Solution 104

“Quick, quick.” Steward Wang hurried along, occasionally glancing back to urge the group following him. “Steward Wang, don’t run so fast! You’re empty-handed while we’re still carrying the dishes!” The man at the front wiped the sweat from his brow and complained.

“Sigh,” Steward Wang sighed, slowing his pace. “I’m not anxious myself, Zhao Yi, but His Highness has asked us to be swift!” Zhao Yi jogged a few steps to catch up beside him and asked, “Hey, Steward Wang, who do you think that person in His Highness’s room is? Why would His Highness go through so much trouble? I heard from Zhao Zhou that this person is even more beautiful than the Princess Consort. Could it be...” He trailed off, unable to suppress a teasing smile.

“Nonsense!” Wang slapped Zhao Yi on the head, his face stern. “His Highness is not a lecher. Stop babbling, or if anyone overhears, you’ll be in trouble!” Zhao Yi nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Steward Wang shot him a sharp look before turning to shout, “What are you all dawdling for back there? Hurry up!”

“Princess Consort, look,” Yu’er pointed toward the line of people. “What do you think they’re up to?” Wei Xueqin leaned in to look but shook her head. “I don’t know. Let’s go ask.”

“Princess Consort.” Seeing Wei Xueqin approach, Steward Wang quickly bowed. Wei Xueqin raised a hand, signaling him to rise. “Steward Wang, what are you all doing?”

Smiling, Steward Wang replied, “Princess Consort, a distinguished guest of His Highness arrived today. His Highness instructed the kitchen to prepare a table of specialty dishes for us to deliver.”

Wei Xueqin nodded slowly. “I see. But you shouldn’t be taking this route to the main hall.”

Steward Wang hurriedly explained, “Princess Consort, we’re delivering it to His Highness’s room.”

Wei Xueqin frowned. “To His Highness’s room? Steward Wang,” she stepped closer, lowering her voice, “Tell me honestly, is the guest a man or a woman?”

Wang paused, then smiled. “Princess Consort, you’re overthinking. The guest is male!”

Hearing this, Wei Xueqin’s worried heart eased somewhat. She smiled faintly. “Since it’s for His Highness, I won’t disturb you. Go quickly.”

Steward Wang nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Princess Consort, we’ll take our leave now.”

“Go on,” Wei Xueqin smiled and nodded.

“Move faster, all of you! If His Highness complains later, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Wang’s voice echoed from afar. Wei Xueqin’s smile faded as she glanced thoughtfully in that direction. “Yu’er, shall we also go see this guest of His Highness?”

“Why would the Princess Consort want to see him?” Yu’er asked, puzzled. “You know His Highness doesn’t like being disturbed when he’s busy.”

“How do you know they’re discussing business?” Wei Xueqin countered.

Yu’er hesitated, then said, “His Highness said he’s a distinguished guest. Distinguished guests usually come to discuss important matters, right?”

Wei Xueqin chuckled softly. “Judging by this scene, it doesn’t look like they’re talking business.”

“True…” Yu’er pouted. “So many delicious dishes—could His Highness have just invited someone to dinner? But why eat in the mansion, and not at a restaurant? It’s not even mealtime, and in His Highness’s room, no less. Princess Consort… doesn’t His Highness hate greasy smells in his room?”

Indeed, His Highness detested oily odors in his chambers, so he usually only kept light snacks there. Wei Xueqin shivered, snapped back to reality, and looked at Yu’er, raising an eyebrow. “Since you have so many questions, let’s go see for ourselves.”

※※※

Returning slowly to his seat, Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly. “You should know that if I could raise you up, I can just as easily pull you down.”

Zhao Yixiao’s expression darkened. “Beigong Qiyi, don’t be too arrogant. If you can pull me down so easily, why bother persuading me repeatedly?”

Pouring himself a cup of tea, Beigong Qiyi lowered his gaze. “Second Prince, you should consider yourself lucky that I’m still interested in persuading you.” The tea just reached the rim without spilling. Setting down the pot, Beigong Qiyi glanced sidelong at Zhao Yixiao. “If I truly grew impatient, living comfortably as you do now wouldn’t be guaranteed.”

“You…” Zhao Yixiao instinctively stepped forward, clenching his fists and taking a deep breath. “Young Master, I told you that the Lǐ Manor commands the martial world; it’s like half the kingdom already. Why must you be so aggressive?”

Raising the cup to his nose, the water was still and calm. Beigong Qiyi sniffed the fragrance and chuckled softly. “The whole world belongs to the king, and all under heaven are his subjects. The Lǐ Manor controls the martial arts world, but it’s not mine yet. I need sufficient power to obtain the one I desire.”

Zhao Yixiao’s expression shifted repeatedly. The young man smiled faintly, handsome beyond compare, but Zhao Yixiao had no heart to appreciate it. Forcing a calm smile, he said, “Young Master, who will ultimately claim that position is still unknown. Isn’t it a bit premature to discuss this now?”

After sipping his tea, Beigong Qiyi slowly shook a finger. “Second Prince, rest assured. If you agree, I guarantee the position will be yours.”

“Perhaps it will be yours...” Zhao Yixiao sneered inwardly. He was about to retort when Beigong Qiyi suddenly set down the cup and stretched lazily. “My delicacies have arrived.”

Caught off guard by the sudden topic change, Zhao Yixiao took a moment to react.

Sure enough, soon a commotion could be heard outside. The room’s soundproofing was excellent—conversations inside were inaudible outside except near the door. The sounds of a crowd approaching were only faintly audible near the entrance. By then, some time had passed since Beigong Qiyi’s last words. Zhao Yixiao secretly admired his internal strength.

Sensing Zhao Yixiao’s thoughts, Beigong Qiyi tilted his head and smiled. “If it were my brother, he’d have heard them before they even left the kitchen. My brother’s internal strength was impaired for a while, yet he could still walk away unharmed from a fight with two or three experts.” He glanced at Zhao Yixiao with a half-smile.

Zhao Yixiao’s face changed. Could he have known about that incident? He forced a crooked smile. “Young Master Beigong is truly formidable.”

“Knock, knock, knock—” The knock came at the perfect moment. “Your Highness, the food you requested has arrived.” Zhao Yixiao exhaled quietly, wiped the sweat from his temple, and said, “Bring it in.”

He rose and walked over. Beigong Qiyi sat, propping his head, watching the door. A group entered one by one; apart from Steward Wang, each carried a tray. The aroma of the dishes quickly filled the room. Zhao Yixiao frowned slightly and gestured toward the inner chamber where Beigong Qiyi sat. “Take the dishes in there.”

Steward Wang peeked inside, seeing only a faint silhouette through the screen. He nodded. “Yes, Your Highness,” and called for the others to follow Zhao Yixiao into the inner chamber.

Sneaking a glance at Beigong Qiyi, Steward Wang was startled. As Zhao Yi said, this youth was indeed extraordinarily beautiful—almost unnaturally so. Looking at Zhao Yixiao, Steward Wang frowned. Could it be as Zhao Yi suggested—that His Highness...

“Set the dishes on the table. You may leave afterward.” Before Steward Wang could ponder further, Zhao Yixiao’s voice cut through. The servants quickly arranged the exquisite dishes. Without looking up, Steward Wang stood aside, watching as the delicate plates were set. Beigong Qiyi smiled quietly.

Zhao Yi, looking for an opportunity to steal a glance at Beigong Qiyi, caught the youth’s smile. Stunned, he dropped his tray, but at that moment Beigong Qiyi flicked his sleeve. A soft sword shot out, catching the tray’s edge and setting it down steadily. Retracting the sword, Beigong Qiyi raised an eyebrow. “Such fragrant food would be wasted if spilled.”

Zhao Yi knelt abruptly, bowing repeatedly. “Please forgive me, Your Highness...” Zhao Yixiao, icy-faced, waved his hand. Steward Wang hurriedly pulled Zhao Yi away. Only Beigong Qiyi and Zhao Yixiao remained.

Zhao Yixiao sat opposite the youth and smiled. “Young Master, want to try some now?”

Picking up chopsticks and grabbing a piece of fish, Beigong Qiyi blinked and suddenly raised his voice. “Those two outside, want to come in and eat with us?”

Zhao Yixiao’s face darkened. “Who’s outside?”

The door creaked open slowly. “Your Highness...” A soft female voice reached him. Zhao Yixiao’s expression softened as he swallowed the fish. Beigong Qiyi glanced at him casually. “Your consort?”

Zhao Yixiao nodded, about to speak, but Beigong Qiyi said, “So it’s the Princess Consort. Come in and sit.”

The outer chamber fell silent for a moment.

“Yes,” Wei Xueqin replied softly and stepped inside. Seeing the faint yellow figure, her smile stiffened. She glanced at Zhao Yixiao, who frowned slightly without a trace of warmth. Forcing a smile, she greeted, “Your Highness.”

Beigong Qiyi looked at her and smiled. “Why don’t you go help her up? The Second Prince sure doesn’t understand cherishing women.”

Zhao Yixiao forced a stiff smile and nodded. He moved to support Wei Xueqin, who didn’t look at him but instead raised her eyes to Beigong Qiyi—the young man clad in yellow, his skin pale as snow, breathtakingly beautiful.

Wei Xueqin stepped back involuntarily. Zhao Yixiao wrapped his arm around her waist, narrowing his eyes gently. “Xueqin, you look unwell. Are you feeling bad?”

Wei Xueqin’s face was deathly pale as she looked at him. “I...” Zhao Yixiao smiled slightly. “Did you catch a chill last night?”

Swallowing hard, Wei Xueqin forced a smile. “Yes, Your Highness. I feel somewhat unwell.”

“Yu’er, help the Princess Consort back to rest,” Zhao Yixiao said hurriedly. Yu’er accepted Wei Xueqin’s arm, confused about how she had seemed fine just moments ago. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Wei Xueqin nodded faintly at Beigong Qiyi, pale-faced, and was quickly led out by Yu’er.

After sampling every dish casually, Beigong Qiyi set down his chopsticks and took a handkerchief from his sleeve to dab his mouth. “After watching the opera and parting from the Second Prince that day, do you know if he’s aware of the attack my brother and I suffered?”

Zhao Yixiao, who had just relaxed, tensed again. His hand clenched tightly under the table. “What? You and your brother were attacked? Have you identified the culprit?”

Beigong Qiyi smiled ambiguously. “I’m not here for that. This is my last question. Will you agree to my terms?”

The youth’s coral lips curled faintly into a smile that looked venomous to Zhao Yixiao. He pondered for a few seconds, drew a deep breath, and nodded firmly. “Fine.”

The smile slowly blossomed at Beigong Qiyi’s lips. He rose and casually placed the handkerchief on the table. “In that case, I won’t keep you any longer. Farewell.”

※※※

“Brother, I’ve found a way to unlock your blocked memories, but it won’t remove the ‘Emotional Barrier.’ Also, using this method will leave you completely paralyzed for a short time.”

“No matter,” Beigong Juechen said calmly. “Since he’s given me a gift, refusing it would be rude.”

Zhucha opened his mouth, and beside him, Su Yueling slowly shook his head. After a few seconds, Zhucha lowered his eyes and placed the incense stick into the burner, lighting it.

Blue smoke curled upward.

Author’s note: Let’s begin! 166 Reading Network