Chapter 22

The lively hall suddenly became so quiet it was eerie. Tang Zhuozhuo watched as Emperor Qiongyuan’s gaze grew increasingly dim; her heart felt both anxious and despondent.

She could already imagine the look of disappointment that would soon appear on the Empress Dowager’s face.

Noble Consort Yan (Yan Guifei)  sat just below Emperor Qiongyuan, only a step away from the Empress’s seat. At this moment, her beautiful face was adorned with traces of sorrow and tension. She spoke gently: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s filial piety is moving. This handkerchief must have a unique meaning; please listen to the Crown Prince explain it first.”

In truth, she was also nervous. This seemingly clumsy method was actually the most effective. In front of so many ministers, no matter how much Emperor Qiongyuan favored Huo Qiu, he would have to speak a few words of reprimand.

And those few words would be a rare opportunity for her own son, at least a chance to breathe so he wouldn’t be pressed so hard.

These officials were all people who followed the trend of the powerful; they were accustomed to reading the Emperor’s face.

But if they were exposed, it would also be a fatal blow to them. Even if they weren’t caught, Emperor Qiongyuan would certainly have his own thoughts and would inevitably plant seeds of suspicion. A monarch’s suspicion is not easily erased!

Noble Consort Yan shifted her body slightly. Looking at the undisguised smiles on the faces of her son and Lady Liu, her heart felt even colder.

She didn’t know if doing this was worth it or not!

As expected, Emperor Qiongyuan looked over with deep meaning. Noble Consort Yan felt apprehensive, but she returned a gentle smile without changing her expression.

“Reporting to Imperial Father: Imperial Grandmother’s grand birthday is a celebration for the whole world. While this son is joyful, I also feel deep trepidation. I ordered people to invite the best embroiderers from Suzhou to work day and night for over ten days, finally completing this in time for Imperial Grandmother’s birthday.”

Huo Qiu’s voice was cool, speaking unhurriedly. His expression showed neither the eagerness to claim credit nor the anger of being framed. Except for his exceptionally deep pupils, he appeared no different than usual.

Tang Zhuozhuo suddenly relaxed her lips, and the heavy stone pressing on her heart fell. She could only see Huo Qiu’s tall and straight back, but in her mind, she could sketch his face, which was as cold as the moon.

Since he had spoken this way, he could naturally bring the story full circle.

The Sixth Prince’s eyes flashed wildly for a moment, and then he let out a light sneer: “Royal Brother, please stop keeping us in suspense. Although this younger brother’s knowledge cannot compare to yours, I have never heard of a tiny handkerchief taking ten days to complete.”

A burst of whispers immediately came from the ministers’ seats below.

Emperor Qiongyuan looked on coldly and moved his lips: “Old Fourth, you speak.”

Huo Qiu’s expression remained unchanged as he unfolded the handkerchief with great care. The stitches on the snow-white silk were dense and fine, looking as smooth as silk itself.

The moment the Empress Dowager clearly saw the patterns on it, she straightened her body, her expression somewhat dazed.

Seeing this, Huo Qi exchanged a glance with Noble Consort Yan, suppressing the unease in his heart and forcing himself to listen to Huo Qiu continue.

“Sixth Brother might not know, but I must naturally follow what Imperial Grandfather instructed.”

As soon as these words came out, there was a literal uproar in the hall.

The “Imperial Grandfather” in Huo Qiu’s mouth was undoubtedly the Late Emperor. Could this tiny handkerchief actually involve the Late Emperor?

“When this son was young, Imperial Grandfather often taught me riding and archery. In his spare time, he always talked to me about the scenes of his early encounters with Imperial Grandmother.”

At this point, Huo Qiu raised his head and looked toward the red-eyed Empress Dowager, saying slowly: “Your grandson strictly followed Imperial Grandfather’s instructions to have an ancient house with curling smoke, gurgling mountain springs, and lush mountains and green waters embroidered on the finest Suzhou snow-silk.”

“On such a grand day as today, I hope to bring a smile to Grandmother on behalf of Imperial Grandfather.”

The senior maid beside the Empress Dowager walked to Huo Qiu’s side, picked up the handkerchief, and presented it to the Empress Dowager’s table.

Emperor Qiongyuan narrowed his eyes, then looked at the panicked Old Sixth, letting out a laugh with an unreadable expression: “Old Fourth’s thoughtfulness is indeed rare.”

Huo Qi could no longer smile. Listening to the clicks of admiration from the ministers below, he was so angry his chest ached. If it weren’t for Noble Consort Yan’s warning glances repeatedly sweeping over him, he really wanted to recklessly speak up and question it.

It was just a piece of scrap cloth, Huo Qiu could say whatever he wanted with his mouth! How come he had never heard the Late Emperor mention it?

But he endured it desperately. There was no need to ask anymore; looking at the Empress Dowager’s expression, everything already had an answer.

What Huo Qiu said was true.

But his people had clearly swapped that handkerchief for an ordinary maid’s handkerchief!

The anger in Huo Qi’s mind burned away his reason. He felt that the swapped handkerchief hidden in his sleeve had become a glaring joke.

By now, he could only think of one explanation.

Huo Qiu had long noticed his little movements and then let it happen as if unaware, just to wait for him and his mother to offer their faces to be slapped hard by him across the room.

They did not hesitate to play schemes under the Emperor’s nose, only to gain praise for Huo Qiu from the entire court. The Crown Prince’s position remained as stable as ever, while they had “tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice”!

Even more surprised than him was Tang Zhuozhuo. Her hands resting on her knees were still trembling slightly, but her gaze was fixed on Huo Qiu’s back, which was as straight as a pine tree. She couldn’t help but admire his resourcefulness.

To be able to escape such a dead end completely, he truly deserved to be a generation’s eternal emperor. He was more than calm and full of wisdom, far stronger than the likes of Huo Qi.

She hadn’t thought that far; she simply thought Huo Qiu had made it up on the spot after seeing the handkerchief, and it just happened to hit the Empress Dowager’s heart perfectly.

Above, the Empress Dowager touched the handkerchief carefully for a while, her eyes turning moist. She said to Emperor Qiongyuan beside her: “This is the map your father personally drew back then. I thought he was joking, but I didn’t expect he took it seriously.”

Emperor Qiongyuan leaned over to look a few times and followed with a smile: “Father’s affection for Mother is known to everyone.”

“In this matter, Old Fourth has put in a lot of effort. This old woman is very happy.”

Huo Qiu lowered his eyelids, a burst of icy chill emanating from his deep pupils. He withdrew to his seat without being affected by the honor or disgrace, meeting Tang Zhuozhuo’s bright eyes that hid a sea of stars.

Truly foolish.

As soon as Huo Qiu sat down, he took a discreet sip of the wine in his cup. It was mellow and lingering. On his left hand resting on his knee, a deep black-purple color emerged at the tiger’s mouth (the web between thumb and forefinger). He frowned slightly and drank another mouthful of wine to suppress the intense pain.

Unexpectedly, a delicate little hand reached over and lightly tugged at his cuff. Huo Qiu’s expression shifted. His entire left palm was already numb with pain, yet he clearly felt the temperature of that hand, sweet and warm.

“Your Highness, did you know beforehand that they would tamper with the birthday gift?” Tang Zhuozhuo held a small jade cup, hiding her face with her wide sleeve as she asked in a low voice.

A piercing pain spread from the tiger’s mouth to his entire arm. Huo Qiu’s face was as dark as water. Noticing her tiny knuckles gripping the jade cup, he said: “Mhm.”

Tang Zhuozhuo suddenly let out a sigh of relief. Since he knew, he had naturally beaten Huo Qi and Noble Consort Yan at their own game to give them a head-on blow.

She smiled until her eyes narrowed. Just as she was about to drain the wine in her cup, it was pinched by a slender hand.

Tang Zhuozhuo tilted her head. The man’s face was extremely cold, his thin lips opening slightly to let out a chill: “You cannot drink.”

Tang Zhuozhuo paused, then followed his lead and put down the small wine cup, appearing very obedient.

“Fine, I’ll listen to Your Highness.”

Huo Qiu’s palm trembled slightly. He closed his eyes heavily. At this time, it was the Sixth Prince Huo Qi’s turn to offer his birthday gift.

Huo Qi had just broken free from the anger of being toyed with by Huo Qiu and put on a proper smile. He was exceptionally proud of his gift, making his steps even lighter.

Noble Consort Yan felt uneasy, almost unable to maintain the smile on her face. She took a hidden glance at the immovable Huo Qiu, gritting her teeth in hatred.

What followed was a deep sense of dejection.

Her son was too eager for quick success. Without her guidance, almost nothing went right.

At this point, she again resented Emperor Qiongyuan. If he had treated them equally and taught the way of a monarch to her sixth son, why would the two of them have to act this way?

Tang Zhuozhuo also kept her eyes fixed on the object in Huo Qi’s hands, a few flashes of interest crossing her eyes.

Earlier she didn’t know how much Huo Qiu knew about this matter, but now that she had his confirmation, she became even more curious to watch the good show.

Based on Huo Qiu’s character of seeking revenge for even the smallest grievance and his cold, efficient style, he must have “paid them back in kind.”

Huo Qi lifted the black cloth, revealing the bamboo slips inside. A faint scent of blood wafted out.

Tang Zhuozhuo frowned. She turned her head to look at Huo Qiu, only to find that beads of sweat were breaking out on the man’s forehead. His eyes were tightly closed. To others, it looked like he was resting his eyes, but Tang Zhuozhuo’s heart skipped a beat.

For a moment, she couldn’t care about Huo Qi’s gift. She shifted her body closer to Huo Qiu and deliberately lowered her voice to ask: “Is Your Highness feeling unwell?”

Huo Qiu slowly opened his eyes and moved his somewhat stiff thumb, saying: “It’s nothing.”

Tang Zhuozhuo lowered her eyes. Seeing the man close his eyes again, appearing perfectly gentle, her slender hand boldly lifted the fabric on his knee and accurately grasped that large palm.

Huo Qiu abruptly opened his eyes, which seemed to contain two bottomless deep pools. He couldn’t use any strength in his palm and didn’t want her to see his pathetic state, so he could only command coldly: “Let go.”

Tang Zhuozhuo wasn’t afraid of him now. His slight strength made her fingers turn white, so she used her other hand to pry his cold fingers open one by one, certain that he would be unwilling to use force against her.

Huo Qiu gazed at her pink face for a long time, then pulled back the corners of his mouth into an indifferent smile. Since it was such an ugly thing, if she wanted to see it, let her see it.

At worst, she would just loathe him a bit more.

Tang Zhuozhuo pulled the man’s palm onto her knee. She didn’t dare make too large a movement, only taking a quick glance using her peripheral vision, and was immediately frightened by what she saw.

A large area of black-purple, like strange, demonic flowers, occupied the space from the tiger’s mouth to the center of his left palm. Moreover, the color was darkening at a speed visible to the naked eye, finally settling into a deep, intense black.

The smile on Tang Zhuozhuo’s peach-blossom face disintegrated layer by layer. Her lips moved several times, but she couldn’t say anything.

Her eyes turned somewhat red. She managed to restrain herself from shedding tears in public, but she could no longer maintain the proper smile on her face.

Southern Border Gu insects.

How did a Gu insect enter Huo Qiu’s body? To be in this much pain without making a sound, just how long has he been infested?

Tang Zhuozhuo’s heart trembled. Too many questions had no answers, clogging up her heart in twists and turns; she couldn’t say a word.

Huo Qiu felt her slender palm starting to sweat. He only thought she was frightened. The intense pain in his palm slowly diminished. He moved his fingertips and withdrew his hand.

He didn’t even dare to look at her expression.

In the hall, Huo Qi’s gaze carried a sense of triumph as he spread out the bamboo slips layer by layer. The blood-colored small script was densely packed, and the faint scent of blood mixed with the fragrance in the hall.