Chapter 94 Raising an Army
The Lantern Festival banquet, ostensibly a family feast, was in reality a battleground for power struggles in Jiangzuo. Beneath the backdrop of string and wind instruments, every breath of air was imbued with a silent contest.
Qingqing sat upright at the table, keenly noticing the subtle changes in the seating arrangement—Zhao Xu's position was now closer to the front, while her original seat had been replaced by a burly, square-faced young man. He Lanrong, Wang Du's newly promoted cavalry deputy general and Zhao Xu's right-hand man, was currently enjoying great success.
After several rounds of drinks, Wang Du laughed loudly and said, "General Helan has done a great job in training troops, so this cup should be drunk to the brim!"
Helan Rong stood up in response, clasped his hands in a salute, and said in a booming voice, "Thank you, Governor!"
Just then, the Master of Ceremonies' long shout pierced through the clamor:
"Cui Xun of Qinghe, Mr. Cui has arrived!"
The music suddenly stopped.
Wang Du's hand holding the cup paused almost imperceptibly, then his smile deepened: "Jiming, you've finally deigned to grace us with your presence! Please take your seat!"
"I've been waiting for you, Governor."
Cui Xun, dressed in a simple black robe, held a feather fan and wore a set of elegant and intricately crafted celadon jade pendants at his waist. His face, though carefully groomed, still retained some of his former charm. He entered with steady steps, bowing slightly in the direction of Wang Du, while Cui Shenxiu, who followed closely behind, silently stepped aside.
Cui Xun sat down, his gaze naturally sliding from Wang Du to Yan Dibai, the soft tinkling of his jade pendants lingering for a few breaths.
"Your Majesty, I am late." He bowed to Yan Dibai, his voice steady. "This is... Your Majesty?"
Yan Dibai remained impassive, his gaze sweeping over the other man's waist, lingering for a moment on the jade pendant carved with a lotus flower pattern in the center. He then raised his cup as usual, his tone carrying just the right amount of curiosity: "You are Mr. Cui Xun, who once served as the Prefect of Jingzhou?"
"Your Majesty flatters me; such empty praise is not worth mentioning." Cui Xun slightly lifted his lowered eyelids, meeting the boy's clear, inquisitive gaze, his pupils trembling almost imperceptibly. "...Your Majesty has worked tirelessly for the country; I wonder if your headache has improved recently?"
"Thank you for your concern." Yan Dibai swayed slightly, seemingly tipsy, and leaned against Qingqing. "The calming pills you gave me last time were very effective. I haven't sent any more since I took them. Could it be that they contain some kind of elixir?"
A faint, gentle smile crossed Cui Xun's face: "It's just an ordinary incense pill; it's His Majesty's good fortune."
Qingqing helped the person up. "This is...?" Cui Xun's tone was indifferent, as if he had just noticed Qingqing's presence.
Cui Shenxiu then spoke up, "Uncle, this is Empress Yang, who protected His Majesty during his southward journey."
Qingqing nodded: "Mr. Xun."
Cui Xun stared at her for a moment, then gave a flat bow: "Empress." He said no more and turned to toast the king seated above him, deliberately ignoring her.
Qingqing pretended not to notice, but she knew perfectly well what was going on. She was secretly observing the interaction between the two when she suddenly felt a gaze fall on her. Looking up, she saw Cui Shenxiu just putting down his jade chopsticks.
...Is it just my imagination?
Before long, fireworks exploded, and Wang Du, naturally, used the excuse of catching up to keep Cui Xun there. Qingqing helped Luo Yan Dibai leave the table, and they met the burly figure face to face at the bottom of the steps.
Helan Rong stepped aside to make way, clasped her hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "Your Majesty." Her eyes swept swiftly over her, then over Yan Dibai in her arms.
Qingqing remained silent for only a moment before smiling and thanking him, then supporting Yan Dibai's arm even more firmly.
"His Majesty's alcohol tolerance is not very high, and he often behaves this way." Zhao Xu explained when he returned from leaving the garden and saw Helan Rong looking at the unsteady-looking young man.
Helan Rong nodded, "You're back from the army already?"
"It's possible that you and Mr. Cui, old friends, will reunite and talk all night long. Why should I get in your way?"
He Lanrong's upright face revealed a smile that was not quite a smile.
Zhao Xu casually invited, "Brother Rong, is this your first time experiencing the Lantern Festival in Jiangzuo? Why don't we take a stroll around in front of the mansion?"
Helan Rong's expression softened slightly, but he did not immediately agree. Seeing Wang Shu in pink leading more than ten servants in a long procession, he shook his head instead. "I will stay here to keep watch. You may do as you see fit, Military Advisor."
"Zhao Xu!" Wang Shuren's voice preceded her arrival, her tone aggressive. "I've finally caught you!" She stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and tried to drag him away without saying a word.
Zhao Xu looked helpless, his attempts to break free repeatedly thwarted by the girl's brute strength. He Lanrong calmly took a step back, her gaze sweeping over the dazzling fireworks in the night sky, before quietly making her way to a secluded spot in the back garden. A letter tube in her sleeve tilted slightly, a sliver of silver blending into the vibrant colors of the sky before suddenly bursting open. Then, with practiced ease, she plucked a few bamboo leaves piled up beneath the window.
At the same time, on the banks of the moat outside the governor's mansion, Li Si saw the white light and shouted in a low voice, "Release!"
Zhang Sanwangwu drew his bow, and the hundred Kongming lanterns were shot down by the crossbow as soon as they took flight, spilling their oil and causing more than a dozen tongues of fire to erupt from the edge of the mansion.
"Fire!"
-
The inner room of the garden was closed.
The black and white pieces on the chessboard were scattered about, but the two players had long since lost interest in the game.
“Jiming,” Wang Du’s smile vanished, his gaze sharp as an eagle, “You’ve avoided me for over ten years. You’re making an exception today, surely not just to come here to enjoy wine and the moon with me?”
He kept turning the prayer beads between his fingers. "Don't forget, the poisoning of Chengde was a conspiracy between Cui and the Prince. If you hadn't hesitated back then, causing the news to leak out, I wouldn't have been trapped in Jiangzuo for twenty years!"
Cui Xun's hand, holding the white piece, hovered in mid-air, his face slightly pale: "Is Your Highness blaming me?"
“It’s a reminder,” Wang Du sneered. “Who made the vermilion lacquer in Jingzhou? We’re still in the same boat. I’ve treated the Cui family well; you asked me to, and I immediately agreed to Shenxiu and Wang Miao’s marriage. Is your behavior today due to old grudges, or do you have other plans?”
“Wang Du,” Cui Xun’s eyes lost all restraint. He addressed him by his name directly, no longer bothering with pretense. “I need you to save his life.”
"That little emperor?" Wang Du scoffed. "He's my godson. He'll enjoy endless wealth and honor. Why would he need your protection?"
"Why pretend!" Upon hearing the term "adopted son," Cui Xun's breathing became erratic, and he managed to grip Yunzi tightly before saying, "His sudden death will follow the Northern Expedition! How can you, as emperor, tolerate him?"
Wang Du's eyes turned cold: "So what if I am? Do you, Cui Xun, still want to be a loyal minister?"
“I am not a loyal subject!” Cui Xun interrupted abruptly, his chest heaving violently. “I only ask that you promise to spare his life and allow him to live in the capital after the Northern Expedition, and to grant him a simple and prosperous life.”
"Cut the weeds but not the roots?" Wang Du said as if he were listening to a joke. "Cui Jiming, you've been living like a fool all these years!"
Cui Xun said sternly, "He's only useful if he's alive! As long as he's alive, I can firmly control the northern trade routes and ensure your cavalry has no worries about food and supplies! If he dies, this line will be severed."
He slowly leaned forward:
"I have been lying low for many years, and I am not without means of self-defense. Regarding the vermilion lacquer of Jingzhou, regarding the Xianning Palace... do you think they have been completely destroyed? If they were to be revealed, Governor Wang, are you truly not afraid?"
Wang Du's face turned completely gloomy as he stared intently at Cui Xun.
"Furthermore," Cui Xun pressed, his tone softening slightly, "the marriage between Shenxiu and Wang Miao must be finalized as soon as possible. This is essential to ensuring the stability of our two families' alliance. Only in this way can I feel at ease preparing everything you need for the future."
Wang Du remained silent for a long time, the only sound in the room being their heavy breathing. He suddenly let out a strange laugh:
"Cui Jiming, you coward. You were indecisive back then, and now you're scheming for some unrelated little emperor, even risking your life. What, do you also want to rule the world?"
Cui Xun's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly relaxed. Knowing that his attitude had softened, he slowly sat back down, coughed softly twice, and then said wearily:
“I am not like you, I have never had such lofty ambitions to conquer the world. I only know... that the ruler is the guide for the subjects. No matter what he is, he is still the ruler in name. My Cui family once received the favor of the founding emperor. If we were to repay this kindness with enmity, murder the emperor and cut off our lineage, how would we have the face to meet our ancestors in the afterlife?”
Wang Du remained silent for a long time before letting out another sneer: "Cui Shu has been cunning and calculating all his life, yet he has raised a son like you. What a misfortune for the family."
Cui Xun pressed on: "Should you answer or not?"
Wang Du stood up and brushed off his sleeves: "This is a matter of great importance and requires further consideration. There's a lot of noise outside; come with me to take a look."
Knowing that Wang Du would not make a promise immediately, Cui Xun sighed inwardly and slowly straightened up, leaning on the table.
Wang Du opened the door first, and as soon as he took a step out, a whooshing sound rang out!
A silver glint shot out and, with a "thud," embedded itself deeply into the door frame, its tail feathers trembling violently!
"An assassin—!" Wang Du hesitated for a moment before roaring out.
However, the guards outside the courtyard were nowhere to be seen, and the commotion in the distance grew louder. He immediately realized that this chaos was unusual, drew his sword, and strode towards the outside of the courtyard.
At this moment, Helan Rong rushed over with several personal guards. "My lord! A Kongming lantern from the night market has fallen into the mansion and caused a fire! Are you alright, my lord?"
Seeing Helan Rong by his side, Wang Du felt somewhat relieved.
"Who authorized them to set off lanterns so freely near the governor's mansion? Immediately arrest the person in charge and interrogate them severely!"
"yes!"
"Wait," Wang Du called out to him, his brow furrowed. "Where is Zhao Xu? Why is he nowhere to be seen in such an important matter?"
He Lanrong looked slightly embarrassed: "Military Advisor Zhao... was taken to the night market by Lady Shun and has not returned yet."
Wang Du's face darkened, and he almost gritted his teeth as he said, "What kind of behavior is this!" He then waved for Helan Rong to leave.
Just as Helan Rong turned to leave, the crossbow bolt on the beam, due to the vibration, loosened and fell with a small piece of the bolt attached to it, landing with a "thud" in front of Wang Du's feet.
A piece of vermilion lacquer with charred edges and intricate beaded patterns lay conspicuously under the bright yellow light.
Wang Du's gaze was fixed on that piece of painted leather. He turned his head, his eyes like poisoned blades, and pierced Cui Xun, who had just stepped out. His voice was as cold as ice:
"Very well, very well! It seems we must settle things today—"
Cui Xun was stunned, then turned pale when he saw the object on the ground: "No—how could this be?!"
How could the lacquered paint from the Xianning Palace, which is thousands of miles away, appear here?!
Who...who is it? Who knows all this and is using this opportunity to blackmail us!
"My lord! The fire has spread to the east warehouse! Among them... among them are newly forged armor and weapons!" A soldier, his face covered in soot, rushed over.
Wang Du's hand, which was holding a sword, suddenly froze.
"Look what you've done!" He glared fiercely at Cui Xun, whose face had turned deathly pale.
There was no time to discern whether the lacquered leather was Cui Xun's backup plan or the work of someone else. The iron armor was hard-won, and Wang Du could only immediately preserve his foundation.
"Helan Rong!" Wang Du shouted sternly, "Take your men to the East Treasury immediately! Fight the fire with all your might and protect the weapons and armor! If anything goes wrong, you'll be beheaded!"
"Yes!" Helan Rong turned around and led her men to the east.
"Someone, gather all available people in the manor to control the fire, then go find Zhao Xu and tell him to get back here immediately!"
"yes!"
As orders were issued one after another, Wang Du calmed down, but when he looked at Cui Xun again, his killing intent was undisguised:
"Is this how you keep secrets?"
Those who knew about this had secretly dealt with a large number of people back then, leaving fewer than five. Wang Du felt he had to be extremely vigilant, so the only loophole could be in Cui Xun's hands.
Cui Xun's lips moved, but the turbulent emotions in his eyes gradually subsided. After a moment, he spoke in a hoarse voice:
"I will... interrogate them thoroughly."
Wang Du stopped looking at him, gripped his sword tightly, and strode towards the noisy area.
-
Yunshui Academy.
Yan Dibai closed the courtyard gate with his backhand and tossed the specially made small bow aside.
The much-grown Little Grey wagged its tail and circled around. Qingqing, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately stepped forward and deftly helped him take off his black night clothes. Then she took his right hand and gasped: "How much force did you use with that arrow! Your tiger's mouth is cracked from the impact."
No one could have imagined that the arrow that struck at the garden, intended to sow discord, was actually shot by this seemingly frail young emperor himself.
Yan Dibai remained silent, letting Qingqing pull him down to sit while she applied the medicine. The intense vibration of the bowstring still lingered on his fingertips.
“If that arrow had been three times heavier and a fraction faster,” he suddenly whispered, “it might have killed Wang Du on the spot and pierced Cui Xun in the process.”
"Okay...okay." Qingqing put down the medicine bottle and gently blew on the wound on his palm. "But this was too risky. Wasn't the original plan to have Helan Rong shoot the arrow? What if..."
The original plan was for Helan Rong to take advantage of the chaos to shoot the evidence away from the garden, thus sowing discord between Cui Xun and Wang Du while everyone was preoccupied with their own problems.
But Yan Dibai changed his mind at the last minute and insisted on shooting the arrow himself.
“This arrow must be shot by me.” His eyelids were half-closed. “Helan Rong’s arrow is to sow discord. My arrow is to declare.”
Their time to announce it is running out.
Qingqing hadn't witnessed that tense moment firsthand, so she couldn't understand the surging emotions in his heart; she could only offer him endless words of advice:
"These next few days we'd better keep our hands hidden, and we should also avoid the riding and archery drills for now, lest Wang Du notice anything amiss."
As she spoke, she suddenly exclaimed:
"Are your hands shaking?"
The hand holding hers was trembling uncontrollably. Qingqing paused for a second, looked up, and held her breath when she saw the turbulent look in the boy's eyes.
"Yang Liuqing," Yan Dibai said, parting her lips, "what do you think? Should I join the army?"
"Join the army?"
She frantically considered the meaning of the word: "Doesn't that mean going into battle and fighting the enemy yourself? You..."
Her words caught in her throat as she looked at his tall, slender figure, filled with worry.
"Wang Du..." Can he tolerate an emperor with military achievements?
He suddenly curled his lips into a sneer, then grabbed her slightly cool hand tightly, his grip so firm it wouldn't let her escape. "Afraid I'll die?"
His Adam's apple, already protruding, bobbed, and his voice was deeper than the night.
This guy has grown taller again without me even noticing... Qingqing pursed her lips and tried to pull her hand away, but he gripped it even tighter.
Yan Dibai stubbornly refused to let go, his gaze fixed on her. Suddenly, he lowered his head, his breath brushing against her forehead.
"Don't worry, I won't let you become a widow."
Qingqing remained silent: "I won't—"
"Did I tell you before?" he said, as if by magic, taking out a box of balsam mud, grasping her fingertips, and slowly applying it, "Emperor Yan Chong of the Jin Dynasty conquered this world on horseback."
She sighed softly, knowing his mind was made up, so she stopped struggling and asked, "So, you also want to be like him and gallop across the battlefield?"
“Why should I be like him?” He held her slender index finger, carefully wrapping it with a blade of emerald green grass to secure it. His handsome profile was sharply defined under the light. “I want to be better than him.”
The young man, head held high and defiant, gazed at the cold moon outside the window:
"Although he conquered the Central Plains, he was trapped in the western border and ultimately failed to wipe out the Five Barbarians."
He paused, then scoffed:
“I, Yan Dibai, wish that wherever the sun and moon shine, and wherever the rivers flow, all shall become the territory of the Jin dynasty.”
Although the voice wasn't loud, Qingqing was speechless at the sight.
Even when Yan Dibai finished painting his nails and leaned towards her with a hint of drunkenness, Qingqing forgot to push him away as usual. She simply lowered her eyes and listened quietly to his rare murmurs.
I was one year old when my mother died.
He was indeed drunk; his eyes became hazy and lingering. He even opened up, talking about his childhood memories that he had never told anyone before.
“I was raised by palace maids. Although I was young, I remember them saying that I was born from my mother’s affair with another man.”
Qingqing's heart tightened.
"She had two children. One was my older sister, and the other was me. My older sister almost died in my place, and she hated me since she was a child."
“My mother was originally a princess who was raised peacefully in a temple. If she had not been recommended by the court officials to marry a foreign ruler, she could have lived a peaceful life, happily playing her mother-of-pearl inlaid pipa.”
...
He spoke haltingly, saying very little. Qingqing, however, was completely confused and filled with doubts.
Why does what Yan Dibai is saying now differ so much from the records of daily life that she had read in the Wende Hall?
The daily records clearly state that the child born from an affair with a stranger was Princess Yan Xifang.
And what about marriage alliances?
She had never heard anyone mention it.
“They all say my mother loves beauty. She often wears floral decorations, applies rouge and powder, and dyes her nails with red nail polish. She is a Buddhist and loves the lotus flower pattern the most. Even when she dyes her nails, she likes to use floral clay to outline the lotus flower shape on her fingertips.”
He paused, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the green grass-covered tips.
"Later, my sister also liked to dye her nails... but she never liked the lotus flower pattern."
He nestled in Qingqing's warm embrace and let out a sigh:
"Whether they love or not, the auspiciousness and happiness it symbolizes... have never come to them."
Hearing the noise outside had subsided, Yan Dibai suddenly said:
"I want to sleep in the side room."
He quickly added, "Don't kick me out."
Ever since that time he successfully got into bed, this man would often lie on the bed and not move.
Qingqing: ……
She lightly patted his head, but didn't shoo him away.
-
With the armor intact, everyone in the governor's mansion breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Xu captured several children with runny noses who were playing with lanterns. Wang Du knew something was amiss, but he didn't want to investigate further. He simply ordered their parents to take them home and give them a beating, thus ending the matter hastily.
His gaze seemed to casually sweep towards the direction of Yunshui Courtyard, but when Zhao Xu came to ask, he waved his hand to refuse.
If this were to escalate to the young emperor's level... Wang Du frowned. The humiliation at the hunting grounds was still fresh in his mind, and the resentment hadn't subsided. Fortunately, a sika deer was later sent as a show of force, and the young emperor obediently accepted it and even returned the roasted meat as a gift, thus smoothing things over on the surface.
Seeing Cui Xun's unusual behavior today, a cold glint flashed in Wang Du's eyes.
Neither the young emperor nor Cui Xun can be allowed to live. They must be kept under strict guard, and once the Northern Expedition is successful, they will be discarded like a spent weapon!
"Summon Mr. Zhang from the warehouse."
As for that marriage... he coldly turned away.
"Send word to keep Cui Xun locked up tight and tell him to behave. As for Miao'er's marriage... let's arrange it as well."
Yunshui Academy.
Qingqing gave Xiaohui an extra meal, then lifted the covers and went to bed.
Yan Dibai leaned closer, his nose touching her neck.
She glanced sideways, scrutinizing his sleeping face.
"..."
The boy's features grew sharper day by day. The once beauty-obsessed young emperor had transformed into a well-built young man through frequent riding and archery. His robes grew looser and his shoes longer, and he was rapidly growing and advancing toward his destiny.
Her gaze fell back to her hands; the bright red nail polish against her snow-white skin was strikingly eye-catching.
These hands, this man, were increasingly resembling those of the imperial concubines and noble ladies she had once longed for. He treated her better and better; she got to choose everything sent from the governor's mansion, and his table was piled high with jewels and perfumes. He dressed her up in dazzling attire. He, however, didn't even glance at his own clothes, and he began to disregard the style of his garments, wearing whatever she picked up.
Qingqing stared at the rooftop, unsure how to describe her current feelings.
Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, she finally relaxed and let Yan Dibai embrace her as she drifted off to sleep.
As dawn broke, thousands of soldiers in black armor stood solemnly like a forest on the drill ground outside the governor's mansion.
Helan Rong, helmet in hand and sword at his side, paced back and forth before the battle lines. Suddenly, he drew his silver blade, its cold light tearing through the dawn:
"Let us lead the vanguard in a northern expedition tomorrow!"
"Raise an army! Raise an army! Raise an army!" the cavalrymen roared in unison, their spears striking the ground.
"For His Majesty, for the governor, we are invincible!"
"Invincible!"
A deafening roar erupted as Wang Du clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his spirit soaring: "Follow me, everyone, to slay the traitor, capture the false emperor, and restore the rightful rule of our Great Jin!"
Qingqing shuddered in her dream, and the long-silent electronic voice suddenly resounded in her mind.
[Emperor Yan's aura has been unfrozen, and he has officially returned to the Conquest of the World System. The host's efforts have been effective; please ensure the smooth completion of subsequent tasks.]
The cold, mechanical voice paused slightly, as if carrying some deeper meaning:
[Note: The 'seemingly existing white moonlight' has appeared.]
Yan Dibai's journey has begun anew.
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