Chapter 52: Marriage Granted: Mr. Zhou is both talented and handsome, and you have known each other since childhood...
Yang Hao bribed the soldiers and escaped secretly when Zhao Huaixu fell ill.
He traveled quickly all the way and it took him five full days to reach the gate of Shangjing City. His five fingers dug deep into the cracks between the rough bricks of the city wall, and mud and water were still dripping from the corners of his tattered robe.
Yang Hao stood in front of the city gate, looking up at the towering city wall, a smug smile on his face. "That damn Fang Yilan, he still wants to scare me."
The guard at the city gate took his ultimatum and immediately put on a respectful expression. He bent down and whispered, "Lord Yang! Why did you come back alone?" There was a bit of surprise and flattery in his tone.
Yang Hao waved his hand, a hint of impatience on his face, and a bit of fatigue and annoyance in his tone: "Oh, don't mention it, I've been exhausted all the way here, let me have a good rest first." His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't had water for a long time, and his throat was so dry that he could hardly speak.
The guard understood his intention and led him to a luxurious carriage. He attentively lifted the curtain for him and said, "Your Excellency, you have had a hard journey. There are drinks in the carriage. Please rest up first. We will take you back to your residence."
Yang Hao suddenly remembered that he had returned to Shangjing. He put on airs, raised his hand and pointed at a few people, and said with a condescending satisfaction in his tone: "You guys still understand, hahahaha."
He entered the carriage and collapsed on the gold-woven cushions, not noticing that the coachman's cuffs were embroidered with dark patterns used only in the Ministry of Justice's death row.
The carriage slowly started, its wheels rolling over the cobblestones. Yang Hao leaned back on the soft cushions, casually picked up the wine jug inside, and poured himself a glass. The wine was rich and fragrant, and he drank it all in one gulp, smacking his lips in satisfaction, completely unaware that the carriage was heading not into the city, but out of it.
The carriage stopped in a desolate field outside the city. Yang Hao frowned, lifted the curtain, and was about to question the driver when he was stunned by what he saw. Several figures were staring at him coldly, their eyes as sharp as knives.
"What are you doing..." Before Yang Hao could finish his words, he was held down by those people.
He widened his eyes in fear and struggled desperately: "What are you doing? I'm the imperial envoy! How dare you touch me?"
"You're asking for your own death." The leading black-clad man snorted coldly, revealing a hint of sarcasm and deep disgust. "You've contracted the plague, yet you're still trying to go to Shangjing and harm people. What are you up to?"
Yang Hao's face turned pale instantly, and his lips trembled: "No... No! I'm not sick! Let me explain..."
The man sneered and mercilessly stabbed Yang Hao with the dagger in his hand. Yang Hao's screams echoed in the empty wilderness before being silenced.
Yang Hao lay on the ground, his eyes still wide open, a lingering trace of fear and unwillingness. Even to his death, he couldn't believe he'd ended up like this. The man in black gave him a cold look, then waved his hand, and several of his men immediately poured kerosene on Yang Hao's body.
The moment the torch was lit, a raging fire suddenly rose up, and the air was filled with a pungent burnt smell that was nauseating.
On the south corner tower of the imperial city, Emperor Jingwen stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the dancing flames in the distance.
"Oh, this royal family can really give birth to a romantic man, Eunuch Li, don't you think it's ridiculous?" Emperor Jingwen tapped the railing lightly and sneered.
Eunuch Li stood behind him, lowering his brows and responding docilely, "The Seventh Prince is still young. He has been raised outside for so many years, so his temperament is inevitably a bit simple..."
Emperor Jingwen sneered, "If you give a stray dog on the roadside a piece of carrion, it'll bow its head and risk its life in loyalty. But if it's a wolf that's been hungry for three winters... sniffing the scent of blood and flesh, do you think it will seize the opportunity to bite her throat out?"
Eunuch Li's Adam's apple slid twice against the brocade collar. Cold sweat had already soaked through his shirt. He bent even lower, "Your Majesty is wise."
The fire in the wilderness was completely extinguished, leaving only charred earth and a few pieces of debris. The wind blew up the ashes, scattering them in the air, as if Yang Mao's existence had never left any trace in this world.
...
The atmosphere in the Golden Throne Hall was solemn. Emperor Jingwen tapped the secret report with his fingertips, his face gloomy.
"Your Majesty, Fang Yilan failed to supervise Yang Hao properly and allowed him to escape back to the capital, which almost caused a huge disaster. This dereliction of duty must be investigated!" The Minister of the Ministry of Rites took the lead in attacking, and his court tablet rustled between his sleeves.
The Chief Censor immediately lifted his robe and knelt, "Your Majesty, Fang Yilan used force in Wenbin and illegally detained sick civilians. His methods were cruel. He even forced Liang Qian to death. His heart is damnable!"
Emperor Jingwen frowned, his eyes swept towards Fang Yilan, and he slowly said, "General Fang, I have great trust in you, but you haven't handled these matters properly. Is there anything hidden?"
He said this with kind intentions, but in fact he was scheming. He was just waiting for Fang Yilan to find a flaw that would be enough to punish him.
Fang Yilan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Yang Hao is holding the imperial edict bestowed by you. If I forcibly stop him from leaving the city, wouldn't that be disrespectful to Your Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, He Zhiming hurried out and sternly rebuked him, "Fang Yilan, stop quibbling! When you assaulted Yang Hao in Wen Bin, did you ever care about the imperial edict? Now you're completely denying the charge!"
Fang Yilan raised her eyebrows and asked, "When did I ever assault Lord Yang? How could Lord He believe his one-sided story? Since Lord Yang has returned to the capital, why not invite him out for a face-to-face confrontation?"
He Zhiming was speechless. He had recently received a tip-off about Yang Hao's sudden death, but he didn't dare expose this tacit secret in court. He could only stiffen his neck and argue, "Yang... Lord Yang was exhausted from the journey and fell seriously ill. He died. How could I possibly confront you?"
Fang Yilan sneered: "What a coincidence! I guess a few years ago, those people in Wenbin also died from a sudden illness like this!"
He Zhiming was furious and pointed at her and said sternly: "Fang Yilan, what do you mean by this!"
Fang Yilan calmly pulled out Liang Qian's written evidence and account book from his sleeve. He said in a cold voice, "Liang Qian has admitted that the amount of silver allocated to Wenbin for disaster relief was only 12 million taels. Moreover, official silver used for disaster relief was discovered in Wenbin and Shangjingdu. How do you explain Lord He's corruption?"
Zhou Ting'an also stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, the truth behind the corruption case at the Jinyu Restaurant has been uncovered. Liang Qian's blood-written letter serves as evidence, pointing out that He Zhiming embezzled government funds and then passed them through Yixianglou."
"He Zhiming used these evil acts to coerce Liang Qian into accepting Northwest grain, causing the Northwest generals to be short of grain and fodder, and plunged them into a deep crisis. He Zhiming should be arrested immediately, and justice should be done to the Northwest generals and the people of the world."
Emperor Jingwen flipped through the account books presented to him, and the pages he tore in anger flew like snow. "What a shameless official of the Ministry of Revenue! You even dared to touch the disaster relief funds I granted you!"
"Your Majesty! I am innocent!" He Zhiming fell to his knees. "It must be Fang Yilan who teamed up with the Zhou family to frame me!"
Emperor Jingwen roared, "Now that the evidence is irrefutable, what else do you have to argue about? Come! Take him to the Imperial Prison!"
The imperial guards followed the order and entered the palace to drag He Zhiming out. He Zhiming laughed crazily: "Fang family kid! Do you think you can kill me..."
The shrill voice gradually faded away until the following words could no longer be heard clearly.
Emperor Jingwen's expression eased slightly, and he clapped his hands and smiled, saying, "General Fang's contributions to flood control and epidemic prevention are of great benefit to the country. Although his methods were drastic, his merits outweigh his flaws. Now, he has even collaborated with Minister Zhou to solve a major case."
"Not only should it not be punished, it should be rewarded!"
Emperor Jingwen pondered for a moment and said, "General Fang is now in his prime, yet he's still unmarried. Why not..." Emperor Jingwen looked around and landed on Zhou Ting'an. "Lord Zhou is both talented and handsome, and you've known each other since childhood. It wouldn't be a disgrace for him to marry you to the title of Marquis of Zhenguo."
Zhou Ting'an's fingers gripping the ivory tablet suddenly tightened, his expression changed slightly, but he said nothing.
The prince was stunned: "Father..." Before he could open his mouth, he was stopped by Emperor Jingwen's warning eyes.
Zhao Huaixu lowered his eyebrows and his expression was gloomy and unclear, but several nearby officials felt as if they were in an icy cave.
Fang Yilan clasped his fists and bowed, his voice firm: "Your Majesty, my father is the only one who can decide my marriage."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in an uproar. Several veteran officials were so shocked that they knocked over their imperial tablets and whispered to each other. Fang Canghong had already died on the battlefield, so how could he be in charge?
Emperor Jingwen's knuckles on the dragon-patterned armrest suddenly tightened, and he chuckled in anger, "General Fang, do you despise the marriage I personally chose? Do you have to find such a ridiculous excuse to justify it?"
Fang Yilan's expression remained unchanged, his tone respectful yet firm: "I dare not disobey your order, but marriage is a matter that I cannot be careless about. The war in the northwest has not yet ended. I hope to fulfill my father and brother's wishes first, and make plans for other matters later."
Emperor Jingwen's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his voice was as icy as ice: "What a good plan! Let's make other plans first! General Fang, do you think that my imperial edict is no match for the lonely souls in the deserts of the northwest, and can't spur you on?"
"I dare not."
"Your Majesty is wise. If Lord Zhou and General Fang marry, the financial power of the Ministry of Revenue and the military power of the northwest will be fused into one. From now on, even the northwest wind will be unable to penetrate this iron wall of our Ruining Empire."
Everyone looked sideways when they heard the voice, but it was Zhao Huaixu who spoke. There was no anger on his face, and he spoke calmly.
Emperor Jingwen suddenly paused his movements and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
The rapid ringing of a bronze bell suddenly shattered the dead silence. The messenger burst open the palace door, and the blood-stained Southwestern Army report was thrown onto the dragon table: "Your Majesty, this is bad news. The Zhennan Army... has defected to Nanzhao... He Wei and his 80,000 soldiers have defected to Nanzhao!"
Emperor Jingwen's expression became extremely ugly.
If we revoke the order now, it will damage the majesty of heaven. But if we force Fang Yilan to stay in Shangjing and transfer the Southeast Army to suppress the rebellion, I am afraid that the smoke of war from the Northwest Camp will burn to the palace gate tonight.
Emperor Jingwen was furious and slammed the table, sweeping away all the memorials: "What a wicked He family! They are still harboring evil intentions!"
"Fang Yilan, the situation in the southwest is critical now. In recognition of your contribution to pacifying the northwest, I will retain half of your military power."
Emperor Jingwen walked down the dragon steps, and his gold-embroidered dragon robe brushed against her shoulder armor.
"We will set out to quell the rebellion in three days. The Tiger Tally will be shared between the Seventh Prince and me. Please do not disappoint me." He paused. "As for your marriage... we will set an auspicious date upon your return to the capital."
"I obey the order."
Fang Yilan knelt on one knee with a respectful and neat movement. The eyes hidden in the shadow of his brows cut through the pearl curtain of the crown and pierced directly at Emperor Jingwen in front of him.
It was obvious that she was submitting, but her eyes seemed to have never taken the imperial power seriously.
...
That night, Zhao Huaixu knelt in the shadow of the imperial study. Emperor Jingwen slowly pushed the dagger across the table. The dagger rubbed against the table, making a subtle and harsh sound.
"Do you know why I allowed you to live?" Emperor Jingwen's voice was low and slow, and he suddenly laughed as he recalled the past. "Your mother poisoned her good sister for you as a token of her loyalty."
Before Zhao Huaixu could answer, Emperor Jingwen continued, "I only ask you to kill a woman. I don't think it's a difficult task, right?"
He suddenly stood up, walked around the dragon table, and came to Zhao Huaixu. With a look of sarcasm and temptation in his eyes, he said, "As long as you can handle this matter, you will sit on the throne in the future. You can choose any woman in the world, won't you?"
Zhao Huaixu knelt in the shadows, his figure almost blending into the darkness. Only his eyes shone coldly in the dim light, like a dormant beast. He never raised his head, but whispered, "I will live up to my father's trust."
The corners of Zhao Huaixu's lips drooped gently, but his eyes in the shadows were shrinking into needle points as the candlelight burst.
Emperor Jingwen smiled and patted him on the back of the neck: "Very good."
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