SEHE Chapter 128

Smuggling Salt and Iron

Pei Yanci dawdled for over an hour.

It wasn’t until the Elu Bureau’s surveillance guards reported that the snake was about to emerge from its hole that he finally set out with Tangxi Zhui.

“Should’ve kept up the act to the end,” Tangxi Zhui said as he carried Pei Yanci with his lightness skill, lamenting, “The moment you found out I’d regained my sight, you started ordering me around.”

“Don’t worry, even if you were still blind, I could give you directions while ordering you around.”

“Let me ask something very personal – where exactly is your moral baseline?”

“After meeting you, I’ve discovered it’s quite high.” Pei Yanci nestled comfortably in his embrace, pulling his white cloak around them both to block the wind and snow, leaving only their eyes and noses exposed. “Even after handing over the control of Elu Bureau to me, I can still let you stay by my side. I can even tolerate Wang Lingche, Gu Jiuqing, Qi Lan, and those other fellows.”

Of course, the main reason for not moving against the latter three was due to limitations of status and position.

“But those are all your lovers, you know.” Tangxi Zhui smiled ominously, looking particularly sinister in the moonlight.

Pei Yanci switched to holding the cloak with one hand, wrapped his arm around Tangxi Zhui’s neck and planted a kiss on his nose tip, licking away a bit of pristine white snow. “You’re my only lover for now. If you can’t handle it, I’ll make an effort and find a few more.”

“Ridiculous.” Tangxi Zhui scowled and held him even tighter.

Right now he could only rely on his looks and those lowly little tricks to maintain favor – how could he possibly be unable to handle it?

The two traveled rapidly through the dark night as the snow began falling heavily.

The north was very dry – even the snow fell like fluffy cotton flakes, dancing through the sky. They still remembered how over ten days ago in the central-southern region, the snow there had mixed with rain, bringing heavy dampness. It soon turned to ice, and no matter how many layers one wore, the bone-chilling wet cold seeped through.

Without realizing it, the two had walked from northern Anjing to the southern provinces, then from the south to the northern frontier. Like viewing flowers from horseback, they’d traversed most of the Great Yu territory, walking from frost-tinged autumn red to the depths of snowy winter.

Late at night, on a snowy path where one couldn’t see one’s hand before one’s face, a convoy of horses and carriages appeared from somewhere. The horses’ rough breaths turned to white mist that quickly dissipated.

Their legs were wrapped in cotton cloth, and the cart wheels were also covered with a layer – dozens of horses and carts traveling down the street made hardly any noise.

“Very experienced indeed.” Pei Yanci lay on a rooftop watching them reach the city gate. The leader produced a token, which the gate guard took and examined before bowing slightly and respectfully returning it, then speaking to those behind him.

The heavy city gate opened just a crack, barely enough for the horses and carts to pass through.

Tangxi Zhui carried Pei Yanci around the soldiers guarding the gate tower and caught up with the group, remaining hidden in the darkness throughout. They watched as the group quietly conversed with people from the north, then the northerners unloaded goods from their carts and loaded several large chests onto the Great Yu carts.

Pei Yanci looked at the string of people, his gaze locking onto one person.

He’d just seen him earlier that evening when Ji Huaiyong had hosted a banquet – it was the Mobile Cavalry General Wu Congyi. He’d heard this name before from Lu Fang’s mouth.

Colleagues?

Quite possible – Lu Fang had once served at Wenhui Pass.

So these border generals not only lent soldiers to bandits to hunt them down, but the smuggling of salt and iron was also real.

Judging by how practiced and coordinated they were, this wasn’t their first time doing this.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Tangxi Zhui held his hands in his sleeves, blinking innocently. The fine snowflakes on his brows and lashes added a touch of cold pitifulness to his pitch-black pupils, lessening some of their sinister quality.

After the people left, Pei Yanci gave an order to the Elu Bureau.

“Go back on your own.”

Tangxi Zhui responded irritably, already accustomed to being discarded by someone after being used.

****

After Wu Congyi finished tonight’s extra business, he dragged his exhausted body home. He’d just removed his belt when a figure emerged from behind the screen.

Relying on a military officer’s instincts, he grabbed the sword on the table as he turned.

“Pei Daren?”

“Wu Daren.”

Pei Yanci stood beside the screen with an amiable smile.

“Breaking into my house late at night – Pei Daren seems rather impolite.” Wu Congyi kept his right hand on the sword hilt, while an imperceptible panic rose in his heart.

He had personally watched Pei Yanci get carried away from the tavern dead drunk. For him to now appear clearheaded in his room, right after he’d finished those affairs tonight – one couldn’t help but ponder deeply.

Pei Yanci’s purpose for being here was also obvious. “I personally witnessed Daren’s activities outside the city tonight.”

“So?”

“If this humble official, a mere civil servant, goes out for a walk to sober up and ends up catching a fifth-rank minor general of Great Xi, wouldn’t that make you and General Ji look rather incompetent?”

Ji Huaili’s expression remained unchanged, but cold sweat had already begun appearing on his forehead.

“Did His Majesty send Imperial Guards with you?”

Otherwise he didn’t believe the fat man, child, and girl around this person could subdue nearly a hundred men.

A civil official coming alone versus a civil official coming with an imperial guard unit – these were completely different things.

Pei Yanci walked to the side and leisurely extended his hands to warm them by the fire.

“Daren now has a chance to redeem yourself through merit.”

His frozen fingertips slowly regained feeling as the dancing firelight flickered across the left side of his face.

Wu Congyi pretended to remain calm. “You’ll pay the price for tonight’s impulsiveness.”

“Then we’ll see who dies first.” He spoke indifferently.

“Do you know who stands behind General Ji?”

“At least not the Crown Prince’s faction.”

Ji Huaiyong had been away for years – which faction he belonged to, Pei Yanci had learned from Feng Bojiang during that polo match.

The Second Princess wanted her son to shine. The injured Gu Jiuqing would rather let him play than have Qi Lan substitute. Afterward, Feng Bojiang took ill and Qi Lan smoothly took the field.

Back then when he had Wuli drug that blockhead Jiang Yi, he hadn’t drugged Feng Bojiang.

Feng Bojiang could appear at Anjing’s polo field because he’d been recalled to the capital before completing his five-year term at Wenhui Pass, forced into early retirement in his prime. Ji Huaiyong had then taken over his position.

The handover between old and new had been rather unseemly.

Therefore, Feng Bojiang and Ji Huaiyong must belong to opposing factions. Combined with the fact that Feng Bojiang sided with Minister Zheng and the Second Princess, plus the earlier deduction that Gu Wanchong wanted them dead and intended to secretly eliminate them on the road – it all made sense.

Ji Huaiyong was Gu Wanchong’s man, and tonight they’d clearly been conducting transactions with Great Xi’s garrison.

When one is fortunate, meat falls right into one’s mouth. Tonight he’d stumbled upon the very case of border generals smuggling salt and iron that Lu Fang had mentioned.

This also made sense – Gu Wanchong had spent years in the military and had good relationships with those soldiers. Yet he harbored suspicions against Tangxi Zhui’s faction. If the salt and iron smuggling case were exposed, pinning it on Tangxi Zhui would be both convenient and beneficial.

But the next words left Pei Yanci greatly shocked.

“So you really don’t know who you’ve offended?” Only now did Wu Congyi finally relax.

This seventeen-year-old youth dared to arrest people so rashly only because he didn’t understand the network of relationships involved.

“General Ji happens to be Crown Prince’s confidant.”

Pei Yanci’s smile froze at the corners of his mouth.

That Crown Prince whom the world saw as benevolent and humble, constantly pushed to desperate straits by Tangxi Zhui yet always managing to escape each time.

Was doing things that damaged the Great Yu court’s interests.

This was treason.

In his impression, Gu Jiuqing was insecure, sensitive, obsessive, reclusive, and also carried traces of selfishness, arrogance, pride, and reluctant vulnerability. He had no strength to truss a chicken and rarely interacted with court officials.

Yet he’d already been secretly dealing with border generals since assuming the Crown Prince position.

The money he earned must be considerable.

And for all his talk of trusting him, that trust was truly shallow after all.

Not even touching the tip of his iceberg.

“You don’t believe it?” Wu Congyi thought he was too frightened to believe it. “Release Great Xi’s people now, apologize to General Ji, hurry back to Anjing tomorrow to beg the Crown Prince for forgiveness, and perhaps your life can be spared.”

“The Crown Prince thinks you’ve betrayed him.”

“Hm?” Wu Congyi couldn’t quite process this for a moment.

“You didn’t know? I’m Minister Zheng’s adopted son, and I used to be the Crown Prince’s advisor. General Ji knows all this. Didn’t you see him trying to curry favor with me over drinks this evening?” Pei Yanci recalled the hints in his earlier conversation with Ji Huaiyong. Ji Huaiyong had acted like “you know and I know.” Thank goodness court officials liked to speak in roundabout ways that required interpretation – look, the benefits had come!

He’d thought Ji Huaiyong was Gu Wanchong’s man; Ji Huaiyong thought he was from the Crown Prince’s faction. By coincidence, both sides had chatted quite happily.

Wu Congyi was confused. “Were you sent by His Highness to test us?”

“Otherwise what – that I’m from the eunuch faction? Do you think that’s possible?” Pei Yanci smoothly switched identities. “You’re too familiar with all those old-timers in Anjing, so Minister Zheng sent me, this fresh face. If I were really from the eunuch faction, with just these few people following me, where would I get the courage? This is far from the emperor – which colleague in court doesn’t know how many accidents happen at the border?”

“Minister Zheng is Minister Zheng, His Highness is His Highness. His Highness is the future sovereign, while Minister Zheng is just someone who stirs up trouble relying on his aristocratic family status. Which side do you really belong to?” Wu Congyi asked.

“Without the Crown Prince, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Pei Yanci spoke earnestly.

“Then explain what you mean about our betrayal?”

“The silver you’ve been sending to Anjing…” Pei Yanci gave him a look that said “you know what I mean, no need to spell it out.”

He waited for the other party to fill in the blanks.

Wu Congyi indeed panicked. “It has been less these past months, but we’ve sent quite a few innocent women from Great Xi to make up for it.”

“The Crown Prince hasn’t seen them anyway.”

Wu Congyi slapped his thigh. “It must be Zhang Huairu and that bastard adopted son of his who pocketed it!”

He grew anxious. “Pei Daren, please explain things well to His Highness on our behalf. Great Xi looks like they’re preparing for war, gathering momentum. What used to be once a month has now become once every few months. Things are tense up north – they’re not as free as we are and don’t dare contact us too frequently.”

Pei Yanci spoke unhurriedly. “Words are just words – anyone can say them. I need some proof to show His Highness. Regardless of the outcome, at least it demonstrates that you’re devoted to your master and working for His Highness.”

Wu Congyi thought this made sense. He stirred the brazier in the room to brighten it, then went to the inner chamber.

When he emerged, he carried several account books and a stack of papers. “These are records of each transaction, the personnel involved and those responsible, and also…”

****

When Pei Yanci returned to the post station from Wu’s residence, dawn was nearly breaking.

Another sleepless night.

In his previous life, his frail body wouldn’t have dared imagine this.

He stretched and rolled into bed hugging his quilt. He’d just dozed off when a sweet and spicy aroma drifted to the bedside.

“Time for breakfast.”

Cold fingers tapped the edge of the quilt, rescuing a fuzzy head from under the covers.

Pei Yanci rubbed his eyes and mumbled, “What time is it?”

“Early morning hours. Wushu and Wuli have both gone to check the accounts.”

“Mm, fire, need fire.” After being hit by a gust of cold air, Pei Yanci immediately woke up and saw who had come.

Excellent – delivered himself right to the door.

“I’ve already told them to bring a brazier.” Tangxi Zhui sat at the foot of the bed. “What’s the problem with me sleeping in your bed?”

“You dare ask!” Remembering last night’s events, Pei Yanci mercilessly kicked toward his side. “Tell me, did you arrange for those bandits to lure me north!”

Tangxi Zhui’s body tilted in the opposite direction from the kick. Before touching the bedding, he rocked back like a tumbler doll toward Pei Yanci, smiling cunningly. “Xiao Pei’er, don’t wrongly accuse me. I was seriously injured and even went blind.”

“Who knows if that wasn’t your bitter stratagem?”

“Even so, it couldn’t have been that bitter – I nearly died there.” Tangxi Zhui smiled placatingly. “Such a bad temper – didn’t you get evidence last night?”

“I knew you knew who the real culprit was!” Pei Yanci kicked him again.

You inhuman bastard, always scheming against me!

Lu Fang and Lu Lie had escaped from his manor – Pei Yanci had already suspected Tangxi Zhui deliberately let them escape and intentionally told him about it. But the border was so far away, and he didn’t have many people at hand to investigate at the time.

When the Lu brothers gave testimony, they’d pointed at Tangxi Zhui himself. He’d thought this person was testing him – whether he’d choose to expose or destroy the evidence after obtaining it.

The clue about the ambush came from the Elu Bureau. He’d rushed all the way from the south to the border and immediately ran headfirst into a salt and iron smuggling scene.

Still claiming he didn’t arrange this – clearly every step after leaving Anjing had been within his calculations!

Pei Yanci kicked several times in succession before finally lying flat on the bed, gasping for breath.

“Not angry anymore?” Tangxi Zhui carefully crawled from the foot of the bed to the head. “Gu Jiuqing deliberately framed me. All that evidence Lu Fang had was intentionally planted by them. Once someone discovered irregularities and tried to investigate, they’d only trace it back to me, at most to Gu Wanchong. After the Elu Bureau investigated to this level, they couldn’t break through any further…”

“So you lured me here?” Pei Yanci really wanted to kick that delicate, bewitching face.

But he couldn’t reward this dead pervert.

Tangxi Zhui hastily declared his loyalty. “The bandits absolutely weren’t arranged by me, I swear. Just as you thought, it was Gu Wanchong’s doing. He’s been at the border for so many years – it’s normal for him to have hidden away some horses and weapons.”

“So what?” Pei Yanci ground his teeth.

“Anyway, you’ve already guessed – this enemy won’t go away. Might as well make use of this situation and treat it as the border people’s doing,” Tangxi Zhui saw he still wasn’t appeased and furrowed his brows with a pitiful expression. “Xiao Pei’er, have mercy on this servant. I’m facing eighty-three capital crimes in Anjing – you can’t just watch me be executed by a thousand cuts.”

“Serves you right!”

This bastard had been planning to use this matter to clear himself from the start!

“Wait, I received an imperial edict to leave Anjing and go south to turn the vassal kings against each other – you didn’t secretly orchestrate that too, did you?”

Logically, with so many people in court, even if he’d made a name for himself once or twice in court, the Emperor wouldn’t entrust such matters to an unfamiliar young upstart.

Tangxi Zhui’s gaze shifted, his thick lashes blinking uneasily.

“I’ll beat you to death, you bastard!”