Chapter 104 Before Departure
Wen Yao was quite tired when he came back secretly in the middle of the night.
She pulled Zhao Xuanxu back into the house, where Prince Yan served her tea and water. She drank a large bowl of hot plum blossom soup noodles, then fell asleep on the bed.
The next day was a beautiful day, and she got up early to practice swordplay. She squatted under a big tree in the backyard, holding a bowl to drink porridge, and smiled as she watched several people below, who were walking briskly and anxiously, hurriedly passing by the wall of Prince Yan's Mansion.
These were all spies that Prince Yong had stationed nearby. The Eastern Palace probably realized someone was missing and was rushing over to question them.
Wen Yao went out last night without hiding from people because she had nothing to hide. She didn't care at all whether King Yong would suspect her or not - she was now just like Zhao Xuanxu, acting like a tyrannical rogue who said, "So what if you suspect me? Do you have evidence? So what if I have evidence? Do you dare to do anything?"
She knew very well that Prince Yong really didn't dare to take action.
The current situation on the field was tense between the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Qin. The wrestling match between the two sides was like a scale, with Zhao Xuanxu as the weight that could not be underestimated. With the difference between the two ends being very close, whichever side he leaned towards would win. Under these circumstances, the Prince of Yong would have to be a fool to antagonize Zhao Xuanxu.
Someone walked towards the big tree where Wen Yao was squatting, and stopped just one step away from the wall.
Wen Yao swallowed a mouthful of porridge with a gulp. When he heard the noise, he lowered his head to see a gentle and handsome face.
Zhang Yun stood outside the wall, his hands clasped together, looking up at her. His cyan hairband and sleeves waving behind him, he looked elegant and refined, a man of extraordinary talent.
"What are you eating?" The complacent Lord Zhang Yun said shamelessly in the court, "Give me a bite too."
Wen Yao raised his head and cleaned up the last mouthful of porridge. He climbed down from the tree, picked up Zhang Yun, and brought him to the yard. He smiled and said, "You want everything. You haven't eaten yet."
"No. The food here is good. Since I'm coming here anyway, I might as well stop by for a meal." Lord Zhang is much thicker-skinned than others. He is handsome and thick-skinned. He did not hesitate to agree to the idea of deliberately interrupting the meal time at Prince Yan's Mansion to eat for free. He followed Wen Yao towards the pavilion in the garden.
There was a table with breakfast in the pavilion. Zhao Xuanxu was sitting on a chair at the side, and Qianying was standing beside him with her back bent, not knowing what she had just said.
Zhao Xuanxu's brow furrowed, his pale, slender fingers kneading a piece of pastry, unconsciously crushing it into crumbs. When Wen Yao approached, his eyes flickered, their gaze quickly fixed on Wen Yao, not glancing at Zhang Yun who had suddenly appeared nearby. He waved away the object in his hand.
"Great, great, Jade Porridge, White Fragrant Cake." Zhang Yun babbled without much experience. He casually lifted his clothes and sat down. He picked up the white fragrant cake and took a big bite. He slurred his words as he praised, "Excellent craftsmanship. Delicious, delicious. I really like it."
"That's strange. Didn't you just get promoted?" Wen Yao was quick-witted and snapped Zhang Yun's hand as he reached for the white fragrant cake again. He took the last piece of white fragrant cake in the bowl and put it in Zhao Xuanxu's hand before him. He looked at Zhao Xuanxu sternly and urged him to stop being picky and eat quickly.
Zhao Xuanxu hardly touched the food in his bowl. After Wen Yao stuffed a white and soft cake into his bowl, he lowered his head obediently, tore off some and put it in his mouth to chew.
Wen Yao said, "Master Zhang, can't your salary support you?"
"It's true that Zhang comes from a humble background, and I always feel that money is not as good as free." Zhang Yun lost his cake, but he was not discouraged. He reached out and grabbed more cakes on the table. He finished a whole plate before stopping. He sat there with satisfaction, twisting and turning, and sighed: "It's a good day today. The sun is shining, and I'm full. It's so comfortable."
Zhao Xuanxu looked at Zhang Yun as if he was looking at a piece of trash: "If you have something to say, say it. Then leave immediately."
Day by day, there are more and more people in the family.
"Let me talk, let's talk about serious matters." Zhang Yun propped himself up and sat up, straightening his face and posture. He asked seriously, "Your Highness, may I ask if His Highness the Prince of Qin is not planning to return?"
"He wants to rebel." Zhao Xuanxu said without raising his eyelids, "Why did you come back?"
"Ah, so it is. It really is raining cats and dogs." Zhang Yun sighed and said, "Northern Liao wants us to marry the princess, but no one agrees. It's absolutely impossible. The war must be fought."
Speaking of this, let's not even mention that the remaining two princesses were only eight or nine years old, too young to be married far away. Northern Liao's ambitions were clear, and they demanded the princesses as dowries from the Nine Border Cities, all located in the prefectures in front of the mountains—that was the gateway to Tianshui's border defenses, so it was unlikely they would grant it.
"The question now is how to fight." Zhang Yun dipped his chopsticks in the water in his cup and drew a large circle on the table. "Northern civil officials, southern military officials, northern kings, southern Feng officials. Prince Yong is reluctant to use the military commanders in the court, but relying on the Zhongli Mansion alone is difficult. Therefore, Prince Yong has been very close to the Baili family recently."
"Prince Yong wants the Wu Zhao Si." Wen Yao understood instantly: "Is the Baili family no longer under the control of Prince Qin?"
"Birds choose good trees to roost in. Baili Cheng joined the Qin Wang faction because the Qin Wang opened the door for the Baili family to enter the officialdom for him." Zhang Yun said, "Now it seems that when he was not valued by the Qin Wang faction, he had already established connections with the Yong Wang. He is a man who judges the situation and reacts decisively. He is a blessing to the Baili family."
Wen Yao remained noncommittal and said, "I'm afraid even with the Wu Zhao Si, Zhao Xuanfeng wouldn't dare to fight this battle."
Otherwise, if the imperial court and Northern Liao came to blows, there was no guarantee that Zhao Xuanshuo would not stir up trouble behind the scenes. If he were to directly cut off the source of the trouble and set up his own faction to split the family, Zhao Xuanfeng would be in a state of panic, with both sides worried.
"That's right," Zhang Yun said. "The bet now is that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin doesn't want to destroy his ancestors' legacy and become a sinner for eternity. The Yong Dynasty officials plan to stabilize Northern Liao while putting pressure on Suzhou to get the Prince of Qin to withdraw his troops and return to Bian."
The emperor was in a coma, and the already confusing position of crown prince became even more confusing. Various factions were scheming about their fate. The two filial sons simply stopped watching the Eastern Palace and focused their attention directly on the throne.
Wen Yao waited for Zhang Yun to finish his words, stared into his foxy eyes, and asked directly, "What do you want to do in this wonderful show?"
Zhang Yun smiled and said sincerely, "I want to choose a good emperor for Tianshui."
"Who to choose?"
"Neither the King of Qin nor the King of Yong is fit to be the emperor of Tianshui." He said lightly, a sentence that was beyond outrageous.
Fortunately, there were no attendants around the pavilion, only Qianying standing there. The latter seemed to be oblivious to Zhang Yun's words and stood silently like a shadow.
Zhang Yun unleashed the words he had been chewing over in his mind for a long time, analyzing them carefully. He said, "Prince Yong is a man of great ambition and fame. He associates too much with the aristocratic families, oppressing the people. He is unacceptable. The King of Qin is headstrong and conceited, with a violent temper. He can lead the army in battle but cannot balance the affairs of state. He could easily lead factions within the court and run rampant. He is also unacceptable."
Wen Yao said slowly, "Master Zhang, there is a difference between the monarch and his subjects. As a subject, you are loyal to the monarch and love your country. It seems that you cannot rashly discuss the selection of a crown prince."
"No, no," Zhang Yun shook his head. "I read the books of the sages for the benefit of the people of the world, not for any particular dynasty. Besides, I'm a scholar and I don't rebel, so I can't just talk about it."
As he spoke, Zhang Yun's eyes flickered past Zhao Xuanxu, and he sighed, "Your Highness, forget it. The Prince of Xiang is a wise man, but unfortunately, his true interests lie elsewhere and he's unwilling to interfere in the power struggle. So, I've been thinking this over and over again, and I feel the most suitable candidate right now is the Fifth Prince, born to Concubine Su."
"Fifth Prince...Wang Nu?" Just after returning to Bianliang, there was already so much going on that it made him feel dizzy. Wen Yao, after hearing what Zhang Yun said, realized that according to the timeline, the old prince's child would have entered the palace long ago.
She felt a little embarrassed.
After all, I gave the child a nickname. It’s really wrong that I didn’t go to see him for such a long time.
"Indeed. I've met the Fifth Prince. He's incredibly intelligent at such a young age. With proper upbringing, he might become a wise and virtuous ruler." Zhang Yun said, "Plus, Concubine Su has her own plans, and she's on good terms with the Prince of Yan's Mansion. It's a perfect match."
Zhao Xuanxu finished his pancake, his fingertips elegantly twirled the brocade handkerchief beside him, wiping away the greasy residue. He then went straight to the point: "You want to kill Zhao Xuanfeng and Zhao Xuanshuo."
"More than that." Zhang Yun said respectfully and modestly, "The death of the two princes alone is far from enough."
After hearing this, Qianying couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and looked up at him.
Zhang Yun said, "For years, I've pondered why Tianshui is so weak. After much reflection, I've concluded that it's primarily due to the previous dynasty's preferential treatment of officials, leaving it with a complex and overcrowded state. Aristocratic families linger throughout the land, hindering imperial power and exploiting the common people. Cutting the flesh and boiling the bones is the only way to cure this problem. Why not take advantage of this unrest to eliminate the aristocratic families and pave the way for future generations?"
"What a great ambition!" Wen Yao applauded Zhang Yun. "Excuse me, Master Zhang, do you know what the fate of those who have opposed the aristocratic families has been throughout history?"
"I know. Not only do I know, I also know that I can't defeat him alone." Zhang Yun poured water, and Chao Wenyao and Zhao Xuanxu raised their cups and drank them all in one gulp. "So I beg for your help."
*
This breakfast lasted a full hour. Zhang Yun really liked the white fragrant cakes, and after much persuasion, he went to the kitchen and took away a lot.
When he was about to leave, Wen Yao followed him to see him off. As he was about to leave, Zhang Yun suddenly stopped and turned around, saying, "There's one more thing I want to ask of you."
Wen Yao stared into his eyes, already having a premonition in her heart: "About Jinyun?"
"Yesterday she went to see Prince Yong and told him to hurry to the Western Court." Zhang Yun said, "No one thinks her words are bad, but the date of the marriage will be brought forward again. You and His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan will escort her north. Why not... go a little slower?"
Wen Yao raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"She rarely leaves the palace, let alone Bianliang. When you go to the Western Dynasty, you'll be staying in the Western Dynasty Palace again. The journey is long and the scenery is endless. She'll probably ask you to walk slowly and take in more sights." Zhang Yun said slowly, "There's no rush. Just agree when the time comes."
Wen Yao found it hard to describe the emotion in Zhang Yun's eyes. There was a gentle heaviness there, like a ball of wet cotton wool.
But it is obvious that Zhang Yun has no romantic feelings for Jinyun, so is this just a pity he feels for a princess who is being married off because of past entanglements?
Then Wen Yao felt that his words were somewhat redundant.
"She doesn't need you to say that." Wen Yao said, "Princess Jinyun rides a horse very well and plays the grass flute beautifully. She can ask for anything she wants and is not afraid of anything. If she wants to go for a stroll, she will happily ask for it herself."
Zhang Yun listened, then smiled after a brief silence, and said with emotion: "Yes, that's right. She also uses the whip very well, and it hurts me a lot."
Wen Yao patted his back and watched Zhang Yun walk away leisurely with a paper bag of white fragrant cakes, his figure disappearing into the crowd.
How could such a person exist in the world? Cunning, scheming, fond of money and possessions, yet caring about the people of the world?
Wen Yao turned to look at Zhao Xuanxu and said, "Zhang Yun will not be a loyal minister to the emperor, but he will be a good official to the people."
"Then let him do it." Zhao Xuanxu said calmly, making Zhang Yun's arrangements clear and clear: "In the future, even if we leave him, he will be able to take charge of things and look after the Three Departments and Twelve Guards."
Wen Yao thought about it carefully, went back to his room and took out a wooden box. Without letting Zhao Xuanxu follow him, he handed over a sign and went to the palace himself.
Su Yi is always happy to see Wen Yao.
"Come here, come here!" Su Yi walked out of Yunjin Pavilion quickly, and Hong Shu behind her almost couldn't keep up with her. Su Yi put her arm around Wen Yao's arm, and hugged him intimately, with a little complaint: "You've been back for two or three days, and you finally remembered to see me."
"I came mainly to see Wang Nu." Wen Yao shook the box in his hand: "The prince wants to learn martial arts, and this is the basic mental method I copied. I don't know how the great mental method is, but I have selected these. They are most suitable for opening up the tendons and laying the foundation."
Just then, a young boy, dressed in brocade, his hair tied up with a hairpin, came over, led by two humble eunuchs. Wen Yao looked up, first at the boy, then at the two eunuchs, who were clearly masters of internal energy, and was slightly surprised.
Is this the factory supervisor's son?
The boy was a lovely child, with slightly chubby cheeks and a serious expression. He bowed solemnly to Wen Yao and said, "I greet Commander Wen. Thank you, Commander Wen, for giving me this technique. I hope I will study diligently in the future."
Wen Yao was stunned again.
This child is about the same age as Ayin, but he already looks like an adult.
"Wang Nu is so stern, I don't know who he inherited it from." Su Yi spoke with a loving tone, her eyes gentle. She took the box from Wen Yao's hand and handed it to Wang Nu, then touched his little face: "Go have some snacks, remember not to leave the palace, and don't go alone."
Wang Nu nodded, bowed to Wen Yao, and then left with the two eunuchs.
Su Yi saw that Yao's eyes had been fixed on the two eunuchs, and she took the initiative to say, "That's the man that Governor Song lent me. He stayed with Wang Nu to protect him."
Wen Yao understood the meaning behind her words and looked at her: "Is there someone in the palace with dirty hands?"
"Yes, it was extremely dangerous last time. If I hadn't always had to check on Wang Nu before going to bed to feel at ease, I would have strangled Wang Nu to death." Su Yi's voice was cold and cruel: "Some people have vicious eyes and are prepared for the rainy day. They have already moved against my son."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
