Chapter 37 The Eastern Window is Already Red

In Xu Heng's memory, Wang Yuying loved to eat meat, lots of fish and meat, and maybe a little radish mixed in with fried meatballs...

He pondered for a moment, then picked up a pen and drafted a menu. Qingfu, with great tact, took the paper, intending to pass it on to the imperial chef. Xu Heng, however, suddenly stopped, crumpling the paper into a ball: "Never mind, let her order herself. She can have whatever she wants cooked separately."

Qingfu lowered his arms very quickly: "Here."

The emperor lowered his head, picked up his brush, dipped it in vermilion ink, and continued reviewing memorials. The clear weather was brief, lasting only until midday. After 1-3 PM, the sun disappeared, the sky turned overcast, and heavy, dark clouds seemed poised to devour the last glimmer of light. Yet, even into the 5-7 PM, the sky remained neither completely dark nor completely gloomy.

The emperor's affairs of state had also reached this point, until two guards requested an audience.

They were also members of the Imperial Guard's private bodyguards, but not the group Xu Heng had taken to Yuqing Temple. This group was mainly responsible for the secret patrols. After entering the house to pay their respects, Xu Heng told them to rise. The two generals stood up and exchanged glances several times, seemingly wanting the other to speak first.

Xu Heng glanced down at him: "What's with the hesitation?"

He suddenly realized that he often did the same thing, no wonder a certain woman found it annoying.

The two guards exchanged another glance. The one on the left took out a sealed letter, stepped forward, and presented it with his head down.

Xu Heng raised his right eyebrow almost imperceptibly. If he had a message, why was he still hesitant to speak?

Qingfu bowed his head and accepted the letter, then handed it to the emperor. Xu Heng casually opened it and read only one line: "Rumors are circulating that the Immortal Master and General Wuwei have an affair. It is said that the emperor was furious upon hearing this, which is why the Immortal Master and the general were arrested."

Xu Heng's reaction was surprisingly calm, at least on the surface. He asked casually, "When did this start?"

The right-hand guard reported, "It shouldn't have been around for long; there wasn't such a rumor yesterday."

The left-hand guard also recalled: "In the afternoon, after noon, rumors and scandals suddenly spread throughout the capital! We dared not be negligent or conceal anything, and humbly request Your Majesty's judgment!"

Xu Heng kept his elbow on the table, only raising his forearm, and rubbed his thumb against his lower lip.

What should be cut?

Then execute them all.

"By imperial decree, the relevant authorities shall immediately arrest and punish those who spread rumors and slander the emperor, regardless of whether they are leaders or accomplices. The execution shall be carried out at midnight to eradicate them all."

He thought there was no need to drag him to the Meridian Gate to be beheaded; it was the middle of the night, pitch black, who would he be showing this to?

The two guards and even Qingfu each had a meal.

"Your Majesty, we... obey the decree!" Qingfu ordered his eunuchs to go out and report for duty, and the guards also accepted the order, thinking to themselves that if they were told to die at midnight, it seemed that even the King of Hell wouldn't be spared until dawn. Spreading rumors about the emperor was naturally a capital offense, and the emperor's decree was correct, but something felt off, as if it wasn't normal. At that moment, the sky darkened, not with layers of gray covering it, but with a sudden splash of ink, the palace path gray and white and stretching endlessly, until the warm orange light of the lamps changed the color of the palace path, and this eeriness was slightly relieved.

Xu Heng gazed into the darkness, faintly hearing dogs barking in his ears. But there were no stray dogs or pet dogs in the palace, and even if there were, they wouldn't bark. It sounded like crows hovering on the treetops. Finally, he realized it was a dripping leak, each drop like water squeezed from a leaky roof, or like a bowstring pulled to its limit, about to bounce back forcefully.

Perhaps because he was used to forbearance and waiting, the thought of the next thing he was going to do sent waves of excitement crashing over him.

The last time he had this feeling was on his way back to the capital, when he encountered "mountain bandits" who were trying to stop him from ascending the throne.

But it wasn't nearly as intense as tonight.

After all, that time he had no choice but to fight, facing certain death to survive. But tonight, tonight… although he wasn't entirely confident, his excitement far outweighed his anxiety. The phrase "strike first, gain the upper hand" held unparalleled appeal for him, possessing immense allure.

He hooked his right middle finger over his index finger.

A night rain began to fall, pouring down from the sky. The ponds quickly filled, and even the square in front of the Chuigong Hall was flooded. During court sessions, countless red oil-paper umbrellas moved about, shading the entire square.

With civil officials on the left and military officials on the right, the emperor was already seated on the dragon throne when they entered the hall. The Court of State Ceremonial announced the order of entry, and the civil and military officials bowed and kowtowed three times. After the ceremony, the officials stepped forward in order to report on their daily affairs, which the emperor answered one by one. It seemed like an ordinary day until the sky began to lighten. Outside the Hall of Bright Light, there were three circles of armed guards, each one burly and facing outwards, standing tall and unmoved by the raindrops hitting their bodies.

The officials inside the palace were completely unaware of the blockade outside and continued to present their reports on state affairs as usual. One or two bold individuals who knew about the massacre the previous night were hesitating whether to remonstrate with the emperor.

When the emperor answered his ministers, his expression was calm. He rested both hands on the armrests of the dragon throne, and the middle finger of his right hand was always tucked into his index finger.

The Jiang residence in the city was suddenly surrounded by imperial guards.

The one who led the way in was none other than Yu Mingzhe, the Minister of Justice, who was on sick leave at home. Before the Jiang family could even react in shock, the imperial guards discovered the imperial seal and dragon robe that the Jiang family had kept hidden away.

The Jiang family's patriarchs and sons who had entered officialdom were all at the morning court session. The imperial guards surrounded the mansion, and not even a fly could get out, let alone report any information. The old lady led everyone in kowtowing and crying out for justice, but Yu Mingzhe took out a scroll of imperial edicts, slowly unfolded it, and stated that the defendant was guilty of treason, along with prepared judgment documents from the three judicial departments.

The wailing and weeping soon rose and fell in waves, like the deepest hell, chilling the hearts of all who heard it. The neighbors all hid in their homes, closing their doors and windows tightly. Apart from the guards, there were no other pedestrians on the street in front of the Jiang residence.

The blood on the pillars of the Jiang residence and the ground flowed like a river, but it was quickly washed away by the torrential rain.

Outside the Chuigong Hall, the rain continued to fall as fast as the drumbeats of battle, but Xu Heng could discern three rhythmic drumbeats from the sound of the rain.

Thump, thump, thump.

This is a sign that things will succeed.

So this is what "the first strike, the greater the matter" means. He sat on the dragon throne, his right fingers still clasped, his left index finger tapping, and he opened his mouth to issue an order to capture the Jiang family's traitors in the palace. The imperial guards rushed in at the sound of the order, their swords drawn, gleaming coldly.

On this day, Qingfu did not chant "Retreat from court if there is nothing to do." The civil officials and the military officers who had laid down their weapons before entering the palace remained in the hall, but Xu Heng came out. The rain had stopped, and wisps of gray smoke could be seen rising from the east.

A guard approached and reported that the remnants of the Empress Dowager's faction had raised an army at Tonghua Temple and were clashing with the Imperial Guards and troops from the outskirts of the capital in the east of the city.

He had always known about the private soldiers and household slaves, and while he had previously been wary of them, he now felt that they were traitors who had added another chapter to their list of crimes of rebellion.

Xu Heng listened to the report for a while, and his expression gradually hardened.

The smoke from the east grew thicker and thicker, turning from gray to black, billowing with orange flames. Wang Yuying, lying in bed, saw this and sat bolt upright—oh no! They've lit a signal fire! The enemy from beyond the pass is attacking the city!

She instantly snapped out of her daze, and as she dressed and tied her hair, she thought, "Wait, this is the palace!"

She moved swiftly and thought quickly, connecting Xu Heng's assignment of Chu Ying to her side yesterday with his words about never seeing the Empress Dowager again. Having made up her mind, she headed towards the courtyard gate, when Chu Ying suddenly appeared, blocking her way: "Immortal Master, His Majesty has decreed that you cannot leave!"

Wang Yuying immediately explained, "I won't leave the palace; I'll go to the Chuigong Hall!"

Chu Ying bit her lip—her brother had repeatedly warned her that the emperor had given all the imperial guards an order: anyone who allowed the immortal master to leave the palace would lose their head, and their entire family would be beheaded! The guards patrolling the palace gates and walls were on high alert every day!

For her brother's sake, for her family's sake, the immortal master must leave the palace, unless he steps over her corpse!

But the imperial decree issued to Chu Ying was not this.

She remained motionless, arms outstretched, and truthfully reported: "His Majesty's decree forbids you from leaving this courtyard."

Hearing her say that, Wang Yuying became even more certain of her guess, and smiled: "Didn't you just say yesterday that the desert is vast and shouldn't be confined to palace walls?"

"But you cannot leave the palace!"

“I told you I went to the Chuigong Hall,” Wang Yuying patiently repeated. She stepped forward, took Chu Ying’s hand, and called her by her nickname, “Yingying.”

To be honest, it does sound a bit strange to call someone that.

Wang Yuying swallowed hard, her voice earnest and sincere: "This is a rare opportunity for me, please let me go for a while. If it works out, perhaps I can get more opportunities to travel, and maybe I can even take you to see the desert someday!"

Chu Ying's head drooped down, then she raised it again after a moment: "As long as you're not lying to me and it's really not about leaving the palace, I'll go with you!"

Wang Yuying's nose suddenly stung with tears. The younger sister in front of her had a heart far softer than her fists: "No, you've just entered the palace, so I can't take you with me this time. Otherwise, your brother and your grandfather will be in a lot of trouble. If I succeed today, I will definitely take you with me from now on." Wang Yuying glanced at Juanxue and Shuangtian standing at the door of the side room and added, "They don't know kung fu. Protect them, and yourself too."

"Alright, I agree!" Chu Ying thought to herself, the immortal master used two "certain"s in a row, so it must be an extremely important matter. So she not only agreed, but also turned around and personally opened the door for Wang Yuying. The series of actions were swift and decisive, without any hesitation.

Wang Yuying's heart softened, and it felt like a spring breeze was blowing on her face. She unconsciously raised her head and straightened her chest.

She bowed to Chu Ying one last time, then turned and hurried towards the Chui Gong Hall without looking back, even using her lightness skill to fly away. With each step, she could feel her heart pounding, growing stronger and stronger, her blood heating up and surging. Her cheeks flushed, even more excited than when she reached the peak of pleasure.

Heading east, before even reaching the Chuigong Hall, one could faintly hear the sounds of close combat coming from the direction of Jingfeng Gate.

Seeing the heavy guard outside the Chuigong Hall, her last suspicion was confirmed. She couldn't help but shout to Xu Heng on the high platform through the railing, "Your Majesty!"

Because the voice was strong and didn't address her by her first name, Xu Heng took a moment to realize it was Wang Yuying. He turned to look at her, his face ashen, and ordered, "Who gave you permission to come? Go back!"

Fearing that Xu Heng would punish Chu Ying, Wang Yuying leaped over the railing and climbed onto the stage from behind: "Don't blame her. I told her to protect Juan Xue Shuang Tian, ​​and she didn't dare to disobey my orders."

Xu Heng blinked, her eyelashes trembling slightly. She cared about all three palace women; they were all people she cared about. She didn't care about any of them...

"Go back." He stopped his wandering thoughts; the emperor's will brooked no argument.

Wang Yuying glanced at him sideways: "Now that things have come to this, with war raging everywhere, you still want me to go back?"

“There is no fire.” Xu Heng said without blinking. “A tavern in the east of the city accidentally set fire to half a street, and the Dali Temple has already gone to deal with it.”

Wang Yuying glanced again at the impenetrable, knife-wielding guards and the billowing smoke. His words could only fool those who were deaf and blind; they couldn't fool someone who was disabled.

She took another step closer to Xu Heng: "What, three thousand soldiers from the outskirts of the capital are no match for a thousand private soldiers?"

With all the military officers confined to the Chui Gong Hall, the only options left were the Imperial Guards and troops stationed in the outskirts of the capital. The Imperial Guards had to guard the palace, and a large portion of the troops in the outskirts of the capital couldn't be moved; they had to remain stationed there to prevent the capital from being captured. At best, they could only muster three thousand troops to bring into the city, possibly even fewer.

Betting such a large sum is quite unlike his style.

Now, with thick smoke billowing and people attacking Jingfeng Gate, it must be because the soldiers in the outskirts of the capital failed to defend against the Empress Dowager's private soldiers and servants.

After having so much going on with Jing Ye, she chatted casually and said that she had learned a lot about the camp in the suburbs of Beijing. Xu Heng frequently inspected the camp in the suburbs of Beijing, thinking that everything was in order, but he didn't know that in reality, the one leading and training the troops was not Yuan Wancheng, but Jing Ye, the deputy.

Thinking of this, Wang Yuying couldn't help but peek at Xu Heng's face behind the beaded curtain. She found that he always maintained an unchanging demeanor in front of her, as if Mount Tai had collapsed before him, but his eyes were fixed on Jingfeng Gate.

Wang Yuying rolled her eyes at him: "It's come to this point, why aren't you releasing Aye?"

Upon hearing the name "A-Ye," Xu Heng's expression finally crumbled. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and uttered four words: "Victory or defeat is unknown."

Wang Yuying pouted. Yes, the outcome was uncertain, but she was vaguely outmatched.

Wang Yuying continued to approach Xu Heng, almost whispering in his ear: "Let's make a deal."

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to get so close since their reunion. Xu Heng's heart beat slower and slower, and when those words reached his ears, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

“Let’s stand together through thick and thin. After this is done, you don’t need to keep me in the palace anymore. I’ll help you train the troops, but we’ll have to live outside the palace.” After saying this, Wang Yuying immediately took a step back.

If he hadn't been defeated today, he would have needed to cleanse, reorganize, and rebuild, which would have required a large number of promotions. So why couldn't he promote her? She was neither from the Empress Dowager's faction nor from a prominent family, and she also had experience guarding the border.

It all depends on whether Xu Heng is willing to use her or trusts others more.

The smell of smoke from the east was already blowing in with the wind, but Wang Yuying didn't feel itchy. The stray hairs at her temples brushed against her face without making her feel itchy. Right now, what she felt most strongly was the pounding of her heart. She realized that she had changed. What she vaguely longed for was not only freedom, but also something else.

Xu Heng's eyes remained fixed on Jingfeng Gate. After a long silence, he added a condition when he spoke: "But you are not allowed to leave the capital."

Spring brings life, autumn brings death; we should proceed slowly and steadily, there's no need to rush. Wang Yuying immediately agreed: "Okay."

Xu Heng raised his hand, beckoning the guards to come closer, and issued an edict. Wang Yuying glanced down; from the high platform in front of the palace, she could already see the Empress Dowager's faction storming into Jingfeng Gate, with the soldiers from the outskirts of the capital fighting and retreating, while a small group of imperial guards quickly filled in from the left and right.

She slapped the railing with her right hand and said to her side, "If you agree, give me back my sword."

Xu Heng did not respond.

Wang Yuying was too lazy to argue with him anymore and quickly went down the steps. Xu Heng suddenly called out, "Yingniang!"

Wang Yuying stopped in her tracks.

Xu Heng gripped the railing, his voice carried on the wind: "Do you really have to go yourself?"

Wang Yuying continued walking down the steps, and after a while, she had reached the bottom. Without turning her head, she only said to him, "If you don't give me the sword, I'll die even faster!"

Xu Heng gripped the railing tightly; her sword was in his bedchamber. He unfastened the sword from his waist and threw it towards Wang Yuying: "Catch!"

Wang Yuying slowed her pace, raised her right arm, and steadily caught the king's sword. She didn't immediately lower her arm; instead, she swung it twice, silently bidding farewell to Xu Heng.

Xu Heng stared intently, certain that her gesture had struck a chord deep within him, and that for years to come, she would forever linger in his mind, her arm waving gracefully. He suddenly removed his crown and handed it to a guard beside him, then took the guard's sword and hurriedly descended the steps to catch up with Wang Yuying.

When he caught up, he immediately turned to look at Wang Yuying, who happened to be looking at him as well. When their eyes met, Xu Heng pursed his lips.

"We will not lose." His promise came from his throat.

Wang Yuying smiled and said, "Father often says that victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, so it is possible for the winner to be king and the loser to be villain."

Xu Heng pursed his lips again. He didn't like hearing these words. Then he thought of the generals in the history of this dynasty. Wang Yuying admired Wei Yucheng the most. He suffered a great defeat in the end. His face became even more ugly.

When Wang Yuying arrived, the rebels and the soldiers from the outskirts of the capital had already fought on the white marble bridge in front of the gate. Without hesitation, Wang Yuying drew her sword and joined the fight. She faced a rebel wielding a halberd. Just as their swords and halberds were about to clash, he suddenly swung his sword horizontally, cutting in front of her and clashing with the halberd. With a clang, a flash of cold light appeared.

Wang Yuying saw that the swordsman was Xu Heng and said irritably, "Are you helping me or him?"

Xu Heng took a breath, did not answer, and stood in front of her to practice his swordplay, exchanging blows with the rebels wielding halberds.

Wang Yuying leaped, her feet landing on the white jade railing, and jumped onto another bridge. Xu Heng glanced at her twice out of the corner of his eye, his lips pursed into a thin line.

Wang Yuying counted the soldiers in the outskirts of Beijing and found there were quite a few, so she shouted, "Form six ranks like a battle formation!"

Many soldiers from the outskirts of Beijing realized what was happening and looked at Wang Yuying, but they did not obey orders.

Xu Heng was engaged in combat, his sword flashing in afterimages as he commanded, "Listen to her!"

The soldiers then arranged themselves in the Six Formations, and then changed their formation frequently according to Wang Yuying's orders.

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A message from the author: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!