When Emperor Huizong arrives at Prince Beiding"s Manor, Qin Zhen, also known as Prince Beiding is enjoying a traditional opera.
The world knows well that Prince Beiding loves traditional operas.
He doesn"t love beauties, nor does he love money or treasures. He simply enjoys traditional operas and even keeps his own theatrical troupe.
Once there were people who didn"t believe he had such a hobby, saying that Prince Beiding kept those famous singers to perform traditional operas on the surface but who knew what ugly truth was beneath that.
Not until a famous singer playing female roles who had stayed in Prince Beiding"s Manor for ten years and ended her career to go back to her hometown with a rich reward from Prince Beiding announced that she was a virgin did those people believe that someone as strange as Prince Beiding did exist in this world.
Emperor Huizong, on the other hand, thinks that was perfectly normal.
He met Qin Zhen when he was still in his youth. He knows perfectly well what kind of person Qin Zhen is.
Qin Zhen is like an unsheathed sword, sharp, stubborn, unstoppable and doesn"t know regret, no matter towards his emperor or his loved ones.
He has given all his love to Princess Beiding, and after her death, Prince Beiding"s Manor hasn"t seen another hostess.
He has given his loyalty to Great Yan and Emperor Huizong, so he would never have a second thought or serve another emperor.
Therefore, Emperor Huizong believes in him and has no doubt at all.
When Emperor Huizong reaches the waterside pavilion in the manor, Prince Beiding is lying on a cane chair with his eyes closed, a performer playing a martial role singing with an energetic voice in front of him.
Emperor Huizong doesn"t like that kind of stuff so he waves his hand to send them away.
Qin Zhen opens his eyes lazily. Seeing Emperor Huizong, Qin Zhen stands up from the cane chair and cups his hands to greet the emperor in a perfunctory manner: "Your Majesty, you are in quite a good mood to see such an unoccupied person who is in detention like me."
Emperor Huizong hasn"t even swallowed his tea and his hands shake when he hears that from Prince Beiding.
He puts the cup back on the table and looks at Qin Zhen angrily: "Detention? I asked you to examine yourself. Is this how you do it?"
The anger of an emperor would have sent normal people down on their knees in no time.
But not Prince Beiding.
The emperor who stands before him was once beaten to tears by him. How would he fear his anger?
Qin Zhen doesn"t even answer Emperor Huizong"s question and says pensively: "Your Majesty, why are you here at this time? Let me guess. Have you got any leads?"
Emperor Huizong remains silent.
Qin Zhen continues his guesses: "Do they have anything to do with the witchcraft case and Prince Yan? But you haven"t found the man who is behind it yet, have you?"
Emperor Huizong sighs: "If you used to be as reliable as you are now, you would have saved me much trouble."
Qin Zhen sneers: "I"m just a military man. I"m only concerned about fights and battles. If Your Majesty needs me for this, your cabinet had better go back home and work the land."
Emperor Huizong: "..."
He says coldly: "Qin Zhen, are you really not afraid that I would take your head off your body someday when I"m angry?"
Qin Zhen isn"t terrified at all and has the leisure to pour himself a cup of tea.
He looks at Emperor Huizong with a laugh: "I"m not, to be honest. If you have been an emperor who makes no distinction between right and wrong, I won"t become who I am today."
Eunuch An stands by them in silence and secretly gives Prince Beiding a thumbs-up.
He thinks that Prince Beiding is quite natural and quick with his praise for His Majesty.
It looks like he himself is not as good a flatterer as Prince Beiding is.
As expected, Emperor Huizong"s expression eases. He glares at Prince Beiding but doesn"t say anything.
On the opposite, Qin Zhen becomes more serious: "Your Majesty, why are you here all of a sudden?"
As far as the Emperor Huizong he knows of, it"s not possible that he has come all the way here just to see him.
Emperor Huizong gives him an approving glance. He has been so tolerant towards Prince Beiding partly because Prince Beiding has always been clear-headed.
He knows the right time to say and to do things.
Though Qin Zhen has often contradicted Emperor Huizong over the years but thinking carefully, he has never gone beyond the emperor"s bottom line.