Chapter 46: Qingchang Has Died

Princess Xuan’s expression brightened. “Then I’ve wrongly accused your painter, Yu Hualiang,” she said.

Yu Hualiang, still looking aggrieved, nodded. “So, may I leave now?”

Princess Xuan replied, “Yes. To the east of the Seventh Prince’s residence, there’s a bamboo grove near the wall. There’s a stone there; push it aside and you’ll find a hole beneath. You can leave now.”

The suddenness of this news left Yu Hualiang almost unable to react. Did Princess Xuan frequently sneak out? Perhaps so. After all, she was a woman married off for political reasons, with no freedom at all. Thinking this way, Yu Hualiang felt that Princess Xuan was the one who ought to quietly escape this cage.

Yu Hualiang forced a smile. “Isn’t this rather abrupt?”

Princess Xuan, impatient, tugged at him. “What’s wrong with abrupt? Hurry up and go.”

Seeing Princess Xuan so close to Yu Hualiang made Cao Zhiling uncomfortable. He seized Princess Xuan by the shoulder.

Princess Xuan, surprised that a servant would dare to stop her, was about to get angry when she turned and saw a cold, austere face.

She was instantly captivated by the chill in his eyes, reminiscent of the Seventh Prince’s gaze—both fearful and alluring.

She let go of Yu Hualiang and turned to Cao Zhiling. “What is your name?”

Yu Hualiang quickly interjected, “He’s called Qingzhang, just a servant. Sorry if he offended you.”

He shot Cao Zhiling a look, urging him to apologize. Though reluctant, Cao Zhiling obeyed, lowering his head with an apologetic demeanor.

Princess Xuan smiled at his lips. “From today, you’ll serve me.”

Yu Hualiang felt as though thunder had struck him. Princess Xuan had taken a liking to Cao Zhiling; this was a disaster, and now Cao Zhiling couldn’t leave.

Cao Zhiling, visibly displeased, met her gaze coldly. He was about to refuse, but Yu Hualiang covered his mouth.

Yu Hualiang said, “Princess, perhaps this isn’t appropriate?”

Princess Xuan boldly tugged at him. “Why not? You’re leaving anyway. Qingzhang serves whoever he is told to serve.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Qingzhang will leave with me.”

Princess Xuan immediately objected, raising her voice. “If you want to leave, then leave, but you can’t take the servants. Who do you think you are? Trying to escape and still want to be waited on? When the Seventh Prince returns, I’ll go and ask him myself and see if you get your way!”

“Fine, fine, fine!” Yu Hualiang was completely bewildered by her loud voice. Cao Zhiling was even more stunned—Yu Hualiang was just giving him away?

Princess Xuan grinned, her eyes on Cao Zhiling as if she’d snatched a toy from Yu Hualiang.

Cao Zhiling pulled Yu Hualiang aside and whispered, “I won’t go.”

“You must go with her for now, or she’ll tell the Seventh Prince and then you’re done for.”

“At worst, I’ll fight to the death!”

“Brother, I just want to leave here safely!”

Princess Xuan interrupted, “What are you two plotting? Don’t think I don’t know. Qingzhang must come with me today!”

Princess Xuan was determined to have Cao Zhiling. Yu Hualiang tried to reassure him. “Just go with her for now, and I’ll look for Qingzhang later.”

With Yu Hualiang’s reassurance, Cao Zhiling reluctantly agreed.

Cao Zhiling followed Princess Xuan, while Yu Hualiang went to look for Qingzhang. Princess Xuan noticed he headed the wrong way and called after him. “Aren’t you planning to leave? Why aren’t you going?”

“I have something to take care of first, then I’ll leave.”

Princess Xuan grew angry. “Are you deliberately dragging your feet?”

“Who’d want to stay in a place like this?” Cao Zhiling interjected.

Princess Xuan looked at him. “You want to leave too?”

Cao Zhiling said nothing. Princess Xuan crushed his hopes. “You belong to me, Xuan Siran. Alive, your soul is mine; dead, your ghost is mine. You can’t go anywhere!”

Cao Zhiling nearly lost his temper with her, but fortunately Yu Hualiang intervened. “Yes, yes, Princess Xuan is always right. Go with her, and I’ll visit you in a few days.”

With that, Cao Zhiling, though unwilling, followed Princess Xuan, and Princess Xuan, satisfied, stopped troubling Yu Hualiang.

Yu Hualiang hurried to find Qingzhang, accompanied by Jinhe. Jinhe nervously asked, “Is that young master... alright?”

“He’s fine. But you promised me, don’t tell anyone.”

Jinhe nodded, leading him quietly into a room. Inside, they found Qingzhang collapsed lifelessly on the table. Yu Hualiang sensed something was wrong and went over to check.

Qingzhang was limp as if devoid of bones, slumped to the floor, blood oozing from his seven orifices. Jinhe screamed in terror at the sight, and even Yu Hualiang nearly lost control.

It was his first time seeing a dead body.

“What happened to him?” Yu Hualiang covered his eyes, unable to look.

Jinhe forced herself to examine him. “He’s dead...”

“How did he die?” Yu Hualiang was frantic.

“Perhaps he killed himself out of guilt...”

“What do we do now?” Cao Zhiling was still with Princess Xuan!

Jinhe was also anxious. “What about that young master? Qingzhang got what he deserved, but what should we do, Painter Yu?”

“I don’t know either!” Yu Hualiang was like an ant on a hot pan.

At that moment, Jinhe suddenly calmed. “Painter Yu, let’s bury him.”

“What? Hiding a corpse?”

Yu Hualiang hadn’t expected to become a murderer. His family was upright and honest; if he killed someone, not even the Seventh Prince could protect him. If he ran away now, it would look like fleeing justice...

Then the whole nation would hunt him down, not just the Seventh Prince.

He shook his head urgently. “No, no! We must report this to the authorities!”

Jinhe suddenly knelt and cried. “Painter Yu, you may ignore my reputation, but what about the young master taken by Princess Xuan? Will you ignore him too?”

Her words made Yu Hualiang realize he had more to consider. Often, a person changes in such moments—for Cao Zhiling, for Jinhe, and for himself.

Qingzhang died quietly upon this land.

After burying Qingzhang, Jinhe followed him back to the courtyard, helping him bathe and change.

Even curled up in a warm blanket, Yu Hualiang felt a chill down his spine. Closing his eyes, he kept seeing Qingzhang’s dying visage. If not for him, Qingzhang might still be alive.

He would fall asleep only to awaken suddenly, and upon opening his eyes, found himself lying in a warm embrace.

He looked up to see the Seventh Prince, worried yet smiling gently.

“Ziliang, what’s wrong? How did you hurt your hand?”

Yu Hualiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and whispered, “It’s nothing... Just a nightmare. My hand... I accidentally hurt it.”

He glanced outside—it was already dark. He had no idea how long the Seventh Prince had stayed with him.

The Seventh Prince held his cold hand. “Why is your hand so cold, and your head so hot? Where are your servants?”

Mentioning the servants made Yu Hualiang break out in cold sweat again. He said urgently, “Princess Xuan took them.”

“Xuan Siran is becoming more and more unruly. She didn’t cause you any harm, did she?”

Yu Hualiang explained, “She was good to me today, except she took a liking to my servant, so I gave him to her. If she wants him, let her have him. He isn’t particularly decent anyway.”

The Seventh Prince embraced him, wiping the sweat from his brow, concerned. “Did that servant do something wrong? Did he anger you?”

“No... he just...” As Yu Hualiang remembered, the image of Qingzhang’s death flashed before his eyes, along with the lingering sensation of his skin and breath.

The thought made Yu Hualiang retch. The Seventh Prince, helpless, let him vomit all over himself.

Jinhe appeared, carrying a basin of water, wiped down both the Seventh Prince and Yu Hualiang, and diligently cleaned the floor.

“Ziliang, are you alright?”

After vomiting, Yu Hualiang felt dizzy and collapsed into the Seventh Prince’s arms. The Seventh Prince immediately ordered Ye Fang to fetch a doctor.

Once Jinhe helped the Seventh Prince remove his soiled clothes, the Seventh Prince suddenly asked, “Who are you?”

Jinhe knelt. “Your Highness, I am Jinhe from the kitchen staff.”

“How did you end up here?”

Yu Hualiang, hearing him question Jinhe, struggled to sit up. “I called her over myself...”

The Seventh Prince, still worried, supported Yu Hualiang, who was sweating profusely and burning with fever.

Yu Hualiang felt as if he were running a fever. Besides the Seventh Prince and Jinhe, he seemed to see Qingzhang’s ghost lurking in the shadows.

Unconsciously, he burrowed toward warmth. Though concerned, the Seventh Prince was happy to see Yu Hualiang’s reaction.

He said, “Very well. Since Ziliang called you here, you shall stay in this courtyard and serve him from today.”

Jinhe thanked him and hurried to boil water for Yu Hualiang.

Yu Hualiang was frightened; whether his eyes were open or closed, he seemed to see Qingzhang’s ghost. The more terrified he became, the tighter he gripped the Seventh Prince’s hand.

“Ziliang... I am here.”

“Your Highness, the doctor has arrived!”

Doctor Wang looked at Yu Hualiang with concern. He approached to take Yu Hualiang’s pulse, and the Seventh Prince rose to give him space, but Yu Hualiang clung tightly to the prince’s hand.

He murmured, “Don’t go...”

Hearing this, the Seventh Prince’s heart raced. At this moment, Yu Hualiang stirred him deeply.

Doctor Wang was hesitant. The Seventh Prince had to lift Yu Hualiang, and only then did Yu Hualiang let go. Doctor Wang examined his pulse. “Your Highness, Yu Hualiang has been frightened and caught a chill. Let me check his wound.”

Doctor Wang undid his clothes, revealing a hideous scar. Though the wound had healed well, it was the first time the Seventh Prince had seen Yu Hualiang’s injury since it had reopened.

It was shocking—a gentle and handsome face marred by such a brutal wound, all caused by him.

The more he thought about it, the more guilty he felt toward Yu Hualiang. Doctor Wang was relieved. “Fortunately, it’s not related to the wound. I’ll prescribe some medicine for him.”

“Your Highness, if Yu Hualiang isn’t better by tomorrow, I fear he may have a troubled heart.”

“A troubled heart? What do you mean?”

Doctor Wang sighed. “That is for him to answer.”

The Seventh Prince looked down at his pale face, wiping his cold sweat again.

After sending Doctor Wang away, the Seventh Prince watched Jinhe busily tending to things and questioned her. “What is going on? And what happened to his hand?”

Jinhe looked troubled, weighing her words. “Painter Yu’s hand seemed injured before you met him. After Princess Xuan took his servant, he merely looked at the lotus pond outside...”

“The lotus pond?”

Jinhe nodded. The Seventh Prince ordered Ye Fang, “Have them dredge the lotus pond!”