Fish Meat – Chapter 148
by Little PandaThe Second Year of Zhao Wu
Morning Like Blue Clouds (12)
Wei Tingxu stood at Hou Jun Pavilion waiting for the morning court session, unusually allowing her thoughts to wander.
These days, while renovating the new residence should have been a demanding task, she was quite relaxed. Although the old residence was thoughtfully designed throughout, it had been uninhabited for some time, and with Wei Tingxu’s numerous personal belongings, it would take some time to prepare everything properly.
Li Yanyi was currently entangled with other officials over wanting to bring Ah Xin back to Runing, needing Wei Tingxu’s support.
Luan Jiang was like a thorn in Li Yanyi’s side planted by Geng Bai. Though he was just a local official transferred to the capital, with Geng Bai secretly backing him and his own unyielding persistence, he was causing Li Yanyi considerable irritation.
Sharing the Emperor’s burdens was a minister’s duty, especially when these concerns were closely related to the Wei family. Moreover, as the initiator of the “Haina Reform”, Wei Tingxu naturally couldn’t shirk her responsibilities.
So all matters concerning the residence, big and small, fell to Zhen Wenjun.
Although she had never heard Wei Tingxu play, seeing the many musical instruments in her room made it clear she loved music. Zhen Wenjun had to personally transport each instrument with utmost care, not to mention her precious collection of ancient books and paintings.
Besides these treasures, Wei Tingxu’s rouge, jewelry, and clothing also gave Zhen Wenjun headaches.
The rouge alone filled three large wooden boxes. These boxes were ingeniously designed – when opened, six-layered shelves would automatically rise and spread before one’s eyes. Pressing down on the red-lacquered circle in the middle would smoothly retract everything with just one touch. Such beautiful craftsmanship didn’t seem like something available in the common marketplace. While Zhen Wenjun had little interest in Wei Tingxu’s colorful collection of cosmetics, she was fascinated by the boxes containing them.
Zhen Wenjun sat on the floor hugging a box, taking out all of Wei Tingxu’s rouge and pushing it aside to study the wooden box, opening and closing it several times to understand its mechanism. It turned out to be constructed from several grooved wooden strips and wire frames – not complex but extremely ingenious. Using such heavenly craftsmanship just to store rouge… it was completely wasteful!
Zhen Wenjun thought about the Baoluo Wanxiang (all-encompassing magical device).
The Baoluo Wanxiang was also an eye-opening marvel, not to mention that courtyard in Tao Juncheng that made Wei Tingxu feel at ease living there. These couldn’t have been made by Wei Tingxu herself, yet she had never mentioned who gave her these things. Zhen Wenjun had a good memory; she recalled Wei Tingxu once mentioning that the Baoluo Wanxiang was created by a close friend. After all this time, this close friend had never shown their face, and Wei Tingxu hadn’t even mentioned them again, let alone visited them.
While putting the rouge back piece by piece, Zhen Wenjun made a mental note to ask Wei Tingxu about this when she returned from the Forbidden Garden.
However, every time Wei Tingxu returned home, she would be supporting her waist, looking quite exhausted.
Zhen Wenjun felt so concerned that she focused only on massaging her to provide relief, temporarily forgetting about this mysterious “close friend.”
Just sorting and organizing items took Zhen Wenjun a full five days. She worked together with Ah Zhu and two other quick-handed servants, finally getting everything categorized and properly arranged. Xiao Xiao tried to “help” several times but was sent away by Zhen Wenjun.
“You’re not really here to help – it’s good enough if you don’t wreck the place.” Zhen Wenjun gave her some cloud-shaped cakes (traditional Chinese snacks) and told her to go play with others.
Since coming to Runing, Xiao Xiao had become somewhat shy, avoiding people by walking around them, and had become more obedient and more attached to Zhen Wenjun. She would do whatever Zhen Wenjun asked without talking back, content just to stay by her “Ah Mu’s” side.
Xiao Xiao sat quietly in the corner, biting into the cloud-shaped cakes while mimicking the formal kneeling posture of the Da Yu people, not disturbing her.
Zhen Wenjun knew she was afraid of the Wei family members.
Though the Wei family members didn’t say or show much, deep down they disliked this foreign child. Xiao Xiao couldn’t even speak Da Yu smoothly yet, but she could keenly sense their thoughts from their gazes. A once cheerful child had become increasingly quiet and withdrawn. Except for these few days when she was busy organizing things, Zhen Wenjun would usually keep her close, teaching her Da Yu customs and etiquette, and helping her buy clothes.
Though Zhen Wenjun didn’t respond to being called “Ah Mu,” her actions had indeed taken on a motherly nature.
Such is a parent’s heart.
Although Wei Tingxu’s mother was reluctant to have her daughter move out of the Wei residence, once Wei Tingxu made her decision, her mother didn’t utter a single complaint. She even took the initiative to inspect the house in Wanquan District, assigned ten household servants to serve there, including Ah Zhu, and dispatched half of the Wei family’s private guards for protection. Without her mother’s help, moving successfully into the Wanquan District house would have taken more than a month.
Ah Ran also helped considerably, personally leading a group of servants in cleaning the new residence. She didn’t want her frail sister to fall ill from the filth left by previous occupants.
Zhen Wenjun had been quite afraid that Ah Ran would nag about marriage matters again, but found that neither Ah Ran nor the mother mentioned it anymore.
From the moment Wei Tingxu entered official service and formally stepped into the center of the political whirlpool, her mother and sister probably already understood the situation.
While handing over Wei Tingxu’s clothes one by one to Zhen Wenjun as she loaded them onto the carriage, Ah Ran suddenly asked:
“Will Zizhuo listen to you?”
Zhen Wenjun thought for a moment and said: “She has her own ideas.”
Ah Ran nodded: “Ah Mu has been crying these past few nights, not because she’s now in office as Da Yu’s first female official, nor because she remains unmarried, but because she fears Zizhuo’s Haina Reform will bring ill omens, with countless people eyeing her maliciously. She has already suffered much, and after all, she is still a woman – Ah Mu’s heart aches for her.”
After staring at Ah Ran for a moment, Zhen Wenjun climbed onto the carriage.
“Zizhuo is not a weak person.”
Zhen Wenjun could fully imagine how many times Wei Tingxu had torn open her own wounds, forcing herself to face them, to get used to them, repeatedly bleeding and enduring pain until she could now face her wounds directly. While her mother and sister’s concerns were natural, Zhen Wenjun understood that the Haina Reform that Wei Tingxu was now vigorously promoting would change many people’s fates, even leading all of Da Yu in a completely different direction. Wei Tingxu was destined for greatness with her concern for the world, and Zhen Wenjun disliked others diminishing her.
While Zhen Wenjun was willing to give her life to protect Wei Tingxu, she didn’t want others to see Wei Tingxu as just a fragile “woman.”
Ah Ran seemed to have understood something long ago, and her gaze toward Zhen Wenjun gradually revealed obvious wariness.
Zhen Wenjun didn’t care – she would soon move away from here, and the Wei family would rarely see her afterward. Even while still under the same roof, Zhen Wenjun wouldn’t feel any embarrassment. She had long decided that regardless of how the Wei family viewed or treated her, she would devote all her efforts to protecting every member of the Wei family.
It didn’t matter how they treated her – as long as they were genuinely good to Zizhuo, they were worth protecting with her life.
Recently, Wei Tingxu had been rushing between the Forbidden Garden and Wanquan District. Zhen Wenjun didn’t let her handle any matters, only asking her to spare a moment to name the residence if she had time.
But Wei Tingxu said: “You’ve read so many books, Wenjun – how hard could it be to come up with a name?”
“It’s different,” said Zhen Wenjun. “Living in a place named by you would make me feel comfortable.”
Last night, they finally finished arranging the residence. The main contributor clung to Wei Tingxu all night. After making sure Xiao Xiao was asleep and locking her door, Zhen Wenjun took two newly formulated pleasure pills, which proved quite effective. Wei Tingxu was sensitive while Zhen Wenjun was in high spirits, and it continued until nearly dawn when Xiao Xiao pulled at the door needing to use the toilet. Only then did Zhen Wenjun plant a deep kiss on Wei Tingxu’s swollen lips before wrapping herself in clothes to open the door for Xiao Xiao.
With morning court in an hour, Wei Tingxu decided not to sleep, instead dressing in her court robes and planning to go directly to the Forbidden Garden.
Now standing in the Hou Jun Pavilion, Wei Tingxu was thinking about Zhen Wenjun, quietly savoring every moment they had spent together.
Come to think of it, when they first met, she was just a thin child with constant wariness in her eyes, but now she had grown into someone capable of controlling situations.
“Official Wei.”
Someone called her from beside, bringing her thoughts back. She looked over and smiled, bowing in greeting: “Official Bo, it’s been a while.”
This person was Bo Lan, a good friend of Long Sun Wu.
Bo Lan was exceptionally tall, requiring Wei Tingxu to look up after bowing to converse with him. With eyebrows like thick ink and naturally red lips, he was a rare beauty. His beauty was different from Long Sun Wu’s androgynous charm, having a hint of masculinity, though this air only stayed on the surface. His occasional coy glances or delicate laughs were even more feminine than Long Sun Wu’s.
“Indeed, it has been quite some time. When I last saw Official Wei, you were still Zhanying’s unbetrothed wife, but now you’ve become my fellow official. You’ve walked such a treacherous Path of Ten Thousand Directions, such an unprecedented achievement should surely warrant at least a third-rank high official position.”
Bo Lan bent down to whisper in Wei Tingxu’s ear, like sisters sharing secrets. He seemed to have no concept of gender propriety, and these outrageous words were naturally only for Wei Tingxu to hear. However, their intimate manner still drew frequent sidelong glances from the elderly officials around them.
Bo Lan said: “Guess what these old fellows are thinking.”
“Please enlighten me, Official Bo.”
“Official Wei, you’re playing dumb. These old folks may keep quiet, but in their hearts, they’re probably dying to climb to the top of the Taiji Hall and loudly condemn us two ‘immoral demons.’ Hehe.” Bo Lan covered his mouth and laughed smugly. “I think Official Wei should send those who eat the Emperor’s salary while secretly slandering the Empress and Official Wei to accompany Xie Fuchen. Save them from having their eyes offended by this prosperous era and dying from anger. Official Wei would be doing a good deed, wouldn’t you say?”
As Bo Lan was speaking, the Zhuyue soldiers opened the great doors of the Taiji Hall, summoning the officials to enter.
Wei Tingxu said nothing, just smiled slightly at Bo Lan before entering.
When Wei Tingxu walked into the Taiji Hall, she immediately noticed something was off about Li Yanyi today.
Li Yanyi sat in the center of the great hall, with her crown slightly askew. There were at least twenty paces between the officials and the Emperor, and while others might not notice such a tiny detail, Wei Tingxu had good eyesight. She also knew that although Li Yanyi was frugal, she would never allow herself to appear disheveled. Moreover, her complexion was very poor, her mouth corners drooping, facial muscles tense, as if her body was filled with water.
The great hall was extremely quiet.
“Speak if you have matters to discuss,” Li Yanyi spoke, her voice echoing in the hall.
She was enduring something, wanting to end everything quickly.
Wei Tingxu kept her head lowered like everyone else, but she caught the Emperor’s mood.
“Your Majesty,” Luan Jiang spoke first as usual. When his voice rang out, Wei Tingxu could almost imagine Li Yanyi’s expression.
Luan Jiang’s focus today remained on Ah Xin, the daughter of a condemned official.
Luan Jiang said that although the Emperor’s decree had already reached the Northern Frontier, Xie Ah Xin dared to defy it, showing complete disrespect for the Emperor – a capital offense of great disrespect. Though Xie held no official military title at the border, she effectively commanded as a general. Now, completely ignoring the Emperor’s decree clearly showed rebellious intentions. The Emperor couldn’t continue to be lenient – if troops weren’t sent to capture Xie and bring her back for trial, wouldn’t more rebels follow her example? Where would imperial dignity be then? Where would Da Yu’s principles be?
Li Yanyi said listlessly that she knew what she was doing, clearly irritated and distracted.
With Luan Jiang being ignored, several officials repeatedly advised the Emperor, saying they should send troops to Baiyu City. If Xie Ah Xin surrendered her troops and returned obediently, the Emperor could show mercy considering her past service in protecting the imperial person. But if she truly had rebellious intentions, they should attack the city and capture her directly.
Li Yanyi remained silent while protecting her right arm.
Seeing Li Yanyi’s silence, Luan Jiang thought she seemed to waver at the mention of military power – after all, it concerned the fate of the empire. Planning to strike while the iron was hot, he glanced outward, and immediately two elderly officials stepped forward, willing to risk death to advise the Emperor, hoping she would take down the rebel Xie and not continue to be foolish. They reminded how throughout history, beautiful women had brought disaster to many emperors, and hoped the Emperor would learn from history.
After a long silence, Li Yanyi’s eyes shifted, and she suddenly asked: “You two loyal ministers have served three reigns – how old are you this year?”
“This subject is 56.”
“This subject will be 60 next year.”
Li Yanyi: “Seems you’ve lived long enough.”
These words shocked the entire court.
“You wish to risk death with your advice? I shall grant your wish. Come! Drag them out and behead them.”
“Yes!” The Zhuyue soldiers flanking the hall stepped forward and immediately pressed down the two men, who were still terrified as if in a dream. The hall instantly fell into chaos, with Luan Jiang and others hurriedly kneeling to plead, saying these two were loyal ministers who had served three reigns, devoted to protecting the throne – the Emperor couldn’t kill them, must not kill them.
Li Yanyi slammed the Dragon Throne, standing up in fury: “These men cannot be killed?! But my life-saving benefactor can be?!”
Wei Tingxu raised her head.
“Since I ascended the throne, you old ministers have opposed me at every turn, been enemies in every matter! You object to every decree I issue! You try to pin all sorts of crimes on everyone close to me! You want to kill Xie Ah Xin! You want to kill Wei Zizhuo too! Will you only rest after killing all those who have served me well, killing all who disagree with your political views? Does this Da Yu belong to my Li family or to you?! Who exactly is plotting to seize my Da Yu empire?! You know in your hearts!”
As Li Yanyi spoke these words, the terrified officials all fell to their knees, crying in unison: “We wouldn’t dare! Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!”
Li Yanyi stood in the Taiji Hall, breathing heavily as she looked at the old officials kneeling everywhere, her chest heaving with anger.
“Drag them away.”
“Yes!”
“Your Majesty, you must not.” Wei Tingxu stepped forward to speak for the old ministers. “These two are meritorious officials who served Emperor Ming and Emperor Huai, contributing greatly to Da Yu’s prosperity. They shouldn’t face death penalty just because they’ve become confused in their old age.”
Luan Jiang and the other officials nearly died of anger hearing Wei Tingxu’s words.
Who exactly was she calling confused in their old age?
“Hmph.” Li Yanyi sat steadily back on the Dragon Throne, as if she hadn’t been the one in great anger moments ago. “Then according to your view, my beloved minister, how should these two be dealt with?”
“The two elders are advanced in years – it should be time for them to enjoy their retirement in peace.”
Li Yanyi and Wei Tingxu played off each other without prior communication – whenever Li Yanyi insisted on punishment, Wei Tingxu would talk her down. By the end, no one dared to speak up anymore.
“Look at beloved Minister Wei, so broad-minded, returning evil with virtue. You all should learn from her.” When dismissing court, Li Yanyi didn’t forget to give everyone a final lesson.
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