Chapter 398 : A Go-between

Han Jianming looked at the snowflakes falling outside and commented, “It has been snowing several times since last year until now.”

Han Hao responded, “It’s good that the snow didn’t last long each time.” The longest it had snowed these past few times was only a day and a night. It would have been a major disaster if it had snowed for three days and three nights.

Han Jianming let out a sound of agreement. But, even if it didn’t last long, the common people still had a hard time.

Han Hao hesitated for a moment before saying, “My Lord, there is a problem with the Marquis of Changping’s congee stand. Someone ate the porridge given by the Marquis of Changping and died.” Every year, wealthy families in the capital would give out congee. The Marquis of Changping’s Residence was naturally among them.

Han Jianming asked coldly, “What happened?”

The congee offered by the Marquis’s Mansion in Changping was made from old rice of several years, and some had gone mouldy. People with poor health would not survive after eating this congee. Even if one didn’t want to use new rice, one still couldn’t make congee from mouldy old rice. There was no such good thing as wanting fame without spending any money. T

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After listening to Han Hao’s words, Han Jianming put his hand on the table and said after a moment of silence, “The Zhou family is beyond saving.” T

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Hearing this statement, Han Hao explained, “My Lord, it was the steward who stuffed his own pockets by exchanging ordinary old rice for the mouldy one that no one wouldn’t even eat. The Imperial Censor has already presented a petition to impeach the Zhou family.” Because of insatiable greed, the culprit never expected anyone could die from it and cause such a huge commotion.

Han Jianming snorted coldly, not bothering to comment on how the Zhou family was doing. He was in mourning anyway. So, the Zhou family couldn’t beg him for anything. Han Jianming instructed Han Hao, “Go check the rice in our congee stand. If anyone dares to make a fuss, come and report back to me immediately.”

Han Hao said, “My Lord, don’t worry. I have just checked. All the rice in our congee stand is new; there is not a single grain of old rice.” Qiu Shi had been in charge of the household for so many years. How could she not know about this foul play? So every year, someone would be sent to supervise the congee, and it would be a different person each time. Those thinking of tempering with the rice wouldn’t have a chance to do anything.

As Han Jianming was about to speak, a page outside announced that the Chief Steward had come over. Han Jianming said, “Let Chief Steward in.”

The Chief Steward handed Han Jianming a letter with both hands. “My Lord, this was sent over by Eldest Master Yu.”

Han Jianming immediately took it and read the letter as quickly as possible. After reading it, joy was shown in his eyes as he exclaimed, “Alright……” After saying this word, Han Jianming immediately asked Han Hao to invite Mr Zhao over.

After reading Eldest Master Yu’s letter, Mr Zhao said, “The Yu family has taken the initiative to show goodwill to the Fourth Guye. This means they are committed to working together with him.” In his letter, Eldest Master Yu told Han Jianming that this time the Yu family would step in to settle the matter of the Song family withholding Yun Qing’s military merit, disallowing him to be glorified, which was tantamount to saying that Yun Qing would soon be promoted.

There was a dividing line between the upper third and lower second ranks. In the military, the upper third rank was only for a middle-ranking military officer, while the lower second rank and above were for the top-ranking military officers. Yun Qing’s promotion was a gesture of goodwill from the Yu family, and it was also of this attitude from the Yu family this cooperation could no longer be refused by Yun Qing.

Han Jianming commented, “There is definitely no problem with cooperation. However, the Yu family has been urging Yun Qing to compromise before. An unforeseen event ought to happen, causing their sudden active gesture of goodwill this time.”

Mr Zhao replied, “It’s probably because they have lost His Highness Eldest Grandson. Although the Crown Princess is pregnant, it is still unclear whether this child will be a male or female, so the Yu family becomes a bit anxious.”

Han Jianming shook his head. “Although Grand Chancellor Yu is already sixty, his body is still strong, and there is no problem for him to live for another eight or ten years. Therefore, the Yu family can’t be anxious just because His Highness Eldest Grandson is gone. There should be other reasons.”

Mr Zhao pondered for a while and said, “Lord Duke, do you think the Crown Prince may have already known about the Yu family’s attempt to draw in Yun Qing? The Crown Prince does not want the Yu family to become more powerful, so he wants to draw in Yun Qing himself. So the Crown Prince let this news be known to the Yu family’s people? The Crown Prince holds the cardinal principles of righteousness; moreover, he is the heir to the throne. If the Crown Prince wants to draw Yun Qing in, Yun Qing will, in all probability, abandon the Yu family and join him. That’s probably why they have become impatient?” The Crown Prince’s biggest supporters were the Yu and Song families, but his biggest resistance was also from these two families. The Crown Prince had been trying to wrestle power from the Yu and Song families since his appointment but had been repeatedly thwarted. Therefore, he had to gather more power on the one hand and prevent the two families from expanding their power on the other. T

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When Han Jianming heard this, he thought for a moment before saying, “The Crown Prince can attempt to bring Yun Qing to his side. Qin Zhao is not a bad flatterer but bad at warfare. A discerning eye can see that he will not be a Great General for long.” Qin Zhao was a Great General who couldn’t become a Marshal. Even if the Song family had wanted to support him in the first place, it would have been useless. Subordinates wouldn’t accept a Marshal who did not have enough prestige and military achievements.

Mr Zhao said, “Lord Duke, do you think Yun Qing will agree?” The people could guess Yun Qing’s nature based on some of the things he had done. Therefore, the Crown Prince could use it to pull Yun Qing in.

The Duke of State shook his head. “No. Yuxi knows the Crown Prince’s background. She won’t let Yun Qing defect to the Crown Prince.” How could such a Crown Prince be trusted when he could sell out his country for his interests? Who knew if he would have to sacrifice his subordinates in the future just for profit? With Yuxi around, this matter of the Crown Prince trying to pull Yun Qing in would ultimately go down the drain.

Mr Zhao smiled. He had forgotten about the Fourth Miss. “Lord Duke, we know that Fourth Guye won’t defect to the Crown Prince with Fourth Miss around, but the Yu family does not know that. We can take this opportunity to gain more benefits from them.” It would be foolish to miss such an opportunity for nothing.

Han Jianming grunted in approval. “Yuxi’s letter should arrive at the latest by the early second lunar month. We still have plenty of time.” Not only did they want Yun Qing to make the most out of it, but they also had to seek something out of it to create a win-win situation for both sides.

The matter of the Eldest Master Yu sending a letter to Han Jianming could not be hidden from the Crown Prince and Jing Wang. The Crown Prince told Jing Wang, “Grand Chancellor Yu has already submitted a folded booklet saying that those who have done meritorious service should be rewarded fairly and justly. This matter cannot be suppressed, and the Imperial Decree will be issued in the next few days.” Yun Qing had accumulated a lot of military achievements, and if the Song family hadn’t suppressed it, it would have been Yun Qing who had taken the position after Marshal Qin passed away two years ago. Now that Grand Chancellor Yu had brought up Yun Qing’s military achievements and said he would be rewarded for them, no one could refute it, not even him, the Crown Prince. It would have been fine if they had managed to suppress it and no one knew about it. But if it was disclosed into the open now and they couldn’t reward them for their merits, it would not only chill the hearts of 100,000 soldiers in the northwest but also those of more than 100,000 soldiers in Liaodong.

Jing Wang tried to comfort him, “Dage, don’t worry. The Yu family has long wanted to join Yun Qing and had people contact him the year before, but Yun Qing refused.” This was known as an armed father and son who went into battle, and blood brothers fought a tiger. The two brothers always had a good relationship, especially since the Crown Prince was in a rather tricky situation and needed his brother’s help. Jing Wang was also a good brother and always stood by the Crown Prince’s side.

The Crown Prince shook his head. “Times have changed.” Although he was the Crown Prince, the Yu family was more powerful than him, and there were things he had to compromise with. Thus, the Crown Prince was not confident that Yun Qing would defect to him. Just like in the Imperial Court today. Many officials only listened to Grand Chancellor Yu and not him, the Crown Prince.

Jing Wang pondered for a moment and said, “Then we will send someone to approach Yun Qing. I am sure Yun Qing will not refuse if Dage wants to draw him in.”

The Crown Prince nodded. “I’m planning to send Secretary Du. By the way, your Wangfei has always been close to Yun Qing’s wife.” His idea of painting the matter with two brushes would be more effective.

Jing Wang was not stupid. He naturally knew what the Crown Prince meant and nodded in agreement. “Dage, I will talk to my Wangfei when I return home.” This was a move to make Yuchen the go-between.

When Jing Wang returned to his wangfu, he told Yuchen, “Since you have always been on good terms with your Si Mei, she should listen to what you say.”

Yuchen was slightly shocked. She knew that Jing Wang was not asking for her opinion but ordering her to do so. At that moment, she could only answer with a smile, “All right, I’ll write a letter to my Si Mei, and I’ll show it to Wangye when it’s ready. If Wangye thinks it is okay, I’ll have someone send it to the northwest.”

Jing Wang nodded. “Okay, tomorrow you will send the letter to my study.” After saying that, he went to his study in the front courtyard. Recently, the Yu and Song families had been at loggerheads, and Jing Wang had no time to spare for other things.

After everyone had left, there was only Momo Gui left in the room. Yuchen laughed and told Momo Gui, “Have they forgotten why Yuxi married the northwest at that time?” Back then, they had forced Yuxi without leaving a single way out, and now they wanted her to be the go-between to convince Yuxi to let Yun Qing defect to the Crown Prince. They thought Yuxi was that forgetful.

Momo Gui commented, “If it were anyone else, they might have ignored the past for the sake of the greater good. But the Fourth Miss……”

Yuchen stood up, walked to the window and looked outside for a long time before saying, “With Yuxi’s nature, not only would she not convince Yun Qing to defect to the Crown Prince, she will do her best to prevent Yun Qing from doing so and persuade him to cooperate with the Yu family instead.” To be nearly killed twice in quick succession by Song Guifei and made to marry in that barren land in the northwest. It would not be too much to say that this had become a blood feud. Who would let their husband help the son of an enemy unless they were a saint? Not to mention that Yun Qing had a grudge against the Song family!

Momo Gui was thinking of something else and asked, “Niangniang, how long has it been the marriage between the Fourth Miss and Yun Qing? Qin Zhao can’t keep Yun Qing under control anymore.” The first two years had been fine. It had only been six months since Yuxi’s marriage, and Qin Zhao could no longer overpower Yun Qing. Momo Gui certainly did not believe it was not the Fourth Miss’ doing.

Yuchen sighed. “You probably don’t know that Yuxi has started a school in Yu City, specialising in taking in the children of the families of the dead and wounded soldiers. They can feed and clothe the children in winter and let them study and learn martial arts at the same time. Setting up such a school would not cost much, but it would gain her a good reputation.” To set up a school and teach those children to study and practise martial arts would be more prestigious than giving rice and noodles directly, and it would be more appreciated.

After hearing these words, Momo Gui said, “By helping those children, the Fourth Miss is not only making a name for herself but also buying people’s hearts for Yun Qing. With Fourth Miss around Yun Qing, his reputation will be cleaned sooner or later.”

Yuchen whispered, “In the past, while Yuxi was at home, she did not stand out in everything she did and was always patient. Now that she’s in the northwest, she doesn’t have to be patient anymore. She can do whatever she wants. I can’t even guess what she will do next.” She actually envied Yuxi a little. Although the northwest was lacking in materials, people there were free. Unlike her, clothed in brocade garments and fed with jade meals every day, when she honestly felt this wangfu was like a cage, trapping her so much that she could not take a step outside.

Momo Gui hesitated for a moment before suggesting, “Niangniang, shouldn’t we talk to Wangye about these things?” She felt it was wise for them to do so.

Yuchen shook her head. “Talk about what? That Yuxi is vindictive and won’t let Yun Qing help the Crown Prince because she is cynical of Song Guifei? When Wangye hears this, he will surely ask me why I didn’t say anything about this before. Why now? How should I answer?”

When Momo Gui heard Yuchen’s answer, she couldn’t say anything anymore.