Tang Ning had come to the Cao residence with her heart in her throat, prepared for any scenario and pondering how to handle them. But she never expected to encounter such a scene upon arrival.
The atmosphere was serene, the room filled with the rich aroma of roasted chestnuts.
When Cao Dejiang waved them over, his demeanor was so relaxed it was as if he were greeting long-awaited guests.
Tang Ning pressed her lips together without speaking, but Xiao Yan cast a meaningful glance at the man beside Cao Dejiang. He took Tang Ning’s hand and led her to the brazier, sitting down across from the two men.
“Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Shi and Lord Cao? Naturally, we must try them.”
Xiao Yan casually scooped some of the chestnuts Cao Dejiang had gathered toward Tang Ning before speaking. “Mr. Shi, you’ve been in the capital for so long, and my people at the Privy Council, along with my secret informants, have nearly turned the city upside down looking for you. I was wondering why you remained so elusive. Turns out, Lord Cao had you hidden away.”
“Lord Cao, that’s not exactly playing fair.”
Shi Chang’an?!
When Tang Ning saw the man beside Cao Dejiang, she had already felt something was off. Now, looking at him again, his appearance matched exactly what Cao Dejiang had once described, a man with white hair from a single night and a severed arm.
Shi Chang’an had been recommended to her by Cao Dejiang, who had also brought him up several times, offering to help her find him. Who would’ve thought that Shi Chang’an had been at the Cao residence all along?
No wonder she could never find him. Every time she followed a lead, she was always one step behind.
Tang Ning couldn’t help but say, “Lord Cao, you’ve deceived me terribly.”
“I’ve kept the position of academy head open for Mr. Shi, causing all sorts of speculation outside. After learning Mr. Shi had come to the capital, I searched high and low based on the information you gave me, only to find out you’ve been hiding him here all along.”
“Brother, we need to eat more of these chestnuts. We can’t let Lord Cao get off too easy.”
Their tone was casual, and even their complaints sounded like those of younger relatives speaking to an elder. Tang Ning’s words carried a hint of playful reproach and teasing.
Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, promptly taking all the chestnuts in front of Cao Dejiang and even “stealing” a few of the ones he had already peeled, stuffing them into Tang Ning’s hands.
Cao Dejiang laughed and glared. “That’s too much, you two!”
He’d spent ages peeling those chestnuts.
Xiao Yan shot him a look. “Who’s being too much? Lord Cao, you’ve had me and Tang Ning spinning in circles. If not for this chance discovery, we’d probably still be in the dark.”
“Eating a few of your chestnuts is nothing. We haven’t even torn the roof off your house, consider yourself lucky.”
Tang Ning, wholeheartedly agreeing, popped a chestnut into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out. “Exactly!”
She had felt a twinge of guilt when using Cao Dejiang before, but it turned out she was the one being played.
Tang Ning bit into the chestnut fiercely. “Old Madam Fu always speaks so highly of you, but who knew you’d be so shameless, watching me and my brother make fools of ourselves. I’m going to tattle to her!”
Cao Dejiang’s head ached at the thought of his overly righteous, nagging sister. He simply handed all the chestnut meat from the teacup lid to Tang Ning. “Alright, alright, my mistake. Take all the chestnuts, happy now?”
…
The anticipated tension and confrontation never materialized. No disputes or standoffs arose.
The group sat around the brazier eating chestnuts, exchanging a few lighthearted words that brushed past Cao Dejiang’s earlier deceptions as if they were a joke, quietly dissolving any potential conflict.
Shi Chang’an, sitting across from them, looked at Xiao Yan with surprise. He had expected His Highness, the Imperial Grandson, to interrogate Cao Dejiang or at least probe him.
Shi Chang’an knew some of Xiao Yan’s past, born into nobility, surviving great calamity in his youth, and clawing his way to where he was now through sheer tenacity. The Imperial Grandson’s intelligence and his vengeful nature didn’t suggest someone who could easily forgive. His guardedness and suspicion should have been profound.
Yet, from the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the room, his words and actions were entirely unexpected.
Shi Chang’an had made two bets with Cao Dejiang. The first was whether Xiao Yan could detect the anomalies in the palace, trace them to Cao Dejiang through Feng Lai, and how he would react upon learning the truth.
Shi Chang’an had guessed Xiao Yan would conceal his identity, probe subtly, and use the events of the past to pull the Cao family onto his “rebellious” ship, forcing Cao Dejiang to act with him.
Cao Dejiang, however, said Xiao Yan wouldn’t do that. He predicted Xiao Yan would come straight to him after meeting Feng Lai.
The second bet was about Xiao Yan’s pride as the Imperial Grandson and his arrogance as “Lord Xiao.” With his immense power and ruthless methods, Xiao Yan had always been the one manipulating others. If he learned he had been played by Cao Dejiang, with his life nearly in someone else’s hands, would he resent Cao Dejiang or harbor dissatisfaction?
But who could’ve imagined? Shi Chang’an lost both bets.
Shi Chang’an flipped a chestnut with the tongs and asked, “Doesn’t the Imperial Grandson resent this old Cao for toying with you?”
Xiao Yan, holding a chestnut shell, caught the “provocation” in Shi Chang’an’s words.
The term “Imperial Grandson” laid bare his identity, revealing that Cao Dejiang had long known who he was, and even Shi Chang’an hadn’t concealed it. In other words, Cao Dejiang wasn’t the only one secretly watching him make a fool of himself.
Xiao Yan said, “At first, I was a bit angry and somewhat alarmed, but after the alarm came gratitude.”
The round chestnut shell cracked open in his hand. He looked up earnestly and said, “Since I had already noticed the events of the past, I should’ve been more suspicious and cautious. But I thought I had everything under control and took risks. If not for Lord Cao teaching me a lesson, how would I have realized the gravity of my mistake?”
“I’m not infallible, and nothing is certain. Before the great plan is complete, any oversight could cost me my life.”
“Today, Lord Cao showed restraint, allowing me to come out unscathed. If it had been someone with malicious intent, I’d already be dead. Lord Cao was teaching me that arrogance and overconfidence are dangerous.”
Xiao Yan spoke with sincerity. “Moreover, back then, Lord Cao risked everything to save my life and cover my tracks. The remnants of my father’s and the He family’s forces were able to find me, likely thanks to Lord Cao and Grand Tutor Rong.”
“Lord Cao preserved a spark of hope for the Eastern Palace lineage. That’s a great kindness. I’m endlessly grateful, how could I possibly resent him?”
Shi Chang’an paused, then looked at the young woman beside Xiao Yan. “And the Princess, are you not angry?”
“Of course I’m angry,” Tang Ning said candidly, her mouth full of chestnuts. “I’m not as magnanimous as my brother, and I’m petty.”
“Lord Cao, you brought up Mr. Shi to me yourself, praising him to the heavens, making me look forward to him coming to manage the academy and teach the students. Who would’ve thought you were stringing me along the whole time?”
“You don’t know, when I heard Mr. Shi had appeared at Lingyun Temple, I nearly rushed over with my people. Then he vanished again, and I was so frustrated, wondering with my brother if I wasn’t good enough, which is why Mr. Shi wouldn’t show himself.”
She huffed and glared at Cao Dejiang. “Lord Cao, you went too far!”
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