Xie Caiqing’s waist was slender, his muscles lean and taut, without a trace of excess fat. His sides were smooth, curving in a way that was perfectly sculpted.
Aside from the small mole on his collarbone, there was no other blemish on his body—like a pristine white canvas, waiting for someone to paint upon it.
Xiao Yun kept his expression neutral as he took in the sight of crimson flush blooming over pale skin, like red plum blossoms falling onto fresh snow. “I see. You weren’t hurt. Hurry and put your clothes back on before you catch a cold.”
Xie Caiqing seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing that Xiao Yun remained composed, his tone even carrying a trace of casual teasing between ruler and subject, his eyes flickered with a mix of gratitude and shame.
“What is it now?”
Gathering his robes, Xie Caiqing murmured, “Your humble servant judged Your Majesty unfairly before. I was too petty and assumed that others would be the same as me. Since I felt awkward, I thought Your Majesty would as well. So I avoided you of my own accord.”
“I wanted to make sure Your Majesty stayed in a good mood, but I was blind to the bigger picture and ended up displeasing you instead. I nearly lost the opportunity to serve Your Majesty and be close to you. Your Majesty may appear playful on the surface, but in truth, you are a true gentleman—any woman would be lucky to entrust her life to you.”
Xiao Yun’s face remained unreadable. “…No one is a saint. When you encounter something unfamiliar, losing a bit of composure is normal. It’s nothing to dwell on—people will understand.”
“Your humble servant only realizes that now. I was truly foolish.” Xie Caiqing sighed, stood up, and slowly fastened his belt. “It’s fortunate that Your Majesty is willing to teach me. Otherwise, I might have remained stuck in my own thoughts, making a fool of myself.”
He chuckled, as if he had finally overcome the mental barrier in his heart. Under Xiao Yun’s gaze, he no longer appeared so uneasy and apprehensive. Instead, he began to exude a certain composure.
The shy timidity that once marked him faded away, replaced by a calm and reserved demeanor—dignified yet maintaining the courteous distance of a gentlemanly acquaintance.
“…No need to thank me. If you can’t figure this out yourself, no one else can help you.”
“Then I shall take my leave to change my clothes.” Xie Caiqing lifted his head, his gaze respectfully seeking the emperor’s permission.
He had always kept his head lowered, making his face difficult to see. But now, as he raised it, the small mole beneath his eye became even more distinct, carrying an unusual charm.
Xiao Yun looked at him and said gently, “…Go ahead.”
Once Xie Caiqing had left, Xiao Yun poured himself a cup of tea from the teapot and took a large gulp. The cool liquid ran down his throat, barely quelling the heat in his body. He couldn’t help but curse under his breath, his gaze flickering darkly.
…
A palace maid entered, taking away the soiled clothes.
As she stepped in and shut the door behind her, she furrowed her brows and asked softly, “Xuandu, were you burned?”
Xie Caiqing shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Only then did the palace maid breathe a sigh of relief. She had been following his orders, calculating the right timing to intentionally collide with him.
Xie Caiqing had already put on his outer robe, standing there with a relaxed posture. The maid stepped forward to smooth out his robe and asked in a hushed tone, “Why has Xuandu come to Northern Ning?”
The spies of Miluo Manor stationed in Northern Ning all knew that the person in charge of the intelligence network was Xie Caiqing. However, they would not address him by his real name—externally, he was only known by his codename.
Xie Caiqing was Xuandu.
He had been in Northern Ning for some time, always acting as a messenger between the two sides. Yet, he had never personally visited the intelligence headquarters in Northern Ning or met directly with any of the spies. Other than Ru Shi, no one knew the reason behind his sudden arrival, nor why the old master of Miluo Manor had entrusted him with control over the intelligence network.
Upon being questioned, Xie Caiqing paused slightly as he adjusted his sleeve, then replied indifferently, “Some assignments.”
He had no intention of revealing too much.
First, because the matter was too absurd to explain. Second, it involved a secret of Nanruo that had been kept for a hundred years. Third, the mission was perilous—fewer people involved meant fewer risks. He did not want to endanger anyone else’s life for something that concerned only him. Fourth, he had to consider the future. If he truly ended up carrying a child, he didn’t want anyone to know who the father was. That knowledge would bring nothing but immense trouble for both him and the child. If word ever got out and reached Xiao Yun, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The palace maid asked, “Does it have to do with the Emperor of Northern Ning?”
“Mm.”
“Are you here to assassinate him?” The maid’s brows furrowed tightly in concern. “I know it’s not my place to ask, but we were worried that might be your intention, and we wanted to warn you—Xiao Yun’s martial skills are unparalleled, and his methods are endless. You mustn’t act recklessly. Besides, he is the old master’s grandnephew. If you attempt anything against him and succeed, Miluo Manor will never forgive you.”
Everyone in the intelligence network knew that Xie Caiqing was a master of poisons. They feared that he might seize an opportunity to strike, for if anyone in the world had the best chance at assassinating Xiao Yun, it would be Xie Caiqing.
He possessed both the temperament and the skills to carry it out—and he had already managed to get close to Xiao Yun without arousing suspicion.
Xie Caiqing shook his head.
The palace maid sighed. “We respect you and follow your orders, but in the end, we are loyal to the old master and to Miluo. Please don’t put us in a difficult position.”
Xie Caiqing smiled. “I swear, that’s not my intent.”
“I know my words may sound harsh, and I apologize,” the maid sighed, feeling grateful for his patience and tolerance. “But we had to speak bluntly. Otherwise, it would only become more complicated later. After all, you are from Nanruo.”
Everyone in the intelligence network was aware that Xie Caiqing was from Nanruo, and with Xiao Yun’s inevitable military campaign against Nanruo, it wouldn’t be surprising if Xie Caiqing, a scholar devoted to his homeland, harbored the intent to assassinate Xiao Yun.
“I understand.” Xie Caiqing reassured her with a warm smile. His voice was gentle. “The mission is urgent, and I haven’t had the chance to properly greet everyone or explain things. That was my negligence, which led to your concerns.”
“We were overthinking things,” the palace maid admitted. Seeing that he offered them an easy way out of their worries, her guilt deepened. “In truth, when the old master put us under your command, I already told the others—it’s impossible that you’re here to assassinate Xiao Yun. The old master would never harm his own grandnephew. But when you kept asking for information about Xiao Yun, they became anxious. They needed to hear it directly from you.”
Xie Caiqing nodded. “I understand.”
“I don’t know why you’re really here,” the palace maid said, “but I’ve long suspected that Xiao Yun is not entirely unaware of our presence. He’s only turning a blind eye because of the old master—so long as we don’t cross the line.”
Xie Caiqing had always suspected the same.
Given Xiao Yun’s nature, he must have known. Capturing a few Miluo spies would be easy, but uprooting the entire network was near impossible. Miluo’s spies were utterly loyal—if caught, they would take poison immediately rather than betray their comrades.
Moreover, the old master of Miluo Manor was Xiao Yun’s ancestor. If Xiao Yun were to launch a full-scale purge, the public backlash would be immense. It would cost him the people’s trust, destabilizing the court. That was an outcome he would never want.
It simply wasn’t a worthwhile trade. And Xiao Yun, the shrewdest of merchants, would never invest in a deal that yielded only losses.
He also understood that the old master would never allow his people to assassinate Xiao Yun. As long as they didn’t overstep their bounds, he wouldn’t investigate too deeply.
It saved him the trouble while still earning him goodwill from Miluo Manor.
“Thank you for the warning. I appreciate it,” Xie Caiqing said.
The palace maid looked at him with newfound respect and said sincerely, “For your own sake, don’t make a move against him. You’re still young—you have a future ahead of you. Don’t throw it all away here. You are but one person. You have no army, no forces to oppose him. Leave the matters of Nanruo to its emperor and Duan Wang. There is no need for you to sacrifice yourself.”
“…” Xie Caiqing nodded.
The maid let out a breath of relief, finally showing a faint smile. “As long as you’re not here to kill Xiao Yun, we will always stand by you. But if you are… then we may have to side with him. I’m sorry.”
“Understood.”
Xie Caiqing understood—this was human nature. Everyone had something to protect.
In Miluo and Great Ning, he was an outsider. Only Nanruo truly belonged to him. He gave to Nanruo, and in return, Nanruo gave him a sense of belonging and unwavering support.
Nanruo was home. Home was where his imperial brother was.
Only there, he would never be judged by worldly standards, and he would always find warmth.
The servant left with the soiled clothes. Xie Caiqing sighed and chuckled helplessly.
He had only come to conceive a child, yet everyone seemed to think he was here to assassinate Xiao Yun.
Even Xiao Yun himself had nearly believed it.
…
Early the next morning, in the Emperor’s bedchamber.
Yin Xian tiptoed to the imperial bed, gently lifted the bed curtain, and stole a glance at the man lying there, bare-skinned. His expression froze.
“Your Majesty, great joy! Great—”
Before he could finish shouting “great joy,” the Emperor bolted upright, shirtless, his face expressionless as he roared:
“GET OUT!”
“Get out now! I said out! Not rolling on the ground—roll yourself out of here! As fast as possible!”
Yin Xian’s legs nearly gave out in terror, his face turning ashen. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Majesty, please forgive me! This servant is leaving at once! Immediately!”
A young eunuch helped the trembling Yin Xian stumble out.
Xiao Yun ran a hand through his disheveled hair, got out of bed barefoot, and sat down at the table, his face stormy with a barely restrained temper, as if he might devour someone alive.
The eunuchs trembled, their shoulders shaking, not daring to lift their heads.
Still wearing only his undergarments, Xiao Yun sat down and pressed a hand to his forehead, gulping down a mouthful of tea.
It was warm.
His expression instantly darkened.
With a clank, he slammed the teacup onto the table, spilling tea all over.
The eunuchs, scared stiff, immediately dropped to their knees.
The Emperor sat there in silence, deep in thought. The vast bedchamber fell into an eerie hush.
A suffocating tension filled the air.
“Where is Yin Xian? Why isn’t he here dressing me?” Xiao Yun snapped impatiently.
The palace servants were momentarily stunned. One of Yin Xian’s young apprentices hesitantly lifted his head and stammered, “Y-Your Majesty just ordered him to get out…”
Xiao Yun slapped his forehead.
He had forgotten.
The apprentice quietly offered, “Your Majesty, you have so many affairs to handle, how could you possibly remember a mere servant? Shall I call him back to… roll back in?”
“No need!”
“Then this servant will assist Your Majes—”
“I’ll dress myself.” Xiao Yun scowled.
“Understood!”
Xiao Yun stood and walked toward the mirror. He found the usual small bronze mirrors inconvenient, so he had craftsmen make one taller than himself.
The apprentice quickly instructed the maids to bring clothing and accessories. Xiao Yun smoothed his hair and ran his hand along his jaw, scrutinizing his face inch by inch.
Handsome. Dashing.
He glanced down at his bare torso.
Defined abs, sharp contours, strong yet lean.
“Which robe should I wear today?”
Xiao Yun looked at the palace maids standing with heads lowered. “You, all of you—look up.”
The maids shrank their necks and shook their heads.
“I said, look up!” Xiao Yun commanded.
Terrified, the maids lifted their gazes at once.
In an instant, Xiao Yun’s expression softened into a gentle smile. “What do you think of my looks?”
The maids’ eyes widened.
The man before them was all sharp, defined features—his brows bold, his eyes deep-set, carrying an ever-present touch of amusement. Just one glance could set a heart racing.
The maids flushed red, their hearts pounding, too shy to respond.
“I asked you a question.”
One bold maid immediately flattered him, “Your Majesty is the most handsome man in the world!”
The rest chimed in agreement.
Xiao Yun, his smile unreadable, gave a noncommittal “Mhm,” before casually adding, “And what do you think of my figure?”
