“What?”
Yao Xishui had only been back in Jinling for two days and was still feeling gloomy and unhappy about Li Zhigao’s mercilessness when she unexpectedly heard so quickly the news that Han Daoming had switched sides in the Policy Deliberation Hall to oppose the Empress Dowager acting as regent. She almost doubted she had heard wrong.
“Shisanniang previously sent back word that when Han Daoming first arrived at Tangyi, she seemed to hear sounds of Han Qian arguing with them. Does what Han Daoming said only represent his branch’s meaning?” A middle-aged beautiful woman dressed in a pale yellow palace gown was holding scissors to lift and trim the lamp wick, making the lamp flame burn more brightly. Hearing such news, she too was extremely shocked and asked hesitantly. She would rather believe Han Daoming had completely fallen out with Han Qian, each choosing their own position, than believe Han Qian would tear off all pretenses with them and turn around to support His Majesty instead.
“Not to mention the Han family still has that old immortal, Han Daoming has mixed in society for many years—extremely cunning and crafty. How could he not endure a moment’s anger? Xishui is still too impetuous…” Lu Qingxia slightly furrowed her elegant brows, her hand gently stroking her forehead. Her immaculately styled hair mixed with several silver threads inevitably revealed the marks time had carved upon her. She had no unrealistic fantasies about the current situation. Wrong was wrong—refusing to acknowledge it wouldn’t change anything.
Though Lu Qingxia’s tone was gentle without much reproach, hearing such words, Yao Xishui’s heart felt extremely uncomfortable, as if being sliced by knives.
However, thinking of how when leaving Shuzhou, elder brother had already predicted Han Qian and even the Han family’s defection, she couldn’t help but think disappointedly—could it really be that she was too impetuous, instead giving Han Qian the opportunity and excuse to defect?
Yes, in outsiders’ eyes, Li Chong’s suicide out of guilt was merely them being forced to give an explanation under Han Qian’s coercion. This would actually help eliminate doubts in Shen Yang, Yang Zhiyuan, and others’ hearts.
Otherwise, with the situation so urgent, Tangyi’s reliance on external money, grain, and material supplies unable to pause for a moment, under the predicament where they very likely couldn’t gain the good will of either side or obtain relative trust, Han Qian and the Han family couldn’t possibly choose to rashly sever ties with their side at this time.
Or perhaps it was Wen Ruilin’s successful escape and Li Chong spreading rumors that ultimately prompted Han Qian to sever ties with them?
Whichever situation it was, it showed all the consequences were sown by her. At this moment Yao Xishui’s mind was in complete chaos.
She had always maintained extremely deep vigilance toward Han Qian, also thinking Han Qian was very likely their greatest obstacle in the future. Whenever there was an opportunity she wanted to strike at him, but she hadn’t thought some matters would be turned around and used by Han Qian.
And just two days ago, when elder brother predicted such a situation might occur, she had felt somewhat disdainful in her heart. Yet unexpectedly, with merely two days passed, the situation’s development had completely escaped their control.
“I…” Thinking of this, Yao Xishui’s mood grew even more oppressed. She felt she had failed the Lady. With reddened eyes, her mouth opened for a long while before she discovered she couldn’t find any words to defend herself.
“Should we send someone to see Zhigao? Han Qian only has twenty thousand mixed, weak troops. Without the Huaixi Imperial Guard’s cooperation, even if he truly has supernatural schemes, could he really single-handedly stop Shouzhou forces’ southward advance?” The middle-aged beautiful woman no longer doubted Han Qian and the Han family’s position had reversed. But no matter what, the troops on the north bank of the Yangtze were still mainly in their grasp. They still had the ability to force Han Qian and the court’s great ministers to bow their heads and agree to the Empress Dowager returning to court in the form of regent.
“Zhigao spoke correctly—we shouldn’t act rashly anymore. Assistant to governance it is then. We must first wait for the situation to stabilize before considering other matters. We also shouldn’t make things difficult for Zhigao anymore.” Lu Qingxia said somewhat exhaustedly.
“Yes!” The middle-aged beautiful woman nodded in acknowledgment.
…
…
“Can Han Daoming truly represent Han Qian’s attitude? Could there be some misunderstanding?”
These days hiding in Chongwen Hall, too lazy to even meet Shen Yang and Yang Zhiyuan, Yang Yuanpu had to learn of Han Daoming’s defection earlier than Changchun Palace’s side. But he found it hard to believe all this was real, or rather found it hard to believe this was Han Qian’s attitude.
Only when night was falling did he summon An Jixiang, Chen Ruyi, and Jiang Huo, Yuan Guowei, Zhang Ping, and others to come before him to inquire about the details.
Since Han Qian and Li Zhigao acted on the Empress Dowager’s edicts, he had mainly hidden in Chongwen Hall, deeply afraid that one day he would be confined to the deep palace. Apart from the few people like Shen Yang and Yang Zhiyuan, he saw no one, even having no mind to concern himself with Jinyun Bureau affairs. Only now did he discover many trivial matters he needed to sort through again.
An Jixiang and Chen Ruyi hadn’t received audience these days, but they had still conscientiously gathered intelligence, hoping to make some amends for previous errors. At this moment kneeling before the imperial desk, they said carefully:
“Wen Ruilin indeed remained in Shouzhou as Central Gate Envoy. Before Gao Long was killed after his plot failed, he had attempted to assassinate Chen Mingsheng, while Miao Yong led his troops to defect to Yongzhou at Five Finger Ridge… When Gao Chengyuan broke through the enemy encirclement he was gravely wounded. Han Qian wanted to invite him to Tangyi to treat his injuries, but Gao Chengyuan passed by Tangyi without entering, insisting his subordinate officers escort him across the river, unfortunately dying of his wounds while crossing. As for Li Chong surrendering to the enemy as a spy and spreading seditious rumors, Marquis of Liyang’s memorial stated this clearly—it should not be false. However, before the Marquis of Xinjin strictly investigated this matter, the Marquis of Qianyang’s subordinate officer Lin Zongjing left Bijia Mountain camp in resentment after being humiliated by the Marquis of Xinjin’s subordinate officers over this matter. The next day, the Marquis of Qianyang detained the remnants of the Right Divine Martial Army remaining at Daci Mountain on the pretext of investigating enemy spies. Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou also returned to Jiangzhou and Guangde Prefecture that same day. Particularly Zhou Dan was escorted by six Xuzhou warships and stopped at Bijia Mountain camp midway. We don’t know what Zhou Dan said to the Marquis of Liyang and the Marquis of Xinjin, but only after that did the Marquis of Xinjin resolve to investigate enemy spies. Apart from Li Chong committing suicide out of guilt, the Military Affairs Bureau and Ministry of Justice also sent people to Shuzhou to escort other soldiers back to the capital for trial…”
“How do you view these matters?” Yang Yuanpu glanced at Zhang Ping, Jiang Huo, and Yuan Guowei, his expression darkly unclear as he asked.
Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei looked at each other. They couldn’t interfere in Jinyun Bureau affairs. Though they held positions as Vice Directors of the Internal Attendants Bureau, their information was blocked—this was also directly related to them deliberately keeping a low profile these two years and distancing themselves from court officials. Many matters they were only hearing about for the first time now. They hadn’t expected that when Han Qian cooperated with Li Zhigao following the Empress Dowager’s edict, they were harmonious in appearance but not in spirit. For a moment they really didn’t know where to begin speaking.
“Your servant Zhang Ping has words to say.” Zhang Ping walked to the imperial desk, knelt down, and said in a clear voice.
“You may sit and speak. We are not a tyrannical ruler of a doomed state who cannot distinguish good advice from bad. Whatever you have in your heart, please speak truthfully. Even if it’s unpleasant to hear, We will not redirect our anger at you—We are not so ignorant as to not understand that honest advice grates the ear.” Yang Yuanpu signaled Zhang Ping to sit and speak, also trying hard to display a dignified appearance as he said this.
Zhang Ping sighed slightly in his heart, thinking inwardly—if this were truly so, how would we have reached today’s situation? However, he still didn’t want to go against Yang Yuanpu’s will, so he compliantly stood up and said:
“What Li Chong spread may not all be false, but his intentions must have been sinister. That Gao Chengyuan passed by Tangyi without entering, preferring to die on the river, perhaps in his heart he believed the Marquis of Qianyang had long since seen through Wen Ruilin’s identity but didn’t speak up. Or perhaps the matter of the Marquis of Qianyang being in Jinling early on is also not false. Your servant previously did indeed vaguely hear someone say that Xue Ruogu taking office in Lishui was arranged through Old Duke Han’s mediation—perhaps the Marquis of Qianyang was in Jinling City at that time. Perhaps the Marquis of Qianyang had already seen through the Liang army’s scheme. From what intentions he didn’t make it clear, your servant dares not presume to speculate. But I presume to ask Your Majesty one question: if the Marquis of Qianyang had stood forth then to expose the Liang army’s plot, could he have prevented all this from happening?”
Yang Yuanpu had said he understood the principle that honest advice grates the ear, but at this moment he couldn’t help but have his face twitch and jump twice.
Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei also lowered their heads staring at their own toes, not expecting Zhang Ping would still tear open this layer of relations so bloodily—no different from directly accusing that all these consequences were caused by His Majesty’s suspicion and impatient mindset.
Chen Ruyi and An Jixiang were even more trembling with fear, afraid His Majesty would suddenly turn hostile with killing intent rising. Not only would Zhang Ping die without an intact corpse, they too would be implicated.
“…” After a long while, Yang Yuanpu sat back down on the dragon throne as if he had been harshly slapped dozens of times, saying bitterly: “You speak correctly. Teacher Shen and Yang En strongly advised against it at that time. We failed to listen, thus falling into the enemy spy’s treacherous scheme…”
Not expecting His Majesty could actually admit the responsibility lay with himself, Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei were shocked in their hearts, thinking perhaps this half month of torment had caused His Majesty to reflect?
“What the Marquis of Qianyang’s true intentions are, your servant dares not presume to speculate, but your servant knows one thing—the Marquis of Qianyang could not possibly have colluded with the Liang army. Perhaps knowing this point is sufficient at this time. And since Your Majesty believes your servant speaks correctly, your servant will presume to say one more thing. Regardless of what intentions the Marquis of Qianyang holds, at this time he needs Your Majesty—this is true. And at this time Your Majesty also needs the Marquis of Qianyang—this is also true.” Zhang Ping, speaking to this point, still respectfully knelt down and kowtowed once, prostrating himself and saying: “Of course, at this time Your Majesty even needs the Marquis of Xinjin to hold Shuzhou for Great Chu, not allowing enemy forces to extend their claws recklessly again to trample Great Chu’s territory and subjects…”
Yang Yuanpu’s gaunt face alternated between dark and light. Zhang Ping’s words were still warning him that currently everything must prioritize the overall situation, prioritize Great Chu’s state and altars, not rush to settle personal grievances.
Only after a long while did he exhale deeply and continue asking: “In your view, what should We do at this time to be considered safeguarding the overall situation?”
He didn’t even realize his voice had involuntarily grown lower at this moment.
“In your servant’s view, at this time Your Majesty should summon Prime Minister Shen, Envoy Zheng, Prince of Yuzhang, Marquis of Liyang, Minister Han, Minister Zhang, Minister Du of War, Commissioner Zhou, and the other lords to discuss welcoming the Empress Dowager back to the palace to assist with governance.” Zhang Ping seemed not to hear the impatience in Yang Yuanpu’s words, seemed not to know what consequences the words he was about to say would have, but some words required someone to stand forth and point them out clearly. He said: “Just as Your Majesty will not suddenly completely trust the Marquis of Qianyang, the Marquis of Qianyang may still harbor hesitation between Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager—please do not take offense, Your Majesty…”
“You want Us to proceed gradually, not act with excessive haste?” Yang Yuanpu asked.
Zhang Ping naturally feared Yang Yuanpu would act with excessive haste and ruin the situation that had been smoothed over with such difficulty. He nodded, acknowledging he indeed had such worries.
Yang Yuanpu’s eyelids twitched twice. After a while he said: “Then according to you, We will first summon Shen Yang, Yang Zhiyuan, and Han Daoming to enter the palace for audience…”
Seeing Yang Yuanpu’s first batch still insisted on only summoning Shen Yang, Yang Zhiyuan, and Han Daoming, Zhang Ping knew he still harbored unrealistic fantasies in his heart. However, he didn’t think personages like Shen Yang and Yang Zhiyuan couldn’t see the situation clearly. Zhang Ping sighed slightly in his heart and said: “Your servant will immediately send someone to summon Prime Minister Shen, Prince of Yuzhang, and Minister Han to enter the palace…”