On the second day of the Qingqiu Festival, the imperial procession resumed its southern tour. This time, they abandoned their leisurely pace and headed directly for Yicheng, the former fiefdom of Prince Ping.
“Ye’er, has any news arrived from the southwest?” Pei Lanqing asked as he sat in the spacious carriage, leaning against a soft pillow. He glanced at the eunuch presenting the memorial.
Xiao Linye scanned the contents of the memorial before returning to Pei Lanqing’s side. He wrapped an arm around his waist, drawing him closer to rest against his chest. “Indeed, it’s news from the southwest. Grand Tutor, take a look.”
Pei Lanqing frowned. Over the years, Xiao Linye had always been open with him about political matters, and he now read the memorial without hesitation. “Does Prince Zhaojiang truly intend to go to war?”
Xiao Linye merely let out a cold laugh, his hands continuing to gently massage Pei Lanqing’s waist. Pei Lanqing was now carrying twins, and his belly was growing heavy, often causing lower back pain. Even without being told, Xiao Linye always kept this in mind. “They know the Duzhou incident has been exposed, so they’re rushing troops to the border, fearing I’ll attack them.”
“But this time, they’ve guessed right. I do intend to strike.”
Pei Lanqing sighed softly, placing the memorial on the desk. “If Zhaojiang isn’t eliminated, it will always be a threat. This battle is indeed unavoidable.”
Xiao Linye turned his head and kissed Pei Lanqing’s cheek. Gazing at the map hanging in the carriage, he said in a low voice, “A small Zhaojiang is nothing to me. But right now, I’m not just wary of external enemies—”
He tapped his finger on the map at a city not far from Zhaojiang, which happened to be Prince Li Xiao Huanyan’s fiefdom.
“Ye’er, are you worried that Prince Li is colluding with Zhaojiang?” This caught Pei Lanqing off guard. Among the three princes Emperor Fengming had enfeoffed, the other two were known for their cunning, but Prince Li had always been honest and upright due to his background.
In fact, when Pei Lanqing had a difficult labor, Xiao Linye had even said that if Pei Lanqing died, he would follow him, leaving the throne to Prince Li.
Pei Lanqing never expected that Xiao Linye would suspect him now.
“Has Ye’er heard any rumors?”
Xiao Linye merely smiled at this. He embraced Pei Lanqing, saying frankly, “Grand Tutor, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s just—perhaps I’ve been emperor too long and developed a touch of paranoia. After all, Prince Li is the only one left among the three princes, and Xiao Huanyan’s fiefdom is so close to Zhaojiang. That’s why I’ve made a slight conjecture.”
Pei Lanqing frowned at the words “paranoia” and shook his head against Xiao Linye’s lips. “No one should speak of themselves so harshly, Ye’er. Being cautious is only natural. In my opinion, since we’ve already arrived in Yicheng, why not use the pretext of receiving the emperor to summon Prince Li here as well?”
“That way, we can probe him directly, and if he truly harbors any ulterior motives, we can monitor and guard against them.”
“As always, the Grand Tutor’s mind is meticulous. Let’s proceed as you suggest.” Xiao Linye embraced Pei Lanqing and showered him with kisses. At first, they managed to continue discussing official matters, but it wasn’t until Pei Lanqing’s body had softened that Xiao Linye finally relented.
+++++++
After several days of travel, the imperial carriage arrived in Yicheng. Led by Luo Duo, the prefect of Yicheng, the officials of the city had traveled thirty miles outside the walls to welcome the emperor.
Luo Duo was the man Xiao Linye had appointed to govern Yicheng after dealing with Prince Ping. He was also a disciple of the Pei Clan and had some past acquaintance with Pei Lanqing. After repeated assessments and careful consideration, Xiao Linye had entrusted Yicheng to him, and Luo Duo had not made any mistakes in the years since.
Due to the arduous journey, Xiao Linye postponed the city’s celebratory banquet until the next day. He and Pei Lanqing first entered the Imperial Retreat, which had been converted from the former residence of Prince Ping, to rest and recuperate.
Though Xiao Linye said this, his true concern was that Pei Lanqing’s health couldn’t withstand the journey. After arriving at the Imperial Retreat, he sent Pei Lanqing and Quan’er to rest while he privately summoned Luo Duo, the Prefect of Yicheng.
“Your Majesty, this humble servant has failed to live up to your grace. After serving in Yicheng for many years, I have failed to uncover any dealings between Duzhou and Zhaojiang. I am truly incompetent and beg Your Majesty to punish me!” Luo Duo was immediately alarmed when he received Xiao Linye’s summons.
He had been frustrated in his career for years. Despite his talent and ambition, he remained impoverished and downcast. He had finally earned Xiao Linye’s favor and was desperate to repay his debt with his life.
Moreover, though Luo Duo wasn’t an official directly under Duzhou’s jurisdiction, he had been personally appointed by Xiao Linye to oversee the southwestern region, secretly carrying out supervisory duties. That such a major incident had occurred without his knowledge was already a grave dereliction of duty.
Luo Duo knelt on the ground, utterly unable to lift his head. With Pei Lanqing absent, the murderous intent radiating from Xiao Linye was completely unmasked. Though he hadn’t spoken a word, his gaze alone was enough to make Luo Duo struggle for breath.
“You’re quick to admit your fault,” Xiao Linye said from his seat at the head of the hall, idly toying with a teacup. His tone was casual, as if they were simply chatting, yet it carried an unspoken threat. “For years, I’ve watched you govern Yicheng well. Yet while those around you were about to tear down the heavens, you were content to slumber peacefully in your nest.”
“Your Majesty, I am guilty!” Luo Duo was so startled that he could barely stay kneeling, repeatedly kowtowing to Xiao Linye to beg for forgiveness.
Xiao Linye merely snorted in anger, setting his teacup down on the table. “I haven’t even decided your punishment yet, and you’ve already sentenced yourself.”
“Very well. Then I’ll trouble Lord Luo to also suggest a fitting punishment for yourself!”
Luo Duo’s heart sank further into regret. He wouldn’t dare actually prescribe a punishment for Xiao Linye. Torn between speaking and remaining silent, his face flushed crimson, then paled in rapid succession.
Xiao Linye remained seated at the head of the room, his dragon eyes half-closed as he watched Luo Duo. This silent scrutiny was more terrifying than any actual punishment he could have imposed.
Just as Luo Duo wished he could slam his head against the wall and end it all, he heard slow, heavy footsteps approaching from outside the study. His heart leaped with relief.
In truth, Xiao Linye didn’t truly want to punish Luo Duo. After all, he had governed Yicheng quite well. However, the matter was serious enough that Luo Duo needed a stern warning to remain vigilant.
Just then, Xiao Linye saw Pei Lanqing, his belly swollen, slowly enter the study with the help of several young eunuchs.
Xiao Linye’s murderous aura vanished instantly. He rose and hurried to Pei Lanqing’s side, wrapping an arm around his waist and gently helping him settle into his seat. “Didn’t I tell the Grand Tutor to rest first? Why are you out walking around again? What if you tire yourself out?”
“Your Majesty kept me company in the carriage for so long this afternoon, I can’t sleep now,” Pei Lanqing replied, smiling at Xiao Linye. “I thought I’d come find Your Majesty. Did I interrupt your court proceedings?”
Even in front of the court officials, Pei Lanqing’s words were laced with an intimacy that couldn’t be concealed, despite his use of formal address. To Luo Duo, who was kneeling on the floor, this only made him hold his breath and press his head deeper into the ground.
“Indeed,” Xiao Linye said, drawing Pei Lanqing closer, deliberately adding a touch of anger to his voice. He nodded toward Luo Duo. “Before I could even speak, Lord Luo here preemptively confessed his guilt. But when I asked him to suggest his own punishment, he fell silent.”
“In that case, why don’t we let the Grand Tutor decide how he should be punished?”
Pei Lanqing, who understood Xiao Linye’s intentions best, knew that Xiao Linye only wanted to give Luo Duo a light warning. So he followed along, shaking his head and sighing. “Lord Luo, you truly are foolish.”
“This matter arose from careless duty. If punishment is necessary, it should focus on this lack of diligence. In my opinion, Lord Luo should be sent to the Zhaojiang border to serve as a junior intelligence officer, enduring the wind and sun while monitoring Zhaojiang’s movements day and night and reporting any unusual activity to Your Majesty immediately.”
Though this sounded like a severe demotion—intelligence work was a grueling task—Luo Duo knew Xiao Linye was already considering military action against Zhaojiang, and Pei Lanqing had granted him direct access to report to the emperor.
This wasn’t a punishment at all; it was an opportunity—a chance to achieve even greater merit.
Luo Duo immediately kowtowed repeatedly, choked with gratitude, unable to speak.
“Very well, let’s do as the Grand Tutor suggests,” Xiao Linye said, highly pleased with Pei Lanqing’s arrangement. A smile played on his lips as he squeezed Pei Lanqing’s hand.
But just then, Luo Duo spoke again: “Your Majesty, I have another urgent matter to report.”
“Another matter?” Xiao Linye, initially unconcerned, asked casually, “What is it? Speak.”
“Your Majesty, I wish to report on Wang Naying, the terrorist who attacked the imperial capital eight years ago.”
Xiao Linye and Pei Lanqing were stunned by Luo Duo’s words. They exchanged a glance, and Xiao Linye’s expression grew even more serious. It was this person who had caused Pei Lanqing’s near-fatal childbirth years ago. Xiao Linye had never stopped searching for this person, and he never expected to uncover a clue at this moment.
“Speak,” Xiao Linye commanded.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Luo Duo, knowing this was his chance to redeem himself, immediately recounted his recent findings: “The investigation had been fruitless until a month ago, when Your Majesty ordered an inquiry into the Duzhou incident. Since then, many Zhaojiang people have been secretly trying to escape back to Zhaojiang through Yicheng.”
Luo Duo had deployed troops to guard the city, capturing numerous Zhaojiang people, including a Zhaojiang general. After rigorous interrogation, they unexpectedly uncovered the truth about the assassination attempt from eight years ago.
“Wang Naying’s identity was also false. He is actually Dao Buge, the adopted son of Prince Zhaojiang!”
“Is that so?” Xiao Linye, though he had long suspected something similar, was still surprised to hear that Wang Naying was the adopted son of Prince Zhaojiang. “That does seem odd. During the Late Emperor’s reign, I waged war against Zhaojiang. But if he truly harbored deep hatred for me because of that, why would he wait until after my ascension to strike?”
“Your Majesty,” Luo Duo replied, his expression turning slightly awkward as he glanced at Pei Lanqing before continuing, “this person’s assassination attempt was not motivated by Your Majesty’s campaign against Zhaojiang back then. He was seeking revenge for the Deposed Emperor.”
“Xiao Dexuan?” After all these years, Xiao Linye couldn’t help but sneer at the mention of the Deposed Emperor’s title. Pei Lanqing, seeing his reaction, reached out and gently pressed his hand against Xiao Linye’s chest, causing him to pull Pei Lanqing closer.
“How is this related to him?”
“After Your Majesty conquered Zhaojiang under the Late Emperor’s orders, the court sent the then-Crown Prince, the Deposed Emperor, to negotiate peace,” Luo Duo said cautiously, recounting the events of that time.
“Ah, yes, I’d almost forgotten about that,” Xiao Linye recalled. He had been a brilliant military commander, but Emperor Fengming had treated him merely as a tool to quell the rebellion. After the war ended, the credit for the victory wasn’t given to him. Instead, Xiao Dexuan was sent to deliver the imperial decree and negotiate peace, effectively claiming the glory for himself.
“So you’re saying Dao Buge’s connection with Xiao Dexuan began during that time?”
“Precisely,” Luo Duo replied carefully, explaining the events in detail. “As Your Majesty knows, the Deposed Emperor was desperate to claim credit for quelling the rebellion and would stop at nothing.”
“Coupled with his naturally handsome appearance, he managed to bewitch Dao Buge, who then provided him with valuable information about the Zhaojiang royal family.”
“After the peace negotiations, before the Deposed Emperor left, he promised Dao Buge that once he ascended the throne, he would send someone to fetch him.”
Hearing this, Xiao Linye couldn’t help but sneer. “It’s truly remarkable that Xiao Dexuan, a eunuch, would go to such lengths to feign sincerity.”
The rest of the story is self-explanatory. Xiao Dexuan never intended to retrieve Dao Buge, yet Dao Buge waited for him with unwavering devotion. If he had waited a few more years, he might have realized he’d been deceived. But before long, while his longing was still fresh, Xiao Dexuan was killed by Xiao Linye.
Naturally, Dao Buge placed all the blame on Xiao Linye. He plotted to come to Great Qi and secretly allied himself with Prince Ping, who was more than happy to see him attempt an assassination. This led to the events at the Qionglin Banquet.
“Although Dao Buge wasn’t Prince Zhaojiang’s biological son, he was raised by him from childhood, and they shared a deep bond. Moreover, after learning the truth, Prince Zhaojiang blamed the Great Qi people for everything, believing they had deliberately humiliated and mocked the Zhaojiang people. This fueled his determination to invade Great Qi and wash away this disgrace.”
Xiao Linye shook his head repeatedly as he dismissed Luo Duo. Then, feigning grievance, he wrapped his arms around Pei Lanqing’s waist, resting his chin on his shoulder. “That beast Xiao Dexuan left behind a mess of romantic entanglements, and now I’m forced to clean up after him.”
“Grand Tutor, I’ve been terribly wronged in this matter.”
“Yes, it’s true that Dao Buge’s actions weren’t Ye’er’s fault. You were unfairly implicated by the Deposed Emperor,” Pei Lanqing said, suppressing a smile. He turned and kissed Xiao Linye’s cheek.
Xiao Linye, emboldened by this, held Pei Lanqing even tighter. His hands, which had been resting on Pei Lanqing’s abdomen, slowly moved to a more sensitive area. “It’s not just that. The merit I earned risking my life back then was stolen by that beast… Ye’er feels wronged. Grand Tutor, you must comfort me properly.”
Pei Lanqing’s pregnant body was particularly sensitive, and he instinctively leaned into Xiao Linye’s touch. His limbs had already gone soft, and he collapsed into Xiao Linye’s arms, weakly reaching up to wrap his arms around Xiao Linye’s neck. “Ye’er… you truly are… mmm…”
A triumphant smile curled Xiao Linye’s lips. He swept Pei Lanqing up into his arms and carried him toward the soft couch in the inner chamber. “We’ve been traveling for days, and everything has been rushed. I imagine Grand Tutor hasn’t been fully satisfied, has he?”
“Grand Tutor, comfort me well, and I’ll nourish you properly in return—”
