Xianchun and Liu Boyue sat together in the prince’s study, Xianchun furrowing his brow as he listened to his right-hand man’s report.
“Wenyuan has entered the palace again?” Xianchun said in surprise.
“This is the third time in as many days that Zhao Wenyuan has entered the Imperial Palace, which one of the Princes is permitted to enter with such frequency?” Liu Boyue said. “And now Wei Guang and all his resources and connections have been thrown behind him as well. The rumor has it that Wei Guang has even gone so far as to take Zhao Wenyuan as his godson.”
Xianchun’s frown deepened. “As his godson?”
“That doesn’t bode well for us,” Liu Boyue pointed out.
Xianchun shook his head. “It’s of little consequence to us, it’s the Grand Duke who should be worrying. Enough about Zhao Wenyuan, is there anything from Third Brother and Fifth Brother?”
Liu Boyue bowed his head slightly. “They’ve remained completely motionless since the poisoning of Shu Zhengyu, and the Shu clan also hasn’t so much as uttered a squeak.”
Xianchun let out a sharp sigh, getting up in a brisk motion. “The two of them can certainly hold their poise! Fifth Brother and the Shu clan can withstand a slap in the face without so much as a squeak when General Shu used to fly into a thunderous rage at the smallest slight. I find it difficult to believe that they can stay like this for long.”
He gestured into the distance, in the vague direction of the palace. “And Third Brother, he’s much too calm. The Ministry of War is about to reach the breaking point and he’s not doing anything?”
Liu Boyue patiently regarded his master’s uneasy irritation. “No. Rather, he seems to have even withdrawn his sights from the Ministry of Revenue and is focusing on the Fifth Prince’s household affairs.”
Xianchun shook his head in disbelief. “I suppose I should thank that boy, he really was poisoned at an opportune moment for me. But to think he would back off from the Ministry of Revenue that easily, and even retreat from the Ministry of War!”
“It is not a good thing for us, my prince. The Emperor would never allow the Third Prince to have both the treasury and the military, we would have gained the fisherman’s benefit simply by waiting until he had worn down the Ministry of Revenue to step in,” Liu Boyue pointed out. “Our chances of taking on the Ministry of Revenue alone are slim.”
Xianchun made a sound of annoyance. “Jun Shao’s subordinates are either allied with the Grand Duke or with Third Brother, and the Ministry of Justice was all but lost to us. The scholars are beginning to flock over, but they flock to Third Brother much more frequently, and if not to him, then to his father-in-law. We had great momentum at the start, but we’ve yet to gain significant ground, while Third Brother seemed to have retreated but has only increased his reputation and influence. What on earth do we do now?”
Liu Boyue grimaced. “It is as Your Highness says, with the Grand Duke’s faction holding so many positions in court, new opportunities only arise when they step down or are removed, and that’s not happening quite fast enough. Unless the Grand Duke suddenly dies and leaves us a power vacuum, we can only work with what we have, or otherwise, fight tooth and nail to gain even the smallest advantage.”
“We don’t have the strength to do the latter yet,” Xianchun reluctantly admitted. “That bastard, he’s the most long-lived member of the Zhao clan within three generations!”
“Since our greatest obstacle is still nowhere near death, then we can only work with what we have,” Liu Boyue replied. “There’s the Ministry of Rites, for one. Furthermore, we can’t take the Ministry of War from the Third Prince, but we can impede his efforts.”
Xianchun gestured for him to go on.
“So long as he acts, there will be something we can make use of. Given the Shu clan’s precarious position and the Third Prince’s own maternal clan, anything can become a crucial error that could be fatal to his career,” Liu Boyue explained.
“Then our only worry will be that he does not make any moves,” Xianchun replied.
Liu Boyue stilled, glancing at Xianchun curiously. “Not make any moves? When the Ministry of War is right within his grasp? Why does my prince believe that would be the case?”
Xianchun took a deep breath. “Wenyuan once warned me that inaction is the greatest form of action in the fight for the throne, that retreating was in fact the best way to make gains, and he admitted that he told Third Brother the same thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Third Brother ended up listening to him. In hindsight, Wenyuan’s approach was incomplete, but it wasn’t wrong either. It certainly applies to the Ministry of War, Third Brother’s popularity with the military means the Ministry’s his in all but name. Father’s distrust is the only thing that could change the game, and it would not come to pass if Third Brother simply doesn’t make any moves.”
Trying to stir up trouble between the Emperor and Kuang also wasn’t an option for Xianchun, whose only support in the harem was Consort Liang, a woman too virtuous and kind-hearted to take part in an act of sabotage. Xianchun himself also wasn’t close enough with the Emperor to try anything without inviting trouble upon himself. If there was anyone who could have sway over the Emperor’s moods and decisions, it would be Wenyuan.
Liu Boyue’s face twitched slightly, unnoticed by Xianchun. Even though Xianchun had come to see Zhao Wenyuan as a potential threat, it wasn’t enough in Liu Boyue’s eyes. The fact that he had run into Hu Qing the other night hadn’t helped matters either. Liu Boyue had no idea what Zhao Wenyuan’s next move would be, or if he even knew how to put the pieces together. Hu Qing was bound by customer confidentiality and couldn’t give away Liu Boyue’s identity as Xianchun’s strategist, but he was never a fan of leaving things to chance.
“Given that Zhao Wenyuan met with the Third Prince right after Shu Zhengyu’s poisoning makes one wonder what other advice he might have imparted,” Liu Boyue said pointedly. “It’s been a while since he has reached out to you, has it not?”
Xianchun looked visibly displeased at that. “Indeed, it has.”
“That certainly says something about his inclinations,” Liu Boyue muttered, just loud enough that Xianchun could hear him. “Perhaps the Third Prince’s remarkable restraint is due to a guarantee of his success regarding the Ministry of War.”
“Would Zhao Wenyuan do such a thing?” Xianchun demanded.
Liu Boyue sighed. “It’s hard to say, my prince.”
“Then you would have me seek him out?”
“You are a prince, and he is only a Minister. He should be the one seeking you out,” Liu Boyue protested. “But if he does not, then that certainly says something about which way he leans.”
“Indeed,” Xianchun said darkly. “We’ll see soon enough which path he chooses to walk, and how neutral he truly is.”
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Wei Guang patiently listened with a fond smile as the Emperor finished explaining. Internally, he wanted to sigh at the Emperor’s way of thinking. It was commendable that his former student could both sense the strategic importance of creating Zhao Wenyuan as a central figure in court politics and was able to perceive the sharp fangs of his sons, but the Emperor was forgetting both the actions the palace was undertaking to undermine Wenyuan’s clan as well as the jealousy his sons would inevitably be stirred to.
“It’s good that Minister Zhao considers the dynasty above his own glory,” Wei Guang said in response to the Emperor. “He is certain to be a pillar of the state.”
The Emperor smiled, happy to hear his favorite nephew praised. “Indeed, but what do you think about this? Can it be done?”
Wei Guang thoughtfully stroked his beard. “I will admit that despite the short time I’ve known him, I’ve grown very fond of Minister Zhao.”
“Yes, I heard that you’ve taken him as your godson,” the Emperor replied. “I’m glad to hear of it, I had hoped you would not only support him but instruct him in how to act for my sons as you did for me and my brothers.”
Wei Guang nodded slowly. “It is as you say, Your Majesty. I chose to claim him as a godson, precisely because I knew what role you had in mind for him. His standing in the court is quite good as it is, and I believe he can succeed in this role. But that’s exactly why you should not rush to bestow the Imperial surname upon him at this time.”
“How so?” The Emperor asked.
“There are two reasons. The first is the relationship between Minister Zhao and the princes. The princes have hearts big enough to encompass the nation. But are their hearts big enough to encompass another Zhou, especially one who is related to them by blood?” Wei Guang asked.
The Emperor frowned pensively but nodded for Wei Guang to go on.
“The second is his marriage. Your Majesty will be formally announcing the Imperial Edict for the marriage alliance very soon, who among the court would not understand the connection between Minister Zhao’s new surname and his new bride? If his surname is gained thanks to his wife, then how will he navigate his relationship with her in the future? With his accomplishments and his bloodline, it would be no surprise even if he became a Duke in the future, but the order in which things happen shapes our perception of them. People would give the credit of his achievements to his fortuitous marriage, rather than his own merit,” Wei Guang pointed out. “For the daughter of one of the Khagan’s innumerous concubines, and one of low birth at that, a nephew of the Emperor is more than good enough as a match. Why should a bestowal be given to merely compensate the princess?”
In fact, Wei Guang thought Wenyuan was likely to at least attain the rank of an Archduke if things went well, though the other side of that was facing certain death if things went wrong.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“You have a point on both parts,” the Emperor agreed. “But it is precisely the relationship with my sons that I worry about. Looking at them now, I feel I do not recognize my own children. I never fought so fiercely with my brothers, nor did I ever claim the entire court as my battlefield the way they do. If Wenyuan tries to interfere, would they not resent him for it? He needs to have something to protect him.”
“Then you must allow him to gain an achievement first, and then reward him. In doing so, no one will be able to say anything against the matter,” Wei Guang advised.
“And what achievement would be suitable?” The Emperor asked.
Wei Guang smiled. “Your Majesty, please just leave that to me. When the time comes, all you need to do is throw your full support behind Wenyuan, and everything else will come to fruition.”
The Emperor regarded Wei Guang with narrowed eyes for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Wei Guang, you still love riddles as much as ever! Very well then, I know that no harm can come of listening to you, I’ll let you take charge of this.”
Wei Guang bowed his head. “Thank you for indulging me, Your Majesty. I most certainly will not disappoint you.”
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An Haoyang watched anxiously as Qu Boyong paced the room. Even after worrying all night, they still did not have a concrete plan for how to deal with An Haoyang’s unfortunate encounter.
“Young lord, what do we do now?” An Haoyang asked.
“If that was Hu Qing, then there’s no telling how things will go from now on. I’ve heard rumors of how sharp-witted that man was, there’s no doubt that he’s certain of our connection now,” Qu Boyong said. “If that’s the case, it’s only a matter of time before you’re exposed. Just why have we been cursed with this misfortune?! I can’t get in touch with my cousin either, and Ji Fangluo’s case hasn’t progressed half as quickly as it should’ve. They’re working much slower than they would otherwise, all because that Sun Ruhui became the Left Secretariat!”
An Haoyang lowered his head nervously. “Then what do we do? We’ve lost our point of contact with the Zhao clan, if I also leave the Bureau, it’d be all the more suspicious!”
Qu Boyong whirled towards him, eyes flashing. “We can’t fail! Have we not worked countless years to succeed in this, or is it that you are reluctant to give up your position as an Imperial Investigator?”
An Haoyang sat up straight at the question. “Of course not! I would not forget the blood debt that demands repayment, I haven’t let it slip from my thoughts for even a single day! I’m just worried about how things are going is all, especially now that Hu Qing knows of me. If he’s trained in profile drawing, it’s very likely that Zhao Wenyuan will recognize me by my face.”
Qu Boyong calmed down, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Then we’ll just have to take action on our own terms.”
He nodded at An Haoyang. “If the chessboard is full of dead-ends, then we must simply expand the playing field. Let’s go.”
An Haoyang gave him a look of surprise. “Where?”
“It does not matter, so long as we are seen leaving the capital separately. You should head towards Dengzhou, the place where the Bureau has been investigating most recently, and I will head towards my father’s hometown. Once we have made a conspicuous exit, we should then make an inconspicuous entrance,” Qu Boyong explained.
An Haoyang lit up with realization. “To redirect their attention!”
Qu Boyong nodded. “Exactly! Once we return, we will follow a new playbook. Ji Fangluo’s case is taking too long, we need to act before the Grand Duke learns of the investigation. We will find the evidence ourselves.”
An Haoyang frowned. “The Zhao household is hard to infiltrate, especially with that Hu Qing present.”
Qu Boyong took a deep breath. “Then we will have to distract him. And what better to do that with than with the life of his master? If he’s not there, it also would not be impossible to enter by force.”
An Haoyang nodded slowly. “As expected of the young lord!”
Qu Boyong patted him on the back. “Alright then, let’s get going.”
Qu Boyong grabbed two emergency packs from under his bed, handing one to An Haoyang. They each changed into simple traveling robes with sturdy but rough cloth, fixing their appearances until they looked no different from normal travelers. The two of them did a quick sweep of the small house to make sure nothing was left behind before exchanging nods.
“Be careful. We’ll meet again shortly,” Qu Boyong said
“Be safe, young lord,” An Haoyang replied. With that, they each headed off in a different direction. An Haoyang began to move openly after making it a safe distance away, not bothering to cover his face or hide his actions. After retrieving his horse, he got on and quickly headed over to the City Gates, passing through the West Gate among the sea of travelers and merchants.
The guards barely gave him a cursory glance, but An Haoyang knew that there were always Imperial Investigators at each gate. He went on with bated breath, acting as though he were trying to be discreet while leaving enough traces to be both suspicious and traceable, a delicate act he balanced with care, but no one stopped him as he set off on the road heading Southwest.
As soon as he was a short distance away from the gate, An Haoyang quickened the pace. He dug his heels in, and the horse began galloping in the direction of Dengzhou.
Meanwhile, Qu Boyong navigated the streets toward the South Gates with much more difficulty. Not only did he need a horse, but he also needed to stay discreet. It was too risky to go and retrieve his own horse from the neighborhood stable, especially since there would then be witnesses and records.
The Third Prince and Fifth Prince’s men were looking for him, and while they didn’t have a warrant, they had enough authority to pull him in for questioning even without one. The rooftops weren’t an option in the middle of the day, and the small alleyways were too dangerous. Though Qu Boyong hadn’t been pursued by professional killers again since the Shu Zhengyu incident, he knew they were still looking for him.
Taking a gamble, Qu Boyong blended into the crowd and made his way down the street until he saw an empty carriage-for-hire at the side of the street.
“Hey there, are you taking passengers?” Qu Boyong asked the horseman. The ruddy-faced man gave him a friendly smile.
“That’s right, I am. Where are you heading towards, youngster?” The horseman asked.
“The horse exchange outside the South Gates,” Qu Boyong replied. The horseman looked over Qu Boyong’s robes.
“It’ll be quite a sum, young man. You might be better off catching a ride with a cart headed in that direction,” the horseman suggested, not unkindly.
“My uncle’s paying for the trip, I’d rather not be late,” Qu Boyong explained, pulling out a string of coins. The horseman raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a generous uncle you have,” he said.
“If one of my rich relatives suddenly decides to be gracious, I don’t see any reason not to accept it while my luck lasts,” Qu Boyong said ruefully. The horseman chuckled.
“Alright then, get on in,” the horseman gestured at the enclosed carriage. Qu Boyong scrambled in and the carriage set off. Despite the high fees worth almost a quarter of Qu Boyong’s monthly rent, the carriage was a simple one with hard seats and creaky wheels, making for a bumpy ride, nothing like the comfortable and luxurious ones Qu Boyong saw every day at the Zhao household. It was exactly what he needed, a carriage that people didn’t deem worthy of their attention.
Qu Boyong left the windows and curtains closed, just in case someone would glance in and catch sight of him. He knew the city’s roads like the back of his hand, the movements of the carriage were enough for him to discern where they were going.
They passed through the South Gates without incident, and the carriage came to a stop.
“Alright, here we are!” The horseman called over his shoulder. Qu Boyong got off, glancing around the horse market. To his relief, there didn’t seem to be any assassins or guards.
“Thank you,” Qu Boyong paid the horseman before peeling off into the scattered market. After looking around a bit, he bought a horse from a tired traveler coming up from Huainan to live with his son’s family.
“I’m coming right back down the way you came up, so at least the horse will know the path,” Qu Boyong said jokingly. The traveler laughed, shaking his head.
“Indeed she will, the poor thing! Youngster, you’re also from Anhui?” The man asked.
Qu Boyong shook his head. “I’m also from the Chu region, but my family’s from Hubei,” he replied. The older man nodded.
“It’s rare to hear a youngster refer to himself as being of the Chu these days,” the older man remarked. “Your ancestors must have a long history in that region.”
“You could say that,” Qu Boyong agreed. They completed the exchange, the traveler gifting Qu Boyong some of his leftover wine for the journey as an add-on for being from the same region. He bid his goodbyes and swung onto the saddle, heading off toward the Southeast. If anyone tried to track Qu Boyong’s movements, they would trace him back to the Anhui traveler and follow the trail towards Hubei, leaving Qu Boyong free to act covertly in the capital.
Galloping down the road, Qu Boyong greedily drank in the wind tearing through his hair. The rage and disappointment of failure were congealing into something harder and sharper, a blade eager to be unsheathed. Glancing over his shoulder as the walls of the capital grew smaller behind him, Qu Boyong bared his teeth in a feral grin.
Eat well and drink well while you can, Zhao scum. Your death date is approaching.
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CULTURAL NOTES
沉得住气/Can hold their poise: A Chinese saying that means someone can keep their cool even when things have gone south.
雷霆暴怒/Thunderous rage: An Ancient Chinese proverb comparing someone's rage to a thunderstorm.
渔翁之利/Fisherman's benefit: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to gain benefit simply by sitting and waiting (like a fisherman).
有所行动就会有所破绽/If you make a move you will make a mistake: A Chinese saying meaning that no matter how careful you are, every action leaves a trace, or that nothing can be perfect [and thus will leave mistakes for your enemies to grab onto].
按兵不动/Hold down your soldiers and refuse to move: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to bunker down and wait rather than charge in and start swinging, usually in order to gain benefit.
以退为进/Retreating to make gains: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to gaining benefit by taking a step back. For example, an aging tycoon's kids are all desperately fighting over inheritance even though he's still alive, and he grows disgusted with their greed. At this point, if there's someone who isn't trying to gain the inheritance but rather takes a step back and focuses on caring for their parent instead, the tycoon would likely feel more inclined towards giving that kid the most money, feeling that they are the least greedy/care about the tycoon the most.
国之栋梁/Pillar of the state: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to an official who is extremely trustworthy and holds great influence in court, to the dynasty's benefit.
先入为主/What comes first becomes the master: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is generally used to mean that what we first learn about something shapes our biases about them.
邓州/Dengzhou: A city to the Southwest of Luoyang, in the modern-day province of Henan.
安徽/Anhui: A province in the Eastern part of China, chunks of it used to belong to the Kingdom of Chu.
湖北/Hubei: A province in the Central-slightly-closer-to-the-East part of China. One of the former capitals of the Kingdom of Chu, 郢都/Yingdu, is located in Hubei province. 郢都 later became known as 荆州/Jingzhou, which fans of the Three Kingdoms era might recognize. Due to its strategic geographic position, it's always competed for during times of inner strife.
Hometown solidarity: China's quite big, and in Ancient times, travel was very inconvenient, so it was common for travelers from the same hometown to take extra care of one another out of solidarity. Qu Boyong's stretching the concept a bit to include the entire Chu region (spanning several provinces), but since the traveler from Anhui is a nice man, he's going along with it and extending hometown solidarity by giving Qu Boyong some wine for the journey.