Chapter 187 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 41.
The wind whispers softly through the corridor.
As they left the warm pavilion and stepped out of the courtyard, Yu Shiqing suddenly said, "Your elder brother... should have found out by now."
Ye Cangxing paused for a moment, but his expression did not change. He simply raised his eyes, tossed his willow-green hair ribbon, and leaned closer to look at Yu Shiqing: "Are you scared of being caught cheating, Master Yu?"
"Between you and me, how can there be any 'treachery'?" Lord Yu's expression was serene and his words were calm. "We do not harm those who are truly in love, we do not involve others, we do not break the law, we do not commit any heinous acts, we are simply mutually in love and committed to each other for life. Where is there any 'treachery'?"
Ye Zangxing wanted to laugh, his heart itched, and he couldn't help but secretly touch the man's hand: "Young Master Yu's words are getting more and more pleasant to hear."
Yu Shiqing felt the warmth between his fingers, then looked at the many people who were sticking to him even in broad daylight, and whispered, "The Sixth Prince is getting bolder and bolder."
As he said this, he didn't push her away. Instead, he tightened his grip on her fingers and pressed them against her temples: "Prince Yong isn't the type to let things go unchecked. In a few days, when he's feeling better, he'll definitely come looking for you. When that time comes, go and call me, and we'll go together."
Ye Zangxing raised an eyebrow: "So sure?"
"A brilliant strategy." Yu Shiqing smiled.
“Alright,” Ye Zangxing said, “If I remember then, I will go and call you, but it’s not a big deal anyway. My brother is not unreasonable. Besides, if I really want to, how can he stop me?”
After saying that, before Yu Shiqing could say anything more, he quietly squeezed Yu Shiqing's hand again and whispered, "I'm about to get scolded, Danzhi, aren't you going to comfort me? I've been so busy the past two days that I haven't had a chance to think about it, but today you have to promise me, at least... give me a kiss..."
Yu Shiqing knew that this person was being evasive, and smiled helplessly to himself, but he didn't say anything more. He simply followed Ye Cangxing's force and retreated behind the artificial hill, inch by inch, into the pale yellow clothes.
Ye Zangxing knew that Yu Shiqing's prediction was correct.
After returning from the bottom of the cliff, the two had come to terms with many things and their feelings for each other were hard to suppress. Although they had no intention of publicizing their relationship, they also did not intend to hide too much from each other as long as it did not affect important matters.
In this way, when things are done, some traces will inevitably be left behind. When feelings reach their deepest point, even if they are not spoken, they will flow out like sweet honey in one's eyes.
His elder brother and sister-in-law are both very perceptive and know him well, so how could they not have noticed?
But he can handle this himself, so why bother Yu Shiqing with his troubles?
His young master Yu hasn't had a proper rest in a very long time, and he'd be heartbroken if he overworked him again.
Although Ye Zangxing gave Yu Shiqing a half-hearted answer, he was determined to deal with his brother and sister-in-law first. He didn't plan to wait for Prince Yong to come to him, but instead planned to strike first and take the initiative to talk to Prince Yong after he felt better.
Unexpectedly, he waited for ten days to half a month without stopping.
It wasn't that Prince Yong's health hadn't improved; in fact, after only six or seven days, Prince Yong was already moving around freely and was fine. Rather, it was Ye Zangxing himself who was preoccupied with many matters.
The mess he was making with the rebels alone kept him incredibly busy.
During this time, he also sent several secret letters to the capital. He had already explained the matter of the strange man, but while he didn't mind many things, it didn't mean that his father, Emperor Tianxi, who was still on the throne, wouldn't mind. The rest was fine, but he didn't want Yu Shiqing to be suspected by Emperor Tianxi.
As for himself, he wasn't afraid. He hadn't considered the dragon throne at this time in his previous life, and it remained irrelevant to him now. If he sat on it, he would naturally "guard the nation's gates, and die for the state"; if he didn't, he would be carefree and have no regrets.
However, the reply from the capital was unremarkable, and no additional secret edicts were sent.
In Ye Zangxing's memory, his father, who was indifferent to all the children, only wrote one line after Ye Zangxing's letter of apology: "You've worked hard. You should return soon next spring."
These eight characters sound more like a father calling on his son than a ruler giving an order to his subject.
"His Majesty is getting old..."
Yu Shiqing said.
Ye Zangxing closed the letter and had a vivid dream that night. In the dream, Emperor Tianxi took him to fly kites for the only time, and it was also the first time he saw a smile on that stern and indifferent face, a smile that belonged to his father.
Ye Zangxing stopped sending secret letters to the capital.
Not long after, the twelfth lunar month arrived. On this day, Ye Zangxing had some free time and was thinking about going to see Prince Yong when a servant knocked on the door, saying that His Highness Prince Yong invited him to come over.
Ye Zangxing paused for a moment, but felt relieved.
Prince Yong set out tea and refreshments in the flower hall that Afu liked best, and Ye Cangxing slowly walked in.
"After escaping death this time, I've been wanting to have a good tea with my fourth brother, but he's been keeping me busy by shirking my responsibilities. I haven't had a moment to myself all day. Today, I finally had some free time, but my fourth brother beat me to it and came to invite me first."
"It seems that Fourth Brother won't be able to drink tea brewed by me, this newly emerging tea master, for a while."
Ye Zangxing, with a smile on his face, lifted his robe and sat down opposite Prince Yong.
Those around him had been dismissed. Prince Yong, sleeves rolled up, brewed tea. Hearing this, he glanced at Ye Cangxing and sighed, "You've even remembered your past life. You're not a young man anymore, yet you still act so improperly..."
“So what if I remember? Everything is different now, so why cling to the old ways?” Ye Zangxing said.
Prince Yong paused, "There's no need to cling to the old ways, but there's also no need to pursue unwavering change. No one knows whether things will be better after the change."
Ye Zangxing raised his eyes and looked at Prince Yong: "What does Fourth Brother want to say?"
Prince Yong lowered his eyes, poured tea from the teapot, and said, "I have no interest in that position, nor am I suitable for it. Father Emperor prefers you. You didn't know this before, but after experiencing all this, you should understand by now. However, it's easy to be a foolish ruler, but difficult to be a wise one."
"There are many things that a wise ruler would consider almost harsh, things that are absolutely unacceptable..."
Ye Zangxing smiled, picked up the two jade cups beside him, and casually placed them on his left and right: "No one is perfect, and neither is you. There are standards in the world, but no constraints. As long as you do something, there will inevitably be right and wrong. Whether it is good or bad is not determined by anyone's words, but by the people. Land, food, clothing, and money—whether I am in a position or not, I have acted with a clear conscience."
"If you have a clear conscience, can you truly not care about what others say?" Prince Yong put down his teapot. "Leaving aside the power of public opinion to melt metal and the destructive force of slander, just consider the ruler as a boat and the people as water. A single word can stir up trouble, capsizing the boat and causing the empire to change hands..."
"If water is like this, it will capsize sooner or later, so why worry about the boat?" Ye Cangxing took the teapot and poured tea.
Prince Yong said, "Even if you don't care about the reputation of the emperor, you should care about the reputation of your ministers. Tyrannical rulers rarely die young, but treacherous ministers often meet tragic ends..."
“In my past life, I cared too much, which hurt Danzhi and myself,” Ye Cangxing said, his eyes lowered as he looked at the pale tea. “Besides, who says it has to be a foolish ruler with a treacherous minister, or a wise ruler with a virtuous minister? You should have some faith in me, Fourth Brother.”
Prince Yong said, “Human hearts are fickle. Even if you have a past life, it is not a lifetime. This life is vastly different from the past life. Nothing is unchangeable.”
"Moreover, sitting in that position for too long will inevitably alienate people. With the emperor and his ministers separated, and the court and the public gossiping, who can remain consistent for years or decades?"
The sound of water stopped, the boy looked up, smiled, and pushed a cup of hot tea towards him.
"What Fourth Brother said is wise," Ye Zangxing said.
Separated by the rising steam and the rich, lingering aroma of tea, the two brothers gazed at each other.
After a long while, Prince Yong lowered his eyes, picked up his tea, and said: "These are my words, and this is your path."
Ye Zangxing's smile widened: "Thank you, Fourth Brother."
Prince Yong remained silent until the tea was finished and the water was gone. Ye Zangxing rose to take his leave, and only then did he extinguish the fire in the stove and call out to him, "Sixth Brother."
Ye Zangxing stopped and turned around.
Prince Yong looked at him and said, "On the Mid-Autumn Festival when I was fifteen, you and I, brothers, went to release river lanterns. You asked me what I wished for."
Ye Zangxing looked slightly taken aback.
"Fourth Brother hopes you will live a carefree and fulfilling life," Prince Yong said with utmost gentleness. "Now that your heart is at peace, then... live well from now on. Mr. Yu is a good man, but also a fool. Don't let him down, or let yourself down."
Ye Zangxing smiled, a deep, somber look appearing in his eyes for the first time, and even the smile on his lips seemed heavy and solemn: "A lifetime is too short, how could I bear to..."
Prince Yong paused, looking at his sixth brother's familiar yet seemingly unfamiliar face, and suddenly felt a sense of disorientation.
It seemed that only at this moment did he have a fleeting sense of reality regarding what many people had said about his past life.
Ye Zangxing left the flower hall like a gust of wind.
Prince Yong brewed another pot of tea and sat alone for a long time.
As evening approached and the wind picked up, he got up and walked out of the hall.
Stepping out of the hall and through the corridor, after only a few steps, a figure appeared on the path ahead, seemingly having been waiting there for a long time.
“Mr. Yu.” Prince Yong stopped, somewhat surprised by Yu Shiqing’s appearance here, but not entirely.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Yu Shiqing bowed, his expression calm.
"Mr. Yu, have you come for Xuan Shu?" asked Prince Yong.
“No,” Yu Shiqing raised his eyes. “Xuan Shu doesn’t want me to worry, so I won’t bother him. Although I haven’t seen what he said or did, I know it. We, Your Highness, want to thank you for your tacit approval and your obstruction. I personally hope that Xuan Shu can have the former. Secondly, there is still something I don’t understand and want to ask Your Highness.”
Prince Yong stared at Yu Shiqing for a moment, then sighed again.
It wasn't regret, but rather a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection).
Just as Ah Fu said when he watched the play, perhaps... they should be a perfect couple.
Prince Yong shook his head, all the mixed feelings in his heart dissipating.
He laughed, said no more, and asked only, "Mr. Yu, what is it that you don't understand?"
Yu Shiqing gleaned the outcome of the brothers' conversation from the Prince of Yong's expression, and felt completely relieved. He smiled slightly and said, "The day before yesterday, I helped Xuan Shu successfully conclude the case of the rebels. However, although the case is closed, there is still one question that remains unanswered. After much thought, I believe that only Your Highness can answer this question in the entire Huai'an."
"That was... the truth behind the chaos caused by the Demon Queen in the tenth year of Tianxi."
Prince Yong remained unmoved: "I wasn't even born back then, so why does Mr. Yu think I would know such inside information?"
“Your Highness was the first prince born after that palace turmoil, and suffered the consequences of that turmoil. If I were Your Highness, I would not fail to investigate,” Yu Shiqing said calmly.
He was certain that the Prince of Yong knew.
Prince Yong remained silent for a moment, a sigh of relief rising within him, a mixture of relief and displeasure. But he also knew that this matter could no longer be avoided, and it was time to speak out.
"It's chilly here, let's move inside and talk further," Prince Yong sighed.
Author's Note:
Prince Yong: I saw the Sixth Prince and his wife once, and they sighed more than they had in the past year :)
*
Tomorrow, the last secret will be revealed, and then it will all be over!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com