Prime Minister Wang bowed to the assembled officials and followed the old eunuch into the palace, walking to a side hall of the Imperial Study.
The old eunuch instructed a court eunuch to serve tea and said respectfully, “Prime Minister, please wait a moment.” Then he left.
Prime Minister Wang sat alone in the chair, waiting for half an hour.
He wasn’t impatient, silently waiting in his crimson robe and tall hat, his temples graying.
His expression was calm, showing no joy or anger, but his occasionally distracted gaze revealed that the old man’s emotions weren’t as stable as they appeared.
Finally, footsteps approached.
Prime Minister Wang’s slightly clouded eyes brightened as he looked towards the door.
The old eunuch, wearing a python robe with a fly whisk draped over his arm, entered alone and said regretfully, “Prime Minister, His Majesty is overwhelmed with grief and is not in a state to receive you.”
The light in Prime Minister Wang’s eyes gradually dimmed.
The old eunuch sighed, “His Majesty needs time to calm down. You know, the Garrison North King was his brother, and they’ve been close since childhood. Now he’s suddenly gone…”
Prime Minister Wang nodded woodenly, bowed slightly, and left the side hall of the Imperial Study.
As he descended the steps, Prime Minister Wang couldn’t help but turn back and bow deeply towards the Imperial Study.
Then he strode away without looking back.
…
Watching Prime Minister Wang leave, the old eunuch let out a heavy sigh of relief. He had been somewhat afraid of Wang Zhenwen’s gaze, which was filled with deep disappointment.
He passed through the Imperial Study and entered the bedchamber, bowing as he said, “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has left.”
Emperor Yuanjing grunted in acknowledgment without opening his eyes. Still resting, he asked, “Who was gathered at the palace gates?”
The old eunuch replied solemnly, “All who should have come were there.”
Emperor Yuanjing snorted coldly, “I knew it. These dogs usually snap at each other, but half of it is just an act. Hateful, despicable, they should be executed!”
After venting his anger for a while, he calmed down and asked, “Did Left Censor-in-Chief Yuan Xiong come?”
The old eunuch thought for a moment and shook his head, “I don’t believe I saw him.”
Emperor Yuanjing closed his eyes again. After a long silence, just as the old eunuch thought the matter had passed, he suddenly heard the Emperor say:
“Make a note of those who didn’t come today, and do the same for the next few days.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
…
In the golden-red glow of dusk.
Xu Qi’an led his small mare, and Xu Xinnian led his mount, walking slowly down the street.
Accompanying them were Provincial Administration Commissioner Zheng Xinghuai and the fifth-rank martial artist Shentu Baili.
“Commissioner Zheng, are you staying at the official inn?” Xu Qi’an asked, concern hidden in his tone.
Given Zheng Xinghuai’s rank, he would certainly be staying at an inn in the inner city, where security was good, and he had Shentu Baili and other personal guards.
However, their enemy now was Emperor Yuanjing, and some precautions were necessary. A fifth-rank Energy Consolidation martial artist wasn’t truly enough in the capital.
“Don’t worry, elder brother,” Xu Xinnian said. “With the current Garrison North King massacre incident, both His Majesty and Commissioner Zheng are in the spotlight. Even His Majesty wouldn’t do anything unwise at this time that would anger the masses. The momentum of public opinion cannot be forcefully opposed.”
Commissioner Zheng looked at him in surprise, a hint of approval appearing on his bitter face. He said, “Constable Xu, this cousin of yours is indeed insightful. His words are very true. With such a calm and composed attitude, he’s sure to have a bright future.”
Xu Xinnian smiled faintly.
No, he’s just used to being arrogant and putting on airs. His ability to handle pressure is just average, and he often experiences social anxiety. He’s not at all the type who remains unshaken in the face of great adversity… Xu Qi’an thought sarcastically.
Unaware of Xu Qi’an’s inner monologue, Commissioner Zheng said reminiscently, “He reminds me of Duke Wei’s brilliance in his youth.”
Come on, Commissioner Zheng, would Duke Wei agree with that comparison… Xu Qi’an’s mouth twitched, forcing a strained smile, but he ultimately remained silent.
Some things, once they happen, become like a fishbone stuck in the throat until resolved.
“You needn’t worry,” Commissioner Zheng said. “A group of night watchmen have moved into the inn. You understand.”
So Duke Wei has already taken precautions. With him looking after the Commissioner’s safety, I don’t need to worry… Xu Qi’an felt relieved.
“Farewell!” Commissioner Zheng bowed and left with Shentu Baili.
Xu Qi’an watched silently. In the short ten days from Chu Province to the capital, Zheng Xinghuai’s silhouette had already become somewhat hunched, as if something was weighing on his shoulders, pressing him down.
“Sigh…” He sighed inwardly, patted the curve of the small mare’s back, and mounted.
To the sound of horse hooves, the two brothers slowly headed home.
“Commissioner Zheng is a pitiful man,” Xu Qi’an said as they rode. “A 19th-year Yuanjing graduate. I heard from Censor Liu that his father died early, and his widowed mother raised him through hardship. She finally sent him to the Imperial Academy, where he passed the imperial examinations, but she had exhausted herself from years of toil and passed away before seeing her son return home in glory.
“Then, because of his rigid adherence to rules and inability to adapt, he offended the previous Prime Minister and was sent to Chu Province.
“He spent eighteen years building his career in Chu Province, leaving half his life there. In one night, it all turned to dust.”
Xu Xinnian was silent for a long time, the frustration building in his heart, making him uncomfortable.
After venting his frustration, he sighed, “Eighteen years of wind and rain, half a life’s work, now told only to dry bones.”
“Let’s not talk about this,” Xu Qi’an said, seemingly trying to shake off the depressing mood. He put on a mischievous smile:
“Cikou, how far have you gotten with the Wang family’s young lady? Have you, um, shared everything?”
Xu Xinnian’s young face reddened, and he said displeased, “The word ‘gotten’ is so vulgar. I admit I have feelings for Miss Wang. She’s well-educated, knowledgeable, elegant in speech, and can discuss history and current affairs with me.
“Besides Princess Huaiqing, I’ve never met such a talented woman. It’s not strange that I’m somewhat attracted to her.”
Oh, little brother, our tastes are the same. I also like talented women like Huaiqing. Oh, besides that, I also like little fools like Lin’an, little gluttons like Caiwei, female knights like Li Miaozhen, and pitiful girls like Zhong Li…
“I’ve been hesitant,” Xu Xinnian said helplessly. “Wang Zhenwen is Duke Wei’s political enemy, and he might not want to marry Miss Simu to me. And I haven’t decided if I want to marry her either.”
Xu Qi’an stopped his joking and pondered, “We’ve discussed this issue more than once. There must be a separation between you and me.
“You walk your sunny path, and I’ll walk my tightrope. Heh, isn’t Duke Wei just like a tightrope? I know your concerns. You’re afraid of being forced by Wang Zhenwen to oppose me, causing strife within our family, right? Regarding this point, Big Brother has a solution for you.”
Xu Xinnian humbly asked for guidance, “Please, elder brother, tell me.”
Xu Qi’an grinned and said, “Use your wife as leverage.”
“What does elder brother mean?”
“Once you marry his daughter, it’s like having a hostage. Unless Wang Zhenwen doesn’t care about this legitimate daughter, even if your relationship deteriorates, he won’t completely cut ties. If you maintain this balance, you’ll be in an unassailable position. Besides, you don’t need to completely rely on the Wang family. It’s just giving the Xu family another option.”
“That makes sense,” Xu Xinnian nodded slowly.
Seeing that he seemed to understand, Xu Qi’an smiled and looked ahead, thinking about his mistress kept outside.
It’s been many days since I’ve seen her, and I find myself missing her… The charm of the most beautiful woman in Great Feng seems a bit strange. It’s not as alluring as Luo Yuhen’s, but it subtly influences me.
I want to know her true background.
Hmm, I’ll keep my mistress with my confidante for now. After the Garrison North King’s matter is settled, I’ll go see her. Before that, I need to be careful.
I won’t bring Zhong Li back yet either. I’ll leave her at the Astrology Bureau. I’ll be going out frequently these days, and it’s not convenient to take her along.
I won’t see Lin’an and Huaiqing for now either. I definitely can’t enter the palace during this time, and since this matter involves the royal family, I’m somewhat implicated and don’t want to see them.
Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard Xu Qian ask in confusion, “Elder brother, what does ‘share everything’ mean?”
At first, he thought it was just his uncultured elder brother using the wrong words, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off, so he couldn’t help but ask.
Xu Qi’an thought for a moment and answered, “Whether a man truly loves a woman can be seen by whether he’s willing to share everything with her.”
Is there such a saying? Xu Cikou asked, “Then how can you tell if a woman truly loves a man? How can you see it?”
After breaking through to the Qi Refinement realm, the elder brother has had constant romantic encounters, always getting involved with beautiful women. In the area of love and romance, Xu Cikou admired his elder brother.
You want to know if Wang Simu truly likes you, don’t you? Xu Qi’an thought for a long time and said, “It depends on whether that woman is willing to welcome him with open arms.”
What on earth is elder brother talking about… Xu Cikou couldn’t understand and pondered over it all the way home.
…
“Big brother…”
Entering the mansion and reaching the inner hall, it was just time for the evening meal.
As soon as Xu Lingyin saw her long-absent elder brother return, she stopped eating. With her short legs, she excitedly ran up to him and threw herself into Xu Qi’an’s arms.
Xu Qi’an’s body swayed a bit, somewhat surprised.
In a month and a half of not seeing her, the little bean’s strength had grown to this extent.
“Have you been making your mother angry lately?” Xu Qi’an asked, carrying the little bean towards the inner hall.
“Huh? Do I often make Mother angry?” Xu Lingyin asked in surprise.
She was such a well-behaved child, her mother even said she didn’t know how she had given birth to a Xu Lingyin in this life.
This showed that she was different from her big brother, second brother, and sister.
Xu Lingyin still couldn’t distinguish between cousins and siblings, always believing that her big brother was also born to her mother.
Xu Qi’an patted her head without saying anything.
It seems the cultivation method of the Strength Gu tribe can indeed only increase physical strength, without improving intelligence. Otherwise, Li Na wouldn’t be the way she is now.
As Xu Qi An pondered this, he turned his gaze toward the girl from the Southern Frontier. Her hair had curled ends, her eyes were like the vast blue sea, her skin was a wheat color, and her features were delicate.
“I feel like you’ve changed,” the tanned girl scrutinized him.
“How so?” Xu Qi An asked in return.
Li Na thought for a moment, then shook her head. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she felt that his coordination and muscle engagement had improved as he moved.
“Big Brother, you’re back!”
The happiest, of course, was Xu Lingye. Her clear and elegant oval face blossomed into a smile as she served rice and arranged chopsticks for Xu Qi An.
Xu Cijiu waited a moment, and seeing that his dear sister paid him no mind, he helped himself.
“It’s good that you’re back,” Second Uncle Xu had been examining his nephew. Seeing him safe and sound, with an even more vigorous spirit, his rugged face broke into a smile.
“Mm!” The haughty aunt nodded in agreement, then said, “Ling Yin, come down now. Don’t keep your elder brother from his meal.”
Today, the aunt wore a plain-colored jacket with buttons down the front, embroidered with lush begonia flowers. It accentuated her beauty and voluptuousness, outlining her full bosom and slender waist. Her lower half was dressed in a goose-yellow skirt, which added a touch of elegance and sophistication to her allure.
After dinner, Xu Qi An was invited into Xu Cijiu’s study.
Without realizing it, the two had begun to discuss important matters away from Second Uncle Xu. It was unlike before when the three men had plotted against the Vice Minister of Revenue, Zhou Xianping, together.
The brothers felt this was for the best. The second Uncle was never adept at scheming, and the more he knew, the more likely he was to worry. As an elder, he would think about how to solve problems rather than wait for his nephew and son to resolve them.
Shielding one’s offspring from hardship was an instinct every elder possessed, but Second Uncle Xu wasn’t skilled in these matters, so it would only add to his troubles.
…
In the east wing room.
Second Uncle Xu sat by the table, took a sip of tea, and sighed, “Those two rascals, they don’t think much of their old man anymore.”
The aunt, wearing a thin white undershirt, sat cross-legged on the bed, playing with her jade bracelet. “What do you mean?” she asked. Her legs were long and shapely, crossed together enticingly.
“Ah, something big happened in Chu State. Today, the officials caused a commotion in the Imperial City. The news is spreading like wildfire,” Second Uncle Xu furrowed his brow.
“What happened?” the aunt asked curiously.
“Women shouldn’t concern themselves with such matters,” Second Uncle Xu glared at her.
Just as the brothers didn’t want Second Uncle Xu to worry too much, Second Uncle Xu similarly didn’t want his wife to fret needlessly. For a woman of her age who still thought herself in her prime, granting her peace and joy was enough.
…
“Big Brother, you still haven’t told me the details of what happened in Chu State,” said Xu Cijiu, holding a cup of strong tea as he sat by the tea table in the study.
Xu Qi An stood by the window, gazing at the dark and silent courtyard. He spoke slowly, “The Chu State case is far more complex than you imagine…”
He calmly recounted his journey north, telling Xu Cijiu every detail, including his empathy with Governor Zheng and witnessing the scene of the massacre in Chu State.
His tone was so calm, so steady that he dared not let it waver even slightly.
Great sorrow is beyond tears.
“So, he was involved too…” Xu Xinnian said, dumbfounded. What little loyalty to the emperor remained in his heart crumbled completely, leaving not a trace behind.
“The delegation’s purpose in returning to the capital is to expose the crimes of the Northern King to the world. Heh, Governor Zheng won’t allow a beast like the Northern King to be buried with the honor of a prince or to be remembered by future generations as a divine general who protected Great Dafs,” Xu Qi An said with a cold smile.
Scholars care most about their posthumous reputation. In Zheng Xinghuai’s view, if they couldn’t convict the Northern King, it wouldn’t be a successful revenge, nor would it be considered justice for the people of Chu State.
“What does Cijiu think? How should this ‘battle’ be fought?” Xu Qi An asked, testing him.
“You’re already doing it,” Xu Xinnian said. “Using the overwhelming force of public opinion to pressure Emperor Yuanjing. Even an emperor can’t stand against the surging tide of popular sentiment. Hasn’t he agreed to meet with Prime Minister Wang? We’ll see what comes of that tomorrow.”
“It’s a pity I can’t be of much help with court matters anymore. It doesn’t feel good to pin our hopes on others,” Xu Qi An sighed.
“Big Brother, you’ve already done more than enough…”
Xu Xinnian was about to offer some words of comfort when he suddenly frowned, pausing for a long while. His expression gradually became grave. “Big Brother, something seems amiss.”
Xu Qi An turned to face him.
Xu Xinnian spoke in a low voice, “Based on what you’ve said, if this case was a conspiracy between Emperor Yuanjing and Prince Huai, then the delegation’s plan to catch him off guard was doomed from the start.”
“Don’t forget, Que Yongxiu escaped, and the Northern King’s spies fled too. Wouldn’t these people have sent word of the Northern King’s demise back to the capital? Perhaps while you were all feeling confident, he had already received the news in advance.”
“If that’s the case, Emperor Yuanjing has certainly already devised a way to deal with this. Don’t underestimate him—our emperor has been playing power games for many years. If he gets serious, I’m afraid neither Lord Wei nor Prime Minister Wang would be a match for him.”
“You’ve reminded me of something important. It is indeed so,” Xu Qi An turned back to face the dark courtyard, saying no more.
Xu Qi An knew that the imperial court was not his arena. First, political struggles were not like solving cases, nor could they be navigated solely with a clever mind. Everyone who had fought their way through the imperial examinations was intelligent.
Yet every year, so many rose and fell.
Xu Qi An wouldn’t be so arrogant as to think he could engage in three hundred rounds of battle with Emperor Yuanjing in court.
Secondly, his official rank was still too low; he didn’t even have the opportunity to attend court sessions. This meant he wasn’t qualified to be on the “front lines.”
“So this time, I must hand over the main position to Lord Wei, Governor Zheng, and those other officials who are motivated by fame, profit, or whatever sense of justice they have left… However, I can still contribute from the sidelines.”
…
At the Star-Gazing Tower, on the Eight Trigrams Platform.
The Supervisor, with his snow-white robes, white hair, and white beard, stood at the edge of the Eight Trigrams Platform. With his hands behind his back, he looked down upon the entire capital.
The night wind lifted the hem of his robes and ruffled his white beard, giving him the appearance of an immortal descended from the heavens.
“I heard the Northern King died in the northern border,” a deep voice sounded, low and calm, like a conversation between old friends, giving an impression of profound mystery.
Behind the Supervisor appeared a figure in white robes.
The unrivaled master of Great Dafs, Yang Qianhuan.
Master and disciple stood back to back, both with their hands behind them, both in snow-white robes. Truth be told, it was hard to tell them apart at that moment.
The Supervisor made a sound of acknowledgment and said with a smile, “Some people must be grinning in their sleep.”
Is Master referring to Wei Yuan, or someone else… Yang Qianhuan mused inwardly, his tone still as detached as that of an otherworldly sage. He mimicked the Supervisor’s “Mm” of acknowledgment.
The Supervisor was long accustomed to his disciple’s temperament and paid it no mind. As long as Yang Qianhuan didn’t recite “Where the sea ends, the sky becomes the shore; where sorcerers reach their peak, I stand supreme” in front of him, the Supervisor couldn’t be bothered to argue.
Yang Qianhuan continued, “The one who killed the Northern King was a mysterious expert. He single-handedly fought five masters amidst the ruins of Chu State, slaying the Northern King before everyone’s eyes, and avenging the people. Then he pursued for a thousand li, killing Jili Zhigu.”
“It’s enough to make one’s blood boil. I wish I could have been in his place. However, thinking that Xu Ning Yan didn’t get to shine either makes me feel better. Heh, that kid has always been stealing my opportunities, quite detestable. I suppose he must have been quite envious watching that mysterious expert dominate the situation in Chu State.”
As he finished speaking, Yang Qianhuan, relying on his intuition as a Fourth-Rank Sorcerer, sensed that his master, the Supervisor, had unprecedentedly turned to look at him.
Has Master finally felt ashamed of his past mistakes… Yang Qianhuan felt elated inside.
The Supervisor’s gaze was full of pity.
…
The next day, the officials once again gathered at the palace gates, striking and causing a commotion. They felt as if they had been toyed with.
Yesterday, after all that uproar, they thought His Majesty had compromised by inviting the Prime Minister in for a discussion. Who would have thought that Prime Minister Wang’s response would be: His Majesty did not see me.
How laughable, did they think that by avoiding the issue, they could pretend nothing had happened?
As the incident fermented, the Northern King’s city massacre case was no longer confined to official circles. In the marketplace, people from all walks of life had heard of this heart-wrenching affair.
Taverns, teahouses, brothels—these places that served as information hubs were filled daily with people coming to listen and discuss.
“The Northern King was utterly inhumane. Three hundred and eighty thousand lives, an entire city—how could he have been so heartless?” Someone pounded the table in anger.
Now in the marketplace, cursing the Northern King had become politically correct. There was no fear of being punished because the entire officialdom was cursing him. Anyone who didn’t curse the Northern King would be considered a heartless beast.
Cursing the Northern King made one a well-read scholar, a companion of justice.
“Did you know? The one who went north to investigate this case was Constable Xu. As expected of him—if it weren’t for him, the Northern King’s crimes might still be concealed.”
“There’s no case in this world that Constable Xu can’t solve. With Constable Xu around, I feel that the court is still good because no evildoer can escape the law.”
“But I heard that when it comes to court matters, even Constable Xu is powerless.”
“That’s no problem. The civil and military officials will naturally take over from Constable Xu. Have you heard? Constable Xu’s cousin, that top scholar from the spring imperial examinations, cursed for a full two hours at the palace gates yesterday, cursing until dusk. He’s gone again today.”
“That’s truly impressive.”
…
Inside the imperial bedchamber.
The old eunuch, with a splitting headache, crossed the threshold, his old face pale with anger. “Your Majesty, that, that Xu Xinnian is out there cursing again. It’s truly hateful, truly deserving of death.”
Emperor Yuanjing sat in his grand chair, holding a Daoist scripture. Upon hearing this, he calmly responded, “Kill him, and then it would truly be an unstoppable tide of public opinion, incurring the wrath of the masses.”
The old emperor’s face remained calm as he asked, “Yesterday, what did Wei Yuan do?”
The old eunuch instinctively lowered his voice and said, “Lord Wei privately met with Prime Minister Wang last night…”
The implication was clear—the two tigers of the court had allied in private.
Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen symbolized the two largest factions in the court. If they joined forces, no one could stand against them. Even His Majesty had suffered losses at their hands before.
Years ago, when the selling of official positions and noble titles was at its peak, it was eventually suppressed by the joint efforts of these two. Of those positions sold and titles conferred, within five years, some were dismissed, some were beheaded, and Prime Minister Wang reclaimed most of them.
The old emperor smiled, seemingly disdainful, then asked, “Any unusual activity within the palace?”
The old eunuch spoke in a low voice, “All is calm, but Princess Lin’an returned to the palace yesterday. As for Princess Huaiqing…”
The old emperor narrowed his eyes, “What about Huaiqing?”
“She left the palace and returned to the Huaiqing Mansion.”
After a long silence, the old emperor made a sound of acknowledgment and instructed, “If Lin’an comes seeking an audience later, send her away.”
…
On the third day.
The officials once again gathered at the palace gates. However, keen observers would notice that while the number of people hadn’t changed, some of the high-ranking officials with real power were absent today.
Xu Qi An was at the Night Watchmen’s office when he met the captain of the guard from Princess Huaiqing’s mansion. By order of the Princess Regnant, he came to invite Xu Qi An to the princess’s mansion for a discussion.