SEHE Chapter 57

Testing 

“Who are you?” Pei Yanci asked calmly.

“I am…” Halfway through his words, the man behind him realized there was no need to reveal his identity. “Stop wasting time, just keep walking forward.”

Pei Yanci felt the sharp point behind him thrust forward slightly, forcing him to slowly shuffle forward a few steps. The man immediately pressed close behind him.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the gate.” The man spoke tensely. “I’m not someone who kills the innocent. Trust me – once we reach the mansion’s gate, I’ll let you go.”

Pei Yanci calmly surveyed his surroundings. It was afternoon rest time, and all the buildings and courtyards were unusually quiet. Pink-tinged white crabapple blossoms trembled delicately on their branches.

“What brings you to this mansion? If you hadn’t come, your life wouldn’t be in danger.” He asked what seemed like a rather foolish question.

The man behind him didn’t think too deeply about it, and the question triggered his agitated emotions. “It was them – no – it was that eunuch who captured me from the Elu Bureau. He uses capital punishment on court officials!”

So that’s how it was.

Not an assassin, but someone brought from the Elu Bureau – and a court official at that.

“Capturing me won’t help you. I just arrived at this mansion recently. Whether I live or die, no one in this mansion cares.”

“Who are you trying to fool? You’ve been here before. I saw it from under the bed – you’re the only person who entered that eunuch’s room and walked out unharmed. To that beast, you must be special.”

“It seems you’ve misunderstood.”

“Stop talking nonsense and keep walking!” The man shouted somewhat hysterically.

Pei Yanci softened his tone. “Is your hand injured?”

“None of your business.”

“Of course it’s my business.” He said, “Normally, when holding someone hostage, you should have one hand gripping the hostage’s body and the other holding a weapon. Even though you’re trying hard to hide it, you still smell of blood, and you haven’t attempted to control my body with your other hand.”

“So what? I can still kill you. Don’t try any tricks.”

Pei Yanci stopped walking and turned slightly, tilting his head.

A slight whoosh of wind rushed past his ear. The next moment, the man behind him cried out in alarm as an arrow pierced his shoulder. The force of the arrow knocked him back two steps before he collapsed to the ground.

Pei Yanci leisurely turned around and looked at him indifferently.

Blood flowed steadily from the wound, and there was a crabapple petal pinned to his chest by the arrow, soaked with blood.

A group of palace attendants appeared from nowhere, quickly surrounding someone as they gathered around. The previously empty path became both silent and bustling.

“Congratulations, foster father, on another successful hunt.” A palace attendant bowed with a fawning smile.

Huo Cun wanted to speak but was preempted, his expression sour. However, he quickly bowed as well, apologizing, “Chief Steward Pei was startled. Someone, quickly take this person away and clean up this place so it doesn’t offend the noble’s eyes.”

The unconscious man was quickly carried away.

Pei Yanci looked at the seemingly lifeless person, then withdrew his gaze. “It seems I came at an inopportune time and disturbed Nine-Thousand-Years’ entertainment.”

Tang Xizhui wore a deep blue robe with ten thousand blessing patterns and inlaid lotus treasure umbrella, adorned with precious pearls and gold trim on the wide sleeves. He stood upright and dignified, seemingly still immersed in the pleasure of the hunt. Hearing this, his bloodthirsty eyes looked toward him and slowly revealed a smile. “You came at just the right time.”

“Please notify me beforehand next time to avoid harming the innocent.” Pei Yanci bowed to him. “I’ll return to my courtyard to rest now.”

Tang Xizhui’s expression grew slightly stern as he asked his two foster sons beside him, “Is he afraid or not afraid?”

“He should be… not afraid,” Huo Cun said.

Tang Xizhui stroked his smooth, delicate chin. “You may go.” With that, he quickly pursued Pei Yanci ahead.

Pei Yanci heard the footsteps following behind him and slowed his pace. When the person caught up, he suddenly turned around.

Tang Xizhui was caught off guard by the sudden movement and stumbled back a step in panic before steadying himself.

“Does Nine-Thousand-Years have other business?”

“What did you do when you went out this morning?” Tang Xizhui asked. If it were anyone else, he would certainly be suspicious and interrogate them indirectly. For some reason, he felt that Pei Yanci would definitely tell him the truth honestly.

“I went to visit Great Scholar Fang, whom you had beaten and crippled, and also discussed something with the Song family uncle and nephew, having Song Qi’an oversee the drafting of the new tax law.”

These people who could fight their way out from the encirclement of aristocratic family scions with only their meager family resources to become examination candidates, just one step away from the Golden Luan Hall, were definitely not incompetent fools.

(TL: In history and literature, 金銮殿 ‘Golden Luan Hall’ is a formal way of saying the emperor’s audience hall (where officials were received)

“Did you come to my courtyard this morning also for the tax law matter?”

“Yes.” Pei Yanci answered frankly. “The Crown Prince’s side will soon present a new policy to His Majesty. How will you respond when the time comes?”

“Does Xiao Pei’er care about me?” Tang Xizhui showed a hint of smile.

“I’m afraid you’ll be caught off guard.”

“That won’t happen.” Tang Xizhui was satisfied. “I don’t believe you have such capable people who can propose new policies sufficient to move His Majesty.”

“You may look down on those examination candidates, but the Zheng family’s retainers who can see the flaws in the current tax law – how could they not have countermeasures? Don’t underestimate them.”

“If not for me, where would those incompetents get the chance to stir up such trouble?” Tang Xizhui sneered slightly.

“You figured it out?”

“No.”

Pei Yanci wore an expression of “I knew it.”

This person clearly wasn’t the type to sit quietly and study legal codes.

“Though not me, it was someone I know.” Tang Xizhui was displeased by his expression and immediately explained. “Good horses are common, but good judges of horses are rare. Meeting a judge like me – isn’t that fortunate?”

“Who is this person? Could you introduce me?” This was exactly why Pei Yanci had come this morning.

Someone not blinded by the prosperous scene of the court, who could sharply see the invisible hand that could drag the Great Yu Dynasty into eternal damnation at this critical juncture. Though he had never met this person, he instinctively believed this was who he was looking for.

“Xiao Pei’er, seeing how interested you are in this person makes me unhappy.”

“If you won’t tell me, forget it.” Pei Yanci turned to leave.

Tang Xizhui stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“This person is named Xiao Yu, and his ambitions don’t lie in official career. Xiao Pei’er, I won’t be angry if you want to win him over, but I worry you’ll return empty-handed and be disappointed.”

“Why does this name sound so familiar?” Pei Yanci frowned.

By reason, he should remember the names of everyone he’d met, so when he encountered them again, he could easily call them by name. Whether dealing with superiors or subordinates, this would appear intimate and courteous, increasing others’ favorable impression of him.

“You have seen him before.” Tang Xizhui excitedly pulled out a booklet from his robes.

Pei Yanci took it and saw four large characters on the cover: “Secret Words of a Spring Night.”

“…” He remembered now.

Opening to the title page, it indeed bore his name.

“This person has only two great loves in life: painting pictures and painting spring palace illustrations. Among all the best painters in the capital, he ranks first.” Tang Xizhui used the booklet to poke his thin chest. “I’m giving this to you.”

“I don’t need this.”

“This is a superior Long Yang illustrated book, different from before. I have many – don’t be polite.”

(TL: 龍陽 = “Longyang,” an allusion to male–male love (from the story of Lord Longyang)

“I still don’t need it.” Pei Yanci felt somewhat frustrated. He held back his irritation and advised, “You should also read less of these.”

What does this person do all day?

Tang Xizhui’s eyes flashed with unusual excitement. “Are you caring about me?”

“Think whatever you want.” Pei Yanci’s expression remained composed, but inexplicable irritation arose in his heart.

Why should he care about this person?

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Why should I fear you?”

Tang Xizhui’s lips curved upward uncontrollably. Under his wide sleeves, his pale, cold hand finally quietly lifted, wanting to touch him.

Heaven knows how much he craved this body – young, pure, passionate, resolute, full of vitality, noble and proud, written all over with unyielding integrity.

He represented all the beautiful qualities that the most noble men in the world could possess.

“May I…”

But Pei Yanci was somewhat impatient. He was already annoyed by Tang Xizhui’s questioning.

“Can you be normal?”

The hand raised in mid-air suddenly lost the courage to approach.

Pei Yanci’s eyes lowered, not looking at the person, and walked straight past him back to his own courtyard.

****

Wuli and Wushu whispered as they approached the room, only to see someone already sitting inside.

“Oh!” Just as Wuli was about to shout, Wushu quickly spoke up.

“Brother Yanci, why did you come inside so early today? Didn’t you say you wanted to practice martial arts properly?”

“Mm, I’m memorizing the martial arts manual.” Pei Yanci held a book and said lightly.

“Why didn’t you light a lamp? Don’t save money for that old eunuch.” Wuli complained, walking to the table and glancing over. “How did you manage this? I can’t make out a single character.”

Only then did Pei Yanci notice it had grown dark.

“I was reciting from memory.” He closed the book matter-of-factly and turned to arrange the bedding.

Wuli said, “Big brother, after we went to sleep last night, did you hear anything? I think I heard screaming. They say the old eunuch likes to secretly bring prisoners from the Elu Bureau to the mansion. If they can escape the mansion within a set time, they’ll be released without charges. But if he catches them once, one finger gets chopped off. When all fingers are gone, he starts on toes, until all limbs are disabled.”

Speaking of this, he felt his scalp crawl. “Damn, how does he think up such demented ideas? This mansion is built so large, like a maze – who could escape?”

“No wonder when I passed the main courtyard this morning, there was a smell of blood coming from inside.” Wushu agreed, then whispered, “Today I also encountered the Chief Overseer’s male attendant.”

“What male attendant?” Wuli asked curiously. “Someone who serves that old eunuch?”

“Yes, I saw burn marks on his body, and whip marks, and bruises on his knees. He was limping when he walked. That eunuch is brutal in bed – last night he stuffed half a roasted chicken into the man’s bottom until it bled, then kicked him off the bed and gave him dozens of lashes.”

“Enough.” Pei Yanci said. “These aren’t things you should know. They’re too inappropriate, speaking such filthy matters openly for you to hear.”

“Big brother, why are you angry?” Wuli was startled. In their month or two together, this was the first time he’d seen him darken his expression.

He said weakly, “I was just saying the Chief Overseer’s mansion is dirty. Big brother, you should believe that person isn’t anything good – don’t be deceived by his face.”

“What deception? Tang Xizhui deliberately wanted me to know these things.” Pei Yanci said indifferently. “Otherwise, given how terrified the servants are, how could you possibly pry so much information from their mouths so easily?”

From the moment they entered the mansion, Huo Cun had pretended Tang Xizhui forgot his appointment, deliberately leading him around half the estate to “coincidentally” let him witness the aftermath of Tang Xizhui’s violence, stirring imagination.

Afterward, the mansion’s servants revealed rumors about Tang Xizhui to Wuli and Wushu, and even let the two “accidentally” witness people abused by Tang Xizhui, further confirming the rumors weren’t false.

Today, that severely abused person directly stood before him, even wanting to endanger his life.

Even more intense revelations reached his ears through Wushu and Wuli’s words.

Tang Xizhui was actually a pervert with cruel, twisted temperament and no humanity.

And all of this was designed step by step by Tang Xizhui to test his limits.

To test whether Pei Yanci could accept such a real version of him.

Beneath that devastatingly beautiful exterior, inside was complete devastation, flowing with disgusting, frightening pus and blood.

What kind of answer did Tang Xizhui crave from him? Did he want to see him show terror and fear, despair and pleading, or joyful acceptance with the sentiment of finally finding a kindred spirit?

Pei Yanci closed his eyes, feeling somewhat weary.

“What kind of person he is has nothing to do with me.”