Chapter 198: Counsel on War
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“It’s Chenzhou?” Mu Jingzhao was about to exclaim, but Liu Zhongming’s gaze stopped him, and he quickly lowered his voice, saying, “Zhongming, this is a matter of life and death for me. Don’t joke around!”
There was no trace of amusement on Liu Zhongming’s face.
“Exactly because Your Highness’s life is at stake, you should seriously consider whether my words are a joke or not,” he cautioned. “I remind you, I know Qu Chenzhou better than you. He’s narrow-minded, holds grudges tightly, and thinks highly of himself, never willing to be subordinate to others. Have you ever had any improper thoughts about him?”
Mu Jingzhao blushed.
“After Qu Chenzhou entered the palace, did Your Highness ever pester him?”
There was no need to answer that question; both of them knew the answer. Mu Jingzhao’s heart sank: “I just touched him a little, nothing more. It can’t be because of such a trivial matter, right?”
“He’s sensitive, and to him, nothing is trivial. In terms of ruthlessness, neither you nor I are his match. Haven’t I been taken advantage of by him several times as well? Moreover, the Empress has many personal grudges with him too. With his talent for divination, persuading the Empress Dowager is as simple as can be.”
Mu Jingzhao listened with eyes wide open and suddenly became furious: “What a despicable person! Give him an inch, and he wants to take advantage of us! Zhongming! Let’s go to the Emperor right now and confront him!”
“Your Highness, you’re getting too impulsive.”
Liu Zhongming held him back. “What do you want to say to the Emperor? Do you think the Emperor will believe us based on just a few words? “
“I don’t mind telling you this: I almost lost my life coming back from the capital this time.”
Mu Jingzhao was startled. “What happened?”
“After numerous dangers, we obtained a priceless treasure. General Ding even lost his life. Qu Chenzhou, in order to claim all the credit, pushed me off a cliff. I miraculously survived and returned to the capital. I wanted to seek justice in front of the Emperor, but the Emperor is completely shielding him, saying it wasn’t intentional.”
Mu Jingzhao grew frantic. “The Emperor… the Emperor… could he really have been enchanted by Qu Chenzhou? I’ve felt from the beginning that he’s a fox spirit in disguise! How could a person be so good looking!”
“Zhongming, I misjudged you before. I thought you were overly harsh, but now I realize he had been scheming against you from the beginning. It’s my mistake! I was blind!”
“So what do we do now? What do we do?”
He grabbed Liu Zhongming’s hand in desperation.
“Zhongming, I finally understand what you mean. He must hold a grudge against me and said something to the Empress Dowager that made her resent me and my mother! What should we do? He’s by the Emperor’s side, manipulating the Emperor to support him. The Emperor won’t listen to us anymore!”
“The demonic creature is causing chaos in the court, and we can’t let him stay,” Liu Zhongming’s brow was also furrowed with anxiety. “Otherwise, even if we escape this disaster, he’ll create more trouble in the future. Today it’s the Tang family, and tomorrow it could be my Liu family.”
Mu Jingzhao’s heart was filled with the sentiment of unity against a common enemy. “Shameless scoundrel! We can’t let him run rampant!”
Liu Zhongming sighed with bitterness. “But what can we do? He managed to whisk away Bai Shiyan right under my nose. If not for the current situation, I’m afraid Your Highness wouldn’t be standing by my side.”
Mu Jingzhao realized it was indeed true upon deeper reflection, feeling shocked and fearful.
“So… what should I do? Because the Emperor has been deceived, does that mean he believes I killed the Empress Dowager? What about my mother? And my uncle?”
“The Empress Dowager and Assistant Minister Tang have been advocating for Your Highness, but…”
“The Empress and Tang Shizhong have been consistently arguing on behalf of His Highness, but…” Liu Zhongming revealed his inner conflict after a moment of hesitation, then continued, “but His Highness cannot escape his involvement in the Empress Dowager’s death. The best-case scenario might be an exile to a remote estate.”
“I… I’ll leave…” Mu Jingzhao nodded in agreement, but in Liu Zhongming’s eyes, he saw a glimpse of terror.
Leaving the capital was not as simple as he thought, as Mu Jingde’s fate had shown.
“Zhongming!” He was now in complete panic. “Save me! Are you just going to watch me lose my life?”
Liu Zhongming paced around the room, struggling to find the right words.
“Zhongming, please, can you tell me? Can’t I trust you?”
“Your Highness…” Liu Zhongming whispered near his ear, “everything hinges on Qu Chenzhou now. As long as he’s around, the Emperor won’t heed our advice.”
Mu Jingzhao’s eyes flickered with understanding, and he made a downward motion with his hand.
Liu Zhongming shook his head. “If he were to die from an assassination now, with the recent turmoil involving the Empress Dowager, the Emperor might initiate a large-scale conflict. He won’t be able to listen to reason anymore. At that time, no one will escape unscathed.”
Before anyone could ask, he quietly uttered two words, “Military remonstrance.”
Mu Jingzhao was taken aback. But contrary to his expectations, he didn’t react with loud exclamations, but rather ate his food mechanically, seemingly not tasting it.
Liu Zhongming didn’t rush him, instead, he went to the door to look outside, as if deep in thought. Only after a long while did he hear the response behind him.
“Zhongming, I think you’re right,” Mu Jingzhao’s voice was small. “But what should we do? I can’t even leave the palace, I know nothing, let alone leading troops into battle…”
“I’m here, otherwise why would I find a way to beg the Emperor to grant me an audience and see you, Your Highness?”
Mu Jingzhao looked at him, confused. “What should we do?”
Facing his bewildered gaze, a trace of reluctance welled up in Liu Zhongming’s heart, but Ning Wang was like a shield that Tang family placed at the forefront.
Though Ning Wang was innocent, the Tang family was anything but.
If Ning Wang survived, even the Emperor wouldn’t dare to touch the Tang family.
His sister sent someone to ask him for embroidery patterns, specifically plum blossoms. The Emperor already has plans in mind. He would rather grant the title of Wang to Lan Er than hand over the military power of Ten Li Pavilion to him.
In the end, as predicted by Qu Chenzhou, if the military power of Ten Li Pavillion falls into the hands of Huai Wang, it’s like a sword hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
In other words, the Emperor wants to use him as a weapon to cut off the thorn of the Tang family, but he doesn’t just want to dismiss him lightly. He wants to openly place the Liu family and Huai Wang in the arena, watching them fight until they’re battered and bruised.
The plan is too perfect.
Ten Li Pavillion guards an important pass and cannot be dismantled. Therefore, before handing it over to Huai Wang, the blade must be blunted into uselessness.
What happens next depends on Qu Chenzhou, and he just needs to play his own part well.
“Your Highness, as I mentioned earlier, Qu Chenzhou and I have even greater grievances between us. This time, it’s the Tang family, next time it could be the Liu family. If Your Highness uses this opportunity to remonstrate, I, Liu Zhongming, will certainly not stand idly by.”
“I still have some useful people in the palace. After nightfall, I can discreetly send you out of the palace. You can have General Tang waiting for you outside the city. By dawn, you’ll be able to meet up with General Tang outside the city walls.”
“By that time, while Your Highness is outside, I will lead the Jinxiu Ying to support you from within the city. We will together plead with the Emperor!”
“Rest assured, not only will the Empress support you, but also Tang Shizhong, my father, General Bai, and the entire civil and military officials in the court will stand with us! The Emperor will only be able to eliminate Qu Chenzhou to appease the anger!”
“Purge the wicked, uphold the pure officials! Execute Qu Chenzhou!”
Mu Jingzhao’s blood boiled with enthusiasm. He grabbed his ears and scratched his cheeks in excitement. He wished it would already turn dark outside. After pacing around a few times, he quickly regained his composure.
“Zhongming, can you arrange for me to meet my mother before I leave the palace?”
Liu Zhongming sighed. “Because of Your Highness’s situation, the Emperor and the Empress are already at odds. It’s not wise for Her Highness to intentionally get entangled in this. Would you want to set a trap for yourself? Please spare me.”
Mu Jingzhao felt ashamed and asked again, “How can I ensure that General Tang will meet me in time? Could you help deliver a message for me?”
“It’s my obligation,” Liu Zhongming took out a charcoal pencil from his sleeve and watched as Mu Jingzhao hastily tore off a piece of his inner robe to write a note. He reminded, “Your Highness, do you have any personal belongings on you? Otherwise, it might not be easy to convince General Tang.”
This puzzled Mu Jingzhao. He had initially entered the palace for a banquet and hadn’t thought about so many things.
“Well, can you arrange for someone to go to my residence…”
“Your Highness’s residence is heavily guarded. It’s not appropriate for me to send someone to search.”
Mu Jingzhao was getting increasingly anxious. But as he thought about it, an idea came to him.
“Qu Chenzhou! In Qu Chenzhou’s place, there’s a waist token that belongs to me! Hurry and retrieve it for me! He’ll definitely use it to harm others! He’s not in the palace this afternoon, so go to his place and search for it!”
Liu Zhongming hesitated for a moment, also feeling troubled, but he agreed in the end.
“Rest assured, I’ll find a way to retrieve it. However, it might delay us a bit, and it’s unlikely to be done today.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Mu Jingzhao carefully folded the completed secret letter and repeatedly urged, “Zhongming, please come back as soon as possible! I’ll be waiting for you.”
As Liu Zhongming descended the steps and turned around to look, he could still see a hole punched in the window paper. Someone inside was gazing at him with longing. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness, akin to a rabbit’s death being mourned by a fox.
The vendetta from the previous generation had taken root in Ning Wang’s blood.
If Mu Jingzhao had been born as a princess, it might have been better, but he was born as the first son, and the Emperor had never intended for his first son to inherit the throne.
Back when the Empress was treading on the corpses of others to glorify the Tang family, she probably never imagined that the Emperor had already planted the seeds of venom.
The way of the monarch, the way of the subjects, should not be like this.
Decades of twists and turns should come to an end.
“Your Majesty…” someone knelt at the foot of the outer hall steps.
The cotton curtain was rolled to the sides, and the leisurely voice of Emperor Yu came out, “Chenzhou, it’s so late. Is there something urgent that can’t wait until tomorrow?”
Qu Chenzhou’s forehead was pressed against the ground. “I know I shouldn’t disturb Your Majesty so late, but I have something to report.”
Coughing could be heard from the inner chamber a few times, and many light footsteps moved away from the door, until Yu Dexi’s clothing brushed past him. After his figure had passed by, the sound of the door closing echoed, and the room became completely quiet.
“What is it? Speak.”
Qu Chenzhou took a few steps forward, kneeling down, and spoke softly, “Your Majesty, this afternoon, I encountered Shizi at the palace gates.”
Emperor Yu responded with an acknowledgment, “Are you two quarreling again?”
“Your humble servant heeds Your Majesty’s teachings and didn’t argue with Shizi. It’s just that Shizi…” Qu Chenzhou’s voice grew softer, “Your humble servant cast a divination for Shizi—an uprising by Ning Wang’s forces tomorrow afternoon. After returning to my study, I found that the waist token he had previously given me… was missing.”
The clarity of his words made it impossible for anyone to remain calm upon hearing “uprising by Ning Wang’s forces.” However, Emperor Yu still responded with a cold and indifferent acknowledgment.
Qu Chenzhou straightened up slightly and made his point clearer, “Your Majesty, Shizi intends to assist Ning Wang in fleeing and staging an uprising. This matter… should not be underestimated. Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible.”
After a long pause, Emperor Yu let out a soft sigh, “Chenzhou, you’re even smarter than I thought. You dare to play mind games with me, to test my intentions?”
“Your humble servant dares not,” Qu Chenzhou bowed, “Your humble servant’s speculations before coming here were just that. It was only after hearing Your Majesty’s words that I understood…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but both of them understood the unspoken words—Let this official understand, Your Majesty knows.
Emperor Yu chuckled and asked, “Chenzhou, you think you’ve understood everything so clearly. Aren’t you afraid of inviting trouble upon yourself?”
“Before meeting Your Majesty, your humble servant was without support or attachments. There was nothing to hold on to except for Your Majesty, my only concern and reliance. I entrust everything to Your Majesty without fearing life or death.”
Qu Chenzhou’s voice was gentle and calm, like a feather, stirring desires in the darkness.
“Shizi is involved in so many matters, while your humble servant is alone, seeking very little. It’s only a plea for Your Majesty’s pity and protection, to avoid being humiliated by others.”
“Your humble servant is willing to live and die for Your Majesty, without complaints or regrets.”
“Jinxiu Ying can serve Your Majesty, just as I can be driven by Your Majesty.”
Emperor Yu was briefly taken aback by Qu Chenzhou’s candid confession. The urge to dismiss him was suppressed, and he asked indifferently, “What can you do?”
The delicate wooden butterfly flew towards the inner chamber, landed on a brocade quilt, and fluttered its wings.
“The garrison at Ten Li Pavilion can be under Ning Wang’s control today, but it can be controlled by others tomorrow.”
“While this uprising may seem controllable this time, the next time may not be the same.”
“It’s not just the garrison at Ten Li Pavilion, there’s also the Northern and Southern Bureau, and General Bai’s troops…”
Qu Chenzhou raised his eyes slowly, his unusual and mesmerizing pupils gleaming like flames.
“Your humble servant can eliminate one to warn a hundred for Your Majesty, preventing the insignificant from daring to harbor rebellious thoughts!”
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