Chapter 1110
Who is presenting the congratulatory letter?
Chapter 1110 Who is presenting the congratulatory letter?
Inside the teahouse,
Only a few adults spoke; the rest remained silent. Seeing that the Marquis had not objected, Nan Wenyi gently set down his teacup, his voice steady:
"My lord, we received a secret letter from the Imperial City Guard yesterday, saying that there were traces of rebels. Unfortunately, the traitors are cunning and we can't find them for the time being. We can only wait here for them to come to us."
This also provides an explanation for why we came here.
Zhang Jinyu finished the tea in her mouth, her smile unchanged.
"It seems that I was negligent. Both of you are loyal to the court and personally attend to every matter. It seems that Lord He trusts you the most. I suppose those thieves have already fled."
Wu Shiqi laughed heartily, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and performed the salute.
"It's all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! My lord, it's so hot, why should we bother with such worries? Come, try this chilled watermelon, I had it specially brought from the ice cellar."
He clapped his hands, and several guards behind him carried in baskets. Inside were watermelons that emitted a cold mist. After the guards brought them over, Zhang Jinyu didn't call for the shopkeeper. He simply slapped the watermelon open, and they began to eat it.
The private room was filled with the aroma of tea and exquisite snacks. Both of them wore smiles, but each had their own plans in their eyes.
The cicadas outside the window chirped incessantly, and sunlight filtered through the paper windowpanes, casting dappled shadows on the ground. However, unnoticed by the crowd, several mysterious figures darted about atop a restaurant at the central intersection of the market.
In a corner by the window on the third floor of the "Moon Gazing Pavilion," the leader of the Taiping Sect, Chu, and Bai Shuiyue of the White Lotus Sect were sitting opposite each other, exchanging toasts.
"Master Bai, how have you been?"
"Haha, Master Chu, you're too kind. Our two families have cooperated for so long, and our sincerity is unwavering. There's no need for so many polite words."
Wangyuelou is a famous restaurant in the capital. The wooden pavilion stands on the north side of the city. Although it is not exactly nestled against the mountain and by the water, it is certainly located in a bustling area. The three-story restaurant offers panoramic views.
Bai Shuiyue, the leader of the White Lotus Cult, picked up a white porcelain teacup and traced the patterns on the rocky surface of the cup with her fingertips. The tea was the famous "Cold Tea" from the Northern Territory.
Amidst the rising steam, the light and shadow of the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were faintly visible in the tea soup. Sitting opposite him, Chu Yiyue, the vice leader of the Taiping Sect, had already finished three cups of "cold tea." He pushed the celadon teacup to the center and smiled.
"Everyone says that cold tea is refreshing to drink, and today's sip has a unique flavor. It would be best if it were served chilled."
"Master Chu is still the most witty. In this hot summer, I am a little restless. There have already been three waves of patrolmen downstairs. It seems that yesterday's commotion has made the Imperial City Guard lose face."
Last night's operation, while not a complete success, brought many unexpected surprises. The deaths of some officials from the Six Ministries, along with the Prefect of Anyang, at the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) caught the court off guard. Even the Western King did not return to the capital, so there will be no shortage of suspicion in the future.
Chu Yiyue peered through the window bars and saw soldiers from the city's military garrison patrolling the streets. Squads of armored men marched along the cobblestone path, drenched in sweat. Their dark armor gleamed in the sunlight. The captain leading the squads, a badge hanging from his waist, walked at the head of the procession, constantly wiping the fine sweat from his brow with his sleeve. The soldiers behind him looked listless. Chu Yiyue shook his head slightly at this sight.
"It's just a formality. In this sweltering heat, it's already good enough that they can patrol the streets. Our people have already gone into hiding. Unless it's the Imperial City Guard searching at any cost, it's a pity. The Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is tomorrow. Who would dare to investigate recklessly?"
The saying goes, "To win in chaos." Especially at times like these, the people of the court dare not overstep their bounds. The matter of the Jiaofangsi can only be investigated afterward. By then, their people will have already fled far away, and there will be nothing left to investigate. But it is precisely this kind of speculation that shows how delicate the current situation is.
"Master Bai, last night's events seemed uneventful, but you saw clearly what happened in front of the Meridian Gate today. It seems the blood of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) has finally had some effect. Even those two groups returning to the capital didn't see the main character!"
"Ok?"
Bai Shuiyue raised an eyebrow, reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the mutton-fat jade pendant around her neck appearing and disappearing intermittently.
"Master Chu is quite frank. How the court will handle matters is still unknown. Those people in the Imperial City Guard are probably shocked and furious. After all, that Prefect of Anyang is connected to the Minister of War. His sudden death in the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) makes you think the Gong family of the Western Prince's Mansion will become suspicious."
This is the most important point. The Northwest Altar Master secretly reported that the Prefect of Qingyang had been reduced to the point of having his property confiscated, all thanks to the machinations of the Western King's Mansion. They had just taken down one prefect, and another died directly in the capital. No matter who it was, they would all be suspicious of the Western King's Mansion.
The leader of the Chu sect took a sip of tea, a low chuckle escaping his throat;
"It's good that there's suspicion. We've stumbled upon a positive outcome. The more anxious they are, the more mistakes they'll make. This gives us more opportunities in the capital. The area south of the capital is corrupt and can only be abandoned. The three counties of Lingnan are barren and lack resources. Moreover, the mountain tribes are insatiable, making it unsuitable for long-term stay. Therefore, we can only wait for an opportunity to head west."
Although this idea had begun to be planned in his mind, it would take too long, not to mention where this opportunity would come from. The four kings and eight dukes had long lost their ambition, and the northern border troops still had passes to guard, so foreign tribes could not easily enter the pass. Therefore, this trouble could only be planned from the local vassal kings.
The wind outside the window suddenly picked up, rustling through the second windowpane. The patrons at the next table were still discussing the events of the previous night, saying that flames were shooting up at the brothel, and they could vaguely hear women crying. There were also large numbers of soldiers in the streets, which was quite frightening.
"Have you heard? It was the work of a traitor last night,"
A man with a flushed face, slamming his fist on the table, was excitedly shouting.
“My cousin works in the Shuntian Prefecture government office. He said that there wasn’t a single survivor in the entire Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district), and even the ground was soaked in blood.”
"Yes, I've heard about it too, especially since they didn't even spare the courtesans. So many top courtesans, what a pity."
The moment the topic of women came up, all the diners around sighed and coughed.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yiyue's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. Bai Shuiyue, however, acted as if she hadn't heard, slowly and elegantly skimming off the foam with the lid of her teacup.
"Master Chu is indeed a man of great talent and strategy, with a clear understanding of the situation within the pass. Now that the princes have entered the capital, tomorrow is the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet. The thoughts of these princes are known to almost everyone. Unfortunately, the timing, location, and people are all lacking. How can they possibly succeed? Especially that Prince Zheng, who seems to have prestige but is actually a coward. This time, he will probably have done nothing but wasted effort."
If King Zheng truly possessed that kind of aura, he would have devised a foolproof plan ten years ago when the former crown prince rebelled, and the person sitting in that position would not be the one sitting now.
"That's right, but that's precisely why we have this opportunity. This birthday banquet will surely leave the princes empty-handed. You know, they've been planning for so long, how could they be willing to give up? We can only encourage them to go back. The Han Dynasty had the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms, and now there may be a five-kingdoms struggle for power. So, we still need to carefully plan the way forward. Fan Wenhai, the strategist of the Zheng Prince's Mansion, and Xu Liangcai, the strategist of the Han Prince's Mansion, are both first-rate figures."
Leader Chu had already put away his teacup. He had told everyone he could; some things were better left unsaid. Finally, he gave a slight bow.
"Master Bai, let's lie low for a few days. We'll meet again sometime."
After saying this, he stood up, left a silver ingot, and departed with two trusted men. As soon as he left, a waiter from the restaurant came over.
"Master, have you gained anything?"
Right Protector Ying Xiancai took the brocade cloth, carefully wiped it on the table, and then cautiously asked;
"The harvest is considerable, but it's useless. The Taiping Cult operates in secrecy, and this Leader Chu is known for his cunning schemes. He mentioned Mr. Fan from the Zheng Prince's residence and Mr. Xu from the Han Prince's residence. It seems he has made contact with these two. If so, you need to send someone to investigate carefully."
Her expression was gentle, her beautiful eyes fixed on the ground floor, watching as the figure of the cult leader Chu disappeared into the alleyway, vanishing without a trace.
"My junior sister has been living a life of luxury at the Marquis's mansion, why haven't we arranged a time to meet yet? You can send someone to deliver the message."
Right Protector Ying Xiancai, who was wiping the tables and chairs, smiled wryly upon hearing this and replied;
"Master, I have already sent someone to inform her, but the Holy Maiden is staying at her residence and has not replied. How dare I disturb her any further? Please forgive me, Master."
The Marquis of Luoyun's residence is not so easy to visit. Even if a letter is sent, whether or not it is replied to is not up to him.
"Alright, I'll just wait. I've been away for over a month and haven't seen my junior sister. I'm starting to feel really anxious."
The moment the alluring smile appeared, the Right Protector quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at her any longer.
At this time,
The area in front of the Meridian Gate,
Suddenly, a caravan of carriages arrived, escorted by five hundred armored soldiers. Their black attire, black armor, and black battle banners exuded an air of power and prestige.
The carriage at the very front was even more magnificent; it was actually the carriage of the Western King, and it was quite a rare sight to see it arrive in front of the Meridian Gate.
inside the car,
Gong Huaiyu, the heir of the Western Prince's Mansion, sat calmly among them, holding a folded document in her hand, a slight smile on her lips. Although she was deep in thought, she did not reveal it. Her gaze fell on the old man sitting upright to one side.
The old man was over fifty years old and a trusted confidant of the King of the West. He wore a long blue cloth robe, which had been washed until his hair turned white, but he still wore it. His hair and beard were all white, but his eyes were as bright as autumn water.
"Mr. Chen,"
Gong Huaiyu finally spoke, her voice extremely low.
"Is it too rash to present a congratulatory gift and submit a congratulatory letter a day in advance?" He stroked the congratulatory letter that had been handed to him, still feeling somewhat uneasy.
"According to etiquette, a prince's congratulatory message should follow the proper rules. Our abruptness might give others something to criticize, especially today. The palace has mobilized Prince Teng of the Beijing Garrison and Marquis Luoyun's border troops to enter the city, which has caused the Imperial Guards to mobilize and become very suspicious."
Especially the last sentence, "Father turned back halfway," is the biggest suspicion of the court, and there is probably no way to remedy this.
Chen Liangtao slowly withdrew his gaze from the window, lowered the curtain to block out the noise, and smiled faintly.
"Your Highness, do you think that if we don't do this, or if we should do this, will the court be less suspicious?"
Gong Huaiyu was taken aback, then realized what was happening;
"What you mean, sir?"
"Your Highness, please think about it."
Chen Liangtao put down his folding fan and lightly tapped his knees with his fingertips;
"The Emperor Emeritus's sixtieth birthday appears to be a day of universal celebration, but in reality, undercurrents are surging. Our Western Prince's Mansion is stationed in Liangzhou and holds great power in the Northwest. We have always been a thorn in the side of the court. Previously, the Prince's Mansion used the ancient Han River route to launch a covert operation, but unfortunately, the Prefect of Qingyang was stubborn and refused to cooperate. We had no choice but to strike first. Last night, the Heir Apparent also knew about the matter of the Jiaofangsi. The Prefect of Anyang died in his room. Only one of the three prefectures in the Northwest remains. At this time, how can Your Highness return to the capital? We are always wary of each other."
He sighed, recalling the scene when the prince returned, a memory that was unforgettable.
"Your Highness, of the three northwestern prefectures, besides Beiyunbian Prefecture, Qingyang Prefecture and Anyang Prefecture are of particular importance. The transfer of the military troops and the appointment of prefects are all decided by the Imperial Cabinet and appointed by the Ministry of War. Unfortunately, we were unlucky. If it were the previous prefect of Qingyang Prefecture, it wouldn't matter. Who knew that those traitors of the Taiping Cult would seize the opportunity to kill the prefect of Anyang Prefecture. This misunderstanding can never be resolved."
This is the most crucial point. Upon hearing this, Gong Huaiyu's hand holding the memorial tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white.
“I already know about this matter. I received the news this morning and even sent the Prince’s Eagle Guard to investigate. The Imperial City Guard reported that it was an accidental incident, but I think there is something fishy about what you said, sir. I’m afraid that these cultists got the news.”
The Prefect of Anyang, of all times, had to die. There was absolutely no clue about what had happened at the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).
"Strange!"
Chen Liangtao sneered.
“Your Highness, it’s not just strange. I’ve heard that the court has already appointed a new governor of Qingyang. With the death of the governor of Anyang, a new person will take office. They’ll all be new faces. We’ll need to reconsider things from now on. So, Your Highness should be the first to host this birthday banquet. It’s a show for the court and the people of the world. Those princes from within the Great Wall have ill intentions.”
Under the guise of celebrating the emperor's birthday, they made a preemptive move to seize the initiative and create a powerful impression. As the emperor's father, the Western Prince's Mansion was more than willing to take on the task of celebrating his birthday.
This explanation put Gong Huaiyu at ease. At this time, taking an unconventional approach was not necessarily a bad thing. If he followed the rules and submitted a congratulatory letter with all the officials tomorrow, it would make him seem guilty. If he came first today, he would not only gain the upper hand, but also appear "open and honest" and ease the relationship between the court and the Northwest. It would be a win-win-win situation.
Gong Huaiyu's face showed kindness.
"Sir, we failed to notify the Southern Prince's Mansion, the Northern Prince's Mansion, and the Eastern Prince's Mansion. I'm afraid they'll hold us accountable."
“Young Master, let’s sit down first. Someone will surely follow us. I suspect that if Lang Yun, the heir of the Southern Prince’s Mansion, receives news of our entry into the palace, he will definitely follow closely behind. Especially the Lang family, that Mr. Jiang has also come to the capital.”
Chen Liangtao smiled slightly. Once the first step is taken, someone else will take the second step, especially for such important matters. Gong Huaiyu's eyes were bright. Mr. Jiang from the Southern Prince's Mansion had also come. This was interesting.
Looking out the window again, the Meridian Gate is just ahead.
The entire Imperial Guard on duty was already standing guard.
Compared to usual, it was a quiet time outside the Meridian Gate, with the imperial guards standing against the palace walls.
At this moment, as the carriage arrived, the many armored soldiers immediately went on alert.
When the caravan arrived at the Meridian Gate, it stopped. A young man in black fine clothes alighted from the lead carriage. This man was Gong Huaiyu, the heir of the Western Prince's Mansion. He wore a dark-patterned brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist and held a folding book in his hand. He walked straight to the Meridian Gate and said loudly.
A congratulatory letter from the Prince of Xi's residence was presented.
A clear voice suddenly broke the silence, soaring upwards in front of the empty Meridian Gate. Gong Huaiyu stood tall and straight, his left hand behind his back and his right hand holding up a congratulatory message.
"Happy Birthday to His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus!"
The second shout was even louder than the first, its echo reverberating across the vermilion palace walls, startling the bronze bells in the corners of the eaves into a rapid, slight tremor, as if trying to pry open the words "Meridian Gate".
Behind them, soldiers of the Western King's Palace knelt on one knee, and servants knelt on the ground, holding trays with both hands, mostly containing rare and precious items.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the Imperial Guard commander and saw that he was gripping the hilt of his sword, looking visibly nervous, with a slight smile on his lips. This time, he had gone beyond the usual procedures. Normally, congratulatory memorials would be forwarded by the Office of Transmission. How could the heir of the Western Prince's Mansion raise a congratulatory memorial high in front of the Meridian Gate to show his loyalty? This was to ensure that the Western Prince's Mansion's intentions were clearly heard in the palace.
"Congratulatory Message from the Western Prince's Mansion"
The third time Yang Sheng spoke, his vocal cords had already acquired a metallic, resonant quality.
"Congratulations on the Emperor Emeritus's long life! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and longevity!"
After that sound, a commotion arose inside the Meridian Gate. Slight footsteps could be heard coming from the previously closed main gate, and a side door opened, revealing several eunuchs peeking through the crack in the doorway, their faces filled with panic. The head eunuch on duty, in particular, was already sweating profusely with fear. The birthday banquet was still tomorrow; why would the Western Prince's residence send a congratulatory message today?
"Quickly, quickly, go back and report to the Emperor. You, and you, go and report to the Retired Emperor. Be sure to do it quickly!"
"Yes, father-in-law."
Several eunuchs responded and ran off into the palace, leaving Li Dequan there stamping his feet in frustration.
"My goodness, how come something like this happens when it's my turn to be on duty?"
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. He didn't realize that a large patch of his back was covered in cold sweat. He had been the palace gatekeeper for over twenty years and was used to seeing princes and ministers submit memorials. He had never seen any prince dare to shout congratulations loudly in front of the Meridian Gate, especially since the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet was tomorrow. To submit a congratulatory memorial today was against ancestral rules and such an earth-shattering act.
The young eunuchs inside the gate were already pale with fright. One of the new eunuchs, Xiao Sula, almost collapsed to his knees.
"Steward Li, should we go out and persuade them to go back?"
"What advice are you giving me?"
Li Dequan stopped and glared at him fiercely, his voice trembling;
“That was a congratulatory letter from the Prince of Xi’s residence. The Emperor Emeritus personally bestowed upon him the title of ‘Prince of Xiping’. This young master usually studies at Qinglian Academy and is never arrogant. Why would he make such a fuss today with this shocking act? It must not have been a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
Just at this time,
As the heir of the Western Prince's Mansion shouted "Happy Birthday" for the third time, Li Dequan knew he couldn't wait any longer. If the palace found out about this, the Empress Dowager wouldn't let him off the hook. Therefore, he had no choice but to leave.
"Guards, line up! Open the side door, I need to go out."
“This, this, is, Eunuch Li.”
With a creak, the side gate next to the Meridian Gate slowly opened.
(End of this chapter)