activa-t Chapter 62 The Brave Batu
Chapter 62 The Brave Batu
Ulan's fingers were still resting on his neatly straightened collar, not yet having a chance to be lowered.
She looked at Yin'e's serious face and asked, "Tenth Prince, what happened?"
Yin'e shook his head, lowered his gaze for a moment, and then looked up again.
He reached out and grasped the hand that Ulan was clutching the hem of her clothes.
"This matter..." He paused, as if considering how to begin, "I can't tell you for now. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that the less I know, the safer I am."
Ulan's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.
"However, we desperately need Batu's help now; you could say that only he can get it done."
Ulan raised her head and looked into Yin'e's eyes.
She didn't know when she started to believe him.
Ulan looked at him, bit her lip, and then nodded without hesitation.
"Tenth Master, Batu has caused you so much trouble, yet you still helped him. Now that you need his help, I naturally have no objection."
"Just tell him to do it. If he dares to say a word against it, tell me and I'll deal with him."
Looking at her, Yin'e felt a surge of inexplicable warmth in his heart.
He reached out and gently put his arm around Ulan's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head.
Her hair was soft and smooth, carrying that familiar scent of wildflowers.
"I won't let him get into danger." He lowered his head, his lips almost touching her ear. "I promise you."
Ulan's body trembled slightly in his arms, then slowly relaxed.
Yin'e did not say anything more.
He patted her on the back, let go, and turned to walk out.
About an hour later, the sun began to set, and the light changed from bright white to golden yellow, bathing the entire study in a warm orange hue.
On the old locust tree outside the window, several sparrows chirped and chattered, as if they were arguing about something.
Yin'e sat behind his desk, holding a copy of the official gazette. He flipped through two pages but couldn't concentrate on a single word.
He put down the official gazette, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers together.
Footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, approaching quickly.
The footsteps paused at the study door, then Fuquan's voice came through.
"Tenth Master, I've brought my maternal uncle here."
Yin'e opened his eyes and sat up straight.
"Let him in."
The door opened in response.
Batu walked in dressed in plain clothes and closed the door behind him as soon as he entered.
He walked to the desk, stood still, then lifted the hem of his robe and knelt down on one knee.
During those few days of recuperation at the Tenth Prince's residence, his complexion improved significantly. His face became fuller, his eye sockets were no longer sunken, and his lips were no longer as dry, cracked, and pale as before.
Batu greets the Tenth Prince.
Get up.
Batu stood up, his hands hanging down, in front of the desk, unsure where to look.
"How have you been these past few days?" Yin'e asked casually. "You haven't gone back to using that stuff, have you?"
Upon hearing this, Batu quickly waved his hand.
"No, no! Tenth Master, absolutely not!" His voice rose several octaves. "Although I, Batu, am not a good person, I still believe in the meaning of gratitude."
"Tenth Master, you have shown me such great kindness. If I dared to touch that thing again, would I still be human?"
Yin'e looked at him, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, but he didn't reply.
He reached into the desk drawer, took out a small box, placed it on the table, and pushed it over.
Batu paused for a moment, then did not reach out to take it.
"Is the silver I gave you enough? If not, just say so. Here are some silver notes; don't hide them."
Batu quickly waved his hand.
"That's enough! Tenth Master, I haven't even spent much of the fifty thousand taels you gave me last time."
Don't worry, I'm not the extravagant Batu I used to be.
I'll spend what I should spend, and I won't touch a single penny of what I shouldn't.
Yin'e nodded, took the wooden box back, and put it back in the drawer.
"How's it going at Juxianju?"
Batu leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"It's the same as before. Gao Mengyuan sends people to urge us to pay the debt every few days, and he's really pushing us hard."
However, ever since I returned part of the money with the silver last time, and played a few more rounds, he's been much more polite.
He paused, as if embarrassed to say it, but he said it anyway.
"I also told him that the money was given by my sister. He was very happy to hear that and said things like, 'The Crown Prince and his wife are very close, and the Crown Prince will surely rely on you in the future.'"
Yin'e's eyes narrowed slightly.
He understood the meaning behind Batu's words.
Gao Mengyuan continued to exploit Batu's relationship with Wulan, still plotting to get Batu to continue taking money from his sister.
This shows that Gao Mengyuan had not yet suspected Batu and still regarded him as a useful pawn.
The time has indeed come.
"Batu," Yin'e's tone changed.
He became unusually serious.
Batu straightened his back unconsciously.
"Would you do me a favor? If you do, you'll be my confidant, and all the money you owe will be wiped clean."
Batu's pupils contracted slightly.
He opened his mouth, and without thinking, said, "Tenth Master, just say the word! As long as it's within my power, I, Batu, will go through fire and water without uttering a single word of refusal!"
"Don't rush." Yin'e raised a hand to stop him. "I haven't said what it is yet."
He stood up, walked around the desk, and went to Batu.
The two people stood facing each other, no more than two steps apart.
The setting sun peeked through the cracks in the window, casting long shadows of the two people on the ground, like two trees standing side by side.
"If we fail, we will likely die."
Batu's face turned pale instantly.
His lips trembled slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
"Tenth Master..." His voice was a little dry, "What...what mission?"
Yin'e looked at him and remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke, his voice not loud, but clear.
"I want you to burn Juxianju to the ground."
"Set...set fire?" Batu's voice suddenly changed.
He raised his head and looked at Yin'e. His eyes, which had just been full of determination and gratitude, were now filled with terror.
Despite his large, burly build and towering stature, his courage is completely disproportionate to his physique.
He was proficient in all sorts of vices, but that was only when he had someone backing him up and money to pave the way.
If he were to actually set fire to the Crown Prince's business, that would be...
"Tenth Master... Tenth Master..." Batu's voice trembled, "That's the Crown Prince's property... I... I don't have the guts..."
His body began to tremble, first his fingers, then his wrists, and then his entire shoulder.
Yin'e looked down at him, without frowning or sighing.
She simply bent down, reached out, and patted his shoulder.
"Get up, don't kneel." Yin'e's voice was calm. "Who said you were going to your death? With me here, what are you afraid of!"