Chapter 1443: A Name Resounds Under Heaven

Nie Zhenting was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and kept shaking his head.

Jin Jue did not understand. “Why does Your Majesty laugh? Was something this old minister said improper?”

Nie Zhenting waved a hand. “Grand Marshal spoke out of heartfelt loyalty, and every word came from the heart. There was nothing improper about it. I simply find it ridiculous to blame that woman for Mu Zhuozhen’s fate. Shang Jianxiong cannot eat or sleep because of Shang Chaozong—is that somehow her doing too? A ruler governs a state. Whether his civil administration and military affairs are properly handled, whether the vast affairs of family, state, and all beneath Heaven prosper or fail—how could all of that be controlled by one frail woman in his harem? Mu Zhuozhen and Shang Jianxiong harmed their own states, then the blame gets thrown onto a woman. Isn’t that laughable?”

Jin Jue’s expression darkened slightly.

Some of what he had said had merely been intended as persuasion and was not meant to be taken literally. But the Emperor had only just met this woman and was already defending her like this. That was what made Jin Jue uneasy.

According to the information he had received, Aque had only just arrived. At most, the Emperor should have met her once.

Yet after a single meeting, he was already rejecting the goodwill of his chief military minister for the sake of a woman who had been passed from man to man like cheap merchandise.

That weighed heavily on Jin Jue’s heart.

This was no small matter.

If the ruler of a state doted excessively on one woman, perhaps the woman herself had done nothing wrong. But her very existence could become a grave problem.

Had they never heard that obsession with playthings destroyed ambition? The land of tender charms was a hero’s grave. If an emperor neglected state affairs for a woman, what then?

Jin Jue could not let the matter drop. He asked heavily, “Does Your Majesty intend to agree to Shang Jianxiong because of a woman?”

Nie Zhenting’s expression turned solemn. “Why would Grand Marshal say such a thing? Supporting Shang Chaozong and planting an internal danger inside Yan is a matter of state policy for Han. How could We reverse an order issued in the morning by evening merely because of one woman? Besides, We never promised Shang Jianxiong that if he offered this woman, We would grant what he wanted. That was his own wishful thinking. Grand Marshal can rest easy. What should be done will be done. There is no need to take this woman into consideration.”

Only after hearing this did Jin Jue relax somewhat.

But he still returned to the same point. “Has Your Majesty never heard of the honey trap? What if this woman is a demoness sent by Yan specifically to bewilder Your Majesty? She cannot be kept. This old minister begs Your Majesty to execute her. This old minister is willing to do it on Your Majesty’s behalf!”

The meaning was obvious.

If the Emperor was unwilling to kill her, Jin Jue would do the killing himself.

Nie Zhenting was now somewhat displeased as well. He replied in a deep voice, “A single woman can bewilder Us? In Grand Marshal’s eyes, are We Xuan Chengtian of Wei? In Grand Marshal’s eyes, are We some muddleheaded ruler?”

A muddleheaded ruler?

That accusation was too severe. Jin Jue hurriedly cupped his hands. “This old minister absolutely did not mean that.”

Nie Zhenting said, “Enough. Shang Jianxiong actually sent her here, which surprised Us as well. We originally had no intention of keeping her. But after hearing Grand Marshal speak this way, We insist on keeping her now. We would like to see how We compare with Mu Zhuozhen and Shang Jianxiong. We will keep this woman and use her to temper Our own will.”

“...” Jin Jue was left speechless.

The Emperor had actually talked him into having nothing to say.

Nor could he tell whether Nie Zhenting was serious.

If he was serious, then had Jin Jue’s warning produced the opposite effect, arousing the Emperor’s competitive spirit and turning a good intention into a blunder?

With the Emperor having spoken so far, Jin Jue could not conveniently continue arguing for the moment. He could only take his leave.

Before going, however, he gave Chang De a meaningful look.

Chang De had no choice but to personally see him out.

Once they had left the area and reached a quiet stretch of path, Jin Jue stopped.

Chang De stood slightly bowed beside him, quietly studying his expression.

Jin Jue reached out and lightly held a green flowering branch beside the path. “His Majesty was perfectly fine. Why would he suddenly demand this woman from Yan? Chief Steward, were you the one who mentioned her to him?”

Chang De nearly jumped in fright.

That was not something one could say carelessly.

His position was awkward at times. There were things he could carry out when following his master’s wishes, but he could not be seen as the one tempting the Emperor into them.

From ancient times onward, one of the easiest mistakes for a ruler to make—and one of the things court officials most dreaded—was becoming lost in the beauty of the harem.

Put mildly, it was indulgence in women.

Put seriously, it was ruining the state.

Some things another person might get away with doing. But if a eunuch serving at the Emperor’s side dared encourage his ruler to become infatuated with women, the consequences were not something Chang De could bear unless his own power had already grown strong enough to intimidate the entire court.

If word of such an accusation spread, countless people might want him dead.

How many heads did he have to offer them?

The thought alone was terrifying.

Chang De hastily cupped his hands and bowed again and again, almost plaintively. “Grand Marshal has wronged this old servant to death! This old servant had no idea why His Majesty suddenly mentioned Aque either. This old servant can swear to Heaven that I knew absolutely nothing beforehand. If there is even half a false word in what I say, may this old servant die a miserable death!”

Good. He knew fear.

That was precisely why Jin Jue had frightened him.

Jin Jue glanced sideways at him. “It truly wasn’t you who reminded His Majesty?”

Chang De could not help stamping his foot. “Oh, my Grand Marshal! We’ve known each other for years. Surely Grand Marshal knows what sort of person this old servant is. I know where the limits lie. How could I dare do such a thing? You mustn’t say words like that carelessly! If they spread, what would become of me?” He cupped his hands again in supplication.

Jin Jue asked, “Then think carefully. Did anyone else say anything to His Majesty?”

That question genuinely made Chang De ponder for some time.

After searching his memory carefully, he shook his head. “I have no impression of anything like that. There probably wasn’t.”

Jin Jue’s voice suddenly rose. “Chief Steward, wake yourself up and look at how Wei fell! An enormous State of Wei collapsed just like that because of one or two demon women. The lesson is enough to make the blood run cold! How long has it been since Wei fell? This is the critical moment when the states are contending with one another, and suddenly a woman like this is sent over. The cart ahead has already overturned. Aren’t you afraid? Do you feel no vigilance at all?”

Chang De’s heart genuinely tightened at those words.

Jin Jue continued, “You are Chief Steward of the Inner Palace. You oversee the entire imperial palace and hold the Bright Mirror Bureau in your hands. Keep your eyes open! Don’t blame this old man for failing to warn you. If some disaster truly occurs, this old man will be the first to object. I do not seek trouble, but that does not mean I have no temper. If one day you force this old man to lead troops into the palace to cleanse the ruler’s side, you will be the first person I refuse to spare!”

Killing intent boiled through his words.

Why are you frightening me?

Chang De smiled bitterly. “This old servant understands Grand Marshal’s meaning. I will remain vigilant at all times and pay attention to reminding His Majesty.”

“No need to see me any farther. Conduct yourself carefully.” Jin Jue raised a hand and patted his shoulder, then turned and strode away.

“Grand Marshal, take care.” Chang De bowed with cupped hands.

Only after straightening did he sigh repeatedly.

Affairs were difficult to manage, and people were even harder to deal with.

He very much wanted to say: the Emperor suddenly developed a mind for pleasure—what does that have to do with me?

But it was understandable.

From ancient times onward, the family affairs of an emperor had never truly been private affairs.

The interests of the court tied to the harem alone were enough to make officials unable to keep their hands out of it.

Chang De shook his head and turned away.

Still, Jin Jue truly had reminded him of something. Wei had fallen exactly that way. The same thing could not be allowed to happen in Han.

He really did need to remain vigilant and keep watch.

...

Back in the imperial study, Nie Zhenting continued reviewing memorials.

But suddenly he felt restless and unsettled. He could not calm his mind.

That breathtaking face kept appearing in his thoughts, and from time to time he found himself drifting into a daze.

Only after a good while did he gradually regain his concentration.

Chang De, attending nearby, noticed all of it.

...

“The most beautiful woman under Heaven?”

Inside the imperial palace of Song, Wu Gongling sat in a broad chair with one leg tucked up, stroking his full beard as he muttered over an intelligence report in his hand.

Nie Zhenting’s declaration that Aque was the most beautiful woman under Heaven was no longer a secret.

Among the palace maids who had heard it at the time, one had apparently thought she had attached herself to a rising branch and become boastfully loose-tongued. As a result, nearly everyone inside Han’s imperial palace now knew.

Chang De, Chief Steward of Han’s Inner Palace, had flown into a rage and executed the maid who talked too much, but the news had already spread.

After stroking his beard and repeatedly shaking his head, Wu Gongling could not resist summoning several old palace hands and asking whether Aque truly possessed such beauty.

The veteran attendants who had seen her answered that she was indeed a peerless beauty rarely found in this world, truly possessing the looks to topple a state and overturn a city. Calling her the most beautiful woman under Heaven was no exaggeration.

After hearing them describe her appearance, Wu Gongling found his heart itching.

He could not help sighing and secretly cursing that dead bastard Mu Zhuozhen for happening to give Aque away.

Otherwise, wouldn’t she have become Wu Gongling’s woman?

He had already taken in some of the beauties Mu Zhuozhen left behind.

If Mu Zhuozhen had not sent Aque away, she truly would have become his.

Mu Zhuozhen had left him an entire collection of beautiful women, yet somehow the very best one was missing.

How could Wu Gongling not sigh over it?

Now all he could do was look at the intelligence report and regret what might have been.

...

“The most beautiful woman under Heaven?”

Inside the imperial palace of Jin, Taishu Xiong muttered over the intelligence in his hand, then turned and asked, “Nie Zhenting doesn’t exactly count as a lecher, does he?”

Tao Lue considered the question before shaking his head. “He naturally has women, but I would not call him a man obsessed with lust.”

Taishu Xiong slowly leaned back in his chair and stared at the report in thought.

Back then, Mu Zhuozhen’s doting on that woman called Aque had been one thing.

Later, after Shang Jianxiong obtained her, he too had favored her almost exclusively.

At the time, Taishu Xiong had laughed that Mu Zhuozhen and Shang Jianxiong were birds of a feather. No wonder they had reduced their states to such conditions.

Now Nie Zhenting had obtained the woman too and had personally proclaimed her the most beautiful woman under Heaven.

As the saying went, once might happen, twice might happen, but surely not a third time.

Yet now there had been a third time, and all three involved emperors.

Taishu Xiong found that remarkable.

He was curious now too.

A faint light flickered in his eyes.

This woman called Aque had truly caught his attention.

He genuinely wanted to see what sort of peerless beauty could leave three emperors so captivated.

Once certain thoughts arose, they became difficult to suppress.

They took root and began to sprout.

...

“How can We sit by and watch? How can We possibly sit by and watch?”

Inside a great hall, Emperor Shang Jianxiong of Yan strode back and forth like an enraged beast, roaring in fury.

He had sent the woman to Nie Zhenting, yet he had not received the result he wanted.

Nie Zhenting had accepted the gift, but his reply was: Did We ever agree this was an exchange?

Shang Jianxiong nearly died of rage.

When he had painfully given up the woman he loved, he had at least been able to comfort himself with the needs of family, state, and all beneath Heaven.

Now he had lost both the hen and the eggs.

The moment he thought of his Aque, his heart felt as if something were gouging it out.

The pain was unbearable.

He could only blame the envoy for failing to make the matter clear.

Shang Jianxiong vented his anger on the man and stripped him of every official post.

Han still intended to support Shang Chaozong.

In his fury, Shang Jianxiong clamored to send troops.

Present in the hall were Xi Yao, Elder of Xiaoyao Palace; Luo Mingjian, Elder of Lingjian Mountain; and Gao Jiancheng, Grand Minister of Works.

Shang Jianxiong could not sit by and watch Shang Chaozong succeed.

He had summoned the three men precisely to discuss sending troops.

As for Shen Baochun, the Zijin Cave elder stationed in the imperial palace, he had naturally been excluded.

The target of this discussion was Shang Chaozong, who belonged to Zijin Cave’s sphere of influence in the first place.

[End of Chapter 1443]