WMSG Chapter 55
by VolareYe Yueshen sat on the small heated kang in the main room, basking in the sun. Through the window, he could see the golden leaves outside, the autumn feeling growing stronger. The more he saw it, the stronger Yueshen’s desire to bask in the sun.
After washing up in the morning, Gong Xunwu had carried him to the small kang. Ye Yueshen had protested, “It’s my stomach that’s injured, not my legs.”
“It will affect the wound.” Gong Xunwu said perfunctorily. As long as he wanted to hold Ye Yueshen, he could find countless reasons.
Now, the window sash was tightly closed. Ye Yueshen withdrew his gaze from the carved wooden window frame and shivered inexplicably. He turned to look at Gong Xunwu, “So, the person who really wants to kill me is Gong Xuyin.”
Gong Xunwu looked at him in silence, and after a moment, he asked, “You think so?”
There was a hint of doubt in his eyes, and a little mockery. Ye Yueshen hadn’t been looked at with that expression for a long time and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Even Gong Xunwu was laughing at the terrible friends he had. But what kind of good person was Gong Xunwu? What right did he have?
These days, Ye Yueshen would hesitate before arguing with him, after all, he was eating his food, living in his house, and being served by him in every detail.
Moreover, Ye Yueshen’s mood had been very stable recently, and he didn’t feel very angry. So he just nodded: “I used Yuanbao to test him, isn’t that enough to prove that I have reservations when interacting with him?”
Gong Xunwu didn’t speak, got up and tidied the thin quilt covering Ye Yueshen. He had revealed his feet when adjusting his sitting position, and Gong Xunwu covered them up again.
“So, what secret did Yuanbao stumble upon that was worth Gong Xuyin killing him to silence him?” Gong Xunwu asked.
Ye Yueshen shook his head: “I have no clue.”
“I was afraid you wouldn’t have a clue.” Gong Xunwu seemed to know him very well, “Don’t go to see Yuanbao and Gong Xuyin behind my back, discuss everything before you do it.”
Ye Yueshen blinked, not saying whether he agreed or not.
His thoughts drifted away with Gong Xunwu’s words. He didn’t notice that Gong Xunwu had sat down next to him, raising and lowering his arm twice before finally deciding to pull him into his arms.
Ye Yueshen looked up at him, his face was like a strict, handsome template, with clean lines and a high degree of symmetry on both cheeks, giving a very upright and resolute impression. But this feeling was weakened by his always gloomy eyebrows and eyes.
Gong Xunwu didn’t seem like the protagonist, he should be the protagonist’s “golden finger”. Ye Yueshen pondered why he felt this way. Before he knew it, they had been staring at each other for a long time.
Ye Yueshen’s eyes were full of inquiry. After a long time, he became slightly distracted. Gong Xunwu held his face, “What are you looking at?”
After Ye Yueshen heard the voice that matched this face, he had a sudden inspiration, as if a cloud of fog in his mind had been dispelled. That feeling that the answer was in his heart but he couldn’t find it faded away, making Ye Yueshen gasp slightly.
“I know.” Ye Yueshen’s face showed a “dead end” expression, and he said to him: “It’s because you don’t have your own story.” So I have never put myself in your perspective.
Gong Xunwu was stunned, but miraculously he understood what Ye Yueshen meant, “Do I look very empty?”
Ye Yueshen nodded very deeply, looking a bit like an idiot. The memories of their tit-for-tat arguments were like an uncertain dream. Gong Xunwu couldn’t help but get closer to him, feeling a sense of “clearly very intimate” pride in his heart.
“You are the Empress Dowager’s second son, the late Emperor’s youngest child, the Emperor’s own younger brother, Gong Shengyin’s ninth imperial uncle.” Ye Yueshen counted his identities, “But the part of you that is Gong Xunwu himself is very small.”
“That’s because you have never paid attention to me.” Gong Xunwu paused, surprised by his somewhat sour wording, and surprised that he hadn’t immediately reacted to Ye Yueshen calling him by his given name.
Ye Yueshen retorted, “I paid attention to everyone’s…” plot, it’s just that your plot is too small, a supporting character with very little overlap with the protagonist.
“You don’t need to pay attention to too many people.” Gong Xunwu was afraid that his statement was too overbearing, so he explained: “I know you are flustered, eager to find the truth, but contacting too many people will not only startle the snake, but also make you confused.”
Ye Yueshen felt that this kind of experience was useless and nodded perfunctorily: “I think I have already found it.”
Gong Xunwu didn’t refute him, but he didn’t express agreement either. After being silent for a while, he said: “It’s a bit far-fetched.”
Gong Xuyin didn’t seem like the kind of person who would reveal such a flaw.
As these princes’ imperial uncle, although Gong Xunwu had not deliberately paid attention, the princes’ personalities were almost transparent in his eyes after an imperial banquet or a hunt.
Which one seemed to have both scheming and tolerance, but was actually arrogant and aloof, which one seemed honest and unambitious, but was actually treacherous and more active than anyone behind his back, which one was brotherly and kind and considerate, but was actually sowing discord and selfish.
Gong Xunwu saw it very clearly, including those who could bend and stretch and conserve their strength could not escape his eyes.
Gong Xuyin was the most extreme hypocrite, cunning and never took the lead, watching from the sidelines waiting to reap the benefits.
How could this kind of person do earth-shattering bad things and leave a handle for others? Gong Xunwu didn’t think so.
Ye Yueshen immediately grasped the point and asked, “You have a guess in your heart, right?”
For a moment, Ye Yueshen felt that Gong Xunwu was about to say it, but then changed his mind and said perfunctorily: “I have no guesses, in short, be cautious, you are very good at adapting to circumstances, but you are too impulsive.”
Ye Yueshen humbly acknowledged: “I know.”
Gong Xunwu suspected that he had said too much, how did it sound like criticism, so he didn’t continue.
In fact, Ye Yueshen was rarely influenced by other people’s thoughts. Although Gong Xunwu didn’t seem to agree with his guess, based on the fact that Gong Xuyin had guiltily gone to see Yuanbao, he was still more inclined to believe that Gong Xuyin wanted to kill him.
Sometimes he was too afraid of his intuition deceiving him, so he especially relied on concrete evidence.
Gong Xuyin was guilty, he saw evidence of Gong Xuyin’s guilt.
Ju Su’s medical skills were superb. In late autumn, Ye Yueshen’s injury was almost healed. Although he couldn’t do strenuous exercise, he could walk normally and bathe independently.
Because of his guess about Gong Xuyin, Ye Yueshen felt that the enemy was no longer in the dark, so he planned to leave Qi Wang Manor and go home. He didn’t want to be sheltered by Gong Xunwu unless it was necessary.
Every time he mentioned it, Gong Xunwu found an excuse to reject it, until the Junzhu came to pick him up in person, Gong Xunwu had no reason to refuse, and sent Ye Yueshen into the carriage.
He prepared a lot of clothes and jewelry for Ye Yueshen, even the soft cushion that Ye Yueshen usually used was prepared the same, and asked people to put it in the carriage.
He stood next to the sedan and blurted out to Ye Yueshen: “Remember to come back and get clothes if you don’t have any to wear.”
As soon as he said this, everyone felt a little strange. It didn’t sound like he was letting Ye Yueshen go home, but rather like he was sending Ye Yueshen out. Gong Xunwu’s tone and behavior were like saying that Ye Yueshen would have to come back sooner or later, and Qi Wang Manor was his home.
Junzhu smiled: “Little Yue, what virtue and ability do you have to gain the love of His Royal Highness Qi Wang.”
Although the Junzhu expressed her meaning very politely, Gong Xunwu thought in his heart: Of course I love him.
Ye Yueshen ignored Gong Xunwu, and very “ungratefully” left Gong Xunwu to deal with his mother, he was helped into the sedan by Ye Lingshen, and questioned Ye Lingshen: “Why didn’t Father and Big Brother come to pick me up?”
Gong Xunwu retracted his gaze, completely losing interest in greeting the Junzhu, and had only one thought in his mind, how could he feed a white-eyed wolf without asking for anything in return.
But he didn’t feel angry, he had seen Ye Yueshen’s attitude from the first day, everything was what he was willing to do. Compared to Ye Yueshen’s reward, he felt that as long as the person was by his side, everything could wait.
After returning to the Ye family, he continued to recuperate. The Junzhu was even more nervous than Gong Xunwu, returning his four maids and telling them a lot of things they needed to be careful about.
The Junzhu came to see him at least once a day. When she left, Ye Yueshen stared at her back, remembering how Gong Xunwu fed him food and medicine.
No one did better than Gong Xunwu in taking care of him, no one but Gong Xunwu could do everything himself.
He didn’t rest for a few days before asking Xuedong to find Liu Qingying. The two agreed that he would visit the Liu family and meet each other.
Gong Xunwu only said not to let him secretly meet Yuanbao and Gong Xuyin, but didn’t say he couldn’t meet Liu Qingying.
He couldn’t come empty-handed, Ye Yueshen was embarrassed to take the Ye family’s things out to give away, and didn’t dare to tell the Junzhu that he was going to meet Liu Qingying.
The Junzhu didn’t allow him to go out before his injury was healed, and the Junzhu’s concept of healing was that there couldn’t be any scars, which was obviously impossible.
Ye Yueshen had no choice but to pick out a pair of spring-colored jade bracelets from the things that Gong Xunwu had prepared for him. This color looked very good on Liu Qingying.
He wrapped the things and persuaded Xuedong to help him go out. Xuedong kept saying he couldn’t, but couldn’t stand his soft and hard begging, and took him out of the side door.
Liu Qingying’s home was also in the capital. In Ye Yueshen’s opinion, the layout and scenery of the courtyard were very good. Liu Qingying should also be a young master from a wealthy family. What was the need to rely on Gong Shengyin and be humble?
Ye Yueshen waited for him at the main entrance, and said a little nervously: “I asked people to prepare a feast, please don’t dislike it.”
“Why don’t you call me Zhe Rong anymore?” Ye Yueshen pretended not to see his inferiority, and said nonchalantly: “I eat a lot, you tell the kitchen to prepare more.”
Liu Qingying smiled instantly. Every time he spent time with Ye Yueshen, he felt very relaxed. At this time, Liu Qingying was the only master in the Liu family. His mother, Liu Momo, lived in a temple in the suburbs of Beijing most of the time, which was built with money from their family.
His father and brothers were all in the military camp. According to the plot of the original book, his father was a military advisor to one of Gong Shengyin’s confidant generals, and his brothers also followed his father.
The two walked inside while talking. In addition to wanting to ask Gong Shengyin some things through him, Ye Yueshen also wanted to reveal a little plot to him to avoid some bad things from happening.
In the original book, Liu Qingying’s father and younger brother both died accidentally while helping Gong Shengyin, leaving only one older brother who was crippled.
“Are you the only one at home?” Ye Yueshen asked casually.
Liu Qingying replied, “Father and brothers are all in Youzhou, and Mother is not often at home.”
Ye Yueshen nodded, not asking what his father and brothers were doing in Youzhou, but said: “My mother said that there are many kinds of pastries in Youzhou, but it is not very peaceful there. A cousin of our family joined the army in Youzhou, and unfortunately encountered bandits, who tortured him to death. When he was taken home, he was…”
He didn’t continue. Liu Qingying’s face was already pale, “Is Youzhou so chaotic?”
“Yes.” Ye Yueshen sighed: “The Third Prince’s affairs made me think of a lot of things. In fact, bandits are easy to avoid. As long as you don’t get separated, you won’t suffer. The most frightening thing is when princes seize power and rebellious kings plot rebellion. At that time, soldiers will have no choice, and confidant generals have to take the lead. If they win, they will be granted dukes and marquises and become nobles in one fell swoop. If they lose, their heads will be cut off and blood will flow…”
Liu Qingying was already a little unsteady: “Zhe Rong, you can’t say such things casually. Daqi is prosperous and peaceful, this will not happen.”
“Isn’t it common for princes to fight openly and secretly throughout the dynasties?” Ye Yueshen saw that his face was pale and knew that his words had worked, so he didn’t continue.
Liu Qingying didn’t take him to the flower hall, but went to his bedroom. Ye Yueshen felt that their relationship was not close enough, but he didn’t say anything.
“Do you plan to enter the palace recently?” Ye Yueshen said: “I want you to help me inquire about some things from the Fifth Prince, but don’t say it was me who asked. Ask a question if it is convenient for you, and don’t ask if it is not convenient.”
The look in Liu Qingying’s eyes became a little complicated, he didn’t say anything, but walked forward and pushed open the door.
Ye Yueshen thought he was frightened by the things he had fabricated, and was about to comfort him when he looked up and saw Gong Shengyin standing inside the doorway, almost bumping into them.
Gong Shengyin had a smile in his eyes and said in a very good mood: “Zhe Rong wanted to see me, so I came.”
Ye Yueshen recalled what he had just said, and didn’t know which sentence expressed that he wanted to see Gong Shengyin.
He turned to look at Liu Qingying, who lowered his head a little embarrassedly. He understood why Liu Qingying was so nervous when he first met him.
Gong Shengyin said, “I heard that you made an appointment to meet Qingying, so I came shamelessly.”
I’m afraid it’s not just that, Ye Yueshen knew Liu Qingying’s feelings for Gong Shengyin, and probably wouldn’t willingly let them meet.
Most likely, Gong Shengyin threatened and coerced him, and he should have warned him long ago not to hide anything related to him.
Gong Shengyin acted like he was at home, took half a step aside and reached out to invite Ye Yueshen in. Ye Yueshen was faintly repulsed in his heart, realizing that Gong Shengyin really regarded Liu Qingying as his own, and incidentally regarded Liu Qingying’s home as his own territory.
Ye Yueshen looked back at Liu Qingying, “Why don’t you come in?”
Liu Qingying looked at Gong Shengyin for instructions. Ye Yueshen followed his gaze and looked over. Gong Shengyin smiled, “Yes, Zhe Rong is here to see you, what are you doing if you don’t come in.”
Liu Qingying answered yes, and the three of them sat down at the small square table in the main room. Ye Yueshen got up again and went out, taking the mother-of-pearl gift box containing the bracelets from Xuedong.
He opened the gift box and handed it to Liu Qingying, who didn’t show much joy in his eyes. His mood had been completely affected by Gong Shengyin.
Even Ye Yueshen’s mood fell, feeling that Gong Shengyin was really a selfish and self-interested robber, who sucked the life out of many people around him for his own future.
The three of them were sitting around a small square table, and everyone felt like they were the superfluous one.
Gong Shengyin smiled: “Zhe Rong is very thoughtful, this bracelet is very suitable for Qingying.”
Ye Yueshen felt a hint of strangeness. He didn’t want to hurt Liu Qingying, so he went straight to the point: “Since the Fifth Prince is here, I don’t need to trouble Qingying. I was injured at the Fifth Prince’s inaugural banquet, and after searching all my memories, I can only find one enemy.”
Speaking of the day of the inaugural banquet, Gong Shengyin’s face turned ugly. He knelt on the ground and begged Gong Xunwu not to tell the Emperor about this. He wondered how much Ye Yueshen had seen that scene, and what he thought about it.
Gong Shengyin took a sip of tea, trying not to think about his performance that day, “Hasn’t the Third Prince already been placed under house arrest?”
“I don’t think I have offended him.” Ye Yueshen said, “Does the Fifth Prince still remember that day, I had a conflict with the Fourth Prince’s servants for your sake.”
There was a little smile on Gong Shengyin’s face. He nodded, “Of course I remember.”
“Speaking of the people I have offended, the only one I can remember is the Fourth Prince.” Ye Yueshen said.
“Not necessarily.” Gong Shengyin retorted very quickly, “Fourth Brother wouldn’t kill you.”
Ye Yueshen smiled with lowered eyes: “When did the Fifth Prince become so close to the Fourth Prince? You are even guaranteeing him.”
“I don’t mean that.” Gong Shengyin was dazzled by his smile and explained patiently: “Fourth Brother is cautious and would never do such unnecessary things.”
“It’s that kind of statement again.” Ye Yueshen blurted out. The idea of wanting to complain was out of control. He wanted to drive Gong Shengyin out, and then grab Liu Qingying’s shoulders and force him to listen to his grumbling.
But what was the difference between that and Gong Shengyin? Ye Yueshen straightened his back and put on a fake smile: “I don’t know if the Fifth Prince remembers more things that happened that day. I haven’t asked, why did you offend the Fourth Prince?”
“You wouldn’t want to know.” Gong Shengyin smiled: “Zhe Rong, to be honest, because your appearance made things worse, Fourth Brother did suffer a loss, you shouldn’t dwell on it.”
Ye Yueshen refused to let it go easily: “What if I insist on dwelling on it?”
“Then you will find that the person who needs to kill you to silence you may be me.” Gong Shengyin’s tone was very relaxed, so much so that it carried a weird humor.
Liu Qingying didn’t know what they were talking about, and was completely stunned, unable to care about the little jealousy.
Seeing the atmosphere stiffen, Gong Shengyin smiled again: “I’m kidding you.”
“I know.” Ye Yueshen restrained his fake smile and said bluntly: “You pushed the Fourth Prince into the water in a fit of temper, you want to kill him.”
Gong Shengyin’s face changed completely. His fingers curled up subconsciously, and Liu Qingying choked in surprise.
Ye Yueshen stretched out his arm to help Liu Qingying pat his back, his eyes meeting Gong Shengyin’s: “You’re not kidding me, are you?”
“Yes.” Gong Shengyin smiled again, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Ye Yueshen took a deep breath: “Then Fifth Prince can tell me now, what else happened that day besides that?”
Gong Shengyin thought about it seriously and slowly opened his mouth: “I don’t remember anything special.”
Ye Yueshen knew that this was the truth, because Gong Shengyin should be doing his best to say more now, in order to dispel Ye Yueshen’s guess that he wanted to kill him.
“Zhe Rong…” Gong Shengyin couldn’t help but grab Ye Yueshen’s hand, right in front of Liu Qingying. His tone was very sincere: “I have wondered if you saw something, but I never worried that you would tell it. If that weren’t the case, you wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of saving me, right?”
Ye Yueshen straightened out his logic and then nodded: “You’re right.”
“So I have no reason to kill you.” Gong Shengyin clenched his hand tightly: “Even if you really want to tell about me pushing Gong Xuyin into the water, I won’t kill you.”
Ye Yueshen pulled his hand hard, but it didn’t move. He subconsciously looked at Liu Qingying, whose gaze was fixed emptily on their clasped hands.
“Do you understand my intentions?” Gong Shengyin’s meaning was already very obvious.
“Sorry, I don’t want to understand.” Ye Yueshen stood up. He struggled again without success. “Fifth Prince, it hasn’t been long since I was injured at your manor. I hope that we don’t get involved in disputes again.”
Gong Shengyin let go of his hand: “Zhe Rong, if I remember what happened that day, can I go see you?”
“Fifth Prince is busy with important matters, it’s better to send a letter.” Ye Yueshen regretted coming to the Liu family today very much.
Liu Qingying also stood up abruptly, looking like he had gathered his courage for a long time. His face was flushed and he said: “Young Master Yue, are you going back?”
Ye Yueshen was a little surprised, but still followed his words: “Yes, my injury hasn’t healed, I sneaked out, I can’t stay long.”
“Then I will see Young Master Yue out.” Liu Qingying ignored Gong Shengyin’s gaze and made a gesture of invitation towards the door.
“Liu Qingying, what is your identity to dare make decisions for me?” Gong Shengyin grabbed Ye Yueshen’s hand even tighter. There was nothing Ye Yueshen could do but use his other hand to cover his abdomen, pretending that his wound was being pulled: “Fifth Prince, please be merciful.”
Gong Shengyin let go of his hand and didn’t stop Ye Yueshen from leaving, personally taking Ye Yueshen to a location not far from the door. This time he left the palace without making a big announcement, otherwise he would have liked to take Ye Yueshen home.
Ye Yueshen bid farewell to Liu Qingying, and Xuedong drove the carriage home, but he was stopped: “Go to Qi Wang Manor.”
Xuedong wailed. He didn’t want to go to Qi Wang Manor at all. Every time he went to Qi Wang Manor, most of the time the person would disappear, leaving him to drive the empty carriage back to the Ye family.
The doorman very enthusiastically invited Ye Yueshen in, and there were also servants who invited Xuedong in to play cards. Unfortunately, Gong Xunwu was not in the manor at the moment.
Ye Yueshen walked inside familiarly, and no one intended to stop him, and even asked him if he needed to be carried. Ye Yueshen said no.
Sha Ou was also not in the manor, probably he had gone to the palace. Ye Yueshen remembered that when they weren’t very familiar yet, he had seen him in the palace, Gong Xunwu should have spent a considerable amount of time in the palace.
Because he was recuperating in the manor, Gong Xunwu hadn’t entered the palace for a long time. Ye Yueshen was a little worried, and didn’t know what the Emperor thought of him, probably thinking he was a little Elf who bewitched Qi Wang.
Ye Yueshen pursed his lips tightly and pushed open the door of the study angrily. It was all Gong Xunwu’s fault for making everything so troublesome.
He casually rummaged through Gong Xunwu’s desk where he handled affairs. There were several servants pretending to pass by at the door, and some even passed by three times, but no one dared to say anything.
After rummaging through the desk, Ye Yueshen began to rummage under the table. He climbed under the table and looked up. He remembered that the original book described the table in Gong Shengyin’s study, there was an inconspicuous dark compartment underneath, which was usually used to put letters.
He reached out and poked the bottom of the table a few times, and sure enough, he found a small switch. He opened the switch violently, and several letters fell down.
He quickly browsed through all the letters, and then looked at the one with “Prince” (Crown Prince) on it more carefully.
Most of the content was written in a relatively obscure way. The part that Ye Yueshen understood was that the Crown Prince had a wine shop for collecting information called “Yu Guangxuan” (Bathing Light Pavilion).
Ye Yueshen was so focused on reading that by the time he noticed the sound of footsteps, he turned his head and found that a pair of legs had stopped in front of the desk, and the boots were about to step on his clothes.
“Aren’t you coming out yet?” Gong Xunwu asked.
Ye Yueshen wanted to put the letter back under the table, but the mechanism had been broken by him. He had no choice but to take the letter and climb out from under the table.
Gong Xunwu lowered his eyes and looked at him, not saying anything.
“Your table…” Ye Yueshen considered his words: “The mechanism under your table is not reliable. If it weren’t me, it would be easily broken open by others.”
Gong Xunwu bent his knees and knelt down in front of him, pulling closer with a sense of oppression, almost with nose to nose.
“Others can’t enter the study.” Gong Xunwu snorted coldly: “The mechanism is to guard against you alone.”