SEHE Chapter 13

Trust His subordinate opened the door, and Tang Xizhui emerged from the secret chamber, taking something from the hands of the reporting Elu Bureau guard. After glancing at it, he slipped it into his wide sleeves.

Pei Yanci followed him out, glancing at the two people dead on the bed without asking about their identities.

Sometimes knowing too much was not a good thing.

“It’s about time. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late,” Tang Xizhui began urging him to go.

Pei Yanci was blindfolded again and led through the original small path. After much tossing about, when he opened his eyes again, he was already at the back gate of the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

The escorting guards had vanished without a trace.

The rhythmic sound of the third watch drum began, and the night watchman’s drawn-out call echoed through the empty streets.

Dong!——Dong! Dong!

“Third watch of the hour of Zi, all is peaceful!” (TL: 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM)

Dong!——Dong! Dong!

After knocking on the door and giving the gatekeeper woman a few copper coins, he returned to his room. After a simple wash, he finally lay down on his bed.

Brother Wuli’s snoring was sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes high, sometimes low—completely irregular and truly irritating to hear.

Just a few days ago, he had adapted quite well to it.

Pei Yanci sighed, turned over with his back to the man, and pulled the blanket over his head.

A night of chaotic dreams.

****

The next day, when Zhang Huairu opened the door, he saw Pei Yanci standing at the courtyard gate.

“You’re not on duty at the tea house—why did you come here?” he asked with sarcasm.

The night before, in his impulsiveness, he had taken a life, and afterward felt somewhat regretful. But the order had come from his own mouth, and if those people were caught by His Highness’s political enemies, they would become a great threat. Thinking this way, he felt his order had been correct and timely. He secretly continued dispatching people to search for the whereabouts of Xin Hai and the other two—only when they were all dead could their mouths be permanently sealed.

Now encountering Pei Yanci reminded him of that night’s rash impulsiveness, and his expression was not pleasant.

“This humble one has come to see His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Zhang Huairu looked him over with an unfriendly gaze and was about to refuse when he heard him say: “Yesterday, young general Jiang Yi invited this humble one out for a brief meeting, during which we also encountered people from Qingcheng Academy and the Great Scholar Fang.”

“What business could he have with a mere steward like you?” he said contemptuously.

“Naturally there was business, which is why this humble one wishes to consult His Highness for guidance. I hope Chief Steward Zhang will help report this.”

Seeing his attitude was much better than the night before, Zhang Huairu was quite pleased, and his mood lightened somewhat. Raising an eyebrow with a cold laugh, he said, “Wait here then.”

After speaking, he had two eunuchs guard the gate while he entered the courtyard himself.

This wait lasted nearly half an hour.

Just as Pei Yanci was about to fall asleep, Zhang Huairu’s voice finally rang out.

“His Highness will see you. Come in.”

Pei Yanci bowed his head and entered the courtyard. Now, all the peach blossoms in the yard had fully bloomed. Having been nourished by rain and snow, they appeared even more delicate and charming. The endless expanse of pink stretched like rosy clouds and brocade, strikingly beautiful.

Gu Jiuqing was drinking tea and reading under a peach tree in a rattan chair, completely at ease.

Drawing closer, Pei Yanci could see the text was Sanskrit Buddhist scripture.

Decades ago, the former emperor of Great Yu had used the prophecies of eminent Buddhist monks to create panic, eliminate dissidents, and successfully ascend the throne. Afterward, he extensively built Buddhist and Taoist temples and pagodas, recruiting many monks to translate Buddhist scriptures. Now Sanskrit Buddhist texts were rarely seen, but those with sincere devotion would still read the Sanskrit versions to comprehend their original, authentic mysteries.

After glancing at it briefly, Pei Yanci withdrew his gaze and repeated to him what he had told Zhang Huairu that morning.

“How did they come to find you?” Gu Jiuqing’s cold gaze lifted from the scripture, full of suspicion.

“Perhaps the Elu Bureau people told Jiang Yi that this humble one went to Tang Xizhui’s place, and he was released afterward. Since it’s inconvenient for him to see Your Highness directly, he probably thought this humble one was a favored servant in Your Highness’s household, so he sought me out to convey their message.”

To reassure the one in the palace, Gu Jiuqing avoided even his Eastern Palace officials when possible, and would certainly not associate with court officials. This actually provided some convenience for Pei Yanci.

“What did Jiang Yi and the others want from you?” Gu Jiuqing’s expression showed both contemplation and worry.

“They wanted this humble one to persuade Your Highness to rescue those scholars.”

Gu Jiuqing frowned, as if seeing something that annoyed him but persistently entangled him.

If he had wanted to help, he would have extended an olive branch to them long ago.

“Next time he seeks you out privately, find an excuse to decline.”

Pei Yanci showed a troubled expression. “Your Highness, the people from Qingcheng Academy and the Great Scholar Fang said that before becoming acquainted with this humble one, they had already planned to seek Prime Minister Cui’s intercession.”

“You mean…”

“If Your Highness doesn’t act, this humble one fears they will throw their support behind Prime Minister Cui. Since Prime Minister Cui and Tang Xizhui are in cahoots, I’m afraid the eunuch faction’s power will grow even stronger in the future, which would be greatly disadvantageous to Your Highness.”

The corner of Gu Jiuqing’s mouth curved up briefly before falling again. Mockery and displeasure appeared in the blink of an eye.

“Cui Ya is not easy to deal with.” He even thought that if those bookish stubborn mules really planned to side with Cui Ya, they could probably cause chaos in the Elu Bureau.

That would actually become a good thing benefiting him.

A bunch of troublemakers—they had little real power but had read plenty of books, spending their days quoting classics and invoking ancient sages with their worn-out platitudes, loudly proclaiming the need to restore order. Pedantic and useless.

But which was truly “righteous”?

He was the Crown Prince, a benevolent ruler meeting the criteria of ancient sages—that should be legitimate, right? But without power, wasn’t he still at others’ mercy?

His good elder brother, the legitimate eldest son of the Great Yu Dynasty—his final fate served as a warning for him.

It was never because of legitimacy that one gained deserved power, but because one held power that one became the orthodox praised in history books.

Now, that swarm of flies who only caused trouble was finally about to choose sides and get mixed up with those corrupt people.

Pei Yanci suddenly stepped closer.

Sensing his approach, Gu Jiuqing snapped back from his thoughts, his upper body leaning back slightly in wary defense.

A well-proportioned hand reached toward him.

“What are you doing?” The low words carried solemn imperial authority.

Hearing this question, Pei Yanci’s hand paused near his temple.

Peach blossoms fell rustling down, pink petals landing on Gu Jiuqing’s temples and dark hair. Even his jade-carved, ice-sculpted features gained two parts of charm.

Pei Yanci gently brushed away the peach petals from his temples.

At the moment he reached out, Gu Jiuqing tilted his head slightly and gripped his wrist tightly, but seeing the petals on his sleeves, he couldn’t help but be stunned.

“There, Your Highness.” Pei Yanci’s words remained unhurried as always, not crying out despite the pain in his wrist.

Gu Jiuqing released his grip as if burned, straightened in his seat, his voice carrying spring’s chill. “You have overstepped.”

“Yes, but even peach blossoms cannot tarnish half a bit of Your Highness’s dignity.”

Gu Jiuqing looked at him sideways due to his gentle yet firm words.

“You…”

“Your Highness still harbors complete distrust toward this humble one,” Pei Yanci interrupted him, pointing out calmly, “only wariness and defensiveness. Does Your Highness truly believe what this humble one just said?”

Wasn’t distrust perfectly normal?

Sending people to investigate afterward was also normal—he at least needed to confirm the truth of the matter and couldn’t possibly rely solely on a household servant’s words.

“Your Highness can dispatch people right now to watch the Qingcheng Academy people and see if they will visit Prime Minister Cui’s residence recently,” Pei Yanci said. “At the same time, you could have someone in the mansion whom Your Highness trusts replace this humble one in continuing contact with the Qingcheng Academy people. Others only know Your Highness’s noble status—they don’t know Your Highness’s current situation is like walking a tightrope. Regardless, at least don’t let those scholars throw their support to the eunuch faction and ruin their futures, only to later resent Your Highness’s inability to help, which would be extremely detrimental to Your Highness’s reputation.”

A complex, indescribable emotion surged in Gu Jiuqing’s heart.

Just days ago, he had wanted to eliminate this person, yet now he saw him full of enthusiasm and concern, planning unreservedly for his benefit.

He had never encountered such a person.

Even Zhang Huairu, who had known him since humble beginnings and had been willing to help him and his mother consort, had done so because he had been assigned to their palace. If he hadn’t planned for the mother and son, he too would have suffered endless humiliation in the man-eating palace and died miserably in the end.

In that environment, he had no choice but to fight for his master and for himself.

“When this prince falls into misfortune someday, this prince will dismiss all the servants in this mansion beforehand and won’t implicate any of you,” Gu Jiuqing said.

“This humble one knows—this shows Your Highness’s benevolence,” Pei Yanci’s expression didn’t change at all. “Regardless of whether Your Highness believes it or not, this humble one will not leave.”

He stepped closer again. This time, Gu Jiuqing only frowned slightly, his body showing no resistant posture.

He knew—he had won.

His eyes curved like a crescent moon, filled with brilliant, scattered light. His face beamed with spring warmth, his smile blooming like flowers, even more captivating than the trembling peach blossoms on the branches.

“This humble one will always stand behind Your Highness, helping to resolve Your Highness’s worries.”