Qi Yan hesitated for a moment and stood motionless.

Lying in the same bed as his master was simply too contrary to etiquette. Not only would he be cursed as a sycophant, but Xiao Shao would also be gossiped about behind his back.

But Xiao Shao's complexion was truly awful. Ever since coming down from Mount Qinglong, the bleeding from his lips hadn't stopped. His face was like gold paper, his breath like a silken thread. A perfectly good noble young master had been tormented into this state.

Qi Yan felt uncomfortable watching this, thinking to himself, 'I've already become a eunuch, what does it matter if people curse me a few times?' Besides, the Second Prince investigating the Silver Case was half for his sake. Even if it went a bit overboard, he would have no complaints. Thus, he really sat down on the edge of the bed, posturing to warm the bed for Xiao Shao.

However, as an orthodox scholar and gentleman, he simply couldn't bring himself to do this bed-warming business. Consequently, his limbs were stiff, moving the same arm and leg together, rigid and straight as a board as he prepared to lie down.

Xiao Shao let out a muffled laugh.

His chest vibrated as he tried hard to suppress his laughter, but the little Tanhua's appearance was simply too amusing. Xiao Shao covered his lips and coughed, the corners of his eyes and brows tainted with mirth.

Qi Yan froze in place.

He had already obediently taken off his outer robe and lain down beside Xiao Shao, straight as a stick, hands folded over his abdomen, staring straight ahead at the ceiling without turning his eyes.

Hearing the laughter, he first turned his face to look at Xiao Shao, staring at him in confusion. Then he realized what was happening, and his face suddenly flushed red, his earlobes looking as if they were dripping blood.

Qi Yan threw off the quilt, got out of bed, and quickly put on his clothes. His lips parted and closed as he mumbled something at Xiao Shao, then quickly shut them, lowering his head to tie his sash.

Xiao Shao: "What did you want to say just now?"

Qi Yan said in a muffled voice: "I didn't want to say anything."

Xiao Shao asked with great interest: "Say it, I'll pardon you."

"..."

"Really, I'll pardon you, I won't get angry." Xiao Shao half-sat up. "What did you want to say?"

Qi Yan bit his lip. At this moment, he completely forgot all about master-servant etiquette and palace rules. He merely tied his sash heavily and said through gritted teeth: "Frivolous rake!"

Vaguely, he was once again the high-spirited new Tanhua in the imperial city.

Just like when they first met, and Xiao Shao had teased him.

Qi Yan fled out the door.

Xiao Shao laughed heartily.

He half-sat up from the bed, raising his voice: "Little Tanhua, the night is deep and the dew is heavy, where are you going?"

Qi Yan didn't reply. He walked two laps around the courtyard, letting the night breeze blow until the blush on his face faded. After standing in a daze for quite a while, he finally returned to the room.

This was the residence of Garrison Eunuch Yao Jin, who had allocated a courtyard to Xiao Shao. Xiao Shao ordered people to place a folding screen, dividing the bedroom in two. Behind the screen, a soft couch was placed for Qi Yan to rest.

By the time he returned, Xiao Shao had already turned off the lights.

Although the Second Prince acted nonchalant and unconcerned, only teasing Qi Yan for fun, he had used a strong medicine and vomited so much blood; he was still fatigued and drowsy. He closed his eyes early, gathered the quilt around him, and fell asleep.

Qi Yan hesitated for a moment behind the screen, but still lightened his footsteps and went around to the edge of Xiao Shao's bed.

He gently leaned over, slipped his fingers into the quilt, and touched Xiao Shao's arm to test the temperature. Then he withdrew his hand and, like a thief, touched his calf, before quickly withdrawing it again.

The quilt was warm, the skin on his arm was warm, and his calf was warm too. The Second Prince rubbed against the pillow, his expression relaxed, deep in a sweet dream.

Qi Yan pulled his hand back, secretly grinding his back teeth.

...He wasn't cold at all!

Xiao Shao had no idea what the little Tanhua had done. He slept through the night until dawn, and the next day, set out to return to the capital.

Yao Jin dispatched a team of men to escort them the entire way, while Eunuch He stayed in Hedong to thoroughly investigate the matter of the prince being poisoned.

As soon as Xiao Shao returned to the capital and entered the prince's residence, Emperor Jianning arrived.

Eunuch He's memorial had arrived a step ahead of Xiao Shao. Emperor Jianning already knew that his precious son had been injured in Hedong and personally appointed five or six imperial physicians to diagnose and treat Xiao Shao.

Deeply afraid that his ruse of self-injury wasn't convincing enough, Xiao Shao took out another pill the size of a fingernail and swallowed it with water.

So when Emperor Jianning stepped into the room, he happened to catch sight of Xiao Shao vomiting blood.

The exceptionally noble and precious Second Prince had breath like a silken thread, clutching his imperial father's sleeve, his eye rims red from discomfort, coughing from time to time and spitting out a little blood.

He faked it perfectly.

Xiao Shao was Emperor Jianning's youngest son, born in his later years, and had been pampered in the palm of his hand since childhood. Seeing him in this state, Emperor Jianning's heart mostly broke. He immediately gathered him into his arms, stroking his back: "Good child, tell Imperial Father, you went perfectly fine to manage the floods, how did this happen?"

While covering his lips and coughing, Xiao Shao intermittently brought out the story he had prepared previously.

He didn't mention the Silver Case at all, nor did he mention his discoveries on Mount Qinglong. He only said that Song Luyang targeted him at every turn, making him feel terribly wronged. He also said that he went out for an excursion at night to dig bamboo shoots on the mountain and encountered a wildfire. The fire came so suddenly and instantly spread across the whole mountain, leaving no place to run.

Throughout this speech, he never mentioned the Silver Case anywhere, yet insinuated it everywhere. Emperor Jianning slowly patted his back, his face visibly darkening.

Finally, Xiao Shao spoke in a hoarse voice, aggrieved and dramatic: "Imperial Father, you must uphold justice for me."

Emperor Jianning nodded, softly instructing him to rest well, and dispatched two more imperial physicians to take care of his medicine and diet before leaving.

For the next half month, Xiao Shao used his illness as an excuse to keep his doors closed and not go out.

Crown Prince Xiao Yi repeatedly visited with gifts, but Xiao Shao couldn't be bothered to deal with him, falsely claiming to be lethargic and unconscious, avoiding seeing him.

He took the pills at specific times; often, just as his condition showed signs of improvement, he would pop another one. Being bedridden for days on end, the five imperial physicians were at their wits' end, pulling out several hairs from their beards in frustration.

Emperor Jianning and the Empress came to visit several times. Seeing him in this state, the Empress repeatedly wiped her tears. Who knew what she said to Emperor Jianning after going back, but Emperor Jianning threw a massive tantrum in court. For a time, dark clouds hung over the entire ruling and opposition parties. Everyone trembled with fear, and no one dared to make a single misstep.

Under his thunderous wrath, institutions like the Eastern Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Ministry of Justice operated at high speed. Eunuchs Yao and He worked without rest day and night. Early one morning, an 800-li expedited letter was delivered to the imperial city.

That day, Emperor Jianning suspended the morning assembly for three days.

At that time, the civil and military officials attending court had already reached the head of the Golden Water Bridge. Suddenly hearing the decree, the court was in a state of panic. No one knew what had happened, except that the Crown Prince was detained by the Emperor for private interrogation.

By noon, there was an imperial decree summoning Xiao Shao to the palace.

When the news reached the Second Prince's residence, Xiao Shao leisurely put on his court dress and took a sedan chair to the imperial palace.

He entered the Imperial Study, and before he even took a step, he saw Emperor Jianning fling a seal at the Crown Prince. The bowl-sized stone smashed into his shoulder, but the Crown Prince didn't dare to dodge, taking the blow with a muffled groan.

The Empress was wiping her tears on the side. Seeing Xiao Shao enter, she forced a smile: "Shao'er is here."

Xiao Shao walked in supported by a eunuch. He lifted his robe to bow, but his steps were unsteady right now, and he couldn't even stand firm. His face was as white as a dead person's. How could Emperor Jianning dare to let him kneel? He waved his hand, having someone set up a chair for Xiao Shao to sit.

Xiao Shao sat down with difficulty and said weakly: "Imperial Father called me here, is there some matter?" Having said that, he looked at the Crown Prince, feigning surprise: "Why is older brother kneeling?"

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything. The moment he did, Emperor Jianning's anger flared up. He kicked Xiao Yi's knee: "Vile spawn, why don't you explain to your younger brother why you're kneeling here!"

In all fairness, Emperor Jianning was a good father and treated both Xiao Shao and Xiao Yi well. To resort to physical violence now meant he was truly infuriated.

Xiao Yi shivered: "I..."

He lowered his head, stammering "I" for a long time, but couldn't say anything else.

Emperor Jianning pointed at his nose, eyes glaring with rage, his finger trembling: "Good, good, good, you can't say it now, can you?"

He said 'good' several times in a row: "You can't say it, fine, this Emperor will say it for you. You embezzled the treasury silver of Hedong, formed political cliques for personal gain, and murdered the imperial envoy. I sent your younger brother to manage the floods, but with a guilty conscience, you conspired with Song Luyang to murder your own brother. Is that true or not!"

At the end of his speech, he was so furiously enraged that he raised his arm and slapped the Crown Prince directly. Xiao Yi's face was struck to the side, a bright red handprint surfacing on his cheek.

This slap knocked Xiao Yi's hair crown askew. The Crown Prince's hair at the temples was disheveled. His eye rims reddened, and two drops of tears fell. He crawled forward on his knees, hugging Emperor Jianning's calf, crying: "Imperial Father, Imperial Father, I admit to what you said earlier, but murdering Shao'er... I grew up with Shao'er, how could I..."

His tone choked, sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing this, the Empress also slid down from her chair, crying: "Your Majesty, both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh..."

Amidst the chaos, Xiao Shao spoke up with difficulty: "Imperial Father... Imperial Father, I don't blame older brother..."

Saying this, he began to pant violently, his chest heaving continuously, looking as if he was about to faint at any moment.

It would have been better if Xiao Shao hadn't spoken; as soon as he did, Emperor Jianning turned to look at him. Xiao Shao squeezed out a smile, coupled with his deathly pale face, looking indescribably obedient and miserable: "Imperial Father, I don't blame older brother... He treats me so well... He wouldn't harm me... There must be... a hidden secret in this..."

As he spoke, he turned his head and vomited a mouthful of blood, coughing lung-tearingly.

The Empress was burning with anxiety. No longer caring to plead for Xiao Yi, she lunged to Xiao Shao's side and cupped his face: "Shao'er? Don't scare Imperial Mother, what's wrong with you, what's wrong?"

As she spoke, she started weeping and sobbing again.

The Empress and Emperor Jianning had been a married couple since their youth and were deeply in love. Later, becoming the central Empress, she monopolized the favor of the six palaces and had never suffered any grievances. Encountering this matter with Xiao Shao and Xiao Yi, she immediately panicked.

His younger son was half-dead, his wife was shedding tears like rain on pear blossoms. Xiao Shao's coughing and the Empress's crying mixed together. Emperor Jianning's heart blazed with fire. He raised his leg and gave Xiao Yi another kick: "You, get the hell back to your residence and reflect on your misdeeds behind closed doors."

The Crown Prince didn't dare say more. Tumbling and crawling, he staggered away. Meanwhile, Emperor Jianning took two steps back and slumped back into his chair. His gaze became vacant, instantly aging ten years.

The Empress cried: "Yi'er, Yi'er..."

Emperor Jianning closed his eyes, as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and muttered: "Wolfish ambition, ruthless methods."

While he was still on the throne, Xiao Yi had already done such things to his younger brother. If one day he was gone, what would become of Xiao Shao?

Would he reunite with Xiao Shao in the Yellow Springs just a day after going down?

Or, would he not even have to wait to go down? When he got older, would Xiao Yi dare to make a move against Xiao Shao right under his nose?

...Or, would it not just be making a move against Xiao Shao?

Forming cliques for personal gain is a major taboo for every emperor, and a biological son is no exception.

When one reaches Emperor Jianning's age, there are always a few days every year where they are bedridden, powerless to sit in court and manage state affairs. The Crown Prince, however, was in the prime of his life. But according to the secret memorial sent from Hedong, that silver had been entirely used by him to win over court officials. Now, the forces supporting the Crown Prince in the ruling and opposition parties were already not small.

For the sake of power, Xiao Yi was cruel enough to strike at his own younger brother. Then, the next time Emperor Jianning fell seriously ill, would he also imitate Emperor Taizong of Tang, seize his imperial father's throne, and send his imperial father to the Palace of Great Prosperity to live out his retirement?

Emperor Jianning silently squeezed the secret memorial.

As things stood now, he had no choice but to reconsider the position of the Crown Prince again and again.

Thinking of this, he softened his voice: "Shao'er, you should return to your residence too. Rest and recover well. When you're healed, come to the Imperial Study to help Imperial Father."

Xiao Shao bowed: "Yes."

Emperor Jianning wearily waved his hand, dismissing him. Yet from start to finish, he never once brought up the matter of the Silver Case again, much less utter a single word about overturning the verdict.

Xiao Shao gathered his cloak and picked up the secret memorial from the ground, saying intentionally or otherwise: "Imperial Father, what is the matter of the Silver Case mentioned in this memorial?"

Emperor Jianning merely shook his head: "An older case. You don't need to concern yourself with this matter."

Xiao Shao lowered his eyes. He said nothing, only nodded and left.

When he returned to the residence, Qi Yan was in the study grinding ink.

The little Tanhua took the cloak for him and smoothly stuffed the hand warmer he was holding into Xiao Shao's hands.

Xiao Shao said: "The Hedong case is already clear. The Crown Prince and his partisans won't escape a reckoning. Song Luyang will be imprisoned in a few days and tried jointly by the Three Judicial Offices."

Qi Yan acknowledged this.

Xiao Shao hesitated: "You're not going to ask me about the Silver Case?"

Qi Yan continued grinding ink, his head buried very low. Xiao Shao couldn't see his expression and could only hear his plain voice: "I know."

He knew it couldn't be overturned.

Back then, it was Emperor Jianning who issued the decree to imprison the Qi family. It was Emperor Jianning who issued the decree to behead Qi Chen. And it was still Emperor Jianning who issued the decree for Qi Yan to suffer punishment and enter the palace.

To overturn the verdict would be slapping Emperor Jianning's own face.

The imperial family's face was greater than the heavens. Emperor Jianning was honored as the Son of Heaven, and everyone under the sun was his subject. If one Qi Chen died, there were countless Wang Chens and Li Chens; after all, fourth-rank officials were everywhere in the capital. If one Qi Yan was ruined, there were countless Zhang Yans and Zhao Yans; a Tanhua was chosen regularly, it wasn't anything novel. How could a mere Qi family compare to the Son of Heaven's dignity?

The bitterness and despair of having one's home confiscated and clan exterminated, in Emperor Jianning's eyes, was far less important than the Crown Prince's disobedience.

As for the innocence and reputation of that family, what did it even count for?

Qi Yan understood all of this.

He was afraid Xiao Shao would be conflicted, so he didn't ask. Instead, he advised him: "Your Highness doesn't need to mention these things in front of His Majesty. Do not lose the greater for the less and lose the Emperor's favor."

With lowered brows and averted eyes, his tone was calm. Listening to it, however, Xiao Shao felt an inexplicable bitterness.

He then reached out, tilted Qi Yan's chin up, and sighed: "Stop smiling. It looks uglier than crying."

"...Sorry."

Xiao Shao touched the corner of his eye; he was particularly fond of Qi Yan's teardrop mole: "There's nothing to be sorry about. It's fine, little Tanhua, I'll just overturn the verdict for you later."

With the Crown Prince deposed, calculating carefully, this day wouldn't be too far off.