Chapter 14 Returning Home

Chapter 14: The Return Visit

Jiang Yanzhou and Xiao Yunlang boarded the small carriage Jiang Yanzhou had arrived in, both removing their veils and masks.

Xiao Yunlang placed the mask on the small table inside the carriage. "Seeking out Wei Wuyou at this juncture, are you hoping he will re-enter officialdom, preferably to be assigned to a provincial post in Cangzhou?"

A corner of Jiang Yanzhou's veil had accidentally tangled with a bead in his hair. As he reached to untangle it, he replied, "Yes."

He wasn't the least bit surprised that Xiao Yunlang could see through his intention.

After the disaster relief corruption case, with the Shangguan family's downfall, officials in Cangzhou's prefectural office and the Provincial Administration Commission were censured and were all in the capital awaiting trial. The upheaval in Cangzhou's officialdom was the perfect time to place one's own people.

For a capital official to receive an external appointment, they required rank and seniority. Having been out of office for years, Wei Wuyou, by rights, wasn't qualified for Cangzhou.

But he possessed a reputation for talent and virtuousness, with filial piety as his foremost quality. Most importantly, the Emperor lacked his own people.

It was impossible to keep powerful clans completely out of Cangzhou's officialdom. As long as Wei Wuyou was willing to show he wasn't aligned with the Wei family, even if the Emperor didn't fully trust him, at this critical juncture, he would be pleased to try him out.

As long as Wei Wuyou could be sent to Cangzhou, he would have the opportunity to show what he can do. How far he could go afterwards would depend on his own abilities.

Xiao Yunlang originally didn't have any surplus personnel to send to Cangzhou either. Having Wei Wuyou come would truly be a good thing.

Jiang Yanzhou had delivered his message to Wei Wuyou. Whether it would succeed was still unknown. Years of being torn meant he would certainly need time to consider, and one shouldn't pressure him too much.

If Wei Wuyou didn't seek him out, Jiang Yanzhou could visit again in ten days or half a month.

Jiang Yanzhou had the main issue neatly figured out, but he just couldn't untangle the bead and veil for quite a while.

Seeing Jiang Yanzhou's inept attempts and almost getting further entangled in the silver threads, Xiao Yunlang leaned closer and reached out to lift one of the threads.

Jiang Yanzhou was caught off guard as warm skin brushed against his fingers, stiffening him instantly.

But Xiao Yunlang helped very naturally, showing no intention of pulling away.

Jiang Yanzhou's fingers, with nowhere to rest, splayed in the air for a moment before quickly dropping down. He sat stiffly upright.

Like a small animal caught by the scruff of its neck.

How could the hands of Emperor Wu, which wielded blades and brushes, be used to help him untangle threads? It was simply a waste, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

But... he really was at his wit's end. If it got any more tangled, it would become a knot.

It was just that Xiao Yunlang was too close. Jiang Yanzhou couldn't help but want to lean back.

Hesitating, he had just shifted slightly when Xiao Yunlang, holding the bead, said softly, "Don't move. Your hair is tangled in it too."

Now Jiang Yanzhou truly dared not move a muscle.

Faced with these tangled threads, Xiao Yunlang was surprisingly patient. He seemed informal and unconstrained, yet possessed a temperament that could calmly handle trivial matters.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to manage state affairs so well later on.

Xiao Yunlang gently parted a bit of Jiang Yanzhou's hair, careful not to cause any pain. "I've only heard that Wei Wuyou can write poetry and paint. I'm not clear on how he was as an official. Moreover, he's still a member of the Wei family."

—Jiang Yanzhou's hair was quite soft, smoother than brocade, cool to the touch.

"He and the Wei family are not on the same path, just like me and the Jiang family," Jiang Yanzhou's gaze had nowhere to settle, "Besides poetry and painting, he does have skill in official circles."

Furthermore, Xiao Yunlang had revealed his identity in front of Wei Wuyou and hadn't pretended to be at odds with Jiang Yanzhou. Clearly, he wasn't overly concerned about Wei Wuyou's character either.

Jiang Yanzhou concluded.

Xiao Yunlang: "Did you also hear this from the Chancellor's study?"

Jiang Yanzhou: "..."

His lips moved, but before he could fabricate another lie this time, Xiao Yunlang let go and withdrew. "Done."

The veil's gauze fell back, and Jiang Yanzhou's hair was free again. The warmth that had gathered in front of him dissipated. Unconsciously, Jiang Yanzhou's eyes followed the retreating figure, meeting Xiao Yunlang's eyes that held a hint of amusement.

...Such trivial matters couldn't possibly have been heard in Chancellor Jiang's study. Fabricating further would be a bit too fake.

Xiao Yunlang was clearly deliberately teasing him.

Under Xiao Yunlang's gaze, Jiang Yanzhou silently lifted the veil with both hands, covering half his face.

Little Young Master Jiang's ears turned bright red, his lie exposed.

Embarrassing, truly. Give him a crack and he could burrow right in.

Although the Crown Prince didn't dig deeper and let him off, Jiang Yanzhou was too embarrassed to initiate conversation again until they parted ways back at the residence.

So it was only after they separated that he realized with a start he hadn't finished the main business: he hadn't mentioned the matter of the return visit to Xiao Yunlang yet!

Jiang Yanzhou covered his face in frustration.

Fortunately, it wasn't a major issue. He could bring it up tomorrow.

The attendants from his courtyard, Yan Gui Xuan, had already come forward to greet him. "Young Master, you're back!"

Hearing their voices, Jiang Yanzhou's brows and eyes relaxed, and he responded softly, "Mm."

Regardless of why Xiao Yunlang came to pick him up, having someone to meet him and everyone's lively welcome upon returning were things he never had before.

No matter what scheme the Jiang family had for his return visit, he would handle it properly, certainly not causing trouble for the Crown Prince's residence.

*

Jiang Yanzhou had a good night's sleep. Waking the next day, he learned that Xiao Yunlang had time to work from home today.

Xiao Yunlang had been extremely busy lately. Jiang Yanzhou also couldn't bring himself to have someone summon the future Emperor to his own courtyard. So, he went to Xiao Yunlang's study.

Xiao Yunlang had said he could go anytime.

When Jiang Yanzhou arrived, the discussion in the study had just concluded, and the advisors were walking out.

The Emperor had also taken great pains in assigning staff to the Eastern Palace. One Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince was advanced in years, a mere figurehead who couldn't actually work; another Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince was timid, not daring to serve the Crown Prince wholeheartedly, being someone controlled by the Emperor.

Thus, Xiao Yunlang was severely short-handed. Even after receiving assignments, he still had to wait for the Emperor to allocate personnel. What the Emperor wanted was for him to be unable to build his own team, forced to act solely as the imperial family's blade.

But from the historical texts, it wasn't hard to glimpse telltale signs: Xiao Yunlang had clearly long been secretly selecting his own people and understood how to leverage situations and guide forces. Behind every successful endeavor were countless meticulous plans.

Advancing step by step with careful planning was the only way to continue forward.

Today, besides Liu Hexuan, two middle-aged men had accompanied Xiao Yunlang in the discussion.

This was their first time seeing Jiang Yanzhou, but it wasn't hard to guess his identity. They all stopped and bowed in greeting.

Jiang Yanzhou instinctively moved to return the courtesy. The two gentlemen were greatly alarmed, and Liu Hexuan hurriedly pressed down on Jiang Yanzhou's arm.

Jiang Yanzhou tilted his head, puzzled.

Liu Hexuan explained, "Although everyone in the estate addresses you as 'Young Master,' your rank is above all of ours. Aside from His Highness, you need not bow to anyone."

Jiang Yanzhou glanced at the expressions of the two advisors and thought, *So that's how it is.* He let his hands fall and greeted them politely.

The two advisors waited until they were a short distance away before speaking.

"Earlier, when His Highness spoke of Young Master Jiang, I was skeptical. Who knew he'd actually be this polite?"

"Indeed. For the Jiang family to produce a child like this, their ancestors must have done some good deeds."

Jiang Yanzhou entered the study. Feng Yi led him to the seat closest to Xiao Yunlang and had someone serve tea and snacks.

Jiang Yanzhou started to say it wasn't necessary, but Feng Yi had already prepared everything efficiently.

...Since it was already prepared, it shouldn't go to waste.

So Jiang Yanzhou tried a piece.

Today's snack was a savory, flaky pastry, golden on the outside, crisp and fragrant on the inside. One bite released a delightful savory flavor. Jiang Yanzhou's eyes lit up: This was delicious too!

Nowadays, in the Crown Prince's estate, he woke up naturally every day and enjoyed delicious meals. Xiao Yunlang set aside his work, watching Jiang Yanzhou munch away, thinking he looked like a little squirrel.

He just hadn't put on much weight yet.

"I'll hunt a few deer for you during the spring hunt to build you up," Xiao Yunlang said, resting his cheek on his hand. "We need to build your health back up."

Jiang Yanzhou washed down the pastry with a sip of tea. Back at Yan Gui Xuan, the tea he always drank was Yunwu Baiya Tea, but here in the Crown Prince's quarters, it was a type of black tea. It was fragrant too, but it didn't seem quite as extraordinary as the Baiya.

He'd thought the Crown Prince's earlier claim that it cost a thousand taels per liang might be an exaggeration; otherwise, how could he drink such expensive tea every day?

Little did he know, all the Yunwu Baiya Tea in the estate had been given to him. The Crown Prince hadn't kept any for himself.

Jiang Yanzhou entered the study and was first plied with snacks. After finishing one piece, he finally got around to bringing up the main matter.

When he mentioned the home visit, Xiao Yunlang readily agreed.

"I've been busy these past few days, but I can free up some time the day after tomorrow. I'll go with you then."

Jiang Yanzhou was startled. "Huh?"

"But... I can go back alone, can't I?"

Xiao Yunlang paused, the teacup halfway to his lips.

"Whether in front of the Jiang family or the Emperor, we still need to maintain the appearance of being wary of each other and scheming separately," Jiang Yanzhou said matter-of-factly. "Your Highness must not show me any favor in front of them, lest they see through it."

He was thoughtful enough to add: "The look in your eyes when you held the knife and looked at me on our wedding night was perfect."

That kind of cold ruthlessness in his gaze—as if he could take Jiang Yanzhou's head the next second but was forced to hold back his disgust due to various constraints—was just excellent.

Xiao Yunlang: "..."

For some reason, he felt as if an arrow had struck his knee.

But what Jiang Yanzhou said wasn't wrong.

Second Young Master Jiang was leaving nothing to chance and even earnestly assured him, "Ah, and I definitely won't say anything inappropriate in front of Jiang Linque. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Xiao Yunlang set down his teacup with mixed feelings. "I don't doubt you."

Jiang Yanzhou breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps thinking the discussion was nearly concluded, he picked up another pastry. Just as he took a bite, he reconsidered and cautiously sought a definite answer: "So it's settled then? I'll return home the day after tomorrow?"

He lifted his eyes, looking at Xiao Yunlang expectantly for a reply.

With things having reached this point, how could Xiao Yunlang say no? He could only agree: "Alright, we'll do as you say. I'll have Steward Wang prepare the gift list for the home visit."

Although the Jiang family's possessions were destined to be confiscated, Jiang Yanzhou still urged frugality: "No need for anything too lavish. Precious medicines, utensils, silks, and such can be omitted."

After all, if these were sent over, they'd likely be used up, and then they couldn't be reclaimed later!

Jiang Yanzhou had it all figured out.

However, on the day of the home visit, as he watched box after box being carried out of the estate, forming a long procession, he suddenly turned to look at Feng Lan.

Feng Lan held the carriage curtain open for him and calmly said, "His Highness said that although the two of you must appear to be living under the same roof but dreaming different dreams in public, the imperial family's dignity and proper etiquette must be upheld. Even someone like Jiang Linque didn't skimp on the dowry, so the Crown Prince's estate certainly cannot be lacking in home visit gifts. Young Master, please—"

Holding a gilded enamel hand warmer, Jiang Yanzhou looked at the luxurious carriage and thought: *The Crown Prince hadn't bothered much with propriety during the wedding either.*

No welcoming procession, no banquet, just a lone carriage bringing him in, directly trampling the Jiang family's face underfoot.

He could have easily continued that way.

But Xiao Yunlang was more capable and knowledgeable than him. Changing things now probably had his own deeper reasons.

Hmm.

So Jiang Yanzhou could only return to the Jiang residence with these dignified gifts.

Jiang Linque also put on a good show, leading his wife and eldest son to properly welcome the Crown Prince's consort at the entrance.

A veteran of the court for years, Chancellor Jiang naturally wondered when he saw that Xiao Yunlang hadn't appeared and that Jiang Yanzhou had a personal guard with a sword:

Was this guard sent to protect Jiang Yanzhou, or to monitor him?

Previously, a eunuch from the Empress's palace had relayed a message, suggesting that Jiang Yanzhou, perhaps under pressure from the Crown Prince's authority, might have switched allegiances.

Jiang Linque wasn't afraid.

Jiang Yanzhou held no official position. Due to frequent illnesses, he often couldn't attend lessons, his studies were mediocre, and his ruthless methods were limited to the household.

He didn't look like he'd live long, so Jiang Linque had devoted completely different efforts to teaching him compared to his eldest son.

Even if he truly sided with the Crown Prince, what help could he possibly be?

He was merely a pawn with no control over his own fate.

Eldest Young Master Jiang Yinhan and Jiang Yanzhou were brothers who shared a mother, but she had died early. The current Madame Jiang was a stepmother, not their birth mother.

Due to their different upbringings, the two brothers were not close.

Jiang Yinhan served as an official in the court and looked down on this weak, incompetent younger brother who could only resort to beating and scolding those around him.

However, upon seeing him again today, he noticed that the perennial gloom that used to linger between Jiang Yanzhou's brows had disappeared.

His eyes were clear and gentle, and dressed in splendid attire, he even carried an air of transcendent grace and elegance.

Though still frail, he no longer carried the deathly pallor he had at home.

This made his already otherworldly good looks even more striking.

Like a pearl finally wiped free of haze, gleaming with dazzling beauty.

Jiang Yinhan frowned subtly, stealing a glance at his father’s expression—if Jiang Yanzhou’s transformation was due to the Crown Prince, it would spell trouble for them.

Each with their own thoughts, the family entered the Jiang residence.

Once inside, it became clear that Chancellor Jiang’s show of propriety was indeed only skin-deep.

Like other noble families, the Jiang residence housed multiple generations under one roof. Although the old patriarch was gone, several uncles and their families still lived there. For the return visit of a titled Crown Princess, etiquette dictated that they should have been invited and a grand family banquet held.

But Jiang Linque did not.

Only the four of them, one table of dishes.

Cold and cheerless.

Feng Lan frowned, but Jiang Yanzhou didn’t care at all.

After all, he wasn’t here for a warm, nostalgic reunion.

It’s just that the Jiang family’s food… well, wasn’t as good as the Crown Prince’s residence.

Jiang Yanzhou ate with genuine focus; of everyone at the table, he was the only one actually eating.

The mistress had married into the family when the two Jiang brothers were already grown, so she shared little affection with either legitimate son. After the meal, she excused herself, leaving the father and his two sons to talk.

As she withdrew, she closed the door behind her as instructed by Jiang Linque.

Feng Lan stood guard outside. Though he couldn’t hear ordinary conversation inside, he could rush in at the first sign of any unusual disturbance.

Inside, Jiang Linque skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point: “You’ve been at the Crown Prince’s residence for days, yet haven’t sent a single letter home. If the Jiang family hadn’t mentioned the return visit, would you have simply skipped it?”

His tone was heavy, clearly accusatory.

Jiang Yanzhou thought, *Yes, exactly*, but following his persona of being at odds with the Crown Prince, he said aloud, “The Crown Prince keeps me under strict surveillance. The servants I brought from home had no chance to send letters. The return visit wasn’t up to me either.”

Jiang Linque’s gaze sharpened. “You haven’t found out anything at all?”

His authority was immense. Jiang Yinhan, inherently fearful of his father, immediately lowered his head upon hearing the sharpened tone, not daring to look up.

He was afraid, but Jiang Yanzhou was not. “Only when paying respects at the palace did I learn that His Majesty has entrusted the Spring Examinations to the Crown Prince.”

What a coincidence—the entire court already knew that.

It was as good as saying nothing.

Jiang Yanzhou feigned surprise. “Is that so?”

His expression wasn’t perfectly crafted, but it was passable.

A flicker of mockery crossed Jiang Yinhan’s face beside him.

His disdain was obvious, but Jiang Yanzhou seemed not to notice, sitting properly upright. “I’m confined to the courtyard all day, constantly accompanied by a bodyguard. I truly know nothing of the outside world.”

The Crown Prince’s tight guard was expected. The two servants who went with him hadn’t sent any messages either—likely either detained or already dead.

Jiang Linque paused, seemingly pondering. Jiang Yanzhou thought he’d take some time and had just reached for his teacup to take a sip when Jiang Linque suddenly asked, “Has the Crown Prince touched you?”

Jiang Yanzhou was stunned for a moment before realizing what he meant.

The Crown Princess nearly flushed red on the spot.

His hands resting on his knees tightened slightly as he struggled to maintain composure. “…No.”

He and the Crown Prince were completely innocent!

That was the future Emperor Wu, who would have no harem and live in ascetic purity.

Only someone like Jiang Linque would judge him with such mundane, vulgar assumptions.

Jiang Linque understood: The Crown Prince had no interest in men; a beauty trap wouldn’t work.

So, Jiang Yanzhou in the Crown Prince’s residence was essentially useless.

Chancellor Jiang exchanged a glance with his eldest son, a subtle signal passing between them. Jiang Yinhan then retrieved a small box from the side, opening it to reveal a pill inside.

Jiang Linque: “This is this month’s antidote. We are currently in turbulent times. With the loss of the Shangguan family, our position at court will become difficult. You must still find ways to assist the family from within the Crown Prince’s residence. If the family fares poorly, your own situation will only worsen.”

Jiang Yanzhou reached out and took the pill. Jiang Linque continued unhurriedly, “Since you are under such strict surveillance, to avoid raising suspicion, take the medicine here now.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yanzhou paused, holding the pill but not rushing to take it.

“It may not be easy for me to return to the Jiang residence in the future,” Jiang Yanzhou examined the antidote. “What about the antidotes for the following months?”

Jiang Linque: “I will visit you next month. The Crown Prince surely cannot prevent a father from visiting his youngest son.”

“But if you still have nothing to show,” Jiang Linque said with grave sincerity, “Yanzhou, you will have to suffer the consequences.”

His tone was the gentlest it had been all day, yet the words were the harshest.

A mix of favor and intimidation.

Jiang Yanzhou seemed cowed by this and fell silent. He picked up the pill, placed it in his mouth, and swallowed it with water.

With no familial affection to reminisce about, once the matter was settled, Jiang Yanzhou prepared to return.

Jiang Linque personally escorted him to the gate. After the Crown Prince’s carriage departed, the Chancellor’s residence doors slammed shut with a heavy thud. Jiang Yinhan whispered, “…Father.”

The Chancellor’s expression remained unchanged, his steps steady. “Proceed as planned at the Lantern Festival banquet.”

Jiang Yinhan bowed deeply. “Yes.”

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, during the palace Lantern Festival banquet, Jiang Yanzhou would suffer a poisoning episode—because what they had just given him was no antidote at all.

If Jiang Yanzhou could be of some use, Jiang Linque would give him the antidote.

But since he was confined and powerless in the Crown Prince’s residence, all that remained for exploitation was the status brought by this marriage.

A century-old noble family always had some hidden resources. “Bujianyue” was a secret poison passed down through the Jiang family; even the best chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau in the past couldn’t diagnose it.

After Jiang Yanzhou’s poisoning episode, a physician bribed by the Jiang family would be the one to examine him.

Moreover, to ensure success, a eunuch attending to Jiang Yanzhou would take the opportunity to administer another poison. Even if that failed, the physician would still attribute the symptoms to that poison.

Their influence within the inner court was dwindling, making it impossible to sway the Emperor. But amidst the chaos, poisoning the Crown Princess was still an opportunity.

Besides, since it wasn't meant to be lethal, more people would dare to do it.

The Crown Princess has been poisoned, so there has to be a culprit.

How could Chancellor Jiang, a father, possibly harm his already frail son?

The culprit could only be from the Wei faction or the Crown Prince's residence.

This time, the Wei faction took advantage of the situation, joining the imperial family in suppressing the Jiang family, making a forceful move and playing a clever game.

It was time to remind the emperor that once the Jiang family weakened, the Wei family would dare to grow arrogant, and the Crown Prince was also a knife waiting to turn.

It was time to let them fight like dogs.

As for Jiang Yanzhou, a taste of suffering would make him fight even harder for the antidote. Perhaps with some effort, he could still be of some use planted by the Crown Prince's side.

If he proved useless, then he would only be a pawn to be discarded.

Discarding him would be no loss.

Jiang Linque flicked his sleeve in dismissal. Sacrificing a useless person for the greater good was as simple as brushing off a speck of dust from his robe, and no one would care.

Just a son destined for a short life, after all.

The dust of the common streets could never reach these lofty gates. Inside the rolling carriage of the Crown Prince's residence, Jiang Yanzhou, who had been schemed against, extended fingers that had been tucked in his sleeve since taking the pill.

He took out a handkerchief and carefully caught a tiny substance from under his fingernail.

—It was actually scraped from the pill he had just taken!

Deceiving under the watchful eyes of Chancellor Jiang and Vice Minister Jiang, Jiang Yanzhou was frankly nervous.

With the Jiang father and son glaring at him, Jiang Yanzhou felt that if he tried to hide the entire pill in his sleeve while pretending to take it, they would dare to search him directly.

So he could only manage to scrape off a tiny bit.

His heart nearly leaped out of his throat, but his mind stayed calm and his expression unruffled.

Fortunately, he succeeded.

Jiang Yanzhou finally let out a sigh of relief.

Based on his understanding of Chancellor Jiang's cunning and unscrupulous nature, hearing that he had achieved nothing in the Crown Prince's residence, shouldn't they have withheld the antidote for a month, letting him suffer a poisoning episode to scare him into working diligently for them?

Giving the antidote so readily felt suspicious.

Moreover, the pill smelled and tasted very much like a tonic he had been taking recently.

Although some medicines have similar tastes, this was too similar.

Jiang Yanzhou's throat felt slightly itchy. He turned his head and coughed lightly twice, immediately moving the handkerchief away, afraid his breath might blow away this tiny bit of residue.

He was troubled on his own: With only this tiny amount, could a physician identify the drug's components?