9 Chapter 9 Harmless as a dove, shrewd as a serpent

Jingsheng sat down opposite Yan Xing with impatience. He had observed Zhao Ling at the banquet and didn't find anything strange. But Yan Xing said that he missed something which confused him. "Quickly tell"

Yan Xing looked at Jingsheng who was looking at him eagerly, he sighed and said, "I thought you will be able to figure it out by the morning so I didn't tell you last night and also told you not to go investigate Second Miss Zhao last night just for this but you disappointed me"

Jingsheng felt embarrassed and lowered his head. He didn't dare to raise his head, yesterday Yan Xing assigned him to go investigate Second Miss Zhao after the banquet but Yan Xing changed his mind and told him to go in the morning. The reason for holding him back was for him to ponder on what he missed out on. "Your Highness, this subordinate is incompetent, requesting Your Highness to meet out punishment", Jingsheng immediately kneeled.

"What are you doing? Get up, I told you to ponder about this not because of anything but to sharpen you. You are already a talented individual with a keen sense of perception and are good at observing. But there are still some things you need to learn. No matter how much a person is good at a particular thing, there will always be room for improvement", said Yan Xing as he helped Jingsheng to get up.

"People say that 'practice makes a man perfect but I don't believe in that phrase. With practice we only improve if we were to become perfect then wouldn't that make us a God!" Yan Xing said.

"Your Highness truly is a man of great wisdom. It is my greatest fortune to be able to serve you", said Jingsheng with admiration.

"Stop with that flattery, we have known each other since we were kids. I feel uncomfortable when you praise me", Yan Xing kicked Jingsheng on his ankle.

"aiyo... Your Highness, you are too mean, I was praising you and instead of thanking me you kicked me!", Jingsheng glared at Yan Xing.

Yan Xing and Gu Jingsheng's relationship was that of a master and subordinate on the outside but when they are alone, they were like brothers. 

"Okay stop whining, let's go back to the main topic"

Jingsheng immediately adjusted his posture and perked up his ears like an obedient student.

"From the moment Second Miss Zhao entered the banquet hall to the end of the banquet what did you observe?", asked Yan Xing.

Thinking about the details from the banquet the night before, Jingsheng thought back and replied, "Second Miss Zhao entered the Hall with the support of her personal maid and her father Prime Minister Zhao. After taking the seat, Second Miss Zhao started coughing because of her weak body and her maid poured her a cup of tea. Second Miss Zhao...."

Jingsheng recounted everything Zhao Ling did at the banquet. Yan Xing nodded his head in satisfaction. Jingsheng was good and observing and his memory was extremely good too.

"You are indeed talented. You have taken note of her every move and action but there is one thing you failed to take note of", Yan Xing said.

"Your Highness, what is it that I failed to take note of?", Jingsheng hurriedly asked. He had been asking this question to Yan Xing since last night.

"Her expression", Yan Xing spat out these two words and observe Jingsheng.

"ah… ", Jingsheng was shocked for a while, indeed he missed out on her expression. 

"Your Highness, Second Miss Zhao didn't have any unusual expression. She was wearing a casual calm expression on her sickly pale face", said Jingsheng as he crossed his arms.

"That is the problem", Yan Xing replied.

Jingsheng was puzzled. He furrowed his brows trying to understand what Yan Xing meant. Looking at the serious face of Jingsheng who was trying his best, Yan Xing felt a little funny. He sighed, "Jingsheng, what was your first impression when you attend the banquet with me for the first time and how did you feel?" 

Jingsheng heard Yan Xing's question and although he was a little confused, he still replied, "The first time I attended the palace banquet was at the age of sixteen when Your Highness let me accompany you to the Autumn Festival banquet. I still remember, at that time I was very nervous and sweating that Your Highness even made fun of me. When I entered the Banquet Hall, I couldn't even lift my face and..." 

Talking up to here, Jingsheng suddenly stopped. He had his eyes wide open and his mouth gaped. Yan Xing knew that Jingsheng was finally enlightened and smiled at him. "Second Miss Zhao had always been sick and hardly left her courtyard. She doesn't have any friends in the capital and had never l attended simple small gatherings like the gatherings held by the capital's young misses or the gatherings of the nobles and aristocrats. She was not even invited. A lady who had never socialized and was always holed up at home was suddenly invited to the palace banquet but she was neither nervous nor afraid. Instead, she was calm from start to end not even displaying a ripple of emotion on her face. Besides, her personal maid was out of the ordinary too. I don't believe that the rumors and the information we got from investigating are authentic"

Yan Xing's eyes flashed with curiosity as he talked about Zhao Ling. 

"Your Highness, you are amazing. Indeed many people overlooked that but you didn't. It broadened my horizon. Thank you for enlightening me. I will work hard more in the future", Jingsheng sincerely said those words accompanied by a worshipping gaze. 

"Okay, stop looking at me like that. Now go and investigate Second Miss Zhao personally. Remember not to overlook anything and everything should be done discreetly", Yan Xing ordered.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will be careful and will not disappoint you this time", Jingsheng cupped his hands and immediately left the room.

Yan Xing looked at the disappearing figure of Jingsheng and got up from the table. He leisurely walked towards the window and stood there motionless looking at the flowers outside. It was unknown what he was thinking.  A dove flew down from the sky and landed on the branch of a tree inside the courtyard. Yan Xing finally moved. He took a container that was filled with grains and scattered a handful of grains in the yard, the dove flew down from the branch and started pecking the grains. 

"Harmless as a dove, shrewd as a serpent", Yan Xing muttered as he watched the dove with a smile on his face.