One day while Shi Yue was tending to the flowers and plants growing beneath his eaves, Shi Wenjing walked over.
“A-Yue, tending to your flowers and plants again, I see.”
“Father,” Shi Yue said with a smile, “they hadn’t been watered in a long time, so I’m giving them a drink today.”
These were exotic flowers and plants that Shi Wenjing had brought back to Shi Yue in the capital upon returning from his campaigns on the frontier, and Shi Yue had always tended to them with the utmost care.
Shi Wenjing said, “A-Yue, do you know what day is coming up in a few days?”
Shi Yue pondered for a moment. “Around the start of summer (Lixia), His Majesty will lead the imperial family, relatives, and key ministers to the villa for hunting and a summer retreat. In three days, it will be Lixia, so His Majesty must be planning to go hunting at the mountain villa.”
Shi Wenjing nodded. “Indeed. However, this time His Majesty specifically named you to go as well.”
“Me?”
Shi Yue was quite surprised. In his past life, he hadn’t gone at all; since he held no official post in the court, only Shi Wenjing and Shi Yuan had attended. Why on earth was the Emperor explicitly summoning him to go this time?
Taking the lacquerware container from his hands, Shi Wenjing slowly poured water over the soil. “His Majesty said you suffered a fright from being assassinated some days ago, so he is dispatching you to go along and relax your mind.”
Shi Yue fell silent, offering no response.
Standing up and looking down at him, Shi Wenjing patted his shoulder. “A-Yue, the struggle between the First Prince and His Highness the Crown Prince is becoming increasingly apparent these days. This hunting trip will undoubtedly breed trouble, and Father won’t be able to stay by your side every moment.”
“Father, I know. I will definitely protect myself well,” Shi Yue promised with a well-behaved demeanor.
Nodding approvingly, Shi Wenjing said, “That’s good. Open swords are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. When the time comes, you must pay attention to your safety and avoid getting dragged into the mess.”
After sending Shi Wenjing off, Shi Yue sat alone in the pavilion, racking his brain to recall the events of his past life.
In his past life, he hadn’t attended at all. He never expected that this lifetime’s assassination attempt would alter the trajectory of events. Viewed this way, if he planned carefully and stayed on guard in advance, the tragedy of being falsely accused of treason might never happen.
Whenever Shi Yue’s thoughts turned deep, he had a habit of toying with his fan—folding and unfolding it, listening to the soft swish of the ribs.
Moreover, he remembered that when Shi Yuan returned in his past life, he had mentioned that something went wrong during the banquet, seemingly involving lost military equipment.
Yet as to precisely how many items were lost, how they disappeared, or why they vanished, he didn’t have a single shred of memory.
Regretting his lapse in attention, Shi Yue tapped himself lightly on the forehead with his fan. If he had known, he would have listened properly when Shi Yuan was talking.
He resolved that from now on, whenever anyone else was speaking to him, he would engrave every word into his memory.
At Shi Yue’s command, Pei Xuan had gone to Brocade Embroidery Pavilion to collect the finished garments, and at this moment, the new outfit tailored specifically for him was already adorning his frame.
Looking at Pei Xuan, Shi Yue nodded in satisfaction, his gaze filled with pure appreciation.
Splendid. It was well worth spending a large sum of pocket money to dress up this little madman.
With his tall stature and narrow waist, Pei Xuan looked even taller and more upright now dressed in dark-colored, narrow-sleeved everyday attire, featuring subtle cloud patterns embroidered along the collar and secured at the waist with a vermilion-and-white jade belt.
Sparing no praise, Shi Yue beamed, “Stunning! I knew you’d look amazing in this kind of outfit!”
Strolling into the pavilion with unhurried grace, Pei Xuan seated himself across from Shi Yue. “Your taste is fine, but my looks are the main reason.”
Covering the lower half of his face with his fan, Shi Yue chuckled. “Indeed, Guard Pei is truly a peerless beauty who puts fish to shame and geese to flight.”
“Those are compliments meant for women,” Pei Xuan remarked.
Shi Yue had to admit that given his face, the fellow truly lived up to his identity as a fox demon—exquisitely bewitching.
Frowning in thought for a moment, Shi Yue corrected himself with a smile, “Oh? Let’s change the phrase then. Imbued with heroic grace and striking elegance will do, won’t it, Guard Pei?”
Reaching out, Pei Xuan plucked a grape from the fruit plate. Without even bothering to peel it, he tossed it straight into his mouth.
Watching him pop grape after grape into his mouth, Shi Yue asked, “Is it sweet?”
“Whether it’s sweet or not, you’ll know once you try one.” With that, Pei Xuan plucked another grape, carefully peeled away its skin, and placed it on the small porcelain dish right in front of Shi Yue.
He proceeded to peel several more in succession before finally stopping.
Noticing that Pei Xuan’s fingertips were stained with a faint trace of purple juice, Shi Yue handed over his handkerchief. “Wipe up.”
Why was this little madman being so strangely kind today, even peeling grapes for him?
Meticulously wiping his hands until his fingers were free of any lingering sweetness, Pei Xuan laid down the handkerchief, stood up, and said, “Remember to eat them. Don’t let my kind intentions go to waste.”
Gazing at Pei Xuan’s departing back, Shi Yue picked up one of the glistening, plump grapes.
“Pui, pui, pui!”
Barely two seconds after it entered his mouth, Shi Yue’s entire face puckered up in sour agony as he spat the grape out instantly.
Recalling Pei Xuan’s steady stream of peeled grapes just moments ago, along with his parting remark, Shi Yue reasonably suspected that Pei Xuan had deliberately endured the sourness just to trick him!
“Such a childish brat,” Shi Yue muttered indignantly.
When the Lixia season arrived, Emperor Yuanjia, accompanied by the Empress, the Crown Prince, the First Prince, as well as numerous imperial relatives and heavyweight ministers, arrived at You’nan Mountain Villa for a summer retreat and hunting expedition.
Accompanied by the Marquis of Stability and his elder brother, Shi Yue made the journey as well.
Naturally, Pei Xuan followed along.
Built against the mountainside, You’nan Mountain Villa featured sweeping eaves and interlocking brackets half-hidden among towering pines and cypresses, completely banishing the oppressive heat of the capital.
On the very first day of their arrival, the Emperor hosted a banquet inside the villa.
“A-Yue, this place is not like the marquis’s estate. You must exercise extreme caution in your words and actions,” Shi Wenjing warned once again, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Imperial Guards standing at attention along the corridor. “People belonging to both the Crown Prince and the First Prince are lurking in the shadows.”
Shi Yue nodded in acknowledgment.
For this banquet, Shi Yue had not brought Pei Xuan along, as personal attendants were not permitted to accompany their masters inside; all security during the banquet was guaranteed entirely by the Imperial Guards.
The evening banquet was held at Zhanyue Tower, outside of which gilded palace lanterns were hung, illuminating the courtyard as brightly as day.
Emperor Yuanjia sat squarely in the seat of honor, with the Empress seated beside him. Crown Prince Zhou Jingzhi and First Prince Zhou Musong occupied the seats on either side, while civil and military officials of various ranks were seated in order of precedence.
An atmosphere of complete peace prevailed.
The three members of the Marquis of Stability’s estate were seated among the military generals. Sitting quietly, Shi Yue observed the four figures seated in high positions smiling amicably on the surface, while sensing an undercurrent of turbulent, hidden currents beneath the facade.
After three rounds of wine, Li Heng, the commander of the Imperial Guards, suddenly spoke in a ringing voice: “Your Majesty, with so many senior nobles and officials accompanying Your Majesty on this summer retreat, security is of paramount importance. Fearing the potential intrusion of bandits, villains, or malevolent spirits, this humble subject dares to petition Your Majesty: command the Frontier Defense Army and the Imperial Guards to coordinate defense operations to guarantee absolute safety. Please render Your Majesty’s sacred judgment.”
The moment those words left his lips, the banquet hall fell instantly silent.
Shi Yue’s expression tightened. Was this the opening move in the loss of the military equipment?
He raised his gaze to look at the Crown Prince and the First Prince.
Both men wore affable, composed expressions, sitting with calm self-possession, making it impossible to tell who might be the mastermind behind this plot.
With a deep, heavy gaze directed at Li Heng, Emperor Yuanjia mused, “What you say makes sense, Love Minister. However, the Frontier Defense Army and the Imperial Guards have distinct duties; coordinating defense operations might not be entirely straightforward.”
Li Heng replied, “Your Majesty, although the two armies have different responsibilities, they both serve to protect the peace and security of the imperial court. Given that this summer excursion is of critical importance, this subject firmly believes both armies can share a single purpose and join hands to protect Your Majesty’s safety.”
Emperor Yuanjia looked toward Deputy General Liu Yongqian of the Frontier Defense Army. “What does Deputy General Liu think?”
Liu Yongqian immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. “This subject is ready to obey Your Majesty’s dispatch.”
After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Yuanjia finally nodded. “Very well. Let the two forces coordinate defense operations, but you must ensure absolute safety.”
“This subject obeys the decree.”
“This subject obeys the decree.”
Li Heng and Liu Yongqian spoke in unison.
Crown Prince Zhou Jingzhi chose that precise moment to speak up: “Imperial Father, having two generals who hold the well-being of the nation in their hearts is truly the fortune of the court. With the protection of both generals on this summer hunting excursion, we will surely return home to our heart’s content. Your son wishes this journey smooth progress and a joyful heart to Your Majesty.”
“Wishing Your Majesty smooth progress on this journey and a joyful heart!”
Everyone present dropped to their knees and shouted in unison.
Once the banquet dispersed, Shi Yue returned to his quarters with a heavy mind.
Pei Xuan was idly practicing his sword forms, the blade flashing with lightning-fast speed, fluid and graceful as a swimming dragon.
Under normal circumstances, Shi Yue would have stood on the sidelines cheering and applauding, but today he lacked the energy entirely, bypassing Pei Xuan without a word to step inside the room.
Observing Shi Yue’s retreating back with an inscrutable gaze, Pei Xuan sheathed his sword and followed him inside.
Turning around, Shi Yue was startled to find Pei Xuan standing silently right behind him without a sound.
“What are you doing coming into my room?”
Seating himself uninvited, Pei Xuan picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea. “Nothing much. Watching you attend a banquet and wondering if you had your tongue eaten so you forgot how to speak.”
Dropping heavily onto the stool beside Pei Xuan, Shi Yue muttered, “These days are unsettled. Don’t run around blindly or stir up trouble.”
“Do I look like someone who loves looking for trouble?”
“What else?”
With a cold snort, Pei Xuan put on an innocent, docile expression. “I only listen to the Second Young Marquis. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do.”
Shi Yue discovered that Pei Xuan was a master at playing cute, using that harmless appearance to deceive people.
“Keep a close eye on the military armory for me these next few days,” Shi Yue instructed.
Pei Xuan asked, “The military armory? Is someone planning to make a move against it?”
“Most likely.”