4. Entering the Palace
"I know you have an affair with the eldest daughter of the Shen family."
Granny Gui was quick and agile. Upon hearing the order, she walked quickly to Shen Suqin without saying a word and struck her.
Unexpectedly, Shen Jinghe stepped forward and blocked the attack for Shen Suqin.
With a loud "smack," a slap landed on Shen Jinghe's chin, the sound particularly jarring.
Shen Suqin frowned.
"I'll say it again, I'll raise my daughter myself, no one else needs to do it." Shen Jinghe gritted his teeth. "Besides, the princess promised me she wouldn't harm her."
"Are you determined to oppose me today?" Princess Changtai's face also darkened. "As long as she bears the surname Chen, she will be under my control. Aunt Gui, beat her."
"No!"
For a moment, the atmosphere inside the room became tense, and the servants didn't dare to breathe.
"laugh."
Suddenly, a cold laugh abruptly broke out.
Everyone looked over.
Shen Suqin spoke calmly: "Princess, Lord Shen, I have lived alone in Fuliang Mountain since I can remember, raised by my maternal grandfather. He passed away when I was five, and I have been supporting myself ever since. I have never received a single penny of support from your Shen family. You are here claiming to discipline and teach me, but are you worthy?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinghe felt as if he had been struck hard by a heavy hammer.
"What did you say?"
There was a noticeable red mark on his chin.
Shen Suqin softened her tone: "It means exactly what it says."
Shen Jinghe looked at the high and mighty Princess Changtai in disbelief and asked, "The money and goods I send every month, you had them intercepted?"
A hint of unease flashed across Princess Changtai's face.
“What are you talking about intercepting? Maybe the servants embezzled it on the way,” Granny Gui interjected. “Besides, if not a single penny had been delivered, would she have grown up like this? Master, please don’t be fooled by her one-sided story.”
Shen Jinghe didn't want to listen to her, so he pushed her away forcefully and walked up to Princess Changtai. "Shi Yunzhu, speak!"
Shi Yunzhu had probably never been questioned like this before, and said unhappily, "So what if it is?"
"You...you promised me you wouldn't hurt her."
Shi Yunzhu stood up: "Why are you getting so worked up with me? I've already given you face by not sending anyone to take direct action. Shen Jinghe, I advise you not to make trouble, otherwise you won't be able to protect any of the people you want to protect."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
"Stop right there, I haven't finished speaking yet," Shen Jinghe said.
Shi Yunzhu walked straight ahead without turning her head. "Tomorrow, Granny Gui will teach her manners. If you dare to stop her, you know the consequences."
"Shi Yunzhu!"
They had long since disappeared from sight, and Shen Suqin also started walking out.
After weighing the pros and cons, Shen Jinghe followed his daughter out the door.
"Zhaozhao, let me explain. Your mother and I send you things every month. We didn't know you didn't accept them."
No wonder you never reply to my letters.
"How did you grow up all these years? How much hardship did you endure to grow up to be this big?"
Along the way, Shen Jing talked to Xu Xu, and this grown man almost cried.
Shen Suqin had never encountered anything like this before. She suspected that if it hadn't been in front of her, Shen Jinghe might have already burst into tears.
The two returned to the courtyard one after the other. Jiang Yao greeted them with concern and immediately noticed the injury on Shen Jinghe's chin. She asked anxiously, "Why did she hit someone again? Where is Zhao Zhao? Is she hurt anywhere?"
As she spoke, she reached out to touch Chen Suqin.
Shen Suqin took a step back to avoid him: "Madam Shen, I'm tired."
Mother Shen was stunned.
She called her Madam Shen.
Shen Jinghe: "Then go and rest. I'll call you when it's time for dinner."
"Um."
Shen Suqin entered the room. The bedding was new, soft and fluffy, and still smelled of sunshine. The tables and chairs also looked new, and there was an exquisite dressing table with a small vase of fresh flowers on it...
It's clear that this room was decorated with great care.
She stood in the center of the room, stroking the cool tabletop, and turned to look at her parents, who were huddled together in the courtyard, weeping softly. For once, she felt a sense of helplessness.
It turns out they send themselves things every month, but they just haven't received them yet.
She let out a long sigh, walked to the bedside, unfolded the blanket, and lay down.
Shen Suqin slept very soundly. When she opened her eyes again, it was already completely dark outside the window, with only a small, warm yellow light shining in the kitchen in the courtyard.
There seemed to be someone talking in the kitchen. She got up, pushed open the door, and went over, just in time to meet Jiang Yao, who was rushing to greet her.
"You...you're awake," Jiang Yao's voice was a little hoarse. "I wanted you to sleep a little longer, so I didn't wake you up for dinner. Are you hungry?"
Shen Suqin nodded.
"Ju Tao, what time is it?" She tilted her head to look at Ju Tao, who was sitting at the dining table.
It's the hour of Xu (7-9 PM).
"Um."
Jiang Yao: "Come on, sit down and eat."
On the other side, Xiao Pingchuan was being "escorted" by the Imperial Guards along the official road leading into the palace. He vaguely sensed an unfriendly gaze from within the group, but when he looked over, he saw nothing.
Upon arriving at the palace gate, Eunuch Yan, the chief attendant of Emperor Jingkang, had been waiting for a long time.
"Eunuch Yan."
Xiao Pingchuan cupped his hands in greeting, and casually untied the heavy sword from his back and tossed it to the guard at the door. The guard, clutching the sword, fell to the ground on the spot, almost fainting from the impact.
With a smile in his eyes, Eunuch Yan said, "General, you are becoming more and more majestic."
Xiao Pingchuan didn't speak, but took out a small black cloth bag from his pocket and handed it over, saying, "This is licorice from the Northern Territory. When your throat is dry and itchy in winter, just suck on one of these, and it will help."
Since he hadn't returned to the capital, the only person willing to give him a second glance was Eunuch Yan.
"Oh my, General, you still remember this old servant from so far away. I must accept this and enjoy it." Saying this, he took the small cloth bag with both hands and stuffed it into his bosom, leading the way and saying, "When I came out, His Majesty was summoning Yang Duzhi, and he seemed to be in a bad mood."
"Thank you for reminding me."
Yang Kan, the Director of the Treasury, was in charge of the finances of the Great Liang Dynasty. Xiao Pingchuan's military pay always passed through his hands, and eight out of ten times it would be withheld.
It has been half a year since the last military pay was issued.
Summoning Yang Kan just as Xiao Pingchuan entered the palace was probably a show for him.
Sure enough, before Xiao Pingchuan even approached the imperial study, he heard Emperor Jingkang's reprimanding voice coming from inside.
"Where is the grain? I'm asking you, where is the grain? The autumn harvest hasn't even been delivered yet, and the granaries in various places are already empty! Where did all the grain stored up in previous years go?"
"Your Majesty, Jinzhou has been submitting memorials every year requesting grain. There are tens of thousands of people there, but we only receive grain and never give it back. It is very difficult for me."
Xiao Pingchuan's expression remained unchanged as he stood at the door with his eyes lowered, waiting for the announcement.
Eunuch Yan glanced at him discreetly and whispered a reminder: "Reduce your murderous aura. Offending His Majesty would be disastrous."
Xiao Pingchuan gave a soft "hmm".
"Your Majesty, General Xiao has arrived."
Eunuch Yan announced this loudly.
The sounds inside paused for a moment, then Emperor Jingkang's aged and weak voice came from within.
"Quickly invite my Great General in."
Eunuch Yan pushed open the palace door. "General, please."
Xiao Pingchuan nodded, straightened his clothes, and strode into the hall.
Upon entering the imperial study, Emperor Jingkang spoke animatedly, but remained motionless. "Why did my Grand General return secretly by himself? I originally intended to go to the city with all the officials to welcome you. Now, others will blame me for neglecting you."
Xiao Pingchuan bowed his head and knelt down, saying, "Your subject Xiao Pingchuan greets Your Majesty."
"You, you, are still so formal," Emperor Jingkang said with a smile. After admiring the way the emperor bowed and prostrated himself for a while, he slowly said, "Get up now."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xiao Pingchuan stood up.
Yang Duzhi cupped his hands in greeting, "General Xiao, it's been a long time."
Xiao Pingchuan didn't even bother to acknowledge him, pretending not to hear.
Yang Kan awkwardly lowered his hand.
"Alright, Minister Yang, you may go back now. I will explain your difficulties to the General."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Yang Kan took his leave, Emperor Jingkang subtly changed the subject: "I heard you met with Miss Shen?"
"yes."
"How is it? Do you like the new bride I chose for you?"
He heard from the people who were keeping an eye on him that the young lady from the Shen family was rude and uncouth.
"It's alright," Xiao Pingchuan said, without much emotion.
Emperor Jingkang lost interest when he didn't see what he wanted to see.
"Alright, let's get down to business," Emperor Jingkang said. "What are your thoughts on the Black Flag Army's provisions and pay?"
The imperial court hasn't properly provided the Black Flag Army with rations and pay for a long time. Fortunately, some wild game can still be found in Jinzhou during the spring and summer to fill their stomachs. It will be truly troublesome when the heavy snow seals off the land in winter.
Xiao Pingchuan lowered his eyes, concealing the cold light within them. "It is entirely up to Your Majesty to decide."
Emperor Jingkang's gaze sharpened slightly as he stared intently at Xiao Pingchuan's face, seemingly trying to ascertain whether he was lying.
After a long while, seeing that there were no flaws, he withdrew his gaze and said in a somber tone, "It is my incompetence that has caused my soldiers to go hungry."
Xiao Pingchuan didn't respond, but simply held him there.
Emperor Jingkang had no choice but to continue, "I have been troubled by the issue of provisions and pay for a long time. Fortunately, the governor of Liangzhou recently wrote a letter saying that he was willing to share a portion of the provisions and pay of the troops under his jurisdiction with Jinzhou."
The provisions and salaries of the outer armies of the Great Liang, namely the state armies, were managed by the respective states and were usually levied from the people. Only the central army, commanded by the emperor, and Xiao Pingchuan's Black Flag Army were supported by the imperial court.
Two years ago, the Shatuo suffered a major defeat and withdrew from the pass, after which the imperial court began to neglect to provide food and pay to the Black Flag Army.
In the past two years, there have been several voices in the court, some advocating for the disbandment of the Black Flag Army, and others demanding that Xiao Pingchuan relinquish his military power.
Xiao Pingchuan ignored all of these issues and dragged it out until today.
That being said, Emperor Jingkang's bestowal of marriage upon Xiao Pingchuan was actually a way of forcing him into marriage.
Once they've forced people back to the capital and trapped them, getting whatever they want is just a matter of a word.
"What are his conditions?" Xiao Pingchuan was referring to the governor of Liangzhou.
"The soldiers from the two states will be united to jointly defend the borders of the states."
Xiao Pingchuan hit the nail on the head: "They want the command of the Black Flag Army, don't they?"
"Cough cough." Emperor Jingkang coughed. "He's doing this for your own good. The harvest in Daliang has been poor these past two years, and we can't even collect enough grain. We can't let your soldiers starve to death."
The old emperor, disregarding the Black Flag Army's many years of merit in battle, threatened them.
"The key is that you're not getting any younger. It's time to leave an heir for the Xiao family. Leave the fighting and killing to others for now. You should start having children first. Otherwise, your parents will blame me if they know this in the afterlife."
Xiao Pingchuan kept a straight face and didn't respond. Instead, he said, "Your Majesty, I need time to consider this."
Emperor Jingkang looked displeased, but didn't say anything more.
Strangely enough, almost everyone in the capital believed that the rise of the Black Flag Army was a result of the times creating heroes, and that this group of vagrants and bandits were actually not very capable, relying only on luck, and that anyone could have been in charge.
As a result, a group of noble families, including Emperor Jingkang, dared to look down on him because he repeatedly petitioned for military pay, and they called him the "beggar general".
But in truth, Xiao Pingchuan never took the Liang Dynasty seriously. What he wanted from beginning to end was the head of the Shatuo King, not any wealth or glory.
"Very well, think it over carefully." He changed the subject. "Also, Miss Shen was personally chosen for you by me. Although her background is not good, she must be a considerate and caring person. I know that you have an affair with the eldest daughter of the Shen family, but how can you, Miss Jiao, handle that? Now that the marriage is settled, you must know your place and break off what needs to be broken off. Don't make a scene."
"I understand."
"Good to know. You may leave now. You will stay in the palace tonight, and I will prepare a banquet to welcome you back."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave."
"Go."
After leaving the main hall, walking along the narrow palace path, two high walls cut a long strip of gloomy sky, far less expansive than the northern desert. Every time Xiao Pingchuan walked this path, he felt extremely oppressed.
"I will take the general to the side hall to rest for a while. I will come to see the general again later."
Xiao Pingchuan didn't reply, but instead asked him, "Has Father-in-law ever been to the Northern Border?"
No.
"The northern border is vast and open; Father-in-law, you can go and see it if you have the chance."
Eunuch Yan sensed the melancholy in his tone. Gazing at his sharp features, he suddenly recalled the time when the Shatuo were about to breach the northern border, and Xiao Pingchuan had appeared out of nowhere, delivering news of three victories in three battles. At that time, the palace bells rang with joy, celebrating the arrival of a prodigy.
The North has only been peaceful for a few years.
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