Lianshan Xin agreed, too. No one understood Thousand Faces better than he did.
But Lianshan Xin did not quite understand the Crown Prince's Consort.
He had slept in her bed last night. Where had she gone to sleep?
But Lianshan Xin could hardly ask that outright.
So he probed indirectly. "How did the Crown Prince's Consort's conversation with His Majesty go yesterday?"
The Crown Prince shook his head. "Imperial Father sent her back. He said he would investigate first and give her an answer within seven days. I'm a little uneasy. If Imperial Father summons me for questioning, I won't even know how to explain my relationship with Blood Guanyin. A-Xin, do you think I should tell him the truth?"
"Of course not. As long as some things remain unspoken, everything can be worked out. If you lay it all out, where will His Majesty put his face?"
Lianshan Xin offered his sincere advice. "Your Highness, for people like you and His Majesty, face matters more than substance."
Thousand Faces had already struck Emperor Yongchang twice, yet still dared not publicly announce those actual achievements.
Because Thousand Faces knew that severing Emperor Yongchang's dragon root meant a suspended death sentence; telling people about it meant immediate execution.
The Crown Prince was persuaded. "You're right, A-Xin. Imperial Father probably won't admit he has any connection to Blood Guanyin either."
"Of course. For those of imperial blood, the first stroke of the sword after reaching shore severs their ties to the Jianghu. Deep affection is a flaw for you, not a virtue."
The Crown Prince knew Lianshan Xin was right, but he took Lianshan Xin's hand and said earnestly, "A-Xin, Blood Guanyin and I were indeed just playing along, but you're different from her."
Lianshan Xin shuddered.
*I could be just like