Insufficient balance

  The sun shone brightly, and the pedestrians on the street grew more numerous. Suddenly, a strange procession appeared at the North City Gate: sixteen fully armed Imperial Guardsmen of the Ming Dynasty, with swords at their waists, escorted a gleaming black lacquer carriage into the city.

  A majestic white horse with a beautiful saddle, the armor worn by the guards on the horse is many times more magnificent than the uniforms of the border army. The carriage entered the city without stopping and went straight to the relay station.

  Inside the post house, Yang Ling was chatting and drinking tea with Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing, trying to get as much information as possible from them about the capital city and the Brocade Guards. At this moment, a post soldier rushed in and said: "Sir, there is an official coming to deliver a letter to the imperial carriage, the horse team will arrive soon."

  Yang Ling was greatly surprised, the post house was responsible for receiving officials passing by, but not far from where the chicken cried out was the Tartar's territory, and there had never been any high-ranking officials coming. If an official came to deliver a letter, the scale of the vehicle team would definitely not be small, who had arrived?

  Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing accompanied him hastily out the door, only to see a horse-drawn carriage slowly approaching along the post road, with eight fine war horses on either side, and knights sitting upright on horseback, wearing helmets and armor, looking very majestic.

  As soon as he saw the yellow flag inserted on the horse carriage, Liu Biao quickly caught up with one step and whispered to Yang Ling's ear: "Sir, this is someone from the capital."

  Yang Ling nodded slightly, standing solemnly at the door. The horse carriage stopped in front of him and the curtain was lifted, revealing a person who walked out with a slight bow. He was over 50 years old, with a thin face and dressed as an imperial eunuch.

  Yang Ling exclaimed: "Lord Liu?" The man was indeed Supervisor Liu, who got off his carriage and smiled at Yang Ling, saying: "Yang Ling, we really do have a good relationship... it's only been over a month, and yet we meet again."

  Yang Ling let Liu Gonggong enter the main hall, and for a moment he couldn't figure out his intention. As he himself had been promoted to Jin Yiwei and held the position of a fifth-rank Tongzhi, it was not necessary for eunuchs from the palace to show up. When eunuchs left the palace, they usually did so with an imperial edict to supervise the army, collect taxes, or purchase supplies for the imperial palace. It was extremely rare for them to summon officials below the third rank, and even more so with a holy edict in hand.

  Sixteen warriors stepped into the hall and stood on both sides, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, their eyes fixed straight ahead. Liu Gonggong walked to the center of the hall, turned around, cleared his throat, and announced in a loud voice: "Yang Ling, the county lieutenant of Jixing, receives the imperial edict!"

  Yang Ling was at a loss, with a bewildered expression, and when he heard that the Emperor had issued an imperial edict to him, he was already greatly shocked. As for receiving the edict, whether it was like in the movies or not, he had no idea. Fortunately, Liu Gonggong had also seen many such officials before, and the imperial edict wasn't a newspaper, so how many officials had actually received an imperial edict? Even among the high-ranking officials in the court, there were many who had made fools of themselves when receiving an imperial edict for the first time. He smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "Yang Ling, kneel down to receive the proclamation!"

  Yang Ling looked at him with gratitude, hastily knelt down on both knees and said: "Your humble servant... Yang Ling has heard your declaration." For the first time in his life, Yang Ling felt a bit uneasy about kneeling to someone else, but he was willing to follow local customs. At least he didn't have the courage to resist.

  "The Emperor, who has received the Mandate of Heaven and is assisted by good fortune, decrees as follows: I have heard that the reason why the rulers of the Three Dynasties were able to obtain the empire was because they obtained the people. Therefore, the people are the foundation of a country. The ancient sages had a saying: 'The way of great virtue is for all under heaven to be public...' "

  Liu Gonggong read with a nodding head and a rhythmic tone. Yang Ling listened to Liu Gonggong reciting those classical texts, although he understood the meaning, but it was also quite difficult to listen to. After a long time, he finally heard Liu Gonggong get to the point: "...Therefore, the people are the masters of the country, and the Son of Heaven takes the place of the people to have the world. For those who are rulers, they should lecture on trustworthiness, cultivate harmony, select the virtuous and the able. At present, the Crown Prince is intelligent and fond of learning, and has heard that Yang Ling, a scholar from Xuanfu, is both virtuous and able, which is very good. My intention is to have Yang Ling come to the capital to serve as the Crown Prince's reader, and to hear the imperial edict immediately without delay. Respectfully issued. 18th year of the Hongzhi era, second month."

  Yang Ling was perplexed, the Crown Prince's reader? Wasn't he a co-administrator of the Brocade Guard? He suddenly thought of Ma Lian'er's words that night: "Advancement in officialdom is not child's play, there's a saying that the path to office is fraught with danger... Based on the 'merit' you've established, it's impossible for you to be promoted three ranks in a row and enter the central government, and it's even more impossible for someone in the capital to be so kind as to promote your official position for no reason. We must think carefully, we can't let people take advantage of us..."

  Yang Ling suddenly understood, no wonder Jin Yiwei rushed to promote his official position, it turned out that he heard the emperor was going to let him take on the role of Crown Prince's reader, and came to add flowers to the brocade. The Crown Prince's reader, although a sixth-grade official, is actually the Crown Prince's classmate. Once the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, how can these people closest to the Crown Prince not be reused?

  He was originally just a minor official on the periphery of the Imperial Guards, but with this appointment, he became a key figure in the central government of the Imperial Guards. With one paper appointment, he pulled the future emperor's confidant into his own camp, naturally without losing out.

  Liu Gonggong saw that he was still kneeling there in a daze, and said in a low voice: "Yang Yishi, don't you accept the imperial decree and thank the emperor?"

  Yang Ling came to his senses, hastily shouting: "Your subject, receives the edict and thanks for the grace." He took the imperial decree from Liu Gonggong's hands with both hands, sneaking a glance, seeing that Liu Gonggong did not mean to make himself kneel three times and knock nine times, so he stood up.

  Liu Gonggong handed over the imperial edict, and immediately put away his high and mighty, looking down on others' attitude, and with a smile, he said to Yang Ling: "Yang Xiānggōng, our Liu Jin is a slave at the side of the Crown Prince. From now on, Yang Xiānggōng will be the Crown Prince's reader, we should get closer in the future."

  Yang Ling was startled and exclaimed: "Liu Jin? Are you Liu Jin?"

  Liu Gonggong blinked and said strangely: "What's this? Has Mr. Yang heard of our family name?"

  Yang Ling nodded and then shook his head, also didn't know what to say anymore.

  Liu Jin, the prototype of the factory owner in "New Dragon Gate Inn", is said to be a ruthless eunuch who kills people without blinking an eye. Is this unremarkable old eunuch standing before us really him?

  Bowing to the TV, what Wang Zhi, Wei Zhongxian, Liu Jin, and Yang Ling are all household names. Among them, these great eunuchs each have extraordinary martial arts skills, with white hair and a youthful face, and an eerie aura. At this time, seeing the unremarkable-looking real Liu Jin and Yang Ling, one would think they were just people with the same name and surname.

  Liu Jin happily said: "Our family serves the crown prince, it's rare to leave the capital once, and there are only a few people who know our name. I didn't expect Mr. Yang to have heard of me, haha, indeed, a scholar doesn't need to go out, he already knows everything under heaven."

  "Director Yang, now that we have received the imperial edict, I think we should set off immediately. The current crown prince is fond of martial arts, and it would be best to practice spear and staff techniques, as well as military formations. Director Yang presented a memorial to General He, which our family brought back to the capital, and the crown prince was delighted when he saw it. He's thinking of using your methods to train the Imperial Guards, so let's not keep him waiting."

  Liu Jin is now handling affairs with great care and seriousness. He is currently in charge of the Zhong Drum Department, which has the smallest power among the 24 inner officials. The Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao is fond of martial arts and has a temper that changes like the wind and rain. Moreover, the Emperor is extremely doting on this precious son, so Liu Jin dare not be negligent.

  Yang Ling had to call over Nian Niang to start packing up. Liu and Yang told outsiders that they were servants of the Yang family, although the local post house people found it strange, but since Liu Gonggong didn't know about the Yang family's situation, he didn't think much of it either. After Yang Ling finished preparing everything and Ma Liang'er still hadn't returned, she said to Nian Niang, asking her big brother to send a message outside the city, so that she wouldn't think they had left without saying goodbye.

  At this time, three carriages were traveling on the winding mountain road. The mountain road was narrow, with sixteen guards protecting them in front and behind, eight in front and eight in back. In front was Liu Gonggong's lacquered carriage, and the two carriages behind were sent from the post station. On the front of each carriage stood a high pole with the character "station" written on it, and in the back sat Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing in the luggage carriage.

  Han Youniang gazed silently out the window, having never been apart from her family since childhood. She had gone to such a distant place alone, and just a few days ago she was excited like a child thinking about going to the capital city. Now that she had really left, her heart felt empty again. Alas, her father had become a courier and was always on the move, and this time she hadn't even seen him before leaving. She didn't know how long it would take before she could see her loved ones again.

  Yang Ling knew she was reluctant in her heart, and softly comforted: "Don't worry, after we settle down in the capital, I'll think of a way to bring your parents-in-law to Beijing too."

  The little girl murmured, gently leaning into Yang Ling's arms. Her big eyes sparkled, lost in thought. Yang Ling stroked her back lightly, also deep in thought.

  What is the role of a crown prince's reader? He himself doesn't have any memory of the original Yang Ling, the number one scholar from Xuanfu. If he really had to take an exam on the Four Books, Five Classics, and Eight-legged Essay, it can be said that he wouldn't understand a single thing. Fortunately, being a reader is just a nominal title, all he needs to do is accompany the crown prince while he reads books.

  His understanding of history was too simplistic, apart from Zhu Di, Yongle and Chongzhen, he had some knowledge of other Ming dynasty emperors, but now he found himself inexplicably pushed to the center of this historical stage, surrounded by powerful figures of this era, could he cope?

  Yang Ling had always been muddle-headed, only wanting to have a warm and cozy life with his wife and children, and be happy for a couple of years. Now, he's being pushed to the forefront, as the saying goes "being with a king is like being with a tiger", for the sake of his own safety, he has no choice but to become serious and take the initiative to get to know this era.

  Yang Ling sorted out his thoughts, and information about this era flowed slowly through his mind...

  It is now the 18th year of the Hongzhi era, and the emperor is the Hongzhi Emperor, with the surname Zhu. The name is unknown due to limited knowledge, so... it is not detailed. His life is also not detailed. Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao was a romantic, fond of women, and incompetent, but very handsome. There are records of his life and events: he indulged in pleasure-seeking and died relatively early. Liu Jin, the great treacherous official, when did he rise to prominence? Unknown. How did he die? Unknown. Anyway, it wasn't a good death.

  Good-for-nothing! Absolutely good-for-nothing! Yang Ling could only give himself such an evaluation, relying on this little information to grasp the situation, avoid disasters and seize opportunities? He felt disheartened for a while, but suddenly his spirit lifted again, and he straightened up: Why bother with so much? What about Emperor Zhengde, what about the treacherous official Liu Jin, my life is as short as grass, that's not something I should worry about. My goal is to go to Beijing, become a high-ranking official, and mix in with the crowd!

  The ignorant are fearless, and Yang Ling, who is ready to rush into the capital with his eyes closed, begins to be blindly optimistic.

  Ma Lian'er rushed to the Yicheng government office like a gust of wind, and in the blink of an eye, she galloped out and headed straight for the North City. The sound of the horse's hooves on the bluestone pavement was urgent and rapid, like rain. As soon as the horse left the city, it disappeared from view in the vast wilderness. Ma Lian'er held the reins and hesitated for a moment at the city gate, not taking the winding mountain road, but instead cutting through the unplanted fields and taking a shortcut to rush forward.

  The dark green cloak fluttered in the air, making a rustling sound. Her heart was racing with anxiety. Heartless Yang Da Ge didn't even give me time to see him off, why did he leave in such a hurry? This separation would last for three years before they could meet again.

  The horse was like a flying arrow, its four hooves flying in the air as it galloped across the fields. The land rushed past in a blur until they reached a small river, which the horse crossed with a burst of speed, sending water splashing high into the air like shattered jade. In the distance, she saw a carriage winding its way slowly along the mountain road, and Ma Lian'er's heart leapt with joy. She turned her horse's head and followed the river, pursuing the carriage up one side of the mountain and down the other, never giving up.

  The mountain scenery changed, in front of them was a semicircular valley, the horse carriage turned around, on this side was the precipice of Lin Ying, and the armored soldiers on the winding mountain road and Liu Bi and Yang Yiqing who were sitting on the carriage pole had become aware of the red horse rushing down the mountain. Liu Bi stood up and looked down at the mountain, shouting: "There is a young lady chasing after us below!"

  Yang Ling and Yu Niang hastily got out of the carriage, only to see a red horse and a green cloud slowly approaching from the foot of the mountain. Han Yu Niang couldn't help but exclaim: "It's Lian Er sister, Master, Lian Er sister has arrived."

  Yang Lian hastily called out to the car driver to stop, and stood on the carriage shaft looking down at the mountain. Ma Lian'er also reined in her horse, and one person and one horse stood quietly there. A precipice that could not be climbed made it so that the two people could only face each other from a distance.

  Ma Lian'er gazed blankly for a while, seeing Yang Ling wave at her and then signal the horse carriage to continue moving forward, but he still stood at the front of the carriage looking at her. Ma Lian'er's heart surged, suddenly pulling out the small curved knife from her waist, swiftly cutting off a strand of hair, hastily tying it to the arrow shaft of an arrow.

  The horse carriage slowly moved, and as soon as it turned out of the valley path, it would disappear from her line of sight. Malan suddenly pulled the reins, squeezed his legs against the horse's abdomen, and let out a loud neigh, which echoed through the mountains and valleys.

  Halfway up the mountain, Yang Ling and a group of warriors all looked down into the valley, only to see the red horse suddenly rise up, steady for just an instant, then with its four hooves flying, the crimson horse charged forward with incredible speed. Ahead was the precipice of Dead Valley, about thirty zhang away.

  The horse galloped swiftly, covering a distance of twenty zhang in the blink of an eye. At such a speed, it was likely that both the rider and the horse would crash to death against the rocky wall. The people on the mountain couldn't help but exclaim in shock. However, they saw Ma Lian'er's swift horse suddenly make a nearly ninety-degree sharp turn, dropping the reins, drawing the bow, twisting its body, and shooting an arrow, all in one smooth motion, with elegant and beautiful movements that left the onlookers gasping in amazement.

  Liu Biao, Yang Yiqing and several soldiers in the army could not help but cheer loudly. In the capital city, many high-ranking officials and nobles raised some Tartar officers at home, who were Mongolian warriors recruited to show off their riding and shooting skills, which they had seen before when the great Yuan dynasty's iron knights dominated the world.

  The Mongolians' archery skills are the best in the world. Malan's horse riding and arrow shooting skills, as well as those of the Manchu officers who excel in both, are identical, but when performed by a young girl, they exude an indescribable beauty.

  Yang Ling's carriage was just about to turn around the stone cliff in front, and as soon as it left Ma Lian'er's line of sight, three arrows arrived with a thud, shooting at the flagpole an arm's length in front of Yang Ling. The arrow tails were still buzzing, scaring the coachman sitting under the pole into a tremble, almost falling off the carriage.

  The horse carriage moved slowly, and in front of the cliff, a clump of green grass had already obscured the view of the child below. Three sharp arrows flew in unison, forming a straight line, and shot onto the pole. On the middle arrow, an arrowhead was tied with a strand of green silk, which still fluttered gently in the wind.

  Han Youniang stroked that strand of black hair, and said somewhat sourly: "Husband, Lian'er sister shaved her head to show her determination."

  Yang Ling scratched his nose and looked back at the three sharp arrows and a strand of green silk nailed to the flagpole, he couldn't help but think with a bitter smile: "Green silk, emotional thread, three arrows, three years, this girl won't be as stubborn as Nian Niang, will she?"

  PS: Drinking tonight, taking leave in advance! If I get drunk like Guan Gong and can still go home, then no problem, justice comes first, coding is the most important. If I get drunk like Ji Gong, then sorry about that, being crazy and reckless, at most come back to post some drunken ravings in the book review section. If I get drunk like Zhou Gong... little brother, let's meet in our dreams.