CH 29

When Teng Yun heard Xue Junliang’s words, he couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Sure enough, Kings liked to haggle over every penny, even a troop of one thousand soldiers, he could not let them go. But if Xue Yu brought one thousand soldiers, then these soldiers must be his best and most powerful soldiers and his most trusted ones as well.

Xue Junliang deliberately wanted to give the Empress an impossible problem to solve to embarrass her. He saw the Empress and Xue Yu standing together with his own eyes. It was hard to say if they were talking to each other. He was sure she wouldn’t be able to prove her innocence this way but unexpectedly she gave a very clear smile.

He already knew this Empress was smart, but no matter how smart she was, she was still a woman of the Imperial Harem. Docile and obedient women would not know anything about military tactics. 

But Xue Junliang didn’t know this was Teng Yun in the Empress’s skin. Teng Yun might be able to suffer hardships in silence, but he was always talented and far-sighted. When it came to competing for favors from Emperor Xue, he chose to not make any moves unlike the other consorts. But when it came to military and war tactics, no one was more capable than Teng Yun.

Teng Yun said, “If Your Majesty just needed to take over his military power, this is just a matter of a few words.”

Xue Junliang said, “I want Xue Yu not to be able to refuse.”

“When you want something, you have to give something first. Since ancient times, all wise rulers have given both grace and power, so if Your Majesty wants to take away the Marquis Zhenjiang’s army, why not give him a sweetener first.”

Xue Junliang seemed to be enlightened by his point of view, but still wanted to hear Teng Yun finish, so he said: “Continue.”

Teng Yun said, “Marquis Zhenjiang’s purpose of coming to the capital city is to hold a Worship Ceremony for the ancestors. After the ceremony, he will return to the border. Before he returns, Your Majesty can hold a military evaluation and deem his soldiers unfit. Then Your Majesty can appoint about twelve to twenty Imperial Guards to escort Lord Marquis back.”

Hearing this, Xue Junliang couldn’t help smiling, “I never expected Aifei to be so unscrupulous.”

“This is just outwitting a person,” Teng Yun said, “Your Majesty handing over your own personal Imperial Guards, is a great favor to whoever receives it. Lord Marquis will not be able to say no or show if he is unhappy.” 

“Yes, then I can use these twelve to twenty Imperial Guards as an exchange for a thousand elite soldiers, it is indeed a good bargain, right?”

Xue Junliang reached a hand to catch a few loose hairs on the Empress’ cheeks and put them behind her ear. His touch was extremely gentle. Then he said softly, “This Seat never expected to have an Empress who, not only has intelligence that is not inferior to any man, but is also very resourceful.”

Hearing those words, Teng Yun felt a chill run through him. Because of his current identity as Feng Country’s Grand Princess, if he talked about military tactics, he would definitely attract suspicions.

However, Xue Junliang didn’t continue talking about the current topic, instead he digressed into a new topic, “This Seat almost forgot about another thing… The date for Triennial Selection is approaching. This Seat wants Aifei to help organize and supervise the event so it can run smoothly according to the rules.” 

Xue Junliang thought the Empress would be nervous when she heard about the Triennial Selection. After all, the Empress still did not have any child of her own, hadn’t even consented to bed with him. Hearing about the Triennial Selection should give her a sense of crisis.

But there was no change in the Empress’ expression; she seemed all calm and indifferent as if the Triennial Selection was not a matter that involved her. The phrase “currying for favour” did not seem to be in her vocabulary at all.

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Xue Junliang stared at Teng Yun with narrowed eyes, half-smiling half-serious, and said, “Sometimes, this Seat always feels that the Empress is very difficult to read.” 

Teng Yun stilled by reflex. Nobody knew that he had been occupying Feng Country’s Grand Princess’ body and identity. Not even Teng Shang, whom he trusted most. Hearing Xue Junliang’s words, Teng Yun’s heart began to palpitate, thinking maybe Xue Junliang had found out. But that should be impossible. After all, the Empress and the enemy country’s Great General, had nothing in common and were both completely unrelated.

Xue Junliang added, “You see, you never even let me touch you. Other wives would burn incense three times a day, praying for a favour from me. Lingering around everyday hoping to be with the Emperor. I already know you’re smart, and you’re more knowledgeable when talking about strategies. Like just now, you looked ready to march into battles… this Seat almost forgot, you are even very good at horse riding and shooting arrows.”

Full of amusement, he asked, “Or was Aifei mistaken at birth? If you were born a man, right now you would have been a very talented military general.”

Teng Yun’s hands inside his sleeves were clenched into fists as he trembled slightly. 

Xue Junliang took the Empress into his arms and thought the other person was shivering because of the cold. He said, “Are you cold? Feng Country is located in the south, I think it would be hard for you to adapt to the weather here… But don’t you have snow there, too?”

Teng Yun answered without thinking, “No…”

Feng Country was located in the south of Xue Country, just like Teng Country. Though the weather in Feng wasn’t as warm as in Teng, they still had snow in winter. Teng Yun had only seen snow once in his life. At that time, he was in high spirits, he had defeated Xue Country’s Marquis Wannian at Xue Country’s border. That year, the snow was falling. It was the only time Teng Yun had ever seen snow.

Smoothly, Teng Yun corrected his slip of tongue, “Not very often.” 

Xue Junliang, naturally did not take this seriously. The two people embracing on the small pavilion created such a pleasing sight, but each had their own thoughts inside their hearts.

——

Marquis Zhenjiang was, after all, still a member of the royal family, a direct descendant of the Emperor. Although Xue Junliang didn’t like him in his heart, he still had to pretend to treat his younger brother with warmth and kindness. Seeing this, the court officials didn’t dare act rude to Marquis Zhenjiang. After exchanging toasts, the court officials came to the Marquis requesting him to visit their houses for meals.

After having too much wine at the banquet, Xue Yu naturally could not return home riding a horse. The officials thoughtfully prepared a sedan chair to take him home. They also had thought of sending a few beautiful girls to accompany Xue Yu, but Xue Yu was very scholarly and modest, didn’t look like he enjoyed indulging in worldly pleasures. In the end, Xue Yu only accepted the sedan chair. 

Xue Yu leaned back on his sedan chair and opened the curtain covering the side window to have some fresh air. He saw a person in white clothing walking on the street. Smiling softly, he used his folded fan to knock on the sedan chair’s door. The sedan bearers immediately stopped walking.

Xue Yu didn’t come down. He pushed the curtain open and with a smile, called out, “Master Teng, do you still remember me?”

Teng Shang suddenly heard someone calling his name and stopped walking. He turned and saw a young gentleman. The young man’s face was flushed, looked like he had one too many drinks; and he was smiling.

A vague recognition flashed in Teng Shang’s mind. He covered up his surprise and gazed over the sedan chair’s splendor. 

Xue Yu rode a horse when he came to attend the banquet, when he returned, naturally he had people lead his horse back. Xue Country’s hierarchy and ranking system was very strict. The separations between the royal family’s direct lines and their branches were tightly regulated. The color of the reins were very distinct.

Teng Shang only needed one glance to understand Xue Yu’s rank in Xue Country’s royal family.

Seeing Teng Shang not surprised by their encounter, Xue Yu smiled and raised an eyebrow, “It’s been a long time since seeing Master Teng, how about we go to a tea house and catch-up?”

———- 

Marquis Zhenjiang’s purpose of coming to the capital city was to pay respect to the ancestors. When the Late Emperor died, Xue Yu had been in the northern border resolving a conflict and could not return home to accompany the Late Emperor during his last days. In the end, he did not return until now.

When the Late Emperor was still alive, he especially doted on the youngest prince who was much younger than his older brothers. Marquis Zhenjiang admitted he was feeling guilty and regretful, so he wanted to return and hold a worship ceremony and asked for forgiveness.

Of course, an ancestor worship ceremony wasn’t something that could be done at a moment’s notice because it would require some traveling by the Royal family; therefore it was considered a special event.

This time, Xue Junliang would also go and attend the ceremony, making the event even more special. Everyone was busy preparing for the event, readying the food and accommodations and of course entertainment. The place for the ancestral worship wasn’t that far, but the preparations had to be done properly. 

They were scheduled to set off the next day. Xue Junliang would bring along the Crown Prince and the Empress. Amongst the ladies in the Inner Harem, only the Empress was invited; it made all other consorts and wives disappointed.

That night, it was snowing and windy. In no time at all, the ground was completely covered in snow.

Since hearing the plan made by Jiao Shui, Teng Qianyi had been waiting impatiently for executing the plan. Earlier in the day she found out that Emperor Xue only allowed the Empress to go with him. Driven by hate and resentment, she decided today was the perfect day. It just so happened that the weather was very accommodating; the snow was falling heavily and the wind was blowing strongly enough.

Teng Qianyi made several palace maids to do her bidding according to the plan. When the maids returned, Teng Qianyi immediately sent them to their death. She accused them as dirty thieves who had stolen their mistress’ valuables. And said that they were afraid that they would be reported and executed, so the maids hanged themselves to die. 

The next day at dawn, palace maids and servants went to clean up the yards. The snow hadn’t been cleared last night and had started to pile on Yunfeng palace courtyard. If not cleared properly, there was a chance the Empress could slip and fall and no one could afford the problems that would arise. They immediately started clearing the snow and that was when they found human-shaped puppets under the trees in the yard.

Teng Qianyi, hating the fact that Emperor Xue only favored the Empress, had made several puppets that looked very alike Marquis Zhenjiang. She also made a few puppets wearing black robes and wearing crowns and had those puppets slashed with knives.

Jiang Yu, who had just now been sent back by Teng Yun, heard someone running after him to report about the matter. He froze as if he’d been splashed from head to toe with cold water, but then he calmed down, trying to convince himself it might not be anything to worry about.

He walked in and reported the matter with his head bowed low. Xue Junliang listened to the report from beginning to end without any change in his expression. 

Jiang Yu didn’t dare utter a single word as he helped Emperor Xue change his clothes. But after some time, when there was still no response back, he finally asked, “Your Majesty, should we delay the departure?”

Xue Junliang let out a laugh with unknown meaning, “For such a trivial matter, do we have to delay the departure?”

“No, no… This old servant is ignorant.”

Xue Junliang flicked his sleeves and said, “How long before we have to depart?” 

“Replying back to Your Majesty, there is still one shichen.”

“En,” Xue Junliang nodded, “Let’s go to Yunfeng Palace first.”

———

It was still very early in the morning, yet the Imperial Harem was already bustling. Emperor Xue was coming to Yunfeng Palace and had summoned all of his consorts and wives to gather there as well. Everyone had heard about the puppets incident this morning, and if right at this time Emperor Xue wanted all of them here together, his reason must not be good. 

The consorts and wives didn’t dare delay for the fear of evoking His Majesty’s anger. When Xue Junliang arrived at Yunfeng Palace, all of his consorts and wives were already there, waiting cautiously. They immediately knelt down to greet him.

Xue Junliang was dressed splendidly. The attire he wore was the special one for the ancestral worship ceremony, naturally it was very elaborate and most fitting for his status as the supreme monarch.

He strode straight into the main hall, not sparing a glance at the consorts and wives kneeling on the floor, went to the huge seat and sat down.

After sitting down, Xue Junliang smiled and said, “Empress, come and sit with this Seat.” He patted the seat next to him. 

As soon as he said that, everyone was baffled. Obviously the incident involved the Empress, but Emperor Xue let her sit down next to him? Could it be that Emperor Xue had already found out who the mastermind was?

Teng Yun thanked Emperor Xue and walked over to sit down.

Xue Junliang said, “Yesterday, there was strong wind and heavy snow. This Seat ordered Jiang Yu to bring some warm clothes to Yunfeng Palace. Do you all know what he saw then?”

He said this so convincingly as if it was the truth. Teng Qianyi, who was still kneeling on the floor, was so scared that she almost fainted. If it wasn’t for Jiao Shui steadying her, she was afraid she would be found out right away. 

Xue Junliang smiled gently, “This Seat had heard people saying that Xue Country’s Emperor is a tyrant, has no heart and feeling, and treats people ruthlessly and meanly… This Seat has been doing self-introspection, it seems that to be a compassionate ruler it’s necessary to be more understanding towards people’s feelings in dealing with cases. So for this time, whoever is the culprit, this Seat wants you to confess yourself.”

In the wake of his speech, Yunfeng Palace fell quiet as everyone was silent. Behind Xue Junliang, Jiang Yu was sweating profusely because he hadn’t been ordered to go to Yunfeng Palace yesterday…

Teng Yun sat quietly, sweeping his gaze to all of the consorts and wives kneeling on the floor; all of them were keeping their heads low and their mouths shut.

Xue Junliang’s expression changed slightly as if suddenly recalling something. He turned to the Empress and affectionately said, “The weather has been cold recently, you must take good care of yourself, don’t exhaust yourself for the sake of preparing for the Selection.” 

Teng Yun sneered inwardly. Xue Junliang sure was very capable. He was talking and threatening so menacingly just now. Then he expressed concern towards the Empress, though Teng Yun could see those words were actually meant for all the palace maid servants to hear.

Xue Junliang meant to let the palace maids know that the Triennial Selection was approaching and he would offer additional rewards to those who confessed. If the palace maids were clever, they would immediately understand what a good opportunity this was.

Before Teng Yun could respond, there was a low cry.

Jiao Shui dropped down on all four and crawled desperately forward. She then hugged Teng Yun’s ankles and wailed, “Your Majesty, Empress, please save this servant’s life!”