It was half past midnight, and the food and tea were cold.
There were many people gathered in Wen Chan’s room. The candles were flickering slightly. And the silence enveloped everyone. But no one took the initiative to break it.
Zhong Wenjin held back for a long time. But finally, he couldn’t hold back and sneezed, tears welling up in his eyes.
Wen Chan raised his eyes slightly. He first glanced at Liang Yanbei and then at Xie Zhaoxue, who was clenching his fists. He surely felt that he should say something to lighten the atmosphere.
“This is simply outrageous.” Xie Zhaoxue spoke in a calm and collected voice. But he had an extremely ugly expression on his face, and the veins protruded from his fists, “Even a vicious tiger will not eat its cubs. Yet that evil old man of the Zhong family actually tried to kill his own son.”
“I’ve heard that Prime Minister Zhong extremely loves the son of his first wife. I never thought that it was all actually false……” Liang Yanbei smacked his lips, sighed, and shook his head, “It’s really cruel.”
Only Wen Chan knew the truth about the Zhong family, but he couldn’t tell the truth. At this time, he could only be filled with righteous indignation, “Zhong Guoyi is hypocritical and vicious. He treats his own son like this, so there is no need to mention how he treats other people. When I go back, I will definitely report it to the Emperor Father. I can’t let such vicious people mess up the laws and discipline of the imperial court again.”
Zhong Wenjin kept his head down, allowing others to insult his own father. But he didn’t respond at all. It seemed that he had severed all ties to his father and brother.
However, only he himself knew that it was fortunate that Wen Chan was at his side, speaking out the causes and consequences on his behalf. If he were to speak out on his own, he probably would not be able to control his emotions.
The proud Young Master of the Zhong family did not want to weep endlessly in front of so many people.
“Zhong Wenjin, you go back and pack your luggage now. We will set off back to the capital tomorrow.” Xie Zhaoxue reached out to pull him.
Wen Chan quickly stopped him, “Wait a minute, Zhong Guoyi wants to kill him. If you take him back to the capital now, wouldn’t he be like a lamb entering a tiger’s den1fig. to tread dangerous ground?”
Xie Zhaoxue sneered, “Zhong Wenjin still has half of my Xie family’s bloodline in his body. Although Zhong Guoyi covers the sky with one hand2It describes those people who have power and could easily deceive the masses. in the capital, he cannot do anything to the person my Xie family wants to protect.”
Xie Zhaoxue’s father, Xie Shengran, was the Minister of Criminal Justice. He had real power in his hands. It’s just that Xie Shengran abided by the rules, never formed a clique for self-serving purposes, and did not act in a high-profile manner like Zhong Guoyi. Therefore, most people in the capital thought that Zhong Guoyi was alone.
In recent years, Prime Minister Zhong had become too powerful and had long aroused the discontent of the nobles of the royal court, not to mention the emperor. On the surface, he was still the emperor’s favourite minister. But secretly, the emperor promoted Xie’s family on one side and supported the Liang family on the other. The seeds of competition with the Zhong family had long been planted.
Zhong Wenjin would be safe if he hid with the Xie family. But……
“What reason do you want him to use to live in your Xie residence?” Liang Yanbei asked a crucial question.
This was exactly what Wen Chan was worried about. Zhong Wenjin was a member of the Zhong family, even if he was related to the Xie family. But if the Zhong family wanted someone, there were naturally a hundred reasons for them to take him back properly. Even if the Xie family wants to keep someone, they can’t keep them forever.
Xie Zhaoxue froze for a moment, then replied, “Then let him return to the Xie family with me as a servant.”
“It won’t work.” Wen Chan faintly shook his head, “Even if you can keep Zhong Wenjin from going out and showing his face, you won’t be able to stop the news from getting out. It’s too risky.”
“I have an idea.” Liang Yanbei raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced at the wilted Zhong Wenjin, and said, “You guys pack up tonight and set off back to the capital early tomorrow morning. I’ll take care of the things here.”
Xie Zhaoxue stood up and bowed to Liang Yanbei, “I’m sorry to trouble you, brother Yanbei. I owe you a debt for this matter. I will definitely repay it after the matter is settled.”
“No need to be polite. Your family matters are important.” He also stood up, put a hand on Zhong Wenjin’s shoulder, and patted him gently.
Zhong Wenjin slowly raised his head, looking at Liang Yanbei with a somewhat absent-minded look in his dark eyes and a fragile and helpless look.
Liang Yanbei smiled faintly, “Don’t worry. The Zhong family will be swept out cleanly sooner or later.”
Wen Chan was shocked when he heard this and secretly asked: Are you trying to comfort him or stab him? Even if Zhong Wenjin ended up in this situation, he is still surnamed Zhong anyway!
He laughed to lighten the atmosphere, “Zhong Wenjin, please feel free to return to the capital. The Xie family has real power within their grasp and can protect you well. You eat and drink as you will3to enjoy your life; take it easy. Don’t worry.”
Soon after, his tone changed. His beautiful eyes turned solemn, and he said to Xie Zhaoxue, “After you go back, you must not take action against the Zhong family rashly. Concessions are the most important thing. We will discuss the matter after bengong4I (term to address oneself, used by women of high status living in a palace) return.”
When Wen Chan spoke on ordinary days, he rarely used the word “bengong” to refer to himself. But at this time, he deliberately emphasised this word to show Zhong Wenjin that he would stand beside him as a member of the royal family of the Wen clan and as the Ninth Royal Highness.
Originally, he came to Wuyue Island with the determination to end the Shengui Clan in mutual destruction. But then Zhong Wenjin suddenly appeared and let him know that Zhong Guoyi was most likely reborn as well. So he changed his mind.
If the Zhong family was not eliminated, he would not be able to rest in peace even if he went to hell.
“Your Ninth Royal Highness, this matter has nothing to do with the royal family. Why do you need to get involved in this mess?” Xie Zhaoxue frowned.
“Since I have decided to intervene, I naturally have a thousand reasons to do so. Why do you need to ask?” Wen Chan asked back.
Xie Zhaoxue wanted to say more, but Liang Yanbei interrupted, “Okay, that’s the end of this matter. There are too many people here, and it’s not appropriate to discuss the matter. You guys should go back to the capital first and then make plans.”
After hearing Liang Yanbei’s words that were meant to drive people away, Xie Zhaoxue said no more. After bidding farewell, he left Wen Chan’s room with a frustrated Zhong Wenjin.
Liang Yanbei stretched his back and lowered his eyes thoughtfully as he walked out.
“Liang Yanbei,” Wen Chan suddenly called out to him as he stepped one foot out of the threshold.
Once he turned his head, the pair of bright eyes hidden under the young man’s beautiful eyebrows finally stopped evading, “What is the method that you mentioned?”
The corner of Liang Yanbei’s mouth was raised, and he unexpectedly laughed wantonly, “Young Master Wen, you want to know?”
Wen Chan was originally curious. But when he saw this look on his face, he was instantly afraid that Liang Yanbei would take advantage of the opportunity to make a request. So his curiosity was forcefully suppressed, “I’m just asking since I don’t have anything to do.”
“Since you don’t want to know, then forget it.” Liang Yanbei really didn’t say anything. He just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and left the door.
Wen Chan secretly gritted his teeth and stood in place for a while.
“Young Master……” Until Ah Fu voiced out, interrupting his thoughts, “The matter of the Zhong family……”
Ah Fu had been serving Wen Chan by his side since he was a child. He knew that he was lazy and tired on normal days. He didn’t study hard and didn’t pay attention to martial arts. He didn’t get the favour of the saint at all. If it weren’t for his special background, he would have become a useless prince despised by everyone. Being involved in the affairs of the Zhong family was tantamount to getting into trouble.
“I have my own ideas. No need to worry.” Wen Chan sighed and sat down, feeling somewhat exhausted.
The Zhong family must be eliminated, and Zhong Wenjin must be protected. Unknown to the onlookers, Wen Chan might seem to know nothing, but he actually knew everything.
“But……”
“Ah Fu, the Young Master has not eaten. He must be hungry now. You and I will go find some food for the Young Master.” Qin Qi interrupted Ah Fu’s words and pulled him out, who still wanted to chatter.
Seeing Wen Chan’s gloomy face, Shu Hua said in a deep voice, “Young Master doesn’t need to worry too much. Everything will be settled.”
Wen Chan nodded at his words. At the moment, the matter of the Shengui Clan was still the priority.
Qin Qi and Ah Fu hadn’t left for a while when someone knocked on Wen Chan’s door and brought in steaming meals, including meat, vegetables, soup, and rice. Nothing was lacking.
Wen Chan thought to himself that Liang Yanbei ought to have ordered someone to bring it, so he didn’t ask any more questions. He shared some with the Shu Hua and ate his fill until his stomach felt satisfied.
Qin Qi and Ah Fu had not returned even after the servants took away all the empty dishes. Shu Hua boiled hot water and requested that Wen Chan wash his face and feet, change clothes, and rest.
In the summertime, the intense heat was hot and stuff. This was not the palace, so there was no ice for cooling. Wen Chan stripped his clothes to a single thin layer. And laid on the bed with his arms and legs open wide and exhaling hot breath.
Wen Chan did not want to trouble Shu Hua to fan him. So he didn’t say a word of complaint, closed his eyes slightly, and fell asleep, enduring the heat.
In his previous life, Wen Chan had frequent dreams. Every time he fell asleep, he would have a dream.
When his family was in trouble, most of his dreams were about punishing the Zhong family, killing the traitors, and stabilising Xi Liang; after he became the emperor, his dreams became mostly about Liang Yanbei, who held a lance to attack the enemy, who led ten thousand troops to protect the country, and who was dressed in a fiery red brocade to fetch his bride from her parents’ home to escort her to the wedding ceremony……. By ones and twos, they never left him.
But after the rebirth, Wen Chan seldom had dreams and often had a good night’s sleep.
A burst of refreshing coolness hits the face, instantly moistening everything like a spring breeze and driving away the stuffy heat on Wen Chan’s body.
“Young Master Wen…… Young Master Wen.” A familiar voice sounded softly in his ears.
Wen Chan moved his eyes. Even before his perception was clear, a name took shape in his heart. The voice continued to call him, gradually calling him out of his dream.
He slowly opened his sleepy eyes. His blurred vision gradually focused, and only then did he clearly see Liang Yanbei’s face.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in black and red clothes that reflected the light, and held a fan in his hand, fanning the wind non-stop.
Wen Chan was completely awake all of a sudden, sat up in fright, stepped back a little, and asked in surprise, “Why are you here?”
He also stood up.
The sun was already three poles high5It’s late in the morning outside. Liang Yanbei was fully dressed with his black hair crowned with jade and a pair of brocade boots under the bright sunshine. He was handsome and eye-catching.
He took two steps back and put away the folding fan. His face lacked the slight smile that he always wore. He was a little calm at this time, “Young Master Wen, change your clothes and wash up first. I have something important to tell you.”
Wen Chan woke up early in the morning and suffered a minor shock. He lowered his head and saw that his unlined garment was loose. He quickly called Ah Fu, but was intercepted by Liang Yanbei, “Young Master Wen, Ah Fu can’t come for the time being. Why don’t you let me help you change clothes?”
As he said that, he was about to get the clothes hanging on the hanger beside him. Wen Chan quickly stood up from the bed and asked, “Where did Ah Fu go?
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.” Liang Yanbei took the clothes, placed them on the bed, and reached out to pick and choose, “Which one to wear first?”
“No need. I can wear it myself. You go out and wait for me.” As soon as he heard that it was about Ah Fu, and saw that both Qin Qi and Shu Hua weren’t there, he had a bad feeling about it and drove Liang Yanbei out of the room first.
After putting on his clothes hastily, Wen Chan tied up his hair with a wooden hairpin, washed his face casually, and hurried out.
As soon as he opened the door, he found that there were many people waiting outside.
Liang Yanbei had his back to the door and turned his head to look when he heard the sound.
“What’s going on? Why are you all gathering here so early in the morning?” Wen Chan scanned the crowd and still did not see his three subordinates. He felt uneasy, and he figured that what had happened was in all likelihood related to them.
“Young Master Wen, Yao Yanming was found dead in his room early this morning.” Situ Zhoulan’s coldness was reduced by three points, and she actually took the initiative to talk to Wen Chan.
Wen Chan was a little uncomfortable. But he ignored it completely and asked, “What does this have to do with me?”
Yao Yanming deliberately picked the mealtime to provoke a demonstration at noon yesterday. But he never thought that he would die in the blink of an eye. Although Wen Chan would not feel sorry for this kind of person, he was nevertheless a little surprised.
“The Yao family thought that it was your subordinates Ah Fu and Qin Qi who did it and wanted to capture them for interrogation. Shu Hua stepped in to stop them. So the three of them were taken away together.” Qiao Yanci continued.
“What?” Wen Chan’s brows tightened as his anger grew, “How can this be so? If you touch a nasty person6(idiom); preposterous / ridiculous / absurd like Yao Yanming, you will only get your hands dirty. There is no way that Ah Fu and Qin Qi did it.”
He just slept for a while, and this kind of thing happened. After being shocked, Wen Chan suddenly realised that this matter was not simple.
It was said that Yao Yanming was the most beloved son of Lord Yao. Only the day before, he had such a big conflict in the inn, and now he was dead. So the greatest suspicion naturally fell on Wen Chan’s head.
Right after he had a big fight with Wen Chan and others, he died. How could there be such a coincidence?
While Wen Chan was still deep in thought, Dan Ke suddenly walked in quickly through the gate of the small courtyard, “Biaoge, the Yao family has brought people over, saying that they want to arrest Young Master Wen for interrogation!”
Translator’s corner
Thank you so much for reading the chapter. If you liked my translation and wanna support me, you can comment down your thoughts or send me a Kofi.
KO-FI
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