Red Autumn (I)
In the sixth year of Shengyuan, outside Daohai City, traveling at the river ferry.
Morning mist obscured most of the river, and from a distance, one could faintly discern the flimsy little boats moored on the water. The river rushed down from the west, passing Daohai City, its current surging and turbulent. Singing the song "The river crashes ashore, shattering the rocks," they journeyed eastward with full energy. At Ming Hunzhou, they split into two paths: one heading north to the outskirts of the capital, the other south to Suzhou City.
These little boats, like children's play, were bobbing in the river.
Dozens of unusual ships were moored along the riverbank. One was a serious, large warship, showing signs of recent repairs. Flanked on either side by dozens of repurposed simple warships and scout boats.
The largest warship had a plank at its bow, leading to a small, two-story building. Its decoration was modest, and while it didn't look like there was any heavy cargo on deck, it was still quite heavy.
Xi Zhongting glanced at the waterline of the ship.
Two people stood before him, a man and a woman. The man, about forty, was well-dressed, but his face was weathered, his eyes dull and lifeless. He hunched over, speaking to him in a fawning, ingratiating manner: "... General Xi, you've worked so hard and traveled so long. I'm sure that when you return to the capital soon, His Majesty will reward you for your merits. It will surely be..."
Xi Zhongting stood on the warship, towering over the man by half a head, yet he didn't even give him a condescending glance. He simply lowered his eyes slightly, straightened his sleeves, and interrupted him: "Sir Hong, whether this general has made merit or committed a fault, and whether to reward or punish, is a matter for the wise Majesty to decide. How can the Majesty allow you to guess?"
The rest of Mr. Hong's words were stuck in his throat, and his face turned red.
That's quite rude of you to say.
This General Xi is worthy of being a second-class Jinshi, and his words are as sharp as a knife.
For several years, he had negotiated with the rebels in the western border without losing an inch, and had managed to hold out until the current emperor had rectified the civil unrest in the capital. Now, he led his troops north, sweeping away the rebels and bandits along the way. Amidst his murderous aura, he also possessed the caution of a scholar, skilled with both the pen and the sword.
Just an incomplete look made Hong Min's legs tremble.
Hong Min's tongue tip was numb, his neck and shoulders were trembling, and he nodded repeatedly to apologize, while using his eyes to signal the woman beside him to speak.
If you look closely at this woman's facial features, the only word that can be described is "pretty", but she has a good temperament, as if she is cold and unattainable. However, when you see the curved smile on her lips, it seems that everyone can get close to her. Taken together, she is like a "Bodhisattva" in a painting, and anyone can be attracted to her at first sight.
The Bodhisattva was unfazed by Hong Min's frightened expression. He only knitted his brows slightly as he perfunctorily replied, "Lord Hong brought us to the capital with his imperial decree. We have known each other for many days and have always spoken of your demeanor. I am now taking the liberty of visiting you and may have spoken without thinking. Please do not blame me, General."
When Xi Zhongting heard her speak, he finally turned around.
Hong Min carefully wiped the sweat from his chin with his sleeve. He felt relieved when he heard Song Jingyan speak, but after a long time he didn't hear Xi Zhongting's response. He raised his head quietly and found that Xi Zhongting was staring at Song Jingyan.
To be precise, he was staring at the clothes on Song Jingyan.
Song Jingyan wore a round-necked crimson robe, a silver fish bag at her waist, and her hair neatly tied up with a white jade hairpin tucked in. Although the hairpin was not in keeping with the official style, the clothes she wore were indeed official robes.
Hong Min's knees immediately went weak.
He was in a hurry to pull Song Jingyan here to stop the boat, and didn't even notice when the other party changed her clothes!
In the first year of His Majesty's accession to the throne, the system of female officials was abolished.
The way she dresses is tantamount to treason!
Hong Min felt that he was really unlucky!
Being kicked into this daunting task, the journey from the capital to Shangyang was a thrilling one. Dogs tore at his flesh several times. Finally, panting for breath, he arrived in Shangyang to receive the decree. Even the Liang Wang's former subordinates were quite polite to him. Song Jingyan was usually meticulous and considerate, but who could have imagined that a close minister of the emperor would be so audacious?
He recalled Xi Zhongting's demeanor when he'd passed Daohai City, his determination to stab him in the throat, regardless of his own feelings. He felt it was too late to argue. His gaze drifted blankly over the river, his legs weakening, his hands resting on the layers of flesh at his waist through his clothes.
I thought: His mother has wasted her time raising a fat man like him. I’m afraid he will be dragged off to feed the dogs soon.
Hong Min's legs were half bent when a hand reached out from the side to support him.
His face was covered in sweat, and he wiped the sweat from his eyelashes with his sleeve, looking dazed. He saw that it was Song Jingyan's hand. She was slender, and the wrist that peeked through her scarlet robe looked pale and fragile, but her strength was immense, supporting all of Hong Min's flesh.
Hong Min saw that she remained calm, her brows lowered. She didn't seem servile, but rather impatient to speak to someone above her. Inexplicably, he slowly relaxed, no longer trembling or talking.
After a long time, Xi Zhongting looked away without finding anything wrong. He said "Oh" lightly and said, "Master Hong, you have worked hard on accompanying Princess Liang on the journey north. You should go back and rest early." Then he turned and left, ordering his men to take the board away.
Hong Min was still subconsciously complimenting Song Jingyan as he walked back to the ship with his head tilted. He finally regained some consciousness when he reached the deck. He looked at Song Jingyan standing tall in her official robes, unable to understand what was going on.
At that time, Zuo Dan handed over the Eighteen Continents to the King of Jingxi, and various places rose up in rebellion and declared independence. Xi Zhongting, the wolf, was sent out of the capital to garrison in the western border, but he did not stay there obediently. He sneaked into several prefectures with dozens of light guards and robbed them. After killing people, he set fire to them. At the end, he posted a notice with brilliant writing and sharp words, which roughly meant "You are traitors and unruly people. His Majesty will take this place back sooner or later. When the time comes, this general will volunteer to come. Just wait for me."
In addition to this, General Xi was also notoriously picky. Whenever his subordinates handed him an official document, even if the word "zhihuzheya" was used incorrectly, he would criticize it for an hour or two without using any dirty words, until he cried and wished he could jump into the river and be reborn.
Hong Min stared at the crimson official robe, his eyes dazzled by the color.
He wasn't a bright man, but he believed his greatest strengths were his diligence and willingness to learn from others. Ever since his sister's marriage, when he donated this small official position, he had been diligent day and night. Even outside the capital, he didn't slack off, asking questions about local customs, horseback riding, and boating.
But at this moment, for the first time in history, I had no desire to ask.
He walked into the boat with unsteady steps, then remembered the purpose of his visit. He called out to Song Jingyan and asked, "Miss Song, judging from General Xi's attitude, it seems he won't allow us to go with him. What should we do now? Should we go by land instead?"
Song Jingyan hadn't wanted to follow him to stop the boat in the courtyard. It was just that Hong Min had come by imperial decree, and His Majesty had been ambiguous with them, the orphans and former subordinates of Prince Liang. Even if this "imperial envoy" was clearly being sent out of the capital as a "side dish," it was best to flatter him if possible and avoid offending him.
She continued with the same words as before: "General Xi has been detained in Daohai City for many days. It is unknown when he will return to the capital, but Your Excellency requires a report before August 15th. There is unrest everywhere, and I am afraid that something might happen along the way. It is better to travel by sea."
How could Hong Min not know that water transportation is faster?
But if you take the water route through Ming Hunzhou...
He was a little worried.
But then he thought again, there were so many old subordinates under the King of Liang, they would not ask him to be killed, so he responded with "Haha" and went back to his room to sleep.
Song Jingyan knew her trip was in vain, and she had no complaints. She changed into her casual clothes and went to the next room.
The room she lived in, separated by a wall, was enormous, twice the size of an ordinary wing. A faint incense burned, with a faint bitter aroma. A white gauze curtain hung beside the bed, now completely drawn. Beneath the window on the other side, a bronze mirror, a dressing table, rouge, and powder were neatly arranged.
A pink skirt was hung on the wooden frame, with large magnolia flowers embroidered on the hem of the skirt.
Hengbo was guarding the bed, but her eyes jumped out the window and saw the direction where Song Jingyan and the other girl had just been talking in the courtyard. Hearing the door open, she immediately stood up and greeted them: "Sister, you're back!"
Song Jingyan nodded, "Is Your Highness awake?"
Hengbo shook his head, realizing he had spoken too loudly. He lowered his voice and replied, "Your Highness still has a low-grade fever. He just vomited up the porridge he ate. I gave him some hot water, and he fell asleep again."
Song Jingyan's eyes narrowed. "We have to sail the day after tomorrow at the latest. If Your Highness is still ill, I'm afraid he won't be able to bear it."
She had always been the one to arrange these things. Hengbo didn't ask why the boat was leaving the day after tomorrow, nor did he say if it could be later. He just looked at the other side of the bed with a look of worry. After Song Jingyan sat down, Hengbo poured her a cup of tea and said, "Sister, can we leave with Xi Zhongting's boat?"
Song Jingyan took a sip of tea and said, "He won't be with us, but he must be going the same way."
Before Hengbo could figure out what she meant, Song Jingyan continued, "I see his men are still repairing the scout boat. They should follow the crowd and rush into the city when the boats are at their peak."
She didn't look at Hengbo when she spoke. It seemed like she was talking to Hengbo, but also like she was speaking unconsciously while thinking.
Daohai City had been subdued by Xi Zhongting a few days ago, and the only one left to attack by boat was...
Hengbo's brows jumped: "He wants to recapture Ming Hunzhou?"
Song Jingyan: "Probably."
Hengbo glanced toward the window again. "With just these people, I don't know if they can even get over this 'pile of corpses.' And they're brazenly sailing warships. The state government is not blind, so why would they let them into the city?"
Song Jingyan put down the teacup: "So it must have been at night, when the state government opened the door to others, they rushed into the city."
Hengbo looked at the sharp crossbows and spears peeked out from the side windows of the ship. A chill ran down her spine, and her eyes widened. "Doesn't that mean..." The busiest time of year was around the middle of July. She sat down next to Song Jingyan. "Sister, will our plan work?"
They all wanted to enter the city while there were many people around. If anything went wrong, their ship might become a stepping stone for Xi Zhongting.
Song Jingyan felt a little heavy in her heart, but she didn't show it: "We will fight back if the enemy comes. Don't worry."
Hengbo trusted her the most. Seeing that she didn't show any unusual expression, he calmed down. "Xi Zhongting is too arrogant. Logically speaking, he should be the one to pay his respects to His Highness."
Song Jingyan gave a meaningless smile: "Your Highness is called a princess according to his status, but he does not have any rank or title from the imperial court."
"When Bian Yu founded the state, all meritorious officials were granted the titles of three kings, four dukes, and seven marquises. Emperors came and went, and no matter how they changed, they never took action against these meritorious officials. Emperor Wu, in his quest to regain military power, caused every aristocratic family in the capital to feel insecure. Emperor Ling took over the situation, but he was only interested in pleasure. He forcibly exchanged the wife of Champion Marquis Luo for a box of jewels, and later married his daughter."
"Luo, indignant at this, instigated Ruan Kangxing, then deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, Lin, a close student of the emperor, and Meng, a defense officer of the capital, to collude internally and externally, attempting to assassinate the emperor. After their failure, the precarious situation within the court finally collapsed, and the remaining founding ministers fled with their troops and treasures to the countryside, establishing their own factions. Even..."
At this point, she paused, "Even the old Prince Liang went to Shangyang when Your Majesty ascended the throne, and the entire family of Minister Wen fled privately. Only the Xi family was willing to guard the remaining ruins of the Yu Dynasty and help Your Majesty survive until now."
Hengbo didn't dare to respond. He carefully observed Song Jingyan's expression and found that her expression remained the same whether she mentioned "Old King Liang" or "the Wenxiang family".
There was a subtle movement from the bedside, and a shadow slowly sat up behind the white veil. Song Jingyan stood up and finished her words, "The meritorious officials who followed me during my humble beginnings have finally reached the time for their rewards. Why should we be polite to the orphan of the previous king, who is always labeled a traitor?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the white veil was removed by a pair of slender hands.
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