Now that QinShi grew up a little - 8 months -, Minho starts to focus on him even more than he did before, pressuring himself to teach the baby everything that a child needs to learn.
He is insisting a lot on teaching him to say some words, especially 'hyung', since reaching 'umma' and 'appa' to a baby who was abandoned by both seems like a mockery to Minho.
He doesn't really know if QinShi is grown enough or not yet, but still insists. It can't harm.
Though, no matter how much he tries, with or without rewards, but always very gently, the little brother doesn't even try to open his mouth. Doesn't make a single sound, like he refused to even try.
"QinShi-ya, say hyung! H-y-u-n-g! Or... even just Y-U! Please..." But the baby just stares at him with his big eyes, like he is indeed paying attention, but doesn't react to it.

No success with talking, but while trying to teach him how to walk, it seems a tiny bit better. QinShi is very scaredy and hesitant, but while being firmly supported by MinHo, he does make some little steps.
"Good job! You are going to be a great walker one day! Or a runner! Your legs just need to strengthen up a little and you'll be good to take off!" He picks him up with a wide smile and kisses his head.

He takes QinShi in arms and goes to sit in front of the fireplace, staring at him thoughtfully.
He doesn't know what to do, if they both should go to stay with their grandfather or remain there, or if send just QinShi to Tian while seeing what he should do himself, but in truth he doesn't want to part from his little brother for any reason.

Everyone left to do their duties and he is left alone in the hideout with QinShi. It's not a problem for Minho, he is even too proud and enthusiastic of his little brother, plus he is aware of his powers, although he never shows them, thus feels like he could defend them two even too well, in case something dangerous happened.
He loves QinShi, he does everything for him, himself; he feeds, changes and washes him, rocks him, keep him warm and safe all the time. He doesn't ask anyone to help, because in truth he is even a bit jealous and overprotective towards the baby and hates to let someone else hold him, even if for a few minutes.

That morning, as he aims to prepare food for QinShi, Minho realizes that the milk is over. Not even a drop of it left.
He panics. Since his little brother never cries, he is even paranoid about feeding him, always fearing it's not enough.
He searches the place a bit more, but there is no milk anywhere. He waits some minutes, but in the end he decides he must go to find some.
He too got an eunuch uniform along with the others, so it wouldn't be too hard to pass unnoticed, but he can't leave QinShi there alone. Even if he never cries and hardly moves at all, he wouldn't manage to take such risk.

He finds a leather bag in the hideout images.app.goo.gl/HUmUZaTQwVhBqT886, fills it with some clothes and carefully places his little brother inside of it. He covers the opening with a not too heavy blanket, to make sure enough air will pass through, and wears the shoulder bag, right before going outside and start to look for the kitchen.
He makes sure to keep the bag at the height of his belly, to monitor everything and keep QinShi the safest possible.

•••••

He Is the most surprised when the Palace Guards come to warn him that the Grand Prince came to hand himself over to him. He thought that not even the Gods themselves would manage to convince his brother to trust him that much.

BangSul is in the throne hall with him and since he wants to get this matter closed as soon as possible, he immediately orders Norihiko to summon the various people who will have to participate to the interrogation. He was also giving for granted that Song would be accompanying QinShi, by what BangSul referred to him, but nobody mentioned him there too.

The guards escort QinShi to the throne hall. LianBi is standing in front of the throne and his eyes widen so much to see his brother in that state. He doesn't look well at all, neither physically nor mentally. He seems like a totally terrified little chick, dragged into a butchery. Not so surprising for someone who was recently tortured, though.

Even before LianBi could greet, boom. QinShi falls down and starts to tremble and letting out choking sounds. Panic attack as appetizer.
They summon Jackil - who is an official member of the equipe of the nursery of the Spring Palace by now - and he deals with it, slowly helping QinShi to regain calm and balance.
Despite that, since it's a brief interrogation and he wants to get done with it as soon as possible, LianBi, still stunned by his brother's reaction, decides to proceed, as long as QinShi is not in life danger.
Jackil helps the Grand Prince to sit by the short table, right in front of the Emperor.
Among the other people present there are the Generals and a high ranked Priest of Mortian, since necromancy is considered an 'international crime' and the very reason of that questioning is that they must reassure the other countries that the Grand Prince of Xhuanghen is not delving into necromancy.

LianBi notions QinShi to drink the truth potion from the vial that was placed on the short table.
The brother's hand, though, trembles so much that he doesn't manage to take it. Such an heartbreaking show.
It's BangSul to step ahead and take the vial, approaching it to QinShi's mouth so that he can drink it.
After that, the Grand Prince places a hand on his neck and gasps.
"Let's begin", says LianBi, looking always overly serious, but in truth he is on the brink of bursting into tears.
"Were you, in any way, forced to come against your will?" asks the Priest of Mortian. Since the High Priest of Jeisin granted him his protection, they can't risk he was indeed forced.
QinShi takes a breath. "Aniyo..."
LianBi restrains himself from sighing in relief. It must be a good sign, if he had something to hide he would never come willingly. He hopes. "
"Are you willingly undergoing this interrogation?" asks again the Priest of Mortian.
This time QinShi takes some time to answer. "Ye..." he murmurs.
"Forgive my intrusion, I would like to warn: his physical state is rather unstable, lying could cost his life", comments Jackil.
LianBi's eyes widen and he is tempted to disband the whole thing.
"Which means that you must tell only the truth, Grand Prince", adds BangSul, like he knew LianBi's thoughts. "If there is a truth you really feel unable to reveal, keep silent please."
Jackil nods.

"Did you read the following books and essays: 'The legal discipline of Necromancy', 'Xhuanghen law application on necromancy cases', 'The trials of the Cursed'?" asks LianBi.
QinShi rubs the sleeve of his shirt against his forehead. He seems to be sweating a lot. "Ye..."
"Why?"
"T-to... know... the law..." gasps the Grand Prince.
"The vision of said books is in no way forbidden by any law", confirms the Priest of Mortian.
LianBi nods. "Were those books suggested to you by someone?"
"The librarian..."
"Did someone draw your attention towards necromancy?"
QinShi pants a little. "Aniyo..."
"It was your own, spontaneous idea?"
"Ye..." The Grand Prince wipes some sweat from his face again, always using the sleeve.
"Get him some fresh water", orders LianBi to Ryuke. "What did you intend to use necromancy for?" He is almost afraid to hear the answer to this.
QinShi hesitates a lot. And the fact he looks less and less lucid as the time goes by clearly gets the worry of Jackil, who keeps looking at him. "I... only..." he sobs and shuts his eyes. "Wanted to find a way to speak with him again..."
"Who with?"
"My halbamama..."
LianBi looks like he got just struck by a lightning there.
"Thus it's confirmed that even if he had a thought to use necromancy, it wouldn't be for anything damaging or endangering to other people", says BangSul, looking at the Priest. "It would only be for personal and affective matters."
The Emperor snaps out of that moment of shock and decides to end the questioning, before he himself turns unable to contain his feelings. "Answer this last question and the interrogation will end. Did you make use of necromancy, for the purpose you said or for any other matter or reason?"
QinShi looks totally stunned at this point and doesn't answer.
After a little while, with his heart skipping a beat, LianBi decides to ask again, speaking slowly and clearly. "QinShi, did you use necromancy?"
More time passes, before the other finally answers: "Y-ye...?"

Silence falls upon the room, but it only lasts for a second, the time it takes for the truth potion to have its dangerous effect. QinShi's screams break the silence as blood starts to flow out of his nose, ears and eyes. He falls frontwards, on the table, under the torturing effect of the potion reacting to his lie.
Jackil promptly takes QinShi in his arms and runs out of the throne hall with him, under the baffled and shocked eyes of the presents.
BangSul runs after them.
His blessed love always knows what to do to make it slightly less heavy for him, since LianBi simply can't leave yet, although he's dying to.
"Although his behaviour was upsettingly confusing, his lie only confirmed his innocence", concludes the Priest of Mortian. "The case should he closed, no law has been infracted and no ill intention was in motion."