Fish Meat – Chapter 91

The Ninth Year of Shenchu

Conspiring for Power (4)

For three whole days, Zhen Wenjun hadn’t returned, yet Runing’s heavy rain only grew heavier. The people of the Wei Mansion and Huaichen Mansion searched for many days but couldn’t find a trace of Zhen Wenjun.

            

Several major markets were forced to close, and the streets were almost devoid of pedestrians.

Lingbi worried every day, hoping the heavy rain would stop for a while; if it continued, the water in the waterways would only increase, making it harder to search for Zhen Wenjun.

“No, the rain needs to be even heavier,” Wei Tingxu’s words shocked Lingbi, but after thinking for a moment, she understood. The lady wanted the waterways to be unable to contain the accumulated rainwater; as long as the water overflowed onto the surface, perhaps Zhen Wenjun could swim up.

            

But three days had already passed, and Wenjun might have been washed out to sea by now. Even if the water overflowed, it would be meaningless, right? Lingbi only dared to keep this thought in her heart and didn’t speak it out loud.

Wei Tingxu would have Xiaohua and Lingbi take her to linger at every waterway entrance in Runing every day, until it was dark and nothing could be seen, only then being persuaded to return.

Her injury hadn’t healed, and with continuous exposure to wind and rain, Wei Tingxu began to have a continuous fever. Lingbi and Xiaohua both advised her to return, and Ah Ran and her mother also came, half-forcing her back.

            

Doctor Xu sincerely told her she couldn’t go out again, as catching another cold would surely be too much for her body to bear:

“Your leg can’t be exposed to moisture for half a year, otherwise it will affect your ability to stand and walk in the future. I already explained this matter to the lady before, but she still insists, and I’m afraid her recovery prospects are worrying. Lady, please listen to my advice: leave the search for Young Lady Zhen to the people in the Mansion. You shouldn’t be running around everywhere. Isn’t Her Highness the Grand Princess also helping to search? If you can’t trust these people, aren’t Lady Lingbi and Lady Xiaohua there? You’re only sitting and watching there; you can’t possibly enter the water to fetch someone. You’ll surely be informed as soon as the person is found. Your priority should be recuperating.”

Doctor Xu’s words were very sincere and indeed for her own good, but Wei Tingxu acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to go out every day.

            

“Doctor Xu, there’s no need to say more,” Lingbi advised Doctor Xu. “Our lady doesn’t listen to anyone; once she’s determined to do something, no one’s advice will work. Madam and Sister Ah Ran have also come several times to persuade her over the past two days, yet you see she still goes.”

Doctor Xu: “She doesn’t seem to want her legs anymore.”

Lingbi: “Doctor Xu, if you keep saying that, it seems like you don’t want your head anymore.”

            

Doctor Xu: “…”

The heavy rain crazily washed over the entire city of Runing, and with the talk of ‘water demons’ still imprinted in people’s hearts, almost every household kept their doors closed, and no one dared to go out.

On both sides of the wide road, the water in the channels flowed like small rivers, gurgling as it was guided into the waterways.

            

A black carriage came treading through the water.

Horse hooves splashed countless droplets as they struck the ground, the bridle inlaid with blue, gleaming gems, particularly conspicuous even in the heavy rain. Feng Kun sat inside the carriage, his face full of worry, continually rolling up and then letting down his wide sleeves, occasionally lifting the curtain to look outside to see where they had arrived.

The carriage made its way to the entrance of the Forbidden Garden. As Feng Kun got off the carriage, the attendant was slow to bring the oiled paper umbrella, so he irritably took it himself, holding the umbrella and lifting his robe as he walked toward the imperial study.

            

At the entrance, the eunuch who served Li Ju saw the national father-in-law, who hadn’t appeared for a long time, and greeted him, “General Feng.”

Feng Kun let out a breath through his nose, which was considered a response, and pushed the door to go inside.

“Hey! General Feng, the Emperor is currently busy and instructed me to say he wouldn’t see anyone else,” the eunuch stepped forward to block him.

            

In the past, Feng Kun had been unimpeded within the Forbidden Garden, entering the imperial study whenever he wished and seeing the Emperor whenever he wanted, as he was the Empress’s father! Da Yu’s national father-in-law! Yet now this lowly eunuch dared to block him!

“Take a good look, do you know who I am?” Feng Kun angrily glared at the disrespectful eunuch.

The eunuch chuckled, saying, “Of course, I recognize the national father-in-law, but His Majesty is discussing important matters with Sima Xie and personally instructed me that no one is to disturb them. General Feng, please don’t make things difficult for me.”

            

“Sima Xie? Xie Fuchen? I’m exactly looking for him!” Not mentioning Xie Fuchen was fine, but as soon as he was mentioned, Feng Kun’s anger surged, and he pushed the eunuch aside, barging in directly.

Li Ju and Xie Fuchen were discussing a certain matter when they heard the door being forcibly pushed open, so they stopped and looked toward the door.

Feng Kun walked in with big strides, anger written all over his face. When saluting Li Ju, his eyes were still glaring at Xie Fuchen: “Your Majesty!”

            

“General, what brings you here?” Li Ju sat back at the desk afterward, visibly quite dissatisfied with Feng Kun’s behavior of privately breaking into the study.

“Your old minister heard that the Hong Ai matter was once again plotted by Li Yanyi, and your old minister really can no longer sit at home! Your Majesty, today I just want to know how Your Majesty intends to handle this matter!”

Li Ju’s voice was calm, but his hesitant tone made him sound very unconfident: “I will handle it myself, General Feng, so why come all this way?”

            

“Is Your Majesty planning to push our Feng family out to bear the guilt?” Feng Kun had originally held a trace of hope in his heart, even making excuses for Li Ju when stopped by the small eunuch. Perhaps that eunuch, emboldened by being around the Emperor, was just bullying others! But now, seeing Li Ju’s attitude firsthand, Feng Kun suddenly realized that the strategists in his mansion weren’t wrong. The situation had reached its most critical point, and Li Ju was very likely to sacrifice his Feng clan to protect Xie Fuchen!

“Sacrifice Feng Kun’s family?” Li Yanyi paused from pouring tea, thought for a moment, and said, “But if Feng Kun falls, wouldn’t Feng Xiyi also have to die with him? In that case, the sacrifice might be a bit too big.”

Li Yanyi and Wei Tingxu sat by the side of Xuchun Pool, drinking tea. Li Yanyi drank iced tea herself, knowing that Wei Tingxu’s health wasn’t good, and had specially prepared a pot of freshly brewed hot tea for her.

            

Since Lin Quan’s tragic death in the center of Suhai Garden last time, Li Yanyi had felt some shadow over her heart and no longer went there. She had a cooling high platform pavilion built by the pool, where she could stay on rainy days, enjoying the cool and pleasant atmosphere.

“It’s merely a plan to cut the tail to save the body,” Wei Tingxu said, looking at the steaming tea in front of her, without any intention to drink it. “If this tail is cut, a new one can grow; if the Empress is abolished, another can be established. But once power is taken, it’s extremely difficult to regain. As long as Hong Ai falls into the trap and is imprisoned in the imperial prison, the Feng family will inevitably become a discarded piece. The plan is indeed advancing step by step along the most likely trajectory, but many unexpected issues have arisen in between. Your Highness, even if the hundred thousand garrison soldiers are exposed, it probably won’t harm Xie Fuchen; instead, it can significantly increase his influence. But not exposing it would be more disadvantageous for us, so I chose to bring it to light.”

Li Yanyi immediately understood: “Exactly. As it stands now, Lord Wei, Feng Kun, and Xie Fuchen are all involved in the Hong Ai case. Due to Jiang Wang’s confession, the Court Censor’s Office has been temporarily preserved. We’re just lacking concrete evidence; otherwise, we could counter-sue Xie Fuchen. This time, Zizhuo’s counterattack was truly ingenious. If Li Ju wants to punish Lord Wei, he’d have to take down Feng Kun and Xie Fuchen with him, which isn’t worth the loss, leaving only one option: abandon Feng and protect Xie. Thus, they can only admit that Hong Ai’s blood letter is framing Lord Wei. Regardless of whether Feng Kun is the mastermind mentioned in the letter, he cannot escape death, either implicated by the crime of clan extermination or executed for treason. Xie Fuchen, however, would gain a significant advantage. Li Ju would surely account for the hundred thousand garrison soldiers under the court, which means they’re under the Grand Commander’s control, turning them from hidden to overt and transferring them to Xie Fuchen’s hands. By then, with Feng Kun dead, and Yan Zhen being Xie Fuchen’s confidant, only Xie Fuchen’s side would dominate near Li Ju. Hiss…” This analysis made Li Yanyi shiver.

            

“Your Highness, don’t forget about the Ah Xin matter,” Wei Tingxu reminded her.

Mentioning Ah Xin brought a hint of hesitation to Li Yanyi’s expression. Wei Tingxu was trying to bring to light the matter that had been buried in their hearts for a long time and had caused division.

Wei Tingxu still avoided some details that Li Yanyi had secretly sent Liu Feng to investigate: “At first, Ah Xin inexplicably got involved with Furong Powder and was sent to Your Highness’s side. Isn’t this strange? With all the twists and turns, Your Highness, your wisdom must have already guessed. From Zizhuo’s perspective, Xie Fuchen and Ah Xin share a deep father-daughter bond, and they wouldn’t do such a thing. Moreover, even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, and Xie Fuchen is the one being plotted against. This matter is likely Feng Kun’s doing. Xie Fuchen must have been calculating in his heart for a long time but has held back, yet he is extremely patient. Though he doesn’t show it on the surface, he’s already slowly pushing a revenge plan in the dark. According to reports from my spies in the palace, Feng Xiyi has become addicted to Furong Powder and needs to consume it three times a day.”

            

“I’ve heard about this too,” Li Yanyi sneered, “Xie Fuchen used some means to make Feng Xiyi voluntarily consume Furong Powder; perhaps her grief over losing her son is too overwhelming, and she wants to use Furong Powder to ease her sorrow. Feng Kun made Ah Xin consume it, and now his own daughter has become addicted to Furong Powder. Xie Fuchen has indeed repaid him in kind. No, it’s even worse… Zizhuo, do you think this is all Xie Fuchen’s plan? He’s been maneuvering against us while setting traps for the Feng family. Does he really have such incredible abilities? Is it truly not a coincidence?”

“Whether it’s a coincidence is hard to say,” Wei Tingxu said, “but even if it is a coincidence, being able to have luck on his side is a great ability. Throughout history, many heroes have just been short of a bit of coincidence and luck.”

“Zizhuo’s words are very true… In this back and forth, my teacher passed away, the Minister of Agriculture also perished, and several hundred strategists died, resulting in heavy losses. And what about Xie Fuchen? Not only did he lose nothing, but he also eliminated a major concern and might even have gained a hundred thousand troops for nothing. Xie Fuchen is the biggest winner. Dealing with Xie Fuchen must be done carefully and cautiously; not a single misstep can be made. It’s completely unpredictable from which direction he will strike.”

            

Feng Kun’s teeth were almost grinding to pieces, as Li Ju just refused to admit it.

“General, you’d better return to the mansion first; there’s no need to worry too much. You are the national father-in-law, the Empress’s biological father. How could I let your Feng family bear the guilt unless I don’t even want the Empress anymore?” Li Ju’s facial muscles twitched as he forced a smile, “Does the General not trust me? If you doubt me now, then you’ve fallen into the treacherous schemes of Li Yanyi and others.”

“Your Majesty…”

            

“Enough, go back. I also need to go to Anshou Palace to see the Empress.” Li Ju stood up and walked out of the imperial study. Feng Kun forcibly followed, only to be blocked by the Huben Guards. Unwilling to give up, Feng Kun tried to break through the Huben Guards, but they drew their swords and placed them on his neck, warning him that if he didn’t leave, they wouldn’t be polite.

Feng Kun lay on the ground in the direction Li Ju and Xie Fuchen left, crying bitterly: “Your Majesty! For the sake of this old minister’s decades of loyal service to Da Yu, spare the Empress! However you treat this old minister, I have absolutely no complaints! But the Empress is wholeheartedly devoted to you, Your Majesty; she is your childhood sweetheart, your wife by first marriage! Do you still remember the feelings by the Wei River! Jian’er risked her life for you, Your Majesty, do you still remember!”

Feng Kun’s old tears flowed freely, and with each sentence, he forcefully kowtowed, his face covered in blood mixed with tears. He knew that once Li Ju left this time, their Feng family would be finished. He had to seize this final opportunity to move Li Ju.

            

But no matter what he said, Li Ju did not turn back; instead, he walked faster and faster.

Only when he could no longer hear Feng Kun’s cries did Li Ju collapse weakly against the vermilion pillar, crying uncontrollably, punching the pillar forcefully.

Xie Fuchen stood quietly behind him, saying nothing.

            

“Sima Xie… Is it true that I really can’t protect my Empress?”

Xie Fuchen said, “Please, Your Majesty, consider the greater good.”

“Greater good, greater good. Hahaha!” Li Ju cried and laughed, walking into the heavy rain, letting out a long wail towards the sky, “Why was I born into the imperial family! I can’t even protect the woman I love! I’m a coward! A useless person!”

            

Xie Fuchen stood under the long corridor, not even getting his boots slightly wet.

At this moment, he finally showed a faint smile.

“I am going to take my leave.” Wei Tingxu did not drink the tea and wanted to leave.

            

“Leaving now?” Li Yanyi said, “Are you going to continue investigating Younger Sister Wenjun’s whereabouts?”

Wei Tingxu nodded.

“Ah, Zizhuo… I know your feelings for Younger Sister Wenjun are very deep, but it’s already been so many days. You must be mentally prepared.”

            

Wei Tingxu slightly nodded again and did not say much.

Li Yanyi held her hand: “Consider your own health as a priority; heal well first, then we’ll talk.”

Xiaohua and Lingbi were waiting not far away for her. Seeing Wei Tingxu returning, they took umbrellas to meet her.

            

“Going back to the residence, my lady?” Xiaohua asked.

“Go to the waterway entrance,” Wei Tingxu insisted.

Xiaohua couldn’t help but say: “Whatever you want to do, my lady, I have never said much. But this time, I dare to speak out, Zhen…”

            

“Since you know it’s talking too much,” Wei Tingxu interrupted her, “do you still want to knowingly offend?”

Xiaohua was completely blocked, with a belly full of words she dared not mention again.

Lingbi hadn’t seen Wei Tingxu with such a determined expression for a long time. But she was also troubled in her heart. On one hand, Zhen Wenjun’s matter indeed concerned her greatly; on the other hand, she didn’t want Wei Tingxu to falter in the search for Zhen Wenjun. Even Xiaohua had been scolded, so Lingbi had to keep quiet to avoid being reprimanded.

            

Rainwater finally overflowed the waterway, covering Runing Street with a thick layer of water.

A child selling umbrellas pushed a cart, struggling to walk in the rain. The strong wind blew his hat off his head countless times, and even the cart was about to be overturned. He pressed his hat with one hand and struggled to push the cart with one hand, taking one step forward and three steps back.

The wheel got stuck in one place, and he pushed for a long time but couldn’t move it.

            

Just as he wanted to step forward to check, he discovered the cart suddenly shaking, as if something wanted to burst out from under the wheel.

The child immediately let go, eyes wide open, looking at the shaking bottom of the cart.

The cart jumped with a “bang bang,” then suddenly stopped moving.

            

The child slowly moved forward, wanting to check, but as he just took one step, the cart was suddenly overturned by a strong force. The child screamed loudly and ran away.

“Water demon! The water demon appeared again!” The child shouted as he disappeared into the rain.

A hand broke through the water, grasping around the entrance but couldn’t find anything to leverage, so it clung to the ground, forcing the body out.

            

Having finally crawled onto the ground, Zhen Wenjun lay exhausted in the rain, unable to even sit. After panting for a long time, she finally caught her breath, opened her eyes to look around, and saw the restaurant street and the ward gate. Rain patted her face, with the feeling of the wind whistling past her body. She had indeed returned; it felt so good…

“So hungry.” The immobile Zhen Wenjun heard the crazy rumbling of her stomach; now she could eat a whole cow by herself.

Wei Lun returned from the imperial prison, insisting on not sitting in a four-wheeled cart, but rather walking into the gate of the Wei mansion with a cane, head held high. Everyone in the Wei family rushed out to greet him, and the lady of the Wei family cried like a person made of tears.

            

“Xijun, don’t cry. You see, I’m back, aren’t I?” Wei Lun comforted her.

Xiaohua pushed Wei Tingxu forward, and Wei Tingxu saw Wei Lun’s wrapped fingers and the deep scars on his face, not to mention how many injuries were on his body. Thinking of this made her heart ache, and she called out, “Ah Fu (father).”

Wei Lun released the lady and walked to Wei Tingxu, sighing: “Zizhuo, this time it’s thanks to you that father could come out of the imperial prison alive…”

            

“Father, you needn’t say too much now. First, heal well,” Wei Tingxu said.

“Alright.”

Lady Wei’s tears never ceased: “You’ve just returned, so don’t say these things now. Quickly go and rest for a bit. The doctor is also here; let them give you a proper check-up…”

            

Li Yanyi went to see the Empress Dowager and said she’d visit tomorrow, but the Zhangsun family came to see him.

Wei Lun returned to his room, and after the doctor’s examination, only Zhangsun Yao and Wei Tingxu remained.

“Now that Ruping has returned, it indicates that Li Ju has already abandoned Feng Kun. This battle was really long… poor Ruping.” Zhangsun Yao patted Wei Lun’s leg that was cut off at the knee, with heartache visible on his face.

            

“Yanghui, don’t say these things. This battle wasn’t entirely without gain; exchanging my leg for the lives of Feng Kun’s entire clan was worth it.”

Zhangsun Yao fiercely praised Wei Tingxu, saying Zizhuo surpassed the master, and her strategy was remarkable, making people clap the table in amazement.

Wei Lun looked at his daughter’s calm and unruffled face, not revealing any emotion, knowing that everything she is now was tempered during those inhuman days. At this moment, he didn’t know if she was thinking of those painful memories again. If he had to choose, he would rather his daughter not be so outstanding and not have suffered such hellish abuse, growing up healthy and happy, even if somewhat naive and foolish. Unfortunately, it all still happened, and no one could reverse it.

            

Wei Tingxu left them to talk alone and pushed her wheelchair out of the room.

Zhangsun Wu was chatting with Ah Ran and Wei Tingxu’s other brothers.

“Zhan Ying,” Wei Tingxu stepped forward and said.

            

Zhangsun Wu turned to her and smiled, “Zizhuo, long time no see.”

Zhangsun Wu indeed grew more beautiful, with a palm-sized face, eyebrows and eyes like ink, red lips, white teeth, and skin fairer than snow. Although already past the age of twenty, he still hadn’t grown a beard, preferring to wear a modified purple robe, resembling a woman’s long dress. It seems there’s something off with the Zhangsun family’s feng shui, as the brother looks like a young lady, while the sister prefers to dress as a man.

Zhen Wenjun staggered with eyes staring straight in the rain, walking for a long time, almost fainting several times. Luckily, an old man pushing a cart passed by, saw her pitiful state, and saved her life, asking where her home was and offering to use his cart to send her back.

            

After sending Zhen Wenjun to the gate of the Wei Mansion, she wanted to thank him but found she had no money on her. The old man waved his hand, saying it wasn’t necessary, glanced fearfully at the Wei Mansion’s plaque, and left quickly.

Having saved someone from a treacherous minister’s family, the old man didn’t know what to think.

Using the last shred of her strength, she knocked on the Wei Mansion door, and it was Lingbi who came to open it.

            

Lingbi almost screamed when she met Zhen Wenjun’s eyes through the door crack. Zhen Wenjun blacked out and fell directly into her arms. Holding her, Lingbi shouted into the mansion:

“Lady! Lady! Sister Wenjun is back!”

At that time, Wei Tingxu didn’t hear; she was sitting with Zhangsun Wu, Ah Ran, and others in the front hall of the Wei Mansion, reminiscing. Zhangsun Wu chatted enthusiastically with Wei Tingxu’s brothers, while Wei Tingxu sat to one side, speaking very little, only occasionally joining in with a few sentences.

            

Ah Ran, seeing Zhangsun Wu’s handsome appearance, grew fonder the more she looked: “When the world is more peaceful, let’s set the wedding date. Marrying early will also put Ah Fu and Ah Mu at ease.”

Zhangsun Wu was stunned: “Sister Ah Ran, aren’t you already engaged?”

Ah Ran laughed: “Zhan Ying, you’re really interesting. I’m talking about your marriage with Zizhuo!”

            

“Zizhuo?” Zhangsun Wu looked at Wei Tingxu, who seemed absent-minded and hadn’t heard what they were talking about, and awkwardly smiled. “Zizhuo is still young; there’s no rush.”

“She’ll be twenty next year, not that young. You two are childhood sweethearts, and you’re a few years older than Zizhuo, well-matched in every way.” Ah Ran was enthusiastically matchmaking here, also for the sake of Ah Mu. Since Wei Tingxu’s personality greatly changed after being imprisoned in Sichuan, she even voluntarily became the Grand Princess’s strategist, wholly immersed in court battles, never caring about personal marriage matters. Year by year passed, and her age increased, although Ah Mu always said Zizhuo was different from other children, with extraordinary ambitions, her heart still worried. Ah Ran also knew her sister cared about the world, but marriage and children are necessary paths for all women. Marrying wouldn’t delay her success. Moreover, having a family stabilizes the heart, and there’s help in doing things. Most importantly, her sister’s legs are disabled; without someone to care for her in old age, what could be done? A maid is always a maid, not like a husband.

Ah Ran was very concerned about her sister’s marriage. Zhangsun Wu was the best choice, but he seemed not very enthusiastic about lifelong matters, and even when Ah Ran spoke to this extent, he just smiled and didn’t respond.

            

“You all continue chatting.” Wei Tingxu pushed her chair and left. Ah Ran called her, but she didn’t respond.

Wei Tingxu pushed her chair alone across the corridor and stopped in front of a cluster of rain-soaked wandering flowers. These wandering flowers were planted according to her wishes.

Looking at these flowers, she couldn’t help but think of the day Zhen Wenjun came riding Yunzhong Feixue through the morning mist, the wandering flower in her hand still fresh with dewdrops and tender beauty. Her newly blossomed features carried youthful shyness and high spirits as she offered that flower to her.

            

“Xiaohua, pick me a flower.”

Xiaohua knew the lady was reminded of Zhen Wenjun when she saw these flowers. Although she knew the lady’s mind was resolute and didn’t like others to speak much, she still couldn’t help but advise: “My lady, it has already been the fourth day; I’m afraid Zhen Wenjun might not come back. I know I have no right to say these words, but your body truly cannot withstand any more harm. I boldly beg you to cherish yourself!”

Wei Tingxu turned her head to look at Xiaohua, who was kneeling beside her, and said, “You’ve been with me since you were young, so you should know my temperament. In the future, there’s no need to say these words again; I understand my own body.”

            

Afraid of Ah Ran’s pressure to marry, Zhangsun Wu used an excuse to escape from the room. He happened to pass by and saw Xiaohua kneeling there. Always outgoing and meddlesome, he smiled and walked over: “Zizhuo, what’s the matter that makes you angry?”

Wei Tingxu said, “Nothing, I just wanted a wandering flower to relieve boredom.”

Zhangsun Wu glanced at the flowers outside the corridor, reached out, picked one, and handed it to Wei Tingxu: “Here, I heard Ah Liao say there are ink-colored wandering flowers at Nanya. If Zizhuo likes, I can have someone find them for you.”

            

Wei Tingxu reached out and took it, her fingertips lightly touching the raindrops on the petals. She neither said she liked it nor disliked it.

Zhangsun Wu also knew about Wei Tingxu’s past encounters and didn’t want to show too much care, fearing it might seem like pity, but he couldn’t help wanting to make her laugh. Since there was nothing happening tonight, he decided to stay and talk about some recent interesting things.

Zhen Wenjun saw this scene from afar and pulled Lingbi, who was about to take her up, and said:

            

“It’s better not to disturb sister and Young Master Zhangsun. I’m tired, I’m going back to sleep.”

“Already going to sleep? Aren’t you going to eat something before sleeping?”

“No need, I’m full.”

            

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