Reborn Into The Harem Of A Prince From An Enemy Country - Chapter 5

While Qi Xiaoyun was busy plotting his grand future plans, Chu Lianmo’s mind was still full of romantic notions, pondering how to gift Qi Xiaoyun something even more valuable.

He promptly pulled Qi Xiaoyun into a jade shop.

“Is there any jewelry you want?”

“I don’t need any.” Qi Xiaoyun actually loved jade quite a bit, so despite his words, out of sheer appreciation his gaze still drifted unconsciously over the dazzling array of jade hairpins, pendants, and jade qilin, lingering for a moment on a dark green jade bracelet.

“Do you like this one?” Chu Lianmo acutely caught that brief pause. “This Prince also thinks the jade quality of this bracelet is quite good.”

“Good? It’s more than just good!” The shopkeeper hurried over with a beaming smile, fished out the bracelet, and placed it before them. “Take a close look, you two. This is top-quality Lantian jade produced in the State of Qi!”

Hearing the words “State of Qi,” Qi Xiaoyun couldn’t help but shudder slightly.

The State of Chu was far wealthier, but the State of Qi was renowned for producing all sorts of fine jade. Its abundant resources were precisely one of the reasons Qi was constantly coveted by Chu.

“Alright, we’ll take this one.” Chu Lianmo made the final decision.

“However,” Qi Xiaoyun seized the opportunity to probe Chu Lianmo’s current attitude toward the State of Qi, “As a concubine to a prince of Chu, would it be inappropriate for me to wear jade produced in Qi?”

“What could possibly be inappropriate about that?” Chu Lianmo frowned slightly. “You are being overly cautious. The two nations have already made peace; we are no longer enemies.”

Qi Xiaoyun sneered inwardly: The price paid for this so-called peace is heavy indeed.

He hesitated for a moment, deciding to push his probing further: “I heard that the Second Prince of Qi died at the hands of Prince De?”

The very instant those words left his mouth, a flash of deep resentment crossed Chu Lianmo’s brow.

Qi Xiaoyun was certain he hadn’t mistaken it. That was genuine resentment, seemingly mixed with a lingering trace of grief.

The next second, Chu Lianmo flicked his sleeve and raised his voice, “Enough! When did you become interested in such matters?”

Though reprimanded by Chu Lianmo, Qi Xiaoyun instead felt a warmth bloom in his chest. Was he grieving for my death? After all this time, this old friend of mine still holds some weight in his heart?

“Then shall I wrap this bracelet up for you two?” The shopkeeper ignored the brief flash of unpleasantness between them, focusing entirely on closing the sale. “This young master has exceptional taste! This jade bracelet is only one thousand silver liang, an absolute bargain for its quality!”

Qi Xiaoyun was startled. One thousand silver liang was no small sum, even for an imperial prince. “That is far too expensive. Let’s forget about it.”

“Buy it.” Chu Lianmo uttered a single decisive word.

Murong Ying immediately drew out the money and handed it to the shopkeeper.

Qi Xiaoyun thought to himself: You weren’t this extravagant in the past. Do you shower every single wife and concubine with this kind of money now?

“No need to wrap it.” Chu Lianmo stopped the shopkeeper, who was reaching for a gift box, picked up the jade bracelet and a jade hairpin, and handed them directly to Qi Xiaoyun. “Wear them both right now.”

Qi Xiaoyun took the jade bracelet and slipped it onto his left wrist, while securing the jade hairpin in his hair.

This time, Chu Lianmo didn’t offer to help him put them on, and his brow still carried a faint trace of lingering displeasure.

Did that earlier topic really affect him that much?

“Your Highness, I have something I wish to discuss with you. Can we find a quiet place?”

“Very well.” Chu Lianmo nodded. “It is nearly lunchtime anyway, let us find a restaurant.”

Shortly after, Chu Lianmo led Qi Xiaoyun to a private room in a local restaurant.

Only the three of them were inside the room. Once the waiter finished serving the dishes, Chu Lianmo ordered him not to enter or disturb them. Still harboring lingering doubts, Qi Xiaoyun glanced at Murong Ying and said, “Your Highness, can we speak alone?”

“A-Ying is my trusted confidant, you don’t need to, but very well,” Chu Lianmo changed his mind halfway through, lifting his gaze to look at Murong Ying, who stood guard at the side. “Wait outside the door.”

“Understood.” Murong Ying withdrew from the room.

“What is it you wished to say?” Chu Lianmo turned his probing gaze back toward Qi Xiaoyun. “You may speak now.”

For a moment, Qi Xiaoyun didn’t even know where to begin.

Should he directly ask, “Do you want the position of Crown Prince?” Would that be too abrupt? Did Chu Lianmo trust the concubine Zhou Yun enough to lay bare his innermost thoughts?

Perhaps it was better to start with something else and find an opening later.

“Actually, I simply wanted to spend some time alone with Your Highness.” Saying this made Qi Xiaoyun feel somewhat awkward. A faint red flush crept unbidden up his cheeks, and he lowered his gaze.

“Oh?” A playful smile curved the corners of Chu Lianmo’s lips. “I wouldn’t have thought you capable of being so proactive.”

Even the tips of Qi Xiaoyun’s ears turned red at that moment. His fingers, resting upon the tabletop, unconsciously intertwined and twisted together, betraying his current agitation.

Only then did Chu Lianmo finally take the time to closely examine the accessories Qi Xiaoyun had just put on.

The translucent dark green bracelet perfectly set off the fairness of his skin, and the mutton-fat white jade hairpin nestled amidst his dark locks complemented his natural temperament wonderfully, truly living up to the phrase “a young master as flawless as jade.”

In truth, Zhou Yun’s natural disposition was a bit too meek and delicate to carry overly luxurious jewelry, but Qi Xiaoyun completely pulled off both precious items, causing Chu Lianmo to momentarily lose himself in his gaze.

He silently lifted his wine cup and took a few sips. Feeling slightly tipsy, the person before him merged even more vividly with the person in his memories.

It felt as though they could still share drinks and speak their minds freely, just like the old days.

“Do you know? Actually, I loathe Chu Weide to the core.”

The moment those words left Chu Lianmo’s lips, Qi Xiaoyun was struck with immense astonishment. He dropped the title “Second Imperial Brother” entirely? Is he truly planning to pour his heart out to me?

“I’ve despised him since we were children,” Chu Lianmo added with a bitter smile, looking out the window as distant memories washed over him. “When I was favored by our Imperial Father in my youth, Qi Weide could never win against me, and as long as I basked in the limelight, there was nothing he could do. Later on, after my mother lost favor and Imperial Father grew distant toward me as well, he began to bully and torment me without restraint.”

Only then did Qi Xiaoyun realize that Chu Lianmo had suffered a background remarkably similar to his own!

When he had first arrived in Chu as a political hostage, Chu Weide had also tried to bully him. However, Qi Xiaoyun had always fiercely resisted, warning that if things escalated, the whole world would know how the people of Chu bullied a hostage prince. Chu Weide never dared to provoke him again, knowing that Chu still needed to maintain the facade of a great nation.

Yet Chu Weide must have harbored a deep grudge against him ever since, eventually taking his life on the battlefield in such a cruel manner.

“But those things were trivial compared to, wait, didn’t you say you had something to tell this Prince?” Chu Lianmo suddenly snapped out of his reverie. “Why is it just me doing all the talking?”

“Your Highness, then I will speak my mind.”

Since Chu Lianmo had bared his soul to this extent, Qi Xiaoyun felt he shouldn’t beat around the bush anymore. He asked directly, “Have you ever wondered why you cannot bring down Prince De?”

“Of course I know why. Because the Crown Prince is protecting him, and he may protect him for the rest of his days.”

“Correct. So, does Your Highness desire that position?”

Chu Lianmo’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he stared intently at Qi Xiaoyun.

Yet Qi Xiaoyun’s eyes held no fear, nor any malice; instead, they were completely clear and open.

Finally, Chu Lianmo slowly nodded.

A firm resolution instantly formed in Qi Xiaoyun’s mind.

Since Chu Lianmo also had ambitions in that direction, he would lend him his full assistance. Even while trapped within the State of Chu, he would find a way to accomplish something for the State of Qi.