Chapter 19
The following day, Yu Qin handed him two human skin masks, and only then did Yan Yunhe understand why he had no fear of being exposed.
He glanced at the names on the invitation: Zhou Yun and Zhou Xing, presumably brothers. He secretly committed the names to memory; he would have his informant look into them later. If Yu Qin hadn’t silenced them, these brothers must have some connection to him.
He probably looked over the invitation a little too long, for Yu Qin remarked from the side, “Don’t waste your time. Those two don’t exist.”
His intentions laid bare, Yan Yunhe stubbornly retorted, “Did I say anything?”
Yet at the same time, a sense of wariness arose within him. Yu Qin was simply too sharp. He could already discern his thoughts from the slightest changes in his expression.
No wonder he climbed the ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guard so quickly. By appointing Yu Qin to the crucial position of commander in chief, the empress dowager had publicly declared him as her most trusted aide.
The Jiang Clan was incredibly powerful, but it was not the only reason Empress Dowager Jiang had stood firm in the imperial court for so long. She was formidable in her own right.
Years ago, in the aftermath of the rebellion case, Yu Chang’en committed suicide in prison, shocking commoners and officials alike. With the people’s immense grief came the swift decline of the court’s reputation, and Jiang Ni, the empress at the time, was branded an evil spirit. In order to silence public criticism and clear her name, Jiang Ni stepped in to save Yu Qin.
To cut weeds, you must pull out the roots.1 Yu Qin may have survived for the time being, but he would simply be dealt with once the dust settled in a few years, and the final outcome would not change.
Such was the common speculation. How could anyone imagine that Yu Qin would reappear before the public in the crimson robes of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? His rise through the ranks was as swift as his methods were ruthless.
The higher you climb, the colder it gets;2 the higher you stand, the harder you fall. Yan Yunhe felt that the empress dowager’s favor was a lethal weapon, one that would only lead to Yu Qin's utter ruin.3
Even if she had taken in Yu Qin only to ultimately get rid of him, there was no guarantee it would not be used against her. The imperial harem was forbidden from interfering in state affairs, and now that Emperor Chengjing had grown up, he had become increasingly uncontrollable. If word spread that the empress dowager had harmed the descendant of a loyal and virtuous official, he might use it as a pretext to strip her of her power.
But for that to happen, Yu Qin would have to be regarded as a worthy descendant.
What if this descendant was already a notorious figure, whose sins had accumulated like coins on a string?4 Wouldn’t the court officials and the common people rejoice at his death?
For Yan Yunhe it was clear as day; there was no way Yu Qin couldn’t see it.
He was now walking on the edge of a blade, treading on thin ice. One misstep, and he would plunge into eternal damnation.
Yu Qin may seem clever, but he’s actually an absolute fool, Yan Yunhe thought to himself, staring at his reflection in the mirror, which now wore the human skin mask.
Zhou Yun and Zhou Xing were a pair of merchants from Longmen. As distant relatives of the magistrate by marriage, they had come to attend the birthday celebration. Zhou Yun, the elder brother, was the one who presented the monetary gift5 and invitation at the entrance.
Yan Yunhe handed the generous sum to the attendant at the gate with a smile on his face, but he whispered to Yu Qin, “Should I put it on your account?”
Yu Qin’s appearance was unremarkable with the mask on, yet his deep, beautiful eyes still added considerable charm to his otherwise plain features.
“You manage all our household’s finances, Xiongzhang,”6 Yu Qin replied. “It’s only natural that you provide the gift money.”
Slightly surprised, Yan Yunhe said, “My dear xiandi is willing to spend my money now? It seems this brief time has brought us closer than ever.”
Throughout their banter, his gaze darted swiftly across the magistrate’s residence, mentally matching the layout to the floor plan Yu Qin had given him that morning.
“Xiongzhang’s wealth allows him the finest of luxuries. You have no problem throwing your gold around for drinks and pleasure at Chunxiao Pavilion.” Yu Qin surveyed the number of guards in the residence, ruling out the possibility of martial experts lurking in the shadows. “Compared to your daily expenses, some gift money is but a drop in the ocean.”
Hearing this, a faint, knowing smile formed on Yan Yunhe’s lips. “The girls at Chunxiao Pavilion may be lovely, but none can compare to the one who shared my pillow last night.”
Yu Qin slowly withdrew his gaze. “Lust is a blade above your head.7 Xiongzhang, you’d better be careful.”
The servant leading the way sensed the tension between the brothers and hoped they wouldn’t cause a scene and disrupt the birthday banquet.
Wei Zhili, the magistrate of Yunzhou, enjoyed a good reputation, and his residence was packed with guests. He was too busy returning toasts to notice minor figures like them.
Midway through the banquet, Yan Yunhe exchanged a meaningful look with Yu Qin, then beckoned a servant to escort him to a place to relieve himself. On their way there, he knocked the servant unconscious, hid him behind a rockery, and quickly changed into the servant’s clothes before slipping toward the study.
When he arrived, Yu Qin was already there, still in his original attire. Yu Qin's gaze swept over Yan Yunhe’s ill-fitting clothes and the way the upper garment stretched tight over his chest. At Yu Qin’s pointed silence, Yan Yunhe realized changing his clothes had been rather foolish.
There was no time to waste. Without another word, they slipped into the study. Before coming, Yan Yunhe hadn’t held high hopes. Even if Wei Zhili kept a ledger, it wouldn’t be left in plain sight.
Sure enough, after a long time searching, they found nothing.
Yan Yunhe carefully felt around the walls, but still couldn’t uncover any hidden compartments.
Just then, someone entered the study. Yan Yunhe’s keen senses detected movement instantly and, in one quick move, he pulled Yu Qin into the shadows beside the bookshelf.
The space was too narrow for two grown men with frames such as theirs. They were standing so close to each other that their breaths mingled in the darkness.
Only now did Yan Yunhe notice that despite looking so frail, Yu Qin was actually no shorter than him—perhaps even slightly taller. For a man like Lord Yan, who took pride in his height, this was quite a blow.
The frown on his face conveyed something else entirely. Yu Qin turned his face away from the tip of Yan Yunhe’s nose, which nearly touched his cheek.
His evasive reaction did not go unnoticed to Yan Yunhe, who thought irritably, What’s this guy’s problem? Does he find me repulsive?
Lord Yan, rebellious as ever, deliberately edged closer to Yu Qin, trapping him against the wall. When Yan Yunhe stepped forward, their chests pressed together tightly. Now, they could clearly feel the rise and fall of every breath they took.
Feeling Yu Qin’s body stiffen against his, catching the hint of panic in his eyes, only stirred the mischievous urges in Yan Yunhe’s heart.
He leaned closer and blew on Yu Qin’s ear, making the other man shudder violently. Yan Yunhe remained silent; he snapped his teeth shut near Yu Qin’s ear, as if to bite him. Yu Qin shot him a warning glare, but Yan Yunhe met his gaze without flinching.
A voice broke their silent standoff: “Your Excellency, what is the meaning of this? Reporting to the court, summoning an imperial envoy—aren’t you afraid our dealings will be exposed? Feigning ignorance8 won't save you either.”
Yan Yunhe froze, not daring to actually bite Yu Qin’s earlobe.
Wei Zhili’s voice rang out. “What the Qingyi Gang does is none of my concern.”
“You accepted all that gold and silver from us and now you want to wash your hands of it?” the man retorted. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch!”
“Do not make baseless accusations,” Wei Zhili replied. “This official has always conducted himself with honesty, and would certainly never have dealings with the likes of you.”
The man sneered coldly. “True, you’ve never personally done business with us. But no crime is flawless. If you don't want others to find out, you shouldn't have done it in the first place.”
As the man turned to leave, Wei Zhili calmly added, “I advise you not to act rashly. I recall many of your gang members have married and started families in Yunzhou. I’m the only one who can protect them now. Submit your life to the imperial envoy, and they might still have a chance at survival.”
The man’s breathing suddenly grew heavy, clearly struck where it hurt most.
Soon after the man slammed the door and stormed out, Wei Zhili also left the study.
Yan Yunhe carefully replayed the man’s voice in his mind. His memory was exceptional; he could remember people and their voices after meeting them just once. However, extracting useful information from a jumble of memories could take him some time.
To Yu Qin, his moment of silent contemplation was just him pushing his luck. Just as Yan Yunhe was trying to place the voice, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. His arm was caught in a grappling move and twisted behind his back. As their positions reversed, his head slammed against the wall, leaving a dull ache.
With his arm wrenched behind him and his cheek pressed against the rough surface, Yan Yunhe smiled through the pain. “Lord Yu, there are more important matters at hand.”
Yu Qin’s voice was soft. “Ah, so Lord Yan does know what's important after all.”
The last few words were drawn so slowly that, if not for the eeriness of his tone, they would have sounded almost tender.
As Yan Yunhe tried to defend himself, his arm was twisted even more, and he felt Yu Qin’s warm, damp breath brushing against his nape.
“Lord Yu, do you want to take a bite out of me?” Yan Yunhe raised an eyebrow, his tone suggestive. “Did all that wine from the banquet cloud your judgement?”
In the next instant, the hand gripping his arm loosened, and the weight on his body lifted away. Yan Yunhe rubbed the back of his neck. There was nothing more than the lingering warmth of Yu Qin’s breath.
What a pity.
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