95 Taking Sides

"I do indeed need the help of Li Manor right now, so I ask the Manor Lord and the Young Manor Lord to help me ascend that highest seat." Zhao Yixiao personally lifted the wine pot and poured a cup for each of them. His expression was sincere. "When the matter is accomplished, I will surely repay Li Manor handsomely."

Zhao Yixiao's words sent a chill through Chu Muji. He was saying this right in front of him, which meant he intended to drag Chu Muji onto his side as well. What a brilliant scheme, Chu Muji sneered inwardly, though his face remained impassive. Zhao Yixiao was indeed the most advantageous heir to that seat, but...

His father had long planned to step aside after a while, precisely so as not to be dragged into this struggle. Only now, Chu Muji frowned, it seemed they were no longer able to stay out of it. Zhao Yixiao had from the beginning intended to bring all the prime minister's power under his own control; even if his father wished to retire to the country, it likely would not be so easy...

The hair that fell from his forehead shadowed half of Beigong Qiyi's face. He turned slightly to glance at Beigong Juechen, who sat beside him. The man's expression was faint and unreadable, neither pleased nor displeased. As if sensing Beigong Qiyi's gaze, Beigong Juechen turned his face a little and cast him an ambiguous look, light and fleeting.

Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly and slowly withdrew his gaze. He already understood Beigong Juechen's thoughts.

"Second Prince," he said, lifting the cup Zhao Yixiao had just filled for him. In a tone heavy with implication, he went on, "we have long since said what it is we need. If the Second Prince is willing to agree, then it will be a happy ending for all. But if the Second Prince cannot bear to part with it, we also have a way to take it back in its entirety."

The hand holding the cup tightened all at once. Zhao Yixiao's face darkened as he looked at Beigong Qiyi. Beigong Qiyi's expression did not change. Sitting at an angle, he lazily stroked the side of the cup with his fingers. Zhao Yixiao drew in a deep breath and forced out a stiff smile. "The Manor Lord and the Young Manor Lord are making an unreasonable demand."

"The throne is passed from hand to hand; this year it will be my turn. If you are unwilling to hand it over, then we shall see who is still smiling in the end." Beigong Juechen said those astonishing words in an utterly calm, indifferent tone.

Thud.

Chu Muji accidentally knocked over his cup, producing a dull sound. He swallowed, and when he saw that none of the three had turned their attention to him, he carefully set the cup upright and silently soothed his racing heart. He truly regretted it now. Why had he gone and invited people out for a drink for no reason? Now the wine had become poison, and he had nearly gambled away his life...

Though he was grumbling inwardly, he could not help admiring Beigong Juechen. That man remained detached no matter the circumstances. He never placed anyone in his eyes. He stood at the very top of the food chain in this world, arrogant and overbearing, because he had the capital to be so.

"Manor Lord, some things are better not spoken too boldly. Be careful... that disaster may come from your own mouth," Zhao Yixiao said darkly.

"Second Prince, since my elder brother dares to say such things, it means we dare to do them as well." Beigong Qiyi idly swirled the cup, yet not a drop of wine spilled. Looking at Zhao Yixiao, he deliberately lowered his voice. "The Second Prince ought to think this through carefully. Half of it versus all of it: which is more worthwhile? The Second Prince must not end up losing more than he gains."

"You..." Zhao Yixiao took a deep breath and swallowed back the words that nearly burst from his lips. His eyes had already reddened slightly. After a moment, he finally steadied his breathing and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "I will give the Manor Lord and the Young Manor Lord's words serious consideration. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."

With that, he swept his sleeve and departed.

"Chu Muji, which side is your Prime Minister's Residence on?" Beigong Qiyi asked as he watched Zhao Yixiao leave. Slowly emptying the wine in his cup, he turned to look straight at Chu Muji.

Chu Muji paused, then said solemnly, "According to my father's wishes, our Prime Minister's Residence stands on no side."

Beigong Qiyi curved his lips in a faint smile and straightened up. "Standing on no side... is no easy thing. You, the hidden genius of the Prime Minister's Residence, must have drawn the attention of many people."

Chu Muji frowned, his expression changing slightly.

Seeing his reaction, Beigong Qiyi understood. He glanced at Beigong Juechen, who gave no indication at all. Beigong Qiyi chuckled softly and absently lifted a hand to his hair, saying, "How about this? In consideration of our friendship, although you are of little use, I can reluctantly take you under my wing."

Chu Muji's brows twitched. Beigong Qiyi's proposal was indeed a good one. His father clearly stood with the neutral camp, and the Second Prince's behavior just now had already shown that he wanted to pull Chu Muji into his own faction. Moreover, it seemed the Second Prince also had conflicts with Li Manor. Though Li Manor was deeply rooted in the martial world, that did not mean it held no power within the court...

After a brief consideration, Chu Muji had already decided on the best solution for the present. He looked up at Beigong Qiyi and slowly nodded. "At this point, your proposal is the best course of action for me."

Beigong Qiyi smiled lightly and raised his cup. Chu Muji hurriedly lifted his own cup as well. Beigong Qiyi tilted his head to glance at Beigong Juechen. The man's eyelids moved slightly as he drained the wine in one go. Seeing this, Beigong Qiyi laughed twice and drank his own cup dry. Chu Muji naturally would not lag behind. With the three cups emptied, Beigong Juechen said calmly, "I still have some matters to attend to. You may continue."

Seeing the man rise to leave, Beigong Qiyi hurriedly asked, "Where is Brother going?"

Beigong Juechen turned his head and cast him a faint, cool glance. "What, must I seek your permission before going anywhere?"

Suffering a rebuff, Beigong Qiyi did not look embarrassed in the least. He pressed his lips together and said, feigning grievance, "I was merely concerned for Brother."

Beigong Juechen frowned slightly. "I am going to see someone."

"Who?" Beigong Qiyi pressed.

By then, the man's figure had already reached the doorway. Beigong Qiyi watched his back doggedly. The hand opening the door paused for the briefest instant, and Beigong Juechen said, "Fu Zhi."

The door was pushed open and then closed again. The smile on Beigong Qiyi's face slowly froze.

"Beigong, Beigong..." Seeing him standing there in a daze, Chu Muji waved a hand in front of his face. Beigong Qiyi jolted and abruptly stood up.

"I have matters to see to. I'll take my leave first."

"Hey, hey!" The young man vanished from the room like a gust of wind. Chu Muji helplessly spread his hands. "Fine. After drinking myself half to death from fright, he still leaves me behind in the end. Truly a pitiful lone soul..." While mocking himself, he began to pour himself another drink.

Beigong Qiyi had left in such a hurry because he was going to see someone too. Coincidentally, it was also Fu Zhi, and he had to get there before Beigong Juechen did. Otherwise... although Beigong Juechen had forgotten certain things, others had not. In truth, it would not matter much even if the matter were exposed. Beigong Qiyi had never thought he could hide it from Beigong Juechen forever. Before doing anything, he had already prepared a fallback plan. But... his current relationship with Beigong Juechen, he truly did not want it shattered like this...

Fu Zhi had always been alone before. Yet perhaps because there had once been a period when the two of them traveled together, Fu Zhi found himself feeling somewhat lonely. He set down the brush in his hand and placed aside the pages he had copied for who knew how many times. He had not expected that, at that very moment, an uninvited guest would appear.

"Why are you here?" Even he, who had always been composed, showed a trace of surprise.

Beigong Qiyi did not have much time, so he got straight to the point. "Master Fu Zhi, I have come today to ask you for a favor. Brother will be back soon, but he does not remember what happened during that period of time. I hope Master Fu Zhi will not let him remember it either."

"Why should I help you?" Fu Zhi asked.

Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly. "Master Fu Zhi, you do not know what happened between Brother and me before. If you tell Brother, the one who suffers loss is actually you. Besides..." His long, phoenix-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and he deliberately lowered his voice. "Besides, since I could make Brother forget, I must have left something in reserve."

"If that is so, why would you need my help?" Fu Zhi said coldly.

Beigong Qiyi answered in a deep voice, "Master Fu Zhi, Brother and I are very happy now. Since we are happy, why make each other miserable? Master Fu Zhi, I know you truly like Brother. So, can you bear to let the person you like suffer?"

Fu Zhi was taken aback.

If Beigong Qiyi was telling the truth, and Beigong Juechen was truly happy now, then did it really matter whether he knew the past? Looking at the young man's exquisitely beautiful face, Fu Zhi slowly nodded. "If he is truly happy, then I will certainly not destroy it."

Only after hearing Fu Zhi's answer did Beigong Qiyi let out a breath of relief. "Then I thank you, Master Fu Zhi. Qiyi will take his leave first."

With that, he flashed away, leaving Fu Zhi alone in the room.

Not long after Beigong Qiyi left, Beigong Juechen arrived. Seeing Fu Zhi standing in the room, he gave a low laugh. "What is it? Did you know I was coming long ago and specially come to greet me?"

Fu Zhi stared at the man before him in a daze, feeling as if he had not seen him for a century.

"Why are you staring at me like that? It's not as though you've never seen me before." Seeing Fu Zhi continue to look at him in a daze, Beigong Juechen teased lightly.

Fu Zhi quickly averted his gaze and said softly, "Why have you come?"

He had asked Beigong Qiyi the same thing earlier. The young man's answer had been that he wanted his help with something. As for Beigong Juechen, was he here for an answer?

Settling into a chair, Beigong Juechen smiled. "Why can I not come?" He glanced around Fu Zhi's room. As always, everything was either black, white, or gray. Beigong Juechen turned the ring on his thumb. "I came this time to ask you about something."

As expected... Fu Zhi lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "What is it?"

"I always feel that something is wrong with my memory. There is no break in it, and yet I keep feeling as though I have forgotten something important. I want to ask you: after I married Qiang Yanxi, what happened?" Beigong Juechen said in a low voice.