The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 40

Jiujiu, seeing Qiu Huanian’s serious expression, immediately ran out of the courtyard to find Du Yunse.

Qiu Huanian turned back into the main house, took out the tea set and the Zhengshan Xiaozhong black tea he had obtained from the Qingfeng Academy tea gathering, preparing to entertain the guest.

As he tidied up the already neat room slightly, he speculated about the visitor’s identity.

Since Du Yunse had returned to Zhang County, apart from Wu Shen, he had not corresponded with anyone from outside. There must have been reasons he did not want to involve others.

Baozhen had mentioned that the visitor was a young ge’er in his twenties. In this era, it was rare for a ge’er to travel alone. Besides courage and capability, their family also had to be willing to let them go.

That ge’er had a horse, which suggested an unusual family background. People from such households would not allow their young masters to travel alone, so he was most likely a subordinate handling matters for his master.

For ordinary messages, a letter would suffice. Since this ge’er had traveled all the way from the capital to Zhang County, specifically seeking out Du Yunse, the matter was probably not simple…

As Qiu Huanian was pondering, there was another knock at the main gate. He went to open the door, but standing outside was not Du Yunse and Jiujiu, but a stranger holding the reins of a horse.

By now, the sun was high in the sky, its brilliance glaring. Yet the person outside gave off an impression of being so thin and cold that it felt like standing before a deep, shadowed cave that never saw light—only the black entrance was visible, concealing unknown dangers within.

Qiu Huanian was momentarily stunned. Seeing the visitor’s delicate yet sharp features and the red mole between his brows, he immediately understood and stepped aside, asking, “Is this gentleman from the capital here to see Yunse?”

The young ge’er outside the gate let his gaze linger on Qiu Huanian’s face for less than half a second before giving a slight nod. “My master sent me to deliver something.”

Qiu Huanian did not press for details and invited him inside. “Yunse is in the fields. I’ve already sent someone to fetch him. Please come in and wait.”

“Much obliged. Just call me Shiliu.”

Following Qiu Huanian’s direction, Shiliu led his horse into the courtyard. Since the stable had not yet been built, the fine steed, clearly worth a fortune, had to make do with being tethered in the construction shed at the back.

Shiliu remained silent, discreetly observing the half-constructed courtyard.

After setting out from the capital, he had first ridden swiftly to Jing Mountain Garrison, where he secretly met Wu Shen, then handled a few tasks for His Highness the Crown Prince before detouring to Du Family Village to see Du Yunse. Counting the days, he had been away from the capital for over twenty days now.

Shiliu knew that Du Yunse had come from a poor background. Passing through several villages in Liaozhou along the way, he had formed an estimate of Du Yunse’s family circumstances. However, now that he was actually here, he found that the situation was much better than he had expected.

Qiu Huanian made a casual remark, “The house is under construction. The front courtyard was just completed in the past few days, while the covered rooms and garden at the back are still being built. It’s a bit messy—please don’t mind.”

Shiliu remained silent, but in his heart, he had already decided to alter his original plans. He now intended to stay in Du Family Village for a few more days to investigate whether Du Yunse’s sudden improvement in living conditions had any connection to certain factions in the court.

How to analyze and judge—His Highness would decide. His task was merely to bring back any and all potentially useful information, to serve as His Highness’s eyes, His Highness’s blade, and His Highness’s shield of blood.

Besides that…

Shiliu’s gaze once again swept over Qiu Huanian’s face unnoticed. Before the other party could detect it, he skillfully concealed all traces.

Aside from serving His Highness, his desire to stay a few extra days also stemmed from one of the very few personal wishes he had in this world.

Even if it was likely a delusional fantasy, he had long since grown accustomed to searching—just as he had grown accustomed to futility.

…

A quarter of an hour later, Du Yunse and Jiujiu finally returned.

Hearing movement, Shiliu stepped out of the main house.

Du Yunse wore a simple, worn-out short robe. His skin was slightly reddened from the sun, and, having hurried over, his hem bore traces of dried mud—a completely ordinary farmer’s appearance.

Compared to the way he had looked years ago when Shiliu had caught glimpses of him serving the Crown Prince, the Du Yunse of today was even more restrained and steady, like a finely polished jade.

The grand upheaval in the capital at the beginning of the year must have changed him as well.

Seeing Shiliu in his home, Du Yunse’s brows furrowed slightly before smoothing out. He calmly instructed Jiujiu to take Chunsheng outside to play.

Once the two children had left, Du Yunse stepped forward and asked, “For what reason has Shiliu Gongzi come so suddenly?”

Shiliu answered directly, “I am here on my master’s business.”

Qiu Huanian wanted to ask whether he should leave, but Du Yunse shook his head to stop him.

“I am merely a powerless scholar. My family and I dare not listen to matters concerning Shiliu Gongzi’s master.”

Expressionless, Shiliu said, “There’s no need for tension, Du Gongzi. My master is now careful with his words and actions, always reflecting on himself. There is nothing that cannot be spoken of.”

“I have come simply to deliver a congratulatory gift. My master said—he and Du Gongzi were once classmates. Now that Du Gongzi has placed among the ‘Little Three Yuan,’ he regrets being unable to personally extend his congratulations and has prepared a humble gift, which he hopes you will accept without concern.”

Before Du Yunse could refuse, Shiliu had already opened the embroidered box he carried. “These are tribute medicines my master uses personally—please take a look.”

Qiu Huanian glanced inside and his pupils immediately contracted. If not for the situation, he might have gasped aloud.

Within the finely sealed, partitioned box lay a whole, perfectly intact lingzhi mushroom, a ginseng root as thick as a thumb, and a small box of premium-quality sliced deer antler.

Even someone with only a superficial understanding like Qiu Huanian could tell that these medicinal materials were of exceptional quality.

This was no mere ‘humble gift.’ If converted to silver, it would be worth at least a thousand taels—perhaps even more, given that such quality was rarely available for purchase at any price.

Shiliu was not worried about rejection. Since His Highness believed Du Yunse would accept, then Du Yunse naturally would accept.

Seeing the medicinal materials in the box, Du Yunse lowered his gaze, concealing the depth of his expression. After a moment, he cupped his hands and said, “In that case, I shall accept with gratitude. Please convey my thanks to your master.”

Qiu Huanian did not speak, only glanced anxiously at Du Yunse, who again shook his head, signaling him to remain at ease.

Shiliu closed the box and set it aside before continuing, “My master’s business is done. However, I have a personal request—would Du Gongzi be willing to grant it?”

“Please speak, Shiliu Gongzi.”

“After leaving the capital, I have been riding swiftly without delay. Now that my tasks are complete, I wish to rest for a while before returning. May I trouble you to let me stay at your residence for a few days?”

Du Yunse did not believe Shiliu’s excuse. He had heard from his teacher that the secret guards by the Crown Prince’s side were all specially trained. Most of them were orphans, sent to the imperial training institutes as children, long removed from the realm of ordinary people. Even if they broke an arm or a leg, they would persist in completing their master’s orders.

Shiliu was the Crown Prince’s most trusted secret guard. For him to say that he needed to rest for a few days after a long ride was as absurd as Du Yunse claiming he was illiterate.

Shiliu was likely aware of how flimsy his excuse was, but it did not matter to him.

When he traveled, he represented the Crown Prince’s will. Du Yunse understood this well—so long as Shiliu made the request, Du Yunse had no choice but to comply.

Du Yunse looked toward Qiu Huanian. Qiu Huanian was briefly stunned before nodding and saying, “The east wing can be cleared out. There’s also a room in the back with a heated brick bed that has already been set up. Which would Master Shiliu prefer?”

The east wing was larger, but the room in the back was behind the main house, effectively forming a secondary courtyard, offering better privacy. Qiu Huanian let the guest choose.

“No need to trouble yourself. The back room will suffice.”

Just like that, an extra person suddenly joined their household. Qiu Huanian had a belly full of questions, but none that could be asked in front of Shiliu. He could only go and prepare the room.

Fortunately, he had anticipated future guests when designing the house and had planned two rooms as guest quarters, each with a small heated brick bed. Otherwise, there would have been no time to prepare now.

The small brick bed already had a straw mat laid out. Qiu Huanian took out some extra bedding and pillows, then moved a small table and a chair from the main courtyard, managing to put together a somewhat livable space.

After finishing, Qiu Huanian felt it was a bit too simple. But then he considered that Shiliu was dressed in practical, unassuming clothing, likely wanting to keep a low profile. Hosting him in a modest manner seemed appropriate.

Sure enough, after inspecting the room, Shiliu made no further comments. He simply offered a word of thanks and placed his belongings inside.

By dinnertime, Jiujiu and Chunsheng had finally returned. Jiujiu was carrying a small bamboo basket filled halfway with tiny, translucent river shrimp, each no larger than a finger joint.

“We ran into Uncle Baoshan and Yunkang at the river. Uncle Baoshan shared some of their catch with us.”

These small river shrimp did not grow big and had little meat. They could only be boiled into soup or dried into shrimp skins for snacking. Catching them was labor-intensive, and since they spoiled by the next day, people in Du Family Village rarely bothered to fish for them.

The river behind the village had clear water, and the shrimp were very clean. Qiu Huanian washed them thoroughly and boiled them with rice and corn kernels. Just before serving, he sprinkled in finely chopped cabbage and scallions, completing a fresh shrimp and corn vegetable porridge.

He ladled the porridge into bowls, cut some pickled vegetables, and added a plate of salt-and-pepper dried tofu as side dishes—thus, a simple farmhouse dinner was ready.

The weather was too hot, so Qiu Huanian had kept the kitchen doors and windows open for ventilation while cooking. As he turned with a plate in his hands, he suddenly noticed Shiliu standing silently in the front courtyard, leaning against the doorframe, watching him quietly.

“Shiliu Gongz?”

Without a word, Shiliu reached out to take the plate from Qiu Huanian’s hands. Qiu Huanian instinctively passed it to him, and Shiliu turned and carried the plate to the dining table in the main house.

Was he… helping?

Qiu Huanian was puzzled, watching Shiliu’s back as he walked away, and shook his head.

Qiu Huanian told Jiujiu and Chunsheng that Shiliu was a friend Du Yunse had met in the capital, passing through Zhang County to visit friends and staying for a few days before leaving. This was also the explanation given to the villagers.

Shiliu was not one for idle talk, his face always cold and composed with a sharp, delicate edge. Jiujiu and Chunsheng were a little intimidated by this unfamiliar older brother and did not dare to speak much with him. Shiliu, unless necessary, never spoke, moving like a shadow that was barely noticed.

After dinner, Du Yunse washed the dishes. The two of them used the excuse of checking the cotton fields to finally find a moment alone to talk.

The bright moon hung high in the sky. Outside the village, the fields were empty. The farmers who had toiled there all day had returned to the village to rest. At dawn, they would come back to the fields, working day after day in an endless cycle of labor and harvest.

Du Yunse had implemented the cotton planting plan that Qiu Huanian had outlined, following every detail carefully. Under the moonlight, three acres of cotton plants stood neatly spaced, not too dense nor too sparse. Clusters of red flowers remained vivid even at night. By autumn, these blossoms would all turn into large cotton bolls, and the harvest would be ready.

Qiu Huanian crouched down to examine a few plants and found traces of bollworms nibbling on them.

Bollworms were the greatest enemy of cotton. They fed on the stems, leaves, and cotton bolls, becoming most active during the flowering and bolling periods. If not handled properly, they could cause a significant reduction in yield, even leading to total crop failure.

Controlling bollworms had been a challenge for cotton farmers since ancient times. In the past, they could only rely on manual extermination and the physical removal of eggs. Modern science had developed pesticides specifically for the pest, but these chemicals were expensive, and excessive use could lead to other problems, making them unsuitable for all situations.

Experienced cotton farmers, full of practical wisdom, had experimented and, with the support of modern biochemical theories, invented a biological enzyme method for pest control. The raw materials were simple and easy to obtain, and this was the method Qiu Huanian planned to use.

“The biological enzyme at home is ready. The village chief’s family and Yunkang’s family have also followed my method to make it. In the next few days, I’ll take some time to buy vinegar dregs for pest control.”

After dealing with a few waves of bollworms, the biggest challenges in cotton farming would be mostly over.

Du Yunse helped Qiu Huanian up, and the two of them strolled through the fields under the night sky. The clear moonlight cast a thin, frosty glow over the narrow paths between the crops.

“That Shiliu—is he a palace guard?”

“Hmm?” Du Yunse was surprised that Qiu Huanian had figured it out without anyone hinting at it.

“His movements and mannerisms are too… too disciplined.” Qiu Huanian struggled to find the right words.

He had not met many servants from noble families since coming to this world—only those from the Song family in Taohua Town and the Zhu family in Xiangping Prefecture. The trusted attendants of these households each had their own unique skills, yet compared to Shiliu, they seemed like they belonged to an entirely different world.

Moreover, the medicine Shiliu had delivered was of the highest tribute quality. His master had studied under the great scholar Wen Huiyang and was even a fellow student of Du Yunse, yet Du Yunse had never mentioned having any such peers. The identity of this mysterious and generous “master” was already narrowed down to a very small circle.

Du Yunse nodded, confirming Qiu Huanian’s deduction. “Shiliu serves the Eastern Palace’s heir.”

Hearing this, Qiu Huanian took a sharp breath—his teeth ached from the realization.

Now he finally understood why Du Yunse had reacted the way he did that afternoon.

Qiu Huanian was unfamiliar with the political landscape of the capital and the intrigues of the royal court. But he knew that both Du Yunse and Wu Shen, as well as their powerful mentors—Wen Huiyang and General Wu Dingshan—were inevitably caught up in it.

As the heir apparent, the Crown Prince was second only to the emperor himself, the future ruler of the realm. His status was beyond noble, but his position was also fraught with danger. A Crown Prince was not guaranteed to become emperor. At any moment, political shifts could render his position unstable. He could be reprimanded, confined, deposed, or even lose his life.

When a father was the ruler of the world and his son the heir to it, their bond often twisted into something else—guarded, scrutinizing, jealous, even maddened by the weight of power.

The current emperor was not yet fifty, a formidable warrior in peak health, nowhere near his twilight years.

But the Crown Prince was already in his twenties, like the sun rising in full splendor, no longer just a bright and promising son.

Besides the Crown Prince, the emperor had other sons, ambitious and hungry like wolves. Having reached their positions as imperial princes, how could they not covet the throne?

In such a precarious situation, the Crown Prince had ultimately been confined to the Spring Harmony Hall within the palace. His supporters were crushed, his influence stripped away by the emperor himself.

Even a great war hero like General Wu Dingshan and a scholar as renowned as Wen Huiyang could not escape this fate.

The emperor had delayed deposing the Crown Prince, leaving everyone in an awkward, impossible predicament.

And now, at such a time, the Crown Prince’s trusted guard, Shiliu, had suddenly appeared in Liaozhou, visiting Du Yunse in Du Family Village. He had done nothing apart from delivering medicine, yet his presence alone was unsettling.

“Yunse, I’ve never asked before—who do you support?”

This was a treasonous question, the kind that could only be spoken aloud in the deserted fields under the cover of night.

At first glance, Du Yunse seemed undoubtedly aligned with the Crown Prince. His teacher, Wen Huiyang, had been imprisoned for defending him. His close friend, Wu Shen, was the Crown Prince’s cousin. But Qiu Huanian needed to hear Du Yunse say it himself.

Du Yunse did not feel that this was something Qiu Huanian should be kept from knowing. They were husband and wife, bound together in both prosperity and peril. Qiu Huanian was perceptive and intelligent—he needed to understand so they could navigate the storm ahead together.

Du Yunse answered in a steady voice, “As a subject, I will always be loyal to the enlightened ruler of the Yu Dynasty.”

There was only one true sovereign.

Qiu Huanian had another question on his lips, but a thought crossed his mind, making him swallow his words.

After a pause, he rephrased, “You treat Shiliu with courtesy and are close to Wu Shen—is that because… this is also the emperor’s will?”

“The emperor and the Crown Prince…”

Du Yunse said, “The Crown Prince is confined in the Spring Harmony Hall, under constant watch by the imperial guards. If the emperor had not permitted it, he could not have learned that I placed first in the court exam, nor could he have sent Shiliu out of the palace.”

“Moreover, judging by the timing of my results being announced and the speed of the imperial couriers, Shiliu likely made a trip to Jing Mountain Guard before coming to Du Family Village.”

“The Crown Prince sent Shiliu to Jing Mountain Guard?” Qiu Huanian immediately recalled Wu Shen’s letter, which mentioned the unusual weapons and supplies among the frontier barbarians.

“Wu Shen is the Crown Prince’s cousin, and with war breaking out on the border, the Crown Prince is naturally concerned. He was moved by the late empress’s memory and sent his secret guard with medicine. Even if people found out, no one would dare question it.”

Every official in the Yu Dynasty knew that anything related to the late empress was a forbidden topic. Even though the emperor now favored Consort Kang more, no one would risk their career to test his limits.

—Even Consort Kang herself, was she not chosen from among the common folk by Prince Pingxian solely because she bore a resemblance to the late Empress, thus obtaining everything she has today?

Qiu Huanian listened as Du Yunse concisely recounted the matters regarding the late Empress, the Crown Prince, Consort Kang, and Prince Pingxian, then curled his lips in disdain.

“She has long since passed, yet they imprison her only child, find a substitute to perform this act of deep affection, and manipulate imperial power—what meaning is there in such a so-called love?”

Du Yunse should have immediately warned Qiu Huanian never to utter such words again, nor reveal even the slightest hint of such thoughts in front of others. But instead, he remained silent.

Du Yunse had never been able to understand why Emperor Yuanhua regarded his love for the late Empress as an untouchable, fatal weakness. It was only after meeting Qiu Huanian that he gradually came to comprehend it.

Sometimes, beneath the nine-tiered imperial crown of an emperor, there still lies the soul of an ordinary man.

But it was precisely because he understood that he could not agree with many of Emperor Yuanhua’s actions in this matter.