When Xue Yan returned to the western side hall, it was already deep into the night.
He sat alone beneath the lamp, playing with the copper coin in his hand.
It was just an ordinary copper coin, completely unremarkable. The four characters “Qingping Tongbao” were engraved upon it, reflecting a dim, obscure sheen beneath the lamplight.
Yet he kept turning it over and over in his hand, his gaze never once leaving it. Jinbao did not dare disturb him, only occasionally stealing a glance at his expression.
Xue Yan’s eyes were lowered, his eyelashes casting long shadows beneath the lamplight. His expression was calm, but his gaze was deep, making it impossible for Jinbao to guess what he was thinking.
So Jinbao quietly slipped outside to fetch hot water for his master’s washing.
However, he had barely been gone for long before he returned.
Hearing the door open, Xue Yan raised his head and glanced at him. He saw Jinbao standing at the doorway, looking hesitant and indecisive, as though he wanted to say something but did not dare.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Xue Yan’s expression was indifferent. He lowered his gaze back to the copper coin, not caring what had caused Jinbao to hesitate like this.
“Master, outside Mingluan Palace… Little Wei has arrived,” he said. “He says there is a eunuch who wants to meet Your Highness.”
Xue Yan paused and raised his eyes.
Jinbao said shakily, “He said His Highness should leave through the side door and absolutely must not attract attention… Master, could it be…?!”
By the time he reached this point, his voice was already barely audible.
Xue Yan raised an eyebrow and looked at him somewhat puzzled.
“Why are you so frightened?”
At those words, Jinbao could no longer hold himself together. His legs went weak, and he knelt down on the floor. With a sob in his voice, he said,
“Could it be that they discovered that this servant was following him?! Now they’re calling Master out there, surely they’re going to silence you! Master, you really shouldn’t go. Just pretend this servant never passed along the message. Whether they want to kill or torture me, I’ll leave it to them…”
As he spoke, Jinbao began to sob.
Xue Yan wore a speechless expression.
He stood up from the table, casually pulled his cloak over his shoulders, and walked outside while putting it on. When he passed Jinbao, who was kneeling at the doorway, he even kicked him lightly on the butt, indicating that he was blocking the door and should move aside.
“How long ago was that old news? And you’re still frightened enough to look like this?”
As Xue Yan tied the straps, he looked down at Jinbao from above.
“Get up. What are you crying for? This is good news.”
Jinbao was still frightened, wiping away his tears. Hearing this, he looked up through tear-blurred eyes and met his master’s amber-colored eyes.
Those eyes were cold and composed, yet within them burned the flames of power, along with a hint of a smile that seemed to indicate everything was already within his grasp.
“…What good news?” Jinbao asked, confused.
Xue Yan finished tying his cloak and glanced up at the deep, ink-black night outside.
He curled his lips and looked down at Jinbao.
“Before long, even the Director of the Eastern Depot will have to kneel and bow to you. Does that count as good news?”
Jinbao was so frightened that even his liver began to tremble.
Oh no, oh no! Had Master been frightened into losing his mind?!
He hurriedly crawled over on his knees, wanting to stop his master, who had already begun talking nonsense. But Xue Yan had already lifted his leg and stepped over him.
He walked into the deep night.
Jinbao did not see that at the very moment he stepped out of the door, Xue Yan raised his hand and inconspicuously slipped the copper coin he had been holding into the place over his heart.
——
Just as Xue Yan had expected, in the deserted palace alley beside Mingluan Palace stood two people, both dressed in ordinary eunuch attire.
According to his calculations, this person should have come looking for him around this time.
Now that winter was deep, the weather was already cold, and palace servants were all afraid of the cold, making it easier for them to slack off. On top of that, today was the Winter Solstice, and half of the palace servants on duty had taken leave to celebrate the festival. For the Eastern Depot, this was precisely the best time to enter the palace.
He had not brought a lantern. It was not until he approached that the two men noticed him.
The one standing nearby hurriedly came forward. From a distance, Xue Yan could tell that it was Little Wei.
Little Wei welcomed him, bowed, and said with a smile,
“Fifth Highness, you’ve come? Eunuch Wu is already waiting for you over there.”
Xue Yan looked in that direction and saw an elderly eunuch standing not far away.
That must be the man.
The personal eunuch who had served his Consort Mother back then, and now the most capable subordinate of Duan Chong, Director of the Eastern Depot—
Wu Shunhai.
Xue Yan’s movements paused. At the appropriate moment, he deliberately put on an expression of someone overwhelmed by the emotions of seeing a familiar person after a long absence. Then he quickened his steps and walked up to the man.
Before he could speak, Wu Shunhai had already dropped to his knees with a thump in front of him. With tears streaming down his face, he kowtowed and cried,
“Fifth Highness, this old servant has finally seen you!”
His sharp, hoarse voice carried a mournful sob. It echoed through the cold palace alley on this night, sounding especially sorrowful and moving.
Xue Yan understood.
Whenever one wanted to manipulate a person, there always had to be someone playing the good cop and someone playing the bad cop. Through their tug-of-war, they could toy with a person in the palm of their hand.
The person in front of him was specifically responsible for using their old relationship to bind him, making him feel that the Eastern Depot had deep affection for him.
Then the other person would play the role of the silent, imposing deity in the background, controlling him and making him follow the path arranged by the Eastern Depot.
After all, they intended to push him into a position of power. There would always be the risk that he might slip beyond their control. Since that was the case, they needed both to intimidate him and to move him with genuine emotion.
But it was merely an act.
For Xue Yan, acting was far too easy.
Xue Yan bent down and supported Wu Shunhai by the arm. His voice trembled slightly, carrying a trace of helplessness.
“Eunuch Wu, please get up. What are you doing?”
Wu Shunhai stubbornly remained kneeling, even bending down as though he intended to touch his head to the ground. The more he cried, the more heartbroken he seemed, while at the same time trying to suppress his voice so as not to attract anyone’s attention. His cries sounded particularly miserable and pitiful.
“This servant is useless! This servant is useless!” Wu Shunhai cried. “I let Little Master suffer for so many years. When this old servant dies, how will I ever have the face to meet Consort Rong in the afterlife?”
As he spoke, he began sobbing again.
Little Wei also stood to the side wiping his tears. For a moment, the entire scene was filled with sorrow.
Xue Yan sneered coldly inwardly, but his voice also became tinged with suppressed sobs.
“Eunuch, you’re giving me too much credit… How could I blame you? You still remember me even now, and you came to see me. I already…”
The rest of his words disappeared into a choked sob.
Xue Yan had long since become impatient. He only felt that this old man was far too good at acting.
Yet not a trace of impatience showed on his face.
He patiently comforted Wu Shunhai for quite some time before finally helping him to his feet.
“Seeing Your Highness safe and sound now, this servant can finally rest assured,” Wu Shunhai said, wiping his tear-streaked face. “It’s just that I keep hearing that Your Highness has been living poorly. This servant truly cannot bear it!”
Xue Yan gave an helpless smile and comforted him.
“Eunuch, you needn’t worry. I… can endure it all.”
“If Consort Rong were still here, how could she allow Your Highness to live such a miserable life?” Wu Shunhai said. “This old servant… now has a status that is somewhat unpresentable. Your Highness is already nearly sixteen and will soon be entering the imperial court. As for matters within the palace, this servant cannot interfere much. But once you enter the imperial court, this servant will certainly do everything in his power to assist you!”
Just as expected.
Xue Yan let out a cold laugh inwardly.
Helping an unfavored prince in the inner palace was a thankless and troublesome task. Wu Shunhai would never be willing to take such a risk under Lingfu’s control.
But the imperial court was different.
The Eastern Depot had the duty of supervising the officials. Even if its influence had weakened, its former prestige still remained, making it much easier to act.
And once he, a prince entering the imperial court, became involved, the Eastern Depot only needed to spend a little effort helping him to immediately obtain benefits that were visible on the surface.
It could hardly be more profitable.
Therefore, Wu Shunhai was first giving him a promise, allowing him to see hope. Then, while struggling in the darkness, he would remember their kindness a little more.
Xue Yan understood this clearly.
On the surface, however, he showed a frightened expression.
“This… Eunuch, I’ve never thought that far ahead.”
A trace of disdain flashed through Wu Shunhai’s eyes, but it quickly turned into smugness.
Just as expected, a prince like this was the easiest to manipulate.
He kindly persuaded him,
“Your Highness, you’re no longer young. You should always make plans for the future. Your Highness can’t let others bully you for the rest of your life. This… this old servant wouldn’t know how to answer to Consort Rong in the afterlife!”
“…You’re right.”
Xue Yan said, “But I’ve only ever learned how to fight since I was young. As for anything else, I don’t know what to do.”
He looked at Wu Shunhai uneasily. His amber-colored eyes were filled with helplessness, along with a hint of anticipation toward someone possessing high status and great authority.
Wu Shunhai, who had already let down his guard, naturally failed to see the ferocious wolf lying in wait behind those seemingly harmless eyes.
Hearing this, Wu Shunhai became even more satisfied.
He put on a benevolent expression and kindly said,
“Your Highness, rest assured. This servant is here for everything.”
Xue Yan showed an expression of relief.
“Then I’ll feel reassured. I’m afraid I’ll be troubling you, Eunuch.”
Seeing how obediently he followed along, Wu Shunhai could hardly contain his happiness.
He wore a gratified smile and said,
“What are you saying, Your Highness? Back then, this servant’s very life belonged to Consort Rong. Naturally, this servant must now devote himself wholeheartedly to serving Your Highness, so as not to betray the kindness Consort Rong showed this servant back then!”
Xue Yan naturally played along, becoming moved.
“Regardless of what happens to Xue Yan in the future, I will remember the kindness you have shown me today, Eunuch!”
Wu Shunhai hurriedly squeezed out two more cloudy tears and repeatedly said that he dared not accept such praise.
Then he asked,
“How is Little Master living here now?”
He carefully concealed his probing behind an expression of concern.
After all, Little Wei had reported these past few days that Xue Yan went everywhere together with the Jun family’s heir and the Sixth Prince each day, seemingly becoming friends with them.
However, the Fifth Prince had always silently followed beside them. The other two did not pay much attention to him, so it seemed he was merely being treated as a little follower. There should not be any major problem.
But Wu Shunhai was still somewhat uneasy.
After all, the palace was heavily guarded. It was extremely difficult for the Eastern Depot to place people in the palaces of the various imperial consorts, so they had no idea what the actual situation inside was like.
Hearing this, Xue Yan’s expression remained natural. He lowered his eyes and spoke indifferently, as though he did not wish to say much about it.
“No one in Mingluan Palace usually makes things difficult for me. Please rest assured, Eunuch.”
Seeing him like this, Wu Shunhai finally relaxed about eighty percent.
He once again pretended to be concerned and immediately offered him another piece of advice.
“Consort Shu isn’t exactly an easy person to get along with,” Wu Shunhai said. “If you can win her favor, life will be easier for you in the palace.”
Xue Yan showed a puzzled expression.
“Eunuch…?”
Seeing his expression, it was obvious that he was not having a very good time in Mingluan Palace and did not believe what he had said.
Wu Shunhai completely relaxed.
He was somewhat smug as he casually said,
“Yes. Although she is favored, she’s also foolish. Why do you think she still doesn’t have a child? Isn’t it because she can’t even properly control the people around her?”
After all, although the Eastern Depot’s influence within the palace was weak, they still had some informants outside the various imperial consorts’ palaces.
That senior palace maid of hers often secretly entered and left the Imperial Pharmacy and even met privately with people from Noble Lady Yi’s palace. What good thing could she possibly be doing?
However, because of that old matter from back then, Noble Lady Yi had broken ties with the Eastern Depot and still held evidence against them. Therefore, he was unwilling to create another conflict with Noble Lady Yi over something unrelated.
After all, if a woman in the palace could not even protect her own womb, whom could she expect to protect her?
Wu Shunhai, who had casually brought up the matter, naturally failed to notice the probing and calculations hidden in Xue Yan’s eyes when he heard those words.