After two or three days, Chu Jiubian had become a little wary of Qin Xiao.
In the middle of the day and in the evening, and even during breaks while reviewing memorials in Yangxin Hall, as long as they were alone in the room, Qin Xiao would jump at the chance to kiss and embrace him, and would do whatever he pleased as soon as they were back in the bedroom.
But Chu Jiubian never allowed him to go all the way.
It wasn’t just that he feared pain. There was also a sense of discomfort and resistance that Chu Jiubian himself didn’t understand.
In the end, perhaps he just couldn’t accept another person that intimately.
Or perhaps he thought of himself as unworthy, and feared that if he gave himself over completely, the other man would lose interest in him.
Qin Xiao was very clear on the fact that it would take him a long time to pry open that door, and never crossed that final red line.
But his suppressed affection and desire grew deeper by the day.
The periodic looks sent Chu Jiubian’s way were so heavy with intent that they made his heart skip a beat.
He couldn’t help but recall how Qin Xiao was described in the original novel – a sinister and menacing villain.
It was one thing to be menacing, but why did all of that menace have to be directed at him?
How was this rational?
*
*
Chu Jiubian found a chance to visit Nanjiang-wang’s manor before the vassal kings departed the capital and handed the bottle of gu to Situ Anli, asking her to help identify them.
Situ Anli took the gu to the back courtyard, leaving Bai Lihao to accompany their guest.
Bai Lihao was a talkative person, and never let the atmosphere between them stagnate.
Chu Jiubian naturally went along with the flow of conversation, and the two of them had a rather pleasant exchange.
When the topic of the drought in Nanjiang came up, Bai Lihao’s words became more probing, and he seemed to suspect that Chu Jiubian and the “High Priest” were one and the same.
Chu Jiubian gave nothing away, but he could tell that Bai Lihao was just as sharp as Zuiliang-wang, and must have developed a hypothesis.
Intelligent people were able to look beyond the surface to the essence of the matter.
Take Lu Yao for example. He had never doubted that they were the same person.
Situ Anli emerged a short while later, looking a bit weary but in decent spirits.
“My Lord, these gu do indeed share the same lineage as the gu in Nanjiang.” Situ Anli then told him a story.
It turned out that during the previous dynasty, the Nanjiang lineage of gu masters had left their homeland amidst the chaos of war, and there had been no word of them after that.
Situ Anli had only heard the elders mention it once, and the confirmation that these gu belonged to Nanjiang had jogged her memory.
But as to where those gu masters went, nobody knew, only that they had headed north.
With this answer in hand, Chu Jiubian left Nanjiang-wang’s manor and went to the Ministry of Personnel.
Before he could reach his office courtyard, an official named Wang Yujiu intercepted him.
He gave the document in his hand to Chu Jiubian and said: “My Lord, this is a written recommendation from Wang Zhiyuan, nominating Wang Wenyao, the second son born to the principal wife of the Wang family head, for an official post.”
Chu Jiubian raised his eyebrows and looked through the document.
The recommendation was very formal, and praised Wang Wenyao lavishly before getting to the point, which was for him to enter the court and serve in the Ministry of Rites.
Wang Zhiyuan was now one of Wang Qichen’s people, as well as Chu Jiubian’s.
Yet now he was recommending the somewhat talented son of Family Head Wang Huanzhi for an official position. He certainly hadn’t defected to Wang Huanzhi, nor was he doing this for the good of the Wang family.
There was no shortage of talents in the Wang family, and Wang Wenyao certainly didn’t stand out among them.
Chu Jiubian took a while to think through it carefully, and formed a rough idea of the other party’s objective.
Wang Qichen had now completely stolen the spotlight from Wang Huanzhi, and the latter was sure to seek a breakthrough elsewhere. Having his son enter officialdom was a good solution.
He must have used family interests and honor to appeal to Wang Zhiyuan on both an emotional and factual level. And Wang Zhiyuan had “agreed with reluctance.”
But when Wang Zhiyuan agreed, it wasn’t with the intention to help him.
On the contrary, he intended to let Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao suppress Wang Wenyao and push down firmly on the pulse point of the family head’s lineage, using this opportunity to elevate Wang Qichen to family head.
This aligned with Chu Jiubian’s objective.
Chu Jiubian had enough power as Deputy Minister of Personnel to approve the request, and did so directly.
And so, Wang Wenyao appeared in court the next day, taking his place among the officials of the Ministry of Rites as a minor official.
Chu Jiubian noted his high spirits, then casually looked away.
They would take him down, but only when the right opportunity arose. Let him enjoy this for a few days first.
*
*
The death of Jiannan-wang didn’t make waves in the capital, and the common people paid it no attention. They were still fixated on the Achievement Parade, as well as the handsome top scholar and the matchlessly elegant “Lady Tanhua.”
This topic generated such lively discussion that people could speak of it for the better half of a month without growing tired of it.
But very soon, a new topic of conversation arose….
The vassal kings were preparing to leave the capital.
This group should have left back in the first lunar month, but they had ended up staying all the way up to the end of the Palace Examination.
With no more excuses left to remain in the capital, they naturally made preparations to depart.
Before they left, they all went to the palace to say their goodbyes to Bai Lihong.
Bai Lihong exchanged some small talk with them with a smile on his face. He said that he didn’t know when he would see his Imperial Uncles again after they left, and presented them each with a gift while expressing his reluctance to see them go.
“This is also for the cousins this emperor has never met,” said Bai Lihong. “It will be perfect if they’re able to live wealthy, peaceful lives.”
His cute, childish voice left them all a little wrong-footed, and with a rising sense of foreboding.
“Hong Yu.” Bai Lihong looked toward Xiao Yuzi, who stood at his side.
Xiao Yuzi took the Imperial Decree in both hands and held it high, presenting it to Huguang-wang at the head of the group.
Huguang-wang took the decree and scanned it over quickly. His expression changed drastically, and he read it over twice more in disbelief.
Seeing this, Dongjiang-wang took the decree. His expression was no better than Huguang-wang’s after reading it.
Qin Xiao spoke up from his seat: “His Majesty cherishes family ties, and wishes to provide all his relatives with a life of wealth, honor, and peace. To this end, he has drafted an Edict of Grace. It was sent to the princes’ fiefs some time ago, and should have arrived by now.”
“The young masters there must be endlessly grateful. Why have you not yet offered your thanks?” Qin Xiao said mildly.
The Imperial Decree had already been issued, and had fallen into the hands of the illegitimate sons in their fiefdoms. There was no hope of retracting it now.
It was a done deal. Huguang-wang and Dongjiang-wang stared at Qin Xiao with dark expressions.
At last, they bowed low to Bai Lihong and offered their thanks as they accepted the reward.
Nanjiang-wang had only one son and one daughter, so the Edict of Grace was no obstacle to him.
Anhui-wang Bai Liming also kept a tidy household, and was naturally unconcerned.
Pingxi-wang Bai Lizheng and Zuiliang-wang Bai Liyan were shaken, their feelings complex.
They stared fixedly at the three figures seated inside the hall.
This “Edict of Grace” was truly an open plot with no solution, making it impossible for them to continue growing in power. From the next generation onwards, it was inevitable for their positions to continuously weaken…..until at last there were no more “vassal kings.”
A smile appeared at the corners of Dingbei-wang’s lips. His reaction was even milder than Bai Liming’s, making it impossible for anyone to know what he was thinking.
“By the way,” Chu Jiubian said, looking toward Zuiliang-wang, “Although the debacle with Jiannan-wang didn’t result in bitter fruit, Zuiliang-wang was truly hard-pressed.”
“His Majesty wishes to offer compensation, and has held back the edict from the Fujian-Zhejiang region.”
As Chu Jiubian spoke, Xiao Yuzi handed over another Imperial Decree to Zuiliang-wang.
Chu Jiubian continued: “Let Zuiliang-wang take the Imperial Decree back himself and proclaim it when he has a free moment, bringing joy to his family’s children as well.”
That was an interesting way of putting it.
‘When he has a free moment’ meant that Bai Liyan was to announce the matter at his own pace. But if he continued to remain ‘busy,’ then the Imperial Decree would not take effect in the Fujian-Zhejiang region.
It was crystal clear that this was a privilege given to Zhuiliang-wang in order to ensure that the illegitimate sons in his fiefdom wouldn’t be able to kick up a fuss over it.
Due to the fact that it remained in Zuiliang-wang’s hands, his sons would fall over themselves to curry favor with him. And at the very least, they wouldn’t openly declare war on each other before receiving the decree.
Of course, even if they used tricks to obtain the Imperial Decree, it wouldn’t be of any use. Since the decree needed to be proclaimed by Zuiliang-wang himself, it would be invalid if he refused to do so.
This was clearly the “reward” granted to Zuiliang-wang for aligning himself with the Imperial Court.
Zuiliang-wang was all smiles as he accepted the decree and expressed his gratitude. Free from worries or inhibitions, he was completely unconcerned by the gazes of the other vassal kings fixed upon him.
Huguang-wang, Dongjiang-wang, and Dingbei-wang had of course realized the situation by now. In essence, this Edict of Grace was aimed solely at the three of them.
So it had truly come to a bitter falling-out…..
The vassal kings left the palace, and news of the Edict of Grace spread.
Various parties had different reactions to the news. The two factions of the Wang family, for example, each had their own calculations. And as for the remaining Xiao, Lu and Qiu families, each received solicitations from various vassal kings.
A few days later, at the border of Henan and Shanxi, these vassal kings would part ways and head back to their respective fiefs.
They had arranged to meet the heads of these families, including Wang Huanzhi, at a town located between the two regions.
A letter from Zuiliang-wang was also delivered to the palace. To express his gratitude to His Majesty, he was preparing to clear out all of the salt fields within his fief, which would await the arrival of Imperial officials to take them over.
This was a considerable concession to the Imperial Court.
Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian weren’t going to let him suffer a loss, so they informed him that he could take over management of the section of the waterways within his fiefdom.
The management rights for this section of the canal were precisely those previously acquired by the Qiu family.
Through Zuiliang-wang, the last remaining waterway rights were snatched from the Qiu family’s hands.
If Zuiliang-wang were to take action, it would be on the behalf of the Imperial Court. In addition, the profits he made from the waterway transport business would be even greater than what the salt fields had brought in.
If he didn’t make a move, he wouldn’t gain anything at all.
When Zuiliang received this reply, he could only sigh with emotion.
Those two were truly adept at open conspiracies. But this was an offer he found difficult to refuse.
He had long set his sights on the lucrative waterway transport business.
The thoughts of the vassal kings were inscrutable to everyone, and the next day, they set out one after another.
A long caravan drove down the main street between the eastern and western markets and past lines of Imperial Academy students clad in sky-blue robes.
One group, lavish and resplendent, traveled off to places far from the palace.
The other, like stalks of green bamboo, moved farther into the city.
That same evening, Chu Jiubian invited the Situ siblings, who were scheduled to depart the following day, to Clear Sky Tower.
The brother and sister were a bit anxious, but their curiosity outweighed their nerves.
But they hadn’t expected the cool and aloof Chu Jiubian to be so gentle and fond when speaking with them. It reminded them of the closeness shown to them by the High Priest.
It had occurred to Chu Jiubian that he hadn’t had a chance to speak to the two children privately since they entered the capital, so he treated them to a delicious stir-fried meal as a proper send-off.
The brother and sister were rather reserved at first, but they soon became lively.
At least, Situ Zhaoling did. Her younger brother Situ Zhaoyao was a little more poised.
They spoke a lot throughout the meal, most of it consisting of gossip from the capital. For example, did Minister of Works Jian Hongzhuo really have just the single male wife? And that handsome Commander An, did he truly never intend to marry? And for another example….was there really something going on between Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao?
When he saw the caution in the siblings’ eyes, Chu Jiubian smiled and said: “Read more and study more while you’re young.”
Although the siblings didn’t receive the answer they wanted, they didn’t dare press for more information.
“Then what about you and that person?” Situ Zhaoling asked in a low voice, pointing a finger upward.
She was naturally referring to the High Priest.
Chu Jiubian just smiled and said: “We are bonded in life and in death.”
The siblings shared a glance, looking as if they had just witnessed something romantic.
Chu Jiubian: “…..”
To think that there were people shipping his own CP.
The meal was enjoyable for both host and guests.
The three of them went downstairs and exchanged goodbyes, preparing to part ways.
But when the siblings looked up, they noticed a tall, imposing figure standing at the entrance. The man’s face was incomparably handsome, with a cool, stern expression.
It was Ning-wang.
Qin Xiao gave the siblings a slight nod, then stepped outside with Chu Jiubian.
Both men were dressed in crimson-purple robes, standing a head taller than everyone else as they walked through the crowd with their shoulders brushing. They looked like a perfect match.
“Wow–” Situ Zhaoling pressed her hands to her cheeks with an almost drunken look on her face, then gave them a swift pat. “I can’t, I can’t. I must firmly support—” The High Priest!
When he saw his sister like this, Situ Zhaoyao didn’t understand.
But that didn’t stop him from imitating her and patting his face too.
Situ Zhaoling giggled at the sight and raised a hand to ruffle his hair: “You silly thing.”
Situ Zhaoyao wasn’t offended. He said: “A-Jie, we still need to say goodbye to him.”
He pointed in the direction of Splendid Plaza.
“Let’s go.” The two had to say goodbye to Wang Qichen before they left the capital the next day.
The next time they met, it would be in the Divine Realm.
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Chapter 88 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 90
