WMSG Chapter 25
by VolareThe Empress Dowager sent word for the Junzhu to enter the palace, and when she returned home, she brought news from within: the Emperor had appointed Ye Lingshen as Shaoqing of the Court of the Imperial Clan.
Originally, Ye Lingshen was a Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a position of the fifth rank, relying on his father’s inherited title and his mother’s connections, unable to compare to his elder brother Ye Yuanshen, who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations based on true ability.
Because his behavior was too inconsistent with the image of scholar-officials promoted in officialdom, he was accused of several minor offenses. The Emperor demoted him to Shaoqing of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a sixth-rank position, as a minor punishment.
The Ye family understood clearly that Ye Lingshen didn’t have the temperament to be an official, nor did he have the luck for it. They were content as long as Ye Yuanshen could support the family’s reputation.
However, Ye Lingshen hadn’t even warmed his seat in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices before he was impeached in a memorial for excessive drinking. The Emperor couldn’t protect him indefinitely, so he threw him to Nanzhao.
This was clearly the result of discussions between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, meant to frighten Ye Lingshen’s temperament and also serve as a subtle warning to the Ye family. Once the Emperor’s anger subsided, he could casually find an excuse to escort tribute and transfer him back.
But Ye Lingshen was disappointing. Escorting tribute was supposed to be an easy task, simply returning to the capital in a sedan chair would have been considered a successful completion. Yet, he had been short-sighted and stole the tribute jade. If it weren’t for the Junzhu’s sake, he would probably still be on the road to exile.
Now, the Ye family’s expectation of him was simply to live well, nothing else.
They never expected that the Emperor would still be willing to give him a chance. Even Ye Lingshen himself felt a little overwhelmed by the favor.
In contrast, the Junzhu looked worried: “The Empress Dowager said that Qi Wang mentioned this matter when paying his respects to her. It’s been unusual lately. The Fifth Prince has been visiting on trivial matters, and Qi Wang is finding employment for you…”
“Mother,” Ye Lingshen said dismissively, picking up his teacup and seriously blowing at non-existent floating leaves. The triumphant look on his face was about to be concealed, and he said unreservedly, “What’s so unusual about this? I think it was the chance encounter on the mountain that day, and Qi Wang admired my character, so he promoted me. Alas… this Qi Wang is truly a great person.”
The Junzhu rubbed her temples: “Get out!”
Ye Lingshen clicked his tongue and stood up, then paused: “Third Younger brother, when did you arrive?”
Ye Yueshen’s face was pale, his heels pressed against the threshold, his hand on the door frame. It wasn’t clear whether it was a casual gesture or if he was leaning on the door frame to keep from falling.
Gong Xunwu arranged a position for Ye Lingshen. It wasn’t admiration at all, but clearly pulling him in to be a hostage.
But Ye Yueshen had no position to refuse for Ye Lingshen. On what basis? Based on his one-sided words?
“Congratulations,” Ye Yueshen turned to leave, but Ye Lingshen grabbed one of his shoulders from behind.
Ye Lingshen turned him back to face him, asking with a half-smile, “Seeing your bitter and resentful look, it doesn’t seem like you sincerely congratulate me?”
Ye Yueshen met his gaze and smiled: “I don’t think you look very happy either.” He lowered his voice slightly, leaning close to Ye Lingshen’s ear and saying, “You seem to just want to mock and watch Father and Mother’s worries.”
“Are you sad for me then?” Ye Lingshen walked out with him side by side.
Ye Yueshen was almost about to admit it obsequiously, but hesitated slightly.
Ye Lingshen already got his answer, laughed and said: “That’s why I like your character.”
When they reached the fork in the road where they had to separate and return to their respective courtyards, Ye Lingshen stopped and asked him, “If you have any worries, you might as well tell me.”
Such words seemed to embarrass him. Before Ye Yueshen could answer, he exaggeratedly dry heaved while holding his waist: “How did Ye Dayuan say those sappy words?”
Ye Yueshen thought about it very seriously: “I’ll talk about it later.”
But not now, because not long ago, the Ye family up and down didn’t take his “being chased” seriously. He didn’t want to be laughed at by Ye Lingshen again, Ye Lingshen’s mouth was too irritating.
Ye Lingshen was really a little surprised. He just asked casually. After all, in his mind, Ye Yueshen was loved by his parents and elder brothers, and didn’t lack eager suitors outside. What great worries could he have at the leisurely age before reaching adulthood? Unexpectedly, Ye Yueshen really had some.
The heavy rain continued all night, and Ye Yueshen didn’t sleep well all night. He was even awakened by a nightmare near dawn.
He got up in the morning and drank a calming soup. In the afternoon, he felt sleepy and woke up after sleeping for two hours. Just as Ye Yuanshen returned home from work, he brought back a message: Du Ruxiang’s body was found.
Last night, due to the heavy rain, rocks rolled down in the southern suburbs, and a farmer found a person pressed under the stones, with an official hat next to him.
The farmer was an honest man. First, he lifted the stones, moved the person out to check for signs of life, and then reported it to the authorities.
After hearing this, Ye Yueshen felt very bad. Ye Yuanshen thought he was just timid and didn’t dare to hear these things, so he held him and patted him.
Ye Yuanshen comforted him: “I know you can’t bear it, but natural disasters are the most ruthless. Who would have expected him to be in the mountain suburbs after being missing for so many days? The Emperor finds it strange, but on the surface, he didn’t investigate further. His family has already taken him back for burial.”
Ye Yueshen didn’t dare to ask too much to avoid suspicion. The next day, he went to Qi Wang Manor again under the pretext of delivering clothes.
He wasn’t sure if Gong Xunwu was outside the palace. When he knocked on the door, the doorman looked at him with some doubt, and he said softly, “Is Gong… is Qi Wang His Highness in the manor or in the palace at this time?”
“It’s the Third Young Master of the Ye family. I didn’t recognize you at first glance. His Highness stayed in the palace yesterday and doesn’t know if he will come back today. Why don’t you come in first and wait for half an hour?” The doorman stepped aside and waited respectfully for him to enter.
Ye Yueshen hesitated and followed the doorman in. Ruo Ya, who had served him for washing up, quickly ran out, almost unable to stop in front of him, and smiled at him cautiously: “Young Master Yue, please come in.”
Ruo Ya almost took Ye Yueshen to Gong Xunwu’s bedroom. Ye Yueshen stopped in disbelief and reminded him: “Let’s go to the small hall. If it’s inconvenient, I can wait under the corridor.”
“No, no, no… it’s cold under the corridor.” Ruo Ya led him into the small hall and hurriedly poured tea. He also brought three plates of snacks at once, one plate in each hand, and another plate on top of the two plates, like a acrobatics, but his skills were unfamiliar, and he walked slowly.
Ye Yueshen couldn’t help but get up and help him take a plate. Ruo Ya stood beside him with a red face, constantly looking at Ye Yueshen.
A carriage drove outside the door, and Gong Xunwu’s servant went down to take bows and arrows. The doorman greeted him: “Is His Highness not coming back today?”
“His Highness is going hunting in the suburbs today.” The servant took the equipment that was always kept at the door.
“The Third Young Master of the Ye family has come and is waiting.” The doorman was startled by the servant who suddenly looked at him and explained: “His Highness ordered the doorman that if someone from the Ye family comes, just welcome him in first.”
Not long after, the door of the small hall was pushed open. Ye Yueshen was staring at the ground in a daze. The snacks and tea on the table hadn’t been touched. Ruo Ya stood beside him like someone who was being bullied.
Ye Yueshen heard the sound and looked up, and saw the person who helped him clean up the mess that day, and asked, “What’s your name?”
“My name is Sha Ou.” Sha Ou told Ruo Ya to go out, and said to Ye Yueshen, “Young Master Yue, please wait a moment, our Highness will be here soon.”
A quarter of an hour later, Gong Xunwu arrived late, with strands of hair on his temples still damp. Ye Yueshen stood up and walked a step towards him, saying directly, “Du Ruxiang’s body has been found. Did you fake it to look like he was crushed to death by a boulder?”
“It wasn’t me.” Gong Xunwu was still cold as ice, walked past him and sat down on the side, giving Sha Ou a look.
Sha Ou then said, “This humble servant buried Du Ruxiang’s body in a mountain bag, thinking that if someone who would be detrimental to Young Master Yue was found in the future, this charge could be placed back on him, so I chose a mountain top that His Highness had visited while hunting but didn’t visit often, so there would be a reason in the future.”
Ye Yueshen understood: “So the heavy rain washed his body out?”
Sha Ou was about to say something, but Gong Xunwu spoke: “Not necessarily. Last night’s rain wasn’t enough to move mountains and shift stones.”
Sha Ou echoed: “His Highness is right. Besides, this humble servant didn’t bury him shallowly, so he couldn’t have been washed out by the rain.”
Ye Yueshen paid attention to their expressions and felt that something was wrong, but he couldn’t tell what it was. But whether what these two people said was true or false, in short, Du Ruxiang’s matter no longer posed a threat to him.
What did dying from falling rocks have to do with him? He didn’t cause the rain, and he didn’t run to the mountain bag in the middle of the night to push the rocks down.
After a moment of silence, he asked a question: “Does it seem like someone is warning me?”
His voice was very soft, and his pale face looked quite frightened. The whole person stood there thinly and motionless.
His immobility inexplicably moved Gong Xunwu’s heart, and he comforted him: “Don’t worry too much, even if it’s a warning, it’s warning me.”
Many things only he knew, and his family didn’t even believe that he was being chased, and there was no one to discuss with. To Gong Xunwu, the only eyewitness, he couldn’t help but ask in a negotiating tone: “So only Consort Xian and the Fourth Prince want to kill me?”
Gong Xunwu didn’t answer immediately, and after thinking for a moment, he said vaguely: “Something is strange.”
Ye Yueshen came back to his senses and felt incredible about the fact that he was discussing with Gong Xunwu. Even if he could be sure that the person who wanted to kill him wouldn’t be him, he was obviously not a good person either.
“In that case, Yueshen will not disturb you.” Ye Yueshen saluted and wanted to leave.
It was the distancing politeness that annoyed Gong Xunwu again. He had seen through Ye Yueshen’s rejection of him. When he was anxious, he unceremoniously came to inquire, but as soon as he got the news he wanted, he immediately drew a clear line.
Gong Xunwu coldly snorted and slightly raised his hand to signal Sha Ou to stop him. He ordered with no room for refusal: “You will stay today.”
“Mother is still waiting for Yueshen to go back for dinner.” Ye Yueshen saluted him slightly in a serious manner, again with a generous and well-mannered attitude: “When my elder brother is free, we will visit Your Highness together.”
Gong Xunwu simply stopped pretending, and his palm made a sound on the table: “Ye Yueshen, have you forgotten something?”
Ye Yueshen’s eyes also deepened. In the past, he was held by the handle, but now Du Ruxiang died from falling rocks. What did he have to be afraid of? Even if the person in front of him was Qi Wang, he couldn’t kill him for no reason. Besides, his servant was waiting outside the door. Before long, someone would find him missing.
Ye Yueshen looked back at him neither humble nor arrogant: “Perhaps Your Highness has forgotten something?”
Gong Xunwu’s eyes had a suppressing majesty, and Ye Yueshen was not willing to show weakness, and even had the confidence of being in control. After staring at each other for a long time, Gong Xunwu seemed to take a step back: “Since the Junzhu is still waiting for you to go home for dinner, then you should go back. Remember to greet your second brother for me and ask if the affairs of the Court of the Imperial Clan are tiring to handle.”
Ye Yueshen nodded: “Thank you for your Highness’s concern, Yueshen will definitely convey the message.”
He turned to look at Sha Ou, who was blocking the door. Sha Ou lowered his eyes and opened the door.
After the person left, Sha Ou said hesitantly: “In the past, this humble servant thought that Young Master Yue was gentle and kind-hearted, but just now, I was really frightened by Young Master Yue.”
“You were wrong before, and I was wrong too.” Gong Xunwu poured the tea into the snow willow vase on the side, reached over half the table and picked up the cold tea from Ye Yueshen’s side and brought it close to his lips: “He is not an easy man to deal with.”