Chapter 170: Plotting (4)

Le Wuya wanted to say more, but a flicker of thought crossed his brow. He fell silent and led him inward.

Xiang Zhi Jie said, "Yes, let's go inside first. Outside..."

Before the words "too many eyes and ears" could leave his mouth, Le Wuya interrupted him, casually pinching the thickness of his clothing: "You of all people—where's your common sense? It's chilly out there, and you come in a single layer. Did you come here just to get yourself sick in front of me?"

Xiang Zhi Jie took the scolding, stared blankly for a moment, then couldn't help but smile at him.

He was always reserved and introverted, but when he smiled, it was lively and bright, so endearingly obedient it was beyond words.

Le Wuya had no idea what he was up to: "That happy to see me?"

Xiang Zhi Jie lowered his head, doing his best to mimic his childhood's meek, quiet demeanor: "Happy."

Before leaving, he had left his outer robe at the inn—such a trivial matter needed no mention.

Xiang Zhi Jie thought, no matter how clever his teacher was, he was never clever about things like this.

He needed a tutor in matters of the heart.

Le Wuya, unaware that he was being talked about behind his back, took his hand and led him inside: "Come on, I'll make you even happier!"

...

Mu Jiazhi escorted them all the way, and only when he saw the two of them arm in arm, walking in together, did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Another guard at the door called softly, "Assistant Prefect Mu."

Mu Jiazhi didn't like to flaunt his achievements. Having safely delivered the men to the office, he figured his job was done. He simply instructed, "Do your job well," and turned to leave.

"Sir, who was that person?" the guard asked with feigned curiosity, lowering his voice. "Pretty handsome, isn't he?"

Mu Jiazhi: "..."

Had he been too lenient lately?

These people actually had the nerve to get cheeky and fish for information from him?

Mu Jiazhi shot him a glance.

The guard, realizing he'd overstepped, was instantly terrified. He lowered his head and dared not say another word.

Out of Mu Jiazhi's sight, his eyes darted left and right, clearly plotting something.

Mu Jiazhi turned and walked away silently.

Ten paces away, he quietly turned and glanced back at the guard's retreating figure.

The guard, unaware, was too busy scheming to notice.

Just then, Zi Yongshou returned from an errand outside and crossed paths with Mu Jiazhi. He froze for a moment, then gave a gentle smile.

Since they'd parted ways, their relationship had become more natural than before.

Zi Yongshou no longer felt as tense and nervous around him as he once had.

In short, he'd unexpectedly rediscovered the ease of their old school days—though the hierarchy remained, one an official and one a clerk, something had definitely changed.

Mu Jiazhi stepped forward, pointing behind him without turning his head: "Watch that man. He's too interested in Prefect Wenren's movements."

Zi Yongshou was taken aback, then looked past his shoulder in the direction he pointed, his brows furrowing slightly: "Understood."

The former partners, having just met, parted ways to attend to their own affairs.

No words were needed.

...

In autumn, the osmanthus trees at the government office burst into lively bloom. A night of autumn rain had added a touch of chill, and the ground was carpeted with brilliant golden blossoms, looking like a beautiful, soft brocade rug at first glance.

Le Wuya was examining Xiang Zhi Jie's chest: "Why would there be a problem here?"

The warm breath from his nose landed on Xiang Zhi Jie's chest, which was covered only by a thin outer garment.

Xiang Zhi Jie didn't move, his eyes lowered, watching Le Wuya's hairpin.

Le Wuya asked him, "What's it like when it acts up?"

Xiang Zhi Jie thought for a moment: "It races. I can't catch my breath."

Le Wuya pressed his palm against Xiang Zhi Jie's chest, his left hand over his own, and listened with a frown for a moment: "Is it fast now?"

Xiang Zhi Jie said gently, "No."

Le Wuya roughly understood the severity of the matter and furrowed his brow: "You were fine when you left. How'd you pick up this condition out of nowhere?"

Xiang Zhi Jie's mind flashed to that bitterly cold snowy night.

He lowered his eyes: "Birth, aging, sickness, death—it's the natural course of life."

Le Wuya teased him: "If you know it's the way of the world, why drag me back here?"

"It's different."

"How?"

"Because it's you, it's different."

Le Wuya was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "What a mouth on you. Useless as a kid, saving it all up for when you grew up, huh?"

Xiang Zhi Jie: "Does it work?"

He got a light tap on the head: "Quit being cheeky. Keep that heart of yours in check, don't let it race—I'm trying to talk serious business with you!"

Talking with Xiaoliu didn't require such restraint.

Le Wuya sat cross-legged and told his co-conspirator about the big plan he had for Tongzhou Prefecture.

How he'd use trade as a wedge to break the deadlock of rampant Japanese pirates in Tongzhou that no one could govern.

As Xiang Zhi Jie listened intently, he dipped a finger in tea and wrote stroke by stroke on the table across from Le Wuya, as if mapping out Le Wuya's plan.

When Le Wuya finished, he asked seriously, "If it succeeds, great. But what if the other side dodges the blow, steers clear of Sister Xiaoshu's fleet, or goes all the way and hurts Sister Xiaoshu—what then?"

"Your concern isn't unfounded." Le Wuya propped his chin on his hand. "But you've skipped the most crucial step."

Xiang Zhi Jie lowered his head, thinking hard.

After a long pause, he suddenly smiled: "Teacher, you're..."

The teacher was right—he'd been thinking too narrowly.

These so-called Japanese pirates, a tangle of truth and lies, were ultimately just tentacles of local bigwigs profiting off smuggling.

Their opening move was never to raise a fuss, but to play nice and seek cooperation.

"Today, she walked out of my place. By tomorrow, half of Tongzhou will know she's got an official pass for open seas. The yamen's got too many ears, so I deliberately left a few moles in place, waiting for them to spread the word." Le Wuya took a sip of tea. "Sister Qi's in silk and cloth—easy to stash."

In other words, all she had to do was sit at home, and Tongzhou's so-called "Japanese pirates" would come knocking on her door for business.

She had the golden signboard of being an adopted daughter of the imperial family, and a maritime pass that was priceless but couldn't be bought anywhere.

This was prime meat—a rising star in the sea-smuggling game.

These profit-hungry flies, catching the scent, would swarm like bees to honey, flapping their wings to fly over.

And Le Wuya picking Qi Hongzhuang was just as natural.

He knew Qi Hongzhuang's nature through and through.

She was the type to swing an axe and charge at her enemies without a care for life or limb.

She was also the type to defy imperial orders, putting loyalty and honor first.

What's more, she'd seen the splendor of the court and the riches of the world, so money couldn't tempt her.

She had no kids, no parents—one mouth to feed, no family to worry about, no weak spots to exploit.

To outsiders, Qi Hongzhuang teaming up with Wen Ren Ming Ke made perfect sense.

Back when he was the Nanting magistrate, he'd worked with this business-savvy county lady to grow "Endless Thought."

Now, thanks to his skyrocketing career, "Endless Thought" had made a name for itself in the southwest and was already sold out.

He heard the new Nanting magistrate, Sun Ru, was clinging tight to this money-making scheme, busy expanding the crops, breeding new flower types, and having a blast doing it.

Since the two had history, it made perfect sense that Wen Ren Ming Ke, on arriving in Tongzhou, would pick her first to split the sea-trade pie.

What's more, to these bigwigs who'd gotten rich off smuggling, Prefect Wenren's moves clearly painted him as a younger, meaner version of Wei Yixian.

Even Assistant Prefect Wei's fall would be chalked up to "two tigers fighting for the throne."

Once he'd kicked Assistant Prefect Wei out, all of Tongzhou's profits would be his alone.

That also made perfect sense.

This was the knockout drug Le Wuya had slipped these people to numb them for now.

By the time the blade came down, they might not even feel a thing.

Once he'd figured out the trick, Zhi Jie couldn't help but laugh: "Teacher still likes playing the villain?"

Le Wuya puffed up his chest proudly: "Isn't it second nature? I put on the villain's mask to win everyone over, then when I rip it off, imagine their faces... hating my guts but totally helpless—what a riot!"

"Does Sister Xiaoshu know?"

"Not yet. But she's got plenty of brains. Even if she can't crack it here, she'll piece it together once she mulls it over." Le Wuya smiled. "Who trained her? His Majesty, with a skilled hand and a devoted heart, carefully raised such a spy—of course, we've got to use her to the fullest."

Zhi Jie said, "It's still risky."

"After this, she'll be a sitting duck. But this stretch of playing nice with them will be enough for her to learn the shipping lanes. By then, I can shield her from open blades; as for the sneaky ones, that's on her."

Le Wuya said casually, "She's making a killing; a little risk is only fair."

When Zhi Jie didn't say a word, Le Wuya was surprised and looked up: "I thought you'd chew me out."

...If Wen Ren Yue had heard this brilliant speech, he'd have judged him with a look alone.

Getting no reply felt weird to Le Wuya.

Zhi Jie asked, curious, "Chew you out for what?"

"For being cold-blooded and heartless, not laying out the pros and cons, dazzling her with perks first, getting her to bite only to find a hook in the bait..." Le Wuya waved his hands, "...stuff like that."

"Would I?" Zhi Jie mulled it over. "Isn't teacher's plan brilliant?"

Le Wuya's brow furrowed slightly.

...This Zhi Jie was nothing like the innocent-looking Xiaoliu he remembered.

"Teacher's already used Sister Xiaoshu, so why not use me too?" Zhi Jie kept dropping bombshells. "I'm here anyway."

"...The current maritime trade bureaus are still too few." Le Wuya pondered for a moment. "I want you to work the court and set up more of these bureaus. If the court doesn't stake a claim or run them, local bigwigs and officials will naturally swoop in for a slice. The more cash they pocket, the more they'll buy land and dodge taxes. If all the land ends up in the hands of the powerful, Dayu's downfall isn't far behind. ...But don't repeat my words as-is—too harsh and blunt, it could get heads lopped off."

Zhi Jie nodded softly: "Got it."

Le Wuya got up: "Business is done, so..."

His gaze dropped, and he saw the table on Zhi Jie's side was soaked—he'd been writing something with a tea-dipped finger.

His heart skipped a beat, and he leaned in to look—amused, but also shaken.

Scrawled across the table were countless "Wuya"s.

In seal script, running script, and regular script—every style, all over the place.

As Le Wuya was left speechless, a small flame inexplicably kindled in his chest, making his heart clench and warm all at once.

He cleared his throat, putting on his teacher face, and scolded: "Slacking off."

Zhi Jie said simply: "This is my duty too."

Seeing him lovestruck and unrepentant, Le Wuya's face turned sterner: "Back-talking your teacher, huh?"

Zhi Jie dropped his hand and straightened up: "This student wouldn't dare."

"Since you wouldn't dare, will you listen to me?"

"I will."

"Can you just stop liking me?" Le Wuya looked down at him. "I'm your chess piece; you've got to be willing to use me, but use me right, don't—"

Le Wuya never got to finish that sentence.

Zhi Jie reached out, looped his arms around Le Wuya's neck, and pulled him down.

Caught off guard, Le Wuya found himself kissing the lips he'd once secretly praised.

The warm, faint fragrance of Biluochun tea raced between their suddenly quickened breaths.

That moist, warm, slender finger pressed against the back of his neck, carrying a faint, unnerving pressure.

Due to the intense movement, the chess piece pendant hidden on Le Wuya swung sharply, striking Xiang Zhijie's chest.

Le Wuya's mind reeled, a jolt of electric fire racing up his spine.

He stood frozen for a moment before finally shaking himself out of it, stepping back abruptly.

And Xiang Zhijie didn't try to hold him back.

He stepped back, and Xiang Zhijie let him go.

"Teacher, I'll listen to you." Xiang Zhijie pressed one hand to his left chest, his gaze blazing, almost too clear and bright. "It's just that for the past seven days, from Shangjing to Tongzhou, I've been thinking of only this one thing, thinking until I nearly fell ill. So, indulge me just this once, and please don't be angry with Xiaoliu, alright?"

Le Wuya: "..." So he really did come all this way just to play sick for him!