Chapter 106 It’s Like He’s a Completely Different Person

Chapter 106: He's Like a Completely Different Person

A strange look came over Fu'an's face when he heard this.

"...Things His Highness wrote in the past?"

When had His Highness ever known how to write, let alone compose essays?

His Highness didn't even read books at all back then!

And besides...

Fu'an said, "The only things His Highness used to write... were probably some letters. Those letters... His Highness burned them not long ago..."

Liu Qingci's eyes flickered. "Burned them?"

"Yes." Fu'an thought for a moment and said, "His Highness gathered up all the letters from the study a few months ago. Since he used to stuff letters haphazardly into books, he spent a long time searching through them."

"Later... His Highness seemed to undergo a change of character and started practicing calligraphy in the study. And then, I happened to see him burning many of his old letters."

Fu'an now couldn't afford to be careless with Liu Qingci at all, so he answered every question he asked in detail.

After listening, Liu Qingci lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment.

Fu'an asked cautiously, "Young Master Liu, is there anything else you need from me?"

Liu Qingci smiled gently. "No need. I'll go back to the study and look for my own manuscripts."

Fu'an: "Right, right! Got it!"

Liu Qingci thought about what Fu'an had just said...

Xiao Yan used to stuff letters haphazardly into books, and only later went through them one by one to retrieve them.

He returned to the bookshelf and began rapidly flipping through the books, one after another.

The collection in the study was far too vast; it would obviously take quite a while to search through completely.

Of course, that also meant Xiao Yan likely missed some at the time.

Fu'an didn't dare enter to hurry him. An unknown amount of time passed.

Liu Qingci found a sheet of paper tucked inside a poetry collection on a high shelf.

The paper was already slightly yellowed, at least two to three years old.

What was written on it were obscene and lewd content.

Liu Qingci frowned as he read it.

He didn't waste any more time and placed this sheet alongside the recent writings from the sandalwood box and made a side-by-side comparison.

Liu Qingci studied them carefully for a long time.

He had previously studied forged handwriting to investigate the forged secret letter that had framed his father.

In those days, he would sit for entire days comparing his father's authentic handwriting with the so-called forged letter.

Brushstroke direction, ink density, writing pressure, stroke-ending habits.

He had deeply studied what constituted authentic calligraphy and how it was imitated.

Xiao Yan's recent handwriting was laid out side by side on the desk.

The leftmost sheet was the old one retrieved from the poetry collection.

Liu Qingci could even discern from it how Xiao Yan gradually imitated the handwriting, becoming more and more similar

to the handwriting on the sheet he had found in the poetry collection.

Why had Xiao Yan suddenly taken up calligraphy some time ago?

Because he wanted to forge someone's handwriting.

Why had Xiao Yan burned his old letters?

Because he didn't want others to notice any clues.

The candle flame flickered, illuminating Liu Qingci's pale face.

His gaze traveled back and forth across the sheets, once, then again.

Liu Qingci's fingertips began to tremble, and his heart suddenly began to race.

So fast that he could almost hear his own heart beating, thumping loudly in the silent night.

Perhaps because he had been in the study too long, Fu'an grew worried.

He asked cautiously from outside the door, "Young Master Liu, are you alright?"

Liu Qingci couldn't calm his emotions and was momentarily unable to say a word.

Fu'an asked again, "Young Master Liu, the night is very late. Why not stay overnight at Prince Yu's residence? But His Highness just sent word that His Majesty is holding a family banquet tonight, so he won't be returning to the residence."

After a moment, Liu Qingci pushed the door open.

He looked at Fu'an standing outside and asked, "Eunuch Fu'an, I heard His Highness used to have a wine cellar, stocked with the finest rare wines from all over the world."

Fu'an paused, startled, before nodding. "Yes, there is a wine cellar in the eastern cross-courtyard. His Highness... ahem, used to frequent it."

In fact, saying 'often' was an understatement (he practically lived there).

His Highness used to be a hopeless drunk, spending his days dead drunk; he couldn't live without wine!

He also loved to force others to drink with him. His Highness had forced everyone in the back courtyard to drink, whether they could hold their liquor or not, and he would force them to drink anyway.

Because His Highness used to say that drinking is only fun when shared.

But Fu'an kept all this to himself.

He had to maintain His Highness's good image in Young Master Liu's mind.

"Doesn't he go anymore?"

Liu Qingci looked dazed. His words sounded less like a question and more like he was talking to himself.

Fu'an hastily replied, "Indeed! His Highness rarely goes there now! As far as I can tell, His Highness seems to have lost his taste for alcohol!"

"Has he really given it up?" Liu Qingci blinked and looked at Fu'an, asking, "Or did he force himself to quit?"

"This..." Fu'an folded his hands and paused to think.

Liu Qingci said sincerely, "Whatever you tell me, I won't tell His Highness."

Fu'an gave a fawning smile.

Young Master Liu was truly clever—he knew exactly what Fu'an was worried about.

As a servant, it wasn't exactly proper to talk about his own master behind his back…

But since Young Master Liu had said so, he might as well…

"Actually, His Highness has taken a liking to tea these days. He actually sent people all the way to Jiangnan to get top-grade Longjing and Biluochun tea."

Fu'an clasped his hands and began speaking slowly,

"At banquets, he barely touches the wine, and when he returns, he hates the smell of alcohol on himself. The moment he walks in, he orders a bath—won't rest till he's squeaky clean."

Liu Qingci listened quietly, his expression turning grim.

After a moment, Fu'an suddenly remembered something and said with a smile,

"Come to think of it, His Highness even changed up his incense."

Liu Qingci turned his head.

"His Highness used to go for those heavy, pungent scents—said they kept him alert and, well… had other effects. You know, back then… ahem."

Realizing he had said too much, Fu'an quickly changed the subject, "But these past few months, he suddenly switched. Now in Lan Yue Xuan, they only burn light, grassy scents—says it helps him feel at peace."

Liu Qingci knew.

During the days he had stayed in Lan Yue Xuan, that was exactly the fragrance he had smelled.

Light and crisp—like a mountain breeze, like morning dew.

"When you think about it, His Highness has really turned over a new leaf." Fu'an sighed, clearly moved, and couldn't help adding a little flattery, "It's all thanks to you, Young Master Liu! Ever since you showed up, His Highness is like a whole new man!"