Chapter 22 Personally Deploying the Beauty Trap

Chapter 22: Taking Matters Into His Own Hands with a Honey Trap

Seven days later.

A handwritten letter, secretly dispatched from the palace by Empress Dowager Xie, was presented to the Emperor.

Yan Weichu casually scanned the letter, then pressed it down, asking the Capital Garrison Commander who had delivered it, "How did you obtain this letter?"

The officer replied, "This morning, between nine and eleven o'clock, the Empress Dowager summoned an imperial physician due to illness. A young apothecary's apprentice accompanying the physician did not return directly to the medical office after leaving the palace. Near Bei'an Gate, he excused himself for an urgent need and slipped into a nearby outhouse. Soon after, a man appearing to be an ordinary porter, waiting outside the palace, entered and met with him. We apprehended them both and found this secret letter sewn into the apprentice's inner garment."

Yan Weichu was not surprised. He had only recently ordered a relaxation of surveillance around Shou'an Palace. His mother, indeed, could not sit still—desperate to save her son, she was driven to desperate measures.

"Take the letter back exactly as it is. Act as if you know nothing and have it delivered to the Five Armies Battalion as the Empress Dowager intended. I want to see how they plan to handle this."

The subordinate accepted the order, retrieved the letter, and withdrew.

Yan Weichu was in high spirits, especially after Zhao Anfu reported that Xie Xiao had left the Duke of Zhenguo's estate and returned to his own marquis' manor. This news delighted him even further.

"Let's go to the Marquis of Dingbei's manor."

Shortly after one o'clock in the afternoon, Yan Weichu's carriage arrived outside the Marquis of Dingbei's manor. The gate attendant, recognizing him as the hereditary heir to the Count of Anding, did not even announce his arrival but ushered him directly in.

This was on Xie Xiao's specific instruction: no announcement was needed when the hereditary heir to the Count of Anding visited.

Yan Weichu was pleased and entered eagerly, his voice preceding him: "Cousin—"

Xie Xiao was reading in his study. Hearing the voice, he turned his head with a helpless sigh.

Yan Weichu had already reached the study door and peered in: "Cousin, may I come in?"

Xie Xiao found it amusing and beckoned him: "Come here."

Yan Weichu approached the desk and asked with a smile: "Cousin, why did you return from the Duke of Zhenguo's estate today? Weren't you supposed to accompany the old lady in fasting for half a month? It's only been a few days."

Xie Xiao fixed his gaze on him: "You came as soon as I returned. How did you know my whereabouts? Did you have someone follow me?"

"Not at all," Yan Weichu protested, "Cousin, you wrong me. The Count of Anding's residence is located between your Xie family's Duke of Zhenguo estate and your marquis' manor. The gate attendant happened to see your carriage passing by and informed me."

Xie Xiao wasn't entirely convinced, but seeing the young man's confident expression, he didn't bother pressing further. If that was what he said, so be it.

"Was the Duke of Zhenguo's estate not enjoyable? Why did you return?" Yan Weichu asked innocently.

Xie Xiao replied: "Do you think I went back to the Duke of Zhenguo's estate to have fun?"

Before Yan Weichu could ask further, he casually explained: "The old lady doesn't want to see me, and I didn't want to overstay my welcome, so I came back early."

Yan Weichu didn't understand: "Why? Aren't you her firstborn grandson? How could she not want to see you?"

"Why do you think?" Xie Xiao glanced at him, his tone chilly. He didn't believe the young man was clueless.

Yan Weichu blinked slowly, finally understanding: "Oh, because you disciplined the third young master according to house rules and upset the old lady, so she's angry with you?"

Xie Xiao remained impassive: "Thanks to you, Young Majesty."

Yan Weichu said sympathetically: "Cousin, it wasn't your fault. Isn't your family's old lady being a bit unreasonable? You're so pitiful, not cherished by grandmother or father…"

Xie Xiao said irritably: "Shut up."

Yan Weichu smiled apologetically.

Fine, he'd shut up. It wasn't as if he was wrong—aside from his cousin, there wasn't a decent person in the Xie family.

His cousin was truly pitiful, with no one in the family on his side. Fortunately, he cared for his cousin. That was enough.

"Let's go," Xie Xiao stood up. "I'll take you for a stroll in the back."

Yan Weichu was enthusiastic. Last time, Xie Xiao hadn't taken him to the rear. The marquis' manor also had a garden, larger and more spacious than the one at the Count of Anding's residence.

Although it was a marquis' manor, the residence Yan Weichu had bestowed was actually built to the specifications of a duke's residence. As long as his cousin had him in his heart—was willing to help him—he would pluck the sun, moon, and stars from the sky to gift to his cousin.

As they strolled through the garden, Yan Weichu suddenly thought of something and asked Xie Xiao beside him: "Since you returned early, will you go to Yundu Mountain with someone else to see the maple leaves?"

"Which someone else?" Xie Xiao immediately seized on the key point in his words.

Yan Weichu hummed: "Cousin, you're playing dumb. Who do you think?"

"Not going," Xie Xiao replied bluntly, without any interest.

Yan Weichu then asked: "What if I invite you? I also want to invite you to Yundu Mountain to see the maple leaves. Will you go?"

"Not going," Xie Xiao repeated the same two words. "The maple leaves are almost all fallen this season. What's there to see?"

"..." Fine.

He didn't have that much pull either. Forget it.

Yan Weichu stayed at the marquis' manor, spending the entire afternoon.

As evening approached, they were fishing by the stream when a house manager arrived. He hurried to Xie Xiao's side and whispered a few words. Xie Xiao's expression changed slightly, and he said to Yan Weichu: "Enjoy yourself. I have some matters to attend to and need to go to the front."

Yan Weichu asked nothing: "Go ahead, cousin. Don't worry about me."

After Xie Xiao left with his men, Yan Weichu's Jinyiwei stepped forward and whispered a few words to him.

Yan Weichu slowly swayed his fishing rod, somewhat helpless: "How did they drag my cousin into this? These people are truly useless—more prone to failure than success. This puts me in a difficult position..."

Xie Xiao hurried back to his study. The person waiting for him was from the Five Armies Battalion.

Xie Qilong, the Deputy Commander of the Five Armies Battalion, was a relative of Xie Xiao's. He had specifically sent a trusted subordinate to inform Xie Xiao of the contents of the Empress Dowager's secret letter and seek his opinion.

Xie Xiao lowered his gaze, his expression cold, and remained silent for a long time.

The messenger became nervous. So-called "purging the court of malign influences" was nothing more than another palace coup—succeed or perish.

Xie Qilong was unsure, so he had sent the messenger to ask the opinion of the Marquis of Dingbei, who was also the hereditary heir to the Duke of Zhenguo.

Xie Xiao finally spoke: "Go back and tell Uncle Long that he is only the Deputy Commander of the Five Armies Battalion. The Capital Garrison Commander is Duke of Ning, Zhang Ren. The Empress Dowager wants to deploy the capital garrison troops. If Uncle Long wants to protect himself, he must hand the letter to his superior, Battalion Commandant Zhou Tanzhi. Tell him he is fearful and dares not privately lead troops in such an act of treason.

"Zhou Tanzhi is Duke of Ning's man and will surely report the matter to Duke of Ning. Then it will no longer be a problem for our Xie clan but a problem for Duke of Ning and the entire capital garrison. If Duke of Ning hasn't lost his senses, he will naturally bring Uncle Long along to seek the Emperor's pardon."

The messenger seemed hesitant. Xie Xiao noticed: "Or do you actually intend to 'purge the court of malign influences'? Do you think there's even the slightest chance of success?"

The other said: "The Empress Dowager is now under confinement. The high-ranking families in the capital are all fearful for their safety. The Duke of Zhenguo's estate is especially the Emperor's main focus of displeasure..."

"So what?" Xie Xiao interrupted him. "Since you know the Duke of Zhenguo's estate is the Emperor's main focus of displeasure, why don't you consider how this letter escaped the Emperor's notice out of the palace and into your hands? Do you really think the Emperor knows nothing about these matters?"

The messenger was stunned.

Xie Xiao continued in a flat, uninflected voice, "The eighty-thousand-strong Shi Family Army has already arrived in the capital and is stationed right beside the capital garrison, watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. The Emperor is just waiting for an excuse to make an open, legitimate move against the capital garrison. If you make any moves, the Shi Family Army will immediately take over the Five Military Barracks—and even the entire three major camps of the capital garrison—under the pretext of suppressing rebellion. As for the Empress Dowager, she is nothing more than bait deliberately released by the Emperor."

The man broke out in a cold sweat as he finally pieced the situation together. He cupped his hands respectfully and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Marquis. This humble officer will return at once to report the stakes to the Deputy Commander."

"Mm," Xie Xiao nodded, then added thoughtfully, "In two days, it will be His Majesty’s imperial birthday. The Duke of Ningguo is unlikely to trouble the Emperor with such unpleasant matters at this time—he’ll probably wait until after the festivities. Tell Uncle Long to stay alert and keep a close watch on his subordinates these next couple of days. We can’t afford any trouble at such a critical moment."

The man replied solemnly, "This humble officer understands!"

*

When Xie Xiao returned to the rear garden, Yan Weichu was still fishing.

With a flick of his fishing rod, a two-inch-long fish was pulled from the stream and landed on the dry grass nearby, flopping and struggling desperately.

Xie Xiao walked over, arms crossed. "Not bad—you actually caught one."

Yan Weichu grinned triumphantly, lifted the line, and tossed the fish back into the stream.

Xie Xiao asked, "Why throw it back after catching it?"

"I only enjoy the process of fishing," Yan Weichu replied, then turned his gaze to his "prey" beside him and asked, "Cousin, where did you go earlier?"

Xie Xiao brushed it off casually. "A guest came, and I chatted with him for a bit. Come on, let’s go have some wine."

That day, Yan Weichu had only eaten breakfast at the marquis’s residence, but today Xie Xiao finally hosted a proper banquet for him.

The table was laden with fine wine and delicacies—not an extravagant spread, but each dish was exquisitely prepared. Yan Weichu looked at it and asked, "Cousin, since your marquis’s residence was established, am I the first person you’ve hosted like this, with a private banquet?"

Xie Xiao nodded. "Yes."

Yan Weichu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Really? What about Young Master Su? Haven’t you invited him?"

"When the residence first opened, I held a banquet, and he attended. But I’ve never hosted him privately."

Xie Xiao glanced at Yan Weichu. "Do you care about him? Why do you keep bringing him up in front of me?"

"I only care about you, cousin."

Yan Weichu picked up the wine pot and, playing the host, poured wine for himself and Xie Xiao.

"Don’t worry about him," Xie Xiao said dismissively.

Yan Weichu looked surprised, then smiled. "Really?"

Xie Xiao replied calmly, "He’s not as fun as you."

Yan Weichu: "…" What a thing to say!

Xie Xiao watched the vivid, lively expressions on the young man’s face—it really was quite entertaining.

Countless men and women had expressed their admiration for him over the years, but he had always kept his distance. Even with childhood friends like Su Ping, once he sensed their feelings, he deliberately cooled the relationship and maintained a distance.

It was true that he had no interest in romance or affairs with men, but it was also true that he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering back to that night at Fumeng Pavilion.

Yan Weichu, meanwhile, was wondering whether his cousin was truly so upright or just putting on an act.

Was he the one his cousin had referred to as "teasing and then running away"?

If so…

And so, the banquet proceeded with each harboring their own secret thoughts, lasting until the moon rose high in the branches before finally ending.

Xie Xiao saw Yan Weichu out of the residence and watched him board the carriage.

Yan Weichu was slightly drunk and waved his hand. "Cousin, you can go back in."

Xie Xiao reached out to steady him, but Yan Weichu brushed him off. "No need, I’m heading back now."

Xie Xiao gave his arm a light squeeze before letting go. "Drink some sobering soup when you get back and rest early."

Yan Weichu nodded drowsily, thinking to himself, Why didn’t you ask me to stay tonight? Really…

As the carriage pulled away from the marquis’s residence, Yan Weichu closed his eyes and then opened them again, all traces of drunkenness gone from his gaze.

Leaning against the carriage wall, he thought to himself, If that’s the case, then perhaps… maybe… he could really take matters into his own hands and use that so-called… beauty stratagem?

Though it was a bit embarrassing, if it meant winning his cousin over, what did it matter to pay a small price?

Author’s Note:

Young Emperor: Let’s do it!