“You…”
Chief Eunuch Feng glared angrily.
Xiao Yan smiled lightly: "Why get upset, Gonggong? You've served at the Emperor's side for many years, so you must be a smart person. How could you still naively think you could stay out of this?"
"Since the Lu family has investigated you, it means they’ve set their mind on something. Even if you escape this time, what about next time? Do you think you'll be so lucky again?"
He leaned casually against a pillar, his expression relaxed: "I know you might think that as long as you send your family away from the capital, you'll have no vulnerabilities. But, Gonggong, you've served the Emperor for many years—surely, you must have made a mistake at some point?"
"Since the Lu family wants to threaten and tempt, if it doesn’t work, they’ll find a way to replace those by the Emperor's side. If you’re flawless, you need not fear, but what about you, Gonggong?"
"Do you think you can withstand a thorough investigation, or avoid it for long?"
Chief Eunuch Feng’s expression darkened: "They dare? I’ve been in the palace for many years and am not a fool!"
Xiao Yan smiled: "Indeed, Gonggong is formidable. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have served the Emperor for so long. But don’t you want to leave yourself a way out?"
"The Emperor is no longer in his prime. How much longer can he hold onto the throne? A new ruler will eventually rise, and with it, new ministers. Even if you don’t think of yourself, surely you should consider those two young masters?"
"For someone like you, Gonggong, if you can’t find a way out, how will things turn out in the future? I don’t think I need to spell it out..."
"Xiao Yan, are you mad?!"
Chief Eunuch Feng was so furious he almost wanted to shut Xiao Yan’s mouth.
Xiao Yan reassured him: "Gonggong, don’t be afraid. There’s no one else here."
But Chief Eunuch Feng still looked uneasy. He hurriedly glanced around, lowered his voice when he spoke, his face pale and filled with malice.
"You’re courting death, and I’m not. You speak such rebellious words, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the Emperor everything?"
"Gonggong is a smart person. Of course, you wouldn’t do anything reckless."
Chief Eunuch Feng trembled with rage: "What do you want?!"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled: "To please Gonggong."
"Xiao Yan!!"
Seeing Chief Eunuch Feng’s face turn a deep shade of purple, Xiao Yan stopped smiling and became serious: "Gonggong, there’s no need to probe further. I only gave you a gift to seek good fortune, so please accept it and let me rest assured."
"I won’t ask you to do anything dangerous. You simply need to continue serving the Emperor well. I will protect those two young masters and ensure no one disturbs them."
"As for the matters in the palace, there’s no need for you to get involved. I will handle them. If one day I need your help, it will be to save your life..."
He didn’t explain further, but Chief Eunuch Feng understood the implication.
If he were ever needed, it would mean something had gone terribly wrong with the Emperor.
Chief Eunuch Feng’s expression became even darker. He was about to speak when Xiao Yan continued lazily: "Gonggong, you helped me today. You brought the Lu family to the Emperor and gave me a chance to find a good position for the Fourth Prince. Don’t worry, I will remember your kindness."
Chief Eunuch Feng’s face went ashen, remembering the things he had just done in the palace. He was filled with anger and anxiety.
"Xiao Yan, you..."
You scoundrel!!
He was both furious and anxious, but when he met Xiao Yan’s smiling eyes, he felt powerless. He had always known that this person was hard to deal with and had to be cautious. However, who would have thought that due to the Empress's previous actions, the things she sent had distracted him, leading him to step into this deep pit.
Chief Eunuch Feng’s face turned a mix of blue and white, and he took several deep breaths before gritting his teeth: "If you want to pull me into this, you should at least tell me exactly what you want to do!"
Xiao Yan spoke softly: "Naturally, it’s to secure a good future."
"Is that all?"
"That’s all."
He remained calm, not even flinching, utterly composed.
"People like me and you, Gonggong, live by the Emperor’s favor. We must plan for a way out more carefully than others. You know well that I’ve offended too many people in the court, so I need to find some means of protection, don’t I?"
Chief Eunuch Feng looked at him for a long while, then, seeing that Xiao Yan didn’t seem to be lying, he relaxed his guard. It appeared that Xiao Yan truly only wanted to secure a position of power for himself.
"Alright, I’ll trust you for now. Just remember what you said earlier. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you pay a price for it, even if it costs me my life!"
Xiao Yan handed back the item he had been holding, smiling: "Rest assured, Gonggong."
Chief Eunuch Feng glared at the object before he stuffed it back into his robes, snorting coldly as he turned and left. His steps were heavy, and after passing the pillar and disappearing from Xiao Yan’s sight, his expression turned cold. He didn’t believe a word Xiao Yan had said.
The object in his hand felt like it was burning, and he could hardly resist the urge to go straight to the Emperor and expose Xiao Yan’s thoughts.
But Chief Eunuch Feng knew he couldn’t do that.
The Emperor was no benevolent person, and since taking the elixir, his temper had become increasingly volatile. If the Emperor found out that he had assisted Xiao Yan, it would be seen as betrayal, and even if he tried to apologize, the Emperor would never trust him again.
For someone like him, losing the Emperor’s trust meant he wouldn’t survive another day in the palace.
"That scoundrel..."
Chief Eunuch Feng gritted his teeth in anger but still carefully tucked the item away. After composing himself, he entered the hall, his mood dark.
Cang Lang, hidden in the shadows, watched as Chief Eunuch Feng left, then silently approached Xiao Yan: "Lord, did he believe you?"
Xiao Yan shook his head: "If Feng Lai were that foolish, he would have been dead by now."
Among the thousands of palace eunuchs, Feng Lai was the only one who had served both the late Emperor and the current one and still maintained the Emperor’s trust. If he could be easily deceived, he would have been consumed long ago. However...
"Whether he believes it or not doesn’t matter. Since he’s accepted the gift, it means he has made his choice."
Even if he had misgivings, as long as Xiao Yan remained in control, Feng Lai wouldn’t dare side with anyone else. And if things went wrong, by that time, Feng Lai would already be deeply involved with them, unable to extricate himself.
When the ship sank, Feng Lai wouldn’t be able to escape, and Xiao Yan would do everything in his power to protect the entire ship.
"Let’s go." Xiao Yan turned and walked out of the palace.
Cang Lang asked, "Are we going to find the Fourth Prince?"
Xiao Yan replied, "Yes. Go tell him to wait for me at Hengting Pavilion."
Cang Lang felt something was off: "Lord, you’re not going to the pavilion?"
Xiao Yan’s robes swirled: "Let him wait."
He needed to go back to change clothes first, then take his little wife with him to enjoy watching the Empress and her son suffer. How could he miss such a good opportunity? And of course, this lovely weather couldn’t go to waste. If he was to woo his wife, he had to make sure she was happy.
But how should he woo the little lady?
Snacks? Jewelry? Hairpins? Pretty clothes?
Fishing? Horseback riding? Shopping? A trip outside the city?
Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, as though facing his greatest challenge. His sharp gaze made him look even more serious, wondering whether he should take the little lady shopping or count their household goods—she had looked so enamored with that man surnamed Gu...
Cang Lang, who was about to speak, instinctively held his breath and slowed his steps.
Was something off today? Why was the Lord so serious?
=========
T/N: All of the above should work Xiao Yan
You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
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