Chapter 6 Leaving the Capital
The memorial from Jizhou lay quietly on the imperial desk. Emperor Jiahe summoned the old chief minister and Prime Minister Guo to the palace for discussion.
There was no set rule about when a princess would leave the capital after her marriage. Some left a few days after the wedding, while others, like Emperor Jiahe's younger sister, stayed in the capital for three years because the late emperor was reluctant to let her go.
Emperor Taizu of the Great Han Dynasty was originally a military general of the previous dynasty. He seized power by donning the imperial robe and became extremely wary of military generals. Although he bestowed favors upon them, his suspicions remained. Emperor Jiahe now treats Qin Lie in the same way, only feeling at ease when he has him under his watchful eye.
However, an urgent report came from Ji Province that the previous Xiongnu Chanyu had been usurped by his brother, Hueryan.
Unlike his ambitious and ruthless brother, Hu Eryan was pragmatic, ruthless, and patient. His mother's entire clan was killed by his brother, and he endured for more than ten years in front of his enemies before finally taking revenge.
Unlike his brother, who had hundreds of thousands of troops pressing in, he concentrated his forces to attack the outpost towns of Jizhou. The steppe cavalry moved swiftly, like the wind, burning, killing, and looting when they could take a town, and harassing it when they couldn't. The soldiers were caught between two sides, and the people on the border lived in constant fear and misery.
The Prince of Dingbei petitioned and pleaded with his third son, Qin Lie, to return to Ji, guard the border, and repel the Xiongnu.
"What do you two ministers think?" Emperor Jiahe asked.
The old chief minister said, "In my humble opinion, Princess Yongjia and her husband have been staying in the capital for nearly a month. Although the emperor and the princess have a deep father-daughter bond, the military situation is urgent. I hope that the emperor will consider the tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of thousands of civilians on the border and order Princess Yongjia and her husband to leave the capital immediately."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Guo glanced at the old chief minister and thought to himself that when it came to speaking eloquently, this old scoundrel was truly unparalleled.
Everyone in the palace knew that Emperor Jiahe was planning to wait until the princess became pregnant before letting the prince consort go back, leaving the princess and child in the capital as hostages.
But then again, if the Prince of Dingbei's request is not granted, and the princess is not pregnant this month, does that mean she will be pregnant next month? No one can guarantee that. If there is still no good news after three to five months, are we really going to keep Qin Lie detained in the capital forever?
"Prime Minister Guo, what do you think?" Emperor Jiahe's question interrupted his thoughts.
In his early years, Guo Xiang had tried to adopt the air of a wise and shrewd official like the former chief minister, speaking in a way that was both enigmatic and shrewd. However, after several setbacks, he had to admit that as a relative of the emperor, he should know his place and be a sycophantic minister.
—The words may not be eloquent, but the divine will must be thoroughly understood.
Today, there's no need to even speculate—if Emperor Jiahe were willing to let Qin Lie leave, he would simply ask the old prime minister and leave without asking him this question at all.
Therefore, he spoke very bluntly.
"Your Majesty, I disagree with the Grand Secretary. The Prince of Dingbei of Jizhou, riding high on his great victory, has also captured Tongzhou and Chongzhou. His army now numbers nearly 80,000. If he harbors rebellious intentions, he will undoubtedly become a major threat to the court. Historically, when generals are away from home, their wives and children remain in the capital. However, the Qin family has been sent away to serve in various posts, leaving them with few relatives in the capital. Now that the General Who Conquers the North is in the capital, how can we let the tiger return to the mountains?"
Emperor Jiahe frowned: "Prime Minister Guo misspoke. How could I doubt the loyalty of the Prince of Dingbei's family?!"
Guo Xiang hurriedly knelt down and said, "Perhaps I am base and judge a gentleman by the standards of a petty person. But when the Duke of Zhou feared rumors, and when Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation, for the sake of the great Qing dynasty and its people, I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!"
After saying this, he touched his forehead to the ground, almost bursting into tears.
Emperor Jiahe was slightly moved: "Prime Minister Guo, please rise. Your loyalty is entirely for the sake of the country, and I naturally understand that."
After observing the courtiers' long and heated debate, the old prime minister said coldly, "Prime Minister Cui is overthinking things. The troops in Ji Province are numerous and need to guard the border. They cannot be moved without permission. The Prince of Dingbei is old and his heir is weak. Although the General Who Conquers the North has some shrewdness, he is just an impetuous and stubborn military man. Even if he has rebellious intentions, he is unlikely to amount to much and is not worth fearing."
Emperor Jiahe asked, "How do you know?"
The old chief minister said, "Before Qin Lie came to the capital, he was extremely resistant to Princess Yongjia, but after the marriage, he became obsessed with her beauty, which shows that his will is not firm. He was easily provoked by a few words and exposed his shortcomings in a fit of anger, which shows that he is not shrewd. His younger brother, Qin Hong, behaved improperly and acted domineeringly and violently when he was in the capital, which shows that the Qin family did not raise their son properly."
The General's mansion is leaky like a sieve; these things are no secret at all.
As for Qin Hong, his actions were simply astonishing.
In the capital, scions of noble families all considered elegance and refinement beautiful, spending their days in flowing robes and wide sleeves, applying powder and adorning themselves with flowers, playing the zither and reciting poetry as a sign of refinement. Qin Hong, a country bumpkin from the border, always wore a tight-fitting outfit, was uneducated, and behaved rudely.
Sometimes he was genuinely ostracized, and sometimes it was just that people of similar backgrounds didn't associate with him. Qin Hong concluded that these scions of noble families looked down on him, so he actually bribed a group of thugs to drag lone scions into dark alleys and beat them up.
He was smug and thought no one knew him, but in reality, his schemes were full of flaws.
If it weren't for the old prime minister keeping him in check, the governor of the capital would have arrested and imprisoned him long ago.
Such tyrannical behavior, including beating the sons and nephews of high-ranking officials, shows just how willful and absurd he has become!
When Emperor Jiahe first heard about this, he fell into deep thought. The Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince, who were listening to the lecture, also found it hard to believe.
The people in the capital are so scheming and backstabbing against each other, but no matter what, they would never resort to such low-class methods. Immediately, an idea came to mind: only a remote place like Jizhou could produce such ignorant and reckless people!
If such families can become emperors and change dynasties, wouldn't those who are always cautious and scheming become a laughing stock?
Seeing that the old chief minister had changed the situation in the hall with just a few words, Guo Xiang said, "Your Excellency is mistaken. It is only Qin Lie's opinion that he is unwilling to marry Princess Yongjia. Who knows if it is just an act to lower our guard?"
The old chief minister stroked his beard and said, "I have been managing the secret guards for the court for decades. How could I easily believe someone's words? Little did I know that there was some basis for it."
"The Prince of Dingbei had an eldest daughter who, in her youth, met a county magistrate in Qingzhou during a trip. This magistrate was a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations of the seventh year of the Jiahe era. At only twenty-one or twenty-two, his achievement of ranking third in the examinations was a testament to his exceptional talent. He was personally selected by the Emperor as the third-place scholar, and was naturally a handsome and talented young man. The two fell in love and married the following year, enjoying two years of blissful marriage. The magistrate was highly capable and, with the Prince of Dingbei's patronage, was awarded an excellent rating by the court after three years and transferred to the prosperous Jiangnan region as a prefect. At that time, the Qin family was naturally reluctant to let their daughter marry so far away and wanted to keep their son-in-law and daughter by their side to take care of them. However, the eldest daughter refused. Firstly, she believed in following her husband's wishes and did not want to hinder his future because of herself. Secondly, she herself wanted to experience the prosperity of Jiangnan."
"On their way to their new post, the two encountered a couple being chased by bandits. The eldest daughter had them rescued. They learned that the couple had been quite wealthy in business, but their fortunes had fallen. They had tried to make a quick buck with their remaining money, but the bandits had stolen their goods, leaving them with no way to survive. The eldest daughter, who was chivalrous and felt a strong connection with the woman in distress, decided to let the couple accompany them to their new post and settled them in her home."
The old prime minister sighed, "She meant well, but she didn't expect to bring a wolf into the house. That wife in distress was a former courtesan who had tricked a wealthy young man into redeeming her. Now that her husband's family had fallen on hard times, she set her sights on the top scholar. Courtesans have many tricks up their sleeves, and how could the top scholar resist her allure? Before long, the two began an affair. The woman first poisoned her husband, and then deliberately arranged for the eldest daughter of the Qin family, who was six months pregnant, to witness their affair, leading to her death in childbirth."
"The Prince of Dingbei guarded the border year-round. His eldest daughter had been raised by the old lady since childhood and was cherished like a treasure. When the news reached Jizhou, the old lady immediately fainted. After she woke up, she set a rule that no man in the Qin family should marry a prostitute, take a concubine, or keep a mistress. Anyone who violated this rule would be removed from the family genealogy."
"Qin Lie had a very close relationship with his elder sister. When she first came to Qingzhou, she took her younger brother Qin Lie with her as a cover. Upon hearing the news of his elder sister's death, Qin Lie was both grieved and remorseful. Without informing the military camp, he left the camp and rode hastily to Jiangnan. He was eventually stopped by the Prince of Dingbei and severely flogged more than a hundred times according to military discipline until his clothes were soaked with blood, but he still did not admit his mistake. Therefore, this old minister concluded that Qin Lie's disdain for Princess Yongjia's birth mother was not an act."
Emperor Jiahe praised, "Teacher has always been meticulous in his actions, and I trust him the most."
Upon hearing the word "teacher," Prime Minister Cui knew that the old chief minister had won another round.
Upon emerging from the Imperial Study, the old Grand Secretary and the Crown Prince, the Seventh Prince and Prime Minister Guo immediately became clearly distinct.
Even if one wishes the other party to die on the spot, one must still bid farewell politely. Only after the Seventh Prince and Prime Minister Guo left did the Crown Prince help the old chief minister slowly descend the white jade steps.
Just moments before the Emperor, the old Grand Secretary had already shown signs of exhaustion, but he forced himself to remain composed so that Prime Minister Guo wouldn't notice.
The crown prince suddenly asked, "What became of the scholar who ranked third in the imperial examination and the courtesan?"
The old prime minister was disappointed, but he did not show it on his face. He only said, "Naturally, they did not have a good ending. A few days later, the top scholar and the courtesan were found dead in their home. The coroner's examination of the bodies revealed that each of them had no less than a hundred stab wounds. Strangely, all of these wounds were inflicted by the other party, and no trace of a third person was found in the room."
The Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine: "Does the Grand Secretary know who did this?"
The old prime minister said, "The only thing we know is that the Qin family members were far away in Jizhou during that time and had no time to commit crimes. The only Qin family member who did not appear in public was Qin Lie, who was recuperating in the backyard."
Seeing the Crown Prince's expression change slightly, the old chief minister asked, "Does the Crown Prince know why I have been so insistent on Qin Lie's return to Ji?"
The Crown Prince shook his head, and the old chief minister explained, "If Qin Lie is truly just a mere warrior, there is no benefit in keeping him in the capital. If he is so cunning as to deceive me, the capital will certainly not be able to contain him. Princess Yongjia and you are siblings with deep affection, so Qin Lie can only become an asset to you if he returns to Jizhou."
The Crown Prince couldn't help but ask, "If he is truly vengeful and calculating, I'm afraid his affection for Princess Yongjia is nothing but pretense. How can he possibly offer her any help?"
The former prime minister said calmly, "She's just a princess. Even if she's useless and just a piece of a discarded chess game, what's the pity?"
.
Gui Ji's decree was something that others had meticulously planned and were determined to obtain, but it came as a complete surprise to Ling Yi.
She grew up in the inner palace and was actually confined to this general's mansion after her marriage. Even if she left, it would only be to go to another square, deep courtyard.
She had never experienced the prosperity of the capital city before, and as she left, she even felt a pang of sadness.
Many things in the room had been packed away. She sat by the window, propping her chin on her hand, and let out a long sigh.
In the past, her palace was filled with flowering trees outside the windows, each with its own beautiful scenery in spring, summer, autumn and winter. But the general's mansion was solemn and cold everywhere. From here, you could only see a few lonely pine trees standing forlornly in the wind.
But this was the last autumn gala in Beijing she could see.
"Is the princess so reluctant to part with the things of the capital, or the people of the capital?" Qin Lie asked casually.
Lingyi naturally had people she cared about, but there was no point in saying it. Her governess had taught her that the princess must be mindful of the greater good and not indulge in personal desires, so she simply said, "Even if I am reluctant, it is not as difficult as obeying the imperial decree. We will simply follow the order."
That night, a long-absent noise rose from the room.
The palace maid on night watch initially thought that since the princess had started her period and the prince consort had been busy preparing for his departure from the capital, the two had not shared a room for several days. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it was inevitable that they would be unable to restrain their feelings. However, to her surprise, the sounds from inside the room continued intermittently all night, and not even water was called during the night.
When the prince consort left at dawn, Zhao Mama and the others went in to serve the princess a bath, and couldn't help but gasp.
The princess's body was covered with bruises and red marks, with obvious finger marks on her wrists and waist, and even wet spots and marks on her chest and lower body that were still wet.
Lingyi was filled with shame and indignation; her already dwindling reputation was now completely ruined.
Her legs trembled especially when she walked, and the two tender spots on her chest that he had bitten stung even the softest fabric, making her even angrier.
Unfortunately, today is the day she leaves the capital, and with everyone watching, she has to maintain the demeanor of a princess so that no one will notice.
When Qin Lie entered the capital, he brought forty guards. As a princess who was to be married off to a distant place, Lingyi had eighty guards who had been waiting at the Imperial Son-in-Law's Office. In addition to the maids and eunuchs who accompanied her, the servants and attendants that Zhen brought back, and the people who escorted the dowry, the group numbered more than three hundred.
When Lingyi came out, everyone was waiting outside the mansion. Lingyi invited Zhen Shi: "The journey is long, and the princess's phoenix carriage is more spacious and comfortable. Why don't you sit with me, sister-in-law?"
Lady Zhen said, "Your Highness's kindness is something I should not refuse. However, I have made a great vow to recite scriptures and chant Buddhist prayers every day, and I dare not disturb Your Highness's peace and quiet."
Lingyi's invitation was sincere, so she was not surprised by Zhen's refusal.
As a sister-in-law, Lingyi had tried to get close to Zhen, but was always politely and distantly rejected by her under the pretext of worshipping Buddha.
Lingyi didn't understand why someone would reject a princess's advances. But since Zhen was indeed a devout Buddhist, she didn't press the matter further.
After the palace attendants helped Lingyi into the phoenix carriage, the long procession set off in a grand and imposing manner.
As the princess's imperial carriage passed by, the people on both sides knelt down and kowtowed, calling out "Your Majesty!" Lingyi lifted the curtain and looked at the dense crowd kneeling along the way. Among them were children with their hair in buns and elderly people with white hair. Some knelt upright, while others secretly raised their eyes to look.
Lingyi was originally sore all over and it was difficult for her to sit, but she straightened her back without thinking. Even though she knew that no one outside could see her, she still sat upright until the imperial carriage drove out of the city gate and onto the main road in the suburbs of the capital, and there were no more people on both sides of the road.
Qin Lie, clad in light armor, rode at the head of the procession. Just as he was about to order the troops to speed up, he heard the neighing of horses and the clatter of wheels from the city gate. A carriage was rapidly approaching, and someone shouted, "Princess, please wait!"
Qin Hong turned around and saw that it was the Grand Secretary's carriage, and couldn't help but glance at Qin Lie.
Qin Lie merely raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression unchanged, and waved for the convoy to stop.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
