21: Calm and peaceful

"No, you..."

Early the next morning, when Lu Qianyuan and Tang Jingzhong saw Mo Yingqi looking exhausted yet again, they couldn't help but reach out and touch his head.

"He's not running a fever, and he's not sick, but he looks like he hasn't slept for two days straight." Lu Qianyuan withdrew his hand. "Why don't you just take leave? Everyone upstairs has already been notified to try not to assign you any duties recently."

"It's fine. I still need to come and report for duty." Mo Yingqi rubbed his eyes. "Is there any news from the Xu Family?"

"Why don't you find a bed and sleep for a while first?" Tang Jingzhong shook his head while handing over a cup of Calming Tea. "I brought this from home. Drink some first."

Mo Yingqi didn't want to look so gloomy, but the dreams were endless. Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning in the dreams were growing increasingly obsessive, and increasingly... excessive.

Mo Yingqi was twenty, in the prime of his youth and vigor. How could he possibly withstand this? And why did the frequency seem to be increasing?

"Seriously, you're something else. I know you're going to attend the Empress's Polo Match, so why are you still wearing the flying fish robe?" Lu Qianyuan frowned. "You're not planning to wear that over there, are you?"

"What else? I can't exactly wear my own clothes to the yamen, can I?" Mo Yingqi looked down at the dark flying fish robe on his body. "Besides, this looks great, the workmanship is good, and it's comfortable to wear."

"...You wasted that face!"

Sometimes Lu Qianyuan wanted to pry open his skull and see what he was thinking. When he was on official business, arresting criminals, or conducting interrogations, he was incredibly clear-headed, adept at sophistry, and sometimes managed to trick people without resorting to torture.

Sure enough, Heaven is fair. If a person is given good looks, good martial arts, and a good brain, they must be lacking something else. If this man hadn't joined the Flying Fish Guard, he would have been the dream lover of the Capital City's women, rather than the "Smiling Yaksha" whose name could stop a three-year-old from crying.

"Even a coarse man like me understands that this is a formal occasion. Even if you don't dress more decently, at least don't wear this!" Lu Qianyuan couldn't help but shake his head. "I told you to take leave and wait peacefully for your wedding, but you won't listen. Is this huge yamen going to stop running without a Captain like you?"

Mo Yingqi just smiled and didn't answer him. He understood the reasoning, but he insisted on doing this.

Originally, he never thought he would become the Consort who he himself found ridiculous, but since he was one now, he might as well use this identity to get things done.

Ever since he gained fame and was promoted to Captain, he knew that Grand Chancellor Zhou must be watching him. Otherwise, Zhou Jinan wouldn't focus on him most of the time. Especially now, he insisted on reporting to the Pacification Bureau every day, and even better... if there was a task he wasn't supposed to take, he would go anyway.

If it involved a Disciples of Grand Chancellor Zhou, that would be even more perfect.

Initially, Grand Chancellor Zhou was merely wary of the Pacification Bureau but didn't care about him. He was just a Captain; what if he even rose to Commander? But things were different now. Given the cunning of that old fox, he must be aware of The Emperor's attitude, and his status as Consort meant he was no longer the ordinary Flying Fish Guard that Zhou viewed as dirt.

He was waiting for a chance for the old fox to seek him out personally. He believed that day would come sooner or later. Thinking of this, Mo Yingqi couldn't help but recall the words of the Old Daoist, and a helpless smile appeared on his face.

"It seems that Daoist was right after all..." Mo Yingqi couldn't help but sigh. "Never mind, this is good. Otherwise, I don't know how many years I'd have to endure..."

Mo Yingqi once had no expectation for his revenge. The opponent was a highly influential official who had served two dynasties, while he had no power or influence. Aside from joining the Pacification Bureau, it was too difficult to threaten him and Zhang Jiayan by climbing the official ladder.

But his Master had told him when he left the Northern Border: "A mouse cannot kill a tiger, but if a mouse bites a tiger with all its might, the pain will be unforgettable for the tiger... and that deep wound might even lead to infection and a chain reaction."

"So, don't feel insignificant, because everything is unknown. What matters is not the result, but whether you acted or not."

Mo Yingqi took this to heart. Yes, if you don't act... how will you know it won't work? Moreover, he had inexplicably become the Consort. He might have transformed from a mouse into a venomous snake. Although he felt sorry for Luo Yongan and the others, he would not let go of this opportunity.

"But you guys are right. Actually, I brought a change of clothes..."

Mo Yingqi pulled out a bundle from behind him. "Did you really think I was that stupid? Wearing this to the Empress's Polo Match? Wouldn't that just annoy her?"

"...So you just messed with us guys, annoying me and capital?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Go die! Take this strike!"

After dodging Lu Qianyuan's wild goose feather saber, and after the three of them had joked around for a bit, Mo Yingqi asked, "Let's talk about business. Is anyone from the Xu Family going to this Polo Match?"

"Yes, they are. They say the Xu Family Madam is taking Xu Fengzhang with her." Lu Qianyuan hadn't actually intended to strike; he was just messing around. "What's the point of that? If I were that damn rogue, I wouldn't even step out of the house."

"The more serious the situation, the more they must come out," Tang Jingzhong disagreed. "Moreover, this concerns the Late Emperor. They are probably taking Xu Fengzhang to ask the Empress for mercy. The Emperor values filial piety greatly. Although the Grand Empress Dowager is not The Emperor's birth mother, he was registered under her name. Everyone has seen how the Grand Empress Dowager has treated The Emperor over the years. Given Xu Fengzhang's great disrespect, the Grand Empress Dowager will likely not let this go."

Just as they were speaking, a Flying Fish Guard came in from outside to report: "Chief Mo, the palace has sent a carriage to request your presence."

"Will you just take leave already?" Lu Qianyuan angrily kicked him. "Stop hanging around here annoying people every day! Now, immediately, take my blessing and scram!"

Mo Yingqi changed into a purple and blue robe, and after thinking it over, decided not to carry his saber. Lu Qianyuan came over and handed him a Short Saber. It was entirely black, and the golden seal script on the sheath read "Ru Yun."

"Take this for self-defense. Although you'll have to hand it over at that kind of venue, having some gear is better than having none." Lu Qianyuan sighed. "This is a Short Saber passed down in my family. It can cut through iron like mud. I'm not like you, I only know a bit of Fist and Foot Work, and my saber technique is the family's Wild Goose Feather Saber Technique. This thing is just a decoration if I keep it. Since you're getting married soon, consider it a wedding gift."

"Old Lu, Storybooks all say that people who give gifts to their friends usually..."

"Are you taking it or not? If not, I'm taking it back!" Lu Qianyuan was so angry he nearly hit him. "I'm not stupid! I've endured it for so many years, what's a little longer?"

Mo Yingqi didn't stand on ceremony, accepted the saber, and looked back at Lu Qianyuan. "Old Lu, thanks."

"Get out of here! Why are you saying that to me?" Lu Qianyuan cursed with a laugh. "You should still be careful. Now, you, me, and Commander Qianhu are probably all being watched by the Pacification Commissioner. Plenty of people in the yamen are jealous of you. Don't mess up now."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Mo Yingqi simply smiled slightly. "You and capital should be careful in the yamen. Also, if a task isn't assigned to you by Commander Qianhu, it's best not to take it."

"Do I need you to tell me that? But..." Lu Qianyuan seemed to recall something. "The Pacification Commissioner has taken leave these last few days. What do you think he's up to?"

"I don't know, but... I remember an old saying my Master told me." Mo Yingqi looked up at the boundless clear sky outside the door. "Before a storm arrives on the sea, it is often calm."