Chapter 28: Summoning for the Night

Chapter 28: Imperial Summons

It was not surprising that the Emperor made this suggestion.

When Xiao Yan read the novel, he already knew that the Emperor admired Liu Qingci quite a bit.

But the corruption case against Chancellor Liu was ironclad, and disappointed and furious, the Emperor could only act according to the law.

Yet for Liu Qingci, a young man whom he had once personally praised as "having his father's integrity," there remained a trace of regret.

Now, seeing him reduced to a criminal slave and after various turns ended up in the household of his most beloved son, the Emperor's mood was quite complicated.

He knew all too well what kind of temperament his son had—if such a person fell into this son's hands, he would likely be eaten alive, bones and all.

Seeing Xiao Yan himself take the initiative to ask, the Emperor also turned his gaze to Xiao Jing, waiting for his reply.

Under the gaze of the two men, Xiao Jing's fingers in his sleeve tightened abruptly.

He put on an expression of well-measured difficulty and humility, having already made his choice. Bowing, he said, "Father, this matter may not be appropriate. Young Master Liu is now a person in Seventh Brother's household; how could I presume to overstep?"

The Emperor seemed not to have expected his refusal.

Xiao Yan, however, was not surprised by this answer at all.

Watching Xiao Jing's eagerness to distance himself and avoid any trouble, Xiao Yan got the answer to his little test, and at the same time, a chill rose within him.

Of course he would be unwilling. After all the effort to send Liu Qingci into the Prince Yu's manor, why would he want to take him out?

The chess piece had not yet played its role; the goal had not yet been achieved.

Xiao Yan suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous, and also felt a touch of pity for Liu Qingci, who was clutching a poisonous weed as a lifeline while in the abyss.

Xiao Yan couldn't help himself and called up the system to ask,

"How can someone like this be worthy of being the protagonist gong?!"

Little K said casually: "That's his character setting! Why do you care so much, host?"

Xiao Yan: "...I just can't stand it."

Little K: "His feelings for the protagonist bottom are complex—there's both using him and a love he hasn't fully realized himself. Later on, due to possessiveness and regret, he'll darken and twist further, making the forced love more thrilling!"

Xiao Yan was almost angered by this logic: "You call this love? Liu Qingci couldn't have been more unlucky to run into him!"

Little K's data stream seemed to stutter for a moment before changing the subject: "Anyway, that's how the plot requires it and how the character is set! Host, you should focus on your own task—advancing the story—instead of questioning the protagonist gong's character design!"

Xiao Yan stopped wasting words with the system and severed the connection.

When his gaze returned to the Emperor, he had already resumed his indifferent expression: "Father, you see, Sixth Brother is being too polite. Since Sixth Brother finds it inconvenient, let's forget it. As for Liu Qingci... my manor doesn't lack one more person; keeping him around is fine."

He paused, then added in a flat tone that made Xiao Jing's heart skip a beat, "Besides... I haven't had my fill of playing with him yet."

The Emperor had only made a casual suggestion; seeing that both sons seemed uninterested, he dropped the matter: "Very well, do as you please. But remember, prioritize your own safety in all matters."

"I understand, Father," Xiao Yan replied.

Xiao Jing also breathed a silent sigh of relief, though when he lowered his eyes, his thoughts darkened.

He had not been able to find out anything about what Liu Qingci had actually experienced in the Prince Yu's manor.

Somehow, he felt that this Seventh Brother seemed a bit cleverer than before, and this sense of losing control made him very uncomfortable.

Before leaving, the Emperor assigned Xiao Jing several court tasks, then turned to Xiao Yan and said, "Little Seven, I have top-grade wound medicine in my treasury. I'll have it sent to you later."

—

The Listening Bamboo Courtyard.

Since returning from the banquet, Liu Qingci had been thoroughly examined by Yun Feng several times, until Yun Feng was sure that his master had indeed returned unscathed from that lion's den.

"I heard that Prince Yu was injured. Young Master, what exactly happened?" Yun Feng was extremely worried.

He'd been anxious all day, only to hear that Prince Yu was hurt while his own young master was fine.

Though not getting hurt was good, if it meant courting trouble, that was even worse!

"It's already fine now." Liu Qingci's voice was calm, flat, without further explanation.

He slowly untied the cords of his outer robe, his movements dazed and weary.

Seeing this, Yun Feng knew his master did not want to be disturbed, so he quietly withdrew and closed the door.

The room was utterly silent.

Liu Qingci took off his outer robe, walked to the copper basin, and scooped up a handful of cool water to splash on his face.

The icy droplets slid down his jawline, slightly dispelling the stifling heat of his frustration.

Everything that had happened today replayed in his mind like a kaleidoscope.

He had thought he would not escape death today.

Xu Ming's accusations, the crowd chiming in—such a frame-up—why did only one person believe him?

Even three years ago, when he was at the height of his fame and ambition, no one had ever supported him so unreservedly.

But it had to be Prince Yu, the last person who should believe him and was most unlikely to, who gave him the chance to get his own revenge.

Now, instead of feeling any satisfaction from revenge, Liu Qingci's heart was filled only with turmoil and confusion.

Scenes flashed through his mind one after another, finally stopping at the moment when he was hanging by a thread and someone pulled him aside.

The banquet had been too chaotic; he hadn't had time to process it.

Only now did Liu Qingci recall a detail: when the mastiff lunged at him, Xiao Yan was right next to him, fully able to dodge in time.

Moreover, there were so many people protecting His Highness Prince Yu—their first instinct would be to protect him.

How could it be that no one protected Prince Yu, but someone pulled him away?

So the most likely explanation is... Xiao Yan, who could have dodged, didn't dodge but stepped forward to pull Liu Qingci, and that's how he got hurt.

Liu Qingci shook his head violently, trying to shake off this overly absurd and dangerous thought.

He dared not linger on it, and didn't want to either.

But that distinct stance and the lingering sensation of a forceful tug at his waist were branded into his memory like a hot iron.

Haunting. Impossible to shake off.

Just then, hurried and somewhat flustered footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.

Yun Feng knocked and entered.

Liu Qingci picked up a cloth and lightly dabbed the water droplets from his face, asking casually, "What is it?"

Yun Feng's face was pale and drained, as if he'd been scared out of his wits.

Trembling, he said, "Young master, His Highness Prince Yu just sent word... saying... saying that he wishes to summon you to his bedchamber tonight..."

The slightly damp cloth slipped silently from Liu Qingci's hand, dropping into the copper basin with a small splash.

"...What?"

Yun Feng's face grew even paler: "Eunuch Fu'an is already out in the courtyard. He also said it's getting late and that you're to go with him to Lanyue Pavilion this instant!"