Chapter 18 So Fresh
“In the center of a whirlpool, discern the direction and see the reef.”
Liu Cong repeated Cui Xiao's words that night word by word, his voice calm and unperturbed.
"Although Cui Bandu is young, he seems to be well aware of the dangers of the imperial palace.
There are many doubts about the Magnolia Palace incident, and the mystery remains.
My father handed this case over to the Jinyiwei. It seemed like a thundering move, but in fact..."
He paused slightly and didn't say anything else, but they both understood what he meant.
The Jinyiwei reports directly to the emperor and is extremely efficient in investigating cases, but it also means that all clues will be directly sealed in the hands of the emperor, and outsiders have no way of knowing the truth.
Is the Emperor protecting, covering up, or... waiting?
Cui Xiao looked at Liu Cong's graceful profile. The depths of his calm eyes seemed to contain the same doubts and vigilance as his.
He weighed his words
"Your Majesty's heart is clear and you will make the final decision. Thunder and rain are all blessings from heaven. We, your subjects... can only diligently perform our duties and wait for the truth to be revealed."
"The truth is revealed?"
The corners of Liu Cong's lips curled up in a very light, slightly sarcastic arc, so fast that it made people think it was an illusion.
"Sometimes, when the water recedes, what's revealed might not be rocks, but deeper mud, or... a whirlpool that devours people."
He turned around and faced Cui Xiao, his eyes clear and sharp, with a frank and honest look.
"Cui Xiao, there are no outsiders here. I want to ask you, in your opinion, what is the purpose of the person behind this? Is it really just to get rid of my eldest brother and third brother?"
This "Cui Xiao" removed the respectful title of "reader", just like calling each other by their first names, with a strange sense of closeness.
Cui Xiao's heart skipped a beat and he met Liu Cong's gaze.
That look was frank and deep, as if it could see into people's hearts, making people want to trust it involuntarily.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his surging thoughts, and decided to be honest.
"I dare not speculate on the will of Heaven, but judging by his actions, they appear simple and crude, their methods ruthless, yet effective. I fear there is a conspiracy behind this... With the Turkic envoys approaching and the political situation delicate..."
He stopped there and didn't say anything else.
But the meaning is clear - the goal of the person behind the scenes is probably not just to take the throne of the prince, but also to disrupt the court and fish in troubled waters!
An astonishing light suddenly burst out from Liu Cong's eyes, like a cold star suddenly shining!
He stared at Cui Xiao for a long time before he slowly exhaled. The sharp light in his eyes gradually faded, turning into a deep solemnity and... a barely perceptible admiration.
"What a 'fishing in troubled waters' trick! Cui Xiao, you really...see through it all."
He murmured in praise, his tone carrying an unprecedented solemnity.
"This pool of water is deeper and more turbid than we see. The arrival of the Turkic envoys in Beijing is an opportunity, but also... the biggest variable."
He paused, lowering his voice to a deeper level, with a hint of sincerity.
"I invited you and my third brother out, firstly to relax, and secondly... I also wanted to find a quiet place to talk with you.
There are many eyes and ears in the palace, so some things cannot be said."
Cui Xiao was shocked. Was the Second Prince... warning him?
"Your Highness..." Cui Xiao was about to speak, but Liu Cong raised his hand to stop him.
"As long as you are aware of this matter, please be careful, protect your third brother, and... take care of yourself."
Liu Cong's eyes fell on Cui Xiao's face, with genuine concern
"I...see you as a friend and don't want to see you involved in unnecessary trouble."
These four words, like a warm current, instantly flowed through Cui Xiao's heart.
He looked at Liu Cong's breathtakingly beautiful eyes, which were now filled with sincerity, and all his doubts, calculations, and identity barriers disappeared.
It seemed as if everyone was melted by this clear gaze at this moment. He solemnly clasped his fists and bowed deeply.
"Your Highness is so kind, Cui Xiao...will definitely live up to your trust!"
A truly comfortable smile appeared on Liu Cong's face, as pure and moving as a magnolia blooming after the ice and snow melted.
He pointed to the stone table and stone bench that had been prepared in the center of the platform. On the table was a jade chessboard and two boxes of chess pieces.
There is also a small red clay stove next to it, on which a small casserole is simmering, steaming and emitting an enticing aroma.
"After discussing official matters, it's time to discuss personal friendship."
Liu Cong's voice became relaxed, with the brightness of a young man.
"This lake is called 'Jianxin'. Although it is cold in winter, the center of the lake is not completely frozen because of the geothermal springs. The whitebait and shrimp produced in the lake are tender and delicious.
I caught some fish this morning, and paired it with freshly ground tofu and wild mountain mushrooms to make this fish soup."
He walked to the table and sat down, then personally opened the lid of the casserole. A rich and delicious aroma instantly spread out, making people's mouths water.
"Come, want to try it? And by the way... play a game of hand-to-hand?"
When delicious food is in front of you, you will meet your match.
The solemn atmosphere just now was instantly dispersed by the worldly fireworks.
Cui Xiao was not polite and sat down opposite Liu Cong with a smile.
The two men played chess, and the sound of pieces dropping was crisp.
Liu Cong's chess style is steady and his strategy is far-reaching, just like his ideas on governing the country;
Cui Xiao, on the other hand, was agile and quick-witted, often making unexpected moves, just like his agile mind. The game was deadlocked, with neither side able to determine the winner.
Liu Cong picked up a piece of snow-white and tender fish and put it into the small celadon bowl in front of Cui Xiao. His movements were natural.
"Try this whitebait. It melts in your mouth and has no fishy smell."
Cui Xiao did not refuse and took a bite. It was indeed delicious. His eyes lit up.
"So delicious! Your Highness is in for a treat!"
"It's all thanks to this 'Jianxin Lake'."
Liu Cong also scooped a spoonful of soup for himself and blew on the hot air.
“The creation of heaven and earth is inherently generous. Unfortunately, not many people can calmly appreciate it.”
The two continued to play chess while tasting the delicious fish soup.
The topic also turned from chess to poetry and books, and from interesting stories in the city to the scenery of mountains and rivers.
There are no shackles of status, no deliberate flattery, only the exhilaration of meeting a worthy opponent and the sparks of the collision of ideas.
Cui Xiao benefited a lot from Liu Cong's profound knowledge and calm conversation, and Cui Xiao's quick response and unique perspective often made Liu Cong's eyes light up and applaud.
"Brilliant! You've managed to resolve this 'inverted boots' situation like that! Cui Xiao, with your brain, it would be a waste of your talent if you didn't take the imperial examination!"
Liu Cong looked at Cui Xiao's exquisite clearance on the chessboard and couldn't help but praise him, his eyes filled with pure admiration and the joy of meeting a worthy opponent.
Cui Xiao also laughed out loud, with the youthful vigor and enthusiasm
"Your Highness is too kind! If Your Highness had not pressed me so hard, I would never have thought of this desperate and life-saving move!"
The warm afternoon sun shone on the two of them, the black and white pieces on the chessboard were arranged in an orderly manner, and delicious soup was bubbling in the casserole.
The cold wind seemed to become gentle, leaving only the concentration of playing chess, the satisfaction of tasting delicious food, and the warmth of knowing each other well.
It seemed as if in this world, there was only this square stone table, this chess game, this bowl of soup, and the person in front of him who allowed him to speak freely and whom he regarded as a confidant.
Time slipped by quietly amidst their focused chess game and joyful conversation. It wasn't until the sun was setting, the lake was shimmering with golden light, and Liu Chang's clear voice came from Meilin's side that they suddenly realized that half a day had already passed.
"Second brother! Brother Cui Xiao! Look! I picked some beautiful plum blossoms!"
Liu Chang was holding a large bunch of green-calyx plum buds, his little face red from the cold, but his eyes sparkling, and he ran over as if presenting a treasure.
Liu Cong and Cui Xiao smiled at each other, with lingering smiles and tacit understanding in their eyes.
"Third brother has very good taste."
Liu Cong took the plum blossom, lowered his head and sniffed it. The cool plum fragrance was refreshing.
He looked at Cui Xiao, his eyes gentle and deep, just like the water of Jianxin Lake under the warm winter sun, crystal clear, yet full of endless warmth.
Cui Xiaoyi looked at the bouquet of plum blossoms with a smile, his heart filled with clarity and warmth.
Nothing could be better than this.
In this deep palace, I have met such a close friend. Even if the road ahead is full of dangers and storms, I feel that I have someone to rely on in my heart, which is enough to motivate me to move forward.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
