Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The Meng family of Cangzhou?

There are four great families in Dongqing; Shangyang’s Feng family, Langya’s Wang family, Qiongning Xie family and Cangzhou’s Meng family.

The Feng family of Shangyang mostly radiate with positive energy and they have only about 3000 to 4000 private troops. The Wangs’ from Langya is also a noble and upright family. For over ten years, they’ve remained in seclusion, they kept their identities hidden, and their family members rarely boast about themselves outside. Qiongning’s Xie family comprise of talents who are intellectual and skilled in martial arts, they have been honoured from the Xia dynasty till now.

Only the Meng family of Cangzhou who wields military prowess are blessed with the Emperor’s trust.

The Count of Zhenbei’s achievements are evident to all, yet his powers were weakened in every way by Dongqing’s Emperor who aimed to rid him of his military command. Previously, he led troops to provide aid to Nansheng, but some cunning soldiers bore enmity towards him and this conflict caused many soldiers to be severely injured. Presently, the Count of Zhenbei and his family are in dire states, few are still alive.

To stabilise the north border’s situation, the Emperor entrusted the Meng family of Cangzhou with an important task. This emboldened the already powerful Mengs of Cangzhou and they held no one with respect.

To what extent will they be arrogant?

Many years before, the people of Cangzhou rose in an uproar. The Emperor didn’t reprimand the Mengs and instead, he approved of them using violence against the rebels; use violence to suppress violence. Logically speaking, the Meng family of Cangzhou being the Emperor’s top confidantes, why would they come here?

Prince Changshou used the remainder of his thinking abilities to ponder over it, the infuriation in his heart subsided, and he tidied his physical appearance and then sat on the seat of honour.

“Quickly, invite the envoy in.”

A middle-aged strategist responded with flattery. Shortly after, the sound of rustling garments was heard from outside and anxious footsteps were heard. The curtains of the door were opened and in came a man who had a regular complexion, he could not be identified if thrown amongst a sea of people. He wore plain clothing with numerous patches.

Prince Changshou purposely sounded profound, then he put on airs momentarily and only asked after a while, “Speak up, what are the Meng family’s motives?”

As the saying goes that if two people differ in goals, they should not associate. After Prince Changshou fell into Yang Si’s trap, he was determined not to trust the words of literates. The Mengs’ are the closest confidante of Dongqing’s Emperor, even the children in Dongqing are aware of this. Will he believe that the Meng family are suddenly pledging allegiance to another master?

The envoy sent by the Mengs’ bowed respectfully then said with a hoarse voice, “Prince, it is wisely said that people with understanding do not speak in obscure terms. I will not hide my true intentions. My lord desires to discuss the matters of the world with the Prince. I wonder if the Prince is interested to have a detailed discussion?”

Prince Changshou chuckled in his heart and a mocking expression filled his face. Why do people often treat him as a fool and lie to him?

He answered sarcastically, “In this world, who is ignorant of the fact that your lord is the loyal servant of my beloved second brother. Who will believe you?”

The envoy’s face darkened like coal and drastically changed.

Presently, the aristocratic families possess great powers. Even if the four great families choose to live in seclusion consecutively, the political fate of Dongqing rests in their hands, and the Emperor and his imperial family are just the puppets manoeuvred by these families. Prince Changshou didn’t treat him with respect, instead, he blatantly called the Meng family out for being the Emperor’s servant, this was utterly outrageous.

However, since the envoy sent by the Meng family was here on a mission, he could not strain the relationship.

He pondered in his heart before speaking, “As the saying goes, the birds know how to choose a good nest, and so the subjects have the prerogative to choose their master. Since my lord wishes to discuss the affairs of the world with the Prince, he naturally looks up to you. The Emperor is utterly incompetent. Now that the north borderlines are looking fearsomely at us, within our land there are rebels all around. He doesn’t consider the consequences and kills his loyal and upright officials; he encourages the evil ones to guard the hall. He is unworthy to be the Emperor, and moreover, he is incompetent as heaven’s mandate.”

He sat on the seat of honour and listened. At first, he was not focused but as the envoy continued to describe matters in detail, he was gradually convinced. Not unless the Mengs’ of Cangzhou indeed intended to change their allegiance and aid him in ascending the throne? However, why would the Meng family help him? There must be an advantage he could offer to an aristocratic family driven by fame and power to willingly submit to him.

Can Prince Changshou offer the Meng family something the Dongqing Emperor cannot?

Regardless of how they curse the Emperor for being muddle-headed and useless, he is still the legitimate Emperor while Prince Changshou is acting in the name of eradicating evil people around the Emperor; a “disloyal subject” with the intention to rebel and force the Emperor to abdicate. Or else, is it because the Meng family of Cangzhou has lost its former glories and desire to earn credit for helping him ascend the throne?

His eyes lit up and he began to be convinced.

“I’ll be frank about it; your lord isn’t one to make a loss. For him to help me to overthrow the Emperor, how is this beneficial to him?”

Helping an Emperor ascend the throne? No matter how great that achievement is, can it help the Meng family advance? The god of war, talented and valiant Meng Jing, is the ancestor of the Meng family. He lay the foundations of success for his descendants so that the Mengs’ continued to be held in high regards till now.

Where is the location where the herds of horses are reared? The essential powerhouse of the nation, yet the Emperor allows the Meng family of Cangzhou to be solely in charge. What deep trust he must have. How immeasurable the honour it must be.

Even if the Mengs’ played a role in helping the Emperor ascend the throne, they cannot advance further. Unless Prince Changshou abdicates the throne that he is about to possess in favour of them…

After this thought crossed his mind, that bit of joy disappeared like the wind once again, and he guarded his heart against the envoy.

The envoy answered, “My lord does not have ill intentions, he only wishes to help the Prince obtain what rightfully belongs to you. Naturally, when this is achieved, it will be perfect if you are willing to reward my lord with the deaths of the entire Liu family.”

Filled with shock, Prince Changshou exclaimed, “He wants the lives of the entire Liu family?”

Is the final goal for the Meng family to submit to him to be the entire Liu family being killed? No, what deep hatred do the Meng and Liu family have for each other?

With haughty arrogance, the envoy said, “It is indeed the Liu family from Hejian!”

Prince Changshou’s heart was anxious, he continued to ask, “The Liu family from Hejian? Are you referring to the magistrate of Chongzhou, Liu She? His family?”

The envoy replied, “Is there another Liu family in Hejian?”

It seems like they are directly targeting Liu She and his family.

Prince Changshou’s heart was settled, he was bewildered and asked, “Did your lord agree to help me just because he wants Liu She and his family to die?”

What atrocious deeds did the Liu family commit against the Mengs in Cangzhou that both families had such deep hatred for each other?

“Of course.” The envoy maintained his proud disposition. “If the Prince doesn’t believe, then please deem this discussion as naught.”

To safeguard Chenzhou, Dongqing’s Emperor had ordered the Mengs in Cangzhou to lend them aid. Till now, nineteen edicts had been sent.

The patriarch of the Meng family, Meng Zhan, agreed to dispatch troops and surrender the military command, but with terms and conditions. After defeating Prince Changshou, the imperial family must reward them with the heads of all the members of the Liu family. Yet the Emperor was helpless, he had a rather highly esteemed Royal concubine Huijun beside him. He could only resort to tricking the Mengs into lending him 200,000 troops, yet he evaded the Meng family’s request. Thus, Meng Zhan sent his envoy to discuss a deal with Prince Changshou.

Prince Changshou intuitively felt this was an opportunity presented to bring him closer to the throne. Yet he wished to know the hatred that existed between the Meng and Liu families. Only after he verifies the details, can he be sure of the true motives the Mengs have.

It’s such a pity that the envoy refused to say, he kept it a secret with no room for discussion. Thus, he could only agree verbally to convince the envoy. Afterwards, he secretly ordered his men to investigate the enmity that existed between the two families.

Nonetheless, after a thorough investigation, other than the patriarch of the Mengs’ who became Liu She’s second wifeH1, they were both close friends before. Later they cut ties with each other but besides that, there were no details. This stirred Prince Changshou’s curiosity and he was suspicious of the love and hatred between Meng Zhan, Liu She, and his second wife, Gu Zhen.

H1?? This is not right. Patriarch is male so how can they become someone’s wife?