Chapter 143 Studying by Lamplight at Night

Chapter 143: Burning the Midnight Oil

Chen Huaian was stunned.

He looked at Liu Qingci, confused.

Staying at my place?

When did that happen?

How come I don't know about it?

Liu Qingci's hand, holding the teacup, stiffened a little.

Madam Liu, oblivious to her son's discomfort, continued, "That day Qingci said he was going to your place, I even had the kitchen whip up some pastries for him to take along. It's good for you young people to chat and hang out."

Chen Huaian was still dazed. He turned his head and met Liu Qingci's warning glare.

Liu Qingci's eyes darted, then he gestured toward the priceless, one-of-a-kind book in Chen Huaian's hand.

And shot him another warning look.

Chen Huaian got the message from his eyes and suddenly realized.

So this book was a bribe!

For once, Chen Huaian, quick to catch on, quickly adjusted his expression.

He smiled at Madam Liu and said, "As you say, Auntie. When Qingci came to my place, we had a great time chatting."

Madam Liu's smile grew warmer.

"That's great." She nodded repeatedly. "Qingci has a cold disposition, so he should get out more and not grow distant."

Chen Huaian smiled sincerely. "Rest assured, Auntie. I'll come often; Qingci is always welcome to stop by whenever he wants."

As he spoke, he shot Liu Qingci a look.

Liu Qingci, holding his teacup, lowered his eyes, pretending not to notice.

After dinner, Liu Qingci walked Chen Huaian to the gate.

As Chen Huaian reached the carriage, he suddenly stopped. He leaned in and lowered his voice, all mysterious.

"Qingci, I thought you never lied. What big deal made you change your ways?"

Liu Qingci coughed, averted his gaze, and looked a bit awkward.

"It's nothing major... Thanks for today."

Chen Huaian waved his hand dismissively. "No big deal! Just let me know if you ever need me."

Seeing that Liu Qingci didn't want to elaborate, he didn't push it.

Chen Huaian glanced at the darkening sky, shuddered, and muttered,

"It's getting late. I've heard Prince Yu's mansion is haunted these days. I'd better head back early. Qingci, don't bother seeing me off. See you..."

Liu Qingci: "...Catch you later."

—

Two days later.

The night was pitch black. The pines at the imperial tomb rustled in the wind, like ghosts whispering.

Xiao Jing slipped out from the hidden door, his face was deathly pale.

He leaned against the stone wall, bent over, and dry-heaved a few times.

His stomach was churning, the stench of rot stuck in his throat, and he couldn't get rid of it.

A loyal attendant quickly handed him a water pouch, but he pushed it away.

"Your Highness..." the attendant called softly.

Xiao Jing waved his hand, took a few deep breaths, and fought down the nausea.

He straightened up, looked back at the hidden door, and a slow, twisted smile spread across his lips.

Under the pale moonlight, that smile was especially creepy.

"Good," he said, his voice hoarse but dripping with malice. "Very good."

He had seen the corpse in the coffin with his own eyes. That fool really had died in there.

Xiao Jing slowly straightened his back, his twisted expression gradually turning into a cold sneer.

"The one in Prince Yu's mansion..." he murmured, a hint of satisfaction through gritted teeth in his voice. "It really is a fake."

He had even made preparations in advance, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

How did that fake have the nerve, thinking he could pass himself off as royalty? Hmph, in a few days, he would expose the impostor and settle the score!

"I should really figure out how I'll kill him..." Xiao Jing gave a sinister laugh.

The attendant stood with his head bowed, not daring to speak.

Xiao Jing turned and walked toward his carriage outside the imperial mausoleum.

The moonlight fell upon him, stretching his shadow, long and twisted.

As he walked, he asked, "Has that fake done anything in Prince Yu's mansion these past few days?"

The attendant quickly followed and reported in a low voice, "Reporting to Your Highness, everything at Prince Yu's mansion is as usual. That... that person has been in Lanyue Pavilion all these days, never leaving. Only..."

He paused.

Xiao Jing kept walking. "Only what?"

The attendant steeled himself and said, "Only Young Master Liu stopped by once."

Xiao Jing's footsteps abruptly halted.

He spun around, his eyes like knives.

"Liu Qingci?"

The trusted subordinate lowered his head. "Yes, a few days ago, Young Master Liu went to Prince Yu's mansion and stayed in Lanyue Pavilion... until the next morning before leaving."

Xiao Jing's face changed color.

Liu Qingci stayed at Prince Yu's mansion for an entire night?

These past few days had been so busy, with so much going on, that he had almost forgotten... it was that impostor who had taken Liu Qingci away back then.

Now that Liu Qingci had returned to the Liu residence, he had no proper time or opportunity to summon him back to the palace.

He could only let Liu Qingci slip out of his control.

He had even gone to Prince Yu's mansion again to meet that impostor of unknown origin.

No matter how hard Xiao Jing racked his brains, he couldn't figure out who could be so close to Liu Qingci.

But it didn't matter; that person was going to die anyway.

Liu Qingci would also return to his grasp.

Xiao Jing gazed into the night at nothing in particular, as if he could already see the scene of that day.

Officials assembled before the imperial mausoleum. The impostor knelt on the ground, pale-faced, while he stood above, pronouncing his death sentence word by word.

The carriage headed toward the imperial palace.

Xiao Jing leaned back in the carriage, closing his eyes to rest.

The matters that had troubled him and kept him on edge these past days could finally be put aside; he wearily rubbed his brow.

But Xiao Jing had always been cautious and could not tolerate the slightest mistake.

Something occurred to him, and he suddenly opened his eyes and gave an order:

"Before the opening of the coffin at the imperial mausoleum, keep a close watch on the people at Prince Yu's mansion for me. See what that impostor is doing, and report everything, no matter how trivial."

"Yes." The trusted subordinate accepted the order and went to see to it.

After Xiao Jing returned to the palace, aside from handling court affairs, he poured all his energy into finding the emperor's whereabouts.

But the people he had sent had secretly searched the entire capital without finding any clues.

Xiao Jing grew increasingly anxious and restless. He was afraid, afraid that something might go wrong at this final step.

Days passed, one after another, eerily calm.

Soon it was the day before the coffin was scheduled to be opened at the imperial mausoleum. The man he had placed at Prince Yu's mansion returned to give his report.

Xiao Jing looked at the subordinate kneeling before him, his expression grave. "I told you to report if there were any abnormalities, but you haven't come even once in all these days."

The subordinate straightened his back and answered solemnly, "Your Highness, there is nothing unusual at Prince Yu's mansion."

Xiao Jing's brow furrowed.

"Nothing unusual?" he repeated, his gaze scrutinizing the subordinate. "What exactly has that impostor been doing these days?"

The subordinate kept his head lowered and said in a steady voice, "Your Highness, that person has been reading books every day."

"Reading books?!" The corner of Xiao Jing's mouth twitched. He asked, "What kind of books?"

"Well... Your subordinate does not know. Our people dare not get too close; they can only tell that the person... is indeed reading." The subordinate thought for a moment, then described carefully, "That person's desk is piled high with books. Sometimes his expression is serious, sometimes his brows are furrowed, and sometimes he takes a pen and scribbles in the books, as if deep in some important study."

The subordinate spoke earnestly and added, "Sometimes he even reads by lamplight late into the night!"

Xiao Jing's expression instantly became unreadable.

After a moment, he let out a disdainful snort and said, "Just as I thought, an impostor. The real Xiao Yan would never read books."