Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 803 - 503: No Regrets After Making a Move

Chapter 803: Chapter 503: No Regrets After Making a Move

Night was deepening.

In Di’an City, the lights flickered and spread under the moonless night, and the streets of the temple fair were crowded with people. The red cangyang in charge of patrolling the streets took off and landed at the four corners of the outer city from the City Defense Office Drill Ground, and further in the distant night sky, one could vaguely see the flying beasts of the City Defense Office drawing faint trails of blue light, reporting the situation in the outskirts of Di’an.

The bustling imperial city seemed to have disturbed the heavens, and with a gust of night wind, flecks and threads of white silently drifted down to earth.

The ancient red city was adorned with flying snow, adding a unique tranquility of winter to the bustling city.

Following the myriad lights upward, at the deepest part of the Imperial City and Palace City, atop Jiulong Mountain stood a high pavilion in the shadows of the night, its roof emitting light like a pair of eyes quietly watching the splendid prosperity of the old city below.

The cold wind howled, and a snowflake drifted from the dark sky, slipping through the gap of the window lattice into the pavilion, where it was gently caught by a wrinkled hand.

Staring at the crystal-clear snowflake gradually melting in his palm, a chill spread from his palms.

Clutching his hand, the snow water evaporated.

Leaning on the bed by the window, Li Yaoxuan watched the bustling snowflakes outside, a hint of obscure emotion flashing through his cloudy eyes,

"The snow hasn’t stopped yet..."

The lighting in the pavilion was dim, with only a couple of candles casting flickering light, and in the shadows of the loft, one could vaguely see another figure.

Dressed in a python robe, Mr. Nie stood to the side, lifting his eyes to gauge the emperor’s mood cautiously, and gently opened his mouth,

"Your Highness, national affairs are exhausting. You should prioritize your health. By the spring of the coming year, this snow should have stopped."

"I know."

Li Yaoxuan’s deep voice was faint, carrying a trace of barely-there weakness, "But my time is running out."

Mr. Nie opened his mouth but, after nearly a hundred years of companionship, swallowed his words back down.

The emperor did not need pity, nor did he need those insincere long live words for comfort.

The elegantly dim loft fell into silence, and with a few coughs, the hunched shadow on the wall appeared somewhat frail.

Tucking away the blood-stained cloth, Li Yaoxuan seemed to recall something and asked,

"A few days ago, I sensed a sword outside the city. What are the results of the Imperial Shadow Guard’s investigation?"

Mr. Nie quickly stepped forward, bowed at the bedside, and from his robe sleeves, he took out a sealed letter, presenting it with both hands,

"When the Imperial Shadow Guard went to investigate, the aura left from the battle had already been cleaned up, leaving behind only a damaged field. Before this servant could investigate further, the Third Prince took the initiative to find me.

"He said he was responsible for the incident. He wanted to capture the Xi’en princess before leaving for Japan."

"That does sound like something the third son would do."

Li Yaoxuan showed no surprise in his eyes and took the letter, unfolding the creased paper inside, "And the relationship with the Prime Minister’s Mansion, how did the third son explain it?"

"Before Xu Changtian was assassinated, His Highness had lent his personal attendant to him," Mr. Nie replied softly, head bowed, "This time, it was with this favor that people from the Prime Minister’s Mansion were asked to act."

Li Yaoxuan’s gaze on the paper lifted momentarily,

"Hmm... the one given to the third by the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, and that attendant is now dead."

"Is that so...."

Eyelids drooping again, Li Yaoxuan spoke unhurriedly, "This favor indeed suffices, but it likely still wouldn’t persuade Feng Jiuxuan. That means the sword I sensed that night belonged to Xu Family’s eldest."

As he spoke, Li Yaoxuan had already finished reading the sprawling thousands of words on the investigation results. The burning paper illuminated his aging face carrying a trace of death, yet his words carried a hint of amusement,

"The Xu Family remains shameless as ever. After agreeing to the third, they outright took the person afterward. But this way, they probably found what they wanted from that Xi’en princess."

Speaking, Li Yaoxuan gently pressed his temples, glancing out the window,

"Now, Xu Yinhe is hosting a private banquet in his Prime Minister’s Mansion. Send someone over to demand an explanation for the third."

"Is it... a mandate to directly request for people?" Mr. Nie showed slight hesitation.

"One could request for people, or for other items, but either way, the Prime Minister’s Mansion must provide an explanation."

Li Yaoxuan gently shook his head, "By reporting this matter to you, isn’t the Third Prince hinting that he wants me to step in for him?"

Mr. Nie understood upon hearing this.

Officially, that Xi’en princess was also a diplomat stationed at the Honglu Temple; it was against the rules for the Prime Minister’s Mansion to detain her privately.

Privately, this matter was orchestrated by the Third Prince; for the Prime Minister’s Mansion to usurp and detain the Xi’en princess was also against the rules.

Rules are a wonderful thing.

The power of the Prime Minister’s Mansion allowed them to act unscrupulously in this matter without handing over the person, but if they actually did so, then later, the royal family could likewise treat them in the same manner in other matters.

However...

"Your Majesty, are we going tonight?"

"Do you think it’s not advisable?"

"Tonight is the final day of the grand banquet at the Prime Minister’s Mansion." Mr Nie discreetly glanced at the elder on the bed.

Over decades, the grand banquet at the Prime Minister’s Mansion had developed its own set of rules.

During the preceding days of the banquet, it would be bustling with various people: members of the Imperial Faction, the Sect Alliance, and also the new generation of talented nobles, providing a platform for the Dayan elite to discuss and interact.

But the final day of the banquet was entirely different.

The Prime Minister’s Mansion would activate the Mansion Protection Formation, severing all internal connections with the outside world; only the genuine high-ranking officials of the Prime Minister’s Mansion could attend the evening banquet.

During such a time, to go there to demand an explanation...

"I know."

Li Yaoxuan’s voice was very calm, "So not only must we go, but we must also go openly and righteously."

"...."

Mr Nie understood what the Emperor wanted to do.

The Imperial Family seldom participated in the annual end banquet at the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

This attitude of turning a blind eye, to those observant enough, was easily noticeable as a symbol that the relationship between the Imperial Chancellor and the emperor had not yet broken.

Sending people tonight to demand an explanation for the Third Prince was just a pretext; without this matter, the Emperor would have sent people for other reasons anyway.

This was a signal being sent.

After a moment of silence, Mr Nie said in a low voice:

"Your Highness, once the piece is placed on the board, there are no regrets..."

"...."

Silence.

The cold wind whistled, eerily quiet.

Li Yaoxuan did not respond to Mr Nie’s remark.

"I understand your command and will make arrangements immediately."

Mr. Nie took a deep breath, bowed, retreated a few steps, and then turned and left directly.

The cold wind that infiltrated through the window lattice stirred the candlelight and also riffled through the dry white hair of the elder.

He gazed in the direction of the Prime Minister’s Mansion for a long time, emitting a deep sigh:

"Once the piece is placed, having no regrets is better than being forever indecisive...."