Chapter 7: Deception Should Be Done by One Alone

Chapter 7: Deception Should Be Done by One Alone

After two decades of living amidst political intrigue and bloodshed, Ye Jiangbai had grown accustomed to dealing with those of profound scheming. Every move he made required careful consideration to ensure no mistakes.

However, when facing the Seventh Princess, he suddenly felt that his meticulous planning was unnecessary. Her thoughts were openly displayed on her face, and one glance was enough to read her thoroughly.

The emperor sat for a while before deciding that this was not an appropriate place for conversation. He signaled his intention to leave. Ye Jiangbai retracted his gaze and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report."

"Oh?" Glancing at the inner chamber, the emperor frowned slightly. "Here?"

"It's of no concern."

With Ye Jiangbai's assurance, the emperor returned to his cushioned bench, holding his teacup as if listening attentively.

Thus, Ye Jiangbai proceeded to earnestly report every trivial detail that occurred during the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration.

Huddled in bed, Zhao Changnian listened quietly. He could hear that his father had not left yet, conversing in low tones with Duke Guo. The soothing depth of their voices brought him a sense of comfort.

"The responsibility for this incident lies with the Ministry of Justice."

"Auspicious gifts should ideally not be excessively extravagant, but given it's the Empress Dowager's major birthday celebration, there's nothing wrong with it."

Despite her extreme discomfort—her head spinning and chest feeling heavy—Chang Nian smiled contentedly upon hearing these whispered conversations, and soon drifted off to sleep.

In her dream, Chang Nian saw a humble farmyard where her father, the Emperor, and her own mother, the concubine, sat joyfully chatting. She returned home with a kite in hand, her beautiful pleated skirt billowing in the warm spring breeze, brightening up the scene.

...

The Emperor left, followed by Ye Jiangbai. However, halfway through his departure, he turned back and stood in the inner chamber.

"Duke?" Hong Ti looked at him fearfully, her eyes filled with terror.

This was the appropriate response any ordinary person would have when seeing him, Ye Jiangbai thought, pressing his lips together. He gestured for her to stay outside the partition before lifting his robe and seating himself beside Zhao Chang Nian's bed.

The person on the bed was burning with fever, her lips pale while her cheeks were flushed. Perhaps she was having a pleasant dream, as the corners of her mouth were turned up in a foolish grin, almost to the point of drooling.

Her survival thus far was a matter of luck. But encountering him marked the end of that luck.

If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have shown an ounce of mercy. Yet, considering her particular simplicity, Ye Jiangbai still pulled out a pill and slipped it into her mouth.

His thumb brushed against her lips, icy-cold yet exquisitely soft. Ye Jiangbai was startled and, almost instinctively, he caressed her again.

By the time he realized what he was doing, the sensation of her soft lips had vividly spread throughout his entire body.

A shiver ran down his spine, and Ye Jiangbai abruptly withdrew his hand as if he had choked on something. He stood up, took a handkerchief to meticulously clean his thumb, then muttered an oath under his breath.

One is influenced by the company they keep; indeed, he should not have associated too much with that damned homosexual, Feng Tingyun.

"Duke..." Hong Ti hesitated, wanting to defend her master but too afraid to approach. She could only stand outside the screen and softly remind him.

Ye Jiangbai's expression was grim as he lifted the curtain and left without a word.

Hong Ti was on the verge of tears. Her prince was seriously injured, had done nothing wrong, so why did Duke Guang get so offended? If it were anyone else, it might be tolerable, but if Duke Guang held a grudge against her prince, how could he possibly survive?

Zhao Changnian was oblivious to everything. He found his sleep deeply comforting, and when he woke up, his bottom still ached, but he felt in high spirits. Glancing sideways, he noticed it was nearly noon.

"Hong Ti?"

The curtains rustled in response, and someone entered, offering him a cup of tea.

Chang Nian casually took the cup and, propping herself up, drank it down in one go. She then handed the empty cup back to him. "I want some cornmeal porridge."

Ye Jiangbai received the cup with a complicated expression and placed it on the side table. "Lunch will be served shortly."

Huh? Chang Nian froze and turned her head abruptly. There stood Ye Jiangbai, dressed in a moon-white robe with a jade belt cinching his waist, exuding elegance by her bedside.

"You...?" Blinking, Chang Nian's face was filled with gratitude. "You stayed by my side all night?"

Ye Jiangbai's lips curled into a faint smile. "Your Highness worries too much. Today, I had a day off and visited the Crown Prince's palace. I just happened to drop by to check on you."

Oh, so that's how it was. Chang Nian retracted her almost-fallen jaw and said cheerfully, "Thank you anyway. If not for you, Father wouldn't have come to see me."

"Why doesn't Your Highness visit the Heart-Nurturing Palace more often if you wish to see His Majesty?"

Waving her hand, Chang Nian sighed. "I can't. If I visit too frequently, my elder imperial brothers will become unhappy and make things difficult for me. Although I want to see Father, I also want to live peacefully."

"Oh?" Ye Jiangbai raised an eyebrow. "It seems Your Highness won't have peace these few days."

"Huh?" Chang Nian didn't catch on and looked at him blankly. "Why is that?"

Ye Jiangbai explained with great patience, "The prison chief's death during the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration is a reflection of the Crown Prince's incompetence in organizing the event. Should this be reported, the Crown Prince will undoubtedly be furious and personally investigate the matter. Your Highness, as a crucial witness in this case, would inevitably become entangled in its complexities. The Emperor has just reprimanded the Crown Prince due to your injuries, and at the same time, you outshone him during his own celebration. Considering all these incidents together, how could you hope to remain unscathed?"

His already pale face turned as white as a sheet upon hearing his words. Chang Nian's lips trembled as he looked at the Duke pitifully, "Duke, I am innocent. This has nothing to do with me. I don't know how it came to this... Can you save me?"

With a gentle smile, Ye Jiangbai said, "If I had no intention of saving her, I wouldn't be standing here right now."

With a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, Chang Nian hurriedly asked, "Duke, do you have any solution?"

"Given Seventh Prince's current situation, it is impossible to evade. It would be wiser to confront the challenges head-on; only then might there be a slim chance of survival," the big gray wolf said earnestly, swaying its tail.

"Faced with adversity?" The innocent little monkey furrowed her brows in thought.

"The Crown Prince wishes to investigate, so you must cooperate. But since you have the power to influence the severity of the case, you hold leverage to contest against the Crown Prince," the Big Gray Wolf dug another trap.

"How do I resist? Teach me!" Without hesitation, the little monkey leaped right into it.

Ye Jiangbai sighed inwardly and then saluted her. "If Your Highness trusts this humble one, let us present ourselves at the Careforheart Palace tomorrow to report the murder case."

That was easy enough. She just had to say a few words and let Duke Guo take care of the rest. Chang Nian counted on her fingers—she'd also get a chance to see her father. It didn't seem like a bad deal.

"I shall follow Duke's every word!"

Ye Jiangbai nodded in satisfaction and handed her a box of medicinal ointment for falls and bruises. "Your Highness, take good care of yourself. Apart from my words, do not believe anyone else's."

Such an easy target, he should be the only one to deceive her. If she were to fall for someone else's tricks, it would be a calamitous situation.

Completely oblivious to Ye Jiangbai's expression, Chang Nian replied with an unrestrained and hearty fist pump, "Agreed!"