124
It was the first month of the year, and the weather was frigid. Yu’an was also cold. When Mu Peixuan returned, the new residence was almost completely tidied. The house was warm from the burning silver frost charcoal. He took off his overcoat, handed it to Fen Mo, and walked around the screen. He saw Duan Linzhou leaning on the bed, dozing off, a volume of account books precariously held in his hand.
Suddenly, those slender fingers loosened, and the account book slid down. Mu Peixuan moved quickly and reached out to catch the volume of accounts.
Duan Linzhou was already a light sleeper, and being in a new place as well, he was immediately startled awake by the movement. “Your Highness?” He opened his eyes and saw Mu Peixuan. Mu Peixuan placed the account book aside and said, “Why didn’t you sleep first?”
Duan Linzhou shook his head. Mu Peixuan said, “If you’re tired, rest for a bit. The account books can’t be finished all at once.”
Duan Linzhou said, “These are from the several stewards in Yu’an.” They had just arrived in Yu’an, and countless eyes, both open and hidden, were watching them. It was inconvenient for Duan Linzhou to meet with the managers of the Yu’an shops, so he sent Jiang Yu to make the trip.
Jiang Yu brought back the shop account books and news from Yu’an from recent days.
Hidden within the account books were letters. The original documents were written by specialists from the Wenfeng Yuan, incomprehensible to ordinary people. After receiving them, Duan Linzhou copied them once. He handed the fragrant, inky letters to Mu Peixuan and said, “You should read these first.”
Mu Peixuan acknowledged him, and seeing the fatigue on his face, he couldn’t help but press the back of his hand against Duan Linzhou’s cheek, saying, “You’ve worked hard.”
Duan Linzhou glanced at him, leaning back languidly, and asked, “How do you feel seeing the young emperor today?”
Mu Peixuan remarked, “Deep-minded.”
Xiao Xun appeared timid and apprehensive in front of him, unaware that Mu Peixuan had played this exact trick back in Liangdu, it was merely a show of weakness before others, a way to bide time and then act.
Moreover, he had killed Prime Minister Lin in the palace and exterminated his entire family. Such courage and methods were not something an ordinary child could possess, even with Qin Qiong backing him.
Mu Peixuan lowered his eyes, looking at the letter Duan Linzhou handed him. The handwriting was strong and robust, carrying a sense of uninhibited freedom. He rubbed his thumb over it for a moment before carefully reading it. The news from Wenfeng Yuan was even more detailed than they had anticipated. In Liangdu, Prime Minister Lin and Eunuch Zhang colluded and competed with the aristocratic families. The aristocratic families had been suppressed for years. Now, Prime Minister Lin was dead, and Eunuch Zhang also died from a cold arrow during the relocation south. The aristocratic families seized the opportunity to rise. Grand Tutor Qin Qiong came from one of these families. Having been stifled for so many years, they were like tigers and wolves, eager to claim new territory, and naturally, they would clash with the “tigers and wolves” of Yu’an.
The relocation of the capital also had an advantage: the young emperor Xiao Xun was originally too young and jointly assisted by King Duan, Prime Minister Lin, and several other ministers. Now, with some dead and others having died for the country, the court was reshuffled. Xiao Xun could directly take over the government without anyone using his youth as an excuse. Currently, in Yu’an, besides the naval force under King Xin, the military power is also held by Fu Ruhui, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and Guo Huai, the Commander of the Jinyiwei.
Xiao Yunjing is currently stationed in Hengzhou with the Northern Garrison Army, defending against Qin Fengyuan’s Northwest Army. The Northern Garrison Army suffered significant losses in clashes with Qin Fengyuan at Boguan in Bozhou and are now in a very weak state. The Xiao family wasn’t originally named Xiao; their ancestors were horse breeders for the founding emperor. Later, an exceptionally brilliant individual emerged, leading the Xiao family to change their status. Because the Xiao family had been loyal to the emperor for generations, after three generations, they were bestowed the imperial surname.
This is why Xiao Zixing was able to take over the Northern Garrison Army after the Yun clan was purged.
The Xiao family could be described as the most loyal guard dog of the Daliang’s imperial family. However, even so, the Xiao family was still considered inferior among the aristocratic families in Liangdu.
Although Yu’an is just a prefectural city, it is wealthy. Besides King Xin’s faction, there are major aristocratic families like the Meng, Cao, Xie, and Zong families. These families are deeply intertwined and have long been firmly rooted in every inch of Yu’an’s soil.
Duan Linzhou said, “The Meng family is the most prominent. Meng Qinshu serves as the Salt Transport Commissioner of Yuzhou.” The Salt Commissioner oversees the salt industry, which brings in a lot of silver. “Princess Consort Xin is Meng Qinshu’s direct younger sister. Because of him, even though Princess Consort Xin is domineering, King Xin can only tolerate her more, leading to a reputation of being afraid of his wife.”
Mu Peixuan mused for a moment, then said, “He’s been making frequent moves recently. It seems he’s seen the many vacancies in the court after the imperial court moved south and is eager for more, unwilling to remain a third-rank Salt Transport Commissioner.”
Duan Linzhou said, “The Salt Transport Commissioner of Yuzhou is a position with real power.”
Mu Peixuan smiled, “Meng Qinshu has managed the Salt Transport Department for many years already. If he takes another step up, even if someone else takes his position, they wouldn’t dare overstep him either; the Salt Transport Department would still be his.”
Duan Linzhou also realized this and clicked his tongue, saying, “The Meng family is at its peak. The other families might not be able to sit still.”
Mu Peixuan replied, “It’s better if they can’t sit still.”
The waters of Yu’an City run deep, full of treacherous currents; a slight misstep could lead to getting bogged down. Mu Peixuan came to Yu’an not only to personally investigate its depths and find the life-saving pearl, but also because he had no intention of stirring up trouble in Yu’an. Yet, the young emperor’s closeness to him, often summoning him to the palace to accompany him, naturally appeared to the watchful eyes as Mu Peixuan siding with the young emperor.
Mu Peixuan had once lived in Liangdu, so he naturally had some old acquaintances. Most of his old acquaintances were children of nobles, idlers who used to gamble on cockfights and race horses together in Liangdu. The turmoil in Liangdu didn’t affect them; each one was doing quite well. After enduring the frantic relocation south, they had bounced back, swaggering down the streets of Yu’an in fine silks, utterly carefree.
Among these noble scions, the young master of Marquis Yongyi Mansion was very good friends with Mu Peixuan back then. That young master, Li Chengyi, was a Tianqian, around the same age as Mu Peixuan. In his youth, he loved eating, drinking, and having fun, and he didn’t seem to have changed much even now.
Dong’an Alley of Yu’an is full of brothels and a place of pleasure.
The air carried the scent of cosmetics, and the lilting local tunes of Yuzhou, with their soft, undulating melodies, hinted at a life of intoxicating revelry. After three rounds of drinks, Li Chengyi was quite drunk, his steps faltering. Mu Peixuan reached out to steady him, saying, “Let’s stop here for today. I’ll have someone send you back.”
Li Chengyi grabbed his arm. “No way, we haven’t seen each other for years, we have to drink until we’re thoroughly drunk.”
Mu Peixuan said, “You’re drunk, and I’m drunk too.”
Li Chengyi let out a hiccup, his eyes, reddened by alcohol, stared at Mu Peixuan for a moment. He suddenly chuckled, “You’re fooling me, you’re not drunk, you’re not drunk.” He plopped down and stretched out his hand to pour himself another glass of wine. After drinking it, he said, “Second Mu ah, among all of us in Liangdu back then, you’re the only one who’s truly succeeded.”
“Look, Miaoran and Mingxiu died for the country, and Tan Liu perished during the southern relocation,” Li Chengyi continued. “Tan Liu died of illness. He was startled, had nightmares every night, and then he just died like that.”
Mu Peixuan remained silent. Jiang Miaoran was the grandson of Duke An. The entire Jiang family, though scholars, remained in Liangdu and collectively took up swords to go to battle. Marquis Annan Mansion and the Duke Mansion were on good terms, and Mu Peixuan had been particularly close to Jiang Miaoran back then.
“We fled Liangdu like homeless dogs, relocating south, that sounds nice, but we’re all just a bunch of homeless dogs—”
These words were taboo. Mu Peixuan pressed his shoulder and whispered, “Chengyi, that’s enough, you shouldn’t say such things.”
Li Chengyi chuckled carelessly and said, “What shouldn’t be said? You know what those people in Yu’an call us: h-o-m-e-l-e-s-s d-o-g-s.” He spat out the last four words one by one, as if spitting blood. “Beaten by Qin Fengyuan, fleeing with our heads in our hands, and even losing the capital. We are the sinners of Daliang.”
“Second Mu, I always dream of Miaoran at night. Why didn’t I stay in Liangdu back then? I should have stayed with him, defended Liangdu together. That would be better than living like this, like a coward…”
Mu Peixuan looked at Li Chengyi, sprawled on the cushion. In truth, he also looked down on Li Chengyi’s self-pitying, regretful demeanor. What was the use? For them, it was just guilt that surfaced in their midnight dreams. When awakened, they continued to live in revelry, doing nothing, which was far less honorable than Jiang Miaoran’s sacrifice for the country.
Li Chengyi, muddled by drink, rambled on with words of regret and pain. Mu Peixuan sighed and said, “Chengyi, Daliang has not yet fallen.”
Li Chengyi lifted his head blankly.
Mu Peixuan continued, “Although Liangdu is lost, can it not be reclaimed? You are a son of a noble, supported by the common people. If you truly wish to revitalize Daliang, why do you get drunk every night?”
Li Chengyi shook his head, tears streaming down his face, saying, “I can’t, I can’t. I’m just a dissolute idler…”
Mu Peixuan stared into his eyes and said, “You haven’t even tried? How do you know you can’t?”
Li Chengyi was stunned and remained silent for a long time. Mu Peixuan took the empty wine cup from his hand, held his arm, and helped him stand up. “Let’s go, it’s time for us to go back.”
Li Chengyi unsteadily got up, leaning heavily against Mu Peixuan. After a long while, he suddenly asked, half-intoxicated, “Second Mu, what about you? What are you doing this for? Daliang, or the world?”
Mu Peixuan’s heart tensed. He looked down at Li Chengyi, but Li Chengyi had already closed his eyes, as if the question was nothing more than drunken babble.
Dong’an Alley was brightly lit, with the faint sounds of pipes and strings drifting out, mixed with the soft melodies of Wu dialect. The servants from Marquis Yongyi Mansion had already brought the carriage. Mu Peixuan helped Li Chengyi into the carriage, instructed the servants to take good care of him, and turned to leave. He then noticed an old beggar huddled at the street corner, wrapped in a tattered padded jacket, his face obscured. He was shrunken in the corner, one withered hand patting his thigh, mournfully chanting, “…Past splendors have all been laid to rest; wherever one looks now, there is only desolation, with nothing of the old days left… The inner treasury has turned to brocade ashes in the flames, and along the heavenly avenues lie the crushed bones of nobles, trodden underfoot, those same heavenly avenues strewn with noble remains…”
Mu Peixuan’s mind momentarily wandered. Fen Mo draped a large cloak over him and asked, “Your Highness, shall we go back?”
Mu Peixuan took a deep breath and said, “Let’s go back.”
