Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Mei Xuezheng had been waiting for the young emperor to return.

He was also somewhat restless, having had two more cups of tea poured and glanced at the time repeatedly. As time passed and the young emperor still hadn't returned, his worry grew.

He wasn't worried that their secret dealings with Xie Qingya would be discovered.

Their actions had been carried out without a trace, and even if someone were to investigate, it wouldn't lead back to them. His real fear was that the young emperor, being young and impulsive, might let something slip to Empress Dowager Zhaoyu, which would ruin their years of planning.

"Your Majesty."

Just as Mei Xuezheng was pacing anxiously, a voice came from outside. He looked up and saw the young emperor being helped by Xiao Guizi.

Mei Xuezheng felt relieved, but he didn't show it on his face. He respectfully greeted, "Your Majesty has returned."

Suddenly, his arm was grabbed tightly.

"Minister Mei—" the young emperor's panicked voice sounded in his ear.

Mei Xuezheng sensed something was wrong. He looked up and saw the young emperor's face was deathly pale.

In the court and around the young emperor, there were many people loyal to Cao Da and Empress Dowager Zhaoyu.

Seeing this, Mei Xuezheng knew something had gone wrong.

He exchanged a glance with Xiao Guizi, who then went out to send the others away and stood guard outside, allowing them to speak privately.

Mei Xuezheng helped the young emperor sit down.

"Your Majesty, what happened?" He also noticed the tightly held edict in the young emperor's hand.

Mei Xuezheng's brow furrowed slightly, and a sense of dread washed over him. He lowered his voice, "What edict has the Empress Dowager issued?"

"Mother, she... Mother, she..." The young emperor's eyes were red as he urgently said, "Mother wants to marry Princess Jiashun to my cousin!"

"What!"

Even someone as composed as Mei Xuezheng couldn't help but gasp in shock.

He took the edict from the young emperor's hand, as if to confirm whether it was about the person he knew. After reading it, it was indeed her!

"How could this be..."

Mei Xuezheng was stunned, his tone filled with confusion, "How could the Empress Dowager be willing to marry Princess Jiashun to Qingya?"

This move threw their plans into complete disarray.

They had considered countless scenarios, but never imagined that Princess Jiashun would be drawn into the game.

Everyone knew that Princess Jiashun was the Empress Dowager's favorite. How could she be willing to marry her to Qingya?

He also recalled the people who had spoken in court earlier.

Mei Xuezheng had felt something was off at the time, and now, upon reflection, many of those people seemed to be aligned with Cao Da.

So, was arranging for Princess Jiashun to enter Prince Nan'an's mansion Cao Da's idea?

"Minister Mei, what should we do now?" The young emperor was at a loss, sitting slumped in his chair, a far cry from the cheerful figure he had been before.

Only fear remained.

"The Empress Dowager has made up her mind, I... I dare not persuade her."

Mei Xuezheng was also somewhat flustered, unsure of what to do at this moment. However, considering the young emperor's timidity, to prevent him from worrying excessively, he could only advise first: "Your Majesty, please don't worry. Let me first leave the palace to discuss this matter with Xie Qingya, and then we'll see how to proceed."

"Whether this matter succeeds or not, Your Majesty should not speak, to avoid offending the Empress Dowager and provoking her anger again."

Although the young emperor was timid, he was obedient.

Hearing Mei Xuezheng say this, he nodded repeatedly.

There was still time before the Ministry of Rites issued the edict. Mei Xuezheng comforted the young emperor with a few more words, instructed him on how to act afterwards, and then took his leave from the palace.

The weather was bitterly cold, and the snow continued to fall.

If one stepped into a deserted area, one's boots might be half buried.

Though anxious, Mei Xuezheng dared not reveal it. He walked slowly out of the Meridian Gate, boarded his carriage, and only then did his expression darken as he ordered an immediate return to his residence.

He now lived in the Nanjuxian Lane in the southern part of the city.

Nanjuxian Lane was a gift from the young emperor. Although the house was only a single courtyard, it was prized for its quiet environment, and only a few loyal servants who had followed him for years attended to him.

As a man who lived alone, Mei Xuezheng cared little about the size of his residence.

Upon returning, he informed his attendants that he needed to rest.

The attendants, knowing what he was about to do, nodded repeatedly.

Mei Xuezheng entered his room.

He had chosen this place because it was nearest to Prince Nan'an's mansion. Even before the young emperor had bestowed the house upon him, he had already had a tunnel dug leading to Prince Nan'an's mansion, to facilitate his comings and goings with Xie Qingya.

Mei Xuezheng did not change his clothes, only swapped his cloak for a black cape, then entered the secret passage to Prince Nan'an's mansion.

...

Prince Nan'an's mansion.

Xie Qingya was in his study reading a letter sent from the south this morning.

The letter detailed Quan Fangtong's recent activities. After reading it, he set it on fire.

Three knocks came from behind the wall.

"Master."

Today, it was Lingji who was by Xie Qingya's side.

Outside, it was snowing, and though it was still early, only a sliver of daylight entered the room. The firelight illuminated Xie Qingya's exceptionally handsome face, highlighting his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.

He quietly watched the burning letter, his dark pupils reflecting only the two leaping flames.

"Go open the door."

"Yes!"

Lingji obeyed and went to open the door.

Xie Qingya casually tossed the still-burning letter into the inkstone basin, where the dark ashes immediately scattered and floated.

"Something's happened!"

Mei Xuezheng hurried over, unable to contain himself upon seeing Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya was pouring tea for him.

Having experienced many things over the years, he had long since shed the impatience of his youth.

"What is it?"

His expression remained unchanged.

Mei Xuezheng quickly walked up to Xie Qingya and lowered his voice to say, "Empress Dowager Zhaoyu has arranged for Princess Jiashun to be married to you."

Lingji, who was about to go outside to stand guard, was so startled by this that he stopped in his tracks.

He quickly turned around.

Xie Qingya was in the middle of pouring tea when the sound of the water abruptly ceased. He also looked up at Mei Xuezheng across from him, seeing his anxious expression, and knew that this matter was already set in stone.

Xie Qingya finally furrowed his brow.

"Whose idea was this?"

He set the teapot aside.

Mei Xuezheng sat down opposite him, "Empress Dowager Zhaoyu personally issued the decree, but I suspect Cao Da was also involved."

"During this morning's court session, when those people were impeaching the Xiao family, I sensed something was off."

"Aside from the people we arranged, there were also veteran ministers and censors who are dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Zhaoyu, and surprisingly, many voices... At that time, I didn't have the chance to think too much about it."

"It's on me; if I'd caught on sooner..."

"Even if you had noticed earlier, what could you have done?" Xie Qingya interrupted him.

"Step outside."

He told Lingji to leave.

Then he pushed the tea meant for Mei Xuezheng in front of him, took a sip from his own cup, and continued, "If she's set on this, do you really think a few words from you are gonna change her mind?"

"But—"

Xie Qingya looked puzzled, "How could she bear to marry Xu Duanyi to me?"

Mei Xuezheng, who had been mulling this over on his way, now said, "I suspect it was Cao Da's idea. When I left the palace earlier, I heard from Xiao Guizi that Cao Da visited Shoukang Palace a few days ago, and then a pile of shattered porcelain was sent out from Shoukang Palace, likely the aftermath of a heated discussion."

Xie Qingya pondered, "Looks like those two are butting heads now too."

"Bro, is this really the time to be thinking about that? Why aren't you the least bit anxious?" Mei Xuezheng urgently interrupted him.

He was parched.

After speaking, he promptly picked up the tea cup and gulped down several large mouthfuls.

Then, setting down the tea cup, he said, "The most urgent matter now is how to cancel this marriage!"

Seeing Xie Qingya's calm demeanor, unfazed, he couldn't help but ask, "Or have you already thought of a way?"

Xie Qingya sipped his tea, eyes downcast, "No."

"No? And you dare to be so calm? Do you know that the imperial decree for the marriage is about to be issued!" Mei Xuezheng was extremely anxious.

"We've been struggling for so long, finally managed to cancel your marriage with the Xiao family, and were on the verge of damaging the reputation of the Xiao family and the Xiao clan, but now..."

"Perhaps—" he pondered.

Xie Qingya looked at him, knowing what Mei Xuezheng was thinking, and cut him off, "Xu Duanyi is not Xiao Baozhu."

Mei Xuezheng certainly knew.

Although he had only been in the capital for a few years, he had long been familiar with Princess Jiashun.

He knew that Princess Jiashun was Empress Dowager Zhaoyu's favorite, and her reputation was well-known, highly respected...

But this only made him more anxious.

To be able to serve by Empress Dowager Zhaoyu's side and be held in her heart, she couldn’t possibly be an ordinary person.

If this person really enters the Prince Nan'an's household, Qingya will be completely exposed to her in the future!

Not to mention the hindrance to their plans in Prince Nan'an's mansion in the future, but what if she sees through everything and reports it to Empress Dowager Zhaoyu?

Then all their years of planning would be down the drain!

"If I had known this, it would have been better to let that fool Xiao Baozhu marry in, at least she is easy to control!" Mei Xuezheng lamented and regretted.

But who could have predicted such an outcome before today?

Xie Qingya remained silent.

"Perhaps—"

After a long silence, Mei Xuezheng suddenly brought up the old topic again, but the meaning was not the same as before.

Planning is not easy.

The struggle for power is like walking on the edge of a knife, not a single step can be wrong.

He had already harbored thoughts of killing.

"Since the previous method doesn't work, then—"

Before he could finish, he was sharply interrupted by Xie Qingya, "Mei Xuezheng!"

This shout made Mei Xuezheng tremble all over, he looked up in a daze and saw Xie Qingya frowning tightly at him.

Xie Qingya said nothing, but under his gaze, Mei Xuezheng suddenly felt ashamed, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

He was terrified by his momentary thought and couldn't help but lower his head, his voice faltering with guilt, "Sorry, I... was too hasty."

He also regretted.

When had he become the kind of person he once despised the most?

To achieve his goals, he would stop at nothing, even taking lives at will, completely disregarding whether they were innocent or not...

Xie Qingya looked at him, his gaze complex: "It was my fault for dragging you into this. You didn’t have to come."

Mei Xuezheng, hearing this, immediately responded, steadying himself as he said, "Between you and me, there's no need for such words."

"I came here not just for you."

He changed the subject: "What do you plan to do about Princess Jiashun?"

Xie Qingya gazed at the sliver of light in the sky: "Since it has happened once, it cannot happen again. Xiao Baozhu’s interest in Liu Xun is beyond scrutiny, but if Xu Duanyi encounters any more mishaps... my suspicion will grow."

"If they insist on bringing her into the residence, then so be it."

"We’ll just need to be more careful moving forward."

Hearing this, Mei Xuezheng could say no more, only sighing: "But this will make your situation even more difficult."

Xie Qingya neither agreed nor disagreed.

His situation had already taken a drastic turn for the worse three years ago.

"Tell His Majesty not to worry; assure him I’ll proceed cautiously and avoid detection."

"As for Xu Duanyi, you need not intervene."

"After all, she is the daughter of General Xu and was once the fiancée of Prince Wen Zhao."

...If Prince Wen Zhao were still alive, he should have called her sister-in-law.

But if Prince Wen Zhao were still alive, none of this would have happened. Empress Dowager Zhaoyu would not be as she is now, Cao Da would not have such unchecked power... and his father and brother would not have died on the battlefield!

Thinking of his father and brother, Xie Qingya could no longer maintain his calm demeanor.

His hands, which had once wielded spears and drawn bows, now rested on the table, veins bulging like winding little snakes.

Having known him for many years, Mei Xuezheng understood the reason for his current state.

What comfort could words offer in the face of such grief?

He could only offer his silent companionship.

Until Lingji came in with a message that an imperial decree had arrived from the palace, Xie Qingya still showed no intention of getting up, simply saying, "Tell them I’m too drunk."

After all, Prince Nan'an's reputation for being perpetually drunk had already spread throughout the capital.

Even if the palace was displeased, they couldn't very well carry him out.

Lingji went out to deliver the message, and seeing Xie Qingya's mood slightly improved, Mei Xuezheng finally asked him: "I know Princess Jiashun is General Xu's daughter, and I know you were close to Prince Wen Zhao. Since you've said so, I naturally won't do anything further."

"But I must ask you one thing—"

"If Princess Jiashun ever figures something out, what will you do?"

Xie Qingya furrowed his brows.

He looked at his hands, and after a moment, he spoke emotionlessly: "Then I’ll handle her myself."