MSW Chapter83

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Mu Peixuan’s journey was anything but peaceful, and Fu Yue’s group also faced constant trials: probes, ambushes, assassinations… they never stopped. The reason the Black Armored Iron Cavalry made all the tribes tremble was precisely because of their fierce bravery and skill in battle. Ordinary individuals simply couldn’t compare to the elites personally chosen by Fu Yue.

 

Fu Yue knew full well they were exposed. The more troublesome they appeared, the more they would attract the attention of those hidden in the shadows, and only then would Mu Peixuan’s group be safer. So, Fu Yue had long ago instructed them not to hold back along the way. They could even use these people on the road as whetstones for the Black Armored Iron Cavalry.

 

Only a sufficiently sharp blade could inspire awe.

 

Upon receiving Mu Peixuan’s message, Fu Yue and the “fake Junwang” Gu Yunzhen, went to meet him. Within a few days, the two groups converged at the border of Yuzhou.

 

Mu Peixuan, having successfully quelled the rebellion, entered Yu’an this time, abandoning Marquis Annan’s usual low profile. The Mu banner fluttered in the wind, a display of extreme ostentation. Approximately ten thousand accompanying soldiers were present, their military bearing disciplined. The Black Armored Iron Cavalry was grim, and the infantry’s aura was formidable, exuding a fierce power honed in bloody combat.

 

Mu Peixuan was ostensibly going to audience the young emperor and report on his duties, and so he entered Yuzhou with such a grand display. Yuzhou was vast and had always been a prosperous province, but now it was a bit more tense than in times of peace. Mu Peixuan led his immense army through cities and counties, attracting considerable attention. It wasn’t that no one wanted to stop him, but he sat high on his horse and declared, “This prince enters Yu’an by imperial decree. Whose order do you follow to dare obstruct me?”

 

Behind Mu Peixuan were awe-inspiring soldiers, seemingly ready for battle at a moment’s notice. The officials under Yuzhou naturally didn’t dare to confront him directly and could only avoid his formidable presence.

 

That was until Xiao Yuanhe led his men and blocked them outside Qian’an County.

 

Xiao Yuanhe, roughly twenty-three or twenty-four years old, was tall and slender, clad in light black armor. He had a striking, somewhat cold, and arrogant demeanor. He declared, “Mu Peixuan, you can enter Yu’an, but your men must stay here.”

 

Fu Yue’s brow furrowed, and he said, “Your Highness, no!”

 

Xiao Yuanhe stared at Mu Peixuan and sneered, “Mu Peixuan, are you afraid?”

 

Mu Peixuan seemed indifferent, a faint smile playing on his lips as he said, “Since I’ve already come, what is there to fear? Could it be that King Xin would allow something to happen to me in Yu’an?” His words carried a somewhat cavalier tone, as if spoken to Fu Yue but clearly directed at Xiao Yuanhe. Xiao Yuanhe naturally understood the implication, giving Mu Peixuan a deep look. Fu Yue, however, disagreed, saying, “Even when His Highness went to Liangdu in the past, a thousand men would accompany him as well. Now you ask His Highness to go to Yu’an alone. May I ask, Fourth Young Master, is this His Majesty’s decree or your father’s will?”

 

Xiao Yuanhe retorted, “You are here to see His Majesty. Why bring so many soldiers, Mu Peixuan? What are your intentions?”

 

Mu Peixuan merely smiled, saying nothing. Behind him, his elite soldiers gripped their spears and lances, the chilling gleam of their blades reflecting sharply in the winter light.

 

The two sides faced off outside Qian’an County. Ultimately, Xiao Yuanhe conceded, allowing Mu Peixuan to bring two thousand men into Yu’an, with the condition that they remain outside the city walls.

 

Mu Peixuan nodded.

 

Gu Yunzhen stayed behind to hold the fort.

 

“Xiao Yuanhe is King Xin’s fourth son,” Mu Peixuan said, sitting with Duan Linzhou in the carriage. After several days of recuperation, Duan Linzhou’s complexion had significantly improved. Mu Peixuan watched him finish his medicine, then skillfully picked up a sugar-frosted preserved fruit and offered it to him. Duan Linzhou took it from his hand, which helped to counteract the bitter taste in his mouth, then said, “He’s perceptive.”

 

He had only glanced at him, and Xiao Yuanhe had already noticed, looking straight back.

 

Duan Linzhou, now posing as Mu Peixuan’s strategist, smiled faintly and bowed in greeting.

 

Mu Peixuan replied, “En. Though Xiao Yuanhe is a concubine’s son, he’s very skilled in battle and highly regarded by King Xin. Compared to Xiao Yuanqi, Xiao Yuanhe is quite the character.”

 

King Xin, Xiao Shao, had four sons. The eldest legitimate son, Xiao Yuanqi, was the heir apparent. The second son, Xiao Yuanheng, was born of the same mother as Xiao Yuanqi but unfortunately died at sea at the age of nineteen while suppressing pirates. The remaining sons, Xiao Yuanrui and Xiao Yuanhe, were both born of concubines. As early as when Mu Peixuan decided to go to Yu’an, Duan Linzhou had ordered the Wenfeng Yuan to investigate King Xin, and thus he had some understanding of what Mu Peixuan was saying. He had heard that Xiao Yuanheng was a brilliant military talent, remarkably gifted, and deeply cherished by King Xin, with subtle hints of him being considered for the position of heir apparent.

 

Later, Xiao Yuanheng died.

 

Xiao Shao even fell gravely ill because of it.

 

Duan Linzhou, thinking of something, smiled and said, “With such an extraordinary brother, Xiao Shizi[mfn]The ‘Xiao’ here is the surname, and ‘Shizi’ is a title for a feudal king’s heir. In Chinese, the last name was put in front of the title.[/mfn] likely didn’t have an easy life.”

 

Mu Peixuan understood the implication in his words and said, “Princess Consort Xin comes from the Meng clan of Yuzhou. King Xin fears his wife; without the Princess Consort, Xiao Yuanqi might not be able to hold onto his position as heir apparent.”

 

The two of them were simply chatting idly. For them, the muddier the waters of King Xin Mansion, the more advantageous it would be. Yu’an was in sight, and Xiao Yuanhe was also returning to Yu’an with them, so Mu Peixuan’s group simply slowed their journey. Though they could have reached it in a single day by fast horse, they deliberately took two days.

 

The day they arrived in Yu’an was a beautiful day, with the first rays of warm sun dispelling the biting cold of deep winter.

 

To their surprise, there were people waiting to greet them outside the gates of Yu’an City.

 

It was someone from the imperial court. The leader was Qin Qiong, the Minister of Revenue, who claimed to have come by imperial decree to personally welcome Mu Peixuan into Nandou. After the Daliang dynasty moved its capital to Yu’an, Yu’an earned the title of Nandu[mfn]Southern Capital[/mfn] because of its location in the southern part of Daliang.

 

Mu Peixuan and Duan Linzhou exchanged glances. Mu Peixuan told Qin Qiong that after a brief rest, he would accompany him to an audience with the emperor, and Qin Qiong made no objection. This former Minister of Revenue, now promoted to Grand Tutor by the young emperor, was an old official nearing sixty. He carried the heavy burden of public condemnation for advocating the southward relocation. His every gesture exuded the simple integrity of a civil servant. Whether it was the young emperor’s directive or Qin Qiong’s own initiative, he even had officials from the Ministry of Rites accompany them to settle in, showing considerable regard.

 

Mu Peixuan was to enter the palace for an imperial audience. After a few instructions to Duan Linzhou and Fu Yue, he departed with Qin Qiong.

 

Most of Mu Peixuan’s two thousand troops remained outside Yu’an City, with only about five hundred brought inside. The assistant minister from the Ministry of Rites led them to a refurbished three-courtyard residence within Yu’an City. The Assistant Minister appeared somewhat uncomfortable as Duan Linzhou and the others surveyed the residence. He noticed Mu Peixuan’s absence and identified the main person in charge as “Master Zhou,” who was said to be Mu Peixuan’s strategist. Mu Peixuan now commanded the Border Southern Army and was a border general the emperor sought to win over. Although “Master Zhou” was Mu Peixuan’s strategist, the assistant minister observed that Fu Yue and the others treated him with great respect and therefore dared not neglect him.

 

The assistant minister awkwardly chuckled and said, “Yu’an isn’t like Liangdu…”

 

How could it be compared? Liangdu was the imperial capital of Daliang for hundreds of years; even looking further back, it was the imperial city for three dynasties. No matter how prosperous Yu’an became, could it ever surpass Liangdu? Many imperial relatives and noble families followed the move to Yu’an, and in an instant, Yu’an seemed to become crowded. Duan Linzhou had already acquired several shops and houses when he first established the Wenfeng Yuan and placed his agents in Yu’an. It was an unintentional move then, but now their value had multiplied several times over.

 

Among them was one property in an excellent location, unfortunately taken notice of by a marquis who had moved south. To avoid drawing attention, they had no choice but to give it up.

 

Duan Linzhou bowed towards the direction of the temporary palace and said, “Please convey our Highness’s thanks to His Majesty for his concern.”

 

Minister Guan breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Then I won’t disturb you further. If there’s anything else, just send someone to find me.”

 

Duan Linzhou said to Zhang Chao, who was beside him, “Zhang Chao, see Minister Guan out.”

 

Liu Guang led the Ministry of Rites officials away. Only their own people remained in the courtyard. Zhou Zijin looked around and said, “This residence is a bit too simple.”

 

Mu Ke said, “Yu’an isn’t Liangdu. And this place isn’t far from the temporary palace. It’s already quite good that His Majesty could arrange a three-courtyard residence for our Highness here.”

 

Zhou Zijin thought for a moment and chuckled. “That’s also true,” he said. “They even renovated it; this plum blossom tree is newly planted as well.”

 

“Junwang Fei—” Zhou Zijin started to say, but when he met Duan Linzhou’s gaze, he closed his mouth and corrected himself, “Master Zhou,” he said with an embarrassed smile, rubbing the bridge of his nose, “I can’t change the habit immediately.”

 

“You need to remember that when we’re outside,” Duan Linzhou said. Ever since they encountered Xiao Yuanhe’s group, Mu Peixuan had only introduced Duan Linzhou as his strategist, without directly revealing his identity as the princess consort. Duan Linzhou knew this was to cover their tracks. Now that Mu Peixuan was in Yu’an, he was already embroiled in the turbulent affairs there. Duan Linzhou was his weakness, and if malicious individuals discovered his true identity, they might target him.

 

Mu Peixuan was unwilling to take such a risk.

 

Duan Linzhou said, “Zijin, take some men and search the entire residence.”

 

“Commander Fu, you should go and settle the soldiers who came to the capital with us.”

 

Zhou Zijin and Fu Yue both acknowledged the orders. Mu Ke said, “I need to go home, so I’ll take my leave now.”

 

Duan Linzhou nodded and smiled, “I’ll visit Lord Mu another day.”

 

Mu Ke waved his hand and left. Duan Linzhou also let out a sigh of relief. Liu Guang said, “Young Master, you’ve had a tiring journey; you should rest too.”

 

Duan Linzhou: “En.”