Upon hearing this, Han Shouge’s expression changed.
Zeng Yi, the commander of Fanshi, was also his protégé—younger than Jiang Yong and with shallower roots, someone he could manipulate at will. The commanders of Fanshi and Stone City held equivalent ranks, so Zeng Yi’s transfer would be a lateral move. But Stone City was now a crucial location, and with Gu Juhan already showing signs of retreat, Zeng Yi’s transfer there would essentially mean gaining merit for nothing. Once the Stone City rebellion was quelled and His Majesty rewarded achievements, Zeng Yi would surely have opportunities for promotion.
This Qi family brat was actually planning to use Zeng Yi to replace Jiang Yong, thereby appeasing him, Han Shouge.
Hmm… this wasn’t bad at all.
Han Shouge’s heart calmed somewhat, but his face remained stern—it wouldn’t do to show a pleasant expression immediately. So he snorted coldly again and said, “Don’t think you can fool this General so easily. When you killed Jiang Yong that day, you dared to say you were cleaning house for this General, and even brazenly claimed I wouldn’t blame you. Such arrogance—were you so certain I would give face to your father and not hold you accountable?”
As soon as his words landed, he saw the expression in Qi Ying’s eyes deepen from light to dark. He thought this young man had become angry, but instead heard him sigh heavily, his face showing hidden worry.
Qi Ying had many reasons for killing Jiang Yong, but one of them couldn’t be shared with outsiders—it could only be understood but not spoken aloud.
The current political situation in Great Liang was treacherous and full of undercurrents. Ever since the Shen family’s downfall, the imperial family’s attitude toward the aristocratic families had become impossible to fathom. Now His Majesty’s health was declining daily, and the Second Prince had been deposed for involvement in the Shen family case, leaving the position of crown prince vacant. Between the Third Prince Xiao Ziheng and the Fourth Prince Xiao Ziheng, there would inevitably be a struggle for succession.
The two imperial sons differed greatly from each other. The Third Prince’s maternal family was ordinary, while the Fourth Prince’s mother was a daughter of the Han family. Their relationships with the aristocratic families were distant and close respectively. His Majesty’s current attitude was ambiguous, showing no clear preference, but once the crown prince position was settled, it would determine the relationship between the imperial family and aristocratic families for decades to come: if Xiao Ziheng entered the Eastern Palace, the imperial family’s intention to weaken the aristocratic families would be clear; if Xiao Ziheng inherited the throne, there might still be opportunity for coexistence and mutual advancement.
Although the Emperor of Liang had not yet made his choice, the Third Prince had already shown intentions unfavorable to the aristocratic families, currently using the conclusion of the Shen family case to purge the court, with likely ulterior motives of intimidation. At this moment, if this Prince were to catch hold of any evidence against the aristocratic families, regardless of whether it was the Qi, Fu, or Han family that got into trouble, it would be disastrous for the aristocratic families as a whole.
That Jiang Yong was Han Shouge’s protégé. If Qi Ying hadn’t killed him under Han Shouge’s name, once the Third Prince used his status as a traitor to make an issue of it, implicating Han Shouge in the process, it could be used to suppress the Han family in retreat and demean the aristocratic families in advance—absolutely not good for any of the three families.
Killing one Jiang Yong was merely a matter of raising a hand and lowering a blade, but the implications behind it were vast. Qi Ying had made this decision only after deep consideration.
Unfortunately, these principles couldn’t be explained in detail to Han Shouge at the moment. He secretly glanced toward the hidden inner chamber behind him, then lowered his voice and said to Han Shouge, “Uncle is a man of far-sighted planning. Now that the Shen family is completely destroyed, the three families share glory and loss together—Jiang Yong had to be killed. If I hadn’t killed him, then Uncle would have had to do it personally.”
Qi Ying’s words were extremely cryptic, but the gravity in his expression made Han Shouge’s heart skip a beat. After careful consideration, he began to taste the meaning.
Although Han Shouge was a military official with a violent temperament, he had after all stood in court for decades and wasn’t a fool ignorant of all affairs. Though Qi Ying’s words were only hints, they awakened him at once and made him realize he had almost inadvertently become embroiled in the struggle between the imperial family and aristocratic families.
A mere border city commander like Jiang Yong, if handled improperly, could actually become a pretext for the imperial family to move against the aristocratic families. And as the Fourth Prince’s maternal family, the Han family would bear the brunt and face off against the Third Prince. Once drawn into the succession struggle, that would be…
Thinking of this, Han Shouge couldn’t help but feel his hair stand on end.
Seeing Han Shouge’s expression change, Qi Ying knew he had understood the connections and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment of silence, he brought up another matter to Han Shouge.
“Uncle,” Qi Ying said, “there’s another matter I’d like Uncle’s consent on.”
Han Shouge hadn’t completely recovered from the terror of this affair and was still somewhat dazed. Hearing this, he answered, “Hm?… Oh, Jingchen, speak.”
Qi Ying nodded at him and said solemnly, “After last year’s defeat, I know Uncle feels unwilling and wishes to battle Gu Juhan to avenge that shame. I admire Uncle’s loyal and sincere heart, but given the current situation, we absolutely cannot go to war.”
Hearing these words, Han Shouge frowned.
Although he now understood Qi Ying’s killing of Jiang Yong, he still had objections to the Privy Council’s warfare prohibition order. He was a military official, not a civil one—he didn’t have so many complicated thoughts, or even if he did, when the moment came, his passion would dominate, wanting only to draw his sword and mount his horse to annihilate the enemy completely, regardless of other messy considerations. Moreover, having formed a grudge with that Gu family brat, he was even more impatient to endure and yield.
Han Shouge said, “Jingchen, I know you think thoroughly and have your reasons for issuing the warfare prohibition order. But we military officials don armor and wield weapons, staining battlefields with blood—we also have our backbone and style. Now with your warfare prohibition order pressing down, you make all of Great Liang’s sons cower behind city walls and natural barriers. Though I’m not at the front lines, I’ve already heard how those Gao Wei dogs are cursing us! How can you expect me to swallow this humiliation? How can my generals face the people of Jiangzuo with any dignity? When historians write in centuries to come, who could bear such infamy?”
Each question carried loyal heart and soaring spirit.
He paused, then continued with stern demeanor, “Now Gu Juhan intends to retreat. I heard you stirred up internal troubles within Gao Wei from behind, forcing him to be unable to focus and having to withdraw—Jingchen, yes, you saved Great Liang once, but this relied on conspiracy and political maneuvering, not the way of gentlemen! If conflicts between nations depend solely on conspiracy and political tricks, how can they last? We can’t hide from them forever!”
A long silence filled Wangshi.
Qi Ying’s demeanor remained calm, his phoenix eyes like tempered snow-light, clear and stern.
Looking at Han Shouge, he answered gently, “Uncle’s golden words have greatly benefited this junior.”
His speech was extremely slow, his voice extremely deep.
“No one in this world wants to fight a humiliating battle. If I had a choice today, I too would willingly face Gao Wei in decisive battle without retreat to reclaim lost territory. No one wants to observe the warfare prohibition order—it would be easy for me to lift it, requiring only the official seal on my desk. Then all the generals could fight Gu Juhan to the death and satisfy their vengeance.”
“But what would happen afterward?”
“The Privy Council manages military and political affairs, seeking not fierce competition but national peace. Taking the initiative in battle may be satisfying, but if we suffer defeat, Jiankang would be in imminent danger. If we cannot reverse the declining situation then, the disaster of national destruction would arrive.”
He sighed once.
“Uncle speaks correctly—this retreat of the Wei army relied on conspiracy and political maneuvering, not the upright way of gentlemen. Don’t mention others—even I find it deeply distasteful. But if this path can protect the nation’s stability, guard the peace of our mountains and rivers, and spare even one more citizen of Great Liang from the disasters of war and chaos, then…”
Qi Ying paused slightly, his phoenix eyes showing resolution: “Though thousands oppose me, I will go forward.”
Looking at the Qi Ying before him, Han Shouge felt deep shock in his eyes, feeling speechless for the first time.
The Second Young Master Qi had gained fame in his youth and been praised early on as a model of Jiangzuo aristocratic families. Han Shouge had always thought that reputation rarely lived up to reality and had never truly considered him remarkable. When he heard His Majesty had appointed him to head the Privy Council, he felt it was even more absurd—how could such an ignorant child who had just undergone his capping ceremony be entrusted with a nation’s military and political affairs?
But now, this junior he had never taken seriously sat before him. Though speaking lightly, his thoughts reached far deeper than ordinary people could imagine. The nation, political maneuvering, and human lives seemed to revolve within his grasp, and he was using every method to protect this peace.
Magnanimous, self-disciplined, unmoved by wind and rain.
For a moment Han Shouge didn’t know what to say, only seeing that young man’s brows relax, even faintly smiling as he said, “Everyone knows the warfare prohibition order came from me, Qi Ying. Uncle and the other generals only endured in every way due to pressure from the Privy Council. I’ll bear this infamy—I don’t mind future generations’ judgments of my merits and faults after a thousand autumns. I only ask Uncle’s agreement that this time we absolutely must not advocate war.”
At this moment, Shen Xiling hid behind the inner chamber door, hearing every word and sentence. Through that narrow door crack, she saw Qi Ying’s back as he sat calmly outside, and for some unknown reason suddenly felt tearful.
She only knew he had always been busy and always tired, but she hadn’t known he carried so many heavy burdens. And though he was clearly so exhausted, when facing her he had always been gentle and tolerant. Except for the first couple of times, he had never even spoken harshly to her, always patiently caring for her.
…He was like a hero bearing tremendous weight.
Shen Xiling thought hazily. When she came back to her senses, that General Han had already left. Only Qi Ying remained in Wangshi, standing alone with his hands behind his back, looking back toward the inner chamber and saying, “Come out.”
Shen Xiling was startled, hearing that he was calling her. She realized he knew she had awakened and was eavesdropping, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but still steeled herself to push open the door and walk out of the inner chamber.
She came out and glanced at Qi Ying, seeing him standing amid the scattered mess on the floor. She didn’t know if he had rested last night—probably not—and at this moment he looked extremely tired.
But his expression remained peaceful as he said to her, “Don’t come over yet—there are broken porcelain pieces on the floor.”
Shen Xiling had originally wanted to walk toward him, but since he said this, she couldn’t go against his wishes and stood in place looking at him speechlessly.
With two or three zhang between them, Qi Ying asked, “You heard everything?”
Shen Xiling pressed her lips together and nodded.
He didn’t speak for a moment. Shen Xiling didn’t know if he was angry and quickly explained, “I’m sorry, I…”
Before she could finish, she saw Qi Ying raise his hand to interrupt her, his expression showing helplessness as he said, “It’s not your fault, so there’s no need to apologize.”
Indeed, it wasn’t her fault.
Last night, seeing the young girl curled up asleep in the chair, Qi Ying thought it would be too troublesome to wake her and make her return to sleep in her own room. Knowing she hadn’t been resting well recently and that the girl had heavy thoughts on her mind, since she had finally fallen asleep with difficulty, he didn’t have anyone wake her. Behind Wangshi’s bookshelves was an inner chamber where he sometimes slept directly when he worked late. Last night he had given the inner room to her, carrying her inside to sleep.
But Qi Ying hadn’t expected Han Shouge to come making such a commotion directly today. In the urgency of their dispute, he couldn’t attend to settling Shen Xiling, so the young girl had inadvertently heard everything.
After a moment of silence, Qi Ying said to Shen Xiling, “About today’s events—remember never to mention them to others.”
Shen Xiling’s expression was serious as she looked at Qi Ying and nodded repeatedly, which amused Qi Ying. His smile flashed and disappeared, then he said to her, “I’ll have someone come in to clean up shortly. Wait until it’s cleaned before you go out, careful not to get hurt.”
Shen Xiling nodded obediently, then saw him turn to leave after speaking. Her heart tightened, and she instinctively called out to stop him: “Young Master—”
Hearing her voice, Qi Ying turned back to look at her and asked, “Mm?”
Shen Xiling actually didn’t know why she had called out to him—she had just done so instinctively. Now she didn’t know what to say and could only lower her head in difficulty.
Seeing her difficulty, Qi Ying thought the young girl was afraid of his leaving.
She was currently like a startled bird and quite attached to him. Qi Ying saw this clearly and comforted her, saying, “I’m only going out for the day—I’ll be back tonight.”
Author’s Note: Reverse training the good habit of husband reporting when going out, progress: 1/n. By the way, there’s a second update tonight~