Chapter 19

Almost the instant Lu Zhong finished speaking, Li Zhaoyi’s eyelashes fluttered reflexively.

But he quickly recovered.

He asked, a little bewildered, “…What kind of, relationship?”

Lu Zhong stared at him.

The boy before him had a delicate, pointed chin. Much of his childishness had faded, making him look increasingly radiant and beautiful. He had inherited all his mother’s best features—pretty, clean—the least safe traits to possess within the palace.

Ever since Li Zhaoyi was young, Lu Zhong had secretly taken action over this issue more than once.

It had made him extremely sensitive to such matters.

He said, “Little Highness, tell me the truth. Don’t protect him.”

He understood Li Zhaoyi better than anyone in this world.

Li Zhaoyi’s face instantly flushed red.

He couldn’t help but retort, “I’m not protecting him!”

“There really isn’t any relationship,” Li Zhaoyi had no idea what he was getting at. “Before, he came to the Cold Palace and said he was going to make me the Emperor. And then, he handles the state affairs, and I stay in Bright Clarity Hall. We don’t really talk much.”

Lu Zhong said slowly, “You barely talk, yet he had you accompany him out of the palace?”

Li Zhaoyi opened his mouth.

“That was…” he said quietly, “part of our agreement.”

He recounted the arrangement he had with Yun Yin.

Then, he finally grasped the implication behind Lu Zhong’s words. He fell silent for a moment.

“He hasn’t done anything to me,” he said softly. “He… didn’t really like me before. He even wanted to kill me. Master, it’s not what you’re thinking. Yun Yin, he… he doesn’t really have a choice either, and he’s actually a good person.”

Lu Zhong did not reply.

He knew perfectly well what kind of person Yun Yin was.

Had he not known, he wouldn’t have chosen him as his backer.

But he also wouldn’t doubt his own perception.

That look in Yun Yin’s eyes contained too much intense desire. He was absolutely certain he hadn’t misread it. It was just that Li Zhaoyi couldn’t see it, thinking the man only viewed him as a puppet.

…However.

If that were truly the case,

what could he do about it?

Lu Zhong closed his eyes briefly.

After a moment, he said hoarsely, “You can obey his commands, but don’t let him touch you. Little Highness, you know what I mean.”

Li Zhaoyi opened his mouth.

He’d wanted to say a couple of words in Yun Yin’s defense, but meeting Lu Zhong’s gaze, he knew the other hadn’t believed him at all.

After a moment of silence, he said, “I understand, Master.”

After years of dependency and so few chances to speak with Lu Zhong, the thing he had learned most was how to quickly grasp the other’s intent and reach a brief consensus.

Lu Zhong stroked his hair. “Good boy.”

He stood up. “I’m leaving now.”

Li Zhaoyi’s eyes widened. “…You’re leaving already?”

He truly missed Lu Zhong and wanted to stay with him a little longer. Lu Zhong paused for a moment. “If anything happens, tell De Quan. I’ll find an opportunity to see you.”

Li Zhaoyi blinked.

“I understand,” he said quietly.

Lu Zhong turned to leave.

But just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped. “Little Highness, Master will do everything I promised you.”

Li Zhaoyi was taken aback.

When he looked up again, that familiar figure had vanished from sight.

~

Lu Zhong’s last words kept Li Zhaoyi in a daze for a good while.

To be honest, Lu Zhong hadn’t communicated with him that much. But he had made many promises.

He’d promised Li Zhaoyi he would protect him, promised to give his mother a proper burial, and also promised… Li Zhaoyi’s thoughts faltered. The last promise Lu Zhong had made to him, he recalled, was likely during those final days.

At that time, the Late Emperor was critically ill, and everyone thought the position of Crown Prince was settled.

Lu Zhong had said that once Li Zhaoyu ascended the throne, he would find a way to get Li Zhaoyi out of the palace.

…But Lu Zhong couldn’t be referring to that, could he?

Li Zhaoyi thought.

Now that he was sitting in this position, Yun Yin needed him as a figurehead and certainly wouldn’t let him leave. Objectively, it would also be extremely difficult for Lu Zhong to secretly swap him out.

His mind was wandering restlessly. Meanwhile, De Quan quietly entered with a warm towel.

“Your Majesty,” he said. “Wipe your sweat.”

Li Zhaoyi looked at him and said quietly, “You never told me.”

He had suspected, but De Quan was someone Yun Yin had chosen. He’d wanted to ask but hadn’t dared.

De Quan smiled a little sheepishly.

“It was also Director Lu’s instruction,” he said. “He wanted to confirm it was safe and come see you personally.”

Li Zhaoyi said, “Tell me about Lu Zhong.”

He only knew that Lu Zhong moved about in the palace, but he never knew exactly how he managed to survive while secretly taking care of him, nor why he ended up under Yun Yin’s command.

The joy of reunion sparked his curiosity. Thankfully, this time, he was asking the right person.

That night, De Quan told him a great deal.

He learned that Lu Zhong had originally served Wen Zizhang, the former Seal-holding Director of Ceremonial, and had even acknowledged him as his godfather.

Wen Zizhang was venomous but immensely powerful. It had taken Lu Zhong several years to finally earn his trust. Wen Zizhang never dreamed that the godson he most trusted—the one he thought would care for him in his old age and oversee his burial—would ultimately betray him.

Lu Zhong defected to Yun Yin.

He became the Yun Clan’s most secret piece within the palace, a hidden chess piece.

It wasn’t until that night at Hidden Dragon Hall that this piece truly played its role.

Li Zhaoyi listened, almost spellbound.

Even though De Quan tried to soften the description, Li Zhaoyi could still perceive the danger and hardship involved. But…

He asked, “So, why did Master decide to switch his allegiance to Yun Yin?”

De Quan only said, “Your Majesty, everything Director Lu did, he did for you.” But he was unwilling to say more than that.

–

That night, Li Zhaoyi slept very well.

Reuniting with Lu Zhong finally settled the most secret corner of his heart, at least for the time being.

For once, he had a dreamless night.

He had wanted to ask De Quan more about Lu Zhong’s past the next day, but just after court was dismissed, a Palace Servant announced that Yun Yin had arrived.

Li Zhaoyi had no choice but to change clothes and go to the front hall.

Yun Yin was wearing his court attire.

He had verbally sparred with several people in the Imperial Court today, with the Minister of Revenue, Luo Chenshan, bearing the brunt of it.

Although Li Zhaoyi hadn’t seen Yun Yin the past couple of days, he’d been taking lessons from Gu Qingdai and had heard a little about recent court affairs.

There was a drought in the Southwest, and the court had dispatched relief grain. Yet there were still refugee riots. Grain had been distributed, but the people were still going hungry, with no food to be found. Something had clearly gone wrong somewhere.

The Ministry of Revenue was the first to be held accountable, but it wasn’t the only one at fault.

Pulling up one radish brings up the dirt—and reveals all the connected roots. The noble clans of the Yan Dynasty were linked by marriage and kinship, forming a deeply intertwined, massive tree.

There were complex political considerations at play.

Whether to investigate, whether it should be investigated, how to investigate.

All were problems.

From Gu Qingdai’s lectures, Li Zhaoyi had caught hints suggesting a strategy of gradual, cautious progress. But in practice, Yun Yin’s approach was far from that.

When others impeached him normally, he dismissed it with a smile.

But at critical junctures, his methods were ruthless and decisive. For a moment, no civil or military official in the entire court dared to voice dissent.

Gu Qingdai hadn’t said much, but Li Zhaoyi could see the hidden worry in his brow. Yet seeing Yun Yin today, the man looked perfectly composed. He was even leisurely playing with the rattle-drum on Li Zhaoyi’s table.

The moment Li Zhaoyi saw that rattle-drum, his head throbbed with tension.

He rushed over. Yun Yin raised the rattle-drum higher. Li Zhaoyi’s face flushed red.

“…Don’t touch that.”

“So this is Your Majesty’s favorite,” Yun Yin said with a light laugh. “Why didn’t you say so at the time?”

He asked softly, “Were you shy?”

Li Zhaoyi mumbled sullenly, “Don’t like it.”

Yun Yin asked him, “Really don’t like it?”

He poked Li Zhaoyi’s bun-like, frowning cheek with the edge of the rattle-drum.

Li Zhaoyi glared at him.

Yun Yin looked back, thoughtful. “It seems Your Majesty truly fears me less and less.”

He handed the rattle-drum back to Li Zhaoyi.

Li Zhaoyi took it, wanting to check if it was damaged but also not daring to show how much he treasured it for fear of Yun Yin’s ridicule. He stood frozen in hesitation. Yun Yin, watching him fret so earnestly, felt his gaze deepen.

He had originally thought it was just an impulse.

Drawn by the dazzling, beautiful appearance, drawn by that complete, unguarded dependence.

Yun Yin had left home at a young age. During his years in the capital, a constant stream of men and women had been sent to him through various means—charming, intelligent, coquettish, spirited. He had never felt the slightest interest, simply packing them all up and sending them back the way they came.

For a time, he thought he would never marry, never have children, nor ever experience any feeling remotely like desire.

Until he met Li Zhaoyi.

Days had passed, yet the desire that had lain dormant due to the passage of time was rekindled by a single look from Li Zhaoyi. He realized that no matter how ordinary Li Zhaoyi’s actions were, in his eyes, they could all be described with one word.

Enticing.

Puffing up in anger and saying he didn’t like something, that petulant denial—enticing.

Glaring at him—enticing.

Cherishing and carefully protecting the gift he gave…

Yun Yin suddenly reached out and touched the soft side of the boy’s cheek.

A stray strand of hair was stuck there. He wanted to tuck it neatly away.

But the very instant his fingers made contact, Li Zhaoyi suddenly looked up like a startled fawn.

Then, he quickly dodged his hand.