Chapter 809: Xie

“Seven little brats?” Xue San asked in confusion. “Master doesn’t think that black-armored man is one of them?”

Zheng Fan shook his head. “If he is one of them, then that really would be an unexpected delight. But right now, I’m more inclined to think he fills some role like a servant or guard. Or perhaps you could call him a trigger. He may be the one who links the pieces together. A little like Gandalf.”

“So, Master, what do we do next?” Liang Cheng asked. “Keep searching for... those Demon Kings who may still be children right now?”

The Blind Man smiled. “You’re afraid that if we close the net too early, life will become boring?”

Siniang said, “If they’re all like Tian Tian is right now, then at least for the moment there truly isn’t much to fear. And we’ve already confirmed that the effects of our actions do not fall within the prophecy’s predictions. Take this time, for example. We captured the black-armored man by relying on the strength of our Residence.”

When you possessed the advantage of overwhelming numbers, there was no need to insist on single combat.

The Blind Man tossed the newly peeled orange to Fan Li and said, “Master, this subordinate’s suggestion is that we search when we can, look when the opportunity presents itself, and otherwise leave things to fate. Finding even a few would be a pleasant surprise. If we truly cannot find any, that does not matter either. We’ve already seized so much initiative that there really isn’t much left to fear. In fact, this subordinate is starting to look forward to it. What worried us before was the possibility that the Demon Kings in the prophecy would awaken already at their peak. That would have made us far too passive, like a fishbone stuck in the throat, or worse, a blade pressed against our necks. Now it seems that although we cannot say everything is under our control, we have already taken seats at the gaming table. We are participants ourselves, and we have even seized part of the authority to define the rules. The initiative is ours. There is no need to panic.”

The Blind Man’s position was basically shared by everyone present.

Life still had to go on. Those who enjoyed building careers would continue enjoying their careers. Those who enjoyed living well would continue enjoying life. The group headed by the Blind Man were all ambitious schemers, and even Zheng Fan, who had always preferred comfort, carried a rebellious streak deep in his bones.

But none of them carried the ideological burden of becoming some “founding ancestor,” nor did they possess the noble sentiment of exhausting themselves to sweep every obstacle out of the road for their descendants.

In simple terms:

After I die, let the flood swallow the world!

A’Ming took a drink and teased:

“When dragon cries shake the highest heavens, the firmament itself is changed;
When wind and cloud converge, they roam the shallows together.”

The Blind Man did not care. “Master treats Tian Tian as his own son.”

There was not a drop of exaggeration in that.

What sort of man was Prince Jingnan? If he had not valued this particular trait in Master, he would never have chosen to leave his son in Zheng Fan’s care.

In truth, this had also been the crucial point in Tian Wujing’s change of attitude back then. Earlier, he had seen the “natural disposition” hidden inside Zheng Fan’s temperament, so from time to time he deliberately suppressed him. Later, absurdly enough, Tian Wujing discovered that the only person in this world willing to cast aside every consideration of profit and loss purely because of that “natural disposition” was Zheng Fan himself.

Zheng Fan clapped his hands. “Then the basic approach is settled. We stay steady and respond to whatever comes. Blind Man, you keep following up on the black-armored man’s identity. I refuse to believe an existence like that left no name in Helian Clan history. Dig up his life story. It will help us understand the prophecy more fully.”

“Yes, Master. This subordinate understands. I’ll send people to Quhe City immediately.”

“A’Ming.”

“This subordinate is here.”

“You’ve rested enough too. I’ll give you something to do.”

“Please command me, Master.”

“Go to Yingdu first. Then Litian City, Quhe City, perhaps even Yanjing with a letter written in my own hand. We need concrete records of the Three Marquises’ Covenant. We can roughly guess the general meaning already, but I want the details.”

“Yes, Master. This subordinate understands. I’ll leave tonight.”

For him, setting out really was simple.

Bring wine.

Leave.

Xue San asked in confusion, “Wouldn’t that overlap with the Blind Man’s assignment?”

The Blind Man said, “Uncultured.”

Xue San drooped his eyelids and waited for the explanation.

The Blind Man took out another orange. “Records from eight hundred years ago cannot possibly be trusted if they only survived by word of mouth. We have to search ancient texts. The three principal houses that later partitioned Jin, Helian, Wenren, and Situ, were still far too young compared with the age of the Three Marquises. So whether we go to Yingdu, Litian City, or Quhe City, it’s mostly for appearance’s sake. The old imperial palace of Jin has been abandoned for years. If we truly want to find real clues, we’ll probably still have to go to Yanjing in the end.”

Siniang said, “The Blind Man is right. If ancient books are going to survive properly, they need a powerful, enduring government protecting them. The orthodox Jin imperial house declined long ago, and we ourselves once looted its imperial palace. At the time, we didn’t pay any attention to things like old texts and archives.”

At those words... the expressions of every Demon King present became slightly unnatural.

Even Master looked a little embarrassed.

Back when Zheng Fan was preparing to transfer to Shengle City as its Garrison Commander and open a new map, he had been desperately short of startup capital. They had scraped gold directly off the statues inside Jin’s imperial palace and ancestral temple.

Everything valuable had been hauled away.

As for books, records, and all those so-called “cultural treasures,” in the chaos of Jin at the time they had been worthless, troublesome, and cumbersome to transport. Quite a few had even been burned when the troops were allowed to loot.

So strictly speaking, historians of later generations would have every right to condemn their shortsighted barbarism and accuse them of ravaging and destroying Jin culture.

The present Prince Pingxi Residence and eastern Jin could certainly claim to be a small realm with “strong soldiers and sturdy horses.” After all, they had just defeated Chu single-handedly. Trade flourished, and every industry was visibly thriving.

But culturally... it really was a wasteland.

When Zheng Fan had told A’Ming to check Yingdu and the other former “capitals” of Jin, it had really only been a request to try his luck. Once Yan armies entered Jin, what they did to Jin’s imperial capital was scarcely different from Zheng Fan’s own behavior. One group of soldiers under the Black Dragon Banner had no right to laugh at the other.

Expecting Yan soldiers to cherish Jin culture and protect ancient books was fantasy.

Deep in their bones, Yan people were still “barbarians.”

Most of them possessed little “culture.”

The only place worth hoping for was Yanjing.

From beginning to end, even during the bloodiest years of war with the Barbarians, the Yan had protected their capital and never allowed it to fall.

“Then why send A’Ming?” Xue San asked. “Why not just write a letter...”

The Blind Man shook his head. “It is still more appropriate for A’Ming to go. A’Ming has followed Master for a long time. The Emperor of Yan knows who he is. Only if he carries Master’s personal letter will it be easier to gain access to similar records in Yanjing. There is, after all, the matter of avoiding disrespect toward the honored dead.”

The Three Marquises had sworn their covenant not to betray Great Xia.

Great Xia still fell.

And after its fall came Great Yan, Great Jin, and Great Chu.

Clearly... the ancestors of all three houses had not behaved especially honorably in that matter.

Send an ordinary letter and the people in Yanjing might brush them off casually.

Only by relying on Master’s relationship with the Emperor, and then having one of Master’s trusted men whom the Emperor personally knew appear in the capital, was there any real chance the “convenient door” would be opened.

The Blind Man added, “Master, this subordinate thinks there is one more place we can try.”

“Where?”

“Chu.”

Liang Cheng said, “Ying Capital was burned.”

“Heh.”

Zheng Fan could not help laughing.

Once self-mockery reached a certain point, genuine laughter naturally followed.

This proved one thing very clearly.

The Yan truly were destroyers of the culture of all Xia.

The Blind Man said, “There is someone in Chu who once taught Prince Jingnan. He also personally compiled histories of the Four States.”

Meng Shou.

Zheng Fan sounded surprised. “That old bastard still isn’t dead?”

“He should still be alive. We haven’t received word of his death. So this subordinate suggests asking the Princess or Qu Peiluo to use their connections with nobles or acquaintances in Chu willing to help with a small favor and make inquiries with Meng Shou. That man is practically a living fossil of history.”

“Fine. You arrange it.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Then that settles it. If anyone wants to go down and look at the black-armored man, slice samples off him, or conduct any other research, notify everyone else first. That thing is imprisoned inside our own home. We cannot tolerate even the slightest carelessness.”

“Yes, Master understands.”

“This subordinate understands.”

Zheng Fan rose and left.

Xue San grinned. “Want to bet?”

The Blind Man said disdainfully, “There’s nothing to bet on. Master went to see the child.”

...

“Elder Brother, does it hurt?”

The Crown Prince stood beside the bed and looked at Tian Tian lying face-down.

“Doesn’t hurt.”

“Elder Brother is lying to me. How could it not hurt?”

“Dad beat me. So it doesn’t hurt.”

The Crown Prince shook his head.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Has your dad ever beaten you?” Tian Tian asked.

“No. Just... just...”

“Just what?”

“My dad drugged me.”

“Mm...”

“Elder Brother, want breakfast? I can feed you.”

“No.”

“Then I’m going to eat.”

“Go ahead, Little Brother.”

The Crown Prince went off to breakfast.

As he ate... he found himself becoming a little happy.

After breakfast, he went into the courtyard.

Liu Dahu had not come today either.

The Crown Prince became even happier.

This happiness resembled that of the student ranked dead last in class who discovered everyone above him was absent and had therefore automatically been promoted to first place.

The Crown Prince began happily doing his morning run alone.

Even the morning air felt extraordinarily fresh.

...

Zheng Fan reached Tian Tian’s room.

In his previous life, he had never had children.

In this life, both of his biological children were still inside their mothers’ bellies.

But because he had lacked parental love in his previous life, Zheng Fan had always believed that if he became a father, he would certainly become the sort of good father who played together with his child and became his friend.

Now... he discovered he had been thinking too much.

Standing at the door... he knew Tian Tian was still lying in bed.

But he simply could not make himself step inside.

Words of closeness and comfort seemed impossible to say.

In the end...

Zheng Fan could only stand outside like some feudal patriarch, sigh, turn around, and leave.

...

Chu.

Chen Residence.

Meng Shou sat in a rocking chair beneath the sunlight.

Beside him... a young attendant brewed tea.

Age spots had long since spread across his face.

His body gave off the faintly decayed scent of an ancient volume left too long in storage.

He was almost dead.

He truly was almost dead.

But... he still had not died.

Years earlier, when Yan was preparing to mobilize the whole state against Chu, Meng Shou had finished compiling the *History of Yan*, bid farewell to Yanjing, and resolved to return to Chu.

He wished to die in his homeland.

Though he held no specific government office, the purity and prestige of his name stood beyond even that of a Chief Minister.

After his return, the Regent had personally summoned him.

The two had played chess while watching the flames swallowing northern Ying Capital.

It was Meng Shou who told the Regent about the one-hundred-and-twenty-year climate cycle.

The Regent used that as an opportunity to begin cutting poison from the bone.

But looking at the present... the situation had not improved.

Prince Pingxi Residence stood firmly in eastern Jin, apparently without principles and yet stubbornly upholding a certain kind of principle.

Great Chu had wanted to be reborn from the ashes.

Instead, that Marquis Pingxi had once again cut down one Pillar of State.

Great Chu had once again lost a Grand General.

After hearing that news... the age spots on Meng Shou’s face seemed to deepen overnight.

He had spent his whole life compiling histories.

Only at that moment did he finally feel as though he himself were living inside one.

Histories always contained heroic figures who resisted the tide with their own strength.

An ordinary hero rode the wind and moved with the current.

A true hero... raised the tide himself.

Then led it forward.

Marquis Pingxi was that sort of man.

The head of the Chen Clan, an old man a generation younger than Meng Shou, waited outside and did not dare disturb his peace.

Meng Shou’s original surname had been Chen.

He had been born into the Chen Clan.

But because of his birth, he had been stripped of that surname early.

Perhaps that had been the greatest mistake the Chen Clan had made in the past century.

Meng Shou opened his eyes.

He had dozed off again.

Whenever drowsiness came, he always closed his eyes calmly, imagining that the next moment might become the year of his death.

And yet... he kept waking up.

How many great men throughout history had cursed Heaven for not lending them a few more years?

Here, however, he wanted the end.

Yet the Mandate of Heaven refused to arrive.

The head of the Chen Clan saw him wake.

He entered in small steps, knelt, and performed the rites of a junior.

“Uncle, His Majesty will pass through Chen Commandery on his return from the alliance meeting. He will probably come visit Uncle.”

Meng Shou opened his eyes and looked at him.

The Chen Clan head felt as though that single glance had seen through every thought in his heart.

“Uncle, your nephew intends to welcome His Majesty. Could Uncle instruct me regarding the proper ceremony?”

The Chen Clan was not one of the great noble houses.

Even at its height, it had never been comparable to houses like Dugu or Qu.

As the Regent began cutting into Chu’s aristocracy, the highest noble houses could still preserve themselves by “selling” their allegiance and joining the new order.

The lowest aristocrats were soothed with something approaching tenderness.

The middle-ranking houses... suffered the worst.

Life had not been easy for the Chen Clan.

Chen Commandery should once have been their fief.

Now, they retained influence only around the commandery capital.

Their private troops had already been dismantled.

The glory of the noble house had long since faded.

At a time like this, they had to change voluntarily.

Had to do something.

As clan head, he could hardly sit still and watch the family sink one step at a time.

“Welcome? Ceremony?”

“Yes.”

Meng Shou laughed. “His Majesty is a proud man.”

“Your nephew knows.”

“The alliance with Qian was an act of necessity. The defeat at Fan City exposed how empty and weak Great Chu now is in the north. His Majesty was forced to stand beside Qian. Perhaps to all of you, a Qian-Chu alliance means Qian wealth and grain flowing into Chu, relieving the immediate emergency and easing our difficulties in the north. But years ago, when Yan mobilized the combined strength of Yan and Jin against Chu, Great Chu was disadvantaged yet could still barely resist with the strength of one state. Now, faced with only Prince Pingxi Residence, we have been reduced to this humiliation. To His Majesty, this alliance is shame. He went with great pomp because he needed to reassure people like you. If you now greet him with equally great pomp on his return, you will only drive a thorn into his heart. This old undying man still has one breath left, so His Majesty will at least show the Chen Clan a little face. If you think your life is too long, by all means make the welcome grander.”

“Uncle... has it truly reached that point?”

“I am not a man of the Chen Clan.”

“Uncle, you are!”

“For the sake of what little incense affection remains between us, I will give you two sentences. After this, stop coming so often. Every time I am disturbed and forced to talk this much, perhaps I become a little more likely to close my eyes one day and never wake. Better to leave me here to fend for myself. I might last a little longer. First: when His Majesty returns from the alliance, every member of the Chen Clan should keep quiet and act as though you know nothing about it. If His Majesty wishes to see me, His Majesty will come. Second: whether you stretch out your neck or pull it in, the blade still falls. His Majesty no longer has a retreat. The defeat at Fan City tore away Great Chu’s final scrap of modesty. His Majesty will no longer soothe the nobles with soft affection. His knife will only become more ruthless. If everyone is destined to be cut, then offering your neck willingly can at least preserve some goodwill. His Majesty is promoting men of humble birth on a massive scale and accepting Shanyue men not because he refuses to use noble sons. The people truly worth using are still more often noble sons. The problem is simply that some of them carry too many attachments. Do you understand?”

“Your nephew understands.”

“Can you actually do it?”

“Your nephew...”

“Kind words cannot persuade a ghost determined to die. You don’t even look at what time it is. Heh-heh.”

The Chen Clan head’s face turned extremely ugly.

“Cough... cough...”

Meng Shou began coughing.

The Chen Clan head immediately rose and helped pat his back.

“Do you know why I came back to live with the Chen Clan?”

“Because Uncle remembers the kindness my mother showed you back then.”

“Yes.”

Meng Shou released a long breath.

His coughing stopped.

“Uncle, it is not that your nephew cannot see through things. I understand the situation very clearly. His Majesty’s knife hangs above us. The Yan knife waits outside. The Chen Clan was never some great house. Even if we hand over every shred of affection we possess, how much will remain for us in the end? If we hand it all over, the Chen Clan will stop being the Chen Clan. If we refuse, the family can at least continue muddling through for a little while longer. Being clan head is difficult. When I look toward the future, perhaps I am the only one in the family who thinks this way. Most of the clan only thinks about drinking today’s wine today. I think... His Majesty is the same.”

“The Son of Heaven shepherds the people on Heaven’s behalf. What is shepherding? It means driving them with the whip!”

“Uncle, do you think Great Chu still has hope? Give the Yan a few more years to rest and recover, and they certainly will not remain satisfied with these small clashes.”

Meng Shou looked at the Chen Clan head.

The old man pressed his lips together.

“Years ago, when I sought instruction from my teacher, he despised my birth. Your mother secretly used your father’s seal to write him a letter. Only because of that did I gain admission beneath his gate.”

“Uncle, why bring this up again?”

The Chen Clan head had always suspected... that perhaps there had once been something between his mother and Meng Shou.

But he himself was already an old man.

His parents had died long ago.

He truly had no interest in deciding at this age which man had actually been his biological father.

Meng Shou raised one finger.

The Chen Clan head immediately opened both palms and held them together before him.

On his palm...

Meng Shou wrote one character:

Xie.

[End of Chapter 809]