Xiao Jingchuan: Butterflies, hehehe, eat butterflies…
Xiao Jingchuan straightened his collar and strode confidently out of the gloomy prison cell.
It was clear that Xiao Si had spoken to the guards here when he arrived, as they had become much more courteous, each stepping forward to address him as “Sixth Prince” while guiding the way. Relying on his current persona as a fool, Xiao Jingchuan paid them no mind, simply walking ahead on his own.
Of course, as he passed by the small stoves some guards had set up for themselves, he casually took all the few remaining meat buns, leaving none behind.
Xiao Jingchuan swallowed the buns in two or three bites, thinking to himself that they were nowhere near as good as Jun Youcheng’s cooking.
Although Jun Youcheng, who came from a prestigious noble family, was the most “orthodox” among the four of them, he was also the best cook.
Xiao Jingchuan clicked his tongue twice, his wandering thoughts pulled back by the flattery of the surrounding guards, and he resumed his foolish, grinning expression.
“Sixth Prince! Take care on your way, Sixth Prince!”
The palace eunuchs were already waiting outside with the carriage prepared for his return to the palace. Xiao Jingchuan said nothing and ignored the shouts chasing after him from behind. Maintaining his smile, he climbed into the carriage and then rubbed the corners of his mouth.
Smiling all the time was truly exhausting.
Xiao Jingchuan wondered how Jun Youcheng managed it.
Jinling City, Chen Manor.
The guest who stepped out of the carriage wore a bamboo hat, its long veil concealing his face and hair. The servant boy at the entrance of Chen Manor went to assist him but was shocked to discover…
A strong scent of blood emanated from the guest.
The servant boy’s eyes widened, his fingers trembling so violently that he nearly collapsed in front of the mysterious guest. Fortunately, the guest reacted quickly, reaching out to steady him, or he would have truly fallen to kiss the ground.
“Are you alright?”
The guest’s voice was also pleasant, smooth as flowing spring water, but the servant boy trembled even more.
Because this act of assistance allowed him to see the guest’s attire clearly—the red clothing was not its original color. The guest’s clothes were completely stained with blood!
Blood… it was all blood, such a massive amount of bleeding…
The servant boy’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.
Jun Youcheng: …? A show of force from Chen Manor? Provoking me?
Just as he began to ponder, he saw the servant boy’s two companions rush forward from behind, dragging him away while bowing and apologizing profusely. It seemed this wasn’t directed at him.
Only then did Jun Youcheng belatedly realize he was still covered in blood. It probably wasn’t the servant boy’s fault.
“Young Master Jun, please come in. After changing your clothes, my master awaits you in the inner courtyard.”
Jun Youcheng did not refuse. In truth, he had already found it somewhat unbearable back in the Imperial Prison.
When he arrived at the inner courtyard guided by the servant boy, someone was already waiting there.
The courtyard of Chen Manor bore the distinctive features of Suzhou-style gardens, with shifting scenery at every step and many beautiful apricot blossoms planted, red and white intermingling, creating a stunning sight.
This small courtyard was half-encircled by apricot blossoms, with both its entrance and exit marked by a moon gate exquisitely carved with wheat ears.
In the pavilion overlooking the winding stream at the center of the courtyard, a middle-aged man in casual attire sat, pouring wine for himself.
“Ah, it’s Youcheng! Come quickly, take a seat, make yourself at home. No need to stand on ceremony.”
Hearing Jun Youcheng’s footsteps, he turned around with a smile and beckoned him over.
Jun Youcheng did not move.
The other man still wore the Capital Granary grain transfer token at his waist, and in the current Nan Qian, there was only one person who could obtain the Capital Granary transfer token.
Chen Su, Minister of Revenue, and Jun He, Minister of Personnel, had passed the imperial examination in the same year and served as officials during the same period. Indeed, he could speak to “Jun Youcheng” in such a manner.
Jun Youcheng was actually quite surprised. He had not expected the other side to directly send such a heavyweight figure for negotiations. Who in their right mind would play their trump card right from the start?
It seemed the Crown Prince’s Faction was more anxious than he had imagined.
Indeed, the First Prince was clearly the Crown Prince, but his mother had been caught up in the chaos following the Yumen Pass Rebellion and died early in the turmoil. As the Third Prince began to shine brilliantly in court, proposing several new policies in succession that were adopted, Emperor Yunqi’s attitude gradually grew ambiguous, repeatedly choosing to support the Third Prince’s opinions over the Crown Prince’s. They truly could no longer afford to sit idle.
In that case, this matter would be easier to negotiate.
Jun Youcheng thought to himself.
“Right Minister? What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming over?”
Chen Su still wore the gentle demeanor of an elder, looking at Jun Youcheng with concern, as if he truly regarded Jun Youcheng as the orphaned child of his old friend to care for.
If the original Jun Youcheng were still in this body, he might have been deceived by this frequently visiting uncle-like figure. Unfortunately, Jun Youcheng had long passed the age where he could be fooled by such clumsy acting.
Chen Su could not even be bothered to let the gentle smile reach his eyes. The performance was too crude.
Thus, Jun Youcheng took a few steps forward, stopping before Chen Su, then bowed with hands clasped.
“Uncle—!”
His voice was mournful and hoarse.
“Your nephew’s father has been wronged! I beg Uncle to enlighten me and show me the way forward. I will spare no effort, even at the cost of my life, to repay this kindness!”
Jun Youcheng’s voice was not loud—not a heart-wrenching, hysterical shout—but each word was still infused with utmost sincerity.
These words were not entirely an act. The Jun Family’s traditions were extremely strict, and Jun He was a model of strict self-discipline and leniency toward others. In “Jun Youcheng’s” memories, his father had always been an incorruptible official who pleaded for the people’s welfare, remaining clean-handed throughout his life. Even the size of his residence was only a fraction of that of the Chen Manor for officials of the same rank. On every day off, he would personally cook porridge to distribute to refugees.
For decades, this had never ceased.
Such a clean official had died in the Great Hall under false charges of corruption. Jun Youcheng could not help but feel… a sense of shared sorrow.
Moreover, in a way, Jun He was also his descendant.
Chen Su was somewhat surprised to see Jun Youcheng take such initiative. He had originally thought that this nephew, whose name resembled that of the founding prime minister but was truly hopelessly incompetent, would need further encouragement to stand up and avenge his father. He had not expected such backbone this time.
It seemed he had underestimated the motivating power of hatred, but… this was a good thing.
A calculating glint flashed in Chen Su’s eyes.
Since Jun Youcheng had spoken first, all was well.
Chen Su squeezed out two tears of uncertain authenticity from his eyes. He stepped forward, helped Jun Youcheng up, and let his gaze fall upon the winding stream outside: “Worthy nephew, at the Apricot Blossom Banquet in the twelfth year of Daqing, your father and I plucked golden osmanthus together and drank by the Qujiang River—you were still babbling as a child then. In this world, if one were to speak of your father’s ‘bamboo-like integrity and plum-like character,’ who besides me, Chen Su, would dare claim to understand him?”
His words were spoken with great sincerity: “You should also be aware of the situation at court. The Third Prince is arrogant and domineering, to the point where he won’t even spare Brother Jun He now. Unfortunately, his influence has grown so much that even the one in the Eastern Palace has to temporarily avoid his sharp edge…”
Now, the court situation has formed a standoff between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince, and Chen Su is a staunch member of the Crown Prince’s Faction, which is no secret throughout Nan Qian.
Jun Youcheng, however, simply looked at him with those frighteningly bright eyes: “If I can clear my father’s name, I am willing to do anything.”
Let’s just get this useless process over with, Jun Youcheng thought. He was still in a hurry to rescue His Majesty. He wondered if His Majesty was eating well in prison. The Imperial Prison shouldn’t starve people to death, right?
…Well, at least not under his management, but the current one was hard to say.
Chen Su had been waiting for these very words. He patted Jun Youcheng on the shoulder, feeling that this nephew was very much to his liking today. “Good! Truly worthy of being Brother Jun’s son, carrying the Jun Family’s integrity. But the Third Prince has deep roots and infiltrates everywhere. We must plan carefully.”
Jun Youcheng obediently lowered his head. “This nephew is truly ignorant. Please, Uncle, show me the way.”
Chen Su, however, revealed a meaningful smile. “A tree may be large with deep roots, but water can break it. As long as the water has problems, the tree won’t live long either.”
Jun Youcheng pondered deeply. Water… He remembered Jun He’s charges were based on a large number of letters and evidence found by the Black Dragon Guards from the corrupt Jiangnan Inspector—Xu Lang, a protégé of the Jun Family.
Chen Su smiled as he looked at Jun Youcheng. “Nephew, don’t let me down. The reputations and lives of over thirty members of the Jun Family now rest on your shoulders.”
Aside from Jun He and the Jun Family members directly killed by the Black Dragon Guards on the day of the confiscation, over thirty people from the Jun Residence were still imprisoned in the Imperial Prison awaiting judgment. Chen Su’s words were not only a reminder but also a warning.
Whether it was the Crown Prince or the Third Prince, those thirty-some people could easily be killed by any faction at will.
Jun Youcheng lowered his gaze. “This nephew understands. I will follow your instructions.”
As long as he could get close to Xiao Jingchuan, he would endure it. But…
Daring to threaten me… just you wait, old man!
Jinling City, Qian Palace.
Xiao Jingchuan returned to Qian Palace with his head held high and his chest out, remaining so professional that he was completely Out Of Character. The foolish grin on his face grew brighter and brighter, seeming less like an act and more like genuine emotion.
The Sixth Prince’s palace was very remote, located in the southwest corner of Jinling’s New Qian Palace. It was close to the imperial kitchens but still some distance away. The New Qian Palace was basically built one-to-one according to the old capital’s Weiyang Palace. The interlocking vermilion eaves and familiar streets made Xiao Jingchuan feel as if a lifetime had passed.
As he walked beside a magnificent palace wall, he looked up and saw the splendid procession belonging only to the Son of Heaven.
Emperor Yunqi had finished handling state affairs and left Yunxing Hall, leading a grand entourage to an unknown destination.
Seeing that they were about to pass along the main road in front of them, the little eunuch who had been guiding Xiao Jingchuan hurriedly and nervously pulled him aside to bow his head in respect.
Of course, it was the Sixth Prince who performed the bow—he knelt.
Xiao Jingchuan gritted his teeth. This cheap father-figure nearly had Dian Cui refined, yet he still paraded around so arrogantly. This was absolutely intolerable—
Unfortunately, when under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head. Killing Emperor Yunqi now would not lead to a coup and would be utterly meaningless. He could only lean to the side as guided by the young eunuch, remaining silent and still.
Seated on the palanquin, Emperor Yunqi suddenly raised his head, sensing a faint, elusive trace of murderous intent.
…? Could there be an assassin?
But ever since Qian Taizu was assassinated in the 13th year of Zhengxing, the defenses of Qian Palace had tightened significantly, with the covert protection of the Black Dragon Guards in the shadows. Who would dare to attempt an assassination of the sovereign in broad daylight?
Emperor Yunqi narrowed his eyes, but his peripheral vision caught sight of Xiao Chuan standing with his head bowed by the roadside.
The youth had slightly curly black hair, half tied into a neat bun secured by an exquisite silver Diting-patterned hair crown, while the other half cascaded freely. His features were handsome and heroic, and he wore a white round-collared robe woven with gold threads, looking exceptionally sharp.
What a pity…
Such fine looks belonged to none other than the Sixth Prince, whom he had just released from the Imperial Prison.
Oh my, he’s actually still alive.
Emperor Yunqi was somewhat surprised. His gaze swept over this naive, foolish son of his, a mix of pity and impatience flickering in his heart.
In the treacherous struggles of the palace, perhaps being a fool was a blessing in disguise.
Perhaps out of guilt and pity, Emperor Yunqi’s gaze lingered on the Sixth Prince for a few seconds longer. And in that lingering, something unusual emerged.
Because the Sixth Prince suddenly raised his head and looked directly at Emperor Yunqi without a trace of fear.
His eyes were a sharp silver-gray, and the last rays of sunlight fell directly into them, as if igniting his pupils into suns. Yet, even bathed in sunlight, those eyes, usually vacant and dull, now appeared bottomless, like an ancient well a thousand years old, reflecting no light—only scrutiny.
A lofty, god-like scrutiny.
A chill, rising from within, crept up Emperor Yunqi’s spine. But the next moment, those eyes returned to their vacant, foolish state.
“Butterfly, hehehe, eat butterfly… tasty.”
The Sixth Prince giggled foolishly, raising his hand to point at a pure white butterfly fluttering gracefully over the palace wall.
Emperor Yunqi: …It really was my imagination. This fool is still the same fool.
Author’s Note:
The flu has been quite severe lately, and unfortunately, the author has caught it. Take care of yourselves, dear readers—