Chapter 67 Is Ning Wujie crazy?
It was dawn, but the morning mist in Anxi City in southern Yunnan had not yet dissipated.
The Soseki Residence on the outskirts of the city is built against the mountains and beside the water. Although it is secluded, many people have already gathered outside the gate.
Dozens of farmers gathered together, talking to each other in thick local accents.
Behind them, on the bluestone road, were seven or eight carriages parked, their servants beside them carrying heavy gift boxes. Occasionally, the owner would lift a corner of the curtain, revealing an anxious or inquiring look.
The gate of the manor opened with a creaky sound, and the blue-clothed attendants stepped out, and everyone immediately fell silent.
Several elegantly dressed people disembarked from the carriage and came forward, asking, "Mr. Xuanjian, could you spare some time to meet me today?"
The attendant bowed in return, "The master is still resting and will not see any visitors before noon. Please leave your invitations and return home. If the master is interested after reading the invitations, he will send someone to pass on the message."
So the nobles signaled their subordinates to present their visiting cards.
A middle-aged man who looked like a businessman smiled flatteringly and said, "No problem, no problem. I'll just wait outside the door. Waiting shows my sincerity." Then he got on the carriage.
Another young noble, who looked no more than a man of age, scoffed at the words, "That's right. The carriage is so comfortable, and it shows your sincerity."
The merchant choked and was about to refute when he saw the young nobleman standing beneath the plaque of the Shuseki Residence, bowing towards the gate. "Yunfeng Hall is always at your service, sir."
Seeing this, all the dignitaries followed suit and came forward, bowing and saluting.
"Zhenlong Mansion awaits you, sir!"
"The Four Seas Merchant Alliance awaits you, sir!"
The merchant twitched his lips and stepped back down from the carriage. With a flattering smile, he squeezed into the crowd and said, "The Tea and Horse Association welcomes you, sir!"
Seeing everyone like this, the attendant felt somewhat helpless and could only declare again: "Even if you all say so, the master may not be willing to see him. As I said before, the master is not in good health and can only see one person a day."
The young nobleman put on a flattering smile and said, "Of course! Don't worry, if I can't see you today, sir, I will come again tomorrow. If I visit you every day, I will see you eventually."
The others echoed, "Exactly!"
"Don't worry about us, we'll just wait here."
The entourage had no choice but to follow them.
At this moment, one of the farmers standing by timidly stepped forward and asked tentatively, "Does the master have any words for us today?"
The attendant looked at the farmer and nodded.
Pulling a scroll of plain silk from his sleeve, he said aloud, "Tomorrow at 3:30 PM, a sweet rain will fall, three fingers' worth of rain. At 7:30 PM, the rain will stop and the sky will clear up." He handed the scroll to one of the farmers and said, "You can choose a time to clear the canals and prepare for irrigation."
The farmers smiled brightly upon hearing this and bowed to Zhuangzi, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Xuanjian!"
"Thanks to you, sir, the rice filling this year coincided with some timely rains. I think the harvest will increase by 30%!"
"Yes, yes, it's much better than blindly farming in previous years!"
Then he carefully placed the fruits and vegetables he had brought next to the gatehouse and said, "This is a small gift from us, I hope you will accept it."
The attendant knew he couldn't refuse, so he nodded to indicate that he would accept it.
The farmers dispersed with many thanks, and occasionally a voice drifted over: "Mr. Xuanjian is really accurate, even more accurate than the Imperial Astronomical Observatory!"
"Who said it wasn't? We are in southern Yunnan, where the weather is unpredictable..." The voice gradually faded away.
*
Inside Zhuangzi, in a quiet room.
The incense burner spewed out wisps of green smoke, filled with a very faint scent of snow-capped mountains and cold pines.
In a side room, a servant held a copper bowl and struck it lightly. The sound waves, carrying an ethereal aftertaste, spread out like ripples, wave after wave, slowly spreading in the quiet room, quite hypnotic.
The gauze curtain behind the screen hung low, and behind it was a figure lying lazily on the couch with its black hair spread out.
Outside the screen stood a muscular man. His wheat-colored skin was weathered, and his clothes, though made of fine material, couldn't hide his air of travel. At his waist hung a peculiar curved knife.
He had been waiting for a long time, and finally couldn't help himself. He lowered his voice and asked Xinghe, who was sitting in an armchair beside him and stuffing snacks into his mouth, "Young man, when will the master wake up?"
Xinghe crossed his legs, turned his head to glance at the motionless figure behind the veil, threw a peanut and caught it with his mouth, "It's still early."
The man said no more, but retreated to the armchair beside him and sat down with his back straight.
The sun had climbed to the highest point in the sky, and the stars were dozing off to the sound of the bowl. The people behind the veil finally moved.
Wen Xing stretched and yawned before slowly sitting up. Xinghe immediately stepped forward, silently lifting the veil and helping him put on his outer robe.
"Master, Jiao Lie is here."
"Oh." Wen Xing's voice was hoarse from just waking up.
Jiao Lie immediately stood up, took out an exquisite glass jar and respectfully handed it to Xinghe, "This is the mermaid sea moon you asked for. It grows in the deep sea and is hard to find. This time, the fishing boats from Lingnan went out to sea and only got these."
Xinghe took the jar, walked back behind the screen, and handed it to Wen Xing over the gauze curtain.
Wen Xing took a look and signaled Xinghe to put it away.
This was the material Fu Wenxin needed. This gelatinous substance, extracted from deep-sea jellyfish, could be dyed and worn on the eyes to change pupil color. However, the material was precious and difficult to obtain.
Wen Xing nodded, "Thank you for your help."
Jiao Lie bowed and clasped his fists. "What are you talking about, sir? Over the past six months, thanks to your guidance, our caravan has avoided countless dangers, and our losses have been reduced by 70% compared to previous years! You are my second parent. Whatever you want, I, Jiao Lie, will do my best to find it for you, even if it means risking my life."
The person behind the screen said again, "Is your cavalry about to set off?"
Jiao Lie nodded. "I will be leaving tomorrow to transport a shipment of Yunnan tea and medicinal herbs to Qiongzhou. The round trip will take about three to five months. That's why I came to ask you for advice on how to avoid disaster and seek good fortune."
Wen Xing was silent for a moment, "The official road in eastern Guizhou will be flooded in a month, so remember to take a detour."
"The Huai River basin will experience flooding in late spring, but the water level will be low. You can calculate your schedule and wait for three days until the flood has passed, then you can proceed."
Upon hearing this, Jiao Lie bowed deeply in gratitude: "On behalf of the entire Jiao caravan, thank you for your great kindness, sir!"
"You're not to be thanked." The voice behind the screen was cold. "The master just returned from the capital. Have you heard any news?"
Jiao Lie paused for a moment before saying, "The biggest event was undoubtedly the new emperor's coronation ceremony three months ago. I heard that a minister publicly denounced the new emperor's illegitimate rise to the throne, calling it a usurpation. After saying that, he leaped from the highest corner tower and died instantly."
Wen Xing was shocked. Is there such an upright person in the court?
"Which minister?"
"It is said that it is a man named Xu, the Minister of War."
Wen Xing was shocked: "Xu Chongyun?"
Had he really misjudged me? Historically, Xu Chongyun personally led his troops to suppress the rebellion, only to be defeated and killed. Now, his death was different, but ultimately, it was the same fate.
He is actually a loyal and good general?
Jiao Lie said, "Yes, his death has caused a huge uproar. Rebellions have sprung up everywhere, all under the banner of 'restoring orthodoxy.'"
"Speaking of which, the rebels in various places have seemed to have agreed on this. Many members of the Wen clan have emerged, all claiming to be the legitimate ones. It's almost as if they're imitating us in southern Yunnan."
Wen Xing was silent.
Previously, he asked Fu Wenxin to help him find a good place to retire in southern Yunnan. However, after he settled down, the governor of southern Yunnan suddenly announced that he would welcome Prince Xiang to Yunnan and support Prince Xiang to regain the Wen family's kingdom.
Although there were indeed rebellions in southern Yunnan in history, they were not caused by supporting a new monarch, but by colluding with foreign enemies.
Southern Yunnan is now considered a separatist region. The emperor is far away and information is strictly controlled. If he wants to get accurate information from the capital, he has to rely on these traveling caravans.
Although he had been away from Beijing for more than half a year, he was still feeling uneasy for no reason.
Every time I heard some news from the caravan members, it was like drinking poison to quench the thirst of a thirsty traveler.
If I don't ask, I'll feel empty inside. If I ask, I'll get some news about Ning Wujie, but I'll be worried.
That's not like him.
Wen Xing said thoughtfully, "What was Ning Wujie's reaction then?"
Jiao Lie said ashamedly, "I don't know. I wasn't there either. But I heard the new emperor was furious and confiscated all the officials. He said anyone who disobeyed the late emperor's will would be thrown into prison and executed at a later date."
"There are rumors out there now that the new emperor is tyrannical and unjust. He purged the court right after taking office, executing and confiscating countless people's property."
Wen Xing lowered his eyes, crumpled his robe sleeves with his fingertips, and said softly to himself: "He is not tyrannical... He is very good..."
Jiao Lie:?
Jiao Lie couldn't see the expression of the person behind the screen. He could only see a vague outline leaning against a pillow. So he guessed the meaning of this sentence and suddenly laughed awkwardly, "Ah, right, right, when a new emperor takes the throne, he naturally has to purge the old ministers of the previous dynasty and promote his confidants. How can this be called tyranny? This can't be called tyranny, it can only be called..." Jiao Lie racked his brains, "Establish authority! Yes, establish authority!"
Wen Xing didn't listen to what Jiao Lie said. He just asked thoughtfully, "Who are the rebels you are talking about?"
Jiao Lie said sternly, "The King of Yan in Huainan, the Duke of Su in Longxi, the Marquis of Jinghai in Jiaodong—anyone with the surname Wen claims they want to restore the orthodox lineage, while those with other surnames find a branch of the Wen clan to use as a puppet. That's how it is."
They are all rebels recorded in history books.
Wen Xing originally thought that he had influenced history and tried to correct it, but now it seems that he was just being too self-righteous.
The torrent of history is unstoppable and cannot be changed by human power. Those who should rebel will eventually rebel, and the wars that should be fought will not be avoided because of his abdication.
Just like when King Xiang rebelled.
These people have simply found a more legitimate excuse.
Historically, they were rebelling against the Wen family, but this time they raised the banner of "restoring the orthodoxy of the Wen family."
How ironic.
He fished out a pill from his sleeve and put it in his mouth, then asked with some concern, "With rebellions everywhere and internal and external troubles, the new emperor must be overwhelmed, right?"
Jiao Lie shook his head: "Sir, you guessed wrong."
"That gentleman doesn't look the least bit worried. I heard there was an old minister who said something unpleasant, so he was hung outside the Meridian Gate. It's been over half a year, and he still hasn't let him go. This is so violent..." Jiao Lie cleared his throat and changed the subject: "This method of establishing authority is really clever!"
"His military prowess is truly remarkable. In just three months, the King of Yan in Huainan has been driven into retreat, and Duke Su of Longxi has also been steadily losing ground. Only Jiaodong, relying on the remoteness of the emperor, like us in southern Yunnan, can hold out for a while by declaring themselves kings."
Wen Xing breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.
He is worthy of being Emperor Wu of Zhou.
Jiao Lie said this with a sigh of relief: "Everyone says that this gentleman is a traitor who usurped the throne, but I actually admire him quite a bit."
Wen Xing picked up the teacup and held it to his lips, offering medicine. "What do you mean?"
"Hasn't he heard, sir? It's all over the world. They say this man rebelled because he couldn't bear the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the previous tyrant."
"cough--!"
Wen Xing choked on his tea.
Xinghe was still throwing peanuts one by one, and when he heard this, he tilted his head and looked puzzled.
Which tyrant? What humiliation?
"If you ask me, that's what a real man should do!" Jiao Lie slapped the armrest of his chair. "He's the young master of the Ningyuan Army, a general of iron will. How could he be willing to be known as a prostitute?"
"Look? Isn't this just killing the emperor and seizing the throne in one day, avenging the previous shame? This is really satisfying! Who would dare to call him a 'flatterer' or a 'favorite' from now on? Even the meticulously written history books would only say that he was a common man who was angry and could not bear the humiliation and killed the tyrant emperor in anger. That would be justified."
Xinghe understood. He frowned and said to Jiao Lie in dissatisfaction, "Who are you calling a tyrant?"
Jiao Lie was startled at first, but then he reacted and gave a wry smile, "My dear brother, you're right. Disaster comes from the mouth. We in southern Yunnan claim to be the orthodox of Dachen. Naturally, we can't insult the late emperor by calling him a tyrant, lest we get criticized."
"Thanks for the reminder, little brother."
Xinghe tilted his head:?
What did he remind you of?
The "tyrant" himself said to Jiao Lie, "Is this all coming from Tingchaoyuan? Is there any new information that we don't know about?"
Jiao Lie nodded. "There's another rumor that just came out. It says that this Majesty, out of hatred for the late emperor, is not satisfied with just the death of the deceased. He wants to smash the dragon stone, open the coffin and whip the corpse."
"puff--!"
Wen Xing spat out half of the tea he had just taken.
"What?"
Wen Xing looked at Jiao Lie in disbelief, "He wants to break the Dragon Stone?"
Breaking the Dragon Stone was the same as destroying the Imperial Mausoleum! Was Ning Wujie crazy?
Wen Xing asked nervously, "Are you sure you heard it right?"
Jiao Lie said, "It's absolutely true, sir. You know that our caravan's information is never wrong."
Wen Xing was stunned.
He could imagine that this action was basically an announcement to the world that he, Ning Wujie, was going to dig up graves and overturn the Wen family's ancestral temple.
Throughout the dynasties, the victors are kings and the losers are bandits. Even if someone forces someone to abdicate and usurp the throne, there is no reason to dig up someone's ancestral graves!
The throne he had abdicated hadn't even been firmly established yet. If he hadn't done something like this, how would history have written about Emperor Wu of Zhou? Wouldn't he have been infamous for eternity?!
It would be fine if Ning Wujie wanted to do such a crazy thing, but why didn't he hide it, but instead made it known to everyone?
No way? Do you really hate him to this extent?
Just because he framed Ning Wujie and forced the throne on him?
Are you going to open the coffin to vent your anger?
Wen Xing was surprised and asked, "Is there no one to stop him?"
This was too absurd, and there would surely be considerable resistance from the entire court. He didn't believe that no one would dissuade him.
Jiao Lie shook his head and said, "Whoever dared to advise him, the grass on his grave is taller than him."
"The court is in a state of panic right now. Who dares to persuade us?"
Wen Xing felt a little complicated.
Ning Wujie must be so angry with him that he's madly insane, willing to destroy his own kingdom?!
Xinghe heard so much, but only heard the words "open the coffin and whip the corpse". He turned to look at Wen Xing and whispered in his ear, "Master, are we going to be exposed?"
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The author has something to say: Countdown to my husband's arrival
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PS: When I was editing chapter 66 yesterday, I had a brain glitch and wrote that the ending paragraph said 5j had already known that His Majesty had run away (headache). Although I corrected it in time, if any of you see this version, please ignore it (awkward). But 5j is indeed about to find out that his wife has run away~! Next chapter
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