Chapter 112 Qiongtan experiences being ignored by her beloved...

When the autumn wind rises again, the wild geese fly south.

Xie Yuan issued an edict to suspend court for three days.

Since his ascension to the throne, disasters and conflicts had been constant, and Xie Yuan's burdens had become increasingly heavy. He would rise at dawn and not rest until late at night. Memorials piled up like mountains, and he would often discuss matters with court officials until late afternoon. The meals sent by the Imperial Kitchen were often only touched a few times. He endured this until the Censorate once again impeached Chen Liangyu for using torture to force Qiu Renshan, the Vice Minister of Revenue, to his death, which provoked a thunderous wrath.

Xie Yuan was so angry in the Chongzheng Hall that he coughed up blood and fell ill.

Qiu Renshan died in his own residence, and people began to speculate that Wang Biao's death in the Ministry of Justice prison was also secretly orchestrated by Chen Liangyu, using Wang Biao's death to cover up her miscalculation.

With the sudden deaths of Wang Biao and Qiu Renshan, all leads were lost. The only surviving secret letter and the weapons seized from Tongmen Pass were insufficient to prove that Qiu Renshan had any connection with the Xiling rebels or Beiyong.

It has nothing to do with Consort Shu in the palace.

When the military report of the great victory from Chengyang Boyue Dun arrived, having forced the rebel army back sixty li, the matter of the traitor seemed more like Chen Liangyu's paranoia after his military miscalculation.

Before Xie Yuan suspended court, he ordered the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to investigate the Qiu family murder case within three days.

Chen Luan spent the entire time at the Dali Temple yamen reviewing cases and files until 3:45 PM before heading to the Xuanping Marquis's residence.

The aroma of tea wafted from the teahouses along the long street.

Chen Luan usually travels to court by sedan chair, but Qiu Renshan's two murder cases only gave him three days to resolve. In order to save time, he has been riding a horse between the Dali Temple and the Marquis's residence for the past two days.

He rode his horse slowly and steadily.

A carriage caught up from behind, the curtain was lifted from inside, and someone called out, "My Lord."

Chen Luan reined in his horse and looked back; it was Hengyang.

"Miss Heng."

Heng Yang said, "The letter that the General entrusted to me to deliver to General Zhao has been sent to the southern border via the military post station. Please pass on the message, Lord Marquis."

Chen Luan said, "Thank you, Miss Heng." After thanking her, he picked up the reins and prepared to leave.

"Please wait, my lord."

"Does Miss Heng have any other requests?"

Heng Yang said, "I dare not give orders. The weather is quite good this year, and the first batch of autumn tea has just been picked. May I delay you for a little half an hour, my lord, so that we may have a pot of tea?"

Chen Luan initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought that since they had just helped deliver the letter, it would make people think that the people from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence were not polite.

He said, "Alright."

Heng Yang booked a private room on the second floor of the tea house, with a diamond-patterned window overlooking the long street.

The doors and windows of the private room were closed, and Chen Luan appeared extremely reserved. After a short while, he felt the tea room was stuffy and pushed open the window.

The quiet private room was suddenly filled with the sounds of people from the long street.

In contrast, Heng Yang was much more relaxed and at ease. Tea cakes were prepared on the elegant table in the tea house, and Heng Yang focused on brewing the tea.

Chen Luan stood by the lattice window, his back to her tall figure.

"My lord."

Chen Luan turned around and responded gently.

Heng Yang asked, "Why doesn't Your Excellency sit down?"

Chen Luan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I will remain standing. Did Miss Heng send me here just to have a cup of tea?"

Heng Yang smiled and said, "Of course, I also have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

Heng Yang said, "In her spare time, the Princess acted as a matchmaker and mentioned her marriage to the Marquis to me. However, she had not received a reply from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, so she came to ask in person whether the Marquis was willing to marry me."

Chen Luan was clearly taken aback by Heng Yang's bluntness and was dumbfounded.

When Heng Yang stopped his horse, he expected that she might bring up the matter, but all the subtlety, tact, and indirect questioning he anticipated were absent. Only this simple and concise question remained.

"Miss Heng, don't make fun of me."

"While Marquis Xuanping is indeed an outstanding man, I am not a naive daughter from a humble family who has never seen the world. Surely the Marquis does not think that I am lusting after beautiful women?"

Heng Yang picked up a tea sieve and sifted the ground tea powder.

“I have heard about what has happened in the court recently. Now that Qiu Renshan is dead, the truth is in the Emperor’s hands. The Emperor could have used this opportunity to clean up the bureaucracy and purge the Qiu family and their cronies. But the Emperor has chosen not to investigate the Qiu family, and instead, he has followed the General’s wishes to posthumously honor the soldiers who died at Tongmen Pass. Doesn’t the Marquis think that the Emperor is tacitly allowing the General to force a minister to his death?”

A look of worry crept across Chen Luan's brow. He had considered this matter beforehand.

Two murders occurred in Qiu Renshan's residence, one of which involved two high-ranking officials in the court. However, the emperor only gave him three days to investigate.

That was too hasty.

Moreover, if Chen Liangyu were to be interrogated, the Dali Temple should, both morally and logically, recuse itself. It's unclear whether Xie Yuan was too ill to think things through carefully, or if he did it intentionally.

While at the Dali Temple, Chen Luan was still speculating that perhaps the Emperor only wanted a result that could silence public opinion and bring the matter to a conclusion so that Chen Liangyu could leave for the northern border as soon as possible.

After Zhai Ji ascended the throne in Beiyong, he amassed troops and prepared for war. The emperor would never punish Chen Liangyu with death at this time. However, the one who died was a vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. At that time, there were only the two of them in the main hall. Qiu Renshan was killed by a sword to the throat. It is unclear whether Chen Liangyu killed him or whether he committed suicide.

What is certain is that, regardless of the outcome of this matter, Xie Yuan has gained leverage over Chen Liangyu. Just like the former Minister of Revenue, Su Chasang, who altered tax records to raise funds for the construction of the Yanzhi Mountain Palace. At the time, the emperor did not pursue the matter, but afterwards, when he was asked to retire and return to his hometown, he had to obediently submit his resignation without daring to say a word.

Heng Yang said, “When I was at home, my father hired a tutor for me and I read some military history books. General Chen is a man of great power and acts with fierce determination. The eight thousand Eagle Head Army in the northern border obeys him without question. Such a man is a reliable asset to the royal family when needed, but a major threat when not needed.”

The window slammed shut with a "snap".

Chen Luan said, "Miss Heng, aren't you afraid that the walls might be overheard?"

Heng Yang said, "I reserved all the private rooms on the left and right, so you need not worry, my lord."

Chen Luan strolled from the window to the tea table, watched Heng Yang add water to the pot, sat down quietly, and took a folding fan to gently fan the fire.

She said, "The Marquis of Xuanping's mansion is like this, and so is the Heng family."

Chen Luan took a serious look at the girl in front of him for the first time. Her skirt swayed gently as she walked, and the kingfisher feathers in her hair remained perfectly still. She sat gracefully on the embroidered stool in front of the cauldron, looking even more elegant than the cranes on the embroidered screen in the private room.

He just had a stubborn streak about him.

Chen Luan had some inexplicable wild thoughts; she and her sister-in-law must have a lot to talk about. Thinking of this, a chill ran down his spine.

Why did Miss Heng choose me?

Heng Yang paused in fanning the fire, then turned to meet Chen Luan's eyes and said, "If A Yang says that she has admired the Marquis for many years, would the Marquis believe her?"

Chen Luan looked at her and shook his head.

Heng Yang lowered her eyelids, concealing a trace of loneliness, "Because... the General can save my father."

"I admire your honesty, but I cannot comply."

Chen Luan was well aware of the calculations and maneuvering behind marriage alliances with high-ranking families. At first, he thought Heng Yang didn't have so many considerations, but he didn't expect her to be the same.

Heng Yang lowered his head without saying a word, as if he was sad.

As they were talking, the water boiled twice.

Chen Luan realized he had spoken too harshly and felt a little ashamed. He said, "Miss Heng, the water is boiling."

Heng Yang was stunned for a moment before she regained her composure.

She scooped out a ladle of boiling water and set it aside to cool. Then, using a bamboo spatula, she stirred the boiling water through a whirlpool while adding sifted fine tea powder.

"Marriages between high-ranking families have never been a matter of choice for you or me. The Marquis inherited the title and holds an important position in the court. Does the Marquis think that you can still decide your own marriage? The Princess's power and position are growing daily, yet she has not yet arranged a marriage. Who knows if the Marquis's marriage will become a bargaining chip to hinder the General in the future?"

“My elder brother, Hengmiao, though ambitious, is also fond of grand achievements, domineering, and unreasonable, making it difficult for him to listen to advice. This has led to repeated defeats in the attack on Nanzhou. He has suffered too many defeats, and if the losing streak continues, the morale of the soldiers in the southern border will surely collapse, and they will inevitably start to look down on him. My father still holds considerable prestige in the army, and now that he is imprisoned by him, who can predict when he will turn against my father?”

"The Heng family and the Chen family are both military families stationed on the border. If my father cannot be protected, how can the Great General protect himself in the future?"

"This marriage is good for my father and for the general."

The rich aroma of tea filled the room, and upon closer inspection, one could also detect the scent of fresh leaves moistened by the morning dew. Heng Yang poured the hot tea into teacups, saying, "My lord, the tea is ready."

Chen Luan drank it and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Heng."

Heng Yang gave a slight curtsy. "I hope Your Excellency will give the matter I mentioned more consideration."

Chen Luan opened and closed his lips, then pursed them tightly. In the end, he simply bowed with his hands clasped in greeting, his wide sleeves billowing up like a gust of wind, and walked away.

Three days later, Xie Yuanlong's health gradually improved.

After initial investigation by the Ministry of Justice, review by the Court of Judicial Review, and oversight by the Censorate, the two murder cases at the Qiu residence were closed. Following a joint trial by the three judicial departments, a memorial was submitted stating that the male corpse found in the Qiu residence's cellar was the owner of a letterpress shop in Jinshu Lane. He had a dispute with Qiu Renshan before his death, and Qiu struck him on the back of the head with a paperweight, causing his death. Furthermore, the coroner's examination and the Ministry of Justice's investigation confirmed that Qiu Renshan committed suicide out of fear of punishment. Chen Liangyu, attending the Qiu residence's birthday banquet, discovered the murders and, during interrogation, Qiu Renshan drew his sword and slit his own throat.

After reading it, Xie Yuan let out a heavy snort.

You're kidding me.

He picked up his vermilion brush and wrote the word "filed." The two cases were thus concluded.

"Zheng Hechuan!"

Zheng Hechuan hurriedly ran in from outside Chongzheng Hall, "Your Majesty."

Xie Yuan said, "Go and convey the imperial decree, ordering Chen Liangyu to immediately return to the northern border to guard the territory. He must depart tomorrow without delay and must not leave without an imperial edict."

"Yes, sir."

On an autumn day in the sixth year of the Zhenyuan era, the carriage of the Princess's residence rumbled along the long street. The fading banners of old shops fluttered under the eaves, beckoning customers.

As they passed Qiongtan, Xie Wenjun looked out.

Suddenly, a sachet with a tassel at the bottom was thrown in through the window.

Yuan Rong picked up the sachet and sniffed it; it smelled of herbs.

The carriage slowed down for no apparent reason.

"Snap." Another one.

"Exactly the same."

Yuan Rong peeked out and said, "Who is so bold and bored as to throw things onto the Princess's carriage? Rong Jun, aren't you on guard? What are you laughing at?"

Rong Jun reined in his horse and turned it around, looking at Yuan Rong with regret. "It's time for His Highness to marry you off."

Just as they were joking around, another sachet brushed past Rong Jun's ear and landed right at Xie Wenjun's feet.

Someone threw it down from above.

Rong Jun asked, "Your Highness, shall we stop the sedan chair?"

Xie Wenjun toyed with the sachet in her hand, a smile playing in her eyes. "Never stop."

Chen Liangyu leaned against the jade railing of Qiongtan, which was half a person high, and Xie Wenjun's carriage continued to move even after she threw three sachets at him.

They're almost gone.

Chen Liangyu threw out a row of sachets she had bought from the vendor downstairs, which clattered and hit the top of the sedan chair like a hailstorm.

The carriages and horses finally stopped in place and ceased moving forward.

Yuan Rong stepped down from the footstool to help Xie Wenjun.

You are in deep trouble.

Chen Liangyu shrugged indifferently.

Qiongtan, adjacent to Yueyang Tower, is a viewing platform known as the "Pavilion in the Clouds." The entire platform base is made of jade, carved with auspicious cloud patterns and mythical beast designs, and can accommodate hundreds of people.

Chen Liangyu had ridden past Qiongtan many times, but never thought of going up to take a look. Just a few days ago, her only impression of Qiongtan was that it was a tall white pavilion on the long street.

Upon climbing up, I was indeed greeted by beautiful scenery on all sides.

She hired the head chef from Yueyanglou Restaurant and set up a table of food and wine on Qiongtai. When Xie Wenjun ascended Qiongtai, half of the sky behind her was filled with the glow of the sunset, which made her fair face appear as if it were covered with a layer of rouge.

Xie Wenjun tossed a sachet back to her, landing squarely in her arms. "Aren't you bored, playing these kinds of tricks?"

"Are you bored?"

Chen Liangyu poured two cups of wine and handed one to Xie Wenjun.

She knew that once she left tomorrow, it would be a long time before they could meet again.

Instead of answering, Xie Wenjun asked, "What are you doing in Qiongtan?"

Chen Liangyu shook the sachet in her hand and said, "Come and experience what it feels like to be ignored by your beloved."