Chapter 11: Provocation
After the incident between Wen Ning’an and Xu Huayi spread, it once again upended the perceptions of the various powers in the capital. It was well known that Xu Huayi was lawless, but no one had expected Feng Qi to bring her down for Wen Ning’an. It was said that if Wen Ning’an hadn’t intervened, Xu Huayi would have spent the rest of her life in the Cold Palace. How important must Wen Ning’an be in Feng Qi’s heart?
It wasn’t just that the Emperor and General Wen had reconciled; their relationship had been restored to one of intimate closeness! Was Feng Qi not worried about his subject’s merits overshadowing his own?
Everyone had thought that the reason Feng Qi exiled Wen Ning’an to the frontier was because Wen Ning’an had helped him seize the throne and subsequently possessed significant military power. It was a classic case of “casting aside the bow once the birds are gone, boiling the hound once the hares are dead.” Could there be another reason they couldn’t fathom?
This day, in the Imperial Study, Feng Qi shook his head and tossed a stack of memorials aside, speaking to Fu Che. “They’re all memorials from the Xu family, pleading for Xu Huayi. Heh, it’s just three months of confinement. Look at this fuss they’re making, as if Xu Huayi is on her deathbed. Do you think I should suppress them again, so they won’t dare to jump around anymore?”
The Xu and Li families were both powerful clans that held sway over the court. However, the Li family was clearly much smarter, acting with a low profile, hiding their wolfish ambitions and tiger claws well, doing all their dirty work in the shadows. In his past life, they had even colluded with the King of Hong Xi to overthrow him.
Feng Qi smiled. “The Xu family are just clowns jumping on a beam. Let’s deal with them first.”
Fu Che said worriedly, “Your Majesty, this old servant is overstepping. Please forgive this old servant for daring to comment on court affairs, but if the Xu family falls, it is the Li family who will benefit. The balance of the court will be lost, and it will be difficult for Your Majesty to control them then.”
Feng Qi smiled. “I don’t want to control them anymore. If it’s unbalanced, then let it be unbalanced. What I want is for one family to dominate.”
Fu Che asked doubtfully, “Your Majesty wants the Li family to dominate?”
“My brain isn’t broken yet. The Li family will have to be eliminated sooner or later,” Feng Qi sneered.
Fu Che thought for a moment and came to a conclusion.
“This old servant can see that General Wen is truly loyal to Your Majesty.”
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. “Then your eyes are quite sharp.”
Fu Che just gave a foolish smile.
“Your Majesty, it’s almost time to depart. This old servant will take his leave to prepare.”
Feng Qi waved his hand, giving his permission.
Today, Feng Qi had to go to the riverbank outside the city to inspect the progress of the dam construction. The Ministry of Works was currently under the control of the Xu family, so Feng Qi was paying closer attention, even going to see it for himself.
He was going with his escort and the Minister of Works, not Wen Ning’an.
Since that day, Wen Ning’an had not entered the palace again. Feng Qi, upon reflection, also realized that his attitude towards Wen Ning’an that day had been very poor, so he felt it was best to let them both cool down for a while.
Feng Qi stood up and had the maids come in to help him dress.
Watching the maids fasten his belt and put on his crown, Feng Qi was inexplicably reminded of the day Wen Ning’an had dressed him, and his helplessness when he was suddenly embraced.
“Tsk.” Feng Qi shook his head, feeling as if he were a young girl. It’s only been two days. Why does it feel like three autumns have passed?
On Hanfeng Street in the west of the city, Wen Ning’an stood expressionlessly before the skeletal remains of a house, which was now just a pile of ruins and broken walls.
The broker said with a face full of apology, “General Wen, I’m truly sorry. I don’t know why this house, which was perfectly fine, suddenly caught fire…”
Wen Ning’an sighed.
The silver he had paid before had all gone to waste. Having lost the silver for nothing, Wen Ning’an was in a very bad mood.
He didn’t need to think hard to guess where this mysterious fire had come from.
“General Wen!”
When Qin Zhaohuang arrived in a flurry, he was met with a pile of ruins and a sullen-looking Wen Ning’an.
Huh?
Qin Zhaohuang blinked. Didn’t he say he wanted me to look at the courtyard with him? I even brought my precious feng shui tools.
When Feng Qi had told him that his next duty was to lend Wen Ning’an a hand, Qin Zhaohuang had been ecstatic. He finally had a chance to improve his relationship with the golden thigh! So, although the Qin family had been merchants for generations and Qin Zhaohuang had read many books while confined in the Fengtian Temple, he had still specifically researched a lot of information about opera houses, just waiting to impress his golden thigh.
Wen Ning’an said lightly, “It burned down.”
Qin Zhaohuang: “…”
What?
It… it burned down?
Wen Ning’an smiled. “Didn’t you say my fate was good?”
Qin Zhaohuang was choked for a moment, then he took out a compass and said excitedly, “General Wen, you don’t understand! The heavens turn, the stars move, and a person’s fate is like the tide, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Great fortune doesn’t mean no misfortune; it just means there’s less of it compared to others. How about this, shall I read your fortune for the near future? And then I can sell you some evil-warding talismans or luck-bringing beads at a low price. I guarantee…”
Wen Ning’an finally couldn’t take it anymore and walked around Qin Zhaohuang to leave.
Qin Zhaohuang: “…”
Wen Ning’an turned his head and smiled. “Let’s go find another suitable courtyard.”
“Oh, okay!”
Qin Zhaohuang immediately trotted after him.
“General Wen, there’s a lot to consider when opening an opera house. The feng shui must be good, the location, the name, the time and date of the first performance… so many things!”
Wen Ning’an smiled. “You can be in charge of all that.”
Qin Zhaohuang counted on his fingers and continued, “We also need to hire opera troupes. If we can get some famous traveling troupes to be resident at our opera house, that would be the best! That way, we can ensure there are no empty periods. But besides inviting troupes, we also need our own troupe and actors, so we have to find a master… I heard that Master Zhou of Huaishui City was a big name in the capital back in the day, but now he’s in seclusion. Maybe we should find a chance to visit him…”
Wen Ning’an maintained his smile. “You can be in charge of all that.”
“Um…” Qin Zhaohuang asked seriously, “Then what will General Wen be in charge of?”
Wen Ning’an said, “Like you said before, I’ll be in charge of being your backer.”
Qin Zhaohuang felt very conflicted.
Wen Ning’an chuckled. This person is so easy to tease.
Wen Ning’an shook his head. “Let’s go have lunch first. My treat.”
Qin Zhaohuang immediately pointed to the most expensive teahouse without a moment’s hesitation.
A backer, huh.
However, before the two of them could even step into the teahouse, a servant from the Wen Residence suddenly caught up and stopped Wen Ning’an, panting as if there were urgent business.
“What’s wrong?” Qin Zhaohuang was even more nervous than Wen Ning’an, afraid that his lunch was gone.
The servant said, “Young Master, an urgent summons came from the palace. It says the Empress Dowager has issued a decree for you to enter the palace…”
Qin Zhaohuang: “…”
Wen Ning’an patted Qin Zhaohuang’s shoulder. “It’s alright. I’ll remember. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
“The Empress Dowager… the Xu family…”
As if remembering something, Qin Zhaohuang said, “Wait! Let me read your fortune first! If it’s an ominous sign, you can be mentally prepared.”
Qin Zhaohuang looked as if he absolutely had to do it. Without waiting for Wen Ning’an’s reply, he pulled his hand over and looked at it himself.
“This…” Qin Zhaohuang’s beautiful willow-leaf brows furrowed. He said in a low voice, “This seems to be an ominous sign… Why don’t you take some guards with you, General Wen? The Emperor likes you so much, he certainly won’t mind.”
“The Emperor likes me?” Wen Ning’an raised an eyebrow.
Qin Zhaohuang coughed dryly and turned his head away.
“That’s my guess. I don’t think I’m wrong.”
Wen Ning’an just smiled without speaking.
“So you should still take some guards with you for protection. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“It’s alright. The Emperor may not mind, but others will. There are too many eyes watching in the capital.” Wen Ning’an’s lips curved. “Besides, my martial arts don’t require guards.”
Watching Wen Ning’an’s retreating back, Qin Zhaohuang blinked his starry eyes and thought… The thigh, it’s so thick!
After Wen Ning’an entered the palace, a servant led him to the palace’s Buddhist hall.
The magnificent hall was filled with the curling smoke of incense. The pillars were plain and clean, the tiles were gilded bronze, and the eaves were painted with colorful patterns. It was a solemn and grand sight.
The Empress Dowager was sitting in a private seat in the hall, with Xu Huayi beside her, copying Buddhist scriptures.
Wen Ning’an was puzzled. Wasn’t Xu Huayi confined by Feng Qi for reflection? How could she leave her own palace now? It must have been the Empress Dowager’s doing.
Xu Huayi was the Empress Dowager’s niece. It didn’t take much thought to realize that the Empress Dowager had specifically come to make trouble for him.
After dealing with the young one, the old one comes.
Wen Ning’an sighed silently.
“So this is Wen Ning’an?” The Empress Dowager leaned against a soft cushion, propped her forehead with her hand, and glanced at Wen Ning’an.
“Quite handsome. No wonder Huaitian was bewitched.”
The Buddhist hall was filled with women. Furthermore, without the Empress Dowager’s permission, Wen Ning’an could not enter, so he could only kneel on the stone steps outside the hall to pay his respects.
“This subordinate greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager have ten thousand blessings and golden peace.”
“This Dowager would like to be at ‘peace,’ but recently there has been a villain stirring up trouble around Huaitian. How can you expect this Dowager to be at ‘peace’?”
Wen Ning’an remained kneeling in silence, unmoving as a mountain.
“This Dowager has heard that Huaitian has been summoning you to the palace every night for debauchery. What sort of decorum is this if it gets out!”
Wen Ning’an said, “This subordinate and His Majesty share a relationship of ruler and subject. This subordinate stays in the palace at night only to discuss state and military affairs with His Majesty. The Empress Dowager worries too much.”
“Worries too much?” The Empress Dowager abruptly swept the tea table, and the teacups and teapot shattered, spilling tea all over the floor. The maids beside her all knelt down.
“Empress Dowager, calm your anger!”
The Empress Dowager shouted angrily at Wen Ning’an, “Bewitching and inciting the Emperor to kill the innocent, disregarding the court’s order, and driving a wedge between the Emperor and his consort! Bei Miao will be ruined by a demon like you sooner or later! A dignified general serving the ruler with his body—truly shameless! Your heart is not set on protecting the country, but on climbing into Huaitian’s bed to become a male consort, isn’t it?”
In Bei Miao, from the nobles down to the common people, the custom of male wives existed. A male wife could also bear children like a woman after taking medicine. Therefore, the Empress Dowager’s thinking was reasonable.
Wen Ning’an had nothing to say. The Empress Dowager was listing his crimes as if they were too numerous to count, each word a stab to the heart. It was clear she was looking for trouble with him. No matter what he said, it would only be twisted, so it was better to say nothing.
Seeing Wen Ning’an’s lack of reaction, the Empress Dowager felt as if she had punched a ball of soft cotton. She snorted coldly. “Then you shall kneel here before the Buddha and repent and reflect!”
