Xi Hongxuan spoke with such certainty that Shen Zechuan could not help but look at him anew. Yet Xi Hongxuan refused to pursue the matter further in depth, only saying, “You don’t even have a proper residence right now. Keeping Qi Huilian with you isn’t convenient. Why not leave him with me for the time being?”
“Madman’s nonsense,” Shen Zechuan said calmly. “Keeping him with you wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate either. What do you want him for?”
“According to my thinking,” Xi Hongxuan said, raising a hand like a blade, “the best thing would be to finish him off. Those old, buried affairs are not things one should let cling to oneself. The more one knows, the more trouble it brings.” He flicked the edge of his hand and looked at Shen Zechuan. “You’re unwilling?”
“Of course I am,” Shen Zechuan replied. “He is an old minister from the Yongyi era and knows Shen Wei extremely well. Keeping him serves a purpose for me.”
If Shen Zechuan had agreed outright, Xi Hongxuan would not have trusted him so easily. So he spoke with seven parts truth and three parts falsehood, leaving Xi Hongxuan uncertain.
Sure enough, Xi Hongxuan did not bring up killing again. He said, “You still want to investigate Shen Wei’s case? You should have said so earlier. Lanzhou, something like this—was it really necessary to keep it from me for so long?”
“When did I ever hide it?” Shen Zechuan smiled as he lifted the teapot and poured tea for Xi Hongxuan. “Isn’t it obvious? As long as Shen Wei’s charges aren’t cleared, I can never stand upright as a proper man.”
“The evidence against him was solid. His infamy has already sunk deep into people’s hearts. Even if the charges were cleared, it wouldn’t convince the masses,” Xi Hongxuan said. “Treason of selling out the country for glory—this kind of grave crime can’t be washed clean over several lifetimes. An imperial pardon alone is useless. There are a thousand rumors under heaven; Shen Wei has long been nailed to a wall of spittle. Poor you—on this matter, all I can advise is to let it go. It can’t be explained away!”
Shen Zechuan set down the teapot in silence.
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Xi Hongxuan added, “You’re already a proper fifth-rank officer of the Embroidered Guard now. Why care about those rumors? Don’t. Look higher. This assignment was handled well—you’ll be promoted, won’t you?”
“The eight characters haven’t even formed yet,” Shen Zechuan said. “I haven’t secured my seat as Southern Commander. Charging upward blindly may not be a good thing.”
“This time, both you and I need to act cautiously. It’s truly life-risking business,” Xi Hongxuan said as he tucked his fox-fur cloak closer. “This matter must be investigated thoroughly. They’re in the dark while I’m in the light—if we don’t uncover it clearly, we’ll never be able to guard against it. This time it’s me under pressure; next time, who knows? You should watch yourself too. I won’t stay long today. Lanzhou, I’ll see you at the residence in a few days.”
As he spoke, Xi Hongxuan stood up and looked around the courtyard.
“This place seems fine to me. If you’re short on money, just have someone let your brothers know. As for today’s business—let’s not take it to heart, shall we?”
Xi Hongxuan smiled as he spoke. Shen Zechuan smiled back. The two reconciled, as though there were no lingering grudges at all, as if what had just happened had been nothing more than playful banter.
Qiao Tianya saw Xi Hongxuan off. When he returned to the courtyard, he saw Shen Zechuan standing with his back turned, facing the main hall, wiping his hands with a handkerchief.
The slanting sunset outside the courtyard cut across the ground, casting Shen Zechuan’s python robe in a blood-red glow. His slightly lowered neck was jade-white and smooth as he carefully wiped his long, flawless fingers. They were clearly clean, yet he seemed to loathe them intensely.
“He’s gone?” Shen Zechuan asked, turning his head slightly.
“I watched him get into the carriage,” Qiao Tianya said. He stopped some distance away, not stepping closer. Instead, he bent down to pick up a crushed fallen leaf from the ground, studying it for a moment. “The people he brought were all martial artists, yet no fight broke out. Presumably Master Ji Gang was on guard, and the Grand Preceptor did not resist.”
“Master burned his face to destroy it for the sake of living under a false name. Not acting rashly was the best course,” Shen Zechuan said as he folded the blue handkerchief neatly. “Sir cannot remain in Xi Hongxuan’s hands for long. We must find a way.”
Qiao Tianya crushed the leaf in his fingers and did not interrupt Shen Zechuan’s thoughts. Suddenly, Shen Zechuan turned around. The afterglow dazzled his eyes, but he neither dodged nor avoided it, instead gazing toward the towering imperial palace.
“Legitimate bloodline…” Shen Zechuan murmured, then asked Qiao Tianya, “Who lives in there?”
Qiao Tianya followed his gaze and said, “The Li clan.”
“No,” Shen Zechuan’s eyes were cold as he let out a mocking laugh. “It’s a deer. When the Zhou lost their deer, all the heroes under heaven could chase it. Today you say it’s the Li clan; tomorrow I can say it’s some random cat or dog. Whoever can climb that dragon throne at the summit—that person is the legitimate one.”
Qiao Tianya prided himself on being unorthodox, yet he had not expected Shen Zechuan to dare say something like this. Startled, he took several steps back and stared at the palace. “Such words of rebellion—this could be called contempt for royal law.”
“You know there are countless gentlemen in this world, every one of them upright and loyal to the bone,” Shen Zechuan said as he slipped the handkerchief back into his sleeve. “Border Earl Lu Pingyan was known as the ‘Wolf-Tiger of the Border City.’ To hold the frontier, he spent all his family wealth. Though he holds a noble title, he eats nothing but pickled vegetables and taro every day. By the time of Lu Guangbai, every time there is war, military funds are tight. Because he has long been at odds with the Eight Great Families, even with distinguished achievements he has yet to be ennobled. To be such a gentleman and good minister—is that satisfying?”
“First ask your conscience, then speak of satisfaction. To be a remonstrating minister, one must give up the self and abandon private desires. Feng Yisheng of Locksky Pass lost his entire family of loyal bones in battle—this is righteousness made manifest.”
The madness Shen Zechuan had just suppressed surged up again. He stood and laughed loudly. “Qiao Tianya, you’re not unorthodox at all. You’re a prisoner within the Way—a man capable of being a gentleman.”
“Master—” Qiao Tianya said.
The afterglow of the sky sank fully into night. Darkness spread, and the bare branches of the pear tree clawed at the air, casting shadows across Shen Zechuan’s upturned face.
“But this world always needs someone to be a traitorous minister and a rebel. I do not believe fate is decreed by heaven. If one day a blade is at my throat, then even if it’s Xi Hongxuan—or Li Jianheng—I will not stay my hand. What Xi Hongxuan calls ‘legitimate bloodline’ is nothing but a madman’s dream to me. When the blade cuts the throat, everyone dies—legitimate or illegitimate, no exceptions.”
The cold night was desolate. A few crows cried mournfully. Shen Zechuan turned back to look at Qiao Tianya.
“My ambition is not to be a gentleman, nor to be a good man. If repaying slights with vengeance has become my creed, then favor is favor, offense is offense. What happened today—I want Xi Hongxuan to pay for it with his life.”
The wind swept away the remnants of cloud, knocking the last leaves from the branches.
The Censorate’s impeachments came fiercely, successively targeting Xi Hongxuan, Pan Xiangjie, Wei Huaixing, and even Hai Liangyi. Cen Yu presided as chief drafter, and the various factions fought bitterly on the court floor.
Li Jianheng had only just awakened. In recent days he spoke little, and when he sat in the Hall of Clear Principle to hear governance, he simply let them argue.
Hai Liangyi had already been unwell before the epidemic. Lately he looked gaunt and had not rested at all. Now, hearing the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue erupt into yet another dispute, he could not help but cough heavily.
Li Jianheng hastily said, “Grand Secretary, no need to rise. Please speak while seated.”
Hai Liangyi saluted, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. After easing somewhat, he said, “Yesterday the Grand Secretariat submitted the reward-and-punishment provisions for this matter to the imperial desk. After Your Majesty reviews them, if anything seems inappropriate, they may be rejected for reconsideration.”
Li Jianheng seemed distracted. Hai Liangyi thought he would equivocate, yet after a brief pause he said, “I have already read them. There are indeed some points I do not understand, and I ask the Grand Secretary to enlighten me.”
At these words, the entire hall was stunned.
Li Jianheng opened the memorial and said, “The Imperial Guards rendered merit in clearing the official canals. Xiao Chiye is already a second-rank Superintendent of the Imperial Guards. Rewarding him with only silver, gold, and jade is of little significance—too little.”
Hai Liangyi replied, “This year the Fengshan Training Grounds were expanded, with funds coordinated by the Ministry of Revenue. That already exempts him from his greatest expenditure of the year. In this minister’s view, rewards should not be excessive. This is sufficient.”
“But the allocation of medicinal materials, the isolation of the sick, the clearing of canals—none of these were small matters, and he handled them all well,” Li Jianheng said.
Hai Liangyi considered this and said, “The merits are real, but these tasks were not accomplished by the Imperial Guards alone. If the favor is too great—”
“I wish to advance his noble rank,” Li Jianheng said, closing the memorial and looking at Hai Liangyi. “He is the legitimate second son of the Prince of Libei. If he were fighting on the battlefield, he would already have a title by now.”
Hai Liangyi did not respond at once.
Li Jianheng said, “These past days while I lay sick in bed, I thought of nothing else. I wish to confer upon Xiao Chiye the title ‘Marquis of Pacifying the Capital.’ What does the Grand Secretary think?”
Hai Liangyi said, “This cannot be done, Your Majesty. Without military merit, one cannot be ennobled. Though Xiao Chiye rendered service this time, it is far from sufficient to warrant a title. The Lu clan of the Qidong borderlands has amassed achievements in battle, yet now only the old general Lu Pingyan has been granted the title of Border Earl. Xiao Chiye has neither secured territory nor driven back enemies. To rashly grant him a marquisate would be hard to justify to the people.”
“He had merit in protecting the throne at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds, and this time he was fearless in a crisis. The fact that the epidemic did not spread is a good thing—this concerns the stability of Du Capital. Does that not count as achievement? As for Border Earl Lu Pingyan, he repeatedly mobilized border garrison troops without authorization. His lack of further advancement is simply merit and fault balancing each other out,” Li Jianheng said, his eyes reddening as he covered his face and choked up. “Could it be that my life is worth so little? Granting him a marquisate is meant as praise. It does not increase the number of Imperial Guards, nor does it grant him private powers. It is merely an empty title. Even that is not allowed?”
Wei Huaigu had originally intended to impeach Xiao Chiye for privately reallocating medicinal supplies, but seeing the direction of the wind, he changed his tune. “What Your Majesty thinks is reasonable. Xiao Chiye’s decisiveness and courage in crisis do merit reward. But what the Grand Secretary says is also correct. In this minister’s view, perhaps Xiao Chiye could first be granted the title ‘Earl of Pacifying the Capital’ to show honor.”
“No,” Hai Liangyi refused to yield an inch. “There is absolutely no such precedent. Your Majesty, if Xiao Chiye is ennobled today, tomorrow it will chill the hearts of the veteran generals guarding the frontiers. No military merit, no ennoblement—this is a settled principle of the court.”
“Then first ennoble Lu Pingyan, advance him to marquis, and then ennoble Xiao Chiye as an earl. In that case, will the Grand Secretary still object?” Li Jianheng said.
He spoke of ennobling as though it were child’s play.
Hai Liangyi coughed violently, trying to say more, but Pan Xiangjie cut in first. Pan Xiangjie said in a flustered hurry, “This minister believes it is a good thing. This would be the first ennoblement since Your Majesty’s accession—a great honor. Grand Secretary, one must not cling rigidly to old rules. He truly has merit. What harm is there in making an exception once?”
Seeing the aristocratic families unanimously egging Li Jianheng on, Kong Qiu could not help but kneel. “This minister believes the Grand Secretary is correct. Your Majesty, Lu Pingyan has devoted himself wholly to defending the borderlands. Even if he is to be ennobled, it should not be done so rashly—”
“Rash?” Li Jianheng flung his sleeves aside and stood, pointing at Kong Qiu. “I have asked for everyone’s opinions again and again, and you still dare say I am being rash! I see that in court you obey the Grand Secretary in everything. Sovereign and minister, sovereign and minister—who is your sovereign, and whose minister are you?!”
All the ministers knelt, crying in unison, “Your Majesty, quell your anger!”
Kong Qiu immediately said, “Your Majesty is this minister’s sovereign and father. This minister obeys Your Majesty’s every command! But exceeding the system to grant titles is indeed improper!”
“I am determined to ennoble him!” Li Jianheng said through tears. “I have suffered calamity after calamity, and each time it was Ce’an who helped me turn danger into safety. I wish to grant him a title, and you all obstruct me at every turn! All affairs of this court are decided by the Grand Secretary—then why not give this throne to the Grand Secretary to sit upon!”
These words were tantamount to condemning Hai Liangyi to death. Hai Liangyi knelt unsteadily, covering his mouth as he coughed violently. He met no outside officials, held no private banquets, and labored day and night, all to avoid forming factions. He had guided Li Jianheng with such care precisely because he feared being stabbed in the back. He was a pillar of the state, not a tyrannical minister!
Seeing Hai Liangyi bent over coughing, Li Jianheng dared not make more trouble. He called for someone to help him up, yet still said, “No matter what, Xiao Chiye must be ennobled!”
A great uproar erupted in the Hall of Clear Principle. Several days later, the imperial edict was issued, like a thunderclap, shaking memorials from all quarters.
Lu Guangbai received the edict with his father at the borderlands. Lu Pingyan was advanced to marquis. Holding the edict, Lu Guangbai did not know what expression he should wear at that moment.
Generation after generation of the Lu family had been buried in this yellow sand. In his prime, Lu Pingyan had been known as the “Wolf-Tiger of the Border City,” his fame rivaling that of Xiao Fangxu and Qi Shiyu. Now, riddled with injuries and illness, he had not yet retired to the rear lines. At last he had endured to receive his reward—yet it came as though to make way for a junior.
Xiao Chiye had been sleeping at home when he heard the edict had arrived. He dressed and came out to receive it.
After Fu Man finished reading the edict, he beamed with joy and moved to help Xiao Chiye up, only to see that Xiao Chiye’s expression was dark and that he had no intention of accepting the edict.
—This title cannot be taken!
What Hai Liangyi said was absolutely right. Though Xiao Chiye had merit in protecting the throne at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds and had played a pivotal role in this matter, these achievements were worlds apart from the hard-won military merits earned by real blades and blood on the frontier.
Who was Lu Pingyan?
That was a man who called Xiao Fangxu his brother!
Now they were trampling Lu Pingyan to ennoble Xiao Chiye. How was Xiao Chiye to serve in the various frontier garrisons in the future? How was he to command respect? Most importantly, what would the Lu family think? How were the Xiao and Lu families to remain brothers?
“Pacifying the Capital, pacifying the Capital”—this was to pin Xiao Chiye down in Du Capital. Li Jianheng had fallen ill once and damned if he hadn’t fallen stupid!
Xiao Chiye’s anger surged. He had not slept well, yanked at his half-worn official robe, and suppressed his rage with effort. With a blank expression, he said, “Go and respectfully inform His Majesty that Xiao Ce’an’s virtue does not match his position. I dare not accept such overwhelming favor, nor dare I receive this heaven-bestowed title.”