“How is she?” Cui Qingyuan was the one to speak.
“Not well,” Shen Xiabai replied.
Cui Qingyuan cast him a sidelong glance and said coolly, “Yunchu has never been one to follow the rules, but the Shen family is a venerable house with a century of standing. She may behave recklessly, but Lord Shen should at least understand proper etiquette.”
Shen Xiabai gave a mocking laugh. “If I were still concerned with etiquette at a time like this, I would hardly be worthy of her entrusting her life to me.”
“If the two of you have entrusted your lives to each other, what does etiquette matter?”
Cui Qingyuan’s brows drew together, and he shot Shen Xiabai an displeased look.
That mouth of his was becoming more and more like Yunchu’s.
The carriage and coachman had long been prepared, but Shen Xiabai had come on horseback and had no carriage of his own.
Cui Qingyuan climbed into the carriage. Shen Xiabai stopped in front of it and said, “I have no carriage of my own. May I borrow Prime Minister Cui’s for part of the journey?”
The thickest skin Cui Qingyuan had ever encountered belonged to his own daughter. The second thickest belonged to the man his daughter had chosen as her husband.
“Get in.”
Shen Xiabai climbed aboard and sat upright across from Prime Minister Cui. He even cupped his hands politely. “Thank you, Prime Minister Cui.”
Cui Qingyuan responded with a muffled grunt, his displeasure plain to see.
“Given the special circumstances today, I will let it pass. But Yunchu is, after all, a young lady of a respectable household. Lord Shen, you should show more restraint in the future.”
“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘restraint,’” Shen Xiabai replied with complete conviction.
Cui Qingyuan’s eyelid twitched. “Are you truly not afraid that I might have you confined in my residence and put to death?”
He had trespassed into the Prime Minister’s residence. Even if Cui Qingyuan killed him, the Emperor would have no grounds to punish him.
“If that is possible, I would welcome it,” Shen Xiabai said.
Cui Qingyuan narrowed his deep-set eyes and stared intently at him.
Shen Xiabai continued, “I believe that, in A Chu’s heart, I now hold a higher position than Prime Minister Cui. If you were to injure me and make A Chu sever all ties with the Cui family, allowing her and me to elope and live together, I would even thank you. Perhaps I would send you a banner of appreciation.”
“...”
“Shameless,” Cui Qingyuan said, flicking his sleeve and snorting.
“That is still better than remaining alone for years, as Prime Minister Cui has,” Shen Xiabai retorted.
Having a wife because he was shameless was nothing to be embarrassed about.
“Prime Minister Cui ought to thank me as well. I have been wholeheartedly concerned about your marriage prospects. Without me, you might have spent your entire life alone.”
In the political arena, Cui Qingyuan was certainly an old fox. But when it came to verbal sparring, he was not particularly skilled.
At the mention of Xiao Lan, however, his expression still turned cold. “Nanny Zhang has been at Yunchu’s side since the day she was born. Their bond is extraordinary, and I understand that. But Xiao Lan is, after all, a princess. It is hardly possible to have a princess buried alongside a mere servant.”
Shen Xiabai’s eyes remained calm as he turned his head toward the window. “What does it matter if she was a servant? Even if she were merely a dog A Chu raised, anyone who made her cry would have to be buried with it.”
The carriage moved at an unhurried pace. The wind stirred the curtain, making it sway gently. Silence settled over the carriage for a while.
Cui Qingyuan’s gaze remained on Shen Xiabai for a long time before he finally looked away.
“Do not climb over the courtyard wall again. If someone sees you, it will be improper and humiliating.”
A flicker passed through Shen Xiabai’s eyes. “Thank you, Prime Minister Cui. The next time I visit, I will be sure to go to your study and inform you in person.”
“That will not be necessary.”
Cui Qingyuan’s expression darkened. “Yunchu is not like ordinary young ladies. If you are determined to marry her, then make your arrangements as soon as possible. Do not damage her reputation.”
Shen Xiabai understood the warning and offered his assurance in return. “Prime Minister Cui, rest assured. Before we are married, we will never cross the line.”
“See that you remember it.”
The carriage stopped some distance from the palace gates. Cui Qingyuan frowned when he saw Shen Xiabai remain perfectly still. “Why are you not getting out?”
If the civil and military officials saw them together, and word reached the Emperor, it would only create more trouble.
Shen Xiabai said, “I was injured while rescuing A Chu a few days ago, then poisoned and punished in succession. Last night, I was exposed to the cold wind as well, and my body is having trouble bearing it. I must trouble Prime Minister Cui to lend me the carriage for a little longer.”
Cui Qingyuan looked at his vigorous appearance. He showed not the slightest sign of illness.
“Please understand, Prime Minister Cui. I must take good care of myself so that I can make Yunchu happy and ensure her happiness.”
Cui Qingyuan flung back his sleeve and snorted. “Lord Shen is quite right. To keep my daughter from becoming a widow while still young, you must indeed take good care of yourself.”
He lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage. The wind near the palace gates was especially fierce, driving snow straight into his face and making it difficult to breathe.
Shen Xiabai reached up, tore down the plaque bearing the words “the Cui residence,” and tossed it to Cui Qingyuan.
Cui Qingyuan: “...”
He truly had gone too far. The moment he was given an inch, he took a mile.
The carriage rolled past Cui Qingyuan, leaving the old man to walk through the wind and snow.
By then, quite a few people had gathered at the palace gates. The carriages belonging to the Crown Prince and Prince An were there as well, but the weather was particularly bitter today, and neither man felt like arguing. They remained inside their respective carriages.
Not long after Shen Xiabai’s carriage stopped, its curtain was suddenly lifted, and a figure darted inside.
Shen Xiabai looked at the newcomer without changing expression. “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
The Crown Prince hurriedly supported the hands Shen Xiabai had raised in greeting. “We are brothers-in-law, family. There is no need for such formality. Is your injury serious? Have you recovered?”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness. I am much better.”
“That is good.” The Crown Prince nodded. “It was truly dangerous that day, but in a way, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. At last, you and Cousin Yun Chu can be together openly and aboveboard.”
Shen Xiabai smiled.
The Crown Prince had been raised by the court to become the heir apparent. He might be weak, but he was certainly not a fool.
“Your Royal Highness, is there something you wish to say?” Shen Xiabai asked bluntly.
The Crown Prince smiled and adjusted his robe. “Truly, nothing can escape your notice.”
His expression turned solemn. “Although your feelings for Cousin Yun Chu are now known to everyone, achieving a proper marriage will be extremely difficult. Father is suspicious by nature and may not agree. Worse still, he may act against you and Cousin Yun Chu.”
“Does Lord Shen have any way to deal with this?”
Shen Xiabai replied, “Since Your Royal Highness has put it that way, might I assume that you have a solution?”
The Crown Prince’s eyes were deep, his smile faint. “As long as Father remains on that throne, who could possibly have a foolproof solution?”
Shen Xiabai met his gaze, and silence spread soundlessly through the carriage.
“Especially in Lord Shen’s current position, you are truly caught between a rock and a hard place,” the Crown Prince continued. “If you advance, Father will refuse you. If you retreat and surrender the authority in your hands, you will lose the leverage needed to protect Cousin Yun Chu.”
Shen Xiabai’s expression remained impassive. “Your Royal Highness, are you saying that you can no longer wait and intend to rebel?”
The Crown Prince gave a soft laugh. “Ever since Qingwan’s miscarriage, I have been unable to wait any longer. I was merely lacking an opportunity—and an opening that could be torn wide.”
And Shen Xiabai was that opportunity, as well as that opening.
When Shen Xiabai had been loyal to the Emperor, the situation had been unfavorable to the Crown Prince. With Prince An watching him like a tiger watching its prey, the Crown Prince naturally had not dared to act rashly. But now, if Shen Xiabai rebelled, the Emperor would lose a powerful minister, and the Crown Prince’s chances of bringing him down would increase by at least thirty percent.
Even if he had to keep Prince An occupied, Shen Xiabai’s influence and methods would be more than enough.
“Lord Shen, no matter whom you follow, you will receive the merit of supporting the successful claimant to the throne.”
Shen Xiabai smiled faintly. “If we win, it will be meritorious service in establishing the new ruler. If we lose, we will be traitors and rebels.”
There was one thing, however: compared to Prince An, the Crown Prince was far more predictable.
“The empire of Daliang will ultimately be placed in the hands of the next generation,” said the Crown Prince. “If Lord Shen chooses my imperial brother, then you truly will be making a pact with a tiger.”
Trying to profit from that madman Xiao Yi was nearly impossible—and there was always the risk of being bitten to death at any moment.
Shen Xiabai said, “The only thing Your Highness can promise is my marriage to A Chu. How do you know I cannot obtain it through my own efforts?”
The confidence in the Crown Prince’s eyes slowly faded.
Given Shen Xiabai’s abilities, achieving this wish was indeed not impossible.
“So you have something else in mind, Lord Shen? Why not tell me? So long as it is within my power, I will surely grant your request.”
