Chapter 35

When the officials left the main hall, their expressions were a mixture of complex emotions.

As they walked toward the rear, the young master of the Firearm Battalion hurried ahead along the palace thoroughfare. Behind him, the Crown Prince, notoriously known for his arrogance and pride, was chasing after him in a rush.

King Chu watched this scene in a daze, while Zhou Cangshu’s face remained dark and grim.

"I told you, this unruly creature will not yield to anyone. If the two are to be on good terms, it must be the Crown Prince who bows his head."

King Chu was still struggling to process this. "How could that be? He... how is it possible..."

"Today, he pushed the tripod with three arrows and was granted the title of Lord Fengming. The Empress’s orchestration was masterful; with the Firearm Battalion now established, the Crown Prince’s prestige will surely soar."

King Chu regained his composure, suddenly struck by a sense of defeat. "When the Empress takes action, the result is indeed extraordinary... After years of plotting, the Crown Prince’s momentum is even stronger than it was at the beginning."

Zhou Cangshu looked at him.

King Chu’s eyes dimmed. "He is so lucky. His mother holds great power, and now, he even has such a brilliant talent by his side, while I..."

"One who aspires to great things must not belittle himself like this." Zhou Cangshu squeezed his shoulder and said, "He has his ladder to the clouds; you must walk your own path to the heavens steadily."

...

"Wen Beisang..."

"Don't touch me." Wen Beisang knocked away his reaching hand. Cheng Yun said, "Let me explain."

"You knew your father intended to arrange a marriage for you. How could you just give my name so casually?"

He cried when he was hurt, cried when he was sad, and cried when he was in pain. Now, out of pure anger, his voice was laced with a subtle, choked sob.

Cheng Yun let go, momentarily at a loss.

By the time they reached the palace gate, Wen Beisang had regained his composure. His expression was cold and rigid, and he already regretted not wearing his veil before leaving the house.

Cheng Yun, shedding his previous flustered demeanor, followed behind him with more steady steps.

"Young Master." Qi Song stepped forward, ready to invite him into the carriage, but Wen Beisang walked straight past it. Cheng Yun was stunned. "Are you not taking the carriage?"

"I don't want to ride with you."

"..."

The Crown Prince looked at the carriages parked by the palace gate and the servants waiting by each one. Unable to hold back, he stepped forward, hooked his arm around Wen Beisang’s waist, and pulled him firmly into his embrace before he could struggle. "You take the carriage, and I will walk. How about that?"

"I don't want your carriage. I want to go back to the Fireworks Shop."

"You are currently a thorn in Zhou Cangshu’s side. If you go back now, it will only bring trouble to them."

"Let go of me—"

"I was deceiving them on purpose."

Wen Beisang stopped struggling, his eyes, clean and unsullied, staring at him unblinkingly.

Cheng Yun said, "I knew you would refuse... Look, did he not even forget to punish me for destroying the imperial decree?"

Wen Beisang pressed his lips together.

Cheng Yun took the opportunity to pick him up. "Get in the carriage first, and I will explain it to you slowly."

The officials were beginning to exit the palace gate. As soon as they were inside, Cheng Yun said, "Go, quickly."

The carriage set off with Qi Song sitting in front.

Inside the carriage, Wen Beisang gradually began to understand. "You plotted against me."

"It... it can't be called plotting."

"You knew all along that I would refuse."

"..."

Had he known that, he would never have said those things in the hall.

Wen Beisang’s crisp, loud refusal was undoubtedly a resounding slap to his face. And after the slap, he had even acted pitifully, complaining that his hand hurt and asking to be pampered.

"Regardless," Wen Beisang said, "you shouldn't have used me as your shield."

Cheng Yun could only curl his lips, his expression looking slightly dejected.

...

Wen Beisang was still very angry. "You are such a bad person!"

"I..."

"You knew your father was dissatisfied with me, knew he had sent the Dragon Guard to kill me, and yet you still pushed me right in front of him!"

"But isn't everything fine now..."

"That was because I reacted quickly and saved myself," Wen Beisang said. "That doesn't change the nature of your attempt to harm me."

"..." Cheng Yun was speechless.

The carriage soon stopped at the Crown Prince’s residence. As soon as Cheng Yun reached out, he was pushed aside. Wen Beisang alighted on his own, ignoring even Pang Qi, and headed straight for the bedchamber, burying himself behind the curtains.

Pang Qi was terrified. "W-why are your eyes so teary..."

What else could it be? He was furious.

This strange, eccentric creature held grudges, and his temper was truly immense.

Cheng Yun wanted to follow him into the bedchamber but detoured to the study instead, instructing Pang Qi, "Do not let anyone disturb him."

Having not slept well in the carriage the day before, Wen Beisang eventually fell asleep while still angry.

There had been a backlog of official business in the Administrative Department, and Cheng Yun was busy until the hour of Shen (3:00–5:00 PM) without finishing. Suddenly, someone began peeking and prying outside the window.

He cast a cold glare, and the person immediately recoiled.

Whispers drifted from outside.

"His expression is indeed quite grim."

"If it were me, I wouldn't be able to accept it either... It’s too embarrassing."

"In such a public place, the little dream demon was a bit cold-hearted..."

The study door was suddenly pulled open. Cheng Yun stepped out, and Chang Xingzhu immediately pushed his companions toward the other side.

Suddenly, Cheng Yun asked, "It seems this matter is already known to everyone?"

Qi Ping’an observed his expression and noticed he truly had no intention of hitting anyone, so he straightened up. "Exactly. Everyone in the Drunken Immortal Tower is talking about it today."

Chang Xingzhu said nothing. Qi Ping’an had been a sickly weakling since childhood; even if he said something offensive, Cheng Yun wouldn't dare lay a finger on him, but he himself was a different story. Song Qianfan was even more tactful.

"As expected." Cheng Yun appeared very composed. "This way, if my father tries to arrange a marriage again, anyone who truly loves their daughter will have to think twice. The rumors in the streets about a male concubine will surely die down for a while."

None of those present were fools. Qi Ping’an immediately asked, "Could it be that the scene in the Golden Throne Hall today was just a play between the two of you?"

"What else?"

"So that’s it!" Song Qianfan exclaimed. "In this way, Master Wen’s reputation is preserved, and you can take the opportunity to choose a woman you truly adore!"

"A plan to kill two birds with one stone..." Chang Xingzhu said, looking at Cheng Yun with uncertainty. "Then why is the little dream demon still angry? We went to the bedchamber just now, and Pang Qi said he didn't even eat lunch."

Cheng Yun instinctively took a step forward, then stopped. "Although he conspired with me for the sake of the big picture, he is still afraid of my father in his heart..."

At this point, something clicked in his mind.

The reason Wen Beisang refused him was primarily because he had been frightened by the Dragon Guard, worried that the Emperor would try to kill him. His anger now was also because he felt he had been deliberately set up...

In other words, Wen Beisang was not angry because he couldn't accept his affection.

"Alright," Cheng Yun said. "That is the truth. You all should go where you need to go; I am still busy."

"Then we will go..."

"Are you still human? Even now, you still want to win his money?"

"How can you say that?" Qi Ping’an said sternly. "We can also give him money to make him happy."

"Are you sure you can?"

"..."

Wen Beisang’s supernatural card skills made it genuinely difficult to give him money, even if one wanted to.

After dismissing these fellows who had nothing better to do, Cheng Yun walked quickly toward the bedchamber.

Pang Qi said softly, "He didn't eat lunch, and we didn't dare to call him."

There was the sound of soft breathing inside the curtains. Cheng Yun approached on tiptoe, carefully drawing back the curtains, and found him sleeping soundly.

It didn't look like he had intentionally skipped lunch...

Cheng Yun thought for a moment and pulled the curtains shut again.

Leaving the bedchamber, he told Pang Qi, "Tell me as soon as he wakes up."

"Yes."

There was still much work in the study. Cheng Yun sat down at the table once more.

As the sky turned dark, he picked up the top document and his expression suddenly sharpened.

—The Xie siblings have secretly entered the capital and are staying at the Bafang Inn.

The date was ten days ago.

Ten days ago, Wen Beisang had just begun building the crossbows at the Firearm Battalion. Xie Lingshu had entered the capital at that very time!

Had he been in contact with Wen Beisang?

Unlikely. Although the Firearm Battalion wasn't heavily guarded, it was crowded and messy; it wouldn't be easy for Xie Lingshu to sneak in.

Furthermore, during that time, he and Wen Beisang were practically inseparable.

There was more information. Cheng Yun flipped through them one by one, finding all mentions of Xie Lingshu, and discovered there were only two.

One was a reminder of Xie Lingshu entering the capital, and the other was a report on his recent activities. Apart from occasionally accompanying his sister to visit some famous scenic spots in the capital, he had visited the Changfeng Fireworks Shop a few times. Other than that, there was nothing unusual.

"Your Highness," a voice came from outside the study. "The Young Master is awake."

Cheng Yun immediately put down the document, stood up, and strode out, not forgetting to lock the door securely.

When he reached the bedchamber, Wen Beisang was sitting at the table with his long hair draped down, chewing continuously.

The table was covered with his favorite foods: sweet and sour pork, spiced beef, spicy stir-fried deer leg, a serving of sweet lotus root with sticky rice, and fish head and tofu soup.

Seeing Cheng Yun enter, he lowered his thick eyelashes, looking as if he didn't want to pay him any mind.

Cheng Yun sat opposite him. "You must be starving."

He didn't speak, but he didn't stop eating either.

He had indeed slept through lunch; he hadn't been too angry to eat.

"A while ago, Chen Changfeng sent a cart of fireworks. Would you like to see them?"

Still no reply, but he ate a fish eye and flicked the fish bone onto the floor.

Pang Qi smiled, his expression full of doting.

Cheng Yun didn't particularly like people throwing trash on the floor of the bedchamber, especially since the floor heating was lit in winter and he was used to walking around in his socks.

But at this moment, he only smiled. While waving for Pang Qi to step back, he said, "I have something to tell you."

No response; he threw another bone on the floor.

"Regarding the things in your dreams."

Wen Beisang immediately looked up.

He had never asked because the dreams hadn't affected him much lately, but he wasn't entirely incurious.

"After you finish eating, shall we go to the backyard to watch the fireworks?"

Wen Beisang pressed his lips together, then suddenly put down his chopsticks and stopped eating.

"..." Cheng Yun said, "We don't have to watch the fireworks, but you should at least finish your meal."

Wen Beisang picked up his chopsticks again and continued eating.

After the meal, Cheng Yun handed him a handkerchief. Wen Beisang wiped his mouth clean, and the two walked side by side to the backyard.

The pavilion in the center of the lake had been draped with curtains and equipped with a heater, making it warm and cozy inside.

The ice near the pavilion had been broken, and some fish food was placed on the long bench by the railing.

Wen Beisang picked it up and tossed it into the water.

Through the lanterns hanging on the railing, one could vaguely see red koi carp, greedily opening and closing their mouths in the pitch-black water.