Chapter 15 015 Sitting on the Mountain and Watching the Tigers Fight
Lady Ling, her steps faltering with anxiety, plopped down on her bed, her eyes vacant as she stared at the flickering candlelight, muttering to herself, "It's all messed up, it's going to break."
With the light blocked, Qingli put down her book and looked at the trembling body in front of her. Suddenly, she saw the woman covering her eyes with her hands and crying out in a mournful tone. Qingli listened carefully and heard that there seemed to be sobbing in the next tent as well. A woman's intuition is very sharp, and she knew that their world was about to collapse.
Lady Ling's eyes were red from crying. Hearing the calm voice behind her, she wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and said with a desolate and fearful voice, "A group of assassins came from the hunting grounds in the back mountains. A prince died. The prince just returned, staring at people with eyes that looked like he wanted to eat them alive."
Why didn't Qingli want the Prince of Dingxi to die? That would have given the women in the backyard a chance to live.
Are you some kind of blockhead?!
She could hear the disappointment in his words, but she was helpless and had no one to rely on. As the saying goes, "The sky will rain and the mother will remarry," she couldn't control it. However, Madam Ling came from an official family and had been pampered since childhood. "In that case," she said, "you can write a letter home."
"You don't need to worry about it."
It's truly a case of biting the hand that feeds you. Qingli handed the book to Jiang Yue and was just about to rest when the princess gave the order that all the concubines should immediately get into the carriage and return to the mansion.
Outside the tent, the torches blazed as bright as day. Qingli looked up and met Jiang's gaze. Her eyes were filled with boundless hatred. She slightly raised the corners of her mouth and gracefully bowed, her actions full of provocation.
Jiang's fire was far from being a raging inferno; it would have been better if it could destroy the heavens and the earth, burning away all traces of her.
The Prince's mansion was under strict control; servants were not allowed to move around freely. The mansion was eerily quiet. March should have been a time of springtime liveliness, but it was like the coldest days of winter, devoid of any joy.
Qingli moved back to Taoyuan Pavilion. Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yuechu were shocked when they first saw Yun Xiu. Seeing that he could move freely inside and outside the mansion, they immediately changed to a fawning expression, eager to know what was going on inside.
Yun Xiu had just returned from outside the manor. He spoke each word with utter indifference, reporting, "The First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fourth Prince led their troops to Yunzhou today. General Meng, as the vanguard, will be leaving Yanmen City for some time. The Prince of Dingxi escorted his troops out of Xizhou. There was nothing unusual about Jiang Shi."
After the conversation ended, Jiang Yue handed Yun Xiu a cup of warm tea. Yun Xiu did not take it. He had food and drink, and he should not touch other people's things. He took out a letter from his pocket, placed it next to her, opened the window, and disappeared in an instant.
Jiang Yue leaned out but still couldn't see clearly, and was both amazed and in awe.
Qingli opened the book and saw that the characters were vigorous and powerful, thick and lush, without any weakness, and the spirit was continuous. Looking at them, one could feel a sense of openness and clarity. She wondered again, could such flowing brushstrokes come from his hand? When did he become so good at writing? Suddenly, her cheeks felt hot. Did that mean he had seen all the inexplicable annotations on her book?
He shook his head, realizing it wasn't true. He was strong-willed and used to look down on scholars who wielded pens.
After calming his embarrassed heart, he continued reading the letter. Using the assassin as an excuse, he conveniently confirmed the fact that the Prince of Dingxi was raising a private army, and confined him to his tent for several days, figuring he could force him to reveal his bottom line.
She suddenly realized that Meng Qingshan's strategy was to press forward step by step and then rebound when things hit rock bottom. Whether it was physical evidence, witnesses, the princes on this trip, or even the joint resistance against foreign enemies, it was like ropes binding the Prince of Dingxi until he resisted. At that point, the Prince of Dingxi would have no choice but to walk this path even if he didn't want to.
What a grand, open conspiracy!
However, this was a tailor-made scheme for the vassal kings. Secretly depleting their strength was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Only by letting the tiger into a dead end could they gain the tiger's intent to harm them and the people's desire to kill the tiger.
What the authorities want is legitimacy.
With everything about to be revealed, Qingli was filled with trepidation as she waited for Jiang Shi to make her move.
Three days later, after a great victory at the border, the Prince of Dingxi returned to his palace. Lady Jiang and all the concubines kowtowed in the courtyard to welcome him, and only then did the entire household dare to offer their congratulations.
The Prince of Dingxi had a somber expression as he looked at all his concubines. Qingli noticed a scrutinizing gaze, pretended to be slow to notice, and then looked up when she stood up.
The Prince of Dingxi had a thick, long beard that clung to his face in a wild manner. His brocade robe was disheveled and covered in dust. Behind him followed a rough man, tall and burly, with limbs as strong as a wild beast. His green eyes, sharp as a hawk's, swept across the entire scene, exuding greed and arrogance.
Jiang knelt down and stepped forward. The man merely nodded slightly, looked around, and their eyes met unexpectedly.
Qingli immediately lowered her head and disappeared among the concubines, sensing a long-lost danger.
King Hugu narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had found something of interest. Seeing this, Madam Jiang had an idea and called out with a smile, "Madam, why don't you come forward and pay your respects to the Prince?"
Qingli lowered her head, concealing her figure beneath her dress. Yet, her embroidered lotus-patterned pleated skirt, trimmed with turquoise, moved with the grace of a water fairy, gracefully arriving amidst the blooming lotuses, bringing a touch of coolness to the shimmering water. "This humble servant greets Your Highness."
Despite the existing estrangement, the Prince of Dingxi said calmly, "Rise."
King Hugu's eyes lit up. He followed the stunning beauty through the crowd of ordinary women to her. He had lived in the desolate, windswept lands, coexisting with wolves and eating meat and blood. When had he ever seen such a beautiful woman with such radiant beauty? He could smell her delicate fragrance and his face showed a desire that was determined to possess her.
Standing to one side, with a smile on her face, Madam Jiang warmly took Qingli's hand and introduced her, "This is Lord Hu."
Qingli broke free from Jiang's hand and lowered her head, "This concubine greets Lord Hu."
Her voice is light and agile; she has a good voice.
The Prince of Dingxi had no interest in being in the backyard and ordered, "Go back."
As King Hugu followed King Dingxi, he chuckled as he sidestepped him, causing Qingli to break out in a fine rash. When she stood up, she stared intently at Madam Jiang, who smiled instead of getting angry and said, "Your good days are yet to come."
You have to take her words the wrong way. Qingli turned around and went back to Taoyuan Pavilion. She summoned Yunxiu and instructed him to find out the details of the people who came back with the Prince of Dingxi. Yunxiu jumped out of the window. Outside, the pink and white peach blossoms were like clouds and rosy clouds, blooming in large clusters, with a rich fragrance.
Yesterday's spring rain made the ground muddy, and now, with a gust of wind, it looks like a curtain of red rain falling into the ditch.
Inside Zhuqing Garden, Rongde served tea, then bowed and withdrew, closing the door and dismissing everyone, leaving one person to stand guard under the eaves and listen to the sounds inside.
King Hugu leaned back in his armchair, legs outstretched, casually turning the teacup lid. The imperial white-glazed teacup, with its pure white body and pristine glaze, crashed to the ground with a loud bang and shattered into pieces.
The Prince of Dingxi, without batting an eye, pushed the box in front of him. "This time, we still need your insistence, brother, to continue to help him."
King Hugu opened the box, revealing a stack of thousand-tael silver notes a foot thick, amounting to a million taels in total. He quipped, "The King of Dingxi has quite the lavish spending."
"If this matter is accomplished, we will double the amount."
"Haha, you Central Plains people often say, 'If you take someone's money, you have to solve their problems.' I will definitely do my best in this matter." King Hugu locked the box and leisurely tapped the table. "Don't worry, this isn't the first time."
The Prince of Dingxi, still uneasy, cautioned, "It's best to be careful. Young generals are emerging in the army, and they are not as easy to deal with as the old stubborn ones of the past."
"But the tactic of you retreating while I advance is the same with everyone."
A hand landed on the box, saying meaningfully, "If it were that easy, where would all this money come from?"
King Hugu's relaxed demeanor vanished, his face suddenly darkening as he asked, "What do you mean?"
"This money was taken by us nine brothers. What we need is for you to do your best, preferably to kill one or two of them and nip their restless thoughts in the bud."
King Hugu suddenly burst into laughter, mocking, "Using Beigu to tie down the military forces of the court, it seems the old emperor isn't buying it anymore. He must be free to deal with you now."
The Prince of Dingxi was slightly displeased. From the moment he was granted the title of vassal king and set off for a distant land, he felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy. He knew that none of the vassal kings in ancient times had a good ending. He also had a share in this world. Why would he hand it over to others to make him emperor, only to risk his life? What kind of logic was that?
However, pacifying the vassal states also requires the right timing, which is nothing more than favorable timing, location, and popular support. So he decided to make sure that the favorable location would never materialize. The best excuse was the chaos on the border. In recent years, the Great Di had frequently harassed the border in Beigu, diverting the military forces of the court. How could the court dare to cause any more trouble and provoke the vassal king? Therefore, as long as the border was not peaceful, he would be content with the throne.
Seeing that the court's army was strong and powerful, and that the prince's personal presence made everything clear, he knew that if they were not defeated this time, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The more the Prince of Dingxi thought about it, the more serious his expression became. Finally, he almost commanded, "It must be accomplished, or no one will escape."
With a cold snort, King Hugu was not coerced. He could simply part ways and retreat to the North Valley. He had amassed enough wealth over the years to last him thirty years. He coldly replied, "You're not your people, yet you speak of your deaths so lightly!"
"It's too late to put on airs now!"
"you!"
The two men were on the verge of exchanging blows and slammed their fists on the table.
The door creaked open, and Rongde bent down to replace the teacup with a new one, chuckling as he said, "Gentlemen, we're all of one mind, so don't take what we say too seriously."
Fudu sat back in his chair. King Hugu knew they were all in the same boat. If the boat capsized, no one would be spared. But this boat wasn't his. As a passenger, he wanted to be the first to reap the benefits. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming, and said with an ambiguous tone, "Treating this money as money to risk one's life is a hot potato!"
“Brother Wang, do not underestimate yourself.”
King Hugu sighed deeply and said indifferently, "To smell peonies while stained with blood is indeed an elegant affair."
The Prince of Dingxi was taken aback, then recalled the incident in the backyard earlier. Coupled with the implied meaning, his whole body turned cold, and his eyes sharpened.
Upon seeing this, King Hugu left the courtyard without taking the box.
The door was wide open, and a gentle breeze blew into the room, making a soft, rustling sound as it lifted the fabric of clothing. The Prince of Dingxi leaned back in his chair, gazing absently at the lush green foliage in the courtyard.
Rongde watched this scene from the doorway, gritted his teeth, bent down and entered the room, then suddenly knelt down, saying sorrowfully, "Your Highness, you must put the people of Xizhou first!"
Qingli didn't see Yun Xiu, but instead saw the Prince of Dingxi. Without waiting for anyone to announce his arrival, he walked straight into the house, sat on a round stool, and stared at her.
After observing him for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Qingli stood obediently with her head down. She knew from the last incident that she had offended him. He was an arrogant and self-assured person who was cold and harsh to others. The countless concubines in the backyard showed his ruthlessness.
The Prince of Dingxi saw that she was meek and submissive, but stubborn to the core. He had endured for so many years, but he still couldn't break her spirit. She should go to the North Valley, where the yellow sand swirled, to temper her bones. Thinking of this, he let out a short breath and said succinctly, "Lord Hu has taken a liking to you."
No matter how composed she was, her eyes instantly reddened, her body trembled slightly with uncontrollable anger, and her gaze was icy cold. The chill gathered in her eyes startled the Prince of Dingxi, provoking his soaring rage.
Finally, he coldly remarked, "It's just a matter of getting used to it again."
They were utterly depraved, comparing her to a lowly prostitute.
Qingli looked away in disgust and slowly said, "This concubine obeys."
Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao had already silently shed tears outside the door. Their mistress, no, their young lady, was such a kind person, yet she had encountered these hypocritical and sanctimonious men. They all spoke sweet words, but for fame, fortune, and life, they treated their young lady like a gift and did the most heinous things!
When Yun Xiu jumped in through the window, he saw two maids holding handkerchiefs and sobbing. He couldn't help but frown. Their mistress was about to die, and instead of helping them find a solution, they were crying and wailing.
Looking at Qingli standing stiffly by the window, and recalling the news he had heard, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her tragic fate. "Miss Qingli, that Lord Hu is the second son of the King of Beigu, the King of Hugu. I never expected that while the general was fighting bloody battles against those barbarians at the front, the King of Hugu actually ran here. The King of Dingxi, with his wolfish ambition, bribed him to cause trouble on the border."
What a great idea to sit back and watch the tigers fight!
Using the reward money issued by the court to counterbalance and weaken the government, he is doomed to die. Qingli listened to the anger in Yunxiu's words and looked at the petals covered in mud and water outside, filthy and disgusting. She turned around and stood in the light, surrounded by a halo of water mist. Her face was calm and she had a resolute power. "Go to Meng Qingshan immediately and tell him about this situation."
Yun Xiu rubbed his hands together, eager to try, "Yes!"
Suddenly remembering something, he paused, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "Then Lord Hu specifically requested you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she slightly raised her eyelids and said with a chilling expression, "Then we'll have to see what he's capable of."
She was shrewd and composed in the face of danger, much like a master. For the first time, Yun Xiu felt genuine admiration for the woman. He clasped his hands in a fist salute, and then the two of them leaped out of the Dingxi Prince's Mansion.
Jiang Yue asked blankly, "Miss, he's gone, what will you do?"
Qingli's hands clenched unconsciously, her words carrying a hint of reckless fearlessness, "He is the key to breaking the deadlock, I can still manage on my side for the time being."
Jiang Zhao wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said heartily, "That's right, there's always a way out. General Meng wasn't even on our radar. It would be better if he were here, but if not, we can just do what we arranged beforehand."
"Why not take this shortcut if it's available?"
"It's not so easy to repay favors. Once we leave the manor, the sky's the limit, and we'll be free to roam."
"Just in case..."
"I'm not afraid of anything, I'll never go again anyway, even if it means risking my life."
Jiang Zhao, unable to bear Jiang Yue's nagging any longer, poked her forehead with his finger and said with exasperation, "Miss is doing this for the people on the border. We must not fail to live up to Miss's aspirations."
Watching the two maids argue, Qingli preferred Jiang Zhao's straightforwardness and clarity. She summoned the two maids, gave them detailed instructions, and then they went about their business.
The room felt empty for a moment, and the wind blew through, carrying some petals that fell onto her skirt. Turning to the side, she was enveloped in a shower of petals, which eased her tense nerves a little.
Having reached a perilous place, she had done what needed to be done; all she needed to do was wait quietly.
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