Chapter 213

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Half an hour later, Zhuang Yuanzhi, washed clean of travel dust, stroked his trimmed handsome whiskers and sat cross-legged behind the long-missed book desk, listening to his second son Zhuang Mei, kneeling before him, recount the honey trap he had deployed.

"……Father does not know, that Qu Miaoyue is arrogant to the extreme, relying on Consort Qu's bloodline, eyes above the top; any man who fawns on her incurs her sneering contempt, and if one pesters her to annoyance, she will even untie her whip and drive him away with beating……"

Zhuang Mei sighed: "This son is weak of body, hard to parry, so had to find another way; whenever attending a banquet or going on an outing, waiting for her to feign coldness, arousing her desire to conquer……"

He possesses a fine countenance, yet a fine countenance is not rare in her eyes; but when fragile beauty and stubborn unyieldingness appear together, like a haughty white fox, it becomes an absolute kill.

After tugging back and forth for over half a year, finally that Qu family young lady, full of resentment, bound his hands with a whip, dragged him forcibly into a carriage, angrily scolded him for putting on an act, and forced him to give a definite answer.

"Not bad, this is the superior strategy." Zhuang Yuanzhi, unconventional to the bone, stroked his beard, looking at his son with appreciation: "At long last you have not let down the fine looks your Mother gave you."

He further admonished his son: "Since the marriage is already settled, in future you must treat her family well, absolutely must not slight them."

Zhuang Mei revealed a smile: "Father, this is only natural."

Although there was calculation in it, he also truly loves such a domineering Female Monarch to the extreme…… if not for mutual attraction, how could they have tugged for so long.

Only Zhuang Mei had to ask one sentence: "Father's letter at that time ordered this son to deploy this scheme, the purpose being to form a marriage alliance with the Qu family…… but Father has never been one who likes to cling to high branches, why this decision?"

Zhuang Yuanzhi laughed a sigh, still stroking his whiskers, eyes bright: "For the state, for the people, for all under heaven……"

Since last year's exile to the South, his teacher sent several letters urging him to admit fault to the Emperor, he refused to comply.

First, he could not let the Emperor feel he was too easily won, thereby suspecting his upright persona; second, he truly had unspeakable proper business to attend to, temporarily unable to extricate himself.

But the teacher could not help being provoked by him, threatening in the letter that he need not return again.

Not returning for a time was required by the plan, but never returning again was absolutely impossible.

He feared the teacher would move for real, and if the Emperor lost the teacher as a face-saving step, he might truly forget him; so he incited his handsome second son to approach the Qu family's young daughter, if the two families' juniors could achieve a good match, with the Qu family here, would he still worry the Emperor would not remember him?

Furthermore, the Qu family's weight in the Imperial Court cannot be underestimated; previously he had no pursuit so it was fine, but now that his heart held provocation and calculation, he ought to make good use of every possibility.

Even if the Qu family would not excessively tilt their stance because of one marriage, it is still better than the Qu family forming a marriage alliance with those on the opposite side.

This was originally also a probe; since the Qu family was willing to comply with their daughter's wish, it shows the Qu family remains cautious, still keeping a heart of staying aloof.

Zhuang Mei looked at his father stroking whiskers and smiling, only feeling Father's exile had even changed his visage a few parts; now squinting and smiling, like a gray-skinned fat fox with unfathomable thoughts, Zhuang Mei felt doubt in his heart, and could not help repeating his father's words with slight hesitation: "For the state, for the people…… for all under heaven?"

This honey trap of his actually bears such a heaven-great mission?

"Not bad." Zhuang Yuanzhi laughed openly, voice full of surging fighting spirit that welcomes difficulty: "Precisely for the state, for the people, for all under heaven we scheme."

These words admit no unspeakable content, hold no taboo; Zhuang Yuanzhi spoke with cadence and force, yet just as the words fell, the study door was suddenly smashed open by someone's crutch; the newcomer's hair bun was pale white, prestige towering and momentum fierce yet aged and fragile; the servants guarding outside the study simply dared not block.

"Tea, Teacher……" Zhuang Yuanzhi hurriedly stood to welcome: "How did you……"

Words not finished, he was struck by the old man who strode straight in, waving his crutch to beat.

"For the state!"

"For the people!"

"For all under heaven!"

Tai Yan waved his staff chasing and beating the student, one sentence followed by one staff blow.

Zhuang Yuanzhi jumped and dodged, his whole body's flesh trembling, while Tai Yan clearly felt the crutch contact like striking a thick meat cake, then squinted and stared at the student's face, only to see the appearance from the time of leaving the capital was completely gone.

"Tai Physician, please quell your anger……" Zhuang Mei finished his salute, hurriedly interceded: "Father has undergone this tempering, already without former sharp edges, and can also understand your painstaking heart!"

Tai Yan still stared in shock at the student's face; indeed the former sharp edges were gone, yet not necessarily worn away.

"Right, right……" Zhuang Yuanzhi carefully helped the teacher by one arm, let the teacher sit and rest: "Student has known his fault, henceforth will never make Teacher worry again."

Tai Yan half-believed half-doubted.

This student is a stubborn donkey true, but to the bone historically radical, this is also one reason his person and propositions clashed with the Ling Empress's appeasement policies.

However the Ling family collapsed, Ling Taizi likewise vanished in smoke, disasters unceasing, people's hearts in turmoil, the Emperor refused advice and insisted on sending troops against the Xiongnu, the new Crown Prince Liu Cheng even more completely fails to suit this radical type's aesthetic taste.

Under vexation, this stubborn donkey gradually developed a kind of manic psychosis of grinding-mill energy not knowing where to exert, hating that he could not be cruel to all under heaven.

Exiled to the South, was self-inflicted, and in the teacher's view, this was even more a self-exile under weary resentment.

But now observing closely, a trip to the South not only ate away the sharp edges, the restless resentment also left no trace…… thinking of the South's fine fruits and poisonous insect strange foods mentioned in the student's letters, Tai Yan secretly pondered, could it be that rich substantial fruits soothe the heart, poisonous insects serve as medicine guide, unexpectedly by a fluke regulating the temperament?

"Please Teacher set your heart at ease."

Zhuang Yuanzhi knelt down, poured a bowl of hot tea, presented before the teacher: "Student this time returning, will certainly keep a calm heart and quiet breath, no more reckless rashness, will surely devote heart to doing things well."

Looking at the student whose face had greatly changed, Tai Yan half-believing half-doubted received that bowl of tea: "You had better be so……"

"Yes." Zhuang Yuanzhi respectfully said: "Student has been far from the Imperial Court for long, not very clear on the current court situation, still requesting Teacher's guidance."

Tai Yan, on leave today, specially came, naturally not merely to beat the student; at present having drunk a bowl of tea, he pressed down his anger, spoke of court affairs: "Now it is the Crown Prince ordered to supervise the state, the Son of Heaven temporarily moved carriage to Jianzhang Palace, this matter you ought to know……"

"That Sixth Imperial Prince after returning to the capital has performed not badly, secretly drawing many speculative gazes……"

Also spoke of court people's hearts, Liang Guo's rebellion plot, the military deadlock, etc.

Finally, singled out a young girl who greatly influenced people's hearts: "……That Witch God Heavenly Mechanism, newly enfeoffed Ling Shu Marquis, extremely extraordinary, currently greatly wins the Emperor's heart."

Then asked: "Speaking of which, this was originally a witch from the South; when you were in the South, did you by chance see this child early?"

Zhuang Yuanzhi shook his head seriously: "South witches numerous, student has no impression of seeing this person."

The attendant serving food at the side heard this and lowered eyes, stout-bodied but timidly thought: The Head of Household indeed did not see the person, only secretly operated to let the other's name smoothly appear on the list of witches entering the capital……

Zhuang Yuanzhi on one hand refilled tea for the teacher, on the other hand not without genuine feeling sighed: "Only who could have guessed, that rumored Heavenly Mechanism, would actually come from among witches, and twists and turns, originally is the Lu Marquis household's bloodline."

At that time seeing the name Flower Raccoon in the letter, he only felt this name though spirited, was also sloppy.

Yet did not expect a sloppy raccoon, after entering the capital, would scratch and stir the wind and clouds of all under heaven's Qi mechanism. He originally thought a casually planted fine thread, rapidly grew into a towering tree reaching the clouds.

Just unknown whether this raccoon still obeys? Whether still controllable?

Zhuang Yuanzhi carried his routine worry and hesitation, along with a certain curiosity about just what this legendary youth's heavenly secrets actually looked like.

This curiosity was soon satisfied; the next day Zhuang Yuanzhi entered the palace, and the convalescing Emperor did not immediately summon him, but an order had already been issued reinstating him to his former post, still among the ranks of the Advice Daifu.

Fellow Advice Daifu Shaoyan knelt in the great hall, his peripheral vision glancing at his colleague beside him, who looked like a renovated old house.

This colleague always made people's hearts tremble with fear; even a stubborn donkey, he was an uncontrolled wild donkey, liable to kick up his hooves at any moment, stirring up dust storms of conflict that caught everyone off guard.

With this renovated colleague at his side, Shaoyan, who had recently been immersed in daydreaming and sighing, was visibly more spirited than before.

However, today's Zhuang Yuanzhi was exceptionally quiet, unknown whether he had truly turned over a new leaf or was observing the situation.

The admonition that caught Shaoyan and everyone else off guard, however, came from another person.

Today's court had an additional figure — a girl dressed in witchcraft attire.

The Tai Puzhe routinely guarded the Shen Ci, and could enter the palace to present memorials at any time if there was business, without needing to attend court with the hundred ministers. Everyone thought carefully and realized this witch god almost always appeared at court to receive rewards and enfeoffments.

Her entry into the palace this time was to present a matter, and the evidence for what she presented remained utterly abstruse; she opened her mouth and said:

"Your subject respectfully memorializes — yesterday, while your subject was serving incense in the Shen Dian, a feeling stirred in my heart, and I saw the golden sacred statues of the Grand Ancestor and the Empress Dowager condense dew like tears; this is an anomaly that cannot be ignored."

The girl knelt properly, hands folded high against her forehead, eyes lowered as she presented the memorial, her voice clear.

One word stirred up a thousand waves, provoking suspicion and bewilderment; everyone in the hall looked at this special memorialist, Zhuang Yuanzhi included.

Shaoyan also lifted his fatigued eyelids for a glance, but just that one glance, he lowered his head and continued sighing, "Ah, again with the inexplicable ghosts and spirits..."

Only the supervising heir apparent at the head was heard to ask anxiously and solemnly, "According to the Tai Puzhe's view, what does this anomaly portend?"

"Your subject originally did not understand the deep meaning, only the nameless resonance in my heart grew heavier, until last night I suddenly dreamed the Grand Ancestor manifested his holiness —"

Hearing this, Shaoyan sighed again, "Ah, the Grand Ancestor again."

The next instant, that girl solemnly recited the Grand Ancestor's words:

"The Grand Ancestor instructed: Having seen the Huang He flood disaster, the breach rushing southeast, pouring into Ju Ye Ze, bringing calamity to the Taishan earth veins, how dare one treat it lightly? Now anomalies and calamities occur frequently, all because this river engineering is in disrepair, causing the Tai Dai earth veins to shake."

The hall fell instantly silent; Shaoyan abruptly looked up.

In his sight he saw that wicked child's expression calm, continuing to speak her shocking words: "Taishan since ancient times has been the divine peak guarding the East, while the Huang He is the dragon vein running through Zhong Yuan; the two's fortunes are linked, intimately connected."

"In former days Da Yu guided the river from Jishi, Zhou Gong built Luo and divined Mang, all following the terrain's advantages to govern."

"Now the Huang He has breached, rushing southeast, thereby causing the earth veins to stagnate, water qi to flow in reverse."

"And since the Grand Ancestor's dream entrustment has been received, one should open channels to guide water back to the canals and build embankments, to follow the terrain, so that the Tai Dai purple qi may soon be restored, which is the way to eternally secure the state altars!"

The hall became clamorous because of these words; Shaoyan stared wide-eyed at that witchcraft-attired girl whose words could be called arbitrary.

Utterly unlike his and other officials' memorials, this child didn't mention a single word of pity for the common people sinking in suffering; it was all her ghosts and spirits, what qi mechanisms, earth veins, national fortune...

She wasn't petitioning in a memorial at all, but informing and relaying; if examined deeply, this was even a veiled threat.

Because it was not a prostrate request, when she finished speaking she did not bow her head and kowtow, merely lowered her folded hands from her forehead, calm and composed, leaving the uproar and panic to everyone but herself.

Shaoyan's ears buzzed with noise, his mind hummed, his expression dazed.

He couldn't help recalling that wicked child's manner when she flipped through his memorial that day.

He was a Confucian disciple, not advocating ghost and spirit theories; if this child's words were true, he would rather believe it was her observing by day, dreaming by night...

But whatever the inside story, looking again at that properly seated girl, though her face had not changed, compared to her previous arrogance and wickedness, he now actually saw a few traces of youthful vigor and cuteness unique to a young person... she suddenly became pleasing to the eye.

People in the hall either whispered together or stared at each other in dismay, and some belatedly realized: "No wonder first Huai Yang Guo's Zheng clan plotted rebellion, then Liang Guo had turmoil... Huaiyang and Liang Guo both border the lands afflicted by the water disaster, could it be precisely heaven's warning?"

These words spoken, they provoked another uproar.

Even though over half remained silently watching, not a single person spoke to refute; this matter differed from others, the memorialist's identity was special, she had successfully predicted the Changling collapse and this summer's drought, and had even sought out Baoquan and prayed down sweet rain.

Past battle records stood here, plus the heavenly secrets identity backing; even if some didn't want to fully believe, they didn't dare rashly refute, after all this matter ultimately pointed toward a good deed, and ordinary opposition was hard to justify.

But to order water control just like that, Liu Cheng could not do it; as heir apparent, even with his incompetent side, he was destined not to be ignorant.

Water control needed massive manpower and money, and right now he was struggling to raise military funds to send reinforcements to Liang Guo...

Moreover, the reason this water disaster was shelved after deliberation originally was not only because the cost was too heavy, making the Court hesitant, but there was another inside story related to his maternal uncle...

But the Grand Ancestor entrusted a dream, the Tai Puzhe presented a memorial, how could there be any possibility of ignoring it?

Liu Cheng found it hard to decide for a moment, subconsciously looking at his maternal uncle, but saw his uncle's face grave and silent, looking at the kneeling Huali, as if discerning whether Huali's move was aimed precisely at the Rui Family.

Amid the ministers' waiting, Liu Cheng tried to steady his breathing, and solemnly said: "The matter the Tai Puzhe memorializes concerns the utmost; I too worry at the frequency of calamities, pity the common people's suffering... I will request instructions from Imperial Uncle, and will surely make a decision as soon as possible."

Until the court dispersed, the shock to people's hearts brought by this matter had still not fully settled.

And that young lord who brought the shock exited Weiyang Palace, not caring about these many shocks.

Shaowei was not unaware that this matter involved quite a few people's deeply entangled interests.

The heavenly secrets act according to the heart, move according to the thought; if anyone feels she blocks their path and wants to turn and block hers, let them come try; she only believes in each doing their own thing, each relying on their own fist strength.

This style of facing complex major state affairs, neither moving with emotion nor enlightening with reason, just cleaving straight through like wielding a saber, deeply shocked Shaoyan.

He was eager to try, wanting to catch up and speak, but Lu Hou blocked his sight a step ahead, soothing his granddaughter who was striding along: "Dreaming such a dream must extremely drain the spirit, very exhausting... come home with Grandfather, have them prepare more meat and vegetables, properly replenish yourself!"

This grandfather-grandson pair strode away, and Zhuang Yuanzhi, brushing past the two, appeared calm on the surface, but inside his heart surged a mad tide of shock and bewilderment.

This was his first meeting with Huali, and he witnessed this fox using ghost and spirit talk to memorialize such a major matter; now he saw this fox striding along, composed and at ease, while Lu Hou, who never yields to anyone, followed behind her, utterly like a devotedly obedient old servant.

Zhuang Yuanzhi prided himself on venomous discernment; it was this venomous discernment that let him discover a fine seedling in the South, but seeing this situation now, he only felt this girl was untamable to the extreme, and this untamable air was absolutely not cultivated in a single day...

Originally he thought: unknown if this person sent into the Capital, after growing so strong, would still be obedient and controllable?

Now his mind held: Is she even obedient and controllable?

Under the shock in his heart, a bead of fine sweat emerged at Zhuang Yuanzhi's temple; no good, he had to go back and personally ask Sixth Prince, just what is the affiliation situation of this world-shocking fox cat!

?? 4400 words, good night everyone!