Each with Their Own Designs

In a secluded courtyard within the imperial palace.

Splash-

Qi Yunheng poured a bucket of cold water over himself.

Then he picked up another bucket-

"Master!"

An old man of about fifty or sixty hurried over.

"What are you doing... in the middle of the night?"

Qi Yunheng paused, staring blankly at the bucket of cold water in his hand.

He turned his head, his expression dark and sinister.

Suddenly, he asked, "Uncle Fu... do I stink?"

Uncle Fu's expression froze.

Master... what did he mean by that?

Though his master was only eleven, he was often shrouded in gloom and hostility.

To be honest,

Uncle Fu was sometimes rather afraid of him.

Still, he had watched his master grow from a toddling child into the resolute boy he was now.

Disrespectful though it might be to say,

deep down, he treated his master as his own flesh and blood.

Uncle Fu silently sighed.

His master was of noble birth.

To call him unfortunate, he had been born into royalty; to call him fortunate, he had been trampled into the mud and lived worse than a servant.

His face full of heartache, Uncle Fu looked at the stubborn little figure before him and offered him a towel.

"You don't stink at all, Master. Dry yourself quickly, before you catch a chill."

Only then did Qi Yunheng come to his senses.

He really had been foolish.

Why was he taking issue with a little brat?

Why should he care what the boy said?

He had never been the moon high in the sky. No matter how clean he washed himself, no one would spare him another glance.

What difference did it make whether he was clean or not?

As he thought of tonight's mission to assassinate Emperor Jinyuan,

a vicious glint flashed through Qi Yunheng's eyes.

The heir to the Prince of Zhennan's Residence!

Him again!

If not for him, he would never have missed such a good chance to assassinate that tyrant.

Qi Yunheng's gaze turned venomous.

He deserved to die!

Looking up and seeing Uncle Fu's worried expression, he softened.

"I failed, Uncle Fu..." he said bitterly.

Uncle Fu immediately consoled him. "Tyrant though he may be, he still climbed over mountains of corpses and seas of blood to reach the throne. He won't be so easy to deal with. Don't blame yourself too much, Master."

"Mm..." Qi Yunheng replied glumly. He would have to find another opportunity.

In this life, he had stationed people at his mother's side, but he still could not rest easy. He had to deal with Emperor Jinyuan as soon as possible and return to Southern Zhao.

The emperor's bedchamber.

Emperor Jinyuan had enjoyed a rare good night's sleep.

Once awake, he suddenly remembered the little assassin from the night before.

From the way that Xiao boy had spoken last night, he seemed quite familiar with the little assassin.

He turned his head, about to ask Xiao Yu what was going on.

Only to find him still sound asleep...

Emperor Jinyuan snorted.

He certainly was much quieter asleep.

When Xiao Yu had cultivated on Spirit Mountain in his previous life, he had been the eldest disciple and had needed to set a good example for his junior brothers and sisters.

He had exercised restraint, observed propriety, paid his morning and evening respects, and studied and trained diligently.

He had never been as carefree as he was now, sleeping whenever he pleased.

Hugging his pillow, he slept blissfully.

"Your Majesty, shall I wake the young heir?" Dequan stepped forward to ask.

"No need."

Watching Xiao Yu, Emperor Jinyuan silently made a decision.

In the Hall of Golden Chimes.

"Your Majesty, you must not!"

Chancellor Cui stepped forward.

"Your Majesty already has many sons. Adopting another now may sow suspicion among the princes and shake the foundations of the state. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Led by Chancellor Cui, a crowd of officials knelt. "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Reconsider, reconsider! I've done far more than that!"

Emperor Jinyuan spoke in irritation.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Su Yan standing calmly to one side.

It suddenly occurred to him that Su Yan seemed to be that Xiao boy's uncle.

He asked, "I wish to adopt Qi'an as my son. What do you think, Minister Su?"

Su Yan went still, his brows drawing together slightly.

An adopted son of His Majesty... that meant he would have the opportunity and standing to contend for the throne in the future.

Surely His Majesty wasn't trying to make that boy a target for everyone...

Lowering his eyes, he replied, "Your servant considers it inappropriate."

Emperor Jinyuan was immediately displeased.

His face darkened as he looked at Su Yan. "To think I believed you a learned man, Minister Su, well versed in both past and present. I thought you would understand me, unlike these old fossils. How can you be so hidebound as well?"

He was furious.

He merely thought that Xiao boy suited his temperament and wanted to adopt him. What was wrong with that?

Did every last one of them have to object?

"The young heir Xiao has grown up without discipline. He is unruly by nature, acts as he pleases, and is deficient in character. He is hardly fit to be a prince of this nation."

Su Yan spoke sternly. "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Emperor Jinyuan: "..."

Was it necessary to paint him in such a terrible light?

And you call yourself his uncle!

Do you think I don't know what sort of person he is?

When he gets truly disrespectful, he even dares to curse me!

My princes are all afraid of me. They're far too dull. I don't like it.

Every day, I attend court, leave court, and review memorials, over and over again. It's so boring. Am I not even allowed to keep someone entertaining by my side to relieve the tedium?

Keeping that Xiao boy in the palace

would spare me any worry about the Prince of Zhennan harboring disloyal ambitions, and I could learn in advance who wanted to harm me. Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?

"My ministers, say no more. My mind is made up!"

Emperor Jinyuan swept his hand outward. "Court is dismissed!"

At the same time, he told the man behind him, "Dequan, write down the names of every minister who objected just now!"

Dequan broke into a nervous sweat, but dared not ask why.

Remembering that Chief Minister Su was among them, he asked cautiously, "Your Majesty... should Chief Minister Su be included as well?"

"Yes, yes! Let Qi'an see how his dear uncle disparaged him!"

Having said that, Emperor Jinyuan stopped in his tracks.

"And send an urgent confidential dispatch to the Prince of Zhennan's Residence!"

Xiao Yu had no idea how many things Emperor Jinyuan had done to leave the ministers speechless while he slept in.

He slept peacefully.

The southern border.

The Prince of Zhennan's Residence.

The Prince of Zhennan stared blankly at the imperial decree rushed over from the Capital City-

"Xiao Yu, heir to the Prince of Zhennan's Residence, is a young man of grace and distinction, bearing an extraordinary countenance and gifted with an exceptional nature. He greatly pleases me, and I hereby adopt him as my fourth prince..."

The Prince of Zhennan frowned.

He recognized every single word, so why did their meaning suddenly escape him?

The Princess Consort of Zhennan entered and saw her husband's furrowed brow. "What's wrong?" she asked anxiously.

"My dear, what do you think His Majesty means by this?" The Prince of Zhennan handed her the confidential dispatch.

After reading it, the Princess Consort of Zhennan paused. "This is a good thing. Now we won't have to worry about Youyou being bullied in the Capital City..."

Youyou was Xiao Yu's childhood name.

The Prince of Zhennan sighed. "I'm only afraid His Majesty is praising him to bring about his ruin."

"Our Youyou is no ordinary child. You needn't worry too much, my husband."

Despite her words, deep concern showed on the Princess Consort of Zhennan's face.

The Prince of Zhennan rested his hand on hers and reassured her. "You're right, my dear. Since Qi'an dared to volunteer to go to the Capital City, he must have his own plans. Let's not worry about him."

"Look, he's even arranged for military supplies and provisions to be sent over. They're already on their way. Still, he was concerned, so he found someone he trusted to escort them."

The Princess Consort of Zhennan looked stunned.

Ever since she had followed her husband into the army all those years ago, she had not seen her own family for over a decade.

"Do you know who's coming?" she asked, her voice full of delighted anticipation.

"Your eldest brother's son, Su Xun..."

"Hyah-"

"Young Master, bandits!"

At those words, the youth reclining atop the horse suddenly opened his eyes, spat out the blade of grass between his lips, and stood. "Don't panic!"

"I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on my provisions!"

He had given his grandfather a military pledge that he would deliver these provisions safely to his uncle. How could he let these scoundrels ruin his reputation?

Su Xun jumped down from the carriage roof. "Boys, grab your weapons! Let's give these rats hiding in the shadows a taste of what we can do!"