Having mentally prepared himself, when the green-robed youth returned to Luming Residence where he lived in the palace and found his own room trashed, he only stood at the doorway studying it for a long while, as if wanting to firmly imprint this scene in his mind. Then he turned and knocked on the door next door.

The rhythmic knocking continued for quite a while before a weak response came from inside the room. The door creaked open with a “squeak,” only a small crack.

Inside was pitch black—no lamp lit at all. After a moment, someone stammered hesitantly, “It… wasn’t me who did it…”

“I know.” The green-robed youth took a deep breath, trying to appear approachable and friendly. But being unskilled at this, his smile was somewhat stiff and forced. “May I stay the night?”

Hearing the other wasn’t pursuing responsibility, the youth inside immediately relaxed and pulled the door open wider.

Moonlight shone in, revealing the youth inside was even taller than the green-robed youth, only extremely thin and gaunt. The crimson-purple robe he wore obviously no longer fit, far too short. Looking carefully, there were even some inconspicuous patches on it, the color washed somewhat pale—clearly worn for a long time without replacement. This timid youth kept his head lowered, stepping aside to let the green-robed youth enter.

After the green-robed youth walked into the room, his expression became even more wooden. Everywhere he looked, except for the necessary tables and chairs and a thin blanket on the bed, the entire room was empty—not even a single oil lamp for lighting.

The green-robed youth was silent for a moment, then turned and walked out.

The timid youth lowered his head even deeper, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. No wonder the other disdained such a shabby room.

But before he could close the door, footsteps sounded again. The green-robed youth carried in cushions, oil lamps, and other items, saying expressionlessly, “I still have some usable things on my side. Might as well move them all over.”

The timid youth froze, raising his head. His face was even more sallow and emaciated, his eye sockets sunken—looking exactly like a famine refugee. Truly rare for anyone in the palace to receive such treatment.

This timid youth’s name was Ying. He was the current King of Qin’s nephew. His father Chengjiao was the current King of Qin’s only living brother, who once had hope of inheriting the throne. But in the year Ying was just born, Chengjiao betrayed Qin and surrendered to Zhao, not taking the infant with him. According to the “Shiming: Explaining Ages and Youth,” which says “A person newly born is called ‘ying,'” the attendants casually named him “Ying.”

Such a lowly name precisely implied Ying’s awkward status in Qin. Though possessing noble bloodline, he existed in the palace like an invisible person.

The green-robed youth had always known of Ying’s existence and knew he lived next door. But the two had no interaction. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have known what kind of life the other lived.

Ying wasn’t good at refusing others. Of course, the green-robed youth thought to himself that he probably didn’t dare refuse. He could only follow orders one at a time to bring over usable things from his room. Naturally, when seeing the blood-stained room, Ying was obviously scared into trembling. Only when told it was probably just chicken blood did he resume normal breathing.

Actually, the green-robed youth somewhat admired Wang Li. They finished class together, and he’d only escorted Fu Su out of Xianyang Palace before turning back. In such short time, he could still destroy things so thoroughly—could one say he truly lived up to his family heritage?

“Better sleep in my room. They don’t dare provoke me.” Ying rarely showed solidarity. What he said was true. Though his food, clothing, and expenses were embezzled by eunuchs, at least his status was there—no one truly dared bully him.

The green-robed youth rarely curved his lips upward. Moonlight happened to fall on his face, making his complexion appear like jade, stunning Ying until the bamboo scroll in his hands nearly fell back to the ground.

Bullying such a good-looking youth! Those generals’ young masters really bully the weak! (Wait, is something wrong here (☆_☆)) For the first time in a long while, Ying felt what it meant to be bristling with anger. Oh, though he was still far from reaching the age for the capping ceremony.

The blanket soaked in chicken blood could no longer be used. The desk deliberately split in two had become scrap. The bamboo scrolls piled in the room had their binding cords torn, becoming scattered fragments unable to form complete rolls. Fortunately, the oil lamp was bronze and hadn’t been smashed. Adding lamp oil from the cabinet’s spare supply, it could still be used. After the two tidied for a while and moved still-usable things to Ying’s room, it filled his bare-walled room somewhat. After lighting the oil lamp, the entire room danced with warm yellow light, actually making Ying feel moved to the point of teary eyes.

So there was still someone willing to light a lamp for him…

“That young master Wang was too excessive. Clearly he was the one who mocked first.” Regarding the afternoon’s events, Ying had actually been present. He habitually hid in corners but didn’t miss a single detail.

“No matter.” The green-robed youth didn’t mind. Just this bit of drizzle—he’d thought he’d get a beating. Better to let this anger out. What he feared was the other bearing grudges silently—then there’d be many snares later.

Thinking this, the green-robed youth couldn’t help but sigh lightly. He really couldn’t serve these princes of heaven. But to revive his family, he had to excel in learning to serve in office. Unexpectedly, the King of Qin still thought him too young. Though appointing him Superior Minister, he actually didn’t entrust him with real work, directly assigning him as attendant reader beside the eldest prince.

Ying clenched his thin small fist, dissatisfied with the other’s indifferent tone, but also unhappily knew that with just himself, he had no way to help the other vent anger.

“As exchange, I’ll teach you reading and writing.” The green-robed youth picked up the scattered books Ying had diligently moved to this room and spoke flatly.

Ying nodded eagerly, thinking to himself that he absolutely couldn’t miss such a good opportunity.

This rent—he’d gladly pay it even if living in this room for life!

“Little brat, you can’t keep hiding like this! Being bullied like this and still not fighting back?”

“Chaofeng, you’re thinking too simply.”

“What’s simple about it? Always been if someone punches me once, I punch them back ten times. Yaoying, can you bear to see this stinking brat get bullied?”

“Of course not. But this boy is subtly acting with his own intentions.”

“What intentions! He’s only twelve, okay? Don’t think of him as so scheming!”

Lying on the ridge of Xianyang Palace’s main hall, the green-robed youth’s small body fit perfectly in the sunken shadow between roof tiles. Unless looking down from even higher, no one could discover his figure. Moreover, the cold wind didn’t reach here—perfect for spacing out. The youth’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, obviously not because of the escalating bullying incidents, but because the two ridge beasts beside him were really too noisy.

Chaofeng, Yaoying, and Chiwen—these three ridge beasts were supposedly ancient artifacts passed down from the Shang Dynasty. As long as they were placed on eaves, they could ensure peace. When the green-robed youth first met them, he secretly walked around Xianyang Palace’s main hall, afraid of getting headaches from their noise. But now, though his ears got no peace here, at least he could avoid others’ gazes and slack off for a while.

Perhaps discovering that this Superior Minister Gan didn’t tattle after that night, or perhaps because the eldest prince Fu Su didn’t stand up for him, the bullying incidents in Luming Residence became increasingly outrageous. The green-robed youth often found insects stuffed in his collar, sand sprinkled on his head, things he needed smashed, clothes deliberately torn, and brutally killed small animals encountered while walking… Actually all inconsequential small matters, but extremely annoying. Not to mention people often laughed strangely nearby, using various explicit or implicit words to mock him and his family.

These things weren’t done personally by Wang Li, but by some noble youths wanting to curry favor with him, or even princes wanting to win him over.

Moreover, this Superior Minister Gan was simply the representative of “other people’s children.” When he first entered the palace, he came wearing the hat of the eldest prince’s attendant reader and the halo of being appointed Superior Minister at age twelve. Many people didn’t dare embarrass him upon first meeting. Wang Li’s conflict with him became the fuse. Everyone’s accumulated envy, jealousy, and hate explosively erupted after this moment.

Even Ying, who took him in, was affected. Fortunately, those youths ultimately didn’t dare go too far. Though Ying received unprecedented attention, for someone who’d always been invisible, even malicious attention excited him greatly. Not to mention these bullying incidents felt more like playing pranks on him. His many years of invisible person experience made him rather enthusiastic instead. Moreover, living together with this Superior Minister Gan called a “genius,” having someone teach him reading and writing, having someone bring fresh meals to share together—even having someone share that thin blanket made him feel the cold nights warmed considerably.

So after these days, the originally sallow and emaciated Ying actually had much ruddier complexion, even growing slightly taller.

The green-robed youth, however, became much more fatigued from declining living quality. His originally somewhat baby-fat cheeks had slimmed down.

“Little brat, this can’t continue! Look at you—what have you become so thin?” Chaofeng clamored with heartache.

“So noisy…” The green-robed youth complained unhappily. He just wanted to sleep a while in the sun. Ying’s sleeping posture wasn’t very good. Perhaps due to natural insecurity, or perhaps insufficient charcoal fire in the room, every night when sleeping he liked wrapping around like vines with hands and feet, often strangling the green-robed youth awake from sleep—really not a beautiful experience.

Maybe tonight he should switch back to sleeping in his own room… The green-robed youth always thought this way. But when bedtime came and he saw Ying’s expectant gaze, he always found it difficult to refuse. Forget it—sleeping together in winter’s cold nights was somewhat warmer anyway.

“He actually dares complain we’re noisy! Stinking brat!” Chaofeng clamored even louder, almost roaring into the wind. Even Chiwen on top, who sunbathed and slept all day, never complained they were noisy!

The green-robed youth picked his ear, curled his lip without any noble bearing, and propped up his upper body to leave. Anyway, he couldn’t continue resting in this environment. Better to go back and teach Ying reading and writing.

“Actually, if you don’t want direct conflict with those princes, you can ask the eldest prince for help. You’re his attendant reader—he definitely has to protect you.” Yaoying earnestly advised. Being inarticulate, it rarely spoke so much at once, because too few people could hear their voices. It didn’t want this youth unable to stay in Xianyang Palace. Heaven knows they’d only met less than a month! If this youth left the palace, they’d never see him again!

“Don’t want to.” The green-robed youth answered quickly, his tone incomparably stubborn.

Why should he ask that guy to stand up for him? It was originally because that eldest prince who didn’t know common people’s hardships casually said something that caused this trouble. Moreover, though he didn’t tattle, he didn’t believe that eldest prince knew nothing about his experiences these days.

So this was clearly standing by watching.

Just like their first meeting, deliberately leaving him standing outside in the cold wind for over an hour.

Such an assistance target—he really needed to reconsider carefully. Anyway, good birds choose trees to nest in. He didn’t have to hang himself on this one tree.

That eldest prince was just a youth two years older than him who happened to be reborn well.

“But you can’t engage in such ‘dagandongge’ (great mobilization of arms)!” Yaoying felt somewhat troubled. Unfortunately, they could only sit on the eaves, unable to do anything.

“Tsk, this matter truly is ‘huoqigange’ (disaster arising from gan and ge)!” The green-robed youth self-mockingly curved his lips. “Different statuses, different positions—as long as one interacts with people, conflicts (gan and ge) are inevitable.”

Actually, between him and Wang Li and those instigating young masters, there wasn’t any irreconcilable conflict (gan and ge). But he just wasn’t willing to resolve it so simply.

Not like he’d determined to follow that eldest prince for life—why work so desperately?

Moreover, these petty tricks were simply drizzle in his view. Those young masters who’d never experienced poverty, hardship, and true difficulty—did they think this could force someone to bow their head?

Really too naive.

The green-robed youth recalled his previous mission to Zhao, those hidden blades and swords, then looked at his current situation. Feeling it was a world of difference, he couldn’t help sighing deeply.

Since the King of Qin wanted him accompanying these princes in study, he could only do so. As for those provocations—well, consider his life too simple and needing more spice.

By now the sunset had descended. About time to return—any later and Ying would worry. The green-robed youth ignored the two ridge beasts’ attempts to keep him, lightly jumped down from the eaves, patted the dust from his green robe, and calmly left.

But he didn’t notice that after he left, in the tree shade’s shadows, a man stared at his retreating figure, then looked up at Xianyang Palace main hall’s eaves. In the darkness, that person’s features weren’t clear—only a pair of eyes holding almost demonic charm could be seen. Just one glance would make people think they’d encountered demons.

“Seems like… I’ve found something interesting…”