Hu Qing sauntered back to his quarters. It was well past midnight, and Wenyuan had chased Hu Qing out of his room, citing his need to sleep. Having gotten his fill of gossip, Hu Qing had graciously obliged so as to avoid deepening the dark circles under the Zhao heir’s eyes.
“Sir!”
At the sound of the familiar voice, Hu Qing’s mood immediately plummeted. It was Minister Liang’s personal servant, a stocky man in his late forties. If he showed up, it meant Hu Qing’s uncle wasn’t finished lecturing him yet.
Grumbling under his breath loud enough for the servant to catch a few key phrases, Hu Qing followed the servant to Minister Liang’s study. The older man gave Hu Qing a sympathetic look, to which Hu Qing gave an appreciative nod before heading in to face his uncle.
“Uncle!” Hu Qing said in an overly cheerful voice. “Did the prince leave already? Wow, he sure was a stud!”
“Don’t,” Minister Liang warned him, pointing a finger accusingly. “I don’t want to hear about how good-looking he is, I’m serious. Keep it to yourself.”
“Alright then, but that companion of his was also pretty good-looking,” Hu Qing continued, intent on annoying Minister Liang enough that he got kicked out.
“It applies to him as well! Really, why is all of your talent wasted on finding loopholes?” Minister Liang said in exasperation. “Anyways, sit down. There’s something we need to discuss.”
Hu Qing glanced at the offered chair suspiciously but complied.
“What’s this about?” Hu Qing asked. “Is it about the vase in the sitting room I broke last month?”
“I should’ve known that was you,” Minister Liang said. “But no. This is about the recent case with Minister Zhao. Surely you must’ve heard about it.”
“I suppose,” Hu Qing shrugged. “Should I go proposition Qu Boyong again?”
“No, don’t bother. Now listen closely, this is a very important matter, far more important than you can begin to imagine. I want to know if you had anything to do with the case,” Minister Liang said.
Hu Qing carefully controlled his reaction to avoid making a microexpression that might give him away. “No.”
Minister Liang didn’t look convinced in the slightest. “I’ve known you since you were born, do you think you can lie to my face? You’re not in trouble, I just want to know if you were involved.”
Hu Qing mulled it over for a moment before reluctantly giving a nod. Hu Qing’s jobs always went through Minister Liang’s approval. After all, Minister Liang was his actual boss and the head of the family, it only made sense to report any piecework he took on the side, even if he couldn’t discuss the contents of the job.
Minister Liang let out a deep breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “Hu Qing, I don’t know whether to curse your foolishness or thank you. Well, what happened?”
“Qu Boyong kind of roped me in, so I took the job,” Hu Qing said sheepishly.
“I suspected as much,” Minister Liang sighed. “We’ll discuss your impulsiveness another day, but first, tell me everything you know. Don’t leave out even a single detail.“
Hu Qing frowned. “That’s confidential. If I take a job, I keep its secrets. That’s a basic requirement for a professional. Isn’t that what you’ve always asked of me?”
“That was to protect our family. This is also for our family’s sake,” Minister Liang said, a note of impatience in his voice. “There’s no such thing as professional standards for your trade anyways.”
Hu Qing's frown deepened at Minister Liang's condescending tone. As an illegitimate child, he didn't exist in either government records or on the family tree. His relationship to the Liang clan meant that his bloodline was noble enough that he would face a lighter punishment even if he were ever caught, but he also wasn't noble enough to be held to social norms or etiquette.
In fact, as someone who didn't even exist on paper, Hu Qing couldn't be held to anything, nor could he engage in trades that required any form of registration. That only left him with his work as a spy and enforcer for the Liang clan, a thankless job that no one who had any other choice would take part in. Being ever the optimist, this didn't particularly bother Hu Qing much. Hu Qing considered himself a professional and held himself to the same standards as other members of his trade who worked as hired hands and were paid a whole lot more. He refrained from glaring at Minister Liang. The older man was either deliberately ignorant or simply didn't see Hu Qing's work as worthy of any respect whatsoever.
“Of course there are professional standards, just like there are for any other trades,” Hu Qing shot back. “Client confidentiality is one of the most important ones among them. I can’t tell you anything and you know that!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, do you know how important this is?” Minister Liang demanded.
“Not important enough to give up my integrity. If that’s all you wanted, I’m leaving,” Hu Qing moved to get up, but Minister Liang quickly stopped him.
“Hu Qing, don’t be like this. Listen, I’ll be sure to properly reward you if you tell me,” Minister Liang coaxed him.
“No thanks, I don’t need extra coin. I actually take pride in my work, you know, I can’t just start blabbering because you offered some spending money,” Hu Qing shot back. Minister Liang’s eyebrow twitched, but the man managed to keep his temper.
“I’m not offering money, you brat. I’m offering recognition.”
Hu Qing stiffened, staring at his uncle in disbelief.
Minister Liang continued reluctantly, evidently unwilling to make the offer. “I’ll add you to the family tree. You’ll be allowed to use the surname Liang and officially participate in rituals.”
“Why would you offer that? Aren’t you the one who doesn’t want me to be legitimized the most?” Hu Qing asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
Minister Liang shifted uncomfortably. “Our family’s future depends on the Seventh Prince’s success, surely you understand this.”
“And if you’re in his favor, he’ll ensure your position as the head of household regardless of my status?” Hu Qing asked with an edge in his voice. “Let me guess, I’ll be recognized as your nephew, won’t I? And whose son will I become?”
Minister Liang’s face hardened. “Don’t refuse the toast to drink the penalty wine. This is a chance that won’t come again!”
Hu Qing shook his head, letting out a cold laugh. “Uncle, I’m not interested in your position or any inheritance. I’ve waited for this day for years, but you’ve never so much as considered the option no matter what I did. And now you’re willing to do it to suck up to your newfound master?”
“Watch your tongue!” Minister Liang snapped. “I’m doing this for your own good, for the good of this family! You know why I couldn’t legitimize you earlier, but now things have changed! Can’t you see that this will benefit us in the long run?”
Hu Qing glared at Minister Liang for a long moment, disgust and hope intermingling in his chest to form a burning mess that scorched his insides.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Hu Qing said, making to leave.
“Hu Qing!” Minister Liang called after him.
Hu Qing turned to glance at him, forcibly biting down the biting words that threatened to bubble up. “Uncle, I have my own principles. There’s nothing I can tell you.”
He stormed out of the study, Minister Liang’s servant glancing anxiously after him before entering the study.
----------------------------------------
The Fifth Prince's household was usually a serene environment. The servants moved like clockwork, and everything happened at a calm, measured pace, reflecting the personality of its master.
The only oddity out among them was Qiu Jinwei, Yunqi's personal strategist and retainer, a brilliant man who was also extremely eccentric. Said man was currently walking down a corridor at a haphazard pace, slowing and speeding up as his thoughts ebbed and flowed. The servants of the household greeted him politely as he passed, but showed no sign of irritation as Qiu Jinwei ignored them. It was just how the man got sometimes when he was lost in his own thoughts.
Qiu Jinwei stuck out like a sore thumb in the Fifth Prince's household but was rather well-liked, the servants seeing him as some sort of a mascot. The strategist didn't follow etiquette or even seem to have any common sense whatsoever, but even the Third Prince didn't say anything, so why on earth would anyone else?
The only person who seemed to take an issue with Qiu Jinwei was Yunqi's maternal cousin, Shu Zhengyan. Zhengyan was a young man, barely past twenty, good-looking and slightly above average in ability, hailing from an illustrious clan that had very recently been brought to his knees. It was almost a given that he would be temperamental and arrogant in equal measure, and indeed, Zhengyan's temper had shown itself in angry bursts in the short period of time since his arrival.
The entire Shu family was currently banned from the capital, save for the Wise Consort who resided in the Inner Palace. Shu Zhengyan had only been allowed to join Yunqi after the Fifth Prince had repeatedly thrown political support behind the growth of the neutral faction, satisfying the Emperor enough to show this small amount of magnanimity. This certainly didn't help Shu Zhengyan's already-wounded pride, and the moodier the young man became, the closer people kept an eye on him, which would then further wound his pride. It was an ugly cycle, but given the sensitivity of the political situation at court, Yunqi had no choice but to keep his younger cousin under constant surveillance.
Qiu Jinwei's thoughts flitted to Shu Zhengyan's none-too-subtle attempts to ask about what Jinwei had told the Third and Fifth Princes about Wenyuan. The young man had nagged Jinwei earlier in the day, but after Jinwei's none-too-subtle rebukes, had stormed off and disappeared into his quarters. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, though Shu Zhengyan had never bothered Jinwei so boldly before.
Jinwei came to a full stop in his tracks, his right eye twitching. The startled serving girl Jinwei had stopped right next to came forward, looking at him in concern.
"Mister Qiu, is something the matter?"
Qiu Jinwei glanced around the corridor, a frown deepening on his face. He rubbed at his right eyelid, which was still twitching uncomfortably.
"Where is Young Master Shu right now?" Jinwei demanded. The serving girl shook her head, a look of alarm on her face.
"I don't know, sir. I'll go ask right away."
Jinwei remained where he was in the middle of the hall until the serving girl returned. The girl ran down the hall and came to a stop before him, wide-eyed and short of breath. Three guards followed her, looking just as alarmed.
"A-apologies, Mister Qiu. We were certain he was in his room, but he's gone!" One of the guards stammered.
"I hate it when I'm right," Qiu Jinwei said between gritted teeth. "Curses! I should've thought of this earlier!"
"Sir, where could he have gone?" The serving girl asked anxiously.
"No idea, but if my instincts are correct, he's doing something incredibly foolish as we speak. Notify the prince right away and send someone to check any buildings that his retinue has rented," Qiu Jinwei ordered.
"He didn't bring a retinue," the serving girl said cautiously.
Qiu Jinwei shook his head. "Not openly, no. But Lord Shu would've sent one anyway, the Emperor tacitly approved it when he allowed Young Master Shu to come to the capital. The housekeeper should know where they would be. Stop staring at me, hurry up and go!"
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The serving girl and the three guards scampered off, splitting off in different directions to carry out their orders. Qiu Jinwei let out a heavy sigh.
"Goddamnit, why do I only think of these things when it's too late?" He muttered. "Let's just hope Sir Shu hasn't done anything stupid yet."
----------------------------------------
Liu Boyue kept his face in a polite smile as he finished listening to Minister Liang’s apology through the communication device. As Boyue ended the communication, he felt a small amount of relief. It was a pity that Hu Qing wouldn’t divulge the details, but if Hu Qing kept to client confidentiality and his identity remained a mystery to Zhao Wenyuan, then that meant Boyue and Minister Liang’s involvement would be firmly under wraps. The less Xianchun knew, the less he'd be implicated even if Liu Boyue's actions were ever uncovered.
The only downside to Hu Qing’s professionalism was that it covered Zhao Wenyuan as well. But the fact alone that Wenyuan was willing to hire Hu Qing, a complete stranger, and leave him alive after the fact narrowed down the possibilities of what could've happened.
A knock on the door drew him out of his thoughts.
“Sir Liu, there’s a messenger asking to speak with you,” a servant notified him.
“Whose house is he from?” Liu Boyue asked.
“He didn’t say, but he said it was important,” the servant replied.
“Alright, I’ll go meet with him,” Liu Boyue said, nodding for the servant to lead the way. Following the servant to the side gate, he was greeted by a middle-aged man who had the features of someone from the Northeast.
“Greetings, Sir Liu. Please pardon my rudeness in approaching you so abruptly,” the man said. “My master ordered me to deliver this to you.” As he spoke, the man took out a thin scroll that he handed over respectfully with both hands. Liu Boyue glanced at the scroll carefully before taking it.
“Who is your master?” Liu Boyue asked.
“Apologies, sir. I was ordered not to speak his name to you,” the man said, bowing his head.
“Then what is this?” Liu Boyue waved the scroll at him.
“Something that will be of use to you and His Highness the Seventh Prince,” the man replied.
“How so?”
“You will understand as soon as you read it,” the man bowed again. “I apologize, but I am unaware of its contents and thus cannot speak more on the matter. Now that I have delivered it to you, my work here is done.”
“Very well,” Liu Boyue sighed before nodding at the servant who had led him over. “Thank the man for his troubles and escort him out.”
The servant bowed, taking the coin Liu Boyue handed him and giving it to the messenger before leading the man away. Boyue watched after them, waiting until they had disappeared from earshot before gesturing to the second servant who was standing just out of sight. The servant approached.
“Your orders, sir?”
“Follow that man. I want to know exactly who sent him,” Liu Boyue ordered. The servant bowed and scurried off. Boyue stared after him with narrowed eyes. The servant was skilled enough not to be detected, but there was still the question of how cautious the messenger would be. All in all, it could take a while to figure out who the messenger worked for.
Liu Boyue headed back to his study and unrolled the scroll, his eyes narrowing as he read the contents. He slowly sank into a chair, running through the ramifications of what he had received. Even when the case involved such sensitive information, Wenyuan had the guts to trust an outsider like Hu Qing. Boyue couldn’t tell if the Zhao heir was bold or stupid.
In any case, it was enough to stir up an unprecedented shift in court.
“Good heavens,” Boyue muttered to himself. “Are they afraid that things aren’t chaotic enough?”
There was a knock at the door as a servant entered.
“Sir, apologies for the intrusion. We’ve tracked down the messenger,” the servant announced. Liu Boyue blinked in surprise. It hadn't been long since the messenger left, just how careless could he have been?
“Well? Who was his master?” Liu Boyue asked.
“We didn’t see him go to any of the major households, but we followed him back to his residence. From what we know, that building is currently rented by the retainers of the Shu household,” the servant replied.
“The Shu household?” Liu Boyue muttered. He nodded to the servant. “Good, you can go now.”
If it was the Shu household, then it must be related to Shu Zhengyan, the only member of the family who had been allowed into the capital.
“The Fifth Prince…no, that’s unlikely,” Liu Boyue mulled it over for a moment before heading towards Xianchun’s quarters at a measured pace, careful not to signal any unusual reactions to the servants and guards.
“My prince, it’s Boyue,” Liu Boyue called as he entered the doorway to Xianchun’s study.
“Come on in!”
Liu Boyue approached where Xianchun was leaning back in a chair, documents scattered before him, quickly kneeling on one knee in greeting. Xianchun waved for him to get up and sit down.
“It’s good that you’re here, Boyue. Look, these are the initial documents from the Ministry of Justice’s investigation,” Xianchun gestured at the haphazard pile of scrolls before him.
“I see,” Liu Boyue said. “It’s excellent that we have access to the Ministry of Justice now, at least we’re on an even playing field with the Third Prince in that regard.”
Xianchun nodded, chuckling in satisfaction as he picked up one of the scrolls.
“My prince, I just received something that may be more valuable than all of these documents put together,” Liu Boyue continued, offering up the scroll to Xianchun. Xianchun gave him a questioning look, but Boyue only pushed the scroll into the prince’s hands, nodding for Xianchun to read it.
Xianchun unfurled the scroll with a curious glint in his eyes, quickly scanning its contents. His face stiffened into a stony mask. Xianchun threw down the scroll, whirling towards Boyue.
“Is it true?” Xianchun demanded.
Liu Boyue lowered his head. “I’m not sure, my prince.”
“What a fucking mess,” Xianchun muttered.
“Though we can’t ascertain its truthfulness just yet, I believe it is at least based on fragments of truth. This was sent by members of the Shu household,” Liu Boyue said.
“The Shu household? None of them are here except for Shu Zhengyan…you mean it was that incompetent fool?” Xianchun asked. “But that means that Fifth Brother was involved.”
“I’m not sure about the Fifth Prince’s involvement,” Liu Boyue replied. “If it were him, he wouldn’t have done such a sloppy job and allowed us to find out the sender so easily.”
Even if it appeared that the Emperor had shown magnanimity by allowing Shu Zhengyan to return to the capital, it was in fact adding an additional burden to Yunqi by hoisting the most useless and incompetent member of the Shu family onto him.
Xianchun shook his head. “That goddamn idiot, his abilities are insufficient for getting anything done but are plenty for ruining things. I almost pity Fifth Brother for having a cousin like him. But if he’s gotten hold of this information, surely Fifth Brother and Third Brother already know as well. Just what did Shu Zhengyan intend by giving us something like this?”
“It’s a trap and a crude one at that. He hopes to reveal this information to the court by our hands instead of the Fifth and Third Prince’s. That way we would not only insult Wenyuan but also anger the Emperor. Did he think we wouldn’t see right through that?” Liu Boyue said disdainfully. “That Shu Zhengyan is unable to choose a path when desperate, like a man unable to choose his food in his hunger. My prince, what shall we do?”
“Send a message to Wenyuan. I have a gut feeling that this news may be closer to the truth that we’ve imagined. If it comes from Fifth Brother’s household, then that’s probably the case. I’m not sure what kind of talented men he’s gotten for himself, but Fifth Brother’s information tends to be uncannily correct.”
Liu Boyue gave him a look of surprise. “My prince, are you sure? If it’s likely to be true, then we should be all the more careful in how we react.”
“What else do you propose?” Xianchun asked. “Should secretly leak the news and have all the signs point towards Shu Zhengyan and Fifth Brother?”
Liu Boyue lowered his gaze, sensing that Xianchun was against the idea. “No, my prince. But is it necessary to disclose the news to him so soon? The longer we hold on to this information, the more desperate Shu Zhengyan is likely to become, which could only damage our opponent all the more. Even if Shu Zhengyan doesn’t make any further moves, discreetly holding on to this may serve to benefit us in the long run. Whether against the Grand Duke or the direction in which the neutral faction leans in the future, perhaps…” He trailed off, leaving the last part unsaid.
Xianchun shook his head. “You misunderstand me, Boyue. I don’t intend to let anyone use this information. Can’t you tell by now? Plots and schemes are the worst way to deal with Wenyuan. He looks harmless, but he has quite a temper. Even if Wenyuan doesn’t bite us in retaliation, he definitely won’t be satisfied without taking revenge. Rather than us, isn’t it better to place Fifth Brother into that position instead?”
“Your perceptiveness leaves us all in the dust, my prince. Then I’ll send a messenger to invite Wenyuan over,” Liu Boyue said. He bit down on the rising discomfort in his chest. Ever since the Yue Wuxuan case, Xianchun’s interest in Wenyuan had only grown despite the Zhao heir’s insistence on neutrality. But no matter what, Wenyuan was a political opponent, not a friend or ally. Xianchun was just unable, or perhaps unwilling, to see that clearly. It wasn't just an impediment to the prince's future, but also a threat to Boyue's position as well.
Xianchun didn't sense his friend's agitation, still engrossed in mulling over the situation. “Good idea, it’s best to discuss this in person,” Xianchun muttered. “No need to explicitly say anything in the message, but make sure he knows it's urgent.”
----------------------------------------
Kayla stared blankly at the message in her hands. It was after work hours, but not only did she have to deal with a long list of tasks, she had to deal with the ominous and vague message Xianchun had just sent.
Matron Li had quickly ushered the messenger to Kayla’s room, and the poor man was now trying not to shift on his feet as he nervously waited for Kayla to give a response. Understandable, given that she’d been staring at the slip of paper in utter silence for almost ten minutes now.
“The prince urgently requests your presence to speak of important matters to which a third person should not be privy. Make haste for your own sake.”
Kayla squinted at the paper, feeling like a character from an old sitcom she used to watch.
What the fuck does this mean? Is he picking a fight or something?
The message stared back at her with its neat handwriting.
Did he figure something out? Wenyuan asked. I mean, Hu Qing might’ve spilled the beans.
I doubt that he did, I think I have a pretty good grasp of his personality. In any case, I don’t think Hu Qing works for Xianchun. But there is no wall that does not leak wind, perhaps Xianchun did find out something after all.
You're trusting Hu Qing too much. And find out something? Find out what exactly?!
Kayla ignored Wenyuan's gripe about Hu Qing. Saying that she could trust him because he had the exact same personality as her best friend from college was a weak excuse, and Wenyuan wasn't likely to accept it either. Kayla also knew that she probably shouldn't trust him at all. Perhaps she was just growing desperate in her isolation and paranoia after entering this world, but the sense of familiarity Hu Qing gave her was especially comforting. There was also Kayla's inexplicable suspicion that Qu Boyong wouldn't be reliable for much longer, which made her anxious and guilty in equal parts. Shaking off the digression, Kayla replied to Wenyuan.
It’s not about Consort Chen, or Xianchun would go for my neck without sending a warning note like this. Then did he figure out what we have over the Grand Duke?
That would mean he has the cards to ruin us at any time!
Kayla sighed deeply, startling the messenger into taking a step back. She should’ve felt ice-cold panic rushing through her veins, but instead, there was just a slow, sinking feeling in her stomach. Maybe she was just too worn out from the turmoil of the last few days, but Kayla could only muster up a deep-set irritation.
“Did the Seventh Prince say when he wanted to meet?” Kayla asked.
“He would like to meet at your earliest convenience, Minister,” the messenger replied.
“Alright then,” Kayla sighed. “Let’s go.”
The messenger gave her a look of surprise before bowing his head. “Understood, Minister.” Kayla’s unease slowly increased as they headed to Xianchun’s residence so that it completely eclipsed her irritation by the time they’d arrived.
“The prince is waiting for you in the sitting room,” the messenger said politely. Kayla resisted glancing around too much. She’d been to both Kuang and Yunqi’s homes before, it was her first time inside Xianchun’s household. It almost surprised her how normal it all looked.
“Excuse me, your highness. Minister Zhao has arrived,” the messenger announced as he opened the door to the sitting room.
“Welcome,” Xianchun called, lifting a hand in greeting.
Kayla bowed her head. “Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets the Seventh Prince.”
“No need for formalities, come on in and sit,” Xianchun said. Kayla stiffly approached the offered seat.
“Your highness, may I ask what you wished to discuss with me?” Kayla asked pointedly.
“Apologies for calling you here so late at night, but the matter was rather urgent,” Xianchun replied. He reached into his robe and retrieved a thin scroll, holding it out to Kayla.
“This was sent to my household earlier today,” Xianchun explained.
Kayla gave him a questioning look before opening it. Her eyes widened as she read through it before belatedly fighting to keep her reaction under control. The scroll only contained a few sentences, but it was enough to dig her grave. She read over the last sentence several times, fury and panic churning around inside her chest.
“The case was wrapped up without an investigation into Minister Zhao to cover up his inappropriate relationship with Liu Hongyu.”
Oh shit. Fuck.
Kayla read it over again, her eyes narrowing. Not only do they know what cards I used, they’re doing everything they can to make it sound worse than it actually is. Who the fuck is this bastard? She stared mutely at the scroll, running through the situation in her head. Kayla had no idea who the mysterious sender was, but at the very least, it was unlikely to be Xianchun.
Then who the fuck is it? Do they have evidence? A chilling thought occurred to her. Shit, what if it’s the Grand Duke? He’s the only one besides us who actually knows the situation. Maybe he’s really going in for mutual destruction?
“Well, isn’t there anything you want to say?” Xianchun asked. “Surely you’ve read it more than three times by now.”
Kayla hesitated. She could deny it, but if the Grand Duke really was behind it, then he could back up his claims. If she confirmed the information, it put her political position at risk and gave Xianchun something to hold over her.
But on second thought, that wasn’t exactly the worst scenario either. Kayla needed Xianchun to see her as a completely separate entity from the Grand Duke. Now that she had the card of being only nominally related to him by blood, the second step was making sure that Xianchun understood that.
Kayla handed the scroll back to him, leaning back in the chair.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, my prince. But one thing is certain,” Kayla said calmly. “This letter is a trap.”