Inside the main hall, Gu Huaiyu leaned back in the seat of honor, looking down as he flipped through secret reports. He didn’t even spare Nie Jin a glance. “Didn’t Master Nie say he wouldn’t enter the Chancellery? Why have you come today uninvited?”
Nie Jin sat perfectly upright, his eyes fixed on the gray brick floor. “The Chancellor is no longer the head of government, and this is not the Chancellor’s Estate. This official came today for… personal reasons.”
As he spoke those last two words, he suddenly looked up at Gu Huaiyu.
Gu Huaiyu still didn’t raise his eyes, his lips curling into a mocking smirk. “I’m not lacking in friends. Does Master Nie think he qualifies?”
Nie Jin showed no sign of embarrassment. He lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment before standing up. “This official came today for the sake of the people—to implore the Chancellor to return to court.”
“Oh?”
Gu Huaiyu looked at the report, lazily mulling over the words. “Is it Master Nie who wants me back? Or is it the people?”
Nie Jin faltered at the question. He said in a heavy voice, “Both. I wish it, and I believe the people wish it too.”
Gu Huaiyu loved to tease this Vice-Minister. Bullying an upright man was truly entertaining.
He slowly raised his eyes, taking his time to look him over from head to toe. The hand holding the brush spun it lightly, the end of the brush resting against his cheek. He asked with great curiosity, “Exactly how much does Master Nie want me?”
The tips of Nie Jin’s ears instantly turned burning hot. He took a sudden step back, widening the distance as if avoiding a wildfire. He answered stiffly, following the standard formula of officialdom: “This official frequently thinks of your health and well-being.”
“Is that so? You think of my health—”
Gu Huaiyu paused for a beat, then let out a soft, mocking laugh. “Or do you think of my ‘jade body’?”
Nie Jin snapped his head up, caught off guard as his gaze collided with that face of celestial beauty. When the man smiled, his radiance was like a masterpiece painted by a divine hand.
It left him momentarily speechless, unable to find an answer.
Gu Huaiyu had seen enough of his awkwardness and finally waved a hand in mercy. “I’ve received your sentiments. As for returning to the capital… I have my own plans.”
Nie Jin knew there was no more room for talk. Just as he was about to take his leave, he heard a voice from behind: “Why are you unwilling to become my man?”
He turned back and saw Gu Huaiyu lightly tapping his own chest with the brush, his meaning clear.
Nie Jin silently pulled the faded pearl hairclip from his robes, cradling it in his palm. “I believe the Chancellor has his reasons for how he acts. It’s just that… there are parts of my conscience that I simply cannot set down.”
Gu Huaiyu set his brush aside and looked at him quietly. His voice carried a rare note of sincerity. “A man like you is good.”
Nie Jin’s expression shifted slightly. He gave a low bow. “I thank the Chancellor.”
***
Just as he turned a corner, a powerful arm suddenly grabbed his collar. The force was so great it nearly choked him!
Pei Jingyi’s other arm pressed hard against his throat. He asked without a shred of politeness, “What are you doing here?”
Nie Jin was no match for him in terms of martial strength, so he didn’t even bother to struggle. He managed to squeeze out two words: “Official business…”
Pei Jingyi let out a cold sneer. The pressure on his hand increased, the collar biting into Nie Jin’s neck. “You’re trying to play me? Those eyes of yours were nearly glued to my wife!”
A stubborn man like Nie Jin naturally wouldn’t yield, nor was he polite. “When did the Chancellor—”
“Shut up.”
Pei Jingyi didn’t give him a chance to speak. He showed no mercy to this former “good brother.” The hand on Nie Jin’s neck pressed even harder. “He is the Chancellor to the world, but once he takes off those robes, he’s my wife and mine alone!”
Nie Jin was finding it difficult to breathe, yet he stubbornly stared back. “Jingyi, you misunderstand. I have only admiration and respect for the Chancellor. I have no… foul intentions.”
“Admiration?”
Pei Jingyi laughed mockingly, leaning in close. “Nie Jin, I know what kind of man you are. When the hell have you ever looked at someone with that kind of gaze?”
Nie Jin couldn’t catch his breath, but he still fixated on him. “I… toward the Chancellor… have no intention of overstepping…”
Hearing this, Pei Jingyi finally let go. After all, this was the famous Iron-Faced Judge; a word from him was as solid as a nail in a board. He wasn’t the type to go back on his word.
“See? Wasn’t that better?”
He patted Nie Jin’s shoulder. In the next second, without any warning, he slammed a fist into Nie Jin’s abdomen!
“Ugh—”
Nie Jin let out a muffled groan and doubled over. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
That was a punch from Pei Jingyi—enough to take down a bull, let alone a scholar like Nie Jin.
Pei Jingyi shook out his wrist, looking at him with a half-smile. “I told you long ago, I was going to beat the hell out of you.”
With that, he turned and strode away without looking back, showing no sentimentality whatsoever.
Nie Jin’s vision went dark in waves, a metallic tang of blood rising in his throat. He leaned against a pillar and was about to stand when a plain handkerchief was suddenly held out before him.
“Brother Nie…”
The voice made Nie Jin’s whole body shudder.
He snapped his head up, a flash of pure disbelief in his eyes. “…Chen Yun?”
Yun Niang steadily supported his arm. She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “Three years and we haven’t met, yet Brother Nie still has that same stubborn temper.”
