SEHE Chapter 21

Wager 

Pei Yanci felt somewhat uncomfortable and changed to sit sideways in a different direction, continuing to dry his hair with his head lowered.

“Nine-Thousand-Years jests. When have I ever been angry?”

He had always kept his emotions hidden, never showing joy or anger on his face. Even his personal attendants who had served him for five or six years couldn’t detect it. How were this person’s eyes like bright mirrors?

As he was drying his hair, the cloth in his hand was suddenly snatched away.

Pei Yanci moved further toward the inner part of the bed and looked at him warily.

Tang Xizhui took the cloth and stood behind him to one side. His five fingers ran through the disheveled hair, one hand spreading out the white towel to help dry his hair.

“Even hair can be dried like this – no wonder you’re getting uglier.”

“……”

This was the first time anyone had dared call him ugly!

Pei Yanci felt somewhat awkward inside.

Before age eleven, he had never dried his own hair. In the dozen-plus years after eleven, he had never lifted a finger for food, clothing, or daily needs.

He glanced back at Tang Xizhui and saw his expression was normal, which put his mind somewhat at ease. But immediately he was smacked on the back of the head. “Don’t move around.”

In the past, he would have charged this person with the crime of disrespecting the sovereign for such an action.

What a natural-born servile bone for attending to others.

“Nine-Thousand-Years, today I’ll use this list to exchange for those troublemaking scholars in your hands. How about it?”

“You treat this list like some miraculous elixir – just exchanged it with this lord once, and now you want to exchange it again.” Tang Xizhui finished drying the ends of his hair, his five fingertips gently massaging the scalp with just the right pressure.

Pei Yanci comfortably squinted his eyes, feeling somewhat drowsy.

“Those scholars are useless locked up in prison all day. Better to give them to me – I’ll make them into people loyal to Nine-Thousand-Years.”

A trace of laughter came from behind. “Is this how you fooled Gu Jiuqing?”

“How could he have Nine-Thousand-Years’ foresight?” Pei Yanci lazily yawned, but just as his hand reached his mouth, a white cloth was thrown at his face.

“Mmph.”

Crime upon crime!

Tang Xizhui clapped his hands and returned to the table from before, putting away that list.

“When this lord is in a good mood, you can have them come collect the people.”

“You agreed?” Pei Yanci pulled the cloth from his face and followed to stand before him.

“You owe this lord a favor.”

“I gave you the list.” Pei Yanci said. Compared to owing favors, he preferred making deals.

His original plan wasn’t to make deals with Tang Xizhui, but Song Qi’an had approached him before the Crown Prince left the palace. He had no choice but to try to get this evidence before the Elu Bureau found the registry book, but unfortunately things didn’t go as planned – the registry book was useless for this case.

“This list exchanges for your transgression tonight. As for releasing that group of scholars, and,” Tang Xizhui pointed at his hair from afar, holding up two fingers, “helping you dry your hair – two favors.”

“I didn’t ask you to help me dry it.” The corner of Pei Yanci’s mouth twitched.

“This lord doesn’t like people questioning words already spoken.”

“Looks like you’ll have to get used to it.” Pei Yanci crossed his arms and stepped sideways to block his path, yielding nothing. “You made me angry just now. Drying hair counts as an apology at most.”

Tang Xizhui couldn’t help but laugh. “Who just said they weren’t angry?”

“You were tricking me into talking.”

“Didn’t you say that yourself?” Tang Xizhui blinked innocently.

That’s exactly why Pei Yanci was angry.

What made him even angrier was this person’s ambiguous attitude – neither saying he knew nor saying he didn’t know, making his heart involuntarily tense with nervousness.

He must have guessed who he really was.

Former emperor in a past life, now just a slave in this life – what utter humiliation.

He grew increasingly irritated.

But thinking it over, the matter of borrowing a corpse to return to life was unheard of in this world. Who would think in that direction?

In the blink of an eye, his emotions settled again, returning to his usual calm.

“You’ll believe whatever I say?” he asked.

“This lord only believes the truth.”

“Your speculation just now was correct.”

“You know what this lord is thinking?”

“Think whatever you want.”

Seeing his completely unconcerned manner, doubt arose in Tang Xizhui’s eyes instead.

Just now he had indeed had some bold thoughts about this person’s true identity, especially seeing him nervous and displeased, which made him more certain of his speculation. Now seeing him like this, it seemed like he was just overthinking.

It seemed he needed to dig more information out of this person.

This was getting more and more interesting. The corner of Tang Xizhui’s mouth curved up inadvertently.

“You seem to have never known your identity before becoming an official slave,” he said.

“I lost my memory,” Pei Yanci said frankly.

“Would someone with amnesia forget even how to dry their hair?”

This was a living habit, not a memory.

Tang Xizhui placed one hand at his elbow, thumb against his jawbone, index finger tapping his nose bridge. “How does this lord feel like you’ve completely changed into a different person?”

Another probe.

Pei Yanci gathered his thoughts and suggested, “How about we make a wager?”

“What wager?”

“Wager on whether Pei Yanci has changed into a different person or not.” Wasn’t this exactly what he’d been wanting to know?

“If you’re right, I’ll submit to your disposal. If you’re wrong, you release that group of scholars.”

“How do we verify it?”

Pei Yanci stepped forward. Under his sleeves where no one could see, his pinkish fingertips traced across the back of Tang Xizhui’s hand.

A faint, almost imperceptible itch stirred ripples of sensation. Tang Xizhui was about to grab at it but was caught by the wrist instead.

Pei Yanci placed his hand against his own cheek, looking at him with eyes full of laughter.

“Trouble Nine-Thousand-Years to personally examine whether I’ve disguised my appearance.”

Tang Xizhui’s breath caught for a moment.

He said nothing, his whole person maintaining an indifferent calm. Only those sinister black pupils that no light could penetrate slowly turned into a rich deep purple.

Seeing he wouldn’t move, Pei Yanci actively guided his hand, sliding from his ear along his jawbone downward, stopping at his chin, slowly brushing against his neck hollow and Adam’s apple.

“Have you examined it clearly?” His voice was very light, somewhat ethereal, mixed with threads of laughter, though his eyes held no mirth at all.

When Tang Xizhui spoke again, his voice was somewhat tense. “No.”

Pei Yanci’s fingers secretly pressed against the pulse point on the inside of his wrist. Simple movements and casual conversation concealed deadly threat.

“How else does Nine-Thousand-Years want to verify? I’ll accompany you to the end.”

His crescent-moon eyes were bright and brilliant, frank and pure, carrying spirited pride and confidence, as well as the unconsciously revealed aura of one accustomed to high position.

In such eyes, he glimpsed the filth in his own heart.

Tang Xizhui fled in panic under his gaze, casually averting his eyes as if nothing had happened.

“Tomorrow, those scholars will be released from prison.” His voice was tinged with low, hoarse obscurity.

A white figure flashed before his eyes. When he looked again, Tang Xizhui’s form was nowhere to be seen.

Only the rich, fragrant scent unique to him lingered in the room.

Pei Yanci brought the hand that had just grabbed the person to his nose, lowering his head to breathe in the scent lightly. Looking at the open window, his face showed a playful expression.

****

The next day, the Imperial exam candidates who had been imprisoned for nearly ten days finally saw bright daylight again.

Song Qi’an and some families of the candidates waited anxiously outside the prison. When they finally saw their people, their hearts finally settled.

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and walked toward a young man who looked haggard but couldn’t hide his sharp spirit.

“Suixi.”

At the same time, Pei Yanci stood outside the palace gates and also saw Gu Jiuqing.

“Your Highness.” He went forward to meet him.

Gu Jiuqing walked out from the palace. Hearing this call, he couldn’t help but freeze.

Having just passed through two nightmare-like days, he was still somewhat dazed.

After the daze came disappointment.

“Why are you here?” Gu Jiuqing’s brow slowly furrowed, his suspicious gaze still sharp despite everything.

“Thanks to Your Highness’s blessed protection, this humble one luckily escaped from the Elu Bureau’s hands.” Pei Yanci answered simply, immediately changing the subject. “This humble one borrowed a carriage to escort Your Highness back to the mansion. Please don’t disdain it, Your Highness.”

Gu Jiuqing had knelt outside Ganchen Palace for two full days and three nights. Physically and mentally exhausted, he had no extra strength to walk back and didn’t refuse, allowing him to help him into the carriage.

“Where is Zhang Huairu?” As soon as he sat down, he immediately asked with concern.

“This humble one didn’t see him in the city. He should still be in the Elu Bureau’s prison.” Seeing his difficulty moving, Pei Yanci knelt beside him and massaged his legs.

Only he really wasn’t skilled at this sort of thing – waves of sharp pain felt like torture. Gu Jiuqing thought this was his filial devotion and didn’t want to lose his temper, but his expression grew increasingly cold.

“Did His Majesty say the reason for this upheaval? Can Your Highness safely get through this time?” Pei Yanci’s brows and eyes showed appropriate worry.

“Don’t know. Still have to wait for the Elu Bureau’s interrogation results.” He spoke impatiently. “It’s just a matter of these few days.”

This morning he had been summoned to the inner palace. The Son of Heaven of the Great Yu Dynasty, his imperial father, had cursorily asked about the course of events. Before he could explain, he was interrupted by Tang Xizhui’s message of good news – a new batch of pills had just been refined and needed His Imperial Majesty to personally open the furnace.

So he was sent out of the palace, placed under house arrest in the Crown Prince’s mansion, waiting for the Elu Bureau’s interrogation results to come out and determine his fate.

A trace of melancholy fell across his handsome features.

He was like a small insect trapped in a spider’s web – no matter how hard he struggled, he still couldn’t escape the eunuch faction’s clutches.

Three years ago, when he took his elder brother’s place, he already had this awareness.

A cold blade hung constantly at his neck, pressing inch by inch toward his lifeline.

“Yanci, do you know? This prince can barely breathe anymore.” He rarely revealed a corner of his inner vulnerability and confusion before an unfamiliar person.

Perhaps it was because after this absurd upheaval, he could still see someone he knew, someone who gave him a bit of insignificant care at this time.

“This humble one knows,” Pei Yanci said with lowered eyes. “Your Highness has had a hard time.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

A loud voice from outside the carriage interrupted their conversation.

He lifted the curtain and saw a tall middle-aged man on horseback bowing in salute, with a dark mass of soldiers behind and around him.

Northern Barracks Imperial Army.

Pei Yanci’s gaze swept over the commander.

“This subordinate came late. Please forgive me, Your Highness. From now on, this general will escort Your Highness back to the mansion and protect Your Highness’s safety.”

Gu Jiuqing’s expression was indifferent. “As you wish.”

No matter how grand the justification, it couldn’t cover up the fact that these people had come to place him under house arrest.

The journey passed in silence. The Crown Prince’s mansion was still in the same chaotic state as three nights ago. Fortunately, the Elu Bureau had only arrested people without touching the vessels and furnishings. Pei Yanci fooled a dozen or so Imperial Army soldiers into entering the mansion with a few words, tidied up a bit, and it looked passable.

Only now the vast Crown Prince’s mansion had only Pei Yanci and Gu Jiuqing left.

Naturally, the job of caring for people fell to Pei Yanci.

He found a doctor outside the mansion to examine Gu Jiuqing’s legs, then went to a tavern and ordered more than ten tables of food. Using the silver Gu Jiuqing gave him, he ordered all the restaurant’s signature dishes. One table he secretly sent to Wuli’s inn, one table to welcome back Gu Jiuqing, and the rest he gave to the Imperial Army guards outside the mansion.

Gu Jiuqing kept himself shut up in his courtyard all day without coming out. Pei Yanci thoughtfully made himself scarce when he wasn’t needed.

In just a few days, he had actually gotten on good terms with the Imperial Army soldiers.

Now he had people to handle buying groceries, cooking, and cleaning.

Pei Yanci sat to one side with his legs crossed, thinking.