Chapter 68: The Fake Princess and His God of War Prince (Part XXV)
Na Ren was very beautiful, with deep features and the charm of a Northern Border woman, yet possessing a bit more restraint.
Unfortunately, Xiang Siyou had eyes but no pupils; seeing Na Ren brought him no joy, only a feeling of constraint.
And Na Ren wasn’t particularly interested in a refined, weak noble son like Xiang Siyou either.
But she had come with a mission.
After several fruitless attempts to get close to Xiang Siyou, Na Ren discovered his secret.
Last night, the two had spoken frankly all night.
“I know your thoughts, and I know you have no interest in me. There are so many good sons on the grassland; I don’t necessarily have to be with you,” Na Ren said after seducing Xiang Siyou once again without receiving any feedback.
Xiang Siyou sat on the soft couch by the bedroom window, saying faintly: “That is for the best. I won’t hinder you, and don’t you restrain me.”
Na Ren looked at him: “Haven’t you realized? Your feelings for the Wangfei are already obvious to everyone. I don’t mind, but if the Wangye finds out, have you thought about the consequences?”
Xiang Siyou lowered his eyes, feeling terribly irritable: “As long as you don’t speak, no one will notice me.”
“But are you resigned to this?” Na Ren asked.
Of course Xiang Siyou wasn’t resigned. The more he saw Xiang Yinnian and Xiao Ji’s deep affection, the more unwilling he became. The pain of a knife stabbing into his chest again and again caused him to break down countless times in the unknown nights.
But facing Na Ren, he only said: “The matter is settled; what is there to be unresigned about?”
Na Ren could see Xiang Siyou’s emotions. She actively poured a cup of tea and handed it to him: “Perhaps, it isn’t necessarily settled.”
Xiang Siyou took the tea cup and looked at Na Ren: “What do you mean?”
Na Ren stood in front of Xiang Siyou, looking down at him: “The Wangye currently has no son. If an accident were to happen, this Northern Border would become your Northern Border. Then, wouldn’t everything you want be in your pocket?”
Hearing this, Xiang Siyou’s heart leaped to his throat. He smashed the tea cup on the spot:
“Wolfish ambition! You need not mention this again! The Beichen Wang is my own brother; I will not do such treasonous and immoral things.”
Na Ren wasn’t afraid seeing this. She just curled her lips:
“Coward. No wonder the Wangfei never gives you a second look. With a character like yours, if you were born in the Great Yue Imperial Family or the grassland Royal Clan, you would have been eaten until not even bone dregs remained long ago.”
With that, Na Ren stopped arguing with Xiang Siyou, blew out the candle, and went to bed.
At this moment, the shrike stood on Xiao Ji’s head, chirping vividly for a good while. Taking a big breath, it flew to the side of Xiao Ji’s tea cup, lowered its head to peck a few mouthfuls of cold tea, and stole two bites of Xiao Ji’s pastry crumbs.
037, having been silent for a long time, suddenly popped up:
[Currently, this kid is very indecisive. I’m afraid it won’t be that easy for Na Ren to turn him.]
Xiao Ji was calm about this:
[What’s the rush? The seed has been planted. As long as it is tended with care, watered and fertilized, it will take root, sprout, and grow into a towering tree sooner or later.]
If Xiang Siyou could truly control the desire in the bottom of his heart, he wouldn’t have reached the step of slicing his soul and scattering it across small worlds just to survive.
What Xiao Ji had to do now was wait—wait for Xiang Siyou’s desire to take root and grow wildly, to cooperate with Na Ren, steal the Northern Border’s secrets, and thrust the knife toward his own brother.
Xiao Ji would naturally adapt to the situation, protect Xiang Yinnian well, and let Xiang Siyou die without a burial place.
And Xiang Siyou indeed did not disappoint Xiao Ji. One evening half a month later, he found Xiang Yinnian, saying that he had been useless in the past and hadn’t made any contribution to protecting the country and the Northern Border, feeling extremely guilty.
Now he had suddenly realized his errors and wanted to fight alongside Xiang Yinnian, enter the military camp, and learn some skills so he could share the burden with his brother.
“Do you think he has really grown up and has this heart, or is he just idle and bored in the manor, acting on a whim to find something to do?”
Xiang Yinnian had never speculated maliciously about his closest kin. After returning, he mentioned this matter to Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji dismissed the surrounding servants while serving him food, and said to Xiang Yinnian:
“When things happen out of the ordinary, there must be a demon.”
Xiang Yinnian frowned: “What do you mean?”
Xiao Ji looked at Xiang Yinnian: “Do you still remember what I told you under the city tower on New Year’s Eve?”
If Xiao Ji hadn’t mentioned it, Xiang Yinnian truly hadn’t paid much attention to the words from New Year’s Eve.
But since Xiao Ji mentioned it, Xiang Yinnian naturally remembered.
There is no deceit too great in war. I won’t harm you, but that doesn’t mean others won’t. Even with close kin, you should keep an extra eye open.
Xiang Yinnian was a man of true nature, valuing emotion and righteousness, but he wasn’t a reckless brute, nor would he trust anyone unconditionally with his whole heart.
Since he had been with Xiao Ji, Xiao Ji had never spoken ill of anyone in front of him. Even when Yu Qing offended him so much at the beginning, he hadn’t sown discord.
Afterward, he never used Yu Qing’s fault to endlessly give her a hard time or complain.
Xiang Yinnian approved of Xiao Ji’s character.
Hearing this, he only asked somewhat suspiciously:
“Have you discovered some clues?”
Xiao Ji shook his head: “I was born in the Imperial Family. What I believe least is brotherly affection. Even the Crown Prince—if one day I touch his interests, he would eliminate me without hesitation to be happy.”
” The Northern Di tribes haven’t invaded the Northern Border territory for three years. This spring has seen little rain, and livestock isn’t as easy to raise as in previous years. Is the Khan sending Na Ren over at this time truly just for a marriage alliance?”
Xiang Yinnian thought for a moment and hit the nail on the head:
“Xiang Siyou has no great ambition. For Na Ren to turn him, there must be enough benefit to move him. I can’t think of anything Xiang Siyou can’t get in the Northern Border that would require him to cooperate with the Rongdi to backstab me.”
Speaking of this, Xiao Ji couldn’t answer easily.
He just looked at Xiang Yinnian with a strange expression for a long time, then said to him:
“Why don’t you pay more attention yourself?”
Xiang Yinnian didn’t understand, but nodded: “Alright. Then tell me, should I let him enter this military camp?”
Xiao Ji said: “If he is sincere, it does no harm. I am happy for you that your brotherly relationship is good. But if he really has other thoughts, you have to give him the opportunity for him to show his fox tail.”
Xiang Yinnian felt Xiao Ji was very good.
Since Xiao Ji came to his side, his brain had received ample rest.
Thus, after receiving Xiao Ji’s answer, he picked up the bowl in front of him and shoveled rice into his mouth with big mouthfuls. As he ate, he seemed to suddenly think of something, put down the bowl and chopsticks again, and said to Xiao Ji:
“Your birthday is approaching. Do you… want to restore your male identity?”
Translator’s Note:
- Wangye (王爷): Prince / His Highness. A title for a prince of the first rank.
- Wangfei (王妃): Princess Consort. The official wife of a Wangye.
- Ben Wang (本王): “This Prince.” Illicit self-reference used by princes.
- Ben Gong (本宫): “This Palace.” Illicit self-reference used by high-ranking imperial consorts or princesses who have their own palace.
- Laozi (老子): “I / Your Father.” An arrogant, rough way of referring to oneself.
- Ye (爷): “Master / Lord / Grandpa.” Used here as an arrogant self-reference or respectful address depending on context.
- Mao/Chen/Si/Wei/Shen hours: Traditional Chinese timekeeping.
- Three bows: Wedding custom (Heaven/Earth, Parents/Ancestors, Spouses).
- Cut-sleeve (断袖): Euphemism for male homosexuality.
- Grain Rain (谷雨): The 6th solar term in the traditional East Asian calendars.
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