Chapter 92
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Jiang Yanchi, after planning for more than ten years and barely preserving his life, he finally managed to place this child on the throne.
How could he be so infatuated with that person surnamed Chu?
Chu Xie, although born with good looks, had a sinister and elusive nature. How could such a person capture the heart of this young emperor?
Now Chu Xie is about to die. The Xu family is also falling. It was a perfect opportunity for military power to fall into his hands.
Seeing that everything was about to succeed, why couldn’t Jiang Yanchi understand, why does he have to muddy the waters?
Su Mingan frowned slightly. Zhao Lingqu’s life was hanging by a thread, and the most important thing was to bring a court physician from the palace. “Your Majesty, considering the current situation of Great Wei, don’t you understand what kind of person Chu Xie is? Do you really understand?”
Jiang Yanchi’s gaze swept over, remaining silent.
“As you said, I raised this child with my own hands. But even I can’t see through him. Your Majesty is still young, how could you understand his manipulative methods? Zhao Lingqu is truly your uncle. If you let him die now, have you considered how to explain it when Duan Niang Niang wakes up?”
Su Mingan sighed deeply. “Your Majesty, as long as you can firmly secure the throne and become a true king, why worry about not finding a genuine partner who will wholeheartedly treat you with sincerity? You’re only eighteen, how can you understand the scheming of a courtier like Chu Xie who has been crawling in the court for more than ten years? Deceived by him time and time again, now at a critical moment, do you still want to trust him? His use of these small tricks is just to take advantage of your compassion after sending Xu Chunmu out of the city. Your Majesty, he is simply…”
“Then let him use me.”
Jiang Yanchi tightened his sleeves, for some reason, loosened his tone a bit. “Grand Tutor Su, there’s no need to say more. Just answer the two questions I asked earlier. If the answers are to my satisfaction, having a court physician is not impossible.”
He glanced at Su Mingan, but saw that his face showed no signs of abnormality.
Graceful and composed, giving appropriate answers.
“First, regarding Puyang County. I have long resided in the capital and have limited interaction with several princes and marquises on the border. Even if I wanted to send a message to the Lord of the Northern Territory, how could he easily believe me? The talk of me using Yubei Wang to kill Chu Xie is even more absurd. Can Zhao Lingqu, with the troops of the former soldiers of Ningyuan Wang, really stop the Northern Xiongnu forces that even the Northern Xiongs can’t stop? If I ask him to stop the Northern Xiongnu, wouldn’t it be letting him die for nothing? It’s Your Majesty who has overthought.”
“As for Chu Xie’s background, I am indeed aware. I raised him from a young age. If it weren’t for his stubborn and overly cunning nature, how could I have had the intention to kill him.”
Yes, Su Mingan has a shallow relationship with Xu Yi, but when planning to assassinate Jiang Jingan, Xu Changling was in the capital. Xu Changling is the son-in-law of the Minister of Personnel, and Xue Shangshu has long been at odds with Chu Xie.
This letter could easily reach Xu Yi through the eldest grandson of the Xu family.
As for Zhao Lingqu.
He indeed lacked military experience, but there was the son of Yubei Wang, Jiang Sìlan, stationed in the rear. Once the troops reach Huaiqi, Jiang Sìlan, who is known for his compassionate nature, would surely help upon receiving a plea for assistance.
It’s just that they didn’t expect to encounter the fleeing Chu Xie and Xu Chunmu at that location.
Zhao Lingqu harbored murderous intent towards Chu Xie, and knowing Chu Xie, he would surely seek revenge.
Once he returns to the capital, he will kill Zhao Lingqu.
To protect Zhao, Su Mingan had to break the relationship between Chu Xie and Xu Chunmu.
This seems to be the full picture of the situation.
Jiang Yanchi couldn’t find any flaws in Su Mingan’s words but knew that he was concealing a lot.
However, since breaking the relationship between Chu Xie and Xu Chunmu saved Zhao Lingqu’s life, Jiang Yanchi couldn’t understand why Su Mingan had to plan this assassination and eagerly kill Chu Xie. Up to now, this part still puzzled Jiang Yanchi.
“If that’s the case, Zhao Lingqu has both merits and demerits. Why can’t he die for attempting to plot against the empress?” Jiang Yanchi asked again, his gaze fixed on Su Mingan.
Grand Tutor Su just wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes, earnestly advising once more, “Your Majesty, think about Duan Niang Niang. General Zhao is her only… younger brother.”
Jiang Yanchi seemed to lose patience. “Is there nothing else to say?”
Su Mingan stared at the young emperor.
At this moment, his gaze seemed different from before, carrying a hint of sharpness and scrutiny.
In the past, Jiang Yanchi also had some knowledge of medical arts in the cold palace.
That spear through the left lower chest, he clearly saw it. The ribs were probably broken, and the severity of the injury could vary. If the ribs pierced the heart and lungs, death could occur within half an hour. If it didn’t penetrate, stopping the bleeding could allow survival. Su Mingan came to invite a physician, not just that; he also revealed Zhao Lingqu’s true identity, seeking to temporarily save his life.
But it seemed to be more than that; he seemed to be testing something in his words.
Was he confirming Chu Xie’s injuries, checking if he could survive?
Or was he trying to extract other information from his attitude?
Perhaps both.
“Su Mingan.” Jiang Yanchi called his name directly. Grand Tutor Su’s expression paused, then he heard Jiang Yanchi say calmly, “Regardless of whether he lives or dies today, I have decided on Zhao Lingqu’s fate.”
Watching him perform the farewell salute and glancing at the Chengluan Hall, the young emperor’s eyes narrowed silently.
His gaze swept over Su Mingan’s figure with depth.
A few days ago, when Chu Xie was seriously injured and spitting blood, the little servant secretly reported that Su Mingan had inquired about Chu Xie’s illness from the imperial physician.
Could it be that Chu Xie really knows something life-threatening about him, and he’s afraid that Chu Xie will tell him.
What kind of cryptic game is Chu Xie and Su Mingan playing?
His hand in the sleeve clenched into a fist, and his knuckles turned blue.
The wound in the lower abdomen was painful, and he had to go to the side hall to re-wrap it.
“The Niang Niang has awakened!”
Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts from behind, causing Jiang Yanchi’s figure to tremble. He immediately turned around, hastily tying his belt while his robes fluttered, taking three steps in two over the high threshold. “Awake?!”
“Yes, Duan Niang Niang has already awakened. Your Majesty, hurry and go see.”
Little Xizi’s joy was evident, reporting good news before mentioning any worries.
It turns out they were talking about his mother.
Of course, with Chu Xie heavily injured, how could he wake up so quickly?
His body was originally frail, and now, facing such a calamity, it’s probably true—
His heart suddenly tightened, and his breathing became erratic.
Jiang Yanchi abruptly looked towards the red window pavilion by his side, listening to the footsteps coming and going inside. His eyebrows furrowed again, but he didn’t take a step. “And… what did the imperial physicians say?”
Little Xizi didn’t dare to speak randomly, recalling the sorrowful expressions of the imperial physicians shaking their heads just now. He could only express it vaguely, “The physicians are still treating, saying there is excessive bleeding. Currently, they are cleaning the wound. Your Majesty can go and see Duan Niang Niang first.”
Jiang Yanchi stood outside the door, watching a maid bring a basin of bloody water out, feeling a bit dizzy.
“Little Xizi, what kind of person do you think the empress is…” He muttered.
“If Your Majesty doesn’t understand what kind of person the empress is, why treat her so favorably?” Little Xizi dared to ask back.
“I…”
“Your Majesty is subtle in his thoughts, but the empress is not like that.” Little Xizi smiled slightly, “This servant may not see it from the side, but I know that the empress is not good at guessing Your Majesty’s intentions.”
Chu Xie, not good at guessing people’s intentions. How could that be possible? He, like Su Mingan, could derive three uses from one sentence, skilled in negotiating and a master on the chessboard of political maneuvers.
“How should I interpret this?”
Little Xizi glanced at the room inside, expressing with some regret, “This servant thinks it’s not that the empress cannot see through people’s characters and actions but rather that her judgment of people’s emotions is not accurate. Not long ago, when Your Majesty confined the empress, she just sat here, watching the snowstorm all night. Later, when Marquis Xu had an accident, the empress only cared about sending him out of the city…”
Jiang Yanchi contemplated for a moment, signaling him to continue.
“Anyone would know in such a situation that the more eager one is to take action, the more likely it is to anger Your Majesty. If the empress put some thought into it, she would have found a way to temporarily get past this matter with Your Majesty and then slowly plan for Marquis Xu’s affairs. Deciding to take a hard stance directly, planning this takes a great deal of effort.”
The Little Emperor seemed to sense something, seeing the maidservant by his side bringing in another basin of clear water and then carrying out a basin of half-red blood.
“The empress… is indeed a bit strange. He is very smart, but in certain aspects, not very clever. He doesn’t understand how to use Your Majesty’s softness and favor, and he only resorts to his means in everything. He also can’t distinguish which words of Your Majesty are venting anger and which are confiding emotions. Every word and sentence, he takes seriously. In areas of contradiction, he will judge them as lies…”
“Just like…”
“Just like?”
Little Xizi pondered for a moment, clenched his fist in his palm, and then said, “Just like that a scribe!”
“Scribe?”
“Yes, a Scribe.” Little Xizi said, “Whatever Your Majesty says or does, he records everything, not missing a single word. Then he compiles and analyzes, making predictions about Your Majesty’s thoughts.”
It sounded absurd.
But upon further thought, it seemed to make some sense.
The young emperor contemplated for a while, his eyes somewhat confused. He could only hear the bustling activity inside the room, and he muttered absentmindedly, “Is that so.”
Little Xizi nodded, somewhat afraid that he might get angry, “This servant hasn’t had much contact with the empress, but there are still some feelings. When Your Majesty asked today, this servant dared to speak.”
“I have no intention of blaming you. Go on.”
Little Xizi pursed his lips.
“For example, when Your Majesty restricted the empress’s movements. In his understanding, he would think that Your Majesty is cruel rather than caring. For example, when you said you wanted to torture Marquis Xu, he would think that you really wanted to kill him, not…”
“I do want to kill him.”
But Little Xizi smiled, “Then why didn’t you kill Marquis Xu when the empress was unconscious and spitting blood?”
“…” Jiang Yanchi shot a sideways glance, and Little Xizi, aware that he might have offended him, lowered his head and refrained from speaking.
It seemed that there were finally some other sounds inside, like the murmurs of imperial physicians discussing. However, it was muffled, and Jiang Yanchi standing outside couldn’t hear it clearly, feeling his heart being pulled and aching.
Even the daylight had become glaring. Shining on him, it felt icy without a hint of warmth.
“Go on.”
He only heard Little Xizi’s voice close to his ears.
“Whenever Your Majesty gets angry, the empress always takes it seriously. Although Your Majesty always says that he is cunning, this servant sees that the empress is very good at seizing the moment, but not that good at judging people’s hearts. At least not like us servants who are accustomed to guessing our master’s temperaments, joys, angers, sorrows, knowing the emotions hidden in every word and the mood behind each command.”
“But the human heart is not like recording history; seeing is believing, and the pen is accurate.”
Little Xizi remembered the gaze of Chu Xie sitting in front of this hall watching the snowstorm that night and sighed, “The empress probably hopes that Your Majesty can help him.”
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