Sickly Jade - Chapter 7

Ye Shaoyun’s expression shifted, as if he had suffered a great insult. “Get out! Get out!”

Watching his heaving chest, Qi Chu exhaled, his tone softening. “National Teacher, do not be angry; take care of your health.”

This remark was like pouring oil on a fire, igniting Ye Shaoyun’s fragile frame. His breathing trembled. “What did you say?”

Seeing the National Teacher’s state was wrong, Qi Chu realized he had gone too far and felt a faint sense of guilt. Just then, a knocking sound came from outside the door.

“Yo… Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you to the Qin-Zheng Hall before the palace gates are locked this afternoon. At this hour…”

The personal attendant spoke tremblingly. Qi Chu interrupted him: “I know. I am coming.”

Having said that, he stood up to arrange his clothing. Looking down at the National Teacher’s miserable state, he reached over to pull the quilt from the side to cover him.

When he spoke again, he had returned to his obedient facade, leaning over to embrace him gently from behind through the quilt. “National Teacher, let’s talk later. This time, don’t disappear suddenly again, okay?”

Ye Shaoyun closed his eyes, offering no response. Moments later, he was drawn to the sound of chains clinking in the air. His brow furrowed tightly as he felt a coolness around his ankle, as if a shackle had been attached. By the time he reacted, he was the only one left in the room.

He lifted the silk quilt and took a glance down at his feet. A gold ring the thickness of a finger was clasped around his fair ankle, connected to a pure gold chain tethered to the bedpost.

Seeing this, Ye Shaoyun rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t decide whether to call this childish or obsessive—was this how he sought self-soothing?

What traps a person is never physical restraint, but the shackles of the heart.

The capital was not large, but it had trapped the hearts of all who sought scholarship or status for eight years. His own heart had also been trapped here, and now that he wanted to leave this prison, he discovered it would not be so easy.

Ye Shaoyun pulled out a hairpin, fiddled with the lock for a few moments, and released the device. He tossed it aside carelessly.

Not long after, Xiao Yun’s voice came from outside the door: “Master, the Crown Prince indicated that you might need a bath. The water has been prepared; shall I bring it in now?”

Ye Shaoyun: “Enter.”

Through the screen, the attendants brought in the wooden tub and hurried out, leaving only Xiao Yun behind.

Ye Shaoyun sat on the couch without moving. “Why haven’t you left?”

Thud. Xiao Yun’s knees hit the ground heavily.

“Master, no matter what happens, we swear to follow you to the death!”

At this, Ye Shaoyun straightened his clothes and sat up, looking through the screen at Xiao Yun’s expressionless face. His voice was cold. “Do you want me to give you an award?”

“…Master.” Xiao Yun was left speechless.

Ye Shaoyun rose from the couch and walked past the screen, brushing past Xiao Yun, who remained firmly on his knees. “Not leaving yet? Staying to watch me bathe?”

“Sub… subordinate does not dare!”

As Xiao Yun said this, he hurriedly rose and backed out. When he reached the door, he paused again: “Master, today’s events were suspicious. Should we investigate…”

Ye Shaoyun tested the water temperature; it was just right. “I know. An inn five kilometers north of the city—go and take a look. If there are any survivors… there shouldn’t be any.”

Xiao Yun understood immediately. “This subordinate understands. There will be no survivors there.”

After Xiao Yun left, Ye Shaoyun bathed. He called for more water three times, washing until his skin was flushed red before stopping.

After bathing, it was still early. He walked to the desk, intending to write a letter to Jiangnan. He had only been sitting for a short while when a muffled thud came from outside the window.

The sound was very familiar, familiar enough that he knew exactly who it was just by the noise.

“Ouch, that nearly killed me.”

Ye Shaoyun put down his brush and pushed open the wooden window to look out. A “burglar” dressed in fine silk and brocade descended from the sky, landing right in his courtyard.

Ye Shaoyun leaned against the window frame, hearing the voice but not looking at the person. “Seventh Prince, your agility has improved.”

The person outside crawled up from the ground, panting, dusting the dirt and grass from his clothes as he said, “This King thinks so too.”

“Seventh Prince, you are now a Prince. When can you change this ‘gentleman of the beams’ (burglar) style of yours?”

The Seventh Prince, Qi Kun, was the most laid-back among all the princes, with the most eccentric and unruly behavior. He had been named the Prince of Ning’an a few days ago, destined to be a loafer for the rest of his life.

Qi Kun: “I intended to walk in the front door just now, but I discovered that there were twice as many guards at the door as before. I was afraid of causing trouble you know I hate trouble most of all so I had to resort to this.”

Ye Shaoyun gave a cold huff. “As if doing this won’t cause trouble.”

Qi Kun was a prince; using that amateurish lightness skill to trespass into a minister’s courtyard time and again it was only because the secret guards didn’t dare stop him. If it were anyone else, they would have been shot dead by arrows long ago.

Qi Kun walked to the window; the two spoke across the frame. “I heard you resigned and were going to Jiangnan, so I came to see if it was true. Turns out, it was false.”

Ye Shaoyun: “I wish it were true.”

“You didn’t manage to run?”

“Mhm.”

Qi Kun waved his sleeve and leaned forward to peer into the room. “Forget it! Staying in the capital is fine, too. Since there’s nothing to do, I’ll take you out to have some fun!”

Ye Shaoyun: “That won’t be necessary.”

As he spoke, he went to pull out the wooden bar bracing the window. As the window fell, a hand caught it.

“Also, the National Teacher’s body probably doesn’t have the heart for it right now.”

As Qi Kun spoke, he lifted the window pane over his head and prepared to step onto the sill.

“Your Highness, please have some self-respect. If you step into my bedroom today, the entire courtyard of secret guards will know.”

Ye Shaoyun stood still, eyes narrowed, his words carrying a hidden warning.

Qi Kun stopped as expected, smiling as he retracted a foot. “The National Teacher is still so distant. You only allow the Crown Prince to enter your room, but not me.”

The breeze from outside the window ruffled the white hair at Ye Shaoyun’s temple, revealing more of his cold, elegant face, which dampened most of Qi Kun’s brazen audacity.

“Enough small talk. I have serious business with the National Teacher today.”

Ye Shaoyun: “Speak.”

“The day after tomorrow, the vassal kings enter the capital. The Emperor will meet them at the Beacon Tower. It is said they are bringing many beautiful singing girls with exotic flavors. His Majesty promised to let me pick one for my manor, and I have specially invited the National Teacher to help me take a look tomorrow.”

“Is that so?” The pupils beneath Ye Shaoyun’s lashes shifted slightly. As he looked up, a sharp light shot from his eyes. “Seventh Prince, wouldn’t it be better to just be the carefree Prince you are?”

Qi Kun was forced to take half a step back by this chill. “There really is nothing I can hide from you.”

Ye Shaoyun gazed at the begonia branches outside the window; the blossoms had fallen not long ago, and the scent of flowers still lingered faintly in the air.

“You want the power of the vassal kings, you want a guarantee of safety. Do you think that is safer for you?”

Qi Kun picked up a withered leaf from the windowsill and twirled it in his fingers, his voice dropping. “You once said that as long as I lived comfortably in the capital as a carefree Prince, I could live in peace for the rest of my life. Now that you have resigned, and the Eastern Palace is no longer under your control, how can you still guarantee my safety?”

“Your intelligence network is quite efficient.” Ye Shaoyun rubbed his forehead and said, “I know Qi Chu’s temperament. If you truly have no desire for the throne, you can live in peace for your whole life.”

This was not something he said randomly; it was a truth held since ancient times. When helping Qi Chu clear obstacles, Ye Shaoyun had noticed this Seventh Prince, Qi Kun. He knew he had no ambition, mediocre aptitude, and no heart for politics, so he had pointed him toward this safe path.

“If even you doubt yourself, how can you expect me to help you?”

Qi Kun let out a deep breath, his demeanor quite different from a moment ago; there was now a hint of panic in his voice.

“Do you know how agonizing these days have been for me? By day I act profligate and wanton, but by night, I often wake up from nightmares. I am a Prince, but His Majesty’s health is worsening day by day. If one day… how could he possibly let me live?!”

Ye Shaoyun: “So? Why did you come to me today?”

“I beg you to save me, only you can!”