Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Prince Nan'an's mansion.

Mei Xuezheng, as usual, took the secret passage.

After the morning court session ended today, he accompanied the Emperor back to Wenzhao Pavilion to handle government affairs.

Unexpectedly, someone from Empress Dowager Zhaoyu's side arrived suddenly, bringing with them an imperial decree.

Everyone at court knew that although the Emperor had been on the throne for many years, all major matters still had to go through Empress Dowager Zhaoyu. Even the imperial seal was still kept by her.

It was said to be governance, but in reality, it was still being controlled by others.

The decree sent over was merely to inform the Emperor of this matter, and then to have it promulgated through the Emperor's hand, so that the court officials would have nothing to say.

...

When the bell inside the room rang.

Xie Qingya was reading a letter sent from the south.

Today, Changfeng was on duty.

Knowing who was behind the wall, he hurried over to open the door.

Mei Xuezheng, wearing a cloak and carrying a lantern, had not even had time to remove his black gauze hat.

It was clear that he had come in a hurry.

"Lord Mei."

Mei Xuezheng had no time to greet Changfeng.

He grunted, handed the lantern to Changfeng, and with a grim expression, quickly made his way towards Xie Qingya.

"You've been showing up a lot lately. What's going on?"

Xie Qingya was still reading the letter, and without looking up, he spoke upon hearing the footsteps.

Mei Xuezheng walked and said, "Important matter!"

Xie Qingya did not comment.

Their current interactions were mostly about important matters, and they generally did not meet unless there was an important matter.

As a close minister to the Emperor, Mei Xuezheng naturally couldn't get too close to him to avoid raising suspicions. Even with this secret passage, they rarely met unless necessary.

Even if they crossed paths, they acted as if they didn't know each other.

Mei Xuezheng, this year's top scholar and the leader of all scholars, had even criticized Xie Qingya's current behavior in the past, showing great dissatisfaction with him.

No one was aware of the close private relationship between the two of them.

Even fewer knew that they shared a brotherly bond.

They weren't blood brothers.

Mei Xuezheng's mother was once saved by Liu Yuan.

At that time, Liu Yuan and Prince Nan'an were traveling in Jiangnan and coincidentally saved Mei Xuezheng's mother. His mother originally intended to serve Liu Yuan as a maid, but instead, Liu Yuan recognized her as a sworn sister.

Not many people were aware of this.

Currently, within Prince Nan'an's mansion, only Xie Qingya and Liu Yuan's former servant, Aunt Deng, are privy to this information. Even the siblings, Ping'an and Zhang Ning, have only heard their mother mention that they have a brother and aunt in Jiangnan, but they do not know their names.

"Sit down and talk."

Xie Qingya invited him to sit.

The letter from the south mentioned that Quan Fangtong is now amassing wealth recklessly. The amount they have currently uncovered has already reached hundreds of thousands.

It also said that as the head of the Jiangning Weaving Bureau, he has shown a tendency to act unilaterally, and the heads of the Suzhou and Hangzhou Weaving Bureaus are very dissatisfied with him.

They inquired whether he wished for the heads of the Suzhou and Hangzhou Weaving Bureaus to jointly impeach him.

Mei Xuezheng approached Xie Qingya, took a seat, and stated, "The individual in Shoukang Palace intends to promote you to the position of Shuntian Prefect."

Xie Qingya was about to have Changfeng grind ink to write a reply.

Upon hearing this, he initially lifted his head.

Observing his expression, Mei Xuezheng realized he was equally astonished. He said in a deep voice, "When the Emperor and I first saw the decree, we were just as surprised as you are."

"Why do you think that person is promoting you to Prefect for no reason?"

This was something Mei Xuezheng couldn't figure out.

They all knew that both Cao Da and the one in Shoukang Palace were very wary of Qingya.

They feared that he was merely feigning.

Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the previous marriage arrangement.

He was concerned that there might be an underlying conspiracy he was unaware of or couldn't comprehend, so as soon as he finished his duties today, he hurried over to tell Qingya about it first, to come up with a plan in advance.

After hearing him out, Xie Qingya furrowed his brow and stayed silent.

After a while, he said, "Yesterday, I had a minor altercation with Xiao Baozhu in Xianyifang."

"Xiao Baozhu?"

Hearing this name, Mei Xuezheng frowned, "What did she argue with you about?"

His tone was impatient.

However, Xie Qingya was reluctant to discuss Xiao Baozhu further, as he had never regarded her with any seriousness.

"Just some trivial matters."

"But—"

He suddenly changed the subject, and for some reason, his voice slowed down, "Xu Duanyi was also there yesterday."

"Princess Jiashun?"

Mei Xuezheng was surprised.

He vaguely understood some key points and asked Xie Qingya suspiciously, "Do you think this is the work of Your Highness?"

Xie Qingya pondered, "Whether it's her doing or not, I don't know, but she's definitely involved in some way."

"After all, the one residing in Shoukang Palace values her the most now," Xie Qingya said, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the two hand warmers placed side by side on the table.

Mei Xuezheng didn't notice his movement.

Changfeng came over and served tea.

He kept frowning, deep in thought.

"If that's the case, then this is actually a good thing. You were originally forced to stay at home due to their suspicions. The position of Prefect of Shuntian... although it's a civil post, it's still a third-rank official, managing the affairs of a prefecture."

"In the future, it will be much more convenient for us to act."

"You also won't have to play the idle playboy outside every day."

Having figured out the reason, Mei Xuezheng's uneasy heart finally settled.

"It really scared me to death."

He relaxed in his chair, no longer the admired and shining figure he was known to be.

Leaning back in the chair, he picked up the teacup and drank.

He added, "Now it seems that your marriage to Your Highness does have some advantages."

Xie Qingya ignored this remark.

Mei Xuezheng was just speaking casually. Soon, he looked at the letter on the table, and upon seeing its contents, his face turned grim as he angrily exclaimed, "This Quan Fangtong's audacity is simply too great!"

"He believes Cao Da supports him, so naturally, he has no fear," Xie Qingya sneered, "He's even inquiring about the Salt Inspection Censor position for next year."

Mei Xuezheng looked up, startled, "He wouldn't..."

Xie Qingya nodded.

Mei Xuezheng laughed in anger, "He's really dreaming. Cao Da went to such great lengths to get him into the position of Jiangning Textile Commissioner, and now he's eyeing the Salt Inspection Censor position."

"But he's dreaming; Cao Da isn't that naive."

"Cao Da must know exactly what Quan Fangtong is capable of. He wouldn't let him rise so high. If something goes wrong, Cao Da won't escape either."

Xie Qingya looked at him and said, "So it's your responsibility now."

"Me?"

Mei Xuezheng blinked, confused.

Xie Qingya spoke unhurriedly, "After next spring, all prefectural officials will return to the capital to report. At that time, you just need to hint to Quan Fangtong that the Emperor favors him for the Salt Inspection Censor position, but he needs someone to recommend him."

"But..."

Mei Xuezheng opened his mouth.

The words were on the tip of his tongue when he suddenly understood Xie Qingya's meaning: "You want him to have internal strife with Cao Da?"

Xie Qingya neither confirmed nor denied it.

Mei Xuezheng, however, had already grasped his intention and couldn't help but laugh.

"Xie Qingya, you're quite devious. Cao Da is afraid his brother will stir up trouble, but you seem to fear he won't cause enough."

He was two years older than Xie Qingya.

When Xie Qingya came to live in Jiangnan with his aunt as a child, Mei Xuezheng knew he was sly.

But they were kindred spirits in a way.

He smiled and said, "I'll take care of this."

It was almost time for dinner.

Usually, Xie Qingya rarely dined with his younger siblings, having his meals sent to him separately every day. But with Mei Xuezheng present today, Changfeng naturally had more prepared.

During the meal.

Mei Xuezheng thought of something and said with a smile, "If Cao Da finds out you've been made Shuntian Prefect, he'll probably be even more furious."

"If he and the one in Shoukang Palace could fall apart, it would be quite beneficial for us."

Xie Qingya didn't comment on this.

But in his heart, he also hoped the two would truly fall apart.

He didn't have any deep-seated enmity with the one in Shoukang Palace.

As long as she didn't support Cao Da in the future and returned the governance to the Emperor, then he and Xu Duanyi...

A sudden thought startled Xie Qingya.

How could he...

"What's wrong?"

Mei Xuezheng looked up and saw Xie Qingya's distracted face.

"Nothing."

Xie Qingya quickly composed himself, not letting Mei Xuezheng notice anything.

Mei Xuezheng looked at him for a while but didn't think too much of it.

The two continued to drink and eat.

After finishing, Mei Xuezheng didn't stay long. Before leaving, he suddenly noticed two hand warmers on the table.

"Why are you suddenly using hand warmers?"

He reached out to take one, but Xie Qingya swatted his hand away with a brush: "Go back to your own place."

Mei Xuezheng clicked his tongue: "Who gave them to you? So precious, not even letting me touch them."

He glanced at the Shu brocade wrapping the hand warmers and the patterns on them, clearly made by a woman.

Just as he was about to speculate, he heard Xie Qingya say coolly, "Xie Zhangning."

Upon hearing that it was Xie Zhangning who made them, Mei Xuezheng didn’t dare to continue joking.

He knew that Xie Qingya appeared indifferent to his family, but in reality, he cherished this pair of twin siblings the most.

It was just a pity that his current status was special, making it difficult for him to meet with Xie Zhangning and her brother.

Mei Xuezheng kept a straight face and didn’t joke further, "I'm leaving."

Xie Qingya grunted in acknowledgment.

Only after hearing Mei Xuezheng walk away did he look up again at the pair of hand stoves.

He didn’t know why he had brought them back.

Hearing Changfeng return after closing the mechanism, Xie Qingya lowered his head again. While writing a letter, he instructed, "Take these two hand stoves..."

He had intended to say 'throw them away.'

So no one would see them later.

Especially Xu Duanyi.

But as the words reached his lips, he said instead, "...put them away."

Changfeng, unaware of his thoughts, nodded and went to do as told.

...

Inside the palace.

As Mei Xuezheng had anticipated.

Upon learning of Empress Dowager Zhaoyu’s edict, Cao Da was furious.

This matter had been done behind his back.

Cao Da, who prided himself on having eyes and ears everywhere, hadn’t expected such a thorough cover-up this time.

He had trashed the room in his rage.

He wasn’t angry about the content of the edict; the position of Shuntian Prefect was not significant enough to concern him. What infuriated him was how late he had found out.

He was furious that his authority had been challenged and threatened.

He naturally knew that Empress Dowager Zhaoyu’s actions were also a veiled warning to him.

Just like the time he had gone to 'warn' her.

"Ancestor, don’t be angry. The edict hasn’t been issued yet. If you don’t like it, why not have your subordinates think of a way," the attendant quickly offered fresh tea, trying to soothe his anger.

Hearing this, Cao Da became even more enraged.

He glared and shouted angrily, "You brainless fool! At this critical moment, if I obstruct, do you think the one in Shoukang Palace is really that harmless?"

That woman’s heart and methods were no less than his.

It was she who had caused the death of the late emperor.

Enough.

After venting, Cao Da wasn't as angry anymore.

If he were just hot-tempered, he wouldn't have risen to his current position.

He knew he and the one in Shoukang Palace were tied together; it wasn't time for a full break, nor had things gotten that bad.

If things blew up, it would hurt everyone.

"Enough."

"In any case, this matter doesn't really affect us," Cao Da said with a smirk.

Later, he added, "Besides, whether that Xie family kid is a man or a ghost, exposing him will make things clearer."

"Later, send someone to keep an eye on the Shuntian Prefecture Office."

The attendant promptly bowed and acknowledged the command.

*

Time passed quickly.

After New Year's Eve, the seventh year of Tianhe began.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya's wedding was scheduled for March 23rd, right after the Spring Equinox.

During this period.

Xie Qingya was officially appointed as the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate.

This sparked much talk among the lower ranks, but with the Emperor's decree and Empress Dowager Zhaoyu's personal decision, no one dared object.

Xu Duanyi left the palace a few times to attend banquets.

Yet, during these outings, she never crossed paths with Xie Qingya.

Soon.

The Spring Equinox passed.

The grand wedding of Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya was finally upon them.