For several days running, Xie Zhifei worked covertly on the He-Du marriage alliance.

He had originally hoped that with the Crown Princess stepping forward, the Crown Prince would make some move. Who could have expected the Crown Prince to make no move at all.

Could it be that when a person gets fat, their heart really becomes that broad?

But it couldn’t become as broad as the sea!

Xie Zhifei was at his wit’s end.

To make matters worse, the Prince of Han entered the capital at this time and stayed in the palace for two consecutive nights, claiming to be fulfilling his filial duties before the Emperor.

For adult princes to lodge in the Forbidden Palace was rare, showing the Emperor truly favored the Prince of Han.

Now what—one side pressing forward step by step, the other retreating step by step. If this continued, what could be done?

With no other options, Xie Zhifei consulted with Pei Xiao and decided to take the final path.

That night.

In the Xie residence study.

“Father.”

Xie Zhifei called quietly. “About the He-Du marriage alliance, could you help your son think of a solution? This matter cannot and should not succeed.”

Xie Daozhi looked at his youngest son’s haggard face. After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.

“The heavens send rain, mothers marry off—who can stop it? Just do your job well, handle matters within your duties. As for the rest, leave it to fate.”

“We cannot leave it to fate. Huairen isn’t here, so this matter…”

“Third son, this matter isn’t yours to worry about.”

Xie Daozhi met his son’s eyes, his gaze somewhat tense.

“Why?” Xie Zhifei didn’t quite understand.

“Light people speak with little weight. Those with high positions and great power—when the sky falls, tall people hold it up. It’s far from your turn.”

Xie Daozhi’s voice carried some gravity. “Third son, remember this: be in whatever position, plan whatever matters.”

Like a basin of cold water poured from overhead, Xie Zhifei was stunned into stillness.

Be in whatever position, plan whatever matters?

Mingting was just a fifth-rank minor official at the Buddhist Registry.

He himself was only the head of the Five Cities Commandery, seventh rank at most.

Even if the two of them stood on tiptoe and stretched their necks, their hands couldn’t reach the blue heavens above. And what they schemed for was merely Huairen’s gains and losses.

“I achieved my current position not by making myself a lone wolf, not by being upright and righteous with integrity, but by pondering daily what that person is thinking, who he hopes will be the next to fall.”

Lu Shi’s words suddenly drilled into Xie Zhifei’s mind. He asked himself—why hadn’t I pondered what they’re all thinking about this marriage alliance?

What was Du Jianxue thinking?

Protecting his official position.

And what about the Marquis of Wu’an?

The Marquis of Wu’an was a military general whose ancestors had merit from following the dragon.

The Marquis of Wu’an inherited the Northern Camp’s Wuling Army from his father, holding real power.

He had only one son, He Wenyu.

This He Wenyu had a bad reputation—he was a cut-sleeve. But the Marquis of Wu’an seemed powerless against him.

If I were the Marquis of Wu’an with such a son, I’d want to use Du Yiyun’s reputation as a talented woman to add some luster to my son’s face.

Besides that, what else would I want to gain?

His Majesty was old, the Crown Prince weak, the Prince of Han pressing hard—who the new emperor would be was truly uncertain. Now my Marquis of Wu’an’s residence had become someone both sides wanted to win over. How should I choose?

Xie Zhifei’s eyes suddenly brightened.

“Father, what the Marquis of Wu’an wants to scheme for is still the merit of following the dragon. With this merit, the He family can prosper for three more generations.”

Xie Daozhi was deeply shaken. He hadn’t expected his youngest son to comprehend so quickly, and so accurately.

Actually, though the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence still appeared to hold real power, how long could this situation last?

They say each new emperor brings new ministers. The Marquis of Wu’an also wanted to find a secure harbor to anchor to, otherwise he’d be a lone ship, swaying and drifting at sea, anchoring nowhere.

Xie Daozhi looked at his son and asked, “Now that the Prince of Han has made his move but the Crown Prince remains still, have you considered the reason for the Crown Prince’s inaction?”

The Crown Prince’s inaction has a reason?

Xie Zhifei was stunned again, cold sweat gradually forming on his back.

The reason for the Crown Prince’s inaction was that His Majesty had always been dissatisfied with him. If he stepped forward now to win over the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence, His Majesty would think he harbored ulterior motives.

After all, the former Crown Prince had once tried to rebel against his own father.

Xie Daozhi stepped forward and patted his son’s shoulder.

“The Crown Prince hasn’t had it easy these years either. Advancing is wrong, retreating is wrong—even that lame leg he was born with is considered his fault.”

This was the first time Xie Zhifei heard such words from his father’s mouth. He couldn’t help but be shocked.

He was Third Master of the Xie residence, but inside he was still Zheng Huaizuo.

The Zheng family all had military temperaments—passionate, loyal, unafraid of death. The drawback was acting impulsively.

He only knew that with Huairen absent, he had to shoulder the responsibility, had to prevent the He and Du families from forming their alliance, had to find ways to persuade the Crown Prince to step forward—but he’d never deeply considered whether the Crown Prince could step forward.

“Third son.”

Xie Daozhi’s gaze fell toward the window. “The Crown Prince wasn’t always so timid.”

“Then…”

Xie Zhifei opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

“The key to this matter lies with the Marquis of Wu’an.”

Xie Daozhi simply spoke plainly.

“And the only one who can influence the Marquis of Wu’an is his son, He Wenyu. Your direction in finding your Second Brother was correct, but your Second Brother’s words won’t have much effect. Third son, this is what’s meant by ‘light people speak with little weight.'”

Xie Zhifei walked out of the study in a daze. The night wind blew, bringing unprecedented clarity.

“Zhu Qing.”

“Master?”

“Send word to Hereditary Prince He that I want to see him!”

“Yes!”

“Wait.”

“Have Mingting come along too.”

…

The capital’s pleasure houses and courtesan pavilions all stood along both sides of the Yongding River.

Besides Lichun Pavilion being the soul-consuming den for all men in the capital, there was another inconspicuous small building said to be even more soul-consuming than Lichun Pavilion.

Yusheng Building, the soul-consuming den.

Xie Zhifei and Young Master Pei entered the warm pavilion, their gazes simultaneously falling on the silk curtained bed.

Pei Xiao gasped in shock, using his eyes to look at Xie Zhifei: This kid did it on purpose, right? Arranging a time to meet, yet he’s playing around.

Xie Zhifei met Pei Xiao’s eyes, both cursing inwardly: Damn!

Xie Zhifei: He wants to put on a show, let’s watch.

Pei Xiao fumed: Just the two of us are still roosters that haven’t started crowing, look at him.

After a moment, the silk curtain lifted.

He Wenyu emerged with loose hair, wearing only an inner robe, exposing a stretch of pale, clean neck.

“Oh, Third Master and Young Master Pei have arrived. Why didn’t you make a sound?”

“We did.” Pei Xiao snorted lightly. “The Hereditary Prince didn’t hear.”

“Ha ha ha…”

He Wenyu glanced back into the silk curtained bed. “Get out!”

A young male attendant crawled out from the curtain, head lowered, and hurriedly left.

He Wenyu poured himself a cup of wine and downed it in one gulp.

“Speak. What do you two masters want with me? Be straightforward.”

Everyone in the capital knew that the Marquis of Wu’an’s Hereditary Prince had three preferences: first, male beauty; second, fine wine; third, collecting inkstones.

To establish connections with the Hereditary Prince, you only needed these three things.

Xie Zhifei looked at He Wenyu and smiled brilliantly.

“Nothing major. I came to drink a few cups with the Hereditary Prince and speak some wine talk.”