Chapter 87: 87. Chapter 87: Relying on Age, Acting Arrogantly, the Duke of Chu

87. Chapter 87: Relying on Age, Acting Arrogantly, the Duke of Chu

How do you know that?

You mean the Emperor decided who would be the top scholar and still told you?

Shen Yunyao looked curiously at Princess Huanxi.

Yes!

My royal brother told me that.

Hehe, Qi Jiejie, let me tell you, before this year's palace examination for the jinshi, my royal brother had me go and look over all the candidates, and he said that if I took a liking to anyone, he would specially keep them for me to be my prince consort.

……？！

Seeing Princess Huanxi giggling, Shen Yunyao didn't know what to say.

Well, she really broadened her horizons.

The birth of a prince consort is really this childish?

However, as the Emperor, being able to let his sister choose her own prince consort before the official appointment truly shows his indulgence toward Princess Huanxi.

Then, why didn't you pick one?

Dayong's palace examination is held every three years!

In other words, those who appear in the palace examination are all the outstanding talents from across Dayong.

None caught my eye!

Princess Huanxi shrugged. 'Qi Jiejie, you haven't seen what those people look like—ah, it's really hard to put into words!'

Go on, tell me—anyway, we don't have anything pressing to do.

Shen Yunyao was very curious; the palace examination that gathered all of Dayong's talents, in Princess Huanxi's eyes, these people were indescribable—how interesting!

Qi Jiejie, you didn't see the situation back then—some people already had full white hair, some looked so old they could be my grandfather!

The only few young ones were all too weak and bookish!

I was thinking, if I punched them, they might cry for a long time!

Princess Huanxi shook her pale little fist, looking quite formidable.

Shen Yunyao was also convinced.

'Zhenzhen, aren't you worried that when you're older, the Retired Emperor might just randomly assign you a prince consort?'

No worries!

Princess Huanxi chuckled lightly, 'My prince consort must be someone I agree to. This point, my father the Emperor, my mother the Empress, and my royal brother have all agreed to, and they even issued an imperial edict and stamped it with the seal!'

So even if I never marry for my whole life, there's no problem at all.

That's great!

Hearing that Princess Huanxi actually had full control over her own marriage, Shen Yunyao couldn't help but feel envious.

However, perhaps in all of Dayong, only Princess Huanxi is such an oddball.

Who made her so favored?

Fish, fish, there's a fish!

Before Shen Yunyao could adjust her mood, Princess Huanxi suddenly shouted.

Unfortunately, this girl was too overjoyed, and she completely forgot to first grab the fishing rod; by the time she realized, the rod had been pulled into the pond by the hooked fish.

Ah!

My fishing rod!

Princess Huanxi was furious.

Soon, the female guards rushed over, went back into the water, and hauled the fishing rod up.

Princess Huanxi gripped the fishing rod and began to wrestle with the fish.

After a moment, the unfortunate fish floated to the surface, having been tormented by Princess Huanxi to the point of misery, no longer wanting to struggle.

Shen Yunyao stood by, purely just watching the spectacle.

She had never seen anyone lift a fish out of the water and not grab it, but instead keep moving it back and forth in the water.

That unfortunate fish was toyed with by Princess Huanxi for half an hour, left unable to live or die.

Hmph, daring to snatch this princess's fishing rod—this is your lesson!

Seeing that this grass carp about a foot long finally stopped struggling, Princess Huanxi then fully lifted it out of the water and handed it to the cook for on-the-spot grilling.

Qi Jiejie, am I impressive?

Impressive, you're extremely impressive!

Shen Yunyao gave Princess Huanxi a thumbs-up, 'Next time, let's go fish in the river!'

By then, we'll prepare a boat, fish from the boat, so we won't have to worry about all those ruffians around!

It's not that Shen Yunyao doesn't want Princess Huanxi to fish here; it's that she feels Princess Huanxi's energy is too exuberant, this small pond isn't enough for her to expend.

Exactly, why didn't I think of that!

Hehe, Qi Jiejie, it's still you who's got it!

How about we go fish in the river now?

Princess Huanxi really does come up with one idea after another.

Shen Yunyao thought about it, and didn't refuse either.

Although Qinyuan Ju is beautiful and spacious, after all it's a man-made landscape; seeing too much of it inevitably grows tiresome.

The two made their decision here, and preparations immediately began over there.

The grandmothers accompanying both of them are experienced people; the things needed for the trip were quickly arranged, and the casual guards were also properly assigned.

From deciding to leave to actually departing Qinyuan Ju, the whole process took just a little over a moment.

This efficiency, Shen Yunyao truly admires it.

Cuiyu stayed by Shen Yunyao's side, sitting in the carriage, curiously watching the people and shops outside.

Since arriving in Jingcheng, they truly haven't been wandering around outside at all.

After all, Shen Yunyao came to Jingcheng to wait for marriage.

At a time like this, if she roamed all over Jingcheng and happened to encounter trouble, it would be quite problematic.

A woman who is too beautiful is never a good thing.

The idiom "beauty brings disaster" has been passed down since antiquity and already explains many things.

"Miss, look over there—could that be a young master!"

When the carriage was halfway, Cuiyu suddenly shouted excitedly.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for Shen Yunyao to hear.

Following the direction of Cuiyu's finger, Shen Yunyao indeed saw Xie Zian.

At that moment, Xie Zian wore a moon‑white robe, held a folding fan, and someone beside him held an umbrella; they were standing in front of a jewelry shop, speaking with a man in a scarlet robe.

Perhaps by some intuition, when Shen Yunyao looked at Xie Zian, his gaze followed her.

Their eyes met in the air.

Shen Yunyao suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

She wasn't properly waiting for marriage at Qinyuan Ju, but was dragging the delighted princess out of the city to fish, giving off a somewhat neglectful vibe.

"Miss, it really is a young master!"

"The young master is looking over too!"

"Oh dear, will the young master have seen us?"

Cuiyu quickly lowered the carriage's window curtain, her voice becoming a bit softer, as if she had done something wrong.

"Probably not, didn't see us!"

"Even from this distance!"

Shen Yunyao simply told a little lie to prevent Cuiyu from being frightened.

However, Shen Yunyao was puzzled; Cuiyu has always been bold, so why did she act so startled just upon seeing Xie Zian?

"Miss, that's a young master!"

"From now on, we'll have to live according to the young master's mood; tell me, can a servant not be afraid?"

Facing Shen Yunyao's question, Cuiyu's answer was rather realistic.

Shen Yunyao thought of the few accidental meetings with Xie Zian, couldn't help but chuckle, saying: "Silly girl, your young master isn't a petty, narrow‑minded person; rest assured, he won't trouble you!"

What kind of person is Xie Zian, after all?

Shen Yunyao doesn't know.

But appearance reflects the heart!

A radiant, moonlit, graceful young man like that should be broad‑minded, right?

Her future days might be very different.

…

"Is the young master that good?"

"But my little daughter‑in‑law's eye for talent is still quite good!"

The reason Xie Zian discovered Shen Yunyao was because he heard her inner voice, which made him realize she was nearby.

"I tell you, ancestor, is the 'jianxi' you mentioned actually there?"

Zeng Jiu looked at the suddenly smiling Xie Zian and, a bit exasperated, spoke.

As the Night Patrol Commander, he has the authority to mobilize the Night Patrol Division at any time to sweep all of Jingcheng's territories, and as soon as someone is suspected, any officials below the second rank can be seized directly.

A few days ago, Xie Zian told him that a Northern Lands jianxi had infiltrated Jingcheng; for that, he immediately deployed Night Patrol personnel to thoroughly investigate every brothel in the city.

But the jianxi wasn't found; instead, many officials were arrested.

Now, this matter must have an ending!

If the jianxi can't be found, doesn't that mean the Night Patrol Division is incompetent? The officials they've implicated will inevitably face all sorts of targeting.

"Of course there is!"

Xie Zian smiled, "Speaking of it, you're also blind as a bat!"

"What about the Northern Lands? The most?"

"Look again at Jingcheng; which shops could be linked to the Northern Lands?"

"The Northern Lands have the most cattle and horses, oh, and they also have many leather hides!"

Zeng Jiu's eyes widened instantly, "You mean the Northern Lands jianxi have been opening shops in Jingcheng, selling those Northern Lands products?"

"Not only that!"

"Think carefully, why did I order you to raid the brothels?"

"The Northern Lands have always been close to the Western Regions!"

"The name of the Western Regions dancing girls—you, as the Night Patrol Commander, surely have heard of them, right?"

"Ancestor, those Western Regions dancing girls are all of pure background, having passed the bright path!"

Zeng Jiu thought this was a bit impossible.

The Western Nations are extremely respectful toward Dayong, and the Western Regions dancing girls currently in Jingcheng are all dispatched by those nations.

Their status is far from ordinary!

"I gave you the information; whether you believe it or investigate is up to you!"

After speaking, Xie Zian waved his hand and left.

"Damn, investigate!"

After Xie Zian left, Zeng Jiu thought for a moment and decided to investigate.

If we don't catch a few real perverts this time, the court's big shots and the Emperor won't go easy on him.

After all, sending the Night Patrol Office is no small matter.

……

"Young master, are there really Northern perverts among the Western dancing girls?"

Xie Lu, who was by Xie Zian's side, felt rather uneasy, because he had not stopped seeking the Western dancing girls to discuss the true meaning of life during this period.

"Uncle Lu, you didn't know?"

Xie Zian stared at Xie Lu in astonishment, "I thought you had been going to those Western dancing girls lately because you had discovered a problem!"

"It's over, it's over, I've ruined my lifelong reputation!"

Xie Lu's face turned pale instantly.

If the Western dancing girls he was courting truly had a problem, once the Night Patrol Office verifies it, he, as their lover, will also have to make a trip to the Night Patrol Office.

What kind of place is the Night Patrol Office?

That place would make even a ghost regret not being reincarnated earlier!

"Don't worry, you can't get into the Night Patrol Office!"

"After all, you're my little spy!"

"Young master, how did you become certain that there are Northern perverts among those Western dancing girls?"

"You told me!"

Xie Zian smiled faintly, "When you chatted with those Western dancing girls, the things they asked you about—don't you think those aren't questions ordinary people would ask?"

A proper dancing girl would never dare to casually inquire about Dayong's military affairs, but these Western dancing girls…

…did inquire. On the surface they seem to truly admire Dayong's martial prowess, yet a closer look reveals they probed far too deeply.

If they weren't perverts, why would they ask such things?

Of course, how to substantiate the evidence is the Night Patrol Office's business!

Xie Zian works in Jingcheng; he always discovers problems but never thinks about solving them. He's just a commoner with no obligation to waste his brain on it.

You say he's an imperial relative, a maternal uncle of the Emperor?

Hehe!

So he discovered the problem!

……

Once Zeng Jiu gets the Night Patrol Office moving, solid evidence is obtained quickly.

Behind those Western dancing girls, the envoys of the Western nations to Dayong were all involved; they and the Northern Rong tribe secretly forged an oath of alliance, joining forces to resist Dayong's threat.

When Emperor Xi He received the memorial Zeng Jiu submitted and saw its contents, his complexion turned grim.

"Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant!"

"Dayong is still too merciful, making them bold!"

After reading the memorial, Emperor Xi He immediately summoned the Ministers of War, Revenue, Works, and the meritorious nobles of Jingcheng to the Qianji Hall.

"Wang Deshun, read it to them once!"

Emperor Xi He handed Zeng Jiu's memorial to Wang Deshun.

Wang Deshun immediately read the memorial from start to finish.

"Your Majesty, the brat is not worth consulting!"

"Old minister requests battle, to raise Dayong's national prestige!"

The Duke of Chu, released from house arrest by Emperor Xi He, was thrilled; at last, at last he could have a chance to reclaim the first‑rank dukedom that the Chu family had unjustly lost.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Chu is advanced in age; those petty Western barbarians should be left to us!"

However, as soon as the Duke of Chu finished speaking, a group of young meritorious nobles grew impatient; their titles had been dropping repeatedly, and if they never get a chance to merit, the hereditary title will vanish in a few decades!

"Your Majesty—"

"Old minister is already this age; if I don't get a chance to go to war, all I've learned will only go into the coffin!"

"Your Majesty, you can't do that!"

When the Duke of Chu said that, the young nobles who wanted to compete with him were stunned; this old fool doesn't even speak of martial virtue!

This is literally exploiting seniority!

But we must respect the elders!

Dayong still talks about this!

Emperor Xi He, watching the Duke of Chu exploiting his seniority, felt quite impressed; this shameless old man really makes even immortals bow down!

Others grow old, it's a weakness.

But for him, it becomes an advantage.

"If so, then let the Duke of Chu be commander; as for the deputy, Li Lang, you're the Minister of War—have the War Ministry produce a regulation!"

"I obey the edict!"

Upon hearing the Emperor ask the War Ministry for a regulation, Minister Li Lang's eyes lit up.

Who will be deputy?

In this war of annihilation, besides the Minister of War, who else can shoulder this heavy responsibility?