Chapter 107 This is bad. You think I'm afraid of being implicated by you? ...
Verifying whether what a passerby said is true or false doesn't actually require much effort.
In Beiye, all major events of the imperial court were announced through the official residences and their publication, the "Official Gazette," ensuring that all officials, high and low, were aware of them.
For example, in the case of such a major disaster as the Yellow River breaching its banks in Jincheng County, it was impossible for key officials in the central government, such as Huan Xun and Gu Xiangzhi, to be kept in the dark.
After finishing his breakfast, Yu Nie boarded a four-horse carriage and headed towards the Jiheng Mansion.
The streets were bustling, and as you passed taverns, brothels, and theaters, the sounds of stringed instruments filled the air.
Before long, the carriage slowed down and stopped in front of the Jiheng Mansion.
Because the guards had just been there, they recognized her carriage from afar and dared not be negligent.
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, a guard quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Princess! Have you come today to see our lord?"
"Hmm." Yu Nie inquired, "Is Lord Huan at home right now?"
The guard bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the lord went to the East Palace early this morning to teach His Highness the Crown Prince. He will return to the residence in a little while. If Your Highness does not mind, I will lead you to the flower hall to wait for a moment."
Thinking that there was nothing else to do, and that waiting wouldn't hurt, Yu Nie nodded slightly and followed the guard through the corridor towards the east side of the second courtyard.
Following the layout of front hall and rear sleeping quarters, with ancestral temples on the left and altar of the land on the right, the flower hall of Jiheng Mansion is located in the east side courtyard of the second courtyard.
It is a small, independent courtyard with a rockery and flower stand. The bamboo groves that are taller than the courtyard walls isolate it from all outside noise. Only the occasional clear bird calls can be heard, making the courtyard even more tranquil.
After Yu Nie sat down at the round table made of yellow pear wood, the maids in the mansion quickly brought fresh fruit and served tea.
The guard bowed again and reported, "I have already sent someone to inform the East Palace that His Highness is waiting here shortly."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie quickly said, "There's no need to go and announce it. I'll just wait here for a while. Don't disturb your master's lesson."
The guard laughed and replied in a relaxed and respectful tone, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but my master has instructed that if you come to the manor, no matter when, you must be reported to him immediately."
Yu Nie was slightly taken aback upon hearing this; she was unaware that Huan Xun would make such an arrangement.
This special treatment was like a pebble thrown into a lake, the ripples spreading outwards pushing her thoughts to drift in ways she shouldn't have.
She vaguely sensed that some indescribable connection was quietly growing between her and Huan Xun.
His special instructions today stirred up the emotions evoked by that accidental, fleeting kiss in the carriage a few days ago.
But as soon as this feeling of attraction surfaced, she quickly suppressed it.
With the world fraught with crisis, she has more important things to do and shouldn't be distracted by this.
She couldn't help but laugh at herself, perhaps it was knowing the tragic endings related to him in history books that made her so sensitive to everything about him, or perhaps it was all just her overthinking.
Hearing that he already had plans, and thinking that he might also need to talk to her, she no longer insisted on her decision.
"In that case, let's do as you adults wish."
"Yes, Your Highness. If you need anything else, please just give the order to the maids here. I need to go and stand guard at the gate, so I'll take my leave now."
After the guards left, Yu Nie sat peacefully for a while, gazing at the lake rocks and green bamboo in the courtyard.
Aunt Wu wasn't at home, otherwise she would definitely be here to greet her right now.
Song Ai said, "Even though Huan Shaofu was imprisoned, he still went to the Eastern Palace to teach the Crown Prince. With such a character, no wonder he was able to make a name for himself on the battlefield at such a young age."
Yu Nie took a sip of the fragrant tea and slowly glanced at the furnishings in the flower hall.
Although it wasn't my first time here, this was the first time I'd taken a close look at it.
Knowing that he was teaching at the Eastern Palace, she couldn't help but recall his fate as recorded in history books, which was that Emperor Huai ultimately had him ground to ashes.
Emperor Huai...
A thought struck her, and she asked, seemingly casually, "What is the name of His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Although Song Ai was puzzled as to why she suddenly asked this question, she still respectfully replied, "The Crown Prince's name is Yuan Hao."
Zhao Yuanhao… Yu Nie silently repeated the name in his heart.
According to the Record of the Fall of Beiye, Huan Xun, who was nearly thirty years old at the time, held important positions such as Grand Chancellor, Grand Tutor and Grand General. Although he assisted Emperor Huai, he was autocratic and made decisions on life and death at his own discretion, making him a powerful minister who held sway over the court.
Even after Huan Xun died of illness, Emperor Huai, who had long harbored resentment, ordered the execution of all of Huan Xun's generals, exhumed his grave, whipped his corpse, stripped him of all his honors, and finally abandoned his body in the wilderness.
As far as she knew, Emperor Huai's name was not Zhao Yuanhao, but Zhao Kang.
During the reign of Emperor Zhao Yunfu, his generation all used the character "Yun" as the middle character in their names, while his descendants used the character "Yuan".
This emperor, named Zhao Kang, was of a lineage that she could not immediately discern.
She turned to Song Ai and asked, "Has Ju Ling ever heard of a prince named Zhao Hong?"
“Zhao Kang…” Song Ai pondered for a long time, but even as an old woman who had lived in the palace for a long time, she was at a loss for what to do.
Seeing that she didn't know either, Yu Nie didn't ask any further questions.
She thought to herself that she needed to keep a close eye on this person.
She continued to look around the flower hall.
The room is well-furnished. The antique shelves are not filled with expensive antiques, but rather with handmade wood carvings and clay figurines, which are simple yet charming.
Yu Nie strolled among them, his gaze lingering on these interesting objects, and before he knew it, he had wandered to the desk area.
Several books and an unfinished painting were scattered on the table.
A necklace wrapped around a bronze tiger-shaped pen holder caught her eye and made her stop.
Upon closer inspection, the beak-shaped necklace is exquisitely decorated and gleams with gold.
She had never seen such an exquisite necklace before, yet it seemed strangely familiar, as if she had encountered it briefly sometime long ago.
She was just about to take a closer look.
Footsteps approached from afar outside the door.
She turned around to look for the sound, and the footsteps, which had sounded somewhat hurried, slowed down as they approached the door.
Not long after, Yu Nie looked up and saw Huan Xun lift the curtain and enter.
Instead of his usual wide-sleeved court robes, he changed into a neat black military uniform with red trim. The clean lines outlined his narrow waist and broad shoulders, and the tightly bound cuffs were embroidered with intricate animal patterns in gold thread, which were faintly visible as he moved, adding a touch of solemnity.
The fabric was a crisp, subtly patterned brocade, gleaming under the sunlight filtering through the porch. His right shoulder was covered by a slightly worn black leather shoulder armor, clearly a frequently used item, not merely decorative. It accentuated his tall, imposing figure.
The bow and arrows slung on his back revealed a quiver peeking out. Combined with his refined features, they possessed a sharp, captivating beauty that momentarily held her gaze.
He approached her in a few steps, his steps heavy and steady, his forehead glistening with a fine sheen of sweat, his chest rising and falling slightly.
He seemed to take a deep breath before speaking, "I apologize for keeping Your Highness waiting so long. I am late."
Whether it was just her imagination or not, Yu Nie felt that he was somewhat different from when he was in Huaiyuan.
She couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.
His gaze always seemed calm and focused intently on her.
This made her panic, and she instinctively wanted to look away, yet she couldn't help but want to see the emotions deep in his eyes. This contradictory feeling left her flustered and confused.
“It’s alright,” she said. “The adults returned much faster than I expected.”
This wasn't just polite talk; the Imperial Palace was indeed not far from the Eastern Palace, and no matter how you calculate it, the round trip wouldn't be this fast.
“When the people from the manor came looking for me, I was already on my way back,” he explained.
That was the truth, except that he completely omitted the need for a fast horse on the road.
Yu Nie's gaze fell on the white-feathered arrow behind his shoulder: "Sir, are you teaching the Crown Prince how to shoot arrows?"
Her words brought Huan Xun to his senses, and he suddenly remembered that he was still carrying a bow and arrows.
I was rushing along the way and so focused on getting there that I forgot to take off my gear.
He responded with an "Mm," then raised his hand to take the longbow from his shoulder and turned to hand it to Lu Jinshi, who was standing beside him.
He turned around, his voice steady, and gestured for her to sit down as he spoke: "I will be responsible for teaching the Crown Prince's horsemanship and archery. Today we will be teaching the essentials of drawing a bow and nocking an arrow."
As he entered, he saw her standing in front of the golden beak and asked, "Is the princess interested in that necklace?"
She smiled and replied, "I thought that necklace was very beautiful, and now that I see it, it looks very familiar. The pattern on this necklace is unique and doesn't seem to be a style commonly seen in Beiye."
“This item comes from the Red Falcon Clan,” he interjected, his tone calm. This was the first time he had mentioned its origin to anyone else: “It was made from the beak of a golden eagle. The Red Falcon people believe that wearing this as an ornament can ward off evil spirits, protect the wearer, and ensure peace.”
"The one the princess just looked at was no ordinary item; it was the beak of the King of Eagles. The King of Eagles is a rare find, and those who can obtain its beak are even rarer."
She seemed to understand something, revealing a mixture of knowing and curiosity: "The Red Falcon Clan... I don't think I've ever heard of them. Where do they live?"
“Xuzhou, deep in the Changmang Mountains,” he replied.
“Such a precious item,” she chose her words carefully, her gaze gently returning to his face, “was it purchased from them by you, sir?”
A barely perceptible ripple crossed his eyes, and old memories suddenly surfaced.
He paused for a moment, then said, "It's not about buying. It's more like... finding a lost item for an old friend."
Although he maintained a smile on his face, Yu Nie keenly caught the fleeting melancholy beneath it.
Sensing the heaviness in his heart, she didn't press him further.
After she sat down, he calmly sat down opposite her and changed the subject: "Your Highness, what brings you here today?"
Yu Nie's gaze shifted slightly, glancing warily at the maids and guards around him before finally settling on Huan Xun's face.
He immediately noticed, and without her saying a word, he raised his hand to dismiss everyone, including the guards in the courtyard.
In the blink of an eye, only the two pairs of masters and servants remained in the hall.
Yu Nie's worries faded away.
She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and fixed on him, no longer beating around the bush: "To be honest, Lord Huan, I have come here today to ask you for a favor."
Then, she told him the story of the disaster in Jincheng County, which was completely different from what Jian'an had told him and Langxi and the others.
Every point was explained clearly and thoroughly.
She said that her senior sister would never lie to her about the possible cover-ups and misinterpretations by these officials in charge of disaster relief.
So she wanted to know what the imperial court was saying.
If you want to ask him, borrow the official gazette to find out the truth.
Huan Xun had heard a little about the disaster in Jincheng County.
He hadn't read the official gazette that had been delivered a few days ago because of personal matters.
After she spoke, he then had his attendant, Lu, bring all the official gazettes.
When Attendant Lu brought her what she wanted, her heart sank when she saw the reason written on it.
She closed the heavy scroll in her hands, her fingertips lingering on the scroll for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "It seems that it is not the common people spreading rumors, but someone deliberately changing the truth."
"The urgent report received by the imperial court stated in black and white that the Yellow River had breached its banks, rather than that there had been a flood caused by torrential rains."
A breached levee and a torrential rain are two completely different things in disaster relief regulations. The amount of money, materials, and manpower required differs by more than double.
“It was Li Xing who personally went to Jincheng County to inspect the disaster situation and take charge of the disaster relief work.” Huan Xun continued, “After he returned, he still insisted on this statement, and all the reports submitted were based on this.”
After a moment's thought, he uttered his most crucial deduction: "He has probably completely taken control of the entire Jincheng County, with a unified narrative and an ironclad unity. This is not something one person could do alone; it must be a conspiracy between superiors and subordinates."
She raised her eyes and went straight to the heart of the matter: "He dares to do something as sinister as exterminating nine generations of his family. Isn't he afraid of being exposed?"
"When greed surpasses fear, the result is fearlessness."
A cold smile flickered across Huan Xun's lips:
“Jincheng County belongs to Longxi. His ancestors were from the Li family of Longxi. It’s not surprising that everyone in Jincheng County is related to the Li family. They share the same fate, and no one would turn against them.”
"The aristocratic families share the fate of the nation. Your Majesty can be ruthless in dealing with officials from humble backgrounds, but when it comes to the aristocratic families, whose every move affects the whole situation, you must ultimately consider the balance of the court. In the eyes of people like Li Xing, there is always room for maneuver, unless irrefutable evidence appears."
"Moreover, the emperor is far away and the channels for submitting memorials are entirely in his hands. The emperor can only see the 'peace and tranquility' that others want him to see. If no one is willing to risk their life to expose the truth, it will simply vanish with the wind."
He said, "Even if the matter comes to light, there is a way out. If the truth can't be hidden forever, he can immediately push out one or two subordinates and say that he was deceived by them. At most, he will be punished for negligence, and there may be a salary reduction or demotion, but he is far from being able to exterminate his entire family."
Yu Nie deeply understands the extent of information isolation in ancient times.
She had many doubts in her heart, but when she thought about how He Renzhi and others had committed evil deeds in Huaiyuan for many years without the court being aware of it, she felt a chill in her heart.
It might not be difficult for someone in a high position like Li Xing to conceal something intentionally.
"Are we just going to let them run rampant like this? Is there really no way to punish them?"
She was filled with resentment: "They sit in high positions in the government, enjoying all kinds of wealth and honor, engaging in corruption and embezzlement, yet the blame never falls on them. What is the reason for this?"
When she said these words, Yu Nie understood that many things in this world are inherently unfair. Yet, she still couldn't suppress her indignation.
Looking at her expression, Huan Xun said as if to comfort her, "Of course there are ways to deal with them, as long as there is sufficient evidence."
"Isn't the evidence of their fabrication enough?" she asked.
"This alone is not enough to warrant the death of Li Xing and his only son, Li Yunsheng."
He analyzed: "We need more compelling evidence. For example, petitions from thousands of people, blood oaths, and records of the local disaster victims' testimonies. We can also break into their ranks and obtain key documents and other physical evidence. Or we can conduct on-site inspections to obtain evidence that the dikes have not breached. With witness testimonies and physical evidence intertwined, we can form an irrefutable fact. At that time, no matter how Li Xing tries to deny it, he will not be able to escape the law."
Then, he added a very important piece of information: "When Xie Cheng returned, he said that the disaster in Jincheng County was severe, the people had no food to eat, and many refugees had turned into bandits, causing local unrest. Some even raised the banner of 'purging the emperor's inner circle' to denounce these so-called celebrities. At present, the war in the northern frontier has not yet been quelled, and what the emperor least wants to see is the resurgence of internal strife."
"I haven't reported this information to the Emperor yet. Once it reaches His ears, it will be enough to make Li Xing suffer a terrible fate." He was busy dealing with the matters Yan Yue had entrusted to him and couldn't worry about Li Xing at the moment.
At this point, he guessed what she was thinking: "You want to use this to find evidence of Li Xing's crimes, so as to bring down the Li family?"
Yu Nie did not deny it, but he also did not fully reveal his true purpose, only using revenge as a pretext to cover it up.
She whispered, "Lord Huan, rest assured, I will not reveal a single word of what you said today."
He retorted, "Do you think I'm afraid of being implicated by you?"
His irreconcilable conflict with the aristocratic families was a well-known fact in both the court and among the public.
Even at this point, she still seemed to have reservations about him.
“I…” She hesitated for a moment, then finally found a suitable excuse: “To be precise, I don’t want to drag the adults… into a deeper vortex.”
After listening, he remained silent for a moment, his gaze falling on her slightly furrowed brows, his eyes as deep as a tranquil lake, captivating all who looked away.
His lips curved slightly, a faint smile that instantly softened his sharp aura, making him somewhat enigmatic.
"This is not good."
His voice was steady, as if he were stating a regrettable fact, with a hint of melancholy from deep thought:
"I just rushed back to the manor, and on the way I was thinking, should Your Highness form an alliance with me? After all, we have a common enemy."
Although he said this in a timely manner, it was not meant to be sarcastic.
He said, "If allies feel guilty towards each other, how can they stand shoulder to shoulder?"
Yu Nie almost thought he had misheard, and went over his words in his mind several times.
She was both surprised and suspicious, and asked cautiously, "My lord... do you want to form an alliance with me?"
“Not only.” He spoke with certainty, but did not elaborate further, remaining focused on the matter she had asked: “Everyone in the court knows that I am sworn enemies with those people. Now that you have made an enemy of them, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. It is only natural that I want to join forces with you.”
His words made sense, and Yu Nie relaxed a little, then frowned and got down to business: "According to what you said, if we report the truth, His Majesty will severely punish Li Xing?"
"If it can be proven that Li Xing embezzled disaster relief funds and lied about the disaster situation, causing the disaster victims to turn into bandits, even if his entire family is executed, it would be considered a great act of imperial grace."
His gaze was clear: "But we must make it clear to the outside world that this crackdown must stop at Li Xing and his cronies, and not affect the entire aristocratic clan. We must conduct a swift trial and make his crimes public to serve as a warning to others. In this way, other aristocratic clans will not dare to interfere rashly."
It is easier to nibble away at something than to swallow it whole; dealing with the aristocratic class requires a gradual approach.
He paused, then continued, "Given the relationships between these clans, and with interests at stake, the Gao, Wang, and Chen families don't even consider the Li family, whose foundation is still weak, to be a concern. The other three families, who are about to benefit, will certainly not oppose the Emperor over this matter."
"Among the aristocratic families, there is always competition for resources. With the fall of the Li family, the power and profits they held will be divided among the three families. Why wouldn't they be happy to do so?"
If such a colossal lie is discovered and the evidence is conclusive, Li Xing, even as a member of the aristocratic class, will have to pay a heavy price to appease public anger.
Huan Xun was telling the truth.
She didn't think deeply about what he meant by "benefits," and was only focused on the evidence.
She recalled her teacher saying that the soil in each place has its own characteristics and contains different minerals. The composition of a substance determines its properties; this is an objective natural phenomenon, and human beings cannot change this chemical law.
The Yellow River's waters are turbulent and its silt is completely different in nature and quality from the soil around Jian'an and even in Jincheng County.
Different soil mineral compositions result in completely different oxide colors after burning.
If soil samples from Jincheng County are taken and burned in a strong fire, it can prove whether or not the area was flooded by the Yellow River.
However, she considered that people at the time might not fully trust the method of "testing the extent of the disaster by using soil samples".
This method alone is insufficient to draw a conclusion; it must be supplemented with other evidence.
Li Xing concealed the extent of the disaster, which must have involved written correspondence with others. If we can obtain the relevant documents of their secret communications, or find witnesses to come forward, the truth will come to light.
After thinking it over, she told Huan Xun her thoughts.
Huan Xun had witnessed her abilities, acknowledged her deductions, and offered an even more foolproof method: "If we add the matter of bandits disturbing the people, it will further prove that Li Xing's words are false. With so much evidence before us, even if Li Xing has extraordinary abilities, he will find it difficult to refute it."
He pondered for a moment: "However, it is not advisable for you to expose this matter directly. The emperor is suspicious and may think that you are seeking personal revenge."
Having already made up his mind, he continued, "I will first send someone to report the rebellion of bandits in the Dingzhou area. At that time, you should claim to have heard rumors and think of using the method of soil testing to verify the truth of the matter."
“But…” He paused slightly, his tone hesitant and uncertain.
"Just?" she asked.
Huan Xun said, "But we still need a witness, preferably a local resident of Dingzhou, who can come forward to expose the local bandits causing trouble and prove that the Yellow River has not breached its banks, but the disaster victims still cannot receive relief and have turned to banditry, causing the local people unbearable suffering."
"This person should ideally have no connection with the officials in the court and be an ordinary commoner. Only in this way can he appear credible and avoid being suspected of using his position for factional strife."
Yu Nie seemed to be deep in thought, and he pondered with him where to find this reliable person.
Just as she was thinking this, the guard at the door came to report.
Upon entering, he bowed to Yu Nie and said, "Princess, Xu Zhige has sent someone to find you, hoping you will go to his residence, saying that something serious has happened."
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Author's Note: Something came up and I was a little late. Here's some milk tea for everyone [milk tea][milk tea] I wrote a bit more than I should have, so I apologize (bows) [please][please]
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