82 Whispers of Treachery (1/2)
Kang Jun pulled the cloak closer around his shivering body.It was not really cold but there was a fog that covered the back courtyard and the shiver was more of a reaction to what he was about to do than actual temperature cooling his body.
Kang Jun was about to meet the man who planted him as a spy in the imperial court of his majesty, emperor Gu Sheng.
To understand how this came about, one must begin at the beginning, when Kang Jun's grandmother married his grandfather, in fact.
Kang Jun's parents were born in Yuqui but his late father's parents were immigrants who hailed from another kingdom. His late grandmother was the only daughter of a duke who eloped with his grandfather, a palace guard personally assigned by the empress of that country to guard her favorite goddaughter.
The elopement was kept secret and the identity of his grandmother never divulged. Over the years, the family forgot their roots and fully embraced life in Yuqui. His parents were true Yuqui monarchists. They cheered when emperor Gu Fang married his empress, the honorable princess An Ning, and cried when he died not soon after the wedding.
When his father married his mother, the identity of the family's early beginnings was revealed.But since it happened years ago and his mother and father were happily raising a family, the truth didn't matter anymore. The life they knew was in Yuqui so why bother about the past which had no bearing at all in the future?
But as it turned out, the past still did have strong connections with the present.
Kang Jun's father died and he was left with the care of a very ill mother. The little savings his father left, including the apothecary, weren't enough to supplement a fast dwindling income. He saw his future becoming lost when he failed to even pay the entrance fees for the civil exam. He was at his wit's end when one night, the stranger came.
It turned out that his grandparents had lied. His grandmother was not only the daughter of a duke, she was his only child and when the duke died, his wealth automatically went to his sole heir, which was Kang Jun's grandmother.
Her child, Kang Jun's father, who made a good living as a druggist, was unaware of this windfall. The duke had searched high and low for his daughter, never knowing that the medicines prescribed to him by his doctors when he fell ill came from his grandson's own thriving apothecary. He never made the connection and died never realizing the truth at all.
It was raining when the knocked sounded on the door. Kang Jun had just finished eating dinner which consisted of a single fish and rice. His mother was asleep in her room, having made a little tantrum about the fish, which he forgot to debone. Kang Jun was feeling despondent, thinking about his late father who died unexpectedly and the regret he felt when he insisted he wanted to be a scholar rather than follow his father in the business.
He almost didn't hear the knocking. When he did, he got up curiously, wondering who in their right mind would go about knocking on other people's door in this night of all nights. Besides, visitors seldom visit them anymore, not since his father died and the house was turned into a ward for his sick mother's use.
The boy was young. About eighteen and, there's no other word for it, very beautiful. The unruly hair. The deep set eyes. The dimple on the right cheek. The red lips against the dazzling white skin. He was tall and straight and looking at him, one had the unmistakable impression of someone born to command. On that part, he was proven right when another young man squeezed beside the boy and introduced his name.
Nian Zhen was the name of the beautiful boy.And the young man with him was Ban Chao. Kang Jun remembered staring at them like they were an apparition.He was tempted to close the door but the boy had already stepped inside, looking around the house with an expression of boredom. Ban Chao hurried after him and pulled up a chair, which he meticulously wiped clean before offering it to the boy.
Kang Jun was really tempted to kick them both out, he was that insulted by Ban Chao's action. His irritation was apparent when he demanded the reason for their visit. He was so annoyed it took him minutes to understand what the boy was talking about.
”Are you talking in riddles? What Cheng Dou and Liang Na? Who are you talking about? If you're asking me if I know these people, then no. Never heard of them before.”
”So, I was right. You don't know anything about your grandparents' history,” the boy said, sounding satisfied.
”Will you please stop wiping that table like it would contaminate you just by looking at it?” Kang Jun asked, glaring at Ban Chao. ”Honestly, dude. This is not an inn, okay? If you're looking for something clean to stay in, you've come to the wrong place.”
Ban Chao, who was about ready to find a rag and wipe the floor, stopped and looked at Kang Jun then at Nian Zhen.
”Ignore him,” the boy said. ”He's always like that when he's nervous. He's got a thing about germs, you see.”
”No, I don't. It's very rude if you ask me,” Kang Jun was very pissed and insulted and embarrassed at the same time.
”Ban Chao, leave,” the boy said.
”But your highness...”
”Get out!”
Ban Chao got out.
Kang Jun looked at the boy, impressed.
The boy laughed and stood up. He took something out of his sleeve then gave it to Kang Jun, who received it with a bewildered look. The thing turned out to be a bag filled with nuggets of gold. Kang Jun's eyes widened.
”What the...?”
”A little portion of your family's wealth,” Nian Zhen said. ”You obviously didn't know that your grandmother's parents were rich, right?”
Kang Jun shook his head, too flabbergasted to even open his mouth.
”Well, they were.Your great-grandfather is dead and there's only you to take the title. But before that, I want you to do something for me.”
”Who are you people?” Kang Jun gasped, finally out of his mind freeze.
”Nian Zhen, prince of Chengdi.”
”You're a prince? A foreign prince? Shouldn't you be presenting yourself to the emperor so what are you doing here?”
”Talking to you obviously.”
”This is so...I don't understand what any of this means but here, take this bag with you, whatever it is you're up to I don't want to know and I don't want to be part of any of it!”
But of course, it was not that easy to get rid of Nian Zhen. He was like magic glue, he had decided to stick himself to Kang Jun and he stayed stuck. Deep down, Kang Jun didn't really believe what he said about his great-grandfather either. But he did need the money so he decided, why not? I'm just a poor scholar what can he do to me?
At first, Nian Zhen didn't ask him to do anything. Then the day of the imperial job interview, Nian Zhen sent word to tell him to present himself to the empress dowager. He was late getting there because his mother had a relapse but he still got the job and it turned out to be bigger than he first thought.The empress dowager told him that he was going to be personally assisting his majesty the emperor.
The enormity of what happened shook Kang Jun to his core. Assistant. To the emperor. And there he was, paid by a foreign country to do what actually? Nian Zhen told him to simply apply for the job and he did. There was nothing remotely treasonous about applying for a job, right? Especially since he got it based on his own qualification and merit.
Kang Jun really didn't understand any of it so he didn't worry too much. And then Nian Zhen and the pest Ban Chao came knocking on his door again. On a night during a rainstorm when anybody sane would have stayed in bed, hugging their blankets close to keep out the cold.
Ban Chao eyed the coat he was wearing and gave a little sniff. Kang Jun glared at him. Try taking this from me and I'll wallop your ass, his glare told him. Nian Zhen gave a smothered laugh then stepped inside without another word.
Kang Jun eyed him a little warily. Why is he back? He's not going to ask me to apply for another position again, is he?
The prince didn't ask him anything other than to casually ask how was it working for the emperor? What about his stepmother, was she really as beautiful and smart as everyone thought? What's her favorite food? Does she really like sweet things? What is the emperor's relationship with his stepmother?
”What do you mean?” Kang Jun was surprised. ”She's his stepmother. They don't have a relationship other than that.”
”Are they close?”
”Very. If she leaves Yuqui, I think he would follow her wherever she goes. She's important to him.”
”And is he important to her?”
”Yes. He reminds her of her late husband so he's important.”
”What about that guy who's always by her side?”
”What guy? Who are you talking about?”
”The commander of the guards.”
”Yi Hai? Yes, he's close to both of them but I think he likes her a lot.”
”Like? As in like like her?”
”Damn it, Ban Chao! Will you stop polishing the glasses? I don't care if they're dirty or not. I don't want your paws touching them!”
”But they're filthy...”
”Shut up! This is my house not yours! Stop touching my things!”
Nian Zhen glared at Ban Chao and pointed to the door.
”But your highness...”