Xi Rong had a secret meeting in the Mansion with an envoy from the Xixia. The Xi mansion was naturally heavily guarded but they were on guard against outsiders, not the emperor, let alone his younger brother whom he had protected and doted on all his life.
He knew Xiao Jie heard it all.
Having been together for many years, the other party was like another of himself. He was very familiar with every expression and every movement of Xiao Jieâs. However, he has never seen Xiao Jie show such an expression when he was with him â Panicked, stunned, trembling, disappointed and frightened.
Xi Rong felt a sharp pain in his heart but his voice was soft, âYour Majesty.â
Xiao Jie froze in place, as if he were looking at a cruel and vicious stranger.
Xi Rong called again, âAâJie.â
It was like Xiao Jie was waking up from a dream. The rims of his eyes instantly reddened. âAâRong, you⌠you betrayed, betrayed theâŚâ
Before he could utter the word âcountryâ, Xi Rong interrupted Xiao Jie, âAâJie, you misunderstood me.â
âI heard it all! I heard it all!â Xiao Jieâs tears welled up in his eyes, âThat man wants to make a deal with you. He wants you to kill General Gu and you agreed!â
Xi Rong took two steps forward. He wanted to hug Xiao Jie into his arms, comfort him like when he was a child. Xiao Jie has a soft personality. He grew without the care of his biological mother or imperial mother. He had not a shred of the late emperorâs favor and he has suffered a lot of grievances in the sinister palace since he was a child. It is the elder brotherâs duty to make the younger brother happy. How many times Xiao Jie cried, was how many times he comforted him. But this time, Xiao Jie didnât throw himself into his arms like he usually did. Rather, he retreated like a frightened kitten. âDo-donât come closerâŚâ
Xi Rong stopped in his steps and said, âAâJie, I told you that Lin Qingyu and Gu Fuzhou will not tolerate me being by your side to assist you. Once Gu Fuzhou returns to the capital, Lin Qingyu will attack me. Do you understand?â
Xiao Jie choked. He said, âBut you canât collude with the enemy and betray the country! Iâm a bit stupid, but Iâm also a descendant of the Xiao Family. General Gu is fighting for the Dayu. You canât harm him at this timeâI-Iâm going to go tell the Empress Dowager and Imperial Physician Lin!â
Xi Rong scolded, âStop.â
Xi Rong had never been so fierce towards him before. He felt wronged and angry at the same time. He began to cry, appearing like pear blossoms bathed in rain, delicate and charming.
Xi Rong said rationally, âXixiaâs envoy came to find me. They want to use Gu Fuzhouâs life to end the war between our two countries. What would happen if I disagreed? Should I have let the envoy go back and tell the Xixia army to give up on this notion? Or should I have killed him outright? No matter what I do, it would have only made Xixia strengthen their guard against the Dayu.â
Xiao Jie couldnât wrap his mind around it but he understood one thing. Xi Rong hadnât actually agreed with the Xixia. âWhat do you meanâŚâŚâ
Xi Rongâs face cleared somewhat and he said, âAâJie, think about it carefully. Now that I have agreed to Xixiaâs âpeace negotiationâ, wonât they feel like theyâve already won? Do you think theyâll take the battle at Yong Liang seriously?â
âThen you only pretended to agree â you lied to them?â
Seeing Xiao Jie looking at him with almost the same eyes as usual, Xi Rong heaved a sigh of relief. He said with a smile, âDo you still remember the story of Huang Gaiâs false surrender that I told you when we were young? He can feign surrender and we can also feign peace. Donât worry. I wonât allow myself, let alone you, to be charged with treason.â
âSo itâs like this!â Xiao Jie was coaxed by Xi Rong in just a few words. He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and said, âYou should have said so earlier. I misunderstood you.â
Xi Rong grabbed Xiao Jieâs hand and wiped his tears with his sleeve. âItâs good that weâve cleared up this misunderstanding. Alright, donât just stand there. Come in.â
The two entered the study and Xi Rong ordered someone to fetch water to wash the emperorâs face. Xi Rong asked Xiao Jie why he suddenly left the palace and Xiao Jie told him about his conversation with Lin Qingyu.
âAâRong, do we have to fight with Imperial Physician Lin and the others?â Xiao Jie asked naively, âI donât want to harm them. I think itâs good how things are now. Itâll be fine if things continue like this.â
Xi Rong patted Xiao Jieâs head, and said, âLetâs wait for Gu Fuzhou to defeat Xixia.â
âOkay.â Xiao Jie saw the wet handwriting on the table and asked curiously, âWhat is this?â
Xi Rong didnât hide it from him. âGu Fuzhou has been fighting a war of attrition with the Xixia in the Northwest for more than a month. Both sides are nearing their limits. So Xixia wants to know the Dayuâs supply transport route.â
Xiao Jie asked, âAre they going to rob us of our provisions?â
Xi Rong nodded. âThat should be their plan.â
âOh!â Xiao Jie suddenly became excited, âThen can we tell them the wrong route and then lay an ambush there in advance, killing them by surprise!â
Xi Rong was a little surprised and he said with a smile, âAâJie has become smarter.â
Xiao Jie laughed and said, âYou are the only one in this world who would praise me for being smart. We have been together for so long, Iâve probably picked up a thing or two from you.â
Xi Rong opened the map showing the way from Gui Province to Yong Liang, âAâJie, where is the best place to plant an ambush, you think?â
Xiao Jie gave it serious thought. He pointed to a certain road and said, âHere. Itâs the farthest from the real road the provisions will take and itâs a narrow path between the canyons. Once the enemy army enters, they wonât be able to retreat!â
Xi Rong hesitated for a moment and then said with a smile, âThen, weâll do as AâJie says.â
Xiao Jie finally made a contribution for the Dayu and he was very happy. âBy the way, I think we should tell the Empress Dowager and Imperial Physician Lin about this. Theyâre also very concerned about the situation in the Northwest.â
âNo need.â Xi Rong stopped smiling. âThey donât need to know.â
Xiao Jie hesitated. âButâŚâ`
Xi Rong took on a serious expression, âAâJie, you have to remember that Lin Qingyu wants my life. Letting him know too much isnât a good thing. Anything might be his blade to take my life.â
Xiao Jie was dazed hearing it. Although Xi Rong kept saying that Lin Qingyu was going to harm them, he always felt that Lin Qingyu would not. Lin Qingyu was as good-looking as an immortal; can his heart really be so vicious?
Although Xiao Jie had finally reconciled with Xi Rong, he really had been given a fright during it. Xi Rong was afraid that he would have lingering fears and so he specially found a famous opera troupe in the capital to perform at the palace. Xiao Jie loved to watch operas and when he was in the mood, he could sit in front of the stage for the entire day.
Within the Imperial Palace, the stage was constructed in the Peony Garden. The Peony Garden was not far from Ciâan Palace and the stage was placed there originally to make it convenient for the Empress Dowager to listen to various performances. But now it has become a place that disturbed the Empress Dowagerâs peace.
The Empress Dowager was discussing with Lin Qingyu about taxation in Jiangnan when the melodious singing was heard drifting in from afar. The Empress Dowager was displeased and asked, âWhoâs listening to opera in the Peony Garden?â
Lin Qingyu said, âThere is no one in the Emperorâs harem and all the concubines live in Jinyang Garden. Who else could it be?â
The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows and said slowly, âThe emperor is a leisurely man.â
âThat is a good thing.â Lin Qingyu said calmly, âFor someone like the emperor, at least by doing nothing, he causes no trouble to others.â
âHaving said that, the Northwest is still at war after all. Even if the Emperor doesnât care about governing, he should at least make a show of it so as not to give the officials something to criticize.â After thinking about it, the empress dowager still decided to have someone call in Xiao Jie.
Xiao Jie didnât keep the Empress Dowager waiting and he rushed over almost immediately. After being scolded by the Empress Dowager, Xiao Jie finally realized what he had done. Not paying any mind that Lin Qingyu was there, he said, âZhen now knows that Zhen was wrong. Zhen did not give it enough thought⌠Iâm sorry, Imperial Mother, I will never listen to operas again.â
The emperor admitted his mistake so sincerely that the Empress Dowager didnât know whether to laugh or cry. âItâs not that Your Majesty can not listen to opera. Simply that there is a time and place for everything. Once the Dayu has reigned in the chaos in the Northwest, aijia too would love to watch the opera.â
Xiao Jie nodded. âI understand, thank you for Imperial Motherâs teaching. When peace has returned, I will invite Imperial Mother to listen to the opera with Sixth Brother.â
Xiao Jie looked younger than his actual age and the way he nodded made him look very lovable. Although the Empress Dowager was negligent towards this bastard son in the past, she held no malicious intention and scolding him this much was already enough. It so happened that it was time for the evening meal and so the Empress Dowager invited Xiao Jie to stay and eat. âQingyu, you too.â
Lin Qingyu said, âThis humble official already partook of the evening meal at Ciâan Palace yesterday.â
The Empress Dowager laughed and said, âLiâer always eats more when youâre around.â
Throughout the meal, Xiao Jie kept looking as though he had something to say. The Empress Dowager asked him if he had anything to say and he decisively said no. After dinner, Xiao Jie went back to Qinzheng Hall.
The Empress Dowager couldnât help but say, âIt seems the Emperor isnât beyond hope. If he werenât the monarch of a country, he could be regarded as a child with a pure heart.â
Lin Qingyu let out an âenâ.
âHe will never be a wise ruler but if the Emperor can get away from Xi Rong, with a little bit of guidance, at least he wonât be manipulated by others.â
Lin Qingyu chuckled lightly, âUnfortunately, heâll never be able to leave.â
âYou might be a little too over-confident about that,â said the Empress Dowager, âEven brothers with the same father and mother will turn against each other for their own selfish interests, let alone them. Iâve been in the palace for so many years and Iâve seen everything. The emperor grew to rely on Xi Rong so much because he was never doted on. If we find him a dignified, elegant, compassionate and understanding consort, someone who he can entrust his feeling to, maybe he wonât value Xi Rong so much.â The more the Empress Dowager thought about it, the more she felt that this was a good solution. âThe emperor is already of age and we are now past the filial piety period for the late emperor. It would be a good time to find a concubine for him.â
The empress dowager thought that Lin Qingyu would agree with her. Unexpectedly, Lin Qingyu gave no response. The empress dowager couldnât help asking, âQingyu, what do you think?â
Lin Qingyu said, âThe Empress Dowager must forgive me but I have no interest in using marriage to imprison others.â
The Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback and her expression became a little colder, âForget it.â She said, losing interest, âWeâll just have to watch and see for now.â
It was night and Xi Rong personally served Xiao Jie to bed. Before going to bed, they talked, catching up on what had happened during the day, a habit theyâve had since they were children. Xi Rong asked Xiao Jie about the opera he watched today. Xiao Jie had on a disappointed expression as he said, âIâm not going to watch opera in the palace anymore.â
Xi Rong asked, âWhy?â
Xiao Jie told Xi Rong what had happened today. âImperial Mother is right. The soldiers of the Northwest are fighting so desperately. Itâs bad enough that I canât even help, how can I be enjoying this kind of luxury in the palace?â
Xi Rong cared not a whit about this. âYou ate with the Empress Dowager and Lin Qingyu?â
âSixth Brother was there too.â Xiao Jie said plainly whatever was on his mind. âSixth Brother is still the same, he doesnât respond to anything. He only ever smiles at Imperial Physician LinâŚâ
Xi Rong interrupted him, âDid you mention the transport ambush to them?â
Xiao Jie was momentarily stunned. His eyes revealed a little guilt. âI didnât.â
There was no change in Xiao Jieâs face that could ever escape Xi Rongâs eyes. âDo you still want to tell them?â
âI⌠In the end, I said nothing. Thatâs what you want, isnât it?â Xiao Jie covered his head with the quilt and said in a muffled voice, âIâm going to sleep. You should go.â
Xi Rongâs eyes were half-lidded. âThis servant will now withdraw.â
As soon as Xi Rong called himself âthis servantâ, Xiao Jie knew he was angry. But he really didnât know what to do. Why did Xi Rong and Lin Qingyu have to insist on fighting to the death? Before he ascended to the throne, these two obviously got along fine.
Xiao Jie fell asleep full of worries. After an unknown amount of time, he was awakened by the sound of âYour Majesty! Your Majesty!â When he opened his eyes, he saw the eunuch who served him, Xiao Xuanzi.
There was the sound of rushing footsteps outside. All feelings of drowsiness suddenly left Xiao Jie and he asked, âWhat happened?â
Panicking, Xiao Xuanzi said, âYour Majesty, thereâs an assassin in the palace. Eunuch Xi, he â heâŚâ
Xiao Jie grabbed Xiao Xuanziâs shoulder. âWhat happened to him?â
âEunuch Xi was seriously injured. Heâs lost a lot of blood⌠Heâs resting now in the side hallâŚâ
Xiao Jie rolled and scrambled out of the bed, running to the side hall with bare feet. The imperial guards have already been dispatched and the palace was completely surrounded; no one was getting in or out. Xi Rong had already been carried to the bed. There was an eye-piercing knife wound on the left side of his abdomen, blood kept gushing from the wound. Because of the blood loss, Xi Rongâs face looked pale. He was in a miserable state but his mind remained sharp and clear.
When Xiao Jie saw him, he cried, âWhereâs the imperial physician? Call the imperial physician quickly!â
Xiao Xuanzi said, âIâve already sent someone to fetch him. The imperial physician should be on the way.â
Xi Rong grabbed Xiao Jieâs hand, breathing weakly, âYour Majesty, this servant is fine. Donât worry.â
âHow comeâŚâ Xiao Jie hugged Xi Rong, on the verge of collapse, âHow could there be an assassin in the palace? Why would someone want to kill you!â
Xi Rong showed a strange smile, âWho aside from them would have assassins bold enough to enter the palace?â
Xiao Jie was out of breath from crying, âWh-who?â
Xi Rong groaned in pain. Xiao Xuanzi hurriedly said, âEunuch Xi says it should be someone from the Tianji Camp.â
Xiao Jie was dazed but his tear kept rolling. âWhy?â
Xiao Xuanzi said, âAs I remember, the token of the Tianji Camp is in the hands of Imperial Physician Lin.â
ââŚImperial Physician Lin?â
Xi Rong closed his eyes. There was sudden strength in his hands, âSo, do you still want to get close to Lin Qingyu and tell him everything?â
Xiao Jie cried and shook his head. âI donât! I wonât tell the Empress Dowager and Lin Qingyu anymore. I wonât say anything, I just want you to be well⌠AâRong, donât die, I wonât let you die!â
Xi Rongâs injury looked scary but he didnât hurt his vitals and he was in no mortal danger. However, due to excessive blood loss, his vitality was depleted and so he had to rest for a while.
There was an assassin in the Emperorâs palace. This was top priority. Wu Zhan didnât dare to be negligent in the slightest and he led the imperial guards to search the palace the entire night. However, no clues could be found. When Lin Qingyu heard about this, he questioned Wu Zhan and the imperial physician who had treated Xi Rong that night. He then understood everything.
âYou neednât bother about this matter anymore.â Lin Qingyu said, âThe assassin cannot be caught.â
Wu Zhan said, âAh? Why?â
âYou think an assassin who has the ability to come and go without a trace in the palace cannot even kill a mere eunuch? The only one this kind of hole-ridden trick can deceive is the Emperor, whoâs now lost his head over his concern.â
Wu Zhan still didnât quite understand, âImperial Physician Lin meansâŚâ
Lin Qingyu said, âXi Rong just wanted to seize the Emperorâs heart. He wanted the Emperor to stand firmly by his side.â
Wu Zhan hissed, âTurns out that this was nothing but a self-injury trick. Heâs awfully determined, even injuring himself with his own handsâ
Lin Qingyu smiled suddenly. âIndeed.â
Xi Rongâs actions reminded him of Gu Fuzhou. Back then, in order to return to the capital from the Northwest, in order to return to him, Gu Fuzhou didnât hesitate to poison himself. On this point, Gu Fuzhou too was a determined man.
Thatâs why this time, he would definitely use all his might to come back.
The author has something to say: the tenacious Er Zhuang lives another day. Iâll give you another three days, no more!
Ancient and Modern Mini Theater:
When he first brought the Great Beauty home, the amnesiac Classmate Jiang still didnât fully believe his words. It just so happened that Classmate Jiangâs friend paid an IQ tax and bought a polygraph machine online. If you tell a lie, the polygraph machine will beep.
Thenâ
Great Beauty: Jiang Gongzi is a hardworking person
Polygraph machine: beepââ
Great Beauty: Jiang Gongzi never lazes around in bed