◇ Chapter 91 (91) A long-planned encounter (Part 1)

Bo Kang hummed: "I understand."

Qinghe was still waiting for him to go with him. He had already prepared to call the doctor and had instructed the servant to light a fire and prepare some preserved fruits. But when he saw Bai Kang turn around and walk towards the study, his eyes almost popped out.

"Sir, the lady is not feeling well." Qinghe repeated tactfully.

Bai Kang didn't answer and walked quickly.

This wasn't right. It didn't seem like the two of them were having an argument; it was more like their parents were unwell. Qinghe was worried Lianzhi would get angry because she wasn't around anymore, but when he hurried over to report, Lianzhi just hummed through the screen, showing no sign of anger.

Strange, so strange.

At night, Bai Kang still hadn't returned to his room. The night watchman was about to fall asleep, so he knocked on Eunuch Wen's door with a lamp in hand.

Before Lianzhi returned to the capital, he rarely visited the villa, and his encounters with Eunuch Wen were few and far between. To be honest, their relationship wasn't particularly close. Seeing him now, Eunuch Wen asked in confusion, "Bai Kang? Why aren't you serving His Majesty?"

"Lian'er isn't feeling well," Bai Kang said. Eunuch Wen didn't bother to correct him, and in a moment of panic, he stood up. He held him down, letting Eunuch Wen sit back down. He then put down his lantern and sat cross-legged across from him.

"Lian'er was in a bad mood after meeting someone outside today. Lao Wen, you know him best." Bai Kang took a sip of tea and said calmly, "There are some things I want to ask you."

Eunuch Wen quickly demanded to know who had angered their Majesty. While Lianzhi was prone to temper tantrums, she rarely became physically ill. Bo Kang pretended to ponder for a moment before replying, "The man said his surname was Yan, and someone in his family once served in the palace. Old Wen, you know my time serving Lian'er was short. Do you remember this person?"

Upon hearing that word, Eunuch Wen's expression remained unchanged. Bai Kang stared intently at Eunuch Wen's face, not missing a single expression. Seeing that he showed no sign of fear, he was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard Eunuch Wen recall, "It seems there was a guard in the palace named Yan who angered His Majesty and was executed. Our Majesty has such a good temper, yet that man was a fool!"

Eunuch Wen grew increasingly angry as he spoke, raising his finger and cursing, "Your Majesty has never executed a palace maid since your reign. Bo Kang, please judge for yourself. You've always contradicted His Majesty. Has His Majesty ever punished you by sending you to the Ministry of Punishment?"

"Why did Lianzhi execute him?"

Eunuch Wen was still furious, but when he heard Bai Kang's cold words, he was almost startled. Bai Kang asked again, and Eunuch Wen said without hesitation: "If you ask this, I remember it very clearly. It seems to be about a palace maid."

For... a palace maid?

"Didn't Chief Steward Wu say at the time that he was assassinated and poisoned?" Bai Kang asked anxiously. He was a bit rash, but fortunately, Eunuch Wen was still angry and didn't hear him. "Your Majesty did indeed order poisoned wine! As for poisoning, someone in the palace dared to poison him, which is tantamount to assassination. How could Your Majesty allow such a person to do so?"

The palace did have a rule that guards and maids could not exchange secrets. Could it be that Lianzhi had him executed to uphold palace rules? But before he died, he had clearly told her that his death was suspicious and asked her to be careful.

"What was the name of that guard? Old Wen, do you still remember him?" Bai Kang asked the last question of the night.

At this point, Eunuch Wen slowed down his speech: "I'm not the commander of the Imperial Guards, how could I possibly remember it so clearly? I just remember a little bit, it seems his name was Yan Xi."

Bai Kang returned to the study.

He had to attend court the next morning, but he felt no sleep. Having Qinghe serve him a cup of strong tea, Bai Kang hesitated and said, "Qinghe, if Lianzhi and a friend of mine gave two different answers to the same question, who do you think I should believe?"

"Believe it, Madam." Qinghe said.

Bai Kang was very surprised: "Don't you dislike Lianzhi?" Could it be that Lianzhi's character is so good that Qinghe, who has always disliked him, approves of him?

"Given your relationship with Madam, she wouldn't lie to you," Qing He replied. Bo Kang rested his hands on his forehead and sighed deeply.

"What if that friend is Chang Yuzhu?" Bai Kang asked.

As far as he knew, apart from Master Chang, his master probably had no other friends. Qing He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue: "Master, by asking this, doesn't it mean that you don't trust Madam?"

Otherwise, why ask such a question?

Bo Kang sighed again and buried his head in his hands.

Chang Yuzhu always said that his appointment as a royal guard to Chen Fenglian was both good fortune and bad fate. Bo Kang now admitted the latter part, but not the former.

He fought hard to become the imperial guard and the commander of the guards.

Five years ago, Bai Kang just arrived in Beijing.

The year he went to Beijing, he happened to take the military examination. Although he had the recommendation from the royal palace, Bai Kang still did not choose to go through the recommendation route. Instead, he honestly took the examination and became a small palace guard.

If he hadn't taken the military examination, he would have been able to become an imperial guard upon entering the palace, a position of the fourth rank. But Bo Kang never regretted it. He believed that if he relied on himself, he would eventually reach that point.

Back in the north, he'd been considered a young official, but in the capital, that status was no longer a significant one. The son of a fifth-rank military commander was considered unremarkable even among the imperial guards. Back then, before he'd met Chang Yuzhu, the palace maids were all flatterers, and only one imperial guard was willing to speak to him.

The man's surname was Yan, and his name was Yan Chengxi, the only son of General Huben. Because they were both sons of military commanders, Yan Chengxi would talk to him more often—but General Huben was different from his father; he was a true son of a military commander. Yan Chengxi had a good disposition, was gentle and kind, and didn't talk much. Furthermore, his family background meant that few dared approach him.

Bai Kang felt quite unlucky. Just after the announcement of the military exam results, the emperor ascended to heaven. The crown prince also passed away due to illness, and he had no idea what the new emperor's temperament would be like. He had inquired before coming to the capital; the previous emperor was benevolent, and the former crown prince was said to be extremely amiable and kind.

In that case, the new emperor’s temper shouldn’t be too bad... right?

The succession ceremony concluded, the ministers dispersed, and most of the imperial guards withdrew, leaving only Bo Kang and his men patrolling outside the palace walls. The new emperor left the throne room, his palanquin parked at the foot of the stone steps, its bright yellow curtains swaying in the wind.

Bai Kang glanced in that direction for a second longer. They had been there during the ceremony. He didn't dare look up, only glimpsing him from a distance. The new emperor looked young, about the same age as his younger brother.

"Bai Kang, what are you looking at?" the guard beside him called out to him. "Just now I saw you staring at the Danbi stone steps. Are you envious of the Imperial Guards?"

Bai Kang scratched his nose uncomfortably. Another person said, "The treasury is now empty. Your Majesty's coronation ceremony will not be as grand as the last emperor's."

"Have you ever seen the late emperor ascend the throne?"

"My father is the director of the Imperial Household Department." the man replied.

Since no one was around and it was almost time to lock the palace gates, he began to talk a little more about the past. The young guards, unfamiliar with palace life, listened with rapt interest. That was until the man said mysteriously, "Our Majesty is the late emperor's youngest son, not even seventeen yet!"

It wasn't like Daning hadn't had a young emperor before, and Emperor Taizong was also a young hero, so no one was surprised. The man then said, "Your Majesty isn't the Empress Dowager's biological son!"

This is quite thought-provoking. You know, the Queen Mother has her own son, yet now she's supporting a prince who hasn't even reached the age of adulthood or been crowned a king. If you think about it, Your Majesty wasn't particularly outstanding among the other princes before!

Bo Kang frowned: "Say less."

"No one's here right now." The man didn't care. Bo Kang kindly reminded him, "Walls have ears. Besides, talking about the current emperor is a serious crime."

"Well said."

Before the man could retort, a lazy voice suddenly came from behind him. The voice was as clear as glass, yet it carried a lingering childishness. Immediately afterwards, several guards knelt in unison. The man turned and saluted timidly, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Beneath the bright yellow curtains, the little emperor's crown and jade beads clinked as he casually pointed at Bo Kang: "You are right."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Bo Kang bowed. The little emperor seemed a little curious and said to him, "Look up."

Bai Kang raised his head. He hadn't looked directly at the Emperor, but he could sense a change in the aura of the person in the Imperial Carriage. After a long pause, the young Emperor asked, "Since you say this is a serious crime, how do you think I should punish him?"

What?

Bai Kang was taken aback. He was naturally familiar with the palace rules. He had memorized them thoroughly when the list was published, fearing any mistakes. He had to answer the emperor's questions, but if he did, he would offend everyone around him.

It is even more unacceptable to say that you don’t remember the palace rules.

What's going on? He defends His Majesty and the palace rules, so why is he still asking him such a question? Is the little emperor stupid? But when he secretly looked up, he was clearly met with a pair of cunning eyes.

He is a naughty child.

"Your Majesty, having just ascended the throne, issued a general amnesty. Why not show mercy and pardon us in this case as well? We, your subjects, will certainly be grateful for Your Majesty's benevolence, which is comparable to the rule of Yao and Shun."

After a while, the little emperor's voice, which was flat and unmoved, rang out again: "Is this your answer, my dear minister?"

Bai Kang nodded in agreement. After a long moment, the little emperor finally murmured, "Then it's as you say. Xiao Wenzi, let's go."

With that, the imperial chariot left the place. The man was terrified. Seeing that His Majesty really didn't punish him, he was relieved, but also said with a bit of complaint: "Bai Kang, you almost got me into trouble."

"Is it me who harmed you?" Bo Kang crossed his arms and glanced at him. "It's you who harmed you by not abiding by the palace rules."

The man thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. He said angrily, "I'll be more careful next time. But our emperor is quite majestic."

He has some dignity, but doesn't seem to be a good-tempered person.

Bai Kang unconsciously looked in the direction where the imperial carriage left.

His shift wasn't until the afternoon of the second day, so Bai Kang returned home late. Today was the monthly mail delivery day from outside the palace, and his family had sent a letter. He didn't even need to look; it must have been from his mother. He and his father hadn't spoken privately since his mother passed away. Bai Kang hesitated for a moment, then opened the envelope.

It must be said that his mother was a good person, except that she was too reserved around him and was not used to her current status. She used to be a maid to Bai Kang's biological mother and had always served her wholeheartedly, so Bai Kang was willing to call her mother.

His younger sister could already speak, and his younger siblings missed him too. After reading the letter, Bai Kang felt unsatisfied and tucked the letter against his chest. Suddenly, a sob came from beside him.

Now there were only two people in the barracks. Bai Kang looked to his side and patted his chest: "Guard of Yan, could you please say something before you scare anyone?"

Yan Chengxi didn't notice his exaggerated movements and was still sobbing: "Little sister... my little sister was taken away by the elders of the tribe..."

"What's going on?" Bai Kang was puzzled. Yan Chengxi rarely spoke a word, explaining, "I'm her only relative. I'm in the capital now, and she's all alone in her hometown. What if her family bullies her..."

The fact that General Hu Ben died in battle and his wife passed away due to illness was no secret in Daning. Bai Kang also knew about this. He was silent for a moment before patting Yan Chengxi on the shoulder and saying, "I understand you, brother. I have two younger sisters too. They're still very young, but I often worry about whether they'll be bullied."

"You have a younger sister too?" Yan Chengxi suddenly became talkative. "I only have one younger sister left. Since you have a younger sister too, let me tell you about my younger sister."

Because of the younger sister, Bai Kang and Yan Chengxi became closer.

They were both considered the more ambitious of the guards, and they adhered closely to palace rules, quickly earning their commander's appreciation. However, their colleagues considered them a bit old-fashioned. Some even wondered why Bo Kang had suddenly become so close to Yan Chengxi. Was he flattering him for promotion?

Bai Kang pretended not to hear these words. It had been almost a year since he arrived in the capital, and he no longer had the same ambition to make a name for himself. He was doing well in the palace, and that was enough. Perhaps it was because he was different from others, not having any lofty ambitions.

Another shift, and Bai Kang returned to the barracks early to rest. His shift was the same as Yan Chengxi's, and logically, Yan Chengxi should have returned earlier than him since he was patrolling the harem today. When the others came to relieve him at night, they still hadn't seen Yan Chengxi return. He felt something was wrong and was about to alert the others to look for him when another guard who had been patrolling the harem with Yan Chengxi came running back: "Oh no! Brother Yan is missing!"