Xuanqing Guard

Shen Hao took his leave and soon vanished into the narrow alley where the tavern was located.

Yang Shu lingered for a while, his expression gloomy as he sipped his wine in small gulps.

The shop assistant and shopkeeper nearby did not dare utter a single word. They often saw Yang Shu, but never realized that this seemingly amiable man was actually a prince!

After drinking half a pot of wine, Yang Shu finally rose and left the tavern, the gloom on his face fading away.

Just as he stepped out of the alley, Yang Shu raised his hand, and after a few breaths, two disguised guards hurried up to him.

"Your Highness."

"From now on, don’t stay so far away. Keep closer."

"Ah? Understood, Your Highness."

The blade aura that had been so close just now deeply jarred Yang Shu’s nerves. Even now, remembering it made his scalp tingle. He swore never again to let his guards stray too far from him.

Yet at this moment Yang Shu had already come to realize: that Shen fellow was likely trying to frighten him earlier. Otherwise, given the gap in cultivation between them—and the distance separating them—it would have been impossible for someone to intervene in time; if anything, Yang Shu would have been instantly slain.

It was a feigned display meant to intimidate, while at the same time provoking the hidden expert from the Commander’s Office who was secretly protecting him.

Perhaps that Shen fellow had guessed my identity from the very beginning? Yang Shu couldn’t help but think so. Instantly he felt even more certain, and a sense of frustration at being schemed against arose in him.

No longer in the mood to stroll about, Yang Shu clasped his hands behind his back and made his way toward Prince Ling’s Mansion. There was no carriage, nor did he ride a horse; he walked on foot, regardless of the distance. The guards were long accustomed to this, and the passersby never imagined that the somber-faced, hurried man could be a prince.

Upon returning home, Yang Shu took a sip of tea and had his chief adviser Li Jiang summoned to the study.

Before long, Li Jiang pushed open the doors and entered. This man was in his fifties, his hair streaked with gray. He was learned and intelligent, but as his ancestors had produced a sinful official, he could not formally join the government office ranks, and so could only pursue study and commerce. Six years ago, Yang Shu took a liking to him and brought him into the prince mansion as an adviser, later promoting him to the chief adviser post.

Unlike those in the Hejing Old Dynasty government office system, Li Jiang was a "private official" of the prince mansion—essentially akin to a household servant, though with a more flattering title.

Yet such "private officials" should not be underestimated; should their prince inherit the throne, they often converted to official status, and there were many examples in the temple hall of private officials rising to the pinnacle of the bureaucracy.

"Greetings, Your Highness. May I ask what matter brings you to summon me?" Li Jiang was puzzled as to why the prince had returned home just past noon. According to custom, he shouldn’t have come back until 9 p.m.

"I’ve met Shen Hao."

"Oh?! Did Your Highness try him as we previously discussed?"

"Naturally. First I tried to establish rapport, then I brought up Song Zhizhou to show there were no hard feelings, but it was useless. That fellow is slippery and cunning; every word I said was met with silence or a rebuff." As he spoke, Yang Shu grew exasperated and slammed the tea table beside him, breaking it to pieces. Stifled.

"Every word met with silence? Your Highness, please recount the matter in detail."

Yang Shu fell silent for a moment before describing to Li Jiang his encounter with Shen Hao at the small tavern that noon.

When Li Jiang heard it, his brows were tightly knit. After a brief pause, he spoke: "Your Highness, Shen Hao is indeed most cunning. Even if he did not realize your identity at first, he surely sensed that your background was extraordinary—thus he refused to make conversation, denying you any opening.

Later, when you mentioned ’Song Zhizhou,’ the name clearly provoked Shen Hao. He has an enmity with the Song Family, and not long ago he was assaulted in the street; therefore it is reasonable for him to suspect your intentions were hostile. Yet drawing his blade against you afterwards betrays a hidden agenda.

He was intimidating you—and also the hidden guard protecting him. He knows your identity is no simple matter, and in the Imperial City, mere words would never escalate to drawing a blade. Moreover, given his cultivation, if he truly meant to harm you, he would never allow others the chance to intervene.

Intimidating you may be secondary; forcing the hidden guard to reveal himself is his chief aim—this is pressure applied in a different way."

Yang Shu nodded; this fit his own conjecture.

"Pang Ban?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Shen Hao brought forth the Commander’s Office guard in this manner, which points to at least three things. First, Shen Hao cannot command that guard from the Commander’s Office; he could only force him to reveal himself, proving that aside from protection, that guard’s presence beside Shen Hao likely includes surveillance.

Second, Shen Hao is also cautioning Your Highness: ’Watch your words.’ He does not wish you to say anything that might affect him—such as promises of great rewards.

Lastly, Shen Hao conveys: ’I too am not free to act; please understand, Your Highness.’"

Yang Shu raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. He hadn’t thought so deeply; had that Shen fellow hinted at so much? Yet on reflection, it did seem possible. He mused: After all, he’s a scholar, mind like winding silk—so many twists and turns.

"So, in your view, Shen’s curt refusal is simply because ’he has no freedom’?"

"Your Highness, you condescended to seek talent and approached Shen Hao; such genuine appreciation should move any man. Shen Hao is but a hundred households—how could he not be tempted? Yet with Pang Ban’s men watching, how dare he show you even the slightest warmth?"

Thinking of Pang Ban brought a wave of vexation to Yang Shu. That truly is a stone in the privy—both foul and hard. If Pang Ban is indeed watching Shen Hao, then it really becomes a troublesome matter.

"What now? If Shen Hao cannot be won over, the fat morsel of the Black Banner Battalion will be truly hard to swallow." Yang Shu rubbed his brow, feeling that everything lately was going awry, while time grew ever shorter.

"In truth, Your Highness need not be so anxious. Has not word already come from Moon Shadow Tower that their agents have gotten close to Shen Hao? If Pang Ban is watching Shen Hao so closely, we can approach him through Moon Shadow Tower’s channels—indeed, I believe this method has greater chances of success."

"Moon Shadow Tower..." Yang Shu took a deep breath and stood up from his chair, unconsciously pacing the study. After a long while, he said, "The people of Moon Shadow Tower have been restless lately. To entrust such an important matter entirely to them... this is improper."

Li Jiang did not dispute Prince Ling’s concern, but after some thought replied, "Your Highness could prepare on two fronts: assign Moon Shadow Tower their mission, and at the same time place agents inside to keep watch. If there are any reversals, you can respond promptly.

Furthermore, in my view, though Moon Shadow Tower has seemed restless of late, their foundation is still firmly in Your Highness’s grip. As long as you grasp their life gate, they will not be able to shift their loyalties at will. It is best for Your Highness to administer them with benevolence, for now the situation is urgent—Moon Shadow Tower’s strength must not be loosened."