Chapter 119 Unspoken Words The more burning her feelings were, the more...
Xie Cheng's words caused Huan Xun and Yu Nie to exchange a glance.
Yu Nie's face showed surprise; she hadn't thought Zhao Yunfu would be that fast.
The four great clans had long been a thorn in Zhao Yunfu's side.
However, based on her understanding of Beiye's past history and Zhao Yunfu's limited knowledge over the past few days, she knew that he was not someone who was eager for quick success. If he had a choice, he would not have been so eager to break the delicate balance between the aristocratic families, the common people, and the imperial power, nor would he have acted so swiftly against the Li family.
Logically, he could have continued to bide his time, employing the art of checks and balances to use the power of the aristocratic clans to counterbalance Yan Yue, who held considerable military power. He could then use this opportunity to sow discord, waiting for both sides to weaken before calmly consolidating power, gradually eroding their influence, and ultimately seizing complete control of the court, achieving absolute supremacy.
This time, however, he quickly imprisoned Li Xing for interrogation, his methods decisive and efficient, revealing an unusual urgency.
Breaking the current situation would be an act of adventure for Zhao Yunfu, the emperor, comparable to venturing deep into the tiger's den.
Unless... there is pressure forcing him to do so.
She sensed a deeper signal from Zhao Yunfu's unusual urgency: the political landscape of the court was likely about to change.
However, she couldn't quite figure out the specific reasons behind this.
Compared to her surprise, Huan Xun, having served in the court for a long time, had a clearer understanding of the unpredictable changes in the political situation over the years, and was not surprised.
Because he knew in his heart that this was a secret letter from Yan Yue that he had deliberately placed in a hidden compartment in his study, and it had worked.
As expected, Zhao Yunfu had already been "informed" about Nan Yin's plan to launch a northern expedition.
However, the content of the letter was changed. The original letter's mention of Yan Yue's suggestion to lead the army south was changed from Yang Du's recommendation to Yan Yue himself.
The attachment to his reply was also included, clearly stating his opinion on the matter as "no".
Xie Cheng said, "His Majesty acted so quickly this time, without even waiting for the Imperial Horse Administration to come up with a general result. He simply finished questioning him and then had him imprisoned. It's really hard to believe."
As someone close to Huan Xun, Xie Cheng was well-versed in the factional struggles of the court.
Huan Xun asked, "Have the Imperial Horse Stables men left the city?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, the operation has already commenced. Before Yang Zhongshu sent anyone to deliver the message, I learned that Chang Yushan, the Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration, had personally led 10,000 elite troops to Jincheng County to thoroughly investigate the matter."
Yu Nie listened quietly to the words, and her heart stirred upon hearing them. She pondered to herself that when she was tracing the origins of the Li family, she had found out that these powerful clans, which had been entrenched for many years, all kept their own retainers in their respective ancestral lands.
Zhao Yunfu's actions this time were so decisive, even carrying a hint of "striking first," that it was clear he had long been fully prepared to deal with the subsequent factional strife.
He probably knew better than anyone how many secret schemes and plots these aristocratic families harbored, which is why he detained Li Xing before even waiting for the investigation results. He was undoubtedly afraid that delaying would give the other side an opportunity to collude and destroy evidence.
Fortunately, the Li family was far less powerful than the other major clans, and its foundation was also shallow.
While Zhao Yunfu's actions were risky, they weren't quite at the point of truly risking his life.
But looking at it another way, his actions also suggest that something more important and urgent must be happening behind the scenes.
She pondered Zhao Yunfu's reasons for doing this, but when she looked at Huan Xun, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, and her previous confusion was instantly answered. A key idea gradually became clear: Zhao Yunfu probably already knew that Nan Yin was about to launch a northern expedition.
She didn't think much of it, assuming Yan Yue had reported it to Zhao Yunfu in another way. As a general, there was no need to conceal such an important matter.
As she thought about it, she began to understand why Huan Xun's face showed only surprise when Xie Cheng finished describing Zhao Yunfu's actions.
Upon learning that the Imperial Horse Administration personnel had left the city, Huan Xun did not ask any further questions.
He shifted his body slightly. He never liked to lie down during meetings; he always insisted on sitting up to speak.
This was not good for his recovery, and she tried to persuade him several times to no avail.
He asked, "Where is Gu Xiangzhi? Hasn't he returned yet?"
Unexpectedly, he suddenly asked about Gu Xiangzhi, which surprised everyone, including Yu Nie and Xie Cheng.
Xie Cheng replied, "Lord Gu went to Shuoyang and should have returned by now, but for some reason, he has not returned yet."
Huan Xun scoffed lightly: "I was waiting for him to take up a post in the Censorate so he could help us settle accounts with the other families. It seems we can't count on him now."
Unexpectedly, he and Gu Xiangzhi had such a relationship. Yu Nie asked curiously, "You two... have a good relationship?"
Most officials in the court avoided putting their private relationships on the table to avoid suspicion, and she assumed that the two of them were no different.
But then she remembered that Gu Xiangzhi had mentioned Huan Xun before and said some bad things about him. She felt a little conflicted and couldn't figure out the true relationship between the two.
“It’s not exactly good.” Huan Xun didn’t hide anything and told her the whole story about their relationship: “The Gao family offended him because of the Star Gazing Banquet. He doesn’t want the Gao family to have an easy time, and we happen to need his help. To put it more clearly, it’s just a matter of each of us getting what we need.”
She understood.
As the three were talking, footsteps came from outside the door.
Yu Nie turned around and saw Aunt Wu leading her personal maid in, carrying a lacquered tray with a white porcelain medicine bowl on it, emitting an undeniable medicinal fragrance.
Seeing the three people huddled together inside talking, Aunt Wu smiled kindly and said, "Oh dear, what a forgetful thing I am! I forgot that Princess Shunhe is still here talking with our Zijing. I'm sorry to have disturbed you by coming in here so abruptly."
Seeing that she was about to curtsy, Yu Nie quickly stepped forward and reached out to help her up, shaking his head with a smile: "What are you saying, Aunt Wu? You're here to deliver medicine, which is an important matter, how can it be considered a disturbance? Besides, Zijing and I were just chatting, there's nothing important between us."
Aunt Wu: "The princess is kind-hearted. Zijing is in such a good mood thanks to the princess taking care of him."
As she spoke, she instructed a maid to hand the medicine bowl to Huan Xun.
Yu Nie turned slightly to the side, her gaze falling on the bed. She saw him looking down at the medicine bowl that the maid had just handed him, his gentle expression less warm than before.
Aunt Wu instructed him, "Zijing, this medicine has just been brewed and is still hot. Drink it while it's hot. It will be too bitter to swallow if it cools down, and the medicine will lose most of its effectiveness. However, I added licorice to this medicine to neutralize the bitterness, so it might taste better."
In Yu Nie's opinion, Aunt Wu treated Huan Xun very well.
"Thank you so much, Aunt Wu. Without you, I probably wouldn't have been able to swallow this medicine because it's so bitter," he said with a smile, then picked up the bowl of medicine and took a small sip.
Perhaps because the medicine was still a bit hot, he took a small sip before finally drinking it all in one go.
Seeing that he had finished drinking the medicine, and considering that it was getting late.
They've said everything they needed to say to each other.
Yu Nie glanced at the empty medicine bowl on the table, then looked at Huan Xun and said gently, "You've taken the medicine and you've been tired for a long time. If you don't rest now, the injury on your back will be even harder to heal."
She paused for a moment, then said, "It's almost time, I should go back now."
Aunt Wu, looking somewhat reluctant, quickly and gently urged, "Princess, why don't you have lunch before you leave? I've already instructed the kitchen to prepare."
Yu Nie shook her head: "Thank you for your kindness, Aunt Wu, but it's really inconvenient today. There are things at the inn that need my attention, and I can't afford to delay."
She smiled apologetically: "Next time, I'll try the cooking from the kitchen of Jiheng Mansion next time."
Huan Xun looked up at her: "Princess, are you really not going to eat before you leave?"
She had other plans in mind and replied with an "Mm".
Seeing this, he did not insist and replied, "Alright, since the princess has other matters to attend to, I will not insist."
He called to Xie Cheng, "Have someone escort the princess."
"Your subordinate obeys."
Yu Nie: "Then I'm leaving. You should rest well and not worry about anything."
After he agreed, she turned and left.
After she left, Aunt Wu, with a kind smile on her face, turned to Huan Xun and said meaningfully, "It seems that Princess Shunhe cares a lot about you, Zijing. She came to visit you with snacks at the crack of dawn. Who else, even other noble ladies in the imperial family, would be willing to lower themselves like that?"
She paused slightly, her tone revealing the urgency characteristic of an elder:
"In terms of timing, you've long reached the age to get married. Before, you were stationed on the border, so it was fine that your marriage was delayed. Now that you've finally been transferred back to the capital, your duties are less demanding, and it's the perfect time to settle down. If you can take this opportunity to settle your marriage, it will be good for you and your family. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
At this point, her eyes were full of anticipation: "I think Princess Shunhe is pretty and kind, and she is sincere to you. Where can you find such a good wife? Tell Aunt Wu the truth, have you never had any thoughts about her?"
Huan Xun's expression shifted slightly, a youthful smile playing on his lips: "Aunt Wu, you flatter me."
His tone was tinged with an indescribable melancholy, and he was deeply troubled: "The princess has been so good to me. If I had other intentions, wouldn't I be betraying her kindness? Besides, how can I make this marriage decision on my own? The princess is of noble birth, how can I be so presumptuous?"
"How can this be considered abrupt? Whether in age, appearance, or family background, you two are a perfect match. You should know that a good marriage is something that can't be forced. Your relationship with the princess is a rare and precious one, so you must seize the opportunity."
Huan Xun's brows furrowed with conflict: "But the princess is, after all, a member of the royal family. In terms of family background, I am far inferior to her. Moreover, His Majesty once said that the Empress Dowager intends to betroth her to the Prince of Guangning. In terms of social standing, how can I compare to the Prince of Guangning?"
Aunt Wu, who was waiting for his reply, seemed to have found the crux of the problem and advised him: "But the Empress Dowager has not yet granted the marriage. This Beiye belongs to the Emperor. The Empress Dowager is important, but the Emperor does not hold the real power."
"Since the Emperor has allowed you to teach the Crown Prince martial arts, it's clear he values you highly, Zijing. In my opinion, if you want to marry the princess, do it before the Empress Dowager does, and maybe it will work out."
He hesitated for a moment, as if he couldn't make up his mind, and then said, "This is a big matter, let me think about it some more."
Having said all that needed to be said, Aunt Wu did not linger any longer, saying she needed to check on the kitchen, and then left the house.
The moment the person left, the smile on Huan Xun's face vanished completely.
Watching Aunt Wu's figure disappear into the distance, Xie Cheng lowered his voice and asked Huan Xun, who was lying on the bed, "Why didn't you tell the princess Aunt Wu's true identity, sir?"
The fact that Xie Cheng could ask such a question was not because he was stupid, but because it did not match the depth of their current relationship.
In Xie Cheng's eyes, the fact that they were able to eliminate the aristocratic clans together proved that some information could be shared.
"She doesn't need to know about this." He said calmly, without explaining the specific reason.
The reason he didn't tell anyone was simple: he wasn't the type to report everything to others.
He knew all too well that revealing Aunt Wu's true identity would only add to her burden and would do her no good.
The more she knows, the more she carries. For now, this is for the best; she only needs to do what she's supposed to do.
He will cleanse and bear the rest of the filth, danger, and burdens.
He already knew about Zhao Yunfu's arrangements for her, so he wasn't worried that someone like Aunt Wu would harm her.
He will ensure that she is in a safe area and will not be in danger.
That's enough.
Xie Cheng understood perfectly well that the man hadn't finished speaking, which meant he had other plans and considerations that he couldn't reveal at this moment.
Xie Cheng blinked, lowered his head slightly, and ultimately suppressed the urge to ask further questions.
After a moment of silence, he raised his eyes again and finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for the past few days: "I have a question to ask you."
"explain."
Xie Cheng hesitated for a few seconds: "I always felt that Your Excellency's feelings for the Princess seemed to be quite different compared to when you were in Huaiyuan." He said with relief: "In all the years I've followed you, this is the first time I've seen you care so much for a young lady. If the Governor knew, he would surely be very pleased."
Huan Xun, however, asked, "Is this considered showing concern?"
“Of course it counts.” Xie Cheng seemed somewhat surprised by his question: “Although eliminating the aristocratic clans is something you must accomplish, sir, you even went so far as to send spies to secretly protect the princess. This really doesn’t seem like…”
“What doesn’t seem like it?” Huan Xun pressed.
Xie Cheng hesitated slightly before speaking, "This isn't the kind of attitude you should have towards an ally."
Huan Xun simply smiled and said, "Is that so?"
He then said, "I don't know when it started, but I have never regarded her as an ally."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly looked up at Xie Cheng, his voice slightly deep: "Xie Cheng." He addressed him solemnly: "Do you remember what I told you before?"
When he asked the question, Xie Cheng suddenly recalled the conversation he had in Huaiyuan and the vow he had made.
"I remember," Xie Cheng replied respectfully. "Your Excellency instructed me to convey that message to the Governor, and I did so, while continuing to send secret letters to alleviate the Governor's concerns about you."
When Xie Cheng learned that Huan Xun already knew that Yan Yue had sent him to his side to secretly monitor him, he was shocked beyond words.
He never imagined that his supposedly secret identity had already been seen through by the person in front of him.
Huan Xun closed his eyes and said slowly, "It's good that you remember. I understand my godfather's concerns. It's just that there are some things he doesn't know, which is actually more conducive to ensuring the overall stability of the Beiya Army and the Xuan Ce Army."
He paused, then opened his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable. He smirked and said, “So, regarding any matter involving the aristocracy, including her personal affairs, you must not mention a single word to your godfather, understand?”
Xie Cheng bowed his head and replied, "My lord has shown me the grace of giving me a second life. I swear to serve you to the death."
“If you didn’t have this determination, I wouldn’t have kept you by my side.” With that, he closed his eyes again: “I’m glad you can recognize who you should truly serve. You may leave.”
"Yes." Xie Cheng didn't linger any longer. He glanced at him and then turned to leave.
The moment the door closed, Xie Cheng stood silently in front of it for a moment.
He composed himself and was about to turn and leave when he saw Attendant Lu approaching at lightning speed.
Xie Cheng stepped forward and asked, "Attendant Lu, has something urgent happened?"
Lu Jinshi quickly glanced around, making sure Aunt Wu wasn't nearby, then lowered his voice and leaned closer to Xie Cheng: "The soil samples that you ordered to be collected, sir, have already been delivered back by fast horses."
"The master has just rested; perhaps we should wait until he wakes up before reporting to him."
Lu Jinshi thought that the matter of the sample soil was not urgent, glanced at Huan Xun's door, and then put aside the idea for the time being.
Just as the two were about to head to the front yard together, they turned around and saw Xiao Chengyan approaching with a solemn expression.
*
After leaving Jiheng Mansion, Yu Nie did not return to Hongzheng Pavilion, but instead went to the Imperial Palace.
Inside the swaying carriage, Cuiwei was puzzled by her sudden decision to go to the palace: "Princess, who are you going to see at this time?"
After a moment's thought, Yu Nie said, "I see Your Majesty."
Since Zhao Yunfu chose her as his spy, she should play the role of someone who cares about His Majesty's worries. Now that he has just broken ties with Lady Li, the palace is bound to be in turmoil. Her visit now is the perfect opportunity to show her concern and loyalty.
She had to make Zhao Yunfu believe that she, as a pawn, was commendably loyal.
Thinking of this, another concern welled up in her mind.
She has never revealed a word to Huan Xun about Zhao Yunfu asking her to act as an eyeliner.
Some secrets, if not revealed immediately, will see their credibility plummet, especially in such a complex political environment.
That day, when she left the palace, she was merely testing him in the carriage to see if he had someone he loved, without telling him about it, and thus she had already missed the best opportunity.
Historical records indicate that Huan Xun was an extremely cautious person. Perhaps because of this incident, he harbored resentment towards her, fearing that the thorn of "distrust" would quietly take root.
This newly formed alliance was both too precious and too fragile for her.
She could sense the pride and sharpness hidden deep within his nature.
If she were to speak frankly now, someone like him might not be able to accept being kept in the dark by an ally, even if the intention behind the concealment was not malicious.
She couldn't afford to take that risk, so she had to proceed with caution. Especially after he had made such a weighty promise, the more passionate his feelings became, the less she could afford to lose.
The current situation is chaotic and uncertain, with powerful enemies all around. Any crack could be magnified infinitely, leading to complete defeat.
She could only hope that when her foundation was more solid and her trust more unbreakable, she could find an opportunity to resolve this unavoidable "concealment."
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