747

Translator: Jimmi, Editor: Aruthea

He poured himself a cup of tea, and fanned some of its fragrance towards him before taking a sip. He was waiting for Mo Ruo to continue what he was saying.

But that rascal Mo Ruo was in no hurry. He placed another piece of charcoal into the furnace burner with a pair of metal tongs, sending sparks flying as it landed with a thud, “Winter is coming. I wonder when the first snow will land this year. Will it be just the same as last year? Or will it be later? Why don’t you take a guess? And we’ll see how accurate your guess is.”

“You seem to be hiding an ulterior motive.”

“Don’t be such a killjoy. I won’t kill you to take a guess.”

Jing Xian rolled his eyes. He hasn’t yet grown bored enough that he had to resort to finding joy in guessing the date of the first snowfall.

Mo Ruo huffed out a laugh as he set the metal tongs aside. A faint smile lingered on his lips as he fixed his gaze on Jing Xian’s pale face. “At first, there was a chance that Jing Rong would never be able to return to the capital, but he did. That is his fate, and no one can change it. No matter how far he tries to hide, he will never be able to escape his fate. And that is exactly why I have faith that he’ll be able to crack the case before Prince Yi this time. It’s just a matter of time… Just as inevitable as snow falling in the winter. I don’t know how he’ll be able to pull it off, but I know that he will emerge as the victor.”

Drunkards can be quite the philosopher, but… A smile appeared on Jing Xian’s face, “Since when did you start believing in fate?”

“It’s not fate that I trust, but the person who was intertwined in his fate.”

“A person intertwined in his fate?”

Mo Ruo responded with a nod, “Have you forgotten about Teacher Ji? He’s the one I’m talking about.”

The meaning behind his words was clear: Jing Rong would win as long as she was by his side. It was a form of trust.

Jing Xian was silent, as if he was trying to discern the meaning of Mo Ruo’s words.

A smile eventually appeared on the prince’s face. He drank another sip of tea absentmindedly. He could feel the warmth of the liquid, but its taste was missing. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the hot liquid down his throat.

“Ahh… A struggle for power. So what if he wins?” mumbled Jing Xian as he stared at the cup that he had just set down on the table.

That’s right! So what if he won?

Mo Ruo sighed at the prince’s words, “In the end, you’re the one who enjoys the most peace. You have the luxury of being able to read, write, and play with your pretty pigeons when you feel like it. You’re unaffected at all by the power struggle. This might not be a bad thing at all.”

“That’s right. Although it is a little quiet here, there is no power struggle or scheming here. It saves me the effort of trying to fight for something that is not mine.”

His expression was sad, but in his eyes, one could see the tranquility that came from someone who kept apart from worldly affairs.

“The fisherman is the one who will benefit most from the fight between a kingfisher and a clam.” said Mo Ruo meaningfully, out of the blue. [1]

There was a glint in Jing Xian’s eyes as he spoke, “You and I have been friends for many years. Why don’t you just speak your mind?” He had seen right through Mo Ruo.

“Haven’t you always wanted to leave the palace?”

“And what about it?”

“You’ll never be able to remain in the palace, no matter who ascends the throne.”

Mo Ruo was right. It did not matter if Jing Yi or Jing Rong ascended the throne, as he would still be granted a residence of his own outside the palace just the same.

The fire in the furnace was burning brightly at that moment. Sparks from the crackling charcoal flew out of the furnace, and some of them landed on Mo Ruo’s hand. The man rapidly pulled his arm back and tucked it into his sleeve. He creased his eyebrows in pain but did not make a single sound.

Jing Xian gazed at the scenery outside, filled with falling leaves. A few drifted indoors and landed in the doorway for a moment being swept up again by the gentle breeze.

Jing Xian grimaced bitterly as he stood up and took labored steps to a large bookshelf. He looked through the books, drew one down, and flipped it open. His gaze slowly began to refocus on the words on one of the pages.

He traced his fingers on one of the many lines written on the page, “I will not strive for the throne against you, as it is disadvantageous for me.”

The words grew larger and larger in his mind’s eye…

“It doesn't matter who becomes the emperor in the end. To me, it’s just another power struggle.”

A long silence hung in the air, until it was broken by a pigeon arriving at the window.

“Coo coo…” The pigeon flapped its wings as it strutted along the window still. It raised its head and looked at Jing Xian with its piercing eyes that were just like a human’s.

Jing Xian wrinkled his eyebrows and glanced reflexively at Mo Ruo, who was sitting by the furnace. He snapped his book shut and walked over to the pigeon before picking it up and caressing its shiny feathers.

“Are you hungry?”

“Coo coo coo…” The pigeon pecked him incessantly with its sharp beak.

Mo Ruo stood up and made his way towards Jing Xian and his pigeon, “I’ve not seen this little guy for a few months, and look how fat he is. What have you been feeding him this whole time?”

“Just some grains.”

“Ahh… it’s really better to eat more food.”

A second pigeon landed on the ledge and was strutting along with joy as well.

And the birds would not stop cooing.

Mo Ruo, who was in the mood for some mischief, took some grains from a cylindrical tube and threw them one by one at the window ledge. After eating a single grain, it could only stare at him, waiting for another. After several rounds of this from Mo Ruo, the pigeon flapped its wings in anger, looking as if it wanted to snatch the grains from him. Mo Ruo laughed merrily in response.

“My pigeons do bite. You might find yourself injured if you continue teasing him.” Jing Xian reminded him.

“Do pigeons even bite?”

“An animal will always bite once it is driven into desperation, no matter how tame it might be.”

But the only response he received was more laughter from Mo Ruo.

“No way! You’re telling me that this little thing bites? Who do you think you’re fooling?” Mo Ruo nudged the pigeon’s beak with his finger before asking, “Say, is this a carrier pigeon?”

“Is it?” Jing Xian’s voice was full of uncertainty, “It could be. I’m not too sure.”

He did not expect Mo Ruo to tilt his head and ask seriously, “Tell me the truth. Are you keeping these pigeons so that you can communicate with someone outside the palace?”

Jing Xian's hand jerked to a sudden stop in the middle of caressing the pigeon and his eyes widened slightly with surprise. He was caught so off guard that he was unable to utter a response.

Mo Ruo studied him, looking as if he had discovered something new, and patted him on the arm, “Why are you so nervous?”

Jing Xian returned to his usual calm self in an instant and chuckled. “Was I being nervous?”

[1] I'm sure y'all are familiar with this saying by now, but if not, the story goes: kingfisher and clam were fighting, both were injured in the end. Fisherman comes along and sweeps them both up with no effort needed on his part.

Translator: Jimmi, Editor: Aruthea

He poured himself a cup of tea, and fanned some of its fragrance towards him before taking a sip. He was waiting for Mo Ruo to continue what he was saying.

But that rascal Mo Ruo was in no hurry. He placed another piece of charcoal into the furnace burner with a pair of metal tongs, sending sparks flying as it landed with a thud, “Winter is coming. I wonder when the first snow will land this year. Will it be just the same as last year? Or will it be later? Why don’t you take a guess? And we’ll see how accurate your guess is.”

“You seem to be hiding an ulterior motive.”

“Don’t be such a killjoy. I won’t kill you to take a guess.”

Jing Xian rolled his eyes. He hasn’t yet grown bored enough that he had to resort to finding joy in guessing the date of the first snowfall.

Mo Ruo huffed out a laugh as he set the metal tongs aside. A faint smile lingered on his lips as he fixed his gaze on Jing Xian’s pale face. “At first, there was a chance that Jing Rong would never be able to return to the capital, but he did. That is his fate, and no one can change it. No matter how far he tries to hide, he will never be able to escape his fate. And that is exactly why I have faith that he’ll be able to crack the case before Prince Yi this time. It’s just a matter of time… Just as inevitable as snow falling in the winter. I don’t know how he’ll be able to pull it off, but I know that he will emerge as the victor.”

Drunkards can be quite the philosopher, but… A smile appeared on Jing Xian’s face, “Since when did you start believing in fate?”

“It’s not fate that I trust, but the person who was intertwined in his fate.”

“A person intertwined in his fate?”

Mo Ruo responded with a nod, “Have you forgotten about Teacher Ji? He’s the one I’m talking about.”

The meaning behind his words was clear: Jing Rong would win as long as she was by his side. It was a form of trust.

Jing Xian was silent, as if he was trying to discern the meaning of Mo Ruo’s words.

A smile eventually appeared on the prince’s face. He drank another sip of tea absentmindedly. He could feel the warmth of the liquid, but its taste was missing. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the hot liquid down his throat.

“Ahh… A struggle for power. So what if he wins?” mumbled Jing Xian as he stared at the cup that he had just set down on the table.

That’s right! So what if he won?

Mo Ruo sighed at the prince’s words, “In the end, you’re the one who enjoys the most peace. You have the luxury of being able to read, write, and play with your pretty pigeons when you feel like it. You’re unaffected at all by the power struggle. This might not be a bad thing at all.”

“That’s right. Although it is a little quiet here, there is no power struggle or scheming here. It saves me the effort of trying to fight for something that is not mine.”

His expression was sad, but in his eyes, one could see the tranquility that came from someone who kept apart from worldly affairs.

“The fisherman is the one who will benefit most from the fight between a kingfisher and a clam.” said Mo Ruo meaningfully, out of the blue. [1]

There was a glint in Jing Xian’s eyes as he spoke, “You and I have been friends for many years. Why don’t you just speak your mind?” He had seen right through Mo Ruo.

“Haven’t you always wanted to leave the palace?”

“And what about it?”

“You’ll never be able to remain in the palace, no matter who ascends the throne.”

Mo Ruo was right. It did not matter if Jing Yi or Jing Rong ascended the throne, as he would still be granted a residence of his own outside the palace just the same.

The fire in the furnace was burning brightly at that moment. Sparks from the crackling charcoal flew out of the furnace, and some of them landed on Mo Ruo’s hand. The man rapidly pulled his arm back and tucked it into his sleeve. He creased his eyebrows in pain but did not make a single sound.

Jing Xian gazed at the scenery outside, filled with falling leaves. A few drifted indoors and landed in the doorway for a moment being swept up again by the gentle breeze.

Jing Xian grimaced bitterly as he stood up and took labored steps to a large bookshelf. He looked through the books, drew one down, and flipped it open. His gaze slowly began to refocus on the words on one of the pages.

He traced his fingers on one of the many lines written on the page, “I will not strive for the throne against you, as it is disadvantageous for me.”

The words grew larger and larger in his mind’s eye…

“It doesn't matter who becomes the emperor in the end. To me, it’s just another power struggle.”

A long silence hung in the air, until it was broken by a pigeon arriving at the window.

“Coo coo…” The pigeon flapped its wings as it strutted along the window still. It raised its head and looked at Jing Xian with its piercing eyes that were just like a human’s.

Jing Xian wrinkled his eyebrows and glanced reflexively at Mo Ruo, who was sitting by the furnace. He snapped his book shut and walked over to the pigeon before picking it up and caressing its shiny feathers.

“Are you hungry?”

“Coo coo coo…” The pigeon pecked him incessantly with its sharp beak.

Mo Ruo stood up and made his way towards Jing Xian and his pigeon, “I’ve not seen this little guy for a few months, and look how fat he is. What have you been feeding him this whole time?”

“Just some grains.”

“Ahh… it’s really better to eat more food.”

A second pigeon landed on the ledge and was strutting along with joy as well.

And the birds would not stop cooing.

Mo Ruo, who was in the mood for some mischief, took some grains from a cylindrical tube and threw them one by one at the window ledge. After eating a single grain, it could only stare at him, waiting for another. After several rounds of this from Mo Ruo, the pigeon flapped its wings in anger, looking as if it wanted to snatch the grains from him. Mo Ruo laughed merrily in response.

“My pigeons do bite. You might find yourself injured if you continue teasing him.” Jing Xian reminded him.

“Do pigeons even bite?”

“An animal will always bite once it is driven into desperation, no matter how tame it might be.”

But the only response he received was more laughter from Mo Ruo.

“No way! You’re telling me that this little thing bites? Who do you think you’re fooling?” Mo Ruo nudged the pigeon’s beak with his finger before asking, “Say, is this a carrier pigeon?”

“Is it?” Jing Xian’s voice was full of uncertainty, “It could be. I’m not too sure.”

He did not expect Mo Ruo to tilt his head and ask seriously, “Tell me the truth. Are you keeping these pigeons so that you can communicate with someone outside the palace?”

Jing Xian's hand jerked to a sudden stop in the middle of caressing the pigeon and his eyes widened slightly with surprise. He was caught so off guard that he was unable to utter a response.

Mo Ruo studied him, looking as if he had discovered something new, and patted him on the arm, “Why are you so nervous?”

Jing Xian returned to his usual calm self in an instant and chuckled. “Was I being nervous?”

[1] I'm sure y'all are familiar with this saying by now, but if not, the story goes: kingfisher and clam were fighting, both were injured in the end. Fisherman comes along and sweeps them both up with no effort needed on his part.