Pei Jingzhe was standing at the door, contemplating life.
He remembered just now when he helped Feng Xiao into the room, that he had checked his pulse prior; it had been evidently weak and inconsistent. This was the sign of someone who was experiencing poisoning that had reached into his bones as well as sustaining heavy internal injuries.
Could it really be…terminal lucidity?
Pei Jingzhe's nose twitched.
When Feng Xiao realized the other did not move, his expression bouncing between pale white and blue, soused deep in his own imagination, he asked strangely, "Are your meridians sealed?"
As his words dispersed, a man in azure-colored clothes rushed in and panted heavily as he shouted Feng Xiao's courtesy name, "Yuntian, these are the JiuZhuan pellets from my martial sect, they can could prolong the process when one is heavily injured…"
Ming Yue, the Third Commander's voice suddenly paused and his expression mirrored Pei Jingzhe's, both of them staring dumbfounded at Feng Xiao, who was as lively as a tiger.
But Ming Yue's reflexes were quicker than Pei Jingzhe's, "You faked it?"
Feng Xiao replied cheekily, "By executing both the guixi and meridian sealing techniques, it could make one look like they are nearly dead. I fear that in this world, I might be the only one who can think of such a way to unite both techniques."
However, the first technique was originally used to aid someone in faking death, and the latter was used to prolong the process of poisoning. Both of them were only used when the situation is extremely undesirable and when there are no other option left. Who would have toyed with them like this?
The corner of Ming Yue's lips twitched, "So you mean that, your body at a glance, the only part of you wounded is your hand. Did you push yourself to try so hard just to ensure that the Zuoyue Bureau owes you a debt for saving them?"
Feng Xiao raised a brow, "At least this time, not only did I manage to cheat death once, I even got to know a considerably big secret. Do you think it's worth it?"
Ming Yue did not understand, "You want the Zuoyue Bureau to owe you a favor?"
Feng Xiao smiled happily, "What is the Zuoyue Bureau worth? Without Cui Buqu, the Zuoyue Bureau is like a person without a heart."
The more Ming Yue listened, the more confused he became.
Feng Xiao waved his hand, "There is no need for you to interfere in this matter. After three days, I will go on a trip to Anping in Boling with Cui Buqu. Lao-san, the Jiejian Bureau will remain in your care."
Ming Yue. It was a very poetic name.
It was common for people to imagine the owner when hearing that name. Many of them would think of a woman as gentle and soft as water, but the truth was always cruel. It wasn't only the fact that Ming Yue wasn't a woman, he was even a simple and honest middle-aged man whose looks were not extraordinary in any way. He rose earlier than chickens and slept later than dogs. In the absence of their first commander and the wayward personality of their second, he abandoned countless meals and hours of sleep to fill himself in their place. Everyone heralded him as the Jiejian Bureau's foundation and pillar.
So, Third Commander Ming listened to Feng Xiao's orders and nodded his head, not feeling surprised at all, "That will be no problem. Please rest assured."
Pei Jingzhe's conscious wavered, "My Lord, could you take me along?"
Feng Xiao replied with a face full of disgust, "Last time your wage for this year was all deducted. I'm afraid this time, if you do something wrong again, even your wage for the next year will be gone!"
Pei Jingzhe's face looked like it had been wronged, "I have already progressed!"
Feng Xiao raised two fingers, "I will give you two choices. One, you are allowed to come with me, but with every mistake you make, one month's wage will be deducted, no limits. Or two, I want you to go to a place and do something for me. If this task is successful, then not only will all your previously deducted wages will be returned, they will also be returned be doubled."
Without even thinking twice, Pei Jingzhe said, "I choose the second choice!"
Feng Xiao smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
Once he thought about how all his wages were going to be returned, Pei Jingzhe's mood positively shifted. He happily excused himself and left.
Starring at the image of Pei Jingzhe's back, who looked as if he grew a pair of wings, Ming Yue suddenly smiled, "You originally wanted him to choose the second choice, right?"
Feng Xiao, "He definitely cannot accomplish the task I gave him. At most, he could only accomplish half of it. When that time comes, all of his deducted wages will be returned to him, but there will be no need to add."
Ming Yue was speechless, "Second Commander, I feel that your background might be inaccurate. Do you want someone to investigate it?"
Feng Xiao, "Investigate what?"
Ming Yue, "Investigate whether there is a family with the surname Tie in the Northern Dynasty, who lost a son by the name of 'Gong Ji'."
Tie Gong Ji. (Iron rooster, used to describe someone who is very stingy)
Who could have guessed that Feng Xiao was born thick-skinned; he wasn't ashamed, in fact, he was proud of it and full of explanations.
"Pei Jingzhe, that rascal. On normal days he never gave thought to his duties, instead, sometimes he slacked off to gift flowers to the maiden in the neighboring house, other times he would help the maiden on the last street named 'Song' to sell baked pastries. Does he really think I wouldn't know? A jade that is not carved cannot become something else. What do young people like him need such high wages for? It's only fine as long as it is enough for him to use, otherwise, he would squander them all to wine and women!"
When it comes to the most handsome man in the Jiejian Bureau, the position naturally belonged to Feng Xiao. Even in the whole of the Sui Empire, there were only a handful of people who can level with his looks.
When a person has an extremely bombastic appearance, it creates a distance between themselves and others. People would avoid trying to get close to them. It was just like the ladies Feng Xiao spoke of. Even though at first they were seduced by his looks, in the end, they still deem that plain-looking sweet little Pei Jingzhe was more suited to common households. So, following the fact that Pei Jingzhe often showed up in this district, he became a favorite of the little ladies living there.
If Cui Buqu was here, he would have definitely said that Feng Xiao was jealous of Pei Jingzhe, but Ming Yue was an honest person, so once he heard Feng Xiao's words, he only rubbed his nose, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Right, I need you to investigate something for me." Feng Xiao said.
Ming Yue listened intently.
Feng Xiao, "Go investigate Princess Leping herself, or the Linlang Guild that she had a share in, and whether or not they were related to the Yunhai Thirteen Stories."
"That's impossible. Are you suggesting that Princess Leping is the one behind the incident today? But her surname is Yang!" Ming Yue showed a look of shock. Since something huge happened in the Thousand Lanterns Banquet, even if he didn't know the full situation, he must have heard of it.
Feng Xiao, "Do you think being the Empress Dowager is better, or a princess?"
Ming Yue was stunned.
Feng Xiao asked again, "Do you think that having the Emperor as your son is much better, or having the Emperor as your father would be much better?"
Ming Yue, "But the late Emperor was not the Princess's own son, yet the present Emperor is the Princess's own father. Between father and an adopted son, there would be a difference."
Feng Xiao nodded his head, "Logically, it should be like this. But don't forget that Princess Leping is a very stubborn person. When the new Dynasty was established, in her heart bore hatred and she had squabbled with her parents before the audience, using even death as a threat. In the end, as days passed it was slowly tamed, but from the way she behaved towards Cui Buqu, it can be seen that she did not put down this past of hers. However, she dared not point her hatred towards her parents, so she pointed it to Cui Buqu."
Ming Yue, "But everything you say now are only theories. Do they have any other proof?"
Feng Xiao, "Just now, whoever hid under the carriage and fought with me was an incredibly skilled martial artist. I do not believe that the male lover of the Princess, Ren Yue, would be capable of such a thing of having a top martial artist working for him."
Ming Yue, "So you mean that there might be someone behind Ren Yue, and that person is very possibly related to the Yunhai Thirteen Stories as well as the Princess?"
After a moment of thought, Feng Xiao said slowly, "Perhaps not. Princess Leping might be the one behind the Yunhai Thirteen Stories herself."
Ming Yue opened his mouth in shock, his tongue tied into a knot. He felt that the other's theories were too bold, but even if he was bold, it wasn't considered as unrealistic. It was also because Feng Xiao had no proof, that it felt even more shocking.
"However, Princess Leping really does not seem like someone who would be so calculative and deep. Moreover, the former Dynasty was gone, even if she destroyed all her current brothers and father, she could not resurrect the Yuwen family. Wouldn't that just be making herself the Empress?"
Feng Xiao touched the bottom of his jaw, "These bold theories are not bad. I do not believe that Cui Buqu has never thought of this possibility before. When tomorrow comes, you can arrange people to start investigating in secret, to keep an eye on Princess Leping. I believe that something would happen around her sooner or later."
As he spoke, he felt a little proud, "This time, the Jiejian Bureau would definitely be a step ahead of the Zuoyue Bureau. Don't let them take all the glory all the time. My favorite thing to see is Cui Buqu giving that, 'I'm obviously pissed and unhappy but I can only suppress it all inside' look!"
Ming Yue was speechless, "I wager Cui Buqu does not know your wounds were faked? If someone is about to die, they cannot suddenly jump all lively to Boling three days later, do you think Cui Buqu is really that stupid?"
Feng Xiao's smile suddenly froze.
He ran a hand down the side of his face, his expression suddenly turned into respect, "You are right. Three days would be too brief. Tomorrow, send someone to tell him that my situation is bouncing between extremes, let him wait for me for five days."
Ming Yue tried to give suggestions, "Should I say that your poisoned wound is incredibly severe and that it might never be healed so he could come to visit you?"
Feng Xiao, "No can do. You don't understand this man named Cui. He is like a donkey from head to tail and you can only smooth the hairs in one way. He's intelligent and suspicious, the more you want him to do something, the more he wouldn't do it. In fact, if you said too much, he will definitely notice it. You only need to tell him what I said."
Ming Yue twitched his lips, "Whatever, whatever. I'll listen to you. Let me return to take a rest first!"
Feng Xiao lied down and covered himself, closing his eyes as he said, "Even if I'm going to pretend, I will do the full set. Starting from tomorrow, I am a severely wounded patient who cannot even raise his shoulder or his hand. Help me kill the candles."
Ming Yue: "…"
He waited until Ming Yue closed the door, his footsteps traveling far away. Only then did Feng Xiao open his eyes again and looked outside the window.
The moonlight shone upon the window, its gentle light piercing through translucent paper, just like how it was before when he was on the horse carriage looking up at the stars.
A wobbling carriage, soft cotton-padded seats, and a pale-white face.
Eh, that face looked ordinary, it was not even ten or twenty percent comparable to himself. What advantage does it have?
However, the moan that poured from the other's lips wasn't completely unpleasant to hear.
Feng Xiao touched his own lips.
Originally, it had been partially elation, and partially to explore. Right now, instead of being less interested, it seemed that there was an answer for his means to explore.
"I feel like... something's wrong." He mumbled to himself.
Then, if in near future, a brilliant opportunity to pit Cui Buqu was laid before him, would he have done it, or would he not?
Lao-san:literally translates to 'Old Three'. It's a very brotherly way of calling someone. Since Ming Yue was the third commander, he's called 'Old Three'/Lao-san, whereas Feng Xiao should be called Lao-er/Old Second, and their eldest should be Lao-da/Old Big.
Gong Ji: Rooster.