Chapter 172

Qi Wuxiu and his family were staunch supporters of the Crown Prince, upholding his legitimacy. Thus, when he discovered the Crown Prince's madness, he did not report it, but quietly erased traces and destroyed evidence. Afterwards, he feigned illness and slipped away early.

He grieved over the Crown Prince's madness, which made him unfit to be a wise ruler, yet he still had to actively cover for him. His mind was torn all night, which was why he came here to drink with Chen Guanlou to drown his sorrows.

Speaking of it did ease his burden somewhat, yet he regretted saying too much—if word leaked out, he would be dooming Chen Guanlou.

He couldn't help but warn him: "What I told you tonight, pretend you never heard it. Not a single word must leave your lips. If one day your head rolls off, don't blame me—I'll at most bury your corpse."

"Pfft, pfft, pfft—it's the New Year! Can you say something auspicious?" Chen Guanlou sneered. "Don't underestimate the Crown Prince. Your worries are meaningless."

He had indirectly dealt with the Crown Prince.

Li Dahong's widow, the young widow Liu Shi, was the Crown Prince's woman. Her disappearance? Likely the Crown Prince had hidden her away in a golden chamber.

Watching how the Crown Prince acted, he was a man who could endure. Yet he had the audacity to sleep with a palace maid at a family banquet. This affair would inevitably be exposed. The maid had been deflowered—this matter could be trivial or grave, for she was a servant of the Taiji Palace, meaning she belonged to the old Emperor.

The old Emperor's people—even a cat or dog—could not be touched without his permission. To act against a Taiji Palace maid without his consent? Ha. The other imperial princes, once they found out, would surely report it.

Brotherly love among imperial princes exists only in books. In reality, their relationship is life-or-death: they disgust each other, pull each other down, trip each other, and slap each other's faces.

If you can't harm the Crown Prince's skin, at least annoy him—let him get scolded once in a while.

It's about interest, and about human nature—and that one-in-ten-thousand chance.

Even if it won't be you, you don't want the hated Crown Prince to inherit that throne. You'd rather see some brother you're close to take it—then at least you might still have a decent life, if only for peace of mind.

Qi Wuxiu squinted. "May I ask, Chen Tou, what's your opinion?"

Chen Guanlou chuckled. "I'm just a jailer—what high opinion could I have? I only think: if the Crown Prince has the guts to defy the Emperor, he either has confidence or a plan requiring such action. To merely annoy someone and get scolded? Unnecessary. The maid isn't some breathtaking beauty—if she were, she wouldn't still be a lowly palace maid, right?"

Qi Wuxiu nodded slowly. "That maid wasn't breathtaking at all—just a small beauty. In the harem, her looks wouldn't get her far. You mean the Crown Prince slept with her on purpose—to plan something? What could he possibly gain? It's the New Year. Aside from annoying the Emperor and giving others ammunition, what use is it?"

"How do you know it's useless?" Chen Guanlou countered. "Some things are inherently complex—we shouldn't assume simplicity. But neither should we overcomplicate the simple. You could assume the Crown Prince was driven by lust, drunk and out of control—that's the simplest explanation, and plausible. But as Crown Prince, shouldn't his liquor tolerance be high? At a family banquet, who would dare force him to drink?"

The implication: the Crown Prince hadn't drunk much, hadn't gotten drunk, so there was no loss of reason. A sober Crown Prince committing such a foolish act—either he was truly foolish, or this act had deeper meaning.

Based on the Crown Prince's longstanding reputation, he was not a man of pure folly. So why not boldly speculate: he did this for a calculated purpose.

Qi Wuxiu was convinced.

"So… did I make a mistake covering for the Crown Prince?"

"Of course not. You did your duty. Serving, you do your duty. Don't worry—your little move? Not even a hair's breadth. The Crown Prince has his own ways to get things done."

"Then analyze again—what exactly is the Crown Prince trying to do?"

"Those in their position have only three goals: power, wealth, or killing. But killing's purpose is always power. Based on your understanding of the Crown Prince—power or wealth?"

Qi Wuxiu shook his head. He couldn't tell.

He was competent as a covert agent—his job was only to report what he saw and heard, not to analyze.

To make decisions on the front line? Minor matters, fine. Major ones? He was still unqualified, needed more experience. He couldn't yet stand like Chen Guanlou—as an outsider, as a god, observing everything without restraint, making the most malicious guesses.

Don't imagine human nature is too noble.

Especially when the greatest interests of the realm are at stake.

Nobility exists only where there's no conflict of interest, no clash of positions.

Like now, Chen Guanlou and Qi Wuxiu sat together drinking, waiting for the sunrise of the first day of the New Year—this was a simple, pure joy. Years later, recalling it, they'd smile—such a pure, beautiful day, free of interest, free of opposition. Drink, chat, time flew by.

"Then tell me—is the Crown Prince seeking power or wealth?" Qi Wuxiu threw the question back.

Chen Guanlou smiled and shook his head. "I've never met the Crown Prince. How would I know?"

"I'll tell you what he looks like—slightly chubby, beard, pale skin, looks very amiable…"

"Stop. It won't help. I'm no physiognomist—I can't deduce a man's character from your description. If you're truly curious, watch the court. Don't miss a single clue. Fast? One month. Slow? Six months. The answer will come."

Chen Guanlou cut him off—he had no interest in doing something exhausting and thankless. He understood: don't meddle in affairs beyond your station. Casual banter was fine; serious speculation about the Crown Prince's motives? Unnecessary. No need to invite trouble.

He hadn't forgotten: the gun shoots the first bird.

Stay low. Stay low!

Staying low is the way!

When you hold a secret, you must have the resolve to be a mere nobody—never crave showing off.

Qi Wuxiu looked disappointed.

Then he kindly suggested: "Why not quit your job at the Tianlaomiao and join me? Start as an outsider—you'll earn good money. Prove yourself with a few small achievements, and I'll speak to the higher-ups. With your background, promotion is inevitable."

Chen Guanlou gave a half-smile. "First tell me—how many Embroidered Uniform Guards are watching the Hou Fu? Why so distrustful of the old master?"