Chapter 9: Xijiang.

Chapter 9: Xijiang.

Huo Qiu’s sword-like brows slanted toward his temples. Though he appeared sinister and suffocating when he frowned, he was exceptionally handsome when he smiled, exuding a powerful masculine aura.

When Tang Zhuozhuo finished washing her hands and walked to his side to grind ink, he offered a tiny, fleeting smile. It was so brief that it vanished before she could even fully register it.

For a moment, she suspected she had seen wrongly. She remained silent, quietly grinding the ink. With ice basins placed around the study, the temperature was pleasant—not too hot, and the room was filled with the faint, elegant scent of bamboo, creating a perfect atmosphere.

No one spoke, yet the silence did not feel dead. Huo Qiu put brush to paper while Tang Zhuozhuo watched intently; one was absorbed in writing, the other focused on observing. It was a scene of unexpected harmony.

Tang Zhuozhuo’s jade-white fingers pressed against the black ink stick, their lustrous glow accentuated by the dark contrast.

Huo Qiu happened to turn his head and caught this sight, his heart skipping a beat in distraction.

He let out a silent inward sigh, rested the wolf-hair brush on the inkstone, and arched an eyebrow. “What are you looking at?”

Tang Zhuozhuo snapped back to her senses, leaning her head closer to the wet rice paper. She stared at the black characters in confusion. “What characters are these, Your Highness?”

How was it that she didn’t recognize a single one?

“This is the script from the Xijiang region; naturally, you wouldn’t know it.” Huo Qiu didn’t even lift his eyelids. After a pause, as if remembering something, he added, “In a few days, I must make a trip to Xijiang. You… the affairs of the palace will be left to you.”

Tang Zhuozhuo immediately stopped worrying about the large characters. She frowned, her flawless porcelain-like face filled with surprise. “How long will Your Highness be gone?”

Huo Qiu rubbed his temple with a well-defined index finger. His dark eyes turned deep and somber, and his voice carried a chill. “About ten days or so. I’m not certain when I’ll return.”

Throughout the dynasties, Xijiang had been a lawless land, a place where officials and bandits were in cahoots. Only the local commoners suffered. The officials sent by the imperial court usually just put on a show, treating issues with superficial concern. Recently, the unrest there had grown increasingly severe.

Even the ailing Emperor Qiongyuan, who appeared to have little time left, was concerned. Huo Qiu felt it would be more reassuring to handle it personally.

Tang Zhuozhuo used a handkerchief dipped in warm water to wipe the ink stains from her hand, but the black spots were stubborn. She applied a bit of pressure, and a large patch of red appeared on her fair skin.

Seeing this, Huo Qiu pursed his thin lips. He took the handkerchief from her hand and began to wipe her skin meticulously, his cold, imposing aura softening completely. Tang Zhuozhuo was stunned. As if burned, she instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but he held her wrist in a firm grip.

“Your Highness…”

Huo Qiu finished cleaning the ink from her hand before returning the handkerchief. Only then did he release her, his expression remaining unchanged throughout.

Only he could hear the sound of the blood thrumming in his veins—beat after beat, steady and rapid.

Tang Zhuozhuo stood in the hall, her face still slightly flushed. The wrist he had held felt as though it had been seared by fire, stinging with a lingering heat. She hid her hand beneath her wide sleeve and, after a long silence, moistened her lips and asked, “During the time Your Highness is away, may I leave the palace to visit a temple?”

She asked tentatively, her watery eyes filled with obvious hope. Tang Zhuozhuo was naturally stunning; when she softened her gaze like this, she looked like a living portrait of innate charm. Few men could resist such a plea.

Huo Qiu was no exception.

His heartstrings vibrated, but his gaze suddenly filled with icy malice. He had just mentioned going to Xijiang, and the very next moment she was already looking for a way to see Wang Yi?

So, all the deliberate flattery and the gentle tone of these past days were merely to set the stage for this request? To go to a temple? When had Tang Zhuozhuo ever believed in such things?

Not in her wildest dreams!

Huo Qiu looked at the woman standing nearby. She was a petite, delicate figure, her bright eyes swirling with distinct emotions that made it impossible to look away. His face grew as dark as it could be, and he suddenly felt a pang of bitter disappointment.

Tang Zhuozhuo didn’t understand why the man, who had been fine moments ago, had suddenly turned cold. She simply assumed it was inconvenient to let her out at this time.

The ,Eastern Palace was not like the outside world; leaving the palace was no easy feat. She wanted to go out so she could send word to her mother in advance, arranging to meet at the temple so she could warn the Tang family about certain impending matters.

But looking at Huo Qiu’s expression, he likely wouldn’t permit it.

It made sense. This was a time of burgeoning ambition among the various princes; if she went out and caused some sort of scandal, it would reflect poorly on Huo Qiu.

Tang Zhuozhuo pondered silently. If she couldn’t leave, she would have to write a letter and find someone reliable to deliver it. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Huo Qiu evade her question entirely: “Zhong Yu’s blunders caused me significant losses. Today the two of them came to apologize. I intend to petition the Emperor to exile them to the border to atone for their crimes through service. What do you think?”

This was a blatant probe that anyone could hear. Tang Zhuozhuo lowered her eyelids, the light in her eyes startlingly bright.

Seeing this, Huo Qiu let out a cold inward sneer. He wasn’t particularly disappointed; he hadn’t harbored much hope that she would have changed. No one knew her temperament better than he did.

He turned his back, his dark sleeves with auspicious cloud patterns brushing against the desk. He spoke indifferently, “In that case…”

“I believe that if the two generals go to the border, they will surely protect our Great Yan’s territory and ensure the safety of the people. Your Highness’s far-sighted decision is naturally excellent.”

Tang Zhuozhuo wore a cunning smile. Huo Qiu turned abruptly, the towering rage on his sharp-featured face coming to a sudden halt.

He walked up to her, his expression now one of elegant composure, and spoke with a hint of a smile: “That is for the best. In a few days, have someone pack your things; you will accompany me to Xijiang.”

Tang Zhuozhuo’s eyes grew round and wide. Her slender fingers trembled slightly. She asked in disbelief, “Your Highness?”

Huo Qiu lowered his gaze to look at her, knowing exactly why she was surprised.

He pursed his sharp thin lips and said flatly, “Though Xijiang is unsettled, the scenery is excellent. If you wish to go, prepare yourself. If you do not…”

At this point, he couldn’t help but pause. He shut his eyes tight, and when he opened them again, they were as deep as two ancient wells.

However, before he could finish his sentence, the woman interrupted him. Tang Zhuozhuo’s eyes were filled with sparkling light, and her voice carried an unmistakable note of joy.

“I want to go! I want to go!”

If she could leave, she naturally wouldn’t stay in this dead, flavorless palace. Although it was against the rules, if Huo Qiu said it, he surely had a way to make it work.

Tang Zhuozhuo suddenly felt this visit had not been in vain.

Huo Qiu’s fingers lightly tapped the edge of the desk, the sound low and steady. His face was hidden in the shadows, his thoughts unreadable.

His invitation had originally been born of a moment of spite; he had expected her to refuse. After all, with such a golden opportunity while he was away, how could she let it pass?

But since she had accepted so easily, how could Huo Qiu truly remain indifferent?

Perhaps this time, in a different environment, a turning point might appear between them?

Seeing him suddenly frown and fall silent, Tang Zhuozhuo grew anxious. She circled around to face him, leaning her palm-sized, jade-white face close to his. “Your Highness’s word is as solid as the nine cauldrons. You cannot go back on your promise to me.”

Huo Qiu’s dark eyes looked into her clear almond eyes, which were devoid of any impurity. He pursed his lips and spoke deeply, “Crown Princess Tang will enter a temple to pray for our well-being until I return. Do you understand?”

Tang Zhuozhuo finally released her lower lip, revealing a small tooth mark. She smiled so broadly her eyes turned into two crescent moons.

“I shall do exactly as Your Highness says.”

Even after Tang Zhuozhuo led her attendants back to Yiqiu Palace, Huo Qiu remained seated in his study, lost in thought. When Zhang Desheng came in to ask about serving dinner, he ignored him, only letting out a soft sigh after a long while.

Why do I feel as though she’s gotten the better of me?

He stood up, his voice softening slightly as it mingled with the darkening night outside, mellow and deep.

“No need. To Yiqiu Palace.”

Zhang Desheng was naturally overjoyed. He thought to himself that when the Crown Princess truly put her mind to coaxing someone, she was more effective than anyone else.

He hadn’t seen such a mild attitude from the Master in a very long time.