AYM Chapter 54

The liveliest place in the capital was none other than the main street, where all the best food and entertainment gathered. It was also where Yan Yihuan had originally planned to have a proper outing.

 

But since arriving in the capital, he had spent every day in the palace at the emperor’s side. He hadn’t even figured out all the corners of the palace, let alone been outside.

 

This time, the emperor had only allowed him one day out, but Yan Yihuan had used every trick he knew to extend it to three days instead. The price for it went without saying, his waist still felt faintly sore even now.

 

He slowed his steps and quietly rubbed his waist, then looked at Ming Zhang’s back with secret delight. On purpose, he stopped walking, and sure enough, it earned him a backward glance from the beauty.

 

One of them was tall and refined, while the other handsome and lively. Walking side by side, they drew admiring looks from passersby. As they drew closer to their meeting place, Yan Yihuan set aside his playfulness and began to walk faster.

 

At that moment, Xu Xinyao was waiting for him at the largest restaurant in the capital. Just thinking that someone from Linjing had come made Yan Yihuan’s heart surge with excitement, even if it wasn’t a family member. No matter how the street vendors tried to call him over, he didn’t spare them a glance.

 

When they finally reached the private room upstairs, Yan Yihuan, who hadn’t been able to stop smiling along the way, raised his hand to knock on the door. But just then, Ming Zhang caught up beside him, which made him stop his movements. He suddenly remembered that he was now an official of the court and couldn’t act as casually as he did at home.

 

Besides, if Xu Xinyao returned home, his family would surely ask about Yan Yihuan’s situation. He needed to appear proper. Thinking this, Yan Yihuan carefully smoothed his clothes and adjusted his hair, then straightened his back and lightly knocked on the door.

 

He had barely knocked a few times when he heard hurried footsteps from within. The door flew open with a creak.

 

“Yihuan!”

 

A tall young man in fine brocade robes appeared at the door. Surprise and delight filled his eyes as he naturally placed a hand on Yan Yihuan’s shoulder and pulled him half a step inside, smiling as he looked him over.

 

“It’s been a long time. You’ve really changed a lot.”

 

“Hello, Big Brother Xu!” Yan Yihuan was overjoyed to finally see Xu Xinyao. Hearing the praise, he lifted his chin slightly, a small trace of pride showing on his face.

 

Even if the Residence of King Yan hadn’t mentioned it, Xu Xinyao already knew there was something unusual about Yan Yihuan being suddenly summoned to the capital to take office. Now, seeing that he could come and go freely, his eyes bright, his fair skin faintly tinged with pink, and he clearly looked to be in good health, the worry Xu Xinyao had carried all the way here finally eased.

 

“Come in quickly–”

 

A soft cough interrupted his warm greeting.

 

Yan Yihuan froze at once, quickly turning to take the hand of Ming Zhang, who had been just behind him. He murmured an apology, then turned back to Xu Xinyao.

 

“Brother Xu, this is Grand Secretary Ming Zhang of the Cabinet, Lord Ming, and he’s also my…” Yan Yihuan suddenly didn’t know how to introduce him. Although he often clung to him and called him Ming Zhang ge[mfn]哥 – brother[/mfn], he wasn’t sure what Ming Zhang thought of him.

 

“Friend.” 

 

Ming Zhang said with a light pat on Yan Yihuan’s shoulder, the word spoken with a smile. His gaze, however, rested on Xu Xinyao. His eyes looked calm and gentle, yet it was as if they could see straight through a person.

 

Xu Xinyao hadn’t expected Yan Yihuan to bring someone with him, let alone the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. His heart tightened, and he hurried to welcome them both into the private room with full courtesy.

 

Hearing Ming Zhang call him a friend made Yan Yihuan genuinely happy. For a while, the three of them sat together, and his cheerful chatter filled the room with liveliness.

 

But Yan Yihuan was probably the only one who was relaxed and at ease. Xu Xinyao secretly observed Ming Zhang and saw that he not only held a high position and carried himself with exceptional composure, but his appearance was also one of rare, dignified grace.

 

What unsettled Xu Xinyao even more were Yan Yihuan’s small, unconscious gestures of closeness and the bright look in his eyes whenever he glanced at Ming Zhang. It stirred suspicion and unease in Xu Xinyao’s heart.

 

Of course, he wasn’t the only one. Although Ming Zhang appeared relaxed as he chatted with them, he too noticed how familiar Yan Yihuan seemed with Xu Xinyao, it was just as what Yan Yihuan had said before, they were not real brothers, but still nearly so.

 

There were only three people at that table, yet each carried their own thoughts. The only one truly happy was probably Yan Yihuan himself.

 

Just then, there was a series of steady knocks at the door. Xu Xinyao froze, about to rise, when Ming Zhang gently stopped him with a faint smile.

 

“It’s probably for me. You two go ahead and talk.”

 

With that, Ming Zhang stood up and stepped out. Xu Xinyao watched his retreating figure, increasingly convinced that this man was far from ordinary.

 

His own great-grandfather had once been a high official in court, but after retiring, the entire Xu family had returned to Linjing. Before his death, the old man had strictly instructed that no one in the family was ever to enter officialdom again, even if they took up trade or farming.

 

There had, of course, been many intrigues and schemes in officialdom behind that old family rule, but by his generation, those troubles had long since ceased to matter. Yet because that family rule from back then was widely known, none of the Xu family’s descendants, no matter how learned, ever took the imperial examinations again, devoting themselves entirely to commerce instead.

 

Thus, Xu Xinyao knew little about the current affairs of court. Seeing Ming Zhang step out, he quickly turned to Yan Yihuan to ask what was going on. But neither of them knew that, at that moment, Ming Zhang, who had deliberately walked to the far end of the corridor, was staring back towards the room, surprise flickering in his eyes.

 

“What you just said, is it true?”

 

“Every word of it.” The one who had just knocked was a spy sent by Youluo Jian to Linjing, “The Residence of King Yan and the Xu family have already come to an agreement. Xu Xinyao’s visit this time is likely to first sound out Grand Historian Yan, and afterward they may submit a memorial to the throne directly.”

 

Ming Zhang’s heart gave a jolt. A flood of complicated emotions rose within him, too tangled to name. He lowered his gaze as if in thought, but this time his silence lasted far longer than usual.

 

A quiet exhale broke the stillness. With his expression calm as ever, Ming Zhang removed the token hanging at his waist and handed it to the man before him.

 

“Take this and go to the palace at once. Report the matter directly to His Majesty.”

 

The figure before him vanished in an instant, but Ming Zhang didn’t return right away. Instead, he looked once more toward the room’s door and let out a soft, helpless laugh.

 

“It’s going to get lively again.”

 

The door opened softly. Yan Yihuan was just about to ask why Ming Zhang had been gone so long, but before he could speak, Ming Zhang said, “Yihuan, didn’t I tell you on the way here that the peach blossom wine from the shop across the street is good? Go buy a flask to serve Young Master Xu.”

 

“What?” Yan Yihuan blinked in confusion and pointed at the table, “There’s still plenty of wine here.”

 

“Young Master Xu rarely comes to the capital. You can’t be so perfunctory.” Ming Zhang pulled him up from his seat. “He must at least try the best wine here. That’s proper hospitality.”

 

Yan Yihuan found the whole thing baffling, but Xu Xinyao immediately understood what Ming Zhang meant. He turned to Yan Yihuan with a look of expectation.

 

“Yihuan, you’re not so stingy that you wouldn’t buy me a flask of wine, are you?”

 

With the words said that plainly, there was no way for Yan Yihuan to refuse. He gave the two of them a puzzled look, then nodded and agreed. But as soon as the door closed, the smiles on both men’s faces disappeared at once, and Xu Xinyao’s tone turned a few shades colder.

 

“Lord Ming, you deliberately sent Yihuan away, do you have something to say to me?”

 

“There isn’t much time, so I’ll be direct.” Ming Zhang lifted his gaze and met his eyes. Unlike Xu Xinyao’s guarded hostility, his expression was calm, as if he were asking an ordinary question.

 

“You didn’t come to the capital for business, did you? The Residence of King Yan is arranging a marriage with your Xu family, isn’t it?”