In a flash, he disappeared from sight.
The carriage stopped at the palace gates. The eunuch who had been sent to summon him glanced back, and Shen Xiabai said coolly, “He wasn’t feeling well, so he went back to the residence to see a physician.”
The eunuch smiled. “His Majesty has been waiting for you in the imperial study for quite some time, Lord Shen. Please, this way.”
The pleasure in Shen Xiabai’s brows faded, replaced by a faint gloom. He looked up at the imposing palace, answered with a quiet acknowledgment, and walked inside.
Inside the imperial study, the silence was so profound that one could hear a pin drop. The palace maids and eunuchs stood guard outside like frightened cicadas, not daring even to breathe too loudly.
Shen Xiabai stepped inside and bowed.
The emperor’s voice was cold as ice. “I hear the Cui family’s eldest son performed exceptionally well in the assessment and has been appointed Vice Minister of War.”
Shen Xiabai straightened. “I have heard so as well.”
The emperor’s words were laden with sarcasm. “So it seems this eldest son of the Cui family truly is extraordinarily talented. All those officials raised in the capital are inferior to a man who was brought up in the wilderness. Is that because of the family’s bloodline, or is my capital not even as capable as some desolate outpost?”
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes and said nothing.
The emperor continued, “Lord Shen, tell me—are all the children born to the Cui family simply too outstanding? Even their daughters possess remarkably formidable methods.”
Shen Xiabai’s brows drew together almost imperceptibly. He glanced at the emperor.
“My sons have all been bewitched by the Cui girls. Perhaps I ought to hand my empire over to the Cui family.”
“Lord Shen, why are you keeping silent?”
“I hold a different view from Your Majesty and dare not speak rashly.”
The emperor raised his brows, his smile cold and sinister. “Oh? Then tell me your view.”
Shen Xiabai said, “Prime Minister Cui is the head of the civil service. The prime minister’s authority extends over all six ministries, so it will be extremely difficult for Your Majesty to wrest power from him. But Your Majesty may find it easier to do so through Cui Yunli. If the authority is handed to his own son, I believe Prime Minister Cui will not object.”
“Therefore, I believe that Cui Yunli’s receiving a higher position may not be a bad thing.”
The emperor furrowed his brows. “You mean to gradually place the Ministry of War in Cui Yunli’s hands?”
“Yes.”
The emperor knitted his brows and pondered. “Go on.”
Shen Xiabai continued, “Prime Minister Cui has spent many years navigating the court. He is as sly and slippery as an ancient fox, and it will not be easy for Your Majesty to find fault with him. Cui Yunli, however, is different. He is still young, and having spent so many years away from the capital, he does not understand the twists and turns of court politics.”
Dealing with Cui Yunli would be far easier than dealing with Prime Minister Cui.
Yet if Prime Minister Cui was to surrender his authority willingly and without resistance, only his eldest son, Cui Yunli, could make that possible.
The emperor leaned back against the dragon throne and stared at Shen Xiabai for a long while, as if considering whether his words were feasible.
“According to what you have said, Cui Yunli’s position is actually a good thing.”
Shen Xiabai cupped his hands. “That is merely my personal opinion. I dare not presume. Everything depends on Your Majesty’s decision.”
The emperor gave a scornful laugh. “The appointment document has already been issued. Does my decision even matter now?”
His words were full of scrutiny and chill.
“Lord Shen, who do you think has such influence in the Ministry of Personnel—Prince An or the Crown Prince?”
“And do not tell me that Cui Yunli’s talent is so great that he earned this position through his own ability.”
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes to the polished floor and replied evenly, “Your Majesty, I do not know.”
The emperor said, “Do you know that, in order to eliminate the Cui family, there are times when I even wish I could kill those two sons of mine and be done with it?”
His words sounded weathered and helpless, yet carried an endless, sinister chill.
If he was willing to abandon even his own sons, how could he tolerate betrayal from anyone else?
Shen Xiabai’s hand tightened slightly inside his sleeve. His gaze remained calm, though a cold intensity flickered within it. “Your Majesty has only two imperial sons. For the sake of the empire and its people, I hope Your Majesty will think this over carefully.”
After a long silence, the emperor suddenly laughed. “I was merely venting. Just talking, that is all. They are my own sons, after all. Sooner or later, I will have to entrust my empire to one of them.”
“As for the matter of the Cui father and son, proceed as Lord Shen suggested.”
Having his son gradually strip his father of authority would indeed be much easier.
“Yes,” Shen Xiabai replied. He was about to take his leave when the emperor suddenly spoke again.
“The matter you raised in court this morning—that Prime Minister Cui should marry a princess. Were you serious?”
Shen Xiabai lifted his eyes, his black gaze utterly earnest. “I truly believe that Prime Minister Cui and the princess would make a very suitable match.”
The emperor fell silent in thought.
If marrying off a princess could cost Cui Qingyuan his position as prime minister, the emperor would naturally be more than willing.
But because Cui Qingyuan held power and was unwilling to marry her, he could not be forced into it.
“After the morning court session ended, the empress dowager came to see me. She was deeply opposed to this marriage.”
Shen Xiabai smiled without saying anything. It was exactly as he had expected.
As a mother, the empress dowager considered personal feelings above all else and rarely took the greater situation into account.
In truth, whether the marriage succeeded or not made no difference to Shen Xiabai. He had only meant to make Cui Qingyuan uncomfortable.
“The matter is not urgent,” the emperor said, rubbing his temples. “Let us wait and see.”
The emperor had genuinely been tempted by the idea; it was simply difficult to put into practice.
“Lord Shen, you are no longer young. Do you have any intention of marrying?” The emperor’s gaze was keen.
Shen Xiabai’s hand suddenly tightened again inside his sleeve. He looked at the emperor and replied evenly, “No. I have no plans to marry at present.”
The emperor said, “There are countless noble ladies in the capital. Who among them would not want to marry you? If you do not marry at your age, I fear even your mother must be worried. Why not let me choose a virtuous and talented woman for you? She could manage your household and serve your mother, allowing you to devote yourself wholeheartedly to serving the country.”
Shen Xiabai immediately refused. “I thank Your Majesty for your kindness, but…”
“This morning, the princess stopped me on my way out of court and said a few things.” He spoke only half the truth, leaving the rest unsaid, which caused the emperor’s brows to knit tightly.
“Your Majesty is familiar with the princess’s temperament. For the sake of the safety of some other young lady, my marriage should not be rushed. Let us wait a little longer.”
The emperor’s expression darkened.
As her elder brother, no one understood Xiao Lan’s nature better than he did. Being chosen by her was nothing short of a disaster.
Yet the empress dowager protected her. Otherwise, back then, he would not have merely sent her to Anshan Temple to become a lay Buddhist.
“Very well. Then let us wait until she marries first.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
By the time Shen Xiabai left the palace, night had fallen. He walked alone along the palace avenue, his back desolate beneath the glazed lanterns, his shadow stretching long across the ground.
The wind after sunset was far more biting than it had been during the day. Without that soft warmth in his arms, the cold felt even more penetrating.
Behind him, the heavy palace gates slowly closed. Shen Xiabai turned back and watched them for a long while before finally withdrawing his gaze.
Yu Feng had already been waiting outside the palace gates. “Master, the letter has been delivered to Eldest Miss Cui.”
Shen Xiabai acknowledged him, but his voice was far less light and pleased than it had been earlier that day.
Yu Feng asked, “Master, did His Majesty make things difficult for you?”
Shen Xiabai said nothing. Instead, he leaned back slightly against the carriage wall.
Perhaps he had been wrong from the very beginning.
There was no benefit to conspiring with a tiger. And now, he was no longer alone—he no longer had the courage to stake everything on a final confrontation with the emperor.
It seemed impossible to negotiate with him, so she could only think of another way.
