Chapter 5: Resolution
While Qi Xiaojun pondered his future plans, Chu Lianmo was preoccupied with finding a more valuable gift for him.
He pulled Qi Xiaojun into a jade shop.
“Is there any jewelry you like?”
“I don’t need any.” Qi Xiaojun did appreciate jade, so despite his words, his eyes wandered over the jade hairpins, pendants, and Qilin (mythical creatures), pausing at a dark green jade bracelet.
“Do you like this one?” Chu Lianmo keenly noticed his gaze. “I think the jade quality is excellent.”
“It’s more than excellent!” The shopkeeper eagerly approached, showing them the bracelet. “This is high-quality Lantian jade from Qi!”
At the mention of “Qi,” Qi Xiaojun trembled.
Chu was wealthier, but Qi produced various beautiful jades, making its rich resources a target of Chu’s covetousness.
“Good, let’s get this one.” Chu Lianmo decided.
“But,” Qi Xiaojun probed Chu Lianmo’s current attitude towards Qi. “As a concubine of a Chu prince, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to wear jade from Qi?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Chu Lianmo frowned slightly. “You’re overly cautious. The two countries are at peace; we aren’t enemies.”
Qi Xiaojun sneered inwardly: The cost of this so-called peace is indeed high.
He hesitated before continuing to test him. “I heard that the second prince of Qi died at the hands of Prince De?”
…Chu Lianmo’s brows furrowed with a flash of anger.
Qi Xiaojun saw it clearly – anger, mixed with sorrow.
The next moment, he waved his sleeve, raising his voice. “Enough! When did you become interested in such things?”
Despite the rebuke, Qi Xiaojun felt a warmth in his heart—was he grieving for his death? Did his old friend still hold him in some regard?
“Should I wrap this up for you?” The shopkeeper, ignoring their brief exchange, focused on the sale. “Sir, excellent choice! This bracelet costs only one thousand taels of silver—a great bargain!”
Qi Xiaojun was startled. One thousand taels was a considerable sum, even for a prince. “That’s too expensive. Let’s forget it.”
“Buy it.” Chu Lianmo said firmly.
Murong Ying immediately paid.
Qi Xiaojun thought: You weren’t this extravagant before. Do you shower all your concubines with such gifts?
“Don’t wrap it.” Chu Lianmo stopped the shopkeeper, taking the bracelet and a jade hairpin. “Both are for you. Wear them.”
Qi Xiaojun put on the bracelet and hairpin.
This time, Chu Lianmo didn’t offer to help, a hint of displeasure still on his face.
Had their earlier conversation affected him so much?
“Your Highness, I want to talk to you. Can we find a quieter place?”
“Good,” Chu Lianmo nodded. “It’s almost lunchtime. Let’s go to a restaurant.”
They went to a private room in a restaurant.
Only the three of them were present. After the waiter served the food, Chu Lianmo told him not to disturb them. Qi Xiaojun glanced at Murong Ying. “Your Highness, may I speak with you alone?”
“Aying is my confidant; you don’t have to…never mind,” Chu Lianmo changed his mind, looking at Murong Ying. “Guard the door.”
“Yes.” Murong Ying left.
“What do you want to say?” Chu Lianmo looked at Qi Xiaojun intently. “Now you can speak.”
Qi Xiaojun didn’t know where to begin.
Should he directly ask, “Do you want the throne?” It might be too abrupt. Could Chu Lianmo trust Zhou Jun enough to confide in him?
He decided to start with something else.
“Actually…I just wanted to be alone with Your Highness.” Qi Xiaojun felt awkward, his face flushing slightly, his head lowered.
“Oh?” Chu Lianmo smiled knowingly. “I didn’t expect you to be so proactive.”
Qi Xiaojun’s ears turned red, his fingers nervously twisting together.
Chu Lianmo finally noticed his new ornaments.
The translucent dark green bracelet perfectly complemented his fair skin, and the jade hairpin adorned his black hair, both enhancing his elegance, truly embodying the phrase “gentleman like jade.”
Zhou Jun’s demeanor was too unassuming for such expensive jewelry, but Qi Xiaojun perfectly suited them, captivating Chu Lianmo.
He silently drank some wine, becoming slightly intoxicated, his gaze overlapping the present Qi Xiaojun with his memory of Zhou Jun.
It felt like they could once again share wine and conversation freely.
“You know, I hate Chu Weide.”
Chu Lianmo’s words shocked Qi Xiaojun—he didn’t even call him “Second Brother”? Was he truly ready to confide in him?
“I’ve hated him since childhood.” Chu Lianmo added with a bitter smile, looking out the window, reminiscing about the past. “When I was favored by Father, Weide always caused trouble, but when I was at my peak, he couldn’t touch me. Later, Mother lost favor, Father grew distant, and he started to bully me.”
Qi Xiaojun learned that Chu Lianmo had similar experiences!
When he first arrived in Chu, Chu Weide tried to bully him, but he always resisted, threatening to expose them. Chu Weide didn’t dare provoke him further.
But Chu Weide seemed to have resented him ever since, ultimately taking his life on the battlefield.
“But those are minor matters…What I hate most is that he…Ah, you wanted to say something?” Chu Lianmo seemed to snap out of it. “Why am I doing all the talking?”
“Your Highness, I’ll be blunt.”
Since Chu Lianmo had opened up, Qi Xiaojun decided not to hesitate. “Your Highness, why can’t you act against Prince De?”
“I know why. The Crown Prince protects him, and likely will for life.”
“Exactly. So…do you want that position?”
Chu Lianmo’s gaze sharpened.
Qi Xiaojun’s eyes showed no fear, malice, but clarity and honesty.
Finally, Chu Lianmo nodded slightly.
Qi Xiaojun made his decision—
Since he also aspired to the throne, he would help him. Even in Chu, he would do something for Qi.
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It’s quite sad and humiliating to be reborn as the concubine of an enemy prince… I feel bad for Qi Xiaojun