SEHE Chapter 35

Steward Zhao

 

The relationship between sovereign and subject has always been delicate.

 

Being capable and competent, able to handle everything the master desires without needing explicit instructions—this is understanding the sacred heart.

 

Recognizing talent early, knowing and accompanying each other, loyally protecting with unwavering devotion, and when the master rises to prominence, rising alongside them—this is having the wisdom to recognize potential.

 

But this relationship is also dangerous.

 

It’s difficult for people to remain clear-headed in the midst of power. One careless step leads to losing oneself and losing perspective. Even if one manages to maintain clarity, there’s no guarantee the superior will maintain their previous views.

 

Especially for someone like Gu Jiuqing—a future monarch who is sensitive, suspicious, both insecure and arrogant.

 

Having failed in his earlier assassination attempt, he had always suspected Pei Yanci’s motives for approaching him. Now he would also suspect that Zhang Huairu was using his favor to monitor and control him.

 

In his heart lived an abused version of his childhood self.

 

Whenever someone made him uncomfortable, regardless of who they were, he would instinctively want to strike back immediately to avoid falling into another situation of helplessness and being at others’ mercy.

 

So Zhang Huairu died.

 

Pei Yanci heard about the events from Wuli’s exaggerated account when he woke up the next day.

 

Zhang Huairu had gone to the main courtyard early in the morning to pay his respects. Somehow he had displeased Gu Yunqing, who ordered him strangled to death with a white silk cord on the spot.

 

Yunsheng was banished to Zhang Huairu’s manor outside the city, where he had stayed for less than one night.

 

As for the remaining people, only terror remained.

 

The servants looked at Gu Jiuqing as if viewing a moody tyrant.

 

When the master’s intentions become impossible to fathom, when the subordinates begin to feel thoroughly chilled and fearful, a qualified emperor is born.

 

Pei Yanci watched with interest as a group approached along the lake. Gu Jiuqing stood tall and graceful, just returning from a lake excursion to enjoy the spring scenery. Willow branches swayed overhead, fresh and green, casting dappled shadows across his face.

 

Even bathed in warm spring light, his eyes remained like thousand-year-old ice that refused to melt, piercing deep enough to wound the heart and draw blood.

 

Since he had missed the chance to join hands with Gu Jiuqing through the most difficult times, then he would become the most trusted favorite minister now and for some time to come.

 

Until he became useless to him.

 

He bent slightly and waited for them to pass.

 

Black-gold python boots flashed before his eyes, then stopped completely.

 

“Come with this prince to sit in the pavilion.”

 

“Yes.” Pei Yanci had no choice but to follow him.

 

In the flying-eave pavilion, spring breezes rustled. Maidservants set out refreshments and set up a small stove outside the courtyard to brew tea.

 

Half the bamboo curtains were lowered. Gu Jiuqing sat upright in the place of honor, his expression grave, sighing softly. “Zhang Huairu is gone, and Yunsheng has been sent down to the manor. For a time, there’s no one to manage affairs in the mansion. From now on, you shall take Zhang Huairu’s position.”

 

Pei Yanci said, “Yes.”

 

“In a couple of days, Eastern Palace officials will come to report on the progress of various affairs over the past three years. You must handle all mansion matters properly.”

 

Three years—he was finally moving from the periphery of Anjing’s official circles toward the center of power.

 

“Yes.”

 

A long silence fell in the pavilion.

 

A maidservant below the steps finished brewing tea, brought it up with lowered head and bowed posture, then lifted the curtain and departed.

 

Gu Jiuqing’s expression grew hazy in the misty tea vapor as he asked, “Do you think this prince’s actions were correct?”

 

“This humble one has no right to judge such matters.”

 

“Are you afraid of this prince?”

 

When even someone who had followed him for nearly twenty years could be executed without a trace of sentiment, how could others not be afraid?

 

He might truly feel some sadness now, but he was thinking more about cleaning up the mess this incident created—his carefully built image of benevolence had collapsed, making it difficult to win people’s hearts again.

 

“This humble one is not afraid,” Pei Yanci said. “This humble one only knows that when Your Highness acts this way, there must be reasons. Zhang Huairu’s execution must mean he touched Your Highness’s forbidden territory. When His Majesty learns of this matter, he will only think Your Highness is establishing authority.”

 

Gu Jiuqing’s expression cleared somewhat. “This prince’s choice of you was indeed correct.”

 

Zhang Huairu represented his past, while Pei Yanci was the capable person who could assist him in the future.

 

“This prince wishes to replace a batch of people in the mansion. What do you think?” These people made him uncomfortable.

 

“Replacing a batch might allow spies from court factions coveting the Crown Prince’s mansion to infiltrate. Better to keep the current people, but with Yunsheng gone, have other longtime mansion staff take over, and just buy a few servants to fill the one or two empty positions,” Pei Yanci said.

 

Just as he finished speaking, a servant came rushing in to report. “Yunsheng is causing a great disturbance in the mansion and has stabbed Steward Zhao.”

 

Gu Jiuqing frowned. “Send more people to escort him out. As for Steward Zhao, how badly is he injured?”

 

“A hole in his belly—he’s wailing without stop.”

 

“Go outside the mansion and fetch a physician to examine him.”

 

The servant seemed to want to say more, his face timid, but he lowered his head, accepted the order, and left.

 

“Your Highness,” Pei Yanci said, watching the departing attendant’s expression, “Zhang Huairu’s death has greatly intimidated the other eunuchs and servants in the mansion. In the short term they won’t dare cause trouble, but they might also, as Your Highness worries, mistakenly think Your Highness is cruel and without benevolence. How about this: Zhang Huairu had no sons or daughters, and Yunsheng is unreliable. Why doesn’t Your Highness have this humble one handle his funeral arrangements to demonstrate Your Highness’s benevolent heart?”

 

Gu Jiuqing already had this intention. “That would be complete. You handle this matter.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Coming out from the back garden, he encountered Wuli running toward him, sweating profusely, saying quietly, “It’s done. Yunsheng was furious and sent me and two others away before going to find Steward Zhao.”

 

When Yunsheng left the mansion, Pei Yanci had assigned three people to watch him pack. Wuli was one of them.

 

“Thank you for your hard work.” Pei Yanci patted his arm.

 

When it came to provoking people and sowing discord, Wuli was definitely first in the mansion.

 

****

 

Pei Yanci had Zhang Huairu’s corpse prepared, found an inconspicuous courtyard in the back, set up a three-day wake, arranged the burial, conducted rites, bought a coffin—all affairs handled like those of common people.

 

The deceased’s clothing and possessions still needed to be burned to send to the underworld, so he specifically called a dozen people to go to the manor outside the city to collect them.

 

Zhang Huairu had just arrived at the manor and hadn’t stayed even one night, so many things were still packed in trunks. It was convenient for them to collect everything, and Pei Yanci had them bring it all back to the mansion.

 

While organizing the bedding and pillows, a yellow-paper, black-text booklet fell out.

 

Several servants gathered to look. One said disappointedly, “I thought even eunuchs might study erotic pictures before bed, but what’s this?”

 

“Do you recognize it?”

 

The servant shook his head.

 

Pei Yanci said, “This is a registry book. His Highness has been looking for it.”

 

“What did Zhang Huairu want with a registry book?”

 

“Who knows.”

 

That would depend on how Gu Jiuqing interpreted it.

 

Anyway, His Highness wouldn’t think of a positive answer—he would only believe Zhang Huairu had hidden the registry book with some ulterior motive.

 

And his own registry book had naturally been “stolen” by Zhang Huairu before today.

 

Pei Yanci brought those things back to the mansion and had Zhang Huairu’s clothing and personal effects burned. He went to deliver the registry book to Gu Jiuqing, but he wasn’t there.

 

Just as he left the courtyard, someone came to report that Steward Zhao was dying.

 

After three days, Steward Zhao was about to follow Zhang Huairu’s path.

 

Pei Yanci hadn’t planned to see him, but the messenger said Steward Zhao was hanging onto his last breath and wouldn’t close his eyes in death without seeing him.

 

****

 

The room was filled with a heavy smell of blood. When Pei Yanci opened the door, his figure stirred a breeze that brought some fresh air inside.

 

His gaze swept around the room, then he sat leisurely beside Steward Zhao’s bed, his eyes showing a trace of sympathy as he said sorrowfully, “Uncle, what words do you wish to leave for this nephew?”

 

Steward Zhao’s cloudy, yellowed eyes widened as he reached toward him.

 

“It was you! You harmed me, harmed Chief Steward Zhang!” He seemed to use the last of his life’s strength, his voice hoarse and rasping like a vengeful ghost demanding a life.

 

In these three days of dying, he had finally figured it out.

 

Yunsheng sending him to sound out Pei Yanci’s intentions had been a mistake—it played right into his trap.

 

Without their tip-off, how could Zhang Huairu have rushed back from outside the city overnight to his death?

 

Pei Yanci dodged aside, firmly grasping the thin arm in the air and pressing it back to the bed without allowing refusal. “Uncle, you’ve mistaken me for Yunsheng again.”

 

“I… no… you…” His voice was distorted with pain, and his words were almost inaudible.

 

“I know that in all you’ve done, you never once truly considered my interests,” Pei Yanci smiled bleakly. “You only came to find me because Zhang Huairu and the others demanded it. You never once defended me or spoke a good word for me in front of them. You needn’t feel guilty—I don’t blame you.”

 

He gritted his teeth and asked the question troubling his heart. “Did you harm me because I extorted money from you before?”

 

“No. That I could gain His Highness’s favor and gradually become the mansion’s chief steward was all due to Uncle’s initial recommendation.” Pei Yanci said gratefully. “That I have today is all Uncle’s achievement. My filial gifts of a few dozen taels of silver were only proper. Your good days were still ahead—what a pity…”

 

“Then why… do you want me to die!”

 

“It’s Yunsheng who wants you dead,” he sighed. “Unfortunately I cannot avenge you. His Highness ordered him sent to the manor, and he didn’t even go to the magistrate’s office. I am powerless—you’re right to resent me.”

 

“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it. Everything you’re saying is lies.” Steward Zhao screamed hoarsely, his gaze involuntarily looking toward the screen behind the bed.

 

Black-gold python boots showed their tips from beneath the screen.

 

After a long moment, the boots disappeared behind the screen.

 

“Uncle, even now you still want to put me to death, never thinking of me even slightly.” Pei Yanci shook his head. “If someone gave you ten or eight taels, would you even sell out His Highness?”

 

As the figure behind the screen disappeared, the light in Steward Zhao’s eyes gradually faded. When he looked at Pei Yanci again, he wanted to tear him apart and swallow him alive.

 

“It was you who harmed me!”

 

He wasn’t clear on the specific details and reasons, but he just knew.

 

“Why exactly? Because of those few taels of silver? I’ll return them to you, return them all. Save me—I don’t want to die!” He desperately clutched Pei Yanci’s arm like a drowning man grasping the last straw.

 

He could already smell death’s approach and feel the helplessness of his approaching end.

 

“It’s not about the silver, nor about threats.” If Pei Yanci had cared about such trivial personal grudges, Steward Zhao wouldn’t have lived this long.

 

“Because I promised someone that the mansion needed to free up several positions. We’re still short one, so I can only trouble Uncle to make room.”

 

Steward Zhao’s eyes suddenly widened.

 

A servant’s voice came from outside. “Chief Steward Pei, His Highness wants you to hurry to the front courtyard.”

 

“What’s so urgent?” Pei Yanci asked unhurriedly, watching Steward Zhao draw his last breath.

 

“The Chief Overseer of the Elu Bureau, Tang Xizhui Daren, has come to the mansion.”