WMSG Chapter 39
by VolareBoth the Junzhu and Marquis Ye found the matter of bringing Zhang San back troublesome. However, the man was already tied up in their house. Letting him off lightly was absolutely out of the question, but using severe torture would affect Ye Yueshen’s reputation if it reached the Imperial Palace.
The Junzhu was about to have Zhang San sent back to the palace behind Ye Yueshen’s back or directly to the yamen for disposal.
Fortunately, Ye Yueshen had already arrived to claim him. Marquis Ye immediately began to scold him. Ye Yueshen stayed close to the Junzhu, not saying a word until Marquis Ye was done berating him. Then, he spoke, “Mother, keeping this person is truly useful to me. Please have him tied up and thrown into the cellar, but someone must watch him closely, making sure he doesn’t kill himself.”
The Junzhu tapped his forehead with her finger, her face showing rare displeasure, “Nonsense! Do you know what a big trouble you’ve caused by bringing him back?”
“Mother, I’m really not being nonsensical.” Ye Yueshen looked at the Junzhu with pleading eyes, “Just help me watch him for half a day. I promise the rest won’t trouble the family.”
Ye Yuanshen, having drunk tea for a while, took the initiative to speak on his behalf, “Mother, since the person is already here, why not humor Little Yueshen? With him in our house, outsiders won’t know.”
Marquis Ye turned his criticism towards him, “You are his elder brother, the eldest son of the family. You should be calm and steady. Are these the words you should be saying?”
“Mother…” Ye Yueshen used his eyes to plead with the Junzhu, giving up on persuading Marquis Ye.
The Junzhu had been intelligent and strong since childhood, and she remained so after marriage and childbirth. However, her strength came with a compassionate heart, belonging to the type who would yield to softness but not to force.
Ye Yueshen’s plea softened her heart, leaving her with only one thought: He is my child, he is still so young. No matter how bad the consequences are, it won’t be to the point where I can’t handle it. Why not?
After the Junzhu agreed, Marquis Ye didn’t say anything more. After breakfast, Ye Yueshen sneaked out through the side gate with Xuédōng, without alarming anyone.
After these few days of confinement, Xuédōng stayed close to Ye Yueshen, and at the mere mention of Qi Wang Manor, he acted as if facing a great enemy, pestering Ye Yueshen and advising him not to go.
The two were deadlocked on a sparsely populated street. Xuédōng thought several times that Ye Yueshen was about to get angry and scold him, but Ye Yueshen didn’t. He still spoke to him gently, saying that he must go and that he would ensure his own safety. Even though his tone was a bit anxious, he didn’t sternly order him.
Originally, Xuédōng was also very persistent, but in the end, he felt a little embarrassed because of Ye Yueshen’s attitude. He silently stepped aside, following behind Ye Yueshen.
Ye Yueshen left through the side gate. The servant at the side gate didn’t recognize him, leaving him waiting at the door for half an hour. Gong Xunwu only heard that a handsome young man had come to see him after he finished his morning exercises.
When he arrived, Ye Yueshen was leaning against the wall, being lectured by Xuédōng, who was complaining about how worried he had been these past few days.
Ye Yueshen listened to him patiently, occasionally reaching out to pat Xuédōng’s arm in reassurance.
Xuédōng’s nagging stopped abruptly. Ye Yueshen followed his gaze and turned back. Gong Xunwu was standing silently at the door, not knowing how long he had been there.
“Is it convenient to talk in private?” Ye Yueshen asked.
Gong Xunwu’s gaze fell on Xuédōng. He hadn’t paid attention to the servant by Ye Yueshen’s side before, but upon closer inspection, he had the “plain and decent” look that elders often mentioned, the kind who wouldn’t be a disgrace if taken out.
“You come in alone.” Gong Xunwu retracted his gaze and turned to go inside.
Ye Yueshen turned back to tell Xuédōng, “You wait for me here…”
“Are you the Emperor or the Crown Prince?” Gong Xunwu turned back to look at him, his tone devoid of any emotion, “I don’t have the leisure to wait for you.”
Ye Yueshen didn’t understand what had made him angry so early in the morning, but since he needed his help, he could only nod hastily at Xuédōng and follow closely behind him.
Gong Xunwu didn’t tell him where to go, nor did he intend to wait for him. In his twenty-seven years as the Qi Wang, other people’s obedience was too much of a matter of course for him.
He was still wearing a fitted, tight-sleeved jacket for exercise. He stood at the entrance of the armory, took off his thumb ring, and then walked in to change his clothes.
Ye Yueshen was wary of places where weapons were stored. He waited outside, and happened to encounter the little cat he had seen before. He quietly walked over and picked up the little fellow who was sleeping. After being awakened, the little cat kicked its legs a few times, and after seeing who it was, slapped Ye Yueshen three times.
Ye Yueshen secretly decided to never offer a warm face to a cold backside again. He stood up too quickly and his vision went black. Gong Xunwu, who was behind him, supported his arm to steady him.
“What do you want to say to me?” Gong Xunwu still maintained his aloof demeanor.
Ye Yueshen paused for a few seconds to prepare himself mentally, then put on what he thought was a completely unconcerned expression, “I want you to send some people to keep an eye on the cook I brought out from the palace.”
Gong Xunwu narrowed his eyes, “Since you’re asking me for help, how dare you give me attitude?”
Ye Yueshen was puzzled as to where he had given him attitude. Moreover, he had been confined for so many days because of Gong Xunwu. He was already being generous by calmly asking Gong Xunwu to provide assistance. So he asked, “Why are you so unappreciative?”
“You say I’m unappreciative?” Gong Xunwu sneered, then left him and turned to leave.
The only tacit understanding between Gong Xunwu and Ye Yueshen was probably that they both found each other unreasonable.
But with Ye Yueshen’s obvious rejection coming first, Gong Xunwu understood very well that he was the one holding on, which led to so much entanglement.
He and Ye Yueshen were completely different people. Ye Yueshen was a weak, contradictory being formed by sensitivity and obtuseness, self-reconcilation and inferiority, while he was completely strong. Once he let go, Ye Yueshen would leave without hesitation.
Ye Yueshen would go to anyone other than him, and could even discuss things nicely with a servant.
Gong Xunwu couldn’t help but substitute himself in his place, recalling how he had picked up the power of “strict commands and prohibitions” from the age of a few years, never explaining his inner reasons to anyone.
Ye Yueshen didn’t walk into his study until half an hour later. He was a little surprised, because he thought Ye Yueshen had already been angered away by his harsh words, after all, that fellow was small but had a big temper.
He had spent half the time thinking about whether he should end this relationship, where he was in the wrong, before the “rumors” became undeniable.
He had also spent half the time regretting that since the other party had finally taken the initiative to come to him, he should have at least listened to what he had to say.
“The Marquis’s Mansion is a proper Marquis’s Mansion.” Ye Yueshen said, “I want a few experienced fighters, I don’t need them to use force, just help me watch the cook to make sure he doesn’t kill himself.”
Gong Xunwu’s attitude improved slightly, “The Wang Manor is also a proper Wang Manor.” His tone implied that he wouldn’t lend them.
Ye Yueshen had been rejected many times, and knew that crying, making a fuss, or getting anxious wouldn’t work, so he remained calm, “The fact that the cook has lived to this day is already my luck. If you don’t help me, then there’s no point in my bringing him out of the palace.”
Ye Yueshen slowly walked forward, bent one leg, and knelt on Gong Xunwu’s thigh. Then, he cupped Gong Xunwu’s face, closed his eyes, and lowered his head to kiss him.
Gong Xunwu was quite surprised. He coveted every touch with Ye Yueshen, but he didn’t like this kiss, because it clearly reminded them that their relationship was one of mutual self-seeking.
“Okay.” Gong Xunwu’s gaze was fixed on Ye Yueshen’s watery red lips. After saying this word, he couldn’t wait to kiss him again, this time taking the initiative and forcefully causing Ye Yueshen to retreat continuously.
It could be seen that Ye Yueshen hadn’t gotten over the confinement incident. The atmosphere between them, no matter how prettified, was extremely fragile. Gong Xunwu let Ye Yueshen return very early.
Ye Yueshen sent the person to the entrance of the Ye family’s residence, told the servant at the gate, and then left home again with Xuédōng, heading to You Su Fang.
The waiter invited Ye Yueshen upstairs. In the private room, there was not only Gong Xuyin, but also the Third Prince, Gong Yiyin.
After seeing the Third Prince, Ye Yueshen spoke first, “What a coincidence to meet the two Highnesses. Do the Highnesses also like the tea at You Su Fang?”
Gong Xuyin smiled at him, exchanging a look that only they understood. Ye Yueshen was very sensible and didn’t expose the fact that Gong Xuyin was the behind-the-scenes owner of You Su Fang in front of the Third Prince.
The three people immediately divided into opposing sides, with those who knew the secret naturally being closer.
The Third Prince put on a smile that was passable in terms of acting, “Does Gongzi Yue like the tea at You Su Fang?”
“Yue Shen likes the people at You Su Fang.” Ye Yueshen sat down at the invitation of the two princes. He continued, “The people here are very amiable and kind, and they don’t look down on people. Yue Shen likes this point.”
Gong Xuyin, who was drinking tea, heard his teasing and choked on a mouthful of water.
Ye Yueshen handed over his handkerchief. Gong Xuyin took it and wiped his chin. This was a rather intimate interaction. The Third Prince’s gaze towards Ye Yueshen immediately became somewhat eager.
If Qi Wang could, and the Fourth Prince could, then why couldn’t he, as the Third Prince? His gaze towards Ye Yueshen became disgusting and sticky.
Ye Yueshen was completely unaware. In his eyes, lending a handkerchief was no different from sharing a tissue.
Gong Xuyin took his teasing with a smile, “Yes, they are quite friendly. As the world goes downhill, kind people should be favored.”
“Does the Fourth Highness also think so?” Ye Yueshen followed up, “Not to boast or elevate myself, but yesterday, when I left the palace, I brought out the cook who poisoned me. Do the two Highnesses know about this?”
The Third Prince didn’t know if he had just found out or was pretending not to know, “What did you bring him out for? Such a vile person should be subjected to the most severe punishment.”
“It is said that one should leave room for forgiveness.” Ye Yueshen looked at the Third Prince, “Yue Shen already had a frank conversation with Zhang San last night. He cried and confessed his sins to Yue Shen, saying that he was also confused for a moment. When Yue Shen worships Buddha, he often hears the master say ‘lay down the butcher knife and become a Buddha on the spot.’ Yue Shen then thought that if he could reform Zhang San, it would also be a meritorious deed. So he allowed him to rest for a few days, and then go to the kitchen to stoke the fire, which could also be considered a proper thing to do.”
“What?” Gong Xuyin disagreed, “How can a vicious person so easily repent? Does Aunt also agree?”
Ye Yueshen said, “Originally, Mother didn’t agree, but Yue Shen argued forcefully, invoking the Buddha and the real person, and Aunt reluctantly agreed.”
The Third Prince’s gaze towards Ye Yueshen became like that of someone looking at a fool.
The former ‘Ye Yueshen’ had done naive things like giving money to gamblers to fill their holes, so Ye Yueshen wasn’t worried that they wouldn’t believe him.
Gong Xuyin’s gaze gained a few more traces of pity. He continued to persuade, “Yue Cousin, you have the protection of your parents and brothers, and you don’t know the dangers of the world. Some wisdom only comes after suffering a loss. You should listen to advice, how could your own blood relatives harm you?”
“Yue Shen knows everything.” Ye Yueshen feigned melancholy, “But Yue Shen is naturally soft-hearted, how can he bear the burden of a life? He said that he didn’t know Yue Shen’s character before, but now that he does, he is very moved and swears to change. Yue Shen can’t…”
Gong Xuyin slammed the table, “Yue Cousin, are you going to bet your life on your kindness? Moreover, the diet concerns the entire Marquis’s Mansion, you should think more about Aunt and Marquis Ye.”
Ye Yueshen gave him a reassuring smile, “Fourth Highness, don’t worry, Yue Shen knows what he’s doing. Yue Shen will go home now, ask the people in the kitchen to pay more attention to Zhang San, and send two servants to secretly watch him for a few days. Or ask where Zhang San’s home is and simply let him go home.”
He left as soon as he said so. Gong Xuyin took the initiative to send him to the door and said to him, “You are good in every way, it’s just that this soft heart of yours is not advisable.”
Ye Yueshen smiled at him, “Don’t worry, I am confident that I dare to leave him, he can’t fool me.”
There were four more people from Qi Wang Manor in the cellar of the Marquis’s Mansion, and sixteen people standing outside the cellar, staring wide-eyed at the steward of the Marquis’s Mansion.
When Ye Yueshen returned, he saw a scene of stalemate between the two sides. He had Shāōu explain to the housekeeper, while he went to talk to the fighters sent by Qi Wang Manor.
The leader, who was burly and claimed to be Yan Kui, was very amiable when he spoke, “His Highness instructed that four brothers are enough to ‘take care’ of Zhang San. We are here to protect Gongzi Yue.”
Ye Yueshen said, “There’s no need to protect me. Actually, I have something to ask of you. I plan to let Zhang San stoke the fire in the kitchen in two days. I would like to ask you to watch him, only allowing him to do the stoking, and not allowing him to touch anything else.”
Although Yan Kui didn’t understand, he still agreed. Shāōu had instructed them before that they should do everything according to Gongzi Yue’s convenience.
“But it can’t be too obvious.” Ye Yueshen took a step closer, whispering in his ear, “If someone comes uninvited, wanting to kidnap or silence him, remember to help me keep one person alive.”
Yan Kui was stunned. Ye Yueshen used his beautiful face to softly say, “Do you understand what I mean?”
Yan Kui felt a chill for some reason. He nodded, “I understand.”