince’s mansion is a master chef from Jiangnan’s ‘Yipinge Pavilion.’ Might I sample his cooking today?”

Zhao Yixiao blinked, caught off guard. The boy blinked back with sharp, phoenix-like eyes. Slightly embarrassed, Zhao cleared his throat. “Of course. I’ll have someone prepare it right away.”

Noticing Zhao’s flushed face, Beigong Qiyi narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Thank you, Second Prince.”

“Servants!” Zhao Yixiao rose and called at the door. Soon, a servant hurried in.

“Your Highness, what is it?”

“Tell Chef Li to prepare all his signature dishes,” Zhao Yixiao instructed. The servant glanced at the sky in surprise. “Your Highness, so soon?”

Zhao Yixiao nodded firmly. “Right now. Quickly.”

The servant bowed deeply. “Yes, Your Highness.” Serving his lord was his sole concern. Zhao nodded in approval. “Go.”

Just as the servant was about to leave, a low, husky voice stopped him with a “Wait.”

Beigong Qiyi stepped to the doorway. “Make sure the flavors are strong.”

The servant stared, stunned. In over forty years, he had never seen anyone so striking. The princess was known as the “Most Beautiful Woman in the Capital,” yet compared to this young master, she paled greatly...

Zhao Yixiao’s face darkened as he coughed a few times. The servant finally came to his senses and hurried away, still bowing low. He had no idea when Beigong Qiyi had arrived—he had kept watch over the prince’s garden, and only the prince himself had entered earlier. How could this be?

The servant looked back at Zhao Yixiao nervously. “Your Highness, he...”

Zhao Yixiao shook his head. “It’s nothing. This is an honored guest. Do as he says. You may go.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the servant replied repeatedly, retreating with bowed head.

“Have you considered the matter we discussed last time?” Beigong Qiyi’s sudden question interrupted Zhao Yixiao’s thoughts.

Zhao Yixiao was taken aback but quickly understood his meaning. His face darkened. “You came today because of that?”

Beigong Qiyi leaned against the doorframe. “You should understand this—do you really believe Zhao Qian lost favor simply because of the ‘Pear Garden’ incident?”

Zhao Yixiao’s expression shifted multiple times. “You did this? Why would Lì Manor help me?”

He couldn’t be so naive as to think Zhao Qian’s fall from grace was due solely to a single insult from the ‘Pear Garden.’ Though the eldest prince was lustful, he was ruthless in handling affairs, which was why most of the court supported him...

“Now the Emperor is old and fears everyone eyeing the throne beneath him. Many support Zhao Qian, which breeds resentment. Lì Manor only added fuel to the fire—we’re not here to help you. Blame Zhao Qian’s foul mouth.”

Beigong Qiyi sneered.

A chill ran through Zhao Yixiao. He instinctively took a step back, recalling what Zhao Qian had said in the ‘Pear Garden.’ “Lì Manor intended to watch the fight unfold, but because the eldest prince insulted you, you had to...”

“Exactly.” Zhao Yixiao’s words hung unfinished, but Beigong Qiyi understood. No matter the circumstances, it made no difference to Lì Manor. What angered Beigong Qiyi most wasn’t the insults, but Zhao Qian’s final question: “So, are these two your men?”