SEHE Chapter 144

Political Involvement 

As soon as Pei Yanci entered the mansion, the heads of the Yue and Xue families couldn’t help but stand up to greet him.

“Apologies to both darens, I just came from Marquis of Quliang’s mansion.” He exchanged greetings, then sighed.

“It seems Pei Daren hasn’t obtained the answer he wanted,” said the head of the Yue family.

“Indeed,” Pei Yanci replied.

As soon as he left the Cui mansion, he had sent people from the Elu Bureau to discreetly inform them.

These two before him should have received satisfactory answers.

“Pei Daren is a favorite before His Majesty’s eyes, yet it seems even the Marquis of Quliang has his tactless moments,” the Xue family head said with a laugh.

“The Xue family head is different—between the Princess and myself, it seems you’ve already reached a clear decision.”

By revealing the Cui family matter to the Xue family, he wanted the Xue family head to know that he was recruiting among the aristocratic families. Since the Cui family was unwilling to cooperate with him, their opportunities would be greater.

“Pei Daren works for His Highness the Crown Prince, which naturally means working for Princess Zhangping as well. We’re all on the same side, so we’ll be closer in the future.”

Since everyone claimed to be on the same side, why were they all harboring their own schemes and recruiting separately?

Everyone understood this perfectly well.

On the surface there seemed no difference, but in reality the distinction was as clear as the Jing and Wei rivers.

“This one isn’t very familiar with Her Highness the Princess,” Pei Yanci said. “Previously when attending a banquet at the Princess’s mansion, I inadvertently ruined her event. With old and new grudges piled up, it’s long been impossible to sort out.”

The Xue family head laughed heartily and produced a letter from Zheng Qinglai. “Enemies often become friends after fighting. Though I know little of Pei Daren, I trust Old Zheng’s judgment. I hope you’ll give me a chance to understand you better.”

“This one would naturally be delighted,” Pei Yanci said with a smile.

The three spent an hour discussing tomorrow’s matters. When dinnertime approached, the two finally stood to take their reluctant leave.

Pei Yanci brought dinner to eat in his own room. When he reached the door, the neighboring room’s door opened.

“Brother Zhaohui, why have you come out?”

Wang Lingche had shut himself in his room for over a month. If not for the daily water and food being reduced when delivered, he would have thought the man had rotted away inside.

“Is the Capital Evaluation about to begin?”

It’s almost over.

“Is something the matter?” Pei Yanci asked.

“Can you help me pull some strings?” Wang Lingche said. “My current sixth-rank position really doesn’t cut it.”

“Weren’t you supposed to take monastic vows after the New Year?”

“I’ll write to my master tomorrow and tell him I’m not going yet.” Wang Lingche’s voice was flat as a waveless line as he fingered his blood-drop agate prayer beads. “I think my worldly ties aren’t severed yet. If I’m to become a monk, I should at least sever my worldly ties first.”

For some reason, Pei Yanci noticed that as he spoke, the mole on his nose bridge twitched, oddly sinister.

“What position do you want?”

“Minister of the Dali Temple.”

“That’s a bit difficult. You’ll need to start showing up for work first.”

“I’ll go tomorrow.” Wang Lingche thanked him and without another word closed his door.

Pei Yanci raised his eyebrows and entered his own room.

Tangxi Zhui’s eyes lit up as candles were lit. “We’re having sliced raw fish today?”

“I knew you’d like it. There’s also crab roe bira, spicy field snails, roasted venison, and grape wine.”

Tangxi Zhui first drank a cup of wine, licked the crystalline red droplets from his lips, and contentedly narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you being so good to me today?” He tilted his head, looking at the person across the table, then suddenly said, “What happened between you and Gu Jiuqing? Did you eat together?”

Did he have to guess so accurately?

“Or did Gu Wanchong come find you?” A flash of darkness passed through Tangxi Zhui’s alluring eyes.

“Can you please withdraw the Elu Bureau’s spies!” Pei Yanci ground his teeth. “I’ve told you so many times—I hate being monitored by others.”

“I withdrew them long ago. Even if I wanted to investigate, they’d have to be able to get into the Eastern Palace.” Tangxi Zhui’s mouth turned down and his brow furrowed. “You never usually put your heart into me, but today you prepared my favorite dishes and wine. One look and I can tell you have a guilty conscience, then you’re letting a few crumbs fall my way.”

“Don’t make yourself sound so pitiful.” Pei Yanci didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, yet he found himself quite receptive to this performance. Looking at that face, he couldn’t get angry no matter what. “I’ve long grown used to your tricks of acting jealous to curry favor.”

He didn’t have a guilty conscience.

Tangxi Zhui’s head shot up like a rabbit’s, his ears perking up, his face cold as an ice sculpture. “Who else has been currying favor with you?”

“Who else besides you?” Pei Yanci rolled his eyes, picked up his chopsticks, and selected an extremely thin slice of fish sashimi. The translucent pink-white fish was rolled with golden orange shreds and verdant scallion threads, dipped in a bit of wasabi, and brought to his mouth.

Tangxi Zhui’s thin eyelids lifted slightly, his gaze staring directly at his face—eating fish but spitting out human bones.

“Still sulking?”

Tangxi Zhui said nothing, moved from across to sit beside him, pulled him onto his lap in one motion, and wrapped an arm around his waist, serving him food.

Pei Yanci made a disgusted “tch” sound and shifted in his embrace, but ultimately didn’t make him sit back.

If he didn’t let him cling, he’d throw a tantrum later.

After two cups of wine, he contentedly leaned against the chest behind him, his face somewhat flushed from the alcohol. He lifted his head to kiss the chin above, the jawline still tense, cold and sharp.

Tangxi Zhui held him to prevent him from sliding down. Seeing him start to squirm, he knew the man had eaten his fill. He casually put a few bites in his own mouth and asked, “How many people have you won over?”

“Not many.” Pei Yanci stood to get paper and brush, but Tangxi Zhui made him sit to the side while he went to fetch them from nearby. When he turned around, he saw Pei Yanci’s cheeks flying with rosy clouds, smiling as he reached out his hand toward him.

In the room where not many lamps were lit, amid the waning candlelight, Pei Yanci’s crescent moon eyes carried three parts intoxication.

Utterly intoxicating.

Even a heart of stone would melt into water.

Tangxi Zhui’s eyes softened. He placed the paper and brush on the table and pulled him back onto his lap.

“It’s a bit cold.” Pei Yanci burrowed into his embrace, prompting the person behind to hold him tighter. Only then did he take up the brush and write several names with flowing strokes, introducing them as he wrote.

“That old surnamed Cui won’t listen!” Pei Yanci’s flour-white face crumpled as his scallion-white index finger angrily poked at that name.

“I’ll deal with him later.”

“How will you deal with him?” Pei Yanci yawned, his tearful eyes looking at him with confusion.

Tangxi Zhui kissed the upturned lips once. The lips soaked in grape wine were soft and hot. He reluctantly pulled away, afraid that lingering even a moment longer would prevent them from discussing business.

“The Elu Bureau doesn’t just sit idle,” he said vaguely.

“No need for the Elu Bureau to act.” Pei Yanci thought for a moment, his muddled head turning rather slowly, humming and mumbling, “Tomorrow I’ll make him regret it.”

“Mm, make him regret it.” Tangxi Zhui held tight the person burrowing around in his arms. “The northern front is struggling and short on manpower. I want to join the army in the north. Can you write me a letter of recommendation?”

Pei Yanci looked at him in surprise. “You want to leave this lord?”

“Do you want me to leave?” Tangxi Zhui asked gently.

He hesitated for a while, then shook his head.

Tangxi Zhui didn’t dare think deeply about how much of that moment’s hesitation was due to reluctance to part with him as a person, versus considerations of power and interests.

“I need a new identity.”

An identity to stand by his side again.

“This lord will arrange it well.” Pei Yanci cupped his face and pressed their lips together.

The auspicious incense burned in the golden beast censer, the blue bed curtains stirred until midnight before gradually quieting.

Tangxi Zhui tucked in the corners of the quilt, his long legs clad in snow-white inner trousers. The night wind was somewhat cold. He put on the nearby snow-silk long robe and walked to the table. His fingers carrying a faint salty marine cold fragrance passed over the leftover food and picked up several sheets of paper.

Before long, a figure appeared by the window.

He handed the papers to Huo Cun. “Memorize these well.”

Huo Cun glanced up at the red marks on his pale chest and abdomen, quickly lowered his eyes, and carefully examined the pages.

Finally, Tangxi Zhui placed the papers back on the table in exactly their original position.

He produced another letter. “Give this to Xu Xiangqian.”

Huo Cun responded affirmatively in a low voice, then after hesitating, said, “Won’t Adoptive Father Pei overthink this?”

“Without chaos, how easy would it be to seize military power?” Tangxi Zhui revealed a cruel smile.

“Everyone says Xiao Pei’er is cold-hearted, but when facing the common people of the realm, his heart is soft. He wants peaceful evolution—give it three to five years and it could be done, but the question is whether the old man can last until then.”

“Since he wants that position, I must fight for him.”

The moonlight was desolate, coating his exquisitely beautiful profile in a layer of silver frost, making it even paler, like a man-eating fierce ghost.

“Recently there’s been much turmoil among the civil officials. This son can also help in court…”

His voice was cut off by the ice-cold hand that fell on his head.

“You call me adoptive father—how could I let you also be stained with those infamies?”

“We’re all pitiful souls, already dirty long ago. What difference is there between dirty and dirtier?”

“Bah, who says you’re a pitiful soul?” Tangxi Zhui proudly raised his head. “I have someone who dotes on me.”

Huo Cun: “…”

Whatever makes you happy.

Before leaving, he glanced back once more. Tangxi Zhui bathed in moonlight, his expression peaceful, his crimson lips curving in a smile without bending, faintly revealing a kind of sanctity, like a celestial being. The former sinister and tyrannical Dugong had become a blurred memory. This current one had his temper smoothed away and even thought of others—they were like two different people.

Sure enough, only he himself remained pitiful…

————

The next day, Pei Yanci rubbed his head and climbed out of bed. Fortunately he hadn’t gotten dead drunk last night, or his head would be aching today.

In previous years, before the Capital Evaluation and transfer results came out, Tangxi Zhui would present the already-drafted list to the Emperor for review. Generally there would be no changes, which gave Tangxi Zhui the opportunity to control court politics.

This year no one replaced Tangxi Zhui in this task. With so many positions vacant in court, the Emperor also had a headache for a long time. He deliberated over promoting people, at least filling the crucial positions first. After all, he hadn’t been involved in government affairs for too long and his energy couldn’t keep up, so there had been no movement.

After dragging it out repeatedly, the Emperor proposed that today several people gather together to discuss. The tone of his order carried a casual air, as if it were just idle chat, but when they heard it, they faced it as a formidable enemy.

For instance, Pei Yanci, who had been actively moving and bustling about recently.

Besides him, also present in Ganchen Palace were Cui Ya, the Gu brothers, the Six Ministries’ ministers, Jian Ji’an, and Censor-in-Chief Xie Gucheng.

Zhang Dongqin’s appearance at this occasion already surprised him, but what surprised everyone present even more was that Gu Yueqian had also come.

As soon as she appeared, the atmosphere in the entire hall became much more lively and bright.

Gu Yueqian smiled charmingly. “You all talk amongst yourselves. This princess is just worried about Father Emperor’s health and here to serve tea and water.”

The assembled officials secretly glanced at Gu Jiuqing, then at the Emperor seated above. Seeing both their faces remained normal, how would they dare say anything?

Gu Yueqian’s wide golden-pink palace robes swept across the hall’s golden bricks, swaying gracefully and elegantly. Her cold, sharp gaze took in the expressions of all the men present before she sat on the hall’s only sandalwood chair.

“Begin.”

“This princess is ready.”