Xu Ping’an emerged from the secret passage and looked toward the man sitting opposite him at the tea table.
“At the time, who could have imagined someone with such extraordinary ability? I didn’t expect it to be Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am Xu Ping’an, it is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Xu Ping’an did not hurry forward but instead stood at the exit of the passage and bowed respectfully to the man.
“Mister, please, there is no need for such formality. Even Father has permitted visitors to come without bowing. How could I, with such limited merit, accept such great courtesy? Please, rise at once.”
The man approached Xu Ping’an, supporting him with both hands.
He appeared to be around thirty years old, his complexion as smooth as jade, with a square face that bore a strong resemblance—about seventy percent—to the Old Emperor.
At this moment, he was dressed in brocade robes, with a jade pendant carved with entwined dragons hanging from his waist. Standing there, he gave off an air of extraordinary presence.
“Please, Mister, have a seat.”
Faced with Xu Ping’an, this Crown Prince greeted him with a warm smile and even personally escorted him to a seat before returning to his own.
Such an attitude and demeanor clearly showed some intent.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, may I ask—“
“Mister, you saved Great Qi in its hour of peril. As the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, I was not in the Royal City when Father was in danger and thus failed in my filial duty. This cup is to express my gratitude. If not for you, my foolish younger brother might have committed a great act of treason.”
Huh?
Isn’t this… this Crown Prince acting a little too much?
Are you really going to keep talking like this without pause?
“Your Highness, I understand your intention, but unfortunately, Master has forbidden me from involving myself in politics. Therefore… I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”
“That’s quite alright, quite alright. Mister, I shall obey the Flowing Cloud Sect Master’s orders. But that doesn’t stop us from becoming friends, does it?”
“Ah…”
Xu Ping’an was momentarily stunned, not expecting the Crown Prince to play such a game.
He shook his head in silent exasperation.
“Your Highness, I have other matters today. Perhaps another time, if fate allows, I will accompany you for a proper drink.”
Li Kuang’s smile stiffened slightly at Xu Ping’an’s words, but he quickly adjusted his expression.
“It seems I was overly presumptuous. In that case, Mister, you should take your leave. After all, at the banquet, should you utter a word, I will surely accompany you.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. Then I shall take my leave.”
Xu Ping’an smiled, cupped his hands in farewell, and turned back to the secret passage.
As he reached the end of the passage, the faint sound of something breaking echoed from a distance.
Probably that expensive teacup, he guessed.
This Crown Prince may be a bit calculating, but not excessively so.
Even if he wanted to be angry, at least wait until Xu Ping’an had completely left before doing so.
Wait… was this Crown Prince acting for his benefit?
Xu Ping’an instinctively looked back, and his Chaos Golden Eyes pierced through the layers of stone slabs to see the Crown Prince sitting in a grand chair, a faint and ambiguous smile on his lips, with a glint of amusement hidden in his eyes.
So he really was acting for Xu Ping’an’s sake. No, that’s not right!
He wasn’t acting for him—he was performing for someone else.
Because if he were acting for Xu Ping’an, there would be no need to be so deliberate.
Having exited the passage, Xu Ping’an instinctively glanced toward the Imperial Palace.
In an instant, everything became clear.
Damn it, all this time, this Crown Prince brought him here early this morning just to perform this little play for the Old Emperor!
Sure enough, there’s no familial affection in the royal family.
Is there really a need for such suspicion between father and son?
Gathering his thoughts, Xu Ping’an finally understood what was happening.
The Old Emperor must already know that Xiao Jing’er is the Crown Prince’s agent and had long suspected the Crown Prince would try to win him over.
But the Old Emperor did not intervene, wanting to see how the Crown Prince would react.
At first, the Crown Prince did attempt to win him over, but that was yesterday, and he did not appear directly.
If the Crown Prince had truly succeeded, even the Emperor would not know for sure whether Xu Ping’an had sided with the Crown Prince.
Today, knowing full well he could not win him over and fearing the Emperor’s suspicion, the Crown Prince staged this entire scene—to show the Old Emperor: “Look, I tried to win him over, but I lack the ability to threaten your position.”
And for that one sentence, he had come to Ruanhong Pavilion twice.
Damn!
This royal intrigue is such a tangled mess!
He really shouldn’t have gotten involved in this muddy water. Better to leave as soon as possible tomorrow, before he accidentally sinks the ship.
Being used today as a pawn by the Emperor to test the Crown Prince, and then by the Crown Prince to test the Emperor—feeling like a piece on their chessboard was truly unpleasant.
What are you father and son playing at? Can you not drag me into it?
Now, he didn’t even have the heart to visit the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence, but he couldn’t avoid it either.
First, he needed to explain yesterday’s incident at Ruanhong Pavilion; second, he wanted to check on her health.
When he arrived at the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence, he hesitated for a long while at the door before mustering the courage to enter.
But as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, expecting a stern interrogation from Li Yuer and Xiao Jing’er, Xiao Jing’er hurriedly closed the main gate behind him, and Li Yuer pulled him straight into the study.
“Mister, are you all right?”
Li Yuer shut the door, her first concern being his safety.
“What could be wrong with me? Why this?”
“Mister, how did you end up at Ruanhong Pavilion? That’s the Crown Prince’s place. Your visit put you squarely in the middle of the conflict between him and his father.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ping’an gave a wry smile.
“What choice did I have? I unwittingly walked into their trap.”
“Then, Mister, did you meet the Crown Prince today?”
“Yes.”
“Did you meet him alone or…?”
“Alone.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yuer’s expression darkened.
“This is trouble.”
“What do you mean?”
Li Yuer’s face grew serious.
“What did you say to the Crown Prince?”
“Nothing much, just…”
“Tell me everything that happened during your meeting with the Crown Prince.”
Xu Ping’an nodded and recounted everything without reservation.
As he spoke, Li Yuer’s face grew increasingly grim.
“What a Crown Prince… and what a Li Kuang, playing such a deadly game with Mister’s head as the stake!”
Her words were laced with anger, which stirred a mixture of gratitude and puzzlement in Xu Ping’an.
“Yuer, do you mean… the Crown Prince is using me?”
Seeing the calmness in Xu Ping’an’s eyes, Li Yuer shook her head with a bitter smile.
“Mister, how could you meet the Crown Prince in private? You are a minister of the Emperor. Today’s meeting planted a nail in the Emperor’s heart, no matter how much he trusts you. This is Li Kuang’s true intention.”
Damn!
City folk really know how to play!
No, damn it, I’ve become someone else’s toy!?
Indeed, politics is a filthy game!
Unwittingly, he had walked right into their trap.
Only after Li Yuer’s explanation did he finally understand.
Seeing that he could not be won over, the Crown Prince planned to use this to remove him from the Emperor’s trusted ministers.
Good tactic, good plan, damned treacherous!!