Character Index
Zhou Kuang: Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne.
Yao Gongzhuo: He showed up a few chapters back, talking with some of Kuang's other supporters in the prince's household, prior to Kuang learning about Shu Zhengyan's poisoning. He was the Director of Logistics in the Ministry of War (the fifth-highest-ranking position in the Ministry). Since all four of his superiors have been removed from their posts, he currently serves as the Interim Minister until a formal appointment is made. He is a supporter of Kuang.
Zhao Wei: One of Wenyuan's uncles, he was the Minister of War until very recently. He has come to see how fast things are going downhill and is disappointed with the Grand Duke's leadership.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Drama queen extraordinaire, younger brother of Minister Liang, and rightful heir to the Liang clan. He formerly worked for Liu Boyue through Minister Liang and now works for Kayla.
Tao Qian: One of the men on Kayla's payroll who was brought in by Hu Qing.
Feng Yi: A broke merchant who was conned into spying on Kayla. In truth, he was meant to be caught and killed, in order to distract them from the actual spies. Sent by Liu Boyue, he was released by Kayla and Hu Qing, the latter of which proceeded to save his life when Liu Boyue tried to silence him.
Liu Boyue: Xianchun's best friend, right-hand man, and strategist, he has been moving pieces behind Xianchun's back. Increasingly uneasy now that he is at risk of being exposed.
Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and original MC.
Minister Liang: Minister of Justice, Hu Qing's older half-brother, and a supporter of the Seventh Prince.
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Zhou Kuang smiled, glowing with pride as he straightened the red robes that his retainer now wore.
“Now that Zhao Wei and his men have officially been stripped of their posts, the Ministry of War is in your hands from this morning onwards,” Kuang said. Yao Gongzhuo bowed his head slightly, his smile threatening to split his face in two.
“It is all thanks to Your Highness’ benevolence!” Yao Gongzhuo said sincerely.
Kuang patted his shoulders, smoothing down the fabric of Yao Gongzhuo’s new robes.
“Not at all, it’s because of your own hard work,” Kuang praised him. “You have no idea how pleased I am to see your labor come to fruition.”
Yao Gongzhuo flushed with joy. “My prince, I will do everything within my power to gain control of the Ministry of War for your sake!”
“No.”
Yao Gongzhuo jolted, shocked at Kuang’s simple refusal. The Third Prince was still smiling, no sign of disapproval or anger on his face.
“My prince?” Yao Gongzhuo asked hesitantly.
“You will become the Minister of War someday,” Kuang promised. “But not necessarily the present. No matter who is recommended for the position, we need not make any moves.”
Yao Gongzhuo gave him a look of confusion. The military loved Kuang, even more so after his recent success at the border. A chance to make full use of that was finally before them, why on earth would they sit still?
Seeing Yao Gongzhuo’s expression, Kuang chuckled lightly.
“I’m saying that the military obviously belongs to the Emperor,” Kuang said pointedly. “Why should any of us think otherwise?”
Yao Gongzhuo blinked in confusion before lighting up in understanding. “I see, so that is why Your Highness says I should not make any moves?”
Kuang smiled. “Exactly, Gongzhuo truly understands me. As interim Minister, do not take any action to secure your position. Do not flatter any of your peers or try to sway any of your subordinates, in fact, you should refuse anyone who tries to get into your good graces. Only focus on your duties, and be sure to perform them in an exemplary manner.”
Now that the Zhao clan’s influence in the Ministry of War was being rooted out, more eyes would be on the Ministry than ever before. Of the low-level staff members sent by other institutions to help with the transitions, there were probably more spies than staff.
“I understand now that Your Highness intends to make progress by stepping backward,” Yao Gongzhuo said, smiling conspiratorially.
“Exactly. Keep that in mind and do not be afraid of any temporary losses or disadvantages,” Kuang said. “Right now, what my father wants the most is to see that his subjects retain their trustworthiness even while facing the temptation of power. If you perform satisfactorily, it will go without saying that you will receive a suitable reward.”
Yao Gongzhuo bowed his head. “Your Highness’ wisdom is boundless, I will carry out your orders with all of my ability!”
Kuang reached out and pulled him up. “Good man! I’ll leave it in your hands. Be assured that the Ministry of War will become ours, and do not allow yourself to be swayed.”
“As you wish, my prince.”
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Kayla rubbed at her temples, exhausted even after getting in a good five hours of sleep. A dull headache throbbed at the base of her skull, spreading upwards through her skull.
A sharp knock at her window signaled Hu Qing’s arrival.
Kayla opened the window, giving him a look of exasperation.
“Doors exist,” Kayla said flatly. Hu Qing ignored her statement.
“My lord, I’ve brought your new bodyguard,” he announced with far too much energy for this early in the morning.
Hu Qing elbowed the man beside him. The man quickly knelt.
“This lowly one humbly greets the Minister!”
Kayla glanced at the man curiously. He looked rather unremarkable, with a boyish face and a sturdy figure.
“So you’re Tao Qian?” Kayla asked.
“Yes, my lord. I’m honored to be in your presence,” Tao Qian said. He had a deep voice that didn’t match his face.
“I’m leaving the Minister’s safety to you,” Hu Qing said to him. “If anything happens, I’m holding you accountable.”
“I will do everything within my ability to keep the Minister safe,” Tao Qian replied.
“He’s bound by customer confidentiality as I am,” Hu Qing assured Kayla, sensing that she wasn’t entirely trustful of the newcomer.
“Excellent,” Kayla said. “Do you know where to find Feng Yi?”
Hu Qing nodded. “Of course, that shouldn’t be difficult at all. The problem will be convincing that guy to cooperate.”
“Just bring him over and leave the rest to me,” Kayla replied. Hu Qing nodded and took his leave, flipping back onto the rooftop. He left Tao Qian still standing outside Kayla’s window, looking unsure of what he should do next.
Kayla let out a weary sigh, opening the window wider. “Come on in, I’ll take you to meet the steward.”
Kayla couldn’t help but feel increasingly uneasy as the day went on. The attempt on her life notwithstanding, there was also the nervous feeling of teetering at the brink, the tight knot in her stomach from gambling with the lives of hundreds.
Tao Qian hovered over her with a watchful eye, even at the Court of Judicial Review. Unused to his presence, however discreet he was being, Kayla only felt greater unease.
As the workday drew to an end, the communication device thrummed with the arrival of a new message. Kayla pulled it out to take a look.
Come to the safe house. I’ve gotten Feng Yi.
Kayla smiled, some of her anxiety melting away.
As expected of Hu Qing.
She wrapped up her work and left the Ministry, ditching the guards and carriage at a teahouse before heading over with Tao Qian in tow. Tao Qian tactfully waited outside without prompting, sparing Kayla the awkwardness of asking him to do so.
“My lord, look who I brought to see you!” Hu Qing’s energetic voice rang out the moment Kayla entered the safe house. Kayla glanced over to spot Feng Yi sitting timidly in a corner, his countenance haggard and pitiful. He looked as though he’d been having a hard time.
And boy am I about to make it worse.
“Good work,” Kayla replied before approaching Feng Yi.
“So, we meet again,” Kayla greeted him.
Feng Yi shot to his feet, setting aside the cup of water Hu Qing had given him. “Minister! I’m honored to see you again!”
“Sit down and take it easy,” Kayla said. “You look quite pale, have you not been in good health?”
Feng Yi flushed, stammering as he avoided eye contact.
“W-well–that–”
“Minister, it’s just as you suspected! Those heartless bastards refused to leave this poor man alone and have been abusing their power to pick on him,” Hu Qing jumped in, voice dripping with fake sympathy.
“How terrible!” Kayla acted along, giving Feng Yi a look of concern. “Did they hurt you?”
Feng Yi’s eyes grew teary and impossibly wide, giving the middle-aged man the look of a wounded child. “They smashed up my stall and destroyed all my wares! And then they made my landlord kick me out, and now all my friends are too scared to help me!”
“What an inhumane thing to do! Did they threaten you?” Kayla asked.
“They told me to leave the capital or they would break both my legs and then drag me out!” Feng Yi cried. “Good heavens! I wish I’d never agreed to do such a stupid thing!”
Kayla felt a flash of pity for the poor man.
He's just a civilian, just some poor dude who got tricked into a deadly role because he had no other choice. Is it really alright to involve him?
Kayla steeled herself, taking a deep breath. Who am I kidding? Didn’t I drag Chen Caichun and Sun Ruhui into my mess without thinking about it twice? Even if I let him off the hook, will Liu Boyue do so? Better me than him, at least I’ll make sure Feng Yi is compensated properly afterward.
“It seems that they won’t rest until they’ve chased you from the capital,” Kayla said, her sympathy genuine this time.
Feng Yi began to cry in earnest, looking all the more pitiful.
Kayla sat down next to him, eliciting a jolt from the man. Feng Yi shot to his feet to stand at attention, tears and snot still dripping from his face.
“Sit down,” Kayla urged him. He did so hesitantly, looking nervous to be sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a noble.
“Here.” Kayla handed him a handkerchief. It was one of the simpler ones she carried around, with average-quality cloth and no embroidery that would help anyone distinguish it.
As Feng Yi wiped at his face, Kayla watched him quietly.
“Feng Yi,” Kayla spoke in a gentle voice, trying not to scare him off. “To be honest, I asked Hu Qing to find you for two reasons. One is that I worried for your safety, knowing you would be hard pressed to defend yourself against such danger. The other reason is that I need your help. Would you be willing to do me a favor?”
Feng Yi bowed his head lower. “I would, Your Grace!”
“It would be at least a little bit dangerous, in the best of circumstances,” Kayla warned him. “Once it is done, you might not be able to stay in the capital anymore.”
Feng Yi froze up. “I-I-I- that is…what do you want me to do, Your Grace?”
“Unfortunately, it’s one of those things where I can’t tell you unless you’ve agreed,” Kayla said apologetically. “The situation calls for it.”
Feng Yi glanced down nervously. “That-well, I’m not sure…”
Hu Qing scoffed from the side. “You said you owed the Minister your life twice over and would be happy to help him no matter what, but now you’re hesitating?”
“Don’t pressure him,” Kayla said disapprovingly, taking the hint that Hu Qing would play the bad cop for her.
“No, that’s not–I–” Feng Yi trailed off, unsure of how to respond.
“You don’t have to agree if you don’t want to,” Kayla assured him. “But if you do, you’ll have to carry it through to the end.”
Feng Yi’s face twisted with guilt.
As expected, he is an honest man. More importantly, he was a man of morals. It was why she had chosen him in the first place. Quashing down her own guilt, Kayla dialed it up a notch. She let out a deep sigh, looking down with an expression of disappointment before quickly switching to an understanding smile.
“It’s alright, if you don’t want to do it, then I’ll arrange for you to safely leave the capital and pay for your relocation. The capital’s a great place, but nothing’s more important than safely surviving, am I right?” Kayla offered.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
She turned towards Hu Qing, who was scowling disapprovingly at Feng Yi. “Hu Qing, prepare some silver for Feng Yi. He’ll need it for resettlement costs.”
“Minister, that’s not necessary!” Feng Yi protested.
“Ungrateful,” Hu Qing muttered under his breath, loud enough for Feng Yi to hear. “My lord is being too kind to someone who doesn’t even understand basic reprisal…”
Kayla shot him a look of disapproval before turning back to Feng Yi.
“Don’t mind him. You’ll need some money to gain your footing in your new city,” Kayla said. “Which city would you prefer?”
Feng Yi looked increasingly unsure of himself as Kayla listed cities that might be suitable.
“M-Minister, that’s really unnecessary,” Feng Yi said in a small voice. “You’re much too kind, I don’t deserve such generosity.”
Hu Qing made a sound of disdain.
“Nonsense,” Kayla said. “This is only what I should do.”
Feng Yi deliberated over it for a moment longer before drawing a deep breath. He glanced up, eyes glinting with resolve.
“Minister, I owe you my life three times over now. I admit to being a cowardly man, but how can I repeatedly accept your generosity without any thought of repayment? Please just tell me what to do, and I will happily see it done.”
Kayla gave him a look of mild surprise. “Feng Yi, you don’t have to push yourself.”
“No, this is what I should do,” Feng Yi said determinedly. “Please give me your orders!”
“Well then, if you’re certain, there’s no need to keep things from you. I want you to take your case to the Court of Judicial Review and accuse the Seventh Prince of trying to force you out of the capital,” Kayla said.
Feng Yi’s jaw dropped. “What?! The Seventh Prince?! Your Grace, I–”
Kayla held up a hand to silence him.
“Don't worry, it won’t be difficult. I’ll send you to the Seventh Prince’s house, and all you have to do is point out Liu Boyue and tell the Seventh Prince everything about how you were recruited, and how he tried to kill you,” Kayla said gently.
“Who is Liu Boyue?!” Feng Yi asked in bewilderment.
“The very man who recruited you and then tried to silence you,” Kayla replied. She gestured to Hu Qing, who unrolled a ridiculously realistic-looking drawing of Liu Boyue.
“This is the man who’s ruining your life, Feng Yi,” Kayla said. “I promise that I will protect your life no matter what. All you have to do is point him out, and I will ensure that you will be duly rewarded. Can you do that for me?”
Feng Yi nodded. “As you wish, Your Grace. I’ll do whatever you need me to.”
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Xianchun laughed as he walked into the study, Hu Qing following behind obediently. The young man had brought Xianchun the latest update from the Court of Judicial Review.
It was official. The Minister of Rites had been indicted for corruption and dereliction of duty. All that was left now was for Xianchun to move in, aided by the Ministry of Personnel.
“And he delivers as he promised!” Xianchun said in delight. “Send my thanks to your master for the gift.” Even if the Ministry of Revenue was out of his reach for now, having the chance to take hold of another Ministry with little to no effort on his part was hardly something to scoff at.
Hu Qing’s smile turned a little awkward. “My prince, other than this, there’s another matter,” he said apologetically.
Xianchun glanced towards him with a slight hint of amusement, thinking that Wenyuan needed a favor. “What is it?”
Hu Qing bowed his head, doing an excellent job of acting nervous. “There was a man who came to the Court of Judicial Review crying that he had been wronged…and…well…that is…”
Is it a difficult case?
Xianchun began to frown. “Spit it out already,” he ordered. He glanced Hu Qing over, a little disappointed. Was this really Wenyuan’s most capable retainer, or was he just pretending?
Right, he’s an illegitimate son of the Liang clan, isn’t he? No wonder he’s nervous.
Xianchun couldn’t help but feel another surge of curiosity over Wenyuan’s previous words on Hu Qing’s customer confidentiality.
Is there really something I’m missing here?
Hu Qing bowed his head even lower as he responded. “Since his accusations involve the Seventh Prince’s household, my lord didn’t want to stir up trouble for you. He recommends…he recommends resolving this privately.”
Xianchun’s frown deepened even further. “Resolving what privately?” Xianchun asked impatiently.
Hu Qing winced a little. “Well, the matter’s a little complicated…the man I brought here, Feng Yi, was caught snooping around near my lord’s rooms a few days ago, but the Minister only kicked him out since he seemed to be harmless. The thing is, he came crying to us, saying that the Seventh Prince’s household was trying to force him to his death,” he said awkwardly, avoiding Xianchun’s eyes.
“What? What the hell does any of this have to do with my household?!” Xianchun snapped. Hu Qing shrugged helplessly.
“We don’t know either,” he said apologetically. “But since he publicly entered the building, it’s not like we could get a full answer out of him without someone overhearing us, and the Minister was worried Feng Yi would say something harmful to Your Highness’ reputation.”
Seeing that Xianchun was greatly displeased at being accused, Hu Qing hastily held up his hands.
“It’s not like the Minister thinks Your Highness is behind this! This man was probably deceived in a plot to frame you, but he seems to genuinely think he’s telling the truth. That could prove to be very troublesome for Your Highness if he were subjected to questioning, so the Minister asked me to bring him here instead,” Hu Qing quickly explained.
Xianchun briskly strode out of the room, Hu Qing hurriedly following him. They came to a stop in the corridor overlooking the inner courtyard. Feng Yi was standing in the middle of the courtyard in between two guards, his hands loosely tied together and tear tracks still fresh on his face.
“Your Highness, he’s already been registered in the Court of Judicial Review, so please don’t…that is…” Hu Qing stumbled over his words, falling silent as Xianchun gave him a cold glance.
“Since the Minister was thoughtful enough to cover for me, I obviously wouldn’t cause any trouble for him,” Xianchun replied.
“Send him my thanks,” Xianchun tersely added after a brief pause.
Hu Qing bowed his head, hastily giving his thanks.
“You can return now, I’ll send this man back once this is resolved,” Xianchun said, dismissing Hu Qing. Watching as Hu Qing scurried off, Xianchun frowned and called him back. Hu Qing returned to Xianchun’s side, obediently following Xianchun as they moved out of Feng Yi’s range of hearing.
Xianchun stared at Hu Qing for a long moment.
This isn't the time to be worrying about these things, Xianchun chided himself. But it had been scratching at his insides since the last time he'd seen Wenyuan, the words in his head growing louder and louder each time they were repeated.
“What relation do you have to Minister Liang?” Xianchun asked bluntly. Hu Qing stiffened, immediately glancing aside.
“Your master assured me that I don’t need to view you as a threat, but if you can’t answer, I’ll assume he was lying,” Xianchun threatened.
Hu Qing stiffened even further. “That’s not it, my prince. I simply am embarrassed about my background is all.” Flushing, he continued in a small voice. “I’m the son of the previous Lord Liang, but my mother was just a courtesan so I don’t have the right to use the family surname or to be listed on the family tree.”
Xianchun narrowed his eyes even as his heart skipped a beat in shock. “You’re his younger brother?”
“I don’t dare to lie to you, my prince,” Hu Qing said, sounding downright miserable. “But I don’t want the Liang surname, our clan’s been through too much to get dragged down by a prostitute’s son.”
Xianchun let out a soft sigh, starting to feel a little sorry for him now. “You’re filial to consider your clan to this extent, the Liang family is lucky to have so many men of virtue,” he awkwardly comforted Hu Qing. The flash of pity quickly disappeared as he thought of the second issue at hand.
“I don’t recall hiring you before,” Xianchun said. The sudden change of topic caught Hu Qing shorthanded, and he hesitated for a moment before bowing. Something twisted inside Xianchun’s gut at the microexpression of surprise that had briefly appeared across Hu Qing’s face.
“Of course not, my prince,” Hu Qing replied.
Xianchun felt the urge to ask more, but the questions jumbled together in his chest, blocking any words from emerging. Instead, he waved in dismissal. Hu Qing bowed deeply before hurrying off, leaving Xianchun with Feng Yi, who was glancing around helplessly, his eyes wide with confusion.
Seeing Xianchun approach, the two guards shoved Feng Yi to his knees, bowing in greeting to the prince.
“Hurry up and greet His Highness!” One of the guards snapped. Feng Yi took in the young man before him, intimidated by the tall and handsome man who was scowling down at him. From looks alone, it was evident that Xianchun and Wenyuan were indeed related, but their auras were so different from each other that Feng Yi stuttered in surprise, unable to form a coherent sentence even after a long and embarrassing minute of trying.
Xianchun was already in a bad mood, even if he refused to admit to himself the true reason for it. His glare didn’t soften for a second, and Feng Yi began to regret coming here. On second thought, he immediately began mentally remonstrating himself for being such a coward.
“Stop wasting my time and talk,” Xianchun ordered. “What on earth gave you the guts to besmirch an Imperial Prince of the Wu Dynasty?”
Feng Yi glanced up at Xianchun, a little surprised for some unknown reason. Prior to meeting Zhao Wenyuan, Feng Yi had never interacted with anyone more important than the sons of a few rich merchants. Zhao Wenyuan had been the first noble he’d met, and Xianchun the first prince, but the latter was much more frightening. Feng Yi already knew which of the two he preferred. That thought gave him a sudden burst of courage, and he managed to force out his words.
“This lowly one was wronged! I-I-I opened a stall again, but some thugs came and smashed it up, and when my friends tried to come and stop them, the thugs said they were from the Seventh Prince’s household! And then-and then my landlord kicked me out, he said that it was because I offended the Seventh Prince, but this one has never even met Your Highness!” Feng Yi blurted out, his words blending together as he stumbled through them. “A-and then I tried to find a new place to rent, but they all turned me away, my friends are also too scared to let me stay with them, I’ve become homeless!”
Xianchun gave him a look of disbelief. “How ridiculous, am I not busy enough with the affairs of the state? When on earth would I get the time and effort to spend on bullying a stall owner? Not to mention, weren’t you caught snooping around the Zhao household a few days ago? You have some face to go to Minister Zhao crying for help,” he said mockingly.
“I was wrong to have done it, but Minister Zhao was kind enough to let me go, who else could I have gone to for help?” Feng Yi replied, genuinely feeling wronged. It wasn’t as though any of this was his idea to begin with.
Xianchun’s mood dissipated slightly, and he let out a harsh sigh. Feng Yi flinched in response. The prince stared down at him for a moment longer before gesturing at one of the guards.
“Call Boyue over,” Xianchun ordered. Feng Yi very carefully did not react to the name. The guard bowed and left, returning shortly afterward with an extremely handsome young man. Feng Yi stared at the man in disbelief. Hu Qing's drawing was one thing, but seeing the man in-person was a whole different story. Was this pretty boy really the one who had tried to kill him? But since the Minister said so, Feng Yi had no choice but to believe it.
Seeing Feng Yi, Liu Boyue carefully kept his reaction neutral.
“My prince, I’ve heard about the situation,” Liu Boyue said, bowing to Xianchun. “Is this the man?”
Xianchun nodded. “I think this is probably a trap for us,” Xianchun replied. “Go on and speak with him, see what you think.”
Feng Yi took that cue to give a garbled screech. All four people stared at him in confusion.
“My prince, please spare me!” Feng Yi wailed loudly, channeling his fear into his performance.
“What–” Xianchun began, cut off by Feng Yi’s pleading.
“I was wrong, I won’t say anything! Please let me keep my life, I’ll leave the capital right away!”
The air around Xianchun stiffened as he stared down at the man before him.
“What the hell do you think you’re saying?” He demanded. Feng Yi bowed his head to the floor, trembling from head to toe.
“My prince, if I had known that it was on Your Highness’ orders, I swear I would’ve been more careful! This one deserves to be punished, I’m so sorry!” Feng Yi wailed.
Xianchun stilled, something clicking together in the back of his mind.
“Lift your head,” Xianchun ordered. Feng Yi flinched but did not move.
“I said, lift your head!” Xianchun snapped. Feng Yi glanced up, his eyes nervously skitting around.
“Look at him!” Xianchun pointed at Liu Boyue. “Do you know this man?”
“Yes, my prince,” Feng Yi said in a shaking voice.
“And how do you know him?” Xianchun asked, his voice coming out in a growl.
Looking like a rabbit cornered by a pack of wolves, Feng Yi replied so softly it was almost a whisper, his voice gaining volume as he went on.
“I-I was kicked out of the market because I couldn’t pay the fees, and he called me into an alleyway! That man offered me a hundred bronze to spy on Minister Zhao, I was desperate so I agreed, but I got caught right away. Minister Zhao was merciful and let me go, and that man tried to kill me in order to make sure I stayed silent about everything! I only survived because the blade was blocked by the money Minister Zhao gave me!”
“Liar! How dare you falsely accuse me?!” Liu Boyue shouted.
Feng Yi flinched back. “I’m not lying!”
“Shameless bastard! Who the hell taught you to say these lies?!” Xianchun demanded.
“I swear to the heavens and upon my ancestors that this is the truth!” Feng Yi pleaded desperately. “It really was him! He tried to cover his face when he attacked me, but I wouldn’t forget such a handsome youngster after seeing him once!”
“This piece of–drag him out and kill him!” Xianchun shouted. The guards grabbed Feng Yi by the arms, ignoring his frightened screeching.
“Have mercy! I just wanted some compensation, is there no law in this land anymore, that an Imperial prince would kill me in broad daylight?!” Feng Yi wailed, reflexively saying the line Hu Qing had drilled into him. “Curses! Even the Court of Judicial Review is like this! What hope is there for the country?!”
The man’s pitiful cries brought Xianchun to his senses. Feng Yi had already been registered at the Court of Judicial Review, killing him was the worst option possible.
“Stop!” Xianchun took in a deep breath, forcibly quelling his temper. “Lock him up and tell Zhao Wenyuan to come here!”
The guards began to drag the crying Feng Yi away, leaving Xianchun and Liu Boyue to stand in tense silence in the courtyard. Xianchun resolutely did not look at Liu Boyue. Instinctively, he knew it was true. There had been so many little pieces that didn’t make sense, and now they were all clicking together.
That time someone tried to recruit Qu Boyong as a spy after I rejected Boyue’s idea.
Minister Liang’s relationship with Hu Qing.
“One day, I’ll probably also face the problem of my subordinates doing things that I didn’t agree to.”
He didn’t need evidence to know it from deep within his heart.
“Boyue,” Xianchun said in a low voice after a long moment. “Is it true?”
“Of course not! My prince, this is ridiculous! How could you believe such a thing?!” Liu Boyue protested.
“Hu Qing is Minister Liang’s brother, and yet I barely know of him.” Xianchun continued.
“I didn’t know that,” Liu Boyue replied.
“Your investigations are always meticulous, not spilling even a single drop of water. How could you not know?” Xianchun asked.
“Minister Liang must have destroyed all the records!”
“Did you hire Hu Qing to do anything?”
“No.”
“Did you hire that man?”
“No!”
“Don’t lie to me!” Xianchun shouted, whirling upon Liu Boyue. “That man was telling the truth, he knew of you! Do you think I can’t tell when it’s right before my eyes?! Do you think me a fool?!”
“This is a trap! It’s an obvious tactic to stir up trouble between us!” Liu Boyue argued.
Xianchun paused for a moment before scoffing. “Zhao Wenyuan doesn’t know of your existence. No one outside of our faction thinks you’re anything other than just a secretary in the Outer Quarters! How the hell would he even know to create such a trap?!”
“My prince, you would listen to the one-sided words of a stranger and suspect me?! I’ve been at your side for almost twenty years now, I’ve given my life to you!” Liu Boyue cried out.
Xianchun stared at his friend’s wounded expression.
“Boyue, even now, you won’t tell me the truth?” Xianchun asked in disbelief.
Liu Boyue met Xianchun’s eyes and immediately understood that Xianchun knew. The two of them had grown up together, some things didn’t need to be said to be communicated between them.
“My prince, everything that I’ve done, I did for your sake,” Liu Boyue said defeatedly.
Xianchun stepped away, unable to form any words. He left the courtyard without glancing back.
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Cultural Notes
以退为进/Make progress by stepping backward: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to gain by losing, etc. Refers to situations where taking a step back benefits you more than rushing forward.
Symbolic Debt: This was a very important concept in Ancient Chinese society, serving as the moral undergirding for the kin-based networks that kept society functioning. If you owe someone a favor, you're expected to repay it, even without legal enforcement of the issue. The kinder and more lenient someone is to you in allowing you to not pay back the symbolic debt, the more debt you're going to be in. It isn't exactly thought of in terms of debt, but rather morality, so people will shame themselves into doing the right thing and repay the favor in most cases (or at least try to).
报馆/Reporting crimes: Not that there weren't guards that patrolled the city, but Ancient China did not have modern policing and surveillance apparatuses, and so most criminal cases were reported rather than caught in the act.
没有王法/No law of the king: This is often used to lament when laws are ignored or blatantly broken, usually by someone who is being extrajudicially or illegally harmed, especially by nobles, officials, or extremely wealthy/influential persons.
光天化日之下/Under the sun in broad daylight: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to refer to shocking incidents that occurred openly, usually in a scandalized or critical way. For example, if someone does a Jean Valjean and lifts a carriage off an old man in the street, this proverb would not apply. But if someone murdered another person in broad daylight, this proverb would be used. Kind of a "what is this society coming to" sentiment.