Chapter 72. The inquiry was not my doing.
Pei Ji looked at her, his heart finally settling down. He closed the door behind him and walked steadily toward her. He didn't rush to explain, but simply walked to the bedside, bent down, and reached out to pull the thin blanket that had slipped into her arms back up. His fingertips brushed against the slightly cool back of her hand, bringing a delicate touch.
Yu Man's fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly, then she withdrew her hand, raised it, and gave his arm a weak push. Her expression remained unchanged, and her voice was flat: "Stand still."
Pei Ji obediently straightened up, took a half step back, but his gaze remained fixed on her. He lowered his eyes, the candlelight casting a faint shadow under his long eyelashes, and said helplessly, "Lord Yu, can I still plead my innocence?"
Yu Man looked up at him; his posture was really lacking in authority. She wrinkled her nose, feeling that this "interrogation" wasn't dignified enough, so she patted the edge of the couch beside her: "Sit down."
Pei Ji readily complied and sat down beside her as instructed, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, just enough to catch a faint, refreshing scent of soap pods emanating from her.
“His Majesty summoned me to Nanyuan,” he began, his tone steady. “The Princess only appeared in public the first day with the Empress Dowager, and then returned to the city due to palace affairs.”
"That's all?" Yu Man tapped the pages of the book with her fingertips, her eyes bright. "But I heard that Editor Pei is extremely attentive, and Bi Yuan is inseparable from him while they're enjoying the scenery. It's rumored that the position of the imperial son-in-law is practically a done deal." She deliberately made the rumors sound vivid.
Pei Ji knew she was deliberately mocking him. His expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, “His Majesty invited all the newly appointed scholars to Bi Yuan's trip, ostensibly for sightseeing, but in reality, it was a test. Most of those who hadn't yet been appointed to official posts in the capital were present.” He paused, as if remembering something, and added casually, “Brother Zhang Jian, skilled in archery and horsemanship, stood out quite a bit that day; His Majesty even praised him.”
"I never expected Zhang Jian to know martial arts."
Yu Man listened to his detailed explanation, even mentioning Zhang Jian being praised. It turned out that this ancient BOSS Zhipin had a second round of interviews. She said "Oh," but didn't want to let him off so easily, so she deliberately dragged out her words: "So it was His Majesty examining the newly appointed scholars—then why is it that it was you and the Princess who were traveling together?"
Pei Ji gave a wry smile in cooperation: "It just so happens that the Eldest Princess was also there, and she said a few words on behalf of the Empress Dowager."
Yu Man put down her book, crossed her legs, and adopted a listening posture. "Then tell me, did the Princess really not even glance at you? I heard that the Empress Dowager intends to choose a consort for her, and among the eligible young men in the capital, you are the most outstanding and popular one."
Seeing her enthusiasm, Pei Ji's eyes showed even greater indulgence. He relaxed as well, leaning back against the cushion behind him, his posture leisurely, and began to speak: "The Princess is of noble status, and her entourage is complete. We, as foreign officials, are required by etiquette to kneel and greet her behind a curtain, bowing our heads in response. That day at Biyuan, His Majesty and the Princess were in front, and we followed behind, about ten zhang apart. The Princess asked His Majesty a few questions about his studies, which he answered. Then she turned to us and asked a few common questions, nothing more than our place of origin, our teachers, and what books we have been reading recently. I answered them in a proper and unremarkable manner." He looked at her, his gaze calm, "As for the Empress Dowager choosing a husband... that is a matter for the imperial family. I am already engaged, as His Majesty and everyone else know."
He spoke the last sentence slowly and clearly, his gaze fixed on her, as if it were more than just an explanation.
Yu Man met his gaze for a moment, then suddenly felt a slight heat rise to her cheeks. She looked away, picked up the teacup beside her, took a sip, and concealed her momentary unease: "The storybooks have all mentioned it..."
"Xiaoman." Pei Ji interrupted her, his voice low. He reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on her knee. "That won't happen." He looked at her and said, word by word, "Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I will make it impossible, unacceptable."
"You're not allowed to read those harmful stories anymore."
"Where did they harm people?" Yu Man retorted, unconvinced.
Pei Ji said calmly, "You've harmed me."
Yu Man: "..."
She gently pulled her hand away and said, "Okay." She prepared to continue reading.
Unexpectedly, the person opposite her suddenly leaned over again, reached out, his palm warm, and gently held her cheek, turning her head to look at him again.
He just stared at her without saying a word.
Caught off guard, Yu Man blinked: "...What?"
Pei Ji sighed silently to himself. Sometimes he felt she was too insightful, and other times he hated her slowness in such matters.
He gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to use force. His voice deepened, "Being able to draw a bow and control a horse means you know martial arts." The question seemed abrupt and even a bit unreasonable, but seeing the surprise and admiration in her eyes, that pent-up frustration resurfaced.
Upon hearing this, Yu Man was taken aback at first, then seemed to understand something.
She looked at him, even deliberately shaking her head slightly, with an expression that said, "You're being so insensible," and slowly said, "Then why do you keep bringing him up? What's with the jealousy?" She directly exposed his hidden thoughts, "What did Zhang Jian do to you? You brought him up about Bi Yuan, and now you're bringing him up again. What, does Scholar Pei think he's not as handsome as Young Master Zhang, or that his talent is inferior, and you're afraid that if I hear His Majesty praise him, I'll think you're not as good as others?"
Pei Ji was silent for a moment. She was right. This time, he had misspoke. If he didn't speak out about Zhang Jian's thoughts, they would remain like a stone at the bottom of a well, never to see the light of day.
He didn't argue, but leaned back slightly against the cushion by the couch, creating some distance as if to calm his mind, and changed the subject: "What are your plans for tomorrow?"
Seeing him step back, Yu Man also turned her gaze back to the pages of her book and casually replied, "Let's go with Sister Xue to visit the famous restaurants and eateries in the West Market, sample the food, and check out the prices."
"I'll go with you?" Pei Ji immediately said.
"No need." Yu Man refused without thinking. "With Shan Chun here, nothing will happen. Besides, with you here, Sister Xue probably won't dare to speak freely."
Pei Ji was taken aback and had no choice but to give up: "Alright. If it gets late, I'll come find you."
"I know," Yu Man replied perfunctorily, then remembered something, "Oh, right, I went to Liuxia Lane to see Gu Chengling today."
Pei Ji frowned almost imperceptibly: "Talk about cooperation?"
"Yes. We discussed the location, the amount of investment, and the general direction. Sister Xue was also there and brought up some ideas about the beverages. Gu Chengling looked... a bit tired, and seemed to be quite troubled by family matters." Yu Man said a few words briefly, then yawned slightly.
"Are you tired?" Pei Ji asked, his tone concerned.
"A little. I walked quite a bit today." Yu Man rubbed her eyes.
"Then get some rest." Pei Ji released her hand and watched over her as she slept until he heard her breathing become even and deep. He got up and gently tucked the blanket around her, his fingertips touching her ankles that were still slightly cool to the touch. He frowned slightly, thinking of her constitution, and then calculated the days, before quietly leaving the room and going to the small kitchen.
Before long, he returned with a hot water bottle filled with hot water, carefully wrapped it in soft cotton cloth, and gently tucked it into her bed. Yu Man, still asleep, seemed to sense the heat and unconsciously hugged it, rubbing her cheek against the soft cotton cloth.
Pei Ji stood by the couch, watching her quietly for a long time in the dim light coming through the window. He seemed to wake up when the night watchman rang. He bent down to tuck the blankets around her, then got up, gently closed the door, and went back to his room.
Back in his room, Pei Ji paused almost imperceptibly the moment he opened the door.
Everything inside was as usual, neatly arranged, with a faint scent of his usual pine resin mixed with cool incense wafting in the air. But he knew that someone had come in—no, had pushed open the door, lingered at the entrance, and perhaps even peeked inside, but had not actually stepped inside.
It's her.
Pei Ji's lips curved into a very shallow arc without his noticing.
He walked to the small table by the window. In the white porcelain vase on the table, several magnolias were still half-open, gleaming with a white luster in the hazy moonlight filtering through the window paper, their fragrance wafting faintly. He reached out and gently pulled open the drawer of the low table beneath the magnolia vase.
The box is not very spacious, but it is neatly divided into two halves.
On the left lay a thick stack of unmailed letters. The paper was of the finest gold-flecked quality, the ink varying in shades. Since Yu Man left the capital and returned to Dongqing County, he had written almost daily, some long, some short. Sometimes he wrote about his observations in the capital, the progress of his historical research, and amusing anecdotes about his colleagues in the Hanlin Academy; sometimes he wrote about the flowers and trees in the academy, noting the new buds sprouting from the osmanthus tree; sometimes it was just a few words, asking about the weather in Dongqing County, how business was at the food stalls, and whether Xiuxiu was being mischievous.
But whenever he reached the end of his letters, the phrases he usually used to show magnanimity and instruct her "not to rush back to the capital" or "return after everything is settled" would involuntarily become heavier, the ink spreading and the words contradicting the meaning. Therefore, he was never quite satisfied, and felt it was too deliberate, so he never sent any of these letters, but simply let them accumulate here day after day.
On the right were other slips of paper, each with different handwriting and concise content, containing information from spies about Yu Man's movements in Dongqing County and the prefecture.
"Today, Madam Yu went to the prefectural office and spent half a day discussing matters with Manager Xue. She looked quite pleased."
"After the youngest son of the Yu family recovered from his illness, his wife personally cooked soup and coaxed him to drink it."
"Madam Yu and Lady Chen chatted for about an hour in a teahouse, and Lady Chen presented a poem to Madam Chen."
"Mrs. Yu was determined to go to the capital. She had already packed her things and had a long talk with her father at her mother's grave."
"When Madam Yu left the county, Father Yu watched her go for a long time."
...
No matter how small the matter.
Pei Ji quietly looked at the two stacks of things he couldn't express in words. Moonlight shone through the window lattice and fell on his handsome profile, half of it bright and half hidden in shadow, making his expression somewhat unpredictable.
He looked for a long time, then seemed to be talking to himself, and said in a low voice, "Since she didn't see it... there's no need to scare her." His voice was soft, as if he were relieved, yet also regretful.
After saying that, he took out a tinderbox and lit it.
With a hiss, the flames ignited, and he brought them one by one close to the fire. The edges of the letters quickly curled, charred, turned to ash, and then to wisps of smoke.
At this moment, he shed his gentle and refined gentlemanly demeanor from the daytime, revealing an almost melancholic focus in the flickering light and shadow, like a deep pool, calm on the surface but turbulent beneath.
Until the last spark died out, leaving only a small patch of ashes in the box, still warm to the touch, he gently blew away the dust and then used a plain white handkerchief to wipe the inside of the box clean, leaving no trace, as if the daily writing and spying had never existed.
Just as he pushed the drawer back, a very light knock came from outside the door—three long and two short, with a steady rhythm. Pei Ji's expression instantly regained its usual calm, and he said indifferently, "Come in."
Gu Qiu pushed open the door and entered, followed by a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue casual robe, with a capable face and cautious eyes. After entering, the man quickly scanned the room with his eyes, then bowed to Pei Ji with a respectful posture, even with a hint of barely perceptible restraint: "This humble official greets Lord Pei."
This man was a fifth-rank assistant director in the Water Conservancy Department of the Ministry of Works. His surname was Zhou. Although his official position was not high, he had considerable power and connections in river works and material accounting. Importantly, although he was still nominally a follower of the Empress Dowager, he now wanted to serve the young emperor and therefore tried to curry favor with Pei Ji, the young emperor's new favorite minister.
Pei Ji raised his hand in a gesture of support, his tone gentle: "Minister Zhou, there's no need for such formalities. Your visit so late at night, is there some new development regarding the southern tour?"
“Exactly.” Zhou Yuanwailang lowered his voice and stepped forward. “News has spread from the palace that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are discussing the matter of His Majesty and the Empress Dowager's trip south this spring to inspect the river works and understand the people's conditions. The Empress Dowager firmly opposes it, citing His Majesty's youth, the importance of his health to the nation, and the unsuitability for a long and arduous journey. His Majesty insists that ‘the emperor guards the nation's gates, and the monarch cares for the people,’ saying that how can one govern the country if one does not personally witness the people's suffering? Prime Minister Zheng and several upright ministers support His Majesty, but the Empress Dowager's faction faces considerable resistance, and several Grand Secretaries have an ambiguous attitude. It seems that the stalemate has reached a point where neither His Majesty nor the Empress Dowager will personally go south. It is highly likely that they will each send trusted and important ministers to inspect the area on their behalf, thus creating a check and balance between them.”
Pei Ji listened quietly, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool wood grain of the table, making a barely audible sound.
The power struggle between the young emperor and the empress dowager has become increasingly overt. The southern tour involves taxes in Jiangnan, the enormous sums of millions of taels of silver annually for river works, the lifeline of the Grand Canal, and even the allegiance of local officials—making it a fiercely contested territory. Jiangnan has long been deeply infiltrated by the empress dowager's maternal clan and their associated forces, with salt, grain transport, and textile manufacturing forming a complex web of connections. The young emperor wants to use this opportunity to investigate deficits, place his own people in power, and cultivate his cronies; the empress dowager, on the other hand, wants to maintain a facade of peace and preserve the status quo. The delicate balance and peril involved are far beyond the grasp of ordinary officials.
“According to what my superiors have said, I am very likely to be among those accompanying him,” Zhou Yuanwailang said uncertainly, his voice tinged with deep worry. “I am responsible for checking the accounts of some of the river works materials. But this task is like walking on a knife’s edge, or snatching chestnuts from a fire. If I check too superficially, His Majesty will be dissatisfied; if I check too deeply, I will touch upon vested interests and risk disaster. I am foolish and feel like I am walking on thin ice. I humbly request Your Excellency to guide me.” His words were earnest, and his posture extremely humble.
Pei Ji turned around and looked at him, saying, "Since Lord Zhou knows it is the tip of a knife, he must be even more careful to see the solid ground beneath his feet when walking, and also to see... what the hand holding the knife intends to do."
His voice was steady and unhurried. “The Jiangnan region is crisscrossed by waterways, and the river works are intricate and the accounts are numerous. You only need to remember your duties—to verify the strength of the dikes, the smooth flow of the canal, the quantity and quality of materials purchased, and the funds for manpower mobilization, one by one, measure clearly, record in detail, and report the facts impartially and without bias. You are an official of the Ministry of Works, so do the work of the Ministry of Works, and show the meticulousness and accuracy of a craftsman.”
He paused briefly, and Zhou Yuanwailang listened intently.
"As for the rest," Pei Ji continued, his voice even slower, yet each word clear, "what should be seen will naturally be seen; what shouldn't be seen, even if seen, should be treated as if it wasn't. His Majesty wants the 'truth,' and the Empress Dowager wants 'stability.' You only need to report your 'truth,' speaking with numbers and measurements. As for how this 'truth' is interpreted, whether it can bring 'stability,' or what kind of turmoil it might cause, that's for your superiors and the officials of the court to consider and negotiate. Remember, in this matter, you are merely the eyes, the letter and the abacus, not the knife. Understand?"
After carefully considering these words, Zhou Yuanwailang initially broke out in a cold sweat, but then felt a sudden sense of enlightenment.
"This humble official...understood!" Zhou Yuanwailang bowed deeply, his tone filled with gratitude and awe. "Thank you for your guidance, sir! This humble official knows what to do and will certainly perform his duties diligently, carefully investigate, and not concern himself with anything else."
Pei Ji nodded slightly: "Lord Zhou is a wise man."
Zhou Yuanwailang then remembered something else, lowering his voice even further: "There's something else, I don't know if I should say it... It seems the Empress Dowager's palace does intend to begin selecting a consort for Princess Fu Ning. Although there's no official decree, rumors are already circulating. The candidates will likely be chosen from eligible young men in the capital, from respectable families, and outstanding in talent, character, and appearance. I've heard... the Empress Dowager is quite concerned about the movements of this year's Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)." After he finished speaking, he carefully observed Pei Ji's expression.
Pei Ji's eyes flickered slightly, but only for a moment. His face remained calm and composed as he said, "The affairs of the imperial family are not for a subject to discuss. I understand this matter."
Zhou Yuanwailang, being sensible, said no more and bowed respectfully again: "Then this humble official will not disturb your rest any longer, sir. I will take my leave." With that, following Gu Qiu's signal, he quietly left the room, his steps light and quick, and soon departed from the residence.
Only Pei Ji and Gu Qiu remained in the room. Gu Qiu stepped forward and whispered, "My lord, we followed the lead you gave us last time, but still... we found nothing. The person has either died of illness or disappeared."
Pei Ji seemed unsurprised, his expression remaining unchanged as he gazed silently at the deep night sky outside the window. "If it is truly as I suspect," he said calmly, "then it is to be expected that we will not be able to find anything."
Seeing that he had no further instructions, Gu Qiu did not immediately leave. A rare hesitation appeared on his cold and stern face, as if he had something he was reluctant to say.
Pei Ji noticed and turned his gaze back: "Is there anything else?"
Gu Qiu hesitated for a moment, then knelt on one knee, bowing his head and saying, "This subordinate dares to ask... there is something I do not understand, and I humbly request Your Majesty to enlighten me." He paused, seemingly considering his words, "The matter of the Princess's husband has been the talk of the town in the capital recently, with vivid and detailed accounts, and even... it just so happened to reach Lady Yu's ears during her return to the capital. Given how quickly this matter has escalated, could it be... that Your Majesty has secretly been pushing things along?"
It's no wonder he made that guess.
In his eyes, the master was truly meticulous and far-sighted in his dealings with Lady Yu, taking every step with great care.
Many seemingly coincidental events or acts of kindness from others may actually be the result of the master's careful planning. Take, for example, the little slave now called Shan Chun. In reality, she was a promising talent that the master had been secretly searching for for a long time, with excellent qualities and temperament.
Knowing that Lady Yu needed a loyal and capable person to protect her, and knowing that Lady Yu was independent and intelligent and disliked being monitored and controlled, the master deliberately hid behind the scenes, only allowing him to rescue her from the slave market, and then had Shan Chun recognize Lady Yu as his only master.
The entire process was flawless, and the result precisely achieved the master's intention—to send an absolutely reliable, clean-background, and highly capable guard to Lady Yu's side.
Shan Chun was unaware, and Yu Niangzi was even more unaware.
Gu Qiu was secretly alarmed by this roundabout and convoluted plan, all for the sake of protecting one person without letting them notice anything.
Therefore, when rumors of a prince consort suddenly spread in the capital, and the timing was so delicate, it was hard for him not to suspect that this was another, more secretive arrangement by the emperor, perhaps to test the waters, or perhaps to... make Lady Yu pay more attention.
After asking the question, Gu Qiu immediately lowered his head even further: "This subordinate has presumptuously speculated and overstepped his bounds. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
A moment of silence fell over the room, broken only by the clear dripping of the water clock. Pei Ji did not answer immediately, but simply gazed at Gu Qiu kneeling on the ground, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "The rumor is not something I did."
“Even if I have to use some means, scheme against people’s hearts, or even…” He paused very slightly, “even if it is necessary to hurt myself to retreat in order to advance, that is also acceptable. But I will never use these things to make a fuss, to attract her attention, or to test her feelings.”
Calculating people's hearts, setting up strategies, and even throwing oneself into the game as a bargaining chip are all instinctive for him. But for her, those insidious methods and plans that could put her in any danger are all outside his control.
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