When Xue Liulan knocked on the door, Yan Lingfu was still sleeping off a hangover. He stumbled to the door, bleary-eyed, and yanked it open.
"What is it? It's early."
The man before Xue Liulan was a mess—inner robes hanging loose, stubble on his chin, eyes half-closed. Xue Liulan glanced at He Chengjian, who gave a slight nod.
"Are you the official who wrote the memorial?" Xue Liulan asked with a smile.
Yan Lingfu jolted awake. He looked the prince up and down. Purple robes, white jade belt, jade crown. A handsome face with peach-blossom eyes that curved up in a smile, yet held a glint of sharpness.
"The Fifth Prince. I've been waiting for you." Yan Lingfu stepped back, ushering them inside.
Empty wine jars littered the table, the air heavy with the smell of stale alcohol. Xue Liulan walked to the window and pushed it open. Ting-a-ling. A bell chimed. In the next instant, three arrows shot from the lintel, straight for his heart.
"My lord!" He Chengjian drew his sword, stepping in front of the prince. With a flash of steel, the three arrows were sliced in mid-air, their iron heads clattering to the floor.
"Hahaha! Good skills!" Yan Lingfu clapped his hands, laughing.
He Chengjian grabbed him by the collar. "Attempting to assassinate a prince? Come with me to the Ministry of Justice."
"Hey, you saw it. I didn't tell him to open the window. How can you say I tried to kill him?" Yan Lingfu said, unperturbed. "Besides, I didn't invite you here."
"You…" He Chengjian gritted his teeth.
Yan Lingfu casually removed the guard's hand from his collar, walked to the bed, and flopped down. "Speak your piece. Don't interrupt my sleep." He closed his eyes.
"What a madman," He Chengjian muttered, looking at Xue Liulan.
Xue Liulan rubbed his nose and smiled. "He Chengjian, go buy two jars of wine. The Rice Flower Fragrance from the corner shop."
Wine? He Chengjian stared. He glanced around the room, ensuring there were no more traps, then bowed. "Yes."
He left, closing the door behind him.
Xue Liulan turned back to the window. The room faced the street. From here, he could see the crowds below, and even the gates of his own residence in the distance.
"You said you were waiting for me. What if I hadn't come?" he asked softly, closing the window and sitting at the table. "It seems someone has already tried to kill you."
"Sharp eyes," Yan Lingfu sneered from the bed.
Xue Liulan ignored the tone. He took the memorial from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "Every word in this is true. But forgive me, I cannot act on your suggestion immediately."
"Then I must be blind." Yan Lingfu's hand tightened over his chest.
Even he is no different, the scholar thought. Just another noble relying on eunuchs, wallowing in the mire with the rest of them.
"Our paths diverge. Please leave, Fifth Prince."
Xue Liulan didn't move. "So, you plan to take this to the Seventh Prince next?"
"That is none of your concern."
Xue Liulan nodded, but still didn't move. After a long while, Yan Lingfu sat up, suspicious. The prince was still sitting there, studying the cover of the memorial.
"Is there anything else?" Yan Lingfu asked loudly.
"I just remembered. Most of this memorial details the crimes of Guo Shangzhong. With evidence." Xue Liulan stood, holding the document between two fingers.
"Correct." Yan Lingfu's hand slid under the blanket, gripping a short knife. "What of it?"
"As someone who relies on Guo Shangzhong for support, what do you think I should do?" Xue Liulan smiled. "He is one of my pillars in this power struggle. How could I let you destroy him?"
"Parasite! I must have had shit in my eyes to listen to Yi!" Yan Lingfu yelled, lunging from the bed, the knife aimed at Xue Liulan's chest.
Yi? Xue Liulan froze. He stared at the blade coming toward him. At the last second, he twisted his wrist, blocking with the memorial, then sidestepped. In one fluid motion, he spun Yan Lingfu around and pinned him face-down on the table, arm twisted behind his back.
"Who did you say?" Xue Liulan's voice was low and dangerous. "Where is he?"
Yan Lingfu snorted, refusing to answer.
"Stubborn bones." Xue Liulan released him. He pulled the knife from the memorial and tossed it back to the scholar. "Chased by assassins so many times, and yet a frail scholar like you is still alive. You must have a charmed life."
Yan Lingfu caught the knife, suspicious. If the prince hadn't been prepared, he wouldn't have returned the weapon.
"The crossbow over the door, the knife in your hand… they're from the northern frontier. You met Yi in Sushen?"
"Master, I have the wine." He Chengjian's voice came from the door. He entered, his eyes immediately locking on the knife in Yan Lingfu's hand.
"Put it down and leave," Xue Liulan ordered.
He Chengjian obeyed. From the way the scholar held the knife, it was clear he was no threat.
"What do you want?" Yan Lingfu asked after a long silence.
"I've read your memorial. I know it's the truth. But I cannot eliminate the eunuch faction as you suggest. Not yet."
"Because you need Guo Shangzhong to survive," Yan Lingfu spat.
He was a scholar who had studied for ten years, only to fail the exams three times because he couldn't afford the bribe for the examiner. When his family finally scraped together the money, the bribe was deemed too small, and he was banished to a remote post. The eunuchs ruled, corruption flourished, and good men were driven away.
"Eunuch interference began in the last dynasty and flourishes in this one. It is deep-rooted. Your method would solve the immediate problem, but not the cause." Xue Liulan unsealed a jar of wine and offered it to him. "But to see a man like you still loyal to the country… perhaps the heavens have not abandoned the Xue family yet."
Yan Lingfu looked at the wine, hesitant.
"I accept this memorial. You've offended Guo Shangzhong's men, so you can't stay here. I'll have someone take you to Gongzi Suyi in Yin for a while. When the imperial in-laws are purged, I will recall you. Together, we will root out the eunuchs and restore order." Xue Liulan opened the second jar and drank deeply.
Yan Lingfu stared at him. "You… you're letting me go?"
"Yes." Xue Liulan set down the jar. "But there is one thing you must tell me."
A condition. Yan Lingfu's disappointment flickered, then was replaced by his usual cynical smile.
Xue Liulan bowed deeply, his hands clasped. "Please, tell me the whereabouts of Yi."
"Why do you ask?" Yan Lingfu was instantly on guard. Yi was his savior, his friend.
"He is a friend of my wife, Murong Jin. He went missing while on a mission for me. She is very worried. If you don't trust me, I won't force you. Just tell me… is he alive?" Xue Liulan looked down, his brow furrowed.
Yan Lingfu stared at him. After a long moment, he spoke. "I was being chased by Guo Shangzhong's men. I fled to the border. Just as I was about to be killed, I met Yi. He was with a woman, a healer. I stayed in Sushen for a few days while I recovered. Yi told me to give the memorial to you, that it would save my life."
So, the desperate scholar, with one last gamble, had managed to get the memorial onto Xue Liulan's desk.
"Has the poison been cured?"
"When we parted, I heard the woman say she was taking him back to recover. As for where, I don't know."
Xue Liulan knew he was telling the truth. "Thank you." A weight lifted from his heart. Murong Jin would be overjoyed.
Outside the inn, Xue Liulan gave low instructions to He Chengjian. "Send men to secretly escort Yan Lingfu to Gongzi Suyi."
"Yes." He Chengjian nodded. "The men we sent out reported back. The task is done. On the night after next, at the hour of the Rat, we will see the result."