Chapter 1221: The One Who Tied the Bell Must Untie It

After collecting her thoughts, Noble Consort Lan composed herself. "Since they are guests of Jin, naturally we cannot neglect them. Go quickly and let them through!"

"Yes!" General Li cupped his hands in acknowledgment, then hurried away to carry out the order.

"Ah, we still haven't properly looked around such a vast Fire God Temple. It is rare enough for us to leave the palace. Since we're already here, let us look through the place from front to back." Noble Consort Lan took her daughter's hand, and their party began strolling through the temple grounds.

She had come here to place hope in the divine. She had never intended to rush in and rush back out, fearing that would be disrespectful. At this moment, however, she was even less willing to leave in haste.

At the foot of the mountain, General Li arrived with Noble Consort Lan's permission, and the sealed mountain path was reopened.

"Please!" Guo Wenshang, relieved, extended a hand to invite the guests up the mountain.

Unexpectedly, just as everyone started forward, General Li raised a hand and stopped them again. "Cultivators may not ascend!"

He did not need to guess to know that these people were bound to have retainer cultivators with them.

Everyone could understand this. It was simply the man's duty to ensure the safety of the Noble Consort and the Princess.

Guo Wenshang's and Mai Deman's retainer cultivators could remain behind without issue. Yuan Cong, however, could not conveniently be separated from Jia Wuqun. Without Yuan Cong, communication would become difficult. If Jia Wuqun insisted on having him present, who else could understand the characters Jia traced with his fingers?

In the end, after Guo Wenshang personally vouched for him and smoothed matters over, even Wei Duo was stopped below. Among all the cultivators in the group, Yuan Cong alone was allowed to accompany Jia Wuqun up the mountain.

They climbed at an unhurried pace, taking in the mountain scenery as they gradually rose higher, walking and stopping as they talked. Looking out in every direction, they found a charm quite different from the city below.

At last they reached the Fire God Temple sprawling across the entire summit of Nanling Mountain. After looking around, Jia Wuqun borrowed Yuan Cong's voice to praise its grandeur repeatedly. It truly deserved to be called the largest Fire God Temple in Jin. He called it a rare sight and said Guo Wenshang had brought him to exactly the right place.

Everyone liked pleasant words. Guo Wenshang felt a touch of reflected pride and began pointing things out and explaining them to Jia Wuqun.

Naturally, because Jia Wuqun found speaking inconvenient, Guo Wenshang did most of the talking.

Eventually they arrived at the main hall and went inside to look.

Before the towering, fierce, imposing statue of the Fire God, Jia Wuqun offered incense whether he believed or not. Afterward, he signaled Mai Deman to donate a sum of incense money as a token of respect. The amount was quite generous, earning repeated thanks from the temple officiant.

Faced with this group, the temple officiant did not dare indulge in any more mysterious pronouncements. Instead, he wore a cautious, almost guarded expression.

After making the donation, Mai Deman gave Jia Wuqun a slight nod.

Jia Wuqun smiled. He too nodded to the temple officiant, then turned and walked away, moving calmly amid the gathering currents, utterly unhurried.

Once the group had left, the temple officiant pressed a hand to his chest and drew a deep breath, as though somewhat nervous.

Jia Wuqun's party had only just left the main hall and descended the steps, where they were still looking around and commenting on the surroundings, when an elderly eunuch approached. "Lord Guo, Her Ladyship heard that distinguished guests from Song had arrived. She feared it would be discourteous to avoid meeting them, so she has specially sent this old servant to invite the honored guests to an audience."

"Ah..." Guo Wenshang had not expected Noble Consort Lan to summon them of her own initiative. Surprised, he turned to Jia Wuqun. This naturally required the guest's consent.

Mai Deman, pretending Jia Wuqun did not know who Noble Consort Lan was, respectfully explained her identity from the side.

Jia Wuqun unobtrusively studied the elderly eunuch's expression, then raised one hand slightly. Yuan Cong stepped across in front of him. As Jia traced characters on his back, Yuan Cong spoke for him. "This Jia is merely a private man without rank or office. It may be improper for me to intrude upon Her Ladyship. I appreciate her gracious intent."

"This..." The elderly eunuch froze. That would leave him unable to fulfill the Noble Consort's order. He immediately smiled. "Her Ladyship has long heard the great name of the Hidden Chancellor." Then he turned to Guo Wenshang. "Lord Guo, you also know what happened to the Princess. Her Ladyship's heart has only just opened a little today, and His Majesty personally permitted this incense outing. This old servant does not dare add to Her Ladyship's troubles, nor dare make His Majesty displeased. Lord Guo, please..." He bowed slightly, asking for help without spelling the matter out.

He knew how to speak. Once the appeal had been put that way, Guo Wenshang could hardly ignore it. He gave a dry cough and turned to Jia Wuqun. "Sir, Her Ladyship showed us consideration by allowing us onto the mountain, and we should acknowledge that courtesy. Besides, she was here first. We are the ones disturbing the host's peace and quiet. This is also the Jin capital. Her Ladyship has personally invited you out of goodwill. If you refuse, would that not fall somewhat short of the conduct expected of a guest?"

Jia Wuqun pondered briefly, then traced more characters. Yuan Cong said, "Very well. A guest follows the host's wishes!"

The elderly eunuch immediately bowed with a smile and extended a hand. "Honored guests, please!"

He led the way, and the whole group followed him through the temple to the rear courtyard.

The main hall in the rear courtyard had temporarily been occupied by the distinguished visitors from the palace. Guards stood in scattered positions outside, their gazes sweeping alertly over the surroundings.

When the party entered, Guo Wenshang, Mai Deman, and the others cupped their hands toward the standing and seated figures at the head of the room. "Greetings, Noble Consort Lan. Greetings, Princess!"

Unable to speak, Jia Wuqun merely bowed with cupped hands.

Noble Consort Lan raised one hand to excuse the formalities. Her bright eyes swept over the group. "Which gentleman is Jia Wuqun, the Hidden Chancellor of Song?"

The elderly eunuch immediately stepped forward, pointed toward Jia Wuqun, and bent close to whisper a few words beside Noble Consort Lan.

After Jia Wuqun cupped his hands to indicate himself, he beckoned Yuan Cong forward and traced: "The title 'Hidden Chancellor' is nothing more than wild talk from the world. This Jia is ashamed and does not dare accept it!"

In truth, he genuinely disliked the title "Hidden Chancellor." Unfortunately, no wall beneath Heaven was airtight. The name had spread years ago.

His tongue had been pulled out and fed to dogs? Noble Consort Lan looked him up and down with open curiosity. He wore a plain cloth robe, lean but vigorous, with fair skin and bright eyes that held their light within. His every movement was composed, his bearing refined yet restrained. Looking at him now, one truly would not guess he had suffered anything of the sort.

That calm ease, neither servile nor arrogant, was pleasant to look upon. Noble Consort Lan inwardly nodded. This was a man who had seen the world. She smiled. "Sir Jia is too modest..." More courteous exchanges followed.

After they had traded pleasantries for a while, Jia Wuqun suddenly fixed his gaze on the melancholy Taishu Huan'er and traced, "This Jia has heard what happened to the Seventh Princess. Please restrain your grief."

The moment those words emerged, he had truly brought up the very subject no one wished to touch. Noble Consort Lan's expression changed instantly, while Taishu Huan'er bit down on her lip.

Mai Deman's eyes darted left and right.

Guo Wenshang was even more alarmed. He rebuked him in a low voice. "Sir Jia, before Her Ladyship and the Princess, please know your place and guard your words!"

Jia Wuqun replied through Yuan Cong, "Lord Guo worries too much. I am not speaking recklessly. Seeing the Seventh Princess so joyless simply stirred some feelings in this Jia's heart. I have a few sincere words that may allow her to let go of what has passed. If she wishes to hear them, I will speak. If she does not, then as a tongueless man, I naturally know how to keep silent."

The phrase "tongueless man" touched Noble Consort Lan's thoughts again. She raised a hand to stop Guo Wenshang from speaking further. "Lord Guo, this consort is not so narrow-minded. Sir Jia is an honored guest. If he has sincere words to offer, there is no harm in hearing them. Sir Jia, speak freely!" She extended a hand, wanting to see whether the Fire God truly had shown them a sign.

Guo Wenshang watched Jia Wuqun carefully, afraid he would say something outrageous again.

Instead, Jia Wuqun glanced around at everyone present, then smiled and shook his head. Unexpectedly, he refused to speak after all.

Noble Consort Lan understood. Some things were inconvenient to say in front of so many people. She immediately swept her sleeve. "All of you, withdraw."

"Your Ladyship..." Guo Wenshang began.

Noble Consort Lan waved again, this time with a note of rebuke in her voice. "Withdraw!"

Guo Wenshang hesitated, then finally cupped his hands and retired. As he turned away, he lowered his voice to Jia Wuqun. "Sir, please guard your words!" It was an obvious warning not to speak nonsense.

Jia Wuqun smiled. After Guo Wenshang left, he gave Mai Deman a look. The envoy withdrew as well.

"You withdraw too!" Noble Consort Lan ordered the eunuchs and other attendants beside her.

The elderly eunuch and the rest did not dare disobey. They respectfully backed out.

Yet Jia Wuqun still did not speak. His gaze rested on the retainer cultivators standing to either side of Noble Consort Lan.

"You may withdraw as well." Noble Consort Lan waved them away.

One female cultivator said, "Your Ladyship, Sir Jia has a cultivator beside him. If we are to leave, then he should leave as well." Her eyes were fixed on Yuan Cong, plainly worried something might happen.

Noble Consort Lan found it both irritating and amusing. Yuan Cong was Jia Wuqun's voice. If he left, how were they supposed to communicate? She coaxed them, "It is fine. Distinguished guests from Song would hardly behave recklessly toward this consort. Withdraw."

Seeing this, the guards could not understand why she had suddenly become so willing to listen to outsiders. Reluctantly, they obeyed, though before leaving they warned, "Your Ladyship, if anything happens, signal us immediately."

Only Yuan Cong, who had personally accompanied Jia Wuqun through every stage of the scheme, understood that this tongueless fellow was extraordinarily cunning. To guide events all the way to this point by fully exploiting the state of mind of this mother and daughter—he truly calculated human hearts to the last measure.

Once everyone had withdrawn, Jia Wuqun glanced outside. The cultivators had merely moved far enough away that they could not overhear. They still stood atop the flower terrace, watching the hall closely.

Noble Consort Lan extended a hand again. "Sir Jia, what sincere words can allow the Princess to let go? Please speak plainly."

Jia Wuqun traced on Yuan Cong's back: If anyone approaches to eavesdrop, warn me immediately!

Yuan Cong gave a slight nod to show he understood.

Jia Wuqun's gaze passed over mother and daughter. Had Taishu Huan'er been alone, he would have used one line of argument. With both mother and daughter present, he naturally had another. Without that ability to adapt in the moment, he would never have had the nerve to step so casually into such muddy waters.

After a brief turn of thought, Jia Wuqun finally gave his opening words through Yuan Cong.

"The one who tied the bell must untie it."

"The one who tied the bell must untie it..." Noble Consort Lan murmured. "Whom does Sir mean?"

Jia Wuqun said, "I have heard that the one whose proposal led to the Princess's humiliation was Shao Pingbo, a favored courtier beside His Majesty. Is that correct?"

Noble Consort Lan could hardly say much about the matter. She only nodded. At the mention of it, Taishu Huan'er was visibly agitated, the fingers of both hands knotting tightly together.

Jia Wuqun ignored her distress. "The world now spreads rumors that the Princess lost her chastity to Chen Changgong. Those are merely rumors. There was never any such thing. Your Ladyship and the Princess should defend the truth. How can you allow others to slander her at will?"

Pain showed on Noble Consort Lan's face. "How could this consort not understand what Sir says? But the rumor has already spread everywhere. How am I supposed to refute it?"

Jia Wuqun said, "The one who tied the bell must untie it. Shao Pingbo can silence the world's rumors. Shao Pingbo can prove the Princess's chastity!"

Noble Consort Lan visibly brightened. "What does Sir mean?"

Jia Wuqun said, "The man who proposed the scheme that led to the Princess's humiliation was Shao Pingbo. No one knows the truth of the matter better than he does. If Shao Pingbo were to step forward and say that the Princess's stay at Xiping Pass was only a temporary expedient, that she never gave herself to Chen Changgong, and that she remained as flawless as an unblemished jade disk... perhaps the world would not believe him. But if Shao Pingbo were to marry the Princess as his wife, would not the rumor collapse of its own accord?"

[End of Chapter 1221]