Chapter 605: An Unexpected Delight

Yuan Gang showed no sign of sharing the good mood. Instead, he poured cold water on it. “According to the news from Wuliang Mountain, in the battle outside Rongyang Commandery Capital, more than ten thousand routed soldiers were trapped in a valley and annihilated by fire. More than ten thousand tried to surrender. Meng Shanming killed surrendering troops and slaughtered every one of them!”

A chill ran through Guan Fangyi as she listened.

Niu Youdao was silent for a while before saying slowly, “Monkey, troubled times have their own rules. The Prince gave Meng Shanming authority to act first and report afterward. He must have had his reasons for doing this. Meng Shanming has spent his life on campaign. On the battlefield, he is a true expert tested over many years. Specialized matters should be left to specialists. If we do not understand, we should not stand aside pointing fingers and leave the man with his hands tied.”

Yuan Gang turned and walked away without saying anything more.

“Who would have thought that damned Monkey had this kind of softheartedness in him?” Guan Fangyi sighed as she watched his departing back. Her hand was still resting on Niu Youdao’s shoulder, and she gave it a couple of pats. “But Master Dao, you really have caused far too many deaths this time. And I really am a woman!”

Niu Youdao said calmly, “If we do not advance, we retreat. If I yield, even more people on our side will die. If it were you, what would you choose? I have no choice.”

“Ah, well. You do not care about adding a few more anyway. I will notify the commandery capital to act. Back when I was in the Qi capital, I never imagined I would one day be swept into this kind of thing.” Guan Fangyi withdrew her hand from his shoulder and left with a sigh.

Niu Youdao kept turning the battle report over in his hands.

Whatever else could be said, having someone who could execute his intentions this perfectly saved him a great deal of trouble.

Night fell. The consequences of the battle outside Rongyang Commandery Capital continued to spread. Its deterrent effect was obvious. With its limited forces, Dingzhou no longer dared take the initiative. Its troops contracted inward and shifted into a posture of comprehensive defense.

Inside the central command tent, Xue Xiao waited anxiously for a reply from the imperial court, for reinforcements, and for the court to find some way to resolve the situation.

At Wuliang Mountain’s headquarters, Yuan Gang likewise waited for battle reports to arrive at any moment.

A Wuliang Mountain disciple entered the cave to report. “Master Yuan, a Liuxian Sect disciple outside has sent word asking for you.”

Gongsun Bu, who was in the cave as well, looked up.

Yuan Gang rose and went outside. There he found the Liuxian Sect disciple guarding the mountain, who reported, “Master Yuan, someone has come to the mountain gate claiming to be an old friend of yours.”

“Who?”

“He did not say. His head and face are covered, and he has not shown his true appearance. He only said you would know once you saw him.”

Yuan Gang frowned and went to meet the visitor.

After seeing this supposed old friend, Yuan Gang brought him into Maolu Villa. Not long afterward, Niu Youdao went to the courtyard where Shang Shuqing lived.

“Dao-Dao!” Yin’er, sitting with Shang Shuqing, spotted him first. She called out, jumped up, and ran over.

Niu Youdao looked at the food box in her arms and gave a helpless, pained smile. “Still eating?”

Yin’er immediately grabbed a piece of wild boar meat and held it out to him. “For you.”

“I have already eaten.” Niu Youdao quickly waved it away.

“Master Dao.” Shang Shuqing approached and greeted him formally, rather surprised. Niu Youdao seldom came looking for her on his own initiative.

After sending Yin’er aside, Niu Youdao asked, “Princess, you should know most of the notable people in Yanjing, shouldn’t you?”

Shang Shuqing did not know why he was asking. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “It depends who you mean. I have been away from Yanjing for quite a few years, after all.”

“For example, people from the residence of the Grand Minister of the Masses?”

Shang Shuqing nodded. “I know a few members of Grand Minister Gao’s household, though not many. Even when I lived at home, I seldom went out.”

“What about Gao Jiancheng’s steward?”

“Fan Zhuan?” Shang Shuqing asked. When she saw him nod, she nodded too. “He came to the princely residence before to pay a visit. I have seen him, so I suppose I know him. Why does Master Dao ask about him? Does this have something to do with the captured Gao Shaoming?”

Niu Youdao smiled. “Since you know him, I will have to trouble the Princess to come with me.”

Shang Shuqing was puzzled, but obediently followed him. Yin’er was not left behind either; she hugged her food box and followed of her own accord.

Inside a quiet room, the lamplight was dim. Fan Zhuan, steward of the Grand Minister of the Masses’ residence, sat quietly at a table and waited.

He was the one who had pretended to be Yuan Gang’s old friend. He had come with extreme caution. Afraid that seeking Niu Youdao directly would attract attention, he had first gone to Yuan Gang and had Yuan Gang arrange a meeting.

There probably were not many people on Niu Youdao’s side who knew Fan Zhuan by sight. Someone among the three sects led by Liuxian Sect might know him, but Fan Zhuan had said he had come secretly and could not let the matter become public. Once he arrived, he had also asked that everyone else be dismissed. Niu Youdao seemed to understand something, which was why he had gone to Shang Shuqing to verify the man’s identity.

The door to the quiet room opened a crack. Fan Zhuan looked up. Sitting in the light, he could not make out the person standing in the darkness outside and had no idea who was peering in.

Outside the door, Shang Shuqing took one look, then turned and nodded to Niu Youdao. In a low voice she said, “Master Dao, it is him.” Then, still puzzled, she asked, “Is he here to save Gao Shaoming?”

Niu Youdao thanked her and gestured for her to go rest elsewhere first, indicating that they could discuss the matter later. He wanted to sound out the situation before anything else.

Once the others had withdrawn, Niu Youdao pushed open the door and entered.

Fan Zhuan studied him for a moment, then stood and cupped his hands. “This old servant is Fan Zhuan. Greetings, Master Dao.”

Niu Youdao smiled, gestured for him to sit, and took a seat himself. “You and I have never met. How do you know who I am?”

“This old servant would not have come recklessly. I have seen a portrait of Master Dao. Besides, here in Maolu Villa, I doubt anyone would dare impersonate you.” Fan Zhuan sighed and shook his head. “Everyone says Master Dao is young. Only after seeing you today do I understand what an outstanding young man truly is. Your ability to maneuver among the powers of the realm puts all the young talents beneath Heaven to shame.”

Niu Youdao smiled and waved a hand. “Spare me the pleasantries. Get straight to the point.”

Fan Zhuan did not beat around the bush. He reached into his sleeve, took out several drafts issued by the All-Under-Heaven Money House, and pushed them across the table. “Please accept these, Master Dao.”

Niu Youdao picked them up and calculated the amount. Together, they came to exactly ten million gold coins. His brows rose slightly. He casually tossed them back onto the table. “I asked for one hundred million. Ten million is a little too little, isn’t it? Are you trying to fob off a beggar?”

Fan Zhuan smiled bitterly. “If ten million gold coins counts as fobbing off a beggar, then I fear every noble and dignitary in Yanjing must be a beggar. To raise these ten million, the residence has all but emptied itself.”

“Trying to bargain with me?”

“I would not dare. The one hundred million Master Dao named will only be exceeded, never reduced.”

“Oh?” Niu Youdao’s interest was piqued. “How much more?”

Fan Zhuan lowered his voice meaningfully. “How much is the realm of Yan worth?”

Niu Youdao fell silent and stared into the man’s eyes. He gave him a single word. “Speak.”

“This old servant did not come to ransom anyone with money. With Young Master Ming in Master Dao’s hands, my master is quite at ease. This money is only a small token of my master’s goodwill, to thank Master Dao for taking care of Young Master Ming recently...” Fan Zhuan lowered his voice and, without hurry, laid out Gao Jiancheng’s purpose in sending him. At the end, he watched Niu Youdao’s reaction closely and reminded him, “If Master Dao sees any use in my master’s modest strength, then my master must remain at court so that he can still be of use. If he falls, he truly will be powerless. Even if he wants to help Master Dao, he will have no way to do so.”

Niu Youdao’s expression became wonderfully complicated. One hundred million gold coins was no small amount. He had never really believed Gao Jiancheng could produce one hundred million. His sky-high demand had only been a way to test the waters, to see how much Gao Jiancheng cared about this son, weigh the son’s value, and then squeeze accordingly.

As far as Niu Youdao was concerned, Gao Shaoming had been a windfall. At the beginning, he had never imagined he would actually capture the son of Yan’s Grand Minister of the Masses alive.

What he had imagined even less was that Gao Jiancheng would make a move like this. It had caught him completely off guard.

His expression shifted several times. Once he had sorted through the implications, Niu Youdao shook his head with genuine admiration. “Anyone who can hold high office at court truly is no simple man. Niu underestimated the heroes beneath Heaven. It is not that the court has no capable men. It is that the court lacks the ability to employ them!”

He reached out again, picked up the drafts from the table, and gave them a shake. “Since the Grand Minister of the Masses has shown such goodwill, refusing would make Niu blind to courtesy. Please tell the Grand Minister that Young Master Ming will be well treated here. Niu will certainly not neglect him. Also tell the Grand Minister to rest easy. As for the matter he entrusted to me, Niu will cooperate fully. By tomorrow morning, news will spread that should put the Grand Minister’s mind at ease!”

Fan Zhuan smiled. Speaking with an intelligent man was indeed refreshing. He nodded. “This old servant will certainly carry Master Dao’s words back.”

Then his expression turned serious. “Master Dao, I need to see Young Master Ming in person.”

“Easy enough.” Niu Youdao rose. “Wait here. I will arrange it now.” With that, he left.

Before long, Gao Shaoming was brought in looking somewhat disheveled. There had not even been time to let him wash and groom himself.

He was pushed inside and the door closed behind him. When he saw the old steward in the room, Gao Shaoming froze. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he had seen wrongly. Only when Fan Zhuan said in a trembling voice, “Eldest Young Master, you have suffered,” did Gao Shaoming finally believe he was not dreaming. He strode forward, gripped Fan Zhuan by both arms, and exclaimed in delight, “Uncle Fan, why are you here? Did Father send you to save me?”

“Shh!” Fan Zhuan raised a finger, signaling him to lower his voice. Then he said solemnly, “Eldest Young Master, it is true that the old master sent me to save you. But there are things you must remember. You cannot return to Yanjing now, and you must not even think of going back. From this day onward, Gao Shaoming is already dead. He has already sacrificed his life for His Majesty...”

In the inner palace at Yanjing, there was a deserted courtyard, and within it, a deserted room.

On the table sat a bowl of plain white rice and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

Zhou Qing, Noble Consort Zhou, sat beside the table, dressed with stately beauty. She looked at the meager meal before her. Gradually, a bitter smile appeared on her face, and tears shone through it.

This was the evening meal sent by the palace attendants. Its simplicity was almost unbelievable. At the same time, the attendants had left behind a few words: the Sect Leaders of Feihua Pavilion and Zhenling Academy had both been captured and hung from the walls of Qingshan Commandery. Now Grand Minister of Works Tong Mo had ordered every department to cut expenditures, and the palace had to answer the call as well. Noble Consort Zhou would simply have to make do.

Ever since Zhou Shouxian died, the Zhou family’s situation had deteriorated day by day. But Zhou Shouxian had cut his own throat and secured for himself the name of a man who died for the imperial court, which had at least preserved his family. Even so, the pillar of the Zhou household had fallen.

Zhou Shouxian’s suicide and final entrustment had moved Cao Yuer and Jin Wuguang. They had known and associated with him for many years, and there was genuine friendship between them, so the two Sect Leaders had looked after the Zhou family to some extent. Both were men who could gain an audience with Tong Mo. With them putting in a word, the palace had not made things too difficult for Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing knew that her own fate and the fate of the Zhou family rested on Shang Jianxiong. She hoped to regain his favor and repeatedly asked for an audience, but people kept obstructing her. Even when her request was passed upward, the reply that came back was always that His Majesty was occupied with affairs of state.

By now, Zhou Qing understood. Shang Jianxiong’s favor toward her in the past had been meant to reassure her father. Now her father was gone. The palace was full of beauties, and His Majesty had too many powerful nobles he needed to placate. When would her turn ever come again?

Even so, every day she still dressed herself beautifully, hoping that perhaps one day His Majesty might come.

She had never expected that instead of His Majesty, what came was this news. The petty opportunists in the palace were quick to read the change in the wind. They knew Feihua Pavilion and Zhenling Academy had fallen. They knew her last backing had collapsed. They knew she had no hope of rising again, and immediately began currying favor with certain people by serving a dignified Noble Consort nothing more than plain rice and pickled vegetables.

“Xiaohong, bring me that casket,” Zhou Qing said, wiping away her tears.

One of her two personal maids obeyed and brought over a jewelry box.

Zhou Qing pushed it toward her instead. “Take it. Use it to grease palms above and below.”

Both maids immediately dropped to their knees. One of them wept. “Your Highness, after paying people off again and again, this is almost everything you have left.”

“I cannot let the two of you suffer with me. I only hope it can buy us something decent to eat. Perhaps then we can live a few days longer. Go.” Zhou Qing waved her sleeve and shook her head, tears streaming down her face. If even she was being fed this, there was no need to imagine how the two maids were faring.

[End of Chapter 605]