“You’re saying the Minister of Rites, Ye, went to look for Shu Changyu?” The Empress leaned lazily on the couch and asked the inner attendant who had come to report. “Did Shu Changyu agree to him?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, word from the Ye residence says Minister Ye has gone to seek other avenues,” the attendant replied. “He likely did not agree.”
The Empress slowly waved her fan and let out a cold laugh. “That timid mouse-like thing—what kind of serious plan could he possibly make?”
After speaking, she instructed, “Go tell Minister Ye that this palace is willing to help him meet his nephew.”
—
The next day, when Shu Changyu entered the gates of Zhongli Palace, Ji Mu was standing on the steps of the main hall as he did every day, waiting for him.
As Shu Changyu approached, he faintly noticed dark circles under Ji Mu’s eyes. He paused, only then remembering that the homework he had assigned yesterday had been a bit too much.
But a young man of about ten-plus years old had abundant energy far beyond ordinary people. Although Ji Mu had dark circles under his eyes, he looked spirited, and when he saw him, he still smiled with respectful joy.
Shu Changyu followed him into the study and asked, “Yesterday’s assignments were a bit heavy. Did you finish them?”
Ji Mu replied, “Reporting to Imperial Tutor, yesterday’s assignments were not heavy. I have already completed them.”
Shu Changyu glanced at him sideways.
Not heavy? The stack of papers on the desk was a full inch thick, each sheet filled with writing.
“Second Prince,” Shu Changyu said, stopping in his steps and looking at him. “Confucius indeed spoke of loyalty and filial piety, but he did not advocate blind loyalty or blind obedience. Homework after class is meant to consolidate knowledge. If I assign too much, that is my mistake. Why did Your Highness not speak up?”
Ji Mu liked the serious way he looked when he lectured.
Still, Ji Mu kept his eyes lowered and answered properly, “Replying to Imperial Tutor, it really was not much.”
In any case, at night when he thought of him, he would toss and turn and be unable to sleep. It was better to simply do the assigned work quietly and pass the time; at least it made him feel fulfilled.
But these words could never be spoken.
Shu Changyu immediately thought: hopelessly unteachable.
He no longer wished to argue and instead went to the desk to review the stack of assignments.
Halfway through, he suddenly stopped.
He thought of Ye Qingrui’s visit yesterday, and unease rose in his heart. He looked up at Ji Mu.
“Second Prince,” he said.
Ji Mu raised his eyes. “Please speak, Imperial Tutor.”
“Although Your Highness is still young, small mistakes made in daily life are harmless. But you must understand that, as a prince, there are many mistakes that once made can never be corrected.”
“I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Imperial Tutor,” Ji Mu replied.
“Your birth mother’s family is still in court. You are aware of this,” Shu Changyu said. “Blood ties are indeed strong, but the boundary between ruler and subject must still be maintained. Therefore, it is best not to meet these old acquaintances. If meeting is unavoidable, please consider carefully.”
Ji Mu’s gaze flickered, and he nodded as if understanding.
Of course he knew Ye Qingrui was desperately trying to meet him. He also intended to use this opportunity to obtain what he needed. Having just returned to the palace, he had no subordinates to use and was constrained everywhere, so he had no choice but to use such methods to retreat in order to advance.
But Shu Changyu was not to be told any of this.
Seeing his blank expression, Shu Changyu sighed and simply said, “In short, you must absolutely not meet the Ye family.”
He was not afraid to speak directly with Ji Mu. This boy was dull; if one did not speak plainly, he would likely not understand.
Sure enough, Ji Mu’s eyes brightened instantly. “I understand, Imperial Tutor.”
Only then did Shu Changyu finally feel at ease.
But what Shu Changyu did not know was that Ji Mu was not as reassuring as he thought.
Within three days, just after leaving Zhongli Palace, an attendant came to find him and summoned him to the Hall of Emperor Qianning.
On the way, Shu Changyu mentally reviewed everything he had done recently. All of it had been cautious, concealing any sharpness; there should have been no mistakes. Moreover, Emperor Qianning liked to suspect people in secret—if he suspected someone, he would not confront them directly.
Thinking this, Shu Changyu relaxed slightly.
But unexpectedly, the mistake was not his.
Recently, a cold spell had struck, and Emperor Qianning’s health was weak, so he had fallen ill again and had not improved for several days. When Shu Changyu arrived, he was wrapped in a snow fox fur cloak, sitting on the dragon throne, coughing intermittently.
“Does Shu Third Young Master know that yesterday Ji Mu met privately with Minister Ye in the palace?” Emperor Qianning asked. “The two even chose a secluded corner near the palace maids’ quarters and whispered for half an hour. It was seen by an attendant close to me.”
Shu Changyu’s heart jolted, and his brows furrowed.
This boy—just a few days ago he had clearly promised him he understood, yet yesterday he went and did exactly what he had been told not to do?
The Ji Mu of his past life had never been like this.
“I… was not aware of this,” Shu Changyu said softly. Then he tried to defend Ji Mu. “The Second Prince once relied on Minister Ye’s help to preserve his life. Now that he has returned to the palace, he likely only wished to express gratitude to his elder.”
Emperor Qianning gave a noncommittal “hm.”
Shu Changyu’s heart tightened again.
“Let us hope so,” the Emperor said. “Shu Third Young Master, I know you are kind by nature, but not everyone is as simple-minded as you. You may think Ji Mu only remembers kindness, but do you know why Ye Qingrui chose such a secluded place to meet him?”
In both of his lives, Shu Changyu had never heard anyone describe him as “simple-minded”—especially not from the suspicious and jealous Emperor Qianning.
He hurriedly put on a look of sudden realization and bowed. “This minister… did not consider this layer. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
This was exactly the kind of expression Emperor Qianning trusted most.
“How could I not forgive you?” the Emperor said gently. “I summoned you today because I trust you, and I have not yet lost hope in Ji Mu. You are pure of heart, and Ji Mu is also likely not wicked. But when interests are involved, I fear that over time he may lose his original intentions. If teaching is not strict, it is the teacher’s negligence. Shu Changyu, do you understand my meaning?”
How could Shu Changyu not understand?
“I understand. I will devote all my effort to properly guide the Second Prince and ensure he is not misled by treacherous people.”
Satisfied, Emperor Qianning let him leave.
After Shu Changyu departed, the Emperor leaned on his hand and recalled what the Empress had said earlier while bringing him medicine.
“Your Majesty, I suddenly recalled an old tale from the former dynasty,” the Empress had said gently. “During the Jin era, Prince Ji’s mother was of low birth but deeply favored. Because of this, her family rose swiftly in power and became nobles. Later, Prince Ji relied on his maternal family and ultimately assassinated the emperor in the palace to usurp the throne. Every time I think of this, I cannot help but sigh.”
The Emperor turned the tale over in his mind repeatedly, his brows tightening more and more. Once again, he began to reassess Ji Mu.
Meanwhile, Shu Changyu left the imperial residence. He originally intended to return to Zhongli Palace to question his unworthy disciple about why he had agreed in front of him but met Ye Qingrui in secret behind his back.
But when he reached the junction, he suddenly found himself unable to move forward.
He knew Ji Mu was foolish, and he also knew Ji Mu only had Ye Qingrui as a relative. He had clearly explained the pros and cons, and Ji Mu had always obeyed him. So he stood there in internal conflict—defending Ji Mu one moment, scolding him the next. After a long while, anger rose in him. With a cold expression, he flicked his sleeve and turned to go home instead.
At Zhongli Palace, Ji Mu was sitting at his desk, repeatedly reviewing Shu Changyu’s notes.
He was waiting—for Shu Changyu to come and reprimand him.
Logically, Ji Mu knew there was something off about Ye Qingrui’s intentions. Ye Qingrui was not a sentimental man; he only acted for profit. But Ji Mu currently had no power and could only use these channels to maneuver and gain leverage to protect his Imperial Tutor.
Even so, he still hoped Shu Changyu would come back furious and scold him thoroughly.
In his past life, when Shu Changyu was his Imperial Tutor, his angry lectures were especially… pleasant to watch.
But later, after he ascended the throne, Shu Changyu always wore a gentle, polite smile whenever he saw him. At that time, Ji Mu was already consumed with state affairs and no longer had time for this puppet emperor.
He endured that lukewarm neglect for ten years. At his most unbearable moments, he even wanted to seize power and imprison this man so that his eyes and thoughts would belong only to him.
But he was also soft-hearted toward him alone. Seeing him standing proudly with authority like a little rooster with its head held high, Ji Mu could not bring himself to act, and could only endure alone in darkness.
Now that he had returned, Ji Mu suppressed all other desires and waited patiently. The only thing he could indulge in was provoking Shu Changyu—forcing him to scold him.
Like a man holding a piece of white jade he dared not reveal, clutching it tightly to his chest, only occasionally pressing it under his clothing when no one was watching, reassured by its cold solidity.
But he waited past noon. Shu Changyu did not come.
At that moment, someone arrived from Emperor Qianning’s palace, bringing many treasures—gold, jade, coral, paintings, and antiques.
“Second Prince,” the attendant said softly, “recently envoys from Tianzhu presented tribute to our Great Qi. His Majesty selected some rare items and sent them here for Your Highness to enjoy.”
Ji Mu understood immediately. This was the Emperor testing him.
Without changing expression, he examined the items one by one.
“Since it is Father Emperor’s gift, they are naturally all fine items,” Ji Mu said. Then he paused in front of a maid holding a tray of coral and looked at her.
“What is your name?”
“This servant is Han Dan.”
Ji Mu nodded. “Please thank Father Emperor for me. Since the gifts have arrived, leave this maid named Han Dan behind as well.”
He smiled slightly.
“This woman is quite to my liking.”