Chapter 62: Ex-couple, Clear The Accounts
Yan Bei looked at Yue Tang, who was dressed in simple elegance against the vibrant autumn colors, and was momentarily speechless.
The Current Dynasty has gone through five generations of rulers, and during the second generation—that is, Yue Tang’s grandfather’s generation—a major incident occurred.
At that time, the Emperor personally led the expedition, and Yan Bei’s grandfather, whom the Emperor had personally promoted, was the foremost vanguard general before the Emperor. In that turmoil, ruler and ministers were united as one, recapturing several states in the lost Yan territory.
Apart from Yue Tang’s grandfather, who undisputedly held the greatest merit, Yan Bei’s grandfather had the next greatest merit, so he was enfeoffed as Prince Jingyang.
In the year he received the title, Yan Bei’s grandfather was just thirty years old, in the prime of his strength. Given the merits at the time and the Emperor’s favor toward the Yan Family, the family likely still had potential to grow even stronger.
But the Prince’s Mansion already held command of three hundred thousand troops in the northwest; any further expansion would not be a blessing, but a disaster.
Yet the Emperor’s bestowed favor could not be refused, and it was also necessary to leave some security for the descendants, wasn’t it?
Thus, Yan Bei’s grandfather made a decisive decision and, one month later, petitioned the Emperor to move the entire household to the Northern Lands to garrison the Border Pass.
By regulation, the Prince’s Mansion held only authority to command troops, not authority to deploy them, and moreover, the subordinate generals were rotated. The Emperor already trusted the Yan Family greatly, so this arrangement left nothing to worry about.
Thus, to demonstrate grace and virtue, another Prince’s Mansion was decreed to be built in Mobei, ordering the Yan Family to serve as princes for generations, protecting the Yue Family in safeguarding the rivers and mountains.
In the blink of an eye, three or four decades passed, and both ruler and ministers had reached the third generation.
Although high-ranking generals at the Border Pass were rotated, mid- and low-level generals and soldiers were permanently stationed in Mobei.
These people had followed the Prince’s Mansion in defending the country and shared a bond of affection. Yan Bei had been taught by his elders since childhood to cherish these soldiers; openly he did not show favoritism, but privately he always regarded them as family.
Although the Imperial Court allocated military funds every year, in such a bitterly cold place, the needed supplies were always more than in the Capital City.
Yan Bei had been in the Capital City for three years, seeing these high officials and noble families living in brocade clothes and fine food every day—how could he not have thought of those warriors who had fought shoulder-to-shoulder with his Yan Family?
Naturally he had.
Moreover, now that he held the Bureau of Military Affairs, he even more frequently wanted to seek some benefits for his subordinate soldiers.
Everything else was fine, but with silver, it wasn’t something he could have just by saying so.
Moreover, divided among the large number of soldiers, it wasn’t a small amount.
This was precisely the source of Yan Bei’s helplessness, and now Yue Tang had actually come up with this idea—
The person the Du Family had actually thrown in with had schemed to wreak havoc on the Imperial Court and harmed the innocent; chopping off his head and confiscating his home to use for subsidizing the Border Pass soldiers—wasn’t that perfectly reasonable?
What she said made sense!
He stroked his chin and nodded, but soon stuck out his neck: “This isn’t right. The murderer behind the Du Family isn’t just an enemy of your Prince Duan’s Mansion; he’s also an enemy of me, Prince Jingyang. For me to step forward is only natural—how is this called letting me profit?”
“This is also for your own good,” Yue Tang said earnestly. “If you think it’s only natural, then in the future, should I give you this money or not? If not, it makes me seem unreasonable.
“If I do give it, for you, the lofty Prince Jingyang, to accept my money with palm upturned—where would you put your face?
“It’s better to partner up. When the time comes and the matter is done, the person goes to me, the money to you; neither of us works in vain, and neither owes the other. How about it?”
Yan Bei sucked in a breath: “You are this generous?”
The words sounded entirely reasonable at first listen, but why did he still feel something was off?
What did “neither owes the other” mean?
What did “partner up” mean?
It was clearly something he should step forward for on his own, but if he partnered, wouldn’t he become someone after the money? Although the money was to subsidize the soldiers, the original intent would already be twisted.
What kind of person would he, Yan Bei, become?
“I’m not doing it.” He put on a stern face. “I’m avenging my son—why should I partner with you? I’ll handle the Du Family myself; no need for you. Once I drag the person out, if you want him, I’ll hand him over to you then.”
Having already been divorced made him seem like he couldn’t maintain husband’s authority; if he yielded on this matter too, was he still a man?
Yue Tang smiled and said, “Yan Bei, our grandfathers also had a very good friendship. Let’s not beat around the bush—I ask you, do you plan to do just this one thing to avenge this grudge, or also make some long-term plans for the future of Prince Jingyang’s Mansion?”
Yan Bei looked over: “What do you mean?”
“Doing just one thing means targeting the matter of me and A Li being harmed. If that’s all, then of course I can listen to you, let you step forward, and I’ll just take the person. After that, you manage your Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, I’ll manage my Prince Duan’s Mansion, and we’ll each go our separate ways.”
Yan Bei thought for a moment: “And if not?”
“If not, then listen to me; don’t try to show off any great man airs with me—exert effort where you should.” Yue Tang smiled faintly. “Because besides this one matter, there are many more to come.
“The conspiracy from three years ago implicated many; from the clues the Shen Family has shown so far, even if they had nothing to do with killing me and A Li, in that imperial power transition incident, their hands are surely not clean.
“You, as Prince Jingyang who holds military power, already have the duty to maintain the stability of the state, and with the Former Emperor’s imperial edict recalling you to the Capital City and thrusting you into the spotlight—have you not considered the Mansion’s situation and the family’s future?”
Yan Bei was speechless.
He hadn’t expected this fellow to hit one key point after another in the court situation, with her mind full of family, state, and world.
Indeed, he had long heard that this precious darling of Prince Duan’s Mansion was no ordinary person; having lived alone outside since childhood, she surely had knowledge, thoughts, and ambition, which was normal.
But the one before him now—she had practically drilled into his brain!
As the person in charge of Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, he had indeed maintained vigilance toward everything in the Capital City from the moment he arrived.
Otherwise, why would he have come incognito to the Capital City to gather intelligence back then?
And how could he, to this day, not rely on any faction in the Imperial Court and refuse all overtures of goodwill?
Yan Bei involuntarily straightened his posture: “Even so, what then?”
“Just eliminating one Du Family won’t bring stability; you must thoroughly expose the conspiracy and purge the Imperial Court to truly set your mind at ease.” Yue Tang calmly refilled his wine. “I know why you’ve tolerated the Du Family these years, and you know it well yourself.
“The Yan Family does hold great power, but above you there is still imperial power.
“You can’t guarantee you’ll never get your shoes wet.
“Keeping the Du Family isn’t also because you’re afraid that if those above join hands, the Yan Family might truly end up isolated and unable to resist?
“My Prince Duan’s Mansion may have lost power, but a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Since I, Yue Tang, didn’t die, I’ll eventually return to the Mansion.
“Once I return, those scattered remnants that had to be dispersed after my father king’s death—isn’t it something I must find a way to gather back?
“Once gathered, won’t my Prince Duan’s Mansion still have striking power?
“Not to mention that the Former Emperor promised that even after my father king passed, the Imperial City Department would be handed over to the Mansion’s heir.
“Even if my Prince Duan’s Mansion’s heir is still a decade or so from adulthood, during that time I can find a way to appoint a confidant to manage it temporarily.
“Tell me, with my Prince Duan’s Mansion as your old ally backing you up in the Imperial Court against enemies, wouldn’t that be beneficial to you?
“Am I, Yue Tang, not more reliable than Du Minghuan?”
The autumn wind brushed by, yellow leaves rustling; with her skirt stirred, her demeanor was composed, free and easy, ethereal like an exiled immortal in the woods.
Initially, the Imperial Concubine Dowager’s letter had Yan Bei maintain contact with the Du Family precisely because she feared he would be isolated and powerless alone in the Capital City.
Although the trouble the Du Family brought him outweighed their legwork, seeing the court situation like this, he still hadn’t resolved to cut ties with them.
The forces the Mansion had operated for many years were all in Mobei and all in the military; suddenly returning to the Imperial Court truly required caution at every step.
If there could be a new force to ally with, why cling to a Du Family?
Yan Bei could no longer stubborn it out.
He withdrew his gaze, stretched, and took a deep breath: “Worthy of Princess Yongjia. But you’re not asking me to do something treasonous with you, are you?”
“What treasonous or not—we’re both doing proper things that benefit the people.”
Yue Tang glanced at him and took another sip of wine. “I know involving the Shen Family means involving imperial power, but don’t tell me you’re not a Yue Family member and that palace intrigues have nothing to do with you.
“With Prince Duan’s Mansion as precedent, holding heavy power is like sailing against the current—you advance or retreat. If you don’t act proactively, you’ll be passive.
“You, Prince Jingyang, hold such heavy power; wanting to stay out of it is impossible.
“Now you have the Former Emperor’s edict for protection, while the Shen Family holds the seal by imperial decree.
“One day, if the Emperor and the Shen Family decide a victor, what do you think the winning side will do next?
“At that time, you’ll have no choice. Even if you don’t want to enter the game, you will.
At this point, Yue Tang glanced at him again. “I’m not telling you this as an old acquaintance, but as Prince Duan’s only daughter.
“Even without A Li between us, based on what I’ve said above, it’s worth your serious consideration.”
Yan Bei pressed his lips together.
His own thoughts had been completely laid bare by her.
And he knew even better—when was he waiting for the palace to decide a victor before entering the game?
Clearly, from the moment he received the imperial edict, he was already in!
He pinched his chin again and again, then said after a moment: “In that case, if I don’t agree to your conditions, I’d be failing to read the times.”
Yue Tang set down her wine cup: “Now I’m in the shadows, you’re in the light; I’ve already lit the fire.
“Let’s make an alliance document today; from now on, we’ll unite against outsiders and face enemies together.”
He was convinced of everything else, but the two words “alliance document” still irked him.
They had made a marriage certificate back then, but in the end didn’t she give him a divorce letter too?
Now making an alliance document—once she used him up, wouldn’t she sever ties and break sleeves again?
Yan Bei didn’t want to agree so quickly.
But thinking that just a few days ago when they met, she had even poisoned him… making an alliance document at least meant treating him as an ally; they weren’t enemies anymore—what more could he ask for?
Yan Bei resigned himself.
He waved to the little eunuch to fetch pen and ink.
“Sign it then!”
Both accustomed to grand occasions since childhood, the alliance document terms came naturally; moreover, there was nothing complex, just agreeing to share information and unite against enemies.
Yan Bei affixed his seal to the alliance document.
When it was Yue Tang’s turn, seeing her only sign her name and press her fingerprint, he recalled the princess’s seal she had placed on the substitute corpse back then, said nothing, silently folded the alliance document, and tucked it into his bosom.
“Gao Gonggong…”
At this moment, someone came along the covered walkway, stopping before Gao An, who was watching intently, and spoke softly with head bowed.
Yan Bei recognized it as the person he had sent earlier to follow Xu He.
Gao An immediately brought the person forward: “Your Highness, there’s word from Xu He’s side.”
The guard said: “Reporting to Your Highness, Du Yu sent Xu He to the Imperial Secretariat to retrieve the Imperial Clan Court’s turtle talisman from Hu Wei.”
Hearing this, Yue Tang looked at Yan Bei: “What’s going on?”
Yan Bei then recounted how Du Yu had previously gone to see Xu He. Then he asked the guard: “What does he want it for? What does the Imperial Clan Court have to do with him?”
“Hu Wei recently used the Imperial Clan Court’s turtle talisman from the Ministry of Rites for official business, and according to Du Yu, it’s still in Hu Wei’s hands.
“But he didn’t reveal what it would be used for.”
The turtle talisman was a pass token for verifying identity.
Every yamen had a storeroom for documents, scrolls, or secret cases; the credential for legally opening it was a copper turtle talisman split into two halves—one held by the storeroom guard, the other by the corresponding yamen office. To use it, the two halves had to match perfectly.
The Imperial Clan Court had nothing to do with the Du Family’s duties, and with the Shen Family now targeting the Du Family, why wasn’t this Du Yu hurrying back to the mansion to respond, but instead seeking this turtle talisman?
“The person who went to see Shen Li earlier was also surnamed Hu, and he was also an official of the Imperial Secretariat—could he be Hu Wei?”
Yue Tang immediately thought of the scene where Shen Li had secretly met with the official.
“Then there’s a lead; Du Yu likely has designs on the Imperial Clan Court too, and his urgency must be to relieve his family’s crisis.”
Yan Bei stretched, turned around, and faced Gao An: “Go to the Marquis of Guangling’s Mansion and smooth this over.”
Gao An, hearing this command so different from before, looked slightly surprised at Yue Tang. Hadn’t they just made an alliance document—why was he now helping the Du Family instead?
Yue Tang smiled and nodded: “That’s the situation. If the Mansion steps forward to mediate this mess, the Shen Family can’t refuse to give face.
“But this grievance won’t dissipate; they definitely won’t let it go.
“Tomorrow, when Your Highness goes to the Imperial Court, bring up the He Family and Zhang Family murder cases; the Ministry of Justice offices certainly won’t dare slack off and will have to immediately take them up for thorough investigation.
“Since this matter has no overt connection to the Du Family, and the Du Family vows before your Highness that it’s unrelated to the murder cases, there’s naturally no reason to stop Your Highness from ordering the Ministry of Justice offices to strictly investigate.
“In this way, the yamen will quickly trace it to the Du Family.
“At that time, with the Shen Family having swallowed this hidden loss, won’t they seize the chance to vent their anger and pressure the Ministry of Justice offices?
“That’s when the Du Family will truly be cornered with no way out.
“And when cornered with no way out, how will they choose?”
Gao An’s eyes lit up: “This subordinate understands! Of course he’ll go seek help from the one who can best preserve their lives!”
And the one who could best preserve their lives—besides the real mastermind behind the conspiracy, who else could it be?
Without any effort, the clues would emerge on their own by then.
Even if the real culprit wouldn’t easily show themselves, there would surely be traces to follow!
Having figured this out, Gao An couldn’t help taking a deep breath.
Having watched these two bicker all the way, the reasons Yue Tang had listed to persuade Yan Bei had already earned silent admiration from Gao An, this head eunuch who had handled government affairs since the old prince’s time.
Hearing this explanation now, his heart held only one word: “Brilliant!”
