““Six years ago?”
In a civilian residence tucked away in an alley of Fengdu, Yu Gong Zhao Ye sat silently in a dim corner untouched by lamplight. His complexion was already pale, but now it was as cold as frost. Yet on closer look, the faint expression between his brows did not suggest anger or irritation—rather, it carried the uneasy air of someone forcing himself to remain composed.
Kui Yue was noisily chewing on a local Xiling specialty, osmanthus rice cake balls, speaking indistinctly as she ate: “Last time we checked Han Shao, we also looked into Wei Fu. There was nothing wrong with him. Why are we suddenly investigating six years ago? Did something happen, Your Highness?”
Something that meant nothing to others—but for him, turned the world upside down.
When Yu Gong Zhao Ye slipped out of Wei Fu’s room using his exceptional stealth, he truly left without alerting anyone. However, he was unfamiliar with the Duke Zhenguo, and since Wei Fu had directed him through the rear window, he became briefly disoriented and accidentally wandered behind the servants’ quarters in the inner courtyard.
He had not intended to eavesdrop, but the night was still, the doors and windows provided poor sound insulation, and the speakers’ voices were loud. Snippets of conversation drifted through the cracks of the window into his ears:
“Still not asleep, Aunt Lin? It’s so late—working by lamplight will hurt your eyes.”
Another woman replied, “It’s nothing, just a few more stitches and I’ll be done. It’s getting colder by the day—I’d better finish early and send it over. Guan-lang has grown a few more inches since last year. His old clothes probably don’t fit anymore.”
A younger maid giggled. “Good thing Second Young Master was born into our household. If he’d been born into a poor family, the money earned in a whole year wouldn’t even be enough to buy cloth.”
Aunt Lin chuckled softly as well. “From the Duke downward, no one in the Wei family is short. Even Second Master is tall and well-built. When Guan-lang was little, you really couldn’t tell he’d grow this tall. Back then, when His Majesty was staying in our residence, he was even a bit shorter than His Majesty.”
“Aunt Liu, let me tell you something,” the younger maid lowered her voice. “I was attending in the main quarters tonight and overheard the Eldest Master speaking with Madam. Our Second Young Master is about to be sent as an envoy to Longsha.”
The faint sound of needle and thread abruptly stopped.
“To Longsha? When will he leave? How long will he be gone? I remember there used to be fighting over there—will it be dangerous?”
“Oh, that was years ago—it’s long over. Back then they even borrowed troops from our Xiling,” the maid said. “Second Young Master will be staying there for three years. Madam hasn’t arranged the luggage yet, but from the sound of things, it’ll probably be kept simple. Otherwise, we’d have our hands full.”
Aunt Liu asked worriedly, “Going that far, and still keeping things simple? What if he runs short of necessities and can’t buy anything there—what then?”
The maid laughed to reassure her. “My dear sister, Fengdu is prosperous, but that doesn’t mean other places are poor. One of our distant young ladies married into Shenquan City in Longsha. She came back to visit last year and looked even more distinguished than before her marriage. That place is nestled between mountains and sea—just running a small business is enough for a comfortable life. Besides, our Second Young Master is going there as a high official—no one will let him lack anything.”
“Guan-lang” referred to Wei Fu. Yu Gong Zhao Ye had already understood this when their conversation began. But struck by the shock, he had stood frozen by the wall for a long time. Only now did he recover slightly, hurriedly finding another way out and leaving the Duke’s residence.
After leaving, he did not return to the embassy. Instead, like a wandering ghost, he drifted into Longsha’s secret outpost in Fengdu.
His mind was filled with countless doubts and tangled emotions. It was as though someone who had lived half a lifetime in seclusion in the mountains had suddenly fallen into a bustling city—the overwhelming tide of the mortal world crashing down, leaving him unsure where to even begin sorting through it all.
“Don’t ask—just investigate.”
No matter how much weighed on Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s mind, he would never show it plainly. At most, he let out a soft breath and slightly furrowed his brows. “Have your brother look into the other Xiling envoys. You focus on investigating Wei Fu. Find out everything about him from childhood to now, including his…”
Kui Yue had finished her rice cakes and was already unwrapping another oil-paper package, preparing to devour some crispy fried wild chicken. The rustling of the paper drowned out his trailing voice. She didn’t catch it and asked again, “Including what?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye felt more helpless than he had ever been in his life. Putting on a stern front to mask his unease, he said, “Don’t worry about the details—just investigate what I told you.”
Kui Yue glanced at him in confusion and mumbled, “I’m asking what to investigate. Your Highness, you’re speaking so softly—did you eat too much salt tonight?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye: “……”
He ground his molars slightly and repeated clearly, word by word: “Find out Wei Fu’s childhood name.”
“Oh.” Kui Yue paid no attention to the vein throbbing on his forehead, gnawing on the wild chicken like a weasel, her eyes shining. “Got it.”
And that was it? Not even a hint of surprise?
Kui Yue seemed to hear the question in his heart and said solemnly, “Didn’t Your Highness say before—when discussing official business, don’t mix in personal feelings, don’t act based on personal likes or dislikes, just do whatever you’re told to do? So I won’t question you, and you don’t need to feel so guilty.”
“Who feels guilty?” Yu Gong Zhao Ye asked coldly. “And who eats while discussing official business?”
Kui Yue, with a chicken wing in her mouth: “……”
Serving a superior was truly difficult—ask, and he gets flustered with anger; don’t ask, and he grows embarrassed and annoyed. Clearly, he was the one with something to hide, yet he took it out on her, an innocent underling.
“Your Highness, if you didn’t come to discuss official business during my dinner, I wouldn’t be eating while discussing official business.”
Kui Yue set down the half-eaten wild chicken, forced her most polite smile through gritted teeth, and said softly, “Investigate Wei Fu’s background and childhood name—this subordinate obeys. Do you have any other instructions?”
“……”
The speechless superior stood up stiffly, flicked his sleeves, and left. Before departing, he tossed out a completely harmless remark:
“Your dinner is really late. In another hour, it’d be time for breakfast.”
Kui Yue: “Heh.”
The next afternoon, Mu Heng once again summoned the principal and deputy envoys of Longsha. Representing Xiling were the principal envoy Wei Fu, the deputy envoy Censor Feng Xie, and officials from the Four Ministries.
Unlike the grand and formal banquet of the previous night, this was a meeting attended only by a small number of core personnel. Yu Gong Zhao Ye instructed Liu Ming Zhong to present a brocade box, which was handed to the palace attendant. He then bowed slightly to Mu Heng and said:
“In the fifteenth year of Jinyuan, the Upper State and our country formed a suzerain-vassal alliance. Thanks to the support of the suzerain state, Longsha was spared the calamity of national destruction. Our late king passed away in the seventh month, and the new king immediately ordered us to enter the court to report the mourning, not daring to delay in the slightest. We also present a state letter and formal memorial, respectfully requesting that the Upper State bestow investiture and confer a royal title.”
Mu Heng nodded slightly, signaling the attendant to set down the box. “Your country upholds trust and righteousness; your loyalty is commendable. Let the Ministry of Rites deliberate and handle this matter. After discussion, the West Secretariat shall draft the edict, and the principal envoy shall carry it to Longsha to confer the investiture.”
The named officials stepped forward to accept the order, which only made the absence of the Left Chancellor of the East Secretariat, Du Run, more conspicuous. Yu Gong Zhao Ye would not ordinarily pick up on such subtleties, but after Wei Fu had mentioned it the previous night, he could not help but glance at Du Run’s expression.
Perhaps it was bias at work, but Du Run’s gaze was lowered, his lips pressed tight, and the hand resting on his knee clenched slightly, creasing his official robes—he did indeed seem to be restraining some discomfort.
Mu Heng, however, remained calm, as though unaware that he had omitted the East Secretariat in his casual assignment—and no one dared remind him. He continued in a conversational tone:
“This delegation numbers around a hundred. After escorting the principal and deputy envoys to Longsha, thirty will remain in Bihan City, and the rest will return. Your country is in mourning, and affairs must be numerous—are the residences and personnel for receiving the envoys all prepared? If there are any inconveniences, speak freely. You may remain in Fengdu a while longer to give yourselves more time to prepare.”
Xiling was generous in its provisions and rewards. If he were merely an ordinary envoy, Yu Gong Zhao Ye would have accepted the emperor’s goodwill. But after what had happened, his naturally suspicious mind could not help but assume the worst: what if Xiling intended to detain them in Fengdu under the pretext of hospitality, only deciding whether to honor the alliance after investigating the assassination?
Delays bred complications. If they did not seize the favorable situation now and escort the auxiliary regent away, who knew what might happen next?
He immediately rose and bowed. “Many thanks for Your Majesty’s consideration. Longsha regards the alliance between our two nations as a matter of utmost importance. Last year, when the late king was gravely ill, he anticipated future affairs and ordered the renovation of diplomatic residences and the construction of the auxiliary regent’s residence, in preparation for this day. This spring, the residences have already been completed. The envoys will certainly not be slighted.”
That Yu Gong Feng Ting could do this much—whether out of genuine anticipation or calculated flattery—at least proved he was truly planning for Longsha’s future. Mu Heng looked at Yu Gong Zhao Ye, who stood straight-backed, and sighed softly. “Your king is thoughtful.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye said nothing, bowing in reply. Liu Ming Zhong (柳铭中) followed suit.
Mu Heng waved a hand, signaling them to sit. “I know you have your difficulties. But after what happened yesterday, those willing to go to Longsha have already resolved to stake their lives—this loyalty is not only for me, but also for Longsha. You must remember this.”
His tone remained calm, yet his words gradually took on a weight of pressure. “The auxiliary regent is unlike other envoys—this is unprecedented. It is also Wei Qing’s first time bearing such a heavy responsibility. No matter how matters turn out, I hope Longsha will show tolerance. Disputes may be discussed, but under no circumstances may you privately deal with an envoy. Otherwise, it will be regarded as a breach of the alliance. At that point, neither I nor the armies of Xiling will be inclined to negotiate.”
Wei Fu rose even faster than Yu Gong Zhao Ye. “We thank Your Majesty for your grace. We will devote ourselves wholly and not disgrace our mission.”
The ruler and his minister played off each other, easing the heavy tension somewhat. Liu Ming Zhong unconsciously relaxed his shoulders, but Yu Gong Zhao Ye felt a strange complexity in his heart—so much so that he had to consciously restrain himself from looking too often in Wei Fu’s direction.
Mu Heng, seeing his uncomposed demeanor, felt a flicker of irritation. He considered pressing the Longsha envoys further, but recalling that he had already done so at the previous night’s banquet, and thinking of the report from the Egret Guards that morning, he moderated his tone slightly:
“Enough. There is no need to be so tense. I am merely stating the worst-case scenario in advance—it is not as if war will begin tomorrow.”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye was not intimidated by the warning, but the moment he saw Wei Fu, his emotions seemed to sway unpredictably. Forcing himself to remain composed, he said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. The righteousness of these envoys inspires our deepest respect. All of Longsha will treat them with the utmost courtesy, in gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“Wei Qing once rendered meritorious service in saving the throne. Had he not risked his life back then, I would not be sitting here today.” Mu Heng glanced at Wei Fu, then looked at Yu Gong Zhao Ye and said calmly, “I regard him as one of my own. If he had not insisted, I would never have let him go. From now on, I entrust him to you.”
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