Chapter 20 He’s Finally Caught His Prey

Chapter 20: The Person He Finally Caught

Jade Terrace.

Yan Weichu was examining the construction blueprints of Biyi Garden on the desk, while officials from the Ministry of Works reported to him on the progress of its dismantlement and sale.

The entire Biyi Garden had been divided into six plots, along with adjacent undeveloped land, making a total of fourteen parcels available for purchase to build private gardens.

Under the pretext of raising disaster relief funds, the emperor was selling the imperial garden. Court officials responded enthusiastically, contributing generously—some donating eight to ten thousand taels, while others invested one or two hundred thousand, or even three hundred forty thousand taels.

The former group neither expected to acquire land nor to recover their deposits, merely showing support for the emperor. The latter, however, were genuinely interested in purchasing the gardens. Regardless of their original intentions, they earned the emperor’s favor.

Through these combined efforts, over three million taels of silver were raised.

When Yan Weichu heard that the Marquis of Dingbei had contributed three hundred thousand taels, his expression shifted, and he smiled.

This cousin of his was so quick to offer money, likely out of fear that Yan Weichu might cause trouble.

Yan Weichu picked up a vermilion brush and circled the plot closest to the Yuquan Villa on the blueprint.

He would leave this plot for his cousin. Separated from the villa’s east gate only by a water channel, a simple plank bridge could connect the two, making it perfect.

After the Ministry of Works officials withdrew, Cui Shao, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, requested an audience to report on their recent joint efforts with the Eastern Depot in investigating the imperial estates and shops.

As expected, the accounts were chaotic. Empress Dowager Xie had seldom overseen these matters over the years, allowing funds and grain to flow into the pockets of the regent and his allied nobles, leaving the imperial treasury impoverished.

Among the biggest embezzlers, aside from the regent himself, was the household of the Marquis of Huai’an.

"Of the forty-eight imperial shops in the Zhili region, thirty percent are controlled by Xue Cong, the brother-in-law of Cui Bingwen, Marquis of Huai’an’s second wife. They freely altered account entries, monopolized trade, and at the end of each week gathered accountants to recreate ledgers, erasing actual figures and fabricating false expenses to line their own pockets..." Cui Shao was particularly enthusiastic about selling out his own father.

Previously, the dispute over severing ties with the Marquis of Huai’an household had reached the emperor, and Yan Weichu had personally approved it. Though it violated filial piety and ethics, Cui Shao was punished with thirty strokes of the rod, effectively cutting all ties with the Marquis of Huai’an household.

Yan Weichu sneered, "Continue investigating for now. Hold off on taking action against them and await my decree."

In the afternoon, Yan Weichu made a rare visit to the palace, going to Shou'an Palace to see his mother.

Empress Dowager Xie, who had been under house arrest for several months, had grown noticeably haggard. Seeing Yan Weichu, she was filled with suppressed resentment. Struggling to contain herself, she asked, "What brings you here so suddenly, my son?"

Yan Weichu watched Xie’s distress expressionlessly, feeling no satisfaction.

When his father had first passed away, this woman had forced poison down his birth mother’s throat, condemning her to be buried alive. He had witnessed it all through a crack in the door, and he had never forgotten that hatred, longing for revenge every day since. But between a quick end and prolonged suffering, he clearly preferred the latter.

Yan Weichu sat down and coldly stated, "The Prince of Cheng has submitted a request to take up his fief. What does Mother think?"

Empress Dowager Xie tightly clutched her handkerchief, forcing herself to remain calm. "Your uncle’s funeral is over. It’s not right for them to stay in the capital indefinitely. According to protocol, they should leave. It’s best to grant the request."

Yan Weichu let out a disdainful laugh.

His regent uncle, titled the Prince of Cheng, was the late emperor’s half-brother. Highly trusted and relied upon by the late emperor, he had remained in the capital without taking up his fief. After the late emperor’s death, he followed the edict to assist Yan Weichu, the young emperor, as regent, jointly controlling the court for a full decade alongside Empress Dowager Xie.

After the regent’s death, his young son inherited the title. The child was only two years old, so the request to take up the fief was clearly not his idea. Others, aware that the emperor was investigating them, were trying to use this as an opportunity to flee.

Empress Dowager Xie’s heart was in turmoil. "...Or do you have other thoughts?"

Yan Weichu instead asked, "Mother, the Prince of Cheng is so young. If he goes to his fief, he’ll never return to the capital, and you’ll never see him again. Can you bear that?"

A flicker of panic crossed Empress Dowager Xie’s face. Though she quickly masked it, Yan Weichu did not miss it.

Indeed, she was guilty.

Two years ago, Empress Dowager Xie had fallen seriously ill, and her palace was sealed off for months. After she recovered, a new heir appeared in the regent’s household.

An old oyster producing a pearl—or rather, a secretly conceived bastard. The thought made Yan Weichu slightly nauseated.

If he hadn’t acted quickly, in a few years, once that child grew up, he might have been replaced under the pretext of brother succeeding brother.

At this thought, Yan Weichu’s expression grew colder. Unwilling to hear any more of Empress Dowager Xie’s excuses, he bared his fangs: "I originally intended to let them go to their fief. However, because the accounts of my inner treasury are unclear, I’ve had the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot investigating. They’ve uncovered many issues.

"Mother, the notion that debts are forgiven upon death doesn’t apply here. Even if it’s my uncle, he must return everything he embezzled from me. Otherwise, I’ll have to settle the account with his young son. What does Mother think? I wonder if such a small child can withstand it..."

"What are you planning?" Empress Dowager Xie finally broke, her face pale. "You said yourself the Prince of Cheng is just a child. Why torment someone so young?!"

Yan Weichu stood up, casually brushing his sleeves. Coldly, he said, "When I was young, I didn’t see Mother sparing me."

He turned to leave. Empress Dowager Xie, having held back for so long, finally snapped: "What exactly do you want?! Did you have a hand in the regent’s death? Did you?!"

Yan Weichu glanced back at her contemptuously and said, "If the regent didn’t die, I would have. So naturally, it’s better for the regent to die."

Yan Weichu walked out, and the palace doors closed behind him.

Zhao Anfu stepped forward. Squinting in the glaring sunset light, Yan Weichu ordered, "From today onward, loosen the guards here slightly. But keep a close watch on everyone and everything entering and leaving."

Zhao Anfu acknowledged the order. Seeing Yan Weichu was in a somber mood, he suggested, "Your Majesty, the Jiqiu Lantern Festival market opens tonight. Would you like to visit?"

Yan Weichu thought for a moment and said, "Let’s go to the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence."

The imperial procession left the palace and returned to the Western Garden. Yan Weichu changed into casual attire and took a carriage directly to the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence.

Xie Xiao had visited the Count of Anding’s residence many times, but this was his first time at the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence—and he had come uninvited.

Just before alighting, Yan Weichu hesitated and decided against it, sending Shun Xi to knock on the door instead.

Xie Xiao approached. "Since you’re here, why not come in?"

Yan Weichu looked at him. "Cousin, you’ve never invited me to your residence. How would I know if I’m welcome?"

Xie Xiao replied, "If I said you weren’t welcome, would you never come again?"

"..." Yan Weichu was speechless. Why are you so infuriating?

Xie Xiao didn’t board the carriage either, simply watching him with deliberate calm.

Yan Weichu hesitated for a moment before shifting closer to the door and tugging at Xie Xiao’s sleeve. "Cousin, the Jiqiu Lantern Festival market opens tonight. Come with me, please?"

Xie Xiao asked, "How are you asking?"

Yan Weichu froze, released the rogue’s sleeve, and decided against pleading. He started to leave.

Before Yan Weichu could retreat further, Xie Xiao reached out and grabbed him, effortlessly pulling himself onto the carriage with his other hand.

Pulled down to sit beside Xie Xiao, Yan Weichu barely had time to react before Xie Xiao pressed him and asked, "Is your patience this limited?"

Yan Weichu frowned. "It hurts..."

Xie Xiao paused, the petulant complaint seeming to stir certain memories. He stared intently at Yan Weichu.

Yan Weichu looked up, meeting Xie Xiao’s gaze—which seemed as if it wanted to devour him—and asked, "What?"

Xie Xiao tightened his grip on Yan Weichu's wrist, then slowly relaxed under Yan Weichu's innocent yet complaining gaze.

Yan Weichu was baffled—what did that mean?

Xie Xiao lowered his eyes; the sounds from that night grew clearer in his mind. It really wasn’t his imagination.

He’d finally caught the one.

Yan Weichu grew impatient: “Cousin—”

Xie Xiao said, “If you want to go to the lantern market, we’ll go, but it’s not just us two.”

Yan Weichu looked puzzled—who else?

A moment later, another person emerged from the residence—a lady wearing a veiled hat, followed by four or five maidservants.

Yan Weichu watched as Xie Xiao got off the carriage to greet her. After a dazed moment, he came to his senses and followed: “Cousin?”

Xie Yunniang bowed slightly to him: “Your Highness.”

Yan Weichu caught a glimpse of the woman’s dignified and radiant face behind the wind-blown veil, his feelings somewhat complicated.

This cousin Xie was widely known as his betrothed empress. Previously, Empress Dowager Xie had intended to let that little bastard replace him, held off the marriage to prevent him from taking an empress and having heirs. As a result, his cousin was still unmarried at twenty. Now, however…

The Ministry of Rites had repeatedly requested him to appoint an empress, but he himself was unwilling, not wanting another Xie woman in the main palace, so he kept delaying the matter.

After exchanging brief greetings, Xie Yunniang boarded the marquis’s carriage, while Xie Xiao stayed with Yan Weichu.

Once back in the carriage, Xie Xiao glanced at Yan Weichu and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Yan Weichu answered truthfully: “Cousin, you’re better-looking.”

Xie Xiao’s gaze turned subtle, though Yan Weichu remained oblivious.

A question he had long been curious about finally had an answer today.

His cousin was indeed very beautiful, but he still thought his cousin was better-looking—no objections.

Noticing Xie Xiao’s gaze, Yan Weichu snapped back to attention and smiled at him.

Xie Xiao ignored him and told the driver to get going.

The Nine Autumn Lantern Market was located in the West Street market, lasting half a month from today until the start of winter.

The bustle of this lantern market rivaled that of the Lantern Festival, especially on opening day, when colorful lanterns from all over were brought here for display and sale.

Yan Weichu was full of enthusiasm, looking all around, curious—he had truly never seen such excitement before.

Xie Yunniang had made plans to meet up with young ladies from other mansions. Xie Xiao left all his attendants with her and went with Yan Weichu to check out another part.

Walking from one end of the street to the other, Yan Weichu admired the various lanterns along the way, taking a liking to their fancy designs but only looking without buying.

Later, saying he was tired, he chose a street-side teahouse to rest.

After sitting by the window on the second floor, Xie Xiao asked him, “You were looking the whole time—why didn’t you buy anything?”

“I didn’t want to,” Yan Weichu said cheerfully, resting his chin in his hand as he looked at Xie Xiao. “The lanterns are beautiful, and seeing them is enough. Unless Cousin buys one for me.”

Xie Xiao’s gaze shifted away from Yan Weichu’s smiling eyes, and unexpectedly, he said, “Wait here.”

Xie Xiao went out and downstairs, reappearing moments later beside a lantern seller across the street. Yan Weichu’s gaze lazily followed him.

But someone barged in.

Zheng Shize had also come to the lantern market with friends and happened to be drinking tea in this very teahouse. He hurried over to say hello.

Yan Weichu, still staring at Xie Xiao’s back downstairs, didn’t even glance at him and waved him away: “Get out of here. Don’t let Cousin see that I know you.”

Zheng Shize thought, It’s not like I’m some kind of criminal—is it really that bad?

But then he noticed Yan Weichu’s face darken as he stared outside, as if he had seen something he deeply disliked.

Zheng Shize leaned out to look: “Whoa, talk about a coincidence.”

Downstairs, Xie Xiao had picked out a cat-shaped lantern—really cute.

Just as he was about to pay, a voice sounded behind him: “Mingzhao?”

Xie Xiao turned around—it was Su Ping, with Xie Yi beside him.

Xie Xiao gave them a nod.

“Big Brother?” Xie Yi stepped forward, surprised. “I thought I was mistaken. What are you doing here?”

Xie Xiao didn’t explain, handing over a few copper coins to the lantern vendor.

Su Ping, seeing the lantern in Xie Xiao’s hand, looked like he wanted to say something.

He had invited Xie Xiao to visit this lantern market a few days ago, but Xie Xiao had declined, saying he wasn’t interested. Yet not only had Xie Xiao come tonight, he had bought such a lantern… Who was it for?

Zheng Shize, recognizing Xie Yi who had come with Su Ping, exclaimed in surprise: “Isn’t that the second son of the Xie family? How is Young Master Su involved with Xie Erlang too?”

Yan Weichu shot him a glare: “You know Xie Er as well?”

Zheng Shize curled his lip: “He’s a regular where I work too.”

Yan Weichu said, “His name isn’t on your list.”

Zheng Shize chuckled: “He’s not like Xie Laosan, willing to spend a fortune. This Xie Er only ever asks for a young guy when he comes—never any girls, now that I think about it…”

Yan Weichu’s gaze shifted from Xie Yi to Su Ping, then back to Xie Xiao. He frowned, displeased.

Zheng Shize’s eyes darted back and forth a few times: “This Xie Er seems very attentive to Young Master Su, and Young Master Su only has eyes for the Marquis of Dingbei. Things between these people are so complicated.”

Yan Weichu’s face darkened.

“As for the Marquis of Dingbei—”

Zheng Shize, heedless of danger, continued: “Your Highness, let me stay. I can help you test him.”

Seeing that the two downstairs had already followed Xie Xiao into the teahouse, Yan Weichu changed his mind: “You better deliver.”