SEHE Chapter 116

Replacement

The printing house had just started up, and various aspects were not yet complete, requiring much attention. To this end, Pei Yanci made a special trip to Fang Hongchun’s residence to invite him to come out of retirement and oversee things. When he came, the Song uncle and nephew also came along. None of the three had experience managing government offices or commercial enterprises, so at first they hesitantly declined. Pei Yanci put them at ease—Song Qi’an and Fang Hongchun both had experience managing students, which was already sufficient. Song Suixi came to join the excitement and secured a position, which would also give him good experience.

As for the Imperial Academy, Pei Yanci basically delegated authority to Fang Qingdu to manage, only handling matters from the Educational Affairs Bureau when they occasionally arose.

Two days later, he was summoned into the palace by the Emperor.

Meeting the Emperor alone for the second time, he already had a general understanding of this person’s methods and temperament.

After an exchange of pleasantries and bows, he heard the Emperor’s steady, dignified voice tinged with some impatience say, “Have Zheng Qinglai and the Crown Prince been having conflicts lately?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince sympathizes that Minister Zheng is currently experiencing the pain of losing his spouse. He advised this subject not to always go disturbing him—if there are matters, I should speak to His Highness or Minister Chen from the Ministry of Rites just the same.”

“Regarding the impeachment of the Elu Bureau, it seems Zheng Qinglai is unaware.”

“Yes.”

“Although Minister Zheng is in mourning, he must still concern himself with what needs attention. Previously he was more familiar with court affairs than the Crown Prince, and in the future he’ll still need to preside over the overall situation of state governance. If he now pays no attention to political matters, how can that be acceptable?”

Pei Yanci was astonished and instinctively raised his head. Fortunately, the Emperor was reading the memorial he had submitted and didn’t notice his breach of etiquette.

At the court assembly a few days ago, the Emperor had appeared mentally excited, but soon after would become very listless, as if his energy burst out in an instant before collapsing. Today his spirits didn’t seem as good as before, but not as bad as usual either—he looked fairly well.

This made him feel the Emperor could remain in this position for several more years.

Pei Yanci felt relieved.

“Your Majesty’s meaning is… without Minister Zheng, this matter probably cannot be accomplished?” he probed.

“Tang Xizhui has been handling court affairs on Zhen’s behalf. After a long time, he may have truly forgotten his own worth,” the Emperor said. “You’ve done very well, but you also cannot casually wrong an important court minister. When the time comes, you must let Zhen—let all under heaven—see ironclad evidence that convinces everyone before Zhen can convict. Otherwise, groundlessly attacking so many court officials, in the end it will be you who cannot salvage the situation.”

Pei Yanci didn’t believe a single word of this.

He was a member of the Zheng faction. If he didn’t know that Tang Xizhui had gone this time to secretly handle affairs for the Emperor, he might truly think the Emperor would feel Tang Xizhui had become arrogant and forgotten himself, arousing his wariness, thus making him work even harder to prove the Elu Bureau’s crimes and attempt to have all the eunuch faction executed.

But since the Emperor didn’t want Tang Xizhui’s life, why did he still insist that Zheng Qinglai cooperate with the Crown Prince? If the two great powers of the Zheng faction worked together in concerted effort, even if he instigated Gu Yueqian to sow discord between them, it would actually be a drop in the bucket, because she couldn’t be too blatant about it.

So then, was the Emperor that confident Tang Xizhui could deal with the Crown Prince and the Zheng family?

Right—setting aside whether it could be accomplished, one major purpose of the Emperor elevating Tang Xizhui to his current status and position was precisely to deal with the Crown Prince and the aristocratic families.

If the Zheng family didn’t participate this time, even if Tang Xizhui dealt with the Crown Prince and brought down Gu Jiuqing alone, the aristocratic families would still stand behind the scenes. With so many princes, they could still support others.

After the bloodshed and sacrifice of his own son, everything would return to square one.

Pei Yanci couldn’t help thinking of the former Crown Prince. Previously, when it was said he intended rebellion and usurpation, the case was closed in less than three days. Although the subsequent investigation claimed it was Consort Chen who framed the Crown Prince for the sake of her own son, it couldn’t be denied that the former Crown Prince was of Zheng family blood. Would the Emperor allow Zheng family bloodline to serve as the future Emperor?

“Your Majesty speaks truly. For the sake of a clear and upright court, His Highness the Crown Prince has sacrificed much. But he may still lack some skill in collecting evidence. I believe that even if he occasionally feels dissatisfied with Minister Zheng and harbors resentment, he won’t disregard the bigger picture,” Pei Yanci said. “Your Majesty can rest assured, this subject will find a way to persuade them. Only by working in perfect harmony can they find a way to obtain ironclad evidence.”

“Nothing could be better,” the Emperor said. “Speaking of which, Zhen has long wanted some peace and quiet. Now they’re all too busy quarreling to accomplish anything, spending all their energy watching for others’ mistakes.”

These words seemed to hint that their actions against Tang Xizhui had the Emperor’s support, and that the Emperor also wanted to use their hands to eliminate the Elu Bureau.

But if the court from top to bottom were united as one, with all officials in solidarity, the first one unable to sleep would probably be the Emperor.

One had to be careful with this Emperor’s words. Out of ten sentences all praising and supporting you, nine and a half were false, and the remaining half-sentence of reverse psychology was what he actually required his subjects to do.

The conversation came to an end. Pei Yanci knew he should withdraw. Before leaving, he also reported in person on the Imperial Academy’s reforms and changes during this period, and was somewhat impatiently dismissed by the Emperor.

“Zhen knows. These minor matters, just let Tang Xizhui handle them.”

Pei Yanci studied his expression and attitude before feeling reassured, bowing and leaving Ganchen Hall.

Memorials and documents were ultimately just words on paper and couldn’t reveal the Emperor’s truest inner thoughts.

As he was leaving the palace, several other people emerged from a side path, and both parties happened to encounter each other face to face.

Pei Yanci glanced at the unfamiliar eunuch’s face, exchanged bows and greetings with the person opposite, then passed by and left.

Cui Ya said wonderingly, “What was Pei Daren doing in the palace today?”

The internal overseer Li Ren’an, temporarily replacing Tang Xizhui in serving before the Emperor, said with an ingratiating smile. “This servant doesn’t know either. The Imperial Academy and the Secretariat recently jointly established a printing house that just opened a few days ago. Pei Daren was probably in the palace reporting on this matter.”

Cui Ya always felt things shouldn’t be this simple, but seeing Li Ren’an couldn’t give him much useful information, he inwardly sneered.

Unable to even find out this bit of news—if it were Tang Xizhui, he’d have planned out the next several steps already.

However, mediocre ability meant easy to control.

Tang Xizhui was just too clever, to the point where now he was being led by the nose by a eunuch, with everyone saying he was a running dog of the eunuch faction.

Their former shoulder-to-shoulder cooperation had ultimately become a clear superior-subordinate relationship. Anyone who could become a Minister of the court would be unable to swallow this grievance.

“What does Minister Cui still have to worry about? Pei Yanci is just a minor player. This time the Crown Prince is using his full strength to drag Tang Xizhui into the water. With us coordinating from within and without, even if Tang Xizhui were an immortal he couldn’t escape death. If we’re to blame anyone, blame him for being abandoned by friends and relatives, for offending the Fifth Prince, with even his own adopted son wanting him dead.”

Cui Ya gave a cold laugh, then said, “Don’t celebrate too early. Keep close watch on those around His Majesty, don’t let his people find an opening.”

“Understood.” Li Ren’an smiled and said, “This servant only hopes that Minister Cui will remember his initial promise—between this servant and Huo Cun, whoever is more capable of the position of Chief Overseer of the Elu Bureau, Minister Cui mustn’t forget.”

“Internal Overseer Li can rest assured.” Cui Ya casually agreed, his appraising gaze looking at Li Ren’an as if viewing a valuable commodity.

The Emperor’s trust had never been worth much. Once a replacement appeared—someone more reassuring and obedient—who would still want to use that rebellious piece of goods Tang Xizhui?

As a subject, he had thoughtfully helped the Emperor find a replacement.

****

Pei Yanci sat in the carriage deep in thought. Thinking of the person he’d just seen beside Cui Ya, dressed in a dark purple eunuch’s robe, he lifted the carriage curtain and instructed the driver: “Go to the Dali Temple.”

Wang Lingche walked out from inside carrying a case file. Seeing a familiar figure walking in from the main gate in the distance, he blinked in disbelief and quickly went to meet him.

“Yanci, why have you come?”

“I came to find you, Brother Zhaohui.”

Wang Lingche looked around. “Come over here to talk.”

He ushered him into a small room, poured him a cup of tea, and said, “You came to the Dali Temple? Or…”

He remembered the unpleasantness from a couple mornings ago. Recently he’d been deliberately avoiding Pei Yanci at the residence.

Was he about to be driven out of the Pei residence now?

Had Pei Yanci come specially to tell him he had to move out today? Didn’t want him to stay even one more day?

For a moment, his mood felt rather dejected.

“Are you going to drive me out of the residence?” He always spoke frankly and asked about everything directly.

“No.” Pei Yanci was puzzled why he would think this way, then immediately recalled the misunderstanding from two days ago and couldn’t help laughing. “You and the Chief Overseer of the Elu Bureau are now acquainted. You’ll often encounter him in the future—just act as if you don’t care.”

“Are you two together?” Wang Lingche felt uncomfortable.

“I suppose so.” Pei Yanci himself wasn’t sure.

Tang Xizhui had never seriously and clearly expressed his feelings for him, and neither had he.

He just felt very comfortable being with him, so he maintained this situation. It felt pretty good.

No one knew whether tomorrow they might draw swords against each other, fighting to the death over power and interests.

Neither of them was the devoted type.

“So he’s taken you away from me.” Wang Lingche’s eyes flashed with unwilling resentment. “I won’t allow it! You belong with us, he’s an outsider, a stranger. Can’t you see? Being with him, I, Wuli, Wushu—we all feel uncomfortable. None of us welcome him.”

Pei Yanci watched this young master temper flare up, feeling both strange and amused. “You don’t like me in that way, do you?”

He really couldn’t find a better explanation.

“I like you—the kind of liking where I see you as a younger brother.” Wang Lingche nodded. “I want to become your family.”

“We’re already family living under the same roof.” Pei Yanci didn’t understand what about him could serve as his family.

Actually, during this time staying here, he hadn’t given Wang Lingche much care and warmth. It was more like being polite housemates. Even Wushu and Wuli often complained that he was cold by nature, busy, and had no time to stay with them.

“As family, I think you’ll help me keep this secret, right?” But this didn’t prevent him from exploiting this mentality. “Only someone who is my family can know this secret. If it leaked, it might get us all killed with no burial place.”

Wang Lingche was moved by the sincerity and deep trust in Pei Yanci’s eyes. His whole body’s defensive reaction dissipated, and he suppressed the inexplicable thoughts in his heart, nodding. “I understand. You’re treating me as one of your own, which is why you appeared before me together with Tang Xizhui.”

Understanding it this way, he felt much better.

He felt a trace of warmth from being wholeheartedly trusted—something he’d desperately sought from parents and clan relatives for over twenty years but could never convince himself to believe in. Here with Pei Yanci, he could easily feel it.

“Do you still remember you owed me a favor before?” Pei Yanci’s few words dispelled the baseless and extreme resentment toward Tang Xizhui that had just sprouted in him. Only then did he state today’s purpose for coming. “I want you to help me with something.”

Regardless of whether this person was innocent or posed a threat, he didn’t want Tang Xizhui to have another enemy because of him.

His person—he had an obligation to protect him well.

“What is it? Just say the word.” Wang Lingche asked. “Is it official business?”

Otherwise Pei Yanci wouldn’t have come to the government office to find him or mentioned the previous favor.

Sometimes this person was quite clear about separating public from private matters. He seemed to have discovered one of Pei Yanci’s traits.

“Yes.” When Pei Yanci brought up serious business, his eyes could always burst forth with fervent light. “Do you have a way to look into all the cases that officials from both the Zheng faction and the Crown Prince’s faction have been involved in? Regardless of whether there was a final outcome, as long as someone filed a complaint, I want them all.”

“What do you need this for?” Wang Lingche said in surprise. “This is very troublesome. Uh, I’m not trying to avoid it, I just mean you should at least give me a direction so I can work faster. I don’t want to delay your time because of this.”

“If we’re talking about direction,” Pei Yanci felt somewhat troubled, “it would be regarding the Crown Prince. The specific reasons are complex. If you knew them, it might not be a good thing for you and the Wang family.”

After leaving the Emperor, he felt it necessary to thoroughly investigate the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince and aristocratic family forces were too powerful and Tang Xizhui couldn’t contain them, judging from the Emperor’s attitude today, he didn’t dare guarantee whether this supreme authority figure might choose to abandon Tang Xizhui.

He had to find a way to restrain Gu Jiuqing.

“Alright.” Wang Lingche sighed quietly. “You’re probably still working for the eunuch faction. Playing both sides is very dangerous. You must be careful.”

“I know. It’s rare to have someone care about me so much. I’m very happy.” Pei Yanci’s face showed a gentle smile, and the light in his eyes instantly grew brighter.

Wang Lingche was dazed by that smile. Suddenly he leaned forward across the table and kissed him on the cheek.

The soft, elastic skin had been blown somewhat cold by the wind outside. When his lips touched that cool patch, even his own heart felt a flutter of excitement.

Pei Yanci’s expression stiffened. His habitual faint smile slowly faded as he raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

It was a rarely stern and solemn expression.

“I…” Wang Lingche was startled and stunned, his face flushing with some embarrassment. For a moment he was at a loss, like a child who had done something wrong, and lowered his head.

He had no way to explain the reason for this action.

“Aren’t you a lay Buddhist?” Pei Yanci’s words carried some interrogation.

A lay Buddhist was half a monk.

“Didn’t you say you consider me family?”

Was this how family members acted?

Even Chancellor Pei, who prided himself on calculating people’s hearts with no omissions, was bewildered.

He’d actually been played by this seemingly innocent fellow!

“Don’t, don’t be angry. I don’t know why I kissed you either.” Wang Lingche’s face flushed even redder with innocent embarrassment as he frantically tried to placate him, yet his hands froze in midair not daring to touch him. “I’ve always seen you as a younger brother.”

Those clear, spiritual eyes gathered pleading tears of helplessness, his brow furrowed, his gaze pitifully begging for forgiveness.

Pei Yanci didn’t know what to say.

He had kissed him, yet he himself seemed like the villain who had bullied him.

“You’re such a person—clearly you seem simple-minded and straightforward, yet today I just can’t follow your thinking.” Pei Yanci sighed, unconcerned. “Forget it, it’s not that big a deal anyway.”

He wasn’t a young lady whose reputation would be damaged by being taken advantage of.

“Yanci, you’re so good.” Wang Lingche breathed a long sigh of relief and relaxed. “Just pretend today didn’t happen. My mind was muddled, that’s why I did that. I promise I’ll absolutely never do such a thing to you again.”

“Don’t blame yourself. It’s nothing.” Pei Yanci saw his eyes were red-rimmed, like a soft, easily-bullied white rabbit. The little knot in his heart also dissipated. He patted his arm. “I’m leaving now. Don’t forget my request—it’s rather urgent. Thank you for your hard work these next few days. I need to see it as soon as possible.”

Wang Lingche obediently shook his head, watching him leave, the corners of his mouth curving into a sweet smile. “It’s no trouble.”