Han Chan walked out with a cold expression on his face and left without a single backwards glance to the two people outside the door.
His strides were long and fast. It was obvious that he was left unhappy with the discussion.
Considering what happened in the dream, Ye Yunting could more-or-less guess the purpose of Han Chan’s arrival. However, what puzzled him was: what exactly did Han Chan want to do with Prince Yong’an?
Han Chan was the emperor’s teacher. Li Zong respected this teacher very much. Not only did he allow him to go to court without wearing court clothes, he was even exempted from having to kneel before the emperor. It was said that back when Li Zong was only a humble prince, it was Han Chan who mentored him. Later, after the crown prince was assassinated and Li Zong succeeded to the throne, he appointed Han Chan as Taifu.
Before that, Han Chan was just an lowly teacher in the Eastern Palace.
It stood to reason that Han Chan had the power and status he had today because the of the emperor’s regard for him. He and the emperor were supposed to be in the same boat.
But he was secretly trying to draw Li Fengqi close, and vaguely seemed to be working against the emperor.
Ye Yunting couldn’t figure out the answer, but he always felt that it wasn’t so simple.
He kept his doubts in his mind and just opened the door to enter the room.
In the inner room, Li Fengqi was half-leaning on the bed, his expression not particularly pleasant.
Ye Yunting thought for a moment, poured him a cup of tea, and said softly, “Taifu has already left. From his face, he doesn’t seem very happy.”
“Of course he’s not happy.” Li Fengqi snorted, took the tea and drank it all in one gulp, smiling a little coldly. “There will be many unhappy things in the future; he will have to get used to it.”
After saying that, his eyes were fixed on the tea cup in his hand, and there was an indefinable detachment and coldness about him.
As Ye Yunting watched, he always felt that although this man was in front of him, he still seemed far away. Over the past few days, the two of them have grown from testing each other to trusting each other, and had been supporting each other back-to-back until they reached this point. He had never seen the other man look like this.
Ye Yunting thought to himself that Han Chan’s unhappiness was written on his face, but Li Fengqi’s unhappiness was hidden in his heart.
He didn’t know exactly what the two talked about, and he didn’t dare to ask. He only said, “Taifu came today and didn’t seem too surprised that my condition has improved.”
Han Chan arrived so suddenly that he didn’t even have time to pretend.
“He already knows,” Li Fengqi said. “The people around Li Zong have their own minds. They may not have been unaware of your actions these days. They simply didn’t take it seriously and wanted to watch the show.”
Han Chan and Cui Xi were both first-class smart people who employed cunning, tricky methods. But the one thing that smart people had in common was that they always thought they had everything under control.
In their eyes, Ye Yunting was just an unfavored first son of the Duke of Qi’s mansion. He had no powerful wife and no father to protect him. It was said that Ye Zhili didn’t even allow him to go to school. Apart from his extraordinarily-outstanding looks, he didn’t seem threatening at all.
Even if they made some minor actions, they wouldn’t be able to make any waves. The people around them all had their own schemes. Even if Ye Yunting really did try something, the emperor would still be able to stay at the top if the sky fell. It wouldn’t matter to their plans.
Li Fengqi’s eyes flashed with a hint of mockery. He had warned Li Zong a long time ago, asking him to be wary of those two and not be blinded by their old friendships.
Although Han Chan was Li Zong’s mentor, he had a cold nature and an unfathomable mind; Cui Xi was named Li Zong’s companion, but he flattered his superiors and bullied his subordinates, and his methods were vicious.
Either way, they were not 100% loyal to Li Zong.
However, Li Zong didn’t listen to his words. Instead, he was provoked by Han Chan and attacked him.
People’s hearts were unpredictable, that was all.
“My poison has been temporarily suppressed, the letter has been sent ount, and my mother is on her way back to Shangjing.” Li Fengqi patted the back of Ye Yunting’s hand soothingly and said in a calm voice, “Don’t worry too much, they won’t be around much longer.
“I just have to ask you to endure for a few more days.” He looked at Ye Yunting with a gentle expression. Even though Ye Yunting didn’t show any signs of it, he seemed to see through the slow treatment and aggravation he had suffered.
Ye Yunting was touched by the apology and concern in his eyes, and his heart trembled. He suddenly averted his eyes and smiled uncomfortably. “I’m not complaining.” After all, he had grown up in the Duke’s palace since childhood, and had experienced far too much human warmth and coldness. His father’s deliberate neglect, his stepmother’s undisguised loathing, and even the servants’ disdain and embarrassment.
For him, it had become a common occurrence.
In comparison, Han Chan’s disregard today was nothing at all.
Ye Yunting had understood a truth from a very young age: don’t care about those who don’t care about you at all.
He thought that he had seen everything clearly over the years, and he had indeed managed to not listen, ask or care. But when he met Li Fengqi’s apologetic and concerned eyes, he still found himself awkwardly looking away.
No one was born with the temperament of a clay Bodhisattva.
It was just a matter of survival.
Li Fengqi seemed to have noticed something, but he did not mention it again. Instead, he changed the topic and said, “The next time Ji Lian goes out, ask him to prepare a wheelchair for me. Also, notify Wu Geng and ask him to order all the men to be on stand-by in secret.”
Ye Yunting gathered his emotions and lowered his eyes. “Okay.”
After Han Chan’s visit, another ten days or so passed peacefully.
During this period, Li Fengqi’s health improved greatly. Although his legs were still unable to move, his body had become stronger day by day, and his overall vigor was the same as before.
The falcon that went out to deliver the message had not returned yet. The remaining half-cage of rabbits had been eaten with only two or three remaining.
Ye Yunting entered the room with the stewed hot rabbit soup, and saw him sitting by the bed, quietly wiping the Xiaoxue sabre1. The snow-white blade reflected a pair eyes that burned with murderous anger.
The high and mighty Prince Yong’an from the past has returned.
His footsteps paused, and then he knocked on the door to remind the other man of his arrival.
Li Fengqi returned to his senses, put away his blade and looked at him, as if the killing intent just now had just been Ye Yunting’s illusion.
“Should I come in?”
He patted his side. “It just so happens that I have something to discuss with you.”
Ye Yunting placed the soup on the small table beside the bed and waited quietly for him to speak.
Just then, he heard him say: “News came from Wu Geng that mother will arrive in the capital in the evening.”
Ye Yunting’s heart turned. “Then the palace…”
“Li Zong will definitely take action.” Li Fengqi flicked the sabre with his fingers, and the heavy blade made a humming sound. “I was the only person in the house before, and I was poisoned and bedridden. He sent the servants away; naturally, he could do anything he wanted to do without any scruples. But it will be different when my mother comes back.”
The elder Wangfei was a first-ranked official wife. Although the Shen family was in decline, there were still three thousand people in that boat.
Li Zong was also concerned about his reputation, so he would never let the old Wangfei see what was happening in the palace and use it as a reason to take action
Therefore, once he learned the news, he would definitely react. Either the elder Wangfei would be unable to return to Shangjing, or she would be unable to say anything.
In order to prevent Li Zong from hearing about this and taking action against the old Wangfei, Li Fengqi asked WuGeng to send someone to escort her all the way and purposefully take shortcuts through the back roads. Now that the elder Wangfei and her entourage were arriving in Shangjing in the evening, any plan to prevent the her from returning to the capital would no longer be feasible.
That would leave Li Zong with only one last option.
Ye Yunting’s expression darkened, somewhat worried. “Then he will definitely make a move against Wangye today.”
Li Fengqi laughed when he heard this. “You worry about me so much. Why don’t you worry about yourself?”
Ye Yunting’s eyelashes quivered, but he didn’t look worried. He said clearly, “I was chosen by Si Tiantai to be wed to Wangye. In the eyes of the elder Wangfei, I am considered a part of the emperor’s faction. The elder Wangfei will not believe anything I say. So, naturally, I won’t be considered a threat.”
Therefore, Li Zong would definitely focus on Li Fengqi.
“You are right.” Li Fengqi smiled. “That’s why we have to seize the first opportunity.”
He patted the back of Ye Yunting’s hand and said in a deep voice, “You and Ji Lian should get ready. We will leave the house immediately.”
*
At this time, in the palace.
Li Zong paced the hall with his hands behind his back. “Didn’t I tell you to block the messages? How did the news reach Rongyang?! They’re almost at the capital, and you’re only just realizing it now?! “
Cui Xi raised his sleeves to cover the slightly-curved corners of his lips, glanced at Han Chan who was sitting quietly, and advised him, “Your Majesty, please calm down. Perhaps it was a momentary oversight on the part of the Taifu’s subordinates.”
The Shence Army only focused on the Yong’an Palace; instead, it was Han Chan’s people who were responsible for cutting off communications at various gates and borders.
Cui Xi and Han Chan had been at odds for a long time, and now that the emperor was angry, Cui Xi naturally did not hesitate to add more fuel to the fire.
“The Taifu is wise and ingenious. He must have a method to deal with this. Why hide it still? Why not relieve His Majesty’s worries already?”
Han Chan glanced at him coldly, looked at the anxious and angry emperor, and quietly said, “I remember telling Your Majesty that it is useless to panic when something happens, so think about how to deal with it first.”
Li Zong, who was pacing, paused and subconsciously restrained his anxious expression. He and Han Chan looked at each other for a moment, then lifted the hem of his clothes rather weakly, sat down opposite Han Chan, picked up the cold tea on the table and drank it in one swallow. “Teacher is right.”
He lowered his head slightly, as if attentively listening, with an expression full of dependence and trust.
“The people below are not doing well; I will take care of them later.” Han Chan lifted the teapot with one hand, pushed up his wide sleeves with the other, and poured a cup of hot tea for Li Zong.
Through the mist of the water vapor, he slowly said, “Prince Yong’an and the elder Wangfei are not in close terms. Even if the elder Wangfei comes back, she might not do anything.”
“But they have been mother and son for so many years…” Li Zong hesitated.
“So just in case, we will ask Prince Yong’an to be silent for the time being.” Han Chan lowered his eyes, picked up the tea and took an unhurried sip. “Prince Yong’an was poisoned and bedridden. His Majesty was worried about his condition and sent him a medical officer to take care of him day in and day out. Doesn’t this show your Majesty’s kindness? As for the palace being deserted, there were servants in the palace who had colluded with assassins. His Majesty was worried about the safety of the Prince, so he specially dispatched maids from the palace to take care of him. If the elder Wangfei knew about His Majesty’s efforts, she would only be grateful.”
He finished speaking and smiled gently. “Besides, it doesn’t matter if the elder Wangfei comes back. Once the northern border is settled, His Majesty will have no need to care about these minor details anymore.”
“Sure enough, the teacher’s plan is superior!” After hearing what he said, Li Zong clapped his hands and laughed. He stood up and took two steps proudly. “As long as Zhu Wen rebels, I can destroy the Xuanjia Army with just cause. Even if I give orders for Li Fengqi to be killed, no one in the world will dare say that I’m wrong!”
Han Chan chuckled. “His Majesty’s words are very true.”
Li Zong’s expression was no longer agitated; his eyebrows relaxed, and he ordered with a relieved expression: “Cui Xi, take people to furnish Prince Yong’an palace, and then select a few resourceful ones to serve the Prince.”
“Yes.” Cui Xi bowed and saluted, followed the order and retreated.
Before leaving, he raised his eyes and saw Han Chan holding a cup of hot tea. The mist of water vapor blurred his face, making him look even more enigmatic. But Li Zong was oblivious to this. He sat down happily and went to talk to Han Chan again, calling him teacher with all sincerity.
Cui Xi narrowed his eyes and retreated quietly.
===Translator’s Notes===
- 啸雪刀, lit. howling snow blade ↩︎
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I really wonder what Han Chan's motivation is...
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