After discussing the funeral arrangements, Shao Mingyuan quietly left the Li residence, only to see Jiang Yuanchao standing in front of the neighboring mansion waiting for him.
Today, Jiang Yuanchao was not wearing his Jinlin Guards uniform, but instead wore a deep blue straight robe, looking like an elegant scholar.
Seeing Shao Mingyuan approaching, Jiang Yuanchao smiled: “Won’t the Marquis invite me in to sit?”
Shao Mingyuan glanced at Jiang Yuanchao and said coolly: “Please, Lord Jiang.”
The two entered the neighboring courtyard together.
There were stone tables and stools in the courtyard. Without going inside, they sat down there.
Personal guards brought tea, and Shao Mingyuan signaled for them to withdraw before looking at Jiang Yuanchao: “I wonder what brings Lord Jiang here?”
Jiang Yuanchao stared at Shao Mingyuan for a moment, then smiled: “The Marquis entered the capital without imperial summons, yet you’re not worried at all?”
Shao Mingyuan set down his teacup, his expression calm: “Whether I worry or not, I’m already here.”
“The Marquis puts me in a very difficult position,” Jiang Yuanchao said unhurriedly.
Shao Mingyuan raised his hand to rub his forehead, where it still ached faintly from hitting the door frame earlier.
“What difficulty does Lord Jiang have? In your position, you should fulfill your duties and report what I’ve done to His Majesty.”
Jiang Yuanchao looked at Shao Mingyuan with a strange expression: “Is the Marquis certain His Majesty won’t be angry?”
“Lord Jiang jests. How would this Marquis dare to presume to guess the imperial will?”
Jiang Yuanchao stared intently at Shao Mingyuan, as if unwilling to miss any change in his expression: “Then can the Marquis tell me the reason for suddenly returning to the capital?”
Shao Mingyuan suddenly smiled: “This is the Marquis’s private matter. There seems to be no need to explain it to Lord Jiang.”
Jiang Yuanchao’s smile faded slightly as he stood up: “I advise the Marquis to quickly leave the capital and cover up this matter; otherwise, even if I can turn a blind eye, Chief Minister Lan probably won’t be willing to let it go.”
After Jiang Yuanchao finished speaking, he strode away, leaving Shao Mingyuan sitting quietly for a moment before calling to his guards: “Prepare a horse!”
Earlier, Shao Mingyuan had traveled thousands of miles and ridden two war horses to death. The insides of his thighs were already raw from chafing. Hearing he wanted to ride again, his guard couldn’t bear it: “General, you want to ride a horse again?”
Shao Mingyuan glanced at him coolly: “Too much talk!”
The guard’s expression became stern, not daring to persuade further, and hurriedly brought the fine horse.
Shao Mingyuan mounted the horse, but instead of returning to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence or going to the Marquis Jing’an’s residence, he headed straight for the Imperial City.
Emperor Mingkang’s mood had been getting worse lately.
The Tartars had come right to his doorstep, forcing him to release Shao Mingyuan to deal with them. The Japanese pirates in the south were restless, and even Xijiang, which had always kept its tail between its legs, was starting to become troublesome. It was truly vexing!
The irritated and agitated Emperor Mingkang had an impulse to immediately go into seclusion for some peace of mind, but thinking of the consequences of his previous retreats, reason immediately returned.
Just bear with it!
Wei Wuxie hurried over with his head lowered: “Your Majesty, Marquis Guanjun requests an audience.”
“I’m about to go do my exercises, I won’t see him.” Emperor Mingkang looked impatient, but his expression changed as soon as he finished speaking. “Wait, who did you just say requests an audience?”
“Mar, Marquis Guanjun—” Wei Wuxie buried his head even lower.
“Say it to me again!” Emperor Mingkang gritted his teeth.
Wei Wuxie resisted the urge to wipe his sweat, feeling his cheeks ache: “Your Majesty, the one requesting an audience is Marquis Guanjun.”
No emperor tormented people like this! If you want to get angry, why not do it quickly? Why make someone repeat it over and over? Whose little heart could bear it!
Emperor Mingkang, unaware of Wei Wuxie’s inner complaints, said with a dark expression: “Announce Marquis Guanjun.”
Wei Wuxie quietly breathed a sigh of relief, withdrew, and called Shao Mingyuan in.
Shao Mingyuan knelt on one knee and paid his respects to Emperor Mingkang.
Emperor Mingkang looked down at the young general kneeling on the ground, growing angrier the more he looked.
This little bastard appeared in his golden hall. What the hell was going on?
Since Emperor Mingkang didn’t speak, Shao Mingyuan naturally knelt obediently.
Staring at the young man’s upright posture, Emperor Mingkang sneered silently.
Isn’t your kneeling posture beautiful? Then keep kneeling! Since I can’t drag you out and behead you right now, can’t I at least make your knees swell from kneeling?
Shao Mingyuan, kneeling in his silver armor on the cold golden bricks, thought silently: The knee guards Zhaozhao made for him were quite practical.
After two quarters of an hour, Emperor Mingkang felt he had applied enough pressure and said coolly: “Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Shao Mingyuan stood up.
“Marquis Guanjun, I recall you led troops on campaign. Why do you appear here?”
“Your Majesty, Prince Tazhen of Northern Qi was shot and killed by your subject, and the Northern Territories achieved a great victory—”
“Is this true?” Before Shao Mingyuan could finish, Emperor Mingkang stood up from the dragon throne.
“Your subject dares not deceive the sovereign.”
“Good, well killed, well killed!” Emperor Mingkang couldn’t help but laugh, his gloomy mood of recent days swept away, and he looked much more favorably upon the handsome young man below.
He truly was Great Liang’s top military star. With him in command, there was no worry that the barbarians wouldn’t be pacified.
However—
After the initial joy, Emperor Mingkang’s thoughts darkened, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
Coming to the capital without summons just because of a victory – where did this place him as emperor? Did Marquis Guanjun think that Great Liang couldn’t do without him now, so he could act lawlessly?
This time, he could enter the capital without summons, so next time could he bring his guards and storm the Imperial City?
The more Emperor Mingkang thought about it, the more dissatisfied he became, and the more displeased he grew looking at Shao Mingyuan.
How had he never noticed before? Marquis Guanjun’s eyes resembled those of Marquis Zhenyuan! When he issued the decree to exterminate Marquis Zhenyuan’s entire clan, as the only surviving orphan, how could there be no resentment in his heart?
“Marquis Guanjun entered the capital without summons – was it to quickly report this tremendous good news to me?” Emperor Mingkang asked coldly.
Shao Mingyuan lowered his head slightly, assuming a respectful posture: “Your Majesty, your subject’s urgent return to the capital was not for this reason.”
“Oh, then tell me your reason for entering the capital.”
“After your subject shot Prince Tazhen and returned to camp to rest, I suddenly dreamed of accompanying Your Majesty on an imperial tour. During the journey, a great mountain suddenly collapsed toward Your Majesty. Your subject awoke startled and, feeling uneasy, rushed back without stopping to protect Your Majesty. Your subject’s crime of entering the capital without a summons is grave. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”
“You had such a dream?” Emperor Mingkang looked surprised.
This morning, Master Zhang had said after divination that recently the Zhou star was unstable, which would hinder the imperial star, but if Purple Forbidden enclosure aligned with the general star, then the country would be peaceful and prosperous. Could this be the fulfillment of that prophecy?
Having been obsessed with the path of immortality for many years, Emperor Mingkang believed this deeply. He looked at Shao Mingyuan expressionlessly for a moment, then showed a faint smile: “Since you’ve returned, go back to your residence and stay put. This time your merits offset your faults, but don’t let it happen again.”
“Your Majesty is benevolent. Your subject thanks you for your great grace.”
Just as Emperor Mingkang was about to dismiss Shao Mingyuan, Wei Wuxie received news from a young eunuch and reported: “Your Majesty, Chief Minister Lan Shan requests an audience.”
“What does he want at this time?” Emperor Mingkang glanced at Shao Mingyuan, pondered for a moment, then pointed to a screen in the corner, indicating he should hide there, before nodding lightly to Wei Wuxie.