Chapter 263: Brief Tranquility

Brief Tranquility

The mobilization of troops from East Tomb received the support of all its people. Enlistments were enthusiastic, and provisions and supplies were prepared in the shortest time possible. Thus, what was originally scheduled to depart northward in half a month actually set out after only ten days, as Duke of Qi Qiu Mubai unified one hundred thousand troops and left the capital!

On the day of departure, Emperor Xingning Yin Fengzhan personally visited the training ground, leading the officials to inspect. Then the hundred thousand soldiers marched around the imperial city, receiving enthusiastic support from the city's populace, before grandly departing.

The war against the Western Di thus began. The people, watching the soldiers march proudly, felt confident about the campaign. After the army left the capital, the capital returned to its usual calm, for the common folk still had to live their lives, especially with the year's end approaching, so every household became busy again.

The people were at peace, and on the other hand, the national affairs that had piled up for half a year were finally completely resolved through Yin Fengzhan's day‑and‑night effort. After this, all civil and military officials praised Yin Fengzhan profusely, yet he paid no heed to their commendations.

East Tomb's political situation finally got on the right track, and Yin Fengzhan was no longer as busy as before. Yet, in a nation so large, even after handling the accumulated affairs, many events still occurred daily, so he still had no true leisure.

To spend more time with Nie Jinxuan, Yin Fengzhan simply handled matters at Yongle Palace. In the past, a large group of officials would have opposed this, but this time, with Yin Fengzhan at the helm, none of the courtiers raised any objections.

People are like this: if you are only a little stronger than others, they will envy, doubt, and exclude you. But when you reach a height unattainable to others, they will look up to you, worship you, and consider everything you do as natural!

Consequently, all officials tacitly turned a blind eye, pretending not to know.

Life seemed to calm again. Yet the calm was only superficial; after all, the movement of troops from East Tomb left the Western Di's intentions still unclear, and it was unknown what storm Nie Wenhao and Empress Dowager Duan might stir up, among other matters… Thus this calm was merely a brief tranquility before a storm.

……

Afternoon, in the warm pavilion of Yongle Palace

Nie Jinxuan was leaning on a soft couch reading, with Shui Yun attending nearby, while not far away at a square table, Emperor Xingning Yin Fengzhan was leafing through the memorials just submitted by the courtiers, and beside him stood the eunuch Xiao Chunzi.

Xiao Chunzi was not yet twenty this year, having entered the palace with his older brother since childhood. By chance, Gao Caiyong discovered them, and kept the two brothers by his side. Xiao Chunzi's brother was the young eunuch Dong Shun, who died during Prince Yin Fengxiang's palace coup.

Dong Shun's death was gruesome; Prince Yin Fengxiang ordered him to be torn apart by five horses alive. Yet Dong Shun had volunteered to follow Gao Caiyong, so Xiao Chunzi bore no resentment for his brother's death, even feeling proud of him, for even if his brother had not gone, Xiao Chunzi himself would have wanted to go.

In Xiao Chunzi's view, both his and his brother's lives were saved by Grandmaster Gao. Had it not been Grandmaster Gao, the two brothers would have been killed shortly after entering the palace. Thus, dying for Grandmaster Gao and even exposing Prince Yin Fengxiang's crimes was the highest honor!

Therefore, after ascending the throne and learning of Xiao Chunzi's deeds, Yin Fengzhan kept him close. Though young, Xiao Chunzi was exceptionally clever and, having been personally mentored by Gao Caiyong, understood etiquette early, knowing when to speak, when to stay silent, when to serve tea, and when to pretend not to see.

These few people each had their own affairs; winter sunlight streamed into the warm pavilion, adding an extra layer of quiet. At that moment, amid the silence, Emperor Xingning Yin Fengzhan, who had been concentrating on the memorials, suddenly flung the document to the side.

'Snap!'

In an instant, a faint crisp sound rang in the quiet pavilion. Hearing it, Nie Jinxuan, reclining on the soft couch, turned her head to glance at Yin Fengzhan and gave a slight smile.

"What's wrong?"

Nie Jinxuan asked softly, but Yin Fengzhan, his face a bit gloomy, remained silent. Clearly, his mood was poor. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Xiao Chunzi standing nearby.

Noticing Nie Jinxuan's gaze, Xiao Chunzi first flicked a sidelong glance at his master, then, from a distance, whispered to Nie Jinxuan.

"Princess, don't mind it, it's just flattery!"

Xiao Chunzi's expression was somewhat comical, and his words even more so. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan burst into laughter.

"Hehe~, what flattery?"

"Ah, Princess, you don't know, it's just Lord Zhou… hmm…"

While speaking, he saw Yin Fengzhan glance at him, and Xiao Chunzi instantly shut his mouth. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan's eyes shifted to Yin Fengzhan, and she smiled as she said,

"Lord Zhou? The Minister of Rites?"

Since Yin Fengzhan's ascension, he had restructured the court officials. Having heard him speak these days, Nie Jinxuan knew a bit about current court affairs, so when Xiao Chunzi mentioned Lord Zhou, she thought of him.

At that moment, Yin Fengzhan's face still looked sour, but hearing Nie Jinxuan's words, he pursed his lips slightly and whispered,

"It's him!"

"What about him? Flattered you again?"

Courtiers flattering the emperor is commonplace; to succeed one must please one's superiors. Yet after his ascension, Yin Fengzhan was different. Being extremely diligent and inundated with memorials and state affairs daily, it was obvious that among the endless duties, some officials sang praises of his merits without a single practical suggestion, which was quite irritating.

Normally, in the imperial study or elsewhere, Yin Fengzhan would remain silent. But now, in Yongle Palace, before Nie Jinxuan, he could no longer hold back and vent his anger.

"Flattery is one thing, a few words are fine, but he wrote three full chapters and not a single matter of substance… Hmph, if it weren't for his talent, I'd kick him out of the capital!"

Yin Fengzhan's claim that Zhou Jin was talented was not unfounded. Zhou Jin, not yet forty, was already striking in appearance and excelled at writing. Yet mere talent and looks were insufficient for Yin Fengzhan's attention; the key was Zhou Jin's exceptional eloquence, which could subtly lead others onto his path while speaking.

Thus, merely speaking to people as they are, or to ghosts as ghosts, does not make a master. A true master can speak to a person while leading that person to follow his ghost, and when speaking to a ghost, can make his ghost follow that person!

Zhou Jin is an outstanding example of the latter! Though of humble birth, without money or foundation, he had long been suppressed by clans until Yin Fengzhan's ascension lifted him. Now, whenever he has time, he drafts two exquisitely beautiful memorials for Yin Fengzhan, which drive the emperor to the brink of irritation!

Nie Jinxuan also knew Zhou Jin to some extent. Hearing Yin Fengzhan's words, she found it even funnier and closed the book in her hands.

"Alright, Lord Zhou didn't mean it deliberately. After all, you know he was talented but suppressed before. Now that you've supported him, he's moved, wrote a few lines to express his feelings—it's understandable! At worst, just tell him next time, no need to get so angry, why bother?"

Across the realm, only Nie Jinxuan dared speak to Yin Fengzhan like this. Hearing that, Yin Fengzhan, though still silent, softened his expression considerably.

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan shook her head and then said,

"But to be fair, Lord Zhou isn't really a flattery‑seeker. With his eloquence, if he had aligned with the Duan family earlier and entered the court for years, he still wouldn't have risen. So you needn't mind him~!"

Nie Jinxuan always handled Yin Fengzhan skillfully. Upon hearing her, Yin Fengzhan finally settled completely. Seeing his mood improve, Nie Jinxuan shifted the conversation,

"But Fengzhan, the Duke of Qi has been on the march for several days; we have no idea how things stand…"

"Hmm, we received a reply today saying everything is smooth. If it continues, it could reach the border in as few as ten days!"

"Ten days?! That fast? Didn't we say it takes at least a month?"

From East Tomb's capital to the north‑west frontier normally takes over thirty days, and in winter the fastest is about a month. Yet the Duke of Qi's expedition has been out for only a dozen days, meaning the journey from the capital to the border would take just over twenty days?!

Nie Jinxuan was quite surprised. Upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan merely nodded.

"The merit of dispatching troops lies in swiftness. The Western Di already had a head start, so we must act faster! The Duke of Qi understood this, so shortly after leaving the capital he led ten thousand troops toward the border, arriving early to suppress the Western Di. Once the vanguard settles, the following forces will arrive in succession."

"Oh, I see… the Duke of Qi truly is a talent!"

"Hmm, but the Duke of Qi's household is thin…"

Yin Fengzhan said nothing further, but Nie Jinxuan knew the situation well. Moreover, not only the Duke of Qi's family but also the martial clan Mo family faced the same problem. If the senior members of the Qiu and Mo families encountered trouble, East Tomb would have no one to lead troops!

This dilemma lay before Yin Fengzhan, affecting East Tomb's future. Seeing his solemn expression, Nie Jinxuan offered comfort again,

"Alright, now that we know the problem, we'll find solutions. Besides, although the Qiu and Mo families have few members, in my view, both the Qiu heir and Mo's elder brother Yu Jue are quite capable in character, learning, and martial skill—far better than a multitude of offspring who achieve nothing!"

"Hmm, that's the reasoning, so I've decided to restore the martial examinations after the Spring Festival next year and recruit talent from the populace!"

"That's good… Oh, Fengzhan, speaking of this, will they attend the upcoming state banquet in a few days?"

As she spoke, Nie Jinxuan recalled the state banquet Yin Fengzhan planned to hold in ten days. Many had wondered why Yin Fengzhan made that decision, but he had his own purpose: to lure Nie Wenhao and Empress Dowager Duan!

Given the current situation, Empress Dowager Duan of the Duan family likely was the mastermind behind the Western Di's third prince's ascension. Yet Nie Wenhao is cunning; if he learns the banquet is a trap to draw him to East Tomb, will he risk coming?

Nie Jinxuan was a little worried. But upon hearing that, Yin Fengzhan gave a cold smile.

"Don't worry, he's back!"

Yin Fengzhan spoke confidently; hearing this, Nie Jinxuan felt a flicker of complexity in her heart, but just as she was about to say something, she saw the little eunuch Lianxi hurry in from outside, first bow to Yin Fengzhan, then come to her and say.

"Master, a message came from outside the palace saying Official Pei is looking for you."

The imperial palace isn't somewhere you can just rush into. Now that Nie Jinxuan has moved into Yongle Palace, Official Pei naturally can't, as he did when Nie Jinxuan lived in Chen Wangfu, simply carry a corpse over when there's business; thus he can only send a message from outside the imperial palace.

Upon hearing then that Official Pei was looking for her, Nie Jinxuan realized there must be another case, and she nodded to herself.

"All right, I understand. I'll go out and tell Official Pei, saying wait a moment, I'll be right over."

"Yes!"

Responding respectfully, the little eunuch Lianxi then left. After Lianxi left, Nie Jinxuan also rose and began to tidy up; seeing this, Yin Fengzhan beside her immediately furrowed his brow.

"Going out?"

"Hmm."

"What are you going out for?"

"Official Pei sent a message; I expect another case has come up."