Is the Director General Groveling for His Highness Again? - Chapter 4

“Who are you to run your mouth about him?”

Xie Yu simply refused to believe it. If he couldn’t serve His Highness himself, then a low-born boy from a brothel was even less worthy. He was determined to find someone suitable, someone who actually knew how to attend to a man’s needs to fill that spot.

It was late into the night by the time they returned to the Liu Garden. After leaving Qin Hechuan, Xie Yu hadn’t even bothered to bathe. He climbed straight into bed and buried himself under the covers, head tucked away, greedily inhaling the faint, lingering scent of His Highness that still clung to his skin.

Seeing his master like this, Fu Zhen didn’t dare disturb him. He quietly closed the door and stepped out, only to bump right into Fu An.

“You’re like a ghost, sneaking around. You’re going to scare me to death!” Fu Zhen hissed.

Fu An glanced at the tightly shut door with a look of resignation. “Is Master having an episode again? He loses his head every time His Highness is involved.”

“Tell me about it. A moment ago, he told me to go find portraits of young noblemen. Said he wanted to handpick someone to serve the Third Highness.” Fu Zhen shook his head, looking like he’d given up on his master’s whims, before waving a hand and heading back to his own quarters.

Fu An was the steady, cautious type, usually tasked with handling Xie Yu’s external affairs. Fu Zhen lacked that particular talent, so Xie Yu kept him close as a personal attendant. Hearing this, Fu An felt something wasn’t quite right, but remembering the heartbroken look on his master’s face whenever the Prince was mentioned, he didn’t know how to bring it up.

***

Meanwhile, Qin Hechuan was surrounded by “warm fragrance and soft jade.” The young gigolo was nestled in his arms, being exceptionally proactive. He flashed flattering smiles, his mouth full of crude, petty insults directed at Xie Yu.

“Your Highness, was that person from earlier also one of your servants? Was his service… lacking?”

Seeing that Qin Hechuan didn’t answer, the boy assumed the Prince was utterly dissatisfied with the man. His tone grew bolder and more reckless.

“It makes sense. A person of your golden status, Your Highness, isn’t meant to be served by just anyone. That man didn’t look like he knew the first thing about pleasing a master. He was clinging to you so shamelessly. truly thick-skinned.”

Qin Hechuan didn’t look up, but his hand moved to the boy’s inner thigh and gave it a vicious, sharp pinch.

“Watch your tongue,” he snapped. “Who are you to run your mouth about him?”

The boy ought to thank his lucky stars. If he knew exactly who he had just been insulting, he would have collapsed to the floor in a fit of terror, begging for mercy. Xie Yu was no saint; he would have stripped the skin off the boy’s back and sewn his mouth shut before hanging him from a rafter to ensure he never uttered another word.

But here, in front of Qin Hechuan, he got off with a mere reprimand.

Early the next morning, Fu Zhen went in to wake Xie Yu, but the man was still fast asleep. The night before, he had tossed and turned, clutching his blanket and sniffing it repeatedly until the Prince’s scent finally faded away. Only when there was nothing left to smell did Xie Yu finally drift into a hazy sleep.

Fu Zhen called out several times from behind the bed curtains without a response. He knew his master had suffered a grievance at the Prince’s hands and likely hadn’t slept well, but it was time for duty. He had to harden his heart and keep calling.

“Master, it’s time to get up… Master, Master…”

Irritated by the noise, Xie Yu rolled over and spat out a few curses. “It’s the crack of dawn! Are you trying to summon my ghost?”

Relieved to finally hear a response, Fu Zhen ignored the swearing. He rushed forward to pull back the curtains, busily handing over clothes while explaining the situation.

“Oh, Master, please don’t scold me yet. Word came from the ‘Old Ancestor’ at the Directorate of Ceremonies before dawn. He said he wants to eat walnut cakes handmade by you this morning. You also have to rush to the Eastern Depot to check in. There’s no time to linger in bed!”

At the mention of Xie Su pronounced Xiè Sù, Xie Yu’s expression instantly soured. His movements slowed down significantly. Fu Zhen stood there holding the clothes for a long time, looking confused when his master didn’t reach for them.

“Master, put your clothes on! We really can’t delay.”

Xie Yu gave him a sharp, venomous glare before cursing under his breath as he began to dress.

“That old fossil hasn’t asked me to make cakes for two years. What’s gotten into him today? It’s not a holiday or a festival and he picks this exact moment.”

Hah. Xie Yu realized it then. No wonder. Last night, the Prince mentioned wanting him to arrange for Lin Wu’an to stay in the capital. Though he hadn’t specified a rank, Lin came from a line of military generals; if he stayed, it would have to be as an officer in the Capital Defense Command at the very least.

He had been too busy being miserable last night to think it through, but Xie Su’s little stunt served as a reminder. No wonder the old man was making things difficult for him.

A general returning for a rotation usually only stays for ten days to a half-month before returning to the border. Lin Wu’an had already been back for a while. To secure a stable, high-ranking position with actual power in such a short window was no easy feat.

While Xie Yu could pull strings himself, the Emperor still relied heavily on Xie Su. The Capital Defense Command held real military power. If Xie Su didn’t interfere, it was fine, but if he whispered even a word in the Emperor’s ear, there was no guarantee the Emperor wouldn’t listen.

Xie Yu mused that the “Old Ancestor” was indeed a cunning fox. Knowing Xie Yu held the Third Prince in his heart of hearts, the old man used that devotion as a leash to trip him up.

Time was wasting. Xie Yu was a pragmatist; he knew when to swallow his pride. Once Fu Zhen finished dressing him, he skipped breakfast and headed straight for the kitchen to make the cakes.

“Wait, Master! Look!” Just as Xie Yu stepped into the kitchen, Fu Zhen produced a food box with a smug grin.

Xie Yu opened it to find a batch of freshly made walnut cakes. He broke into a wide smile.

“Sharp kid. I didn’t raise you for nothing. Let’s go.”

“Of course! That Old Ancestor is always picking on you. As your disciple, if I can’t take the hits for you, I can at least find a workaround!”

The Xie Estate. Although Xie Yu had taken Xie Su’s surname, he didn’t name his own residence “Xie.” He called it the Liu Garden Garden of Lingering.

On the surface, it was an act of gratitude for Xie Su’s “support.” In reality, it was a secret tribute to the life-saving kindness he received as a child from the Third Prince and Consort Liu. For years, he hadn’t breathed a word of this. The current Prince wouldn’t listen and didn’t care to, so he kept his silence. He was content just to watch over him and serve him occasionally.

However, seeing the plaque that read “Xie Estate” never failed to remind him of the humiliations he had endured within those walls.

Yet, he still had to enter. And he had to do it with a smile, playing the part of the “filial son” to that black-hearted old man.

“Godfather, your son has come to pay his respects! It’s been too long since you’ve tasted my walnut cakes. I was wrong to wait until you had to send for them.”

No matter how many curses he spat behind the man’s back, his face was the picture of a dutiful son. He offered the box with both hands. Even if his words carried a hint of passive-aggression, Xie Su couldn’t find a reason to fault him.

“Heh. Fine. Sit down. I’m not so old that I need you to hand-feed me yet.”

“What are you saying, Godfather? Your son is full of filial piety. I am constantly mindful of the kindness you showed me all those years ago.”

Xie Su squinted at him but didn’t push the subject. “I assume the Third Prince has given you a task?”

“Ah, the masters have their business. It is only natural for us servants to share their burdens.”

Xie Su picked up a cake, gave it a sniff, and set it aside without taking a bite.

“Masters? While the Emperor still draws breath, you’d do well to remember who your real Master is.”

“Godfather speaks the truth.”

Xie Yu watched the old man discard the cake but said nothing. He kept the smile on his face and the obedience in his tone, while his heart remained as rebellious as ever.

After leaving the Xie Estate, Xie Yu checked in at the Dong’an Gate and then hoistered himself up in his study. He left the bulk of the Eastern Depot’s business to Fu An, only handling the most critical decisions himself.

Lin Wu’an hadn’t brought many people with him from the border, just two deputies. Xie Yu planned to keep them in the capital as well, to give the Third Prince more leverage.

Securing positions for high-ranking military officers was something the Emperor would definitely question. To ensure success, Xie Yu needed to visit the Palace personally. He also needed to work on the Empress.

Xie Yu had long since aligned himself with the Empress’s faction. Although she had no biological children, she had raised the Second Prince. The Second and Third Princes were brothers of the same mother, but they had been distant since childhood and hadn’t seen each other in years; their relationship was lukewarm at best.

If they weren’t blood brothers, Xie Yu wouldn’t have dared to pick a side. Currently, the First Prince was still in the picture, holding the prestige of the eldest son. However, since none of the princes were born to the Empress, the legal wife, their status was relatively equal, making the struggle for the throne incredibly fierce.

“Empress, your servant Xie Yu requests an audience.”

“Ah, Director Xie. Come in.”

Xie Yu bowed as he entered. The Empress was reclining on a daybed, flanked by two handsome young eunuchs massaging her legs, with maids standing by.

“Empress, I heard that the Second Prince sent a special birthday gift to the Third Prince this year.”

Xie Yu trailed off. The Empress, hearing this, laughed at him without reservation.

“Heard? Didn’t you put on full makeup and costume just to sing a play for the Third? It’s all over the streets, did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Xie Yu looked suitably embarrassed, lowering his head slightly. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t tease me. I’m here today because I need your help with something important.”

The Empress gestured for the attendants to leave. “Speak your mind, Director.”

“I know that since the Second Prince sent a gift, the Third Prince must have a use for him. It’s just that the Third Prince spent so long as a hostage in the Southern Kingdom; he has no power base here. However, I hear that while he was at the front, he once crossed paths with young General Lin.”

The Empress weighed his words. Since she was using Xie Yu, and his obsession with the Third Prince was common knowledge, it was better to grant him a favor. After all, as long as Xie Yu stood with the Second Prince, he was helping the Third by extension.

“In that case, take Lian Wu with you when you leave. Send her to Huang Qing. He’s the head of the Imperial Stables and has had his eye on her for a long time. It’s a pity for Lian Wu, though.”

The Empress spoke of “pity,” yet she didn’t blink an eye as she handed her personal maid over to a eunuch.

Xie Yu knew this was cruel. But wasn’t he himself gritting his teeth just to survive? Compared to his Prince, he couldn’t afford to care about a palace maid.

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