Chapter 6: Duke Xiang of Qi

  In the 16th year of Xian De, during the Ding Mao year, Prince Zhao Ke of De was ordered to secretly go to Heng Jiang and launch a surprise attack on Mo Ling. However, before the plan could be carried out, the secret was leaked to Yong, so the army was disbanded. Not long after that, an envoy was sent by Yong, promising to marry off Princess Chang Le as a gesture of goodwill. Emperor Ling was deceived by this and thus stopped the war.

  When the victory was about to end, he summoned the crown prince to his bedside and told him: "I have always regretted that I could not well defend my ancestors' foundation and become a vassal of Yong. If you have half a heart of filial piety, you should do your best to restore the imperial cause." The crown prince pointed to heaven and swore an oath, and then King Ling died.

  In the 19th year of Xian De, on the fifth day of the fifth month, King Qi came to offer condolences. King Qi secretly negotiated with the ruler of Shu and promised him great benefits, planning to attack Shu together. The ruler of Shu was tempted by this, and later, the king of Shu conspired with his officials to launch an attack on Shu. This led to the downfall of Southern Chu. At that time, people did not understand the disaster that had befallen them, nor did they comprehend what great benefits meant. Later, a palace attendant heard the ruler of Shu crying and telling Queen Wang: "If I could restore the imperial court, I would not make you empress. I am willing to serve King Qi as my father. Now, King Qi has promised me the throne; please convey this message to your father on my behalf: Southern Chu will never betray Qi." The matter was then exposed.

  King of Qi, sixth son of Emperor Gaozu of Han, younger half-brother of Princess Chang Le, was originally reckless and lazy. Later, seeing the King of Yan's weakness after his coming-of-age ceremony, he became ambitious and thought: "I should take his place." He later became famous in history for his military achievements.

  The Book of Southern Chu · Biography of Emperor Yang of Chu

  In the 19th year of Xian De, in May, Da Yong sent an envoy to offer condolences. I heard that the chief envoy was Li Yuan, the sixth son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, who had been deeply favored since childhood and was extremely arrogant. Every day he only knew how to play with hawks and go hunting, and did not like to read books. Since the collapse of Eastern Jin 70 years ago, the Central Plains were fragmented, and Li Shang, Li Yuan's father, took advantage of the situation to rise up and claim himself as the King of Yong. After decades of bloody battles on the battlefield, he established the country of Yong and was succeeded by Li Yuan after his death. He indulged in music, women, dogs, and horses, and did not think about making progress. The change came because of his second son, Li Ze.

  King Yong of Li, Zai, had a reputation for being virtuous from a young age. More than 20 years ago, at the New Year's banquet, nine-year-old Zai, dressed in white and speaking frankly, advised his father, Li Yuan, to change his ways, saying that he was not living up to his grandfather's legacy. His words moved Li Yuan to shame and retreat.

  Later, when Li Yuan declared himself emperor and changed the era name to Wuwei, Zai followed him on military campaigns. At the age of 12, Zai accompanied his father on a campaign against the Northern Han. Although he was from an aristocratic family, Zai lived and ate with the soldiers and learned how to lead troops in battle from the generals.

  Despite his young age, Zai showed remarkable bravery and often led the charge into battle. According to legend, during one battle, the enemy launched a surprise attack on their camp, but Zai led a small group of soldiers to escort Emperor Yong out of danger. When some soldiers shouted "Don't abandon us!", Zai turned back and single-handedly charged into the fray, fighting off the enemy and allowing his father's troops to regroup.

  After the battle, Emperor Yong praised Zai, saying "This is my family's greatest hero!" Over the next few years, Zai continued to distinguish himself in battle, earning promotions and eventually becoming a general. He played a crucial role in defeating the powerful warlord Yang Laoseng, who had been a thorn in the side of the Great Yong dynasty.

  As a result of his achievements, Emperor Yong appointed Zai as King of Yong. When Zai returned to the capital after his victory, he was greeted by thousands of people lining the streets, and officials welcomed him with great fanfare. At just 20 years old, Zai had achieved a level of honor that few others could match.

  However, not everyone was happy about Zai's success. Li Xian, who would later become Emperor, looked on at Zai's triumph with a mixture of emotions. He turned to his attendants and said, "I should take his place." At the time, Li Xian was 16 years old.

  Over the next few years, Li Xian changed his ways, studying hard and practicing martial arts. Two years later, he volunteered to serve on the northern border, where he fought in several bloody battles against the Northern Han. Although he may not have been as brilliant or courageous as Zai, Li Xian proved himself to be a fierce warrior.

  After serving on the border for 10 years, Li Xian returned to the capital, where he became close friends with Crown Prince Li An. In the capital, Li Xian was known as a young nobleman who loved to cause trouble, often stirring up fights and causing disturbances wherever he went. However, due to his military achievements and his status as the emperor's son, no one dared to cross him.

  It wasn't until later, during the 10th year of the Wuwei era, that Li Xian would finally get his chance to take Zai's place...

  I carefully looked at the intelligence in my hand. Since I successfully "advised" the king, I have been accompanying him as a servant reader. In fact, it's just providing suggestions for the monarch to consider. This time, King Qi came as an envoy to Southern Chu, and everyone in the court was shocked. We each had a copy of the intelligence about King Qi. It seems that Southern Chu also has a wide-ranging intelligence network in Dayong. This time, King Qi is nominally here to offer condolences, but who thinks it's that simple? Otherwise, Dayong wouldn't have sent such an important person. In my opinion, maybe it's because King Qi had too much fun in Chang'an and Emperor Yong let him come out to avoid the storm. I saw on the intelligence report that just a month ago, King Qi forcibly took a civilian girl as his concubine and was impeached by the imperial censor. Although Emperor Yong protected his beloved son, he couldn't help but slightly punish him. The final punishment was to deduct his salary for a year, which is clearly favoritism. At this time, it's also possible that King Qi came out as an envoy to avoid the storm. However, those adults don't think so and believe that Emperor Yong sent King Qi on a mission because there must be something important.

  However, the current situation seems to be leaning towards their views. After the condolence ceremony, King Qi asked for a private meeting with the national master, and they are now secretly discussing in the imperial study room. I was on duty today at the imperial study room as an escort, so I was waiting outside for orders. It wasn't intentional, but my hearing is too good, and I overheard about 80-90% of their conversation.

  King Zhi of Li Xian entered the door and went straight to the point: "Dayong hopes to join hands with Nanchu, together to plan Shu Guo, what does the Lord think?"

  Zhao Jia hesitated for half a day before saying: "Shu and Southern Chu have always been on good terms, how can they offend each other without reason."

  Li Xian smiled and said, "The country's likes and dislikes depend on the benefits. Although Shu is on good terms with Southern Chu and they trade frequently, most of the weapons and warhorses that Southern Chu needs are purchased from Shu. I heard that Shu demands a high price for this. A few years ago, your country bought warhorses from Northern Han and wanted to transport them back through Shu, but they were intercepted by Shu. If it weren't for the fact that your king sent someone to bribe Shu, I'm afraid those warhorses wouldn't have made it into your hands. Moreover, you were forced to agree not to buy horses directly from Northern Han in the future. Is this true?"

  There was no sound inside, but I can imagine the king's face must be purple with rage. I've also heard about that matter and wondered why Shu Guo is so short-sighted to make an enemy of Southern Chu.

  Li Xian said, "My great Yong and Southern Chu are both monarch and subject, as well as relatives by marriage. My sister, the Princess of Long乐, is my father's beloved daughter, now the queen of Southern Chu. Our two countries share joys and sorrows. Now, Shu Guo relies on its geographical advantage, neither submitting to my great Yong nor showing respect to the friendly state of Southern Chu, simply relying on its ease of defense and the convenience of trade with the three states. Now that our great Yong and Southern Chu have opened up trade, according to the statistics of our Ministry of Revenue, the tax revenue from trade between our two countries in the past two years has already surpassed that of Shu Guo. In my opinion, Shu Zhong is now nothing but a setting sun, struggling to survive. If our two countries join forces to conquer Shu Guo, my father would be willing to divide its territory with the ruler of Shu, and from then on, we will stop at the river and put an end to armed conflicts."

  Zhoa Jia's breathing became very urgent, and it wasn't until half a day later that he said: "Raising an army to go to war is not something that can be taken lightly. How much more so when Shu is easy to defend but hard to attack? If we besiege it for a long time without taking it, we will inevitably exhaust the people and waste our wealth."

  Li Xian seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying, "When I was about to leave, my father secretly told me that if we conquer Shu and secure the borders of Dayan, he can finally take a good rest. If the king is willing to help Dayan conquer Shu, after the matter is settled, my father is willing to allow the king to restore his imperial title."

  Hearing this, my heart wailed in sorrow. In recent years, there have been many voices from both the ruling and opposition parties calling for the restoration of the imperial title. I also heard Xiaoshunzi say that before his death, the previous king repeatedly instructed the national master to restore the imperial cause, and this temptation is truly too great.

  Indeed, the monarch hesitated and said: "This matter is difficult for me to decide on at present. Let's do this, I will also consult with my ministers."

  Li Xian said displeased: "Such a big thing, the lord is right to be careful, but this matter is not trivial. Please, my lord, be extra careful and keep it secret. As for what my father emperor said, please, my lord, be even more careful. If it's not careful and leaks out, I'm afraid our great Yong won't admit it."

  Zhao Jia disregarded Li Xian's rude words and repeatedly said, "Your Highness can rest assured, I will be extremely cautious. This matter is of great importance, I absolutely dare not take it lightly."

  Li Xian said with satisfaction: "Thank you so much for the national master's meeting, I will say goodbye now."

  Zhao Jia hastily said: "The Queen and the King of Qi have not seen each other for many years, they are eager to meet again. I don't know when will the King of Qi be free?"

  Li Xian Lang laughed loudly and said: "I have long wanted to meet the imperial sister, but with my duties at hand, I must put public affairs before private ones. I will go ask Wang Hou for an audience."

  Zhao Jiaxi said: "What's the point of asking to see, let's just ask King Qi and I to go see the king together?" As he spoke, footsteps approached, and the two men walked towards the door. I had already heard it with a heavy heart, it seems that the ruler is determined to attack Shu State.

  I decided to take a good look at this arrogant King of Qi, who is going to tie the southern Chu to the war chariot of Da Yong. Li Xian, who was following behind the lord, walked out, and the 26-year-old Li Xian had a handsome and elegant appearance. Because he had been living in the military for a long time, his figure was straight and slender like a pine tree, and his body exuded a fierce and powerful aura. Today was the formal court meeting, so he wore the attire of the Da Yong prince, with golden yellow brocade clothes embroidered with coiled dragons, which made him look even more majestic and domineering. I felt a chill run down my spine, this King of Qi must be a ruthless and cunning person.

  The King of Qi glanced at me as he walked by, his eyes gleaming with a cold light like ice and snow. I hastily lowered my head slightly to avoid his gaze, although I had seen that murderous glare before, but it didn't necessarily mean he noticed that I wasn't afraid of him. But why did he notice me? Had Liang Yu already reported something to him? However, the Great Yong was indeed formidable - a single King of Qi was already so majestic, who knows what kind of demeanor the Emperor of Yong would have.

  Li Xian noticed that the young man was only a special reason, he was born with a kind of beast-like intuition. Just now in the study room with Zhao Jiami, for some reason, he always had a feeling of unease, as if being eavesdropped on. However, he clearly knew that within twenty zhangs, there was no one around, and beyond twenty zhangs, their voices could not be heard by anyone, unless the person's martial arts skills were too powerful. He believed that such a person did not exist in South Chu.

  As he walked out of the room, he seemingly unintentionally glanced at the officials and attendants outside, but found that although there were several people with good martial arts skills, they should all be high-ranking officials within the South Chu palace, and their positions made it impossible for them to hear the voices inside the room. Several accompanying officials who were closer in rank clearly did not know martial arts.

  When his gaze fell on Jiang Zhe's body, although he knew this person was not eavesdropping, Li Xian still felt a bit shocked. This young official was not very old, but had an elegant demeanor and calm expression. Li Xian knew about his own tiger-like prestige; in the past, at Da Yong, there was an official who offended him, and when he was about to erupt in anger, that official fainted from fear. Other officials always showed some unease when they saw him, even the Crown Prince was often cautious in front of him.

  Except for this person, Li Xian thought, since his coronation, it was still the first time he had seen someone so calm and composed. Thinking of this, his gaze became even more intimidating. The young official slightly lowered his head and averted his eyes, avoiding his gaze. This should have been a sign of submission, but for some reason, Li Xian felt that this person did not fear him.

  Li Xian stopped and asked: "What's your name?"

  I was using my peripheral vision to observe Li Xian's movements, and when I heard his question, I saw the boots in front of me stop, so I had no choice but to raise my head and look at the king, seeking guidance with my eyes. The king smiled and said: "This is the number one talent of South Chu, Jiang Zhe, the champion of the 16th year of Xian De, who is particularly fond of his poetry." Li Xian showed a look of sudden realization and said: "So you are Jiang Zhe, your poems are indeed well-written. 'The southeast is in a superior position, the three Wus will gather together, and Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times. The smoke and willows paint bridges, the wind screens and green curtains, with tens of thousands of households competing to show off their wealth. The clouds and trees surround the dam, the raging waves roll up the frost and snow, and the heavenly moat is endless. The market is lined with pearls and jade, the houses are filled with brocade and silk, and the competition for luxury is fierce. The double lakes and overlapping peaks are clear and beautiful. There are three autumns of osmanthus fragrans, ten miles of lotus flowers, the sound of the qin and the song of the lotus, the pleasure boats drifting at night, the playful fishing girls, the thousand riders holding high their whips, getting drunk listening to the xiao and drums, reciting and appreciating the misty scenery. On a different day, I will draw a picture of this beautiful scene, and when I return, I will boast about it in the Phoenix Pool.' Is this 'Wang Hai Chao' poem written by you? It makes people suddenly yearn for the beauty of Jiangnan. This time, our king came to South Chu on a mission, also wanting to see the scenery of South Chu."

  I stole a glance at the national master with a proud face and humbly said: "My work is simple, fortunately, it has been recognized by Your Highness." Li Xian looked deeply at me for a moment, called the national master to leave, but I felt a chill on my back, because that gaze was a kind of inexplicable madness, like a passionate fire. Suddenly, I doubted whether this King of Qi, in addition to liking to flirt with flowers and grass, also had a fondness for cutting sleeves? I shivered with cold sweat and decided it would be better to stay away from him in the future.

  Who would have known that heaven doesn't follow human wishes? The next day, I received an edict from the king, ordering me to accompany Prince Qi on his outings in Southern Chu. Oh heavens, how cruel is heaven! After lamenting for a while, I decided to ask Little Shunzi if he could spare some time to protect me during this period. Unfortunately, Little Shunzi replied indifferently: "I'm very busy, and besides, Prince Qi doesn't look bad either, so just accompany him on more outings, who knows, maybe Prince Qi will bring you back to Da Yong to enjoy good fortune." I was so angry that I almost fainted, and right then and there, I made up my mind: I would use every means possible to protect myself and absolutely not let Prince Qi's evil intentions succeed.

  When I arrived at the hostel to report to King Qi, I saw King Qi wearing a light blue robe, sitting in the courtyard with his chest open, laughing loudly in the still slightly chilly spring breeze. Next to him sat a white-clad, snow-like handsome young man, gazing at him with deep affection. I almost turned around and ran away, but then I thought, this white-clad young man's appearance and character are no more than those of many beautiful women, so as an ordinary-looking small official like me, there shouldn't be a problem, right? So, I respectfully approached and greeted him, then explained that I had come to serve under the king's orders.

  King Qi's bright eyes looked at me for a long time before he said, "Alright, I've heard that Jianye has many beautiful women. Which of the famous courtesans on Qinhuai River is the most outstanding?"

  I furrowed my brow and thought for half a day, saying: "Your minister is also not very clear, please let your minister go back to investigate, and I will definitely make it clear who is the outstanding one."

  The king's eyes were full of smiles, and he said, "Forget it, if you investigate further, it will spread throughout Jianye that I'm looking for flowers and asking about willows. If Father Emperor finds out, I'm afraid I'll get another scolding. Let's go tonight and find a top-notch courtesan." I was overjoyed, thinking to myself, "It's best if you like going after women." The gentle village is the hero's tomb; I absolutely don't mind if you indulge in youthful recklessness. I must find the best brothel, I thought to myself, and quietly asked the official at the post station later; he must know.

  It was almost dusk when I finally got the chance to ask about the depth of the Qinhuai River. If it weren't for Prince Qi insisting on going out in disguise and not allowing anyone to follow, I would have asked the officials at the post house to take us there. But who was that young man in white? Prince Qi didn't introduce him, just said his surname was Qin, so I called him Young Master Qin. However, no matter how I looked at him, I felt like he was a precious sword hidden in its scabbard, with an air of mystery and danger surrounding him. It's scary! He looks like Xiao Shunzi, who nowadays seems as dull as a radish, making me wonder if his martial arts skills are declining. But that shouldn't be the case, as he seems to be getting more and more mysterious and elusive. The day before yesterday, I had just returned from the palace when I saw him waiting for me at my house. He said he wasn't on duty that day, so he went to Wuxi, about 70-80 miles away, to have some fun and brought back their local specialties - fresh meat steamed buns and duck blood noodle soup - as a midnight snack for me. I was stunned by the still-warm buns and soup, even though they were kept warm in a food box, it's not possible to keep them warm for more than an hour! Thinking about this, I got angry again. This kid, knowing that I'm in danger, why didn't he agree to come protect me?! Next time I cook, I won't save him a single portion!

  I already knew that the most famous ones in Jianye's Qinglou were Fengyuelou, Xiaoxiangyuan, Yihongge, and Piaoxiang Huafang. Fengyuelou was famous for its skills on the bed, Xiaoxiangyuan relied on its song and dance performances, Yihongge was a well-known casino and wine house, and Piaoxiang Huafang was said to be because of its owner, Liu Piaoxiang, the number one courtesan in Qinhuai. Since Qi Wang was a regular customer in the pleasure quarters, he would naturally want to meet Liu Piaoxiang. I suppose that's what it means to be a member of the royal family - even when visiting brothels, they wouldn't like places that are too common.

  As soon as I mentioned going to Piaoxiang Huafang, Qi Wang excitedly said: "Great! I was just thinking of seeing the charm of Jianye's number one courtesan!" At that time, I almost got angry. He must be teasing me, or else he would have asked me to investigate further. Although the official at the post house already knew it was Qi Wang who wanted to go, he still looked at me with a flirtatious gaze. But I'm still a chaste and virtuous man!