Chapter 60: More Details

The panicked horses were brought under control. The woman in light-colored clothes helped the young woman in the carriage, whose face had gone pale with fright, down from the carriage, spoke a few comforting words to her, and when she looked back, the man who had helped her stop the horses was nowhere to be seen.

That man was Rong Tai, who at this moment was already upstairs at a teahouse with Fang Rui.

In the stairwell, Fang Rui’s eyes showed a hint of thoughtfulness. The woman from earlier was someone he hadn’t seen for three years, but he still remembered her.

The woman was none other than Ajiu, the ninth princess of the Lou royal family in Dali.

In his previous life he no longer recalled how Rong Tai and Lou Ajiu had met. He only remembered that the last time Lou Ajiu left the capital, she said one sentence to Rong Tai, one that not only he knew about, but the whole capital had heard about.

“If you do not marry me, I, Ajiu will never wed in this life!” she had declared on the streets of Jindu, wearing the attire of a Dali princess and already serving as head of the Department of Prudence in her land. Many in the capital knew what Rong Tai looked like, so Lou Ajiu’s declaration spread through Jindu like a hot oil explosion.

The Dali princess, who held military power, had countless suitors, yet this extraordinary princess, remarkable even in taste, had set her sights on a eunuch, someone who could never be a proper husband!

Before Lou Ajiu publicly confessed to Rong Tai in the capital, she had asked Fang Rui for permission, plainly telling him that in this life she would either marry Rong Tai or remain in Dali for the rest of her days.

Even Fang Rui told Lou Ajiu that if Rong Tai was willing he would not stand in the way, yet Rong Tai still did not accept Lou Ajiu. So, in the end she led troops back to Dali, and while Fang Rui was alive, he never heard news of her marriage.

Fang Rui could tell that Rong Tai, who had not accepted Lou Ajiu, had in fact been interested in her, but had hesitated because of his social standing.

In this life, Fang Rui felt he did not want regrets, nor did he want Rong Tai to have regrets.

Rong Tai had been the one who had stayed by his side the longest in his previous life. This eunuch had grown up with him and Fang Rui considered him more a friend than a servant.

Walking ahead, he said, “Rong Tai, don’t you think that woman just now doesn’t seem local?”

Rong Tai paused slightly, recalled a bit, and agreed, “Indeed, she doesn’t seem to be from around here. There was a heroic air in her brows, and the boldness to leap onto the carriage. If she’s not someone from the jianghu, it’s hard to say what her identity is.”

Fang Rui nodded. Rong Tai’s suspicion pleased him.

“Go tail that woman now and investigate who she really is. If there’s nothing suspicious, forget it. I’m just afraid that with the east side of the country recently changing hands they’ll immediately turn their attention to Great Qi.”

When Fang Rui finished, Rong Tai answered “Yes, Your Majesty,” went downstairs, and hurried out of the teahouse.

Watching Rong Tai’s retreating figure, Fang Rui smiled with interest. Rong Tai was skilled, but he remembered that Lou Ajiu’s skill was on par with Rong Tai’s, so it would be hard for Rong Tai to tail her without being noticed.

If a fight broke out, so much the better.

He went up to the private room and opened the door. When Fang Rui entered, Gu Changqing and Shen Yu both turned, and after Fang Rui closed the door they bowed. “We pay our respects to Your Majesty.”

Fang Rui waved his hand. “No need for formalities. Sit down, business first.”

Once seated, though Shen Yu and Fang Rui had met countless times before, with a third person present Fang Rui reverted to the lofty, imperial posture.

His eyes swept over Shen Yu and landed on Gu Changqing. “Minister Gu, what have you uncovered these past days?”

Upon Fang Rui’s question, Shen Yu already knew why she had been summoned. She had noticed irregularities in the court and had asked Fang Rui at the Court of Judicial Review, and he had promised to find a time to tell her everything.

Gu Changqing glanced at Fang Rui and then at Shen Yu. Knowing Shen Yu was present showed Fang Rui’s great trust in her. Without hesitation, Gu Changqing recounted his findings, “When I first investigated I repeatedly found a lead, but when I dug deeper the lead was cut off. Nothing came of it until after the case of the corpse submerged in the lake outside the Department of Prudence. Then I discovered that the ministers involved had close ties to Minister Wang, so I followed that trail and found…”

Hearing that these ministers were closely connected with Wang Zhongyuan, Shen Yu showed surprise. From the unfinished remainder of Gu Changqing’s words she suddenly felt those involved must be significant figures.

Gu Changqing abruptly rose, walked to the side of the chair, cupped his hands toward Fang Rui and said, “Your Majesty, what I am about to say may be extremely disrespectful, but please hear me out patiently.”

Fang Rui had already guessed what Gu Changqing would say and showed no surprise. Calmly he lifted the teapot, filled all three cups, and said without hurry, “Go ahead, speak freely.”

Gu Changqing hesitated slightly, then said, “I have discovered that the Empress Dowager has been secretly… drilling troops.”

Shen Yu’s eyes widened and she looked at Fang Rui, whose expression remained unchanged. Seeing Fang Rui’s face, Gu Changqing showed a puzzled look. “Your Majesty… you already know about this?”

Fang Rui set down the teapot, lifted his gaze to Gu Changqing, and calmly countered, “Otherwise, how do you think Chen Chi was exposed?”

Both Gu Changqing and Shen Yu showed surprise. If the Chen Chi case was the start, then… did Lu Shangqing and Song Zhe’s investigations also involve His Majesty?

Sensing their puzzlement, Fang Rui picked up a cup, sipped, and said, “The reason Chen Chi turned Lu Shangqing over was because I promised mercy, spared him, and saved his wife and children.”

“Chen Chi isn’t dead?!” Gu Changqing asked.

“I let him leave the frontier and told him that he may never set foot in Great Qi again in this life. I spared him, and he told me everything. I did not force him to expose the Empress Dowager. I had him name Lu Shangqing instead. Dealing with one man first is far easier than taking on half the court, and my goal was merely to undermine their trust.”

Gu Changqing and Shen Yu exchanged looks. Neither had expected the emperor to have this move up his sleeve, nor that he had known for so long.

“On the matter of the Empress Dowager, I have already made my move. The Eastern Depot was established to suppress the Wang clan’s arrogance and from now on its methods will be ruthless, but only against the guilty. I want both of you to act as if you saw nothing. Also, quietly warn the conservative ministers, I fear they may defy me as well.”

Because of his trust in Rong Tai, Fang Rui had appointed Rong Tai as military commissioner of the Eastern Depot and advised him, “Be harsher, bloodier if needed. It’s best that when you are later appointed head of the Department of Prudence, no one dares oppose you and instead congratulates you.”

Now, without strong methods, how could the Wang clan be suppressed in court?

The two answered in unison, “We both know what to do.”

They then discussed some upcoming actions and Fang Rui sent Gu Changqing on his way, saying there were further matters to explain to Shen Yu.

When Shen Yu heard that Fang Rui had more to tell her, she did not believe it.

When Gu Changqing took his leave, Fang Rui still wore the imperial demeanor, lips slightly pursed. A proud, unapproachable air.

But as soon as Gu Changqing closed the door behind him, Fang Rui’s expression changed faster than turning a page. He flashed a smile at Shen Yu, picked up the teapot, refilled her cup, and said, “Ah Yu, the vermilion hairpin I gave you, do you like it?”

Faced with the emperor’s sudden change of expression, Shen Yu was speechless.

Shen Yu suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at Fang Rui, lowered her gaze slightly, and said, “Your Majesty, I am truly pleased with the vermilion hairpin you gifted me.”

“I’m glad you like it. If you wish, I can send you more,” Fang Rui said as if he would empty the imperial treasury to give Shen Yu the pearls of the East Sea or the jades of Tianshan.

Fang Rui’s shift from imperial aloofness to a playful rascal utterly upended Shen Yu’s sense of him.

“I thank Your Majesty, but the vermilion hairpin is merely one of my stored possessions. Gifting it to me is a waste,” Shen Yu said politely, though her meaning was blunt: don’t give me more, because even if you do they’ll just sit at the bottom of my cupboards.

“Perhaps in the future they will be more than mere stored possessions,” Fang Rui said, pushing the filled teacup in front of Shen Yu with a faint smile on his lips.

Fang Rui realized that having his identity exposed actually had advantages: he no longer needed to worry about Shen Yu noticing inconsistencies, nor did he need another persona to get close to her. Given what they’d already gone through earlier on, even after being discovered he was still able to approach her.

Shen Yu fell silent, not because she didn’t want to speak, but because she didn’t know how to respond to Fang Rui’s words.

After a long silence, Shen Yu finally asked, “Your Majesty, regarding the Empress Dowager…are you not saddened by this?”

Shen Yu saw not a trace of grief on Fang Rui’s face.

At her words, Fang Rui suddenly laughed helplessly. “My time for sorrow has passed, and the Empress Dowager is not worth my pity. Ah Yu, tell me, what mother in the world would poison her own son?”

When Fang Rui finished speaking, Shen Yu abruptly lifted her head and stared at him in utter shock.

Footsteps sounded outside the room, and Fang Rui said, “Rong Tai has returned.”

Fang Rui said no more. A moment later Rong Tai knocked and entered. His clothes were perfectly in order, but his expression was… somewhat ill at ease.

Fang Rui asked, “Were you discovered?”

Rong Tai nodded with a touch of embarrassment.

“And the person?”

Rong Tai hung his head guiltily. “Your Majesty, the person ran off.”

Fang Rui squinted slightly. “Why do I feel like you were the one who ran?”

“Cough, cough, cough!” Rong Tai coughed several times violently.

Shen Yu, still stunned, was pulled back to the moment by Rong Tai’s coughing. She gave Fang Rui a look full of mixed meaning and sighed softly.

Fang Rui read something in Rong Tai’s expression but did not expose it. Instead he turned to Shen Yu and said, “It’s late, I’ll return to the palace now.” After a pause he added the words, “See you soon.”

Shen Yu’s thoughts were scattered and she did not probe the meaning of “see you soon”. She rose to escort Fang Rui, “Your subject sees Your Majesty out.”

Fang Rui left the teahouse first with Rong Tai close behind. Rong Tai’s face was peculiar as he raised the hand that looked as if it were grasping onto something and tried to straighten his fingers, but they remained stiff and claw-like…

It had really been a slip of the hand, but the problem was that the other person didn’t believe him.