Imperial Estates
The heavy fragrance of incense in the Zichen Palace had not yet dissipated when the young emperor's fingers tapped restlessly on his desk, each tap echoing in the silence. His gaze was fixed heavily on two newly printed imperial edicts.
How old was he? Fifteen? Sixteen? The dragon throne was so wide that he sank into it completely, feeling utterly empty.
"Minister Huo," his voice strained to maintain its authority, yet a hint of youthful anxiety betrayed it, "has the fiefdom and imperial estate of the Earl of Anping been settled?" He looked at Huo Ying, the Minister of Revenue. This cousin of the Dowager Empress Huo exuded the unique composure of the Huo family in every gesture, like an invisible mountain pressing down on his heart.
Huo Ying stepped forward, bowed, and said in a steady tone, "Your Majesty, it has been arranged. Three hundred households each in Linzhou and Qingzhou. The imperial estate will be located on the southern slope of the Western Hills, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, quiet and elegant, just what the Earl of Anping needs for recuperation."
He uttered the word "quiet recuperation" softly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the report on the imperial desk concerning Shen Yan's "unresolved bee venom."
"Southern foothills of the Western Hills?"
Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Works, sitting below, suddenly twitched his lowered eyelids. His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, dug into his palms so hard that his nails almost embedded themselves in his flesh. Yet, he tried his best to maintain a calm, still voice. “Your Majesty, the southern foothills of the Western Hills… seem to be quite close to the private forest property recently acquired by the Earl of Anping? This…” Before he could finish his sentence, his meaning was clear—it was too much of a coincidence!
What is Shen Yan's intention? How much influence did the Huo family exert in this?
A surge of resentment suddenly welled up in the emperor's chest, making his vision blur! It's happening again! He wanted to bestow some favors, but these old foxes always had a thousand excuses! The Huo family was protecting Shen Yan, while the Jiang family wished they could tear him apart. He, the emperor, was caught in the middle, and even granting him an estate was met with suspicion!
"So what if it's close?!"
The emperor's voice suddenly rose, sharp and youthful, as if refuting Minister Jiang, or perhaps venting his pent-up frustration. "The Western Hills are so vast, do I have to avoid the land that Shen Yan bought when I bestow an estate upon him? I think he really likes those mountains and forests! His wolf is being mistreated in the city! Bestowing it on the mountain is just right!" He roared almost defiantly, his chest heaving and his fingers trembling slightly.
Huo Ying immediately chimed in, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Your Majesty is wise. The Earl of Anping is of pure heart and loves the pleasures of the mountains and forests. Your Majesty's consideration is truly a testament to the grace of the imperial family. Moreover, the Western Hills are tranquil, making them the perfect place for the Earl to recuperate. It is indeed a win-win situation."
With a few casual remarks, the emperor's impulsive "just right" was characterized as "wise and compassionate."
Minister Jiang's face instantly turned from pale to black, his lips trembling. He still wanted to argue, but the emperor waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away annoying mosquitoes: "The decree has been issued! Get out!" He didn't want to hear another word.
"Your subject obeys the decree." Huo Ying and Minister Jiang bowed simultaneously.
Huo Ying's expression remained unchanged, but a monstrous murderous intent surged in Minister Jiang's eyes.
The backyard of the Shen family mansion on Zhuque Avenue.
The scent of earth mingled with the fragrance of fresh grass. Ling Zhan squatted beside a small patch of newly turned soil, intently burying several plants with thick, unusual leaves into the ground. Her fingers were covered in mud, but her movements were precise and swift. Scattered nearby were some small items that had just been repaired—a delicate bird stand that had been knocked askew, and a bamboo chair with loose joints.
In stark contrast was the restless Frostblade by the irrigation ditch. Its massive claws scratched at the paved flagstones, producing a grating "crack, crack." The edges of the flagstones were already covered with deep claw marks and spiderweb-like cracks, sending fragments of stone flying. A low, suppressed growl rolled in its chest, and a wild, anxious aura permeated the entire backyard.
The gazebo in the front yard.
However, it was a scene of extravagance and frivolity.
“My lord, look at this ‘Flowing Clouds Brocade’! When the sunlight shines on it, it shimmers as if flowing water is passing through it! If made into a cloak or cape, it would be a unique and elegant garment in the capital!” A stewardess vigorously unfurled the shimmering brocade in her hands.
Shen Yan leaned back on a chaise lounge covered with thick, soft brocade cushions, one leg draped "weakly" on a low stool covered with a velvet carpet, displaying the quintessential air of a spoiled brat. He pinched a corner of the brocade with his delicate fingers, squinting his captivating peach blossom eyes against the sunlight: "Hmm, it's somewhat interesting! But this gentleman's fair skin and jade-like bones need a brighter background to complement them… Oh dear!"
Before the words were finished, a loud "crack—crash!" came from the backyard, as if a frost blade had struck the ground. Another stone slab had been damaged.
Shen Yan exaggeratedly shrank his neck as if he had been pricked by a needle, then turned around and shouted towards the backyard: "Frostblade! Ancestor! Little ancestor! Be gentle! If you scratch another piece, Madam will nag again about how I spoil you so much that you're lawless!"
The tone, though helpless, was filled with doting affection, causing several noble ladies who had come to "admire the fabric" in the pavilion to giggle softly, covering their cherry-like mouths.
The eunuch's high-pitched, shrill voice, proclaiming the imperial decree, pierced through the commotion in the front yard and the noise in the backyard, cutting straight in:
"...A royal estate is hereby granted at the southern foot of the Western Hills, adjacent to the mountains and forests, to demonstrate the Emperor's grace and to reward your hard work... So be it!"
"Your subject, Shen Yan, obeys the decree! Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor!"
Shen Yan's "surprise" instantly magnified to its extreme, his peach blossom eyes shining brightly, as if he had won the grand prize. He pretended to "struggle" to get up from the soft couch to pay his respects, but his injured leg "perfectly" buckled, and he was about to stumble and fall when a quick-thinking eunuch hurriedly and "considerately" supported him: "Your Highness is injured, no need for formalities! No need for formalities!"
He took the bright yellow imperial edict and contract with both hands, and with his fingertips, he touched the words "southern foot of the Western Mountain" very lightly, with a certain sense of confirmation. The smile on his face was so bright that it could blind people.
Turning around, he faced the backyard, raised his voice, and couldn't suppress his pride and boastfulness:
"Ah Zhan! Frostblade! Did you hear that?! His Majesty has bestowed upon us a huge estate! It's right in the Western Hills! Right next to the forest we just bought! Frostblade! My dear son! From now on, there will be plenty of space for you to run wild and have fun! You won't have to feel so stifled scratching our precious bluestone slabs anymore!"
In the backyard, the giant claws that had been digging at the ground with frost blades suddenly stopped.
Its massive head snapped back, its icy blue ears snapping upright like the most alert radar, and a roar, no longer able to be suppressed, burst forth from deep within its throat—a roar brimming with primal, wild desire! Its thick tail lashed wildly, splashing water everywhere! Its enormous body instantly taut like a fully drawn bowstring, its icy blue eyes blazing with fury, fixed fixedly on the gate, a threatening growl emanating from its throat, as if it were about to smash through the gate and pounce on the free mountains at any moment!
Ling Zhan paused only slightly while planting.
She raised her head, her gaze calmly passing through the gaps in the flower trellis, landing on the figure in the front yard gazebo—a figure holding an imperial edict, laughing carefree like a mischievous child who had finally received a beloved toy. That pure joy remained unseen in her serene eyes. She didn't utter a word, but simply lowered her head, continuing to carefully bury the roots of the last plant in the moist soil, gently pressing the surrounding earth down with the back of her muddy hand.
Sunlight fell on her focused profile, outlining a serene tranquility that stood out starkly from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
She understood what that mountain forest and the imperial estate meant, and the meticulous calculations hidden beneath his playful and sarcastic exterior.
"Awooo—!!!"
Frostblade could no longer contain the surging wildness within its chest. It raised its head to the sky, which was cut off by the courtyard wall, and let out a short, high-pitched howl filled with endless longing for the boundless mountains and forests! The sound waves rolled and shook the leaves.
The eunuch delivering the imperial decree stumbled, his face turning pale, startled by the howl of the ferocious beast so close at hand. But upon seeing Shen Yan's genuine, joyful expression, and hearing the frenzied commotion from the backyard, his initial apprehension turned into certainty: this man is truly simple-minded and loves to play and cause trouble. His Majesty's unnecessary worries were entirely unfounded.
The news spread like wildfire through the elite circles of Beijing.
The study in the Huo family mansion.
The fragrance of sandalwood wafts through the air.
The empire's most trusted minister, the Grand Marshal of the Huo family, was leisurely sipping fragrant tea.
A trusted advisor approached silently and whispered, "My lord, the imperial estate has been settled in Xishan."
Grand Marshal Huo's gaze fell upon the newly sprouting buds on the branches outside the window, a faint yet knowing smile curving his lips: "His Majesty, young and impetuous, was provoked by the Jiang family, which played right into Shen Yan's hands. The Western Hills are a continuous expanse, forming a world of its own. Tell Ying'er that the Jiang family will not give up easily, and have their men keep a close watch on the outskirts of the Western Hills, keeping their eyes peeled. That Shen family brat, his use of the word 'Western Hills' is masterful, truly ingenious."
His tone carried a hint of admiration for a worthy opponent.
The inner hall of the Jiang residence.
The atmosphere, however, was like an icebox.
"Crack—!" A valuable official kiln crackle-patterned teacup shattered on the ground.
"West Mountain! It's West Mountain again!" Minister Jiang's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and veins bulging on his forehead. "You brat! That old thief Huo! You've gone too far! This isn't a granted estate! It's clearly a plot of land for that little bastard to build his nest and camp!" His roar shook the dust off the beams.
The advisor held his breath, not daring to utter a sound, and after a long while whispered, "My lord, please calm your anger. The imperial estate is bestowed by the emperor, and its status is already established. It is indeed difficult to deal with him now. However... although Xishan is remote, it is not an impenetrable fortress. He will always have to leave the city and enter the estate. In the depths of the mountains and forests, the roads are treacherous, the forests are dense, snakes and insects roam freely, and wild beasts roam. 'Accidents'... are always hard to prevent..."
Minister Jiang's eyes flashed with a cold light, like ice picks coated with deadly poison: "Have the 'Mountain Ghost's' men keep a close watch on West Mountain! The manor bestowed by the Emperor? Perfect as a ready-made graveyard for him! Shen Yan, that woman, and that eyesore of a beast... leave no one alive! Be quick! Be clean! Make it look like an 'accident'!" Every word was imbued with a chilling, bone-chilling killing intent.
Deep within the palace, in the imperial study.
After lunch, the young emperor slammed a memorial onto the table in frustration, making a dull thud. "Is he really that happy? And...and even showing off to that wolf?" he asked the head of the shadow guards kneeling in the shadows beside the imperial desk, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible confusion and...subtle sourness.
"Your Majesty, when the Earl of Anping received the decree, he was overjoyed and his emotions were genuine and heartfelt. When he spoke of Zhuangzi to the snow wolf, his excitement was like that of a child who had just received a treasure, and it did not seem fake. Right now... he should be in the elegant room of 'Yunshangji', discussing the newly arrived 'Liuxia Jin' with others."
The shadow guard's voice was flat and emotionless, merely stating what he had seen.
Upon hearing this, the emperor's taut shoulders seemed to relax almost imperceptibly. He leaned back into the vast dragon throne that could engulf him, waved his hand, and said wearily, "I know. It seems he truly enjoys the pleasures of the mountains and forests. Very well. Have Hidden Scales' men keep a close eye on West Mountain Manor, making sure not a single blade of grass or tree escapes their notice. As for his shops in the capital... let him do as he pleases."
The sight of that seemingly harmless, pleasure-seeking playboy was like a short-lived soothing balm, giving his tense nerves a brief respite. However, the heavy, suffocating feeling of being manipulated by powerful officials and unable to even bestow favors freely still weighed on his heart like a lead weight, making it hard to breathe.
The front hall of the Shen residence (Anping Earl's Mansion).
The imperial decree lay casually open on the low table, next to a crystal pear that Shen Yan had just half-eaten, its juice dripping. He still leaned back, his "injured leg" draped over the soft stool, the nonchalant, flamboyant smile on his face gone, replaced by a deep, wistful expression. His slender fingers rhythmically tapped lightly on the words "adjacent to the mountains and forests" in the decree, producing a soft, rhythmic tapping sound.
“Mr. Zhou,” he said lazily, but with a hook at the end, “this estate was given away just right…”
Zhou Wenqing stroked his short beard, his eyes gleaming with a restrained shrewdness, and smiled, “My lord is blessed with great fortune. His Majesty, with his youthful spirit and pure sincerity, was moved and bestowed upon us an immense gift. With the golden signboard of ‘Imperial Estate’ erected in the Western Hills, everything from the lady’s trial planting of new cotton, Shuangren’s patrols of the mountains and forests, the guards’ drills and training, and even the livelihoods of the villagers, has become respectable matters of ‘acting by imperial decree.’ If the Jiang family were to try any evil deeds in the Western Hills, they would have to think twice. Would tampering with this imperial land be considered a blatant disregard for the Emperor’s grace? This is an invisible barrier, stronger than a thousand armies or an impregnable fortress.”
Ling Zhan was not in the front hall.
From the backyard came the faint sound of her tapping on wood, unhurried and deliberate, as if she were repairing yet another of Frostblade's "masterpieces." Interspersed among these were the sounds of Frostblade pacing restlessly in the yard, the rustling of its massive claws scraping the ground, and the low, urgent whimpers from its throat, yearning for the mountains and forests.
As Shen listened to Zhou Wenqing's meticulously detailed plan, he caught the symphony of life and wild restlessness coming from the backyard, and the corners of his mouth once again curled up that familiar arc, three parts roguish and seven parts profound.
He picked up the half pear, took a big bite with a "crunch," and the sweet juice trickled down his chin.
"Ordered to run wild?"
He chuckled vaguely, his peach blossom eyes curving into sly crescents. "This is fun, I love it! Zhan!" He suddenly raised his voice and shouted towards the backyard, "If the weather's nice tomorrow, let's go see this 'racecourse' His Majesty bestowed upon us! Let's give Frostblade the biggest and wildest spot! So it won't be thinking about turning our backyard into a radish pit every day!"
In the backyard, Frostblade's restless pacing abruptly stopped.
Immediately afterwards, a howl, even higher in pitch and more penetrating, filled with wild anticipation and ecstasy, tore through the air:
"Awooo—wooo—!!"
It was as if it were announcing something to the entire capital.
The mountains and fields temporarily protected by the "royal bestowal" name will soon become its exclusive territory.
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