Chapter 119: Pretty Boy
Yan Bei stared at the young and upright man in front of him: “Who are you?”
Han Yi paused slightly, glanced at the chief clerk’s official robes on his body from his bowed angle, then said: “This official is Han Yi, dispatched by the Ministry of Personnel, took office yesterday, to lead the Princess in managing the Prince’s Mansion’s general affairs.”
Only then did Yan Bei notice his official robes, his gaze then returning to his lowered head: “Lift your face, let me see.”
Han Yi lifted his face.
Yan Bei furrowed his brows.
“Come in.” Yue Tang’s voice floated out from inside.
Yan Bei glanced at the room inside, then at the person beside him, and stepped through the door.
Han Yi let out a sigh of relief and also walked out.
Huo Yun approached face-to-face: “Why is Lord Han sighing?”
Han Yi said: “Nothing.”
After walking two steps, he turned back: “How should the Prince’s Mansion receive the Prince?”
Huo Yun peeked into the hall, then said: “If the Princess has no special instructions, just receive him with standard noble guest etiquette. Don’t open the main gate and make a big fuss.”
Han Yi thought for a moment, said “Alright,” and left.
Inside the hall, Yan Bei saw Yue Tang sitting by the window as soon as he entered: “Who sent you such a person?”
“What’s wrong with him?” Yue Tang held the household registration file, leaning obliquely against the bolster and glancing at him, “You can have someone to share your worries and labors, but I can’t?”
“Sharing worries and labors is fine, but he’s so young, what can he handle? For such a large Prince’s Mansion, it needs someone steady and prudent like Jin Yu.” Yan Bei surveyed the room, then lifted his stone-green robe and sat in the guest seat.
He had changed clothes, wearing a simple robe, no prince’s crown on his head, just a blackwood hairpin. But as he stretched out his long legs, the originally spacious small hall suddenly felt a bit cramped—still unable to hide his commanding presence.
Yue Tang smiled: “He’s the ninth-ranked Jinshi.” She brewed tea for him and added: “If it were someone as old as Jin Yu, I wouldn’t keep them.”
Those older, seasoned in officialdom, carry the risk of being untrainable.
Yan Bei understood.
He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and examined the jade ornaments, screen paintings, and calligraphy within his view; this woman’s room was indeed more worth looking at than his own.
“Why didn’t you bring A Li?” Yue Tang asked.
“He has no time. He’s memorizing the Three Character Classic.”
Yan Bei certainly wouldn’t bring his son; what if he came and didn’t want to leave? Besides, only if the son doesn’t come over would she go there. Could he really sneak in through the back door often in the future? Naive. Today was just because of that incident in the Palace that he took the opportunity to visit. Normally, he still had to avoid suspicion.
Thinking of this, he set down the tea, planning to drink slowly.
Yue Tang glanced at him but didn’t press. Since she planned to keep A Li in Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, what was there to worry about? She got to the main topic: “Do you manage the defense inside the Palace?”
“No.” Yan Bei turned the teacup and said, “Although the Imperial Guards are under the Bureau of Military Affairs, I know my limits. All Imperial Capital Region Imperial Guards are directly appointed by the Emperor himself. For any deployments, the Imperial Guard Yamen just needs to send me a copy of the plan.
“But before the Emperor returned to the Capital that year, the Imperial Guards were once under Empress Dowager Shen’s control, so now half the troops are still under her command.”
Since Empress Dowager Shen held the seal, she naturally needed some real power. Controlling part of the Imperial Guards was not excessive.
“Why are you suddenly asking about this?” Yan Bei said.
“No need to say more.” Yue Tang said, “When we left the Palace earlier, I saw you signaling me with your eyes; is there something you want to tell me?”
Prince Duan was assassinated in the Palace back then, while the Mu Family was still on the way back to the Capital. They must have left a group of people in the Palace to act. The reason for inquiring about this was to see if, since Yan Bei managed the Imperial Guards, she could use him to find out informed parties.
But since he was avoiding suspicion himself, no need to mention it.
The Yan Family held high position and great power, it was true, but one Son of Heaven, one court; the Mu Family was ambitious and might not be content to submit under Prince Jingyang’s Mansion. Better to let him have fewer handles to be grasped.
Moreover, with the Imperial Court turned upside down now, without evidence or witnesses, uncovering the true cause of Prince Duan’s death was not a matter of one or two days.
And earlier when leaving the Palace, with so many people and chatter, there was no chance to talk. Yue Tang had signaled Yan Bei to come to the Prince’s Mansion.
“That passerby you captured that night, I went to the Yamen yesterday and saw him; his background checks out fine. Seems he really is just an unlucky guy who happened to run into you at the time.
“I originally wanted to send him back to his native place. But he refused to go, saying he came to the Capital to find someone, and has no family left back home. See what you think?”
Yue Tang suddenly remembered; indeed, on the night she clashed with Chu Ying, they had caught a passerby carrying a bundle in the alley.
“Where is he from? What did he come to the Capital for?”
“From Hanyang area, came to the Capital to find relatives. The night you caught him, he had just arrived in the Capital.”
Yan Bei said as he pulled a travel permit from his bosom and gave it to her.
The travel permit did indeed bear the official seal of Hanyang Mansion.
But she still furrowed her brows: “How could he be from Hanyang? That day, his accent sounded like a local from Bianjing.”
“Really?” Yan Bei was about to sip tea when he lifted his head again, “But he did say his relative is from Bianjing. He grew up with this relative since childhood.”
Yue Tang looked at the name on the travel permit, then folded it: “Have someone bring him over later, I’ll take a look. He’s the one I caught; if there’s no issue, I’ll send people to help him find this relative.”
“Alright.” Yan Bei nodded.
At this time, Lan Qin brought several maidservants with tea and snacks.
Yan Bei saw it was twenty-four kinds of fruit, twelve kinds of cold drinks and small foods, making the thirty-six taste specification for entertaining noble guests; he couldn’t help pulling out a bone fan from the jade tube on the table and opening it: “Yo, this Han pretty boy sure knows how to handle things!”
Yue Tang gave him a glare: “What pretty boy, he’s my man; please show some respect.”
Yan Bei heard “my man” and his face darkened: “I know he’s your man; how dare I make things difficult for him? Don’t worry, when he comes later, this Prince will bow to him.”
Yue Tang laughed.
She ate a preserved fruit and said: “A while ago you helped me out; I said I’d treat you to a drink. Rather than pick a day, why not today? Stay for a meal; I’ll entertain you with the good wine aged at Zui Xian Lou.”
Yan Bei straightened up: “Then I’ll gladly accept!”
He immediately added: “Are you asking me for something again?”
Yue Tang sat up with a smile: “What does my Prince’s Mansion still lack?”
Yan Bei thought twice in his mind and said weakly: “A male master?”
“What are you thinking?”
Yue Tang said seriously: “My large Prince’s Mansion is entitled to three hundred and sixty guards by regulation. I plan to replace all the old batch completely. Now only three-tenths have been replaced.
“These three-tenths are allocated by the court. I think the Mu Family hasn’t had time to meddle yet, but who knows.
“In any case, no matter how these three-tenths are, for the remaining seven-tenths, I want reliable people.
“I don’t need them all to be confidantes like Wei Zhang or Xiao Huo; at minimum, they must be loyal to my Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
Yan Bei said: “You want me to find people for you?”
“No need,” Yue Tang said, “Next, I’ll gather the full list of all guards who served the Former Emperor back then. The Imperial Clan Court has the ready roster.
“Then I’ll select some from them; you just dispatch them legitimately to Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
The Second Prince originally had his own batch of people who had gone through life and death with him; they wouldn’t be easily replaced. Even if adding more, they wouldn’t surpass the Emperor’s own former people to become his confidantes.
Therefore, after the Former Emperor passed, most of the guards who followed him returned to the rolls.
These people were once loyal only to the Former Emperor; now that he is gone, they first won’t conflict with the new master.
Moreover, they were the Former Emperor’s people who had treated Yue Tang with true sincerity, unlike the guards who stayed in Prince Duan’s Mansion and had been used by Chu Yan.
For Yue Tang, to quickly build the foundational strength of Prince Duan’s Mansion, bringing in this batch of guards was the most cost-effective.
“Then you need to move fast.” Yan Bei pondered, “Lest that old thief Mu Chang interferes.”
“Within three days.” Yue Tang stood up, “Come on. I’ll also take you to tour our Prince Duan’s Mansion garden.”
At the door, she instructed: “Have Han Yi come to the garden to attend the guest.”
“No!” Yan Bei quickly stopped her: “I’m a rough man; I can’t handle being served by a refined and elegant Jinshi lord.
“Better let me wander freely.”
Lan Qin under the door couldn’t suppress the corners of her mouth.
……
Even though the silk and bamboo music of the Palace Banquet had long stopped, Yongfu Palace was still filled with a pleasant atmosphere at this moment.
Empress Dowager Shen sat at the head, the four from the Shen Family seated on both sides; a stick of dragon saliva incense wafted gently from the incense burner, making the nearby Shen Yizhu appear even more gentle and serene.
“Yizhu, whether in talent or appearance, is top-notch, and wouldn’t fall short accompanying the Emperor. I originally thought this would take some effort, but unexpectedly even Heaven is helping you and me; how can we let this opportunity go to waste?”
Empress Dowager Shen rested her right elbow on the armrest and said slowly, “But even if this opportunity falls into our lap, without someone to set the stage, it won’t work.
“You all saw today’s situation; no matter why Yong Jia and Prince Jingyang allied, right now they are of one mind.
“To achieve our goal, we must win over Prince Jingyang’s power.”
“That might not be easy,” Madam Shen said, “That Prince Jingyang has been in the Capital for three years without being pulled in by anyone. He has no friendship with our Shen Family either.”
“No friendship in the past; make them have one in the future, that’s all?” Empress Dowager Shen glanced at her. “Sister-in-law has been the Shen Family’s main madam for so many years; how are you still so timid?
“You don’t have the face in front of Prince Jingyang, but doesn’t Yong Jia? Use your brain, can’t you? If the mountain won’t turn, the water will!”
Madam Shen was scolded red-faced and fell silent.
Shen Yizhu glanced at her mother and quietly reached out her hand to cover the back of her mother’s hand.
Shen Li said: “We similarly have no friendship with Yong Jia; asking her to act as matchmaker to persuade Prince Jingyang would probably require Aunt to step in.”
“I never counted on you anyway.” Empress Dowager Shen sighed, “I’ll handle this. But you can’t idle.
“The Mu Family has prepared for years to become the Imperial Father-in-law and won’t let go easily. Brother and Li’er, after returning home, immediately work with the mansion’s advisors to draft a plan spreading the stupid thing that Mu Family girl did today.
“Although Yong Jia joined Prince Jingyang on the hall today to suppress them, outsiders don’t know yet. We must let everyone know the Mu Family girl was improper before the hall, reckless and arrogant, to shut the mouths of the Mu Family’s underlings.”
“Aunt is wise.” Shen Li bowed his head.
Empress Dowager Shen looked at Shen Yizhu again: “Starting tomorrow, enter the Palace to accompany me. The Emperor and court officials must see you for it to happen naturally.”
Shen Yizhu curtsied gracefully: “Yizhu obeys the decree.”
Empress Dowager Shen nodded in satisfaction: “That’s right. Having you enter the Palace as Empress isn’t just your matter; it’s the Shen Family’s great affair. You’re representing the Shen Family taking charge of the central Palace; no need to be arrogant, nor to be coy.”
“Aunt’s teachings, Yizhu has memorized them all.”
“Go back.” Empress Dowager Shen stood up, “By tonight at the latest, the rumor of Mu Shuyun’s impropriety must spread.”
Everyone rose and bowed farewell.
Empress Dowager Shen removed a bracelet from her wrist and put it on Shen Yizhu’s hand: “This bracelet was granted by the Former Emperor back then; the Mu Family girl is unruly, and the Emperor suffered a loss today.
“In the future, just be your true self, let the Emperor see your sensible gentleness, that you won’t cause him trouble.”
Shen Yizhu pursed her lips and slowly nodded.
It was already dark.
When the family stepped through the mansion gate, lamps were already lit in all the courtyards.
Shen Yi and his son immediately summoned the advisors to carry out Empress Dowager Shen’s decree without delay.
Due to Empress Dowager Shen’s imperial decree, early tomorrow Madam Shen also had to send Shen Yizhu into the Palace; she led her daughter straight to the main room and first took out a box of jewelry and hairpieces.
“These hairpins and rings were prepared for you long ago; bring them into the Palace tomorrow. Your aunt is right; the Emperor is a youthful youth—how could he not like bright and beautiful women?
“You’re the smartest; Mother believes you’ll find a way to succeed.”
The box handed to Shen Yizhu’s hand immediately weighed her hand down.
Shen Yizhu held it, and after a moment lifted her head: “Mother, does Daughter have to become the Empress?”
Madam Shen fell silent.
Shen Yizhu set down the box and said softly: “Back then when the Fourth Prince missed the throne by a hair, I remember Aunt was so furious she smashed everything in Yongfu Palace.
“Aunt said the Shen Family had boarded the thieves’ ship and couldn’t get off.
“To be safe, they could only seize the throne.”
Madam Shen stepped forward and stroked her hair: “If you can enter the central Palace, that would be another way to preserve our lives.”
“But I know Aunt hasn’t given up.” Shen Yizhu looked up, “Rather than calling it another path, it’s more like a stopgap.
“If the opportunity arises, she will still want the Fourth Prince to ascend.
“Then, if that day comes, what should Daughter’s position as central Palace Empress do?”
The girl’s eyes shone exceptionally bright under the lamplight, burning Madam Shen speechless for a moment.
When the room was so quiet even heartbeats could be heard, Madam Shen finally drew in a breath. “No matter what, the Shen Family will definitely protect you.”
“Will it?” Shen Yizhu smiled bitterly.
“Yizhu!” Madam Shen hugged her.
Shen Yizhu let out a heavy breath and tightly hugged her mother back.
