RCDSA 06

Chapter – 06

Bai Qi, the Scumbag

Xie Linchao felt that since Bai Qi was willing to come see her first, rather than choosing to defect and disappear outright, there should still be a chance to win him over.

“If you have any questions, feel free to speak plainly.”

Bai Qi looked down from his superior height, his gaze sweeping over the frail-looking youth before him. “It was you who awakened me from the summoning pool, granting me a new lease on life. Logically speaking, I ought to pledge my loyalty to you and serve you as my lord. However…”

“You are far too weak.”

“On my way to the Second Prince’s manor, I heard some rumors about you—that you drunkenly harassed a imperial consort at the palace banquet, enraging the Emperor… Is that true or false?”

Xie Linchao chuckled lightly and countered, “Does that matter so much to Lord Wuan?”

“If it is true, then you showed no regard for the occasion, couldn’t control your base desires, and were caught red-handed by the Emperor and his courtiers. In one stroke, you destroyed years of scheming for the succession, and after the incident, you made no effective amends or recovery efforts… That would make you utterly useless.”

Lord Wuan Bai Qi had his pride. He could serve a ruthless, ambitious overlord in conquering the realm, but he would never bow to an incompetent master who couldn’t read the room.

“I see.” Xie Linchao listened to Bai Qi’s explanation, and it suddenly clicked.

She had thought Bai Qi was dissatisfied with her flawed character, but it turned out he found fault with her handling of the situation.

She had overthought it.

Bai Qi was like a precision war machine—viewing everything from a grand strategic perspective, always making the coldest, most rational decisions. The weighty matters that ordinary people agonized over were merely trivial blemishes in his eyes.

At that moment, Bai Qi frowned slightly, his gaze scrutinizing Xie Linchao sharply before turning piercingly keen: “You are not the Prince of An, or rather, not the original Second Prince.”

Xie Linchao was startled: “You caught on that quickly?”

Though she hadn’t planned to hide it from Bai Qi—since he possessed independent consciousness and would eventually notice something was off—she hadn’t expected to be exposed so soon.

Bai Qi’s demeanor seemed to soften slightly: “Because you are too calm. Regarding the Golden Autumn Palace Banquet incident, you act like an outsider.”

Xie Linchao replied frankly: “Since I have inherited the Second Prince’s identity and enjoy the privileges of a prince, I must also bear the corresponding responsibilities and consequences. I *am* the Second Prince now—there is no difference.”

Bai Qi nodded in approval: “Rightly so.”

With that matter set aside, Xie Linchao picked up the previous topic: “The palace banquet—I was set up.”

“And how do you plan to turn this around? Although reputation isn’t the most important thing, in the eyes of the world, having a good name is still better than having none.” Toward the end, Bai Qi lowered his voice, a faint trace of mockery in his tone.

Xie Linchao blinked, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes: “Actually, it’s very simple.”

“Oh?”

Seeing the youth’s confident proclamation, Bai Qi couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity.

Xie Linchao: “I’m a woman. Even if I wanted to harass Talented Lady Lan, I don’t have the required hardware. Just leak that news, and the rumors will collapse on their own.”

“You are a woman?” Bai Qi was astounded—this was not an answer he had anticipated.

Looking closer, Xie Linchao’s features were indeed rather delicate and refined, and her build was nothing like a typical man’s sturdy frame.

However, Xie Linchao had been pampered since childhood, never enduring much hardship, so her exquisite prettiness could be explained away. Moreover, she was significantly taller than most women—she had secretly measured herself at 176 centimeters. At that height, she even surpassed many men from poorer backgrounds with inadequate nutrition, and since she had received a prince’s education, her demeanor and conduct were indistinguishable from a man’s, lacking the reserved modesty of a boudoir lady. Hence, no one had ever suspected she wasn’t male.

“If you don’t believe me, I can undo my clothes and let you confirm.” Saying this, Xie Linchao pulled open the front of her robe, revealing a faint glimpse of the chest-binding cloth beneath.

“No need!” Startled, Bai Qi reached out and grabbed Xie Linchao’s slender wrist.

But it was still a moment too late—before Bai Qi could turn his head away, he caught sight of the binding cloth hidden beneath her garments.

*His new lord seems a bit too… unrestrained?*

“Ahem, I believe you. No further proof is needed.” Bai Qi released her hand and turned his back directly.

Seeing she had successfully thrown him off balance, Xie Linchao dropped her mischievous antics and quickly fastened her clothes.

In a way, she and Bai Qi were kindred spirits, fellow provincials from the same place. In him, she found a sense of belonging and security.

Xie Linchao also had a certain intuition—

Bai Qi would not harm her.

Just moments ago, after she confessed her origins, Bai Qi’s loyalty had risen to 70 (Allegiance).

That was why she had been willing to reveal her secret of disguising as a man.

Bai Qi still stood with his hands clasped behind his back, facing away from her. His voice, now returned to its usual calm, came through: “Exposing your identity as a woman could break the deadlock, but the consequences would be endless. You weren’t planning to do something that foolish, were you?”

Xie Linchao stood up, mimicking Bai Qi by placing her hands behind her back. She took a step or two, then popped her head in front of him, blinking playfully: “Of course I wasn’t going to go through with it. I’m not stupid—it was just a joke.”

“I’ve already sent my agents in the palace to investigate. Before I leave the capital for my fief, I *will* clear my name. I won’t swallow this grievance in silence.”

Naturally, Xie Linchao intended to seek justice for the original owner. But investigations took time. Her ostentatious selling-off of assets was also meant to lull the mastermind into complacency, making them think she hadn’t grown suspicious or had given up struggling.

Seeing that his young lord was not as weak and easily bullied as her delicate exterior suggested, Bai Qi felt a measure of relief: “If you need my help with anything, just ask.”

Xie Linchao nodded with a smile: “Then for now, I’ll have to trouble Lord Wuan to stay at my manor as my personal bodyguard. Once we reach the fief, the private troops under my command will be placed under your leadership—just don’t complain about the small numbers.”

Bai Qi: “Agreed.”

Bai Qi didn’t find it humiliating to serve as a mere bodyguard. He had risen to become the nation’s most vital asset, Lord Wuan, step by step—not overnight.

Before leaving the study, Xie Linchao turned her head and asked, already knowing the answer: “So then… Lord Wuan Bai Qi, you acknowledge me as your lord now, correct?”

Naturally catching the teasing tone in his young lord’s words, Bai Qi replied calmly: “If you hadn’t brought up the title ‘Lord Wuan,’ I might have given it more serious consideration.”

“The title ‘Lord Wuan’ sounds so formidable—others would kill to have it.”

“It’s nothing but a cursed title. Just average. Nothing special.”

Wow.

Case closed.

Bai Qi is a total scumbag—once he gets something, he stops valuing it.

Bai Qi:  …What’s with that look?

When Xie Linchao and Bai Qi emerged from the study together, Linlang came to report: “Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang has arrived for the follow-up consultation.”

At this, a sharp glint flashed beneath Xie Linchao’s eyes: “Bai Qi, come with me. Imperial Physician Zhang is my agent in the palace. He should have brought useful information.”

Bai Qi naturally agreed.