Chapter 3: Borrowed Blade
He had only taken a few sips of rock sugar water and sour plum soup, not even having had lunch yet, when a servant came to report that the Xu family’s young master, the Minister of War Xu Ren, had invited Wen Ning’an to meet at the South Tower in Zuiyue Alley.
Zuiyue Alley had four vacant towers exclusively for the use of powerful and high-ranking figures. This “use,” of course, was not for any proper business, but for trysts or dalliances with beauties. After all, Zuiyue Alley itself was a bustling red-light district, a place for pleasure. Flower houses, song and dance halls, and male brothels were all readily available. Bright red lanterns hung along the streets, where skimpily-clad young women and fair-skinned, well-groomed male courtesans laughed and flirted while soliciting customers.
Wen Ning’an passed through the streets filled with twittering women and amorous dalliances and arrived at a private room in Huayue Tower.
Xu Ren had booked the room and was waiting for Wen Ning’an’s arrival.
After the waiter pushed open the paper door, which was painted with an erotic scene, Xu Ren stood up and smiled at Wen Ning’an. “General Wen, I trust you’ve been well?”
Xu Ren was nearly thirty, but at such a young age, he already sported a large, round belly, so fat that even walking was inconvenient.
Wen Ning’an glanced at the room’s amorous design and frowned. “Young Master Xu certainly has refined tastes.”
Xu Ren chuckled. “General Wen, if we’re talking about secrecy, these pleasure districts are naturally less conspicuous. Not to mention, this is the Xu family’s territory.”
After Wen Ning’an sat down, he saw Xu Ren summoning the waiter, seemingly to order food, and said, “Young Master Xu, please speak your mind directly. I have already eaten at home. There is no need for you to go to the expense.”
Xu Ren then said, “The Xu family knows that General Wen is currently troubled about how to rescue his elder brother. The Ministry of Justice is also the Xu family’s territory, so we can certainly lend a humble hand.”
“Your condition?”
Xu Ren smiled. “The same as before. What the Xu family hopes for has never changed.”
The Xu family had long tried to win over Wen Ning’an, hoping he would help them weaken the Li family.
Wen Ning’an spoke slowly, “The matter concerning my brother—wasn’t it you who framed him?” He lowered his head and took a light sip of the greenish tea in his bowl. A few tea leaves floated up and down in the liquid, rootless and unanchored.
“It was all just to rope me into cooperating with you, to help you achieve the Xu family’s schemes and disrupt the court,” Wen Ning’an said, glancing at Xu Ren with a faint smile.
Xu Ren shook his head, also smiling. “General Wen is loyal and true, unwilling to associate with us common folk. But do you not care at all for your brother’s safety?”
“Alas, you can only blame Wen Ningyuan for being a fool. A little bait was all it took to get him hooked. He clung to what he thought was real information and evidence, foolishly creating an opportunity for the Xu family to frame him.”
Seeing Wen Ning’an’s expressionless and unmoved face, Xu Ren reminded him, “Your esteemed brother is currently in the Ministry of Justice’s prison, but after tonight, once he is transferred to the Censorate, the Xu family will be powerless to help. The Censorate is watched closely by the Emperor and all the major families. By then, with concrete evidence, not even the gods will be able to save Wen Ningyuan.”
Wen Ning’an sat in silence, his fingers ceaselessly tracing the rim of his teacup.
It was a dead end.
Appealing to the higher-ups was useless. After all, Wen Ningyuan was saddled with the evidence of corruption carefully planted by the Xu family. It couldn’t be washed away, and no one could exonerate him.
Bribery was out of the question. A prison break? Wen Ning’an believed that if he could actually succeed, the Xu family would not deserve their status as one of the two powers that divided the court.
Wen Ning’an didn’t have much time to think. His brother would be transferred tonight, and then it would be irreversible.
No matter what he did, he would lose. In that case…
Wen Ning’an suddenly slammed his teacup down, and a few drops of tea splashed onto his collar. He looked at Xu Ren with a cold smile, as if looking at the most despicable filth in the world.
CRASH—
Xu Ren stared blankly at the overturned table before him. Before he could react, Wen Ning’an’s hand was tightly clasped around his neck.
The porcelain pot and cups shattered, and tea spilled all over the floor.
Wen Ning’an said without expression, “Behave, or I’ll snap your neck.”
“Wen Ning’an, you—you have some nerve! Do you know the consequences of this? Killing me won’t save your brother, and the Xu family will not let you go!”
“Who said I was going to kill you?”
Wen Ning’an pulled Xu Ren to his feet. “We are going to have an audience with the Emperor.”
Wen Ning’an didn’t want to give the Xu family time to prepare or deliberate, so he grabbed Xu Ren by the collar and walked straight out of the private room.
The patrons and the manager of the teahouse saw that although Wen Ning’an had a gentle and scholarly appearance, his eyes held a grimness that ordinary people lacked, and a faint murderous aura surrounded him. No one dared to meddle, shrinking back and feigning ignorance.
When Xu Ren’s servants and guards saw their master being held hostage, they immediately rushed at Wen Ning’an with their weapons drawn. However, before they could even get close, before they could even touch the hem of his clothes, soldiers of the Left Army appeared out of nowhere and knocked them to the ground one by one, unable to get up again.
Xu Ren was fuming. “Wen Ning’an! You dare to mobilize troops for your own selfish desires!”
Wen Ning’an raised an eyebrow. “Troops? Are they wearing military uniforms? I don’t see any troops. Those are my friends. What, you’re allowed to bring guards, but I’m not allowed to bring men?”
With that, Wen Ning’an dragged Xu Ren and left directly through the teahouse window.
The sun was about to set. Swarms of swallows flew across the vast expanse of the sky, which was dyed orange-red by the twilight. A gentle evening breeze blew, and the temperature had dropped considerably.
Feng Qi was still resting on the Dragon Bed in his bedchamber. The imperial physician had said it was best for him to move as little as possible in the coming days and to rest well to avoid any lasting effects from his injury.
“Your Majesty,” Head Eunuch Fu said softly. “According to reports, General Wen is causing a scene outside with Xu Ren, demanding an audience to seek justice.”
“A scene?” Feng Qi smiled faintly. That word really didn’t suit Wen Ning’an.
“Do you know what this is about?”
This part was not in Feng Qi’s memory. Could it be a change caused by him not summoning Wen Ning’an to the palace for his report, as he had in his past life?
Eunuch Fu knelt before reporting to Feng Qi, “Xu Ren discovered evidence of corruption against the Wen family’s eldest young master, Wen Ningyuan. After presenting the evidence to the Ministry of Justice, Young Master Wen was imprisoned. He is to be transferred to the Censorate tonight. General Wen… is likely here to plead for his brother.”
The smile on Feng Qi’s lips vanished instantly.
Feng Qi utterly despised those who had, were, or would plot against him. Anyone who played tricks in front of him or feigned compliance while harming his interests had to die.
And now, Wen Ning’an had been added to that list.
Feng Qi would not let anyone who intended to harm or deal with Wen Ning’an go unpunished.
Feng Qi didn’t know the full truth yet, nor did he know who was right or wrong between Xu Ren and Wen Ning’an. But whether Xu Ren had schemed against Wen Ning’an or Wen Ning’an was being unreasonable, none of it mattered to Feng Qi. He never thought in terms of right and wrong, only in terms of what he liked and disliked.
In his past life, many people had called him a fatuous ruler. Feng Qi wouldn’t deny it; he would just make it so they could never speak again.
“Prepare the palanquin.”
Eunuch Fu said worriedly, “Your Majesty, your injuries…”
But after meeting Feng Qi’s dark and menacing eyes, Eunuch Fu dared not say another word. He simply ordered the maids to help the Emperor change his clothes and prepare the palanquin to go to the Golden Throne Hall.
Feng Qi had a servant fetch the token for the Ministry of War from the Imperial Study.
The small wooden plaque had the character “War” (兵) written on it in cinnabar. Feng Qi smiled coldly, snapped it in half, and handed it to Eunuch Fu. “Give this to Li Luoyan.”
“Yes.”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
After Feng Qi, dressed in his dragon robes, sat down on the Dragon Throne in the Golden Throne Hall, Wen Ning’an and Xu Ren knelt in unison to pay their respects.
“You two may rise. Beloved Minister Wen, you were so anxious for an audience. What is the matter?”
Wen Ning’an remained kneeling, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. “Your Majesty, this subordinate entered the palace in his youth and weathered storms with Your Majesty. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, this subordinate guarded the frontier for many years, striving to maintain peace at the borders and safety for the people. From the Battle of Lizhou against Hong Xi, to the naval battles against the Western Bandits, to the border rebellion of the King of Mufeng, this subordinate has never brought defeat to Bei Miao.”
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. Is he playing the sentiment card first?
No, this was a threat.
Feng Qi couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.
Wen Ning’an continued, “This subordinate is willing to exchange his own military merits for Your Majesty’s leniency towards my brother.”
With that, Wen Ning’an took out his military tally from his robes and placed it gently on the floor.
He was using sentiment to move him, then reinforcing it with the threat of resignation.
Xu Ren also dropped to his knees with a “thud” and said with great emotion, “Your Majesty! Wen Ningyuan is a criminal! The evidence is conclusive. How can he be released so easily? If Your Majesty shows favoritism in this matter, where is the rule of law? How will you convince the people of the world?”
The Xu family was very confident. Given Feng Qi’s attitude towards Wen Ning’an these past few years, they guessed he was wary of the general’s merits overshadowing his own. Besides, so what if he favored Wen Ning’an? The evidence was laid out before the world. Not even the Emperor could profane the law.
Seeing the Xu family’s confident demeanor, Feng Qi sneered inwardly.
Wen Ning’an must have been forced into a corner to make such an all-or-nothing gamble, betting on his judgment. Wen Ning’an wasn’t even hoping for an acquittal; he was only praying that he would spare Wen Ningyuan’s life.
Wen Ning’an’s request was very modest.
But that was not all Feng Qi wanted.
Feng Qi leaned back on the Dragon Throne, his attitude languid, not saying a word. Wen Ning’an and Xu Ren knelt below, their hearts uncertain as to what Feng Qi was planning.
An eerie silence fell over the Golden Throne Hall.
“Your Majesty!” someone rushed in to report. “Lord Li, Li Yuxi, requests an audience!”
Li Yuxi, Empress Li Luoyan’s father and the head of the Li family.
Xu Ren’s eyelid twitched. What is that old fox Li Yuxi doing here at a time like this?
After paying his respects to Feng Qi, Li Yuxi ignored the kneeling Wen Ning’an and Xu Ren and directly took out a stack of memorials from his robes. “Your Majesty, this subject has a matter to report.”
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow and waved his hand, signaling for Li Yuxi to continue.
“According to the investigation by the Minister of Revenue, Li Yuran, it has been confirmed that the Minister of War, Xu Ren, has engaged in corruption and violated the law. The discrepancies in the Ministry of War’s accounts are highly irregular. The inflow has been greater than the outflow, and this situation has persisted for half a year. This humble subject dares to give an example…”
Li Yuxi opened one of the account books. “In the first month of this year, the court allocated fifty thousand taels to the Ministry of War. Ten thousand taels were for grain supplies, and ten thousand for armament repairs. So where did the remaining thirty thousand taels go?”
With that, Li Yuxi opened another account book. “The inflow of silver to Zuiyue Alley was thirty thousand in the first half of the second month, and forty thousand in the second half. May I ask where this silver came from? According to Li…”
“That’s enough,” Feng Qi interrupted. “In short, he’s embezzled a lot of money, and the evidence is in those account books in your hands. I don’t need to hear any more.”
The Xu family had hidden these accounts and silver flows very deeply to avoid detection, doing it with great care. The Li family must have expended considerable effort to find clues within the mountain of false accounts and trace them all the way to Zuiyue Alley. If he had to report it all, it would take a day and a night, and Feng Qi had no desire to listen to Li Yuxi’s droning.
Li Yuxi’s report was well-founded, and Feng Qi seemed to believe it completely. Xu Ren’s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to argue, Feng Qi waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards standing by dragged him away.
Seeing the guards seize his arms and start to drag him out, Xu Ren cried out in panic, “Your Majesty! What Lord Li said is false! It’s false! This subject has been wronged!”
Xu Ren understood now. Feng Qi was doing this to save Wen Ningyuan, to protect Wen Ning’an! To help Wen Ning’an, he was even willing to cooperate with the Li family. The Li family was not a dog, but a wolf. Could one cooperate with them without cutting off some of one’s own flesh?
Xu Ren was completely baffled as to why Feng Qi was suddenly so biased towards Wen Ning’an.
“Your Majesty! This is an unjust trial, this is favoritism! Your Majesty, I beg you to at least give this subject a chance to explain!”
“Gag him and hand him over to the Censorate.”
Xu Ren grew frantic and shouted, “Your Majesty! This is an unfair verdict, this is favoritism! Your Majesty, I beg you to at least give this subject a chance to explain!”
This was simply too unreasonable! Could the Son of Heaven just kill as he pleased? To convict him without due process or trial—what was the difference between him and the ruler of a fallen kingdom?
Feng Qi frowned. “Gag him, drag him down, and hand him over to the Censorate.”
“Your Majesty! A one-man rule, without reason or respect for the law! You will ruin the… mmmph—”
Feng Qi continued, “Issue the edict! The Minister of War, Xu Ren, has engaged in corruption and violated the law. He is to be handed over to the Censorate for judgment. As Xu Ren is guilty of a crime, the evidence he presented is declared invalid. Wen Ningyuan is to be released without charge.”
Long after Feng Qi had left the Golden Throne Hall, Wen Ning’an remained kneeling on the cold, gilded bricks, unable to come to his senses.
Not guilty… released?
Wen Ning’an didn’t understand the reason for Feng Qi’s blatant favoritism, nor did he know what kind of ripples this incident would cause in the capital.
After the Left General returned to the capital, he immediately brought down the Minister of War, Xu Ren. Had his relationship with the Emperor been restored to its former intimacy?
Perhaps the Left Army would become the next new power. Would it help the Emperor weaken the Xu and Li families, or did it have its own wolfish ambitions?
After Xu Ren was dismissed, the position of Minister of War became vacant and was snatched up by the Li family—or rather, it was Feng Qi’s gift of thanks to them. Had the Li family’s power grown even greater?
Feng Qi was no longer the Feng Qi of the past. A new order had begun.
