The matter of arresting the Beiyi spies was thus settled.
The expression of the Yongzhao Emperor softened slightly. Looking at Zhao Yi, he probed, "Eighth, I just heard Duke Xiang say that you and his granddaughter Pei Yiqiu are mutually smitten. Is this true?"
Zhao Yi forced an awkward smile and nodded. "It is indeed true."
The Yongzhao Emperor chuckled. "Since that is the case, I shall bestow a marriage, letting the granddaughter of Duke Xiang marry you as your primary princess consort."
After a pause, the gaze of the Yongzhao Emperor shifted from Zhao Yi to Pei Tianlin. "What does Duke Xiang think?"
Pei Tianlin sighed inwardly, yet still squeezed out a smile, bowing to the Yongzhao Emperor with cupped hands.
"This old subject is willing!"
"Good!" The Yongzhao Emperor nodded in satisfaction. "Then this matter is settled."
...
When Zhao Yi walked out of the Imperial Study, he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding glare of the sunlight.
The growling of his stomach made him realize it was already lunchtime.
At that moment, a palace maid waiting by the steps walked quickly up to Zhao Yi and bowed.
"Your Highness, Consort Hui invites you."
Zhao Yi's expression paused, and he nodded with some reluctance.
This Consort Hui was the mother of his predecessor, and to be honest, Zhao Yi did not want to see her so soon.
He had only just time-traveled over and had not fully adapted yet, afraid of revealing flaws.
However, since he could not avoid it, he had only to face it.
"His Highness Prince Qing." Just as he was about to follow the maid to Xinyue Palace, the voice of Pei Tianlin came from behind.
"Duke Pei." Zhao Yi returned the bow.
Pei Tianlin smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Qing, today you suffered because of my Pei family. Once the matter of capturing the spies is over, I will surely host a banquet to apologize, and I beg Your Highness to honor us with your presence."
"Duke Pei is too polite."
After exchanging a few polite pleasantries with Pei Tianlin and agreeing to attend the banquet, Zhao Yi left with the maid.
"Grandfather, the Emperor ordered me and His Highness Prince Qing to catch spies. What is his intention?"
On the way out of the palace, Pei Hong could no longer suppress the confusion in his heart and asked in a low voice.
After frowning and thinking for a long time, Pei Tianlin sighed. "The Emperor doing this may have several layers of meaning."
"Several layers of meaning?" Pei Hong widened his eyes.
Pei Tianlin nodded and explained, "Grandpa Gao was the Emperor's trusted confidant. His death has enraged the Emperor."
"The Emperor wants to use the matter of catching spies to properly discipline His Highness Prince Qing, and by the way, test our Pei family."
Hearing this, Pei Hong furrowed his brows deeply. "I can understand disciplining His Highness Prince Qing, seeing as he killed the Emperor's man."
"But you have already agreed to let Yiqiu and His Highness Prince Qing enter into a marriage alliance. Why does the Emperor still want to test our Pei family?"
Pei Tianlin shook his head helplessly. "The Emperor is naturally suspicious by nature. Once doubts arise, it is not so easy to dispel them."
"Merely letting Yiqiu and His Highness Prince Qing marry is probably not enough."
"Perhaps the Emperor still wants to take more things from our Pei family!"
At this, Pei Tianlin turned back to look at the magnificent palace, a look of melancholy showing on his face.
"Grandfather, our Pei family is loyal and devoted to the Emperor. For the Emperor to do this is surely..."
Before Pei Hong could finish speaking, Pei Tianlin raised a hand to cover his mouth, looked left and right, and warned sternly, "Cease such reckless talk!"
"Remember, you must be cautious in your words and deeds outside from now on!"
"Your grandson knows his mistake." Pei Hong quickly nodded in acknowledgment, then immediately asked, "Then what should we do about catching the spies?"
Pei Tianlin looked at Pei Hong and asked, "Do you think His Highness Prince Qing can catch the spies?"
Pei Hong gave a bitter laugh. "Spies are not so easily caught. Even I am not certain of success, let alone His Highness Prince Qing."
"Everyone knows His Highness Prince Qing cannot catch the spies. Why did the Emperor still make His Highness Prince Qing catch them?"
Pei Tianlin smacked his lips. "The Emperor seemingly tests you and His Highness Prince Qing, but in reality, he is testing our Pei family!"
"Testing our Pei family?" Pei Hong's face showed confusion.
"Think about it, which country are the spies the Emperor told you to catch from?"
"Beiyi!" Pei Hong blurted out, and immediately grasped the meaning in a flash of understanding.
Pei Tianlin slowly nodded, hands behind his back. "In a month's time, Beiyi will send envoys to our dynasty for peace talks."
"The Emperor telling you to capture Beiyi spies is to test the loyalty of our Pei family."
"Therefore, you must do your utmost in this capture of the Beiyi spies!"
"Yes!" Pei Hong cupped his fists and nodded.
...
Zhao Yi followed behind the maid, walking toward Xinyue Palace.
Along the way, he kept thinking about the matter of capturing the Beiyi spies.
In this test, the game of chess between the Yongzhao Emperor and the Pei family was the main point, while he himself was merely an attachment.
This ready-made father of his, knowing full well that his predecessor was good for nothing and could never possibly catch spies, still made such a demand. Clearly, he harbored the intention of giving him a harsh lesson.
Of course, when he killed Grandpa Gao, Zhao Yi had already prepared himself for punishment.
However, losing half a year of freedom was something Zhao Yi could not accept.
Therefore, he decided to seize the Beiyi spy before Pei Hong could.
As a former top-tier agent, catching people was no great challenge to him.
The difficult part was how to capture the spy without a sound, and without arousing the Emperor's suspicion.
Lost in thought, Zhao Yi stepped into Xinyue Palace.
A lavishly dressed woman in palace attire was waiting at the entrance of the main hall. The moment she saw Zhao Yi, she lifted the hem of her skirt and hurried forward to greet him.
"Yi'er, are you alright?" Consort Hui walked up to Zhao Yi, her expression filled with anxious care.
Zhao Yi thought for a moment and said cautiously, "Mother Consort, your son is unharmed."
As the words fell, his stomach let out a rumbling sound.
Consort Hui smiled faintly and pulled Zhao Yi's arm. "Quickly come inside with me."
"I have already had meals prepared."
Led by Consort Hui, Zhao Yi walked into the room, and the two seated themselves in turn.
Consort Hui was extremely warm, which made Zhao Yi—who had been an orphan in his past life and never experienced familial affection—feel somewhat unaccustomed.
After lining his stomach with a bit of food, Consort Hui began to ask about the ins and outs of the matter.
Zhao Yi simply recounted the events that had taken place today.
Finally, when he mentioned that the Yongzhao Emperor had ordered him and Pei Hong to capture the Beiyi spies, Consort Hui's complexion suddenly turned extremely ugly.
"Mother Consort, are you alright?" Zhao Yi offered a word of concern.
Consort Hui pressed her lips together and did not reply.
After hesitating for a moment, she looked up and ordered the maids waiting behind her, "You all step down first."
"Yes, Your Ladyship!" Several maids left one after another.
Consort Hui stood up, walked over to the door, peered outside, and then closed the door.
Zhao Yi put down his chopsticks and looked at Consort Hui with a face full of astonishment.
Consort Hui's complexion had already turned pale, and after sitting down, she was even more fraught with anxiety.
"Mother Consort, why are you in such a panic?" Zhao Yi asked once more.
Consort Hui pressed her lips together, looked at Zhao Yi, and said in terror, "Yi'er, you must absolutely not go catch those Beiyi spies!"
"Why?" Zhao Yi frowned, a trace of a bad premonition surging in his heart.
Consort Hui lowered her head, a look of internal struggle on her face.
As if thinking of something, Zhao Yi tightened his brow and asked urgently, "Mother Consort, could it be that you have dealings with the Beiyi spies?"
Consort Hui raised her head, showing a look of guilt, and with trembling lips said, "Yesterday afternoon, I heard that the Emperor was going to put you to death, so I sent my trusted aide to find the people of Beiyi."
"I intended to ask them to step in and save you."
"I never expected an incident to occur last night."
"My trusted aide has yet to return."
"I am worried about her..."