The Kai Ling River was alive with the noise of people. Xue Xiuyi sat cross-legged on a couch, picking at peanuts while drinking. When Xiao Chiye entered, he quickly brushed his robe and got up to salute him.
Xiao Chiye sat directly opposite Xue Xiuyi. Chen Yang came forward to pour wine. Xue Xiuyi’s fingers nervously brushed his legs as he fidgeted with his robe, wiping his hands, and said, “That’s enough… enough… Marquis, drinking too much harms the body!”
Xiao Chiye lifted his cup with a smile. “Young Master, you are attentive to your health, yes? Even at home, you take care to maintain it, I presume?”
“I know a little,” Xue Xiuyi replied, not daring to sit on his own. He was short and, bowing toward Xiao Chiye, looked even more humble.
“Sit. I still need to seek your advice,” Xiao Chiye said kindly.
Xue Xiuyi edged closer to the couch. “Advice… I dare not presume.”
Xiao Chiye looked at him and noted the stark contrast with Xue Xiuzhuo. It was understandable that Xue Xiuzhuo, as the younger brother, might feel resentful under such a capable elder.
“Recently, I haven’t seen Lord Yanqing,” Xiao Chiye sipped his wine. “I hear he’s busy investigating cases with Minister Kong. Truly diligent work.”
“He only succeeds because of the old minister’s backing,” Xue Xiuyi said, displeased. He long held a grudge against Xue Xiuzhuo and constantly tried to hinder him, though Xue Xiuzhuo, gentle and unassuming, never gave him the satisfaction of success.
“Being the elder, shouldn’t it have been Young Master who entered officialdom first? How did it end up reversed?”
Xue Xiuyi took the wine, forced down a few cups, and became slightly dizzy. He grasped the cup and coldly snorted: “He is capable. Marquis, you don’t know. Since childhood, he’s adept at scheming, deeply calculating. The year he was born, it snowed heavily. He was meant to be called ‘Gui’ (Noble), but a Taoist predicted he’d meet someone greatly influential in his life; naming him ‘Gui’ would counteract that fate. His birth mother, clever and cunning, flattered our father endlessly and obtained the name ‘Zhuo’ instead. Xiu Dezhuo succeeded in life, taking the courtesy name Yanqing. His fortune… it is good indeed.”
At this, Xue Xiuyi’s eyes dimmed.
Xiao Chiye comforted him. “Young Master, there’s no need to compete with him. You are the legitimate eldest son of the Xue family, far superior to him.”
Xue Xiuyi’s heart tightened at this remark. He sighed long, covering his mouth and nose, then quickly said, “Marquis, you are the legitimate heir with no threat from a younger half-brother. Yet you may not realize how terrifying it is to have a capable half-brother. Born of lower status, yet he tramples over me, gaining praise both at home and outside. How am I to bear it? Look at the Eight Great Families—who among them allows a half-brother to manage affairs? Only in the Xue family do we have Xue Xiuzhuo!”
His resentment toward Xue Xiuzhuo stemmed from selfishness. Yet the family’s revival and stable seat among the Eight Great Families were due precisely to Xue Xiuzhuo. Among the legitimate line alone, there were over a hundred members. Beyond that, concubine branches numbered even more. All the marriages, stipends, estates, and expenses were maintained at the Xue family’s cost.
Originally, the Xue matriarch had intended to support Xue Xiuyi as the household head. But he was either lost in cultivation or spending on pretentious charlatans. As the Empress Dowager had once remarked, by this generation, the family had no one of real ability left, except the illegitimate Xue Xiuzhuo.
Now, holding office as the assistant to the Dali Temple while managing the family internally, Xue Xiuzhuo had stabilized the family’s declining fortunes. Many of the idle brothers relied on him while spitting insults behind his back, resenting his humble origin.
Xiao Chiye understood this well. He and Shen Zechuan shared the view that if Xue Xiuzhuo had not concealed himself behind the family, they would have preferred to cultivate him. But the Quancheng silk incident complicated things, making Xue Xiuzhuo appear as a figure to be cautiously watched—a person whose schemes and foresight were laid long before any events unfolded.
Xiao Chiye rubbed his wine cup, thinking this over. “People have streaks of bad luck. Young Master, do not fret too much. I see he performs well under the old minister and Minister Kong. He keeps to his duties and does not indulge in frivolity. He is a proper man.”
Xue Xiuyi immediately became agitated. His hiccups punctuated his words. “That’s all just a facade! Marquis, the twin flowers on Donglong Street—you know, the Ou Hua Tower and Xiang Yun House! Years ago, Xue Xiuzhuo bought a batch of people from Xiang Yun House and kept them hidden in his residence!”
Xiao Chiye’s eyes sharpened at the mention of Xiang Yun House. “He bought people from Xiang Yun House?”
“Yes!” Xue Xiuyi pointed. “Over a dozen… boys and girls… all from Xiang Yun House!”
Xiao Chiye fell silent for a moment. Then he stood. “Chen Yang, stay with Young Master. I will go to greet Yao Wenyu, who should have arrived.”
Upon hearing Yao Wenyu’s name, Xue Xiuyi straightened, repeatedly nodding, not daring to linger.
As Xiao Chiye exited, he called out, “Gu Jin!”
Gu Jin dropped down, kneeling on one knee. “Second Young Master!”
Xiao Chiye asked, “Previously, you investigated Xiang Yun House. How did you fail to find that they sold over a dozen people to the Xue family?”
Gu Jin froze, dared not look up, and said, “Please punish me, Young Master!”
Previously, Xiang Yun had betrayed the assassination plot, providing false testimony of Xiao Chiye’s bribery. Why Xiang Yun suddenly sided with the noble family remained mysterious. Why Xue Xiuzhuo bought all those people quietly—what secret lay in this? Shen Zechuan’s suspicion was accurate.
“You must be punished. You drank much in Qu Du tonight; even your twin-eagle eyes were blinded by wine. Failing your duty, negligence—heavy punishment is warranted. Go ask Chen Yang to administer the rod!”
Gu Jin broke into sweat.
Xiao Chiye entrusted him with this because he valued his meticulous work. Previously, as a scout in the Northern Cavalry, he had never made such errors. But in Qu Du, he had grown careless. Xiao Chiye was not wrong.
“I’ll give you two days to investigate. How many people did Xiang Yun House sell to Xue Xiuzhuo? Names, origins, ages, even parents and relatives—you must find out everything.” Xiao Chiye’s voice hardened. “Any further slip-ups, and you won’t remain in this post.”
Gu Jin lowered his head in acknowledgment and left for Xiang Yun House.
Chen Yang, seeing Xiao Chiye’s grim expression, said, “Master, Xue Xiuyi has rested.”
“Send him back in the morning,” Xiao Chiye said, glancing inside. “There’s a rare volume at the Mei residence. Give it to him when he leaves.”
Chen Yang asked, “Should we inform Young Master Yao?”
“Yao Wenyu sold the Mei residence to me. He clearly doesn’t want it. He travels constantly; he won’t care about these texts.” Xiao Chiye, despite having drunk a lot tonight, showed no signs of intoxication, tossing his handkerchief aside. “Besides, even if he returns to the capital, he is elusive. He won’t attend such a gathering. There’s no point inviting him.”
“If not for Yao not entering officialdom, perhaps Xue Xiuzhuo wouldn’t have had a chance today.”
Xiao Chiye’s brow remained furrowed. “Officialdom isn’t like scholarship. Yao Wenyu may not surpass Xue Xiuzhuo. They are opposites in every way.”
“Both are students of Elder Hai,” Chen Yang pondered. “Xue Xiuzhuo is worldly; Young Master Yao, a recluse. Yet Elder Hai seems to cherish Yao Wenyu more.”
“Indeed. Elder Hai poured everything into Yao Wenyu, breaking old habits and biases to teach him, showing genuine care. Though Xue Xiuzhuo achieved good results, Elder Hai never gave him the same mentor-student respect. These years, he never forced Yao Wenyu into officialdom. The courtesy name given was a fatherly act. The closeness between them is unparalleled.” Xiao Chiye said. “Yao Wenyu, a genuine noble, holds more legitimacy than the so-called legitimate branches of the Pan, Fei, or Xue families. The Yao family’s wealth is immense; yet he values a simple bowl of wild greens more than gold and silver.”
Chen Yang had only met Yao Wenyu briefly when buying the residence. He remembered a scholarly young man with a document bag, disliking horses and carriages, keeping a donkey.
“Has Ding Tao returned?” Xiao Chiye suddenly asked.
“…Not yet,” Chen Yang replied.
“Let him play,” Xiao Chiye said, stepping into his room, changing from brocade to ordinary clothes. “The feast has lasted this long. I have time until dawn; I’ll be back soon.”
Shen Zechuan left the narrow alley, with Xi Dan following behind, heads lowered in deference.
Shen Zechuan was gentle, turning to look at him. “You spoke well tonight.”
Xi Dan bowed. “Resolving the master’s worries is my highest ambition.”
“But Xi Hongxuan is naturally suspicious. A few words alone won’t draw real gold or silver from him.” Shen Zechuan said. “Do you know all his business across the regions?”
“Yes, all accounted monthly to the Qu Du residence. Sixty-eight shopkeepers are all family-born, their parents and families all recorded for his oversight. Every movement, big or small, must be reported. He has known everything, so these years, despite vast business, no problems arose.”
Shen Zechuan continued, “For Xi Hongxuan to obtain the four million, you must be entrusted with the treasury keys and access. I ask only: how will the money move?”
Xi Dan calculated silently. After a moment, he said: “Overland is risky. Silver carriages need cover. This is four million; without a long-term trade operation as cover, the local authorities would detect it. Overland passes thirteen cities, plus Di City—difficult checkpoints. Moreover, Xi Hongxuan is correct: there is no place in Qu Du to hide this sum.”
This was silver, not notes. Even clearing a courtyard wouldn’t suffice for four million. Spending it once received would be another challenge.
Shen Zechuan considered the night and said, “This money cannot enter Qu Du.”
Xi Dan didn’t speak.
After a moment, Shen Zechuan continued: “Whether overland or by water, the Juexi authorities will inspect. Four million is too much to conceal perfectly. Even if we plan meticulously, subordinates may fail. If the money enters, yet can’t be spent, it’s useless. Therefore, it won’t reach Qu Du.”
Xi Dan probed cautiously, “Your meaning… is to convert the money into trade goods for circulation?”
“Half you manage,” Shen Zechuan said. “The other half, I have a plan. You will have preparation; the Xi family’s business is large and will always need a manager. If Xi Hongxuan fails, you become the top steward.”
Xi Dan quickly agreed.
Shen Zechuan said no more, departing in a carriage. That night he returned to the Zhaoyu prison to study case files from the past twenty years, seeking hidden clues, leaving no time even to sleep.
The carriage arrived at Zhaoyu. Ge Qingqing, on night duty, had opened the gates early, allowing Qiao Tianya to drive in.
Shen Zechuan dismounted. Ge Qingqing whispered, “Marquis, you’ve arrived.”
Shen Zechuan hung his cloak on his arm, ascended the steps, and nodded at her. She withdrew.
Xiao Chiye, even after changing, still carried the scent of wine. Reclining in Shen Zechuan’s chair with a book covering his face, he lifted it at the sound but remained still.
“Come, sit.” Xiao Chiye threw the book onto the table.
Shen Zechuan closed the door, hung his cloak, unbuttoned his garment, and climbed up, facing Xiao Chiye. In an instant, he leaned close, and Xiao Chiye’s hand found his waist. Their lips met in a passionate kiss.