Fish Meat – Chapter 186
by Little PandaThe Fourth Year of Zhao Wu
Secrets in the Sleeve (6)
In midsummer, the pines and cypresses in Runing City stretched endlessly, verdant and vigorous. From Mount Wangjun [望君山 | wàng jūn shān | Mountain of Gazing for the Lord] to the city wards, from the imperial gardens to private courtyards, the forests were rich with excellent plants growing densely. Yet in this seemingly peaceful and harmonious season, unsettling turbulence lurked beneath.
An urgent military report from the northern frontier arrived at the Shangshu Platform. When the Left Minister read the military report, he was shocked to his core, dropped all work at hand, and immediately delivered it to the Imperial Study.
“The hu raiders are advancing south! The northern frontier is in crisis!”
Li Yanyi had anticipated that after autumn, the Chongjin would invade again. Almost every year at this time, the northern frontier would experience a wave of unrest, but no one expected it to come so early this year.
Clearly, the Chongjin, wanting to catch Da Yu off guard, seemed to have bigger plans.
Years of stored military power and long-term probing had increased their confidence. They launched their attack just as the Path of Ten Thousand Directions was newly completed and while Da Yu’s internal military supplies were still insufficient, their momentum fierce.
Wei Lun, the Commander of All Forces, remained gravely ill. During morning court, Li Yanyi had Left Minister Zuo Yun and Chief Justice Lin Qi jointly recommend talents to repel the enemy in the north.
Zuo Yun said: “Currently, General Bo Qin and Vice General Geng You guard Mengliang, commanding fifty thousand troops, able to defend the city temporarily without engaging. The central government can now deploy one hundred thousand troops, and further recruit forces from local military governors. By my initial calculations, we can mobilize two hundred and fifty thousand troops total to Mengliang. General Bo Chishen is brave and talented with great strategies, loyal-hearted and the bravest among armies! I recommend General Bo Chishen as the northern expedition commander, to lead troops northward and slaughter the hu raiders!”
Lin Qi spoke with the same routine, greatly praising how Bo Chishen was unmatched in valor, and nearly ten other ministers followed the same argument.
Wei Tingxu stood in the furthest corner without speaking, just listening to them one by one speaking their pre-arranged words.
Li Yanyi hadn’t yet agreed, and asked Wei Tingxu: “Does beloved minister Wei have any different thoughts?”
Wei Tingxu stepped forward, raised the ceremonial tablet [笏板 | hù bǎn | formal court tablet] to their face, coughed first before speaking: “This humble official has no thoughts.”
“Speaking of which, your er ge [二哥 | èr gē | second older brother] Zilian also has experience leading troops in the northern frontier, why don’t you recommend your er ge?”
Wei Tingxu’s face turned bloodless, speaking softly: “In response to Your Majesty. Though er ge has some trivial experience, he is still young after all, quite inferior compared to the mature and steady General Bo. This battle concerns the safety of Da Yu’s realm and people, we absolutely cannot treat it as child’s play. This humble official also feels that having General Bo lead troops to battle would be more secure.”
“What’s wrong with my beloved minister, could it be that the wound from the previous assassination attempt hasn’t healed properly?”
Wei Tingxu sighed sorrowfully: “I suppose it hasn’t healed properly indeed.”
“Beloved minister must take care of your health. By the way, how is Lord Wei? Has he recovered?”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern, but father’s health continues to decline, I fear he won’t last through this year.”
Li Yanyi sighed: “Lord Wei has been Da Yu’s backbone since Emperor Ming’s time, seeing him ill now pains me greatly. Oh yes, Wei Zilian… no, my Noble Consort has been back from the northern frontier for some time, why haven’t he returned to the palace to see me? Initially, considering his wholehearted defense of the border and care for the people, I didn’t pursue his crime of defying imperial orders, but now that he’d returned and still won’t see me, do I need to personally go to the Wei residence to propose?”
Wei Tingxu prostrated: “Your Majesty please forgive, it’s not that Noble Consort wishes to disobey orders. When the frontier was in crisis, Noble Consort guarded the border for years, disregarding life and death. Now father is gravely ill, the eldest son has passed, and Noble Consort, as the eldest child at home, stays by father’s side only to send him on his final journey. Please show mercy to Noble Consort.”
Zhangsun Yao stepped forward at this time, speaking from Da Yu’s founding to the present, extensively discussing how Da Yu values filial piety, saying Wei Jing’an not only did nothing wrong, but this filial devotion should be rewarded.
Li Yanyi nodded while listening, seemingly in complete agreement.
“So it seems my Noble Consort fled to the northern frontier, received imperial edicts for four years without returning to Runing, and turns out to be such a greatly filial child.” Li Yanyi said with a smile, “Very well, since they’re such a filial child, they should enter the palace soon, to bring joy to Lord Wei.”
Li Yanyi wants Wei Jing’an to enter the palace as a hostage.
If the Wei family dares to make any rash moves, Wei Jing’an’s head would certainly not be preserved.
The Son of Heaven and the Wei family had already torn away their initial superficial harmony, and were beginning to show their true intentions.
The Bo family, strongly supported by Li Yanyi, was rising rapidly. As long as they repelled Chongjin this time, the Son of Heaven would have an excuse to bestow more titles. With this southern advance of Chongjin’s army, Left Minister and Lin Qi joined forces to pressure Wei Lun into surrendering all military authority. Once the Bo family received more official positions and ranks, the Wei and Zhangsun families would likely be pushed out of the central government. Once stripped of power, the Wei and Zhangsun families would be on the brink of destruction.
Before entering the palace, Wei Jing’an stayed awake all night, sitting on the Wei residence’s roof watching the sunrise with open eyes.
Zhangsun Wu woke up from sleep when the sun had barely poked out its head and the sky was about to brighten. Zhangsun Wu yawned, patting Wei Jing’an’s back: “What’s this, you really stayed up all night waiting for dawn?”
Wei Jing’an hugged his knees and muttered: “I can’t sleep.”
“The current Son of Heaven is the first female emperor, and Zilian-xiong [子煉兄 | zǐ liàn xiōng | brother Zilian] will become the first male consort, this is a one-of-a-kind honor throughout history, no wonder Zilian-xiong is too excited to sleep.”
Wei Jing’an, with dark circles under his eyes, glared at him: “Fine, fine, laugh all you want. After this young master enters the palace, you won’t even be able to laugh anymore.”
“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you, Zilian-xiong will have to endure some hardship in the imperial garden for a while.” Speaking thus, he whispered something in Wei Jing’an’s ear.
Wei Jing’an listened with increasing bewilderment, looking uncertainly at Zhangsun Wu: “Zhanying… can we really do this?”
“Rest assured, this matter was planned jointly by me and Zizhuo, how could it not succeed? However, Zilian-xiong must maintain some composure.”
“What composure?”
“Though called Noble Consort, the female emperor bringing you into the palace is actually taking you as a hostage – whether she’ll favor Zilian-xiong is uncertain. However, it’s said that besides Zilian-xiong, there are one hundred handsome men selected from noble families entering the palace this time. When the time comes, Zilian-xiong will have to live with these lonely palace men, and I fear if you meet someone with unusual preferences, Zilian-xiong’s chastity won’t be preserved.”
Wei Jing’an: “…Why are you scaring me!”
“Whether I’m scaring you or not, you know in your heart.”
“Then- then what should I do?” Wei Jing’an thought about it and his back stiffened with goosebumps, “I haven’t even taken a wife yet!”
“Don’t worry, Zilian-xiong, let your younger brother teach you some tricks, they’ll surely turn misfortune into fortune.”
Wei Jing’an was led to the bedroom by Zhangsun Wu with confusion. It wasn’t until noon, when the palace carriages had already arrived at the Wei family gate and servants came to call him, that he emerged from the room with a completely red face.
The Wei family matriarch, Wei Tingxu, and Wei Jingtai were all waiting for him. Thinking of the foolishness just now, his mind was in chaos. Wei Tingxu stepped forward to hold his hand, saying reluctantly: “For the Wei family, for the bigger picture, we can only trouble er ge temporarily.”
Wei Jing’an said: “Father has already explained everything to me earlier. As the Wei family’s second son, I naturally must give my all for the Wei family. It’s just entering the palace as a hostage, how can it compare to meimei’s efforts outside. Zishi!” Wei Jing’an grabbed Wei Jingtai, squeezing his shoulders firmly, “When I’m gone, you’ll be the eldest at home. You know what to do!”
Wei Jingtai said: “Zishi will protect the Wei family! I’ll use my last breath and shed my last drop of blood for the Wei family!”
“Good brother!”
Wei Jing’an boarded the imperial garden’s carriage under everyone’s protection.
When lowering the cloth curtain, he saw Zhangsun Wu among the crowd, a hundred feelings arose in his heart from unknown origins, but he quickly settled down and stopped thinking about it, advancing toward the peril-filled imperial garden.
Chongjin’s army broke through Mengliang within three days, took two more commanderies five days later, like hungry wolves and tigers swiftly devouring Da Yu’s northern territories. Bo Chishen led two hundred thousand troops to strike the northern line, and after fierce battle finally killed Chongjin’s general Luoerxi. Though most of the two hundred thousand troops died or were wounded in what could be called a bitter victory, it was enough to lift the spirits of Da Yu’s common people, believing the mountains and rivers could be protected, their lives worry-free.
“Too naive.”
With Runing City right before their eyes, Zhen Wenjun who received the frontline war report, handed the Yu army’s marching battle map returned by scouts to Zhu Maosan beside her: “Bo Chishen has only fought a few small battles suppressing mountain bandits, yet the Son of Heaven actually transferred him to the frontline, stuck in such an important position he only knows how to fight head-on battles to the death. This narrow victory was already lucky, they’re already celebrating after just killing some unknown Chongjin commander, but Chongjin’s leader hasn’t appeared yet, this was just the advance force, not the main army.”
Zhu Maosan gripped the battle map, his features scrunched together: “These two hundred thousand troops are no small number, they must be all of Yu central government’s reserve army, right?”
“More than that. The Son of Heaven paid a huge price to recruit troops from noble families everywhere, these two hundred thousand count as all the military force the Son of Heaven can control. Few troops and money spent to the bone.” Zhen Wenjun sat swaying in the carriage, the Golden Cicada Knife at her fingertips spinning rapidly, only this could suppress some of the fighting spirit surging in her heart.
“The Son of Heaven can control? Are there forces the Son of Heaven cannot control?”
Zhen Wenjun said: “Da ge [大哥 | dà gē | eldest brother], you’ve been in Sudu for many years, you don’t know the current central government’s situation. Though I’m only a general in the Zhuiyue Army, I’ve been observing the military force recruitment situation. I fear some troops have been hidden away by someone.”
“Someone? Who is this someone?”
Zhu Maosan was completely out of the loop, and Bu Jie patted his knee: “Zhu ge, let’s discuss everything thoroughly when we reach Runing, Wensheng will explain to Zhu ge slowly.”
About to return to Runing, during the time she was away, Li Yanyi had already dealt harshly with the Wei family, the frontline situation was urgent, everything was developing faster than she had imagined.
Returning to the Zhuo Jun Mansion, just entering the manor they saw Xiao Xiao rush out, hugging Ah Qiong and Zhen Wenjun, refusing to let go. Ah Qiong brought her many small trinkets from Sudu and Nanya, the two went to the courtyard, but Zhen Wenjun had many things to think about, didn’t go in, instead went to the tea pavilion to gaze at Boya Rock.
Near sunset, someone from the Secretary Supervisor’s residence walked to the pond’s edge, leisurely fishing.
No need to look to know who it was.
Zhen Wenjun didn’t avoid them, remained at the tea pavilion, while Wei Tingxu caught two fat fish and put them in the bamboo basket, waving to Zhen Wenjun.
Zhen Wenjun glanced at her once, Wei Tingxu said: “The General has finally returned, traveling so far to treat Ah Mu, such filial piety is commendable. As a wife I have nothing to give the General, why not take these fish to nourish yourself.”
“The Secretary Supervisor is too kind, you’re the one who needs nourishment. Not seeing you for over a month, the Secretary Supervisor looks much thinner.”
“Father-in-law is gravely ill and eldest brother faces danger, this is from worrying too much, it doesn’t have much to do with the General’s sword back then, the General needn’t blame yourself.”
Zhen Wenjun secretly pursed her lips and said: “Is Lord Wei’s condition still not good?”
“Father is advanced in years and his illness is hard to cure, I can only stay by his side daily, doing what I can to ease his depression. Come over, take the fish, my lady don’t be polite.”
Zhen Wenjun came down from the tea pavilion, walking toward Wei Tingxu’s direction.
Wei Tingxu smiled at her, handing over the fish.
The distance between them was just one step.
When Zhen Wenjun grabbed the bamboo basket, she said in a voice only the two could hear: “Your er ge has entered the palace?”
Wei Tingxu made an “mm” sound: “How much fodder and grain did you hide in Nanya?”
Zhen Wenjun slightly furrowed her brows: “You followed me.”
“Of course I follow you day and night, does that need saying?”
“Enough to feed a hundred thousand troops.”
“Then it must be enough for two hundred thousand.”
Zhen Wenjun couldn’t help but laugh: “Do you always assume others are lying to you?”
“But you did lie.” Wei Tingxu suddenly pulled her close, their lips almost touching.
“Short-term operations at most thirty thousand.” Zhen Wenjun squinted at her, “But do you have that many troops?”
“You’re underestimating the Wei family. However much fodder and grain you have, I have that many troops.”
“What about the Bo family?” Zhen Wenjun’s palm hovered over Wei Tingxu’s waist, not touching, but in the dim light one couldn’t tell there was still a tiny distance between them, looking like intimate flirting.
“Leave the Bo family to me to handle, you needn’t worry.” Wei Tingxu’s gaze sharpened, “Back off.” Saying this, her palm pressed against Zhen Wenjun’s chest, pushing her backward.
This push from Wei Tingxu used force, yet didn’t move Zhen Wenjun at all.
“Back off already.” Wei Tingxu urged her again.
“Why not you go down.”
“If I go down, I fear I won’t get up for a month.”
Zhen Wenjun clicked her tongue then closed her eyes and fell backward herself, “splash” falling into the pond, crashing into the lotus flowers making them a mess.
Ah Qiong, Xiao Xiao, Bu Jie, Zhu Maosan and others all ran out hearing the commotion, the Secretary Supervisor manor’s servants also moved at the sound. Ah Qiao, who had been eavesdropping in the shadows, immediately mixed into the crowd and came forward, crying out “aiya” and immediately went to fish out Zhen Wenjun.
Before everyone could rescue her, Zhen Wenjun flew up herself, completely soaked and even wearing a lotus leaf on her head.
Wei Tingxu tried very hard to hold back her laughter.
“What happened?” Ah Qiong stood between Zhen Wenjun and Wei Tingxu, shielding her daughter, alertly watching Wei Tingxu.
Wei Tingxu spoke frankly: “You and I are married in name only, actually just putting on a show, everyone knows in their hearts we don’t interfere with each other and everything can be discussed, I hope General Zhen won’t cross boundaries again.”
Everyone present looked at Zhen Wenjun in unison, all with expressions of “so General Zhen is this kind of person.”
The two of them got close to exchange intelligence, but Li Yanyi’s eyes and ears were eavesdropping in the shadows, naturally they had to act out the appearance of discord, Zhen Wenjun understood the stakes, so when pushed earlier she fell in the water without complaint. But Wei Tingxu still wanted to take advantage of her?
Wei Tingxu secretly winked at her, but she wouldn’t fall for this: “If the Secretary Supervisor hadn’t lured me with fish, how would I have come close? No one can match the Secretary Supervisor’s skill at turning face and disowning people.”
Wei Tingxu was slightly stunned, and everyone again turned toward her in unison with disbelief.
Zhen Wenjun pouted, having gotten what she wanted and left.
Wei Tingxu bowed to Ah Qiong, Ah Qiong didn’t speak, leaving with somewhat hesitant eyes.
“Meimei! That stinking woman is really hateful, do you want your brother to teach her a lesson?” Zhu Maosan caught up and asked her.
“Not necessary, don’t do anything rash.” Zhen Wenjun looked around, only after confirming Ah Yue and Ah Qiao weren’t present did she say, “Though that person is hateful, they’re still very useful, you must not harm them.”
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