Dong Chengfeng never imagined that one day, someone would urge him to be decisive.

During his time on the Qinhuai River, he was always the one urging others—

Leave quickly.

No need for life-or-death dramatics.

It’s all consensual anyway.

“Then what, you just submitted like that?” Yan Sanhe asked.

“‘Submitted’ isn’t the right word.”

Dong Chengfeng downed a mouthful of wine and dramatically raised half an eyebrow. “Besides weighing the pros and cons, I had another consideration.”

“What consideration?”

“Experience.”

The most prosperous place in the world was Jiangnan, and the most wealthy was the capital. The wealthiest people in the capital were the imperial family.

He had already tasted the pleasure houses and willow lanes of Jiangnan—nothing special.

But he wanted to visit the capital’s wealthy circles and see how imperial family members differed from common people.

Did they shit gold?

So he asked, “Besides playing the qin, what else must I do?”

“Nothing else.”

“How should I address you?”

“Your Highness.”

“I won’t bow to others.”

“Your bows may be exempted.”

“Empty words mean nothing. Write a contract that you won’t prevent me from leaving after three years.”

“The words of a prince are not spoken lightly. My word is the contract.”

“Deal!”

“Wait, I also have conditions.”

Dong Chengfeng was dumbfounded, thinking: You’re requesting me, yet making demands?

“Let’s hear them.”

“You cannot tell anyone that you play the qin for me.”

“That’s simple.”

“After three years, you must never mention this past to anyone.”

“I, Dong Chengfeng, am not one to boast and brag.”

“Besides the Crown Prince’s residence, you cannot go anywhere else.”

“Why?”

“For your safety.”

Dong Chengfeng felt like he was hearing something incredible.

Was this man being overly cautious? A mere qin player—who would want to kill him?

“Deal.” He spoke these two words readily.

Yan Sanhe laughed again. “He not only thoroughly investigated your background but also understood your character completely.”

Yes, just like you—both foxes.

On the road to the capital, Dong Chengfeng began to notice something was wrong.

Playing the qin for the Crown Prince at his residence should be a legitimate matter. Why was it so secretive and furtive?

It didn’t make sense!

Why would he make those three conditions?

It wasn’t until he entered the Crown Prince’s residence that Dong Chengfeng suddenly understood. Damn it, this man was afraid he wouldn’t agree, so he was setting traps one by one!

First using the threat of cutting off three fingers to force a choice.

Then mentioning his master to disturb his mind.

Finally using all this secrecy and furtiveness to provoke his curiosity.

Good lord, this calculation was absolutely perfect!

And only now did he belatedly discover that he had dived headfirst into this trap, even forgetting something as important as asking why he was chosen to play the qin.

He went before the Crown Prince and asked, “Why do you insist on having me play the qin?”

The Crown Prince was changing clothes and replied without looking back, “This prince has insomnia. Your qin music can cure it.”

Damn it!

Damn it!

Damn it!

Dong Chengfeng ground his teeth in hatred, thinking this was clearly them seeking him out, he should clearly have the upper hand, he could even use this skill of his to manipulate the current Crown Prince…

But instead, for one copper coin, he had sold himself for three years.

A fox!

Truly an old fox!

“From that day on, I secretly gave him a name—Zhao the Fox.”

Yan Sanhe felt uncomfortable using such a term for Zhao Rongyu. If he were truly a fox, he wouldn’t have met such an end.

“He actually had another method—using his authority to pressure you.”

“You think I need reminding?”

Dong Chengfeng crossed his legs and said sarcastically, “You’re asking me to tell this story now. Watch whose side you’re on.”

“I’m stating facts, not taking sides.”

Just a qin player.

Yan Sanhe’s tone was very serious.

“If he really wanted to control you, it would be too simple. You have a whole family of Dongs—any one of them could make you submit. It was because of Tang Qiling that he developed such a gentlemanly heart.”

Dong Chengfeng looked at Yan Sanhe.

She wore men’s clothing, tailored precisely to her size—neither too big nor too small. Her hair was tied up and secured with a wooden hairpin, revealing a fair, clean face.

This face carried a certain coldness, her features remarkably like his.

But the way she protected people was exactly like her—absolutely identical.

Dong Chengfeng didn’t know whether to feel bitter or gratified.

He gulped down more wine and said, “I only understood these things later. My master taught me everything except how to scheme against others.”

Hearing this, Yan Sanhe’s heart softened again. Someone who understood everything too well couldn’t be an outstanding qin player.

Moreover, this man was born on the grasslands and raised in deep mountains. From his conduct on the Qinhuai River, he was essentially someone who followed his heart.

Such people were simple and direct, not devious.

“After entering the Crown Prince’s residence, were you able to adjust?”

“No.”

A small courtyard with two sections was his entire range of movement.

Two maidservants were the only living beings he saw each day.

The days were so boring he wanted to die.

He never saw Zhao the Fox during the day. Only in the half-hour before sleep each evening, when Xiao Ze brought him to the sleeping chamber, could he see him once.

The sleeping chamber was large and magnificent. Besides Xiao Ze, there were two personal attendants—one called Taiping, the other Jiao Yu.

Usually when he arrived, Zhao the Fox was already reclining in bed, holding either a book or memorials.

Under the flickering candlelight, Zhao the Fox always looked exhausted, with a deep crease between his brows. When he raised his eyes to look over, that crease seemed even deeper.

After he sat on the floor, he would begin playing.

Usually, Zhao the Fox only needed half a piece to fall asleep. If he had something on his mind, it required a full piece.

After he fell asleep, Taiping and Jiao Yu would quietly lower the bed curtains, then wave him away.

After a few days, he felt like he was going insane.

What kind of life was this?

No wine, no women, no men—what difference was there from becoming a monk?

His master told him to gain experience, but didn’t say he had to be celibate!

He crazily missed his life on the Qinhuai River.

After a few more days, he even found life in the deep mountains flavorful—at least he could wander around freely there!

After half a month, he would rather have three fingers cut off than stay in this hellish place.

It was too boring.

Weren’t the lives of emperors and generals supposed to be full of wine, women, and debauchery? Why didn’t Zhao the Fox’s palace have even a single singing girl or dancing girl?

“Yan Sanhe, do you know what kind of life he lived each day?”

“What kind?”

“He woke before dawn, skipped breakfast and went straight to the palace for morning court. He returned to the Crown Prince’s residence in the afternoon to receive guests.

In the evening, he dined with the Crown Princess and the heir. Afterward, he strolled through the gardens a few times before staying in his study.

Thirty days a month, every day he slept alone in a cold bed without even a woman to warm it.

On the first and fifteenth of each month, he visited the Dowager Consort, but never stayed overnight. So many concubines in his residence were treated as decorations, only occasionally favored.”

Dong Chengfeng sneered coldly.

“Sometimes watching him, I thought being Crown Prince wasn’t very interesting—not as fulfilling as an ordinary person’s life.”