Chapter 1585: Not One of Them Gives Me Any Peace

The moment Zi Pingxiu left, Gao Shaoming hurried into the room and bent over his father's ear. "Father, everyone's gone."

The vacant look in Gao Jiancheng's eyes vanished at once. He immediately sat up, vigorous and alert, then rose and shook out his sleeves. "All the important people have already come. Keep the rest outside."

Gao Shaoming said, "I've already arranged it according to Father's instructions. We'll say Father needs more rest and shouldn't be disturbed."

Gao Jiancheng gave a low acknowledgment, clasped his hands behind his back, and sighed softly.

Gao Shaoming asked, "Father, Lord Zi looked very angry just now. What happened?"

Gao Jiancheng glanced at him. "Zi Pingxiu is seasoned but not especially crafty. He isn't the one to worry about. The real concern is that tongueless Jia Wuqun behind him. That man isn't simple. We truly underestimated him before."

He turned and paced slowly.

"Previously, the man at Maolu Villa refused to state his position for so long that no one knew what he was thinking. If anything changed, Zi Pingxiu and I might still have needed to cooperate, so neither of us could declare our intentions too early."

"Now the man at Maolu Villa has finally spoken. Anything I could worry about, I refuse to believe that tongueless Jia failed to notice. I was certain he would advise Zi Pingxiu to retire."

Gao Jiancheng gave a cold laugh.

"Zi Pingxiu being angry proves I was right. It means I got ahead of him, exactly as I expected!"

"Lan Ruoting isn't a fool. He'll understand that my retirement is clearing the road for him. But this is not something he can conveniently mention before His Highness. He can't come out and say that he forced me to retire."

"The first person to withdraw sets an example. Whether Lan Ruoting wants it or not, he has to accept that favor. Anyone who retires afterward is only imitating the example, and the effect is greatly reduced. How could I let Zi Pingxiu get ahead of me?"

"That is precisely why Zi Pingxiu is angry. I moved first, so for the moment he no longer dares mention retirement. He'll have to wait a while and find a suitable excuse before he can leave."

Gao Shaoming gradually understood, though some unwillingness remained in him.

Having a father serving as Left Chancellor at court was obviously an enormous advantage.

"Perhaps Father is overthinking it. From what I've seen, Lan Ruoting doesn't seem to have such ambitions."

As though he had seen through his son's thoughts, Gao Jiancheng turned and looked at him meaningfully, with the air of a man teaching a lesson.

"At this point, is it up to him?"

"If he doesn't rise, the people beneath him cannot rise either. They won't need his permission. His own wings will clear the obstacles before him."

"Those people are all old followers who have been beside His Highness for years. The realm has only just been pacified. If His Highness doesn't rely on those trusted old hands to stabilize the situation, is he supposed to rely on outsiders instead?"

"The momentum behind Lan Ruoting is the momentum of Nanzhou itself, the momentum of His Highness's direct faction. No one at court can stand against that edge."

"If we fail to understand the situation, neither you nor I will end well. And when his people begin cutting away obstacles, the first knife will inevitably fall on you!"

Gao Shaoming was slightly startled.

Gao Jiancheng sighed. "By setting the example and retiring, I yield the position voluntarily. The Nanzhou faction will have no reason to make things difficult for you."

"I've shown that I understand the situation. If there are benefits to divide later, they'll have to leave you a share."

"Lan Ruoting will also owe me this favor. Even if someone wants to move against you, he won't lightly stand by and watch. Otherwise, he would be tearing down the bridge after crossing the river."

"Once I retire, you remain beside Lan Ruoting. That makes you one of his people. With Lan Ruoting looking after you, you'll be safer than if your father were still there."

"It also avoids any suspicion that father and son are protecting each other for selfish reasons. Lan Ruoting will find it easier to promote you, and His Highness will have no reason to object out of consideration for me."

"My son, at a time like this, avoiding the sharp edge is the wisest course. Do you understand?"

Gao Shaoming nodded thoughtfully and cupped his hands. "Your son understands."

"But how long can Father keep pretending to be muddleheaded? You can't pretend for the rest of your life. With so many eyes inside and outside the residence, if this continues too long, sooner or later someone will discover the truth."

Gao Jiancheng flung one broad sleeve.

"Petty thinking. Such a trivial matter, and you still worry this much?"

"I'll recover whenever I decide to recover!"

"Relax. It won't take long. Once the timing is right, I'll swallow a couple of tonics and be cured. What can anyone say? Are they going to forbid me from recovering from an illness?"

"Once the greater structure is fixed, who could possibly kick Lan Ruoting back out and make me return to the chancellorship?"

Only now did Gao Shaoming fully appreciate his father's deep calculations.

Convinced from the bottom of his heart, he bowed respectfully and accepted the lesson.

...

"He was pretending! This old man still has enough judgment to see that much. That old fox was absolutely pretending! To think he actually had the nerve to lie there and play the fool..."

The moment Zi Pingxiu returned to his residence, he sought out Jia Wuqun and launched into a nonstop tirade, furiously condemning Gao Jiancheng's shamelessness.

Jia Wuqun fell silent for a moment, then lifted his brush and wrote a line on his writing board before turning it for Zi Pingxiu to read:

Observe quietly for now. Perhaps there is no need to retire.

"Not retire?" Zi Pingxiu stared in surprise. "Mister means...?"

He pointed toward the memorial he had repeatedly revised throughout the previous night.

Jia Wuqun nodded.

Zi Pingxiu immediately asked, "What does Mister mean by this?"

Jia Wuqun wrote again:

Lan Ruoting is no mediocrity. If he is sufficiently wise, he will personally come to dissuade you. If one faction truly intends to dominate alone, then Chancellor should avoid its edge. Retiring then will still not be too late.

Zi Pingxiu was an old hand at court politics. One note was enough for him to hear the full meaning behind the music.

He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Then we can only take one step and watch the next. We'll see after we reach the new capital."

Jia Wuqun wrote:

Chancellor may go to the new capital. I need not.

Zi Pingxiu was startled. "Mister isn't going? Why?"

Jia Wuqun smiled and wrote another passage:

The realm is pacified, and the mountains and rivers are finally at leisure. There is no reason to remain trapped behind courtyard walls. I should choose three or four guards to accompany me, hunt beauties and pleasure, seek a charming woman for company, perhaps undertake the great task of continuing the family line, perhaps wander while turning the pages of mountains and seas. Roaming freely wherever I please—would that not be delightful?

Zi Pingxiu shot to his feet in alarm. "Mister, has this old man neglected you somehow and caused offense?"

Jia Wuqun waved his hand and wrote another line:

I have no wealth of my own. How could I travel far without relying on Chancellor? When I grow tired, naturally I will return.

Zi Pingxiu finally relaxed.

He had thought Jia Wuqun intended to part ways with him permanently.

So the man merely wanted to travel and amuse himself for a while.

Even so, Zi Pingxiu still looked worried. "If Mister isn't there, whom is this old man supposed to consult?"

Jia Wuqun fell silent for a time, then wrote him one final passage:

If Chancellor remains in office, remember this well: do not contend, do not seize, endure humiliation, never seek the limelight, guard only the ground that belongs to you, and obey the ruler's commands in all things. Then no grave danger will come, and you may preserve your peace.

Zi Pingxiu understood that this was the larger direction Jia Wuqun was leaving for him.

He read it carefully and committed every word to memory.

...

At last, it was time to depart.

Shang Chaozong and his wife deliberately detoured through Maolu Villa. Only after bidding farewell to Niu Youdao did their vast procession begin moving toward the former Qin capital.

Outside the mountain gate, Niu Youdao saw Zhao Xiongge off and watched the assembled party descend the mountain.

When he turned back, he found Zhuang Hong and her son looking melancholy.

They had clearly heard that the former Qin capital would become Yan's new imperial capital, and the news had stirred their hearts.

Niu Youdao had already warned mother and son beforehand to sever all improper hopes and exchange them for a free and peaceful life in the years ahead.

Both had agreed.

Niu Youdao had given them two choices.

Either Xia Lingpei could take Jia Wuqun as his teacher, which would ensure mother and son's safety, or they could remain with Maolu Villa under Yuan Gang's protection, which would likewise keep them safe.

Mother and son had wanted to continue following Niu Youdao himself.

He told them he was going to the Fifth Domain and that taking them along would not be appropriate.

So Zhuang Hong made the decision.

They chose the latter.

Mother and son would remain with Yuan Gang.

...

Yan's new capital became astonishingly prosperous almost overnight.

Every trade flourished.

Prosperity also brought trouble.

Inside the prison, Luo Da'an appeared in full battle armor, his face taut with anger and one hand resting on the sword at his waist.

Following a jailer, he reached one of the cells.

Inside, Luo Xiao'an lay atop a thick bed of straw, a wine flask in one hand, one leg crossed over the other as he sipped without a care in the world.

Luo Xiao'an had committed an offense.

He had stretched out a hand where he should not have and taken money.

Someone exposed him.

The stolen goods and the man himself were caught together, and he was thrown into prison.

Once the jailer opened the door and withdrew, Luo Da'an stormed inside.

Before Luo Xiao'an could react, his elder brother seized him by the collar and hauled him upright.

Smack!

A heavy slap crashed across his face.

Luo Xiao'an reeled, fell to the ground, then recovered and scrambled back up in fury.

"Elder Brother, why are you hitting me?"

Luo Da'an trembled with rage and pointed straight at his nose.

"You bastard! You knew His Highness was purging corruption and enforcing discipline, yet you still dared reach out your hand!"

"The Luo family's name was built on loyalty and martyrdom, and now you've brought shame upon it!"

"If you lacked money, you could have come to me."

"Now Mother spends her days washing her face in tears and is too ashamed to face His Highness, yet you still dare shout at me?"

"Do you understand even the slightest bit about propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame?"

Luo Xiao'an refused to accept the scolding.

"How am I supposed to live comfortably in the capital on an official salary alone?"

"I didn't even take that much. Why must Elder Brother rage like this and disregard the bond between brothers?"

"Utterly shameless!"

Luo Da'an exploded.

He rushed forward and beat him with fists and feet until the cell rang with impacts.

Once he had vented his fury, he turned and stormed out, refusing to care anymore.

"Cough, cough..."

Luo Xiao'an struggled upright, coughing as he wiped the blood from his mouth with one sleeve.

Then another pair of feet appeared before him.

He looked up.

Lan Ruoting stood there with a stern expression.

Luo Xiao'an hurriedly climbed to his feet.

Seeing him swaying unsteadily, Lan Ruoting reached out and steadied him.

Luo Xiao'an stepped back, found his footing, and cupped his hands.

"Teacher."

Lan Ruoting said expressionlessly, "Your elder brother gave you a good beating, didn't he?"

Luo Xiao'an gave a sheepish laugh. "This student was muddleheaded for a moment and angered Elder Brother."

"Muddleheaded for a moment?"

Lan Ruoting snorted.

"Others may not understand you, but does your teacher not understand you?"

"Are you really someone who would stretch out his hand for that little money?"

"Xiao'an, your teacher often says you carry something of Master Luo's spirit. I value that greatly and have placed high hopes on you."

"But you've disappointed me terribly!"

"I taught you all these things so you could use them on the proper path, yet you turned around and used them for this instead."

"Do you truly think I'm that easy to fool?"

Seeing that his scheme had been exposed, Luo Xiao'an fell silent for a while.

Then he spoke heavily.

"Winning the realm is easy. Governing the realm is another matter."

"Teacher, His Highness is about to rule all beneath Heaven. To accompany a ruler is to accompany a tiger!"

"Because of our late father's remaining prestige, His Highness does not doubt Elder Brother. Among the military commanders, he will certainly entrust Elder Brother with heavy power and gradually raise him to an important position."

"If both brothers of the Luo family stand at court, one civil and one military—if I rely on Teacher's influence while Elder Brother commands great armies—then while the new order is being stabilized, I fear His Highness may begin thinking too much."

"One of us brothers must yield. Otherwise we will only become burdens to one another."

"If I withdraw, His Highness will have nothing to worry about, and Elder Brother's future will remain secure."

After speaking, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply, every part of him saying that necessity had forced his hand and begging his teacher's understanding.

Lan Ruoting stared at him for a while, then snorted.

"In that case, you'd better rot in prison until the end of your days!"

"That won't happen." Luo Xiao'an straightened with a grin. "I calculated carefully how far I could reach my hand. They can't keep me locked away for long."

"Out of consideration for my father, Marshal Meng will certainly speak on my behalf, and His Highness won't make things too difficult for me."

"Everyone knows who my teacher is. Elder Brother will also hold heavy military power. Who in the future would dare deny me a little face?"

"I'll have nothing but freedom and comfort ahead of me."

"Teacher, how many people get the blessing of enjoying a good life without having to exhaust themselves over affairs?"

"Scoundrel!"

Lan Ruoting rebuked him and turned to leave.

Then he sighed wearily.

"Gao Jiancheng is an old fox, and now you're here cutting corners and playing games. Zi Pingxiu is another one who won't give anyone peace of mind."

"Not one of you gives me any peace."

"Teacher!"

Luo Xiao'an called after him.

Lan Ruoting stopped with his back turned.

Luo Xiao'an warned him solemnly, "Zi Pingxiu is seasoned but not especially crafty. He isn't much to worry about."

"The one to be careful of is Jia Wuqun. That man is anything but ordinary."

"Teacher must restrain the people below you. Do not let them recklessly seek to dominate the court alone."

"This is the entire realm now, not one corner divided among Seven States."

"If one faction becomes supreme..."

"The realm has only just been unified. If Teacher forces both Left and Right Chancellors into retirement now, His Highness will certainly become wary."

"Teacher should personally visit the Zi Residence and reassure him."

Lan Ruoting stood there for a while with his back turned.

Then he looked back at this student, deep regret in his eyes.

Only afterward did he continue on at an unhurried pace.

[End of Chapter 1585]