CH 48

Chapter 48: Is His Highness Worried About Me?

Although Bian Zhonghua didn’t look sick, Qi Ci was still worried. As he stepped forward, he asked: “What’s wrong with you? Were you feeling unwell?”

The smile on Bian Zhonghua’s face became bigger as he said playfully: “Is His Highness worried about me?”

Unexpectedly, Qi Ci’s reply was very serious. As his eyebrows knitted slightly, his eyes were filled with anxiety: “Yes! Did you go to get examined by a physician? Did you get intoxicated with some kind of vicious disease?”

‘So this is what it feels like to have a frightened bird recklessly bumping into my arms.’ Bian Zhonghua looked at Qi Ci and sighed in his heart. At this point, Bian Zhonghua couldn’t understand why he didn’t realize his feelings for Qi Ci earlier and even foolishly thought he was sick.

“Don’t worry, I’m not sick. I was just being delusional,” Bian Zhonghua explained with a smile.

“Are you really alright?” Qi Ci looked worried and kept asking until Bian Zhonghua swore again and again that he was fine. Only then did Qi Ci finally feel more relieved: “Since you went back to rest, you didn’t have to come here to pick me up. You’re overworking yourself.”

Bian Zhonghua smiled: “I’m your Secret Servant. How can I not come when my health is perfectly fine?”

‘My Secret Servant.’

These three simple words made Qi Ci’s heart palpitate with ecstasy. As he coughed lightly, he looked up and said: “I just saw that the street is bustling with people. If your health is really alright, then I may as well not take the sedan chair, and we can walk back to the Residence together. I….”

As Qi Ci said this, he glanced at the Bei’an County Residence behind him, only to add next: “I’ll tell you something as we walk. What do you think?”

Bian Zhonghua bent his eyes. Even though he looked serious, he was trying hard to hide a teasing smile. As Bian Zhonghua deliberately dragged his voice, he said: “I’ll follow His Highness’ orders.”

Just as Qi Ci said, the streets in the Capital City were indeed bustling with people as the lights went on.

The two young men strolled along the river, enjoying the cool breeze passing by. At that moment, Qi Ci was telling Bian Zhonghua everything he had heard and seen in the Residence of the King of Bei’an County: “In the end, he didn’t discuss any political affairs with me. What do you think that means?”

Bian Zhonghua laughed, hid his taste in jokes, and said: “Maybe it wasn’t with an ulterior motive as you’re thinking. Maybe it’s just because the County Princess fell in love with you at first sight and wanted to get in touch with you, so she invited you over to her Residence impulsively.”

Qi Ci: “Are you familiar with the County Princess of Bei’an?”

Unexpectedly, the rhetorical question caused Bian Zhonghua to raise one of his eyebrows: “Hmm? What gave you that impression?”

Qi Ci shrugged his shoulders and said honestly: “Just now you sounded as if I had stolen your sweetheart.”

Bian Zhonghua: “….”

After coughing lightly to hide his embarrassment, Bian Zhonghua said: “You’re thinking too much. Alright, let me tell you something. As far as I know, the King of Bei’an County isn’t a good person, and he didn’t discuss political affairs with you simply because he doesn’t trust you. I’ll do the math for you, since the Crown Prince hasn’t recovered from a serious illness and is still struggling, it’s unknown what’ll happen to him in the future. If something were to happen, then who would take the power?”

Qi Ci lowered his voice and said: “Empress Dowager….”

Bian Zhonghua nodded and said: “Yes. Empress Dowager Xianyi. But she doesn’t have any more children, so for how long will she be able to hold the power? When the other Princes are injured, and some are even dead, who would benefit the most if a real turmoil were to happen?”

Qi Ci shook his head. He knew too little about the affairs of the Imperial Palace.

As Bian Zhonghua stretched out two fingers, he said with a smile: “On one hand, there’s you, and on the other, there’s the King of Bei’an County.”

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“Why?”

All of a sudden, several exquisite lanterns floated on the river next to them, looking as bright as the stars in the sky. As Bian Zhonghua bent down to pick one and play with it, he smiled and said: “First of all, it’s quite easy to explain why it’s beneficial for the King of Bei’an County. Because he’s the late Emperor’s biological brother, which means that he’s also part of the Imperial Family.”

Qi Ci understood immediately: “I see.”

Due to the strange events that took place in the Imperial Palace over the years, there were fewer and fewer people who could rightfully inherit the throne. If the Crown Prince really died from illness, Empress Dowager won’t be able to hold the Imperial Power anymore, and it was very likely that it would fall in the hands of the King of Bei’an County.

“Let’s talk about you.” Bian Zhonghua was tired of playing with the lantern so he let it go back to the river. As he watched it slowly floating away with the current, he continued: “Even though you have a low class background, you’re still the son of the late Emperor. If the Crown Prince were to die one of these days, you have the right to fight for power.”

Qi Ci remained silent for a long time. But then he held his head with both hands and said: “I didn’t think of that!”

Bian Zhonghua laughed out loud at his reaction and gently raised the corners of his mouth: “Why else do you think Empress Dowager Xianyi would take so much trouble only to find you? She must have been very worried that after the death of the Crown Prince, the King of Bei’an County will take the throne. After all, the King of Bei’an County has a large number of people who follow him, so it’ll be quite easy for him to rebel. Even if the Crown Prince becomes the Emperor, he should also be afraid of the King. Besides, the Crown Prince has been ill for many years and had neglected the Imperial Court. With such a weak foundation, if Empress Dowager Xianyi were to die one day, the King of Bei’an County would most likely have bad intentions in mind. After all, even if he can’t get the position of Emperor, he can still get the position of regent. The regent position is enough to satisfy that person’s selfish desire. Do you know why Empress Dowager wanted you to marry the County Princess?”

Qi Ci was already dizzy with all this information, so he simply asked along with the words of Bian Zhonghua: “Why?”

“Because if you marry the County Princess, you will become the counterbalancing point for the Empress Dowager and the King of Bei’an County. There’s a rumor circulating around that the King is extremely fond of his daughter, and if you marry her and then inherit the throne, the King of Bei’an County will no longer make things difficult for you. Or, at least, he will no longer covet the throne. After all, his own daughter will become the Empress. As for Empress Dowager Xianyi, she will continue to securely hold her position as Empress Dowager.”

Qi Ci continued to hold his head with both hands as he groaned in pain: “I want to go back to farming, raising livestock, and fishing.”

Bian Zhonghua laughed and rubbed Qi Ci’s head: “Alright, let’s stop talking about it, to save you from worrying too much.”

Qi Ci muttered: “I’m worrying already! Wait, according to what you said, won’t Empress Dowager try to arrange a match between me and the County Princess of Bei’an?!”