Upon returning to the Nanjing Embassy, Zhao Mian fully entrusted the task of deciphering the jade brick patterns to Zhou Huairang. 

Zhou Huairang’s face flushed with excitement; he was so thrilled he almost cried. 

It had been five years since he was last so heavily relied upon by His Highness. 

The last time, unable to bear the incessant chatter and nagging of the Second Prince, His Highness had lied about going out and sent Zhou Huairang to receive him instead. As a result, he was forced to chat with the garrulous Second Prince for two grueling hours, to the point where his lips blistered and his throat became hoarse, making him unable to utter a single word for two days. 

Five years had passed, and finally, he could do something substantial for His Highness again, Heaven above!

Zhou Huairang plunged into ancient texts, living as a recluse, forgetting to eat and sleep, with no time to serve at His Highness’s side.

With the departure of the “sweet and naive” sidekick, Zhao Mian’s side gained a Wei Zhenfeng. 

Having learned from past experiences, both men worried that the other might discover clues to the Western Xia treasures and deliberately conceal them, acting independently behind their backs. Instead of constant suspicion, it was better to keep the other under one’s watchful eye. This way, they could not only monitor each other’s every move but also… enjoy the view.

Thus, the Young Prince of Beiyuan, with a clear conscience, moved into the Nanjing Embassy temporarily, his room conveniently next to the Nanjing Crown Prince’s study. Anyone going to the study to discuss matters with the Crown Prince had to greet the Young Prince of Beiyuan twice: once upon entering and once upon leaving. 

The Crown Prince even tacitly approved of this arrangement. After all, surveillance was mutual. Nanjing was well aware of which Beiyuan envoys sought an audience with the Young Prince, how long their conversations lasted, and their expressions before and after.

After Marquis Anyuan had said “Good day, Young Prince” six times in one day, he finally exploded: “That Beiyuan brat is watching His Highness too closely!”

Rong Tang said calmly, “Quite in the style of Prime Minister Xiao.”

Marquis Anyuan was bewildered: “Huh? This Marquis doesn’t see a single resemblance between the Young Prince and Prime Minister Xiao.”

Rong Tang clarified, “I only meant in terms of how closely they watch people.”

Marquis Anyuan was a veteran official of Nanjiing, serving two dynasties, and he had heard bits and pieces of the old court affairs from twenty years ago. Seeing that there were no outsiders around, he lowered his voice and said, “Grand Tutor Rong, it has been a long time since you last saw His Majesty, hasn’t it?”

Rong Tang hummed in affirmation: “A long time.”

Marquis Anyuan was a typical Nanjing military general, both crude and meticulous, with a bold spirit and a careful mind. 

Having courage without strategy was useless; that was why he was a military officer who could be valued by Prime Minister Xiao and sent to be by the Crown Prince’s side.

Marquis Anyuan maintained his composure and chuckled, “Who hasn’t? The last time this old man saw His Majesty was during the longevity celebration last year. I wonder how His Majesty maintains himself; he still looks much the same as he did ten years ago.”

Rong Tang offered a faint smile, the chill around him receding a bit: “That is excellent.”

That day, Wei Zhenfeng personally saw Rong Tang, Marquis Anyuan, and others enter Zhao Mian’s study, staying for half a day. Such a long duration clearly indicated it was more than just a routine greeting or casual chat.

Wei Zhenfeng stared at the closed door, distractedly savoring the Dian Chun Zhi tea, a delicacy only available to Nanjing’s elite.

What new conspiracy were these Nanjing people cooking up without his knowledge?

It wasn’t until dusk that the study door finally reopened. Shen Buqi emerged and said to Wei Zhenfeng, “His Highness requests your presence, Your Highness.”

Wei Zhenfeng scoffed faintly: “Finally remembered me?”

He entered the study and immediately saw Gu Ruzhang’s seal on the table, the very item he had exchanged for the Male-Female Gu antidote. Zhao Mian sat behind the desk, surrounded by his officials, radiating an air of regal dignity.

In front of outsiders, Wei Zhenfeng respectfully performed a level bow: “Your Highness.”

Zhao Mian nodded in return: “I have invited Your Highness today to inform you that I plan to use Gu Ruzhang’s seal to draw out the remaining Western Xia loyalists lurking in Dongling, to see if we can find other clues regarding the Western Xia treasures.”

Wei Zhenfeng asked, “How does Your Highness intend to do this?”

It would be undignified for the Crown Prince of a nation to explain every detail. With Zhou Huairang absent, Shen Buqi naturally stepped up as the Crown Prince’s temporary mouthpiece: “There is a courtesan house in Jingdu called ‘Lanyue Pavilion.'”

Wei Zhenfeng waited for a moment, and when no further explanation came, he had to ask himself, “And then?”

Shen Buqi continued: “Lanyue Pavilion is a gathering place for the capital’s elites.”

“…And then what?”

“Those who wish to sell rare treasures can entrust them to Lanyue Pavilion for guests to admire, and then Lanyue Pavilion will host an auction for their sale, with the highest bidder winning.”

Wei Zhenfeng couldn’t help but feel this was too simple a trick to draw out the snakes. Even Zhou Huairang wouldn’t fall for it, let alone the Imperial City Division lurking in Dongling. He tactfully said, “Your Highness, don’t you think this fishhook is too obvious? Any person with eyes would see it as a trap set by Beiyuan. Whoever falls for it is a fool.”

“Exactly,” Zhao Mian said. “So, Your Highness need not hide your identity. You can go to Lanyue Pavilion yourself, and you must make sure everyone knows you are the Young Prince of Beiyuan. Be arrogant, overbearing, and as conspicuous as possible.”

Wei Zhenfeng vaguely understood Zhao Mian’s meaning and slowly said, “Could it be that Your Highness’s fishhook is intended to catch ‘fools’?”

“Precisely. No matter how simple the hook, there will always be starving fish eager for bait. Gu Shaodeng understands this principle.” Zhao Mian smiled faintly. “Furthermore, as the last remaining member of the Gu family, it’s impossible for him not to want to reclaim his uncle’s ‘relics.’ It just depends on how he takes it.”

Wei Zhenfeng chuckled: “Your Highness, rest assured, this prince is most adept at acting. I even suspect I was an actor in my previous life.”

Zhao Mian recalled Wei Zhenfeng’s flashy fish-killing display and said sincerely: “No need to doubt, you are.”

The twelfth day of each month was Lanyue Pavilion’s busiest day. On this day, the wealthy and leisurely noble scions of the capital gathered at Lanyue Pavilion to sample fine wines, admire beauties, and appreciate treasures. Even during these days when Nanjiing’s army was pressing on Dongling’s borders, Lanyue Pavilion remained like a small, sleepless city, as if to proclaim to the world that Dongling’s capital was as prosperous as ever.

In this vast capital of Jingdu, if one were to speak of the most revered figure, it would naturally be the Empress Dowager Lu, who held court behind a screen. Unfortunately, Empress Dowager Lu’s origins were not noble; he was an orphan whose parents died early, adopted by the Lu family due to his naturally handsome appearance, becoming their adopted son. 

Some also said that Empress Dowager Lu was not an adopted son, but rather the illegitimate child of the then Lu family head. Later, as Lu Wang grew up to resemble a male beauty capable of bringing disaster to the nation, the Lu family head presented him to the late Emperor, who favored male consorts.

As for how Lu Wang, a male concubine in the deep palace, gradually became the ruler of Dongling, few living people knew. But everyone knew that the first thing Empress Dowager Lu did after gaining real power was to eradicate the entire Lu clan. The Lu family, a century-old noble clan in the capital, vanished overnight. Hundreds of Lu family members, regardless of gender or age, all died tragically at Lu Wang’s hands.

The Empress Dowager had no maternal family, and the Emperor had not yet married, so there were no imperial relatives to speak of within the court. Therefore, the most revered in Dongling remained the imperial Xie clan. Even if the young Emperor of Dongling was merely a nominal ruler, he was still a true emperor. In the capital, anyone named Xie was, more or less, related to the imperial family.

Xie Liang’an was one such person.

Xie Liang’an was twenty-eight this year. In terms of seniority, he was considered the young Emperor’s granduncle. His father held a princely title, and as an only son, he was a young marquis himself, with a handsome and charming appearance. He was also well-versed in the ways of romance, a seasoned playboy, and quite popular with the courtesans of Lanyue Pavilion.

Normally, when Xie Liang’an came to Lanyue Pavilion, at least seven out of ten times he could secure the best private room on the top floor. But today, he was informed by Manager Zhang, who oversaw the courtesan house, that the private room had already been reserved by a distinguished guest. Xie Liang’an wasn’t angry; he chuckled and teased, “Whose status could possibly gain more favor with you, dear madam, than mine. It couldn’t be my father, the Prince, could it?”

Manager Zhang smiled sweetly: “The Young Master will know when he sees.”

Manager Zhang led Xie Liang’an to another private room on the top floor, directly opposite that of the mysterious guest. Xie Liang’an couldn’t help but glance across several times, but unfortunately, the opposite door remained closed. He could only see two guards standing watch.

Xie Liang’an had to give up for now. He asked Manager Zhang, “Are there any rare treasures worth seeing today? Could you tell this Young Master in advance?”

Manager Zhang poured Xie Liang’an a cup of tea, repeating the same phrase: “The Young Master will know when he sees.”

As Xie Liang’an took the teacup, he subtly held the beautiful woman’s slender hand and smiled, “If you have no other duties, why don’t you stay and keep me company?”

Manager Zhang curtsied and said, “As the Young Master commands.”

Despite the bitter cold of winter, Lanyue Pavilion was as warm as spring indoors. Charcoal braziers for heating burned in the private rooms, tea was kept warm over the embers, and even melons and candied fruits could be roasted for eating.

Downstairs, the premier courtesan of the pavilion played the zither amidst a riot of flowers, her music flowing melodiously and captivating the heart.

When the music finished, the lights in the courtesan house brightened. The premier courtesan withdrew with her zither, and a table was set on the stage. With a crisp chime of bells, a graceful lady approached the stage with an exquisite brocade box. Another, slightly older, opened the box and announced: “A pair of gold and jade twin-dragon pearl-playing bracelets—”

“An ancient Western Xia zither—”

“A silver-leaf jade bonsai—”

…

After seeing a few of these treasures, which were all common objects, Xie Liang’an became distracted and began flirting with his companion. As their affections grew, Manager Zhang suddenly sat up from Xie Liang’an’s embrace. Xie Liang’an lowered his head and asked her, “What’s wrong?”

Manager Zhang used her fan to point to the opposite side: “Young Master, look.”

Xie Liang’an looked in the direction she indicated. He saw that the private room opposite had finally opened. A luxuriously dressed young man sat by the railing, resting his chin on one hand, his gaze lowered toward the stage. His long eyelashes swept down, and a teardrop mole was perfectly centered beneath each eye. Standing beside the young man was a young master of similar age, equally distinguished in demeanor and handsome in appearance, but still two points less striking than the young man.

For a moment, Xie Liang’an was stunned. Despite priding himself on his dashing and charming demeanor, the first glance at the young man made him feel a sense of inferiority.

Xie Liang’an couldn’t help but exclaim, “Whose young lord is this, born so…”

He hadn’t finished his question when the answer formed in his mind. Seventeen or eighteen years old, with symmetrical tear moles beneath his eyes—who else could it be but the Young Prince of Beiyuan? With such an appearance and bearing, coupled with all the rumors surrounding the young man, eight words immediately came to Xie Liang’an’s mind: “Heaven’s favored son, peerless in the world.”

Manager Zhang called him a few times before Xie Liang’an recovered, saying, “The one beside him must be Lord Xiao Jue of Nanjing.” Xie Liang’an had not met the envoys from Beiyuan and Nanjing before, but he had heard of the unusual relationship between the Young Prince of Beiyuan and Lord Xiao. As for how unusual, well, it was the kind of relationship where they both contracted the Male-Female Gu and could still survive without an antidote.

Manager Zhang fanned herself and said, “This Lord Xiao appears to be disguised.”

Xie Liang’an asked curiously, “How do you know?”

Manager Zhang chuckled, “I grew up in the courtesan house; what kind of people haven’t I seen? Lord Xiao’s appearance doesn’t match his physique. In my humble opinion, Lord Xiao’s original appearance might not be inferior to the Young Prince’s.”

It wasn’t just them; more and more people noticed the young man on the top floor. Most of the capital’s noble elites knew each other, so when a new, handsome face suddenly appeared, who could resist inquiring about him?

Upon inquiring, the entire hall erupted in a buzz.

“This is the Young Prince of Beiyuan? No, didn’t they say he was ugly enough to make children cry?”

“A young prince from a neighboring country, actually swaggering through our Dongling capital and outshining many of our noble scions—it’s truly lamentable!”

“Why are you lamenting in a pleasure house? If you truly find it lamentable, why not get ‘Loyalty to the Nation’ tattooed and go guard the border?”

“Hey, what are you saying? If you want to go, why don’t you go?”

Just coincidentally, the managing auntie then opened a smaller brocade box and loudly announced: “The seal of Gu Ruzhang, the last Chief Minister of Western Xia.”

At these words, all three floors of the courtesan house instantly fell silent. Everyone looked up, their gazes converging on the young prince of the neighboring country.

Xie Liang’an also paled, whispering to Manager Zhang, “Is this Gu Ruzhang’s seal the Young Prince’s property?”

Manager Zhang covered her lips with her fan and said, “Who else could it be but him?”

“Such an important item, why would he display it so openly in front of everyone…?” Xie Liang’an had a sudden realization. “Could it be that he’s trying to lure the snake out of its hole?”

Although Manager Zhang was a woman, in Lanyue Pavilion, there was no shortage of information, big and small, true and false. Having been immersed in it for a long time, she could often interject with insightful comments: “It’s not impossible.”

Xie Liang’an was puzzled: “But this trap is too obvious. Will those Western Xia people fall for it?”

Manager Zhang chuckled: “Perhaps the Young Prince merely wants to tell the world that Grand Tutor Gu’s seal is in his hands, and if anyone wants to take it, he’s ready anytime.”

Xie Liang’an looked at Manager Zhang’s calm and composed face and thought to himself how sorrowful it was that in his Dongling, a courtesan woman was far more knowledgeable than the noble youths filling the hall. If their Xie family also had a Prince Heng, would Dongling still be the weakest of the three nations?

Lost in thought, Xie Liang’an involuntarily looked at the Young Prince of Beiyuan.

Unintentionally, he noticed that Lord Xiao Jue was standing too close to the charcoal brazier, the steaming ceramic pot just a step away from Lord Xiao’s hand. 

Seeing Lord Xiao’s jade-like complexion, Xie Liang’an’s old habit of appreciating beauty resurfaced. It would be such a pity if Lord Xiao’s hand were truly scalded, leaving a scar.

Fortunately, the guard standing behind Lord Xiao also seemed to notice this and was about to step forward to remind him, but someone else got there first. The Young Prince simply raised one hand, naturally wrapping it around Lord Xiao’s waist, gently guiding him a bit further from the pottery pot. His gaze, however, remained on the stage downstairs, never looking at Lord Xiao.

This seemingly casual, elegant gesture stunned Xie Liang’an. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the Young Prince was attending to serious business or simply indulging in frivolous amusement.

In the midst of the silence, the managing auntie spoke again: “The seal of Gu Ruzhang, the last Chief Minister of Western Xia.”

Everyone exchanged glances, no one daring to speak, let alone bid. In the decades since the courtesan house was built, when had there ever been such a stifling atmosphere?

Finally, a soft chuckle broke the silence.

The Young Prince of Beiyuan, seated at the highest point, looked down mockingly at the hushed crowd: “This Prince thought this was an interesting item and wanted to invite all of you from Dongling to enjoy it, but it seems I’ve chilled your mood.” As he spoke, the Young Prince’s hand remained at Lord Xiao’s waist, his expression one of utter disinterest: “Truly boring.”

With that, he finally released his hand, flicked his sleeve, and departed.

Soon, the news of the Young Prince of Beiyuan’s visit to Lanyue Pavilion and his public display of Gu Ruzhang’s seal spread throughout the capital’s streets and alleys, becoming a topic of conversation among the elite after meals. It was said that on that night at Lanyue Pavilion, the Young Prince of Beiyuan captivated everyone, drawing all eyes to him, and his every gesture garnered the attention of countless beautiful women.

Alas, it seemed the Young Prince’s eyes were only on matters concerning his Beiyuan.

The author has something to say:

Mianmian’s alias is Xiao Jue (决), not Xiao Jiao!