Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It was a posture of opposition.

Xue Fuguang's mood could hardly be described as anything other than cheerful.

Whether Mu Jian Shu's current actions were in his favor or not, Xue Fuguang was thrilled to see him put the crown prince at a disadvantage.

The crown prince glanced at Mu Jian Shu and replied to Xue Fuguang's question, "Xiujin is in the palace; it's not easy to bring him out to see you. Speaking of which, you two haven't seen each other for a while, and Xiujin misses you. Since Fuguang is well, why not visit him in the palace tomorrow and keep him company?"

Xue Fuguang looked up with a smile, "He misses me, yet is willing to leave with the crown prince... After all, it was I who picked him up from the roadside. Perhaps he was indeed less fortunate by my side than by His Highness's. Let's make it tomorrow then. It just so happens that I plan to visit the Imperial College; perhaps the crown prince could bring him there to meet me?"

The crown prince squinted at him, for a moment unable to decipher Xue Fuguang's thoughts.

He smiled, pulling at the corners of his mouth, "Alright. But since when does Fuguang, who usually shuns reading, agree to go to the Imperial College?"

Resting his cheek in his hand, Xue Fuguang's voice softened, "Naturally, for Xiujin. He wishes to see me, and how could I not grant his wish?"

"Then, on behalf of Xiujin, I thank you, Fuguang."

After a round of insincere pleasantries, the crown prince finally left.

Shaohua, as if suffocating from restraint, indignantly said, "The audacity of the crown prince! Xiujin was just a little beggar you kindly took in, and after the manor treated his illness and gave him a job to feed him, he climbs up to the crown prince and dares to invite you to the palace to accompany him! Such ingratitude, if you ask me, you shouldn't have saved him in the first place!"

Xue Fuguang didn't respond to his words but propped his chin, lost in thought for a while, then laughed, "Amusing."

Puzzled, Shaohua watched as Mu Jian Shu slightly bowed his head and asked softly, "Why did the young master agree to the crown prince?"

Xue Fuguang turned his head, his gaze sweeping up and down over Mu Jian Shu, his eyes curving lightly, "He is the heir apparent; refusing him would be akin to defiance, wouldn’t it? And you, so bold in the presence of the crown prince, not the slightest bit afraid... Are you truly the covert guard raised by our manor?"

Mu Jian Shu: "Yes."

Xue Fuguang found him intriguing, especially thinking about the trouble he could cause for the crown prince, and he particularly favored him, "Stay well by my side. Shaohua, bring the Zihen ointment."

He personally handed the sandalwood box containing the medicinal ointment to Mu Jian Shu, "Take it and use it. New wounds will not scar, and old scars will fade significantly." And he added, "Ask me for more when you've used it up."

Mu Jian Shu’s gaze sharply lifted, initially landing on Xue Fuguang’s visage before, as if scalded, it fell once again, fixating on the hand offering the sandalwood box. Reaching out to accept it, his voice was hoarse with gratitude: “Thank you, Young Master.”

Mu Jian Shu was dismissed by Xue Fuguang to rest.

In a hushed tone, Shaohua commented, “How can he be as clueless as a fool? The Young Master gifts him such fine medicine and all he can do is mutter a dry thank you.”

Xue Fuguang remained silent.

No matter what, Mu Jian Shu was someone he had to win over, to become one of his own.

The whims of the plot are unfathomable, and as one of the protagonists, the crown prince is favored by the storyline next only to Xiujin. Xue Fuguang wants him dead, but with family still around, he cannot take the risk.

Mu Jian Shu, the antagonist within the tale, is the only one capable of contending against the narrative’s favoritism towards the crown prince.

It stands to reason that, in the future, he is the most likely to deliver a fatal blow to the crown prince.

Xue Fuguang wants to hold such a blade in his grasp.

*

Early in the morning, princes and noble heirs attending the Imperial College arrived one after another, with the sound of earnest reading emanating from within.

The youngest prince, merely ten, was bobbing his head vigorously as he read.

Suddenly, his mouth agape and eyes glued to the entrance, he was the picture of astonishment.

The prince beside him noticed the oddity and chuckled, “What has caught the eye of Little Twelfth? If you don’t study diligently, be wary of the Grand Preceptor’s scolding later.”

As he spoke, he followed Little Twelfth’s gaze towards the entrance.

And he, too, was taken aback.

A young man entered through the doors, dressed in deep maroon brocade robes. The maroon was so dark it was almost black, yet it only served to make his complexion appear as white as snow.

Twelfth murmured in disbelief, “Sixth Brother... is that a celestial being?”

The Sixth Prince, still in a daze, finally responded in a low voice, “Speak not nonsense, this is the Prince of Gong’s heir.”

The Twelfth Prince’s nose wrinkled slightly, “But isn’t the Prince of Gong’s heir a bully…”

The Sixth Prince whispered, "Shh!"

At the entrance, Xue Fuguang’s elongated eyes subtly lifted at the corners, his gaze slanting as if he had overheard their whispering, a smirk gracing his lips with a silent chuckle.

Accompanying Xue Fuguang into the palace, Shaohua carried a bundle inward, suggesting, “Young Master, there’s a long table at the back. Shall we head there?”

Xue Fuguang replied, “Aren't there seats available at the front?”

Puzzled, Shaohua watched as his master approached the two princes, “I’ve had the honor of meeting the Sixth and Twelfth Princes. May I be so bold as to ask if I might sit here?”

Before the Sixth Prince could respond, the Twelfth Prince eagerly interjected, “No one else is sitting here, of course you may!” Upon finishing his sentence, he shifted his books and inkstone aside, making ample room for Xue Fuguang.

Xue Fuguang’s smile widened, “I thank Your Highness.”

The Sixth Prince: “......”

He always felt that the Prince of Gong’s heir was difficult to get along with, but with Little Twelfth having agreed, he found himself implicitly consenting.

Shaohua neatly arranged Xue Fuguang’s paper and brush and began grinding ink for him, wondering to himself why his lord would interact with the Twelfth and Sixth Princes.

Everyone knew the Sixth Prince and the Crown Prince were at odds. With the Crown Prince already predisposed against his master, wouldn’t this make things even worse?

The usual hum of reading in the room had diminished significantly with Xue Fuguang’s arrival, sparking many whispers, and the study hall was abuzz with hushed voices.

“Is that Xue Fuguang, the notorious scoundrel? What's he doing at the Imperial College instead of seeking pleasure in the entertainment quarters?”

“Haven’t you heard? Xue Fuguang was drugged during a revel at the Qin Tower and Chu Pavilion a few days ago. It was by sheer luck that his guards had brought him back home that very night, which then saw a murder. Look at him, he might be still shaken from waking up the next day to such news.”

“Shush, the Crown Prince was also there that night. Keep it down.”

“He starts by making overtures to the Sixth Prince. He’s a shrewd one, and fearless of the Crown Prince’s displeasure…”

Their voices were hushed, but as whispers multiplied, the noise within grew louder, and bits and pieces became discernible.

Unable to resist, the Sixth Prince glanced over and saw him with a detached expression, as if deaf to the surrounding whispers, his hand drawing boldly upon the paper.

The Sixth Prince's gaze inadvertently swept across the drawing and suddenly noted a few brisk strokes depicting a steep, formidable cliff with an eagle plunging from the sky. In Xue Fuguang’s hands, the drawing came alive, as if the eagle might break free from the confines of the paper.

Little Twelfth whispered in awe, “Wow!”

The Sixth Prince: “...Such an impressive drawing!”

Xue Fuguang set down his brush, "A modest skill. Does the Twelfth Prince like it? I shall gift it to His Highness, then."

Little Twelfth, brimming with excitement, reached out his plump little hands to take the drawing paper, carefully pressing it down with another sheet to let the ink dry. He instructed his attendant, “Once the painting dries, keep it safe!” Then, turning to Xue Fuguang with joy, he exclaimed, “Thank you, Young Master!”

The Sixth Prince felt a tinge of resignation.

At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly entered.

The Crown Prince, whose age and learning were well beyond the need for attendance at the Imperial College, caused quite a stir as several in the study room were surprised by his presence.

And because of the incident a couple of days ago, although their gazes towards the Crown Prince were cautious, they inevitably held a different implication.

Xue Fuguang lifted his eyes, his gaze pausing briefly on the Crown Prince before slowly shifting and precisely landing on a frail young man behind him, dressed as a eunuch.

The youth's skin was pale, his demeanor timid, fearfully hiding behind the Crown Prince. Had his courage been even slighter, he might have clung to the Crown Prince’s robe, seeking a sense of security.

Having never encountered such distinguished libertines filling a room, the youth's gaze flickered, too timid to meet anyone's eyes directly, until suddenly, he caught sight of a flash of red. A spark of recognition lit up his round eyes as he whispered in surprise, “Fuguang!”

Xue Fuguang, who had been silently observing him, suddenly let out a soft chuckle, “Hah.”

Author’s note: With that being said, let’s update at 6 PM!

A big thank you to the angels who cast their powerful votes or nurtured me with nutrient solutions from 00:20:08 on 2021-08-23 to 16:09:36 on 2021-08-24~

Thanks to the angel who watered me with nutrient solution: 31177204, 5 bottles;

Thank you so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!