WMSG Chapter 48
by VolareYe Yueshen pushed open the door and entered. Ye Lingshen was sitting on the Arhat couch with his legs crossed, a Buddha’s hand citrus switching from his left hand to his right, and then back again.
The Arhat couch wasn’t located in the usual guest-meeting area but was positioned further inside. Generally, close friends would be seated on either side of it.
“Why are you sitting there?” Ye Yueshen gave him a smile, although he couldn’t really manage a genuine one. The fact that he had brought his unsuspecting brother to Qi Wang Manor was quite strange, and he didn’t want Ye Lingshen to be too nervous.
Seeing Ye Lingshen’s posture, he realized he had worried needlessly. How could a nervous person relax with his legs crossed in unfamiliar territory?
Ye Lingshen snorted coldly. “My younger brother treats Qi Wang Manor like his own home. What’s wrong with me sitting here?”
“Are you angry?” Ye Yueshen sat down next to him, placing a hand on his arm in a gesture of weakness.
Ye Lingshen abruptly lowered his leg and sat up straight, his eyes wide as he stared at Ye Yueshen. He said coldly, “If I get angry at you, wouldn’t I be blamed by His Highness Qi Wang? How dare I be angry?”
Ye Yueshen’s gaze also turned cold as he returned the stare without a word.
“Ye Yueshen,” Ye Lingshen said, speaking his name, “Has the Ye family wronged you so much that you’re acting as a plaything for Qi Wang?”
The accusation carried a heavy implication of self-abasement, and Ye Yueshen’s eyelashes trembled, his heart chilled to the point where his lips were shaking.
Ye Lingshen pushed his forehead hard with his finger. “You have parents and brothers. If he’s coercing you, you should tell us. Why are you such a stubborn child, always bearing everything alone, afraid of implicating your family? You idiot, your mother is Yongning Junzhu, your father is Marquis Zhongshun, your eldest brother is an official in the court with hopes of becoming a minister, your second brother isn’t afraid to die, what are you afraid of?”
The heart that had turned cold warmed up again. Ye Yueshen grabbed Ye Lingshen’s hand, stubbornly saying, “What are you thinking? Nothing like that is happening.”
“How could it not be?” Gong Xunwu pushed open the door and entered, his eyes fixed on Ye Yueshen. “Just now, in front of the Crown Prince, weren’t you all lovey-dovey, forced to be apart due to worldly status and unrequited love?”
Ye Lingshen shot up like a rocket, moving faster than Ye Yueshen could react. He pushed Gong Xunwu in the chest, and then his fist came flying towards his face, only to be dodged as Gong Xunwu tilted his head.
Sha Ou and several imperial guards appeared from nowhere, seizing Ye Lingshen and holding him down.
“Release my second brother!” Ye Yueshen lunged forward, trying to pry Sha Ou’s hand away. “Let go, my second brother won’t hit him again.”
Ye Lingshen continued to curse, “Gong Xunwu, you bastard, you son of a b*tch! How could you be so heartless? I’ll kill you!”
Sha Ou looked at Ye Yueshen with a troubled expression, as if asking, “Does this look like he won’t hit him again?”
“Second brother,” Ye Yueshen’s voice trembled slightly, but he was at least still calm. He covered Ye Lingshen’s mouth, and Ye Lingshen glared at him with disappointment.
Ye Yueshen simply knelt down to meet Ye Lingshen’s gaze. “It’s not what you think, don’t be angry.” Ye Yueshen awkwardly pressed his cheek against Ye Lingshen’s bloodshot eyes, which were filled with anger.
Gong Xunwu had moved behind him at some point and gently gripped his shoulder. “Get up first.”
Ye Lingshen immediately became agitated again, glaring fiercely at Gong Xunwu and struggling violently.
Ye Yueshen stroked Ye Lingshen’s face soothingly and turned to look at Gong Xunwu with indifference. “Stay away from me, don’t provoke my second brother.”
Gong Xunwu readily agreed, retreating to the Arhat couch where Ye Lingshen had been sitting, and sat down, silently watching them.
“Second brother,” Ye Yueshen said in his ear, “Thank you for protecting me, but now is not the time to act impulsively. Behave yourself, and we’ll discuss this at length.”
Ye Yueshen grabbed Ye Lingshen’s shoulders, placed his hands next to Sha Ou’s, and then looked up at Sha Ou with a questioning gaze, indicating that he wanted to take over.
Gong Xunwu raised his hand slightly towards them, and Sha Ou and the others obeyed, releasing their hold. Ye Lingshen was simultaneously released by several extremely strong hands, and his entire weight was caught by Ye Yueshen. He only lowered his eyes to look at the ground.
The shock of the matter, the anger at not being able to contend with Gong Xunwu, and the feeling of the person embracing him trembling—all these sensations converged, and he only felt his own incompetence.
But Ye Yueshen was much more mature than he had imagined, holding him and constantly stroking his back to comfort him, while calmly speaking to Gong Xunwu, “The Third Prince wants to kill me, for reasons unknown.”
Gong Xunwu’s mood was complicated. He wanted to help Ye Yueshen up, but he had no doubt that he would be slapped and scolded. It wasn’t that he was afraid of these things, but he knew that Ye Yueshen was on the verge of collapse and couldn’t handle any more emotional turmoil.
“What do you want to do?” Gong Xunwu asked.
“If someone is desperately trying to kill me, I will naturally fight back.”
Gong Xunwu agreed in his heart. “You should have had suspicions earlier. Why didn’t you ask for the reason then?”
“In the past, I was too circuitous, always afraid of cutting down the thorns nearby, but the distant roots remained, and would still spread and grow to my feet.” Ye Yueshen’s tone was calm. “Your coldness and ruthlessness have influenced me. I don’t care if I can eliminate the root, I’ll kill some to vent my anger first.”
Gong Xunwu’s heart trembled, and his teeth clenched tightly. His thoughts were struck by lightning, a chaotic mess of smoldering embers. He couldn’t remember the mood and purpose behind what he had said to Ye Lingshen. Perhaps he was just starting with Ye Yueshen’s family to test the waters, because he couldn’t help but want the whole world to know.
Perhaps he had known all along that this would be the result, but when he heard Ye Yueshen deny it outside the door, the burst of hope he felt was no less than that of a dizzy, headstrong gambler.
Now Gong Xunwu only had one thought: I am so deeply in love, why does he think I am cold and ruthless?
Ye Yueshen took a deep breath to steady himself. “When necessary, you can’t stand idly by. It’s not that I’m begging you to help me, but the Third Prince already knows about you and me. If it’s brought before the Emperor, he has the strongest motive to spread the rumors. Could it be that this is only targeting me?”
Gong Xunwu thought, “Naturally, it’s targeting you. What guts does he have to target me?” But he nodded peacefully in agreement. “Whatever you want me to do, just tell me.”
“During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Fifth Prince will establish his estate. At that time, you will be my alibi.” Ye Yueshen reached out to help Ye Lingshen. “Second brother, let’s go.”
He suddenly thought of something and looked up to ask Gong Xunwu, “I don’t want to stay today.”
Gong Xunwu didn’t dare provoke him at this time, so he also nodded in agreement. “The night before the Mid-Autumn Festival, come to Qi Wang Manor and discuss it with me.”
Ye Lingshen seemed to have lost his autonomy, letting Ye Yueshen help him up and lead him away. They were silent all the way, with Sha Ou following far behind to see them off.
After they had walked far away, Gong Xunwu kicked over the small table beside him, looking at the irreparable mess of broken pieces on the ground. The pain of the chaos created by his and Ye Yueshen’s mistaken beginning was a thousand times greater.
The power of life and death, held with such arrogance by the celestial nobility, had crumbled without a trace. He didn’t want to experience the heartbreaking pain and anger he was feeling again, but he wouldn’t always get his wish.
He leaned back on the couch. He was a mortal, susceptible to both light and rain. The power he held did not create an impassable chasm between him and these feelings. He was just a mortal.
Gong Xunwu wasn’t tormented by disappointment; instead, it was as if he had had an epiphany: Mortals always have emotions and desires, which is normal. There’s nothing to deny.
Ye Yueshen and Ye Lingshen walked outside Qi Wang Manor. Ye Lingshen, who had been letting Ye Yueshen lead him, suddenly broke free of his hand and ran away without looking back.
“Second brother!” Ye Yueshen took a few steps to chase after him but realized he couldn’t catch up. He turned back and saw Sha Ou walking quickly towards him, saying, “Young Master Yue, don’t worry, I’ll arrange for someone to follow Young Master Ling.”
Ye Yueshen never took his anger out on those around Gong Xunwu. He quickly thanked him. “Thank you for your trouble. Please take good care of my second brother. Yueshen is extremely grateful.” He made a gesture to bow.
Sha Ou helped him up. “It’s our duty, Young Master Yue, don’t scare me. Let me say a few more words. Second Young Master is worried about you. As an older brother, he didn’t know his younger brother had suffered…” Sha Ou didn’t want to speak ill of his master, so he vaguely glossed over it. “Second Young Master is feeling guilty. He’s too ashamed to face you.”
“How could it be my second brother’s fault?” Ye Yueshen immediately retorted.
Sha Ou explained, “Of course it’s not Second Young Master’s fault, but concern can lead to clouded judgment. As an older brother, one always feels guilty. If they can’t protect, they feel guilty. If they don’t give enough, they still feel guilty. Siblings are constrained by their obligations and can’t see past them.”
Ye Yueshen lowered his head. “Thank you.”
Waiting idly was useless. It was getting dark when he got into the sedan and went home. Ye Lingshen wasn’t there, but he still stayed in Ye Lingshen’s bed. Night after night passed, and Ye Lingshen didn’t come home. It was as if he was the one who had taken over someone else’s bed.
Junzhu and Marquis Ye sent many servants out to look for him, and Ye Yuanshen also sent a letter requesting a leave of absence.
Ye Yueshen had already seen Ye Lingshen’s reaction with his own eyes, so naturally he didn’t dare tell the rest of the family. He could only vaguely say that he had quarreled with his second brother.
Junzhu didn’t blame him, but she asked very carefully. Ye Yueshen didn’t dare mention a single word about Gong Xunwu, other than saying that he had contradicted his brother.
Sha Ou sent him a message, saying that Ye Lingshen had gone out of the city and was wandering around nearby villages, not seeming like he was going far, but also not returning.
As Gong Xunwu had instructed, he comforted Ye Yueshen, saying that he was just clearing his head and would be back soon.
The Mid-Autumn Festival approached after a period of chaos in the Ye family. There was a banquet in the palace. Originally, the Emperor had allowed Gong Shengyin to establish his estate and host a banquet in the morning, but for some reason, it was suddenly changed to the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Ye Yueshen prepared the medicine in his pouch. It was the same kind of medicine that the coroner had found in the dumplings at the hunt. He replaced the hairpin on his crown with a sharpened iron spike.
He met Gong Xunwu outside the Fifth Prince’s estate, and the two walked together towards the Prince’s estate. Gong Xunwu said to him, “You’ve lost weight.”
Ye Yueshen didn’t reply.
Gong Xunwu sighed softly. “You wouldn’t only make one preparation, would you?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Gong Xunwu wanted to say a lot of things, but looked at Ye Yueshen and chose to remain silent. Ye Yueshen slowed his pace, and the two entered the Prince’s estate one after the other.
Gong Shengyin personally greeted the guests. Both he and Ye Yueshen had mothers who were dancers and died early. Gong Xuyin was luckier; he had an adoptive mother and his adoptive mother’s nephew to help him greet the guests.
Logically speaking, Gong Shengyin, with his rising power, should have had a bustling crowd. But today, the number of guests was far fewer than at Gong Xuyin’s estate inauguration banquet.
Perhaps Gong Shengyin’s foundation was unstable and he hadn’t yet won over the hearts of the people, or perhaps someone was interfering, deliberately embarrassing him.
But this little disturbance was too insignificant for Gong Shengyin, who had been neglected for many years. He greeted each guest with a natural expression. When he reached Ye Yueshen, he didn’t have time to say much, but his smile was sincere. “Zherong, I’m very happy that you came.”
Ye Yueshen still used the same congratulatory words: “Congratulations to Fifth Prince on being granted the honor of establishing an estate.”
“Thank you, Zherong.” Gong Shengyin returned the greeting. “That day in the palace…”
His words were interrupted by the arrival of the Third Prince. Ye Yueshen left without looking sideways, pretending not to see the person behind him.
The Fifth Prince’s estate was only larger, not smaller, than the Fourth Prince’s, indicating that Gong Shengyin had some ability. Ye Yueshen stood in a Gazebo with a good view, not joining the crowds, but also not straying from the public’s view.
He surveyed the area within his sight. Outside the small pavilion, the Fourth Prince and the Third Prince were talking. In front of the flowing water, the Crown Prince stopped Gong Xunwu, and the two stood there, exchanging pleasantries.
Not far away, several concubines and their nephews were talking, two of whom were holding wine cups and walking towards the Third Prince and Fourth Prince.
Ye Yueshen suddenly felt a chill down his spine, and his hair stood on end. For a prince who could be granted an estate before reaching adulthood, the number of guests was far too meager. None of the senior royal relatives had attended.
Something was wrong.
Ye Yueshen vigilantly glanced behind him, then hesitated between several groups of people, and finally chose to walk towards Gong Xuyin and the Third Prince.
After exchanging pleasantries, he looked at the Third Prince. The Third Prince didn’t seem prepared for him to look over, and paused for a moment before searching for a casual remark in his mind. “Long time no see.”
Ye Yueshen smiled. “Third Prince has a lot of important matters to remember. Didn’t we run into each other at the tea house door a few days ago?”
Gong Xuyin raised an eyebrow. “Which tea house?”
The Third Prince was wary, even overly wary. He said, “What tea house? I don’t remember. I just happened to meet Zherong on the road, and didn’t pay attention to where I was going.”
“I see,” Ye Yueshen still smiled. “I remembered wrong.”
Gong Xuyin was sensitive to places like tea houses and restaurants, which were used to gather information. Without saying much, he found an excuse to move away from the crowd with Ye Yueshen and asked, “Which tea house?”
“What tea house? I was just saying something randomly.” Ye Yueshen scoffed. “We’ll meet at ‘Floating Wine Pavilion’ another day.”
The two laughed simultaneously. Floating Wine Pavilion was a hot spring villa, originally owned by the Third Prince behind the scenes, but his secrecy wasn’t good enough, and someone exposed him. Now everyone knew about it.
The current Floating Wine Pavilion had lost its “purpose” and returned to its original business of making money. But there were still plenty of people throwing money around, seeking the protection of a prince.
The princes in the courtyard, with their clearly defined ranks, were all unattainable in the eyes of ordinary people, and even the dumbest one was worth currying favor with.
Gong Xunwu looked in Ye Yueshen’s direction several times, and the two also exchanged glances, but he seemed to be listening to the Crown Prince talk about something important.
Ye Yueshen talked to Gong Xuyin for a while. He knew these people well, and as long as he wanted to, there wouldn’t be any awkward silences.
He felt a little thirsty and was about to leave to find a cup of tea when Gong Xuyin suddenly grabbed his hand, as Gong Xuyin was in the middle of an interesting conversation and wouldn’t let him leave.
Ye Yueshen suddenly realized that perhaps Gong Xunwu was unable to get away because of something, but what important matter could the Crown Prince have that he had to drag him aside to discuss at someone else’s banquet?
Ye Yueshen rubbed his forehead and, using the excuse that he had been drunk last night, went to ask the kitchen for a bowl of hangover soup. He walked some distance towards the kitchen, turned a corner, and went behind the rockery to look at the water. He leaned against the rockery, hiding the purse on his body in a hole in the rock.
He had a strong intuition that today’s banquet was unusual, and he didn’t dare to act rashly.
Gong Shengyin invited the guests to be seated. This time, there were only three tables, still one for the princes. Gong Xunwu’s generation seemed even more out of place.