Chapter 44: Nighttime Discussion

"So be it," Xiao Chiye lowered his eyes. "But the one who directly influences the frontlines' success or failure is Shen Wei."

With his eyes downcast like that, his gaze appeared especially affectionate. The light from before had not faded and shimmered in his eyes, like fireflies in the depths of the night.

Shen Zechuan gazed at him for a moment before saying, "The Military Affairs Ministry hasn't had any personnel changes these past few years."

"If you want to investigate, go ahead," Xiao Chiye said. "I won't stop you."

"Of course not," Shen Zechuan shifted his gaze back to the book. "Because you want to investigate too. The Huas are the most suspicious, but Shen Wei is already a tainted knife. There are countless simpler ways to deal with him; making such a big fuss could only make it easier to leave traces behind."

"You killed Ji Lei," Xiao Chiye chuckled. "He must have told you quite a bit. It's no fun keeping it all to yourself. Let's guess together."

"I know what you're talking about, but what I say only I know," Shen Zechuan slowly withdrew his hand. "That's a different weight."

Xiao Chiye thought for a moment before saying, "How about this? We'll exchange one piece of information for another."

"Sounds good," Shen Zechuan said. "Let me go first."

Xiao Chiye, leveraging his height, cornered Shen Zechuan by the bookshelf, casually flipping through the pages as he spoke. "You don't know the rules, secrets should be whispered."

Shen Zechuan leaned forward. "Whispering doesn't mean speaking with our faces close together."

"What if there are ears on the other side of the wall?" Xiao Chiye placed the book back and propped himself up, grinning at him. "After all, this courtyard is new to me, I haven't gotten familiar with it yet. It's better to be cautious."

"Xiao Er," Shen Zechuan looked at the book, "you truly are a scoundrel."

"Yes, indeed," Xiao Chiye replied. "So what? I'm about to start."

Shen Zechuan waited for a moment but heard no response. Turning his head, he found that the other person was still gazing at him.

Their breaths intermingled before Xiao Chiye spoke: "Shen Wei did not commit self-immolation; the fire at the Jianxing Palace was set by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The one who led the order and went there personally was none other than Ji Lei. You know this too, don't you?"

"I know," Shen Zechuan said calmly. "It's no secret."

"Do you know the real reason behind the fall of Duanzhou?" Xiao Chiye inquired.

Shen Zechuan found himself unable to avert his gaze, nor could he afford to ponder slowly, for should he fail to keep up with Xiao Chiye's train of thought, he would easily fall into the other's trap.

Shen Zechuan said, "When the Tea Stone River was attacked, Shen Wei ordered the troops from Zhendou to retreat and left Prince Heir Shen Zhouji to reinforce the Tea Stone River. Shen Zhouji is just like his father, abandoning the soldiers at Tea Stone River and fleeing with his personal guards. He was dragged to death on the official road by the Biansha cavalry that day. Once Shen Zhouji died, the morale of the Tea Stone River soldiers crumbled. After they were buried alive, there were no more troops in front of Zhendou."

"Very true," Xiao Chiye said, "but there's one thing you don't know. Before Shen Zhouji died, he and Shen Wei strangled Tan Tailong, the commander of the Zhendou garrison."

Tan Tailong, Tan Taihu!

No wonder Tan Taihu had said his own brother was in the Tea Stone Pit.

A frown creased Shen Zechuan's brow as he asked, "Strangled him?"

"Because Tan Tailong insisted on going out to fight the enemy and repeatedly contradicted Shen Wei in public, Shen Wei issued an order to retreat, but Tan Tailong refused to comply. Shen Wei pretended to apologize with wine, then killed Tan Tailong with Shen Zhouji in a drunken stupor." Xiao Chiye paused here. "Tiger doesn't know this. He thinks Tan Tailong died in battle. That's my first point. Now it's your turn."

Shen Zechuan quickly sorted through his thoughts and said, "Shen Wei was involved in the struggle for the throne and killed someone on the Empress Dowager's orders. Afterward, he was closely monitored by her. Sensing danger, he bribed Pan Rugui and fled to Zhongbo."

"A watchdog can't be moved so easily," Xiao Chiye said. "Under normal circumstances, the Hua family wouldn't have chosen such a risky method to deal with Shen Wei. It would do no good for the Empress Dowager, who was running the state affairs of Da Zhou. The silver needed after the war exceeded the treasury's reserves. For the Empress Dowager to become an empress dowager regent would only weaken herself. Shen Wei isn't worth that price."

Shen Zechuan nodded slightly and said, "So Ji Lei might not be entirely right because he's just a pawn too. To investigate this matter, we should start with the Military Ministry. There could be clues both above and below."

Xiao Chiye said, "I'll check above, you check below."

"Intertwined, inseparable," Shen Zechuan said, only to realize that Xiao Chiye was teasing him. He flipped the pages of the book, pretending not to know.

Xiao Chiye seemed to smile and moved aside, saying, "Sit down."

The room was warm, and Xiao Chiye was dressed in a bright red lion-embroidered court robe, denoting his position as the true second-rank general overseeing both armies in Qidu. Since he had just come from the palace, he had not had time to change clothes. Now seated in the chair, his sharp features were accentuated, devoid of any frivolity.

Opposite each other across the table, Xiao Chiye watched Shen Zechuan read. He no longer hid his interest; it was blatant, circling Shen Zechuan's neck before lingering on his hand. He was no longer confined to one spot; he wanted to see every inch of Shen Zechuan.

As Shen Zechuan reached out to turn the page, his fingers would curl slightly. This reminded Xiao Chiye of another moment when Shen Zechuan's fingers would grip the bedding in the same manner, damp with sweat and quivering with tremors.

Shen Zechuan felt as if his fingers were still being held and toyed with, causing an inexplicable irritation to rise within him. He closed the book and met Xiao Chiye's gaze directly.

Xiao Chiye asked, "Hmm?"

Shen Zechuan's fingers interlaced slightly. He curved his lips and said, "The Imperial Guards have been burdened with missions lately. I doubt there's time to investigate other matters."

Xiao Chiye spun his ring and replied, "Busyness is temporary. If the Imperial Guards have spare time, they can alleviate our worries and troubles."

"I'm just a mere warrior, without rank or favor from the Emperor. How could I influence the actions of the Imperial Guards?" Shen Zechuan leaned back slightly against the chair backrest. "The Imperial Guards must oversee both Qidu's patrols and the Emperor's personal cases. Caution is paramount in all matters. It's not easy for the Governor to bear such responsibilities."

Xiao Chiye had suppressed the Imperial Guards, and he was indeed busy now. He understood the veiled warning in Shen Zechuan's words, so he interlaced his fingers and placed them across from Shen Zechuan's, affirming, "You're looking for trouble."

"Tit for tat," Shen Zechuan said amiably. "You've intercepted my patrol duties, giving me free time. I naturally have to thank you properly."

"There are many ways to express gratitude. Why not choose one that pleases us both?" Xiao Chiye suggested. "It seems you do have friends in the Six Ministries."

"It's better to have friends in court than wealth at home. My friend shared some information with me that I think might interest you as well," Shen Zechuan said.

Xiao Chiye gazed at him and replied, "I'm all ears."

Yet, Shen Zechuan looked around the study and said, "It's rather regrettable that I have yet to meet this 'Untouched Jade, Unpolished Gem,' Yao Wenyu. Your relationship is quite amicable, isn't it?"

Xiao Chiye remarked, "An acquaintance by a mere nod is nothing compared to you."

"The Yao family's influence has dwindled, yet they still stand among the Eight Great Households. It's inevitable that some would feel discontent," Shen Zechuan explained. "Yao Wenyu inherited Lord Hai's legacy but chose not to enter the official ranks. This is akin to discarding one's weapon and offering oneself up for others to exploit."

Xiao Chiye remarked, "Though the Yao family may appear to have lost their influence, the residual power from serving three consecutive dynasties still lingers. Though Yao Wenyu is as pure as the moon and the wind, he is by no means foolish. Who would dare to provoke the Yao family?"

Shen Zechuan wore a contemplative expression as he replied, "How would I know about that?"

Xiao Chiye fell silent, but he reacted swiftly. "That's not like you. You're usually not so generous to give me information. It makes me uneasy, Lan Zhou."

"I'll do my part in the investigation," Shen Zechuan replied. "I only recalled this matter today when I saw your close relationship with the Yao family. The Eight Great Families have been around for a long time. Given your soaring popularity now, it's only expected that they would try something, isn't it? If the Yao family refuses to join forces with them, they will inevitably become a target for everyone."

Xiao Chiye had seized control of the Eight Great Bases, disrupting the military authority of the Eight Great Families. The Eight Great Bases had always been their lifeline around Qudu. Losing an official position was one thing; they could still have their family members take over. But losing the Eight Great Bases meant being truly at the mercy of others. It was one thing for them to keep each other in check, but quite another to be controlled by Xiao Chiye. As the saying went, unity was inevitable after a long period of division, and division after a long period of unity. Now, Xiao Chiye was the common enemy that united the Eight Great Families once more.

Shen Zechuan spoke the truth, but Xiao Chiye sensed something unusual beneath his seemingly candid words.

Xiao Chiye remained calm. "I haven't threatened them to that extent yet."

"Prevention is better than cure. Your brilliance was already on display during the autumn hunt. Trying to pretend nothing happened would just be burying your head in the sand," Shen Zechuan said.

Xiao Chiye suddenly asked, "Who are your friends?"

Shen Zechuan smiled at him. "If I were to tell you the truth, would you dare to believe it?"

Xiao Chiye stared at Shen Zechuan intently.

He didn't believe him.

Shen Zechuan was adept at manipulation; even his every word spoken while sober held a blend of truth and deception. This man was too difficult to deal with. Xiao Chiye felt that he was even more compliant in bed.

"I'll find out," Xiao Chiye leaned closer. "As long as you leave a trace, you won't escape my eyes."

"You'll have your hands full," Shen Zechuan said merrily. "You should focus on getting through this safely first."

"How could you be so heartless?" Xiao Chiye suddenly changed his solemn tone. "A night as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of affection. You're too ruthless, Lan Zhou."

Shen Zechuan mimicked his words. "Yes, what can I do about it?"

Xiao Chiye sat back and propped his legs up again, leaning against the backrest as he pondered for a moment. "This matter is easy to resolve. It's not a big deal. For reminding me tonight, I need to thank you properly."

"How can I accept that?" Shen Zechuan said. "A hundred taels is its worth, after all."

"I have no money," Xiao Chiye drawled. "An official of the second rank earns only one hundred and fifty taels a year. But if I don't have money, I can offer something else. The Second Young Master can warm your bed."

"Then I'll decline." Shen Zechuan smiled politely. "I'm used to sleeping alone, so I don't need anyone to warm my bed."

"Habits can be changed," Xiao Chiye lifted his finger to his nose and sniffed, teasing with a sidelong glance. "You still find my handkerchief familiar, right?"

Unaware, Shen Zechuan pinched his fingertip until it turned red.

Xiao Chiye studied the beauty under the lamp, observing his attempt at composure and the reddening tip of his finger. Finally, he pointed at the base of his own ear and said in a mischievous tone, "Lan Zhou, the flush has risen."