Qi Junyou felt a sharp sting. The barb he had thrown had been turned back on him, driven in deeper than before, leaving him thoroughly uncomfortable.
Who exactly was Qi Junmu trying to sicken with these words? he fumed inwardly. The snow disaster in Qingzhou had taken lives too — it wasn't as if I had spent my days in pleasure and never tasted hardship. How could he speak to me like that?
Qi Junmu hadn't talked like this as a child. Now that he is emperor, it seems his tongue has been dipped in poison.
Qi Junyou wanted to say something to salvage his dignity, but Qi Junmu had already waved for Shen Nian, Xing Yi, and Cheng Jin to withdraw.
Qi Junzhuo naturally stood on the emperor's side. He smoothly struck up a conversation with Qi Junyan, whom he barely knew, expressing sincere concern and wishing Qi Junyan well on his West Frontier campaign with heartfelt earnestness.
His tone was so natural that Qi Junyan was deeply moved. He grasped Qi Junzhuo's hand and launched into a stirring speech, vowing that he would not disappoint the emperor's expectations and would see the matter through.
Anyone watching would have sworn they were blood brothers.
Qi Junyou felt thoroughly sickened. "Keep company with the good, and you become good"—the saying was true. Qi Junzhuo had been stained black by Qi Junmu. Now that he was back in the capital, his words and deeds were so hypocritical they were unbearable.
Qi Junmu fanned the flames. "Second Brother, Eldest Brother is about to leave the capital. Aren't you going to say goodbye?"
Qi Junyan turned expectantly toward Qi Junyou, his eyes full of hope.
Qi Junyou took a deep breath and forced himself to join in the warm display of brotherly affection.
While the four brothers put on their performance, Cheng Jin sidled up to Shen Nian and whispered, "My lord, why didn't you give me a heads-up about this? His Majesty's orders came so suddenly, I don't even know what to do."
Shen Nian glanced at him. "Would I dare to leak anything without the emperor's say-so? That would only harm you."
"Our Shen family army has never had ties with the West Frontier forces. If I show up there, won't I stick out like a sore thumb? And if I end up sticking in Chang Sheng's craw, will I even make it back alive?" Cheng Jin asked, worried.
Shen Nian's face tightened as he offered a word of advice: "If you want to keep your head, never utter the words 'Shen family army' again. It's the North Frontier Army. Once you're there, remember just one thing: don't ask too many questions. If you hear any rumors, write to me."
The words were cryptic, and Cheng Jin's brow furrowed. He sensed that the West Frontier mission was far from simple.
Either the emperor wanted to take on the North Frontier Army, or he was after Chang Sheng. But on second thought, Chang Sheng hadn't done anything eye-catching in recent years. After mulling it over, Cheng Jin concluded that the emperor's real target was still the North Frontier Army.
Even before leaving the capital, Cheng Jin already felt the long road ahead—bleak and full of uncertainty.
With so many eyes around, the two couldn't talk further. Meanwhile, Qi Junmu had already pressed Qi Junyou into playing his part, and together they had performed a deeply moving brotherly drama with Qi Junyan.
Qi Junyan wiped the corner of his eye, bowed grandly to the emperor, and set off with renewed vigor. Cheng Jin and Xing Yi hurried after him.
Shen Nian watched the long procession, then looked at Qi Junzhou, still standing in the pavilion, frustrated and sulking. He was suddenly reminded of his former self.
Back then, he hadn't understood much of what was happening, but the emperor had already arranged all the rumors. Now, at last, someone else got to taste that feeling.
After Qi Junyan's escort convoy had traveled some distance, Shen Nian looked up at the sky and was about to speak when Qi Junzhuo stepped up to the emperor and said with concern, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Shall we return?"
In that instant, Shen Nian felt a pang—as if he were about to fall out of favor.
Qi Junmu had come today specifically to welcome Qi Junzhuo back to the capital. Now that he had arrived safely, the emperor's anxious heart was finally at ease. Hearing this, he said, "Then let us return."
The emperor boarded his imperial carriage, with Qi Junzhuo riding on the left and Shen Nian on the right. Qi Junyou followed behind in his carriage, feeling utterly superfluous.
No one spoke during the entire journey back to the palace.
By the time they reached the palace, dusk had fallen.
Qi Junzhuo's Prince Jin mansion had long since been repaired, but tonight he would still stay within the palace.
His former quarters had been cleaned and prepared by the emperor's orders, fitted with new furnishings, and scented with the light fragrance he loved.
Arriving at the palace, Qi Junmu descended from his carriage and walked alongside Qi Junzhuo, with Shen Nian following behind.
Qi Junmu said, "You've had a long, dusty journey. Rest well."
Qi Junzhuo bowed his head in acknowledgment.
At the gate of Qianhua Hall, Qi Junmu patted his shoulder and said warmly, "It's good to have you back."
Those words made Qi Junzhuo's eyes redden. He looked at the emperor and said, "This subject has worried Imperial Brother."
"Good that you know," Qi Junmu replied. "I had the imperial kitchen make your favorite pastries. They won't taste as good once they've gone cold. Go on, now."
Only then did Qi Junzhuo bow and withdraw.
After walking some distance, he couldn't help but look back. Seeing Qi Junmu still standing there watching him, Qi Junzhuo smiled—a boyish, unguarded smile—and then ran off.
Once he was out of sight, Qi Junmu turned back into Qianhua Hall.
Inside, Ruan Jiqing ordered the meal to be served. The emperor noticed the silent Marquis Zhenbei and asked, puzzled, "What's the matter? In low spirits?"
Shen Nian quickly looked up. "No, not at all. This humble subject had only heard of Your Majesty's close bond with Prince Jin—seeing it today stirred some feelings in me." He too had brothers, but their relationship was far from good.
In fact, it was worse than that of ordinary people. It was often said that being born into an imperial family was the greatest tragedy, that emperors were heartless.
But the emperor truly did hold Prince Jin close to his heart.
Qi Junmu smiled but offered no further explanation. He gestured for Shen Nian to sit and join him for the meal.
This had become a frequent occurrence, and Shen Nian didn't stand on ceremony.
Once seated, Shen Nian noticed that the roasted mutton he had enjoyed most last time was placed before him—in greater quantity than before, still steaming hot. He couldn't help but think of the emperor's words to Prince Jin earlier, and a smile crept into his eyes.
That smile spread from his eyes across his face, brimming with uncontainable joy.
When Qi Junmu looked up, he saw it clearly. Meals with the emperor—or rather, meals in the palace—had always been conducted in silence. The emperor used to observe that rule strictly.
Now, he did as he pleased. "I noticed you liked this last time, so I had the imperial kitchen make extra. Whenever you crave it, just say the word and they'll prepare it for you."
Whether the words were true or not, Shen Nian felt the emperor's sincerity.
He rose to express his gratitude, then polished off the entire plate of roasted mutton—a clear demonstration of his appreciation.
Qi Junmu hadn't expected him to enjoy it that much. "This dish is warming by nature," he advised, "and the weather is already warm these days. You should eat it in moderation."
Shen Nian nodded, but thought to himself that he only ever got to eat this here at the palace. Back home, who would care what he ate?
Perhaps he had indeed eaten too much, because that night—though he was not on duty—he tossed and turned in the guards' quarters, unable to sleep.
His mind wandered, and eventually he got up to inspect the guard patrols.
To his surprise, he caught a few slackers. Shen Nian gave them a severe dressing-down.
The next morning, when Qi Junmu heard the news, he asked in surprise, "Was Shen Nian on duty last night?"
Ruan Jiqing said, "No, Your Majesty. This servant thinks Marquis Zhenbei was simply so concerned for Your Majesty's safety that he acted rather unexpectedly."
The emperor made a thoughtful sound. Or maybe it was that plate of mutton that kept him up?
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