As the sky grew dark, Prince Rong left with Su Jinzhou earlier than usual.
The Prince strode into the palace hall, flicked his robes, and sat heavily by the low table, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. He looked as though he had arrived carrying a heavy burden of rage.
Consort Yin felt a flicker of surprise. Her delicate brows arched slightly as she gracefully brushed her sleeves and sat opposite him, her smile radiating charm. "Oh? What has happened now?"
Seeing Su Jinzhou enter two steps behind him and prepare to bow, Consort Yin raised a hand slightly. "No need for formalities, Mister Su. Please, take a seat."
As her son’s trusted confidant, Consort Yin naturally treated him with a measure of courtesy. Su Jinzhou did not overstep, accepting the seat with a humble nod.
Facing his mother’s inquiry, Prince Rong suppressed his irritation, though his words still carried a sharp edge. "It’s that Ye Zhao again!"
"Ignorant and full of wild talk," the Prince evaluated, his expression grim.
Hearing that name, Consort Yin paused, her interest piqued. "Oh? What did he do?"
To think he could provoke such dissatisfaction from her son. Ever since her father had spoken to her and her brother about the matter of Lord Tianshu, he had strictly forbidden their faction from contacting Ye Zhao. They avoided him like the plague; aside from having Su Jinzhou cautiously approach him to act as eyes and ears, they had made no other moves.
What happened today? Had they crossed swords?
Consort Yin couldn't help but wonder. Prince Rong did not answer immediately, his brow furrowed in displeasure. Su Jinzhou, sensing the Prince’s state of mind, took up the thread. "To answer Your Highness, it was nothing major. It was simply that Ye Zhao’s words were somewhat inappropriate, which caused the Prince some annoyance."
"What did he say?"
Just as Su Jinzhou was about to answer, Prince Rong snapped, "He actually suspects Colonel Sun is the true culprit of this case! Ha… how ridiculous!"
"Mother, tell me, has he lost his mind? Or is his paranoia simply too deep?" Prince Rong didn't believe a single word of Ye Zhao’s theory; to him, it sounded like a joke. "Colonel Sun has been honest and loyal his entire life. If he knew someone suspected him like this, hmph!"
A mocking smile played on the Prince’s lips, the final sound heavy with unspoken meaning.
The other two remained silent. Consort Yin was initially surprised, but she soon dismissed it. She chuckled softly. "That’s just Ye Zhao. Since you know his words aren't credible, why let it bother you?"
Prince Rong didn't reply. In truth, his anger wasn't entirely due to Ye Zhao; the Crown Prince’s sickening behavior played a large part in it as well.
Seeing his expression soften slightly, Consort Yin smiled. "Your grandfather told us not to have much contact with him. Even if we don't befriend him, we shouldn't make an enemy of him either. You should understand this logic yourself."
Her gaze shifted momentarily in a certain direction, and Prince Rong understood her meaning. Indeed, Ye Zhao was not only surrounded by the old remnants of Lord Tianshu’s faction, but even his Imperial Father held him in high regard.
Prince Rong exhaled, regaining his composure. "Your son understands."
***
Ye Zhao had no idea that his imaginative theorizing had nearly earned him Prince Rong’s permanent enmity. Ever since the name Sun Puhe had taken root in his mind, he had little interest in continuing to read the trivial details of the case. He began to unconsciously pay attention to anything related to Sun Puhe’s associates.
Clearly, he had been demoted out of the Salt Transport Bureau in his early years, yet he later became the son-in-law of a Salt Inspector. Why? What exactly happened during that time?
The various merits Sun Puhe had earned before being promoted to Colonel, the recorded events—they circled in Ye Zhao’s mind, refusing to leave.
Ye Zhao sighed and suddenly flipped over to sit up on his bed. He called out softly, "Da Mao? Are you there?"
In a dark corner of the room, a certain someone’s eyes instantly went dead. With a cold face, he stepped out reluctantly. "I’ll say it one more time: do not call me Da Mao!"
Ye Zhao had sought him out so many times that, since the guard couldn't reveal his real name, this ridiculous moniker had somehow stuck!
Ye Zhao was well-adjusted to the man’s cold demeanor and gave a friendly smile. "Can you do me a small favor?"
"…I am not responsible for tucking you in."
Ye Zhao wondered if the man was trying to tell a joke.
"It’s not that." Ye Zhao adjusted his stiff expression to prevent the man from uttering any more shocking lines. He said seriously, "Help me check how Sun Puhe managed to marry into his wife’s family. I always feel there’s something strange about it."
The Yulin Guard, bearing the name 'Da Mao,' said expressionlessly, "He married the same way any ordinary family does. There is nothing strange about them; the strange one is you."
Ye Zhao, being called strange: "..."
He wasn't talking about the process of the wedding, but the *reason*!
Ye Zhao’s mouth twitched; he felt like facepalming. "When Sun Puhe married the daughter of his former superior, he had just been demoted from the Salt Transport Bureau and was a nobody. He had achieved nothing and was at his lowest point. What exactly did his father-in-law see in him to betroth his daughter? What was he after?"
Yes, what was he after?
Was he after a young man who had just fallen from grace? Was he after his poverty?
Was he after his honesty and kindness? His good character?
Give me a break!
Ye Zhao didn't believe these fairy-tale reasons for a second. Could an official who reached the position of Salt Inspector truly value "inner beauty" that much?
We’re all adults here; let’s be realistic.
'Da Mao' looked at him for a long while before saying, "You shouldn't be asking me that question."
The implication was: *How should I know what he was after? To each their own. Go ask them yourself!*
Ye Zhao: "That’s why I said I want you all to help me investigate."
"The Yulin Guards have already pulled the records of every official involved in this case. Anything more is classified; you do not have the authority to view it." After finishing, Da Mao added another sentence: "And of course, you have no authority to mobilize the Yulin Guards."
With that, he vanished.
Ye Zhao stared at the empty space for two seconds. Then, without a word, he lay back down and pulled up the covers.
He looked perfectly calm, but in reality, Ye Zhao lay in bed with his eyes wide open, screaming in his heart: *Dammit!*
They had "coexisted" in the light and dark for so long, yet the man was so heartless?! Was there no sense of camaraderie??
Since no one would help him, he would act on his own. Otherwise, with this person weighing on his mind, Ye Zhao feared he wouldn't sleep well for the next few days.
No sooner said than done. The next day, Ye Zhao left the palace alone, intending to meet this Sun Puhe to see if he could gain any useful information or dispel his doubts.
To his surprise, upon arriving, the gatekeeper informed him that the Colonel had gone to Lord Yin’s manor.
Which Lord Yin?
The Lord Yin of the Ministry of War, of course—Prince Rong’s uncle and Consort Yin’s elder brother.
Having finally made it out for a trip, Ye Zhao didn't want to return empty-handed, so he detoured to the Yin residence.
"Lord Yin, is this tea to your liking?" A man in black, narrow-sleeved martial attire sat on a low stool. He looked to be in his forties, with a square face, wheat-colored skin, thick brows, and a short beard. His expression was resolute and honest. This man was Sun Puhe.
The man he addressed as Lord Yin was not the current Minister of War. Sitting opposite him was the Elder Lord Yin, who had long since retired.
Speaking of which, the fact that Sun Puhe could rise to the rank of Colonel so quickly was due in no small part to this man’s promotion, in addition to his own abilities. Therefore, after Sun Puhe entered the view of the court, he was early on labeled as a member of Prince Rong’s faction and had handled many matters for the Prince.
The two had a deep relationship. The Elder Lord Yin was very pleased by Sun’s respectful and humble attitude. He laughed immediately. "The tea is good, but the sentiment is even better. Only you, Puhe, frequently come to visit an old man like me who lives in leisure. Others aren't nearly as diligent. Who even remembers a figure like me nowadays?"
He slowly sipped his tea and set down the cup, his face still lined with smiles.
Sun Puhe said, "You joke, my Lord. Your heroic stature in the court back then is something I believe no one will ever forget. Even now, though you are no longer in the court, can even the slightest rustle of wind escape your ears?"
The Elder Lord Yin laughed and scolded, "You, you’re always so good at making people happy. You don't look like a martial officer at all. Look at that Wei Xiyang—even if he had two more mouths, he wouldn't be as well-spoken as you."
At the comparison, Sun Puhe smiled, looking as if he didn't know what to say, appearing quite bashful.
Mentioning Wei Xiyang dampened the Elder Lord Yin’s mood slightly. He exhaled and changed the subject. "In all these years, have you never thought about moving up?"
He continued, "This old man still has some connections in the court. If you want to rise, it wouldn't be difficult."
The words were true, but this wasn't the first time he had said them. Rising wasn't hard; the hard part was that the other party simply wouldn't accept the favor.
This time was no exception. Sun Puhe smiled first, then spoke slowly, "You know, this humble officer has neither the ambition nor the ability. Being a Colonel is already quite satisfying. If you gave me a high-ranking office, I might not be able to sustain it."
He finished with an embarrassed smile.
The Elder Lord Yin sighed and shot him a look. "You, it’s not a lack of ability; it’s clearly a lack of will."
Every time this came up, he felt three parts frustrated, two parts confused, and one part annoyed. Something others would beg for was treated like a death sentence by this man; he wouldn't trade his position as a Colonel for a thousand pieces of gold.
Seeing the Elder Lord Yin’s expression, Sun Puhe smiled and said nothing.
The two, who were chatting happily in the chess room, were suddenly interrupted by a servant.
"Master, Young Master Ye has come to visit."
"Which Ye—?" The Elder Lord Yin’s voice cut off halfway.
Wait… Ye?
Almost instinctively, he thought of a certain person. He asked with half-startled wonder, "You mean Ye Zhao?!"
The servant replied, "The visitor indeed claims that name."
The Elder Lord Yin shifted as if to stand, then sat back down. He commanded, "Invite him in."
"Yes." The servant withdrew.
Hearing the name, Sun Puhe’s eyes flickered slightly. Seeing the Elder Lord Yin turn toward him, he quickly hid the complexity in his gaze. He stood up and cupped his hands. "Lord Yin, you have a guest. I happen to have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
After a brief thought, the Elder Lord Yin nodded. "Go then. We’ll continue our chat another day."
"Yes," Sun Puhe replied and walked out the door.
Hearing footsteps at the entrance, the Elder Lord Yin rose with a smile to greet the guest. As if joking, his face was full of kind and warm smiles. "Nephew Ye, why the sudden visit? Usually, your Uncle Yin can't get you to cross my threshold. I was just about to send someone to invite you."
Yet to this day, he hadn't heard Ye Zhao say a single word about visiting his home.
Ye Zhao saw through the act but didn't break it. He responded with a practiced smile, "Uncle Yin is too kind. I must ask for your forgiveness for my unannounced visit."
"What are you saying, Nephew? I couldn't be happier that you’ve come. Why talk of forgiveness? Haha…"
"Then I shall be a bother."
"Come, come, sit!" The Elder Lord Yin ushered him to a seat and ordered tea.
The pleasantries were about finished. At the very least, when Ye Zhao saw the teacup on the table that hadn't been cleared away yet—but saw no other person—a thought flashed through his mind. He stopped the small talk.
Ye Zhao went straight to the point. "Were you just hosting a guest?"
The Elder Lord Yin also noticed the teacup and smiled. "I was."
"And where is the person?" Ye Zhao asked.
While wondering about Ye Zhao’s purpose, the Elder Lord Yin replied, "He had business and left first." He added a question, "Why do you ask?"
Having missed the man again, Ye Zhao felt a pang of regret. His expression remained unchanged as he replied, "It’s nothing." He then shifted the topic. "I happened to be passing by today and thought I’d visit you, Uncle Yin. I didn't bring any gifts, so please don't take offense. I’ll certainly make up for it next time."
As he spoke, Ye Zhao wore an embarrassed smile.
The Elder Lord Yin waved his hand generously. "Eh, forget those formalities. If you actually brought gifts, your Uncle Yin would truly be offended!"
"Hehe…"
Ye Zhao laughed, and the other man laughed too. It was a picture of harmony and warmth.
However, only they knew what was true and what was false.
Just like Ye Zhao, he instinctively hid his true purpose for coming. Because the Elder Lord Yin and Sun Puhe belonged to the same faction, he did not trust the man. If it came down to it, Ye Zhao’s weight in the Elder Lord Yin’s heart was not as heavy as Sun Puhe’s. Of course, Ye Zhao knew this well; compared to people like Song He, his relationship with the Elder Lord Yin was purely superficial.
Ye Zhao left as soon as he finished his tea. They had exchanged pleasantries back and forth, but the Elder Lord Yin still couldn't figure out Ye Zhao’s intent.
He didn't believe for a second that the boy had come specifically to be polite; that would be the act of someone with far too much time on their hands. Moreover, during this sensitive period, he hadn't forgotten what the boy had been up to lately…
The Elder Lord Yin couldn't help but overthink. The moment Ye Zhao left, he immediately had a message sent into the palace.
"Someone! Secretly deliver this letter to Prince Rong."
"Yes."
When Prince Rong received the letter later, he finally realized why Ye Zhao had been so late today.
After all that, he was still investigating Sun Puhe!
Prince Rong gave a heavy huff and crumpled the letter into a ball. He wanted to throw it straight onto the ground, but after a moment’s thought, he tucked it into his robes instead. He planned to deal with it at night when no one was around.
"Good for you, Ye Zhao! You’re determined to oppose this Prince, aren't you!"
After a brief explanation to Su Jinzhou, Su Jinzhou simply fell into deep thought. A moment later, he wrote a reply on behalf of Prince Rong and sent it back, briefly explaining the reason for the matter to the Elder Lord Yin to dispel his worries and doubts.
Consequently, Ye Zhao inexplicably began to receive frequent, dissatisfied glares from Prince Rong.
Ye Zhao: "?"
What was going on? What did he do?
He had no idea that his move of chasing Sun Puhe to the Yin residence had already been guessed, and he remained in the dark.
Outside the palace, Sun Puhe received the warning from the Elder Lord Yin the next day.
In truth, even without the warning, Sun Puhe knew Ye Zhao suspected him. When he had returned from the Yin residence yesterday, the gatekeeper had mentioned Ye Zhao’s visit.
The two were strangers; why would he suddenly come to the door?
Receiving the Elder Lord Yin’s cryptic warning letter today only confirmed Sun Puhe’s suspicions.
"As expected…" In the empty study, Sun Puhe gave a long, low sigh. He burned the letter from the Elder Lord Yin to ashes and suddenly murmured, "You were right. It really is him. As expected… it cannot be hidden…"
Looking at the pile of residual ash, Sun Puhe suddenly let out a scoffing laugh. "Just as well, just as well. I can finally avenge this grievance…"
His voice slowly trailed off, the subsequent words becoming inaudible.
Silence returned to the study—a terrifying silence, like the calm before a storm, permeated by a tense and oppressive sense of an impending mountain rain.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 殷国丈 | Elder Lord Yin | Father of Consort Yin and the Minister of War; the Emperor's father-in-law. |
| 大毛 | Da Mao | Literally "Big Hair"; a silly nickname Ye Zhao gave to the Yulin Guard. |
| 卫西扬 | Wei Xiyang | A military figure mentioned by Elder Lord Yin as a contrast to Sun Puhe. |
| 兵部尚书 | Minister of War | The head of the Ministry of War. |
| 孙校尉 | Colonel Sun | Referring to Sun Puhe by his rank. |
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Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 66 | Suspicions and Warnings | Novela.app | Novela.app
