Chapter 60: Her, Not Playing By The Rules
The chessboard was set up in the Xu Family flower hall.
Yan Bei sat on the left hand, Xu He sat on the right, the two looked equal on the surface, but in reality, from the hair strands to the tips of the toes, there was not a single equal place!
Today’s Prince Jingyang was not dressed as luxuriously and dazzlingly as he was at the Du Family that day, but just this set of everyday robe, impeccably tailored, wrapped his already tall and straight figure like a sculpture.
Even as a man, Xu He couldn’t help but take a few more glances.
But after looking, he felt even more that just sitting beside him was already immense pressure.
Not to mention this lord was icy cold all over, placing pieces step by step, pressing relentlessly.
In terms of chess skills, Xu He was also a standout among the younger generation; even when playing against several grand scholars in the yamen, the number of losses was few and far between.
But literati playing chess emphasizes planning, unlike us military generals sweeping through thousands of troops?
Yan Bei’s offensive was fierce, and Xu He had to divide his attention, clearly struggling to parry.
After three games, only the first game was a narrow win by one piece, and he didn’t even dare to win, hesitating and letting the opponent seize the initiative.
Originally he thought perhaps to display some flair through the chess game, but this turned out disastrously, completely crushed, embarrassed to even lift his head.
“Top Scholar, no need to be modest? Play freely to kill!” Yan Bei pinched a chess piece and slanted a glance over, “You are a first-class jinshi, yet can’t even take down a martial brute like me, shouldn’t be.”
Making him lose face to Yue Tang at the Du Family that day!
In public, disparaging a woman, what kind of thing is that?
The Emperor seems clear-headed usually, but not so shrewd in employing people.
The Mu Family could raise a worthy empress who would be mother of the nation, but was still lacking in raising a Son of Heaven to rule the world.
Xu He was mortified when a servant came to the doorway, carefully glanced inside the room, then bowed: “Master, the Du Family heir apparent has come. Not sure what happened, but he came very urgently.”
Xu He’s brow twitched, immediately looking toward the opposite side.
That day at the marquis’s mansion, Yan Bei clearly knew that wicked woman, yet they didn’t acknowledge each other on the spot. Afterward, that woman returned to the top scholar’s mansion, didn’t publicly appear as an acquaintance of Prince Jingyang, let alone move into the prince’s mansion, evidently not wanting others to know.
And from that woman’s attitude toward the Du Family, there was probably more to it; in any case, they definitely didn’t want the Du Family to know about this relationship!
Between the Du Family and the prince’s mansion, which could make him die faster, Xu He knew full well.
And now Du Yu actually came to the door; if they ran into each other, letting this prince who came to meet his sweetheart expose his tracks, could Xu He still find a place for himself in the Imperial Secretariat—no, at the imperial court?
Xu He grew increasingly restless all over, as if the next second he’d be cannon fodder, immediately standing up: “Tell him I’m not here!”
Yan Bei paused upon hearing Du Yu’s name; he naturally knew he couldn’t expose his whereabouts in front of a Du Family member right now, letting Yue Tang be targeted, but he recalled Yue Tang mentioning before leaving that the person behind the Du Family had designs on Xu He, thought for a moment, then snapped his fan shut, slanting a glance over: “You go out, see what he wants.”
Xu He was stunned: “Your Highness…”
Yan Bei still eyed him: “You are the top scholar, you should know how to speak, no need for this prince to teach you, right?”
This was a warning!
Xu He’s forehead prickled with itch: “This official understands!”
Yan Bei withdrew his gaze: “Go.”
Xu He hurried quickly to the front hall.
Yan Bei covered the tea bowl, holding it with his left hand, right hand behind his back, also heading toward the front hall.
……
Du Yu arrived at Guang’an Temple early in the morning.
After the evidence of crimes in the hidden compartment was taken by Yan Bei, Du Minghuan nearly mobilized all the manpower he could control, finally getting the news that Shen Li was going to Guang’an Temple to offer incense this morning and would meet with an Imperial Secretariat official there.
Before dawn, he brought people to wait in the temple; midway, the stakeout reported Shen Li was almost there, so he immediately had people hide in the zen room for ambush.
He had even scouted exactly how many people Shen Li brought with him today.
It was supposed to be a sure thing; just eavesdrop on Shen Li’s dealings this time, but unexpectedly a mishap occurred halfway!
Those usually reliable guards actually had their tracks discovered!
And their path was even pointed out!
Du Yu watched as they were swarmed and captured by Shen Family guards, feeling his hands and feet turn ice-cold; since taking power in the Du Family, acting through the Imperial City Department had always been invincible, when had he ever suffered such back luck as recently?
The people were caught; next, the Shen Family would surely go after his father—what should he do now?
What should the Du Family do?
Seeing the Imperial Secretariat official secretly meeting Shen Li slip out of the temple gate amid the chaos, he immediately mounted and followed, recognized the identity upon approaching, then turned around and came straight to the Xu Family.
Upon entering and seeing Xu He hurriedly coming out to greet him, he didn’t waste words: “Hu Wei of the Ministry of Rites division in the Imperial Secretariat, do you know him?”
Xu He was already on edge from Yan Bei’s words; originally he was pondering whether his Prince Jingyang, as the Du Family’s cousin, would side with the Du Family or Yue Tang?
This action made it clear he was also keeping an eye on the Du Family.
He and that wicked woman were on the same side!
Understanding this, how could Xu He dare slack off even a bit?
How could he not see which path laid out before him was the bright one?
If power could control everything of his, then wasn’t the greatest power right behind him?
As long as he stuck closely to Prince Jingyang, what was the Du Family?
He composed himself to respond: “Not very familiar, but I recognize him. He is a department head under the Ministry of Rites division. I only remember he oversees some Imperial Clan Court matters.”
Du Yu nodded: “You have the Imperial Secretariat yamen entry token; take me in right now!”
This was the first time since contacting the Du Family that they mentioned such a core matter to him.
Hearing this, he grew wary: “Why does the heir apparent suddenly want to go there?”
“According to intel, Hu Wei is linked to a major case; taking advantage of today’s rest day, I’ll go check him out.”
This was truly fooling a child!
But how could Xu He tangle with him?
Moreover, he was in a rush, suddenly wanting to go to the Imperial Secretariat must mean something big; with Prince Jingyang still in his residence, how could this be something he could choose not to do?
He held his breath for a moment, said: “That entry token isn’t used daily, I can’t remember where I put it; I’ll go look for it.”
Without waiting for Du Yu’s reaction, he turned and went inside on his own.
Yan Bei under the pomegranate tree had just finished half a bowl of tea; catching sight of Xu He around the passageway, their eyes met, both understanding tacitly.
Xu He bowed: “Please instruct, Your Highness.”
Yan Bei looked toward the distant roof corner, beckoning.
A young guard walked over.
Yan Bei said: “Change clothes, go with Lord Xu to the Imperial Secretariat.” Here, his eyes glanced down, turning to Xu He: “No matter what Du Yu wants to do or says, go along with it. Understand?”
Hearing he was sending someone along, Xu He breathed a big sigh of relief: “This official obeys!”
With his guard at his side, whatever happened, he wouldn’t have to take responsibility later; whatever he reported back wouldn’t make him seem dishonest.
Immediately calling someone to find clothes for the guard to change into, then bringing him back to the front hall together.
Yan Bei squinted watching Du Yu leave with Xu He without looking back: “Reaching into the Imperial Secretariat, the Du Family is playing bigger and bigger.”
Thinking, he glanced at the sun nearly overhead, then said: “It’s been this long, why hasn’t she come back?”
Gao An was about to reply when suddenly pointing outside the door: “Guard Wei has come.”
Wei Zhang walked in: “Your Highness? Why are you still here?”
Stunned for a moment, he added: “Our master has already gone to the prince’s mansion!”
“Gone?”
Yan Bei immediately set down the cup. “Why not say so earlier!”
……
Last time mother and son met suddenly, Yue Tang had no time to prepare anything for the child; after leaving Guang’an Temple, she went into several shops—actually still unsure what to prepare, so she picked things that caught children’s interest in the shops, and thinking how much he liked ducks, bought various doll ducks.
When arriving at the prince’s mansion gate, Wei Zhang happened to arrive hugging wine.
Brought along was also follow-up from the Shen Family side.
As the Empress Dowager’s most favored nephew today, Shen Li naturally had some temper and arrogance.
Though the Du Family controlled the Imperial City Department, in others’ eyes it was picking up scraps, far less fearsome than when Prince Duan was alive.
His biggest backer was Prince Jingyang’s Mansion; usually no one provoked him, but this time encroaching on Shen Li’s territory, if the Shen Family still ignored it, they’d lose face!
Besides, various forces at court were eyeing Prince Jingyang Yan Bei; usually he was watertight, now finally an opening, the Shen Family absolutely wouldn’t miss this chance to talk with Yan Bei.
So after capturing those Du Family people, Shen Li interrogated the backer right there in public; in just that half day, temple visitors had spread the news.
When Wei Zhang went to Zui Xian Ju to buy wine, people were already discussing it.
Naturally he didn’t miss the chance, fanning the flames, bringing up the He Family murder case that had gradually subsided, plus Zhang Shaode’s death was currently a hot topic on the streets, thus the Du Family rapidly climbed to the eye of the storm!
“Excellent! Keep a close eye on Xu He; the Du Family has been scheming against him for so long, at the crisis moment, they’ll surely make use of him.”
After instructing Wei Zhang, Yue Tang sent him back, had Lan Qin take the bundle, herself hugging the jar of wine, and handed Yan Bei’s jade token to the guarding Imperial Guard Department.
The Imperial Guard Department guards didn’t know her identity, but upon seeing the jade token, immediately called someone to lead her inside.
Yan Bei was out, Gao An not there, but chief clerk Jin Yu was in the mansion; knowing A Li’s birth mother was coming today, recalling Yan Bei’s seriousness from yesterday to this morning, how dare he neglect?
About to head out, he immediately set down the pile of documents in hand, going to welcome at the side gate.
Arriving under the gatehouse, he saw a woman in pale green clothes, all her hair bundled into a bun, slightly tilting her head to survey the prince’s mansion front courtyard eaves.
Her attire plain, head adorned only with two white jade hairpins, left arm casually holding a jar of wine, right hand naturally hanging, wrist with a jade bracelet.
She stood casually under the eaves, beside green bamboos, graceful and poised, straight as pine, noble as jade.
Clearly a young woman, yet holding the wine jar so relaxed and natural, temperament innate.
In comparison, the impeccable features highlighted by this plain attire became the least noteworthy aspect.
Jin Yu respectfully said: “This one humbly welcomes you late, please forgive, Madam.”
From his appearance, Yue Tang began sizing him up. Seeing him in fifth-rank official robes, recognizing him as chief clerk, noting his age similar to Gao An, guessing he was Yan Bei’s confidant brought from the Mobei Prince’s Mansion, she smiled and nodded: “I’m here to visit A Li, please show me the way.”
Jin Yu never expected Yan Bei’s taste so refined; thinking he hadn’t informed “Madam” of her background, seeing this demeanor knew she wasn’t ordinary, he quickly steadied himself, deciding: “Madam is noble, please proceed to the prince’s mansion main gate; this one will open it to welcome you properly.”
Yue Tang smiled: “I’m just here to see the child, no need for such formalities. Please lead the way, Chief Clerk.”
With that, she had already lifted her foot.
Jin Yu had never seen such an unceremonious woman, didn’t dare insist, only walked ahead, his feet in tiny steps.
Yue Tang followed, casually surveying the scenery; the prince’s mansion had spacious courtyards, majestic and grand, layer upon layer, every corridor lined with attendants, similar to Prince Duan’s Mansion layout.
At the fourth layer, turning east, past the ceremonial gate, there was a small garden; here no standing guards, only eunuchs and maidservants shuttling about.
Each seeing Yue Tang bowed respectfully, showing no curiosity or surprise.
“Mother!”
Just reaching under the Yongfu Hall gate, A Li’s voice came from inside.
Within the opened courtyard gate, a little sesame seed dashed toward her.
Yue Tang squatted, arms open to catch him; surging emotions made her bury her face in the child’s small body, inhaling deeply, then looked up: “Has A Li been waiting long?”
A Li hugged her tightly, nodding vigorously: “Grandpa Hua said, shout Mother a hundred times, and Mother will appear.
“Mother didn’t lie to A Li; A Li only shouted thirty times, and Mother came.
“As long as Mother comes, no matter how long the wait, no fear.”
Yue Tang smiled. Smiling, her eyes reddened again.
She held the child up: “Mother bought lots of little ducks; let’s go inside and look slowly.”
In the vast prince’s mansion, few could usually approach A Li; now knowing A Li’s mother had come, only these personal few knew.
Jin Yu from the side watched mother and son enter the courtyard, immediately waving his sleeve to rouse the dazed Yun Niang and the little eunuchs attending A Li: “Why not hurry and prepare tea and snacks, attend nearby? Do exactly as His Highness instructed yesterday, every detail!”
Yun Niang hurried inside, the others busied to their duties.
Jin Yu himself busied sending someone to find Yan Bei.
Who knew before the person went out, Yan Bei had returned, entering and shouting: “Where is she? When did she arrive?
“Why does she always not follow the routine!”
