Chapter 183: Yang Mingzhi
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Ten days later, the group arrived in Jinling.
Different from the simple and rustic warmth of Jiyang and the heavy and desolate atmosphere of Rundu, Jinling City was gentle and affectionate, like a beautiful and elegant lady with a touch of pink and light colors. The sunny weather, the charming morning light, and the soft dialect filled the air with the melody of flutes and drums, creating a truly prosperous and elegant atmosphere.
Upon arriving, Lin Shuanghe couldn’t help but marvel at the scenery, praising, “This is truly a fairyland. No wonder people always say that once you enter Jinling, you don’t want to leave.”
He Yan n, “…You said the same thing when you were in Jiyang.”
Lin Shuanghe unfolded his fan, “Brother He, I’m just adapting to the local customs.”
He Yan: “…”
What a good adapting to the local customs.
In Jinling, naturally it was appropriate to pay a visit to the local governor of Yingtian Mansion. The soldiers brought by Yan He were not suitable for wandering freely within the city. The news of Yan He and his group’s arrival had already reached Yingtian Mansion, so Yan He went ahead to coordinate the accommodation for the soldiers.
Outside Yingtian Mansion, guards were already waiting. The soldiers were arranged, and He Yan was supposed to join Wang Ba and the others to stand with the “soldiers.” However, Lin Shuanghe patted her shoulder, saying, “You are now a Wuan Lang personally appointed by the emperor. You are not an ordinary person. Of course, you should stay with us. It’s a good opportunity for you to experience officialdom.”
He Yan had nothing to say. She was about to ask Xiao Jue, but Yan He glanced at her and spoke, “Well said. Since you have an official position, stay with us.”
Yan He, who was usually aloof and difficult to get along with, treated He Yan differently. Others were a bit surprised, but He Yan knew very well that this was thanks to her belittling “He Rufei” in front of Yan He, making him feel that he had found a rare confidant.
The group entered the house together. In the main hall, a person was sitting. Seeing them enter, he stood up. Wearing the official robe of a governor, this person looked very young, with a slender figure and delicate features that carried a hint of determination. He stood up, bowed to Yan He first, “General Yan,” and then his gaze fell on Xiao Jue. Immediately, surprise flashed across his face. However, this surprise quickly turned into bewilderment.
He Yan was also surprised. She didn’t expect to encounter Yang Mingzhi here. What kind of coincidence was this? One Xiao Jue, one Lin Shuanghe, one Yan He, and one Yang Mingzhi—four classmates from Xianchang Academy were unexpectedly reunited here! It was almost too unbelievable. However, He Yan raised her eyes and sneakily glanced at Xiao Jue by her side. When they were studying, wasn’t Xiao Jue closest to Yang Mingzhi?
When He Yan was young, she received covert assistance from Xiao Jue, but openly, she and Xiao Jue were not considered close. At that time, Xiao Jue also had his own friends, Lin Shuanghe being one, and Yang Mingzhi being another. Compared to the idle and playful Lin Shuanghe, Yang Mingzhi seemed much more serious.
Yang Mingzhi’s father, Lord Yang, was a scholar of the Guanwendian, and Yang Mingzhi was undoubtedly talented from a young age, likely due to his father’s influence. However, he had poor health, often suffering from headaches and fever, resulting in his military studies being a mess. However, neither the teachers nor the other students mocked him for it. In the field of literature, Yang Mingzhi was truly outstanding. It was said that at the age of five, he could speak fluently, and at eight, he could engage in discussions with distinguished scholars. When He Yan entered Xianchang Academy, Yang Mingzhi was already well-known. His essays and poems were the best, and he wrote beautifully, making He Yan envious. His temperament was also gentle, not as eccentric as Lin Shuanghe, nor as indifferent as Xiao Jue, but perfectly mild.
If Yan He always competed with Xiao Jue in military studies at Xianchang Academy, then Yang Mingzhi was an opponent in literary studies who could stand on equal ground with Xiao Jue. Unlike his gentle temperament, Yang Mingzhi’s essays and discussions always carried a sharp and keen edge, indicating his pride. He also liked to criticize current affairs. When inspired, the articles he wrote dared to criticize even the court. Although he was often scolded by the teachers, He Yan could see that the teachers admired him.
In her youth, He Yan always thought that a genius like Yang Mingzhi would inevitably enter officialdom. Once in office, he would surely leave a brilliant mark on the history of Great Wei. However, after she joined the military, she did not hear any news about Yang Mingzhi. She never thought that today, she would see him here, and even more unexpectedly, Yang Mingzhi had become the governor of Jinling. He didn’t stay in Shuojing? Why was that? And Xiao Jue’s expression upon seeing him was also indifferent, which was strange.
Xiao Jue’s relationship with Yang Mingzhi at the time was similar to his relationship with Lin Shuanghe. However, when they met now, they seemed like strangers.
Not only He Yan noticed this, but also Yan He. Yan He said, “Hey, isn’t this Brother Mingzhi? Why are you a governor here now?”
Yan He also didn’t know? It seemed that in these years, Yang Mingzhi had kept a low profile.
Yang Mingzhi returned to his senses and smiled at Yan He, “It’s just fate.”
“Xiao Huaijin, this is your former good friend. Why are you so indifferent?” Yan He’s gaze shifted between the two, “Did you have a falling out?”
He asked casually, as if they were still young, but Yang Mingzhi’s face changed slightly.
“We can catch up later. It’s not the time for that now.” Lin Shuanghe timely interjected, diverting the conversation, “Uh, Lord Yang, we’ll be staying in Jinling for two days now. Please arrange it for us. You can handle Yan He’s soldiers. We’ll be returning to the capital in two days.”
Lin Shuanghe’s attitude was also strange. Even though Xiao Jue was a person who rarely showed emotions, Lin Shuanghe was a meticulous person. Look at his current attitude towards Yang Mingzhi, he deliberately distanced himself and not showing the warmth they once had.
Chu Zhao doesn’t need to be mentioned. He had long seen the undercurrents and, despite Yan He’s boldness, he also realized that something was wrong. This time, he finally didn’t say it directly and remained silent.
Yang Mingzhi’s smile was somewhat stiff. “Certainly, the rooms have all been arranged. I’ll have someone show you there later.”
Lin Shuanghe closed his fan. “Thank you, Lord Yang.”
Soon, a few maids arrived to lead He Yan and the others to their accommodations. Their lodgings were not at the governor’s residence but in a mansion not far from the Qinhuai River in Jinling. Perhaps it was under Yang Mingzhi’s name; the house was already neat and tidy. There were just enough rooms for each person to have one.
Even Chu Zhao got a room.
Throughout the journey, he hadn’t spoken much to He Yan, appearing silent and calm. Sometimes, he seemed lost in thought, and it was unclear what he was thinking about, sparing He Yan the trouble of engaging with him. There had been no dispute between him and Xiao Jue, and for now, they coexisted peacefully.
He Yan’s room was the farthest away, which made sense given her lower rank. However, Lin Shuanghe unexpectedly intervened, saying to her, “Brother He! I saw ants in my room just now, and I’m afraid. Can I exchange rooms with you?”
He Yan: “…”
She said, “Ants are everywhere in the same place; your room has them, and so will mine.”
“But I’m specifically afraid of the ants in my room,” he answered quite cleverly.
Hearing their conversation, Yan He frowned slightly. “Lin Shuanghe, are you sick?”
“Exactly,” Lin Shuanghe smiled. “Do you have medicine?”
Yan He left with a wave of his sleeve.
On the other side, Chu Zhao looked at He Yan thoughtfully, shook his head, smiled, and followed Ying Xiang into his room.
He Yan stared at Lin Shuanghe, who was laughing heartily in front of her. She could see through his intentions. Lin Shuanghe was up to something, and she figured it out at a glance. Lin Shuanghe’s room happened to be right next to Xiao Jue’s! Wasn’t he pushing herself toward Xiao Jue? Heaven knows she had just made up her mind to keep her distance from Xiao Jue.
She raised her eyes and happened to see Xiao Jue turning his head, a clear and cold glance, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Lin Shuanghe said, “So it’s settled, Brother He, I’m leaving.” He swiftly carried his belongings and rushed into the room that originally belonged to He Yan. He Yan had no choice but to approach Lin Shuanghe’s room with a forced expression.
The door closed, and He Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that this was not the Liangzhou Garrison and that the doors to the two rooms did not have easily picked center locks, she still felt a bit nervous. She inwardly cursed herself; in Jiyang City, she had even slept in the same room in Cui Yuezhi’s mansion—what was there to be nervous about? Now, with a wall between them, she couldn’t fly over, could she?
Thinking about it, she relaxed a bit more.
However, her mind was still pondering the unusual aspects of Xiao Jue and Yang Mingzhi’s meeting just now, feeling somewhat strange. After a while, she slipped out again, found no one around, and knocked on Lin Shuanghe’s door.
Lin Shuanghe yawned as he opened the door. Seeing He Yan, he immediately grabbed the door frame tightly. “Brother He, if you’re here to talk about it, we’ve already swapped rooms, and we absolutely cannot change it back. I’d rather die than leave.”
He thought He Yan had come to switch rooms again.
He Yan helplessly said, “I didn’t come to change rooms; I came to ask you something.”
“In that case, it’s even more unacceptable,” Lin Shuanghe said seriously, “I am an upright gentleman, and we are single…men, if word gets out to certain people, won’t there be a big problem?”
What was he talking about with all this nonsense? He Yan couldn’t be bothered to deal with him, and with a push, she sent him into the room, following him and closing the door casually.
Lin Shuanghe was pushed onto a chair by He Yan. He covered his chest with both hands, speaking earnestly, “Little Sister He, friends’ wives are not to be trifled with. I’m not that kind of person.”
“I’m asking about Yang Mingzhi,” He Yan interrupted him.
Lin Shuanghe was momentarily stunned, then his expression changed dramatically. “Are you interested in Yang Mingzhi?”
Why did this person only think about love and relationships? He Yan took a deep breath. “It’s not that I’m interested in him. I want to ask you if something happened between Lord Yang and the Commander. Earlier, General Yan mentioned that Lord Yang is a good friend of the Commander, but when I observed them outside just now, their interaction didn’t seem like that of good friends.”
Having said this in one breath, Lin Shuanghe finally understood He Yan’s intention. He was silent for a while, then slowly sat up straight. His usually carefree face now showed some worry. He sighed and said, “You noticed, huh.”
He Yan asked, “So, what happened between them?”
“In fact, I, Yan Nanguang, Huaijin, and Yang Mingzhi were classmates,” Lin Shuanghe put down the fan in his hand, picked up the teapot nearby, poured a cup of tea for He Yan, and poured another for himself. He stared at the tea in the cup as if reminiscing about the past, his voice light and ethereal, “Yan Nanguang is like a fighting cock, always comparing this with that, not very familiar with us. Back then, Huaijin, Yang Mingzhi, and I were the closest. Speaking of it, Yang Mingzhi and Huaijin should be closer than me and Huaijin.”
There was no hint of jealousy or resentment on his face. He just smiled and continued, “After all, I’m not good at either literary and martial arts. I can only talk about which family’s girl looks pretty or which restaurant has new dishes with Huaijin. Yang Mingzhi and Huaijin always had more to talk about. Yang Mingzhi was not in good health; when he was young, someone even secretly said he was effeminate. Later, when he hung out with Huaijin, no one dared to say such things.”
He Yan knew all this; at that time, she even thought that talented people always had similarities with other talented individuals. Xiao Jue and Yang Mingzhi were both outstanding, so it’s no wonder they became close friends.
“What happened later?” she asked.
“Later…” Lin Shuanghe lowered his head, and his gaze gradually became melancholic.
In the year when the Xiao family encountered trouble, the political situation in the court was tense. Xiao Zhongwu had passed away, and he was also blamed for commanding the Battle of Mingshui inadequately. The Xiao family was on the verge of collapse, and the influence of Xu Xiang became increasingly rampant. The scholars in the Xianchang Academy, although from prominent families, dared not speak up for the Xiao family in this critical situation.
Except for Lin Shuanghe.
Their family practiced medicine in the court, and Lin Qingtan and Lin Mu did not care about the affairs of the former dynasty. Lin Shuanghe had no intention of entering officialdom. When he learned about the Xiao family’s situation, he pleaded with his father and grandfather to speak favorably for Xiao Zhongwu in front of the emperor. Lin Mu actually did so; he was an expert in female medical science and had good relations with many palace ladies. Lin Mu selected several palace ladies to praise Xiao Zhongwu in front of the emperor for a few days, without mentioning Xiao Zhongwu’s crimes. They only spoke of the misfortune in the Xiao family and the two young talents.
His Majesty is also a person who appreciates talent, with a soft heart. As the wind blows, he truly feels pity for Xiao Jing and Xiao Jue. Regarding the Battle of Mingshui, the blame was only given to Xiao Zhongwu, without implicating the Xiao family.
But just this was not enough.
The Nanfu Military Command’s authority had not been restored, and despite the emperor’s reluctance to punish other members of the Xiao family, without military power, the Xiao family was like unprotected fat, open to anyone’s attack. The emperor’s mercy would gradually fade with the passage of time, and to regain military power, they had to act now; otherwise, it would be too late.
In the entire court, apart from Xiao Zhongwu’s old subordinates and Imperial Censor Shen, no one dared to speak.
In Xianchang Academy, Xiao Jue had only two close friends: Lin Shuanghe and Yang Mingzhi. Lin Shuanghe requested his father to speak up for Xiao Jue, while Yang Mingzhi’s father, Lord Yang, was a respected scholar in the Imperial Academy and had been the emperor’s designated top scholar. If Lord Yang spoke, the emperor might listen.
Xiao Jue asked Yang Mingzhi for help.
Lin Shuanghe still remembered what Yang Mingzhi said at that time. With an anxious expression, Yang Mingzhi patted Xiao Jue’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I will persuade my father to intercede for General Xiao in court. I’ll ask the emperor to thoroughly investigate the internal situation of the Battle of Mingshui. Huaijin, you can rest assured that Lin and I will accompany you.”
Although he seemed weak and spoke with a gentle tone, his words were resolute. Lin Shuanghe never doubted Yang Mingzhi’s sincerity at that moment. Xiao Jue probably felt the same. So, they waited for news from Yang Mingzhi.
One day, two days, three days… Yang Mingzhi did not come to the Xianchang Academy. When they inquired with the scholars, they were told that he was ill.
Lin Shuanghe and Xiao Jue suspected that Yang Mingzhi couldn’t leave his residence or was confined by his family but never doubted anything else. They discussed the matter and decided to disguise themselves as servants to enter Yang’s residence and find Yang Mingzhi.
At that moment, Yang Mingzhi was practicing calligraphy in his room.
There were no locked doors, no house arrest, and not even an illness. He looked the same as before, and because he didn’t have to work as hard at home as he did at the school, he even appeared healthier.
“Mingzhi,” Lin Shuanghe looked at him in surprise. “Why aren’t you at the school? Huaijin and I thought something had happened to you.”
Yang Mingzhi stood up and looked at them, more precisely, at Xiao Jue, without saying a word.
It was Xiao Jue who understood what was happening. He spoke, “Your father…”
“Sorry,” before Xiao Jue could finish speaking, Yang Mingzhi interrupted him, “I broke my promise about what I agreed with you earlier. My father cannot speak for General Xiao.”
“Why?” Lin Shuanghe was anxious, “Didn’t we agree on this?”
“It’s nothing.” Xiao Jue spoke, lowering his gaze. “This matter is difficult for me to force. You don’t need to apologize.”
Lin Shuanghe fell silent; he knew that at this critical moment, getting a few words was quite difficult. It wasn’t Yang Mingzhi’s fault, but the greater the hope, the more difficult the disappointment was to bear.
He Yan looked at the person in front of her and asked puzzledly, “Did the General and Governor Yang break off relations because of this matter? Perhaps Governor Yang did try for this matter, but failed because Scholar Yang refused to yield.”
She didn’t believe that Yang Mingzhi was a heartless person because he actually treated people kindly and was amiable. When they were at Xianchang Academy, He Yan didn’t receive much goodwill from the young men, but Yang Mingzhi was an exception. Moreover, a person who was passionate about poetry and strategy should have a particularly righteous and enthusiastic heart.
Lin Shuanghe did not immediately answer her question, just remained silent. After a while, he said, “I thought so at first, that maybe Yang Mingzhi had some difficulties.”
“And then?”
“And when we were about to leave, Yang Mingzhi said something.” His voice was slightly uneven, and the shadows of the past appeared before his eyes.
Yang Mingzhi stopped the two who were about to leave and said, “Xiao Jue, have you ever thought that, perhaps, there was no hidden truth in the Battle of Mingshui, and it might be General Xiao’s own reasons?”
Xiao Jue had already walked to the door. Upon hearing this, he turned back. The young man looked calm, with beautiful features resembling a painting. He didn’t speak but walked to Yang Mingzhi and threw a punch at him.
“That punch was really fierce,” Lin Shuanghe exclaimed with a touch of gloating. “Yang Mingzhi, whose health wasn’t good, laid in bed for half a month after being beaten. Lord Yang was furious and almost had a stroke. He was furious but didn’t know how to vent, maybe because he felt pity for Xiao Jue.”
“But it didn’t matter,” Lin Shuanghe sighed slightly. “Shortly after that, Xiao Jue went to the palace on his own initiative, leading three thousand men to Guo City, gaining fame in a single battle.”
––––––––––Side Note––––––––––
A warm and affectionate mini-reunion of old classmates, relatively short, where each old classmate plays a supporting role (′？ω？｀).
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