Fish Meat – Chapter 164
by Little PandaThe Third Year of Zhao Wu
The Lamp Behind the Curtain, the Sword in its Case (23)
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, several autumn rains quickly pushed down the temperature in Runing. Green leaves and gradually withering yellow leaves were swept to the ground together, laying a yellow-green interwoven carpet over Runing.
While the city’s greenery showed signs of desolation, the bustling activity in the East and West Markets remained unchanged despite the temperature drop.
With Li Yanyi’s strong support and Mengda Khan mobilizing his entire nation’s strength to construct the Road of Ten Thousand Directions, this news not only caused waves between the two nations, but all the small countries along the route were eager to get a piece of the action upon hearing about the road’s reopening. After all, everyone still remembered the abundant profits this road once brought, and its reopening would benefit all countries along the way. Except for the Hu tribes north of Da Yu, who only initiated wars against the warm and comfortable Da Yu when they couldn’t survive in their resource-limited cold regions, what ruler or subject would choose war when they could earn money peacefully?
Li Yanyi saw through these small countries’ intentions and consulted with Wei Tingxu and Bo Lan, asking if they had any way to utilize these small countries’ national power to accelerate the Road of Ten Thousand Directions’s progress.
Wei Tingxu suggested that Li Yanyi could issue a contract: any country participating in the road’s construction would receive a share of trade and transport taxes proportional to their contribution once the road was completed and commerce flourished. They would also have priority trading rights with Da Yu and Liuhuo Kingdom. Whether it was Da Yu’s porcelain and silk or Liuhuo’s gold and jewels, these small countries could sign trade contracts first.
Wei Tingxu’s suggestion offered tangible and immediate benefits. When Li Yanyi asked for Bo Lan’s opinion, Bo Lan’s thoughts were actually similar to Wei Tingxu’s. Since Wei Tingxu had spoken first, Bo Lan worried about appearing to copy others’ ideas, so they simply praised the Secretary’s wisdom and eloquence.
To connect Da Yu and Liuhuo Kingdom, the vast Mingzhong Sea in between posed a major obstacle. Li Yanyi asked for their opinions again. This time, Bo Lan acted cleverly and spoke first:
“Your servant recently inspected the area personally and discovered that the Secretary previously took the sea route only because the mountain path was blocked, forcing a detour. Actually, going directly through Mount Ruerhu would lead to the Gulun Grasslands, but at that time the path was buried under fallen rocks and impassable. In my view, rather than taking the dangerous sea route, it would be worth spending time to clear the mountain path through Mount Ruerhu, even if it takes a year…”
Bo Lan had indeed personally visited Mount Ruerhu and had already calculated where to reopen the mountain path, speaking with clear authority. Li Yanyi nodded slightly and turned to ask Wei Tingxu.
Bo Lan cast a smug, entertained glance toward Wei Tingxu, expecting to see her reluctantly agree with his proposal. This exchange had made them even, as each had managed to put the other in an awkward position.
They both understood why Li Yanyi wanted them to jointly oversee the Road of Ten Thousand Directions project – to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses while maintaining healthy competition to spark more ideas. Most importantly, the rewards after the road’s completion would be based on their individual contributions.
Though Wei Tingxu held the modest position of Secretary, her responsibilities were far from small. Both the Haina Reforms and the Road of Ten Thousand Directions were crucial matters for Da Yu’s future. If successful, promoting her three ranks at once would raise no objections. Bo Lan currently served as Da Honglu, with room for advancement, aspiring to become one of the Three Lords.
It was rare for the emperor to choose the Bo family, and this joint responsibility with Wei Tingxu was clearly a test. Bo Lan wouldn’t miss such an opportunity and showed no fear in competing with Wei Tingxu, Da Yu’s first female official.
Unexpectedly, rather than being cornered into awkward agreement, Wei Tingxu sincerely praised the Da Honglu’s diligence, calling him a pillar of Da Yu…
Bo Lan maintained a smile, finding Wei Zizhuo increasingly interesting, understanding how she became the first female official with such composure. It was a pity that she and Zhanying both had other loves; otherwise, these two talented individuals could have been an unmatched pair.
Speaking of which, that Zhen Wenjun was also formidable, though different from Zhanying. Unfortunately, she was now imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, suffering unknown torments, yet Wei Tingxu showed no concern.
“Such false sentiment,” Bo Lan sneered inwardly.
After concluding discussions about the Road of Ten Thousand Directions, as both prepared to leave, Li Yanyi called Wei Tingxu to stay.
After Bo Lan left, Li Yanyi first consoled Wei Tingxu, saying Wenjun was well in prison, and that Guan Xun was clever enough to see something suspicious about the case and hadn’t tortured Wenjun.
“I had no choice, it was unavoidable,” Li Yanyi sighed. “My movements have always been secretive. If information hadn’t leaked, those Lanwan rebels would never have found my whereabouts. When Luan Jiang’s faction used this incident to impeach Wenjun, I…”
Wei Tingxu replied, “Your Majesty need not explain further. Your servant understands completely.”
“Oh? It seems Zizhuo already has a plan?”
Wei Tingxu smiled.
“Or perhaps Zizhuo already knows who’s behind this?”
Li Yanyi understood that Wei Tingxu wouldn’t simply watch Zhen Wenjun suffer and must have devised a solution. Wei Tingxu nodded without hesitation.
“Please instruct the Prison Warden not to harm Wenjun. Give your servant three days. Within three days, I will thoroughly investigate this assassination attempt.”
Li Yanyi highly praised Wei Tingxu’s exceptional cleverness, and they talked briefly before she left.
After two days, the autumn rain finally stopped. Runing City’s drainage system quickly cleared most standing water, though the streets remained somewhat muddy.
To encourage commerce, Li Yanyi ordered the curfew time delayed. Just as the two markets closed and the ward lights dimmed, a dark figure darted onto the street.
“In such deep night and heavy dew, where might the Commander be heading?”
The figure had just entered a small street when a woman’s voice sounded from behind. The person addressed as Commander startled and stopped in their tracks.
Moonlight couldn’t penetrate the small street. Xiao Nan, the Commander of the Zhuiyue Army and Zhen Wenjun’s superior, couldn’t make out the newcomer’s features. However, having followed Li Yanyi for two years, how could she not recognize the voice of Wei Tingxu, the emperor’s most trusted Secretary?
“Secretary?” Xiao Nan’s right hand seemed to sway with her body’s movement, gripping the hilt of her sword, her voice rising in apparent surprise. “Why are you here?”
Wei Tingxu stood with one hand raised, her tone neutral: “That’s what I should ask the Commander. I was ordered to oversee market transactions, and am heading home after the markets closed. Why does it seem the Commander is heading north? That’s the required route to the Imperial Brother-in-law’s residence. Could it be the Commander is visiting him at this late hour?”
Xiao Nan chuckled: “How could I have connections with the Imperial Brother-in-law? This is when the Jinbei fish are at their plumpest. I’m going to catch a couple. If I wait until dawn, they’ll all be gone. Only by going at night might I catch some fresh ones. By the way, I’m off duty tomorrow – would the Secretary like to taste my cooking? We could share a drink.” She displayed the fishing rod and bamboo basket behind her.
“Oh? The Commander is skilled at cooking? How intriguing. Though Jinbei fish have delicious meat and juice, they spoil quickly after leaving water. It takes exceptional culinary skill to preserve even a fraction of their wonderful taste.” Wei Tingxu spoke cheerfully, seeming very interested in the fish, but her tone shifted sharply at the end. “However, I suspect the bait in your basket isn’t suitable for Jinbei fish. In fact, it’s not bait at all.”
Xiao Nan’s expression changed as she angrily said: “What grudge does the Secretary hold against me?”
Wei Tingxu replied: “No old grievances, no recent enmity.”
Xiao Nan demanded harshly: “Then why does the Secretary harass me late at night! Is this Her Majesty’s intention? To make me a scapegoat for Zhen Wenjun?”
Wei Tingxu made a questioning sound: “Why so agitated, Commander? Have I mentioned anything about Her Majesty? Or are you feeling guilty?”
“You…”
“Enough, enough. I’ll stop speaking nonsense.”
Hearing Wei Tingxu’s words, Xiao Nan felt slightly relieved, but then Wei Tingxu continued:
“To be honest, I’ve been waiting here for the Commander for some time, and indeed have received Her Majesty’s order to arrest you.”
“Ridiculous! Wei Tingxu, are you trying to frame me?”
“Whether it’s a false charge or not will become clear once you visit the Imperial Prison. Will the Commander go willingly, or shall I escort you?”
Even with Zhen Wenjun currently detained awaiting trial, Wei Tingxu wouldn’t appear alone – there must be a trap set around them. As commander of the Imperial Guard, Xiao Nan was not only familiar with Li Yanyi but also couldn’t underestimate her close officials. She knew Wei Tingxu was cunning, so she sensed trouble the moment Wei Tingxu appeared.
Xiao Nan knew all too well what awaited her in the Imperial Prison. Over these two years, she had sent many people there for Li Yanyi – all died inside. The prison was literally hell on earth. Besides Wei Lun, who was falsely imprisoned during Emperor Huai’s time, no one had ever come out alive.
Making a desperate decision, she drew her sword and thrust directly at Wei Tingxu.
If she could just take Wei Tingxu hostage and escape Runing, she could plan her next move later!
Xiao Nan struck with incredible speed, her sword flashing like lightning toward the figure standing in the shadows. In an instant, the sharp clash of weapons pierced through the small street.
The person in the shadows wasn’t Wei Tingxu, but a young woman with exceptional martial arts skills. This young woman moved expertly, somehow able to see clearly in the darkness. After exchanging several moves, Xiao Nan was disadvantaged by her inability to see, and quickly found the young woman’s pair of short swords at her throat.
Xiao Nan was immediately captured. Wei Tingxu emerged from a side door while the young woman retrieved a small oiled paper package from Xiao Nan’s bamboo basket. After examining it, she whispered in Wei Tingxu’s ear.
Wei Tingxu smiled and bowed to Ah He: “Many thanks, Miss Ah He.”
Ah He removed a pair of strange glass pieces from her eyes – these had enabled her to see in the dark and capture Xiao Nan successfully. She smiled: “You and our Ah Liao are like siblings, no need for thanks – it’s too formal.”
Turning to Xiao Nan with an even deeper smile, Wei Tingxu carefully opened the package: “Could this be the deadly Yizhi Song? The Commander would actually eat Jinbei fish caught with this bait? I recall this poison was favored by Hang Lie, Xie family’s henchman, who used it to kill several of Her Majesty’s confidants. How does the Commander know this method? Perhaps you have some connection to the Xie family?”
Though pale as paper, Xiao Nan snarled: “Bah! All this talk of poisons – just your way of framing me! Don’t think you can clear Zhen Wenjun by pinning false charges on me! I, Xiao Nan, can face heaven and earth without shame!”
Wei Tingxu approached her, whispering in her ear: “Why would Her Majesty send me personally to arrest you if we hadn’t confirmed your identity as a Xie family remnant and your collusion with the Imperial Brother-in-law?”
Xiao Nan uttered an incredulous “Ah?” but before she could speak, Wei Tingxu continued:
“After succeeding, you planned to go to the Imperial Brother-in-law’s residence to silence witnesses, erasing evidence of betraying Her Majesty’s movements? How convenient. Rest assured, neither you nor the Imperial Brother-in-law will escape.”
“What, you’re talk-“
Ah He quickly gagged Xiao Nan, muffling her words.
Wei Tingxu, without another glance at Xiao Nan, turned and entered a carriage at the street’s entrance. Ah He and the hidden Zhuiyue Army soldiers escorted Xiao Nan directly to the Imperial Prison.
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