Fish Meat – Chapter 142

The Second Year of Zhao Wu

Morning Like Blue Clouds (6)

Wei Tingxu knew someone didn’t want them to return alive to Runing, with many deadly traps set along the way and even more dangers waiting in Runing city.

            

“If that’s the case, let’s split up.”

Ah Li and Ah Yin, two people sent by Li Yanyi, had already met up with Wei Tingxu and others at Nanya. Wei Tingxu wanted to set a trap to lure out those who wanted to kill them, while Zhen Wenjun came up with a plan: “Zizhuo, you go meet with Her Majesty directly, while I’ll play along with their scheme to meet the mastermind. I want to see who’s bold enough to make a move in front of the Emperor.”

Wei Tingxu said: “Since Her Majesty has decided to hold a welcoming feast for us, those who want to kill us fear Her Majesty and will definitely try to make Her Majesty temporarily leave Runing before they act.”

            

“Make Her Majesty leave Runing? Is that possible?”

“If someone wanted to lure you away, what kind of reason would make you take the bait?”

Zhen Wenjun said with a knowing tone: “So someone is using Ah Xin to lure Her Majesty out of Runing. Once Her Majesty leaves, they can freely move to kill us.”

            

Wei Tingxu: “What we can think of, Her Majesty must have thought of too. When we arrive in Runing, Her Majesty will definitely be in the city.”

“In that case, let’s split up,” Zhen Wenjun said, “I’ll go lure the enemy, while you, Zizhuo, take Mengda Khan to meet with Her Majesty directly. Once Her Majesty issues an imperial decree, this matter will be settled. Let’s see what tricks these vile people have left.”

At first, Wei Tingxu worried it would be too dangerous for Zhen Wenjun to go alone and didn’t want her to take the risk. Zhen Wenjun didn’t argue with her, but quickly rode ahead with her people back to Runing, where she joined up with the fake Moon Chasing Army and went to Huanhuan Palace.

            

Meanwhile, Wei Tingxu safely returned to Zichen Palace under Ah Li and Ah Yin’s guidance. Luan Jiang saw their carriages and horses, discovered Li Yanyi was also at Zichen Palace, and that all officials had gathered for the feast – he couldn’t help but be shocked.

Luan Jiang hid among the banquet guests and immediately sent someone to report to Geng Bai. By the time the secret report reached Geng Bai’s hands, Zhen Wenjun had already torn Huanhuan Palace to pieces.

Geng Bai and Attendant You quickly left – they absolutely couldn’t be discovered.

            

Geng Bai was furious, having missed the best chance to eliminate the witch, it was truly regrettable.

Her Majesty would surely promote Wei Tingxu using the achievement of reopening the Path of Ten Thousand Directions. After today, it would be even harder to eliminate the witch.

Outside Zichen Palace, the fragrance of wine filled the air, and the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments played endlessly.

            

Li Yanyi had Wei Tingxu sit at her right side and Mengda Khan at her left, the three chatting and laughing constantly while enjoying the songs and dances. Wei Tingxu introduced the performers as Da Yu’s singing and dancing courtesans to Mengda Khan, who seemed both listening and not listening, fixated on the graceful dancers. Mengda Khan had never seen such alluring women who dressed like men, and was almost intoxicated by the sight.

Li Yanyi hadn’t been this happy since ascending to the throne. Seeing her rare bright smile, the Emperor’s trusted officials below quickly came forward to sing praises, commending Wei Tingxu’s extraordinary achievements. Others lost in thought kept their heads down, neither agreeing nor opposing. Only when Li Yanyi appointed Wei Tingxu as Da Sinong (Minister of Finance) and Marquis of Boling, jointly responsible for the Path of Ten Thousand Directions with the newly appointed Da Honglu (Minister of Protocol) Bo Lan, did the waiting officials finally raise their heads in unison. Just as they were about to speak, they realized the Emperor hadn’t finished speaking and couldn’t interrupt, so they had to hold back.

“Besides Minister Wei, there is another person who has silently guarded Da Yu’s northern frontier, reclaimed three commanderies for Da Yu, continuously repelled enemies, and achieved immortal merit in expanding Da Yu’s territory – this person is Xie family’s Ah Xin.” Everyone, including Wei Tingxu, hadn’t expected Li Yanyi to suddenly mention Xie family’s Ah Xin. However, after a thought, Wei Tingxu immediately understood Li Yanyi’s intention.

            

“Xie family’s Ah Xin has won a hundred battles and survived countless dangers; rewarding merit is heaven’s way. I hereby appoint Xie family’s Ah Xin as General of Conquest, Marquis of Yishui, Commander of all Mengliang military affairs, with an allowance of two thousand two hundred chariots…” Before Li Yanyi could finish, the officials turned pale and rushed forward to object on the spot.

“Your Majesty! This Xie family’s Ah Xin is the daughter of a criminal official, she absolutely cannot be given official positions and noble titles! Please reconsider, Your Majesty! Please withdraw this order!”

For a moment, the entire Zichen Palace was flooded with the officials’ protests, startling Mengda Khan, who didn’t understand what the Da Yu Emperor had said to face such overwhelming opposition.

            

Li Yanyi, however, showed a barely noticeable smile.

It appeared for just an instant, but Wei Tingxu caught it.

The court officials who had prepared a belly full of words to throw back at Li Yanyi about the “Minister Wei” matter now had their attention completely diverted, with all their fire focused on Ah Xin, even forgetting about Wei Tingxu’s appointment as Da Sinong.

            

Li Yanyi had long understood that Ah Xin, as the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, could never be appointed to office, so she simply used her as a shield, letting Wei Tingxu avoid everyone’s verbal attacks and successfully enter official service.

However, the position of Da Sinong ranked among the Nine Ministers at the third rank, and these old fellows probably wouldn’t agree to that either.

Li Yanyi had offered a position much higher than what she actually intended, and when the old fellows emerged from the “Ah Xin fog” wanting to push Wei Tingxu down, Li Yanyi would give them face by letting Wei Tingxu temporarily serve as Assistant Secretary (Shushu Cheng), a fifth-rank official.

            

This was the Emperor’s confusion formation (a strategic misdirection).

Li Yanyi and Wei Tingxu exchanged smiles.

In the summer of the second year of Zhaowu, Wei Tingxu, who had just safely returned from the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, officially entered government service under Emperor Li Yanyi’s strong protection, becoming a legend in Da Yu’s dynasty.

            

A blue sword was drawn, a spray of blood shot into the air, and the person struck by the sword fell to the ground instantly.

Only then did Ah Wen dare to come out from behind the stables.

Soldiers wearing thick armor quickly rushed over with spears upon hearing the commotion. The sword in Ah Xin’s hand was still dripping blood. She turned and waved her hand, and the soldiers withdrew.

            

“Wasn’t this person following us all along?” Ah Wen asked Ah Xin, “Why did you kill him now?”

“It’s not the same person,” Ah Xin wiped the blood clean from her sword with a cloth, then turned and sheathed it perfectly into the scabbard on her back, “The person who was following us before has already been killed. This is someone else.”

Ah Xin had long known someone was secretly watching her, and even knew this person was sent by Li Yanyi, just to send reports of her daily life back to Da Yu. Ah Xin had once intercepted a spy’s letter and almost fell asleep reading it. There was nothing interesting about these daily activities to observe, yet Li Yanyi had been watching for two years.

            

Curious, Ah Wen stepped forward and pulled off the black cloth covering the person’s face, staring at it for a while.

It was an unremarkable face, without distinct features, impossible to pick out among the masses of people. It was precisely because of this ordinary appearance that he could become an excellent spy.

Ah Xin: “Can you tell?”

            

“No,” Ah Wen said, “I never saw what he looked like before either.”

Ah Xin thought for a moment, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she smiled.

“Sister, you look so pretty when you smile. Too bad you usually don’t smile and look so fierce.”

            

As soon as Ah Wen said this, Ah Xin’s smile disappeared.

“Sister, who was the person watching us before? And who is this person?”

Ah Xin had people carry away the corpse to throw it in the dog pen to feed the dogs. She walked up to the city wall and looked north, seeing only vast wilderness, with nothing visible except for Mingsha City (City of Singing Sands).

            

The harsh northern frontier covered her long hair with a layer of frost, and endlessly falling snowflakes landed on her eyebrows and eyelashes, creating a pure white scene. Her usually determined eyes now held a gentleness unfamiliar to Ah Wen, as if she was reminiscing.

“The person before wasn’t really watching us, they were just sending news of my activities in the northern frontier back to Da Yu.”

“Sending it back to Da Yu? Sister, weren’t all your family members killed by the Emperor? Who in Da Yu still cares about you?” Ah Wen, completely disregarding her appearance, sat directly on the ground, holding a half-eaten blackened apple, eating it with obvious enjoyment. Her broken leg had healed, and being young, she recovered quickly without any lingering limp. Being originally from the north, she was long accustomed to the harsh weather of the northern frontier and could handle even the coldest days well, but when she went south, she got dizzy from the heat.

            

Who in Da Yu still cares about you?

“I suppose there is.” After a long while, Ah Xin turned her head, looking south through the falling snow, towards Runing.

“Who is it?” Ah Wen noticed Ah Xin was different today, she even forgot to eat her apple, and immediately pressed for answers, taking a stance that suggested she wouldn’t rest until she got results.

            

“Someone you don’t know.”

“Is it someone you like?”

Based on what she knew of Ah Xin, Ah Xin wouldn’t tell. It wasn’t that Ah Wen hadn’t tried to inquire about Ah Xin’s personal matters before – she was very interested in everything about Ah Xin, but Ah Xin was always tight-lipped.

            

Ah Wen said she seemed like someone hiding many stories, but Ah Xin would only smile without speaking. No matter how hard Ah Wen tried to dig, Ah Xin acted as if she hadn’t heard, not even showing interest in responding.

So today Ah Wen was just asking routinely, expecting Ah Xin to be unresponsive as usual, but unexpectedly, Ah Xin actually made a sound of agreement.

Ah Wen’s head shot up with a “swoosh,” thinking she must have misheard.

            

“Sister, do you really have someone you like? Are they in Runing? What kind of person are they?”

What kind of day was this, for Sister Ah Xin – this block of wood who hadn’t shown any interest in romance for a thousand years and only knew how to kill enemies – to suddenly admit she had someone she liked? Ah Wen naturally had to seize this chance to probe further.

“She is an extraordinary person,” Ah Xin seemed to be speaking to Ah Wen, yet also talking to herself, “She accomplished what everyone under heaven wanted to do but couldn’t.”

            

“Who could be that amazing?” Ah Wen asked first, but when Ah Xin actually started describing such a person, Ah Wen felt a bit annoyed, “Maybe you think too highly of him because you like him. There are so many capable people under heaven, how could he be the only impressive one?”

Ah Xin smiled faintly, knowing she hadn’t overestimated Li Yanyi.

An Emperor – how could one be won over merely with talent and virtue?

            

Today her thoughts were a bit scattered, and she especially missed Li Yanyi. Perhaps because today was Li Yanyi’s birthday. Every year, Li Yanyi’s birthday would remind Ah Xin of their first meeting at that Yaji (elegant literary gathering). The Yaji was held specifically to celebrate Li Yanyi’s birthday. At that gathering, Ah Xin’s gaze followed the eighteen-year-old Li Yanyi round and round. The scene and the flutter of her heart from that time remained crystal clear whenever she recalled it.

Unfortunately, they could never return to those youthful days.

Now, her only companions were endless wind and snow, and the watchful eyes of foreign tribes. The barbarian raiders could attack again at any time, and she guarded Da Yu’s throat (strategic location), determined not to let Chongjin succeed again.

            

With the Xie family executed to the ninth degree of kinship (execution of entire extended family), Ah Xin couldn’t stay in Runing, so she came to the cold northern frontier hoping to slowly heal her heart’s wounds. Even if they couldn’t heal, guarding the northern frontier could ensure Runing’s safety, Li Yanyi’s safety.

Li Yanyi in Runing, however, had different thoughts.

Li Yanyi hadn’t held a birthday Yaji for six years.

            

First, there was no money, and second, no leisure time, so this year even the celebration ceremony was hastily conducted.

Someone had suggested establishing a “Thousand Autumn Festival” (imperial birthday celebration) for Her Majesty with grand celebrations, but Li Yanyi immediately scolded them:

“What money would we use? The people’s blood and sweat? Or your private silver?! You dare to hide private silver instead of submitting it to the national treasury, do you want the common people to starve to death?!”

            

After Li Yanyi’s outburst, no one dared mention the Thousand Autumn Festival again.

Of course, while the Thousand Autumn Festival wasn’t mentioned, there were plenty of other matters to push before Li Yanyi.

The officials jointly petitioned against appointing a criminal official’s daughter as general, and Li Yanyi said “I will consider it carefully.” After three days of consideration, the imperial decree appointing Wei Tingxu was sent to the Wei residence, along with official robes. The newly appointed Da Sinong Wei Tingxu put on her official robes to visit her colleagues, choosing to visit Shen Liao, the Taipu (Minister of Imperial Stables) who was also one of the Nine Ministers. This Shen Liao was Geng Bai’s son-in-law, and seeing Wei Tingxu in official robes, his eyes went wide, not knowing what to say.

            

Wei Tingxu’s official robes were different from others. Above the black curved-hemmed deep robe was embroidered with the “Leaning Deer” (symbol of third-rank officials). Her slender floor-length belt gleamed, and Wei Tingxu wore the Jinxian Crown (official headgear) properly, giving her somewhat of a masculine air, but looking closely, the crown’s brim had been made smaller, and paired with the elegant curved hem, created an indescribable beauty, combining free-spiritedness with feminine grace, catching everyone’s eye.

“Wei Zizhuo pays respects to Minister Shen.” Wei Tingxu bowed slightly, her face calm as a deep lake without a ripple, leaving Shen Liao no room to refuse.

Shen Liao saw that her followers all had extraordinary appearances and even carried weapons, looking less like visitors and more like those coming to raid homes, quite frightening. His wife and children fearfully hid in the inner chambers, afraid this witch would eat people.

            

Facing the gloomy witch, Shen Liao’s back was covered in sweat.

For the sake of all the lives in his household, he could only return the bow.

“Mi-Minister Wei, this old man pays his respects…”

            

With Shen Liao’s bow, the position of Da Yu’s first female official was firmly established.

Wei Tingxu slowly broke into a smile and rose.

When she walked out of the Shen residence, she looked up at the sky.

            

Above the blue clouds stretched ten thousand miles of openness.

The sky here was exactly the same as what she saw that year in Rangchuan.

---

---