Chapter 130: Where To Follow?

"Wenqi." Seeing the situation turning sour, Lu Fan hastily stepped forward. "No matter what's wrong, there's no need to lose your temper at a cat, is there?"

Gongsun Xun couldn't help but sneer at this, yet he casually waved his hand, signaling the maidservant to take the cat away: "Deliver it to my wife!"

Lu Fan immediately let out a long breath of relief.

As a matter of fact, setting aside whatever lay behind this cat, Gongsun Xun keeping it and sending it to his own wife was, rather than attending to Zhao Yun's little whim, more about attending to Lu Fan's little whim... That day, this fellow hadn't taken the cat seriously at all and had taken it upon himself to give it to Cao Mengde, with the result that Gongsun Xun and Zhao Yun, husband and wife, hadn't shared a bed for over half a month!

Even the wife of their neighbor Liu Kuan had come over several times to mediate, all to no avail!

To be honest, if the person who had given the cat away that day had been someone of unclear status like Lou Gui or Wei Yue, there would have been nothing more to say. The crux of the matter was that Lu Fan and Han Dang had perfectly clear statuses — they were Gongsun Xun's formal private retainers, or rather, household retainers! And as for household retainers, the lord is the master, but isn't the lord's wife also a master?

That was why Zhao Yun had thrown a tantrum without the slightest restraint, and why Lu Fan, his head swelling with worry, had begged his lord not to lose his temper at the cat... He truly wanted to use this cat to make amends to his lord's wife.

"Ziheng." Only after the cat had been taken away did Gongsun Xun continue with a smile. "Setting the cat aside for now, what do you think Cao Jie means by this?"

"Heaven only knows." Lu Fan quickly replied. "It looks like he wants to let the matter rest, but we must also guard against the possibility that the old scoundrel Cao Jie intends to keep our lord tied down while suddenly launching a treacherous strike..."

Gongsun Xun sat down and then looked at Lu Fan once more: "One must always be wary of others. No matter what, starting tomorrow I was already planning to stay quietly at home to avoid trouble... But Ziheng, speaking strictly of the matter at hand, how much sincerity do you think there is in Cao Jie's goodwill this time?"

Lu Fan hesitated, wanting to speak, and only after a long while, under his lord's gaze, did he force out a single sentence: "If I may be blunt, I fear Cao Jie has also exhausted his strength!"

Gongsun Xun couldn't help but laugh... As it happened, Lu Fan's missteps during this period were not limited to the matter of giving away the cat. That Luo Mu, Luo Zixian, had also used him, Lu Ziheng, to lull this side into complacency. And although from the very beginning they had realized that Luo Mu was very likely 'colluding under orders,' and although Gongsun Xun himself had made even more mistakes by alarming the snake, no matter what, from the perspective of a retainer, Lu Fan bore an inescapable responsibility.

Yet even so, Lu Fan still told his lord that he felt Cao Jie had probably exhausted his strength.

In other words, the usually blunt-spoken Lu Ziheng truly believed that Cao Jie's goodwill this time was sincere.

As for why Gongsun Xun couldn't help but laugh, it was because after making the rounds with Lu Zhi and Yang Qiu, he too felt that Cao Jie probably, possibly, should have truly exhausted his strength, which was why he had reacted this way.

As the sky grew darker, the two men conversed deeply for a while longer, until a maidservant came to report that the fat cat had been delivered to the rear courtyard, that the lady's expression had softened considerably, and that she was currently bathing the fat cat. Only then did Gongsun Xun take his leave of Lu Fan and, carrying a slight tipsiness, rise and head toward the rear courtyard... No matter what, a wife ultimately had to be coaxed.

"My lord, why are you like this?" In the deep of the third watch, Lady Cheng, Yang Qiu's junior wife, who had just gotten out of bed and lit the lamp, climbed back onto the bed without regard for her exposed upper body and, with some heartache, began wiping the blood seeping from her husband's forehead. "Haven't all matters been settled? You were even drinking and letting go of your cares with that White Horse Gentleman of the Household earlier..."

"Drinking is one thing." Yang Qiu, sitting stiffly on the bed, abruptly pushed his junior wife's hand away. "But how can it be called letting go of my cares? It was merely putting on a forced response out of helplessness."

Lady Cheng's eyes immediately brimmed with tears: "Though I am but a woman, I was raised since childhood in my family lord's mansion and know something of court affairs. That Cao Jie is so ferocious — back then he exterminated the entire clan of Grand General Dou Wu and placed the Empress Dowager under house arrest. Now that the other party has even granted you, my lord, the post of Commandant of the Guards, it means he has no intention of making trouble. My lord should also exercise some restraint accordingly, lest you invite disaster!"

Hearing these words, Yang Qiu couldn't help but raise his head and let out a long howl. Only after a long while did he stop, and then he grew even more resentful: "What does a woman like you understand? Just days ago, I still regarded those wretches as nothing, yet who would have thought that today I would have to rely on the charity of such a person to eke out a miserable existence? If things go on like this, even if no disaster befalls me, how will the people of the world view me, Yang Fangzheng?! A true man living in this world, how can he be ridiculed by all under heaven?!"

Having said this, Yang Qiu actually clenched his fist and fiercely struck his own forehead — once, twice — and the forehead that had just been wiped clean once again bled continuously.

Seeing this, Lady Cheng couldn't help but grow afraid. But as a woman raised since childhood by eunuchs, she had always regarded her husband as her sole support, so she still mustered her courage and, weeping, tried to step forward to wipe her husband's brow, only to be pushed away by him once more... As it happened, she had earlier been awakened by the sound of Yang Qiu slapping his own forehead.

And having been pushed off the bed, Lady Cheng pondered for a long time, neither daring to approach again nor willing to leave him unattended.

So, after much thought, she carefully wiped away her tears and knelt naked beneath the bed to plead: "My lord, when I brought you wine and dishes earlier, I overheard some words between you and that Gentleman of the Household Gongsun, saying that if you could still be Colonel Director of Retainers, then such and such... Would becoming Colonel Director of Retainers mean my lord would no longer be angry and could once again accomplish great things?"

Only then did Yang Qiu turn his head and look directly at his junior wife, though his tone was unavoidably tinged with mockery: "Listening to your words, could it be that you can help me become Colonel Director of Retainers?"

"Though I myself cannot, there is someone who can." Lady Cheng quickly raised her head and answered. "I have an elder sister, also adopted by our family Lord Cheng, who is now married to Liu He, the Colonel of Infantry... A few days ago, when I returned home to visit relatives, I happened to meet this sister of mine. According to her, her husband Liu He is greatly favored by the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven recently promised him a position among the Three Excellencies."

"Liu He, is it..." Yang Qiu said thoughtfully. "This man's elder brother Liu Shu was a key minister of the imperial clan, one of those who enthroned the Son of Heaven. Among the inner attendants, it was Cao Jie; among the outer court, it was Dou Wu; and among the imperial clan, it was Liu Shu. Later, Liu Shu was envied by Cao Jie and Wang Fu, who not only forced him into an external post but also secretly murdered him on the road, leading to his death. However, as the Son of Heaven grows older day by day, he often recalls Liu Shu's past kindness, and so he bestows exceptional favor upon Liu He as well... That being the case, promising him a position among the Three Excellencies is nothing unusual."

"In that case," Lady Cheng said, unable to hide her delight as she climbed back onto the bed, "my lord might as well discuss it with him. We are, after all, relatives."

"You think too simply." Yang Qiu immediately shook his head again. "Setting aside whether Liu He can even become one of the Three Excellencies, even if he truly does, with Cao Jie now watching me so closely, how could he easily persuade the Son of Heaven to restore me to the post of Colonel Director of Retainers? Besides, even if he could persuade him, what I intend to carry out is a matter of great consequence. He is merely a wealthy and honored member of the imperial clan — how would he dare to assist me?"

Lady Cheng's eyes once again brimmed with tears, and she prostrated herself on the bed to beg forgiveness: "I am foolish and spoke recklessly, only hoping that my lord might find some peace of mind. You must not, under any circumstances, harm your health over these matters!"

Hearing this, Yang Qiu looked at the smooth, bare back of his junior wife and let out a sigh as well: "How could I blame you? It is rather my own behavior that has frightened you instead... Very well, let us rest for now!"

Lady Cheng was naturally overjoyed at these words and hastily crawled over to attend to him carefully... The two shared a lingering intimacy until dawn, which we shall not recount.

Leaving aside how each of the two couples had their own experiences that night, by the next day, the news of Cao Jie's resurgence had already spread throughout Luoyang and beyond. The hundred officials of the court all knew that Cao Hanfeng had staged a desperate counterattack — not only had he regained the position of Grand Prolonger of Autumn and once again taken control of military authority, but he had even advanced a step further to become the rightful Prefect of the Masters of Writing. For a time, all were utterly terrified.

In fact, it was not just Gongsun Xun. By the time the three-day mourning period for the Honorable Lady Yu was complete, no fewer than five or six people in the Secretariat alone had reported illness and stayed away. In response, Cao Jie showed no courtesy whatsoever, directly dismissing these illness-claiming individuals in his capacity as Prefect of the Masters of Writing... And interestingly enough, within the Secretariat, the only one he openly overlooked and ignored was the principal Gongsun Xun. On the other side, the newly appointed Commandant of the Guards, Yang Qiu, Yang Fangzheng, was audacious beyond measure, entering the Southern Palace almost daily to perform his duties right under the noses of the Gentlemen of the Tiger Guard and the Feathered Forest Army, yet he too encountered no mishap... This gave people considerable food for thought.

And it did not stop there. As the days passed, Cao Jie not only restrained himself from taking revenge against these two men who had executed eunuchs, but he even swallowed his pride and tacitly acknowledged the legality of the Wang Fu case... Throughout the entire process, he merely helped collect Wang Fu's corpse!

One must understand that when Yuan She heard of Cao Jie's resurgence, he was as overjoyed as could be and specially wrote a letter requesting to be reinstated, only to receive a severe blow from his former partner. Not only was he unable to return to the capital, but clerks were sent after him to Runan with an added decree of 'banishment to Runan,' transforming him from a two-thousand-bushel official who had voluntarily resigned into a convicted criminal. He was utterly devastated, as if mourning his own parents! The Regular Palace Attendant Zhang Feng was in a similar situation. Living in retirement in Wancheng, he was first wildly excited upon hearing the news, but then, upon learning of Yuan She's fate, he was seized with terror three times a day and was finally frightened into illness, with no one daring to visit him!

In short, through this affair, the hundred officials of the court came to vaguely understand Cao Hanfeng's intentions. It turned out that although this Grand Prolonger of Autumn had used Wang Fu's corpse to play the victim and move the various powerful eunuchs in the palace, and then seized the opportunity to coerce the eunuchs great and small into forcing Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others to reconcile with him, he had ultimately lost all his wings... Or rather, it was precisely because he had lost all his wings that he was able to reach an understanding with Zhang Rang and the others!

Add to that his advancing age and his not-so-good health, and he was also unwilling to continue the struggle against Yang Qiu, Gongsun Xun, and the others, lest further trouble arise. The current situation, it seemed, was merely him seeking a pattern of wealth and honor in his old age.

Hmm, once they figured this out, the scholars of Luoyang, who had previously been trembling with fear, instantly regained their fighting spirit. Some scholars, under the encouragement and protection of Liu Ne, the Guest Officer Master of Writing in the Secretariat, even continued to submit memorials to the Son of Heaven one after another, requesting the execution of Cao Jie and the reversal of the verdicts on Chen Fan and Dou Wu, and so on... The result, naturally, was that they were strung up and beaten by Cao Hanfeng, who now held all the central authority!

Within a few days, seven or eight Gentlemen of the Palace and Censors in a row were thrown into the imperial prison, which finally stabilized the situation somewhat.

And by the end of the fourth month, with Liu Kuan assuming the post of Grand Commandant, the former Colonel of Infantry Liu He succeeding the voluntarily resigned Qiao Xuan as Minister over the Masses, Yuan Kui once again becoming Minister of Works, Master of Writing Liu Ne transferring to become Colonel of Infantry, and the Censorate and Secretariat filling their quotas one after another, the court personnel, from the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers down to the Secretariat, and from the various military Colonels to the Censorate, had already undergone a complete and thorough reshuffling in an instant under Cao Jie's direction.

With this, the situation finally seemed to have stabilized.

However, just at this moment, Gongsun Xun, who had been spending his days at home reading, writing, and incidentally coaxing his wife and teasing the cat, suddenly received an unexpected invitation.

"Brother Zhengnan, I trust you have been well since we last met!" Upon receiving the visiting card from Chen Qiu, the newly appointed Privy Treasurer of the Yongle Palace, Gongsun Xun tossed aside the book in his hand and, wearing only his wooden clogs, strode quickly to the main gate to greet him. "I did not expect to meet Brother Zhengnan again."

"Have the White Horse Gentleman of the Household and I met before?" Shen Pei, who was waiting outside the gate, was clearly astonished.

"That day when you, sir, went to Wang Zishi's residence on behalf of Lord Chen to deliver a message, this humble person was present." Gongsun Xun, without further ado, grasped the other man's hand. "I had the honor of witnessing Brother Zhengnan's distinguished bearing!"

Hearing this, Shen Pei, who had originally been full of confidence, instead became somewhat embarrassed: "That day's affair must have made me a laughingstock before Gentleman of the Household Gongsun."

"Let us not speak of that matter!" Gongsun Xun was in high spirits. "For Shen Zhengnan, renowned throughout Hebei, to visit my humble home truly makes it shine with brilliance. Please, come inside and talk!"

As he spoke, Gongsun Xun, while tugging the man's hand, turned around and delivered a fierce kick with his wooden clog to his own main gate, startling the gate-keeping household servant into hurriedly throwing open the central gate... Indeed, in this era, the central gate was generally not opened except for honored guests. And in the more than half a year he had spent in Luoyang, the occasions when Gongsun Xun had encountered the opening of the central gate could be counted on one's fingers. Come to think of it, the most recent time had actually been when Cao Jie welcomed and escorted him, which was rather interesting.

And after entering the gate, Gongsun Xun also hastily sent someone to summon his two trusted aides, as well as Gongsun Fan and the others living in the neighboring courtyard, to come meet the guest... He certainly performed all due courtesies.

Of course, Shen Pei, Shen Zhengnan, was not a pretentious person. As could be seen from their previous encounter, this man was clearly forthright and magnanimous, generous and inviolable. So, in the capacity of a mere retainer, he openly and honorably accepted the other party's courteous treatment and strode proudly inside.

And when Lu Fan and the others hurried over, the group exchanged salutations and introductions once more on the high-backed chairs in the hall before taking their seats one by one. Only then did Gongsun Xun solemnly inquire about the purpose of his visit: "May I ask what instruction Brother Zhengnan has for me in coming here?"

"It is nothing else." Shen Pei immediately cupped his hands and said, "It is simply that my lord wishes to invite the White Horse Gentleman of the Household, renowned throughout Luoyang, to his residence this evening for a conversation, and so he dispatched me specifically to extend the invitation."

Only then did Gongsun Xun realize that Shen Pei was not currently a free man but a private retainer of Chen Qiu, a renowned minister who had served a term as Grand Commandant... However, this also immediately puzzled the former, since he seemed to have no dealings whatsoever with Chen Qiu.

In fact, after racking his brains, Gongsun Xun could only recall that among his own circle of acquaintances, only Qiao Xuan had once had a grudge with Chen Qiu... The two had first been personal enemies, but later Qiao Xuan had taken the initiative to recommend Chen Qiu as Grand Commandant, which was considered a fine tale.

Beyond that, there truly was no connection of personal dealings or favors between himself and that Chen Qiu!

"May I venture to ask, Brother Shen," Lu Fan, standing nearby, hastily inquired on behalf of his lord upon seeing this, "Lord Chen is an elder and a renowned minister of the time, while my lord is merely a young Master of Writing in the Secretariat. For him to suddenly extend an invitation now, may I ask what matter it concerns?"

Shen Pei, who had always been known throughout Hebei for his forthrightness, was actually rendered speechless for a moment upon hearing these words.

Gongsun Xun and Lu Fan exchanged a glance, their suspicions growing even deeper.

"I will not conceal it from you gentlemen." After waiting for a moment, Shen Pei slowly cupped his hands and said, "My lord indeed has an important matter about which he wishes to meet with Gentleman of the Household Gongsun. As for the specifics, it is not convenient for me to say much at this moment... And I truly cannot stay long, for I must also proceed to the residence of Lord Yang Qiu, Yang Gong."

With that, this Shen Zhengnan actually stood up and took his leave directly... truly coming in a hurry and going in a hurry as well.

Gongsun Xun had no choice but to quickly stand up and see him out the door. Only when the other's carriage had gone far did he involuntarily exchange another glance with Lu Fan at the gate.

"Seeking me and Yang Qiu?" Gongsun Xun couldn't help laughing as soon as he entered. "Some time ago during the eunuch purge, I saw no one inviting me and Yang Qiu as guests. Now that the two of us can barely cling to life, an invitation suddenly arrives... Could it be they wish to curry favor with Cao Jie, and so intend to borrow our two heads?"

At these words, Gongsun Fan and Lu Fan were not particularly affected, but Han Dang immediately tensed up.

"My lord, why such jests?" Lu Fan said helplessly at this. "Chen Qiu is a renowned minister of the court. When Empress Dowager Dou passed away, it was he who spoke out righteously, confronting Cao Jie and Wang Fu, demanding she be buried with the rites of an empress dowager... Such a man, how could he go to flatter Cao Jie?"

Han Dang felt relieved at these words, but Gongsun Fan, who had remained silent all along, suddenly interjected: "Actually, regarding Chen Qiu, Lord Chen, I heard a few idle remarks while drinking with the scholars of Luoyang. I don't know if they are true or false..."

"Let's hear it," Gongsun Xun, walking ahead, promptly urged.

"I heard it said," Gongsun Fan explained in a low voice as he walked, "that with the great upheaval in the court's political situation this time, the Three Excellencies posts have all been vacated. That Chen Qiu, Lord Chen, because he was previously removed from the Grand Commandant post far too hastily, has always wished to ascend to the Three Excellencies again to fulfill his long-cherished desire... However, Cao Jie, because of the former Empress Dowager Dou incident, is deeply wary of him and instead took the chance to edge him out, making him take the post of Privy Treasurer of Yongle Palace — the former post of Wang Meng, Wang Fu's adopted son. It is said he considers this a deep disgrace!"

"Now that is interesting," Gongsun Xun, walking ahead, couldn't help stopping. "But it does match my impression of this man... Has he come to hate Cao Jie because of an official post?"

"Wenqi," Lu Fan quickly said, "if that is the case, and coupled with Shen Pei's hints, then Chen Qiu's purpose this time is abundantly clear. Perhaps he simply wishes to borrow your strength and Lord Yang's to stir up another incident with Cao Jie! And you truly have no need to get involved in this matter... Cao Jie has shown no intent of retaliation, and Lord Lu may have word for us at any time. We ourselves might be departing for some large county in Hebei any day now."

"The reasoning is sound," Gongsun Xun couldn't help sneering. "Under the current circumstances, plotting against Cao Jie again is largely impossible, and I have no wish for further trouble either..."

"Then..."

"Then I shall go anyway," Gongsun Xun laughed again. "I actually hold Chen Qiu in rather low regard; and as for dealing with Cao Jie, I also feel the timing is wrong... Only, Shen Zhengnan has the bearing of a hero. He came in person to invite me — how could I not give him face?"

Lu Fan frowned slightly at these words, but for a moment did not know what to say.

—————— I am a self-satisfied dividing line ——————

"Xun, having failed to execute Cao Jie, then dwelt idle at his Luoyang home, amusing himself with reading. Jie, fearing his valor, also dared not harm him. Yet whenever Xun heard of Jie bringing calamity to the court's order, he would often slap his thigh in fury, secretly lamenting that the evil had not been fully eradicated. One day, the Privy Treasurer of Yongle Palace, Chen Qiu, sent his retainer Shen Pei to call upon him. Xun, hearing this from the hall, cast his book to the ground and said with great joy: 'Qiu is a renowned minister; perhaps the cause can be taken up again!' Thereupon he threw open the main gate to welcome him, and Pei indeed came to invite him regarding the matter of Cao Jie. All those around were astonished at the time." — Records of Late Han Heroes, by Wang Can

PS: Thanks to book friends sao Rui and Tangyouguozidouhuafan for the tips... The updates this last day of the month have been somewhat erratic, but looking closely, I actually coded a total of 168k words, which impresses even myself.

Also, there is a book friend group 684558115, everyone can join.

(End of Chapter)