Chapter 131: The Chosen One (Dedicated to "I Want to Live a Few More Decades" - Bonus 7)

A lingering spring rain drifted over Chang'an in early spring.

In the drainage ditches along Vermilion Bird Avenue, the withered branches and fallen leaves from the previous year remained submerged, trembling gently as the spring raindrops fell.

The spring rain carried a hint of chill, falling without cease.

More than a dozen horsemen galloped into the city of Chang'an amidst this spring rain.

"Hyah!"

Vermilion Bird Avenue was absurdly wide, yet the momentum of this group of horsemen caused the carriages and horses ahead to scramble out of the way.

The curtain of a carriage was lifted, and Wang Xian'er peered out. "Is the Prince of Wei returning to Chang'an? Heaven knows who is about to have bad luck."

A maid inside the carriage lowered her voice. "Young mistress, do not lean out."

Wang Xian'er held her head high and took a few more glances before reluctantly dropping the carriage curtain.

The dozen or so horsemen arrived before the imperial palace city. The lead rider dismounted, his burly figure standing tall as his cold gaze swept over the guards at the gate. "Announce me. This prince seeks an audience."

The news was swiftly passed into the palace.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor, who was reviewing state memorials, raised his gaze, looking somewhat impatient. "What is it this time?"

Just earlier, several censors had impeached the Imperial Noble Consort for relying on the Emperor's favor to run amok within the palace.

This was a backlash from the previous impeachment of Yang Songcheng, and the Emperor had simply swept the memorial aside, dismissing it entirely.

Han Shitou bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, the Prince of Wei seeks an audience."

The Emperor raised his eyes, rubbing his temples with a trace of a headache. "What is he here for?"

Han Shitou reminded him, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Wei submitted a memorial in advance, and Your Majesty granted him permission to leave his fief in Qianzhou to return to Chang'an and visit Consort Shu."

Consort Shu of the Qiao clan was a companion from the Emperor's days in his former residence, and she had given birth to the Prince of Wei, Li Yan.

The Emperor nodded.

Shortly after, the Prince of Wei was led outside the grand hall.

Han Shitou stepped out. "Your Highness, please follow this servant."

The Prince of Wei's flesh-laden cheeks trembled slightly, his gaze shifting toward the interior of the hall.

Upon entering the hall, the Prince of Wei offered a greeting.

"Greetings, Father!"

His deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the hall.

The Emperor laid down his memorial, gazing calmly at his second son. "How fares Qianzhou?"

The Prince of Wei raised his head, looking boldly at the Emperor. "Qianzhou is dull. I would rather go to the Northern Frontier, to lead troops into battle and slaughter the enemy."

The Emperor said indifferently, "Go see your mother."

"Understood."

The Prince of Wei rose and took his leave with a look of sullen disappointment.

Han Shitou escorted him out, watching him disappear from sight before turning back into the hall.

The Emperor had already finished dealing with that memorial and stood up, pacing slowly within the hall.

He suddenly looked at Han Shitou and asked, "How has Zhang Chumaow fared since returning to the Southern Frontier?"

Han Shitou searched his memory for the recently received intelligence. "Very quiet."

"Failing to become the Northern Frontier Jiedushi has made him completely lose his spirit?" The Emperor smiled. "It seems the father-in-law's eye for choosing a son-in-law is not as good as mine."

To Han Shitou, the Emperor's smile clearly carried a trace of mockery.

As it turned out, the Emperor had never intended to let Zhang Chumaow succeed as the Northern Frontier Jiedushi.

The four great clans had bustled about for so long, only to busy themselves over nothing.

They had no inkling of the Emperor's true thoughts.

Han Shitou even wondered if the matter of Zhang Chumaow fabricating military achievements had long since fallen into the Emperor's eyes; even if Liao Jing had been threatened by Zhang Chumaow to change his testimony, some other person would still have emerged to expose Zhang Chumaow's lies.

The Emperor's mastery of statecraft remained as formidable as ever.

A trace of gloom flashed across Han Shitou's eyes.

...

Consort Shu of the Qiao clan sat by the window, gazing lazily at the spring rain.

"The spring rain of Jiangnan is like fine silk, lingering and soft. Chang'an's spring rain comes in fitful drops, looking just like an old man." The corners of Consort Shu's lips turned up. Even though she was no longer young and had two wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, one could still faintly discern the grace of that charming maiden from the Jiangnan water towns of her youth.

Yu Nan, a junior head eunuch standing to the side, smiled and said, "What Your Ladyship describes makes this servant wish to go and see it, if only to be drenched in Jiangnan's lingering spring rain."

Consort Shu's body suddenly gave a start, and Yu Nan stepped forward. "Is Your Ladyship feeling unwell?"

Consort Shu abruptly stood up, pressing both hands against the windowsill as she leaned out and cried out joyously, "Er'lang!"

Yu Nan walked over to the door and said with a smile, "Greetings, Your Highness."

The Prince of Wei walked to the outer doorway and gave his entire body a shake, sending droplets of water flying in all directions.

Consort Shu laughed from inside. "You were just like this when you were little, mimicking a dog shaking off rainwater. Even now that you're so grown up, you still can't change it."

The Prince of Wei walked in and knelt down. "Mother, I have come to see you."

Consort Shu rubbed the top of his head, her gaze tender. "Even if your mother cannot contend with the Empress, nor can she contend with the Liang clan, there is one thing in which your mother surpasses them all: your mother has a filial son."

Mother and son sat facing each other, and Consort Shu repeatedly ordered people to fetch towels and hot tea.

"Mother, you have grown thin." The Prince of Wei frowned as he looked at Yu Nan. "How are you servants taking care of her?"

Yu Nan trembled slightly. "This servant wouldn't dare be negligent."

Consort Shu scolded playfully, "Why would I want to be fat? To be thin is to have a good fate. Look at those who are thin—they live long lives."

The Prince of Wei said in a deep voice, "Back then, the Crown Prince of Filial Piety did not live a long life."

"Hush!"

Consort Shu glared at him, then nodded to indicate Yu Nan.

Yu Nan poked his head out of the window to check left and right, then turned back inside and said, "No one is about."

"Speak less of the Crown Prince of Filial Piety in the future." Consort Shu took the towel and began wiping the Prince of Wei's hair.

The Prince of Wei knelt upright, appearing robust and grand, contrasting with his mother behind him, who looked exceptionally petite.

"Mother."

"Hmm!"

"Last time I heard those senior imperial clan members mention the Crown Prince of Filial Piety, they all seemed somewhat resentful. Why is that?"

This son of hers simply refused to listen!

Consort Shu lowered her voice. "Back when the Crown Prince of Filial Piety was the Heir Apparent, he was high-spirited and vigorous. He held deep resentment toward the imperial clan, saying that the clan members excelled only at eating, drinking, and making merry, and were of not the slightest benefit to the state or the family... The clan members were furious, and both sides argued fiercely at court."

The Prince of Wei merely thought about it for a moment, and could not help but feel a yearning longing. "What a hero!"

"That is not all." Seeing a white hair on top of his head, Consort Shu yanked it out abruptly. "Such a young age and already you have white hairs."

She handed the towel to Yu Nan, sat down, and continued, "At that time, more than a dozen members of the imperial clan were all renowned for their eloquence, yet the Crown Prince of Filial Piety refuted them single-handedly until they were speechless and dripping with sweat. It is said that the Emperor and Empress were overjoyed at the time, declaring this to be the qilin son of our household."

The Prince of Wei said in a daze, "What a magnificent Crown Prince of Filial Piety."

Consort Shu sighed. "Er'lang, that position is fraught with peril. Your mother only hopes that you will live in peace and safety."

The Prince of Wei glared, a fierce aura bursting forth. "Mother, that coward who could even gift his own woman to Father—how can he ever become a sovereign?"

"Silence!" Consort Shu rebuked, her face filled with worry.

The Prince of Wei said disdainfully, "Why should Mother be apprehensive? That person spends his days reading books in the palace, playing the fool. But how could anyone who manages to be the Crown Prince truly be a fool? Who doesn't know he is merely enduring and biding his time?"

"Say no more." Consort Shu glared at him and instructed, "Bring out the jewelry I saved up last year and wrap them up securely."

"Mother, I have money!" The Prince of Wei furrowed his brow deeply. "You need money to spend in the palace too."

"What money would I need?" Consort Shu smiled lightly. "The Emperor dotes on the Noble Consort and never goes anywhere else. What use do I have for money? To bribe the eunuchs around him? I'll keep a little for the people around me, and you can take the rest."

The Prince of Wei looked at her, a gentle warmth melting into his fierce eyes. "Mother, you must take good care of yourself. Later on, I will make sure you enjoy a life of ease."

Consort Shu smiled. "A life of ease? Aren't I enjoying ease right now?"

Mother and son spoke for a while about their recent circumstances, and Consort Shu asked, "What trouble have you been stirring up in your fief lately?"

The Prince of Wei frowned. "I want to go to the Northern Frontier to slaughter the enemy, but Father refuses to allow it."

Consort Shu narrowed her eyes, tranquil as early spring, yet full of vitality.

"His Majesty is rather cold toward the Empress and rather wary of the Crown Prince... Though it is improper for imperial princes to command troops, you wouldn't be acting as a Jiedushi anyway... What worries me, however, is that once you step forward into certain matters, you will never be able to retreat and hide again."

The Prince of Wei sneered. "Is Mother still afraid of such things? Look at how the sons of the Crown Prince of Filial Piety are faring nowadays! They live cowering like rats. If that person ascends the throne in the future, I fear I won't even be able to preserve my life."

Consort Shu sighed. "Ah, the affection within this imperial clan grows thinner with every passing generation."

Later that evening, the Prince of Wei once again sought an audience with the Emperor. No one knew what was said, but he was driven out by a teacup hurled by the Emperor.

"Your Highness, please take your leave."

Han Shitou stood outside the hall and spoke.

The Prince of Wei's head and face were covered in tea, looking quite comical.

Pfft!

A eunuch could not help but laugh out loud.

"Funny?" The Prince of Wei walked over.

The eunuch turned pale as paper. "This servant..."

The Prince of Wei delivered a cruel slap.

Crack!

The eunuch rolled his eyes and collapsed straight to the ground.

From within the hall came the Emperor's roar, "Get out!"

The Prince of Wei shouted toward the interior of the hall, "Father, take care of yourself."

Inside the hall, the Emperor's expression remained detached.

As indifferent as a deity.

The Prince of Wei strode all the way out of the palace.

"Your Highness, ahead is the Prince of Yue."

Prince of Yue Li Ling, the Emperor's third son and the second son of Empress Yang. However, with the Crown Prince as his elder brother, his status as a legitimate son of the principal wife made him rather conspicuous. Fortunately, the Prince of Yue was gentle and weak by nature, which spared him from many conflicts.

"Third brother!"

The Prince of Wei halted.

The Prince of Yue was slender and pale, his gaze somewhat evasive as he raised his hands in a salute. "Greetings, Second Elder Brother."

The Prince of Wei sneered. "That Crown Prince of a brother doesn't even know how to look after you. Look at you, living your life practically invisible."

The Prince of Yue weakly lowered his head, and the eunuch behind him barked, "For the Prince of Wei to speak thus, aren't you afraid the Empress—"

Bang!

With a single punch, the eunuch was sent flying, crashing heavily against the steps to the side. As he raised his head, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Who else dares to yelp?" The Prince of Wei demanded with a ferocious grin. "I haven't returned to the palace for a long time, and you've all gotten arrogant?"

"Second Elder Brother." The Prince of Yue's face grew even paler. "He didn't mean anything by it."

"Go tell that to your Crown Prince brother!" The Prince of Wei sneered, raising his voice into a roar. "I am stationed in Qianzhou. If I gallop at top speed, I can reach Chang'an in a few days. But if I ever find out that anyone has upset my mother, I'll squash them without a second thought!"

The Prince of Yue lowered his head, a fierce glint flashing briefly through his eyes. When he raised his head again, he had resumed his timid and cowardly expression. "Second Elder Brother, no one would dare."

Without even casting him a glance, the Prince of Wei strode away.

Later that evening, Consort Shu received the news and could only sigh. She sat by the windowsill as the spring rain drifted down before her eyes.

Loneliness was like the spring rain, silently and imperceptibly stealing in.

...

Far away in the imperial palace of Chang'an, a minor incident occurred that would have far-reaching impacts on the future, yet the Northern Frontier felt not a single ripple of it.

Yang Xuan was busy.

"Run!"

On the drill ground, more than two thousand men were sprinting furiously.

"How is it?" Yang Xuan asked.

Nan He praised, "My Lord's method of drilling troops is epoch-making and unprecedented."

Yang Xuan gave a dry cough. "Old Nan, that flattery is fine, but it's a bit too exaggerated."

Nan He chuckled.

Wanting a promotion and a raise made flattering the boss a shortcut, and Nan He was not immune to worldly conventions.

"My Lord, the crucial thing now is crossbows." Nan He tempted him persuasively, "Just think, My Lord, if the Taiping Army were to deploy a massive crossbow array, how many enemy soldiers would die before they could even approach our formation?"

"I want to as well." As the boss, when subordinates felt that equipment was lacking, Yang Xuan had to find ways to hunt for it and procure it. But he, the boss, was not only moonlighting as the workshop director, he was also the damn head mechanic of the workshop—this was getting a bit absurd!

"What about the seed grain?"

Yang Xuan thought of that ruthless fellow who had thrust his superior's hand into molten iron.

"Greetings, My Lord." Gu Zhong was extremely respectful. Had he not known this fellow's background, Yang Xuan would certainly have taken him for a sincere, ordinary old farmer.

"I want to forge a saber," Yang Xuan said.

Gu Zhong felt this request was an insult to him. "My Lord, a saber is a minor matter."

"But we also need to set up a lot of other things." Thinking of the equipment required to forge weapons, Yang Xuan felt a splitting headache coming on.

Nan He said dismissively, "Sabers? Why would My Lord need to forge those? Just go requisition them from the prefecture."

The prefecture still had some inventory of horizontal sabers.

"Our Taiping Army only has an authorized strength of a thousand men; where are we going to get weapons for the extra thousand-plus men?"

Being a boss was not easy!

Yang Xuan instructed, "Gu Zhong, look among the convicts and pick out some craftsmen. We'll refine our own steel and iron."

Gu Zhong felt that his boss's idea was somewhat overly ambitious. "Prefect, this humble subordinate has watched them refine steel before, but as for how to actually do it, I haven't the foggedest notion."

Yang Xuan returned to the county office.

"We must have a stable supply of iron ore. The Northern Frontier has the Wang clan's mines; I'll set out tomorrow and procure some, one way or another."

Cao Ying gave Yang Xuan a peculiar look.

Yang Xuan gave a dry cough. "Old Cao, what kind of look is that?"

Cao Ying chuckled dryly. "I heard My Lord has quite a friendship with that talented young lady of the Wang clan? I don't know how far things have progressed, but if you're somewhat close, this old man hopes we can save a lot of money every year."

"Little Xuanzi, go be a gigolo!"

Yang Xuan's face darkened. "It was just a passing romance in the dew."

The old thief raised an eyebrow. "My Lord, take it a step further."

A bunch of absolute beasts, the lot of them!

Yang Xuan swore to himself that he was only thinking of Zhou Ning in Chang'an, silently reciting the words "deep affection" thirty-six times to successfully banish the urge to sell himself for iron ore.

"Refining steel and iron isn't simple, though!" Cao Ying felt the boss was making light of the matter. "When we torched the Chunyü clan's workshop that night, this old man remembers those furnaces and apparatuses were quite complicated. Would Gu Zhong know how?"

Yang Xuan shook his head.

Cao Ying smiled faintly to himself and raised an eyebrow at Yiniang, hinting that she should comfort Yang Xuan later to prevent him from becoming overly impatient.

Yiniang nodded and glanced at Zhang Siniang.

Zhang Siniang walked in carrying a tray of tea, her figure swaying gently as she moved.

Not enough!

Yiniang felt the scale was not quite enough, but upon remembering there were outsiders present, she relaxed again.

Later on, she would have Siniang shake it for the master alone.

Men, after all, needed a woman's gentleness to soothe them when they were irritable.

Yang Xuan accepted the tea and accidentally brushed against Zhang Siniang's hand. He thought nothing of it, but Zhang Siniang's face flushed crimson, practically on the verge of letting out coy whimpers.

A golden opportunity!

Yiniang's eyes lit up as she prepared to clear out these lightbulbs.

Yang Xuan sniffed the tea. "I know how."

Cao Ying: "..."

"It's just refining some steel and iron. Back then, when you lot were setting fires and killing people, I went and looked at those furnaces. It's simple."

Cao Ying: "..."

Everyone exchanged glances.

The old thief muttered, "No wonder those people call him a man of destiny. The rest of us were killing and burning with such glee, yet My Lord went off to look at furnaces—no wonder he is the man of destiny. Ah! This old man has regained confidence in our campaign to suppress the rebels."

In Yang Xuan's earpiece, Zhuque's voice sounded.

"Trivial matter."

...

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