SMMW | Chapter 26

A jade pendant. A dragon-patterned jade pendant, patterned with dragons that only the imperial family was allowed to use.

Wen Qing had tossed and turned all through the night before, barely sleeping at all. The next day, when he went on duty, he did not dare leave the jade pendant carelessly at home, and only felt safe going out after carefully tucking it into his robes against his chest.

He was now a sixth-rank zhushi in the Ministry of Revenue, and his duty was compiling household registers.

He sat in the office, flipping through last year’s household register in his hands, but all he could think about was what had happened yesterday.

Yesterday had been his day off, so he had gone to the wine shop to check on the business, only to run into Yuan Hao there buying wine. And not a small amount either, thirty jars every month, all of it the finest shaojiu.

Even after becoming a prince, Yuan Hao still seemed desperately short of money, repeatedly asking whether the price could be lowered. Although Xin’an tried to stop him, Wen Qing still lowered it all the way to fifty percent off. He had thought Yuan Hao would keep bargaining, but then his head spun, time rolled back to a quarter-hour earlier, and Yuan Hao said that seventy percent would do.

Wen Qing laughed secretly to himself, amused that Yuan Hao was still such a measured, self-restrained monster, unwilling to let him, the owner, lose too much.

Thirty jars of wine, that was a lot, enough that the shop could have delivered it by carriage. But in the blink of an eye, more than half the wine was gone. He had turned to look at Xin’an, and though it was happening right in front of her eyes, Xin’an had noticed nothing at all.

He must have used some kind of storage spell. So it really was true that only he could see it.

Then Yuan Hao started rummaging around on himself, pulling out a handful of tongcao and stuffing it into Wen Qing’s hands, then taking out a peace talisman, only to put it back on himself again.

That peace talisman had been one Wen Qing personally went to Putuo Temple to ask for, all for the sake of curing Yuan Hao of that terrible habit of changing clothes at random in the middle of the street.

The abbot had said that if he wanted to punish evil spirits, he should use a lightning talisman or a ghost-slaying talisman, enough to scatter their souls completely.

But all he did was strip and change clothes at random. His offense did not deserve that.

The abbot had then said that if he wanted something less powerful, there were exorcism talismans and demon-repelling talismans.

But Wen Qing had never intended to hurt him. He had only wanted to scare him a little.

The abbot had then said, then ask for a protective talisman. Demons and monsters will retreat the moment they see it.

He lives in my house now. I wasn’t trying to make him leave.

The abbot had gotten angry.

Wen Qing had apologized and made a large donation of incense money, and in the end had only managed to obtain a peace talisman.

“Praying for peace, no illness and no disaster.” It was a wish talisman, so it probably did not have much power, but it was still a talisman after all. Maybe it could at least scare him a little.

When Yuan Hao changed clothes in public once again, Wen Qing had angrily taken out the talisman paper, but he had still been worried, worried that it might hurt this very weak monster.

In the end, Yuan Hao was perfectly fine. He snatched it away in one grab, and Wen Qing had been so frightened his soul nearly flew out of him. The monster himself was completely unharmed. He looked at it, then tucked it into his robes, looking quite pleased.

That peace talisman really did not have much power. But if it could at least keep him safe and free from illness or disaster, that was fine too.

He had originally thought the talisman paper would be lost within a few days. Unexpectedly, Yuan Hao still carried it on him.

Yuan Hao put the peace talisman back, then kept digging around, and pulled out a jade pendant. After hesitating for a moment, he actually gave it to him. Then he ran off!

What was that supposed to mean?!

Wasn’t that jade pendant a token? The token for acknowledging kinship with the emperor, the token of love between his mother and the emperor, so how could he just hand it over to him so casually?

Was it… because he thought the wine price was too low, so he wanted to leave it as collateral?

Was it… because he had nowhere to put it, and was only letting him keep it for the time being?

Was it… because he wanted to give it to me?

Could something as important as this jade pendant really be given so casually to a friend? Or was it that… I was different?

The feelings Wen Qing had deliberately suppressed were all stirred up at once. He had already passed the examinations, become an official, and found people to bring his mother to the capital. His family was about to be reunited. He could give his mother a good life now, and the pressure hanging over his future was gone too. So then, could he really allow himself to hope for something more?

Did Yuan Hao have special feelings for him?

Though clearly short on money, after Wen Qing got injured he had still insisted on buying roast duck, secretly using healing spells on the food and coaxing him into eating it. When he was sick of eating duck, Yuan Hao could still grit his teeth and buy a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall so he could have something different.

He had been strapped enough for money that he needed to earn by escorting cargo. Once he learned it was Wen Qing’s goods, he had quoted an extremely low price. When mountain bandits came to rob them, he had even used magic to sell them off, and returned every last coin.

When he came to buy wine, even after being offered fifty percent off, he had still used magic to rewind time and stubbornly agreed at seventy percent instead.

A gentleman acts with principle. Poverty does not crush his spirit.

But he had said before that he did not like men, and he had looked deeply resistant to the idea too.

Maybe he was simply a good person, kind to everyone, and it was only because of that kindness that Wen Qing had developed improper hopes, and was instead wronging him.

…But could there really be not even the slightest bit that was special? Would a person of good character hand over such an important token over nothing more than the price of some wine?

Wen Qing covered the place on his chest where the jade pendant was hidden, his thoughts twisting and turning a hundred ways, his heart aching in secret.

“Wen Qing? Wen Qing!”

Wen Qing jolted out of his daze. Looking up, he saw that it was his superior, Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Revenue.

“…Yes! Lord Jiang.” Wen Qing hurriedly got to his feet and saluted.

“During working hours, you’re tired and perfunctory. Come out with me!”

“Yes.”

He really had not been doing his work properly, and Wen Qing had no excuse to offer. Ashamed, he lowered his head and followed Jiang out.

When they reached the Minister’s Office, Lord Jiang sat down in the place of honor, while Wen Qing, knowing he had done wrong, stood below in the corridor with his hands lowered.

After sitting down, Lord Jiang let out a sigh and looked much gentler. “It’s not that big a matter, really. Sit.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“I can see dark circles under your eyes. Didn’t sleep well?”

“Thank you for your concern, my lord. I found it difficult to fall asleep last night, which is why I was drowsy. But I guarantee that this will only happen once. In the future, I absolutely will not delay official business.”

Lord Jiang waved a hand. “That sort of thing is unavoidable too… After all, who in this world doesn’t have some troubling matter or other? If it’s convenient, why not tell me about it? I might be able to offer you an idea.”

Wen Qing kept his mouth shut and did not dare speak.

What kind of idea? I like the Third Prince, so are you going to help me ask whether he likes me too?

Lord Jiang seemed to have guessed something and reminded him, “I heard your mother is coming to the capital?”

At once, all of Wen Qing’s wandering thoughts snapped back into place. He knew what Lord Jiang wanted to inquire about now.

“Yes. My mother has worked hard for many years. Now that I’ve passed with high honors, I’m just about to bring her here to reunite with me and let her enjoy a peaceful old age in the capital.”

“Ah, I see. Then what about your father? I don’t think I’ve heard anything of him.” Lord Jiang casually flipped through the pages of the book on his desk, seeming unconcerned, as if he were really only asking casually.

But Wen Qing had no intention of cooperating with him. Putting together the stories his grandparents had told him, Steward Jiang who often came to bring gifts, the strange letters, the inexplicable recommendation he had received at court, and the fact that this very Lord Jiang was the live-in husband of Princess Changning and had deliberately brought him into the Ministry of Revenue to serve under him.

Wen Qing was ninety-nine percent certain that Lord Jiang was that heartless man who had abandoned his mother back then.

“Before I was born, my father passed away, and my mother said that he was a man of vile character. They had long since divorced, severing all husband-and-wife ties. So I have never once met my father. It was my mother who endured every hardship to raise me to adulthood.”

Lord Jiang looked a little deflated, but he still objected, “Perhaps your father is still alive. Perhaps there was only some misunderstanding between him and your mother…”

Wen Qing cut him off sternly. “Lord Jiang! Are you saying that my mother deceived me? My father has already passed away. Though there was no bond between father and son, why must we discuss the rights and wrongs of the dead? This is this subordinate’s family matter. My lord’s concern has made you lose your judgment.”

Lord Jiang choked on his words, hemming and hawing, and in the end could only sigh. “It was my poor choice of words… You may go back first.”

Good. Wen Qing did not want to stay there for even a moment longer.

He quickly rose, gave a respectful salute, and was just about to leave when the jade pendant nearly slipped out through the collar of his robe. Wen Qing hurried to press it down, clutching it tightly in his hand, but Lord Jiang’s sharp eyes had already seen it.

He stood up and barked sharply, “What is that in your hand?!”

“…A personal belonging of this subordinate’s.”

Wen Qing glanced around, wanting only to leave as quickly as possible. But Lord Jiang strode over directly and snatched it away with a chopping motion, taking the jade pendant into his hand.

He had not seen it clearly before, but after looking closely now, he was so frightened he nearly threw it away. Wen Qing reacted at once and hurriedly caught it. This time, he gripped it tightly in both hands, so firmly that no one would be able to take it away from him again.

Lord Jiang braced one hand on the desk, still shaken, but before he could recover he directly demanded, “Where did that jade pendant come from?!”

Wen Qing was about to answer, but Lord Jiang cut him off again. “Don’t even think about trying to fool me! That jade pendant clearly belongs to the Third Prince. Everyone saw it during the palace examination. How did it end up in your hands!”

Feeling guilty, Wen Qing could only force himself to remain calm. “The Third Prince and I are classmates and close friends. When we met privately, he accidentally left it behind. I was just thinking of returning it to him some other day.”

“You, you!” Lord Jiang slammed the table hard. “You think I don’t know about the rumors between the two of you?! If I hadn’t suppressed them, who knows what they might have turned into. Your whole future would have been ruined! I told you to get close to him, but not… not like this!”

In his agitation, Lord Jiang chose his words poorly and blurted out many things Wen Qing had not known before.

“This subordinate does not know what my lord means. The Third Prince and I are only bound by friendship between classmates.” Wen Qing forced himself to play dumb.

“Hah, friendship between classmates. Before, I might have believed that. But now, when he has even given you the jade pendant of the late Consort Xian, and you still dare say it’s only friendship between classmates?!”

Wen Qing lowered his head and said nothing.

After venting his anger, Lord Jiang seemed to feel that he had gone a little too far. He began trying to persuade him more gently instead. “Good child, I know you two are close, but you must know how to keep to proper limits. Right now there are only three princes, and in the struggle over succession, no means will be spared. Back when the two of you had only just arrived, rumors spread all through the capital. Was that really because the two of you… behaved too intimately?”

Wen Qing lifted his head solemnly and looked straight at Lord Jiang.

Seeing that he had gotten a reaction, Lord Jiang continued leading him on. “In the imperial city, killing examination candidates outright would be foolish. But ruining their reputation so they can no longer sit for the metropolitan examination, that would not be nearly so obvious.”

“Who was it…”

“I can’t say. I already helped the two of you once.” Lord Jiang cut off Wen Qing’s question. “Wen Qing, people like us have no right to involve ourselves in the princes’ struggle. We need only be pure officials. It doesn’t matter which one ascends the throne.

“I am husband and wife with the Princess, and the Princess is the princes’ paternal cousin-aunt. You are my… subordinate. With that layer of connection, we don’t need to stand with any side. So long as we maintain reasonably good private relations, if we happen to bet on the right one, then we’ll soar to great heights. And if we bet wrong, we can still withdraw with our whole bodies intact. Do you understand?”

“I…” Wen Qing stiffened his neck, clearly unconvinced.

Lord Jiang waved a hand to stop him from speaking. “I’ll say one last thing to you. Consider what happened before to be my mistake. Even if you want to place your bet, you absolutely cannot place it on the Third Prince, because before long he will be sent out to war, and it will be a near-certain brush with death!”

“The Third Prince has only just returned. How can they send him out!” Wen Qing cried out anxiously.

Lord Jiang clasped his hands behind his back, looking calm and self-assured. “The roots of this matter run deep and tangled, but the result is already fixed. It’s not something you can change… Where are you going!”

Wen Qing turned and ran. By the time Lord Jiang reacted and tried to stop him, Wen Qing had already run out.

“Quick, quick!” Lord Jiang pointed outside, too furious to get his words out.

A servant asked cautiously, “My lord, what are your orders?”

“Quick, quick, stop him!” Lord Jiang shouted, slapping his thigh in anger.

But by then Wen Qing had already vanished without a trace.

Of course Wen Qing was going to warn Yuan Hao. Yuan Hao was currently on duty at the Ministry of War, and it was not yet noon, so he ought to be able to find him.

Sure enough, when he reached the Ministry of War and asked one of the guards to pass on a message, Yuan Hao came out not long after.

“What are you doing here?” Yuan Hao asked.

“This isn’t the place to talk. Come with me!” Wen Qing grabbed him and pulled him away, looking for somewhere secluded where they could speak properly.

The palace was too large, roads everywhere. Wen Qing tugged Yuan Hao around at random. When they came to a large fork in the road, he picked the left-hand path without thinking. After only a few steps, they ran right into Lord Jiang, who had come to catch him.

“Third Prince, there is a problem with the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts, and we are desperately short-handed. Why don’t I take Wen Qing away first, and the two of you can meet another day?”

Yuan Hao, not understanding the situation, stupidly nodded. “Alright. Official business comes first.”

Wen Qing was frantic, but he could not very well shout out the matter of the expedition in front of so many servants. He kept shooting Yuan Hao meaningful looks, but this stupid monster did not understand a thing.

Then suddenly he had a flash of inspiration and blurted out, “I was originally planning to invite the Third Prince to eat some pastries, but what a pity. If we miss today, that pastry will be sold out.”

Not long after saying that, Wen Qing felt his head spin. He hurriedly steadied himself with a hand, but inwardly he was overjoyed. When he opened his eyes again, the two of them had returned to the fork in the road. Yuan Hao really had rewound time!

This time Wen Qing did not hesitate. He immediately pulled Yuan Hao down the path on the right. After only a few steps, they heard the distant sound of a crowd running, Lord Jiang had come. But the sound grew fainter and fainter. Lord Jiang had gone down the path on the left, so this time they had missed each other.

Only then was Wen Qing relieved. Pulling Yuan Hao behind a tree to hide, he hurriedly told him the information.

“In the next few days, the court may send you out on campaign. Whatever happens, do not go!”

Yuan Hao hesitated, and Wen Qing’s heart clenched at once. That was a very bad sign.

“It was already decided today. The Datan tribe is causing trouble, and I am to lead troops out to suppress them.”

“But you don’t even know how to lead troops!?”

“I recommended former Great General Huang Zhan as Marshal. I’m only there in name. Huang Zhan is my master from the escort agency, and the wine was bought for him to drink. My master has fought with the Datan tribe for many years and has plenty of experience, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

There shouldn’t be? What kind of answer was that? From Lord Jiang’s tone, this was obviously a trap prepared specifically for him.

“It’s not that simple. The other two princes won’t tolerate you. They’ll definitely tamper with things!”

Those words were tantamount to sowing discord within the imperial family. If they spread, it would be a capital crime. But Wen Qing could not care about that now. Afraid Yuan Hao might not understand, he still said it plainly.

“I know. What family feeling is there in the imperial house? If I want to sit in that position, then I won’t be able to tolerate them either.” When Yuan Hao said those words, he carried an aura of looking down over all under heaven.

The moment he spoke, Wen Qing understood that he would never be able to persuade Yuan Hao.

Yuan Hao carried the whole realm in his heart. But in Wen Qing’s heart, all he cared about was Yuan Hao’s life and death. He was truly afraid, afraid that this might be the last time they would ever see each other.

Wen Qing looked at Yuan Hao, and in his heart arose ten thousand threads of fear, sorrow, and reluctance. He touched the jade pendant at his chest, selfishly unwilling to return it. A great battle was imminent, and he should not be disturbing him with words unrelated to it. But if he did not speak now, he was afraid he truly might never have another chance.

“Monster, you probably can’t hear this, can you? I’m too afraid to say it, but I’m also afraid this is the last time we’ll meet.”

Yuan Hao did not react. It seemed he really could not hear. Wen Qing had already figured out the pattern. Anything that could expose Yuan Hao’s identity or the abnormal things he did, Yuan Hao could not hear.

Wen Qing took a deep breath. Knowing he could not hear, he still lowered his voice.

“Monster, I’m in love with you.”

Yuan Hao stood there in a relaxed posture, looking a little bored. He really had not heard.

There was regret, and there was relief. But for Wen Qing, this was already the furthest he could go.

Wen Qing gave two bitter laughs, then when he spoke again, he directly called him by name. “Yuan Hao, take care on the road.”

Yuan Hao nodded. “Alright.”