GD Chapter 38

The Crown Prince said, “Don’t play games with me. What are you hiding? Hiding, my foot!”

This sulking demeanor made it clear that today’s mood had nothing to do with serious matters. Whenever it concerned life-or-death situations or significant interests, he managed his emotions remarkably well. But for trivial things, like shoes not fitting right or a purse clashing with his outfit, he’d throw a grand tantrum. The more he behaved like this, the more reassured she felt, even though handling the Crown Prince’s temper was no easy feat.

“What’s got you so upset?” she asked with a sheepish smile. The stern authority she wielded in the office had melted away entirely upon entering the palace gates. In front of the Crown Prince, she was nothing more than a gentle, accommodating female minister. She coaxed him with kind words, “Who’s upset you this time? You can’t go on like this, it’ll hurt your liver. Why can’t we just talk things out properly?”

She was thick-skinned, and the Crown Prince, despite his experience in sizing people up, had a particular soft spot for her. When she wasn’t around, he knew all too well how devious she was, but the moment she appeared, all his guard melted away. He gave her a disdainful look as she grinned cheekily and clasped her hands together in mock submission. Reluctantly, he reached out to touch her hands. “They’re pretty cold. Who told you to come back so late after sunset?” he muttered, turning back as he walked away. “Want some milk tea? It just arrived.”

“Of course I do,” Su Xinghe replied without hesitation. “I’ve been out all day, worn out and starving.” She plopped herself down cross-legged on the southern couch, letting the warmth from the cushions seep into her. The palace, vast and imposing as it was, sometimes felt like home to her.

Here at “home,” she had her childhood friend, someone who knew all her embarrassing secrets. In front of outsiders, she might be picky or reserved, but with him, she could devour anything without shame. And he would never laugh at her for it.

The Crown Prince poured a cup of milk tea and placed a plate of candied fruit jelly in front of her, saying, “Eat up. Commander Nan Yushu delivered a secret letter accusing General Cao Zhan. The Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation. Is this what’s been keeping you busy?”

Su Xinghe hummed in acknowledgment. “Exactly. This afternoon, we raided one private residence, and there are still nine more to go. I was supposed to keep working non-stop, but I couldn’t come back… I was hoping to ask for a favor from Your Highness. The work at the Ministry of Military Control is relentless, once we start interrogations, we can’t stop halfway, or we’ll lose the momentum. Could Your Highness grant me permission to occasionally stay overnight at the Ministry of Military Control? Working at the Ministry of Military Control isn’t supposed to be cushy, and I don’t want Commander  Nan Yushu looking down on me…”

“He wouldn’t dare!” the Crown Prince interjected sharply, cutting off both her explanation and her hopes. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really planning. Staying up all night to interrogate suspects? Nonsense. You just want a legitimate excuse not to come home for the night. You’re practically second-in-command at the Ministry of Military Control. If you need to step out for some business or meet someone, no one would dare question you. Besides, the Ministry of Military Control is full of men. What would happen if something went wrong? Forget about it, I forbid it.”

He shifted topics with smug satisfaction. “Oh, and one more thing. Today, I arranged an excellent marriage match for your dear brother Lou Yueting. The daughter of Yuan Su, the Crown Prince’s Undersecretary. What do you think? Perfectly matched, right?”

Su Xinghe was so upset she almost burst into tears. “You really went and arranged a match for him?”

The Crown Prince nodded. “When I promise something, I see it through.”

But wasn’t this all his own idea to begin with? No one had asked him to play matchmaker! What now? How was she supposed to face General Lou Yueting? He had been fine as he was, but now he was being forcibly saddled with a wife, none other than the daughter of one of the Crown Prince’s close ministers. The Huo family truly didn’t have a single simple member. They knew the Lou and Su families were in alliance, and now they had sent someone of such stature. It was obvious: they had planted a spy, someone to watch over him day and night.

She lowered her head, feeling deeply troubled but unable to voice it. She had always known that no matter how close personal relationships might be, in matters of politics, no one compromised. She silently drank her milk tea, one sip at a time, without saying a word. The Crown Prince observed her for a while, finding it odd. “General Lou Yueting finally has someone to care for him. Aren’t you happy?”

Forcing a smile, she replied, “Of course I’m happy. Absolutely thrilled.”

Whether the happiness was genuine or feigned didn’t matter. At this point, there was nothing she could do to change things. It was time to let it go and move on.

The Crown Prince strolled away to feed his pair of ornamental koi fish. Pinching some bran flakes, he scattered them slowly into the water and casually asked, “What’s your plan for the General Cao Zhan case?”

“Didn’t you say to investigate it thoroughly?” She finished the candied jelly, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped her hands. “The Emperor’s intention is essentially the master’s will. I understand. A former relative of the throne who once wielded great power is a latent threat. Even if they can no longer cause any real waves, the court can’t tolerate their presence. In the past, it was difficult to act without justification, but now that a ready-made offense has been handed to us, not seizing the opportunity to take action wouldn’t be the master’s style.”

Her dissatisfaction with him was evident, and her words carried a veiled criticism. He caught it but chose to let it slide, smiling faintly. “When you’re in a position like mine someday, you’ll understand why I’m so ruthless. Managing a vast empire isn’t easy, any spark of trouble has to be snuffed out.”

Of course, such methods didn’t apply to everyone. For instance, not to her.

Su Xinghe turned the Crown Prince’s words over in her mind, analyzing them from every angle. Suddenly, she thought of the precarious situation of the Su family, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.

Fortunately, Prince Jianping was holding the line, and Prince Minxing had successfully inserted himself into the mix. Even if the Crown Prince wanted to target the Su family, it wouldn’t be easy for him to make a move for now. Perhaps he was also being cautious, given the outward alliance between them, the Su family publicly appeared to be on his side. If one day, under this pretense, they were to commit some act of treason, no matter how eloquent he was, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be able to absolve himself completely.

Looking at it this way, his relentless efforts to bind their fates together came with certain risks. However, the Su family was unlikely to go so far as to burn the house down with everyone inside, so the balance held for now. As for her, it was just her rotten luck, her chances of marrying well in the future were slim to none.

“Are you full?” he asked, hands clasped behind his back.

She nodded. “Yes, I’m full.”

“How was lunch earlier? Was it good?”

She replied that it was good. “Thank you for the reward, Your Highness.”

But the Crown Prince was far from pleased. “Oh, so you do realize those dishes were a reward for you? If you know that, why did you go and share them with that group of thousand household? You turned the Ministry of Military Control into some kind of dining club. Do you think it’s a public market? Getting too comfortable with the favor you’ve received, are you? Have you forgotten who you are?”

Su Xinghe was scolded so harshly that she couldn’t lift her head, muttering meekly, “Yes, yes… I’m just a lapdog wearing a bell, pretending to be a beast of burden.”

She was relentless in berating herself, which only left the Crown Prince exasperated. “I’ll just ask you one question: have you set your sights on any of those thousand households?”

Su Xinghe immediately declared her innocence, insisting, “Absolutely not. Falling for someone under my command? I’m not an idiot.”

But every word she said hit the Crown Prince where it hurt. He had fallen for someone under his command, did that make him a complete fool? Still, he quickly adjusted his mindset. For someone with power and status, liking someone under them didn’t make them a fool; it was merely natural. Feeling justified, he clasped his hands behind his back and bent slightly toward her. “Su Xinghe, you must be exhausted today, aren’t you?”

Though his expression seemed kind, Su Xinghe detected an undertone of mischief. She instinctively leaned back and hesitated. “Y-yes, I am.”

“If you’re tired, let me give you a massage. No one else is here anyway.”

Hearing this, Dequan, who was standing outside, quickly gestured to dismiss everyone else. If they didn’t leave now, it might be too late to extricate themselves later.

Su Xinghe froze as if struck by lightning, her eyes widening as she watched the Crown Prince cheerfully clear a space on the southern couch and gesture for her to lie down.

“No way,” she said hurriedly. “Please don’t. My liver is trembling just thinking about it. What exactly do you want? I won’t eat with the thousand households anymore, all right?”

The Crown Prince smiled but said nothing. Sharing a meal with a thousand households wasn’t really a big deal to him. If he could resolve matters with childhood friends like General Lou Yueting, what were a few lowly Centurions? They wouldn’t dare overstep their bounds.

What he couldn’t forget, however, was the time she had grabbed him, twice, right in the chest. If she dared to lay hands on him so brazenly, wasn’t he entitled to a little repayment?

“I can do the Five-Flower Fist; this time, let me loosen your muscles and bones. How about it?”

Su Xinghe was pinned down, flailing her arms and legs while wailing like a ghost. “No way! I’m a girl!”

“A girl? There’s no distinction between male and female among childhood friends,” the Crown Prince replied, noticing her vest was in the way. “Let me take it off for you!”

Resistance was futile. Despite her protests, Su Xinghe could only “half-heartedly” give in, her voice trembling. “Just my back, not the front.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze slid downward, recalling an afternoon years ago when a certain unexpected incident occurred. The lingering dizziness from that moment had yet to fade. He agreed, “Only the back.” Seeing her nervousness, he frowned and added, “You’re stiff as cured meat, how can I loosen anything up like this?”

What a benevolent master, truly a blessing to encounter. Thinking it over, as he had said before, there wasn’t much they hadn’t already done, aside from that. Even if he did want to practice some new “skills” on her, wouldn’t she have to accept it? Resigned to her fate, she fully relaxed and lay down comfortably, ready for his “service.”

Though the Crown Prince’s hands looked refined and delicate, they were surprisingly strong. His fingers started at the nape of her neck and worked their way downward in smooth, deliberate movements. As he pressed, he asked, “How does it feel? Enjoying it?”

Su Xinghe, eyes half-closed, murmured, “Too enjoyable…” Then, as he applied sudden force, she couldn’t suppress a long groan. “Heavens…”

The Crown Prince, delighted, continued his efforts, sneaking in small liberties while he worked. Beneath her official robe, her body was unmistakably feminine, slender, and delicate, her waist as supple as a willow branch. He asked, “Is your waist sore? You spend all day sitting at the Ministry of Military Control, and when you go out, you have to ride horseback…”

“Stop asking. Just pinch wherever you want,” she replied, resigned. And so, his hands shamelessly wandered from her waist down to her hips.

Taking full advantage of the opportunity to savor the exquisite sensation, he added between movements, “Tomorrow, the imperial edict for the new empress should be issued. Once your business at the Ministry of Military Control is settled, regardless of who the new empress is, find a way to win her over.”

Su Xinghe muttered a vague response, “ Zuo Zhaoyi is probably out of the running. That leaves only Lady Shangguan among the unsuitable candidates… Surely the Emperor wouldn’t deliberately choose someone with a son to elevate.”

The Crown Prince sneered. “Even if Lady Shangguan isn’t chosen, no matter who is, the ambitions of the Eldest and Third Princes won’t wane. Our brotherly rivalry will continue.”

Su Xinghe turned her head and asked, “What if the Emperor appoints a young empress, and she becomes pregnant? How would you respond?”

“A prince born twenty-two years younger than me poses no threat. Besides, with your abilities, you wouldn’t let something like that happen.”

His tone was cold and devoid of emotion. Killing, once done the first time, becomes easier the second. He clearly intended to drag her deeper into the mire, with Xu Erma serving as the opening move. Su Xinghe fell silent for a long moment before finally saying, “I understand Your Highness’s intentions.”

The icy expression on his face suddenly melted away, and he shifted to a lighter tone. “The decree hasn’t even been issued yet, no need to borrow trouble before it’s due.”

It takes three to five years of experience for an empress to truly establish herself. At a time when the princes have all come of age and hold varying degrees of power in court, surviving in such a precarious position is nearly impossible. Not every empress meets a good end, nor does every prince have the chance to grow up peacefully. Even those who enjoy the height of the Emperor’s favor will find that, once he ages, the blade will inevitably be at their necks.

Su Xinghe exhaled softly, then turned over and rested her head on his lap. Having done this before, the movement was fluid and natural. She thought of the Privy Councilor and tentatively asked the Crown Prince, “Are you familiar with Huo Yan? Commander Nan Yushu shirked his duties today and sent me to meet the Privy Councilor. I’ve heard this man is difficult to deal with, and I’m worried I might embarrass myself.”

He frowned down at her. “If you’re afraid, you shouldn’t have taken on this task. It wasn’t part of your responsibilities to begin with, so why get involved in that messy business? As for Huo Yan, he’s an elder and a clansman, nothing more.”

She nudged him slightly. “Do you have dealings with him?”

“Dealings?” He shook his head slowly. “When we meet, it’s state etiquette first, family matters second. Everything follows the rules; there’s no special connection. I did hear that Huo Qingluan once tried to win him over but was firmly rebuffed. Huo Yan served as a border garrison general for fourteen years, fighting numerous battles and narrowly escaping death. He’s a hard-headed man. As long as his stance remains neutral, I see no need to cultivate a closer relationship. Neutral individuals are people I can always tolerate.”

As he spoke, he gazed at her and gently smoothed the fine hair by her temple.

It seemed these words were intentionally directed at her. Su Xinghe understood and flattered him, ” Zuo Zhaoyi can’t be made empress, don’t I deserve some credit for that?”

He grunted, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. “Your Su family certainly played a major role; I’ve taken note of it.”

The insincerity was evident, and she muttered under her breath. Raising her hand to toy with her nails, she mused aloud, “Fourteen years of wielding sword and spear, and now he’s seen through everything… How old is this Privy  Councilor, anyway?”

The Crown Prince said, “He’s no more than thirty-seven or thirty-eight. The Huo family’s military tradition starts young,Huo Yan joined the army at twelve, returned to the capital at twenty-seven, and has been heading the Secretariat for ten years. That makes him about that age.”

Su Xinghe’s confidence clearly wavered. “Older than my brother, with plenty of experience, and a military background… If I go to question him, which eye would he even bother to look at me with?”

“The smallest one, probably a corn on his foot.”

Su Xinghe froze. When she finally processed the remark, she smacked him hard, flustered and indignant. “What nonsense are you talking about?!”

See, this was exactly how she lacked decorum, completely ignoring rank and hierarchy. The Crown Prince endured the hit with a frown. “Just think about it, how many times have you hit me? I haven’t held you accountable, and yet here you are, acting all bold again.”

She scrambled upright, protesting, “Well, you shouldn’t talk nonsense! I’m a dignified Commander of the Jinyi Guard, a second-rank official, why should he dare to look down on me?”

Fair enough. This was someone who even dared to hit the Crown Prince; what would she ever fear? The Crown Prince rubbed his ear. “Stop shouting at me. Listen carefully. I have to remind you of something. Huo Yan is a royal relative and has made significant contributions to the court. Even if he were connected to General Cao Zhan’s case, it’s very likely the higher-ups would suppress it and not act on it. Don’t assume that just because he blocks your brother’s path to promotion, you can bring him down. You don’t have that capability yet, so don’t get yourself caught up and end up being dealt with instead.”

Su Xinghe, seeing her intentions so easily exposed, felt deeply embarrassed. She muttered softly, “So, in your eyes, I’m just a seasoned troublemaker, overambitious, scheming, and malicious. Other than having a pretty face, I’m worthless.”

These words, weren’t they just veiled praise disguised as criticism? The Crown Prince chuckled. “Do you really think your face is that good-looking? What’s so great about it? I must’ve missed it.”

Su Xinghe refused to give up and leaned closer. “Take a proper look. If I weren’t good-looking, would you treat me the way you do? The palace is full of beautiful women, but there aren’t many as attractive and clever as I am.”

Her big face was right there in front of him, her nose where it should be, her eyes in place. He studied her closely for a long moment and finally said, “Your eyes are so far apart, there’s an ocean between them, no pigeon could fly across.”

She wasn’t having it. She kicked her legs in protest. “I have almond-shaped eyes, and they’re big! Of course, the distance between them is wider. Do you think eyes squished together would look good? What am I, a cockroach? Besides, my mother always said people with my kind of face are generous and easy to get along with.”

Easy to get along with? That line was probably best told to ghosts. The Crown Prince cast her a sidelong glance. “In the entire Eastern Palace, only that rat-catcher gets along with you. Everyone else runs scared the moment they see you, three souls and seven spirits nowhere to be found. Stop trying to make yourself sound better.”

Though he said that, his heart quietly rippled, wave after wave.

Su Xinghe, truth be told, was stunning. As a child, she had been round-faced and adorably soft, with big eyes and a small mouth. Her twin buns were adorned with crimson tassels, and when she shook her head, her earrings and tassels danced together. No one could resist that blend of precision and playfulness.

As she grew older, her natural beauty only became more refined, not the common kind of beauty, but the sort that stood out in a crowd of lovely women. If she were part of an imperial selection for consorts, she would be destined for a position as empress or noble consort.

The Crown Prince wasn’t particularly fixated on appearances. It was just a coincidence that the woman he loved happened to look like this, as if fate had handed him an unexpected bonus. Even if she’d been plain-looking, she’d still have been the one for him. What mattered most to him was the bond between them. Despite her little schemes, she was by his side through his joys and sorrows, and that was enough.

He was stubborn, even though he had already made up his mind, he wouldn’t say a comforting word. The girl liked being pampered, but unfortunately, he never understood that. He kept his pride, and when she praised herself, he wouldn’t just go along with it. That made Su Xinghe feel annoyed.

She jumped off the bed and ran barefoot to the copper mirror. In the bedroom, there was a large full-length mirror, polished to a brilliant shine, always spotless thanks to the palace attendants who cleaned it daily. She stood in front of it, twisting left and right. She had the looks and the figure; surely the Crown Prince wasn’t blind!

She turned back and gave him a wistful glance. “I look so beautiful. Sometimes, when I look at myself in the mirror, I wonder, could I be a fairy descended from heaven?”

The Crown Prince slowly walked over. “I’ve never met anyone who knows how to show off more than you. What’s the point of admiring yourself when others are already praising you?”

He stood behind her, and the mirror reflected the two of them, youthful, radiant, like pearls and jade. The Crown Prince gazed intently, feeling that the two of them made the perfect match. Together, they would sit side by side to rule the world and would surely be the most beautiful imperial couple in history. But alas, her playful expression, that cold and ruthless demeanor she showed in the court, seemed completely absent now. She was a person with two faces, and two hearts.

He told her not to move, slightly bending down to rest his chin on her shoulder. “Were you always this out of tune when you were handling cases?”

Su Xinghe fell silent, narrowing her eyes as she looked at him. Their innocent affection from childhood had, over time, turned into a familiar closeness, and now even their intimate gestures didn’t seem inappropriate.

She answered, “I’m only like this when I’m with you. In the court, I’m among subordinates, so I have to stand tall and make them fear me. But with you, if I made you fear me, I should have left long ago. You are the master, and I must make you feel at ease. It’s my duty to ease your worries, make you laugh, and bring you joy.”

His voice held a lingering warmth, his robes flowing like water, light and hanging loosely. His sleeves trailed on the floor, and only his head was close to hers. “I don’t need you to make me laugh. I just want us to act like we’re family when you return to the palace.”

She slightly turned her head, her cheek brushing against his forehead. “Hasn’t it always been like this? You insisted on being my childhood friend, and in my heart, you’ve always been my childhood friend.”

How wonderful. Finally, he heard her admit it. The Prince’s heart bloomed with joy at the term “childhood friend,” feeling a sense of brotherly camaraderie. “Let me hold you.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her tightly into his embrace. “Do we look like a pair now?”

Su Xinghe took a careful look, feeling a bit shy. “What are we like? You’re so high above, and I’m like a lowly servant.”

The Prince furrowed his brow. “Say something more flattering.”

She smiled teasingly, “You’re the son of the phoenix and dragon, and I’m like a mud-caked pig or a stray dog.”

The prince finally couldn’t hold back and gave his hopelessly foolish head a tap.

“Did your childhood friend do this? Did General Lou Yueting hug you? I hugged him!”

Mentioning General Lou Yueting, Su Xinghe felt a twinge of regret, like happiness had slipped through her fingers. She sighed repeatedly. “When I was little, I jumped down from a tree, and he caught me. He did hug me then. But that was a long time ago, and the feeling is almost forgotten. However, there’s something I’ve remembered for ten years. Do you want to hear it?”

The prince naturally said he wanted to hear it. Even though the rival had been removed from the list of candidates, the lingering effects still remained, and one had to be cautious.

“Then let go of me, it’s too hot,” she wriggled a bit, freed herself from his embrace, and, with a lively smile, told him, “The Lou family’s way of disciplining children is different from other families. In the middle of winter, they strip you bare and make you stand in the northwestern wind. I had just returned from the south and snuck through the back door to find General Lou Yueting. He was standing there against the wall in his underwear, you can’t imagine how funny it was.”

“What kind of shameless rule is that?” Clothes are a person’s dignity, and to strip it all off, how could one still be human? The noble prince couldn’t imagine such humiliation; luckily, General Lou Yueting was still alive. Upon further thought, why was it “funny” at all? “Were you so shameless when you were six? Didn’t your mother tell you the difference between boys and girls? Seeing him naked, you thought it was funny?”

Su Xinghe replied honestly, “I had never seen a boy in his underwear, of course, it was funny.”

The Crown Prince coldly looked at her, “You only saw his back? What about the front? Did you see it that day when your little chicken was growing, short and long?”

This time, she didn’t dare to act smug. She shifted her feet nervously and stammered, “It was almost sunset. He was standing in the shadows, and I didn’t get a good look…”

Sometimes, the prince would inexplicably feel a strong urge to strangle her. But after thinking it through, he couldn’t really blame her. It was mainly because she worked at the Ministry of Military Control, and those people were always spouting nonsense, corrupting her in the process.

The prince sighed, “I’ve never been one to accept being second best. Since we’re childhood friends, it’s not fair that you saw his, but not mine.”

Su Xinghe jumped in shock. “What are you going to do?” She was afraid he might strip again. After thinking it over, she reluctantly confessed, “Don’t mind it, actually, I’ve seen yours too… There was one time when you were changing your pants, and I accidentally walked in on you. I was wondering whether I should go in or turn away… but in the end, I didn’t have the courage, so I just backed out. Luckily, you didn’t notice. Hehe.”

That last “hehe” almost made the prince faint. This was what it meant to be childhood friends, growing up together, enduring countless embarrassing moments without realizing it. Just thinking about it made him shudder.

Su Xinghe thought he would be angry, but to her surprise, he calmed himself and asked a rather awkward question:

“How old were you? Did you grow up?”