Chapter 67: My Love and Fear for the Chancellor Part 2

Clang!

Prince Xian’s tea spoon struck the side of his cup. It seemed the tea was too hot. He quickly let out a boisterous laugh. “To dare assassinate the Chancellor of the realm—they deserved to be hacked into a thousand pieces.”

Pei Jingyi sat across from Gu Huaiyu. Their gazes met for a fleeting second.

The corners of Gu Huaiyu’s eyes lifted slightly. Pei Jingyi smiled and cracked another peanut. “Indeed. Those assassins wouldn’t stop screaming. It was so noisy I couldn’t sleep for three nights.”

Prince Xian’s smile faltered almost imperceptibly.

“Speaking of which…”

Gu Huaiyu suddenly lifted the teapot, the amber liquid arching through the air. “I must thank Your Highness for your steadfast support regarding the deployment of troops to Eastern Liao.”

He raised his cup to toast Prince Xian with both hands. “If Your Highness hadn’t convinced the Imperial clansmen, things might not have gone so smoothly for me.”

Prince Xian took the cup solemnly, his smile warm. “The Chancellor is too modest. That was due to your own prestige. Among the clansmen, who does not admire Chancellor Gu?”

“Admire?” Gu Huaiyu didn’t believe for a second that those clansmen admired him. His lips curled. “It’s fear, more like.”

Prince Xian took a sip of tea. His compliments were as pleasant as a spring breeze. “The wise admire the Chancellor; only fools fear him.”

He paused, leaning toward Gu Huaiyu. “The Chancellor understands best when to use a gentle hand and when to strike with thunder.”

Gu Huaiyu stared back at him, asking playfully, “Then does Your Highness admire me, or fear me?”

Prince Xian suddenly let out a long sigh, followed by a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. “My feelings for the Chancellor are a mix of both love and fear.”

The hand Pei Jingyi used to peel peanuts paused. He stared down at the thick calluses on his fingertips and thought to himself: Wait, isn’t that just like me?

“I love the Chancellor’s brilliant talent and his ability to govern the nation.” Prince Xian swirled his tea, his thumb ring clinking softly against the cup’s rim. “But I fear the Chancellor’s methods are too sharp, leaving one no choice but to obey.”

Gu Huaiyu had heard too much flattery—blatant adulation, circuitous praise, and even Pei Jingyi’s shameless nonsense about how “the Chancellor is fragrant all over” while biting his toes.

But there weren’t many who could strike precisely at his pride, mentioning “governing” and “methods” like this.

He suddenly let out a low laugh. “The title of ‘Prince Xian’ is truly well-deserved.”

Just as he spoke, an attendant entered to report. “Your Highness, the pleasure boat is ready. It is waiting by the pier outside the pavilion.”

Prince Xian stood up, his wide sleeves billowing. “Plum blossoms are fine to admire in silence, but a view from the water is better. Would the Chancellor do me the honor of continuing our conversation on the boat?”

Behind the pavilion, by the lakeside pier, a pleasure boat decorated with painted eaves and gold-etched patterns was docked.

Without waiting for orders, Pei Jingyi leaped onto the deck and circled the cabin.

He returned shortly, whispering to Gu Huaiyu, “Only one boatman on board. No one else.”

Prince Xian stood nearby, saying nothing, a gentle smile fixed on his face.

Gu Huaiyu stepped onto the boat. The wind ruffled a few stray locks of hair by his temples, and the sunlight sharpened the features of his face.

Prince Xian stood on the forward deck, gazing out toward the center of the lake. His voice suddenly took on a nostalgic tone. “I still remember the first time I saw you. You were standing beside the Empress Dowager. How old were you then?”

Gu Huaiyu leaned against the carved railing, his fingers tapping rhythmically. “Fifteen, I believe.”

Prince Xian was stunned for a moment before laughing. His eyes held a touch of genuine appreciation. “Back then, the Empress Dowager told me that although Gu Yu was young, if he were to become an advisor one day, he would stabilize the court.”

Pei Jingyi leaned against the cabin door with his arms crossed. When Gu Huaiyu looked over, Pei raised an eyebrow, his eyes burning with a near-frenetic adoration.

Gu Huaiyu looked away without comment, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly. He turned to Prince Xian. “Grand Empress Dowager Chen has always been an excellent judge of character.”

“She saw you clearly, but she misjudged Emperor Rui.”

Prince Xian spoke with profound meaning, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “The Empress Dowager never liked Prince Rui. Everyone in the palace knew it.”

“The year my eldest brother passed away so suddenly, the Empress Dowager insisted on putting Prince Rui on the throne. Everyone in the Imperial Family said—”

“The Empress Dowager made a bet. No matter how useless Prince Rui was, he was still your… brother-in-law.”

Prince Xian’s words were part flattery, part provocation.

He expected Gu Huaiyu to offer a few humble denials. To his surprise, the Chancellor simply gave a slight nod. “That is indeed the case,” Gu Huaiyu said calmly.

Pei Jingyi suddenly lowered his head and let out a muffled laugh. His chest vibrated with it. He pressed his knuckles to his lips, unable to stop himself from licking his canine tooth.

Damn, he’s incredible. One nod from Gu Huaiyu, and they can swap whoever they want onto the dragon throne.

Prince Xian froze for a heartbeat before laughing again. “Looking back now, does the Chancellor have any regrets?”

Though spoken casually, the question was calculated. After all… Emperor Rui had not been a good emperor.

As the boat reached the center of the lake, it suddenly shuddered, as if the boatman had intentionally pulled the ropes to stop it.

Gu Huaiyu looked at the scenery on the shore, seemingly unconcerned. “I don’t regret it. If not for him, I would still be a fool who thought that writing a few political essays was enough to rule the world.”

Clap!

Prince Xian struck his palms together and laughed loudly. “This is why I both respect and fear you.”

Gu Huaiyu scanned the lake outside the cabin. His dark eyes suddenly widened in confusion. “Eh? Why have we stopped?”

For some reason, seeing Gu Huaiyu act this way made Pei Jingyi laugh even harder.

Prince Xian’s smile vanished. He let out a heavy sigh. “Chancellor, have you ever considered? You aren’t extending the life of Great Chen. You are extending its calamity.”