Chapter 11: Rescuing the Great Confucian Cai Yong (Part 2)

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  "Hum! You insolent child!" Cai Yong's white beard was about to stand on end due to Qin Xu's tone, and he said loudly: "Who is Zi Shi? I have known him for nearly 40 years and am well aware of his character. What Wang Si Tu and I are arguing about is loyalty and righteousness, with a sincere heart and public will. Dong Zhuo treated me with kindness but was disloyal to the country - how could I not know that? Being imprisoned as repayment is a sign of knowing the favor, Zi Shi must understand my intentions. I have written a letter detailing my thoughts, solely focused on revising history. Zi Shi is magnanimous and will not take long for me to be released. How can I, due to a momentary impulse, do something that would shame the world?"

  "I..."

  I came to save you, and now I'm being scolded? It seems like saving people is also done incorrectly?

  Qin Xu found that this old man was stubborn, generous and passionate, with words that were sharp and to the point, making it impossible for others to interrupt. If Qin Xu hadn't come from a later era and known Cai Yong's fate, he might have been shamed by Cai Yong's words at this time, given Wang Yun's reputation among the scholars.

  "Father!" Cai Yan saw that Cai Yong was almost cursing at Qin Xu's nose, and hurriedly stopped him, while quietly comforting Cai Yong, and apologetically looking at Qin Xu.

  Qin Xu rubbed his nose, and for a moment, he didn't have any good way to persuade Cai Yong. He could only slowly push him to the prison door, thinking that tonight, no matter what, he had to take this stubborn old man out, otherwise, once the news leaked out, he feared that Li Jue and Guo Si's two thieves hadn't even entered Chang'an, not only would Cai Yong not survive, but Qin Xu and others would also lose their heads.

  But looking at Cai Yong's attitude, if Qin Xu insists again, the old man might roll up his sleeves and fight Qin Xu to the death, what a headache.

  "Sir, isn't it tonight that Wang Situ and Lü will be jointly trying Cai?"

  "How come there are others coming here? Wasn't it said that except for Wang Zixu, no one else is allowed to meet Cai Yong?"

  "Maybe... but those are men of General Lü Bu, and even I don't dare to offend them. Yes, yes, yes, I know my fault, I know my fault."

  "Quickly go and drive those people away! Delaying Master Sito's important matter, can you bear the responsibility?"

  "But General, this... General..."

  "Hmph! One Lü Bu is enough to scare you all like this, quickly take me forward."

  Just as Qin Xu was wracking his brains to think of a way to get Cai Yong to cooperate, the sound of Mo Zhi's flattering voice and a middle-aged man's conversation came from the prison gate not far away.

  Li Jue and Guo Si are about to attack Chang'an City, what does Wang Yun mean by sending someone at this time?

  "Qin Zhubu, do you want to?" The guard standing at the door of Cai Yong's prison cell listened intently as the urgent footsteps approached, and saw Qin Xu frowning silently, a flash of ferocity in his eyes, making a throat-slitting gesture towards Qin Xu.

  If you want to talk about some tricks and nonsense, Qin Xu might still agree, but if you say it's a senseless murder, Qin Xu really can't be sure, after all, in his previous life, Director Qin wasn't even brave enough to kill a chicken.

  Old Hsu on the side nodded in agreement, Qin Xu patted his forehead and said: "No need. The person who can see Cai Yong must be Wang Yun's confidant. Now that the two families of Wang and Lü have just formed a political alliance, there shouldn't be any problems. What I'm worried about is another thing."

  "Who are you, daring to privately meet with a prisoner who has been sentenced to heavy punishment?" The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a Confucian robe and with the appearance of a scholar. His face was gloomy as he loudly questioned.

  "Who are you again?" Qin Xu asked in a cold tone.

  Originally thought about trying to see if it could be fooled, did not expect the newcomer to come up with such a high profile.

  "This is the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, Lord Hu!" Mo Zhi, a deputy general of the Dragon and Tiger Guard, who had just been respectful to Qin Xu and others, now seemed to have gained a great backer, and with a proud belly, said to Qin Xu and others.

  "Shangshu Ling?" Qin Xu was puzzled, how did it involve Shangshu Ling again?

  "Wang Yun, the old thieving official, holds the position of Grand Minister of Works and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, he is the chief among civil officials." Cai Yong learned that Wang Yun had sent someone over, thinking it was to escort him out of prison, so he tidied up his clothes and hat, preparing to take Cai Yan out. Just then, he heard Qin Xu's muttering to himself, and quietly explained.

  "Young lady, indeed! Since you know my identity, Lord Mo, why don't you ask this...this General's household person to leave!" That Hu gentleman's greedy gaze swept fiercely over Cai Yan's chest, with a tone of disdain, looking up at Mo Zhi.

  "You, a mid-ranking official with a salary of over 1,000 dan of grain, are so fawning on a mere longshi with a salary of less than 400 dan of grain," Cai Yan said, having just been leered at by the despicable Lord Hu, which made her feel even more disgusted than if she had eaten two jin of flies. Seeing Mo Zhi's fawning expression, she couldn't help but speak out in ridicule.

  "You!"

  "Yan'er must not be rude. General Mo, Hu Zhangshi, my young daughter is innocent and naive, I hope you can forgive her. I don't know if it was Zi Shixiong who replied to me?" Cai Yong hurriedly said as he came out of the prison cell, just hearing Cai Yan's sarcasm.

  "Hmm, so it's Cai Wenji, the wife of the Wei family, indeed famous for a reason." Hu Changshi said indifferently: "What Cai said is correct, Wang Sutu does have a reply letter, please take a look, Cai sir."

  Hu Changshi took out a white silk with a fire seal from his bosom and handed it to Cai Yong. Cai Yong received it with great respect, stroking his beard, and nodded at Qin Xu, saying: "This morning I sent a letter, by this time Wang Situ has already replied, please ask Hu Changshi to bring it over personally, can you see what I foresaw?"

  Cai Yong looked at Cai Yan standing beside Qin Xu and said, "You can come to see me, I'm very grateful. Young people always have impulsive moments. Wang, the Imperial Tutor, has a heart as vast as the sea, he certainly won't mind what you did tonight. When I go out and personally inform him, it will be over."

  Qin Xu's mouth revealed a hint of mysterious smile, ignoring Cai Yong's kindness, glanced at the complacent Mo Zhi and Hu Changshi, and suddenly said to Lao Xun and Sima Mao who were eager to try: "Take it down!"

  Before Mo Zhi and the other two reacted, Lao Xu and Sima Mao suddenly made their move without asking for a reason. In the blink of an eye, they knocked the two unsuspecting men to the ground, instantly disarming them. Their movements were so swift that they didn't even alert the Longbiao guards outside.

  This sudden change was not only incomprehensible to Cai Yong, but also to Cai Yan and Lü Lingqi, who were all baffled by Qin Xu's sudden actions.

  Cai Yong's eyes widened in anger, his beard bristling with rage. "You impudent rascal!" he thundered. "What do you think you're doing? Release the two nobles at once!"

  Seeing Cai Yong rushing forward despite his old age, Cai Yan hastily pulled her father back.

  Everyone present did not understand Qin Xu's intention, and even the old Lao Xu and Sima Mao who had taken action also looked puzzled. Qin Xu smiled bitterly: "Lord Cai, don't get angry for now. You'd better take a look at the content of this donated book first."

  Cai Yong glared at Qin Xu fiercely, turning his head to the side, not intending to respond to Qin Xu's words. Cai Yan gave Qin Xu a disapproving look, took the white silk from Cai Yong's hand, removed the wax seal and opened it.

  "Ah! Wang Yun, you old thief! How could you...!"

  The white silk was not large, and the words were not many, but just these few words made Cai Yan's eyebrows inverted, and Lv Linggui on the side directly exclaimed.

  Cai Yong heard Lü Linggui's exclamation and saw Cai Yan's abnormality, and suspiciously shifted his gaze to the white silk, and for a moment he was stunned.

  "Taishi Sima did not die, many false words about emperors and kings. Does Bo Yi Ning want to follow this example?"

  A few words, and Cai Yong seemed to have aged ten years. The meaning of the white silk was clear: in those days, the Grand Historian Sima Qian had committed a crime punishable by death, but in the end he only suffered castration; as a result, his historical writings were somewhat disrespectful to the emperors of past dynasties. Are you, old Cai, also planning to write history books and slander the emperor?

  Heart-wounding words.

  Cai Yan glanced at Qin Xu with a lingering fear, her eyes filled with gratitude. She naturally understood that if she hadn't been there, Cai Yong might have really thought of doing something extreme after seeing this letter.

  "Prince Shi! How poisonous is your heart!" Cai Yong let out a long sigh, covered his sleeve and stood against the wall, silent and wordless, for a moment it seemed as if his spirit had suffered a great blow.

  Seeing Cai Yong's poor state, Qin Xu secretly felt lucky while also breaking out in a cold sweat. Indeed, Qin Xu was gambling, betting on Wang Yun's magnanimity and the verdict of history.

  After Dong Zhuo's death, Wang Yun vowed to make a name for himself in the imperial court, but Cai Yong, this great scholar of the land, even if he did not enter the imperial court, his influence was extremely high. If he were to write history, Wang Yun would be like putting shackles on himself.

  But killing Cai Yong directly would greatly damage Wang Yun's reputation, so he wrote this white silk letter and had his confidant bring it to Cai Yong. The two had a relationship of several decades, and Wang Yun understood Cai Yong's temperament too well.

  Cai Yong did not understand Wang Yun's ruthlessness and continued to make excuses for him in front of his daughter. If it weren't for Qin Xu and others feeling uneasy in time, what Cai Yan would have seen was probably Cai Yong's icy corpse after he took his own life.

  "Qin Zhubao, what to do with these two? Is it...?" Sima Mao asked with a respectful tone, his gaze at the two filled with murderous intent. The two who were lying on the ground, unable to move or make a sound, had lost their previous arrogance and looked at Qin Xu with pleading eyes.

  Lao Xu and Sima Mao were also secretly shocked by this sudden change in the situation. Lao Xu's gaze towards Qin Xu was no longer like looking at a junior, while Sima Mao was even more respectful to this young man who had previously seemed unremarkable. In fact, if Qin Xu said so, Sima Mao would immediately send these two back home with ruthless efficiency.

  "Ask them to go to Mr. Cai's room and sit for a while too." Qin Xu said casually.

  Chang'an City is about to be in chaos, who will still care about the life and death of a Cai Yong. These two people are detestable, but Qin Xu after all is not a native of this era, it's hard for him to accept the style of doing things that involves taking lives at every turn.

  "How did you know the contents of this letter?" Lü Linggui saw Cai Yan comforting Cai Yan, and Lao Xu and Sima Mao each carefully lifted the two people on the ground into the prison cell, then cautiously approached Qin Xu's side and asked in a low voice.

  "I knew it!"

  "Cut! Don't drag it out!" Lü Linggui said with disdain.