8
At this moment, Yu Shu was still strolling through the bustling streets with Qingli and her guards, leisurely taking in the sights. She had no idea that Xiao Jingyao had already sent people to keep an eye on her.
The streets were lined with shops—taverns, teahouses, fabric stores, cosmetics shops, and pastry stalls—teeming with people. Street vendors peddled all sorts of goods, from food and drinks to trinkets and entertainment. There were even street performers showcasing their skills, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Seeing the prosperity of the capital, Yu Shu couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion. It seemed that after ascending the throne, Xiao Jingyao had done an excellent job governing Xiadu City.
She still remembered the final years of the Dayan Dynasty. Her father, the emperor, had all but abandoned court affairs, allowing the political scene to descend into chaos. Factions vied for power, deception and betrayal ran rampant, and assassinations became an almost daily occurrence. Entire households were wiped out overnight.
Even the imperial capital, supposedly the safest place in the realm, had turned perilous. Fear gripped the people, and many chose to flee the city for the countryside. The once-thriving metropolis lost its former splendor, replaced by anxiety and unrest. It was nothing like the flourishing scene before her now.
Yu Shu let out a quiet sigh and pushed down the emotions that threatened to surface.
It was all in the past, she reminded herself.
She and her companions continued their outing, stopping by Linglong Pavilion to browse the latest jewelry trends of the Daxia Dynasty. After purchasing a few pieces, they headed to Xiao Sixi to watch a play. The star performer, Jiang Yulang, was singing Drunken Beating of the Princess. His performance was particularly vivid and captivating, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
“Miss, it’s getting late. We should head back,” Qingli reminded her. Yesterday, Mu Liangzhe had only granted her permission to go out for two hours, and the time was nearly up.
Yu Shu had accomplished what she set out to do today. Aside from the unexpected encounter with Xiao Jingyao, everything had gone smoothly. She had discreetly left contact marks in several locations—now, all that remained was to wait for her mother’s trusted people to reach out to her.
“Then let’s head back,” Yu Shu said, rising to her feet. With Qingli and the guards in tow, she descended the stairs.
After leaving Xiao Sixi, Yu Shu didn’t make any more stops and went straight back to the guest residence.
She had barely stepped through the door when she heard that Mu Liangzhe had also returned.
Back so soon? Could it be that his meeting with Chancellor Liu hadn’t gone well? Chancellor Liu was the Grand Chancellor of the Daxia Dynasty and a trusted confidant of Xiao Jingyao—second only to the emperor himself. It would hardly be surprising if he refused to show favor to an envoy from a small, distant nation.
Sure enough, just as Yu Shu had expected, Mu Liangzhe came looking for her not long after.
“That old fox, Chancellor Liu! I gave him so many fine gifts—gold, silver, jewels, luxurious silks—you name it! He took them all without hesitation, yet he still wouldn’t give me a clear answer. All he did was brush me off!” Mu Liangzhe ranted as he sat down. Even after downing an entire cup of tea in one gulp, his frustration remained unabated.
Yu Shu listened in silence, thinking to herself that it was only natural for Chancellor Liu to stall Mu Liangzhe. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have survived in Xiao Jingyao’s court for long. In fact, such carelessness would have likely cost him his life by now.
After letting Mu Liangzhe vent, Yu Shu asked, “Aside from stringing you along, did he say anything else?”
That question only aggravated Mu Liangzhe further. “What else could he say? He just told us to wait! But how long are we supposed to wait? When will the Emperor of Xia finally agree to see us?”
Yu Shu had never intended to meet Xiao Jingyao in the first place. She had only asked to gauge the situation, and now, she felt even less urgency. With a composed expression, she said. “Since Chancellor Liu has told us to wait, we might as well wait patiently.”
“Xiao Jiu, what do you mean by that?”
Yu Shu spoke with a serious expression. “In the Daxia Dynasty, Chancellor Liu is the emperor’s right-hand man. He understands the emperor’s temperament and preferences far better than either of us. If he has told us to wait, then that means it is the emperor’s will. All we need to do is obey and wait patiently.”
Mu Liangzhe pondered for a moment but still felt uneasy. “Just wait like this? Shouldn’t we be doing something else? Maybe I should visit some of the other ministers tomorrow and see if I can make some progress?”
“You mustn’t do that.” Yu Shu immediately stopped him. Based on her understanding of Xiao Jingyao, trying to sway other ministers would be a grave mistake. Though she had no desire to be sent into the palace to meet Xiao Jingyao, she also didn’t want Mu Liangzhe to unknowingly step into a trap and get himself killed.
She laid out the severity of the situation for him. “You’ve already approached Chancellor Liu, the highest-ranking official in the Xia court. Do you really think anyone else will be more helpful? If even he refuses to get involved, how many others would dare to take the risk?”
“Besides, this is the Daxia Dynasty’s territory. Do you really think the emperor is unaware that you visited Chancellor Liu and gifted him all those treasures? He probably knew the moment you stepped through Chancellor Liu’s door.”
“The reason the emperor hasn’t reacted yet is that he’s waiting to see what else you might do. If you grow impatient and rush to contact other ministers, what do you think he will assume? And what will Chancellor Liu think?”
“Chancellor Liu might conclude that you have no respect for him, that you don’t take his authority seriously. And the emperor? He will see you as reckless—brazen enough to openly scheme with his ministers right under his nose. What exactly are you trying to do? Are you planning something? Angering His Majesty and have us beheaded?”
Yu Shu’s words left Mu Liangzhe momentarily stunned. “I had no intention of conspiring with Daxia’s officials…”
“You may not, but that doesn’t mean others will see it that way.” Yu Shu cut him off, her expression stern. “And more importantly, the emperor himself may not see it that way either.”
Yu Shu had experienced situations like this before—where a simple sentence, a casual gesture, could be dissected and interpreted in countless ways by those with ulterior motives. Many had lost their lives because of such scrutiny.
“This…” Mu Liangzhe hesitated. “Then what should we do?”
“Didn’t Chancellor Liu already tell us?” Yu Shu emphasized. “Wait.”
Mu Liangzhe mulled over her words and found them reasonable. Reluctantly, he nodded. “Then we’ll wait.”
Seeing that he had finally been persuaded, Yu Shu let out a quiet breath of relief.
Suddenly, Mu Liangzhe chuckled and said, “I finally understand why Father and Mother like you so much.”
“What?”
“It’s not just because you’re the youngest—it’s because you’re thoughtful and always consider things from others’ perspectives.”
Yu Shu: “…”
“Xiao Jiu, you’re the best little sister I could ask for.” Mu Liangzhe reached out and ruffled her hair.
Yu Shu tilted her head to dodge and rolled her eyes at Mu Liangzhe.
…
A shadowy figure slipped out from the darkness, silently leaving the guest residence without alerting anyone.
Inside Qianyuan Hall, Xiao Jingyao sat behind his desk, reviewing memorials. Xu Daman entered quietly and reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, Deputy Commander Wei Zhuo of the Imperial Guards is here.”
Xiao Jingyao set down the memorial he was reading and looked up. “Let him in.”
Xu Daman acknowledged the order and quickly stepped out to summon Wei Zhuo.
Moments later, Wei Zhuo entered the hall, approached the emperor, and bowed. “Your Majesty.”
Xiao Jingyao’s voice was calm yet authoritative. “What did you find?”
Wei Zhuo reported, “The men I sent followed the Ninth Princess of Xijiang throughout the day. There was no sign of her making contact with anyone. She was accompanied only by her maid and four guards. They visited Linglong Pavilion to purchase jewelry, then went to Xiao Sixi to watch an opera. After that, they returned directly to the guest residence.”
“No contact with anyone else?”
“None, Your Majesty.”
Xiao Jingyao found it hard to believe. After a brief moment of contemplation, he asked, “And after she returned to the guest residence?”
“She remained in her quarters and never left,” Wei Zhuo reported truthfully. “Later, Mu Liangzhe also returned, and the two siblings talked for a while.”
Wei Zhuo then briefly summarized Mu Liangzhe’s visit to Chancellor Liu—how the chancellor instructed him to wait at home, and how Mu Liangzhe later considered approaching other ministers.
Xiao Jingyao arched a cold brow. “He wanted to seek out other ministers?”
How bold. Was he tired of living?
“The Ninth Princess of Xijiang stopped him,” Wei Zhuo added. “She reasoned that it was unwise—not only would it offend Chancellor Liu, but the other ministers would refuse to help, and Your Majesty would not trust them.”
Saying “not trust” was Wei Zhuo’s polite way of putting it. He couldn’t very well say, “His Majesty would be angered and have them beheaded,” now could he? That would be far too blunt.
Xiao Jingyao didn’t concern himself with Wei Zhuo’s careful wording. Instead, he was intrigued. “The Ninth Princess of Xijiang… she’s quite interesting.”
“Keep watching her. See what else she does.” Xiao Jingyao was curious—just how many more surprises could she bring him? Such an amusing person.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wei Zhuo responded before taking his leave.
The Ninth Princess of Xijiang…
Xiao Jingyao mused to himself, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. He lifted his brush and, with a thoughtful gaze, penned a few characters onto the paper before him.
**