An old palace fire stirs up trouble
Preface: The dust will soon settle, and rewards lie ahead. While others indulge in fame and fortune, I alone see the fleeting beauty of the mirror. The fates that once secretly spun must eventually pursue their own paths. Green mountains loom in sight, yet I am weary. With the final move, the clouds will dissipate, and the winds of glory will depart.
Lu Junyi's handwritten letter was written on the specially crafted dark-patterned paper of the Lu Mansion in Daming Prefecture. His ink strokes were steady and powerful, just like his usual personality. However, the contents of the letter were far more thrilling than Yan Qing had expected.
The letter started with no pleasantries and went straight to the point:
"My dear brother Xiaoyi, I am glad to see you. I recently received an urgent report from the 'Hidden Post' and also received Mr. An's secret information. These two reports corroborate and lead to an old case in Tokyo from twenty years ago. I am afraid that this case may be related to your life and death. I dare not neglect it and have sent a confidant to inform you immediately."
"After extensive investigation, the story of Qinghui Pavilion has become increasingly clear. It was a secret fire in the palace during the reign of Emperor Zhezong. Official records are vague, often covering it up as a 'natural disaster or carelessness.' However, according to surviving archives and the vague recollections of palace elders, a mysterious fire did indeed occur in Qinghui Pavilion, destroying several rooms and killing over ten people. Among them was a female official named Yan Wan, who was in charge of ancient documents."
Yan Wan!
Seeing this name, Yan Qing's heart seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, and a throbbing and sadness from deep in his blood quietly spread. Although the memory was vague, the name gave him an indescribable sense of familiarity and closeness.
The letter continued, "This female official, Yan, is said to have come from a family of scholars, having fallen into poverty and entered the palace. She possessed an elegant disposition and was well-versed in literature. After the fire, her name was quietly erased from the register, as if she had never existed. Even more bizarrely, the eunuch who was in charge of the palace repairs and also managed some of the palace guards was none other than the now-powerful Gao Qiu! Back then, he was still a humble eunuch in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, shortly after the Qinghui Pavilion fire, he was recognized by the then Prince Duan (the current emperor), and since then he has risen rapidly to prominence."
Gao Qiu! It's Gao Qiu again!
A cold glint flashed in Yan Qing's eyes. In his previous life, Gao Qiu was one of the primary drivers of the tragedies that followed Liangshan's surrender. Unexpectedly, in an earlier time and space, this man might have been inextricably linked to the mystery of his own life! Was it coincidence, or was there a deeper conspiracy? A palace fire, an obliterated court lady, a charismatic minister who exploited it to ascend to power... the waters behind this were terrifyingly deep.
The second half of the letter mentioned An Daoquan: "One of the palace secrets Mr. An described is related to Gao Qiu's early misdeeds. It involves a secret case of embezzlement and frame-up of medicinal materials. The victim also had dealings with Qinghui Pavilion. These two factors confirm that Gao Qiu is not innocent in this old case. The details known to Mr. An have been encrypted and included separately, which can be used as supporting evidence when necessary."
Finally, Lu Junyi changed his tone, his tone solemn: "Within Liangshan, I'm afraid someone wants to use this old case to stir up trouble and frame you. Wu Xuejiu is a man of deep scheming. Since he has sent Dai Zong to investigate, he must have an agenda. I am treading on thin ice in the camp, so I must be extremely cautious. If you need anything, the Lu family of Daming Prefecture will always be your backing. Remember, protect yourself first! Brother, Junyi, this is a handwritten letter."
The letter trembled slightly at his fingertips, not out of fear, but from the shock of the overwhelming amount of information and the warmth brought by Lu Junyi's unconditional trust and support. Lu Junyi was far away in Daming Prefecture, but he was able to obtain such a detailed investigation in such a short time with the help of the "Hidden Post" and the clues provided by An Daoquan, which clearly showed his energy and dedication.
This letter not only confirmed Dai Zong's investigation but also provided further details that even Wu Yong might not have grasped—particularly Gao Qiu's questionable role in the matter. This was no longer a simple mystery of his origins, but a political maelstrom involving the current Grand Marshal and the secrets of the imperial court.
Wu Yong intends to frame Yan Qing as a "remnant of the previous dynasty" or "unclear identity," but muddying the waters by dragging Gao Qiu into the mix would create a completely different situation. Gao Qiu is Liangshan's mortal enemy and a significant obstacle Song Jiang must overcome in his quest for the amnesty. If the Liangshan people, especially Song Jiang, realize that investigating Yan Qing's past could expose Gao Qiu's true past and even jeopardize the amnesty plan (after all, Gao Qiu is a favorite of the emperor), will Wu Yong's framing be successful?
A bold plan quickly took shape in Yan Qing's mind - to take advantage of the opponent's strategy and divert the disaster to another place.
He needed to convey the key points of the "Qinghui Pavilion case," Gao Qiu's misdeeds, and the possibility of affecting the amnesty to Song Jiang in a seemingly accidental yet unignorable way. He couldn't do it himself, as that would be too obvious and easily arouse suspicion.
The best messenger is still the "devil in the world" Fan Rui who is immersed in Feng Shui metaphysics.
The next day, Yan Qing visited Fan Rui again. This time, his face was more worried, and even had a hint of confusion.
"Brother Fan Rui, I received a letter from Mr. Lu yesterday, which mentioned some old events, and I feel increasingly uneasy." Yan Qing went straight to the point and selectively and vaguely revealed some of the information in Lu Jun's letter about "Qinghui Pavilion", "female official surnamed Yan" and "possibly related to the early deeds of a certain dignitary today". Naturally, he concealed Gao Qiu's name and the specific details of An Daoquan, and only emphasized that the matter involved the palace and was unfathomable.
"... The official expressed his worry in the letter. If this matter is exploited by someone with ulterior motives, not only will Yan Qing be in danger, but the reputation of the stronghold will also be affected, and even... it may affect the possible path of 'recruitment' in the future." Yan Qing deliberately emphasized the word "recruitment" and carefully observed Fan Rui's reaction.
Upon hearing this, Fan Rui's brows furrowed, his fingers calculating non-stop as he muttered, "As I expected... I've been calculating recently, and I've also felt that the heavens are in disarray. An evil star looms in the southeast, pointing directly towards the Purple Palace. It's definitely connected to the imperial court! If it involves dignitaries in the court, then... then..." He suddenly looked up, a flicker of fear in his eyes, "This is a very bad omen! Not only is it bad for you, Chief Yan, but it's also a huge hidden danger to the fortune of Liangshan as a whole! The source of that evil spirit is clearly in... in the direction of Tokyo!"
Yan Qing secretly praised Fan Rui for "living up to expectations" by connecting the clues and drawing the conclusions of "endangering the village's fortune" and "implicating the recruitment." This was exactly what he wanted.
"Brother, your Daoist skills are profound and you have a keen eye for the mysteries of Heaven." Yan Qing complimented him at the right moment, his tone heavy. "But this matter is of great importance, and I, Yan Qing, have little influence. If I were to report this to Brother Gongming rashly, I'm afraid it would be considered alarmist and might even alert the enemy. I wonder if Brother..."
Fan Rui was now completely absorbed in the "horrifying truth" he had deduced, and a sense of responsibility arose. He said solemnly, "Don't worry, Chief Yan! This concerns the survival of the stronghold. How can I sit idly by? I will go meet Brother Gongming and advise him based on Feng Shui and astronomical phenomena. I must make sure he understands the pros and cons!"
Watching Fan Rui's hurried departure, Yan Qing knew the first move had been made. Having Fan Rui, an "outsider" and a master of "metaphysics," point the finger, far more naturally than his own defense or Lu Junyi's direct pressure, would also garner Song Jiang's attention. Song Jiang might not believe Yan Qing, but when it came to such abstruse claims about "fate" and "luck," especially when it came to something as crucial as recruiting the enemy, he preferred to believe it.
Meanwhile, Yan Qing was also busy. He used his good relationships in the stronghold, especially with leaders like Le He and Hu Sanniang who were relatively neutral or had good intentions towards him, to release some information intentionally or unintentionally.
Or, while discussing music with Yue He, he would occasionally sigh, "I've heard the situation in Tokyo is quite complex. I wonder how many innocent people were implicated in an old palace case. I'm afraid even today, some dignitaries are still worried."
Or, while instructing Hu Sanniang on martial arts, he "inadvertently" mentioned, "Sometimes knowing too many secrets isn't a good thing, especially when those secrets involve important figures; it can easily lead to trouble."
These words were spread sporadically, and after being interpreted and spread by different people, they gradually formed a subtle atmosphere of public opinion in the mountain stronghold - Yan Qing's life experience seemed to be involved in an old palace case, and this old case seemed to be related to a future "big enemy" of Liangshan.
After a few days, the effects began to show.
First, Song Jiang's attitude towards Yan Qing is noticeably more polite and thoughtful, no longer completely swayed by Wu Yong as before. He even said to Yan Qing privately in a private setting, "Brother Xiaoyi, there have been rumors circulating in the mountain stronghold lately. Don't worry. We gather on Liangshan for the principles of loyalty and righteousness. Your background is irrelevant. As long as your heart is with the mountain stronghold, you are a good brother." While these words aren't explicitly stated, the reassuring intent is clear.
Secondly, Wu Yong's offensive had noticeably slowed. He no longer publicly mentioned the issue of sorting out the leaders' backgrounds, and his private conversations with Dai Zong seemed to have become less frequent. Yan Qing occasionally met his gaze in the Gathering Hall, and one could clearly see the suspicion and calculation hidden behind his glasses. Wu Yong was a wise man, and he must have sensed the shift in public opinion and the subtle shift in Song Jiang's attitude. He needed to reassess the costs and risks of framing Yan Qing.
On this crisp autumn day, a drill was underway at the Liangshan Marsh martial arts arena. Yan Qing, dressed in a neat suit, was instructing a small group in crossbow practice. His agility and clarity in explaining the key points drew cheers from many of the surrounding leaders and soldiers.
"Brother Yanqing, you have such great skills! Such detailed teaching methods!" A loud voice rang out, and the Flower Monk Lu Zhishen came striding over with a Zen stick in his hand, followed by the Monkey King Wu Song.
Yan Qing stopped, clasped his fists, and said with a smile, "Master Lu, Second Brother Wu, please excuse my sarcasm. It's just some minor skills, just to strengthen my body."
Lu Zhishen laughed heartily and patted Yan Qing's shoulder with his big hand like a palm-leaf fan: "I see that you have been quietly suppressing those sinister disturbances in the village these days. You are really brave! You are much better than those sour scholars who can only plot behind the scenes!" His voice was loud and he did not hide anything, which attracted the attention of everyone around him.
Wu Song didn't say anything, but he nodded slightly to Yan Qing, a hint of admiration in his eyes. These straightforward men hated backstabbing the most. Despite being in the whirlpool recently, Yan Qing remained calm and composed, even gaining the upper hand, which suited their tastes perfectly.
Yan Qing felt a warm feeling in his heart, knowing that his response strategy had not only resolved the crisis but also earned the recognition of some powerful heroes. He said humbly, "Master, you are too kind. Yan Qing was simply doing his duty and did not want to disturb the peace of the mountain stronghold because of his personal affairs."
"What a great 'I don't want to disturb the peace of the mountain stronghold'!" Another voice interrupted, and the military strategist Zhu Wu came closer at some point. He was waving a palm-leaf fan with a smile on his face, "Chief Yan Qing used stillness to control movement, and achieved great results with little effort. Zhu Wu admires his wisdom and determination." There was something else in his words, and it was obvious that he had seen something.
Yan Qing and Zhu Wu exchanged glances, and both understood each other. Zhu Wu and Wu Yong were both military advisors, but their philosophies differed greatly, and he was happy to see Wu Yong suffer a setback.
At this moment, Dai Zong suddenly appeared, leading a man hurriedly walking towards the Juyi Hall. The man was dressed as an official, looked dusty and nervous.
Yan Qing was sharp-eyed and recognized the official's clothes, which turned out to be from Jizhou Prefecture!
Dai Zong also saw Yan Qing and others in the martial arts field. He paused slightly, glanced at Yan Qing with complicated eyes, then quickened his pace and left with the official.
Lu Zhishen touched his bald head and asked in confusion, "Brother Dai Zong, what are you doing? Where did you get this official from?"
Zhu Wu's fanning hand slowed down, a hint of thought flashing in his eyes. "People from Jeju Prefecture... coming at this juncture, I'm afraid... something has happened again."
Yan Qing's mind raced. Jeju Prefecture and Liangshan were adjacent, a delicate relationship. Why had they suddenly sent someone here? Was it a simple negotiation, or... was it related to the unresolved "Qinghui Pavilion" incident?
He felt that the undercurrent that had just subsided seemed to be showing signs of surging again.
Mountain rain is coming and the wind is blowing all over the building.
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Chapter 54 End
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