Chapter 53: Resignation Letter
Grandpa Ling didn’t like hearing that and really wanted to defend his granddaughter. My granddaughter is just a bit bolder, acts a bit more wildly, and has a bit of a quirky personality…
That’s all there is to it, so why say she’s sick?
Just then, Jin’an chimed in:
“My brother is indeed sick. He’s been frail since childhood, which is why he lives with Grandpa in our hometown.”
His answer made Grandpa Ling puff up with anger, while Gu Changxiao chuckled softly.
Seeing him laugh, Grandpa Ling quickly whispered:
“Sui Sui must have been too scared, so she put on a brave front and did these absurd things. Changxiao, please don’t blame her.”
Gu Changxiao quickly replied, “She risked her life to save me and lure the enemy. Even if she borrowed my identity, it was out of desperation. How could I blame her!
However, before she does anything more absurd or unbelievable, we must reach Yanzhou.”
Grandpa Ling couldn’t agree more! What that brat did in Yanzhou, if it were exposed, ten heads wouldn’t be enough to lose!
Only Jin’an didn’t understand and quietly asked Gu Changxiao, “King Li, the Boundless Wrath is so imposing!
When Brother Gu arrives, my brother will return this title to you, wouldn’t that be great!
Why don’t you like it?”
Gu Changxiao’s mouth twitched. He patted Jin’an’s head, thinking for a long time, but couldn’t figure out how to answer the child.
What the three of them didn’t know was that the title “King Li, the Boundless Wrath” had not only spread throughout the northern territories but, with the help of those with ulterior motives, had already reached Chang’an.
“Reporting to Your Highness, King Li first assaulted an official appointed by the Imperial Court in Huai Prefecture, then led troops to surround Yanzhou, and now claims to be ‘King Li, the Boundless Wrath’.
Isn’t this clearly showing dissatisfaction with His Majesty! I request His Majesty to issue a decree to severely punish him!”
Prince Yu spoke righteously, but did not mention the reason why King Li beat Jiang Nansheng or surrounded Yanzhou.
Prince Yu was pleased to see King Li’s actions. The more he acted out, the more disappointed the Emperor would be, and the faster he would perish.
It was a pity that the group sent out, Huo Zi’an and his companions, couldn’t kill him on the way?
Now, even Huo Zi’an’s whereabouts were unknown. Whether Jiang Nansheng had betrayed him and secretly sided with King Li was also yet to be confirmed.
Just then, an official stepped forward urgently and said, “I beg His Majesty to issue a decree ordering King Li to present the prescription.”
“The plague in Luocheng is still spreading, and the Imperial Academy of Medicine has not yet developed a special medicine. Only a small team sent by King Li has the special spiritual medicine.
One dose is effective, and three doses cure it. Unfortunately, there is too little of the medicine, and even after the Imperial Academy of Medicine obtained some, they couldn’t figure out the prescription.
Prince Yu quickly said, “One thing is one thing. Even if King Li has the prescription, he should have offered it to the Imperial Court voluntarily, instead of waiting for His Majesty to ask for it.
He has committed many serious crimes since leaving Chang’an and must be severely punished!”
No official responded to his words. The Emperor was rubbing his temples above, and everyone knew that Prince Yu wanted to put King Li to death.
The officials’ attitude was: you royals fight for power and struggle to the death, we can’t control that, but we must get the special prescription for curing the plague!
If the plague in Luocheng spreads to Chang’an, many people will die.
The Emperor was both pleased and annoyed that Prince Yu was not as recognized by the officials as King Li.
He was pleased because, in this way, it would be extremely difficult for Prince Yu to form factions and seize his power.
He was annoyed because he had driven King Li to the border, and yet Prince Yu kept mentioning him and refusing to let go.
He raised his hand and said, “Enough. The absurd things King Li has done need not be mentioned in the Imperial Court.
After I verify them, I will naturally issue a decree to punish him.
The most urgent matter now is the plague in Luocheng. Since King Li has the prescription, then issue a decree for him to present it.”
Jin Sui had no idea that her impulsive creation of a personal seal for ‘King Li, the Boundless Wrath’ would break Gu Changxiao’s composure.
She also didn’t know that the life-saving medicine she left for Hao Duojin and the others had become the only hope for curing the plague.
She genuinely wanted to keep a low profile at the border. Once Gu Changxiao arrived, they would change their identities and start anew, each beginning a new life.
But trouble, it’s not that it won’t find you if you don’t look for it.
The first piece of trouble was her own inner demons. Jin Sui was waiting for Han Xing and Cheng Yu to buy supplies from various cities.
She was also waiting for the grain sent by Yan Jiulang, and at the same time, she checked on the potatoes, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes every day without fail.
Huo Zi’an was recovering from his injuries, Wei Assistant Secretary was leading people to open an eatery, and a group of soldiers were digging river mud. The entire border area had shed its desolate appearance and become lively.
Everything was developing in a good direction, but she couldn’t sleep that night because as soon as she closed her eyes.
She would see Madam Jiang’s face before she died, her pale face, her eyes suddenly widening, asking with resentment and anger:
“Why haven’t you vindicated and avenged your father yet?”
Jin Sui suddenly woke up. Regardless of whether this dream was her own inner demon or Madam Jiang’s unwillingness to rest in the Yellow Springs.
She was a little angry. If you’re going to send a dream, you should at least care about Jin’an and Grandpa!
Is vindicating Father Ling something I can accomplish right now?
Even if I can’t accomplish it, I have to start somewhere, otherwise Madam Jiang in the Yellow Springs would think she had forgotten.
First, she went to ask Wei Assistant Secretary:
“Do you still have contact with officials in Chang’an? My case implicated quite a few people. I want to examine it closely. Do you have a way to get the case files?”
Wei Assistant Secretary really wanted to reply, “I’m just an Eighth Rank official, and I’ve been banished to the border. Your Highness, do you think I have much ability?”
He suppressed the urge to complain and chuckled, “Even a Third Rank official can’t view Your Highness’s case files.”
Jin Sui nodded, “Oh, then have someone compile a list of how many people were killed, exiled, or demoted because of this case.
I’ll give you a hundred taels of funding to have someone in Chang’an quietly investigate and find out.”
This wasn’t difficult, but Wei Assistant Secretary was puzzled, “Why is Your Highness suddenly concerned about an old case? Could it be that Your Highness wants to return to Chang’an?”
Jin Sui pretended to be profound and sighed sadly, “No, I just want to see how many people were implicated by me, so that I can go to the riverbank to offer sacrifices on the Qingming Festival next year.”
Wei Assistant Secretary was moved and said, “Your Highness is truly loyal and righteous to your subordinates. Please rest assured, this subordinate will definitely investigate thoroughly.”
Then she went to ask Huo Zi’an, “Hey, how much do you know about my case?”
Huo Zi’an looked at her with fear in his eyes, all his previous arrogance gone.
As expected, a villain needs a villain to tame them. You are more ruthless than an assassin, and even assassins have to obey obediently.
“I am just a Seventh Rank Imperial Guard from the Commander’s Office and am not aware of Your Highness’s case.”
Jin Sui took out paper and brush, “Write down whatever you know. If you write it well, Your Highness will reward you.”
Just as she was considering whether to go to Yanzhou City to inquire with Li Heng, Hei Hu suddenly reported:
“Your Highness, Brother Han is back and has an urgent matter to see you.”
Jin Sui hurried over, afraid that the Black Feather Camp was being bullied in another prefecture city.
She saw Han Xing with sweat all over her forehead and a look of anxiety. She took out a letter from her embrace:
“Your Highness, this is from Assistant Secretary Cheng.”
Jin Sui took it and saw that it was a ‘Resignation Letter’.
She quickly opened it. The letter was very short, stating that she was resigning from her position as Assistant Secretary due to personal matters.
The key point was that anything she did was unrelated to the border city and unrelated to King Li.
Below was her personal seal, Cheng Yu.
Jin Sui asked Wei Assistant Secretary doubtfully, “Can officials resign so casually in your system?”
Wei Assistant Secretary was so anxious he slapped his thigh, “Of course not! Even an Eighth Rank official needs the Ministry of Personnel to review their resignation.”
“Your Highness, this Cheng Yu must have encountered some urgent matter. You can’t ignore him!”
Although Wei Assistant Secretary and Cheng Assistant Secretary usually bickered.
One thought the other was falsely virtuous, and the other thought the other was a drunkard.
But as Jin Sui had said before, if they were all at the border, they wouldn’t survive without unity.
