Chapter 142: Mu Hongjin
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“I truly didn’t know that the Right Military Commander had the leisure to come to Jiyang and go to such lengths as to impersonate someone else just to visit me.”
He Yan thought, had they been found out? Judging by her tone, it didn’t seem like a recent discovery.
Looking at Xiao Jue, he didn’t show the slightest surprise at her words. He lazily smiled and said, “Your Highness, is this how you treat the savior of the little highness, to criticize us?”
“They are guilty,” Mu Hongjin replied coldly. “But you are not innocent, your purpose for coming to Jiyang couldn’t possibly be just to see how well I’m doing.”
“It seems you’re doing quite well, Your Highness,” Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, “but as for the other people in Jiyang City, that’s less certain.”
Mu Hongjin sat on the high seat, her gaze fixed on Xiao Jue for a moment. Suddenly, she smiled, and with that smile, the earlier icy and unapproachable demeanor melted away somewhat. She reclined on the soft cushion and gestured towards the guest chairs on the side. “Please, sit down. Don’t think that I would disrespect guests who have traveled from afar.”
He Yan expressed her gratitude and sat down with Xiao Jue in the side seats.
This was Princess Mengji, Mu Hongjin, and as He Yan observed her, she couldn’t help but feel that she was somewhat different from what she had imagined. Before coming to Jiyang, she had pictured Princess Mengji as being older, benevolent, dignified, and stately. She had even guessed that she might be an acquaintance of Liu Buwang and assumed she was a straightforward and righteous person. However, in reality, Mu Hongjin was a woman of such beauty and strength, with a dominating and unrestrained presence.
“Your Highness…” He Yan hesitated for a moment before asking, “When did you discover our presence?”
“Do you think Jiyang City is so easy to enter, or that I am a mere decoration who can’t even discern this?” Mu Hongjin ran her fingers over a transparent ruby ring and continued, “From the moment you entered the city on the first day, I was aware of your presence. Just because that fool Cui Yuezhi couldn’t see through it doesn’t mean everyone is as foolish as he is. I originally waited to see what you intended to do, but since you saved Xiao Lou, I can’t be bothered to beat around the bush with you.”
She looked at Xiao Jue and said, “So, Commander Xiao, what brings you to Jiyang City?”
“We’ve come to find someone,” Xiao Jue explained. “His name is Chai Anxi. He used to be under my father’s command but went missing after the Battle of Mingshui. I traced his whereabouts to Jiyang. However, we still haven’t found him. As for the Cuiwei Pavilion where he was hiding, it was burned down half a month ago.” His lips smirked, “Since Your Highness already knows our true identities, I’m hoping you can help us. With your assistance, finding someone in Jiyang City should be a simple task.”
Mu Hongjin’s smile faded slightly. “Did Commander Xiao plan all this in advance, planning to get this Highness help to achieve your goals?”
Xiao Jue smiled faintly.
“You’re quite audacious!”
He Yan couldn’t help but be amazed. They were in Mu Hongjin’s territory, without an army, and Xiao Jue didn’t back down. He not only didn’t act submissive but also dared to challenge Mu Hongjin. The way he was seeking help was quite assertive, and even He Yan found it somewhat excessive.
The young man spoke casually, “There are Wutuo people infiltrating Jiyang City, and Your Highness must have been troubled by this for some time. Chai Anxi may have information about the Wutuo people. By helping me, you’re helping yourself.”
Mu Hongjin stared at him and said, “How can this Highness trust you?”
“Trusting me won’t cost you anything,” Xiao Jue replied calmly. “It also depends on what Your Highness is most concerned about right now.”
The hall fell silent for a moment, and then the sound of applause gradually rang out. Mu Hongjin absentmindedly clapped her hands, her gaze fixed on Xiao Jue, expressing a mix of admiration and caution. She said, “Commander Fengyun is indeed well-deserved of his reputation. Even if you don’t act as a military officer, you could be a great strategist.”
“You flatter me, Your Highness.”
Mu Hongjin stood up and said, “You’re right. There are Wutuo infiltrators in Jiyang City, and this Highness has been concerned about it for a while. However, how do you prove that the person you’re looking for knows about the Wutuo people’s connections?”
“Jiyang City has always been easy to exit but hard to enter. Chai Anxi has been in Jiyang for many years, and the Wutuo people can enter Jiyang as if it’s a deserted place, so there must be some connection. Among Your Highness’s subjects in the palace, there must be someone colluding with the foreign invaders, creating vulnerabilities in Jiyang City. Chai Anxi or the Wutuo people, they both used this traitor to enter the city. Your Highness needs to root out the traitor. But with Your Highness’s current capabilities, it might be challenging.”
Mu Hongjin smiled, “Oh? Why am I struggling?”
“Because of Xiao Lou.”
Mu Hongjin’s smile faded.
He Yan understood the meaning behind Xiao Jue’s words. After the death of the husband of Princess Mengji, there was still a son who could securely inherit the position of Mengji Wang. However, after the son’s death, only a granddaughter remained, who was still very young. While women could inherit the Mengji Wang title and become a princess, but if it were that simple, Mu Hongjin herself would not have been married off to the son of a high-ranking court official to consolidate power.
In the vast royal palace, only two women, a grandmother and her granddaughter, were supporting it. How many people were watching closely, both internally and externally? Mu Hongjin probably wasn’t as relaxed as she appeared.
“Commander Xiao is insightful,” Mu Hongjin sighed. “Ever since my son passed away, Jiyang City has been unstable. Xiao Lou is still too young to shoulder great responsibility. The noble families have long split into factions, causing divisions. In this state of disarray, it’s easy for people to take advantage. However,” she paused and looked at Xiao Jue, “with Wutuo people infiltrating Jiyang, I’m afraid the situation in the Central Plains of Great Wei is also unstable.”
“Your Highness is perceptive.”
“So,” Mu Hongjin raised her chin slightly, “do you want to collaborate with this Highness?”
“If Your Highness is willing,” Xiao Jue smiled, “I’m more than willing.”
Mu Hongjin nodded, “This palace will have people search for Chai Anxi’s whereabouts in the city. If he is alive, if he is still alive now, no matter how well he hides, this highness guarantees that we will find him. However, you must also promise this highness,” a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes, “that General Fengyun, known for his exceptional military skills, will work together with me to solve the problem of Wutuo people in Jiyang City.”
This time, she used “me” instead of “this highness,” which indicated that she was putting herself and Xiao Jue on equal footing in seeking cooperation.
Xiao Jue nodded, “Certainly.”
With the discussion opened, the initial coldness in Mu Hongjin’s face softened, and she even showed a hint of friendliness. “Cui Yuezhi told you to come to the palace and wait in the outer hall for a long time. I assume you haven’t had a meal yet. Since you’re here, have a meal before leaving. Xiao Lou will change her clothes and personally thank you.” She then looked at He Yan, her eyes showing a touch of interest. “But I didn’t expect Commander Xiao to come to Jiyang and choose to assume the identity of a married man. Is this… your lover?”
He Yan almost choked on her own saliva. She had known that people in Jiyang spoke straightforwardly, but even the princess was being this direct, which was a bit surprising.
Xiao Jue glanced at her and said, “No, she is my subordinate.”
“Subordinate?” Mu Hongjin laughed, “But according to Yuezhi, you went to the Water God Festival together yesterday, walked on the Lover’s Bridge, and competed for the wind, taking a firefly boat. Given Commander Xiao’s personality, even for a subordinate, it’s unlikely for you to be so accommodating. And as a subordinate, the demands made are a bit audacious.”
He Yan pondered the deeper meaning in her words, which was a suggestion for her to be more discreet in the future. After thinking for a moment, she respectfully said, “He Yan listens to Your Highness’s guidance and will surely act with caution in the future, so as not to cause trouble for the Commander.”
Mu Hongjin was momentarily surprised and then looked at Xiao Jue. “She really is a subordinate.”
Xiao Jue was silent for a moment and said calmly, “My subordinate is a bit dull, I hope Your Highness doesn’t mind.”
“No matter, it’s your business after all.” Mu Hongjin reached for her own hair and said, “This Highness will go find Yuezhi and instruct him on searching for the person for you. You two wait here for a moment.”
With that, she got up from the high seat and slowly disappeared behind the hall.
He Yan breathed a sigh of relief only after Mu Hongjin left. For some reason, when facing Princess Mengji, she felt that she couldn’t relax too much. Perhaps it was because of Mu Hongjin’s overpowering presence.
“Commander, why did you admit it so readily?” He Yan nudged Xiao Jue’s elbow. “Why not defend yourself a bit?”
Xiao Jue smirked, “Not everyone is a liar like you.”
He Yan shrugged and changed the subject, “But this Princess Mengji is really formidable. She discovered our true identities the moment we entered the city.”
“We never intended to hide it from her,” Xiao Jue casually remarked. “Cui Yuezhi might still be able to deceive, but a woman who has single-handedly stabilized Jiyang City isn’t so easy to deceive.”
“True,” He Yan agreed with him. “Women, when they’re not driven by emotions, are not that easy to deceive.”
However, if they fall in love with someone and trust them, they become easy targets for deception.
Xiao Jue looked at her and said, “But some women are not only hard to deceive but also enjoy deceiving others.”
He Yan: “….”
She said, “What is with that statement? Who deceived you?”
Just then, a palace maid entered and said, “Please follow me, both of you. Her Highness invites you to have a meal in the banquet hall.”
He Yan and Xiao Jue then followed the maid to the banquet hall.
The royal palace’s banquet hall was also quite spacious. While the walls, ceiling, and floor were covered in colorful paintings and bright rugs, it felt empty and desolate due to the sparsely populated long tables. The grand emptiness added to the sense of loneliness.
Mu Hongjin sat on a small couch at the long table and said, “Please, have a seat.”
He Yan and Xiao Jue sat down at the table as instructed.
“I don’t know what you like to eat; please help yourselves,” Mu Hongjin said, looking somewhat weary as she reclined against a cushion. “I had Cui Yuezhi return earlier. With him around, it’s not convenient for us to talk.”
Cui Yuezhi still didn’t know the true identities of Xiao Jue and He Yan, and it posed many difficulties.
The food in the royal palace was not much different from the food at the Cui household. He Yan, who didn’t care much about gourmet food, simply chose some dishes, thanked the host, and discreetly picked up her chopsticks. She remembered she was in front of Princess Mengji, so she tried to be a bit more refined in her eating.
Mu Hongjin looked at Xiao Jue and asked, “Commander Xiao, what is the purpose of the Wutuo people infiltrating Jiyang?”
“Great Wei.”
At this statement, He Yan, in the middle of sipping her soup, froze momentarily, suddenly finding the delicious food tasteless.
“Once the Wutuo people gain power and take control of Jiyang, their first step will be to cut off the canal transport. Cities up and down the river will all be affected, suffering from a lack of food and funds, markets will be deserted, and there will be chaos in the Central Plains. They will then head north to the capital, straight to the Imperial Palace,” Xiao Jue said calmly. “There is nothing more natural than this.”
Mu Hongjin fell silent for a moment before asking, “Commander Xiao, you seem rather relaxed about these horrifying matters.”
“That’s because it’s about to happen,” Xiao Jue explained. “It’s not a matter of if, but when. The signs began to emerge during my father’s battle with the Southern Barbarians at Mingshui.”
“Southern Barbarians?” Mu Hongjin was hearing about this for the first time and asked, puzzled, “What does that have to do with the Southern Barbarians?”
“There was a traitor in the court who used to collude with the Southern Barbarians. However, the Southern Barbarian rebellion was suppressed, and the Wutuo people, being far away, have been biding their time over the years. So, ‘they’ changed their partner from the Southern Barbarians to the Wutuo people. Jiyang is the first city they are using to achieve their goals.”
Mu Hongjin placed her hand over her heart and furrowed her brows. “Jiyang has not seen war for many years.”
“It might be a bit presumptuous of me,” Xiao Jue asked, “but how many soldiers are currently stationed in Jiyang?”
“Less than 20,000.”
He Yan frowned upon hearing this. Less than 20,000 was not a reassuring number, considering the current military strength of the Liangzhou Garrison alone exceeded that.
“Doesn’t Commander Xiao have the Nanfu Army?” Mu Hongjin asked. “Can they be sent to Jiyang?”
“It’s too late,” Xiao Jue replied.
He Yan and Mu Hongjin were both taken aback. Mu Hongjin asked, her voice cold, “Commander Xiao, are you just fearmongering?”
“The truth is, Your Highness already has an idea. If it wasn’t so critical,” Xiao Jue’s expression remained calm, “Little Highness would not have been abducted during the Water God Festival.”
Mu Xiaolou is part of their plan, but it just happened that they encountered He Yan and disrupted the plan. It can be imagined that if He Yan and the others had not appeared that day, Mu Xiaolou would have been successfully abducted. There would be only two possible outcomes. The first, the disappearance of Little Highness would spread as a rumor, causing panic in the entire Jiyang City. The princess would have no heir, the people’s hearts would be in turmoil, and the prominent families would cause trouble. Those hidden in the shadows would take advantage of the chaos and seize power directly. The second outcome is even simpler. They would use Mu Xiaolou as a bargaining chip in direct negotiations with Mu Hongjin. If Mu Hongjin loves this granddaughter, she would hand over the throne, and the other side could easily take control of the entire Jiyang City.
Regardless of which outcome, Jiyang City today cannot afford it.
“Are you suggesting…” Mu Hongjin asked.
“Prepare for a preemptive war,” Xiao Jue replied.
This topic was too heavy, and for a moment, no one in the banquet hall had anything to say. Just then, a crisp voice was heard, “Grandmother!”
It was Mu Xiaolou.
Mu Xiaolou had changed her clothes again, wearing a red robe with exquisite golden lotus embroidery. She wasn’t wearing a gold crown, and her two braids hung in front of her chest with a decorative piece on her forehead. She looked like a young Mu Hongjin, remarkably like a foreign girl, but compared to Mu Hongjin’s domineering beauty, Mu Xiaolou was more delicate and proud.
Back in the familiar royal mansion, Mu Xiaolou was no longer as silent as she was in the Cui Mansion. She ran over like a little bird, jumped onto Mu Hongjin’s soft couch, snuggled up beside her, and said, “Grandmother, why isn’t Cui Zhongqi here?”
“Cui Zhongqi has something to attend to.” When facing Mu Xiaolou, Mu Hongjin was more affectionate. She smiled and patted her head, saying, “Your savior is here; why don’t you thank them?”
Mu Xiaolou turned her head, looked at He Yan and Xiao Jue, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, “Thank you for saving me.”
It seemed she was concerned about losing face.
He Yan didn’t take offense and simply asked Mu Hongjin, “Could you please tell us how the Little Highness fell into the hands of the criminals that day? Did they manage to infiltrate the palace?”
If that was the case, those thieves were quite audacious.
Mu Hongjin looked at Mu Xiaolou and said, “You can tell them.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Mu Xiaolou looked at her grandmother’s expression, hesitated for a while, and then said, “I wanted to see the Water God Festival and didn’t want the guards to follow me, so I left on my own. On the way, I met a few people who offered to take me on a firefly boat. After I got on the boat and had some tea, I couldn’t move, and then I ran into you guys.”
She described it casually, probably to avoid blame from Mu Hongjin, but it was clear that she had experienced some danger. However, at her age, a bit of mischief was normal. Mu Hongjin was very strict with her as she was her only granddaughter, always worried that something might happen to her. It was normal for children to want to have fun on their own.
Unfortunately, she had just had bad luck and attracted the wrong kind of attention.
“Thank you very much,” Mu Hongjin sighed. “If something had happened to Xiao Lou, this Highness wouldn’t know how to go on.”
“Your Highness, please don’t say that. The Little Highness is destined to have a bright future. Even if she hadn’t met us, she would have met others and would have been safe.”
Mu Xiaolou muttered, “It wasn’t you who saved me in the first place; it was an uncle.” Then she looked at He Yan and asked, “Is that uncle coming today? When will he come? Can you tell him that I want to see him and if he can come to the mansion to play with me?”
Mu Hongjin was hearing about this person for the first time and asked with confusion, “What uncle?”
“It’s an uncle who’s like a deity,” Mu Xiaolou said excitedly and gestured to Mu Hongjin. “He’s very tall and was wearing white clothes. He’s amazing! When I was in trouble, he appeared and knocked the knife out of the attacker’s hand. He also had a sword and a zither.”
Mu Hongjin’s expression gradually stiffened.
He Yan felt uneasy, hoping that Mu Xiaolou would stop talking. But Mu Xiaolou seemed to have a liking for Liu Buwang and, as if she couldn’t contain her excitement, continued to share everything she knew with Mu Hongjin.
“He also played the zither for me, the same one that you often play, Grandmother. But he played it much better than you. He said that the piece was called ‘Slow Shaoguang.’ Grandmother, why have I never heard you mention the name of this piece? Is it really called that?”
Mu Hongjin looked at Mu Xiaolou and spoke in a dry voice, “Since you’ve met him, do you know his name?”
“I asked him,” Mu Xiaolou replied. “He said his name is Yunlin Hermit, but I heard people call him Master Liu. You should ask him,” Mu Xiaolou pointed at Xiao Jue, “It seems Yunlin Hermit is his master, I overheard Cui Zhongqi asking about it.”
Mu Hongjin looked at Xiao Jue and asked, “Is that so?”
He Yan’s palms were sweating with nervousness as she listened, and Xiao Jue answered, “Yes.”
The atmosphere in the banquet hall became inexplicably heavy. Mu Hongjin remained silent, leaning against the table. Even Mu Xiaolou wasn’t given attention, and her gaze seemed distant, as if she were recalling distant memories, and her eyes no longer held room for anyone else.
He Yan thought that Mu Hongjin and Liu Buwang were more than just acquaintances; their connection seemed deeper than she had thought.
After a long pause, Mu Hongjin finally returned to the present and said, “I understand.”
She didn’t ask to meet him again, nor did she inquire about Liu Buwang’s whereabouts. It was as if this person were just a passerby, and she had forgotten his name after hearing it. Her demeanor returned to its usual calm, with no trace of the previous melancholy. It was as if she had returned to being the aloof princess she was when they first met.
If she had asked more questions, it would have been better, but now that she had dropped the matter, He Yan couldn’t help but be suspicious. A nagging feeling of unease crept into her mind. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and asked, “Your Highness, are you acquainted with Yunlin Hermit?”
Xiao Jue shot her a warning look.
He Yan ignored it. Liu Buwang was also her kin, and now they had a hint about his past. She couldn’t just let it go. Besides, Mu Hongjin’s reaction… At least it seemed like she and Liu Buwang weren’t enemies.
Mu Hongjin didn’t expect He Yan to suddenly ask this question, and she looked at her. He Yan returned her gaze confidently. After a while, Mu Hongjin smiled and said, “Commander Xiao, your subordinate is indeed audacious.”
Xiao Jue maintained his composed expression, “Your Highness, please forgive him.”
“This Highness hasn’t really said much, there’s no need to get worked up so quickly,” Mu Hongjin said with a faint smile. “It’s just that this question hasn’t been asked in many years.”
He Yan found it strange. Were they really enemies?
If so, how could Liu Buwang be so kind to Mu Xiaolou? After all, Mu Xiaolou’s resemblance to Mu Hongjin was striking. Someone with an enemy-like relationship wouldn’t be so gentle with their enemy’s kin.
“Actually, there’s not much to tell you,” Mu Hongjin said with a hint of nonchalance. “Many years ago, before I was married, there was one time when I sneaked out of the palace.”
She glanced at Mu Xiaolou for a moment and continued in a gentle tone, “Just like what happened with Xiao Lou yesterday.”
“But I was lucky. I didn’t encounter any bad people; instead, I met a young man who had just come down from the mountains.”
She gazed at the distant wall where a painting depicted a girl sitting under a flowering tree, weaving flower crowns. The vivid peach-pink colors were as bright and beautiful as a spring day.
“This Highness admired this young man from the bottom of my heart, so I pestered him. I followed him, using the excuse that I was penniless and had nowhere to go.”
Even Mu Xiaolou was taken aback upon hearing her grandmother’s story and stared at her with wide eyes.
“It was the first time this Highness had fallen for someone, so it was with all my sincerity. However, the young man already had someone he cared about and wasn’t interested in me. He was very cold towards me. My father told me that a marriage was already arranged for me, and I was to be married soon. So, I begged the young man to take me away with him.”
He Yan was surprised and unable to speak. Princess Mengji, it seemed, was indeed quite bold, daring to elope before her marriage.
“On the agreed day, he didn’t come,” Mu Hongjin said calmly. “My father’s men found me, and I returned to Jiyang and got married.”
“After that, I never saw him again.”
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why do I feel like the situation is not as simple as the way Princess Mengji is telling? I think there is more to what she is saying. or there are something things she doesn’t know about He Yan’s master.
You’re right, there is a lot more to it. But aside from not seeing him again after that (she lied, she did see him once more), that is the version she is choosing to believe (or at least the version he wants her to believe).