Chapter 153 "Old Friend" Returns All the memories of the past...
From Qi Xun's words, Yu Nie realized that he was quite surprised that Qi Xun was actually waiting for him to come to him.
Before she could speak, Qi Xun invited her to sit down at the table.
"Huan Xun told me everything." He got straight to the point: "Your Highness, has Your Highness come here now because you have something important to discuss with me?"
Upon learning that Huan Xun had already cleared the "channels" that needed to be cleared, Yu Nie didn't waste any more words.
She paused for a moment, then said, “In Beiye, the mansions of the rich and powerful have swallowed up the land, and the court is filled with officials in purple robes and sashes, cutting off the path for the poor. Now, seeing the decline of the gentry, it is truly the clear justice of Heaven that good and evil will eventually be rewarded.”
"Even those of noble birth are not immune to good and evil." She asked, "Having lived in this deep palace for so long, have you heard of the changes in the Secretariat?"
Qi Xun stroked his beard: "Is Your Highness referring to Ichiro Hachisaku?"
The term "Ichiro-Hachisaku" refers to one author and eight assistant authors, all of which are official titles.
Yu Nie: "What the Daoist said is correct. Those nine people were merely fulfilling their duty as historians, recording the truth in the historical records. But His Majesty, in order to protect his holy name, actually killed them to silence them."
"The Third Prince beat a palace maid to death with a cane, yet the Emperor never severely punished him. This shows that in the eyes of the monarch, the lives of historians and palace women are nothing but lowly dust. How can someone who treats all living beings like grass bear the weight of the imperial court?"
Qi Xun could discern the core message behind her lengthy speech.
He went straight to what she really wanted to say: "So Your Highness wants to change masters because of this?"
They already knew each other's identities, and Yu Nie didn't keep them in suspense: "That's right."
After answering generously, she seemed to be caught in a dilemma: "I just don't know whether I should wait until the war is over to replace Zhao Yunfu, or replace him now?"
"If the person is replaced, who should succeed to the throne?"
Faced with such questions, Qi Xun did not think much and gave the answer he had already decided: "We cannot change hands now. If we are to change hands, we must wait until the war is over, or at least until the northern border is stable."
Yu Nie: "Why? The internal situation is not completely stable yet, isn't this the perfect time to take over?"
“It is precisely because of this instability that we cannot act rashly. What we need right now is to control Zhao Yunfu. When the time is right, we will use him to eliminate the biggest threat to Huan Xun and me, and then establish a new crown prince. At that time, Emperor Zhao Yunfu will naturally have to abdicate.”
"A major threat?" Yu Nie was extremely surprised, her voice unconsciously rising: "You've already chosen a crown prince?"
She was unaware that Huan Xun had such a plan; he had never mentioned it to her, and she couldn't help but feel disappointed.
After a moment of surprise, she continued, "Whom do the Taoist priest and Zijing intend to kill? And who do they intend to make crown prince?"
Looking into her eyes, Qi Xun uttered two words: "Yan Yue".
Upon hearing this earth-shattering news, she froze, suddenly recalling what Huan Xun had said on the Jin Yue River. Indeed, he was not joking.
He really wanted to kill Yan Yue, who had raised him.
"Why did he..." Her throat tightened, and she couldn't finish her sentence.
Qi Xun understood that she had many questions, but he did not immediately offer any explanation. Instead, he explained why they had used each other to commit murder.
He said, “Yan Yue commands hundreds of thousands of troops and is invincible. Even Huan Xun was trained by him. Do you know his capabilities? If we fight him head-on, father and son will openly fight amongst themselves, which will not only benefit others, but even if we succeed, it will be a loss.”
"So you want to use Zhao Yunfu's help?" she added.
Qi Xun did not deny: "Borrowing Zhao Yunfu's knife is the easiest and least costly way."
Although she had expected it, she still found it hard to believe when the facts were actually presented to her.
She got up, supporting herself on the table, and slowly walked back and forth in the alchemy room.
“But Zhao Yunfu is suspicious by nature, how could he be willing to cut off his own arm?” Her throat was extremely dry as she spoke: “Besides… Governor Yan has not done anything wrong. Would a high-ranking official like him really offer his neck for execution because of an imperial edict?”
"It is precisely because Zhao Yunfu is suspicious that we are able to prescribe the right medicine."
Qi Xun followed up: "Zhao Yunfu has been wary of Yan Yue's great achievements and potential to overshadow the emperor for a long time. As long as the war in the northern frontier is quelled and the Beiya Army marches south, we will let Zhao Yunfu 'accidentally' discover that Yan Yue has rebellious intentions."
Yan Yue was, after all, an important official. She didn't believe he would submit to a false imperial edict: "But what if Yan Yue really surrenders without resistance? What if he rebels because he can't bear being falsely accused?"
Her words drew a cold laugh from Qi Xun, his laughter laced with sarcasm: "He will."
As he moved along, he said, "To be honest, I admire Yan Yue. He has the mountains and rivers of Beiye in his heart and the unification of the world. He often told Huan Xun that once the world is at peace, he would retire from the army and return to his hometown. He is not actually attached to power."
"Although he was a military official, he did not realize that when a subject's merits overshadowed his master, there were only two paths: either overturn the dragon throne and sit on it himself, or wait for the emperor to punish him for various reasons."
The fire in the alchemy furnace burned fiercely, turning the entire space red.
"He thought that handing over military power would guarantee a peaceful end for the ruler and his subjects, which is ridiculous. The more open and honest he is, the more Zhao Yunfu will feel that he harbors evil intentions. The most terrifying thing in this world is not blatant ambition, but someone who is clearly loyal and devoted, yet possesses the prestige to call a call to arms, which makes people suspicious and unable to take precautions."
Qi Xun turned to look at her: "To Zhao Yunfu, his very existence is a threat."
Qi Xun's analysis is correct. Throughout history, those whose achievements overshadowed their rulers were inevitably purged. Other emperors, however, might have been given a glimmer of hope after relinquishing power.
Yan Yue was facing Emperor Zhao Yunfu, a man who would rather kill a hundred innocent people than let one guilty person go free.
This, to some extent, sealed his fate.
Perhaps fearing she might misunderstand something else, Qi Xun clarified: "However, regarding Yan Yue, Huan Xun insisted on dragging the entire Beiya Army into the mess; he only wanted Yan Yue to atone for his sins."
As he said this, Yu Nie deduced another reason: if Yan Yue were eliminated by Zhao Yunfu, personal guards like the Beiya Army would only hate the court, not Huan Xun.
At that time, this army will probably be unconquerable and will only be brought under the command of Yan Yue's adopted son, their young master Huan Xun.
Huan Xun, who has taken over all of Yan Yue's troops, will suddenly become the true powerful minister of Beiye.
Killing Zhao Yunfu back then would have been as easy as turning one's hand.
What puzzled her was that Huan Xun seemed to have no intention of vying for the throne, but instead had a new master in mind.
However, she did not raise these speculations in front of Qi Xun, but instead asked the question she most wanted answered.
"Why did Zijing... kill Governor Yan? Governor Yan treated him well after all." She seemed to remember something: "Could it be related to the Crimson Falcon Clan? Did he kill members of the Crimson Falcon Clan?"
Qi Xun was not surprised at all that she knew these things. Ever since he saw the jade pendant at her waist, he had already discerned Huan Xun's attitude from it.
Given her instructions, he was even less surprised that she knew about the Red Falcon Clan.
After pondering for a while, Qi Xun turned his back and walked to the alchemy furnace.
Just as Yu Nie was about to ask again, she heard him say, "My clan was not killed by Yan Yue, but the fact that he is required to atone for his sins is indeed related to him."
Now Yu Nie was even more puzzled. Then, she thought of someone else: "Could it be that Zhao Yunfu did this evil deed?"
To his surprise, Qi Xun rejected this question.
He simply told her, "When the princess has mastered gunpowder and travels south to meet Huan Xun, he will tell you everything in person."
Then, Qi Xun faced her and said calmly, "I only beg the princess that no matter what Huan Xun does, you should not hate him. He may have wronged many people, but he is sincere towards the princess."
"There are some things he didn't tell you directly, Princess, because he hadn't figured out how to get you to forgive his future actions."
At this point, he probably realized that what he said was somewhat unreasonable.
Qi Xun added, "These words were spoken on my own initiative. In any case, Princess, you should make your own choice."
"I am certain that Huan Xun will respect your wishes and will not force you to do anything against your will."
He continued, "Your Highness, rest assured, after you go south, I, Master Shen, and Xu Wuwei will be in charge of the palace."
Before she could even process the information from before, upon hearing him say this, Yu Nie asked, "The three of you?" Clearly, the three of them had reached some kind of consensus in private.
Qi Xun's words proved her point.
He said, "Zhao Yunfu currently dotes on Master Shen, and I have been adding a lot of other medicines to his pills over the years."
"Now, he looks perfectly fine. He's just a bedridden patient, and it'll only take a few doses of medicine. Besides, the palace guards are now controlled by the Wuwei Camp, and the Imperial Horse Administration is suppressing rebellions in various places. The three of us can control all the forces around Zhao Yunfu, and it won't be difficult for us to use the emperor to command the princes."
Qi Xun said, "If the princess wants to go south, there is no need to worry about unrest in the court."
"Huan Xun asked me to tell you, Princess, to do whatever you want. If the court betrays you, he will fight back."
"You don't need to worry about anything."
Yu Nie was slightly taken aback: "When...when did he say this to the Taoist priest?"
Qi Xun stood with his hands behind his back: "It was around the time when the Li family was in trouble."
“He learned of your burdens and understood that you were worried about losing control of the rear, which is why he told me this.”
Qi Xun: "He has paved the way for you, including the crown prince he intends to appoint, who will never be your enemy in the future."
Lost in Huan Xun's words, she snapped back to reality when she heard about the establishment of a crown prince.
She asked, "Who did he choose?"
Qi Xun replied, "This man's father is of the same generation as Zhao Yunfu, and according to blood relations, he is Zhao Yunfu's biological son, while he is Zhao Yunfu's grandson."
His name is Zhao Kang.
Zhao Kang—!
Historical records state that Zhao Zhao ascended the throne as an infant with the support of Huan Xun. After Huan Xun's death, Zhao Zhao, dissatisfied with Huan Xun's autocratic and dictatorial style, and under the instigation of treacherous officials, ordered Huan Xun's corpse to be whipped in revenge, and subsequently had everyone associated with Huan Xun executed.
Absolutely not, she absolutely could not allow Huan Xun to make Zhao Kang the crown prince.
She had to stop him.
As the carriage slowly came to a stop, Song Ai's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, we have arrived."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie snapped out of his reverie and realized that he had arrived at the entrance of Hongzheng Pavilion.
She responded and stepped down from the carriage.
Sui En, who was guarding outside the door, jogged up to greet her and happily reported, "Your Highness, an 'old friend' has arrived from Jingyuan and is waiting in the backyard."
"An old friend?" She wondered who could be coming so late, and who was still in the backyard. "Who is it?" she asked.
"You'll find out when you get there, Your Highness," Sui En said mysteriously, leading her through the covered corridor to the backyard.
Filled with questions, Yu Nie followed them to the backyard.
As she rounded the corner, she saw a chestnut horse tethered to a tree in the backyard, where palace lanterns were lit, and it was pawing restlessly.
Upon seeing this scene, Yu Nie stopped abruptly, almost unable to believe his eyes.
This is the little red horse she took with her when she left Jingyuan after being forced to stay there.
Overjoyed, she quickly stepped forward and stroked the little red horse's mane.
The surprise came so suddenly that her voice trembled with joy: "Who? Who sent the horse?"
“It’s a merchant from Jingyuan.” Sui En handed over a letter: “This was brought along by his horse.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie quickly took the letter.
The envelope was addressed to Wuxiang. The letter was unfolded, and inside, in childish handwriting, it said that the horse had recovered from its illness and was now strong and healthy, eating and sleeping well every day, though it would occasionally be sullen.
Fearing that the horse would miss its former master, and that he himself could not leave the temple, he had no choice but to ask a trusted friend to send it to Jian'an.
The letter also specifically mentioned that the pair of "mandarin ducks" who had left Jingyuan had indeed flown back.
He felt guilty after learning of her plight and wanted to come to Jian'an to find her, but after being persuaded, he was afraid that he would be recognized and implicate her again, so he had no choice but to spread his wings and fly away again.
Yu Nie instantly understood who the mandarin ducks referred to.
At the end of the letter, Wuxiang wrote: "I am greatly relieved to learn that Your Highness is safe. The medicine Your Highness sent was very useful. I hope to meet you again."
Wu Xiang knew about her past experiences, so he also understood her current identity.
Yu Nie's gaze lingered on the phrase "hoping to meet again" for a long time.
The evening breeze rustled the thin letter paper, and the little red horse beside her nuzzled affectionately against her palm.
Upon seeing these words, she recalled her journey from leaving Lingbao Temple to Jingyuan, and then to Jian'an.
All of this happened so far back, it felt like something from a past life.
There's no turning back in this world; she can only keep going.
gunpowder……
Huan Xun… she had so many questions she wanted to ask him.
But before that, she had another important task to complete.
It's time to put the gunpowder factory on the agenda.
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