Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Seeing Qiu Huanian's serious expression, Jiu Jiu immediately ran out of the yard to find Du Yunse.

Qiu Huanian returned to the main room, took out the tea set and the Zhengshan Xiaozhong black tea he had obtained from the Qingfeng Academy tea party, and prepared to entertain the guest.

As he tidied up the already neat room, he speculated about the identity of the visitor.

After Du Yunse returned to Zhang County, except for Wu Shen, he had not corresponded with anyone he knew outside. It seemed there were reasons he didn't want to involve others.

Baozhen mentioned that the visitor was a young man in his twenties. In this era, it was rare for a young man to travel alone, as it required not only courage and ability but also his family's willingness to let him go.

The young man had a horse, indicating that his family background was uncommon. Such families would not allow their young master to travel alone, so he was likely a retainer acting on behalf of his master.

Ordinary messages could have been sent by letter. This young man had traveled all the way from the capital to Zhang County, specifically seeking out Du Yunse by name. The matter he was here for was probably not simple...

As Qiu Huanian was thinking, there was another knock at the door. He went to open it and found, not Du Yunse and Jiu Jiu, but a stranger leading a horse.

It was past noon, and the sunlight was harsh and blinding. Yet, the person outside gave off an impression of thinness and coldness, like a deep cave that never sees light—only a dark entrance visible, with no one knowing what dangers lie inside.

Qiu Huanian was taken aback. Seeing the man's delicate features and the red mole between his eyebrows, he understood. He stepped aside and asked, "Is this gentleman from the capital, here to see Yunse?"

The young man outside lingered his gaze on Qiu Huanian's face for less than half a second before nodding slightly. "My master has sent me to deliver some things."

Qiu Huanian didn't press further and invited him in. "Yunse is in the fields. I've already sent someone to call him. Please come in and wait."

"Thank you. Just call me Sixteen."

Under Qiu Huanian's guidance, Sixteen led his horse into the yard. The stable was not yet built, so the valuable horse had to be tethered in the construction shed at the back.

Sixteen remained silent, quietly taking in the half-built courtyard.

After setting out from the capital, he first rode quickly to Jingshan Guard, secretly met with Wu Shen, and carried out a few tasks for the Crown Prince before heading to Du Village to see Du Yunse. It had been more than twenty days since he left the capital.

Sixteen knew Du Yunse's family was poor. Along the way, he had passed through many villages in Liaozhou and formed some expectations about the conditions of Du Yunse's hometown. Now that he had arrived, he found Du Yunse's home situation better than he had imagined.

Qiu Huanian made casual small talk. "We're in the middle of building the house. The front yard was just completed a couple of days ago, and the back rooms and garden are still under construction. It's a bit messy, so please don't mind."

Sixteen remained silent, but he had already decided to change his original plan. He intended to stay in Du Village for a few more days to investigate if the sudden improvement in Du Yunse's family situation was connected to other factions in the court.

How to analyze, how to judge, the Crown Prince had his own reasons. What Sixteen needed to do was to bring all potentially useful information to the Crown Prince, to be his eyes, his sharp blade, his blood shield.

And besides that...

Sixteen's gaze once again swept over Qiu Huanian's face, and before the other could notice, he skillfully erased all traces.

Apart from serving the Crown Prince, the sudden desire to stay a few more days was also related to one of the few personal desires he had in this world.

Although it was most likely still a vain fantasy, he had grown accustomed to searching, just as he had grown accustomed to futility.

...

A quarter of an hour later, Du Yunse and Jiu Jiu finally returned.

Sixteen heard the noise and stepped out of the main room. Du Yunse was wearing shabby short clothes, his skin slightly red from the sun. Because he had hurried over, there were still some unwashed mud stains on his clothes, looking like an ordinary farmer.

Compared to the occasional glimpses of him serving the Crown Prince a few years ago, the current Du Yunse was more reserved and steady, like a finely polished piece of jade.

It seemed that the grand upheaval in the capital at the beginning of the year had also changed him a lot.

Du Yunse noticed Sixteen had appeared in his home, his brows slightly furrowed before relaxing, and he calmly told Jiu Jiu to take Chun Sheng out to play.

After the two children left, Du Yunse stepped forward and asked Sixteen, "What brings you here so suddenly, Sixteen?"

Sixteen replied directly, "I’m here on my master’s behalf."

Qiu Huanian wanted to ask if he needed to excuse himself, but Du Yunse shook his head to stop him.

"I am just a powerless scholar. Matters concerning Sixteen’s master are not something my husband and I should pry into."

Sixteen said expressionlessly, "No need to be nervous, Master Du. My master is now cautious in speech and action, reflecting deeply on his own. There is nothing that cannot be told to others."

"I came here only to deliver a congratulatory gift on behalf of my master. He said—he shares a schoolmate bond with Master Du, and regrets not being able to personally congratulate you on achieving the 'Little Triple Crown.' He’s prepared a small token of congratulations and hopes you’ll accept it."

Before Du Yunse could say anything, Sixteen had already opened the brocade box he carried with him. "This is the tribute-grade medicine my master uses himself. Please take a look, Master Du."

Qiu Huanian, standing beside them, saw the contents of the box and his pupils instantly dilated. If it weren’t for the formality of the situation, he might have gasped.

Inside the well-sealed compartmentalized brocade box lay a whole, intact lingzhi mushroom, a ginseng root as thick as a thumb, and a small box of high-quality sliced deer antler.

Even someone as inexperienced as Qiu Huanian could tell the medicinal ingredients in the box were of exceptional quality.

This was no small gift. If converted to silver, it could easily be worth a thousand taels, and such quality would be hard to come by even with money.

Sixteen wasn’t worried about Du Yunse refusing. Since His Highness believed Du Yunse would accept it, Du Yunse naturally would.

Seeing the medicinal ingredients in the box, Du Yunse lowered his eyelids, concealing the depth in his eyes. After a moment, he cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I won’t refuse your kindness. Please convey my gratitude to your master, Sixteen."

Qiu Huanian, unable to speak, shot an anxious glance at Du Yunse, who shook his head again, signaling him to remain calm.

Sixteen closed the brocade box and set it aside, then continued, "The task my master assigned me is now complete. I have one more favor to ask—would Master Du be willing to accommodate me?"

"Please speak, Sixteen."

"After leaving the capital, I rode hard without stopping. Now that all matters are settled, I would like to rest for a few days before returning to the capital. Could I stay at your residence for a few days?"

Du Yunse didn’t buy Sixteen’s excuse. He had heard from his teacher that the crown prince’s shadow guards were specially trained. Most of them were orphans, sent to the palace’s training institute from childhood, and had long since transcended the realm of ordinary people. Even if they lost an arm or a leg, they’d still doggedly complete their master’s tasks.

Sixteen was the crown prince’s most capable shadow guard. For him to claim he needed rest after riding hard was as absurd as Du Yunse claiming he couldn’t read.

Sixteen probably knew his excuse was weak, but to him, it didn’t matter.

When he traveled outside, he represented the crown prince’s will. Du Yunse knew this all too well. As long as Sixteen made the request, Du Yunse could not refuse.

Du Yunse looked at Qiu Huanian, who was momentarily stunned but then nodded and said, "We can clear out the east wing, or there’s a room in the back annex with a kang already set up. Where would you like to stay, Sixteen?"

The east wing was bigger, but the annex, behind the main room, was more private, like a second courtyard. Qiu Huanian let the guest choose.

"No need to trouble yourselves. I’ll stay in the annex."

With an unexpected guest in the house, Qiu Huanian was full of questions, but none could be asked in front of Sixteen. He had no choice but to go prepare the annex.

Fortunately, he had previously considered the possibility of future guests and had planned two annex rooms as guest quarters, complete with small kang beds. Otherwise, there would have been no time to prepare.

The small kang was already laid with a straw mat. Qiu Huanian grabbed extra bedding and a pillow, then brought over a small table and chair from the main courtyard, making the room just barely livable.

After finishing, Qiu Huanian felt the setup was a bit too simple. But then he thought, Sixteen was dressed in simple, practical clothing, likely wanting to travel discreetly. So, a modest reception was not inappropriate.

After looking over the annex, Sixteen simply nodded and said nothing more. He thanked them and placed his luggage in the room.

At dinnertime, Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng finally returned. Jiu Jiu carried a small bamboo basket half-filled with transparent river shrimp, each about the size of a knuckle.

"We met Uncle Baoshan and Yun Kang catching shrimp by the river, and Uncle Baoshan gave us some."

The shrimp from this small river are small and not very meaty. They are only good for making soup or frying into shrimp flakes as a snack. Catching these shrimp takes a lot of effort, and they must be eaten the same day; otherwise, they will spoil by the next day. That's why the folks in Du Village rarely bother catching them.

The small river behind the village has clear water, and the shrimp are very clean. Qiu Huanian gave the shrimp a good rinse and cooked them with rice and corn kernels to make a porridge. Just before serving, he added finely chopped bok choy and scallions, making a tasty shrimp, corn, and veggie porridge.

He served the porridge, sliced some pickled vegetables, and brought out a plate of spiced dried tofu to accompany the meal. A simple farm dinner was ready.

It was so hot that Qiu Huanian left the kitchen doors and windows open while cooking. As he turned with a plate in hand, he noticed that Sixteen had quietly shown up in the front yard, leaning against the doorframe and watching him silently.

"Mr. Sixteen?"

Without saying a word, Sixteen took the plate from Qiu Huanian. Qiu Huanian instinctively handed it over, and Sixteen turned to carry the plate to the square table in the main room.

Was he... here to help?

Qiu Huanian was confused but shook his head as he watched Sixteen walk away.

Qiu Huanian told Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng that Sixteen was a friend Du Yunse had met in the capital, who was passing through Zhang County and decided to visit for a few days. This was the story they'd also tell the village.

Sixteen was serious and hardly ever smiled, always wearing a cold, delicate expression. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were a little scared of this unfamiliar older brother and didn't dare to speak much to him. Sixteen, unless necessary, never spoke, making him as unnoticeable as a shadow.

After dinner, Du Yunse washed the dishes, and the two of them used the excuse of checking the cotton plants in the field to finally have a chance to talk privately.

The moon was high in the sky, and the fields outside the village were empty. The farmers who had worked hard here all day had already gone back to the nearby village to rest. Early the next morning, they would return to the fields, continuing their daily cycle of planting and harvesting.

Du Yunse had carried out Qiu Huanian's cotton planting plan very well, paying attention to every detail. In the moonlight, the three acres of cotton were neatly spaced, neither too dense nor too sparse. The red flowers still stood out in the night, and by autumn, these flowers would turn into large cotton bolls, ready for harvest.

Qiu Huanian knelt down to check a few cotton plants and noticed signs of bollworm damage.

Bollworms are the natural enemy of cotton, feeding on the stems, leaves, and bolls. They are most active during the flowering and boll-forming stages. If not managed well, cotton yields can drop a lot, or even result in a total loss.

Dealing with bollworms has always been a challenge for cotton farmers. In ancient times, only physical methods like manual removal and destroying eggs were available. Modern technology has introduced targeted pesticides, but they are expensive, and overuse can cause other problems, making them unsuitable for all situations.

Some clever cotton farmers, through hard work and modern science, have come up with an easy biological enzyme method for pest control, which Qiu Huanian planned to use.

"The biological enzyme at home is ready. The clan leader's family and Yun Kang's family have also learned to make it. I'll find time in the next few days to buy some vinegar residue for pest control."

After handling a few waves of bollworms, the big challenges in growing cotton would be mostly done.

Du Yunse helped Qiu Huanian stand up, and the two of them strolled through the fields under the night sky. The bright moonlight made the path look like it was covered in a thin layer of frost.

"Is that Sixteen a palace guard?"

"Huh?" Du Yunse was surprised that Qiu Huanian had figured it out without any hints.

"His daily movements and behavior are too... too disciplined." Qiu Huanian struggled to find the right words.

Qiu Huanian hadn't seen many servants from noble families since his arrival, only those from Song Juren's household in Peach Blossom Town and the Zhu family in Xiangping Prefecture. The favored servants of these households often had unique qualities, but compared to Sixteen, they seemed like they were from a different world.

Additionally, the medicine Sixteen brought was of the highest quality, and his master had studied alongside great scholars like Wen Huiyang, who was Du Yunse's classmate. Yet Du Yunse had never mentioned having any fellow disciples. The identity of the mysterious and generous "master" was already narrowed down to a very small circle.

Du Yunse nodded, confirming Qiu Huanian's analysis. "Sixteen's master is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace."

Qiu Huanian felt a sharp pain in his teeth.

He finally understood why Du Yunse had reacted the way he did that afternoon.

Qiu Huanian didn’t understand the political situation in the capital or the royal family’s intrigues, but he knew that Du Yunse and Wu Shen, as well as their mentors Wen Huiyang and General Wu Dingshan, were caught up in it.

The Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, is second only to the emperor and above all others, destined to be the supreme ruler of the realm. His status is so exalted and hard to put into words that throughout history, countless people have fought to the death for this position.

However, being the Crown Prince is also an extremely dangerous role. The Crown Prince does not automatically become the future emperor; their position can always become unstable for various reasons, leading to reprimands, house arrest, deposition, or even death.

When a father becomes the ruler of the realm and his son becomes the future ruler, the father-son bond between them often warps, tainted by suspicion, scrutiny, jealousy, and madness.

The current Yuanhua Emperor is not yet fifty, skilled in warfare, strong and healthy, far from his twilight years.

Yet the Crown Prince is already in his twenties, like the rising sun, no longer viewed as a beloved, outstanding son.

Besides the Crown Prince, the emperor has many other ambitious princes who, having reached their positions, cannot help but covet the Crown Prince’s throne.

In such a situation, the Crown Prince was eventually placed under house arrest in the Eastern Palace due to a single misstep, bringing down all his supporters with him, and the emperor personally clipped all his wings of power.

Even Wu Dingshan, a great general with numerous military achievements and the late empress’s cousin, and Wen Huiyang, a renowned great scholar of the Yu Dynasty, could not escape.

The emperor’s hesitation to depose the Crown Prince has left everyone in a very awkward and precarious position.

At this time, the unexpected arrival of sixteen in Liaozhou to visit Du Yunse in Du Village, his hometown, although his only action was to deliver medicine, was still unsettling.

"Yun Se, I have never asked you, who... do you support?" Such a treasonous and perilous topic could only be broached in the dead of night in the empty fields.

Du Yunse’s mentor Wen Huiyang was placed under house arrest for speaking on behalf of the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince’s cousin Wu Shen was also close to Du Yunse. On the surface, Du Yunse appeared to be a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince.

But Qiu Huanian still wanted to hear it from Du Yunse himself.

Du Yunse did not think this was something Qiu Huanian should not know. He and Brother Hua were one, sharing both glory and loss. Brother Hua was also exceptionally perceptive and intelligent. Sharing these insights would help them better navigate the storm ahead.

Du Yunse said gravely, "As a loyal subject, I will always serve only the wise ruler of the Yu Dynasty."

There can only be one ruler.

Qiu Huanian wanted to ask something, but a thought crossed his mind, and he swallowed the words he was about to say.

He reorganized his words, "You treat sixteen with respect and befriend Wu Shen because... this is also the emperor’s intention?"

"The emperor and the Crown Prince..."

Du Yunse said, "The Crown Prince is under house arrest in the Chunhe Hall of the palace, guarded day and night by the imperial guards. Without the emperor’s tacit approval, he would not know that I had topped the academy exam, nor could he have dispatched sixteen from the palace."

"Moreover, calculating the timing of the academy exam results and the speed of the imperial courier, sixteen probably went to Jingshan Guard and came to Du Village on his way back."

"The Crown Prince sent sixteen to Jingshan Guard?" Qiu Huanian immediately thought of the unusual weapons and provisions mentioned in Wu Shen’s letter.

"Wu Shen is the Crown Prince’s cousin, and with the border conflict flaring up, the Crown Prince, worried about his cousin and moved by the late empress, sent a secret guard out of the palace to deliver medicine. Even if it were known, no one would dare to object."

All the officials of the Yu Dynasty know that anything related to the late empress is a taboo for the Yuanhua Emperor. Even though he is increasingly favoring Consort Kang, no one dares to risk their future to test it.

—Even Consort Kang herself, wasn’t she chosen from the common people by Prince Pingxian because she resembled the late empress, gaining everything she has now?

After hearing Du Yunse succinctly explain the matters of the late empress, the Crown Prince, Consort Kang, and Prince Pingxian, Qiu Huanian pursed his lips.

"The person is long gone, imprisoning her only child, finding a substitute to perform deep affection, manipulating imperial power—what value does such profound affection hold?"

Du Yunse should have immediately warned Qiu Huanian not to speak such words again, nor to show any hint of it in front of others, but he remained silent.

Du Yunse once could not understand the Yuanhua Emperor’s deep affection for the late empress, treating her as a taboo that would kill upon touch. It was only after knowing Qiu Huanian that he gradually understood.

Sometimes, beneath the nine-tiered crown of an emperor, there still lies the soul of an ordinary person.

But it is precisely because of this understanding that he cannot agree with the Yuanhua Emperor’s many actions in this matter.