CH 45

These words caused Ye Zi’s heart to ache and his eyes to heat up slightly. He blinked and changed the topic: “How was the interrogation today, did you report to Emperor Jinghe yet?”

Gu Yan gave him a reproachful look: “It’s mealtime right now, save business for later.”  

Ye Zi could only obediently shut up.

After Gu Yan finished feeding him the porridge, he got someone to clean up and remove the bowl before sitting back in front of the bed: “Most of the people who were captured have already confessed, but there are a few stubborn ones that’ll probably only last until tomorrow night. I sent people to find some evidence based on their confessions and I should be ready to present them to Emperor Jinghe three days later.”

Ye Zi pondered for a while: “Then Jia Xiedan……”

“I met with him today.” Gu Yan picked up the outerwear and helped Ye Zi put it on as he added in a warm voice, “Jia Xiedan is an envoy and is a Northern Barbarian Prince. Although he is temporarily under house arrest, he is doing quite well and doesn’t look like he’s living under someone else’s roof.”

Gu Yan meticulously helped him get dressed: “I had people deduct their food and clothing expenses and replaced their three meals with one meal. I also changed a batch of guards at the posthouse and asked the servants to ‘take care’ of them.”

“……Let them suffer a little more, lest Emperor Jinghe becomes suspicious.”

Ye Zi was stunned for a moment and immediately came back to his senses.

This person was not afraid that Emperor Jinghe would become suspicious, he was clearly taking revenge on Jia Xiedan for implicating him.

However, after hearing what Gu Yan said, Ye Zi was slightly relieved: “That may be for the better, at least there will be a proper explanation.” 

Gu Yan shook his head: “It’s not enough.”

Ye Zi looked at him doubtfully.

Gu Yan continued: “Most of the people that I have caught are side characters. Although they are related to this matter, they are not the main culprit.”

Gu Yan said: “Emperor Jinghe isn’t stupid, I won’t be able to satisfy him by capturing a few minions.”

Ye Zi immediately remembered.

In the original novel, once the collusion and treason were exposed, Emperor Jinghe immediately sent someone to start the investigation. At that time, the person responsible for the investigation was the Third Imperial Prince, Gu Xuan.

The difference was that Gu Xuan had an ample time limit for investigation. It took him three full months to catch all the officials involved in the collusion. Moreover, catching the main culprit also took him a lot of trouble. 

But Gu Yan only had three days.

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Ye Zi deliberated for a moment and asked tentatively: “Do you know who that person is?”

“I do.” Gu Yan straightened Ye Zi’s lapel for him and responded frankly: “The current Imperial Censor, Pei Yuanzhi.”

Gu Yan explained: “Pei Yuanzhi was an old subordinate of the Duke of Protection, Wen Shuhou, as well as a military advisor. He followed Wen Shuhou on the battlefield for many years and when Wen Shuhou relinquished his military power and was appointed as a Duke, Pei Yuanzhi entered the Imperial Censorate and became the senior minister. He has been there for more than twenty years now.”

“Pei Yuanzhi is ambitious and insatiable, unsatisfied with that little position he holds in the Imperial Censorate.” Gu Yan snorted, “The Northern Barbarians merely gave him some benefits and that man turned against his country for glory. It’s really ridiculous.”

Ye Zi frowned.

Pei Yuanzhi was in a high position. Even if it was Gu Yan, he couldn’t imprison him first without any evidence, let alone torture him for a confession.

Without evidence, no one could take a shot at him.

Gu Yan raised his hand and gently smoothed Ye Zi’s brow: “No need to worry, I already have a plan.”

Ye Zi pulled his hand: “What are you going to do?”

Gu Yan leaned over and whispered something in Ye Zi’s ear.

Ye Zi was stunned and hesitated: “Won’t that be too risky? What if something goes wrong?……”

“A Zi,” Gu Yan lowered his head and looked deeply into his eyes, “You’re worried about me.”

Ye Zi avoided his gaze.

Gu Yan reached out and lifted his face, asking in a low voice: “A Zi, do you have something on your mind?”

Ye Zi didn’t answer.

Gu Yan was silent for a moment and sighed softly: “No matter, if you don’t want to say it now, I won’t force you. Whenever you’re willing to tell me, you can come to me at any time.”

“I still have some confessions and files to sort out and will probably be staying in the study tonight. You should stay in the room and rest obediently. When this matter is over, I will accompany you properly.”

After Gu Yan finished speaking, he left the bedroom.

Silence returned to the room and Ye Zi sighed as he lay his head back on the bed.

Before he came back, he had already prepared to question Gu Yan, to ask him clearly whether he still had another person in his heart and what he thought of him. But when those words came to his lips, he couldn’t open his mouth.

Gu Yan was too nice to him, so nice that he didn’t even dare to mention it again.

He didn’t dare to think about what Gu Yan’s reaction would be if he knew that he knew about it.

Ye Zi felt that he seemed to be in a contradictory situation, with one side being the haunting of the past and the other being the insatiable desire for the present.

If he didn’t ask anything and pretended that nothing happened today, would he and Gu Yan be able to go on like this forever?

Would Gu Yan treat him as before or maybe even better than now?

Ye Zi was thinking wildly as he rolled on the bed with the quilt in his arms and wailed: “Ahhhhhhhhh, why are you so useless? Should I ask or not?!”

A light flashed in the room, Ye Zi changed back to a small green plant and rolled off the quilt. Ye Zi lay on the soft bed as he stared blankly at the wooden beam above his head.

A moment later, he suddenly sat up.

The little green plant sat on the bed as its slender leaves spread out all over its body. Two stems extended out from underneath the leaves, gently shaking the few leaves beside the flower bud.

Every time he plucked a leaf, he would mutter to himself: “Ask him, don’t ask him, ask him, don’t ask him……”

On the other hand, Gu Yan returned to his study where Siwei had been waiting.

Gu Yan closed the door and sat down beside the table: “Tell me, what have you found?”

Siwei said: “The Princess Consort seemed to be extremely careful about his whereabouts today. People only saw him going to a restaurant to have a meal with Prince Yu’s son, Xiao Min. For the time being, we haven’t figured out where else he has been.”

Gu Yan said in a cold voice: “I ordered you guys to follow him today. Forget the fact that you lost him, you guys couldn’t even find out where he went today. What do I need you guys for?”

Siwei got down on one knee: “Master, I’m willing to take any punishment.”

“Forget it.” Gu Yan closed his eyes and ordered, “Continue the investigation. I don’t believe that in a large city like Chang’an, no one saw where he went and what he did today.”

Siwei was silent for a moment and answered in a low voice: “……Yes.”

Gu Yan glanced at him: “What? You guys failed your task, am I not right in scolding you?”

Siwei bit his lower lip and couldn’t help but say: “Master, it was you who told the shadow guards not to follow too closely, so as not to be discovered by the Princess Consort and think that you were watching him. But the Princess Consort is highly skilled in martial arts and is familiar with most of the shadow guards beside you. To not be discovered but also to follow closely at all times is really……”

He paused and stammered: “……really a bit difficult.”

Gu Yan was momentarily speechless.

He coughed lightly and said with a stern face: “If it wasn’t difficult, why would I need you guys? With so many people under your command, you can always find a few who can handle this job. I won’t pursue today’s matter but carry out what I ordered properly. If the matter is done well, there will be a hefty reward, is that better?” 

Siwei readily responded: “Yes, this subordinate will get to it immediately.” 

After sending Siwei away, Gu Yan unfolded the files and read them carefully.

The three-day time limit came quickly.

During these three days, Prince Rui, who had been idle for several years, resorted to thunderous tactics for the first time. He quickly arrested all the officials involved in the case and presented all the evidence to Emperor Jinghe.

Emperor Jinghe was so pleased that he rewarded Gu Yan and unprecedentedly kept him in the palace to have dinner with him.

Everything seemed to have moved on but only Ye Zi knew that the real culprit hadn’t been caught yet and that this matter wasn’t over yet. For the past few days, he stayed obediently in the manor and didn’t interfere with Gu Yan’s investigation. If his predictions were correct, tonight would be the time for Gu Yan to act.

Three days ago, Gu Yan had told him the plan.

Since they couldn’t find evidence of that person’s treason, they could only create the evidence themselves.

Gu Yan’s plan was to arrange for the Northern Barbarians to contact Pei Yuanzhi, forcing Pei Yuanzhi to reveal himself.

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In the past few days, Gu Yan investigated the treasonous affair with great fanfare. He deliberately tried the officials involved in the case, threatened and lured, and exerted all kinds of pressure, all in order to make Pei Yuanzhi feel nervous. His strings were about to snap and when Gu Yan presented the evidence to Emperor Jinghe to close the case, he would definitely relax.

When that time came, he would have Jia Xiedan deliberately arrange for a Northern Barbarian to deliver a message to him.

The moment Pei Yuanzhi came out to meet him, Gu Yan immediately arranged for his men to capture him.

Ye Zi waited apprehensively at the Prince’s manor until late at night, when news finally came from the palace.

Gu Yan was injured.

Ye Zi couldn’t think of anything else and hurried into the palace. Gu Yan had been led to a side chamber.

Ye Zi followed the eunuch into the main hall. Emperor Jinghe was sitting in the hall and a group of concubines stood on both sides. The inner room was blocked by layers of curtains and when Ye Zi looked inside, he could only see some blood-stained cloth thrown on the ground.

Ye Zi’s face turned pale. Just as he was about to kneel down to greet Emperor Jinghe, Emperor Jinghe waved his hand and exempted him from the salute: “Yan’er is injured. We know that you would be worried which was why We sent someone to bring you over. The Imperial physician is currently treating Yan’er, don’t worry, nothing will happen.”

Ye Zi’s eyes moved slightly as he answered in a low voice: “Yes.”

Emperor Jinghe looked like he had suffered from shock and said tiredly: “We were careless today, We shouldn’t have insisted on personally interrogating Pei Yuanzhi. We didn’t expect that he would still try to bring Us down with him despite being caught. Fortunately, Yan’er blocked that sword for Us, otherwise……”

He didn’t say any more as he closed his eyes to recuperate.

A few moments later, several eunuchs came out from the inner room.

Emperor Jinghe asked: “How is Prince Rui?”

One of the eunuchs responded: “Replying to Your Holiness, His Majesty Prince Rui is blessed with great fortune. Although the sword pierced him deeply, it didn’t injure his heart or any vital organs. After resting for a few days, he should be fine.” 

Emperor Jinghe also asked the Imperial physician for some rest and recuperation precautions, ordered Gu Yan to recuperate in the Prince’s manor for the next few months, and instructed Ye Zi to take good care of him. After the order, Emperor Jinghe moved back to the palace and Ye Zi was finally able to enter the inner room.

In the inner room, Gu Yan had already woken up with his waist and abdomen wrapped in bandages. He tilted his head to look at Ye Zi, as if he wanted to sit up.

Ye Zi hurriedly walked forward to help him: “Don’t move around recklessly.”

There was a slight smile on Gu Yan’s pale face and he said indifferently: “They’re the ones making a big fuss out of it. It’s just a small injury, don’t worry.” 

Ye Zi didn’t say anything else. He took the outer robe, draped it on Gu Yan’s body, and said in a low voice: “I’ll bring you back to the manor.”

Ye Zi helped Gu Yan onto the Prince Rui Manor’s carriage.

Gu Yan pulled on his wound while walking and his face turned pale from the pain, he laughed at himself: “This body really isn’t as good as it used to be. Even though it’s just a small wound, I can barely even walk.” 

Ye Zi poured a glass of warm water and handed it to him, calmly saying: “Pei Yuanzhi is just a civil official. Even if he knows a few moves, he can’t compare to the Imperial bodyguards, let alone break through the layers of guards to assassinate Emperor Jinghe. What’s more, I don’t think any of the Imperial bodyguards are a match for you.”

Ye Zi raised his eyes to look at him: “Is it because your life has been too leisurely recently that you have to be stabbed in order to be happy?”