Clearly distinct
The Jianzhang Masters could not touch A Qiu, who was the successor of the Junior Master, but they could touch the dancers who were her fellow disciples. This would not only humiliate A Qiu, but also retaliate against the dance troupe, and indirectly damage the reputation of A Qiu's master, Gu Yi, the highest leader of the Music Bureau.
Moreover, the timing of the other party's request was very clever, coming right after Pei Yuanli's death, when the emperor desperately needed to make a statement and win over the Jianzhang Army.
If it weren't for the fact that Madam Pei, though ruthless, would never stoop to targeting weak women, A Qiu would have suspected that this insidious scheme, which killed three birds with one stone, was her idea.
A Qiu forced herself to calm down. She thought of the first person and said, "Pei Yu. Although we don't get along, she is not one to stand idly by and watch women and children be bullied."
In the past, they would never have exchanged a single word with Pei Yu. However, during the rehearsals of "Yan Shining," Pei Yu was among the performers alongside Zhang Exu and Cui Luzhu, so they had at least a slight connection. Based on A Qiu's understanding of Pei Yu, if she knew that Zhang Exu and Cui Luzhu were being pressured and demanded by her Jianzhang Army, even though she had never been on Gu Yi's side, she couldn't just sit idly by if the matter came to her. That wouldn't be in line with the demeanor of a noblewoman and a heroine of the army.
Sun's wife said quietly, "We went to see General Pei, but she avoided us. Two days later, she led the navy to Guangling, and we couldn't find her anymore."
The news was like a bucket of ice water poured over him, leaving A Qiu feeling completely chilled.
Even Pei Yu chose to remain uninvolved, indicating that this request was a decision made by a heavyweight within the Jianzhang Army. If it were merely a spur-of-the-moment, casual remark, Pei Yu wouldn't have ignored it out of loyalty. However, because this was a decision that even Pei Yu couldn't sway, she could only avoid it from afar.
Neither Pei Yu nor Sikong Zhao, the current top military leader, could suppress the Jianzhang Division's determination to stand up for Pei Yuanli and the Divine Hound Camp, and their plan to take down the most outstanding dancers of the dance troupe to vent their anger.
A-Qiu had never felt such immense pressure, as if gloomy clouds were looming overhead.
She asked with difficulty, "Lord An... has he gone to see His Majesty?"
An Daoling had long resided in the inner palace, served two dynasties, and was highly respected. If he were willing to step forward, Xie Lang would have to give him some face.
Lady Sun said softly, "When Lord An received word of this, he went to see His Majesty that very night. However, when he came out, he didn't look well. In the end, he sighed and told us that His Majesty didn't want to agree, but His Majesty was also under pressure."
A Qiu immediately understood Jian Zhangshi's intention: "Our commander Pei Yuanli's head was given away by you for His Majesty's alliance with the North and South. Now, all we ask for are two lowly dancers. Is His Majesty unwilling to do that?"
There were other influential people in the court, but none of them would be willing to defy the Jianzhang Division of the Central Army for the sake of two dancers. After all, it was easy to say a few righteous words, but if it caused dissatisfaction or even a mutiny among the Central Army, who would share the Emperor's burden?
The cruelty of politics and the clear distinction between superiors and subordinates are clearly revealed at this moment. Everyone understands the principle of sacrificing a pawn to save the king, as long as that pawn is not themselves.
The oxcart traveled smoothly all the way and had now entered the inner city, passing through Zhongchao. But for Aqiu at this moment, this journey seemed incredibly long.
Finally, exhausted, Sun's wife said, "If you can't take care of these things, then you don't have to force yourself."
She leaned back on the cushion and said softly, "Exu and Lüzhu have made their decision. If they are inevitably given away in the end, they will both commit suicide first. At that time, the Jianzhang people will have nothing to say."
A Qiu was stunned, and anger rose in his heart, burning fiercely.
Given the chaos and incompetence of the previous generation, even the three white-robed dancers managed to achieve a decent ending. But in this generation, after Gu Yi's departure, is the most outstanding dancer destined to face either humiliation or suicide?
She said in a deep voice, "Now that I have returned to the palace, I will never let this happen." She grasped Consort Sun's slender hand and said, word by word, "Leave this matter to me."
A glimmer of hope rekindled in the eyes of Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi, who were already haggard.
A Qiu had once performed feats they could never have imagined, achieving a status never before attained by any courtesan in the history of the music bureau—walking alongside Shangguan Yuqi, the most renowned lady of the Southern Dynasty, serving the Junior Tutor Gu Yi. They had no reason not to trust her.
At the same time, the oxcart had stopped, and Xiao Chang'an's voice came from outside, laughing: "You two instructors can get off now. Thank you for your help today. I still need to take my sister to the East Palace, so I won't be able to take you two back to Tangli."
Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi gave A Qiu a final, trusting look before lifting the curtain and getting out of the carriage.
Before A Qiu could react, she watched their backs disappear into the distance. Only then did she realize what Xue Hongbi meant when she said, "If we don't speak now, we may never have the chance to speak again."
She should have realized that, given Consort Sun and Xue Hongbi's confinement within the palace and their lack of access to outside information, how could they possibly be able to rush out in time to meet her and bring her back to the palace? There must have been a mastermind behind this.
She initially thought it was An Daoling. Given his status as one of the Four Heavenly Secrets of the righteous martial arts world, he could easily protect her through arrangements involving spies and official decrees. Therefore, she assumed that the first place she would visit upon returning to the palace would be the Tangli Music House, and the first important person she would meet would be An Daoling, the Duke of An.
But now she realized that the person she was supposed to see was someone else, Xie Tiao from the Eastern Palace.
All of this was undoubtedly orchestrated by Xiao Chang'an, the driver who was known as Gan Luo at the age of twelve.
When she first boarded the carriage, she was overwhelmed with emotion at seeing her master and senior uncles again, and almost forgot about the person outside the carriage.
Now that only she and Xiao Chang'an remained, she immediately became alert again.
After all, the person outside the curtain was the one who orchestrated Gu Yi's current predicament. If Xiao Chang'an still aims to challenge Gu Yi, then that goal has effectively shifted to herself, because in the years to come, she will be the one acting on Gu Yi's behalf.
Inside and outside the carriage, an eerie silence fell over the room.
Even with Xiao Chang'an's eloquence, he fell silent for a moment, no longer displaying the lively and cheerful demeanor he had when the two instructors were present.
After a moment of silence, Ah Qiu, having sorted out the whole story in his mind, spoke first: "Thank you."
As soon as she spoke, Xiao Chang'an seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and asked knowingly, "Thank me for what?"
A Qiu said, "My Master Sun and Uncle Xue do not have such skill or ability to know that I am about to enter the city. Only your Lanling Xiao family can lay out spies thousands of miles away to find out when I enter the city and Sikong Zhao's movements."
Xiao Chang'an remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "It could also be Lord An."
A Qiu said, "As a former court hermit, An Gong only protects the safety of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. He would never actively interfere in political changes."
Xiao Chang'an chuckled and said, "So?"
He preferred to keep teasing her and talking to her like this rather than have her remain silent. However, although A Qiu answered every question, her words were always serious, without the slightest hint of teasing.
A Qiu said, "So, the so-called Lord An's order is fake. Lord An probably didn't even receive any news about my entry into the city."
Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, sister. The incident happened so suddenly that there was no time to inform Lord An. I immediately went to the Music Bureau to borrow a carriage and invited two instructors out. However, even if General Sikong investigates later, Lord An will definitely confess and cover up for us, because I am his apprentice and you are the person he values most in the Music Bureau."
Ah Qiu finally asked in surprise, "Lord An really didn't know? Aren't you afraid that Commander-in-Chief Sikong will demand to see Lord An's warrant on the spot? Then you won't be able to take us away."
Xiao Chang'an chuckled lazily, "I knew the Grand Commander was too proud to bother with such trivial matters as checking documents and edicts. These high-ranking generals and officials, who would bother to verify documents and seals one by one on a daily basis? That's all done by clerks. The situation was clear at the time. As long as she knew what attitude An Gong, representing the Music Bureau, had, and what my attitude was, she would have known to know when to stop."
His voice turned cold as he spoke the last sentence.
A Qiu knew he was right. Regardless of whether there was a warrant from Lord An, if one were to ask Lord An's intentions, it would undoubtedly be that he hoped for her safe return. And Xiao Chang'an himself was sitting there clearly, which spoke volumes about his stance. Although the Eastern Palace Flying Phoenix Guard could not command the entire army like the Imperial Guard Commander, Sikong Zhao would not prevent palace ladies from entering the city in front of him without an imperial edict or other documents.
Xiao Chang'an said, "The person who truly wants to see you is His Highness the Crown Prince. Of course, I also played a part in pushing this forward."
A Qiu was a little confused for a moment. After the rehearsal of "Yan Shi Ning", she had become somewhat acquainted with Crown Prince Xie Tiao, Gu Yi's student. Xie Tiao even invited her to visit the Eastern Palace more often. However, after "Yan Shi Ning", she protected Li Chongyu and broke through the city gates, never to return.
In a court teeming with brilliant minds, her impression of Crown Prince Xie Tiao, the future monarch, wasn't particularly deep. What she still remembered was a few words Xie Tiao spoke to her before she left.
If distant peoples are not submissive, then cultivate virtue and culture to win them over. If it is necessary to regulate and discipline people's hearts, then rites and music are also needed.
But no matter how you look at it, the Crown Prince doesn't seem like the kind of person who would have the courage to step in and protect her, and accept her back into the palace, in today's political climate where many powerful figures are vying for power.
Even though he was practically her senior in school.
If bringing her into the city was at the behest of the Crown Prince, then as Xiao Chang'an said, he would certainly have given her his strong support afterward.
Aqiu asked suspiciously, "How did you persuade His Highness to agree to take me in?"
A Qiu had some understanding of Xie Tiao's temperament. Among the outstanding court officials, he would appear slow to react and lacked decisiveness due to insufficient experience.
Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "Actually, in my opinion, as soon as I mentioned it, he really wanted to pick you up, but he couldn't find a suitable reason. After all, he trusts and respects Gu Yi the most in his life, and you are the only person in the palace who has some relationship with him now."
Xie Tiao had no mother and no maternal family because he was unmarried, and he didn't have much contact with court officials. Considering all this, A Qiu's relationship with his fellow disciples was already quite close.
A warm feeling welled up in A Qiu's heart. Although Xie Tiao had been somewhat arrogant and aloof in the past, he was essentially a kind and loyal person. Just hearing Xiao Chang'an's reaction to him was enough to tell her this.
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