Chapter 134: Zheng Yun Walks into a Trap
Halfway, they encountered Grandpa Ling, dressed in a Taoist robe, bossily leading a group of old men and children towards the polo match.
These people were not the families of the Tuntian Camp. Their eyes were timid, and though their clothes were clean, they were very worn, patched, and faded from washing. The children were barefoot, and the shoes worn by the elders were either woven from grass or sewn from animal hide.
Everyone carried a large bundle on their backs, and upon seeing strangers, they all hid behind Grandpa Ling.
It made Grandpa Ling seem like a Celestial Master, protecting them, his followers.
She quickly pulled Grandpa over and asked, “Who are these people?”
Grandpa Ling stroked his beard and smiled, “Refugees from the mountains.”
“They fear constables and soldiers, but not Taoist priests. Weren’t you worried that the refugees wouldn’t come out of the mountains? Look, Grandpa went into the mountains and brought so many out for you!”
Jinsui was filled with apprehension, “It’s dangerous in the mountains! How could you go!”
“Little Tiger accompanied me, so it’s fine. Grandpa can’t just eat and live for free in the border city! Returning to my old profession can also help you a little.”
“I saw it was lively here, so I brought them to take a look, and also to let them know that the border city won’t harm them, so they’ll dare to come out of the mountains and become citizens of the border city!”
Indeed, everyone has their own specialty. In the hearts of the refugees, even if border soldiers talked until their mouths were dry, it wouldn’t be as effective as a single word from a Taoist priest with an ethereal demeanor.
This was truly a method Jinsui hadn’t considered. When soldiers entered the mountains, the refugees would hide, but when Grandpa entered, they would gather to talk to him.
Grandpa Ling introduced them to the refugees, “This is the Li King of the border city.”
The group of refugees instantly reacted like sheep hearing a wolf, wanting to run but having nowhere to escape. Some were so scared they fell to the ground.
Jinsui quickly said, “Don’t be afraid, everyone. There’s a ball game in the border city during this time, and the trade zone over there is like a temple fair, where you can trade.”
“I see you’re carrying large bundles, are you here to trade as well?”
A few of the bolder elders then stepped forward, awkwardly bowing, “Replying to the Prince, we wish to exchange for some salt and grain. We have no money, so we can only trade with herbs and animal hide.”
Jinsui quickly called a soldier, “Take them to our work points exchange, and exchange their supplies for silver fragments.”
She then said to the elders, “This King has accepted your goods. It will be more worthwhile than taking them to the market.”
She took the opportunity to ask, “Before, many young and strong men came out of the mountains to serve this King and earn work points. Why have they stopped coming recently?”
A few children’s eyes immediately showed sadness, and the elders’ tears welled up, “When the bandits attacked, many died under their blades, and those who survived were injured. Everyone is afraid to come out.”
Jinsui felt immense guilt. This was an area she had overlooked. She quickly said, “Take some medicine back with you when you leave, and have the Taoist priest tally the casualties. This King will issue you compensation.”
She had only been concerned with the border soldiers and the border city citizens who were implicated, completely forgetting about those refugees and herdsmen.
Damn Zheng Yun, the Tartars are hateful, but scum like Zheng Yun is even more hateful!
A wave of self-reproach surged within her. She had blamed Li Heng and the gentry for not taking the refugees seriously, but she herself was no different. She decided that after the polo match, she would discuss and formulate a plan for refugee resettlement with Gu Changxiao.
Grandpa Ling explained to the refugees what compensation was. After exchanging glances, they all knelt down and kowtowed, “Many thanks to the Prince!”
Jinsui then arranged for two soldiers to escort them to the market and quietly said to Grandpa Ling, “Grandpa, don’t tire yourself out.”
Grandpa Ling’s spirit was high, “If you made me lie around and eat for free every day, then I would get tired! We traveled through mountains and rivers to reach the border city; this little matter can’t tire me out.”
“Grandpa tells you, persuade these elders first, and the refugees will be willing to come out of the mountains! They live like savages in the mountains. If you give them food, they’ll definitely be willing to stay.”
Jinsui did not feel joy, but rather more self-reproach. She had been in the border city for over two months, and still hadn’t fully gained the refugees’ trust.
She was determined to lead these abandoned, pitiable people out of the mountains and let them live normal lives in the border city.
When the two returned to their residence, they saw two chests of silver on the table. Jinsui was shocked, “No one was even assigned to guard them! What if they were stolen?”
Gu Changxiao: … You’re worried about that!
“Who would dare steal from the Li King’s room! This was sent by Miss Yan, wasn’t it? She wouldn’t enter your room without asking, would she?”
Jinsui couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. When it came to people from the Yan Clan, he lost his reason. Who cared more about the Yan family between us?
If I don’t have a good talk with him, does he really think this Prince has no temper!
Jinsui pushed the silver onto the table and sat down like a formidable figure, looking directly at Gu Changxiao, “There are no outsiders here, Your Highness. Let’s clear the air.”
Gu Changxiao felt a tremor in his heart. Is Daoist Ji angry?
Is he angry about my attitude towards Yan Jiu?
“I estimate the Imperial Court’s edict should arrive in less than a month, and I can’t impersonate the Li King for much longer. If you have any opinions about me, let’s discuss them openly.”
Gu Changxiao quickly said, “I have no objections to Brother Ji.”
“Then are you not taking the border city seriously, like Wei Assistant Secretary, only wanting to return to Chang’an and treating the border city as a temporary stop?”
These words hurt Gu Changxiao a little. He looked directly at Jinsui, “I can choose never to return to Chang’an in my lifetime! I can give my life to the border city!”
Now Jinsui was confused, “Then why are you always dragging your feet? You clearly know how important the Yan Clan’s support is for the border city’s development. Yet, you’re always sarcastic towards the Yan Family Lord?”
Gu Changxiao, in a moment of urgency, spoke his mind, “I just don’t like you being close to him!”
Jinsui: …
How are we close?
She didn’t ask, but her expression said it all.
Gu Changxiao felt his ear tips burn, “You wrote him a poem, and wrote it on the Thirty-Six Stratagems as a gift.”
Jinsui was speechless, “That’s Ten Thousand Taels of silver, Eldest Brother! Let alone writing a poem, I’d do it even if I had to write a million-word thesis!”
“You even stayed up all night talking, sleeping side by side.”
“Don’t spread rumors! When did we sleep side by side? Look at how delicate he is, would he squeeze onto this small, broken bed with me?”
Why didn’t I notice before that you’re as petty as an elementary school student? Jinsui became impatient, “Can you speak more clearly? What exactly are you bothered by?”
Soon, she thought of something and exclaimed in surprise, “You don’t possibly think I’m Yan Jiu’s person, and that developing the border city is for the Yan Clan, do you?”
If this wasn’t explained clearly, Gu Changxiao felt that Daoist Ji might just quit tonight.
He hurriedly said, “No! How could I misunderstand Brother Ji like that! Brother Ji is wholeheartedly devoted to the border city and to me, and I am deeply grateful.”
“I just feel that you and Yan Jiu are too intimate. He’s long past the age of marriage but has remained unmarried. Perhaps he likes handsome youths like Brother Ji…”
Gu Changxiao’s voice grew softer and softer. He deeply regretted starting this topic, feeling as foolish as Yan Shiyi.
Jinsui felt the same way. Indeed, foolishness is contagious. When there are too many idiots around you, you’ll get infected too.
She was also too hasty, speaking without thinking, “You’re worried that Yan Jiu and I might have a homosexual preference? My heavens, what are you thinking? If it were homosexual, it wouldn’t be with him over you!”
Then Jinsui also regretted it, wishing she could slap herself. Indeed, stupidity is contagious.
For a moment, both of them felt extremely awkward. One looked at the window, the other at the table, as if even the air had frozen.
They both wished time could rewind to fifteen minutes ago, when they would never have discussed this topic, let alone said such foolish things!
Finally, Gu Changxiao broke the silence first, “From now on, I will not be rude to anyone from the Yan family again. The development of the border city requires Brother Ji’s help. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“If I have done anything wrong, Brother Ji, please do not hesitate to speak your mind.”
Jinsui lowered her head and said, “Well, I was also too agitated, which led me to speak carelessly. Your Highness, please do not take it to heart.”
Cheng Yu’s voice came from outside, “Your Highness, the Imperial Commissioner has arrived.”
For the first time, Jinsui found Cheng Yu’s voice so pleasant to hear! If they had arrived any later, she would have been so embarrassed she would have melted into a puddle.
She quickly hid the silver chests under the bed, too embarrassed to look at Gu Changxiao’s face, and said coldly, “Let’s handle official business first. This topic is dropped, and never mention it again.”
Gu Changxiao wholeheartedly agreed, nodding repeatedly. He decided to do something to make Daoist Ji happy, and instantly thought:
“This sum of silver is the dividends from the Rouge Shop. Half should go into the border city’s treasury, and the other half to Brother Ji. I’ll deliver a chest to Daoist Ji later.”
Jinsui’s embarrassment instantly turned into a smile. The big boss is really on the ball! She had been wondering how to remind him earlier!
“Then thank you, Brother Gu! Quickly, let’s deal with this Zheng Yun first, and then we can properly organize the ball game.”
Gu Changxiao: … Daoist Ji changes his expression so quickly!
Perhaps Daoist Ji doesn’t like men, nor women, but silver.
Cheng Yu reported in detail on the situation of the Imperial Commissioner, “There are over three hundred people. I have examined them carefully, and there are no Yan Prefecture soldiers. It seems Prefect Li is not involved in this matter.”
“Among the three hundred people, dozens are from the Imperial Commissioner Group. The others, though dressed as house guards, can be seen at a glance to be bandits and horse thieves.”
“Zheng Pengpeng has not betrayed Your Highness. Zheng Yun has made a desperate gamble, intending to use the Imperial Commissioner to completely overthrow Your Highness. He’s so foolish that he brought people like bandits to serve as manpower.”
Jinsui smiled, “Isn’t that perfect! It saves Han Xing the trouble of going into the bandits’ lair to capture them.”
“The Imperial Commissioner is coming aggressively, heading straight for the most crowded stadium, shouting with the Imperial edict for the Fake Li King to surrender. Your Highness, will this matter alarm the people in the trade zone?”
Jinsui shook her head, “No! There’s usually nothing exciting happening in the border city. Let the people watch a grand spectacle! I was just saying we didn’t invite an opera troupe for the opening, and here the performers have arrived.”
“Has Huo Zi’an returned?”
“No, Huo Imperial Guards have not appeared.”
Jinsui scoffed, “Did that guy run away? He even said he’d raise Niu Da’s child. He escaped at the first opportunity, truly heartless.”
She looked at Gu Changxiao, “I’ll trouble you, Brother Gu.”
Gu Changxiao smiled lightly, “Your Highness is too kind. Allow me to go first.”
In fact, Jinsui had suggested using this opportunity to switch identities back. In front of so many people, with the Imperial Commissioner as witness, both the real and fake Li King would be accepted by the soldiers.
However, Gu Changxiao insisted that the time was not yet right and they must wait for the Imperial Court’s reward edict to arrive before switching.
So, they had to find another method, which was for him to meet the Imperial Commissioner in advance. As soon as he appeared and explained that this plan was to capture Zheng Yun’s faction red-handed, the timid Imperial Commissioner would surely be willing to help the Li King.
When Jinsui and the others arrived at the stadium, the already lively stadium was now even more so, with shouting that could almost shake the heavens.
Yan Shiyi was yelling at Zheng Yun, and amusingly, behind Yan Shiyi was a group of participating gentry disciples, while behind Zheng Yun was a group of horse thieves. It was as chaotic as a marketplace.
The Imperial Commissioner held the Imperial edict in the middle and shouted, “Silence, all of you! Before the Imperial edict, no disrespect is allowed!”
Jinsui smiled at Cheng Yu and said, “Let the officials of Chang’an experience this. In Yandi, how little the Royal family is respected, even the prestige of the Imperial edict has diminished.”
Cheng Yu didn’t find it amusing but sighed, “The gentry growing powerful is detrimental to the nation.”
Of course, now was not the time to discuss this topic. Jinsui hid behind the crowd, quietly waiting for Gu Changxiao to meet the Imperial Commissioner.
Unexpectedly, although Zheng Yun was arguing, his eyes were sharp, and he spotted her in the back of the crowd at a glance.
He quickly pointed at her and said to the Imperial Commissioner, “That’s the Fake Li King! Look quickly, sir!”
The Imperial Commissioner peered over. His apprehension vanished, and he felt fully confident. He had been worried about making a mistake earlier, but now he was certain: this Li King was fake!
The officials of Yandi had never seen the Li King, but he was familiar with him. Although this short young man was very handsome, he was definitely not the Li King!
He was about to raise the Imperial edict and order his guards to apprehend the Fake Li King.
Suddenly, a hand pressed on his shoulder, and a familiar voice whispered in his ear, “Who are you calling fake?”
Imperial Commissioner Liu trembled all over, his legs went weak. If Gu Changxiao hadn’t supported him from behind, he would have collapsed.
“Your, Your Highness! Why, why are you here?”
With so many eyes watching, Gu Changxiao couldn’t say much to him and quickly whispered:
“The Fake Li King is this Prince’s body double. No one in Yandi knows about it, so don’t spread it around!
Zheng Yun colluded with horse thieves to harm the people. This Prince designed this plan to capture them all. Lord Liu should know what to do, right?”
Just then, Zheng Yun discovered Gu Changxiao and angrily shouted, “How dare you! You’re threatening the Imperial Commissioner! Guards, arrest this brat!”
He also said to Imperial Commissioner Liu, “This brat is the Fake Li King’s personal guard. They must be in cahoots! Sir, you must execute him too!”
Yan Shiyi was jumping around, “Zheng scoundrel, if you dare to harm the Prince’s man, I will definitely chop off your dog head and feed it to the dogs!”
He then shouted to Gu Changxiao, “Hurry over here! Don’t go near them!”
At this moment, Gu Changxiao suddenly felt that the Yan family wasn’t so annoying after all.
Zheng Yun was still shouting, “Hmph, what Li King! He’s just an imposter, some wild kid who popped out of nowhere! You fools are still protecting him, you’ve disgraced our Yandi gentry!”
After scolding, he turned to the Imperial Commissioner and said, “Sir, quickly issue an order to arrest that imposter!”
Imperial Commissioner Liu, whose legs were no longer weak, slowly put away the Imperial edict and walked up to Zheng Yun. Under everyone’s gaze.
Instead of shouting “Arrest the Fake Li King” as Zheng Yun expected, he raised his hand and slapped him hard!
Zheng Yun spun around in place, still dazed, when he heard Imperial Commissioner Liu shout:
“The traitor Zheng deceived this official, slandered the Prince, and colluded with bandits and horse thieves to attempt rebellion! Guards! Arrest Zheng and his gang, all of them!”
Zheng Yun was completely stunned. He pointed at Jinsui, who stood with her arms crossed, smiling, and said, “Sir, you are mistaken! Look carefully, this Li King is fake!”
Seeing that things were not going well, the horse thieves attempted to escape, but were all captured by Han Xing and his men, who were prepared.
Zheng Yun was also bound tightly. Jinsui stepped forward and looked directly into his angry eyes, “You think you can escape! Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, this Prince can make you return yourself.”
“This time, this Prince will surely take your head to appease my wronged people!”
