Chapter 142 Guilty Conscience

Chapter 142: A Guilty Conscience

The Imperial Palace, the Study.

It was late into the night, and candlelight cast flickering shadows on the window lattice.

Xiao Jing sat at the desk, a memorial in his hands that he hadn't turned a single page in hours.

A man in black slipped in silently and knelt on the ground.

"Your Highness."

Xiao Jing raised his eyes, his gaze heavy. "How did it go?"

The man in black kept his head low and spoke rapidly: "Everything at the imperial mausoleum has been arranged. The overseer Zhao, in charge of guarding the tomb, accepted three thousand taels of silver and agreed to pull back the guards from the west side gate on the night you arrive. Your Highness can enter from there without arousing any suspicion."

Xiao Jing's brow relaxed slightly.

The man in black continued: "Also... the corpse you requested has been prepared."

He paused, lowering his voice: "It was found in a mass grave outside the city. The build is similar to Prince Yu's, and the face has been disfigured. Even someone familiar with him wouldn't recognize it without close inspection."

The corner of Xiao Jing's mouth turned up slightly, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"Well done."

Xiao Jing walked to the window of the Imperial Study, gazing at the deepening night sky, a glint of determination gleaming in his eyes.

That impostor showed no panic about opening the coffin and examining the corpse. Xiao Jing guessed he must have made some preparations.

But that was fine. No matter whether that impostor was human or ghost, real or fake, he would make sure he was proven fake.

The man in black remained kneeling, waiting for further instructions.

"I will handle the affairs in the palace," he said. "At tomorrow's morning court, I will plead illness and not show up. The day after... the night after tomorrow, I will go to the imperial mausoleum in person."

The man in black responded, "Understood."

Xiao Jing added, "Make sure the overseer Zhao is ready. That night, I must enter. If even the slightest mistake occurs..."

His voice turned cold.

The man in black stiffened: "I understand."

—

The Liu Residence.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window, falling on Liu Qingci.

He lounged on a soft couch by the window, holding a book in his hands, his eyes cast downward, his expression serene.

Yun Feng poked his head in from outside the door and called softly, "Master?"

Liu Qingci's eyes were fixed on the book, but his gaze was completely unfocused. The page hadn't been turned for a long time, and even his eyelashes barely fluttered.

Yun Feng stood at the door, watching his master like this, and couldn't help but sigh to himself.

Here we go again.

Ever since they returned from Prince Yu's mansion two days ago, the master had been acting this way.

Sitting and zoning out, staring and losing focus, no one knew what he was thinking.

Yun Feng tiptoed over to Liu Qingci and peeked at the book in his hands.

The book was open, but that same page had been read three days prior.

Yun Feng cleared his throat and raised his voice: "Master!"

Liu Qingci's eyelashes fluttered suddenly.

He seemed to snap awake, looking up at Yun Feng with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"What is it?" he asked.

Yun Feng looked at him helplessly. "Master, you were daydreaming again."

Liu Qingci looked down. He closed the book and placed it on his lap.

His ears slowly turned red at the tips, but he denied it. "No, I wasn't."

"What is it?" Liu Qingci asked calmly.

Yun Feng said, "It's Master Chen Huaian. He's already at the mansion gate."

"Invite him in," he said.

Yun Feng acknowledged and turned to go.

After a moment, familiar footsteps sounded from the corridor.

Chen Huaian strode in wearing a gray-white brocade robe, a smile on his face.

"Qingci, my friend! I heard you've returned from the palace. I was busy these past few days and only now have time to visit you!"

Chen Huaian sat down opposite Liu Qingci, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a big gulp.

"How were things at the palace?" he set down the teacup and looked at Liu Qingci, worry in his eyes.

Liu Qingci avoided his gaze. He thought, fortunately, Chen Huaian hadn't had time to visit recently; otherwise, his parents would have seen through the lie...

"Not bad," Liu Qingci answered lightly.

Remembering that the pastries he'd meant to give Chen Huaian that day had ended up at Prince Yu's mansion, Liu Qingci now felt a pang of guilt facing Chen Huaian.

He stood and walked to the bookshelf, retrieving a sandalwood box from the top shelf.

Chen Huaian watched him, curiosity in his eyes.

Liu Qingci walked back, took out a book from inside the box, and handed it over.

"For you."

Chen Huaian saw the title on the cover, and his eyes widened immediately.

He carefully picked up the book, opened a page, then another, his fingers quivering.

"This... this is..." his voice rose an octave, "Is this the long-lost edition? The one rumored to have only three copies in existence?"

Liu Qingci nodded.

Chen Huaian looked up at him, his eyes wide open, "For me? Last time I asked to borrow it, you wouldn't even lend it to me!"

Liu Qingci looked at him, feeling even more guilty.

"Ahem... I hadn't finished reading it before." He cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. "Now that it's just a keepsake on my shelf, you might as well take it."

Chen Huaian cradled the book and let out a couple of mischievous chuckles.

"Qingci," he leaned in, lowering his voice, "did you do something to go behind my back?"

He paused again, his gaze sweeping over Liu Qingci's face.

"You didn't sell me off to get this book, did you?!"

Liu Qingci: "..."

He took a deep breath, pushed down that guilt, and said with a straight face:

"If you don't want it, give it back."

Chen Huaian immediately hid the book behind his back, looking solemn. "Yes, yes, yes! Of course I want it!"

The two chatted for a bit, and seeing that the afternoon sun was nice, they went for a walk in the garden.

Passing through the corridor and walking around the rock garden, they walked slowly along the pebble path.

Chen Huaian flipped through the book as he walked, completely unable to put it down.

"Qingci, if there's ever anything I can help you with in the future, I'll go through hell or high water for you!"

Liu Qingci listened, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Alright."

Chen Huaian looked up, about to say something—

"Is that Huai'an here?"

A kindly voice came from up ahead.

They both looked up. Madam Liu was approaching from nearby, accompanied by two maids carrying tea and pastries.

Chen Huaian quickly put away the book and greeted her with a smile. "Hello, Aunt! I was just sitting in Qingci's room for a while and came out for a walk."

Madam Liu looked at him, her eyes full of warmth.

"Since you're here, why didn't you come say hello to me?" she chided playfully. "Come over here and sit. I've had some refreshments prepared."

Chen Huaian scratched his head and followed her into the pavilion.

Liu Qingci followed behind them, a vague sense of unease creeping into his chest.

In the pavilion, several plates of pastries and a pot of freshly brewed tea sat on the stone table. Madam Liu invited them to sit and personally poured tea for them.

Chen Huaian, honored, quickly accepted the cup.

Madam Liu smiled and came right out and asked, "Qingci stayed over at your place the night before last, didn't he? I hope he wasn't a bother to your parents."