Su Yan stood in the frigid wind of the twelfth lunar month on the streets of the capital, utterly bewildered, with a teary-eyed toddler clutching a sugar-coated hawthorn skewer in his arms.
Watching the child’s biological Father vanish into the bustling market, Su Yan was so angry he could kill someone.
After gradually calming down, he patted the sobbing little shizi while contemplating his next move. Should he send Ah Wu to the military police office and have the officers deliver him to Yu Wang’s residence? They probably wouldn’t dare accept this hot potato, fearing he’d be accused of kidnapping the shizi.
Should he take Ah Wu directly to Yu Wang’s residence and hand him over to the guards at the gate? That seemed more feasible. Even if Yu Wang refused to accept him, Su Yan could just set the child down on the doorstep and leave—surely they wouldn’t just stand by and let the young shizi cry helplessly outside.
Having made up his mind, Su Yan wiped the tears from Ah Wu’s face with his sleeve, inwardly cursing the Wangye as a heartless Father. How could he so easily abandon such an adorable son? Then, carrying the child, he headed toward a nearby hiring agency to rent a carriage.
After walking a few steps, he doubled back and asked the tavern owner, “Is your lamb wine really good for digestion and kidney health?”
“Of course! The best!” The owner proudly swung his wine ladle. “Especially for kidney deficiency causing sore waists and weak knees—drink it twice, and you’ll feel the effects. Our lamb wine is the most famous in the entire capital!”
Su Yan decisively said, “Give me two jars.”
The wine jars weren’t large, so they wouldn’t be too much of a burden when strapped to his waist—he just had to be careful that the child in his arms didn’t accidentally kick them off.
Yu Wang’s residence wasn’t far, located in Chengqing Alley to the northeast. At the hiring agency, Su Yan found all the carriages rented out for New Year’s deliveries, so he settled for leasing a gentle old horse. Holding the child, he mounted up and slowly rode through the crowded streets.
Ah Wu, nestled in his arms, gleefully shook his new rattle drum and cheered, “Riding a big horse! Riding a big horse!”
Su Yan patted the little head and couldn’t help but smile.
Meanwhile, on Zhengyang Gate Street, a team of Embroidered Uniform Guard had just ridden in from the southern city gate. Seeing the crowded road ahead, they reined in their horses to proceed more cautiously.
Shen Qi had just finished a task and rushed back overnight from the suburban county of Great Xing. Traces of dust and melted snow still lingered on his brow.
He stopped at the intersection and instructed the two qianhus accompanying him, Shi Yanshuang and Wei Ying, “You two lead the team back to the yamen. I have a personal matter to handle. I won’t be going to the yamen until after the seventh day of the new year. Make sure the duty roster is arranged for the holiday—there must always be someone on duty, and security at the imperial prison cannot be lax.”
The two qianhus acknowledged the order.
During the Lingguang Temple incident, Shi Yanshuang had discovered that his superior was secretly hiding a “demoness wife,” and now he speculated that Shen Qi was off to rendezvous with this mystery person. His mind, always inclined toward salacious thoughts, ran wild, and he leaned in to ask slyly, “When will you invite us brothers for a wedding banquet, my lord? Don’t tell me you’re going to keep this beauty hidden forever so we’ll never get to celebrate?”
Shen Qi was in a good mood and didn’t take offense at his subordinate’s gossiping. He simply replied, “As long as he’s willing, anytime.”
Shi Yanshuang mulled over this cryptic response. Did this mean his lord was eager to marry, but the other party was unwilling? He had long suspected that Shen Qi’s sweetheart was no ordinary woman—or possibly not a woman at all—and had an identity that couldn’t be revealed. So, he tentatively asked, “How could that be? A man like you, with talent, looks, and power—what more could the other party possibly want?”
Shen Qi chuckled and lightly flicked his riding whip against Shi Yanshuang’s thigh. “Stop prying into your superior’s private matters, or else your fiancée will learn about those two mistresses you’ve been secretly keeping.”
Shi Yanshuang’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately shut his mouth.
Shen Qi rode toward Huanghua Alley, where Su Residence was located, suppressing the eager anticipation bubbling within him. Finally arriving at the residence, he dismounted and knocked on the door.
A servant boy, Su Xiaojing, answered while gnawing on a marinated chicken claw. Speaking with a full mouth, he said, “Our master isn’t home. Please come back another day.”
Shen Qi was taken aback. “I sent a calling card earlier and arranged a meeting. Where did your master go?”
Su Xiaojing shook his head.
Shen Qi frowned slightly and asked again, “What about that stern-faced guard?”
Su Xiaojing tossed away the chicken bone, wiped his mouth, and rattled off, “Master sent him to the blacksmith to pick up a new hotpot! He designed it himself and had it custom-made for the New Year’s feast!”
“New Year’s feast… with whom? Where?”
Su Xiaojing gave him a strange look. “Where? At home, of course. It’s just the four of us—Master, Brother Zhui, me, and Xiao Bei. That’s our whole family.”
At home, of course.
Just the four of us.
Brother Zhui.
Shen Qi felt his back molars ache. He clenched his jaw and muttered, “Let me wait inside the hall until he returns.”
Su Xiaojing shook his head like a rattling drum. “Master didn’t say to receive guests. I’m just a servant—I can’t make that call.”
Shen Qi was helpless and had to compromise. “Then let me leave a letter. Please make sure your master gets it when he returns.”
He pulled out a notebook and a carbon stick, writing concisely that he would come again tomorrow. Additionally, he noted that for the next few days, he would be staying at home, waiting for an honored guest, and would not be at the yamen.
After tearing out the page and folding it, he hesitated for a moment before adding a ten-tael silver ingot with it. He handed both to Su Xiaojing and said, “Little brother, you’ve worked hard. Take this as a New Year’s gift—buy yourself something nice to eat.”
Su Xiaojing’s eyes widened at the generous sum, clearly tempted, but ultimately he shook his head and only accepted the letter. “Master said not to accept money from strangers. Who knows if it’s a bribe or a trap? Taking someone’s money makes you soft toward them.”
His greasy fingers left an oily smudge on the back of the letter, making Shen Qi’s eye twitch. He worried that Su Yan, a notorious neat freak, would be so disgusted that he’d refuse to touch the letter and just throw it away.
Just as he was about to write another copy, Su Xiaojing casually said, “I’ll give it to Master as soon as he returns,” and promptly shut the door.
The infamous Life-Taking Qilang, whose very name could stop children from crying at night, was shut out by the bold and brash little servant at Censor Su’s residence. Strangely, he didn’t feel anger or malice—only that New Year’s Eve dinner shouldn’t be spent at one’s mother’s house.
And also… did Qinghe like keeping dogs? The Northern Surveillance Bureau raised plenty of hunting hounds—fierce and intelligent, far more obedient and disciplined than that unruly, sharp-tempered bodyguard of his. Keeping dogs might be better than keeping a bodyguard.
After Shen Qi left, it wasn’t long before Jinghong Zhui returned, carrying a large tin hotpot divided into nine compartments.
—
From afar, Su Yan saw the grand red-lacquered doors of Yu Wang’s residence, studded with brass nails, standing wide open—like a snare awaiting its prey to step in. A sudden wariness arose within him.
Was he thinking too simply about this? Walk up the steps, set the child down, say a few words…
Then the guards at the gate would suddenly bellow—
“Where did this villain come from, daring to kidnap the shizi of Yu Wang?! Seize him!”
And just like that, he’d be bound hand and foot, gagged, and carried into the Wangye’s residence like a sacrificial lamb, falling straight into that dog of a Wangye’s trap. The Wangye’s estate was deep as the sea—no one to call for, nowhere to run…
D*mn, he nearly fell for it!
Su Yan immediately turned his horse around, deciding to stick to his original plan and head for Shen’s residence instead.
As for Ah Wu, he’d just keep the child with him for now. The boy was quite well-behaved anyway—as long as he kept stuffing snacks into his hands, he wouldn’t make a fuss. Far easier to manage than his cousin’s little brat in his previous life.
—
Su Yan exited Chengqing Lane. Shen Qi exited the neighboring Huanghua Lane.
Both were headed westward toward Shen’s residence in Xiaoshiyong Lane.
Thus, they ran into each other right at the crossroads, both visibly delighted.
Su Yan’s joy outweighed his surprise. Smiling, he said, “Qilang, you’re back. What a coincidence to meet here.”
Shen Qi, however, was more shocked than pleased. His gaze landed on the small child in Su Yan’s arms. “Whose child is that? Why are you carrying him?”
Su Yan didn’t want to bring up that wretched Yu Wang and was still thinking of a way to brush the matter off. Ah Wu, apparently startled by Shen Qi, shrank back into Su Yan’s embrace and called out, “Daddy!”
Shen Qi: “!!”
Su Yan: “……”
A’Wu: “╮(ˉ▽ˉ )╭”
Shen Qi’s face darkened. “Your son? Who gave birth to him? That courtesan lover of yours in Rouge Alley? Last summer, when you first arrived in the capital for your exams, you lingered at her place for half a year. You only cut ties after your final assessment in March this year—don’t even think of lying to me.”
Su Yan quickly clarified, “No, no, I only drank and listened to music at Ruan Hongjiao’s place. I didn’t do anything else… Why am I even explaining this to you? You’re not my Father. And besides, we hadn’t even met back then, had we?”
He suddenly felt something was off. Then it hit him.
“—You investigated me?! Shen Qi, what are you trying to do? Don’t you dare treat me like a case file, I’m warning you!”
Investigate? That was an understatement.
Not only had Shen Qi dug into him, but he had also abused his authority, mobilizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s covert scouts in Fuzhou to uncover every last detail of Su Yan’s lineage and life history. Everything had been recorded in a booklet, complete with illustrations, making it practically a picture book.
Whenever he couldn’t see Su Yan in person, he would flip through it over and over again, searching for a sense of presence in those seventeen years of life that he hadn’t been part of.
Each time he read it, he felt as though their blood and flesh were growing more intertwined, until they would ultimately become part of one another—bones of the same bones, flesh of the same flesh, inseparably fused together.
As for Su Yan’s ambiguous involvement with the famous courtesan Ruan Hongjiao after his arrival in the capital—how could the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s eyes have missed it? The mere thought of it had already stirred murderous intent in Shen Qi’s heart.
A courtesan lingering with vague affections was one thing. But if she truly bore his child, she would inevitably cause endless entanglements in the future. Best to snuff out the problem before it could take root.
Su Yan keenly sensed the darkness flickering in Shen Qi’s eyes. Instinctively, he tightened his arms around Ah Wu and raised his voice. “What are you trying to do? I already told you, it has nothing to do with Ruan Hongjiao. She didn’t give birth to him!”
Ah Wu, having failed to dig out more green bean cake from Su Yan’s hands, grew anxious and cried out, “Daddy, Ah Wu wants cake!”
Shen Qi: “Then who did? Can anyone just call you ‘Daddy’?”
Su Yan rolled his eyes and shot back sarcastically, “I gave birth to him myself, alright?”
Shen Qi’s gaze dropped to Su Yan’s waist and abdomen, an odd expression flickering across his face. “Even if you conceived the first time, it’s only been seven months. It’s not time for the baby to be born yet.”
Su Yan nearly choked. “I’m a man—how the h*ll would I be pregnant? Are you out of your mind?”
Assuming Shen Qi was mocking him, he snapped in irritation, “If you’re so desperate for a son, go find a woman to give birth to one for you. Don’t look at me!”
With that, he pulled on his reins, ready to leave.
Shen Qi immediately spurred his horse forward, leaning down to grab Su Yan’s bridle, softening his tone. “I was just caught off guard. Take it as a joke, don’t mind it.”
Su Yan wasn’t truly upset, so he sighed and relented. “Just don’t ask who the kid belongs to. Trust me, knowing would only make you more annoyed. I’m just looking after him temporarily. I’ll find the right person to send him back home soon.”
“…If you don’t want to say, then I won’t ask. Let’s go to my place first. Let the maids take care of the brat.”
Su Yan wasn’t exactly thrilled about dealing with the child’s inevitable messes. It made sense to let a maid handle him. So, he nodded in agreement.
The two rode side by side.
The wine jars at Su Yan’s hip jostled against his bones uncomfortably. He took one and passed it to Shen Qi. “Here. A return gift for the fire starter.”
He had been meaning to find something to gift Shen Qi, but nothing seemed quite right.
Shen Qi had once lent him a gold-threaded soft armor—though in reality, it was meant as a gift. But Su Yan felt it was too valuable and had stubbornly refused to accept it, returning it before Shen Qi left the capital.
In turn, Shen Qi had given him a fire starter as a parting gift.
Su Yan hadn’t known what to give in return. Shaanxi didn’t really have anything noteworthy to offer—just an abundance of pastries, dried persimmons, and jujubes. But in a well-connected city like the capital, southern and northern goods were available in plenty.
He had planned to think on it longer, but having just bought the lamb wine for himself, he decided to give it to Shen Qi as a reunion gift instead.
As for a proper New Year’s gift, he would prepare something grander and deliver it around the second or third day of the new year.
Shen Qi took the wine jar, sniffed it, and raised an eyebrow. “Lamb wine?”
Su Yan nodded. “Yeah. The shopkeeper said it’s the most famous in the capital. Specially treats kidney deficiency—great for sore waists and weak knees.”
The words “for my own symptoms” lingered in his mind, unspoken.
Thus, to Shen Qi’s ears, the meaning became something entirely different.
Shen Qi: “…”
Shen Qi: “I get it now.”
Su Yan: “Get what?”
Shen Qi: “Last time, it wasn’t that your husband wasn’t working hard enough—it was just that you were too worried about being overheard by the neighbors—”
Su Yan turned red with embarrassment. “Shut up! If you’re blind, why are you driving?!”
Driving? What did that mean…? Did he mean an “old man’s cart” kind of driving? Shen Qi said, “This time, just watch properly. You’ll see what you’re in for.”
Su Yan felt both nervous and flustered, but he held his ground. “What do you mean ‘this time’? There is no ‘this time.’ We’re just going to sit, chat, and drink.”
Shen Qi played along. “Right, chat and drink.”
But as soon as they reached the Shen residence, Shen Qi plucked Ah Wu out of Su Yan’s arms, tossed him to a maid, and dragged Su Yan straight to the inner chambers.
Su Yan struggled. “Chatting…”
“We’ll chat on the bed.”
“Drinking?”
“I’ll feed you in bed.”
“Wait… don’t pull—what are you doing in broad daylight…? At least take a bath first, you reek of dust and sweat!”
Shen Qi paused, reluctantly letting go and heading for the bath.
Su Yan sat on the bed, disheveled and bewildered. What the h*ll am I doing here? Did I just come over to—offer myself up?! No way, that’s way too bold! I have standards—I have to have standards! I can’t just throw myself at him!
He quickly tidied up his clothes and went to find the maid to take Ah Wu back.
Ah Wu had peed twice on horseback and, upon entering the residence, had soiled himself again. He had just been bathed clean and dressed in fresh clothes.
Su Yan picked Ah Wu up like a human shield, nestled him into the soft cushions of the Luohan couch in the study, and started drawing ducks on the table, teaching him to count.
Shen Qi finished bathing in record time, only to find the bedroom empty. His face darkened as he questioned the maids, then immediately headed for the study.
Seeing the cozy scene of one big and one small figure enjoying their time together, his lips twitched. “Do you really like kids that much?”
Su Yan chuckled. “They’re all chubby and cute.” He patted the couch beside him. “Come, have a drink. Let’s just chat.”
The fire that had been burning in Shen Qi earlier suddenly cooled. He sat down and poured the wine himself.
The two chatted about their experiences over the past half-year. Ah Wu, not understanding any of it and unable to sit still, crawled all over the study, rummaging through things and breaking two fine porcelain vases before a maid finally carried him away.
Su Yan, feeling a little guilty, said, “I’ll have his family pay for it later.”
Shen Qi didn’t care about antiques. Trading two Ge kiln vases to get this little brat out of the way was more than worth it.
He pushed the table aside, pinned Su Yan down, and said, “No need to pay. His ‘Father’ just needs to let me have a kiss.”
Su Yan burst into laughter. “You really can’t kiss his Father—mmph…” And just like that, he could no longer speak.
They rolled around on the couch, kissing for a long time. Su Yan, gasping for breath, clung to Shen Qi’s neck and murmured, “There might be unrest in the Northern Desert soon. The capital isn’t stable either. The moment I returned, I could smell the tension in the air…”
Shen Qi nibbled on his earlobe and asked in a low voice, “You’ve always sided with the Crown Prince—is that the Emperor’s will?”
Su Yan said, “The Emperor and I share a deep bond. Besides, I’m already at odds with the Wei family. I can’t let them get what they want. Qilang, let me tell you something, secretly—”
He leaned close to Shen Qi’s ear and whispered, “Zhu Helin is the next Emperor. It’s fate—even if fate is altered, I’ll force it back onto the right path.”
Shen Qi was silent for a moment before saying, “He still lacks the necessary experience. And besides, the Emperor is still in his prime—things could change in the coming decades. Let me give you some advice: don’t choose a side too soon. Fate is unpredictable, and so is the Emperor’s heart. No one knows which way the wind will blow tomorrow.”
He paused before adding, “The Eastern Palace is being targeted. The Poisoned Snake case is just the beginning. That blood-eyed assassin who went mad and died—there’s more than one Hidden Sword Sect behind him. The Crown Prince might not survive the next assassination attempt.”
“I know. But… just think of me as a gambler putting everything on the line.” Su Yan looked at him with a glint of anticipation. “I’m betting on Zhu Helin.”
Shen Qi kissed his forehead without hesitation and said, “Then I’ll bet with you. I’ll stake my life and stand by you—to live and die together.”
