049【To Whom Shall I Speak】

Outside Yongye Lane.

A man in his thirties stood rigidly like a spear, blocking the horses of Xue Huai and Li Shun.

Xue Huai signaled to Li Shun not to be nervous, then dismounted and approached the man.

The man cupped his hands and said, “Greetings, Reader Xue.”

Xue Huai returned the salute. “Brother Guard, thank you for your help last time when you rescued me, and for escorting me back to my residence afterward. I had intended to find you to express my gratitude properly but feared causing you unnecessary trouble, so I held back. Unexpectedly, we meet here today. May I ask your honorable name?”

The man’s cold gaze softened. As a guard of the Princess’s residence, he was used to seeing nobles flaunt their arrogance. He had not expected this reputedly aloof and refined Hanlin scholar to remember him, much less speak with such humility. Bowing slightly, he said, “My name is Jiang Sheng.”

Xue Huai praised him, “A name as solid as flowing rivers and as victorious as a valiant warrior—well chosen!”

Jiang Sheng felt dizzy hearing such flowery words. As a rough soldier, he was unaccustomed to such refined speech but sensed its commanding tone. His earlier stern demeanor vanished, and he cupped his hands again, “Thank you for your praise, Reader Xue.”

Xue Huai smiled faintly and asked, “Brother Jiang, have you come specially to wait for me?”

He was not trying to curry favor; the Princess’s guards would not be swayed by mere compliments.

Xue Huai simply wished to be kind and respectful to those with whom he had no severe conflicts—perhaps the goodwill would be repaid someday.

“I am but an insignificant guard, unworthy of such a title as Reader Xue. Please just call me by my name,” Jiang Sheng hastily declined and then said solemnly, “I have been sent by Her Highness to invite Reader Xue to the Green Jade Villa for a discussion.”

Xue Huai was not surprised but found it striking that Princess Yun’an made no attempt to conceal her intentions, dispatching someone here directly. This meant she had learned of his arrival in Yongye Lane from the start.

Being watched was unpleasant, but considering the strange drowning incident at the Nine-bend River and the hidden hand behind Gu Heng and Liu Pingshun yet to be caught, Xue Huai indeed needed such surveillance and protection for the time being.

After all, until one grows strong, one’s life is paramount.

To live is to hold hope.

The Green Jade Villa was not far from the Xue residence in Dayong Lane, so the trip was convenient.

Upon returning to this serene and elegant estate, Xue Huai’s mind was calm as still water; his steps steady.

Entering the Pavilion of Gathered Elegance, his eyes immediately found Jiang Li sitting at the main seat.

He wondered if it was his imagination, but compared to their previous meetings where she wore scant makeup, today her appearance was decidedly more formal.

Her noble and elegant palace gown of twelve panels shimmered like moonlight brocade; a silver-red cloud brocade jacket pressed at the front with dark fox fur edging, framing her creamy neck like a halo of soft feathers. The pale blue trim accentuated the faint tint of her lips.

Her eyes, like the auspicious phoenix, gleamed with a stern, cold light—quite unlike her earlier gentle and kind demeanor.

Xue Huai felt puzzled but greeted her as usual, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Though Jiang Li appeared aloof and distant, she did not deliberately show her displeasure. She said quietly, “Please be seated, Reader Xue.”

Xue Huai took a lower seat and spoke proactively, “The successful closure of the Ministry of Works corruption case owes much to Your Highness’s intervention in persuading Prince Dai. The Dai family and I offer our thanks.”

Jiang Li’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly replied, “This was a transaction between us. Since I have promised, I will do my best. You need not dwell on it.”

“Though you say so, I must still thank Your Highness. Without your help, this matter would not have been resolved so swiftly.”

Xue Huai’s face was sincere. He did not fully understand the reasons behind the Princess’s changing moods but felt no hindrance in expressing his gratitude.

Jiang Li met his gaze for a moment and sighed lightly. “Xue Huai, why do you underestimate Minister Shen? Even if I had not persuaded the Fifth Prince, he certainly would have found a way to break the deadlock.”

Naturally, Xue Huai could not speak ill of Shen Wang in her presence and only vaguely replied, “Human efforts do have their limits.”

Jiang Li shook her head slightly.

After a brief silence, she said, “I once thought as you do, but reflecting on the details these past few days, I find things are not as simple as they seem.”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Let me ask you—did Minister Shen already know beforehand he would take over the Ministry of Works?”

Xue Huai recalled the few words Shen Wang muttered in the carriage after leaving the Imperial Library and his calm demeanor. Hesitating, he said, “My master did not state it explicitly, but he must have had some foreknowledge.”

“That is what puzzles me,” Jiang Li said, rising and pacing slowly to the window. Turning back, she looked at Xue Huai and said, “Minister Shen has nurtured his reputation for over twenty years and now holds the post of Left Minister of Rites, just one step from entering the cabinet. Why would he seek distant gains when the near path is so clear?”

“You mean to say that if my master only wished to enter the cabinet, he need not have involved himself in this turmoil?” Xue Huai pondered carefully and then shook his head. “But Your Highness knows he was ordered to investigate. The decision was not his to make.”

Jiang Li quickly countered, “But he could have acted prudently. If he had only investigated the Waterworks Department, the Emperor would have been pleased, Minister Xue Minglun would have welcomed it, and Prime Minister Ning would have turned a blind eye—not as it is now. Though you have toppled Xue Minglun and cut off one of Ning’s arms, Minister Shen has been dragged into the Ministry of Works’ mire and escaping unscathed won’t be easy.”

Xue Huai understood she sought to clarify the matter, not to bear ill will toward Shen Wang.

From his perspective, Shen Wang had fulfilled all a teacher’s duties—giving him a chance to prove himself and shielding him from most storms.

Even a father would not do more.

Jiang Li did not mind Xue Huai’s silence and continued slowly, “Minister Shen has been quiet all these years but never exerted himself as he has now. To me, targeting Xue Minglun does not aid his cabinet ambitions but invites Ning’s suppression. Typically, his first move would have been against either Ning or Deputy Minister Ouyang, making his cabinet entry much more likely.”

Xue Huai remained silent.

Seeing this, Jiang Li spoke frankly, “I believe the Ministry of Works hides deeper complexities, which is why Minister Shen is relentless—though what secrets they conceal, I do not know.”

The room fell silent.

After a moment, Xue Huai looked up at Jiang Li and said earnestly, “Perhaps, Your Highness, you are overcomplicating a simple matter.”

Jiang Li frowned in puzzlement.

Xue Huai explained, “Your Highness, might it be possible that my master merely wishes to accomplish practical deeds? You now know how Xue Minglun and his ilk have ravaged the Ministry, harming countless poor commoners. Perhaps my master anticipated stepping into this quagmire, but doing so allows him to serve the realm and its people more effectively, which is why he did not hold back.”

Seeing his sincere expression, Jiang Li understood their viewpoints diverged sharply.

He was a refined Hanlin scholar, devoted to the people from start to finish, while she had grown up in the Imperial City, witnessing endless intrigues and human treachery, always interpreting events through the lens of conspiracy.

Xue Huai added, “Moreover, Prime Minister Ning and Deputy Minister Ouyang’s positions are rock solid; the cabinet is their domain. Even if my master squeezed in, he would likely become a mere ornamental official, better to serve in the Six Ministries where he could achieve something.”

“You speak boldly,” Jiang Li smiled wryly, teasing, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll repeat your words to the current ornamental cabinet members?”

Xue Huai chuckled, “I trust Your Highness would not do such a thing.”

Of course, she would not.

Beyond the life-saving debt, once Xue Huai sensed her inner turmoil tied to the late Prince Qi, they became comrades on the same boat.

Jiang Li used her connections to help Xue Huai navigate the treacherous officialdom; when he reached a certain rank, he would assist her in investigating those old matters.

Why it had to be Xue Huai might puzzle him, but Jiang Li was not yet ready to reveal the reason.

“Enough, we need not debate this further,” Jiang Li said, returning to her seat and frowning. “Now, let us discuss Reader Xue’s future.”

Future?

Xue Huai had already thought about this. He planned to remain quietly at the Hanlin Academy for now, seeking an opportunity next year for an external post to enrich his experience and temporarily avoid court strife.

But Jiang Li spoke seriously, “The ancients said, ‘Without accumulating tiny steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles.’ You have just taken your first step and are already relaxing completely. Is that not improper?”

“Your Highness, why do you say that?” Xue Huai was puzzled. He had just finished handing over the corruption case files yesterday and had his first truly restful sleep in nearly two months last night.

He had not dared to relax for a moment during this time; every waking thought was consumed by documents, ledgers, schemes, and countless faces he could never quite read.

Jiang Li asked, “You have just been promoted and now is the perfect time to mend relations with your Hanlin colleagues. How can you already be thinking of requesting leave?”

“Your Highness, you truly…” Xue Huai thought long and hard, then looked at the princess, clearly a few years his junior, and said with slight helplessness, “Thank you for your encouragement. I will remember it well.”

“If only you had real business,” Jiang Li turned away, speaking softly, “The realm of tenderness is a hero’s grave. Do you not understand this truth?”

Realm of tenderness?

Xue Huai looked at Jiang Li’s profile and suddenly noticed her translucent, fair earlobe flushed faintly.

She seemed unaware of his gaze, fingers twisting the pale blue cords of her tassel, her alabaster neck slightly tilted, yet her shoulder line remained rigidly straight.

After a long moment, Jiang Li cleared her throat softly and met Xue Huai’s eyes. “Do you understand now?”

“Uh…” Xue Huai forcibly suppressed the strange feelings in his heart and nodded. “I understand.”

“That is good.”

Jiang Li silently breathed a sigh of relief and resumed her earlier cold demeanor.