Jiang Suizhou didn’t consider himself to be someone worthy of being held in high regard by Minister Ji. After all, he could only bring himself to say such a thing because he had been screwed over by a student and dumped into a version of unofficial history himself.
After leaving the Ministry of Rites, he climbed into the horse-drawn carriage and returned to the Prince of Jing’s residence.
Anyin Hall was bustling with activity as people streamed in and out of the courtyard. Just as Jiang Suizhou stepped out of the carriage, Meng Qianshan came out to send off two cloth-carrying tailors. When he spotted his master, he hurried over to greet him.
“Your Highness!” Meng Qianshan exclaimed as he sidled up to him with a grin. “Your servant has already brought Madam Huo over for you, along with a few tailors to outfit Madam in some new clothing. The carpenter will come by tomorrow—your servant noticed that Madam’s wheelchair is rather unwieldy and ought to be remade.”
Jiang Suizhou gave him a puzzled look. He hadn’t even given any specific instructions yet. Why was this guy being so enthusiastic about Huo Wujiu?
Meng Qianshan continued to stare at him with shining puppy dog eyes, eager to be praised.
Jiang Suizhou paused.
“I see. Good work.”
Meng Qianshan’s face bloomed with such bright, foolish joy that all Jiang Suizhou could do was immediately turn away and head for his room, lest he be blinded by it.
He was in an exceptionally relaxed mood. As he walked, he tugged off his cumbersome cloak. Right before he stepped over the threshold of his room, he suddenly remembered that he’d forgotten to ask what room Huo Wujiu had been given. Before he could double back to inquire with Meng Qianshan, however, he discovered that the answer to his question was right in front of him.
There he was, surrounded by elegance and grandeur, looking quite out of place.
Jiang Suizhou froze in the middle of shedding his cloak.
Why was Huo Wujiu in his room?
He stood there for a long time, as if nailed to the floor. Then he whipped around and walked back out, nearly colliding with Meng Qianshan. He couldn’t help but notice the demure smile on Meng Qianshan’s lips and the jubilant glimmer in his eyes. He gave Jiang Suizhou a meaningful look, as if he once again expected to be praised.
Praise you? I’m more inclined to beat you up, Jiang Suizhou thought as he gnashed his teeth.
Meng Qianshan watched him curiously.
“Your Highness?” he prompted cheerily, awaiting his orders.
Jiang Suizhou took a moment to compose himself before responding.
“This was your doing?” he said in a low voice.
At first, Meng Qianshan was a bit confused by this question. Then understanding dawned on him.
“Ah, yes! How silly of your servant,” he exclaimed. “It slipped my mind entirely that Madam Huo needs new personal attendants! Your servant expelled the two maids originally assigned to Madam. There’s still a porter boy left, but he seems to be fairly well behaved. Your Highness, in your opinion…”
Meng Qianshan trailed off, expecting Jiang Suizhou to jump in with further instructions.
Jiang Suizhou seethed silently.
That’s not what I asked! I wanted to know why Huo Wujiu is staying in my room! Are you trying to tell me that none of the other rooms in this massive compound are habitable?!
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say them.
The door to his room was wide open, and Huo Wujiu was right there. He would definitely be able to hear.
If Jiang Suizhou chased him out again after bringing him all the way here, wouldn’t that count as another strike against him?
He’d thought that by moving Huo Wujiu closer, he’d be able to play on Easy mode, so to speak. Unfortunately, he’d forgotten to account for Meng Qianshan being a bit of an idiot. Thanks to him, Jiang Suizhou was now locked into Hardcore difficulty instead.
Gritting his teeth, Jiang Suizhou shot Meng Qianshan a vicious glare and swallowed down his complaints.
“There was only one porter to begin with?” he said instead, responding to Meng Qianshan’s concerns about the boy. “Where is he? Let me talk to him.”
Hearing that, Meng Qianshan quickly led him down the steps to the courtyard where the porter boy was working with several other people to move some heavy items. Sweat beaded across his forehead from the exertion, glistening under the sun.
As Jiang Suizhou walked up to him, the boy hastily set down the item in his hands and bowed.
At that instant, something else occurred to Jiang Suizhou.
From the start, he’d suspected that someone within the court must have assisted the original version of Huo Wujiu for him to be able to escape. The original prince definitely wouldn’t have provided him that opportunity, which was why his escape had been delayed for a full three years.
So…what if Jiang Suizhou helped him out by moving him here?
Wouldn’t he be doing him a huge favor? That might even mean Jiang Suizhou would only have to contend with Pang Shao and his cronies for one year instead of three! He might have turned this into a win-win situation, actually.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided he needed to speak to the porter boy in private.
“Come with me,” he instructed.
The porter boy followed close on his heels, while Meng Qianshan tactfully chose to stay behind.
None of them noticed the dark gaze that traveled through a gap in the window lattice to land on Jiang Suizhou’s back.
Huo Wujiu watched as Jiang Suizhou took the boy aside to discuss…something.
What could the Prince of Jing possibly have to say to a porter boy?
It could only be that he had some sort of plan up his sleeve and wanted the boy to do something for him. Perhaps he was ordering him to keep an eye on Huo Wujiu. Certainly the prince knew as well as he did that the boy couldn’t do much else.
Huo Wujiu also knew the reason the Prince of Jing had abruptly decided to move him here to the prince’s own living quarters. It was incredibly obvious, in fact.
This was the most heavily guarded place in the entire residence.
The shocked look on the Prince of Jing’s face when he entered the room, though, told Huo Wujiu that one of his subordinates must have made a mistake putting him in the main hall specifically. That seemed to be an unexpected turn of events for both of them.
Huo Wujiu prided himself on his composure. Temptation and trivial promises had never affected his rationality, nor was his judgment ever clouded by an iota of momentary goodwill. He was not swayed by any of this, nor did he believe for a second any kindness intended was meaningful or lasting.
He stared quietly out the window, expressionless, observing the man’s every move with icy, inscrutable eyes.
Only his hands, resting on the wheelchair, betrayed his indifference. Somewhat restlessly, he tapped his fingertips against the armrests a few times.