Chapter 204: Border Town

“Leaving Huangzhou and heading north?” After the morning court session, Shen Lang retained his key ministers for discussions. However, at this moment, an urgent report suddenly arrived from outside. After listening carefully, his already gloomy face grew even darker. He asked, “Have we found out where he is headed?”

Wang Xinyi, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, broke into a cold sweat on his forehead and stammered in reply, “According to the reports from below, based on the route, it seems… it seems he is heading towards the border…”

The border?!

All the senior court officials and key figures from the Six Ministries present gasped in shock, exchanging uneasy glances.

Zhang Zhe, who was about to report on this year’s autumn executions by the Ministry of Justice, felt his eyelids twitch upon hearing this. His usually silent and stoic face showed a rare flicker of surprise, which quickly settled.

For a moment, he was lost in thought. As his gaze fell, he noticed the intricate cloud and thunder patterns on the sleeves of his official robe, reminding him that this life was different from the previous one.

In the previous life, she had been at odds with Princess Leyang, Shen Zhiyi, and had been powerless to save the Marquis of Yongyi’s household from disaster. In this life, however, the princess had treated her well in the palace, and although the Marquis’s household had been raided, they had retained most of their strength and were only exiled to Huangzhou. She had even become a true disciple of Xie Ju’an and had the support of You Fangyin, whose wealth rivaled that of a nation in the previous life. If she were in the south, she would inevitably encounter Wei Liang…

So many people’s fates had changed because of her.

Thus, it was no surprise that the young master of the Yan family was making moves earlier than in the previous life.

However, this development had taken Shen Lang completely by surprise.

Seated high on the imperial throne, he felt a throbbing pain at his temples, as if a surge of blood was rushing to his head. He slowly pressed his hand against his forehead, then gritted his teeth and continued, “Did he leave Huangzhou alone? What about the rest of the Yan family?!”

Wang Xinyi knelt on the ground, trembling. “After discovering that Yan Lin had left Huangzhou, the local officials immediately launched a search, but… but…”

Shen Lang suddenly slammed his hand on the imperial desk and shouted, “Speak!”

The loud “bang” caused the brushes and ink on the desk to tremble.

Wang Xinyi immediately prostrated himself fully, his forehead pressed against the cold, smooth floor, his voice filled with terror. “Your Majesty, they’re gone! The entire Yan family has disappeared! They’ve all escaped!”

“Nonsense!”

Shen Lang’s face twisted in fury. He swept everything off the imperial desk in one motion—memorials, brushes, and ink—leaving a chaotic mess.

“The Yan family has over a hundred members. It’s not surprising that Yan Lin alone managed to escape, but how could the entire family vanish without a trace?! How could they possibly evade my watchful eyes and the numerous checkpoints set up by the local authorities?!”

At this, all the ministers knelt down in unison, pleading, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”

Over the past two years, the emperor had grown increasingly negligent in handling state affairs, becoming obsessed with the pursuit of immortality and frequently consuming “five minerals powder”. His temperament had become more unpredictable, swinging between anger and joy. Court officials often found themselves in trouble, and this was not an uncommon occurrence.

Even if the officials were willing to risk losing their official robes and positions, they still had to worry about their own heads.

Only Zhang Zhe was a half-step slower.

Gu Chunfang, the elderly Minister of Justice, sighed inwardly and knelt down first. Turning his head, he noticed his prized disciple still standing, clutching the memorial concerning this year’s autumn execution list. He reached out and tugged at Zhang Zhe’s sleeve.

Zhang Zhe’s fingers tightened around the memorial, revealing sharp, cold lines of tension.

In the end, he did not refuse Gu Chunfang’s well-meaning gesture.

However, just before kneeling, he glanced at the tribute pine-soot inkstick that had rolled from the imperial desk to his feet. Seemingly annoyed that it was in the way, he gently kicked it aside.

Gu Chunfang noticed this and couldn’t help but glance at him.

While the entire court was trembling with fear, a monk standing nearby seemed out of place.

He had a square face and broad ears, with a somewhat fierce appearance.

Dressed in bright red monastic robes, he carried himself with the demeanor of a high monk. Upon hearing the news of the Yan family’s escape, he merely furrowed his brows slightly.

This person was none other than the current National Preceptor, Monk Yuanji.

In recent days, there had been no good news in the court.

Internally, the Tian Sect was causing chaos, plunging the people into misery. Externally, barbarians were eyeing the borders. The originally top-secret news that Princess Leyang was trapped in the Tatar court and had sought help from the imperial court had somehow leaked, spreading like wildfire. The common people were abuzz with speculation, wondering if the court would send troops to rescue her.

But who in the court didn’t understand?

Even if they were to go to war with the Tatars, now was not the time. A married princess was like spilled water—once she went to the Tatar court, she was as good as dead. How could the emperor rashly go to war for a dead person?

The problem lay in the leak!

Some things could be done but not spoken of. Originally, Shen Lang’s plan was to keep it secret, waiting until news of Shen Zhiyi’s misfortune came out, and then rally the troops under the pretext of avenging the princess. But now, if the people knew that the court was aware of the princess’s plight but refused to send troops, it would surely lose the people’s hearts! The Tian Sect, already causing internal chaos, would seize any opportunity to smear the court. If there were any mishandling of this matter, it would undoubtedly give them an opening.

And now, at this critical moment, the Yan family had vanished!

Shen Lang couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “Good, very good. It seems they’ve all joined forces to make me miserable!”

Everyone fell silent, not daring to utter a word.

Shen Lang felt an overwhelming sense of agitation. He stood up and began pacing, his gaze sweeping over the officials below. Noticing Xie Wei’s absence, he asked, “Has Minister Xie not returned yet from his ancestral rites in his hometown?”

Wang Xinyi felt particularly unlucky. He couldn’t understand why there was so much bad news every day, and why it always fell to him to deliver it. With his head pressed to the ground, he didn’t dare lift it as he replied, “Your Majesty, you may have forgotten, but there was an urgent report from Shandong stating that Minister Xie was ambushed on his way back to the capital. However, we received news yesterday that he has been rescued and is currently recuperating in Jinan Prefecture. It is expected that he will soon resume his journey back to the capital.”

Shen Lang frowned. “Who was behind the attack? Has it been investigated?”

The Minister of Justice, kneeling below, didn’t dare to speak.

Gu Chunfang glanced at him and then spoke on his behalf. “Your Majesty, the incident was sudden. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review have only just dispatched officials to investigate. It is believed that we will have answers soon. In my humble opinion, Minister Xie is a high-ranking official of the court. Those who dared to ambush him on his return to the capital must either be rebels or have treasonous intentions. It is likely connected to the Tian Sect.”

Indeed.

Who else but the Tian Sect would have the audacity to ambush Xie Wei?

Gu Chunfang’s words made sense.

Beside them, Monk Yuanji smiled slightly, clasped his hands together, and chanted, “Amitabha. Minister Xie is blessed by the heavens and fortunate to be unharmed. The Tian Sect rebels are committing heinous acts, and their hearts are truly deserving of punishment. However, I must congratulate Your Majesty.”

The emperor, still seething with anger, couldn’t find any reason for “congratulations.”

Everyone found it strange.

Shen Lang also turned to look at him, showing a bit more trust in the monk. His expression softened slightly. “State Preceptor, your words are puzzling. What is there to congratulate?”

Monk Yuanji replied, “First, congratulations that Minister Xie is safe and the rebels failed in their plot. Second, congratulations that the Yan family has made a move, revealing their intentions. With the Tatars eyeing our borders, and Yan Lin heading toward the frontier, it is likely that they intend to collaborate with external forces. Therefore, the handling of the border situation must be approached with utmost caution. Minister Xie is Your Majesty’s right-hand man, a strategist of great foresight and wisdom, deeply trusted by you. I have a proposal: why not take this opportunity to send Minister Xie to the border? Firstly, to avoid further ambushes by the Tian Sect rebels; secondly, to oversee the military situation and prevent any unexpected changes; and thirdly, to lie in wait. If the Yan family harbors treasonous intentions, Minister Xie’s capabilities will ensure they meet their end.”

It was well known that Xie Wei, though not officially titled as the Emperor’s Tutor, held the same level of influence.

Monk Yuanji, though he had risen to prominence as the State Preceptor over the past two years, promoting Buddhism among the people to counter the Tian Sect and gaining a significant following, was still less trusted by the court officials compared to Xie Wei.

After all, those who served in the court, even if not outright malevolent, were rarely virtuous.

Who among them truly believed in Buddhism?

They merely showed him superficial respect.

Everyone in the court knew that when it came to truly complicated matters, it was Xie Wei’s counsel that was sought to make decisive judgments.

Now, hearing Monk Yuanji’s words, no one found them suspicious.

Shen Lang also began to consider the situation.

The situation at the border was far more urgent than the internal affairs of the court. It was impossible for him to personally oversee the military, so sending Xie Wei was indeed the best option. Without hesitation, he declared, “Draft an edict! Order Minister Xie not to return to the capital. After a brief recuperation in Jinan, he is to proceed immediately to the border to oversee the military and enforce strict vigilance. Any signs of rebellion are to be dealt with on the spot, with no mercy!”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

All the ministers bowed in unison, praising the decision.

Only Zhang Zhe raised his eyes, noticing the faint smile on Monk Yuanji’s lips. He couldn’t help but feel that things were not as simple as they seemed.

—

“So, have you figured out who was behind the attack on us?”

Jiang Xuening watched as Xie Wei placed the sliced fish onto a beautiful white porcelain plate, sprinkled it with a few shreds of ginger to remove the fishy smell, and then placed it into the steamer. She could already imagine how delicious it would look when it came out, and she couldn’t help but swallow her saliva before asking the question.

She didn’t dare to speculate too deeply.

During the attack, she had clearly heard Dao Qin say the word “sect,” which reminded her of Xie Wei’s ruthless extermination of the Tian Sect in his previous life. The memory sent chills down her spine.

Xie Wei covered the steamer, took a towel from the side, and wiped the stains from his hands. His eyes, however, flickered with an unusual light as he calmly replied, “The Tian Sect rebels are audacious. Who else could it be?”

Jiang Xuening was momentarily speechless.

Xie Wei, however, looked up at her. Seeing her delicate face illuminated by the flickering light of the stove’s fire, he smiled with a hint of deeper meaning. “Who do you think it was?”

Jiang Xuening resentfully added another piece of firewood to the stove and said, “How would I know? Can’t I ask because I’m scared of dying?”

Xie Wei simply said, “Don’t worry.”

After the incident, he had also pondered the matter. There had been two groups of assassins. The ones who followed Jian Shu were skilled members of the sect, likely sent by Wan Xiuzi, who was on the verge of rebellion and feared that Xie Wei might become uncontrollable, so he wanted to eliminate him first. The ones who followed him and Jiang Xuening, however, had come from the capital. If the emperor had already begun to suspect him, he wouldn’t have acted in secret. Those who acted in the shadows were afraid of being discovered. Reflecting on the past two years, the only person who could be considered a “rival” or “enemy” was Monk Yuanji.

Although this man claimed to be a monk, his mind was cunning and calculating, far from benevolent.

Shen Lang, though negligent in state affairs, was deeply skilled in the art of ruling as an emperor.

Over the past two years, he had used Monk Yuanji to balance Xie Wei and vice versa, never allowing one side to truly overpower the other. This way, the emperor could remain firmly seated, reaping benefits from the middle.

Now, however…

Xie Wei lowered his gaze, glancing at the fish head discarded beside the cutting board. He casually tossed the towel he had used to wipe his hands aside, picked up two small bowls for the dipping sauce, and asked Jiang Xuening, “Do you eat spicy?”

Jiang Xuening immediately forgot the serious matters they had been discussing and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, I do.”

Xie Wei added a spoonful of chili to her dipping sauce.

When the steamed fish was served, the slices were white and tender, exuding a fresh aroma. The two of them didn’t bother moving elsewhere. Instead, they set up a small table in the corner of the kitchen, wiped it clean, and sat down to eat with the dipping sauce and a small bowl of rice.

These days, no one dared to approach the kitchen.

The two of them ate their meal in peace and quiet. After a few bites, Jiang Xuening was completely won over, feeling that Xie Ju’an was truly a divine being, a great sage of boundless compassion. No ordinary person could make food this delicious!

Originally, after the long and exhausting journey, her meals had been less than satisfactory. After the attack and resting in Jinan, she had noticeably lost weight. But after a few meals from Xie Wei, her complexion had improved, and her face had filled out a bit.

Jiang Xuening even began to worry that she might gain weight if she continued eating like this.

However, such peaceful days didn’t last long. Just two days later, an imperial edict arrived from the capital, ordering Xie Wei to proceed to the border to oversee the military!

Jiang Xuening was stunned.

For a moment, she felt a chilling sensation, recalling Xie Wei’s earlier words, “No rush.” She couldn’t help but suspect that this had been within his expectations all along. Otherwise, why would he have lingered in Jinan after the attack?

Xie Wei was, after all, the real rebel!

Now, the emperor, still deceived by him, had issued an order sending him to the border! It was as if the emperor was digging his own grave, hastening his own demise!

Needless to say, with this imperial edict, their journey would now proceed openly and legitimately along official routes.

No longer needing to hide, and with the emperor’s order paving the way.

Every checkpoint opened for them, every barrier lifted.

Along the way, no state or prefecture dared to treat them with anything less than respect. From Jinan to the border, they traveled unimpeded, arriving at the border in just ten days!

Yanmen Pass was located in the Juzhu Mountains of Shanxi, on the western side of the Hengshan Mountain range. It stood as a crucial defensive point, guarding against invasions from the north and protecting the Central Plains. Its strategic location made it easy to defend and difficult to attack, earning it the reputation of being the “most vital of the three borders and the foremost of the nine passes.”

The soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty were stationed within the pass, encamped outside the city of Xinzhou.

As Xie Wei, Jiang Xuening, and their party arrived in Xinzhou, they could see the desolate plains outside the city, where a high command platform stood tall. Banners fluttered in the wind, obscuring the sun, while soldiers clad in armor and armed with swords and halberds moved about in disciplined formations.

On their journey, they had already received news from the border: after receiving the so-called “imperial edict,” Yan Lin had legitimately taken control of the border’s hundred thousand troops!

After all, the one who had delivered the edict to Yan Lin was none other than the emperor’s tutor.

Who would dare question the authenticity of the edict?

And when the court subsequently issued a genuine edict ordering Xie Wei to oversee the military, it played right into Xie Wei’s hands, making his scheme even more seamless!

Their carriage was still far from the city gates when someone rushed ahead to announce their arrival.

As they approached the gates, a rider galloped out from the city.

Jiang Xuening had just emerged from the carriage and was still steadying herself on the footboard when she heard a hearty laugh. Before she could react, she was swept into a tight embrace.

The young man from her past, usually so composed and tempered by years of hardship, now radiated joy. His sharp brows and bright eyes gleamed as he held her tightly, calling out with delight, “Ningning!”

His presence was mature and solid.

He had grown taller, his features sharper, but the genuine surprise and happiness softened the edges of his expression. Jiang Xuening was momentarily speechless, caught off guard.

The soldiers inside the city watched this scene in astonishment.

After all, this young general had been commanding the troops with such composure and authority in recent days that even the initially skeptical generals had been subdued, their grievances silenced by his undeniable competence.

Yet now, in full view of everyone, he had openly embraced this beautiful young woman?

Xie Wei stepped out of the carriage shortly after, observing the scene quietly without a word.

Previous

Next