Blossom

Everyone focused their gaze and saw it was actually a young eunuch.

The young eunuch muttered, "I once received kindness from Lord Wu, and I was afraid he might be implicated by you all, which is why I stepped forward."

At this point, no one cared about the details. They pulled the young eunuch aside and asked, "Do you have a solution?"

The young eunuch smiled. "The Standard Bearer Guard's storeroom has spares, and the inner treasury has spares too! I happen to have a fellow villager working in the inner treasury. But you must remember to return the items to me afterward."

Their eyes lit up.

While others couldn't enter the inner treasury, these eunuchs could easily borrow authority to retrieve things from it.

The squad leader rummaged through his pockets but only managed to scrape together a few taels of loose silver.

Seeing this, the others also took out whatever silver they had on them, pooling it together before stuffing it into the young eunuch's arms. They said respectfully, "We’ve troubled you, sir. I’ll accompany you to retrieve the items."

The young eunuch didn’t hesitate at all, cheerfully accepting the silver before leading them to the inner treasury.

The steward of the inner treasury, upon seeing the identification token, immediately rose with a smile, offering to accompany the young eunuch to select the items.

The young eunuch waved him off with an air of authority. "Attend to your own duties. The gentlemen from the Standard Bearer Guard will accompany me."

The steward bowed repeatedly and obediently remained outside the storeroom, leaving them to take whatever they needed.

The Standard Bearer Guards exchanged glances, not daring to waste a single moment. They retrieved the items and rushed back to the Standard Bearer Guard, finally plugging the gap in their supplies.

Later, they whispered among themselves, "Lord Wu always seemed so quiet and unassuming—when did he manage to befriend someone so influential?"

As a result, many in the Standard Bearer Guard treated Wu Liang with much more enthusiasm than before.

Of course, this was all in hindsight.

When Song Mo received the news, he couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

He had already devised over a dozen plans. With Wang Yuan wielding the Emperor’s authority, unless the Empress personally intervened, this scheme was bound to fail.

Even so, another incident occurred halfway through the Emperor’s procession.

A lush, century-old tree on the freshly cleared street suddenly collapsed without warning, completely blocking the road to the West Garden and nearly crushing the Golden Guards stationed nearby for security.

The Golden Guards were startled. Upon closer inspection, they realized the tree had been mostly sawn through.

They couldn’t help but curse.

But their hands didn’t remain idle—several of them strained to move the tree aside.

However, the tree was far too thick and heavy, impossible to budge. One quick-witted guard sprinted off to find patrolling officers, but after a long search, none could be found.

As the imperial procession was about to pass through, the Golden Guards stood there dumbfounded, pushing and heaving against the immovable tree as if doing so might lessen their punishment when the time came for accountability.

Among them was a young man who had spent most of his family’s savings to secure a position in the Golden Guard less than a month ago. Unable to hold back, he began sobbing.

A more seasoned guard, frustrated and humiliated, cursed, "What wretched luck!"

The young man cried even harder.

Suddenly, several figures emerged from the nearby woods, calling out, "We’re from the Five Cities Garrison. Do you need help?"

The Golden Guards were overjoyed and quickly replied, "We serve under Lord Song of the Golden Guard. We’re all on the same side. Brothers, lend us a hand to move this tree aside."The leader of the Five Cities Garrison was a young man in his early twenties with a very spirited appearance. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "This is a century-old tree. If some idle censor with nothing better to do exaggerates the matter and reports it to the Emperor, saying people damaged his property, His Majesty might be displeased. I think it’s better if we work together to prop it up temporarily as it was. We can let it fall in a couple of days—no harm in waiting."

"What a capable brother you are!" praised the Golden Guard. "May we ask your name? We’d love to treat you to drinks someday!"

"You flatter me!" the Five Cities Garrison man replied with a smile. "My surname is Jiang, given name Yi. I serve as the South City Commander. Today, I brought a few brothers out to see the excitement, never expecting to run into this situation."

As they spoke, several more people arrived to help.

Many hands make light work.

Soon, the massive century-old tree was propped up with wooden stakes and stood upright again.

Jiang Yi clapped his hands and said, "There, as long as no one disturbs it, it won’t topple anytime soon." He added, "We’ll take our leave now, lest we obstruct the imperial procession later—that’s no joking matter. You all be careful too."

The Golden Guard, on duty, dared not abandon their posts. They thanked Jiang Yi profusely and stood at attention before the imperial procession arrived.

The Golden Guard stationed near the tree trembled in fear, worried something might go wrong.

Fortunately, the imperial procession passed by without incident.

But secrets are hard to keep, especially when many are involved. News of the Standard Bearer Guard losing their banners and the red silk curved-handle umbrella, as well as the Golden Guard’s duty shift coinciding with the tree’s fall, soon reached Wang Ge’s ears. When he learned that the person who borrowed items from the inner treasury was a young eunuch, his gaze fell on Wang Yuan.

Within two days, the Emperor asked Wang Yuan, "I didn’t realize you and Yantang were on such good terms?"

Wang Yuan was puzzled.

The Emperor smiled. "I heard it was you who helped him resolve the Standard Bearer Guard’s predicament?"

Wang Yuan cursed Wang Ge vehemently in his heart but maintained a humble and submissive demeanor, slightly bowing as he replied, "This old servant truly had no hand in this matter. I dare not claim credit where none is due." He continued, "I’ve also heard of this incident, but the version I heard differs from Your Majesty’s—it’s said that Lord Song sent word to the fourth master of the Song family, who then helped borrow the items from the inner treasury. No wonder they say rumors can kill. This old servant has been wronged! Last time, when the narcissus on the multi-tiered shelf in Your Majesty’s study didn’t bloom by Spring Festival, people in the palace claimed I overwatered it." He pitifully wiped his tears with his sleeve. "This old servant can’t seem to do anything right—whether I act or not, I’m blamed!"

The Emperor burst into laughter and waved Wang Yuan away, only to summon the head of the Western Depot afterward. "Investigate who borrowed the banners and red silk curved-handle umbrella from the inner treasury for the Standard Bearer Guard."

"If a mere underling of a eunuch can take things from the inner treasury without proper procedures, then isn’t this empire ruled by eunuchs?"

Furious, the Emperor asked one of Wang Ge’s disciples, "What is Wang Yuan doing now?"

Unable to lie, the disciple replied, "Eunuch Wang has been sitting under the veranda, basking in the sun."

The Emperor snorted coldly.

At least the old dog knew his place.

Meanwhile, a gleaming dagger was pressed against the neck of the inner treasury ambassador.

At the desk, the expressionless head of the Western Depot asked darkly, "Was it truly Lord Song who borrowed the items?"The ambassador nodded like pounding garlic: "If I speak falsely, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

The Western Depot's superintendent gave a meaningful glance to his subordinate, who sheathed his dagger and proceeded to beat the ambassador mercilessly.

The ambassador howled in pain, yet inwardly rejoiced.

Thankfully, he had followed the instructions of the masked man who had broken into his bedroom the night before. Otherwise, if the Emperor suspected him of colluding with palace eunuchs to steal from the imperial treasury, he wouldn’t have enough heads to spare for the executioner’s blade.

Now, all he had to do was stick to his story.

Even if the Imperial Bodyguards wanted to harm a court official, they’d need a plausible excuse—let alone the Western Depot!

He wailed even louder, crying out his innocence between screams.

Seeing that nothing useful could be extracted, the superintendent turned his attention to Song Tongchun.

Upon hearing that the matter involved Song Mo, Song Tongchun hesitated. If he outright denied everything, he might offend Song Mo. But considering the interrogator was the Western Depot’s superintendent, he thought it wiser to distance himself.

Song Tongchun vacillated, first admitting responsibility, then denying it, making it seem as though he was trying to evade blame.

The superintendent didn’t press him further and returned to the palace to report.

The Emperor mused, "After all, it’s a breach of protocol. Song Tongchun is timid and prone to confusion—it’s only natural."

Thus, he trusted Wang Yuan’s account but grew displeased with Wang Ge, who had been whispering in his ear.

Noticing this, Wang Yuan nearly laughed aloud in triumph.

What a stroke of luck!

Song Yantang had effortlessly thrown Wang Ge under the carriage!

That man was truly cunning and devious!

The thought unsettled Wang Yuan.

Had he ever offended Song Yantang?

As he pondered in his quarters, the Empress arrived.

Wang Yuan hurried to attend her, but she smiled warmly and said, "Eunuch Wang serves the Emperor—I dare not trouble you. Let Wang Ge assist me instead."

Wang Yuan retreated with an ingratiating smile, inwardly cursing the Empress.

How long will your pride last?

Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you’ll have no say in this palace!

But if Liao Wang were to take the throne instead...

Wang Ge would be pissing on his head.

To be betrayed by his own adopted son—he’d be the first eunuch in history to earn such infamy!

His thoughts itching like a cat’s scratch, Wang Yuan kicked the young apprentice massaging his legs and snapped, "Go! Listen to what the Empress is saying to the Emperor!"

The apprentice scurried off.

After roughly the time it took to burn two incense sticks, the cry of "Her Majesty departs!" echoed from the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Wang Yuan rushed out, but the Empress’s carriage had already departed. Wang Ge still stood at the gate, watching.

Wang Yuan spat in Wang Ge’s direction and returned to his quarters.

His apprentice soon returned and reported, "Her Majesty spoke to the Emperor about relocating palaces. She also mentioned that while Minister Song’s duties were completed without mishap, they still caused anxiety. She suggested assigning him a more experienced deputy. The Emperor replied that for someone so young, Minister Song had done remarkably well—better than many his age. He said the Golden Guard’s affairs should be left to Minister Song to manage. A few more trials, and he’d make no more mistakes. He added that everyone makes errors in youth, and Minister Song was already exceptional. Hearing this, the Empress said no more and instead discussed the third imperial grandson’s first birthday.""The sting of a wasp is sharp, but a woman's heart is sharper."

Had this been a few years earlier when the Emperor was still young, the Empress's words might have swayed him. Even if he intended to promote Song Yantang, he would have followed her suggestion and assigned a seasoned overseer to watch him.

Wang Yuan sneered. Returning to his residence, he downed three large bowls of wine in succession. Remembering that Yuan Ge'er was about to celebrate his first birthday, he secretly ordered a set of solid gold bowls and plates from the silversmith and had them discreetly delivered.

Song Mo curled his lips dismissively and said, "At least Wang Yuan has finally settled down."

Dou Zhao smiled faintly and asked, "How many birds did you manage to kill with one stone this time?"

Song Mo chuckled. "As many as the arrow could hit."

Dou Zhao couldn't help but burst into laughter.