Chapter 210: Remaining Years
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In the Star Gazing Pavillion, Qu Chenzhou woke up amidst the familiar scent of aged agarwood.
He wasn’t disoriented at all and remembered clearly what had happened last night.
Not long after Liu Qingru left, he didn’t intend to endure further mistreatment. He simply closed his eyes and laid down on the ground.
The guards and patrollers around him were all soldiers from the Four Divisions. None of them dared to stand by if something happened to him. They immediately lifted him and took him to a side hall. At the same time, they swiftly reported to Bo Yan.
Not long after, he was moved back to the Star Gazing Pavillion, where he fell asleep on a warm and comfortable bed until dawn.
Although Chenzhou had once been fixated on Changshui Town, those past feelings should have long been discarded. Even the confrontation in front of the emperor had left his heart unmoved.
People were working diligently behind his back, some to spare him from suffering, others waiting for him ahead. How could he allow himself to be held back by insignificant concerns?
Those outside the curtains were waiting for his awakening, as if they didn’t want to give him a moment’s respite.
“Yu Gonggong,” he offered a weak smile as he prepared to lift the covers and get out of bed, “Apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Yu Dexi quickly leaned forward to assist him, bringing over a robe to help him get dressed. As he did so, he muttered, “Qu Sitian, why do you make things so hard for yourself? The emperor has always treated you with favor, and being utterly obedient wouldn’t be excessive. Now that the emperor is in mourning and cherishing his memory, he even wishes to reunite your family. Why are you so stubborn? Why not think about easing the emperor’s concerns?”
Qu Chenzhou lifted his head slightly, waiting for Yu Dexi to tie up his hair and place the hat back on his head before expressing his regrets, “Gonggong, may I inquire where the emperor is? Could you please lead me? Qu Chenzhou has offended the emperor and deserves a thousand deaths. However, I have a matter to discuss with His Majesty.”
“The emperor isn’t in a good mood due to you,” Yu Dexi sighed, “He is currently resting carefully and has instructed me not to let you disturb him for the time being. After you leave the palace, you are confined to your residence and are not allowed to leave.”
“Gonggong,” Qu Chenzhou tugged at Yu Dexi’s sleeve, “Could you please go and plead with the emperor…”
Yu Dexi shook his head and extended his hand, gesturing for him to stop. “Qu Sitian, please leave. Right and wrong are clear, and the emperor will make the judgment. But this time, you have truly hurt the emperor’s heart.”
Seeing him about to step forward as if to bypass him, Yu Dexi flicked his feather duster, no longer obstructing him.
“If Qu Sitian insists on barging in, I can’t stop you. However, if you provoke the emperor to anger, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself.”
Naturally, Qu Chenzhou couldn’t force his way in. He could only make one last effort.
“Yu Gonggong, as a subordinate, I have indeed disobeyed the emperor and deserve death. But if I were to casually claim a relative without any evidence, it would set a precedent for malicious people to deceive and falsely claim kinship. I am only worried…”
Yu Dexi waved his hand to stop his words. “I am just a servant, ignorant of court matters, and dare not spread gossip. Qu Sitian, please return home. When you’ve thought it over, you can discuss it with the emperor. It’s not too late.”
Qu Chenzhou felt helpless and had to follow the young eunuch guiding him away.
Yu Dexi stood on the steps, watching his figure disappear through the Moon Cave Gate, his gaze tranquil. “Well said…”
“Did Chenzhou say that to you?” Emperor Yu, wrapped in a thick fur coat, eyes still focused on the documents in his hand, inquired.
“Yes. Qu Sitian said that he would never acknowledge anyone as a relative, no matter who claimed it.”
Yu Dexi kneeled on the ground, carefully crawling forward, and cradled Emperor Yu’s feet in his arms.
Having served by his side for many years, he knew that despite the warmth of the charcoal fire burning brightly inside, the cold of winter hadn’t completely subsided. If one sat for too long, the chill would still crawl from the feet up to the knees.
Emperor Yu indeed exhaled a sigh of relief, but his voice was cold to the bone. “I’ve managed to raise him with some backbone, haven’t I?”
Yu Dexi didn’t dare to utter a sound.
“And what about him?”
“Your Majesty, Qu Sitian obeyed your orders and returned home for self-reflection.”
“He went back?” Emperor Yu’s fingers toyed with the pen, his brow furrowing tightly as if he couldn’t believe it. “He went back?”
“Yes,” Yu Dexi bent his body, focusing on warming Emperor Yu’s feet while gently pressing them, “Your Majesty, Qu Sitian is frail and has many illnesses. He might not have dared to come before you due to his physical discomfort. He was probably afraid of showing disrespect before you.”
This reason was rather far-fetched, and it might be better not to say it. Emperor Yu’s expression grew increasingly displeased.
“Your Majesty, please forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn, but could you grant Qu Sitian some forgiveness?”
Yu Dexi lowered his head, as if unaware of the meaning behind Emperor Yu’s silence at this moment.
“I was thinking that Qu Sitian’s refusal to acknowledge kinship might have a reason. He has experienced hardships at a young age and doesn’t understand the struggles of parents. It’s natural for him to harbor grievances,” Yu Dexi explained.
The sound of the papers being thrown onto the desk interrupted his words. Emperor Yu laughed coldly, “Harboring grievances? I now realize that something Zhongming said is right.”
Yu Dexi carefully asked, “Your Majesty is saying…”
“He comes from humble origins,” Emperor Yu leaned back in his chair and pinched his brow. “A dog that can’t be tamed, it’s incredible that Jingchen was just interceding for him.”
“Jing Wang?” Yu Dexi was momentarily taken aback, blurting out, “And the Shizi?”
“…” Emperor Yu sensed something odd in his tone, opening his eyes and inquiring, “Zhongming? Why did you suddenly mention him out of the blue?”
“Your Majesty, please forgive the oversight… Your servant misspoke. It’s just that your servant was always puzzled. Anyone with discerning eyes could see the resemblance between that woman and Lord Qu Sitian, indicating a blood relation. Since the Shizi and Lord Qu Sitian don’t see eye to eye, why would he willingly bring those few people back?”
The Emperor paused for a moment. “Go on.”
“Yes, earlier in the Warm Pavilion, your servant even thought that, considering the Shizi’s temperament, he might interrogate Qu Sitian together with Doctor Xu. Leaving aside other matters, now that Your Majesty has dispatched people to the Wuan Prefecture to retrieve the household registry, the Shizi seems as if he’s completely unaware of the matter, not causing any disturbances with Your Majesty.”
“Zhongming…” The Emperor’s gaze rested on him, and he chuckled softly. “It seems he has grown more understanding.”
Yu Dexi accompanied the Emperor with a chuckle. “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
He refrained from further words – the Emperor’s keen insight was well-known, and some matters should only be hinted at. The seed of doubt, once planted, awaited the appropriate soil to take root and sprout.
“Your Majesty,” he asked in a soft voice, “The day after tomorrow is the day when Qu Sitian will perform divination. Shall we make the proclamation?”
Emperor Yu’s fingers habitually stroked the wooden pendant on his wrist. Several times he almost voiced the word “no,” but those blank days after that felt like being suspended over an abyss, made him feel rather uneasy.
He understood better than anyone that he was addicted. Without Qu Chenzhou’s protective divinations, he felt like he was running naked in an icy landscape.
It was true that he had spoiled Qu Chenzhou to some extent, yet for this young and naive eaglet, who didn’t know the limits of the sky and earth, he wasn’t willing to strangle it. He only wanted to clip its wings.
The so-called pride was the most useless thing.
After a long pause, he let out a breath. “Proclaim it.”
As Qu Chenzhou was escorted out of the palace gate, someone had been waiting at the Dismounting Stone for quite some time.
Given the sensitivity of their relationship in the eyes of outsiders, and to avoid arousing suspicions, they didn’t ride in a carriage. Instead, they walked side by side along the street.
Mu Jingchen turned to glance at the palace gate and asked softly, “Have you seen the emperor?”
Qu Chenzhou shook his head.
Even if he hadn’t said it, Mu Jingchen knew that someone must have interfered. Otherwise, given Qu Chenzhou’s caution, he wouldn’t have left such a glaring loophole for others to exploit.
“Just now, I went to the emperor to intercede on your behalf and gauge his response.”
“Thank you for your efforts, Wangye,” Qu Chenzhou walked slowly. His knees, chilled from last night, hadn’t fully recovered. “I presume His Majesty isn’t in a good mood. Even though he sent people to retrieve the household register, it was likely due to pressure from Cui Lao and Lin Xiang.”
“Yes, they both deserve credit. This way, by the end of this year, it’s likely that His Majesty will grant them permission to retire. By then, there will be even fewer influential voices.”
“Time is running short…” Qu Chenzhou sighed lightly.
The matter of usurping the heir’s position had remained covert, allowing for careful planning. However, once it was exposed, whether it was the emperor or Huai Wang, they wouldn’t provide an opportunity for them to slow down.
They had to keep moving forward. The moment they lagged behind their opponents, they risked being crushed.
“Wangye, today Yu Dexi deliberately obstructed me from seeing the emperor. Even if I forced my way in, the drawbacks would outweigh the benefits. On the way here, I’ve been thinking about Yu Dexi’s intentions. Is he acting for himself or someone else?”
Mu Jingchen answered his question, “Definitely for himself, but it’s hard to say if others are benefiting incidentally.”
Qu Chenzhou agreed with this assessment.
“Yu Dexi has been by the emperor’s side the longest; he understands His Majesty’s taboos better than anyone. Therefore, he won’t be completely swayed by either side. Otherwise, the moment His Majesty detects the slightest hint of deception, there won’t be a place for Yu Dexi to even die.”
“At present, the power struggle in the court is between the Liu family and Huai Wang. His current position is being threatened by me. If he wishes to stabilize his footing with help, his best choice is Huai Wang.”
“If Huai Wang wants to expose the relationship between me and Zhongming, the most effective route would be through Yu Dexi.”
“That….” Mu Jingchen voiced a concern, “But Yu Dexi is nearly always by His Majesty’s side, with countless opportunities to make suggestions. If His Majesty…”
“Time is limited, but there’s still a bit left,” Qu Chenzhou calmly reassured. “Between these two, it’s not so much Yu Dexi unilaterally taking sides behind the scenes, as it is a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Mu Jingchen reminded him, “However, Yu Dexi won’t openly argue with you like Doctor Xu did. When he stops you, he’s undoubtedly conveying a message that will be unfavorable for you when reported to His Majesty. When he truly acts, it will likely be a single, devastating strike. Should you prepare in advance?”
Qu Chenzhou slowed his steps, wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, and whispered after a long pause, “Wangye, as of now, both Zhongming and I are exposed to the public eye, making it inconvenient. Could I trouble you to find Bo Yan for me another day…”
“Bo Yan?”
His voice was very soft. Mu Jingchen listened attentively, nodded slightly, repeated the name to himself, and then asked, “Is this sufficient?”
“Be cautious with Bo Yan’s involvement; just hint at it,” Qu Chenzhou watched the carriage trailing behind them in the distance. He extended his hand towards Mu Jingchen, gesturing for him to walk alongside, “Wangye, I appreciate your intercession. Qu Chenzhou is grateful.”
“I… I’m just…” Mu Jingchen’s words faltered several times in his mouth. He had already walked away, but couldn’t resist turning back, “Chenzhou, is it true that parents who didn’t raise you aren’t worth acknowledging…?”
His voice was filled with hesitation, and of course, Qu Chenzhou understood the conflict in Mu Jingchen’s heart.
“When Wangye asked that question, I believe you had already made a decision.”
“They say that it’s difficult for even an honest official to meddle in domestic affairs. If I irresponsibly gossip about others’ private matters, wouldn’t I become that kind of person?”
He cast a fleeting glance towards the palace, followed by a self-deprecating smile, “Wangye, don’t laugh at me for being softhearted. If I had managed to preserve even half of the good I had before, this ice wouldn’t have fallen to the ground and shattered.”
Mu Jingchen accepted this sincere goodwill with a slight nod. He was about to leave when he heard someone ask, “Wangye, don’t you want to hear what someone else left for you through me?”
His steps faltered, and he couldn’t help but tremble. On one hand, he was urged to escape, while on the other, he was enticed to stay.
“What… what did he say?”
“He said that if he could return, he would be willing to accompany you to your fief.”
Mu Jingchen took slow, deep breaths, suppressing the bitterness welling up in his throat. He couldn’t help but smile, “You’re lying; he never saw you before he left!”
“I’m not lying. Since Wangye knows his persistence, you should understand his intentions. Choosing that path doesn’t mean he’s giving up on you,” Qu Chenzhou reached out, supporting him as he climbed into the carriage, and then said, “He asked me to convey a message to you.”
“What…?”
“The past cannot be admonished, but the future can be pursued.”
Of course, Mu Jingchen wouldn’t forget these eight characters; they were the words Liu Marquis had given him.
“Xingzhi…” He finally managed to choke out that name that seemed almost taboo.
“Forget the past and live well in the remaining years…”
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