UCTOOT CH44

What are you doing, Xie Wuchi?

What do you mean by this? Never mind locking the courtyard, and never mind whether you’re gay or not, but what was the meaning of that kiss?!

Shi Shu took off his shoe and threw it at the door. “Xie Wuchi, you just wait! When you come back, I’m going to be truly angry! Just go die outside for all I care.”

Shi Shu wiped his lips, where the marks of Xie Wuchi’s assault remained. The first time he was kissed, he was dazed. The second time, he was shocked. Now, Shi Shu still didn’t understand his own state of mind, nor how he was supposed to feel. There was definitely no affection. Of course he hated being kissed, but to say he was disgusted felt like too much. He just felt utterly confused.

A sex addiction, a sex addiction…

“What’s going on? So young and already entangled with a lunatic.”

As his breathing calmed, Shi Shu stared at the closed door and thought, “Xie Wuchi is sick. What should I do now?”

“Hey? Never mind! I was just kidding, don’t actually die out there.”

Shi Shu looked left and right. The walls were extremely high, and there was no ladder. He tried to climb but fell to the ground without a foothold, landing on his bottom. He stared up at the bright moonlight as Laifu came over, wagging its tail and nuzzling him with its wet nose.

“—I can’t climb out, dammit!”

Shi Shu lay on the ground in despair. After a moment, he had no choice but to sit down by the door.

Shi Shu dozed off while leaning against the door. Before long, he heard the sound of armored soldiers rushing past outside. Peeking through the crack in the door, he saw the street: the Emperor was about to leave the palace, and the entire Eastern Capital was under lockdown. The Palace Army and the Imperial Guard had set up additional defenses within the imperial city. Guard commanders were setting up barricades on the street and clearing it of people.

The Emperor is leaving the palace?

Xie Wuchi was also entering the fray. Amidst the thick fog and treacherous clouds of the situation, would he really be killed on the spot as he’d said?

Forgetting the kiss, Shi Shu paid close attention to the movements on the street. A crowd gradually gathered, and from time to time, sedan chairs of blue or green wool were carried past. For the Prince of Liang’s birthday, the court had specially granted a three-day recess, and all civil and military officials were to go to the Prince of Liang’s mansion to pay their respects.

As the sky turned fish-belly white, the street grew livelier. Many commoners stood by the roadside to watch the spectacle, and they could identify the owner of each passing sedan chair.

“This, this is—” A magnificent eight-man sedan chair appeared. An excited onlooker in the noisy crowd exclaimed, “This one is a big deal! That’s the sedan chair of the Prefect of the Eastern Capital!”

“That’s the sedan chair of the Junior Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial!”

“I recognize that coachman! That’s the sedan chair of the Pacification Commissioner of Shaoxing Prefecture!”

“That’s the Grand General’s sedan chair!”

“…”

Shi Shu also sat by the door watching, a blade of grass sticking out of his mouth, thinking about how many high-ranking officials there were. He found it fascinating at first, but slowly grew tired of it.

That is, until he heard an extremely exaggerated uproar!

“That’s the sedan chair of Fu Wen, the Co-Administrator of the Secretariat and concurrent Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs—in other words, the current Prime Minister!”

The noise jolted Shi Shu from his sleepiness. He looked outside. Compared to the luxurious, opulent, or grand sedan chairs that had passed before, this small one was proper and elegant. It was escorted by numerous guards, and several other chairs followed closely behind the lead one. A gust of wind blew the curtain open, revealing a man in his fifties or sixties sitting inside, with a beard and a refined, noble face.

He wore a sapphire blue satin robe embroidered with plum blossoms, exuding a gentle and scholarly temperament, with a pleasant expression.

However, many commoners knelt and called out “Lord Prime Minister,” while the man in the sedan chair remained aloof, ignoring all the sounds. A servant quickly pulled the curtain shut and fiercely shooed away the commoners blocking the road.

Shi Shu thought: This is the feeling.

Xie Wuchi exuded the exact same aura as those of imperial blood.

Shi Shu closed his eyes. No more sedan chairs passed after that. He figured the Emperor’s imperial carriage had already reached the Prince’s mansion, as no official would dare to arrive after His Majesty.

At high noon, the weather was oppressively hot. Shi Shu heard a soft, gentle voice from outside the door. “Shi Shu?”

“Who is it?” Shi Shu rolled over. “Pei Wenqing, is that you?”

Pei Wenqing smiled. “It’s me. I’ve come to bring you something to eat.”

Shi Shu grabbed onto this lifeline. “What food! Hurry and get me out of here! Did Xie Wuchi give you the key?”

Pei Wenqing sighed. “He didn’t give it to me. He’s busy these next few days and asked me to make sure you don’t run out.”

Shi Shu said, “Damn it. Then go find a locksmith. The house is in my name, after all.”

“Don’t make things difficult for your brother. With what he’s doing now, the less you know, the safer you are. He’s doing this for your own good,” Pei Wenqing said as he passed dishes through the gap.

“Who asked him to do what’s good for me? Didn’t we agree to live and die together?”

The door could be pulled open to a crack that was neither too wide nor too narrow; it was clearly chained from the outside. As Pei Wenqing passed in steamed buns, vegetables, and porridge, he said, “Your brother came to see me a few days ago. He had me write a ‘Memorial to Emperor Taikang,’ detailing the ten arguments for reform that the New Learning Faction has been pushing for the past decade.”

Shi Shu’s eyes shot up. “What?”

Pei Wenqing’s expression seemed lost in memory. “Ten years ago, when His Majesty had just ascended the throne and turned eighteen, the Empress Dowager was supposed to return political power to him. But she refused to let go and continued to rule from behind the curtain. To counter her, His Majesty abandoned the old court officials and promoted new ones, heavily favoring people from the New Learning Faction like my father. But his power base was not yet strong, and he acted too hastily. Not only did the Empress Dowager seize back power, but the members of the New Learning Faction were all hunted down and killed.”

Shi Shu thought of his father. “Don’t be sad…”

“I let go of it long ago,” Pei Wenqing said with his head down, a faint, ethereal smile on his pale face. “For several years after that, His Majesty had no say in political affairs. But in recent years, the Empress Dowager’s health has been declining day by day, so she returned governance to His Majesty. However, His Majesty did not, as everyone had hoped, seize the opportunity to rule diligently. Instead, he neglected state affairs even more, doting on Consort Yu every day and leaving all political matters to Feng Lu and Fu Wen.”

Shi Shu said, “…They’ve blocked his access to information?”

“Yes. With the Empress Dowager on her deathbed and His Majesty infatuated with his harem, those two call the shots at court. They’ve sealed off all channels of advice to His Majesty, letting him live in a drunken dream. Your brother suddenly asking me to draft proposals for reform probably means he’s preparing to wake His Majesty up.”

Shi Shu looked down at the food, his heart devoid of any flavor. “Is Xie Wuchi in danger now?”

Pei Wenqing coughed and said, “The word ‘power’ is stained with blood and gore, a life-or-death struggle. One wrong word means death.”

He covered his lips with a handkerchief and added, “What’s more, His Majesty is an indifferent person, Feng Lu is watching like a tiger, and Consort Yu is fanning the flames. The imperial edict was clear: this trip out of the palace is only for the Prince’s birthday, and no one is to discuss political matters! If anyone disturbs His Majesty’s mood, it could lead to falling out of favor or even execution.”

Shi Shu sat cross-legged, his hands on his knees. “Now I really don’t know what to do. I’ll just have to wait.”

Shi Shu was imprisoned in the courtyard day after day. Pei Wenqing came once in the morning and once in the evening to tell him about the situation at the Prince’s mansion.

Shi Shu was very curious about this Emperor, but very few people could meet him. Moreover, that Feng Lu served him almost every step of the way. Every day, he could only piece together information from the layers of news coming from the Prince’s mansion:

Today, His Majesty enjoyed the lotus flowers and was in a great mood.

Today, His Majesty drank wine and was pleased.

Today, His Majesty saw his mother and shed tears.

Today, His Majesty saw his father, the Prince of Liang, who kowtowed. His Majesty bade him to rise.

Today, His Majesty saw his brothers and had nothing to say.

…

Shi Shu lay on the wooden planks under the eaves, looking up at the starry sky. This was the first time he felt how strange the world was. So many people fawning over one person—who would believe it if they weren’t in a feudal dynasty?

On the third day of the Emperor’s visit to the Prince’s mansion, in the morning.

A gentle breeze blew through the Fushou Pavilion, where the Princess Consort resided. Emperor Taikang’s birth mother was originally a concubine of the Prince of Liang. After her son was adopted into the imperial line, she was promoted to the position of Princess Consort.

Xie Wuchi stood inside another door behind a screen. In the main hall, the Emperor was being served and watched over by a group of eunuchs. Not far outside the pavilion stood the Imperial Guard. Feng Lu bowed deeply, carefully presenting a bowl of hot soup.

The Taikang Emperor of the Great Jing, Chu Xun, sat beside the Princess Consort. He had a plain, delicate face, with faint eyebrows and a long nose. His expression was also very quiet; sometimes it felt as if he never really listened to what others were saying.

Emperor Taikang stared at the chicken soup placed before him and looked around. “Where is Consort Yu?”

Feng Lu, who had a plump, honest-looking face but nimble hands and feet, replied, “Consort Yu was playing cards with people from the mansion late last night. I’m afraid she hasn’t woken up yet.”

Emperor Taikang frowned slightly. “Lazy.” But there was no hint of blame in his voice. “Go wake her. After she has dressed and we’ve had lunch, we’ll prepare to return to the palace.”

Feng Lu: “This servant obeys!”

Before he left, he secretly shot a look at the Heir Apparent, Chu Wei, and then quickly departed.

Chu Wei’s hands were trembling slightly. He quietly glanced toward Xie Wuchi behind the partition. The Princess Consort of Liang, her face full of sorrow, ladled a bowl of chicken soup. “When Your Majesty was young in this mansion, you loved the ginseng and deer antler chicken soup that I made for you. I made another bowl for you today.”

Because Emperor Taikang had already been adopted into the imperial family, his mother could only be the current Empress Dowager. His birth mother could only be called ‘aunt,’ and his birth father, ‘royal uncle.’ Emperor Taikang took the chicken soup, a flicker of memory in his eyes. “Back then, aunt was still a concubine, constantly targeted by the Princess Consort. A bowl of soup with hundred-year-old ginseng and deer antler was a rare treat.”

Emperor Taikang smiled. “But since I ascended the throne, the Prince’s mansion has really changed over the years.”

The Princess Consort of Liang wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “You have suffered.”

As was customary, Emperor Taikang waited for a eunuch to taste the soup for poison before he took a light sip. “Delicious. Aunt’s cooking is exactly the same as it was back then.”

“Then have some more.” The Princess Consort poured him another bowl.

Emperor Taikang took two more sips. “The ginseng is slightly sweet after stewing, the broth is fragrant, and the deer antler has soaked up the soup. It is indeed delicious.” As he lowered his head, he remarked casually, “But, why does the taste seem the same, yet different?”

The Princess Consort quickly said, “Your Majesty looks pale and not in good health. I added a few more herbs to the soup, like Epimedium and Poria. I hope Your Majesty can have an imperial heir soon. I pray and fast in the pavilion every day.”

“Oh, I see.”

Emperor Taikang showed no change in expression, but a young eunuch beside him turned slightly pale and whispered, “The menu didn’t mention added herbs. Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Bureau said your body is currently being conditioned, and mixing medicines—”

The Princess Consort glared at the eunuch. “Your Majesty—”

Emperor Taikang said, “I know aunt’s good intentions. Will an occasional tonic kill me? Do not speak to aunt like that!”

The eunuch quickly bowed. The Princess Consort nodded at the Heir Apparent, Chu Wei.

Emperor Taikang picked up a piece of Poria and said casually, “But the herbs from this mansion taste more potent than the ones in the palace.”

At this moment, a chill ran down the Heir Apparent’s spine! He suppressed his trembling and said, “In response to my imperial brother, this is Poria specially produced in Shukang Prefecture. If Your Majesty would like to use it, this subject will immediately send a thousand catties to the palace!”

Hearing the words “Shukang Prefecture,” the young eunuch’s back stiffened. He turned his head and silently signaled to a eunuch at the door. The eunuch at the door took a few steps back and then quickly left Fushou Pavilion!

“Oh,” Emperor Taikang, who had been looking at the soup, heard the words “Shukang Prefecture” and his expression became thoughtful. “Shukang Prefecture, isn’t that the place where there was a recent rebellion? I heard from Feng Lu and Prime Minister Fu that the rebellion was quelled long ago and the people have returned to a peaceful life, is that right?”

The Heir Apparent quickly said, “Thanks to my imperial brother’s virtue, Shukang Prefecture has long been pacified, and the people have resumed their peaceful and prosperous lives.”

Emperor Taikang was in a good mood and rarely asked about political affairs. “I also heard that a pestilence broke out, but it has also subsided?”

The Heir Apparent: “It is due to my imperial brother’s sacred virtue! The pestilence disappeared on its own!”

Emperor Taikang couldn’t help but laugh. A popular rebellion was no small matter; no emperor would sit by and watch. Emperor Taikang said, “Although the rebellion has been suppressed, the cause of the popular unrest must be thoroughly investigated. In the two hundred-plus years of our Great Jing dynasty, this is the first time a rebellion has occurred in the heartland of the country! This is no small matter.”

The Heir Apparent looked around, then knelt at Emperor Taikang’s feet. “Imperial brother, regarding this rebellion in Shukang Prefecture, this subject has heard some rumors.”

The eunuch beside him was already sweating profusely, constantly looking outside the pavilion.

Emperor Taikang: “What rumors?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly understood. From the chicken soup to the Poria, and then to Shukang Prefecture, this was a planned admonition.

“Didn’t I say not to discuss politics during the birthday? If you have any political matters, go talk to Feng Lu and Prime Minister Fu. I don’t want to hear it.” Emperor Taikang’s face turned cold. He then looked at the teary-eyed Princess Consort of Liang, and his expression softened slightly. “Alright, let it go this time.”

The Heir Apparent could no longer hold back. “Your Majesty, Feng Lu is a treacherous minister! He is the one who instigated this popular rebellion!”

He suddenly pulled out an account book from his sleeve. “This subject has a memorial to present!”

After a moment of silence, Emperor Taikang clapped his hands and said, “It seems you have been planning this for a long time. This account book, I suppose I have no choice but to look at it.”

Emperor Taikang opened the account book and glanced at it casually. “Even if Feng Lu has been a bit greedy, he is loyal and devoted. I’m reluctant to punish him for such minor faults. I won’t speak of this matter. I’ll give you a chance, so as not to ruin your relationship with him.”

The Heir Apparent did not back down. “Imperial brother, please turn to the next page.”

Hearing this, Emperor Taikang turned the page, and his eyes suddenly froze for a moment.

The Heir Apparent said, “Xie Wuchi, the advisor who found this account book, serves as a consultant in my residence. He was the main force in the siege of Xiangnan Temple. This time, he went to Shukang Prefecture, cured the local pestilence, and found the account books detailing Feng Lu’s corruption and collusion. That’s how he discovered these things. Why not have him come and explain the details to Your Majesty?”

Emperor Taikang: “Summon him!”

Xie Wuchi entered the front hall from the back room. Emperor Taikang stared at him and said slowly, “Truly the bearing of a dragon and the posture of a phoenix.”

Xie Wuchi said, “Replying to Your Majesty, the account book records that in the first year of the Taikang reign, the Dyeing Office produced one hundred thousand bolts of cloth. Sixty thousand of them went into the Empress Dowager’s private treasury, thirty thousand were transferred to the inner palace, and the remaining ten thousand were monopolized by Feng Lu and his cronies. In the second year of the Taikang reign, three hundred thousand bolts were produced. Two hundred thousand were sent to the Empress Dowager’s private treasury, and these were the ones of ‘superior quality and exquisite workmanship’; the remaining eighty thousand bolts presented to Your Majesty were made by ordinary dyers. In the third year of the Taikang reign—”

Emperor Taikang, who had been calm and gentle, suddenly slammed his hand on the table! The young eunuch beside him trembled like a leaf in the wind and was kicked away by him. “Take him out and cut out his tongue!”

Xie Wuchi pulled another memorial from his robes. “Your Majesty, this book is filled with the wicked deeds of Feng Lu, reported to the Heir Apparent by other court officials. They include the indiscriminate killing of the innocent, bullying men and women, persecuting loyal officials, embezzling state funds, and forming cliques for selfish interests—his crimes are too numerous to list! The Heir Apparent supervises the Court of Judicial Review, and memorials about miscarriages of justice rain down like a storm, but they never reach Your Majesty’s side. The channels of communication are blocked.”

Emperor Taikang took the book, closed his eyes after reading it. On it were the bloody handprints of many officials, people the Heir Apparent and the Xu family of Changyang had secretly contacted during this time.

Emperor Taikang breathed for a long while. For some reason, he threw the book into the charcoal brazier and burned it to ashes.

The Heir Apparent was shocked and knelt on the spot. “Imperial brother, why did you burn the evidence of Feng Lu’s crimes? …Could it be that imperial brother is still unwilling to deal with him?”

A cold smile appeared on Emperor Taikang’s face. He said faintly, “When I first ascended the throne, I wanted to achieve great things for the ancestors of the Great Jing. But what was the result? The officials I appointed were all killed. From then on, I decided not to care anymore. Do whatever you want, even if you bring ruin to this Great Jing empire! It’s not my fault! The fault lies with you people who can’t let go of power and are blinded by greed.”

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes, understanding. “Indeed, on the surface, Emperor Taikang and the Empress Dowager appear to be a loving mother and a filial son, but they harbor a deep-seated, irreconcilable blood feud from the past.”

Emperor Taikang roared, “Now! There’s a popular rebellion in the Great Jing! One moment the dikes are breaking, the next there’s flooding, then there are natural disasters like blizzards, earthquakes, and droughts! One moment the national treasury is empty and communication is blocked, the next you’re asking for military pay and provisions! Now, you remember me, this Emperor? You want me to rule diligently and take over this rotten mess you’ve made?! Dream on!”

“Guards!”

Hearing the Emperor’s roar, the Imperial Guard with long swords at their waists rushed into the pavilion.

Emperor Taikang shouted in anger, “It’s the Prince of Liang’s birthday, a day of great joy. I said no discussion of political matters, yet someone dares to defy my taboo! Do you even have any respect for me, your Emperor? Huh!”

The Heir Apparent trembled like a leaf and was suddenly called by name.

“Chu Wei!”

“As my brother, instead of sharing my burdens, you instigated the Princess Consort and the inner palace to interfere in politics and spread malicious rumors. You are truly disobedient! Immediately take him to the Imperial Clan Court! Suspend his salary for a year and lock him up properly for me!”

The Heir Apparent, Chu Wei, began to wail. “Imperial brother!”

“And you! What’s your name? Xie Wuchi! A petty commoner, a demon monk returned to secular life, who dares to incite a member of the imperial family to recklessly discuss state affairs and disrupt the court for the sake of fame and fortune! Is Feng Lu someone a demon monk and commoner like you can impeach? Such audacity! Take him down! After the birthday celebration, execute him on the spot!”

“Drag them away!”

“Yes!” The Imperial Guard stood grimly.

Xie Wuchi’s expression remained composed. He pulled another letter from his sleeve. “Your Majesty, this commoner has more to say.”

A huge upheaval was taking place within the Prince’s mansion. Shi Shu climbed onto a table and then onto the wall, only to find that the ridge of the wall was embedded with sharp tile shards. If he tried to straddle it, he’d probably rip his pants open.

Shi Shu hesitated again and again, thinking, “So what if they rip? I still want to get out.”

He prepared himself for the scratches on his thighs, but at that moment, the door suddenly opened with a “click.”

“Xie Wuchi, you’re back?”

Shi Shu spun around. It was Pei Wenqing. He leaned against the door, his face pale. “Shi Shu, I have bad news. Your brother has been arrested by order of His Majesty.”

Shi Shu’s vision went black, and he jumped off the table. “What?”

Pei Wenqing said, “This morning, he was taken from Fushou Pavilion by His Majesty’s personal guard. I heard someone say that His Majesty was furious in the pavilion, shouting that he wanted him killed. The Princess Consort is crying nonstop, and the Heir Apparent’s wails were useless. They just watched as he was taken away.”

For the first time, Shi Shu experienced what it felt like for his heart to go cold, as if his temples had been struck. “Will he die?”

“His Majesty said that there should be no bloodshed during the Prince of Liang’s birthday. He will take his life after the birthday celebration.”

Halfway through hearing this, Shi Shu rushed out like a madman. “I’m going to see.”

“Don’t go. Since he was taken by His Majesty, he’s definitely not in the Prince’s mansion anymore.”

Pei Wenqing frowned. “However, there is a suspicious point in this matter. His Majesty neither sent him to the Mingfeng Bureau for interrogation, nor to the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review. Instead, he was sent to the Censorate.”

Shi Shu stopped, clutching his racing heart. “The Censorate?”

“The Censorate reports on hearsay. It can supervise all officials below and impeach the Prime Minister above! The Censorate has judicial power, but it’s over the appointment, dismissal, punishment, and evaluation of officials. But Xie Wuchi, as an advisor to the Heir Apparent’s residence, a minor, unranked official, why would the Emperor imprison him in the Censorate, which supervises the officials of the entire court!?”

Shi Shu understood part of it. “What does this mean? Maybe he’s not actually sentenced to death?”

Pei Wenqing nodded his pale chin. “Moreover, His Majesty issued a strict order, saying that Xie Wuchi is a demon monk who has brought chaos to the country, yet has won the hearts of a group of upright scholar-officials. He fears that someone will submit a memorial to protect him. Therefore, His Majesty has ordered the Censorate to be strictly sealed, not allowing any outsiders to enter.”

Shi Shu couldn’t understand the high-level schemes and stood there dumbfounded. “So we can’t even see him now?”

“We can’t. We can only wait. I guess…” Pei Wenqing’s dark eyes darted, “not only will your brother be fine, I’m afraid—”

“Afraid of what?”

“His Majesty is protecting him. He dared to offend Feng Lu. Do you know how many of Feng Lu’s people are in the court? If he were in the Mingfeng Bureau, the Ministry of Justice, or the Court of Judicial Review, he would have been reduced to bones by now! Only in the Censorate, a courtyard full of upright scholars who have a generational feud with court officials, is there a greater chance of keeping him safe!”

Shi Shu’s vision almost went black. He seemed to understand why Xie Wuchi had suddenly bought a house and put his name on it three days ago.

“Xie Wuchi, are you entrusting me with your affairs?! You can’t die. If something happens to you, I’ll remember you for the rest of my life. Do you want me to guard this courtyard for you for a lifetime? Xie Wuchi!”

Shi Shu was already in a bad mood, and now it was even worse. He went to the courtyard, drew a bucket of cold water, and repeatedly washed his face, rubbing his face and eyes until they were red.

But a moment later, a scholar appeared at the door, looking around. He was dressed in simple, plain clothes and fanned himself with a folding fan.

“Excuse me, does Xie Shishu live here? Someone asked me to bring something for you, said to leave it with you for now, and he’ll get it back later.”

Shi Shu was agitated and grabbed his hand. “Is it from Xie Wuchi?”

The man didn’t speak, only smiled. Pei Wenqing gently reminded him, “Asking could be a death sentence. It’s enough to know in your heart.”

So Shi Shu stopped asking. He went inside and opened the box. Inside was a thin piece of paper.

Pei Wenqing asked, “A letter from your brother?”

Shi Shu only glanced at it and quickly crumpled the paper in his palm, letting out a cry, “Fuck…”

It was a drawing. It was the tattoo of a snake swallowing its own tail, forming a radiant sun, located on the hidden skin of Xie Wuchi’s inner thigh. Touching the paper, Shi Shu’s hand felt as if it were pressed against an ambiguous warmth, and it grew damp with sweat.

Shi Shu was at a loss. It took him a long moment to form a sentence.

Xie Wuchi, don’t let your addiction act up in the Censorate!

__

Author’s Note:
Alright, alright, Brother Wuchi has made his magnificent transformation. From now on, no one is allowed to speak loudly to little Shū Bāo

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