Chapter 27 Why Must You Marry Another?

Chapter 27 Why Marry Another?

For several days, Yan Weichu remained secluded in the Yaotai Pavilion of the Western Park.

Recent affairs were pressing. With the three main Capital Garrisons newly under his control, numerous follow-up matters urgently demanded his attention. Being an emperor was arduous; being an emperor with true power was even more so. He simply had no time to spare for certain inconsequential individuals.

That evening, just as dusk settled, a steward from the Zheng residence arrived. Sent by Zheng Shize, he reported to Yan Weichu that Xie Xiao had been frequenting Buye Fang for several consecutive nights, requesting the same musician to play for him.

"The Marquis not only attends operas at the theater but has also engaged the same musician to play for him these past few nights. He sits for an hour each time, occasionally converses with the musician, and bestows generous rewards. Though nothing untoward has occurred, he appears quite taken with the person."

As the steward spoke, his voice gradually softened, clearly sensing the emperor's chilling demeanor.

After a long pause, Yan Weichu asked in a low voice, "Where is this musician from?"

The steward, bracing himself, replied, "Recently arrived from Jiangnan. The Marquis took a liking to him on his very first day performing at Buye Fang… He is a young man, nineteen years old."

Yan Weichu’s face darkened.

*

As the boat docked at the pier, Zheng Shize, who had been awaiting its arrival, approached with a grin. "Young Lord, didn't I tell you this honey trap would work? Previously, we just hadn't found someone who could capture the Marquis's attention. Now, the Marquis is already inquiring about securing this person's freedom. Once I've properly groomed them and sent them to the Marquis, they're sure to win his favor. With them by the Marquis's side, they can discreetly assist you, Young Lord..."

Yan Weichu, his expression cold, merely asked, "Where is he?"

Zheng Shize, cowed by his glare, became subdued. "I'll take you there."

Well, this was clearly a mission to catch someone in the act.

The Marquis of Dingbei would have to fend for himself.

After a short walk, they reached an elegant pavilion built by the water. Unlike the bustling areas nearby, this spot was remarkably tranquil. Even before they drew close, the strains of a guqin drifted into earshot.

The music was clear and melodious, like pearls scattering on a jade plate.

Yan Weichu halted abruptly and asked, "What is so special about this person?"

Zheng Shize opened his mouth to speak—would it be considered special if he mentioned the musician's eyes bore a slight resemblance to His Majesty's?

But he dared not utter such a thought.

Yan Weichu cast a sidelong glance at him.

Zheng Shize offered a nervous smile. "Young Lord, you'll understand once you see for yourself."

Inside the pavilion, Xie Xiao reclined casually in his chair, a wine cup in hand. His gaze occasionally drifted to the musician's slightly lowered eyes as they played the guqin.

The upward curve and the shape of the eyelids indeed bore some resemblance, and the corners of the eyes also held a faint redness. However, this musician had applied rouge—it was not natural.

The look in his eyes was also different—lacking that vivacity, cunning, and captivating charm.

Xie Xiao suddenly found it rather uninteresting.

A few days prior, he had come here as usual to enjoy the opera and pass the time. As he was about to leave, he encountered this musician outside the theater, being harassed by a group of drunken noble youths. The musician's timid, tearful expression reminded him of Yan Weichu that time at Zhanyun Yuan, prompting him to, uncharacteristically, intervene and protect the person.

Afterward, he had returned for several nights to listen to the musician play, occasionally exchanging a few words, but it was ultimately unfulfilling.

Even the taste of the Snow Stream Spring liquor in his cup seemed rather bland, far less refreshing than the jar of wine Yan Weichu had shared with him here that night.

Xie Xiao set down his wine cup, feeling quite distracted.

Xie Xiao was startled, momentarily forgetting how to react.

The guqin music abruptly ceased. Yan Weichu glanced at the startled, bewildered musician—a delicate, vulnerable white flower. He saw nothing particularly special about him... Such poor taste.

He stepped forward, arms crossed, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Cousin, what a pleasant diversion you've found. Why didn't you invite me along to listen to the music? It seems with a beauty and fine wine for company, you've completely forgotten about me, your cousin. And here I've been thinking of you every day—what a waste of my affections."

Hearing the resentment in Yan Weichu’s voice, Xie Xiao regained his composure and calmly gestured. "Have a seat."

Yan Weichu stared coldly at him, unmoving.

Xie Xiao also fell silent, simply looking back at him. Yan Weichu blurted out, "I don’t want to!" before turning and running off.

By the time Xie Xiao caught up, Yan Weichu had already reached the pier. He turned back, however, and laughed, teasing Xie Xiao as he approached: "Weren't you planning to secure his freedom? How could you just abandon him like that? Why are you following me? Go keep your beauty company!"

His mood shifted faster than turning a page. Xie Xiao sometimes truly couldn’t fathom this young lord’s temper. "Why did you come here tonight?"

"Cousin can come, but I can’t?" Yan Weichu’s tone was tinged with jealousy. "I came at an inopportune moment and disturbed your enjoyment. Why don't you go back and continue listening to the music? Don't mind me."

Xie Xiao lowered his gaze, seemingly silent for a moment, then looked back at him. "Do you want to drink?"

Yan Weichu didn’t answer.

Xie Xiao asked again, "Do you or don’t you?"

Yan Weichu snorted. "Just drinking. I don’t want to listen to anyone play music."

"Then we won’t listen," Xie Xiao agreed. He rented a painted pleasure boat and ordered a feast to be set up inside.

As the boat drifted on the lake, Yan Weichu finally agreed to sit down. Xie Xiao picked up the wine pot and poured wine for him.

"This Snow Stream Spring doesn’t taste as good as it used to."

Yan Weichu thought, *Of course not. The Snow Stream Spring last time was tribute liquor I brought. What’s sold here in Buye Fang isn’t the same.*

"Cousin, why are you treating me to wine?" Yan Weichu’s tone remained stiff.

"To keep you from running off again, as if I’ve bullied you," Xie Xiao filled his cup to the brim. "Are you unhappy?"

*You have bullied me,* Yan Weichu thought sulkily. "Cousin said you were busy, that you had to study at home, but you’ve actually been here night after night, reveling. You lied to me."

Xie Xiao, however, said, "What else could I do?"

He shook his head slightly. "His Majesty’s Jinyiwei are constantly watching the Marquis’s residence. If I indulge in pleasure and immerse myself in places of entertainment, it should reassure His Majesty."

Yan Weichu felt a sense of absurdity, as if he’d been hoist with his own petard. "...Is that truly necessary? You’ve already relinquished your military authority, returned to the capital, and only hold a few ceremonial titles. How could His Majesty still be uneasy about you?"

Xie Xiao said, "The capital has been restless lately. His Majesty now controls the Capital Garrison and is vigorously investigating the former Regent’s past dealings. It’s better to be cautious."

Yan Weichu felt displeased hearing this. "So you’re damaging your own reputation for His Majesty’s benefit? What about securing that person's freedom? Was that also forced?"

Xie Xiao looked deeply at him, a fleeting emotion in his eyes that vanished almost instantly, fading into the darkness.

Yan Weichu seemed to realize something but hadn’t yet spoken.

Xie Xiao spoke first: "Since the founding of the dynasty, the House of Zhenguo Duke has guarded Wulong Pass for generations. Over a hundred and sixty years, the two hundred thousand elite troops in Wulong have effectively become the Xie family’s private army—they obey military commands rather than imperial edicts."

This was the first time he had uttered words that bordered on treason in front of others, yet his tone carried no arrogance or presumption—only weariness and helplessness: "Since Emperor Taizu, every emperor has been wary and guarded against the Xie family. However, these emperors all carried the blood of Xie women in their veins, so even if there was suspicion, there was always room for compromise.

"But the late emperor and the current emperor are different. They ascended the throne as the sons of concubines and naturally distrusted the Xie family. During his reign, the late emperor valued scholars over soldiers. Apart from the Duke of Ning’s house, which he elevated to counterbalance the Xie family, he held no favor for any other noble or prestigious families and focused his efforts on suppressing the Xie family. As for the current emperor…"

Yan Weichu didn’t understand why Xie Xiao was suddenly bringing this up out of the blue, but he instinctively asked, "What about the current emperor?"

Xie Xiao paused briefly before continuing, "The current emperor has more ideas and is more ruthless than his predecessor. He likely trusts no one and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The existence of the Xie Family Army is something His Majesty absolutely cannot tolerate. His restraint thus far is only because the time isn’t right to move against the Duke of Zhenguo’s household.

"By recalling me from Shuoning to the capital, His Majesty can reclaim the military command in Shuoning and also in Yan'an. But the same method won’t work in Wulong—the people there only recognize the Xie family and the Duke of Zhenguo. As the Duke's heir, according to the old system established by Emperor Taizu, I will eventually return to Wulong to succeed my father. How could His Majesty ever be at ease with me?"

Yan Weichu tried to speak up for himself: "But when the Duke petitioned to replace the heir before, His Majesty didn’t approve. If he were truly so distrustful of you, wouldn’t replacing you with an infant heir be exactly what he wanted? Cousin, you’re thinking too ill of His Majesty."

"His Majesty doesn’t not want to—he can’t," Xie Xiao said unconcernedly. "My father doesn't command the same respect in the army as I do. Before my grandfather passed away, he discussed with the Empress Dowager the idea of having me directly succeed him as Commander-in-Chief of Wulong. At the time, the regent prince likely had his doubts and didn’t agree, so the matter was dropped.

"But those under my grandfather’s command all just assumed that I would eventually succeed my father. If His Majesty were to replace me as my father suggested, chaos would break out in Wulong immediately. His Majesty has only recently taken full control of the government, and the situation in the capital is still unstable. If the border regions were to fall into turmoil as well, it could throw the whole country into chaos. So he cannot replace me.

"His Majesty’s original intention was only to create a rift between my father and me. He learned about the incident I caused at the grand banquet. Although exiling Xie Shi was supposedly to get justice for me, it made the old lady and my aunt utterly resent me. My father has always been filial and listens to the old lady. With all these events piled together, there is indeed estrangement between my father and me."

Yan Weichu felt somewhat awkward, as if he had been laid bare in front of his cousin—whatever he was thinking, his cousin saw right through him.

"...What does all this have to do with you securing that musician's freedom?"

Xie Xiao picked up his wine cup, took a drink, stayed silent for a moment, and then continued, "His Majesty has been delaying the appointment of an empress, likely because he is utterly weary of the Xie family. If I were more perceptive, and voluntarily returned the military command of Wulong to His Majesty in the future, perhaps I could ensure the Duke of Zhenguo’s household gets out unscathed."

Yan Weichu didn’t understand: "How would you return it? Even if you wanted to, the generals in Wulong wouldn’t be willing, would they?"

Xie Xiao’s eyes showed no emotion as he said quietly, "If the heir to the Duke of Zhenguo title has no descendants and the line ends with me, His Majesty can take the title back, and the military command of Wulong will naturally be transferred, leaving him with no further worries."

Yan Weichu was stunned, his expression turning exceptionally complex: "...Do you need to go that far?"

"This is the best solution I can think of," Xie Xiao said. "Perhaps, in consideration of the Duke of Zhenguo household’s past merits, His Majesty will allow us to retain some dignity."

Yan Weichu’s fingers tightened slightly around his wine cup, feeling deeply troubled.

He hadn't expected that he would push his cousin to this extent. It wasn't that his cousin was unwilling to help him—it was because he knew Yan Weichu didn't trust him, so he was treading on thin ice and kept his distance.

When Yan Weichu spoke again, his voice was somewhat strained: "So? Do you really plan not to marry or have children?"

Xie Xiao said indifferently, "Why not?"

Yan Weichu felt a tightness in his chest: "Do you think His Majesty will believe you if you say you won’t marry or have children?"

"Unlikely," Xie Xiao agreed. "His Majesty isn’t so easily fooled. I can only act even more outrageously—like your father, taking a husband, taking no concubines, and adopting no heirs. I will also petition to have my spouse formally recognized as the heir’s consort."

Yan Weichu was truly speechless.

Dajing had an open society, and it was not uncommon for men to form marriage contracts with other men—the law did not prohibit it.

But for a scion of a noble and meritorious family to behave this way would inevitably attract attention and become fodder for gossip.

Even in the case of Ji Lanshu and the Count of Anding household, there was no formal recognition. Of course, it wasn’t that Bian Shen didn’t want it—it was because Ji Lanshu’s background was special, and they didn’t want to draw attention or invite trouble.

But now Xie Xiao was saying he intended to take a husband and even petition to have his spouse formally recognized.

Yan Weichu understood. Suppressing the turbulent emotions inside, he took a deep breath and asked, "Who have you set your sights on? That musician? Is his status worthy of you? Do you plan to elevate him directly to the position of the Duke of Zhenguo’s heir’s consort?"

Xie Xiao did not deny it: "The more absurd my behavior, the more at ease His Majesty will feel. His status happens to be just right."

"This is deceiving the emperor!" Yan Weichu’s voice rose, unconsciously filled with anger. "You want His Majesty to believe that you’re giving up marriage and children for a musician from the pleasure quarters—that you’re deeply in love. But are you? Do you take His Majesty for a fool, to be so easily tricked and manipulated?"

Xie Xiao looked at him quietly. The young master’s eyes were red with anger again, his eyelashes fluttering rapidly as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"Won’t know until I try," Xie Xiao’s voice was also slightly hoarse. He turned away and continued pouring wine into his mouth.

"Cousin," for a moment, Yan Weichu even felt the impulse to reveal his identity outright, to tell Xie Xiao that he hadn’t meant to push him this far—but the words wouldn’t come out. "What is it you want most? Have you ever thought about the future?"

After a brief silence, Xie Xiao said frankly, "From the first day I followed my grandfather onto the battlefield, my wishes and aspirations have been the same as those of the Xie ancestors: if one day I die in battle, wrapped in a horsehide and returned home, that would be enough for this life."

He gave an answer completely unexpected by Yan Weichu, making Yan Weichu feel even worse. His cousin had no interest in high positions, wealth, or glory—what he sought had always been the life of a soldier. Others in the Xie family might harbor ulterior motives, but his cousin had never failed him or Dajing. On the contrary, he, as the emperor of Dajing, owed his cousin a debt that could never be repaid.

The one who fell silent now was Yan Weichu. He drained his cup in one gulp, still gripping the cup tightly, and bowed his head without another word.

The painted boat docked. Xie Xiao probably also felt there was nothing more to say and merely said, "It’s very late. Let’s go back."

He stood up, walked out of the cabin, and stepped ashore first.

Xie Xiao turned back.

Yan Weichu raised his slightly reddened eyes. The starlight and lantern lights scattered in his seemingly tear-filled eyes, shimmering as if on the verge of falling.

"Why do you want to marry someone else? You took advantage of me—aren’t you going to take responsibility?"