Chapter 40 Come, Let’s Go Home.

Chapter 40 Let's Go, Come Home With Me.

Imperial Guard Headquarters.

Xie Xiao and Bian Shen had just concluded their discussion on the specifics of new recruit enlistment, finally allowing them a moment to catch their breath.

Bian Shen rose to leave, noticing Xie Xiao's distracted air. He casually inquired, "Why do you seem so preoccupied? Has something troublesome occurred?"

Xie Xiao denied it, yet his words trailed off, as if he had more to say.

Bian Shen looked at him. "Did you quarrel with A Li?"

Xie Xiao hesitated before asking, "Father, what is A Li's relationship with His Majesty? A Li hasn't been in the capital long, so why do they seem so unusually familiar?"

Hmm?

Had the Marquis of Dingbei discovered something? Was he worried that his family member's closeness to the Emperor might invite trouble? Or was he simply feeling a pang of jealousy?

Bian Shen pondered silently, his expression unreadable as he fabricated a response: "A Li's personality suits His Majesty's temperament. He lived in the capital for a long time as a child, when Empress Dowager Zheng was still alive. He often entered the palace and served as the Emperor's study companion. Compared to that unreliable Zheng Shize, His Majesty indeed values him more."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xiao's brow furrowed slightly, lost in thought.

Bian Shen felt a flicker of unease. Helping the young Emperor deceive Xie Xiao weighed heavily on his conscience, yet he had no choice.

A moment later, Xie Xiao hesitantly asked again, "Did something happen at the Marquis's estate that day? A Li has been in low spirits ever since he returned from there..."

Seeing the troubled look on his face, Bian Shen found it somewhat novel and said, "Not that I know of. That day, he came to the estate for a meal with Zheng Shize, and nothing particularly noteworthy occurred. If he was upset, perhaps it was because I went to the Western Garden to pick someone up in the afternoon after being summoned by the Emperor from the Imperial Guard, and A Li didn't see you. Could that be why?"

Was it really over something so trivial?

Xie Xiao, however, felt it was unlikely. Previously, he had specifically waited outside Yaotai, and Yan Weichu had even told him not to do that in the future. Surely he wouldn't hold a grudge just because his father had picked someone up that day while he was busy with official matters and couldn't go?

Bian Shen comforted him: "Whatever the reason, if he’s unhappy, just coax him. You're newly married; there’s nothing you can’t overcome."

Xie Xiao humbly sought advice: "How can we achieve the harmony you and Father share? Please enlighten me, Father."

Bian Shen chuckled. "Well..."

*

*Smack.* Yan Weichu threw down his vermilion brush and leaned forward, resting his head on the imperial desk.

The desk was piled high with various memorials and reports. He picked one up at random, glanced at it, tossed it aside, picked up another, looked, and threw it again.

It was all utter nonsense. Everyone was getting on his nerves as Emperor. So annoying.

Yan Weichu grumbled, rubbing his face against the desk.

A few young eunuchs knelt nearby, quietly gathering the scattered documents, careful not to displease the Emperor.

These past few days had been tense and miserable for them... all because of the Marquis of Dingbei.

"I'm not going back!" Yan Weichu snapped irritably.

"..." The palace attendants were utterly disappointed. They had only been married for a few days—why were they already living apart?

Yan Weichu remained slumped over the desk, spacing out for a moment.

"...What time is it?"

Zhao Anfu replied softly, "It’s a quarter to four."

Alright, it was late afternoon again.

Yan Weichu was in a foul mood, and to make matters worse, someone tactless decided to approach him. Zheng Shize, that oaf, suddenly requested an audience.

The thought of his annoying demeanor made Yan Weichu want to ignore him, but since the guy was here on official business, he had to endure it and summoned him in.

Zheng Shize entered, giving a perfunctory bow. Dressed in his official uniform, he almost looked respectable, but the moment he opened his mouth, his true nature was revealed.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going back to the Dingbei Marquis Estate? How can you throw a tantrum and return to your childhood home just days after getting married? Ouch—"

Yan Weichu grabbed a paperweight and hurled it at him. Zheng Shize failed to dodge and was hit squarely on the shoulder, yelping in pain.

Yan Weichu’s expression turned frosty. "Have you grown bold? Daring to mock me?"

Zheng Shize raised his hands in surrender.

A neglected husband’s temper was truly fierce—better not provoke him...

Once the guy settled down, he got to business: "Your Majesty, the refurbishment of the Jiangwu Yuan is almost complete. It’s just that the Ministry of War officials are difficult to deal with. I told them it was Your Majesty’s order to prioritize supplying weapons and firearms to the Qilin Guard, but they keep giving me the runaround and delaying, refusing to allocate them. They also said the Imperial Guard needs new equipment..."

Yan Weichu frowned. "Can’t you go to Liu Zhu? He’s in charge of the Ministry of War. Can’t you even handle such a small matter?"

Zheng Shize muttered, "Lord Liu is the Chief Grand Secretary. He has countless matters to attend to daily. Why would I bother him?"

"Then you’re just incompetent," Yan Weichu scolded angrily.

Zheng Shize whined: "Your Majesty, you didn’t issue a direct order. Even if I said it was your order, those people need to believe me. They’re all fair-weather friends. They know you currently favor the Marquis of Dingbei, so they’re prioritizing the Imperial Guard."

Yan Weichu’s face darkened. "Are you suggesting I shouldn’t favor the Marquis of Dingbei? Should I favor you instead? Do you have the capability?"

"Of course not," Zheng Shize said with an ingratiating smile. "How could I? I’m far inferior to the Marquis."

As if I could compare to your dear husband!

At least you have some self-awareness.

Yan Weichu said, "Don’t wait for the Ministry of War to allocate them. I will give you a written order. Go directly to the Ministry of Works’ Armory to retrieve the items. New Year's is approaching, and all offices will soon be closed for the holiday. Don’t delay."

Zheng Shize breathed a sigh of relief. That was much better.

After finishing his report, Zheng Shize didn’t linger and quickly took his leave.

Just outside Yaotai, he spotted the Marquis Estate’s carriage waiting and went over to greet them.

Xie Xiao was slightly surprised to see him in a military official’s uniform. Zheng Shize explained with a smile, "His Majesty appointed me as the Assistant Commissioner of the Qilin Guard, to assist my cousin, the heir."

Xie Xiao then asked, "Have you been at Yaotai these past few days as well?"

"Not at all, I’m just here to help out," Zheng Shize waved his hand. "I’ve been at the Jiangwu Yuan during the day. His Majesty and the heir discussed all the ins and outs—I don’t understand any of it."

Xie Xiao was highly skeptical. Yan Weichu always claimed he didn’t understand these matters, yet now the Emperor was discussing the establishment of the new Imperial Guard with that little rascal?

Zheng Shize seemed to sense his doubt and said, "There’s also the Count of Anding’s wife. She is a true talent and has offered His Majesty many smart ideas. As for the heir, His Majesty values him and intends to groom him."

"..."

Xie Xiao had nothing to say. Ultimately, he didn’t quite trust that scheming Emperor.

In the imperial study, someone hurried in to report: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Dingbei is here!"

Yan Weichu, who had been zoning out again, looked up: "I did not summon him. What is he doing here?"

The attendant replied: "The Marquis's carriage is parked outside Yaotai. He did not come over, but sent someone to ask when the Young Lord can return to the manor?"

"..." Yan Weichu gestured, "Summon the Marquis of Dingbei inside."

He had been slacking off for half the day and hadn't finished today's official business. Even if he wanted to leave, he couldn't right now.

Besides, just because Xie Xiao was here, he had to go back with him? Why should he!

Xie Xiao was ushered in politely. Yan Weichu had a seat prepared for him in the antechamber and served tea and snacks.

The observant eunuch said respectfully: "Marquis, these snacks are all the Young Lord's favorites. His Majesty said you should try them too."

Xie Xiao asked: "Is the Young Lord still in His Majesty's presence?"

The eunuch smiled and replied: "His Majesty called him to the imperial study to discuss matters."

Xie Xiao nodded and didn't say another word.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip but did not touch the snacks.

Yan Weichu had indeed said the snacks at Yaotai were delicious, but they didn't look that special. He couldn't tell what made them so good.

After waiting for two quarters, someone came to relay a message that the Emperor was summoning him.

Xie Xiao stood up, expecting to be taken to the imperial study, but instead was led to the Emperor's quarters. As usual, he was made to wait in the outer chamber.

"Cousin, why didn't you eat the snacks I had served to you?" the Emperor's voice came from inside.

Yan Weichu had finished handling official business and was changing clothes in the inner hall, casually asking Xie Xiao a question.

Xie Xiao didn't know if Yan Weichu was inside and hadn't heard any sound, so he could only reply to the Emperor: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the food. It's just that I don't really care for sweets, so I did not touch them... Your Majesty, may I ask outright if the Young Lord is here?"

Though he said "ask outright," his tone wasn't particularly respectful.

Yan Weichu said unhappily: "Marquis of Dingbei, asking like that—do you think if the Young Lord stays with me, I'd eat him?"

Xie Xiao wouldn't budge: "I ask Your Majesty to permit the Young Lord to return with me today."

"..."

Not going back.

Thinking this, Yan Weichu had already changed into the Young Lord's casual robes and said: "The Young Lord says you bullied him and doesn't want to go back."

Xie Xiao protested weakly: "I did not."

Yan Weichu hmphed.

"...I wish to speak with the Young Lord alone for a few words. I ask Your Majesty to permit this," Xie Xiao requested.

Pretty bold to ask the Emperor to step aside—his cousin was probably the first person in the world to dare such a thing.

Yan Weichu thought to himself, but finally said: "Go back to the antechamber and wait. I will send the Young Lord over shortly."

Xie Xiao bowed out respectfully.

Once the footsteps faded, Yan Weichu whined: "Is Cousin deliberately trying to anger me?"

Zhao Anfu humored him: "The Marquis knows he was wrong and has come to take Your Majesty back."

You should hurry up and leave.

Xie Xiao waited a while longer in the antechamber before Yan Weichu appeared.

He entered, sat down beside him, leaned over with his elbow on the tea table, picked up a snack, and playfully brought it to Xie Xiao's mouth: "Try it."

Xie Xiao looked at him, opened his mouth, and took the snack.

Yan Weichu was smiling, though the smile seemed somewhat forced: "Is it good?"

Xie Xiao neither said it was good nor bad, only asked: "Is it because the snacks here are delicious that you've been staying at His Majesty's place instead of going home?"

"What do you mean, staying here instead of going home?" Yan Weichu said discontentedly. "His Majesty welcomes me and is happy to let me stay here long-term."

Xie Xiao's gaze fixed on him, and he suddenly asked: "How does he welcome you? By preparing the bed and sharing it with you?"

"..." Are we never getting past these words?

Yan Weichu asked: "What about you, Cousin? Instead of properly handling your duties, why did you come here?"

"The little ancestor is too difficult to please. Waiting around for him here pissed him off before, not coming to pick him up also made him unhappy, and he even refused to go home for several days in a row. I had to time it right to come pick him up," Xie Xiao said offhandedly.

Yan Weichu was speechless. You're just trying to get under my skin.

"Going home?" Xie Xiao asked again.

Yan Weichu wouldn't give in: "I need to think about it."

Xie Xiao stared intently, his words sincere: "If you like snacks, the Marquis's manor has them too. I'll have someone make them for you. Let's go back."

Ah, how was he supposed to respond?

Yan Weichu felt himself softening. He dusted his hands and gave a haughty nod: "Well then, let's go back."

I'll graciously let it slide.

The Marquis's carriage was parked on the other side of the bridge. After leaving Yaotai, there was still a ways to go.

As they walked, Xie Xiao suddenly asked: "Have you really been staying at His Majesty's Yaotai these past few days?"

Yan Weichu shot him a sidelong glance and smiled: "Cousin, do you care about that?"

Xie Xiao kept a straight face: "His Majesty said you complained to him that I'd been rough with you. If there's anything I've done poorly, you can tell me directly. I will change. I've said it before—even His Majesty's an outsider. You should trust me more than him."

Yan Weichu thought to himself, how could I possibly say it? That I want you to kiss me? How could such words be spoken? Does this Emperor have no dignity?

"I never complained about you to His Majesty. His Majesty misunderstood. It's because you shoot your mouth off in front of him that His Majesty decided to mess with you a little."

Xie Xiao asked: "Was not going home these past few days on purpose?"

Yan Weichu refused to admit it: "No way."

Xie Xiao wasn't buying it: "Really not?"

"...I haven't been here the whole time either. I spent most of the days at the Jiangwu Yuan, and in the evenings, I had to discuss the Qilin Guard protocols with His Majesty. There's a lot to do," Yan Weichu mumbled, making it clear he'd actually been working and not staying away to be difficult.

Xie Xiao asked again, "Jiangwu Yuan?"

Yan Weichu explained that Jiangwu Yuan was also located in the Western Park, just south of the Yaotai. It was a place specially designated by His Majesty as training grounds for the Qilin Guard.

Xie Xiao nodded, gave tentative acceptance, and did not press further.

They had reached the carriage when Xie Xiao suddenly stepped forward, bent down, and swept Yan Weichu up into a bridal carry.

Yan Weichu was startled and instinctively wrapped his arms around Xie Xiao’s neck. "What are you doing?"

Xie Xiao looked at him seriously and said, "Sorry for making you wait alone with nowhere to go for half a day that time. It was my fault. It won’t happen again."

Yan Weichu went quiet, his face flushing red.

Xie Xiao carried him into the carriage. "Let's go, come home with me."