Chapter 70: A Man of Few Words but Ruthless Actions

Chapter 70: A Fierce Man of Few Words

Xiao Yan's heart stirred slightly, realizing that Liu Qingci didn't seem intimidated by him, but he still subconsciously explained:

"I was just giving him a taste of his own medicine."

I'm not usually this fierce...

"Mm." Liu Qingci responded casually, then looked up at Xiao Yan and said, "Xiao Jing is a deeply scheming man. Your Highness must be cautious around him in the future."

Xiao Yan: "Alright..."

There was a knock at the door, and Fu'an entered carrying two bowls of medicine to ward off the cold.

Not surprised to see his master in Young Master Liu's room, Fu'an had the tact to first hand one bowl to Liu Qingci before presenting the other to Xiao Yan.

"Your Highness, you were in the lake for a long time today and the cold has seeped into your body. You must not take this lightly—please drink it while it's hot."

Xiao Yan took the bowl: "Mm, you may leave."

After Fu'an withdrew, Xiao Yan sat upright by the table, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward Liu Qingci.

Liu Qingci held the porcelain spoon, taking small sips of the medicine, his brows slightly furrowed from the bitterness. His lips, stained by the medicine, took on a darker hue, which he unconsciously wiped away by pressing his lips together.

He remained quiet throughout.

Xiao Yan watched him, his mind beginning to wander.

"He was worried about me just now, wasn't he? He told me to be wary of Xiao Jing!"

"And now, when he mentions Xiao Jing, it's just 'that man Xiao Jing'—wow, so cold and distant. I remember in the original novel, Xiao Jing later forced Liu Qingci to call him by his courtesy name. What was it? Huai Jin, right! Just that lousy name, and Liu Qingci has probably already forgotten it now..."

Xiao Yan downed his own bowl of medicine in one gulp.

His gaze still fixed on Liu Qingci, as if he didn't even taste the bitterness.

"And he just watched Xiao Jing fall into the lake without any reaction. He didn't even see anything wrong with what I did. What does that mean?"

Xiao Yan answered himself: "It means he wanted to hit Xiao Jing too!"

"..."

Xiao Yan: "Little K, why aren't you saying anything?"

Little K: ":)"

Little K said nothing, only replying with a smile.

Xiao Yan: "Is there something wrong with my analysis?"

Little K: "Nothing wrong."

Xiao Yan couldn't help but let a slight smile creep onto his lips.

Little K let out an electronic sigh it couldn't voice, saying: "Host, do you know that when I first bonded with you, I thought you were a man of few words but fierce actions—good at acting and smart."

Xiao Yan remained expressionless: "Mm, that's what others used to say about me too."

Little K mercilessly called him out: "But it was all just a facade."

Especially the 'few words' part.

—

Xiao Jing dragged himself out of the icy lake, nearly exhausting all his strength, and collapsed on the muddy shore coughing and panting heavily.

The pain on both sides of his cheeks became more acute, sharpened by the cold.

Suppressing his nearly frozen body and the seething anger and humiliation, he staggered to his feet and returned to the inn.

A trusted subordinate immediately appeared silently, shocked at the sight of him, and quickly stepped forward to support him while handing him a cloak.

"Master, you..."

Xiao Jing shook off the aid, took the cloak himself, and wrapped it around his shoulders without stopping.

With a grim face, he walked into his room, wearing only his inner garments, and sat by the charcoal fire.

After a moment, the twisted madness that had been on Xiao Jing's face by the lake was gone, replaced by a deep, calm composure.

"Prepare a generous gift."

The subordinate was taken aback: "A generous gift? For...?"

"Prince Yu's residence—Xiao Yan." Xiao Jing uttered these words.

He reached out, touching his swollen, aching cheek with cold fingertips, his gaze dark and unfathomable.

"Today by the lake, I unfortunately offended my seventh brother, causing him to fall into the water in shock. My heart is truly uneasy. I have prepared a modest gift as an apology, hoping my seventh brother will rest well and not let this harm our fraternal bond."

The subordinate listened, stunned.

His master had been beaten like this, yet he wanted to send gifts and apologize to Prince Yu?

But having served Xiao Jing for years, he knew his master's nature well—he was no ordinary man, capable of enduring what others could not.

He dared not ask further, only bowed and replied: "Yes, I will see to it immediately."

"Wait."

Xiao Jing stopped him, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames, his gaze deep as he suddenly changed his mind.

"Find a few people. I will go to Prince Yu's residence myself."

The subordinate asked: "What kind of people?"

Xiao Jing walked to a row of curio shelves against the wall and took out a portrait.

He handed the portrait to the subordinate and gave detailed instructions.

The subordinate took the scroll with both hands, unrolled it, and looked at it with surprise. After hearing Xiao Jing's words, he found it even stranger.

Xiao Jing: "Find the person before tomorrow and bring him to me."

"Yes!"

The subordinate received the order and withdrew.

Outside the inn, the guards of Prince Yu's Mansion had already arranged everything.

To ensure warmth and comfort on the return journey, the luxurious carriage had been meticulously prepared.

Fu'an personally led the attendants, carefully helping the bundled-up Liu Qingci into the carriage, settling him in the most sheltered, warm spot, and covering his knees with an exceptionally thick fox-fur blanket.

"Young Master Liu, the brazier is right here, and tea and refreshments are all prepared. If you need anything, just tap on the carriage wall, and I'll be right outside on the driver's seat."

Liu Qingci thanked him softly.

Only after Fu'an had left did Xiao Yan duck into the carriage.

Seeing Liu Qingci comfortably settled, and obediently seated, he felt very satisfied.

Outside the carriage.

The young eunuch, Lai Shun, staying close to Fu'an, finally couldn't help but lean in and whisper:

"Eunuch Fu, we're treating this Young Master Liu like a revered Buddha—even neglecting His Highness. Isn't that over the top?"

If His Highness suddenly took offense and punished them for inadequate service, they'd have no one to blame.

"Too far? What do you know."

Upon hearing this, Fu'an didn't even raise his eyes, simply giving a soft snort through his nose, lowering his voice even more than Lai Shun:

"Serving a master means knowing how to read the room. If we make Young Master Liu happy, then His Highness will be happy!"

Lai Shun blinked, not quite understanding.

"Didn't Young Master Liu fall into the water today according to His Highness's wishes?"

Lai Shun hadn't been serving at his master's side and still didn't have the full picture.

He only knew that both His Highness and Young Master Liu had fallen into the water today, and assumed His Highness had targeted Young Master Liu for trouble, only for something to go wrong midway.

"You really have no clue!" Fu'an scolded exasperatedly, then explained what he had painstakingly figured out: "Today, it was Young Master Liu who risked his life to save His Highness!"

Lai Shun sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes going wide.

"Then Young Master Liu really returns good for evil!"