By the time the conversation had reached this point, Zhou Gui had no room left to refuse. The two of them had picked at weaknesses, alternating between gentle and stern persuasion, speaking only of the most urgent matters facing Cizhou today. The private meeting could go no further.
Zhou Gui personally escorted them back to the courtyard, then walked back with Kong Ling, lantern in hand. He wore a frown and said, “What do you think?”
Kong Ling paced and replied, “They’re troublesome, both of them. But what they said isn’t false. With the Empress Dowager in charge, the Sea Pavilion elders ill, and the Cabinet disputes just beginning, Jiang/Qingshan’s appointment as the Zhongbo Administration Commissioner isn’t so certain anymore. If in the future a noble family’s official is casually assigned here, Cizhou’s good days would be over.”
“I think the same,” Zhou Gui said, sinking into the moonlight like still water, pondering for a moment. “If we agree too quickly, I worry they’ll think Cizhou is easy to manipulate. If we delay, I worry they’ll lose patience, and Cizhou will lose the chance to be revitalized. This balance is truly hard to gauge.”
“Keeps-and-releases won’t necessarily trap Xiao Chiyie,” Kong Ling said, turning back to Zhou Gui. “We need to decide soon. Dragging it out too long will only work against us.”
Kong Ling was right. They could still negotiate with Xiao Chiyie and Shen Zechuan in detail because Xiao Chiyie was eager to cross the border, mindful of Cizhou’s role in the northeast grain and horse route. He couldn’t force his way or make enemies—Cizhou held the upper hand. But hesitation would harm Cizhou; if Lei Changming’s bandits invaded, Zhou Gui would have to call on the imperial army, and then Xiao Chiyie would gain the advantage, turning the balance upside down.
“Xiao Chiyie seems unconcerned with trifles, probably not the kind to ignore things,” Zhou Gui still hesitated. “Let’s wait… let’s see how the situation in Qudu unfolds first.”
“You’re foolishly rare,” Kong Ling sighed. “To stake the life of an entire prefecture on someone ‘unconcerned with trifles’… we can know his face, but not his heart. If they try to raise the price later, it won’t be as easy as today.”
“I hesitate because this concerns the lives of the people of the prefecture,” Zhou Gui said, catching up to Kong Ling, rolling up his sleeves, and extending a hand. “Chengfeng, is it really so easy to be a king? Think of the old crown prince—he truly fell from grace. Now Li Bei is leaving, but considering all sides, where is this battle easy? It won’t all benefit Li Bei. They must guard against the border cavalry and be wary of Qidong advancing. If the northeast grain and horse route is cut off, won’t they become trapped beasts? They won’t last long. Then Li Bei will be preoccupied with survival—what will become of Cizhou? We’d become prey, shouldering the name of traitors!”
“It’s come to this point. There’s no walking away unscathed,” Kong Ling said earnestly. “Think it over tonight.”
When Xiao Chiyie entered the room, a graceful figure approached him. The maid’s skin was fair, hair black, and she knelt lightly, her coiled hair revealing much of her nape, the collar low. She tidied stray strands at her temple and softly whispered, “My Lord…”
Xiao Chiyie didn’t look at her, preparing to remove his outer robe. Hearing the movement, the maid hurried to help him undress.
Shen Zechuan touched Xiao Chiyie’s shoulder. Xiao Chiyie caught him, letting Shen Zechuan gently lift his chin and kick off his shoes.
“Go prepare hot water. The assistant is drunk,” Xiao Chiyie said.
The maid straightened her clothes and bent to pick up Shen Zechuan’s shoes, but he raised his small bamboo fan to lift her face. She dared not move, following his gaze along the fan, seeing the slight furrow between his brows, the corners of his eyes glistening like wet peach blossoms. She suddenly felt shame and quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes again.
Shen Zechuan said nothing, only glanced a few times, then lowered the fan. The maid obediently arranged the shoes and quietly withdrew.
“Pretty, isn’t she?” Xiao Chiyie asked, drawing close to Shen Zechuan once the door was closed.
Shen Zechuan’s fingers rested on the bamboo fan, silent. His socked feet stepped onto Xiao Chiyie’s foot, pulling at his still-worn outer robe, pressing closer. Xiao Chiyie followed his lead. Shen Zechuan’s relaxed expression showed post-drinking ease; he leaned back slightly, resisting Xiao Chiyie’s kiss.
The exhaustion of days spent rushing around after leaving Qudu was eased in these quiet moments. Shen Zechuan, pale upon departure from Qudu, now seemed like jade warmed by touch, pressing into Xiao Chiyie’s palm, firm yet hot.
“Kong Ling was once Dan Tai Long’s subordinate. Until Lei Changming is removed, his worries remain,” Xiao Chiyie murmured while unfastening Shen Zechuan’s clothes, rubbing his lower back. “Lei Changming is eager for grain; sooner or later he’ll target Cizhou. Once the stakes are clear to Kong Ling, he’ll advise Zhou Gui.”
“Mm…” Shen Zechuan, stirred by the strong effect of the wine, flushed, but looked at Xiao Chiyie seriously, his gaze carrying another, deeper focus.
“The imperial army replacing Cizhou’s patrol is a coercive measure; temporarily acceptable, but Zhou Gui won’t agree long-term. Thanks to Ding Tao’s quick inquiry, we learned Kong Ling was Dan Tai Long’s old subordinate…” Xiao Chiyie’s tone suggested he didn’t fully understand Shen Zechuan’s look.
Shen Zechuan rose slightly on his toes, then returned. His expression remained calm, the flush deepened, sweat forming from the wine.
“Give me a kiss,” Xiao Chiyie said, voice low. “Today, I’ve followed your orders, not mistreating them at all.”
Shen Zechuan gripped Xiao Chiyie’s clothes tightly, hesitated, and said, “I can’t reach.”
Xiao Chiyie’s chest shivered; he bent again. Shen Zechuan wanted the kiss, so Xiao Chiyie lifted him, saying, “Better to bathe first.”
Shen Zechuan tilted his chin; his wine-moistened lips, slightly red, parted, teasing the dry corners with his tongue. Just by looking at Xiao Chiyie, he ignited desire through his entire body, tempting Xiao Chiyie into action without words. Previously unaware of his own seductive effect, he now seemed to have learned the silent art of provocation.
The next day, Zhou Gui rose to find Kong Ling had brought the maid inside. He paused, saying, “What’s this about? Weren’t you supposed to attend to the Lord properly?”
The maid clutched a handkerchief, turned to cover her face, and said, “Sir, one must investigate thoroughly before taking action, right? Who is the person beside my Lord? I dare not touch even the hem! They clearly care for each other; no one even looks at me!”
At first, Zhou Gui didn’t understand, then turned pale, dropping the handkerchief. As a scholar over forty, he never frequented pleasure houses, kept a strict home, and had only heard rumors of men favoring men. He never imagined Xiao Chiyie and Shen Zechuan were involved in such a relationship.
“This… this!” Zhou Gui wiped his face, complaining to Kong Ling, “Why didn’t you warn me? Now we’ve seriously offended them!”
Kong Ling’s expression darkened. “How was I to know…”
The two looked at each other and sighed in unison. Just then, a page knelt outside, shouting, “Sir, urgent news from last night—Lei Changming in Dunzhou has gathered forty thousand bandits, heading for Cizhou!”
“How so many?” Zhou Gui’s heart sank. “Half a year ago, he had only a little over ten thousand…”
“What’s feared has come!” Kong Ling said at once. “Quick, summon the Lord, tell him we’ve accepted last night’s alliance!”