Chapter 35

His panic lasted only a moment. Meng Zhou calmly set down the bowl and made to kneel, but Chu Huaiyin stopped him. "No need."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chu Huaiyin turned his gaze to the bowl of medicine and watched as Meng Zhou pressed both hands against its sides to test the temperature, then called loudly to Lady Lin in the inner room, "Sister-in-law Xue, the medicine has cooled. You can drink it now."

Lady Lin had traveled far and wide with her husband and knew something of the world. She heard Meng Zhou address him as "Your Majesty," yet she had clearly just taken her medicine, and now Meng Zhou was saying it had cooled and she could drink it. An idea flashed through her mind. Lord Guan was a favorite at court, with promotions and noble titles well within reach. Surely he did not want His Majesty to know he was secretly receiving treatment for an intimate ailment, which would undermine his dignity.

Having worked this out, Lady Lin hurried out of bed and came out to pay her respects.

"You are with child. Dispense with the formalities." Lady Lin looked up at the imperial countenance, and a single glance left her feeling that his imposing majesty brooked no disrespect.

But... why did she feel there was unmistakable hostility toward her in His Majesty's eyes?

Lady Lin tried to fathom the emperor's thoughts. Just where had she gone wrong? Seeing the atmosphere grow somewhat tense, with both His Majesty and Lord Guan staring silently at the bowl of medicine, she found the imperial mind truly unfathomable. She suddenly felt that Lord Guan had no easy time navigating officialdom, and a note of sympathy crept involuntarily into her voice. "Lord Guan, my belly feels uncomfortable. May I drink it later?"

Chu Huaiyin did not hear sympathy. To him, it sounded like wheedling!

He hauled Meng Zhou outside, out of Lady Lin's sight, and trapped him beneath a locust tree, glaring fiercely into his eyes like a ravenous tiger fixing its gaze on a cowering little white rabbit.

"What is your relationship with her? You come running here every day, more diligently than you attend court!"

Chu Huaiyin could not lay a hand on Meng Zhou, so he could only vent his anger elsewhere. He punched the locust tree's trunk, sending leaves rustling down and startling a flock of young birds into the air, chirping.

"You even blew on it to cool it for her!" Chu Huaiyin made no attempt to hide his burning jealousy. Meng Zhou had never done that for him!

I've never seen you take medicine, either... Meng Zhou thought. You'd be better off not getting sick.

Dust from the treetop drifted into Meng Zhou's eyes. He blinked, unable to rub them with his limbs hemmed in. Chu Huaiyin was in the midst of his anger, so Meng Zhou forced himself to ignore the discomfort in his eyes. Just as he was about to soothe him, the other man suddenly embraced him.

"Forget it."

The moment Chu Huaiyin saw Meng Zhou's eyes beginning to redden, he remembered the time he had scolded Meng Zhou to tears. He had forgotten this little tyrant could cry, too, and once he cried, wouldn't Chu Huaiyin be the one scrambling to comfort him?

But Chu Huaiyin could not resign himself to letting Meng Zhou off so easily. A fierce struggle raged in his mind, and in the end, comforting Meng Zhou won out. In his frustration, he repeatedly berated himself for letting beauty cloud his judgment.

Meng Zhou was bewildered. Had he just gotten over it on his own?

Unaware of what had transpired in Chu Huaiyin's mind, Meng Zhou followed his heart and drew Chu Huaiyin's hand down from behind his back. Seeing the scattered abrasions on his fist, some still bleeding, he felt a sudden pang in his heart and did something neither of them had expected.

He lowered his head and gently blew on Chu Huaiyin's wounds.

His cheeks puffed out in a slight curve, as gentle as someone blowing on a child's hurt.

Chu Huaiyin could clearly see Meng Zhou's lowered lashes, like black feathers, still and as intent as their owner.

Perhaps he was breathing immortal qi. Chu Huaiyin felt comfortable from head to toe and even grew greedy enough to want a kiss.

Once that thought arose, it was like a wild beast released from its cage, racing across the mountains. Chu Huaiyin stared at Meng Zhou's pursed little mouth, temptation stirring within him.

Yet Meng Zhou stepped back just then. He took a letter from inside his robe and unfolded it with a rustle to conceal his rare trace of bashfulness.

A sheet of paper stood between them, and the alluring little kitten vanished. When Chu Huaiyin lowered his head, his lips nearly kissed the paper.

"What is this?" Chu Huaiyin sincerely wanted to burn the thing.

Chu Huaiyin swept the obstructing paper aside and saw Meng Zhou's calm face, the one reserved for discussing official business, as though they were at court.

"This is a letter I previously entrusted to a friend to bring back to the capital. It contains very important information." Meng Zhou spread the paper open and held it toward the sunlight. The plan drawn in special pigment resembled the watermark on a modern banknote. As sunlight shone through, every line became clearly visible.

"A close friend of mine, the final victim of the garden massacre, once gave me a partial plan. It was a portion passed down by his ancestors."

All the Lake Tai rocks were now at Prince Huai's Residence. If they obtained the complete plan, there was no reason this treasure from the previous dynasty could not be added to the state treasury.

Neither Meng Zhou nor Chu Huaiyin coveted other people's property. What he meant to discuss was not the plan's completeness, but-

"Your Majesty, does it look somewhat familiar?"

They must have seen something similar somewhere, or something that complemented it.

Meng Zhou and Chu Huaiyin exchanged a look.

"The Left Chancellor has given me quite a surprise."

Chu Huaiyin tugged Meng Zhou's cheek. That included this little liar, too.

Meng Zhou brushed his hand away. I really have nothing to do with Meng Fushan. Don't lump us together.

The plan on the back of this letter was almost identical to the layout of the Meng Clan's rear garden, except that the Lake Tai rocks at each location differed. Craftsmen of the previous dynasty had meticulously designed the plan, striving to place every rock just right and create a realm in which heaven, earth, and humanity returned to unity in their true nature. The Meng Clan's rear garden lacked those Lake Tai rocks whose shapes had all been carefully considered. With Meng Fushan's own preferences incorporated, it looked more casual and natural.

"You are not to involve yourself in this. Act as though you know nothing. This is an imperial decree." Chu Huaiyin's expression grew stern as he instructed him.

Meng Fushan was calculating and unscrupulous, with next to no familial affection. Chu Huaiyin did not want Meng Zhou coming into contact with him.

"As you command." Meng Zhou's tone was mild. Ever since Chu Huaiyin had become obsessed with using imperial decrees to pressure him, he could issue seven or eight verbal edicts a day. Meng Zhou was almost immune to them.

Perhaps one day he would simply defy an imperial decree.

I'm a very busy official myself, Meng Zhou thought. I still have a case to investigate. Lady Lin's husband, Xue Tianlu, had suddenly drowned, and there were many suspicious points. Whether for public duty or personal reasons, he owed the couple an answer.

Chu Huaiyin seemed to see through Meng Zhou's thoughts. He pinched Meng Zhou's mouth shut. "You are not to visit Lady Lin again."

Meng Zhou thought, Neither I nor the child in my belly can agree to that.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph!"

Chu Huaiyin released him. "Good, as long as you understand."

Meng Zhou blinked innocently. "Mmph, mmph, mmph" meant no. You can't blame me if you didn't understand.

"Every time you see her, you go a day without fish. I will keep my word." Chu Huaiyin considered it and decided no other threat would work as reliably.

Meng Zhou: "..." You're driving me and my son into a corner.

Meng Zhou weighed the fish against the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and decisively chose the latter. He only needed to take it for another five days. He could endure it.

Besides, Meng Zhou rubbed his belly. He did not know whether he was imagining it, but after Chu Huaiyin started feeding him, the fetus seemed to be growing a little faster.

If this continued, it would be easy to notice.

Chu Huaiyin's Snow Spot must have some effect he was keeping secret.

How underhanded.

He had to quit eating it.

Meng Zhou refused to admit it was because he ate too much.

Lady Lin stayed at the Guan Residence for a short while to rest during her pregnancy. The Xue Clan members seemed to have decided she would not return. Like flies spotting a crack, they descended with their entire families in tow. In just two days, clansmen filled the Xue family mansion.

Meng Zhou looked at the dozens, perhaps a hundred people and announced, "Someone has reported that Xue Tianlu was murdered. You are all suspects. Someone will take your statements shortly. You must cooperate with the authorities' investigation."

Before Meng Zhou had finished, the crowd began shouting. "He drowned! What else could it be?"

"The authorities are here to throw us out! There's no justice!"

Meng Zhou swept his gaze over them and singled out a few who looked visibly guilty, telling Head Constable Wang to pay them extra attention. Lady Lin did not wish to disturb the deceased's rest, so they could only begin by investigating the killer.

Taking statements would take a long time. Meng Zhou remembered that Chu Huaiyin had taken the plan in the letter to have a copy made, and it had only returned to his hands today. Guan Jiasheng had written the letter to the old madam, and he had not yet had time to deliver it.

"I have business to attend to and will head back first. Report to me if there is any progress."

Afu followed Meng Zhou and suddenly stepped on a sheet of paper. He looked down and found that it was joss paper.

"I haven't heard of anyone holding a funeral."

"Hmm?" Meng Zhou looked around. Joss paper was everywhere, and when he listened closely, he could hear funeral music as well. The capital had certain requirements for funerals. Scattering joss paper through the air might make one look wealthy and filial, but if any drifted into the imperial palace, it could cost lives.

The closer they came to the Guan Residence, the more joss paper littered the road. An ominous suspicion formed in Meng Zhou's mind.

He hurried back to the residence and, sure enough, saw a crowd surrounding it so tightly that not even water could pass through. A coffin lay across the entrance, and beside it sat two people in hemp mourning clothes, wailing for the dead. They were none other than Father Guan and his illegitimate son, A-Bao, who had been thrown out.

"My son, you died such a terrible death! Your mother has taken a villain for her son and doesn't care whether you live or die. Even if it costs me my life, I'll get you justice! Everyone, come judge this for yourselves..."

A-Bao's earth-shaking cries mingled with his, all howling without a single tear.

Afu's face suddenly went deathly pale. "Th-then, in there, is...!"

Meng Zhou stared fixedly at the coffin, unprecedented worry welling in his eyes.

The onlookers chattered among themselves. Was the corpse inside the coffin the real Guan Jiasheng, or was the man now presiding over Jingzhao Prefecture Guan Jiasheng...? Bizarre. Truly bizarre!

Quite a few officials had arrived, though no one knew who had invited them. Rather than watching the spectacle, they seemed to have come to investigate a case. Once Meng Zhou was proved to be impersonating Guan Jiasheng, they would immediately petition His Majesty to sentence him to death.