Qi Junmu caught the meaning in Shen Nian's words. He smiled, clasped his hands behind his back, lifted his chin slightly, and said with striking pride, "Ah Zhuo is my younger brother. Of course I trust him and wish to give him the best of everything. What if others try to slander him? I want the world to know—it is best to curry favor with him. Whoever makes things difficult for him will have to answer to me."
"If one cannot clearly show what one likes and dislikes in this life, what is the point of living? I do not care what others think. I think this way and I am happy to act this way—and what can they do but watch?"
It was rare for the Emperor to speak so candidly. Others might say that a sovereign should not speak this way—too willful. But Shen Nian found Qi Junmu remarkably individual, and he liked that temperament.
He sighed inwardly once more: this man was the Emperor. Otherwise, they would surely have become kindred spirits.
Shen Nian bowed. "Prince Jin will surely not disappoint Your Majesty's trust."
Flattering words pleased everyone, and Qi Junmu gave him an approving look.
---
The Emperor's departure from the palace went smoothly—largely thanks to Shen Nian.
The palace guards might not all recognize the Emperor, but none failed to recognize Shen Nian.
As acting commander, Shen Nian had been making waves these days. If he now took one person out of the palace, others might wonder, but they would not question him.
Of course, the Emperor could also have issued a direct decree to leave—but that would mean enduring a retinue of guards.
Shen Nian drove the carriage out himself, saying the Emperor had instructed him to attend to some business outside. The guards at the gate recognized him, checked the carriage, and paid little attention to the plainly dressed Qi Junmu sitting beside him.
Once they were out, Shen Nian parked the carriage at Cheng Jin's residence, changed into plain black clothing, and switched to an ordinary carriage. After seating the Emperor inside, he asked, "Your Majesty, where are we going now?"
Qi Junmu named a street—a small alley on South Street.
South Street was a mixed lot—merchants, down-on-their-luck officials, and renters all living side by side.
Shen Nian had heard of Qingzi (Green-Violet) Alley before—because that was where the famous pleasure house, Beauty Pavilion, stood. The Beauty Pavilion was so renowned even in South Street because rumor had it that even Emperor Jing himself had once paid a visit.
[Pleasure house (青楼): a high-class brothel in imperial China where educated courtesans entertained elite guests with music, poetry, conversation, and companionship — distinct from ordinary brothels in its emphasis on culture and refinement rather than purely sexual services.]
Now, with Emperor Jing's funeral observances still underway, no one dared to openly seek pleasure there. The Beauty Pavilion no longer bustled with guests as it once did; most of its people had dispersed, and it had become little more than an ordinary tavern.
Even so, the Beauty Pavilion remained the most famous spot in Qingzi Alley.
Mention the place, and one thought of the Beauty Pavilion.
As Shen Nian drove the carriage, he couldn't help glancing back at the Emperor from the corner of his eye, his expression rather hard to read.
When the curtain fluttered up in the breeze, Qi Junmu's gaze was as cold as his voice. "What nonsense are you conjuring in that head of yours? Keep your eyes on the road ahead."
Shen Nian drew out an "Oh" in a long, drawn-out tone and turned back to continue driving.
Before long, Qi Junmu's voice came from behind him: "The Beauty Pavilion isn't the only place in this alley—there are plenty of ordinary residential courtyards nearby, and that's exactly where we're heading."
Qi Junmu's tone was steady, with no hint of defensiveness.
Shen Nian bit back a smile and said with a straight face, "This humble subject understands."
But no matter how solemn his tone, a trace of amusement still crept through—audible enough to be caught. From within the carriage, Qi Junmu let out another cold snort: "Now that we are outside the palace, there is no need for such excessive formality."
Shen Nian's lips and eyes curved downward at the same time. He was born with a pair of peach-blossom eyes, and when he smiled sincerely, they bloomed like brilliant peach blossoms in full spring—tender, deep, and full of charm.
After driving the carriage for about half a shichen (1 hour), the two arrived at their destination.
Even now, with far fewer visitors, the Beauty Pavilion still stood out as the most eye-catching building in Qingzi Alley, towering over the surrounding courtyards and making them look shabby and cramped by comparison.
The place Qi Junmu was headed was just three courtyards away from the Beauty Pavilion.
After the two stood before the door, Shen Nian shot the Emperor a glance. After a brief pause, when the Emperor made no move, he stepped forward and knocked.
A gruff, impatient voice—tinged with a hint of menace—snapped from within, demanding to know who they were.
When the door opened, Shen Nian saw a burly, bearded man, his eyes full of scrutiny and displeasure. "Who are you looking for?" he asked.
Judging by his demeanor, he appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, fierce-looking resident.
Shen Nian quietly stepped aside and made way for the Emperor.
Qi Junmu took a jade pendant from his bosom and handed it over. The big man took it, examined it carefully, then bent low with a fawning bow and returned the pendant to Qi Junmu. "So you're friends of the master. Please forgive my poor eyesight, young masters. Do not take offense—come in, come right in."
Once Shen Nian and Qi Junmu had stepped inside, the big man closed the door, his face instantly reverting to its usual sternness, his eyes turning sharp—a stark contrast to his earlier act.
Watching this swift transformation, Shen Nian thought to himself: The Emperor certainly commands a wealth of talent. This man's face changes faster than a stage performer's.
Once they were inside, Qi Junmu cut straight to the point: "Where is the person?"
The big man lowered his voice and replied, "In the eastern wing. These past days, as instructed, she has been kept alone in that room. Apart from allowing her access to the necessary facilities, she has not been allowed to step outside, nor has anyone spoken a single word to her. At first, she remained composed, but after a few days, she grew unsettled. Now she occasionally loses her temper, shouting and screaming."
Qi Junmu was satisfied with their handling of the matter. He nodded. "It seems she does not harbor a death wish. Find a clean place and bring her over."
The big man hurriedly replied, "The western wing has already been cleaned and prepared."
"Then we'll use that."
The big man acknowledged the order, led Shen Nian and Qi Junmu to the western wing, and then went to fetch the prisoner.
The place was naturally not as splendid as the imperial palace, but it was reasonably clean. The room held two chairs and a table, with no other unnecessary furnishings.
Qi Junmu sat down and gestured for Shen Nian to do the same. "That is the assassin who attempted to kill Prince Jin. You, Marquis Shen, have seen plenty of assassins in your time at the northern border. In a moment, help me assess her—tell me whether her words ring true or false."
"Attempted to assassinate Prince Jin?" Shen Nian was somewhat taken aback. He had suspected that the Emperor's departure from the palace had something to do with Qi Junzhuo.
But he had not expected anyone to actually try to kill Qi Junzhuo—let alone that the assassin had already been transported back to the capital.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Prince Jin was attacked in Qingzhou, yet no word of it has come from Qingzhou. Your Majesty has kept this well hidden."
Qi Junmu said, "Aside from me and the guards posted here, no one else in the capital knows about this. You, Marquis Shen, are the very first to be told."
Shen Nian pulled a pained face. "This humble subject is deeply honored."
Qi Junmu raised an eyebrow. "You don't look particularly honored to me."
Shen Nian sighed. "It is not that I wish to fail Your Majesty's trust—I am filled with trepidation. I dare not deceive Your Majesty, yet my heart is truly uneasy."
Qi Junmu knew he was talking nonsense, but he couldn't be bothered to argue. He just sat there in silence.
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