Chapter 24 Conspiracy Brewing

Chapter 24 Conspiracy Brewing

The twilight deepened, stars scattered across the distant sky.

At the entrance of the Qin residence, Cong Shuang was holding a lantern and looking out anxiously. When the familiar carriage appeared not far away, a smile spread across her face, and she hurried over to meet it.

"Sister Congshuang, I brought you the chestnut cakes you like." Qin Jiao hopped down from the carriage, holding up the chestnut cakes like he was showing off a treasure.

But Cong Shuang's attention was completely elsewhere. Her face brightened as she looked into the carriage, and she was about to start signing when Qin Jiao quickly stopped her.

"Sister, the Prince has to return to the military camp outside the city today, so he can't stay. And we've already eaten out." He knew from experience exactly what she was thinking.

"Ah..." A look of disappointment crossed her face, but it didn't last long because He Zhao came bouncing over.

"Is there any late-night snack? Can I have some?"

He Zhao had an extremely endearing smile, and with his baby face and sweet words, he quickly delighted Cong Shuang. After giving a bow to Xie Nai, Cong Shuang happily led He Zhao into the mansion.

Well... Qin Jiao had reason to suspect that Cong Shuang just wanted someone to taste her late-night snacks, and it didn't matter who that person was.

"Your Highness, I'll head in now."

In the shifting light of the lanterns, Xie Nai gestured with his chin toward the antique clothing chest placed inside the carriage.

"Should I take it?"

"There are many people in the camp. Keep it at your residence first."

"Alright, I'll keep it safe for you, Your Highness." Qin Jiao didn't think much of it, just focused on protecting this "thousand ounces of gold." "Take care on the road, Your Highness."

"Mm-hmm." Xie Nai lowered the carriage curtain, and Qin Jiao watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

"Little Qin Jiao, come in quickly! This plum juice sweet soup is absolutely amazing!"

He Zhao called from inside the mansion. Qin Jiao responded, but just as he was about to enter, he noticed something moving in the low bushes at the northeast corner outside the mansion.

Qin Jiao looked around and stepped forward. Just as he was about to reach the bushes, a black cat suddenly shot out!

"Meow—" The cat yowled in surprise and quickly fled.

Just a cat.

Qin Jiao shook his head. He must be getting nervous from all the recent murders.

"Qin Jiao, you're slower than a turtle! Hurry up!"

"Coming."

He Zhao called again from inside. Qin Jiao didn't linger any longer and ran back into the mansion. The moment he left, two figures emerged from the darkness not far away.

As Qin Jiao entered the mansion, he nearly tripped over a messily placed round chair. He stumbled and steadied himself by grabbing the nearby table.

"Are you as clumsy as Zhang Fei with a needle? So careless! Watch your step—you know you can't risk getting hurt," He Zhao said, walking over with a bowl.

"I know." Qin Jiao smiled, then set down the clothes chest and straightened the chair.

Cong Shuang had been packing things for their return to the capital, leaving the mansion a bit messy. Just then, Cong Shuang came over with a bowl of plum juice sweet soup. Qin Jiao took it and offhandedly asked how her packing was going and if she needed help.

Cong Shuang signed in reply: "Almost done. Just need to straighten up a bit more tomorrow."

"You've been working hard, Sister. Come, try the chestnut cakes." Qin Jiao put down the sweet soup, which he'd only sipped, and handed a chestnut cake to Cong Shuang. They then chatted about household matters, with He Zhao occasionally adding a word or two.

"Little Qin Jiao, aren't you going to finish your sweet soup?" He Zhao asked, noting that Qin Jiao had only taken one sip before setting it aside.

"You want more? Better not..." Qin Jiao meant no harm, but eating too much at night would be hard to digest, and he was afraid He Zhao wouldn't be able to sleep.

But He Zhao didn't care at all. He directly picked up Qin Jiao's bowl and chugged the soup. "Delicious! Before, I was always held back—can't eat this, can't eat that—so annoying. Now I'm free!"

Qin Jiao could tell that He Zhao was a bit defiant.

"Are your family very strict with you?"

"Hmm... not really. There's just someone who always likes to boss me around." He Zhao frowned, looking a bit displeased.

Qin Jiao got curious. "Who?"

Who could possibly rein in this reckless, flamboyant peacock?

He Zhao was quiet for once, then muttered darkly, "A bastard. A liar."

Qin Jiao and Cong Shuang exchanged a glance. Well, that was quite a resentment.

Qin Jiao was about to try and comfort He Zhao, but He Zhao suddenly grabbed his hands. Looking at Qin Jiao with pleading eyes and a sorrowful voice, he said, "Let's not talk about that liar. So annoying. Talk about you—go beg Xie Nai to give me the antidote for the Bone-Crushing Pill. I promise I won't run around, won't cause trouble, and won't talk nonsense."

Qin Jiao hesitated, then asked, "Your family runs a medical clinic. Can't you make the antidote yourself?"

He Zhao suddenly yelled. "I can't! I have to rely on you!"

Qin Jiao hadn't expected He Zhao to have such high hopes for him, but he was sure to be disappointed. In a soft but merciless tone, Qin Jiao told him the truth: "I actually asked the Prince, but he told me to be quiet. He was scary before I even got a word out."

He Zhao couldn't keep up his pitiful act any longer. The flamboyant peacock slammed the table and roared, "Then he's a bastard too!"

Before Qin Jiao could respond, Cong Shuang unhappily tapped He Zhao on the shoulder. "Mr. He, you can't speak ill of the Prince."

Qin Jiao was a bit annoyed that Cong Shuang's loyalties shifted so quickly—just a few days ago, she had talked about buying local specialties for Lin Wen, and now she was defending Xie Nai.

He Zhao looked at Qin Jiao in confusion. "What did Sister say?"

Qin Jiao: "Sister says you're right. The Prince is not a good person."

Qin Jiao's eyes curved into crescents, stars seeming to twinkle in them. Cong Shuang couldn't help but not knowing whether to laugh or cry, lightly tapping Qin Jiao on the head. "You mustn't talk nonsense either."

Qin Jiao nodded casually, still laughing. "I know, I know."

He Zhao still didn't know what Cong Shuang had signed, but seeing Qin Jiao get scolded, he guessed the translation had been a joke, and he cracked up too.

The moon climbed over the willow branches, and the hour grew late.

After a bout of laughter and banter, He Zhao began to yawn. Qin Jiao urged him to rest. "It's getting late. Go to sleep. I'll ask the Prince about the Bone-Crushing Pill antidote tomorrow."

"I'm not sleepy. I won't sleep. Let's go find Xie Nai now!" He Zhao wanted to make a fuss, but Qin Jiao gave him a shove. "Sister, please take him to rest."

Cong Shuang led He Zhao away. He Zhao still wanted to say something, but Qin Jiao simply closed the door.

In an instant, the world was quiet.

——————

A night wind swept up scraps of yellow paper. Not far from Nanzhou's potter's field, in a grove of trees, three figures of varying heights lurked in the shadows. One of them, a tall man, held a small blue-and-white plum vase in his hand.

"This is what you asked for. Have you made up your mind?" the tall man asked.

"Let's drop it, child. You can't get into any more trouble." A woman beside him choked out.

As her words trailed off, a figure in a veil stepped out from the shadows, speaking with a heavy, resolute tone, "No, we can't let it go. A debt must be repaid, and a life for a life—that's only fair."

"Fine. Those corrupt officials can't be trusted. I'll help you!" the tall man said bitterly.

"My child, my poor children..." The woman's voice rang out again, weak and sorrowful.

The veiled figure turned and gently hugged the weeping woman. As he raised his hand, a bracelet slipped into view—a thin chain adorned with a pink flower, encircled by delicate green leaves. It wasn't an exquisite piece; it looked handcrafted.

"Don't worry, Auntie. I'll get out of this safe and sound. Once this is over, I'll take you far away from South Province, somewhere we'll never come back from."

"You must be safe, child. You must be safe." The woman wept even more sorrowfully.

"I will."

The tall man beside them turned his face away, unable to bear the sight.

In the night, dark clouds loomed over the distant peaks. The deep forest winds rustled through countless bare branches, whispering and scraping.

It was early winter, deep into the night, and a heavy rain was brewing.

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