Chapter 52: Court Dispute (Edited and Written)
Wen Yao listened to Song Mingde's words in silence.
Since the rise of sage learning, slaves in the Central Plains have always feared their masters, sons their fathers, and ministers their emperors, with no one daring to cross the line between high and low. Setting aside what happened in private, Song Mingde's apparent disrespect for the Prince of Qin in the Yonghe Palace, in front of all the ministers and even his maternal grandfather, Prime Minister Feng, only heightened her perception of his reputation as a treacherous sycophant.
The King of Qin was provoked by these words. He gritted his teeth and sneered twice, his anger evident. But in front of his ministers, he ultimately suppressed his temper and said nothing more. Beside him stood a tall, muscular man. It was Prime Minister Feng Ji, a military general and renowned for his upright and arrogant character.
Prime Minister Feng just glanced at Song Mingde and was obviously not surprised by what he said.
"alright."
At this point, the empress, seated behind the screen, finally stopped talking. The pearls and jade on her head moved slightly, making a subtle sound.
Wen Yao had met the Empress at the God's Day celebrations. Unlike Concubine Feng, the Empress had a fair, gentle complexion that soothed everyone. Her words were measured, gentle and generous, like a spring breeze. It was a testament to the fact that she and Prince Yong were mother and son; even their tone of voice was etched in the same mold.
The Empress was the Emperor's first wife, and her father was the Grand Tutor Wang, a highly respected scholar. The Wang family of Beidi was the foremost of the aristocratic families, and the literary tradition of the North flourished. In recent years, six or seven out of ten candidates who passed the imperial examinations were from the north, or had studied under a great scholar from the north.
For these reasons, even though the emperor had favored Concubine Feng for many years, the empress's throne as the center of the palace remained as stable as Mount Tai.
The Queen sat behind a screen, and Wen Yao could only see a tiny shadow on it. She calmly and attentively addressed Zhao Xuanxu through the screen, saying, "How is the Third Brother's injury? Has he seen the Imperial Physician?"
Zhao Xuanxu stood aside, his sleeves drooping, his eyes half-closed, looking utterly bored. He hadn't wanted to answer, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Wen Yao about to step forward to speak for him. Zhao Xuanxu frowned and suddenly said, "It's been handled."
There was a slight movement in the hall. Except for Zhang Yun, the ministers standing by all looked surprised and looked up at Zhao Xuanxu.
"oh?"
The Queen also sounded surprised.
Zhao Xuanxu had been acting recklessly and madly for years, disregarding any etiquette. She had only asked out of politeness, as a mother of a nation, to show her concern for the emperor's offspring, and hadn't expected him to answer her.
Prince Yong was also ready to speak to offer the Empress a way out, but when Zhao Xuanxu took over, his eyebrows raised, his face immediately brightened with a smile, and he said, "Your Majesty and Eunuch Song have helped your father solve his problems. Doing your best is a sign of loyalty and filial piety. The assassins are ruthless, so you two must proceed with caution."
"That's right." The Queen's voice softened. "Since the Third Prince is injured, why not rest well in the mansion... Commander Wen is a skilled martial artist and possesses extraordinary courage and insight. Let Commander Wen assist Eunuch Song in tracking down the assassin."
She said this out of sympathy for Prince Yan and to show goodwill to Zhao Xuanxu. However, she didn't expect that her flattery would backfire. Zhao Xuanxu's expression did not improve, but instead frowned even more, with a clear expression of dissatisfaction.
Wen Yao, watching from the side, blinked his eyelids and immediately stepped forward, bowing and saying, "I, a humble servant, have done my best to assist His Highness and Eunuch Song in tracking down the assassin."
Zhao Xuanxu suddenly shut up, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Song Mingde suddenly sneered, his face scornful.
"Eunuch Song."
Wang Taishi, standing to the side, spoke up. He was much older than Prime Minister Feng, having turned seventy at the end of his life. His voice was old, his beard was dry and gray, but he was in good spirits.
Grand Tutor Wang said slowly, "The assassin you and Prince Yan are chasing today is related to the Qiongyu Tower in the city?"
Today's incident had happened, and these officials had stayed in the palace to stabilize the situation. But the flames in the Jade Tower were blazing brightly tonight, illuminating half of Bianliang. The fire had just died down, so it was impossible for them not to know what was happening.
Wen Yao lowered his eyes, his gaze settling on the smooth, golden bricks of the Lama Temple. The candlelight was bright, and the shadows of the people in the hall were reflected on the floor, stretched and twisted into a ball.
"Of course it's related." Song Mingde raised his chin slightly and said, "The leader of the assassins who escaped today is the owner of Qiongyu Tower, named Lou Chengyi."
"Is this person an accomplice of the traitor who assassinated He Shenjie?" someone asked, "Is he also from the Red Pavilion?"
"There was indeed an assassin from the Red Pavilion today." Song Mingde's lips curled up slowly, his thin voice filled with sinister intent. "Lou Chengyi does have connections to the Red Pavilion, but he's not a member of it. As you all know, when Yelu Hui first arrived in Bianliang, he visited the Qiongyu Tower."
Prime Minister Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his voice as loud as a bell: "Eunuch Song, if you have anything to say, please speak frankly. There is no need to beat around the bush!"
Song Mingde said happily, "This man has a unique appearance and green eyes. He is not from our Tianshui tribe. We have had many suspicions about him before, but unfortunately, he grew up in Tianshui and has great means, so we have never been able to capture and interrogate him. Today, we confronted him, but we found that the people around Lou Chengyi also looked like barbarians, and they all spoke the Liao language!"
After these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was shocked.
Everyone was in an uproar, looking at each other and talking about it.
"This..." Even the Queen stood up and, supported by a palace maid, walked to the screen. She hesitated and said, "Are you serious, Eunuch Song? But if they are from Liao, why did they kill Prince Yelu after assassinating Your Majesty today?"
"How could we possibly know what's going on in the Northern Liao court?" Song Mingde said coldly in a feminine voice, "It's better for the Qiongyu Tower to burn down. If the Northern Liao had any spies in Bianliang, they would definitely have been in this Qiongyu Tower."
It’s true.
Wen Yao lowered his eyes.
Moreover, although Lou Chengyi led his men back to Northern Liao, the spies in Bianliang City would never withdraw and would not hand over the city to others. He must still have people in Bianliang City and even in the government offices.
Compared to Grand Tutor Wang and Prime Minister Feng, Zhang Yun, currently serving as Co-Director of the Privy Council, was much more low-key and remained silent. After Song Mingde finished speaking, he bowed leisurely, his face a look of worry and indignation. He said, "Gentlemen, with the passing of Prince Yelu, the envoys from various countries in Bianliang are deeply disturbed and are leaving one after another. If this news reaches the north, Northern Liao will certainly not let it go. If they use this as an excuse to start a war, how should Tianshui respond?"
Back to the topic, the atmosphere in Yonghe Palace suddenly became heavy.
"How else can we respond?" Prime Minister Feng waved his sleeves. "Fight if you want! How could our Tianshui soldiers fear a tribe of barbarians?"
"Lord Feng, your words are biased," said Grand Tutor Wang in a cold tone. "War between the two countries will bring devastating suffering to the people. Moreover, spring is about to arrive, and Northern Liao will be strong and powerful. Our border troops are weak. How can we resist Northern Liao's southward advance? Will we repeat the mistakes of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun?"
The military commanders nearby felt as if someone had stabbed them in the heart upon hearing this. They looked at the civil officials and followers around Grand Tutor Wang with unpleasant expressions. General Zhongli, with his hair white and his back straight, was struck by something, and his expression was filled with sadness.
During the Battle of Pingzhou in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, Tianshui nearly suffered a crushing defeat. It was thanks to General Zhongli, who led his troops in a desperate defense of the city for three months, that they were able to hold the pass until the Northern Liao emperor collapsed and civil unrest ensued. Otherwise, the Yanshan Mountains would have been surrendered, allowing the Northern Liao cavalry to cross the pass and march straight into Tianshui's heartland.
In that battle, Tianshui suffered heavy casualties. General Zhongli's only son, Zhongli He's father, was captured and refused to surrender. The Liao army tied him up and brought him into battle as a demonstration against Tianshui. He committed suicide in front of the entire army, sacrificing his life for his country.
"How can we defeat the enemy without fighting?" Prime Minister Feng said in a deep voice, "Northern Liao has long coveted our Tianshui. Sooner or later, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun will fight again. We should prepare as soon as possible. If there is any change in the northern border, our Tianshui troops are swift and will surely catch Northern Liao off guard."
Grand Tutor Wang refused to give in. "Sending an envoy to accompany the Liao envoy back to Northern Liao, bringing silk, cloth and silver as gifts of condolence, is the right thing to do to maintain diplomatic relations between the two countries and expand trade."
"If Northern Liao really goes to war, does Grand Tutor Wang intend to negotiate peace with them?" The King of Qin curled his lips. "The Liao people are greedy. I'm afraid they'll demand a fortune. Taking this money from the people, isn't that a waste of their blood and sweat, and a disgrace to Tianshui's dignity?"
The smile faded from Yong's face. He said, "A little money won't cause the people any great harm. If war breaks out, the streets and alleys will be deserted. This is a sign of chaos."
…
Wen Yao, by now, was privy to the sparring and swordplay in the imperial court. Within a short time, the palace erupted in a tumultuous brawl. The usually refined and respectful civil officials were eager to pounce on their opponents and engage in combat. The military commanders, less eloquent than the scholars, blushed furiously.
Perhaps there were too many unexpected events today, and now hearing their noisy voices, Wen Yao felt a little headache.
Zhao Xuanxu walked over and gently patted Wen Yao's arm. Then he looked up at the screen and said to the queen, "The Twelve Guards will accompany the Imperial Army to protect the Imperial City. Bianliang City will be under martial law and curfew for the next few days, and the night market will be cancelled."
His voice was not loud, but as soon as he opened his mouth, everyone in the hall fell silent involuntarily.
Prime Minister Feng remained silent. Grand Tutor Wang nodded, his tone softening, "Prince Yan is right. That's the way it should be."
Zhao Xuanxu glanced at him, his gaze passing lightly over him, and turned away, his robe swaying. Wen Yao once again bowed to the queen behind the screen, and quickly followed Zhao Xuanxu out.
After leaving the Lama Temple, the cold but refreshing air rushed in, and Wen Yao felt refreshed. He let out a long sigh of relief: "They really can quarrel. If it's like this every day, no wonder you don't go to court."
People who practice martial arts naturally have sharp senses. Just now, it was as if there were a hundred ducks quacking in their ears in the hall. How could one bear it if it happened all the time?
Zhao Xuanxu looked sideways at Wen Yao. This was the first time she had looked relaxed since Ning'er's accident.
He chuckled softly, "That's right. Ah Yao, you now know how much I hate staying in Bianliang. In the past, I couldn't wait to go to the border to find you and enjoy the freedom with you."
Zhao Xuanxu is now unwilling to miss any opportunity to play the victim and show goodwill in front of Wen Yao.
Before Wen Yao could say anything, he heard footsteps from behind, followed by the slightly breathless voice of the Prince of Xiang: "Third brother, Commander Wen, wait a moment!"
Wen Yao was surprised and turned to see the plump Prince Xiang and his attendants hurrying up to him from the palace corridor. When they were still some distance away from Wen Yao, the Prince Xiang raised his hand to tell his attendants to stop, then took a breath and walked forward alone.
Prince Xiang, who seemed invisible in front of the court officials, first looked at Zhao Xuanxu and smiled politely, "Is your injury serious? I have some excellent medicine here, left by the former medical saint Wang Fu. It can revive a person and turn bones into flesh, which is very rare. I have sent it to your residence. You should rest more and recuperate well."
...I wonder if the rare medical miracle product you mentioned was the one that was scattered like flour today?
The Prince of Xiang did not have the airs of a son of a phoenix or a dragon. After saying this, he looked at Wen Yao and said, "Before entering the palace today, someone specifically asked me to pass on a message to Commander Wen."
The only person who could ask Prince Xiang to convey a message to Wen Yao is Chu Yutang.
Prince Xiang didn't finish his words, probably because he was concerned about Zhao Xuanxu who was standing beside him.
Wen Yao said, "Your Highness, please feel free to tell me what he said."
This is what it means to be able to speak directly in front of Zhao Xuanxu.
The Prince of Xiang glanced past Zhao Xuanxu, then returned to Wen Yao's face after a moment, and said, "Young Master Chu said that if there's anything he can help with, Commander Wen, please feel free to ask."
He had specifically asked the Prince of Xiang to tell Wen Yao this as soon as he entered the palace. Regardless, Chu Yutang was sincere and thoughtful this time.
Wen Yao was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you, Prince Xiang, for telling me."
It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned it, but once she did, she realized she really needed Chu Yutang's help.
The burning of Qiongyu Tower left two plots of land along the Bian River vacant, and it was unclear what they would be used for. Ning'er was now buried there, and the women in Qiongyu Tower also needed a place to stay. To avoid unnecessary suspicion, Zhao Xuanxu hesitated to directly interfere with the sale of the Qiongyu Tower plots. Besides the Ghost Market Master, Wen Yao didn't know who else to turn to for help.
"Oh, they are all trivial matters. Not worth mentioning." The Prince of Xiang waved his hand cheerfully, said goodbye to Zhao Xuanxu Wenyao, then turned around and left with his men.
He will be busy for some time.
There was about to be chaos in the north. He and Chu Yutang had a caravan traveling to Tianshui in Bei Liao. They needed to sell the goods on hand quickly and withdraw to avoid losses.
Zhao Xuanxu stood aside, his hands wrapped like rice dumplings raised, listening to the two men's riddles. He didn't know what he was thinking about, but his face gradually darkened.
Almost as soon as the Prince of Xiang left, he softened his voice and said softly, "Ayao, who is this Mr. Chu?"
In recent years, Wen Yao's whereabouts were uncertain at first, and later he lived in Liuye City in Mobei, and only had some correspondence with the interior.
Zhao Xuanxu had already done a thorough investigation and knew most of Wen Yao's close friends in the martial arts world. However, the identities of a few in Bianliang City were more difficult to deal with, and he had never been able to figure out their identities.
Now we already know that one is Lou Chengyi and the other is the legendary Red Pavilion Master. I didn't expect there was another person who was also an acquaintance of the Prince of Xiang.
Is this Mr. Chu who suddenly appeared old or young, and what kind of relationship does he have with A Yao?
Zhao Xuanxu felt a mixture of vigilance and sourness bubbling in his heart, but he remained considerate as he said, "Do I know this friend, Ayao? Of course, if Ayao doesn't feel comfortable telling me, then forget it."
Just forget it, just forget it. From the sound of your tone, you don’t sound like you can let it go easily.
"He's a good man. I'll introduce you to him if I have the chance." Wen Yao breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and carefully lifted the back of Zhao Xuanxu's bandaged hand, and said, "Go back. Tomorrow, open a pot of good wine and bring some paper money to visit Ning'er."
Zhao Xuanxu's expression suddenly changed.
He seemed to have seen something incomprehensible, and he lowered his head and stared blankly at the two people's hands. After a long while, Zhao Xuanxu's Adam's apple rolled, and he responded somewhat stiffly.
Wen Yao's hand was warm, his fingers slender, and they rested firmly on the back of his hand. In the dim palace, his wound, which had been pierced by the flesh and blood and still aching even after applying the ointment, suddenly became numb.
The palace maid led the way, holding a lantern and not daring to look back. Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu rode in the same rickety carriage as when they arrived, returning to Prince Yan's mansion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
