Chapter 6: The Storm is Coming (Revised Edition)

  Zheng Yanqing had never seen Zheng Chang, but that didn't mean he didn't know Zheng Chang.

  Being in Anyuan Hall, he had to pay attention to everyone. Especially those big shots in Anyuan Hall, even more so. Nearly twenty years of official career in his previous life had cultivated the habit of being cautious everywhere. Now he was just a humble servant, his life almost entirely in the hands of others; if he didn't observe and listen carefully, disaster would befall him.

  Fortunately, he was just a young child, and the people of An Yuan Tang would not deliberately avoid mentioning Yan Qing when speaking.

  According to what others have said, Zheng Chang's temperament is not quite the same as that of Zheng Dashi. Zheng Dashi has a bold and generous personality, although he is cautious and meticulous, but he will not be constrained by details. On the other hand, Zheng Chang is meticulous in his thoughts and will not easily reveal his emotions through his facial expressions.

  That is to say, Zheng Chang this person is somewhat gloomy.

  A few months ago, he said his prospects were bright, but suddenly lost his official position.

  If it were someone else, Yan Qing might not have minded. But Zheng Chang was different, he was the second person in An Yuantang, and his status was not trivial. At least for now, Yan Qing's fate is linked to An Yuantang, so he can't help but pay more attention. For some reason, he always felt that this matter hid secrets unknown to others.

  After finishing dinner, Zheng Shian went to sleep.

  After all, I'm not young anymore, and with so many things on my mind, I'm inevitably feeling tired when I'm in a bad mood.

  Zheng Yanqing sat in the courtyard, looking up at the twinkling stars, but his mind was thinking about Zheng Chang's affairs.

  "Yan Qing, why haven't you gone back to your room to rest yet?"

  Xu's mother walked up to him, holding a short-sleeved vest in her hand, and had Yanqing put it on. Then she said warmly, "Yanqing, you seem to have something on your mind?"

  "Mrs. Xue, Second Master is coming back!"

  Xu's mother looked at Zheng Yance with a warm and kind gaze, as if looking at her own child.

  Yan Qing vaguely knew that Xu's mother had another son, about the same age as himself, but now his whereabouts were unknown.

  Xu's mother said: "I've heard about this matter, Second Master being unhappy in Taiyuan and coming back is quite normal."

  "But I always feel there's something strange."

  "Strange?"

  Xu's mother couldn't help but laugh and rubbed Xuanqing's little head, saying: "You're still so young, what do you know about being eccentric?"

  "I..."

  Zheng Yanqing couldn't help but feel a bitter smile in his heart.

  The problem lies here. He is only five years old now, and he insists on being mature, which can only make people feel strange. This also makes it impossible for Yan Qing to express his opinions freely. Some things, if said, would have the opposite effect.

  It's hard to say, like a fishbone stuck in one's throat.

  "Xu Ma, don't you think it's strange?"

  "Two old masters several months ago, also reported back home that he was doing well in Taiyuan, how suddenly he was dismissed from his official position?"

  Xu's mother flashed a strange light in her eyes and looked at Yanqing for a moment.

  The ancients said, "To follow a lord is like following a tiger."

  "What right do we common people have to speculate about the imperial family's intentions? Perhaps it was the second master who misspoke or did something wrong, so he was dismissed from office. This is a normal thing, what are you thinking in that little brain of yours?"

  Xu's mother said, getting up from her seat.

  "It's late at night, go to bed early and don't think nonsense."

  "It's already been a few months since we last saw each other... and it'll be New Year's soon. But I heard that the second master hasn't come back in six or seven years."

  Happy New Year!

  Zheng Shi'an said he would go to Luoyang after the New Year, and Xu Ma also mentioned the New Year.

  Yan Qing suddenly remembered that it was already the third year of Renshou. In another year, Emperor Wen of Sui seemed to be about to pass away, and Emperor Yang of Sui would ascend to the throne.

  Han Wang Yang Guang, Emperor Wen of Sui passed away, Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne...

  After these three people were linked together, Zheng Yanqing seemed to suddenly understand.

  I remember when Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Han Wang Yang Xian rebelled and caused chaos, but was quickly suppressed by Yang Guang. Yang Xian was a military commander-in-chief and the governor of Bianzhou, with control over the elite troops of the north and great military power. In terms of military merit, he was not inferior to Yang Guang; in terms of reputation, he was also not much different from Yang Guang. When Crown Prince Yang Yong was deposed, Yang Xian probably felt a sense of fear as well.

  So at the beginning of the year, Yang Guang presented a memorial to Emperor Wen of Sui, saying: "The Turks are strong, and Taiyuan should be made a key city; it is advisable to repair its military equipment."

  Zheng Shi'an also said privately: "With this, the King of Han can be said to have grasped the elite of Pingzhou."

  At that time, Yan Qing did not take it seriously and did not think about the bad consequences.

  But now, Zheng Chang's return has had an impact on him, forcing him to seriously confront this issue.

  If Zheng Chang had a good intention, it would likely bring catastrophic disaster to Anyuan Hall.

  For a moment, Yan Qing seemed to have understood the true intention of Zheng Chang's return this time...

  ——————————————————————————————

  Xingyang, more accurately, should be Xingzhou.

  It is an important town in the Central Plains, with a very long history.

  Having gone through the vicissitudes of life, with changing fortunes and circumstances. Xingyang has been tempered by the baptism of fire on one hand, while growing up in the midst of war on the other.

  It has gradually become the eastern barrier of Luoyang, standing proudly in the Central Plains with Da Liang and Luoyang.

  Zheng returns as scheduled!

  Yan Qing was also powerless to stop it.

  Zheng Chang arrived in Xingyang on that day, and he followed the Zheng family up and down outside the door to greet him.

  Dozens of horse-drawn carriages stopped in front of the Anyuan Hall, and box after box of goods were unloaded from the vehicles, leaving Zheng Yanqing secretly astonished.

  This doesn't look like someone who has failed and returned home, it's clearly a triumphant return!

  Zheng Chang was over forty years old, with a dignified appearance and a slightly slender build. He had three strands of black whiskers under his chin, wore a blue robe, and outside it he wore a brocade gown, fully revealing his exceptional and outstanding temperament. Compared to Zheng Da Shi's slightly aged demeanor, this Zheng Chang was more spirited.

  Behind Zheng Chang, two people followed.

  One is literary and the other is martial; one is fat and the other is thin.

  The fat one was dressed as a scholar, with a harmless smile on his face that made people feel good; while the thin and strong man, although not too tall, gave off an aura of strength. Zheng Da Shi and Zheng Chang were chatting at the door, then arm in arm, they walked into the main hall of An Yuan Tang. But when the thin man passed by Yan Qing's side, Yan Qing's heart skipped a beat, instinctively taking a step back... because he felt a strong sense of oppression.

  This power is generated by the strength of Qi and blood.

  It is said that with robust energy and blood, dignity and authority are born, which is not without reason.

  How can a person with declining energy and blood possibly make others feel pressured?

  When an elderly person and a robust young man stand before you, the sense of oppression produced by the latter is far greater than that of the former.

  It all boils down to these two words: "qi" and "blood".

  And in the moment when the lean and strong warrior was walking past, he glanced at Yan Qing with a slight frown.

  It seems that he also sensed the fluctuations in Yan Qing's qi and blood, but looking at Yan Qing's attire, it was a young servant's dress, which made him feel puzzled. However, thinking again, the Zheng family of An Yuantang was known for its martial arts, and the servants in the household practiced martial arts, so it was not unreasonable... In large families and clans, who doesn't cultivate some trusted followers and teach them their skills? It's not an unusual thing.

  However, generally speaking, non-orthodox sects can at most only impart the foundational skills.

  Yan Qing is currently in the foundation building stage, so the warrior just frowned and didn't take Yan Qing to heart.

  It was just this glance that made Yan Qing feel his heart racing and his flesh creep.

  What sharp eyes!

  Is this what they mean by a high hand, being able to see through one's own mind?

  Xian Qing sighed secretly in his heart, but his face remained very calm.

  He pretended to be calm, watching the servants unloading boxes from the carriage and sending them in one by one. Adding up, there were at least a hundred large wooden boxes. Judging from the servants' footsteps, the objects inside these boxes were not light.

  "Brother Junjing, let me help you."

  Yan Qing said to a familiar servant.

  "Yan Qing, don't make trouble... This box is quite heavy, you can't move it."

  If I accidentally hurt you, the old steward will definitely blame me. Go stand aside, there are enough of us here.

  "Brother Junjing, what's inside? It's so heavy!"

  Jūn Jǐng glanced around and whispered, "Earlier in the inner courtyard, I scattered a box, it was all high-quality Shu brocade, and gold. I reckon that's why Second Master was dismissed from office... Don't tell anyone else."

  A person who has been dismissed from office actually has so many properties?

  During the Sui Dynasty, the currency in circulation was a copper coin called Sui two mints, but most of them were used for worldly circulation.

  Apart from this, more is calculated in gold and silk.

  If all of these hundred-odd boxes were filled with gold and silk fabrics, how much would that be?

  Zheng Chang was indeed rushed back!

  Even if King Han Yang is generous, he's afraid he won't allow him to bring back so many goods. Moreover, those two people who followed him seem not simple either. A great master actually became a follower of an official? Yan Qing couldn't believe it.

  As for that fat guy, he looks very kind.

  But Jian Qing felt that in those triangular eyes, a gloomy and sinister aura was flashing.

  An Yuantang, it seems like a storm is brewing...