Chapter 5#

Strategizing#

Li Zhao didn’t know, he didn’t want to talk, he just wanted to disappear on the spot. Ming Zhen’s half-smiling banter made his scalp tingle even more than his father’s questioning in court.

“Ming Zhen, don’t you know me by now?” Li Zhao subconsciously wanted to grab Ming Zhen’s hand again, but the other party had already placed his hands behind his back without a trace. He had to awkwardly rub his nose, his tone carrying a rare hint of urgency. “That sky screen is pure nonsense! Leaving aside whether I’m a ‘broken sleeve’ or not, that Pang Ying… is simply not the type I appreciate. Besides, he might already have a girl he likes in his heart.”

Pang Ying’s appearance was originally considered decent, but a hideous scar ran from between his eyebrows straight down to his jaw, adding a ten-fold aura of menace. Ordinary people would be scared three points just by seeing him.

“Oh?” Ming Zhen merely responded faintly. The back of the hand that Li Zhao had gripped seemed to still retain some warmth, causing his mind to be slightly unsettled. “I didn’t know when Prince Rui developed such specific aesthetic requirements. How come I’ve never heard you mention them? Besides, how do you know Pang Ying has a girl he likes? Has he had a heart-to-heart with our Prince Rui?”

“It’s not too late to tell you now!” Li Zhao hardened his heart, not caring whether discussing this between brothers was too sentimental. He looked up at a green pine in the courtyard as if searching for evidence for his words. “I like the type… well, like the clear wind and the bright moon, someone who makes you feel gentle, quiet, and comfortable at first sight.”

“As for Pang Ying having a sweetheart, that’s my own guess. I’ve caught Pang Ying drinking alone under the moon while staring at a sachet many times. It’s a woman’s sachet. Pang Ying looks at it with nostalgia, guilt, and a bunch of other indescribable feelings. Sigh~.” Li Zhao sighed, unconsciously furrowing his brows.

Ming Zhen was silent for a moment. Clear wind and bright moon, gentle and quiet… These words rolled gently through his heart, stirring an indescribable ripple. He raised his hand, but in the end, he didn’t touch the furrow between Li Zhao’s brows, only lightly patting his shoulder.

“Everything will get better.”

Li Zhao and the others moved to the study, where Pang Ying had been waiting for a long time.

“Your Highness, Young Master Ming.” Upon seeing them enter, Pang Ying immediately saluted.

“Mm, sit, no need for formalities.” Li Zhao didn’t stop walking; he gave a small supporting gesture and went straight to the table to sit down. Ming Zhen followed naturally by his side, helping him take off his cloak, and skillfully poured three cups of hot tea, pushing one in front of Li Zhao.

“No rush, warm your body first.” Ming Zhen’s voice was as gentle as ever.

To the side, Fugui silently withdrew the hand he had just reached out. Li Zhao caught this subtle movement, and a trace of oddity crossed his mind—these trivial matters were usually handled by Fugui; today Ming Zhen seemed particularly… proactive? But his thoughts were currently cluttered, and he had no time to look into it.

He took a sip of tea and instructed Fugui, “People have come from the palace. Order everyone to stick to their duties and not get in their way. Private discussions about the sky screen are strictly forbidden in the manor to avoid giving others an excuse to attack us.”

“Yes, Your Highness, I understand.”

“Go on. I feel at ease leaving the manor to you.” After several years of management, he was confident in his control over his own residence.

Throughout the process, Pang Ying remained silent as usual, his posture upright, but his expression appeared more solemn than usual.

“Pang Ying,” Li Zhao put down his teacup and got straight to the point, “what do you think about what the sky screen said?”

Before the words finished, Pang Ying suddenly stood up, his movements carrying a rare hint of panic. He gave a deep bow: “Your Highness! I am grateful for your life-saving grace and your appreciation. I am willing to go through fire and water for you, and die ten thousand deaths without hesitation! But… but I have absolutely no overstepping or improper thoughts toward Your Highness! Please be clear on this, Your Highness!”

Li Zhao was silent. Li Zhao was speechless. See, he knew it! The sky screen hadn’t even started “extracting sugar” yet; just a bit of a rumor had leaked, and someone was already “taking their seat.” Let this ridiculous world be destroyed!

He subconsciously cast a look for help to Ming Zhen, only to see the other party elegantly lifting his teacup, his gaze drifting out the window. The meaning was clear: solve the trouble you caused yourself.

“Cough… Pang Ying, get up first.” Li Zhao had no choice but to brace himself and intentionally use a relaxed, teasing tone. “I know your loyalty. Rest assured, I don’t have those kinds of thoughts about you either. You… cough cough, are not the type I appreciate.”

He quickly changed the subject: “Let’s put this matter aside for now. Tell me the results of your trip.”

Pang Ying finally calmed down a bit and sat back down, his tone returning to its usual steadiness. “Reporting to Your Highness, fortunately, I did not fail my mission. Based on the clues we’ve gathered over the years, after excluding those who have passed away or are staying safe, there are currently more than thirty people willing to come forward and testify.”

“More than thirty people—that’s enough. The truth will eventually come to light, and those who died unjustly will surely have their grievances redressed.” Li Zhao’s gaze sharpened. “Have them get ready. The time might be coming soon; we might not need to wait for the metropolitan examinations. Pang Ying, the day for you to take your revenge is near.”

Pang Ying suddenly became emotional. “Why does Your Highness make such a judgment? This matter is of great importance. Once these people appear in the capital, there will be no turning back! The metropolitan examination is when the eyes of the world are gathered—that is the safest plan!”

“Pang Ying, you are too caught up in appearances.” Before Li Zhao could answer, Ming Zhen spoke calmly, a hint of undetectable dissatisfaction in his tone. “The sky screen has already given the answer. It announced it would tell your life story, and the future you holds a high position with your revenge taken. This is enough to prove that the action we are about to take must have played a key role.”

“He who knows me is Ming Zhen!” Li Zhao smiled upon hearing this, picking up his teacup and lightly clinking it against Ming Zhen’s, making a crisp sound.

Pang Ying immediately showed a look of shame. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I was impatient and didn’t think it through.”

“No matter, I understand your feelings.” Li Zhao waved his hand, his tone firm. “Go and prepare well. Since the ‘us’ in the sky screen could succeed, this time, we certainly can too.”

However, Pang Ying stood in place and didn’t immediately take the order to withdraw as usual. His face was filled with confusion and a kind of heavy burden based on the unknown. He spoke hesitantly: “Your Highness… the sky screen said that I would become the… Commander of the Jinyiwei in the future.” He repeated the completely unfamiliar term with difficulty. “Jinyiwei? What kind of office is this? Why did it say it’s a ’terrifying guard dog’?”

Li Zhao’s gaze moved slightly. He naturally knew what kind of existence the Jinyiwei was. Pang Ying was indeed the best candidate in his heart to lead such an intelligence and surveillance agency. But the time had not yet come, and heavenly secrets were unfathomable; he couldn’t say much.

He suppressed his thoughts, his tone steady and firm. “Just an office that hasn’t been established yet. The name is far less important than the actions. The road is at our feet; it’s walked out by people, not determined by a title.”

Pang Ying stared blankly at Li Zhao. His Highness’s words were like a sharp sword, cutting through the mist and humiliation in his heart. He took a deep breath and gave another deep salute, his tone becoming incredibly firm: “I understand! Thank you for the guidance, Your Highness! No matter what the office is in the future, in this life, I only wish to be the sharp blade in Your Highness’s hand, clearing the obstacles on the path ahead!”

He made a vow in his heart: So what if the world calls him a guard dog? His Highness would be a wise monarch of a generation; he, Pang Ying, would be His Highness’s most loyal blade and shield for all his life.

——————————————————————————————

Meanwhile, in the Palace, Hall of Diligent Government.

The Emperor sat behind a mountain of documents, the sound of his vermilion brush moving across the memorials clearly audible. The ambergris smoke from the gilded crane-shaped incense burner curled up, yet it couldn’t dispel the gravity permeating the air.

Eunuch Wang De approached silently, bowing and whispering: “Your Majesty.”

The Emperor didn’t look up, nor did the tip of his brush stop. He only let out a low “Mm” from his throat. “Sent him back?”

“Responding to Your Majesty, Prince Rui has been safely escorted back to his manor.” Wang De carefully presented the golden walnut with both hands. “His Highness… before leaving, gave this to me, telling me to look after Your Majesty’s health and not to let you overwork yourself.”

Only then did the Emperor put down his vermilion brush and glanced at the golden walnut reflecting a warm luster. His tone revealed no joy or anger. “Since he gave it to you, keep it. To be able to extract some gold from that ‘Pi Xiu’ (a mythical creature known for hoarding wealth), you do have some skill.” He changed the subject slightly, asking flatly, “You’re quite used to speaking well of him.”

Though these words were light, they made a layer of cold sweat instantly break out on the back of Wang De’s neck. He fell to his knees with a thud. “Your Majesty is wise! What I said was exactly what His Highness said, I wouldn’t dare add or hide a single word!”

“Fine, get up.” The Emperor seemed tired. He leaned back against the soft cushion of the dragon throne and rubbed his brow. “At your age, you’re still not as steady as a child when things happen. Go, brew a pot of strong Longjing tea.”

“Yes, yes, thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.” Wang De felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty. He scrambled up and bowed out to prepare the tea.

When the hall returned to silence, the Emperor’s fingers unconsciously tapped twice on the sandalwood desk, making a dull thump-thump sound.

Immediately, a black figure appeared like a ghost from the shadows of the pillars, silently kneeling on one knee before the imperial desk. His presence was completely retracted; if not seen with one’s own eyes, one could hardly sense him.

“Speak.” The Emperor kept his eyes closed and spoke faintly.

The shadow’s voice was low and without ripples: “Reporting to Your Majesty, after the Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace, he immediately summoned his officials for a secret talk lasting about half an hour. The second prince, Prince Qi, closed his doors to guests, but the manor’s Chief Secretary and two generals from the Capital Camp entered through the side gate and haven’t left yet. The third prince, Prince Chu, gathered several advisors. The fourth prince, Prince Yan… after returning home, he smashed a set of his favorite Jun kiln tea set. The sixth prince, Prince Zhao, went straight to the manor’s Buddhist hall and is still chanting sutras. As for the manors of the other princes, there are no unusual movements for the time being.”

The Emperor listened quietly, no emotion visible on his face, but his fingers tapping the desk stopped. After a long while, he waved his hand.

The shadow understood and vanished quietly like a puff of smoke, as if he had never appeared.

Only the Emperor remained in the hall. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the golden walnut on the corner of the desk that Wang De hadn’t taken away. His eyes were deep as the sea, reflecting the flickering candlelight, and also reflecting the treacherous court and human hearts. The fragrance of the tea had not yet arrived, but the scent of the storm had already quietly saturated every corner of this imperial city.