Chapter 41: Is This Really That Bad?

"Let them come, what is there to panic about!" Xiao Yuanchi said with displeasure.

"No, Your Highness, it's Eunuch Chen arriving with an imperial decree!"

Before Xiao Yuanchi could react, Yin Jiaojiao's pen paused. In her past life, the decree had also been delivered late at night, filled with all sorts of accusations. Not only was he stripped of his title of Grand General, but he was also demoted to garrison commander of a border town. Although a garrison commander held military power, the jurisdiction was limited, the number of men was small, and he would be constrained by layers of superior officials with no freedom. Since the founding of the Dayong dynasty a century ago, no imperial prince had ever been assigned to such a minor post, and he was even ordered to depart by a strict deadline.

The only difference, perhaps, was that they had arrived even faster this time.

Yin Jiaojiao suddenly felt nervous: "Your Highness."

Xiao Yuanchi had already stood up. Without looking back, he simply said in a calm voice, "Come with me to receive the decree."

Eunuch Chen, dressed in the brown official robes of a palace attendant, read the imperial decree aloud in the main hall. Every single word matched—it was indeed that exact decree.

The main hall was so silent that a falling needle could be heard. Gu Xuezhi, acting as a guest, knelt behind Yin Jiaojiao. Upon hearing the decree, she drew a sharp breath, making the loudest noise.

After finishing the reading, the old eunuch cast a glance at the gloomy and desolate scene, then spoke slowly, "Your Highness, deep love brings stern reproach. You must understand His Majesty's difficult position."

Xiao Yuanchi received the decree with both hands and stood up, not a trace of displeasure on his face.

"This subject accepts the decree with utmost conviction."

"The Qingzhou case was proceeding smoothly until this assassination caused a complete reversal. Now the Censorate is fiercely denouncing you, seizing upon your subordinate, Adjutant Yang, to attack you. At a juncture like this, His Majesty probably hopes you can distance yourself from right and wrong as soon as possible."

"What Eunuch Chen says is true," Xiao Yuanchi smiled. "Yuanchi will depart in a few days so as not to cause His Majesty further concern. Zhengqing."

Su Zhengqing stepped forward a few paces and presented a gift box.

"Father's migraines have flared up frequently over the past year. Fortunately, Elder Dong returned to the Eastern Capital a few days ago, and I had him compound some targeted pills. I must trouble you, Eunuch, to present them to Father on my behalf."

Eunuch Chen hurriedly took the box, marveling, "Your Highness, even at the fastest pace, you still have seven days. Why not enter the palace and present the medicine yourself? His Majesty would be even happier."

"As Eunuch knows, given my current status, I ought to reflect on myself. It is better not to cause Father further distress, and wiser not to meet."

"Your Highness is truly filial." Eunuch Chen let out a heavy sigh. "Leaving the capital this time, His Majesty understands your difficulties and has specifically instructed that you may take your family along with you."

With that, he cast a sideways glance at the two eager women nearby, lowering his voice, "But there cannot be too many. Just one will do."

Xiao Yuanchi was startled, but after a moment, he replied, "His Majesty is most thoughtful."

With such a decree handed down, even after Eunuch Chen's departure, the entire manor remained heavily oppressed.

Nothing showed on Xiao Yuanchi's face, but after seeing Eunuch Chen off, he stood motionless in the courtyard. Overhead hung a full moon, casting a flood of water-like brilliance across the ground, which spilled over his hair and shoulders as if he were plated in silver. At a glance, he looked as though he were bearing a crushing weight.

Yin Jiaojiao could not help a pang of heartache.

In her past life, she had inquired into this matter thoroughly; it was extremely complex and somewhat unjust.

The Qingzhou embezzlement case had originally been presided over by Xiao Yuanchi. Because the assassination blew the matter wide open, her father, Yin Chaozong, in his capacity as Prime Minister, submitted a memorial requesting the Magistrate of the Eastern Capital to handle the case jointly. Verbally, it was said to share Xiao Yuanchi's burden, and His Majesty had agreed. Unexpectedly, no sooner had agreement been reached than a new storm broke out.

Adjutant Yang, who managed the military affairs of the three northern prefectures, had beaten several peer officials plus an inner court attendant responsible for surveillance. Several parties filed a lawsuit in the Eastern Capital, bickering endlessly. What had originally been a muddled account had been wrangled over for months, but unexpectedly, sudden progress had been made in the past few days.

It was said that when Adjutant Yang managed the northern prefectures, his military expenditure accounts were unclear, and others had gotten hold of incriminating evidence. To make matters worse, Adjutant Yang had been personally promoted by Xiao Yuanchi. Once this matter broke, Xiao Yuanchi, who was presiding over the embezzlement trial, found himself in an awkward position. As if that weren't enough, instead of keeping a low profile to protect himself, Xiao Yuanchi took a clear-cut stand and adamantly defended Adjutant Yang.

This was like poking a hornet's nest. The imperial court argued endlessly, and several elderly ministers even fainted from arguing right in the court, having to be carried straight out of the Zijichen Hall.

Despite such chaos, Xiao Yuanchi refused to back down. He offered steadfast support, even declaring, "If he is guilty, I am willing to take his punishment in his stead."

Now, it seemed he had gotten his wish—he really was taking the punishment in his stead.

This was all Yin Jiaojiao knew. She had been baffled for a long time, always feeling the matter was fishy. Xiao Yuanchi was no brainless military brute; on the contrary, he was skilled at plotting, or he wouldn't have pushed the Crown Prince so hard.

For him to suddenly commit such an act of self-destruction was truly bizarre. In her past life, she never figured out the clues until her death. In this life, she had no intention of pondering it further. Fortunately, heaven was helping her—the imperial decree had arrived half a month earlier than in her past life. Xiao Yuanchi would have to depart in seven days, and he would take Gu Xuezhi with him. With the manor emptied out, she would have plenty of time and space to figure out how to preserve her life.

While Yin Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief, her worthless sympathy surged upward as well.

"Your Highness," she quietly approached Xiao Yuanchi. "Blessings and misfortunes are intertwined; this matter may not turn out entirely bad. Perhaps..."

Xiao Yuanchi suddenly looked at her. In the moonlight, his eyes were deep and unfathomable. "Perhaps you are very happy."

Yin Jiaojiao froze. Xiao Yuanchi slowly stroked her face, gazing at her as if she were some distant treasure, cold yet full of pity.

He said, "In three days, I will send someone to take you to Nanshan Temple. Copy the scriptures diligently, and wait for my inspection when I return."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Gu Xuezhi had been waiting for a long time and hurried to catch up, offering words of comfort much like what she had said before: blessings and misfortunes are intertwined, it might not be entirely bad, perhaps there was still room for maneuver, and she should rest assured that no matter what happened to His Highness, she would surely follow.

Yin Jiaojiao listened as Gu Xuezhi's gentle comforting faded away into the distance before letting out a breath.

First, she felt thrilled, laughing heartily toward the moon.

Heaven had opened its eyes; she could finally leave this place. Once she left, she would definitely—

Yin Jiaojiao gazed at the full moon, but what flashed before her eyes was the image of Xiao Yuanchi standing dazed in the moonlight just moments ago.

His journey this time was bound to be perilous. At least by the time she chased after him to Liangzhou, he had returned to the garrison commander's mansion injured, with a saber gash on his right arm deep enough to expose the bone. Yet he paid it no mind, still having the leisure to scold her—probably because he had suffered many injuries far more severe than this one and had grown accustomed to it.

Other princes were raised in the palace like precious jade from birth. He was different; his birth coincided with the great turmoil across the Western Regions, with beacon fires burning across the skies, followed by the fall of the Uyghur Khaganate. He and his birth mother spent their days hiding everywhere. It was said that when he was found at age seven, he had starved for five days, was as thin as a little monkey, and was nearly dead.

After returning to the Eastern Capital, although he was recognized as the son of a fairly powerful consort, it was merely on the surface. Back then, Consort Ji still wanted a biological son of her own and guarded against him heavily. Many young princes whose birth mothers were far inferior to his still lived more comfortably than he did.

His towering power today was almost entirely won through his own battles on the battlefield—a career staked on his life.

Yet what was the use of staking one's life? A single word from the emperor could instantly overturn it all.

Yin Jiaojiao thought that if it were her, she would probably have cried for three whole days and nights before finishing, whereas Xiao Yuanchi merely gazed at the moon in a daze for a moment and was fine.

He was much stronger than her.

Yin Jiaojiao blinked, thinking to herself, villains are always strong, and he was even strong enough to kill her! What was there to pity?

Yet another part of her heart argued: He is heading toward a narrow escape with nine deaths and one life, and before facing that peril, he is sending you away. Is that really so wicked?