Chapter 23 Cousin, Let Me Help You?

Chapter 23 Cousin, Shall I Help You?

On the second day of the tenth month, the Wanshou Sacred Festival.

Yan Weichu had spent the night in the palace bedchamber and rose early to wash and change.

He stood before the full-length mirror, studying his slightly pale complexion in the reflection as the palace attendants behind him helped him into the imperial robe, piece by piece.

“Eunuch Zhao, do you think Cousin will like how I look?”

Yan Weichu stared into his own eyes in the mirror and asked softly.

Zhao Anfu lowered his head. “Your Majesty is exceptionally handsome, and the Marquis is close to you. Of course, he adores Your Majesty.”

Yan Weichu wasn’t entirely convinced. “He likes the Heir of the Count of Anding, not me.”

Zhao Anfu: “…” That is also you.

Yan Weichu sighed softly.

These past two days, he had been thinking about this matter. Since he had decided to throw caution to the wind and personally seduce his cousin, the question of how to proceed troubled him.

Though he prided himself on being clever, he had no experience in this area whatsoever and couldn’t seek advice from anyone else, which was truly frustrating.

“Your Majesty, it is almost time,” Zhao Anfu reminded him quietly.

Yan Weichu collected his thoughts and had no choice but to let it go for now.

The elderly eunuch presented the twelve-beaded crown, symbolizing supreme status, before the emperor. “This servant will crown Your Majesty.”

Today was the grand court celebration for the Wanshou Sacred Festival. The emperor would take his seat on the throne in the Fengtian Hall, receiving bows and birthday wishes from the officials.

At the exact hour of Mao (5-7 a.m.), the officials entered and took their positions.

Yan Weichu sat upright on the throne, his gaze sweeping over the rows of civil and military officials below.

Xie Xiao was among them, dressed in court attire. Amid the master of ceremonies’ calls of congratulations, he bowed his head and performed the ritual five bows and three kneelings along with the other officials.

Before dawn, Xie Xiao had already been waiting outside the palace gates. He entered with the crowd, took his place, and paid his respects to the emperor.

The Fengtian Hall was solemn and majestic; the light and shadows were deep.

On the throne, the emperor’s face and expression were obscured and indistinct behind the beads of the crown.

No one dared to look directly upon the heavenly countenance.

During the repeated actions of kneeling, bowing, and rising, Xie Xiao caught a fleeting glimpse and only saw the vague figure in black and reddish-brown robes.

The emperor’s majesty was beyond reckoning—that was all.

Chief Grand Secretary Liu Zhu delivered the officials’ address and presented the birthday memorial on behalf of the officials, followed by cries of “Long live the emperor!”

It wasn’t until the whip cracked and the music ceased that the ceremony concluded.

After the court celebration, Yan Weichu returned to his bedchamber to change.

The grand banquet was scheduled to begin around mid-morning. Yan Weichu paced back and forth in his bedchamber, still feeling that he couldn’t show his face.

The earlier court celebration was manageable, but at the imperial banquet, the officials would be toasting him. If he showed his face, everything would be ruined. It wouldn’t do.

“Deliver my decree: say that I have suddenly fallen slightly ill and do not wish to exert myself. Have Liu Zhu host the banquet in my stead to bestow feasts upon the officials.”

After giving the order, Yan Weichu breathed a sigh of relief and added, “Have people monitor the happenings at the banquet. Report any movement to me immediately. Also, keep a close watch on the Marquis of Dingbei.”

The subordinates acknowledged the order.

The grand banquet was also held in the Fengtian Hall. With the emperor absent, the banquet proceeded according to protocol.

There were nine rounds of toasts. The officials would rise, toast toward the throne, the ceremonial official would chant praises, they would drink, bow again, and sit down. This was repeated, with dance and music performances between each round of toasts.

But with the emperor absent, everyone felt much more at ease. After these tedious rituals, food was served, and they began to unwind, toasting freely.

Xie Xiao was seated among the nobles. Someone curiously brought up how the emperor had suddenly taken ill, as there had been no prior indication.

They whispered a few words about it but, aware of the Young Emperor’s unpredictable nature, didn’t dare to discuss it further in the great hall and quickly changed the subject.

“The emperor even had that old bureaucrat from the Grand Secretariat host the banquet on his behalf. He truly relies on these civil officials. Our days ahead might not be easy.”

Someone muttered this lament quietly.

Xie Xiao’s gaze swept over Liu Zhu and then to the other Grand Secretaries.

He didn’t see it that way. After the former Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Jiong and another Grand Secretary retired, the emperor had only promoted Liu Zhu. The two vacant positions in the Grand Secretariat had yet to be filled, indicating that the emperor didn’t trust these people all that much.

But none of this concerned him.

After three rounds of drinks, the mood was festive.

Xie Xiao lifted his wine cup to his lips. As soon as the wine touched his tongue, he sensed something amiss.

This wine had just been served and was supposed to be the same as the previous round, but it had a slightly astringent taste. Without careful tasting, it would be hard to notice the difference.

Xie Xiao grew wary. Ever since he was tricked at the Floating Dream Pavilion upon his return to the capital, he had been particularly cautious in this regard.

The astringent taste was exactly the same as what he had experienced back then. He never expected someone would dare to drug him at the imperial banquet.

Xie Xiao’s eyes swept sharply around the room. Palace attendants moved through the banquet, serving food and wine, all appearing ordinary.

He hadn’t paid attention to who served him the wine earlier, and a quick glance now gave him no leads.

Frowning, Xie Xiao placed his cup aside. He couldn’t spit out the mouthful in public, so he had no choice but to swallow it.

After that, he touched neither the wine nor the food on his table, sitting calmly and waiting for the banquet to end.

In the emperor’s bedchamber, Yan Weichu was also taking his noon meal.

After hearing the report from his subordinate, his expression turned grim. “What do you mean someone drugged the Marquis of Dingbei’s wine? How could such a thing happen at my birthday banquet? What were you all thinking?”

The palace attendant who came to report knelt and begged for punishment.

Because Yan Weichu had specifically ordered them to monitor the banquet, especially the Marquis of Dingbei, they had kept a close watch and noticed Xie Xiao’s unusual behavior.

When the cup from which Xie Xiao had taken only one sip was removed untouched, they examined it and found it had been laced with illicit drugs. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, they immediately reported it to the emperor.

Yan Weichu was furious. “The drug was only in that cup? If the Marquis of Dingbei hadn’t noticed and drank that cup, there would have been no evidence afterward. If he had ingested that drugged wine and behaved inappropriately in front of everyone on such an occasion, wouldn’t I have had to punish him severely? Who hates the Marquis of Dingbei so much? What malicious intent!”

Yan Weichu wished he could flay alive the vile scoundrel behind this. His cousin was an exemplary and virtuous gentleman, yet these villains repeatedly schemed against him with such sordid tactics, even daring to plot in the imperial presence, trying to drag his cousin into the mud. It was truly unforgivable.

The emperor’s anger made everyone in the hall kneel, not daring to make a sound.

"Chancellor," Yan Weichu dropped his voice to a murmur and instructed Zhao Anfu, "Keep this quiet. After the grand banquet concludes, detain all palace staff who entered or exited Fengtian Hall today. You personally lead the investigation and ensure you get to the bottom of this for me."

Zhao Anfu bowed his head to accept the decree.

Yan Weichu had lost his appetite; he tossed down his chopsticks, motioning to Shun Xi: "Help me change clothes and accompany me out of the palace."

By the Hour of the Ram, the grand banquet had concluded.

Xie Xiao exited the palace and boarded his carriage. After they had traveled a short distance, the carriage came to a halt.

An attendant outside reported to him: "Marquis, ahead is the carriage of the Count of Anding. The heir has arrived."

Xie Xiao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, his expression shifting. He ordered, "Let him come up."

Yan Weichu stepped into the carriage, and the door closed behind him. He sat cross-legged in front of Xie Xiao, looking up to study him—aside from a slightly weary expression, he seemed otherwise fine.

Xie Xiao leaned against the carriage wall without moving, his gaze drifting slowly over Yan Weichu's features from above. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Cousin, are you drunk?" Yan Weichu asked softly. "Your face is a bit flushed."

Xie Xiao countered, "Who would dare get drunk in the palace?"

He wasn’t drunk, just uncomfortable. A single sip of tainted wine wasn’t enough to affect him severely, though it did leave him feeling somewhat feverish. Still, being targeted at the emperor’s birthday banquet was far from pleasant.

Yan Weichu remained seated on the floor, leaning forward slightly to gently grasp Xie Xiao’s right hand. "Your hand is very warm."

His fingertips slowly stroked Xie Xiao’s palm.

Xie Xiao didn’t pull his hand away, allowing the touch, and casually asked, "Why are you here?"

"I came to pick up my father," Yan Weichu fabricated. "I was worried he might have had too much to drink. I didn’t expect to see you come out first."

Xie Xiao curled his lips, a teasing glint in his eyes. "So you boarded my carriage? What about the Count of Anding?"

Yan Weichu shrugged. "As you said, no one would dare get drunk in the palace. My father is always cautious and wouldn’t risk it. I was overthinking it."

Xie Xiao fixed his gaze on Yan Weichu’s usually bright, laughter-filled eyes and suddenly said, "I wasn’t drunk, but I did run into some trouble in the palace."

Yan Weichu followed up, "What trouble?"

"Someone in the palace has dirty hands," Xie Xiao said nonchalantly. "They drugged my wine."

Yan Weichu froze, his eyes widening in shock. "How could such a thing happen at His Majesty’s birthday banquet? What kind of drug was it? Did you drink it? Should we call a physician?"

"I drank it. A physician won’t help. As for the drug…"

Xie Xiao leaned down, bringing his voice close to Yan Weichu’s ear, and whispered a few words.

"...How could someone be so wicked as to drug you with something like that at the grand banquet?"

"Hmm," Xie Xiao leaned back again, listening to Yan Weichu’s indignation on his behalf, his gaze lingering on Yan Weichu’s face, his expression growing even more relaxed. "My luck is bad—I’ve fallen for it again."

That word "again" seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

Yan Weichu pretended not to notice and looked at him with concern. "What should we do now?"

Xie Xiao replied slowly, "I don’t know."

"...Cousin, are you very uncomfortable?" Yan Weichu timidly suggested. "Maybe... I could help you?"