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Luo Wei didn’t answer, raising her eyes to look at him, “But today, His Majesty was merely angry. After Yu Qiushi explained, he suppressed his anger.”
Ye Tingyan patiently replied, “That’s why it’s necessary to proceed little by little, one piece at a time...”
With a mischievous intent, he gestured with his fingers sliding down Luo Wei’s neckline, stopping just at her collarbone.
Because Luo Wei simply half-closed her beautiful eyes, showing no intention of stopping him.
Seeing his attire as an officer, she even found it amusing, unsure what peculiar situation they were in now.
Seeing her silence, Ye Tingyan abruptly pulled his hand back, feeling his ears grow warm. Her indulgence made him both embarrassed and annoyed. Unexpectedly, Luo Wei teased half-seriously, “I wouldn’t have guessed, Lord Ye is truly a gentleman.”
From their first meeting at Gaoyang Terrace, she knew there would be such a day. After all, she personally promised Ye Tingyan that if he was useful to her, she would give him anything.
Three months had passed, and Luo Wei could no longer say he was useless—she even sought his advice on these dark and intricate schemes. Facing his audacity, she remained calm. There was nothing she couldn’t sacrifice, and...
When the day came for her to achieve what she desired, she must remove this person before her.
Not because of his humiliation; exchanging herself for his assistance was a deal she personally agreed to, perfectly fair. She didn’t consider it disrespectful.
Killing him was because he was too clever.
She had no doubt that if he wanted, he could accomplish anything.
Thinking of this, Luo Wei suddenly felt she wasn’t much different from those rulers in history who killed their loyal assistants once they were no longer needed. Although Ye Tingyan repeatedly expressed his “sincerity,” his mind was intricate, and she dared not trust a word he said. How could she leave such a person in court?
For now, they had a common enemy, but after Yu Qiushi’s death, the situation in court would change drastically. Could she still trust his “sincerity”?
Luo Wei didn’t dare to take that gamble.
So, facing him now, she even felt some inexplicable guilt. If Ye Tingyan were truly as frivolous as a lecherous rogue, perhaps she could act more decisively in the future.
But he withdrew his hand, leaving her somewhat at a loss.
While Luo Wei’s mind was tangled, Ye Tingyan saw her composed demeanor and felt no satisfaction—he should have known. From their teasing and light touches at their first meeting, to whether she resisted or accepted, the blade always pierced his own heart!
When she resisted, he hated her coldness; when passion grew, he couldn’t help but wonder if she treated others like him.
Ye Tingyan reached out to touch the lipstick mark he left on her neck, recalling the iron swallow piece she found at Gaoyang Terrace.
Yan Lang had liked her since childhood. When she was young and naive, he saw clearly early on. So many years later, upon her summons, he returned to the capital from afar, presumably still caring for her.
After so many years, Yan Lang remained the vibrant young general riding his tall horse through the streets. He seemed unchanged.
That day, he stood in the market’s shadow, watching the young general’s cloak gleam red under the sunlight. He held the reins, leisurely moving away from him. Lowering his head, he saw the shadow of the eaves dividing the world into light and dark.
A single step apart, yet an unbridgeable chasm.
He left in disarray, rubbing his light-sensitive eyes randomly.
Luo Wei might have known Yan Lang longer than him. Yan Lang held the northern border’s command and was loyal to her. Being honest about her desires to someone like him probably wasn’t difficult.
Had his lips also lingered on this rose-scented cheek?
Ye Tingyan reached to grasp Luo Wei’s neck, pulling her tightly into his embrace. Luo Wei heard his rapid breathing near her ear, his emotions seemingly unsettled.
Without receiving an answer, she didn’t speak further, letting him hold her quietly for a while.
After a long moment, Ye Tingyan gradually calmed down, his voice hoarse as he changed the subject, answering her earlier question: “The Grand Tutor has many informants in the palace. When I brought documents from Yintai into the palace, he already received the news. Thus, His Majesty summoned everyone. You were in the inner palace, slower to arrive than him. He went to find people from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue, coordinating with them.”
“Oh... No wonder Minister Hu and Vice Minister Zhao were crying their hearts out earlier in the hall. They must have coordinated with Yu Qiushi beforehand.” Luo Wei realized, “His rhetoric of ‘heavy taxes and labor to control the people’ was quite intimidating.”
Ye Tingyan indifferently remarked, “This rhetoric isn’t entirely bluff.”
Luo Wei frowned slightly, then relaxed moments later, “Though the Grand Tutor commits many evils, corrupts, and abuses power, his governance has its own method.”
Seeing her immediately understand, Ye Tingyan smiled, reciting casually, “Mining jade, mining jade, favoring green waters, carving into hairpins only for beauty… Blue Stream’s water detests life, body dead for a thousand years, resentment lingers in the stream. History serves as a mirror. Once a jade vein is discovered, if not restrained, it will eventually lead people to risk their lives diving for it. Yu Qiushi advised his relative to impose a ‘Jade Tax.’ First, to prevent people from risking their lives for wealth, the official collection would strictly guard the jade veins, preventing reckless behavior. Second, with taxation, which only benefits the prime minister without transparency, local exploitation would decrease. This move enriches himself, quells unrest—feeding officials, sparing the populace, this is… the Grand Tutor’s way of governing.”
Luo Wei reached out to touch the pearl ribbon hanging from his hair. Ye Tingyan paused but didn’t stop her, continuing, “This strategy can maintain peace for a year or so, but afterward, the Grand Tutor forgot about it. The ‘Jade Tax’ in the southwest became heavier. The new governor, mediocre in ability, attempted to dig up fine jade as a tribute. Southwest strongmen took the opportunity to open jade mines, forcing people into slavery, risking their lives diving. Under heavy taxes and labor, countless bloodshed forced commoners to flee, leading to today’s lawsuit.”
“His Majesty isn’t a fool. Though deceived by the Grand Tutor’s rhetoric today, if he retrieves relevant documents from Yintai or thoroughly checks the Ministry of Revenue’s records on the southwest, he’ll understand the intricacies. Unfortunately, he refrained today; in the future, at most, there will be a few reprimands and fines.” Luo Wei pondered, “You unearthed this matter to build momentum for me?”
Ye Tingyan sat up, his gaze sharpening, “To strike, we can’t give him a chance to catch his breath. Previous incidents at Muchunchang, Fake Dragon Chant, and Hui Ling Lake have already made His Majesty suspicious. I’m building momentum for Your Majesty to make His Majesty see more threats. Do you believe me? After this, your chances of success will be much higher than before.”
Luo Wei gazed at his silhouette in the dark bed curtains, emitting a long “Mm”: “Have your people in Zhuque keep an eye out. Recently, I’ll send that counterfeit gold merchant back to Biandu, implicating Yu Qiushi’s eldest son. As for what kind of confession we can extract, it depends on Lord Ye.”
She leaned over, lying on his lap, closing her eyes and saying, “The Grand Tutor often says we are too young, but I disagree. In terms of tactics, we indeed aren’t a match for him. But my father always said I was smart, able to think in the simplest paths. So-called struggles, so-called strategies and situations, are just using minimal effort to gradually strip someone of their dignity, credibility, and indispensability, exposing more flaws to the sovereign and the world. Weaving the net, ultimately condemning their own hearts...”
Ye Tingyan stroked her smooth, long hair spread across his lap, softly saying, “Your Majesty possesses extraordinary talent.”
Lowering his head, he kissed her smooth forehead. Luo Wei opened her eyes, finding his face close.
His fingers caressed her cheek.
“This battle is tough to fight. Once it’s over, this summer will likely pass,” he gently said, as if seeking sympathy, “If we win, may Your Majesty invite me to your inner chambers again?”
Luo Wei paused, “You’ve already entered my sleeping quarters. Why insist on going deeper?”
Ye Tingyan replied, “It depends on whether Your Majesty trusts me.”
They met under the spotlight at Dianhong Terrace, under the emperor’s watchful eyes at Qionghua Palace. Later, they rendezvoused at sunset at Gaoyang Terrace and deep into the night in her sleeping quarters. Some things could be done within the canopy of the abandoned terrace, yet he insisted on gradually invading her more private spaces.
Physical intimacy and love were easy to feign, but entering her secret chamber meant gaining her trust.
Luo Wei straightened up, withdrawing her long hair from his embrace. Her hair was well-maintained, reaching past her waist, usually smoothed with rose oil, not a strand out of place. Even with such sudden movement, it didn’t tangle with his golden belt, hair ornament, or fingers.
She intended to part the bed curtains but first smelled the intense, strange fragrance of the night-blooming cereus in the hall, momentarily startled. Ye Tingyan reached from behind to lift the obstruction, allowing Luo Wei to see clearly under the silver moonlight that the two flowers had already wilted.
Ye Tingyan’s slender right hand brushed past her, and she blankly lowered her head, noticing a silvery scar on his wrist resembling the moon. She grasped it, rubbing it with her thumb, “Your wound…”
Ye Tingyan quickly pulled his hand back, awkwardly saying, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, it’s nothing.”
Luo Wei glanced at his expression, suddenly feeling she didn’t need to be so serious. They each had their own secrets; it was unclear who owed whom.
She felt remorse for potentially killing him in the future, but who knew if he would also try to kill her once their goals were achieved?
If she died by his hands first, he probably wouldn’t feel any remorse.
Thus, Luo Wei raised an eyebrow and laughed, responding, “Alright, when summer ends, if we achieve a great victory, I will surely sweep the flower path and open the humble door, awaiting your visit.”
Her tone turned teasing, “Will the master still love wearing female officer attire then? I really want to see it in daylight.”
Ye Tingyan ignored her banter, leaning over to pick up the plain white cloak, “It’s a promise.”
•
In the minds of officials throughout the court, the fourth year of Jinghe was a turbulent year.
Starting from the spring when the young emperor disregarded advice and insisted on touring the north, events in court continued nonstop. Between the inner palace, the outer court, and the marketplace, it was as if an invisible hand manipulated clouds and rain, changing winds and clouds ceaselessly.
On the second day of the sixth month, the emperor angrily rebuked Yu Qiushi and officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue at Qianfang Hall over the southwest tax affair. Yu Qiushi calmly handled the situation, pacifying the emperor’s anger. He personally bound the distant relative who imposed the ‘Jade Tax’ and presented him at Qianfang Hall to apologize, donating one hundred thousand taels of silver to the treasury, barely saving his life, and was exiled to Lingnan.
Minister of Justice Hu Minhui, for suppressing the capital prefecture’s complaint, was demoted to governor of Fengzhou and expelled from the capital.
Zhang Ping suffered from a prolonged illness. It was clear that Vice Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue would succeed him as Minister, but Song Lan used the vague accounts of the southwest jade mining case to hold him accountable, cutting off his promotion path.
People from Yintai and the Ministry of Works were also implicated in the southwest jade mining case. Previously, no one understood why the emperor clung to this issue, but gradually they realized—after the young Emperor Zhao’s coming-of-age ceremony, this was paving the way for his personal rule.
Using a case involving livelihood issues to demote the prime minister’s trusted aides left even the censors speechless.
The emperor did not publicly credit Ye Tingyan for this achievement, and Ye himself did not claim merit. His position remained unchanged, but his favor increased.
The prime minister remained passive, everything proceeding as usual. The empress had been unusually quiet during this period, not commenting further on the matter.
Mid-June, Zhuque captured the counterfeit gold merchant outside Biandu.
Emperor Zhao personally visited Zhuque, interrogating overnight. No one knew what he extracted, but upon leaving Zhuque Office, he secretly summoned Yu Qiushi, ordering him to bring his eldest son to the palace.
Luo Wei was quite surprised to hear this—she originally thought Song Lan, after capturing the merchant, would directly arrest Yu Sui and search the Yu residence.
It seemed Song Lan was still somewhat indecisive.
On the eve of June 13th, Yu Sui was ambushed on his way to respond at the Ministry of Justice, sustaining severe injuries.
After this incident, Song Lan’s attitude towards Yu Qiushi softened considerably. Not only did he send medical officers from the Imperial Hospital, but he also bestowed many rare medicines.
Their carefully arranged cases weren’t enough; this assassination might have been orchestrated by the Yu father and son themselves to gauge the emperor’s thoughts.
The merchant had already “committed suicide” in Zhuque. The “Fake Dragon Chant” and the golden cup at Hui Ling Lake remained unsolved mysteries. Yu Qiushi wasn’t foolish. The previous southwest jade mining case had cost him dearly, only because speed was crucial. Now that he regained his senses, not only did a calculated ambush clear the emperor’s suspicions, but it might also redirect the “Fake Dragon” affair back onto her.
That night, though Luo Wei and Ye Tingyan spoke with smiles, they both knew this summer’s battle was extremely difficult. Her insistence on acting hastily carried the risk of backlash.
By June 21st, Song Lan hadn’t visited her chambers for half a month, nor summoned her to Qianfang Hall.
Zhang Sunwu, somewhat worried, picked newly bloomed lotus flowers for Luo Wei to place in a vase. Seeing her gazing at the ice container before her with a detached expression—he could tell it was a very calm tension.
The next moment, Chaolan burst into the hall, trying to lower her voice but unable to hide her excitement, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Consort Gui... she’s pregnant!”
Though Zhang Sunwu had known Luo Wei for a while, he was reassigned to Qionghua Palace after Yanluo’s incident. Serving for these three months, he had never seen such a genuinely astonished expression on Luo Wei’s face.
“What?” Luo Wei stood up, momentarily unable to conceal her shock.
“Suiyun... how could she be pregnant?”
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