Chapter 28: A Match Made in Heaven

  In the twenty-fourth year of Wu Wei, in May, the Emperor granted the title of Princess to the daughter of the King of Jingjiang and married her to Qin Qing, son of General Fuyu Qin Yi. Some say it was all due to the power of the king.

  Yong Shi - Ji Wang Lie Zhuan

  On the way back, King Yong said with a gloomy face: "Su Yun, rest assured, I will definitely kill Lu Jingzhong for you in the future."

  I smiled faintly and said, "Your Highness, why are you angry? You should be happy instead. Lu Jingzhong is good at attacking but poor at defending himself. As the Crown Prince's strategist, although he has three plans for every step, it's hard to make one plan work, isn't that a good thing? Moreover, under the overturned nest, how can there be intact eggs? This minister doesn't care about this person, what I care about is Li Han Yu, this woman's intelligence is truly extraordinary, every move she makes can affect people's hearts. Who won this time? It was her, wasn't it? Even Qin Qing might not be able to escape her grasp, and Your Highness, didn't you almost fall for her too?"

  Li Zai couldn't help but say with a smile: "You're just joking."

  I remained expressionless and said, "This woman is not only a high-ranking disciple of the Phoenix Pavilion but also a noble lady from the imperial family. What's rare about her is that she has a deep mind without revealing it on the surface, and her demeanor is free from arrogance. It's reasonable for Qin Qing to have feelings for her. I think if it weren't for General Qin making excuses to refuse, this matter would have been settled long ago. Your Highness should be careful around her. If she marries Qin Qing, her status will become even more elevated, and in the future, the one who might hinder your great cause could very well be this woman."

  Li Zai said with concern: "If Qin Qing really marries her, I'm afraid it's not quite right. Although General Qin is fair and strict, if the marriage really happens...” Li Zai didn't continue, but I already understood what he meant. I waved my hand and said: “Don't worry, Your Highness. Although Qin Qing is the eldest son of General Qin, he can't effectively influence his father. The relationship between father and son may be subtle, but General Qin will definitely not make things difficult for you because of family considerations. Moreover, Qin Yong is General Qin's trusted aide. If we can win him over, Your Highness will have nothing to worry about."

  Li Zai said: "Qin Yong is loyal and devoted to the general, how can he be won over?"

  I smiled and said, "Let me handle this matter. If Your Highness recruits him now, it will only make the Crown Prince and the Great General dissatisfied. I have a way to make him unknowingly serve Your Highness."

  Li Zai nodded and said, "This matter is left to you. There's another thing, this Jinwei Alliance is so arrogant, the Emperor must send a general to quell it. I think Long Sun Ji is a good candidate, he's clever and capable, with high martial arts skills, just the right person for the job. What do you think?"

  "I said, 'Your Highness, if General Zhangsun goes to handle this matter and finds some evidence related to the Crown Prince, he will likely be suspected as well. If my guess is not wrong, the Crown Prince will also recommend King Qi to handle this matter, after all, there are no capable generals under Your Highness' command.'"

  "If it's like this, then won't we be unable to obtain any evidence?"

  I smiled and said, "Actually, both the Crown Prince and Your Highness are being too hasty. The Jinxiu Alliance's theft of military funds is just a small rebellion. If the Crown Prince didn't have a guilty conscience, why would he be in such a hurry to send people to surround and annihilate them? And Your Highness didn't need to take the initiative to get involved in this matter either. Now, the Crown Prince's actions haven't been exposed yet, but if Your Highness were to expose him, it would only make the Emperor suspicious of your motives. The Crown Prince recommending Qi Wang to handle this matter is just a attempt to cover his tracks. Cui Yang's death has already caused a stir in the imperial court, and the Ministry of Revenue's affairs are on the verge of being exposed. If the Crown Prince recommends Qi Wang, Your Highness can simply say that such a small matter doesn't require a great general, and let Qin Qing handle it instead. If Qin Qing achieves success, the Emperor granting him a marriage would be only natural. I think the Emperor will also find the neutral Qin family to be more suitable. I think this candidate is someone the Emperor won't refuse."

  Li Zai's eyes flashed with a hint of divine light, and he said: "Moreover, it can also cause discord between the Qin family and the Fengyi Sect. If the Fengyi Sect insists on obstructing this marriage, then it will naturally be absolutely impossible."

  I smiled and said, "No matter what the outcome is, it's not good for Your Highness. To be honest, I really didn't expect that the Brocade Alliance would resort to such tactics. Although Huo Jicheng is a bit eccentric, he is a decisive person, no wonder the Brocade Alliance has not been able to completely eliminate him until now."

  Li Zai sighed and said, "Zi Yun, I thought that everything in this world was under your control. Fortunately, you managed to save me; otherwise, I would have been unable to eat or sleep."

  My face turned pale, and Li Zuo exclaimed in surprise: "What's wrong with Su Yun? Did I say something wrong?"

  I smiled slightly, casting aside the melancholy in my heart. I thought to myself that although I have a stubborn illness, as long as I take care of myself and rest quietly, it's not impossible for me to live to be 100 years old. Although this intrigue can only shorten my lifespan, within a few years, I will definitely be able to help Emperor Yong ascend to the throne. At that time, with the world so vast, won't I be able to find a place to rest? "The lake's water is green and lush, the person from the past has gone. Occasionally hearing the sound of oars singing, the flat boat is unknown where it is." I recited softly. Li Zhi smiled and said: "Whose poem is this? How can you be so carefree?"

  "I casually said: 'This is what I saw in the book before, and I don't know who wrote it. Your Highness, the Emperor will probably summon you soon, so you should hurry back to change your clothes and prepare. I promised to instruct General Jing, so don't let him follow you.'"

  Li Zai smiled and said: "Good, I want to see how you can teach this stubborn boy into a capable person."

  I also smiled and said: "If I let him compose a poem himself, I wonder what reward Your Highness would give me?"

  Li Zai thought for a moment and said, "I also can't think of anything right now. You don't like gold, silver, or jewels, and you've already read all the books and classics. If there's something you want, just say it out loud, and I'll give it to you as a reward."

  I humbly said: "Your Highness is too serious, but there is one thing. Last time Your Highness was furious about the assassination attempt on me, and because the poisonous hand and evil heart were introduced by Jiangnan Spring, although Your Highness did not seal off Jiangnan Spring, you ordered the Prefect of the Capital to investigate strictly. For these days, Jiangnan Spring has not had a peaceful day. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and pardon my cousin."

  Li Zai immediately remembered this matter, and on that day he was furious and almost crazy. If it weren't for Guan Xiu reminding him that Jing Shunqing was Jiang Zhe's cousin, he might have had Jiang Nan Spring searched and seized. However, due to being implicated in this matter, Jiang Nan Spring spent the past few days feeling like years were passing by. Later, when Jiang Zhe managed to save his life, Li Zai forgot about this matter again. Now that Jiang Zhe brought it up, Li Zai felt a bit embarrassed and hastily said: "I was too busy to remember, but I've already investigated and found that your cousin wasn't involved in the assassination attempt. I'll send someone to inform the Prefect of the Capital Region right away. This isn't much of a reward, so how about this? If you can teach Jing Chi how to write poetry, I'll give you this as a gift." As he spoke, he took off a jade pendant from his waist and played with it in his hand.

  I knew that this jade pendant was a gift from the emperor, and it's a top-grade jade, worth more than a thousand gold coins. This is indeed an extremely valuable stake. I smiled and said: "I also knew for some time that my nephew needed to be taught a lesson, to let him know the meaning of 'caution'. But two days ago, my brother-in-law's sister came crying and complaining, she's already pitiful enough as a weak woman who has left her hometown, now she's come to beg me, I couldn't not give her face."

  Seeing me smile, Li Zai said: "If it's Su Yun who loses, what should we use as a bet?"

  I thought for a moment and said, "I have received many rewards from Your Highness, if I don't take out something special, it would seem insincere. How about this, if I lose, I am willing to use this as the stake." As I spoke, I pointed to the jade belt around my waist.

  Li Zai looked over doubtfully. Although the jade belt looked good, it was just a belt with some sheep fat jade plates sewn on it. It was beautiful, but neither exquisitely carved nor top-grade jade. How could it be used as a betting stake? However, he wouldn't mind, so he said, "Alright, let's bet your jade belt then."

  I smiled slightly, it's not necessary to tell Li Zai yet that this jade belt was designed by me recently and was just brought back by Xiao Shunzi two days ago. Inside the design is a mechanism that can continuously shoot out three times of tempered poisonous needles, which is prepared for self-protection, if there are assassins approaching me again, I still have a chance to counterattack, this jade belt is precious, besides, it's "Tianji Pavilion Special Edition".

  As we were talking, we had already returned to the Yong Wang Fu. Just as we arrived at the gate, a royal guard on horseback came galloping from afar, holding an imperial edict in his hand. Upon seeing the prince, he dismounted and bowed down, saying: "Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace."

  Li Zai hastily said: "Wait for this king to change his clothes and then immediately enter the palace."

  The guard stood up and stepped back, saying: "Yes, sir."

  I, this idle person, returned to the Cold Garden, accompanied by my except for Xiao Shunzi, there was also an unwilling Jing Chi. He had barely escaped from that headache-inducing wine order and couldn't wait to find a place to practice his fists and feet, loosen up his muscles and bones. Who would have thought that he would be summoned into the Cold Garden by me?

  Jing Chi gazed gloomily at Jiang Zhe's back, once again summoning bitterness in his heart. This weak and feeble scholar had actually received the imperial edict to control him. He had never liked these literary men who wrote poems and essays. Although there were many literary officials under Prince Yong's command, most of them were strategists skilled in military tactics. Jing Chi kept a respectful distance from these people, but this scholar had never seen him come up with any plans or strategies. He spent his days hiding in the Cold Garden, and after walking a few more steps, he would be panting as if on the verge of collapse. Yet Prince Yong really trusted him, making others follow his orders. Last night, Jiang Zhe had sent him to do that inexplicable thing, and Jing Chi was still somewhat perplexed about it even now.

  Following the Cold Garden, although following the Yong King out, but the guards who protected Jiang Zhe also went, they quickly occupied the key points, and the Cold Garden soon became a fortress like gold. Jing Chi raised an eyebrow, thinking that this person was really afraid of the well rope for a thousand years after being bitten by a snake once. At this time, Jing Chi suddenly felt a chill on his body, looked up, and saw a pair of eyes as cold as ice and snow, it was Xiao Shunzi who had seen his expression and warned him with his eyes. Jing Chi's heart trembled, he was very impressed by Xiao Shunzi's martial arts, and quickly lowered his head.

  Returning to my residence, I summoned Jing Chi and picked up a copy of Sun Tzu's Art of War, placing it on the desk. "If you can recite this book from memory," I said calmly, "I'll let you go." Jing Chi stared at the thin book in stunned silence, a bitter smile spreading across his face.

  I smiled and said, "My body is not feeling well, so I won't be able to teach you today. Starting from tomorrow, I will teach you for half a time each day, and the rest of the time, you should copy down what I have taught you. I know you can recognize a few characters, right? You can go to the room next door to recite and copy them, Xiaoshunzi will supervise you. Alright, now go move your luggage to Hanyuan."

  Jing Chi was greatly startled and was about to refuse, but seeing the weak-looking scholar's eyes shining with a resolute light, he involuntarily said: "Yes, sir."

  After Jing Chi left, Xiao Shunzi asked discontentedly: "Young master, why bother to waste your thoughts on this kind of coarse person? It's better to rest more."

  I said calmly: "Looking at this person's face and character, he is most loyal and straightforward, decisive and brave. If he can learn some military law, Your Highness will have another loyal and unswerving general. This person values relationships very much, so in the future I can also get a guarantee. Why not do it? You instruct them to send someone from the secret camp to get close to Qin Yong, best if they can gain his trust. Huāng Hū and Lǜ ěr are both carefully selected from the hidden group, let Chen Jǐn choose one of them to do this task. The Brocade Alliance will make a big fuss about this matter, we should also withdraw our hands. As for how to arrange the other people, you all consider it, but at least half of the secret camp's personnel must be left for my use, and the other half can be arranged to hide among the civilians, in the future we will still need them."

  Xiao Shunzi nodded silently and said, "I'll take care of it tonight. We've been prepared for a long time, it won't be much trouble. Young master, Li An and Lu Jingzhong were too impudent. If you didn't have important matters to attend to, I would have taken their lives already."

  I said calmly: "In the future, their lives will necessarily be taken by you."

  That night, I learned that after the debate in front of the emperor, Qin Qing was indeed appointed to suppress the Jin Xiu Alliance. Although the Crown Prince strongly supported the King of Qi's dispatch, but the King of Yong made sense, a small Jin Xiu Alliance didn't need a king to suppress it, and Qin Qing was exactly what the Emperor had in mind. After returning, the King of Yong told me that he had already discovered that both the Crown Prince and the King of Qi had secretly sent people out, as for whether Fengyi Gate had also sent someone, the King of Yong didn't know yet, but it's obvious they wouldn't be idle.

  Next, I was busy teaching that foolish apprentice. Although he would fall asleep as soon as he saw a book, he wouldn't be more mischievous than Lu Can in the past. So, I lectured on books and used real-life examples to guide his interest. At first, Jing Chi found it very boring, but soon became interested. He didn't understand military law, but after years of fighting in the army, he quickly asked me questions based on his own experiences. Through this Q&A process, we both learned from each other. After two or three days, Jing Chi was already listening with great enthusiasm. Every morning, he would wait outside for me to get up, and in the afternoon, I forced him to copy books, which he persisted in doing. Although seeing those scribbled manuscripts made me laugh and cry, I roughly lectured on Sun Tzu's Art of War in half a month. However, due to his temperament, he still didn't quite understand the chapter on using spies. I didn't force it, as Sun Tzu's Art of War is profound and subtle, even I don't dare say I fully comprehend it, let alone him. Thinking back to when I taught Lu Can Sun Tzu's Art of War, he would ask one question and know ten answers, very intelligent. However, he was a bit stubborn, probably due to his noble birth. When I mentioned the chapter on adapting to changing circumstances, he always had some doubts. Although his military strategies were extraordinary, unfortunately, he understood too little about human nature's dangers.

  That day, I ordered Jing to write the whole book. Seeing him sweating profusely as he wrote, I regretted letting him write on my desk again. Never mind, out of sight, out of mind. I closed my eyes and lay down on the soft couch, gradually falling asleep. Suddenly, a hurried footsteps came from afar. I opened my eyes abruptly, only to see Li Zhi walking in with a furious look on his face.

  I smiled slightly and said: "Xiao Shunzi, serve tea to the prince, let the prince calm down his anger. What's so serious that it makes you like this?"

  Li Zai saw Jiang Zhe and unknowingly, the anger in his chest gradually dissipated. Upon seeing Jing Chi standing there with ink on his face and a messy desk, he couldn't help but burst out laughing. After sitting down and taking a sip of fragrant tea handed to him by Xiao Shunzi, the last bit of anger disappeared. Jing Chi hastily stood up to bid farewell, and I smiled saying: "You're not allowed to slack off, go next door to write, if you sneak a peek at books, don't blame me for punishing you to copy until your hair turns white."

  He hastily vowed not to sneak a peek, he wouldn't forget the last time I tested him and he sneaked a look at his book, and was punished by me to copy out Sun Tzu's Art of War ten times over, that night he didn't sleep a wink.

  "After Jing Chi left, I calmly asked: 'What happened?'"

  Li Zai said coldly, "Qin Qing is indeed talented. The Jinxiu Alliance was greedy for merit and repeatedly harassed, but Qin Qing intentionally let them off the hook before capturing them all at once. Although some remnants escaped, they can no longer become a major force. Unfortunately, Huo Jicheng escaped, which is somewhat regrettable, but it's still acceptable. All the captured Jinxiu Alliance rebels confessed to colluding with the Ministry of Revenue officials for smuggling. Qin Qing was upright and just, taking down all their testimonies and sending them to the Emperor along with the evidence. However, these were only circumstantial evidence, as no one could testify against the Crown Prince and Cui Yang, especially since Huo Jicheng had escaped. Therefore, the Crown Prince pushed all the blame onto the Ministry of Revenue officials in front of his father, saying they were corrupt and that Cui Yang was investigating smuggling rumors on his orders but was assassinated by the Jinxiu Alliance. In the end, the Emperor only ordered him to reflect on his actions. The Minister of Revenue, Liang Jianyuan, was originally going to be dismissed, but was persuaded by Wei Xiang to let Liang Jianyuan temporarily atone for his crimes through meritorious service. All this was still tolerable, but then the Emperor issued a decree ordering Qin Qing to marry Li Hanyu."

  I asked, "The emperor's favoritism towards the crown prince is not a new thing, Your Highness doesn't need to worry. Now it's likely that all the ambitious scholars in the world already know the true face of the crown prince, this has achieved its purpose. However, how did Li Han and Qin Qing's marriage happen so quickly? Did General Li not object?"

  Li Zai sighed and said, "It turns out that Li Han You secretly followed Qin Qing to quell the rebellion and even saved Qin Qing's life from the hands of a Jinyu Alliance assassin. The two have been through thick and thin together, and even if the Grand General wanted to stop them, it would be impossible now. How can the reputation of the Princess of the Imperial Clan be tarnished? Father Emperor has especially conferred upon Li Han You the title of Jingjiang Princess, and Qin Qing is now the Commander-in-Chief."

  "I sighed and said: 'Your Highness wasn't prepared for this matter long ago, why are you so furious.'"

  Li Zai was silent for a moment before saying, "The Emperor has issued an edict, granting Princess Chang Le to be married to Wei Xian."

  My hand trembled, and the folding fan in my hand fell to the ground. After a moment, I bent down to pick it up and said: "This is not a big deal, Your Majesty wants to choose a husband for the princess, Your Highness has already heard about it. Wei Ying's character and talent are extraordinary, and what's even more rare is his calm and upright personality. Doesn't Your Highness also approve of their marriage?"

  "Zi, you really don't know the princess's intentions? Why does she always carry your poetry with her day and night? Why did she give you the rare and precious xuan shen to prolong your life? Why did the queen bring Ruo Lan to see her, and why does she love him like her own son? You really are so clueless about romance. Do you know that when the princess heard about the emperor's arranged marriage, she cut off her hair and wanted to become a nun, which made the emperor furious? The emperor asked her, if only she would speak up, he could summon anyone as his son-in-law, but Chang Le remained silent. Now she is being held under house arrest in the palace. Zi, if you have the heart, I will risk everything and take you to the palace to propose to her. Will you be willing?"

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