Chapter 65 General Chen's Bedchamber Service

Chen Liangyu, with disheveled hair, paced and stomped around Liangyuan Garden.

What did she do yesterday? What did she do to Xie Wenjun?

After Yan Nian went to the palace to meet the emperor, he returned to his residence. After removing his official hat and putting it away, he rushed to Liangyuan. As soon as he entered the gate, he saw Chen Liangyu in this frenzied state.

The imperial crown, worn by the noblewoman, was quite heavy, leaving a red mark on Yan Nian's forehead.

Yan Nian asked, "Awake?"

Chen Liangyu said, "Sister-in-law. She just woke up." She hadn't changed her inner clothes yet and was wrapped in a cloak as she walked back and forth in the corridor and courtyard.

The maid was pouring the freshly brewed medicine into a bowl and handing it to Chen Liangyu. Chen Liangyu gripped the rim of the bowl and drank it down in two or three gulps, her face contorted in a grimace. "So bitter!"

The maid said, "This is the same prescription as yesterday. Doctor Ying prepared the medicine, so it's correct. Doctor Ying said that good medicine tastes bitter, and the more bitter the medicine is, the faster the General's illness will get better. Doctor Ying added two qian of Coptis chinensis to the medicine and specifically instructed me to boil it for a longer time so that it would be more bitter."

Zhu Ying had already left with the imperial physicians who were going to Linxia and Li'an to treat the epidemic while she was still asleep. Otherwise, Chen Liangyu would have definitely poured the same bitter medicine into her mouth without leaving a drop.

Perhaps due to the hardships her family faced in her early years, Zhu Ying acts according to her heart, focusing only on the present moment, and is extremely relaxed. Unlike the relaxed lifestyle of those pampered and wealthy idlers, Zhu Ying's nonchalance stems more from her indifference to life.

This indifference applies only to her own fate.

She never uttered any particularly disheartened or dejected words, but she constantly conveyed to those around her through her words and actions: it's good to be alive, it's okay to die, at worst I can quit, at worst I can stop living.

After attacking Yongdu from Linxia, ​​Zhu Yingdu led his troops on a surprise attack to the east, always by Chen Liangyu's side.

The primary reason Chen Liangyu paid excessive attention to her was not because of her superb medical skills, nor because she had saved the newborn Princess Roujia at the Shenwang Mansion in Linxia, ​​nor because she was a person who seemed to have little desire to live, yet used all her knowledge to try to save more people.

Although she was like a withered tree and dead ashes, she had a strong sense of control over her own life. She would only die when she wanted to. If she didn't want to die but someone wanted her dead, she would definitely drag that person down to hell with her and keep them company on the road to the underworld.

Zhu Ying's following was not about blindly following; she didn't prioritize Chen Liangyu or anyone else. She went wherever a healer seemed needed. Her life was one of constant wandering.

Yan Nian said, "You're not well yet, so don't stay in the yard in the wind. Be careful that you don't get a high fever again tonight."

Chen Liangyu asked with lingering fear, "Has Her Highness the Princess returned to the palace?" She then said to the maid, "Pick out the extra two qian of Coptis chinensis. Don't believe everything Zhu Ying says."

The little maid should be.

Yan Nian pulled her into the house, saying, "Let's go back. I went to the palace with the Princess. After Chongzheng Hall, I went to Nanyuan Palace to see the Emperor Emeritus, and then to Kunning Palace to pay my respects to the Empress. The Empress was very worried when she heard you were ill and insisted that the imperial physicians stationed at the Imperial Hospital come to your residence to treat you. They should be here soon. When I left the palace, I heard that the Princess went to meet with the envoy from Dongyin to discuss peace talks between the two countries, so she won't bother you again. Rest well."

Chen Liangyu listened to Yan Nian's speech, ignoring everything else, only focusing on the resounding phrase, "I won't bother you again."

Is she not coming back?

That's fine too.

Chen Liangyu first breathed a sigh of relief, but then her heart clenched as if it were being squeezed. She felt utterly lost.

When she woke up and found no one beside her, she felt dejected. The maid said that Xie Wenjun would return at 7 PM, so she looked at the sun and counted the hours.

Calm down, and silently pray that Xie Wenjun will never appear again.

She dared not think about how Xie Wenjun would view her after doing such a thing, and was even more afraid that Xie Wenjun would avoid her from then on. Therefore, after waking up, she was trapped in a vicious cycle of remorse and self-blame.

What alarmed her even more was that she couldn't find a reasonable explanation for her outrageous behavior yesterday. Perhaps she could use the excuse of being "mentally ill and confused" to get away with it, but her heart still felt like it was being weighed down by a heavy stone. She was filled with anxiety and fear, not knowing how she would face Xie Wenjun again.

Fearing further mistakes in words and actions, it's better not to meet.

Yan Nian said, "The Emperor Emeritus sent me to tell you to stop investigating Liangxi City and to bring your men back. Liangyu, what are you investigating?"

Chen Liangyu leaned against the headboard and said slowly, "More than twenty years ago, a family of doctors in Liangxi City was wiped out, leaving only an orphan in the world. By chance, he helped me, so I promised him that I would find out who killed his family after I returned to Yongdu."

Yan Nian exclaimed in surprise, "Is that so? But that happened more than twenty years ago, before you were even born. Is it possible to investigate this thoroughly? Do you have any leads?"

Chen Liangyu shook his head. "He said it was Xun Xian. I tested him; Xun Xian must know about this, but it doesn't seem like his behavior. If there really were dozens of bloody deaths on his hands, and it was brought up unexpectedly years later, even the most cunning old fox would find it hard not to slip up. When I went to his door to stir things up, Xun Xian's expression was clearly one of relief—relief that the old grievances I dug up weren't his doing, relief that someone had solved such a huge problem for him. In short, it's hard to say. But it probably wasn't him."

When the two kings were vying for power, Xun Xian fully demonstrated his opportunistic nature, switching sides at the slightest sign of the wind. Seeing Xie Yuan gaining power, he once again defected and switched sides.

Xie Yuan wanted to check and balance the civil officials' factions and protect the prosperity of the Empress's maternal family, so he turned a blind eye and let bygones be bygones.

Is it truly possible to be completely without reservations?

This is like placing rotten meat on the table of a Manchu Han Imperial Feast; the longer it sits, the more rotten it becomes, and the more intolerable it becomes.

The more secure Xie Yuan's throne became, the more precarious Xun Xian's position became.

How could the Emperor's magnificent empire tolerate a festering sore?

If he had committed the crime of wiping out his entire family, and someone were to expose this and impeach him, his path to becoming prime minister would be over, and it might even affect the careers of his clansmen who were already in the court. He should feel guilty and afraid.

Yan Nian didn't linger on the matter, saying, "The imperial decree and the seal of the Northern Commander will arrive soon. You should focus on getting better and go out and explore Shangyong City more often. Once you leave, it will be a while before you return."

There was really no improvement in Shangyong City. When she was the commander of the Southern Prefecture, she would wander around the streets every day, and she could even count how many streets and alleys there were in Shangyong City.

She longed to return to the North, to that sandy land where her life was stained with yellow sand.

But when it was time to leave, a sense of attachment and reluctance arose in my heart towards Shangyong City.

Seeing her listless expression, Yan Nian said, "Our little Liangyu will soon be the commander-in-chief of the three northern states. It's been over twenty years since I first saw you as an infant. It's gone by so fast. Why do you look so reluctant to leave? Or are you reluctant to leave home?"

Chen Liangyu's eyes flickered for a moment, and he said, "Sister-in-law, I have someone I care about."

Yan Nian said, "My uncle was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The Emperor wants him to revise the new laws, and the eldest princess wants him to work with Xun Shutai of the Ministry of Revenue and Sheng Yu'an of the Ministry of Agriculture to set new land taxes. They can't leave Yongdu, so there's nothing we can do about it."

Although the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is a fourth-rank deputy position, the previous Minister of the Court of Judicial Review abdicated during the dynastic change, leaving Chen Luan without a superior. After a year and a half of experience as Vice Minister, and once the new laws are finalized, he can be promoted to the third-rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. This is a foreseeable outcome.

Chen Liangyu lowered her head and did not refute Yan Nian.

“Sister-in-law, when are you and An’er going to Zhuodong? I’ll see you off and then take the Shuofang trade route to the northern border.”

Yan Nian turned her face away and said, "If An'er doesn't leave and stays in the manor, then I'll have to trouble my uncle."

Throughout history, generals stationed on the frontiers would leave their relatives in the capital, keeping them under the emperor's watchful eye. During the reign of Emperor Xuanyuan, neither the generals of the southern nor northern borders sent their relatives to Yongdu; this was a special favor granted by Emperor Xuanyuan to his trusted ministers.

Now he wants to take back this favor.

Chen Liangyu's eyes were dark, and he said with a bitter laugh, "Are they treating me like a guard dog, putting a leash around my neck?"

Yan Nian said, "Don't say such unpleasant things."

Chen Liangyu said, "That's the truth! What about Uncle Yan? Uncle Yan can't stay in Yongdu. Will he come with me to the northern border, or go with you to Zhuodong?"

Yan Nian said, "Father has gone to the palace. Let's wait until he comes back and ask him what he thinks before we talk about it."

Chen Liangyu's expression suddenly changed, and she immediately got up from the couch. "Change your clothes, prepare the horse, I want to go to the palace."

Yan Nian said, "Father told you not to panic. The Emperor Emeritus has not taken his life all these years, and he will not do so now."

Chen Liangyu said, "Even the Emperor Emeritus wouldn't have allowed the Marquis of Xuanping's residence to be held hostage back then, but what about now?"

Nanyuan Palace is located beneath the southern wall of the imperial palace. It had been vacant for a long time and underwent temporary repairs, with only the bluestone brick floor being repaved and the carved beams painted red. The palace gates were usually kept tightly closed, and dozens of guards stood watch outside the gates day and night.

The palace gates were open today, and there were even more guards outside the South Wall Palace. There was also an imperial carriage parked there, with two rows of eunuchs and palace servants standing slenderly beside it.

Xie Yuan then visited the Nanyuan Palace.

Emperor Xuanyuan sat on a dragon throne, and Xie Yuan stood in front of him, still showing a hint of fear and apprehension, just as he had when he was young and listening to Emperor Xuanyuan's reprimands.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, “Third daughter is good in every way, but she has one fatal flaw: she is too arrogant. It’s fine to let such a person live a leisurely and wealthy life, but if you want to give her an important position, you need to temper her temperament and let her know that nothing in the world is more important than the relationship between ruler and subject. Otherwise, if she ever becomes disloyal, the eight thousand Eagle Head Army and the two hundred thousand troops in the northern border that your brother left her will become your greatest threat.”

Xie Yuan said, "Father, the old Marquis Xuanping once led an army of 400,000 in the northern border. Did you ever worry that the old Marquis Xuanping would one day become a major threat to the court?"

Emperor Xuanyuan said, "I have never doubted my brother. But the third girl is not my brother."

Xie Yuan said, "Chen Liangyu is to me what the old Marquis of Xuanping was to Father Emperor in the past. I trust her. Even if we want to keep her, Chen Xingqian is already in Dali Temple. Why should we keep the daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an?"

Xie Yuan thought to himself, since he had already kept Chen Luan, there was really no need to force a child who was just over a year old to stay as well.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, "Chen Xingqian is not the son of my elder brother. He, Linjun, and Sanyatou are not true blood relatives."

Yan Baizhang was unable to walk properly, and it took him half an hour to walk from the palace gate to the South Wall Palace.

As soon as he passed through Duanmen Gate, guards with swords rushed towards the inner palace.

When they met Emperor Xuanyuan, the imperial carriage and the eunuchs who carried it at the entrance of Nanyuan Palace were gone. The renovated palace was now empty except for the emperor who had once dominated the country, all alone.

When Emperor Xuanyuan saw this "strategist" who had once devoted himself to assisting him and was now crippled, he felt a mix of emotions.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, "Yan Yong, the person I most want to kill is you!"

Yan Baizhang lifted his robe and slowly knelt down, "Your Majesty..."

It was he who used a paper-made Bagua windmill to find the underground palace beneath Prince Hui's mansion, and discovered the burial place of those children. It was also he who picked up a bag of charred child bones, brought them back, and threw them in front of Lin Jianshu...

The emperor and his ministers turned against each other, and the sects became enemies. The political situation in Da Lin changed dramatically overnight, and it all seemed to have started because of him.

Emperor Xuanyuan said, "My brother never forgave me until his death! I only made one mistake, so why do you all have to force me? You, Lin Jianshu, and the people of Dongyin, you all deserve to die! You deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Yan Baizhang remained silent.

After his initial rage subsided, Emperor Xuanyuan spoke again, his tone no longer filled with intense hatred. He said, "Yan Yong, you've grown old. I really want to kill you! But I can't bear to."

Emperor Xuanyuan said, “Go and pursue the east. Aren’t you the one who prides yourself on speaking up for the common people? Then use your remaining life to repair the river and atone for your sins.”

Yan Baizhang dragged his crippled leg back along the path he had come from and headed out of the palace. After passing through a gate, he looked up and saw high walls on all sides. He stood at the end of the palace path, with a path leading forward and to the left, but he couldn't tell which way it led.

He got lost.

Yan Baizhang had to admit that he was indeed getting old.

"Military Advisor Yan, Military Advisor Yan."

Yan Baizhang looked back and saw that the newcomer was wearing a python-embroidered robe and was a close eunuch serving the emperor, of a high rank.

The eunuch in the python-embroidered robe said, "How did you end up here? The Emperor summoned me, and I've been searching for you. Those scoundrels in the palace are slacking off again, and no one is here to guide the strategist. I will punish them severely."

Yan Baizhang followed the people through a winding path to Chongzheng Hall. Xie Yuan was not inside the hall, but standing on the steps.

He excused Yan Baizhang from the grand ceremony and went straight to the point: "I am of mediocre talent, but having ascended the throne, I also wish to be a ruler who restores the dynasty. The Great Lin has two prime ministers, but now there is only Xun Xian. Today I wish to appoint you as prime minister. Are you willing to assist me in governing the world?"

Despite Xie Yuan's objections, Yan Baizhang still knelt down and performed the grand ceremony.

"Your Majesty, it is not that I am unwilling, but I am old and my strength is failing me. Assisting Your Majesty in restoring the dynasty does not necessarily require stirring up trouble in the court. My going to Zhudong and devoting the rest of my life to eliminating the natural barrier of the Yellow River is also a form of assistance. I have a selfish reason. In my entire life, I have only one daughter, Nian'er. She lost her mother at a young age and has now lost her husband. I do not know how many years I have left to live. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to enjoy a few more years of family life and spend more time with my child."

Having said that, Xie Yuan couldn't insist on keeping him any longer. He said, "I have a question for you, sir. In your opinion, who in the court and among the people today is qualified to be the prime minister of a country?"

Yan Baizhang said, "The Prime Minister is merely the Emperor's right-hand man. If there are no urgent matters that the Emperor cannot handle, the Emperor can do everything personally."

As he spoke, he glanced in the direction of the Southern Palace. This glance held no particular meaning; it was merely a farewell to his former master.

Xie Yuan saw this with a completely different meaning.

Xie Yuan said, "I have learned your lesson. Zheng Hechuan, bring my imperial carriage and escort you, sir."

The eunuch in the python-embroidered robe stepped forward with a whisk tucked under his elbow and said, "Yes, sir."

After passing through two rows of straight rooms in front of the palace, the imperial carriage was carried across the Golden Water Bridge, and the carriage of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence was parked not far away. Yan Baizhang dismounted and, after walking a few steps, saw Xun Xian.

Xun Xian held the rank of second grade official and was also the emperor's father-in-law. He should have taken the inner Jinshui Bridge, but he bypassed the bridge and walked straight towards Yan Baizhang.

Xun Xian said, "Do you repent, Yan Yong? If you hadn't exposed that matter, the position of Prime Minister of Da Lin should have been yours."

He was a greedy man with no heart, and he could never forget the humiliation he and Zhang Diancheng had suffered when they were completely suppressed by Yan Baizhang, Chen Yuanqing and Lin Jianshu, and had no power to fight back.

But what can you do? Things change, prosperity and decline are inevitable.

Yan Baizhang scoffed, "You don't understand." He looked at the towering palaces behind him, "In this vast court, there are some who truly come for the sake of the common people. You don't need to understand; you're just a mediocre person."

Xun Xian mocked, "You are a great talent, an outstanding talent, a brilliant talent, but aren't you just an old cripple?" With that, he turned and left.

Chen Liangyu followed closely behind on horseback, with Bu Ping'er accompanying her.

Yan Baizhang knew she would come after him. "Didn't I tell your sister-in-law to tell you that everything is fine?"

Chen Liangyu said, "I'm not at ease. What is that old rascal Xun Xian saying?"

Yan Baizhang said, "I just came to say hello."

Chen Liangyu scoffed, "I don't believe that he can spew out ivory from that dog's mouth. He's a two-faced scoundrel."

Yan Baizhang boarded the carriage, the curtains were lifted on both sides, and he said through the window, "He is now the Emperor's father-in-law. You are on good terms with the Empress, so don't say such things."

Chen Liangyu rode slowly, saying, "The Empress is the Empress, and Xunxian is Xunxian. Even bad bamboo produces good shoots."

A cart and two horses were heading southwest when a person suddenly rushed out of the noodle shop ahead, waving his arms and calling her name, "Chen Liangyu, Chen Liangyu! Over here, look this way!"

Chen Liangyu immediately recognized him as "A-Yin?"

That little female bandit from Bogongling.

Yan Baizhang lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage from the Xuanping Marquis's residence went first. Chen Liangyu and Bu Ping'er dismounted in front of her, tied the reins to the post, and sat with her at the noodle table set up outside the noodle shop.

Ah Yin had only eaten half of his noodles when he said, "I've been waiting for you for many days, but it's really not easy to see you now. I get chased away wherever I go."

Chen Liangyu asked, "What happened at Bogong Village?"

A-Yin said, "There are some things, but they're not really big of a deal! The soldiers came to the village and told us to move to the village at the foot of the mountain instead of staying on the mountain. They also told us not to farm the land on the mountain anymore. They gave the villagers new farmland and built new houses for them. But I didn't come to you about this. Didn't you ask me if I wanted to join the army? I'm willing now. Do you still want me?"

Chen Liangyu asked, "Why are you suddenly making the village move?"

Ah Yin said, "I don't know. Maybe they're afraid we'll go back to our old ways if we live on the mountain, and that we'll start robbing again when the crops don't yield a good harvest." She asked again, "Do you still want me?"

Chen Liangyu pointed to Bu Ping'er, "Ask her."

When Linxia attacked Yongdu, Bu Ping'er ordered female soldiers to disguise themselves as peasant women and infiltrate Yongdu beforehand to coordinate with the main army outside. In reality, there was no need for disguise; most of the female soldiers were also peasant women, so no one noticed anything amiss. During the decisive siege, the soldiers guarding the city gates were completely bewildered when a group of women, carrying swords and spears, charged in. The city gates fell, and the main army entered the city.

Xie Yuan personally inscribed "Yunhui Army" on the military flag and appointed Bu Ping'er as Yihui General, thus officially establishing a women's army.

A-Yin said, "Doesn't she have to listen to you too?"

She had no concept of official rank; she had only seen Bu Ping'er following Chen Liangyu around, so she treated her as a follower.

Chen Liangyu smiled; this little female bandit was not so easily fooled.

Bu Ping'er, in a businesslike manner, asked, "What's your name?"

"A-Yin".

What's your surname?

“Lin.” After A-Yin finished speaking, she noticed Chen Liangyu’s gaze scrutinizing her. “I’m not the chief’s child. All the children in the village who have no parents have the chief’s surname, Lin.”

Bu Ping'er asked, "The village? What did you do before?"

Lin Yin said, "Bandits, robbers. I even fought with Chen Liangyu."

Bu Ping'er said, "In the army, one should be called a Grand General."

Lin Yin almost spat the noodles back into his bowl. He looked at Chen Liangyu and said, "You're such a high-ranking official? No wonder it's so hard to see you."

Bu Ping'er said, "After we finish eating the noodles, I'll take you to the army to report for duty and get your uniform."

Lin Yin said, "Okay."

As the hour of Xu approached, Chen Liangyu became increasingly restless.

The gate to Liangyuan was not bolted; it was ajar.

Before returning to the Northern Border, she needed to write a letter to Jingming to explain some things. She was so focused on writing that she didn't hear the creak of the door opening. Only when footsteps approached did she look up from her desk.

A light knock was made on the lattice door, and Chen Liangyu stepped forward to open it.

Xie Wenjun returned to Liangyuan as promised, on time. "Did you miss me?"

Chen Liangyu's heart skipped a beat. She was at a loss.

She stuffed the letter into the envelope, placed it on the desk, and walked towards the bedroom. As she entered, she glanced left and right. A pear wood screen divided the room in two; a simple wooden table and two chairs were placed on the outer side.

Xie Wenjun was on the other side of the screen, taking the undergarments that the maid had placed by the bedside, and began to undress.

Chen Liangyu immediately turned her face away, refusing to look at what was improper.

She was taller than Xie Wenjun, and her undergarments were a bit too long for Xie Wenjun, hanging loosely on her body.

Chen Liangyu asked uncertainly, "Does Your Highness intend to sleep here?"

Xie Wenjun was tying the thin belt around her waist when she said, "You only have one bed here. As a woman of noble birth, do you expect me to sleep on the floor?"

Chen Liangyu said, "Then... shall I... sit on the ground?"

Xie Wenjun changed into her undergarments, rolled over, and patted the edge of the bed. "General Chen, it's time to serve you in bed!"

He was frivolous yet serious.

Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!