Chapter 1356

Da Yong Huangcheng, the residence of Minister of Personnel Dong Bingkun was heavily guarded, the atmosphere unlike before; it turned out that Consort Shu had come early to visit her parents, and this time not only did Consort Shu come, but the Seventh Prince Xue Daoming also returned together.

The Dong family had always been one of the most powerful clans in Da Yong, the only clan able to rival them being the Li family; both families produced generations of eminent officials and capable generals, deeply favored by the Da Yong imperial house. However, after the Eldest Prince Xue Daohong ascended the throne, the Dong family became much more low-key, for they had supported the Seventh Prince Xue Daoming, who had also been a strong contender for the succession, making him a rival to the current Emperor Xue Daohong. After Xue Daohong's enthronement, both Xue Daoming and the Dong family members became cautious and fearful, lest Xue Daohong find an opportunity to strike at them.

Consort Shu's return to her maiden home to visit parents this time is also the first since the new emperor's enthronement; the family sat down in the flower hall, Consort Shu let out a faint sigh and said, "Nothing beats being at home."

Her sister-in-law Yang Yuxi smiled and said, "No matter how good, it can't compare to the imperial palace—fine clothes and jade food, living in comfort and honor, with so many palace attendants waiting on her."

Dong Bingkun glared at his wife, silently cursing that old woman for not knowing how to speak.

Consort Shu chuckled and said, "My appetite has been bland these past two days; I just want to eat the fish soup your sister-in-law made herself."

Yang Yuxi smiled and said, "That's no problem, I'll go make it right away." She was no ordinary lady; she heard the young sister-in-law's intention to get her out of the way.

After the lady left, Dong Bingkun gave a helpless smile and said, "Don't blame me, sister, your sister-in-law is just like that—she always speaks without restraint."

Consort Shu sighed and said, "Your sister-in-law is right; everyone sees the countless blessings of our living in the imperial palace, but who knows the grievances and bitterness behind our glory?"

Xue Daoming asked his mother for permission, saying, "Mother, Uncle, I'm going out to talk with a few cousins."

Consort Shu nodded.

Only the brother and sister remained in the flower hall. Dong Bingkun certainly knew his sister's recent situation; after Emperor Xue Shengkang's demise, their mother and son's status in the palace had plummeted. Not to mention that her power in the rear palace had been completely nullified, even her capable and battle-savvy nephew was now in idle status.

Consort Shu said, "The Emperor is very wary of Daoming in his heart." Only in her maiden home would she dare say such a thing.

Dong Bingkun said, "Sister, the only one the Emperor can trust is Li Chen Zhou; not to mention us, even Prince Yan and the Grand Princess are not exempt from his suppression."

Consort Shu nodded and said softly, "I always thought this child was loyal and open-minded, but I never expected him to act so ruthlessly after ascending the throne; Prince Yan is his own uncle. Handing over the entire Treasure Pavilion to the state treasury this time must also be unavoidable."

Dong Bingkun said, "Prince Yan is not as simple as he appears on the surface; it's just that the Emperor acts more decisively."

Consort Shu said, "It's all Li Chen Zhou's idea."

A bitter smile appeared on Dong Bingkun's lips: "Sister, you still need to endure!"

"Endure? This world isn't such that if you don't provoke others, they won't harm you; they've long looked upon us mother and son with disfavor, and this blade will surely fall sooner or later."

Dong Bingkun fell silent. After Xue Daohong's enthronement, he heavily relied on Li Chen Zhou; the Li family's status grew day by day, while the Dong family's influence in Da Yong waned correspondingly. Even so, Xue Daohong would not settle for the status quo; his ultimate goal remains to eliminate Xue Daoming, the former rival for the throne. He might even consider wiping out the Dong family, but the timing is not yet right, and he currently lacks the confidence to completely eradicate the Dong family's power.

Consort Shu clearly dissatisfied with her elder brother's silence, she gritted her teeth and said, "Waiting passively for destruction is just waiting to die!"

Dong Bingkun understood his sister's temperament. He gave a dry cough and said, "Timing is very important."

Consort Shu said, "Do you know about the matter of Tianxiang Guo recruiting consorts from royal families worldwide?"

Dong Bingkun shook his head; he indeed had not heard of this matter.

Consort Shu said, "The Grand Dowager Long Xuanjiao of Tianxiang Guo wants to find a husband for her adopted daughter, Princess Yingyue; this has been publicly announced, and the day for the public selection of a groom is set on the Double Ninth Festival."

Dong Bingkun said, "When did Long Xuanjiao acquire an adopted daughter?"

Consort Shu handed a letter to Dong Bingkun: "Someone specially sent this portrait of Princess Yingyue to Daoming; guess who the princess resembles."

Dong Bingkun took the letter, pulled out a sheet of paper, unfolded it, and upon seeing the portrait he couldn't help but frown.

Consort Shu said, "It's simply that wretched Long Xi Yue."

Dong Bingkun said, "Impossible, wasn't she already dead back then?"

Consort Shu chuckled coldly: "Who actually saw it? After death, the corpse was seized, thrown from a height and left unrecognizable; I've always felt this affair must be suspicious, and now it seems nine out of ten that we were deceived by Dakang's veil‑method, the dead person is someone else, the real Long Xi Yue has already slipped away, Long Xuanjiao is her paternal aunt, and it's quite possible she went to seek refuge with her."

Dong Bingkun's brows locked tight as he pondered, "There are many look‑alikes in the world; outward appearance alone cannot prove anything." He did not believe Long Xi Yue could shed her cicada shell under everyone's eyes; if this were true, then Da Yong has really played us a trick—not only did Princess Anping escape unharmed, but we also lost Dongliang Jun for nothing.

Consort Shu said, "But the Emperor has issued an edict ordering Daoming to go to Tianxiang Guo to participate in the consort‑selection."

Dong Bingkun said, "Did Daoming agree?"

Consort Shu sighed and said, "Upon seeing this portrait, his seven souls and six spirits fled, and he agreed without even a thought." This is what worries her most: her son is fine in every way, except that his affection for Long Xi Yue is too deep; she doesn't know what evil has possessed him, but since Long Xi Yue's death his heart has been still as water, and he doesn't even approach women.

Dong Bingkun said, "Are you worried that this trip to Tianxiang Guo is a trap?"

Consort Shu said, "Tianxiang Guo is just a small country; even without a trap, given Daoming's status he wouldn't lower himself to marry a Tianxiang Guo princess, let alone that Princess Yingyue is merely Long Xuanjiao's adopted daughter, not of royal blood at all—how could she be worthy of our Daoming?"

Dong Bingkun laughed helplessly; after all, his sister is merely a conventional lady, her thoughts first turn to clan considerations, but she hasn't considered the real reason behind this matter.

Consort Shu said, "I had him come along just so you could properly persuade him; he always listens to you—Tianxiang Guo must not be visited."

Dong Bingkun said, "He has already promised the Emperor; how could he go back on his word?"

Consort Shu bit her lip and said, "I don't care; I simply cannot bear to see him put himself in danger."

Dong Bingkun narrowed his eyes, lightly tapped his fingers twice on the tea table, and said in a low voice, "Which royal marriage isn't filled with political motives? Tianxiang Guo's this‑time worldwide consort recruitment must have a deeper purpose."

Consort Shu said, "Just a small country."

Dong Bingkun shook his head: "Although Tianxiang Guo's land area is not large, it cannot simply be dismissed as a small country; over the years they have been painstakingly developing south of Yunxiao Ridge, subduing many surrounding tribes; in terms of land alone it already equals half of Dakang and even exceeds Xichuan. Tianxiang Guo's greatest strength lies not in its army but in its navy; the sea area under its control has already surpassed that of the Central Plains states, and it governs over five hundred or more large and small islands."

Consort Shu said, "What's so special about barbarian lands?"

Dong Bingkun said, "Do you perhaps recall how, several years ago, the Dakang Minister of Revenue Hu Buwei led ten thousand elite Dakang marines and five hundred of their strongest warships to Luosong to pioneer a maritime grain‑transport route?"

Consort Shu blinked and said, "Isn't that just the father of Hu Xiaotian?"

Dong Bingkun nodded and said, "That's him. Although Hu Buwei took with him only a modest number of marines and warships, those ten thousand sailors were the backbone of Dakang's navy, and those five hundred warships embodied the pinnacle of Dakang's shipbuilding craft. Many say they perished in storms at sea, but lately a rumor has it they were not lost; instead they defected to Tianxiang Guo, joining its forces. Tianxiang Guo's naval power originally could not match Dakang's, yet in the past two years its marines have developed rapidly and its shipbuilding technology has swiftly improved, leading one to infer that Hu Buwei together with those sailors most likely defected to Tianxiang Guo."

Consort Shu, hearing her brother's lengthy exposition, grew impatient; if it were about domestic Da Yong affairs she might still listen, but Tianxiang Guo is separated from Da Yong by Dakang, thousands of miles away—what does it have to do with her? All she cares about now is how to stop her son from going to Tianxiang Guo.

Dong Bingkun said, "Dakang is plagued by incessant internal strife; recently the Long Tingzhen rebellion erupted, and now court affairs are entirely in the hands of Princess Yongyang."

Consort Shu said, "This girl isn't that old, is it? I never expected her to have such methods."

Dong Bingkun said, "Even Hu Xiaotian has turned against her and become a traitor to Dakang."

Consort Shu sighed, "Dakang is fragmented; its defeat is now inevitable."

Dong Bingkun said, "Therefore all the neighboring powers want to take advantage of this opportunity to carve up Dakang's territory; I believe the Tianxiang Guo grand dowager's recruitment of a consort for Princess Yingyue this time is merely a pretense—her true aim is to seek an alliance to launch a pincer attack on Dakang."

Consort Shu furrowed her brow; her horizons are clearly not that broad—she still focuses only on domestic Da Yong affairs, and her greatest wish is merely to see her son ascend the throne.

Dong Bingkun said, "Given the current situation, Daoming's trip to Tianxiang Guo might not be a bad thing; becoming Tianxiang Guo's prince consort would only benefit him, and leaving now would let him temporarily avoid the spotlight."

Although Consort Shu also understood her elder brother's reasoning, the mere thought of Tianxiang Guo being so far away—if her son went there he wouldn't return for half a year—made her heart ache again.

Dong Bingkun said, "Those involved are confused while onlookers see clearly; going out for a walk will broaden his horizons considerably, and besides, we'll be watching over him here—what's there to worry about? If you're uneasy about him, I'll have the heavenly general accompany him on this trip."

Double Period has passed, Zhangyu finds himself back in his familiar rank; I, Zhangshiyilang, am back again—curse? Great curse! This month, elder brother must break out, either ascend or fall… it all hinges on a single thought of the brothers. (To be continued~^~)