TBR CH133

The sky was still bright, but the moment Chu Huaicun raised his eyes and saw Ji Ying, he felt that both Ji Ying and the courtyard behind him exuded a decadent and gloomy aura. Ji Ying’s face was pale, but his eyes were a deep black, making him appear like a ghost, standing in the shadows of the corner, looking towards Chu Huaicun:

“Chancellor Chu,” he said ominously, “a rare guest. My humble abode is simple, I fear it cannot accommodate a distinguished guest like Chancellor Chu. May I ask what important matter brings Chancellor Chu here today for discussion?”

He never had anything good to say once he opened his mouth. Chu Huaicun’s expression remained unchanged, and from the corner of his eye, the gatekeeper of the Ji Residence was still respectfully apologizing and standing aside. To outsiders, Ji Ying at this moment appeared perfectly normal, a prickly, unpredictable character with a voice full of pure malice.

“Am I not welcome?”

Chancellor Chu asked succinctly, leaving no room for a reply.

Ji Ying paused, then laughed grimly, lowering his eyelashes:

“How dare I? It’s just that Chancellor Chu arrived so aggressively, I couldn’t help but reflect for a moment whether I and Chancellor Chu were familiar enough for such a visit. If Chancellor Chu is interested, I, of course, will fulfill my duty as host.”

Chu Huaicun subtly made a mental note. Although they hadn’t exchanged many words, and Ji Ying’s demeanor in front of others was appropriate, he felt that something was inexplicably wrong with Ji Ying. He stood somewhat aloof by the door, as if they were strangers, his eyes steeped in the shadows cast by the roof beams. The shadows and the light outside seemed to be two separate worlds.

…He had initially thought the Ji Residence might be a viable place, but now it seemed he had miscalculated.

Chu Huaicun’s gaze seemed capable of piercing through everything as he looked at the courtyard behind Ji Ying. The sky was still early, but the Ji Residence courtyard was already dim, with thick, heavy shadows cast by the eaves, falling into Ji Ying’s eyes. Almost at that moment, Chu Huaicun was certain that the Ji Residence was not as lifeless as it appeared.

On the contrary, the maid rushing by with a silver basin, the attendants standing still and watching, the old man tending to the flowers—all their gazes strangely intertwined around the two conversing figures. Behind the courtyard, a door was half-open, revealing some of the indoor furnishings and the scent of dragon’s saliva incense, as if it permeated the entire courtyard.

The incense used in the palace, was Ji Ying burning it in his own residence all this time?

No wonder he always carried an overly sweet, cloying scent. Chu Huaicun disliked such incense, but only when he smelled it in Ji Ying’s hair would he find it slightly tolerable.

“Does Chancellor Chu truly wish to enter?”

Ji Ying, unusually, even lost the smile on his face, his lips pressed downwards, his dark hair clinging to the darkness behind him like spiderwebs, as if eager to distance himself from Chu Huaicun. If only he could see his eyes, Chu Huaicun thought, but it was too dark…

At this moment, he suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. It was as if this layered front hall was a stage, and Ji Ying stood on it, like a puppet whose movements had been pre-rehearsed.

But would a puppet look at him with such eyes?

He took a step forward.

“Chancellor Chu.” Ji Ying said softly, his voice even containing a hint of pleading. But that momentary emotion was fleeting, quickly vanishing without a trace. He seemed to have slightly turned his body, perhaps to block the view of those behind him,

“My humble abode is simple and unfit for guests. It’s better not to let you see it in this state. I…”

Chu Huaicun understood his meaning. Strangely, this person sometimes felt like an unresolvable enigma, yet at other times, their minds connected with surprising speed. Ji Ying’s gaze lingered briefly on the people Chu Huaicun brought with him, but his eyes wandered, seemingly unable to determine which one was Mr. Fang.

Mr. Fang had many enemies and was most skilled in disguise.

Chancellor Chu smiled reassuringly at him, merely curving his lips slightly. But the faint warmth that appeared in his cold eyes was enough to make Ji Ying momentarily stunned. His heart skipped a beat, then he realized that for now, it was fine. Chu Huaicun hadn’t entered yet, and their current actions, apart from the gatekeeper with his back to Chancellor Chu, could not be spied upon by anyone.

“Why bother with such a cover-up, Lord Ji?”

That smile seemed like an illusion. Chancellor Chu’s voice was arrogant and indifferent; he had the right to be.

“I naturally have a matter to discuss and am not here to involve myself with Lord Ji in any way. Did Lord Ji perhaps do something with a guilty conscience just now? Otherwise, a mere visit hardly warrants such an unsightly display.”

This was simply a rhetorical tactic.

But ever since their abrupt farewell by Qingyu Lake last time, the stark difference in their affiliations had been like a thorn in Ji Ying’s heart, and their relationship seemed to have hit a pause button, suddenly coming to a standstill.

Ji Ying looked at Chu Huaicun’s ice-cold pupils and felt his mind go blank for a moment.

He quickly smiled back, without a hesitation long enough to arouse suspicion, as if the person before him truly were an enemy in the court. This was his most common posture when launching an attack. Ji Ying’s lips curved, feigning an exaggerated sincerity, but his voice was gloomy and ruthless:

“Chancellor Chu, aren’t you afraid of hurting my feelings by speaking like that? If that’s the case, then please, Chancellor Chu, follow me inside and have a look.”

Chu Huaicun had observed Ji Ying’s living environment on his way in and found the place quite desolate. Chancellor Chu’s own residence was considered simple and minimalist by most, but in Ji Ying’s mansion, the rockeries and pavilions seemed to have been abandoned for years, appearing decadent and dilapidated from afar.

In areas where people frequently passed, a row of seasonal flowers was still displayed. But the flowers, fresh when brought in, developed black spots on their petals after two days here, as if unable to adapt to such a living environment.

Living in such a suppressive environment, no wonder the person himself was a bit unhinged. Chu Huaicun slightly turned his head to look at Ji Ying beside him, who walked stiffly, his eyes fixed straight ahead. If they were in a secluded place, and so close, Ji Ying would surely have reached for his hand.

But even if the Ji Residence was oppressive, there seemed to be watchful eyes at every moment.

Chu Huaicun felt a hint of admiration. Ji Ying had been operating for years, and the person behind him even used a gu poison like “Half-Face Makeup” to control him, which indicated deep suspicion towards Ji Ying. This vast Ji Residence must be filled with informants from the palace. Yet, Chu Huaicun also believed that with Ji Ying’s talent, he must have secretly cultivated his own loyal forces.

Truth and falsehood were indistinguishable, yet they accompanied the two men’s gazes like shadows.

Ji Ying suddenly spoke, “Chancellor Chu, now you must believe me. This place of mine is indeed this dilapidated; I imagine it’s quite an eyesore for Chancellor Chu. If Chancellor Chu would be magnanimous enough to forgive me and leave now, perhaps you could still preserve a shred of my dignity.”

They happened to reach the edge of a pond—but the pond was neglected, its water dried up, the bottom covered with intertwined, dark green, half-withered aquatic plants, and scattered, messy fallen leaves and white stones, truly an unpleasant sight. Chu Huaicun looked down and said indifferently,

“Why doesn’t Lord Ji tidy it up?”

Ji Ying paused, “What’s the point of fussing over these things? Reciting poetry and appreciating nature, isn’t that what literati love to do? Chancellor Chu, a person like me would rather keep this money for other things, covered in the stench of copper. To be honest, you are the only one who has visited.”

“Then,” Chu Huaicun said, “such a large garden, and no one to manage it?”

He looked at the dilapidated, dusty garden. The grotesque rocks on the rockery were even in better taste than those of some high-ranking officials in the court. Such exotic rocks had to be specially transported from Jiangnan, thousands of miles to the capital. Perhaps in that pond, lively and adorable koi once swam, and on the rockery, brightly plumed peacocks once perched.

“No,” Ji Ying said, a glimmer in his eyes, and repeated, “No one in the mansion is responsible for this.”

If Mr. Fang were to speak, with his extensive knowledge, he could surely analyze it thoroughly. But the most important thing he knew about gardens was that every good garden was like a labyrinth, and a derelict garden was a dark labyrinth. Ji Ying knew what Chu Huaicun was about to say. Chancellor Chu stroked his snowy sleeves and stood firm:

“Lord Ji, you don’t mind if I go in and take a look, do you?”

The Ji Residence was filled with informants. Walking among the various busy servants, Chu Huaicun obviously couldn’t have his guards clear the area, and Ji Ying certainly couldn’t actively suggest that others leave to create a relatively enclosed space for them. However, in a place that was inherently empty, the situation was clearly different.

The faces of the hurrying servants around them all soured for a moment, as if they foresaw the consequences of failing to keep an eye on Ji Ying.

But this was indeed not Ji Ying’s idea.

The butler of the Ji Residence was a man in a long, dark blue robe. He approached with a fawning smile, seemingly seeing them about to walk further in and intending to intervene. Ji Ying showed no resistance, instead proactively remarking, “It’s dilapidated inside, I fear Chancellor Chu might lose interest. My butler here knows a bit about landscaping, if you’d like him to follow—”

Chu Huaicun glanced at the butler coldly, making him shiver from head to toe. And was the sharp blade in the hand of the attendant behind Chancellor Chu truly glinting?

“I have business,” Chu Huaicun articulated clearly, “specifically to talk with your Lord Ji. If it’s about gardens, I have an expert among my retinue. As for protecting your master, that won’t be necessary; I guarantee your Lord Ji will emerge unharmed.”

From Chu Huaicun’s perspective, these words were impeccably spoken. It was as if he truly believed that all those secretly observing individuals were Ji Ying’s subordinates, and that they feared his aggressive visit was to seek vengeance against Ji Ying and harm him. Ji Ying’s face paled somewhat. In front of the dim garden, he looked bloodless and said with difficulty:

“It seems I have offended Chancellor Chu. Very well, I shall accompany you, even if it costs me my life.”

An hour ago, Ji Ying endured another onset of the poison in the palace, skillfully and effortlessly displaying pain and trembling, his pupils a deep, gloomy black.

Before him were the emperor in his yellow robes and his eldest son, who had once been deposed but fortunately returned to the capital. As usual, Ji Ying curled up on the ground, trembling and crumpling his dark purple robe with his nails. It didn’t matter; there were countless identical robes, coiling around him like the snake patterns on them. He bit his lip until it bled, counted to seven, and began to plead for forgiveness.

The emperor then finally forgot all the past unpleasantness with this son and became kindly persuasive, using Ji Ying to demonstrate how to control subordinates, how a father and son could be affectionate and harmonious—a truly peaceful scene.

Half an hour ago, he had been conversing with His Royal Highness Prince Duan in the Ji Residence’s reception room, speaking with the obedience of a tamed dog, yet discussing schemes like a serpent. Prince Duan had witnessed his pathetic state during the poison’s onset, and now a hint of pity appeared on his pampered face. He still called him “Lord Ji” and even offered a hand when he stumbled.

The father and son played good cop, bad cop, an arrangement that wasn’t bad at all.

Though Ji Ying knew what he should do, he feigned fear, stubbornly keeping his eyes down, and braced himself, rising on his own. Prince Duan was clearly displeased, but he knew not to rush, so he simply continued their discussion.

A quarter of an hour ago, Prince Duan had just asked, “With Lord Ji’s insight, from what angle can we now shake Chancellor Chu’s control?” when the gatekeeper timidly walked in and reported the painful news of Chu Huaicun’s sudden visit.

Ji Ying’s expression outwardly remained calm, but his tongue pressed firmly against his palate, gritting his teeth fiercely as he pondered how much trouble Chu Huaicun’s sudden arrival might bring. He subconsciously felt a surge of panic, thinking he would rather die than let Chu Huaicun see him so constrained and pathetic; yet, he also felt that Chu Huaicun probably already knew, and a shameful hint of expectation arose within him.

Ever since their parting at Qingyu Lake, their relationship had become lukewarm, neither here nor there. That farewell wasn’t pleasant, and it more starkly presented the immense disparity in their positions to Ji Ying.

Chu Huaicun had detoxified him, showing him a unique gentleness.

But he had never made any promises.

Even for the most patient person, this silence was too prolonged. Would Chancellor Chu think his thrown bone had gone unreturned, that Ji Ying was a thankless wretch, enjoying unearned favor without any means to reciprocate? Ji Ying clenched his hand, then relaxed it.

Just a second ago, Ji Ying walked behind Chu Huaicun, stepping on his shadow. Fortunately, the sun hadn’t set yet; the shadows cast by the rockeries and intertwined plants merely made the surroundings incredibly dim. Only Chu Huaicun’s eyes reflected a large swathe of red clouds as the sunlight fell, like twilight on a snowy mountain peak.

“Does it still hurt?” Chu Huaicun walked slowly, his long boots rustling as they stepped on withered leaves.

This had almost become a habit.

Compared to the past, the toxicity of the Half-Face Makeup poison in Ji Ying’s body was undoubtedly merely lingering. He no longer suffered the inhuman pain that left him on the verge of death, but he still had to feign such agony in front of the emperor, so that the current ruler could repeatedly savor the pleasure of completely controlling someone in his palm. For Chu Huaicun, there was no need to do this.

But Ji Ying hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “It always hurts a little.”

“My sudden arrival seems to have indeed caused you quite a bit of trouble.” Chu Huaicun turned to look into Ji Ying’s eyes. Everything around them was desolate and ruinous, yet only Chu Huaicun’s eyes caught the light, bright enough to be captivating. He extended his hand for the first time.

Ji Ying quickly took the hand Chu Huaicun offered.

Chu Huaicun then realized his palm had silently grown damp. Neither of their hands were particularly warm; gripping each other, they bypassed the need for adaptation, feeling strangely reassuring, like holding one’s other half. Chu Huaicun used his free hand to stroke Ji Ying’s hair.

“It’s a leaf,” he said, and a withered yellow leaf fluttered to the ground.

Ji Ying suddenly smiled, and Chu Huaicun found a hint of undeniable truth within it. He said, with a hint of complaint,

“If Chancellor Chu really wants to make me happy, you shouldn’t explain.”

“I just feel apologetic,” Chu Huaicun withdrew his hand. He guessed his fingers now carried the lingering faint scent of dragon’s saliva incense. “Given the current situation, I can’t ask Mr. Fang to administer acupuncture here, so I sent him elsewhere.”

“You must be laughing at me, Chancellor Chu.” Ji Ying stood by the dried-up pond, slightly tilting his head:

“Or—is this what Chancellor Chu wanted to see? You’re so intelligent, aren’t you, that you could guess my situation here long ago? Cooperating with me in a charade is certainly not difficult for Chancellor Chu, but why did you insist on coming in? Did you want to see me constrained everywhere, did you want to verify whether what I said was true or false, or did you want to discover more secrets about me?”

His voice suddenly dropped, becoming even faintly eerie and ghost-like towards the end. His emotions followed suit; the smile on his face peeled away like a cracked mask, yet his lips remained downturned, and his eyes seemed truly stung.

Chu Huaicun felt his hand being clutched tightly by him; he was truly using force.

Although it would not be difficult for Chu Huaicun to break free, he had no reason to do so. Chancellor Chu, dressed in white, stood amidst the overgrown weeds, like an immortal banished from the Nine Heavens Palace. The person opposite him had a hint of madness in his expression, gazing at him with obsession, his dark purple clothes appearing as black as the dim twilight.

“Why did you come?” Ji Ying murmured, “I least wanted you to see me like this.”

His emotions could truly be described as unpredictable. Just a moment ago, he was delighted because Chu Huaicun had plucked a withered leaf for him, and in an instant, he had crumbled into this tempestuous state. Chu Huaicun hadn’t had time to speak, and he seemed to have already argued with himself several times. Chancellor Chu wanted to sigh again, yet he also felt that the person before him, though difficult to appease, might also be very easy to appease.

The question was, why was he so naturally starting to think about how to appease him?

Chu Huaicun allowed him to hold his hand tightly, a hint of helplessness in his expression, but he leaned down and pressed Ji Ying’s shoulders, meeting his eyes, “It wasn’t to see you in a difficult situation, it’s just that after arriving here, I really wanted to find an opportunity to talk to you privately.”

“Oh.” Ji Ying’s lips were bitten, showing faint red marks.

“So Chancellor Chu had another motive.” He said with conviction, “Just using me as a pawn.”

Chu Huaicun wondered how many strange things had gone through his mind to reach such a conclusion. Yet, this conclusion was surprisingly accurate. He thought for a moment and decided not to lie. Ji Ying already knew too many secrets. But despite claiming to be an enemy, he was more tight-lipped than Chu Huaicun’s own strategists.

“Lord Ji knows, whose residence this used to be?”

Ji Ying had only appeared in court for a little over two years, but the Ji Residence was clearly much older. Amidst overgrown weeds, the majestic palace was separated by just one wall. The original owner here was likely a highly favored individual.

“Wei Gong, the great Confucian of the former emperor’s time,” Ji Ying lowered his gaze again, his eyelashes casting a shadow that obscured the emotions in his eyes. “Chancellor Chu’s purpose in coming here is related to him.”

Wei Gong was the most esteemed official of the former emperor and the head of the historical archives. He repeatedly advised the emperor at the time, recording all achievements and faults without bias. Later, the former emperor simply bestowed upon him a residence closest to the imperial city, to facilitate his historical writing and to often invite him for meetings in the palace.

“Old Mr. Wei, when he was alive, would never have imagined such beautiful scenery would be wasted on a treacherous person like me.”

“Hmm,” Chu Huaicun said, “the matter I came to handle may already be complete.”

When he said this, it meant that he had already sent someone to do it. Ji Ying replayed the events that had transpired during their walk, recalling a stable boy with a pockmarked face who had left Chu Huaicun’s side and headed towards the Ji Residence’s stable. Now, he realized that was probably Mr. Fang in disguise.

Ji Ying had witnessed Mr. Fang’s extraordinary abilities.

Therefore, Chu Huaicun’s words were easy to understand.

Ji Ying still kept his gaze lowered, merely curving his eyes slightly:

“Chancellor Chu, aren’t you going to thank me? If I hadn’t cooperated, how could Chancellor Chu have gotten information out right under my nose?”

He lightheartedly demanded a gift from Chu Huaicun, his grip on Chu Huaicun’s hand seemed to lose strength, even hinting at a desire to withdraw, but ultimately he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Ji Ying had never wanted to mock his own wishful thinking so much. After Chu Huaicun arrived, his trepidation, his secret hopes, his raw display of anxiety in front of him—everything had merely served to add bricks to Chu Huaicun’s plan.

Chu Huaicun looked at him, his expression subtly shifting, and said softly:

“What do you want?”

“Can Chancellor Chu give me whatever I want?” Ji Ying smiled. “If you can’t, don’t say things that cause misunderstandings. For Chancellor Chu, am I not easy to see through? Do you not think I would still want a hug, or a kiss, or something I know is impossible… like for you to like me?”

Ji Ying misunderstood again. Chu Huaicun thought. He had indeed come to the Ji Residence with the intention of gathering information, but his purpose of detoxifying Ji Ying did not necessarily have to be relegated to a distant third.

However, as nominal enemies, he had indeed exploited this aspect of his relationship with Ji Ying.

“Chancellor Chu, business isn’t always conducted this way,” Ji Ying’s eyes widened. “What if I asked for military secrets, or a list of local officials Chancellor Chu is familiar with across the country, or the detailed income and expenditure statement of the Chancellor’s residence for this year?”

He spoke half-truths and half-nonsense like this, not as if he genuinely wanted them, but merely to vent the suppressed emotions in his heart. He reeled off a long list, each item a crucial vulnerability that, as Chu Huaicun’s direct opponent, he could exploit to great effect. Ji Ying spoke without pausing, not even for a breath. After finishing in one go, his back rose and fell slightly.

“You can’t give me any of them, can you?”

He quickly adjusted his breathing, and before Chu Huaicun could speak, he made his own judgment.

The sun wouldn’t forever hang above the mountain. The huge, elliptical light source fell from the sky, casting a veil of darkness over the earth. Ji Ying closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. He could still clearly see Chu Huaicun, because his eyes had been tempered during the days spent in the sunless imperial prison. For Chu Huaicun, a former soldier, he too could clearly discern the outline of the person before him.

Chu Huaicun’s heart stirred slightly.

Ji Ying’s emotions at this moment should have been anger and sarcasm, but after he finished speaking, his perpetually straight back seemed to curve slightly, and a deep weariness appeared on his face. He wanted to withdraw his hand from Chu Huaicun’s, but Chancellor Chu wouldn’t let go, their fingers tightly intertwined, an ambiguous closeness that didn’t fit their enemy status.

He guessed Chu Huaicun would say “Don’t be like that,” or “Don’t be so childish.” Ji Ying himself felt his outburst was inexplicable, but he also sadly realized that he would ultimately expose such a struggling, unsightly side in front of Chu Huaicun.

He wanted the other person to draw closer, yet he also wanted to push them away.

He wanted the other person’s trust, yet he feared them discovering the whole truth.

“Listen to me,” in this hidden darkness, Chu Huaicun’s voice finally spoke again. His voice was clear and cold, as if no emotion could disturb it, appearing vividly in the night. “Ji Ying, you are a very complex person. As an enemy, I am willing to treat you with the utmost seriousness. Our positions are different, and I know this well; and I hope to see you choose me, which is also self-evident to you.”

“Mm.” The previous speech had drained his strength, and Ji Ying responded blankly.

Chu Huaicun did not withdraw, nor did he attribute his struggle to a mistaken expression towards an enemy. He seemed more focused than expected at this moment, his gaze, like ice and snow, falling upon him, into his eyes.

Ji Ying thought, was it because all this melted that his entire heart suddenly became drenched?

After all, why say all this to him? This inexplicable outburst of temper, it was simply the most ungrateful act a tactless person could commit. The current Chu Huaicun owed Ji Ying nothing; on the contrary, he had arranged for Mr. Fang to detoxify him, and had secretly held his hand, embraced him, and even kissed him.

They were originally in a relationship of mutual exploitation.

Yet, Chu Huaicun seemed to have seen his thoughts and immediately continued, “And regarding… liking, I also want to consider it carefully. Ji Ying, I am willing for you to come closer not out of pity; I have no peculiar habit of watching someone suffer. I’m sorry about today’s events, but I truly wanted to find a suitable opportunity for Mr. Fang to administer acupuncture for you. If you are willing to wait, I can come to see you later.”

Chancellor Chu pondered how Ji Ying managed to so naturally utter the words “like” every time. These two words were chewed over in the mouth of the usually composed Chancellor Chu, tasting a hint of scalding heat, and so were quickly swallowed.

Ji Ying stared at him for a while, then suddenly said softly:

“What if I can’t wait?”

His heart had rippled slightly from Chu Huaicun’s words, yet the bitter aftertaste lingered, intensifying. He suddenly realized with panic what Chu Huaicun’s words implied. “I don’t dislike you,” “not yet”—these words wove into a methodical net. Chancellor Chu was quite patient, retreating little by little, almost as if he had already predetermined the outcome.

Chancellor Chu raised his eyes, and those cold, ice-like eyes met his gaze.

Ji Ying instantly thought of many years ago.

The atmosphere at this moment was perfect, and he should have taken the opportunity to get closer, but he couldn’t help but stumble. He thought, Chu Huaicun would catch him. But when Ji Ying came to his senses, he found that he had not fallen into the other’s arms, but had taken a step back, pulling his hand out of Chu Huaicun’s grasp.

So, if he was ruthless enough, he could do it.

Ji Ying suddenly realized that Chu Huaicun’s tenderness and his own desire to seize the day were inherently incompatible. This thought was like a chilling blade, completely severing all his unspoken expectations. From the moment he met Chu Huaicun, he should have understood that the other person was naturally focused and sincere in matters of emotion.

He couldn’t drag the other person into this stagnant pool for his own selfish desires.

He couldn’t—it would be foolish to shrink back upon realizing that Chu Huaicun might truly fall for him in the future. Ji Ying felt his throat constrict, and he lowered his eyes, looking at a vast, boundless, chaotic ground. He might not even be able to wait until then; wasn’t such a self loathsomely selfish?

He himself was constrained everywhere; did he wish Chu Huaicun to experience that feeling too?

In the night, Ji Ying, dressed in his dark purple official robe, appeared too thin in the cold wind. Their distance was very close for a moment, then Ji Ying slowly retreated a few steps.

“Chancellor Chu is too trusting,” he said. “That’s not a good habit, especially when dealing with someone like me. How do you know my declarations of affection are real? Perhaps someone ordered me to approach you, and maybe the so-called poison was actually a trap I set myself, just hoping that Chancellor Chu would take pity on me and indulge my every whim, only to then bite you hard.”

“Then would you say it out loud?”

Chu Huaicun stood still, his gaze merely following him slightly.

“Maybe I’ve suddenly found my conscience.”

Ji Ying smiled again, but now he couldn’t even maintain a fake smile:

“Chancellor Chu should also understand that associating with someone like me never ends well. I will never bother Chancellor Chu again. Please, Chancellor Chu, believe me one last time, I…”

Before Chu Huaicun could reply, footsteps echoed from the gloom behind them, fitting the mood. It was someone from the palace, coming to summon Ji Ying. The palace attendants’ eyes were fixed intently on the two, but fortunately, he also sensed the lingering tension of their dispute and didn’t grow suspicious.

Ji Ying paused, “I have to go now.”

He turned around without the slightest hesitation. The moon tonight also seemed hazy, shining on the corners of his eyes, showing no trace of tears. As he walked, his footsteps crunched on the withered branches and leaves of the old garden, making a rustling sound. Chu Huaicun did not give chase. The Ji Residence’s butler finally approached again, looking at Chancellor Chu’s expression and timidly said, “Lord Ji said, if Chancellor Chu likes, he can walk around a bit more.”

“No need.”

Chu Huaicun said calmly, his right hand unconsciously pressing on the sword at his waist. He was not blind, nor foolish; he would not simply bid farewell as Ji Ying imagined. What he desired, even if it were in the heavens, he would personally pluck it down, let alone Ji Ying, whose attitude had changed so suddenly.

Chancellor Chu, known by the world as ambitious and ruthless, was naturally not someone to be provoked casually, nor to be called off at will.

Perhaps, on the contrary, he could use this to touch upon a bit of Ji Ying’s true inner self.