“What madness are you causing in the middle of the night?” Fu Shen said expressionlessly. “No laughing. Why don’t you laugh for me?”
“Be good, just laugh a little,” Yan Xiaohan coaxed. “You made me wait bitterly all afternoon; you should give me some compensation, right?”
Fu Shen was so pestered that his great worries dissipated. He originally wanted to keep a stern face longer but couldn’t help but laugh first, pointing at the small exposed part of Yan Xiaohan’s chest: “Rogue.”
Yan Xiaohan said righteously: “A good man has no good wife; a rogue occupies the flower branch.”
When Fu Shen finally caught his breath, Yan Xiaohan hugged him along with the blanket and fiercely declared: “I’m going to ruin you.”
As they expected, not long after, the Emperor of Changzhi proposed an expedition to the Southwest at the Yanying Hall. Except for the Northern Border troops still standing with Fu Shen, the other forty-odd hall ministers, even Yan Xiaohan, agreed with the emperor’s proposal.
The following spring, Duke Jinguo Fu Shen was ordered to lead 100,000 troops south to attack Prince Duan Guihong of Xiping County. This time, he was not accompanied by his old Northern Yan Iron Cavalry, but an expanded imperial army, primarily composed of the Jiangnan Army led by Zhao Xicheng during the recapture of the Central Plains.
Once again at the Golden Terrace outside the capital, battle flags fluttered and war horses neighed. Emperor Changzhi personally came to the city outskirts to see off the troops, just like when Emperor Yuantai had led civil and military officials to send the young general north to resist enemies, seemingly full of heroic spirit, but in reality, coldly observing.
Yan Xiaohan stood not far from Emperor Changzhi, his gaze sweeping across the ministers, finally resting on the slightly plump back of the emperor. He had no expression, appearing cold, but paradoxically, this seemed more genuine than the ministers feigning emotional complexity.
Fu Shen cast a distant glance, their eyes meeting midair. Yan Xiaohan slightly nodded. The night before departure, Yan Xiaohan told Fu Shen: “Just go south with peace of mind. I’ll guard the rear for you, you don’t need to worry about anything.” At that time, Fu Shen said nothing, just smiled and tilted Yan Xiaohan’s chin for a kiss. Seeming both unknowing and yet possibly aware of the truth.
The spring breeze swept across the wilderness. Yan Xiaohan watched the gradually distant command flag, silently completing the unfinished words from the previous night in his heart. When you return, I will give you a clean court.
The letter arrived together with the military report, and because there was a risk of it being secretly opened, Fu Shen could not directly express his feelings, so he sent a “wild goose letter” in this way. Only the two of them could understand the true meaning of “wild goose” through their tacit understanding. The wild goose is a bird of loyalty, mated for life, flying together across the vast sky.
On this night, when Yan Xiaohan was tossing and turning, unable to sleep due to the family letter, on the other side of the capital, there was also someone sleepless in the Xue Shangshu’s residence.
Recently, the Censorate had impeached two officials from the Six Ministries. After the emperor read the report, he permitted the two to temporarily suspend their duties and reflect behind closed doors, with the case to be investigated by the Court of Judicial Review. This was originally a normal procedure, and the “impeachment” was merely minor issues that no one took seriously. However, to everyone’s surprise, the Court of Judicial Review uncovered the truth – they found evidence of the two officials accepting bribes and perverting the law.
Once the lid was opened, it was unstoppable. Zhu Can, the president of the Court of Judicial Review, was known in the court for being upright and incorruptible, and even knowing these were people from the Jiangnan faction, he had no intention of letting them off. Before long, the Court of Judicial Review’s report reached the imperial throne, and the Long Zhi Emperor was furious, ordering the Ministry of Punishment to sentence them to death pending review, to be executed after the autumn assizes.
Xue Sheng suddenly lost two capable subordinates, and his situation became delicate. The Long Zhi Emperor’s attitude towards him had also become slightly cold recently.
Tonight, a guest came to his home – Zheng Duanwen, the Right Minister of Rites and Lecturer, who was also from Jiangnan, bringing a piece of news that could be good or bad.
“This afternoon, a messenger brought a military report from the southwest. The army has been stationed outside the city for over a month, but the two sides have not yet engaged. In the military report, Jing Guo Gong wrote that Duan Guihong has repeatedly sent envoys to the camp seeking a meeting with the commander. He wants to meet with the Western Ping Junwang in a few days to persuade him to surrender.”
“After the emperor read the military report, his expression was terrible. His hands were shaking with anger, and he asked me, ‘I have sent people to the southwest multiple times, and he claimed illness and refused to meet. But as soon as Fu Shen arrives, he rushes to report? What injustice does he have that I cannot handle, that he must go before Fu Shen to explain?'”
Xue Sheng was the earliest supporter of the Long Zhi Emperor’s expedition to the southwest, so whenever southwest military affairs were discussed, the emperor would call him to the palace for consultation. However, now that he was tainted, he missed the opportunity and let Zheng Duanwen gain face before the emperor – it seemed the Long Zhi Emperor still valued him somewhat.
The matter was significant, and Zheng Duanwen could not make up his mind.
He carefully asked, “Cloud Ping brother, do you think the emperor is dissatisfied with the Western Ping Junwang, or does he have some thoughts about that person?”
The Jiangnan faction had always viewed Jing Guo Gong Fu Shen as their greatest enemy. Not only did he command significant troops, but he had also nearly swept the Jiangnan gentry out of the court during the Golden Terrace incident, causing Xue Sheng and others to frequently offer advice to the Long Zhi Emperor about military achievements and the dangers of holding too much military power. Now, whenever the Long Zhi Emperor mentioned Fu Shen, he looked displeased.
Xue Sheng coldly sneered in his heart and instead asked, “How did Fang De respond?”
Zheng Duanwen, a dignified Libu Shangshu, felt anger rise in him as he was being ordered around. However, just as he stepped forward to reprimand the young man, his gaze fell on the youth’s attire, and he swallowed his words, instead asking, “Who are you? What business do you have with Master Xue?”
The young man impatiently said, “Let me in, and I’ll tell you once I’m inside.”
The steward was about to call the servants to drive away this young man, but Zheng Duanwen suddenly raised his hand to stop him, saying, “Go and report to Master Xue.” He then told the young man, “Follow me.”
The steward was bewildered but couldn’t disobey.
He went to report to Xue Sheng, and shortly after, Zheng Duanwen led the young man inside, whispering something in Xue Sheng’s ear.
Xue Sheng looked surprised, then turned to the young man with a relatively polite tone, “Forgive the servants’ rudeness, young master. What brings you here so late?”
“Ask everyone else to leave,” the young man said coldly, “Only you and I remain.” He pointed at Zheng Duanwen, “He can stay too.”
Chapter 75: Killing Intent
Earlier, it was pitch black outside, and Zheng Duanwen hadn’t noticed when leading the person in. Only when they stood under the candlelight did he realize the young man had a lame leg.
Xue Sheng dismissed the servants and invited the young man to sit and talk.
