Xie Yusong returned from the palace and was about to seek out his father to discuss certain matters when he was intercepted outside the bedroom.
"Hm? Uncle Li?"
He looked at the middle-aged man blocking his path with a questioning gaze.
The man addressed as Uncle Li kept his eyes lowered, standing with his hands clasped respectfully. "Young Master, the Master is unwell. He has just taken his medicine and retired for the night. It would be best if you returned tomorrow."
"I see," Xie Yusong replied, understanding. A flicker of concern crossed his face as he looked toward the room, frowning. "Is Father’s condition serious? Why has it flared up again so suddenly?"
"It is no cause for alarm."
"Oh..."
Uncle Li was the estate’s head steward and a confidant who had followed his father for many years. Xie Yusong trusted his word implicitly and felt a slight sense of relief. "Then I shall come to visit Father tomorrow."
Behind him, Uncle Li bowed to see him off.
Just as he turned to leave, the sound of something shattering echoed from inside the room. Xie Yusong froze, halting his departure. "What happened?"
Doubt crept into his mind. He looked at Uncle Li, who remained stationed outside the door. Something felt wrong—hadn't he just said his father was asleep?
Uncle Li had clearly heard the noise as well, yet he remained as motionless as a statue. His eyelids were half-closed, masking any emotion. He showed no desire to answer Xie Yusong’s question, stating calmly, "Please return to your quarters, Young Master."
"What is wrong with Father?" Xie Yusong narrowed his eyes, beginning to suspect that the previous explanation was merely an excuse to send him away.
"The Master caught a chill today."
"I’m going in to see him." As expected, Xie Yusong was blocked once more.
Now he was certain there was something strange going on inside.
He lowered his brow and looked at the man standing in his way. Just as he was about to speak—"You—"
"Let him in." A voice drifted from inside the room. Xie Yusong’s words cut off, and the man who had stood like a gatekeeper stepped aside.
Xie Yusong gave Uncle Li a curious glance before entering.
Upon stepping inside, he saw jade fragments scattered across the floor. From the remains, he could tell it was a jade vase that usually sat in his father’s room.
"Father, this is...?" He stepped around the debris and looked hesitantly at the man sitting behind the desk.
Judging by the scene, it didn't look like it had been knocked over by accident.
"Cough, cough... Why have you come?" Xie Mingyuan coughed twice, ignoring the question and asking his own with a calm demeanor.
Xie Yusong’s confusion deepened. He felt his father was acting strangely today. After a moment of thought, he answered, "I came to inform Father that the mastermind behind the salt smuggling case has been brought to justice. The man is Commandant Sun, a relative by marriage to Prince Rong. His Majesty has sentenced his entire family to execution and the seizure of their assets. Prince Rong has also been implicated and sentenced to three months of confinement, and..."
And Minister Yin has been stripped of his position as Minister of War.
But before he could finish, he was interrupted by a low shout. "Enough!"
Xie Yusong was stunned, his eyes full of bewilderment as he looked at his father.
Wasn't Prince Rong’s implication a good thing?
Why did his father seem so unhappy? In fact... he almost seemed angry.
Xie Mingyuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his expression had returned to its usual placid state. "I am already aware of this matter," he said in a low voice. "There is no need to mention it further."
"If there is nothing else, you may leave," Xie Mingyuan added after a brief pause.
Xie Yusong was full of questions, but Uncle Li entered from outside and respectfully ushered him out.
Hesitating for a moment, Xie Yusong swallowed his doubts and softly replied, "Yes."
As he stepped out and looked back at the tightly closed doors, suspicion took root in his heart.
***
The past few days had been filled with continuous drizzle and rain. Seizing the opportunity of today’s fine weather, Ye Zhao couldn't bear to stay cooped up indoors. He had someone move a wooden daybed into the small courtyard, where he lay on his stomach to soak up the sun. With a gentle breeze blowing and a cup of fine wine to sip, he was thoroughly content.
A massive ball of a bird crouched beneath his daybed, its beady eyes darting around, letting out an occasional "quack."
Ye Zhao rested his chin on his arms, feeling drowsy under the warm sunlight. Hearing approaching footsteps, he didn't even open his eyes, speaking lazily, "Shian, you finally couldn't stay in the study anymore? It would be such a waste not to nap and sunbathe in weather like this."
His voice carried a soft, slightly raspy nasal tone.
After he finished, there was no response for a long time.
The footsteps paused, then resumed. A shadow fell over him, completely blocking his sun.
Hm? Ye Zhao opened his eyes in confusion. Squinting against the light, the first thing he saw was a prominent scar on the visitor’s face. Once he recognized who it was, Ye Zhao snapped awake.
"Commander Wei?!"
The newcomer was Wei Feng. He looked down at Ye Zhao’s surprised expression, his own face remaining unchanged as he spoke tonelessly, "Young Master Ye is certainly living a life of leisure. You made me search quite a bit."
"Ah?" Ye Zhao was startled. "Does Commander Wei have business with me?"
The other man let out a cold snort. "Has Young Master Ye forgotten that His Majesty ordered you to assist in the investigation of the government salt case?"
"Hasn't Sun Puhe already been caught?"
Wei Feng replied, "Does Young Master Ye think the matter ends there?"
"I know what else you want to investigate, Commander Wei, but regarding the salt case, once it reaches Sun Puhe, the trail truly goes cold."
Ye Zhao closed his eyes and continued slowly, "Where was the salt shipped? Where are the men Sun Puhe raised? Most importantly, whose pawn was he? None of this is known. But that is a separate matter. If you want to catch the ultimate mastermind behind the scenes, it is impossible for the time being."
Although Sun Puhe had taken all the blame upon himself, the more Ye Zhao thought about it afterward, the more suspicious it felt.
There had to be someone else advising Sun Puhe from the shadows—or perhaps that person was the one truly in control of the entire board.
Wei Feng pursed his lips, his irritation growing. A hint of danger flickered in his eyes as he disagreed, "Are you so certain?"
*Of course,* Ye Zhao thought. He let out a light chuckle and countered, "Then has Commander Wei caught this person? Or have you found even a single shred of evidence regarding the mastermind because of Sun Puhe?"
Wei Feng did not answer, largely because he didn't know how to.
He truly hadn't found even a trace of the mastermind. However, he was unwilling to bow his head and agree with Ye Zhao. His face remained cold as he said, "This person is indeed a master."
Ye Zhao smiled, ignoring Wei Feng’s internal conflict, though he agreed with the statement.
"If they weren't a master, they wouldn't be able to hide this deeply."
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Wei Feng asked.
Ye Zhao thought for a moment, then laughed with genuine surprise. "Commander Wei, you’re asking the wrong person. I don't know nearly as much about the people and affairs of Great Wei as you do. How could I guess that?"
Wei Feng smiled at that and suggested, "Why don't you come work for my Yulin Guards? At that time, you may browse any records or archives within the Yulin Guards as you please."
Seeing that he seemed serious, a bead of cold sweat formed in Ye Zhao’s mind. He said dryly, "No, no. This humble one has no great ambitions. I wouldn't want to trouble Commander Wei."
The smile on Wei Feng’s lips widened. "I’ll appoint you as Vice Commander."
*Please, spare me!*
Ye Zhao couldn't help but twitch his lips. "I can neither fight nor am I well-versed in literature. I fear my virtue would not match the position. If I were to cause Commander Wei to be criticized by others, it would be my fault."
*So, I appreciate the sentiment, but for everyone’s sake, let’s forget it.*
Ye Zhao made his meaning clear. Whether Wei Feng had teased him enough or simply decided to move on, he didn't press the matter and played along. "Since Young Master Ye is truly unwilling, I shall not force you."
*Heh...*
Ye Zhao forced a delighted smile to satisfy the man’s wicked sense of humor. If he could, he wanted a mirror to see if he had the potential to be an emoji; otherwise, why did this man always want to make fun of him? It had taken a few times, but Ye Zhao had finally figured out his dynamic with Wei Feng.
However, Wei Feng’s sudden bouts of mood-lightening never lasted long. He immediately returned to the main topic.
"Zhang Mingxu came to seek revenge on you. He was a member of the Zhang clan, one of the Nine Great Families of old. The person behind the scenes is very likely a remnant of the disaster that befell those families."
In the court, in the Capital, and even throughout the territory of Great Wei, there was no telling how many of these people were hidden...
Wei Feng’s expression turned solemn. Looking at the man lying before him, he unconsciously frowned. "Your sense of alertness is far too poor."
He was clearly referring to how he had walked right up to Ye Zhao without the latter taking any defensive action.
Ye Zhao remained noncommittal toward the lecture, his attention caught by the previous words. "The Nine Great Families?"
"Yes." Wei Feng explained nonchalantly, "Xie, Zhang, Zhao, Song, Shen, Ming, Lin, Qin, and Xue. Ranked by clan influence, these nine families held absolute power in Great Wei decades ago. They were great clans that flourished for a century."
Unfortunately, they were later slaughtered to the last man.
Wei Feng had discovered quite a bit about the Nine Great Families. A hint of pity flickered in his eyes, but it wasn't true sympathy—merely the cold observation of a bystander watching a tragedy.
Of the nine surnames, Ye Zhao’s entire focus was captured by the very first one. He exclaimed, "Xie?!"
He unconsciously pushed himself up, looking at Wei Feng in shock.
Wei Feng guessed the reason for his surprise instantly, as he had made the same connection when he first saw the name.
But...
"It is not the Xie family currently in the imperial court. I know what you are thinking. Although Duke Mingde is surnamed Xie, he has absolutely no relation to the Xie clan of decades ago. It is impossible for him to be one of them."
Wei Feng spoke with such certainty that Ye Zhao couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Why is it impossible?"
The other man fell silent for a moment before looking at him solemnly. "Because the man who personally supervised the executions of the nine clans sent to the Capital was Duke Mingde himself. Among them was the Xie family of the Capital."
So, how could Xie Mingyuan be a member of the Xie family?
Ye Zhao was stunned. Wei Feng continued, "Of course, that isn't the primary reason. More importantly, Duke Mingde was rescued and personally raised by Lord Tianshu."
He added, "The world knows that Duke Anguo and Duke Zhenguo were deeply cultivated by Lord Tianshu and that the three shared a profound bond. What they do not know is that Lord Tianshu’s kindness toward Duke Mingde was like a second birth. It is only because the details are not fit for outsiders to know, and because Duke Mingde has always been low-profile, somber, and a man of few words, that he faded from public view."
Wei Feng heard a movement and turned to see someone approaching. He stopped talking and cupped his hands in a salute. "Young Master Pei."
Ye Zhao turned his head and saw that it was indeed Pei Yunting. He had been in the estate for many days, but this was the first time he had run into him.
Considering their relationship, Ye Zhao followed suit and greeted him. "Good morning. Care to sit with us?"
Pei Yunting’s expression didn't change.
Ye Zhao felt a bit awkward. Although they had met several times, they weren't close—at most, they were nodding acquaintances.
Of course, that "nodding acquaintance" status was only Ye Zhao’s personal opinion. It was hard to say if Pei Yunting had any favorable impression of him at all.
Regardless, the man never seemed to smile.
Though Ye Zhao had never seen him smile at anyone, his intuition told him that the man didn't like him.
After about two seconds of silence, Pei Yunting finally spoke, addressing Wei Feng. "Commander Wei, it would be best not to spread Uncle Xie’s private affairs everywhere. It only reopens old wounds."
He was sincerely advising for Xie Mingyuan’s sake. Wei Feng thought about the history behind it and fell silent for a moment, uncharacteristically admitting his fault. "I have indeed overstepped."
Since he had said so, Pei Yunting didn't press the issue. He shifted the topic, looking at Ye Zhao. "I have matters to attend to. Please, carry on."
With that, he left, heading toward the exit.
He had simply been passing by and happened to speak to them.
Ye Zhao lay back down, discarding his awkwardness in a second. Thinking back on the previous conversation, he murmured to himself, "Though I don't know what the debt of gratitude was, based on what you said, it’s impossible for him to bite the hand that fed him?"
Wei Feng looked at him coldly, feeling he was stating the obvious. "Even if you were to kill yourself, he would never lift a finger against you."
"..." Ye Zhao fell silent, feeling personally attacked by the implication.
He chose to change the subject. "Commander Wei, what happened to Sun Puhe’s... I mean, Zhang Mingxu’s family? Was the entire clan executed, or...?"
"The execution of the whole clan was unnecessary."
Wei Feng let out a short, mocking laugh, his expression unreadable. After a pause, he said, "On the night he intended to kill you, he poisoned over twenty people in his household. His sons, daughters, servants—even Lady Sun, the secondary consort married to Prince Rong, was killed by his agents. Only his first wife remained. She was lightly poisoned, and I arrived with my men early enough to save her life. After she learned everything that had happened, she took her own life by running into a wall."
"Zhang Mingxu’s entire family is gone."
Ye Zhao fell silent after hearing this.
As someone from outside the clan, as long as Madam Sun hadn't participated in Sun Puhe’s schemes, she wouldn't have had to die.
Sun Puhe was cruel enough to kill his own blood and his entire household, yet Madam Sun was the only one who could be saved in time. This might not have been an accident; he likely intended to keep her clean of his crimes.
Unfortunately, he still failed to save her life in the end.
Indeed, with her entire family killed by her husband, how could she go on living?
"It’s a pity. Zhang Mingxu gambled everything and failed to drag me down to the underworld. Instead, he lost himself and his entire family."
Ye Zhao shifted his body lazily. The wounds on his back hadn't healed yet, so he couldn't make large movements, but if he didn't move after lying there for so long, his whole body would go numb.
The words sounded a bit provocative, almost boastful.
However, Wei Feng sensed a deeper meaning upon reflection. He looked down at Ye Zhao, who was wiggling around like a caterpillar, and said with a faint, inscrutable smile, "Are you sympathizing with him? He tried to kill you."
"Sympathizing?" Ye Zhao repeated the word, thinking for a moment. "Not exactly. I just feel it’s a shame that he let hatred cloud his judgment and acted on his own, ruining a grand plan."
A failure at the final step is always a regret, even if the perfect trap was set for oneself.
Wei Feng pondered his words and suddenly crouched down, a look of seriousness in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
The warm sunlight hit him again, and Ye Zhao squinted comfortably. With a mysterious smile, he said, "Would you believe me if I said the plan the mastermind arranged for Zhang Mingxu that night wasn't actually like that?"
Wei Feng now understood where Ye Zhao’s comment about "acting on his own" came from. However...
He raised an eyebrow in question. "How do you know his plan wasn't like that?"
"It’s simple. Judging by the previous assassination traps the mastermind set for me, he is definitely someone with deep schemes, meticulous thoughts, and a great sense of the big picture."
Ye Zhao thought quietly. "He wanted to use hostages to lure me in, that’s true. But I guess his original order was for Zhang Mingxu to kill me with a single strike the moment he had the chance. Unfortunately..."
Ye Zhao sighed as he concluded, "Villains really do die because they talk too much. Heh..."
He let out a soft laugh, tinged with faint mockery.
He continued, "He anticipated that I would eventually find Sun Puhe, so he struck first. Unfortunately, Zhang Mingxu wasn't a perfectly obedient puppet. Instead, he foolishly revealed he was from the Zhang clan, exposing another layer of the mastermind’s identity."
"..." Wei Feng was silent for a moment. Indeed, because of Zhang Mingxu, they could basically confirm that the mastermind was a remnant of the Nine Great Families. "In that case, should we actually thank Zhang Mingxu?"
"Mm-hm." Ye Zhao was noncommittal.
Wei Feng chuckled, his mood quite pleasant. Suddenly, he called out, "Tianshu."
Ye Zhao’s breath hitched. He opened his eyes, and their gazes met.
The atmosphere was quiet for a second before Ye Zhao sighed gloomily. "Is Commander Wei trying to make fun of me again?"
"I wouldn't dare," Wei Feng replied without a shred of sincerity. His face was calm, making it impossible to tell if he was serious or joking. He flicked his robes and sat on the ground in front of him. "Ye Zhao, don't you think you’re strange?"
*Does one think of oneself as strange?* Even if he sensed something, Ye Zhao would never admit it. He simply complained, "What’s so strange about me?"
"Have you killed before?"
Ye Zhao asked, "How long ago? Does a few days ago count?"
Wei Feng shook his head. "No, I mean much earlier."
"Then no."
"But my intuition doesn't believe you." Like two friends chatting, Wei Feng stated firmly, "You don't fear killing at all."
He narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze piercing into the depths of Ye Zhao’s eyes.
Ye Zhao’s expression didn't change, but in his heart, he couldn't deny the words. It was indeed strange. As a youth raised under the red flag who had never even killed a chicken, he hadn't felt the slightest bit of fear the first time he killed someone.
Don't they say that people who kill for the first time inevitably feel dread? Why didn't he?
Finally, he reached a non-conclusion. "Perhaps I was born this way. Who can say for sure? People have argued for a thousand years whether human nature is fundamentally good or evil without a result. Maybe I’m just a natural-born villain who’s too lazy to plague the world."
Wei Feng’s expression collapsed into a deadpan look of speechlessness.
He stood up and walked away.
Ye Zhao: *Oh well... another day ending on a sour note with Commander Wei.*
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 李叔 | Uncle Li | The steward of the Xie household. |
| 孙校尉 | Commandant Sun | Sun Puhe's military title. |
| 殷尚书 | Minister Yin | The Minister of War who was demoted. |
| 九大世家 | Nine Great Families | The nine powerful clans from decades ago. |
| 谢，章，赵，宋，沈，明，林，秦，薛 | Xie, Zhang, Zhao, Song, Shen, Ming, Lin, Qin, Xue | The surnames of the Nine Great Families. |
| 裴云庭 | Pei Yunting | A member of the Pei family, likely Shian's elder relative. |
| 孙侧妃 | Lady Sun | Sun Puhe's daughter, a secondary consort to Prince Rong. |
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