Chapter 56

Ji Weiqiu left the palace, changed sedans, and returned to the Prince of Rui's Manor smoothly.

He stood before the main gates of the Prince of Rui's Manor. It had only been a few months, yet the stars had shifted, and everything had become chaotic. He thought about how, just a few months ago, his daily thoughts were about who he had arranged to go cockfighting with today and who he had promised to play a few rounds of cards with tomorrow. It truly felt like a lifetime ago.

But then again, he had finally gotten out of the palace, and it wasn't his turn to personally hold a list and move things around to tidy up the residence. Why not find someone to play a couple of rounds of cards to pass the time?

Ji Su probably wouldn't scold him, right?

Ji Weiqiu thought for a moment and gave a light scoff. Let him scold. Let him scold a few more times. He deserved it. Before long, Ji Liu, Zhang Er, and Zou San arrived by invitation—it was no joke, Ji Weiqiu was a Grand Secretary now. A Grand Secretary was calling them to play cards! Even their fathers wouldn't dare say, 'You're not allowed to go!'.

Ji Liu arrived the fastest. For no other reason than the Imperial Clan Prince's Manor being the closest to the Prince of Rui's Manor. As soon as he arrived and saw Ji Weiqiu leaning against a couch, looking utterly listless, he was dumbfounded. "You, how did you end up like this?!"

Ji Liu was closer to the situation than Zhang Er, so he naturally knew more. He thought that since Ji Weiqiu had both entered the Grand Secretariat and was going to Huainan, he must have recovered well. Who would have thought that upon seeing him, Ji Weiqiu's little face was so pale! A bit more powder and he could lie in a coffin!

Ji Weiqiu said calmly, "I'm not feeling well."

"You're not feeling well and you're still inviting us to play cards?" Ji Liu sat down beside Ji Weiqiu. Suddenly, his brow twitched as he had a realization. "No way, don't even think about it! Don't try to trick us into going to Huainan again this time!"

The day after the assassination attempt, Ji Liu heard that Ji Weiqiu had been poisoned and taken away to be detoxified. He had been worried sick the whole time. Both Zhang Er and Zou San felt something was off, so how could he possibly be at ease? After finally returning to the capital, he was given a harsh lecture at home. He was told it was a matter between the two brothers, the Emperor and the Prince of Rui, so what was he doing getting involved? If it wasn't dangerous, why would the Prince of Rui be taken back by the Emperor? And why would they have someone impersonate the Prince of Rui?!

The Emperor only had one biological younger brother, so he naturally doted on him and would ensure nothing happened to him. But he had more than one cousin! Besides, his family was loyal to Your Majesty. If the Emperor had a need, they would go if asked. But the Emperor hadn't asked, and he had gone on his own. If he had died, wouldn't it have been an unspeakable injustice?

Ji Liu deeply agreed, so he was determined not to go to Huainan this time—unless Ji Weiqiu begged him.

Ji Weiqiu looked up at him. He had just smiled and hadn't had a chance to speak when Ji Liu patted him. Ji Weiqiu froze. Ji Liu rubbed his arms, "Don't smile like that, it's creepy."

Why did his smile look so much like the Emperor's!

Ji Weiqiu was speechless, "Are you sick or something!"

Ji Liu burst into laughter. Ji Weiqiu said helplessly, "I'm not asking you all to go to Huainan. This time is different from the last. Last time was to pray for my Mother Empress's blessings, so no one could say anything about bringing you along for fun. This time, I'm going as an imperial envoy. How could it be so easy to squeeze people in?"

Speaking of which, Ji Weiqiu shot him a glare. "You? You're not even qualified to go!"

Ji Liu said coolly, "Oh ho, so you're a big shot now that you're a Grand Secretary?"

"Being a Grand Secretary is a big shot!" Ji Weiqiu said without hesitation. After saying that, he paused and couldn't help but laugh as well. Only then did Ji Liu say, "Finally, you seem a bit more alive."

Ji Weiqiu felt a bit emotional. Sometimes he felt that Ji Liu was his true brother. He said, "Thank you. I'm really fine. It's just that a couple of days ago, I went hunting at the royal hunting grounds with my Imperial Elder Brother and Second Brother Zhou. It messed up my sleep schedule, and I pulled an all-nighter for court this morning..."

Before Ji Weiqiu could finish, Ji Liu had already jumped up. "You went hunting and didn't call me?!"

Ji Weiqiu: "...? We also happened to run into Zhang Er. He went too. Didn't he tell you?"

"That Zhang Er son of a bitch!" Ji Liu was so angry he started cursing. Just then, Zhang Er and Zou San also came in, looking completely baffled. Ji Liu saw Zhang Er and immediately said, "Don't worry, if I really see Auntie, I'll still greet her politely."

Zhang Er was dumbfounded. "You son of a..."

The group burst into laughter. Zhang Er and the other also asked Ji Weiqiu why he looked so listless. Ji Weiqiu explained it all over again. The two of them laughed so hard they almost fell over, giving him a thumbs-up, "As expected of someone who's become a Grand Secretary. Truly exhausting all your heart and mind!"

Ji Weiqiu got annoyed just looking at Zhang Er's refreshed and energetic appearance. Having people to talk and laugh with really did cheer him up quite a bit. Before long, the card table was set up, and the four of them began to play. After two rounds, Ji Weiqiu had completely forgotten about his trip, his mind filled with thoughts of that bastard Zhang Er, who was deliberately holding onto his tiles to block him from winning!

"Your Highness, Lord Zhang has returned," a servant reported from the side. "But there are too many things, and arrangements still need to be made. Lord Zhang has not yet had a chance to see Your Highness and is currently at the side door taking inventory of the trunks."

Xingbo's family name was Zhang. Because he held a proper official position, the servants in the manor addressed him as 'Lord Zhang'.

Ji Weiqiu didn't think much of it and said casually, "Why so many things?"

The servant replied deferentially, "This servant does not know."

Ji Weiqiu figured his old mother and old brother had sent him some things—a customary practice. He didn't pay it much mind, thinking he would just go to Ci'an Palace to pay his respects to his Mother Empress and Imperial Elder Brother after attending court tomorrow. Just then, another servant came in to announce, "Your Highness, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Lord Zou Fan, requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, Zou San was so startled the cards in his hand nearly fell onto the table. "My dad isn't here to catch me, is he? I'm done for, done for..."

Ji Weiqiu smiled. "He won't."

Since it was Zou San's own father gracing them with his presence, the four of them couldn't very well continue playing cards. This round had just ended, so they had someone lead Lord Zou to the flower hall. Ji Liu and Zhang Er couldn't be bothered to see him and simply slipped away to rest elsewhere for a while.

Before Lord Zou even entered the flower hall, he could vaguely see his youngest son prancing around next to the Prince of Rui. His face immediately darkened—he had been wondering why he couldn't find him all afternoon. He had searched half the city, and it turned out he was at the Prince of Rui's Manor!

Upon entering the flower hall, Lord Zou bowed to Ji Weiqiu. "This subject, Zou Fan, pays his respects to the Prince of Rui. Please forgive me, Your Highness, for this abrupt visit."

"Lord Zou, please rise." Ji Weiqiu was all smiles and didn't stand on ceremony with him. "Is Lord Zou here to catch Zou San?"

Normally, to visit someone else's residence, one must first send a formal visiting card stating the purpose and time of the visit. The host would then reply, either gladly agreeing or politely declining. The etiquette required for different types of guests, whether the household should prepare a banquet and temporary lodging, or just tea and snacks, and who should receive the guest, all had to be arranged in detail. Therefore, an unannounced visit was a very rude thing to do.

Seeing Ji Weiqiu's composed and leisurely demeanor, Lord Zou thought to himself that his matter could succeed. He too started smiling and said, "I have indeed come for my son today, but not to drag him back."

Ji Weiqiu said, "Lord Zou, please speak freely."

Lord Zou paused. He had expected a few more pleasantries, but who would have thought the Prince of Rui would just come out with a 'speak freely'? His third son had been to Jiangnan with the Prince of Rui and had a good relationship with him. Could it be that his third son had offended the Prince of Rui? At this thought, Lord Zou couldn't help but glare at Zou San—that good-for-nothing, sooner or later he would anger his father to death!

Zou San, on the other hand, was baffled. Why was his father glaring at him for no reason? Thinking that perhaps his father hadn't interacted much with Ji Weiqiu, he explained from the side, "Dad, what's the matter? His Highness has always been straightforward. Just say what you need to say!"

Lord Zou recalled the sarcastic remarks made by the Prince of Rui during this morning's court session and wondered, 'This is what you call straightforward?' He was truly straightforward when he was ordering canings, though. He composed himself and said, "In that case, this subject will be direct. If Your Highness does not disdain it, would it be possible to take my unworthy third son with you on this trip to Huainan?"

Ji Weiqiu paused, not having expected this. He said, "This trip to Huainan will not be entirely safe."

Lord Zou smiled very kindly. "Since he will be traveling with Your Highness, he should naturally serve you loyally. If something were to happen... that would be dying for the country. This subject would have absolutely no complaints."

Zou San hadn't even processed it yet when he heard his own father and Ji Weiqiu already discussing him dying for the country. He was about to go numb. "Dad?!"

Lord Zou shot him a look, signaling him to shut up.

Ji Weiqiu had just said that Ji Liu wasn't even qualified to go—and it was true. This time, he was going as an imperial envoy, and all his attendants held official positions. Ji Liu was only a member of the imperial clan; he wasn't even an heir apparent. If he went along, he would definitely be criticized by the court officials.

But it was undeniable that this was a clear path to gaining merit and success. Which of those qualified to attend court in Taihe Hall wasn't an old fox? How could they not hear it? This matter was neither big nor small, and it was not something that required someone of Ji Weiqiu's level. Sending Ji Weiqiu indicated that the matter was to be thoroughly investigated. As an imperial clan prince, and with the major Jiangnan case as a precedent, who didn't know that he represented the Emperor?

Since it was to be thoroughly investigated, there would naturally be results. As long as the final investigation result wasn't that Ji Weiqiu was selling offices and titles, then the greatest merit would be Ji Weiqiu's. The others would naturally be rewarded according to their contributions.

As a Grand Secretary, Ji Weiqiu couldn't just rely on his title as a prince without any real achievements. Therefore, upon his return this time, Ji Su would surely reward Ji Weiqiu handsomely. To avoid being too conspicuous, the other officials in the imperial envoy's delegation would also receive rewards far exceeding previous precedents.

Which family didn't have a son or nephew who couldn't inherit a title or receive a position through family connections?

Even just going as a guard would be fine. Upon return, the Emperor would reward them with a background, even if it was just an idle post, it would count as a future path. If they could perform meritorious service along the way and be recognized by their superiors, wouldn't this be a clear path to success?

Ji Weiqiu thought for a moment. Someone would come asking eventually, so it was better to benefit his own people than others. He said, "It must be legitimate."

The meaning was that Lord Zou had to maneuver things first to give Zou San a legitimate identity to join the imperial envoy's delegation. He couldn't just tell others, 'My third son is skilled in martial arts and has come to be His Highness's guard', right? How embarrassing!

Lord Zou nodded. "This subject understands. I will not make things difficult for Your Highness."

"That's good." Ji Weiqiu agreed. Lord Zou's smile didn't falter as he bowed and took his leave, completely abandoning Zou San. Seeing this, Zou San said with a grimace, "So I have to go to Huainan again?"

Ji Weiqiu said, "Huainan has good wine."

Zou San waved his hand to interrupt, saying with a sincere face, "Alright, say no more. Why say so much between brothers! For the sake of our brotherhood, even if my father hadn't come, I would have gone anyway!"

Ji Weiqiu laughed so hard he could die.

As he laughed, he thought that there were benefits to Zou San coming along. He had already nodded and pulled Zou San in to build up his resume, so wouldn't Zou San's father have to give him some benefits? Talking about money would be crass. Since he was going to investigate corruption, he should at least be provided with a couple of good accountants, right? Moreover, Zou San's father came from a major clan in Huainan. With this connection, his trip to Huainan would be much more convenient.

When he returned to the capital in the future, if nothing went wrong, everyone would be happy. If there were any mishaps, he would have one more person in court to speak for him...

Thinking of this, Ji Weiqiu silently scorned himself.

—Tsk, why do I have the stench of an office drone?