Chapter 113 Chapter 113 The Storm is Coming (Ten)...
After the agitated discussion was concluded, the nobles had dinner at Yuan Garden before gradually dispersing.
Yuan Fuxue returned from the palace. As he stepped off his carriage, he saw several family heads leaving. He scanned their expressions calmly, raised his hand in a salute as he approached, and then, his eyes narrowed slightly, watched them leave.
Although it was common for the nobles to interact and discuss matters, Yuan Fuxue sensed something strange.
As he did not need to be on duty in the palace during this period, he spent more time in the garden than usual. He often saw nobles from all over the country visiting Yuan Zhaoyun, and sometimes Yuan Zhaoyun would not return to the garden until the hour of Xu under the moon.
"Mother."
Yuan Zhaoyun paused in his stirrups and looked up: "It's late at night and the dew is heavy. Why don't you go and rest?"
Yuan Fuxue, holding a gilded lantern, bowed. When his mother approached, he stepped back a half step, shining the lantern in her direction. "Although it's late spring, the roads are still dark. Seeing you haven't returned yet, I've waited here."
Yuan Zhaoyun nodded, glancing sideways at her youngest son. Aside from his insistence on becoming a palace physician and his lack of interest in marriage, she had always been most satisfied with this youngest son, whose personality was very similar to hers.
"You don't have to wait for me anymore. Although it's late spring, the nights are still wet and the dew is heavy. It would be bad if you caught a cold. You studied medicine, so you should know more about this than I do."
"Yes, thank you for your teachings, mother."
Yuan Fuxue followed his mother around the corridor and into the cave entrance shaded by plum trees. Suddenly, he said, "Mother, my sister's husband is pregnant. I checked her pulse and it's been about three months. Should we send a message for my sister to return to the capital?"
"Need not."
The two of them walked to the study, where Yuan Zhaoyun brushed her sleeves and sat down, leaning her elbows against the table. "Since she disregarded my wishes and left Jiankang without permission to follow Xie Tingyu in promoting local rule, let her gain experience."
She raised her eyes and looked at Yuan Fuxue: "Since you are knowledgeable in medicine and a man, you should take care of your brother-in-law."
"Yes, then I will write a letter to tell my sister the good news."
Yuan Fuxue was about to leave when he heard someone behind him say, "Wait a minute."
He turned around and saw Yuan Zhaoyun already writing with a brush and ink, pulling out a piece of letter paper from a pile of documents and memorials. "I'll write the letter. The civil service exam will take at least three months to complete, so this is a good opportunity to warn her not to be distracted and to focus on her work with Xie Tingyu."
"yes."
On the way back to the room, Yuan Fuxue carefully recalled Yuan Zhaoyun's recent behavior and what she had just said. She felt that there was something strange about it, but she couldn't figure out what it was.
Three days later, people from different families continued to come and go in Yuan Garden. Each time they came, they said they were delivering documents left by Fengge, but once they entered the study, they would have long and secret conversations with Yuan Zhaoyun, their expressions solemn.
There must be another plot, and it must be a big thing.
Yuan Fuxue paced around the room for a few times and finally decided to write a letter.
Xie Qingyan also noticed something was wrong. She noticed this because Huan Zhan came to her to complain after the court session.
Huan Zhanyue explained that her daughter, Huan Zheying, had been appointed Commandant of the Jinwu Guard, responsible for the security of the imperial city and commanding the Jinwu Guard within Jiankang City. However, after only one night on the job, she accidentally fell from a rooftop while pursuing a thief. Though she sustained only a minor scrape, not even a broken bone, she was immediately impeached with harsh words, accusing her of dereliction of duty.
After the emperor approved the request, Huan Zheying was ordered to recuperate at home, and there was no mention of the date for his reinstatement.
What is strange is that afterwards, a girl from the Yuan family of Runan took his place and took up an important position in the imperial guards.
As Grand Minister of Civil Affairs, Xie Qingyan's office was responsible for the transfer of officials, particularly those related to the Imperial Guards and the Jinwu Guard. However, despite the numerous changes in positions, it was impossible for her to inquire about every one of them. However, the coincidence of this incident made her suspicious.
A few days later, a robbery broke out in the palace. Rumor had it that a nimble thief had broken into the palace at night, stolen a number of rare treasures, and, despite the combined efforts of the Imperial Guards and the Jinwu Guards, had quietly escaped without a trace.
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhao was furious and angrily rebuked the emperor in the court. Yuan Zhaoyun then stepped forward and advised, "Since palace security is constantly failing, it would be wise to transfer elite troops from the army to assist in patrolling the imperial city."
As soon as this was said, the emperor immediately agreed. Thus, only two teams of soldiers were dispatched from the Qingluan Army to guard the key areas of the Imperial City and patrol alongside the Jinwu Guards and the Imperial Guards.
Yuan Zhaoyun and others had made careful plans, and the first step was to place their trusted confidants among the imperial city patrol guards. Now this plan has been completed.
Second, the rebellion was scheduled for the end of this month, at the Empress' birthday banquet. First, the chosen puppet emperor was still outside Jiankang and needed to be secretly escorted to the capital. Second, everyone at the banquet was relaxed, making it easy to attack by surprise. Third, Xie Tingyu was currently implementing the Tuduan, and there was no way he would be able to return to Jiankang at the end of the month. This would ensure a surefire way to force Ji Zhao to sign the abdication decree.
However, despite all their calculations, they had not anticipated that the man they had carefully chosen would be a lover of music and dancing, and a frequent visitor to pleasure boats. On his way to Jiankang, Xie Tingyu and Ji Lian caught him in the act.
After becoming famous overnight in Kuaiji County, Xie Tingyu worked tirelessly to uncover the malpractice of the county's aristocrats harboring refugees. No one dared to conceal anything, so he headed to Poyang County. On the way, he met up with Zhang Yan, Shen Yu, and others who had returned from tomb raiding.
As the sun set and melted into gold, the group entered the city and stayed at the inn.
In just a moment, two figures quietly emerged from the back door of the posthouse and rode together towards Raohe.
Xie Tingyu dismounted and reached out to help Ji Lian land. The two rented a delicate pleasure boat, four paper lanterns hanging from the side. A dim glow shone through the gauze, spreading hazily across the boat's planks, creating a pool of shimmering gold.
Ji Lian's veil fluttered lightly as she saw Xie Tingyu lightly leap onto the boat. She turned and offered him her hand: "Come, I'll help you."
He raised his eyebrows, "Who are you looking down on? It's such a short distance, I won't fall into the water."
He jumped lightly and landed steadily on the deck, his robe fluttering in the wind in an elegant arc, like a wild goose skimming the water.
Just as the boatwoman was about to step forward, Ji Lian suddenly said, "I'll row."
Xie Tingyu looked over in surprise, only to see Ji Lian already holding the oar. He could only smile and say, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lianlian, to row the boat."
The water ripples in circles as the boat drifts gently downstream. Figures of people loom on the river, lights cast on the waves, and fragments of light sway the boat's edge.
The boat gradually entered the darkness.
Ji Lian put down her oars and sat down, her veil suddenly gently removed. The two sat side by side, their shadows overlapping on the deck. The dark shadows of the branches by the river crisscrossed, sparsely passing over their eyebrows and eyes. In the darkness, only the sound of each other's shallow breathing could be heard.
He raised his eyes and met Xie Tingyu's, their breaths mingling. His fingers, resting casually on the plank, unconsciously clenched, his heart pounding as he watched her, expectantly, as she slowly approached, yet maliciously, still within arm's reach.
Her Adam's apple rolled slightly, and Ji Lian looked into her eyes with a mischievous look. The tip of her tongue licked her dry lower lip and said, "Why don't you kiss me?"
"Waiting for you to kiss me." She also whispered back, holding his hand and drawing freely on his palm.
"You are really bad, on the couch and on the boat."
Ji Lian clasped her hand with his ten fingers, and when their lips touched, he closed his eyes and indulged her, letting her go straight in, like a tide overflowing a dam, sweeping away all his breath.
Beneath the swaying branches, two figures entwine. Amidst the still, deep waters, a small boat drifts gently with the currents, the only sounds to be heard are the soft clatter of lips and teeth, and the lingering, gurgling sound of the water.
Ji Lian poked Xie Tingyu's cheek with her fingertips and traced her moist lips with the tip of her tongue. "There's something I've always wanted to ask."
"What's up?"
"Where are you going to put me when we get back to Jiankang?"
"What is placed where? Lianlian, what are you talking about?"
"that is--"
Ji Lian and Xie Tingyu pressed their foreheads together, and Ji Lian placed his hand on her waist. He whispered anxiously, "If we return to Jiankang, where will you place me? Or will you buy me a house in the city? Then will you come to see me every day?"
Xie Tingyu listened carefully to the words and thought for a moment, "Why do you sound like a concubine asking for status?"
"What concubine? Xie Tingyu, do you know how to speak?" Ji Lian pinched her waist in anger.
Xie Tingyu blinked innocently, "It was you who asked me to buy a house, why are you blaming me?"
At this time, the small pleasure boat had drifted to the busiest section of Raohe River.
There are many large and colorful pleasure boats here, and all kinds of exquisite palace lanterns are shining on the boats, instantly making the dark night seem as bright as day.
Bright light suddenly fell on the two of them.
Ji Lian snorted twice, "I'm so shameless. You clearly said you'd be responsible for me, but now you don't even ask me where I should live, and you're using your concubine to bully me..."
He turned his head away, determined not to pay any attention to her, "Who wants to be your concubine?"
Xie Tingyu chuckled twice and reached out to gently pull his shoulder. "I was just joking with you, why are you so angry?"
She nudged his back again, and seeing he still didn't turn around, she said, "I'm really teasing you. My magnanimous and beautiful young man, would you turn around and look at me?"
Really turned his head.
But Ji Lian's expression was solemn: "I seem to have seen someone who shouldn't be here."
Ji Lian leaned over and whispered in Xie Tingyu's ear, "Look at the top of the pleasure boat on the right."
Xie Tingyu raised his head and looked intently, only to see a lady in gorgeous clothes hugging two handsome men on her left and right.
This person was the late emperor's seventh daughter, Ji Yin. A dissolute woman, she had long indulged in the beauty of nature. After the late emperor's death, she was exiled to Luling County in accordance with the emperor's will. According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, clan members were not allowed to leave their fiefdoms without a decree from the emperor. Even if they wished to pay homage to the emperor during the annual festivals, they required a special imperial decree to enter the capital.
Such unauthorized behavior, at the most serious level, constituted contempt for imperial authority. If Ji Zhao heard of it, he would be flogged a hundred times on the spot.
Ji Yin was completely unaware of the two gazes locked on him. He was simply intoxicated by the tenderness of his two gentlemen. He laughed out loud and said, "You two, come with me to Jiankang! I'll keep you safe..."
Before he finished speaking, a man rushed out with a plate of cakes, stuffed a piece of sweet cake into Ji Yin's mouth, and forcefully helped him inside, admonishing him kindly: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words! If you have anything to say, please come inside and talk in detail--"
That person turned out to be Li Shanchang of the Longxi Li family.
This person is not in Jiankang, but actually came here?
Xie Tingyu nodded and pondered, "I recognize the person who came out from behind. She's the head of the Longxi Li family. Why is she here? She even dared to secretly take a member of the royal family out. Is she really tired of living?"
Ji Lian shook her head. "She just mentioned going to Jiankang together. I know very well that my sister is not someone so kind as to summon a member of the royal family to the capital without reason."
The two returned to the inn, and Ji Lian went into the room first wearing a veiled hat.
As Xie Tingyu entered, Yuan Wangshu grabbed him. Ji Lian caught a glimpse of their clasped hands from inside the doorway and silently closed the door to make room.
"What is it?"
Yuan Wangshu held up a piece of letter and said solemnly, "My husband is pregnant."
Ji Lian, who was eavesdropping inside the door, was suddenly startled. His mind was in turmoil and he subconsciously tightened the handkerchief in his sleeve.
"Ah...congratulations on becoming a mother." Xie Tingyu patted Yuan Wangshu's shoulder. "Then it would be fine if you could return to Jiankang as soon as possible. Don't keep your husband waiting anxiously."
Yuan Wangshu shook his head and said firmly: "Since I promised to protect you, if you don't go back, I won't go back either."
"Really? If your husband gets angry, I'll put all the blame on you."
Yuan Wangshu took out another piece of letter and stuffed it into Xie Tingyu's hand.
Xie Tingyu unfolded the paper and saw large characters written on it: "Something important has happened in Jiankang. Sister, when you see this letter, please return quickly, quickly, and remember to bring the jade back with you."
Yuan Wangshu tapped the word "玉" with his fingertips, saying meaningfully, "Isn't this clearly urging you to go back together?"
Xie Tingyu read it several times, pondered for a moment, and then told him everything he had just seen on the pleasure boat.
Yuan Wangshu frowned, "If there's no major event like the death of a member of the royal family, it would be strange for a clan member to leave his fiefdom without permission. It's even strange that he's accompanied by members of the Jiankang nobility. It's simply unbelievable!"
"Fuxue is not the kind of person who plays games. He must have something important to say."
Xie Tingyu stroked the letter with his fingertips and said, "Something unusual must be wrong. Once the matters concerning the Poyang County local government are settled, I will take a secret path with you and return to Jiankang as soon as possible."
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