Mo Li: Thinking of buying a sachet for clarity and focus.
Meng Qi silently pushed the food box back to the doctor.
The two said nothing more, quietly finishing the braised meat and a few pieces of sponge cake together.
The sunlight was warm, and a gentle breeze brushed against their robes and sleeves atop the rooftop.
What a pity it wasnโt the bustling Taijing of yesteryear, with spring blossoms and autumn moons as companions and the prosperity of the marketplace as their backdrop. Nor was it a carefree moment with Ah Li by his side, laughing at the worldโs myriad scenes.
โSigh.โ
Meng Qi let out a soft sigh. The dishes from this restaurant were truly exceptional.
Good food required liberal use of oil and seasonings. Meng Qi estimated that the contents of this food box must have been priceyโat least twice as expensive as an ordinary restaurant. Mo Li, having paid double to secure it, found the total cost a bit distressing.
After all, the money Mo Li had was hard-earned through his medical practice.
It was time to think of a way to bring in some funds, Meng Qi thought with a deep and contemplative gaze.
Mo Li slowly ate the last piece of sesame sponge cake, his eyes fixed on the patrolling soldiers ahead.
Since Meng Qiโs arrival, he had been in this pensive state.
โMeng, I feel that everything in Ningtai City is like a Go board filled with opponentโs stonesโthereโs no room to intervene.โ
If nothing unexpected had happened, the opium poppies were likely already destroyed.
With King Ningโs sudden death, the noble families and officials were under strict surveillance in their residences, and there was no one left in the palace capable of threatening this orchestrated plan. Mo Li had keenly sensed that everything was slowly progressing toward the outcome Qiu Si desired: rallying the people under the banner of reviving Chu and raising an army to seize the realm.
At this stage, unless the board was overturnedโintervening forcibly with brute strengthโany move would fall into Qiu Siโs intricate, interconnected schemes.
Mo Li had no intention of slowly investigating the ambitious noble families in Ningtai City, nor did he want to support another of King Ningโs offspring to counter Qiu Si. Such tactics required time and were contrary to his temperament. Breaking this stalemate quickly seemed nearly impossible.
Qiu Si had no fear of death and might even welcome it. Killing him would be futile and could potentially backfire.
โWeโve met the Jianghu people who trust Qiu Si implicitly, met Cheng Jingchuan and met that young princeโฆโ Mo Li carefully chose his words, speaking slowly, โBut apart from Yuan Ting, the latter two leave me feeling unsettled.โ
Seeing them felt like seeing nothing, leaving a vague impression in his mind that remained superficial.
โCheng Jingchuan, full of ambition yet perpetually failing, without opportunities and no alternative paths.
โThe young prince, unwilling to be a puppet, slightly clever, uninterested in books, and yearning to be a general.
Mo Li furrowed his brows. He couldnโt pinpoint what was wrong but sensed a subtle incongruity.
Was this the doctorโs intuition?
โHaha.โ
Meng Qi suddenly laughed, his amusement genuine and hearty.
Mo Li stared at him expressionlessly, prompting Meng Qi to restrain himself. Still chuckling, he said, โAs expected, deceiving a doctor is a difficult task, especially when pretending to be a fool in front of one.โ
โDeceiving?โ Mo Li asked, genuinely surprised. โQiu Si indeed seems abnormal. Even the way he looks at people feels offโฆโ
Meng Qi waved dismissively, saying, โHe does have a touch of madness, but madmen can act even crazier. Especially when their actions are incomprehensible and motives elusive, itโs easy to attribute everything to their madness, masking their true intentions.โ
Mo Li once again felt the gap between dragon veinsโhe couldnโt handle these convoluted schemes, nor could he even think of them.
โQiu Si has been pushing Cheng Jingchuan in front of us,โ Mo Li said, recounting his encounter with Qiu Si at the fire scene. He wondered aloud, โHeโs not even afraid of us becoming suspicious. Itโs so blatant that I truly donโt understand.โ
Keeping up with the thought process of a madman was already difficult. Now Meng Qi suggested that the madman might consciously be sowing confusion? Mo Li felt he might need to go down to the pharmacy below and buy a sachet for clarity and focus.
At that moment, the number of patrolling soldiers increased. A figure resembling a commander was scanning the surroundings. Meng Qi promptly pulled Mo Li down, and the two lay side by side on the rooftop, close enough to feel each otherโs presence. Meng Qi winked at Mo Li, then pressed a finger to his lips and whispered, โStay still for now.โ
The sound of hooves gradually faded, but Meng Qi didnโt get up. Instead, he kept a hand on Mo Liโs shoulder, teasingly saying, โAfter a good meal, why not lie down for a bit?โ
Mo Li: โ…โ
No, fish donโt enjoy basking in the sun.
Especially not the summer sun!
Mo Li shrugged off Meng Qiโs hand, pulled him up from the rooftop without a word, and said flatly, โOne should not lie down immediately after a meal.โ
Itโs bad for digestion.
Meng Qi hesitated to argue. Truthfully, this had been Sand Ratโs habit for centuriesโnot for any specific reason, just because it was comfortable.
Especially now, with the doctor present. But ironically, precisely because the doctor was present, his post-meal relaxation and sunbathing rights were revoked.
Faced with Mo Liโs scrutinizing gaze, which seemed ready to delve into the “history of bad habits,” Meng Qi cleared his throat and quickly redirected, โJust now, doctor mentioned Qiu Siโs intentions. Actually, we donโt need to exhaust ourselves guessing what a madman is thinking. If he dares push someone like Cheng Jingchuan toward us, unafraid of betrayal, he must be confident of two things: either weโll never trust Cheng Jingchuan, or Cheng Jingchuan will never side with us.โ
Mo Li nodded. That was precisely what he couldnโt understand.
Dusting off his sleeves, Meng Qi tilted his head and said, โInitially, I wonderedโdoes relying on opium poppies to create discord really reassure Qiu Si? Since ancient times, wise men could predict outcomes from a thousand miles away, strategizing over human nature. Can Qiu Si really calculate our thoughts so precisely?โ
โNo, he canโt,โ Mo Li caught on immediately, an epiphany dawning. โHe only understands Cheng Jingchuan.โ
Thus, Cheng Jingchuan willingly followed Qiu Si. He wasnโt merely looking for a place to showcase his ambitions, as he claimed.
Mo Li felt a pang of disappointment, prompting Meng Qi to console him, โDonโt be. Cheng Jingchuanโs ambition is likely genuineโat least it was in his earlier years. Heโs just concealing his current desires. People donโt like to admit their unsavory thoughts. Itโs not unusual.โ
Mo Li shook his head and said softly, โHe didnโt deceive you.โ
But he did deceive my eyes.
โThatโs not the case,โ Meng Qi replied. โCheng Jingchuan isnโt a liar, and his words are true. Itโs not deception. I must credit Ah Li for inadvertently saying, โWhy not take their place?โ Thatโs when I figured it out.โ Meng Qi, having grown accustomed to playing the elder recently, instinctively reached to stroke a nonexistent beard. Finding nothing, he awkwardly retracted his hand and continued, โAt the end of the Chen Dynasty, I saw many capable leaders and heroes. Cheng Jingchuan has ambitionโambition to become emperor. A man with imperial aspirations would never openly share such thoughts. In times of chaos, the longer one delays declaring kingship, the better.โ
Whoever claims kingship first becomes the prime target.
Thus, Cheng Jingchuan would never declare his intentions to replace anyone, nor would he leave with Meng Qi and Mo Li. He aimed to inherit what Qiu Si would leave behind because the favorable circumstances in Ningtai City were his first step toward realizing his ambitions.
Qiu Siโs “subjugation” of Cheng Jingchuan didnโt rely on favors or benefits but on the foundation he had cultivated in Jiangnan over decades.
Even if Qiu Si was mad, there was no better opportunity elsewhere in the vast world. Cheng Jingchuan had no choice but to endure.
โIs he waiting for the day Qiu Si dies?โ Mo Li asked hesitantly.
“In a way, yes,” Meng Qi said, a faint and meaningful smile tugging at his lips. He continued guiding Mo Li’s thoughts. “A foolish person might be eager to kill Qiu Si to make room for themselves. Cheng Jingchuan isnโt foolish, nor does he seem like someone who would repay kindness with betrayal.”
Mo Li couldnโt help but ask, “How do you know?”
Understanding human nature is an art, and no one can guarantee they won’t misjudge.
Meng Qi chuckled knowingly. “Itโs not something I figured outโQiu Si told us.”
“Mm?”
Mo Li froze, quickly reviewing Qiu Si’s words and actions in his mind.
Meng Qi figured that someone as upright as Mo Li, unfamiliar with the intricacies of political maneuvering, wouldnโt piece it together anytime soon.
“The relationship between a successor and the one in power is always complex,” Meng Qi began, “especially for people like Qiu Si and Cheng Jingchuan. It doesnโt fit neatly into the mold of an emperor and a crown prince or a minister and his protรฉgรฉ. Theyโre not bound by blood, nor are they master and disciple. Thereโs no emotional attachmentโjust mutual necessity. Reviving Chu is their banner, but neither of them likely cares about the Chu Dynasty itself. Itโs about their own ambitions and intentions. Qiu Si is old and needs a successor, but being his successor isnโt easy because heโs a madman.”
For most people, inheriting a position requires some trials.
For Cheng Jingchuan, the difficulty level might as well be a hellish purgatory.
In addition to knowledge, skill, vision, and perseverance, he faces endless temptationsโbeauty, wealth, powerโand must also solve the traps Qiu Si personally sets for him. For example, the destruction of the opium poppies: Qiu Si constantly creates problems for Cheng Jingchuan, forcing him to solve them, gain trust in unfavorable situations, and leverage opportunities to survive adversity.
Qiu Si isnโt a nurturing teacher who helps a fallen student back on their feet; he stands idly by.
โA useless successor isnโt worth keeping.
Mo Li finally sorted out the connections but still didnโt understand.
“Now that Qiu Si doesnโt care about life and death, does that mean heโs satisfied with this successor? Why is he still causing trouble for Cheng Jingchuan? Cheng Jingchuan wonโt leave.”
Leaning idly, Meng Qi tapped the tiles with his fingers, distinguishing their tones as he replied with a smile, “As I said earlier, if Cheng Jingchuan ever showed the slightest intention to kill Qiu Si or had such a thought, I donโt think heโd be alive today. Before Cheng Jingchuan became who he is now, Qiu Si had countless ways to kill him. But now, Qiu Si canโt kill himโnot because Cheng Jingchuan is stronger but because Qiu Si has no better candidate to carry out his ambitions after his death.”
Mo Li rubbed his temples, only for a hand to reach over from behind and take over.
The touch was neither too heavy nor too light, perfectly relieving his tension.
Mo Li stiffened. It reminded him of the time he fell into Lake Pengze and someone had rubbed his sore waist in a similar way.
He moved slightly away, saying awkwardly, “If thatโs the case, Cheng Jingchuan has the upper hand now. He could deal with Qiu Si directly.”
“Not so easy,” Meng Qi sighed. Whether he was lamenting the difficulty or Mo Liโs retreat wasnโt clear. “Qiu Si, after all, isnโt an ordinary madman. Confronting him isnโt worth it, and Cheng Jingchuan isnโt stupid. Besidesโ”
“What?” Mo Li pressed.
“If Cheng Jingchuan is as far-sighted as I guess, he wouldnโt be swayed by anyoneโs provocations. He knows what Qiu Si is capable of. As long as Qiu Si retains his wits, every day Qiu Si lives is another day Cheng Jingchuan can learn from him.” Meng Qi mused, looking thoughtfully at Mo Li. “Such a person wouldnโt be overshadowed even in the chaotic final days of the Chen Dynasty, surrounded by heroes.”
Mo Li couldnโt reconcile this image of Cheng Jingchuan with his previous impressions. When he saw him scolding the young prince, he had seemed so casualโwas that also an act?
Waitโ
“You mentioned playing mad and feigning stupidity. If the one playing mad is Qiu Si, then the one feigning stupidity shouldnโt be Cheng Jingchuan. Are you suggesting itโs the young prince?”
“Well, who knows,” Meng Qi chuckled, his tone light as he blinked playfully. “Maybe the child really does just want to be a great general.”
Hearing Meng Qiโs analysis, Mo Li finally understood.
From another perspective, the young prince, forced to study under close watch and deprived of freedom, must have realized he was likely destined to be a puppet. But this young prince wasnโt chosen by Qiu Si and Cheng Jingchuan without reason. He was clever enough to know that puppets rarely had good endings in history. Not daring to appear too intelligent, he instead clamored to be a generalโone destined for far-off expeditions in the Western Regions.
In short, he feigned complete disinterest in the Central Plains and imperial authority.
Living under the gaze of such wily foxes, one couldnโt survive without becoming a little fox themselves.
Mo Liโs thoughts drifted for a moment, and he couldnโt help but chuckle. Little fox? No, more like a quacking duck.
โWhy does the doctor laugh?โ
โNothing,โ Mo Li replied, softening his tone and shaking his head. โI was wondering if the young prince might actually go to the Western Regions. If heโs not foolish but also lacks the ability to compete with Cheng Jingchuan, one day, for his own survival, his lie might have to become the truth.โ
Meng Qi hadnโt considered this but, after a moment of thought, reluctantly agreed. โThatโs entirely possible.โ
In Ningtai City, the forces under Qiu Siโs control began to consolidate rapidly after King Ningโs death.
Some were loyal to the idea of restoring the Chu Dynasty.
Some were ambitious.
Some had no choice but to comply.
โI stopped by Jixian Lane and made a detour to the city patrol offices. Adding in last nightโs Imperial Guards, I finally found the key,โ Meng Qi said as he sat up, his gaze fixed on the soldiers below. โQiu Si has taken an unconventional route. He doesnโt control the noble families or elites but instead the minor officials and clerks in the various city offices. Ningtaiโs corruption has turned into Qiu Siโs greatest weapon.โ
These minor officials and functionaries, the ones who truly got things done, were Qiu Siโs hidden trump card.
They lacked vision or exceptional talent and focused only on completing their assigned tasksโand that was enough.
Without these minor officials, the nobles became deaf and mute. Their private militias were either locked in their estates or scattered entirely.
In places where governance had rotted, the so-called “dignity” of higher-ranking officials often amounted to laziness and detachment. Beyond their scheming and power struggles, they cared little for anything else. As for the minor officials, often dismissed as opportunistic and self-serving, they suddenly turned on their masters, leaving the nobles stunned and unprepared.
โAnd these soldiers,โ Mo Li noted, observing the patrolling troops closely. โThey might not even know who Qiu Si is. Theyโre just following orders.โ
They likely had a commanding officer they trusted and respected, someone who treated them with both kindness and authorityโa capable leader. In moments like these, they instinctively followed that leaderโs commands. After all, they werenโt committing treason or usurping the throneโjust maintaining order in the city and apprehending nobles attempting to exploit the chaos.
โThis is why you feel like thereโs no way to intervene,โ Meng Qi said. โThis game in Ningtai has already reached its endgame.
โIf Pavilion Master Qiu doesnโt return soon, itโll be too late.โ
Authorโs Note:
Ayanpuka: “When controlling people through favor, their hearts must be pure to ensure they wonโt betray you.”
Qiu Si: “If the people you control are too pure, they wonโt achieve anything great either.”
—
Young Prince: “Iโm struggling here; I just want to be a great general.”
Cheng Jingchuan: “In a chaotic world, whoever claims the throne first is a fool. You just focus on being King Ning.”
