Chapter 19

The weather was getting hotter, and by dusk, there was still no sign of it cooling down.

Xu Yunqi noticed her husband’s pallor and instructed Yin Xing to prepare a bowl of thick honeysuckle dew for him. After drinking it, Pei Muheng’s restlessness subsided considerably. Feeling very drowsy, he had Huang Wei bring a recliner to the open pavilion on the east side of Qinghui Garden. His long body leaned back as he closed his eyes to rest.

Qinghui Garden, with its spacious front and back yards, had a crescent moon gate entrance from the south. Walking along the west wing corridor, one reached the main courtyard. The east wing also had a row of rooms, but its corridor didn’t connect to the main courtyard. Instead, there was a cluster of varying heights and shapes of late-blooming plum trees. Their bare branches extended towards the back garden, where an open pavilion connected the east wing and the main courtyard. Pei Muheng loved to lie here, enjoying the view of the meticulously arranged bonsai in the front yard or gazing at the blooming flowers in the back garden’s greenhouse.

A few sparse plum branches cast shadows that danced over his profile.

Qinghui Garden was designed according to Pei Muheng’s preferences. Before Xu Yunqi moved in, he rarely stayed overnight in the study. Now, having truly moved back, he gradually rediscovered that sense of leisure.

The couple faced each other through the window—one resting on the open pavilion outside, the other focused on filling out medical records in the small pharmacy room. Neither of them made a sound, nor did they look at each other, yet there was a unique sense of contentment.

The house was filled with the sound of Huang Wei and Yin Xing arguing.

Huang Wei wanted to place Pei Muheng’s belongings in his usual spots, but Yin Xing refused.

“My lady’s orchid must be placed here. This orchid has medicinal properties and can only be placed on the tall table by the south window because the light and humidity are just right.” Though Yin Xing was usually timid around Pei Muheng, she was unwavering in defending Xu Yunqi.

Huang Wei couldn’t outmaneuver the mistress’s personal maid and ended up retreating in defeat.

Xu Yunqi listened to their soft argument and rubbed her temples.

Shortly after, the kitchen finished preparing dinner, and Yin Xing quietly came in to ask if she should set the table.

Xu Yunqi glanced at the copper hourglass in the corner; it was already three-quarters past the evening hour. Summer days were long, and the sky had not fully darkened yet. According to Xu Yunqi’s habits, it was time for dinner. She raised her eyes to look at her husband outside, his long figure outlined softly in the dusk, sleeping soundly.

Living together, there were indeed various inconveniences.

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Yin Xing pursed her lips, saw the lamp on the table wasn’t bright enough, and fetched scissors to trim the wick, making the room brighter.

Fifteen minutes later, Pei Muheng woke up, leisurely walking through the corridor into the east room. The room’s decorations had noticeably increased, with some of his things and some of Xu Yunqi’s. Her belongings were few and simple, while he was more particular, with several sets of tea ware, ranging from sky-blue Ru Kiln crackle-glazed porcelain to Yizhou purple clay teapot sets, all crafted by renowned artisans.

Hearing the noise, Xu Yunqi came out of the side room and gave him a gentle smile.

The couple exchanged a glance and, in tacit agreement, returned to the main hall for dinner. After dinner, Pei Muheng went to the study, and Xu Yunqi strolled along the waterside pavilion to aid digestion, coincidentally meeting Pei Mushan there.

Pei Mushan had just finished dinner as well. Seeing her, she eagerly ran over, “Sister-in-law, I’ve been looking for you.”

Xu Yunqi stopped and waited for her to catch up, her eyes sparkling, “What do you need me for?”

Pei Mushan leaped from the stone path over the water and grabbed Xu Yunqi’s wrist. Under the gentle lamplight, their faces glowed like jade.

“The rouge you gave me last time is amazing. The powder is fine and not sticky. I’ve used it for half a month, and my skin is much smoother. Feel it, if you don’t believe me.” Pei Mushan brought her face close.

Xu Yunqi, raising her sleeve, touched it with the back of her hand and smiled, “It is much smoother.”

Pei Mushan was thrilled, “Sister-in-law, where did you buy it? Tell me, so I can get more.”

Xu Yunqi smiled, “I made it myself.”

Pei Mushan was stunned, full of disbelief, and then eagerly examined her, almost jumping with joy, “That’s great! Sister-in-law, teach me how to make it.”

She didn’t want Xu Yunqi to keep making it for her; she wanted to learn herself. Pei Mushan, though proud, wasn’t the type to take others’ goodwill for granted.

Xu Yunqi complied easily, “I’ll prepare the materials and powders, and then I’ll teach you.”

Buying the materials and powders required money. Pei Mushan began reaching into her pocket for silver but couldn’t find any. She turned to her maid, “Tao Qing, where did I put my monthly allowance?”

The maid, Tao Qing, looked exasperated. Pei Mushan was a spendthrift, always spending her monthly allowance on rouge, powders, or jewelry. Running out of money before the month was over was typical for her.

Tao Qing reminded her bluntly, “Miss, you’ve already spent your monthly allowance.”

“Really?” Pei Mushan scratched her head awkwardly and turned to Xu Yunqi apologetically, “Sister-in-law, you buy them first. I’ll pay you back later.”

Xu Yunqi saw her embarrassment and smiled, “I have money; you don’t need to repay me.”

“Where did you get money?” In Pei Mushan’s mind, Xu Yunqi, coming from the countryside with a small dowry, couldn’t possibly have much money.

Xu Yunqi wasn’t wealthy, but she never lacked money. Following her grandfather, she earned money by helping people with medical needs and never worried about living expenses. She didn’t care much for gold or silver. In her view, having enough to eat and wear was sufficient, and any excess money was often given to those in need.

As her grandfather would say, everyone is a guest on the journey to the underworld, so why carry burdens?

Xu Yunqi, being independent, had no habit of saving money.

“My monthly allowance hasn’t been spent, and if it’s not enough, I’ll use your brother’s.”

Nanny Chen always gave Xu Yunqi both their monthly allowances to manage.

Hearing this, Pei Mushan’s eyes brightened, “My brother has a little treasure trove. You should take charge of it, Sister-in-law.”

Xu Yunqi silently shook her head. In the past, Pei Muheng had her help with accounting, but he never disclosed his full assets to her, nor did she ask. He wouldn’t give it to outsiders anyway, so she didn’t worry about it.

“I’ll ask him later,” Xu Yunqi replied to her sister-in-law.

After a while, the sisters-in-law each returned to their respective courtyards. Pei Mushan walked a bit towards her room but then stopped, turned around, and headed towards the main courtyard along the winding corridor.

Tao Qing noticed her light steps, seeming a bit sneaky, and curiously asked, “Miss, what are you doing?”

Pei Mushan gestured for her to be quiet and sneaked to the corridor on the right side of Jinhe Hall. She peeked through the window and saw her father talking to her mother, feeling reassured. She then backed up a few steps, imitated a bird call, and jumped under a locust tree in the courtyard.

Inside, hearing the familiar “bird call,” Prince Xi frowned, hesitated, and then cleared his throat, saying to the Princess Consort, “Madam, I need to use the restroom…”

Next month was Xun Yunhe’s fortieth birthday. Madam Xun and Xun Yunling were returning to prepare for the banquet. In the past, the two families had planned to marry, making the gifts important. Now, with the marriage plans canceled, deciding on the gifts was challenging. The Princess Consort, feeling troubled, didn’t notice her husband’s little scheme.

Prince Xi quickly stepped out to the corridor, glancing around to see maids and servants standing quietly with their heads bowed. He hurried to the corner of the corridor and peeked behind the covered walkway, where he found his daughter standing nonchalantly under the eaves.

“What are you sneaking around for?” Prince Xi glared at his daughter.

Pei Mushan clasped her hands behind her back, her eyes darting around, “If I’m sneaking around, I must have a reason.”

“Tell me, what’s the matter?” Prince Xi frowned, assuming a stern and impatient posture. When his daughter looked for him at this time, it usually wasn’t good news.

Sure enough, Pei Mushan approached, tugging at his sleeve and smiling sweetly, “Father, have you spent your monthly allowance yet?”

Prince Xi’s face darkened instantly. He lowered his voice, “Why are you always eyeing my monthly allowance?”

Before Pei Mushan could answer, he clasped his hands behind his back, straightened up, and looked away from her, “It’s the end of the month; it’s already spent.”

Hearing this, Pei Mushan let go of his sleeve, pouting, “You promised to supplement my allowance every month.”

Prince Xi, both amused and exasperated, looked at her, “Didn’t I give you extra last month and the month before? Your mother even questioned me about it, thinking I was spending it on frivolities. Daughter, you’ve put your father in a tough spot!”

Pei Mushan turned her face away, huffing, “I owe Sister-in-law money; I can’t not repay her.”

On the way here, she realized that times were different. In the past, her brother’s monthly allowance had supplemented hers, and she took it without hesitation. But now, he had a family, so she decided to turn to her father instead.

“You’re so brazen,” Prince Xi said, feeling a headache coming on. After a moment of silence, he bent down to look at his daughter, “Which sister-in-law?”

If it was Madam Xie, he wouldn’t care. If it was Madam Li, it seemed unlikely… Pei Mushan wouldn’t borrow money from her second sister-in-law. Then he thought of Xu Yunqi, “You didn’t borrow money from your third sister-in-law, did you!”

To Prince Xi, Xu Yunqi was a pitiable child. If his daughter bullied Xu Yunqi, he would break her legs.

Pei Mushan glanced at him without saying a word.

Prince Xi was furious, pointing his finger at her forehead a few times before saying in frustration, “Wait here!”

A moment later, Prince Xi grudgingly handed over twenty taels of silver to Pei Mushan. She hugged her father happily and then left quickly.

That night, Pei Mushan had Tao Qing deliver the silver to Xu Yunqi, who couldn’t help but laugh.

Pei Muheng had taken a nap in the evening and returned late at night. By the time he came back, Xu Yunqi was already asleep. He walked quietly to the bathroom, but despite his efforts to keep the noise down, the sound of water woke Xu Yunqi.

Anticipating his return, Xu Yunqi hadn’t closed the curtains. Pei Muheng, wearing his robe, returned to the room and saw his wife half-awake, her old yet familiar clothes draped over her chest, her black hair falling loosely over her back and shoulders, covering most of her face.

Her dark, groggy eyes stared at him, clearly woken by the noise.

Pei Muheng turned and sat on the edge of the bed, then let down the curtains, blocking out the light and leaving the room in a soft glow.

There were two blankets on the bed, one for each of them. Pei Muheng had no objections but found it too warm and pushed his aside before lying down.

The sound of the maid cleaning the bath could be heard from the bathroom. The room was unusually quiet. Xu Yunqi, still half-asleep, shifted positions and continued to sleep until the maid accidentally dropped something, making a loud noise that fully awakened her.

“Did you hurt yourself?” she called out in the direction of the bathroom as she sat up.

The old maid, terrified of disturbing her mistress, quickly emerged from behind the screen, kneeling on the damp ivory mat, “I deserve punishment for disturbing your rest. I just dropped a ladle, and it fell to the ground. I wasn’t hurt.”

Xu Yunqi replied calmly, “Alright, go rest.”

The old maid hurriedly responded twice, called a companion, and carried the bath bucket out. She thought to herself that she dared not rest at this moment. Sure enough, not long after, some noises came from the inner room.

Xu Yunqi was not trying to endure, but Pei Muheng went too deep this time, and she almost couldn’t bear it. Previously, in the imperial palace, this guy always held back a bit.

Xu Yunqi thought, what is this, lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot?

Those eyes were as dark as a deep abyss, motionless, only the sweat on his chin dripping, drop by drop, into her disheveled collar.

Time passed slowly, with no sign of stopping. Xu Yunqi, who was usually able to stay composed, rarely spoke up this time, “Third Master… next time, come back earlier…”

This kind of thing happening late into the night is not good for the body.

Xu Yunqi has always had a great routine, sleeping at the same time every night, but Pei Muheng had already disrupted her schedule a few times.

Pei Mucheng wasn’t used to talking to her at times like these. He swallowed a few times, trying to keep his voice steady. “When do you usually sleep?”

He came back late today and really disturbed her. Since they needed to live together, they had to make compromises.

Xu Yunqi bit her lip, her eyes looking outside the red mandarin duck bed curtains, where the pearl curtains by the window frame swayed slightly, with faint light flickering. She said softly, “Not past 9 pm.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Muheng frowned.

To him, that was too early.

“I’ll try to come back earlier.”

There was no more conversation within the bed curtains. The night wind blew gently, silence enveloped the surroundings, and the occasional chirping of cicadas didn’t disturb the tranquility of the night. Xu Yunqi clutched something unknowingly, nearly fainting.

The old maid brought in two buckets of water again. Xu Yunqi, without raising her head, continued to wash herself, thankful that she had taken a short nap earlier, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable. By the time she went out, Pei Muheng had already washed up. The man, wearing a white inner garment with neatly tied straps, sat on the round chair, looking pleased and relaxed, appearing refined and handsome, as if he hadn’t been the one doing those things just moments ago.

He waited for Xu Yunqi to go to bed. Sometimes, Xu Yunqi lay on the inner side, and sometimes, it was Pei Muheng. However, Pei Muheng realized that his routine was not as punctual as Xu Yunqi’s, so he gave her the inner side to disturb her as little as possible.

When Xu Yunqi returned to the room, she glanced at him. He relaxed his eyebrows and sipped tea, looking both elegant and relaxed. Pei Muheng had already prepared a cup for her and pushed the teacup in her direction, saying, “Have a sip of tea.”

His tone was more of a statement than a question.

Xu Yunqi’s cheeks slightly flushed as she took the tea and moistened her hoarse throat, but her gaze was fixed on his sleeve.

Seeing her steady gaze, Pei Muheng asked, “Not going to sleep yet?”

It was already late at night. Wasn’t she someone who had slept early? What was she staring at him for?

Xu Yunqi felt a bit embarrassed. Earlier, she might have scratched him with her nails, which were kept for picking herbs. If she had guessed correctly, Pei Muheng’s right arm would have had a noticeable scratch.

“How’s your arm?” she asked with a hint of guilt.

Pei Muheng, still holding the teacup, slowly smiled but quickly composed himself and gently replied, “It’s fine.”

Xu Yunqi didn’t ask any further and got up to sleep first.

The next day, when she woke up, Yin Xing told her, “Young master practiced swordplay in the backyard early in the morning before heading to court.”

Xu Yunqi was full of admiration, thinking about his excellent physical strength. She discreetly rubbed her sore legs and said calmly, “I see.”

On April 30th, the Grand Court Assembly was scheduled as usual, but no message came from Fengtian Hall about the Emperor attending the court. Instead, the cabinet ministers and princes were instructed to head to the Imperial Study for a discussion.

Early in the morning, Pei Muheng arrived at the Censorate. The Emperor had previously tasked him with overseeing the Censorate. That day, two vice censors sought him out, saying that the Ministry of Revenue had withheld the Censorate’s payroll, and the clerks had not received their salaries for two months. With the end of the month approaching, complaints were widespread. So, Pei Muheng personally led the two vice censors, armed with the Censorate’s accounts, to mediate with the Ministry of Revenue.

This issue had been raised several times, and Pei Muheng chose to address it that day for a reason: he didn’t want to get involved in the muddy waters of Fengtian Hall.

In the Imperial Study that day, high-ranking officials gathered, and the atmosphere was somber.

The Crown Prince’s case investigation was incomplete, but the Emperor had already inquired about the results. The Minister of Justice, Xiao Yu, had hurriedly written a memorial overnight, which was presented to the Emperor early that morning.

The officials present included Yan Ping, Zheng Yucheng, Xiao Yu, Xun Yunhe, and Shi Zhuo. Prince Qin, the Emperor’s second son, and Prince Chen, the third son, were also present, along with several other princes. Only Prince Xi and Prince Pei Xun were absent.

Early morning sunlight was brilliant, but it soon dimmed, casting shadows in the Imperial Study. Liu Xiwen gave a signal, and two young eunuchs quickly lit two palace lamps, with Liu Xiwen personally placing one on the imperial desk.

Unlike the last time when Pei Xun submitted a memorial from Tongzhou, this time the imperial desk was meticulously cleaned, with only Xiao Yu’s memorial placed on it.

The Emperor sat upright on the grand yellow dragon bed, lightly pressing his hand on the memorial without opening it, his eyes half-closed, asking in a low voice, “How is the case progressing?”

Yan Ping remained stern and silent, while Minister of Rites Zheng Yucheng sighed softly. Xun Yunhe’s gaze quietly fell on the empty space ahead, his expression calm and unperturbed. Xiao Yu, however, had no choice but to step forward and bow to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, while investigating the case of merchants smuggling gunpowder, Court Judicial Review Secretary Liu Zhao found that some of the gunpowder was transported to the Crown Prince’s villa. There is sufficient evidence to suspect that the Crown Prince has been hiding munitions. Additionally, those merchants were originally Jizhou traders doing business with the enemy state, Great Wu. Whether this is connected to the Crown Prince is still under investigation by Liu Zhao…”

This suspicion of the Crown Prince secretly manipulating merchants to collude with Great Wu would significantly add to his crimes if confirmed.

Before Xiao Yu could finish, the Emperor suddenly interrupted, “Liu Zhao was investigating the case of Jizhou merchants. How did he end up investigating the Crown Prince?”

The question was abrupt, leaving Xiao Yu unable to answer.

Xun Yunhe quickly glanced at the Emperor.

Seeing Xiao Yu’s silence, the Emperor asked again, “How did the gunpowder ignite? Have they caught the culprit?”

This time, Xiao Yu answered swiftly, “The gunpowder was originally hidden in the candle box behind the former Empress’s memorial tablet. A young monk accidentally broke the candle holder while dozing off at noon, causing the explosion.”

The Emperor was incredulous, “Why would he hide gunpowder there?”

Normally, no one would hide gunpowder in a shrine with candles.

At this point, Shi Zhuo spoke up, “The gunpowder arrived in the capital on April 7th. Your Majesty was not in the capital, and Lord Xun strictly inspected all goods entering and leaving the city. The Crown Prince’s men falsely claimed the items were incense offerings for the Ci’en Temple. The guards did not dare to open the packages, so they were delivered to Ci’en Temple without inspection. And in the entire capital, the Empress’s shrine is the one place that would never be searched.”

Since there was no news of the Emperor’s return, the Crown Prince did not dare to act rashly, so the gunpowder remained in the shrine until the incident on the tenth.

Then, his tone shifted, and he spoke with considerable indignation, “Your Majesty, setting aside other matters, the gunpowder explosion this time harmed sixty innocent civilians, and this crime is unforgivable.”

Shi Zhuo, who was over sixty years old, had white eyebrows and a white beard, with brows as sharp as sword edges and eyes intolerant of deceit. He came from the Censorate, having passed the imperial examination at thirteen and becoming a seventh-rank censor at twenty. He had inspected Jiangnan, repeatedly cracking major cases, and was highly esteemed in both the court and the public. More importantly, Shi Zhuo was known for his integrity, often compared to Wei Zheng. He and the Emperor had a reputation of being candid with each other, creating a legendary partnership.

The Emperor, stymied by his words, asked no further questions.

After a moment of silence, the Emperor raised his eyebrows slightly and frowned at Xiao Yu, “According to the law, how should this be handled?”

Xiao Yu and Shi Zhuo exchanged glances, looking troubled.

Even straightforward Shi Zhuo remained silent this time.

Everyone knew that hiding military supplies was considered rebellion, a grave crime that implicated nine generations of one’s family. If it also involved colluding with an enemy nation to smuggle gunpowder, it was an unforgivable crime.

The Emperor observed the silent crowd and suddenly let out a cold laugh. He lowered his eyelids and glanced at the ministers in front of him, “So, does this mean I can’t protect the Crown Prince?”

Though he spoke to everyone, his gaze was directed at Yan Ping and Prince Qin.

At this moment, Prince Qin adeptly distanced himself, “Father, I believe that the Crown Prince may not have truly intended to harm you. There might be other motives behind the gunpowder. Father should let Senior Minister Xiao and Minister Shi investigate thoroughly before easily convicting the Crown Prince.”

The Emperor’s mouth twitched slightly at these words.

But the truth was, the more they investigated, the more evidence of the Crown Prince’s crimes would be found.

After Prince Qin finished speaking and saw no reaction from the Emperor, he couldn’t help but glance at him. The Emperor’s piercing gaze made him shudder, and he quickly lowered his eyes.

The Emperor then looked at Yan Ping, “Senior Minister Yan, do you share this opinion?”

Yan Ping squinted his eyes.

Even if the Crown Prince wasn’t truly rebelling, his involvement in amassing wealth and lacking personal virtue were facts. Now, with the explosion at the villa injuring innocents, the Crown Prince’s reputation was completely ruined, and his position as heir apparent was surely lost. The Emperor was well aware of this, but his true intention behind the question was to protect the Crown Prince’s life.

Yan Ping understood the Emperor’s implication, but in his view, the Crown Prince couldn’t be left alive, as he would be a future threat. However, he couldn’t be the one to say it.

Someone else had to be provoked into speaking.

Thus, Yan Ping bowed resolutely and said, “Your Majesty, I believe we should stop investigating.”

As he said this, Xiao Yu and Shi Zhuo glanced at him, especially Shi Zuo, whose eyes showed anger. They had already offended the Crown Prince thoroughly, and if the Crown Prince were to regain power, they would have no place to bury themselves.

The Emperor gazed at Yan Ping and smiled faintly but said nothing. Finally, he waved his hand, “You all may withdraw.”

The ministers retreated one after another, but only one person boldly advanced, lifting his robe and kneeling before the Emperor.

This person was Shi Zhuo. At this critical moment, Shi Zhuo showed great courage and immediately spoke, “Your Majesty, you are compassionate and kind, and I feel the same. But Your Majesty must not forget the disaster of Prince Geng and the struggle for succession among the seven princes in the previous dynasty!”

As soon as he said this, the other ministers were shocked and terrified. The Emperor’s face turned ashen, and his eyes narrowed into a cold gleam as if he wanted to cut Shi Zhuo to pieces.

There was once a Crown Prince in the previous dynasty, who was demoted to Prince Geng due to his misconduct. The then Emperor had a kind heart and allowed him to stay in the capital. However, Prince Geng later rebelled, leading to a ten-year struggle for succession among seven princes, causing great turmoil in the court.

Shi Zhuo’s words were a sharp blow to the Emperor, violating the Emperor’s taboo.

The Emperor’s throat rolled with anger, and he shouted, “Guards, drag him out…”

Just as he was about to order thirty strokes of the cane, Liu Xiwen suddenly raised his voice, “Oh dear, quickly, take Minister Shi away to prevent him from further enraging His Majesty.”

With Liu Xiwen’s interruption, the Emperor’s anger was suddenly restrained, and he gradually calmed down.

Shi Zhuo, being old and frail, would likely die from a few strokes of the cane. Seeing that the Crown Prince was about to be deposed, the Emperor realized that killing a loyal minister would only cause more chaos and unrest in the court, and damage his reputation for centuries to come. Resting his hands on the desk, the Emperor slowly calmed his emotions and finally said nothing.

Thus, Shi Zhuo was taken away.

The ministers left Fengtian Hall in twos and threes.

Xun Yunhe descended the steps, walking at the front with an air of tranquility, almost detached from the situation.

Before long, Xiao Yu, drenched in sweat, caught up, “Minister Xun, please wait.”

Xun Yunhe stopped and turned to greet the panting Xiao Yu with a bow, “Minister, what is it?”

Xiao Yu wiped his forehead and glanced back at Fengtian Hall, asking Xun Yunhe anxiously, “Minister Xun, Minister Shi is determined to thoroughly investigate the case, but today, Senior Minister Yan suddenly said to stop the investigation. I really don’t know what to do.”

Xun Yunhe smiled at him, “Minister, do you really not know what to do?”

Or is it just that you don’t know which side to lean towards?

Xiao Yu’s thoughts were seen through, and he looked embarrassed.

Xun Yunhe didn’t expose him but gently said, “Minister Xiao, follow the one who sits above.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yu looked at him deeply, “True, then what does His Majesty mean?”

Xun Yunhe’s expression was indifferent, “Think about it, Minister Xiao. What was His Majesty’s attitude when you said you wanted to investigate thoroughly?”

The Emperor interrupted him.

Xiao Yu was taken aback, immediately understanding the implications. He quickly bowed deeply to Xun Yunhe, “Thank you for your guidance, Yunhe.”

Despite being older than Xun Yunhe, Xiao Yu paid him this great respect, showing his admiration and trust.

Xun Yunhe just returned a slight bow and then left.

That night, Xun Yunhe was on duty in the cabinet. He brought some prepared documents to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and also greeted the Emperor.

In fact, whenever Xun Yunhe was on night duty, the Emperor and he would have long conversations, and this time was no exception.

When Xun Yunhe entered, the Emperor was sitting under the east window on a Luohan bed, wearing an old robe and drinking soup. Seeing Xun Yunhe enter, his face softened a bit, and he raised his sleeve, signaling the young attendant to pour a bowl for him.

Xun Yunhe glanced at the goji berry and ginseng soup and raised his sleeve to decline politely, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I do not drink this.”

The Emperor looked down at the white porcelain bowl with a piece of red ginseng at the bottom and slowly understood, “I forgot, I’ve heard you never drink tonic soups.”

Xun Yunhe smiled and acknowledged, then sat down on the embroidered stool opposite the Emperor.

The Emperor looked at Xun Yunhe’s elegant and handsome face and suddenly sighed. “Among so many ministers in the court, all of whom preach the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, you, Xun Qing, are the only true gentleman.”

Xun Yunhe was a highly self-disciplined person. He did not drink alcohol, take concubines, or drink ginseng soup; he focused on self-cultivation. More importantly, he did not form factions or show favoritism, and he maintained integrity in his family and the court, embodying the Confucian principles deeply.

This was exactly the kind of assistant the Emperor wanted.

Hearing this, Xun Yunhe’s eyes flashed with a hint of bitterness, and he lowered his gaze slightly, “I am not worthy of being called a ‘gentleman.'”

The Emperor took his humility lightly and rubbed his temples, sighing several times.

Xun Yunhe glanced at the Emperor’s attire and understood that it was an old robe. He did not know how old it was but guessed it was related to the late Empress Zhang Xiaohui.

“Xun Qing, do you think I am a failure as a father?” the Emperor suddenly asked.

Xun Yunhe was slightly taken aback, “Why would Your Majesty say such a thing? You have many outstanding princes; if you are not a good father, then who is?”

“Don’t try to comfort me,” the Emperor said, half disappointed and half self-mocking. “The Crown Prince lost his mother at a young age, and I personally raised him. After all these years, he turned out this way.”

“Do you know? I don’t want to kill him. It’s not just that I can’t bear to; I’m also afraid of wronging him.”

Xun Yunhe naturally understood the Emperor’s concerns. He placed his hands on his knees, his gaze lowered slightly, “Your Majesty, you are both a ruler and a father. Choosing between the two is a painful dilemma. I understand.”

With these words, Xun Yunhe had already expressed his stance.

However, the Emperor thought he had only grasped the surface and hadn’t understood the deeper meaning.

“No, you don’t understand…” The Emperor leaned against the cushion, his eyes drifting towards the dark window lattice. His vision suddenly blurred, as if he saw a familiar shadow on the colorful stained glass.

“You don’t understand… the pain of losing a child…”

Xun Yunhe’s shoulders suddenly trembled as if he was pinned in place, his whole body stiffening.

The Emperor, lost in his thoughts, didn’t notice Xun Yunhe’s reaction,

“Thirty years ago, I had a lovely princess. She was just ten years old, the only daughter of the late Empress, and my only legitimate princess. In that year, she suddenly had a heart attack and died in my arms. Before she died, she held my hand and asked me to take good care of the Crown Prince…”

Unknowingly, the Emperor’s eyes turned red, but he quickly remembered something, a trace of hatred flashing in his eyes as he stared at Xun Yunhe, “She didn’t have to die, but that scoundrel killed her!”

Xun Yunhe didn’t hear the latter part of the Emperor’s words. His hands slid off his knees, trembling, his pupils contracting deeply and slowly filling with a bloody mist, “How could I not understand… I understand better than anyone.” He spoke each word as if drained of life.

Only then did the Emperor notice the trembling in his voice, and saw the intertwining pain and guilt on his handsome face, “Minister Xun, what’s wrong with you?”

Xun Yunhe raised his eyes, the void in them resembling an abyss that could never be filled, “Your Majesty, I, too, once had a lively and adorable daughter. She died in an epidemic.”