Chang Zixuan had already ridden two laps by the time he found the person he was looking for at the Suburban Racecourse.
The fine horse galloped, its rider clad in clean, sharp black clothes, ink-black hair flying, revealing bold and striking features.
He rode closer and closer, sweeping right past Chang Zixuan toward the inner field. Just as Chang Zixuan thought he was about to dismount, gasps of admiration rang out nearby. The man on horseback drew his bow and nocked an arrow, abruptly aiming at a target not far away.
The arrow tore through the air, embedding itself firmly in the bullseye.
The fletching was still quivering when Yun Yin dismounted. Chang Zixuan came back to his senses and followed him toward the stables. As they walked, he voiced his curiosity: “What brings you out here for a gallop?”
If his memory served, since the New Emperor ascended the throne, Yun Yin had been constantly occupied with court affairs and hadn’t come to the outskirts to relax for a long time.
Yun Yin didn’t answer, merely countering with: “What are you doing here?”
His tone was very cold.
Chang Zixuan looked innocent.
“I came looking for you.” he said. “I heard that Li Chunyue girl is determined to become a nun, has been making a fuss for days. Just checking on the situation.”
Yun Yin didn’t speak.
Chang Zixuan read his expression and asked tentatively: “Didn’t manage to dissuade her?”
“It’s fine,” he consoled. “Persuade her again, just stop her for now. That girl is indeed stubborn, but she should listen to you.”
Yun Yin let out a cold laugh.
Chang Zixuan: “…”
Fine, he’d hit a nerve there.
He sucked in a breath, just figuring out how to speak, when he saw Yun Yin lower his gaze, draw his bow, and release another arrow.
The second arrow hit the bullseye, and another wave of cheers erupted from outside the field.
But Chang Zixuan finally sensed something was off.
“…You’re quite fired up,” he said. “Who ruffled your feathers? Shouldn’t just be Li Chunyue, right?”
That girl, although a bit stubborn, was generally well-behaved. Could she really have provoked someone this much?
He fired off a string of questions, but Yun Yin still didn’t answer, instead addressing his previous statement:
“She’s been dissuaded.”
Chang Zixuan was slightly surprised, then let out a breath of relief.
“That’s good news,” he said sincerely.
“It wasn’t me who persuaded her.” Yun Yin said indifferently.
Chang Zixuan: …?
“His Majesty paid a visit.” Yun Yin finally deigned to say a few more words, satisfying Chang Zixuan’s scratching curiosity. “Now, Li Chunyue should have changed her mind. So, it has nothing to do with me. Understood?”
Chang Zixuan understood.
Then Chang Zixuan tripped over his own feet.
–
On the way back, Chang Zixuan still hadn’t quite recovered.
It was already evening, the sunset clouds as brilliant as blazing fire.
Both were riding horses, Chang Zixuan half a step behind Yun Yin, his tone still incredulous: “His Majesty… you mean, the reigning Son of Heaven?”
Yun Yin: “…”
Very earnestly, he asked: “When you took leave a few days ago, did you actually burn your brain out with a fever?”
Chang Zixuan: …
“It’s been a while,” he assessed. “That mouth of yours is as sharp as ever.”
He rubbed his nose. “I’m just surprised. Are you close with His Majesty? He’s not close with Li Chunyue either. He’s been quietly playing the vase in the palace for half a month now, why so sudden.”
He thought for a moment. “Mu Ke told you? Did he say specifically how His Majesty persuaded her?”
Logically, this was a very easy question to answer. But Yun Yin paused briefly, then evaded it, simply saying: “He didn’t say.”
“Alright.” That wasn’t what Chang Zixuan cared about anyway. He mused, “Strange, I remember the little emperor staying in the Cold Palace all this time, probably didn’t interact much with outsiders. How did he think of currying favor with you through Li Chunyue?”
Yun Yin’s hand paused.
He repeated two words from Chang Zixuan’s sentence:
“Currying favor.”
“Otherwise.” Chang Zixuan spread his hands. “Or did I misunderstand you, and like the folk stories say, you’ve been imprisoning and tormenting our beautiful little emperor, subjecting him to a hundred humiliations in the bedchamber, until he actually fell for you?”
Yun Yin: “…”
This person truly couldn’t stay serious for longer than a moment.
Seeing that Yun Yin was about to expressionlessly draw his blade, Chang Zixuan very wisely shut his mouth.
After a moment, he said: “A bit tricky.”
He had a mild, scholarly appearance, but was born with peach blossom eyes that always seemed to smile before he spoke, adding a touch of natural charm and romantic flair.
This should be an advantageous appearance, but those familiar with him knew it was actually a deceptive disguise.
Back when the court was in turmoil, everyone knew that among His Highness the Crown Prince’s three study companions, the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan was aloof and unapproachable, but the one truly hardest to provoke was this seemingly amiable youngest son of the Marquis of Ningyuan.
When he said this, it was a signal that he was completely dropping the joking facade.
Yun Yin said “Mm,” then was silent for a moment. “What do you think?”
~
After a moment of silence, Chang Zixuan said: “I don’t think you should be unable to figure this out.”
Yun Yin paused. “He doesn’t know about Mu Ke.”
“So what?” Chang Zixuan’s expression remained unchanged. “Your relationship with Li Chunyue is out in the open. Li Chunyue wanted to become a nun, he knew that. And that you care deeply about this matter, he also knew you cared. That’s enough.”
After speaking, he realized something slightly, surprised. “Are you making excuses for the little emperor?”
Yun Yin lifted his eyelids slightly. “I’m merely stating facts.”
“I’ve heard,” Chang Zixuan didn’t fall for it. “You’ve been treating him quite well. Your temper was so great today, Li Chunyue is part of it, but the other part is because of him. I wouldn’t say you like him, but I guess, you don’t dislike him.”
He used a declarative tone. Clearly confident in his understanding of Yun Yin.
It wasn’t something particularly worth hiding, so after a moment of silence, Yun Yin didn’t deny it.
“He’s quite obedient,” he said. “Trouble-free.”
He paused. “I mean, before this.”
If it were truly as Chang Zixuan said, that he approached Li Chunyue just to curry favor with him, then that would be foolish.
“And very beautiful.” Chang Zixuan smoothly took over, then lamented with a hint of reproach. “Tsk. Yun Yin, do you even know how to be a Regent? You’re the Regent, what’s the point of bickering with old men all day? You have an obedient and beautiful little beauty right in front of you, and you just look?”
Yun Yin: …
He lifted his eyes. “So if I don’t know how, you do it instead?”
Chang Zixuan stepped back. “Haha, I was just kidding, don’t take it to heart.”
Yun Yin’s patience was basically exhausted. He said concisely: “Just this matter. If it were you, what would you do?”
Chang Zixuan’s smile faded.
After a moment, he spoke lazily: “Once there’s a first time, there’s a second. Today he’s racking his brains to curry favor, next year he might rack his brains to eliminate you for power. If it were me, I wouldn’t leave such a hidden danger.”
~
Yun Yin saw Chang Zixuan to the door when he was leaving.
The young man in his green long robe carried himself with an elegant, carefree air. He told Yun Yin he didn’t need to see him off: “I still have to go to the Court of Judicial Review later. Took leave a while back, now there are many cases.”
Currently serving as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he was quite busy with official duties. Coming to find Yun Yin today was indeed taking time out of his schedule.
But just before leaving, he hesitated briefly, then still said: “Have you been back to Yun Manor recently?”
Yun Yin said: “No.”
Chang Zixuan pressed his lips together. After a moment, he said: “I can understand you don’t want to see those uncles of yours. They say the Yun Clan has a century-long reputation, but most of that reputation was built by your father battle after battle. Ultimately, it has little to do with them… However, your stepmother and Yun Long are still in the manor. If you find the time, go back and visit.”
Yun Yin was silent for a moment. “I know.”
Chang Zixuan thought for a moment. “Regarding the little emperor, no need to worry overly much. The New Emperor has just been established; if there’s any movement, the court officials will inevitably be displeased. I actually think, it’s fine if you deal with this later.”
Yun Yin didn’t commit, just said: “I know my limits.”
In truth, Chang Zixuan was just offering a routine reminder. These past years, although Yun Yin was at the Border Pass, he had returned to the capital often and had seen countless schemes and tricks. Li Zhaoyu was kind-natured, and in the brutal late stages of the succession struggle, many decisions had passed through Yun Yin’s hands.
When it came to decisive ruthlessness, none among them, who hadn’t seen real bloodshed, could match Yun Yin.
Yet thinking of Li Zhaoyu, Chang Zixuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.
He said softly: “Truly… if you ask me, the Li Dynasty’s time is up. All that effort for nothing but infamy, why not just…”
Yun Yin raised his eyes. “Chang Zixuan.”
Chang Zixuan knew he’d misspoken: “Just pretend I never said that.”
He was silent for a long time, then a trace of bitterness appeared. He murmured: “…If only His Highness were still here.”
Yun Yin didn’t speak.
The two stood at the doorway together for a while, watching the bustling pedestrians on the street. Neither spoke. At some point, Chang Zixuan forced a smile: “I’ll head back now.”
Yun Yin said: “Yeah.”
His figure disappeared at the street corner, and Yun Yin withdrew his gaze.
A nearby servant read his expression: “My Prince, the Yun Manor sent someone earlier to ask if you’ll be dining there tonight?”
Yun Yin remained silent.
The servant waited a moment, then heard him speak.
“Forget it,” he said. “Have the kitchen prepare something simple. Tonight, I’m entering the palace.”
He wanted to go see Li Zhaoyi. To see what the person who had said and done such things today was up to right now.
~
Li Zhaoyi had no idea that Mu Ke had already spilled his precious secret completely.
He was currently facing a rare bit of trouble.
Within the elegant and pleasant Imperial Garden, a woman dressed in resplendent palace attire, with slender fingers and vibrant nails, was examining Li Zhaoyi with an appraising gaze. At a certain moment, as if realizing something, she finally spoke with a faint, mocking smile: “I saw the commotion here from afar and wondered who it might be. So it is Your Majesty.”
Though using honorifics, her tone held not a trace of respect. De Quan, standing by, furrowed his brow.
“Your Highness the Grand Princess,” he warned, “when you see His Majesty, you are supposed to perform the formal greeting.”
The woman’s gaze fell upon him, thoughtful. “You are from the Eastern Depot.”
She looked at Li Zhaoyi. “Yun Yin treats you well.”
Li Zhaoyi looked at her.
He had never met this person before. But the Late Emperor had three princesses. Chengyang was dead, Wanrong lived in the palace, so the remaining one who could be called Grand Princess was only one person left.
Li Zhaoyi very sincerely asked the Old Eunuch beside him: “Isn’t Eldest Sister supposed to be in confinement?”
As soon as the words fell, the woman before him instantly changed color.
Grand Princess Changping, Li Chunjin, and her Prince Consort claimed to be recuperating at home, but everyone knew it was house arrest under a different name.
This was the first time anyone had ever pointed out this established fact so casually right in front of her.
Li Chunjin was so angry her face turned pale. De Quan, beside them, stifled a smile as he replied: “To answer Your Majesty, it was originally so. However, a few days ago, Prince Consort Wei submitted a Memorial to the Throne, saying Her Highness missed her family. Presumably, today she obtained the Prince’s permission to visit Princess Wanrong.”
He emphasized the word “permission.” Li Chunjin clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
But Li Zhaoyi seemed utterly oblivious, as if simply curious. Upon hearing the answer, he gave an “Oh,” looked up at the person, thought for a moment, and stated plainly: “Then he treats you well too.”
De Quan coughed lightly.
…He hadn’t noticed before. Their little emperor was quite skilled at infuriating people.
Sure enough, after that sentence, Li Chunjin, whose expression was already ugly, had completely changed color.
She didn’t speak, and Li Zhaoyi didn’t want to initiate conversation with her either. He said, “Let’s go,” preparing to head back to his Bedchamber along their planned route.
But after just a few steps, he heard Li Chunjin’s suddenly raised voice:
“Li Zhaoyi, don’t think just because you now occupy this position, you’ve won! Don’t forget, no matter what, your surname is Li, you are royal blood! For the throne, yielding to the demands of a traitor and disgracing the royal family – in a hundred years, what face will you have to meet the ancestors of the Li Clan!”
–
The moment she finished speaking, De Quan’s face abruptly changed. At the same time, Li Zhaoyi stopped walking.
Those words were far too heavy.
Changping wasn’t speaking as a subject to the Son of Heaven; it was more like an elder sister scolding a younger brother.
Admittedly, she and Li Zhaoyi had a true blood connection, but everyone present knew there wasn’t a shred of affection between them.
Thus, this “scolding” could be replaced by another term:
Utter humiliation.
The Imperial Garden fell deathly silent. The attending Palace Maids and Eunuchs felt cold sweat seeping down their backs.
Li Zhaoyi lifted his head, calmly meeting the gaze of the person before him.
The latter finally felt she’d scored a point, sneering: “What? Touched a nerve?”
Li Zhaoyi didn’t speak.
Changping took a step closer, looking into his eyes.
They were strange yet familiar eyes.
They shared similar blood, yet had never met. But it was this person, an utterly unexpected person, who had taken the position they dreamed of, the position they had fought and clawed for until broken and bleeding.
A sudden, intense unwillingness surged within her heart, unwillingness giving rise to hatred, something she struggled fiercely to control so she wouldn’t lose her composure on the spot.
The Imperial Garden was silent. To her surprise, Li Zhaoyi also didn’t speak.
He simply lifted his head to look behind her, a trace of surprise appearing in his beautiful eyes.
Li Chunjin was slightly stunned.
But before she could react, a nonchalant voice came from behind her.
“My apologies for interrupting.” The man’s voice was slightly husky, laced with a hint of amusement. “May I ask Her Highness, this term ‘traitorous subjects’ – is she referring to this minister?”
