Wu Shilang’s plan to have Yan Song discipline his grandson fell through. Wu Ying successfully overcame his tribulations and invited his benefactor to Zhifang Building for a card game on a good day.
Zhifang Building was on the way to Shuntianmen Street, so Yan Dong went there. The stewardess personally came to greet him and led Yan Dong to a private room upstairs. Just a door away, the sound of a guqin played leisurely. The guards saluted and opened the door. Yan Dong walked past a twelve-panel beauty screen and saw that he was the last to arrive. Besides Wu Ying, the Fifth Prince and Yu Zhaoying were already at the table.
After taking his seat, Yan Dong teased the others, “The Second and Third Princes are busy with official duties, yet here you are playing cards with us. By tomorrow, there will be memorials on the imperial desk criticizing you.”
“Criticize all they want, it won’t take a piece of meat off me,” the Fifth Prince said with a sly smile as he shuffled the cards. “Besides, you didn’t see me when I was handling official business.”
This guy smiled like a fox, not someone to be trifled with, and his words weren’t exactly kind.
The tea was exquisite, a golden jade blend, with a clear yellow hue. Yan Dong took a sip and said leisurely, “Just make sure I don’t see it.”
Yu Zhaoying chuckled, “Everyone’s here, let’s start the game.”
The cards were made of amber, a translucent water-red, pleasing to the eye and comfortable to touch. Yan Dong held a hand warmer in one hand and skillfully arranged his cards with the other. He had learned to play cards from his cousin from the Cui family, and his card skills were top-notch, capable of dominating any table.
“What lousy cards, go away!” After losing three rounds in a row, Wu Ying was a bit annoyed, blaming the guqin for not being smooth enough, the fragrance for not being soothing enough, and the cards for being too bad, but never blaming his own poor card skills. He was always the shrimp on the table, ready to be eaten by others.
Yan Dong had come empty-handed, but now there was already a small stack of chips on the tray. He sighed, “Playing with you is really no fun.”
“The master is right in front of you, Ruochong, why don’t you just bow and become his disciple?” Yu Zhaoying teased.
“No way,” Yan Dong said sarcastically, “Do you think I’m a junk collector? I have standards for accepting disciples.”
Wu Ying scratched his head and insisted that all his talent was in music, so it was understandable if he was mediocre in other areas.
This wasn’t really boasting. Wu Ying was a dashing and handsome young man, skilled in playing and composing music, thriving in music halls and dance houses, and even at palace banquets, he could perform with such flair that he won applause from everyone.
The Fifth Prince teased, “No wonder you grabbed a guqin pendant at your first birthday banquet among so many toys. It’s like it was destined.”
Yan Dong, bored, played with the dominoes and laughed at this. By that logic, since he grabbed his elder brother, it meant he was destined to have a lifelong brotherly bond.
Thinking of Yan Song, Yan Dong called someone in, “What time is it?”
“It’s the second quarter of the Shen hour.” Xia Hui came in from behind the screen and stood behind Yu Zhaoying, followed by Xi Wang.
Xi Wang placed candied kumquats next to the Fifth Prince. Wu Ying tried one, found it too sweet, and quickly drank half a cup of tea to wash it down. “You’ve only been here a short while and already want to leave?” He urged the other two, “Look, Young Master Yan doesn’t want to play with us.”
“Don’t be like that, I’m just worried about the time. I still have to pick up my brother from work later.” Yan Dong urged Yu Zhaoying to play a card, and inadvertently glanced at Xia Hui behind him, still in his neat attire, but with a faint bite mark visible on the left side of his collarbone.
“Which dog bit you?” Yan Dong was a bit curious. With Xia Hui’s martial skills, it shouldn’t be possible, right? What kind of dog saint was so formidable?
Xia Hui met the three pairs of eyes staring at him, paused, and then realized what Yan Dong was talking about. He quickly pulled his collar and smiled, “Forgive me, Young Master, the dog’s head didn’t have a name written on it.”
Yan Dong said “Oh,” but then heard Wu Ying snicker, “Xia Hui, daring to fool our Young Master Yan, you’re not being honest.”
Instantly, the Fifth Prince laughed, and Yu Zhaoying laughed too.
Yan Dong was puzzled, “Am I that funny?”
“Not funny,” Xia Hui said with a smile, “Just worried about leading the young master astray.”
Yan Dong was even more confused. He glanced at the winking Wu Ying and read two words from his eyes: ambiguous. Finally, he realized, it wasn’t a dog bite, it was a human bite.
In front of others, Yan Dong didn’t look at Yu Zhaoying, just glared at Xia Hui, “You’re not being honest!”
Xia Hui stepped forward to offer tea as an apology, “I was wrong, Young Master, please forgive me this once.”
Yan Dong arrogantly sipped the tea, reluctantly forgiving him. Xia Hui thanked him with a smile, set down the teacup, and returned to stand behind Yu Zhaoying.
Yan Dong had said he would pick up Yan Song from work, and as the sun set, the card game ended. The other three went to a restaurant without him. He arrived at the Court of Justice, where Yan Song was in the office, but he was in a meeting and couldn’t be seen for the time being.
A black eagle perched on a carved iron frame in the corridor, flapped its wings when it saw Yan Dong, circled him once, and tried to land on his head, only to be punched away by him.
Ren Qi, standing nearby, laughed, “Moguan usually only gets close to the master and the falconer, but it seems to like you too, Young Master.”
In a good mood, Yan Dong fed Moguan some meat and strolled along the corridor. At the corner, there was a pot of camellias, red and white, and he stopped to admire them for a moment, saying, “Red agate, nice quality, but not blooming well enough.”
“I’ve heard that you have two red camellias in your courtyard, blooming so profusely that they cover the eaves and walls, like a fiery blaze, well taken care of,” Ren Qi said. “If this pot catches your eye, why not take it back and care for it?”
“Oh,” Yan Dong glanced at Ren Qi, “Does the Chief Clerk also like to grow flowers?”
Ren Qi, embarrassed, said, “I try to be cultured but lack the knack, making a fool of myself. But meeting you today is this flower’s lucky break.”
Yan Dong realized that this flower was placed here specifically for him.
Previously, Yan Song had unexpectedly exposed Ren Qi’s identity. At the time, due to a letter from the Yan family, Yan Song had no interest in pursuing the matter. But now that some time had passed, and they saw each other daily, Yan Song never brought it up again, as if he had forgotten. This made Ren Qi even more anxious, feeling uneasy from the moment he left for work each day, wishing he could just go to Yan Song and get it over with!
Yan Song was not an easy superior to please, so Ren Qi could only “borrow strength to fight strength,” and there was no stronger “strength” than Young Master Yan.
Seeing Yan Dong not speaking, Ren Qi felt a bit nervous and added, “With the year-end approaching, I wanted to prepare a small gift for the master to express my gratitude for his nurturing and kindness, but I really don’t know what to give. I’m afraid that giving the wrong thing might displease him. Some time ago in Luzhou, I noticed the master seemed to have a fondness for red camellias. I also heard about the two red camellias in your courtyard at Lord Li’s peony gathering, so I boldly prepared this flower, hoping to ‘cater to his preferences,’ right?”
“I get it,” Yan Dong pointed at Ren Qi, “The Chief Clerk is trying to win me over first, so I can help you curry favor with the superior?”
“Young Master has seen all kinds of treasures, how could a pot of flowers win you over?” Ren Qi smiled apologetically, “But there’s a saying, ‘Love me, love my dog.’ If you like this flower, maybe the master will also appreciate it a bit.”
The Chief Clerk’s metaphor was straightforward, but Yan Dong wasn’t sure if this person was Yan Song’s confidant, so he couldn’t easily agree. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a voice behind him:
“If you like it, take it.” Yan Song walked up to Yan Dong, glanced at the agate camellia, “It’s a nice one, the Chief Clerk chose well.”
Yan Dong said, “Then thank you, Chief Clerk. I’ll take it with me later.”
Ren Qi dared not accept the thanks and said a few more polite words before leaving.
Yan Song watched the retreating figure, then turned to embrace Yan Dong, looking down at him. Yan Dong blinked and looked up at him, appearing very obedient.
Yan Song smiled, “Where did you come from?”
Yan Dong truthfully recounted, feeling quite proud, “That fool Wu Ruochong lost eight hundred taels to me.”
“Impressive,” Yan Song praised without reservation, “So what brings the little tycoon here now?”
Yan Dong said that one should not forget their roots, and even after becoming successful, he should still come to pick up his brother from work.
The little rascal was very endearing when he was obedient, and Yan Song, in a good mood, followed Yan Dong home after work.
Meanwhile, in the Wen Zheng Building, Clerk Qiu was carrying a stack of documents into the study, only to find it empty. He put down the documents and went out to ask, “Did the master go out on business?”
The guards in the corridor shook their heads, “He was picked up by the young master and went home.”
“Is there something urgent at the Duke’s residence?”
“No, he just went home,” the guard said. “The young master came, and the master left with him—it’s that simple.”
Clerk Qiu stood there, recalling how the master had instructed him to organize the documents for review, claiming they needed to be dealt with today, and he understood.
The master was skipping work!
Not exactly skipping work, just not staying at the office tonight, instead handling matters at home. Yan Song got into the carriage, and after Yan Dong boarded, he leaned over, covering half his face, and whispered mysteriously, “I’ve discovered something recently, about Yu’er.”
Yan Song took out a packet of plum candy from the cabinet, fed Yan Dong a piece, and put it back, “What is it?”
Yan Dong’s tongue rolled the candy, puffing up his left cheek. He whispered, “He and Xia Hui aren’t clear-cut, they’re doing that kind of thing.”
Being so close, Yan Song could smell the sweet and sour scent of the plum candy as Yan Dong spoke. He looked down at the little thief-like Yan Dong, “Do you have any thoughts?”
Yan Dong’s expression was conflicted, with a hint of secretive shyness, “Is doing that kind of thing really that enjoyable?”
Yan Song: “.”
He eyed Yan Dong, “Are you very curious?”
“A little,” Yan Dong admitted honestly, “You didn’t let the room affairs nanny teach me, so I still don’t know how to do that kind of thing.”
“Oh,” Yan Song said with a half-smile, “Are you blaming your brother for being too strict with you?”
“Not at all,” Yan Dong shook his head three times to show his absolute obedience to his brother, “I’m just a bit curious. That bastard Wu Ruochong often mocks me, even calling me a little chick! Now Yu’er is also indulging in it…”
“Curiosity is fine, but don’t learn from your friends recklessly. As for whether it’s enjoyable,” Yan Song said seriously, “I don’t know either, but based on current understanding, whether it’s enjoyable depends on the relationship, skills, and depth of compatibility between both parties.”
Yan Dong seemed to understand, “Oh… it sounds a bit complicated.”
“Alright, stop thinking about things that aren’t happening,” Yan Song tapped Yan Dong’s forehead with his finger, knocking away his wild thoughts, “I was actually asking about your thoughts on Yu Zhaoying and Xia Hui’s relationship.”
“At first, I was shocked, then a bit puzzled,” Yan Dong said. “Yu Da and Li Haiyue’s marriage is well-matched, with mutual connections, but Yu’er and Xia Hui… I don’t look down on Xia Hui’s background, but if this matter gets out, won’t Yu’er miss out on the heir position?”
“Silly child.” Yan Song’s hand itched, and he couldn’t help but pinch Yan Dong’s cheek, speaking softly, “The Yu family and Anxin Marquis Residence’s marriage has its pros and cons. They’re caught between the Second and Fifth Princes, in a difficult position. As for Yu Zhaoying, if he and Xia Hui are truly inseparable, then it would indeed be a handle for others. But if it’s just for nighttime entertainment, then it’s like visiting a brothel or keeping a boy toy, nothing major.”
Yan Dong understood this, but there was still something he didn’t get, “But they’re master and servant who’ve been together since childhood, with a unique bond. If Yu’er is just seeking to relieve desires, why specifically choose Xia Hui? If they clear up this relationship in the future, can they really remain unburdened and as before?”
Hearing this, Yan Song lowered his eyes slightly, but Yan Dong was too busy worrying to notice.
*
After work, Yan Zong returned to the Hall of the Imperial Guards. His personal guard, Duan Qiu, was waiting in the main hall and followed him into the west hall when he entered.
With guards outside, Duan Qiu said after entering, “The person you had us watch has made a move. He went to Zhifang Building.”
Yan Zong raised an eyebrow, “To listen to music?”
“No, he was loitering outside the building and today he connected with the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites and Du, entering the building together,” Duan Qiu said.
Nowadays, many people were looking for Song Fengmian, yet he went to Zhifang Building. Not only was he bold, but the matter was also worth pondering.
Yan Zong placed his sword on the rack, turned, and sat on the northern official hat chair by the window. The twilight cast a sharp light on his overly handsome face.
Duan Qiu, feeling a bit guilty, rubbed the hilt of his sword, “This person was brought back by the heir. We’re secretly investigating him, but what about the heir?”
“He’s still under the watchful eye of the elder brother. What he did today was either with the elder brother’s tacit approval or at his behest. But where does the elder brother intend to place this restless chess piece?” Yan Zong tapped the window, summoning a trusted aide, and whispered a few instructions, “Go.”
“By the way, not only are we investigating this person, but another party is also keeping a close watch, and it’s…” Duan Qiu winked, “an old acquaintance.”
Yan Zong laughed, “Little ancestor, truly not honest!”