"Xin Muyi is actually dead?"
"He was perfectly fine; why would he commit suicide?"
"Who knows?"
"Losing a game of chess made him lose his will to live? Surely it didn't come to that?"
The crowd was startled by this sudden turn of events, their faces filled with shock and wonder. Some were bewildered, while others found it a rare curiosity.
"A master of his generation... what a pity."
"If you ask me, he certainly had talent, but as for his character... it was nothing more than this."
For a time, some spoke cold words of mockery while others expressed regret; everyone held their own opinion.
Ye Zhao sighed inwardly. He knew that Xin Muyi had seen him at the very end.
He didn't know what Xin Muyi’s final thoughts were, but he knew that the man’s final psychological defense had collapsed, leading him to this point.
Xin Muyi had suffered a psychological breakdown.
Amidst Jiang Ziqi’s sighs of lament, Ye Zhao slowly uttered a term: "PTSD."
"What?"
Ye Zhao’s voice had been too soft; Jiang Ziqi hadn't heard him clearly.
"Post-war psychological syndrome, a type of mental illness belonging to 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,'" Ye Zhao said calmly, withdrawing his gaze from the distance.
"???"
Ye Zhao glanced at Jiang Ziqi and translated it into plain language. "It means someone who has suffered a massive blow, leaving a shadow in their heart, leading to mental derangement and emotional instability."
It took a moment for Jiang Ziqi’s mind to process this. He stroked his chin, pondering. "So you're saying... Xin Muyi couldn't handle the stimulation, went mad, and killed himself?"
Ye Zhao paused, then said, "You could look at it that way."
However, there were many other factors that had contributed to this outcome.
"Tsk tsk..." For a moment, Jiang Ziqi couldn't help but feel sentimental. "To think that Xin Muyi, a legendary figure of his time, would end up like this. Sigh..."
He recalled how, in history, Bai Qi of the State of Qin had buried tens of thousands of Zhao soldiers alive—a terrifying, world-shaking act at the time. Yet, Bai Qi had deliberately left a portion of them alive to return to the State of Zhao. From then on, Zhao lived under the shadow of Qin’s might, with countless people haunted by fear.
Now, the actions of his transmigrator predecessor years ago seemed to share a similar subtle brilliance.
Indeed, war was not just a contest of martial force, but of psychological schemes.
"Have you said enough?" Ye Zhao asked.
Jiang Ziqi blinked, confused.
"If you've said enough, help me clear the table, and I'll waive your tea fee."
Jiang Ziqi was instantly stunned. His mouth fell open as he stood up abruptly. "You're actually trying to charge me those few coins? Are we even brothers?!"
*I drink a few mouthfuls of your lousy tea, and you're actually thinking of collecting money from me?*
Jiang Ziqi felt a heartbreak akin to betrayal, finding it unacceptable and soul-crushing.
Ye Zhao looked at him. "That’s why I’m not charging you. I’m asking you to help me clear the table."
Jiang Ziqi choked, unsure whether to be angry or not.
He suppressed his frustration and sat back down, stiff as a board. "I don't want to move right now. We'll talk later."
"...Alright."
What should one do when a companion throws a tantrum?
Just stroke his fur the right way, and he’d find his own way down from the pedestal eventually.
Jiang Ziqi knit his brows, his expression somewhat awkward as he deliberately searched for a topic. "Look at you. Everyone was chatting in high spirits, and you suddenly start clearing the table?"
"How dull."
He originally wanted to say "disappointing," but thought it wasn't quite accurate, so he settled on that word.
The man simply didn't know how to read the room. It was like everyone was discussing how beautiful a painting was, and he was the only one pointing out the dust on the canvas.
It really was...
It left one speechless.
Ye Zhao had simply looked around and noticed no one was drinking tea anymore, so he wanted to tidy up and go home for lunch. What was wrong with that?
Seeing Jiang Ziqi’s indignant little expression, Ye Zhao said, "...It's noon. I haven't eaten yet."
*Is there a problem with wanting to get off work early to go home and eat?*
*No.* The honest lad Ye Zhao was genuinely perplexed.
Little did he know that this single sentence acted like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing the crowd's desire to talk.
The crowd: "..."
"Eat, eat, eat. All you know is eating."
*Would it kill you to eat a little later?* Jiang Ziqi was speechless.
"Then what is there to say? The dead are silent; the victors may say whatever they wish. Success or failure turns to nothing in the blink of an eye; the green hills remain as they were, and the long river of time flows on. It is but a matter of 'the winner becomes king and the loser a bandit,' nothing more. But does any of that have anything to do with me?"
Ye Zhao spoke with an air of indifference, his words simple yet heavy with meaning.
Well said, and a good question.
As soon as he finished speaking, the area fell into silence.
"Are you still drinking this tea or not?" Ye Zhao suddenly asked Jiang Ziqi again. His gaze swept over the other tables in turn. The patrons looked at each other, unable to guess his intent.
Jiang Ziqi snapped, "I'm not drinking it!"
To his surprise, Ye Zhao became instantly excited. "Good!"
What?
"The rest of you aren't drinking either, right? Then come, let me clear your tables. You can sit here and chat as long as you like, don't be polite! If you need anything, call the waiter. If the waiter is too busy, call Jiang Ziqi."
Without waiting for anyone to answer, Ye Zhao had already made the decision for them. He settled everything in a few swift motions, sweeping across the room like a whirlwind. In an instant, the tables were cleared.
"I'm going home to eat!"
*Step, step, step—*
Seeing Ye Zhao about to head downstairs with a large tray, Jiang Ziqi reacted quickly, snapping out of his daze. "You, stop right there!"
He grabbed the back of Ye Zhao’s collar—the "collar of fate"—and roared, "Is this how you treat a brother? Huh?!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Careful! Don't pull me..." Ye Zhao leaned back, nearly dropping the cups and saucers in his hands.
"Hmph! I'm going to eat too! Goodbye!"
He had learned those last two words from Ye Zhao.
Jiang Ziqi aggressively dragged Ye Zhao behind him and strode downstairs.
Eh?
Ye Zhao was stunned. He looked back at the silent crowd watching them, hesitated for two seconds, and said solemnly, "...If you need anything, call the waiter. Um, goodbye."
He automatically provided the answer to the second half of his previous statement.
And then...
With a few thumping footsteps, he was already downstairs.
While the people on the second floor were still in a daze of speechlessness, Ye Zhao’s questioning voice drifted up from below. "Why are you running that way? Doesn't your family live the other way?"
Jiang Ziqi, who had already run out the door, replied without looking back, "I'm eating at your house today! I'm going to tell Auntie Ye exactly how you do business!"
"Huh? Wait a minute!"
Ye Zhao hurriedly chased after him.
Even from a distance, the people upstairs could hear Jiang Ziqi’s boisterous, arrogant laughter.
"Stop right there! You're a grown man and you're still tattling? Have you no shame?"
In the blink of an eye, both had vanished.
This was truly... incredible.
The room remained silent for a long time until someone let out a hollow, emotionless laugh. "The son of Lord Tianshu?"
"Heh... hehe..."
The sound contained a thousand different flavors that could only be felt, not described. However, everyone present understood.
One could only say that birds of a feather flock together; those two were truly of the same ilk.
This display was truly enough to leave one speechless.
***
With such an incident occurring during the envoys' departure, the Xize delegation’s exit from the capital had to be delayed. They had to at least handle Xin Muyi’s remains before they could set out.
By the time everything was settled, two hours had passed.
"Your Highness."
Inside the carriage taking the Crown Prince back to the palace, Xie Yusong had been given a ride. Wei Ze asked, "Has the Grand Tutor's health improved lately?"
Xie Yusong replied, "My father's health is acceptable. It's just some old ailments from his younger years acting up; it's no cause for concern."
Hearing this, Wei Ze felt somewhat relieved and sighed. "The Grand Tutor's health... he truly needs more rest."
Wei Ze had been taught by Xie Mingyuan since he was young. As the Prince's tutor, the bond between them was deep. In earlier years it was fine, but recently, while there were no major illnesses, minor aches and pains were unavoidable. Wei Ze’s concern was genuine.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "By the way, has the Grand Tutor mentioned anything to you?"
He paused, then added, "Something like... the matter between Ye Zhao and Lord Tianshu?"
His meaning was ambiguous, carrying a hint of hesitation.
Xie Yusong was puzzled for a moment, then thought it over. "He has not."
In fact, his father had never mentioned a single word about Ye Zhao in his presence.
His father was never a man of many words; he kept many things in his heart.
Seeing Xie Yusong’s expression, Wei Ze knew he was telling the truth. He hesitantly shared something with him. "A few days ago at the Watchtower, the Grand Tutor said some very strange things that were quite baffling."
He fingered the prayer beads in his hand, his voice unconsciously dropping lower. "It seemed as though the Grand Tutor was looking at Ye Zhao as if he were someone else..."
Xie Yusong’s eyes flickered slightly. "Tianshu?"
"Yes." Wei Ze nodded and said slowly, "Though Duke An has not expressed his stance, he seems to harbor a similar sentiment."
"Setting aside their looks, are the two truly so alike?" This was what puzzled Wei Ze the most. He frowned. "At the end, Xin Muyi also mistook Ye Zhao for Lord Tianshu. He thought Lord Tianshu had returned."
One after another, it was indeed quite strange.
This question was less about seeking an answer from Xie Yusong and more about voicing his inner doubts to hear another's perspective.
Xie Yusong hadn't known about this. He guessed that someone among those present that day was the Prince's man, which was how he had learned of it.
However...
He smiled with a bright, open demeanor, like a clear moon and a gentle breeze. "It is likely nothing more than a momentary illusion. This Ye Zhao was born in Tianshangjing and raised in Tianshangjing. How could he suddenly transform into Lord Tianshu?"
Wei Ze smiled as well, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Yusong is right."
He was being a bit paranoid.
He changed the subject. "Although this Ye Zhao has no real talent, the connections he can influence are not insignificant."
"I heard Su Jinzhou is also on good terms with him. My second brother has always been quick to act; he isn't trailing us by even half a step this time." As he spoke, he smiled, but the smile carried a hint of mockery.
Xie Yusong understood what he was asking. "If we are to discuss who Ye Zhao is closest to, it would undoubtedly be Jiang Ziqi, the only son of the Capital Governor, Lord Jiang. Ye Zhao is not as pathetic as others imagine."
"Oh?"
Under Wei Ze’s interested gaze, Xie Yusong said thoughtfully, "At the very least, whether it is Su Jinzhou, myself, or the sons of other high-ranking officials, he maintains a perfectly measured social distance. Doesn't that clearly indicate his attitude?"
Recalling the several times he had hit a wall with Ye Yuan, Wei Ze remained noncommittal, then remarked, "The Ye family wants to remain neutral; I see that now."
The unspoken implications were clear to both of them.
However, now that Ye Zhao’s identity had been exposed, even if the man himself was a "waste," as long as he held the favor of the great figures of the State of Wei, the benefits he could bring were immense.
Even if the Crown Prince didn't try to win him over, his second brother would never leave such a "choice piece of meat" untouched.
Xie Yusong suggested, "Why not have the Crown Princess visit Madam Ye more often? I heard that some time ago, Madam Ye had a bit of a spat with another lady and hasn't been keen on attending social gatherings since. She's likely bored at home."
If Ye Zhao’s mother were there, she would surely have shouted three times.
*She wasn't bored at all! She was very happy! She was having a great time!*
*Please stop thinking about her for everything!*
Wei Ze understood the meaning behind his words and nodded. "I understand."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 创伤后应激障碍 | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | A modern psychological term used by the protagonist. |
| 战后心理综合症 | Post-war psychological syndrome | A more descriptive term for PTSD in a military context. |
| 是非成败转头空 | Success or failure turns to nothing in the blink of an eye | A famous line from the Ming dynasty poem used as the intro to "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." |
| 成王败寇 | The winner becomes king, the loser a bandit | A common idiom meaning that history is written by the victors. |
| 托盘 | Tray | Used by Ye Zhao to clear the tea sets. |
| 京兆府尹 | Capital Governor | The official title of Jiang Ziqi's father. |
| 独善其身 | To remain neutral / To maintain one's integrity | Literally "to maintain one's own goodness," used here to mean staying out of political factions. |
| 肥肉 | Choice piece of meat / Fat meat | A metaphor for something highly desirable or profitable. |
