Chapter 89: Crossing the Threshold, I Borrow This King’s Books (Part One)

At this hour, the officials of court had all just come out through the palace gate after the morning session.

Though Xiao Yue had not raised his voice, and had called Wu Qinglin only in a casual tone, he still drew everyone’s attention.

There was no helping it. The Crown Prince of Sheng was far too distinguished a figure, and since his return to the capital he had kept his doors shut and refused visitors, saying he was recovering from his wounds. Apart from appearing once at the emperor’s birthday banquet and at the celebration held for the Dowager Lady of the Ningguo Residence, he had shown no sign of visiting any prominent household in the court.

Now that he had publicly called out to Wu Qinglin, it was only natural that all eyes turned their way.

Wu Qinglin stopped and turned around.

Xiao Yue came striding over.

Wu Qinglin was puzzled as well, though his face remained unreadable. He raised his hands in salute. “Your Highness.”

Ever since Xiao Yue had forcibly insisted that brother and sister attend the housewarming banquet at his residence, Wu Qinglin had had no further contact with him. To be suddenly called over like this, it was hard not to wonder why.

Xiao Yue came nearer and asked, “Is the heir going to the Ministry of War?”

Their two families both commanded troops and were already deeply suspected by the emperor. At a time like this, countless eyes were watching them.

Wu Qinglin felt that Xiao Yue’s last invitation had been somewhat suspect to begin with. It was only because nothing had followed afterward that he had relaxed his guard.

Now that Xiao Yue had made another point of striking up conversation, he deliberately drew a line between them and had no intention of walking the same road. “No. I am not reporting to the Ministry of War today. When I do go there, it is only to consult old battle reports and records, to study strategy and gain some experience. I am free today, so I am headed straight home.”

“Ah. Then that works out perfectly.” Xiao Yue smiled. “I have been living idly in the capital and find it rather dull. I hear your residence has collected many military treatises, and among them are not a few rare editions. Since the heir is returning home, I may as well go with you and borrow a couple of books.”

Wu Qinglin: “...”

This request truly could not be refused.

Wu Qinglin vaguely felt that something was off, but could only agree with reluctance. “Since Your Highness is interested, then please.”

“Good.” Xiao Yue gave a slight nod.

Both of them were military men; when going out normally, they would ride horses.

But ever since his return to the capital, Xiao Yue had always presented himself as an injured man. Though his wounds were now basically no obstacle, he had still come out of the palace by carriage today.

If he was going to accompany Wu Qinglin, surely he could not let Wu Qinglin ride while he sat delicately in a carriage?

So Xiao Yue took Lei Ming’s horse and rode slowly alongside Wu Qinglin toward the Dingyuan Marquis Residence.

Lei Ming had originally thought that, after being provoked and dealt another blow by the little ancestor of the Wu family yesterday, his master might simply give up in despair. He had not expected that, after one night’s sleep, he would suddenly change tactics and press forward despite the difficulty.

Still, Lei Ming had begun to have a suspicion.

Had his master come boldly to the Wu residence this time to pursue the young lady there, or to kill her father?

Seeing Xiao Yue leave with Wu Qinglin, Lei Ming thought it over and ultimately drove the carriage himself at a distance, following them to wait outside the Dingyuan Marquis Residence to pick Xiao Yue up again.

Though Wu Qinglin and Xiao Yue had no private friendship, they were both military men, and there was still much to discuss regarding armies and warfare. Not only that, but as they rode, they actually found themselves talking quite pleasantly.

Lei Ming followed behind and gradually came to a realization.

So this time, Your Highness has chosen a roundabout strategy to save the nation? Planning to start with the people around that little ancestor and conquer them one by one, working from within and without?

Yet the more he thought about it, the more unreliable it seemed.

The heir of the Wu family looked polite and easygoing enough, but rumors said he was not the sort of man who would sell out his sister for glory.

Wu Qinglin brought Xiao Yue back to the Dingyuan Marquis Residence. Though the gatekeeper attendants who came out to open the door had never seen him before, they could tell from his refined dress and air of nobility that he was surely their young master’s friend, and did not dare show any disrespect. They bowed respectfully. “Heir!”

Wu Qinglin gave a slight nod and introduced him briefly. “This is His Highness, the Crown Prince of Sheng.”

The emperor’s only younger brother, and one who had only recently returned to the capital. Though Xiao Yue did not often appear publicly, news of his return had caused quite a stir.

The servants did not know how their heir had managed to invite such a great figure into the house, and none of them dared be careless. Everyone from the gatehouse hurried out to kneel and pay their respects.

Wu Qinglin did not want to make a scene, so he said, “His Highness came only to borrow two books from me. There is no need to disturb the inner court.”

“Yes.” Everyone quickly assented.

Xiao Yue said nothing.

Since he had already brought the man back, he was bound to receive him. Wu Qinglin first led Xiao Yue to his own quarters.

Little Lingzi was wandering in the courtyard. Seeing his young master return, he hurried over to greet him. “Heir!”

Wu Qinglin said, “Go and brew some tea for the Crown Prince of Sheng.”

Little Lingzi was also slightly startled by Xiao Yue’s identity. He stole a glance upward before running off. “Yes!”

“Please, Your Highness.” Wu Qinglin directly invited Xiao Yue into the study.

The style of his study was actually rather like Xiao Yue’s: an inner and an outer room, with a desk in the outer room, two bookshelves, plus a set of display shelves and a weapons rack. It was simple and plain, yet neat and orderly.

When Xiao Yue entered and looked around, however, the first thing that caught his eye was the umbrella standing in the glazed stand by the door.

His gaze tightened almost imperceptibly, and he paused.

Wu Qinglin had already turned around and said modestly, “My humble dwelling is crude. I beg Your Highness’s indulgence.”

“You are too courteous, Heir.” Xiao Yue smiled faintly and quickly withdrew his gaze.

Wu Qinglin invited him to sit.

Soon, Little Lingzi brought in tea.

Wu Qinglin patiently entertained him with tea for a while. Feeling he had done his duty as host, he suggested, “My grandfather and great-grandfather left behind some books in my father’s study. Shall I take Your Highness over to choose?”

The two families’ positions were far too sensitive; they were simply not suited to close dealings. He did not wish to keep Xiao Yue for long.

But Xiao Yue, holding his teacup, sat unmoving. “The Marquis of Dingyuan is not at home. Since I am, after all, an outsider, it would be best to avoid suspicion and not casually enter his study. If you would trouble yourself, Heir Wu, please go on my behalf and choose two books for me.”

Wu Qinglin was slightly taken aback.

Although Wu Xun had been stationed in Yanzhou City for years and there would not be any particularly important documents hidden in the study, Xiao Yue was so considerate, so sensible, and so thoughtful in advance, that Wu Qinglin only became more perplexed by his purpose in coming today.

If he truly had some hidden intent, he should not be so concerned with little details that might easily arouse misunderstanding. Yet if he were really a cautious man who cared greatly about the emperor’s and everyone else’s opinions, then he should never have specially sought an excuse to ingratiate himself and come to the Wu household today.

Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Yue offered another friendly smile. “I leave it to the heir.”

“Very well.” Wu Qinglin gathered his thoughts at once. “Then Your Highness, please sit for a moment. I shall return shortly.”

With that, he took the key to Wu Xun’s study and went out.

Since Wu Xun was rarely home, only Wu Qinglin and Steward Qin had keys to the study. The old madam in the inner court and Madam Meng usually did not come to the front courtyard.

Wu Qinglin did not want Xiao Yue left waiting too long. He went to the study and randomly selected two military treatises from a specially kept chest, then hurried back. He had intended to send Xiao Yue off as quickly as possible, but when he stepped back through the door, he found that the low table by the side was already empty, and Xiao Yue was nowhere to be seen.

Men who practice martial arts have exceptionally keen senses. He instinctively turned his head, only to see that Xiao Yue had already taken off his boots and was seated on the couch by the window, idly arranging chess pieces on the board.

When he saw Wu Qinglin return, Xiao Yue did not seem at all awkward. He merely lifted his brows. “Care for a game?”

Wu Qinglin could not drive him away, but he still felt that Xiao Yue’s purpose was unclear, and that everything he did today was rather abnormal.

“Very well.” He answered and walked over to sit opposite Xiao Yue for the game.

Those who understand deployment and formation usually have some talent at chess. The two of them chatted casually through a whole match. Wu Qinglin was still pondering what Xiao Yue’s real purpose might be, when Xiao Yue, having taken two of his pieces at the start of the second game and clearly noticing his distraction, finally spoke first.

“After the affair at Vermilion Sparrow Tower yesterday, Hu Tianming sent people to keep watch near the Grand Princess’s residence. Yet before two full hours had passed, after hearing that the heir had made a trip to the Capital Prefecture Office, he withdrew them all?”

The topic was raised abruptly.

Wu Qinglin’s heart tightened slightly, and he could not help looking up at him.

Because he was still unsure of Xiao Yue’s intention, he said nothing, only guarded himself in silence.

Xiao Yue placed another piece and then raised his eyes to meet his. His smile was impossible to read as sincere or false. “Do not misunderstand, Heir. I have never liked meddling in other people’s affairs. It is only that by chance I happened to be present when the incident occurred yesterday... As you know, people are curious by nature. It is only natural that I watched a little more closely.”

Wu Qinglin was not sure what Xiao Yue meant by suddenly bringing this up, but since Xiao Yue had already noticed it, there was no point in concealing it needlessly. He simply admitted it. “Yes. I was the one who persuaded Magistrate Hu to abandon the line of surveillance on the Grand Princess’s residence. Is Your Highness intending to accuse me of overstepping and interfering in the prefectural office’s investigation?”

“No.” Xiao Yue smiled faintly. Seeing that he had already lost interest in the chess game, he simply set down his piece. “I am only somewhat curious. Why would the heir do this?”

The two men looked at each other.

Xiao Yue’s face was faintly smiling, and there was indeed no trace of hostility or conspiracy between his brows.

Wu Qinglin, however, remained on guard. He met the other man’s gaze calmly and gave an offhand explanation. “Your Highness was also present yesterday when the incident occurred, were you not? Since my younger sister was involved, I went to the Capital Prefecture Office to learn what had happened. Later, when the matter was discussed, I felt that Magistrate Hu’s decision to keep watch over the Grand Princess’s residence on no evidence was somewhat improper, so I persuaded him a few times and told him not to waste his efforts.”

Xiao Yue clearly understood his intention, yet still spoke as though it had nothing to do with him. “Then why do I feel that the heir is casting a long line to catch a big fish, and that there is a whiff of using power for private ends about it?”

As he spoke, he gave Wu Qinglin a deep look.

Seeing that Xiao Yue had put the matter so plainly, Wu Qinglin instead felt entirely at ease.

One does not need to beat around the bush when speaking to a clever man. He also let a smile appear and asked in return, “What do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

Xiao Yue considered it and said, “What happened at Vermilion Sparrow Tower yesterday counted as a serious case. The true culprit behind it naturally knows that very well. Since she had committed such a shocking crime, she would certainly cut off all leads to prevent anyone from following the trail back to her. If Hu Tianming sent people to keep watch, the chance of finding nothing would be extremely high. On the other hand, if he were careless even once, he might alert the other side, causing her to grow more wary and increase her precautions, no longer daring to continue whatever she intended afterward. So the heir persuaded Hu Tianming to withdraw his men and give up the path of searching for evidence and arresting the real culprit. I think your aim was to let that culprit cast off all suspicion and proceed unhindered with whatever she wished to do. Then, just when she believed she was about to achieve her goal, you would strike at the foundation and tear away the most crucial step of her plan. In that way, not only would she have worked for nothing, she would also be driven into a pit she never expected, and come to regret her actions too late.”

Although the innkeeper and the servants of Vermilion Sparrow Tower had already been questioned, and a wanted notice had been issued, relying only on the two portraits described by the innkeeper and the servants...

How accurate could the artist’s rendition really be? Even if the artist perfectly recreated the two faces, the world was vast and lookalikes were countless. To search for those two people like needles in the sea was almost impossible.

Since the hope of catching those two men, bringing them back to testify against the mastermind, and punishing her accordingly was already slim, then settling for a lesser outcome—letting her toil in vain and fall into the pit she had dug herself—was not impossible either.

After all—

Wu Qinglin’s main purpose in intervening in the case was to avenge Wu Tan, not to uphold justice for the wrongly killed top scholar and runner-up scholar.

At any rate, with the case in Hu Tianming’s hands, the chances of obtaining solid evidence and solving it were slim. If it were handed to Wu Qinglin, perhaps in the end he still would not be able to give the case a complete and definitive accounting, but if he could punish the true culprit, that would at least be some comfort to the unjustly slain.

That was also why Hu Tianming had yielded and sold Wu Qinglin this favor.

Xiao Yue laid bare his plan in one breath. Wu Qinglin did not refute it, taking his silence as tacit acknowledgment and waiting for what came next after Xiao Yue had exposed his hand.

Yet Xiao Yue remained unhurried, teasing him in a half-serious tone. “I truly had no intention of meddling in this business, only I have always heard that the Marquis of Dingyuan is a very upright man, so I could not help making some associations. I even thought he would use this as a rule to restrain and instruct his descendants. It seems I was the one mistaken. From how you handled Changping’s affair, Heir, you are truly not at all like your father.”

Since the matter had been laid open, Wu Qinglin felt no pressure at all from Xiao Yue seeing through it.

He met Xiao Yue’s eyes directly. “This is a private grudge between myself and Princess Changping. As for Magistrate Hu, I merely compelled him to owe me a favor. It has nothing to do with court politics or factional struggles. On this point, both Your Highness and the emperor may rest assured. And since Your Highness dislikes meddling in others’ affairs, then simply pretend you know nothing. I trust you are not the sort of man who would rashly intervene for the sake of a wayward niece.”

Since Xiao Yue had come to speak to him about this in private, that meant he truly had not intended to interfere.

On this point, Wu Qinglin was certain.

Xiao Yue still gave no clear answer, only smiled again with half sincerity, half mockery. “Heir Wu, do you really not think it beneath your station to keep contesting with such a little girl as Changping?”

Mentioning Lady Li Xun’er put Wu Qinglin in no mood for courtesy. He immediately gave a cold laugh and shot back, “Is she not the one who relies on her status, who abuses the privileges of royal birth and repeatedly harms others for her own selfish ends? I imagine the emperor is burdened with affairs of state and has no time to discipline her, so I am only helping relieve his worries.”

No one knew what the emperor was thinking. If he had not indulged the matter last time, when the Grand Princess of Qingyang and her daughter slandered Princess Lin’an, and if he had dealt harshly with the two of them then, would Lady Li Xun’er have dared to continue harming people with even greater brazenness?

Yes, everyone has selfish motives, and when trouble arises, people inevitably defend their own. But that depends on who and what is involved.

Wu Qinglin was deeply dissatisfied with the emperor’s inaction.

Only last time, the one who suffered was Princess Lin’an, which was a family matter of the emperor’s, so Wu Qinglin had no comment. But this time, the target of Lady Li Xun’er’s schemes was Wu Tan, and he could not tolerate it under any circumstances.

Xiao Yue smiled, and did not pursue the subject any further.

He picked up the chess pieces again.

But Wu Qinglin no longer wished to play. He simply asked bluntly, “So, Your Highness the Crown Prince of Sheng came specially to see me today only to confirm this matter?”

Xiao Yue glanced sideways at the books Wu Qinglin had set nearby. “No. I only came to borrow books. Everything else was just idle conversation. The heir need not take it to heart.”

Wu Qinglin did not believe such nonsense for a moment.

But since Xiao Yue insisted on speaking no further, there was nothing he could do. He reached again into the bowl and took out a few more chess pieces.

After Wu Qinglin placed his move, Xiao Yue suddenly spoke again without warning. “Has the second young lady of your household been promised to anyone yet?”