Chapter 714: Sunset

The hall first fell abruptly silent.

Then... the atmosphere heated until it felt like a kettle already at full boil, white steam forcing itself out beneath the lid.

Fan Li's nostrils flared so hard with every breath that one could actually hear them.

If life were compared to a banquet, then all the daily running around was merely cold dishes, pastries, fruit, and side plates.

The real main course... was cooked by Master.

There was no rushing him.

No urging him.

This was no longer a matter of slow work producing fine results.

The chef looked more like a man kneeling in prayer every day, burning incense and drawing lots to decide whether today was finally the day he could light the stove.

Xue San immediately burst into tears.

He clutched his chest and dropped to his knees.

"Master, this subordinate has finally lived to see this day. Finally! The day when Master can raise a hand and make mountains collapse, rivers flow backward, Heaven and Earth overturn! This is what Master has always truly looked like in this subordinate's heart! This is what Master should look like! Stand up once, sit down once... and you've advanced a Grade. This subordinate has lived all these years and never seen anyone advance with such fresh refinement, such effortless elegance!"

San'er's tears were somewhat indecorous.

If Siniang had said the exact same words... the effect would certainly have been very different.

A'Ming straightened his cuffs and stood a little more upright.

"Master, now we have a problem. We're making our move tonight. We probably don't have time to study how... how we're supposed to raise ourselves."

There was simply no time left to study how to lick properly.

Think about how difficult their last successful round of flattery had been.

The difficulty only grew with every level.

The Blind Man, their strategist, was not even here.

How were they supposed to find a method that produced an actual breakthrough within a few short hours?

If they could not advance before the assassination... then fundamentally... it only meant the useless burden they were dragging along had changed from a Sixth Grade Martial Artist to a Fifth Grade Martial Artist.

They were intercepting and assassinating the Chancellor's carriage.

Either the protection around Zhao Jiulang was ordinary, and with the Sword Saint personally acting, they would crush the defense and kill Zhao Jiulang like dry grass before a blade.

Or... the Chancellor who had served Great Yan for so many years was protected by something genuinely hard.

Then they might be dragged into a vicious fight.

But even if the battle became a stalemate, there was no chance the enemy would politely send one Fifth Grade expert over to exchange a few dozen moves with Master on the side.

Especially since this would be a group fight rather than a duel.

Master's role was destined to be support.

So fundamentally speaking... if only Master himself advanced... it did not actually help very much.

Zheng Fan said:

"It wasn't that I deliberately suppressed it before. The truth is, it was only after court today, when I reached the palace gates, that something shifted inside me and the bottleneck finally loosened. People say that when the water rises, the channel forms naturally. Sounds simple. But it isn't something I can control."

That was the truth.

For a long period, Marquis Zheng's realm had remained stuck at Sixth Grade.

Fifth Grade stood across the sea from him, visible yet unreachable.

He had been anxious too.

Back in Fengxin City, he often took a group of people with him to hunt down runaway bandits and smugglers for practical experience.

It had never produced much real effect.

Fortunately, on Mount Tianhu, Old Tian had once taken him down a mountain path.

Only then had Zheng Fan's state of mind gradually settled.

After entering the capital... he watched the imperial family struggle.

Watched the myriad faces of ordinary people.

Watched a state reveal scene after scene of itself inside a great political transformation.

Because, fundamentally, he had been a participant in the succession struggle and an observer at the same time... he had seen more clearly.

Felt more finely.

His state of mind had opened all at once.

Of course... one part of that "truth" was false.

The realm had not truly loosened outside the palace gates.

The real moment came when Zheng Fan sat fully and completely upon the Dragon Throne for the first time... with cigarette smoke drifting around him.

At that moment, Fan Li scratched his head.

"I think it's simple. Master comes with us to the assassination. We charge in front. Master watches us from behind. When one of us is about to get killed, maybe we'll advance."

Xue San blinked.

A'Ming rubbed his chin.

Siniang looked toward Fan Li.

Fan Li became somewhat embarrassed.

"Remember to shout before you get killed because you're losing. Can't let Master miss you and then you just get chopped dead without him noticing. Fight and shout at the same time: 'Master! Look at me! I'm incredible! I'm about to die!'"

Fan Li really did shout it aloud.

Xue San let out a long breath.

"Why does that sound so damned cliché?"

A'Ming said:

"Classic hot-blooded manga trope. Your little cosmos erupts right before you're beaten to death."

Siniang folded her arms.

"But there's no denying A'Li's suggestion actually sounds somewhat plausible."

...

"Cough, cough..."

Inside the Imperial Study, Zhao Jiulang coughed twice.

Wei Zhonghe offered tea.

Zhao Jiulang lowered his head and took two mouthfuls of the hot drink before looking back toward Ji Chengjue seated above.

"At present, the situation has not reached the point where everything must be broken before it can be rebuilt. Civil administration and military affairs both need a period to recover. As long as the center remains stable, the local regions will not produce major disorder. If Yan's heartland remains stable, Jin will not descend into chaos either. Once the overall situation is stabilized, Your Majesty may gradually pursue further plans."

"The Chancellor is seasoned in affairs of state. We agree deeply."

"Next come the state funeral and Your Majesty's formal rites before the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Both will exhaust the body and spirit. Your Majesty must preserve your health and avoid excessive grief or overthinking. Your Majesty's shoulders now bear Great Yan's realm and state altars."

"The Chancellor must also preserve his health. We and the hundred officials cannot do without the Chancellor."

"Your Majesty praises this minister too highly. This minister received the late Emperor's favor of recognition and, by Heaven's grace, was raised from obscurity. Naturally I must devote myself fully to Great Yan and to Your Majesty. To speak from the heart, when Your Majesty refused to let this minister read the Edict of Self-Reproach today, I did feel it was somewhat inappropriate. Great Yan's people are already exhausted. They need to see some hope. But I also agree with Your Majesty's words. The late Emperor's achievements will endure through the ages."

"We do understand the convention behind an Edict of Self-Reproach. But We truly cannot find a fault in Imperial Father. Nor is this merely a matter of avoiding criticism of the honored dead."

"Yes. Yes. This minister understands."

"We are tired. We will rest."

Zhao Jiulang rose with a smile.

"Your Majesty, please take care of your sacred body. This minister takes his leave."

"Mm."

Zhao Jiulang rose and left the Imperial Study.

As usual, Wei Zhonghe escorted the Chancellor out.

Afterward...

Wei Zhonghe returned to the Imperial Study.

His Majesty was sitting there eating pastries the imperial kitchen had delivered earlier.

Wei Zhonghe leaned closer and said quietly:

"Your Majesty, beginning tomorrow, Eunuch Zhang can serve here in the Imperial Study. This slave can wait outside the door and be ready for summons at any time."

Ji Chengjue dusted his hands.

"No need. Right now he should settle Sisi and the children properly in the rear palace. Wei Zhonghe, you are one of the old servants Imperial Father left to Us. We are not the sort of man who likes endless sentimental fussing. Back when We lived in the prince's residence, what filled Our mind every day? First, the Ministry of Revenue's affairs. Second, matters inside the imperial palace. Now... We sit here. From this point onward, what fills Our mind every day must be the realm and state altars. He isn't as useful as you."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's praise."

"If someday We truly find you unpleasant to look at, naturally We will tell you personally. No matter what happens, Wei Zhonghe, you have earned that much dignity."

"This slave will devote every ounce of loyalty in repayment for Your Majesty's trust!"

"Rise. Ah, right. Has Li Liangshen entered the capital?"

"We received a report earlier. Garrison Commander Li has already entered Yanjing. By now, he should be approaching the imperial palace."

"The Chancellor should return to the Grand Secretariat first, yes?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Under normal procedure, the Chancellor should first handle state affairs in the Grand Secretariat before leaving his post."

"As for Li Liangshen, We will not see him yet. Transmit an order in Our name. Give him the rewards first."

"Yes. This slave obeys."

"Also, adjust the timing properly. Leave him cooling his heels for a little while. After the decree and rewards are delivered, accompany him out of the palace. You need to run into the Chancellor when the Chancellor leaves work."

As Ji Chengjue spoke, his fingers lightly pinched one pastry.

"We need a decent excuse. Ask him on Our behalf whether he wants to go south to Yinlang Commandery. Hint that We intend to have him lead troops south and replace Our eldest brother there. Li Liangshen has spent years guarding the capital region. He must have gone half mad with boredom already. After you hint at it, when he encounters the Chancellor on the road, he'll certainly think of approaching the Chancellor through another channel. No. Better yet, when you give the hint beforehand, tell him directly that if the Chancellor agrees, We can have him depart after the state funeral and bring Our eldest brother back to resume command of the capital defenses."

Wei Zhonghe immediately understood.

"This slave understands."

Tonight... after the Chancellor left the palace... the experts of the Secret Intelligence Department and Lu Bing's men who had secretly protected Zhao Jiulang would all be withdrawn.

Now adding Li Liangshen into the equation... was indeed rather neat.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Oh? This counts as wise?" Ji Chengjue laughed.

"Your Majesty wishes to protect the Chancellor in this fashion without offending Marquis Pingxi."

"Can he protect him? There's a Sword Saint on the other side. Li Liangshen may also be one of the Four Great Swordsmen, but We still feel that compared with the present Sword Saint of Jin, he falls somewhat short. We don't understand martial arts. Wei Zhonghe, you tell Us."

"Your Majesty, this slave is a Qi Refiner. I do not understand their external martial paths especially well. And once men reach their level, it is difficult to judge precise depth."

"You don't have anything definite to say?"

"This slave dares guess... perhaps the Sword Saint is a little stronger now."

"Then what exactly was wise about Our plan? He still can't protect the Chancellor."

"Your Majesty's arrangement serves both sides. Once the Chancellor leaves his post, Li Liangshen, wanting a frontier command, will certainly travel alongside him. Either Li Liangshen protects the Chancellor successfully... After all, Marquis Pingxi is not a man who fails to understand limits. This one incident tonight is the only one he will be allowed. No one will permit him to keep causing trouble a second time. Or... Li Liangshen fails to protect him. When experts of that level fight, how could they fail to leave unmistakable traces? Then the tear between the Northern and Southern Armies will have been opened right here. Your Majesty is wise."

Ji Chengjue picked up a piece of purple-sweet-potato cake and held it toward Eunuch Wei's mouth.

Eunuch Wei opened his mouth and took it.

Ji Chengjue clapped his hands.

"Do you truly not know, or have you genuinely forgotten? On the night of Our wedding, Li Liangshen and Seventh Uncle beside that crazy woman nearly took Our life. Nine times out of ten, that bastard surnamed Zheng intends to avenge the wife of the Prince of Jingnan. Fine then. No need to trouble two masters over one matter. Have him avenge this grudge of Ours too."

Wei Zhonghe:

"Uh..."

"So why have foolish rulers and mediocre rulers always been more common through history? Because of exactly this. Once a man stands at the very top, no one around him dares tell him the truth anymore."

"Your Majesty, this slave..."

Ji Chengjue laughed.

"Get up. Get up. Stop kneeling every other sentence. You watched Us grow up too, didn't you? There is one major difference between Us and Imperial Father. Imperial Father was rather gloomy and quiet. We... may talk a little more. You listen. Don't overthink it."

"This slave understands. This slave knows."

"Mm."

Ji Chengjue picked up the tea before him.

"The tea is cold."

"This slave will immediately..."

Ji Chengjue turned his head and glanced at Wei Zhonghe.

At the same time, he lifted the lid.

Steam was still rising.

Where was the tea cold?

"We are worried. Imperial Father has only just gone, and if the Chancellor immediately suffers some accident, will outsiders think the tea cooled too quickly the instant the man left?"

Wei Zhonghe said nothing this time.

He merely smiled apologetically.

"Pity. What a pity. Forget it. If matters become turbulent, let them become turbulent. If there are too many things to handle, then there are too many things to handle. This court won't truly fall into great chaos. Once news comes from the western desert after fighting begins... We will gain another layer of military achievement upon Our person. The destruction of the Barbarian Royal Court. Then this seat will truly be stable. Let things be as chaotic as they want. They cannot possibly become chaotic enough to reach Heaven. Sometimes you need to stir everything up before you can sort it properly. It saves effort. And lets you see more clearly."

Ji Chengjue took a sip of tea.

Then set the cup down.

He murmured:

"One Marquis Pingxi exchanged evenly for one sitting Chancellor. Is that trade worth making? It is. Very worth it. No loss. We even profit. Earlier, the Chancellor told Us that governing a great state is like cooking a small fish. But We think governing a country is like doing business. Everyone says merchants value profit. What they fail to understand is that real merchants understand long lines better. They know how to let the hook sink deep before pulling up the big fish."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"The situation is what it is. That is all. If the Chancellor truly goes below tonight to find Imperial Father, We imagine he will understand Us. And forgive Us. After all... he and Imperial Father were alike. They both enjoyed making others sacrifice themselves for some magnificent imperial undertaking. Now... We are merely doing the same. That means, in a way... they truly do have a worthy successor. Heh-heh."

"Your Majesty..."

"Enough. This is enough for today. We will not watch tonight's play. There are too many matters. Watching too much gives Us a headache."

"This slave will order the imperial carriage prepared."

"No need. Tonight... We sleep here."

Inside the Imperial Study's inner chamber stood a small sleeping room.

The late Emperor had often reviewed memorials deep into the night.

Many nights, he simply made do here.

Then woke and went directly to morning court.

Aside from the period spent recuperating in the Rear Garden... during all his years on the throne, the late Emperor had probably slept here more often than in the rear palace.

Ji Chengjue entered the small bedroom in the inner chamber.

He sat directly on the bed.

Then waved toward Wei Zhonghe.

After Eunuch Wei withdrew...

Ji Chengjue lay down.

His eyes remained open.

He stared upward.

Then closed them.

As he exhaled... it almost seemed to him that there was a second breath beside his own.

The corner of Ji Chengjue's mouth lifted.

As though, at this very moment... someone else lay beside him too.

A man who, like Ji Chengjue, had finished the day's exhaustion and was resting on this same bed.

Ji Chengjue smiled.

"Old bastard... I'm coming to dream of you."

[End of Chapter 714]