Chapter 165 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 19.

Don't worry about it.

Yu Shiqing hadn't heard Ye Zangxing say those four words in a long time. Long ago, Ye Zangxing used to say them to him often.

"A little alcohol won't harm your health, I'll just drink less, okay? Don't worry about it..."

"Father is capricious, and this matter is of great importance. You will be implicated. I will speak to him; you should not interfere..."

"Just call me that! Qingqing, Qingqing! You don't need to worry about how I call you..."

The boy teased him, protected him, and laughed at him. In the swaying summer breeze, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe of the new crown prince, he said to him, "You are a gentleman standing in the spring blossoms and autumn sunshine. Danzhi, let them say what they want about the succession. Don't fight over it or jeopardize your future. Those people, who usually hold positions without doing anything, are now making a fuss. Do they really think they can drown me with a single spit?"

"Don't worry about it..."

Later, the Crown Prince became the new emperor, standing atop a towering peak, his words law and authority commanding respect. At the very moment when he should have been most domineering and powerful, he surprisingly stopped insisting on leaving things alone. Even if Ye Zangxing hadn't spoken, Yu Shiqing could no longer intervene, for above close friends lay the roles of ruler and subject.

Now, as time flows by, in the dock town, in a two-story restaurant, Yu Shiqing suddenly heard those familiar words. In a daze, he felt only emptiness. He didn't need to care, so even the Yellow Springs and the Underworld abandoned him.

"You don't want me to handle this?"

Yu Shiqing chewed on those four words inch by inch, as if they were rotten bones and tendons, biting them into tiny pieces, until they were fragmented. "Then who do you want to take care of me?" he asked. "Xuan Shu, do you think that if you don't speak up and I don't take care of you, I can really get away with it?"

As soon as Ye Zangxing finished speaking, he realized he had made a mistake. His brows furrowed in alarm, and he hurriedly tried to speak, but Yu Shiqing spoke first. He was taken aback when he heard Yu Shiqing's words.

"I've been involved in this for a long time."

Yu Shiqing raised his eyes, which were as white as snow, and said, "Those things you don't want to talk about. What is the Empress Dowager and the rebels? They are nothing more than the character 'Liang'."

Ye Cangxing's eyebrows twitched, as if sensing something, and he hurriedly spoke: "Danzhi..."

Yu Shiqing seemed not to hear, his gaze fixed on the bright red and green dishes, his voice low and cold, his tone slow but deep: "When the current emperor was still a prince, his situation was not good, and he had no children for many years. After ascending the throne, in the second year of Tianxi, he and the empress had a son."

"In the third year of the Tianxi reign, the Emperor favored Consort Ning, and the second and third princes were born in succession. The eldest and second princesses were also born to other concubines. However, in the tenth year of the Tianxi reign, the eight-year-old eldest prince suddenly died. Empress Liang went mad, killed Consort Ning, and attempted to assassinate the Emperor with a sword. Chaos erupted in the palace, the Emperor was shocked, and the second and third princes died. The Liang family was implicated and their entire clan was exterminated. Turmoil ensued in the capital, lasting until the thirteenth year of the Tianxi reign…"

"The Liang family is a century-old clan, and the so-called 'femme fatale's rebellion' is a remnant of their clan. According to legend, the Prince of Pei of the previous dynasty died unexpectedly while collecting wealth for the last emperor, and his wealth ended up in Fujian and Yue."

“Minyue has been a barbarian land since ancient times. Only in the area bordering Hangzhou did a noble family emerge. They made contributions to the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty and their descendants have prospered for generations. This family is the Liang family. The so-called treasure of the previous dynasty must be the legendary wealth of the Prince of Pei, right?”

"As for why you are here today, it seems that you have something to do with the Empress Dowager's rebels. It's just that the rebels have some schemes, and you probably discovered something near the Prince of Yong, sensed something was wrong, and started investigating."

"You know their identities, but you don't know how deep they are, so you plan to follow the clues and catch them all in one fell swoop. So you pretend to associate with them."

"The so-called cooperation is probably with you. You've used a scheme to your advantage, claiming that you're at odds with both Prince Yong and Prince Ding, and lack power, leaving them with no choice but to hide their abilities. For the wicked Empress Dowager's faction, who hate Emperor Tianxi to the core, such a prince is the perfect partner. Using the succession struggle to disrupt the court is a wonderful thing..."

Most scholars have fair complexions, and Yu Shiqing is also fair-skinned, but his fair complexion has a fine, sandy tinge, making it clear at a glance that he is not a pedantic person who sits on the bookshelf all day, nodding his head and swaying his head; he has weathered storms and waded through mud.

Not to mention those extremely dark eyes, like two stubborn rocks on a cliff, or a deep, misty pool in an empty valley, so deep that they made one lose focus and were breathtaking.

This was no ordinary scholar. Ye Zangxing had known this for a long time, but he had only just found out.

"Tranquility!"

He looked at the scholar, then grasped his hand again. It was such a cold hand, as if it had been buried in the snow for countless years. "Stop talking. Since you know so much, you must understand that this matter is of great importance. Even the Grand Secretaries of the court would pretend to be crazy and avoid it like the plague. Your examination is just around the corner, and your future is bright. Why do you need to get involved?"

"I know you have your reasons, but whether they are gratitude or enmity, I beg you to be patient for now. Missing the imperial examination is a small matter, but losing your life is a big deal. You must not be so stubborn!"

He tried his best to persuade Yu Shiqing, but Yu Shiqing couldn't appreciate it.

He looked at him, his eyes sometimes seeing that desolate thin note, sometimes seeing that magnificent yet cold coffin.

In the third year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the emperor was assassinated during his southern tour. The assassin died on the spot. The Grand Secretary of the court smashed his teacup on the scarlet robe of the crane-embroidered robe. His hands trembled as he pressed them against countless secret letters and dossiers, having searched through countless old news.

“Xuan Shu, don’t you wonder how a nobody like me, who has never been to the capital or climbed the social ladder, knows so many secrets?” Yu Shiqing’s voice was very low, almost trembling.

Ye Zangxing paused, his pupils suddenly shifting unpredictably, as if he had fallen into a dream.

“You’re stopping me for my own good, but I also have my own requests. Through countless lifetimes and countless reincarnations, I will pay for them even in death.” As if thunder and lightning were exploding, the earth was shaking, and Yu Shiqing’s face was so chaotic that it seemed as if he was suffering in the midst of war. “Xuan Shu, please consider this my request.”

Ye Zangxing felt a pang in his heart, his back trembled violently, and he felt inexplicably terrified.

"You..." His hand, which was pressing down on Yu Shiqing, was covered in slippery sweat. "You're courting death... Yu Shiqing, you're courting death!"

Yu Shiqing smiled, spread his fingers, and slowly cupped that damp palm, gently holding it and wrapping it around, shaking it slightly with piety and affection: "Don't be afraid, Sixth Prince will protect me."

What kind of talk is that!

Ye Zangxing wanted to curse, but couldn't utter a word.

He couldn't utter a word, but Yu Shiqing could: "If you want to take risks, I can't stop you. If I want to take risks, how can you stop me? Is it a case of 'the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common people are not allowed to light lamps'?"

"Now, don't stop me, and I won't stop you. Whether it's a tiger's den or a dragon's pool, let's take a look together, shall we?"

Ye Zangxing remained silent.

Yu Shiqing followed the hand that was pressing down on him, grasped the boy's arm, pulled the boy's shoulders and back, and gently pulled him into his arms, as if he were holding a precious treasure, as if he were pitying a drifting duckweed, as if he were grasping a piece of driftwood.

Sweat instantly spread from Ye Zangxing's palms all over his body, choking him and preventing him from speaking. He could only grab Yu Shiqing's coarse cloth collar and squeeze out a few indistinct words: "Has anyone... ever called you a bastard?"

"No."

In her previous life, Yu Danzhi never did anything outrageous, so she lived a life of spring blossoms and autumn sunshine, but in the end, she died in the snow.

...

"Ah? Your Highness, you've agreed to let Yu Jieyuan participate in this matter?" On the way back to the city, Xile was filled with shock. "This could very well mean execution! You...you hate Yu Jieyuan? Are you planning to use someone else to do your dirty work?"

Ye Zangxing, straddling his horse, frowned: "What are you talking about? I... I'm too busy protecting him to hate him."

"Then what about you?" Xile asked, even more puzzled.

"We can't avoid him," Ye Zangxing said.

“If Your Highness wants to, what can’t be avoided?” Xile was even more puzzled. “Find some people, find a pretext, and keep him in the academy. It’s easy. If all else fails, have Mr. Qiu speak up and take him to the capital as soon as possible, away from Huai’an. There are plenty of ideas.”

"Could it be that Your Highness is confused from drinking today and hasn't remembered?"

"How dare you make fun of your Highness!" Ye Cangxing kicked out, but didn't actually hit Xile. Immediately, the little eunuch chuckled, revealing his two big teeth, "So, Your Highness, what's wrong? Could it be that you've really been bewitched?"

Ye Zangxing's eyebrows twitched, as if he had remembered something, and a trace of unease quickly crossed his face. "He's not exactly bewitched, but he's pretty much," he sighed. "Anyway, there's no way to avoid him in this matter."

Xi Le, riding beside Ye Zangxing, glanced at his expression and whispered, "Actually, although the Empress's rebellion is strange, it's not too bad. The only problem is His Majesty's attitude."

"Our ancestors said that the events of the tenth year of the Tianxi reign were a muddled account that no one could pry into."

Ye Zangxing: "Is that what Eunuch Feng said?"

Xile nodded: "Actually, if you ask me, it would be best if Your Highness didn't get involved. Prince Yong will definitely handle it..."

Ye Zangxing looked at Xile, who opened her eyes wide and then snapped her mouth shut.

“I have my reasons too,” Ye Zangxing said, gripping the reins and looking at the unfamiliar yet familiar autumn scenery of southern Jiangsu. “In short, I will protect him, and also… protect myself, and protect many others.”

Looking into his prince's bright and determined eyes, Xile felt excited and shaken, but more than anything, he felt a very strange sorrow.

He remembered a saying from the old master of the Directorate of Ceremonial: "The most pitiful people are those who are loyal and affectionate. They want to protect each other, and they want to protect each other. This is a good thing, but such a good thing often turns into a bad thing without them even realizing it."

at the same time.

Yu Shiqing had already arrived at the academy.

He had asked for a day off, but the covert guards couldn't keep up for that long. Besides, the matter was over, and Ye Cangxing had relented and told him a lot of information that he needed to process. Given the situation, it wasn't wise to alert the enemy right now, so he had no choice but to return first.

"Brother Yu."

"Yu Jieyuan!"

"Danzhi is here!"

Yu Shiqing greeted his classmates along the way and returned to his study.

It was nearly noon, and there were no classes in the study, only a few people. Yu Shiqing sat down, preparing to integrate the knowledge from his past and present lives while pondering those unheard-of clues.

Just then, Bao Shaojie entered. Upon seeing him, his eyes lit up immediately, and he quickly leaned over, whispering, "Oh dear, Brother Yu, you really are being watched! What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into, whether it's from the imperial court or the martial arts world, something big or..."

Yu Shiqing raised his hand: "Want to know?"

Bao Shaojie quickly sat down beside him and nodded.

Yu Shiqing looked at him: "I remember your father entered officialdom in the seventh year of the Tianxi reign, and he was an official in the capital, right?"

“Yes,” Bao Shaojie said, “so what?”

Yu Shiqing asked, "In the tenth year of Tianxi, during the chaos caused by the Demon Empress, was your father aware of this?"

Bao Shaojie, who had been completely calm, suddenly trembled upon hearing this. His eyes widened, and he looked around hurriedly as if his soul had left his body. Then he glared angrily at Yu Shiqing and lowered his voice: "Why are you suddenly asking this? Are you out of your mind! Let me tell you, I don't know anything about this. My father never talks to me about this. He's very secretive about it when it comes to other people!"

Yu Shiqing remained composed, lying without hesitation: "Sigh, that's a bit difficult. You know, I became Mr. Qiu's student, and he gave me a topic to write an article. I'm thinking it might be related to the major events of the tenth year of Tianxi..."

“Mr. Qiu…” Bao Shaojie frowned, “That might… be quite possible. A few days ago, when I mentioned to my father that you had become Mr. Qiu’s student, he said that Mr. Qiu was very knowledgeable and highly respected. He was a good teacher. Although he hadn’t served as an official in the imperial court for long, he had been quite prominent. Back then, he was a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, and even the eldest prince was his student…”

Yu Shiqing paused for a moment.

This was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing, in both his past and present lives.

Author's Note:

Yu Shiqing, courtesy name Danzhi (pronounced dan), fourth tone.

*

I have something to do and a big move in the next two days, so I won't be online before 11 PM. It means I haven't finished revising the drafts, and I won't be able to come back. I'll announce it later.

I'll resume normal daily updates by the day after tomorrow, the 13th at the latest. [Please!]