Inside the Prince Guangling’s residence, the entire place was brightly lit at this moment.
Since last summer, when Xue Yan officially began serving in court, he had been conferred the title of a prince and moved out of the palace to establish his own residence.
Now that the Emperor was in good health and had not appointed a Crown Prince, the titles bestowed upon several of his imperial sons were not those of Princes of the First Rank, but Commandery Princes, without exception.
Although they were of the same rank, who in all of the court did not know that the Guangling Prince’s residence was, apart from the imperial palace, the most eye-catching place in all of Chang’an?
The Prince of Guangling had been in court for only a year, yet he had already distinguished himself brilliantly. Even ordinary court officials were not as dependable as he was when handling affairs. On top of that, Emperor Qingping had suddenly begun favoring him. Within a year, he had easily gone from an obscure imperial prince to the most sought-after prince in the entire court.
Moreover, the Second Prince was out of favor, the Fourth Prince’s birth mother had lost virtue, and although the Sixth Prince was the legitimate son of the Empress, his ambitions did not lie in the court. Once he had burrowed into the Ministry of War, he refused to come back out. Thus, there was not even an imperial prince in court who could contend with him.
For a time, those probing, those seeking to pledge allegiance, and those merely watching from the sidelines—all the eyes of the court officials—fell upon that princely residence.
Even so, as the most secretive presence within the imperial capital, the Eastern Depot could still come and go freely here.
Xue Yan sat before his desk, the lamplight on it flickering gently. In his hand was also an envelope, a confidential letter delivered by the Eastern Depot.
A month ago, he had received a letter like this, saying that quite a few court officials had secretly submitted memorials to Emperor Qingping, claiming that Duke Yongning was closely acquainted with Grand Tutor Jiang, while Grand Tutor Jiang had come from Linjiang Academy in Jiangnan. Thus, it was rather inappropriate for Duke Yongning to serve as an examiner in Jiangnan.
After all, the Lady of Duke Yongning’s household and Grand Tutor Jiang’s daughter had been close friends in their youth. The fact that the two families had some personal ties was practically common knowledge throughout the court.
As one secret memorial after another was submitted, even Emperor Qingping, who had originally harbored no suspicions, began to waver.
Thus, he summoned the ministers and discussed how this matter should be handled. After all, it concerned Grand Tutor Jiang, so among those officials who had risen from the commoner examination system, he summoned none of them. He only met with officials from the great aristocratic families of the court.
After their discussion, Emperor Qingping decided to select a trustworthy person from among the aristocratic officials, secretly entrust him with an imperial edict, and send him south to supervise the examination.
With one glance, Xue Yan knew that this was a scheme devised by the officials of the Xu family’s faction.
They did not want the position of chief examiner in Jiangnan to fall into the hands of Duke Yongning, so they intended to first make Emperor Qingping suspicious, then send one of their own people there to secretly manipulate matters.
This was the second time the Xu family had dared to make a move against someone from the Jun family right under his nose.
Xue Yan knew that they were becoming restless.
Previously, the court had consisted of little more than two factions, the Jiang and Xu factions—one representing the aristocratic families and the other the common-born officials. Although they were constantly struggling against each other, there had still been a certain balance.
But now, someone like him had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Not only was he deeply favored by the Emperor, he also controlled the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Embroidered Uniform Guard possessed the authority to investigate and supervise all officials, and its deterrent power was extremely strong. The balance had been shattered at once.
The Xu family had to guard against his growing power while also preventing the Jiang family from gaining the upper hand. Driven into desperation, they had turned their eyes toward Duke Yongning.
After all, Duke Yongning belonged to neither faction.
For Xue Yan, this matter could not have been easier to resolve. In fact, deep in his subconscious, he was even extremely willing to handle it personally.
Because Jun Huailang was in Jiangnan.
For this entire year, he had done his best to keep himself busy, teaching himself that he had no time to be distracted by thoughts of him. But one could control what one did each day; one could not stop oneself from thinking of someone.
His heart had been empty for an entire year.
If he had never met Jun Huailang, it would not have been difficult for him to endure. But a warm breeze had happened to pass through, melting the solid ice, only to leave him once more in the cold night. After becoming accustomed to that warmth, the same coldness became especially difficult to endure.
Even after his circumstances improved considerably, with Emperor Qingping no longer wary of him and the court officials beginning to curry favor with him, all of this merely made him feel annoyed and troubled.
With a pearl and jade placed before him, how could he possibly take these other things to heart?
Thus, when Emperor Qingping summoned him, he brought up the matter seemingly casually, without the slightest hesitation.
Over the past year, Emperor Qingping had grown increasingly trusting of him. Moreover, nothing had ever gone wrong, and the prediction that he was a bringer of disaster seemed to have been disproved without argument. As a result, Emperor Qingping had grown even closer to him.
Sure enough, Emperor Qingping told him his plan.
“I feel that we should indeed send someone to take a look,” he said. “That would put my mind more at ease.”
“How can Father Emperor determine that the official who receives the secret edict will be reliable?” Xue Yan said. “If he is a court official, news of his departure from the capital will inevitably spread. If he is not a court official, then either his rank will be insufficient and he will be unable to make decisions when matters arise, or his background will be unknown, making it difficult for Father Emperor to place his trust in him.”
Hearing this, Emperor Qingping indeed fell into thought.
Xue Yan continued, “If Father Emperor secretly investigates Duke Yongning and he notices it, it will surely chill the heart of a loyal subject. It would be better for Father Emperor to openly send an official south. Even if Duke Yongning wants to do something, he would no longer dare.”
Emperor Qingping nodded deeply in agreement.
“Only, Duke Yongning holds a high rank. Who would be suitable to send?”
Upon hearing this, Xue Yan’s lips curved faintly.
“Your son is willing to go,” he said.
Thus, within a few days, the imperial edict ordering Xue Yan to travel south and conduct an inspection was issued. Before long, the Eastern Depot could no longer sit still. Several days before his departure, they sent him a letter.
Naturally, the letter urged Xue Yan to find a way to remain behind.
His influence in the capital had only just been established and was not yet stable. Apart from Duke Yongning, there were hardly any officials in Jiangnan worth winning over. Moreover, he was going there to conduct an inspection. There was a chance that he would fail to win Duke Yongning over and instead cause him to become wary and suspicious of him.
Xue Yan held the secret letter in his hand and smiled faintly.
The Eastern Depot was no longer what it once was.
Originally, they had intended to secretly win Xue Yan over, offering help in his time of need, then slowly cultivate him. They had never expected Xue Yan to be so fortunate that, after suffering a misfortune, he would suddenly turn it into a blessing and gain Emperor Qingping’s favor.
Now, instead, the Eastern Depot was reluctant to let go of this great tree. Relying on the favor of having once offered him help when he was in need, they had instead begun currying favor with him.
After all, eunuchs were different from court officials. Only by relying on imperial authority could they wield power and act arrogantly. Xue Yan had also given them ample respect. There was no more suitable backer for them than Xue Yan.
“I don’t want to go either, but an imperial command is difficult to defy, and it would not be appropriate to disobey the edict.” Xue Yan folded the letter and looked up at the Eastern Depot eunuch who had delivered it, his voice indifferent. “Once the autumn examination is over, I can return. As for matters in the capital, I will trouble Eunuch Duan to keep an eye on them.”
Even if he left, he could rest assured.
The Eastern Depot was here. They would obediently monitor the movements in the capital on his behalf. After all, they were reluctant to let go of this great tree.
With these words from Xue Yan, all the news from Chang’an was subsequently passed into his hands through the Eastern Depot. This also made it even more apparent that he valued and trusted the Eastern Depot, which in turn reassured those eunuchs even more.
It was rather amusing.
Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard supervised the court officials, it was an independent institution belonging to the imperial court. The Eastern Depot alone was directly subordinate to imperial authority and served as the Emperor’s closest pair of eyes and ears.
Yet Emperor Qingping insisted on favoring the eunuchs who served at his side, allowing them to push the Eastern Depot aside and forcing the Eastern Depot to go elsewhere to acknowledge another master.
Hearing this, the eunuch did not try to persuade him further. After clasping his fists and acknowledging the order, he said, “Your Highness, Eunuch Duan said that if you insist on going, he will naturally not obstruct you. However, the journey is long and the roads far. Please take Duan Shisi with you as well, so that he can look after you.”
Xue Yan knew that this was a struggle for favor.
Now that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was under his command, he would also be bringing some Embroidered Uniform Guard attendants with him on this journey south. The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been locked in endless rivalry. This time, Duan Chong would certainly have to place someone close to him at Xue Yan’s side before he could feel at ease.
This Duan Shisi was precisely Duan Chong’s adopted son.
Back then, he had secretly raised twenty orphans, using numbers as their names and training them together. Afterwards, he had placed them in one location and made them slaughter one another. In the end, only one survived, and he took that child as his adopted son.
“Duan Shisi just turned twelve this year, right?” Xue Yan lifted his eyelids slightly and asked.
The eunuch replied, “Yes. But Eunuch Duan said that you need not worry about his young age. Duan Shisi is very capable at handling matters and will not drag you down.”
Hearing this, Xue Yan nodded with a smile that was not quite a smile.
“Then I shall thank Eunuch Duan for his good intentions,” he said.
——
That night, after Jun Huailang finished writing his letter, he sat down and dreamed.
For the first time in a year, he dreamed that he had returned to Mingluan Palace.
Everything was still as it had been each day before. He rose early in the morning and finished getting himself ready. Xue Yunhuan was already waiting for him in the front hall of his palace.
“Where is Fifth Highness?” Jun Huailang walked out and asked quite naturally.
Xue Yunhuan, however, revealed a puzzled expression.
“What Fifth Highness?”
Then, as though he had suddenly remembered, he said, “Oh, that bringer of disaster. Why would he be here? Who knows where Father Emperor drove him off to. Why are you asking about him?”
Jun Huailang paused, then turned and walked out.
Xue Yunhuan hurried after him.
“What are you going to do?”
“I am going to find him,” Jun Huailang said.
After that, it seemed that Xue Yunhuan did not follow him any further. Instead, Jun Huailang searched through the palace himself, but he could not find where Xue Yan was.
It was not until the first light of dawn broke that Jun Huailang awoke.
He lay quietly on the bed for a while before finally returning to his senses from the dream.
In the dream, what he had thought of was not that Xue Yan would repeat the same mistakes and do everything he had done in his previous life all over again.
Instead, he had been worrying that, with Xue Yan no longer in Mingluan Palace and no one there to protect him, what sort of bullying he might suffer.
Once he came to his senses, Jun Huailang smiled helplessly.
He really was worrying over nothing.
Putting aside the fact that the Xue Yan of today absolutely would not be bullied again, even speaking of himself alone, how could he possibly have the ability to protect Xue Yan within the palace?
But as he continued thinking, Jun Huailang thought of some other things.
For example, how Xue Yan had solemnly promised to be Linghuan’s older brother while they were in Mingluan Palace; the thick stack of banknotes he had stuffed into Jun Huailang’s hands during the New Year; the colored-glass lantern in front of his room; and the single tear that had fallen from Xue Yan’s eyes, dripping wet, after Jun Huailang had fallen into the water.
As he thought about these things, the corners of Jun Huailang’s lips unconsciously curved upward.
It was fine if he did not think about these things. But once he had started, Jun Huailang discovered that he remembered every single one of them clearly.
That day, he unusually stayed in bed for a while. It was not until Fuyi came to call him to get up that he suddenly returned to his senses.
After that, Jun Huailang began making preparations in advance. Every few days, he started going to Linjiang Academy to sit in on classes.
Fortunately, summer was approaching, and students from all over Jiangnan were gradually arriving in Jinling, gathering around Linjiang Academy. New students arrived at Linjiang Academy to study every day, and the academy also had a tradition of accepting students to sit in on its lessons. Thus, Jun Huailang’s actions did not appear conspicuous.
This gave him opportunities to frequently go to the river embankment and take a look, conducting some simple inspections.
Shen Liufeng was quite happy about this. He genuinely thought Jun Huailang had come to study and even reserved a seat for him every day so that he could study alongside him.
Jun Huailang did not refuse his good intentions either. On ordinary days, he traveled back and forth between the government office and Linjiang Academy, secretly listing everything he had investigated and learned, including the memories and experience from his previous life, and repeatedly comparing and analyzing them.
Before he knew it, summer had arrived.
Once summer came, the rainfall in Jiangnan became even more abundant. The rain continued day after day, even causing moss to grow in the corners of the academy.
The continuous rain tormented Shen Liufeng terribly.
He felt as though he had been imprisoned by the endless rain. Finally, when a clear day came, he did not even wait for a day off. As soon as classes ended during the day, he dragged Jun Huailang away.
“You aren’t allowed to go anywhere today,” he said. “I’ve already sent someone to charter a pleasure boat on East Lake. Tonight, come eat boat cuisine with me.”
The people of Jiangnan had the custom of “eating according to the season,” always paying attention to eating whatever food was appropriate for that particular time of year.
Jiangnan had abundant waterways, and summer brought plentiful fresh river produce. Thus, there was a local custom of catching aquatic products in the lakes, cooking them fresh on the boat, and eating them right there. This was called “boat cuisine.”
East Lake lay in the eastern outskirts of Jinling. It connected to the Yangtze River, while its northern side also linked to the Grand Canal. East Lake had a broad expanse of water and a gentle current, and a wharf had been built on its northern side.
Ships traveling southward or coming from the east that needed to stop in Jinling would all dock at the wharf on East Lake.
Apart from the shipping routes and the wharf, the rest of the area was used for recreation.
Jiangnan was prosperous, and Jinling was especially so. At night, East Lake was filled with pleasure boats and painted pleasure barges. Once their lanterns were lit after nightfall, their lively lights reflected across the surface of the lake, creating a shimmering sea of illumination. Even standing on the shore, one could hear the faint, graceful sounds of singing and music drifting across the lake.
Jun Huailang had nothing else to do that day, so he did not refuse.
Neither of them knew that a huge official vessel from Chang’an was quietly traveling south along the Grand Canal.
And tonight, by coincidence, it would moor upon East Lake.