Chapter 112
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Xie Duo used to look at her that way.
It had been a long time since he had looked at her with such a gaze.
Since childhood, Xie Duo was a mischievous child who immersed himself in his own little world, accustomed to everyone’s attention, accustomed to everyone fulfilling his needs, whether they were about to happen or nonexistent.
His life was filled with love and servitude to the point where the Empress often questioned her own importance to this child, wondering if it was any different from the palace maids and eunuchs.
Therefore, she once used strategy on the little child, trying to intentionally ignore him, no longer revolving around him, wanting to see how long it would take for him to notice.
Xie Duo’s reaction was sharper than she had expected. When she appeared indifferent, within just two days, he would set aside all the interesting things in his hands and follow behind her, observing her with that gaze until he found love and affection in her eyes again.
“What’s wrong with you today?” The Empress reached out and held Xie Duo’s face. “I’ve been afraid of making your Father Emperor angry these past few days, so I haven’t visited you.”
Xie Duo suddenly raised his hand, gripping the Empress’s hand on his cheek tightly, as if he were drowning, looking earnestly at the Empress. “I’ll do better than Sixth Brother.”
The Empress lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. “I’m just afraid you’ll be inconsistent, so it’s better to let him stay in the palace for a while.”
After saying that, she withdrew her right hand from Xie Duo’s palm, personally lifted the bowl of soup, and picked up the spoon to stir it as if she intended to feed it to Xie Duo.
Xie Duo didn’t open his mouth. He lowered his head, and didn’t respond.
“A’Duo, be good,” the Empress coaxed, “Lately, many consorts in the palace have been feeling dizzy and feverish. Even your Father Emperor has caught a chill. We’re not sure if it’s a spring epidemic. Hurry and drink this bowl of ginseng soup. It’ll keep illnesses at bay.”
“Did Mother Empress prepare it for Sixth Brother too?” Xie Duo raised his eyes, looking at her coldly. “I want to drink it with Sixth Brother.”
“This is the tonic that the Imperial Physician prescribed for your Father Emperor. I had to work hard to get this bowl. It’s not meant for your Sixth Brother.”
Xie Duo stared into her eyes. “Why isn’t there a share for Sixth Brother?”
The Empress looked puzzled. “When there’s not enough of something good, haven’t I always given it to you first?”
“This feels too unfair.”
“Even you think I’m unfair?” The Empress, frustrated, placed the bowl of soup back on the table. “The aunts and maids around here always tease me for favoring my youngest son. After you were born, your Sixth Brother often asked if I no longer loved him. And now, even you are blaming me for favoritism! Older children should look out for their younger siblings. That’s how I was taught when I was young. Can you really call it favoritism?”
Xie Duo was momentarily stunned. In an instant, memories of his mother’s various affections from his early years flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, he smiled at the Empress, a hint of his past playfulness glinting in his light eyes. “Not at all. It sounds fair. Someone as selfless as Mother Empress should hold a position at the Grand Court of Judicial Review.”
The Empress chuckled and gave Xie Duo a playful glare. “You’re quite the one to find joy in teasing your Mother Empress.”
After saying that, she once again lifted the soup bowl and personally fed Xie Duo.
Xie Duo still had a smile on his face, and he seemed lost in thought as he lowered his eyes. Quickly, he stood up, took the soup bowl from the Empress’ hand, and downed the soup in big gulps. He used the spoon to scoop up the ingredients and ate them in a few bites.
•••
Han Jiao thought that now that Xie Duo had obediently taken on the role of the Crown Prince, the Emperor’s strike would come to a halt.
However, he was surprised that the next day still didn’t bring the morning court session. Respected Elder Li, who attended the Emperor, publicly relayed an edict: the Crown Prince would temporarily handle state affairs.
Senior Minister Xu and some members of Prince Yan’s faction had strong reactions. They demanded that eunuchs personally deliver their petitions to the Emperor for approval, and they even made some exaggerated claims. It was only when Respected Elder Li, who was usually gentle, turned stern, that Senior Minister Xu left reluctantly.
The news of the Crown Prince taking over governance spread, making Han Jiao a highly regarded figure in the court.
His colleagues knew he and the current Crown Prince were close friends, playing cuju together and even going to battles together. They believed Han Jiao might become the next “Senior Minister Li,” which led to his free time quickly filling up with social obligations.
He wasn’t someone who couldn’t refuse, but holding two positions in the Ministry of Rites and Hanlin Academy, when superiors invited him out for drinks, he couldn’t decline, as there was no such thing as illegal overtime in these days.
So, it wasn’t until two days later that Han Jiao found time to visit Prince Yan’s residence, only to hear that Prince Yan had moved back to the palace to assist the Crown Prince in managing state affairs.
On his way home, riding a donkey, Han Jiao remained lost in thought.
There was a lot of unclear unease in his heart.
In this lifetime, everyone’s destinies had been completely disrupted.
Han Jiao had helped Prince Yan avoid the charge of conspiring with military officials, cured Xie Xiu, and even allowed Xie Duo to showcase his military talents ahead of time, helping the country overcome a major crisis. Prince Yan’s faction was also facing unprecedented pressure due to Senior Minister Xu’s blunders and other reasons.
Everything appeared to be going incredibly smoothly. It seemed like Han Jiao had truly cleared the danger from Xie Duo’s path.
Yet, he remained quite uneasy – why was Prince Duan’s faction so calm?
Senior Minister Li gave Han Jiao an uncertain feeling. The only thing he couldn’t figure out was this person.
During the time when Xie Duo was under house arrest, Han Jiao had visited Prince Duan and learned that he had voluntarily confessed his willingness to abandon his claim to the throne. Surprisingly, Senior Minister Li had readily agreed.
In the novel, after falling from power, Senior Minister Li swiftly transferred his influence to Xie Duo, and together, they systematically dismantled Prince Yan’s faction.
The problem lay right here.
Han Jiao felt uneasy because Senior Minister Li had accepted Xie Duo becoming the Crown Prince without resistance.
Was he trying to gain Xie Duo’s trust?
Han Jiao didn’t want to see any of the events that had occurred in the novel, including Xie Duo teaming up with Senior Minister Li.
He had witnessed this sly old fox’s persuasive tactics, and frankly, he remained both cautious and admiring of the old fox. He didn’t know if the old fox would play tricks on the big boss.
At times, Han Jiao worried, and at other times, he thought he might be overthinking things.
Xie Duo was an incredibly clever. There were a few times when Han Jiao almost fell for the old fox’s trick, but Xie Duo had always brought him back to reality. There was no way Xie Duo would be lured onto the old fox’s ship.
Thinking of Xie Duo, Han Jiao lowered his gaze and smiled. He noticed his right hand, holding the reins, and suddenly recalled the sensation of Xie Duo’s left hand wrapping around it.
Han Jiao lifted his left hand and grasped his right hand tightly, but felt like the posture might not be right. He circled from below to the back of his right hand, trying to recreate the warmth of Xie Duo’s palm enveloping it.
Holding hands turned out to make one’s heart feel so at ease.
That day, while strolling through the market, when Xie Duo saw something interesting, he would stride over to pick it up for a closer look. This occasionally meant letting go of Han Jiao’s hand, but when he had paid and Xie Duo handed the item to Han Jiao, they would join hands once again.
To make it easier for Xie Duo to hold his hand, Han Jiao stacked all the goods on his left arm. He endured the discomfort, feeling his left arm grow tired and shaky but staying silent. Later, when he couldn’t bear it any longer, his right palm started sweating along with it. He quickly pulled his hand out of Xie Duo’s palm.
“Han Xiaobai, I’ve saved you more than once. I won’t let you off so easily.”
Xie Duo’s voice echoed in Han Jiao’s mind, and he blushed a bit. Suddenly remembering that Xie Duo hadn’t come to the study room today, the smile faded from his face.
What did that “we might not have another chance to meet” mean?
Xie Duo wouldn’t really ignore him once he became the Crown Prince, would he?
Han Jiao’s good mood disappeared in an instant.
He realized something quite unfair.
When Xie Duo wanted to see him, he could wait at his doorstep at any time. But when he wanted to see Xie Duo, he had to anxiously wait like a lady in the imperial harem.
In a fit of anger, Han Jiao immediately pulled his right hand out of his left hand and gave it two hard slaps, scolding it angrily, “No more letting you lead me!”
“Ouch…” It stung a bit. After scolding, he quickly rubbed the reddened back of his hand.
•••
“I’ve said it, take these documents and deliver them to Sixth Brother’s residence,” Xie Duo lay back in the grand concubine’s chair, looking perfectly composed.
“Your Highness, do you intend to just sit and wait?” Senior Minister Li’s voice came from behind.
“You’re the one who told me to stabilize Prince Yan’s faction first,” Xie Duo replied nonchalantly. “I’ve reviewed all these documents. There’s nothing urgent. Let Sixth Brother stay busy with these matters for now.”
“Your Highness, forgive me for speaking plainly, but it seems you’re trying to seek sympathy from the Empress.”
“Elder,” Xie Duo lowered his tone, “Take a good look, I’m not your obedient student, Xie Xiu. If you dare to speak disrespectfully again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Senior Minister Li took a slow detour around the grand concubine’s chair, frowned, and looked at the composed youth. “What did the Empress give you that day to calm your nerves?”
Xie Duo laughed, his gaze slanting as he observed him. “If Mother Empress truly wanted to kill me, I’d be in a coffin by now.”
“Your Highness, what do you mean? Have you been dining in the Empress’ palace?”
Xie Duo closed his eyes and remained silent.
Anxious, Senior Minister Li urged, “Your Highness, you must not let your guard down. The Emperor’s poisoning was a convenient opportunity to shift the blame onto the alchemist. If the Empress truly intends to harm you, she won’t do it within her palace.”
“I haven’t let my guard down. As I said, I won’t act against her first. Unless you have evidence to present to me, don’t keep baselessly bothering me, or I might consider it deliberate provocation.”
“By the time she acts, it’ll be too late. What about these state affairs?” Senior Minister Li turned and pointed to the piles of memorials on the desk. “Your Highness, you still need to make decisions on important matters. You can’t just treat state affairs as favors for Prince Yan to meddle with.”
Xie Duo raised his eyes, gazing at him for a while before sitting up. “Elder, Sixth Brother isn’t as wretched as you think.”
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No! He’s willing to drink poison than to destroy the relationship. I hope nothing happens to him.