Chapter 65

[All these chapters are long!!! What to heck!!!!!!

Please read on chichilations. Reposts aren’t allowed anywhere.]

The most uncomfortable here are Old Gu and I, due to the core characters in this play being Lu Liang and Guo Zhengtong. The latter is considered a student of Gu Yunzhi – even if Old Gu doesn’t see him as worth much, he’s without a doubt of the Qingliu.

And Lu Liang… is 100% in my party.

There must be one faithful and one traitor in this. If it’s Guo Zhengtong, the Qingliu will take a huge hit; if it’s Lu Liang, my hit will be pretty much fatal.

Li Minguo looked at me with Schadenfreude that wasn’t the least bit disguised. I’m actually a bit nervous inside: Guo Zhengtong is extremely likely to be falsely accused, and Lu Liang, from his being in Zhang Qinglian’s party, can be assumed to be a bad egg.

This matter needs to have a serious and thorough investigation. As the supervising imperial censor and newly-appointed official, Zhou Zizhu is certainly going. As someone from Qingliu is going to be involved in the matter, it’s a necessity that someone from our side is to go too.

I originally figured Old Gao, the one in charge of the Ministry of Justice, would be a good a fit, but first of all, he hasn’t broken the big case he has of the Emperor’s assassination attempt, and he’s secretly on a manhunt for Yuan Qingyun for me, secretly investigating the Everfragrant Mansion incident, and is hard-pressed as it is. Second of all, I’m also very afraid that he’d disregard right and wrong when he gets down there and collude with Lu Liang; whatever got done would just be shooting myself in the foot.

Liu Chunxi, first of all, shouldn’t get pulled down by this, and second of all currently has to sit guard in the Ministry of Revenue for the relief food and money.

Thinking it through, I actually don’t have a single person under my command I can use. Gritting my teeth, I say, “This official will go see this matter in person.”

Going on this trip myself is good. I’m not at ease about the newly-raised food; there’s too many areas in this where something fishy’s going on. Most of that grain and rice that was received from those 20 or so people had been transported directly to many of the disaster areas, and what I want to be clear about is the fear that not even a few grains of rice are properly falling into the hands of the common people.

After hearing me talk, there was a plainly exposed look of immense satisfaction in that old buzzard Li Minguo’s eyes. He’s bound to be thinking that I’ve already been forced into a dead end and could only come up with this foolish plan, having to leave the capital to do a personal investigation during such a sensitive time I can’t be absent for.

In truth, it really is unwise to leave right now, as the thing with awarding the donating of grain never really settled. Fortunately, the preliminaries have already been set, and Shao Qing is en route to the capital, set to arrive within a few days. Shao Qing and I are currently grasshoppers balancing on the same rope; although it’s not something he’d protect, I still feel at ease with him at guard.

Zhou Zizhu and I happen to agree upon a secret investigation and won’t alert any officials by the wayside, therefore turning this into the biggest secret of the central powers.

The both of us being considerably young and enthusiastic, following a planning discussion, we decide to set off tomorrow morning.

It was already after sangeng (1AM) by then. I don’t know how many things to pack when I get home, how many things I’ll have to account for, and how long I’m not going to be able to sleep. Thankfully I can sleep on the carriage.

Old Gao chased after me, saying secretly, “Father Sir, you must be extremely cautious doing this!” Seeing this guy who always had a false smile on his face showing a distinctly worried look, I understand the weight of this matter and nod, replying, “I will act appropriately. Linxi, my operations in the capital will be handed over to you. Chunxi is young, so look out for him a bit more. General Shao is coming back and you’ll have to do is listen to his instructions on every matter. Many troubles are coming up; I greatly hope that all things will be done carefully and with cautious words. Don’t make any careless mistakes.”

Old Gao choked up with sobs. “Father Sir has to toil by boat and horse for the nation, and this child hates that he cannot act for him! The waters are deep and mountains are far, you absolutely must look after your health.”

He’s acting like I’m 80!

That’s of course meant to be something of a farewell to me, his disgusting acting (that’s basically become a biological instinct) forcing me to get goosebumps again. It’s a shame I can’t ridicule him.

Jinzi stood before the carriage in wait for me. The night’s darkness is thick; there’s no neon lights in this world I’m in, only the dark red glow of the enclosed lantern in the coachman’s hand lighting up. His head is slightly lowered, the night wind lightly brushing past his hair and sleeves, the horse to his side digging with its hooves and lightly snorting, the houses to the side of the street far behind him revealed in hazy and unreal outline within the darkness. His silhouette is both steady and flowing in the breeze, like a boulder within a babbling brook. The dusty air and hot stuffiness have dispersed bit by bit in the summer night, as if drinking a cup of iced plum soup, and I’m aware of a hint of genuine eagerness seeping into the bottom of my heart.

Waiting is dreadful and can quite easily make someone abnormally fretful, but Jinzi’s figure isn’t a bit impatient. When he turned to look back at me, I vividly saw there was an allure of set tranquility on his face.

How many times has he waited for me like this? I sudden felt that all of my efforts and hardships in this time period have been made up for.

However, if it was for him, I could wait, too. I could wait a long, long time.

He came up to meet me and held my hands in his own. I smiled and said, “It’s summer, I’m not cold.”

He didn’t say anything, pupils sparkling freely in the dim night.

Getting into the cart, I cuddle up to his side, telling him about what had happened and that we’re on the verge of a long journey. He didn’t give a word after I finished talking, watching me intensely for a moment before taking me into his arms and whispering, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you through everything.” Though his voice is light, it’s particularly unwavering.

I was just speaking candidly, analyzing the circumstances, and stating how I have to be, and now this sentence of his caught me off guard. I can’t help but stare at him, mouth agape, then laughed for aeons in spite of myself. “Where… where did you… how did you figure I was scared?”

He used some slight force in his hands, holding me a bit tighter. “Your usual nature is to act tough. Whenever you get worried, skeptical or afraid, you put on an appearance like you’re overflowing with fighting spirit. If you have a trick up your sleeve, you’re conversely indifferent and don’t say anything,” he says mildly.

For the first time in my whole life, someone’s seen through my behavior when I’m nervous and fearful.

This method’s been very effective for me from childhood til adulthood, and I’ve used it to overcome a great many things. Even my own parents never noticed it. A lot of people have praised me for being brave, and sometimes even I myself have doubted that anything fazes me.

I don’t know what, but my nose starts to hurt and tears threaten to fall down my face. I reach out and tightly hug him around the waist, burying my face into him and breathing in his young, healthy, clean scent. Only after a long time do I raise my head and whisper, “It’s really only a little bit.”

He nods.

The black hair on the sides of his face gently fall onto my own.

Back at the Residence, I immediately call for Hong Feng to start to order the servants to pack things. This is the first time I’ve gone a long distance since arriving in this time period, and I don’t know what to expect from the local customs of areas outside the capital. Zhang Qinglian himself probably hadn’t left the capital in however many years, and the Residence was now in an enormous disarray. I instructed Hong Feng, “This shouldn’t be made public, and it’s following the flooding disaster, not going on a scenic tour. Everything should be suitably simple.”

Hong Feng nodded in agreement, busying herself.

I return to the bedroom with Jinzi, having to pick up something important myself. I take out the hollowed-out book from atop the bookshelf that currently has inside it my entire net-worth, which I just counted out yesterday as totaling 1,430,000 noted silver liang. There’s no shortage of gold, of course, but it’s inconvenient to carry around; the pile in the storehouse is probably several thousand liang. The other treasures, paintings, and curio are also naturally worth a lot.

I’m often wondering about that if there was an ancient version of Forbes, and they took a look at my income, would I make the list of the top 100 most wealthy people in the world right now?

Thinking it over, I put the fractional 430,000 back and take the 1,000,000.

430,000 liang is enough to last Jinzi and I several lifetimes.

If I use this as my capital, I’ll very soon earn my own empire.

But, thinking it over again, I take back the fractional and put the rounded-out million in again.

Speaking of the disaster relief, as I’ve already had the relief money issued, it’ll still be alright so long as the relief provisions get there on schedules. I’m just trying to protect against being unprepared, but I don’t need as much as a million.

I put stuff in and took it back out, hesitating over what to do. Raising my head, I caught sight of Jinzi looking at me with a smile in his eyes, presumably relishing in my actions.

My mental struggle being so openly observed inevitably makes me a little angrily embarrassed. “What are you looking at?”

Jinzi’s voice is firm, but he doesn’t stop smiling. “You don’t have to worry. My master left me some property when he was alive. If you’re down and out later on, I can provide for you.”

This guy still has a secret stash? Looks like it’s quite a bit, too. No wonder he’s never drawn from my account.

Though that’s so, I can’t contain my elation, saying with a smile, “So Jinzi’s actually a richie.”

Jinzi was finally couldn’t hold his laughter in anymore, pulling me up into his embrace and kissing me on the face a few times.

I smacked him on the hand. “This is urgent! How can we have time to do this?!”

I decided to bring along 750,000 noted liang in the end, with 150,000 of that handed over to Jinzi and the remainder sewn between the layers of my new soft armor with a needle and thread, which I then put on. I bring along that medicine and hidden weapon too, of course.

I had started to try and learn martial arts with Jinzi to make my health a bit better, but I’m really not gifted in anything athletic, and I don’t have time, and I can’t endure pain; sabers and swords and fistfighting aren’t things I can look forward to. I’ve lightly practiced a few types, but if it’s just to make the power of my skills better, hitting acupoints seems to be very suitable for me to learn. Unfortunately, it’s hindered due to the way it’s learned, as every time we go over it, we only get past a few acupoints before our teacher-student pair ends up rolling into bed. I’m finally realizing that Old Imp was actually very dedicated; though he fooled about like a child, he still was the one to teach Yinggu. That’s compared to Jinzi, who’s presently not even taught me a dozen of them! An now, whenever he’s going pleasure-seeking, he’ll say ‘I’m still teaching you how to recognize points’.

I thought that Xiao Zhu would know the lay of the land and bringing her along might be helpful. I called for someone to go to the Rectitude Court to bring her over, only to unexpectedly have all three of the Rectitude’s major members come out. Xiao Lu proceeded to look at me with his watery puppy-dog eyes, saying that he wants to come with to wait upon me, too. Recalling the child’s life experiences and lifelong dream, my heart softens, and I agree.

Jinfeng still harbors intense hostility and contempt for Xiao Zhu. He gets close to Jinzi upon seeing him, glaring viciously at me, yet with a pitiful tone coming from his lips. “Don’t leave me here, big brother, that evil man is full of schemes. He might take advantage of you not being here to get someone to murder me. You won’t see me when you come back!

I’m in a good mood and amused, saying, “No way, it’s dangerous over there. What am I going to do with so many kids? You might as well all not go!”

Xiao Lu’s little face promptly bust out wailing. Xiao Zhu is still afraid of me and doesn’t dare to show anything on her face, but even so, one can see she’s very disappointed.

Jinzi ended up wanting to bring Jinfeng, saying that he’s thirteen and should experience this as training. I know in actuality that he’s not at ease if Jinfeng isn’t nearby. This guy’s still full of himself, thinking that so long as he’s in sight he can help protect him no matter the danger.

Therefore, when it’s time for sleep, I can’t help but ask him, “This is a dangerous visit. If we get in a flood, would you save me or Jinfeng?”

Oof, I didn’t ever expect that even I would one day be asking such an unreasonable and debased question.

Jinzi’s answer was supremely blunt: “You.”

I feel happy, but I also mostly don’t believe that.

“Jinfeng’s martial arts is a lot better than yours now,” he added coldly.

Now I’m mad.

I got out of bed when the first rays of dawn hit the sky, having slept less than a full shichen. The three kids were abnormally vigorous and dressed up neatly, energetically standing watch in front of the carriage. Jinzi goes without saying. Hong Feng went to sleep last night even later than I did, and she doesn’t look the least bit weary.

I’m the only one continuously yawning, swaying around like a sleepwalker.

Our final line-up is me, Jinzi, Jinfeng, Xiao Lu, Xiao Zhu, and Hong Feng. Old Tian is staying behind to help me look after the home, and to keep a close eye on the Gunpowder Research Institute that has so far not produced much in results.

Before we set off, I enter the Palace to say goodbye to the little Emperor. After announcing myself, I went in to find Zhou Zizhu was already there and saying something in front of him, the Emperor sat atop his chair and nodding from time to time. The disk of the fiery red morning sun is rising in the lower half of the window outside, projecting onto the two people in vastly different positions as a senior teacher and junior student, their black hair hanging down and sleeves of their robes highlighted, looking just like a painting.

The Emperor saw me coming and looked overjoyed, looking like he really wanted to run over and hug me, but keeps himself from moving, remaining seated as he received my greeting. I deferentially get up and say, “Your Majesty, this servant will not be able to accompany your side these days. His Imperial Majesty must be cautious about everything himself.”

The Emperor’s eyes were filled with a reluctance to part while his mouth plainly said, “You are working hard for the country and for us, Good Subject. We are sad to see you go a thousand li away, and hope that you can return early.”

I respectfully reply with ‘of course’.

With a few more words, the Emperor has to leave for Court, and Zhou Zizhu and I also have to set off. The Emperor says, “Be at ease, Subjects. We will keep studying and will not fall behind on our lessons.”

Zhou Zizhu and I nod, encouraged.

The Emperor finally and quietly held onto my hand and sleeve, raising his head to look at me. “Come back soon, Subject Zhang,” he whispered, almost sounding as if he wants to cry.

I’m also reluctant to leave as I look at him. “Your Majesty, look after yourself well,” I say softly.

He nods, despondently watching us go.

We left the Palace and met up with our troops.