The bustle of the world is all for profit; the hustle of the world is all for gain.
Beneath the snowy night, Guangyang Prefectural City remained a vibrant spectacle of street-spanning lanterns. Yet, compared to the literati, poets, young lords, and beauties of ordinary days, the streets were now mostly flanked by wanderers of the Jianghu brandishing sabers and swords.
Even well past the midnight hour of the Rat, hearty laughter still echoed from time to time from the taverns and pleasure houses on either side of the commercial thoroughfare.
Watching the vibrant, glowing nightlife through the carriage's one-way muli veil, Xu Yuan felt a long-absent trace of mundane, worldly warmth.
Commoners bustled about, hawking and calling out wares. Night-moored pleasure boats gently drifted along the Jinhuai River, while outside the brothels below, gaudily adorned courtesans drew the constant gaze of passing men.
The current Governor of Guangyang Prefecture knew how to please people; the temporary residences he had arranged for the two princes were situated right beside the Tianming River.
Standard riverfront villas.
Naturally, the governor had not arranged them under his own name. After all, courtyards in such a prime location started at several thousand taels of silver at the very least, and with the installation of formation arrays, the price could easily exceed ten thousand taels—far beyond what a mere prefectural governor's official stipend could ever afford.
Instead, they were donated under the name of a wealthy merchant in the city.
Though left unsaid, it was an outright gift.
After all, once two scions of the imperial bloodline had resided there, who would dare rent or sell them to anyone else?
Were they asking to lose their heads?
Before departing, Xu Yuan had heard from Lou Ji—that youthful 'older aunt'—that the wealthy merchant was apparently one of the governor's white-glove proxies.
To give away something worth ten thousand taels of silver without batting an eye meant the governor must have embezzled quite a fortune over the years.
Still, he was capable, got practical work done, and possessed plenty of tact. With backing in the imperial court, no one bothered to investigate him.
Out of curiosity, Xu Yuan had asked roughly how much the man had pocketed.
Lou Ji had casually replied: around a hundred and some thousand taels.
For the top official of a provincial hub along a critical transport artery, governing here for nearly ten years and pocketing only a hundred-odd thousand taels could indeed be considered remarkably clean.
At this thought, Xu Yuan figured he could probably extort a tidy sum for himself as well.
At the very least, given his status, demanding a riverfront villa in this city would pose no problem whatsoever.
On second thought, though, he gave up on the idea. In the coming years, he wouldn't dare leave the capital anyway, so having property here would be useless.
Lost in thought, Xu Yuan suddenly noticed the carriage had already passed through Guangyang City's most bustling district, Yusu District, and turned onto Linjiang Road beside the surging Tianming River.
The crowds had thinned considerably, but night patrols with hands resting on their sabers had multiplied, moving in teams of three, a squad visible every few streets.
This was the true quarter of the rich and powerful in Guangyang Prefectural City.
The estates of sect disciples, prominent tycoons, high-ranking officials, and their scions were mostly clustered here.
Thanks to the distinctive black dragon emblazoned on the carriage, no foolish souls came forward to interrogate Xu Yuan. Any luxurious carriages encountered along the way pulled to the side from afar to yield the road.
Leaning against the soft couch and watching the snow-veiled river scenery out of sheer boredom, Xu Yuan asked casually:
"Mister Wang, how much longer until we arrive?"
Mister Wang was none other than the black-clad man who had been kneeling in the snow earlier.
Lou Ji seemed to know full well that with Xu Yuan's temperament, he would never swallow his grievances and would inevitably go look for trouble with Li Zhaoyuan, so she had long since left the man behind to drive his carriage and guide the way.
As soon as the question was asked, the voice of the black-clad driver outside came with deep respect:
"Young Master, two more blocks and we will arrive."
"Mm," Xu Yuan acknowledged softly, then asked with mild curiosity, "Mister Wang, Lou Ji made you kneel in the snow for so long earlier. As a Grandmaster, do you really feel no resentment?"
Grandmasters were already considered the very pinnacle of this world's pyramid. Even in the Prime Minister's Manor, they enjoyed exalted treatment—people like Zhou Chen and Si Ziyu were virtually always addressed as 'Mister.'
Yet things seemed quite different within Aunt Lou's Black Scale Guards.
"Subordinate dares not," the black-clad man immediately replied.
"Only that you dare not? Meaning you do harbor it?"
"..."
The man outside froze in awkward silence, a bead of cold sweat forming on his brow. Just as he was about to stammer an explanation, the gentle voice inside rang out again:
"Never mind. You Black Scale Guards are each more secretive than the last. Well... since you said we're almost there, does that kid Li Junqing live around here too?"
"..."
Hearing the thoroughly irreverent way he referred to imperial royalty, the black-clad man tightened his grip slightly on the reins and said, "The Third Prince's temporary residence is right next to the Second Prince's. Do you wish to go there?"
Xu Yuan reclined on the soft couch, tapping his fingertips rhythmically against the window frame as he rested his chin in his hand. "Call him out. It's been a while since I last saw him, and I actually miss him a bit."
The man's voice carried a hint of hesitation: "Shall I send a formal notice to the gate?"
"Transmit your voice directly," Xu Yuan said with amusement. "As a Grandmaster, your intent-soul should be able to cover the entire estate, right?"
"It can, but the night is already deep. Probing inside with my intent-soul without permission..."
"True. That kid can't live without women, and with the governor footing the bill now, he's probably summoned courtesans to his door again."
The black-clad man exhaled in relief. "Then, Young Master, should we notify the gatekeeper after all—"
"Don't you cultivate sound-based arts? Just shout. Tell him Xu Changtian misses him."
"Third Young Master, dignitaries from all corners are gathered in Guangyang Prefecture right now, and the hour is late. I fear disturbing—"
"If anyone is displeased, tell them to come find me directly. What are you afraid of?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
The snowy night rustled softly amidst the rushing river current. Amidst the profound stillness, a deep, resonant voice suddenly boomed:
"Third Prince! My young master invites Your Highness out for a conversation!"
Empowered by an immense surge of Source Qi, the voice struck like thunder. The icicles hanging beneath the upturned eaves of the magnificent pavilion shattered into sparkling frost, rippling outward from the estate's gates.
Across the quiet district, many lanterns that had already been extinguished flared back to life.
Almost simultaneously, several dense waves of intent-souls and Source Qi reached out toward the disturbance, only to quietly recede the moment they detected the black-dragon carriage parked before the gates.
A few breaths of silence passed.
*Rumble—*
The heavy gates of the residence swung open from within. What greeted the eye was not a gatekeeper, but a strikingly handsome young man with bare arms.
Barefoot, with unkempt, untied long hair, he appeared in a great rush.
It was none other than Li Junqing.
The black-dragon carriage rested quietly beside the tranquil street, the inscription lanterns hanging along the road casting a lifelike glint into the eyes of the black dragon.
Catching sight of the carriage, Li Junqing's handsome face twitched, and he cursed his luck in his heart.
*Is this bastard a haunting ghost or what?*
"..."
In the silence, the black-clad man opened the carriage door. A handsome young master in a brocade robe stepped down with hands clasped behind his back. Looking at the bare-armed third prince putting on a show, he smiled:
"Junqing, long time no see."
"B-Brother?"
"It's me."
"You were assassinated and you're actually still alive?"
"..."
The corner of Xu Yuan's eye twitched.
Li Junqing rearranged his expression. Under the lantern light, a glint of tears instantly surfaced in his eyes, and he hurried forward barefoot through the snow.
Arriving before him, tears shimmering in his gaze, Li Junqing stepped forward in sheer excitement to throw his arms around him, his voice trembling:
"Junqing... Junqing thought I would never see you again in this life, Brother!"
Seeing this, Xu Yuan hastily caught him by the arm, firmly halting his motion, and laughed:
"That assassination was indeed a close brush with death. I trust I haven't interrupted you tonight, have I?"
*Buddy, act all you want, but men don't go hugging each other.*
Li Junqing kept trying to embrace him, eyes brimming with tears:
"Brother, your survival is the greatest joyous news Junqing has heard in months! Even if you did interrupt, my joy is beyond measure. Given Brother's immense talent, your demise would have been a catastrophic loss for our Great Yan. But the hour is late, and Junqing isn't even properly dressed—"
"Since you're so happy, Junqing, let us go inside and talk. I'll wait for you to get dressed."
Xu Yuan nodded with a smile and made straight to walk into the residence.
Li Junqing's eye twitched.
*How the hell is this guy's skin thicker than mine?*
Before the thought could settle, Xu Yuan's figure had already sauntered into the manor uninvited.
Standing bare-chested under the inscription lantern, Li Junqing glanced at the black-dragon carriage, dark lines forming on his brow.
Xu Changtian was looking for him?
Like hell he was!
Glancing at another snow-covered courtyard a hundred paces away, Li Junqing gritted his teeth in irritation.
*He clearly came for my second imperial brother next door. Why drag me into this? Does he think I don't have enough troubles?*
Still, Xu Yuan being alive was, in fact, a good thing for him.
Releasing a quiet sigh, Li Junqing plastered a bright smile back onto his face and trotted back inside through the front gates.
In the inner courtyard of the residence, light snow fluttered as two figures sat atop a high-ceilinged loft overlooking the river.
Sipping his wine, Xu Yuan gazed into the distance at the snowy river illuminated by the city lights.
"...This Governor Li of Guangyang Prefecture is quite an interesting character."
Saying this, Xu Yuan glanced at the gorgeous courtesan beside them, clad in sheer gauze that revealed half her curves as she poured wine for the two of them. "It seems I truly did interrupt you tonight."
Dressed in inner garments draped loosely with a brocade fur cloak, Li Junqing sat cross-legged and leaned against the couch behind him, chuckling softly:
"Interested? This prince hasn't touched her tonight."
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips curving upward.
"Heh, you must be joking. Your Imperial Sister is in the city as well."
Li Junqing raised his cup and took a small sip. "She wouldn't come to my place anyway."
Xu Yuan shot him a meaningful look. "Heh, some people can't keep their mouths shut. If word leaked, it would damage my relationship with your sister."
"This woman was born deaf—"
"I wasn't talking about her."
"..." Li Junqing fell silent.
Xu Yuan smiled and raised his cup. Bronze cups clinked together like old friends chatting idly:
"These past days, Junqing, you must have been living quite the carefree life, singing and feasting day and night."
Li Junqing glanced up at him, tossing a dried fruit into his mouth. "If I don't feast day and night now, I might never get the chance again."
The river wind blowing through the window lattices stirred his long hair. Xu Yuan paused in mid-drink:
"Oh? How so?"
Li Junqing shot a candid, nonchalant glance toward the adjoining courtyard:
"This prince's recent circumstances haven't been pretty. I was almost handed over by Imperial Father to the Chancellor to be buried alongside you as a sacrifice..."
Xu Yuan's expression turned odd. "Who told you that? Surely it wouldn't come down to you."
"It would. Very much so."
Li Junqing tapped his head with his hand, his tone helpless:
"Just think about it for a second. If Second Brother was shielded by Imperial Father, it means Eldest Brother's faction had to be trimmed down; otherwise, even with outside support, Second Brother wouldn't stand a chance in court. On top of that, an explanation had to be given to Duke Xu...
"Third Young Master, tell me: in a situation like that, who would be the most suitable person to throw under the cart?"
Xu Yuan pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then emptied his cup and smiled:
"What, no longer calling me 'Brother'?"
Li Junqing smiled back. "This prince finds 'Third Young Master' rolls off the tongue more naturally."
With that, the two shared a knowing smile.
Suppressing his amusement, Xu Yuan looked at Li Junqing and asked, "Do you truly have no plans?"
"What plans?" Li Junqing played dumb.
Xu Yuan gave him a pointed look. "Your status is hardly low. The Imperial Clan Chamber of Commerce is under your purview, and you hold authority over part of the Imperial Shadow Guard. After all these years, I don't believe you haven't planted your own people inside."
Li Junqing retorted in a disgruntled tone, "What do you mean 'my people'? Those are Eldest Brother's people."
Xu Yuan found this slightly dull. Leaning back against the couch, he tapped the table. "You almost became a sacrificial lamb this time, and yet your thoughts haven't shifted even the slightest bit?"
"..."
Li Junqing glanced at Xu Yuan, casually hooked an arm around the wine-pouring courtesan, slid his hand into her collar to give her voluptuous bosom a firm squeeze, and pulled it back out. He then swept his hand across the table laden with vintage wines and delicacies, and toward the breathtaking river view outside the window lattices:
"Contentment brings happiness. Even at my worst, feasting and revelling day and night, I still live infinitely better than most people in this world. This prince finds my current life wonderfully carefree; there is no need to vie for that throne."
Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes. "I am not joking with you this time."
"And this prince is not joking with you either, Third Young Master."
"..." A hint of disappointment flitted across Xu Yuan's eyes.
Li Junqing released the meek, gorgeous courtesan, leaned in slightly, and asked in an odd tone:
"Third Young Master, I am genuinely curious: why do you think so highly of me?"
Xu Yuan glanced at him. "In storybooks, the people who pretend not to fight are usually the ones who end up with the throne, while Crown Princes and the like... heh."
"Pfft... hahahaha!"
A burst of laughter erupted from Li Junqing, so hearty he even slapped the table.
Once he had laughed his fill, he let out a long sigh and gazed at the river scenery beyond the window. "Now that you put it that way, it does sound like it. But reality isn't a storybook. This prince truly has no desire to fight, nor can I."
"Actually, even being a puppet would allow you to maintain your current lifestyle," Xu Yuan remarked out of nowhere.
Li Junqing's eyelid twitched.
"Hey, how do you dare say just about anything to me? My lips aren't sealed, you know."
Xu Yuan spread his hands, raising his cup in invitation beneath the moon:
"You're a clever man. Since you don't wish to contend, you wouldn't dare repeat this. In fact... you'd be the one worrying that *my* lips aren't sealed."
"..."
Li Junqing froze for a moment, his expression rapidly shifting. Taking the flagon from the courtesan's hand, he rose and poured wine for Xu Yuan personally, clearing his throat:
"Ahem, well, Brother..."
"Relax, I'm not that petty," Xu Yuan replied with amused tolerance. "Everyone has their own ambitions; I respect yours. Still, time is running very short. If you change your mind later, the offer won't stay on the table forever."
They clinked cups and drank.
Li Junqing lowered his voice and asked:
"Changtian, you came here tonight for my second brother, didn't you?"
"You figured that out already?"
"If you truly just wanted to catch up, why make such an enormous racket?"
"Tsk, you're pretty sharp."
"..." Li Junqing was at a loss for words.
Xu Yuan glanced at Li Junqing, his gaze turning slightly chilling.
"A person like me, with some standing in this world... having survived an assassination attempt, I can hardly be expected to just swallow it, can I?"
With that, Xu Yuan gazed into the distance toward Li Zhaoyuan's villa and said languidly:
"Calculating the time, your second brother should be heading over soon."
"Oh? Looks like things are being discussed over there as well..."
Li Junqing murmured under his breath, then immediately stood up. Wrapping an arm around the courtesan's supple, slender waist, he walked out without looking back, tossing over his shoulder:
"Xu Changtian, this prince warns you: do not disturb me again tonight. If you make any more noise, I'll tell Imperial Sister that you came to my residence tonight just to fool around with courtesans."
"..."
Xu Yuan chuckled wryly. Watching Li Junqing's retreating figure disappear, he shook his head gently and murmured in a low voice:
"What a pity..."
Chapter 340