Quan Dean accepted the Skull Qiqi handed him and asked respectfully, "Your Highness, did you just Substitute the Plum for the Peach?" His admiration for her wisdom knew no bounds.
Qiqi gave a cold laugh. "How could such a simple trick fool those two old foxes? What you take back will, of course, be what Ren Tianqing brought."
Quan Dean asked in puzzlement, "Why would Your Highness do that?"
Qiqi said, "They will think exactly as you do-that I switched it for something else. Hong Beimo certainly won't open the Leather Pouch in front of Ren Tianqing to check which Skull is inside."
Quan Dean said, "Why are you so certain? Your Highness mustn't forget that they came together."
Qiqi smiled. "Some secrets cannot be shared. Ren Tianqing wants to use Hong Beimo, and Hong Beimo wants to use me. Why do I refuse to get too close to Ren Tianqing and insist that he go through Hong Beimo for everything? Precisely to make them suspicious of each other."
Quan Dean's respect deepened. Young though Qiqi was, she wielded the arts of power with perfect ease. Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing were both exceptionally formidable men. If they joined forces, few in all of Great Kang-or even the entire world-could match them.
Qiqi said, "If I'm not mistaken, Hong Beimo may return."
Quan Dean said, "At this late hour... he..."
Qiqi said, "He has already realized that I'm wary of his relationship with Ren Tianqing. He will think that handing him the Skull was a test. How could he not come?" Qiqi had not laid everything out. Although she was wary of Hong Beimo's relationship with Ren Tianqing, matters had not yet reached the point where she had to tear away all pretense of civility. Her move today had been