Captured by the Emperor After a Successful Faked Death - Chapter 19

“This life is predestined by Heaven; do not force anything, for all things must follow their course.”

Xie Chengyun was banished to Suizhou. Everyone in the imperial court knew this was merely a creative way to send the Prime Minister off to recover his health.

However, since it gave enough face to the prestigious scholar-official clans, the Li family ceased their uproar.

With carriages packed with chests of all sizes, Xie Chengyun sat in the courtyard, watching Zhu Yunyin direct the servants.

Gu Minsheng was not idle either; he had run to the shop to buy ouhua su (lotus flower pastries), claiming he wanted to take them for his elder brother and General Zhou to taste.

Xie Chengyun poured cold water on his enthusiasm: “By the time you get them to the frontier, your ouhua su will long since be inedible.”

Gu Minsheng was not offended, laughing instead: “If they go bad, so be it; it’s still a token of remembrance. My brother hasn’t been home for a long time; just smelling the scent and seeing the shape is good enough.”

Xie Chengyun was left speechless. How long had the soldiers at the frontier been away from home? If even a general was in such a state, there was no need to speak of the foot soldiers and minor officials.

Zhu Yunyin supported Xie Chengyun’s shoulder. “Prime Minister, is there anything else you need to bring?”

Xie Chengyun turned to look at the courtyard. Even excluding what had already been loaded, dozens of crates were still lined up majestically.

He couldn’t help but say, “Is it necessary to bring so much?”

“Suizhou is far from the capital, and it will be quite inconvenient. Bringing more is always better than finding you need something later and being unable to find it.”

Whatever, whatever, Xie Chengyun thought, spreading himself back out on his chair. He was indifferent to such things, but Zhu Yunyin was a pampered Emperor.

As the saying goes, one should not let the child suffer, no matter what. If he wanted to bring them, let him bring them.

The chests were finally packed, and Zhu Yunyin helped Xie Chengyun to his feet.

Han Cizhi would not be accompanying them on this long journey. After preparing enough medicinal decoctions and ensuring Xie Chengyun knew when to take them, he finally let them depart.

Watching the changing scenery beyond the curtain, Xie Chengyun finally felt the reality of leaving the capital.

He couldn’t help but look at Zhu Yunyin and sigh: “To think that when I last left the capital, you were not yet the Emperor.”

“It is true, Prime Minister. Time passes so quickly.”

Zhu Yunyin looked at Xie Chengyun, tracing the lines of his brows and eyes with his gaze.

Taking a brocade pouch from his robes, he offered it to Xie Chengyun with both hands, earnest and serious. “Prime Minister, this is a protective amulet I sought at the Fayuan Temple. Please wear it at your waist always; do not take it off.”

Xie Chengyun accepted the pouch. He had once sought an amulet at Fayuan Temple for Zhou Bijie. However, this one from Zhu Yunyin felt different.

Xie Chengyun squeezed it; it was hard inside, as if it contained a stone.

Just as he was about to open it, Zhu Yunyin raised his hand to stop him.

“Prime Minister, a protective amulet is useless once opened. I knelt before the Buddha for three days and three nights to obtain this.”

It was a child’s sincere gesture, after all. Xie Chengyun abandoned the thought and tucked it away.

Zhu Yunyin still seemed unsatisfied, though he did not voice it, merely looking at him with wounded eyes.

Xie Chengyun, seeing no other way, had no choice but to tie the pouch to his waist right in front of Zhu Yunyin.

Zhu Yunyin smiled and buried his head in Xie Chengyun’s arms. “I knew it—the Prime Minister loves me the most.”

The long journey continued, and Suizhou was soon in sight.

Xie Chengyun’s back and waist were sore from the journey, so he got out of the carriage, telling them to proceed ahead while he wandered toward the destination on foot.

Zhu Yunyin wanted to disembark with him, but Xie Chengyun stretched his waist and said, “It has been many years since I returned; you should go into the city first and see how the manor is.”

Zhu Yunyin was clearly displeased with this arrangement, but he kept a grim expression and obediently returned to the carriage.

Watching Xie Chengyun walk away, Zhu Yunyin pulled a stone from his robes. Watching a certain point on the stone light up, the gloom on his face dissipated.

Gu Minsheng followed Xie Chengyun, watching him walk and stop, full of curiosity about the novelties along the road.

Sound drifted from afar, and Xie Chengyun looked up.

A group of men was surrounding a beautiful, delicate young woman, taunting her. The girl was dressed in fine silks and satins, her hair adorned with jade and bead ornaments; she was clearly the daughter of a prominent, wealthy family.

But for some reason, she was accompanied only by a little maid, with no guards.

The little maid tried her best to block the young lady, clearly terrified, yet still waving her hands in a futile attempt to drive the ruffians away.

Xie Chengyun strode over and placed his hand between them.

The ruffians, seeing Xie Chengyun’s delicate, scholar-like appearance, spat on the ground and said, “Where did this death-wish come from? Get out of the way, old man!”

Xie Chengyun was not angered, laughing instead. “If you are the ‘master’ here, then what does that make me?”

Gu Minsheng approached from the distance, his long saber drawn.

The ruffians, seeing these two were not to be trifled with, immediately fled in a panic.

Turning around, the little maid was still guarding the young lady with vigilance.

Xie Chengyun took two steps back and bowed. “The young lady must have been frightened.”

The young lady poked the maid in the waist, and after they whispered something, the maid said loudly: “Our young lady asks who you are, where you live, and what you do? A gift of thanks will be sent to your residence shortly.”

Xie Chengyun laughed. “I am but a traveling wanderer who saw injustice and drew his blade to help. The gift is unnecessary; since you are safe, I shall take my leave.”

Seeing him turn to go, the maid said anxiously: “Hey! You could at least tell us your name and what you do!”

Xie Chengyun waved his hand. “I am Xie Liuzhi.” Looking at a nearby vendor, he smiled: “I am a horse trader.”

Seeing Xie Chengyun walk away, the young lady slowly emerged from behind the maid, watching his retreating figure.

Suizhou is close to the frontier, and together with Qu City, it is known as the two great passes of Shangliang.

Traders who leave home know that once they have passed these two gates, it means they are on their way home.

After wandering along the way, they arrived at the manor the Zhou family had purchased in Suizhou.

The moment Xie Chengyun stepped inside, memories came rushing back like a tide.

He had grown up at the frontier with the Zhou family; the elders of the house often went out beyond the pass to fight, leaving them stationed here.

Fifteen years had passed in the blink of an eye—the world had changed, but the manor remained the same.

Xie Chengyun walked inside and took down the precious sword hanging in the main hall.

The Zhou family had been generals for generations with illustrious battle achievements. But his swordsmanship had not been taught by the Zhou family; Old General Zhou had said the Zhou family sword technique was for killing, and it did not suit him.

He had told him to study, to seek an official career, to become a top scholar, and to learn the “gentleman’s sword.”

Now, the precious sword was covered in dust, and Old General Zhou had perished in the Youlan Terrace Incident.

He had washed Jinyang City in blood to exact revenge, but his family could not come back. Because he had lost so much in the past, Xie Chengyun always cherished everything he possessed, gripping everything tightly, unwilling to let go.

Xie Chengyun closed his eyes, set the sword down, and asked, “Where is the little Emperor?”

The manor servant replied: “The noble one heard that drinking the water from the Suizhou River would invoke the protection of the Kitchen God, preventing travel sickness and ensuring peace, so he took a jar and went out to fetch water.”

“Who on earth is talking nonsense? I grew up in Suizhou how have I never heard of this?”

“This servant does not know.”

The servants in the Zhou manor were all retired soldiers who had lost their families to the war. They had followed the Zhou family through life and death, and now, too old for battle, they were settled in the manor. Though they were servants, it was clear to anyone with eyes that this was their retirement.

They were all iron-willed men of integrity; in terms of seniority, Xie Chengyun had to call them “Uncle.” He could only sigh and say, “Go on.”

Zhu Yunyin sat by the river, alone, filling his jar. The river water was clear, with small fish and shrimp swimming inside.

But Zhu Yunyin had no heart for admiration; his mind was entirely focused on returning home.

He was walking back with the jar when, out of nowhere, a mad, rambling Taoist bumped into him.

The collision was heavy, and the jar fell to the ground, water spilling everywhere.

The Taoist, instead of apologizing, burst into hearty laughter.

Zhu Yunyin had no desire to speak with a madman and turned to leave.

But to his surprise, the mad Taoist grabbed him, shaking his head and swaying. His robe was covered in oil stains and filth, and he reeked of wine.

Zhu Yunyin looked at him coldly, his mind filled with how to explain the smell on his person to the Prime Minister upon returning, which made his face turn even darker.

Bystanders, seeing Zhu Yunyin grabbed, knew the “mad Taoist” was simply playing the fool again in the daylight.

They couldn’t help but say: “You madman, why do you grab people for no reason?”

The mad Taoist, disheveled and unkempt, raised a broken sword and looked at Zhu Yunyin: “Benefactor, I share a fate with you.”

Zhu Yunyin laughed in frustration. “Then tell me, what kind of fate do you and I share?”

“I am the Taoist you sought to ask about the spirits.”

What a load of nonsense. Zhu Yunyin prepared to flick his sleeves and leave.

But the Taoist shook his head and pulled a mirror from his bosom: “Benefactor, since I share a fate with you and broke your jar, I shall gift you this mirror.”

“It is just that a broken jar is like a broken mirror—hard to piece together again.”

Zhu Yunyin took the mirror and held it to his face.

This was no mirror; it was clearly a bronze piece carved with butterflies.

Someone else chimed in: “Mad Taoist, this mirror can’t reflect a person—how can you call it a mirror? It’s just a useless piece of copper.”

“Not so, not so.”

Seeing the sun was setting, Zhu Yunyin was in a hurry, so he said: “You smashed my jar, and I have accepted your mirror. We are square; let go.”

The madman released him, pulled a wine flask from his waist, and poured it down his throat, watching Zhu Yunyin hurry away.

He burst into laughter again, waving the wine flask and shouting: “Little Benefactor, this life is predestined by Heaven; do not force anything, for all things must follow their course!”

Then, singing a nameless song, he hopped and skipped into the river and fell in.

The people burst into laughter; even though he was a homeless madman, they laughed, but once the laughter died down, they waded into the river to drag him to the base of a tree on the bank.

The Taoist continued to mumble nonsense. A child, seeing him drenched, took out a handkerchief to wipe his face.

As the filth was wiped away, it revealed that the Taoist had a rather beautiful face.

Zhu Yunyin hurried away clutching the “bronze mirror.” He heard the Taoist shouting something behind him, but he didn’t care.

Looking at this “bronze mirror,” Zhu Yunyin casually tucked it into his robes, not giving it another thought.

As soon as he arrived home, he saw Xie Chengyun sitting in the courtyard waiting for him, his expression gentle.

The fiery red sunset draped the Prime Minister in a bridal veil. Zhu Yunyin walked over slowly, and Xie Chengyun said, “You’re back.”

Gu Minsheng poked his head out of the kitchen: “Dinner is ready! Come carry the dishes! No being lazy—we agreed we’d take turns cooking. I did it today, and tomorrow it’s your turn; no welching on the deal!”

Zhu Yunyin looked at Xie Chengyun in confusion. Xie Chengyun could only say: “That is a long story; I will explain it to you later.”

With that, “Xie Taishang Laojun” patted Zhu Yunyin on the shoulder: “Good son, go help your brother Gu carry the dishes.”

“Xie Chengyun, I’m not deaf! Stop trying to take advantage of me behind my back!”

Xie Chengyun watched with a smile as Zhu Yunyin walked away and said, “The Emperor calling you ‘brother’ is clearly him letting you take advantage of him. If we’re talking about seniority, you are the only Prince of Shangliang even I have to kneel and kowtow when I see you.”

“Get lost, you old goat!”