Chapter 88 Someone in the Heart

Chapter 88: Someone on the Mind

Everything in the palace unfolded with swiftness and suddenness.

A prince, once the strongest contender for the throne against Baili Hong, vanished from life as quietly as he had lived, yet few paid him any mind.

The hall was swiftly cleared, but none of the three individuals seated within stirred.

Even Baili Hong, occupying the main seat, was only momentarily startled by Qin Xiao’s sudden strike, instinctively averting his gaze from Baili Hai’s fallen form.

Yet, within two breaths, he tightened his lips, his small hands clutching the hem of his robe, and lifted his eyes to face the scene.

He saw the man’s wide-open eyes, the deep gash on his neck, and the blood splattered across the floor.

This was not Baili Hong’s first encounter with death; he had witnessed his parents’ corpses before.

His mother’s neck, too, had borne a similar deep blade mark.

His uncle had never spoken of his mother’s demise, but Baili Hong knew it was an act of desperation—for the Qin family, and especially for him.

And among those who had driven her to such a fate were the Xiao family, and Baili Hai himself.

Qin Xiao’s act of killing Baili Hai in the same manner was likely not only to silence his blasphemous words but also to avenge Qin Feng.

Baili Hong watched intently as Prince Jiannan’s body was carried out by palace servants, and the room was quickly cleaned. Yet, the lingering scent of blood and the accidental splatters on Prince Zuiliang and Miss Zhou’s robes remained.

After striking, Qin Xiao immediately looked at Baili Hong.

Chu Jiubian did the same.

They both observed the boy’s momentary panic but offered no comfort.

Baili Hong was exceptionally precocious, his maturity developing at an astonishing pace. Though he often displayed a charming demeanor in front of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, they knew he possessed a clear and profound understanding of many things.

Indeed, after a brief pause, the child looked up again, his gaze resolute as he stared at the corpse on the ground.

This half-brother, bound by blood, had died so effortlessly before his eyes.

In the face of imperial power, human life seemed to become inconsequential.

This was power.

Baili Hong truly grasped it for the first time.

Chu Jiubian, noticing the complexity in the child’s eyes, frowned slightly and instinctively glanced at Qin Xiao across from him.

The other happened to meet his gaze.

To make an emperor realize the immense power he wielded was not a negative outcome.

However, Baili Hong was still young, and they pondered whether their approach was truly beneficial.

Perhaps, further careful guidance would be necessary later.

Miss Zhou hung her head, appearing utterly terrified, her face pale and unsteady.

Prince Zuiliang wiped the two drops of blood from the back of his hand, his expression unchanged.

Qin Xiao’s actions served as a warning to him as well.

"Your Majesty, esteemed sirs, since the matter has been resolved, I shall take my leave," Baili Yan said, a smile returning to his face.

Chu Jiubian looked at the girl behind him and addressed her, "Miss Zhou."

Miss Zhou trembled and hastily prepared to kneel.

"No need," Chu Jiubian interjected, his tone gentle, as if making casual conversation. "This ordeal must have been frightening for you. Go back and rest well."

"Thank you, sir," Miss Zhou replied, not daring to lift her head.

Chu Jiubian then inquired, "If I may be so bold, why is your hair white?"

"Sir," Miss Zhou whispered, "I was born with an illness and poor health, so my hair turned white early."

"Is that so?" Chu Jiubian smiled. "I thought it might be a side effect of refining Gu worms."

Miss Zhou’s pupils contracted sharply, and she looked up abruptly.

Prince Zuiliang was stunned at first, then instinctively retreated several paces, distancing himself from the girl.

Qin Xiao’s eyes sharpened, his fingers lightly rubbing his thumb ring.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

Chu Jiubian studied the girl briefly before smiling lightly. "Just a casual remark, no need to be nervous, miss."

Miss Zhou’s back was already drenched in cold sweat. She forced a dry laugh and said, "Yes."

The next moment, Chu Jiubian’s words made her collapse to her knees with a thud.

"That porcelain bottle at your waist looks quite exquisite. Might I take a look at it?" Chu Jiubian’s tone remained calm.

Miss Zhou knelt on the ground, instinctively touching the well-hidden bottle at her waist, her lowered eyes filled with panic.

She had believed it to be perfectly concealed, never imagining that Grand Tutor Chu Jiubian had already discovered it.

But how had the Grand Tutor found out?

Recalling Chu Jiubian’s legendary reputation, Miss Zhou’s heart turned cold.

Indeed, employing such petty tricks before a deity was utterly beneath her.

Even her master’s Shadowless Gu had been detected by him, let alone her own insignificant Gu worms.

Not daring to resort to any tricks, Miss Zhou could only retrieve the bottle, raise it above her head with both hands, stand up shakily, and respectfully present it to Chu Jiubian.

Then, she knelt back down.

Chu Jiubian examined the bottle, able to discern through the porcelain the green-marked Gu worm wriggling inside, as indicated by the system.

With a flick of his hand, the bottle vanished into the Divine Realm.

Living creatures could not be stored in ordinary space, so placing it in the Divine Realm was more convenient.

He would later hand it over to the Southern Border Saintess, an expert in these matters who might uncover clues from it.

Witnessing the bottle disappear into Chu Jiubian’s hand, both Prince Zuiliang and Miss Zhou’s expressions changed.

They did not believe this was mere trickery.

"I'll temporarily keep this item for you and return it when the opportunity arises," Chu Jiubian declared, openly taking possession.

Miss Zhou naturally dared not refuse and hastily said it was her honor to gift it to the lord.

She had thought she might not leave the palace gates today, that Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao might detain her to interrogate her about her master's whereabouts. She had even prepared herself for suicide, but unexpectedly, they directly let her leave the palace without even asking a single extra question.

Yet the unease in her heart grew heavier, and she was weighed down with worry.

Baili Yan, knowing she no longer carried the Gu Worm, was no longer afraid and left the palace with her, though they rode in separate carriages.

Just before boarding the carriage, Baili Yan couldn't help but glance back at the towering palace gates and walls.

Prince Jiannan seemed to have died too easily, as if he were merely a pawn in a game casually arranged by someone behind the scenes, serving only as an opportunity for Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, along with the testimony of a "victim." The plan was full of loopholes.

Yet, in reality, the scheme succeeded precisely because Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were no longer walking on thin ice.

They now commanded people, wealth, power, and influence.

Within the court, they had the support of most officials from the Wang family who had pledged allegiance to them, as well as dozens of scholars from the Imperial Academy who would soon enter officialdom. Outside the court, they possessed the military power controlled by the Qin family, the Wang family's influence over public opinion, the allegiance of the Southern Frontier King, and the admiration of the common people.

Moreover, with Baili Yan now declaring his stance, the "cards" available to the emperor's faction were no longer what they used to be.

Thus, they no longer hesitated and decisively seized the opportunity when it was handed to them.

From being cautious about public opinion in the court, to publicly executing scions of noble families, and now openly eliminating Prince Jiannan—all of this had taken less than a year.

Baili Yan saw clearly that all of this was due to Chu Jiubian.

From the moment he descended from the sky, he solidified the legitimacy of the imperial authority. Thereafter, whether it was droughts, floods, or the invasion from the northwestern Sai Kingdom, all were inextricably linked to Chu Jiubian.

And what had just transpired in the hall had profoundly shaken him.

He was immensely grateful that he had stepped into this trap today and aligned himself with Chu Jiubian and the others.

What good could come from opposing a god?

Yet his brothers failed to understand. Even when Chu Jiubian had previously displayed his supernatural abilities, they had not taken it seriously.

Perhaps, in their hearts, they believed even a deity was not as noble as themselves.

The two carriages arrived at Prince Zuiliang's mansion. Merchant Zhou had been waiting at the gate early on and hurried forward upon their arrival. Seeing Miss Zhou safe and sound, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Baili Yan's smiling gaze fell upon the "father and daughter" duo and said, "I forgot to ask earlier—when did Merchant Zhou acquire such a beautiful daughter? I had never heard of her."

Merchant Zhou stiffened, then quickly smiled and said, "My daughter has been in poor health since childhood and has never been seen in public. This time, I brought her to the capital because I heard there were renowned physicians here."

"Is that so?" Baili Yan nodded, as if casually remarking, "It seems the Min-Zhe region doesn't suit Merchant Zhou and his family."

Merchant Zhou was startled and dropped to his knees. "Your servant dare not..."

Before he could offer any further excuses, Baili Yan had already turned and walked into the mansion, leaving behind only these words: "When I return to Min-Zhe, I do not wish to see any of the Zhou family's businesses there again."

Merchant Zhou's face turned deathly pale.

The mansion gates closed before his eyes, leaving only him, Miss Zhou, and the two carriages on the long, deserted street.

"Father," Miss Zhou helped him up, and they boarded the carriage together.

As the carriage curtain fell, the woman's pale face lost its earlier fragility and timidity. She looked at the trembling Merchant Zhou across from her, a hint of impatience in her eyes, and said, "Rest assured, His Highness will not abandon you."

Merchant Zhou was taken aback, and the panic on his face slowly faded.

That's right, there was still that person.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

All outsiders had finally left.

Qin Zhaoyang then reported, "Sir, we just received the latest news. Minister Su Sheng of the Ministry of Revenue is indeed connected with Prince Dingbei."

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao both turned to look at him.

"What kind of connection?" Chu Jiubian asked.

Qin Zhaoyang said, "When Su Sheng was fifteen, he fell seriously ill. The eminent monk Huijue from Lingjue Temple outside the city divined his fate and said he was plagued by malignant energy, and required him to recuperate in the temple for three years to dispel it."

Su Sheng had been the outstanding scion his family had devoted all their resources to nurturing, so they naturally did not want him to die young. Upon hearing this, they sent him to Lingjue Temple.

"Coincidentally, during the three years he stayed at the temple, the eldest daughter of the third branch of the Wu family was also undergoing spiritual practice there."

"The Wu family?" Chu Jiubian had not heard of them.

Qin Xiao said, "They're a wealthy family in the capital who made their fortune through brothels. During Emperor Cheng's reign, the eldest daughter of the third branch was selected for the palace and eventually rose to the rank of concubine, giving birth to a prince—Prince Dingbei, Baili Yu."

Chu Jiubian understood. "So that's the background. It's highly likely that the person behind Su Sheng is undoubtedly Prince Dingbei."

During the palace banquet, Prince Dingbei's Gu Worms had been scattered everywhere.

Those targeting Qin Xiao, Baili Hong, and the Grand Empress Dowager were naturally intended to harm them, but two other Gu Worms happened to be near Su Sheng and Prince Anhuai, Baili Ming, which was very strange.

Primarily, Chu Jiubian had already suspected that there was a hidden hand behind both Su Sheng and Baili Ming, so he had suspected they might be connected to Prince Dingbei. After the palace banquet, he had asked Qin Xiao to investigate, and now they finally got results.

"What about Prince Anhuai? Is there anything suspicious about his strategist, Jiang Yongshou?" Chu Jiubian asked again.

Qin Zhaoyang shook his head. "We haven't found anything on that yet. We only know that Jiang Yongshou and the old Prince Anhuai were the closest of friends. Before the old prince died, he entrusted his young son to Jiang Yongshou and General He Zhen from the fief. By all rights, neither of them should betray Prince Anhuai."

Qin Xiao said, "If Jiang Yongshou had approached the old Prince Anhuai with ulterior motives from the start, then it would make sense."

Chu Jiubian nodded. That was certainly possible.

"I'll look into it further," Qin Zhaoyang said.

"Proceed."

After he left, Baili Hong also finished his work for the day and went out to the courtyard with Xiao Yuzi to take a walk and get some air.

Qin Xiao stood up and walked to Chu Jiubian's side, sitting beside him.

Chu Jiubian looked at him.

They were in the same room—did he need to sit so close?

Moreover, hadn't Qin Xiao ignored his refusal at the Qin residence earlier? Otherwise, why would he still act this way?

Logically, shouldn't they have gone their separate ways politely and returned to their initial cooperative relationship?

Qin Xiao seemed unaware of his discomfort and confusion and said, "This is probably still Prince Dingbei's doing."

"Hmm," Chu Jiubian averted his gaze and said, "Judging by this, Prince Dingbei's reach has already extended long and far."

In the capital, there was Su Sheng; in the regions, there were Prince Anhuai's subordinates, along with the mysterious Gu Master clans.

In unknown places, there were undoubtedly more forces operating in the shadows.

This Prince Dingbei, compared to the more conspicuous Prince Huguang and Prince Dongjiang, seemed even trickier and harder to pin down.

"Qin Chuan has been investigating the Gu Masters," Qin Xiao said. "Last time, he mentioned that there is indeed a martial arts sect in the jianghu with some connection to Southern Border Gu arts, but he has only heard of it and hasn't found solid leads yet."

"Tell him to send someone to follow Miss Zhou; there should be clues," Chu Jiubian said.

Qin Xiao nodded. "He'll know what to do. What about the Gu specimens in your possession?"

"Find a chance to turn them over to the Southern Border Saintess. She's more experienced in this."

"Mm."

They didn't arrest Miss Zhou immediately because they intended to use her as bait to draw out the true Gu Master behind her.

Even if they couldn't catch anyone, it wouldn't matter. Since they had already confirmed that the other party was connected to Prince Dingbei, they'd just need to stay on guard.

The room went quiet.

"Tonight..." Qin Xiao had just begun to speak when Chu Jiubian interrupted, "Tonight, I'm returning to Yaotai Residence to stay."

The floor heating at Yaotai Residence had been repaired, and Chu Jiubian could've returned anytime.

Qin Xiao turned his head to look at him but said nothing.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chu Jiubian caught a glimpse of the other's expression, though he couldn't quite make it out. Nor did he intend to examine it closely.

"I'm going to the Ministry of Personnel," he said, rising to his feet and leaving directly.

Qin Xiao remained seated, watching his departing figure thoughtfully.

After a long while, he suddenly reached up and touched his own face.

Baili Hong was outside in the courtyard, playing in the snow, stomping around. When he saw his teacher hurrying away, he cocked his head, then turned to look inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. His uncle hadn't followed.

The little one had recently sensed the weird tension between his two guardians. He didn't understand it, but he was worried they might be arguing.

So he stopped playing in the snow, instructed Xiao Yuzi to prepare dinner, and then hurried back inside on his short legs.

As soon as he entered, he saw his uncle holding a small mirror, studying his own face.

"?" The child approached, leaning on Qin Xiao's knees and looking up. "Uncle, what are you doing?"

Qin Xiao put away the mirror and looked down at Baili Hong. "Your Majesty, what do you think of how I look?"

"You're handsome and dashing! Really charming! Uncle, you are the most impressive person in the world!" The child answered without hesitation, his eyes sincere, clearly speaking the truth.

Qin Xiao laughed and scooped the child into his arms.

Baili Hong studied him for a moment before tilting his head and asking, "Uncle, are you unhappy? Did you argue with Teacher?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

Qin Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Uncle doesn't know how to make Teacher like me."

"Ah?" Baili Hong was bewildered. This was outside his understanding.

"Uncle, do you want to marry Teacher?" Baili Hong asked, puzzled. "Can men like men too?"

Qin Xiao replied decisively, "Regular people can't."

"Ah? Then you—"

"I am not ordinary," Qin Xiao said.

Baili Hong: "...Oh."

The uncle and nephew fell silent for a while before Baili Hong asked again, "Why doesn't Teacher like you?"

"Because Teacher has closed the door," Qin Xiao said. "Uncle now wants to pry that door open and drag him out."

"Ah? Isn't that bad?" Baili Hong felt something was off but couldn't quite articulate it.

Qin Xiao laughed but didn't elaborate further. Instead, he asked, "Earlier, when you saw Uncle kill someone, were you scared?"

The child thought carefully and said, "At first, I was scared, but he'd done terrible things, and under Great Ning's laws, he deserved to die anyway."

Baili Hong had recently begun studying the legal codes but hadn't finished reading them all.

"Then don't cry tonight when you go to sleep."

"I won't," Baili Hong puffed his cheeks, swung his little legs, and looked up at Qin Xiao again. "Uncle, do you care about a lot of people?"

Qin Xiao nodded. "Many."

"I care about many people too," the child said seriously. "Uncle, yesterday I found notes Father left behind. He said the more people you care about, the more constraints you face. So, as an emperor, one must learn to be a lone ruler. Is that true?"

Qin Xiao was startled but didn't ask first where the late emperor's notes had been found. Instead, he replied, "Caring about people isn't a bad thing, Your Majesty. You don't have to become a solitary ruler..."

That night, Chu Jiubian indeed moved back into Yaotai Residence.

==

But unusually, he couldn't sleep.

The hall was still warm, but the blankets no longer carried the scent of another person, and there was no living pillow beside him to drape his legs over.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and finally sat up in frustration, calling up the system: "Check my physical condition."

He suspected he was getting sick again. A year ago, when he was at his worst, he had insomnia night after night, and his weight had dropped drastically.

"Understood, Host. Scanning... Scan complete."

"Host's physical condition is good, mental state is normal, hormone levels are elevated..."

"Diagnosis: Host appears to be longing for intimate compa—"

Chu Jiubian cut off the system before it could finish.

He sat on the bed in silence for a long time, remembering the system's original advice when it first arrived in Great Ning.

Do what feels right.

Chu Jiubian knew perfectly well that, at this moment, he wanted to see Qin Xiao.

He wanted to. Very much.

In the western courtyard of Yangxin Hall, a dim oil lamp flickered in the main chamber. A quilt lay on the bed, two pillows lay side by side, yet no one was there.

By the window, on a soft couch, Qin Xiao lounged lazily, dressed in black inner garments, his collar wide open.

On the chess table before him, black and white pieces formed five in a row.

His slender fingers toyed with a chess piece, his expression unreadable, his thoughts unreadable.

Suddenly, light footsteps sounded in the courtyard.

His fingers paused, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile curved his thin lips as he lifted his gaze toward the door.

The faint footsteps halted just outside the outer door.

One breath, two breaths...

The man inside kept his eyes fixed on the entrance, while Chu Jiubian outside stood in silence.

Chu Jiubian felt like he was losing his mind.

He was the one who insisted on returning to sleep, yet here he was, unable to rest and seeking Qin Xiao out in the middle of the night.

He pressed his lips together, turned, and strode away from the door.

But before he had taken two steps, the door behind him creaked open. Chu Jiubian halted.

Qin Xiao closed the distance in almost a single step, his warm hand grasping Chu Jiubian’s cold one, pulling him inside without a word.

The door shut behind them. Before Chu Jiubian could react, his palm made contact with the man’s warm, firm chest—direct and deliberate.

It was Qin Xiao’s doing.

Chu Jiubian looked up. In the dim, yellowish light from the inner room, he could vaguely make out the man’s deep-set eyes—seemingly smiling, yet also burning.

Chu Jiubian’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Why leave again?” Qin Xiao asked, his voice low, almost a whisper.

They were so close that Chu Jiubian could feel the warmth radiating from the man, chasing away much of the cold he had carried with him.

Chu Jiubian was speechless.

He didn’t know why he had come only to leave again, as if he were ill.

“Chu Jiubian,” Qin Xiao called his name.

It was rare for him to address him so directly, and Chu Jiubian felt an inexplicable shiver run through him.

“What?” he asked, affecting calmness.

Qin Xiao watched him intently, not missing a single change in his expression. “Is there someone else?”

Chu Jiubian blinked slowly, hesitant to answer.

He could guess the consequences of replying “yes” or “no.”

Qin Xiao held both of Chu Jiubian’s hands against his own chest with one hand, while the other braced against the doorframe behind him, slowly clenching, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

The man’s face still held a faint, teasing smile—the kind Chu Jiubian found hardest to resist.

Yet Chu Jiubian could feel the man’s heartbeat beneath his palm, growing frantic.

“Not at the moment,” Chu Jiubian said.

As the words left his mouth, Qin Xiao gave a faint smile, the vibration of his chest transmitting through Chu Jiubian’s palm.

Suddenly weightless, Chu Jiubian was scooped up effortlessly and carried back into the inner room in just a few steps.

The last light in the room was extinguished.

It was an overcast night, the moonlight hidden behind layers of clouds. Unlike Qin Xiao, who was trained in martial arts, Chu Jiubian could see almost nothing once the oil lamp went out.

Deprived of sight, his other senses sharpened intensely.

He could feel the soft bedding beneath him, as well as the man’s rough palms and fingertips wandering over his body.

Perhaps because he had mentioned “forwardness” earlier that afternoon, the unusually polite Prince Ning was exceptionally courteous tonight.

His lips ghosted lightly against the young man’s without fully pressing down, and he whispered, “May I kiss you?”

Chu Jiubian’s Adam’s apple rolled again, and he let out a barely audible “Mm.”

A fierce, possessive kiss descended upon him. Chu Jiubian’s arms instinctively wrapped around the man’s neck, his chin tilting up as he willingly yielded.

How much time passed, he didn’t know. The man’s burning palm came to rest on the young man’s waist, though still separated by a thin layer of fabric.

“May I touch here?” he asked.

Chu Jiubian let out a shaky gasp in response.

His clothes were pushed up, and electric shivers spread throughout his body. Chu Jiubian felt dizzy.

It must be a nerve pain episode, he thought.

But he felt no pain—only an seemingly endless mix of maddening tension and pleasure.

Follow your heart.

Again and again, the thought crossed his mind, overriding his urge to flee.

Tears streamed down his cheeks, only to be gently kissed away by the man.

A rough hand hovered near Chu Jiubian’s hips as the man asked hoarsely, “Is this alright?”

Chu Jiubian could see nothing clearly, only the vague, broad shoulders caging him in, casting him entirely in shadow, making escape impossible.

“Yes,” he heard himself breathe out softly.

But in the end, it still wasn’t possible.

Untried and unprepared, they struggled for what felt like forever to no avail, managing only to sweat.

Chu Jiubian gripped the man’s muscled arm and said hoarsely, “That’s enough.”

“Qin Xiao.”

"Enough."

Qin Xiao leaned down to embrace him, gently kissing his sweaty forehead and whispering, "I'm sorry. I'll practice tomorrow."

Chu Jiubian: "......"

He thought: Impossible.

He might just "die."

They still had to go to court the next day, and after their nighttime activities, Chu Jiubian felt as though he had just fallen asleep when it was already time to get up.

Qin Xiao gently touched his face and said, "Rest. I'll go alone."

Chu Jiubian squinted at him, then turned over and fell asleep again.

After a night of passion, by the time Chu Jiubian opened his eyes again, the sun was high in the sky. Qin Xiao and Baili Hong, who had gone to court, had already returned.

Both were now working in the council hall.

Chu Jiubian slowly got ready. The servants had long been aware of the relationship between their masters.

They had developed the habit of heating bathwater every night since the two moved in together, though it wasn’t until last night that it was finally used.

Still, none of them acted differently. Even when they saw Chu Jiubian getting up late, no one glanced twice or whispered a word.

Chu Jiubian didn’t care about others’ opinions anyway—after all, he'd had his fun.

After washing up, he went to the council hall. Baili Hong happily greeted him, and Chu Jiubian smiled and exchanged pleasantries with him.

Once seated, Chu Jiubian lifted his gaze to meet Qin Xiao’s across from him.

Qin Xiao’s eyes were deep and smiling, carrying an unspoken intimacy, staring directly at him.

Chu Jiubian curled his lips and gave him a subtle wink.

Noting the subtle change in the man’s expression, Chu Jiubian smiled more deeply, lowered his eyes, and picked up a memorial to review.

It was some time before that intense gaze finally withdrew.

After lunch, Baili Hong went for a walk to digest his food and then took a nap.

Qin Xiao, who had never napped before, today pulled Chu Jiubian back to their room.

Having experienced intimacy for the first time in twenty-six years—even if only partially—Prince Ning was already hungry for more. In broad daylight, he pressed Chu Jiubian down onto the bed.

What happened in the darkness of night was one thing, but in the light of day, Chu Jiubian could barely bring himself to look at the man above him. His gaze wavered, avoiding even the kisses.

Qin Xiao held his arms with one hand, gently held his chin with the other, and kissed him deeply.

After what felt like a long time, Qin Xiao pulled back slightly and looked down at the man in his arms.

The young man’s lips were red and glistening, his lashes wet with tears, his expression dazed and vacant—yet in those light-colored pupils lingered a trace of affection.

Qin Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, and he kissed him again.

As if it could never be enough.