“Your Highness!” Palace Attendant Yun looked quite exasperated. “Have you forgotten what you said to this servant a few days ago? What if that Qian Zhiwei becomes desperate and lashes out? Your Highness only has forty Qingxuan Guards. If you truly encounter danger, even if each can fight ten men, what good will that do?”

“Eh? I didn’t say I’m not leaving.” Ji Weiqiu’s eyes widened in surprise. “And I didn’t say I want to kill him!”

Palace Attendant Yun looked at Ji Weiqiu with a puzzled expression.

Ji Weiqiu said lightly, “Send someone to tell Lord Qian that I've been bored lately and wish to stroll around Quanzhou City, and to have a few of the young masters from his residence come and accompany me.”

Palace Attendant Yun didn't know what came to her mind, but she drew in a sharp breath. “Your Highness, please reconsider!”

Ji Weiqiu said, somewhat amused, “Why reconsider again, Sister Yun Yin? Where has your imagination run off to now? To have them come and play with us, could it be that we're wronging them?”

Palace Attendant Yun was at a loss for words. After a long while, she said, “Your Highness, this Qian Zhiwei must have a backer. This servant has lived deep within the palace for a long time and has only met the wives of court officials. The moment he saw me, he addressed me as Palace Attendant without a second thought, which shows his connections are far-reaching. Qian Zhiwei only has two sons, both from his primary wife, and he values them extremely. For Your Highness to make a move on them, what's the difference from holding a knife to his throat?!”

Ji Weiqiu said, puzzled, “That can't be right, can it? Shouldn't he feel that I'm honoring him?”

Palace Attendant Yun couldn't help but find it funny. “If Your Highness doesn't believe it, just have someone send the message. We'll see if they show up tomorrow.”

Ji Weiqiu agreed. Zhou Qing came out from the dungeon and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, may I ask how the chef is to be handled?”

Ji Weiqiu didn't need to ask ‘how is it normally handled?’ How else could it be handled? Regardless of who he intended to assassinate or what his thoughts were, as long as he had the intent and got close to Ji Weiqiu, killing only him instead of his entire family would be considered an act of extraordinary mercy.

Ji Weiqiu couldn't just do nothing, so he said, “Didn’t he disregard the lives of his whole family for his son? Send his entire family to a bitterly cold land, and forbid him from returning to offer sacrifices for the rest of his life.”

Zhou Qing paused, then said, “Your Highness, he is the only one left in his family.”

Ji Weiqiu smiled wickedly. “Isn't that even better? Do it discreetly. Take him to his son's grave to confess his crimes, then post his list of crimes at the city gate for three days so everyone knows what he did. Even when he goes to the bitterly cold land, he will live in constant fear.”

Zhou Qing felt a chill upon hearing this. People valued their reputation. Handling it this way was worse than a quick death by the blade.

Seeing his expression, Ji Weiqiu thought to himself, 'What the hell does Zhou Qing know? Ancient times aren't like modern times. I'm just posting a notice, not a wanted poster. And it will say he's already been killed. When he gets to a remote place, whether it's on the way or after he arrives, wouldn't it be easy to bribe a minor official with some money and change his name? Who would recognize him?!'

To be a chef at the Royal Villa, a place where the kitchens were inherently lucrative, his connections couldn't have been poor. Even if most of his family's money was spent because of his son, what remained would be enough for him to survive the journey to a remote place. The Qingxuan Guard were the emperor's private guards, after all. Would they really do nothing else and assign one person just to escort him? He would probably be quietly slipped into a group of exiles and sent on his way.

This chef was clever. He had been told to go to the grave to pay respects. Even if he couldn't cremate the body and take the bones, he could remember the location and have a bone collector retrieve them later and bring them to his place of exile. Wouldn't that be a reunion of sorts? Taking a step back, even if he couldn't take the remains and could never return, so what? He could take a handful of soil from the grave, and it would serve the same purpose of mourning.

Ji Weiqiu felt his arrangements were quite satisfactory.

The next morning, a servant went to Qian Zhiwei’s residence to convey Ji Weiqiu’s message as instructed. The servant returned and said that Lord Qian was overjoyed and agreed to everything. By noon, Qian Zhiwei personally arrived with people in tow, but the ones he brought were two of his nephews.

“Palace Attendant Yun, it is truly not this humble official’s intention to refuse, but my two sons are disappointing. One was riding a horse when he heard the news and was so overcome with joy that he was caught off guard and fell. Although his leg isn't broken, he can't walk. The other, I don't know how, perhaps due to the recent fluctuations between cold and warm weather, actually came down with a cough. I really dare not have him serve by His Highness's side. If he were to pass it to His Highness, this humble official deserves death ten thousand times over!”

Qian Zhiwei said with great apology, “These two are my nephews. They have always been lively and know the city best. They will surely ensure His Highness has a most enjoyable time.”

Palace Attendant Yun looked at him coldly and said, “Lord Qian, feigning compliance while acting in opposition. Very good.”

Qian Zhiwei bowed and apologized repeatedly, his head covered in sweat, looking utterly sincere. “Palace Attendant Yun, this humble official knows this is too much of a coincidence, but there is truly nothing I can do!”

Qian Zhiwei then added, “This humble official only has two sons, and now both are ill. I am truly sick with worry. I wonder if I could trouble Palace Attendant Yun to pass on a message, to allow this humble official an audience with His Highness to request an imperial physician?”

The implication was that he wasn't afraid of having an imperial physician check.

Palace Attendant Yun thought to herself that this Prefect Qian was quite a character, truly ruthless. She said, “His Highness is currently taking his midday rest and is not seeing guests.”

Qian Zhiwei showed a look of regret. “Then may I... may I ask Palace Attendant Yun for a favor, to let this humble official see the imperial physician?”

“The imperial physician is here for His Highness. Forgive me, but I dare not act on my own authority.” Palace Attendant Yun folded her hands before her abdomen and said with her eyes lowered, “Lord Qian, please return.”

Qian Zhiwei nodded repeatedly, appearing extremely terrified. He took two steps, then turned back and hesitated, “Palace Attendant Yun, then these two nephews of mine...”

“Leave them. A decision will be made after His Highness finishes his midday rest,” Palace Attendant Yun said coldly.

“Good, good, good.” Qian Zhiwei cupped his hands and said, “Then I shall trouble Palace Attendant Yun...”

He then gave his two nephews a long list of instructions, full of reminders and concern, a picture of heartfelt sincerity.

Palace Attendant Yun looked at the two leering young men who were left behind. Their eyes kept wandering over her, making her feel a sense of disgust. She instructed a eunuch to take the two to a side hall to await summons, then quickly left.

This Qian Zhiwei was indeed as slippery as an eel.

Since an assassin had been caught in the palace, an investigation into their background was naturally required; it wasn't just a matter of killing them and being done with it. Qian Zhiwei wasn't sure how much they could find out, or whether the Prince of Rui's summons was a blessing or a curse. But his sons were treasures in his heart, and he dared not gamble them on whether this was an earth-shattering fortune or an earth-shattering disaster.

But as the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Qian Zhiwei was unwilling to part with his own children, yet he was also unwilling to let this fortune slip away. So he simply forced two of his nephews to come instead—nephews who were well-versed in feasting, drinking, whoring, and gambling. It seemed he had inquired quite clearly into His Highness's preferences.

Attendants on both sides lifted the curtain, and she entered the bedchamber. The room was empty. She habitually sat down to select tea and blend incense, as if she were serving the master of the hall. As for Ji Weiqiu... he had slipped out to play.

What a joke. It was a rare trip out for him. The past few days he had been lazy and didn't feel like going out, while Ji Liu and the others had been having a grand time with their friends. Who knows where they went to play today. Now that they were about to leave Quanzhou City, how could he resist going out?

A dozen or so Qingxuan Guards followed him, both overtly and covertly, so his safety was guaranteed—he himself was a little impatient with it. After all, how many people were truly unafraid of death these days? He had never once experienced something like an assassination, even during the most chaotic years. He thought he'd never get to experience it in this lifetime. Now that he had, he didn't think for a moment it would happen a second time.

He had deliberately changed into less expensive clothes, at least so that people wouldn't recognize his status at a glance and would only take him for the young master of some wealthy merchant family. He then went to the best restaurant arranged on the itinerary. He had plenty of money, especially since Qian Zhiwei had just given him two hundred thousand taels of silver. Without a second thought, he waved his hand and booked the entire top floor. The Qingxuan Guards all had seats as well; those who were supposed to stay by his side did so, while the others took turns eating.

It was the first time the Qingxuan Guards had enjoyed such treatment. One guard looked completely uncomfortable, especially when the waiter brought the dishes, bowing and scraping and calling him ‘master’. He couldn't help but whisper to the guard next to him, “Maybe I should just eat on the roof beam?”

The other guard gave him a scornful look. “Is this your first time out with His Highness?”

He nodded honestly. He came from the Shadow Guards, which meant, as the name implied, following like a shadow. He had been injured, so his martial arts weren't as good as before, but his lightness skill was still intact and he had a lot of experience. He was sent to the Qingxuan Guard to live out his days, specifically responsible for covert protection. This was his first time on an external assignment with Ji Weiqiu.

The other guard whispered, “I can be considered an old acquaintance of His Highness. His Highness may seem unruly, but he is actually very lenient with his subordinates. Have you ever seen any royal relative report to our commander first before going out, so we have time to set up defenses in advance?”

He nodded, recalling the journey here. Only the incident with the assassin had earned the deputy commander a reprimand, but their punishment had been waived. Besides, Commander Zhou's thirty strikes... well, those who know, know. It was indeed extremely gentle. If this were in the palace, let alone Commander Zhou, every single person on duty that day would probably have been expelled from the Qingxuan Guard—and that's if they were lucky enough to stay alive.

The other guard added, “Since His Highness has said to take turns, and it doesn't interfere with our duties, just follow his orders.”

He nodded, then picked up a bowl and began to eat with his head down.

He ate heartily, and so did Ji Weiqiu. His travels were bound by strict rules, and he had even brought two imperial chefs with him. He hadn't had a single bite of outside food until now. Today, he could finally have a taste, and he felt strangely moved.

Mian Li, standing to the side, was rather speechless. It was a good thing he was confident in his own skills; otherwise, at the speed his Highness was eating, he would have ingested some slow-acting poison before it could even be tested.

Ji Weiqiu couldn't be bothered with that; he still clung to the idea that there weren't that many people who wanted to kill him. Although the food from outside wasn't as refined as the imperial chefs', the taste wasn't much different and had a certain rustic charm. During the meal, the Plain-robed Fish was served again. Ji Weiqiu had been devouring it these past two days, and it still tasted delicious today. He muttered to himself, “I wonder if my brother and mother have eaten the fish I sent back?”

Mian Li said, “Young Master, the Eldest Young Master and the Old Madam have surely received it.”

Ji Weiqiu: “How do you know?”

Mian Li said, “A carrier pigeon is a step faster than a messenger.”

Ji Weiqiu thought that made sense. He dared to use the 800-li express delivery to send fish back because he was shameless. At worst, the censors would impeach him a couple of times! But his brother had a reputation to uphold, so he would never use the 800-li express to send him a letter.

“Should I send a few more fish back?” Thinking of his brother's foul face, Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but grin until his eyes narrowed.

Mian Li: “...”

Should he advise against it or not? Advising against it would be obstructing His Highness's filial piety, and he'd be beaten to death if the Empress Dowager found out. Not advising against it would be failing to dissuade His Highness from misusing public resources for private ends, and he'd still be beaten to death if the Empress Dowager found out later.

Forget it. He would keep his mouth shut and let His Highness weigh the options himself.

Ji Weiqiu slowed down halfway through his meal. He looked at the beautiful scenery outside the window and the bustling crowd below, and his mood suddenly brightened. He felt constrained in the palace, and it got a little better after he moved out to build his own manor. He felt constrained in Yanjing City, and now that he was in Quanzhou, it was a little better again.

Suddenly, he heard a commotion downstairs. He turned his head and asked, “What’s going on? Is there a spectacle?”

When he said the word ‘spectacle’, his eyes were shining. Mian Li really didn't dare to nod. He was afraid that if he did, Ji Weiqiu would rush downstairs to watch the fun.

The Qingxuan Guards also became vigilant. Just as Mian Li was about to go down to see what was happening, a stool suddenly flew up the stairs. The Qingxuan Guards shot to their feet, but before they were fully up, they were stopped by a look from Ji Weiqiu. At that moment, two servants rushed up the stairs, protecting a young man in brocade robes.

The brocade-robed youth locked eyes with Ji Weiqiu at once and pointed at him. “Aiyo, so it was you who booked out Qingyuan Tower!”

Mian Li took a step forward, about to speak, but Ji Weiqiu spoke first. “You’re too kind, my friend. I just brought a few more servants, so we filled up this floor. How could I dare say I booked it out?”

Hearing his humble words, the brocade-robed youth became even more arrogant and sneered, “Then do you know who I am? How dare you take my spot?”

Ji Weiqiu also smiled. “I didn't know before, but I can get to know you now. Since you're here, why don't I treat you to this meal?”

The brocade-robed youth inexplicably sensed a kindred spirit in that smile, or perhaps it was a case of birds of a feather flocking together. Just then, the waiter and the manager came up, sweating profusely, to apologize. They were about to say they couldn't stop him and that the esteemed guest had been disturbed, but to their surprise, the brocade-robed youth was already boisterously taking a seat at Ji Weiqiu's table.

It's over, it's over, are they going to fight?

Ji Weiqiu tapped the table. Mian Li stepped forward and poured a cup of wine for the brocade-robed young master. Ji Weiqiu raised his cup first and drank it in one gulp. Not to be outdone, the brocade-robed youth followed suit and drained his cup, his eyes wolf-like as he stared intently at Ji Weiqiu. “I was originally planning to give you some trouble. What's your background?”

Ji Weiqiu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Just passing through from out of town.”

“Do you think I believe that?” The brocade-robed youth lifted his chin, gesturing for Ji Weiqiu to look at the tables of sturdy Qingxuan Guards.

Ji Weiqiu chuckled softly. “I said I'm from out of town. Asking any more would be pointless. For people of our status, if we truly reveal it, there will be too many eyes on us. I don't want to bring trouble upon my family.”

The brocade-robed youth's eyes lit up slightly. “Surname Zou?”

“Surname Zhang,” Ji Weiqiu said. “The third-born.”

Zhang Er, this young master will borrow your family's name for a bit!

The author has something to say:

Prime Minister Gu: ...Achoo! [Zhang Er took his mother's surname; he is actually Prime Minister Gu's younger brother]