Chapter 49 After the plague ended, Yao Ce returned to the palace...
After court was dismissed, Yao Ce returned to his residence, his face gloomy. Ever since he had taken refuge with the Sixth Prince and received numerous promotions through his recommendations, his relationship with his new wife, Princess Duanyang, had improved considerably.
Seeing that Yao Ce looked unhappy, Duan Yang asked softly. He gave him a general account of the dispute in the court. His tone was angry, with jealousy and hatred that he himself was not aware of.
Nestled beside Yao Ce, Princess Duanyang saw it clearly, but she still said in a delicate voice:
"The Prince Consort's thoughts are naturally all for the greater good of the court. Xiao Wangshu's eagerness for quick success and instant benefits is simply a desire for greater fame. He's so impractical, and if he fails, wouldn't it be a waste of money and manpower? The Prince Consort is right to insist on his own opinion, so why worry about it?"
Her words seemed comforting, but in reality, they subtly reinforced Yao Ce's impression of Xiao Wangshu as someone eager for quick success and fame. Yao Ce was already dissatisfied with Xiao Wangshu's actions at court today, and Duan Yang's words only exacerbated this dissatisfaction and the rift between them.
He gently patted Duan Yang's hand and sighed, "Those with different ideals cannot work together. He has his own ambitions, and I have mine. But seeing that he might put the country in danger, I can't help but feel depressed."
He thought to himself: He and I have always been on different paths, so why should I dwell on our past friendship? Little did he know that this journey was his own choice.
The next day, in the princess's mansion.
Yao Ce stood up. The conversation with Princess Duanyang last night had softened some of the depression in his heart caused by the court dispute, but his disapproval and even a hint of contempt for Xiao Wangshu's radical actions had quietly taken root.
He put on his court robes and prepared to enter the palace. He had already made up his mind that if His Majesty asked, he would still stick to his opinion and explain the importance of taking a cautious approach.
But his idea was destined to fail.
As the court meeting was about to end, Xiao Wangshu stepped out and formally resigned to the emperor, preparing to set off for Hezhou that day.
However, a eunuch hurried into the hall and presented a sealed letter from the Observatory.
The emperor frowned and opened it. After browsing through it, a look of extreme surprise appeared on his face. He looked up at his ministers and said in a voice with a hint of disbelief:
"Taoist Chihua wrote a letter, stating that he observed the stars at night and felt a divine connection. The plague in Hezhou was unexpectedly related to the 'disruption of the heavenly order.' The divine clue indicated that he needed to personally travel to Hezhou, perhaps finding an opportunity to avert the disaster or even find clues to the 'otherworldly being.'"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar.
That was a plague-stricken area, a place where one could be on the verge of death! How could a seemingly aloof cultivator actually take the initiative to risk his life?
Sixth Prince Xie Jingrong's eyes flashed, and he immediately stepped out:
"Father! This is extremely strange! Taoist Chihua's identity is unknown, his words are absurd, and now he is going to the plague area on his own initiative? I am afraid that he is not truly here to help, but has other intentions! Perhaps he wants to use this opportunity to pass on information to the outside world, or... he has some other ulterior motive! Moreover, Taoist Chihua has left before the predicted day has arrived, which is really suspicious.
I, your son, think that this is absolutely not allowed!"
His words were sharp and his eyes were fierce. He didn't know what these two people were planning, but as soon as Xiao Wangshu left, the Taoist Chihua followed closely behind. If the Sixth Prince said that there was no conspiracy, he would never believe it.
The emperor pondered, clearly doubting something. He looked at Xiao Wangshu, who was bowing his head at the bottom of the stairs.
"Lord Xiao, you have a history with Taoist Chihua. What do you think of this?"
Xiao Wangshu was also confused and uncertain. He did not know what Mr. Chihua was up to. Thinking of his many contacts in various counties, he replied respectfully:
"Your Majesty, although Mr. Chihua's actions defy common sense, they often align with Heaven's will and are compassionate. I believe that since you have volunteered, you may truly possess a method to avert disaster. If you could assist us, it would be a blessing for the people of Hezhou."
He chose to believe Chihua, at least on the surface.
The emperor turned his gaze to the Crown Prince, who had remained silent the entire time. "What do you think, Crown Prince?"
The prince clenched his hands in his sleeves. He wanted to keep Xiao Wangshu by his side, and now he wanted to add a Taoist priest with unknown motives to the mix. But he knew that he couldn't object at this moment, so he could only say calmly:
"Mr. Chihua is a hermit, and his intentions may be beyond our comprehension. Since he is willing to help the court, your Majesty may approve your request and send more guards to accompany him for protection and... 'escort'."
He deliberately emphasized the word "escort" to imply surveillance.
Seeing this, the Sixth Prince's mind raced. He absolutely didn't believe Chi Hua had good intentions, but this man held the Emperor's attention and might be connected to the secret of the "otherworldly soul." He couldn't let him escape his control, much less allow him to be alone with Xiao Wangshu. Since he couldn't stop him, he had to plant his own people!
He immediately changed the subject:
"Father! Since Taoist Chihua and Lord Xiao both insist on going, I, your son, also feel it's worth a try. However, Hezhou is extremely dangerous, and we need to send a capable general to lead the accompanying troops. He must not only protect the safety of the two lords, but also maintain order, prevent the spread of the epidemic, and most importantly... ensure that no accidents occur."
He hinted, "I would like to recommend someone..."
The emperor raised his hand to stop him:
"Forget it. Since Taoist Chihua is interested, then I'll grant it."
The emperor seemed to still have some illusions about Chihua's so-called "secret of heaven". He immediately ordered a team of elite imperial guards to accompany him, nominally for protection but actually for surveillance. He also appointed a general who was always neutral to be in charge, and did not adopt the candidate recommended by the sixth prince. It was not because he doubted his good son, but since it was a matter of destiny, the emperor did not trust anyone.
The Sixth Prince secretly resents this, but he cannot argue anymore, so he can only secretly plan how to make some moves in the future or in that team of royal guards.
After the court was dismissed, Xiao Wangshu walked out of the palace with a heavy heart. He was about to rush back to the Ministry of Personnel and his residence to make urgent arrangements for his trip when a gentle and humble voice sounded at his side at the right time. It was neither abrupt nor loud enough for him to hear clearly.
"Master Xiao, please stay."
Xiao Wangshu paused and turned around to see the eldest prince, Xie Anyi, walking towards him at a leisurely pace.
Unlike the court officials around him who were wearing purple robes and jade belts, he was only wearing a half-new, plain yellow long gown today, and a thin cotton cloak with an ink-colored bamboo leaf pattern on the outside. His clothes were simple, even a little poor, and he didn't look like a nobleman at all. Instead, he looked more like an elegant scholar from a humble family.
He had a genuine smile on his face, and his steps were quick but not hurried. In the blink of an eye, he was close.
He naturally turned slightly to the side, avoiding the full greeting that Xiao Wangshu was about to give, and only accepted a half-greet. He then extended his hand to support him, his tone filled with just the right amount of admiration and intimacy:
"Sir Xiao, you were truly a pillar of the country in the palace the other day. You are truly admirable!"
His voice was clear and bright, with a natural affinity. "The situation in the epidemic area is critical. Others are avoiding it as much as possible. Only Lord Xiao stepped forward, caring about the people and showing unparalleled loyalty and bravery! Although An Yi is not talented, he would like to thank Lord Xiao for his generosity on behalf of the people who may be saved by this!"
These words were extremely flattering, yet they also emphasized the righteousness of the "common people," making them hard to refuse. Xiao Wangshu sneered inwardly, but his expression remained respectful and distant.
"Your Highness, you are too kind. I am a servant of the emperor, and I do my duty. I do not deserve such lavish praise from Your Highness."
"Hey! Sir Xiao is too modest!"
Waving his hand, Xie Anyi's smile became more gentle. He took a step closer, lowered his voice, and his tone became more sincere.
"This entire court, civil and military officials, usually talk big and talk about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, but when it comes to taking risks and shouldering responsibilities, huh..."
He chuckled and shook his head, his unfinished words full of contempt for "certain people", but he cleverly avoided naming them, thus showing goodwill while leaving room for maneuver.
His words seemed blunt and reckless, but they were actually calculated. On the one hand, he was trying to quickly build closer ties by belittling others and praising Xiao Wangshu; on the other hand, he was also subtly testing Xiao Wangshu's attitude towards other forces in the court.
Xiao Wangshu knew this clearly. In his previous life, Xie Anyi had the last laugh, thanks in large part to his forbearance and disguise.
"Your Highness is mistaken,"
Xiao Wangshu lowered his eyes slightly, his tone calm and composed.
"My colleagues are all working for the nation, and with different perspectives, their considerations naturally vary. I simply feel that this matter concerns the lives of countless people and cannot be delayed, so I volunteered. I am fortunate to have the trust of Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
He cleverly pushed the credit onto the emperor and the crown prince, demonstrating his "position" without leaving any room for error.
A quick glint flashed in Xie Anyi's eyes, seeming to admire but also wary. He hadn't expected Xiao Wangshu to be so cautious and slippery. He smiled unchanged, took out a thin booklet from his sleeve, handed it over, and said in a more earnest tone:
"Lord Xiao's journey is dangerous. An Yi is a lowly figure and cannot offer much assistance in matters of state, but I am deeply concerned. These are some miscellaneous notes compiled by a retainer in my mansion. His family has been practicing medicine for generations, and they have some proven remedies for preventing and treating epidemics and regulating the properties of medicinal herbs. They may differ slightly from the Imperial Hospital's prescriptions and may not be of any use, but I hope they can provide Lord Xiao with more reference and a bit of assurance. I hope you won't refuse."
This "kindness" was extremely subtle. It wasn't some vulgar thing like gold or silver, but rather a seemingly non-utilitarian offer of help born purely out of concern and a sense of "righteousness." If Xiao Wangshu refused, he would have seemed unkind.
Glancing at the booklet, Xiao Wangshu pondered for a moment before taking it with both hands.
"Your Highness, the Prince, has been thoughtful and considerate, benefiting all people. On behalf of the people in the affected area, I thank Your Highness for this kindness. If this item is useful, I will never forget Your Highness's kindness today."
He accepted it calmly. Regardless of whether the booklet was useful or not, he remembered this "favor", but that was all he remembered.
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Xie Anyi showed a look of relief on his face, and he also gave a few concerned instructions such as "Take good care of yourself" and "I hope you will return triumphantly soon". His words were sincere and heartfelt, and anyone who saw him would think that he was a benevolent and generous prince.
Finally, he added casually, his voice lowered to a whisper:
"Your Highness is truly fortunate to have the support of Lord Xiao. The situation in the capital is currently turbulent, and Lord Xiao should take good care of His Highness during this trip."
This sentence is his real attempt to test the waters.
The sneer in his heart became even stronger, but Xiao Wangshu just nodded slightly without making any comment:
"It is my duty, and I shall do my best. It is getting late, and I must return to make preparations. I shall take my leave now."
"Of course, of course. Please come in, Lord Xiao." Xie Anyi stepped aside with a smile.
After bowing, Xiao Wangshu turned and left. His back was as straight as a pine tree and he soon disappeared at the end of the palace road.
Standing there, the gentle smile on Xie Anyi's face slowly faded, his eyes became deep and unfathomable, his fingers unconsciously stroking an ordinary jade pendant at his waist, and he whispered to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear it:
"Xiao Wangshu... is truly a remarkable person. It's a pity that he's from the Eastern Palace... However, there's still a long way to go."
He turned around and resumed his gentle, elegant and harmless appearance, walking slowly in the other direction, as if what had just happened was just an ordinary greeting.
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