Chapter 44: C44. My Word Stands: You Will Be Safe.

Chapter 44

For the past two days, Yunzhu had practically camped out in her parents' snug courtyard, her mind swirling with excitement over the idea of welcoming a sister-in-law as spirited as herself.

So when Li Xian strolled in from the martial arts arena, his usually confident face shadowed by hesitation, both Yunzhu and her mother, Meng Shi, were caught off guard.

After all, Li Xian hadn’t shown the slightest flicker of emotion when word broke yesterday that his elder brother might be tying the knot with Gu Min.

Meng Shi couldn’t resist a playful jab at her youngest. “What’s this now? Are you off playing hero and rescuing fair maidens too?”

At just fourteen, Li Xian had some years ahead before Meng Shi would need to fret over his romantic escapades.

But instead of rising to her bait, Li Xian paused, his tone curious but sharp. “Where have Father and Brother vanished to?”

“Your father is sparring with Marquis Changxing, and your brother,” Meng Shi said with a wry smile, “is off fishing.”

“Fishing?” Li Xian’s incredulity was unmistakable. “When did he suddenly grow the patience for something so dull?”

Meng Shi’s grin widened, her words tinged with irony. “If Mr. Gu wants fish soup, trust that your brother will hand-deliver the freshest catch.”

Her distaste for her eldest son was no secret, and she suspected Mr. Gu shared her sentiments. Handling this potential son-in-law would require finesse, a strategy for sure.

Mr. Gu’s subtle torment of her eldest reminded Yunzhu of their late grandfather—an intricate dance of hostility masking underlying care and expectation.

Yunzhu, her curiosity piqued, turned to Li Xian. “Mother said the Emperor summoned you. What happened? What did he want?”

Li Xian’s gaze darted to the maids lingering too close. With a flick of his hand, he sent them away before leaning in. “Earlier, at the martial arts grounds, the Emperor asked me to serve as a companion to His Second Highness.”

His revelation landed like a thunderclap. Meng Shi and Yunzhu stared at him, momentarily stunned into silence.

Every prince had his inner circle of companions—brilliant young men from noble bloodlines, groomed to serve and advise.

There was the Crown Prince, of course, alongside the disabled eldest prince and the rising Second Prince. Yet, for Li Xian—son of Duke Ningguo and an obvious choice to serve the Crown Prince—this shift was puzzling.

The Emperor’s intentions had been clear. Placing Li Xian alongside the Crown Prince would signal the Li family’s unwavering loyalty to the throne, cementing their shared power for years to come. But the plan had unraveled when Li Yong, Li Xian’s older brother, suffered three humiliating defeats, souring the Crown Prince’s opinion of their family.

With ties severed, Emperor Yuan Qing’s sudden decision to place Li Xian at the Second Prince’s side raised eyebrows across Nanyuan, sparking speculation. Was this a demotion or a maneuver for a deeper play?

The ripple effects of this unexpected move sent shockwaves far beyond the walls of the Duke’s estate.

By the lake, Li Yao was still grumbling and lazily casting his line, completely oblivious to the storm brewing elsewhere. Meanwhile, Li Yong, locked in a ferocious struggle with Xie Zhen, felt a shiver of cold dread slide down his spine the moment the news reached him. The smug glint in Xie Zhen's eyes only added fuel to the fire as Li Yong abruptly abandoned the duel, rushing off in a flustered haze.

His destination? The palace. His mission? A tense audience with Emperor Yuan Qing.

When Li Yong finally barged into the emperor's study, he was greeted by the sight of Gu Shoufu seated with a faintly haggard air, still recovering from heatstroke. Despite his weakened state, Gu Shoufu diligently engaged the emperor in a round of chess, his presence a testament to his enduring loyalty. Yuan Qing, always sharp-eyed, barely looked up as he moved a chess piece, only to lose it moments later. A sly smile tugged at his lips as he greeted Li Yong.

“How fares your little clash with Xie Hou?” the emperor quipped, the teasing laced with just enough bite to sting.

Li Yong grimaced, his tone tinged with defeat. “The duel is still ongoing, Your Majesty. But... who told you about this?”

There was no one else in the room—only the emperor, his most trusted confidant Gu Shoufu, and Li Yong himself. The bond between Li Yong and Yuan Qing was forged in their youth, through mischief and shared blame. Li Yong had often taken the fall for the emperor's impetuous whims. Today felt no different, though his loyalty remained unshaken. As for Gu Shoufu, while he was an esteemed minister, the emperor clearly saw him as far more than that—an unshakable pillar of trust.

Yuan Qing’s demeanor darkened, his voice laced with frustration. “Why is the Crown Prince so reckless? The older he gets, the more foolish he becomes. I may have to take drastic measures. If he proves himself truly incapable, I won’t hesitate to—”

Gu Shoufu’s firm hand rose, cutting off the emperor’s tirade. “Your Majesty, you must not act rashly. The Crown Prince is still young. Immaturity is natural at his age. I cannot allow you to harbor such thoughts.”

The emperor’s scowl deepened, his words sharp. “I don’t need him to be extraordinary. What I need is discernment, the ability to tell right from wrong. If he can’t even manage that, how can I entrust this empire to him?”

Li Yong, undeterred, leaped to the prince’s defense. “Xian is just a boy, Your Majesty. He’s not as spectacular as you expect, but he has a strong sense of justice. He’s stubborn and inflexible, yes, but his heart is in the right place. He doesn’t just criticize ministers; he reprimands them outright. It’s frustrating, but Your Majesty, don’t let his dismissal of Xian Ge’er cloud your judgment of him.”

Yuan Qing sneered, his voice laced with icy disdain. “And you, of all people, dare lecture me on judgment? You, who can’t even recognize your own shortcomings?”

Li Yong flushed, the weight of old failures pressing heavy on him.

The emperor’s tone softened just slightly, though his words cut no less deep. “The Li family has stood by me for generations, loyal and valiant. You may lack skill on the battlefield, but your devotion to me has never wavered. Your son, Li Xian, is both cautious and capable, a rare combination of brains and brawn. But most importantly, he is fiercely loyal. And yet, the Crown Prince—my heir—turns his back on such a steadfast general in favor of sycophants and flatterers. Tell me, how can I trust him to safeguard this nation?”

The old adage claims that great ministers and generals need two things: loyalty and skill. Meet those marks, and a little temperamental flair is no deal-breaker—it just adds spice to the mix.

Now, Emperor Yuan Qing wasn’t exactly a genius. But he didn’t need to be a scholar or a warrior. His real power came from knowing people. With a sharp eye, he surrounded himself with giants—men like Duke Li, Cao Xun, and his own father, Xie Zhen. They led the armies and secured the empire’s borders. Meanwhile, brilliant minds like Gu Shoufu took care of keeping the people in line and the country humming. All the heavy lifting was covered, leaving the emperor to indulge in life’s finer pleasures.

Li Yong, ever the practical one, sighed and said, “The Crown Prince is still young. You’ve got time to teach him these things.”

But Emperor Yuan Qing wasn’t buying it. He shot back, “Teach him? I’ve handpicked the best instructors in the empire for him. The prime minister himself is guiding him. Don’t tell me he hasn’t heard this wisdom a thousand times already. Hell, I’ve even shown him myself. If he doesn’t get it by now, what am I supposed to do?”

Li Yong fell quiet, his thoughts drifting to his own children. He couldn’t ignore the truth: no matter how much you teach, kids can turn out wildly different. His eldest son was proof of that—nothing like his calm and collected third child. Some things were just beyond a parent’s control.

Gu Shoufu broke the silence, his tone heavy with caution. “Your Majesty, dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince is one thing, but upsetting Yi Chu isn’t wise. The Crown Prince hasn’t done anything catastrophic, and any major move against him would be hard to justify.”

The emperor dismissed the idea of drastic changes. “I’m not planning anything big. I just want to shake him up a little. See how he handles the pressure.”

Gu Shoufu wasn’t entirely reassured. “My concern is how the ministers might interpret your actions. If they read too much into it, they could stir up unrest and throw the court—and the people—into chaos.”

Li Yong, sensing the tension, changed the subject. “What about the marriage agreement?”

The brewing unrest over Duke Ningguo's residence allegedly backing the second prince was already a storm waiting to happen. If the Gu family was entangled too, Li Yong’s mind raced with unease.

Emperor Yuan Qing leaned in, his voice low but edged with authority. “What’s this about? The First Assistant’s wife personally informed the Empress that your two families were on the verge of a marriage alliance. If you pull back now, what do you think the Empress will make of it?”

It was clear: Empress Cao would assume that Gu Shoufu lacked the backbone to challenge the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, emboldened by misplaced confidence, would grow even more complacent, blind to his flaws and failures.

Gu Shoufu, sharp as a blade, turned to Li Yong with a smirk that cut deep. “If you’re still yearning for A Min, do you honestly believe any decent woman would be drawn to your impulsive, careless son?”

Li Yong flushed, his discomfort written across his face.

But Gu Shoufu wasn’t done. “If all you’re after is a quiet life, forget it. I refuse to let A Min be shackled to a future where she’s anything less than cherished.”

Emperor Yuan Qing, ever the tactician, softened his tone just enough to calm the tension. “Carry on with your responsibilities, Li Yong. Whatever they may entail, I trust you implicitly. Let the skeptics chatter—it’s meaningless.”

Gu Shoufu stood firm, unbothered by the potential fallout, and Li Yong wasn’t one to shrink away either. The Li family’s loyalty wasn’t some fleeting sentiment—it was forged in generations of blood, sweat, and sacrifice, as steadfast and inevitable as the rise and fall of the sun and moon.

*

The Emperor sees immense value in Brother Xian’s talents and has chosen to make him a close confidant—a companion to His Highness.

“If your conscience is clear, let the whispers of others fall away like dust. It doesn’t matter what outsiders think,” Li Yong said, his tone as unyielding as stone.

“We’ll handle the official matters. Focus on yourself and Fu Shan. Stay away from this storm—you have nothing to fear.”

That was his warning to Yunzhu, sharp and final. If she dared press further, he would shut her down without hesitation. Women, after all, had no place meddling in politics—an ironclad tradition stretching back for millennia. He feared for her, not because she lacked intelligence, but because knowing too much could ruin her. Yet his dismissive tone grated on her nerves like a blade scraping stone.

Yunzhu’s frustration spilled out in a heated retort. "Ah, yes, a married daughter is no more than water spilled on the ground—gone, useless. Despite my belonging to the Cao family now, you still obsess over my every move. Fine then! From this moment on, I’ll concern myself only with my husband and my own life. Don’t expect me to return if things remain this way!"

She delivered her sharp words like arrows and turned on her heel to leave.

Meng Shi stepped in quickly, her voice calm yet firm, urging Yunzhu to let it go. Catching up to her daughter, she soothed her, "Don’t be so hard on your father. This matter is more complicated than you know. Even I’m left in the dark most of the time, and so is your eldest brother. He’s not trying to slight you—he’s trying to protect you."

Yunzhu pressed her lips into a thin line, frustration simmering beneath her composed exterior.

Meng Shi gave her a gentle nudge. "Enough, now. Go back. Fu Shan should be home soon, and he’ll need you."

Yunzhu nodded but walked away with heavy steps. Once outside the family compound, she wore her usual mask of composure, cool and poised. But within the confines of her own space, her turmoil refused to be hidden. Alone with Cao Xun, her guard finally crumbled.

She found him sprawled on the couch, casually flipping through a book, the picture of effortless ease. Her gaze lingered on him, suspicion brewing in her chest.

Sensing her tension, Cao Xun set the book down and smirked. "What’s gotten under your skin this time?"

Yunzhu exhaled sharply. "You mean to tell me you’ve heard nothing about my brother?"

Cao Xun extended a hand, motioning for her to come closer.

With a soft sigh, Yunzhu slipped off her delicate embroidered shoes and climbed onto the couch beside him. Outside the door, Lian Qiao and Shiliu stood guard, granting the pair their privacy.

Without hesitation, Cao Xun pulled her into his arms, his voice a low murmur. "I’ve heard the rumors. And let me guess—you’ve had quite the lecture from my esteemed father-in-law, haven’t you?"

Yunzhu narrowed her eyes, her voice sharp with frustration. "Am I supposed to ignore the truth? My brother is walking a dangerous line. The Crown Prince has never cared for him, and now, as the Second Prince’s study companion, he’s even more vulnerable. If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, our family will be the first he crushes beneath his heel."

Cao Xun’s expression grew thoughtful, his words slow and measured. "You’re not wrong. And the Emperor knows this all too well. With his connection to your father and the Gu family, he’d never allow either of them to be caught in the Crown Prince’s crosshairs."

Yunzhu leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Are you saying the Emperor is considering naming the Second Prince instead?"

Every word she whispered carried a sultry, breathless allure, her warm breath teasing and trailing against Cao Xun’s ear like a lover’s caress.

When her words faded, Cao Xun leaned in close, his voice low and deliberate, mirroring her tone. "It’s possible," he murmured, the promise lingering in the charged space between them.

Heat bloomed in Yunzhu’s chest, her heart pounding with a mix of hope and doubt. The bond between the Li family and the Crown Prince had grown stronger over the years—not by choice but by necessity. Yet, the Crown Prince harbored a deep resentment toward the Li family. If the second prince were to seize the throne, it would shift the tide entirely in their favor.

"But what if it doesn’t happen?" Yunzhu’s voice trembled, betraying her unease.

Cao Xun’s lips brushed her earlobe, planting a tender kiss that sent a shiver racing down her spine. His voice dropped even lower, a vow wrapped in velvet. "Then you still have me."

The eldest prince was out of the question—his ascension was a fantasy no one entertained. Whether it was the Crown Prince or the second prince who claimed the throne, both were bound to the Cao family by blood.

Yunzhu hesitated, her thoughts racing before she reminded him in a voice both cautious and firm, "But neither of them is your flesh and blood, your nephew."

A sly smile curved Cao Xun’s lips, his confidence unshaken. "My title as the imperial uncle has been my shield and my sword. It’s brought me here, hasn’t it?"

He reached up, his fingers brushing away the faint crease in her brow. His eyes locked on hers, steady and intense. "No matter what storms come, as long as I breathe, no one will dare to wrong you. And I will never stand idly by while your father-in-law or anyone you hold dear suffers."

His words settled over her like a warm cloak, a blend of reassurance and unyielding promise. They echoed with a familiarity that wrapped around her heart, pulling her closer to him.

As Yunzhu’s thoughts swirled, she realized the truth in his declaration. No matter who claimed the throne, his position was untouchable, his influence unshakable. Aligning herself with him wasn’t just practical—it was inevitable.

And in that moment, the way he looked at her, the way his voice caressed her fears and soothed her doubts, she knew she wasn’t just binding herself to his power. She was binding herself to him.