As soon as Qi Ying’s carriage reached the palace gates, he saw Su Ping personally leading a group of palace servants waiting for him at the entrance, maintaining a respectful half-bow throughout his dismounting.

Su Ping had always been very courteous to Qi Ying, but now his courtesy had reached a level that made Qi Ying feel somewhat inappropriate. He raised his hand to support Su Ping, saying, “Chief Steward Su, please don’t do this—I cannot accept such treatment.”

But Su Ping still maintained his ceremony, replying, “Young Master Qi has pacified national calamity and will surely soar to great heights in the future. Even greater ceremony would be fitting—this old servant congratulates you in advance, my lord.”

Su Ping’s words carried implications, likely hinting that Emperor Liang intended to bestow rewards upon him.

Qi Ying truly didn’t value such matters as rewards and honors. Though he understood Su Ping’s meaning at this moment, he felt no joy in his heart, only responding lightly before entering the palace together with Su Ping.

Before even reaching the door of the Imperial Study, Qi Ying saw Emperor Liang personally come out to greet him. Though he felt no inner turmoil, his face had to show appropriate alarm. Just as he was about to prostrate himself, Emperor Liang caught him up, saying with joy, “Jingchen, you’ve finally returned! I’ve been waiting so anxiously!”

Speaking thus, he personally led Qi Ying into the Imperial Study and granted him a seat.

Emperor Liang’s complexion looked good and his spirits were high, though he had grown somewhat fatter. His fingernails showed a blue-black tinge, with what appeared to be some festering at the fingertips. Qi Ying glanced quickly, then imperceptibly withdrew his gaze.

After taking his seat, he performed the proper ceremonies toward Emperor Liang, saying, “Your Majesty has waited long—this subject is deeply troubled.”

Emperor Liang laughed heartily and waved his hand, his face glowing as he said, “You’ve brought good news—as long as it’s good news, I’m willing to wait however long!”

Qi Ying still respectfully lowered his head, saying, “Your Majesty is benevolent. Though the situation at Stone City has eased, the Wei army may still counterattack. This matter is not yet settled.”

Hearing this, Emperor Liang’s smile didn’t diminish. He patted Qi Ying’s shoulder and said, “I have confidence in your planning—it won’t be wrong. Don’t be too modest either, or are you forcing me to praise you?”

Emperor Liang spoke teasingly, and Su Ping by his side also laughed. For a moment, the Imperial Study was filled with harmony.

Qi Ying exchanged a few jokes with Emperor Liang, then cupped his hands and said, “Regarding the matter of Nanling Commander Jiang Yong, this subject should request punishment—this subject…”

Before he could finish, Emperor Liang interrupted him.

Emperor Liang waved his hand and said directly, “You already explained this matter extremely clearly in your report to the court. In urgent situations, expedient measures are necessary—if you hadn’t killed him then, how could you have intimidated those stubborn and inflexible generals at Stone City? You did right; there’s no need to request punishment.”

Qi Ying shook his head and said solemnly, “Though Jiang Yong was a traitor whose crimes were unforgivable, he was still a fourth-rank military official who should have been judged by Your Majesty. This subject’s killing of him was presumptuous—if Your Majesty doesn’t impose punishment, it will be difficult to convince the masses.”

After speaking, without waiting for Emperor Liang to stop him, he rose and knelt down, bowing his head and saying, “Please, Your Majesty, impose punishment.”

His solemn and stubborn attitude made it difficult for Emperor Liang to respond immediately.

Emperor Liang sighed repeatedly, saying, “Jingchen, you’re too harsh on yourself. Even I don’t mind this matter—why must you insist on holding onto it?”

After speaking, seeing that Qi Ying still had no intention of rising, he knew his mind was made up. After long contemplation, he said, “You are the primary contributor to repelling the Wei forces. By rights, I should reward you heavily. But I’ve thought for many days and don’t know what further honors to bestow upon you…”

Indeed, Qi Ying was already born into an aristocratic family and now held great power at a young age—he lacked nothing, making it unclear what further rewards to give him.

Emperor Liang continued, “Since you insist so strongly, why not let merits offset faults? I’ll neither reward nor punish you—how about that?”

Though he asked “how about that,” he didn’t wait for Qi Ying’s response and personally helped him up, preemptively feigning anger: “My decision is made! You have no choice but to accept it!”

This was naturally a joke. Su Ping and the other attendants all laughed. Seeing Emperor Liang’s insistence, Qi Ying couldn’t refuse further, so he agreed and thanked the Emperor for his grace.

The sovereign and subject discussed the current situation at length, along with some casual conversation, before Emperor Liang began to feel tired. Qi Ying noticed His Majesty’s weariness, and with official business concluded, he also felt inclined to leave.

Emperor Liang said, “Entrusting the Privy Council to you gives me peace of mind—Jingchen, don’t fail me.”

Qi Ying bowed deeply and spoke a series of beautiful diplomatic words, greatly satisfying Emperor Liang, who then said, “Go back and rest well—I’m also somewhat tired. Su Ping, escort Jingchen on my behalf.”

Su Ping received the command and led Qi Ying out.

After the two left, Emperor Liang dismissed his attendants. His smile faded as he picked up the teacup from his desk, took a sip, then raised his voice slightly toward the inner chamber behind the screen: “What are you still doing hiding in there? Come out.”

As soon as his words fell, sounds of a door could be heard from behind the screen. Moments later, a man emerged, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a teardrop mole below his right eye. His features were rather feminine, but his expression was cold and hard, making even that teardrop mole lose some of its charm.

The Third Prince, Xiao Ziheng.

He came around from behind the screen, walked before Emperor Liang to bow, and Emperor Liang waved for him to rise. Looking somewhat weary, he casually pointed to a seat beside him and said, “Sit.”

Xiao Ziheng sat as instructed, then heard Emperor Liang ask, “Did you hear everything?”

The Third Prince responded affirmatively, and Emperor Liang’s expression was unreadable as he asked again, “What do you think of Qi Jingchen?”

Today when Qi Ying entered the palace, Xiao Ziheng had received word from his father early on, instructing him to hide in the inner chamber of the Imperial Study to eavesdrop. Just now, Qi Ying’s every word and action had fallen under his observation, down to the smallest detail.

Xiao Ziheng thought for a moment and answered cautiously, “Second Master Qi has great talent, surpassing his father and brothers.”

Hearing this, Emperor Liang snorted coldly and said, “Do I need you to tell me that? If he had no talent, why would I have put the Privy Council in his hands?”

Xiao Ziheng was scolded and lowered his head, then heard his father sigh and say, “Someone like him, used well, can become your armor, but used poorly, becomes a weapon that injures yourself—Heng’er, if you sit in that position, can you use Qi Jingchen well?”

Xiao Ziheng looked up at Emperor Liang, seeing in his turbid old eyes the desolation and weight that came from years of trials.

“Father…”

Emperor Liang reached out with his somewhat festering hands to grasp Xiao Ziheng, his voice heavy as he said, “Great Liang is prosperous but weak, facing strong enemies without and having to struggle with aristocratic families within. What are aristocratic families? They are termites hollowing out the dynasty, insatiable beasts. If you want to sit firmly in that position, sooner or later you’ll need to have a reckoning with them.”

“My son,” Emperor Liang sighed, “I have been constrained by aristocratic families all my life. In over thirty years since moving south, I haven’t had a moment of complete satisfaction. I don’t want everything to remain the same when you ascend the throne—do you understand?”

Emperor Liang had once been passionate and high-spirited, with ambitions in his youth to lead northern expeditions and reclaim lost territories. But within Great Liang, the aristocratic families fought endlessly among themselves, their entanglements draining the nation’s strength. They bound everything about this country with their selfish desires, eventually dragging Emperor Liang from a proud young sovereign into an aged, declining old man.

The world mocked Jiangzuo’s extravagant ways, saying even Emperor Liang as a sovereign indulged in lowly things like Five Stone Powder, but who understood his anguish at being trapped in the aristocratic families’ quagmire, unable to move, finally finding only sensual pleasures could briefly ease the depression in his heart?

It was also a matter of desperation.

Upon hearing Emperor Liang’s words, Xiao Ziheng’s heart was stirred by tremendous waves.

Though he had recently been trusted by his father with many assignments, his father had never mentioned the matter of establishing an heir, always maintaining an ambiguous attitude on this matter. But his current words… could it be he had already decided to let him enter the Eastern Palace?

Xiao Ziheng was naturally overjoyed to hear this, but couldn’t show his pleasure now. He steadied his mind and asked Emperor Liang, “Father, are you saying Second Master Qi has disloyal intentions?”

Xiao Ziheng’s relationship with Qi Ying was neither close nor distant. Qi Ying was the companion reader to his fourth brother Xiao Ziheng, and these princes had studied together in childhood, so he had known Qi Ying since youth. This Second Young Master Qi was exceptionally talented but knew how to hide his abilities, not fond of competing with others. His impression of him had always been good—if he weren’t his fourth brother’s companion reader, they might have become very good friends.

Today, hidden behind the screen, he saw Qi Ying being very respectful to his father, working diligently while deliberately avoiding rewards. In his heart, he felt Qi Ying held no disrespect toward the imperial family, but hearing his father’s meaning, he seemed dissatisfied with this.

Indeed, Emperor Liang snorted coldly and said icily, “After returning to Jiankang, he first went to the Qi family to see his father, then came to see me. If he were a Wei subject, would he dare act thus? Throughout all dynasties, which subject has dared to value family over court? The aristocratic families are so arrogant that they don’t even realize there’s anything wrong with this!”

Hearing this, Xiao Ziheng lowered his head.

Indeed, his father spoke reasonably. All subjects under heaven, none dared to value family over court or father over sovereign, except in Jiangzuo’s Great Liang. The aristocratic family officials had deep roots and were accustomed to scorning the court. In the over thirty years since moving south, this tendency had only grown worse.

Some things cannot be mentioned—when unspoken, though everyone understands tacitly, they can still maintain a veneer of peace. But once someone points them out, those long-suppressed feelings of injustice break through the heart like seedlings through soil, churning up towering waves. At this moment, fierce light appeared in Xiao Ziheng’s eyes, and the teardrop mole below his right eye also showed some menace as he lowered his voice to Emperor Liang: “If Father fears him, why not…”

He made a “kill” gesture.

After the Shen family’s destruction, their power was divided among three surnames, with the Qi family gaining the most benefit and now at their peak. Indeed, the imperial family couldn’t openly do anything to the Qi family, but if they wanted to secretly kill one person, even if that person was Qi Jingchen, it wasn’t entirely impossible…

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Liang sneered coldly and asked back, “If you kill him, who will quell external troubles? The Stone City rebellion had been a long-standing threat, and the entire court was helpless, but within months of his appointment, he forced Gu Juhan to retreat and stirred the Northern Wei court into muddy waters. Such political skill—besides him, who could accomplish it? You? Or those useless supporters of yours?”

His words were harsh, leaving Xiao Ziheng speechless.

He lowered his head and asked cautiously, “Then Father’s meaning is…”

Emperor Liang sighed deeply, turned to look out the window, and after long contemplation, said rather ominously, “While national troubles remain, naturally we must use him, but after that…”

Xiao Ziheng heard his father pause, and on that aged face appeared a ruthless expression he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“…Such a person must either be crippled or killed.”

Not long after leaving the Imperial Study, Qi Ying encountered Xiao Ziyu on the palace path that was the only way out of the palace.

She was leading several palace maids waiting by the roadside, listlessly kicking pebbles at her feet, as if she had been waiting for a long time. Upon looking up and seeing Qi Ying, those peach blossom eyes so similar to her brother’s immediately brightened, and she immediately abandoned her attendants to run toward him, her apricot-colored dress hem flying like colorful butterflies.

Seeing the Sixth Princess, Su Ping knew it wasn’t appropriate for him to remain here. He very considerately bowed to Qi Ying and said, “Young Master Qi, this old servant will escort you only to here.”

By this time Xiao Ziyu had already approached. Before Qi Ying could speak, she hurriedly said, “Chief Steward Su, please return quickly—this princess will escort him out of the palace.”

Su Ping smiled and repeatedly said “good,” then led the palace servants away.

Xiao Ziyu looked up at Qi Ying with an expression of wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. Qi Ying sighed, helping to ease this awkwardness by asking her first, “Why is the princess here?”

This opened up Xiao Ziyu’s conversation. She looked at him with those rippling, seductive peach blossom eyes, clasping her hands behind her back and acting coquettishly: “Naturally I came to wait for you. I heard someone say you submitted a request this morning to enter the palace, so I waited for Father to summon you. I’ve been waiting here for nearly an hour…”

She chattered on. If it were usual times, Qi Ying would probably have patiently listened to her finish, but that day he was indeed deeply fatigued, so he interrupted her, saying, “If Your Highness doesn’t mind, perhaps we could walk and talk.”

Xiao Ziyu was interrupted by him and looked at him again, feeling he was impatient with her. For a moment her willful temper flared up, and she threw a small tantrum, saying, “Are you really so impatient to talk with me! Wanting to walk and talk? Are you trying to get out of the palace quickly to escape from me? Don’t you miss me at all?”

After speaking, her eyes reddened, looking like she was about to cry.

Seeing her about to cry, Qi Ying couldn’t be too cold toward her at the moment, so he could only patiently say to her, “No…”

Xiao Ziyu persisted: “How is there no such thing!”

Qi Ying was silent for a moment, then answered, “I’m just somewhat tired.”

Xiao Ziyu looked up at him and indeed saw his expression was weary, with bloodshot eyes, and he was much thinner than a month ago. She knew his words were true.

She had always been infatuated with him and couldn’t bear to see him unwell. Hearing him say he was tired, all her previous temper immediately vanished, and she said to him, “You… how long has it been since you rested? Why do you look so poor? Sigh… let’s, let’s walk and talk then—you should go back and rest soon…”

Qi Ying glanced at her and nodded. The two walked side by side toward the palace exit.

Though Xiao Ziyu was considerate of him, she really couldn’t bear to send him away so quickly. After all, she hadn’t seen him for a long time, so she walked as slowly as possible, taking two or three steps where one would suffice.

Walking beside Qi Ying, she wanted to talk to him but didn’t know what to say, so she could only ask about his experiences in Nanling this time. She would ask a question and Qi Ying would answer, and though he responded to every question, it still left her feeling empty inside.

The palace gate was close, and even with Xiao Ziyu walking extremely slowly, they reached it before long. Qi Ying stopped and looked at her sideways, saying, “Please stop here, Your Highness—this subject will now leave the palace.”

Xiao Ziyu looked at his clear, cold features, exactly as handsome as she had thought about day and night these past months. The reluctance in her heart grew even stronger, and she wished she could seal this damned palace gate in one breath, so he couldn’t go anywhere and could only stay by her side.

She looked at Qi Ying pitifully and said, “Can’t you sit in my palace for a while before leaving? Once you go, I don’t know when I’ll see you again…”

Qi Ying looked at Xiao Ziyu, worried she might bring up Xiao Ziheng to keep him like last time. He was truly exhausted today and couldn’t drink anymore—he just wanted to leave the palace quickly.

He thought for a moment and comforted Xiao Ziyu by saying, “The flower festival at Qingji Mountain in early March—if Your Highness is free, you could come with the Fourth Prince, and then we’ll see each other again.”

Xiao Ziyu’s eyes brightened, remembering the flower festival. Counting on her fingers, it was only a few days away, so she became happy at once.

She pressed her lips together, her cheeks flushed red, looking as beautiful as peach blossoms.

“Oh, the flower festival,” she said in a melodious voice, her eyes carrying allure as she looked at Qi Ying, “Do you want me to come?”

Qi Ying lowered his eyes and answered calmly, “We await with swept grounds—your presence would bring honor to our humble dwelling.”

Xiao Ziyu smiled, her face red as she said to him, “Since you put it that way, naturally I must go, dragging my fourth brother along—Brother Fu and Brother Han will surely go, and I wonder if sister Rong will go. If she goes too, then our group will be complete.”

Upon hearing Xiao Ziyu mention Fu Rong, Qi Ying’s expression changed slightly.

He thought for a moment and said, “Since you’d like her to come, I’ll ask her about it another day.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ziyu was stunned and asked, “What? You’ll be seeing her in the coming days?”

A noble daughter of an aristocratic family like Fu Rong had always stayed within the inner quarters, not much freer than she, a princess within palace walls. But hearing Qi Ying’s words, it seemed like he could easily see her, which greatly puzzled Xiao Ziyu.

Qi Ying nodded and said matter-of-factly, “Mm, I should be able to see her every day recently—grandmother has her studying at the Qi family school. What, she hasn’t mentioned this to you?”

Xiao Ziyu was stunned.

She and Fu Rong were close friends who had been close since childhood. Xiao Ziyu told Fu Rong almost everything, even her romantic feelings for Qi Ying had first been confided to Fu Rong. The two had no secrets from each other, and even now that they were grown, their relationship remained intimate. Even when they couldn’t meet, they would correspond frequently—their last correspondence had been just two days ago—yet Fu Rong had never mentioned entering the Qi family school.

She found it somewhat hard to believe and asked Qi Ying again, “Oh? She… she never mentioned it—when did this happen?”

Qi Ying glanced at her shocked expression and answered lightly, “Over a month ago.”

Xiao Ziyu was speechless, her hands hanging at her sides unconsciously clenching into fists.

Fu Rong… such a big matter, why would she keep it from her like this…

All of Xiao Ziyu’s troubled and confused appearance fell under Qi Ying’s observation, but he lowered his phoenix eyes as if he hadn’t seen it, only bidding farewell to Xiao Ziyu before boarding his carriage and leaving.

After getting in the carriage, the curtain fell. Bai Song drove the carriage slowly along the palace path leading away from the palace. Qi Ying opened the carriage window to look back once, seeing Xiao Ziyu still standing lost and bewildered in the middle of the palace path, then closed the window again and didn’t look back.

Grandmother had a strong temperament—if she insisted on having Fu Rong marry him, it would be very difficult for him to refuse. But if Xiao Ziyu interfered from within, then all of this wouldn’t need his personal handling and would naturally resolve itself.

Qi Ying closed his eyes and told Bai Song through the curtain to drive back to Fenghe Courtyard.

On the road, the sun was setting in the west, creating a beautiful evening scene. Jiankang City showed a peaceful atmosphere, with bustling crowds on the streets and endless laughter and joy. The turmoil at Stone City seemed like an illusion—no trace of it could be seen here.

Listening to the noisy long street, Qi Ying’s fatigue surged even more, and he fell asleep leaning against the carriage.

Author’s Note: He has a thorny path to walk—fortunately he’s a white-cut-black character. Next update: Second Master Qi officially takes his first step into child-rearing life and immediately stumbles (no attendance)