Chapter 26#
Rumors “I’m that lame?”#
The Crown Prince ultimately said nothing further, instead turning the topic: “Rumors in the court and among the people say: he who obtains the four treasures may gain the Imperial Seal. Breaking the Downpour is one of them.”
Pei Xiting was curious. “What connection can a dagger have with the Imperial Seal?”
Yu Shaoyun said, “Forcibly destroying the golden casket that holds the Imperial Seal will only trigger the mechanism, and the seal will instantly turn to dust. Thus, to obtain the seal, one must find the key to the lock. The key is a cipher lock, and the cipher is in four parts. Only by inputting all four parts correctly at once can the lock be opened; otherwise, the seal will self-destruct. The Imperial Seal is of utmost importance, and information about it is usually known only to the Son of Heaven.”
Pei Xiting said, “So that’s how it is.”
Now that Emperor Xining was convalescing in his bedchamber and no longer going out, compared to breaking into the heavily guarded imperial palace, kidnapping the emperor, and forcing him to make a decision that defied his ancestors and imperial dignity, collecting the treasures one by one did seem like the simpler method.
Pei Xiting suddenly recalled when Yuan Fang had tested the blade—the scabbard of that dagger indeed had a water pattern on one side. At the time, he had only thought it was beautiful, never realizing it was part of the cipher.
“But, for just a rumor of unknown truth?” Pei Xiting gave a faint smile.
“Today, I could spread a rumor that a thousand li east or west lies a treasure, and he who finds it will be wealthier than a kingdom. Without any proof, by tomorrow the world would be bustling with countless people rushing there.” The Crown Prince said in a calm voice, “Words have always been like swords—they can save lives or take them. Rumors are mysterious, full of allure and temptation. Some people readily believe them; some, despite their doubts, choose to believe; some don’t believe but fear the one-in-ten-thousand chance that it might be true. All these reactions are not unusual.”
“Indeed, that’s the case.” Pei Xiting shook his head and then asked, “When did this rumor first appear?”
“About the second month of this year,” said the Crown Prince.
The dagger Breaking the Downpour had only been bestowed upon Shangguan Jie at the start of spring, and this rumor appeared in the second month—quite a dramatic coincidence. Pei Xiting studied the Crown Prince’s composed expression and asked with mild curiosity, “Does Your Highness regret handing Breaking the Downpour to Shangguan… the young marquis?”
“I cannot see the future, so why regret?” said the Crown Prince. “A rumor is ultimately just a rumor. This is not an era where heroes vie for supremacy. Can obtaining the Imperial Seal allow one to usurp the throne? Besides, it is the seal of our Zong clan.”
“An outsider obtaining it would lack legitimacy, but the descendants of the Zong clan are not limited to Your Highness alone.” Pei Xiting met the Crown Prince’s steady gaze and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “If Your Highness were killed and the Eastern Palace had no master, someone else could ascend. Whoever holds the Imperial Seal would be seen as favored by Heaven. Even if His Majesty refuses to issue an edict, a wave of public opinion would soon surge toward the emperor, accusing him of ‘opposing Heaven’s will.’”
These words were true but exceedingly bold. Attendant Lai and Yu Shaoyun held their breath, not daring to sneak a look at the prince’s expression.
The Crown Prince looked at Pei Xiting without any displeasure; he only asked, “Do you wish to see that happen?”
“A fine bird chooses its tree to perch on. Although I am neither a talent who can enter the court and participate in governance, nor a warrior who can protect Your Highness amidst flashing blades, I am willing to address only one person as ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince.’” Pei Xiting clasped his hands in salute. “Your Highness, please take good care of yourself. I have duty in the morning and must head down the mountain now.”
The Crown Prince gazed at Pei Xiting for a while before finally saying, “Go ahead.”
Pei Xiting nodded, turned, and walked away. The belt at his waist fluttered behind him, disappearing from the edge of the Crown Prince’s sight.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyelids, concealing his gaze.
“Your Highness.” A guard approached quietly and asked, “The painting had a corner wet. Do you still want it?”
He was referring to the painting that Attendant Lai had taken from the pavilion and tucked into his chest before departing—Pei Xiting’s depiction of the rain-soaked world.
A painting now had a flaw and was damaged, yet it was the one His Highness had specifically asked Pei Xiting to paint. Would His Highness still want it? The subordinates were uncertain and had to come and inquire.
The Crown Prince was silent for a long time, then said, “Mount it.”
The carriage stopped outside the estate. Pei Xiting walked over, lifted the brim of Yuan Fang’s bamboo hat, and leaned down to ask, “Bored from waiting?”
The other man opened his eyes, his gaze clear. “No. The sound of rain was pleasant, so I dozed off a bit.”
“Oh… wait a moment.” Pei Xiting leaned close to his chest and sniffed. “Why do I smell blood? Are you wounded?”
“This?” Yuan Fang looked down and patted his chest. “No. Earlier, when the Crown Prince was attacked, I was lying in the carriage when someone suddenly rushed up, lifted my hat, sized me up, and even tried to slash me with a blade—utterly ridiculous. I figured he was in league with the assassins, and he had some skill, so I killed him and his accomplices. Just splattered a bit of blood.”
The tone, as casual as if he were chopping a melon, reminded Pei Xiting of the bloody scene outside the pavilion earlier. He took a moment to collect himself before asking, “Was that man stronger than the white-clad assassins?”
Yuan Fang answered without hesitation, “Definitely. Probably the leader. I heard the men around him address him with great respect, calling him something like ‘Protector.’”
“What kind of Protector is this? Could he be the mastermind behind this operation?” Pei Xiting muttered, squeezing in next to Yuan Fang to drive the carriage away.
“Hey,” Pei Xiting asked on the road, “Have you ever fought Yu Shaoyun?”
Yuan Fang said, “We fought a few years ago, back when the Crown Prince was still the Fifth Prince.”
Pei Xiting was curious. “Who was stronger?”
Yuan Fang said, “That’s hard to compare. In terms of killing, I’m stronger. But Yu Shaoyun’s saber technique is swift and fierce—he’s a genius in that style. He’s grown up to be rarely matched at such a young age. Don’t be fooled by his official title; he’s made a name for himself in the jianghu while following the Crown Prince. Who doesn’t know Yu Shaoyun and his blade ‘Clearing Snow Clouds’?”
“With such a violent edge, the name he gave his saber is surprisingly elegant.” Pei Xiting bent one leg while the other bounced with the carriage’s jolts. “I heard that when the Crown Prince was still the Fifth Prince, he often traveled abroad. Did he get ambushed often back then?”
“Quite a few times—hired assassins, bounty hunters, and members of various organizations,” Yuan Fang said. “The outside world was pretty chaotic a few years ago, with all kinds of jianghu groups. Quite a few organizations were destroyed by the Crown Prince back then. People used to say the Fifth Prince was like a rainstorm that drenched the entire forest, drowning all the slow-moving rats that liked to scurry around, cleaning up the woods quite a bit.”
Pei Xiting recalled the scars on the Crown Prince’s body. The tail of this rainstorm brushed past his face, leaving a moist coolness. He said, “Was the Fifth Prince really that hated?”
“Those who tried to kill him might have been after money, seeking to provoke the imperial family, proving their own skill, or some people just naturally enjoy killing. There are too many reasons for doing something—who knows? But one thing is for sure,” Yuan Fang tugged the reins to turn a corner, “Among those who hired assassins to kill the Crown Prince back then were supporters of Yuanhe, the former Crown Prince. The Eastern Palace can change hands. The Fifth Prince was raised by Empress Qu from a young age, and his birth mother was Consort Wan, Emperor Xining’s most beloved concubine. Though he spent years away from court, he had his own followers among the officials and a solid foundation. The Yuanhe faction had no choice but to be wary. That’s why, once the Crown Prince ascended, the court underwent a massive reshuffle.”
Pei Xiting sighed with emotion, “The Crown Prince’s path has really been tough. Even when traveling, he’s constantly amidst flashing blades.”
Yuan Fang knew this guy’s nature well and raised an eyebrow. “Feeling pity and affection?”
“Why not?” Pei Xiting’s eyes darted. “If I pursue the Crown Prince, what do you think my chances are?”
Yuan Fang gave a ruthless assessment. “Zero.”
“No way,” Pei Xiting protested, unconvinced. “Am I that lame?”
“Lame?”
“Like pathetic, weak.”
Yuan Fang didn’t bother evaluating whether Pei Xiting was lame or not. “I can understand you liking the Crown Prince’s beauty—who doesn’t like a pretty face? But confessing your feelings to him? To me, that’s like asking to die. Have you heard of the Spider Woman?”
Pei Xiting said, “I’ve heard of Spider-Man and spider spirits.”
Yuan Fang said, “The Spider Woman was an assassin, stunningly beautiful and skilled in seduction. Countless men had fallen under her purple gauze skirt. On a certain dark, windy night, she infiltrated the Crown Prince’s room at an inn. He crushed her neck.”
“How do you know so clearly?” Pei Xiting asked curiously. “Were you under his bed?”
“No, I was eating a pancake on the first floor of the inn.” Yuan Fang recalled. “I think I was having a bamboo shoot filling that time—don’t ask why I remember so clearly; the pancakes there were really fragrant. Suddenly, I heard a ’thump’ behind me. The Spider Woman was tossed down like a sack, her neck bones shattered. The door closed again. Everyone on the first floor was silent, none daring to go upstairs.”
“‘Again’?” Pei Xiting was shocked. “Were they all lusting after the Crown Prince’s beautiful body?”
“Do you think there are that many reckless perverts like you who aren’t afraid of death?” Yuan Fang rolled his eyes. “They were all assassins from various places, there to kill him. But none of them were a match for the Spider Woman. Her death was silent and swift—a silent warning.”
Pei Xiting recalled the Crown Prince crushing the assassin’s neck earlier and swallowed. Then he looked Yuan Fang up and down, his tone suspicious. “Then what were you there for?”
“I was passing by and went specifically to eat a pancake at that shop.” Yuan Fang shrugged. “Anyway, there were many similar precedents, men and women alike. Those people had much stronger bones than you, but they couldn’t withstand the Crown Prince’s grip. With your fragile frame, better not court death.”
“That logic doesn’t hold.” Pei Xiting wasn’t deterred in the slightest. “What do those so-called precedents have to do with me? Am I like them? I don’t have bad intentions toward the Crown Prince. I’m pursuing him, not trying to rape and kill him. The Crown Prince isn’t a murderous maniac—why would he kill me?”
Yuan Fang stared at him. “You really have no restraint.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Pei Xiting said. “Compared to those well-dressed beasts who are nothing but gentlemen on the surface while doing despicable things in the shadows, I’m indeed much more straightforward.”
“True. Those high-walled mansions look glamorous, but there’s a lot of filth inside. Those young masters all put on airs in public, but in private, plenty are beasts. However,” Yuan Fang changed his tone, “I’ve noticed you’re usually quite cold to people and not the flamboyant type. Why are you so open about romantic matters?”
“My philosophy is to go for it if I like it, to strive for what I want,” Pei Xiting said, resting his chin on his hand. “In a lifetime of decades, we meet countless people. Few become acquaintances, even fewer become close friends. The one who stirred some romantic feelings in me—this is the first. If I hesitate and give up directly, then I deserve to end up with regrets.”
Yuan Fang was convinced. “Then I wish you success.”
Pei Xiting smiled. “I’ll do my best.”
The carriage rattled down the muddy mountain path and onto the cobblestone road, steadily disappearing into the night.
The mountain faded into darkness, shadows flickering. A trace of dark green brushed through the treetops. A man stood on a small cliff edge, staring at the end of the official road. “Pei Xiting, huh?” He mulled over the name. “What is this man’s relationship with the Crown Prince?”
A servant stood behind him holding an umbrella. “If we have to say, he’s a newly appointed clerk in the Longhe Department.”
“Just a lowly clerk. Normally, he shouldn’t warrant a summons from the Crown Prince, yet he came down from the mountaintop.” The man looked thoughtful. “Not simple.”
“I hear that on the day Breaking the Downpour was stolen, this man was with Shangguan Jie,” said the servant. “But this Pei San has always been frail and introverted, not at all prominent among the sons of officials in Yejing. Except for one thing, where he is unmatched.”
The man asked, “What thing?”
The servant said contemptuously, “His face. Your lordship, could it be that the Crown Prince has taken a fancy to that face?”
“You don’t know the Crown Prince. From his youth, he has never been one for sensual pleasures. No matter how beautiful a face or how seductive a body is laid bare before him, he won’t spare a second glance. That is a man of upright self-restraint and a heart as hard as stone.” The man gave a faint, eerie laugh, like a specter in the dark mountain forest. “As for this Pei Xiting, I shall find an opportunity to appreciate him properly. If he pleases my eyes, I happen to need a pretty lamp in front of my house.”
The wind stirred the grass. Tonight’s rain had completely ceased.