Chapter 42: He Forced You, Didn’t He?

Chapter 42: He forced you, didn’t he?

Liu Qingci knew perfectly well why Xiao Jing had brought him out.

If there were no benefit to be gained, why bother taking such a big risk?

They say you find out who your real friends are when trouble hits.

He had once sincerely regarded His Highness Prince Rui, that gentle and learned prince, as a close friend. Now, in the face of cold reality, that so‑called “true feeling” had shattered completely.

He wasn’t resentful.

Looking back, they could only become friends because their relationship was simple and pure.

He was the chancellor’s son, and he was a prince with no real power. They talked about books and drank tea, never getting into court politics.

He did not think Xiao Jing was wrong.

Like Xiao Jing himself said, there’s nothing wrong with looking out for yourself when you’re born into the imperial family.

But... when that scheming precisely targeted him, Liu Qingci, turning his and his family’s safety into bargaining chips—everything changed.

It was not about right or wrong, only about differing positions.

Hearing Liu Qingci’s words, Xiao Jing’s smile froze, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

Sure, he had chosen to take Liu Qingci out late at night, planning to send him back before dawn. But being called out so easily made him feel like his mind had been read.

“Do you really want to go back to Prince Yu’s place that badly?” The smile on his face faded considerably.

Liu Qingci leaned against the carriage, looking weary: “I’m not in control of my own choices anymore. It’s not about what I want.”

“Qingci, do you blame me?”

Liu Qingci remained indifferent: “You’re exaggerating, Your Highness.”

When they first met, Liu Qingci had called him by name. Now it was back to “Your Highness.”

Xiao Jing sighed, as if he had no other choice.

“I heard about Xiao Yan’s injury and was worried about your situation. He hurt you, didn’t he?” He looked Liu Qingci over, as if checking for injuries. “I’ve called a doctor. He’ll check you over when he gets here.”

Liu Qingci: “That won’t be necessary.”

Xiao Jing had always known Liu Qingci was cold by nature.

In the academy, he had only one close friend—him. Toward others, he was polite, distant, and reserved—a gentleman’s friendship as light as water.

Now, for the first time, he felt that when Liu Qingci’s coldness was directed at him, it really got to him.

“Qingci, now’s not the time to be mad at me.” Xiao Jing pulled an envelope from inside his robe and said gently, “Your mother wrote a letter. I brought it along. Don’t you want to see it?”

Finally, Liu Qingci’s expression clearly shifted.

His downcast eyes snapped up, locking onto the envelope in Xiao Jing’s hands.

Though he struggled to maintain an outward calm, the way he leaned forward and clenched his fingers gave away how anxious he was.

Xiao Jing caught his reaction. The discomfort from Liu Qingci’s distant attitude eased somewhat, and his tone became warmer and more earnest:

“Don’t worry. Your mother and Qinghe have been doing well lately. They only miss you.”

With that, he placed the envelope in Liu Qingci’s hand and held his hand firmly.

Liu Qingci looked down at the hand gripping his, like it had a perfect hold on his weak point.

He spoke slowly: “In Prince Yu’s study, I found a hidden compartment. Inside there was a secret letter with General Zhao’s personal seal and a name list.”

As his words fell, the hand holding Liu Qingci’s suddenly squeezed tight.

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Jing’s eyes. He quickly noticed his own loss of composure and let go like he’d been burned.

“Are you sure you saw it right?” Xiao Jing leaned forward, closing the distance between them, staring straight into Liu Qingci’s eyes and lowering his voice. “And... did you remove it?”

Liu Qingci’s voice was calm: “No. Prince Yu guards it closely. I never got a chance to touch it.”

Xiao Jing had expected that.

In fact, he was already surprised that Liu Qingci had gotten into Xiao Yan’s study so fast.

Liu Qingci offered: “I’ll think of another way.”

Just then, the driver whispered from outside: “Your Highness, we’re here.”

Xiao Jing grabbed Liu Qingci’s wrist, meaning to help him up, and said gently: “Let’s not talk about this now.”

Liu Qingci smoothly avoided Xiao Jing’s hand and got out of the carriage on his own.

The sedative still had him groggy, and his steps were a little shaky.

Xiao Jing had taken him to a private courtyard. It was dead quiet, with no other houses visible for miles. Liu Qingci wasn’t even sure they hadn’t left the city.

Once inside, a silent old steward led them through the house.

They went to the front hall. Xiao Jing sent someone to get the doctor. The steward withdrew, leaving just the two of them in the hall.

Xiao Jing’s eyes softened as he looked at Liu Qingci.

“Qingci, you’ve suffered these days...”

Before he could finish, his words got stuck in his throat, his face froze and then cracked.

Xiao Jing’s eyes fixed on a spot on Liu Qingci’s pale neck.

In the bright indoor light, a faint dark red mark was clearly visible on Liu Qingci’s neck.

Stark and glaring.

His pupils contracted sharply. The usual veneer of warmth in his eyes was replaced by a sudden, unguarded shock.

What was that?

He knew all too well.

That was no bruise, no ordinary injury.

The shape, the position... it was unmistakably...

Liu Qingci noticed Xiao Jing’s reaction and followed his gaze downward. Realizing it too late, he tugged his collar up.

But the mark was high, near the jaw, and the loose collar could not cover it at all; the movement instead only made the attempt more obvious.

Xiao Jing's gaze was fixed there, his face as dark as a storm cloud.

His chest heaved violently once, as if with great effort suppressing an impending eruption of fury.

He suddenly stepped forward, his movement so fast it stirred a gust of wind, and reached out to touch Liu Qingci's neck, as if to confirm the authenticity of the mark, or perhaps to wipe it away forcefully.

Liu Qingci instinctively stepped back, avoiding his hand.

This evasive move was like a spark on a fuse, instantly igniting Xiao Jing's suppressed anger.

"What happened?" Xiao Jing's voice lost all warmth. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Did Xiao Yan do this?"

Liu Qingci's expression remained cold: "This has nothing to do with you."

"Nothing to do with me?" Xiao Jing's eyes surged with fury, burning with possessive outrage at the thought of his property being touched by another. His voice suddenly rose, "You say it has nothing to do with me? Did Xiao Yan touch you? What did he do to you?!"

Liu Qingci frowned, giving a look that said the other person was being unreasonable, as if he couldn't understand what Xiao Jing was so angry about.

He took a deep breath and said, "Xiao Jing, you know full well what my position is now. Whatever Xiao Yan does to me... is only to be expected. Besides, this has nothing to do with you!"

Xiao Jing only asked, "He forced you, didn't he?"