Chapter 84
In an inconspicuous inn at the east end of the city, the waiter led the horse into the stable and carefully fed it the finest fodder. The horse chewed a few times expressionlessly and swallowed, occasionally poking at the hay laid out in the stable with its hooves or snorting.
The waiter looked up at the innermost window with a puzzled expression. Their inn was as shabby as it could possibly be, yet it received distinguished guests every few days. This led him to believe that his seemingly ordinary manager was actually a high-ranking official in hiding. It was just a pity that no matter how many important people came, his wages remained meager.
The window that the waiter had looked at many times was now tightly closed, as if the people inside were engaged in some kind of secret transaction.
It wouldn't be wrong to call it a transaction. Xie Chengnan came here for an exchange, not out of any patriotic sentiment of loyalty to the emperor or serving the country.
He sat cross-legged on the couch, unconcerned about the other party's unparalleled status, and not worried at all that the other party would punish him for disrespect. "Actually, you know in your heart that this deal is very worthwhile. Even without Lu Yuanchou's sincere support, you can still sit in that position."
"The Marquis of Yong'an and his wife are deeply in love; I was just being paranoid before," Gu Shu'an said.
"Stop spouting nonsense. You should be extremely glad you didn't agree to her back then." Xie Chengnan lifted his eyelids to look at him. "You'd better keep to yourself why I agreed, or things might get complicated... I can't guarantee I won't turn around and bite you."
Despite being so blatantly threatened, Gu Shuan showed no displeasure whatsoever. As if he hadn't heard it, he coldly said, "The appointment document will be delivered to your residence tomorrow."
"There's no need for that trouble. Just leave it with His Highness the Crown Prince for now. We'll see each other all the time, so there will be plenty of opportunities to take it. What do you say?"
Gu Shuan neither confirmed nor denied this.
Xie Chengnan jumped off the recliner and stretched. "Now that I've finished my business, I'll head back first. My wife is waiting for me to come home for dinner."
The boastfulness in his words was obvious, and Gu Shu'an retorted without backing down: "Please cherish this opportunity, Marquis Yong'an. Since you've agreed, such days won't be many more."
Xie Chengnan had already reached the door when he heard this and couldn't help but turn around and glare at him. The other man seemed oblivious and leisurely took a sip of his tea.
He and Gu Shuan are simply incompatible! Their birth charts clash!
Xie Chengnan suppressed the urge to rush over and punch him, secretly convincing himself that this was His Highness the Crown Prince, the future ruler of the country, and that he should respect and assist him... what a load of rubbish.
Xie Chengnan doesn't know the meaning of the word "wronged". If anyone dares to talk to him like that, then no one will have an easy time.
"Your Highness has never married your beloved, yet you are so understanding in matters of the heart. Could it be that you have truly broken up with a certain young lady from the Zhan family? A broken mirror cannot be mended, and you are filled with regret, which is why you are giving such advice to someone like me who still has a good future?"
Gu Shuan's hand gripping the cup tightened suddenly.
“Marquis Yong’an, you’re meddling far too much,” Gu Shu’an said.
"Likewise."
Neither of them was willing to give in, and their glares, if they could materialize, would have already sparked a fierce battle. In the end, Xie Chengnan was the first to let out a cold snort, turn around, and leave.
He has a family and a wife to fetch, so he won't bother arguing with this lonely prince.
When Xie Chengnan arrived, Lin Yi had already been waiting at the palace gate for a while.
Cang Xie had already prepared a carriage and was waiting outside the palace gate, intending to take the person back, but Lin Yi said there was no rush.
Xie Chengnan said he would come to pick her up, so she waited.
"Madam, it was the Marquis who sent me to fetch you back to the manor."
Lin Yi shook his head: "Did he say he wasn't coming?"
Cang Xie thought for a moment and said truthfully, "The Marquis didn't say anything. He only said that if he couldn't get back in time, he should ask me to come and pick him up."
"That's settled then, he'll come," Lin Yi said confidently.
Xie Chengnan didn't keep her waiting long. A chestnut-red steed appeared at the street corner. The rider was tall and slender, his back straight and upright, as graceful as a pine or bamboo, yet more like a sword yet to be drawn, its brilliance concealed. As such a young man rode across the street, every passerby couldn't help but glance at him.
Lin Yi immediately recognized the person on horseback and waved to him from afar.
The horse slowed down when it was still some distance from the palace gate, and stopped just as Lin Yi approached.
Xie Chengnan, seated high on his horse, extended his hand to her: "Would you like to ride a horse or drive a carriage?"
Lin Yi grasped his hand without much hesitation. Without needing a reply, Xie Chengnan pulled her onto the horse.
Unlike before, this time Lin Yi nestled comfortably in Xie Chengnan's arms, no longer deliberately keeping her distance. The rise and fall of the horse's back was reassuring. With each bump, Lin Yi would inevitably bump into the person behind her, and when she did, she would simply lean against him. Xie Chengnan also noticed her relaxation, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile. His arm, which was holding the reins, naturally wrapped around the person in front of him, and the horse slowed down even more.
The palace gates were soon empty, but poor Cang Xie had to return empty-handed after arriving in an empty carriage.
Their deep affection only caused others unnecessary trouble.
Lin Yi recounted her interactions with Princess Changning to Xie Chengnan almost verbatim, only omitting details about the school license. Xie Chengnan didn't say anything after listening, only telling her to try her luck at the Ministry of Rites again.
She had been turned away by the Ministry of Rites more than once or twice. If there was any such thing as luck, then she was simply too unlucky.
But since Xie Chengnan asked her to go, she figured it wouldn't hurt to go.
After her initial enthusiasm subsided, Lin Yi was no longer in a hurry. She absolutely had to get this done, and do it well, so there was no rush. She was prepared to return empty-handed again, but Du Ping's attitude took a complete turn.
His face was all smiles, and the crisscrossing wrinkles made Lin Yi realize that he was also a 'father' of similar age to Qiu Baiji: "I have already received your instructions, and I will take care of it for you right away."
Du Ping didn't say who advised him, but only a handful of people knew about it—you could count them on one hand. Gu Shu'an wouldn't do anything that didn't benefit her; she wouldn't do anything unnecessary. Xie Chengnan was always too busy, and after he finished, he would be with her, so he probably wouldn't have the time or energy to help her.
It seems that Princess Changning is indeed very powerful and influential. Even Gu Shuan found it difficult to handle, but she managed to get it done after only one trip to the palace.
However, she couldn't quite figure out what Princess Changning really meant. She had clearly stated that she didn't need her help, and when she entered the palace yesterday, Princess Changning hadn't said she would definitely help her.
Whether to say it or not is irrelevant now. The matter is settled, and Lin Yi owes her a favor, wondering how she hopes he will repay it.
After much thought, I realized I needed to discuss this with Xie Chengnan.
Knowing his stance in the court, who he could trust, and who he should keep at a distance, Lin Yi was able to act with greater discretion.
Du Ping, the official in charge of the Ministry of Rites, quickly affixed his seal to the petition, and even the official permit for the establishment had been prepared in advance.
The heavy piece of silk landed in Lin Yi's hand. She stretched out her fingers and gently stroked the large, bright red official seal at the bottom, her feelings a mixture of emotions.
With this, the school could then operate legitimately.
The huge weight that had been pressing on Lin Yixin for days finally lifted, and having just reconciled with Xie Chengnan, she felt incredibly lighthearted. During her cold war with Xie Chengnan, the ones who suffered the most were probably Xueya and Cangxie, their hearts filled with worry, yet they dared not ask or speak of it.
After regaining his senses, Lin Yi felt very sorry for them, so he paid for a big meal at Zuixianlou out of his own pocket.
They arrived at an inopportune time; the private rooms were already booked. Fortunately, the open-plan rooms on the second floor were also quite quiet. They could hear the sounds outside, but the curtains blocked out the view of people, making them feel more at ease.
"Have you heard? The envoy from Xili was detained by the Court of State Ceremonies as soon as he entered the city and is now locked up in jail."
Lin ordered a few dishes that everyone liked, and while waiting for the food to be served, he chatted casually with Xueya. However, when he overheard the conversation between the diners next door through the curtain, he quietly fell silent.
The speaker tried to lower their voice as much as possible, but unfortunately, they had a naturally loud voice that was sharp and penetrating. Lin Yi's back was right next to the bamboo curtain, so he could hear it clearly.
She beckoned to Xie Chengnan, signaling him to come over and listen together.
Xie Chengnan found it somewhat amusing, assuming she was listening to some kind of gossip. He felt helpless, but also indulged her wishes, moving a little closer with affection.
Lin Yi still felt it wasn't enough, and fearing he couldn't hear, he pulled the man closer. This concerned the envoy from Xili, a crucial plot point, and Xie Chengnan had already entered the court; inquiring further might be helpful to him.
Although Lin Yi wasn't very strong, speed was of the essence. Xie Chengnan was caught off guard and pulled away from the stool, almost falling on her. His lips barely touched Lin Yi's temple, and he caught a whiff of the delicate fragrance of osmanthus and soapberry.
He was a little distracted, and glanced at Lin Yi with a look that was both reproachful and angry.
The other party was completely unaware, focusing all their attention on the other side of the bamboo curtain.
Another person exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"
"Is that even a lie? My uncle works in the Ministry of Justice!"
After offering a few flattering words, the man continued, "What do you think the imperial court's intentions are? They're not really going to start a war, are they?"
“I doubt it. You don’t know yet, do you? Emperor Zhaowen is ill—” The man’s voice lowered a few decibels, “and he is seriously ill. It is said that he was angered by the Crown Prince and fell ill.”
"Is this what your uncle said?"
The man nodded, his voice sounding even more smug: "With his illness, the Crown Prince has taken over all state affairs. But how old is the Crown Prince? I don't think he has the same decisiveness as Emperor Zhaowen."
The other person quickly called out his name, "Watch your words!"
The man must have realized that he had been too smug and had spoken without thinking, because he suddenly stopped talking, and after a while the two of them continued whispering.
There was nothing new about this. Xie Chengnan turned Lin Yi, who was already pressed against the bamboo curtain, and pressed him obediently in front of the octagonal table: "Eat."
It turned out that she was so engrossed in listening that she didn't even notice the waiter coming in to serve the dishes.
The waiter was also perceptive. Although he didn't know why the customer was behaving strangely, he seemed to not want to be disturbed. So he moved with extreme lightness, without even making a sound when the dishes were placed on the table.
Cang Xie across from her and Xue Ya sitting next to her were looking at her with incomprehension but also tolerance, making Lin Yi feel a little awkward.
She put her fist to her lips and coughed lightly: "The dishes are all served, let's start eating."
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