WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 34: Disclosure

The carriage pulls up outside the Cheng residence, and Wei Ying jumps out, trying to contain his excitement. He holds his hand out for Lan Zhan to take, helping him to get down, and then they walk slowly on purpose, just in case they're being observed.

Wei Ying comments on how lovely the evening is and how much fun they had at the Palace, how gracious and kind the First Crown Prince was, and isn't it a surprise that they're fans of the books about Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Laozu?

But Lan Zhan knows it for what it is: a ruse to throw off any unwelcome ears.

They're shown into the reception room of Hao Bai, where she's waiting with fresh hot tea, and Nie Huaisang.

As soon as the servants are dismissed, Wei Ying shoots silencing talismans into five directions and wilts next to Lan Zhan, who hugs him closer with one arm, kissing the top of his head.

"We're guessing you spoke to the Emperor, as you've been gone since the morning," Hao Bai says, pouring out fragrant tea in four cups.

Huaisang doesn't waste words by making guesses. He's not even using his fan.

"Well, no, because our Gracious Emperor wasn't feeling well in the morning, so the court was presided over by the First Crown Prince instead. But I want Hui Gai here." Wei Ying only has to say his name for the Demon King to appear.

"PengYou!" He says enthusiastically, wrapping his arms around both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying.

Hao Bai pours tea into a fifth cup, just in case he's thirsty. Hui Gai just grins at her with all of his teeth. It's nice being himself.

Wei Ying quickly explains what had happened after they left here, and about how, when he looked up, he'd seen the curtains moving above them in the sort of secret gallery. "What did you find out, Hui Gai? Who was up there?"

"The Second Prince, the young boy."

"Oh, okay. His elder brother did say that the younger one didn't like being at court."

"Yeah, he was pretty much harmless. Watched everyone for a while, and then when he got bored, he started reading his books, the ones he made you sign." Hui Gai winks at Wei Ying's surprised delight. "What? You think I'm going to let you be alone in that place? I was with you for the most part." He picks up one of the delicate little cakes and savagely bites into it, making a mess. Then he winks at Hao Bai, unapologetically grinning.

"So you met the Princes, then. What do you think of them?" Hao Bai gingerly pushes the whole plate of cakes towards Hui Gai.

"I liked the little one. He was honest. The older one, while he was outwardly very nice, I couldn't help thinking it was an act. My guts were telling me not to trust him, and then Yi Zhi Yanjing* (one eye) passed me that note when he bowed." Wei Ying says his thoughts as they arise.

Lan Zhan snorts out a laugh, forced to put his cup down.

"Tang Pei," he clarifies to Huaisang and his grandmother. "What note?"

"This one." Wei Ying pulls out a tiny crumpled note from the hidden pocket in his sleeve and shows him.

"Don't trust them," Lan Zhan reads out loud. He stares at the characters on the parchment fragment, before passing it over to Hao Bai and Huaisang. "That's why you didn't show them the coin."

"Yeah. I know it was last minute, but I couldn't look at the note until they were watching you sign the kid's book. It was sort of on the spur of the moment, but thanks for playing along."

Lan Zhan's eyes, beautiful and gold like heated sand, darken immediately, and Wei Ying realises his mistake.

Sorry! His mind makes another one, and Lan Zhan clutches him tighter.

I am keeping a record, he says through their mental connection.

Wei Ying blushes and forces himself to drink his tea to calm down. This inadvertently riling up his husband is going to have interesting consequences...

"Anyway...um, so we made up an excuse that we wanted to have a tour of the Palace, and since you mentioned about the gold and silver rooms, that is what they showed us. But lots of things didn't make sense." Wei Ying counts off his fingers as he lists them. "One, Xue Nanping was weird straight away. First, he was quiet and awkward, as if he didn't quite know what to do with us, and then when he was told to give us the tour, he was so talkative, I thought he had a twin! Number two, he kept taking us away from the East Wing, on the tour. He's great at changing the subject, easing us in other directions, so I'm guessing that either that's where the Emperor was, or there's something else they didn't want us to know about."

"Well done!" Hao Bai claps her hands enthusiastically and leans forward to hear better.

"Number three, did you see their faces when I showed them the wrong coins? They were definitely expecting this one," Wei Ying says, pulling out the correct one. "And that makes me more inclined to find out why Tang Pei told us not to trust the others in that room. Number four, why send the Royal Advisor out of the room on a menial task, something about informing the cook about whatever his father wanted, and it so happens to be the one guy who doesn't trust them? The Prince could have asked any servant to pass the message along, but he actively wanted Tang Pei out of the room because he knew we had this coin." Wei Ying picks it up again to examine it. "What is it about this particular one? What's so special about it?"

Lan Zhan brings out the packet of tea that a servant had given to them in their hands just before they left the Palace.

"The First Prince has given this as a gift. We thought you might like to have it."

Hao Bai shakes her head.

"After what they've done to my husband, I'd like nothing more to do with them. Of course, I cannot openly reject them because that would be an act of treason, but as far as meaningless gifts like this are concerned, it's a no, thank you."

"That's okay. Uncle Qiren will love to try the new blend. We often share tea together." Wei Ying puts it away in Lan Zhan's qiankun pouch. "But I haven't finished. Number five, the Prince was using the assassin's teapot. Like the one I have at home," he blushes when everyone except Lan Zhan stares at him. "What? I just found it fascinating, alright? And Lan Zhan buys me whatever I want...so anyway, that's what they were using."

"And you drank from it?" Hao Bai exclaims in horror.

"Most normal poisons that could finish an elephant don't work on us anymore, only certain types. Plus, I didn't think the Prince would poison us before we showed him the coin, so it was a calculated risk." Wei Ying shrugs. "Besides, it was a good cover of showing trust when I had none. Not anymore. We told them about your grandfather, Huaisang. About none of the Cheng family have been able to visit his last resting place, despite writing to the Emperor many times."

"Let me guess, they had no definitive answer, right? Did they blame bureaucracy?" Huaisang frowns, looking upset but unsurprised.

"The Prince was upset, but when he told his advisors to start an investigation, they were shocked before they agreed. I was watching them, not him, that's why I saw it. Of course, the Prince dumped the blame on his father, conveniently pointing the finger at the one not present, or able to defend himself." Wei Ying turns to Hui Gai. "While we were touring the Palace, where were you? You said you were with us for the most part."

"Ah, yes." Hui Gai gives Wei Ying his best smile, licking his red lips in anticipation. "I was making a present for you." He snaps his fingers and a piece of parchment the length of two spans by one span appears in Wei Ying's hands.

"What's this?"

"This, my dearest PengYou, is a map of the interior of the Palace." Hui Gai says, with another wink.