Chapter Sixty-Four: Such a Massive Trap

Li Xubai recuperated in the palace for another three days.
During these three days, both Empress Dowager Wen and Empress Dowager Yang came to visit him several times.
What puzzled him was that Zhao Yizhen, who had clearly taken an empress and multiple concubines, was living like a monk.
Every day, the emperor would chat with him in the side hall of the Wende Hall until midnight before returning to his own bedchamber to rest.
As for the empress and the concubines, Li Xubai had not even once caught a glimpse of those three women, who seemed as ethereal as air, during his stay in the palace.
Could it be that the palace drama tropes were all lies?
Did women in the palace really not compete to eagerly deliver loving little pastries and heartwarming midnight snacks to the emperor?
Thinking along these lines, he voiced his doubts aloud.
Song Shiyu pondered for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she said, "I'm not very familiar with the situation in the palace. In my past life, my grandfather only mentioned that Empress Guo and His Majesty seemed to be on bad terms. While His Majesty actually favored those two concubines, he couldn't lavish too much affection on them because he was constrained by Empress Guo."
Li Xubai was momentarily stunned.
This seemed somewhat different from his usual understanding.
The emperor was the supreme ruler under heaven; how could he possibly be restricted when it came to choosing a bedmate?
"If you put it that way, being an emperor isn't very free after all. He doesn't even get to decide where he sleeps," Li Xubai chuckled derisively.
Deeming Li Xubai's words far too crude, Song Shiyu shot him a fierce glare and lowered her voice to explain, "Empress Guo is the granddaughter of Grand Chancellor Guo Jian, chosen for His Majesty by Empress Dowager Wen. Empress Guo's maternal uncle is Lu Jishou, the Military Commissioner of Huanqing Road."
Ever since Li Xubai took up his post in the Military Affairs Department, Song Shiyu had been giving him intensive crash courses on the politics and court affairs of the Great Yu Dynasty every single day.
Now, Li Xubai had finally undergone a earth-shaking transformation.
Upon hearing these intricate interpersonal relationships, he no longer felt as though he were listening to a heavenly script.
He nodded and summarized: "In other words, Empress Dowager Wen took a fancy to the Guo family's prestigious background and the Lu family's military power, so she chose a woman of the Guo lineage bearing the blood of both families to be the empress. But as it turns out, the emperor doesn't like this empress, so she has been left out in the cold. It wouldn't matter so much if she were the only one suffering in isolation, but the emperor's concubines all have to accompany her and be left out in the cold as well."
Song Shiyu nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's precisely what it means. Empress Guo has always been arrogant and petty, and with Empress Dowager Wen's backing, His Majesty finds her too much of a hassle and rarely steps foot into the inner palace."
Li Xubai sighed with emotion, feeling a pang of genuine sympathy for Zhao Yizhen deep in his heart.
On the fourth day, Li Xubai could no longer endure the life inside the palace, which was more agonizing than sitting in prison, and requested to leave the palace to recuperate at home.
With other plans in mind, Zhao Yizhen naturally agreed readily and bestowed countless rewards, which were carried in a continuous stream into the Li family's residence in Banyan Tree Lane.

This sparked intense jealousy across the entire city of Bianliang.
Among the rewards was a jade ruyi scepter personally bestowed by Empress Dowager Wen.
This was practically equivalent to a promise from Empress Dowager Wen that any reasonable request would be granted.
Everyone in the imperial court knew that Empress Dowager Wen's jade ruyi was not bestowed lightly; whoever received it meant that in the future, as long as they made a request before Empress Dowager Wen, their plea would be answered.
Ever since he learned of the immense benefits of this jade ruyi, Li Xubai's mouth hadn't stopped curving upward in a broad smile.
This monumental wealth, won by risking his very life, had been securely and firmly caught by him, Li Xubai.
While cracking melon seeds, Song Shiyu watched Li Xubai pace frantically around the room, trying to figure out a safe place to hide the jade ruyi.
Unable to stand Li Xubai's petty behavior, she glanced sideways at him and scoffed, "Cut it out. It's just a jade ruyi, personally bestowed by Empress Dowager Wen and registered in the palace records. Even if someone stole it, they couldn't use it. What on earth are you hiding it for?"
Li Xubai snorted. "What do you know? If they steal it and can't use it, they'll just smash it to pieces! There are plenty of people in this world who resent others for having what they lack and mock those who have nothing. If they don't have one, they won't allow anyone else to have one either!"
A flicker of realization crossed Song Shiyu's mind, and she slightly raised an eyebrow. "You see things quite clearly, don't you?"
After pacing around a few more times, Li Xubai finally managed to stash away that precious treasure securely.
No sooner had Li Xubai rested at home for a single day than he received an invitation from Sheng Yanming, asking him to attend a banquet at the Fan Tower the following evening.
He sneered at the invitation card, muttering, "Call this a banquet? Isn't he simply eyeing the feast I promised? I just don't get it—as the dignified Commander of the Investigation Office under the Military Affairs Department, what fine delicacies hasn't he eaten? How can he be such a glutton?"
As Li Xubai's younger brother, Li Xuzhang, applied medicinal ointment to his back where the wounds were beginning to heal, he finally felt reassured and smiled, saying, "Second Brother, you don't know this, but everyone in Bianliang knows that Commander Sheng of the Investigation Office is henpecked."
"..." Li Xubai burst out laughing. "And yet he still dares to go out carousing? Isn't he afraid of having to kneel on abacus beads when he gets back?"
Song Shiyu chimed in from the side, "Commander Sheng's wife is extremely stingy."
Li Xubai had a sudden epiphany. "Ah, she's the type who feels she has lost out if she goes out and fails to pick up something for free. Carousing doesn't matter, as long as it's not their Sheng family paying for it, right?"
Li Yunnuan joined in with a smile as well. "Second Brother can go to the feast, but you mustn't drink any alcohol. Your injuries haven't healed yet."
Song Shiyu added a parting shot: "The wine at the Fan Tower is the most expensive of all. You'd better watch yourself."

The Fan Tower after nightfall was far livelier than during the day.
Brightly lit, filled with cheerful laughter and chatter, the rich aroma of food and wine filled the air.
The wounds on Li Xubai's back had healed considerably, and he felt no pain when moving around. As long as he avoided making drastic movements, he was no different from a completely healthy person.

Just as he reached the entrance of the Fan Tower, an exceptionally well-dressed waiter hurried over with a beaming smile. "Ah, Lord Li, you've finally arrived! Commander Sheng and the others have been waiting for you upstairs for quite some time."
Hearing this, Li Xubai's steps came to an abrupt halt, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. "What—'they'? How many people came?"
The waiter counted on his fingers. "Practically everyone from the Investigation Office currently in Bianliang is here. Around a hundred and ten people or so."
Li Xubai nearly fainted on the spot.
Over a hundred and ten people? Dammit, were they here to bleed a wealthy host dry?
No, he should just turn around and go home right now.
Yet no sooner had this thought crossed his mind than he heard the waiter shout loudly right beside his ear, "Deputy Commander Li has arrived! Esteemed guest, please proceed upstairs!"
Despairingly, Li Xubai closed his eyes, his feet feeling as though they were rooted to the floor.
From the upper floor came a creaking sound, as if someone were pushing open a window.
"Deputy Commander, you're here! What are you standing there frozen for? Hurry up and come on up!"
"That's right, the wine and dishes have already been ordered, and the courtesans have started singing. You're the only one missing."
"You wouldn't happen to be scared, would you?"
"You aren't even married yet, what is there to be scared of?"
Gritting his teeth and trembling at the knees, Li Xubai walked upstairs step by step.
The waiter led him into a private dining room.
His mind went blank with a loud buzz.
He could only imagine countless gold and silver coins slipping away at lightning speed.
Just how much silver was this going to cost?!
"Deputy Commander, you're hosting today. Quick, take the seat of honor!"
Li Xubai's head was still buzzing relentlessly.