“Wishful thinking.”
The veins on the back of Pei Jingyi’s hand, resting on the chair’s back, pulsed with suppressed rage. In terms of sheer shamelessness, scholars were truly no different from warriors.
He scanned Shen Jun from head to toe, his gaze becoming increasingly dismissive. “Master Shen is going to be disappointed. The Chancellor’s bedchamber is far too small. There’s only enough room under the bed for one person—me.”
Shen Jun’s expression faltered for a moment, but when he turned back to Gu Huaiyu, a faint, soft smile returned to his face. “Is the Chancellor staying with General Pei these days?”
“Hmm?”
Gu Huaiyu was still deep in thought regarding the situation in the capital. Snapping back to reality, he arched an eyebrow. “Master Shen, a man of your worldly talents shouldn’t be preoccupied with such trivial matters.”
The light in Shen Jun’s eyes dimmed slightly. He bowed his head. “This official thanks the Chancellor for his high regard.”
Gu Huaiyu sat up, brushing his sleeves. “The situation in the capital still needs you at the helm. I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving it to anyone else.”
Since he had put it that way, what more could Shen Jun say? His hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, clenched and then slowly released. Finally, he gave a deep, formal bow. “Chancellor, please take care. This official takes his leave.”
Pei Jingyi watched Shen Jun’s retreating figure until it vanished. He immediately leaned in close to Gu Huaiyu’s ear, his warm breath ghosting against the skin. “You need to keep an eye on Shen Jun, Chancellor. That man’s thoughts run deep.”
Gu Huaiyu remained noncommittal, shooting him a cold, sideways glance. “What ‘thoughts’ could he have? Doesn’t he just want to support the state? The Director and I are of one mind.”
Pei Jingyi was tickled pink by this “clueless” display. He couldn’t help but let out a series of muffled, delighted chuckles.
Gu Huaiyu frowned. “What are you laughing at?”
Pei Jingyi shook his head while suppressing his mirth, letting out a light cough. “I was just moved by Master Shen’s… sincere devotion.”
Shen Jun’s little schemes were clear as day to everyone else, yet Gu Huaiyu’s brilliant, calculating mind seemed utterly blind to them.
The man truly had no idea how captivating he was, or how he could drive people to such maddening obsession.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed, and the winds in the capital shifted drastically.
As soon as Gu Huaiyu made his move, the fog over the imperial court seemed to vanish. The tangled mess of a deadlock was straightened out almost overnight.
The Ministry of Revenue finally released the salaries, and long-overdue silver reached the hands of every minor clerk. The massive queues in front of the grain shops largely disappeared as rice prices began to drop. The common folk finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
The canal transport fleets sailed through the city gates once more. Orders from the Ministry of War and the Bureau of Military Affairs flowed back and forth as usual. The military officers stopped blockading doors and causing trouble, returning to their camps to train diligently instead.
In every government office, the weight in the officials’ hearts finally lifted. After all, everyone knew that as long as those orders were coming from the mountain, the sky would not fall.
Yuan Zhuo heard Gu Huaiyu’s “message” through Shen Jun. It was a direct critique of his recent tyrannical governance, ruthlessly pointing out every one of his failings.
A Chancellor who had resigned and gone into seclusion actually dared to call the Son of Heaven a tyrant to his face. Such treasonous words, however, made Yuan Zhuo incredibly happy.
He pressed his hands against his racing heart, the joy nearly bursting from his chest. Huaiyu Gege is still willing to scold me! He’s still willing to look after me!
For the first time in days, everything looked beautiful. Everything was bearable.
He hadn’t eaten properly in a day or two, but now he felt no hunger at all. He was in high spirits, feeling as though he had an inexhaustible amount of energy.
A long-awaited smile finally graced the Emperor’s face. He raised his voice. “Eunuch Xu, serve the meal! We wish to eat!”
Seeing his master’s rare happiness, Eunuch Xu was also beaming. He quickly responded and turned to go.
Just as he reached the palace doors, Eunuch Xu suddenly turned back, reminding him in a low voice: “Your Majesty, Grand Preceptor Dong and Lord Qin have been kneeling outside for half the morning. They say they have urgent business.”
These two had been knocking at the door nearly every day.
Yuan Zhuo wasn’t in the mood to deal with them, but since he was currently feeling generous, he gave a faint wave. “Summon them.”
Grand Preceptor Dong and Qin Zijin entered one after the other. When they knelt to pay their respects, their bodies were visibly unsteady, trembling as they moved.
The beautiful beard that Grand Preceptor Dong was usually so proud of was missing a chunk. Qin Zijin’s face was as pale as paper, looking exactly like a stalk of emerald bamboo wilted by a torrential storm.
Yuan Zhuo’s gaze swept over the two. He set down his vermilion brush and asked, knowing full well the answer, “What business do the two of you have?”
Grand Preceptor Dong cast a pained glance at his favorite student before taking a step forward. He spoke with impassioned fervor. “Your Majesty, Qin Zijin is a man of integrity, a talent of our age. His Treatise on Statecraft is a model for all scholars in the world. Yet recently, he has been cursed by the commoners and bullied by military officers. His reputation is in ruins!
“He is even unable to return to his own home, exhausted in both body and mind. I implore Your Majesty to investigate and grant this subject justice!”
