Chapter 164 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 18.

"Hey, make way! Make way! What are you doing standing in the middle of the road?!"

His shoulder was shoved aside with great force, and a chorus of curses rushed to his face. Yu Shiqing seemed to snap out of his daze, apologized, quickly lowered his head, pressed down his straw hat, and moved to the side of the road.

"A yellow croaker's head!"

Passersby cursed, but Yu Shiqing paid no further attention.

As he turned into the alley and approached the restaurant, his brows furrowed under the cover of his straw hat.

His momentary lapse in concentration wasn't because Ye Zangxing was genuinely chatting and laughing with other men like friends, but because Yu Shiqing recognized the man opposite him!

That man was none other than Gong Danian, a renowned and valiant general under Prince Yong during the rebellion of his previous life. Yu Shiqing had fought against him and negotiated with him; there was no way he would admit to being wrong.

But how did this person end up here?

Yu Shiqing recalled that, according to the information he had gathered at the time, Gong Danian was a former pirate who had been roaming around the Mindong area of ​​southern Vietnam for many years and rarely appeared in other places. It was only after he admired the name of the Yong King and joined the Yong King's forces that he was able to shed his pirate ways, come ashore, and reform.

It was the thirty-seventh year of Tianxi. By any measure, Gong Danian should not have appeared in Huai'an, especially with his refined and elegant appearance, chatting happily with Ye Cangxing.

Before Yu Shiqing could finish his thought, he had already arrived near the back door of the restaurant.

He looked around for a while, but instead of sneaking in through that door, he found a secluded corner, took off his straw hat, straightened his clothes, and entered the restaurant through the main entrance.

"Waiter, do you have any private rooms available?"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Although Yu Shiqing had darkened his face and dressed in rough clothes, he still possessed a remarkable demeanor. The waiter in the restaurant dared not neglect him and led him up to the second floor.

"Sir, these three rooms are already occupied. Please choose any of the others."

Plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums represent spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Of the eight private rooms, the three that were chosen were right next to each other, and the room with the character "竹" in the middle was the one where Ye Zangxing and Gong Danian were drinking.

The fact that the window was open meant it shouldn't be considered a private conversation, but the two adjacent rooms had already been chosen, seemingly to prevent eavesdropping, so it could be considered one.

Yu Shiqing glanced at the room, pondered silently, and without saying a word, simply pointed and chose the room with the character "梅" (plum).

"Bring a few dishes of fish, shrimp, and river delicacies, whether light or spicy," Yu Shiqing said as he entered, tossing down a silver ingot with a hint of urgency in his eyes. "I can't wait, I'm going to the restroom. You can serve yourselves."

"Okay, don't worry, just wait!"

The waiter picked up the silver, grinning from ear to ear, poured tea, and quickly left to arrange the meal.

The private room quieted down.

Yu Shiqing glanced around and saw the waiter going downstairs. He pretended to leave, but returned quietly a moment later. Before the dishes arrived, he went around to the quiet side of the private room that was not facing the street, covered his face, and climbed out the window.

Outside was a deserted, dark alley. On the second floor, there was a narrow, narrow eave that no wider than a palm's width. Yu Shiqing carefully stepped on it, bowing to avoid people, and slowly approached the bamboo-shaped room.

As he passed the next room with the character "Lan" on it, he was especially careful, deliberately lowering his breathing considerably. There seemed to be someone inside the "Lan" room, but there was no talking, only the very faint sound of people picking up food and drinking wine.

Although the bamboo-shaped room had only half a window open, the voices were not loud. Yu Shiqing leaned against the shadow of the eaves and took a few more steps forward before he could barely hear the faint sounds.

"I really didn't expect that..." This was Ye Zangxing's voice, tinged with laughter.

"What didn't Your Highness think of?" another person asked. The voice was clearer and more youthful than the Gong Danian in Yu Shiqing's memory, but it was still seven or eight parts similar. "Did you not expect that such a small criminal would be plotting such a big thing, or did you not expect that you... also have such great ambitions?"

"No one expected this, right?" Ye Zangxing's voice carried a hint of self-deprecation.

The man laughed: "When the dragon soars to the throne, it will be the only one to make decisions. Who wouldn't want that? The Sixth Prince was born into the imperial family, so it's perfectly understandable that he has such thoughts. It would be strange if he didn't have this ambition."

"Now that Your Highness has decided to recruit us and bring us under your command, there is no need for further hesitation or overthinking. We cannot guarantee anything else, but we certainly have no shortage of strategists and generals. As long as Your Highness is willing to protect us, we are willing to give our lives for you!"

Outside the window, Yu Shiqing paused, her brow twitching.

Ye Zangxing intends to seize the throne and has even joined forces with Gong Danian and others? How come he didn't know?

"well."

Ye Zangxing seemed to take a swig of wine, his laughter subsided, and he sighed, "I'm willing to believe you, but I still haven't seen the truth behind your actions..."

Upon hearing this, the man who resembled Gong Danian immediately said, "We understand the Sixth Prince's concerns. You may wish to see our teacher, but it will take some time. However, while we don't know the details, how could you not know about the Southern Jiangsu Textile Bureau? We handled your requests perfectly. You should have heard about the news from the past two days, right?"

"I've heard about it. It's going well, much faster than I expected..." Ye Zangxing said. "But I'll have to meet with your gentleman to find out the exact details."

"You don't need to use that excuse about the deep-rooted power of Prince Yong and Prince Ding in the court, while I haven't even entered the court and have no foothold at all. If I really wanted to build something, even if I couldn't compare to my two brothers, there would still be plenty of people bowing down to me. You people, the rebellious empress that everyone hates, don't even deserve a mention! If it weren't for the considerable treasures you possess, do you think I would have the time to come and see you?"

"Oh, Your Highness, please calm down, please calm down!" The man hurriedly poured wine. "You yourself said that we, the Empress Dowager's faction, are like rats crossing the street. Why should you get angry because of us? Think about it, were we saying those things to put on airs or threaten you? We were just worried about you!"

"Since ancient times, the imperial family has been ruthless. Regardless of whether it is Prince Ding or your elder brother Prince Yong who eventually ascends to the throne, do you think anyone would truly allow you to live a leisurely and wealthy life as a prince?"

"Besides, you're not the only one searching for the treasures of the previous dynasty. Look at the notices that Prince Yong posted these past two days; he's practically naming names when he's looking for someone."

"If I don't cooperate with you, you'll go find Fourth Brother? Is that what you meant just now? Isn't that a threat?" Ye Cangxing sneered, slamming his wine glass onto the table with a loud bang.

“A wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on, Your Highness. We are also without a home…” the man sighed.

Ye Zangxing scoffed and fell silent.

After a moment of silence in the bamboo-shaped room, the man sighed again: "If Your Highness still has concerns, let's leave it at that for today. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. If you change your mind, you may come to us at any time."

After saying that, there was a rustling sound, footsteps, and the door of the bamboo-shaped room opened and closed.

That person must have left.

But there was still no sound from the two rooms on the left and right.

Yu Shiqing pondered for a moment, held his breath, turned around, and quietly and neatly returned the way he came.

The window of the room with the character "梅" (mei) was open. Yu Shiqing peeked inside and saw that most of the dishes had been served. The door was closed, and no one was inside for the time being. Without delay, he opened the window wider and quickly climbed back inside.

He had barely sat down when there was a commotion next door, presumably the entourage of the man who appeared to be Gong Danian had left. Yu Shiqing poured himself some wine, picked up some food, ate a few bites, and waited a while before getting up, opening the door to the private room, and preparing to leave.

However, as soon as he stepped out the door, before he could even take a step, his gaze froze.

In the corridor, a young man in a blue shirt leaned against a pillar, his hair ribbon hanging down his shoulder, gazing intently at him.

A moment later, inside the Plum Blossom Room.

The once-warm pot of Sanbai wine was lifted again, and with a slight sway, the pure liquid flowed into a small cup, pushed by calloused, slender fingers, reflecting Yu Shiqing's pair of dark, black eyes.

"You heard everything?" The owner of the wine cup asked softly, his fingers slightly curled around the edge.

“Yes,” Yu Shiqing said.

"Has anyone ever told you that you can't be too honest, Danzhi?" Ye Cangxing smiled, but his expression was indifferent. "The more you know, the faster you die. Even children know this in the martial arts world and the imperial court. Surely you haven't heard of it?"

Yu Shiqing said, "So, Your Highness intends to kill me?"

"No, I won't kill you. You're a talented person; it would be a real waste to kill you." Ye Zangxing rested his chin on his hand.

"Then what should we do?" Yu Shiqing asked patiently. "Arrest him, lock him up, imprison him? Where should we arrest him, what kind of lock should we use, and how long should we imprison him..."

Ye Zangxing raised his eyes: "Why does it sound like... this isn't me punishing you, but rather you're hoping for this?"

Yu Shiqing met his gaze, and after only two breaths, he suddenly smiled, lowered his eyes, picked up the wine cup, and drank.

Seeing this, Ye Cangxing knew he hadn't amused anyone. His eyes twitched, and the coldness and gloom on his face vanished, replaced by a lively expression. He frowned, pursed his lips, leaned closer, and raised his fingers to grasp Yu Shiqing's hand, which had just put down the wine cup.

“I’m not arguing with you,” he said. “Speak seriously. Didn’t you go back to the academy? How did you end up here?”

Yu Shiqing glanced at his wrist, which was being held captive, then turned to look at the person who was practically squeezing into his chair from the side, his handsome features slightly raised. He tilted his head, closing the distance between them by a third: "When I left, I saw you looking like you were about to go out and kill someone before dawn, so I was worried and came looking for you. You didn't bring any bodyguards, and you didn't conceal your whereabouts well. I could find out from the roadside vendors..."

Yu Shiqing had just drunk some wine, and a hint of its mellow flavor lingered on his lips. He breathed softly, his breath carrying the scent of alcohol. Although they were still quite far apart, Ye Cangxing felt as if those lips and teeth were closing in on him, pressing him closer. For a moment, he felt a little dizzy and his Adam's apple tightened.

"Is he courting death, or did he do it on purpose?" Yu Shiqing uttered the second half of the sentence, even softer.

Sweat rolled down Ye Zangxing's neck. He suddenly turned aside, stepped back, and loosened his grip: "Don't worry, it's like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Someone is watching in the dark. My life is of great use, why would I die here?"

He believed this in his past life...

Yu Shiqing felt a chill run down his spine, but he didn't say anything more. He only said, "A wise man doesn't stand under a dangerous wall. If this happens again... then I will say I hate you."

Ye Zangxing was taken aback and looked at him: "Hate? How... has it become so strong?"

“There are many things in this world that are destined to go against our wishes. But there is always one thing that we should strive to do even in death. My only wish is for you to be happy, healthy, and live a long and carefree life.” Yu Shiqing’s voice was very low, his eyes were lowered, and his expression could not be seen, but Ye Cangxing still seemed to have seen something, his heart skipped a beat, and his flesh and blood were suddenly twisted.

He was speechless for a moment, and after a long while, he looked away as if lost in thought, and said softly, "I... I know you're worried about me, and I know that if something happens to my identity, there will be too much trouble, but some things can't be accomplished without risking them. Don't worry, I will be careful, and I will have plenty of people protecting me, otherwise how would I have discovered you?"

Yu Shiqing didn't answer, but asked, "So who are those people? Is the Empress's rebellion related to that old incident from the tenth year of Tianxi?"

Ye Zangxing was silent for a moment, then said, "Danzhi, this is not a good thing. Getting involved will only harm you, not benefit you. Don't get involved."

Author's Note:

Yu Shiqing: I don't want to care? Ha. (laughs)