Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 15
byChapter 15: Testing a Gentleman with Jade
Is playing with me really that much fun?
The warmth of the Lantern Festival lights had not yet fully dissipated, and Guzang was still a forest of fire and silver flowers. Noble ladies carried lotus lanterns, their laughter ringing out as they moved through the bustling crowds. The sons of the gentry gathered in the high pavilions of the wine shops along the Qinhuai River, composing poetry and admiring the moon and the lanterns.
Xie Heng had just returned from the streets and immediately immersed himself in his study. A scroll containing military reports from the Northern Frontier was spread out before him. The candlelight flickered against his cold profile, outlining his picturesque features and tightly pressed lips.
He remained indifferent to the faint clamor drifting in from outside the window.
Langzhu, Uncle Cheng called softly from outside the door. The carriage is ready. Shall we depart for the palace banquet?
Only then did Xie Heng look up, giving a faint response. Prepare my clothes.
Half an hour later, the Xie estates ox-cart slowly entered the palace city. Along the way, the commoners caught sight of the Lantai Xie clan emblem embroidered on the plain white carriage curtains and hurriedly moved aside to pay their respects.
Inside Taiji Hall, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air. The Emperor sat high upon his dragon throne, while the seats on either side were filled with high-ranking officials and the scions of the great families.
When the banquet was in full swing, the Emperor suddenly raised his cup and said, The Northern Dynasty has been frequently raiding our borders lately. Do my dear ministers have any good strategies?
The hall fell silent instantly.
Cui Yan stroked his beard and said, Your Majesty, I believe we should focus on defense. The Northern Dynasties cavalry is valiant; it is not advisable for our army to strike out rashly.
Several ministers from the great families voiced their agreement.
Xie Heng set down his wine cup and spoke in a cold voice to offer a rebuttal. Defense cannot be maintained forever. Last year, the six prefectures north of the river were plundered, leaving the people displaced. If we do not send troops now, I fear we will lose the hearts of the people.
Minister Xie is mistaken, Wang Yu sneered. Send troops? Who would serve as general? The talented generals of our dynasty have withered away. Are we to let those commoner warriors lead the army?
Even among the commoners, there are fine generals, Xie Heng said slowly. Xiao Jue, a colonel of the Beifu Army, has won three consecutive battles and his fame shakes the Northern Frontier. He is capable of this responsibility.
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall broke into an uproar.
A commoner leading the grand army? What a joke!
There is a distinction between the gentry and the commoners; this is the law of our ancestors!
The voices of opposition surged like a tide. Xie Heng sat upright in his seat, his expression unchanged, though the knuckles of his hand gripping the wine cup turned slightly white.
Right then, a clear, bright voice came from outside the hall, interrupting the noisy debate.
Oh? This grand theory of lineage from Censor Cui—haven’t you been saying it for twenty years now?
The clear laughter drifted in from outside, its laziness tinged with a hint of mockery. Everyone turned their heads to see a young official walking into the hall. He wore elegant green robes that hung loosely on his frame, his collar slightly open to reveal a slender collarbone. A few strands of black hair fell over his forehead, swaying gently as he tilted his head.
A playful smile played on his lips, and his brow twitched slightly as his gaze swept over Cui Yan.
Xie Heng looked up sharply at the sound of the voice.
The mans voice was clear and carried a unique cadence, with the end of his sentences always curling upward.
It sounded like he had heard it somewhere before.
The voice traveled through the hall, carrying the same teasing tone: If we followed Censor Cuis logic, Wei Qing should have stayed a horse herder, and Huo Qubing should have spent his life cockfighting. After all, they were both the sons of slaves and bastards. As he spoke, he walked slowly to the center of the hall, his steps casual and his hem swaying with his stride.
Presumptuous! Wang Yu barked, slamming his hand down. His Majesty is present. How dare you be so insolent!
The man composed himself slightly and bowed to the Emperor. I am the newly appointed Grand Minister of Agriculture, Xu Shuhuai. I greet Your Majesty. I am late due to processing the grain records for the spring plowing. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me.
The Emperor waved his hand. Minister Xu may dispense with the formalities. Take your seat.
As he rose, a green jade pendant at his waist swayed with his movement, glowing with a warm luster under the hall lights.
Xie Hengs pupils constricted.
It was that scholar.
He had personally untied that jade pendant and handed it to the scholar whose clothes were old but whose eyes were bright.
Now, that very pendant hung at the mans waist, looking incredibly piercing to the eye.
Xu Shuhuai seemed to sense something. He turned his head to look at Xie Heng, his lips curling into a meaningful smile, and he even winked. There was cunning in that gaze, a hint of testing, and a bit of pride that said, Didnt expect this, did you?
As the banquet drew to a close, Xu Shuhuai sat cross-legged beside Xie Heng with a wine cup in hand, tugging at his sleeve. Minister Xie.
The voice came from right behind his ear, carrying a warm breath.
Xie Hengs body stiffened slightly as he slowly turned his head.
He saw Xu Shuhuai propping his head up with one hand, while the other held the silk cord of the jade pendant, letting it spin gently in the air.
He tilted his head, smiling like a fox that had succeeded in its scheme, his eyes full of mockery. Since we parted at the lantern market, you didnt expect this, did you?
Xie Hengs gaze fell on his face, scrutinizing him closely. Those features were indeed identical to the scholar at the lantern market, but now, dressed in fine robes, he lacked that sense of poverty and possessed more of a noble air. However, his gaze remained unchanged—seemingly careless, but actually seeing through everything.
A scion of the Xu clan of Wu Commandery, pretending to be a poor scholar, Xie Heng spoke, his voice three shades colder than usual. Is it fun?
It is fun, Xu Shuhuai leaned closer, lowering his voice in his ear. If I didnt pretend to be poor, how could I test if Minister Xie is truly upright and pure? Then he sat up straight, his smile fading as his expression turned serious. However…
Before he finished his sentence, his fingertips suddenly hooked lightly into Xie Hengs belt. That night when Minister Xie stuffed the jade pendant into my hands, you didnt even let me touch a corner of your sleeve.
He intentionally dragged out the end of his sentence, his gaze burning as he stared at the other mans suddenly contracting pupils. But seeing the way the Minister is staring at this jade now, it seems you are annoyed at yourself for being too much of a gentleman back then?
The rims of Xie Hengs ears instantly flushed crimson. He swung his wide sleeve violently, knocking the jade pendant away.
The jade pendant flew out of his hand and landed with a crisp thud, falling precisely into the celadon tea cup held by the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments.
The tea splashed three feet high. The Vice Minister was so startled his hand shook, and the entire tea set shattered into seven or eight pieces on the golden floor tiles.
Xu Shuhuai covered his lips with his sleeve, the laughter in his eyes nearly overflowing. Haha, Minister Xie has such great wrist strength… Before he could finish, he was cut off.
Get lost. Those two words seemed to be ground out from between Xie Hengs teeth, but the red that had spread from his ears to his neck betrayed his current panic.
Xu Shuhuai did not restrain himself at all upon hearing this; instead, he became even more arrogant. They say fine jade suits a gentleman… Suddenly, he spoke in a whisper that only the two of them could hear. But why do I feel that the way Minister Xie is blushing right now is a thousand times more moving than this cold jade?
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Hengs grip on his cup tightened, the faint blue veins showing beneath his jade-like skin. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with fury, but before he could speak, a voice came from the east.
Grand Minister Xu is truly bold, even flirting with Minister Xie now! A young official in the eastern seats suddenly burst out with drunken laughter.
The moment the hall erupted in laughter, Xie Heng stood up abruptly, nearly overturning his table, and stormed away.
The Emperor looked over at the commotion and found it novel. He said to Xu Shuhuai, It is rare for Minister Xie to attend a palace banquet, yet you have chased him away in anger. You should apologize properly in a moment.
Xu Shuhuai, being called out publicly, did not panic. He rose slowly and gave a deep bow to the Emperor. I shall go and apologize to Minister Xie immediately. There was little sincerity in his tone; instead, it sounded as if he had been given an interesting task.
As he left his seat, his wide sleeve knocked over an empty white-glazed wine cup on the table, but he didnt care at all, stepping lightly out of the warm, glowing threshold of Taiji Hall.
Outside, the spring chill was biting, abruptly cutting off the warmth and music of the hall. The moonlight was cold, spreading over the stone slabs of the palace path with a faint, shimmering light.
Xu Shuhuai had not walked far when he saw Xie Heng standing by a jade railing not far ahead. His back was straight and solitary, like a stalk of cold bamboo soaked in a freezing pond.
He gradually slowed his pace, his boots tapping against the stone steps in a rhythmic sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent palace path.
Minister Xie is walking so fast, he stopped three paces behind Xie Heng, his voice once again tinged with that characteristic smile. Are you afraid of me?
Xie Heng did not turn around, only staring at the solitary lanterns swaying under the distant palace eaves. His voice was cooler than the night wind. Grand Minister Xu is a man of clever words and a fawning countenance; I cannot compare. This place is quiet; there is no need for you to trouble yourself.
Quiet? Xu Shuhuai moved to his side, leaning against the railing to look into the distance just as he did, though his posture was much more languid. In the Ministers heart, I fear the waves are crashing against the shore right now. Is it worth making enemies of everyone in the hall for the sake of one Xiao Jue? He turned his head, his gaze falling gently on Xie Hengs tensed profile. Or is it truly because I exposed your heart in public that you are now shamed into anger?
Xie Heng turned his head abruptly, the coldness in his eyes condensing. What exactly is Grand Minister Xu trying to do? The Xu clan of Wu Commandery has been a pillar of the gentry for a century, yet they produced such a profligate person who stirs up trouble like you.
Xu Shuhuai chuckled, his fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist again. Compared to those high officials who talk of benevolence and morality while doing nothing, I am at least honest.
He suddenly leaned in close, lowering his voice, the mockery in his tone fading to reveal a rare sharpness. You value Xiao Jues talent and wish to break the barrier between the gentry and commoners; that is true. You loathe my public frivolity for damaging your reputation; that is also true. But between these two, which is more important?
The night wind swept past, bringing the faint sound of music from afar. Xie Hengs pupils shrank as he stared intently at Xu Shuhuai. The man before him still wore that cynical smile, but deep within that smile was a dark pool that could not be fathomed.
You are not doing this just to mock me, Xie Heng said slowly, his tone carrying a sense of scrutiny.
Of course not. Xu Shuhuai straightened up and stretched, his bones making a slight cracking sound. My argument about Wei and Huo was certainly to mock that old fogey Cui Yan, but it was also for the Emperor to hear. Ministers who can only maintain the status quo are everywhere, but a commander who can expand the borders and invigorate the nations prestige is hard to come by. The Emperor might not be unmoved.
He paused, his smile deepening. As for flirting with you, half of it is because I find it interesting, and the other half is because you live too rigidly. I am helping you tear an opening so you can breathe.
His words were blunt and almost insolent, yet Xie Heng strangely did not refute him immediately. The glow of the palace lanterns blurred Xu Shuhuais silhouette, making his handsome yet wicked face appear somewhat mysterious.
He took a half-step back and suddenly gave Xie Heng a proper, formal bow. When he raised his head, the usual frivolous expression on his face had been completely tucked away. The Lantai Xie clan is a pillar of the pure stream. But our Xu clan of Wu Commandery is not rotten wood either. Minister Xie, the fires of the Northern Frontier are not the concern of one man or one family. I truly wish to help you…
At the same time, as the banquet dispersed, the Chief Eunuch stepped lightly into the Emperors sleeping quarters, offering a cup of sobering tea.
After Cui Yan and Wang Yu left the palace, they shared a carriage and went toward the Cuiyu Pavilion, the eunuch whispered.
The Emperor rubbed his temples, not even looking up as he asked, What did they say?
There were guards around the carriage, so the hidden guards dared not get too close. It was nothing more than dissatisfaction with Minister Xies promotion of commoners.
The Emperor picked up the tea, the steam rising from the lid blurring his features.
What about Xu Shuhuai?
Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Xu went to the office of the Grand Minister of Agriculture. It seems he intends to arrange the grain transfers overnight.
The Emperor took a small sip of tea and said faintly, He is quite diligent.
The eunuch hesitated for a moment before saying, Your Majesty, Master Xus actions will likely offend the Cui and Wang families. If they truly interfere with the grain supplies…
Then let them interfere. The Emperor set down his tea cup, his gaze calm. I also want to see just how far these great families dare to go.
The eunuchs heart shivered, and he lowered his head, not daring to speak further.
The Emperor looked out at the darkening sky, his fingers stroking his jade thumb ring. He had been playing this game of court politics for three years. Xie Heng was a sharp sword, Cui Yan was a shield, and Wang Yu was a pawn. And now, there was Xu Shuhuai.
He would likely be a variable.
Variables were good. Only a variable could break the stalemate.
Pass down my decree, the Emperor said suddenly. Appoint Xiao Jue as the fourth-rank General of Beiping.
Yes.
The timing was perfect.
He would use this northern expedition to knock those increasingly arrogant great families down a peg, and also to see just how far people like Xie Heng and Xu Shuhuai could go.