Chapter 214

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Since the Emperor had not summoned him, Zhuang Yuanzhi could not enter Jianzhang Palace, nor see the Sixth Prince, so his desire to inquire about the fox spirit's ownership had to be temporarily suppressed.

Zhuang Yuanzhi, inwardly agitated and restless, still maintained an air of calm, walking slowly with his hands behind his back, only to see Shaoyan pass by beside him.

Zhuang Yuanzhi had always harbored a bit of arrogance; previously he had not thought highly of this mild-mannered colleague, but now he felt something different—Shaoyan was mild, yet had the advantage of endurance.

For example, regarding the Huang He flood disaster, from the time this man submitted memorials before his demotion until he was retrieved back to Chang'an, though he had not achieved any result, he could still be said to have remained true to his original intent and persisted.

But such persistent yet ineffective memorials always wore down one's spirit; Shaoyan often appeared listless and dispirited, frequently spacing out and sighing, his mental state worrying.

At this moment Shaoyan also seemed somewhat dispirited and was spacing out, but did not sigh; instead he gazed forward, muttering uncertainly: "……This time, could it really be different?"

Zhuang Yuanzhi followed his gaze and saw clouds flowing atop the towering palace wall; below the wall, a grandfather and granddaughter walked with large strides, the girl's witchcraft attire and hair ribbon flowing like clouds and wind.

"This flood disaster has lasted for two years; initially the court tried to block the breach, but after repeatedly failing, the court came up with the bullshit notion that 'heaven's will cannot be blocked'……"

Returning to the Lu Hou Mansion and sitting in the hall, the Lu Hou finally spoke of this matter: "Relying on this so-called notion of heaven's will, no matter how the officials below submit memorials, none are heeded."

The Lu Hou said this, smiling and stroking his beard as he looked at his granddaughter: "Therefore, what Shaowei said this time can be called excellent!"

Overthrowing others' notions of heaven, earth, ghosts, and spirits with a more persuasive notion of heaven, earth, ghosts, and spirits—quite a case of treating the disease with the right medicine, using violence to counter violence.

He had not spoken in the hall, but saw clearly; seeing those who advocated letting the flood disaster run its course suddenly become mute daren who dared not speak—how satisfying it was.

"Nonsense," Lady Shentu corrected: "Was it Shaowei's words? It was the Former Emperor's dying instruction."

"Yes, yes, it was the Former Emperor speaking through my granddaughter Shaowei's mouth!" The Lu Hou nodded with a laugh, then said to his granddaughter: "Was the Former Emperor fierce in dreams? Do not be afraid; if you are afraid, tell Grandfather, and when Grandfather dreams of the Former Emperor, I will surely have a good talk with him, so as not to frighten the young ones."

Shaowei answered as calmly as she could: "The Former Emperor was benevolent; I am not afraid."

Since she used and took at will yet he had never come into her dreams to scold her, he must be benevolent.

Lady Shentu spoke in a low voice: "As far as I know, the reason this flood disaster was left unattended is not simple, and certainly not just because of the notion of heaven's will……"

For such a major political matter, the notion of heaven's will certainly played a role in pushing it, but it was only a push.

"The first reason should be that at that time the war with the Xiongnu had not ended, the treasury was strained, and the Emperor was unwilling to expend manpower and resources on such projects."

Lady Shentu's voice was very soft: "There is another reason, perhaps not known to many……This time the Yellow River breached its banks and flowed southeast, while Zhi County north of the breach is the fief of the Rui Hou……"

"Before the breach, the farmland on both banks of Zhi County upstream had unstable water sources; after the breach, the flood flowed south, Zhi County was freed from the threat of the flood, water collection became cheaper and more stable, and the silt left behind formed the benefit of natural silt fields……"

"Thus, Zhi County instead had a bountiful harvest, and could even ensure a good harvest every year."

The Shentu family's fields also suffered some damage in this flood disaster, so they understood the pros and cons more clearly.

Those not involved in farming, or not familiar with the exact route of the flood disaster, could not easily discern that the Rui Family and other wealthy households benefited from this layer.

Downstream commoners suffered disaster, while upstream nobles received heaven-sent blessings.

Among those who initially claimed one should submit to heaven's will, there were certainly those with interests tied to the Rui Family.

At that time the Emperor was focused on the war with the Xiongnu and inclined to pour all resources into the northern battlefield; many officials sensed the Emperor's intent, and the notion of submitting to heaven's will grew stronger, gradually becoming an unshakable consensus.

This consensus was like another unstoppable flood; until today in the imperial court, a special person wielded the blade of ghosts and spirits, not out of pity for living beings, offering no explanation, but forcibly splitting a gully in this flood without distinction.

Shaowei did not care who benefited from this matter; she simply did what she saw and thought of.

In her previous life, until the chaotic age arrived, the floods of the sixteen commanderies still had not ceased; no one knew how many years they had roared, how many people like Ji Jin they had swept away, but those people would not all have Ji Jin's fortune of survival.

The displaced commoners could only become rootless mayflies, or drown and pile up in the silt, their corpses becoming fertilizer for the nobles' fertile fields.

Shaowei remained silent; a thread of anger swirled in her heart. In the past she had not seen or thought of these things; even if she saw them, she might not have understood clearly. Many things required standing higher to have a chance to see their truth.

For example, Ji Jin: even if he had the heart to control floods and save the people, even if he submitted memorials weighing a thousand jin, he could not treat the root cause; it would all be like a stone sinking into the sea.

This world was growing worse, but one had to first know how it grew worse before considering how to make it better.

"Do whatever you want to do." On the way to the dining hall, Feng Zhu held his daughter's hand and said somewhat absentmindedly: "My son is extraordinary; since he can do what ordinary people cannot, he should boldly do it."

Those who have suffered hardship know best that the hardship called displacement brings even more diverse hardships; and since he was fortunate enough to escape, he had stored up a resentment wanting to resist, take revenge, and exterminate that dark abyss.

Shaowei looked at Mother's mottled profile in the sunlight, gripped Mother's scarred hand, and nodded as if promising Mother.

Mottled sunlight fell on the carved window lattice, like butterflies resting quietly.

Empress Rui, kneeling in the chamber, watched those patches of light and shadow and softly comforted her elder brother: "……In my opinion, Marquis Ling Shu acts in accordance with the will of the spirits, naturally; perhaps it is not deliberately targeting Brother."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted slightly and fell on the back of the figure standing with hands clasped before the window; she advised: "Perhaps it is truly the Founding Ancestor showing his spirit and giving intent……Brother, this matter originally should not have been done; now it is better not to persist in obstinacy, lest more trouble be invited."

Rui Ze, suppressing his anger, let out a cold laugh: "I would like to 'persist in obstinacy,' but she constantly uses the Founding Ancestor's decree to alarm people; how can this matter be stopped by me?"

For such a major matter, no one could make decisions on their own; at this moment his nephew, the regent, had also gone to Jianzhang Palace to seek the Sovereign Father's decision.

"She just retrieved this Heavenly Mechanism identity; this is the first major matter she has caused……" Rui Ze said with uneven breath: "If it is not deliberate revenge, how can I believe it? Knowing she is so ungrateful, the antidote should not have been easily bestowed."

"Brother……" Empress Rui frowned, repeating those words: "Now that things have come to this, do not continue to forge grudges; otherwise, grudge upon grudge, how can it be resolved?"

"So let her vent until she is satisfied and her anger subsides?" Rui Ze gritted his teeth, feeling he had suffered great humiliation; when he wandered outside and served others as a slave, he suffered too much contempt and humiliation; precisely because of this, he intensely hated this feeling of swallowing anger in silence.

He was now a noble Imperial Uncle by marriage, yet had to be controlled by a yellow-haired brat—simply inconceivable!

Empress Rui feared this grudge would continue to grow; she repeatedly soothed her brother's anger, then changed the subject to speak of the Crown Princess's selection.

However, not mentioning it was better; at this moment Rui Ze thought again of the failed marriage alliance with the Qu family, his liver qi became even more disordered, and his appetite for the meal was lost as well.

Shaowei had a good appetite and had just finished a hearty meal.

The Lu Hou wanted to take his granddaughter to the garden to compare sword techniques; Feng Zhu advised disapprovingly: "Father-in-law, forget it, lest you accidentally injure her……"

"What words are these; am I someone who does not know the proper measure?"

The Lu Hou was in high spirits, smiling at his granddaughter: "Grandfather today deliberately did not drink wine; your mother says you have known martial arts since childhood; come, today there are no outsiders, and let Grandfather take a good look at your skills! If you can withstand ten or so moves today, Grandfather has several sets of self-created sword techniques that I will all teach and point out to you in the future!"

Hearing this, Shaowei was eager to try; grandfather and granddaughter walked with large strides all the way to an open area in the garden.

The servants had already moved the weapon rack; the Lu Hou said: "Good child, first test the weight; if you cannot hold it steady, switch to a lighter one……"

Before her words had finished, the young woman casually picked up a thick-backed ring-pommel saber, tossed it upward, caught the hilt with one hand, and with the other drew the scabbard with a sharp *hiss*; she then flourished the blade — only the whistle of saber-wind and a blur of saber-shadows were heard — and when wind and shadow settled, she already held the saber single-handed at her side, spine straight, eyes bright: "Please, Grandfather, instruct me!"

Marquis Lu's eyes were full of astonishment, his voice deep and powerful: "Good! — Bring the saber!"

A servant presented an identical thick-spined, thin-edged long saber; Marquis Lu had just drawn his long saber when that calf-of-a-girl was already charging in with a cleaving strike. Marquis Lu did not dodge, intending to meet it head-on and block, first to test the girl's strength.

The clang of metal on metal rang out at once; this one test left Marquis Lu greatly shocked. He abruptly sank his stance, rooted his power in his feet, yet was still forced back several steps by sheer force.

From this single exchange he knew the child before him deserved the word "opponent"; Marquis Lu gathered his focus and concentrated wholly on the "enemy."

By the time Feng Zhu caught up, she saw the old and the young fighting back and forth, thoroughly exhilarating — they had already reached a bamboo grove; bamboo leaves whirled wildly, and with each swing of the girl's saber, saber-qi swept horizontally, sending leaves flying like ten thousand arrows loosed at once.

The thick-backed blade in her hand had become a secondary weapon; the girl herself was the sharpest weapon.

She lacked the baleful aura tempered on battlefields; all her vast power and fearlessness sprang from her true self, primal and natural, like something grown from mud.

Not to mention ten-odd moves — dozens, even hundreds of moves had passed; the more Marquis Lu fought, the more his heart surged, but alas he was indeed advanced in years, and his stamina showed signs of giving out.

"Qingniang!"

Hearing Mother's call, the immersed Shaowei hurriedly withdrew her force, taking the initiative to cease combat.

Marquis Lu, who had originally only meant to humor the child with a bout, now found himself being humored by his daughter; Feng Zhu stepped forward to support her panting father, helplessly reproaching: "I already told you…"

Though Marquis Lu was physically weary, his mood was excellent: "What is there to fear? This child knows her limits!"

Watching the girl's sinews and bones stretch, her bearing awe-inspiring, Marquis Lu only now realized belatedly: he had thought that year when she killed those livestock, she relied on a surprise clever attack; now it seemed it was likely a head-on fierce clash!

He could not help but sigh: "Shaowei has the bearing and ferocity of my youth!"

Feng Zhu also sighed lightly, and did not expose the truth that her daughter had probably not used full force; otherwise the gold on her father's face would peel off the moment it was pasted on.

And though Shaowei had not used full force, she had still met her match — rare to be this exhilarated; she now demanded: "Grandfather, you take good care of your health; we'll spar again next time!"

This tone of "nurse Grandfather back to health then fight again" made Marquis Lu even more delighted; yet the moment he laughed his breastbone ached sharply, and he forcibly endured without crying out, laughing as he nodded agreement.

Feng Zhu helplessly had someone support her father — advanced in years yet planning to "rise at the cock's crow and dance with the sword" once more — and walked before her daughter, wiping sweat for her.

At that same moment, in Jianzhang Palace, inside Danghu Hall, Liu Cheng, kneeling to answer, also had a fine layer of sweat on his forehead.

He had come to ask the Emperor to decide the matter of the Yellow River flood disaster; the Emperor counter-asked his opinion. He worried the Emperor would suspect him of favoring and shielding the Rui family's fields in Zhi County, so he answered: "Since it is the Grand Ancestor's dying instruction, it must be followed in governance."

Then the Emperor asked him: how to govern? Where will the money come from? Where will the people be transferred from? And also asked whether the matter of Liang Guo sending additional reinforcements had been decided, and whether military pay had been fully raised.

The Emperor's tone could be called calm, yet his answers were fragmented; mostly he repeated the ministers' proposals, which differed from each other. The Emperor listened for a long time, his joy and anger indiscernible, and said: "A sovereign, even if not skilled in planning, must be skilled in decision. You go back and think carefully; when you have your own insight and judgment, come see Us again."

Unlike the last time when he was asked how to handle the northward-returning great army, and after failing to get a satisfactory answer the Emperor flew into a rage and punished him heavily — even with the Sovereign Father speaking in such a calm tone, Liu Cheng still felt immense tension and a lousy appearance.

These questions, the ministers' opinions varied, the Emperor might not have a perfect strategy either; how could he answer to satisfy the Emperor? Liu Cheng could not help but doubt himself, and because of this self-doubt grew even more uneasy.

After acknowledging and performing the rites, he withdrew from the great hall in trepidation; turning his head, he just saw a green-robed youth leading palace attendants delivering medicine through the corridor.

Liu Cheng immediately concealed the wretched unease in his eyes, pressed his mouth corners straight, accepted the youth's raised-hand salute, gave a slight nod, and stepped away.

"."

"Many thanks for the Middle Attendant's kind reminder." Liu Qi, however, directly lifted his foot and stepped across the hall threshold, carelessly: "But to share the Sovereign Father's worries is the proper duty of a son; how can it be avoided?"

"The Sixth Prince truly has a heart of filial piety…" Guo Shi praised with a sigh, smiling as he followed inside.

The Emperor finished taking his medicine, yet did not mention court affairs, but said to the youth sitting cross-legged beside the desk: "The thorough investigation of the Liang Wang's partisans in the Capital has reached its final stage; regarding rewards for merit, the Tai Puzhe has already been granted a title; that meritorious family's son should also enter the palace today, and you have also rendered great merit…"

"Apart from this matter, you also have merit in disaster relief; We wish to reward both together." The Emperor leaned back in the armrest, closed his eyes to nurture his spirit, and said: "Since returning to the Capital, you have also guarded Us on a journey; We have seen it all… You are Our son; being a Commandery Prince ultimately wrongs you; why not let Us also enfeoff you as a King to be a King, what do you think?"

Guo Shi lowered his eyes with a smile, but his heart was a stretch of tension.

Enfeoffment as a King is unobjectionable; the Emperor's son, even that Fourth Prince who once collided with the Emperor, received the title of Guangling Wang.

Enfeoffment as a King is nothing; but this word "wrongs" carries much implication…

As a close attendant, Guo Shi could most clearly sense the traces of the Emperor's heart shifting since the Liang Wang's death — this Sixth Prince attending the illness at his side — this sovereign no longer obsessed with longevity, having accepted the fact of his impending death, seemed to have other thoughts reviving.

Liu Qi answered with a smile: "Serving the Emperor, this Child Minister dares not seek reward."

The Emperor gave a cold laugh: "Enough, no need for pretty words to coax Us happy… or if there is some other grace you want, you may speak and let Us hear."

Some other grace…

The Emperor still had his eyes closed; Liu Qi slowly raised his gaze, looking toward Guo Shi kneeling and attending opposite.

As if in tacit secrecy, Guo Shi met his gaze. Almost in an instant, cold sweat crawled all over Guo Shi's back, as if locked onto by the fiercest hawk or falcon, that raptor about to stoop and seize him the next moment.

?? 4400 words, everyone (|3【▓▓】 good night